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 […]

GKIDS Has Acquired The North American Audiovisual Distribution Rights For “SPIRITED AWAY: Live On Stage”

February 9th, 2023

Lauren Ashton

NEW YORK CITY- the celebrated producer and distributor of family-friendly animation, GKIDS, has announced its acquisition of the North American audiovisual distribution rights for “SPIRITED AWAY: Live On Stage”.The production was recorded during its 2022 run in the famed Imperial Theatre in Tokyo, Japan. Based on Hayao Miyazaki’s Academy Award®-winning animated feature, the show was adapted and directed for live theater by Tony Award®-winner John Caird: the Honorary Associate Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Caird previously earned worldwide recognition for adapting and directing the world premiere of “Les Misérables”.

Disney+ and Lucasfilm Announce Second Volume Of Anthology Series “Star Wars: Visions”

February 7th, 2023

Lauren Ashton

On February 2nd, Disney+ and Lucasfilm announced that “Star Wars: Visions'” second volume will debut exclusively on Disney+ on May 4th of this year. A follow-up to the Emmy-nominated “Star Wars: Visions,” the latest volume will continue exploring the possibilities of “Star Wars” storytelling, with nine new shorts from different studios all over the world. Utilizing an incredible display of animation from a variety of countries and cultures, the latest installment offers a vibrant new look at the lore and mythos of Star Wars.

INTERVIEW: Delightful “Marvel’s Moon Girl And Devil Dinosaur”

February 6th, 2023

Jackson Murphy

One of the most anticipated Disney animated projects of the past several years finally arrives this week. The one-hour series premiere of Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur airs this Friday Feb. 10 at 8pm on Disney Channel. (Episodes will be available on Disney+ beginning Wednesday Feb. 15.) Executive Producer Steve Loter and Supervising Producer Rodney Clouden bring this comic book to life with a series that feels just like… a comic book that’s come to life! (This Animation Scoop Q&A was edited for length and clarity.)

Steve Loter: We absolutely love this show. We’ve been working on it for a long time, fine-tuning it to make sure it was perfect. I’m so thrilled for our audience to finally be able to see it.

Jackson Murphy: It’s terrific. I think Lunella is one of the most energetic and curious lead characters in a current TV animated series. Rodney, what do you love so much about her?

Rodney Clouden: What drew me to this was that I’ve been working in animation for a while and I haven’t worked on a character like Lunella Lafayette. She’s a 13 year old, Black, super genius, who uses anything she can to build these creations. The story is about the community and that one girl can make a difference — it all resonated with me. I thought it was a great opportunity to jump on something and really introduce Lunella to the world.

Nickelodeon Welcomes 12 Participants to Annual Writing and Artist Programs

February 6th, 2023

Jerry Beck

Twelve new participants join Nickelodeon’s annual Writing and Artist Programs, designed to develop the next generation of creative voices from underrepresented communities. This year’s programs are back in person at the Nickelodeon Animation Studio in Burbank for the first time since 2020, where group members will develop their skills with hands-on work. The long-running Writing Program enters its 23rd year, while 2023 marks the 12th year for the Artist Program. Both programs are overseen by the Paramount Office of Global Inclusion and aligned with the company’s Content for Change initiative.

Nickelodeon’s Brand-New Animated Preschool Series “Bossy Bear” Debuts Monday

February 3rd, 2023

Lauren Ashton

Preschoolers will soon embark on zany misadventures with the archetypal odd couple: Bossy Bear and Turtle! Nickelodeon’s brand-new animated preschool series “Bossy Bear” debuts Monday, March 6, at 11 a.m. (ET/PT). From husband and wife team David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim (UglyDolls), and based on Horvath’s popular book series, the story follows a pair of unlikely besties: Bossy Bear, an overly-excited extrovert, and Turtle, a contemplative introvert. The two make the perfect team for tackling silly childhood adventures in their Koreatown-inspired city of Pleasantburg. Produced in partnership with Imagine Kids+Family, new episodes of Bossy Bear will continue to air on Mondays through Thursdays at 11 a.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon throughout March. The series launch will take place on Nick Jr. channels globally later in 2023.

