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!
The previous week in animation news saw Rick and Morty co-creator Dan Harmon teasing the upcoming third season of the comedy series thanks to a viral marketing site, but there's still no confirmed release date. We also saw new clips from the animated feature films Justice League Dark and The LEGO Batman Movie, as well as the action-packed animated series Justice League Action. Outside of the DC animated universe, there was word of a new Disney Animated Original Movie set in the Tangled universe which will herald that film's new animated series. And if you can't wait to see which animated short film takes home the Oscar this year, you're in luck! They'll be coming to theaters 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!
- ‘Adventure Time: Islands’ Review: Finn & Jake Take to the High Seas in Search of Answers
- Guillermo del Toro on ‘Trollhunters’ and the Unique Storytelling Medium of Animation
- Live-Action/Animated ‘Rats of NIMH’ Movie to Be James Madigan’s Directorial Debut
- Steven Yeun on ‘Voltron’, ‘Trollhunters’, and More Animated Antics Ahead
- Watch: ‘The LEGO Batman Movie’ Takes a Sick, ‘Cribs’-Style Tour of Wayne Manor
- ‘The LEGO Movie Sequel’ Hires ‘Trolls’ Director Mike Mitchell
- Full Voice Cast for ‘The LEGO Batman Movie’ Includes Some Big Surprises
- Over 25 New ‘The LEGO Batman Movie’ Images Tease What Could Be the Best Batman Movie Yet
Dan Harmon Teases Season 3 of 'Rick and Morty'
Rick and Morty co-creator Dan Harmon took to social media recently to tease the upcoming season of the hit animated comedy series. The new viral marketing site commands invites viewers to join the Galactic Federation, which comes with such rewards as: parasite removal, dark plumbus insurance, and teeth upgrades, just to name a few. If you click around enough, you just might find yourself logged into the Gromflomite network that's littered with blog posts, comments, and even videos related to the insectoid species. There's even a Galactic Federation Prisoner Database that you can upload yourself into, if you're so inclined. This site's a deep dive for the die-hard Rick and Morty fans, and it'll have to suffice for now since Adult Swim still hasn't revealed a release date for the upcoming season.
Batman Scares a Ghost in a New Clip from 'Justice League Dark'
Ahead of the release of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment's animated feature film Justice League Dark on home video, a new clip and two new images have been revealed. The film is now available on Digital HD, and will arrive on Blu-ray Deluxe Giftset, Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD on February 7th.
Here's the official synopsis for Justice League Dark:
When innocent civilians begin committing unthinkable crimes across Metropolis, Gotham City and beyond, Batman must call upon mystical counterparts to eradicate this demonic threat to the planet. Enter Justice League Dark, reluctantly led by the Hellblazer himself, John Constantine. Like Batman, Constantine is a cunning, often cynical loner who is the best at his chosen profession – but quickly realizes the sinister forces plaguing the planet will require help from other supernatural alliances. Forming a new “league” with sorceress Zatanna, otherworldly Deadman, and Jason Blood and his powerful alter ego Etrigan the Demon, this team of Dark Arts specialists must unravel the mystery of Earth’s supernatural plague and contend with the rising, powerful villainous forces behind the siege – before it’s too late for all of mankind.
'Tangled Before Ever After' Premieres ahead of the Debut of 'Tangled: The Series'
KINGDOM OF CORONA -- Set between the stories told in Walt Disney Animation Studios' acclaimed film Tangled and its short film Tangled Ever After, the Disney Channel Original Movie Tangled Before Ever After makes its debut on FRIDAY, MARCH 10 (8:00 p.m. EST) leading to the highly anticipated premiere of Tangled: The Series on FRIDAY, MARCH 24 (7:30 p.m. EDT). Reprising their roles are Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi as Rapunzel and Eugene (formerly known as Flynn Rider), respectively.
The visually vibrant animated adventure/comedy movie and series unfold as Rapunzel acquaints herself with her parents, her kingdom and the people of Corona. Her irrepressible spirit and natural curiosity lead her to realize that there is so much more she needs to learn about the world and herself before she can assume her role as Princess of Corona. Beloved characters from the feature film accompany Rapunzel on her journey, including her partner in life Eugene; her loyal chameleon sidekick, Pascal; no-nonsense and dutiful horse, Maximus; and the Snuggly Duckling Pub Thugs. The series introduces newcomer Cassandra (voiced by Broadway's Eden Espinosa), a tough-as-nails lady-in-waiting, who becomes Rapunzel's good friend and confidante.
