Animation News: Annie Awards, Pixar SparkShorts, and Robin Williams' Disney History

46th Annie Awards Recap

• 🏆 Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse dominated the 46th Annie Awards, sweeping all seven categories it was nominated in, including those from the Visual Effects Society awards.
• 🌟 Incredibles 2 received two Annies: one for best music and another for best storyboarding.
• 📺 The Netflix series Hilda earned three awards, including best animated television production for children, character animation, and best writing.
• 🎭 Bojack Horseman also received accolades, with the show winning best general audience animated television broadcast production and its voice actor winning for best voice acting.
• 🎬 Mary Poppins Returns secured two Annies for best animated special production and best character animation in a live production.

Pixar SparkShorts and "Purl"

• 💡 The first Pixar SparkShort, "Purl," is now available online, focusing on a ball of yarn in a startup office.
• 💬 The short is based on the real-life experiences of writer/director Kirsten Lester and producer Jillian Libert Duncan, who felt they had to suppress their female identities to succeed in male-dominated animation environments.
• 🎯 While entertaining, the short's message about gender dynamics in the workplace is considered by some to be heavy-handed and out of balance with entertainment.
• 🚀 Future SparkShorts like "Smash and Grab" and "Kitbull" are also mentioned, with "Smash and Grab" featuring two antiquated robots and "Kitbull" exploring a friendship between a kitten and a pitbull.

"Ralph Breaks the Internet" and "The Little Mermaid" Releases

• 💻 Ralph Breaks the Internet will be available on digital download on February 12th and on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K HD on February 26th.
• 📝 Early versions of "Ralph Breaks the Internet" considered opening with a recap from Ralph's perspective or the funeral of the character Tapper, but these ideas were ultimately discarded.
• 🧜‍♀️ The Little Mermaid 30th Anniversary Signature Edition is being released on digital February 12th and on physical media February 26th, with this edition being the first in Ultra 4K HD.
• 🎤 Directors Rich Moore and Phil Johnson, along with producer Clark Spencer, discussed the film's development, including the decision to remove the Tapper funeral opening.

Robin Williams and Disney Animation History

• 🐬 Robin Williams was initially considered for the voice of a dolphin named Breaker in The Little Mermaid before the character's lines were largely given to Ariel, making her more assertive.
• 🧞‍♂️ Williams was a target for Disney, with Jeffrey Katzenberg wanting him for films like "Offbeat" and eventually "Good Morning Vietnam."
• 💥 Williams had a falling out with Disney over the advertising for Aladdin, feeling it overshadowed his other work, and did not return until after Katzenberg left the company.
• 🕰️ Williams also starred in the Disney theme park attraction "The Timekeeper," with his animatronic performance heavily influenced by his recording sessions.
• 🎬 The conversation also touches on the early days of Disney's Florida animation studio, the development of films like "The Great Mouse Detective" and "Treasure Planet," and the contributions of animators like Mark Hen and directors like Ron Clements.