Arrgh-dman!: Details on Aardman Studios' Upcoming Pirate Film

Big news! The geniuses behind Wallace and Gromit and Chicken Run are developing a brand new, clay adventure all about pirates!

It is based on Gideon Defoe's book The Pirates! In an Adventure With Scientists (which will also be the film's title in the UK), and will be titled The Pirates! Band of Misfits for it's US release. The film is being headed by Chicken Run director and Aardman co-founder Peter Lord. It will feature the voice talents of Hugh Grant, Martin Freeman, Jeremy Piven, Salma Hayek, and Brendan Gleeson.

No word on a release date for the film yet, but I can't wait to see it. I grew up loving Wallace and Gromit, and there's just something about Aardman's style, and clay stop-motion altogether that just gets to me--it is so stylized and awesome! Expect more news about this in the coming months . . .

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Selick's Back on Team Disney

Henry Selick is the king of stop-motion animation. In my opinion, stop-motion is a greatly underrated art form. Nothing can match the classic, unique look of a claymation picture, and Selick is the best at 'em (perhaps, with the exception of Nick Park). Selick has directed the great stop-motion films of our age: The Nightmare Before Christmas, James and the Giant Peach, and, most recently, Coraline.

He produced those first two pictures under the Disney banner, and now, after an almost decade-long hiatus, will direct more features for the Mouse. Henry Selick will be stationed at Pixar in Emeryville while he works on these films, but there isn't any word on whether these films will be released under the Disney or Pixar name. But, obviously, the creatives at Pixar will certainly lend a hand on his productions.

This is great news. I love stop-motion animation, and Henry Selick is a true genius at it. I cannot wait to see what he comes up with, especially since he'll have the guys at Pixar helping him out. What a combination of creative power...

Source: Variety

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