Animation Scoop

TRAILER: Netflix Announces Fall Lineup

Netflix has announced an exciting Fall Lineup, releasing exclusive stills from Spellbound, dates for Hot Wheels Let’s Race: Season 2, Jurassic World: Chaos Theory: Season 2, Mighty MonsterWheelies, and more. As students prepare to head back to school, the streaming platform is offering a variety of family-centered entertainment that ranges from series’ to feature-length films. […]

Ketchup Entertainment Acquires “THE DAY THE EARTH BLEW UP: A LOONEY TUNES MOVIE”

Ketchup Entertainment has officially acquired the North American rights to The Day The Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie from Warner Bros. Animation. GFM Animation is overseeing the process of worldwide distribution sales of this enthusiastically well-regarded film that premiered this year at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France. The CEO of […]

TRAILER: DreamWorks’ “The Wild Robot”

DreamWorks Animation has released a new trailer for the studio’s upcoming feature, The Wild Robot. Based on Peter Brown’s #1 New York Times bestseller, The Wild Robot is an epic story of “a bond like no other”.

INTERVIEW: Cartoon Curator Bill from MeTV’s “Toon In With ME”

Since January 4th, the cable network (and over-the-air broadcast sub-channel) MeTV has been running a weekday hour of classic cartoons from the MGM, Warner Bros. and Paramount Popeye and Betty Boop libraries. Telecast at 7am and formatted as a vintage kids show, hosted by “cartoon curator” Bill Leff and his puppet companion “Toony, the Tuna”, […]

TRAILER: Illumniation’s “Migratnion”

October 14th, 2023

Jerry Beck

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 creator of The White Lotus and the screenwriter of School of Rock, the film stars a top-flight comedic cast led by Oscar and Emmy nominee Kumail Nanjiani (The Big Sick, Eternals) as anxious Mallard dad Mack and Emmy nominee Elizabeth Banks as Pam, the Mallards’ daring, quick-witted matriarch.

INTERVIEW: “Grimsburg” Showrunner On New Series And NYCC Panel

October 12th, 2023

Jackson Murphy

Chadd Gindin is the showrunner of upcoming FOX animated comedy series Grimsburg, starring and executive produced by Emmy-winning “Mad Men” actor Jon Hamm. Ahead of this Saturday’s New York Comic Con panel at 12:30pm (on the Main Stage with fellow FOX comedy Krapopolis), Gindin gave me his first interview in 30 years, since his days of being a kid stand-up comic. He reveals as much as he can about Grimsburg, which will join the Animation Domination lineup soon. (This Animation Scoop Q&A was edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: I know the show’s been in the works for a couple years, and it has already been renewed for Season 2. Congratulations.

Chadd Gindin: Thank you. It has been quite some time being on this project. Very excited to get it out there.

Julia Morizawa’s animated short “Dragonfly” at the LA Femme International Film Festival

October 9th, 2023

Jerry Beck

Julia Morizawa’s captivating animated short film DRAGONFLY is a finalist in the Animation Short Competition at the LA Femme International Film Festival and will screen in the Animation Block at 10AM, Sunday October 22nd at the Regal Cinema at LA Live. Top Japanese animation creator and festival alumni Minako Fujiyoshi (MEGALOBOX, NOMAD) is head of the Jury that will decide the winner.

DRAGONFLY, an Oscar qualified short, will also screen at the HollyShorts’ October screenings on 10/30 at the TCL Chinese 6, at 9:30PM.

INTERVIEW: The Magic of Her Voice: Paula Burrows of “The Dragon Prince”

October 4th, 2023

W.R. Miller

Canadian actress Paula Burrows stars in The Dragon Prince as a Moonshadow Elf, a kingdom’s High Councilor, and a parrot named Berto. On July 22, she added “pirate” to her repertoire. During the Dragon Prince panel at San Diego Comic-Con, she and her colleague, Boone Williams, bounded on stage and demanded Netflix show Season 5 five days before its scheduled release. And they insisted on more scenes featuring Berto. Co-creators Aaron Ehasz, Justin Richmond and executive producer Villads Spangsberg complied, and with the press of a button, all nine episodes of Season 5 began streaming online—including more scenes of Berto. The event was staged, of course. Burrows and Williams shed their nautical guises and all was civil again.

Paula Burrows at San Diego Comic-Con, July 22, 2023. Photo by W. R. Miller

Sony Pictures Classics Acquires Hugh Welchman’s “The Peasants”

October 3rd, 2023

Jerry Beck

Sony Pictures Classics announced today that they have acquired all rights in North America, Latin America, the Middle East, and Australia/New Zealand to Academy Award nominee DK Welchman and Academy Award winner Hugh Welchman’s The Peasants, which Poland has submitted as their official entry for the Best International Feature category for this year’s Academy Awards®. The film will also be submitted in the Best Animation category. This news follows the film’s critically acclaimed world premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival as part of the Special Presentations section.

