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: “Only A Child” Aims To Inspire Oscar Voters And The World

January 18th, 2022

Jackson Murphy

Director Simone Giampaolo has accomplished something few would even attempt: taking an iconic speech, using it as the foundation of an animated short, and assembling a large group of artists to animate different sequences. All the hard work has paid off, as Only a Child is one of the 15 Academy Awards Best Animated Short Film finalists. I spoke with Giampaolo over Zoom about how he achieved Only a Child. (This Q&A was edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: Take me back to the first time you listened to Severn Cullis-Suzuki’s 1992 U.N. speech. What were your thoughts?

Simone Giampaolo: I think I listened to the speech for the first time around 2006 or 2007 when YouTube and social media started to boom and become the thing. This speech had a second life. It became very popular because only the people who were at the United Nations summit in 1992 really listened to Severn before. It had a second life when YouTube became popular. I had a chance to listen to it around 15 years ago and then I forgot about it. I really appreciated the speech. It became viral for “the girl who silenced the world for six minutes”. But then I forgot about it.

In the Beginning: Classic Animated Characters’ First Appearances

January 17th, 2022

Michael Lyons

Another year begins and with every New Year comes hope, resolutions, and the thought of new beginnings.

What better time for animation fans than the start of a New Year than to look back at how some iconic cartoon characters got their first start.

Continuing this column’s tradition from last year, here are the first appearances of some of animation’s biggest stars.

TRAILER: “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder”

January 14th, 2022

Jerry Beck

Disney+ announced today the February 23rd premiere date for The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, the highly-anticipated revival of the groundbreaking Disney Channel series, “The Proud Family.” Featuring an all-star celebrity cast, new episodes will debut Wednesdays on the streaming platform. From Disney Television Animation, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder is executive-produced by Bruce W. Smith (“The Princess and the Frog”) and Ralph Farquhar (“Moesha”), both of whom led the original series. Calvin Brown, Jr. (“Moesha”) is co-executive producer, Jan Hirota (“Big Hero 6 The Series”) is producer, and Eastwood Wong (“Carmen Sandiego”) is art director. Here’s our first look:

INTERVIEW: “The Musician” Duo On Short That’s Wow-ing Audiences

January 14th, 2022

Jackson Murphy

The Musician is directed by Reza Riahi and produced by Eleanor Coleman. It’s a dramatic animated short about an unexpected reunion between a man and a woman during the attack of the Mongols. This powerful story and stop-motion, paper cut-out techniques helped earn The Musician Best Animated Short Film honors at last year’s Tribeca Film Festival. And now it’s one of the 15 finalists for the Academy Award. (This Q&A with Reza and Eleanor was edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: I saw this short last year through Tribeca. What was that experience like?

Reza Riahi: Of course I was honored, but I really wish that I could’ve been there too. We really wanted to participate in person but COVID gave that… bad luck.

INTERVIEW: “Belle” Director Mamoru Hosoda Puts New Spin On Classic

January 13th, 2022

Jackson Murphy

Oscar nominated Mirai director Mamoru Hosoda’s new animated feature is nominated for five Annie Awards. Belle is a modern-day update on one of the most beloved stories of all-time, Beauty and the Beast. This time, it’s a girl named Suzu who discovers the digital universe of U. She creates an avatar named Belle who instantly becomes a phenomenon. Suzu’s responsibilities soon increase. How will she use them, and how will she balance real-life with a digital one? Belle opens in theaters nationwide tonight. Hosoda discusses his screenplay and visual inspirations in this Animation Scoop Q&A. (This interview was conducted over Zoom with Hosoda and a translator.)

Jackson Murphy: It is so great to talk with you again. We spoke for Mirai a few years ago, and you have made another fantastic film in Belle. Congratulations.

Mamoru Hosoda: Yeah, it’s certainly been a while. (laughs) So tell me about your background. It looks like you’re in a movie theater.

