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Matt Stone and Trey Parker, born and raised in Denver, were obsessed as kids with Mexican restaurant Casa Bonita, a massive, labyrinthine, Disneyland-ish local landmark that opened in 1974 in Lakewood, Colorado with roving characters, live entertainment — including a cliff diving show — secret rooms and so-so food. It fell on hard times and then closed in 2020 during Covid.

So they bought it after some soul searching and hoped a speedy renovation would delight their kids and others as they had been delighted. The Denver area cheered.

It was not speedy and quickly soared past the estimated $6 million budget — ultimately passing $40 million. Floors, walls and ceilings were rotten, everything electric outdated and dangerous and plumbing a disaster in the 54,000 square foot emporium. A falcon had been dropping pigeon carcasses onto the roof since the 1970s. There is much footage in the new doc ¡Casa Bonita Mi Amor! of Parker wandering the site in distress,...

Welcome to the latest instalment of a brand-new feature here on Nerdly, where one of our comic gurus, Ian Wells, delves into comics history and dissects Comics Interview, the long-running journal of interviews and criticism from David Anthony Kraft (Dak).

Respect For Dak

In this issue Dak kicks things off talking about how much writing he is still doing in other forms. Borrowing a page from his book I want to take a more extended look at his comics career as I don’t feel I done it justice in the first issue. I mean no disrespect but I feel ‘journeyman writer’ is best to describe his career. It is an impressive catalogue of work, where he can play claim to having worked on legendary characters such as; Kamandi, Tarzan, Captain America and She Hulk. In 1984 he finished a long stint on Worlds Finest, so you can add Batman and...

Your browser does not support the video tag. Tony Goldwyn returns to directing after 14 years with the powerful family drama, Ezra, inspired by writer Tony Spiridakis' own experience raising his autistic son. The star-studded cast, led by Bobby Cannavale and Robert De Niro, brings to life the emotional journey of Max and his autistic son, Ezra. Goldwyn shares insights on the casting process and excitement for Channing Tatum's remake of his iconic film, Ghost.

Tony Goldwyn returns to the director's chair after 14 years with Ezra. Goldwyn has found widespread acclaim for his work both in front of and behind the camera over the better part of 40 years, starring in everything from the Patrick Swayze-led Ghost to voicing Tarzan in Disney's 1999 animated classic movie, as well as portraying President Fitzgerald Grant III on ABC's Scandal. Goldwyn has also helmed a variety of movies over the years, including his acclaimed debut,...

Imagine watching Nick at Nite back when shows from the 1950s through to the '70s dominated the programming block. It just so happens that "Gilligan's Island" season 1, episode 19, "Gilligan Meets Jungle Boy," is on. By and large, you know what to expect: Gilligan (Bob Denver) getting up to slapstick mayhem; Jonas Grumby, aka "The Skipper" (Alan Hale Jr.), on the verge of blowing a fuse over his first mate's antics; and the shipwrecked passengers of the SS Minnow staging yet another comically failed attempt in their Sisyphean quest to escape the titular island. Sherwood Schwartz's supremely silly sitcom series was nothing if not consistent in its formula.

It's at this point that a 13-year-old Kurt Russell shows up with no shirt and a leopard loincloth on.

"Jungle Boy" does indeed hit all the anticipated beats for an episode of "Gilligan's Island." It also, in true to form fashion,...

Alan Moore's creation Tom Strong broke ground in comic book history by featuring the first interracial marriage and family in an American comic. Moore unintentionally created a significant milestone in comic books, challenging social taboos and fostering representation of diverse relationships. Despite Moore's distaste for mainstream superheroes, Tom Strong's socially conscious storytelling became one of his most beloved projects.

Thanks to his work on comic books like Watchmen, Miracle Man and Swamp Thing, Alan Moore established himself as his generation's foremost comic book writer. Known for using political commentary as subtext for his stories, the socially conscious author broke down a barrier in the industry without even realizing it.

After departing DC Comics on bad terms, Alan Moore pursued a career in the indie comics space, turning to Image and, later, America's Best Comics. There, he created arguably his greatest project after Swamp Thing in Tom Strong. Co-created with artist Chris Sprouse,...

