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Yahoo absorbs movie-making app Ptch to bolster its photo and video efforts
It's a familiar story: A start-up creates an app that does something cool on the web or in the mobile space, Marissa Mayer catches wind of it, whips out her checkbook and Yahoo acquires the company. This time, it was the Dreamworks-backed social-video app Ptch. The company's announcement blog post says that its tech will be used to improve Yahoo's photo and video platforms (read: Flickr), and that users have until January 2nd to download their creations either via the app or website. After that? Good luck, because come January 3rd, they're closing down. Until then, we're just curious when we'll actually see the Voltron-esque thing that Flickr turns into after these upgrades are applied.
Netflix's first original animated series to premiere on Christmas Eve
You remember when that ironically titled film Turbo came out this past summer? The one about the snails (thus the irony)? Apparently it was popular enough to warrant an exclusive animated series on Netflix -- the streaming service's first such investment -- and it becomes available on Christmas Eve. Just in time to distract the little ones while you're gorging on nog! On December 24th, the first five episodes of Turbo FAST go live on Netflix in the US, Canada, Ireland, Latin America and the UK, while the rest of the season will go live at unnamed intervals during 2014. As such, we'd suggest meting out those first five episodes sparingly, lest the little ones demand more before more are available.
Need For Speed film trailer stars Aaron Paul, fast cars (in that order)
Dreamworks released a new full length trailer for the upcoming Need for Speed movie (alternative title: Braking is Bad), and it certainly looks like Need for Speed - not that the EA franchise is particularly bursting with identifying qualities beyond fast, shiny cars and high speed crashes. But this trailer nails those parts, that's for sure. The film, Aaron Paul et al, is dated now for March 2014.
MMO Family: First impressions of Dreamworks' School of Dragons
Who knew that the rough, barren cliffs of Berk could be so popular? The animated film How to Train Your Dragon has blossomed into a hit TV show, two upcoming sequels, and even its very own MMO. The studio behind Jumpstart has teamed up with Dreamworks to create School of Dragons, a kid-friendly MMO that blends in viking adventure, lessons in science, and plenty of fire-breathing dragons. In this week's MMO Family, I donned my pointy viking helmet and heavy fur cloak to check things out. Read on for my first impressions of the game!
Here's a first look at the Need for Speed flick
Dreamworks offered a sneak peek of its Need for Speed film at E3, complete with Aaron Paul, flashy cars and flashy car crashing. The question remains: which NFS universe is it set in? Underground? Hot Pursuit? Underground 2? Are they even separate NFS universes? Maybe we'll find out in 2014.
Netflix signs up Dreamworks for multiple new original TV series, promises over 300 hours of programming
In what Netflix says is its largest-ever deal for original content, it's announced that Dreamworks Animation will provide "over 300 hours of new programming" based on both existing and incoming movies and franchises. Spanning all the territories where Netflix operates, the first series airs next year, following the previously announced spin-off series for Dreamworks' incoming Turbo movie which debuts in December. Following the movie studio's purchase of Classic Media earlier this year, Netflix also promises new content from a stable of characters that includes Where's Waldo, Caspar and Fat Albert, although it hasn't specified any new series for these just yet. Netflix will also show several Dreamworks Animation features in the coming years as part of their premium pay TV window deal, with The Croods, Turbo, and Mr. Peabody and Sherman all signed-up to appear on the streaming service in the future.
Angry Birds dev Rovio making tie-in game for DreamWorks' The Croods
DreamWorks' latest animated blockbuster, The Croods, is getting a tie-in iOS and Android game courtesy of Angry Birds developer Rovio. The game, due March 14, takes the film's prehistoric family and throws them into a caveman sim, apparently. You can hunt and gather, catch weird creatures, and cultivate your own little patch of the Paleolithic Age.The Croods isn't Rovio's first movie tie-in, but it is the studio's first one outside of Angry Birds. Commercially speaking, that makes this game a whole different kettle of fish - or birds - or cave-birds. Maybe they should've gone with cave-birds.
Netflix and DreamWorks to launch original show for kids in December
While Netflix is trying to lure in the grown-ups with the launch of House of Cards, it's not leaving kids without their own choice of original material. DreamWorks plans to follow up the July release of its animated movie Turbo with a Netflix-only series, Turbo FAST, in December. The episodes will arrive on the service roughly in line with DreamWorks' 2013 slate of movies, including Turbo. Young viewers may well be happy, but Turbo FAST and the larger DreamWorks deal could be that much more satisfying for Netflix itself -- they're potential foils to Amazon's multi-show plans that could keep some subscribing families from jumping ship.
Michael Keaton joins Need for Speed movie cast
The world's second original Batman has joined the cast of Dreamwork's surprisingly still forthcoming Need for Speed movie adaptation, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Michael Keaton will play the role of a "reclusive and eccentric" race organizer and host, one that invites drivers from around the world to participate in some sort of underground supercar thing.Keaton joins Kid Cudi and Aaron Paul, among others, as those confirmed for the movie's cast. Still no word yet on who will play the car, but our fake sources tell us that Paul will likely be blasting around the country in a talking Volvo station wagon voiced by either Ellen McLain or Jennifer Hale.
