FMX Concludes 2021 Virtual Conference
‘Precious,’ ‘Wolfwalkers’ Take Top Prizes at ITFS 2021
International Stuttgart Festival of Animated Film concludes six-day virtual event that provided a global audience with live streaming access to more than 400 shorts and features; entire ITFS media library will stay available to accredited users until May 16, 2021.
New ‘Dragon Ball Super’ Feature Coming in 2022
Toei and original manga creator Akira Toriyama announce second film based on 2015 manga, following 2018’s successful release of ‘Dragon Ball Super: Broly.’
Ella and Louis’ Famed ‘Cheek to Cheek’ Duet Gets Animated
To celebrate the legendary Ella Fitzgerald’s 104th birthday, director Wendy Cong Zhao and Verve Records have produced a whimsical 2D music video that captures the magic of the singer and Louis Armstrong’s classic recording.
Jamaican Animators Chosen to Produce Short for ‘Sesame Street’
KingstOOn Festival and Sesame Workshop announce winning pitch team; UWI animation students, Chevon Irving and Tajha Winkle chosen to animate their ‘11 Robot Reggae Band’ film for iconic show’s Season 52, with local animator George Hay set to mentor and advise.
Virtual OIAF Pitch THIS! Now Accepting Entries from Canadian Creators
Festival and Mercury Filmworks announce the second ever virtual competition, offering wider reach and accessibility to new creative voices; entry deadline is June 15.
Guru Studio’s ‘Pikwik Pack’ Now Streaming on Hulu
The animated preschool series features four animal friends who deliver surprises to their neighbors; kids learn gentle life lessons about community, responsibility, and teamwork.
VIEW Conference Presents ‘The Mitchells vs. The Machines' Creative Team
Coming May 14, the free, online conversation with the film’s key talent, including writer/director Mike Rianda and writer/co-director Jeff Rowe, is being produced in cooperation with OGR, Sony Pictures Animation, and Netflix.
The Sharp, Edgy Designs of ‘Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts’
For art director Angela Sung and director Bridget Underwood, blending ‘Alice in Wonderland,’ ‘The Walking Dead,’ and classic Japanese anime gave the DreamWorks Animation series a bold look and feel unique to Western TV.
Winners Announced for Celsys’ 27th International Illustration Contest
The Clip Studio Paint software developer’s illustration competition received 3,800 entries from across the globe; prizes include cash and an NVIDIA RTX 3070 GPU Graphics Card.
‘Castlevania’ Season 4 Images and Synopsis Revealed
Ahead of its May 13 premiere, Netflix shares that the new season focuses on the collapse of Wallachia as a mysterious force attempts to resurrect Dracula, and nobody can be trusted.
Netflix Drops ‘Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal The Movie’ Trailer
Voice cast, key art, and tons of images also revealed from eagerly awaited upcoming 2-part animated feature that premieres worldwide (outside Japan) on June 3, 2021.
The Cartel Adds Kimberley Mooney, Launches Field Day Entertainment
Veteran development exec will bolster company’s plans to expand its kids, family, and animation business; company teams up with former Netflix and Nickelodeon exec Jenna Boyd to launch new talent-centric production company.
Behind the Music and Animation of ‘Doug Unplugs’
DreamWorks Animation’s musical kids’ series, created for Apple TV+, follows the adventures of a young robot who ‘unplugs’ from his fact-based world to experience the wonders of the human world with his best friend Emma.
SVA Hosts MFA Thesis Project Screenings
The May 11-12 programs will feature over 30 graduate projects showcasing unique approaches to creative self-expression; first program includes 2D and motion graphics projects, while second features experimental art and 3D.
Key Art Revealed for ‘Adventure Time: Distant Lands – Together Again’
It’s almost here! Best buds Finn the human and Jake the dog embark on an epic adventure taking them far from home, where they unite against a monstrous evil; third installment of the popular series streams May 20 on HBO Max.
‘VS’ Animated Series Shows Female Olympic Athletes Overcoming Adversity
Using a range of visual styles, SK-II STUDIO’s 6-part anthology highlights real-life stories of the challenges faced by athletes including Simon Biles, Liu Xiang, and Ishikawa Kasumi; now streaming at SK-II CITY.
2-Part ‘Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal The Movie’ Coming to Netflix
‘The Way of the Househusband’ director Chiaki Kon helms the new adventures of Sailor Moon and the Sailor Guardians as they battle to prevent the Silver Crystal from being used to rule the Earth and dominate the universe.
Powerful Caster Semenya Short Explores Biology, Beauty, and Bans
Dynamic animated film for Lux’s ‘Born This Way’ campaign supports banned South African athlete’s bid to compete at the world’s leading track events.
Mike Rianda Talks ‘The Mitchells vs. The Machines’
The ‘Gravity Falls’ creative director’s TV production skills got a thorough workout, and then some, in his animated feature film directing debut, now streaming on Netflix.
Netflix Hosting Free ‘Asian Creatives in Animation’ Virtual Event
In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, seven top creative professionals will participate in a panel discussion on creating community and fostering diversity in the animation industry.
Dinosaurs Are Involved in Official ‘Rugrats’ Trailer Reveal
ViacomCBS’ all-new series debut sees Chuckie’s attempt at bravery go horribly wrong; reimagined show, debuting May 27 on Paramount+, stars E.G. Daily, Nancy Cartwright, Cheryl Chase, Cree Summer, and Kath Soucie reprising their iconic roles.
Jinx and Vi Blow Stuff Up in ‘Arcane’ Teaser Trailer
Netflix’s upcoming animated series, based on Riot’s popular MOBA game ‘League of Legends,’ is set in a utopian region of Piltover and the oppressed underground of Zaun, following the origins of two ‘League’ champions.
Netflix Drops ‘The Mitchells vs. The Machines' Animation Featurette
Take an exclusive look at the innovative techniques used to bring Mike Rianda’s animated comedy to life with VFX supervisor Michael Lasker and character designer Lindsey Olivares; film now streaming on Netflix.
Anima2021 Submissions Deadline Coming May 30
Submissions now being accepted for the 2021 Córdoba International Animation Festival, running October 6-8; held every two years since 2001, the festival promotes and celebrates the artistic and technological aspects of the art form, and is the main animation event in Argentina.