Invisible Collective & Martian Blueberry Create An Original Animated Series About The Legacy Of The Negro Leagues

February 3rd, 2023

Lauren Ashton

This Black History Month, Invisible Collective founder Justin Polk and Invisible-represented director Carl Jones celebrate the launch of the series they co-created for Major League Baseball (MLB.) A modern retelling of the Negro Leagues’ historical legacy, “Undeniable – Stories from the Negro Leagues” illuminates the Leagues’ impact on the game of baseball. The series features baseball’s most iconic players, legendary female ballplayers, and the Negro Leagues’ influence on the world as a whole.

INTERVIEW With “My Dad The Bounty Hunter” Duo

February 2nd, 2023

Jackson Murphy

Everett Downing and Patrick Harpin are the creators, writers, directors and executive producers of the new Netflix sci-fi animated action comedy series My Dad The Bounty Hunter. It premieres next Thursday February 9th. When two kids discover their father is an outer space bounty hunter, they’re in for the adventure of their lives. In this Animation Scoop Q&A, Downing and Harpin take me through the show’s development process and how they hope the mission of the series is accomplished. (This interview was edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: Having all those attributes! Does that add pressure?

Everett Downing: (laughs) I don’t think it adds pressure. For us, it’s all about “we can do that”. We love this show and wanted to get it off the ground. We were doing what we needed to do to do that.

Animation Educators Forum selects 2023 Hall of Fame Receipients

January 31st, 2023

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: animationeducatorsforum.org and send your suggestions to Tom Sito, administrator.

INTERVIEW: Raising The Bark With “Paw Patrol” Spinoff “Rubble & Crew”

January 30th, 2023

Jackson Murphy

It’s time for some excavator action! Nickelodeon’s new Paw Patrol spinoff series Rubble & Crew premieres this Friday February 3rd at 11:30am. Executive Producer Bradley Zweig and Spin Master Entertainment President Jennifer Dodge share what will make kids go “Bow Wow!” (Interview with Zweig was conducted on Zoom. Interview with Dodge was conducted as an Email Q&A. Interviews were combined and edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: My nearly five year old cousin is obsessed with “Paw Patrol” and construction vehicles. This is going to be his new favorite show!

Bradley Zweig: (laughs) Awesome. “Paw Patrol”… construction… pups — pretty good combo.

INTERVIEW: “Ted Lasso” Holiday Treat Now Annie Awards Nominee

January 26th, 2023

Jackson Murphy

Jed Hathaway is the director of Ted Lasso: The Missing Christmas Mustache, a four and a half minute stop-motion presentation from AppleTV+. In this Animation Scoop Q&A, Hathaway shares how he and his team collaborated with Jason Sudeikis, Apple and Warner Bros. TV to give Ted Lasso fans a fun gift that’s now a 2023 Annie Awards nominee for Best Sponsored Production. (This interview was edited for length and clarity. Behind the scenes photos courtesy of JedHathaway.com.)

Jackson Murphy: Congrats on the Annie Awards nomination. How does it feel?

Jed Hathaway: It feels fantastic. Really appreciate the Annie Awards responding to the work that we did. Working with Bill Lawrence, Jason Sudeikis and Kip Kroeger — they gave us a lot of latitude and freedom to be able to play with the skit. We had a basic script and some sound records. I was able to direct all the actors in the booth so it was great working with everyone from Hannah [Waddingham] to Brett [Goldstein] to Juno [Temple] and Brendan Hunt. It was a really great experience, and we appreciate the Annies recognizing all the hard work we put into it.

“KIFF” To Premier Friday, March 10th, On Disney Channel

January 24th, 2023

Lauren Ashton

Disney Branded Television announced that on March 10th, “Kiff” will premiere on Disney Channel before its Disney+ debut on Wednesday, March 15.This silly new animated comedy features an optimistic squirrel named Kiff and her chill bunny best friend, Barry. Kimiko Glenn (“Orange Is the New Black”) voices Kiff, whose love for life takes her on many adventures through the city with Barry, who is voiced by H Michael Croner (“Craig of the Creek”). The series’ theme was released today as well.

