Author: Mercedes Milligan

‘My Father’s Dragon’: Cast, First Look Revealed for Cartoon Saloon Netflix Film

In celebration of World Book Day this Saturday, Netflix unveiled the first look and cast of the upcoming animated feature My Father’s Dragon, from Cartoon Saloon co-founder and Oscar-nominated director Nora Twomey (The Breadwinner). Inspired by the Newbery Honor-awarded book by Ruth Stiles Gannett, the film is produced by Mockingbird Pictures and five-time Oscar-nominated Cartoon Saloon (Wolfwalkers, Song of the Sea, The Secret of Kells).

The film stars Jacob Tremblay (Luca), Gaten Matarazzo (Stranger Things), Golshifteh Farahani (gen:LOCK), Dianne Wiest (Mayor of Kingstown), Rita Moreno (Maya and the Three), Chris O’Dowd (The IT Crowd), Judy Greer (Archer), Alan Cumming (Schmigadoon!), Yara Shahidi (black-ish), Jackie Earle Haley (Preacher), Mary Kay Place (Diane), Leighton Meester (Gossip Girl), Spence Moore II (A.P. Bio), Adam Brody (The O.C.), Charlyne Yi (The Mitchells vs. the Machines), Maggie Lincoln, Jack Smith with Whoopi Goldberg and Ian McShane.

“Our actors, animators and artists at Cartoon Saloon have worked together to craft this film, inspired by Ruth Stiles Gannett’s amazing book,” said Twomey. “We were drawn together by a desire to tell a very special tale of friendship, adventure and true bravery. I fell in love with storytelling as a child and Netflix excels at celebrating all kinds of stories, through different styles and distinct voices. This has given me the opportunity to look through a beautiful lens and I am excited to share what I see with our audience around the world.”

Synopsis: Struggling to cope after a move to the city with his mother, Elmer runs away in search of Wild Island and a young dragon who waits to be rescued. Elmer’s adventures introduce him to ferocious beasts, a mysterious island and the friendship of a lifetime.

Twomey directes from a screenplay by Meg LeFauve (Academy Award nominated for Inside Out), with a screen story by LeFauve and John Morgan. The film is produced by Bonnie Curtis and Julie Lynn of Mockingbird Pictures and Paul Young of Cartoon Saloon. Exec producers are LeFauve and Morgan, Tomm Moore and Gerry Shirren (Cartoon Saloon), Alan Moloney and Ruth Coady (Parallel Films)

My Father’s Dragon (first look, full size)

My Father’s Dragon is part of Netflix’s fast growing roster of original animated features, which includes Oscar-nominated The Mitchell’s vs. the Machines, Aardman’s Robin Robin, Sergio Pablos’ Klaus, Kris Pearn’s The Willoughbys, Oscar winner Glen Keane’s Over the Moon, Back to the Outback directed by Clare Knight and Harry Cripps and recent addition Richard Linklater’s Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Childhood.

Upcoming titles include Chris Williams’ The Sea Beast, Henry Selick’s Wendell & Wild, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, Wendy Rogers’ The Magician’s Elephant, Minkyu Lee’s The Witch Boy and Aardman sequel Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget.

Netflix is planning to release My Father’s Dragon sometime this year as part of its extensive 2022 animated movie slate.

April 20, 2022
‘Scooby-Doo! and Guess Who?’ S2 Comes Home in June
Join the Mystery Inc. gang as they team up with their superstar friends to solve all-new spooky mysteries in Scooby-Doo! and Guess Who?: The Complete Second Season, available in the United States on DVD June 28 ($24.98 SRP) and December 6 in Canada ($29.98) from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. This release includes 26 action-packed mystery adventures from Warner Bros. Animation, and features an exciting guest star mix of celebrities from television, film, music, sports and more.

It seems like everybody wants to be one of those meddling kids, so Scooby-Doo recruits a different pop culture icon to join the gang in every episode of Season 2 of Scooby Doo! and Guess Who? Get sleuthing with Scooby, Fred, Velma, Daphne and Shaggy because they’ll need all the help they can get if they want to solve these mind-boggling mysteries.

So, who’s on board? Music icon Cher returns to the mystery-solving stage 50 years after her first team-up with Scoob in The New Scooby-Doo Movies. Terry Bradshaw gets off the bench to tackle a case, Axl Rose will rock these monsters and Jason Sudeikis will have these villains laughing out loud! Classic Scooby fans will love to see Sandy Duncan returning to team up with the Mystery, Inc. gang. And how about Kacey Musgraves, Tim Gunn, Jessica Biel, Macklemore and many more! See if you can solve the mystery of who will be joining the gang next!

Scooby-Doo! and Guess Who?: The Complete Second Season features the familiar voice talents of Frank Welker as Scooby-Doo/Fred Jones, Grey Griffin as Daphne Blake, Matthew Lillard as Shaggy Rogers and Kate Micucci as Velma Dinkley. The series is executive produced by Sam Register. Chris Bailey serves as producer.

Scooby-Doo! and Guess Who?: The Complete Second Season will also be available to own on Digital on June 28 in the U.S.

Season 2 episodes & guest stars:
1. “The Horrible Haunted Hospital of Dr. Phineas Phrag!” Celebrity guest: Kristen Schaal
2. “The Phantom, the Talking Dog and the Hot Hot Hot Sauce!” Celebrity guest: Kacey Musgraves
3. “The Hot Dog Dog!” Celebrity guest: Joey Chestnut
4. “A Moveable Mystery!” Celebrity guest: Gigi Hadid
5. “The Feast of Dr. Frankenfooder!” Celebrity guest: Alton Brown
6. “A Fashion Nightmare!” Celebrity guest: Tim Gunn
7. “Scooby On Ice!” Celebrity guest: Tara Lipinski
8. “Caveman on the Half Pipe!” Celebrity guest: Chloe Kim
9. “The Crown Jewel of Boxing!” Celebrity guest: Laila Ali
10. “The Internet on Haunted House Hill!” Celebrity guest: Liza Koshy
11. “The 7th Inning Scare!” Celebrity guest: Macklemore
12. “The Dreaded Remake of Jekyll & Hyde!” Celebrity guest: Sandy Duncan
13. “The Last Inmate!” Celebrity guest: Morgan Freeman
14. “Lost Soles of Jungle River!” Celebrity guest: Jason Sudeikis
15. “The Tao of Scoob!” Celebrity guest: Lucy Liu
16. “Returning of the Key Ring!” Celebrity guest: Sean Astin
17. “Cher, Scooby and the Sargasso Sea!” Celebrity guest: Cher
18. “The Lost Mines of Kilimanjaro!” Celebrity guest: Jessica Biel
19. “The Legend of the Gold Microphone!” Celebrity guest: Reverend Run
20. “Total Jeopardy!” Celebrity guest: Alex Trebek
21. “Scooby-Doo and the Sky Town Cool School!” Celebrity guest: Billy Dee Williams
22. “Falling Star Man!” Celebrity guest: Terry Bradshaw
23. “Dark Diner of Route 66!” Celebrity guest: Axl Rose
24. “A Haunt of a Thousand Voices!” Celebrity guests: Frank Welker, Kate Micucci, Matthew Lillard and Grey Griffin
25. “Scooby-Doo, Dog Wonder!” Celebrity guests: Dynomutt and Blue Falcon
26. “The TV and Movieland Monsters!” Celebrity guest: Carol Burnett
April 19, 2022
GLAS 2022: ‘Pests’ Wins Grand Prize

The award winners of the GLAS 2022 online animation festival were announced today, highlighting an inspiring 7th edition of the Berkeley, California-based event. This year’s jury included Lou Bones (Creative Talent Director, Psyop; U.K.), Cristóbal León (director, The Wolf House; Chile) and Tomek Popakul (director, Acid Rain; Poland), who also participated in special talks during the festival.

