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!

While New York Comic Con is rolling on--and there's a lot of animated news coming out of that convention--there are some updates and new stories to bring you this week. Like a new anime film Batman Ninja (what?!) heading to Blu-ray next year, the video celebration of Cartoon Network's 25th anniversary, and the arrival of Despicable Me 3 and Leap! on Blu-ray as well.

We've also got some spooky Halloween treats (no ricks) like a trio of animated "Haunted Mansion" shorts from stop-motion studio Stoopid Buddy, a clip from Disney's Tangled: The Series, the first image from Sony Pictures Animation's Hotel Transylvania 3, and the theatrical return of Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away. There's also details of Coco's soundtrack, available soon!

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!

• ‘Rick and Morty’ Episodes Ranked from Worst to Best
• ‘My Hero Academia’ Season 2 Finale Teases the League of Villains and All For One
• Crunchyroll's Upcoming Anime Slate Includes 'Black Clover', 'King's Game', and 'Urahara'
• Watch: Neill Blomkamp’s OATS Studios Uses Unity for New, Animated ‘ADAM’ Short Films
• ‘The Star’ Trailer Puts an Animated Animal Twist on the Christmas Story
• ‘Bob’s Burgers’ Movie Coming to Theaters in 2020
• ‘Star Wars Rebels’ Final Season Trailer Fully Embraces Rebellion
• Exclusive ‘Seoul Station’ Clip: ‘Train to Busan’ Prequel Unleashes an Animated Zombie Apocalypse
• ‘SuperMansion: Drag Me to Halloween’ Special Is Full of Tricks and Treats
• ‘Batman vs Two-Face’ Composers on Villain Themes and Batman’s Evolving Music
• First ‘Constantine’ Poster Resurrects the Demon Hunter for New Animated Series
• ‘Hey Arnold! The Jungle Movie’ Trailer Is More Adventurous Than You Might Expect

'Batman Ninja' Anime to Arrive Stealthily in 2018

Some pretty epic news for fans of anime and Batman today: Warner Bros. Japan and DC Entertainment are teaming up for Batman Ninja, an anime coming to Blu-ray/DVD in 2018. As iO9 reports, a few moments of footage were screened during New York Comic Con ahead of the film's debut next year. Directed by Jumpei Mizusaki, the movie sees Batman and his cohorts traveling back in time to medieval Japan. Writer Kazuki Nakashima and character designer Takashi Okazaki have crafted "one of the most visually daring and astonishing Batman stories Warner Bros. has ever produced," according to the write-up, which describes this version of Batman as follows:

Picture Batman, decked out in shogun’s armor and wielding a katana, charging at the Joker, who’s also brandishing a sword, but draped in a fanciful, ancient Japanese courtier’s outfit that’s overflowing with tattered ruffles that bounce along with his maniacal laugh.

Yes, the Joker will be in attendance along with Nightwing, Robin, Harley Quinn, Penguin, and Gorilla Grodd in heightened versions of their usual selves. Expect a blend of traditional 2D animation with some CGI scattered throughout. Hopefully the footage that was screened at NYCC makes its way online soon, but in the meantime, CBR also has some additional info, such as the fact that the eventual Blu-ray set will include both the original Japanese version of the film, as well as the English version. The English voice cast, however, has been kept hush-hush with the exception of one little tease: some familiar voices from previous Batman animated efforts will be involved and the initials of the actor voicing the Joker will be ... T.H.

Terrence Howard, Tom Hardy, or ... Tom Hanks perhaps? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Watch Cartoon Network's 25th Anniversary Celebration Video

It's our birthday! Relive all of your childhood favorites with this sweet celebratory bumper featuring our shows - both old and new!

