Animation Scoop

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).

“The Twits” Coming to Netflix in 2025

September 18th, 2023

Jerry Beck

Netflix will release the animated film The Twits, written and directed by Academy Award nominee Phil Johnston (Ralph Breaks the Internet), in 2025. The Twits marks the first screen adaptation based on the Roald Dahl book of the same name. Roald Dahl’s book has been translated into 41 languages and sold 16 million copies worldwide and this will be Netflix’s first animated release in a line-up of adaptations of iconic Roald Dahl stories, including Wes Anderson’s upcoming live action short film The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, as well as an animated Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Netflix acquired the Roald Dahl Story Company in September 2021.

INTERVIEW: Matthew A. Cherry On The Beating Heart Of “Young Love”

September 18th, 2023

Jackson Murphy

Oscar winner Matthew A. Cherry continues the Hair Love story as creator and executive producer of the new animated series Young Love. The first four episodes debut this Thursday September 21st on Max. Cherry talks about what these characters have meant to him and what he hopes they mean to millions of families. First, he reflects on being an Academy Award winner. (This Animation Scoop Q&A was edited for length and clarity.)

Matthew A. Cherry: That Academy tag will never get old. (laughs)

Jackson Murphy: (laughs) I remember when you won [Best Animated Short Film]. It was a cool night. And not long after that fun Oscars ceremony in February 2020, you got to work on this show. What does it mean to you over the last three years of shepherding and guiding these characters along this journey?

MAC: We’ve had our challenges. Working in the middle of the pandemic was definitely our hardest part. There are people I met this [past] weekend that worked on the show that I hadn’t met in the three years we’ve been working on it.

INTERVIEW: “The Peasants” Directors On Painted Follow-Up To “Loving Vincent”

September 15th, 2023

Jackson Murphy

Six years after DK and Hugh Welchman changed animation and cinema forever with their Oscar-nominated, fully painted feature film Loving Vincent, about the life of iconic artist Vincent Van Gogh, the directors have created another incredible, entirely painted animated feature. The Peasants, based on the classic story, just premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival. I had the chance to screen the film and speak with the Welchmans about advancing the art form with a completely different story… and how you can own a piece of it. (This Animation Scoop Q&A was edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: Your artistic achievements and what you’ve done for cinema is fantastic. How was it screening The Peasants at TIFF?

Hugh Welchman: Well, it was terrifying, because it was our first showing in four years of this film. It was the world premiere. No audiences have ever seen this film. We got to the end of the film and I was sitting there thinking, “We’ve made such a tough film. It’s just too tough for anyone to watch.” We had a standing ovation. And we had such incredible participation from the crowd in the questions and answers that they were even helping us answer the questions. They were so enthusiastic in wanting to be a part of the film. They were contributing answers to the questions. That was a first! (laughs) With Loving Vincent, we won 20 audience awards. We got a lot of love for that, but this was a first for us.

INTERVIEW: Inside Network TV’s Biggest New Fall Show “Krapopolis”

September 13th, 2023

Jackson Murphy

Ancient Greece animated comedy Krapopolis debuts with a one-hour series premiere Sunday September 24th at 8pm on FOX. Rick and Morty co-creator Dan Harmon’s latest show joins this fall’s Animation Domination lineup of long-running The Simpsons, Bob’s Burgers and Family Guy. Executive Producer Steve Levy and Supervising Director Pete Michels believe Krapopolis will become as much of a fixture as those other programs, thanks to the writing, the cast, the look and confidence from the network. (This Animation Scoop Q&A was edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: I watched the first three episodes. This show has been a long time coming. How does it feel that it’s finally here and not only that you’re already renewed for Season 2 but also Season 3?!