… And if you haven’t caught all the sessions and screenings offered at GLAS this year, worry not: Passes are still available and all programming will be online until April 30. (Register here.) A special “Best Of” screening of all the award winners has been added to the lineup.

Noir Soleil (Special Mention)

GLAS 2022 Award Winners:

Grand Prix — Pests by Juliette Laboria (France)

Jury Statement: “Juicy, atmospheric, sensual movie. You feel the heat, the garden, stickiness of the fruits. Precise observation focused on depiction of everyone’s universal experience brings inter-species micro-drama. Tale of innocence, cruelty and revenge, all during a kids’ garden party. Are there always, somewhere, worlds burning in flames?”

Special Mention (Int’l Competition) — Noir Soleil by Marie Larrivé (France)

Jury Statement: “This is a short film that looks like a feature film. You could also say it’s an animation that could be live-action. But the truth is that it is a film that defines its own rules and invents a genre of its own. When a corpse floats to the surface, it is we who dive into a world of ambiguous and subtle sensations. The almost impressionistic quality of the images is perfect to describe a world of truths and feelings that remain out of focus.”

Ghost Dogs

High Risk Award — Ghost Dogs by Joe Cappa (U.S.)

Jury Statement: “Immediately intriguing (helped by some fantastic music+sound design), this off-kilter film straddles the cute, known lives of man’s best friend and the very surreal. The color palette, character design of the Ghost Dogs along with the edit adds to a certain uneasiness but you can’t tear your eyes away! Gradually building in pace as the trip intensifies and dimensions blur to a sick little twist at the end.”

Goodbye Jérôme!

New Talent Award — Goodbye Jérôme! by Gabrielle Selnet, Adam Sillard & Chloé Farr (Gobelins, France)

Jury Statement: “You want to put every shot into a picture frame and hang it on your wall. Visionary and done with highest craftsmanship, with quirky and balanced narration, using all animation magic tricks to tell a surrealistic breakup story, with no answer, no relief. The only thing you are sure of — you are completely lost.”

Audience Award — Sierra by Sander Joon (Estonia)

Luce and the Rock

Family Competition Award — Luce and the Rock by Britt Raes (Belgium)

Jury Statement: “A lot of thought has gone into the production of this wonderful film. The fun and inventive use of shape, light and color throughout is thoroughly engaging. The relationships and emotions the story covers are dealt with subtlety while excellent sound design, music/song and voice acting keep the story moving along as the hugely endearing Luce and her village encounter an unexpected visitor.”

Homebird

Family Special Mention — Homebird by Ewa Smyk (U.K.)

Jury Statement: “Elegant, modest movie with tasteful ‘claire-ligne’ visuals about finding peace within yourself on the transition from rural to urban life, the past and the present, full of romantic Eastern European nostalgia.”

Tennis Ball on His Day Off

U.S. Competition Award — Tennis Ball on His Day Off by Julian Glander

Jury Statement: “The juxtaposition of the tennis ball character facing the reality of our modern lives as the world ticks by is both unsettling and deeply relatable… Use of a voice machine message to tell the story creates further separation and helps to encapsulate the dissociative states we find ourselves in more and more these days. Great use of surreal low poly CG design and color. The tertiary characters are annoyingly clever and to the point while the vacant scenes build the mood and heightened sense of time passing … or wasted.”

Menagerie

U.S. Competition Special Mention — Menagerie by Jack Gray

Jury Statement: “What is this short film about? It is difficult to say. More than a story, this short film is a landscape-film, a world that we can contemplate in detail. Like dreams, Menagerie is made of contemporary everyday life, transformed and metabolized to create a universe with a particular engineering. It is a short film that seems to flow with the naturalness and ease of a sketchbook, as if someone had animated it while talking on the phone, which is extremely difficult to achieve in animation.

Best Gif (Presented by Giphy Arts) — Soccer Bounce by James Thatcher

April 19, 2022
Aniventure, The Imaginarium Team for ‘Animal Farm’ Directed by Andy Serkis

George Orwell’s slim but bountifully interpreted novella Animal Farm is getting a new animated big screen treatment with partners Aniventure (Riverdance: The Animated Adventure, Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank) and The Imaginarium. The project, with Andy Serkis directing, was announced in the works in 2012.

Published in 1945 in the wake of Orwell’s experiences in the Spanish Civil War and the rise of Stalin’s totalitarian regime in Soviet Russia, Animal Farm is an allegorical tale about a group of farm animals who rebel against their human farmer, hoping to create a free and equal society — only to devolve into a state just as bad as before under the dictatorial rule of Napoleon the pig. As the premise declares: “all animals are created equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”

Serkis (Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle) will direct from a script by Nick Stoller (Storks, Captain Underpants).

“The challenging journey to bring this extraordinary story to the screen has been finally rewarded by the opportunity to partner with the brilliant team at Aniventure and Cinesite,” said Serkis. “Together, we hope to make our version of Orwell’s ever relevant masterpiece, emotionally powerful, humorous and relatable for all ages. A tale not only for our times, but for generations to come.”

The film will be produced by Adam Nagle (Paws of Fury, HITPIG), Dave Rosenbaum (Secret Life of Pets, HITPIG) and Imaginarium’s co-founders Jonathan Cavendish (Bridget Jones’s Diary, Mowgli) and Serkis.

Production is underway at Cinesite (Riverdance, Paws of Fury, HITPIG, The Addams Family 2), which is currently celebrating its 30th Anniversary as a world-leader in animation & VFX. Top talent is being recruited to begin work on the film, and their team is led by producer Connie Thompson (Frankenweenie, Despicable Me 2).

“Ever since 1945, when George Orwell first published Animal Farm, the story has remained relevant and a key instrument in understanding how the world works,” commented producer Nagle. “Andy has had a special talent for creating unique and memorable characters during his remarkable career and we’re thrilled to be working with him, Jonathan and Cinesite to adapt Animal Farm for modern audiences.”

Animal Farm has previously been adapted to a number of mediums since its publication, notably as an adult-targeted animated film in 1954 directed by John Halas and Joy Batchelor (a version in which Napoleon is overthrown by a second revolution) and a 1999 TV movie directed by John Stephenson, featuring animal puppets created by the Jim Henson Creature Shop (also offering a ‘happy ending’ not provided in the original book). Currently, a new stage production is touring the U.K., featuring puppets designed and directed by Toby Olié (Spirited Away stage show).

Aniventure has frequently been in animation headlines of late, with multiple announcements and releases this year, including Mila (Venice Film Festival Humanitarian Award Winner), Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank (in theatres this summer) and HITPIG (to be completed later this year).

aniventure.com | imaginariumuk.com | cinesite.com

April 19, 2022
First Look: Acclaimed Anthology ‘Love, Death + Robots’ Vol. 3 Premieres May 20

A third batch of mind-blowing shorts is on the way in Volume 3 of 11-time Emmy-winning animated anthology Love, Death + Robots, premiering globally on Netflix on May 20. In the season teaser, the streamer revisits some of the biggest moments from Volumes 1 and 2 which have paved the way for what’s to come. (A full official trailer is coming soon.)

Check out first-look images from the third collection below.

Love, Death + Robots Vol. 3 is executive produced by Tim Miller (Deadpool, Terminator: Dark Fate) and David Fincher (Mindhunter, Mank). Terror, imagination and beauty combine in new episodes which stretch from uncovering an ancient evil to a comedic apocalypse, telling startling short stories of fantasy, horror and science-fiction with trademark wit and visual invention.

Love, Death + Robots Volume 3

Love, Death + Robots Volume 3

Love, Death + Robots Volume 3

Love, Death + Robots Volume 3

Love, Death + Robots Volume 3

Love, Death + Robots Volume 3

April 19, 2022
Open Wide! More ‘Big Mouth’ & Spinoff ‘Human Resources’ on the Way

Netflix announced that fans will get more teen awkwardness and Hormon Monster mayhem, with renewals ordered for Big Mouth and its new spinoff Human Resources.

