To celebrate today’s Digital release of Pencils vs. Pixels, Strike Back Studios and Hideout Pictures have released four new film clips featuring acclaimed creators as they tackle a myriad of toon topics. The new documentary, announced in September, is a celebration of 2D hand-drawn animation which explores the transformative journey from the Disney Renaissance to the computer animation revolution, and beyond.
Pencils vs. Pixels is directed by Bay Dariz and Phil Earnest and narrated by Ming-Na Wen (Mulan, The Mandalorian). The new clips include insights from Alex Hirsch (Gravity Falls), Oscar winner Glen Keane (Dear Basketball, Over the Moon), Disney Legend Floyd Norman, Pixar COO Pete Docter (Inside Out, Up), Seth MacFarlane (Family Guy, American Dad!) and Disney Animation alums James Baxter and Tom Bancroft, who is also a producer of the documentary.
The Animation Guild (TAG), IATSE Local 839, announced that 11 animation workers at Whiteboard Geeks in Virginia have filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to form a union and be represented by TAG.
“Calling for a union is and has always been about uplifting workers’ voices and working in tandem to make the entire company better, inside and out,” commented Z Wang, a video editor at the studio. “Whiteboard Geeks cannot grow and thrive in a healthy manner if we are each suffering over it individually, so I am seeking to not only create better conditions we have all been asking for, but to also protect the environment that formed my affection for this company in the first place.”
Virginia now becomes the fourth state/territory where animation workers will be represented by TAG outside California, following New York, Texas and Puerto Rico. The group of workers at Whiteboard Geeks who have initiated this unionization effort includes script writers, video editors, production assistants and managers. TAG notes this move is an essential step towards improving workplace conditions, securing fair wages and enhancing the rights of animation professionals in Virginia.
“We have already come together to declare our intentions and are determined to see our strength recognized at the bargaining table,” said scriptwriter Phillip Hilliker. “As the first animation union in Virginia, we hope this action will not only improve the working conditions at WBG, but also help set a new, sustainable path for creatives across the Commonwealth.”
Whiteboard Geeks’ decision to unionize aligns with a broader trend within the animation industry, where workers across the country have been increasingly seeking representation to advocate for their rights and interests. This milestone in Virginia occurred on the heels of a recent NLRB election for production workers at Walt Disney Animation Studios — a landslide success with 96% of eligible voters participating and 93% of those votes counted November 1 cast in favor of unionizing.
The Animation Guild, also known as Local 839 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), was founded in 1952. The labor union represents more than 5,000 artists, technicians and writers in the animation industry, advocating for workers to improve wages and conditions.
For this year’s Christmas campaign, U.K. heritage lifestyle brand Barbour teamed up with Aardman’s beloved Shaun the Sheep flock for a baa-rilliant stop-motion spot. The seasonal film was carefully crafted by the Aardman team at the company’s Bristol studio, bringing Barbour to Mossy Bottom Farm.
“We’re delighted to be collaborating with such an iconic British brand, whose company values are so well aligned with our own. Shaun the Sheep’s ‘One Farm’ initiative challenges ewe to look after the planet, and Barbour’s services are a perfect example of how families can extend the life of their belongings,” said Rachael Peacock, Senior Brand Manager at Aardman.
“Our creative team had so much fun bringing the magic of Christmas back to Mossy Bottom Farm, and with his Barbour jacket the Farmer has become a style icon! We can’t wait to bring a smile to families around the world with this wonderful campaign.”
“Shaun the Sheep x Baa-bour” unfolds as good-hearted Shaun, sheepdog Bitzer and the Flock decide to repair the Farmer’s well-worn Barbour wax jacket after worrying that due to the damage it would no longer keep him warm and dry. Chaos swiftly ensues, and despite their best efforts, the jacket is left looking worse than ever before. Thankfully, Christmas is saved when Bitzer clicks his fingers and the Farmer’s original jacket reappears, lovingly restored by the experts at the Barbour factory … with the message that for some people, re-waxing and repairing jackets might be best left to the professionals at Barbour.
Barbour has been offering a Re-Waxing and Repairs service for over 100 years, and today the service forms part of Barbour’s Wax for Life program — which includes a range of different initiatives designed to extend the life of Barbour Wax Jackets.
“This Christmas, we wanted to demonstrate the importance of extending the life of our garments and we’ve been able to achieve this through our partnership with Aardman,” noted Paul Wilkinson, Group Commercial Director, Barbour. “Working with Shaun the Sheep and his friends, we’ve created a light hearted and engaging film that we hope will make people smile this festive season. With a Barbour wax jacket, age is no limitation and through our Wax for Life initiative, globally every year over 73,000 of our wax jackets are returned to be re-waxed or repaired. A Barbour jacket is like an old friend — it becomes part of your life and part of your shared experiences and memories. By using our re-waxing and repairs service, your jacket can last for a long time continuing to give many years of faithful service and most importantly, reducing its impact on the environment.”
Slim Goodbody (slimgoodbody.com), who taught a generation of kids about the human body in the 1970s and 1980s, will bring his unique brand of health education to today’s five- to eight-year old audiences through an animated series in development with animation production company Luminous Blue Limited (luminousblue.tv). The series will feature adventure-based characters that explore global health and wellness topics in humorous, relatable way.
“I couldn’t be more excited to partner with Luminous Blue to bring the principles and joy of my work to the next generation of kids,” says John Burstein, the original Slim Goodbody. “Now, more than ever, families are looking for content that provides kids a highly engaging resource to better understand themselves and a source of connection to one another. I can’t wait to see how much fun kids will have with this new format.”
“We’d love kids from around the world to feel the same kind of wonder we felt with Slim Goodbody, but in a brand new, exciting format,” says John Edwards, Head of Story at Luminous Blue Limited.
Slim Goodbody, the costumed character created by Burstein, has been championing children’s health for over 40 years. Currently, his productions are seen by millions of children on Discovery Education. His live shows tour theaters around the country reaching thousands of children every year. In addition, Slim is the author of fifty children’s books. His work has been honored with awards from Parent’s Choice, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the President’s Council on Physical Fitness & Sports and the World Health Organization.
Based in San Francisco, Luminous Blue Limited is a new animation company created by industry veterans Norman Praught (Lucasfilm, DreamWorks, Sony), Randy Gaul (Lucasfilm, DreamWorks, Legendary) and John Edwards (Warner Bros. Television). Working across feature films, series and shorts, the company aims to deliver high-quality animated content that “inspire curiosity, and leave the world a better place.”
