Along with Francisco Gonzalez’s excellent weekly news recaps–This Week in Superhero News and This Week in Movie Trailers–we’re happy to provide you with This Week in Animation News to get you caught up on all things animated you might have missed over the past seven days. 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!
This week brought us the Golden Globe nominations, which included Best Animated Motion Picture nominees like Kubo and the Two Strings, Moana, and Zootopia. In continuing awards talk, Lin-Manuel Miranda's music for Moana should be the frontrunner for Best Original Song in the Oscars race, but it'll be a tough category. Miranda also has Vivo, an animated movie set up at Sony, that's been years in the making. Elsewhere, new trailers dropped for Despicable Me 3, The Boss Baby, and a re-release of a high-definition remastering of the original Ghost in the Shell anime. Plus, we got an early look at the new Warner Bros. Animation superhero series, Justice League Action.
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!
- Golden Globe Nominations: ‘Hacksaw Ridge’ Makes Strong Showing as ‘Silence’ Is Shut Out
- ‘Justice League Action’ Review: Animated Antics and Super-Powered Punchlines Abound
- Oscar Beat: Is This the Most Competitive “Best Original Song” Year Yet?
- First ‘Despicable Me 3’ Trailer Reveals Trey Parker’s 80s-Obsessed Villain
- Lin-Manuel Miranda Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop; Sony Fast-Tracks His Animated Movie ‘Vivo’
- ‘Trollhunters’ Featurette & TV Spot Further Reveal Guillermo del Toro’s Colorful World of Adventure
- ‘The Boss Baby': New Trailer Finds Alec Baldwin’s Infant Hatching a Big Plan
- New Trailer for ‘Ghost in the Shell’ Heralds the Animated Classic’s Re-Release on Blu-ray
- Watch: New ‘DuckTales’ Cast Sings Theme Song, Including David Tennant as Scrooge McDuck
'Attack on Titan' Season 2 Air-Date Revealed
Funimation announced its acquisition of Attack on Titan Season 2 and the return of the worldwide hit anime series which was first introduced to U.S. and Canadian audiences in 2013. Attack on Titan Season 2 is scheduled to premiere in April 2017 in Japan.
“Attack on Titan became an instant hit since it first streamed in 2013 and we are thrilled to bring fans the long-awaited Season 2 of the series,” said Gen Fukunaga, CEO and founder of Funimation. “Attack on Titan is truly a worldwide phenomenon that has continued to grow at a non-stop pace. Fans can look forward to an exciting second season.”
Attack on Titan (“Shingeki no Kyojin” in Japanese) is based on the New York Times best-selling manga series by Hajime Isayama and tells the story of a world in which the last of humanity fights to survive against man-eating giants called Titans. With now 21 volumes in print and an estimated 70 million copies in print today, Attack on Titan has inspired spin-off manga and novels, the anime series, a live action movie and numerous video games. Funimation simulcast the original 25-episode, Season 1 of Attack on Titan as well as released it on home video throughout North America.
“Attack on Titan is one of those rare titles that has reached true cult status with anime fans,” said Mike DuBoise, EVP and COO of Funimation. “It’s been more than 3 years since the last episode of Attack on Titan Season 1 and passion from its fans has not waned. We look forward to premiering it on FunimationNow.”
Experience the Golden Globe-Nominated Song "How Far I'll Go" from 'Moana'
Written by Lin-Manuel Miranda and performed by Auli'i Cravalho, the Golden Globe-nominated song “How Far I’ll Go” is just one example of the Disney film's amazing soundtrack; the two-disc deluxe edition and the digital deluxe edition soundtrack are available wherever music is sold and streamed.
And for more on Moana, take a look at some of our recent write-ups below:
- Weekend Box Office: ‘Moana’ Regains Her Throne, ‘La La Land’ Breaks Records
- Disney Animation’s Oscar-Winning Songs, Ranked
- ‘Zootopia’ and ‘Kubo’ Lead Annie Awards Nominations; ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘Civil War’ Land Nods
- ‘Inner Workings': 15 Things You Should Know About Disney’s New Animated Short for ‘Moana’
'Justice League Dark' Clip Conjures Up Constantine
Jump ahead to the 2:38 mark in the above video to check out a new clip from Warner Bros. Animation's upcoming film, Justice League Dark. Plus, stick around for an interview with the voice of John Constantine, Matt Ryan, along with more looks at the movie. He’s joined by a voice cast that includes Jason O’Mara as Batman, Camilla Luddington as Zatanna, Nicholas Turturro as Deadman, Ray Chase as the demon Etrigan, and Roger R. Cross as Swamp Thing.
Here’s the official synopsis:
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.
'Justice League Action' Behind-the-Scenes Character Featurette Reveals Future Glimpses
DC, Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network recently debuted Justice League Action, an all-new animated series that balances humor and heroic action in a very entertaining way. In this DC All Access animation clip, they talk to character designer Shane Glines about the new show that reunites DC's greatest super heroes. Shane reveals a few behind-the-scenes secrets about the look of the characters and discusses the tone of the show. In addition to a clip from the recent premiere episode "Shazam Slam", you can also get looks at upcoming scenes and characters in future episodes!