Thrice nominated for Outstanding Animated Program at the Primetime Emmys (with two VO wins for Maya Rudolph), Big Mouth has been renewed through Season 7. Season 6 is due to premiere later this year. The half-hour edgy adult animated comedy from real-life best friends Nick Kroll and Andrew Goldberg is all about the glorious nightmare that is teenage puberty.

Big Mouth series regulars are Nick Kroll, John Mulaney, Maya Rudolph, Jason Mantzoukas, Jordan Peele, Fred Armisen, Ayo Edebiri and Jessi Klein. Kroll, Goldberg, Jennifer Flackett and Mark Levin are co-creators and executive producers.

Human Resources explores the fantastical world of creatures introduced in Big Mouth.

Human Resources, the critically acclaimed spin-off that premiered earlier this year, is being renewed for a second season with all series regulars returning. This series pulls back the curtain on the daily lives of theHormone Monsters, Depression Kitties, Shame Wizards and many others that help humans journey through every aspect of life from puberty to parenthood to the twilight years.

Series regulars are Nick Kroll (Maury the Hormone Monster), Maya Rudolph (Connie the Hormone Monstress), Aidy Bryant (Emmy the Lovebug), Randall Park (Pete the Logic Rock), Keke Palmer (Rochelle the Lovebug), Brandon Kyle Goodman (Walter the Lovebug) and David Thewlis (The Shame Wizard).

Human Resources is co-created and executive produced by Kelly Galuska, Nick Kroll, Andrew Goldberg, Jennifer Flackett and Mark Levin.

Kroll, Goldberg, Flackett and Levin are producing both series under their animation company banner Brutus Pink, which has an exclusive relationship with Netflix. Titmouse produces the animation.

Big Mouth: It’s for grown-ups.

April 19, 2022
People on the Move: Animation Vets Ramírez & Hutchison Named to VP Roles at Disney Branded TV

Disney Branded Television announced two key appointments this morning, promoting animation veteran Chris Hutchison to VP of Production and welcoming back accomplished producer Bardo Ramírez as VP of Studio Strategy & Operations.

Bardo S. Ramírez [ph: Disney Branded Television/Nelson Machin ©2022 Disney Enterprises, Inc.]

Bardo S. Ramírez has rejoined Disney as Vice President, Studio Strategy and Operations, Disney Branded Television, to lead strategic planning, production resource management, physical delivery and workplace culture initiatives for Disney Television Animation, a creative studio of visual storytellers. He reports to David Cobb, Senior Vice President, Operations and Content Planning, Disney Branded Television.

Ramírez has extensive experience in all aspects of animation production, expertise in finance and artist collaboration, and a deep understanding of the creative process. His career includes project leadership roles in the development of creative content for theme park attractions, Broadway, media productions and retail experiences.

He was most recently co-executive producer, Universal Animation Studios (2017-21). His previous tenure at Disney spans 12 years (2004-16) in roles including executive producer of the Creative Studio at Walt Disney Imagineering, director of Production at Disneytoon Studios, and production manager/supervisor and production finance lead at Walt Disney Animation Studios. Ramírez has also produced over two dozen Broadway and off-Broadway plays and musicals, including Avenue Q, for which he won the 2004 Tony Award for Best Musical. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science in economics, Ramírez is based in Burbank, California.

“It’s a joy to bring such a dynamic leader home to Disney as our television animation studio increases its output as a supplier to Disney Channels and Disney+. Bardo is renowned for his creative vision and production excellence, and yet, what impresses me the most is how he inspires others with his enormous commitment to the art form and the artists,” said Ayo Davis, President, Disney Branded Television. “I’m looking forward to all that Bardo and the TV Animation team will accomplish together.”

Chris Hutchison [ph: Disney Branded Television/Craig Sjodin ©2022 Disney Enterprises, Inc.]

Chris Hutchison has been promoted to Vice President, Production at Disney Branded Television and will now oversee the production management of its powerhouse Disney Junior-branded content, the centerpiece of Disney’s efforts to serve preschoolers with great stories and characters via imaginative, learning-focused series, shorts and movies. He reports to Sarah Finn, Senior Vice President, Production, Disney Television Animation.

Hutchison, who joined Disney in 2009, has deep production experience across multiple animation mediums. He leads a team of production management executives and 200 production employees and artists, fostering innovation and collaboration while increasing quality and enhancing productivity in all aspects of animation production from the earliest stages of the show concept to delivery. In addition, he provides production guidance and leadership for multiple production co-partners around the world. Among the many productions he’s overseen during his tenure are the award-winning series Doc McStuffins, Muppet Babies and several Mickey & Minnie Mouse programs.

Hutchison was most recently Executive Director, Production, Disney Television Animation (2020-22) and previously Senior Manager, Production (2015-20). In these roles, he oversaw production on multiple Disney Junior animated series and also Big City Greens for Disney Channel. Earlier, he was Senior Manager, Production, Disney Channels Worldwide (2012-15) and Manager, Production (2009-12), both roles in which he oversaw production on multiple original animated productions, co-productions and acquired content for Disney Junior, Disney Channel and Disney XD and original live-action productions for Disney Channel.

“This promotion acknowledges Chris’ contribution to our entire organization and his high aptitude for strategic planning, analytical and practical execution on a multitude of simultaneous projects,” said Meredith Roberts, Senior Vice President/General Manager, Television Animation, Disney Branded Television. “His experience in the animation industry across multiple media environments and his talent, expertise and energy helps us provide the leadership to enhance all aspects of our work.”

Prior to Disney, Hutchison held producer roles at Wild Canary Media Inc. (2008-09) and ka-chew! inc./Klasky Csupo Commercials (2003-08), working in CG, traditional 2D, Flash, live-action and motion graphics mediums on commercials, promos, graphics packages, main titles and print ads for clients, including Disney. He began his animation career as a production assistant/coordinator at Klasky Csupo, Inc. (1998-2003).

Disney Branded Television is a provider of original content for Disney+ and Disney Channels with a primary focus on imaginative, aspirational stories geared towards kids, tweens, teens and families. Disney Television Animation studio produces The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, Monsters at Work, Alice’s Wonderland Bakery, Big City Greens, Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends, Mickey Mouse Funhouse, The Ghost and Molly McGee, The Owl House, Amphibia, Minnie’s Bow-Toons and the upcoming Primos, Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur and Firebuds.

April 19, 2022
Paramount+ Brings World’s Tallest Hologram to Life in ‘HALO’ Celebration

Paramount+ announced a multi-market partnership with Minute Media, Wavemaker and Kaleida to bring to life its latest brand campaign celebrating the hit series HALO. The projection is the latest in a series of global campaigns focused on the Paramount+ hit series, HALO, which is based on the iconic Xbox franchise and has broken a new record as the service’s most-watched series premiere of all-time in the U.S. and internationally.

The partnership culminated with a giant 60 feet tall 3D hologram of Master Chief: Spartan 117. The 3D hologram was installed at world famous locations in Toronto, Mexico City, São Paulo and Sydney Harbor exclusively for one day on April 17, bringing everyone’s favorite Spartan to life for HALO fans around the world.

“HALO has delivered a tremendous response among fans around the world as Paramount+’s most-watched series premiere of all-time globally. We are proud to continue the momentum around the series by bringing HALO to life for fans in Australia, Latin America and Canada, in an epic and innovative way that only Paramount+ could achieve. This is a celebration to the fans and to this iconic franchise that continues to entertain people around the globe,” said Marco Nobili, SVP of Streaming Marketing, Data and Analytics, Paramount.

HALOgram (São Paulo, Brazil)

The Master Chief hologram was produced for Paramount+ by Minute Media, a global technology and content publisher, in partnership with hologram specialists Kaleida and media agency Wavemaker.