'Despicable Me 3' Arrives on Blu-ray with a New Mini Movie

Illumination and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment present Despicable Me 3 on Digital and Digital 3D November 21st and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD and On Demand December 5th. The characters beloved by everyone – Gru, his wife Lucy, their three adorable daughters—Margo, Edith and Agnes—and the Minions provide hours of family fun in this heartwarmingly subversive comedy from Academy Award-nominated producer Chris Meledandri and directors Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda. Despicable Me 3 makes a great holiday gift, with almost an entire hour of exclusive bonus features including an all-new mini-movie, a never-before-released deleted scene, and much more!

After he is fired from the Anti-Villain League for failing to take down Balthazar Bratt (Trey Parker), the latest evil mastermind to threaten humanity, Gru finds himself in the midst of a major identity crisis. But when a mysterious stranger shows up to inform Gru that he has a long-lost twin brother — a brother who desperately wishes to follow in his twin’s despicable footsteps — the former super-villain rediscovers just how good it feels to be bad.

Academy Award® nominee Steve Carell reprises his hilarious role as reformed criminal mastermind Gru, as well as his newly discovered twin, Dru. The all-star voice cast also features Kristen Wiig, Miranda Cosgrove, Steve Coogan, Jenny Slate, Dana Gaier and legendary singer and actress Julie Andrews.

BONUS FEATURES EXCLUSIVE TO 4K ULTRA HD, BLU-RAYTM, DVD & DIGITAL:

• 

  All-New Mini Movie — The Secret Life of Kyle
• Minion Moments — Watch the Minions cause more hilarious mayhem with Gru
• Deleted Scene — With intro by Dana Gaier, the voice of Edith
• Character Profiles — The inside scoop on the most popular characters, from the actors who play them
• The Making of Despicable Me 3 — A behind-the-scenes look at the making of the movie
• Developing Dru — Behind the scenes character development of Dru
• The AVL Files — Through the lens of the Anti-Villain League’s hi-tech database, this ultra secret, interactive surveillance briefing showcases all of the agency’s amazing creations and top agents
• Freedonia Visitors Guide — Welcome to Freedonia! See all that the town has to offer with this interactive map. From its world class cheese, to its beautiful coastline, Freedonia has it all!
• Despicable Me TV — Tune in for some fabulous fun with these Despicable Me 3 infomercials. Includes “Balthazar Bratt Action Figure,” “Bad Boy Bod by Balthazar Bratt” and “Agnes’ Super Cute, Incredibly Amazing Toy Sale.”
• “Doowit” Sing-Along — Sing along with Pharrell Williams as the Minions plot their escape from prison
• “Yellow Light” Music Video — Official music video by Pharrell Williams
• Minion Mugshots — The Minions add to the long list of celebrity mugshots in their very own “rogues gallery.”
• Wanted Posters — Have you seen these Minions wanted for various crimes?

'Coco' Soundtrack

As Disney•Pixar’s Coco heads into theaters this Thanksgiving, the film’s soundtrack gears up for its debut. The film features an original score from Oscar-winning composer Michael Giacchino, a song by Oscar winners Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, and additional songs co-written by Germaine Franco and co-director and screenwriter Adrian Molina. Also part of the team is musical consultant Camilo Lara of the music project Mexican Institute of Sound. Plus, Grammy-winning singers Miguel and Natalia Lafourcade are teaming up to record the end-credit version of the signature song “Remember Me.” Set for release from Walt Disney Records on November 10th, the physical CD is now available for pre-order HERE.

Score

Coco features an original score from composer Giacchino, who wrote the Oscar®-winning score for Disney•Pixar’s 2009 film “Up.” “When I saw ‘Coco,’ a mosaic of emotions came over me,” said Giacchino.” “It made me think about my family and my connections to relatives back in Italy. This film speaks to everyone.”

Giacchino worked with Franco, who composed the score for 2015’s “Dope,” to supervise the orchestrations and realize an engaging and specific sound. “She illuminated the complex richness of Mexican music so well,” said Giacchino. “The collaboration between all the musicians on this film has been a beautiful experience.”

Added Franco, “We really wanted to marry this idea of original music with elements of Mexican music to create a unique balance of sound, harmony and rhythm.”

