Animation Scoop

NY COMIC CON: More “Rick And Morty” Announced At NYCC

On Thursday, I attended a very lively New York Comic Con 2024 panel featuring the executive producers and voice talent of Adult Swim’s long-running animated comedy series Rick and Morty. During the presentation, moderated by Collider’s Perri Nemiroff, executive producer Dan Harmon announced that there will be two additional seasons, No. 11 and No. 12. […]

TRAILER: “Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl”

Netflix debut the first trailer and announced the release date for the new Aardman new stop-motion animated feature film Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl today. The film will be released on Netflix globally (except in the UK/IE) on January 3rd, 2025 (it will have a limited theatrical run in December to qualify for this […]

The 6th Annual LightBox Expo This Weekend in Pasadena

LightBox Expo (LBX), a three-day entertainment industry event that brings together creatives to ignite a shared passion for art, today unveiled its stellar programming lineup, original demos and participating artists including: Chris Sanders (The Wild Robot), Colin Lorimer (The Last of Us), Constantine Sekeris (Black Panther), Deanna Marsigliese (Art Director, Pixar), Doug Chiang (Star Wars), […]

TOHO To Acquire GKIDS

Japanese entertainment leader Toho Co., Ltd. announced today that it has reached an agreement to acquire a 100% equity share of GKIDS, Inc., the Academy Award-winning North American animation producer and distributor. Financial terms were not disclosed. GKIDS, which maintains offices in New York and Los Angeles, will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Los […]

INTERVIEW: Celebrating 30 Years Of DreamWorks With “The Wild Robot”

October 3rd, 2024

Jackson Murphy

DreamWorks Animation’s The Wild Robot opened No. 1 at the box office last weekend, with one of the biggest debuts ever for an animated film in the month of September. Four-time Annie-winning director Chris Sanders and Annecy winner Jeff Hermann react to the critical and audience success and reflect on three decades of DreamWorks. (This Animation Scoop Q&A was edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: Chris, this is your triumphant return to animation. “Lilo & Stitch”, “How to Train Your Dragon”, “The Croods”, and now No. 1 with “The Wild Robot”. How does it feel?

Chris Sanders: I think we could not be more thrilled because making this film… everybody poured their hearts into this, for real. We all fell in love with this project. We fell in love with the characters, and just the production itself was a bit of a miraculous thing. Just the way it came together. So to see it do well is absolutely thrilling.

REVIEW: “The Wild Robot”

September 30th, 2024

Martin Goodman

Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois are among the most influential names working in animation today. Their record includes Lilo and Stitch for Disney and the How to Train Your Dragon trilogy, with DeBlois directing the last two installments for DreamWorks. They have teamed up again for a highly regarded new film, The Wild Robot.

DreamWorks is again the beneficiary of this exemplary team. Sanders and DeBlois received the resources of the last film that the DreamWorks animation studio would produce (entirely) in-house.

Spectrum Laboratory’s Magic, Musings, and Mad Science of Jorge Gutierrez

September 28th, 2024

Jerry Beck

“Thanks, autism!’ was a key takeaway excerpted directly from the educationally-focused September 26 Jorge Gutierrez one-man show at Victory Theatre Center in Burbank. The audience, comprised of audibly appreciative neurodivergent performing and visual artists from local adult day program Spectrum Laboratory, could not get enough of Gutierrez’s uplifting, autobiographical 450-slide presentation, animation career retrospective, and overall morale boost. In fact, the excitement carried on beyond the proscenium and into voluminous attendee social media posts in the following days.

INTERVIEW: “Gremlins: The Wild Batch” Even Wilder Than First Season

September 27th, 2024

Jackson Murphy

Max’s Gremlins animated series had a successful season one with Secrets of the Mogwai. Season two, Gremlins: The Wild Batch, premieres Thursday October 3rd. Executive Producer and showrunner Tze Chun and fellow EP Brendan Hay preview what fans, including those who love the iconic movies, can look forward to from this fun group of characters and some exciting new ones. (This Animation Scoop Q&A was edited for length and clarity. Images Courtesy: Max.)

Jackson Murphy: Tze, let me ask you about the reaction to Season 1. How did you feel coming out of that, and what was the approach going into this second season?

Tze Chun: I think Brendan and I were just so overjoyed by the fan reaction and the critical reaction. I guess Gremlins fandom is very non toxic. (laughs) As a fan of the Gremlins movies myself, I was so happy to be able to contribute to the canon, and I think that hopefully with the reaction to season one, people tune in for season two. It’s been so much fun to work on the show.