“We’re excited to have been part of the creative concept and strategy for this pioneering project. At Wavemaker, we’re constantly looking to break new ground and reshape consumer experiences. By combining innovative ideas underpinned by our strategic media approach we’ve brought an epic moment to life for fans to enjoy worldwide,” said Sophie Finckenberg, Digital Director, Wavemaker.

The record-breaking hologram, dubbed the ‘HALOgram’, scaled the equivalent height of a six-story building and featured a custom 3D animation that saw the Master Chief land on Earth and assess the local surroundings. Each installation weighed over 24 tons and was built using over 100m of metal trussing to house 126 square meters of specialist hologram gauze.

“Kaleida is all about world firsts and creating works on a scale that have never before been attempted. The four largest outdoor holograms in the world, in a 24 hour period, is a challenge we were excited and honored to be invited to take on,” said Kaleida co-founder Daniel Reynolds.

HALOgram (Mexico City)

Paramount+ premiered the long-awaited series HALO on March 24, becoming the most-watched series on the platform in its first 24 hours. The adaptation takes place in the universe that first debuted in 2001 with the launch of Xbox’s first Halo game. Dramatizing an epic 26th-century conflict between humanity and an alien threat known as the Covenant, HALO the series weaves deeply drawn personal stories with action, adventure and a richly imagined vision of the future.

The series stars Pablo Schreiber (American Gods) as the Master Chief, Spartan-117; Natascha McElhone (Californication) as Dr. Halsey, the brilliant, conflicted and inscrutable creator of the Spartan super soldiers; and Jen Taylor (Halo game series, RWBY) as Cortana, the most advanced AI in human history, and potentially the key to the survival of the human race.

Additional stars include Bokeem Woodbine (Fargo), Shabana Azmi (Fire), Natasha Culzac (The Witcher”), Olive Gray (Half Moon Investigations), Yerin Ha (Reef Break), Bentley Kalu (Avengers: Age of Ultron), Kate Kennedy (Catastrophe), Charlie Murphy (Peaky Blinders) and Danny Sapani (Penny Dreadful). Also joining the cast as original characters are Ryan McParland (6Degrees), Burn Gorman (The Expanse) and Fiona O’Shaughnessy (Nina Forever).

HALO is produced by SHOWTIME in association with 343 Industries, along with Amblin Television. The first season is executive produced by Steven Kane, alongside Steven Spielberg, Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey for Amblin Television in partnership with 343 Industries, Otto Bathurst and Toby Leslie for One Big Picture, and Kyle Killen and Scott Pennington for Chapter Eleven. Kiki Wolfkill, Frank O’Connor and Bonnie Ross serve as executive producers for 343 Industries. The series is distributed internationally by Paramount Global Distribution Group.

The Halo video game has sold more than 82 copies worldwide and grossed more than $6 billion in lifetime total sales revenue.

HALOgram (Sydney, Australia)

April 18, 2022
‘Panda! Go Panda’ Brings Early Takahata-Miyazaki Magic to Select Theaters

GKIDS announced today it will bring the newly restored Panda! Go Panda! to select theaters nationwide, in celebration of its 50th anniversary. The seminal early work from Studio Ghibli co-founders Isao Takahata (The Tale of the Princess Kaguya) and Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away) will open at the IFC Center in New York on May 6 and the Laemmle Theatres in Los Angeles on May 13, with additional markets to come.

Synopsis: Mimiko is a cheerful young girl who is left on her own while her grandmother is away. When little Panny Panda and his father Papanda stumble into her home, Mimiko welcomes them in as her new family. Adventures ensue as Mimiko discovers the challenges of taking care of her new cuddly friends.

Panda! Go Panda!

Directed by Takahata and based on a concept by Miyazaki, the 1972 feature produced by TMS Entertainment was first released at the height of the “panda craze”, following the loan of a pair of giant pandas from China to the Ueno Zoo in Japan. Included in the upcoming release are both Panda! Go Panda (1972) and Rainy Day Circus (1973), released collectively as Panda! Go Panda!

The 75-minute twofer will also be available as a Blu-ray + DVD combo set from GKIDS and Shout! Factory on June 21. (Details here.)

Find participating theaters and more info at PandaGoPanda.com.

April 18, 2022
Clip: Craig Learns ASL in New ‘Craig of the Creek’

In a representational first for the show, Cartoon Network’s backyard explorer Crag learns a new skill: American Sign Language. You can catch a sneak peek at Monday’s new episode of Craig of the Creek below, and prepare for the most epic dodgeball battle the Creek has ever seen!

In the episode, “Dodgy Decisions,” where friends and rivals are pitted against each other in an intense game of dodgeball, Craig is up against Jackie, “The Arm,” who is the best thrower in the Creek. When Craig meets with Jackie to determine who picks first for teams, he discovers Jackie is deaf.

Craig of the Creek “Dodgy Decisions”

Southern California Black Deaf Advocates consulted on this episode, which features American Sign Language. Jackie is a recurring character in the Emmy-, GLAAD- and NAACP Image Award-nominated series.

Craig of the Creek follows the precocious Craig and his best friends Kelsey and J.P., as they transform everyday afternoons into extraordinary adventures through imaginative play at the neighborhood creek. Season five delves deeper into the endless world of the Creek as Craig embarks on more journeys with friends new and old, finding adventure, mystery and fun around every bend.

Craig of the Creek “Dodgy Decisions”

As announced in January, Craig of the Creek fans can look forward to a fifth season as well as an origin story movie preschool spinoff series Jessica’s Big Little World, all set to roll out in 2023. The series is created by Matt Burnett and Ben Levin (Steven Universe).

Craig of the Creek “Dodgy Decisions” premiered on Cartoon Network on Mon., April 18 and is available to stream on HBO Max beginning Tues., April 19.

April 18, 2022
Coca-Cola Teams with Bill Nye to Demystify Recycling in Mackinnon & Saunders Spot

As science educator Bill Nye always says, “It’s not magic, it’s science!” And now he is revealing the “magic” secrets behind the science of recycling in a new stop-motion short film, created in partnership with The Coca-Cola Company. The spot is part of Coca-Cola’s World Without Waste sustainable packaging initiatives.

The film illustrates the holistic recycling process, breaking down the ins and outs of plastic recycling for viewers to demystify the process, with the ultimate goal of inspiring action. “As we know, we need to reuse plastic,” said Nye. “That’s why I’m partnering with The Coca-Cola Company to show the science behind the process of recycling and how we can continue to address the global plastic waste crisis, together.”

Creating a World Without Waste with Bill Nye (Coca-Cola)

Brought to life by the award-winning animators, puppeteers and model makers at North West U.K. studio Mackinnon & Saunders (Fantastic Mr. Fox, Corpse Bride), the film features an animated — and recycled — version of Nye, who explains the end-to-end recycling process. As Nye narrates in his dynamic style, the short takes viewers on the circular journey of a plastic bottle, starting from the time it’s placed in a recycling bin to it coming back on the shelf as a 100% recycled bottle (excluding cap and label).

Tree props made with recycled Sprite labels. [photo: Nicholas Rotondi]

Creatively, the approach to the film was not just about visualizing this process, but also reflected the use of recycled materials throughout — Coca-Cola packaging, including plastic bottles, labels and cardboard were incorporated into every aspect of the short.

Produced and shot in Cheshire, England, the film features a 10-inch-tall Bill Nye puppet made from recycled Coca-Cola bottles, with a range of 10 different mouth shapes to facilitate lip synching. Six “factory minions” made for the film were also constructed from recycled materials, with each standing about four inches tall. Trees were made by reusing Sprite labels and conveyor belts designed from recyclable cardboard, creating a film that embodies recycling, design and function.

