Introduction to Japanese Anime Films

Anime is the term for cartoons that come from Japana.Drugu word is used so that should not be confused with the western animated shows. Unlike the West, where animated films are generally made ​​for kids, Japanese anime can target any age group, in addition, some broadcasts are intended for adults only

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Anime is a visual medium that gives a lot of freedom for artists to express themselves. Some animes can be very stylish, while others take a more realistic approach. They are also known for mixing CG effects with traditional hand-drawn animation successfully.

Now that we have determined that anime can be a medium for any kind of story - not only shows for kids - let's talk about anime movies. Similar to Western producers of animated films such as Toy Story and Finding Nemo, Japan's anime industry, its film. However, although the Japanese animation is becoming more popular overseas, and not many people are familiar with the more impressive works of anime. Largely commercialized and overhyped shows like Digimon and Naruto are the most popular.

So, if you've got your first impression of anime through low quality as the child shows you've seen on TV, it's not enough reason to decide that all anime is bad. You should watch some of the best anime films, instead - like "Spirited Away" by the Japanese anime genius Hayao Miyazaki. This animated film won an Oscar, and this is the first (and so far, only) non-English animated work that won an Oscar.

Films by Hayao Miyazaki (such as Howl moving castle, Princess Mononoke, and so on) are always a good bet when looking for a great anime movies to watch. There are also other classics such as The Tomb of Fireflies, Ghost in the Shell or Akira. Most of these films have been translated and named so it will not have trouble acquiring DVD and enjoy a fantastic trip.

Music in Anime

Music is important that every anime and going from the first second. Almost always after publication (series, ova, or movies) its going to sell. For very popular productions in particular a few seasons, the disc will be released for the fans. No wonder a whole, because in addition to its main goal anime ostsite also have a financial position - series is mainly financed by the manufacturers of equipment such as audio and video discs, toys. Thus, a series of soundtrack sales support additional series.



Discs contain songs, poems, and sometimes some form of dialogue. Of course, most of these songs are the opening disc also predefining series' commercial success. Opening and closing theme performed by specially invited musicians or actors seyu vocal recording soundtrack. Sometimes manufacturers can start to cast an actor of the series just let him / her perform a song there and become so famous. Interrupt threads are less prestigious than the introductory ones, but still granted a few.



Many top bands to agree to take anime songs. In 1999 Pillows recorded 2 songs for the popular FLCL - Ride on Shooting Star, and I think I can. In 2001 he published in the U.S. in boosting its popularity in North America.



Super Dimension Fortress Macross series known as Robotech in the U.S. actually gave rise seyu industry in the early 1980s due to the Mari Iijima, the young actress and singer in the key female role in Lynn Minmay. This series of songs performed by her are the top-rated in the Japanese hit parade for the first time in the history of anime sparked a huge spectator interest in this profession.

Stay in My Memory

An artful Masterpiece

An animated music video to 'Stay in My Memory' by Bim, using stop motion and cut out animation. A couple from a pop up book is separated, and the woman goes in search of her love.

The Governator - OFFICIAL TRAILER

"I Luv Caleefornia!"

Who has special "Speak Sprays" (disguised as breath freshener) that let him speak a foreign language? Who has an electronic "Fly Spy" with a mini-cam that activates through his ring, and tracks through his "G Shades"? Who has Bubble Trouble (bubblegum), that splats to form a face mask secret identity. With his 3 amazing teenage cohorts, his underground lair of super vehicles, and his digital super suits, who delivers the ULTIMATE in both comedy and action. The GOVERNATOR! (Here's a sneak peak at some of the action!!......)

First Look at Pixar's BRAVE

Concept Art for Pixar's Upcoming Film

[Source: aicn.com] BRAVE, formerly called THE BEAR AND THE BOW, is Pixar's first take on a fairy tale, and as expected it seems they're going the unconventional route, to judge by the plot and the concept art. For one thing, this will be Pixar's first female protagonist, and it's about time:

The plot, according to Entertainment Weekly, involves Princess Merida (Kelly Macdonald) who one day breaks a sacred custom of her kingdom, led by King Fergus (Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson), that brings disorder to the land. To try to rectify the situation, Merida seeks out a Wise Woman (Julie Walters), who grants her a wish that turns out to have unlucky consequences.

