Either that exciting-looking “Wreck-It Ralph” trailer has suddenly got us all interested in animation again, or it’s made rival animators sit up and up their marketing game. Either way, we’ve got new looks at three upcoming animated flicks as a result.
First up is our very first look at DreamWorks’ “Mr. Peabody and Sherman” (voiced by Ty Burrell and Max Charles) which is currently scheduled for a March 2014 release. This writer has to admit to barely recognising the characters – not because they don’t look like the original animated show’s depiction of the characters, but probably because they’re not so well known over here in the U.K. However, even being unfamiliar with the property this looks like it could some animated time-travelling fun.
Arriving with a completely different look is Guillermo Del Toro’s “Pinocchio." Del Toro is teaming up with “The Fantastic Mr. Fox” animation director Mark Gustafson and the Jim Henson Company for the 3D stop-motion version of the classic fairy tale, and it looks to have a Henry Selick-esque feel about it. Del Toro's take will be a far, far cry from the classic Disney version, and we’ll be very impressed (but not surprised) if he can top some of the scares that Uncle Walt’s film had to offer. Production actually doesn't start until next year (Del Toro is currently working on "Pacific Rim") but this is a good taste of what he has in store.
Finally, it’s a new trailer for (*sigh*) “Ice Age 4: Continental Drift.” How this unattractive, unfunny franchise manages to continually dominate the box office is beyond us. This looks as turgid as usual, and we’re already depressed that at least one of The Playlist team will have to see this for review purposes. Last time the gimmick was dinosaurs, this time it’s pirates. Oh, and Nicki Minaj, J-Lo and Drake are amongst the highlighted voice cast. CANNOT WAIT! [ComingSoon/Dread Central via EW]