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!

Another busy week in animation news! For the youngsters out there, we have good news: some preschool animated series are on the way, including Marvel Super Hero Adventures and Top Wing. We also have word on some new animated series that are in the works, including ConstantinePaddingtonRon's Gone Wrong, and Watchdog. Plus, a thrilling new character trailer for Rooster Teeth's RWBY Volume 5 arrives along with the new season's debut, and the announcement of new, limited edition Attack on Titan anime episodes!

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Image via Warner Bros. Animation

On the movie side of things, Teen Titans Go! to the Movies confirms its super-heroic voice cast, Samurai Jack returns to theaters ahead of the Season 5 and Complete Series Blu-ray release next week, and the awards contender/animated short Fox and the Whale goes online for your viewing pleasure. And that's just scratching the surface on this week's insane amount of animation news.

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!

New 'RWBY' Trailer Focuses on Yang

You know that Ruby is unstoppable with her scythe, but Yang knows the true power of hand-to-hand combat. In the midst of a weapon-free training session, can Yang convince her sister of the importance of fighting without a weapon? Watch to see what happens, and tune in TODAY with your FIRST membership to see Chapter 1 of RWBY Volume 5!

Keep an eye out for my review of the premiere coming soon! In the meantime, here's when/where you can watch more RWBY:

RWBY Volume 5 - Premieres October 14, 2017 on FIRST

Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang are each entangled in journeys of their own, but they all share one destination: Haven Academy. Whether it's the promise of ancient relics, mystical maidens, or simply more power, it's clear that the stage for the next great battle for Remnant has been chosen. The question is, with so many players in this game, who's going to come out on top?

RWBY REWIND - Premieres Live, October 17, 2017 only on FIRST

In RWBY Rewind, Rooster Teeth hosts Yssa Badiola (Fan Service host and Lead 2D Animator at Rooster Teeth Animation) and Chad James (Producer at ScrewAttack and voice of Boomstick in Death Battle) catch up with the stars and crew behind RWBY, react to the series with fans, and provide exclusive sneak-peeks at upcoming episodes. RWBY REWIND airs live exclusively on FIRST the Tuesday after the premiere broadcast of new episodes of RWBY.

CRWBY: Behind the Episode - Premieres October 14, 2017 only on FIRST

Have you ever wondered how RWBY is made? Each week, CRWBY: Behind the Episode will give you a peek at the magic, highlight the animation process, and introduce you to the animators, engineers, producers and artists who work tirelessly to bring the World of Remnant to life. CRWBY: Behind the Episode airs exclusively on FIRST immediately following the premiere broadcast of new episodes of RWBY.

New 'Attack on Titan' Anime Episodes Coming Soon

As Crunchyroll reports, new episodes of the hit anime Attack on Titan are on the way sooner than expected. No, it's not a new season but rather a trio of OAD (original animation DVDs) adapting the "Lost Girls" manga issues. Series creator Hajime Isayama will supervise the stories about Mikasa Ackerman and Annie Leonhart. These limited editions OADs will be bundled with the upcoming manga releases. The latest issue of Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine offered up the latest chapter of the manga along with the schedule of the planned episodes (Japanese release dates):

  • Vol. 24: Annie’s story Part 1 (December 8, 2017)
  • Vol. 25: Annie’s story Part 2 (April 9, 2018)
  • Vol. 26: Mikasa’s story (August 9, 2018)

 

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Image via Kodansha

Get Your First Look at CW Seed's 'Constantine' Animated Series

First Look! New York Comic Con attendees received a first look of Constantine, an all-new animated digital series from Warner Bros. Animation and Blue Ribbon Content following DC’s popular comic book character John Constantine (voiced by the live-action series star Matt Ryan), a seasoned demon hunter and master of the occult.

 

Armed with an arcane knowledge of the dark arts and a wicked wit, he fights the good fight. With his soul already damned to hell, he’ll do whatever it takes to protect the innocent. With the balance of good and evil on the line‎, Constantine uses his skills to face the supernatural terrors that threaten our world and send them back where they belong. After that, who knows…maybe there’s hope for him and his soul after all.

 

Executive produced by David S. Goyer, Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter, the series, which will premiere on CW Seed, is produced by Butch Lukic, written by J.M. DeMatteis and directed by Doug Murphy.

