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”, […]

TRAILER: “Star Wars: Visions”

August 17th, 2021

Jerry Beck

Today, Disney+ debuted the trailer and announced the Japanese and English dub voice casts for Star Wars: Visions, an upcoming anthology series from Lucasfilm that tells new Star Wars stories through the singular style and tradition of Japanese anime. Disney+ also released four exciting images from the trailer. The new trailer provides a glimpse of the captivating tone and stunning visuals from each of the animated shorts, which can all be viewed both with the original Japanese voice cast or the English dub cast when the series launches on Disney+ on September 22nd.

INTERVIEW: “The Loud House Movie” Director On Exploring Scotland Loud

August 17th, 2021

Jackson Murphy

Dave Needham directs new feature-length The Loud House Movie, which premieres this Friday August 20th on Netflix. The popular Nickelodeon family heads from Royal Woods to Scotland to learn more about their ancestry. I conducted Needham’s first interview about the film, which he hopes fans of the TV series embrace. (This Q&A was edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: How did you go from working as a story artist on some big DreamWorks and Warner Bros. animated movies like The Boss Baby, Trolls, The LEGO Batman Movie and Smallfoot to now coming into The Loud House world and making this your directorial feature debut?

Dave Needham: Well, it’s been a *long* journey, I’ll tell you that. I’ve worked in animation for about 20 years and the first 10 years was all TV, in the U.K. mostly. I was an art director. I’ve been a character designer. I moved onto story and worked in development. And when I moved to the States 10 years ago, I worked exclusively in features as a story artist and was lucky enough to work on the movies you just mentioned. All of them formed an experience that… every step of the way you learn something more. I was Head of Story on Smallfoot and from there made the still significantly large step into directing my first feature, which is honestly the most fun you can ever have. I love this job.

Thoughts on Anime: “Evangelion: 3.0 + 1.01: Thrice Upon a Time”

August 17th, 2021

Charles Solomon

After twenty-five years of fans debating, discussing, speculating and impatiently waiting, Hideaki Anno finally brings his Evangelion saga to a conclusion in the feature Evangelion: 3.0 + 1.01: Thrice Upon a Time, airing on Amazon Prime.

The broadcast series Neon Genesis Evangelion debuted in October, 1995. Eerie female voices exhorted, “Zankoku na tenshi no you ni, shounen yo shinwa ni nare” (“Like a cruel angel become a legend, young boy”). When 14-year-old Shinji Akari arrived in Neo-Tokyo 3 to meet Misato, an officer who would look after him, humanity was locked in a deadly struggle against monstrously powerful creatures called Angels. Only the Evangelions or “Evas,” gigantic cyborgs guided by psychic teenagers, could defeat them. Shinji had been drafted by his brutal, scheming father to become a pilot.

WarnerMedia Kids & Family Sets Sept. 13 for “Cartoonito” Preschool Block on HBO Max and Cartoon Network

August 16th, 2021

Jerry Beck

Just in time for the school year, WarnerMedia Kids & Family will launch the Cartoonito preschool block Monday, Sept. 13th on HBO Max and Cartoon Network. The new block offers a modern approach to preschool programming with its proprietary educational framework, Humancentric Learning. A growing roster of new and library series will add to a slate that celebrates individuality and originality, while championing creativity, compassion and inclusion.

On HBO Max, Cartoonito programming will be presented as a dedicated page featuring a collection of new preschool shows including Little Ellen and the second season of the The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo, along with other staples, Esme & Roy, Sesame Street and more. Cartoonito on Cartoon Network will be available Monday-Friday (6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. ET/PT) and will include new series Bing, Mush-Mush & The Mushables and Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go. Preschoolers and families can also tune in Saturday-Sunday (6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. ET/PT) for additional new Cartoonito shows including Lucas the Spider.