The agreement between Slim Goodbody Corp. and Luminous Blue Limited was brokered by Cookbook Media, a global franchise management agency headed by Claudia Scott-Hansen and Rob Bencal, who have partnered with Slim to manage the overall Slim brand.
The talented and determined helper fairies of DreamWorks’ Dew Drop Diaries return with another season of everyday rescues next month! Season 2 premieres December 4 with 12 episodes, exclusively on Netflix. A trailer and new images for the second season have taken wing.
Season 2 Logline: The tiny but mighty Dew Drops — Eden, Athena and Phoebe — are back lending a secret helping hand and watching over their assigned human families! Be it perfecting a magic show for the kids, finding all the ingredients for a special recipe or locating a missing toy, the Dew Drops turn everyday challenges into extraordinary adventures. And when their glitter guide Willow visits, the fairies-in-training get one step closer to a new level of Dew Drop: “Flyers,” graduating to a brand new level of fairy-bility!
The voice cast features Scarlett Estevez as Eden, Viviann Yee as Athena, Sydney Mikayla as Phoebe, Zehra Fazal as Dr. Tracy Ryan, Spencer Moss as Harper Ryan, Jakari Fraser as Marcus Greene, Olivia Trujillo as Cassie Cortez-Chang, Nick Kishiyama as Dylan Cortez-Chang, Olivia Daniels as Lola Cortez-Chang, Reggie Watkins as Dr. Damon Greene, Bob Bergen as Hammy the Hamster, Bill Farmer as Wilford the Dog, Dee Bradley Baker as Qwak the Chipmunk and Ruffles the Bird, and Brec Bassinger as Willow.
Dew Drop Diaries is created and executive produced by Rick Suvalle and executive produced by children’s animation veteran Aliki Theofilopoulos.
Bejuba! Entertainment (Wishfart; Ruff-Ruff, Tweet and Dave) has picked up the first two series from crowd-funded animation prodco Pencilish Studios on two original series for kids six and up: Bjorn the Last Unicorn and Juju Brain. Both series have pilot episodes and are seeking broadcast and production partners. The team-up was announced by Tatiana Kober, President of Bejuba!
Based in Nashville, Pencilish was launched in 2020 by CEO Tom Bancroft and Co-Founder Ash Greyson. Bancroft is a 35 year animation veteran, best known for animating Simba in The Lion King (1994), Pocahontas in Pocahontas and creating Mushu the dragon in Mulan (1998) for Disney Animation. The company operates under a unique model, raising investment through crowd funding to develop properties, produce their pilot episodes and launch them on YouTube.
Bjorn the Last Unicorn sees the titular hero return to society after hiding away for centuries. He is lured by the belief that the internet has turned the world into a wonderful, kind place, based on the social media clips he happened upon. Bjorn sets out to become an influencer with the goal of spreading happiness and positivity to the world. The series revels in Bjorn’s innocent charm and his positive outlook, always seeing the good, even when some aren’t so positive around him.
JuJu Brain is a slice-of-life series focusing on JuJu Magoo, a
10-year-old girl on a mission to reach that impossible middle school goal of being both different and accepted. She discovers a challenge to that pursuit: she has OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder). Through the love of her family, best friend and a new level of understanding, she’s going to take on the world one epic guitar solo at a time!
“I’m excited about these two series and the clever steps Pencilish has taken to develop and move these projects along. Their crowd funded investor base is also a research arm and they have gleaned valuable creative feedback from their work. They’ve also produced their pilot episode as shorts which they launched on YouTube.” says Kober. “We’re excited to take these series to the market.”
Bancroft adds, “I’m thrilled to partner with Bejuba! Entertainment and Tatiana. Our properties are backed by almost 5,000 passionate investors and thousands of fans online! We can’t wait to get the stories of Bjorn the Last Unicorn and JuJu Brain into the world to bring some much needed fun and edification back to screens and lives!’
Pixar veteran Sanjay Patel, writer and director of the Oscar- and Annie Award-nominated animated short Sanjay’s Super Team (2015), has launched an adorable, cheerful animated preschool series, Ghee Happy. Inspired by the Hindu pantheon, 20 x 11′ episodes will roll out from November 6 leading up to the Diwali holiday (November 12) on YouTube.
The 3D CG series playfully reimagines Hindu deities as little kids discovering their powers through their daily adventures in a divine daycare called Ghee Happy. Each episode follows Kali, Saraswati, Krishna, and Ganesha as they encounter and learn about the rest of the Hindu pantheon. Together they celebrate traditions like kite fighting and rakhi, as well as learning the real meaning of Diwali, the festival of lights.
Along with the animated series debut, Patel also has three new children’s books, released on October 24 by Chronicle Books. Fans of his previous title Ganesha’s Sweet Tooth (2015) can pick up the follow-up picture book Ganesha’s Great Race, in which Ganesha and his brother Kartikeya compete over a magical mango and race around the world (co-authored by Emily Haynes). To build on the Ghee Happy animated series, two new board books titled Ghee Happy Goddesses and Ghee Happy Gods are also on sale, introducing young kids to the core deities of the Hindu pantheon.
Patel is known for his work on numerous Pixar films such as Monsters Inc., Ratatouille, Cars, Toy Story 2, The Incredibles and Incredibles 2. He directed the Pixar-produced animated short Sanjay’s Super Team, inspired by his own childhood, which was nominated for Best Animated Short Film at the 88th Academy Awards and for Best Animated Short Subject at the 43rd Annie Awards.
Apple TV+ today released the trailer for the Apple Original special The Velveteen Rabbit, premiering globally on Wednesday, November 22. The footage give a further look at the adaptation’s cozy live-action world, the magical photoreal hybrid animation of the titular toy and his fellow playthings, as well as fully-animated dream sequences.
The new 40-minute special, based on the classic children’s book by Margery Williams, celebrates the magic of unconditional love: When seven-year-old William receives a new favorite toy for Christmas, he discovers a lifelong friend and unlocks a world of magic. The adaptation is produced by U.K. studio Magic Light Pictures.
Featuring Phoenix Laroche (The Royal Nanny) as William, the all-star cast includes the voices of Alex Lawther (Andor) as The Velveteen Rabbit, Academy Award nominee Helena Bonham Carter (The Crown) as Wise Horse, Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton) as Playroom Fairy, Bethany Antonia (House of Dragon) as Female Rabbit, Lois Chimimba (Still Up) as Car, Paterson Joseph (Vigil) as King, Clive Rowe (So Awkward) as Lion, Nathaniel Parker (The Inspector Lynley Mysteries) as Male Rabbit, Tilly Vosburgh (Inside Man) as Momo, as well as Samantha Colley (Genius) as Mother and Leonard Buckley (The Great) as Father.
