Walt Disney Studios Dazzles at CinemaCon 2023
The star-studded presentation included highlights from an upcoming theatrical slate featuring titles from Disney Live Action, Pixar, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Lucasfilm, Marvel Studios, Searchlight Pictures, and 20th Century Studios.
Podcast EP 206: Art Director Matt Haworth and the Animation Industry in New Zealand
The Auckland-based art director and background supervisor discusses the challenges of finding freelance work and building a career in animation in NZ, and shares how he subsequently helped in MukPuddy animation studio’s evolution from a small group to a roster of over 50.
Alkemy X Names Sarah Grieshammer VFX Supervisor
The Cal State LA alum’s credits include ‘Stranger Things,’ ‘The Amazing Spider-Man,’ and ‘The Hunger Games,’ among others.
Disney Television Animation Reveals Annecy 2023 Panels
Presentations on June 13 and 14 will showcase Disney’s 100-year legacy, including ‘Building on the Legacy’ and a look forward at ‘Learning the Ropes: A Guide to Creating the Next Big Disney Hit;’ other highlights include an exclusive screening of the animated anthology ‘Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire,’ and reveals from DBT President Ayo Davis and Disney EMEA VP of Animation Orion Ross.
3Dconnexion and Maxon Collaborate on New Cinema 4D Navigation Solution
The innovative integration enables all 3Dconnexion features on all devices including SpaceMouse, CadMouse, Keyboard Pro, and Numpad.
Warner Bros. Discovery to Revive ‘Totally Spies!’ with Seventh Season
The soft reboot will see totally adorable secret agents Sam, Clover, and Alex once again in high school in a new city with a fresh crop of villains to fight.
Netflix Releases ‘USC Annenberg Study on Film & Series Diversity’
Read the report - the study, a commitment to accountability and the promotion of change in the industry, conducted in concert with the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, gauges the streamer’s progress in ‘Film & Series Diversity.’
Call for Submissions: OIAF TAC Pitch THIS! 2023
The program, open exclusively to Canadian creators, pairs 10 semi-finalists with industry mentors for a chance to pitch animated series concepts – submissions begin May 1; The Ottawa International Animation Festival runs September 20-24.
BlueBolt Expands Senior Management Team
With co-founders Lucy Ainsworth-Taylor and Angela Barson stepping down from day-to-day operations, the studio welcomes new board members Tracy McCreary, Henry Badgett, and Nic Birmingham.
‘Twilight’ Reboot Series in Development at Lionsgate Television
The project will be penned by ‘Raised by Wolves’ writer Sinead Daly, who has yet to decide if the series will be a direct remake; original novelist Stephanie Meyer is also attached.
Watch Miami Design District's ‘Beyond Belief’ Campaign
Innovative animation captures cultural engineer Craig Robin's vision of the MDD as a ‘laboratory for creativity’ with hand-drawn illustrations modeled after iconic neighborhood landmarks; a female avatar takes the viewers on a journey from the district’s past to its future.
New Movies Arriving on Crunchyroll in April
New titles include ‘That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime The Movie: Scarlet Bond;’ ‘The Quintessential Quintuplets Movie;’ ‘Mobile Suit Gundam Cucuruz Doan's Island;’ ‘Free! -the Final Stroke- Part 1 and 2;’ ‘To Every You I’ve Loved Before;’ and ‘To Me, The One Who Loved You.’
Disney Layoffs Reach the Animation and Kids Divisions
Disney TV Animation’s SVP of Current Series Khaki Jones and VP of the Kids Unit Claire McCabe have been let go as part of a company-wide initiative to save $5.5 billion in costs.
Web3 Studio Toonstar Drops ‘Space Junk’ Trailer with Jon Heder
The iconic ‘Napoleon Dynamite’ actor, along with Tony Cavalero with Wellbecca – the first character voiced entirely by AI-generated software – star in the new adult animated workplace comedy about garbage collectors in space that takes off next month.
Prime Video Scores Multiple New DC ‘Batman’ Titles
Acquisition of Warner Bros. Animation’s original animated movie Merry Little Batman, spinoff series Bat-Family and Batman: Caped Crusader to bring a reimagined ‘Batman’ mythology to the streamer’s global audience.
Julia Morizawa’s ‘Dragonfly’ to Premiere at 39th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival
The short, part of the festival’s May 7 ‘Lost and Found’ animation program, tells a young girl’s story of discovering her mother’s survival of the 1945 Tokyo Firebombing.
Exclusive First Look at Stephan Franck’s ‘Palomino’ Volume 2
The critically acclaimed neo-noir graphic novel, set in 1981 Los Angeles country music clubs, continues with Volumes 2 and 3, now available to back on Kickstarter.
Cult Classic ‘Galaxy High’ Heading to Wow Presents Plus
World of Wonder has licensed the cult classic fish-out-of-water animated series – all 13 episodes hit the streamer tomorrow, April 28.
It’s Official – Jack is Back for ‘Kung Fu Panda 4’
Hot off the press - DreamWorks Animation president Margie Cohn announced today at CinemaCon that everyone’s favorite Panda Warrior, Jack Black, will star in - and Mike Mitchell is directing - an all-new chapter of the hit animated franchise, coming March 8, 2024.
FutureDeluxe and Forever Expand with Two Key Hi-Profile Hires
Mike Bell (formerly of Nexus) joins FutureDeluxe as EP, while Joel Dennis (hailing from Sid Lee) fills Forever’s newly created role of Global Head of Growth.
Picture Shop Unveils Newly Renovated, Expanded Facilities in Hollywood
The Sunset and Seward post-production facilities location offers 115,000 square feet across 6 floors that include 5 D.I. theaters, 13 color bays, and 22 online edit rooms.
Watch the New Official ‘Fast X’ Trailer
The 10th installment of the Fast & Furious saga features Jason Momoa as Dante, son of Hernan Reyes, as he exacts revenge upon Dom and his infamous family in the adrenaline-fueled film out May 19.
Metaphysic Launches ‘Scientific Advisory Board’ on Ethical Applications of AI
The AI and machine learning innovator has assembled experts in education, law, and scientific research to help guide the development of transformative technologies ethically and responsibly.
Jan Pinkava to Head Animationsinstitut at Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg
Oscar-winning British-Czech animator, director, and screenwriter – known for Pixar’s Ratatouille and Gerri’s Game - takes the reigns in June, promising to remain faithful to his predecessor Andreas Hykade’s principal ‘The person is more important than the project.’
Apple TV+ Shares ‘Harriet the Spy’ Season 2 Trailer
The outspoken and perpetually curious 11-year-old Harriet M. Welsch returns May 5 in all-new episodes of the hugely popular animated series based on Louise Fitzhugh’s iconic novel.
