Two Animated Cat Films Capture Oscar Noms

Cats are finally starting to earn the respect they deserve in Hollywood, as evidenced by today's announcement that not one, but two cat-related films are nominated for Academy Awards in the category of Best Animated Feature Film.

A Cat in Paris - Official HD Trailer

The thieving felines of "A Cat in Paris" and "Puss In Boots" will be duking it out against fellow nominees, "Rango," "Chico & Rita," and "Kung Fu Panda 2." Two pussycats can surely take down a chameleon, but as for a panda? I'm not so sure.

Dreamworks' Puss in Boots - Official Trailer

"A Cat in Paris" ("Une vie de chat") is a French export, about a cat named Dino who leads a double life. By day, he is a child's pet, but by night he's a dangerous thief. I haven't seen the film yet, and couldn't find much information about a possible release date, but hopefully the Oscar buzz will kick start the film's availability.

"Puss in Boots" is the high-profile spin-off of the Shrek series, released by DreamWorks Animation Studio in October. The film went on to top the box office, grossing an impressive $492 million as of January 2012, and is set to be released on DVD and Blu-Ray on February 24th.

For what it's worth, it wasn't animated - but my favorite cat film of 2011 is still "Miss Minoes"!

Two Animated Cat Films Capture Oscar Noms

Puss In Boots Behind the Scenes Audition Tapes

Puss In Boots Movie: Behind the Scenes Audition Tapes

Well, today's the day! DreamWorks Animation is finally letting the cat out of the bag with the release of Puss In Boots, the origin story of the ginger kitty Casanova. Reviews are generally good so far (it's currently 77% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes), with the New York Times proclaiming its "spectacular use of 3-D that raises the bar for a mainstream animated film," and The Washington Post declaring it as "almost shockingly good. And not just because a lot of you will approach it with lowered expectations." The New York Post bemoans in its negative review, that the film is "punctuated by more puns and cat jokes than you can shake a litter box at," but I'm pretty sure that's going to make me like it even more!

To be honest, I've never seen any of the Shrek films (I know!), but I'm still getting really excited about watching the spin-off tonight! In the meantime, I'm counting down by catching up on all of the crazy cat promotions leading up to the film's release, including this "behind-the-scenes" casting video, the adorable "all-cat" red carpet premiere, the classic Puss/Old Spice guy parody, and the real life kitty-sized boots that were made just to help promote the film.

Anyone else getting ready to check out Puss In Boots this weekend? Let's make a cat movie #1 at the box office!

Puss In Boots Behind the Scenes Audition Tapes

Antonio Banderas Hosts First Ever All Cat Movie Premiere to Celebrate Puss In Boots

Puss in Boots - Cat Premiere

Antonio Banderas recently hosted the world's first ever cat premiere in honor of DreamWorks Animation's Puss In Boots, and I'm thinking that this dress would have been the purrfect thing to wear!

Famous felines such as Kitty Purry (not the real one, unfortunately), Robert Meowny, Jr., and Leonardo DiCatrio "transformed the red carpet into a true glitterbox," before packing into the crowded theater to watch the film in custom 3D shades (It's really hard to keep glasses on when you have a stubby nose and no ears to prop them up on, trust me on this one). The Puss In Boots news is coming in fast and furious now that the film's opening has been pushed up one week to October 28th, from the original November 4th release date.

Read USA Today's cheeky take on the star-studded event here, and check out more pictures from the red carpet on the Puss In Boots Facebook page!

Antonio Banderas Hosts First Ever All Cat Movie Premiere to Celebrate Puss In Boots

Dress Your Puss in Real Life Boots

Nathaniel Chadwick/Paramount

Between Old Spice commercial parodies, and cat inclusive photo ops with stars Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek, the hype machine for the upcoming Dreamworks Puss and Boots movie is in full effect.

So when the studio needed to come up with a cool promotional item to spark media interest in the animated spin-off, they turned to Jason Landau of Slant Promotions in Los Angeles, a guy known for his custom designed apparel and other products for the movie industry. Landau originally had a milk-theme in mind; Nixed ideas included a milk dispenser with shot glasses, and a milk container with a t-shirt inside, but in the end the most obvious choice, a real life pair of puss-sized boots, won out.

The designer, who says he would get a cat of his own were he not allergic to them, used a friend's kitty as a stand-in to get the measurements just right. The stylin' boots, which he never imagined people would actually put on their cats (obviously he doesn't spend much time on the internet) are made out of leather with a wood sole, and a printed fabric trim. Only 750 pairs were distributed, but so far I haven't been able to find nary a one for sale on eBay.

When asked if he'd consider turning his foray into feline footwear into a full-time gig, Landau told the WSJ, "If someone approached me about making another pair of cat boots, of course I'd make them, but I don't think I'll be heading into the cat boot field. I did, however, open up another box today and it's true, they're really freaking cute."

A man after my own heart.

Via The Wall Street Journal

Dress Your Puss in Real Life Boots

Puss In Boots is the Cat Your Cat Could Smell Like

Puss In Boots - "The Cat Haz Swagger"

Usually cats are the ones getting pulled into pop culture, but with this new promo clip for the upcoming Puss In Boots flick, it's the other way around. Watch Puss, "the cat your cat could smell act like," as he recreates the original Isaiah Mustafa "Old Spice Guy" commercial, and consider for yourself why a talking cat voiced by Antonio Banderas seems like the most perfectly natural thing in the world.

Dreamworks Animation's Puss In Boots hits theaters this November.

Old Spice - The Man Your Man Could Smell Like (Original)

Puss In Boots is the Cat Your Cat Could Smell Like

Full Length Puss in Boots Trailer Hits the Web

He had me with the purring!

Back in March, we got a tiny teaser for DreamWorks' upcoming cat-themed Shrek spin-off, Puss in Boots, that showcased a lot of pouncing and preening, but not much else was revealed.

Now, the studio has released a shiny new extended trailer for the swashbuckling "tail," featuring the voice of Antonio Banderas as "Puss," and introducing Salma Hayek as "Kitty Softpaws." Zach Galifianakis, Billy Bob Thornton and Amy Sedaris (yay!) are all rumored be lending their vocal talents as well.

Then, there's this new movie poster of a sultry looking Puss emerging from a wall of flames. I see nothing strange about it, but Louis Virtel of Movieline finds it a little creepy, saying, "When Puss In Boots abandons Shrek and earns his own movie poster, he is exposed for the naughty toon he is! I shouldn’t be surprised that a leering creature named Puss is a bit unnerving, but he looks like a sultry sheriff in Aristocats western slashfic. Purr-verted!"

Teehee! Find out Dreamworks true intentions for yourself when Puss in Boots hits theaters in 3D on November 4th.

Via Movieline

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Full Length Puss in Boots Trailer Hits the Web

First Look! Puss In Boots Shrek Spin-Off Movie Trailer

DreamWorks has just released a trailer for their highly anticipated feline-centric Shrek spin-off, Puss in Boots! Antonio Banderas is back as the voice of the booted kitty lothario, and it's clear that Puss is ready to continue charming filmgoers, even without the help of a certain green ogre!

According to Cinema Blend, the film is "a prequel telling the tale of Puss's early adventures teamed up with Humpty Dumpty (voiced by Zach Galifianakis) and Kitty (voiced by Salma Hayek) in a quest to save the Goose who laid the Golden Eggs."

Puss in Boots 3D is scheduled to hit theaters this November.

Via CinemaBlend / Apple

First Look! Puss In Boots Shrek Spin-Off Movie Trailer