Rob Hoegee is the executive producer and main writer of the new animated series Stillwater, which premieres this Friday December 4th on AppleTV+. It’s based on a book about a panda whose stories, teachings and life experiences open the eyes of three kids. This is a refreshingly calm show, making it an instant standout. (This […]
Archive for November, 2020
INTERVIEW: Rob Hoegee Reflects on New AppleTV+ Series “Stillwater”
November 30th, 2020 
Jackson Murphy 
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ASIFA-Hollywood Announced Today its ‘Call for Judges’
November 30th, 2020 Jerry Beck ASIFA-Hollywood announced today its ‘Call for Judges’ for the 48th Virtual Annie Awards. Applicants must have an established career in animation and exemplary professional credentials in at least one of the Annie Award categories. Individuals in the animation community, who are interested in being a nomination committee judge, will find the application at members.asifa-hollywood.org/judge-application.
Netflix Announces “Back To The Outback” for Fall 2021
November 30th, 2020 Jerry Beck Netflix announced today that the new animated film Back To The Outback, will make its global debut in Fall 2021. The comedy adventure marks the directorial debuts of filmmakers Clare Knight and Harry Cripps, and stars the voice of Isla Fisher, Tim Minchin, Eric Bana, Guy Pearce, Wayne Knight, and Academy Award Nominee Jacki Weaver. […]
Thanksgiving “Cat”-astrophe: Tom & Jerry in “The Little Orphan”
November 27th, 2020 Michael Lyons Even during this socially distant Thanksgiving we just experienced, the trope of unwelcome guests still surfaced (after all, they could still always arrive via video conference!). This aspect of the holiday even surfaced in a classic Tom & Jerry cartoon from 1948 entitled The Little Orphan, in which the cat and mouse team welcome the […]
INTERVIEW: “Angela’s Christmas Wish” Director On Lighting Up The Holidays
November 25th, 2020 Jackson Murphy Damien O’Connor was nominated for an Emmy for the 2017 holiday special Angela’s Christmas. Now he’s written and directed a sequel special. Angela’s Christmas Wish debuts this Tuesday December 1st on Netflix. O’Connor hopes it brings families some warmth and comfort over this holiday season. Jackson Murphy: We’ve had Frosty Returns and Prep & Landing: […]
Amy Friedman and Sundance Feniger Elevated To Key Kids Programming Posts at Warner Bros.
November 24th, 2020 Jerry Beck Amy Friedman has been named Head of Kids & Family Programming, Warner Bros., announced today by Tom Ascheim, President of Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics at Warner Bros., to whom she reports. In her newly created role, Friedman will oversee the creative and strategic guidance on kids and family programming for Cartoon Network and […]
A “Special” look at Prehistoric Times: “B.C. The First Thanksgiving”
November 20th, 2020 Michael Lyons When A Charlie Brown Christmas aired on CBS fifty-five years ago, it was a huge ratings hit and seen by 45% of those watching television that evening. Soon, other networks started looking for a similar success. They wanted their “blockbuster holiday special.” Since imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and the theory that “if […]
INTERVIEW: Director Joel Crawford on “The Croods: A New Age”
November 19th, 2020 Jackson Murphy It’s been more than seven and a half years since DreamWorks Animation released The Croods, the caveman family adventure comedy that earned nearly $600 million worldwide and an Oscar nomination. A sequel has been in development, on and off, ever since. Now, finally, The Croods: A New Age is here and will be opening in […]
INTERVIEW: The Chiodo Brothers Present “Alien Xmas”
November 18th, 2020 Jackson Murphy Director Stephen Chiodo and producer Edward Chiodo are behind the new stop-motion animated special Alien Xmas. It premieres this Friday November 20th on Netflix. The Chiodo Bros. hope families make this a holiday season viewing tradition, right alongside the classics. Jackson Murphy: Where did Alien Xmas come from and how did you first translate this […]
Heritage Offering Original Artwork for Fleischer Studios’ “Superman” Cartoons
November 18th, 2020 Jerry Beck Here they are, compiled by Dallas-based Heritage Auctions for the Dec. 11-13 Animation Art event. More than 50 original pieces from the Fleischer’s run on Superman, amassed from two separate collections never before available to the public, create the largest assemblage ever to come to auction. Jim Lentz, Heritage’s Director Animation Art, says the 28 […]
LAAF Launches New Distribution Label with Two International Animation Features, THE LAST FICTION and SHe
November 18th, 2020 Jerry Beck L.A-based distribution label LAAF (an off-shoot of the Los Angeles Animation Festival and FilmFest Distribution) drops festival feature film favorites The Last Fiction and SHe just in time for the holidays. Many wonderful international animated features still find it hard to acquire US distribution – and that’s where the newly launched LAAF label comes in. […]
Baobab Studios announces “The Art of Baobab: The Beginning”
November 18th, 2020 Jerry Beck To celebrate their five-year anniversary, Baobab Studios are proud to announce that for the first time, they are publishing a compilation of over 230 pieces of never-before-seen art that went into the making of their award-winning projects. Entitled The Art of Baobab: The Beginning and written by Jacob Johnston with a foreword by Baobab co-founder […]
TRAILER: Warner Bros. New Hybrid “Tom & Jerry” Movie
November 17th, 2020 Jerry Beck Coming to theaters in 2021 – a live action/animation Tom & Jerry theatrical feature. Directed by Tim Story (Fantastic Four, Think Like a Man, Barbershop) and produced by Chris DeFaria (The LEGO Movie 2, Ready Player One, Gravity). A Warner Animation Group presentation, Tom & Jerry will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures. Here’s […]
INTERVIEW: Directors Talk Netflix Short “If Anything Happens, I Love You”
November 17th, 2020 Jackson Murphy Netflix is debuting three new animated short films over the next month and a half that they will also be putting up for major awards consideration. The first is If Anything Happens, I Love You, directed by Michael Govier and Will McCormack. The two discuss their intentions and emotions behind the short, which is about […]
INTERVIEW: Composers Julie and Steven Bernstein Return For “Animaniacs” Reboot
November 16th, 2020 Jackson Murphy Fans of the classic animated series Animaniacs rejoice! The new reboot season premieres this Friday November 20th on Hulu. Married, Emmy-winning composers Julie and Steven Bernstein are back to score the latest antics of the Warner Brothers (and the Warner Sister). Steven Bernstein: When we heard the show was coming back, it was little by […]
