Geek of Oz

Directed by two-time Academy Award®-winner Pete Docter, co-directed by Kemp Powers and produced by Academy Award®-nominee Dana Murray, Disney and Pixar’s “Soul” opens in theaters on June 19, 2020. According to Docter, the idea for the story is 23 years in the making. “It started with my son—he’s 23 now—but the instant he was born, he already had a personality,” says Docter. “Where did that come from? I thought your personality developed through your interaction with the world. And yet, it was pretty clear that we’re all born with a very unique, specific sense of who we are.”  “Soul” introduces Joe Gardner, a middle-school band teacher whose true passion is playing jazz. “I think Joe is having that crisis that all artists have,” says Powers. “He’s increasingly feeling like his lifelong dream of being a jazz musician is not going to pan out and he’s asking himself ‘Why am I here? What am I meant to be doing?’ Joe personifies those questions.” Pete Doctor dire...

When the Emperor of China issues a decree that one man per family must serve in the Imperial Army to defend the country from Northern invaders, Hua Mulan, the eldest daughter of an honored warrior, steps in to take the place of her ailing father. Masquerading as a man, Hua Jun, she is tested every step of the way and must harness her inner-strength and embrace her true potential. It is an epic journey that will transform her into an honored warrior and earn her the respect of a grateful nation…and a proud father. “ Mulan ” features a celebrated international cast that includes: Yifei Liu as Mulan; Donnie Yen as Commander Tung; Jason Scott Lee as Böri Khan; Yoson An as Cheng Honghui; with Gong Li as Xianniang and Jet Li as the Emperor. The film is directed by Niki Caro from a screenplay by Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver and Elizabeth Martin & Lauren Hynek based on the narrative poem “The Ballad of Mulan .” Mulan opens in Australian cinemas on March 26, 2020 Visit the of...

Guardians of the Galaxy may have cemented Marvel's domination of comic book films on the big screen, but on the small screen it's a totally different matter. Since 2007 DC Universe Animated Original Movies have been wowing audiences with movie adaptations of some of the most beloved comic book runs as well as original stories starring some of DC Comics' most iconic characters. Where Marvel never really seemed to get their act together in this area, DC kept producing hit after hit. Then in late 2013 the legendary Bruce Timm, who brought us the revered Batman: The Animated Series, stepped down as DC's animation supervising producer and things began to take a turn for the worse. Post-Timm animated features such as Justice League: War, Son of Batman and Flashpoint Paradox all lacked the quality and attention to detail that Timm had brought to his productions. I was beginning to lose hope, and then I watched Batman: Assault on Arkham... Although by no m...

One of the most iconic and enduring cartoon franchises of the 1980s, Transformers and its accompanying universe is as vast as it is awesome but due to its immensity it can be difficult to know where to start.  Sure, you could just start with Gen 1, Season 1 but where to from there?  Unfortunately, not all Transformers series take place in the same universe or continuity so there's no hard and fast rule ,  but we've consulted with the mech-heads at Madman and put together a handy dandy recommended viewing order for their Transformers releases and 100% Bay-free. The Transformers Generation 1 Season 1 This is where it all began, way back in 1984. This was our first introduction to Optimus and the gang who found themselves stranded on "present day" Earth. Also introduced are the majority of main characters who still exist today including Soundwave, Starscream, Megatron and everyone's favourite dim-witted Dinobot, Grimlock. Season 1 weighs in a...

Long time readers of Geek of Oz will know that I'm a sucker for those shape shifting mechs known as Transformers. Ever since I was a kid they've held a special place in my heart so, to be honest, I was bound to enjoy Transformers Rescue Bots. Hell, I even liked the Michael Bay films in spite of how terrible they are!  Optimus Prime issues a call to all operational Autobots for urgent assistance on earth. Answering the call are Heatwave, Blades, Chase and Boulder who arrive in the US state of Maine to the news that they are the last remaining Rescue Bots. Unsure as to whether the new team members are ready to battle the Decepticons, Optimus tasks the Rescue Bots to work undercover, assisting the local townsfolk whenever they're in need.

I was privileged enough to attend the opening night of this year's Graphic festival - a weekend celebrating comics, animation & music which is held at the Sydney Opera House from Friday 4th of October till Monday the 7th of October. Running since 2010, Graphic has garnered a reputation worldwide for presenting unique and exciting performances, talks, and workshops involving some of the best creative minds in the world. This year is no exception. The opening event of Graphic 2013 was 'Robot Chicken Live'. Co-Creators Seth Green & Matt Senreich brought along some of their friends involved in the show (Tom Root, John Harvatine IV, Eric Towner & Doug Goldstein) to host a Q&A panel about the series. First up was a best of series of questions that were submitted by Madman entertainment from fans that emailed in. This was followed by the panel explaining their favourite clips from series & showing on the big screen. These are listed below: ...