Franco explored a wide array of Mexican instrumentation in the score, including a guitarrón, folkloric harp, a quijada, sousaphone, charchetas, jaranas, requintos, marimba, trumpets and violins.

The score was recorded in August featuring an 83-piece orchestra.

Source Music

“Coco” also features traditional Mexican songs as source music, to bring to life Miguel’s town of Santa Cecilia. “Even though music isn’t allowed in his home, Miguel finds inspiration in the musicians who perform in his hometown plaza,” says co-director/screenwriter Adrian Molina. “Santa Cecilia—home of superstar Ernesto de la Cruz—is so full of music, it inspires Miguel to want to be a musician.”

Franco and musical consultant Camilo Lara of the music project Mexican Institute of Sound were called on to help create the soundscape of Miguel’s world, along with the assistance of cultural consultants Benjamín Juárez Echenque and Marcela Davison Avilés. Lara joined the music team early, helping filmmakers navigate various moments from the film through the spectrum of Mexican music—from cumbia to mariachi music. Said Lara, “From day one, the whole idea was to be as authentic as possible. We listened to a lot of music—from sophisticated to street. I think we managed to present a beautiful mosaic of the vast diversity of our music.

“I was also responsible for a magical session in Mexico City,” continues Lara. “We recorded a wide range of top Mexican musicians of many genres—banda, marimba, mariachi and son jarocho. We had top Mexican maestros. It was a mind-blowing experience.”

Original Songs – “Remember Me”

Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, who were behind the Oscar®-winning song “Let it Go” in 2013’s “Frozen,” penned the thematic song “Remember Me,” which is the signature song for beloved performer Ernesto de la Cruz in the movie. “The song is from the point of view of a person hoping to be remembered by a loved one,” said Anderson-Lopez. “But the lyric can be interpreted a few different ways depending on the tempo and tone of the music.”

End Credit Version

Grammy®-winning singers Miguel and Natalia Lafourcade teamed up to record the end-credit version of “Remember Me,” which Miguel and Steve Mostyn produced. “The song is special because it is about family and remembering where we come from,” says Miguel, who won his first Grammy® for best R&B song for the lead single “Adorn” in 2013. “It’s a reminder to be appreciative of the love and sacrifice that those before us had to make in order for us to be who we are. I think the message in the song is powerful enough to connect with everyone, but we’re adding another layer of depth and soul to the emotion of the song in this version.”

Added eight-time Latin Grammy® winner Lafourcade, “I feel very excited to be part of a Pixar movie because I have loved those films ever since I was little. I really enjoyed singing a song that gives life, color and joy to our Mexican traditions, as the Day of the Dead is one of my favorite traditions and celebrations of our culture.”

Original Songs – “Un Poco Loco,” “Everyone Knows Juanita,” “The World Es Mi Familia,” “Proud Corazón”

Franco worked with Molina to write several songs, including “Un Poco Loco,” a song in the son jarocho style of Mexican music performed by Miguel and Héctor on stage in the Land of the Dead. “This is one of my favorite types of Mexican music,” says Franco. “It involves a mix of indigenous, African and Spanish musical elements.”

Among other songs are the aspirational “The World Es Mi Familia” and the tongue-in-cheek lullaby “Everyone Loves Juanita.” “Proud Corazón” was penned for the final scene in the movie. “The lyrics in this song are probably the most personal to me,” said Molina. “It’s about filling your heart with the pride you have for your family, where you come from and who you’re connected to. [It] speaks to this connection across generations—between the Land of the Living and the Land of the Dead. Our thoughts, the memories in our hearts make it possible that our loved ones are always with us.”

'Haunted Mansion' Animated Shorts Bring Disney XD Characters in on the Halloween Fun

Baymax discovers Hatbox Ghost is in need of immediate medical attention. "Big Hero 6 The Series" premieres this November on Disney XD.

Adventure calls when Huey, Dewey, Louie and Webby come face to face with Baby Boo and Hatbox Ghost!