Mackinnon & Saunders 3D printed prop bottles in resin. [photo: Nicholas Rotondi]

Mackinnon & Saudners also created bespoke miniature drinks bottles to two separate scales, to accommodate the size difference between the Bill Nye and factory minion puppets. The smallest bottle, printed in clear resin, stands just 40mm tall (about 1 ½”). Each second of film consists of 25 individual frames, and the whole process from set build to to final shoot, took about 10 weeks (six of pre-production, three of filming and one week of post-production).

While roughly 59% of Americans have access to curbside recycling, according to The Recycling Partnership’s 2020 study, only 27% of plastic bottles are currently recycled in the U.S. (per NAPCOR).

The Bill Nye puppet was created out of recycled materials and stood 10 inches tall. [photo: Nicholas Rotondi]

One of The Coca-Cola Company’s “World Without Waste” goals is to collect and recycle a bottle or can for every one it sells by 2030. The company is also committed to making 100% of its packaging recyclable by 2025 and using at least 50% recycled material in its packaging by 2030. This new film backs up the message that recycling is critical to “closing the loop” — using and reusing the materials in plastic bottles again and again.

“We recognize our responsibility to help address the world’s plastic waste crisis and to help create a closed loop economy, but we can’t do it alone,” said Christine Yeager, Director, Sustainability at The Coca-Cola Company North America. “And who better than Bill Nye to help inspire everyone to understand, think, feel, and behave differently about recycling. Still, there’s much more that needs to be done — which is why we’re also advocating for well-designed collection policy, funding infrastructure and creating greater economic demand for recycled content. But Step One is collecting and recycling our bottles.”

Creating a World Without Waste with Bill Nye (Coca-Cola)

Recycling programs vary; to learn about recycling programs in your local community, visit How2Recycle.info.

See more of Mackinnon & Saunders’ work at mackinnonandsaunders.com.

Learn more about Coca-Cola’s World Without Waste initiative at coca-colacompany.com.

https://youtu.be/1HRadzzvQNY

April 18, 2022
Teaser: ‘Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous’ Final Season Debuts July 21

DreamWorks Animation has released the first teaser for the fifth and final season of Annie Award-winning hit Netflix series Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous, hatching on July 21. Watch the teaser below.

In Season 5, the arrival of Kenji’s father, Mr. Kon, renews hope of a rescue for the campers. But as the nefarious plans of Mantah Corp. come into focus and one of the Camp Fam turns on their own, the others must band together if they want to save the dinosaurs and ever make it home.

Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous

Inspired by the Jurassic World franchise, Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous follows six teenagers chosen for a once-in-a-lifetime experience at Camp Cretaceous, a new adventure camp on the opposite side of Isla Nublar, who must work together to survive when dinosaurs wreak havoc across the island.

The voice cast features Paul-Mikél Williams as Darius, Jenna Ortega as Brooklynn, Ryan Potter as Kenji, Raini Rodriguez as Sammy, Sean Giambrone as Ben and Kausar Mohammed as Yaz. Guest star Andrew Kishino (Belle, Catwoman: Hunted) plays Mr. Daniel Kon.

Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous

From DreamWorks Animation, Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment, the series is executive produced by Steven Spielberg, Colin Trevorrow and Frank Marshall, alongside executive producers and showrunners Scott Kreamer (Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness) and Aaron Hammersley (Star vs. The Forces of Evil). Zack Stentz developed the series.

April 18, 2022
S2 of ‘The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder’ Underway ahead of S1 Finale

The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder is in production on a second season for Disney+. From Disney Television Animation, the series’ season one finale begins streaming exclusively on the platform Wednesday, April 20.

The critically acclaimed revival of Disney’s groundbreaking The Proud Family is executive-produced by its creator, Bruce W. Smith, and Ralph Farquhar. The series picks up the story of its central character, Penny Proud (Kyla Pratt), and includes her madcap family: parents Oscar (Tommy Davidson) and Trudy (Paula Jai Parker), twin siblings BeBe (Aiden Dodson) and CeCe (Bresha Webb), and grandmother Suga Mama (JoMarie Payton) — and Puff! Of course, it would not be The Proud Family without Penny’s loyal crew Dijonay Jones (Karen Malina White), LaCienega Boulevardez (Alisa Reyes) and Zoey Howzer (Soleil Moon Frye), among others.

Cast members reprising their roles from the original series and returning for Season 2 also include: Cedric the Entertainer as Uncle Bobby, Carlos Mencia as Felix Boulevardez, Maria Canals-Barrera as Sunset Boulevardez, Alvaro Gutierrez as Papi, Raquel Lee Bolleau as Nubia Gross and Marcus T. Paulk as Myron. Recurring new voices that will also return for the second season include Keke Palmer as Maya Leibowitz-Jenkin, Billy Porter and Zachary Quinto as Randall and Barry Leibowitz-Jenkins, EJ Johnson as Michael Collins, Asante Blackk as Kareem and Artist “A Boogie” Dubose as Francis “KG” Leibowitz-Jenkins.

Season 2 will again feature a star-studded guest cast, including singer and producer Chance the Rapper; Gabrielle Union (L.A’s Finest); singer and dancer Normani; Leslie Odom Jr. (Hamilton); Anthony Anderson (black-ish); gymnasts Dominique Dawes, Gabby Douglas and Laurie Hernandez; Jane Lynch (Glee); Holly Robinson Peete (21 Jump Street); Maury Povich (Maury); Storm Reid (Euphoria); Courtney B. Vance (Genius); and Liana Mendoza (Hey, Mr. Postman!).

In addition to Smith and Farquhar, Calvin Brown, Jr. (Moesha) is co-executive producer and story editor, Jan Hirota (Big Hero 6 The Series) is producer, Eastwood Wong (Carmen Sandiego) is art director, and directors are Latoya Raveneau (Rise Up, Sing Out), one of Animation Magazine‘s Rising Stars of 2022; Rudi Bloss (DC Super Hero Girls) and Tara Nicole Whitaker (Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure).

Extensions for The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder include a cross-category product line of apparel, home, stationery, toys and Funko Pop! collectibles exclusively at Target; a storybook from Disney Press, It All Started with an Orange Basketball; and The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder digital soundtrack from Walt Disney Records, set for release on June 3. Additionally, the complete library of the original series, The Proud Family, is currently available on Disney+, digital and DVD.

April 18, 2022
Netflix Gets Its Claws into ‘Exploding Kittens’ Animated Series & Mobile Game

For the first time, Netflix will launch a mobile game and TV series from the same franchise, building on the popular Exploding Kittens card game. An exclusive version of the beloved mobile game will launch on Netflix in May, followed by an adult animated comedy series coming in 2023.

Starring Tom Ellis (Rush, Lucifer), Abraham Lim (Clickbait, The Boys), Lucy Liu (Shazam, Elementary), Ally Maki (Wrecked, Toy Story 4), Mark Proksch (What We Do in the Shadows, Better Call Saul) and Sasheer Zamata (Woke, Home Economics), the series — appropriately titled Exploding Kittens — sees the eternal conflict between Heaven and Hell reach epic proportions when both God and the Devil are sent to Earth … in the bodies of chunky house cats.

The series comes from showrunners Shane Kosakowski and Matthew Inman; executive producers Mike Judge, Greg Daniels and Dustin Davis of Bandera Entertainment; executive producers Peter Chernin and Jenno Topping for the Chernin Entertainment Group; and executive producers and creators of the Exploding Kittens franchise, Elan Lee and The Oatmeal’s Inman.

Top L-R: Tom Ellis [ph: Allegra Messina], Abraham Lim [ph: Chris Labadie], Lucy Liu [ph: Sophy Holland]. Bottom L-R: Ally Maki, Mark Proksch, Sasheer Zamata [ph: Kim Newmoney]

“The co-development of a game and animated series breaks new ground for Netflix,” said Mike Moon, Netflix Head of Adult Animation. “And we couldn’t think of a better game to build a universe around than Exploding Kittens, one of the most inventive, iconic and original games of this century! Netflix is the perfect place to explore this growing franchise and we are so fortunate to be working with this incredible team!”

