Vintage cartoons to be exposed on the big screen at the County Theatre in Doylestown

Bucks County resident Lou DiCrescenzo, local film historian and film preservationist, will present a collection of rare, vintage cartoons at the County and Ambler Theaters. The occasion will take place at the County Theater on Wednesday, June 15 and the Ambler Theater on Thursday, June 23. Both shows will start at 7 p.m.

The program will feature a variety of cartoon classics diversity in age from 1936 to 1960. Cartoon icons such as The Pink Panther, Bugs Bunny, The Road Runner, Yosemite Sam will once again be seen on the silver screen. In addition, these comic gems all predate “computer animation” and are an outstanding instance of customary, hand drawn animation. All cartoon shorts will be shown on 35mm film. They are in immaculate condition.

The evening will comprise a mix of zany antics with characters being crushed by huge boulders or going over the rim of a precipice. For those with more complicated tastes there will be selections such as The Cat Concerto, Rabbit Romeo and War and Pieces.

Many of these 35mm films are the only obtainable copies and can’t be seen anywhere else. The program promises to be an entertaining evening for both young and old alike and will run approximately 2 hours.

Lou DiCrescenzo, a resident of Langhorne and a associate of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, will be on hand at both theaters to impart stories and tales about his treasures of animated film. He has been collecting out of print 35mm films and equipment for over thirty years and has many of his finds in museum collections.

The County Theater and the Ambler Theater are community possessed organizations which present a full program of art and independent films daily. ”Classic Cartoons from the Vaults of Lou D” is part of the Theaters Hollywood Summer Nights Series. The series runs through August 2011.

General admission to the County and Ambler Theaters is $9.75. Admission for seniors and students at both theaters is $7.25. Brochures of all programs are obtainable at the theaters.

‘The Lion of Judah’ is a plain cartoon | 1 star

 
A faith-based cartoon aimed at the very youngest Sunday school students, “The Lion of Judah” is the story of Easter as observer by farm animals.

There’s assure in the idea that farm animals might band together to put sideways a spunky lamb (voiced by Georgina Cordova) who doesn’t understand he’s about to become a give up. Landing Oscar winner Ernest Borgnine as the voice of a heroic rat and Michael Madsen (an “unclean” raven) counts as a coup.

But the script is drab and nearly grave. It’s as if the writers never saw a secular cartoon and couldn’t find anything funny to do with a cowardly horse, an irked human-hating donkey and a lamb who calls himself “The Lion of Judah.” The 2-D and 3-D animation tends toward the unrefined — in the clunky style of direct-to-video fare. What, the VeggieTales folks weren’t available for a discussion?

No sooner have the animals met Judah than a human has quick him and sent him off to Jerusalem. The other critters suck up the bravery to go after him. Along the way, they hear of a new “King” among the humans, a king born in their steady years before. He is the only person who can set the lamb free, they consider.

The dialogue is banal, the jokes weak and the sight gags, like all else animated here, leave a lot to be desired. The meek may come into the Earth, but they won’t do well at the cinema complex if they can’t do better than this.

The Museum of Cartoon and Comic Art Fest 2011

The Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art -- MoCCA is pleased to announce that PETER KUPER has designed the image for the 2011 MoCCA Festival poster and t-shirt in honor of the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art -- MoCCA's 10th anniversary. PETER KUPER is the co-founder of World War 3 Illustrated. His illustrations and comics have appeared in magazines running the gamut from Time to MAD.He has published over twenty books including an adaptation of Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis. His latest book is Diario de Oaxaca a journal of two years he spent living in Mexico.

Special guests at MoCCA Fest 2011 include Johnnie Arnold, Peter Bagge, Nick Bertozzi, Ken Dahl, Jules Feiffer, Pascal Girard,Tom Hart, Dean Haspiel, Ben Katchor, Chip Kidd, Michael Kupperman, Robert Mankoff, Joe Ollmann, Bill Plympton, Alex Robinson, R. Sikoryak, Eric Skillman, Ted Stearn, Adrian Tomine, Gahan Wilson, Julia Wertz, Sarah Glidden, Jessica Abel, Lisa Hanawalt, Leslie Stein, Domitille Collardey, Meredith Gran, and Kate Beaton.