Clone Wars Season 3 Finale

Premiering April 1, 2011, at 7:00 PM (CT) on Cartoon Network

Click on any of the screenshots below to view full-size:

The full press information follows, including comments from supervising director Dave Filoni and CG Supervisor Joel Aron.

[center]A Very Hairy Hero Joins the Fight in the Must-See, Two-Part Season Finale of Star Wars: The Clone Wars – next Friday on Cartoon Network!

In the pulse-pounding, hour-long season finale, Ahsoka Tano is taken captive and stranded on a planetary game preserve, where she finds herself on the run from merciless and sadistic Trandoshan hunting parties. With the odds stacked against her and no rescue in sight, hope for survival begins to dwindle – that is, until her escape efforts receive an unexpected boost from a friendly – and furry! – fellow captive. The chase begins with “Padawan Lost” and continues into “Wookiee Hunt” – it’s a must-see, double dose of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, airing at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT Friday, April 1 on Cartoon Network.

By now, it’s no secret that a familiar face will join Ahsoka’s private guerilla battle against the Trandoshans. After all, it’s hard to keep a seven-foot Wookiee under wraps, and Chewbacca’s certainly not one to hide in the shadows when his friends are in danger. Making his Clone Wars debut, loyal and lovable Chewie teams up with the desperate Padawan to wreak havoc on the vicious hunters’ plans – proving once and for all that it’s not wise to upset a Wookiee.

“Everybody loves Chewie, “says Dave Filoni, Supervising Director of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. “He’s like a big teddy bear, except that he’s got a temper. You want him on your side, because if he’s on your side, he’s the best friend you could ever have – and who wouldn’t want a Wookiee for a best friend? But we didn’t include him lightly. He’s such a special part of the films, and we knew that we had to do right by him. The story had to do him justice.”

Both literally and figuratively, the finale’s guest star is a big one for The Clone Wars – but even bigger than a towering Wookiee was the challenge of bringing the gentle giant to life. But the Clone Wars crew had the blessing – and the expert counsel – of actor Peter Mayhew, the man who has played the iconic role since Star Wars’ debut in 1977.

“Having Peter’s involvement was essential, and it was a major coup for the crew,” says Filoni. “We’d done some preliminary designs and some rough animation tests, but we were coming from a place of observation. He’s lived with the character for more than three decades. He is Chewie. He helped us focus in on the qualities that make Chewie live and breathe. His input helped make our version of the character that much more authentic – his mannerisms, details of his walk, facial expressions, that sort of thing. We couldn’t have done it without him; it just wouldn’t have been Chewie.”

(click to enlarge)
It’s not wise to upset a Wookiee, as Chewbacca proves
in the two-part season finale of STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS,
premiering at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT Friday, April 1 on Cartoon Network.
TM & © 2011 Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved.

Beyond capturing the iconic mannerisms and distinctive idiosyncrasies of everyone’s favorite “walking carpet,” the Clone Wars crew pushed the visual envelope in other areas, as well – most notably with the finale’s lush locations and impossibly rich environments. But setting the bar for TV animation is no easy task. It’s a constant uphill battle, especially considering production constraints and the level of fan expectations for the series. Helping Filoni lead the team effort is CG Supervisor Joel Aron – a visual effects veteran whose credits include two of the live-action Star Wars prequels.

“I can’t make it happen; I can only envision it. Joel is the guy who makes it come alive. He’s my right hand, my hit-man, my Vader. He’s revolutionized the show, no doubt in my mind,” says Filoni. “I really push him, and so does George [Lucas]. I’ll draw a picture and say ‘This is what I imagined’ – and he makes it happen. It’s a challenge, it’s what he wants – it’s food for him and the team. We’re taking that knowledge, applying it forward. Just look at the backgrounds in these episodes; we’ve got our characters, and now the background environment has also become a character.”

