The studio Rankin/Bass conjures up comfortable, Christmas images of Rudolph, Frosty and Santa, but many forget that the Studio also brought the Jackson 5 to Saturday Morning television, with a landmark animated series based on the iconic musical group during the heyday of their juggernaut popularity. The Jackson 5ive show, which debuted on ABC on […]
Archive for January, 2021
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INTERVIEW: “Sh_t Happens” Directors on Vibrant Contender Short
January 29th, 2021 
Jackson Murphy Michaela Mihalyi and David Stumpf are the directors of the wild animated short film with a memorable title: Sh_t Happens. After successful Sundance and Venice showings, this saga of a man, his wife, a deer and the terrible things that can happen in the average day, is vying for Oscar and Annie Awards consideration. Mihalyi […]
Paramount+ to Debut “Spongebob” Movie and Prequel Series “Kamp Koral” March 4th
January 28th, 2021 Jerry Beck Paramount+, the highly anticipated streaming service from ViacomCBS, today announced that both The Spongebob Movie: Sponge On The Run and all-new Paramount+ Original Series KAMP KORAL: SPONGEBOB’S UNDER YEARS will premiere on the service on Thursday, March 4th. The Spongebob Movie: Sponge On The Run will also be released by Paramount Home Entertainment for Premium […]
Netflix Announces Animated Feature: Minkyu Lee’s “The Witch Boy”
January 28th, 2021 Jerry Beck Netflix’s newest animated musical feature was announced today, and it is The Witch Boy. Directed by Oscar-nominated director Minkyu Lee (Adam and Dog), the film is based on the NYT best selling graphic novel series of the same title by Molly Knox Ostertag. Three-time Grammy Award nominated band Haim is attached to write music for […]
INTERVIEW: “Raya” Directors and Writer Preview Disney’s Upcoming Feature
January 26th, 2021 Jackson Murphy On March 5th, Disney will release its latest animated feature Raya and the Last Dragon in theaters and on Disney+ Premier Access. The studio recently gave members of the press an exclusive first look at 30 minutes of footage, along with special presentations from the makers. One of those was a “How to Draw Tuk […]
2021 Sundance Film Festival Animated Shorts Preview
January 25th, 2021 Jackson Murphy The Sundance Film Festival is one of the most prestigious events in entertainment. It’s an annual destination for movie fans and studio execs to see some big films first. Careers of actors and directors are born here… specifically in Park City, Utah. It may be hard to believe but Sundance did happen in person last […]
INTERVIEW: Cartoon Curator Bill from MeTV’s “Toon In With ME”
January 25th, 2021 Jerry Beck 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”, […]
Spot On! The 60th Anniversary of Disney’s “One Hundred and One Dalmatians”
January 22nd, 2021 Michael Lyons When Walt Disney’s One Hundred and One Dalmatians opened on January 25, 1961, it was a “first” in so many ways. For the first time, a Disney animated feature would have a contemporary setting; it would also be the first “non-musical” animated feature to come from the Studio and the first time Disney was using […]
Netflix Acquires Worldwide Rights to Sony Animation’s “The Mitchells vs. The Machines”
January 21st, 2021 Jerry Beck Netflix has acquired worldwide rights (excluding China) to The Mitchells vs. The Machines (formerly Connected) from Sony Pictures Animation. The original animated comedy is produced by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller whose film, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, won the 2019 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. The film stars Danny McBride, Abbi Jacobson, Maya Rudolph, […]
INTERVIEW: Adam Peltzman on Adapting P.D. Eastman Classic “Go, Dog, Go!” for Netflix
January 21st, 2021 Jackson Murphy Exactly 60 years after the release of the iconic book Go, Dog. Go!, DreamWorks and WildBrain have teamed-up for a new TV show adaptation, premiering this Tuesday January 26th on Netflix. Executive Producer Adam Peltzman is honored to shepherd this project and shares behind the scenes details on creating the stories, characters and town of… […]
TRAILER: “Pixar Popcorn” for Disney+
January 19th, 2021 Jerry Beck In honor of National Popcorn Day, Disney+ shared the trailer for Pixar Popcorn, which premieres Friday, January 22nd exclusively on Disney+. The collection of 10 mini shorts features characters from Pixar favorites like “Toy Story,” “Finding Nemo,” “Cars” and “The Incredibles” in all-new, bite-size stories created by Pixar Animation Studios’ talented animators. Here’s the first […]
Chill-Out: Winter with Your Favorite Cartoon Stars
January 15th, 2021 Michael Lyons It’s winter, once again. We’re “stuck inside” with nothing to do but watch TV. You’d think after this lifestyle being such a part of last year, we would be used to it, but it’s still easy to develop “cabin fever” and have an urgent need to get out and do something exciting…like walk to the […]
New “Looney Tunes Cartoons” Drop on HBO Max Thursday, Jan. 21st
January 14th, 2021 Jerry Beck Get ready for more mayhem because the Looney Tunes are back at it again with their newest batch of episodes premiering on HBO Max Thursday, Jan. 21st. Taz stars in his first full-length Looney Tunes Cartoons short when he takes on Bugs Bunny in a Roman coliseum. If Bugs makes it out of the arena, […]
INTERVIEW: Learn The Spiritual Story of “Kapaemahu”
January 14th, 2021 Jackson Murphy Kapaemahu has been making waves across the festival circuit, picking up several major honors. Now this animated short from Hawaii, about four extraordinary mahu and the stones that have honored them for hundreds of years, is vying for Annie and Oscar consideration. Directors Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Joe Wilson and Dean Hamer have poured themselves into the […]
INTERVIEW: Saddle Up For Disney’s “Dino Ranch”
January 13th, 2021 Jackson Murphy Matt Fernandes is the creator of the new animated family series Dino Ranch. It premieres this Monday January 18th at 12:30pm on Disney Junior. Fernandes discusses inspirations (including some you may not expect) and why this is the perfect time for an animated series that brings two big worlds (westerns and dinos) together. Matt Fernandes: […]
