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!
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!
- Here’s What’s Coming to Netflix in May 2018: ‘Coco’, ‘Trollhunters: Part 3’ & More!
- ‘Archer’ EPs Matt Thompson & Casey Willis on How ‘Danger Island’ Was Almost ‘King Archer’
- Netflix Is Making an Animated ‘Fast & Furious’ TV Series Because Family
- Baymax Announces the ‘Big Hero 6 The Series’ Premiere Date and Guest Cast
- ‘Archer: Danger Island’ Review: A Reminder of Better Day
- New ‘Smallfoot’ Trailer Sees Channing Tatum Trying (and Failing) to Communicate
- Hank Azaria Says He’d Be Willing to Step Aside on Voicing Apu on ‘The Simpsons’
- Patton Oswalt Replacing Louis C.K. in ‘Secret Life of Pets 2’; Harrison Ford Joins Cast
- New Anime-Inspired ‘Star Wars’ Animated Series to Feature Poe Dameron and BB-8
- First Trailer for ‘Attack on Titan’ Season 3 Reveals the Series’ Return Date
- Exclusive: Prepare Yourselves for This ‘Ballmastrz: 9009’ Clip Featuring Norman Reedus
Ahead of its arrival on Blu-ray and DVD this May 8th, Batman Ninja--now available on digital--will be premiering in New York City with a May 1st screening and panel discussion at The Directors Guild of America, and a May 2nd appearance/signing by filmmakers and key voice cast at Kinokuniya Bookstore. Here's a crazy clip to help celebrate those events, followed by more info:
On Tuesday, May 1st, Batman Ninja will have its NYC premiere at The Directors Guild of America (110 West 57th Street in New York City). Starting at 7:00pm, the event will include a screening of the full film, and a post-screening panel discussion amongst the filmmakers and actors.
On Wednesday, May 2nd, the filmmakers and actors will make an appearance at Kinokuniya Bookstore (1073 Avenue of the Americas), the preeminent location for anime films, books and merchandise in New York City. There will be a Q&A and a signing of exclusive Batman Ninja posters.
The visually stunning Batman Ninja received outstanding reviews for its World Premiere at WonderCon in late March. The film was officially announced at New York Comic Con in October 2017, thus this two-night New York event – a week prior to the film’s May 8th release on Blu-ray & DVD – completes the circle.
Batman Ninja’s trio of acclaimed anime filmmakers – director Jumpei Mizusaki (Opening animation of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure), writer Kazuki Nakashima (Gurren Lagann) and character designer Takashi Okazaki (Afro Samurai) – will appear at both events alongside the film’s core quartet of celebrated actors: Roger Craig Smith (Batman: Arkham Origins) as Batman, Tony Hale (Veep, Arrested Development) as the Joker, Grey Griffin (Scooby-Doo franchise) as Catwoman, and Tara Strong (Batman: The Killing Joke) as Harley Quinn.
Batman Ninja takes a journey across the ages as Gorilla Grodd’s time displacement machine transports many of Batman’s worst enemies to feudal Japan – along with the Dark Knight and a few of his allies. The villains take over the forms of the feudal lords that rule the divided land, with the Joker taking the lead among the warring factions. As his traditional high-tech weaponry is exhausted almost immediately, Batman must rely on his intellect and his allies – including Catwoman and the extended Bat-family – to restore order to the land, and return to present-day Gotham City.
'Fate/Stay Night: Heaven's Feel - I. Presage Flower' English Dub Gets Theatrical Release
Two magical nights are in store for U.S. anime fans this June as the curtain goes up on the world premiere of the incredible English dub adventure, Fate/stay night [Heaven’s Feel] THE MOVIE I.presage flower. The latest installation of the beloved Fate/stay night series by TYPE-MOON is the first part of the “[Heaven’s Feel]” film trilogy. In addition to the feature, audiences will also view exclusive bonus content featuring English ADR Director Tony Oliver and the main voice actors.
Tickets for Fate/stay night [Heaven’s Feel] THE MOVIE I.presage flower go on sale to the general public on Friday, May 4 at www.FathomEvents.com and participating box offices.
Presented by Fathom Events and Aniplex of America, Fate/stay night [Heaven’s Feel] THE MOVIE I.presage flower debuts in U.S. cinemas on Tuesday, June 5th and Thursday, June 7th at 7:30 p.m. local time (both dates), through Fathom’s Digital Broadcast Network (DBN). A complete list of theater locations will be available May 4th on the Fathom Events website (theaters and participants are subject to change).
Based on the wildly popular Fate franchise that gave anime fans Fate/stay night [Unlimited Blade Works],Fate/Zero and the hit mobile game Fate/Grand Order, the first film in this movie trilogy explodes with epic action and heart-wrenching drama, tied together by original author Kinoko Nasu’s unique storytelling and otherworldly cast of characters. For the first time ever, moviegoers will experience the film’s English dub along with the despair, romance and terrifying secrets of the Holy Grail War with protagonist Shirou Emiya in the first chapter of this high-stakes trilogy.
