Billy Strange

Grammy-nominated guitarist, songwriter and arranger Billy Strange, who helped make hits for Elvis Presley, the Beach Boys, and Frank and Nancy Sinatra, has died in Nashville, the Nashville Tennessean reported Wednesday. He was 81.

The cause of death was not announced.

“My dear friend, the legendary guitarist/arranger Billy Strange passed away this morning in Nashville,” Nancy Sinatra wrote on her Twitter page. “My heart is shattered.”

Strange wrote such hits for Presley as “A Little Less Conversation” and “Memories.” “A Little Less Conversation (Junkie XL Remix),” which he wrote with Scott Davis, was on the soundtrack of both the DreamWorks animated feature films Shark Tale (2004) and Megamind (2010).

He sang his own composition, “The Ballad of Bunny and Claude,” in the Merrie Melodies Bunny And Claude (We Rob Carrot Patches) (1968) and The Great Carrot-Train Robbery (1969).

“Limbo Rock,” which he wrote with Kal Mann, was hummed by Nancy Cartwright in the 1995 Simpsons episode Lisa The Vegetarian. It was originally a hit for Chubby Checker.

A member of the 1960s “Wrecking Crew” of Los Angeles-based session musicians, he was in both the Musicians and Rockabilly Halls of Fame.

William Everett Strange was born on September 29, 1930; he was born and raised in Long Beach, California. While still a young boy, he performed on local radio with his father and mother. At 14, he started playing guitar; two years later, he was touring with other musicians.

He worked in the rodeo, as a truck driver and as a stuntman in his 20s. However, he made music his career, performing early with the likes of Spade Cooley, Roy Rogers, Count Basie, and Speedy West & Jimmy Bryant.

Major producers noticed his guitar work. Strange joined The Wrecking Crew, playing on the Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds album. He also was on recordings by The Everly Brothers, Randy Newman, Willie Nelson, Nat King Cole and many others.

Strange arranged Nancy Sinatra’s megahit “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’”; he directing standup bass player George Burghofer to play the famous descending bridge. As well, he helped arrange “Somethin’ Stupid,” her duet with father Frank.

He was the guitarist on Sinatra’s “Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down),” later part of the soundtrack for Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill.

Presley hired Strange as a player and arranger when he came to Los Angeles for recording sessions. The two soon became friends, sitting and playing with baby Lisa Marie Presley and riding motorcycles together.

In the early 1970s, Strange moved to Middle Tennessee, where he ran a publishing company for Frank and Nancy Sinatra. He

He released a series of solo works in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.

Strange was married to singer and actress Joan O’Brien from 1954 until their 1955 divorce. They had a son, Russell Glen Strange.

His marriage to Betty Jo Conrad lasted from 1960 until their divorce in 1978. They had a daughter together, Kelly Kimberly Strange, and a stepson, from his wife’s previous marriage.

Billy Strange is survived by his wife since 1999, the former Jeanne Black, who also was a singer.

Memorial service information is not yet available.

Guitarist and songwriter Billy Strange dies at 81 originally appeared on Big Cartoon News from BCDB on February 23, 2012.

David Stainton

David Stainton has suddenly resigned as head of Paramount Pictures’ fledgling animation unit, just four months after he was hired, the studio announced Wednesday.

Stainton left his job for “personal reasons,” said the studio. It would not give further details on why he and Paramount parted ways.

“We are grateful for the time David spent at the studio and we wish him well in his future endeavors,” Paramount Motion Picture Group president Adam Goodman said in a statement.

The studio said that Goodman will directly supervise the animation development team from now on.

Stainton was hired by Paramount last October. Earlier, he was a 17-year veteran at Walt Disney Studios.

He rose to president of feature animation at the Mouse House, staying in that job until early 2006, when Disney bought out Pixar Animation Studios.

Stainton became chief of Paramount’s animation unit after it was established last year following the release of Rango, which has been nominated for an Oscar for best animated film.

Paramount animation chief quits after four months originally appeared on Big Cartoon News from BCDB on February 23, 2012.

Reel FX

Reel FX has teamed with Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Guillermo del Toro (Puss in Boots, Pacific Rim, Pan’s Labyrinth) to produce a groundbreaking CG-animated film with Day of the Dead as its working title, the company announced Tuesday.

