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The summer blockbuster season is rapidly approaching and the tweets are alive with excitement. Arguably, the first big film opens May 6th and comes in the form of a hammer-wielding warrior named "Thor." Leave it to Seth MacFarlane to point out the most exciting thing about the Norse God.

For us, summer blockbuster season usually means obnoxiously-excited-for-new-Pixar-movies season. We're counting down the days until "Cars 2," but one "Finding Nemo" star is upset that a sequel is not in her future.

Meanwhile, "Rio" slayed "Scream 4" at the box office this weekend and star Tracy Morgan finally gets his promotional groove on. And another comedian is celebrating Passover this year, albeit under a new name.

I'm @TravisHelwig and this is Twitter-Wood for April 19th, 2011.

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Tags Ben Schwartz, cars 2, Conan O'Brien, ellen degeneres, finding nemo, Lisa Lampanelli, nic cage, pixar, Rio, Sarah Silverman, Scream 4, seth macfarlane, seth meyers, steve martin, thor, tracy morgan

Imitation may be the highest form of flattery, but we've got to imagine winning an Oscar is a close second. In which case, Nick Park, the creator of the "Wallace and Gromit" films, can now officially consider himself one of the most flattered guys out there: Park, as well as the fellow Oscar-magnet folks at Pixar and some other former animated Oscar nominees and winners, took some loving potshots from "The Simpsons" during a new episode that aired this past Sunday (February 20).

Just days before the 83rd Annual Academy Awards, the writers at "The Simpsons" (perhaps still slightly ticked from their Best Animated Film snub in 2008 for "The Simpsons Movie") skewered the awards ceremony and some of its most celebrated films and stars with a little help from guest voices like Ricky Gervais (who was the butt of some Golden-Globes-hosting-gone-awry jokes), Russell Brand and Best Actress winner Halle Berry.

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Tags Nick Park, Oscars, pixar, the simpsons, wallace and gromit

Let's give a big BIG UPS to Pixar today for the smashing success of "Toy Story 3." Easily one of the best movies of the summer -- and my personal favorite in that trilogy -- Disney proudly announced via press release today that the movie will cross the $1 billion threshold at the box office today. While that kind of performance is no small feat on its own, it's a double win for Disney and Pixar. More than that even.

Once "Toy Story 3" crosses the mark, only seven films in Hollywood history will have managed to cross the $1 billion box office barrier. Amazingly, Disney is responsible for three of those films, two of which were released this year: the Pixar feature and "Alice in Wonderland" before it. Disney's first "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie, "Dead Man's Chest," is also in the illustrious group. They are joined on the list by "The Dark Knight," "The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King," "Titanic" and, of course, "Avatar."

Let's also not forget that a third mega-blockbuster is coming from the Mouse House this year, "TRON: Legacy." While the late December release virtually guarantees that a third billion dollar box office-earning movie in 2010 is out of the question, if the film ends up delivering on the hype that's built around it, an eighth movie could join that list in the early part of 2011. If it does, exactly half of the billion-plus earners in Hollywood history would be Disney productions. Not too shabby.

Tags pixar, toy story 3

A lot of people are going to see "re-shoots" and shudder in fear. I don't get the feeling that that's the case here though. EW.com is reporting that, as part of the recently completely (and planned) re-shoots for "Tron Legacy," Pixar veterans Brad Bird and Michael Arndt came in to collaborate with the film's original writers to better bring out the film's "character, emotion and theme."

I don't see this as a knock on writers Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz as much as it is Disney using all of the tools available to make sure "Tron" is every bit as amazing as the debut trailer makes us want it to be. Pixar does an exceptional job of imbuing computer fabrications with real, human emotion, even when the subjects are a handful of talking toys. As good as the movie is looking so far, I find it hard to consider this news as anything other than a positive thing. What do you think?

Tags brad bird, Michael Arndt, pixar, Tron Legacy

We've waited more than a decade for a new entry to the venerable "Toy Story" franchise, and we're finally getting one on June 18, 2010 when "Toy Story 3" hits theaters. Little has been seen of footage since the initial announcement, but a new featurette assures us that we're back in good hands.