Breaking Bad's Aaron Paul playing lead in Need for Speed movie
It looks like Dreamworks' Need for Speed movie is on the fast track to production: Aaron Paul, who plays Jesse Pinkman in AMC's Breaking Bad, is slated to play the lead. Paul has won two Emmys for his role in Breaking Bad, and has also starred in The Last House on the Left and HBO's Big Love.Scott Waugh, a veteran stuntman and director of Act of Valor, is directing the movie, George and John Gatnis are writing the screenplay, and EA vice president Patrick O'Brien is one of the producers."The film adaptation will be a fast-paced, high-octane film rooted in the tradition of the great car culture films of the 70s while being extremely faithful to the spirit of the video game franchise." the press release reads. "In Need for Speed, the cars are hot, the racing is intense and the story keeps players at the edge of their seat."While we don't want Paul to be typecast, it'd be pretty cool if he drives an RV for part of the movie. Or even just a blue car. Can you give us that, Dreamworks?
Need for Speed film debuts on Feb. 7, 2014
Dreamworks' film adaptation of the Need for Speed series has been given a fixed point in time: February 7, 2014, according to Deadline. (And provided nothing derails that fast track the project was put on last month.)The movie, directed by ex-stuntman Scott Waugh, (whose last name sounds like the noise a person would make while performing stunts), is not directly based on any specific game in Need for Speed's long history as a franchise. We're not willing to say we're optimistic for the film, but we do appreciate the continued excuses to use our beloved Mystery Science Theater 3000 silhouette.
Dreamworks is making the Need for Speed movie
Back in April, we heard that EA, script in hand, was courting several film companies (Paramount, Warner Bros. and Sony, specifically) over the prospect of making a movie based on the Need For Speed franchise. As it turns out, Dreamworks has taken the bait and will be fast-tracking the project for a 2014 release, the company announced today.The screenplay, penned by brothers George and John Gatins, is not based on any specific game in the franchise, but rather the series as a whole, which means that the movie will have cars in it and be called "Need for Speed." It'll be directed by Scott Waugh, who directed Act of Valor and did a whole bunch of stuntman work. Production is slated to start early next year, and you can tell EA what cars you'd like to see in the film by posting on its Facebook page. Might we be so bold as to suggest the Nissan DeltaWing?
SEC investigating movie studios' dealings with China
Reuters is reporting that regulators have begun a probe of American movie studios and their dealings with Chinese officials. The Security and Exchange Commission has sent letters to at least five companies, including 20th Century Fox, Disney and DreamWorks Animation requesting information about "potential[ly] inappropriate payments" made to members of the Chinese government. The market in the pseudo-Communist nation is seen as one with huge potential for US-made films, but the state-owned China Film Group has placed strict limits on foreign cinema. However, in February, the group agreed to loosen restrictions and exempt up to 14 IMAX or 3D films a year (along with their 2D counterparts) from the 20 movie cap on international media. Around the same time, DreamWorks announced it would be building a production studio in Shanghai with participation from several large Chinese media companies. Even Disney struck a deal that will see the next Iron Man title co-produced by China's DMG Entertainment. The sudden shift in tone must have raised some eyebrows with watchdogs, and the SEC has responded by hitting up the studios for info over the last few months. Obviously, we'll be keeping an eye on this to see how it develops.
Dreamworks Animation joins Walmart's disc to digital program
DreamWorks Animation has signed up with Walmart's VUDU-powered disc to digital service. From today, you can take any of the studio's movies (such as Shrek or Kung-Fu Panda) and have them converted to standard quality video for $2 or a HD version for $5. There's no word on if DreamWorks proper would sign up, but given the complex nature of its ownership, we won't hold our breath.
DreamWorks CEO envisions an internet with more animation, fewer words
Is the internet on the cusp of a post-text era? Dreamworks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg certainly thinks so. Speaking at the Techonomy conference in Tucson yesterday, Katzenberg confirmed that his company is already working on expanding 3D animation to the realm of social media, as part of a collaboration with Intel. As Technology Review reports, the two companies have been working on the project for the better part of four years, developing 12-core chips and software capable of delivering real-time photographic animation. Katzenberg didn't offer many details beyond that, but seemed confident that his company's new technology could radically alter the way users share and engage with online content by transcending the boundaries of traditional text. "Text is a learned process but what we do [at Dreamworks] is intuitive and instinctual and you do it from the moment you are born," he said, "We're trying to see if we can move many of these things we can do today in text but moving up to video and audio... with sight and sound." The exec went on to cite Apple's Siri personal assistant as proof that this transition is already underway: "Whether we do it or somebody else does it, we will move from a text world into a audio visual one." Intriguing claims, to be sure, but we'll know more next year, when Dreamworks' new campaign gets underway.
