Animation Magazine

Author: Mercedes Milligan

  • ‘PAW Patrol,’ ‘Rubble & Crew’ Celebrate Franchise’s 10th Anniversary with Renewals, Crossover Event

    ‘PAW Patrol,’ ‘Rubble & Crew’ Celebrate Franchise’s 10th Anniversary with Renewals, Crossover Event

    Nickelodeon and Spin Master Entertainment are doubling down on global preschool powerhouse PAW Patrol in its 10th anniversary year with season renewals of the top-rated series and its hit spinoff Rubble & Crew. The award-winning animated series PAW Patrol has been greenlit for Season 11 (26 half-hour episodes), while Rubble & Crew has been renewed for Season 2 (26 half-hour episodes).

    The news comes just ahead of the first-ever PAW Patrol and Rubble & Crew TV crossover event on Monday, July 31, as brand-new episodes of both series premiere back-to-back beginning at 11 a.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon.

    PAW Patrol [SpinMaster/Nickelodeon]
    The 11th season of PAW Patrol will follow the paw-some pack of pups — Chase, Marshall, Rubble, Skye, Rocky, Zuma, Everest and Tracker  — as they take on exciting new missions around Adventure Bay. Whether it’s exciting aerial adventures or fired-up rescues, new pup pals and action-packed episodes are on the way.

    In the upcoming second season of Rubble & Crew, Rubble, his friends and his family return to construct more pup-tastic builds, as the pups continue to help expand and grow their new town of Builder Cove.

    The PAW Patrol and Rubble & Crew crossover event on Monday, July 31, features the following brand-new episodes:

    • 11 a.m. (ET/PT) – PAW Patrol “Charger Visits the Pups/Pups Save a Shiny Ride”  
      Rubble’s cousin Charger visits Adventure Bay just in time to help when Mr. Porter’s café gets destroyed by a geyser.
    • 11:30 a.m. (ET/PT) – Rubble & Crew “The Crew and Marshall Build a Fire Station”  
      Rubble and his family construct Builder Cove’s first-ever fire station, complete with an inspection by Marshall. When Speed Meister’s sneaky sabotage traps Marshall’s fire truck, the pups must work together to put out a blazing fire.

    On Paramount+, a daring six-part special event, PAW Patrol: Moto Pups, will be available to stream starting Friday, August 11.

    • Synopsis: When the Ruff-Ruff Pack stops by Adventure Bay to cause some wheel trouble, the PAW Patrol needs some cool new moto moves and their purr-fect new friend, Wild Cat, to help save the day.

    This special appears alongside the currently available specials: PAW Patrol: Super Charged; PAW Patrol: Ready, Race, Rescue; PAW Patrol: Jet to the Rescue; and the recently added PAW Patrol: Mission PAW, which follows the pups on a royally epic, five-part adventure.

    Since launching on Nickelodeon 10 years ago on August 12, 2013, PAW Patrol has consistently ranked as a top-rated preschool series, reaching over 350 million households globally in over 180 territories and in 35 languages. The property’s first-ever spinoff Rubble & Crew, debuted earlier this year on February 3 and follows fan-favorite character Rubble and his pup family as they use their awesome construction vehicles to build and repair whatever the town of Builder Cove needs in high-stakes adventures.

    The 10-year milestone celebration will culminate on Friday, September 29, when PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie brings the pups back to the big screen for an exclusive theatrical release. From Spin Master Entertainment, Nickelodeon Movies and Paramount Pictures, the CGI-animated film will feature new voice talents, including Mckenna Grace, Taraji P. Henson, Christian Convery, Ron Pardo, Lil Rel Howery, Chris Rock, Serena Williams, Alan Kim, Brice Gonzalez, North West, Saint West, Christian Corrao, Luxton Handspiker, Nylan Parthipan, Callum Shoniker, James Marsden, Kristen Bell and Finn Lee-Epp, alongside returning cast members Marsai Martin, Ron Pardo and Kim Kardashian.

  • ‘Star Trek: Prodigy’ S1, Pt. 2 Hits Digital, Sets Disc Release

    ‘Star Trek: Prodigy’ S1, Pt. 2 Hits Digital, Sets Disc Release

    Fans of the motley young crew of U.S.S. Protostar have a new way to join their interstellar adventures, as Star Trek: Prodigy – Season 1, Episodes 11-20 makes its Digital debut (available now) and charts a course to physical media this fall. The set will be available on Blu-ray (SRP $26.99) and DVD ($17.99) from Paramount Home Entertainment and CBS Home Entertainment on September 26.

    The news is especially welcome since the series was axed from Paramount+ last month ahead of the Showtime fold-in. A second season is reportedly still in post-production with Nickelodeon Animation, CBS’ Eye Animation Productions, Roddenberry Entertainment and Secret Hideout, and the studios are shopping a for a new streaming or broadcast home.

    Synopsis: In the remaining Star Trek: Prodigy Season 1 episodes, as the hopeful crew makes their way toward Starfleet, their dreams are threatened when they discover the U.S.S. Protostar harbors a weapon designed to tear the United Federation of Planets apart. To make matters worse, the U.S.S. Dauntless is on a manhunt for the Protostar as the real Vice Admiral Janeway is eager to uncover what happened to her missing former First Officer Chakotay. With these two ships on a collision course and destruction on the horizon, the fate of the Alpha Quadrant hangs in the balance.

    Star Trek: Prodigy – Season 1, Episodes 11-20:

    • Asylum
    • Let Sleeping Borg Lie
    • All the World’s a Stage
    • Crossroads Masquerade
    • Preludes
    • Ghost in the Machine
    • Mindwalk
    • Supernova, Part 1
    • Supernova, Part 2

    The Blu-ray and DVD sets offer over 45 minutes of bonus content, with exclusive interviews and collectible character cards available for a limited time.

    Special features:

    • The Odyssey of Prodigy
      • A review of the second half of the season with the director, producers and cast
    • Producing Prodigy: The Planets 
      • Creating the different worlds of Prodigy and how the design, music, writing and show elements come together to create environments essential to the story.
    • Producing Prodigy: The Ships
      • Evolution of ship design in Star Trek and how its rich heritage influences the design of the U.S.S. Protostar and the Borg ship
    • 4 Collectible Character Cards – Limited Time Only!
      • Featuring: Murf, Jankom-Pog, Zero & Drednok along with highlights about the U.S.S. Protostar and The Borg and definitions of Universal Translator and the Neutral Zone.