Del Toro will also present the film, directed by Emmy Award winner Jorge R. Gutierrez (El Tigre, The Adventures of Manny Rivera). The film is being penned by Gutierrez and Emmy Award nominee Doug Langdale. Reel FX will produce alongside Aaron Berger and Carina Schulze of Chatrone, Inc.

Day of the Dead is scheduled to be released in fall 2014.

The film is an action-packed, fully CG-animated picture, with a Romeo and Juliet-style love story set against a Mexican “Day of the Dead” backdrop. It represents the first time in almost 20 years — since 1993’s Cronos — that del Toro has collaborated on a feature project set in Mexico.

Music is also integral to the story; the film will feature an international roster of A-list recording artists performing new songs, as well as reimagined iconic songs. Reel FX’s Brad Booker brought Day of the Dead to the studio, and is the development executive on the project.

“We’re thrilled to have Guillermo on board for Day of the Dead,” said Booker. “As individuals, Guillermo and Jorge share a cultural background and love for Mexican folklore, which brings a palpable authenticity to our project; however, as artists, each brings to the picture a vastly different aesthetic sensibility. Working together for the first time, we feel that they bring a truly unique balance to the style and story of the film.”

Notes del Toro: “I have admired Jorge’s work for a long time. He has a unique aesthetic and sense of humor.

“Day of the Dead offers a perfect opportunity for his sensibilities to shine. This is a colorful, vibrant, vital fable that utilizes the animation medium in an incredible way. The object of the tale is not only to talk about life, but to dazzle us — jolt us — into living to the fullest. To join Reel FX, Cary Granat and Jorge in this adventure is a privilege and a joy.”

In addition to Day of the Dead, Reel FX has secured and is actively developing multiple CG-animated and effects-driven, live-action projects. Projects underway include an animated feature adaptation of the Dark Horse graphic novel Beasts of Burden, produced by Andrew Adamson (Shrek) and Aron Warner; and Turkeys, the studio’s CG-animated comedy directed by Jimmy Hayward (Horton Hears a Who!).

The studio also recently collaborated on the production of Cirque du Soleil’s 3D film Worlds Away, written and directed by Andrew Adamson, and executive produced by Academy Award-winning filmmaker James Cameron (Avatar). Cary Granat and Ed Jones served as producers on the project for Reel FX. Worlds Away is currently in post-production and set to debut late this year from Paramount Pictures.

Del Toro’s “Day of the Dead” comes to life in 2014 originally appeared on Big Cartoon News from BCDB on February 23, 2012.

The Band Concert (1935) — Mickey Mouse Theatrical Cartoon Series

CotD: This is a landmark film “The Band Concert” was the first Mickey Mouse cartoon shot and exhibited in color.

The Band Concert (1935) — Mickey Mouse Theatrical Cartoon Series

Mickey leads his band through a rendition of Rossini’s “The William Tell Overture” in the park. It starts off fine until peanut vendor Donald Duck disrupts the concert by playing “Turkey In The Straw” on his fife, which he pulls out of his sleeve. Undeterred, Mickey braves on. A cyclone appears and takes Mickey and the band– still playing!- for a ride.

Come see “The Band Concert” on video at Big Cartoon DataBase

The Band Concert (1935) — Mickey Mouse Theatrical Cartoon Series originally appeared on Big Cartoon News from BCDB on February 23, 2012.

British Animation Awards

British Animation Awards finalists were announced Tuesday for both the juried categories and the Children’s Choice awards, as determined by kid voters in the United Kingdom.

The awards will be held March 15 at the British Film Institute in London.

Here is the full list of the children’s categories and finalists:

Best Long Form
The Itch of the Golden Nit (dir. Sarah Cox; Aardman Animations for Tate and CBBC)
Maska (dirs. Quay Brothers; Polish Cultural Institute in London/Se-Ma-For Studios Poland)
The Gruffalo’s Child (dirs. Johannes Weiland, Uwe Heidshötter; Magic Light Pictures in association with Studio Soi)

