The past year has been another challenging one. However, for animation fans, there was, at times, a fraction of escape with films, TV shows, and short subjects. Additionally, there have been many milestones for movies and TV shows that have been marked throughout the year. This column has celebrated such anniversaries as the 20th of […]
Archive for December, 2021
Animated Anniversaries: Looking Back at Some Other 2021 Milestones
December 31st, 2021 
Michael Lyons 
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INTERVIEW: Beryl’s Back In Oscar Shortlisted “Affairs Of The Art”
December 30th, 2021 Jackson Murphy Oscar nominee Joanna Quinn (“Famous Fred”) could be on the ballot again, this time with Affairs of the Art, one of the 15 Best Animated Short Film finalists. She directs this fourth short starring the dynamic character Beryl, who previously headlined “Girls Night Out” (1987), “Body Beautiful” (1990) and “Dreams and Desires” (2006). The comedic […]
INTERVIEW: In This Corner: Oscar Short Contender “BoxBallet”
December 29th, 2021 Jackson Murphy BoxBallet is a hand-drawn short that’s one of the 15 finalists for the upcoming Best Animated Short Film Academy Award. It’s about an unconventional relationship between a ballerina and a boxer. Will they fall in love and stay together amidst the pressures of their professions? Director Anton Dyakov explains why he had to tell this […]
Both Creatures Were Stirring: The 80th Anniversary of Tom & Jerry’s “The Night Before Christmas”
December 24th, 2021 Michael Lyons There is Peace on Earth in the 1941 MGM cartoon short The Night Before Christmas. Well, if not on Earth, then at least in the world of Tom & Jerry. While the pair do their share of sparring in this Christmas-themed short, there is a moment of truce between the two, adding a break from […]
TRAILER: Apple TV+ “El Deafo” Premieres Jan 7th
December 23rd, 2021 Jerry Beck Lighthouse Studio’s El Deafo, a charming and poignant three-part animated series for kids and families, will premiere on Apple TV+ Friday, January 7th, 2021. El Deafo, based on the #1 New York Times Bestselling and Newbery Honor Winning graphic memoir, follows insightful young Cece as she loses her hearing and finds her inner superhero. Going […]
A Real “Who’s Who!” : The 55th Anniversary of TV’s “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”
December 23rd, 2021 Michael Lyons Today, the season doesn’t seem complete without at least one viewing of the iconic Christmas television special, Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas. That’s why it’s so hard to believe that when it was in production, the team bringing the beloved book to the screen couldn’t find a sponsor. Legendary animator Chuck Jones, who […]
REVIEW: “DreamWorks Dragons: The Nine Realms” – More Questions Than Answers. So Far
December 22nd, 2021 W.R. Miller When it comes to dragons, there’s no stopping DreamWorks Animation. Based on the best-selling How to Train Your Dragon novels by Cressida Cowell, the franchise has so far spawned three feature films with a combined box-office take of $1.6 billion worldwide, five short films, a “Snoggletog Log” video and a 118-episode TV series collectively titled […]
INTERVIEW: Time To Turn On “Saturday Morning All Star Hits!”
December 22nd, 2021 Jackson Murphy Saturday Night Live actor Kyle Mooney and Bento Box’s Ben Jones team-up for the new Netflix live-action/animated series Saturday Morning All Star Hits!, which is now streaming. Mooney serves as co-creator and star, playing Skip & Treybor, the hosts of “S.M.A.S.H.”, an ’80s/’90s-esque Saturday Morning Kids TV program that features episodes of original animated series. […]
INTERVIEW: The Stars of “Poupelle of Chimney Town”
December 22nd, 2021 W.R. Miller Usually an actor books a role after an audition. But there are times when actor is chosen because of their reputation, without an audition. Such is the case with the American cast of Poupelle of Chimney Town. The film stars Antonio Raul Corbo. Stephen Root voices Lubicci’s father, Bruno, who tries to inform people that […]
Nominations for The 49th Annual Awards Announced
December 21st, 2021 Jerry Beck ASIFA-Hollywood announced nominations today for its 49th Annual Annie Awards recognizing the year’s best in the field of animation. This year’s Best Animated Feature nominations include: Encanto (Walt Disney Animation Studios), Luca (Pixar Animation Studios), Raya and the Last Dragon (Walt Disney Animation Studios), Sing 2 (Illumination) and The Mitchells vs. The Machines (Sony Pictures […]
ANIME REVIEW: “Neon Genesis Evangelion”
December 21st, 2021 Charles Solomon Hideaki Anno’s Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995), which ranks among the most popular, influential and controversial series in anime history, is finally appearing on Blu-ray in two multi-disc sets from GKIDS and Shout Factory! featuring a new dub and script. A complex, compelling saga that juxtaposes mecha battles with apocalyptic Christian symbolism, Jewish mysticism and teenage […]
INTERVIEW: Open Your Eyes And Heart To “Dragons: The Nine Realms”
December 20th, 2021 Jackson Murphy Dragons: The Nine Realms is a new DreamWorks series premiering this Thursday Dec. 23 on Hulu and Peacock. Showrunner and executive producer John Tellegen gives me the 411 on this contemporary entry in the beloved franchise. Jackson Murphy: I have wonderful memories of seeing the first How to Train Your Dragon movie when it came […]
INTERVIEW: Learn About Making Of Stop-Motion “Even Mice Belong In Heaven”
December 17th, 2021 Jackson Murphy Even Mice Belong in Heaven is a new stop-motion feature now available on VOD and Digital. It’s about a mouse named Whizzy and a fox named Whitebelly who end-up… in Heaven. As they journey through different lands in the sky (including a dazzling amusement park), can these enemies actually become friends, and will they be […]
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 […]
Charles Solomon’s Animation Year End Review 2021
Although he wrote them in 1859, Charles Dickens might have been thinking of animation in 2021 when he penned the celebrated lines, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the […]