    Star Trek: Prodigy – The Complete Season 1 will be released in the United Kingdom on September 25, and in Germany on October 5.

  • Trailer: ‘Transformers: EarthSpark’ S1 Final Episodes Unfold Friday

    Trailer: ‘Transformers: EarthSpark’ S1 Final Episodes Unfold Friday

    The official trailer for the final seven episodes of the first season of Transformers: EarthSpark was revealed recently, during an exclusive panel at Comic-Con 2023. New episodes will be available to stream on Paramount+ in the U.S. and Canada on Friday, July 28, with additional international territories to follow.

    The first 15 episodes of the 22-episode season are already available to stream exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Australia, Latin America, Italy, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, South Korea and France.

    Transformers: EarthSpark introduces a new generation of Transformers robots, Terrans, the first earth born Transformers. Introduced to the Malto family, together they form an alliance with the Terrans and legendary Autobots to unite on shared missions.

    The Nickelodeon Animation series features the voices of Alan Tudyk (Resident Alien) as Optimus Prime, Diedrich Bader (Better Things) as Mandroid, Rory McCann (Game of Thrones) as Megatron, Zion Broadnax (Day Shift) as Mo Malto, Danny Pudi (Community) as Bumblebee, Cissy Jones (The Owl House) as Elita-1, Jon Jon Briones (Ratched) as Alex Malto, Sydney Mikayla (Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts) as Robby Malto, Benni Latham (Cornerstones: Founding Voices of the Black Church) as Dot Malto, Zeno Robinson (Big City Greens) as Thrash, Kathreen Khavari (Dead End: Paranormal Park) as Twitch, Cyrus Arnold (Diary of a Wimpy Kid) as Jawbreaker, Z Infante (Dead End: Paranormal Park) as Nightshade and Stephanie Lemelin (Dawn of the Croods) as Hashtag.

    New to this batch of episodes are Kari Wahlgren (Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness) as Agent Croft, Steve Blum (Lilo & Stitch) as Starscream and Marc Evan Jackson (The Good Place) as Agent Schloder.

    Transformers: EarthSpark  is created and co-executive produced by Dale Malinowski (Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and executive produced by Ant Ward (Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles). The series is developed for television by Claudia Spinelli, Senior Vice President of Big Kids Animation, Nickelodeon. Production is overseen for Nickelodeon by Mikiel Houser, executive in charge of production, and for eOne by Kari Rosenberg.

  • Magic Frame & Creation Ent. Beam Down First Look at ‘Aliens FC’ (Exclusive)

    Magic Frame & Creation Ent. Beam Down First Look at ‘Aliens FC’ (Exclusive)

    Magic Frame Animation and Creation Entertainment Media have today unveiled the first look images from the upcoming animated feature film, Aliens FC.

    The images offer audiences a glimpse at the film’s protagonists, including the eccentric aliens and the “ordinary” family who are mistaken for a famous soccer team and whisked across the galaxy to help the charming extraterrestrials win their “local” football league.

    The coproduction from Magic Frame Animation and Creation Entertainment Media aims to create a unique visual experience, utilizing AI to create out-of-this-world imagery. Aliens FC takes place across an array of incredible fantasy locations that will transport audiences to the aliens’ eccentric planet, taking them as guests on an extraterrestrial adventure in their universe.

    The studios have attached Oscar-nominated writer Sam Morrison (Shaun the Sheep, Peppa Pig, Robin Robin) to the project, who will collaborate with writing duo Tim Clague and Danny Stack to develop the film.

    “We are working with some incredible animators, who have brought our vision to life through these unique characters,” said Sefi Carmel, CEO of Creation Entertainment Media. “It’s so exciting to share this first look at the film, and introduce our first main characters; a seemingly normal family who find themselves on a rather magical adventure with some bumbling aliens. We have more news to come on the film — get ready for more extraterrestrial action soon!”

    Lidia Chirita, Head of Sales and Co-Productions at Magic Frame Animation, says, “We’re delighted to share this first look at the project. The imagery is of course a crucial part of this film, and our team of animators have worked hard to create extraordinary scenes that will transport audiences to the alien’s planet, with the help of advanced AI software. We’re looking forward to announcing more news about Aliens FC soon!”

  • Aardman’s ‘Lloyd of the Flies’ Wings It to NorAm Debut with Tubi

    Aardman’s ‘Lloyd of the Flies’ Wings It to NorAm Debut with Tubi

    Oscar-winning animation studio Aardman’s buzzy family comedy Lloyd of the Flies will land on U.S. and Canadian screens this summer through Tubi. The free streamer will launch the 52 x 11′ show exclusively on August 6, joining the Tubi Kids lineup alongside classic toons like Tom & Jerry, Pokémon, Sonic the Hedgehog, The Jetsons and more.

    “Aardman is a beloved animation studio famous for their unique voice that appeals to children and adults alike, and Lloyd of the Flies is yet another memorable story elevated by this cross-generational appeal,” said Adam Lewinson. “Lloyd of the Flies amplifies our commitment to Tubi Kids and our deep collection of iconic kids and family content that includes the likes of Scooby Doo, The Flintstones, The Smurfs and much more.”

    The first in-house CG series produced by Bristol-based Aardman (Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep, Chicken Run), Lloyd of the Flies centers on Lloyd, a young fly who is the middle child of 451, living in an apple with his long-suffering parents, cheeky little sister and 224 maggots. With his best friend Abacus the woodlouse, Lloyd faces endless awkward, annoying and occasionally life-threatening situations largely of his own devising — because when you’re only one centimeter high, even tiny problems can lead to massive consequences. Especially if you’re Lloyd…

    The voice cast features Tom Rosenthal (Friday Night Dinner) as Lloyd, Alex Lawther (The End of the F***ing World, Black Mirror) as Abacus, Lauren Patel (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie) as PB and Teresa Gallagher (Thomas & Friends: Marvelous Machinery) voiced Cornea Butterfly, with Callum Scott Howells (It’s A Sin) as Lloyd’s nemesis Berry, Jamie-Lee O’Donnell (Derry Girls) as Yard, the bumble bee who regularly frequents the local Pancake Diner, Ayesha Antoine (Blippi Wonders) as Molly and Rob Rackstraw (Octonauts & The Great Barrier Reef) as Malcolm.

    Lloyd of the Flies is created and directed by Matthew Walker, joined by co-director and voice director Jane Davies. The series was executive produced by Sarah Cox and Beth Parker, co-executive produced by Sean Clarke, Kerry Lock and Alison Taylor, and produced by Jacqueline White. The production was supported by the BFI-managed Young Audiences Content Fund (YACF). It originally premiered on U.K. children’s channel CITV.

