Marvel's 'Ant-Man' Packs Big Humor and Action in a Small Package

Despite Hank Pym’s warning, Ant-Man manages to spill soup on his suit, sending him into a size-changing frenzy while trying to defeat the nefarious Egghead!

Marvel’s Ant-Man, the next installment in Marvel Animation’s series of cartoon shorts, stars Josh Keaton (Voltron, DC Super Hero Girls, Ben 10) as Scott Lang, the incredible shrinking hero. In this new Disney XD series of shorts, Ant-Man fights evil alongside the Wasp and Hank Pym while also occasionally helping his daughter Cassie with her homework. The shorts are ready to view right now!

The Marvel shorts, which previously starred Rocket and Groot, are animated by Passion Pictures. Each of the six two-minute shorts in this series are directed by Ugo Bienvenu and Kevin Manach, written by Brian Wysol, executive-produced by Alan Fine, Dan Buckley, Joe Quesada, Cort Lane, Stephen Wacker, and Stan Lee, with Cara Speller and Marc Bodin-Joyeux also serving as producers.

Scott helps his daughter Cassie at her school science fair but he forgets one key ingredient. Not only does he have to fix her volcano, but fend off Yellowjacket too...as Ant-Man!

Ant-Man and The Wasp are in Hank Pym’s lab when they are attacked by an army of tiny alien invaders seeking Pym’s growth technology.

Scott and his ants must outsmart a brutish exterminator that threatens the ants’ home...and Scott’s apartment.

Ant-Man and Yellowjacket chase a long-lost, time-and-space-altering cube created by Hank Pym himself.

Scott and Hope Pym are trying to enjoy a nice day when Whirlwind attacks. The heroes suit up as Ant-Man and The Wasp to take on the gale-force gangster before he destroys the city.

'DuckTales' Reboot Teased Ahead of Its August Release

Here’s a look at the new cast and who they’ll be playing when DuckTales arrives on Disney XD this August:

• David Tennant as Scrooge McDuck
• Danny Pudi, Ben Schwartz, and Bobby Moynihan as Huey, Dewey, and Louie
• Lin-Manuel Miranda as Fenton Crackshell-Cabrera, a.k.a. Gizmoduck
• Beck Bennett as Launchpad McQuack
• Toks Olagundoye as housekeeper Mrs. Beakley
• Kate Micucci as Webby Vanderquack
• Tony Anselmo as Donald Duck
• Paul F. Tompkins as Gladstone Glander
• Jim Rash as Gyro Gearloose
• Allison Janney as Goldie O’Gilt
• Margo Martindale and Eric Bauza as Ma Beagle and the Beagle Boys
• Keith Ferguson as Flintheart Glomgold
• Josh Brener as Mark Beaks

Huey goes camping.

Scrooge and Louie tussle with a mysterious clock.

DuckTales the Series Coming to Disney XD This Summer!

'Marvel's Avengers: Secret Wars' Series Premiere Trailer

For every hero that falls, another will rise! Marvel's Avengers: Secret Wars 1-hour event Premieres Saturday, June 17 on Disney XD.

Picking up right after the events of season three “Ultron Revolution,” the fourth season finds Tony Stark trapped in another dimension. While the Avengers muster all of their knowledge and strength to try and find a way to bring him back, they are attacked by a new Cabal of villains who scatter the mighty heroes across space and time. With the help of the Black Panther’s new team, including Captain Marvel, Ms. Marvel, Ant-Man, Wasp and Vision, the Avengers must reunite in time to save the universe.

Be sure to get caught up on the animated shorts that introduce the new heroes!

SATURDAY, JUNE 17

• One-hour premiere of “Marvel’s Avengers: Secret Wars” season four featuring back-to-back episodes on Disney XD (11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. EDT). The first two episodes will also be available on the Disney XD App and Disney XD VOD.
  • “Avengers No More – Part 1″ (11:30 a.m. EDT) – While trying to rescue Tony Stark from another dimension, the Avengers battle the Leader and his newly formed Cabal.
  • “Avengers No More – Part 2″ (12:00 p.m. EDT) – Black Panther assembles a new team of Avengers to stop the Leader and free the original Avengers.

The series stars: Mick Wingert as Iron Man, Fred Tatasciore as Hulk, Roger Craig Smith as Captain America, Travis Willingham as Thor, Troy Baker as Hawkeye, Laura Bailey as Black Widow, Bumper Robinson as Falcon, David Kaye as Vision, James Matthis III as Black Panther, Kathreen Khavari as Ms. Marvel, Josh Keaton as Ant-Man, Kari Wahlgren as Wasp and Grey Griffin as Captain Marvel.

Produced by Marvel Animation, the series’ creative team includes executive producers Alan Fine, Dan Buckley, Joe Quesada, Cort Lane, Eric Radomski, and Jeph Loeb; co-executive producers Stan Lee and Stephen Wacker; supervising producers Eugene Son, Danielle Wolff, and Harrison Wilcox; and supervising director Jeff Allen.