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Image via CW Seed

Studiocanal to Bring an Animated 'Paddington' Series to Bear

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Image via StudioCanal

As Variety reports, Studiocanal is forging ahead with their plan to bring new Paddington projects into the world. The next ambitious phase, following the European production and distribution studio's launch of Paddington 2 next month (arriving in the States early next year), involves an animated series totaling 52 episodes, at 11 minutes each, scheduled for release late next year or early in 2019. Based on author Michael Bond's stories, the target audience will be preschoolers, though it's expected to have broad appeal. The company's looking for franchise-building opportunities, especially concerning TV tie-ins to movie releases. With Paddington being their flagship title, expect more to come in the near future!

'DuckTales' Premiere Tops Disney XD Viewership Records

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Image via Disney XD

The launch of Disney XD's comedy adventure series DuckTales in two back-to-back episodes ranked as the network's #1 animated series launch in 2½ years in Total Viewers (662,000) and Kids 2-11 (311,000/0.8 rating), and its #1 animated launch in over 2 years in Kids 6-11 (164,000/0.7 rating) – since 3/20/15 ("Star vs. The Forces of Evil") and 6/20/16 ("LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures"), respectively. 40% of all Kids 2-14 watched the premieres with an Adult 18-49.

The two episodes ranked #1 in the hour among Boys 2-11 (198,000/1.0 rating), Boys 6-11 (121,000/1.0 rating) and Boys 6-14 (144,000/0.8 rating), and was the #1 original entertainment cable TV telecast in Total Viewers.

To date, DuckTales has amassed nearly 50 million Total Views including reaching 26 million Total Viewers via linear TV, generating 20 million video views across key social media platforms led by YouTube with 14 million, and over 2 million views to date across Disney XD VOD, the Disney XD App and the Disney Channel App.

Sia and the Mane Six Sing "Rainbow" from ‘My Little Pony: The Movie’

Sing along with Sia and the Mane Six! Get "Rainbow" featured on the ‘My Little Pony: The Movie’ Official Soundtrack!

  1. Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, Granny Smith, Apple Bloom, Big Mac “We Got This Together”
  2. Capper(Taye Diggs) “I’m The Friend You Need”
  3. Captain Celaeno (Zoe Saldana), Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy,Rarity, Spike, Boyle, First Mate Mullet, Lix Spittle“Time To Be Awesome”
  4. Princess Skystar (Kristin Chenoweth), Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity“One Small Thing”
  5. Tempest Shadow (Emily Blunt)“Open Up Your Eyes”
  6. Songbird Serenade (Sia)“Rainbow”
  7. Lukas Graham“Off To See The World”
  8. Rachel Platten“Thank You For Being A Friend”
  9. DNCE“Can You Feel It”
  10. Jessie James Decker“I’ll Chase The Sky”
  11. CL“No Better Feelin’”
  12. Palmer Reed “I’ll Be Around”
  13. Lukas Nelson“Neighsayer”

'Teen Titans Go' Movie Cast Revealed

[EMBED_TWITTER]https://twitter.com/TeenTitansMovie/status/917427118329303041?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw[/EMBED_TWITTER]

Greg Cipes returns as Beast Boy, Scott Menville as Robin, Khary Payton as Cyborg, Tara Strong as Raven, Hynden Walch as Starfire, with Will Arnett and Kristen BellTeen Titans Go! to the Movies on July 27, 2018.

'Samurai Jack' Movie and Complete Series Blu-ray Details

Fathom Events and Adult Swim bring the Emmy™ nominated series, Samurai Jack, to cinemas nationwide for a special premiere movie event featuring an interview with the creator on the beginnings of Samurai Jack, and what the show means to him.

 

Be the first to see the remastered premiere movie from acclaimed Season 1, when "Samurai Jack: Premiere Movie Event" hits movie theatres for only one night.

Created by 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.

 

For tickets and participating theaters, visit http://bit.ly/2wv6Gu7.

Samurai Jack: The Complete Series and Samurai Jack: Season Five both arrive on Blu-ray on October 17, 2017. 

The Complete Series special features include:

  • The Making of Samurai Jack
  • Genndy's Scrapbook
  • The Pitch
  • The Martial Arts of Samurai Jack
  • Lost Artwork Gallery
  • The Evolution of Jack!
  • Pitch Movies
  • Audio Commentary
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Image via Adult Swim

Halloween Safety Tips Courtesy of 'Skylanders Academy'

Halloween is upon us! And everyone's favorite evil genius, Kaos, is here to share his best tips to help you have a fun and safe Halloween.

Whether you dress-up as a heroic Skylander or an evil Doom-Raider this Halloween, it's important to stay safe as you fill your trick-or-treat bag with yummy candy. Spyro and his heroic team are busy making their costumes, but everyone's favorite evil genius Kaos has taken a break from being bad to share some Halloween safety tips with you. Be sure to share this video to make sure everyone has a scary good time while trick-or-treating!

