Plus, 'Marvel's Avengers: Secret Wars' unveils new shorts centering on Ms. Marvel and more, and the details for the 'Batman and Harley Quinn' Blu-ray have been announced!
In This Week in Animation News, I’ll take a look at the previous week in the world of animation in order to get you caught up on everything you might have missed. It’s your one-stop shop for news regarding cartoons, anime, and animated web series. We’re talking movies, TV shows, digital shorts, and everything in between!
If the rumors are true, Steven Spielberg may be joining the team behind a possible Animaniacs reboot, bringing the popular 1990s series into the modern era. Speaking of nostalgia, we also have some beautiful and historic concept art and clips from Disney's Bambito share with you for the classic's 75th anniversary, and we're bringing you the news of Studio Ghibli's plans for a My Neighbor Totoro theme park in Japan.
Image via Warner Bros. Animation
Lots of animated superhero news this week, like the reveal of new animated shorts featuring the heroes of Marvel's Avengers: Secret Wars, plus details on the upcoming Batman and Harley Quinn Blu-ray. There's also the arrival of the first-ever crossover between LEGO and DC Super Hero Girls coming to DVD later this year. Oh and Rooster Teeth's fourth volume of RWBY is now available, if you like your heroes on the indie side of things.
For the latest animation stories we’ve already covered on the site this week, take a look at the following links. Then, check out a selection of new stories below. Be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments!
As IndieWire reported, Amblin Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation are mulling the idea of an Animaniacs reboot. Steven Spielberg, who shepherded the series in the early 1990s after the success of his Tiny Toon Adventures series, is expected to be involved with the potential reboot. Keep in mind that, despite the rampant sweep of this news across the internet, this project is still in early development; there's currently not even a network or streaming platform locked down for the reboot to air.
However, nostalgia remains as strong as ever, and with the original run of the Emmy Award-winning Animaniacs now playing on Netflix, the stage is set for the return of Yakko, Wakko, and Dot. And if the Warner Siblings find success in the modern era, there's no telling what other characters might show up as well, like Pinky and the Brain, the Goodfeathers, and Buttons and Mindy, to name but a few. Would you be interested in checking out a rebooted Animaniacs? Let us know in the comments!
We recently reported that Disney XD would not only be bringing Season 4 of Marvel's Avengers to fans later this June but that the show would be tackling the "Secret Wars" storyline. In addition to the season's one-hour premiere and follow-up episodes, Disney XD has also released animated shorts introducing the team's newest characters. Interestingly, they all seem to focus around the young superheroine, Ms. Marvel.
Check out the origin stories of Captain Marvel, Black Panther, Ms. Marvel, Ant-Man, Wasp, and Vision below!
Ms. Marvel became a hero when she used her powers for good. Captain America reminds Ms. Marvel how her heart and compassion will always be the source of her real power.
It's Ms. Marvel's first official day as an Avenger! But what was supposed to be awesome, quickly turns intimidating. Will Ms. Marvel learn to trust herself and join her new team?
Vision's heart is bigger than anyone's (even if he is a synthetic human). Ms. Marvel is reminded of her own compassion through his story.
The chemistry and teamwork of Ant-Man and Wasp inspire Ms. Marvel to depend on her team and trust in her training.
Captain Marvel is Ms. Marvel's favorite hero. Hearing her story helps inspire Ms. Marvel to be more tough and confident.
Ms. Marvel is inspired by Black Panther and his duty to not only the Avengers, but to his home country of Wakanda. He will do whatever it takes to protect them.
Image via Marvel, Disney XD
'Batman and Harley Quinn' Blu-ray Details, Release Date Revealed
Image via Warner Bros. Animation
A looming global catastrophe forces Batman and Nightwing to partner with an unlikely hero in Batman and Harley Quinn, the next entry in the popular series of DC Universe Original Movies. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation and DC Entertainment, the all-new, feature-length animated film arrives August 15th on Digital and August 29th on Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack, Blu-ray Deluxe Giftset, Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD.
Spawned from an original story by animation icon Bruce Timm, Batman and Harley Quinn sees Poison Ivy and Jason Woodrue (a.k.a. The Floronic Man) embark on an ecological quest to save the planet – and, unfortunately, eliminate most of humankind along the way. To save humanity, Batman and Nightwing are forced to enlist Harley Quinn to catch Poison Ivy, Harley’s BFF and frequent partner-in-crime. But Batman’s patience is put to the test by the unpredictable and untrustworthy Harley during the twists and turns the reluctant companions face during their bumpy road trip. The result is a thrill ride of action, adventure and comedy no Batman fan has seen before.