Featured exhibitors include Abrams Books, Danish Consulate, Drawn & Quarterly, Evil Twin Comics, Fantagraphics, First Second Books, Kirby Museum, Mammal Magazine, NBM, New York University, Pantheon Books, Papercutz, Parsons Illustration, Picturebox, Random House Publishing Group, Royal Norwegian Consulate General, Sparkplug Comic Books, School of Visual Arts, The Center for Cartoon Studies, The Daily Show, Top Shelf Productions, Will Eisner Studios, World War 3, and Zip Comics
The 2011 Klein Award will be given to Al Jaffee by Peter Kuper!!
The MoCCA Festival will take place over April 9-10, 2011 at the Lexington Avenue Armory located at 68 Lexington Avenue between 25th and 26th Streets. The annual two-day event attracts thousands of comic art lovers and creators from around the globe to celebrate the world’s most popular art form in the heart of New York City.

Since 2002 the MoCCA Festival offers a unique venue to experience comics, mini-comics, web comics, graphic novels, animation, posters, prints, original artwork and more. Each year, the Festival invites dozens of established and emerging creators, scholars, and other experts to participate in two days of lecture/discussion panels on a variety of comics and cartoon topics. For 2011, the panels and programs are being organized by Brian Heater (The Daily Crosshatch)

Flintstones set for yabba-dabba-do-over

 
Cartoon classic The Flintstones is set to return in a new account planned by Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane, Fox Television has long-established.

The new series, likely to air in 2013, will give a "21st Century spin" to the 1960s Hanna-Barbera lively series.
The popular show followed the fortunes of Fred Flintstone, his wife Wilma and their neighbors Barney and Betty.

"The very first cartoon character I drew at age two was Fred Flintstone," said MacFarlane said in a statement.

"So it's suitable that events have come full circle, allowing me to create the newest incarnation of this great permit."

According to Fox entertainment president Kevin Reilly, it is hoped the new series - to begin production later this year - will bring in the prehistoric characters to a "whole new generation."

"Fox has long been home to iconic families like the Simpsons and the Griffins, so I have no doubt that the Flintstones and the Rubbles are going to fit right in," he said.

MacFarlane, 37, is best known for Family Guy, which centre’s on the dysfunctional family of awkward patriarch Peter Griffin.

The Flintstones first came into view on US television in the 1960s, going on to inspire three Hollywood films.
The new show will be a co-production between 20th Century Fox Television and Warners Bros Television, owners of the Hanna-Barbera stable of animated possessions.

Other new programmes proclaimed by Fox this week include Touch, a drama about a father-to-be played by Keifer Sutherland of 24 fame - with special mental abilities.

The network has also plans to make a cartoon version of cult comedy Napoleon Dynamite and a show about ghosts on Alcatraz - the brainchild of Lost and Alias creator JJ Abrams.

Roger Hargreaves' 76th birthday – Google Doodle

Google has put up at least 16 diverse doodles on its home page to rejoice the 76th birth anniversary of English author and illustrator Charles Roger Hargreaves. Hargreaves is best known for his series of Mr Men and Little Miss books for children.

Born on May 9, 1935, in Cleckheaton, England, Hargreaves worked in his father's dry onslaught business, then moved to the world of advertising and lastly came back to his original goal, cartooning. In 1971, he wrote his first Mr. Men book, Mr Tickle, which was a runaway victory and later led to the animated series Mr. Men Show, on BBC. A decade later, the Little Miss series of books began to come into view. His books have sold millions of copies around the world and have been translated into many languages. Hargreaves died of a stroke on September 11, 1988.