In the Disney Channel Original Movie, Rapunzel grapples with both the new responsibilities of being princess and the overprotective ways of her father. While she wholeheartedly loves Eugene, Rapunzel does not share his immediate desire to get married and settle down within the castle walls. Determined to live life on her own terms, she and Cassandra embark on a secret adventure where they encounter mystical rocks that magically cause Rapunzel's long blonde hair to grow back. Impossible to break and difficult to hide, Rapunzel must learn to embrace her hair and all that it represents.
Tangled Before Ever After will be available on the Disney Channel app and Disney Channel VOD platforms beginning Friday, March 10. Tangled: The Series will be available beginning Friday, March 24. Following its U.S. debut, the Disney Channel Original Movie and series will roll out globally in 33 languages in 162 countries on Disney Channels worldwide.
Extensions of the story span new Tangled print and e-book titles including an original middle grade series by Leila Howland, inspired by the series from Disney Publishing; Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media will debut new playsets, dolls, role-play, apparel and accessories later this fall at Disney Store and all other retailers; the singles "Wind in My Hair" performed by Mandy Moore and "Life After Happily Ever After" performed by Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi and Clancy Brown, releasing on February 10 and March 10, respectively, from Walt Disney Records; and a DVD of the TV movie and four animated shorts releasing April 11 by Disney Studios.
Starring alongside Moore, Levi and Espinosa are Julie Bowen as Rapunzel's mother, Queen Arianna, and Clancy Brown as Rapunzel's father, King Frederic.
The recurring guest voice cast includes Jeffrey Tambor as Snuggly Duckling Pub Thug, Big Nose; Sean Hayes as Pete the Guard; Jeremy Jordan as teen alchemist Varian; comedian Jeff Ross as Pub Thug, Hook Hand's brother Hook Foot; Richard Kind as Uncle Monty; Paul F. Tompkins as Pub Thug, Shorty; Jonathan Banks as Varian's father, Quirin; Peter MacNicol as Nigel the Advisor; Diedrich Bader as Stan the Guard; M.C. Gainey as Captain of the Guards; Laura Benanti as Lady Caine; Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as blacksmith Xavier; Pat Carroll as Old Lady Crowley; Charles Halford as Pub Thug, Vladimir; Steve Blum as Pub Thug, Attila Buckethead; and James Monroe Iglehart as Eugene's friend Lance Strongbow.
Produced by Disney Television Animation, Tangled: The Series was developed by animation veterans Chris Sonnenburg (Disney's "Enchanted") and Shane Prigmore ("The Lego Movie"). Sonnenburg serves as executive producer and supervising director; Benjamin Balistreri ("How to Train Your Dragon") is supervising producer; Jase Ricci (Disney XD's "Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero") is story editor; and Alan Bodner ("The Iron Giant") is art director. Celebrated artist Claire Keane ("Frozen," "Tangled"), who painted Rapunzel's tower murals in the feature film, is the series' visual development artist.
The series features songs by Academy Award-winning Disney legend Alan Menken and lyricist Glenn Slater. Emmy Award-winning Kevin Kliesch ("Tangled Ever After") serves as score composer.
Jon Hamm to Guest Star on 'SpongeBob SquarePants'
As EW reports, Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actor Jon Hamm returns to channel Don Draper on SpongeBob SquarePants next month, "voicing the smart, charming, and literally fishy ad exec Don Grouper, whose firm is hired by Mr. Krabs to help sell his frozen Krabby Patties." The trailer, seen above, is for the half-hour special “Goodbye, Krabby Patty?,” which plays on the iconic opening credits of Mad Men. The special airs February 20th at 7 p.m. ET/PT on Nickelodeon.
'The LEGO Batman Movie' Clip Reveals the Origins of Robin's Colorful Costume
Yahoo! has an early look at a fun little scene from The LEGO Batman Movie in which the mysterious origins of Robin's colorful costume are at long last revealed!
Here’s the official synopsis:
In the irreverent spirit of fun that made “The LEGO® Movie” a worldwide phenomenon, the self-described leading man of that ensemble—LEGO® Batman—stars in his own big-screen adventure.
But there are big changes brewing in Gotham City, and if he wants to save the city from The Joker’s hostile takeover, Batman may have to drop the lone vigilante thing, try to work with others and maybe, just maybe, learn to lighten up.
'Justice League Action' Clip Adds a Little Animated Magic
CBR has a new clip from the animated superhero series Justice League Action. The episode in question, "Zombie King", features the magic-powered Zatanna and Constantine team up with Batman and Swamp Thing to take down Solomon Grundy and his zombie army.
Written by Paul Dini, the episode marks the first time an animated Swamp Thing appears alongside the Justice League, and it reunites Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill ... but as a team rather than adversaries, with Hamill voicing Swamp Thing!
