January theme: DreamWorks Animation 

NEW Deadline: January 8th, 2018

For our January theme we invite posts that look at DreamWorks Animation Studio and its production from any perspective. Founded in 1994 by Steven Spielberg, Jeffery Katzenberg and David Geffen, this studio has produced numerous films that have significantly contributed in redefining the animated feature. Indeed, among this studio’s titles are films such as Shrek (2001), Madagascar (2005) or Kung Fu Panda (2008) that have rapidly gone to become successful blockbuster franchises as well as landmark titles in the contemporary animation production panorama. Yet, DreamWorks has produced also many television and web series, including the animated sitcom Father of the Pride (2004), as well as a number of shorts. And through its variegated production this studio hasn’t just offered innovative storylines or new approaches to established genres, but has also contributed to pushing the boundaries of technology, developing for instance a peculiar way of using the 3D.

Due to the fact that the 20 years anniversary of the release of DreamWorks’ first two productions, Antz (1998) and The Prince of Egypt (1998), recurs in 2018, we believe it is timely to address the work of this studio.

Topics may include, but are not limited to:

  • AntzBee Movie and the representation of insects;
  • The Prince of Egypt and the animated epic film;
  • Shrek and the deconstruction of the traditional fairytale;
  • ShrekMadagascarKung Fu Panda and the DreamWorks animated blockbuster franchise;
  • The expansion/adaptation of its feature films’ storylines into animated series (e.g. Dawn of the Croods, The Mr Peabody and Sherman Show, Home,TurboTrolls, and so on);
  • Father of the Pride and the animated sitcom according to DreamWorks;
  • DreamWorks and the animated series created for Netflix (e.g. VeggieTales in the HouseDinotruxAll Hail King Julien, and so on);
  • From Shrek the Halls to Trolls Holliday: DreamWorks’ television specials;
  • The DreamWorks shorts;
  • DreamWorks and digital animation;
  • DreamWorks and 3D animation;
  • The animated musical according to DreamWorks;
  • DreamWorks and its partnership with Aardman;
  • The family as portrayed in DreamWorks’ animations;
  • The representation of diversity according to DreamWorks;
  • Shrek, Po and the unlikely hero;
  • DreamWorks branding and marketing strategies.

Posts of between 600 and 900 words, which discuss any aspect of the above topic are welcome. Contributors are encouraged to include clips and at least one image to support their posts. Please also include a short bio to accompany the post and 3 keywords. All permissions are the responsibility of the contributor. Please contact the editors Nichola Dobson (nichola_dobson@yahoo.co.uk) and Cristina Formenti (cristina.formenti@unimi.it) with submissions or questions.