Pop sensation Taylor Swift has been heavily rumored to be joining the MCU in an upcoming project. Taylor Swift's previous acting experience is small, but very varied, meaning she would be great for a number of roles in the MCU. Taylor Swift has been rumored to portray either Dazzler or Blonde Phantom in the MCU, but she could also bring the likes of Mockingbird, American Dream, Songbird, or Crystal, among others, to life.

Several iconic Marvel Comics characters would be a perfect match for Taylor Swift in the MCU, following recent speculation that the pop icon will be joining Marvel Studios' ever-growing superhero franchise. Since the release of her debut album, Taylor Swift, in 2006, the eponymous Swift has become one of the world's best-selling artists and one of the most influential celebrities on Earth. While her musical talents have seen her go from country star to pop sensation, Taylor Swift's...

The Oscar-winning film-maker discusses his documentary about the legendary puppeteer and his unwavering desire to experiment

Before he became the world’s most famous puppeteer – the man responsible for The Muppets and Big Bird; and turning David Bowie into the Goblin King in Labyrinth – Jim Henson was an experimental film-maker.

In his Oscar-nominated 1965 short, Time Piece, Henson stars as a man transcending time and space, the percussive beats of ticking clocks, heartbeats and other machinery creating the rhythms for the film’s montage. In a film that takes cues from Georges Méliès and Dziga Vertov, Henson goes from playing hospital patient to Tarzan to George Washington. He was a man who could seemingly be anyone, and do anything, much like Henson himself.

Actress Carrie Fisher became a global icon when she played Princess Leia Organa in Star Wars. The actress was twenty-one when the film was released and it immediately launched her into worldwide fame as the film became a phenomenon. Princess Leia was considered to be one of the best female characters in sci-fi.

Fisher was reportedly cast in the role of Leia after George Lucas considered multiple actresses. The late star was only one-film-old at the time and had only been in a couple of stage shows. According to an old interview with Fisher from 1977, Lucas chose her because she fulfilled one particular quality of the character that he had written.

Carrie Fisher Was Cast As Princess Leia Due To One Condition Carrie Fisher in Star Wars: A New Hope | Credits: Lucasfilm Ltd./20th Century Fox

Late actress Carrie Fisher played Princess Leia Organa, the sister of Luke Skywalker and...

1999's Tarzan earns a 10 out of 10 score from an ape expert for its depiction of a gorilla protecting a human baby from a leopard. Despite this, a primate expert concedes that an ape could not successfully raise a human. Disney's Tarzan was a major success critically and commercially.

Disney's Tarzan scores a perfect grade from a primate expert. Released in 1999 and directed by Chris Buck and Kevin Lima, Tarzan adapts a story first published in 1912 by Edgar Rice Burroughs about a man raised from a baby by apes. The animated Disney film, which features voice performances from Tony Goldwyn and Minnie Driver, earned positive reviews from critics and was a box office hit.

In a recent video for Insider, primatologist Mireya Mayor analyzes scenes from Tarzan and grades them for their accuracy.

The film ultimately earns a perfect score for its depiction of a leopard attack scene, though Mayor admits...

Cairo-based Mad Distribution has acquired Jonathan Millet’s Critics’ Week opener Ghost Trail from mk2 Films, Somali director Mo Harawe’s Un Certain Regard drama The Village Next To Paradise from Totem Films and Anne-Marie Jacir’s upcoming All Before You for release in the Middle East and North Africa.

They are three of 30 titles secured by Mad Distribution for Mena territories, which also include Saif Hammash’s Palestinian short Deer’s Tooth, selected for La Cinef, and Rayane Mcirdi’s Algerian-French short After The Sun, which plays in Directors’ Fortnight.

The distribution arm of indie studio Mad Solutions plans...

A delegation of Palestinian filmmakers is in Cannes, seeking both international support for projects and the opportunity to alter the discourse on how Palestinians are perceived internationally.

“A lot of the time, in western media, Palestinians are just a bunch of angry Arabs,” suggested Palestine-Denmark filmmaker Mahdi Fleifel, whose debut To A Land Unknown is playing in Directors’ Fortnight. He hopes his film “can contribute a level of humanity to the discourse” on Palestinians.

