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”, […]

ANIME REVIEW: “Neon Genesis Evangelion”

December 21st, 2021

Charles Solomon

Hideaki Anno’s Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995), which ranks among the most popular, influential and controversial series in anime history, is finally appearing on Blu-ray in two multi-disc sets from GKIDS and Shout Factory! featuring a new dub and script.

A complex, compelling saga that juxtaposes mecha battles with apocalyptic Christian symbolism, Jewish mysticism and teenage angst, Evangelion (pronounced Eh-van-Gel-ee-on, with a hard “G’‘) ranks as a watershed in animation history. The series was so popular, more than 10 percent of all televisions in Japan were tuned to the final episode when it aired in March 1996.

INTERVIEW: Open Your Eyes And Heart To “Dragons: The Nine Realms”

December 20th, 2021

Jackson Murphy

Dragons: The Nine Realms is a new DreamWorks series premiering this Thursday Dec. 23 on Hulu and Peacock. Showrunner and executive producer John Tellegen gives me the 411 on this contemporary entry in the beloved franchise.

Jackson Murphy: I have wonderful memories of seeing the first How to Train Your Dragon movie when it came out in 2010. I remember that screening and being blown away by the story, the emotional power and the visuals. What are the memories you have of that first “Dragon” film that started it all?

John Tellegen: Well, my first memory of course is Hiccup and Toothless coming together and experiencing a boy and his dragon, maybe for the first time in my life for that [film]. Of course, I had seen other movies that had a boy and his dog and a boy and his alien, but this might’ve been the first boy and his dragon that I had seen. And I fell in love with it at that moment the same as I think you did, Jackson.

INTERVIEW: Learn About Making Of Stop-Motion “Even Mice Belong In Heaven”

December 17th, 2021

Jackson Murphy

Even Mice Belong in Heaven is a new stop-motion feature now available on VOD and Digital. It’s about a mouse named Whizzy and a fox named Whitebelly who end-up… in Heaven. As they journey through different lands in the sky (including a dazzling amusement park), can these enemies actually become friends, and will they be able to find eternal happiness? This offbeat, visually impressive and tonally deep animated dramedy comes from directors Jan Bubenicek and Denisa Grimmova, along with producer Vladimir Lhotak, who spoke with me on Zoom. (This Animation Scoop Q&A was edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: I love this film. It is so unique. I would love to know, first of all, the fascination you have with this story and the book that it came from.

Jan Bubenicek: The story is based on a book written by Iva Prochazkova, a Czech author quite popular in this region — not only in the Czech Republic but also by our neighbors. It’s a children’s book, so it’s very thin. Denisa found it when our sons were four and two years old. Now they are 15 and 13. (laughs)

INTERVIEW: Director Garth Jennings Makes Triumphant Return With “Sing 2”

December 16th, 2021

Jackson Murphy

Illumination’s Sing 2 is the highly-anticipated follow-up to their blockbuster 2016 musical hit. The main voice cast is back, along with director Garth Jennings. Sing 2 opens in theaters this Wednesday Dec. 22. In this Animation Scoop Q&A, Jennings discusses trying to top the original, bringing Bono on board, and the franchise’s cool connection to the legacy of Elton John.

Jackson Murphy: When you found out — after the humongous success of the first Sing — that you were gonna do a sequel, what is the first thing you knew you had to do in Sing 2?

Garth Jennings: Well, not panic. Don’t panic. That’s the first thing. It just had to be better, right? That’s the biggest thing. It’s gotta be bigger and better. Otherwise why do it? We had this idea for it that we really loved and thought would be wonderful. It would be emotionally richer. It would be more spectacular. It HAS to be better! Every one of us who’s worked on it feels like whatever happens, we know we did our best on this. It’s a nice place to be right now.

INTERVIEW: Let’s Get Ready To Talk About “Rumble”!

December 10th, 2021

Jackson Murphy

Hamish Grieve is the director of the new animated wrestling comedy Rumble, which premieres this Wednesday December 15th on Paramount+. I go 10 rounds… I mean questions… with Grieve, who discusses his WWE influences, the all-star cast and why Rumble is worth the multi-year wait.

Jackson Murphy: This is loosely based on the graphic novel “Monster on the Hill”, but you also put this wrestling spin on it. What inspired you to take a look at this graphic novel and give it that wrestling twist?