Magic Light Pictures co-founder Martin Pope produces (Academy Award nominee The Gruffalo, BAFTA- and International Emmy-winning Revolting Rhymes) with a screenplay by Tom Bidwell, creator of the BAFTA- and International Emmy-nominated My Mad Fat Diary and the Oscar-nominated short Wish 143.
Crunchyroll has acquired the North American and select global theatrical rights forSPYxFAMILY CODE: White. The first feature film installment of the popular anime series delivers an original, standalone story featuring secret agent <Twilight>, his deadly assassin wife Yor and their telepathic adopted daughter Anya in an all-new mission
Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment will present the movie in North American theaters in 2024, available in both Japanese with English subtitles and dubbed in English.
In addition to the North American rights, Crunchyroll has acquired the rights for Latin America, Australia/New Zealand, and select territories in Europe, including Austria, Benelux, France, Germany, Italy, the Nordics, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland.
Synopsis: He’s a spy. She’s an assassin. Together, Loid and Yor keep their double lives to themselves while pretending to be the perfect family. However, their adopted daughter Anya, a telepath, knows both of their exciting secrets unbeknownst to them. While under the guise of taking his family on a weekend winter getaway, Loid’s attempt to make progress on his current mission Operation Strix proves difficult when Anya mistakenly gets involved and triggers events that threaten world peace!
The movie is directed by Takashi Katagiri and written by Ichiro Okouchi, based on an original story by manga creator Tatsuya End. Produced by WIT STUDIO x CloverWorks.
Based on the widely acclaimed manga written and illustrated by Endo, the television series SPY x FAMILY originally debuted on April 9, 2022 and was quickly embraced by fans across the globe. The second season launched on October 7 on Crunchyroll. The anime series is produced by TOHO Animation
Serialized in Shueisha’s Shonen Jump Plus, the manga currently has over 31 million copies in circulation and has been nominated for both Harvey and Eisner Awards. SPY x FAMILY is a New York Times Graphic Books and Manga bestseller and all 10 volumes have hit the Circana Bookscan Top 20 Adult Graphic Novels list.
Multiplatform company Skybound Entertainment announced the acquisition and revival of Spike & Mike’s iconic animation events at the Toronto Animation Arts Festival (TAAFI) this weekend. Beginning today, submissions are open for short films from creators across North America.
The first window of submissions will be free and open for 60 days, beginning November 4, 2023 and ending January 3, 2024.
“I’m incredibly appreciative of Skybound’s respect and understanding of what the Spike & Mike brand has accomplished, and what we can continue to offer,” said Craig “Spike” Decker, Co-Founder of Spike & Mike. “I’m excited to see what they’re able to do for existing Spike & Mike work and look forward to developing a new chapter with them.”
Artists, universities and organizations from around the globe with a library of animated shorts can also submit original works for the chance to be featured in the newly minted Skybound Presents: Spike & Mike’s library.
Details of the festival, including partnerships, are still being finalized but organizers are working towards awards and prizes including project stipends, acquisitions and development opportunities.
“Bringing this iconic brand under the Skybound umbrella is an enormous opportunity to bring Spike & Mike’s rebel origins to the masses and expand upon what we’re already doing in adult animation,” said Rick Jacobs, Managing Partner of Linear Content, Skybound Entertainment. “Co-founder Mike Gribble once stated that their mission was ‘to find the most original, funniest and weirdest animation in the world and play it.’ Digitizing the festivals opens the doors for — and to — millions of talented of creators across the globe who will shepherd a new generation of animation.”
Skybound’s plan is to not only bring back the live screening celebrations, but to also offer a handpicked array of animated shorts on an online platform, accessible to viewers worldwide. The new Spike & Mike’s will also forge collaborations with contemporary animation creators across a variety of mediums and platforms, while finding new avenues to bring back classic festival favorites or create fresh stories inspired by shorts in the Spike & Mike library.
Since its inception in the late 1970s, Spike & Mike’s curated festivals, including the renowned Spike & Mike’s Sick and Twisted Festival of Animation, have showcased cutting-edge, daring and often hilarious animated shorts. These guerilla style festivals became the theatrical launchpad for many well-known creative voices, including Pete Doctor (CCO, Pixar; director, Monsters, Inc., Up), Mike Judge (Beavis and Butt-Head) and Nick Park (Wallace & Gromit). As animation historian Jerry Beck put it, “Spike & Mike came from nowhere with nothing and created a market where none existed.”
“Spike & Mike has been a seminal platform for creative voices in animation,” said Marge Dean, Head of Studio at Skybound Entertainment. “There would be no place for shows like Invincible to exist without their efforts to develop a safe space for creators to express both the uplifting and introspective or ‘sick and twisted’ in an incredibly innovative, complex, and boundless art form.”
Learn more and submit your films to the relaunched events — including the classic Spike & Mike’s Festival of Animation and Sick & Twisted as well as the brand-new, highfalutin Arty Farty fest — at spikeandmikefest.com.
Disney Junio announced its lineup for Disney Junior Magical Holidays — packed with festive programming for the whole family. The programming from Friday, November 24 to Sunday, December 31 will include the premiere of new stop-motion shorts Mickey’s Christmas Tales on Monday, November 27 on Disney Channel and Disney Junior, which follow Mickey, Minnie and their pals as they celebrate the holiday season. (Check out a new clip below!)
Additionally, Disney Junior Music: Holiday Jams, a digital EP featuring holiday music from SuperKitties, Pupstruction and Minnie’s Bow-Toons: Camp Minnie, is set for release on Walt Disney Records on Friday, November 17.
Mickey’s Christmas Tales – “Up All Eve”
Disney Junior Magical Holidays
Firebuds – “Blizzard Buds”
Firebuds “Blizzard Buds/Parade Escapade”
Wednesday, Nov. 1, on Disney+; Thursday, Nov. 30 (10:00 a.m. EST), on Disney Channel and Disney Junior
The Buds brave a blizzard to reunite a family for Christmas. Then, the Firebuds take part in the Motopolis New Year’s Day parade. Harvey Guillén (Mickey Mouse Funhouse) guest stars as Uncle Tad in “Blizzard Buds” and LaChanze (Broadway’s The Color Purple) recurs as Jayden’s mom, Jenna, in “Parade Escapade.”