“People don’t see us as people with dreams, and hopes and fears. I hope that’s what will resonate with audiences.”

To A Land Unknown...

Twin brother directors Tarzan and Arab Nasser are gearing up to film Once Upon a Time In Gaza in Jordan in September.

Bac Films is handling international sales and French distribution. Mad Distribution has taken Mena rights.

The Palestine-France-Germany-Portugal-Jordan- Saudi Arabia co-production is produced by Marie Legrand and Rani Massalha of France’s Les Films du Tambour, who made the Nassers’ 2015 title Dégradé and 2020 feature Gaza Mon Amour, Palestine’s Oscar submission.

David Grumbach, CEO of Bac said the film “echoes the terrible current events in this region and confirms the Nasser brothers are among the leading auteurs in cinema...

Similar to classic folklore characters like Robin Hood, King Arthur, Tarzan, and Zorro, The Three Musketeers exist within the public domain, and thus can be adapted by any filmmaker or studio. Alexander Dumas classic novel has been brought to the screen countless times, as the characters of Athos, Porthos, Aramis, and D'Artagnan have become instantly recognizable to audiences of multiple generations. While many of these adaptations are worthwhile, BBCs three season swashbuckling adventure series The Musketeers was able to flesh out the characters in more depth. Tom Burkes portrayal of Athos in The Musketeers gave insights on the character that had been lacking in previous adaptations. Between his detestable villainous role in Only God Forgives to his playful interpretation of Orson Welles in Mank, Burke has been able to be a scene-stealer in projects where hes only granted a supporting role and that includes the upcoming Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.

There have been more films about Sherlock Holmes than almost any other character in the history of cinema. Similar to iconic screen heroes like Robin Hood, King Arthur, Tarzan, Zorro, and the Three Musketeers, Sherlock Holmes belongs in the public domain, meaning that any filmmaker or studio can make a film about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s beloved detective. Holmes has appeared in many great films, including classics like Billy Wilder’s The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes and Bill Condon’s underrated recent project Mr. Holmes. However, the series of films by Guy Ritchie that starred Iron Man himself, Robert Downey Jr., as the beloved private eye became some of the biggest blockbusters ever made about the character. Despite the success of the first two films in the series, a third installment seems to be just as elusive as one of Holmes’ cases.

It's easy to point out the iconic heroes from '90s Disney movies. Their admirable traits, such as Mufasa's noble leadership or Ariel's bravery, make them the kind of protagonists that give audiences a little inspiration along the way. However, there are villains that, when studied, are also easy to label as iconic.

Generally, the antagonists all have bad intentions, and don't wish to become good. Identifying them as the best villains doesn't mean to say that their cruel actions should be idolized. Rather, they might have funny lines, a great story line, or are simply performed brilliantly. The '90s was a great time for iconic villains to shine.

Clayton Didn’t Start Out Quite so Villainous

Tarzan (1999) GAnimationAdventureComedy

A man raised by gorillas must decide where he really belongs when he discovers he is a human.

DirectorKevin Lima, Chris BuckRelease DateJune 18, 1999CastTony Goldwyn, Minnie Driver, Glenn Close,...

The '90s has been recognized as a strong decade for Disney movies. Animations had vastly improved since 1937's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and started to depict more up-to-date stories, although some still had problematic elements.

The characters in any Disney movie are vital in appealing to a wide audience. The heroes have to display courage and have relatable traits, while the villain needs to be strong enough for the hero to contend with. In between the two extremes fall the characters who provide comedy to lighten up the narratives and keep things fresh.

Fun-Loving Terk Speaks Her Mind

Tarzan (1999) GAnimationAdventureComedy

A man raised by gorillas must decide where he really belongs when he discovers he is a human.

DirectorKevin Lima, Chris BuckRelease DateJune 18, 1999CastTony Goldwyn, Minnie Driver, Glenn Close, Alex D. Linz, Rosie O'Donnell, Brian Blessed, Nigel Hawthorne, Lance Henriksen, Wayne KnightWritersTab Murphy, Bob Tzudiker, Noni WhiteRuntime...