Bringing with him lessons learned at Lucas’ Industrial Light & Magic, Aron inspires enthusiastic innovation, just as he struggles to strike the delicate balance between creating something completely unique and quintessentially familiar.

“My goal is always to capture the essence of Star Wars, the key elements that stick with you,” says Aron. “It’s a very specific feeling, and it’s not always completely literal. We’re in a different medium than the films, working on a different timeline with different tools. That’s a unique challenge; we have to find stylistic ways to reflect those familiar ideals – using shapes and colors, adding textures to backgrounds. But everyone on the crew is up for it, and we love it when it pays off.”

Impressive though it may be, the Season Three finale is still just a stepping stone in the show’s ongoing evolution – a jumping off point as The Clone Wars kicks into hyperdrive.

“These finale episodes are among the best we’ve produced, and it’s only going to keep getting better,” says Filoni. “This is what audiences can expect to see in Season Four. There’s still a big galaxy out there.”

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season Four will launch on Cartoon Network this fall.

The Old Lady and the Spider

A Wise Aniboom Animation by Alexis De Jesus Costa

In an indian village, a young girl is scared by her nightmares of a spider and calls out to her grandmother to soothe her. The grandmother befriends a spider that lives nearby and cleverly acts as a peacemaker between the spider and her granddaughter. Translated from French by the animator.

Thor & Loki: Blood Brothers

A New Animated Series

[Source: BleedingCool.com] Marvel Knights Animation is proud to announce Thor and Loki: Blood Brothers, an all-new four-episode series debuting on iTunes, Xbox LIVE, and PlayStation® Network on Monday, March 28th. Further episodes debut weekly on Wednesdays beginning April 6th, with each high-definition episode priced at $2.99 (standard definition is also available at $1.99/episode).

Inspired by the acclaimed graphic novel from Robert Rodi and Esad Ribic, Thor and Loki: Blood Brothers takes a powerful look inside the minds of Thor and Loki, brothers in the mythical land of Asgard and seemingly forever enemies. But just why does Loki hate his brother Thor? And could it be that this master of mischief isn't really the villain he's been branded? Loki's insatiable lust for power and his feud with Thor take on new meaning in this resonant epic.

"It's been an incredible experience developing and producing Thor and Loki: Blood Brothers," says Ruwan Jayatilleke, producer of Thor and Loki. "The source material by Robert and Esad is absolutely brilliant and works on so many different levels as a story for multiple mediums. To be honest it's been an honor -- and a blast -- to work with the talented creatives of Magnetic Dreams, Edge Studio, Underground Music, and NYAV! What we've put together as a team will further define and push the boundaries of what Marvel Knights Animation can be as well as entertain comic book enthusiasts and mainstream fans with a very compelling piece of content."

He's the Super Hero everyone's talking about and before Marvel Studios' Thor feature film debuts, experience one of Thor's most popular stories in comic history through cutting edge animation. It's Thor and Loki: Blood Brothers—and you'll never see the world of Thor the same way ever again!

For more info about Thor and Loki: Blood Brothers, go to www.marvel.com/thorandloki!

Fan-Made Superman Animated Film Short

One of the BEST Man of Steel Films in Last Few Years

[Source: Syfy] Robb Pratt has worked in animation for years, on movies like Tarzan and TV shows like Kim Possible. So it's no wonder that his love letter to Superman has such flair. Taking the music from old Superman serials, and recruiting TV's Superboy (John Newton) for the voice of Clark, Pratt concocted a one-minute prequel to an alien invasion that begs for more.

A Kiss From Tokyo

A Secret Agent Aniboom Animation by Stephane

"A Kiss From Tokyo" is a Theatrical Trailer staged in 1964 - Yuki 7 dashes around the world in hot pursuit of the evil Diamond Eye, who is leaving a path of murdered scientists in her quest to build a missile inside her volcanic lair.

