"Open Season : Scared Silly" Readies for March 2016

To celebrate Open Season's 10th Anniversary, Sony Pictures Animation will present an all-new animated movie, OPEN SEASON: SCARED SILLY, on Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD on March 8, 2016. This national debut, from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, is the latest release for one of the most successful animated franchises to date, bringing back Elliot, Boog and all of the beloved woodland creatures from the previous Open Season series. The fourth installment is a comedic mystery adventure directed by David Feiss (head of story on the original Open Season and creator of the popular TV series Cow and Chicken); produced by John Bush ("The Simpsons"); and featuring computer animation from Rainmaker Entertainment, Inc.

Says Director Feiss, "My affection for these characters has only grown since we introduced them in Sony Pictures Animation's first feature. We're having a lot of fun bringing them back for a new adventure—it feels like a big party with old friends." Most recently, Feiss; whose prolific career began as a story artist for Hanna-Barbera, directed four mini-movies for the home entertainment release of Sony Pictures Animation's Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2, entitled Steve's First Bath, Super Manny, Attack Of The 50 Ft. Gummy Bear and Earl Scouts.

OPEN SEASON: SCARED SILLY is said to be  a heartwarming tale incorporating good values and laugh-out-loud fun for all ages. The Blu-ray and DVD releases will be packed with bonus materials including all-new featurettes, bloopers, a director's commentary track, and an Inside Sony Pictures Animation profile of director David Feiss. The first featurette, "OPEN SEASON Super Speedy Re-Cap" will give viewers a look back at the previous three films, and some of the most exciting moments of the franchise. "Scaredy Pants: The Fears of OPEN SEASON" will tackle what our favorite characters are truly afraid of! Exclusive to the Blu-ray, "Stepping Into the Spotlight – Mr Weenie's Process" gives a glimpse into Mr. Weenie's trials and tribulations of shooting his most trying scenes for the brand new movie.

Sony Pictures Animation Announces "Open Season : Scared Silly"

Continuing one of its most successful franchises, Sony Pictures Animation today announced the upcoming release of OPEN SEASON: SCARED SILLY, the fourth installment in the titled series. This latest production brings back Elliot, Boog and all of the beloved woodland creatures in a brand new comedy adventure, with David Feiss (head of story on the original Open Season and creator of the popular TV series Cow and Chicken) directing and John Bush (The Simpsons, Family Guy) producing.

OPEN SEASON: SCARED SILLY opens with Elliot telling a campfire story about the legend of the Wailing Wampus Werewolf that lives in Timberline National Forest. Domesticated Boog is terrified by the story and decides to "chicken out" of their annual summer camping trip until he knows the werewolf is gone. Determined to help Boog overcome his fears, Elliot and their woodland friends band together to scare the fear out of Boog and uncover the mystery of the Wailing Wampus Werewolf. 

Says Director Feiss, "My affection for these characters has only grown since we introduced them in Sony Pictures Animation's first feature.  We're having a lot of fun bringing them back for a new adventure—it feels like a big party with old friends."  Most recently, Feiss—whose prolific career began as a story artist for Hanna-Barbera—directed four mini-movies for the home entertainment release of Sony Pictures Animation's Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2, entitled Steve's First Bath, Super Manny, Attack Of The 50ft Gummy Bear and Earl Scouts.  See more Mr Feiss below.

Sony's HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2 Adds Mel Brooks to the Cast

Sony Pictures Animation announced this week the casting of Oscar-, Tony-, Grammy- and Emmy-winning writer, director, performer, composer and producer Mel Brooks in the sequel to SPA's 2012 worldwide hit, HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2. Brooks has been cast in the role of Vlad, the ancient, undead and incredibly grumpy father to Dracula (Adam Sandler).

Dracula, Mavis, Jonathan and all of their monster friends are back in the brand new comedy adventure: when the old-old-old-fashioned vampire Vlad arrives at the hotel for an impromptu family get-together, Hotel Transylvania is in for a comic collision of supernatural old-school and modern day cool.

HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2 is slated for a September 25, 2015 release (DVD, BD release date tbd), and is being directed by Genndy Tartakovsky, produced by Michelle Murdocca, executive-produced by Sandler, Allen Covert,and Ben Waisbren, and written by Robert Smigel.

Brooks, who takes on the role 40 years after helming the horror-comedy classic Young Frankenstein, said, "I’m having a wonderful time with the character Vlad. He’s been around for eons and he’s a pretty crabby guy. Basically, he reminds me of me."

Brooks isn’t the only icon who will be voicing Vlad, as Sony Pictures Releasing International is securing the talents of additional high-profile stars around the world to voice the ancient one for the non-English versions of the film. So far, these regional Vlads include: France’s Michel Galabru, the esteemed 92-year-old actor who has appeared in more than 200 films; Japan’s Junji Inagawa, whose voice is instantly recognizable as the "go to" narrator of horror films, radio programs and DVDs; Holland’s Bram Van Der Vlugt, who, for decades, was the most requested Dutch TV/film "Sinterklaas" (Saint Nicholas); and Belgium’s Jacques Vermeire, the well-known Flemish performer with decades of memorable comic television and feature film performances.