The Disney Renaissance films are defined by critical acclaim, original music, and beautiful hand-drawn animation styles. Tarzan stands out in the Renaissance era for blending 2-D animation with 3-D backgrounds and its powerful soundtrack by Phil Collins. While some Disney Renaissance films face criticism for dated themes, all are praised for their impact on animation and storytelling.

The Disney Renaissance is widely accepted as the period between 1989 and 1999 when the studio made some of its greatest animated movies, but there is a ranking of which films are the best. Since the studio's creation by Walt Disney in 1923, the company has taken off and is now synonymous with modern animated movies across the world. Much of this is thanks to the Disney Renaissance and how much it revitalized the animation sector of the studio after several flops, including The Black Cauldron during the Disney Dark Age, 1970 - 19808.

The Disney Renaissance is defined by great critical acclaim,...

DC is responsible for some of the most memorable protagonists in comic book history and arguably shaped what the modern “superhero” character looks like. Storytellers’ obsession with mythic heroes can be traced back through classic characters such as Robin Hood, King Arthur, and Tarzan. However, the inspiration for the members of the Justice League dates back even further, as many of these characters can be compared to key figures in mythology. When compared to the other DC heroes, the hero known as “Captain Marvel,” later known as Shazam, has a somewhat different backstory; he is essentially a child’s fantasy of what a hero would look like. It turns out that this hero was actually a real person, as Shazam was modeled off of the Golden Era film star Fred MacMurray.

Many iconic heroes from literary history, due to their status within the public domain, have been adapted countless times to the big screen. There's bound to be a new film or series about King Arthur, Robin Hood, Zorro, Tarzan, or the Three Musketeers every few years, but there isn’t a character with more screen appearances than Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes. Many adaptations of the character have tried to replicate the tone intrinsic to Doyle’s original stories, but the BBC series Sherlock made the radical decision to set the character in modern times, completely inverting expectations about his mythology. Although Sherlock did a great job of revamping some of the most iconic stories from Doyle’s era, Andrew Scott’s scene-stealing performance as the brilliant Jim Moriarty instantly ranked among television’s greatest villains.

Fan Siu-wong, Kurt Russell, Zoe Bell, Mike Star, Fred Stoller, Johnny Barnes, Keanu Reeves’ fist, and Hugo WeavingScreenshot: YouTube

With the release of Amazon’s Mma-inspired remake of Road House, The A.V. Club is looking at the most brutal, compelling, and consequential punches to the face in cinema. Now,...

Vert ramps and energy drinks might be totally out of place in the deep foliage of African jungles, but the gravity-defying stunts seen at the X-Games have surprising ties to one of the best films from the Disney Renaissance. That's because 1999's Tarzan, yes, the animated feature about a man raised by gorillas, was partially inspired by extreme sports and one of the biggest names in skateboarding, Tony Hawk. Released at the end of the last millennium, Tarzan is a brilliant combination of a heartwarming story, phenomenal music by the unimpeachable Phil Collins, and some of the most dynamic and exciting animation seen in a Disney picture thus far.

Bruce Lee is one of the many celebrities players can create in Infinite Craft. To create the legendary martial artist and actor, players must combine a few different complex elements from their libraries. However, unlike many other Infinite Craft celebrities, the Chinese martial arts master is actually fairly easy to craft.

To craft Bruce Lee, you need to combine the Celebrity and Kung Fu elements. If you have made other celebrities such as Taylor Swift, then you probably already have some of the elements you might need. However, if you’re just starting out and want to make Bruce Lee the first famous element in your library, the following steps will help you craft everything you need.

Related How To Make Eminem In Infinite Craft While it may be fun to craft popular icons in Infinite Craft, such as Eminem, the steps for creating the required materials can be pretty complex.

Actor Bill Skarsgård is known for his roles in blockbuster films such as the It franchise and was recently seen in last year’s John Wick: Chapter 4. The Swedish actor is part of the Skarsgård family, with his father Stellan Skarsgård, and brothers Alexander, Gustaf, and Valter Skarsgård also being actors.

In October 2023, Bill Skarsgård was reportedly arrested in Sweden after he was found possessing marijuana. The Castle Rock star was reportedly caught at Stockholm’s international airport and arrested. The actor was reportedly sentenced to a fine earlier this week, with no arrest or probation.