Oscuro Cardinal

A Make Believe Aniboom Animation by Adrian

On a visit out to the country, two children run off to play a game of make believe war. They come across the remains of an armored tank, at a place where a terrible battle had been fought. A series of strange events occur and the children learn what a real war is really like.

Dead Space: Downfall

The nightmare returns...

Dead Space 2 is out. Experience the terror of the animated tale "Downfall."

[Source: Wikipedia] The film revolves around the mining ship Ishimura as it arrives in the vicinity of an alien world. The crew of the Ishimura discover an object, which is referred to as the "Marker". It is brought aboard by order of Captain Mathius and Dr. Kyne. A week passes and a rash of violent attacks between the miners and other crew begin to rise in numbers. Hostilities begin to break out as members of the religious group, the "Unitologists", beg for a glimpse of the Marker, a key icon in their belief.
 

Meanwhile, on the planet, two miners check an outpost that has gone silent while the Ishimura brings up a chunk of the planet to mine. The men discover something amiss and one goes in search of his girlfriend, while his partner vanishes during a blackout. In the girlfriend's room, the man watches in shock as his beloved commits suicide. As the man flees the facility, he is unaware of an alien presence attaching itself to his deceased lover.

Onboard the Ishimura, Alissa Vincent, head of security, demands that Mathius allow an investigation of the recent outbreak of violence. But Mathius remains firm in the belief that nothing is amiss. The vessel piloted by the surviving miner crashes into the hangar just as he cuts communication and is killed by his mutated girlfriend. Vincent and her team are dispatched to contain the situation but discover nothing aboard the small ship, then depart to find out what caused the crash. Kyne suggest they call for help, but Mathius says that Aegis VII is a restricted area and they are not supposed to be there.

Down in the sickbay, a man awakes to discover alien creatures mutating the various corpses in the morgue, only to be killed. The situation turns grim all through the ship as the chaos and body count rise, as Mathius demands order. Kyne says that the Marker is responsible, but Mathius is in denial because he would have to put the Marker back and face court martial if the government knew they were in the restricted system. A confrontation between Mathius and Kyne leads to Mathius being accidentally killed by Kyne, who then flees. Vincent and her team arrive at the morgue where a Necromorph kills a teammate before being dispatched.

Things become chaotic as Vincent and her team struggle to make their way back to safety, but are confronted by a horde of Necromorphs. When it looks like conventional weapons are useless, an engineer named Samuel Irons arrives on the scene with a mining tool and cuts down the creatures. A member of the team named Hanson goes insane and murders fellow teammate Shen, after which Hanson and Vincent have a brief fight ending with Hanson being shot in the head by Ramirez. Returning to the deck, Vincent, Irons, and remaining member Ramirez discover that Kyne is planning to crash the ship into the planet below.

On their way to confront Kyne, Vincent and the others discover survivors being attacked by Necromorphs and go to save them. Using himself as bait, Irons buys time for Vincent and Ramirez to extract the scared crew members before being killed and turned into a Necromorph himself. The survivors are overwhelmed by more Necromorphs and Ramirez sacrifices himself to give Vincent a head start for the control room where Kyne is hiding. Vincent confronts Kyne who claims what he has done was necessary and steals her weapon as she tries to save the ship.

Vincent finds herself surrounded by numerous Necromorphs. She then discovers that the creatures cannot come into close proximity with the artifact, but Vincent doesn't care and breaks down. Spurred on by a brief vision of Ramirez, Vincent leaves a video log that details the entire events up until now. She downloads the video log she made into the distress beacon and opens the airlock and activates the distress beacon on a downed shuttle just a few feet from the marker. The distress beacon then fires outwards into space and along with it, several of the Necromorphs and herself.

As the film draws to a close, Vincent's body drifts into the darkness as the song "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" plays. The story ends just as the Kellion arrives and prepares to dock on the Ishimura, the beginning of Dead Space.

