[Disney]

Greetings users of Animation Source! Sorry if this entry of Weekly News is a bit late, and theres very few news to report on yet again, but I have managed to gather a few. For this one, I look into Zootopia winning the Academy Award, and how Rock Dog is performing in the US.

Zootopia wins the Academy Award

What a surprise. As everyone predicted, Zootopia has been awarded the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences!

[Disney]

With this win, it means that The Walt Disney Company has won the Best Animated Feature category nine times in the past 10 years, the only exception being Paramount’s Rango in 2011. Along with this win, Pixar’s Piper won Best Animated Short Film, the Disney’s remake of The Jungle Book scored Best Visual Effects.

Whether it was a predictable outcome or not, we still highly congratulate all the talents at Walt Disney Animation Studios for having such a grand animated hit like Zootopia being honoured by the Academy!

• Source: Cartoon Brew
   

Rock Dog’s US release is rough

Quietly making it’s way into US theatres is a rather unique breed. That new animated movie is Rock Dog (Chinese: 摇滚藏獒). A Chinese-American production that was 100%-financed by Chinese companies, but animated in the United States by Reel FX, the studio behind Free Birds and The Book of Life.

As yet another addition to the talking animal craze, Rock Dog tells the story of Bodi (Luke Wilson of Battle for Terra), a Tibetan Mastiff who travels to the big city to pursue his dreams of becoming a rock musical. It’s also worth noting that this is the comeback of director Ash Brannon, who hasn’t directed an animated feature since 2007’s Surf’s Up.

[Huayi Brothers/Summit Premiere]

How did the critics respond? Well, it’s a bit iffy when you think about it. While not reviewed in many publications, it was said that although Rock Dog accomplishes enough to be admirable in it’s own right, it still suffers from a formulaic story, and decent animation that lacks visual spark. Marjorie Baumgarten of the Austin Chronicle said that “Although the plot is thin, Rock Dog nevertheless charms with its engaging central characters and unencumbered storyline.”

Unfortunately from what we’re seeing, the film already tanked financially in China, and it’s not looking much better with it’s limited release in the States (it didn’t even get a theatrical release in neighbouring Canada). The film failed the crack top 10 with only a dismal $3.7 million weekend gross.

That alone would make it a box office bomb, but I hear the movie is building up a fanbase, so lets hope it has a brighter future when it releases on home media.

• Sources: Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic, Box Office Mojo
   

So are you happy with Zootopia winning the Oscar? Have you seen Rock Dog? Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments, and I’ll see you next time!

• Karlamon