HBO Max Reveals Official Trailer for Looney Tunes Cartoons Season 4

January 12th, 2022

Jerry Beck

Starting off the New Year right, Bugs, Daffy, Porky, Tweety and all of your favorite Looney Tunes return with a jam-packed new season of Looney Tunes Cartoons streaming Thursday, Jan. 20th on HBO Max. In this new batch of episodes, Elmer Fudd tries to arrest Bugs Bunny, Tweety Bird goes to the Grand Canyon and Daffy plays one too many pranks on Porky. Here’s our first look:

INTERVIEW: Bastien Dubois Back On Oscar Shortlist With “Souvenir Souvenir”

January 12th, 2022

Jackson Murphy

Bastien Dubois received a Best Animated Short Film Academy Award nomination in 2011 for Madagascar, A Journey Diary. 11 years later, he could potentially score his second Oscar nom for his latest animated short, Souvenir Souvenir. It’s one of the 15 finalists in the category — and has already earned major honors from the Sundance Film Festival and the Annie Awards. Souvenir Souvenir dives into Dubois’ grandfather’s experiences being a soldier during the Algerian War of Independence. (This Animation Scoop interview with Dubois was conducted as an Email Q&A and was edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: I got the chance to watch this the first time through the virtual Sundance Film Festival last year, where you won a major award. How was that experience, as well as winning an Annie Award?

Bastien Dubois: My first film Madagascar, A Journey Diary competed at the Sundance Film Festival in 2010. It was one of my first festival experiences and… traveling to the States, making all those friendships… to be in Sundance! That was huge. Fantastic memories. So this 2020-2021 COVID online festival tour was… not the same. But all the festivals are doing their best to make people connect and to bring the films to the audience with the best conditions. But Sundance…. My god, they were so creative to make this a new experience of a festival. I would never exchange a meta festival with an “in real life” festival. But Sundance did it great. And to get awards… well Sundance and Annie. I never even dreamt about it. I thought my film was too dark, too twisted and talkative to reach such a wide audience and get such wonderful feedback. In France we have the chance to get very strong support from institutions, especially animation. And I was lucky enough to have the support to create something very personal and unconventional. That’s the power of state support. But I was always thinking it will make no festivals! LOL

TRAILER: Nickelodeon’s “Big Nate” Going To Paramount+

January 11th, 2022

Jerry Beck

Paramount+, the streaming service from ViacomCBS, today released the official trailer and key art for its upcoming animated original series Big Nate, based on the best-selling children’s books and comic strip written and drawn by acclaimed author and cartoonist Lincoln Peirce. The first eight episodes of the series will be available to stream beginning Thursday, Feb. 17th, exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S., Canada, Latin America and Australia, with more episodes to be announced at a later date. Produced by Nickelodeon Animation Studio, BIG NATE follows a precocious 11-year-old boy named Nate and his best friends as they navigate sixth grade with humor and style.

INTERVIEW: Alberto Mielgo Asks “What Is Love?” With “The Windshield Wiper”

January 11th, 2022

Jackson Murphy

Director Alberto Mielgo’s painted animated short The Windshield Wiper is one of the 15 finalists for the upcoming Best Animated Short Film Academy Award. The Emmy and Annie Award winning Mielgo (of Love, Death & Robots and TRON: Uprising), explores the state of romantic relationships around the world in honest and visually striking ways. He joins me for this Animation Scoop Q&A:

Jackson Murphy: What fascinates you about the question, “What is Love?”

Alberto Mielgo: It is a very old question that has never been really answered. It’s very difficult to define feelings, but we very much need to categorize. It’s something humans always need — to find names for everything. This is very much the best humans could do — put a name on something that is very ambiguous and different from one relationship to another. So, there you go: you have a word with four letters… in several languages, actually. And it’s making the function of a word that doesn’t really describe what it actually is. Making a film about it is obviously super pretentious, but I wanted to define… social love. What is love today? Not so much in a metaphysical or biological way. I didn’t want to get too much into that.

