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!

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!

Check out an new extended trailer for "Scoobynatural"!

The thrilling and terrifying journey of the Winchester brothers continues as SUPERNATURAL enters its thirteenth season. Sam and Dean have spent their lives on the road, battling supernatural threats that include everything from the demon that killed their mother to the usual vampires, ghosts, shape-shifters, angels and fallen gods rampaging over the land. They've come out on top with the help of allies, both human and supernatural, but every victory comes at a price.

Scope a bunch of new images for the special below, along with commentary from stars Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki:

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Image via The CW

The following quotes come courtesy of our own TV Editor Allison Keene's visit to The CW series set. 

What can you tell us about the animated Scooby Doo episode?

Jensen Ackles: We've been working on it since, when was that? February or March [2017] that we did the....

Jared Padalecki: I think we found out about it in January [2017].

Ackles: We've already laid down the audio for it, which was...

Padalecki: Laid down some sick beats!

Ackles: ...which was really fun. They put Jared and myself and Misha into a studio there and recorded the whole thing so it will all be documented, which may or may not be a good thing.

Padalecki: We'll probably still have to do some pick ups and changes.

Ackles: I'm sure we'll have to do some additional stuff, but just working on that from that perspective and what little we've done so far was very enjoyable. We've already seen some animatics. It's like a loose sketch, a loose rendering, a moving sketch of our dialogue put into that. So that was pretty cool.

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Image via The CW
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Image via The CW

Padalecki: I grew up watching Scooby-Doo and I remember when the Scooby-Doo movies came out, and they wanted me to try out for Shaggy. I was young, and Lillard's great -- I fought not to do it. I'm a big James Bond fan, not that I could ever be James Bond, but someone's like, “Would you try out?” No, I wouldn't, cause I wanna watch that as something I enjoy.

Ackles: What about a James Bond villain?

Padalecki: Sure. I wanna do, like -- if I can wear a mask....you know Daniel Craig was in Star Wars?

Ackles: What about a Bond girl?

Padalecki: Always. I think I’d make an exception for that. I'm really excited for Scooby-Doo to be part of the Supernatural lore, but I'm more excited for the Supernatural lore to be a part of the Scooby-Doo canon. That's cool for me, you know what I mean? That now there's a footnote about Supernatural when people are talking about Scooby-Doo. I hope we can do more of it. The meta episodes are great. I just watched “The French Mistake.” I don't know if I had seen it in years and years. I watched it and I was laughing. I laughed out loud at a lot of it. I think this is going to be a similar one. It's nerve-wracking to make when you're such a fan of something. It's certainly causes some anxiety, but they seemed happy with it."

Ackles: You don't want to mess it up. You want to do it justice.

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Image via The CW
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Image via The CW

Is Dean going to hit on Daphne?

Ackles: What do you think?

Is Castiel the Scrappy?

Padalecki: Yes, exactly. He's our little Scrappy Doo.

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Image via The CW
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Image via The CW
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Image via The CW
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Image via The CW
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Image via The CW
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Image via The CW
supernatural-scooby-doo-scoobynatural-images
Image via The CW
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Image via The CW
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Image via The CW
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Image via The CW

New 'Marvel Rising' Images Reveal the Secret Warriors

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Image via Marvel

As Marvel teased this week, Marvel Rising will include six, four-minute digital shorts that spotlight Ghost-Spider and a feature-length animated film, Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors, will all premiere later this year. The story features "powered teens like Ms. Marvel, Squirrel Girl, Quake, Patriot, America Chavez, and Inferno, joining together, rising up, and taking on an unimaginable force that threaten their young lives and the universe, alike. This misfit team aims to inspire younger audiences with their relatable and inclusive heroes that reflects the world we live in."

Here's a look at their character models with a little more information for each one:

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Image via Marvel

Gwen Stacy aka Ghost-Spider (formerly Spider Gwen) voiced by Dove Cameron (“Descendants,” “Hairspray Live”) – a free spirited teen who found her calling to be a super hero after being bitten by a radioactive spider and gaining spider-like powers. As Ghost-Spider, she aids those in need, but has to keep her alter-ego a secret from her father, Captain George Stacy, who sees Ghost-Spider as more of a menace than a hero.

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Image via Marvel

Daisy Johnson aka Quake voiced by Chloe Bennet (“Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” “Nashville”) – a leading agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. whose tendency for rule-breaking gets her into trouble now and then. Daisy befriends the young group of heroes and through them discovers how to become a better leader. She can generate powerful vibrational waves, which produce effects similar to earthquakes.

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Image via Marvel

Dante Pertuz aka Inferno voiced by Tyler Posey (“Teen Wolf,” “Lincoln Heights”) – a brooding, dark loner on the run. Dante has the power of pyrokinesis, which makes him capable of generating flames – however, he is not fully in control of his fiery abilities. It’s a thin line between good guy and villain for the unpredictable Inferno.

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Image via Marvel

Kamala Khan aka Ms. Marvel voiced by Kathreen Khavari (“Marvel’s Avengers Assemble,” “Big Little Lies”)  – a devoted fan of Super Heroes, especially of her mentor Captain Marvel; she is determined that she too can be a great hero! If only she’d be taken seriously. Kamala is equipped with metamorphic powers that allow her to stretch, enlarge, or shrink her overall size, parts of her body, or alter her physical appearance. She is especially fond of “embiggening” her fists.

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Image via Marvel

Doreen Green aka Squirrel Girl voiced by Milana Vayntrub (“Marvel’s New Warriors,” “This Is Us”) – the uber-positive, hilarious best friend and teammate of Ms. Marvel. With advanced computer skills, enhanced strength, agility, durability, and senses of a squirrel, Doreen (along with her squirrel partner, Tippy Toe!),  is primed and ready to become a successful hero.