    “We are delighted to have partnered with Tubi for Aardman’s first CGI show, Lloyd of the Flies,” said Laura Taylor-Williams, Head of Digital & Strategic Development at Aardman. “Releasing as a Tubi Original in North America, Tubi is a great platform for our show’s irreverent humour and unique creative, we’re excited for this partnership and are confident both kids and adults alike will enjoy Lloyd of the Flies.”

    More information about Lloyd of the Flies , including where to watch worldwide, can be found at lloydoftheflies.tv. Learn about Tubi at tubi.tv.

     

  • Cat Crime World of ‘Lackadaisy’ Eyes Another Round of Animation

    Cat Crime World of ‘Lackadaisy’ Eyes Another Round of Animation

    Lackadaisy

    Iron Circus Animation — the new arm of award-winning publisher Iron Circus Comics — is returning to BackerKit for a crowdfunding campaign for Lackadaisy, the Eisner-nominated, Prohibition-Era webcomic by Tracey Butler.

    This round aims to fund new editions of the acclaimed Lackadaisy graphic novels, the property’s first ever plushes and an all-new, 10-minute Lackadaisy animated short, directed again by Fable Siegel, that will continue the story begun in the 27-minute animated pilot, which has been viewed almost 10 million times and become an online sensation since it debuted on YouTube in late March.

    “Our three years of experience running a studio has taught us a lot about the animation process and given us a great idea of what we want to do going forward to create more animated episodes of Lackadaisy,” said Siegel. “So, we’re keeping things very simple with the campaign: any stretch goals for this project will be in the service of creating more animation.”

    The campaign is now live on BackerKit.

    Set in St. Louis, Missouri in the midst of Prohibition, Lackadaisy features an eclectic cast and a charming, but crime-filled, speakeasy tucked away in a cave beneath the Little Daisy Cafe. Patrons who flash the club symbol from a deck of cards are granted all the moonshine and music they desire.

    The story features action and adventure, comedy and crime and a colorful cast of jazz cats — including the Lackadaisy’s freshly-widowed proprietor Mitzi May, jazz fiddler and rumrunner Rocky Rickaby, bespectacled hatchetman Mordecai Heller and jazz-baby flapper Ivy Pepper.

    Butler, a former game artist, conceptualized and began work on Lackadaisy as a webcomic in 2006 after researching the history of her St. Louis surroundings, and being inspired by her love of jazz music and 1920s aesthetics. Butler co-wrote the script for the animated pilot with director Siegel and oversaw a lot of the ensuing creative direction on the project.

    “The reception to the Lackadaisy pilot has been truly overwhelming,” said Butler. “A crew of over 150 artists introduced Lackadaisy‘s world of gangsters, flappers, jazz musicians to millions of viewers around the world. That kind of success has encouraged us to continue to tell the story of these off-kilter cats in the only way we know how: with complete creative independence.”

    Iron Circus’ Spike Trotman noted, “The internet is rife with stories of animated series and films debuted with great fanfare and promise, but are shelved, fumbled, canceled, locked in a vault, pulled from streaming or left to die on the vine, sometimes for no reason other than to balance the books of a corporate merger, or earn a tax break. We don’t want that for Lackadaisy. We want to retain ownership, direction and oversight. We want to make more of what millions of viewers have already come to love about our animation.

    “And beyond that? We feel we’ve come to the fore at a potentially critical moment for the future of independent animation. We have a chance to help establish the new normal. We don’t just want to do this, we want to prove it can be done. And to do that, we’re going to need your help.”

    Lackadaisy Vols. 1-3

    Some of the backer benefits from the new Lackadaisy campaign  include:

    • New 11.25″ x 10.25″ hardcover editions of Lackadaisy

    • The Lackadaisy Essentials, an art-and-lore volume highlighting the scenes and characters of the Lackadaisy universe

    • Limited edition plushies of Lackadaisy’s chaotic protagonist Rocky Rickaby and fan-favorite criminal kitty, Mordecai Heller

    • A new animated short featuring Michael Kovach (@kovox) as Rocky Rickaby, Belsheber Rusape (@BelRusapeVO) as Calvin “Freckle” McMurray, Lisa Reimold (@lisareimold) as Ivy Pepper, Ashe Wagner (@TheQueenViking) as Mitzi May and SungWon Cho (@ProZD) as Mordecai Heller

    “If you want more animated Lackadaisy, supporting this BackerKit is the most direct way to make sure that happens!” Butler added. “Independent funding like this is the best way to ensure we have the freedom to create this series on our own terms, and see it through to its true conclusion.”

  • ‘Strange Planet’ Trailer Brings Extraterrestrial Perspective to Apple TV+

    ‘Strange Planet’ Trailer Brings Extraterrestrial Perspective to Apple TV+

    Today, Apple TV+ unveiled the trailer for the new 10-episode adult animated series Strange Planet, which is ready to make contact with Earth when the first three episodes premiere on Wednesday, August 9. New episodes will debut weekly every Wednesday through the season finale on September 27.

    Synopsis: Based on the New York Times #1 bestselling graphic novel and social media phenomenon of the same name, Strange Planet is a hilarious and perceptive look at a distant world not unlike our own. Set in a whimsical world of cotton candy pinks and purples, relatable blue beings explore the absurdity of everyday human traditions.

    Voicing this world of beings are Gotham Award nominee Tunde Adebimpe (Rachel Getting Married), Emmy Award nominee Demi Adejuyigbe (The Amber Ruffin Show), Lori Tan Chinn (Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens), Critics Choice Award nominee Danny Pudi (Community) and Emmy Award nominee Hannah Einbinder (Hacks).

    Strange Planet is co-created and executive produced by Emmy Award winner Dan Harmon (Rick and Morty, Community) and New York Times bestselling author Nathan W. Pyle, and produced by Apple Studios and ShadowMachine. The series is executive produced by Academy Award winner Alex Bulkley (Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio), Emmy Award winner Corey Campodonico for ShadowMachine (BoJack Horseman, Tuca & Bertie), Lauren Pomerantz (Saturday Night Live, The Ellen DeGeneres Show), Emmy Award winner Amalia Levari (Over the Garden Wall, Harvey Beaks), Steve Levy (Rick and Morty, Community) and Taylor Alexy Pyle.

