Tag: DreamWorks Animation

The Vintage Tempest’s Picks of 2017 Animated Films to See

Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)
By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

2017 is upon us, and this year seems light in comparison to last year’s stellar line-up of animated movies and direct-to-video products to must-see. DreamWorks Animation (one of my favourite studios) had three titles, but sadly with The Croods 2 dropped, the remainder does not seem as exciting. Time will tell, however, until official trailers for The Boss Baby and Captain Underpants are released.

In the international front, Tad Jones: The Hero Returns might be fun, though this title ranks more in the honourable mention front. Also coming is Howard Lovecraft and the Underworld Kingdom. No official word has been made yet, but if Arcana Studios is sticking to schedule, we can expect this release in September.

In a holdover from last year’s releases in the film festival circuit, a few reports is suggesting The Red Turtle will get a wider distribution. This winner deserves to arrive at more shores, as it’s a powerful story about a man stranded on a deserted island, and how he connects with a particular turtle. Leading the pack of movies I must see is one that is making rounds at festivals:

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Window Horses
(Please check local listings, Q2 wide release)

Director: Ann Marie Fleming

This colourful animation caught my attention when the National Film Board of Canada reported about its West Coast première at the Vancouver International Film Festival. If only it was playing the same or next day when I was in Vancouver, I could have gone to see it. Thankfully it will be getting a wider distribution in the new year.

When considering it is about a young poet of mixed descent going to Iran to learn about her past, I feel she will discover that the world is interconnected in more ways than she realizes. The unique character designs is also another selling point, and I’ll be anxious to see where the plot goes.

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Examining the Lore behind DreamWorks’ Trollhunters

Netflix has a hit with DreamWorks Trollhunters. I binge-watched this entire action-adventure heroic fantasy in one sitting over the holiday weekend and once done, I was craving more. After a good rest, I watched it again. This time, I looked for the details.

TrollhuntersBy Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Netflix has a hit with DreamWorks Trollhunters. I binge-watched this entire action-adventure heroic fantasy in one sitting over the holiday weekend and once done, I was craving more. After a good rest, I watched it again. This time, I looked for the details.

There’s a lot of lore to appreciate in the world that Guillermo del Toro and the Hageman Brothers (Dan & Kevin) put together. This producer’s approach in handling the dark fantasy is easily apparent and the series writers crafted a broader story (from the book of the same name) which I found familiar and fun. They crafted a dynamic narrative that’s on par with the storytelling and character development I enjoyed from Transformers Prime.

In this world, these trolls have been around for millenniums and the amulet that grants the wielder a magical suit of armour was made by King Arthur’s Merlin. This realm is occupied by changelings, golems and gnomes. More creatures from fairy tradition will no doubt be coming because the dwarves are suspiciously missing. I love to see a crossover with Disney’s Gargoyles but sadly, I know that will never happen. The fact these creatures avoid the sun is quickly explained in the opening act.

In modern day, the humans are unaware of this troll universe. A bridge divides the two realms and access can only be granted through a special crystal. The peace was good until Gunmar the Black thought the divide prevented good eating (destroying man) to be found. Although the war was waged with none of the human world the wiser, his presence has been a bane in troll history. Not every underground denizen felt the same way as this dark warrior.

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A Glimpse at How to Train Your Dragon, The Serpent’s Heir

HTTYD Serpents HeirBy Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Solicitations have begun through Diamond Distribution for Dark Horse Comics‘ How to Train Your Dragon: The Serpent’s Heir. This volume goes on sale Feb 15, 2017, but for retailers (comic book shops), they can officially take in orders and the details are in for what to expect. Value-priced at an MSRP of $10.99, there will be 80 pages of goodness to admire. The trade paperback measures 6×9 inches.

Picking up just after the events in How to Train Your Dragon 2, Hiccup, Astrid and company are called upon to assist the people of an earthquake-plagued island. But their lives are imperiled by a madman and an incredible new dragon who even Toothless — the alpha dragon — may not be able to control!