In the clip below, a college-bound Andy (voiced by the original kid from the first two films) is forced by his mother to store his stuff or face the trash heap. Having separated Woody, the rest of the toys are destined for the attic. Of course, like the beginning of all great adventures, something goes horribly awry. Check it out below or click here to watch it in HD.

Tags pixar, toy story 3, Video

You readers get a treat this morning. Two Daily TwitPics for the price of one. Sure, it's all free to begin with. So instead of being a jerk about it, why don't you just appreciate the fact that today there is two where there would usually be one.

"Toy Story 3" director Lee Unkrich apparently put the shout out on Twitter for fans to send in pictures of their Pixar-themed tattoos, with the best one getting a studio-branded baseball cap. The two images you'll see after the jump -- from "Toy Story" and "Up" -- belong to the one winner, who offered to get the Pixar character of Unkrich's choice inked onto himself if he won. Now the director is taking suggestions for who that should be. My vote is for Luxo Jr. Tell Unkrich what you think on his Twitter feed, @leeunkrich. Read more...

Tags lee unkrich, pixar, toy story 3, up

Is Pixar hiring? If so, visionary filmmaker Terry Gilliam (“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus”) would like to apply. And if he needs a letter of recommendation, I’d be happy to provide one. According to /Film, Gilliam confessed at a recent BFI event that he would sweep the floors at the animation studio just to be around such creative people.

Fans of Gilliam’s work, myself included, would much rather see him directing films for the Disney-owned animation studio than providing them with janitorial services. Gilliam began as an animator and first became famous through the cartoons he made for “Monty Python’s Flying Circus.” Given his difficulties since then with live-action filmmaking -- looking at you, "Brothers Grimm." And "Tideland." And "Man of La Mancha." -- it might actually be a good idea for him to return to his original medium. Read more...

Tags pixar, terry gilliam

Ah, "Toy Story." You're the best. Err... second-best. I actually prefer your younger brother, "Toy Story 2." But you were great first. And the two of you make for an entertaining pair.

As you've probably heard by now (if you're a fan that is), Pixar's revolutionary first feature and its sequel are getting a 3-D makeover this fall. The double-feature will hit theaters on October 2, and will stick around for two weeks. I know it's a small window, but that should motivate fans to actually buy tickets rather than putting off a trip to the movies.

Whatever your plan is, here's the latest trailer for the upcoming paired 3-D release. Cute. I hope I'll be able to set aside some time to check this out in October. How about you?

Tags pixar, toy story, toy story 2, Video

Think you’re too good for 3-D? Well think again, because the film format is apparently now cool for highbrow cineastes too. The Venice Film Festival has announced a new award for best Stereoscopic 3D film, the first of which will be handed out this September. Appropriately sponsored by a sunglass brand, the prize will go to “the most creative feature film among those in Steroscopic 3-D produced between September 2008 and August 2009.”

Earlier this year, 3-D got a classy boost from the Cannes Film Festival when the 3-D version of Pixar’s “Up” opened the event. The French film fest has already been comparatively more commercial than other European film fests. Venice, the world’s oldest film festival, brings a little more prestige to the format with this recognition. Or so it may seem. Read more...

Tags pixar, up

FROM HOLLYWOOD CRUSH: Over at NPR, Linda Holmes wrote an excellent open letter to Pixar asking the esteemed animation studio to make a film about a girl. And not just that, a girl who isn’t a princess. Pixar, whose latest flick “UP” is a smash success and possibly surpasses last year’s “WALL-E” for sheer awesomeness, is known for its storylines that are equally appealing as family outings or date movies (hey, was that you crying during “WALL-E”? Thought so!). But so far, none of them have a female anything as the lead protagonist — not a robot, not a fish, and certainly not any “girls in Band-Aids,” as Holmes described them.

Continue reading We’d Like To See Some Girl Leads, Pixar!

Tags pixar