While Google has recently been doing a number of animated doodles, the last few have been static descriptions. The different Roger Hargreaves doodles that appear on every enliven of the Google home page feature popular Mr. Men and Little Miss characters including:

Little Miss Magic, Little Miss Tiny, Little Miss Naughty, Little Miss Shy, Little Miss Sunshine, Little Miss Chatterbox, Little Miss Curious, Mr. Messy, Mr. Rush, Mr. Happy, Mr. Dizzy, Mr. Forgetful, Mr. Tickle, Mr. Bump, Mr. Slow and Mr. Funny.

For a dozen years, Google has been infrequently swapping its everyday logo for a doodle. The Google doodles, an artistic take on the Google logo, have gained huge popularity over the past few years and the Google doodle team has put out remembrance doodles on numerous events of international or national significance, ranging from news events, civic milestones, birthdays, death anniversaries and important dates in history. Google estimates it has created more than 900 doodles since 1998, with 270 of them running in 2010. Some appear globally, and others are tailored for local markets.

On May 8, Google celebrated Mother's Day with a greeting-card-like doodle on its home page.

My Dog Tulip – review

Beware of the dog: this ain't no Marley and Me. Nor, in spite of the cartoon pooches, is it a top ticket for canine-mad kids. Paul and Sandra Fierlinger's version of the JR Ackerley memoir about the redemptive powers of a rescue Alsatian called Queenie (renamed for the film) is a good fit for those who like their New Yorker funnies, and like them good and sour. Christopher Plummer does a nice job voicing our misanthropic yet smitten narrator, and there's irrefutable beauty to the understated animation (hand-drawn plates, in a variety of sketchiness). But such a graphic and unrelenting interest in the contents of Tulip's tum, and in Ackerley's attempts to pimp her out ("The application of a little Vaseline to the bitch...") smacks first of obfuscation, then of extreme anxiety.

International animation festival opens in east China

The Seventh International Animation and Cartoon Festival opened Thursday evening in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang region.

The six-day festival for animaters and fans cosponsored by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television and Zhejiang's provincial government, aims to allow cooperation, competition and development flanked by cartoon organizations from home and abroad.

A number of activities, such as a peak forum, an animation exhibition, and an animation contest, will take place throughout the event.

As well, an sale of cartoons by famous Chinese cartoonists will occur as part of the festival.

Animation companies and organizations from 54 countries and areas will attend the festival, as will the world's animation giant, Disney.

The International Animation and Cartoon Festival have been held annually in Hangzhou City since 2005.

Between 2005 to 2010, the event has paying attention more than 1,400 companies and organizations from 47 countries and regions, and has recorded a business transaction volume of 33.6 billion yuan (about 5.17 billion U.S. dollars).

Sumo Mouse, Today (Apr 21)

This Japanese-flavored rich animation is made by a Victorian production company and this first episode is penned by Melbourne-based comedian Tania Lacy. Yet the characters speak with American accents - except for the baddies, who are upper-class English.

Puzzling ethnic origins aside, it's a colourful, comic-book cartoon with brave little being that appear to be half-mouse/half-raver fighting the good fight against the leading species, smarmy little beings that appear to be half-cat/half-raver. Our unlikely sumo-wrestling hero makes his debut by harnessing the power within an ancient wrestler's top-knot in his quest to save his uncle and beat the evil top cat/raver figure. Nice bloodless violence.ut the genuineness of the ''sex addict'' diagnosis.

Bugs and Daffy Go Back in "The Looney Tunes Show"

The Looney Tunes Show openings Tuesday, May 3, at 8 p.m. (ET, PT) on Cartoon Network
Animation's most much-loved characters are back in an all-new series, The Looney Tunes Show, premiering Tuesday, May 3, at 8 p.m. (ET, PT) on Cartoon Network. Bugs and Daffy haven't changed - but their living state of relationships has. Bugs are as brazen, ironic and ahead-of-the-game as ever, and Daffy, despite his vain, sociopathic and suspicious tendencies, is Bugs' best friend and seemingly enduring houseguest. No longer restricted to seven-minute shorts, their larger-than-life character (and egos) offer a rude, comical take on our modern world and introduce a whole new realm of potential. Now Bugs and Daffy can wreak as much havoc at the grocery store or the DMV as they once did in the forest.