Here's the episode synopsis, followed by a few choice images:
When Grundy escapes his Louisiana prison, intent on using a magical crystal to raise an army of the dead from their graves, only Batman and Swamp Thing (voiced by Mark Hamill) stand in the way of his growing zombie army.
Oscar-Nominated Animated Short Films Get Theatrical Release
ShortsHD and Magnolia Pictures, will open “THE OSCAR® NOMINATED SHORT FILMS 2017" in over 500 screens across the United States, Canada, Europe and Latin America on Friday February 10, 2017. In New York, the film will open for a special preview starting Wednesday, February 8th.
“THE OSCAR® NOMINATED SHORT FILMS 2017” will showcase the Live Action, Animation and Documentary short film nominees’ compilation as three separate theatrical events.
This marks the 12th consecutive year of the Oscar® nominated short films theatrical experience and is the only opportunity for audiences to watch the nominated short films prior to the 89th Academy Awards® ceremony on Sunday, February 26, 2017. In 2016, the Oscar® Nominated Short Films earned over $2.8 million at the worldwide box office, nearly doubling from just a few years prior.
Google joined the list of Academy Award contenders this year with the animation short film Pearl, a Google Spotlight Story from Patrick Osborne, the director of Disney’s Oscar-nominated short film Feast. Netflix scored its first-ever short film Academy Award nominations with Documentary Short films Extremis and The White Helmets. Also in the Documentary Short category, 3 of the 5 nominees tackle the Syrian crisis.
For a sneak peak at The Oscar® Nominated Short Films 2017 program, please visit: http://shorts.tv/theoscarshorts/
Here's a look at the animated short film nominees that will be playing in theaters just before vying for an Oscar:
Blind Vaysha
Directors: Theodore Ushev
Country of Origin: Canada
Synopsis:
Young Vaysha was born with unusual sight: her left eye can see only the past and her right eye can see only the future, while the present is a blind spot. Called "Blind Vaysha" by the people of her village, the girl is tormented by the two realities that she cannot reconcile.
Borrowed Time
Directors: Andrew Coats and Lou Hamou-Lhadj
Country of Origin: Canada
Synopsis:
A sheriff of the Old West returns to the scene of a tragic accident from his past that shaped his life. As memories wash over him, he is engulfed by emotion and must find the strength to carry on with his lifelong quest for redemption.
Pear Cider and Cigarettes
Directors: Robert Valley and Cara Speller
Country of Origin: United Kingdom and Canada
Synopsis:
Hard-living Techno Stypes has been Robert's best friend since childhood, and over the years, Robert has been amazed by Techno's ability to sabotage himself. When Techno is hospitalized in China and needs a liver transplant, Robert goes on a wild ride to get him home to Vancouver.
Pearl
Directors: Patrick Osborne
Country of Origin: United States
Synopsis:
An itinerant musician travels around the country with his young daughter in their old hatchback and juggles his passion for performing with providing his daughter with a stable life. The daughter grows up with a love of music and adventure, and is able to repay her father for nurturing her creativity.
Piper
Directors: Alan Barillaro and Marc Sondheimer
Country of Origin: United States
Synopsis:
Young Piper, a sandpiper hatchling, leaves her nest for the first time to hunt for food but is too scared of the crashing waves to reach the yummy morsels hidden in the sand. After meeting an unusual ally, Piper attempts to face her fears and increase her confidence.
'Summer Camp Island' Comes to Cartoon Network!
Cartoon Network greenlights Summer Camp Island, a wildly imaginative animated series based on the original short created by Julia Pott (Adventure Time). Having completed a momentous run at this year’s Sundance Film Festival where it was screened as part of the Animated Short Films category, the short will now extend into a series and continue unfolding the mysteries that Oscar and his best friend Hedgehog encounter at a magical summer camp. Summer Camp Island is produced by Cartoon Network Studios and is slated to debut next year.
“Summer Camp Island is a great example of the kind of creativity generated by our acclaimed studio shorts program,” said Rob Sorcher, Cartoon Network chief content officer. “We are all wanting to spend summers inside this timeless and magical world captured by Julia’s signature warmth and inventiveness.”
Currently making its round on the global festival circuit, the short Summer Camp Island has also screened and won at Ottawa International Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and American Film Institute. The series will follow Oscar and his best friend Hedgehog, who have just been dropped off at their first summer camp. Away from their parents, the two friends must summon all their courage to navigate mysteries and wonders of this magical camp where camp counselors are witches, horses become unicorns, and monsters live under the bed. Not all camps offer the opportunity to swim with a talking shark in the swimming pool, crawl under the bed into a different universe, or make friends with the moon, but on Summer Camp Island, anything can happen.
