Animation: 389

In Rio 2 (2014), an animated musical comedy from Blue Sky Studios and directed by Carlos Saldanha, Blu and Jewel are busy raising their three children – Carla, Bia, and Tiago – in the city. Unfortunately, Jewel is disappointed that her children seem to be adopting their father’s domesticated ways. Meanwhile, Linda and Tulio embark on an expedition in the Amazon and stumble upon a blue Spix’s macaw who loses a feather after tumbling down a waterfall. Once the news of this encounter is broadcasted on television, Jewel becomes determined to go to the Amazon to find more of these rare birds. Despite ...

An American animated film, Penguins of Madagascar (2014), was a collaborative effort by DreamWorks Animation and PDI/DreamWorks. Following the adventure of three heroic penguin brothers Skipper, Rico, and Kowalski, the story begins when they bravely rescue an abandoned egg from leopard seals on a drifting iceberg. The chick that hatches becomes their beloved brother, Private. Ten years later, the penguins break away from Circus Zaragoza to celebrate Private’s birthday by breaking into Fort Knox for his favorite snack- Cheesy Dibbles. Despite his true desire to be recognized as a full-fledged team member, Private’s wish seems unattainable. However, things ...

How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014) is an American animated action fantasy film based on the book series by Cressida Cowell. Five years after the Viking villagers of Berk and the dragons made peace, Hiccup and his dragon Toothless explore new territories. Despite pressure from his father Stoick, who wants him to become chieftain, Hiccup feels uncertain about being ready for the role. During an expedition, Hiccup and his friend Astrid stumble upon a frozen fortress inhabited by a group of dragon trappers led by Eret, working for a man named Drago Bludvist. This villainous figure aims to capture and enslave all dragons as ...

Dragons: Dawn of the Dragon Racers (2014) is a short animated film released by DreamWorks Animation and co-directed by Elaine Bogan and John Sanford. Featuring the talents of Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, and the cast from the TV series, it is based on the popular How to Train Your Dragon franchise. The plot follows Hiccup and Snotlout as they train for the upcoming Dragon Race, a new sport on Berk. Tuffnut debuts his new eerie face paint, much to Astrid, Hiccup, ...

The American computer-animated Christmas television special, Toy Story That Time Forgot (2014), was produced by Pixar Animation Studios and aired on ABC on December 2, 2014. Trixie, a toy triceratops, is frustrated with Bonnie’s lack of dinosaur playtime. A few days after Christmas, Bonnie brings Trixie, Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Rex, and Christmas ornament Angel Kitty to her friend Mason’s house for a play date. However, instead of playing with her toys, Bonnie joins Mason in playing his new video game console and leaves the toys in Mason’s playroom. There, they encounter a large ‘Battlesaurs’ playset that Mason received for Christmas. This ...

An animated superhero film, Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox (2013), was directed by Jay Oliva and written by Jim Krieg. Based on the 2011 comic book crossover Flashpoint by Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert, it follows the story of Barry Allen (aka the Flash). While visiting his mother’s grave, he is interrupted by a break-in at the Flash Museum. Involved in a battle with his enemies – Captain Cold, Captain Boomerang, Heat Wave, Mirror Master, and Top ...

The animated movie Scooby-Doo! Mecha Mutt Menace (2013) depicts Fred participating in a science expo in Houston, Texas with his invention that uses magnets, a trampoline and a sticky net to catch monsters. While testing it out, the trap accidentally captures a girl named Melanie Staples who is quickly freed by Fred. She introduces herself as the daughter of NASA scientist Ned Staples and catches Fred’s attention. The gang then attends Ned’s presentation where he reveals a robotic dog named “Mecha Mutt” designed for exploring the terrain on Mars. However, things take a chaotic turn when Mecha Mutt malfunctions and shoots laser beams at the ...

The direct-to-DVD special, Scooby-Doo! and the Spooky Scarecrow (2013), is a sinister installment in the Scooby-Doo franchise. Originally released on September 10 of that year as part of the 13 Spooky Tales: Run for Your ‘Rife! collection, the film centers around two individuals who fall victim to an attack by a scarecrow in Cobb Corner’s notoriously haunted corn maze. The incident prompts the town’s mayor to make the drastic decision to shut down all Halloween festivities for fear of further danger. It is said that the menacing scarecrow was brought to life by a witch’s curse, and unless Mystery Inc. can put an end to its ...

Scooby-Doo! Stage Fright (2013) is a direct-to-DVD animated musical comedy horror film, and the twenty-first installment in the Scooby-Doo series. The Mystery Inc. gang heads to Chicago, Illinois for a talent show called Talent Star, hosted by Brick Pimiento. Songwriting duo Fred and Daphne are finalists, while one of their competitors is Chrissy, a spoiled girl with noisy parents. They also befriend another finalist, Emma Gale, a violinist. However, the opera house where the show will be held is being terrorized by a Phantom who has a strong preference for Chrissy to win. Despite their efforts to catch him on surveillance cameras, the Phantom’s ability ...

An American animated fantasy action-adventure film, titled Epic (2013), is loosely based on William Joyce’s 1996 children’s book The Leaf Men and the Brave Good Bugs. Following the death of her mother, 17-year-old Mary Katherine (M.K.) moves in with her eccentric scientist father Professor Bomba in Danbury, Connecticut. Bomba has dedicated his life to researching the Leafmen, small humanoid soldiers who defend the nearby forest from dangerous creatures known as Boggans. Despite her irritation with her father’s work, M.K. believes his theories to be nonsense. At the same time, Nod, a rebellious ...

