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"A friend of the forest is a friend of the sprites." Well aren't these little mushrooms so cute! Wait, no, they're evil! Sprite Night is a fun horror comedy animated short film made by Blender Studios, the creative corner of the 3D software company Blender. It's written and directed by former Pixar Story Supervisor Matthew Luhn - a story expert with almost 30 years of experience in Hollywood. When a group of teenagers trek into an isolated forest, they discover a pack of peaceful mushroom creatures that turn out to be a killer force of nature. "A horror-comedy inspired by Eighties' classics like Gremlins, the American Werewolf films and the more recent Shaun of the Dead." This features the voices of Valerie Lapointe as Ellie, Gabriel Bisset-Smith as Rex, Nicole Davis as Victoria, Homer Todiwala as Jay, Ed Kear as Phil, and Eric Peterson as the Elder Sprite. With songs by David Drury and Phil Peterson.

With “Lamp Life,” the new Pixar short currently streaming on Disney+, we get the backstory of how Bo Peep became a proud and heroic Lost Toy in “Toy Story 4.” Turns out there was plenty of deleted footage to utilize by the short’s director, Valerie Lapointe (“Toy Story 4’s” head of story and co-writer), who flipped it on its head.

“I dug up all of the cut scenes that we had [from the flashback], which were sad, and I was trying to look through the lens of how Bo would look back on her life,” said Lapointe, a story artist on the Oscar-winning “Inside Out” and “Brave.” “Her personality would look back and say that she had a hard life, but she came out the other side as a better person, a better toy, she found a new way of life, and she can laugh at it. But in recounting what happened to her,...

"Overall, life on a baby lamp isn't that exciting... Or maybe – too exciting...!" Pixar has unveiled the trailer for a brand new animated short film that is arriving on Disney+ streaming at the end of this month. Lamp Life is a fun short film that explains where Bo Peep went and the adventures she was involved in before re-appearing in Pixar's Toy Story 4 (released last summer). It sounds like they've got Annie Potts back as the voice of Bo Peep, giving us a look at her life on top of a baby lamp with sheep at her side. It's no surprise this looks wonderful, since Pixar has been making marvelous short films for decades. I'm excited to watch it. Here's the official trailer (+ poster art) for Valerie Lapointe's short Lamp Life, from Pixar's YouTube: Bo Peep (Annie Potts) has her own toy story to tell. Expect an unexpected journey.

Finalists have been revealed for the 2020 Humanitas Prize, which honors film and television writers whose work inspires compassion, hope, and understanding in the human family. Titles include awards-season heavies Bombshell, It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood and The Farewell on the film side and When They See Us, Pose, This Is Us and The Handmaid’s Tale on the small-screen side.

It’s the 45th year for the honors that hands out awards in 10 categories — two new categories, Limited Series, TV Movie or Special and Short Film, are newcomers this year.

Winners will be announced at the 45th annual Humanitas Prize ceremony January 24, 2020 at the Beverly Hilton.

Here are this year’s finalists:

Drama Feature Film

A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood

Written by Micah Fitzerman-Blue & Noah Harpster; inspired by the article “Can You Say… Hero?” by Tom Junod

A Hidden Life

Written and directed by Terrence Malick...

With Toy Story 4, which marked his feature directorial debut, Josh Cooley faced a high-pressure situation, looking to create an excitingly fresh animated film that would do justice to the legacy of an iconic franchise, while conjuring up the perfect send-off for Woody, one of the most beloved characters in Pixar’s history.

Picking up with the loyal cowboy rag doll, Buzz Lightyear and the rest of the group of toys first introduced to the world in 1995, Toy Story 4 sees the gang head out on a road trip with toddler Bonnie. Coming across Forky—a toy of Bonnie’s own creation, that the gang must protect at all costs—Woody’s adventures result in an unexpected reunion with his long-lost friend Bo Peep, and the cowboy must decide what kind of future he wants for himself, with owner Andy long absent from his life.

Coming to the project, excited...

Variety‘s fifth annual 10 Animators to Watch celebrated what’s new, what’s different and what’s to come in animation.

