Chris Meledandri Honored, 'Super Mario Bros. Movie' Success, and Animation News

CinemaCon 2023 Preview

• 🎬 The hosts preview CinemaCon 2023, detailing the presentation schedules for major studios like Sony, Warner Bros., Disney, and Paramount.
• 🍿 CinemaCon is highlighted as an event primarily for exhibitors, focusing on films that drive popcorn and soda sales, such as horror releases.
• 🗓️ Drew Taylor is preparing to attend CinemaCon, facing a tight schedule with the premiere of "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" on the same day as the Paramount presentation.

Animation Industry Buzz

• 🌟 Chris Meledandri, the head of Illumination, is set to receive the CinemaCon Award for Excellence in Animation.
• 🧊 The animated film "Nimona," originally a Blue Sky Studios project and now a Netflix release, will be showcased at CinemaCon.
• 📺 Netflix will also present upcoming animated projects like "Leo," "The Monkey King," and "Blue Eye Samurai" at the event.
• 🦈 "Finding Nemo the Musical" at Disney's Animal Kingdom has been shortened, with a question about the status of the "Fisher-Friend Song."

Box Office Successes and Challenges

• 🍄 "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" is discussed for its massive box office success, projected to surpass $900 million worldwide and potentially reach $1 billion soon.
• 🚀 The success of "Super Mario Bros. Movie" makes a sequel announcement at CinemaCon a strong possibility, alongside potential broader deals between Universal and Nintendo.
• 📉 Concerns are raised about the box office performance of "Strange World" and "Lightyear," with discussions on marketing failures and studio overestimations.
• 🦢 The upcoming animated film "Migration" from Illumination is previewed, with some skepticism about its trailer and the studio's business model.

Live-Action Adaptations and Casting

• 🧜‍♀️ The extended runtime of Disney's live-action "The Little Mermaid" (135 minutes) is compared to the original animated film (82 minutes), raising questions about how the additional story will be filled.
• 🌺 Casting news for the live-action "Lilo & Stitch" includes Courtney Vance as Cobra Bubbles and Chris Sanders returning to voice Stitch.
• 🦈 The passing of Australian comedian Barry Humphries, known for his Dame Edna character and voicing Bruce the Shark in "Finding Nemo," is noted with condolences.

Theme Park Updates

• 🌊 Disneyland's "Splash Mountain" is nearing its closure on May 31st, with discussions about the replacement of animatronics with electric figures.
• 🚢 Jennifer Lewis will return to voice Mama Odie for Tiana's Bayou Adventure at Disney parks.
• 🎭 "Spirited Away" live on stage is mentioned as having limited theatrical screenings in late April and early May.