Today, Disney+ unveiled the trailer and poster for The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild, an all-new animated adventure featuring the return of the beloved characters from the wildly successful global “Ice Age” franchise. The original movie premieres exclusively on Disney+ January 28th, 2022. The “Ice Age” collection (five films and two television specials) is currently available on Disney+.
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: “Bestia” Director On Sundance And Oscar Showcase
January 4th, 2022 
Jackson Murphy Hugo Covarrubias is having a very good 2022 so far. His dramatic animated short Bestia is one of the 15 finalists for the Best Animated Short Film Oscar. It’s already nominated in the same category at the Annie Awards. And later this month, Bestia will be shown at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival. Covarrubias takes me behind the curtain for a look at why this short is getting so much attention. (This interview was conducted as an Email Q&A.)
Jackson Murphy: How did real-life events inspire you to tell this story?
Hugo Covarrubias: The idea came from the desire to make a series about sinister characters in Chile’s political history. During the research, the figure of Ingrid Olderock (the woman agent of Pinochet’s secret police who inspired the story) was repeated in the books. We realized that this woman, in the interviews, revealed many mental imbalances resulting from the system in which she was involved. A totalitarian and ultra patriarchal system that ends up driving its employees crazy by treating them as if they were small parts of a monstrous machine. This is how many layers of reading appeared that helped to give power to the script.
Interview With The Stars And Directors Of “Hotel Transylvania: Transformania”
January 3rd, 2022 Jackson Murphy Sony Pictures Animation’s fourth and final film installment in the Hotel Transylvania franchise is Hotel Transylvania: Transformania. After multiple attempts to open it in theaters, Sony decided to partner with Amazon, which will release Hotel T4 on Prime Video on January 14th.
In late November, I submitted questions for a virtual Q&A with some of the A-list celeb voice actors of Transformania. Two of my questions were asked — one to Fran Drescher (the voice of Eunice) and the other to Keegan-Michael Key (who voices Murray).
Jackson Murphy: Fran, you certainly found the secret to good live-action comedy through “The Nanny”. What do you think is the secret to good comedy in animation?
Fran Drescher: I think physical comedy is very important. We did quite a bit of it on The Nanny, and I think that in animation it’s absolutely imperative. And you can do so much because it’s such a make-believe world. You can contort characters in ways they could never really do in real-life. Even the best stunt person couldn’t get away with some of the stuff that animated characters can do. That’s a big through theme of doing an animated movie. How far can we physically take these characters to do funny and surprising things?
AWARDS WATCH 2021 #2
January 3rd, 2022 Jerry Beck 
1. EARWIG AND THE WITCH (2/3/21) GKids. D: Goro Miyazaki
2. TOM & JERRY (3/5/21) Warner Bros. D: Tim Story
3. RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON (3/12/21) Disney. D: Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada,
4. DEMON SLAYER THE MOVIE: MUGEN TRAIN (4/23/21) Aniplex America. D: Haruo Sotozaki.
5. THE MITCHELLS VS. THE MACHINES (4/30/21) Netflix. (Sony Pictures Animation) D: Mike Rianda, Jeff Rowe
6. SPIRIT UNTAMED (6/4/21) Dreamworks/Universal D: Elaine Bogan
7. WISH DRAGON (6/11/21) Sony Pictures Animation (on Netflix). D: Chris Applehans.
8. PETER RABBIT 2: THE RUNAWAY (6/18/21) Columbia Pictures. D: Will Gluck (a hybrid film; live action and animation)
9. LUCA (6/18/21) Disney/Pixar. D: Enrico Casarosa
10. AMERICA: THE MOTION PICTURE (6/30/21) Netflix. D: Matt Thompson
11. THE BOSS BABY: FAMILY BUSINESS (7/2/21) Dreamworks/Universal. D: Tom McGrath
12. SPACE JAM: A NEW LEGACY (7/16/21) Warner Bros. D: Malcolm D. Lee
13. TROLLHUNTERS: RISE OF THE TITANS (7/30/21) Netflix (Dreamworks). D: Johane Matte, Francisco Ruiz Velasco, Andrew L. Schmidt