Dean DeBlois and Richard Hamilton are the writers of this comic book tie-in to the upcoming 2018 film. This detail makes owning this volume quintessential for teases in what’s to come in Dreamworks product. For this HTTYD fan, while much of this news has been out for a while now, to see a tease in the advance order catalogue of what’s to come is a first look at the art.

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The Dragon’s Eye is No Longer Needed to Race to the Edge

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By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

New episodes of Dragons: Race to the Edge are now available on Netflix and months have passed since Hiccup and the Dragon Riders dealt with Viggo Grimborn. This new antagonist has all the makings to be a classic James Bond style of villain and his patience in how to deal with threats to his trade of selling dragons suggests he will be around for most of the saga. I’m curious if he knows Drago from the films, because one episode suggests he is more aware of what’s out there, beyond the Archipelago.

Very little added exploration is taking place in this new season when a threat is nearby. The crew have to fortify their defenses and plan for the eventuality that either Grimborn or a greater threat will attack. But first, and old adversary, Dagur, emerges out of the woodwork and he’s apparently turned over a new leaf. Hopefully the fate given unto him at the mid-season cliffhanger is not certain. This character has received more development than the others in this series, and I’ve grown to like him.

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DreamWorks DinoTrux Returns for a New Season!

In a series designed to be simple, the hidden nuances buried in DinoTrux is more appealing to make this series a worthwhile watch.

Dinotrux Promotional PosterDinotrux is a fun animated series about construction vehicles which somewhat look like reptoids from the imagination of Chris Gall. They live in the biomechanical Mechazoic age and build structures which could explain the origins of places like Stonehenge. New episodes were released March 11, 2016, on Netflix.

Continuing where the last season left off, D-Structs (voiced by Paul Dobson) is exiled from the valley through no fault of his own. He’s the antagonist of the series. In the premiere episode of season two,”New Tail,” he is desperately in need for a new stinger. Before, he had a spiked wrecking ball to bash fellow dino-mechanoids around. Now, he has none. No longer seen as a threat, he still wants to make life miserable for Ty Rux (Andrew Francis) and the dino-mechs who made the Flatirons their home. One reptool, Skrap-It (Skrap), remains loyal to this bully and just why he continues to take the abuse is a mystery. He helps this villain gain a new tail.

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Examining Kung Fu Panda 2 in Retrospect and What’s Next for the Franchise?

Kung Fu Panda has lots of storytelling elements to like in the three films that makes up this fun franchise.

Kung Fu Panda 3 Movie PosterFive years are a long time to wait for the continuation of Po the Panda’s heroic journey. As Kung Fu Panda 3 is knocking it out of the park at the box office, perhaps a few awards will come as result of its steller work in the digital rendering front.

However, some people going to this instalment may well have forgotten some key story points from the previous two movies. They do all tie together very nicely. Po’s rise to Dragon Warrior to self-discovery (realizing who he is) as an individual is very familiar. Much like how baby Moses was found cast adrift and become raised by royalty, the only opposite is that Po is raised in a humble abode by Mr. Ping, a noodle maker and restaurateur.

The virtues instilled upon baby Po as he grew up helped shape part of his personality. While the youth grew to admire the Furious Five, a quintet of Kung Fu masters, little did he know that the fates decided that he would be the chosen one, to become the Dragon Warrior, the most prestigious master of the martial arts who’s also an amalgam of the best in what any individual—human or animal—can represent.

In this series, all the styles of Kung Fu represented in the animals presented. Oogway is a turtle and Shifu (the chinese name for master) is a red panda. The other masters named include Croc, Ox and Rhino. More animals were added in Kung Fu Panda 3. Throughout the series, Tiggress, Monkey, Mantis, Viper, Crane have yet to achieve their final ranking, and as this third film points out, Oogway is set to retire, ready to pass on his title to Po.

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