Elf: Buddy's Musical Christmas - Announce cast

Possibly the greatest Christmas film EVER! (apart from It's A Wonderful Life of course) Elf is back this year with an all new cast and all new medium. 

In an hour long feature set to broadcast on the smaller screen this Christmas comes Elf: Buddy's Musical Christmas starring none other than Big Bang Theory's Jim Parsons as the over grown elf Buddy. The cast announced a few days ago also includes Mark Hamill, Jay Leno, Gilbert Gottfried (Iago-Aladdin) and Kate Micucci. From this line up it looks as though the film is aimed at a typically American audience which may not bode too well for a UK release, DVD only I think guys.

The most exciting bit about it all is that it will be based on "classic stop-motion Christmas specials with a modern-day holiday film sensibility". This is great news for all the older generations and animation geeks. Everyone loves the magic of stop-motion and what better time to relish in its craft than Christmas, wrapped up warm stuffing yourselves with mince pies. Also with 9 musical numbers throughout we could have some new Christmas tunes to set the holiday season to.

For all those stateside Elf: Buddy's Musical Christmas will be aired December 16th over on NBC at 8pm. UK, well we'll just have to wait and see.

Boxtrolls trailer - New and unconventional

The new trailer for 'The Boxtrolls' has been released by Laika and what a visual treat it is. Not only does it show us some great clips from the film but also invites us into the world of the making of. Splendiferous models, props and sets are shown as the very talented artists and animators are working on them. As a 2D animator I am always amazed at the craftsmanship of stop-motion and this does not disappoint.

It is quite rare for a studio to go for such a novel and unconventional trailer so this must have been quite a risk for Laika. However it appears to be working as there is a lot of interest in this. If 'The Boxtrolls is anywhere close to the excellence of 'Coraline' and 'Paranorman' then reserve my seat now!

'The Boxtrolls' is based on a kids novel 'Here Be Monsters' by Alan Snow it is due for release in September 2014.