Steve Levy: (laughs) It’s a relief that it’s finally coming out. We started making this show in the very beginning of COVID. We’ve been living and breathing this show every day since the beginning of COVID. Getting the additional season pickups speaks volumes about FOX’s support of the show and their belief that this is something really special, which helps fuel us on the creative side, pushing the boundaries of what we’re capable of doing — both in animation and in the writing. And pushing FOX S&P to let us do a little more than what they’re typically used to. Hopefully we get a Season 4 pickup maybe even before the show airs! That would be fun. We would love to be able to continue making this show for as long as we can. And we’re psyched to see people become fans of it and react to it.

INTERVIEW: Cracking Da Vinci’s Code With “The Inventor”

September 11th, 2023

Jackson Murphy

Jim Capobianco co-wrote Pixar’s Ratatouille, earning him an Oscar nomination. He then directed follow-up short Your Friend the Rat, which won him an Annie Award. Now, after years at that animation studio and working on other projects including Mary Poppins Returns, Capobianco has made a stop-motion animated feature about the life of Leonardo Da Vinci. The funny, sincere and moving The Inventor opens in select theaters this Friday September 15th. (This Animation Scoop Q&A was edited for length and clarity. Photo Credits: Curiosity Studio.)

Jackson Murphy: I love everything that your movie says and does. Congratulations on it.

Jim Capobianco: Thank you, man.

Call For Entries: 51st Annual Annie Awards

September 11th, 2023

Jerry Beck

ASIFA-Hollywood announced its Call for Entries today for the 51st Annie Awards set for Saturday, February 17, 2024 at UCLA’s Royce Hall.

Honoring excellence in the field of animation, the 51st Annie Awards cover 37 categories including Animated Feature, Animated Feature-Independent, TV/Media Production, Sponsored Production, Short Subject, and Student Films, along with Achievement and Honorary awards.

To review this year’s rules and submit your projects, please visit https://www.annieawards.org. Entries submitted for consideration will be from animated productions that were released in the United States between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2023. Exceptions, which can submit with or without a United States release, are short subjects, special projects, sponsored productions, student films and grand prize winners from Annie Award qualifying festivals.

“Make Mine Music” To Be Included In The 100-Film “Disney Legacy Animated Film Collection”

September 10th, 2023

Jerry Beck

The Walt Disney Company announced today the release of the Disney Legacy Animated Film Collection, featuring 100 animated films from Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, and Pixar, packaged together in a beautiful hardbound, self-standing three-volume set that unfolds into your own storybook.

As part of Disney’s 100th anniversary celebration, a limited number of sets will be available for pre-order only on Walmart.com beginning September 18, each including a numbered certificate of authenticity.

FIRST LOOK: Miyazaki’s “The Boy and the Heron”

September 7th, 2023

Jerry Beck

GKIDS, the acclaimed producer and distributor of award-winning animation from around the globe, announced today it will bring The Boy and the Heron, the highly anticipated new film from legendary, Academy Award-winning Hayao Miyazaki, to cinemas nationwide on December 8, 2023. The latest feature from Japan’s celebrated animation house, Studio Ghibli, begins special preview engagements on November 22 before expanding to cinemas nationwide and in Canada on December 8, 2023. As with previous Studio Ghibli titles, the film will be released in its original Japanese with English subtitles, as well as a new English language version.

INTERVIEW: Class Is In Session At “Tiny Toons Looniversity”

September 7th, 2023

Jackson Murphy

Back to School season is the perfect time to unveil the highly anticipated new Tiny Toons Looniversity series. It premieres this Friday September 8th on Max and Saturday September 9th at 9am on Cartoon Network. Co-Showrunner and Co-EP Nate Cash and three of the talented voice actors, David Errigo Jr., Eric Bauza and Tessa Netting, join me for this Animation Scoop Q&A to discuss being star pupils in this cartoon Looniverse and what fans and newbies to the franchise can expect. (These interviews were edited for structure, length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: Nate, this show is so ambitious. How do you set-up a university?

Nate Cash (Co-EP and Co-Showrunner): It was a lot of hard work. From an art direction standpoint, too. Filling out the campus. Deciding what the style of the campus was going to be. We leaned into the old show for a lot of the main buildings. But we did expand it out to do the entire campus. And with each episode that takes place on campus… it was super fun.

