…and get out of Dodge, Bugs. There’s a new animated sheriff in town, and he’s not only drawn…
He’s 3-D.
Animation has moved forward in leaps and bounds since the Steamboat Willie days, with technology that gets more complex, more innovative and more visually exciting with every film. From kindly green ogres to undersea worlds to marauding alien invaders, this summer’s animated movie lineup looks to be a virtual eye-candy extravaganza.
Atlantis: The Lost Empire
Opens in New York/Los Angeles June 8; Opens wide June 15
More Movie Details
Disney’s newest animated feature comes from the creators of Beauty and the Beast and tells the story of a lowly museum cartographer who leads a group of explorers in search of the lost city of Atlantis. Michael J. Fox, James Garner and Leonard Nimoy lend their local talents to the production. A departure from the usual Disney fare, the action-adventure film moves beyond the pen and paper to combine traditional animation with computer-generated images. Hear what producer Don Hahn, director Kirk Wise and lead animator John Pomeroy have to say about the making of Atlantis.
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
Opens July 11
More Movie Details
From Hironobu Sakaguchi, the mastermind behind the popular Final Fantasy video game series, comes a visual spectacle–the first feature-length film that depicts real people in real environments, though both are completely computer-generated. The story centers on the beautiful Dr. Aki Ross as she teams up with a rebel band of soldiers trying to defeat an invading alien force that’s hell bent on destroying Earth. A stellar vocal cast includes Ming-Na, Alec Baldwin, Donald Sutherland and James Woods. Hollywood.com spoke with producer Christopher Lee and got the scoop on this groundbreaking film.
Shrek
Currently playing in theaters
More Movie Details
Dreamworks’ fairy-tale spoof is in its third week and is reaping huge box office numbers. Using CGI technology, the lush look of the film compliments the often hilarious story about a reluctant hero–who also happens to be a big, green ogre–sent off to rescue a princess. Watch our interviews with vocal talents Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy and John Lithgow to find out their favorite moments in the film.
Other animated movies coming soon this summer:
Osmosis Jones
Opens August 10
More Movie Details
Those wacky Farrelly brothers, who brought us There’s Something About Mary, are at it again. Bill Murray and Chris Rock star in this live-action/animated film about a regular Joe (Murray), whose insides, led by white blood cell Osmosis Jones (voiced by Rock) along with a Dristan tablet Drix (voiced by David Hyde Pierce) battle against an evil virus (voiced by Laurence Fishburne).
Go behind the scenes with Hollywood.com!