The premiere episode, "Best Friends," sets the scene for this improbable pair's lively. Daffy make a decisions the duo can make a quick buck by going on the game show "Besties," where best friends answer questions about one another. However, it becomes fairly clear that self-absorbed Daffy knows absolutely nothing about Bugs. Daffy wants to make it up to him with a wonderful cruise, but cannot even do that right.
Throughout the series, familiar faces from the Looney Tunes cosmos join Bugs and Daffy. Rounding out the cast are the everlastingly hopeful Porky Pig, the quick and quick-witted Speedy Gonzales, the insane but lovable Lola, Yosemite Sam, Foghorn Leghorn, the Tasmanian Devil, Marvin the Martian, Pepe Le Pew, Tweety, Sylvester, Granny, the Witch, Gossamer, Tosh and Mac Gopher, and the newest nature of the bunch, Daffy's no-nonsense girlfriend, Tina.

The series also skin Merrie Melodies - animated music videos of original songs spotlight everyone from Elmer Fudd to Pepe Le Pew, plus all-new adventures with the Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote in dramatic CG. All this jointly in one half-hour comedy, The Looney Tunes Show deliver fresh, sophisticated humor, heartwarming instants and something Looney for everyone.

The Looney Tunes Show will join fellow cartoon icons from the hit animated series Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated on Tuesday nights. Scooby and the gang are back solving mysteries in the spooky town of Crystal Cove - including the overarching mystery of Mister E. and their Mystery Incorporated predecessors - when season two of Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated premieres on Tuesday, May 3, at 7:30 p.m. (ET, PT).

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

'Hop' still tops at box office, 'Arthur' staggers

Moviegoers would rather hear Russell Brand than see him.

The hasty English comic claimed the top two spots at the North American box office -- as the voice in the live-action/animated family film "Hop," which led the field for a second weekend, and as the star of the "Arthur" remake, which opened poorly at No. 2, according to studio approximate issued on Sunday.

"Hop" earned USD 21.7 million during the three days beginning Friday, taking its 10-day total to $68.2 million. The Easter-themed family picture was produced by Illumination Entertainment, the animation firm behind last year's hit "Appalling Me."

"Arthur," in whom Brand takes over the title role created by Dudley Moore 30 years ago, earned just USD 12.6 million during its first three days.

The film's distributor, Warner Bros., said it had hoped for an opening in the mid-teen millions. The film cost in the mid-USD 60 million ranges to make.

Three other films enter theaters on Friday. "Hanna," an action movie starring 16-year-old Saoirse Ronan as an killer, was No. 3 with USD 12.3 million; "Soul Surfer," the true-life story of a young girl who lost her arm to a shark, followed with USD 11.1 million; and "Your Highness," a medieval comedy starring newly minted Oscar winner Natalie Portman, bombed at No. 6 with just $9.5 million.

"Hop" and "Your Highness" were released by Universal Pictures, and "Hanna" by Focus Features. Both are units of NBC Universal, which is forbidden by Comcast Corp.

Warner Bros. is a unit of Time Warner Inc.

"Soul Surfer" was released by TriStar Pictures, a unit of Sony Corp.

‘ThunderCats’ Wondercon Trailer Hits the Web, New Plot Details Exposed

The WB disclose the first footage for its future ThunderCats TV series revival, which is set to air this summer.

The weekend’s WonderCon fan meeting in San Francisco, Calif. brought attendees — among many other things — their first look at the future ThunderCats TV series revitalization, which is coming to Cartoon Network this summer from Warner Bros. Animation. Luckily for those of us who couldn’t make the hike out west, WB has been kind sufficient to post that entrance footage online.

It was first revealed during a weekend panel characteristic producers Michael Jelenic (Batman: The Brave and the Bold) and Ethan Spaulding (Avatar: The Last Airbender), art director Dan Norton and Larry Kenney, the voice of the original Lion-O as well as the same character’s father in the upcoming series. In addition to the recording, the panel also brought some information on the story’s basic layout.

