Universal

TRAILER: Illumination’s “Minions & Monsters”
Fresh off the worldwide blockbuster success of summer 2024’s funniest comedy, "Despicable Me 4", Illumination expands its joyful animated universe with an all-new festure: Minions & Monsters.  Opens July 1st, here's the trailer:
Illumination Highlights Heading Into Second “Mario” Movie

Illumination Highlights Heading Into Second “Mario” Movie

Avatar photoJackson Murphy|
March 24th, 2026
16 years after the first "Despicable Me", Illumination is widely regarded as one of the powerhouses in animation, in large part thanks to "Mario" and those Minions... some of the most iconic animated characters of all time.
INTERVIEWS: “Ted” Cast On Season 2 And Voice Acting

INTERVIEWS: “Ted” Cast On Season 2 And Voice Acting

Avatar photoJackson Murphy|
March 5th, 2026
Seth MacFarlane’s Ted event series returns for Season 2, with all eight episodes premiering this Thursday March 5th on Peacock. The iconic bear and the Bennett family are once again caught-up in hilarious ’90s-set hijinks… that are even more outrageous this time. Max Burkholder, who plays John (the younger version of Mark Wahlberg’s character in the movies), […]

Latest in Category: Universal

INTERVIEW: Summer Arrives Early With “Woody Woodpecker Goes To Camp”

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 […]
Avatar photoJackson Murphy|April 1, 2024
INTERVIEW: Summer Arrives Early With “Woody Woodpecker Goes To Camp”

INTERVIEW: The 411 On “Kung Fu Panda 4”

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 […]
Avatar photoJackson Murphy|March 4, 2024
INTERVIEW: The 411 On “Kung Fu Panda 4”

INTERVIEW: Benjamin Renner On High-Flying “Migration”

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 […]
Avatar photoJackson Murphy|December 15, 2023
INTERVIEW: Benjamin Renner On High-Flying “Migration”

INTERVIEW: A Slice Of “Five Nights At Freddy’s”

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 […]
Avatar photoJackson Murphy|October 17, 2023
INTERVIEW: A Slice Of “Five Nights At Freddy’s”

TRAILER: Illumniation’s “Migratnion”

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 […]
Avatar photoJerry Beck|October 14, 2023
TRAILER: Illumniation’s “Migratnion”

INTERVIEW: All Dogs Go To Hollywood With “Strays”

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 […]
Avatar photoJackson Murphy|August 9, 2023
INTERVIEW: All Dogs Go To Hollywood With “Strays”

Illumination and Nintendo Launch Official Trailer for “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie”

The official trailer for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, the new animated film based on the world of Super Mario Bros., during a Nintendo Direct presentation that aired today. The film will be released worldwide by Universal Pictures in April 2026.