'Marvel's Spider-Man' Gets a New Teaser

Catch the New Series, Marvel's Spider-Man, Coming This Summer to Disney XD.

The first footage for the new series recently premiere, but unfortunately we have very little information on the series cast, plot, and release date at this moment.

Marvel Animation’s SVP Cort Lane had previously said, “The simple title reflects a back-to-basics approach – the story of an ordinary teen, Peter Parker, who suddenly finds himself with strange new powers and overwhelming responsibility. And thanks to Story Editor Kevin Shinick (Robot Chicken, Mad) and Supervising Director Philip Pignotti (Marvel’s Avengers Assemble) it’s just filled with heart and humor.”

The creative team also boasts a host of Marvel Animation regulars, including executive producers Alan Fine (Marvel’s The Avengers), Dan Buckley (Marvel’s Avengers Assemble), Joe Quesada (Marvel’s Avengers Assemble) and Jeph Loeb(Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.); co-executive producers Stan Lee (Spider-Man), Eric Radomski (Spawn, Marvel’s Avengers Assemble), Cort Lane (Marvel’s Ultimate Spider-Man) and Stephen Wacker (Marvel’s Avengers Assemble); supervising producers Kevin Shinick and Marsha Griffin (Transformers Prime); consulting producers Dan Slott (Spider-Man: Big Time, The Superior Spider-Man),Kevin Burke and Chris “Doc” Wyatt (Marvel’s Avengers Assemble, Marvel’s Ultimate Spider-Man).

'LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures' Season 2 Trailer

The Freemakers join the Rebellion , and fire up the galaxy! Catch LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures Preview Event Saturday, June 17 on Disney XD!

Nickelodeon Entertains with 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' Summer Shorts

See the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles like never before in TMNT Summer Shorts! The first film kicks off this Sunday, June 4! Catch more TMNT on Nick and check out the TMNT Facebook page for more information.

This TMNT short was pretty amazing, though die-hard fans and purists will want to stick around until the very end if you're not quite feeling it. This is definitely something I'd like to see turned into a full series, but YMMV.

Let the TMNT Summer Shorts begin! Kick back with a pizza and enjoy Teenage Mecha Ninja Turtles, where a futuristic NYC is barraged by mutant criminals and only a Turtle Team can take them down. Catch more TMNT on Nickelodeon and watch Turtle Powered short films all summer long!!

'SpongeBob SquarePants' to Guest Star Steve Buscemi and Joe Pantoliano

SpongeBob gets mixed up with the wrong crowd in brand-new episode of SpongeBob SquarePants, featuring guests Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire) and Joe Pantoliano (The Matrix) premiering Saturday, June 10, at 10:00 a.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon. In “The Getaway,” SpongeBob encounters a sticky situation when he accidentally mistakes an escaped convict for his driving instructor, but it’s really the new teacher who learns a lesson in the end.

Pantoliano stars as Sticky Fins, an expert thief locked up for his crimes in Bikini Bottom Prison, while Buscemi lends his voice as Dorsal Dan, the finest getaway driver in town.

We're Seeing Double in Rooster Teeth's 'Camp Camp' Clip

Camp Camp tells the story of Max, a jaded ten year old, who finds himself stuck at a dysfunctional summer camp run by a shady business mogul who is looking to turn a profit any way he can. The cynical Max will have to survive annoyingly cheerful counselor David, the weird cast of campers, and bizarre surprises at every turn before he can escape for home.

Season 2 of Camp Camp is available to watch now through Rooster Teeth's FIRST membership, and will be showing up on their YouTube site in the future. Camp Camp will be exclusive to FIRST members for 7 days, meaning non-FIRST members will get the first episode NEXT Friday (June 16th) at 8 AM CT. You can sign up for a 30-day free trial of FIRST to check it all out now!

'Steven Universe' Fans Should Check Out Rolling Stone's Profile on Rebecca Sugar

Unfortunately, this isn't a news item or announcement of a new season of Steven Universe, but it is a recommendation for fans of the show and its creator, Rebecca Sugar, to head over to Rolling Stone to read over their excellent profile. Sugar talks about her experience making the show, stepping away from it a little bit, and the incredibly rewarding experience she's had with the show and its fans. Here's just a snippet of what she had to say:

"I watched shows as a kid that were supposed to be for little girls or for little boys, and I could not understand where I fit in that," she says. “It felt like there was nothing that was actually for me, and I didn’t know what that meant. I felt very guilty, because I loved shows for boys, and I wouldn’t tell people."

If that piques your attention or you're a long-time fan of Sugar, this interview is definitely worth a read!

'Wallace & Gromit' Voice Actor Peter Sallis Passes Away

As EW reports, Wallace & Gromit actor Peter Sallis has passed away at the age of 96. In a statement from Sallis' agent:

“It is with sadness that we announce that our client Peter Sallis died peacefully, with his family by his side, at Denville Hall on Friday 2 June."