  • No-Cost Kids’ Platform ROKiT Flix Expands Animation Offerings

    No-Cost Kids’ Platform ROKiT Flix Expands Animation Offerings

    ROKiT Flix — billed as the world’s first no cost, ad-free, kid-friendly streaming service, — announces new and expanded educational and creative content such as Edu-Fun, ROKiT Animation All-Stars, Public Domain Originals and Dubbed Original Content.

    The platform’s new educational offerings include Edu-Fun, a self-learning collection of content that teaches students ages 4 and up. Lessons cover subjects including math, reading, writing, shapes and colors, with entertaining games that reinforce the knowledge that students learn and engaging material that can be enjoyed at home or used by educators in their curriculum. The newly added content can be used to educate children of all ages and backgrounds and was created to give kids, including children in developing countries, access to educational resources through an assortment of foundational learning materials that require no fees.

    Additionally, the platform offers educational pieces of literature and historical shorts, including History of the Moon Landing, Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and more, providing kids of all ages with informative content under 5 minutes.

    “We are thrilled to continuously expand the ROKiT Flix platform with unique offerings and kid-friendly entertainment that parents can feel good about their kids watching,” said Jonathan Kendrick, Chairman and Co-Founder of ROKiT Flix. “I am particularly excited about providing kids across the globe with new content that not only educates them but engages them to learn in a fun and exciting way.”

    Having launched a project pitch at Comic-Con, the streamer recently incorporated ROKiT Animation All Stars, which allows kids to use their imagination to make their own content — including cartoons, video games or animations — and see their ideas come to life.

    Young storytellers can submit scripts, voiceovers, cartoon concepts, characters and animations based on their own ideas, or, if they do not have anything original to submit, they can submit voiceovers or scripts specifically for content that ROKiT Flix has already pre-prepared. If selected as a winner for the submission, the platform will develop a pilot. (Full instructions on how to submit here.)

    And, users can now access newly released Public Domain Comics powered exclusively by ROKiT Motionise. This exclusive process is also applied to ROKiT’s original comics for fans of all ages. The streaming platform holds one of the largest collections of commercially public domain animations and will be incorporating a variety of beloved series and storylines, including Superman, Betty Boop and Clutch Cargo.

    In addition to new Public Domain Original Cartoons, ROKiT Flix has also released dubbed original content including Zatoichi, which allows kids to enjoy uniquely translated entertainment in their own language.

    ROKiT Flix can now be access directly over PC or Mac through rokitflix.com or on the app from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

  • ‘Bee and PuppyCat’ Celebrate 10th Anniversary with CrowdMade Exclusive Plushies

    ‘Bee and PuppyCat’ Celebrate 10th Anniversary with CrowdMade Exclusive Plushies

    CrowdMade, an eCommerce platform built for influencers, brands and fans, announces the launch of two exclusive Bee and PuppyCat plushies. The exclusive merch release coincides with the 10th anniversary of the hit animated series Bee and PuppyCat, which began its journey on Frederator’s Cartoon Hangover YouTube channel before going global on Netflix with Bee and PuppyCat: Lazy in Space.

    Bee and PuppyCat, created by animator Natasha Allegri, has enchanted viewers for a decade with its unique blend of comedy, magical realism and heartfelt narratives. Allegri, who previously worked as a writer and storyboard revisionist on Adventure Time, brought to life the endearing story of a young woman (Bee) and her mysterious pet (PuppyCat), setting a new standard for animated content.

    “The launch of Bee and PuppyCat on Netflix marked a significant moment for both Frederator and Kartoon Studios,” said Kenny Ash, CRO of CrowdMade and former President of Frederator Networks. “With these new plushies, we’re excited to help fans deepen their connection to this extraordinary show and celebrate a decade of imaginative storytelling.”

     

     

    Bee (left) and PuppyCat 10th Anniversary plushies [c/o CrowdMade]

    Kartoon Studios (formerly known as Genius Brands International) commented: “We are delighted to mark the 10th anniversary of Bee and PuppyCat with the release of these exclusive plushies. Our partnership with CrowdMade exemplifies our shared commitment to creating engaging, imaginative content that resonates with fans of all ages.”

    Fans can find the exclusive plushies and other Bee and PuppyCat merchandise at the official merch shop, beeandpuppycat.shop.

    Learn more about CrowdMade’s mission to bridge the gap between creators and fans at dashboard.crowdmade.com.

     

  • BBC Campaign Preaches the Positive Impact of Responsible Screen Time

    BBC Campaign Preaches the Positive Impact of Responsible Screen Time

    BBC Creative has launched a campaign for BBC Children’s that looks at children’s screen time, and social perceptions about it.

    The campaign launched with a new TV spot, The Square Eyed Boy, created in collaboration with Blinkink and directed by Sam Gainsborough (Facing It). This 60-second stop-motion animation aims to reassure parents that screens, when used responsibly, can be a powerful tool for their children’s education and development.

    Inspired by old TV bingeing admonition, “You’ll get square eyes,” The Square Eyed Boy introduces a young boy whose eyes have been transformed into squares due to his use of screens. The film tackles the judgments surrounding screen usage, depicting the boy and his family as objects of scrutiny and dismissal by onlookers.

    As the story unfolds, audiences are taken on a journey through finely crafted animation that challenges these preconceptions, highlighting ways that screens — when supported by age-appropriate and thoughtfully curated content — can actually benefit children in many ways, such as learning, discovering, expressing ideas, connecting with others and developing essential communication skills. By challenging the saying, the film offers a new perspective — maybe screens don’t give you square eyes, but can actually make you well rounded.

    A U.K.-wide survey of some 2,010 parents taken in May 2023, commissioned by BBC Children’s and Education, found that 79% of parents feel that their children have used screens more since the start of the pandemic. While 67% parents feel concerned about what their child is watching, parents do see real value in screens, with 65% agreeing that they have the ability to foster creativity and communication.

    The Square Eyed Boy was created to assure parents that there’s beneficial content they can trust on the BBC, emphasized in the concluding message, “Screens, it’s what’s on them that counts.”

    The film is a part of a larger campaign that spans across Out of Home advertising and social, which aims to add nuance to the screen debate and to help guide parents. The campaign will also be supported through editorial content across the BBC.

    Watch The Square Eyed Boy making-of featurette on BlinkInk’s website.

  • Streamy Awards Announce 2023 Nominees

    Streamy Awards Announce 2023 Nominees

    The nominations for the 13th Streamy Awards have been announced, as well as the live event’s host: American YouTuber MatPat (The Game Theorists). The awards honor the top talents in the creator community, recognizing excellence in a variety of content verticals and areas of expertise.