1) Always trick-or-treat in a group. 2) Stay in a well-lit area. 3) Look both ways before crossing the street. 4) Use a flashlight or reflective tape. 5) Always have an adult check your candy. 6) Remember to brush your teeth.

'Marvel Super Hero Adventures' Series Launches for Preschool Audiences

Marvel has launched the first two of ten brand new Marvel Super Hero Adventures shorts on Disney Channel, Disney Junior, and Marvel HQ, Marvel’s new kids and family YouTube destination. In Marvel’s first preschool audience-focused content, the shorts follow our favorite crime-fighting teenager, Spider-Man, as he reveals some of the most important things he’s learned while on action-packed adventures with other Marvel super heroes.

The first two Marvel Super Hero Adventures shorts appear below:

Marvel Super Hero Adventures - “One Big Mess”

When Ultron steals Tony Stark’s brand-new, high-tech garbage truck, Iron Man shows Spidey how to use problem-solving skills and inventiveness to stop the ravaging robot and clean up the city.

Marvel Super Hero Adventures - “Uh-Oh, it’s Magic”

Thor and Spidey enjoy a summer day at the pier until everyone’s fun is frozen over by the evil Loki. While our heroes try to break the icy spell, Thor reminds Spidey to always look out for the little guy.

The animated shorts mark Marvel’s first preschool audience-focused content. Each short is 3.5 minutes in length and there will be 10 shorts total premiering throughout the next month on multiple platforms. Classic iconic heroes like Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Captain America and Ant-Man, as well as emerging favorites like Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Wasp and Ms. Marvel will make appearances in the episodes.

Marvel Super Hero Adventures shorts – multi-platform rollout: 

  • Shorts #1 and #2: Friday, October 13

    • Disney Channel (Disney Junior programming block) – 12:25 pm (#1) and 1:55 pm (#2).
    • Disney Junior – 6:25 pm (#1) and 7:55 pm (#2)
    • Marvel HQ – shorts #1 and #2

  • Short #3: Friday, October 27

    • Disney Channel (Disney Junior programming block) – 1:55 pm
    • Disney Junior – 7:55 pm
    • Marvel HQ

  • Short #4: Saturday, October 28

    • Disney Channel (Disney Junior programming block) - 6:55 am
    • Disney Junior – 8:25 pm
    • Marvel HQ

  • Short #5: Sunday, October 29

    • Disney Channel (Disney Junior programming block) - 6:55 am
    • Disney Junior – 8:25 pm
    • Marvel HQ

  • Shorts #6-10: Friday, December 1- Wednesday, December 6, 2017

    • Disney Channel and Disney Junior same-day (exact times TBD)
    • Marvel HQ

  • DisneyNOW        

    • Shorts #1-5: Friday, October 27
    • Shorts #6-10: Friday, December 1

'LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2' Trailer Shows off Cosmo the Spacedog

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Image via LEGO

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment released a trailer for LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2, diving deeper into the original branching storyline featured in this all-new LEGO adventure. The video stars lovable canine, Cosmo the Spacedog – telepathic Soviet cosmonaut, Knowhere’s chief of security and ally to the Guardians of the Galaxy – who is tasked with alerting and assembling an elite team of Super Heroes to take on the time-travelling Super Villain, Kang the Conqueror. Kang has stolen numerous Marvel cities and locations from across time and space to form the expansive Open Hub World of Chronopolis, in hopes to take over the universe. As a result, Cosmo’s call to action brings together a diverse group of Marvel Super Heroes from different time periods and realities – including Star-LordThorSpi

der-ManSpider-GwenHulkSh

e-HulkMs. MarvelRocket RaccoonIron ManCowboy Captain AmericaDoctor StrangeCaptain MarvelBlack PantherGroot and many more – who must all band together to foil Kang’s diabolical plans.

LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 Season Pass details were revealed and will feature six Level Packs and four Character Packs. The Level Packs will feature content inspired by a number of upcoming Marvel films and television series, including Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2Marvel Studios’ Black PantherMarvel Studios’ Avengers: Infinity WarMarvel Studios’ Ant-Man and The WaspCloak & Dagger and The Runaways. The Character Packs, including Agents of AtlasChampionsOut of Time and Classic Guardians of the Galaxy, will add more than 60 new characters to the main game’s diverse roster of over 200 Super Heroes and Super Villains. The Season Pass will be available separately for $14.99, or as part of the LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 Deluxe Edition, which features the main game, Season Pass, early access to the Classic Guardians of the Galaxy Character Pack and an exclusive Giant-Man LEGO minifigure (included in physical version only) for $74.99.

