TRAILER: Netflix Announces Fall Lineup
Netflix has announced an exciting Fall Lineup, releasing exclusive stills from Spellbound, dates for Hot Wheels Let’s Race: Season 2, Jurassic World: Chaos Theory: Season 2, Mighty MonsterWheelies, and more. As students prepare to head back to school, the streaming platform is offering a variety of family-centered entertainment that ranges from series’ to feature-length films. […]
Ketchup Entertainment Acquires “THE DAY THE EARTH BLEW UP: A LOONEY TUNES MOVIE”
Ketchup Entertainment has officially acquired the North American rights to The Day The Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie from Warner Bros. Animation. GFM Animation is overseeing the process of worldwide distribution sales of this enthusiastically well-regarded film that premiered this year at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France. The CEO of […]
TRAILER: DreamWorks’ “The Wild Robot”
DreamWorks Animation has released a new trailer for the studio’s upcoming feature, The Wild Robot. Based on Peter Brown’s #1 New York Times bestseller, The Wild Robot is an epic story of “a bond like no other”.
INTERVIEW: Cartoon Curator Bill from MeTV’s “Toon In With ME”
Since January 4th, the cable network (and over-the-air broadcast sub-channel) MeTV has been running a weekday hour of classic cartoons from the MGM, Warner Bros. and Paramount Popeye and Betty Boop libraries. Telecast at 7am and formatted as a vintage kids show, hosted by “cartoon curator” Bill Leff and his puppet companion “Toony, the Tuna”, […]
Midwell – 5
November 17th, 2022 
David Derks 
INTERVIEW: “Gremlins: The Wild Batch” Even Wilder Than First Season
September 27th, 2024 Jackson Murphy Max’s Gremlins animated series had a successful season one with Secrets of the Mogwai. Season two, Gremlins: The Wild Batch, premieres Thursday October 3rd. Executive Producer and showrunner Tze Chun and fellow EP Brendan Hay preview what fans, including those who love the iconic movies, can look forward to from this fun group of characters and some exciting new ones. (This Animation Scoop Q&A was edited for length and clarity. Images Courtesy: Max.)
Jackson Murphy: Tze, let me ask you about the reaction to Season 1. How did you feel coming out of that, and what was the approach going into this second season?
Tze Chun: I think Brendan and I were just so overjoyed by the fan reaction and the critical reaction. I guess Gremlins fandom is very non toxic. (laughs) As a fan of the Gremlins movies myself, I was so happy to be able to contribute to the canon, and I think that hopefully with the reaction to season one, people tune in for season two. It’s been so much fun to work on the show.
EVENT: 7th “Animation Is Film” Festival Announces 2024 Lineup
September 26th, 2024 Lauren Ashton The 7th annual Animation Is Film (AIF) festival, running from October 18-20 at TCL Chinese Theatres in Hollywood, has shared its 2024 lineup. Opening the festival is the North American premiere of The Colors Within, directed by Naoko Yamada (A Silent Voice) and distributed by GKIDS. Warner Bros. Animation’s The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie by Pete Browngardt will take the Centerpiece spot, while the festival closes with Memoir of a Snail, the Los Angeles premiere of Adam Elliot’s Annecy Cristal Award-winning feature.
INTERVIEW: Matt Selman On “The Simpsons” At NYCC And New Season
September 23rd, 2024 Jackson Murphy Annie and seven-time Emmy-winning The Simpsons co-showrunner, executive producer and writer Matt Selman joins me for this new Animation Scoop Q&A to discuss Season 36 (which starts this Sunday Sept. 29 at 8pm on FOX) and the first-ever Simpsons panel presentation at New York Comic Con (Saturday Oct. 19 at 11:30am on the Main Stage). This interview was edited for length and clarity. Images Courtesy: FOX.
Jackson Murphy: You’ve been with the show since 1997. How have you seen the evolution of the show in 27 years?
Matt Selman: It’s hard to see the forest for the trees. It’s much easier to get caught up in the trees. There’s always a new tree. You’re always planting trees, growing trees and getting trees ready to be on television. But you also have to be thinking of the next tree, and a tree is not a terrible metaphor because you always have to be think-staggering ahead. You have to be thinking a year ahead cause they take a long time to grow. Solid metaphor. How the show has changed… I don’t know. People could probably speak to that more objectively than I could. I’m just lucky. Lucky is an understatement. I’m shocked and stunned that I’ve had this sort of lottery win of a life experience where I got to personally do every job on the show, starting from staff writer where you’re just there and you’re scared and you’re nervous. “God, if I can just get one joke in today… oh my God, that’d be so great.” You’re so hyper-aware of everything and trying not to be annoying. “If I can just contribute a little bit, that’s so great.” And not be annoying. Always a challenge.