There are 26 episodes of the show ready to go now, but the creators have twice that number intended should it be well-received. The trailer, which you can check out below or on The WB’s website feels like an equivalent mix of old and new. The character designs look mainly faithful, albeit with a Japanese anime taste, but there are mechs and missiles and lasers that give everything more of a sci-fi feel.

Japan disaster flashes Simpsons nuclear disaster ban

Broadcasters in Germany, Australia and Switzerland have strong-willed to ban or censor episodes of The Simpsons that poke fun at nuclear tragedy in light of Japan's atomic crisis.

"We are examination all the episodes and we won't show any suspect ones, but we won't cut any scenes," Stella Rodger, a spokesman for German private broadcaster Pro7, said. "We haven't late any yet."

Austria's ORF network has so far banned a total of eight episodes, counting one that features scientists Marie and Pierre Curie dying of emission fatal. Switzerland's SF network has done the same.

The nuclear plant in the Simpsons' hometown of Springfield is a key element in the long-running satirical cartoon, with the hapless Homer in charge of safety despite a slapdash comes near evident from the opening credits beyond.

Previous episodes have shown nuclear waste deserted in a children's playground, plutonium used as a paperweight, cracked cooling towers, glowing rats and three-eyed mutant fish, as well as near-meltdowns.

"Of course we can't totally change the entire content," Ms Rodger acknowledged.

Cartoon Network declares 'DC Nation' Programming For 2012 Season

Television will be getting an additional dosage of the DC Universe next year, thanks to Cartoon Network and Warner Bros. Animation.

During today's Cartoon Network upfront presentation, the network announced plans for on-air and online "DC Nation" programming in 2012, described as a mix of "event indoctrination, interstitials, exclusive behind-the-scenes of dramatic production and an insider look into the world of all things DC."

Produced by "ThunderCats" and "Green Lantern: The Animated Series" producers Warner Bros. Animation, the programming will premiere in 2012. 

Here's the official outline of "DC Nation," as well as the outline for "ThunderCats" and "Green Lantern: The Animated Series" 

DC Nation: A multi-platform, branded block of unique programming and exclusive content based on the DC Comics library of legendary character properties, DC Nation is developed in partnership with Cartoon Network, Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment. The all-new business enterprise will harness the publishing, theatrical and television assets together for one powerful on-air block on Cartoon Network with elite online happy.

ThunderCats: The re-imagined animated series based on the beloved 80s classic tells the tale of a hero’s epic journey to fulfill his final fate. On Third Earth, the kingdom of Thundera is being in danger by the evil sorcerer Mumm-Ra and young heir to the throne Lion-O embarks on a great quest to take his rightful place as king. The improbable champion, joined by his faithful comrades Tygra, Cheetara, Panthro, WilyKit, WilyKat and his loyal pet Snarf, must work together to save their world from darkness.

Green Lantern: The Animated Series: Based upon the DC Comics super hero, the series is an all-new CG animated action series from Warner Bros. As Earth’s Green Lantern, Hal Jordan is used to being in dangerous situations but he’s never faced anything like this! Set at the furthest reaches of deep space, Hal must face down an attack from the Red Lantern Corps. Hal is soon joined by an all-new group of heroes on a mission to protect Guardian Space and the Green Lantern group itself!

US: Lego Ninjago series heads up new Cartoon Network list

Broadcaster confirms 13 new animated series' and 19 returning shows.

In a presentation at the New York Lincoln Centre, Cartoon Network revealed its new programming schedule - with Lego Ninjago and How to Train Your Dragon topping the list.

The CG-animated Ninjago series will air towards the end of 2011 and is yet more proof of Lego’s intention to grow the Ninjago brand.

Earlier this year Cartoon Network aired Lego Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu, a movie on January 24th. The story followed Kai, a young Lego man on a journey to become a ninja, and gives a basis for the forthcoming Nintendo DS game called Lego Battles: Ninjago, due for let go in April.

