52nd Annual Annie Award Nominations Announced
Best Animated Feature nominees ‘Inside Out 2,’ ‘Kung Fu Panda 4,’ ‘That Christmas,’ ‘The Wild Robot,’ ‘Ultraman: Rising,’ and ‘Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl’ top the expansive list of category nominations; animation’s biggest awards ceremony is scheduled to return live on Saturday, February 8 at UCLA’s Royce Hall.
Fresh off the press: my book ON THE ANIMATION TRAIL - 20 Years of Animation History is now out!
Just in time for the holidays, my book ON THE ANIMATION TRAIL - 20 Years of Animation History has been released today
Shout! Studios Reveals ‘Panda Bear in Africa’ Digital Release
The animated feature from Shout! Studios and Shout! Kids in collaboration with Cinema Management Group will be available for rent or purchase on all major digital platforms on January 28, 2025.
Disney, BBC Studios Announce ‘Bluey’ Feature
Company acquires global theatrical film rights to 'Bluey The Movie,' which will hit theaters in 2027, then stream on Disney+ and air on ABC iView and ABC Kids in Australia.
DREAMBOX360º Launches ‘A Christmas Dream’ 5D Projection Experience
The immersive event aims to bring the magic of the holidays to life with 5DX experiences, such as cutting-edge projection visuals, sound, and special effects.
Torill Kove Tells the Story Behind the Imagery in ‘Maybe Elephants’
Oscar-winning animator Torill Kove, known for her unique style of personal storytelling, now dives into the inspiration for the images in her award-winning short ‘Maybe Elephants’ and how they were crafted.
Taking a Look at ‘Look Back’
Journalist and animation expert Andrew Osmond returns to AWN’s pages after almost 20 years, explaining his reshaped attitude - from skeptic to convert – towards anime while sharing his review of Kiyotaka Oshiyama’s newest film.
The Pokémon Company, Aardman Team on Mystery Project
Set for a 2027 release, the collaboration promises ‘brand-new adventures’ set in the Pokémon universe, presented in Aardman’s classic Claymation style.
Rob Edwards to Adapt ‘Brown Sugar Fairies: Saroja’s Quest’ Children’s Book
The ‘Princess and the Frog’ screenwriter will write, direct, and produce the animated film; author Aiysha Sinclair produces alongside Stranger Comics president Sebastian A. Jones.
Minno Acquires ‘The Dead Sea Squirrels’ Exclusive Worldwide Rights
The animated series from Mike Nawrocki, co-creator of 'VeggieTales,' will debut on streaming service in early 2025.
Re-VIEW: ‘That Christmas’ – A Seasonal Film for Life
Set in a charming coastal town during Christmas, Simon Otto and Locksmith Animation’s new film explores themes of empathy, compassion, and human connection, weaving stories of love, resilience, and community through the perspectives of children and adults; now streaming on Netflix.
Disney Removes Trans Narrative from ‘Win or Lose’
Pixar’s first longform series will no longer feature the storyline, with the studio explaining, ‘many parents would prefer to discuss certain subjects with their children on their own terms and timeline.’
The Ed Asner Family Center Hosts ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ Staged Table Read
The December 14 radio play-focused fundraiser benefitted the non-profit center, an LA resource for special needs individuals; event featured Tom Kenny, Joey King, Mark Hamill, Tom Bergeron, Phil Lamarr, and many others.
Applications For WIA’s 2025 ‘Stories x Women’ Now Open
Selectees for the unique pitch development program receive a series of mentoring and coaching sessions led by animation experts who will prepare them to present at Annecy 2025; application deadline is February 7, 2025.
Sae Okamoto Talks Mechanical Arms and Animating Mechas
8 years after a successful Kickstarter, the first-time anime series director’s show, ‘Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms’ is now streaming on Crunchyroll; it blends traditional 2D with hand-retouched 3DCG to deliver fluid, lifelike human-machine characters.
Prime Video Renews ‘Secret Level’
On the heels of its December 10 premiere, a second season has been ordered for the record-setting animated anthology from Tim Miller, which features original stories set within the worlds of some of the most beloved video games.
Crunchyroll Announces Winter 2025 Anime Lineup
Highlights of the upcoming slate include ‘Solo Leveling’ Season 2, ‘ZENSHU’, ‘The Apothecary Diaries’ Season 2, and more.
Progress and the Cycle of Creativity
A gentle reminder to my animation colleagues.
Miyu Distribution Acquires ‘The Great History of Western Philosophy’
See the trailer and images; inspired by Lacanian theory, the animated feature from Aria Covamonas utilizes a Dadaist-style collage of public domain footage and audio to emphasize its play on reality and perception.
Academy Announces Shortlists in 10 Categories for 97th Oscars
VFX category narrowed down to 10 films, animated shorts to 15; voting for nominations runs next month, January 8-12, with nomination announcements set for January 17, 2025.
‘Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl:’ The Power of Stillness in Stop-Motion
Directors Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham bring back the enigmatic villain Feathers McGraw in Aardman and Netflix’s new comedy, combining animation mastery with nuanced, non-speaking characters that never work as hard as when they’re not moving.
San Francisco Bay Coffee, Cutwater Team for Animated Campaign
The family-owned, eco-conscious company has launched its first brand awareness promotion, which illustrates a sustainable future for coffee lovers.
DC Studios Greenlights ‘Clayface’ Feature
Mike Flanagan is penning the script while the hunt for a director is underway; plot details have not been revealed for the film which features the shapeshifting Batman villain last seen in Max’s animated ‘Harley Quinn’ series.
Netflix Drops ‘Astérix & Obélix: The Big Fight’ Teaser
The animated series created by Alain Chabat, which hits the streamer Spring 2025, follows the exploits of the beloved Gaulish duo after their village’s potion master forgets the crucial magic potion recipe.
L’Alliance New York Announces Animation First 2025 Program
Returning for its 8th edition, the festival runs January 21-26 2025, and will present 7 feature-length films and 5 short film programs, with a special focus on Swiss animation.