INTERVIEW: “Twilight Of The Gods” Team On Action-Packed Series
September 20th, 2024 Jackson Murphy Zack Snyder, director of 300, Man of Steel and 2010 animated feature Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole, is the creator and executive producer of new adult animated action series Twilight of the Gods, now streaming on Netflix. He joins fellow EPs Deborah Snyder and Wesley Coller to talk about the show and the power of animation. (This Animation Scoop Q&A was edited for length and clarity.)
Jackson Murphy: Zack, you directed episodes 1 and 8 of this, as well as “Legends of the Guardians”. What is your approach to animation like vs. your live-action films?
Zack Snyder: Well I don’t really have a different approach. I draw a lot. I do tell a lot of stories in pre-production with drawings, with 2D representations to say, “This is what I want to do.” That style translates really translates easily to animation. And because I have a pretty solid understanding of the animation process, it’s not like I’m ‘behind’. I think that’s really helpful for everybody.
Jared Bush Named Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios
September 19th, 2024 Jerry Beck Academy Award-winning filmmaker Jared Bush has been named Chief Creative Officer (CCO) of Walt Disney Animation Studios effective immediately, reporting to Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Alan Bergman, while Jennifer Lee has decided to return to filmmaking full time to steward the Frozen franchise for the studio. Serving as Chief Creative Officer for Walt Disney Animation Studios since 2018, Lee will be directing and writing on Frozen 3 and writing Frozen 4 with Marc Smith. Thirty-year Disney veteran Clark Spencer (Oscar-winning producer, “Encanto,” “Zootopia”) continues as President, Walt Disney Animation Studios.
Jared Bush
TRAILER: ‘Dog Man” Starring Pete Davidson, Isla Fisher, and Ricky Gervais From DreamWorks
September 17th, 2024 Lauren Ashton Part canine, part human- all hero.
From the studio behind popular hits like Kung Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon, and The Boss Baby comes a thrilling new adaptation of Dav Pilkey’s bestselling Dog Man.
After a brave police dog and his human handler are injured on the job, an unconventional but life-saving surgery combines them into one, resulting in the creation of Dog Man. Now that he’s part dog and part human, he’s committed to upholding law, order, and (of course) fetching, sitting, and rolling over.
TRAILER: Netflix Reveals New Key Art for New Projects
September 12th, 2024 Lauren Ashton This morning, Netflix unveiled the key art for the highly anticipated animated series Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, along with the official trailer and key art for Twilight of the Gods. In addition, Netflix announced its Netflix & Chills Halloween programming lineup, featuring new animated kids’ series The Bad Guys: Haunted Heist, Mighty MonsterWheelies, and the second season of Jurassic World: Chaos Theory. Here are full details for each project:
Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft
Streaming on Netflix starting October 10, 2024.
“An Almost Christmas Story” Set for Disney+
September 12th, 2024 Jerry Beck Disney Branded Television announced a new animated short-film for Disney+, An Almost Christmas Story, directed by David Lowery and produced by five-time Academy Award winner Alfonso Cuarón, that will premiere this fall. “An Almost Christmas Story” follows Moon, a curious young owl who unexpectedly finds himself stuck in a Christmas tree destined for Rockefeller Plaza. In his attempts to escape the bustling city, Moon befriends a lost young girl named Luna. Together, they embark on a heartwarming adventure, discovering the magic of the holiday season and forming an unlikely bond as they journey back home to their parents. “An Almost Christmas Story” is inspired by the true events of a tiny owl, Rocky – short for Rockefeller, found and rescued from the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in 2020.
WORLD PREMIRE: “Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl” will debut at AFI Fest, presented by Canva
September 6th, 2024 Lauren Ashton At this year’s upcoming AFI FEST, presented by Canva, the highly anticipated Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl is set to make its world premiere.
Aardman’s Academy Award-winning director Nick Park and Emmy-nominated director Merlin Crossingham are back with another exciting adventure in the “Wallace & Gromit” franchise. In this latest installment, Gromit fears that Wallace relies too much on his gadgets, and these fears are confirmed when Wallace creates a “smart” gnome that seems to have a mind of its own. When it seems that a spiteful character from the past may be behind it all, it’s up to Gromit to fight against the threatening forces and save Wallace. Otherwise, he may never be able to invent again! This family-friendly film will be shown on October 27, on the last day of the festival, at the famous TCL Chinese Theatre as part of the Red Carpet Premieres. Passes can be purchased here.
