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!

In anticipation of the one-hour Season 3 premiere of Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout! on Sunday, March 18th (8:00-9:00 a.m., ET/PT) on Disney XD and DisneyNOW, we have a pair of clips to share with you!

Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout! finds the guardians amidst fame and fortune after arresting Thanos and then quickly back on their feet after being framed by the Collector. They'll travel to new universes, stage the ultimate sting operation inside Nova Corps, and expose a highly anticipated secret invasion. Season three is filled with all-new guest stars including Raven-Symoné (Disney Channel's Raven's Home), Henry Winkler (Happy Days) and Ming-Na Wen (Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.).

Check out a pair of clips from the new season below:

 

 

SUNDAY, MARCH 18

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout! – "Mission: Breakout" (8:00 – 8:30 A.M. EST)

The Guardians must work together to escape the elaborate prisons created for them by The Collector.

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout! – "Back in the New York Groove" (8:30 – 9:00 A.M. EST)

The Guardians meet up with Spider-Man in New York City to defeat Thanos' super-powered symbiote.

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Image via Disney XD
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Image via Disney XD
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Image via Disney XD

Marvel/Funko Reveals a New Short!

Marvel Funko Presents: "Big Robot Little Problem" --- When Ultron gains possession of the Hulkbuster at Avengers HQ, Ant-Man proves that size doesn't matter - it's how you use it.

'LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures' Season 2 DVD Details

In season two of LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures, arriving on DVD March 13th, the three Freemaker siblings—Rowan, Kordi and Zander—have found a new home with the Rebel fleet. But working with the Rebels in their fight to bring down the Empire brings them face to face with brutal Imperial forces, desperate Hutts, conniving Sith Lords and the Emperor’s latest plaything, M-OC.

Fans who bring home the second and final season will enjoy all 12 action-packed episodes plus five bonus shorts that follow the Freemakers as they are thrown into battle after they join up with the Rebels – including an adventure that has them embarking on a daring mission to save two of the Rebellion’s finest heroes: Lando Calrissian and Chewbacca.

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Bonus shorts include:

  • Home One
  • Thrown Into Battle
  • Rowan's Secret Adventure
  • Zander Freemaker, Superstar Pilot Guy
  • Beware The Gamorrean Flu

LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures, the Emmy-nominated animated television series on Disney XD, is set between Stars Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi and stars three siblings who scour the galaxy for useful debris that they use to build new vehicles of their own design. Rowan Freemaker is a spunky Force-sensitive 12-and-a-half-year-old with a thirst for adventure; his quick-witted older sister, Kordi, manages the family business and is the glue that holds the family together; ace pilot and charming rogue, Zander, is the oldest brother and the family’s self-proclaimed starship connoisseur; and R0-GR is their refurbished battle droid from the Clone Wars. When Rowan has visions of an ancient and powerful Jedi starship called The Arrowhead, he and his family set out on an epic quest to rebuild it so they can turn the tide of battle for the Rebellion. Together, they explore new worlds, meet new characters and Star Wars icons, and have unforgettable adventures.

The season two voice cast includes Nicolas Cantu (Rowan), Vanessa Lengies (Kordi), Eugene Byrd (Zander), Matthew Wood (R0-GR), Trevor Devall (Emperor), Dana Snyder (Graballa), Vanessa Marshall (Hera), Yvette Nicole Brown (Lt. Valeria), Corey Burton (Quarrie), James Urbaniak (M-OC) and Matt Sloan (Darth Vader).

Developed for television by Bill Motz and Bob Roth (Penguins of Madagascar), they join Torsten Jacobson (LEGO Star Wars: Droid Tales) and Jill Wilfert (The LEGO Movie) as executive producers alongside producers Carrie Beck (Star Wars Rebels), Jason Cosler (LEGO Marvel Super Heroes: Avengers Reassembled!), Jake Blais and John McCormack.

'LEGO DC Super Heroes: The Flash' Clips Herald the Speedster's Arrival on Blu-ray

The Flash's world spins out of control when his arch-nemesis Reverse-Flash puts the Scarlet Speedster into a vicious time loop in LEGO DC Super Heroes: The Flash, the latest animated film from Warner Bros. Animation, DC Entertainment and The LEGO Group.