Mickey Saves Christmas — Extended Version
Saturday, Nov. 25 (8:00 p.m. EST), on Disney Channel
In this extended version of last year’s stop-motion special, Mickey, Minnie and their pals travel to the North Pole to save Christmas when Pluto causes Santa to lose all his presents.
Mickey’s Christmas Tales“Starstruck”
Monday, Nov. 27 (10:25 a.m. EST), on Disney Channel and Disney Junior; Wednesday, Nov. 29, on Disney+
Mickey, Minnie and their pals celebrate the holiday season. The five stop-motion shorts are a collaboration between Disney and Stoopid Buddy Stoodios. John Harvatine IV (The Simpsons) serves as director.
Me & Mickey “Decorating for Christmas”
Me & Mickey “Decorating for Christmas”
Monday, Nov. 27 (9:55 a.m. EST), on Disney Channel and Disney Junior; Wednesday, Dec. 13, on Disney+
Mickey decorates his Christmas tree.
Pupstruction “Pupstruction Saves Christmas/Pupstruction on Ice”
Monday, Nov. 27 (10:00 a.m. EST), on Disney Channel and Disney Junior; Wednesday, Dec. 20, on Disney+
Santa Paws’ sleigh crashes on Christmas Eve and needs help delivering toys. Then, when it snows in Petsburg, the ice makes everything slippery.
Minie’s Bow Toons – “Campground Christmas”
Pupstruction – “Pupstruction Saves Christmas”
Minnie’s Bow-Toons: Camp Minnie “Campground Christmas”
Monday, Nov. 27 (10:55 a.m. EST), on Disney Channel and Disney Junior
Minnie and Daisy’s friends get stuck in the snow while headed to the campsite for Christmas.
SuperKitties – “Merry Mousemas”
SuperKitties “Merry Mousemas” — 22-Minute Special
Tuesday, Nov. 28 (10:00 a.m. EST), on Disney Channel and Disney Junior; Wednesday, Dec. 6, on Disney+
When Cat Burglar steals Christmas gifts from all over Kittydale, the SuperKitties have to recover the stolen presents. Justin Guarini (“American Idol”) reprises his role as Cat Burglar.
Mickey Mouse Funhouse – “Snow Princess”
Mickey Mouse Funhouse “Minnie’s Snow Ball/The Snow Princess”
Wednesday, Nov. 29 (10:00 a.m. EST), on Disney Channel and Disney Junior; Wednesday, Dec. 13, on Disney+
A winter storm changes Minnie’s plans for a picnic in Fairy Square. Then, Minnie and her friends hope the Snow Princess will visit the snow castle at Winter Mountain.
Mickey Mouse Funhouse“Santa’s Crash Landing” — 22-Minute Special
Friday, Dec. 1 (10:00 a.m. EST), on Disney Channel and Disney Junior; Wednesday, Dec. 13, on Disney+
When Santa crash lands in Funhouse Forest, Mickey, Minnie and the gang help him deliver presents to Majestica, Halloweenville and Winter Mountain. Brock Powell (“Mickey Saves Christmas”) guest stars as Santa.
Me & Mickey – “Dreidel Play”
Me & Mickey “Dreidel Play”
Monday, Dec. 4 (9:25 a.m. EST), on Disney Channel and Disney Junior
Mickey shares some of his favorite Hanukkah traditions, including playing a game of dreidel.
Alice’s Wonderland Bakery “A Hat-Bachi Hanukkah/A Snow-Drop Summer”
Saturday, Dec. 9 (7:15 a.m. EST), on Disney Junior
When Hattie realizes he is not a natural hat-bachi chef, Alice encourages him not to give up. Then, Alice and her friends get carried away making their own snow and must warm up Wonderland.
Playdate with Winnie the Pooh – “Piglet and the Snow Bear”
Playdate with Winnie the Pooh “Piglet and the Snow Bear”
Wednesday, Dec. 27 (9:25 a.m. EST), on Disney Channel and Disney Junior; same day on Disney+
Pooh and Piglet make a Snowbear together but worry that he will get lonely outside.
Me & Mickey “New Year’s Eve”
Friday, Dec. 29 (9:25 a.m. EST), on Disney Channel and Disney Junior
Crunchyroll announced today a special one-day-only private pop-up installation in Los Angeles exploring the complete works of celebrated Japanese animation filmmaker Makoto Shinkai. Makoto Shinkai: A Journey from Voices of a Distant Star through Suzumewill be held at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on Sunday, November 19, and will feature a special appearance by the award-winning anime auteur. The RSVP-only event will also be bookended by public screenings of Shinkai’s films.
The exhibition is organized by Crunchyroll, in cooperation with CoMix Wave Film, STORY inc, and TOHO Co., Ltd., and will present artwork and materials from eight of Shinkai’s works, starting with Voices of a Distant Star (2002) through his latest critically acclaimed film Suzume (2023). Guests of the event will be able to explore his creative process – from initial proposals and early sketches to design, including storyboard, animation renderings, and final film materials – and traverse his growth as an animation artist and storyteller, particularly following the aftermath of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, which profoundly affected his approach to his work. An accompanying film retrospective in the Academy Museum’s Ted Mann Theater will allow Crunchyroll’s guests to delve deeper into the world he creates.
About the installation: Makoto Shinkai is one of Japan’s leading animators and has been writing, animating and directing films for over 20 years. His recent full-length animated films, Your Name. (2016) and Weathering with You (2019) and this year’s Suzume (2023), have been attracting huge audiences and gaining critical acclaim around the world. Combining imaginative storytelling with exquisitely textured animation, Shinkai explores themes like loneliness, distance, loss and longing, and our complex relationship with the natural world. His masterfully conceived real and science fiction worlds are filled with characters whose journeys and emotions resonate within us all.
The pop-up will run from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, November 19. RSVPs will open at 10 a.m. PT on Monday, November 6: more information will be available here.
The film retrospective will feature three screenings:
U.K.’s BBC has debuted first-look footage from Jack and Nancy, the one of the first two specials in the Quentin Blake’s Box of Treasures series, set to premiere next month. The pubcaster describes this first installment based on the works of the beloved British children’s author-illustrator as “a tale of fun, friendship and adventure.”
First published in 1969, the classic Blake book centers on youngsters Jack and Nancy, who long to visit the exotic lands that they hear about in sailors’ tales — then, one windy day, their wish comes true.