Image via Warner Bros. Animation
The latest DC animated film features a stellar voice cast led by Kevin Conroy (Batman: The Animated Series) reprising his role as the Dark Knight, alongside Melissa Rauch (The Big Bang Theory) making her debut as the irrepressible Harley Quinn. Loren Lester, the voice of Robin in Batman: The Animated Series, returns as Nightwing. Paget Brewster (Criminal Minds) and Kevin Michael Richardson (The Cleveland Show) provide the voices of the villainous duo Poison Ivy & Jason Woodrue, respectively.
Sam Liu (Batman: The Killing Joke) directed from an original story by Bruce Timm (Batman: The Dark Knight Returns) with a teleplay written by Timm & Jim Krieg (Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox). Co-Producer is Alan Burnett (The Batman). Executive Producers are Sam Register and Bruce Timm. Benjamin Melniker and Michael Uslan are Executive Producers.
Batman and Harley Quinn boasts enhanced content including multiple featurettes and sneak peeks into what is next for the DC Universe.
Batman and Harley Quinn Enhanced Content
Image via Warner Bros. Animation
Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray Deluxe Giftset, Blu-ray and Digital:
The Harley Effect (Featurette): Harley Quinn, has a deep history with the fans of the DC Universe. This featurette traces her humble roots from her creators, to those that portray her at Comic book conventions. She is a symbol of strength and beloved by many.
Loren Lester: In His Own Voice (Featurette): This documentary examines actor Loren Lester’s legacy within Batman The Animated Series, Dick Grayson’s character, and the popularity that surrounds Lester’s interpretation of the Boy Wonder.
A Sneak Peek at the next DC Universe Original Movie: A behind-the-scenes look at the next entry in the popular series of DC Universe Original Movies, featuring thoughts from the talented filmmakers and voice cast.
From the DC Vault – Batman: The Animated Series – “Harley and Ivy” and “Harley’s Holiday”
DVD:
A Sneak Peek at the next DC Universe Original Movie: A behind-the-scenes look at the next entry in the popular series of DC Universe Original Movies, featuring thoughts from the talented filmmakers and voice cast.
'Bambi' Trailer, Bonus Clips and Concept Art Emerge for the 75th Anniversary Blu-ray Release
Disney's Bambi, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, joins the Walt Disney Signature Collection. The Collection release includes a variety of new bonus material, including recordings of Walt Disney discussing the challenges and triumphs during the production of Bambi; deleted scenes and characters; stories and effects that Bambi had on the Studio, other films and artists; and much, much more. Additionally, the Digital HD release includes an exclusive, heartfelt feature on the incredible artist, Tyrus Wong, who inspired the film’s soft watercolor backgrounds and beautiful palette. Bambi is available on Digital HD, Disney Movies Anywhere now and will be coming to Blu-ray, DVD and On-Demand on June 6th.
The clips below showcase the early character designs and art styles that went into developing the Bambi we all know and love today, along with some of the late Tyrus Wong's art that inspired the backgrounds that gave Bambi its unique style.
Check out deleted scenes from Bambi below, along with new images:
It's been several months since the Fall of Beacon, and the world of Remnant is still recovering. Tensions are high, lives have been lost, and the members of Team RWBY... are divided. Each of our heroines now face a journey of her own. While some must search inward if they ever hope to move on, others will venture out into the world in search of answers. Alongside the remaining members of Team JNPR, Ruby Rose has begun the long trek to the kingdom of Mistral, but the road ahead is full of surprises. New friends and enemies await, while the threat of an even larger catastrophe draws near.
It's Also A Gun - Special Edition Includes:
Blu-ray
DVD
Special edition action card
Bonus features included on Blu-ray: Behind the scenes featurettes, trailers, audio commentaries
You can place your order on Rooster Teeth's site and check out some images here:
Image via Rooster Teeth
Image via Rooster Teeth
'My Neighbor Totoro' Theme Park to Open in Japan
Image via Studio Ghibli
As The Japan Times reports, Studio Ghibli Inc. will team up with Aichi Prefecture governor Hideaki Omura to construct the tentatively named “Ghibli Park," which will bring to life "situations and landscapes portrayed in Hayao Miyazaki’s 1988 film My Neighbor Totoro." The 200-hectare known as Moricoro Park, which hosted the 2005 World Expo,will be the site of the new, expanded Totoro experience. Details such as the size of the park and who will be in charge of it are still being worked out.
The plan includes the use of playgrounds and other existing parts of the park to host Ghibli Park to avoid felling trees, according to the governor. The current park, which was visited by 1.6 million visitors in fiscal 2016, boasts the Satsuki and Mei’s House attraction, modeled after their house in My Neighbor Totoro.
“Studio Ghibli’s films have love toward living creatures and Earth, which fits the concept of the expo,” Omura said. “I would like to pass down this idea to future generations.”