Academy Award Nominations 2023

January 24th, 2023

Jerry Beck

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that nominations for its 95th Annual Academy Awards. The 5 films are listed below in alphabetical order by title, with their producers and directors:

Best Animated Feature nominees are:

● Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio Guillermo del Toro, Mark Gustafson, Gary Ungar and Alex Bulkley
• Marcel the Shell with Shoes On Dean Fleischer Camp, Elisabeth Holm, Andrew Goldman, Caroline Kaplan and Paul Mezey
• Puss in Boots: The Last Wish Joel Crawford and Mark Swift
• The Sea Beast Chris Williams and Jed Schlanger
• Turning Red Domee Shi and Lindsey Collins

Best Animated Short nominees are:

• The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse Charlie Mackesy and Matthew Freud
• The Flying Sailor Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby
• Ice Merchants João Gonzalez and Bruno Caetano
• My Year of Dicks Sara Gunnarsdóttir and Pamela Ribon
• An Ostrich Told Me the World Is Fake and I Think I Believe It Lachlan Pendragon

The 95th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 12th, 2023, and will be televised live on ABC and in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.

REVIEW: “New Gods: Yang Jian”

January 23rd, 2023

Martin Goodman

Yang Jian is the second feature in the New Gods series, a continuation of Nezha Reborn, both directed by Zhao Ji. It is not necessary to see the first feature to appreciate Yang Jian, but those who wish to can dial it up on Netflix to gain a bit of depth. The New Gods series is an invigorating dip into Chinese mythology, retold with cutting-edge animation technology and a heavy tendency toward VFX-enhanced action scenes (of which there are many).

For this review, I will go light on the story and plot, which I find to be somewhat of a hindrance when balanced against the outstanding character development and irresistible visual treats provided by the animation. The film is overstuffed with characters, and unless the viewer pays close attention to the unfolding story, they may need a scorecard. Some characters seem minor, then reappear later in essential roles. Others disappear and then reappear in different locales as the script demands. Yet other characters are introduced so late in the story that the script becomes overwhelming. One certainty: There are a lot of them. A Ph.D. in Chinese mythology is not needed to enjoy the film. Still, a passing familiarity with its themes would be helpful, especially when trying to place what roles certain characters ultimately play in the story.

INTERVIEW: The Charm And Unpredictability Of “The Amazing Maurice”

January 18th, 2023

Jackson Murphy

Toby Genkel is the director of The Amazing Maurice, a new animated comedy adventure coming to theaters nationwide on February 3rd via Viva Kids. It’s based on the late Terry Pratchett’s beloved book and features the voices of Hugh Laurie, Emilia Clarke, Hugh Bonneville and Himesh Patel. Ahead of the film’s Sundance Film Festival screening this Sunday Jan. 22, I spoke with Genkel about the amazing production of The Amazing Maurice. (This Animation Scoop Q&A was edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: It’s very cool that this is going to be at Sundance in-person starting this Sunday Jan. 22 and available to watch at home online, with virtual screenings, from the 24th to the 30th. How does it feel to have this be a part of one of the biggest film festivals in the world?

Toby Genkel: Almost surreal to be honest. Really exciting. Really honored and really pleased. We couldn’t believe it in the first place because I was told it’s very hard to get an animation film into Sundance, but here we are!

ANNIE NOMINATIONS 2023 (Complete List)

January 17th, 2023

Jerry Beck

ASIFA-Hollywood announced nominations today for its 50th Annual Annie Awards™ recognizing the year’s best in the field of animation. For a complete list of nominations, please visit www.annieawards.org/nominations. This year’s ceremony is scheduled to return Live on Saturday, February 25, 2023 at UCLA’s Royce Hall. Pre-reception and Red Carpet at 4:30 p.m., followed by the ceremony at 7 p.m., and after party immediately following the ceremony.

This year’s Best Animated Feature nominations include: Disney and Pixar’s Turning Red (Pixar Animation Studios), Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (Netflix presents A Double Dare You! Film/A Shadowmachine production in association with The Jim Henson Company), Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (DreamWorks Animation), The Sea Beast (Netflix) and Wendell & Wild (Netflix presents A Monkeypaw Production/A Gotham Group Production).