Portal:Animation

Willow is a 1988 American fantasy film directed by Ron Howard (pictured), produced and with a story by George Lucas, and starring Warwick Davis, Val Kilmer, Joanne Whalley, Jean Marsh, and Billy Barty. Davis plays the eponymous lead character and hero: a reluctant farmer who plays a critical role in protecting a special baby from a tyrannical queen in a sword and sorcery setting. Lucas conceived the idea for Willow in 1972, approaching Howard to direct during the post-production phase of Cocoon in 1985. Bob Dolman was brought in to write the screenplay, coming up with seven drafts before finishing in late 1986. Willow was then set up at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and principal photography began in April 1987, finishing the following October. The majority of filming took place at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire, England, as well as Wales and New Zealand. Industrial Light & Magic created the visual effects sequences, which led to a revolutionary breakthrough with digital morphing technology. Willow was released in 1988 to mixed reviews from critics, but was a modest financial success and received two Academy Award nominations.

• ... that the stylized animation of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem was inspired by rough sketches in school notebooks?
• ... that Raoul Servais invented a new technique for combining animation and live action for his short film Harpya?
• ... that although Blizzard's franchise Overwatch is centered around video games, its lore is mainly told through animated shorts, comics, and novels?
• ... that Paul Dini was a writer for both the animated television series Batman: The Animated Series and the video game series Batman: Arkham?
• ... that at age 12, Shaylee Mansfield became the first deaf actor to be credited alongside the voice actors for a signed performance in an animated production?
• ... that the live-action comedy series Community had a stop motion animated Christmas special?

Terence Vance "Terry" Gilliam (born 22 November 1940) is an American-born British screenwriter, film director, animator, actor and member of the Monty Python comedy troupe. Gilliam has directed 12 feature films, including Time Bandits (1981), Brazil (1985), The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988), The Fisher King (1991), 12 Monkeys (1995), and The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009). The only "Python" not born in Britain, he became a naturalised British citizen in 1968. In 2006, he formally renounced his American citizenship.

The Simpsons' second season originally aired between October 11, 1990 and May 9, 1991, and contained 21 episodes, beginning with "Bart Gets an F". Another episode, "Blood Feud" aired during the summer after the official season finale. The show runners for the second production season were Matt Groening, James L. Brooks, and Sam Simon, who had also been EPs for the previous season. The DVD box set was released on August 6, 2002 in Region 1, July 8, 2002 in Region 2 and in September, 2002 in Region 4. The episode "Homer vs. Lisa and the 8th Commandment" won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming less than One Hour), and was also nominated in the "Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy Series or a Special" category.

• ...that according to a BBC Radio 2 poll, "The Gruffalo", which was adapted into a film in 2009, is the UK's favourite bedtime story?
• ...that the work of "animation God" Bill Littlejohn includes Tom and Jerry, A Charlie Brown Christmas and an Oscar-winning short with Dizzie Gillespie debating the possibility of nuclear war?
• ...that Spongiforma squarepantsii is a sponge-like bolete (pictured) that lives in Malaysia?

Films released

• 1927 – The Travel-Hog (United States)
• 1928 – A Companionate Mirage (United States)
• 1933 – Popeye the Sailor, first cartoon of the Popeye series by Fleischer Studios and Paramount Pictures (United States)
• 1934 – The Flying Mouse (United States)
• 1951 – The Wearing of the Grin (United States)
• 1985 – Captain Tsubasa: Europe Daikessen (Japan)
• 1985 – Dr. Slump and Arale-chan: Hoyoyo! Dream Capital Mecha Police (Japan)
• 1985 – Kinnikuman: Counterattack! The Underground Space Choujins (Japan)
• 1985 – Lupin III: Legend of the Gold of Babylon (Japan)
• 1985 – Night on the Galactic Railroad (Japan)
• 1996 – Soreike! Anpanman: The Flying Picture Book and the Glass Shoes (Japan)
• 2002 – Pokémon Heroes (Japan)
• 2003 – Soreike! Anpanman: Rubii's Wish (Japan)

Television series and specials

• 1997 – Johnny Bravo, an American animated television series begins airing on Cartoon Network
• 2022 – Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight, an American animated television series begins airing on Netflix

Births

• 1910 – William Hanna, (pictured) American animator, director, producer, and cartoon artist (d. 2001)