The film summons the all-star English voice cast from Fate/stay night [Unlimited Blade Works], including Kari Wahlgren as Saber, Bryce Papenbrook as Shirou Emiya, Mela Lee as Rin Tohsaka, Kyle McCarley as Shinji Matou, Kaiji Tang as Archer, Crispin Freeman as Kirei Kotomine and Cristina Vee as heroine Sakura Matou. Composer Yuki Kajiura (Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Sword Art Online) will provide the soundtrack for the film, and director Tomonori Sudo (the Garden of sinners -recalled out summer-) returns to the Fate series to craft the events of the visual novel into the complete cinematic experience. Celebrated animation studio ufotable (Fate/Zero, Fate/stay night [Unlimited Blade Works], the Garden of sinners) returns to animate TYPE-MOON’s work, promising all of the dynamic action of the previous installations.
“‘Fate/stay night’ is an international hit with a devoted fanbase,” Fathom Events CEO Ray Nutt said. “We are proud to partner with Aniplex of America to bring these enthusiastic fans this exciting world premiere.”
'Transformers: Prime Wars Trilogy' Final Chapter Revealed in 'Power of the Primes' Trailer
Hasbro, a global play and entertainment company, and Machinima, a division of Warner Bros. Digital Networks and the premiere provider of digital gamer entertainment, have released the official trailer for the third and final chapter of the Transformers: Prime Wars Trilogy – Transformers: Power of the Primes.
The trailer provides a first look at some of the incredible voice-talent making their debut in Transformers: Power of the Primes including Ron Perlman, WWE Superstar Samoa Joe, Mikey Way from the rock band My Chemical Romance, and Jaime King (Star Wars: The Clone Wars). They join returning cast members Mark Hamill, who made his debut as Megatronus in the finale of the second chapter of the trilogy, Transformers: Titans Return; Judd Nelson, who is voicing a character new to the trilogy, Rodimus Cron; Wil Wheaton as Perceptor, DashieGames as Menasor, MatPat as Swoop, and Rob Dyke as Devastator.
Transformers: Power of the Primes launches May 1st worldwide on Verizon’s family of media properties including Tumblr, go90 and select Oath properties – except in China, where it airs on Sohu.com, and Japan. This third and final chapter of the digital series features 10 episodes at approximately 11 minutes per episode.
After Megatronus eliminates Optimus Prime and claims the Matrix of Leadership and Enigma of Combination for himself, the other Transformersbots look to Megatron to lead the charge against their diabolical foe.
Unbeknownst to them, Megatronus’ pursuit of the next ancient artifact, the Requiem Blaster, goes beyond his desire for power and the search will uncover mysterious secrets from Cybertron’s past. Before the TRANSFORMERS: PRIME WARS TRILOGY concludes, a new Prime will ascend and all will bear witness to the true POWER OF THE PRIMES.
Transformers: Power of the Primes is being overseen by Executive Producer and showrunner FJ DeSanto, written by DeSanto, Adam Beechen and Jamie Iracleanos, and directed by YUZO. Animation for the show is being overseen by Tatsunoko Productions.
Akiyuki Shinbo's 'Fireworks' Arrives in Theaters This Summer
GKIDS, the acclaimed distributor of multiple Academy Award-nominated animated features, and Fathom Events, the leading distributor of event cinema, are proud to bring five all-new GKIDS animated titles to U.S cinema audiences in 2018. The first title to be announced is Akiyuki Shinbo's Fireworks, which will be released in movie theaters nationwide starting July 3rd, 2018, in both its original Japanese version and a new English version produced by GKIDS.
Fireworks is the newest release from Toho animation and producer Genki Kawamura, following the worldwide blockbuster Your Name, the highest-grossing anime of all time. GKIDS will premiere the feature as a special Fathom event on July 3rd, with encore screenings July 5th and 7th. The film will receive a theatrical release by GKIDS starting July 4th.
More details for Fireworks, including show times, theater locations and ticketing will be announced in the coming weeks at www.FathomEvents.com and www.FireworksMovie.com.
Producer Genki Kawamura follows up his mega-hit Your Name with another tale of star-crossed teenage lovers and a sci-fi fantasy twist. Fireworks tells a simple story of adolescent longing that taps deep wells of emotion. It is tale of youthful wistfulness, missed opportunities and long-ago dreams, of the urgency of young lovers, and the desire to create a separate universe, a magic place outside of time, where they can be together.
"We are excited to continue our partnership with GKIDS to offer brand new animated content in cinemas nationwide, starting with 'Fireworks'," Fathom Events CEO Ray Nutt said. "Fans of all ages will have the opportunity to experience the best of animation on the big screen throughout the year in a communal environment."
"GKIDS is thrilled to present 'Fireworks' to anime and movie fans across the U.S. this summer, and to expand on our successful relationship with Fathom to bring more of the best animated films to the big screen throughout the year," GKIDS CEO Eric Beckman said. "Our goal is to create a unique and exciting cinema event experience for moviegoers to come and enjoy these amazing films together with friends and family."
GKIDS and Fathom Events have partnered previously on the premiere event for Mary and The Witches Flower, from Studio Ponoc, as well as the ongoing Ghibli Fest series of animated masterpieces from Japan's famed Studio Ghibli.
New 'Rocky and Bullwinkle' Series Revealed in New Clips
New clips from DreamWorks Animation TV's The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle, courtesy of EW, tease the reimagining of the super-silly adventures of the titular best friends who stay a step ahead of Russian supers-pies, Boris and Natasha.
The new series is executive produced by Scott Fellows and Tiffany Ward, daughter of original series producer Jay Ward. The series features Rocky (Tara Strong) and Bullwinkle (Brad Norman) evading Boris (Ben Diskin) and Natasha Fatale (Rachel Butera) in hilarious ways. Look for The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle starting May 11th on Amazon.