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ANIMATIONWorld Magazine

Business Headline News

WarnerMedia OneFifty Acquires Baobab Studios’ ‘Namoo’ for HBO Max

By Dan Sarto | Wednesday, January 26, 2022 at 10:30am

Oscar-nominated director Erick Oh’s poignant animated short, about the beautiful and heartbreaking moments of a man’s life, to premiere on the streamer January 27.

People Headline News

Skydance Animation’s ‘Luck’ Gets Release Date and Additional Voice Cast

By Dan Sarto | Wednesday, January 26, 2022 at 9:32am

Eva Noblezada, Simon Pegg, and Lil Rel Howery join Whoopi Goldberg and Jane Fonda on the Peggy Holmes-helmed CG feature about Sam Greenfield, the unluckiest person in the world, who must unite with magical creatures to turn her luck around; an Apple Original Films and Skydance parnership, the film hits Apple TV+ August 5.

Re-Forging the Bonds that Connect Us ANIMATIONWorld

Re-VIEW: ‘Encanto’ - Seeking Beauty in Truth

Experiencing life as the underdog - an outsider - teaches us empathy and a greater understanding of ourselves, our loved ones, and the critical connections that bind us together.

What’s Cooking? Headline News

‘Chefclub’ Cooks Up Kids’ Edutainment Series

Popular online cooking brand expands into the world of animation with ‘Chefclub Friends;’ currently in development, the show is set to be presented at Kidscreen and MIPTV.

Storytelling with Unreal Headline News

Epic’s Virtual Production Week Showcases Unreal Engine’s Use Across the Industry

With highlights including production insights on Reel FX and Netflix’s ‘Super Giant Robot Brothers!’ series, event provides aspiring independents and industry vets alike with free online discussions all this week on the evolving influence of the real-time technology.

Animated TV Series Headline News

PBS KIDS ‘Work It Out Wombats!’ Coming in 2023

Produced by GBH KIDS and Pipeline Studios, the animated show about a trio of marsupial siblings will demonstrate computational skills for preschoolers, providing them with powerful tools for self-expression and problem solving.

Bakshi Would be Proud! ANIMATIONWorld

‘The Spine of Night’: Redefining Fantasy and Animated Filmmaking

Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King resurrect an older, rotoscoped animation aesthetic, blending it with a blast of new creative storytelling and visual design energy in their epic, bloody, ‘swords and sorcerers’ tale about humanity’s battle between good and evil.

More NFTs? Headline News

Crypto Investors Buy Jodorowsky’s Fabled ‘Dune’ Book, Plan Animated Series

Spice DAO reportedly purchased the book for 100 times its estimated value and will try to adapt its concept art into a series despite no ownership or rights to ‘Dune’ IP.

Business Headline News

Crunchyroll, Fuji TV, and Slow Curve + Ultra Partnership Kicks off with New Anime Titles

Companies shared new programming details at last week’s +Ultra event in Tokyo; previously announced ‘Estab Life: Great Escape’ to debut in April 2022 with newly revealed title ‘Ooyukiumi No Kaina’ coming in January 2023.

Stop-Motion Animation Headline News

Netflix Unveils First Teaser for Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Pinocchio’

First look at new footage from the Oscar-winning director’s stop-motion musical introduces us to the humble abode of Sebastian J. Cricket; film set to hit Netflix this December.

Business Headline News

‘Big City Greens’ Musical Announced as Disney Renews Series for Season 4

Key members of the animated comedy’s creative team, including Chris and Shane Houghton, have been confirmed as part of the new movie project, which is now in development.

Into the Kidaverse Headline News

Genius Brands’ Kartoon Channel! Kidaverse Launches in April

Subscription-based commercial-free kids’ destination to be built on recently acquired Ameba TVs technology platform; enhanced content to include Kartoon Channel! favorites along with custom avatars and emojis, games, branded Kidaverse VR goggles, immersive content and NFTs for kids.

Let the Voting Begin ANIMATIONWorld

‘The Musician’: Celebrating Human Resilience with Cutout Animation

Expatriate Iranian director Reza Riahi and producer Eleanor Coleman discuss their expertly crafted, dialogueless stop-motion short film about a musician, blinded by Genghis Khan - while taking his girlfriend as a slave/consort - who 50 years later, is summoned to perform at the castle where she is being held.

Animation Art Headline News

Heritage Brings ‘Shanghaied’ Mickey Mouse Cel to Auction

Lot coming up for sale includes portfolio containing a rare set of six studio-printed Shanghaied publicity images on 10-by-8-inch photographic paper; auction runs February 4-7.

People Headline News

Adult Swim Promotes Gill Austin to VP/Creative Director

The Cartoon Network veteran began in 1996 as an intern working on ‘Space Ghost Coast to Coast,’ before becoming a production assistant on the launch of Toonami; will now lead creative direction and implement all network promotion, communication, and sponsorships.

Technology Headline News

Chaos Player Now Part of V-Ray Collection

The fast-loading sequence player allows artists to quickly review animation and supports all industry standard image formats; new features also include floating-point compositing, A/B wipes, and OpenColorIO (OCIO) v2 support.

It’s so Crunchy! Headline News

Crunchyroll Drops ‘FreakAngels’ First Look Clip

Voice cast revealed for upcoming original animated series about a group of psychically powered friends and the dangers that await them; the Crunchyroll Original hits the streamer January 27.

Arthur Turns 25! Headline News

PBS KIDS Celebrates ‘Arthur’s’ 25th Anniversary

Special marathon kicks off February 16 featuring 250 back-to-back episodes and movie specials; GBH Kids to expand content with Podcast, Topical Shorts, and Games rolling out in 2022 and beyond.

Let the Voting Begin ANIMATIONWorld

Plague Diversions: Gazing at the Shortlist for the Best Animated Short Oscar

AWN’s Animation Pimp and Ottawa Animation Festival artistic director Chris Robinson shares his takes on this year’s set of 15 films shortlisted for a spot as one of five nominated for the upcoming Academy Awards.

Sing a Bit of Harmony ANIMATIONWorld

‘Sing a Bit of Harmony’: The Rise of Music in Anime

In Yasuhiro Yoshiura, FUNimation, and J.C. Staff’s animated feature, an A.I. dropped into a high school to test her ability to fit in uses song to share feelings, resolve conflict, and bring happiness to those around her; film, hitting U.S. theaters January 23, treads new ground where what is sung is as important as what is said.

People Headline News

David Derrick Jr. to Direct Disney’s ‘Moana’ Series

Musical being produced for Disney+ is set as the inaugural project at company’s new Vancouver studio opening later this year; Oscar-nominated Osnat Shurer will serve as the show’s producer.

Independent Animation Headline News

Watch: Oscar Shortlisted ‘The Windshield Wiper’

Director Alberto Mielgo concludes ‘Films are made to be watched’ as he shares his labor of love; the 3D/CG animated movie that poses the question, ‘What is Love?’ is now available free on YouTube.

Animators Unite Headline News

The Animation Guild Celebrates 70th Anniversary

A collective voice to members across the animation industry, TAG has a storied history of advocacy and representation; early accomplishments include organizing Hanna-Barbera productions in 1958, followed in 1980 with the establishment of the American Animation Institute, and most recently extending its reach outside of LA with the organization of workers at Titmouse NY.

Animated Documentary Shorts ANIMATIONWorld

Animation’s Vital Role in Documentary Short Films

Last month’s special Academy Museum screening and discussion, ‘Animating Realities: Documentary Social Impact Shorts,’ shared six films that show the emotional impact animation can bring to real-life stories.

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