Home sweet…tomb? Star Butterfly and Marco Diaz pay an unexpected visit to the Haunted Mansion. Will they find their way home or become the next happy haunts?!

Disneyland's popular Haunted Mansion attraction is the setting for a trio of entertaining stop-motion animated on-air promos that find Disney characters from DuckTales, Big Hero 6 The Series and Star vs. The Forces of Evil on their own adventure hosted by Haunted Mansion ghosts. The promos, a collaboration between Walt Disney Imagineering, Stoopid Buddy Stoodios and Disney XD, began rolling out on SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7 (7:02 a.m. EDT).

For fans of the Haunted Mansion, the promos feature:

• Music and sound effects from Haunted Mansion
• The Hatbox Ghost
• Ezra the Hitchhiking Ghost
• The tombstone tribute for Marc Davis – Disney Legend – whose designs were used as inspiration for the original Haunted Mansion attraction
• The Phantom Five singing busts
• The "Dear George" tombstone from the stretch room
• The trowel ghost arm, inspired by Davis' original concept art
• The Tomb Sweet Tomb needlepoint picture frame
• The candelabra in the endless hallway
• Replicas of the doors, door handles, light fixtures and wallpaper

The characters featured in the on-air promos are: Huey (voiced by Danny Pudi), Dewey (voiced by Ben Schwartz), Louie (voiced by Bobby Moynihan), Webby (voiced by Kate Micucci), Baymax (voiced by Scott Adsit), Star (voiced by Eden Sher) and Marco (voiced by Adam McArthur).

First Image from 'Hotel Transylvania 3' Sends the Monsters on Vacation

The whole Drac Pack is back next summer for a monster vacation as Griffin the invisible man (far left, David Spade), werewolves Wanda (Molly Shannon) and Wayne (Steve Buscemi), Murray the mummy (Keegan-Michael Key), Dennis (Asher Blinkoff), Dracula (Adam Sandler), Mavis (Selena Gomez) & Johnny (Andy Samberg), Frank (Kevin James), Eunice (Fran Drescher) and Blobby (director Genndy Tartakovsky) get ready for a family voyage on a luxury monster cruise ship in 'Hotel Transylvania 3.'

This first image from Sony Pictures Animation's Hotel Transylvania 3 comes courtesy of USA Today, who report that the Drac Pack is indeed headed out on vacation when the film hits theaters July 13, 2018. Director Genndy Tartakovsky returns to the helm after setting sail on an impromptu and inspirational cruise with his in-laws:

“Drac’s always in charge of everybody else’s vacation but this time around he needs a vacation from that. I saw all these dynamics with different types of families and it sparked an idea.”

Another source of inspiration for Hotel Transylvania 3? National Lampoon's Vacation movies:

It still feels real even though it’s so caricatured. They’re funny and they’re not the most positive family examples, but you always see a little bit of your family in them.

Another returning voice for the fearsome family trip will be Mel Brooks as Grandpa Vlad. It seems that all the monsters need a bit of a break from the daily grind, Mavis surprises them all with tickets for a cruise to the lost city of Atlantis for, as Gomez says, “what they think will be a relaxing monster cruise: moon bathing at night, going to the torture spa and other fun summer activities that monsters do."

Onboard, a romantic situation forces Mavis to take on the role of overprotective daughter: her father Drac falls for Ericka, the great-granddaughter of arch-nemesis/monster slayer Abraham Van Helsing. “So it’s falling in love with someone who wants to kill you,” the director says. That's a lot more substance than I was expecting for the thrilling three-quel of SPA's franchise, but with Tartakovsky in the captain's chair, I should have expected as much. Keep an eye out for more on this one in the months to come!

