Animation Scoop

52nd Annie Award Nominations Announced

ASIFA-Hollywood announced nominations today for its 52nd Annie Awards recognizing the year’s best in the field of animation. For a complete list of nominations, please visit www.annieawards.org/nominations. The 52nd Annie Awards is set for Saturday, February 8, 2025 at UCLA’s Royce Hall. Pre-reception and Red Carpet begin at 4:30 p.m., followed by the ceremony at […]

INTERVIEW: David Lowery Presents “An Almost Christmas Story”

David Lowery (director of Pete’s Dragon and Peter Pan & Wendy for Disney) helms the new animated holiday short film An Almost Christmas Story, which premieres this Friday Nov. 15 on Disney+. It’s about an owl named Moon who forms a unique friendship with a girl named Luna in The Big Apple. Lowery shares what […]

INTERVIEW: Looney Lowdown On “The Day The Earth Blew Up”

Long-awaited, fully animated The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie will receive an awards-qualifying run before the end of 2024, ahead of its official theatrical release on February 28th, 2025. I’ve screened the film and spoke with director Peter Browngardt about this sci-fi action comedy starring beloved characters who are true to […]

TRAILER: “Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl”

Netflix debut the first trailer and announced the release date for the new Aardman new stop-motion animated feature film Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl today. The film will be released on Netflix globally (except in the UK/IE) on January 3rd, 2025 (it will have a limited theatrical run in December to qualify for this […]

TOHO To Acquire GKIDS

Japanese entertainment leader Toho Co., Ltd. announced today that it has reached an agreement to acquire a 100% equity share of GKIDS, Inc., the Academy Award-winning North American animation producer and distributor. Financial terms were not disclosed. GKIDS, which maintains offices in New York and Los Angeles, will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Los […]

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.

INTERVIEW: Jump For Joy With “Frog And Toad”

April 24th, 2023

Jackson Murphy

Arnold Lobel’s beloved Frog and Toad books leap off the page and onto the screen with the delightful new AppleTV+ animated series, premiering this Friday April 28th. Executive Producer and Showrunner Rob Hoegee guides me through what went into making the show — from adapting the look of the books to collaborating with two other dynamic duos, Lobel’s children and stars Nat Faxon and Kevin Michael Richardson. (This Animation Scoop Q&A was edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: I love these books. I can still picture myself reading them in elementary school. Do you have an earliest memory of these “Frog and Toad” books?

Rob Hoegee: I do. They came out in 1970, so it’s been over 50 years. If you think about it, I can’t even begin to imagine how many millions of children learned to read with these books. I would not be surprised if it’s hundreds of millions of kids around the world. It’s incredible.

Dreamworks Animation To Present New Projects at Annecy

March 10th, 2023

Jerry Beck

DreamWorks Animation, the Oscar-winning studio of the Shrek, How to Train Your Dragon, Trolls, The Boss Baby, Puss in Boots and Kung Fu Panda franchises, will showcase its latest projects at the 2023 Annecy International Animation Film Festival, which will be held from June 11-17, 2023. The studio’s presentations are set to feature the latest offerings from DreamWorks Animation, which seamlessly blend renewed installments of the studio’s treasured franchises with audacious and innovative originals—all of which are emblematic of the visionary leadership spearheaded by DreamWorks Animation President Margie Cohn.

Julia Morizawa’s “Dragonfly” Debuts at 2023 LA Asian Pacific Film Festival

April 22nd, 2023

Jerry Beck

Writer/producer/actor Julia Morizawa’s compelling animated short film Dragonfly will make its Los Angeles Premiere at the 39th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival on Sunday, May 7th at 8PM, at the Japanese American National Museum. The film will be screened in the “Lost and Found” animation program, depicting discarded dreams, forgotten memories, missing pieces and where it can be put back together again.