TRAILER: “The Bob’s Burgers Movie”

January 10th, 2022

Jerry Beck

20th Century Studios has released the trailer and new poster for The Bob’s Burgers Movie, which will open in U.S. theaters on May 27th, 2022. The Bob’s Burgers Movie showcases voice talent which includes Kristen Schaal, H. Jon Benjamin, John Roberts, Dan Mintz, Eugene Mirman, Larry Murphy, Zach Galifianakis, Kevin Kline, and David Wain. The film’s director is Bernard Derriman and its co-director is Loren Bouchard. The screenplay is by Loren Bouchard & Nora Smith. The producers are Loren Bouchard, Nora Smith and Janelle Momary.

INTERVIEW: “Namoo” Director Erick Oh On Possible Return To The Oscars

January 10th, 2022

Jackson Murphy

Erick Oh was Oscar nominated last year for his enthralling animated short film Opera. He could be on the ballot again this year for his latest, personal animated short, Namoo, which is one of the category’s 15 finalists. I spoke with Oh over Zoom about this unique time in his life and what he hopes audiences will take away from Namoo.

Jackson Murphy: Congratulations on being on the Oscar shortlist again! How does it feel?

Erick Oh: Unbelievable. Over the moon. “Is it really happening again?” I don’t know. (laughs) I’m so honored. So happy.

MANGA REVIEW: “Real Volume 15”

January 8th, 2022

Charles Solomon

After a hiatus of more than six years, Takehiko Inoue has returned to “Real,” his compelling manga about wheelchair basketball players. (At the same time, he’s directing a new feature based on his hit “Slam Dunk.”) The artist picks up the story where he left off in 2014: His three main characters are still wrestling with physical challenges and equally debilitating psychological ones.

Kiyoharu Togawa was one the top young sprinters in Japan—until his right leg had to be partially amputated due to osteosarcoma. Hisanobu Takahashi, the arrogant captain of the Nishi High basketball team, rode a bicycle into the path of a dump trunk. He woke up in the hospital a week later with no feeling below his waist. Takashi’s former teammate, Tomomi Nomiya gave a girl a ride on his motorcycle; when she was injured in an accident, his life fell apart.

INTERVIEW: “Flowing Home” Director Guides Us Through Emotional Short

January 7th, 2022

Jackson Murphy

As Animation Scoop continues its in-depth look at all 15 of this year’s Best Animated Short Film Oscar finalists, the spotlight now shines on Flowing Home, a drama from director Sandra Desmazières. In this Email Q&A, Desmazières explains the significance of her short and how its story and visuals will impact audiences.

Jackson Murphy: What appealed to you about telling a story set during this period of time?

Sandra Desmazières: It’s an important period to me. My parents met in Vietnam during the war. My father is French and my mother is Vietnamese. She left Vietnam before Saigon fell in 1975, and a few years later her brother joined us in Paris. The first time I went to Vietnam, with my sister and mother, was in 1997. I had wanted to tell a story set in that period for quite some time. To talk about separation, leaving one’s country, family, memories that can haunt us like ghosts.

4th Annual Bric Summit, Features Opening Keynote by Chris “Ludicris” Bridges

January 5th, 2022

Jerry Beck

The BRIC Foundation, dedicated to increasing representation in the entertainment and gaming industries, today announced the official lineup for its 4th annual BRIC Summit, to be held February 11-12, 2022. Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, musician and co-founder of KidNation, an interactive platform for children to enjoy kid-centric, educational entertainment, will deliver the opening keynote address.

INTERVIEW: “Step Into The River” Director on Making And Teaching Animation

January 5th, 2022

Jackson Murphy

With the Oscar nominations just a little over a month away, another contender emerges in the Best Animated Short Film category. One of the 15 finalists is Step Into the River, from director and animation teacher Weijia Ma. She joined me over Zoom from Shanghai for this Animation Scoop Q&A. (This interview was edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: What was your inspiration for Step Into the River?

Weijia Ma: The inspiration was the real background story from myself and my friends. But the whole story is a fiction film, but I wrote it based on some stuff I knew from life and I put those materials into this setting of two girls in a village and their situation and the group of kids. I was making my graduation film called The Same River Twice. It’s a film kind of like a family portrait. After that, I kind of dug deeper into my childhood memory and made this one.