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; and there's a bunch of them this week. Be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments!

Since there's so much content we covered in the last two weeks, I'll break these down in easy-to-manage categories:

Movies

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Image via Disney

Wreck-It Ralph 2

How to Train Your Dragon

Incredibles 2

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Other

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Image via Funimation Films, Toho

TV

Other

Adult Swim's 'FLCL' Music Tour

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To coincide with the highly-anticipated return of cult-anime hit FLCL, Adult Swim is having a limited six-city concert tour. Adult Swim Presents The Pillows Featuring FLCL Mono Me You Sun Tour with Special Guests Noodles and Cullen Omori, starting July 10th in Boston, MA.

Airing during Adult Swim’s popular anime block, Toonami at Midnight (EST), FLCL: Progressive tells the story of 14-year-old Hidomi, her classmate Ide, and two otherworldly beings, “Jinyu” and “Haruha Raharu,” who are determined to unlock their hidden potential. Mixed up in this is an all-powerful force known as “ATOMSK,” a gorgeous vintage car… and a certain Vespa Scooter.

Fans of The Pillows and FLCL will enjoy original music from the Japanese alternative rock band and can expect to hear new songs from the anime series, "Spikey Seeds" and "Star Overhead," among others. Opening up will be former Smith Westerns frontman, Cullen Omori, who will be releasing a new album this year on the Sub Pop label. The evening’s special guest also includes Japan’s best all-girl rock ensemble, Noodles, a crowd favorite especially after the indie rock band’s 8-year performance drought in the U.S.

Tour dates and locations listed below. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.adultswim.com/presents/pillows-tour.

DATE

CITY

VENUE

July 10

Boston, MA

The Sinclair

July 12

New York, NY

Gramercy Theatre

July 15

Seattle, WA

Neptune

July 16

Portland, OR

Hawthorne Theatre

July 18

San Francisco, CA

August Hall

July 19

Los Angeles, CA

The Regent

Studio Ghibli Fest 2018 Continues with 'Pom Poko'

Throughout 2018, GKIDS and Fathom Events continue their collaboration to bring a new line-up of treasured animated features to U.S. cinemas. STUDIO GHIBLI FEST 2018 gives fans an opportunity to see nine of Studio Ghibli's celebrated animated masterpieces on cinema screens nationwide, along with some very special surprises.

Coming next in June, from the legendary Studio Ghibli, creators of Spirited Away, and Academy Award®-nominated director Isao Takahata, is an action-packed ecological fable about the clash between nature and human civilization: Pom Poko.

Pom Poko is about the tanuki (raccoon dogs) of Tama Hills who find their fun-loving community under attack when their quiet woodlands are threatened by encroaching developers looking to create still more houses and shopping malls. Desperate to survive, the tanuki band together and learn the ancient art of transformation, shape-shifting into a comical variety of humans and spirits as they undertake a last-ditch plan to scare away the humans and save their home, in this deeply affecting, funny and heartfelt look at what it means to live in the modern world.

  • Sunday, June 17 at 12:55 p.m. local time (English language dubbed)
  • Monday, June 18 at 7:00 p.m. local time (English language subtitled)
  • Wednesday, June 20 at 7:00 p.m. local time (English language dubbed)

Tickets for Pom Poko can be purchased online by visiting here or at participating theater box offices. Moviegoers throughout the U.S. will be able to enjoy these events in nearly 600 select movie theaters. For a complete list of theater locations visit the Fathom Events website (theaters and participants are subject to change).

'Anime Crimes Division' Web Series Launches on Crunchyroll

Anime Crimes Division is a web series created by Rocket Jump, in partnership with Crunchyroll. All three episodes from Season 1 are available to watch on Crunchyroll and VRV now!