Juried Award Recommendations For The 49th Annie Awards Now Being Accepted

August 16th, 2021

Jerry Beck

ASIFA-Hollywood announced today that it will begin accepting recommendations for this year’s Juried Award nominations honoring career achievement and exceptional contributions to animation. Applications may be submitted now through Tuesday, November 16, 2021 via email at info@asifa-hollywood.org or mailed to the ASIFA-Hollywood offices at 2416 W. Victory Blvd., #245, Burbank, CA 91506. The Juried Award recipients will be honored during the 49th Annie Awards set for Saturday, February 26, 2022 at UCLA’s Royce Hall.

INTERVIEW: “Paw Patrol: The Movie” Duo On Paw-some New Feature

August 16th, 2021

Jackson Murphy

Paw Patrol is the latest popular Nickelodeon animated series to get the feature film treatment. You can see Paw Patrol: The Movie in theaters, and watch it on Paramount+, starting this Friday August 20th. Director Cal Brunker and co-writer Bob Barlen (Escape From Planet Earth, The Nut Job 2: Nutty By Nature) discuss amping up the franchise to give fans of all ages an entertaining new chapter.

Jackson Murphy: My cousin is three years old. He loves Chase. He is obsessed with this show. It’s his favorite show. And I cannot wait for him to see this movie… because he will love it. How has the series impacted you?

Cal Brunker: I’ve got a six-year-old and a three-year-old, so we are in the eye of the hurricane in terms of Paw right now. At our house we’re stepping over vehicles and walking around the tower in the living room. So I got to see my kids loving the show. I watched it with them, obviously, as you do. When we had a chance to get involved with the movie, my goal from a directing standpoint and our goal as writers was to try and keep our younger audience engaged in the same way they are with the show while expanding the theatrical experience to feel like it could be for the whole family. Trying to take what my kids love about the show, keep that in there but also expand the scope and the excitement and emotion for a broader audience as well. So hopefully the older siblings, the parents, everybody gets something out of this movie, like a true family film.

Thank God It’s Friday…the 13th: “Bad Luck Blackie”

August 13th, 2021

Michael Lyons

Forget about a slasher in a hockey mask running amuck through a summer camp, the most impactful icon of the superstitions connected with Friday the 13th might just be a cute little kitten. In Bad Luck Blackie, the classic MGM cartoon from 1949, a kitten is befriended by the titular black cat, creating bad luck for a malicious bulldog. With Friday the 13th upon us, it’s the perfect day to celebrate this most celebrated short subject. Maybe watching it will bring some luck…or, at the very least, laughs.

TRAILER: Netflix Animated LGBTQ+ Comedy “Q-Force”

August 12th, 2021

Jerry Beck

Q-Force centers around Steve Maryweather, AKA Agent Mary (Sean Hayes), who was once the Golden Boy of the American Intelligence Agency (AIA), until he came out as gay. Unable to fire him, the Agency, headed up by Director Dirk Chunley (Gary Cole), sent him off to West Hollywood, to disappear into obscurity. Instead, he assembled a misfit squad of LGBTQ+ geniuses. Joining forces with the expert mechanic Deb (Wanda Sykes), master of drag and disguise Twink (Matt Rogers), and hacker Stat (Patti Harrison), together they’re Q-Force. Under the watchful eye of their handler V (Laurie Metcalf), Q-Force and their reluctant AIA babysitter Agent Buck (David Harbour) continually tackle the world of crime they were so long denied.

TRAILER: Warner Bros. “Night of The Animated Dead”

August 12th, 2021

Jerry Beck

The animated recreation of George A. Romero’s 1968 horror classic is coming September 21, 2021 to Digital and October 5, 2021 to Blu-ray Combo Pack & DVD from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. In Night of the Animated Dead, siblings Barbara and Johnny visit their father’s grave in a remote cemetery in Pennsylvania when they are suddenly set upon by zombies. Barbara flees and takes refuge in an abandoned farmhouse along with stranded motorist Ben and four local survivors found hiding in the cellar. Together, the group must fight to stay alive against the oncoming horde of zombies while also confronting their own fears and prejudices.