INTERVIEW: Jennifer Lee On “Wish”, ABC And Her Time At Disney

October 2nd, 2023

Jackson Murphy

Academy Award winner Jennifer Lee (co-director of Frozen and Frozen II) is the Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios. She’s one of the most influential people in animation today. A couple weeks ago I had the chance to sit down with Lee for an in-depth, 10-minute conversation in Hollywood. Earlier that day, she hosted a special presentation for members of the press for Disney’s upcoming feature Wish (in theaters Nov. 22) and short film Once Upon a Studio (on ABC Oct. 15). It was an emotional morning for Lee and everyone at the El Capitan Theatre, reflecting on 100 years of Disney in our lives.

Wish, which Lee wrote with Allison Moore, is a musical adventure about a teen named Asha (voiced by West Side Story Oscar winner Ariana DeBose) who does something The Walt Disney Company has believed in for a century: She wishes upon a star. That star comes to life. Once Upon a Studio is a new nine-minute short featuring dozens of Disney animated characters who also come to life, leaping out of portraits on the walls of Walt Disney Animation Studios in Burbank, CA. They’re looking to take a class photo to celebrate the milestone anniversary.

Jennifer Lee and Jackson Murphy

INTERVIEW: Spooky Season Is Here With “Mickey And Friends: Trick Or Treats”

September 29th, 2023

Jackson Murphy

Director David Brooks and Stoopid Buddy Stoodios follow-up last year’s hit stop-motion special Mickey Saves Christmas with Halloween-themed half-hour Mickey and Friends: Trick or Treats. It premieres this Sunday Oct. 1 at 7pm on Disney Channel, Disney Junior and Disney XD. It will then be available on Disney+ starting Monday Oct. 2. This Animation Scoop Interview features my fun conversation with Brooks and an Email Q&A with the special’s songwriter, Beau Black. (Responses were combined and edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: Did you work on the two stop-motion holiday specials simultaneously?

David Brooks: There was a little bit of an overlap, but we really got a nice separation of the two projects.

Chris Sanders to write/direct “The Wild Robots” for DreamWorks Animation

September 28th, 2023

Jerry Beck

Dreamworks announced today the commencement of The Wild Robots – marking the return of Chris Sanders to DreamWorks Animation where he directed and wrote How to Train Your Dragon with Dean DeBlois and The Croods with Kirk DeMicco. Sanders also wrote and directed Lilo & Stitch with DeBlois. Producer Jeff Hermann most recently produced The Boss Baby: Family Business, co-produced Kung Fu Panda 3 and produced several DreamWorks Animation’s recent award-winning short films.

INTERVIEW: “PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie” Duo On Big, Bold Sequel

September 28th, 2023

Jackson Murphy

A little over two years after Nickelodeon’s popular “PAW Patrol” gang hit the big screen in their first theatrical film, sequel PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie opens nationwide this Friday September 29th. Returning writer Bob Barlen and director Cal Brunker discuss being inspired by superhero movies and Top Gun: Maverick, working with the talented voice cast, and the just-announced third PAW Patrol feature coming in 2026. (Interview with Barlen was conducted over Zoom. Interview with Brunker was conducted over Email. This Animation Scoop Q&A was edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: Congratulations on this. How does it feel to have another “PAW Patrol” movie out there in 26 months’ time? That’s amazing.

Bob Barlen: We’re really excited to have the movie out in theaters. We’ve been getting a great response so far. Our goal with making the first movie, from the show, was to sort of step things up from the TV series. And from Movie 1 to Movie 2, we kind of had that same challenge for ourselves to go, “How do we push things further?”

INTERVIEWS: The Stars Align For Disney’s “Wish”

September 27th, 2023

Jackson Murphy

Last week I had the chance to screen nearly a half-hour of footage of Disney’s upcoming animated feature Wish at the historic El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood. The musical adventure, opening in theaters on November 22nd, celebrates the studio’s 100th Anniversary by showcasing the power of dreams and wishing upon stars. For this Animation Scoop Q&A, here are highlights of my conversations with directors Chris Buck (Frozen) and Fawn Veerasunthorn (head of story on Raya and the Last Dragon), as well as producers Peter Del Vecho (Frozen) and Juan Pablo Reyes Lancaster-Jones (development on Encanto). (These interviews were combined and edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: How is Asha the next great hero for this studio?

Chris Buck (Director): Well, gosh. It’s hard to say. She goes through quite a journey.

