In This Week in Animation, 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!

We covered a lot of animation news on the site this week, so be sure to take a look at all the bullet points below for everything from Netflix's new series Spirit Riding Free to news on Frozen 2 and a bunch of coverage of Pixar's upcoming film, Cars 3. As for what we didn't get to this week, there's a new Yu-Gi-Oh! movie coming to Blu-ray that should have fans pretty excited. Fans of the crazy anime series Jojo's Bizarre Adventure might be interested to know that a new trailer for Takashi Miike's live-action film recently debuted.

steven-universe
Image via Cartoon Network

In TV Land, Steven Universe returns to Cartoon Network this May with all-new episodes, along with some of the best animated programming you'll find out there. And though Star Wars Rebels is coming to a close this fall with Season 4, you can get a taste of what's to come thanks to an interview with Tiya Sircar, the voice of Sabine. Also, if you're interested in picking up Justice League Action on Digital HD or checking out a selection of Studio Ghibli films in theaters this year, we have some good news for you!

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!

Trust in the Heart of the Cards and Watch the New 'Yu-Gi-Oh!' Blu-ray Trailer

The iconic anime franchise with a worldwide fan base returns when Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Dark Side of Dimensions arrives on Digital HD June 13 and on Blu-ray (plus Digital HD) and DVD June 27 from Anchor Bay Entertainment.The film celebrates the 20th anniversary of the global phenomenon, which remains one of the top trading-card games in the world. In this installment, Yugi Muto and his friends reunite to battle their enemies in an exhilarating fight that transcends time and space. Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Dark Side of Dimensions features new designs and an all-new story from the original creator, Kazuki Takahashi, including an exclusive collectible trading card.

The stakes have never been higher; the rivalries never as fierce; the risks never so great. One wrong move, one card short, and it's “game over” for good. A decade in the making, Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Dark Side of Dimensions features new designs and an all-new story from the original creator of the global phenomenon, Kazuki Takahashi. His masterful tale features anime's most beloved characters in their long-awaited return: Yugi Muto, Seto Kaiba, and their faithful friends Joey Wheeler, Tristan Taylor, Téa Gardner, and Bakura.

BLU-RAY/DVD/DIGITAL HD SPECIAL FEATURES

  • “Show Us Your Cards” Featurette
  • “Dan Interview” Featurette
  • “Eric Interview” Featurette
  • “Cast’s Favorite Moments” Featurette
yugioh-bluray-art
Image via Anchor Bay Entertainment

Stand! New Trailer for Live-Action 'Jojo's Bizarre Adventure' Movie

One of the craziest, most stylish anime series going is Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, a popular manga adaptation that is getting a live-action film directed by Takashi Miike (13 Assassins). Starring Kento Yamazaki, Ryunosuke Kamiki, Nana Komatsu, Masaki Okada, Mackenyu, Takayuki Yamada and Yusuke IseyaJojo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable - Chapter 1 opens in Japan on August 4th.

Here's the movie's synopsis (via Jojo's Bizarre Encyclopedia):

In 1999, a mystical Arrow, which can manifest latent Stand abilities, travels throughout Morioh, Japan. A high schooler named Josuke Higashikata and his friends are thrust into a new world they never knew existed, having to face off against deadly Stand users whilst trying to uncover the mysteries of the Arrow itself and how to stop its wielder.

jojos-bizarre-adventure-movie-poster

'Steven Universe' Returns to Cartoon Network Monday, May 8th

Check out the full lineup of Cartoon Network's shows below:

Ben 10

New episodes continue to premiere weekdays at 5 p.m. (ET/PT).

  • Monday, May 1: “All Wet” – No one believes Ben when he insists that one of the other patrons waiting in line at the World of Wet Water Park is the nefarious Frightwig disguised as a common girl. So Ben must prove his case while protecting park goers from her master plan: to destroy the park with its own water pressure!
  • Tuesday, May 2: “Villain Time” – Ben must go alien to save the Hoover Dam from disaster, but when tough guy hero Tim Buktu swoops in to “help,”Ben must figure out if Tim is friend… or foe.
  • Wednesday, May 3: “Drive You Crazy” – After the Rust Bucket breaks down at a Mobile Home Park, Ben discovers they’ve stumbled on to the last leg of the Cali 10 Hundred, an epic, off-road auto race where mad driver Le Grange has returned for revenge against those that disqualified him years ago.
  • Thursday, May 4: “Tomorrow Today” – When Max drags the kids to see a defunct "House of the Future" built by his childhood idol, Ben discovers Steam Smythe is busy excavating the joint on the search for a powerful device that will allow him to create devastating weapons for his war on progress. Only Max's devotion to his childhood idol and Ben's faith in dreams can save tomorrow... today!
  • Monday, May 8: “Story, Bored” – During a book signing at a medieval castle, Ben must stop Hex from getting his hands on a grimoire that can fuse its user with mythical beasts, creating monstrous hybrids!
  • Tuesday, May 9: “Hole In 10” – While mini-golfing, Ben is attacked by the Ground Hawgs, a gang of Dr. Animo mutants turned bikers. When the Hawgs realize the faux mini-golf village isn’t an actual town, Ben must go alien to stop them before they set their sights on the real city down the road. 