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 (2013), released in 2013, is an American animated sci-fi comedy produced and distributed by Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures respectively. It follows the journey of scientist Flint Lockwood, who previously saved his island Chewandswallow from his invention, the ‘Flint Lockwood Diatonic Super Mutating Dynamic Food Replicator’ (or FLDSMDFR). In the midst of evacuating residents and cleaning up the food on the island with the help of CEO Chester V and his company Live Corp, Flint accepts a job offer from Chester himself. However, while competing for a promotion at Live Corp, Flint accidentally embarrasses himself with ...

The Blue Umbrella (2013), a Pixar short film paired with Monsters University, brings a city scene to life amidst a rainstorm. Various objects – signs, lights, awnings, mailboxes, buildings, and more – are animated with faces and expressions, delighting in the shower. Amidst the passing people under their black umbrellas is one standout: a lone blue umbrella. While its owner pauses at a street corner, the blue umbrella catches sight of a charming red umbrella nearby. Their exchanged glances reveal an instant attraction, but fate pulls them apart as their owners continue on separate paths. However, the other objects on the street conspire to bring the two ...

Despicable Me 2: 3 Mini-Movie Collection (2013) consists of a trio of short films from the Despicable Me series. Puppy. While observing his neighbors walking their dogs, a minion becomes determined to get a puppy of his own. Despite multiple unsuccessful tries, he eventually stumbles upon a UFO that becomes his makeshift pet. They enjoy many joyful moments together until the UFO and its owner are banished from Gru’s residence due to the destruction caused by the unconventional pet. Upon discovering that his companion is homesick, the minion takes action by sending an email to the UFO’s planet ...

The American animated comedy film, Despicable Me 2 (2013), produced by Illumination Entertainment and distributed by Universal Pictures, follows the story of a mysterious aircraft that steals PX-41, a highly potent mutagen, from a secret laboratory in the Arctic Circle. Upon learning of this theft, Silas Ramsbottom, director of the Anti-Villain League (AVL), enlists the help of Lucy Wilde to recruit former supervillain Gru. Despite being forcibly brought to AVL headquarters, Gru is asked by Ramsbottom to aid in tracking down the culprit and recovering the mutagen. However, Gru declines, stating that he has now taken on a more legitimate role as a father and owner of a ...

Superman: Unbound (2013) is an animated direct-to-video superhero film based on the 2008 comic book story arc Superman: Brainiac by Geoff Johns. The 17th installment in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies, it debuted with a preview attached to Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2. In an aerial clash between terrorist captors and Supergirl, Lois Lane becomes a hostage and calls for Superman’s help. While trying to persuade Clark Kent to go public with their relationship despite his concerns, Lois is interrupted by a Daily Planet meeting. Shortly after, Clark responds to an alert ...

Turbo (2013), an animated comedy from DreamWorks Animation and 20th Century Fox, tells the story of Theo, an aspiring racer who happens to be a garden snail. In his suburban San Fernando Valley tomato patch in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, Theo, aka ‘Turbo’, longs to emulate his idol Guy Gagné, a five-time Indy 500 champion. But his single-minded focus on racing sets him apart from the slow and careful snail community and constantly embarrasses his older brother Chet. One fateful day, while chasing a tomato that has fallen out of the garden and narrowly escaping a lawnmower’s blades, Theo wanders onto a busy freeway and makes a wish upon what he thinks is a ...

The American animated adventure comedy film, The Croods (2013), produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by 20th Century Fox, follows the survival of a cave family amidst several natural disasters. Grug, the stubborn father, refuses to let anyone leave their shelter except for short periods to gather food. His teenage daughter Eep loves her family but often defies Grug’s strict rules. One night, she sneaks out after seeing a light and meets a modern human boy named Guy and his pet sloth Belt. Guy warns her about an impending apocalypse and offers to help her escape, but Eep chooses to stay with her family. As she returns home, Guy gives her a shell horn ...

Madly Madagascar (2013) is a Valentine’s Day-inspired short film, released on January 29, 2013. All the familiar characters from the Madagascar film series make an appearance in this direct-to-DVD production. Set sometime between the franchise’s second and third films, it boasts an impressive lineup of voice actors, including Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, and Jada Pinkett Smith. Notably, Danny ...

Monsters University (2013) is an American animated comedy film produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. As a child, Mike Wazowski visits the Monsters Inc. factory during a class field trip where he learns about the process of harnessing human children’s screams for energy to sustain the monster world. Despite being initially upset when sneaking into the human world through a door following a scarer at work, Mike is praised by the scarer, inspiring him to pursue a career as a scare himself. Fast forward twelve years later, Mike enrolls in the scaring program at Monsters University and is ...

The Halloween special Toy Story of Terror (2013) is a collaborative effort between Pixar Animation Studios and Disney Television Animation, distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. During a road trip to visit Bonnie’s grandmother, she has tagged along her beloved group of toys – Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie, Rex, Mr. Pricklepants, Mr. Potato Head, and Trixie. While on the journey, the toys are engrossed in a horror movie on a portable DVD player kept in the car’s trunk. As fate would have it, their trip is cut short due to a flat tire and they are forced to spend the night at the Sleep Well roadside motel since help won’t arrive until morning. As ...