Production has begun on “Mira, Royal Detective,” an animated mystery adventure series for preschoolers slated to debut on Disney Junior channels and programming blocks around the world in 2020. Set in the magical Indian-inspired land of Jalpur, the series follows the brave and resourceful Mira, a commoner who is appointed to the role of royal […]
Archive for November, 2018
INTERVIEW: Director Mamoru Hosoda on His Latest Masterwork, “Mirai”
November 29th, 2018 
W.R. Miller Four-year-old Kun has a problem—or so he thinks. Mom has brought home a baby sister, Mirai. Now his parents are giving lots of attention to her—attention he feels he deserves. Feeling rejected, Kun decides to run away. But when he goes as far as the family’s garden, he meets a visitor from the future: his […]
INTERVIEW: Producer Christina Steinberg Crosses Into the “Spider-Verse”
November 28th, 2018 Jackson Murphy It may be the last major studio animated movie release of 2018 (opening Dec. 14th), but Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is also one of the most original and highly-anticipated. Combining a wide variety of narrative and artistic techniques, this film takes Spider-Man/Marvel fans places never previously imagined. Producer Christina Steinberg was part of this highly-ambitious […]
RIP ‘Spongebob’ Creator Stephen Hillenberg
November 27th, 2018 Jerry Beck Stephen Hillenberg, the creator of Nickelodeon’s Spongebob Squarepants passed away yesterday, November 26th, from complications from ALS. To say he was one of the nicest guys in animation would be an understatement. He will be sorely missed. He was not only a cartoonist and animator, but a marine biologist and teacher as well. Born in […]
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Netflix Unveils 2019 Anime Highlights
November 27th, 2018 Jerry Beck Netflix continues to successfully expand its original Anime programming and today, during the Anime Lineup Presentation event at Akiba Theatre in Tokyo, presented some exciting highlights for the upcoming year. Today’s announcements join Netflix’ ever-growing slate of Anime, including this year’s series DEVILMAN crybaby and B: The Beginning. Over the course of 2019, viewers everywhere […]
SHORTS WATCH: Animator Perry Chen on “Changyou’s Journey”
November 23rd, 2018 Jackson Murphy Perry Chen began his journey in the world of animation as a film critic. Today, the 18-year-old freshman at U.C. Irvine is the director of an acclaimed animated short film about the life of his father. Chen is hoping Changyou’s Journey continues to have an impact on audiences and makes it all the way to […]
Universal Announces Content for New “Woody Woodpecker” YouTube Channel
November 22nd, 2018 Jerry Beck The sound of Woody Woodpecker’s distinct and infectious laughter is about to ring out on his three dedicated YouTube channels – in each of Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish and English! These upcoming adventures are the newest Woody Woodpecker episodes 46 years after the last classic cartoons were released, 16 years after the three modern Woody Woodpecker […]
Heritage Auctions Signature Animation Sale features Mary Blair and Dan Haskett
November 22nd, 2018 Jerry Beck Heritage Auctions has put online hundreds of new lots coinciding with their upcoming December 8th and 9th signature animation auction in Beverly Hills. In addition to a voluminous amount of rare Disney art, the auction features numerous intriguing pieces from Warner Bros., Fleischer, Peanuts, MGM, Bakshi and others. Of special noter, a selection of pencil […]
Warner Archive Collection Releases “POPEYE THE SAILOR: The 1940s” Vol. 1
November 21st, 2018 Jerry Beck Big news for classic cartoon fans, collectors and anyone who loves to laugh: Warner Archive Collection has just announced the release date – December 11th, 2018 – of POPEYE THE SAILOR: The 1940s Vol. 1. It’s a continuation of the Popeye cartoon series from Paramount’s Famous Studios in 1943-1945 – collecting the sailor’s the earliest […]
TRAILER #2 for “The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part”
November 20th, 2018 Jerry Beck The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part reunites the heroes of Bricksburg in an all new action-packed adventure to save their beloved city. The film is directed by Mike Mitchell (Shrek Ever After, Trolls, Sky High). It is produced by Dan Lin, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller and Roy Lee, the team behind the LEGO film […]
ANIME REVIEW: Prequels and Sequels to “Free!”
November 19th, 2018 Charles Solomon The adventures of the swimmers in the Free! (2013) series proved so popular, they spawned follow-up series and feature films High Speed! Free! Starting Days (2015) is a prequel to the original series: Four talented young athletes enter Iwatobi Middle School. Kind, soft-spoken Makoto (Johnny Yong Bosch) tries to look after everyone. Introverted Haruka (Todd […]
Happy Birthday Mickey: “Surprise”! (Advance Clip)
November 16th, 2018 Jerry Beck This Sunday, November 18th is officially Mickey Mouse’s birthday. That was the date in 1928 the first Mickey Mouse short, Steamboat Willie, was screened publicly and transformed the little mouse and Minnie – as well as his creator Walt Disney – into an overnight superstars. In celebration of Mickey’s 90th birthday, the Emmy Award-winning “Mickey […]
INTERVIEW: Composers Talk “The Loud House: Really Loud Music” (with Exclusive Clip)
November 16th, 2018 Jackson Murphy When the producers of Nickelodeon’s The Loud House decided to do a special musical episode, they reached-out to a familiar team. Award-winning songwriters Michelle Lewis and Doug Rockwell collaborated on “The Loud House” theme song a few years ago. For the new special, Really Loud Music, Lewis and Rockwell crafted more than a dozen pop […]
ANIME REVIEW: “Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood”
November 16th, 2018 Charles Solomon Hiromu Arakawa’s “Fullmetal Alchemist” was one of the first successful adventure manga created by a woman. Ordinarily, the animated versions would be classified as shonen (boy’s) series, but the complex characters and intriguing plot attracted fans of both genders—on both sides of the Pacific. “Fullmetal” centers on the prodigies Edward and Alphonse Elric. The boys […]
INTERVIEW: John Kahrs on His Google VR Experience “Age Of Sail”
November 15th, 2018 Jackson Murphy In 2013, John Kahrs won an Academy Award for directing the acclaimed Disney short film Paperman. His latest animated short is Google Spotlight Stories‘ VR experience, Age of Sail. Kahrs and I set sail for a Q&A on one of the year’s most ambitious animated efforts: Jackson Murphy: This is a very specific story. It’s […]