INTERVIEW: “Dora And The Fantastical Creatures” Brings Animated Explorer To Theaters

September 26th, 2023

Jackson Murphy

Beginning this Friday September 29th, you can see a brand new CG “Dora the Explorer” short in theaters before showings of Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie. Dora and the Fantastical Creatures features Dora and Boots on a colorful, wholesome quest to retrieve important orbs stolen by (who else?) Swiper. The short serves as an introduction in this new animated format for one of Nickelodeon’s most beloved characters, with a Paramount+ series coming next year. “Fantastical Creatures” director William Mata (storyboard artist on Puss in Boots, Arthur Christmas and The Sea Beast) joins me for this Animation Scoop Q&A. (This interview was edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: How does it feel to have this be on the big screen, shown before Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie? Millions of families are gonna take this in.

William Mata: It feels great. For me, taking on this project and working with Dora was awesome. I think she’s got the best qualities — curiosity, exploration. She can command the big screen. I’ve always felt that way. To put this out on the big screen, it solidifies and makes it clear that Dora can command the big screen.

INTERVIEW: The Crew Leaders Of “Fright Krewe”

September 25th, 2023

Jackson Murphy

The new DreamWorks Animation series Fright Krewe is the studio’s TV foray into the horror genre. Film director Eli Roth (whose credits include “Hostel”, “The House with a Clock In Its Walls” and the upcoming “Thanksgiving”) and author James Frey (of A Million Little Pieces and I Am Number Four) crafted the show’s concept — about five kids on a life-changing adventure in New Orleans, with Voodoo at its core — and took it to DWA. Joanna Lewis and Kristine Songco serve as showrunners and executive producers of Fright Krewe, which premieres next Monday October 2nd on Hulu and Peacock. As millions of people start decorating their houses for Halloween, the timing of the show’s debut is perfect, as they explain in this Animation Scoop Q&A. (This interview was edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: Joanna, what do you love about this time of year? It’s Fall. Autumn. Spooky Season. And having a show like this come out. What excites you about this time of year?

Kristine Songco: You asked the right person! (laughs)

Joanna Lewis: This is my favorite time of year! I am about as basic as they come. I’m from the east coast. I miss the changing of the leaves and the crispness of the air. I have my house decorated from Labor Day on. All of my Halloween decorations are up! (laughs)

ANIME REVIEW: “Lonely Castle in the Mirror”

September 24th, 2023

Martin Goodman

Some stories must be told, especially to those caring enough to understand them, lest they eventually destroy the teller. Such is the theme of Keichi Hara’s 2022 anime, Lonely Castle in the Mirror. (Henceforth “Castle” for the purpose of this review). Adapted from a novel by Mizuki Tsujimura, The story concerns seven middle-school students who are summoned to what appears to be an elaborate extradimensional castle isolated on a tiny island entirely surrounded by water. Once they arrive through their bedroom mirrors, which have become magical portals, they are met by a mysterious young girl wearing a wolf mask.

“Animation IS Film” Festival returns To The Chinese Theatre October 18th with Ghibli and Aardman

September 22nd, 2023

Jerry Beck

ANIMATION IS FILM (AIF) announces the 6th edition of its highly anticipated 2023 slate of theatrical presentations, special events, and shorts showcases taking place over five days, October 18-22, in Hollywood. AIF’s Opening Night on Wednesday, October 18 launches with a GKIDS presentation of Studio Ghibli’s THE BOY AND THE HERON, the latest film from legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, at the TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX. This marks the first time the festival will host a premiere in IMAX at this Hollywood landmark. Closing Night also celebrates the Los Angeles Premiere of Aardman’s CHICKEN RUN: DAWN OF THE NUGGET presented by Netflix followed by a Q&A with Oscar nominated Director Sam Fell and Executive Producer and Oscar nominated Director of the beloved first film, Chicken Run (2000), Peter Lord.

Ofir Lobel’s Debut Graphic Novel and Companion Animated Series “101 Reasons Why”

September 19th, 2023

Jerry Beck

Amidst the perfect storm of fan-con and festival season, Los Angeles-based Neko Productions drops a buzzworthy flood of entertainment business growth updates. Cresting the wave is the studio’s debut, original kid-lit graphic novel series entitled 101 Reasons Why. The broadly humorous tome, created by writer/director/comedian Ofir Lobel (Keshet/Netflix’s BLACKSPACE; Keshet’s TRUST NO ONE and A WONDERFUL COUNTRY), edited by Peyton McDavitt, and with comics art direction from Bobbo Andonova (BOBBO DRAWS), is a high-concept comic that’s ripe for the future animated adaptation. Additionally, Neko founder and executive producer Lirit Rosenzweig Topaz has relocated Neko’s former Burbank headquarters into a souped-up facility in Sherman Oaks, California. With this move comes the engagement of graphic novel development guru John Shableski (Myra and the Drawing Drama, Manga Classics, We Survived the Holocaust: The Bluma and Felix Goldberg Story) and consulting producer Marlene Sharp (Young Captain Nemo, Sonic Boom, Snack World).