Variety and Nickelodeon partnered for the event, held at NeueHouse in Hollywood on Tuesday night and hosted by Variety’s executive vice president of content Steve Gaydos. The 10 Animators to Watch — Henry Bonsy, Jérémy Clapin, Trevor Dalmer, Emily Limyun Dean, Valerie Lapointe, Natalie Nourigat, Keely Propp, Miguel Puga, Troy Quane, Malenga Mulendema — took the stage in honor of their auspicious careers in animation. Kristine Belson, president of Sony Pictures Animation, received the honor for Creative Impact in Animation.

“[Animation] is no longer a medium or genre for just kids. It’s a medium — and some of us think it’s the best medium — of storytelling for all audiences to enjoy,” Belson told the crowd upon accepting the honor.

Belson recalled the process of overhauling Sony Pictures Animation during her four...

The “Toy Story” universe has always been very male, ever since John Lasseter’s first “Pixar” release in 1995 introduced old-school Western sheriff pull-toy Woody (Tom Hanks) and snazzy electronic flyer Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen). The dynamic duo have stayed front and center through sequels “Toy Story 2” and “3.”

Pixar itself has been going through a sea change. Of the 21 films Pixar has released since 1995, just four have focused on a female lead. Over the years, Pixar has gradually increased the participation of women throughout the Bay Area company, from animators and designers to story artists.

The first woman to enter the Brain Trust was Pixar Senior Development Executive Mary Coleman. Later, Rita Hsaio shared screenplay credit on “Toy Story 2,” Meg LeFauve landed screenplay credits for “Inside Out” and “The Good Dinosaur,” and Victoria Strouse co-wrote “Finding Dory” with director Andrew Stanton.

When Brenda Chapman arrived at Pixar in 2003, there...

The “Toy Story” universe has always been very male, ever since John Lasseter’s first “Pixar” release in 1995 introduced old-school Western sheriff pull-toy Woody (Tom Hanks) and snazzy electronic flyer Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen). The dynamic duo have stayed front and center through sequels “Toy Story 2” and “3.”

Pixar itself has been going through a sea change. Of the 21 films Pixar has released since 1995, just four have focused on a female lead. Over the years, Pixar has gradually increased the participation of women throughout the Bay Area company, from animators and designers to story artists.

The first woman to enter the Brain Trust was Pixar Senior Development Executive Mary Coleman. Later, Rita Hsaio shared screenplay credit on “Toy Story 2,” Meg LeFauve landed screenplay credits for “Inside Out” and “The Good Dinosaur,” and Victoria Strouse co-wrote “Finding Dory” with director Andrew Stanton.

When Brenda Chapman arrived at Pixar in 2003, there...

This past weekend, Pixar and Disney unleashed the fourth (and final?) entry in the Toy Story saga into a theater near you. And today we have word via Buzz Lightyear himself Tim Allen that the series might continue on like Marvel's The Avengers with "offshoots of characters that have simultaneous stories." Or, you know, Toy Story spin-offs. In a recent interview, Allen was specifically asked if he thinks Toy Story 4 will be the final film in the franchise to which he responded:

"I can't give that away. There's very little to suggest that this isn't, at the very least, [part of] a much bigger world. It reminds me of the Avengers movies - there are not only offshoots of characters that have simultaneous stories, but the world itself got much bigger."

Tim Allen continues to say this.

"My sense is it's done. My creative side says, at the same time,...

Disney’s domination over the box office only seemed to strengthen this weekend as “Toy Story 4” easily topped box office charts.

The fourth entry in Pixar’s animated series collected $118 million in ticket sales when it debuted in 4,575 North American theaters. While that haul is significantly below expectations, which anticipated a start near $140 million, it’s hardly a disappointment for the critically acclaimed movie.

Despite glowing reviews, box office prognosticators suggest that “Toy Story 4” underperformed because audiences were wary about the need for another chapter after “Toy Story 3” wrapped up the series so perfectly. The domestic debut is only a slight jump on that entry, which bowed nearly a decade ago with $110 million. However, strong word of mouth will likely keep “Toy Story 4” in theaters long throughout the summer.

Executives at the Magic Kingdom are optimistic about “Toy Story 4’s” triple-digit debut.

