Cartoonito Launches Across Asia
The preschool programming block debuted in Japan March 1 with ‘Thomas and Friends,’ ‘Pingu,’ and ‘Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz;’ the brand hits Southeast Asia and Korea today, with a slate of other popular series.
Podcast EP 154: Mercury Filmworks CCO Heath Kenny on How to Leap From Maker to Manager
The animator, writer, producer and development exec discusses careers, opportunities, and choosing the best path forward; he shares his journey from New Zealand to Canada and how he ultimately made the jump to management.
Watch ‘Sky: Children of the Light’ First Look Teaser
At Anime Japan 2022, thatgamecompany shared concept art and storyboards revealing new characters and the expansion of its popular game franchise; ‘Sky Assemblies’ and ‘Sky Crafting Corner’ give fans a chance to take part in themed activities including arts and crafts, trivia, and in-game challenges.
Annecy 2022 Announces Graduation, TV, and Commissioned Film Selections
99 films were chosen for competition in the festivals latest category announcements; more than 1,530 films were submitted this year from 64 countries; festival runs June 13-18 in Annecy, France.
‘Parallel Man: Infinite Pursuit’: Careening Across the Multiverse
FutureDude Entertainment’s Jeffrey Morris expands upon his comic and mobile game with a CG short that leaps from humanoid dino clans to polluted, steampunk cities in a sci-fi tale of commandos, stolen tech, and alternate Earths.
‘Dune,’ ‘Encanto,’ and ‘The Windshield Wiper’ Take Home Oscar Gold
Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi epic scored a hefty 6 wins, though the evening’s most momentous achievement was an unwanted, violent reminder that live TV never goes as planned... or hoped.
DreamWorks Drops ‘The Bad Guys’ Featurettes
They’re BAD – but can they draw? Studio’s new 3DCG action comedy about a crackerjack criminal crew of animal outlaws attempting to become model citizens, starring Sam Rockwell, Craig Robinson, and Awkwafina, hits theaters April 22, 2022.
90s Nick Jr. Mascot ‘Face’ Returns in New Preschool Show
Live-action / animation hybrid ‘Face’s Music Party’ stars Cedric Williams and features kid-friendly music videos, remix sing-alongs of nursery rhymes, and a high energy dance-along finale; the new show hits Nickelodeon’s preschool platforms this summer.
Exclusive Clip: ‘The Great North - Nobody Knows What Is Inside This Can’
In the all-new episode airing March 27 on FOX, Ham befriends an older woman who loves to party; meanwhile, Judy takes up pottery and is not great at it.
‘Arthur,’ PBS’s Beloved Aardvark-Centric Series, Gets a New Digital Life
Dan Flynn, associate creative director of Hero4Hire Creative and lead animator on ‘Arthur’ digital productions, talks about the future of the long-running children’s animated series.
Nickelodeon Greenlights ‘HexVet’ Animated Series
Based on the popular graphic novels by Sam Davies, the series follows 2 best friends apprenticing to be magical veterinarians for fantastical creatures; show set to launch in 2023.
Nickelodeon Greenlights ‘Bossy Bear’
The new animated preschool series follows the misadventures of a ‘Bossy Bear’ and his bestie, Turtle; the show is slated to debut in 2023 on Nickelodeon in the U.S. and Nick Jr. channels internationally.
BASE FX Says it is the Victim of $234 Million Fraud
In a just filed lawsuit, the longtime Beijing-based VFX and animation company alleges that two Americans have swindled and pocketed millions from investors while raising money on its behalf.
NVIDIA Instant NeRF Turns 2D Photos into 3D Scenes in the Blink of an AI
Company shares groundbreaking ultra-fast neural network research that instantly reconstructs a high-resolution 3D scene from a set of 2D images.
The Third Floor Launches TTF Anim Animation Suite
New toolset brings real-time capabilities to creators of cinema-quality, stylized animated content; developed on top of Unreal Engine, pipeline features custom-developed visualization tools that introduce game engine rendering to features of traditional animation.
Nickelodeon Announces Franchise Strategy at 2022 Upfront Presentation
Animation remains key as network reveals plans for expanding franchises such as ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’ and ‘PAW Patrol;’ new series including ‘Face’s Music Party,’ ‘Bossy Bear,’ and ‘HexVet;’ and a ‘Blue’s Clues & You! Live Tour’ starting this fall in the U.S.
Mercury Filmworks Names Guillaume Dubois VP of Production
The veteran animation exec and co-founder of Caribara Montreal is tapped to manage studio’s production pipeline, including ‘Pangors of Puddle Peak,’ ‘Octicorn,’ and ‘Bad Jelly the Witch.’
Guru Studio Announces Key Hires Across Talent Acquisition and Recruiting
Babita Jassal has been promoted to VP of People and Culture, and Hetal Shah joins as senior talent acquisition specialist; staff additions come as the company seeks new creative talent to work across a range of 2D and 3D projects.
Foundry Launches ‘Voices Behind the Tech’ Career Path Video Series
Series spotlights career paths in VFX, CGI, and Animation Technology, kicking off with an episode featuring interviews with women on the company’s R&D team.
Crunchyroll Reveals Massively Huge Spring 2022 Anime Lineup
Expansive slate includes 50 new and returning series; ‘Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These’ Season 3 and ‘Estab Life: Great Escape’ now available, with new titles dropping throughout April.
Who Knew the Robot Apocalypse Would Be Such a Crowd Pleaser?
As Sony Pictures Animation’s ‘The Mitchells vs. the Machines’ continues its seemingly inexorable march toward the Oscars, director and co-writer Mike Rianda reflects on what it all means.
DreamWorks Animation Drops ‘The Croods: Family Tree’ Season 2 Trailer
The CG animated comedy, inspired by the hit film, ‘The Croods: A New Age,’ follows the Croods and the Bettermans as they learn to live with each other on prehistory’s most idyllic farm; new episodes hit Peacock and Hulu on April 5.
Exclusive: ‘Polly Pocket Season 4: Summer of Adventure’ Trailer
It's summer vacation and Polly and pals want to make this the best summer ever! All-new episodes of the animated series premiere on Netflix April 1.
‘Charlotte’ Trailer and Poster Released
The 2D animated drama tells the tale of a young German-Jewish artist who comes of age on the eve of the Second World War; from Good Deed Entertainment and starring Keira Knightley, the film hits theaters April 22.
Toonz Teams with Tunche on ‘Kayara’ CG Animated Feature
César Zelada helming film that follows a young Incan woman who dreams of breaking into the elite, male-only group of Chasqui messengers; release set for 2024.