May
DreamWorks Animation SKG are on their own now, and releasing Over The Hedge on May 19, starring Bruce Willis, Steve Carell, and many others. The 3-D CG visual style definitely builds on the company's previous work on Shrek, while the story and characters are based on a popular comic strip. [Trailer]
June
The last of the Disney-distributed Pixar films comes on June 9: Cars. Will the marketing, geared so far to NASCAR fans and playing on Southern stereotypes, pay off? Disney and Pixar together haven't missed with a 3-D CG film yet, and talking cars make a nice break from the usual fare of talking animals. [Trailer]
July
Monster House is a film about some kids and an abandoned house. The twist is that the house is apparently alive. On July 21, Sony will bring us this film, which takes a common suburban daydream and brings it to life. There are many animated people in this 3-D CG movie, but the producers have gone the way of The Incredibles and kept them clearly cartoonish. [Trailer]
August
Warner Brothers releases The Ant Bully on August 4. When a boy who delights in torturing ants, including drowning them, is magically shrunk and put on trial by those very same ants, his excuses won't be enough. This film is also based on a popular book. The ants in this 3-D CG movie look more like the early efforts from DreamWorks SKG's Antz than the Disney/Pixar A Bug's Life. August seems like just the right time of year for a movie about ants. [Trailer]
Also in August, on the 26th, another well-timed movie is scheduled. Baseball and late summer are perfect for each other, and so: Yankee Irving. 20th Century Fox's second animated film of 2006, this one is about a boy who overcomes all obstacles and travels a thousand miles to return Babe Ruth's bat and help the New York Yankees win the 1932 World Series. No trailer has yet been released for this film, but will presumably appear on the movie's website eventually.
September
Sony Pictures Animation is releasing their first film this year, Open Season. A multi-layered fish-out-of-water story, this movie features Martin Lawrence as a bear who is dragged out of his comfortable suburban garage into the wild by a friend, and the hijinks that ensue. It's 3-D CG. [Trailer]
Article comments
1 - Phillip Winn
My wife despises the "new look" of Curious George, as well as the updating of the story evident in the trailer.
2 - El Bicho
Your wife is a smart woman. Curious George looks horrible with pupils. I hope they don't cut him huffing ether.
3 - Phillip Winn
I tried to explain that it could be worse, but our kids still love the books, so she won't budge.
4 - Sterfish
Reading this list, I'm reminded of Jerry Beck's comments about the large amount of films dealing with animals banding together for a big task. Despite that, I'm looking forward to a lot of these films.
Over The Hedge looks like a very fun film, based on the trailer. I'm very much looking forward to Cars not just because it's a Pixar film but also because John Lassiter is directing it. Happy Feet looks like fun as well and it has George Miller of Babe/Mad Max behind it. I'm also very intrigued by Meet The Robinsons (which is actually Disney-made unlike The Wild).
Overall, though, if even half of these films end up being good, it will end up being a great year for animation. One thing I'm curious about, though, is what anime films will make their way to the U.S. this year. Last year had two big films by two powerhouses of Japanese animation. I really don't know what there is to look forward to in terms of Japanese animated films this year.
5 - dannykino
A scanner Darkly is an awesome book, I hope the film lives up to P.K Dicks books (if u dont know his works- Bladerunner, Minority Report, Total Recall!!!). Looks pretty good anyway. I guess they maybe able to use CG to get rid of some of Keanus woodenness. Can't wait!!!
6 - Phillip Winn
Over the Hedge is such a darkly-written strip that I assume they're softening it *a little* for the big screen.
I did a decent bit of research for this article, and it seems that no Japanese animation is scheduled to be released in U.S. theaters in 2006. There's a large pile of stuff coming out on DVD, of course, but it looks like we'll be waiting until 2007 or later to see anything on the big screen.
A Scanner Darkly is a fascinating book, but I'm guess that Keanu still acts like a robot even when illustrated. :-)
7 - Megan LeeWoonChing
Hello. This is my first time here. I think that it is really great of you all to come up with all these animation movies and I hope that you will keep up the good work. May Father in heaven lead you and guide you in all that you do to give you success. REMEMBER: DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH WASTE (URINE, FAECES, GARBAGE, POISON, & ETC.).
I have done it so far. SO CAN YOU!
8 - Anonymous
I heard there is going to be a Simpsons movie as well.
9 - Phillip Winn
July 27, 2007 for the Simpsons, so it doesn't make this list.
10 - thomas
why did i not see any elfquest being at least made.
dreamworks should cut out the bad stuff and at least try to make a movie base on the comics of elfquest.