teen-titans-go

Teen Titans Go!

New episode premieres Friday, May 5 at 6 p.m. (ET/PT).

  • Friday, May 5: “The Avogodo” – It's Cinco de Mayo and Robin learns that avocados are a super food that give you super powers.

The Powerpuff Girls

New episodes premiere Sundays at 5:30 p.m. (ET/PT).

  • Sunday, May 7: “A Star Is Blossom” – When Bubbles gets the lead in the school play, Blossom’s jealousy consumes her.
  • Sunday, May 21: “Mini Golf Madness”– Buttercup takes her game winning mini-golf ball, in spite of ominous warnings of dire consequences.
  • Sunday, May 28: “Summer Bummer” – When the beach is taken over by the most excellent Bro Sharks, will the Girls be gnarly enough to save the day?

Steven Universe

New episodes premiere Monday, May 8 at 7 p.m. (ET/PT).

  • Monday, May 8: “Lion 4: Alternate Ending” – Lion coughs up a magical key, and Steven goes on a quest to find what it unlocks.
  • Tuesday, May 9: “Doug Out” – Steven and Connie join Connie’s father on a stake out.
  • Wednesday, May 10: “The Good Lars” – Steven, Lars and Sadie get invited to a party with the Cool Kids.
  • Thursday, May 11: “Are You My Dad?” – People are disappearing from Beach City, and Steven tries to solve the mystery.
  • Thursday, May 11: “I Am My Mom” – Steven struggles to fix his mistakes.
steven-universe-season-4
Image via Cartoon Network

Ninjago

Two weeks of premieres beginning Monday, May 15 at 5:30 p.m. (ET/PT).

Transformers: Robots in Disguise

New episodes continue on Saturdays at 6:30 a.m. (ET/PT).

Justice League Action

New episodes continue Saturdays at 7:30 a.m. (ET/PT).

Tiya Sircar on Sabine's Arc in 'Star Wars Rebels' Season 4

star-wars-rebels-season-3-ezra-sabine
Image via Lucasfilm

If you haven't had a chance to check out the recently released trailer for Season 4 of Disney XD's Star Wars Rebels, you can do so right here. It'll bring you up to speed on the story so far and tease what's ahead for the beloved characters in the show's final season. But if you just can't wait until the September 23rd premiere, then you might want to take a look at Screenrant's interview with Sabine herself, Tiya Sircar.

Here's a select quote from Sircar's tease of what will become of Sabine this season, but it's spoilery, so avoid if you'd rather not know:

I think the thing to remember, when Sabine was at the Imperial Academy and she was doing her job – she’s a munitions expert, she’s a Mandalorian – she’s doing her job of creating this weapon. And by the way, she’s really good at that. She’s really good at her job. That job that was her job at that moment in time. She’s excelling at her job, as she always does and yet, she at the time when she was creating this weapon had no idea how the weapon would be used specifically. Who it would be used on. As we now know that’s the impetus that made her leave and leave her family. She ran away because she realized the consequence of her actions.

'Justice League Action' Season 1 Now Available on iTunes

[EMBED_TWITTER]https://twitter.com/WBHomeEnt/status/856620030884167680[/EMBED_TWITTER]

Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman lead the DC Comics Super Heroes against their most infamous foes in adventures packed with relentless thrills, fun and action. No need to wait for the good stuff to start, each eleven-minute episode jumps in with lightning-paced action and heroics. Whether defending the Earth, facing invaders from space, or battling the bizarre forces of magic, the always-rotating team of Justice League heroes, are up to any challenge. Justice League Action marks the return of Kevin Conroy (Batman: The Animated Series), beloved by fans worldwide as one of the most iconic voices of Batman, to a weekly-animated television series. The series will also deliver an all-star lineup of regular and guest cast voices, including Mark Hamill as Joker, James Woods as Lex Luthor, Diedrich Bader as Booster Gold and many more portraying your favorite DC Comics Super Heroes and Super-Villains.

justice-league-action-season-1-itunes
Image via Cartoon Network

GKIDS and Fathom Events Team up for "Studio Ghibli Fest 2017"

Following the success of the Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke cinema events, GKIDS and Fathom Events are proud to announce a partnership to bring the biggest series of anime titles to U.S. cinema audiences throughout 2017.