A TV series of Dreamworks’ Oscar nominated How to Train Your Dragon had previously been proclaimed, but with it scheduled in, the brand now looks set to soar, with sequels to the film in already the works.

Turner Broadcasting's animation president and chief operating officer, Stuart Snyder, said: "Our commitment last year to build on the volume of broad content for our audience has paid off in solid ratings growth and rehabilitated strength among our core six to 11 audience.

"We now have successful new shows that we can grow into the next big permits. By partnering with premier entertainment companies like Warner Bros, DreamWorks Animation SKG and DC Entertainment, we are laying the groundwork for even further growth and growth opportunities across the coming year."

Also on the way this year is The Amazing World of Gumball, predicted to be a top brand. Turner has already commissioned a new season of the show, before the first has even aired.

Turner gives Gumball second period order

Turner has ordered a second period of The Amazing World of Gumball, the first sequence to come out of its European Development Studio.

The show was efficiently Cartoon Network Europe's first full-length animated series commission. Cartoon Network said that after imposing testing in the US that it has greenlit another 40x11mins series ahead of the first one airing. It will debut on Cartoon Network in the UK on May 2 before undulating out on its US channel a week later and then internationally from the fourth quarter.

The 2D and 3D comedy show is produced by Cartoon and Irish studio Boulder Media with the 3D elements handled by Studio Soi in Germany.

"There is a unbelievable hunger for high-quality, narrative driven comedy animation amongst children's audiences around the world, and with The Amazing World of Gumball, we are helping fill that gap," said Michael Carrington, Turner Broadcasting's chief content officer, who joined from the BBC last year.

Disney staffs Two Scottish Legends For New Cartoon Short “The Balled Of Nessie”

Disney is grouping up with two Scottish legends for a new cartoon that will be in cinemas after this month. The Loch Ness Monster stars in the short, “The Ballad of Nessie”, which is related by Billy Connolly and sees a go back to classic Disney hand-drawn animation. The animation short will be shown previous to Disney’s Winnie the Pooh, which is in UK cinemas April 15.

Set in the “bonny blue highlands” of Scotland, “The Ballad of Nessie” is a fanciful and colorful high tale about the welcoming Loch Ness monster, Nessie, and how she and her best friend MacQuack the rubber duck came to live in the moor they now call home. Setting the escapade into motion is a gluttonous land developer named MacFroogle, who make a decision to build a mini-golf empire on top of Nessie’s home.

Directed by the Emmy® Award-winning team of Stevie Wermers-Skelton and Kevin Deters (“Prep & Landing,” and the 2007 Goofy short “How to Hook Up Your Home Theater”), “The Ballad of Nessie” is lively in classic Disney hand-drawn style. Written by Wermers-Skelton, Deters and Regina Conroy, the film is produced by Dorothy McKim and Tamara Boutcher, and features a musical score by Oscar(R)-winning composer Michael Giacchino (“Ratatouille,” “Up”). Animation on “Nessie” was supervised by five of Disney’s top talents: Andreas Deja, Mark Henn, Randy Haycock, Dale Baer and Ruben A. Aquino. Scottish comedian Billy Connolly narrates the film.

Cartoon Saloon associates on 'Song'

Moore's 'Kells' follow-up bordered as Euro co-prod

Ireland's Cartoon Saloon has joined down European partners on "Song of the Sea," Tomm Moore's follow-up to "The Secret of Kells."

In "Sea's" first sharing deal, Optimum Releasing has nabbed U.K. and Irish rights.
Cartoon Saloon will lead produce "Sea" out of its animation studio in Kilkenny, Ireland. Viborg-based Noerlum Studios will co-produce out of Denmark, as long as close to half the animation.

Big Farm co-produces from Belgium. A joint venture of brothers Serge and Marc Ume's Digital Graphics Studios and Stephan Roelant's Melusine in Luxembourg, Big Farm's involvement opens the manufacture up to both Digital Graphics and Melusine sister company Studio 352.

