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Hop On The Trail

Disney Animation recently decided to release the first new Zootopia-themed merchandise that we’ve seen in a while. It’s a new “hidden object” phone-app game called Zootopia: Crime Files. According to a write-up at Adweek.com, “The hidden object game asks players to help Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde solve cases by completing hidden object scenes. In each normal scene, players are asked to find items on a list, which may include pieces of evidence or clues for the current case. Users can access hints if they need help finding objects.” The article goes on to describe the types of game play in much more detail. Lots of new Zootopia characters are introduced in the game — most (but not all) of them quite nefarious! The game has been available as a download for the Apple platform for a while, but now with the official launch it’s also available for Google Play, PC format, and Amazon Underground as well.

image c. 2016 Disney Animation

image c. 2016 Disney Animation

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Wonderbolt Powers: Activate!

While we were at San Diego Comic Con, one of the categories we saw (of course) was lots of fan stuff and official tie-in stuff for My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. (Yes it’s still around and Yes it’s still popular!) One of the more interesting and unusual of the latter is The Wonderbolts Academy Handbook, compiled by Brandon T. Snider and published by Hachette / Little Brown Books. “Attention cadets! This Wonderbolts Academy Handbook once belonged to Rainbow Dash! Along with valuable information on how to become a Wonderbolt, our stellar Pegasus pony added her own notes to help you along. The lessons in here have been passed down for generations, with each generation refining these lessons to better serve you and the institution. You will have much to learn and all staff and senior members of the Wonderbolts are more than willing to guide you. Good luck, have fun, and stay focused!” You should focus on Barnes & Noble to order yourself a copy.

image c. 2016 by Citron Vert

image c. 2016 by Citron Vert

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Art for Music’s Sake

Frank Kozik is a world-famous graphic artist who has often been credited with single-handedly reviving the silk-screened rock’n’roll concert poster as an art form. A self-described “military brat”, after his honorable discharge from the air force he dedicated himself to art — completely self-taught as well. He has since become known not only for his posters and graphics but also for several lines of unique toys and action figures based on his designs. And yes, “funny animals” (and disturbing animals!) are often part of his work. Back in the day, he even started his own record label! Take a look at his web site to see more of what he’s been up to over the years and what’s coming next. Be prepared!

image c. 2016 by Frank Koznik

image c. 2016 by Frank Kozik

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Housework Becomes Fun With Furries

Chortopia is the name of a new educational game and phone app created by Aurasync. It has one basic goal: To help parents motivate their young children to make a habit of completing their household chores by turning those chores into “advenchores”. Kids visit the magical land of Chortopia, where they meet a variety of anthropomorphic and mythical creatures who need the children’s help setting things right in the land — by the kids completing various household tasks, of course. After the advenchores are done, kids can “collect” the various characters they have helped out as friends who will help the kids win various games that are also part of the app. Chortopia is available now at the Apple App Store, but you can also visit the Chortopia web site to find out more about it and see some introductory videos from YouTube as well.

image c. 2016 Aurasync

image c. 2016 Aurasync

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From Out of the Toy Box

Robert X. Burden is an artist who has taken an unusual subject and really run with it. He paints complex, highly-detailed, collage-like but highly-ordered pictures based on classic toy action figures from movies and TV. As such, of course he paints a lot of science fiction subject matter. And yes that includes a lot of Furry subjects, like the Thundercats and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Visit his web site to see more of what he’s done — and spend some real time looking slowly through all the detail he puts in.

image c. 2016 by Robert X. Burden

image c. 2016 by Robert X. Burden

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Fighting Like…

Space Cats In Space! is the name of a new animated computer game, currently under development. They have a Kickstarter campaign in place to try and finance the next step in the process. “An advanced twin-stick shooter space epic, SpaceCats In Space! Follows the kingdom of Meowfyre’s rebellion against the dogs of the Grolich Empire. Bomber strikes, wingman assistance and RPG-like leveling are all tools at your disposal in the battle to stop Oberluft Kommandant Arnuld Von Schloss and the vast Grolich war machine. Featuring animated cutscenes and full voiceover to immerse you in a World War II inspired space battle of cats versus dogs!” This is not the most “serious-minded” of fighting games out there… if the title wasn’t a giveaway, check out the intro video at the Kickstarter page! (Also this is obviously more for “cat people”!) As we write this there is just over a month left in their current crowd-funding campaign.

image c. 2016 Robotic Potato

image c. 2016 Robotic Potato

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Cats, Dragons… and now Mice!

Alan F. Beck is an artist who created a series called The Mousopolitan Museum of Art — “classical portraits by the mice masters”. In other words, world-famous works of art re-imagined as anthropomorphic mice. He has also written a children’s book (available through Create Space) called The Adventures of Nogard and Jackpot, which details what happens when a young kitten hears a noise within the closet and discovers a baby dragon. Both of these (and many other items) are on display at the artist’s web site.

image c. 2016 b y Alan F. Beck

image c. 2016 b y Alan F. Beck

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One Flew Over Florida…

The Adventures of Pelican Pete: A Bird is Born is the title of a 1999 book for kids by Frances and Hugh Keiser. (She wrote it, he illustrated it.) “A story in rhyme about a pelican egg which hatches into curious young pete. To protect his head from the sun, his parents find a child’s cap for him to wear. The Adventures of Pelican Pete is an entertaining, educational resource with appropriate environmental values that is expressed visually with detailed art work in vivid coloring.” Much more recently, animator Dani Bowman hooked up with a young film-maker named Keaton Bicknell to create a live action/animated short film based on the book. Now it’s making the rounds at various film festivals, but you can also view this 2015 film on Vimeo.

image c. 2016 Sagaponack Books

image c. 2016 Sagaponack Books

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Return to Narnia?

Word is out that Tristar Pictures have (finally!) given the go-ahead to begin work on the 4th feature film adaptation of the Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis. Next up is The Silver Chair — in which Eustace Stubb and his new friend from school, Jill Pole, wind up traveling back to Narnia… tasked by the lion-god Aslan with helping to find Prince Caspian’s missing son.  As usual with any Narnia story, talking animals abound. In this case, that especially means owls! After the last two Narnia films (Prince Caspian from 2008 and Voyage of the Dawn Treader from 2010) met with less-than-spectacular results at the domestic box office, many began to wonder if any of the rest of the books would see the light of movies at all.  Looks like at least one of them will! We found this out from Famous Monsters of Filmland, of all places.  No word yet on a director, stars, or a planned release date for The Silver Chair.

image c. 2016 C.S. Lewis

image c. 2016 C.S. Lewis

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