DreamWorks’ Kung Fu Panda 4 is directed by Mike Mitchell, co-directed by Stephanie Ma Stine and produced by Rebecca Huntley. I first spoke with them back in December at the launch of the film’s first trailer. Now that I’ve seen the entire movie (which opens in theaters this Friday March 8th), here’s my new Animation […]
Posts Tagged ‘Universal Pictures’
INTERVIEW: The 411 On “Kung Fu Panda 4”
March 4th, 2024 
Jackson Murphy 
Posted in Animated Features, DreamWorks, Universal 
Tags: Dreamworks Animation, Universal Pictures 
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INTERVIEW: Benjamin Renner On High-Flying “Migration”
December 15th, 2023 Jackson Murphy The Big Bad Fox and Other Tales director Benjamin Renner takes to the sky with Illumination’s new animated comedy Migration. It opens in theaters next Friday December 22nd. In this Animation Scoop Q&A, Renner talks about his love of hand-drawn and CG animation, ducky research and working with one of the most star-studded voice acting […]
INTERVIEW: “Kung Fu Panda 4” Preview With The Directors And Producer
December 13th, 2023 Jackson Murphy DreamWorks Animation’s Kung Fu Panda 4 is one of the most highly anticipated movies of 2024. It’s been eight years since Po’s last big screen adventure. Director Mike Mitchell (of Shrek Forever After and Trolls), co-director Stephanie Ma Stine (art director on How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World) and producer Rebecca Huntley (The […]
INTERVIEW: A Slice Of “Five Nights At Freddy’s”
October 17th, 2023 Jackson Murphy Universal will release the highly anticipated feature film adaptation of the popular video game franchise Five Nights at Freddy’s in theaters and on Peacock next Friday October 27th. At New York Comic Con last week, I spoke with director Emma Tammi about the horror movie starring whacked out animatronic characters at an old family entertainment […]
TRAILER: Dreamworks “Trolls Band Together”
March 28th, 2023 Jerry Beck Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake return for the new chapter in DreamWorks Animation’s blockbuster musical franchise: Trolls Band Together. The new feature is steered by returning director Walt Dohrn and producer Gina Shay, and is co-directed by Tim Heitz (head of story, Trolls World Tour). It will be released in theaters on November 17th. After […]
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 […]
TRAILER: Illumination’s “Sing 2”
June 24th, 2021 Jerry Beck Sing 2 is written and directed by acclaimed returning filmmaker Garth Jennings and features additional new characters played by music superstar Pharrell Williams, Black Panther’s Letitia Wright and comedians Eric Andre and Chelsea Peretti. The film is produced by Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri and by Janet Healy. This new chapter in Illumination’s animated […]
Executive Producers Tim Hedrick and Bret Haaland “Fast and the Furious: Spy Racers”
December 23rd, 2019 Jackson Murphy The “Fast and the Furious” franchise is getting animated with DreamWorks’ new series Fast & Furious: Spy Racers, premiering Dec. 26th on Netflix. Executive Producers Tim Hedrick and Bret Haaland share insights on their family-friendly entry in this saga – and working with Vin Diesel. Jackson Murphy: Were you fans of the “Fast & Furious” saga […]
Posted in DreamWorks, Universal Tags: Dreamworks TV Animation, Fast and Furious, Universal Pictures No Comments » Universal and Dreamworks Announce Exclusive Deals With “Dragon’s” Dean DeBlois
December 18th, 2019 Jerry Beck Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Animation today announced that the studios have entered into production agreements with Dean DeBlois, the Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe-winning filmmaker behind DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon trilogy, which has collectively grossed more than $1.6 billion globally, and his recently formed Anvil Pictures banner. Universal will have a first-look […]
FIRST LOOK: Universal, DreamWorks, Netflix “Fast & Furious: Spy Racers”
November 18th, 2019 Jerry Beck Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Animation have released first look images and announced the cast of the Netflix original series Fast & Furious: Spy Racers, based on Universal’s multi-billion dollar franchise. The series is executive produced by Vin Diesel, Neal H. Moritz, Chris Morgan, Tim Hedrick and Bret Haaland and is slated to debut on Netflix […]
Universal Launches Animation Writers Program
November 14th, 2019 Jerry Beck Universal Filmed Entertainment Group (UFEG)’s Global Talent Development & Inclusion (GTDI) department today announced the launch of the Universal Animation Writers Program, a first-of-its-kind animation writing program for both feature film and television content. The one-year, paid program will partner with business units and production entities affiliated with UFEG including DreamWorks Animation, Illumination and Universal […]
INTERVIEW: Director Chris Renaud on “The Secret Life of Pets 2”
May 22nd, 2019 Jackson Murphy Chris Renaud has been with Illumination Entertainment from the very beginning, serving as co-director (with Pierre Coffin) on the studio’s first film, 2010’s Despicable Me. He also directed 2016’s The Secret Life of Pets and is now back with the sequel, which features a superhero storyline that brought Renaud back to his roots. Jackson Murphy: […]
Posted in Illumination, Universal Tags: Illumination, The Secret Life Of Pets, Universal Pictures No Comments » Official TRAILER #2: “Despiciable Me 3”
March 14th, 2017 Jerry Beck Illumination, who brought audiences Despicable Me and the biggest animated hits of 2013 and 2015, Despicable Me 2 and Minions, continues the adventures of Gru, Lucy, their daughters — Margo, Edith and Agnes — and the Minions in Despicable Me 3. Directed by Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda, co-directed by Eric Guillon and written by […]
What The Comcast-Universal Purchase of Dreamworks Could Do For Classic Animation
Congratulations, Universal. You’ve just acquired Dreamworks Animation and all the Intellectual Property it controls. This is a purchase that places you in a stronger position to compete against the Disney company, its movie and theme park business and its massive global merchandising operation. Competition is good – and I wish you the best of luck […]