The STUDIO GHIBLI FEST 2017 series kicks off with the iconic My Neighbor Totoro, from Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli. The series features one of Studio Ghibli's revered animated classics each month and will include GKIDS MINIFEST, an ongoing festival of award-winning short animated films from around the world.

  • My Neighbor Totoro Sunday, June 25 and Monday, June 26
  • Kiki's Delivery Service – Sunday, July 23 and Monday, July 24
  • Castle In The Sky – Sunday, August 27 and Monday, August 28
  • Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind – Sunday, September 24 and Monday, September 25
  • Spirited Away – Sunday, October 29 and Monday, October 30
  • Howl’s Moving Castle – Sunday, November 26 and Monday, November 27
[caption id="attachment_494293" align="aligncenter" width="600"] hayao-miyazaki-my-neighbor-totoro Image via Studio Ghibli[/caption]
All Sunday presentations will be dubbed and shown at 12:55 p.m. local time, while Monday showings will be subtitled and shown at 7:00 p.m. local time. Tickets for these titles can be purchased online by visiting www.FathomEvents.com and gkidstickets.com or at participating theater box offices. Additional series pass opportunities are available at select theaters including:
  • Cinemark - Cinemark is offering series passes for $60. Plus, for a limited time only, Cinemark Connections members unlock an exclusive poster reward.  Cinemark series passes can be purchased here.
  • Regal Entertainment Group – Regal Entertainment Group is offering series passes for $60. The first 5,000 series pass purchases will receive an exclusive, mounted decommissioned 35mm Spirited Away film cell.  Regal Series Passes can be purchased here.
[caption id="attachment_631148" align="aligncenter" width="600"] spirited-away Image via Studio Ghibli[/caption]

'A Foul American': Political Parody Cartoon Starring Greg Cipes, Tara Strong, and More!

a-foul-american
Image via Kickstarter

A new Kickstarter project from Greg Cipes (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and Kevin Coulston aims to bring the world of political parody and satire into the animated realm. The improv comedy cartoon features a stellar voice cast with Cipes, Tara StrongBrittany FurlanEric BauzaRiley KeoughBen KeoughSean AstinRob Paulsen, and Montse Hernandez.

A Foul American is described as follows:

Years after the 45th President of the United States of America, Donald T. Trump inadvertantluy wiped out the human race, animals have evolved to take our place. Sadly, history seems to be repeating itself...

 

As all humans died from issues directly or indirectly related to the nuclear fallout, the remaining animals of earth amazingly mutated and adapted into humanoids who instinctively adopted a rudimentary form of human culture.

 

Some governments and even militaries remain mostly intact and are run in many cases by duly or otherwise elected so called, “official” animals in their respective countries. America, for example, is run by Eagles…except for of course President Rump who is a chicken. He vigorously maintains that he is not just any Eagle, but one of the Nation’s founding Eagles, a fact no one seems to be willing to question ... As it stands now, the fate of us all rests in the disturbingly uncertain hands of A Foul American Indeed.

a-foul-american-kickstarter
Image via Kickstarter

 

What's Your State's Favorite Classic Anime Series?

favorite-anime-by-state
Image via CableTV.com

The fine folks over at CableTV.com put together a cool infographic that lists favorite classic anime series by U.S. state. Unsurprisingly, the biggest numbers appear to be for anime series you might expect, like Dragon Ball ZTrigun, and Yu Yu Hakusho. That's thanks in part to cable channels like Cartoon Network and its Adult Swim and Toonami programming blocks.

Here's a look at some trends they discovered by doing a more extensive search:

  • Princess Mononoke is the favorite in environmentally conscious places; Vermont and Singapore.
  • Despite the recent white-washing reviews, Ghost In The Shell still made the top for 5 states, as well as Japan.
  • Pokemon is still, obviously, a hit, and won over 6 states and 9 countries, including Vietnam.
  • Trigun was a huge hit in the US, most likely because of it's 'Western feel'.

And if you want to know what the world's Top 10 anime-loving countries are watching, check out this infographic below:

favorite-anime-by-country
Image via CableTV.com