A new trailer and poster for Disney and Pixar’s upcoming theatrical release, Inside Out 2, dropped today. The new film welcomes new Emotions to now-teenager Riley’s mind. Joining Joy (voice of Amy Poehler), Anger (voice of Lewis Black), Sadness (voice of Phyllis Smith), Fear (voice of Tony Hale) and Disgust (voice of Liza Lapira) is a group of Emotions perfectly suited for the teenage years. Check it out:
INTERVIEW: The 411 On “Kung Fu Panda 4”
March 4th, 2024 
Jackson Murphy 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 Scoop Q&A with this trio about what fans of this long-running, nearly $2 Billion franchise should get ready “4”. (This interview was edited for length and clarity.)
Jackson Murphy: As I was watching it, Mike, I thought, “This film embraces the idea of legacy.” What was your goal with this when it comes to legacy?
Mike Mitchell: Well, I like to call it a love letter to the first “Kung Fu Panda”. I think it’s the best franchise that this studio has ever created. It is terrific. And that’s not just because Jack Black is so amazing as this Kung Fu Panda, but it’s also because I think it’s created the best villains I’ve ever seen in any animated feature, ever. And I just love the villains. So our goal for this one was to really build on the legacy of not just Po, but all those villains to try to make the best movie ever.
INTERVIEW: Wave The Green Flag For “Hot Wheels Let’s Race”
February 29th, 2024 Jackson Murphy Rob David serves as executive producer, and Melanie Shannon is the co-creator, of Mattel’s new animated family series Hot Wheels Let’s Race. It premieres this Monday March 4th on Netflix. You’ve got the green light to learn what David and Shannon have to say about this super-charged show. (This Animation Scoop Q&A was edited for length and clarity.)
Jackson Murphy: Rob, between this and the new “Masters of the Universe” show that we talked about recently, Mattel and animation and Netflix — this relationship is really going strong.
Rob David: We are having a good year. We love our partners at Netflix. We’ve got a lot of stories to tell and we’re just completely over the moon, excited about this show coming out.
INTERVIEW: Eric Fogel On New “Megamind” Movie And Series
February 28th, 2024 Jackson Murphy One of DreamWorks’ most memorable characters returns this Friday March 1st. Feature-length movie Megamind vs. the Doom Syndicate and series Megamind Rules both debut on Peacock. Director & EP Eric Fogel (of Archibald’s Next Big Thing) shares how he approached the comeback of this supervillain turned superhero, including making the movie and the show simultaneously. (This Animation Scoop Q&A was edited for length and clarity.)
Jackson Murphy: It’s been a little over 13 years since the first “Megamind” movie. What excited you about diving back into this character?
Eric Fogel: I think when the original movie ended, we were in an interesting place with Megamind going from supervillain to superhero. And I think, as a fan of that original movie, I wanted to see what life would be like for him, as a hero, defending Metro City, or as he likes to call it, Metrocity.
INTERVIEW: “IWÁJÚ” Makers On New Disney And Kugali Series
February 27th, 2024 Jackson Murphy “Iwájú” is a new six-episode animated event series premiering this Wednesday February 28th on Disney+. It’s a collaboration of Walt Disney Animation Studios and African studio Kugali. The story centers on 10-year-old girl Tola and friend Kole in a futuristic Lagos, Nigeria. Crime threatens them and their families. Director and writer Olufikayo Ziki Adeola, production designer Hamid Ibrahim and cultural consultant Tolu Olowofoyeku join me for this Animation Scoop Q&A. (This interview was edited for length and clarity.)
Jackson Murphy: Disney has always focused on strong heroines. Ziki, what do you think are the strengths of 10-year-old Tola, and what did you want to showcase with her?
Olufikayo Ziki Adeola: Tola’s biggest strength is the fact that she’s aspirational. She refuses to accept the world for the way that it is and instead sees the world in the way that it should be. She has the courage to fight for what she believes in. I also like the fact that she has flaws that she needs to overcome. She has the capacity for self-reflection. She realizes her wrongdoings with some of the other characters — she reflects on that and is able to grow as a person.
INTERVIEW: Robert Morgan On Horror Treat “Stopmotion”
February 19th, 2024 Jackson Murphy Beginning this Friday February 23rd, you can head to theaters for a new live-action, R-rated horror movie about the art and intensity of stop-motion animation. Stopmotion is directed and co-written by Robert Morgan, who shares how he pulled-off this bold, unforgettable movie. (This Animation Scoop Q&A was edited for length and clarity.)
Jackson Murphy: When did you first know that stop motion animation was not just a passion for you, but something you could turn into a big career?