Bill Skarsgård Was Arrested For Marijuana Possession In Sweden Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise in the It franchise

Bill Skarsgård is known for playing the role of Pennywise, the clown and main antagonist of the It franchise. The actor was known for his creepy performance and earned universal acclaim for the role. He began...

Tarzan, now known as John Clayton III, returns to Africa after leaving England and reclaiming his parents' home and title. Eight years pass between Tarzan leaving Africa and returning, during which he and Jane live in England as Lord and Lady Greystoke. Tarzan's adoptive brother, Akut, becomes the new Lord of the Apes in his absence, while Tarzan reunites with his human grandfather.

The 2016 movie The Legend of Tarzan puts a unique spin on the events that followed the titular character's departure from Africa. Of course, the original Tarzan book series by author Edgar Rice Burroughs also continued past the original story, but film adaptations don't often cover these tales. Though The Legend of Tarzan adhered somewhat to how Burroughs described Tarzan's life in England (and beyond), director David Yates' version took a different route.

The original story of Tarzan sees the infant English Lord orphaned and alone in an African jungle.

Antony is the new film directed by Joshiy, and it has its own universe that it’s trying to sell. There have been many ‘father-son’ stories in cinema, but Antony has a father-daughter conflict right at the heart of its plot. The interesting thing about the film is that it is filled with violent action scenes, slow-motion shots, and loud Bgm, and all this tries to hide the fact that we are watching a melodrama unfold where a young girl wants a father figure in her life and thinks she has found it in a goon. It is a hard sell for various reasons, but conviction in the story and its execution is evident, which is why Antony becomes an entertaining potboiler with a charismatic performance by Joju George.

Spoilers Ahead

Plot Synopsis: What Happens In The Film?

Antony, a feared goon, wanted revenge against a man named Xavier for...

Quick Links Tarzan Is a Disney Classic Sleepy Hollow Is a Tim Burton Masterpiece Eyes Wide Shut Is a Beautiful Exploration of Psyche The Sixth Sense Is a Fan-Favorite Ghost Thriller Fight Club Is Controversial but Captivating The Mummy Is a Cult Classic The Blair Witch Project Beat All Odds 10 Things I Hate About You Is a Beloved Rom-Com The Iron Giant Is Powerful Animation The Matrix Is a Story for the Ages

1999 marked not only the end of the millennium but also an especially impressive and experimental year for cinema. The 1990s produced many cult classics and became a significant point in cinema history, both for their breakthroughs in storytelling and — more importantly — their nostalgic value. It was only fitting that 1999 ended the decade with equally diverse and iconic releases.

Hundreds of films were produced worldwide in 1999 — some were great, others were controversial, and some would be appreciated only years after their time.

Walt Disney Animation Studios has made adapting pre-existing narratives a core part of its identity. From the start with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the studio’s output has leaned on reinterpreting characters that everyone is familiar with, like Tarzan, Cinderella, Baloo, and countless others. Such figures typically are in the public domain, which makes it extra easy for Disney to exploit such characters for their own purposes. In recent years, Disney has begun slightly increasing the presence of original projects in its library, but titles like Big Hero 6 show that this studio still loves to tackle productions deeply rooted in pre-existing properties.

It was five decades ago long distance swimmer Diana Nyad became part of the cultural landscape with her feats including a recording-setting circling of Manhattan and a 102-mile swim from the Bahamas to Florida she accomplished that in 27 hours. In 1978, Nyad made her first attempt to swim from Cuba to Florida but ended the quest after 40 hours. After segueing to a successful career as a sports journalist on ABC’s “Wild World of Sports” for over two decades, she decided at 60 to try again. She made three attempts felled by asthma, muscle fatigue, jellyfish and a tropical storm.

Nyad’s attempts at the swim were the subject of the 2013 documentary “The Other Shore.” When I talked to her for the L.A. Times a decade ago the then 64-year-old was preparing for her final attempt. “When I first started this in my 20s and when I started again when I turned...

Fans of animation are bound to perk up while watching Pencils Vs Pixels. The new documentary is a celebration of all the intricacies involved in 2D hand-drawn animation. It also unwraps the Disney Renaissance that emerged in late 1980s and early 1990s, which gave birth to a major animation boom, which later fueled the computer animation revolution that exists and thrives today.

