The Animation Pimp Presents - Binocular Briefs November 2022
AWN’s monthly survey of animated shorts making the festival circuit rounds includes ‘A Tiny Man,’ ‘Sliver Cave,’ ‘Slow Light,’ ‘#BINARYGENDERNORM: GIRLS,’ and ‘Magical Caresses - Masturbation: A Short Story of a Great Taboo.’
Imbalance Releases Ragdoll Dynamics 3.0
Tool that automates character physics in Maya gets update that includes click-and-drag interface, added physically based character posing, replacement rigs for interactive frame rates, and a multi-character asset library.
Disney Expected to Lose over $140 Million on ‘Strange World’
Released during the usually lucrative Thanksgiving weekend, the action-packed 3DCG animated adventure only garnered $28 million globally even after its projected opening was lowered to $30-$40 million.
New ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ Image Revealed
Lead animator Nick Kondo revealed on Twitter the first look at Miles Morales since the initial film teaser was released late last year, showing an anxious looking Spidey walking away from his parents.
‘Sesame Street The Nutcracker’ Coming to Cartoonito
The brand-new animated holiday special starring Elmo and Tango debuts December 1 on HBO Max’s preschool programming block.
Crunchyroll, WOWOW and Sony Pictures Announce Co-Production Partnership
First project is a fantasy adventure animated series ‘Bye Bye, Earth,’ based on the novel by Tow Ubukata.
Call For Entries: NIIGATA International Animation Festival
Submissions are open for the new feature animation festival coming March 2023 to Niigata, Japan, home to Toei Animation Studio; submission deadline is December 23.
‘Reindeer in Here’ Proves Wishes Do Come True
All-new 3DCG animated holiday special, directed by Lino DiSalvo and adapted from Adam Reed’s award-winning children’s book of the same name, brings together a young boy hoping to make a friend and a clumsy reindeer with one short antler who always feels like an outcast; show premieres November 29 on Paramount+ and the CBS Television Network.
2022 BAFTA Children & Young People Award Winners Announced
Magic Light Pictures’ animated special ‘The Snail and the Whale’ garners two awards in the Animation and Director categories; the annual event is a celebration of UK and international content for children and young people spanning film, games, and television.
Suzanne Guèvremont Takes the Reigns at the NFB
Succeeding Claude Joli-Coeur, the new Government Film Commissioner begins her 5-year appointment, bringing decades of domestic and international experience in digital media, culture, and education to her new position.
DreamWorks Animation Unveils New Theatrical Logo Sequence
The redesigned opener launches with the highly anticipated release of ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,’ in theaters December 21.
Former Annecy Creative Director Serge Bromberg Charged with Involuntary Manslaughter
The Lobster Films founder faces up to four years in prison after negligent film storage practices led to a fire in a residential building that killed two people.
David H. Brooks Revisits Stop-Motion Holiday Hijinks Past in ‘Mickey Saves Christmas’
The director comes full circle… sort of… in the ‘Robot Chicken’ studio’s latest special, its second holiday project for Disney, that sees Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse travel to the North Pole to save Christmas and learn the true meaning of the holiday; the show hits ABC, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, and Disney XD November 27, and Disney+ the next day.
‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ to Feature Six Different Art Styles
Producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller reveal upcoming ‘Into the Spider-Verse’ sequel will sport unique looks that each signify a different universe, including an Indian comic-book look, Syd Mead-style illustrations of the future, and a watercolor-wash style.
Nickelodeon and Spin Master Announce ‘Paw Patrol’ Spinoff 'Rubble & Crew’
The new preschool animated series follows Rubble and his construction pup family as they help the community of Builder Cove; series premieres this coming February.
Terril Calder’s ‘Meneath: The Hidden Island of Ethics’ Now Streaming
The stop-motion short charts the difficult journey of a precocious Métis baby girl as she contemplates her path to Hell; now available on the National Film Board of Canada’s streaming platform.
Converse Launches LAIKA Collection
The animation studio lends its famed characters, patterns, and iconography from ‘Missing Link,’ ‘Kubo and the Two Strings,’ ‘The Boxtrolls,’ ‘ParaNorman’ and ‘Coraline’ to ‘The Converse By You x LAIKA Chuck 70’ collection – launching November 30.
Disney Junior Shares ‘SuperKitties’ Trailer
Four fierce and furry superhero kittens are on a mission to make Kittydale more ‘pawsome;’ new 3DCG animated series launches in January.
Passion Pictures Inks Deal with Circus Studios
Agreement expands joint long-form features and TV series slate, kicking off with ‘Earthworm Jim ‘Beyond the Groovy’’ animated series based on the 1990s computer game, now in development; previous collaborations include Nickelodeon’s ‘LEGO City Adventures.’
David Anthony Durham to Pen George R.R. Martin’s ‘The Ice Dragon’ Animated Film
The film will be adapted from a short story, written early in the prolific author’s career, that follows the child Adara, who befriends an ice dragon that helps her end a brutal war.
‘Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur’ Music Video Released
Disney Branded Television shares the upcoming animated show’s main title song ‘Moon Girl Magic’ by Grammy Award winner Raphael Saadiq
‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ Creator Yuji Naka Arrested for Alleged Insider Trading
While details are few, we know the game developer was taken into custody last Friday along with two other former Square Enix employees, all charged with improper purchasing of shares in Aiming prior to the company’s announcement of a new game in the ‘Dragon Quest’ franchise.
Netflix’s ‘Chicago Party Aunt’ Part 2 – First Look Images
Based on Chris Witaske’s popular Twitter account of the same name, the adult comedy follows Diane and Daniel as they navigate work, family, romance, and, most of all, how to party their brains; 8 all-new episodes stream late next month.
DreamWorks Animation Shares ‘The Mighty Ones’ Season 4 Trailer
In 10 all-new episodes, the tiny inhabitants of a secret world embark on endless adventures, living large as they conquer uncharted territory in the unkempt backyard of three unkempt humans, coming to Hulu and Peacock in December.
The Latest Strange World of Roy Conli
The Academy Award-winning producer of Disney's all-new animated feature, ‘Strange World,’ opening in theaters November 23, talks about the studio's retro-futuristic, subterranean adventure and his almost 30-year career at the legendary company.