Jack and Nancy and the second Quentin Blake’s Box of Treasures special, Zagazoo, will both premiere in December, timed to the holidays. All of the series will feature narration by Olivier Award-winning and Tony-nominated actor Adrian Lester (TV’s Hustle, Bonekickers). Jack and Nancy will also feature the voices of local Welsh talent.
Simon Pegg (Shawn of the Dead, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs) leads the voice cast for Zagazoo, and will also perform leading roles in the upcoming Blake specials Snuff and Angel Pavement. Alison Steadman OBE (The Singing Detectives, Gavin & Stavey) will star as the indomitable Mrs. Armitage (Mrs. Armitage on Wheels). Nina Sosanya (Good Omens, Moon and Me) leads the cast of Loveykins as Angela Bowling to life.
Announced in 2022, Quentin Blake’s Box of Treasures is a series of six animated specials commissioned by BBC, produced by Eagle Eye Drama (Quentin Blake’s Clown) in co-production with Creative Conspiracy in association with animation studios Spicy Acorn (Belgium), Tchack (France) and Kong (U.K.) The series is directed by Gerrit Bekers working with Eagle Eye’s creative director for animation, Massimo Fenati.
Check out the first-look clip of Jack and Nancy, courtesy of BBC:
Cinesite has released its breakdown reel illustrating its work on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, ahead of delivering the panel “Tapping into Turtlemania: The Creative Forces Crafting Mutant Mayhem” at Spark Animation on Sunday, November 12 at 10:45 a.m. PT alongside the film’s director, Jeff Rowe.
Cinesite played a pivotal role in the creation of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem; its Vancouver and Montreal teams supported lead vendor Mikros by providing 21.5 minutes of animation across 20 sequences.
The project was Cinesite’s second animation collaboration with Paramount, following on from its work on Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank (2022). The crew led by VFX supervisor Chris Kazmier and animation supervisor Eric Cheung worked on the box office hit, which has grossed $118.6 million in the U.S. & Canada since its August 2 wide release.
In addition to the Mutant Mayhem panel presented by Cinesite, the studio and film crew can be found at the following Spark Animation events in Vancouver, BC’s Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre:
Saturday – November 11, 4:00 p.m. (PT) In the Directors’ Chair – Jeff Rowe on TMNT: Mutant Mayhem
Presented by Paramount Pictures
with Jeff Rowe · Moderated by Marina Antunes
Sunday – November 12, 10:45 a.m. (PT) Tapping into Turtlemania: The Creative Forces Crafting Mutant Mayhem
Presented by Cinesite
with Christopher Springfield, Eric Cheung & Jeff Rowe · Moderated by Sue Rowe
Saturday – November 11, 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. (PT) Career Fair
Cinesite will be recruiting for its upcoming project, Smurfs, at the Spark Career Fair held on Saturday (registration and venue details here). Starring Rihannas as the voice of Smurfette, the untitled Smurfs film is set for a February 2025 release. The project is written by Pam Brady (South Park), directed by Chris Miller (Puss in Boots, Shrek the Third) and produced by Ryan Harris (The LEGO Batman Movie). Cinesite’s crew is being led by Barbara Zelinski (Producer) and Chris Kazmier (VFX Supervisor), under the direction of Head of Production Tamara Boutcher.
Cinesite remains in production on Aniventure’s upcoming films Hitpig, based on characters from Pulitzer Prize-winner Berkeley Breathed’s Pete & Pickles, and Animal Farm, an animated adaptation of George Orwell’s classic novella directed by Andy Serkis, as well as the animated series Iwaju for Disney+.
New Zealand’s Mukpuddy Animation, Canada’s Sphere Animation and the U.K.’s Cantilever Media have teamed up to produce the brand-new kids’ series, Badjelly, starring Miriam MargolyesOBE. Commissioned by New Zealand’s TVNZ and WildBrain Television’s Family Channel in Canada, Badjelly is the first-ever treaty co-production in kids’ animation between New Zealand, Canada and U.K. studios. ABC Australia has also acquired the series for their platforms.
Production on the 13 x 22’ 2D-animated series for kids seven to 11 years old began earlier this year, with delivery scheduled for 2025. WildBrain is global distributor outside of New Zealand and Australia.
Based on the children’s book Badjelly the Witch: A Fairy Story, an irreverent modern fairy tale by renowned Irish comedian, poet, playwright and actor, Spike Milligan, Badjelly delivers a fresh new take for today’s kids on this classic story, all the while preserving the crazy humor, bizarre situations and quirky characters from Milligan’s original tale that has entertained kids for generations. The new series is being produced with the permission of Spike Milligan Productions and the family of Spike Milligan.
Badjelly represents a significant step for Mukpuddy, and for the global profile of animated storytelling from New Zealand. “We’ve assembled a great team of writers and creatives who are taking Spike Milligan’s creation to another level of enchantment, thrills and whimsical quirky fun,” head writer and co-director Ryan Cooper points out. “Stay tuned as this magical Badjelly animated series rekindles the spirit of Milligan’s whimsical world and takes you on an unforgettable adventure!”
‘Badjelly’ features the voices of Miriam Margolyes OBE (left), Rhys Darby (top), Ava Diakhaby (bottom center) and newcomer Malachi Hill.
Alongside Margolyes, starring as the voice of the enigmatic Badjelly, the voice cast is led by Rhys Darby (Trolls, Jumanji: The Next Level, Carmen Sandiego) as the mischievous Binklebonk, Ava Diakhaby (Shortland Street) is the charming and brave Rose, and rising star Malachi Hall (The Flatshare) is the fearless Tim. They are joined by an array of international talent, including Roisin Conaty (GameFace), Cohen Holloway (Under the Vines), Mandip Gill (Doctor Who), Joe Wilkinson (Sex Education), Katherine Parkinson (Significant Other), Kiell Smith-Bynoe (Ghosts) and Julian Barratt (The Great).
Milligan originally wrote Badjelly the Witch as a humorous fairy tale for his children in 1973, telling the story of sister and brother, Rose and Tim, who go searching for their lost cow, Lucy, only to encounter a cast of strange and magical characters in the great black forest and be captured by Badjelly, the wickedest witch in all the world. Packed full of weird and wonderful surprises about good triumphing over evil, the book was hand-written and illustrated by Milligan himself, and published by Penguin. It was later turned into a successful audio play starring Milligan and a few years later retold with a full orchestra, released by Polydor Records.
