Animation Scoop

Oscar-Nominated Film Robot Dreams Coming To Theaters On May 31st- From Director Pablo Berger

From Spanish director Pablo Berger, Oscar-nominated animated feature Robot Dreams has secured a theatrical release in the U.S. Coming to New York City on May 31st, the film can be seen at the Film Forum and AMC Lincoln Square. Called “exquisite… one of the best animations in recent years” by The Observer and regarded as […]

TRAILER: Pixar’s “Inside Out 2”

A new trailer and poster for Disney and Pixar’s upcoming theatrical release, Inside Out 2, dropped today. The new film welcomes new Emotions to now-teenager Riley’s mind. Joining Joy (voice of Amy Poehler), Anger (voice of Lewis Black), Sadness (voice of Phyllis Smith), Fear (voice of Tony Hale) and Disgust (voice of Liza Lapira) is […]

Annie Awards Go To “Spider-Man” and “Robot Dreams”

Sony Pictures Animation’s Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse won Best Feature honors at the 51st Annie Awards celebration Saturday night on the campus of UCLA. Spider-Man also took home an Annie for Best FX- Feature (Pav Grochola, Filippo Maccari, Naoki Kato, Nicola Finizio, Edmond Boulet-Gilly), Best Character Design – Feature (Jesus Alonso Iglesias) Best Direction – […]

INTERVIEW: Cartoon Curator Bill from MeTV’s “Toon In With ME”

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”, […]

INTERVIEW: “Puffin Rock And The New Friends” And 25 Years Of Cartoon Saloon

April 10th, 2024

Jackson Murphy

Cartoon Saloon, the animation house behind The Secret of Kells, The Breadwinner and Wolfwalkers, is unveiling its latest feature. Puffin Rock and the New Friends — a continuation of the popular TV series — is available to rent or purchase on Google TV, Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV beginning Tuesday April 16th. Director Jeremy Purcell and animation director Lorraine Lordan share how the movie took flight — and how it fits right in line with Cartoon Saloon’s mission — in this Animation Scoop Q&A. (This interview was edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: Congratulations on the movie. I think it’s so sweet. I think families are gonna enjoy it. And this is a feature film adaptation / continuation of the popular Puffin Rock TV series. Jeremy, you were the assistant director on that. How did it feel jumping back into this world and these characters?

Jeremy Purcell: Great. Puffin Rock within the studio is such a loved production and people love working on it. I was assistant director on it and very happily jumped back into the movie. Lorraine was the animation director on season two. We had three or four or five people, I think, who had worked on the TV series who were very happy to kind of jump back into the movie.

INTERVIEW: “Chicken For Linda!” Directors On Annecy Winning Feature

April 9th, 2024

Jackson Murphy

Chiara Malta and Sébastien Laudenbach are the directors of the new French animated dramedy Chicken for Linda! GKIDS opened the 2023 Annecy International Film Festival Cristal for Best Animated Feature winner in NYC last Friday. It hits Los Angeles this Friday April 12th and will be in other markets throughout North America later this month. The film is about a mother and daughter on a quest to make a meal that’s significant to them, chicken with peppers. Malta and Laudenbach share the ingredients for how they put Chicken for Linda! together in this Animation Scoop Q&A. (This interview was conducted over Zoom with a translator, and it was edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: Chiara, this is a very unique and specific story. What part of the story did you come-up with first?

Chiara Malta: When you write a story, it’s nourished by a lot of bits from your life and also the lives of the people around you that are interesting. When I was a child, I was probably very unruly and stubborn, and I didn’t really like the unfairness of the question of injustice. It really bothered me. To make a movie where the adult does everything she can to make it up to their kid really gave me a lot of satisfaction. There’s a film by Luigi Comencini (“Misunderstood”) that was also an inspiration. We wanted to make a movie that gave satisfaction to children, especially by showing that adults are not always as adult as we think. And we wanted to make a movie about memory, which is always a mystery for me since childhood because memory functions by bits and pieces. We don’t know why certain memories get lost in darkness. I wanted to make a movie with Sebastien that talks about this thing that is so moving and serious while having fun — just as if it was a child making it.

Cartoon Network Launches Digital Experience For It’s Staircase

April 8th, 2024

Jerry Beck

Welcome to the stairwell that tells the story of a studio…one step and sketch at a time. Cartoon Network Studios (CNS) today announced the launch of a dedicated website that will serve as the virtual home for its iconic Artist Stairwell space.