Exploding Kittens – The Game retains the same classic gameplay where players draw cards aiming to avoid the Exploding Kitten. Plus, fans will enjoy two new exclusive cards: Radar, which reveals to players the position of the Exploding Kitten closest to the top of the card deck, and Flip Flop, which reverses the order of the cards in the deck. Future cards and game mechanics will be themed around the animated series so friends and families can play with their favorite characters and bring the show to life. With both single and multiplayer options, the game will be available to Netflix members without additional fees or in-app purchases.

“Our goal is to offer our members great entertainment they’ll love in whatever format they may enjoy – whether it be a game or an animated series,” said Leanne Loombe, Head of External Games, Netflix. “As we expand our mobile games catalog, we’re excited to partner with the Exploding Kittens digital team to bring this enjoyable game to all age groups, including a few exciting updates exclusively for our members.”

Inman, Exploding Kittens Chief Creative Officer and Creator of The Oatmeal, commented: “Netflix is the only service that could bring Exploding Kittens to life in both a series and a game. We actually launched Exploding Kittens on Kickstarter as a weekend project, but our community has been the heart and soul of the company over the past six years. The new series and game will give our fans new ways to connect and interact with the franchise.”

Additional details about the Exploding Kittens adult animated series will be announced at a later date.

April 18, 2022
Watch: ‘Aqua Teen’ Villains Take the Lead in ‘Aquadonk Side Pieces’ Digital Series

Fans of classic Adult Swim animated mayhem can reconnect with the Aqua Teen Hunger Force gang in the network’s latest digital shorts series, Aquadonk Side Pieces! Launching today, a new installment of the 10-episode series will go live every day on the Adult Swim YouTube channel at noon ET/9 a.m. PT. Check out the first episode, “The Return of Handbanana,” below!

Aquadonk Side Pieces

Aquadonk Side Pieces is a series of one-shot shorts featuring Carl, Meatwad, Frylock and Master Shake facing fan-favorite antagonists like The Mooninites, The Plutonians, MC Pee Pants, The Frat Aliens, Happy Time Harry, Handbanana and The Cybernetic Ghost of Christmas Past.

Aquadonk Side Pieces

Aquadonk Side Pieces

Following Alabama Jackson, Aquadonk Side Pieces is the second of four digital short series to debut on Adult Swim’s YouTube channel. The new animated digital series and original Aqua Teen Hunger Force were created by Matt Maiellaro (12 oz. Mouse) and Dave Willis (Squidbillies).

April 18, 2022
Puppet Animator & Director Vlasta Pospíšilová Dies Age 87

Vlasta Pospíšilová, the Czech stop-motion master who delighted generations with her puppet films and TV series, died Friday, April 15 at the age of 87. She was the last living member of Jiří Trnka’s famous “animators’ guard.” The news was shared with Animation Magazine by Prague-based promotion and development organization, CEE Animation.

About Mary and the Wolf Castle

Born in Prague on February 18, 1935,Pospíšilová graduated from the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague in 1956, majoring in puppetry and stage design. Fresh out of school, she joined the world-famous Jiří Trnka Studio to work on the director’s celebrated final feature, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1959).

Fireflies

Even in these early days, the young artist demonstrated an extraordinary talent for animated acting, and Trnka often left the most demanding performances in her hands — Pospíšilová is especially recognized for her animation of Mistress Goose in Archangel Gabriel and Mistress Goose (1964), adapted from a tale in Boccaccio’s Decameron. Trnka died in 1969.

Fimfárum

In addition to traditional puppet stop-motion, Pospíšilová had a flair for cut-out and object animation, demonstrated by her work with another Czech animation legend, Jan Švankmajer, on his films Jabberwocky (1971) and the Annecy Grand Prix / Berlinale Golden Bear-winning Dimensions of Dialogue (1983). Pospíšilová’s work also inspired an homage in film critic/historian turned animation director Jaroslav Boček’s 1977 puppet project Three Etudes for an Animator (with an Epilogue).

Vlasta Pospíšilová honored at Anifilm 2015

In 1979, Pospíšilová made her directorial debut on the beautiful puppet fairy tale About Mary and the Wolf Castle, collaborating with screenwriter Edgar Dutka. She went on to independently direct more than 45 films — her adaptations of Jan Werich’s “not just for children” fairy tales, Fimfárum, proved especially popular. The short Mean Barbara was a hit with audiences all over the world, and her Werich puppet shorts became linchpins of all three Fimfárum anthology films.

Pospíšilová is also known for writing and directing for the 1995 TV series adaptation of Jan Karafiát’s Fireflies (Broučci) and popular slapstick comedy Pat & Mat. She won a Czech Critics Award for Best Animated Film for Jan Werich’s Fimfárum (2002) and an honorable mention in the children’s category from Hiroshima International Animation Festival for Lady Poverty (1983). In 2015, timed to her 80th birthday, Pospíšilová was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from Czech festival Anifilm.

https://youtu.be/z4URJ5iKHMg

April 17, 2022
News Bytes: Blue Sky’s Farewell to Scrat, ‘Prince of Tennis’ Tix, ‘King of Atlantis’ Redated & More
In a fitting animated adieu, the runaway slapstick star of the Ice Age franchise finally tastes victory. In the half-minute short, appropriately titled The End, Scrat the saber-toothed squirrel once more happens upon his precious acorn, clutching it to his chest and fearfully peering around for what new threat, thievery or accident will take it from his grasp … but, at long last, he is able to chow down in peace. The mini short was created by a small team of artists at Blue Sky Studios in its final day, as “a send-off on [their] own terms.” (H/T Gamespot.)

Previously owned by 20th Century Fox, Blue Sky was swept up in the Disney acquisition of 2019. Claiming it could not afford to operate a third in-house studio, the Mouse House shuttered the Greenwich, Connecticut studio in 2021. Disney is holding onto the Blue Sky IP, with a focus on the $6 billion Ice Age franchise. A series of Scrat shorts were released on Disney+ this week. Blue Sky’s final feature was Spies in Disguise (2019); the studio was well into production of a Nimona adaptation when it was closed, and the property has since been picked up by Netflix.

You can read more about Blue Sky Studios in Animation Magazine‘s 2021 legacy piece here.

Ryoma! The Prince of Tennis

Iconic Events Releasing has announced that tickets are now on sale for nationwide screenings of Ryoma! The Prince of Tennis <Decide>, presented in partnership with anime distributor Eleven Arts and Anime Expo, the nation’s premiere anime fan convention, for its inaugural AX Cinema Nights on May 12. Tickets can be reserved at princeoftennismovie.com.

Eleven Arts will also release an original English dub of Ryoma! The Prince of Tennis <Decide>. Fans of the long-established franchise can watch both versions of the film (original Japanese audio with English subtitles and original English audio) at more than 250 participating theaters in cities across the U.S. The film will hit Canadian theaters at a later date, TBA.

Based on Takeshi Konomi’s sports manga (more than 60 million copies sold over 22 years), the new feature film centers on tennis prodigy Ryoma Echizen. Inspired by his tennis champion father, Ryoma is determined to take his game to the next level and train in the U.S. But in the middle of an intense tennis battle to save his classmate Sakuno from dangerous villains, they somehow find themselves transported back to the past, just as Ryoma’s father is about to undertake his final championship match at the U.S. Open — when he was mysteriously forced to retire. (Read more.)

Aquaman: King of Atlantis

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has set a new date for the movie-fied home release of Aquaman: King of Atlantis, which will now arrive on Digital and DVD (U.S. $14.99 SRP; Can. $19.99 SRP) on June 21. The launch was pushed back in order to increase the set’s visibility on shelves.

Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, the mini-series premiered on HBO Max on October 14 to rave reviews from both critics and fans alike. James Wan (Aquaman) served as executive producer through his Atomic Monster production company on this playful reimagining of the iconic DC Super Hero and tells an original tale about Aquaman’s first adventures as King of Atlantis. Full of monstrous marine creatures, devious foes and incredible underwater adventures, the action-packed 2D series is repackaged as a feature-length movie for the home release. (Read more.)

West Side Story … But with a Velociraptor

Maxon is at the helm of the next viral meme: Velociraptors in major motion pictures. Following the April Fool’s Day release of Universe Raptorize, a clever take on a joke from Maxon’s VFX and Chill dynamic duo Daniel “Hashi” Hashimoto (a.k.a. Action Movie Dad) and Seth Worley, more and more films have become overrun by the iconic raptor made famous nearly three decades ago in the Steven Spielberg classic, Jurassic Park.

Originally, the team joked that Universe Raptorize software was a way to easily convert Tom Cruise, in any footage, into Velociraptor Cruise in movies like Mission Impossible and Jerry Maguire. The next iteration of Maxon’s Reptilian movie franchise followed the star-crossed lovers, Maria and Tony, as they navigate their doomed romance — Spielberg’s West Side Story became even more tragic as a human woman falls in love with a Raptor. (Enjoy more Raptorized cinema gems by followedin the @ButWithRaptors Twitter account.)

Get ready for the next evolution of original content as IDW, the award-winning publisher of comic books and graphic novels, announces a slate of new original projects by New York Times best-selling authors, some of the industry’s finest artists and writers, and newcomers destined for greatness. “This is an unprecedented moment in IDW’s history, and there’s been a tremendous team effort from our creative and editorial teams and everyone at the company to develop a stellar slate of original stories — and we’re having a blast doing it!” said Mark Doyle, editorial director of Originals. The first nine projects announced are:
- Dark Spaces: Wildfire, a thriller series written by Scott Snyder with art by Hayden Sherman, follows a group of female inmate firefighters deep into the smoldering California hills, where their desperate heist of a burning mansion will lead them to the score of a lifetime…or a deadly trap!
- Trve Kvlt, a five-issue miniseries written by Scott Bryan Wilson with art by Liana Kangas, introduces Marty Tarantella, a down-on-his-luck loser whose last-ditch scheme to escape a lifetime of fast-food service sets him on a collision course with a cult of violent, Devil-worshiping lunatics!
- Crashing, a five-issue miniseries written by Matthew Klein with art by Morgan Beem, throws open the doors of an emergency room filled with casualties of a superhuman war, where Rose Osler, a doctor on her own path of addiction and recovery, faces the most dangerous day of her medical career.
- Earthdivers, an ongoing series written by Stephen Graham Jones with art by Davide Gianfelice, unites four Indigenous survivors in an apocalyptic near future as they embark on a bloody, one-way mission to save the world by traveling back in time to kill Christopher Columbus and prevent the creation of America.
- Dead Seas, a six-issue miniseries written by Cavan Scott with art by Nick Brokenshire, transforms a cynical convict into a reluctant hero when he’s trapped on a sinking prison ship swarming with ghosts. Can he unite desperate criminals, pirates, and brutal guards as they try to escape a watery grave?
- Golgotha Motor Mountain, a five-issue miniseries written by Matthew Erman and Lonnie Nadler with art by Ryan Lee, is a high-octane, redneck motor massacre about two meth-cooking brothers and their attempt to make it home in one piece as all manner of cosmic alien horrors are hot on their trail.
- Arca, an original graphic novel written by Van Jensen with art by Jesse Lonergan, leaves a dying Earth behind as billionaires establish a luxurious new society out among the stars, tended to by teenage indentured servants. But one girl discovers that the good life promised for their years of servitude was a lie…
- The Sin Bin, a six-issue miniseries written by Robbie Thompson with art by Molly Murakami, hits the road with washed-up hockey player Dale “Dukes” Duquesne, who moonlights as a monster hunter during away games with his daughter, Cat, in tow, hoping to find her mother’s killer.
- The Hunger and the Dusk, a 12-issue storyline written by G. Willow Wilson with art by Chris Wildgoose, upends an age-old conflict between humans and orcs by introducing a new, deadlier species. Fragile alliances form — and unexpected romances blossom — as former enemies wade into battle together to save their two races.
- …Plus more on the way, including a series by Oscar-winning director, screenwriter, novelist & showrunner John Ridley (Shirley) and seven graphic novels for middle grade/YA audiences.
Fans of the Keyframe podcast will be excited to hear that the U.K.-based Geek Show collective are returning to the world of animation and anime for a new appreciation ‘cast, The Dreaming Machine (one assumes the name nods to Satoshi Kon’s unfinished film of the same name).

The “new and revamped” version of the podcast offers a blend of short, spoiler-free introductions (You Should Be Watching…) and longer, episode-by-episode analyses (Deep Dive) of titles from around the world, as well as more general discussions among the superfan hosts. So far, series like She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, Code Geass, Hilda, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Hilda and Amphibia have been processed through The Dreaming Machine. You can find episodes online here or wherever you get your podcast fix.
April 15, 2022
Spring Specials Sprout on PBS KIDS
Spring has sprung, and the balmy season brings colorful new cartoons across the airwaves on PBS KIDS. New specials and thematic episodes of favorite series celebrate the natural world with an “Explore the Outdoors” lineup from April 18 to May 13, marking Earth Day, Arbor Day and the turning of the season.

The outdoor adventures begin April 18 with Elinor Wonders Why: A Wonderful Journey, a one-hour movie that kicks off a week of new episodes from the series. The fun continues on April 29 with Cyberchase: Buzz and the Tree, a half-hour Arbor Day special, followed by a trio of all-new episodes premiering April 29 in a special Cyberchase Family Night Weekend block on the PBS KIDS 24/7 channel.

Viewers can also join Nature Cat, Hal, Squeeks and Daisy on a week of brand-new Nature Cat escapades, which will take the team from the woods to the river, starting May 9. Outdoor explorations are in store for kids and families in the big city, too! Viewers can tag along with Alma as she explores her city, heading everywhere from the playground to checkers camp, with a week of new episodes of Alma’s Way, debuting May 2.

Elinor Wonders Why: A Wonderful Journey

PBS KIDS “Explore the Outdoors” line-up

Elinor Wonders Why: A Wonderful Journey
One-hour special. Premieres April 18; re-airs on Earth Day, April 22.
Elinor, Ari and Olive are back with a new, one-hour movie! The journey begins when Elinor and her friends have a curious and fun adventure when they go camping with Ranger Rabbit to Hidden Lake. While on a hike to help their new friend Bianca observe the lake’s frog population, the kids discover all the frogs are missing! Why? It’s up to Elinor, Bianca and the rest of the gang to solve the mystery of the missing frogs.

In addition to the special, three new half-hour episodes of Elinor Wonders Why will explore how different animals rest to regain energy, dance with cranes to communicate and express their feelings, build bird feeders to make food easier to find for their feathery friends — and more!
- “The Little Drummer/Rest Is Best” – Premieres April 19
- “Elinor’s Fishy Friend/Do the Crane Dance” – Premieres April 20
- “Feed the Birds/Señor Tapir Says Adios” – Premieres April 21
Cyberchase: Buzz and the Tree
Arbor Day special. Premieres April 29.
It’s Arbor Day in Cyberspace! It’s a special day to plant a tree for a best friend, but Buzz has other plans. Concerned that Buzz is absorbed by his video game, The Terrific Tree, Delete calls on the CyberSquad to help get his best buddy back. Families will join the crew as they head out to the forest and use Buzz’s knowledge of trees learned from his video game to help Delete pick the perfect tree to plant in Buzz’s honor!

