“Minions: The Rise of Gru” co-director Brad Ableson also directed Illumination, Universal and Peacock’s “Minions / The Office” commercial, which is now nominated for a 2023 Annie Award. Here’s my Animation Scoop Q&A with Ableson. ——————————————– Lights Camera Jackson (a.k.a. Jackson Murphy) began his career as a film critic/entertainment reporter in 2006 at the age […]
Many analysts have been surprised that teenagers and twentysomethings are making up a large percentage of the moviegoers seeing “Minions: The Rise of Gru”. I’m not. And here’s why. 1) If you were six years old when the first “Despicable Me” was released in 2010, you’re now 18. And if you’ve been following along with […]
Illumination’s Sing 2 is the highly-anticipated follow-up to their blockbuster 2016 musical hit. The main voice cast is back, along with director Garth Jennings. Sing 2 opens in theaters this Wednesday Dec. 22. Jennings discusses trying to top the original, bringing Bono on board, and the franchise’s cool connection to the legacy of Elton John. […]
Thanksgiving has always been a big weekend for animated features. Even last year, during the first holiday season of the pandemic, DreamWorks’ “The Croods: A New Age” earned $14.3 million from Wednesday through Sunday in about half the number of theaters (2,200) it probably would’ve been in under normal circumstances. Pre-COVID, Disney often used the […]
Check out My Animation Scoop Q&A with “The Secret Life of Pets 2” Director Chris Renaud. The Illumination sequel screens in select theaters nationwide this Saturday, May 25th, with special Fandango Early Access showings. ——————————— Lights Camera Jackson (a.k.a. Jackson Murphy) began his career as a film critic/entertainment reporter in 2006 at the age of […]