    Animation and VFX nominees include:

     

    Animated (Subject Awards)

     

    VTuber (Individual Awards)

     

    Visual and Special Effects (Craft Awards)

     

    MeatCanyon won the last edition’s Animated award; Haminations and Jaiden Animations were nominated. Haminatinos, Jaiden and The Land of Boggs were also nominated in the 11th editions (won by Ketnipz). Jaiden won in the 10th Streamys, where The Land of Boggs was also nominated.

    The winners will be announced in a livestreamed awards ceremony on Sunday, August 27; tune in through @streamys.

    Find the full list of nominees and more information at streamys.org.

  • Crunchyroll Adds ‘One Piece’ Films, Dub Episodes & New Series to Slate at SDCC

    Crunchyroll Adds ‘One Piece’ Films, Dub Episodes & New Series to Slate at SDCC

    During the Crunchyroll Industry Panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2023, in early celebration of “One Piece Day” on July 22, Crunchyroll announced it will be bringing three hit One Piece films to its streaming service on July 27, including One Piece Film: Gold (2016), One Piece: Stampede (2019) and last year’s theatrical blockbuster One Piece Film Red (2022), which became the highest grossing film of the franchise and sixth highest grossing anime film globally to date. All three will be available to stream in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

    This collection of feature films follows the arrival of the English dub of the One Piece anime series on Crunchyroll, which launched with the first 976 episodes on July 5. During the panel, another batch of English dub episodes was announced to debut on Tuesday, July 25, which will consist of episodes 977-988 (Season 14 Voyage 8). The English dub of One Piece is available to stream on Crunchyroll only in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

    Additionally, two new anime title acquisitions were announced by Crunchyroll: SHY and Fluffy Paradise. Both will be available to stream soon.

     

    One Piece Film: Gold
    One Piece Film: Gold ©Eiichiro Oda/2019 “One Piece” production committee

    One Piece Film: Gold
    Toei Animation | July 27 | United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand

    Synopsis: The glittering Gran Tesoro, a city of entertainment beyond the laws of the government, is a sanctuary for the world’s most infamous pirates, Marines, and filthy rich millionaires. Drawn by dreams of hitting the jackpot, Captain Luffy and his crew sail straight for the gold. But behind the gilded curtains lies a powerful king whose deep pockets and deeper ambitions spell disaster for the Straw Hats and the New World alike. (Trailer)

     

    One Piece: Stampede ©Eiichiro Oda/2019 “One Piece” production committee

    One Piece: Stampede
    Toei Animation | July 27 | United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand

    Synopsis: Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat pirate crew are invited to a massive Pirate Festival that brings many of the most iconic characters from throughout the franchise to participate in competition with the Straw Hats to find Roger’s treasure. It also pits the Straw Hats against a new enemy named Bullet, a former member of Roger’s crew. One Piece: Stampede is a stand-alone film that celebrates the anime’s 20th Anniversary and takes place outside the canon of the One Piece anime series. (Trailer)

     

    One Piece Film Red
    One Piece Film Red  ©Eiichiro Oda/2022 “One Piece” production committee

    One Piece Film Red
    Toei Animation | July 27 | United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand

    Synopsis: Uta — the most beloved singer in the world whose voice has been described as “otherworldly” — is renowned for concealing her own identity when performing. Now, for the first time ever, she will reveal herself to the world at a live concert. With the Navy watching closely, the venue fills with Uta’s fans — including excited pirates and the Straw Hats led by Luffy, who simply came to enjoy her sonorous performance — all eagerly awaiting the voice that the whole world has been waiting for to resound. The story begins with the shocking revelation that she is the enigmatic Shanks’ daughter. Uta stands on the stage, with the ordinary wish of “making the world happy with my music.” (Trailer)

     

    ©Bukimi Miki (AKITASHOTEN)/SHY Film Partners

    SHY
    8bit | October 2023 | Worldwide excluding Asia

    Synopsis: Around the middle of the 21st century, all war on Earth ceased. The sudden widespread appearance of “Heroes,” people with supernatural powers who wish only for peace, has drastically transformed the world. In a world where the Heroes of each country work to maintain this newfound peace, the one protecting Japan is a young girl named Shy who is… cripplingly shy

     

    ©Himawari, Yuriko Takagami/FUTABASHA, Fluffy Paradise Production Committee

    Fluffy Paradise
    EMT Squared | January 2024 | Worldwide excluding Asia

    Synopsis: Dead of overwork at age 27… Midori barely had time to lament having to die that way when a god appeared before her and said, “You will reincarnate in another world and tell me whether you think humans deserve to continue existing there. In return, I will grant you a special power.” Then Midori, hoping to relieve the exhaustion of the harsh life she’d lived, found herself asking… to cuddle cute, fluffy animals. Thus Midori reincarnated in her new world as a young girl named Nefertima, with a power that causes her to be loved by all living things other than humans. That includes not only animals, but holy beasts like white tigers and dragons, and even monsters like goblins and frozen spiders! But there was also a cruel fate awaiting her… Nefertima is determined to do her best to coexist with humans and all living creatures in her new life of petting and patting cute animals!

  • ‘Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match’ Heads to Disc with Awesomely ’80s Trailer

    ‘Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match’ Heads to Disc with Awesomely ’80s Trailer

    Write this down:
    Kick first. Be awesome. Make money.

    Johnny Cage embarks on his biggest journey yet in Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match. Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment debuted green and red band trailers over Comic-Con weekend, revealing an action-packed, neon-lit ride featuring a radical voice cast. The all-new, feature-length animated film inspired by the best-selling worldwide videogame will be available to purchase on October 17.

    Cage Match, the fourth animated film in the Mortal Kombat Legends franchise, sees Johnny Cage in 1980s Hollywood on a mission to become a famous actor. However, his world soon changes when his co-star disappears, and he embarks on a journey filled with danger and deceit. The film stars Joel McHale (Animal Control, Community) as Johnny Cage and Jennifer Grey (Dirty Dancing, Red Oaks) as Herself.

    Also starring in the movie is the late Gilbert Gottfried (Aladdin, Royal Crackers) as David Doubldy, Dusan Brown (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom) as Chuck Golden, Grey DeLisle (Teen Titans Go!) as Kia, Robin Atkin Downes (Luck, DC Showcase: Constantine – The House of Mystery) as Shinnok, Zehra Fazal (Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe) as Jataaka, Kelly Hu (Arrow, X2: X-Men United) as Ashrah, Matt Yang King (Elemental) as Concierge, Phil LaMarr (Futurama) as Brian Van Jones, Matthew Mercer (Resident Evil: Death Island) as Director/Bully, Dave B. Mitchell (Call of Duty franchise) as Raiden and Armen Taylor (Justice Society: World War II) as Master Boyd.

