Portal:Animation

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is a 1993 animated superhero film based on the fictional DC Comics character Batman, and is a spin-off of the Emmy Award-winning Batman: The Animated Series. Eric Radomski and Bruce Timm directed the film, which stars Kevin Conroy as Batman (pictured) and Mark Hamill as the Joker, as well as Dana Delany, Hart Bochner, Abe Vigoda, and Stacy Keach. The film's storyline introduces Andrea Beaumont, an old love interest of Bruce Wayne's, who returns to Gotham City, restarting their romance. At the same time, a mysterious killer begins systematically eliminating Gotham's crime bosses, and due to the person's dark appearance, he is mistaken for Batman. Now on the run from the police, Batman must apprehend the killer, clear his name, and deal with the romance between himself and Andrea. Mask of the Phantasm was released with positive critical success, but resulted in poor box office returns due to the decision to release the film in theaters on such short notice. The film has since found cult success through its various VHS and DVD releases.

• ... that "Arnold's Christmas", now considered one of the most memorable episodes from the animated series Hey Arnold!, was almost rejected by network executives because it depicted the Vietnam War?
• ... that the French animated film The Summit of the Gods is based on a Japanese manga series?
• ... 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 Encanto's Isabela Madrigal was animated to be aware that she is "always on stage"?
• ... that the interactive cartoon Cat Burglar takes about 15 minutes to watch, but features 90 minutes of animation?
• ... that the live-action comedy series Community had a stop motion animated Christmas special?

Walter Elias "Walt" Disney (December 5, 1901 – December 15, 1966) was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon and philanthropist. Disney is famous for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. As the co-founder (with his brother Roy O. Disney) of Walt Disney Productions, Disney became one of the best-known motion picture producers in the world. The corporation he co-founded, now known as The Walt Disney Company, today has annual revenues of approximately U.S. $35 billion. Disney is particularly noted for being a film producer and a popular showman, as well as an innovator in animation and theme park design. He and his staff created a number of the world's most famous fictional characters including Mickey Mouse, a character for which Disney himself was the original voice. He has won 26 Academy Awards out of 59 nominations, including a record four in one year, giving him more awards and nominations than any other individual. He also won seven Emmy Awards. He is the namesake for Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resort theme parks in the United States, as well as the international resorts in Japan, France, and China.

The episodes of SpongeBob SquarePants, an American animated television series created by marine biologist and animator Stephen Hillenburg (pictured) for Nickelodeon. Since its debut on May 1, 1999, 268 episodes of the series have been broadcast; its ninth season premiered on July 21, 2012. The series is set in the fictional underwater city of Bikini Bottom, and centers on the adventures of SpongeBob SquarePants (Tom Kenny), an over-optimistic sea sponge that annoys other characters. Many of the ideas for the show originated in an unpublished, educational comic book titled The Intertidal Zone, which Hillenburg created in 1984. He began developing SpongeBob SquarePants into a television series in 1996 upon the cancellation of Rocko's Modern Life. SpongeBob SquarePants has been noted for its appeal towards different age groups. During the second season, it became Nickelodeon's No. 2 children's program, after Rugrats. Nearly 40 percent of its audience of 2.2 million were aged 18 to 34. In season three, SpongeBob SquarePants passed Rugrats and earned the title of being the highest rated children's show on cable.

• ...that independent filmmaker Frank Sudol wrote, animated, voiced, directed, and composed all of the music for his film Dead Fury?
• ...that cartoon producer Hal Geer successfully campaigned for Bugs Bunny to have his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?
• ...that Mallory Hagan (pictured) compared the ideals of My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic to those of the Miss America pageant while promoting its third season finale?

Films released

• 1936 - At Your Service Madame (United States)
• 1953 - Cat-Tails for Two (United States)
• 1959 - Here Today, Gone Tamale (United States)
• 1967 - Advance and Be Mechanized (United States)

Television series and specials

• 2005 - Gerald McBoing-Boing , a Canadian animated television series begins airing on Teletoon