EVENT: 7th “Animation Is Film” Festival Announces 2024 Lineup

September 26th, 2024

Lauren Ashton

The 7th annual Animation Is Film (AIF) festival, running from October 18-20 at TCL Chinese Theatres in Hollywood, has shared its 2024 lineup. Opening the festival is the North American premiere of The Colors Within, directed by Naoko Yamada (A Silent Voice) and distributed by GKIDS. Warner Bros. Animation’s The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie by Pete Browngardt will take the Centerpiece spot, while the festival closes with Memoir of a Snail, the Los Angeles premiere of Adam Elliot’s Annecy Cristal Award-winning feature.

INTERVIEW: Matt Selman On “The Simpsons” At NYCC And New Season

September 23rd, 2024

Jackson Murphy

Annie and seven-time Emmy-winning The Simpsons co-showrunner, executive producer and writer Matt Selman joins me for this new Animation Scoop Q&A to discuss Season 36 (which starts this Sunday Sept. 29 at 8pm on FOX) and the first-ever Simpsons panel presentation at New York Comic Con (Saturday Oct. 19 at 11:30am on the Main Stage). This interview was edited for length and clarity. Images Courtesy: FOX.

Jackson Murphy: You’ve been with the show since 1997. How have you seen the evolution of the show in 27 years?

Matt Selman: It’s hard to see the forest for the trees. It’s much easier to get caught up in the trees. There’s always a new tree. You’re always planting trees, growing trees and getting trees ready to be on television. But you also have to be thinking of the next tree, and a tree is not a terrible metaphor because you always have to be think-staggering ahead. You have to be thinking a year ahead cause they take a long time to grow. Solid metaphor. How the show has changed… I don’t know. People could probably speak to that more objectively than I could. I’m just lucky. Lucky is an understatement. I’m shocked and stunned that I’ve had this sort of lottery win of a life experience where I got to personally do every job on the show, starting from staff writer where you’re just there and you’re scared and you’re nervous. “God, if I can just get one joke in today… oh my God, that’d be so great.” You’re so hyper-aware of everything and trying not to be annoying. “If I can just contribute a little bit, that’s so great.” And not be annoying. Always a challenge.

INTERVIEW: “Twilight Of The Gods” Team On Action-Packed Series

September 20th, 2024

Jackson Murphy

Zack Snyder, director of 300, Man of Steel and 2010 animated feature Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole, is the creator and executive producer of new adult animated action series Twilight of the Gods, now streaming on Netflix. He joins fellow EPs Deborah Snyder and Wesley Coller to talk about the show and the power of animation. (This Animation Scoop Q&A was edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: Zack, you directed episodes 1 and 8 of this, as well as “Legends of the Guardians”. What is your approach to animation like vs. your live-action films?

Zack Snyder: Well I don’t really have a different approach. I draw a lot. I do tell a lot of stories in pre-production with drawings, with 2D representations to say, “This is what I want to do.” That style translates really translates easily to animation. And because I have a pretty solid understanding of the animation process, it’s not like I’m ‘behind’. I think that’s really helpful for everybody.

Jared Bush Named Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios

September 19th, 2024

Jerry Beck

Academy Award-winning filmmaker Jared Bush has been named Chief Creative Officer (CCO) of Walt Disney Animation Studios effective immediately, reporting to Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Alan Bergman, while Jennifer Lee has decided to return to filmmaking full time to steward the Frozen franchise for the studio. Serving as Chief Creative Officer for Walt Disney Animation Studios since 2018, Lee will be directing and writing on Frozen 3 and writing Frozen 4 with Marc Smith. Thirty-year Disney veteran Clark Spencer (Oscar-winning producer, “Encanto,” “Zootopia”) continues as President, Walt Disney Animation Studios.

Jared Bush

TRAILER: ‘Dog Man” Starring Pete Davidson, Isla Fisher, and Ricky Gervais From DreamWorks

September 17th, 2024

Lauren Ashton

Part canine, part human- all hero.

From the studio behind popular hits like Kung Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon, and The Boss Baby comes a thrilling new adaptation of Dav Pilkey’s bestselling Dog Man.

After a brave police dog and his human handler are injured on the job, an unconventional but life-saving surgery combines them into one, resulting in the creation of Dog Man. Now that he’s part dog and part human, he’s committed to upholding law, order, and (of course) fetching, sitting, and rolling over.