    Synopsis: Neon lights… Suits with shoulder pads… Jumping from explosions in slow motion… In 1980s Hollywood, action star Johnny Cage is looking to become an A-list actor. But when his costar, Jennifer, goes missing from set, Johnny finds himself thrust into a world filled with shadows, danger and deceit. As he embarks on a bloody journey, Johnny quickly discovers the City of Angels has more than a few devils in its midst. He faces off against a sinister secret society plotting a nefarious scheme, but the brutal fight against the bloodthirsty warriors of the Netherrealm is just beginning. Can Johnny, alongside other Mortal Kombat legends, save humanity… and, more importantly, his career?

    Watch the Red Band trailer here.

    Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match is directed by Ethan Spaulding (Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms) from a script by Jeremy Adams (Justice League: Warworld), who also penned the screenplays for the series’ first three films, and supervising producer is Rick Morales (Mortal Kombat Legends franchise, Bablyon 5: The Return Home). All four films are based on the Mortal Kombat videogame franchise created by Ed Boon and John Tobias. Sam Register and NetherRealm Studios’ Ed Boon are executive producers.

    Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match will be available on October 17 to purchase Digitally from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, Vudu and more. 4K Ultra HD (SRP $39.99 U.S. / $44.98 Canada) and Blu-ray ($29.98 U.S. / $39.99 Can.) will be available to purchase online and in-store at major retailers. Pre-orders are now open.

    Special Features:

    • What Would Johnny Cage Do? (featurette) — Step inside the VO booth with Joel McHale and Jennifer Grey and go behind the scenes with the filmmakers to learn the challenges they withstood to bring Johnny Cage’s ’80s action film to life.
    • Ninja Mime Trailer — Relive the trailer for the greatest ’80s action film ever made: NINJA MIME!
    • Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match Audio Commentary — Join producers Rick Morales and Jim Krieg and screenwriter Jeremy Adams on an audio adventure recounting the totally tubular tale of bringing Johnny Cage’s ’80s awesomeness to life.

  • Trailer: ‘Ernest & Celestine: A Trip to Gibberitia’ Tours U.S. Theaters Sept. 1

    Trailer: ‘Ernest & Celestine: A Trip to Gibberitia’ Tours U.S. Theaters Sept. 1

    GKIDS announced today it will bringing the critically acclaimed French 2D feature Ernest & Celestine: A Trip to Gibberitia to select theaters across the U.S. at the end of summer. The film will open September 1 in New York at the Village East, in Los Angeles at the Laemmle Santa Monica and Laemmle Glendale, as well as additional markets nationwide.

    Co-directed by Jean-Christophe Roger and Julien Chheng, the follow up to the Oscar-nominated Ernest & Celestine once again features the famous unlikely duo — this time returning to Ernest’s hometown in Gibberitia.

    Nominated for Best Animated Feature at France’s 48th César Awards, Ernest & Celestine: A Trip to Gibberitia opened in French theaters in December, and had its U.S. Premiere as the opening night film of the New York International Children’s Film Festival this past March. The film has gone on to play at the San Francisco Film Festival, Seattle International Film Festival, and Chicago Critics Film Festival.

    Synopsis: Ernest and Celestine return in this delightful and joyous follow-up to their first Academy Award-nominated adventure, which introduced a bear and mouse as the unlikeliest of friends. Ernest remains an ursine troubadour dedicated to a life of music and art, and his constant grouchiness is softened by the creative whims of his mouse friend Celestine. When she accidentally breaks his beloved violin, they must take a long voyage to Ernest’s country of Gibbertia, home to the only artist who can repair it. But when they arrive, they are shocked to discover that all forms of music have been banned in Gibbertia for many years, and a land once known across the world for its incredible musicians has fallen silent. It is up to Ernest and Celestine and their new friends, including a mysterious masked outlaw, to bring music and happiness back to the land of bears.

    Roger, director of the Ernest & Celestine: The Collection animated series, returned to the bear and mouse adventures as co-director, joined by Emmy-nominated co-director Chheng, who previously worked on the original Ernest & Celestine feature as a character animator, and directed “The Spy Dancer” in the latest Star Wars: Visions Volume 2.

    GKIDS previously handled U.S. distribution for Ernest & Celestine, which won the César Award for Best Animated Feature, before going on to earn GKIDS its third Academy Award nomination. Nearly 10 years later, GKIDS will release Ernest & Celestine: A Trip to Gibberitia theatrically in both its original French language and a new English dubbed version.

    Ernest and Celestine: A Trip to Gibberitia © 2018 / FOLIVARI - STUDIOCANAL
    Ernest & Celestine: A Trip to Gibberitia © 2018 / FOLIVARI – STUDIOCANAL

    Today, GKIDS revealed the voice cast for the new English language dub:

    • Ernest — Andrew Kishino
    • Celestine — Ashely Boettcher
    • Naboukov — David Lodge
    • Kamelia — Anne Yatco
    • Mila/Mifasol — Lena Josephine Marano
    • Octavius — Bill Lobley
    • Police Chief — Daniel Hagan

    See a full list of release markets for Ernest & Celestine: A Trip to Gibberitia at ErnestAndCelestine.com.

    Ernest and Celestine: A Trip to Gibberitia © 2018 / FOLIVARI - STUDIOCANAL
    Ernest & Celestine: A Trip to Gibberitia © 2018 / FOLIVARI – STUDIOCANAL
  • ‘The Dragon Prince’ S5 Gets Surprise Early Launch on Netflix — Watch It Now

    ‘The Dragon Prince’ S5 Gets Surprise Early Launch on Netflix — Watch It Now

    A new chapter in the “Mystery of Aaravos” arc in the fan-favorite fantasy epic The Dragon Prince has officially opened, as Netflix debuted all nine episodes of Season 5 this Saturday — five days ahead of the previously announced July 27 premiere date.

    The surprise was revealed when a ragtag crew of Xadian pirates raided the stage of Wonderstorm’s official panel at San Diego Comic-Con earlier in the day. The interrupting scallywags from Scumport — who, witnesses say, bore a strange resemblance to voice actors Paula Burrows (Rayla) and Boone Williams (Astrid) in false beards — held the stage hostage until their demands were met … Luckily for fans, one of these was the immediate release of S5.