Thanks to our pals at Madman, we've got the Robot Chicken DC Comics Special on Blu Ray and DVD to give away, just in time for the appearance of Seth Green and Matt Senreich at  GRAPHIC Festival . Robot Chicken’s Seth Green, Matt Senreich, Tom Root, John Harvatine IV, Eric Towner and Doug Goldstein will bring their multiple Emmy Award-winning stop-motion classic to life, live on stage in Robot Chicken Live, exclusively at Sydney Opera House’s fourth annual Graphic Festival on Friday 4 October.  All you have to do is fill out the form below and you're in the running to score a copy of ROBOT CHICKEN DC SPECIAL on Blu Ray or DVD. Don't forget, you can score yourself an extra entry just by  following us on Twitter  or  liking us on Facebook!

Spider-Man is my personal favourite comic book hero. My go-to guy who has always been there when I needed him. Certainly sounds like a real superhero! The thing that I always liked about ol' web head was the fact that before his accident, he was basically an everyman. Not an alien, not a billionaire, not a god - just a kid with some pretty dark events in his past. Then in 2000, Marvel superstar Brian Michael Bendis reinvigorated Spidey by introducing Ultimate Spider-Man. While he's essentially the same character, Bendis and Marvel relaunched the character and all of his friends/foes for a more modern audience. Welcome to Ultimate Spider-Man.

Based on Geoff Johns' and Gary Frank's "Brainiac" story arc from Action Comics #886-870, Superman Unbound is perfectly timed to take advantage of the runaway freight train that is Zack Snyder's Man of Steel.  The 16th film in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies, Superman Unbound offers a look at Superman that is sadly missed in many an adaptation. What Unbound manages to do in 70 short minutes, is show just how much Superman's adopted home means to him. This human element is what makes Superman not only relatable but also interesting. Without such a focus, he can often come across as being quite vanilla. With no real threat to his safety, it is his attachment to the things and people around him that gives importance to his exploits.

DC Universe Animated Original Movies are fantastic. This may sound like blanket statement and frankly, it is. Sure some of their movies have been better than others but overall they make a bloody good film! The latest of which is SUPERMAN: UNBOUND. Based on Geoff Johns' Superman: Brainiac, UNBOUND pits the Man of Steel against an all but unstoppable force. Follow on after the jump for more details, a look at the trailer and the low down on the awesome special features on the Blu Ray release!

After 15 seasons, Pokemon is still going strong and if it tends to feel a little formulaic it's probably because it is. That said, why change a winning formula? New foes, new friends, and dozens of never-before-seen Pokémon await Ash and Pikachu as they continue to explore the Unova region! It won’t be long before Ash finds himself up against the ultimate battle challenge: Alder, the Champion Master of Unova! Ash’s friends face their own trials as one fights for the right to continue her travels, and another confronts a returning challenge from the past. And it will take the combined strength of Ash, Cilan, and Iris to save an island from the clashing forces of three powerful and mysterious Legendary Pokémon! All that and Ash still has Gym badges to earn if he hopes to make it to the Unova League—can he prevail against Gym Leaders like the electrifying Elesa and no-nonsense Clay? - Beyond Home Entertainment

Back in October we reviewed the first half of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns and now, just over 4 months later, the epic conclusion hits shelves Australia-wide. It is difficult to review this DVD without it also being a review of the source material which is an absolute classic by any measure and with this film being as faithful as it is, a review of the story is bound to be glowing. After the Joker feigns rehabilitation, he does what the Joker does best and comes back under the notice of an ageing Batman. After a series of plot twists and action galore, Batman faces off against an unmovable force, making for one of the most iconic scenes in the history of DC comics. Follow on after the jump for our full review!

If you're a longtime reader of Geek Of Oz, you'll know that we love The Deep . The all ages wonderment created by Tom Taylor and James Brouwer has taken to comic world by storm and now they're moving into the third dimension!  After just watching the newest incarnation of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, it's instantly apparent that The Deep will be in good hands with animators Technicolor. Be assured that we will keep you informed of any news that comes to hand on this very exciting property. Follow on after the jump for more details!