Hanna-Barbera: The Recorded History From Modern Stone Age to Meddling Kids
August 30th, 2024 Lauren Ashton Hanna-Barbera is best known for its popular animated characters and numerous TV series. But the studio also created iconic sound effects and music that have become the soundtrack of our lives – powerful sounds that were created to guide the studio’s visual storytelling. These incredible elements added to their remarkable success – not to mention the memorable theme songs that are still well – loved and enjoyed by people of all ages worldwide. This is an unabashed plug for Greg Ehrbar’s outstanding new book: Hanna-Barbera, the Recorded History: From Modern Stone Age to Meddling Kids. The new tome, just published this week, details the story of Hanna-Barbera’s impact on full show business, revealing unseen aspects of the studio’s artistry, music, and historical significance.
SPECIAL: Donald Appears On “Hot Ones” In Custom Episode
August 28th, 2024 Lauren Ashton In honor of Donald Duck’s 90th birthday, Hot Ones released a special episode featuring the beloved Duck himself. On the show, he shares that Daisy challenged him, and Mickey Mouse is backstage to offer support as he tries different Disney-themed flavors of hot sauce (with cauliflower wings, of course.) The host of the hit show, Sean Evans, has a fun lineup of questions for the cartoon star, but it’s hard for Donald to keep his cool. Literally.
INTERVIEW: The Basics And Beyond About “Universal Basic Guys”
August 27th, 2024 Jackson Murphy Adam and Craig Malamut are the creators of new animated comedy series Universal Basic Guys, which joins the iconic FOX Animation Domination lineup on Sunday Sept. 8 at 8pmET / 5pmPT (live to all timezones after an NFL doubleheader). They discuss the fun characters, storylines and South Jersey inspirations and what shows like The Simpsons and Family Guy have meant to them. (This Animation Scoop Q&A was edited for length and clarity. Images Courtesy: FOX)
Jackson Murphy: Welcome to the Animation Domination lineup. Adam, how does it feel?
Adam Malamut: It’s very surreal. We were at Comic Con and you see this giant mural and it’s got Peter Griffin and Homer Simpson and Bob Belcher, and then there’s Mark Hoagies there. I don’t know. It feels like we’re in a Make a Wish situation or something.
INTERVIEW: Places, Everyone! It’s “Kindergarten: The Musical”
August 26th, 2024 Jackson Murphy Two-time Emmy nominee Tom Warburton (Muppet Babies) is the executive producer and supervising director of the new family animated series Kindergarten: The Musical. It premieres Tuesday Sept. 3 at 8am on Disney Junior and 11am on Disney Channel. Episodes are also available Wednesday Sept. 4 on Disney+. Warburton discusses crafting a high-spirited and authentic musical presentation of the kindergarten experience. (Images Courtesy: Disney)
Tom Warburton: It’s really exciting. To have a show that is really about music and the kindergarten experience and all those emotions that come with it has been really exciting. In most shows, the songs are really a comment on the story. They’re “Yay, we did it.” In this show, the songs really are the story. And that’s what’s really exciting about it, that we get to tell these great kids stories about friendship, about learning all these new things with these songs and get to experience it through the eyes of these kids.
Jackson Murphy: It’s sweet. It’s a great companion piece for parents with kids who are going through the kindergarten experience. There’s a lot I want to dissect out of this. I guess the first thing I want to ask you is, What do you think fascinates kids about musicals? Why do you think so many young kids look at musicals and look at musical theater and go, “Wow, this is something interesting and that I can really enjoy and want to be a part of?”
SCREENING: Puppetoon Productions and Maxwell DeMille Present a Special Screening of George Pal’s Cinematic Classics
August 23rd, 2024 Lauren Ashton In collaboration with Maxwell DeMille, Puppetoon Productions is set to host a specialized presentation of George Pal’s The Time Machine (1960) as well as three beautifully restored “Puppetoons”. George Pal’s Puppetoons (also known as “Madcap Models”) were a series of stop-motion puppet films made between 1932 and 1947. This exclusive cinematic event is scheduled to take place at the Fine Arts Theatre in Beverly Hills, located at 8556 Wilshire Blvd, with showings happening at 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM.
TRAILER: Aniventure and Viva Present HITPIG!
August 16th, 2024 Lauren Ashton The upcoming animated feature film, HITPIG! is to be released exclusively in theaters in the United States on November 1st of this year. With animation by Cinesite (The Addams Family 2, Iwájú, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem), the film is produced by Aniventure (Animal Farm, Stitch Head) and distributed by Viva Pictures (2023 Sundance Film Festival selection The Amazing Maurice).