In LEGO DC Super Heroes: The Flash, Reverse-Flash manipulates the Speed Force to put The Flash into a time loop that forces him to relive the same day over and over again - with progressively disastrous results, including losing his powers and being fired by the Justice League. The Flash must find a way to restore time to its original path and finally apprehend his worst enemy before all is lost for The Flash … and the world!

Along the route, The Flash encounters numerous new characters being introduced to the popular DC Super Heroes series, including The Atom; B'dg, a squirrel-esque Green Lantern; a pair of legendary super pets in Ace the Bat-Hound and Krypto the Super-Dog, Batman and Superman's faithful canine pals; as well as Aquaman's trusted seahorse, Storm.

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment's latest title is available now on Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD, and Digital!

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Image via Warner Bros. Animation
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Image via Warner Bros. Animation
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Image via Warner Bros. Animation
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Image via Warner Bros. Animation

'GO! Cartoons' Releases "Kid Arthur" Short

Episode 10 of GO! Cartoons is here with "Kid Arthur"! Arthur just wants to do well on his math test, but Mordred won’t stop distracting him with ogres and dragons and plans to destroy him utterly. Created by Joel Veitch and David Shute and produced by Frederator Studios and Sony Pictures Animation.

 

GKIDS Acquires 'Fireworks' for Release This Summer!

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Image via GKIDS

GKIDS, the acclaimed producer and distributor of animation for adult and family audiences, announced that it has acquired the North American distribution rights to Fireworks, from director Nobuyuki Takeuchi and general director Akiyuki Shinbo. The deal for the film was negotiated by Eric Beckman of GKIDS and Rui Machida at Toho Co., Ltd. GKIDS will release the film theatrically in Summer 2018.

Producer Genki Kawamura follows up his mega-hit Your Name with another tale of star-crossed teenage lovers with a sci-fi fantasy twist. Shy Norimichi and fast-talking Yusuke, are goo-goo-eyed over the same elusive classmate, Nazuna. But Nazuna, unhappy over her mother's decision to remarry and leave their countryside town, plans to run away and has secretly chosen Norimichi to accompany her. When things don't go as planned, Norimichi discovers that a glowing multi-color ball found in the sea has the power to reset the clock and give them a second chance to be together. But each reset adds new complications and takes them farther and farther away from the real world - until they risk losing sight of reality altogether.

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.

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Image via GKIDS

Apple Orders First Animated Series from 'Bob's Burgers' Creator

As Variety reports, Apple is banking big on a new animated series--their first--from Bob's Burgers creator Loren Bouchard. The musical comedy series Central Park already has a two-season series order totaling 26 episodes. The 20th Century Fox Television production is written by Bouchard, Josh Gad, and Nora Smith and follows a family of caretakers living and working in the title park.

Gad stars alongside an all-star cast featuring Leslie Odom Jr., Titus Burgess, Kristen Bell, Stanley Tucci, Daveed Diggs, and Kathryn Hahn. Bouchard and Gad will executive produce and Smith will serve as a consulting producer. The order is for 26 episodes, split into two 13-episode seasons. It's likely a big win for fans of the Emmy-winning Bob's Burgers and a rare sale for Fox outside of their already successful "Animation Domination" block. Keep your eyes peeled for more!

Cartoon Movie 2018 Event Teases Some Big-Name Projects

Variety again has the inside track from Cartoon Movies 2018, a promotional event hosted earlier this month in Bordeaux, France. For the full rundown of films promoted during the event and the early word on each of them, be sure to head over to their write-up. What follows below is a sample of said films' trailers, artwork, and synopses:

One project that caught my eye (out of the many, many worthy productions) is Unicorn Wars from Alberto Vazquez (Birdboy: The Forgotten Children). The fantastic synopsis follows below:

Teddy bears and unicorns have been at war for as long as anyone can remember. Private Bluet craves unicorn blood because it confers eternal beauty, according to the prophecy in the new religion’s sacred book. His brother, Tubby, is not cut out for war. He lacks confidence and is an emotional eater. All he wants is for his brother to love him. A teddy bear regiment leaves the training camp for a mission that will end in a brutal and disastrous final battle.

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Image via Abano Producions
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Image via Abano Producions