From 2000 to 2023, the CNS building in Downtown Burbank stood as a vibrant symbol of creativity and a nurturing ground for original animation and artists of diverse talents and backgrounds. It was not merely a workplace, but a canvas for imagination and innovation.

The stairwell at the previous Cartoon Network Studios

INTERVIEW: Time To Explore New “DORA” Series

April 8th, 2024

Jackson Murphy

One of Nickelodeon’s most iconic characters is headlining a new series — this time in CG. “DORA” premieres this Friday April 12th on Paramount+. Executive Producer and showrunner Rich Magallanes explains what goes into making sure the returns of Dora, Boots and Swiper are satisfying for fans of the original Dora the Explorer show and a new generation of families. (This Animation Scoop Q&A was edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: Congratulations on the series. I’ve watched a couple episodes and it brought me right back to when I was young. It’s going to be a big hit.

Rich Magallanes: Excellent. Goal achieved! We’re done.

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

April 1st, 2024

Jackson Murphy

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 Murphy: I love the Woody Woodpecker shirt you have on.

Jon Rosenbaum: When I got hired, this was the first thing that I bought and I said, “I’m going to put it on as we get closer to the final release.” So it’s been a long time coming. It was a long journey. So I’m glad I get to wear it.

Netflix “That Christmas” Announces Cast

March 20th, 2024

Jerry Beck

Netflix has unveiled a stellar voice cast and brand new images from Locksmith Animation (Ron’s Gone Wrong) and director Simon Otto’s (How to Train Your Dragon trilogy) upcoming CG animated feature That Christmas. The film stars Brian Cox as Santa, Fiona Shaw (Ms. Trapper), Jodie Whittaker (Mrs. Williams), and Bill Nighy (Bill) as the residents of a charming seaside town where things turn upside down one Christmas. The film will debut on Netflix later this year.

INTERVIEW: Aaron Ehasz, Justin Richmond on “The Dragon Prince: Mystery of Aaravos”: The Right Choice for the Voice

March 20th, 2024

W.R. Miller

An epic like The Dragon Prince requires a villain of epic proportions, one powerful enough, and intriguing enough, to engage the audience. This is certainly true of the Startouch Elf, Aaravos. Listen to his voice, and you’ll hear a mix of mystery and menace, arrogance and cleverness, sultry and beguiling, rhythm and yes, magic.

To find an actor capable of all those vocal qualities might be challenging. But in fact, the creators of The Dragon Prince already had Erik Todd Dellums in mind before they cast the series.

INTERVIEW: X-cellent Insights On “X-Men ’97”

March 19th, 2024

Jackson Murphy

Jake Castorena is the supervising producer and head director of Marvel Animation’s X-Men ’97 (premiering Wednesday March 20th on Disney+). The show gives us new adventures with these iconic characters in the hand-drawn, comic book animation style of the popular X-Men: The Animated Series from the ’90s. (This Animation Scoop Q&A with Castorena was edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: You have been a part of so many animated superhero projects with TMNT, Batman, the Justice League and Scooby Doo. How does it feel to add the X-Men to your superhero list?

Jake Castorena: Honestly, man, I get to feel like I’m playing with all my toys. I get to have my toys and play with them too. It’s been awesome. I was just actually having a conversation about this yesterday — the retrospective, the IPs that I have gotten a privilege to work on and be a part of. Being on X-Men, not only is it just X-Men, but it’s *that* X-Men show. That’s been awesome. That’s been humbling. It’s been exciting. It’s been tiring. It’s been passionate. It’s been a myriad of things. But what I can say is that I’m nothing short of grateful.

INTERVIEW: A Celebration Of “The Casagrandes Movie”

March 18th, 2024

Jackson Murphy

Miguel Puga, who co-developed Nickelodeon’s Loud House spinoff series The Casagrandes, makes his feature directorial debut with The Casagrandes Movie. The epic animated action/adventure comedy premieres this Friday March 22nd on Netflix. Puga shares his enthusiasm for the film, and what fans of the beloved characters should look forward to, in this Animation Scoop Q&A. (This interview was edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: Has it sunk in for you yet that you’ve taken this very popular Nickelodeon animated series… and now it’s a movie that millions and millions are just gonna love?

Miguel Puga: It hasn’t yet, but this being my first movie, it’s one of the best experiences I’ve ever had in my entire career. I got to work with some of the best people. Some of my best friends got to work on it. And we got to sit down for almost two years and just make this very epic grande movie with all of them. I’m so glad you really enjoyed it because that’s what we wanted to do. We wanted to make this movie feel like “Goonies” meets a Marvel movie… but still keep it contained in the “Casagrandes” / “Loud House” world. So I hope that’s kind of the area where we ended up, because I really enjoyed it, and we all wanted to do a movie that we wanted to watch.