Hamish Grieve: I think… (laughs)… You know how animation works — and development. It was a very long process and many twists and turns that kind of ended-up with this great graphic novel about Victorian monsters in England… ended-up a giant wrestling film. (laughs) I can’t say that I was the one behind all of it. I think the six years or so to get to me were part of that. And very similar to “How to Train Your Dragon“: this great source material that really inspired people and then it took on a life of its own.

TRAILER: “Sonic The Hedgehog 2”

December 9th, 2021

Jerry Beck

The world’s favorite blue hedgehog is back for a next-level adventure in Sonic The Hedgehog 2. After settling in Green Hills, Sonic is eager to prove he has what it takes to be a true hero. His test comes when Dr. Robotnik returns, this time with a new partner, Knuckles, in search for an emerald that has the power to destroy civilizations. Sonic teams up with his own sidekick, Tails, and together they embark on a globe-trotting journey to find the emerald before it falls into the wrong hands. From the filmmakers behind “The Fast and the Furious” and “Deadpool”, Sonic The Hedgehog 2 stars James Marsden, Ben Schwartz as the voice of Sonic, Tika Sumpter, Natasha Rothwell, Adam Pally, and Jim Carrey returning, alongside new additions Shemar Moore, with Idris Elba as the voice of Knuckles, and Colleen O’Shaughnessey as the voice of Tails.

TRAILER: The New Peanuts Special “For Auld Lang Syne”

December 8th, 2021

Jerry Beck

For Auld Lang Syne, the first new original holiday special to come from Apple’s expanded partnership with WildBrain, will premiere globally on Friday, December 10th on Apple TV+. Ahead of the global premiere this Friday, the holiday special is now available in the Apple TV+ Press Screening Room. In the special, after the Peanuts gang experience a disappointing Christmas because Grandma can’t visit, Lucy resolves to throw herself the best New Year’s Eve party ever, while Charlie Brown struggles to accomplish just one of his resolutions before the clock strikes twelve.

MANGA REVIEW: “My Hero Academia” and “Manga Theater”

December 7th, 2021

Charles Solomon

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and Viz has two new books that will make excellent gifts for the anime and manga fans in the family.

Since Kohei Horikoshi’s manga My Hero Academia debuted in 2014, it’s sold more than 50 million books worldwide, and the anime series is one of the break-out hits of the last decade. For the uninitiated, Academia takes place in an alternate world where most children are born with “Quirks” super powers that enable them to become superheroes–or arch-villains. Izuku “Deku” Midoriya was born without a Quirk, but his willingness to help anyone in trouble, regardless of personal risks, leads All-Might, the Number 1 superhero, to share his redoubtable “One For All” Quirk with him.

Twenty-Six Features are Eligible for Academy Consideration

December 6th, 2021

Jerry Beck

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced feature films eligible for consideration in the Animated Feature Film category for the 94th Academy Awards. Some of the films have not yet had their required qualifying release and must fulfill that requirement and comply with all the category’s other qualifying rules to advance in the voting process.

INTERVIEW: “Mosley” Is The Journey Of A Lifetime For Kirby Atkins

December 6th, 2021

Jackson Murphy

Kirby Atkins is the writer, director and star of the new animated family drama Mosley, which debuts in select theaters, on VOD and Digital this Friday Dec. 10. Atkins shares what has made this 25-year experience so special, including working on the film with his own daughter. (This Animation Scoop Q&A was edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: You’ve been in the animation world for more than 20 years [through] your work on “Jimmy Neutron”, “VeggieTales” and “SCOOB!” But is it true you had the idea for this movie and everything in your head that entire time?

Kirby Atkins: Yeah. It started right after my daughter was born — about 1997. I just started writing and working on it in private before there was any money or financing or anybody, just because I was interested in the story myself. Then when my daughter came of age, around six years old, I recorded both of us playing the parts out just as I was putting the film together in storyboards. That’s sort of where the thing found its feet, I think.

Dumb and Dumber: “Beavis and Butt-Head Do America,” 25 Years Later

November 24th, 2021

Michael Lyons

Something unexpected happened in movie theaters during December of 1996. The latest big-budget family film or potential Oscar contender, prevalent during this season, were pushed aside in favor of a pair of famous animated, teenage lazy slackers, who spent the majority of their time on their couch, watching TV, tossing out the phrases: “Cool!” and “Sucks!”

