Aardman Launches ‘Shaun the Sheep & Friends’ FAST Channel
The Oscar and BAFTA-winning animation studio’s new TV channel is now available on Xumo Play, coming soon to VIZIO WatchFree+ and Samsung TV Plus in the U.S.
OIAF Reveals 2024 Competition Juries
Veteran Ottawa animator and Algonquin College professor Neil Hunter leads the animation festival’s list of feature film and short film jury members; the festival runs September 25-29.
3Dconnexion Releases SpaceMouse Wireless Bluetooth Edition
Device brings increased functionality and ease of operation to how users navigate, sculpt, and design in 3D applications.
PFX Shares ‘Land of Bad’ VFX Breakdown Reel
Czechia-based post house contributes around 90 shots to the action thriller starring Russell Crowe and brothers Liam and Luke Hemsworth, working on all explosions, gunfire and aerial shots.
PBS KIDS’ ‘City Island Sings!’ Music Videos Coming May 29
From Augenblick Studios’ Future Brain Media, the ‘City Island’ spin-off series kicks off a new slate of civic-themed content that supports how everyone, including kids, of any background and ability, can contribute to their community.
Morgana Studios, ReachStar, ReDefine Originals Partner on Animated ‘Diamante’
Mathieu Ratthé will direct the feature, set in the lush Caribbean Island of the Dominican Republic, which follows young Luisito and his dream of becoming a pro baseball player.
FX, Hulu, James Clavell Estate to Develop Additional ‘Shōgun’ Seasons
The trio will extend the critically acclaimed global hit drama series with at least two additional seasons; first season co-creators, executive producers, and writers Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo will return alongside executive producer Michaela Clavell and series star and producer Hiroyuki Sanada.
Oscar Isaac to Voice Jesus Christ in Faith-Based Animated ‘The King of Kings’
Forest Whitaker has also joined as the apostle Peter in the family film inspired by Charles Dickens’ short story ‘The Life of Our Lord.'
Pixomondo Expands Virtual Production Academy with New Collaborations
Studio launches new training initiatives, working with the latest virtual production and LED stage techniques, at Sony PCL, Vook school in Japan, and Vancouver Film School.
Natasha Lyonne Joins Cast of ‘The Fantastic Four’
The ‘Russian Doll’ and ‘Poker Face’ actress boards Marvel’s remake in an undisclosed role alongside Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards (Mister Fantastic), Vanessa Kirby as Susan Storm (The Invisible Woman), Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm (The Thing), and Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm (The Human Torch); the film flies into theaters July 25, 2025.
Universal Drops ‘Wicked’ Official Trailer
Based on the bestselling novel by Gregory Maguire and the hugely successful stage musical, Jon M. Chu’s upcoming musical fantasy adventure tells the untold story of the witches of Oz, Elphaba and Glinda; the film hits theaters November 2024.
Disney Shares ‘ZOMBIES: The Re-Animated Series’ Trailer, Premiere Date
An expansion of the wildly popular ‘ZOMBIES’ movie franchise, the upcoming show debuts June 28 on Disney Channel and June 29 on Disney+.
Trailer Unveiled for Stoopid Buddy’s ‘SHARK, PICKLE, CONE: A Nouns Documentary’
The studio’s first documentary, which explores the fusion of art, technology, and nouns, chronicling their creative journey to conceive, design, and build a massive Rose Parade float, premieres May 29 at Consensus 2024, before moving to X on June 1.
Netflix Drops ‘Ultraman: Rising’ Official Trailer
Shannon Tindle’s all-new iteration of fan-favorite Ultraman introduces baseball star Ken Sato, a young man who can transform into a gigantic, kaiju-fighting superhero, rediscovering the powers of family thanks to an unlikely ally – a sweet, 35-foot-tall, fire-breathing baby kaiju; global debut set for June 14.
Animation Veteran Mark Taylor Joins God’s Gang Ltd.
The ex-Nickelodeon, DreamWorks and Sony Pictures Animation exec joins the advisory board of company behind ‘God’s Gang’ animated series, led by former Disney exec Nimrod Avraham May.
DNEG Launches DNEG 360 Division with Dimension Studio
The two companies’ joint virtual production venture expands to provide end-to-end client production solutions, from development through post; LED volume stages are also debuted in London and Rome.
BFI and LAIKA Announce ‘Stop Motion’ Program and Exhibition Running Aug 1-Oct 9
Showcasing the art, science, and innovation of stop motion animation, the BFI Southbank ‘Season’ includes the ‘LAIKA: Frame x Frame’ exhibition, special talks with Guillermo del Toro, Henry Selick, The Brothers Quay, Suzie Templeton, and other top filmmakers, as well as screenings of films like ‘Coraline,’ ‘Street of Crocodiles,’ ‘Jason and the Argonauts,’ ‘Chicken Run,’ and the original ‘King Kong.’
Paramount+ Announces ‘South Park: The End of Obesity’
The advent of new weight loss drugs has a huge impact on everyone in South Park in the “new event” premiering Friday, May 24 in the U.S. and Canada, and on Saturday, May 25 in the U.K., Australia, Latin America, Brazil, France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
DC Announces New ‘Jenny Sparks’ Six-Issue Comic Miniseries
The first issue of the DC Black Label ‘WildStorm’ adventure comic book series by Tom King and Jeff Spokes launches August 21.
Disney+ Sets Release Date for Marvel Series ‘Agatha All Along’
The ‘WandaVision’ spinoff, previously known as ‘Agatha: Coven of Chaos,’ ‘Agatha: House of Harkness,’ and ‘Agatha: Darkhold Diaries,’ hits the streamer September 18 with two premiere episodes.
‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ Season 2 Trailer Drops
Prime Video teases the August 29 return of its epic fantasy adventure series, setting the stage for J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendary villain Sauron as he darkens Middle-earth’s Second Age.
Prime Video Orders ‘Tomb Raider’ Series, Phoebe Waller-Bridge to Pen, EP
Amazon MGM Studios, Crystal Dynamics, and dj2 Entertainment set to expand the famed video game franchise through all-new series and films.
Jeff Bridges, Dave Bautista, and Bryan Cranston Join ‘Grendel’
Bridges will play the eponymous Grendel alongside Bautista as Beowulf and Cranston as King Hrothgar in The Jim Henson Company’s live-action monster film set to begin production in Europe later this year.
‘Disney Jr. Live on Tour: Let’s Play’ Kicks off Fall 2024
'Disney Jr.’s Ariel' debuts alongside popular Disney Jr. characters from ‘Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends’ and ‘SuperKitties;’ starts September 17 in Costa Mesa, California with shows slated across 60 U.S. cities.
Prime Video Picks Up ‘The Boys’ for Season 5
The announcement, revealed at the streamer’s Upfront presentation, comes ahead of the Emmy-winning show’s June 13 Season 4 global premiere.
