ILM's Unmade Frankenstein Movie and Animation News with Jim Hill

Animation News and Current Events

• 🎙️ The hosts discuss the current social climate, contrasting the success of the SpaceX launch with ongoing societal issues.
• 🛒 A humorous anecdote about finding "Minions: The Rise of Gru" toys in Target despite the movie's delayed release highlights supply chain challenges.

Sonic the Hedgehog and Looney Tunes

• 🎬 The success of "Sonic the Hedgehog" is discussed, with a sequel confirmed and its potential as a family franchise for Paramount.
• 📺 The new "Looney Tunes" series on HBO Max is praised for its wonderful animation and excellent voice work, drawing comparisons to the modern "Mickey Mouse" shorts.
• 📺 "Central Park" and "Fraggle Rock" are also mentioned, with "Fraggle Rock" noted for its underlying environmental message.

Unmade Universal Monsters Film: Frankenstein

• 🎬 Universal Pictures' attempt to create a CG "Frankenstein" film in the late 1990s, inspired by the success of "Toy Story," is detailed.
• 🧪 Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) created a 17-second test reel for the film, aiming to replicate the look and tone of James Whale's classic movies.
• 🎬 The project, intended as a sequel to "Bride of Frankenstein," faced numerous hurdles, including executive changes, budget concerns, and a shift in focus towards more family-friendly animation.
• 👻 Ultimately, the "Frankenstein" project was shelved, leading to "Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein" and "Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman" for home video.

Other Animation Projects and Anecdotes

• 🎨 The "Monkeys of Mumbai" project from DreamWorks Animation, which was effectively canceled after the NBC Universal acquisition, is lamented, with concept art being shared online before a cease and desist was issued.
• 🎮 A new augmented reality game, "The Big Fix Up," featuring Wallace and Gromit, is discussed, with a note on the potential irony of technology-driven projects in the context of Wallace and Gromit's often tech-gone-wrong adventures.
• 🏰 A fascinating anecdote about Disney considering Wallace and Gromit as potential hosts for the "Journey into Imagination" attraction at Epcot, alongside Michael Jordan, is shared.
• 🎬 The troubled production and underperformance of Universal's "The Mummy" (2017) and its impact on the planned "Dark Universe" are briefly touched upon.