ASWF Adds Maxon and Tangent Animation, Reveals Open Source Days Event Lineup
Academy Software Foundation adds two new general members as it heads into annual conference, a free virtual event running August 4-5 featuring the latest in open source tools and standards.
First Smile of the Day: ‘Archer’ Season 12 Trailer Released
While remembering with sadness the recent passing of actress Jessica Walter, we nevertheless manage a smile hearing her tough-as-nails Malory once more barking the inappropriate; series returns for a new season of spycrafting foolishness August 25 on FXX.
PBS Greenlights ‘Nature Cat’ Seasons 4 and 5
The award-winning kid’s series, produced by Spiffy Pictures, features an all-star comedic cast including Taran Killam, Kate McKinnon, Bobby Moynihan, and Kate Micucci; new episodes, plus two new movie specials, are set to debut in 2022.
Crunchyroll and Zoe Saldana Developing ‘Dark Star Squadron’
Actress’ Cinestar Pictures partners with the global anime brand to develop epic space opera; deal coincides with platform’s announcement they’ve surpassed 5 million subscribers and 120 million registered users worldwide.
'Courage the Cowardly Dog's Thea White Passes at 81
Voice of beloved Muriel Bagge from John Dilworth's Cartoon Network series succombs to complications from cancer.
Autodesk Update Overhauls User Onboarding
Quicker artist onboarding includes personalized startup, new search feature, and an in-app interactive tutorials; update helps artists get up and running quicker and more easily.
Entry Deadline Extended for SIGGRAPH Asia 2021 Computer Animation Festival
Submissions now being accepted through August 15, 2021; coming to Tokyo December 14-17, festival showcases innovative shorts, commercials, VFX reels, simulations, visualizations, cinematics and other exciting, CG animated work.
HBO Max's ‘The Prince’ Premieres to Major Backlash
Audiences claim the crude depiction of the British royal family’s children goes too far, and not even the voice actors are safe from their ire.
Polygon Pictures Expands to India
Leading Japanese animation studio known for ‘Star Wars Tesistance’ and ‘BLAME!’ launches wholly owned subsidiary, Polygon India, in Thane to specialize in rigging and serve as new business hub.
An Epic Fantasy Franchise Concludes with ‘Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans’
After 88 action-packed episodes spread across Guillermo del Toro and DreamWorks Animation’s Emmy Award-winning ‘Trollhunters,’ ‘3Below,’ and ‘Wizards’ series trilogy, a collection of heroes from all three team-up in a final 3DCG feature to fight the Arcane Order for control over the magic that binds them all.
Virtual Crunchyroll Expo 2021 Coming August 5-7
Online event brings together the anime community to celebrate the best and brightest in Japanese animation; program features special guests, world premieres, panels, Crunchyroll Games showcase and special musical performances.
Chaos Czech Releases Corona Renderer 7 for 3ds Max
Update features 35 new presets for glass, metal, and fabric, and new Physical Material for deeper control; newly optimized features boost render times up to 50%.
Phil Tippett’s ‘Mad God’ Finally Arrives
With a new teaser trailer and August 5 Locarno Film Festival premiere, the legendary Oscar-winning VFX and stop-motion master shares his 30-year passion project with eager audiences.
The Loveable Aardvark ‘Arthur’ Gets Canceled After 25 Seasons
Say it isn’t so! A generation of viewers mourn the confirmed end of production on the iconic PBS animated series.
‘Centaurworld’ Shares Megan Nicole Dong’s Love of Animation and Musical Theater
The former ‘Pinky Malinky’ supervising director’s new series, about a war horse magically transported to a strange land of silly, singing centaurs of all species, shapes, and sizes, premieres July 30 on Netflix.
VIEW Conference 2021 Reveals Stellar Speaker Lineup
Confirmed presenters include Tom McGrath, director of ‘The Boss Baby: Family Business;’ ‘The Willoughbys’ director Kris Pearn; and legendary animator and VFX supervisor Phil Tippett; conference runs October 17-22 in Turin, Italy and online.
Call for Entries: Annecy Festival Residence
Writers/directors get development time, support, and mentorship to work on graphic development of feature-length animated films, living and working in Annecy April 4 - June 30, 2022; the submission deadline is September 10, 2021.
Hornet Animates Century 21’s 50 Years of Business
Directorial team of Natalie Labarre and Yves Geleyn create 2D spots featuring voiceovers of real estate agents sharing real-time anecdotes; each short features a distinct color pallet to drive the narrative forward.
Cartoonito Debuts Program Trailer and ‘Sneak Peek’ Clips
Get a first look at Ellen DeGeneres’ ‘Little Ellen’ and ‘Lucas the Spider,’ both part of WarnerMedia’s upcoming Cartoonito preschool block set to launch on HBO Max and Cartoon Network this fall.
Vacations Can be Loud in New ‘The Loud House Movie’ Trailer
Based on Nickelodeon’s hit animated comedy series, the Loud family adventures to Loch Loud, Scotland their ancestral home, only to discover they’re descendants of Scottish Royalty; the very Loud movie drops on Netflix August 20.
Netflix Shares New ‘Vivo’ Trailer and Images
Sony Pictures Animation’s new musical adventure stars Tony winner Lin-Manuel Miranda as Vivo, a musically gifted kinkajou who must find his way from Havana to Miami to deliver a song to his cherished owner’s long-lost love; film hits the streamer August 6.
How ‘Jellystone’ Revisits and Revives Classic Hanna-Barbera Characters
Debuting July 29 on HBO Max, showrunner C. H. Greenblatt’s new series brings together classic - and not so classic - characters from the famed animation studio’s library, giving them new jobs, new designs, even new genders.
Activision Blizzard Employees Gather to Protest ‘Frat Boy’ Culture
Walkout protest follows a lawsuit filed against the gaming giant claiming a deeply abusive culture that ‘fostered sexual harassment and discrimination.’
HBO Max Releasing ‘The Prince’ at Midnight Tonight!
In a surprise move, the streamer will drop all 12 episodes - at 12:01 PST on July 29 - of its satirical animated series about Prince George and his British royal family, which had been put on hold to retool following the death of Prince Philip earlier this year; official trailer and key art also released.
DreamWorks Animation’s ‘The Bad Guys’ Lands All-Star Cast
Awkwafina, Oscar winner Sam Rockwell, and Emmy Award winner Alex Borstein among stars added to upcoming animated feature film adaptation of Aaron Blabey’s book series about notorious bad guys going good; movie debuts April 15, 2022.