Universal

Illumination Highlights Heading Into Second “Mario” Movie

March 24th, 2026

16 years after the first "Despicable Me", Illumination is widely regarded as one of the powerhouses in animation, in large part thanks to "Mario" and those Minions... some of the most iconic animated characters of all time.

INTERVIEWS: “Ted” Cast On Season 2 And Voice Acting

Jackson Murphy|

March 5th, 2026

Seth MacFarlane’s Ted event series returns for Season 2, with all eight episodes premiering this Thursday March 5th on Peacock. The iconic bear and the Bennett family are once again caught-up in hilarious ’90s-set hijinks… that are even more outrageous this time. Max Burkholder, who plays John (the younger version of Mark Wahlberg’s character in the movies), […]

FIRST LOOK: Illumination’s “Minions & Monsters”

Jerry Beck|

February 9th, 2026

Here's the trailer and poster for the next Minions masterpiece - from Illumination via Universal on July 1st.

Latest in Category: Universal

INTERVIEW: The 411 On “Kung Fu Panda 4”

DreamWorks’ Kung Fu Panda 4 is directed by Mike Mitchell, co-directed by Stephanie Ma Stine and produced by Rebecca Huntley. I first spoke with them back in December at the launch of the film’s first trailer. Now that I’ve seen the entire movie (which opens in theaters this Friday March 8th), here’s my new Animation […]

Jackson Murphy|March 4, 2024

INTERVIEW: Benjamin Renner On High-Flying “Migration”

The Big Bad Fox and Other Tales director Benjamin Renner takes to the sky with Illumination’s new animated comedy Migration. It opens in theaters next Friday December 22nd. In this Animation Scoop Q&A, Renner talks about his love of hand-drawn and CG animation, ducky research and working with one of the most star-studded voice acting […]

Jackson Murphy|December 15, 2023

INTERVIEW: A Slice Of “Five Nights At Freddy’s”

Universal will release the highly anticipated feature film adaptation of the popular video game franchise Five Nights at Freddy’s in theaters and on Peacock next Friday October 27th. At New York Comic Con last week, I spoke with director Emma Tammi about the horror movie starring whacked out animatronic characters at an old family entertainment […]

Jackson Murphy|October 17, 2023

TRAILER: Illumniation’s “Migratnion”

This holiday season, Illumination, creators of the blockbuster Minions, Despicable Me, Sing and The Secret Life of Pets comedies, invites you to take flight into the thrill of the unknown with a funny, feathered family vacation like no other in the action-packed new original comedy, Migration. From a screenplay by Mike White, the Emmy winning […]

Jerry Beck|October 14, 2023

INTERVIEW: All Dogs Go To Hollywood With “Strays”

New R-rated comedy Strays opens in theaters nationwide on August 18th. Director Josh Greenbaum (who grew-up near me in Saratoga Springs, NY) has real dogs play the film’s characters in about 95% of the scenes. They’re voiced by some Hollywood A-listers, including Will Ferrell and Jamie Foxx. In this Animation Scoop Q&A, Greenbaum shares insights […]

Jackson Murphy|August 9, 2023

TRAILER: Illumination’s “Migration”

This holiday season, Illumination, creators of the blockbuster Minions, Despicable Me, Sing and The Secret Life of Pets comedies, invites you to take flight into the thrill of the unknown with a funny, feathered family vacation like no other in the action-packed new original comedy, Migration. Directed by Benjamin Renner, the Oscar-nominated filmmaker of Ernest […]

Jerry Beck|July 18, 2023

Mickey Mouse

Spider-Ham

KENEDA

Daffy Duck

Universal

Latest in Category: Universal

INTERVIEW: The Man In The “Dog Man” Director’s Chair