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Image via Crunchyroll

'LEGO DC Super-Villains' Trailer Reveals the New Video Game

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, TT Games, The LEGO Group and DC Entertainment today announced LEGO® DC Super-Villains, the first LEGO game to put players at the center of a villain-centric adventure packed with favorite locations and characters from across the DC universe.  For the first time, a LEGO game is giving players the ability to create and play as their own DC Super-Villain throughout the game. Their character becomes the center of the story, while teaming up with an iconic variety of villains to adventure through the hilarious and original story written in collaboration with DC. LEGO® DC Super-Villains will be available October 16, 2018 for PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One X®, Nintendo Switch™, and PC.

“LEGO DC Super-Villains provides players a fun and humorous way to cause mischief by unleashing their DC Super-Villain’s sinister powers and amusing abilities,” said Tom Stone, Managing Director, TT Games. “With an unprecedented amount of customization options to choose from, players can create and customize their character at the start of the story, unlocking new powers and abilities as they progress through the funniest LEGO game to date.”

“The original story in LEGO DC Super-Villains flips the DC universe upside down as players embark on an unforgettable adventure starring memorable villains set across notable DC locations,” said Ames Kirshen, Vice President, Interactive & Animation, DC Entertainment. “DC’s roster of iconic Super-Villains is unmatched and fans will love teaming up with The Joker, Harley Quinn, Lex Luthor and a host of others to save Earth from a greater evil.”

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Image via Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

“LEGO DC Super-Villains gives players a new way to play with their favorite DC characters with a splash of light-hearted, villainous antics,” said Sean McEvoy, VP Digital Games, The LEGO Group. “Players will enjoy exploring the expansive DC universe in the way only a LEGO game can deliver.”

In LEGO DC Super-Villains, the Justice League has disappeared, leaving Earth’s protection to a newcomer group of heroes from a parallel universe, proclaiming themselves as the ‘Justice Syndicate’. Renowned DC Super-Villains from the ‘Legion Of Doom’ discover Earth’s newest heroes may not be the heroes they claim to be. With each player’s completely customizable Super-Villain character in command, this team of misfit lawbreakers must join forces to discover and foil the evil plans the incognito strangers have in store.

At the beginning of the campaign, players can create their own unique villain and main character throughout, while also teaming up with a variety of DC Super-Villains throughout the story mode. As players progress, they will unlock new abilities, powers and can continue to customize their character to take on the evil threat. Friends and family can join story mode at any time with the fun, two-player, local co-op experiences where players can team up in epic boss fights.

A Deluxe Edition of the game, featuring the main game content, Season Pass content and early access to the DC Super-Villains: TV Series DLC Character Pack, is now available for pre-order.  An exclusive LEGO minifigure, Lex Luthor Superman, also comes with the physical version of the Deluxe Edition, while digital consumers will receive the Justice League Dark DLC Character Pack with their Deluxe Edition.

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Image via Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
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Image via Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
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Image via Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
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Image via Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

Funimation Has the World Premiere of 'Overlord III' at Anime Expo

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Image via Funimation

Funimation announced today that it will host the English dub world premiere of Overlord III, Season 3 of the hit series Overlord, on Saturday, July 7th at Anime Expo, the largest Japanese pop cultural event in North America. This special premiere event is part of an Overlord III launch celebration co-produced with partners KADOKAWA and BOOK☆WALKER and created specifically for Anime Expo 2018, which will take place July 5th-8th at the Los Angeles Convention Center in California.

To commemorate the new season, Funimation, KADOKAWA and BOOK☆WALKER will present series of events throughout the expo including a celebrity guest panel, daily autograph sessions as well as the North American premiere of Season 3, Episode 1. Together, the companies assembled an exciting roster of guests which features writer Kugane MaruyamaOverlord author of the original light novel that became the basis of the franchise. He will be joined by Director Naoyuki Ito, Producer Kazufumi Kikushima, English ADR Director Kyle Phillips and Chris Guerrero, the English voice of Ainz Ooal Gown. A complete schedule of events for the launch celebration follows a BOOK☆WALKER’s page here and Funimation’s blog here for schedule updates.

