Remembering Dame Angela Lansbury: A Career in Animation and Film

Honoring Kazuki Takahashi's Heroic Sacrifice

• 🏅 The passing of "Yu-Gi-Oh!" creator Kazuki Takahashi is acknowledged, highlighting his heroic death while saving a child from drowning in Okinawa.
• 🌊 Takahashi leaped into rough surf to aid a drowning girl and a US soldier, ultimately succumbing to the waves, a noble sacrifice recognized by the US Army.

"The Super Mario Bros. Movie" Trailer and Universal's Strategy

• 🍄 The trailer for "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" is discussed, with positive remarks on its animation quality and connection to "Teen Titans Go!" creators.
• 🎢 Universal Studios Hollywood's "Super Nintendo World" is set to open in early 2023, with its shop already open at CityWalk, aiming to capitalize on the movie's release.
• 🌎 The movie premiere is planned for Universal CityWalk, with a post-premiere party to be held inside "Super Nintendo World," linking the film and theme park experiences.

Skydance Animation's Expansion and Project Updates

• 💰 Skydance Animation is expanding its division with an additional $400 million in credit, planning to produce two movies annually and building a new campus in Santa Monica.
• 🎬 The animated film "Spellbound," directed by Vicky Jenson with a screenplay by Linda Woolverton, has been moved to a 2023 release on Apple TV+.

Apple TV+ Holiday Animation Lineup

• 🍎 Apple TV+ will feature a holiday lineup including classics like "Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" and "Charlie Brown Thanksgiving," alongside new specials such as "Fraggle Rock, Back to the Rock: Night of the Lights" and "The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, and The Horse."

Andrew Stanton's New Live-Action Film and Warner Bros. Animation Consolidation

• 🎬 Director Andrew Stanton is set to direct a new live-action film titled "In the Blink of an Eye" for Searchlight Pictures, described as a "Kubrickian" story.
• 📉 Warner Bros. is consolidating its animation divisions, leading to layoffs and uncertainty, with further layoffs expected by the end of the month.

Guillermo del Toro's "Pinocchio" and Disney's Live-Action Adaptations

• 🌟 Guillermo del Toro's "Pinocchio" is highly praised after seeing the first two acts, noted for its naturalistic acting style and breathtaking animation.
• 💔 The film is described as heartbreaking and special, with anticipation for its full release.
• 🐭 Disney is reportedly considering a live-action adaptation of "Tangled," following recent live-action remakes.

Remembering Dame Angela Lansbury's Iconic Roles

• 🌟 Dame Angela Lansbury, who passed away at 96, is celebrated for her extensive career spanning eight decades.
• 🎤 Lansbury's involvement in Disney films is highlighted, including her role as Eglantine Price in "Bedknobs and Broomsticks," a role initially offered to Julie Andrews.
• 🎶 She also voiced Mrs. Potts in Disney's "Beauty and the Beast," famously recording the theme song in one take after a difficult travel day.
• 🎭 Lansbury's other notable animation roles include "The Last Unicorn" and "Anastasia," with the latter sparking debate about its status as a Disney Princess film.
• 🎈 Her final Disney role was as the balloon lady in "Mary Poppins Returns," a part originally intended for Julie Andrews.
• 🎬 Lansbury's last performance will be in "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery," a collaboration with her "Sweeney Todd" collaborator Stephen Sondheim.