Fruit Ninja: Puss in Boots is a thing, really; coming to iOS on Oct. 20
As if the fruit on your phone, iPod, tablet, Android, and Kinect weren't already sliced thoroughly enough, Halfbrick is burdening yet more fruit with potential murder in the upcoming movie tie-in Fruit Ninja: Puss in Boots. As you've likely surmised, the game is a Puss in Boots-themed Fruit Ninja release, which imagines the titular Puss slicing up fruit with his dutiful foil. In addition to introducing a well-timed theme into the mix, FN: PIB adds the "all-new Bandito mode," which tasks players with surviving progressively more difficult levels with unique challenges, and the "Desperado" mode, which updates the first game's "Classic" mode. "We wanted to create something new and different for our fans while keeping the magic of Fruit Ninja intact, and we think Bandito Mode will keep even the most practiced players on their toes," Jetpack Joyride playable character and Halfbrick chief marketing man Phil Larsen notes in the announcement. Oh, and tomatoes? Totally in there, definitively proving once and for all that they're fruit. Take that, science! Fruit Ninja: Puss in Boots arrives on the iOS App Store on October 20 for $0.99 on iPhone and $1.99 on iPad.%Gallery-136062%
Rumor: Dreamworks Halo movie mentioned in press release [update 2]
So this is ... weird. Halo.fr received a press release for the French version of the novel Halo: Cryptum, and it mentions a forthcoming Halo movie in development with Steven Spielberg and Dreamworks. Now, we've gotten better than a greedy mortician at ignoring signs of life from the oft-revived and killed-off Halo movie, and would have been more than happy to dismiss this as a misinformed publicist or hopeful copy editor. But it's a little harder in this case. The blurb mirrors a report from Vuture that Dreamworks was considering adapting the books, avoiding some of the legal cruft gathered around the video game-to-movie adaptation. Ready for the weird part? We ran the story on the Vulture piece exactly one year ago today. Spooky, right? We suspect the interference of ghosts, but we've contacted the novel's US publisher and Microsoft in the hopes of finding our for sure. [Update: We heard back from Tor, which publishes Halo books stateside. It doesn't work with French publisher Milady directly, but was unaware of any movie version of Halo in the works. That's not a denial per se, but if it was happening, you can bet Tor would have heard about it. Update 2: And now, a post from 343 Industries' Frank O'Connor on NeoGAF, which reads "This is ow you say? Ah yes. Ze nonsense." Yeah, we're calling it: Time of death: 12:05 p.m. EST]
Puss In Boots: The Video Game is exactly what it sounds like
Somewhere, someone has tossed a coin into a fountain, quietly uttering "I wish I were an Antonio Banderas cat." Were we the universe, we would have fulfilled wishes about global hunger or world peace first, but whatever. Puss In Boots: The Video Game is a licensed multiplatform exercise from THQ, coming to 360, PS3, Wii and DS sometime around the movie's November 4 theatrical release. The 360 and PS3 versions both tout heavy Kinect and Move integration, respectively, claiming that Kinect owners can "actually become Puss," which sounds painful and terrifying. The PS3 version's Move support allows for a much more normal sounding "full-motion sword fighting experience," while the DS variant receives the standard mini-game collection treatment. Wii owners can expect a rather Zelda-esque sounding Wiimote + Nunchuk configuration, as well as a lower price-tag ($29.99), while PS3 and 360 owners will be charged slightly less discounty discounts ($39.99 and $49.99). Personally, we've all got our fingers crossed for a Nasonex Bee pre-order bonus.
NYT: Netflix strikes deal with Dreamworks, will begin streaming movies, TV specials in 2013
It looks like those rumors of a streaming deal between Netflix and Dreamworks Animation were as good as advertised. Details are still fuzzy at this point, but the New York Times is reporting that the two parties have reached an agreement to stream Dreamworks' movies and TV projects, as part of a deal worth an estimated $30 million. Under the contract, which replaces a similar pay TV pact between Dreamworks and HBO, Netflix will begin offering exclusive access to the studio's new films in 2013, with Antz, Kung Fu Panda and other titles from its library slated to become available for streaming sometime thereafter. The company won't be confined to selling digital copies of Dreamworks' movies within a specific period, either, drawing a major distinction between itself and HBO, which requires studio partners to halt digital sales outside of an exclusive window. HBO probably isn't too thrilled to see Netflix strike what Dreamworks chief exec Jeffrey Katzenberg called a "game-changing deal," but it also has a new partnership of its own with Summit Studios, which it brought on board after letting Dreamworks out of its contract a full two years early. We're still waiting for official confirmation of Netflix's latest deal, but we'll let you know as soon as we get it. Update: Now with the official press release, included after the break.
Robopocalypse coming soon to a theater near you, Spielberg to smother it in PG
The Robopocalypse is coming -- just not in the way you'd dreaded. DreamWorks and Twentieth Century Fox have joined movie-making forces to reanimate Daniel H. Wilson's fictional (for now) literary account of a future, robot-helmed doomsday. The studios have thrown some guy named Steven Spielberg behind the lens of this cinematic cautionary tale, and plan to scare the bejeezus out of us all when it premieres July 3, 2013 -- that's if we make it past the Mayan end of the world. No casting was mentioned in the project's announcement, so we'll continue to cross our toes in the hopes a certain daytime show couch jumper and film star-turned-pilot don't join in on the blockbuster fear-mongering.