YouTubers Gigguk and The Anime Man, host and translator respectively, will kick-off the celebrity guest panel with a roundtable discussion about the Overlord anime and light novel with the Japanese guests, which will be followed by the English dub world premiere of Season 3, Episode 1. Immediately after, they will take the stage again to moderate a lively conversation between Director Naoyuki Ito and the English dub guests Kyle Phillips and Chris Guerrero.

Fans are invited to submit questions in advance for the Japanese guest roundtable via BOOK☆WALKER’s online form here. Deadline to submit questions is June 10th.

OVERLORD III (Season 3) Synopsis:

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Image via Kadokawa

From MADHOUSE Inc., the studio behind Death Parade, Parasyte, and No Game No Life, comes the ultimate “trapped in a game” anime. On the night his favorite MMORPG is scheduled to be shut down, veteran player Momonga stays logged in until the clock hits zero. The screen goes dark for only a few moments before he finds himself completely immersed in the online world of Yggdrasil. Left with all of his character’s devastating powers, total dominion over his loyal NPCs, and nothing better to do… Momonga decides to try his hand at taking over the world.

 

All the hours he’s spent grinding and dungeon crawling have certainly paid off, and as he tests his strength on local rogues and legendary beasts he comes to realize that not one opponent can stand against his might. Embracing his new identity as the fearsome mage Ainz Ooal Gown, Momonga continues his search for bigger, badder adversaries. Leaving the people of Yggdrasil to wonder—who exactly is trapped with who?

Episodes of the Overlord anime series are available via FunimationNow on demand in ad-free HD quality video on iOS, Android, Kindle, and Windows 10 mobile apps, XBOX and PlayStation game consoles, Roku and at Funimation.com.

Both light novel and manga versions of Overlord are available online at BOOK☆WALKER.com and via the BOOK☆WALKER mobile app.

Cartoon Network Entertainment Park to Open in Bali, Indonesia in 2020

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Image via Turner

Turner Asia Pacific has announced a licensing partnership with Indonesian real-estate and hospitality investment company, The MAJ Group, to develop a 4.3-hectare entertainment park in Bali. The family destination will feature the island’s largest waterpark and an indoor entertainment centre – all splashed with Cartoon Network theming and unique sense of fun.

Slated to be fully operational in 2020, the development will include thrilling water rides, and massive surf and wave pools. The integrated project will be a key part of The MAJ Nusa Dua complex, a premier tourist destination in southern Bali featuring world-class hotels and an award-winning golf course.

Ricky Ow, President of Turner Asia Pacific, said: “Turner and The MAJ Group share the same vision of creating the ultimate family destination in Indonesia, and the entertainment park will combine world-class design with unparalleled Balinese hospitality. Above all, it will offer guests genuine fun powered by Cartoon Network, Asia’s leading kids entertainment brand.”

Gita Wirjawan, Chairman of The MAJ Group, added: “We are proud to be Turner’s partner of choice in bringing the Cartoon Network experience to Bali and game-changing the entertainment industry landscape in Indonesia. The new park will enhance the development of The MAJ Nusa Dua complex which will offer a full-suite of leading hospitality and entertainment choices for the whole family. Furthermore, it will further cement Bali as the premier family destination in Asia and one of the world’s top tourist locations.”

This will be Indonesia’s first ever park to partner with an international brand, and it will be Cartoon Network’s first with both indoor and outdoor attractions. The whole environment will be brought to life by live entertainment and performances featuring characters from shows such as Ben 10, We Bare Bears, The Powerpuff Girls and Adventure Time.

The announcement was made during IAAPA’s Asian Attractions Expo 2018 in Hong Kong. Other Cartoon Network-branded projects licensed by Turner International include Cartoon Network Amazone in Thailand, IMG Worlds of Adventures in Dubai, Amaazia in India and Cartoon Network Wave cruise liner in Asia Pacific.