The documentary, directed by Phil Earnest and Bay Dariz, is narrated by Ming-Na Wen (Mulan). It features a stellar posse of legendary artists who brought what are now considered classic films to life. If you appreciate in-depth and illuminating documentaries, Pencils Vs Pixels is a great go-to as it guides audiences through the last few decades of animation and into the future possibilities of the medium that's yet to come. Phil Earnest and Bay Dariz shared more about the documentary in this exclusive MovieWeb interview.

Showcasing the Animators...

The forbidden love between two soldiers in a society riven by war is at the heart of “So the Lovers Could Come Out Again,” the sophomore feature from Lebanese filmmaker George Peter Barbari, whose debut, “Death of a Virgin, and the Sin of Not Living,” premiered in the Berlin Film Festival’s Panorama strand. Barbari will be presenting the project at the Crossroads Co-Production Forum, which takes place Nov. 5 – 9 at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival.

“So the Lovers Could Come Out Again” is the story of two young soldiers holed up in a building controlled by Christian militias during the Lebanese civil war. As the fighting intensifies, the two men begin to find safety in each other, sharing their hopes and fears and recognizing that both are running from the past, as well as the war that rages inside them. Each of­fers the other their perspective on life, love,...

How did I find monsters? My father.

It was around Halloween 1956, the same week of Elvis Presley’s second appearance on Ed Sullivan.

My parents often let me stay up and watch late movies. Adventure stuff mainly: Tarzan, tiger hunters, Roy Rogers, Gene Autry. Earlier that year, the first monster I met was King Kong, when my father introduced me to him late one night.

One evening a couple of weeks later, my father said, “I have something special for you tonight.” It was James Whale’s 1931 Frankenstein.

My mother wasn’t happy.

Mother Gothel, the villain from Tangled, may have been a more heroic character in the past, and there are theories connecting her to other Disney characters. One theory suggests that Mother Gothel used the power of the Sundrop Flower to extend her life and potentially bring back her love. While the theory notes similarities between Disney characters, the differences in their motives, appearances, and overall traits make it unlikely to be true.

A wild Tangled theory reveals Mother Gothel used to be a completely different Disney character — and a much more heroic one at that. Numerous Disney theories focus on Mother Gothel, especially when it comes to the unusually long life she draws from the power of the Sundrop Flower. Not much is known about the villain's story before she kidnaps Rapunzel, but she's been alive for hundreds of years. Tangled has spinoffs focused on Rapunzel and Flynn's life together,...

Disney's most evil villain is "Man", the hunter who kills Bambi's mother, traumatizing viewers and sending a strong message against animal cruelty. Disney villains without powers, like Cruella DeVille and Clayton, show the coldness of their hearts and the lengths they will go to hurt others. "Man", being never clearly seen, adds to his terrifying nature as anyone could be capable of such horrific actions.

Disney has had a bunch of iconic villains, some more evil and powerful than others, but the most evil of all has been around for eight decades, and curiously, it’s one that has never been directly seen. Disney continues to be a powerhouse in the world of animation, and it began its reign in 1937 with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which introduced the Mouse House’s first big-screen, animated villain with the Evil Queen. Since then, Disney villains have been humans, animals, and mythological creatures,...

Susan Sarandon has had a long and illustrious career in both film and television, earning multiple Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations. She is a versatile actor who has worked in various genres, including horror, crime thriller, drama, and comedy, showcasing her range and talent. Some of her notable films include "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," "Lorenzo's Oil," "Little Women," "Bull Durham," and "Thelma & Louise," where she delivered powerful performances and left a lasting impact on audiences.

Susan Sarandon has amassed a celebrated filmography of prominent works in both film and television. After launching her decades-spanning career with a supporting role in the 1970 film Joe, Sarandon has since become one of the more notable female actors in modern cinematic history. Nominated for nine Golden Globe Awards and six Academy Awards including one win for Best Actress, the 77-year-old Sarandon continues to work in major Hollywood films and television series...

Animals always featured quite heavily in cartoonist Gary Larson’s long-running strip newspaper strip, The Far Side; Screen Rant is counting down the top ten entries featuring the largest of all land animals, the elephant. Gigantic, tusked, and allegedly possessing excellent memories, elephants served as a wellspring of inspiration for Larson throughout his run, often with trumpeting results.