“Looking at these...

The “Toy Story” sequels are renown for their playful and imaginative prologues: Buzz’s video game battle with General Zurg in “Toy Story 2,” and Andy’s wild, wild West playtime adventure in “Toy Story 3.” Trying to top those for “Toy Story 4,” however, became its own special challenge, given the need to reintroduce Bo Peep and explain her absence from the franchise.

Although the Pixar team went through several fun-filled iterations, they landed on the perfect flashback that not only delivers a thrilling rescue of Rc (Remote Control car) in a rainstorm, but also a bittersweet goodbye between Woody and Bo Peep as she’s passed on to a new child. Best of all, it brilliantly foreshadows their complex journey to come and Woody’s existential crisis, in his choosing to stay with Andy rather than running off with her.

“We went through many versions of what the opening would be,...

After a lackluster few weeks at movie theaters, it’s Woody and Buzz Lightyear to the rescue. The dynamic duo is returning to multiplexes for Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story 4.”

The fourth installment in the CGI series is expected to earn north of $140 million when it opens in 4,500 theaters across North America. If it hits those numbers, it will rank among the best debuts for an animated movie. As it stands, the top three launches are “Incredibles 2” ($182 million), “Finding Dory” ($135 million) and “Shrek the Third” ($121 million). The upcoming entry comes nearly 10 years after “Toy Story 3,” which bowed with $110 million in 2009.

Sequels have been floundering at the box office as of late, with “Men in Black: International,” “Dark Phoenix,” and “Shaft” all failing to meet expectations. “Toy Story 4” looks to reverse that trend. Critics are high on the latest iteration, bestowing a near-perfect 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

You’ve still got a friend in them. Fear not, for Pixar has beaten the odds with Toy Story 4. Opening up this week, the sequel finds a moving and wholly unexpected way to continue the adventures of Woody, Buzz, and company. With new delightful characters, an ending you won’t see coming, and a message aimed more at adults than ever before, this is something special. Any worries that the animation giant would fumble the fourth time around are for naught. Not only is this one of Pixar’s best, it’s also one of the best films of the year so far, without question. The third sequel in the Toy Story franchise, Toy Story 4 finds both a new beginning as well as potential end for the series. Now living with Bonnie, Woody (voice of Tom Hanks) and the rest of Andy’s former toys have a new kid.

Former Pixar chief creative officer John Lasseter will still be getting a story credit on the upcoming Toy Story 4, along with seven other people. This movie has been in development for some time and it's been a complicated process with some unexpected twists and turns along the way. As such, quite a few people contributed to the story as it's evolved over the years and they will be getting their proper credit when the sequel is released later this month.

John Lasseter helped make Pixar the studio that it is today and directed all three of the previous Toy Story movies. However, last year he was accused of sexual misconduct by multiple people who worked with him over the years, in addition to fostering a work environment in which women and people of color were not given the same opportunities as men. Lasseter took a six-month leave following the accusations and,...

Toy Story 4 unspools in theaters June 21, moviegoers may notice that the sequel boasts a large number of "story by" credits — eight — including former Pixar chief creative officer John Lasseter and writing partners Rashida Jones and Will McCormack, who left the project in 2017. Others credited include director Josh Cooley, story supervisor Valerie Lapointe, writer Stephany Folsom (Thor: Ragnarok), writer Martin Hynes (The Go-Getter) and Pixar's Oscar-winning writer-director Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo, Wall-e). Stanton and Folsom share the screenplay credit.

Those names reflect the long road to development for the sequel. While it had ...

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Toy Story 4 unspools in theaters June 21, moviegoers may notice that the sequel boasts a large number of "story by" credits — eight — including former Pixar chief creative officer John Lasseter and writing partners Rashida Jones and Will McCormack, who left the project in 2017. Others credited include director Josh Cooley, story supervisor Valerie Lapointe, writer Stephany Folsom (Thor: Ragnarok), writer Martin Hynes (The Go-Getter) and Pixar's Oscar-winning writer-director Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo, Wall-e). Stanton and Folsom share the screenplay credit.

Those names reflect the long road to development for the sequel. While it had ...

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