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: What You Need To Know About “Nona”

September 16th, 2021

Jackson Murphy

Nona is a new CG Pixar SparkShort that premieres tomorrow, September 17th on Disney+. Longtime Pixar layout and story artist Louis Gonzales (Monsters, Inc., Cars 3) makes his directorial debut, joining producer Courtney Casper Kent (art department manager on Coco). Nona is the story of a grandma who loves wrestling and fights her way through a day with her granddaughter to watch the TV event of the year.

Jackson Murphy: Louis, thank you for friending me back on LinkedIn the other day. One of the things in your bio says, “He has personal projects he hopes will see the light of day.” Was this one of the personal projects you hoped would see the light of day?

Louis Gonzales: Oh yeah. I’ll tell you this, Jackson. All personal projects I want to see the light of day, at some point, if possible, in this lifetime. I just want to tell stories. I love film. I love short stories. I love long stories. I love series. It’s all good. I love stories.

INTERVIEW: Bird Is The Word For “Do, Re & Mi” Creators

September 13th, 2021

Jackson Murphy

New Amazon Prime Video animated series Do, Re & Mi is a fun musical comedy about three birds and their love of friendship, adventure and music. This has been a passion project for co-creators Jackie Tohn and Michael Scharf for nearly a decade. To say they’re excited for the show to finally premiere this Friday September 17th is an understatement. (This interview was edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: This show was greenlit three years ago. What amazed you the most about this entire process of making this show over the last three years?

Jackie Tohn: Well what’s interesting is: Mike brought me in on this show in 2013 or 2014.

Michael Scharf: Between the two. Yeah.

NEW TRAILER: Locksmith’s “Ron’s Gone Wrong”

September 9th, 2021

Jerry Beck

Here’s new trailer and poster from 20th Century Studios’ and Locksmith Animation’s Ron’s Gone Wrong. Liam Payne’s new single Sunshine can be heard in the trailer and is featured in the film. Ron’s Gone Wrong opens in theaters around the world October 22nd. Take a look:

FIRST LOOK: Netflix “A Tale Dark & Grimm”

September 9th, 2021

Jerry Beck

The trailer, first look images and premiere date for the new Netflix’s animated comedy series A Tale Dark & Grimm has been announced. Directed by Simon Otto (Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia) and based on the best-selling book series by Adam Gidwitz, the animated series follows Hansel and Gretel as they run away from home to find better parents…or at least ones who won’t chop off their heads! A Tale Dark & Grimm will premiere October 8th, 2021.

INTERVIEW: “Twenty Something” Is Something To Talk About

September 8th, 2021

Jackson Murphy

Aphton Corbin is the director of the new hand-drawn Pixar short Twenty Something, which premieres this Friday September 10th on Disney+. It’s about a memorable 21st Birthday for Gia, who looks to her past for guidance on her future. Corbin, a story artist on Soul, shares with me her joy in making Twenty Something and teases her next big task at the studio.

Jackson Murphy: The setting is a nightclub, which is a more mature setting than what we usually see in Pixar content. Did you kind of think, ‘Maybe I’m breaking new ground here’ in terms of making this the setting of your Pixar short?

Aphton Corbin: I did think about that. It was a tad bit of a worry, to be honest. I didn’t want to alienate any age group when making this. I just tried to think of the most uncomfortable or, I guess, adult setting to place a kid in. At first it was an office and I was thinking, ‘I feel like we’ve treaded that ground a lot of times in a lot of cool animated films.’ For me, I think going out and socializing… back then… now it sounds great, but back then, going to a club… my introverted side was like, “Ooh, anything but that!” It felt like such a great place as a 21-year-old marker to have to be flung into. I kept it very PG. Nothing crazy.

INTERVIEW: “The Smurfs” Stay True Blue With New Series

September 3rd, 2021

Jackson Murphy

Nickelodeon’s new CG The Smurfs series debuts with a sneak peek episode this Monday September 6th at 12:30pm. Official series premiere is Friday September 10th at 7:30pm. Writers Peter Saisselin and Amy Serafin pick-up the ball after Sony’s trio of recent features and give these characters the chance to shine — and be themselves — for a new generation.

Jackson Murphy: Peter, tell me about the origins of this series and coming off of three big animated/family films that played really well around the world.

Peter Saisselin: Peyo Productions… and the family that has the rights to The Smurfs, thought it was a natural choice to go from the movies because of their success, into a series. It just made sense. That 1980s series is still sold and watched the world over today. A lot of seasons. It was time to revisit, renew and start anew. Amy and I were fortunate enough to be called and we did our best.

WarnerMedia Kids & Family Launches “ACME Night”, Sundays on Cartoon Network

September 1st, 2021

Jerry Beck

WarnerMedia Kids & Family announced today the launch of ACME Night, an ultimate entertainment destination for families every Sunday starting Sept. 19 at 6:00 p.m. ET/PT on Cartoon Network. The newest programming block, named after the fictional corporation made famous by the Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote cartoons, kicks off with the premiere of the Warner Bros. hit DC superhero feature film, Shazam. ACME Night will start off every week with family friendly blockbusters that include Man of Steel, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Sherlock Gnomes, Detective Pikachu, Scoob! and more. As part of the WarnerMedia Kids & Family content commitment to appeal to everyone in the household, ACME Night will be reserved for families to sit down together every Sunday beginning at 6:00 p.m. ET/PT for a lineup of library favorites and upcoming new originals. ACME Night programming will also be available on HBO Max starting next year.

