INTERVIEW: Heading Up To “The Great North” For Season 3 Preview

September 21st, 2022

Jackson Murphy

Wendy Molyneux and Lizzie Molyneux-Logelin are the co-creators of FOX’s hit animated comedy series The Great North. Season 3 premieres this Sunday Sept. 25 at 8:30pm with the fun and heartfelt episode “A Knife to Remember Adventure”. Wendy and Lizzie discuss how they kick-off the new season, their plans for the show’s future and if they’d be open to a Great North movie. Plus we pick our favorite Julianne Moore performances! (There’s a reason.) This Animation Scoop Q&A was edited for length and clarity.

Jackson Murphy: We’re kicking off Season 3, but the show has already been renewed for Season 4! Congratulations. How does it feel?

Wendy Molyneux: It feels incredible. And that’s the wild thing about animation: you are always working a year ahead. It feels great to know we now have this great year ahead of us to make 22 more episodes of The Great North. It’s a tremendous relief and a big challenge, and we’re really excited for the writers’ room to be back.

Photos courtesy of Fox

INTERVIEW: Craig Gerber On Fun And Inspiring “Firebuds”

September 15th, 2022

Jackson Murphy

Sofia the First and Elena of Avalor creator Craig Gerber has a new family animated series about the children of first responders and their awesome vehicle friends who are out to do good. Firebuds premieres Wed Sept. 21 at 10:30am on Disney Channel and Disney Junior, with new episodes also available on Disney+. Gerber and I catch-up and chat about the characters, energy and messages of Firebuds. (This Animation Scoop Q&A was edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: Firefighters, police officers and ambulance workers are so inspiring, especially to kids. How did they inspire you to make this show?

Craig Gerber: My grandfather was a police detective in New York City in the ’60s, so I had that connection to first responders. Obviously first responders have always been around, but in these past couple decades, we’ve seen how visible not only they are for what they do but the sacrifices they make, whether it’s the medical profession with COVID or even going back to 9/11 with firefighters and police officers. It was a group of folks I wanted to honor and pay tribute to — and also shine a light on what it must be like in one of those families.

DreamWorks Animation To Give VFX Insights at VIEW Conference 2022

September 15th, 2022

Jerry Beck

VIEW Conference has announced the participation of the visual effects supervisors responsible for the some of the wizardry behind two of DreamWorks Animation’s latest animated features, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish and The Bad Guys.

In DreamWorks Animation’s upcoming contemporary fairy tale sequel “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,” Antonio Banderas returns as the swashbuckling Puss in Boots, who sets out on a quest to discover the mythical Last Wish and restore his nine lives. The film releases December 21, 2022.

50th Annie Awards ‘Call For Entries’ Commence Today

September 12th, 2022

Jerry Beck

Today, ASIFA-Hollywood announced its Call for Entries for the 50th Annie Awards. Honoring excellence in the field of animation, the 50th Annie Awards will return in-person to UCLA’s Royce Hall on Saturday, February 25, 2023. The 50th Annie Awards covers 37 categories including a new one – Best TV/Media – Limited Series, as well as Animated Feature, Animated Feature-Independent, TV/Media Production, Sponsored Production, Short Subject, and Student Films, along with Achievement and Honorary awards.

INTERVIEW: “Drifting Home” Duo On Remarkable Anime Feature

September 12th, 2022

Jackson Murphy

Drifting Home is a new anime feature that beautifully blends multiple genres and tones. It’s about a group of kids on a one of a kind journey in an old apartment building floating in the ocean. Drifting Home is currently playing exclusively at Landmark’s Piedmont Theatre in Oakland, CA for an awards qualifying run. It will stream on Netflix starting this Friday September 16th. Director Hiroyasu Ishida and producer Hibiki Saito join me for this Animation Scoop Q&A. (This interview contains mild story spoilers, was conducted over Zoom with a translator, and was edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: Hiroyasu, the kids in this film feel so real and relatable. What was your process of coming up with them and having them carry this movie?

Hiroyasu Ishida: We wanted to tell a story with grade school kids here. So it really began with them. We had our two main protagonists Kosuke and Natsume cemented from the get-go. After that it was a process of trying to surround these two with a bunch of colorful characters who each had their own distinct characteristics. For example, we have Reina, the girl who’s always very aggressive and fighting with someone. Very prickly. We have a boy named Taishi who’s always in your field of sight and running about. These are kids who maybe remind you of someone who was in your class or school — very familiar characters in a way. It was a matter of attaching certain, very atypical characteristics. It was a matter of putting names onto those characters. It was a process of me writing and drawing the storyboards and arriving at the certain characters who I thought, “Okay, this might be interesting to bring into the film.”