Best Preschool Series
Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom: “Acorn Day” (dirs. Neville Astley, Mark Baker; Astley Baker Davies Ltd for Channel 5, Nick Jr and eone Entertainment)
Octonauts: “The Blobfish Brothers” (dir. Darragh O’Connell; Silvergate Media and Brown Bag Films for CBeebies)
Peppa Pig: “The New House” (dirs. Joris van Hulzen, Philip Hall; Astley Baker Davies Ltd for Channel 5, Nick Jr and eone Entertainment)

Children’s Choice
Bookaboo: “Johnny Vegas” (dirs. Lucy Goodman, Ian Emes; Happy Films for CITV)
The Amazing World of Gumball: “The Quest” (dirs. Mic Graves, Ben Bocquelet; Cartoon Network, in association with Dandelion Studios, Boulder Media and Studio Soi for Cartoon Network)
Peppa Pig: “The New House” (dirs. Joris van Hulzen, Philip Hall; Astley Baker Davies Ltd for Channel 5, Nick Jr and eone Entertainment)

Best Children’s Series
The Amazing World of Gumball: “The Quest” (dirs. Mic Graves, Ben Bocquelet; Cartoon Network, in association with Dandelion Studios, Boulder Media and Studio Soi for Cartoon Network)
Rastamouse: “Da Missin’ Masterpiece” (dir. Derek Mogford; The Rastamouse Company for CBeebies)
Ask Lara: “Oh No! B.O.!” (dir. Mercedes Marro; Red Kite Productions for BBC Scotland)

Best Mixed Media Children’s Series
Get Squiggling!: “Cat Episode” (dirs. Mike Wyatt, Damian Hook, Adrian Hedley; Dot to Dot Productions Ltd for CBeebies)
Baby Jake: “Loves Tummy Sliding” (dirs. Alan Shannon, Maddy Darrall; Darrall Macqueen Ltd for CBeebies)
Bookaboo: “Johnny Vegas” (dirs. Lucy Goodman, Ian Emes; Happy Films for CITV)

Kids’ finalists for British Animation Awards named originally appeared on Big Cartoon News from BCDB on February 22, 2012.

Puss in Boots

The Devil was in the details when London toddlers cried in terror after the trailer for an exorcism movie was screened before Puss In Boots.

Scary images from the horror movie The Devil Inside, which is rated 15-plus, were shown by mistake before the screening of the animated family film.

The movie house, in south London’s Wandsworth neighborhood, made things even worse by showing a trailer for the upcoming violent supernatural movie Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance.

The trailer for The Devil Inside featured a close-up of a woman possessed by a demon, while the tease for the 12-and-up Ghost Rider displayed images of a burned skull shooting flames from its mouth at the Devil.

According to London tabloid The Daily Mirror, angry parents yelled at staff to turn off the trailers off while they tried to comfort their kids. While the violent scenes appeared on the screen, parents shouted “What the hell’s going on?” — apparently no pun intended.

Peter Flynn took his four-year-old daughter Lauren to see Puss In Boots. “She was extremely frightened by what were exceptionally-strong images, even by adult standards,” he told the Mirror. “I tried to cover her eyes.”

Remarked Catherine Walker, who was at the theater with a family friend: “It was every parent’s nightmare — kids watching exorcism trailers.”

Eventually, the trailers were turned off and theater staff apologized to parents.

Wandsworth Council is investigating the incident after receiving a complaint.

According to the British Board of Film Classification, the movie house could be fined or even lose its licence after violating operating rules.

David Denyer, deputy manager of the Cineworld cinemas chain, acknowledged that the trailers were shown in error.

“The trailers were meant for Underworld Awakening, the next film on. We’re investigating and will take action if appropriate,” he said.

Movie trailer from hell precedes “Puss In Boots” originally appeared on Big Cartoon News from BCDB on February 22, 2012.

Wallace and Gromit

Who’s Britain’s greatest animated character?

Are there two faves: Wallace and Gromit? Maybe TV’s Mr Benn, Bagpuss, Peppa Pig or Aleksandr Orlov the meerkat (from Britain’s Compare The Market online site)?

All are on a shortlist for an online vote being conducted by the British Animation Awards. The winner will be announced at BAA’s annual ceremony March 15.

Over the next three weeks, the public can have a chance to choose their favorite. Leading figures in the world of animation drew up the shortlist of names from TV, ads and online.

