Pixar’s Luca debuts this Friday June 18th on Disney+. And if you’re in Hollywood, you can also see it on the big screen at the famous El Capitan Theatre. In my new, follow-up conversation with director Enrico Casarosa and producer Andrea Warren, we discuss the film’s casting, story challenges and most powerful moments. Jackson Murphy: […]
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INTERVIEW: “Luca” Director and Producer on Pixar’s 24th Feature
June 14th, 2021 
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FIRST LOOK: Jorge R. Gutiérrez’ “Maya and The Three”
June 11th, 2021 Jerry Beck In a fantastical world filled with magic, a Mesoamerican-inspired warrior princess embarks on an epic quest to fulfill an ancient prophecy and save humanity from the vengeful gods of the underworld. So begins Director/Creator Jorge R. Gutiérrez’ Maya and The Three, a new film announced today at the Annecy Festival. Take a look below for […]
TRAILER: Dreamworks “The Boss Baby: Family Business”
June 4th, 2021 Jerry Beck Building on the success of the first film, which earned more than $500 million worldwide, The Boss Baby: Family Business is directed by returning filmmaker Tom McGrath and is produced by Jeff Hermann (Kung Fu Panda 3). The film will debut in theaters and on Peacock on July 2nd. Here’s the trailer:
INTERVIEW: “HouseBroken” Creators On New Addition to Animation Domination Lineup
May 25th, 2021 Jackson Murphy Jennifer Crittenden, Gabrielle Allan and Clea DuVall are the creators of the new FOX animated series HouseBroken. It premieres this Monday May 31st at 9pm. All three discuss the challenges of making this pet comedy, from story ideas and character designs to pivoting during COVID and fitting in the FOX brand. (Conversation with Crittenden and […]
Disney Junior Announces “Eureka!”
March 8th, 2021 Jerry Beck Production is underway on Disney Junior’s Eureka!, an animated music-filled series about a talented young inventor living in the fantastical prehistoric world of Rocky Falls. The series is set to premiere later this year. Ruth Righi (Disney Channel’s “Sydney to the Max”) stars as the voice of title character, Eureka, with Renée Elise Goldsberry (“Hamilton”) […]
Kim Howitt Joins WarnerMedia Kids & Family as Senior Creative Executive
February 18th, 2021 Jerry Beck Kim Howitt has been named Senior Creative Executive for WarnerMedia Kids & Family, it was announced today by Amy Friedman, Head of Kids & Family Programming, Warner Bros. In the new role, Howitt will oversee the creative development of third-party animation, co-production, and live-action across preschool, kids, and family. Based in New York, Howitt will […]
Highlights from Thursday’s Animation Panels at Comic-Con @HOME
July 23rd, 2020 Jackson Murphy Animation virtual panels for San Diego Comic-Con @HOME kicked-off today. All of the conversations were streamed on YouTube. These are some the highlights: The new hand-drawn animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks was part of the core ST Comic-Con presentation. Lower Decks comes from creator, executive producer and showrunner Mike McMahan, who moderated this portion […]
Creator Brent Dawes on “Jungle Beat: The Movie”
June 15th, 2020 Jackson Murphy Nearly two decades ago, Brent Dawes created the popular Jungle Beat animated TV series. Now he’s the writer/director of the franchise’s new feature film. Sandcastle Studios’ Jungle Beat: The Movie, made in collaboration with Sunrise Productions, is a selection of the 2020 Annecy International Film Festival and is available on VOD for families to enjoy […]
Composer Kevin Kiner shares details on “Star Wars: The Clone Wars”
February 20th, 2020 Jackson Murphy Fan-favorite animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars returns for a 7th and final season starting tomorrow, February 21st, on Disney+. 5-time Emmy nominated composer Kevin Kiner shares details on the music for the new season and reflects on more than four decades of “Star Wars” in pop culture. Jackson Murphy: What’s the earliest memory […]
And the Oscar Goes to… Pixar’s “Toy Story 4” and Sony’s “Hair Love”
February 9th, 2020 Jerry Beck The Academy Award for Best Animated Feature went to Pixar’s Toy Story. Best Animated Short was awarded to Sony Animation’s “Hair Love”. Both films were indeed Oscar-worthy, but clearly the Academy adhered to its longtime traditions – favoring the commercial studio films in competition. Director director Josh Cooley and producers Jonas Rivera and Mark Nielsen […]
Talking with Creators of Disney’s “Short Circuit”
January 23rd, 2020 Jackson Murphy Anyone at Walt Disney Animation Studios could submit a blind pitch for a 2-3 minute short. The result: the first 14 films in Disney’s new Short Circuit collection. Originally meant to be kept inside the studio, all will now be available to watch on Disney+ starting January 24th. Terry Moews, a layout artist on such […]
Warner Archive Collection Announces “Tex Avery Screwball Classics” on Blu-Ray
January 21st, 2020 Jerry Beck Tex Avery’s MGM cartoons were ahead of their time – and their time has finally come. At long last, Warner Archive Collection has blown open the vaults and has begun restoration of the classic MGM cartoons of the 1940s and 50s. On sale on blu-ray February 18th, using brand new 1080p HD Masters from 4K […]
Awards Watch 2020
January 10th, 2020 David Derks A Handy-Dandy Checklist of the Animated Features Released in the U.S. in 2020 (Due to the COVID-19 pandemic many features scheduled for this year were moved to 2021.) 1. WEATHERING WITH YOU (1/17/20) GKids. D: Makoto Shinkai 2. FARMAGEDDON: A SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE (2/14/20) Netflix. D: Will Becher, Richard Phelan 3. ONWARD (3/6/20) Pixar […]
Jhonen Vasquez on “Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus!”
August 16th, 2019 Jackson Murphy Almost 13 years to the day after airing its final episode, “Invader Zim” has returned with a new film “Enter the Florpus!”, now on Netflix. The rivalry between 12-year-old human boy Dib and Irken alien Zim is in full force once again. Zim has returned to Earth looking to take over the planet, while Dib […]
INTERVIEW: Director Thurop Van Orman and producer John Cohen Talk “The Angry Birds Movie 2”
August 9th, 2019 Jackson Murphy Sony Pictures Animation’s follow-up to their Oscar-winning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is The Angry Birds Movie 2, the sequel to the 2016 hit – based on the phenomenon mobile game franchise. Director Thurop Van Orman (creator of TV’s “Flapjack”) and producer John Cohen (“Despicable Me”) are excited for audiences to return to Bird Island and […]