INTERVIEW: “The Dragon Prince” Influences, Inspirations, and the Mystery of Simpson

March 11th, 2024

W.R. Miller

When I last spoke with the executive producers of The Dragon Prince, they ended the conversation with a cliffhanger:

Aaron Ehasz said, “If you pay attention to Viren’s story arc and what happens to Viren, what I want people to know is Jason Simpson did something. Sorry, Jason, you know what you did. Don’t mess with the writers or that’s what happens.”

TRAILER: Pixar’s “Inside Out 2”

March 7th, 2024

Jerry Beck

A new trailer and poster for Disney and Pixar’s upcoming theatrical release, Inside Out 2, dropped today. The new film welcomes new Emotions to now-teenager Riley’s mind. Joining Joy (voice of Amy Poehler), Anger (voice of Lewis Black), Sadness (voice of Phyllis Smith), Fear (voice of Tony Hale) and Disgust (voice of Liza Lapira) is a group of Emotions perfectly suited for the teenage years. Check it out:

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 Scoop Q&A with this trio about what fans of this long-running, nearly $2 Billion franchise should get ready “4”. (This interview was edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: As I was watching it, Mike, I thought, “This film embraces the idea of legacy.” What was your goal with this when it comes to legacy?

Mike Mitchell: Well, I like to call it a love letter to the first “Kung Fu Panda”. I think it’s the best franchise that this studio has ever created. It is terrific. And that’s not just because Jack Black is so amazing as this Kung Fu Panda, but it’s also because I think it’s created the best villains I’ve ever seen in any animated feature, ever. And I just love the villains. So our goal for this one was to really build on the legacy of not just Po, but all those villains to try to make the best movie ever.

INTERVIEW: Wave The Green Flag For “Hot Wheels Let’s Race”

February 29th, 2024

Jackson Murphy

Rob David serves as executive producer, and Melanie Shannon is the co-creator, of Mattel’s new animated family series Hot Wheels Let’s Race. It premieres this Monday March 4th on Netflix. You’ve got the green light to learn what David and Shannon have to say about this super-charged show. (This Animation Scoop Q&A was edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: Rob, between this and the new “Masters of the Universe” show that we talked about recently, Mattel and animation and Netflix — this relationship is really going strong.

Rob David: We are having a good year. We love our partners at Netflix. We’ve got a lot of stories to tell and we’re just completely over the moon, excited about this show coming out.

INTERVIEW: Eric Fogel On New “Megamind” Movie And Series

February 28th, 2024

Jackson Murphy

One of DreamWorks’ most memorable characters returns this Friday March 1st. Feature-length movie Megamind vs. the Doom Syndicate and series Megamind Rules both debut on Peacock. Director & EP Eric Fogel (of Archibald’s Next Big Thing) shares how he approached the comeback of this supervillain turned superhero, including making the movie and the show simultaneously. (This Animation Scoop Q&A was edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: It’s been a little over 13 years since the first “Megamind” movie. What excited you about diving back into this character?

Eric Fogel: I think when the original movie ended, we were in an interesting place with Megamind going from supervillain to superhero. And I think, as a fan of that original movie, I wanted to see what life would be like for him, as a hero, defending Metro City, or as he likes to call it, Metrocity.

INTERVIEW: “IWÁJÚ” Makers On New Disney And Kugali Series

February 27th, 2024

Jackson Murphy

“Iwájú” is a new six-episode animated event series premiering this Wednesday February 28th on Disney+. It’s a collaboration of Walt Disney Animation Studios and African studio Kugali. The story centers on 10-year-old girl Tola and friend Kole in a futuristic Lagos, Nigeria. Crime threatens them and their families. Director and writer Olufikayo Ziki Adeola, production designer Hamid Ibrahim and cultural consultant Tolu Olowofoyeku join me for this Animation Scoop Q&A. (This interview was edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: Disney has always focused on strong heroines. Ziki, what do you think are the strengths of 10-year-old Tola, and what did you want to showcase with her?

Olufikayo Ziki Adeola: Tola’s biggest strength is the fact that she’s aspirational. She refuses to accept the world for the way that it is and instead sees the world in the way that it should be. She has the courage to fight for what she believes in. I also like the fact that she has flaws that she needs to overcome. She has the capacity for self-reflection. She realizes her wrongdoings with some of the other characters — she reflects on that and is able to grow as a person.