Robert Morgan: I sort of slipped into it, really. There was never like a big realization where I was going to have a career. It was more just a question of following the things I wanted to make. 20 years later I’ve got a bunch of films that I’ve made and I’m a filmmaker, so it was never a conscious decision. I just follow the things I like and ended up making films. I was always drawing and sculpting and painting. I wanted to get into filmmaking and it was just a natural way of taking what I was already doing and then making those things move a little bit. And so animation became a natural next step into making things take on the extra dimension of time and movement. So yeah, there was never a big realization. It was just a kind of organic process, really.
Annie Awards Go To “Spider-Man” and “Robot Dreams”
February 17th, 2024 Jerry Beck Sony Pictures Animation’s Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse won Best Feature honors at the 51st Annie Awards celebration Saturday night on the campus of UCLA. Spider-Man also took home an Annie for Best FX- Feature (Pav Grochola, Filippo Maccari, Naoki Kato, Nicola Finizio, Edmond Boulet-Gilly), Best Character Design – Feature (Jesus Alonso Iglesias) Best Direction – Feature (Joaquim Dos Santos, Kem Powers, Justin K. Thompson), Best Music-Feature (Daniel Pemberton, Metro Boomin), Best Production Design – Feature (Patrick O’Keefe, Dean Gordon) and Best Editorial – Feature (Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Editorial Team) The annual event recognizes the year’s best in 32 categories within the field of animation.
Best Independent Feature was presented to Robot Dreams (Arcadia Motion Pictures). Best Special Production was presented to Snoopy Presents: One-of-a-Kind Marcie (Wildbrain Studios in association with Apple), Best Short Subject was presented to WAR IS OVER! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko (Electroleague); Best Student Film – The Little Poet (Student director Justine King, California Institute for the Arts); and Best Sponsored Production – “Video Games” by Tenacious D (Pinreel Inc.).
INTERVIEW: A Warm “Welcome Home, Franklin”
February 12th, 2024 Jackson Murphy Sweet new special Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin premieres this Friday February 16th on AppleTV+. Co-writer Robb Armstrong, director Raymond S. Persi and executive producer Craig Schulz reflect on their — and the entire world’s — longtime affection for the Peanuts crew. (This Animation Scoop Q&A was edited for length and clarity.)
Jackson Murphy: Robb, I want to start with you and your overall goals for wanting to present Franklin to a new generation of kids and their parents and grandparents. I know this character has meant so much to you.
Robb Armstrong: Yes, there’s a personal connection there. When Franklin was named after me, it was 1994. I don’t want anyone to think that I’m too young to have been the inspiration for Franklin. I’ve read online somewhere that I was. (laughs) I was six years old when Franklin was introduced to Peanuts. But in 1994, my then friend Sparky Schulz called me and said he’d like to give Franklin my last name, which was beyond an honor. It was quite uncomfortable at the time. I felt weird even talking about it. I didn’t tell anyone for 12 years. And I finally spilled the beans. I was giving a speech at The Charles M. Schulz Museum, which by the way, if you haven’t been, this is a bucket list place to visit. I was giving a speech to a small group, and I said, “Yeah, you know that guy on the wall right there? That’s Franklin Armstrong. He was named after me.” And I just dusted… blew past the mark, the comment, and his widow walked up to me afterwards, Jeannie Schulz, and said, “Huh, how come you never told me that?”
INTERVIEW: The Arrival Of “Rock Paper Scissors”
February 5th, 2024 Jackson Murphy The legendary game becomes a new animated comedy series. Rock Paper Scissors stars anthropomorphic versions of the title three items. A sneak preview episode airs on Nickelodeon this Sunday Feb. 11 immediately following the channel’s highly-anticipated Super Bowl telecast, with the official premiere set for Monday Feb. 12 at 5:30pm. Creators Kyle Stegina and Josh Lehrman join me for this lively Animation Scoop Q&A. (This interview was edited for length and clarity.)
Jackson Murphy: I love that this show came from the Nickelodeon Intergalactic Shorts Program and became a series. Kyle, what has amazed you about the process you went on?
Kyle Stegina: Anything that ever gets on air… it’s a miracle. That’s what I’ve learned. The idea of this show was kind of sold at the end of 2019 and now the show will premiere February 12th, 2024. So over basically four and a half years, this show has been developed and made and produced. Josh and I have worked on a lot of shows. We’ve written for a lot of shows. But this is the first show we’ve run from start to finish, and you have such an appreciation for the process. Four and a half years — it’s finally on the air. It makes you look at TV a little bit differently. You’ll watch something for five minutes on TV but you’ll never think about it when you turn it off. But that show probably had years of people sweating over it. I’m very touched that it has finally come out after all this time.