Other contenders include Wallace and Gromit, TV’s Danger Mouse and the Cresta bear, the 1970s TV commercial star known for the catchphrase “It’s frothy, man.”

Also on the shortlist are Roobarb and Custard, Penfold (Danger Mouse), Timmy (from Timmy Time), The Snowman, Paddington, Count Duckula, Morph, Super Ted, Postman Pat, Tiny Clanger (The Clangers), Soup Dragon (also of The Clangers), Noggin the Nog, Uncle Nogbad (also of Noggin The Nog), Lola (Charlie And Lola) and Simon’s Cat.

The poll was created as part of a campaign by Animation UK to increase awareness of the industry’s economic benefits and the need for tax breaks comparing with those gained by foreign competitors.

“The UK is famed for its animation the world over,” said BAA director Jayne Pilling. “This vote celebrates the illustrious heritage of cherished characters that have been created in the UK over the last few decades and highlights the wealth of creative talent that could disappear if the industry continues to decline.”

Votes can be cast until March 9 through the British Animation Awards’ Facebook page.

Name that toon: UK poll on for favorite character originally appeared on Big Cartoon News from BCDB on February 22, 2012.

Charlotte’s Web (1973) — Hanna-Barbera Feature Length Theatrical

CotD: Hanna-Barbera’s third movie “Charlotte’s Web “, and the first to be a Paramount Pictures release.

Charlotte’s Web (1973) — Hanna-Barbera Feature Length Theatrical Cartoon

Wilbur the pig is scared of the end of the season, because he knows that come that time, he will end up on the dinner table. He hatches a plan with Charlotte, a spider that lives in his pen, to ensure that this will never happen. And with the help of Templeton the rat, Wilbur protects Charlotte’s offspring.

Come see “Charlotte’s Web ” on video at Big Cartoon DataBase

Charlotte’s Web (1973) — Hanna-Barbera Feature Length Theatrical Cartoon originally appeared on Big Cartoon News from BCDB on February 22, 2012.

One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish, Blue Fish (1991) — The Simpsons

“Homer The Father,” written by Joel H. Cohen, won a Writers Guild Award in the Animation category Sunday, defeating — among others — three other episodes of Fox’s The Simpsons.

Homer The Father triumphed over “Bart Stops to Smell the Roosevelts,” written by Tim Long; The Blue and the Gray, written by Rob LaZebnik; and Donnie Fatso, written by Chris Cluess.

Also nominated in the Animation category were the Ben 10: Ultimate Alien episode “Moonstruck,” written by Len Uhley, and the Futurama episode The Silence Of The Clamps, written by Eric Rogers.

In the category of Television Graphic Animation, the winner — and sole nominee — was “CBS News Animations” (CBS News), Graphic Animation by David Rosen.

For Original Screenplay, the winner was Midnight in Paris, written by Woody Allen. The Descendants, with screenplay by Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, won for Adapted Screenplay; it was based on the novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings.

Better This World, written by Katie Galloway and Kelly Duane de la Vega, won for Documentary Screenplay.

Presented by the Writers Guild of America, the Writers Guild Awards were held at simultaneous ceremonies at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles and at B.B. King Blues Club in New York City.

“Homer The Father” winner of Writers Guild Awards originally appeared on Big Cartoon News from BCDB on February 21, 2012.

Two For The Zoo (1941) — Gabby Theatrical Cartoon Series

CotD: Today we visit Gabby in “Two For The Zoo”. Gabby was the first animated character to make the jump from a feature film to his own series.

Two For The Zoo (1941) — Gabby Theatrical Cartoon Series

Gabby and the head zookeeper at the Lilliput Zoo bring in a new kangaroo to the zoo. A delivery man pushes a crate down the street containing a Rubber Necked Kango. Gabby bumps into the crate, and in his usual know-it-all fashion, offers to personally deliver the animal, a baby. Gabby doesn’t know that the mother is also in the crate, and she catches up with them, dropping the baby into her pouch, causing Gabby to think that the baby suddenly grew. They end up getting trapped in the kangaroo’s cage and the Kangaroo runs free.

Come see “Two For The Zoo” on video at Big Cartoon DataBase

Two For The Zoo (1941) — Gabby Theatrical Cartoon Series originally appeared on Big Cartoon News from BCDB on February 21, 2012.