Beavis and Butt-Head Do America, a big-budget feature film version of MTV’s hit animated series, debuted in theaters twenty-five years ago this month on December 20, 1996. The film would generate $63.1 million in its opening weekend, becoming (at the time) the biggest December box-office opening in history.

INTERVIEW: Getting Animated With “Diary Of A Wimpy Kid”‘s Jeff Kinney

December 2nd, 2021

Jackson Murphy

Jeff Kinney is the author of the enormously popular Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. Following four live-action films, Kinney and Disney are now in the animation business. A new CG animated feature adaptation of the first Wimpy Kid book premieres Friday on Disney+. Kinney discusses the new look for Greg, Rowley & Co. and much more.

Jackson Murphy: You have known the hand-drawn “Wimpy Kid” world for so long, but what did you imagine and want the CG world to be like?

Jeff Kinney: I wanted you to feel like the books had come to life. And that’s exactly what I think we’ve gotten out of this movie. It’s really cool to see this 2D character translate into 3D. And I wasn’t sure if it would work. It’s a little weird, always, to see something change — mediums like that. But we worked at it for a long time. We have a great animation company called Bardel out in Vancouver. They know what they’re doing and they really brought this world to life.

INTERVIEW: ‘Twas “The Flight Before Christmas” For Shaun The Sheep

December 1st, 2021

Jackson Murphy

Shaun, Timmy and pals celebrate the holidays with fantastically fun new half-hour special Shaun The Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas. It premieres this Friday Dec. 3rd on Netflix. Director Steve Cox shares some inside secrets about making Aardman’s latest delightful creation — and why Timmy loves another jolly man with the initials S.C.

Jackson Murphy: You’ve lived and breathed this world and these characters through your work on this, the Shaun series, the first Shaun movie and more. I’ve loved the series Timmy Time, which was on Disney Channel here in the states. Can you tell me a little bit about what it was like working on that show?

Steve Cox: It was my first job at Aardman, and it was… the first preschool show for Aardman. We brought all of our know-how of how to do a real young kids show. Timmy, of course, is such a gorgeous character [who] has existed within Shaun the Sheep. The producers and directors at that time said, “Let’s make a show about him.” And it was a real big success.

INTERVIEW: It’s Christmastime: Beebo Style With “Beebo Saves Christmas”

November 29th, 2021

Jackson Murphy

Jojo Ramos Patrick is the director of the new one-hour animated holiday special Beebo Saves Christmas. It premieres this Wednesday December 1st at 8pm on The CW. Beebo is the lovable breakout star of the network’s live-action DC’s Legends of Tomorrow series. In this special, Beebo is now in a gorgeous hand-drawn world, teaming-up with friends and Santa Claus himself to save the holiday from a high-tech, artificial takeover.

Jackson Murphy: What are the animated holiday specials that stand out in your mind from your youth?

Jojo Ramos Patrick: Gosh. Well, (laughs) the first one that just popped in my mind… was the Clone High episode for Snowflake Day. Then there’s the Dradelstein — they have a little claymation clip and it’s probably the funniest thing ever. There’s so many.

INTERVIEW: “Trolls Holiday In Harmony” Directors On New TV Special

November 23rd, 2021

Jackson Murphy

DreamWorks Animation just announced a third Trolls feature film that will open in theaters in November 2023. For now, the studio is giving us a new half-hour treat. Trolls Holiday in Harmony premieres this Friday Nov. 26 at 9pm on NBC. The special (featuring the voices of Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake and Kenan Thompson) is a follow-up to 2017’s Trolls Holiday and includes characters we met in last year’s feature Trolls World Tour. Directors Sean Charmatz and Tim Heitz share their Season’s Greetings and why Poppy & Branch continue to put smiles on millions of faces. (This interview was conducted as an Email Q&A.)

Jackson Murphy: It’s not often we see a holiday special sequel, but there have been a few (“Frosty Returns”, “Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice”). Did you feel pressure/excitement in wanting to make a successful holiday special sequel?

Sean Charmatz: I always feel some pressure to make anything I work on great. This being a holiday special was no exception. I’m a huge fan of the Peanuts holiday specials along with the ones you mentioned, and was super honored and excited to have the opportunity to direct something that would be revisited for years to come during one of the most special times of the year for families.