Dragonfly tells the story of a young girl who learns of her mother’s survival of the Tokyo Firebombing on March 9-10, 1945 through the eyes of her brother’s spirit. The film opens in Komoro, Japan, 1956, where 10-year-old Sumiko chases a red dragonfly through her family’s farm while her mother, Yoshiko, watches from a distance. Flashback to Tokyo, 1945. Yoshiko, her husband, Susumu, and their baby boy, Kiyoshi, are forced to evacuate their home when hundreds of B-29 bombers drop incendiary bombs on the city, erupting into a massive fire. The script was awarded Best Short Screenplay by Scriptation Showcase and Screenwriting Master in 2019, and was a semifinalist or quarterfinalist in several other competitions including the Austin Film Festival, Slamdance, and WeScreenplay Diverse Voices.

INTERVIEW: Executive Producers Kate Boutilier And Casey Leonard On The Second Season Of “Rugrats” Reboot

April 12th, 2023

Lauren Ashton

With the second season of the Rugrats reboot coming this Friday, April 14th, I was excited to speak with executive producers Kate Boutilier and Casey Leonard all about the beloved series. While there have been some notable changes to certain aspects of the show, much of what made the original Rugrats so special continues to shine in the reboot. This Animation Scoop Q&A is an exciting discussion that touches on character updates, references to today’s world vs. the world of the 1990s, and the return of the talent who made the original series so iconic. (This conversation was edited for length and clarity.)

Lauren Ashton: Kate and Casey, Rugrats was a huge part of my childhood, as it was for so many others. The original show debuted in 1991, which means the kids who grew up watching Rugrats are now grownups themselves, and may even have babies of their own! Kate, how does it feel to be a producer for this monumental return after having been an integral part of the original series?

Kate Boutilier: It’s great. I mean, I never thought about a simple “could you come back?” But I like that it’s a new version of the show. In the beginning we had so many people saying “are the babies still babies?” And we said “of course”! So the babies are still being the babies, and we’re just making some other small adjustments on parents and timeline and things like that. That was important for me. And the voice cast of the original babies brings those characters back. And then to have this new world of CGI, and how it was going to be done in Casey’s department was so exciting. If they had asked, “do you want to come back”, and if it were 2-D, I probably would’ve said yes, too, but I’m really pleased the way it went. Because it’s given us to me more opportunities. But yeah, it’s been really great.

REVIEW: “Suzume” An Epic Anime Event

April 12th, 2023

Jackson Murphy

The breathtaking love story, Weathering with You was my favorite animated movie of 2019. Makoto Shinkai, the writer/director of that Annie nominee, as well as 2016’s acclaimed Your Name, returns with another triumph. Suzume is a spectacular anime adventure that makes you believe in the unbelievable.

TEASER TRAILER: “My Adventures with Superman”

April 6th, 2023

Jerry Beck

Coming this summer to Adult Swim, My Adventures with Superman follows the action-packed, comedic and romantic adventures of Superman and Lois Lane. The series stars Jack Quaid as the voice of Clark Kent, Alice Lee as the voice of Lois Lane, and Ishmael Sahid as the voice of Jimmy Olsen. Sam Register serves as executive producer. Jake Wyatt (Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus) and Brendan Clogher (Voltron: Legendary Defender) are on board as co-executive producers and Josie Campbell (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power) as co-producer.

TRAILER: “Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse”

April 4th, 2023

Jerry Beck

Here it is! Miles Morales returns for the next chapter of the Oscar-winning Spider-Verse saga, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. And, as expected, the new trailer looks better than “Amazing”… it looks “Spectacular”! Lord and Miller are back, co-writing the screenplay with Dave Callaham (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings). The directors are: Joaquim Dos Santos (Avatar The Last Airbender), Kemp Powers (Soul) and Justin K. Thompson (Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs). Have a look:

TRAILER: Genndy Tartakovsky’s “Unicorn: Warriors Eternal”

March 29th, 2023

Jerry Beck

The wait is almost over for five-time Emmy Award-winning Genndy Tartakovsky’s next animated series, Unicorn: Warriors Eternal. Fans were treated today to a newly released trailer of the steampunk fantasy tale produced by Cartoon Network Studios. The first two episodes will premiere Thursday, May 4th at midnight on Adult Swim and next day on the streamer. New episodes will debut weekly with encores on Adult Swim and Toonami. Take a look:

INTERVIEW: Previewing Pixar’s “Elemental” With Pete Sohn And Denise Ream

March 29th, 2023

Jackson Murphy

Earlier this week I visited Pixar for the first time. It was an “incredible” experience, especially getting to see four scenes from the studio’s upcoming feature Elemental, which opens in theaters on June 16th. I also interviewed director Pete Sohn (The Good Dinosaur) and producer Denise Ream (Cars 2) about this rom-com based on the real elements and their real characteristics. Are fire girl Ember and water boy Wade truly made for each other? In this Animation Scoop Q&A, Sohn and Ream discuss the depths of the story, the talented cast and the film’s admired composer — and we take a brief trip down Pixar Memory Lane. (This interview was edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: When I saw “The Good Dinosaur” when it came out, I thought, “This is some of the most realistic animation I’ve ever seen.”

Pete Sohn: Yeah. Right on.

TRAILER: Dreamworks “Trolls Band Together”

March 28th, 2023

Jerry Beck

Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake return for the new chapter in DreamWorks Animation’s blockbuster musical franchise: Trolls Band Together. The new feature is steered by returning director Walt Dohrn and producer Gina Shay, and is co-directed by Tim Heitz (head of story, Trolls World Tour). It will be released in theaters on November 17th.

After two films of true friendship and relentless flirting, Poppy (Anna Kendrick) and Branch (Justin Timberlake) are now officially, finally, a couple (#broppy)! As they grow closer, Poppy discovers that Branch has a secret past. He was once part of her favorite boyband phenomenon, BroZone, with his four brothers: Floyd (Golden Globe nominated electropop sensation Troye Sivan), John Dory (Eric André; Sing 2), Spruce (Grammy winner Daveed Diggs; Hamilton) and Clay (Grammy winner Kid Cudi; Don’t Look Up). BroZone disbanded when Branch was still a baby, as did the family, and Branch hasn’t seen his brothers since.

TRAILER: Pixar’s “Elementals”

March 28th, 2023

Jerry Beck

Check out a brand-new trailer for Disney and Pixar’s Elemental, an all-new original feature film that transports moviegoers to an extraordinary place called Element City, where a host of elements live and work. Directed by Peter Sohn, produced by Denise Ream, p.g.a., and executive produced by Pete Docter, “Elemental” features a screenplay by John Hoberg & Kat Likkel and Brenda Hsueh with story by Sohn, Hoberg & Likkel and Hsueh. The film’s original score was composed and conducted by Thomas Newman. The movie will be released in 3D, and be only in theaters starting June 16. Take a look:

Warner Archive Collection Announces “Looney Tunes Collector’s Choice” blu-ray

March 28th, 2023

Jerry Beck

Good news for Physical Media collectors – Warner Archive Collection is giving its fiercest collectors their choice of rare titles in the Looney Tunes catalog. Announced by George Feltenstein (and yours truly) earlier today on The Extra’s podcast, a new 20-title collection, Vol. 1 of a new series called Looney Tunes Collector’s Choice, is expected to release in late May on blu-ray. And with it a group of first-time-on-blu-ray, restored HD Warner cartoon classics – not the same restorations from HBO-Max and MeTV: an upgrade.

INTERVIEW: Andy Samberg And Neil Campbell Unveil “Digman!”

March 20th, 2023

Jackson Murphy

Emmy and Critics Choice winner Andy Samberg and his Brooklyn Nine-Nine writer/producer pal Neil Campbell are the creators of new adult comedy series Digman! It premieres this Wednesday March 22nd at 10:30pm (right after South Park) on Comedy Central. Digman! is about an archaeologist on a mission to make a comeback. In this Animation Scoop Q&A, Samberg and Campbell discuss the show’s humor, visual and story influences and more. (This interview was edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: Andy, I have to congratulate you on your recent Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards voice acting nominations for Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangers and Hotel Transylvania: Transformania. Frankly, I think you should’ve won for Chip N’ Dale. You’ve had a great voice acting year!

Andy Samberg: (laughs) Thank you very much. Yeah, I loved Rescue Rangers. Akiva [Schaffer], my buddy, directed it and did such an amazing job. It was really fun.

Neil Campbell: You were robbed.