Young Justice - New Clips

Tonight's episode "Welcome to Happy Harbor"

 

Plot 

After Speedy declines to join the new team, Robin, Aqualad and Kid Flash fear YOUNG JUSTICE is just a big joke… while new member Miss Martian fears there’s no room for her to be part of it. So when the four heroes and Superboy come up against Mister Twister, it looks like all their fears have just been realized... [Source: ToonZone]

Don't Miss Clone Wars this Friday Night

The Conclusion of the Night Sisters Trilogy...

Lucasfilm and Cartoon Network have released the following clip from "Witches of the Mist," the newest upcoming episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars premiering on Friday, January 21, 2011, at 8:30 PM (Eastern/Pacific). Click the image to play:

 

The full press announcement follows, with a new still from the episode and comments by voice actors Corey Burton (Count Dooku), Nika Futterman (Asajj Ventress), and Clancy Brown (Savage Opress). 

---

(Click to Enlarge)

Savage Opress proves to be a valuable asset and fearsome opponent
in “Witches of the Mist,” an all-new episode of STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS
remiering at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT Friday, January 21 on Cartoon Network.
TM & © 2011 Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Must-See Conclusion to an Epic Three-Part Clone Wars Arc – This Friday on Cartoon Network!(click to enlarge)Savage Opress proves to be a valuable asset and fearsome opponentin “Witches of the Mist,” an all-new episode of STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARSremiering at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT Friday, January 21 on Cartoon Network.TM & © 2011 Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. 

Sent to track down the mysterious figure behind the deaths of several Jedi, Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi find themselves on the trail of Count Dooku’s newest apprentice – the monstrous Savage Opress. However, Dooku and Asajj Ventress discover that their creation has a will of his own, and that he has grown more powerful than either of them had anticipated – perhaps even more powerful than the combined forces of the Jedi and the Sith. The end begins in “Witches of the Mist,” the final chapter of a thrilling, three-part Clone Wars arc – airing at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT Friday, January 21 on Cartoon Network. 

Driven by the Machiavellian machinations of Count Dooku, the series’ various villains come face to face at last in a climactic clash of red sabers. Dooku, Opress and Ventress – all are manifestations of evil, yet each is so distinct. It’s not until these three titans are brought together in the heat of conflict, however, that their nuances and differences become truly clear. 

“With Dooku, the series' direction is pushing his character more towards that of a masterful diplomat, concealing a sinister agenda beneath a veil of polite sophistication,” says Corey Burton, voice of Dooku – and countless other Clone Wars characters, both good and evil. “He's a subversive political overlord – a major marketing force and seducer for the dark side ‘brand.’ It's all about his personal enrichment, power and position within the hierarchy; there's nothing intentionally cruel or vengeful in his manner, or behind his dastardly actions – as a Sith Lord, it's just how things are done to most efficiently preside over the fate of the galaxy. Mustache-twirling displays are beneath his sense of dignity.” 

While Dooku is as consumed by his quest for power as he is by his own sense of sophistication, Ventress is wholly unconcerned by the niceties of evil. Driven by a desire for revenge, her motivation is raw and real – a product and a reflection of her own difficult past. 

“She’s been wronged by so many, and I believe her experiences will lead her in an even more powerful direction,” says Nika Futterman, voice of Ventress. “We are finally beginning to understand what makes Asajj tick; I think this is her quest for revenge and not power like the Sith. That’s what separates her. She does things that may seem like her quest for power, but, I think she aligned herself with the dark side as a means to an end. She doesn’t ever forget who has done right by her and, of course, who has done her wrong. All this time, I had hoped that I would be able to delve into what made her so fabulous and complex. It turns out my hopes are coming true!” 

Serving as a foil for the final confrontation between the former master and his jilted apprentice is the massively powerful Opress. Ostensibly a blunt instrument of evil, the monstrous creation is nonetheless imbued with a perverse humanity of his own – brought to the surface by sharp writing and a soulful performance by screen legend Clancy Brown (Highlander, The Shawshank Redemption). 