Here's how Oscar-winning stop-motion animation writer/director Nick Park responded:

I’m so sad, but feel so grateful and privileged to have known and worked with Peter over so many years. He was always my first and only choice for Wallace. I knew him of course from the very popular long running BBC series Last of the Summer Wine. He brought his unique gift and humour to all that he did, and encapsulated the very British art of the droll and understated.

 

Working with Peter was always a delight and I will miss his wry, unpredictable humour and silliness – that started the moment he greeted you at the door, and didn’t stop when the mic was switched off. He had naturally funny bones and was a great storyteller and raconteur off stage too and would keep us amused for hours. He could make the simplest incident sound hilarious – just by the way he said it.

Sallis also starred in all 295 episodes of the long-running TV comedy series Last of the Summer Wine, even getting to speak the final words in the series finale back in 2010.

'Liyana' Inspired by Imaginations of Swaziland Orphans

A fascinating animation/live-action hybrid film that's part documentary, part imaginative yarn is on the way from directors Aaron and Amanda Kopp. Titled Liyana, the film is an observational study of African culture but also an animated tale spun from the imaginations of five young Swaziland orphans. EW has the first look at images from the film along with insight from the directors.

"These children, like most at that age, are a lively, imaginative bunch. But because of the challenges they faced before coming to the children's home, there was an additional layer of complexity — they were mysterious. The difficult experiences in their early years give them a unique perspective on the world. This film was just a way for us as filmmakers to meaningfully engage and collaborate with them, and hopefully allow others to be as enchanted by them as we are."

Thandie Newton is also onboard as an executive producer:

"Speaking broadly, this is exactly what we need in order to better serve our brothers and sisters in Africa," Newton says. "Films like this, where we grow together — where we embrace each other's hopelessness, and each other's triumphs — can help unite the world."

Be sure to head over to EW for more images and background on Liyana.

Academic Partnerships Announced by Women in Animation

As Variety reports, WIA (Women in Animation) has announced their first wave of academic partnerships aimed at encouraging and supporting students; The School of Visual Arts and California Institute of the Arts are onboard as sponsors.

“We’ve discovered that although the female population accounts for approximately 65% of the student body in animation schools, only 23% of those women are being placed in creative leadership roles within the industry,” said WIA co-president Marge Dean.

“Connecting with women during their academic training is a way for us to support their professional development and effort from the start, and to work together towards our goal of making the creative leadership in the industry 50-50 by 2025," said WIA treasure and member of the organization’s student committee Brendan Burch.

The first Women in Animation World Summit will be held at Annecy next week.

Animated Documentary 'Zero Impunity' Combats Sexual Violence in Armed Conflicts

Variety reports that the ambitious animated documentary Zero Impunity can now count Paris-based Indie Sales--the company behind the Oscar-nominated film My Life as a Zucchini--as a backer. Melusine Productions (The Breadwinner, Ernest & Celestine, The Congress) will handle the animation, aiming for a hand-drawn look with an artful style. The project will be shopped as a work-in-progress during Annecy next week, ahead of the film's anticipated release in France in early 2018.

Based on six in-depth investigations spearheaded by 11 female journalists, the documentary weaves animated sequences chronicling stories of sexual violence in times of war across the world, notably in Ukraine and Syria, with live action segments featuring survivors, whistle-blowers and psychologists.

 

Zero Impunity marks the feature debut of transmedia experts Nicolas Blies, Stéphane Hueber-Blies (Soundhunters) and 2D animation supervisor/storyboard artist Denis Lambert.

Head over to Variety for more on Zero Impunity.

New Projects Coming from Man of Action, Amazon Studios

We'll close today with some news of upcoming projects from Man of Action and Amazon Studios. First, as BC reports, Man of Action (Ben 10) is teaming up with media / toy company Alpha Group US on a new original animated series, with Matthew Wexler (PAW Patrol) of WexWorks Media as an executive producer.. Unfortunately, no solid details about the project are available just yet.

Here's what Man of Action had to say:

Man of Action was very excited by the unique creative proposition brought forward by Alpha and WexWorks, and we look forward to creating a fantastic new story world to explore it in.

Meanwhile, Variety reports that Amazon Studios is looking to double down on successful kids properties like Lost in Oz, The Snowy Day, Little Big Awesome and Tumble Leaf.

Tara Sorensen, head of kids’ programming for Amazon Studios, said:

“We are continuing to look at different formats and trying to sort of grow and build on what we have done to date. You will see us going into a slightly older space with series like ‘Dangerous Book for Boys,’ as well into the family space.”

Dangerous Book for Boys, the popular how-to book from Conn and Hal Iggulden, is a comedy series from Bryan Cranston and Greg Mottola. Amazon is also planning to reach beyond the preschool audience in the future. Similar to their live-action pilot series program, they plan to launch specials to test the waters and see whether or not a series can be built around them. Be sure to head to Variety for more information on what Amazon has in store.