TEASER: Aardman’s “Chicken Run: Dawn Of The Nugget”

September 5th, 2023

Jerry Beck

The cat – or should we say chicken – is finally out of the bag. Sure to ruffle feathers once more is the return of Melisha Tweedy, better known as Mrs. Tweedy and Ginger’s arch nemesis in the stop-motion animated sequel, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget. Catch a first glimpse of Mrs. Tweedy, voiced by accomplished stage, film and television actress Miranda Richardson, who has refashioned herself for a new era of fowl-play in the teaser trailer out today. Also joining the cast is British actor, comedian, director and screenwriter, Peter Serafinowicz who voices Reginald Smith. Serafinowicz voices a humorless businessman and along with Tweedy poses a new and bigger threat to chicken-kind.

INTERVIEW: Aaron Ehasz, Justin Richmond and Villads Spangsberg: Gutsy Storytelling for “The Dragon Prince”

September 1st, 2023

W.R. Miller

Fantasy stories are a means to convey ideas. Or with its characters, inspire directions for life. Or encourage new ways of thinking. Or expand the imagination. All from realms of make-believe. One can name Animal Farm, The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, even The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy in provoking the minds of their readers.

The Dragon Prince is no exception. It tackles subjects that some might find … challenging.

INTERVIEW: The Wait Is Over For “Ernest & Celestine: A Trip To Gibberitia”

August 28th, 2023

Jackson Murphy

10 years ago, hand-drawn film Ernest & Celestine, about the unlikely pairing of a bear and a mouse, charmed moviegoers and Academy members. It earned a Best Animated Feature Oscar nomination alongside Hayao Miyazaki’s final film at the time, The Wind Rises, and CG blockbusters Frozen, The Croods and Despicable Me 2. This Friday September 1st, GKIDS will release a sequel feature in theaters, with the title characters on their biggest and most meaningful journey yet. Here’s my conversation with the directors of Ernest & Celestine: A Trip to Gibberitia, Jean-Christophe Roger and Julien Chheng. (This Animation Scoop Q&A was edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: Jean-Christophe, what did you love about these characters the very first time you saw them?

Jean-Christophe Roger: Well, it’s an example of, “How far can a friendship go between two so different people?” Celestine has big dreams. Everybody would say, “It’s not possible.” But Ernest would never say that. Ernest loves Celestine. He wants to make her happy. He wants to make everything happen even if it’s not possible. I love this kind of relationship, and the drawings of Gabrielle Vincent, who is so wonderful. I always dreamed to work on that project. I was so lucky to work with Julien on the series and now this new feature film.

TRAILER: Netflix “Leo”

August 23rd, 2023

Jerry Beck

Actor and comedian Adam Sandler (Hotel Transylvania) delivers signature laughs in this coming-of-age animated musical comedy about the last year of elementary school – as seen through the eyes of a class pet. Jaded 74-year-old lizard Leo (Sandler) has been stuck in the same Florida classroom for decades with his terrarium-mate turtle (Bill Burr). When he learns he only has one year left to live, he plans to escape to experience life on the outside but instead gets caught up in the problems of his anxious students — including an impossibly mean substitute teacher. It ends up being the strangest but most rewarding bucket list ever. The film debuts November 21st on Netflix. Here’s out first look:

Animation Educators Forum To Support Six Faculty Projects

August 21st, 2023

Jerry Beck

ASIFA-Hollywood’s Animation Educators Forum (AEF) is proud to announce the six recipients of this year’s AEF Faculty Grants program. This year’s recipients were selected from a pool of creative, talented artists and filmmakers from across the United States. Applications for this year’s grants were received from educators from Australia, Canada, the West Indies, Wales and the United States.

AEF Faculty Grants are designed to provide support for individuals or groups with reasonable expenditures associated with research, scholarly activity or creative projects in the field of animation. Grants are open to both full- and part-time faculty at accredited post-secondary institutions.