TRAILER: Disney Channel’s “The Ghost and Molly McGee”

August 31st, 2021

Jerry Beck

Disney Channel has ordered a second season of animated buddy-comedy The Ghost and Molly McGee ahead of its series premiere on Friday Oct. 1st (9:35 p.m. EDT), on Disney Channel. Created and executive produced by Bill Motz and Bob Roth (LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures), along with executive producer Steve Loter (Kim Possible), the series follows tween optimist Molly, who lives to make the world a better place, and grumpy ghost Scratch, whose job is to spread misery. The first season will also welcome guest stars Kelsey Grammer (“Cheers”), Natasha Rothwell (“Insecure”), Greta Gerwig (“Lady Bird”), Yvette Nicole Brown (“Community”) and Jane Lynch (“Glee”). New episodes roll out Saturdays (9:00 a.m. ET) through Nov. 27 on Disney Channel, with episodes available in October on Disney+. Take a look:

Asifa-Hollywood’s Animation Educators Forum Announce 2021 Faculty Grant Recipients

August 31st, 2021

Jerry Beck

The International Animated Film Society, ASIFA-Hollywood’s Animation Educators Forum (AEF) has awarded its Fifth Annual Faculty Grants to Ana Mouyis (University of Louisiana at Lafayette), Alexander Sergeant (University of Portsmouth), Mette Peters (University of the Arts Utrecht), Paul Taberham (Arts University Bournemouth), Javad Khajavi (Maynooth University), Timothy Jones (Robert Morris University), Anitha Balachandran (Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design and Technology), João Paulo Schlittler (University of São Paulo) and Raquel Coelho (San Jose State University). Total funds distributed to this year’s recipients was $24,880.

TRAILER: DreamWorks Animation “The Croods: Family Tree”

August 31st, 2021

Jerry Beck

DreamWorks Animation today announced the series, cast and official trailer for the all new The Croods: Family Tree series, inspired by the hit film The Croods: A New Age, premieres on Hulu and Peacock September 23. Here’s our first look:

INTERVIEW: “Sharkdog” Makes End Of Summer Splash

August 30th, 2021

Jackson Murphy

The new Netflix animated family series Sharkdog, premiering this Friday September 3rd, comes from creator Jacinth Tan Yi Ting. She came-up with the show’s concept under the most unique of circumstances… and thoroughly impressed the people at Nickelodeon and Netflix. I spoke with her over Zoom from her home in Singapore, a place I immediately wanted to visit after seeing 2018’s Crazy Rich Asians. (This interview was edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: What’s the best thing about Singapore?

Jacinth Tan Yi Ting: Well, in light of this current COVID situation, the best thing would still be… how clean and safe the place is. I feel like I could go out at night and there’s no worry that I would get into any trouble. Also, this place is beautiful.’

Kidding Around: The 80th Anniversary of 1941’s Orphans’ Benefit

August 24th, 2021

Michael Lyons

At one time, re-makes at Disney were rare. Today, we are used to seeing and expecting a new live-action version of the studio’s classic animated films. In the studio’s early days, Walt and his artists were more focused on original output. This makes the 1941 Mickey Mouse short subject, Orphans’ Benefit, even more of a rarity. Initially produced in black and white in 1934, the short was remade in Technicolor in 1941. Both have contained very iconic moments for Mickey and the gang, and this month marks the 80th anniversary of this color re-make.

TEASER TRAILER: “Maya And The Three”

August 24th, 2021

Jerry Beck

From creator Jorge R. Gutiérrez (El Tigre, Book Of Life), Maya And The Three is a Netflix Animated Event told in nine epic chapters. Set in a fictional fantasy world, Maya And The Three is an adventure full of heart and humor, inspired by a rich, vibrant mixture of Aztec, Maya, and Inca mythology, and modern-day Caribbean culture. Here’s our first look:

Barnyard Bluster: 75 Years of Foghorn Leghorn

August 20th, 2021

Michael Lyons

In his most famous quote, actor Konstantin Stanislavski once said: “There are no small parts, only small actors.” As hard as it is to imagine, this is true of none other than Foghorn Leghorn. The loud, overbearing, blustery rooster made his first appearance seventy-five years ago this month in the 1946 Warner Bros. Cartoon short, Walky Talky Hawky. He wasn’t the star of that short, that was Henery Hawk, but Foghorn’s very animated appearance made such an indelible impact on audiences, he would soon be the standout star.

INTERVIEW: Making “Cryptozoo” Come Alive

August 18th, 2021

Jackson Murphy

Writer-director Dash Shaw and animation director Jane Samborski (a real-life couple who previously collaborated on 2016’s My Entire High School Sinking Into the Sea) present the new adult animated feature Cryptozoo. Its distinct story and plethora of animation styles make for a one of a kind experience. Magnolia Pictures acquired the distribution rights following the film’s Sundance premiere in January, where it also won a special award. Cryptozoo opens in select theaters and is available for at-home viewing this Friday August 20th. Shaw and Samborski joined me over Zoom to discuss this ambitious movie. (This interview was edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: Wow. It is a ride! It is fun!

Dash Shaw: We wanted it to be a ride for sure.