Digital Graphics will give CG animation, SFX, compositing and ink and paint and stereoscopic work. Paris' Super Prods., the new company of ex-Alphanim head Clement Calvet, will also co-produce, associating on post-production and music.
Pre-production is intended for September on "Sea," which is budgeted at €5.3 million ($7.4 million).

Moore will direct "Sea" from a screenplay co-penned with Will Collins, who wrote Tribeca Fest player "My Brothers," the managerial debut of Shane Meadow's scribe Paul Fraser.

"Song of the Sea" turns on Saoirse, a child who is the last of the selkies, women in Irish and Scottish legends who change from seals into people. She escapes from her grandmother's home to journey to the sea and free fairy being trapped in the contemporary world.

Rango – review

Kids and their parents will get more than a few laughs out of "Rango," a enormously bright animated western that looks like it's in 3-D, even though it isn't. A pet chameleon gets estranged from his owners in a desert highway accident. He meanders to a town called Dirt, populated by a amazement of desert beings. Rango becomes the dried hamlet's new sheriff. He has fun live the role until he discovers that the mayor, a wily turtle, may be part of a wicked water-stealing plot that is killing the town.

Then Rango must find the real bravery to save Dirt and win over a girl lizard named Beans. "Rango" comes close to being incessantly pleasant - full of visual humor to amuse kids and references to classic westerns to tickle adults. But near the end there is a big battle that goes on too long and becomes a little too aggressive for under-8s and perhaps for 8-to-10-year-olds.

THE BOTTOM LINE: The PG score is tested a bit in the battle, when bad guys of an undefined species fly into the fray on huge bats. Creepy. The dialogue creates repeated use of the word "hell," along with at least one "damn."

Ottawa animation fest's best delivers diverse cartoon party

IT'S not a good sign when an animator fails to close a film festival entry, desperately submits a roughly cobbled-together one-minute doo-dad titled Sorry Film Not Ready, and it still manages to get included on the annual best-of collection.

Auspiciously, the program of a dozen animated shorts culled from the 2010 Ottawa International Animation Festival does contain films of more work-intensive value. None of the films are on the list of this year's Oscar candidates either, but one film from last year's festival Madagascar, Carnet de Voyage is a 2010 Oscar nominee, so most probably some of the films on this year's program may be chosen for 2011.

My individual picks from the 14:

-- Little Deaths, an erotic doc-toon by Ruth Lingford, offers up some sumptuous, occasionally abstract images over the voices of various people effecting to explain what orgasm feels like.

-- Midtown Twist is a deftly satiric, jazzy representation of Manhattan commerce from animator Gary Leib.

-- Angry Man, from Norway, is a moving but frightening short employing storybook-like cut-outs to depict a little boy's fear and confusion at the spectacle of his father's violent rages. A dog and a flock of strange birds compel him to reveal shameful family secrets, and free his family from the oppression of bad temper.

-- Love & Theft, a German work by Andreas Hykade, is an elegant vision (if such a thing is possible) in which one cartoon face morphs into another. The "theft" in the title may refer to faces that look something like copyright-protected figures such as Micky Mouse, Donald Duck, Betty Boop, Spider-Man and Spongebob Squarepants morphing into Karl Marx and Hitler, among many, many others. This is simple (but subversive) animation at its best.

-- The External World from David O'Reilly is a grand prize-winning, retro-computer animation featuring a assortment of pretty hilarious sight gags incorporating prehistoric video-game imagery, bloody slapstick and just plain rude behavior.

The Best of the Ottawa International Animation Festival plays at Cinematheque until Thursday, Feb. 24.

Gnomeo & Juliet – review

This animated movie, produced by Elton John and David Furnish, retells the tale of Romeo and Juliet through the rising clash between the blue and red gnomes in the gardens of next-door houses busy by the Montague and Capulet families in a London suburban terrace. The voices are provided by leading British actors ranging from Jason Statham as Tybalt to Patrick Stewart as Shakespeare. A lot of consideration, love and hard work has gone into this picture, and it even has a happy ending, though what Shakespeare himself sees, to his obvious pleasure, is an atomic mushroom in the far coldness.