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”, […]

INTERVIEW: Taking On “Hailey’s On It!”

May 30th, 2023

Jackson Murphy

Television duo Nick Stanton and Devin Bunje (writers on Disney live-action series Zeke and Luther) now team-up as creators and executive producers of a new animated comedy for The Mouse House. Hailey’s On It!, starring Auli’i Cravalho (Moana) as the title character, premieres Thursday June 8th at 8pm on Disney Channel and Disney XD. Episodes begin streaming June 9th on Disney+. Stanton and Bunje can’t wait for audiences to embrace Hailey and join her on quite the rollercoaster ride. (This Animation Scoop Q&A was edited for length, structure and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: Was creating a Disney animated series on your lifelong To-Do List?

Nick Stanton: (laughs) It was! Since our twenties, it has been. Our first job was on a Disney animated TV show. We love the whole culture here, and I think we always saw ourselves creating a show eventually. I think we got a good one!

INTERVIEW: Unveiling “Heroes Of The Golden Mask”

May 26th, 2023

Jackson Murphy

Heroes of the Golden Mask is a new animated action comedy adventure from Canada-based Arcana Studio and longtime animation director Sean Patrick O’Reilly. It debuts on digital platforms June 9th, through distributor Gravitas Ventures. The film, about a young man and some new friends on a quest to defeat evil, features the final performance from legendary actor Christopher Plummer, who passed away in 2021. O’Reilly and I discuss Plummer’s impact, the film’s other stars and important messages, as well O’Reilly’s dynamic career. (This Animation Scoop Q&A was edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: Let’s start with the impressive opening scene with skilled choreography. What goes into bringing us into a movie with a cool action scene like this?

Sean Patrick O’Reilly: Thank you. The more I start watching certain movies I love, including “Raiders of the Lost Ark”, I love that opening hook. This is, I believe, the 11th movie I’ve directed, and as I do more in the later stages of my career I really want a strong opening. I believe this one is. I like throwing the audience in. Our animation director Skylar Zerr was responsible for a lot of the camera work. Working with a talented team definitely helps on the openings.

Disney+ Sets Debut for “Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire”

May 25th, 2023

Jerry Beck

As the world recognizes Africa Day today, Disney+ announced that Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire will premiere exclusively on Wednesday, July 5th on Disney+. In celebration, the key art for the 10-part collection of original animated short films was also released. The artwork is an original illustration by Nigerian artist and director Shofela Coker, the creator of the short film “Moremi”.

INTERVIEW: “Carl’s Date” Is Ed Asner’s Final “Up” Chapter

May 25th, 2023

Jackson Murphy

Carl’s Date, a new “Up” short in the “Dug Days” family, will screen in theaters before showings of Pixar feature Elemental beginning June 16th. It’s directed by Bob Peterson (co-writer and co-director of “Up” and the voice of Dug), and it’s produced by Kim Collins (production manager on Toy Story 4). Carl is going on a date — his first since losing the love of his life, Ellie. Dug will help Carl get ready in humorous and heartwarming ways.

TRAILER: Dreamworks “Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken”

May 23rd, 2023

Jerry Beck

Sometimes the hero you are meant to be lies just beneath the surface. This summer, DreamWorks Animation dives into the turbulent waters of high school with a hilarious, heartfelt action comedy about a shy teenager who discovers that she’s part of a legendary royal lineage of mythical sea krakens and that her destiny, in the depths of the oceans, is bigger than she ever dreamed. Here’s the new trailer for Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken:

TRAILER: Tubi’s “Pastacolypse”

May 22nd, 2023

Jerry Beck

Bento Box – the production company behind Bob’s Burgers and many more – have teamed up with co-writer of Aqua Teen Hunger Force for a new, hilariously unhinged animated Tubi original. It’s called Pastacolypse, and you can watch the whole thing online – for free – today. Take a peek:

TEASER: Netflix “Nimona”

May 18th, 2023

Jerry Beck

Netflix debut the official teaser, new teaser art and announced the premiere date for Nimona today. The film premieres globally on Netflix June 30th. Directed by Nick Bruno and Troy Quane, Nimona is an epic tale about finding friendship in the most surprising situations and accepting yourself and others for who they are. Based on the National Book Award-nominated, New York Times best-selling graphic novel by ND Stevenson.