14. THE LOUD HOUSE MOVIE (7/30/21) Netflix (Dreamworks). D: Dave Needham
15. PAW PATROL: THE MOVIE (8/20/21) Paramount. D: Cal Brunker
16. VIVO (9/17/21) Sony Pictures Animation (on Netflix). D: Kirk DeMicco and co-directed by Brandon Jeffords.
17. THE ADDAMS FAMILY 2 (10/8/21) MGM/UA. D: Greg Tiernan and Conrad Vernon
18. RON’S GONE WRONG (10/22/21) 20th Century/Disney/Locksmith. D: J.P. Vine and Octavio E. Rodriguez
19. ENCANTO (11/24/21) Disney. D: Byron Howard and Jared Bush and co-directed by Charise Castro Smith.
20. SING 2 (12/22/21) Illumination/Universal D: Garth Jennings
PLEASE NOTE: The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run was actually given a soft release last year (8/14/2020) but made its streaming debut via Paramount+ on March 4th 2021
LIMITED RELEASES or TV FEATURES: Shout Factory released The Legend of Hei, directed by MTJJ Mutou, on April 9th; Netflix released Titmouse’s Arlo the Alligator Boy directed by Ryan Crego on April 16th; Shout Factory will release The Prince’s Voyage, directed by Jean-François Laguionie and Xavier Picard, on May 18th. Pantelion Films released the Mexican CG feature, Un Rescate de Huevitos, directed by Gabriel Riva Palacio Alatriste and Rodolfo Riva Palacio Alatriste, in US cinemas on August 27th. And finally, Reel FX’s Back to the Outback directed by Clare Knight and Harry Cripps, will be released December 10th on Netflix.
FEATURES BACKED-UP and UNDATED/or STILL IN PRODUCTION: Pinocchio directed by Guillermo del Toro from ShadowMachine/The Jim Henson Co./Netflix; My Father’s Dragon, D: Nora Twomey via Netflix/Cartoon Saloon; Wendell and Wild, directed by Henry Selick via Netflix; 13. Hotel Transylvaia: Transformania will now be released in 2022 by Sony Pictures Animation – and Paramount’s Rumble, D: Hamish Grieve, will open February 18th, 2022.
For further information on all U.S. Animated Feature releases since 1937 Click Here.
Animated Anniversaries: Looking Back at Some Other 2021 Milestones
December 31st, 2021 Michael Lyons The past year has been another challenging one. However, for animation fans, there was, at times, a fraction of escape with films, TV shows, and short subjects. Additionally, there have been many milestones for movies and TV shows that have been marked throughout the year.
This column has celebrated such anniversaries as the 20th of Shrek, the 75th of Foghorn Leghorn’s debut, the 35th of An American Tail, and the 30th of Beauty and the Beast, just to name a few.But, as they do each year, weeks pass quickly, and not all anniversaries were able to be commemorated…until now.
INTERVIEW: Beryl’s Back In Oscar Shortlisted “Affairs Of The Art”
December 30th, 2021 Jackson Murphy Oscar nominee Joanna Quinn (“Famous Fred”) could be on the ballot again, this time with Affairs of the Art, one of the 15 Best Animated Short Film finalists. She directs this fourth short starring the dynamic character Beryl, who previously headlined “Girls Night Out” (1987), “Body Beautiful” (1990) and “Dreams and Desires” (2006). The comedic and vivacious Affairs is written and produced by Quinn’s husband and partner, Les Mills. They join me for this lively Animation Scoop Q&A. (This interview was edited for length and clarity.)
Jackson Murphy: You’re making this new Beryl short after 15 years. Why was this the right time for a new installment in this unique animated short [franchise]?
Joanna Quinn: Well, earlier probably would’ve been the right time. (laughs)
Les Mills: There were a lot of things between then and now that we were involved with. We were doing a lot of ads — for the States, Britain, Canada, Europe, Mexico. Our crew went from about five to about forty during that time. Jo was directing all the ads and animating. It took a lot of time. But… we made money out of it, which we put as a production base and that’s what this film was made with — that money.
