This twenty-second animation stands as a vicious metaphor for countless aspects of society. Most directly, a larger dog pooping on a smaller dog. But also other stuff too. Cats.

You can already name pretty much anything and, chances are, Nicolas Cage has or will play it before his energy returns to the Cageverse. Weatherman, identical twins, convict, cop, adventurer, scientist, guinea pig, angel, John Travolta, fire-covered biker skeleton, terrible lieutenant–he’s done them all, and he won’t rest until he’s done everything else. That is his vow. The latest addition to his list? Caveman dad : Nicolas Cage and Ryan Reynolds will play CG cavemen in DreamWorks Animation’s “The Croods,” a comedy that pits a prehistoric patriarch (Cage) against a forward-thinking outsider (Reynolds). Cage, who voiced a leading role in last year’s “Astro Boy,” stars as Crug, who cautiously leads his family beyond his comfort zone after an earthquake destroys their home. While attempting to navigate the dangerous and unfamiliar world, Crug butts heads with Reynolds’ nomad, who charms Crug’s clan — especially his eldest daughter — with his (relatively) modern-minded ways. “Space Chimps” director Kirk DeMicco shares writing and helming duties with “Lilo and Stitch” creator Chris Sanders, who co-directed DreamWorks Animation’s upcoming “How to Train Your Dragon.” Wow, a generational-difference grumpy dad comedy with a high probability for shaky socio-political commentary and wacky anachronisms. If this fails as a film, can we still get it as a Jim Belushi sitcom?

This Danish stop-motion animated short “Out Of A Forest” starts out adorable, then becomes waaaaay more tense than any animated bunny tea party video has the right to be, before ultimately resuming its place firmly in the realm of adorable again (adoraspoiler!) I may or may not have just yelled “Why aren’t you running??? RUNNN!!!” out loud at my desk. People just assumed I was watching Legends of the Hidden Temple , as usual. Out Of A Forest from Tobias Gundorff Boesen on Vimeo .

I’m not endorsing it, but it does show what kind of movie Star Wars could have been if the lightsabers were made of fleas. (Thanks to: Liz)

Kids who are fans of old reruns of Carson , Hollywood Squares , and Mork & Mindy are in for a real aural treat when Smurfs comes out! Classic comedian and co-star of the short-lived Randy Quaid sitcom Davis Rules Jonathan Winters has joined the cast of the animated film, and will be providing the voice of Smurf patriarch Papa Smurf. The selection of the 84-year-old comes as a bit of a surprise, because holy shit Jonathan Winters is still alive? Papa’s Got a Brand New Smurf [UGO]

Toy Story 3 has so many toys. How many? FOURTEEN NEW TOYS, plus the cowboy one, spaceman one, and the other ones. Pixar would like to introduce these new fellas to you early so that you can get a jump on consuming products adorned with them. So meet these three captive seeds: Peas-in-a-Pod will quickly become a parent’s favorite on-the-go toy. The soft, plush pod secures the happy peas inside with a durable metal zipper, making it perfect for the car or stroller. The Peas-in-a-Pod plush toy also develops fine motor skills by catering to a child’s natural grab instinct. Pulling the three peas out of the pod will provide repeated enjoyment for infants and toddlers, and soon they’ll learn to put them back in! Machine washable. Not for human consumption. Never too early to teach kids not to zip up their testicles. Toy Story 3’s Peas-in-a-Pod! [ComingSoon]

The CGI Smurfs film in production under the careful leadership of the director of Home Alone 3 , Big Momma’s House , Scooby Doo 1 & 2 , and Beverly Hills Chihuahua will almost certainly be unwatchable to anyone with a fully developed skull. That goes without saying. But will it at least manage to retain the basic appearance of the blue-skinned, shirtless, Phrygian-capped figures that we know so well? We have our answer: yeah, probably. UGO (full body photo there, if you’re a pervert) has acquired what appears to be an on old camera phone’s photo of a xerox of one the designs of one of the creatures, and, though it departs slightly from the prematurely released teaser poster –primarily in that it adds enough fine detail that it kind reminds me of naked Verne Troyer –it also still looks like a Smurf. In summary: the Smurfs movie Smurfs will look basically like Smurfs. But also sort of like gross little dwarfs.

Guess what! There’s this now: an animated comedy about hick culture with absolutely none of the dignity of King of the Hill . The Hollywood Reporter explains the doomsday scenario: TBS is partnering with David Spade to develop an animated version of his film “Joe Dirt.” The pilot script deal calls for the comic actor, Sony Pictures Television and Happy Madison Prods. to collaborate on a series following a “mullet-sporting, muscle-car-loving loser with a heart of gold.” “David Spade is a hugely popular comic talent who has created a funny, yet lovable, character in ‘Joe Dirt,’” said Michael Wright, executive vp of programming for TBS. “We look forward to seeing how he and his fellow writers and producers take this character in new directions as TBS continues exploring the world of primetime animation.” Well, I see David Spade has been using his time between seasons of the somehow-on-the-air CBS sitcom Rules of Engagement wisely. Can’t just sit around resting on the laurels of Dickie Roberts forever, living solely on those Just Shoot Me residual checks. Have to always be thinking: “How could I stretch a tired joke about a mullet just a liiiiiitle further?” Making an animated Joe Dirt is a great, terrible answer to that question.

Remember when you considered George Lucas a demigod because he invented two of the most indisputably great franchises ever created? Well, as if he didn’t disappoint you enough with the last few Star Warses, now he’s doing some kind of cartoon musical with fairies : George Lucas is tackling his first musical. The untitled, top-secret CGI-animated film is in preproduction at Lucas’ Skywalker Ranch in Marin County. Kevin Munroe is directing the CGI film, which is expected to feature music from a variety of sources. Munroe hails from the animated world and made his directorial debut in 2007 with the fourth Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, “TMNT.” Plot details are locked tighter than the plans for the Death Star, but one element known is that the script features fairies. George Lucas makes movies that influence countless future generations of filmmakers; one of those filmmakers does a cheap, straight-to-video CGI Tinkerbell movie that apparently influences George Lucas. The circle is complete.

What better way to explain the ongoing late night television conflict than with a Chinese computer animation that looks like it was made for a malpractice attorney commercial in 1998? Clearly there is no better way. So enjoy this two-minute short starring CGI Jay Leno, CGI Ogre Conan O’Brien, CGI NBC President Jeff Zucker, CGI Jimmy Kimmel, and CGI Dr. Drew/Bespectacled Bill Clinton (Letterman). It actually lays out the situation pretty logically until the point where everyone turns into superhero parodies and starts killing each other with lens flares.