Watch Danielle Brooks Sing in the 'Tangled: The Series' Halloween Special

From EW comes this early look at a new clip from Disney's Tangled: The Series upcoming Halloween special. In it, Rapunzel (Mandy Moore) teams up with the Pub Thugs to find out why a spooky specter has returned. Guest star Danielle Brooks appears as "Ruthless Ruth, a ghost who’s set on haunting The Snuggly Duckling." Brooks gets a brand new song written for the character by Alan Menken and Glenn Slater.

The Halloween episode of Tangled: The Series airs Sunday, October 8th at 7:30 ET on Disney Channel.

'Spirited Away' Arrives in Theaters for Halloween

STUDIO GHIBLI FEST, a six film monthly series of anime classics, continues in October with the Academy Award-winning masterpiece Spirited Away from the legendary Studio Ghibli and director Hayao Miyazaki. This special event will play in movie theaters nationwide for three days only on October 29th, October 30st, and November 1st.

Following the smash-hit 15^th anniversary celebration, Spirited Away returns to movie theaters as part of the unique Studio Ghibli celebration, just in time for Halloween. Chihiro thinks she is on another boring trip with her parents, but when they stop at a village that is not all that it seems, her parents undergo a mysterious transformation, and Chihiro is whisked into a world of fantastic spirits, shape-shifting dragons and a witch who never wants to see her leave. She must call on the courage she never knew she had to free herself and return her family to the outside world.

This event also features the GKIDS MINIFEST, an ongoing festival of award-winning short animated films from around the world, as part of the exclusive event experience.

• Sunday, October 29 at 12:55 p.m. local time (English- dubbed).
• Monday, October 30 at 7:00 p.m. local time (English-language subtitled).
• Wednesday, November 1 at 7:00 p.m. local time (English-dubbed).

Tickets for Spirited Away can be purchased online by visiting www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices. Moviegoers throughout the U.S. will be able to enjoy these events in nearly 600 select movie theaters.

Upcoming Events:

“NO GAME NO LIFE ZERO” – October 5 & 8

Six thousand years before Sora and Shiro were even a blink in the history of Disboard, war consumed the land, tearing apart the heavens, destroying stars, and even threatening to wipe out the human race. Amid the chaos and destruction, a young man named Riku leads humanity toward the tomorrow his heart believed in. One day, in the ruins of an Elf city, he meets Shuvi, a female exiled "Ex-machina" android who asks him to teach her what it means to have a human heart. In select movie theatres nationwide, this two-day event also includes exclusive content featuring special footage of members of the cast and crew of No Game No Life Zero.

 

“RWBY VOLUME 5 PREMIERE” – October 12

The world of Remnant is filled with horrific monsters bent on the destruction of humanity. Fortunately, the kingdoms of the world have risen to combat these forces by training powerful Huntsmen and Huntresses at academies around the planet. Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna, and Yang Xiao Long are four such Huntresses in training whose journeys will take them far past the grounds of Beacon Academy. Though each may be powerful on their own, these four girls must come together to work as a team if they truly hope to become the next generation of Remnant's protectors. But can they succeed at each other's side when dark forces gather to divide and destroy humanity?

 

Be the first to see the newest episode of RWBY, the global hit western-style anime series, on the big screen this October!  This special one-night event features the premiere of RWBY Volume 5 Chapter 1, as well as exclusive interviews with the talent and crew regarding the updated creative style and the new season.

“SAMURAI JACK: PREMIERE MOVIE EVENT” – October 16

Be the first to see the fully remastered Emmy™ nominated premiere movie from acclaimed Season 1, when Samurai Jack: Premiere Movie Event hits movie theaters nationwide for an exclusive one-night event. Created by celebrated animation director Genndy Tartakovsky, Samurai Jack follows a young Samurai after he is sent to the future by the evil wizard, Aku. With the determination to defeat the wizard and undo his destruction, Jack sets off on a daring journey to return to the past and defeat Aku once and for all. Gathering allies and combatting other villains along the way, Jack battles to accomplish his mission and restore the peace of the past.

 

In addition to the remastered episodes, will get to hear directly from the creator Genndy Tartakovsky on the beginnings of samurai Jack, and what the show means to him.