TEASER TRAILER: “Mickey: The Story Of A Mouse”

September 11th, 2022

Jerry Beck

Today, Disney+ released the teaser trailer for Mickey: The Story Of A Mouse from Disney Original Documentary. The announcement comes out of D23 Expo in Anaheim, which launched the official kick-off to the 100th anniversary celebration of The Walt Disney Company. The feature documentary will premiere globally on Disney+ on November 18 – Mickey Mouse’s birthday. Mickey: The Story Of A Mouse is directed by award-winning filmmaker Jeff Malmberg (Marwencol) and produced by Academy Award-winner Morgan Neville (Won’t You Be My Neighbor), Meghan Walsh, and Chris Shellen. The documentary was executive produced by Caitrin Rogers, edited by Jake Hostetter, Aaron Wickenden, cinematography by Antonio Cisneros, sound design by Lawrence Everson, and music by Daniel Wohl. The film had its World Premiere at the South by Southwest Film Festival earlier this year and also screened at this year’s Sun Valley Film Festival and Newport Summer Film Series, among several others.

INTERVIEW: Author Emily Zemler Presents “Disney Princess: Beyond The Tiara”

September 8th, 2022

Jackson Murphy

A new book on some of the most iconic Mouse House characters is a must-own for Disney fans. Disney Princess: Beyond the Tiara — The Stories. The Influence. The Legacy. is available Tuesday September 20th. Author Emily Zemler (The Art and Making of Aladdin) takes me under the sea and on a magic carpet ride through the process of writing this fantastic, in-depth book, from the research and interviews to the ways these princesses have changed (more than just a part of) our world. (This Animation Scoop Q&A was edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: So many iconic Disney movies, especially the Princess films, are about dreams. How is this book a dream come true for you?

Emily Zemler: Someone comes to you and says, “Do you wanna write a book about the Disney Princesses?” you think, “Are you sure? Is that a job someone actually gets as an adult?” It was really a dream — both to get to write the book and also to delve into all these subjects. When I was approached to do this, it was a very short little not-even [one] paragraph idea, and then it was up to me to flesh out what it would look like. What do we wanna know about these characters and these stories? That was really fun to get to figure them out. What don’t audiences know about them? What hasn’t been investigated?

Heritage Animation Art September Auctions: Anime, Flintstones and Everything Cool

September 7th, 2022

Jerry Beck

Anime collectors who subscribe to the notion that “bigger is better” will find no better destination than Heritage Auctions’ The Art of Anime and Everything Cool Signature Auction Vol. III. The Sept. 23-26 event includes more than 900 lots of anime from an exceptional array of artists, enough to appeal to collectors of all tastes.

“This incredible auction is the third of its kind, following the record-breaking Part II in December that reached $2.6 million,” said Jim Lentz, Vice President and Director of Anime and Animation Art at Heritage Auctions. “This auction includes more than 900 lots, making it one of the largest collections of anime ever to reach the auction market. It features some of the most notable characters, titles and artists in the rich history of anime, the hand-drawn and computer-generated artwork that started in Japan and has become exceedingly popular around the world.”

Spirit Rangers and Princess Power Join the Growing Netflix Preschool Slate

September 7th, 2022

Jerry Beck

Netflix dropped its list of new animated pre-school series this morning. Favorites like CoComelon, Gabby’s Dollhouse and Teletubbies return alongside new friends like Princess Power and Spirit Rangers. Netflix continues to offer young viewers new episodes and series to enjoy throughout the year. Check out the new and returning series, including first look images and launch dates, below.

INTERVIEW: Larry The Cable Guy And Co. Rev Up “Cars On The Road”

September 6th, 2022

Jackson Murphy

Lightning McQueen and Mater (voiced once again by Owen Wilson and Larry the Cable Guy) leave Radiator Springs for Mater’s sister’s wedding in the new nine-episode series Cars on the Road. It premieres this Thursday September 8th on Disney+. Larry, Bobby Podesta (who directs three of the episodes) and producer Marc Sondheimer discuss the fun new adventures these iconic characters have and why Cars remains one of Pixar’s most beloved brands. (These interviews were combined and edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: Larry, it is so good to see you!

Larry the Cable Guy: Dad Gum! Is that THE Jackson Murphy?

JM: It is! It is! How are you, man?

LTCG: (laughs) Doing good. (Larry brings out a Mater toy and starts doing his Mater voice.) DAD GUM! That’s Jackson Murphy! (laughs)

The Don of a New Era: Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of “The Secret of NIMH”

September 5th, 2022

Michael Lyons

For many following animation closely in 1982, The Secret of NIMH was more than just another summer movie. A lot was riding on this animated film that was opening amidst other blockbusters like E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial and Rocky III.