“Looney Tunes Cartoons Back to School Special” Premieres Thursday, Aug. 19th

August 12th, 2021

Jerry Beck

The laughs are in session when Bugs, Daffy, Porky and the Looney Tunes head back to class in the Looney Tunes Cartoons Back to School Special premiering Thursday, August 19 on HBO Max. In this special episode, Daffy learns that cheaters never prosper, Foghorn Leghorn discovers the pencil is mightier than the sword, and Beaky masters how to be a better buzzard.

Nickelodeon’s “Smurfs” To Debut September 10th

August 12th, 2021

Jerry Beck

Blue and small, and standing only three apples tall, The Smurfs are set to make their Nickelodeon debut in an all-new series premiering Friday, Sept. 10, at 7:30 p.m. (ET/PT). The news was announced today by Nickelodeon, the number-one network for kids, and LAFIG Belgium and IMPS, the worldwide licensors for The Smurfs, alongside the official trailer reveal for the CG-animated series, which follows the beloved characters embarking upon rousing adventures. All-new episodes will continue to rollout Friday nights on Nickelodeon and debut internationally in the fall.

Jason DeMarco Named Sr. VP Anime and Action Series/Longform for WB Animation and Cartoon Network Studios

August 10th, 2021

Jerry Beck

Warner Bros. announced today that Jason DeMarco has taken on a newly expanded role joining Warner Bros. Animation (WBA) and Cartoon Network Studios (CNS) as Senior Vice President, Anime and Action Series/Longform. DeMarco will also continue his role at Adult Swim as Senior Vice President, Head of Anime and Action Series. DeMarco will report to both Sam Register, President, Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios and Michael Ouweleen, President, Adult Swim.

Jason DeMarco

49th Annual Annie Awards Call for Entries

August 9th, 2021

Jerry Beck

The official kick-off to Awards Season begins today as the International Animated Film Society, ASIFA-Hollywood, announces its ‘Call for Entries’ for the 49th Annual Annie Awards. Honoring excellence in the field of animation, the 49th Annual Annie Awards will be presented in 36 categories including Animated Feature, Animated Feature-Independent, TV/Media Production, Sponsored Production, Short Subject, and Student Film, as well as Achievement and Honorary awards. The ceremony will be held on Saturday, February 26th, 2022, at UCLA’s Royce Hall.

Changes to this year’s rules include, the definition of episodes in the TV/Media categories; limits to the number of team members in the achievement, direction and student film categories; and clip content clarification.

INTERVIEW: Shaking-Up The MCU With Animated Series “What If…?”

August 9th, 2021

Jackson Murphy

New animated series What If…? explores how the Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline would’ve been altered if certain things happened to certain characters. The show premieres this Wednesday August 11th on Disney+ and features voice recordings from many of the live-action superhero stars, including the late Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa. Writer A.C. Bradley and director Bryan Andrews dive into taking this from page *and mind* to screen.

Jackson Murphy: This is all about the choices that we make. So A.C., what were some of the most important choices you made when it came to making this season of this series?

A.C. Bradley: Oh, that’s a really good question. I think the first choice I made was answering the damn phone. To be honest, I had just come off of 80 episodes of animation that was all an interconnected universe that we wrote inside three and a half years. So I was a little burned out… a little exhausted, and I had a trip to go backpacking through Guatemala and Belize planned. I come into Marvel. I sit down with Brad Winderbaum, our studio exec who’s amazing, and he pitched me this show and I went, “Ah… okay, I gotta change my plans.”

The Spy Who “Rock”-ed Me: The 55th Anniversary of “The Man Called Flintstone”

August 6th, 2021

Michael Lyons

Talk about a “mash-up.” Spy Films and The Flintstones, two completely different pop-culture hallmarks of the 60s, came together fifty-five years ago this month for the full-length feature, The Man Called Flintstone. Hanna-Barbera’s landmark prime time animated series about the “Modern stone-age family,” which debuted in 1960, wrapped up its run in 1966 when the studio produced this theatrical feature.