The dynamic CG version of beloved cartoon character Woody Woodpecker returns in the new live-action / animated family comedy Woody Woodpecker Goes to Camp. It premieres Friday April 12th on Netflix. Here’s my Animation Scoop Q&A with… Guess Who?… the film’s Emmy nominated director, Jon Rosenbaum. (This interview was edited for length and clarity.) Jackson […]
Archive for the ‘Universal’ Category
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INTERVIEW: The 411 On “Kung Fu Panda 4”
March 4th, 2024 
Jackson Murphy DreamWorks’ Kung Fu Panda 4 is directed by Mike Mitchell, co-directed by Stephanie Ma Stine and produced by Rebecca Huntley. I first spoke with them back in December at the launch of the film’s first trailer. Now that I’ve seen the entire movie (which opens in theaters this Friday March 8th), here’s my new Animation […]
INTERVIEW: Benjamin Renner On High-Flying “Migration”
December 15th, 2023 Jackson Murphy The Big Bad Fox and Other Tales director Benjamin Renner takes to the sky with Illumination’s new animated comedy Migration. It opens in theaters next Friday December 22nd. In this Animation Scoop Q&A, Renner talks about his love of hand-drawn and CG animation, ducky research and working with one of the most star-studded voice acting […]
INTERVIEW: A Slice Of “Five Nights At Freddy’s”
October 17th, 2023 Jackson Murphy Universal will release the highly anticipated feature film adaptation of the popular video game franchise Five Nights at Freddy’s in theaters and on Peacock next Friday October 27th. At New York Comic Con last week, I spoke with director Emma Tammi about the horror movie starring whacked out animatronic characters at an old family entertainment […]
TRAILER: Illumniation’s “Migratnion”
October 14th, 2023 Jerry Beck This holiday season, Illumination, creators of the blockbuster Minions, Despicable Me, Sing and The Secret Life of Pets comedies, invites you to take flight into the thrill of the unknown with a funny, feathered family vacation like no other in the action-packed new original comedy, Migration. From a screenplay by Mike White, the Emmy winning […]
INTERVIEW: All Dogs Go To Hollywood With “Strays”
August 9th, 2023 Jackson Murphy New R-rated comedy Strays opens in theaters nationwide on August 18th. Director Josh Greenbaum (who grew-up near me in Saratoga Springs, NY) has real dogs play the film’s characters in about 95% of the scenes. They’re voiced by some Hollywood A-listers, including Will Ferrell and Jamie Foxx. In this Animation Scoop Q&A, Greenbaum shares insights […]
TRAILER: Illumination’s “Migration”
July 18th, 2023 Jerry Beck This holiday season, Illumination, creators of the blockbuster Minions, Despicable Me, Sing and The Secret Life of Pets comedies, invites you to take flight into the thrill of the unknown with a funny, feathered family vacation like no other in the action-packed new original comedy, Migration. Directed by Benjamin Renner, the Oscar-nominated filmmaker of Ernest […]
INTERVIEW: Ready To Release “Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken”
June 28th, 2023 Jackson Murphy DreamWorks Animation’s new family action/adventure comedy Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken opens this Friday June 30th. It’s already made a big splash this summer at Annecy and through early preview showings at Regal Cinemas locations nationwide. Oscar nominated director Kirk DeMicco (The Croods) and producer Kelly Cooney Cilella (Trolls World Tour) join me to discuss making […]
Dreamworks Animation To Present New Projects at Annecy
March 10th, 2023 Jerry Beck DreamWorks Animation, the Oscar-winning studio of the Shrek, How to Train Your Dragon, Trolls, The Boss Baby, Puss in Boots and Kung Fu Panda franchises, will showcase its latest projects at the 2023 Annecy International Animation Film Festival, which will be held from June 11-17, 2023. The studio’s presentations are set to feature the latest offerings from DreamWorks Animation, which seamlessly blend renewed installments […]
DreamWorks Animation Debuts New Logo Sequence
November 25th, 2022 Jerry Beck DreamWorks Animation has created an all new logo sequence that will first be seen on the upcoming feature film Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, in theaters December 21st. The new curtain raiser features DreamWorks’ iconic moonchild in flight, soaring through the stars amongst the studio’s celebrated franchises including this year’s The Bad Guys, alongside […]
TRAILER: “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish”
June 15th, 2022 Jerry Beck This fall, everyone’s favorite leche-loving, swashbuckling, fear-defying feline returns. For the first time in more than a decade, DreamWorks Animation presents a new adventure in the Shrek universe as daring outlaw Puss in Boots discovers that his passion for peril and disregard for safety have taken their toll. Puss has burned through eight of his […]
TRAILER: “Minions: The Rise of Gru”
March 30th, 2022 Jerry Beck This summer, from the biggest global animated franchise in history, comes the origin story of how the world’s greatest supervillain first met his iconic minions, forged cinema’s most despicable crew and faced off against the most unstoppable criminal force ever assembled. Minions: The Rise of Gru is said to feature more spectacular action than any […]
TRAILER: Dreamworks “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish”
March 15th, 2022 Jerry Beck For the first time in more than a decade, DreamWorks Animation presents a new adventure in the Shrek universe as daring outlaw Puss in Boots discovers that his passion for peril and disregard for safety have taken their toll. Puss has burned through eight of his nine lives, though he lost count along the way. […]
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 […]
Universal Unveils 2021 “Universal Animation Writers Program”
July 14th, 2021 Jerry Beck Universal Filmed Entertainment Group today announced the writers selected to participate in the newly launched 2021 Universal Animation Writers Program, a first-of-its-kind animation writing program for both feature film and television content. The Studio is proud to welcome its inaugural group of participants: Shari Coleman, Kiana Johnson, Senibo Myers, David Ngo and Joe Winters. These […]