Watch: Seth Rogen and Top Animators Talk Ethnic Stereotypes and Princesses
THR's panel of top animation creators — including Byron Howard (Zootopia), Garth Jennings (Sing), Travis Knight (Kubo and the Two Strings), Mike Mitchell (Trolls), John Musker (Moana) and Mark Osborne (The Little Prince) — talk about their "inspirations, when to avoid having certain characters kiss and why you have to "kill yourself" when working in animation." The hour-long discussion touched on such topics as ethnic stereotypes and modern-day princesses. It's easy to look at this panel of seven White males and scoff at the idea of them having anything interesting to say about diversity or feminism, but their body of work should speak more loudly than their skin-deep appearance at first blush. It's a must-watch for any animation enthusiast.
Cartoon Network Acquires 'My Knight and Me'
When Princess Cat is kidnapped by an evil dragon during a training exercise, it's up to Jimmy and his dad to save her before it's too late!
Deadline reports that Cartoon Network's latest animated acquisition My Knight and Me will be making its debut on Monday, January 2nd at 4pm. The series that follows "the adventures of a colorful and charismatic trio of knights in shining armor" was created and directed by Joeri Christiaen and is produced by France’s TeamTO and Belgium’s Thuristar. The series revolves around "loyal, street-smart Jimmy the Squire (Jules de Jongh); his best friend, the fun and daring Cat the Princess (Kaycie Chase); and his father Henri of Orange (David Gasman), a charmingly inept but passionately chivalrous knight who might not be the most efficient protector of the realm, but he sure is the funniest. Together, they set out to make the Dark Ages a little brighter and a whole lot more fun." Turner’s Boomerang premiered the cartoon in the UK earlier this year; My Knight and Me will continue its rollout on Turner's platforms around the world.
GKIDS to Release Studio Ghibli's 'Ocean Waves' in the U.S. for the First Time
GKIDS, the producer and distributor of award-winning animation for both adult and family audiences, announced that it will release Studio Ghibli's Ocean Waves, which has never before been released in the U.S. ... until now! The film will play starting on December 28th at IFC Center in New York, and one night only in Los Angeles at the Egyptian Theatre, in a new 4K restoration. The film will then be released on home video formats in Spring 2017.
Ocean Waves is directed by Tomomi Mochizuki and written by Kaori Nakamura, which was adapted from a novel of the same name by Saeko Himuro. The film was originally made in 1993 for Japanese television.
Here's the official synopsis for Ocean Waves:
Rarely seen outside of Japan, OCEAN WAVES is a subtle, poignant and wonderfully detailed story of adolescence and teenage isolation. Taku and his best friend Yutaka are headed back to school for what looks like another uneventful year. But they soon find their friendship tested by the arrival of Rikako, a beautiful new transfer student from Tokyo whose attitude vacillates wildly from flirty and flippant to melancholic. When Taku joins Rikako on a trip to Tokyo, the school erupts with rumors, and the three friends are forced to come to terms with their changing relationships.
OCEAN WAVES was the first Studio Ghibli film directed by someone other than studio founders Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, as director Tomomi Mochizuki led a talented staff of younger employees in an adaptation of Saeko Himuro's best-selling novel. Full of shots bathed in a palette of pleasingly soft pastel colors and rich in the unexpected visual details typical of Studio Ghibli's most revered works, OCEAN WAVES is an accomplished teenage drama and a true discovery.
Studio Ghibli Animators to Release 'Mary and the Witch's Flower' Through Studio Ponoc
Using Stewart’s original story as a guide, Maro teased out the story, adding an entirely new second act that plays to Mary’s strengths as a young girl whose courage and persistence, as opposed to magic powers, sees her overcome the danger at hand.
Nishimura describes it as a film for children who are “moving into a 21st century that’s different from the one their parents imagined for them.” He goes on: “I think we all had a vision of what the world would be like, but it’s not the one we’re moving into. So what filmmakers should say at a time when people are losing hope – and what kind of film might help restore it in our children – are big themes for right now.”
Image via Studio Ponoc[/caption]
James Purefoy Confirms Voice Role in 'Trollhunters'
DreamWorks Animation and series' creator Guillermo del Toro are bringing Trollhunters to Netflix. The original tale suffused with mythology and magic follows Jim (Anton Yelchin), "a teenager who unwittingly becomes a defender of the phospholuminescent civilization of trolls that live beneath his town. The 26-episode series, produced in part by Marc Guggenheim, will bow on December 23rd.
Kelsey Grammer plays the six-eyed troll ally Blinky, with Ron Perlman voicing Bular, the villain and primary antagonist. Charlie Saxton voices Jim’s human pal Toby, while Steven Yeun stars as the bully Steve. Other voice talents include Lexi Medrano as Claire, Jonathan Hyde as Mr. Strickler, James Purefoy as Kanjigar, Fred Tatasciore as Aaarrrgh!, and Amy Landecker as Barbara.
The series also serves as a tribute of sorts to the late Yelchin, who passed away earlier this year;Trollhunters is his final work. Look for more on Trollhunters, Yelchin, and more from an interview with Guggenheim coming this week!