“I'd been a fan of The Clone Wars since the first season; and then caught up with the second season with my son,” says Brown. “He was excited because it was Star Wars and I was excited about the role not just because it was in the Star Wars universe but because the writing is so sophisticated. There was never any question from me about Savage's motives and what was going on because I was familiar with the characters, and you can go another layer deeper.” [Source: ToonZone]

RPG Metanoia

The Philippine's first full length animated film in 3D

RPG Metanoia took 4 years to make with a crew of about 26 animators. Thaumatrope Animation began work in 2007. In 2008, a teaser trailer for the movie (then titled "theRPGmovie") was shown at Level Up's Ragnarok Online event at the World Trade Center. In August 2009, Ambientmedia officially partnered with ABS-CBN. In June 2010, it was announced to be an official entry for the 36th Metro Manila Film Festival. In August 2010, RPG: Metanoia's official website was launched. The Cinema Evaluation Board gave the movie a Grade A. [Source: Wikipedia]
 
RPG Metanoia is about a young boy name Nico (voiced by Zaijan Jaranilla) who is obsessed with playing online video games. He is encouraged by his father (voiced by Aga Muhlach); however, his mother (voiced by Eugene Domingo) worries if Nico’s passion for video games will be good for his future. 

The film premiered on Christmas Day, December 25, 2010, and received several awards from the Metro Manila Film Festival.

Links:

• Official website
• RPG: Metanoia on Facebook
• CG Animation News in the Philippines: 'RPG Metanoia' at AnimationInsider.net

Predator's Teenage Son

When training your son to hunt goes totally wrong...

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

The Tired City

Overworked, Underappreciated Heroine of Anime

Synopsis 

The story happens to a busy office girl, and her story can also be your story. She is a character from a fairy tale: sweet, dedicated and rather naive. Facing the owner of Tired Out Incorporation, Bossie, and to earn her living, she pours herself into her work everyday, proficient, no complaints and never says no. The flower in the office is her only joy. But she has no time for it, or her friends or family... then the flower wilts and she comes to realize the true meaning of living... 

Artists Biography 

Postgal Workshop is a multimedia and animation creation team; its client portfolio includes Coca Cola, Nike, Nokia, DHL , Levis, Hong Kong Asian Film Festival and East Asian Games, etc on their mascot design, keyart design, animation and multimedia works.Postgals been interviewed by Taiwan XFUN, Computer Arts and design book series Taschen, been invited to the Milia Digital conference in Cannes, France, Kinolab in Poland, HK TVB, FM 903 and HK Baptist University to share their view in design & animation field as guest speaker. Adobe CS3 and HKAC has held a workshop in early 2008 and Postgals director John has been invited for tutoring the animation classes. Postgal is also one of the judges for coca cola art bottle competition.Postgals works have been awarded in HK IFVA, San Francisco Flash Forward Film Festival, Korea Senef Film Festival and Switzerland Fantoche Film Festvail, etc, moreover, its works have been screened in Hong Kong International Film Festival, Taiwan Animation Festival and Japan JVC TV Festival, etc.Postgals latest creation is to create a mascot family for a famous beverage brands Hung Fong Took, along with its comics and animation for its 2008 promotion campaign. Meanwhile, we have animated Hong Kong Connection in a project with RTHK. 

http://www.postgal.com

Young Justice - Animated TV Series

"Don't call 'em sidekicks"

Young Justice is an American animated television series created by Greg Weisman and Brandon Vietti for Cartoon Network. Despite its title, it is not an adaptation of Todd Dezago and Todd Nauck's Young Justice series of comics, but rather, an adaptation of the entire DC Universe with a focus on young superheroes. The series follows the lives of teenaged heroes (some of them sidekicks) who are members of a fictional covert operation team — called Young Justice — of its celebrity-level famous adult counterpart, the Justice League. The main setting is the fictional universe of Earth-16, during a time period in which superheroes are a relatively recent phenomenon. The series will debut on January 7, 2011 with a two week reairing of the first two episodes, which originally aired as an hour long special on November 26, 2010. [Source: Wikipedia]

Watch Young Justice Episodes 1 & 2 "Independence Day"

Part 1 of 4

 

Part 2 of 4

 

Part 3 of 4

 

Part 4 of 4

Disney's TRON UPRISING Animated TV Series!