 

POKÉMON THE MOVIE: I CHOOSE YOU! – November 5 and November 6

Fathom Events and The Pokémon Company International bring the highly anticipated new animated feature film Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You! to movie theatres on Sunday, November 5, and Monday, November 6. This special two-day event explores Ash and Pikachu’s first meeting and their adventures as they search for the Legendary Pokémon Ho-Oh. The pair encounter familiar faces along the way, new characters including Trainers Verity and Sorrel, and even a mysterious new Mythical Pokémon, Marshadow. Challenges and epic Pokémon battles abound in this unique new story about the beginning of one of the most beloved friendships in popular culture.

 

Cinema audiences who attend the showings on November 5 and 6 will also receive a never-before-seen card for the Pokémon Trading Card Game featuring Pikachu wearing its Trainer’s hat, as seen in Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You! (While supplies last. Limited quantities available).

“HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE” – Studio Ghibli Fest 2017 - November 26, November 27 and November 29

“Howl’s Moving Castle” is an acclaimed fantasy based on the novel of the same name, and the second Studio Ghibli film (after “Spirited Away”) to be nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards. Sophie, an average teenage girl working in a hat shop, finds her life thrown into turmoil when she is literally swept off her feet by a handsome but mysterious wizard named Howl. However, after this chance meeting, the young girl is turned into a 90-year old woman by the vain and conniving Witch of the Waste. Embarking on an incredible adventure to lift the curse, she finds refuge in Howl’s magical moving castle.

 

The English-dubbed cast includes the vocal talents of Christian Bale, Billy Crystal, Lauren Bacall, Emily Mortimer, Josh Hutcherson, Jean Simmons, Blythe Danner, Jena Malone and more!

'Leap!' Dances Its Way onto Blu-ray

Eleven-year-old orphan Félicie (Fanning) has one dream — to go to Paris and become a dancer. Her best friend, Victor (Wolff), an imaginative, exuberant boy with a passion for creating, has a dream of his own — to become a famous inventor. In a leap of faith, Victor and Félicie leave their orphanage in pursuit of their passions. But there’s a catch: Félicie must pretend to be the child of a wealthy family in order to gain admittance to the prestigious and competitive Opera Ballet School in Paris. And with no professional dance training, she quickly learns that talent alone is not enough to overcome the ruthless, conniving attitudes of her fellow classmates, led by the devious Camille Le Haut (Ziegler). Determined to succeed, Félicie finds her mentor in the tough and mysterious school custodian, Odette (Jepsen), who, along with Victor’s encouraging friendship, help her reach for the stars.

Celebrate the holiday season with the inspirational and uplifting family film Leap!, arriving on Digital HD November 7 and Blu-ray™ (plus DVD and Digital HD), DVD, and On Demand November 21 from Lionsgate. Featuring all-star voice talent led by Elle Fanning (Maleficent), alongside Nat Wolff (The Fault in Our Stars) and Maddie Ziegler (The Book of Henry), with Mel Brooks (Spaceballs), featuring Carly Rae Jepsen (singer-songwriter of the hit song “Call Me Maybe”) and Kate McKinnon (“Saturday Night Live”), Leap! is a colorful and imaginative story about an orphan girl who is determined to follow her dream of becoming a ballerina. Filled with irresistible original music, Leap! features the hit track “Cut to the Feeling.”

An animated adventure the whole family will enjoy, the Leap! home entertainment release includes a behind-the-scenes video gallery and a look at stars Kate McKinnon, Nat Wolff, and Maddie Ziegler in the recording booth.

BLU-RAY / DVD / DIGITAL HD SPECIAL FEATURES

• “In the Recording Booth with Kate McKinnon, Nat Wolff, and Maddie Ziegler” Featurette
• Behind-the-Scenes Video Gallery:
  • The Birth of a Dream
  • Animating the Dance
  • Reconstructing 19th Century Paris