'My Little Pony: Equestria Girls' Specials Coming to Discovery Family This Summer
Image via Hasbro
The spirited teens of My Little Pony: Equestria Girls return to Discovery Family with three brand new half-hour specials, where they meet new friends and embark on even more fun adventures! Full-time students and part-time magical pony-girls, the Equestria Girls are always ready to save the day with the Magic of Friendship! The premiere of Equestria Girls: Dance Magic kicks off the fun on Saturday, June 24 at 11:30a/10:30c and will stream live and on demand on Discovery Family GO, the network’s TV Everywhere app. All three specials will premiere during the network’s annual fun-filled “Summer Splash” programming event.
The three new Equestria Girls specials show that when you are with your squad, exciting adventures lead to more friendship lessons:
Dance Magic - Premieres Saturday, June 24 at 11:30a/10:30cWith the Camp Everfree fundraising deadline looming, the Equestria girls realize they need a new plan to raise more money and are ready to try new things. Rarity finds out about a music video competition with a huge cash prize, and she’s eager to convince her friends at Canterlot High to enter the contest. However, the girls soon learn that the students at rival Crystal Prep Academy are also entering the contest. The girls learn that sometimes coming together instead of competing, is the best plan of all!
Movie Magic - Premieres Saturday, July 1 at 11:30a/10:30cThe overjoyed Equestria Girls have been specially invited by A.K. Yearling to visit the set of the upcoming ‘Daring Do’movie! For super-fan Rainbow Dash, watching behind the scenes as her favorite heroine comes to life is a dream come true. However, when a rare prop from the set goes missing and puts the entire movie on hold, Rainbow Dash’s dream becomes a nightmare. The Equestria Girls take it upon themselves to track down the missing prop and end up trotting into a real-life Daring Do adventure!
Mirror Magic - Premieres Saturday, July 8 at 11:30a/10:30cWhen Sunset Shimmer returns to Equestria as a pony, she meets new pony Starlight Glimmer and agrees to bring her back through the mirror portal to experience life as a human girl at Canterlot High. However, while Sunset Shimmer is away, a revenge‐seeking Juniper Montage finds a beautiful hand mirror enchanted with Equestrian magic and it’s powerful enough to make things disappear into limbo, trapping them between two realms. Sunset Shimmer and Starlight Glimmer return to find the Mane 6 missing and Juniper Montage acting extremely suspicious. Will Sunset Shimmer and Starlight Glimmer save the girls, or are the Mane 6 lost in limbo for good?
'LEGO DC Super Hero Girls: Brain Drain' Coming to DVD August 8th
Missing memories provide an intriguing mystery for everyone’s favorite young female protagonists in the all-new animated film, LEGO DC Super Hero Girls: Brain Drain. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, DC Entertainment and The LEGO® Group, the film – the first LEGO® entry in the worldwide DC Super Hero Girls franchise phenomenon – will be distributed by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) July 25, 2017 on Digital HD and August 8th on DVD.
When Supergirl, Wonder Woman, Batgirl, Bumblebee and Katana suddenly realize they cannot remember a single moment from their Monday at Super Hero High, the young DC Super Heroes spring into sleuthing action! Suspecting foul-play, they band together to retrace their steps and uncover the mystery of who exactly stole their memories – and what nefarious plan might be afoot?
LEGO DC Super Hero Girls: Brain Drain voice cast returns its core cast in Grey Griffin (Wonder Woman), Tara Strong (Harley Quinn/Poison Ivy), Anais Fairweather (Supergirl), Teala Dunn (Bumblebee) and Stephanie Sheh (Katana), with Ashlyn Selich joining the group (as Batgirl). The cast also includes Yvette Nicole Brown (Amanda Waller), Greg Cipes (Beast Boy), Romi Dames (Lena Luthor), John DiMaggio (Gorilla Grodd, Wildcat), Jennifer Hale (Mad Harriet), Josh Keaton (Flash), Tom Kenny (Gordon), Rachael MacFarlane (Artemiz), Mona Marshall (Eclipso), Khary Payton (Cyborg) and Meredith Salenger (Lashina).
Image via Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
Todd Grimes (Back at the Barnyard, Star Wars: Detours) directs LEGO® DC Super Hero Girls: Brain Drain from a script by Jeremy Adams (Justice League Action, LEGO® Scooby-Doo). Rick Morales serves as producer, with Sam Register, Jill Wilfert and Robert Fewkes as executive producers.
Following the success of two home entertainment releases for the DC Super Hero Girls franchise – DC Super Hero Girls: Super Hero High and DC Super Hero Girls: Intergalactic Games, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has brought together two of the world’s most recognizable brands in DC and LEGO for their first combined DC Super Hero Girls franchise production. The DC Super Hero Girls franchise aims to empower and connect with young girls through the brand’s vast digital content networks across LEGO.com, DCSuperHeroGirls.com, YouTube and social media.
“Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is excited to unite two extremely popular brands – LEGO® and DC Entertainment – to present the first ever LEGO® DC Super Hero Girls film,” said Mary Ellen Thomas, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Vice President, Family & Animation Marketing. “Animated feature-length movies featuring DC Super Hero Girls and LEGO are extremely popular amongst our fans, so we look forward to bringing this first collaboration to life.”
Barcelona's Cartoon 360 Spotlights International Animation Projects
Image via Cartoon 360
Variety has a look at some of the promising new animation projects to come out of Barcelona's fourth Cartoon 360 event, with the aim of promoting "the development and production of digital contents based on European animation for unlimited formats and devices." Check some of them out below!
Killers follows the Child Development Centre for Children inmates, “challenging viewers’ prejudices and opinions about socially excluded, stigmatized and isolated troubled teenagers." (Produced by Lithuania’s Joni Art and Kinomind Films, Germany’s Now Films, Poland’s Braidmade and France’s Ikky Films.)
Zero Impunity is described as "a transmedia project twinning research and activism in order to end impunity for sexual violence in current armed conflicts.” (Produced by a_Bahn and Melusine Productions in Luxemburg and Camera Talk and Webspider in France.)
Black Is Beltza - Inspired by a comic-book, Fermín Muguruza's film opens in "October 1965 when a group of Basque giants and carnival heads are invited to march down New York’s 5th Avenue on Hispanic Day, but the figures of two black giants are excluded from the parade. A true facts-inspired film, Black Is Beltza turns on Manex, a young Basque who travels to New York to march rigged up as one of the carnival giants." (Produced by Basque Country’s Talka Records & Films and Catalonia’s Setmagic Audiovisual.)
Under the Sofa, Spain’s Teidees Audiovisuals' family-friendly project and potential web-series, which depicts tiny creatures living beneath a sofa.
Planet Pling, from Norway's Maipo Film, mixing music, humor and sci-fi characters.
Castaways - Hungary’s Filmfabrique's edutainment series about "a kid and his grandfather who are cast away on a desert island."
Mavka, the Forest Song - Ukraine’s Animagrad project that features "a magical forest nymph who falls in love with a human boy."
'The Care and Feeding of a Pet Black Hole' Adaptation Lands at Fox Animation
Deadline reports that Fox Animation has landed the adaptation of Michelle Cuevas' children's book, The Care and Feeding of a Pet Black Hole. The book will be published in September by Dial Books for Young Readers. The project is being set up for Matt Reeves (War for the Planet of the Apes) to produce through his 6th and Idaho production company. Fox Animation is also developing another of Cuevas' tales, Confessions of an Imaginary Friend.
Here's the synopsis of The Care and Feeding of a Pet Black Hole (via Amazon):
Image via Dial Books
When eleven-year-old Stella Rodriguez shows up at NASA to request that her recording be included in Carl Sagan's Golden Record, something unexpected happens: A black hole follows her home, and sets out to live in her house as a pet. The black hole swallows everything he touches, which is challenging to say the least—but also turns out to be a convenient way to get rid of those items that Stella doesn't want around. Soon the ugly sweaters her aunt has made for her all disappear within the black hole, as does the smelly class hamster she's taking care of, and most important, all the reminders of her dead father that are just too painful to have around.
It's not until Stella, her younger brother, Cosmo, the family puppy, and even the bathroom tub all get swallowed up by the black hole that Stella comes to realize she has been letting her own grief consume her. And that's not the only thing she realizes as she attempts to get back home. This is an astonishingly original and funny adventure with a great big heart.
'The Willoughbys' Adds Maya Rudolph, Terry Crews, Martin Short, Jane Krakowski and Sean Cullen
Image via Bron Animation
Bron Animation has added Maya Rudolph, Terry Crews, Martin Short, Jane Krakowski and Sean Cullen to the cast of its production of The Willoughbys, based on the popular children’s book of the same name by Newbery® Award winning author Lois Lowry. Rudolph will be the voice of Nanny, who looks after the Willoughby children. Crews is voicing the candy mogul, Commandor Melanoff, and Short and Krakowski give voice to Father and Mother Willoughby, parents so in love with each other they forget they even have children. Cullen voices the twin boys Barnaby A and B. They join previously announced Ricky Gervais, who will serve as the film’s narrator.
Published in 2010, the story follows the four Willoughby children - Tim, Jane and the twins, Barnaby A and B. When abandoned by their selfish parents, they must embark on a wild adventure through the modern world, colliding with a cat, an orphan, a nanny and a candy mogul, to reunite with the “family they were born into,” only to discover along the way the value of love in the “family they choose.”
The Willoughbys is being written and directed by Kris Pearn with Cory Evans co-directing, and is currently in pre-production at Bron’s studio in Burnaby, BC. Bron’s Brenda Gilbert, Aaron L. Gilbert and Luke Carroll are producing. Gervais serves as an executive producer on the project, alongside Jason Cloth of Creative Wealth Media.