INTERVIEW: “The Tiger’s Apprentice” Ready To Roar
February 1st, 2024 Jackson Murphy Two-time Annie Awards nominee Raman Hui (co-director of Shrek the Third) directs the new Paramount+ animated feature The Tiger’s Apprentice, which begins streaming tomorrow. It’s based on a popular book about 15-year-old Tom, who teams-up with the animals of the Zodiac to prevent the evil Loo (voiced by Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh) from destroying all that matters. (This Animation Scoop Q&A with Hui was edited for length and clarity.)
Jackson Murphy: How did you want to approach taking this book by Laurence Yep, which has such a cool story, and expand it and bring it to life for the screen in such a cool way?
Raman Hui: When I read the script and the book, what drew me was the background and the characters. I’m Chinese-American, and knowing the story of this Chinese-American teenager living in San Francisco, going through this magical world and meeting the Zodiac [animals]… it was fascinating. When we were working on the movie, we put some personal things in it. It’s a creative team working together. Hopefully the audience will like it and see the Chinese magic in it.
INTERVIEW: The Creative Force Behind “Lyla In The Loop”
January 31st, 2024 Jackson Murphy One of the best in the business when it comes to animation and family programming is PBS KIDS. Lyla in the Loop, a great new series, joins the lineup this Monday February 5th (check your local listings). Emmy-winning creator and executive producer Dave Peth and EP and head writer Fracaswell Hyman loop me in with this Animation Scoop Q&A. (This interview was edited for length and clarity.)
Jackson Murphy: Dave, what inspired you to make this show? And how does this strong, sweet lead character Lyla inspire you day to day?
Dave Peth: We all need that spark of relentless creativity to solve problems we face every day. If I could have half the energy that Lyla shows on screen, I’d be better off for it for sure. The show concept originally started from a question… that came from PBS themselves at a conference: “How would you do a show about coding… computational thinking… science, tech, engineering and math topics related to that… and it doesn’t involve sitting at a computer and typing?” What is the essence of that kind of problem solving that goes on when you’re doing coding? Those are the skills we see in this show. Breaking down a problem into steps. Figuring out how to put those steps together. Bug fixing — problem solving as you go, tweaking the outcome. All those appear in everyday life.
TRAILER: Netflix “Hot Wheels Lets Race”
January 30th, 2024 Jerry Beck Netflix has debut the official trailer, and announcing the release date, for the new animated kids series Hot Wheels Let’s Race. They are also announcing that Patrick Stump, musician, singer-songwriter, and lead vocalist for Fall Out Boy, composed, recorded, and produced the theme song for the series in addition to leading the composition of the score, underscore, and music cues for all episodes. Here’s our first look:
Animation Educators Forum Selects 2024 Hall of Fame Recipients
January 30th, 2024 Jerry Beck The Animation Educators’ Forum (AEF), a nonprofit association of teachers and scholars whose focus is the art of animated film, announce the selection of its 2023 Hall of Fame recipients. The AEF will announce a new group of recipients each January. It you wish to suggest a worthy candidate, please visit: https://animationeducatorsforum.org and send your suggestions to Tom Sito, administrator.
This virtual hall is dedicated to the artists and scholars whose teaching influenced the history of animation.
The Animation Educators Hall of Fame, Class of 2024:
Charles Csuri (1922-2022) Producer, director, educator. Dubbed “The father
of digital art and computer animation” by Smithsonian Magazine, he was
a veteran of the Battle of the Bulge, and a painter who exhibited with Roy
Lichtenstein and George Segal. Csuri created The Advanced Computing
Center for Art and Design at The Ohio State University, where he mentored
Animators like Chris Wedge.
INTERVIEW: Fear Is Focus Of Fearless “Orion And The Dark”
January 30th, 2024 Jackson Murphy Director Sean Charmatz and Producer Peter McCown present the ambitious and memorable new DreamWorks animated feature Orion and the Dark. The family adventure from writer Charlie Kaufman, who adapts from Emma Yarlett’s book, debuts this Friday February 2nd on Netflix. This Animation Scoop Q&A shines a light on how one of the first major animated movies of 2024 was made. (This interview was edited for length and clarity.)
Jackson Murphy: Sean, this is your feature directorial debut — about fifth grader Orion meeting Dark. It is an epic story. First, how did you want to present their evolving relationship in this movie?
Sean Charmatz: I wanted to present it in an authentic way that felt honest and true, and we tried really hard to do that. I think we did it.
