Animac 2023 Announces Official Selections
Oscar-nominated ‘The Flying Sailor’ leads the 40-film shorts field for the upcoming festival, which runs onsite February 23-26 and online March 3-12.
‘Mickey & Minnie’ Animated Short Collection Celebrates 100 Years of Disney
Walt Disney Animation Studios’ new compilation, including ‘Steamboat Willie,’ which first introduced Mickey Mouse, along with ‘Brave Little Tailor,’ ‘Mickey’s Delayed Date,’ ‘Hawaiian Holiday,’ ‘On Ice,’ and 5 others, comes to Blu-ray and DVD February 7.
NVIDIA Updates ‘Instant NeRF’ to Transform 2D Images into 3D/VR
The app can now use real or rendered images - from smartphones, game screenshots, and design applications - to create a virtual reality scene.
Superights Scoops up Distribution for ‘Deep in the Bowl’ Kids’ Series
The new 3DCG show from Zeilt Productions follows the hidden lives of five tanks of hilariously existential fish.
DC Studios Reveals Release Date for ‘The Batman – Part II’
The sequel to Matt Reeves’ ‘The Batman’ will hit theaters October 3, 2025 under the DC Elseworlds banner, separate from the new DC Universe core continuity just revealed by James Gunn and Peter Safran.
This is the Way! Disney+ Teases ‘Star Wars: The Mandalorian’ Season 3
The streamer shares key art and a featurette to tide fans over until the new 8-episode season’s March 1 release; Lucasfilm’s original live-action series follows the continuing journeys of Din Djarin through the Star Wars galaxy.
Impossible Objects Illustrates the Power of Sustainable Virtual Production
Tapping NantStudio’s advanced LED stage powered by Unreal Engine for its ‘auto demo’ project, the studio demonstrates the sustainability impact of harnessing the cutting-edge technology, both in financial and environmental costs.
Cinesite Shares ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ VFX Breakdown Reel
The studio delivered almost 400 visual effects shots, with its London facility producing a single 10-minute sequence and Montreal facility creating a range of sequences, including full water simulations, integrating CG ships, digi-doubles and a helicopter crashing into the ocean.
WGA West Blasts Warner Bros. Discovery Merger for Repercussions to Writers and Diversity
Showrunners of ‘Tuca & Bertie,’ ‘Gordita Chronicles,’ and ‘Whistleblower’ contributed personal accounts for the “Broken Promises Bulletin,” an addendum of a larger 2021 report showcasing the creative carnage caused by corporate mega-mergers.
New DCU Slate Touts 10 Interconnected Film and Television Projects
The upcoming shows – almost all live-action - make up ‘Chapter 1’ of the new core, interconnected DC Universe; the first film, ‘Superman: Legacy,’ hits theaters July 11, 2025.
HaZimation’s ‘RIFT’ Sci-Fi Feature Heads to TAAFI 2023
Created entirely in Unreal Engine, the animated feature explores themes of love and redemption through a diverse cast of characters set in a futuristic world; the film screens online as part of next month’s festival in Toronto.
Silver Spoon Rewrites XR Playbook for Nick Simulcast of CBS Christmas Day Game
The NY-based real-time animation and virtual production studio’s immersive ‘Nickified’ game day viewing experience included technological firsts in AI, real-time AR graphics, and mixed reality resulting in record-breaking viewership.
Aardman Appoints Laura Taylor-Williams as Head of Digital and Strategic Development
In the newly created role, exec will lead a team covering commercial and creative strategies in digital publishing, as well as the strategic direction of digital monetization across AVOD, FAST and EST.
Hulu Orders ‘King of the Hill’ Reboot
After getting turned down at FOX, co-creators Mike Judge and Greg Daniels have taken their series resurrection plans elsewhere, along with the original voice cast that includes Kathy Najimy and Pamela Adlon; still set in the fictional town of Arlen, Texas, the show takes place in present-day U.S.A.
VisualCreatures Names Ian Unterreiner President
Former Zoic exec to helm AGBO’s recently acquired virtual production studio, specializing in real-time applications in visual effects and animation, to be housed at its downtown Los Angeles creative campus.
Paramount+ Drops ‘Star Trek: Picard’ Final Season Trailer
The iconic admiral is forced to confront the legacy of his past and new revelations that may alter the fate of the Federation; Season 3 premieres February 16 exclusively on Paramount+.
‘Hidden Worlds: The Films of LAIKA’ Exhibition Opening at Seattle’s MoPOP
The multi-award-winning stop-motion studio's newest and largest exhibit features immersive displays, film artifacts, and interactives spotlighting ‘Coraline;’ ‘ParaNorman;’ ‘The Boxtrolls;’ ‘Kubo and the Two Strings;’ ‘Missing Link;’ and the upcoming ‘Wildwood;’ show kicks off in March and runs through Summer 2024.
Long-Time Disney Exec Angi Dyste Joins DNEG Animation
Bringing 25+ years’ experience in animation and kids’ programming, the industry veteran assumes the newly created role of Senior Vice President, Episodic; the appointment comes as the studio increases its focus on TV and feature animation.
FMX 2023 Tickets Now on Sale
The hybrid edition, focusing on the art, technology, and business of animation, visual effects, and interactive and immersive media, returns to Stuttgart April 25-27 with an exclusive online day April 28.
Netflix Teases ‘One Piece’ First Look
Based on Eiichiro Oda’s popular manga, the live-action series adaptation streams sometime in 2023.
Annecy Festival 2023 Unveils Poster by Jorge R. Gutierrez
With this year’s spotlight on Mexican animation, the animator/writer/director brings Mexican culture and folklore to the festival poster for the upcoming June event; watch Gutierrez share the inspiration and process behind the poster.
Trailer Drops for ‘Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham’
The Lovecraftian DC animated film, featuring a 1920’s Gotham, will be available to own March 28 on Digital, 4K and Blu-ray.
Fans Campaign for Tiktok Impressionist to Replace Justin Roiland in ‘Rick and Morty’
The grassroots movement to hire voice actor Sean Kelly as the show’s two leads has many supporters, while other fans argue the true beauty and humor of the show came from the co-creator’s improv and can never be replicated.
TOONZ Studio Founder Bill Dennis Passes at 80
The longtime industry leader and ASIFA India chapter founder was a key player in building the animation production industry in India, including the setup of the Toonz Academy in Kerala and The Week of the Masters Animation Festival.
‘HouseBroken’ Season 1 Now Available on Tubi
From ‘Veep’s Gabrielle Allan, Jennifer Crittenden, and Clea DuVall, and starring Lisa Kudrow, FOX Animation Domination’s popular animated comedy about neighborhood pets working out their issues in therapy is now streaming free on the networks’ ASVOD platform.