It was the first feature directed by Don Bluth. His name had become well-known just several years prior. In 1979, Bluth led a walk-out of about half a dozen animators from the Walt Disney Studio, the place synonymous with classic animated feature films that had become beloved by generations.

INTERVIEW: Chris Bailey On Howl You’ll Enjoy “The Great Wolf Pack”

September 1st, 2022

Jackson Murphy

Academy Award nominee Chris Bailey (of iconic Disney animated short Runaway Brain) is the director of the new animated film The Great Wolf Pack: A Call to Adventure. Bailey and the folks at popular indoor water park chain The Great Wolf Lodge are taking their beloved characters (Wiley Wolf, Violet Wolf, Oliver Raccoon, Sammy Squirrel and Brinley Bear) and transforming and transporting them into animation. A Call to Adventure is available at all 19 resort locations starting this Labor Day weekend and on YouTube this Monday September 5th. (This Animation Scoop Q&A was edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: I love that The Great Wolf Lodge indoor water parks are getting into the world of animation. How did you first get involved with them and this movie?

Chris Bailey: I got into it through [animation studio] Six Point Harness and Brendan [Burch, the CEO]. Brendan and I have been acquainted for years and we’ve always talked about doing something together. His studio has done a wide variety of work. Much of it is very indie-oriented. I’m a Disney guy, Alvin and the Chipmunks, X-Men 2 and Kim Possible — I’m that solid family guy right down the middle. We’ve been looking for a project to do together and when this crossed his desk he said, “Oh my God. Maybe this is the opportunity to work with Chris.” He reached out, and I was sent a script and did the traditional meetings and it all fell into place.

Shout Factory Releasing “Ainbo: Spirit Of The Amazon” in U.S. in November

August 29th, 2022

Jerry Beck

An official selection of the 2021 Annecy International Animation Film Festival and recently nominated for Best Feature, Best Sound Design, and Best Original Music at the Ibero-American Animation Quirino Awards in Madrid, Ainbo: Spirit Of The Amazon smashed the box office in Spain and garnered international box office successes in France, Australia, New Zealand, and Central America. And now Shout Factory is releasing it in the US on DVD and streaming. Here’s the trailer:

REVIEW: “DC League of Super Pets”

August 26th, 2022

Martin Goodman

The idea for this animated film originated in DC’s Adventure Comics #239 with the origin of the Legion of Super-Pets. The hallowed lineup that faced off against the deadly brain-globes were: Krypto the Super Dog, Streaky the Super Cat, Beppo the Super Monkey, and Comet the Super Horse. Proty II would join the party later. (Apparently, the local animal shelter on Krypton had a spare spaceship they borrowed from Jor-El).

Fast-forward sixty years into the future to the Warner Brothers animated film DC League of Super-Pets. Only Krypto, Superman’s loyal pet, is represented. The other S-Ps have been replaced, bringing with them not one shred of originality or imagination. DC has an excellent track record of producing good to excellent material for animated shows, from the art-deco wonder of Batman: The Animated Series to the peppy fun of DC Super Hero Girls and two popular incarnations of the Teen Titans. So how did a movie like Super-Pets go so miserably wrong?

INTERVIEW: “Little Demon” Creators Speak Of The Devil

August 25th, 2022

Jackson Murphy

Little Demon is a new adult supernatural animated comedy series about Chrissy, the 13-year-old daughter of Satan. Dad enters her life at a critical time, and feisty mom Laura isn’t thrilled, but willing to fight for what’s best for her powerful child. Little Demon has its one-hour series premiere tonight at 10pm on FXX. I spoke with the show’s creators, EPs and writers, Darcy Fowler, Seth Kirschner and Kieran Valla, about their ambitious series that has bold comedic, horror and visual influences. (This Animation Scoop Q&A was edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: There’s action. There’s comedy. There are visual gags. What I think is the strength of the show are the relationships. Tell me about the genesis of the show and how the relationships really came into play.

Darcy Fowler: That’s really awesome to hear that the relationships stuck out to you because that’s what we’re hoping. In terms of the origin of the show: the three of us are huge horror nerds. We wanted a story about a strong female character. We were looking at angles on Rosemary’s Baby. We started with this story about this mother with this cursed womb and it kind of evolved from there. Then the mother had a baby demon little girl child. Then we realized that making this demon — this antichrist girl — 13 [years old] was so much more ripe for themes, horror-wise. We found this core of this mother-daughter relationship, which as someone who was 13 once and a daughter… it can be pretty horrifying. That core unleashed everything else. Chrissy and puberty: the horrors of that. We rounded it out to tell this story about this broken family.