“Badjelly the Witch is wildly popular in New Zealand,” says producer Simon Ward. “Generations of Kiwi kids have grown up with the book, the radio play and countless versions of the stage show. We’re delighted to bring this beloved classic to a global audience with our take on Spike Milligan’s bonkers adventure.”
Marlo Miazga, President of Sphere Media Kids & Family, says, “This project represents such fresh creative collaboration that our team leaped at the opportunity to join the party. Badjelly the Witch was the invention of one of the great comic geniuses of all time, Spike Milligan, and she is voiced in our new series by another national treasure, Miriam Margolyes. We’re thrilled to join forces with a team of unrivalled international animation talent to give this exciting new show the best launch pad for global success.”
“It’s a complete honor to be the U.K. producers on Badjelly,” adds Producer Carys Rowan of Cantilever Media. “We have a dream team who have an aligned vision: to create funny, relatable and visually beautiful content that doesn’t talk down to our kids.”
The development of Badjelly was made possible with the support of Ara ki Te Puna Kairangi – the New Zealand Government’s Premium Development Fund. Additionally, the series is funded by Te Puna Kairangi, the New Zealand Government’s Premium Productions Fund, NZ On Air, and the New Zealand Screen Production Rebate (NZSPR) as well as the Ontario and Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credits, the British Film Institute’s UK Global Screen Fund and the UK Animation Tax Credit.
The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) today announced the nominations for the 2nd Annual Children’s & Family Emmy Awards. In the second year of the standalone competition, it remains the biggest Emmy competition NATAS oversees.
“We are very proud of the growth experienced in year two of the Children’s and Family Emmys, especially in the development and cultivation of the new categories dedicated to puppetry,” said Rachel Schwartz, Director of Daytime and Children’s & Family Emmy Awards.
“Programming created for children’s and family viewing has a long history of leading the way in innovation and storytelling,” noted Brent Stanton, Head of Daytime and Children’s & Family Emmy Awards. “In this year specifically, a year so impacted by artists fighting for fair recognition of their true value, it is more important than ever to honor the excellence of their talents and achievements.”
Nominees in one category judged in person — Interactive Media — will be announced later this month, as will honorees in two Juried categories: Individual Achievement in Animation and the newly-created Public Service Initiative. Details and information about events for the Children’s & Family Emmy Awards ceremonies will
be released next week.
Categories with animated and hybrid nominees listed below; find the full list at theemmys.tv.
PRESCHOOL ANIMATED SERIES The Adventures of Paddington Nick Jr. Spirit Rangers Netflix Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures Disney+ StoryBots: Answer TimeNetflix The Tiny Chef Show Nickelodeon
CHILDREN’S OR YOUNG TEEN ANIMATED SERIES Baymax!Disney+ Big City GreensDisney Channel Moon Girl and Devil DinosaurDisney Channel ONI: Thunder God’s Tale Netflix Zootopia+Disney+
ANIMATED SPECIAL Looney Tunes Cartoons “Bugs Bunny’s Howl-O-Skreem Spooktacular” Max Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur “Moon Girl Landing” Disney Channel Reindeer in Here CBS Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie Netflix Snoopy Presents: Lucy’s SchoolApple TV+ The Wonderful Summer of Mickey MouseDisney+
PRESCHOOL SERIES Blue’s Clues & You!Nickelodeon HelpstersApple TV+ Sesame Street Max SlumberkinsApple TV+ Waffles + Mochi’s Restaurant Netflix
CHILDREN’S OR FAMILY VIEWING SERIES Are You Afraid of the Dark Nickelodeon Best Foot Forward Apple TV+ JaneApple TV+ Malory Towers BYUtv The Muppets Mayhem Disney+
SHORT FORM PROGRAM The Big Gathering PBS Kids I Am GrootDisney+ Sesame Street: Wes’ First Barbershop HaircutYouTube Sesame Street’s #ComingTogether Word of the Day Series YouTube Storyline OnlineYouTube
VOICE PERFORMANCE IN A PRESCHOOL PROGRAM Eric Bauza as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Tweety Bird & Marvin the Martian Cartoon | Bugs Bunny Builders Cartoon Network Erin Fitzgerald as Bo, Eleanor Smartypants, Story StoryBerg, Ranger Dot, Oog the CaveBot & Fun Fact Hairdresser | StoryBots: Answer Time Netflix James Monroe Iglehart as Mr. Puppypaws/Announcer | SuperkittiesDisney Junior Cree Summer as Lizard & DeeDee | Spirit Rangers Netflix Fred Tatasciore as Bang, BlimBlam the Barbarian & Chef Pierre | StoryBots: Answer Time Netflix
VOICE PERFORMANCE IN A CHILDREN’S OR YOUNG TEEN PROGRAM Bob Bergen as Porky Pig | Looney Tunes CartoonsMax Jack Black as Po | Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight Netflix Laurence Fishburne as The Beyonder | Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur Disney Channel Tom Kenny as SpongeBob SquarePants | SpongeBob SquarePants Nickelodeon Rob Paulsen as Pinky, Dr. Scratchansniff & Yakko | AnimaniacsHulu
YOUNGER VOICE PERFORMANCE IN A PRESCHOOL, CHILDREN’S OR YOUNG TEEN PROGRAM Talon Proc Alford as Eddy Skycedar | Spirit RangersNetflix Juliet Donenfeld as Piper | Interrupting ChickenApple TV+ Maria Nash as Pinecone | Pinecone & Pony Apple TV+ Melissa Povenmire as Gretel | Hamster & GretelDisney Channel Isis Celilo Rogers as Summer Skycedar | Spirit RangersNetflix Momona Tamada as Onari | ONI: Thunder God’s Tale Netflix
WRITING FOR A PRESCHOOL ANIMATED PROGRAM The Adventures of Paddington Nick Jr. Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood PBS Kids Interrupting Chicken Apple TV+ Molly of DenaliPBS Kids StoryBots: Answer Time Netflix The Tiny Chef Show Nickelodeon
WRITING FOR AN ANIMATED CHILDREN’S OR YOUNG TEEN PROGRAM Baymax!Disney+ Craig of the CreekCartoon Network Karma’s World Netflix Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur Disney Channel My Dad the Bounty Hunter Netflix
DIRECTING FOR A PRESCHOOL ANIMATED PROGRAM Ada Twist, ScientistNetflix The Adventures of Paddington Nick Jr. Mickey Saves Christmas Disney Channel Spirit RangersNetflix The Tiny Chef Show Nickelodeon