Actor Peter Serafinowicz (The Tick) was confirmed as the voice of Kang the Conqueror, the time-travelling Super Villain in LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2.

Various new characters were revealed, including Grandmaster (Thor: Ragnarok)Valkyrie (Thor: Ragnarok)Arizona AnnieBlade,Captain AvalonCharlie-27Chipmunk HunkDormammuGhost Rider & Hell CycleHellcowHobgoblinHulk 2099Koi BoiLady SpiderLuke CageMisty KnightMorbiusPhantom RiderRed WolfLiving TotemSquirrel GirlSuper Adaptoid and Ursa Major.

 

NIckelodeon's Preschool Series 'Top Wing' Takes Flight

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Image via Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon takes adventure to new heights in the brand-new CG-animated preschool series Top Wing (26 episodes), premiering Monday, November 6th, at 12:30 p.m. (ET/PT).  The action-packed series follows a team of eager young birds as they work together to help their island community, go on amazing adventures and earn their wings as full-feathered rescue birds. Produced by 9 Story Media Group, Top Wing features storylines that help preschoolers build self-confidence, and includes lessons about perseverance and hard work.  Following its U.S. launch, Top Wing will roll out internationally in 2018.

Top Wing follows four best friend rescue birds--Swift, Penny, Rod and Brody--who are training to earn their wings at the Top Wing Academy on Big Swirl Island.  With the help of their mentor Speedy, and unique turbo-charged vehicles and high-tech gadgets, the cadets are assigned different missions to sharpen their rescue skills and help those in need while learning valuable lessons along the way.

In Top Wing’s series premiere, “Time to Earn Our Wings,” cadets-in-training Swift, Penny, Rod and Brody gather at Top Wing Academy where they learn to pilot their new vehicles and become the best rescue team Big Swirl Island has ever seen.

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Image via Nickelodeon

Meet the Top Wing cadets:

  • Swift– A daring and playful blue jay who is the fastest turbo-charged pilot in the sky.
  • Penny– A curious penguin and undersea expert who is always up for a challenge in her super submarine.
  • Rod – An energetic and funny rooster who is ready to fly across the island on his all-terrain vehicle.
  • Brody– A laid-back puffin who loves to fly across, over and on the waves in turbo-charged vehicle.

Leading up to the linear series premiere of Top Wing, an all-new full-length episode and short-form content are available now on NickJr.com and the Nick Jr. App.

Top Wing is created by Matthew Fernandes of Industrial Brothers (Dot, Yup Yups, Gummandos) and executive produced by Scott Kraft (co-creator, Fresh Beat Band; executive producer/head writer, PAW Patrol), Vince Commisso for 9 Story Media Group and Matthew Fernandes and Arthur Spanos for Industrial Brothers.  It is the newest series to join Nick’s top-ranked preschool roster, airing alongside hit series like PAW PatrolBlaze and the Monster MachinesShimmer and Shine and Sunny Day.

'Olaf's Frozen Adventure' Soundtrack Details Revealed

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Image via Disney

The soundtrack from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ 21-minute featurette Olaf’s Frozen Adventure will be released by Walt Disney Records on Nov. 3, 2017, ahead of the featurette, which opens in front of Disney•Pixar’s original feature Coco in U.S. theaters on November 22, 2017. Olaf’s Frozen Adventure introduces four all-new original songs written by Elyssa Samsel and Kate Anderson, and a score by Christophe Beck, who was behind the score for 2013’s Oscar-winning feature Frozen.

The featurette welcomes back to the big screen the celebrated cast and characters from Frozen, including Josh Gad as unforgettable snowman Olaf, Idina Menzel as Elsa, Kristen Bell as Anna, and Jonathan Groff as Kristoff. Emmy-winning filmmakers Stevie Wermers-Skelton and Kevin Deters said that the music helped shape the story in unexpected ways.

The featurette/soundtrack’s original songs include “Ring in the Season,” “The Battle of Flemmingrad,” “That Time of Year” and “When We’re Together. The soundtrack also includes “Olaf's Frozen Adventure” Score Suite by Beck, the traditional version of “The Ballad of Flemmingrad,” plus bonus tracks with instrumental/karaoke versions of each new song.