In even more science-themed fun, families will learn about environmental topics like migration, water pollution, and invasive species in three additional episodes, premiering back-to-back in a special Cyberchase Family Night Weekend block on the PBS KIDS 24/7 channel, April 29 starting at 7 p.m. ET:
- “Hacker’s Bright Idea”
- “The Lilting Loons”
- “Living In Disharmony”
Alma’s Way
New episodes will follow Alma and her friends on their outdoor adventures in the city:
- “Granny on the Go/Chacho’s Day Out” – Premieres May 2
- “Checkers Champ/World’s Greatest” – Premieres May 3
- “Steggie Rescue/Alma Hits the Right Note” – Premieres May 4
- “Do the Waltzango/Big Brother Bootcamp” – Premieres May 5
Nature Cat
New episodes premiere the week of May 9
Tally ho! Nature Cat, Hal, Squeeks and Daisy will embark on a week of exciting outdoor adventures, helping all sorts of friends along the way! The gang will discover the sounds of the woods to find the soundtrack for a Nature Dance Party, track a scent on the wind to find a spot that holds a special memory, look for answers as to why leaves fall, and embark on a wild river ride filled with rapids, floods and dams.
April 15, 2022
TV & Streaming News: ‘Stillwater’ Celebrates Earth Day; ‘Taina’, ‘Donkey Hodie’ on the Move & More

On top of the new Peanuts special It’s the Small Things, Charlie Brown, Apple TV+ is delivering more animated Earth Day celebrations with the season 2 finale of Stillwater. In the special Earth Day episode “One Drop Makes an Ocean,” Stillwater shows the kids his worm farm and other things he does to live green, which inspires them to come up with more ways to help the Earth.

Peabody and Emmy Award-winning series Stillwater is based on the Scholastic book series Zen Shorts by Jon J. Muth, and follows siblings Karl, Addy and Michael as they encounter everyday challenges which sometimes feel insurmountable. With the help of their nextdoor neighbor, a wise panda named Stillwater, the kids learn how to better understand their feelings and acquire tools to help them deal with daily obstacles. The CG series is produced by Gaumont Animation and Scholastic Entertainment.

Tainá and the Amazon’s Guardians

Emmy-winning French animation producer/distributor Dandelooo has licensed the preschool adventure CGI series Tainá and the Amazon’s Guardians to Paramount+ Latin America. Based on the Brazilian films of the same name, which attracted millions of moviegoers in Brazil and around the world, the series has won 23 national and international awards and has been broadcast in more than 40 countries.

Revealing the beauty of the Amazon Forest and its extraordinary fauna and flora Tainá and the Amazon’s Guardians (26 x 11’ is produced by Sincrocine (Brazil), in association with animation studio Hype and Nick Jr. Brazil. Created by Pedro Carlos Rovai and Virginia Limberger, the series is an optimistic, joyful and friendly ecology tale to save the Amazon Forest. Tainá received public resources managed by Brazilian Film Agency ANCINE/BRDE/FSA, was sponsored by RioFilme and Norsul and supported by BNDES Brazil and Band TV.

Donkey Hodie

9 Story Distribution International has secured multiple sales for Donkey Hodie (78 x 11’), the popular social-emotional preschool puppet series produced by Fred Rogers Productions and Spiffy Pictures. New licenses include TVO (Canada), Canal Panda (Spain) and Ejunior (U.A.E.). The series launched in May of 2021 in the U.S. on PBS KIDS and was recently greenlit for a second season. 9 Story holds global distribution rights excluding the U.S. and worldwide merchandising rights excluding the U.S. and Canada.

Inspired by the funny, quirky side of children’s TV pioneer Fred Rogers, Donkey Hodie is set in the whimsical land of Someplace Else, where enthusiastic and charming go-getter Donkey Hodie takes on each day with curiosity and resilience, alongside her pals Purple Panda, Duck Duck and Bob Dog. The series is created by Adam Rudman and David Rudman, co-founders of Spiffy Pictures, and developed by Ellen Doherty, CCO of Fred Rogers Productions; all three serve as executive producers.

Canada’s Sinking Ship Entertainment announced that seasons one and two of Dino Dana will soon be available in China. Bomanbridge Media has licensed seasons one and two of the dinosaur adventure series to Chinese streaming platform Youku. The series will be available for streaming later this year. The Emmy Award-winning series, created and directed by Sinking Ship’s J.J. Johnson, follows Dana, a 10-year-old girl who loves dinosaurs. Her life changes forever when she’s given a Dino Field Guide, which not only teaches her new things about dinosaurs, but gives her the power to imagine dinosaurs into real life.

Developed as a follow-up to the Dino Dan series, the live-action adventures that bring to live CGI dinosaurs, is produced by Sinking Ship in association with TVOkids and Prime Video. The series premiered in 2017 and was followed by the theatrical release in June of 2020 of Dino Dana The Movie, produced for TVOkids and Prime Video with the participation of Téléfilm Canada, Shaw Rocket Fund and Ontario Creates. Dino Dana has won three Daytime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Performer in a Children’s, Family Viewing or Special Class Program.

Amazon announced this week that its free streaming service IMDb TV has been rebranded as Amazon Freevee, effective April 27. The AVOD will also be adding original movies to its content growth strategy and is planning to expand internationally, with a Germany launch set for later this year. The platform has tripled its monthly active users over the last two years, thanks to rapid distribution across devices, ever-increasing originals and library titles, and 60+ FAST channels.

Freevee will grow its Originals slate by 70% in 2022, including spin-offs, new dramas and unscripted series as well as a push into movie production. The service also announced a licensing deal with NBCUniversal for an exclusive network window for Universal Filmed Entertainment’s 2020-2021 slate, as well as an animated movie package including Sing 2. IMDb TV/Freevee is also the exclusive U.S. home to Brent Butt’s adult animated sitcom Corner Gas Animated (CTV), which debuted it fourth and final season last year.

April 15, 2022
‘PJ Masks’ Rev Up New Animal Powers in Thematic Arc
A brand new thematic of preschool hit PJ Masks launches on Disney Junior today (Friday, April 15) and supported across 16 episodes this fall, including a two-part special and an epic four-part special.

The adventure kicks off in a thrill-seeking two-parter introducing speed-obsessed twin villains Carly and Cartoka, who with their Gigantogarage and their super fast Flashcar steal and destroy the PJ vehicles. The heroes unlock brand new and powerful animal companions to battle alongside them and save the day in an all-new way.
- Friday, April 15 | 1 p.m. ET/PT: “Carly and Cartoka” — Catboy wants to outspeed new villains Carly and Cartoka.
- Friday, April 22 | 1 p.m. ET/PT: “PJ Riders/Flashcar in the Sky” — The PJs are desperate to get their vehicles back from Carly and Cartoka, but are having trouble taming their PJ Riders to help them – and to make matters worse, PJ Robot is kidnapped as the battery for the Flashcar. The PJs get caught up in a battle between Romeo and the Twins.
- Friday, May 6 | 1 p.m. ET/PT: “Luna’s Mega Moth/Captain Pirate Robot” — Luna Girl wants to get back at Motsuki and get to the moon – by badness and deviousness. To get his ship back from Octobella, Pirate Robot becomes the captain of the PJMs. But can he be a good captain?
PJ Masks

PJ Masks fans can continue the adventure on April 23 with PJ Masks: We Can All Be Heroes at theaters across the U.S. — with a sneak peek at more Animal Power to come! In addition to the advanced look, the Fathom event will be an 88-minute theatrical experience of the four-part special Heroes of the Sky, dance videos and more. Fans can come dressed in their PJ Masks pajamas or costumes to kick off a festive superhero party, taking the fun home afterwards to watch more of their favorite episodes and explore what being a hero means to them.

Visit FathomEvents.com to see participating theater box offices.
April 15, 2022