Photo: Credit: NFB and Beryl Productions International
INTERVIEW: In This Corner: Oscar Short Contender “BoxBallet”
December 29th, 2021 Jackson Murphy BoxBallet is a hand-drawn short that’s one of the 15 finalists for the upcoming Best Animated Short Film Academy Award. It’s about an unconventional relationship between a ballerina and a boxer. Will they fall in love and stay together amidst the pressures of their professions? Director Anton Dyakov explains why he had to tell this story. (This interview was conducted as an Email Q&A and was edited for clarity.)
Jackson Murphy: What fascinates you about ballet dancers and boxers?
Anton Dyakov: The time of realization in ballet and in boxing is very fleeting. The stakes are high… health and the risk of being unclaimed are at stake… and besides, personal life is usually also subject to professional implementation. A fight in the ring or a performance on a stage, this is just the tip of the iceberg, and we can only guess about the true price that people pay in the spotlight for the opportunity to be on this stage or ring. The desire to make this film stems from sympathy for these people, because in their destinies (not always successful) and those of many and many people in general — their aspirations and pain appears. It is easy to love the prosperous and successful, and sometimes it is not easy to accept a person in a difficult moment or at a turning point.
Both Creatures Were Stirring: The 80th Anniversary of Tom & Jerry’s “The Night Before Christmas”
December 24th, 2021 Michael Lyons There is Peace on Earth in the 1941 MGM cartoon short The Night Before Christmas. Well, if not on Earth, then at least in the world of Tom & Jerry. While the pair do their share of sparring in this Christmas-themed short, there is a moment of truce between the two, adding a break from the usual chaos and bringing an element of warmth to the proceedings.
After all, it is the holiday season, and of all the shorts that the famed cat and mouse pair made, The Night Before Christmas ranks as one of their sweetest outings. This year marks the 80th anniversary of The Night Before Christmas, an ideal time to celebrate this animated gem while we celebrate the season.
A Real “Who’s Who!” : The 55th Anniversary of TV’s “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”
December 23rd, 2021 Michael Lyons Today, the season doesn’t seem complete without at least one viewing of the iconic Christmas television special, Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas. That’s why it’s so hard to believe that when it was in production, the team bringing the beloved book to the screen couldn’t find a sponsor.
Legendary animator Chuck Jones, who directed The Grinch, had to pitch the story twenty-six times. Jones, who sadly passed away in 2002, remembered this in a 1996 interview. “In those days, the network wouldn’t accept something unless you had a sponsor,” he said. “So, I went to every one of the logical people, like the breakfast food and chocolate companies. I had done the storyboards, there were seventeen hundred drawings, and I went over that thing again and again. It got to the point where I could almost shut my eyes and say it!” Ironically, a sponsor for the anti-commercialism story was found in the Foundation for Full-Service Banks. This holiday season marks a milestone for this wondrous television special, as How The Grinch Stole Christmas celebrates its 55th anniversary.
TRAILER: Apple TV+ “El Deafo” Premieres Jan 7th
December 23rd, 2021 Jerry Beck Lighthouse Studio’s El Deafo, a charming and poignant three-part animated series for kids and families, will premiere on Apple TV+ Friday, January 7th, 2021. El Deafo, based on the #1 New York Times Bestselling and Newbery Honor Winning graphic memoir, follows insightful young Cece as she loses her hearing and finds her inner superhero. Going to school and making new friends can be tough. Having to do both while wearing a bulky hearing aid on your chest? That takes superpowers! With a little help from her superhero alter ego, El Deafo, Cece learns to embrace what makes her extraordinary. Watch the trailer here…
INTERVIEW: The Stars of “Poupelle of Chimney Town”
December 22nd, 2021 W.R. Miller Usually an actor books a role after an audition. But there are times when actor is chosen because of their reputation, without an audition. Such is the case with the American cast of Poupelle of Chimney Town. The film stars Antonio Raul Corbo.
Stephen Root voices Lubicci’s father, Bruno, who tries to inform people that above the cloud canopy, there exists a sky full of stars, though his efforts are undermined by Chimney Town’s ruling class.
Misty Lee voices Lola, Lubicchi’s mom, who despite her poor health, tries to raise Lubicchi the best she can. Tony Hale voices Poupelle, a sentient mechanical man made of garbage, who on Halloween night ventures into Chimney Town and crosses paths with Lubicchi. Together they must find a way to reach the sky above the clouds, and reveal it to the people on the streets below.