DIRECTING FOR AN ANIMATED PROGRAM Baymax!Disney+ The Cuphead Show! Netflix Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon KnightNetflix ONI: Thunder God’s TaleNetflix Zootopia+ Disney+
VOICE DIRECTING FOR AN ANIMATED SERIES Ada Twist, Scientist Netflix The Ghost and Molly McGeeDisney Channel KiffDisney Channel Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur Disney Channel Spirit RangersNetflix
MUSIC DIRECTION AND COMPOSITION FOR ANANIMATED PROGRAM AnimaniacsHulu Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon KnightNetflix Looney Tunes Cartoons Max Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures Disney+ Tom and Jerry: Cowboy Up! Cartoon Network / Max
ORIGINAL SONG FOR A PRESCHOOL PROGRAM “The City of Brotherly Love”Jam Van YouTube Kids “Community is Everything”Sesame Street Max “The Hat Makes The Hatter”Alice’s Wonderland Bakery Disney Junior “One Big Family”Mira, Royal Detective Disney Junior “One Sacred Thing”Jam Van YouTube Kids
ORIGINAL SONG FOR A CHILDREN’S OR YOUNG TEEN PROGRAM “Coming Out of the Dark”Monster High: The Movie Nickelodeon “Finally Free”High School Musical: The Musical– The Series Disney+ “Roll the Dice”The Cuphead Show! Netflix “These Kids”Snow Day Nickelodeon “You Never Know”High School Musical: The Musical – The Series Disney+
MAIN TITLE KiffDisney Channel Moon Girl and Devil DinosaurDisney Channel The Mysterious Benedict Society Disney+ National Treasure: Edge of History Disney+ Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures Disney+ SuperkittiesDisney Junior
EDITING FOR A PRESCHOOL ANIMATED PROGRAM Ada Twist, ScientistNetflix Frog and ToadApple TV+ Get Rolling with OtisApple TV+ Star Wars: Young Jedi AdventuresDisney+ StoryBots: Answer TimeNetflix
EDITING FOR AN ANIMATED PROGRAM Baymax!Disney+ Cars on the Road Disney+ Moon Girl and Devil DinosaurDisney Channel My Dad the Bounty Hunter Netflix Reindeer in Here CBS The Wonderful Summer of Mickey MouseDisney+ Zootopia+ Disney+
SOUND MIXING AND SOUND EDITING FOR A PRESCHOOL ANIMATED PROGRAM Let’s Go Luna! PBS Kids Ridley JonesNetflix Santiago of the Seas Nickelodeon Sesame Street: The Nutcracker, Starring Elmo and Tango Max Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures Disney+
SOUND MIXING AND SOUND EDITING FOR AN ANIMATED PROGRAM Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super SonsWarner Bros. I Am Groot Disney+ Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight Netflix Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Nickelodeon Star Trek: ProdigyNickelodeon
VISUAL EFFECTS FOR A LIVE ACTION PROGRAM Circuit Breakers Apple TV+ Jane Apple TV+ Lost Ollie Netflix Shape Island Apple TV+ Sweet Tooth Netflix
CASTING FOR AN ANIMATED PROGRAM Big City Greens Disney Channel Eureka!Disney Junior Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur Disney Channel The Proud Family: Louder and ProuderDisney+ Spirit RangersNetflix
Nickelodeon is serving up seconds with the renewal of the Annie Award-winning The Tiny Chef Show, starring culinary social media sensation Tiny Chef. Produced in association with Imagine Television and Nickelodeon Animation, Season 2 (22 half-hour episodes) will follow Chef as he embarks on all-new herbivorous adventures and cooks up a fresh assortment of plant-based recipes and bite-sized meals in his tree-stump home. From preparing tea for the Queen Bee, trying his hand at magic and facing his ultimate fear of chopping onions, Chef’s kitchen is the place to be.
The new season will commence with two brand-new holiday-themed specials: “Fwendsgiving,” premiering Monday, November 20 at 11:30 a.m. (ET/PT); and “Tiny Chef’s Marvelous Mish Mesh Special,” on Monday, December 4 at 11:30 a.m. (ET/PT). Season 2 of The Tiny Chef Show is set to debut on Nick’s preschool platforms in the U.S., and Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. channels internationally.
In “Fwendsgiving,” which features special guest Jackie Tohn (GLOW), Chef prepares a Friendsgiving feast to welcome his friends home, but when a snow storm blows in, he may have to eat alone.
In “Tiny Chef’s Marvelous Mish Mesh Special,” Chef hosts a celebration of everyone’s favorite holiday traditions with his celebrity friends: Golden Globe nominee Kristen Bell (The Good Place), Emmy nominee Mayim Bialik (The Big Bang Theory), Kira Kosarin (The Thundermans), Dylan Gilmer (Tyler Perry’s Young Dylan) and influencers April Moore (AprilAthena7) and Santa J. Claus. Chef makes his marvelous Mish Mesh cookies, saving one to give to Santa — except Chef forgot to send Santa his invitation. The episode also features Alan Cumming (The Good Wife) as the announcer.
Available to stream now on Paramount+, the first season of The Tiny Chef Show features RuPaul as the announcer, alongside a star-studded celebrity guest lineup, including: Bell, Sky & Ocean Brown, Tabitha Brown, Josh Dela Cruz, Josh Gad, Liza Koshy, RZA, That Girl Lay Lay and Keith L. Williams. With help from Chef’s famous friends and fellow tiny pals — Olly, Chef’s enthusiastic robot buddy; Ruby, Chef’s fuzzy caterpillar pet; Henry, a loyal snail; and Stump Band, the show’s house musical group –Season 1 follows Chef as he conquers new challenges and whips up delectable veggie-forward dishes in his very tiny kitchen.
The Tiny Chef Show is executive produced by Imagine Entertainment Executive Chairmen Brian Grazer and Ron Howard, Stephanie Sperber, as well as Dunshire Productions. Creators Rachel Larsen and cinematographer Ozlem Akturk, who lead the Tiny Chef team, also serve as executive producers. Production of The Tiny Chef Show for Nickelodeon Animation is overseen by Eryk Casemiro, Executive Vice President, Nickelodeon Animation, Global Series Content. Jen Pace and Kate Crownover serve as Nickelodeon’s Executives in Charge of Production for the series.
An anime hit comes to a monstrous conclusion this month, when Attack on Titan Final Season THE FINAL CHAPTERS Special 2arrives on Crunchyroll across more than 200 countries and territories. The second half of this two-part epic series finale will finally deliver fans a conclusion to the global anime phenomenon 10 years in the making.