Audio snippets of 3 tracks can be heard here:

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Image via Disney

Olaf’s Frozen Adventure Soundtrack Track List:

  1. “Ring in the Season” - Performed by Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel and Josh Gad
  2. “The Ballad of Flemmingrad” - Performed by Jonathan Groff
  3. “Ring in the Season” (Reprise) - Performed by Idina Menzel
  4. “That Time of Year” - Performed by Josh Gad and Idina Menzel and Kristen Bell and Cast
  5. “That Time of Year” (Reprise) - Performed by Josh Gad
  6. “When We're Together” - Performed by Idina Menzel and Kristen Bell and Josh Gad and Jonathan Groff
  7. “Olaf's Frozen Adventure” Score Suite – Composed by Christophe Beck and Jeff Morrow
  8. “The Ballad of Flemmingrad” (Traditional Version) - Performed by Jonathan Groff
  9. “Ring in the Season” - [Instrumental Karaoke Mix]
  10. “That Time of Year” - [InstrumentalKaraoke Mix]
  11. “When We're Together” - [Instrumental Karaoke Mix]

Olaf’s Frozen Adventure soundtrack will be released in physical and digital formats by Walt Disney Records on November 3, 2017.  The CD can be pre-ordered HERE.  

'Ron's Gone Wrong' Coming from 20th Century Fox and Locksmith Animation

Twentieth Century Fox and Locksmith Animation, the UK's new high-end CG feature animation studio, have today revealed their inaugural project together, Ron's Gone Wrong. Co-Directors Alessandro Carloni and Pixar Story vet J.P. Vine will helm the film for a November 2020 release.

Ron's Gone Wrong is the first project in the recently announced multi-year production partnership between Twentieth Century Fox and Locksmith Animation, which is expected to deliver one film every 12-18 months. Locksmith Animation will develop and produce the project end-to-end in London with partners Double Negative providing digital production.

Ron's Gone Wrong tells the story of the wonderful walking, talking, digitally connected bot that sweeps the world becoming every kid's new Best Friend. But when an eleven-year-old boy ends up with one that doesn't work, his attempts to teach it become a hilarious, heart-warming exploration of what real friendship means in a world of algorithms and social media.

The multi award-winning creative team assembled for Ron's Gone Wrong includes Production Designer Nathan Crowley with Aurelien Predal, Character Designer Carter Goodritch, Editor David Burrows, Cinematographer David Peers, and VFX Supervisor Philippe Denis. Writers are Peter Baynham and Sarah Smith and Producer is Lara Breay. Julie Lockhart and Sarah Smith serve as Locksmith Producers with co-Founder Elisabeth Murdoch as Executive Producer, alongside Peter BaynhamRon's Gone Wrong will be distributed worldwide by Twentieth Century Fox.

'DreamWorks Dragons' Team to Shepherd Sci-Fi Series 'Watchdog'

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Image via Sonar Entertainment

As Animation Magazine reports, Sonar Entertainment has designs on adapting Hugo-winning author Will McIntosh’s new sci-fi adventure Watchdog as an animated series. Aimed at a 8-12 year old audience, DreamWorks Animation Television’s Dragons: Race to the Edge executive producers Art Brown and Douglas Sloan will act as showrunners.

Set in Chicago 30 years from now, the book centers on a 14-year-old autistic electronics whiz, his sister and their robotic “Watchdog” pet, Daisy. When they install an A.I. chip in Daisy, they must navigate the future world, where Watchdogs (mechanical creatures that span the animal kingdom) are controlled by good and evil forces.

“In Watchdog, Will McIntosh has brilliantly created a future that not only echoes current issues but engages us through a kid’s perspective in a very modern way,” says Andrea Gorfolova, president of kids, family and factual at Sonar Entertainment. “We look forward to working with Art and Doug to develop this extraordinary story of friendship, love and adversity for worldwide audiences.”

McIntosh’s previous novel Defenders has also been optioned by Warner Bros. as a feature film. Sonar, meanwhile, recently produced Stephen King’s Mr. Mercedes,The Shannara Chronicles and animated series Counterfeit Cat and Go Away, Unicorn.

Watch the Animated Awards Contender 'Fox and the Whale'

Directed by Robin JosephFox and the Whale follows the story of a curious fox who goes in search of an elusive whale on a journey of longing and discovery.

Fox and the Whale is an award-winning, independent, self-financed short film completed in June 2016. The film was made over a course of 16 months from storyboards to final picture and sound, for the most part with a crew of two – Robin Joseph and his partner Kim Leow.

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Image via Robin Joseph
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Image via Robin Joseph
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Image via Robin Joseph