(The Vintage Tempest)
There’s plenty of animated films to look at in the new year. Some are more interesting than others and herein, I make my Top Animated Picks of 2016 to look forward to. Instead of glancing at the films coming out of North America, I’m looking world-wide and the movies I see offered get diverse.
But before I get to the list, the following are my honourable mentions: Just because Finding Dory is PIXAR and I loved Finding Nemo, that does not mean this movie will be excellent. Thirteen years have passed (an unlucky number for the superstitious) since Nemo went home. In another film, I’m thinking the cat featured in Secret Life of Pets is the next Garfield. For the story featured in Henchman, I’m figuring this film can easily fit in the world of Mastermind although this movie is developed over at BRON Studios.
Animal Crackers (TBD)
Not to be confused with the Marx Brothers film of the same name, this animated fare looks at a life of the Huntington family who finds a magical box of said crackers who can change the eater into the animal they have pulled out from the box. This film has promise when there is an all-star cast assembled to provide the voices.
What’s especially lovable is the fact that it’s tough not to love a cartoon that Patrick Warburton is featured in; ever since Buzz Lightyear of Star Command, he does a great job at voicing one of my favourite characters from Toy Story. Not to be forgotten, the other stars include: John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Ian McKellen, Danny DeVito, Sylvester Stallone, Wallace Shawn and Raven-Symoné.
Batman: The Killing Joke (TBA)
A lot of press was released when news of this Alan Moore story is getting turned into an animation. Mark Hamill wanted to come out of retirement (from doing the voice of the Joker) just to have the opportunity to voice the Clown Prince of Crime again! Yes, Luke Skywalker has a dark side. There’s no need to reread the graphic novel as this direct to video release should be faithful to the book. The Joker’s origins finally get an animated retelling, and it ought to be very dark and grim. The trials he puts Commissioner Gordon through is at the heart of this tale, and to see how he pulls though will require work from a top notch voice cast. So far, only Kevin Conroy and Hamill are confirmed to be part of this production.
This animated comic book video may well be the first to get an R rating if its to capture the edge that the original product excelled at.
