SCAD Savannah Film Festival Returns In-Person and Online
Presented by the Savannah College of Art and Design, the annual festival, set for October 23-30, will feature film screenings, panel discussions, and workshops.
DreamWorks Animation Names Bill Ballew CTO
25-year studio veteran and previous VP of R & D steps up to role previously held by Jeff Wike, who is retiring; new responsibilities include technology-related strategic and creative planning as well as operations of the studio's animation production platforms.
Cartoon Network Partners with ‘Raising Good Gamers’ Anti-Bullying Initiative
The network, along with Games for Change and UC Irvine’s Connected Learning Lab, release ‘How to Be a Positive Gamer’ PSA; animated short gives kids tips on heading off bullying before it starts.
Watch a Dry Erase Board-Animated Umphrey’s McGee ‘You Walked Up’ Origin Story
Pete Herzog’s hand-drawn short, produced with his wife in a hot tub, illustrates band member Jake Cinninger’s tale of how they named their upcoming album filled with selections from decades of their concert ‘walk-on’ music.
Warner Drops ‘Jellystone!’ Key Art
Yogi Bear is back and heading to Comic-Con@Home on July 24 with a sneak peek of his all-new series; catch the famed Hanna-Barbera gang, including Boo Boo, Huckleberry Hound, Snagglepuss, and Wally Gator, when the series premieres July 29 on HBO Max.
Line-Up Announced for Maxon’s ‘3D & Motion Design Show’
Free July 21 virtual event to focus on character animation; professional digital artists will share tips and tricks for Maxon’s creative tools.
‘Luca’ Comes Home August 3
Disney and Pixar bring a coming-of-age story about one young boy/sea monster experiencing an unforgettable summer, set on the beautiful Italian Riviera, to Digital, 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD; release features never-before-seen featurettes, deleted scenes and two alternate openings.
‘Between the Keyframes’ Motion Design Vidcast Launches
New biweekly show from industry experts Erin Sarofsky and Austin Shaw gives an insider’s look and insights into process, practice, and culture.
‘Universal Animation Writers Program’ 2021 Selections Revealed
5 participants chosen for first-of-its-kind paid one-year program, in partnership with DreamWorks and Illumination, to develop underrepresented voices in film and TV animation through workshops, seminars, sponsorship, and roundtable discussions.
Meghan Markle Developing ‘Pearl’ Animated Series at Netflix
First animated project from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Archewell Productions will center on the adventures of a 12-year-old girl, inspired by influential women in history.
New Clip Drops for ‘Batman: The Long Halloween, Part Two’
The two-part animated DC Universe Movies thriller concludes as the Dark Knight battles a unified front of super villains while solving a murder mystery; feature-length film comes to Digital July 27, and Blu-ray August 10.
SPP 2021: Asia’s Premier B2B Animation Event Now Underway
Taking place online this year, Korea's annual international content market brings together buyers, sellers, financiers, and animation lovers from all over the globe.
Development Begins on Matthew A. Cherry’s ‘Battu’
The Oscar winning ‘Hair Love’ director, Cartoon Network Studios, and award-winning director Chaz Bottoms start work on a 2D animated musical comedy series celebrating the creative arts culture of Chicago.
Guillermo del Toro Shares First Minutes of ‘Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans’
The DreamWorks Animation adventure, coming to Netflix July 21, pits heroes from ‘Trollhunters,’ ‘3Below,’ and ‘Wizards’ against the Arcane Order in the franchise’s final battle for control over the magic that binds them all.
‘Coraline’ and ‘ParaNorman’ Return to the Big Screen
Fathom Events, LAIKA, Shout! Factory and Park Circus team up to bring the highly acclaimed stop-motion movies back to theaters; screenings will also feature exclusive bonus 'making of' content.
Moonbug and Netflix Team on New Preschool Series and Specials
The studio and streamer announce ‘CoComelon Lane’ and ‘Little Baby Bum: Music Time’ shows set to stream in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
Animage 2021 Now Open for Submissions
Submissions due by July 20 for the 11th International Animation Festival of Pernambuco in Brazil coming October 8-17; event will be held in person and online.
Watch ‘Barbie: Big City, Big Dreams’ Teaser Trailer
The next chapter in Mattel’s storied franchise finds Barbie embarking on a musical summer adventure in the Big Apple, where she meets her new best friend, Barbie!; coming to Netflix in September.
Real-time Story Development
If we were to devise a visual story development process from scratch, what would it be?
The 20th Animafest Cyprus Reveals Official Selections
33 films have been chosen for this year’s competition; festival, which runs August 11-14 in the village of Salamiou, will also feature a 20th anniversary tribute to Cypriot animation.
TV Academy Announces 73rd Emmy Award Nominations
‘Big Mouth,’ ‘Bob's Burgers,’ ‘Genndy Tartakovsky's Primal,’ ‘The Simpsons,’ and ‘South Park: The Pandemic Special’ are nominated for Outstanding Animated Program; ceremony will be held Sunday, Sept. 19 on the CBS Television Network and streamed live and on demand on Paramount+.
Netflix and Universal Sign Exclusive Animated Film Deal
New multi-year licensing agreement gives streamer window on Illumination and DreamWorks Animation features after their initial 4-month Peacock run.
Pixar Drops ‘Turning Red’ Trailer and Poster
Growing up can be a beast, amply demonstrated in Oscar-winning ‘Bao’ director Domee Shi’s new comedy about an overbearing mom and her young daughter who ‘poofs’ into a red panda whenever she gets too excited; film releases March 11, 2022.
Six Point Harness Animates the Horrors of Dictators in ‘How to Become a Tyrant’
Studio’s animated sequences, used in place of archival footage and re-creations, provide compelling depictions of brutality that might otherwise be unwatchable, in Netflix’s powerful new documentary series.
‘The Witches of the Orient’ Hits Theaters July 16
Check out the trailer for Julien Faraut’s fascinating live-action / animated documentary about Japan’s 1964 Olympic gold medal women’s volleyball team, the direct inspiration for Chikako Urano’s ‘Attack No. 1’ manga and subsequent anime series.
