Nearly two decades ago, Brent Dawes created the popular Jungle Beat animated TV series. Now he’s the writer/director of the franchise’s new feature film. Sandcastle Studios’ Jungle Beat: The Movie, made in collaboration with Sunrise Productions, is a selection of the 2020 Annecy International Film Festival and is available on VOD for families to enjoy […]
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Composer Kevin Kiner shares details on “Star Wars: The Clone Wars”
February 20th, 2020 
Jackson Murphy Fan-favorite animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars returns for a 7th and final season starting tomorrow, February 21st, on Disney+. 5-time Emmy nominated composer Kevin Kiner shares details on the music for the new season and reflects on more than four decades of “Star Wars” in pop culture. Jackson Murphy: What’s the earliest memory […]
And the Oscar Goes to… Pixar’s “Toy Story 4” and Sony’s “Hair Love”
February 9th, 2020 Jerry Beck The Academy Award for Best Animated Feature went to Pixar’s Toy Story. Best Animated Short was awarded to Sony Animation’s “Hair Love”. Both films were indeed Oscar-worthy, but clearly the Academy adhered to its longtime traditions – favoring the commercial studio films in competition. Director director Josh Cooley and producers Jonas Rivera and Mark Nielsen […]
Talking with Creators of Disney’s “Short Circuit”
January 23rd, 2020 Jackson Murphy Anyone at Walt Disney Animation Studios could submit a blind pitch for a 2-3 minute short. The result: the first 14 films in Disney’s new Short Circuit collection. Originally meant to be kept inside the studio, all will now be available to watch on Disney+ starting January 24th. Terry Moews, a layout artist on such […]
Warner Archive Collection Announces “Tex Avery Screwball Classics” on Blu-Ray
January 21st, 2020 Jerry Beck Tex Avery’s MGM cartoons were ahead of their time – and their time has finally come. At long last, Warner Archive Collection has blown open the vaults and has begun restoration of the classic MGM cartoons of the 1940s and 50s. On sale on blu-ray February 18th, using brand new 1080p HD Masters from 4K […]
Awards Watch 2020
January 10th, 2020 David Derks A Handy-Dandy Checklist of the Animated Features Released in the U.S. in 2020 (Due to the COVID-19 pandemic many features scheduled for this year were moved to 2021.) 1. WEATHERING WITH YOU (1/17/20) GKids. D: Makoto Shinkai 2. FARMAGEDDON: A SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE (2/14/20) Netflix. D: Will Becher, Richard Phelan 3. ONWARD (3/6/20) Pixar […]
Jhonen Vasquez on “Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus!”
August 16th, 2019 Jackson Murphy Almost 13 years to the day after airing its final episode, “Invader Zim” has returned with a new film “Enter the Florpus!”, now on Netflix. The rivalry between 12-year-old human boy Dib and Irken alien Zim is in full force once again. Zim has returned to Earth looking to take over the planet, while Dib […]
INTERVIEW: Director Thurop Van Orman and producer John Cohen Talk “The Angry Birds Movie 2”
August 9th, 2019 Jackson Murphy Sony Pictures Animation’s follow-up to their Oscar-winning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is The Angry Birds Movie 2, the sequel to the 2016 hit – based on the phenomenon mobile game franchise. Director Thurop Van Orman (creator of TV’s “Flapjack”) and producer John Cohen (“Despicable Me”) are excited for audiences to return to Bird Island and […]
Primetime Emmy Animation Nominees
July 16th, 2019 Jerry Beck The 71st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards nominations have been announced. Here are the key animation category highlights: Outstanding Animated Program – “Big Mouth”, Netflix – “Bob’s Burgers”, Fox – “BoJack Horseman”, Netflix – “Come Along with Me (Adventure Time)”, Cartoon Network – “The Simpsons”, Fox Outstanding Short Form Animated Program – “Love, Death & Robots”, […]
What We Know About Netflix First Two Animated Features
June 12th, 2019 Jerry Beck Netflix is about to take the animation community by storm. They seem to have at least a dozen animated series in production; they are picking up award-winning animated features at Annecy and Cannes; and have announced their first two original animated features. Here are the facts we know thus far about Klaus and The Willoughbys: […]
Nickelodeon Launches New Animated Shorts Program
June 10th, 2019 Jerry Beck Nickelodeon is setting out to develop the next generation of animation talent through the launch of its new Intergalactic Shorts Program. With new leadership at Nick Animation, and a newly installed team driving its search for new talent, the Intergalactic Shorts Program is designed to identify original, comedy-driven content and nurture the voices and passionate […]
The Academy Award Goes to… Sony’s “Spider-Man” and Pixar’s “Bao”
February 24th, 2019 Jerry Beck The Academy Award for Best Animated Feature went to Sony’s Spider-Man: Into The Spiderverse. Directors Rodney Rothman, Peter Ramsey, and Bob Persichetti, and producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller accepted the award from John Legend and Michelle Yeoh (video below). The Academy Award for Best Animated Short went to Bao. Director Domee She and producer […]
Guests Announced For The 4th Annual GLAS Animation Festival
January 14th, 2019 Jerry Beck The 4th Annual GLAS Animation Festival is fast-approaching (mark your calendar now – its March 21-24 in Berkeley, CA) and soon they’ll be announcing competition selections, curated programs, additional special guests, and the complete festival schedule. In the meantime, feast your eyes on the GLAS 2019 Signal Film directed by Manshen Lo and featuring music […]
FRIDAY at MoMA: George Griffin presents “Lineage” and a History of British Animation
January 7th, 2019 Jerry Beck This Friday, January 11th, at MoMA (The Museum of Modern Art), award-winning animator George Griffin presents Lineage, his smart and funny mash-up of animation history, documentary self-portraiture, and conceptualism. Drawing (literally) upon an entire century of animation techniques. Griffin will also introduce a program on the history of British animation. This special animation program is […]
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Comments Off on FRIDAY at MoMA: George Griffin presents “Lineage” and a History of British Animation Netflix Announces New Original Anime Series of “Ghost in the Shell”
December 7th, 2018 Jerry Beck Ghost in the Shell is going to reborn by changing itself into a new form — 3DCG. This time, Kenji Kamiyama and Production I.G will join forces with Shinji Aramaki and SOLA DIGITAL ARTS, who brought Japanese 3DCG animation to the whole world in series like Appleseed. This will be “a next-generation animation film” and […]