INTERVIEWS: The Animation Scientists Behind “Elemental”

May 16th, 2023

Jackson Murphy

Today Disney/Pixar announces that tickets are now on sale for their next feature Elemental, which opens in exactly one month, on June 16th. It’s directed by Pete Sohn (The Good Dinosaur) and focuses on water boy Wade and fire girl Ember. Are they truly meant to be together? When I visited Pixar Animation Studios for the first time in March, I had the chance to screen select footage from the film, watch a special presentation and speak with several of the film’s talented makers. (These interviews were edited for length and clarity.)

Let’s begin with my chat with Production Designer Don Shank, a two-time Emmy winner (for The Powerpuff Girls and Samurai Jack) who actually started his career at Pixar and met his wife in the same week.

Jackson Murphy: Tell me about the matching between the elements and certain items.

Don Shank: We really wanted, and [Pete] would always talk about, immaculate realities. For me, it was about making it feel like each element had their own culture and history that they were bringing to the world — and also making it sort of modern. That was the high level target we were after. And at some point you say you want to make sure you do something that feels fun and entertaining. It really boiled down to packing as many fun elemental transformations as we could. Air people weren’t as easy as others — fire and water have a certain movement. Air is clear. It was really tough to show movement, so we relied a lot on things that were themed with air, like propellers. As far as the matching goes, it was like diving into the deep end.

INTERVIEW: On The Course With “Mulligan” Trio

May 11th, 2023

Jackson Murphy

Robert Carlock and Sam Means (of 30 Rock and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) team-up once again, this time as co-creators of the new adult animated comedy series Mulligan. It premieres this Friday May 12th on Netflix. They, and supervising director Colin Heck (The Simpsons Movie), join me for this Animation Scoop Q&A to share what makes the show unique, relevant and quite funny. (This interview was edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: Washington DC survives a global disaster — an alien attack. What fascinated you the most about wanting to explore the idea of Earth starting over?

Robert Carlock: Well, some very small things, really. And as a storyteller, not having cell phones. Taking away technology, while it created some storytelling obstacles and hurdles, it was fun. Ultimately this show, as big as the premise is, is about human beings trying to figure out how to get along with each other. And can they do it better than they’ve done it in the past? We don’t have a great track record of not turning on each other. And getting people to look up from their screens and actually talk to each other and try to figure things out. The smallness of that is where the show really lives — in these human dynamics. That’s part of what was exciting. Of course, having the Domino’s pizza tracker fall out of orbit and crush a statue is also fun.

FIAPF and WIA Select Five Delegations For The Second “Stories x Women”

May 10th, 2023

Jerry Beck

Today, FIAPF (International Federation of Film Producers’ Associations) and WIA (Woman In Animation) announced the five delegations selected for the second edition of Stories x Women, a program aimed at increasing diversity of voices in animation globally. Stories x Women’s goal is to support access to international opportunities for women animators who want to tell their authentic stories from emerging national film and audio-visual animation communities of Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America.

Max Releases Official Trailer and Key Art For “Gremlins: Secret Of The Mogwai”

May 10th, 2023

Jerry Beck

Max has released the official trailer and key art for the Original animated series Gremlins: Secret Of The Mogwai. Dive into a world of magic and mythology with Gremlins: Secret Of The Mogwai, an animated prequel series to the iconic “Gremlins” films, debuting with the first two episodes TUESDAY, MAY 23 on Max. Two new episodes debut weekly on Thursdays.