    The Dragon Prince [c/o Netflix © 2023]
    “We’re just glad this issue was resolved without the need for anyone to walk the plank,” said Justin Richmond, co-creator of The Dragon Prince and co-founder of Wonderstorm with Aaron Ehasz. “In the end, it’s really the fans who won today. We’re thrilled for everyone to be able to watch the next chapter of Mystery of Aaravos that much sooner — because it’s a great season! We hope you love it as much as we do.”

    Season 5 Synopsis: In this exciting next chapter of the “Mystery of Aaravos” arc, we rejoin our heroes after their narrow escape from the depths of Umber Tor. With the map to Aaravos’ prison in hand, Claudia and Terry race against time to save Viren’s life. Meanwhile, Callum, Rayla, Ezran, and Soren seek out new friends (and old) to help them prevent the return of the infamous Startouch Elf.

  • SDCC: ‘Star Trek’ Universe Panel Reveals ‘Lower Decks’ S4 Trailer & Premiere Date

    SDCC: ‘Star Trek’ Universe Panel Reveals ‘Lower Decks’ S4 Trailer & Premiere Date

    At the edge of the universe … At the brink of destruction … somebody has to handle waste removal.

    Paramount+ today revealed the official trailer for Season 4 of its original animated comedy series Star Trek: Lower Decks during the Star Trek universe presentation at San Diego Comic-Con. It was also announced at the panel that the new season will premiere with two episodes on Thursday, September 7, exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S. and the service’s international markets . New S4 teaser art was revealed as well, the design an homage to Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.

    Synopsis: In Season 4 of Star Trek: Lower Decks, an unknown force is destroying starships and threatening galactic peace. Luckily, the crew of the U.S.S. Cerritos isn’t important enough for stuff like that! Instead, Ensigns Mariner, Boimler, Tendi, Rutherford and Provisional Ensign T’Lyn are keeping up with their Starfleet duties, avoiding malevolent computers and getting stuck in a couple caves — all while encountering new and classic aliens along the way.

    The “lower decks” Starfleet crew is voiced by Tawny Newsome as Mariner, Jack Quaid as Boimler, Noël Wells as Tendi and Eugene Cordero as Rutherford. The Cerritos bridge crew includes Dawnn Lewis as Captain Carol Freeman, Jerry O’Connell as Commander Jack Ransom, Fred Tatasciore as Lieutenant Shax and Gillian Vigman as Doctor T’Ana.

    From Emmy Award-winning creator and showrunner Mike McMahan (Rick and Morty, Solar Opposites), S4 of Star Trek: Lower Decks is produced by CBS’ Eye Animation Productions (CBS Studios), Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment. Secret Hideout’s Alex Kurtzman, Roddenberry Entertainment’s Rod Roddenberry and Trevor Roth and Katie Krentz (219 Productions) serve as executive producers alongside McMahan. Aaron Baiers (Secret Hideout), who brought McMahan to the project, also serves as an executive producer.

    Titmouse (Big Mouth), the Emmy Award-winning independent animation production company, serves as the animation studio for the series.

    Star Trek: Lower Decks streams exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S. and Latin America and is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution. In Canada, it airs on Bell Media’s CTV Sci-Fi Channel. The series will also be available to stream on Paramount+ in the U.K., Australia, Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and South Korea later this year.

  • Watch: ‘Rick and Morty: The Anime’ First Look Blasts through SDCC

    Watch: ‘Rick and Morty: The Anime’ First Look Blasts through SDCC

    At San Diego Comic-Con today, Adult Swim debuted a hyper-colored first-look at Rick and Morty: The Anime — taking the mad genius, his hapless grandson and the rest of the surreality-inflicted family into a whole new dimension! The 4’16” features an introduction by director Takashi Sano (Rick and Morty vs. Genocider, Summer Meets God (Rick Meets Evil)).

    Announced at the Warner Bros. Discovery upfronts in May 2022, Rick and Morty: The Anime is a stand-alone 10-episode adventure for Adult Swim and Max, based on the Emmy-award-winning adult animated series created by Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland.

    “As the director, I would like to assure you that I’m also a huge fan of the original Rick and Morty. I believe there are many Rick and Morty fans all over the world, and I’m truly honored to be chosen out of all of them to create a new Rick and Morty story,” Sano says in the video. “But with that honor comes a lot of pressure, because the original is just so well made.”

    Rick and Morty: The Anime is produced by Sola Entertainment for Adult Swim, with animation by Telecom. Executive producers are Jason Demarco and Joseph Chou. Key staff includes art director Arisa Matsuzawa (TAF), color designer Makiko Kojima (Studio Road), CGI director Sou Ki (Souki Prod.), special effects supervisor Kaori Kobayashi, composite director Tatsuo Noguchi (T.D.F.), editor Yoshihiro Kasahara and sound director Koichi Iizuka, with music by Tetsuya Takahashi and music production by Terra-Musica.

    The first-look animation is set to the show’s opening song, “Love Is Entropy,” performed by 0C from Code of Zero and Cameron Earnshaw, music and lyrics by Otonez.

     

  • Aardman Animates 10-Year Old’s ‘Amazing Authors’ Winning Poem for ‘Blue Peter’

    Aardman Animates 10-Year Old’s ‘Amazing Authors’ Winning Poem for ‘Blue Peter’

    The winner of the Blue Peter Amazing Authors announced 10-year-old Phoebe from Devon, U.K. as the winner of the writing competition for kids, run in partnership with The Reading Agency and BBC Arts.

    Phoebe’s poem, There’s a Big Bad Wolf, won a once-in-a-lifetime prize for the young scribe, as she has seen her work turned into a book and a short animated film produced by award-winning animation studio Aardman, thanks to funding from Arts Council England’s National Lottery Project Grants.

    As part of the incredible prize, Phoebe went behind the scenes at Aardman to meet with director Åsa Lucander (Lost Property, Get Well Soon, The Imperfectionist) and see how the studio brings characters to life, before receiving a printed version of her story. Phoebe also contributed to the sound effects in the short animated film, voicing the sighs and gasps of the central character. Phoebe also visited the BBC studios in Salford, the home of BBC Philharmonic, to hear the soundtrack being recorded by the full orchestra.