Geek of Oz were privileged to attend a preview of this year’s upcoming Graphic festival – a highly anticipated weekend of graphic storytelling, animation, music and gaming to be held at the Sydney Opera House on November 10th and 11th. Graphic festival showcases and celebrates innovative and creative new forms of story-telling, and although only in its third year, has already racked up some fairly impressive feathers in its cap, having featured the likes of Gotye, Neil Gaiman and Regurgitator in previous years. This year’s lineup is no less impressive. The highlights include: Pixar: Behind-the-Screens , hosted by Lee Unkrich, director of Toy Story 3 , who will allow audiences a rare glimpse into the animation masters’ workshop; an illustrated musical collaboration between celebrated New Zealand soul outfit Fat Freddy’s Drop and street artist Otis Frizzell; a design-your-own-game workshop with Qantm College; an exciting homage to Dr Seuss’s work, put to the music of over 25 onstage p...

DC Universe Animated Original Movies are without a doubt the more polished and enjoyable of "the big 2" comic companies, so what happens when they take on one of the greatest superhero graphic novels of all time?  Legendary creator Frank Miller is one of many well known writers to give his own spin on the caped crusader but not many have created something so unique yet still instantly recognisable as Batman. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns tells the story of a retired Batman. Worn out and middle aged he had hung up his cape and cowl only to be called again off the bench to fight an all new foe. Hitting shelves (digital and physical) throughout Australia on October 3, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part 1 is sure to thrill Batfans old and new. Check out all the details, special features, competition details and trailer after the jump!

As we reported from Supanova Sydney, Yunyu and Queenie Chan's collaboration is soon to be available from Madman and Yunyu.com.au . The best way to get involved in this marriage of music, manga and (ani)mation is to grab yourself a QUIRTZ ! Just like with Twisted Tales and its artist mish-mash, a QUIRTZ is a CD, a stylish Tee and a QR code billboard to share the love with all of your friends. In my case, that's 2 whole people!!! TWISTED TALES and QUIRTZ are available now and so are tickets to Yunyu's live shows which will be held in Sydney and Melbourne! Check out all of the details, and a look at TWISTED TALES episode 1 (Dorothy), after the jump!

Ben 10 is one of the most successful animated series of all time! The multi-BILLION dollar franchise is a hit with kids and big kids alike. But even with all of its success, Ben 10: Destroy all Aliens is the first time that the Tennyson kids are animated in CGI! So follow on after the jump to find out how to get your hands on your very own copy! "Ten-year-old BEN TENNYSON is back from his summer vacation… and his life is a mess! Harassed by his teacher as well as bullies, grounded by his parents, and cursed with a malfunctioning Omnitrix that’s vaporising his homework, Ben jumps at a chance to get away from it all by exploring the galaxy with his alien buddy TETRAX. However, he quickly finds himself crashing back to Earth in alien form and unable to become human again! To make matters worse, Ben soon encounters a deadly MECHAMORPH WARRIOR – just like Ben’s UPGRADE alien, but armed with explosive high-tech armour and a single-minded goal to DESTROY ALL ALIENS! As GRANDPA MA...

The original Voltron "Lion Force" series holds a special place in my heart. I have so many fond memories of weekday mornings before school, eating my Weet Bix and watching Voltron. Along with Transformers, Voltron figures littered my toy box. I had nearly the entire range of Panosh Place figures, each pilot and their respective lions as well as a plastic lunch box and a set of erasers that I refused to use for erasing. Released in 2011, Voltron Force: The Defenders Trilogy is the first 3 episodes of the series edited into a feature length pilot. Taking place a few years after the events of the original series, Voltron Force feels entirely different to the source material, which is expected considering that over 25 years have elapsed since its release. One thing that is immediately obvious is that this is an American production unlike the original series which was based upon the Japanese series, Beast King GoLion.

Fairy Tail is one of those series that isn't particularly well known here in Australia, but those who do know about it think it is brilliant. Hiro Mashima (Rave Master) writes and illustrates the manga series of the same name, a series that was the 4th best selling title in Japan last year, won the Kodansha Manga Award in the Shonen category in 2009 and was listed as the best shonen manga of 2008 by Deb Aoki of About.com . This series is without a doubt one of my favourite ongoing manga series but does the animated series live up to my expectations? Find out after the jump!

*COMPETITION CLOSED and the WINNERS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED* Just in time for Christmas and with great thanks to our friends at Madman, we have two Arrietty prize packs to give away each containing 1x copy of Howl's Moving Castle on DVD and 1x In-season double pass to see Arrietty!  The film is only showing at certain cinemas so make sure that theres one close to you by checking the Madman website. If you're quite sure if it is worth the effort, I can assure you that it is. If you're still not sure, check out my review from last month. For your chance to win, follow on after the jump!