INTERVIEW: Jay Baruchel On Lasting Impact Of Hiccup And “Dragon”

May 9th, 2023

Jackson Murphy

Jay Baruchel won an Annie Award in 2011 for his voice performance as Hiccup in DreamWorks’ beloved How to Train Your Dragon. He also won a Daytime Emmy in 2019 for voicing the character on the Dragons: Race to the Edge TV series. It’s been three and a half years since Baruchel last played Hiccup, on NBC’s How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming holiday special.

I had the chance to interview Baruchel for his new live-action drama BlackBerry, which IFC Films is releasing in theaters this Friday May 12th. Baruchel plays Mike Lazaridis, the co-founder of BlackBerry, in a thrilling saga that chronicles the rise and fall of the cell phone giant. At the end of our conversation, I asked Baruchel what Hiccup and Dragon have meant to his life and career. Here’s what he told me, in this Animation Scoop Exclusive:

INTERVIEW: In The Winner’s Circle With “Rally Road Racers”

May 8th, 2023

Jackson Murphy

The Summer Movie Season heats up with a terrific new animated feature the entire family will enjoy. It’s Rally Road Racers — in theaters nationwide this Friday May 12th. Director Ross Venokur presents an entertaining and moving underdog story with cool visuals and a talented voice cast. Buckle up as we explore this sweet ride. (This Animation Scoop Q&A was edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: I love this movie. Where did your love of car racing begin?

Ross Venokur: My love of car racing, especially this type, began with “Cannonball Run” — a movie from my childhood. I love these old rally movies, like “Gumball Rally” (which a lot of people haven’t seen) and even “Smokey and the Bandit” and “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World”. All these cross country wacky movies where a bunch of people got in unlikely cars on unlikely teams and started racing. I’m a big fan of underdog sports comedies, like “Bad News Bears”. This is sort of a mash-up of all of that. I’m not actually a humongous fan of actual car races but I love car racing movies — the cinematography around the car races. I enjoy the “Fast and the Furious” movies. I like all the high action, high octane fun with cars. So I put it all together in an animated movie.

INTERVIEW: “Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures” Lights Up The Galaxy

May 3rd, 2023

Jackson Murphy

Looking for the perfect introduction for your kids or grandkids into the Star Wars universe? LucasFilm has you covered with the brand new family friendly animated series Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. It premieres tomorrow, May the 4th, at 9am on Disney Junior, with episodes also available to stream on Disney+. Joining me for this Animation Scoop Q&A are show masters James Waugh (executive producer) and Michael Olson (EP and showrunner). This interview was edited for length and clarity.

Jackson Murphy: James, in getting inside the heads of children who are going to get into Star Wars, did it bring you back to when you were a kid and when you got into the world of Star Wars?

James Waugh: I was pleasantly surprised with how much it did. Some of the magic of Star Wars, for me, are those early memories — of seeing it in theaters for the first time and being blown away by the sounds and flashes of lightsabers. And being able to go home and play with toys and bring that world to life myself and continue the adventures. It was special. And part of that wonder is… look, Star Wars is for everybody but there’s a certain wonder when you’re a kid and you’re diving into the imaginative space that is the galaxy.

Netflix To Showcase New Features and Series at Annecy

April 24th, 2023

Jerry Beck

Following a monumental year for animation at Netflix – with first-ever wins at the Oscars for Best Animated Feature Film with Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, and the Primetime Emmys for Outstanding Animated Program for Arcane respectively, and a sweep of the animated program categories in the inaugural Children’s & Family Emmys competition – Netflix returns to Annecy International Animation Film Festival with an exciting slate of bold, ambitious films and series. With a continued drive to bring the best of animation and storytelling to its members around the world, the studio will present its “From Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget to Blue Eye Samurai – See What’s Next @ Netflix” panel, a special screening of the highly anticipated animated film Nimona adapted from the New York Times bestselling graphic novel, as well as a “Making Of” Session with the filmmaking team.