Special 2 will be available November 4 in the United States and Canada; Central America and South America, Nov. 5 in Europe (including the U.K.) and the Middle East; with additional rollouts planned for Africa, Oceania, CIS and Southeast Asia (check back here on Friday, Nov. 3 for more details). The finale will also be available on Hulu in the United States.
Based on the multi-award-winning Attack on Titan manga, written and illustrated by creator Hajime Isayama and published by Kodansha with over 100 million volumes sold worldwide, Attack on Titan Final Season THE FINAL CHAPTERS Special 2 is directed by Yuichiro Hayashi (Dorohedoro; Kakegurui) and produced by studio MAPPA (Jujutsu Kaisen, Chainsaw Man, Vinland Saga Season 2, Hell’s Paradise).
Additional staff includes series composition by Hiroshi Seko (Chainsaw Man, Mob Psycho 100), character design by Tomohiro Kishi (Dorohedoro), chief animation direction by Daisuke Niinuma (DAYS) and Manabu Akita (Kakegurui), art direction by Kuniaki Nemoto (Futakoi Alternative), editing by Masato Yoshitake (Chainsaw Man; Cyberpunk: Edgerunners) and music composed by Kohta Yamamoto (86 EIGHTY-SIX) and Hiroyuki Sawano (Blue Exorcist, Kill la Kill).
To celebrate the finale, fans can join in the Worldwide After Party: Hop aboard a unique digital cruise ship, where attendees can immerse themselves in a 3D Attack on Titan environment to celebrate the series’ epic 10-year journey, interact with the anime production team and cast, and connect fellow fans globally during this historic online event, starting Sunday, November 5.
Attack on Titan synopsis: Many years ago, humanity was forced to retreat behind the towering walls of a fortified city to escape the massive, man-eating Titans that lurked outside their fortress. Only the heroic members of the Scout Regiment dared to stray behind the safety of the walls — but even those brave warriors seldom returned alive.
Attack on Titan Final Season THE FINAL CHAPTERS synopsis: The fate of the world hangs in the balance as Eren unleashes the ultimate power of the Titans. With a burning determination to eliminate all who threaten Eldia, he leads an unstoppable army of Colossal Titans towards Marley. Now a motley crew of his former comrades and enemies scramble to halt his deadly mission, the only question is, can they stop him?
The Japanese voice cast features Yuki Kaji as Eren Jaeger, Yui Ishikawa as Mikasa Ackermann, Marina Inoue as Armin Arlelt, Hiro Shimono as Conny Springer, Shiori Mikami as Historia Reiss, Kisho Taniyama as Jean Kirschtein, Yu Shimamura as Annie Leonhart, Yoshimasa Hosoya as Reiner Braun, Hiroshi Kamiya as Captain Levi, Takehito Koyasu as Zeke Jaeger, Natsuki Hanae as Falco Grace, Ayane Sakura as Gabi Braun and Manami Numakura as Pieck Finger.
Dubs for Attack on Titan Final Season THE FINAL CHAPTERS Special 2 will be produced by Crunchyroll in English, German, Latin American Spanish, and Brazilian Portuguese. Dub premiere dates will be announced at a later time.
Hulu has renewed the recently defrosted adult animated series Futurama, which hails from 20th Television Animation, for two seasons (Seasons 13 and 14), an additional 20 episodes. The platform revived series in 2022 with a 20-episode order, premiering Season 11 on July 24 following a big splashdown at San Diego Comic-Con with Hulu’s ‘Animayhem’.
Season 11 is Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes at 86%, and was on Nielsen’s Top 10 Original Series List for six of the weeks during its run. Season 12 is expected to debut on Hulu in 2024.
Futurama originally’ premiered in 1999 and went on to win two primetime Emmys for Outstanding Animated Program. The series follows Philip J. Fry (voiced by Billy West), a New York City pizza delivery boy, who accidentally freezes himself in 1999 and gets defrosted in the year 3000. In this astonishing New New York, he befriends hard-drinking robot Bender (John DiMaggio), and falls in love with cyclops Leela (Katey Sagal). The trio find work at the Planet Express Delivery Company, founded by Fry’s doddering descendant, Professor Hubert Farnsworth (West). Together with accountant Hermes Conrad (Phil LaMarr), assistant Amy Wong (Lauren Tom) and alien lobster Dr. John Zoidberg (West), they embark on thrilling adventures that take them to every corner of the universe.
The crew investigates whether the universe is a simulation om S11 E10 of ‘Futurama’ (Photo by: Matt Groening/Hulu)
After its initial run on the Fox Broadcasting Network, four successful direct-to-DVD releases in 2007-2009 led to the show’s rebirth on Comedy Central from 2010-2013 prior to the Hulu revival.
The 10 new episodes of S11 are accessible to new viewers while offering payoffs to long-time fans, including developments in the epic love story of Fry and Leela, the mysterious contents of Nibbler’s litter box, the secret history of evil Robot Santa, and the whereabouts of Kif and Amy’s tadpoles. Meanwhile there’s a whole new pandemic in town as the crew explores the future of vaccines, bitcoin, cancel culture and streaming TV.
Futurama is created by Matt Groening and developed by Groening and David X. Cohen. Executive producers include Groening, Cohen, Ken Keeler and Claudia Katz.
Hulu’s Animayhem sub-brand is home to over 20,000 episodes across adult animation and anime titles, including all episodes of Family Guy, Bob’s Burgers, American Dad! and Futurama.
GKIDS today released the new English-language trailer for Oscar-winning filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki’s new feature, The Boy and the Heron. The new trailer features a first look at the vocal performances of the film’s all-star English language cast, and was produced in accordance with the SAG-AFTRA Foreign Dubbing Agreement.
The distributor previously announced that the English dub will feature the voices of Christian Bale, Dave Bautista, Gemma Chan, Willem Dafoe, Karen Fukuhara, Mark Hamill, Robert Pattinson and Florence Pugh.
The latest feature from Japan’s celebrated animation house, Studio Ghibli, The Boy and the Heron begins special preview engagements in New York and Los Angeles on November 22 before expanding to cinemas nationwide and in Canada on December 8.
The hand-drawn animated feature — director Miyazaki’s first feature film in 10 years — is an original story written and directed by Ghibli co-founder Miyazaki, produced by Academy Award-nominee and Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki, and featuring a musical score from Miyazaki’s long-time collaborator Joe Hisaishi. Its theme song, “Spinning Globe,” was written and performed by global J-pop superstar Kenshi Yonezu.