TRAILER: Netflix Reveals New Key Art for New Projects

September 12th, 2024

Lauren Ashton

This morning, Netflix unveiled the key art for the highly anticipated animated series Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, along with the official trailer and key art for Twilight of the Gods. In addition, Netflix announced its Netflix & Chills Halloween programming lineup, featuring new animated kids’ series The Bad Guys: Haunted Heist, Mighty MonsterWheelies, and the second season of Jurassic World: Chaos Theory. Here are full details for each project:

Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft

Streaming on Netflix starting October 10, 2024.

“An Almost Christmas Story” Set for Disney+

September 12th, 2024

Jerry Beck

Disney Branded Television announced a new animated short-film for Disney+, An Almost Christmas Story, directed by David Lowery and produced by five-time Academy Award winner Alfonso Cuarón, that will premiere this fall. “An Almost Christmas Story” follows Moon, a curious young owl who unexpectedly finds himself stuck in a Christmas tree destined for Rockefeller Plaza. In his attempts to escape the bustling city, Moon befriends a lost young girl named Luna. Together, they embark on a heartwarming adventure, discovering the magic of the holiday season and forming an unlikely bond as they journey back home to their parents. “An Almost Christmas Story” is inspired by the true events of a tiny owl, Rocky – short for Rockefeller, found and rescued from the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in 2020.

WORLD PREMIRE: “Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl” will debut at AFI Fest, presented by Canva

September 6th, 2024

Lauren Ashton

At this year’s upcoming AFI FEST, presented by Canva, the highly anticipated Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl is set to make its world premiere.

Aardman’s Academy Award-winning director Nick Park and Emmy-nominated director Merlin Crossingham are back with another exciting adventure in the “Wallace & Gromit” franchise. In this latest installment, Gromit fears that Wallace relies too much on his gadgets, and these fears are confirmed when Wallace creates a “smart” gnome that seems to have a mind of its own. When it seems that a spiteful character from the past may be behind it all, it’s up to Gromit to fight against the threatening forces and save Wallace. Otherwise, he may never be able to invent again! This family-friendly film will be shown on October 27, on the last day of the festival, at the famous TCL Chinese Theatre as part of the Red Carpet Premieres. Passes can be purchased here.

Hanna-Barbera: The Recorded History From Modern Stone Age to Meddling Kids

August 30th, 2024

Lauren Ashton

Hanna-Barbera is best known for its popular animated characters and numerous TV series. But the studio also created iconic sound effects and music that have become the soundtrack of our lives – powerful sounds that were created to guide the studio’s visual storytelling. These incredible elements added to their remarkable success – not to mention the memorable theme songs that are still well – loved and enjoyed by people of all ages worldwide. This is an unabashed plug for Greg Ehrbar’s outstanding new book: Hanna-Barbera, the Recorded History: From Modern Stone Age to Meddling Kids. The new tome, just published this week, details the story of Hanna-Barbera’s impact on full show business, revealing unseen aspects of the studio’s artistry, music, and historical significance.

SPECIAL: Donald Appears On “Hot Ones” In Custom Episode

August 28th, 2024

Lauren Ashton

In honor of Donald Duck’s 90th birthday, Hot Ones released a special episode featuring the beloved Duck himself. On the show, he shares that Daisy challenged him, and Mickey Mouse is backstage to offer support as he tries different Disney-themed flavors of hot sauce (with cauliflower wings, of course.) The host of the hit show, Sean Evans, has a fun lineup of questions for the cartoon star, but it’s hard for Donald to keep his cool. Literally.

INTERVIEW: The Basics And Beyond About “Universal Basic Guys”

August 27th, 2024

Jackson Murphy

Adam and Craig Malamut are the creators of new animated comedy series Universal Basic Guys, which joins the iconic FOX Animation Domination lineup on Sunday Sept. 8 at 8pmET / 5pmPT (live to all timezones after an NFL doubleheader). They discuss the fun characters, storylines and South Jersey inspirations and what shows like The Simpsons and Family Guy have meant to them. (This Animation Scoop Q&A was edited for length and clarity. Images Courtesy: FOX)

Jackson Murphy: Welcome to the Animation Domination lineup. Adam, how does it feel?

Adam Malamut: It’s very surreal. We were at Comic Con and you see this giant mural and it’s got Peter Griffin and Homer Simpson and Bob Belcher, and then there’s Mark Hoagies there. I don’t know. It feels like we’re in a Make a Wish situation or something.