Among other interesting factoids, elephants are known to be among the most intelligent and the most gluttonous of any creature alive. Are the Top 10 Far Side Cartoons About Elephants as clever as their real life subject matter? That is for readers to decide, as they discover the bizarre and amusing panels below.

Brian Has A Rendezvous With Destiny

In a meeting drawn together by fate, the hapless Brian – a jocular, if perhaps clueless-looking man on roller skates – is about to come face to face with what appears to be Tarzan, riding an...

The Whole Spiel — the new company co-founded by former NBC Entertainment chairman Paul Telegdy — and Red Bull’s Terra Mater Studios have teamed up to develop a slate of drama series. The projects include a reimagined “Tarzan” series, wildlife crime investigation “Rogue,” geopolitical drama “A New King” and true history drama “The Executioner.”

In collaboration with Shingle Media and Friendly Fire, the “Tarzan” series will reimagine Edgar Rice Burroughs’ iconic hero for a new generation. The plot will follow Tarzan and Jane defending their home against fortune hunters who come to Africa.

“Rogue,” created and written by National Geographic Explorer Derek Joubert, is a thriller series set in the underground world of illegal wildlife trading. It will follow a multi-billion-dollar global conspiracy in the heart of Africa that shatters lives while fueling the narcotics trade, arms dealing and terrorism. The series will be co-produced with Joubert’s Wildlife Films.

Set inside a wealthy aristocratic family,...

Buried deep within the Disney Vault is a little-known animated feature that tantalized star-gazing children during the early 2000s despite its tumultuous behind-the-scenes struggles. With George Lucas reviving his Star Wars franchise with a prequel trilogy, there was a renewed interest in space, aliens, and the uncharted worlds scattered beyond the Solar System. As Disney and their expansive catalog of subsidiaries confront the flailing reality they face at the box office, maybe now is a good time to revisit one of its forgotten cult classics.

It’s difficult to imagine Disney having any cult classics. A film brand that has seemingly pumped out consistent quality throughout its 100-year existence has also delivered some financial flops. Following a creative lull period during the 70s and 80s, Disney rejuvenated itself back to the days of princesses and musicals (and box office prowess) in what is now known as the Disney Renaissance. The...

This past week we lost one of the industry’s best. As Dan Green pulls his chair up to the great drawing board in the sky I look back on an amazing career. For me, Dan Green was probably the first inker I knew the name of. This comes from hunting down my back issues of Wolverine. Marc Silvestri and Adam Kubert were two of my favourites to track down issues of and Green was always the third name in the credits. Perhaps this is doing inkers a discredit. They are like drummers in rock bands in that regard. Essential to creativity but one step behind the limelight. If someone like Joe Sinnott was like the old-school drumming of Ringo Starr, then Green is more akin to the style of John Bonham. In my opinion, he was the first rock star inker.

The journey began for Dan Green in Detroit.

Disney Lorcana's second set of cards is set to release later this year. As with The First Chapter, the Set 2 cards will be available in local hobby stores about two weeks early. Although unconfirmed, Set 2 cards will likely feature Disney characters not included in the first set, like Dumbo, Bambi, and popular princesses like Tiana and Snow White.

With the first set of Disney Lorcana cards in pre-release and already in people's hands, many eyes are already pointing to the release date for its second set of cards. The Tcg from Ravensburger has already proven to be popular, and even ahead of The First Chapter's full launch, a release date for Disney Lorcana's Set 2 cards (no official title has been given) has been previously announced. In fact, assuming no delays take place, Disney Lorcana's next set should arrive later this year, with early access to cards once again starting a few weeks ahead of time.

Edgar Rice Burroughs Inc. has partnered with LA’s Tarzana International Film Festival (Sep 29– Oct 1) to honor the author best known for creating the Tarzan and John Carter Of Mars characters.

Opening night festivities will include the screening of the 2017 documentary Tarzan: The Man Behind The Legend, followed by a Q&a with the director and cast.