Following the Revolution that takes place within the grid

[Source: BoxOfficeMagazine]

Adam Horowitz and Eddie Kitsis, screenwriters of the new film TRON: Legacy, told BOXOFFCE that the forthcoming TRON spinoff projects would offer a continuation of the mythology of the movie series. "There's a 10-part micro series that will premiere next summer that Eddie and I wrote," Horowitz said during an interview in Los Angeles, Calif. "And we've also worked on a couple of episodes with the series itself. We've hired an incredible team; we've got a guy running the show named Charlie Bean who is an amazing director."

When asked whether the animated series will be part of the continuity of the films, Kitsis said, "Absolutely. And we're treating it very seriously." He explained that the events of the show will take place in between the events of TRON and TRON: Legacy. "This animated show will take place from when Flynn is in a safe house. It's from when Clu takes over the grid to before when Sam comes in. So if you were wondering what was the grid like before that, then watch the show."

Horowitz indicated that it will feature an eclectic cast of voice actors, including the actor who played Tron in both films. "We hesitate to tell too much just yet, but it will fill in the blanks of some things, and also explore some new areas as well," he revealed. "Bruce Boxleitner is in it, Elijah Wood, Linda Moore, Paul Reubens, Lance Henriksen. I mean, we've got a really cool group of actors."

He also suggested that some of the stories might piggyback on preliminary ideas that he and Kitsis developed for the film that didn't make it into the final cut. "To give you an example of how we approached storytelling sometimes is like when you're in the End of Line club, when we first meet Castor and he's being berated by one of the patrons saying, ‘I want an audience with Zuse.' His name is Bartik, and there's an entire back story we have for him. The guy with him, his name is Hopper, there's a whole thing between the two of them, what they are doing in there, and how they got there. It's like over the years of developing this movie, we developed all these mythologies and all these back stories and all little tangential things."

Kitsis said that he and Horowitz came up with explanations for every aspect of these peripheral characters, and that gives them a richer mythology to draw upon for future stories. "Did we have time to do the Bartik story? No. But now maybe the Bartik story is in the animated series —you know, he's got a huge scar on his face. I want to know how he got that scar. We couldn't sit down and write that there's a guy with a scar on his face without knowing what the scar was. So we hope it adds to the depth of the movie. Our intention is to try and make something that is more than just, let's go get something. We treat TRON very, very seriously and as writers we try to have a reason and a world for everything and not all of it gets to be shown because in this particular movie, we only had two hours.

"[So] hopefully it fills in the blanks in and in a fun way and an intriguing way."

There's a new Christmas Special this Holiday Season

@-}-- Day 2 of our 25 Days of Christmas --{-@
 

 Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus

Yes, Virginia is a new animated Christmas special (on CBS December 17), based on the 1897 true story of the most famous newspaper editorial of all time.

By Francis P. Church, first published in The New York Sun in 1897. [See The People’s Almanac, pp. 1358–9.]

We take pleasure in answering thus prominently the communication below,expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful authoris numbered among the friends of The Sun:

Dear Editor—
I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no SantaClaus. Papa says, “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.” Please tell methe truth, is there a Santa Claus?
Virginia O’Hanlon

Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected bythe skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except what theysee. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible bytheir little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s orchildren’s, are little. In this great universe of ours, man is a mereinsect, an ant, in his intellect as compared with the boundless worldabout him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping thewhole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly aslove and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they aboundand give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how drearywould be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as drearyas if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then,no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should haveno enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with whichchildhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe infairies. You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all thechimneys on Christmas eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you didnot see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody seesSanta Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. Themost real things in the world are those that neither children nor mencan see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not,but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive orimagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in theworld.

You tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noiseinside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not thestrongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest menthat ever lived could tear apart. Only faith, poetry, love, romance,can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beautyand glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this worldthere is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! He lives and lives forever. A thousandyears from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he willcontinue to make glad the heart of childhood.