Top Hat Sasquatch

Well, that escalated quickly. In just a couple short years Angry Birds has gone from an obscure iOS game to a huge money-making, licensing machine. The funny thing is, I don’t mind at all. Rovio seems to be doing everything with right Angry Birds. They haven’t put out a crappy game yet and I’ll be eagerly waiting for November 8th to download Angry Birds Star Wars.

I can’t wait to see some gameplay and level design from this one. The art looks awesome; those little birds actually look great as Star Wars characters. The Rebel and Empire logo redesigns are pretty cool too. I’d totally rock a Pig-themed Empire logo on a t-shirt, and I’m sure I’ll get the chance, because they’ll be launching a huge merchandise push when the game hits the App Store. From Rovio’s blog post:

In addition to the game, this fall will also see the unveiling of a massive retail launch for Angry Birds Star Wars. Merchandise ranging from Halloween costumes and apparel to action figures and collectible plush toys will be available at select retailers, starting October 28.

I want some PVC figures from this game, and wouldn’t mind having something with those pig TIE fighters, because come on, pig TIE fighters!

Also, how is there not an Angry Birds cartoon yet? I know they’ve been talking about it forever, and when you think about some of the weird crap we grew up watching the concept doesn’t sound that crazy.

With a perfect trilogy of movies and a handful of charming animated shorts under their belt, the Toy Story gang will be making the transition to TV Special territory next year with Toy Story of Terror. I think TV Specials are a great idea for this group of characters, and I’m excited to see them tackling Halloween first. Here’s the official synopsis:

What starts out as a fun road trip for the Toy Story gang takes an unexpected turn for the worse when the trip detours to a roadside motel. After one of the toys goes missing, the others find themselves caught up in a mysterious sequence of events that must be solved before they all suffer the same fate in this Toy Story of Terror.

I don’t know who’s directing this, but Lee Unkrich is a self-proclaimed The Shining junkie, so it sounds like he was involved to some extent. Regardless, I’ll be tuning in this time next year to check it out.

Via Pixar Planet

The Top Hat Sasquatch team reads a lot of blog posts every day, and some slip through the crack or just don’t warrant their own post. That’s where Missing Links comes in. Every few days we collect the best links we’ve come across and pass them on to you.

Like I’m NOT going to post this TMNT Gangnam Style video featuring Vanilla Ice. | ShezCrafti
I totally missed the boat with the 'Gangnam Style' viral video, but I'm more than fine getting caught up to speed by the Turtles.

‘Wreck-It Ralph’ International Trailer: See An 8-Bit Disney Logo And Tons Of New Footage
Is it November 2nd yet?

Watch a ‘Lilo & Stitch’ Deleted Scene That Tackled Racism, Obnoxious Tourists | /Film
Very cool deleted scene from a Disney movie that I wish I knew was awesome when it came out. It's one I go back and watch quite a bit now. Too bad they didn't leave this scene in.

3.9 Million Watch TMNT Premiere Episodes; Series Renewed for 2nd Season
Awesome news. I love the new show and cant wait for new episodes.

joeyblog: PBS Kids Democracy Project
Cool new illustration project from our buddy Joey Ellis.

What next for Genndy? | Cartoon Brew
Genndy seems like a great choice to helm a CG Popeye movie, and I hope he keeps it faithful to the classic animation and comic strips. I love Popeye and I'll be first in line to see an awesome new version in theaters.

A wise, fresh prince once said, “Take it from me, parents just don’t understand.”  I have a feeling that Count Dracula’s princess, Mavis, would have to agree, in the new release, Hotel Transylvania.  It’s Mavis’ 118th birthday, and her father is throwing yet another party at his titular resort castle in the countryside, where all the werewolves, mummies, Frankensteins, gremlins, and even big foots (big feet?) can come to relax, safe from being pitchforked or torched by intolerant humans.

However, this year, Mavis’ birthday is supposed to be different: this is the day that her father promised she could finally leave the hotel and venture out into the dangerous world beyond the 400 acres of haunted forest and zombie graveyard that surrounds the castle.  The danger outside doesn’t lie with other monsters or even the burning rays of daylight, but the humans who, the Count believes, will never understand Mavis, and will only respond with violence.  Admittedly, the Count has good reason for his bias, as Mavis’ mother, the Count’s one true love, was killed by intolerant villagers over 100 years ago.
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When I was a kid, we had a Betamax copy of a making-of documentary that played on PBS just before Return of the Jedi debuted in theaters.  I couldn’t tell you how many times I watched that tape, but I do know that when it was included on the DVD extras a few years back, the memories came flooding back.  I can recall the early concept sculptures for Jabba the Hutt, where the could-have-been crimelord had four arms.  There were drawings of long-legged, almost bird-like ewoks.  And the early designs for the AT-ST (AKA “The Chicken Walker”) were just as cool as the final vehicle turned out to be.  The show had a lasting impression on me because it showed me that there was a process to creating the iconic images I would grow to know and love.  Since then, I have been obsessed with concept art for movies.

If you’ve read my review of Hotel Transylvania, I think it’s unlikely that the film will ever be considered as iconic as any of the Star Wars films (including the prequels), but that doesn’t mean that it was thrown together without any thought whatsoever.  And thanks to The Art and Making of Hotel Transylvania from Titan Books, the most impressive part of this otherwise underwhelming film will not go unnoticed.
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