I spoke with Root, Corbo and Lee over Zoom on October 25th, 2021.
REVIEW: “DreamWorks Dragons: The Nine Realms” – More Questions Than Answers. So Far
December 22nd, 2021 W.R. Miller When it comes to dragons, there’s no stopping DreamWorks Animation. Based on the best-selling How to Train Your Dragon novels by Cressida Cowell, the franchise has so far spawned three feature films with a combined box-office take of $1.6 billion worldwide, five short films, a “Snoggletog Log” video and a 118-episode TV series collectively titled DreamWorks Dragons. A streaming spinoff, DreamWorks Dragons: Rescue Riders, offers a separate continuity with talking dragons, which so far tallies 32 episodes and three specials. The franchise has also generated video games, an ice show, an arena show, several theme park attractions worldwide, and of course, a plethora of merchandise.
INTERVIEW: Time To Turn On “Saturday Morning All Star Hits!”
December 22nd, 2021 Jackson Murphy Saturday Night Live actor Kyle Mooney and Bento Box’s Ben Jones team-up for the new Netflix live-action/animated series Saturday Morning All Star Hits!, which is now streaming. Mooney serves as co-creator and star, playing Skip & Treybor, the hosts of “S.M.A.S.H.”, an ’80s/’90s-esque Saturday Morning Kids TV program that features episodes of original animated series. That’s where Jones comes in. He’s the animation director of these series, including “Randy” and “Create-A-Crittles”. Mooney and Jones discuss all aspects of Saturday Morning in this fun Animation Scoop Q&A. (This interview was edited for length and clarity.)
Jackson Murphy: Kyle, how has the reaction been over the past couple of weeks since these episodes dropped on Netflix?
Kyle Mooney: I think pretty good. Personally, I try to steer clear of immersing myself too deep into what people are saying. I’m very easily hurt by the slightest negative comment, so I try not to get too close to it. But I will say: I’m hearing good things. People have been supportive. It feels like we did what we set out to do, which is really special. This material that we’re pulling from and inspired by is meaningful to a bunch of people as well. So I’m happy to hear it feels like we’re kind of doing it justice.
Nominations for The 49th Annual Awards Announced
December 21st, 2021 Jerry Beck ASIFA-Hollywood announced nominations today for its 49th Annual Annie Awards recognizing the year’s best in the field of animation. This year’s Best Animated Feature nominations include: Encanto (Walt Disney Animation Studios), Luca (Pixar Animation Studios), Raya and the Last Dragon (Walt Disney Animation Studios), Sing 2 (Illumination) and The Mitchells vs. The Machines (Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix).
Best Animated Feature-Independent, spotlighting features with a much smaller distribution footprint than major studio releases, include: Belle (Studio Chizu/Distributed by GKIDS), Flee (Final Cut For Real, Sun Creatures, Vivement Lundi!, MostFilm, Mer Film, VICE, Left HandFilms, Participant), Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko (STUDIO 4°C / Distributed by GKIDS), Pompo the Cinephile (CLAP Animation Studio/Distributed by GKIDS) and The Summit of the Gods (Julianne Films, Folivari and Mélusine Productions Present in co-production with France 3 Cinéma and Auvergne-Rhône- Alpes Cinéma in association with Wild Bunch in association with Palatine Etoile 17, Cinémage 14, Indéfilms 8 for Netflix).
Charles Solomon’s Animation Year End Review 2021
Although he wrote them in 1859, Charles Dickens might have been thinking of animation in 2021 when he penned the celebrated lines, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us…”
During the ongoing COVID pandemic, the animation industry again proved remarkably resilient: Many artists were already used to working remotely from home. But releasing strategies and box office earnings remained chaotic: With theaters beginning to reopen in some parts of the US, Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon opened on March 5th to $8.6 million on 2,045 screens. Variety noted, “it’s a sign of just how skewed the world of theatrical distribution has become that a major Disney release would fail to crack $10 million at the box office in its opening weekend.”
Looking over a year that see-sawed between Light and Darkness, I’m presenting the 9th annual awards for the year’s best and worst, named for the ultimate animation APM, Mikiko “Kuromi” Oguro.