French site Inter-Activities posted an interesting interview with the character designer of all three Ice Age movies, Peter DeSève. The three time Annie Award nominee also worked on Disney’s Mulan and Hunchback of Notre Dame. Thank you to ‘Jeremie’ for the alert on the Animated News & Views Forum.

The reviews are in and the pictures are out: Jack Black with 40 Po’s on the Carlton pier for DreamWorks’ annual promotional stunt; the costume character Jeffrey Katzenberg managed to sneak on the red carpet; and the star-studded premiere featuring the much-talked about pregnant Angelina Jolie whose announcement she was expecting twin girls seems to have eclipsed interest in the film itself. The actress calls Kung Fu Panda a “classic tale,” while Dustin Hoffman joked that voicing a character in an animated feature is “a decline in culture.”

Jim Hill recently chatted with the book author about how he went about writing this unauthorized history of Pixar Animation Studios. The 320-page book is in stores now.

According to the New York Post, “the animated film generating the most buzz at the Cannes Film Festival is not Kung Fu Panda” but rather Waltz With Bashir, “an unconventional documentary by Israel’s Ari Folman that combines flash animation, traditional hand drawing and computer-generated images. The animation was based on video interviews Folman shot of himself and other former Israeli soldiers who were stationed in Lebanon, where Christian militia members opened fire on Palestinian refugee camps in 1981.” Click here for more information on the animated documentary.

The excellent Deadline Hollywood Daily reports very early weekend estimates, forecasting that Disney’s The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian will make only $60 million over the weekend after earning a relatively weak $19 million Friday from 3,929 theaters. Many had expected the film to open north of $70 million; at least it’s not sinking to Speed Racer lows, with the $160 million Warner Bros. bomb expected to end its entire domestic run around the $50 million mark. All eyes are now turned to Paramount’s Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull which many analysts expect will break records with a possible 5-day opening north of $160 million! On the animation front, DreamWorks’ Kung Fu Panda and Disney/Pixar’s Wall•E are both released in June, making it the first time the toon giants battle it out the same month.

Those curious about what Monster House director Gil Kenan has in store for us next should check out the official site of his new live action film for a teaser look. City of Ember opens in U.S. theaters October 10th.

And Jim Hill Media has an exclusive report on the event!

Reviews of DreamWorks’ June 6th offering are pouring in following Kung Fu Panda’s world premiere Thursday in Cannes. Kirk Honeycutt at the Hollywood Reporter calls the film “a martial arts masterpiece” (the stunning fight sequences in the film were choreographed by animation veteran Rodolphe Guenoden), adding that “although it’s aimed primarily at youngsters, Kung Fu Panda embraces humor that plays well across age groups and nationalities. Certainly the sustained applause at its Cannes Film Festival world premiere here bodes well for international box office success.” Meanwhile, Variety’s Todd McCarthy was less thrilled with the film which he describes as “a nice looking but heavily formulaic DreamWorks animation entry,” as was Lou Lumenick’s NY Post who found the film “very conventional and (…) aimed strictly at kids.” However Time calls it “cunning visual art and ultra-satisfying entertainment” and IGN a “delightful family film.” Cinematical gives the film polite applause, noting that “Kung Fu Panda may be on the higher edge of the middle rank of computer-animated films, but it’ll still provide your kids with a fairly respectable mix of action, amazement and amusement.” Britain’s Screen International rounds up the reviews describing Kung Fu Panda as “warm and very likable Hollywood fare.”

DreamWorks is now auctioning movie premiere tickets and a private screening of their upcoming film Kung Fu Panda on eBay to benefit Conservation International and “help pandas in the wild.”

Those living in the L.A. area should make sure to check out the second Animation Book Look festival tomorrow afternoon between 1pm and 6pm in Sherman Oaks, CA (13613 Ventura Blvd). Surf’s Up directors Chris Buck and Chris Jenkins will be in attendance along with the authors of the art of Kung Fu Panda, Monster House & Surf’s Up books. Do not miss it!

The 18th International Animated Film Festival “Les Nuits Magiques” will take place in Bègles, France (near Bordeaux) from December 3 to December 14, 2008. All animated short and feature films, directed after December 31, 2006, are eligible. [More...]

According to Animation World Network, Marjane Satrapi’s autobiographical animated film Persepolis has won the Grand Prix Award at the seventh AniFest, International Festival of Animated Films. “Stark graphic design and the real-life personal story evokes a powerful visceral reaction. The political situation is innocently judged from a child’s perspective as she matures into adulthood. Persepolis comments on social political life and supports the ideal of freedoms that all people deserve.”

TV Shows on DVD has posted the new cover art for the September 2nd release of It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown: Remastered Deluxe Edition. This DVD will include a bonus Peanuts TV special which is expected to be You’re Not Elected, Charlie Brown. Updated information on the extras can be found here.

An interview with Damon Bard can be read at the Character Design Blogspot. Bard is a sculptor who has created character maquettes for animated films such as Kung Fu Panda, Surf’s Up, Madagascar, and Over The Hedge. The interview also features many photographs of various pieces Bard has sculpted in his career. Thanks to ‘rsly75′ over at the Animated News & Views Forum for the tip!

Variety quietly confirmed last week that ER actor Bruno Campos had been cast as the titular amphibian character in Disney’s traditionally animated feature The Princess and the Frog. Anika Noni Rose will be his princess and Keith David will voice the film’s villain, Dr. Facilier.

Asked by Movieweb about her role in the upcoming Pixar movie while promoting King of the Hill, the talented actress revealed that “I play a character named Mary and I actually haven’t seen the movie. I’m seeing it on the 20th. I was so honored to do it. When my agent called and said Pixar, I said yes right away. I know there are not a lot of characters. I think there are 5 human characters. It’s a combination and a little tiny bit of live-action. It’s really, very ahead of its time. I can’t wait.”

IBN Live attended a press screening of DreamWorks’ Kung Fu Panda earlier today in Cannes, France and reports that journalists “laughed and cheered in unison as the overweight panda outshone himself and emerged the gifted Dragon Warrior in this gem of an animated film (…) that’ll have its world premiere in Cannes on Thursday.” Expect a press stunt tomorrow to help publicize Kung Fu Panda a day ahead of its official Cannes Film Festival screening.

A sneak peak of Cartoon Network’s upcoming animated series Flapjack can be viewed here. The video, which is approximately six minutes long, is part of an episode titled That’s A Wrap. Flapjack will premier on Cartoon Network on June 5th at 8:30 PM.

Pathe will unveil footage from Sylvain Chomet (The Triplets of Belleville)’s new animated feature film The Illusionist at the Marche du Film in Cannes this week, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Chomet, who wrote the movie based on previously unproduced material by Jacques Tati, has been working on it since June 2006. The 2D/CGI blend The Illusionist “details the story of a dying breed of stage entertainer whose thunder is being stolen by emerging rock stars. Forced to accept increasingly obscure assignments in fringe theaters, garden parties and bars, he meets a young fan who changes his life forever.” Pathe plans to release the $22 million budgeted film in France and the U.K. next year with Pathe International handling worldwide sales.

UpcomingPixar points at a new WALL•E Clip at Yahoo! Movies wherein the director Andrew Stanton discusses the character of WALL-E and the adventure that awaits him.