The festival, which takes place at the Regal Cinemas in the Sherman Oaks Galleria, will bestow the inaugural Edgar Rice Burroughs Legacy Award at the closing night gala. The award will be presented to an “iconic industry writer known for their work in the genres of science fiction, fantasy, and adventure”.

This year, the event will also celebrate Warner Bros’ centennial with a screening of 2007 feature The Brothers Warner directed by Cass Warner Sperling, granddaughter of longtime studio head Jack Warner. The documentary chronicles the creation and rise of the first major Hollywood studio.

Despite having a wide variety of cards featuring figures from many classic Disney films, some iconic characters are missing from Disney Lorcana: The First Chapter. The game focuses on animated characters, excluding franchises like Star Wars and Pirates of the Caribbean, and no characters from subsidiary studio Pixar have appeared. The omissions from Disney Lorcana, such as Dumbo, Tarzan, Bambi, and Snow White, seem particularly glaring and may appear in future chapters.

The new trading card game Disney Lorcana is debuting with a wide variety of cards featuring figures from many classic films, but a number of iconic Disney characters are actually missing from The First Chapter. Considering the enormous roster of cultural figures under Disney's umbrella, it's not particularly surprising that not every fan favorite could make it. Heavy hitters that were not included seem likely to appear in future chapters of the game.

Not every memorable Disney character...

The theory that the peddler in Aladdin is actually the Genie was confirmed by the co-director of the film and supported by storyboards of the original ending. In The Lion King, the theory that the hyenas survived by resorting to cannibalism was confirmed in a Disney comic series. The theory that Tarzan is the brother of Elsa and Anna from Frozen was confirmed by the co-director of Frozen, although the release of Frozen II complicates the theory's believability.

Disney’s animated movies have made way for a variety of theories, some darker than others, and to the surprise of the audience, some of them have actually been confirmed. Disney’s reign in the world of animation began in 1937 with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and since then, the Mouse House has been unstoppable with its animated movies. Disney often takes inspiration from fairy tales, folk tales, legends, and more...

Superhero media is the fad these days, and most comic-book franchises are doubling down on their efforts to produce more related content with each passing year. However, there was a period when even the big two comic-book franchises, DC and Marvel, explored different genres like horror, western, space adventure, and fantasy in the comic-book medium, which were totally free from the continuity of mainline superhero-related series and had their own space to grow. Some of the most iconic stories and characters were introduced through these non-superhero comics, and they had their own separate audience to cater to as well.

Generally, as comic-book sales dwindled, most of the iconic titles ceased to exist and were integrated into mainline comics continuity; as a result, many of yesteryear’s popular characters were largely forgotten. In the recently released DC animated movie Justice League: Warworld, which is a part of the Tomorrowverse, the narrative...

Popeye the Sailor: The 1960s TV Cartoons

By Fred M. Grandinetti

230 pages/$30 hardcover $20 softcover/Bear Manor Media

Like author Fred M. Grandinetti, I was a child of the 60s and was exposed to all the Popeye cartoons, and it took time for me to understand that some were excellent, some were good, and some were outright bad. It slowly became clear to me that the best was the theatrical shorts made in the 1930s by the Fleischer Studio. What was less clear was who made the others of varying quality.

Thankfully, Grandinetti provides us with a handy guide, breaking down which animation house did what, all in an attempt to corner the syndicated cartoon market when there were hours upon hours of time to fill.

Elzie Segar’s Thimble Theater featured the Oyl family, with new characters coming and going as needed for each serialized adventure. On January 17, 1929, readers met Popeye,...

Filmation, a low-budget animation studio, created the first-ever DC Universe with shared continuity outside the comic books themselves. The series finale of The Flash on The CW ended one DC "cinematic" universe, and The Flash movie is the beginning of the end of another. However, DC characters have been sharing a universe in animation for decades.

Of all the recent entries in the live-action DC Comics multiverse, its most prolific, consistent and under-appreciated is the Arrowverse. There's just something about the serial nature of television that lends itself to that kind of storytelling. Perhaps the perfect version of shared superhero continuity is the DC Animated Universe from the 1990s and early 2000s. Its depictions of Batman, Superman, Lex Luthor and other characters are the definitive ones for a generation that grew up with plenty of those characters in live-action. However, before movie audiences believed a man could fly, Filmation producers...