    “I feel incredibly lucky to have won a competition that so many people entered. I’ve always wanted to be an author and I can’t believe that my story has been chosen to be made into a book and an animation — it’s the best prize ever!” says Phoebe, who wants to be a writer when she grows up. “I had an amazing time going behind the scenes at Aardman and had so much fun meeting and chatting with the people who’ve created the animation for my story, and I really enjoyed having a go at drawing on the computer. It was so exciting meeting Tom Fletcher too, as I’m such a big fan, and hearing him read my story was so surreal! I’ve had such an amazing and magical time!”

    Phoebe with director Åsa Lucander at Aardman. © Aardman

    Narrated by McFly singer and children’s author Tom Fletcher (The Dinosaur That Pooped Christmas), the animation will be shown on BBC iPlayer and the Friday, July 21 episode of CBBC’s Blue Peter, as well as on CBeebies Bedtime Stories. Phoebe will make an appearance live on Blue Peter, as the proud recipient of an Orange Badge — to add to the blue, green and purple ones she has already collected.

    “Almost 8,000 kids entered the Amazing Authors competition, so massive congratulations to everyone who entered, and to Phoebe who won!” says Fletcher. “I loved reading her story There’s a Big Bad Wolf, it’s so brilliantly creative and the illustrations and animation are incredible, I can’t wait for everyone to enjoy it on Blue Peter and as a CBeebies Bedtime Story. There are not many 10-year olds who can say that their story is in print in their local library. She’s an inspiration!”

    Suzy Klein, Head of Arts and Classical Music TV, notes, “I’m delighted that BBC Arts helped to create this exciting competition; and huge congratulations to our winner Phoebe, whose story captured the imagination of all the judges. I can’t wait for audiences on Blue Peter, CBeebies Bedtime Story and BBC iPlayer to see it in its full animated glory; and for audiences on BBC Sounds to hear it, narrated by the successful children’s writer Tom Fletcher.

    “We’re really grateful to The Reading Agency for their support and to Arts Council England for helping make this a prize that money can’t buy. It’s been fantastic to witness the boundless imagination of the next generation of authors and I feel sure the UK’s literary future is in good hands.”

    Tom Fletcher and Phoebe. © BBC.

    The Amazing Authors competition is a collaboration between BBC Studios Kids & Family, BBC Arts and The Reading Agency. Working with The Reading Agency, the competition engaged children across the country and feedback showed appreciation from grown-ups that it helped children who need extra support with creative writing.

    Young viewers were asked to pen a short story or poem, and Phoebe’s writing stood out to judges with her descriptive and imaginative poem about a wolf who lives at the back of her shed. The winning entry impressed the judges with the strong characters Phoebe had created, as well as with the quirky humor in her poem.

    There’s a Big Bad Wolf was directed by Aardman’s Åsa Lucander and produced by Danny Gallagher. Blue Peter is a BBC Studios Kids & Family Production for CBBC.

  • ‘Star Trek: The Animated Series’ Celebrates 50th Anniversary with Promos, Comic from Casper Kelly

    ‘Star Trek: The Animated Series’ Celebrates 50th Anniversary with Promos, Comic from Casper Kelly

    Today, during the official Star Trek: The Animated Celebration panel at San Diego Comic-Con, fans received a sneak peek into this year’s salute to the 50th anniversary of Star Trek’s first foray into animation, Star Trek: The Animated Series.

    To commemorate this golden anniversary, CBS Studios is creating five all-new animated promotional spots in the style of Star Trek: The Animated Series, featuring fan-favorite characters voiced by cast members from across the Star Trek — universe including Jonathan Frakes as Will Riker, Doug Jones as Saru and Armin Shimerman as Quark.

    Jonathan Frakes as Will Riker

    Debuting later this year, these all-new animated spots come from creative consultant Casper Kelly, best known for the viral hit Too Many Cooks and his work on Star Trek: Short Treks and Adult Swim. Kelly announced the program alongside fellow panelist John Van Citters, Vice President, Star Trek Brand Development.

    Kelly will also release a new comic book with IDW Publishing, Star Trek: The Animated Celebration Presents The Scheimer Barrier. The comic will debut digitally in September on StarTrek.com with physical copies available at New York Comic Con in October. IDW revealed two first-look images from the comic during the panel.

    Additional Star Trek publishing announcements were delivered by panelist Heather Antos (IDW Group Editor) with the latest gaming news revealed by Scopley’s Brian Lelas (Lead Narrative Designer, Star Trek Fleet Command) and Rebekah Plants (Community Manager, Star Trek Fleet Command). Plus, fans of animated Star Trek expansions got to hear about official Star Trek Day screenings for Star Trek: Lower Decks across the country and around the globe.

  • SDCC: ‘Tiny Toons Looniversity’ Debuts Theme Song Homage to the Original Series

    SDCC: ‘Tiny Toons Looniversity’ Debuts Theme Song Homage to the Original Series

    Cartoon class is in session!

    Today at Comic-Con International: San Diego, Tiny Toons Looniversity released the official theme song for the upcoming animated series, which debuts this fall on Cartoon Network and Max.

    The new theme song from composer Matthew Janszen (Bugs Bunny Builders, Archibald’s Next Big Thing) strikes a nostalgic chord by showcasing Bruce Broughton’s iconic tune from the Emmy Award-winning Tiny Toon Adventures, while remixing the original arrangement and lyrics to fit the newest college iteration of these beloved characters.

    Tiny Toons Looniversity is a half-hour animated comedy series from Amblin Television in association with Warner Bros. Animation. Rebooting the 1990-92 Tiny Toon Adventures show for a new generation, the series follows Babs, Buster and their new friends Hamton, Plucky and Sweetie to Acme Looniversity, the premier institution of higher hijinks learning. While enrolled, they form long-lasting friendships and perfect their cartoony craft while studying under the greatest cartoon characters in history, the Looney Tunes.

    The voice cast includes Looney Tunes Cartoons Emmy Award winner Eric Bauza as Buster, Daffy and Gossamer; Ashleigh Hairston as Babs; David Errigo Jr. as Hamton J. Pig and Plucky; and Tessa Netting as Sweety.

    The series also welcomes back Tiny Toon Adventures alumni Jeff Bergman, Bob Bergen, Candi Milo and Cree Summer, who reprise their roles as Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Dean Granny and Elmyra, respectively. Bergman also voices Sylvester and Foghorn Leghorn, and Milo also voices Witch Hazel. Looney Tunes veteran actor Fred Tatasciore voices Taz and Yosemite Sam.

    Steven Spielberg returns as executive producer, with Sam Register, President, Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios, and Amblin Television Presidents Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank also serving as executive producers. Erin Gibson (Attitudes!) and Nate Cash (Adventure Time) serve as showrunners and co-executive producers.