Illumination Entertainment Sets Release Dates Out to 2023
Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment recently set Sing 2 for a Christmas Day, December 25, 2020 release. Additionally, The Secret Life of Pets 2 will now open July 3, 2019, and Minions 2 will drop on July 3, 2020. But if you need to plan your moviegoing schedule out a little further in advance, the animation house has you covered until 2023.
Here's a look at when Illumination Entertainment will be launching some future films
- UNTITLED ILLUMINATION ANIMATED FILM on Friday, July 2, 2021
- UNTITLED ILLUMINATION ANIMATED FILM on Friday, July 1, 2022.
- UNTITLED ILLUMINATION ANIMATED FILM on Wednesday, December 21, 2022.
- UNTITLED ILLUMINATION ANIMATED FILM on Friday, June 30, 2023
Season 3 of 'Skylanders Academy' is a Go at Netflix!
Activision Blizzard, Inc. announced that its Netflix original series Skylanders Academy has been renewed for a third season. Production on the third season of Skylanders Academy — the first television series developed and produced by Activision Blizzard Studios — will begin in February, with animation again created by the renowned TeamTO studio in France.
Season 3 will launch in 2018. This year, audiences can enjoy Season 2 of Skylanders Academy, which brings back Justin Long as Spyro, Ashley Tisdale as Stealth Elf, Jonathan Banks as Eruptor and Norm Macdonald as Glumshanks.
New addition Felicia Day ( The Guild, Supernatural and Buffy the Vampire Slayer) will join the cast in Season 2, voicing the role of Cynder, a new cadet at the Academy with a mysterious past. The Diamond Minecart (Daniel Middleton) will reprise his role as Cy and Daniel Wu returns as King Pen. Additional voice talent in Season 2 includes Susan Sarandon, Parker Posey, James Hetfield, Catherine O’Hara, Bobcat Goldthwait, Chris Diamantopoulos, Jonny Rees, Harland Williams and Richard Horvitz. The series features the exclusive song “Harmony” (Skylanders Academy Theme) produced by GRAMMY® Award winner Timbaland and performed by Timbaland feat. Dalton Diehl.
This Netflix original series follows the heroic adventures of Spyro, Eruptor, Stealth Elf, Jet-Vac and Pop Fizz as they travel the vast Skylands universe, protecting it from evil-doers.
Open Road Acquires 'Arctic Justice: Thunder Squad' for 2018 Release
Open Road Films has acquired all U.S. rights to Arctic Justice: Thunder Squad – the epic 3D CGI animated family film from Andrea Iervolino and Monika Bacardi’s AMBI Media Group. The movie features the voices of Jeremy Renner, Alec Baldwin, Heidi Klum, John Cleese, James Franco, Anjelica Huston and Omar Sy, and is directed by Aaron Woodley. The announcement was made today by Tom Ortenberg, CEO of Open Road Films.
Open Road will release Arctic Justice: Thunder Squad wide in 2018. Animation work for the film is currently being done out of AMBI’s Toronto based studio, AIC Studios. The movie is fully financed and being produced by AMBI and its principals, Andrea Iervolino and Monika Bacardi.
When the sinister Doc Walrus (voiced by John Cleese) hatches a secret plot to accelerate global warming and melt the arctic circle, a rag-tag group of inexperienced heroes (voiced by Renner, Franco, Baldwin, Huston, Klum and Sy) must come together to foil his evil plans and save the arctic.
Here's the film's official synopsis:
Swifty (Jeremy Renner), an arctic fox, dreams of becoming one the famous Top Dogs, a team of huskies that deliver packages for the Arctic Blast Delivery Service. In the Arctic, every day trips can quickly turn into epic journeys, which make the Top Dogs the Arctic’s every day heroes.
In an effort to prove himself, Swifty secretly commandeers a delivery sled to takes a mysterious package to a secret, icy, fortress where he comes face to face with Doc Walrus (John Cleese), a blubbery evil genius who walks around on robotic legs, and commands a loyal army of oddly polite puffins. Swifty stumbles upon Doc Walrus’ evil plan to drill to the center of the Earth to unleash enough lava to melt the polar ice caps in order to flood the planet and become be king of the world.
Now, Swifty has to enlist the help of his friends: PB (Alec Baldwin), an introverted polar bear, Lemmy (James Franco), a scatter-brained rock and roll albatross, Sal (Omar Sy) and Weez (Heidi Klum), two conspiracy theorist otters, and Jade, a red fox, who’s a tough as nails mechanic that Swifty has a secret crush on. This ragtag team has to band together and overcome their differences if they’re going to stop Doc Walrus and his army of Puffins from destroying the world.