TransPerfect Acquires Technicolor Games
Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed; the language and AI solutions company’s game division has invited all Technicolor Games India employees to return to the Bangalore facility while Division CEO Andy Emery and VP of Global Business Development Eric Williams continue to lead.
Netflix Debuts Spring Kids Lineup
Also revealed was the new series ‘Blippi’s Job Show,’ launching April 7; the trailer for ‘Astérix & Obélix: The Big Fight,’ and a new song from ‘Plankton: The Movie.’
‘Flow,’ ‘Dune: Part Two’ Take Home Oscar Gold
In an upset win, Gints Zilbalodis’ animated tale of a cat who wakes up to a world invaded by water took home the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, while the second chapter in Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi epic won for Best Visual Effects and Best Sound Design on a night that also saw Iranian filmmakers Shirin Sohani and Hossein Molayemi, with visas approved just yesterday, arrive in the U.S. in time to win Best Animated Short for ‘In the Shadow of the Cypress.’
Watch New ‘Snooze Quest’ Short from Adult Swim SMALLS
Victoria Vincent (aka @vewn), known for her previous ‘Mask Dog’ and ‘Bobo the Monkey’ SMALLS shorts as well as her work on ‘We the People’ and ‘Lazor Wulf,’ drops new film about a terribly sleepless night and getting roped into a sniper revenge plot.
Platige Image, CD PROJEKT RED Talk ‘The Witcher 4’ Cinematic Game Trailer
In the behind-the-scenes video, the creators explain the origin of the trailer story, and as well as what technological solutions were used to animate the monster Bauk.
DC Studios Announces ‘Krypto’ Short Film Series
Described by James Gunn as ‘fun and goofy,’ the set of four shorts aimed at drawing kids’ interest in the budding new DCU will begin with a first drop around September.
Binocular Briefs - February 2025
AWN’s latest survey highlights under-the-radar animated shorts that are currently making their way through the festival circuit — or are newly available for online viewing.
Foundry Releases Nuke 16.0
Latest version of industry-leading compositing software allows changes to multiple shots at the same time, faster large-scale roto work, and updated timeline tools for faster shot approval and delivery.
Adult Swim Reveals ‘Lazarus’ Trailer, Premiere Date
Shinichirō Watanabe’s globe-trotting thriller series, which follows a group of agents as they attempt to save humanity from a miracle drug, debuts April 5.
DC Studios Announces 3 New Animated Series in Development
‘My Adventures with Green Lantern,’ ‘DC Super Powers,’ and ‘Starfire’ will introduce young viewers to the budding new DCU.
‘Alphablocks’ Animated Educational Series Returns to CBeebies
The phonics-focused series is back with its first full season since 2013, sporting fresh visuals and advanced phonics curriculum designed for young learners.
Re-VIEW: ‘The Wild Robot’ – A Vision of Nature
Great cinema has the fundamental superpower to help an audience see the world through different eyes, and in Chris Sanders’ remarkable, gorgeous film, we watch the mechanical eyes of a domestic robot, Roz, stranded on a remote island, struggle to make sense and adapt to the sometimes harsh, always challenging natural world she encounters.
Next Lab Generation 2025 Finalists Selected
Four short films, one video game, and one feature film have been chosen from 14 projects; teasers created by the finalists to be shown during the event in Madrid on February 27-28.
Should We Studio’s ‘Ada’ Debuts on TED-Ed
The 2D/3D series from Elizabeth Cox explores implications of new technology with humor and curiosity, wrestling with topics ranging from AI to kidney donors.
Tokyopop Licenses Official ‘Alien Stage Art Book’
Set for publication in 2026, the English language art book based on the sci-fi animated web series dives into the project’s settings, characters, relationships, behind-the-scenes stories, and a wide range of illustrations.
Watch: ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ Deleted Scene Clip
Disney’s hit animated adventure, which explores the unlikely rise of the beloved king of the Pride lands, is now available for purchase at digital retailers (Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and Fandango at Home) and April 1 on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD, packed with a slew of bonus features.
Giant Animation Opens First International Studio in Barcelona
The expansion will allow the company to create a new network of production partners, take advantage of both countries’ tax rebates, and expand its European CG services with local artists.
On the Road to the 97th Oscars: The Animated Features Nominees
Take a deeper look at ‘Flow,’ ‘Inside Out 2,’ ‘Memoir of a Snail,’ ‘Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl,’ and ‘The Wild Robot,’ all vying for the Best Animated Feature Oscar on March 2, 2025.
Publicity Executive Fumi Kitahara Passes at 56
The longtime publicist and awards consultant for Disney, DreamWorks, Aardman, Netflix, Google Spotlight Stories and countless indie filmmakers, as well as WIA’s publicity chair, died after a long battle with a rare blood cancer.
Kartoon Studios, Samsung TV Plus Partner on Kartoon Channel!
The free kids streaming channel, available now across the United States and Canada to connected Samsung TVs, features video game themed content, such as ‘Kidaverse: Roblox Rumble,’ as well as ‘Rainbow Rangers’ and classics like ‘Yu-Gi-Oh!’ and ‘Bakugan.’
Bill Plympton Announces New In-Person Animation Course
The two-time Oscar nominee and Annie Award Lifetime Achievement winner returns to the classroom for an eight-week course, to be held at his studio in Chelsea, NYC from March 10-April 28; a remote option is also available.
Oni Press Drops ‘Adventure Time #1’ Comic First Look
Return to the land of Ooo with the ongoing series of adventures created by the likes of Nick Winn (‘Bloody Mary’), Caroline Cash (‘PeePee PooPoo’), and Asia Simone (‘Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur: Wreck and Roll’), when the debut issue hits shelves April 9.
Technicolor Begins Shutdown, Artists Find New Home with Arc Creative
While the famed creative services company has begun to shut down U.S. operations, the leadership and most of the artistic staff at The Mill have joined forces with Dream Machine FX for a new venture.
Exclusive Clip: ‘A Sloth Story - Gordito’
Starring Leslie Jones, Teo Vergara, and Remy Hii, the animated feature about a speedy sloth and her family’s efforts to run a food truck hits U.S. theaters February 28, and debuts in Canada March 7.