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Image via Marvel

America Chavez voiced by Cierra Ramirez (“The Fosters,” “The Secret Life of an America Teenager”) – a strong, independent young hero whose painful past drives her to reject leadership and remain a loner. America’s powers include superhuman strength, speed, and durability, plus the ability to fly.

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Image via Marvel

Rayshaun Lucas aka Patriot voiced by Kamil McFadden (“K.C. Undercover,” “Grown Ups 2”) – a natural born leader who is quick to leap into action to impress his colleagues at S.H.I.E.L.D. Rayshaun strives to live up to Captain America’s legacy with integrity, honesty, and order above all. His skills include heightened strength, speed, stamina, and durability.

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Image via Marvel

Carol Danvers aka Captain Marvel voiced by Kim Raver (“Grey’s Anatomy,” “24”) – a bold leader who doesn’t sugar-coat and is guided by a strong sense of duty and honor. She’s the ultimate inspiration for our band of misfit heroes. She is equipped with superhuman strength, can fly at high speeds, and can project intense energy blasts.

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Image via Marvel

Lockjaw and Tippy Toe are voiced by Dee Bradley Baker (“Star Wars Rebels,” “Gravity Falls”). Two lovable and heroic sidekicks: Lockjaw is Kamala’s trusty, teleporting mutt and Tippy Toe is Doreen’s partner in crime and best squirrel friend.

'Ponyo' Returns to Theaters

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Image via Crunchyroll

Studio Ghibli Fest 2018 kicks off with Hayao Miyazaki's lovable classic for all ages, Ponyo, now celebrating its tenth anniversary! See this heartwarming adventure in theaters this weekend for three days only: March 25th, 26th, and 28th. Get tickets now before they sell out!

When Sosuke, a young boy who lives on a clifftop overlooking the sea, rescues a stranded goldfish named Ponyo, he discovers more than he bargained for. Ponyo is a curious, energetic young creature who yearns to be human, but even as she causes chaos around the house, her father, a powerful sorcerer, schemes to return Ponyo to the sea.

Get your tickets here!

'The Snow Queen: Fire and Ice' Arrives in China This April, U.S. Later This Year

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Image via Wizart Animation

Variety brings us the word that Russian studio Wizart Animation will be bringing The Snow Queen: Fire and Ice to Chinese theaters starting April 5th thanks to distributor Turbo Films. Here's what they had to say:

“We are elated to be working with Wizart Animation to bring their delightfully animated ‘Snow Queen 3’ into theaters in China. Wizart has created a modern re-imagination of a classic fairytale by Hans Christian Andersen that is fun for parents and children alike."

The U.S. release arrives later this year courtesy of Vertical Entertainment.

The fourth film in the franchise The Snow Queen: Mirrorlands was shopped to buyers this week at Hong Kong’s FilMart ahead of a December release in Russia. In this upcoming tale, franchise heroine Gerda attempts to save magic-wielders who are trapped in Mirrorlands, but must team up with the Snow Queen to do so. Director Aleksey Tsitsilin returns alongside Robert Lence (Beauty and the Beast, Toy Story, Shrek).

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Image via Wizart Animation

'My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic' Season 8 Clip Pays Homage to a Classic

"When I wake up in the morning, gotta keep some puffs from forming and I gotta get to Twilight School by noon… It's alright 'cause I'm saved by my friends!” Don't miss the first new episode of season 8, airing on Discovery Family on March 24th at 11:30am / 10:30c!

Calling every pony (and creature) in Equestria -- Twilight Sparkle’s School of Friendship is in session! On Saturday, March 24th at 11:30a/10:30c, Discovery Family premieres the eighth season of My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic with 26 half hour episodes complete with seven original songs, new characters and tons of friendship! New episodes of the Hasbro Studios’ produced animated series will also stream live and on demand on Discovery Family GO, the network’s TV Everywhere app.

Following the events of My Little Pony: The Movie, in the back-to-back season premiere episodes titled “School Daze Part 1” and “School Daze Part 2,” the Mane 6 discovers that the Friendship Map has expanded to show the world outside Equestria. Through two exciting original songs, Twilight Sparkle learns that friendship needs to spread beyond the limits of the kingdom and decides to open her very own School of Friendship. But things come to a head when the new non-pony students ditch class on Friends and Family day, putting the entire school in jeopardy!

This season, viewers will witness major milestones featuring the introduction of Starlight Glimmer’s parents and Princess Celestia's big acting debut. Additionally, the Mane 6’s Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy are accompanied by six new creatures including Ocellus the Changeling, Silverstream the Hippogriff/Seapony, Smolder the Dragon, Gallus the Griffin, Yona the Yak and Sandbar the Pony, joining them on epic adventures throughout new and familiar lands such as Mount Aris, Everfree Forest, Las Pegasus and more. Fan-favorite characters Maud Pie, Spike, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Queen Chrysalis and Discord return with exciting storylines and a whole lot of magic!

Spice Girls Might Be Getting an Animated Superhero Movie

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Image via Columbia Pictures

As Variety reports, the 90s "girl band" The Spice Girls might be making a comeback in an unexpected way ... as characters in an animated superhero movie. Apparently the film project that's being shopped around has all five supergroup members signed on to play their likenesses in a "girl power"-focused feature. Each of them would also have a literal "girl power" reflecting their (manufactured) personality. Variety's source said:

“The Spice Girls are thinking big in terms of a franchise on a global scale. They’re the most successful girl group on the planet. It’s just what Marvel or Disney needs.”

Personally, I think Marvel/Disney are doing just fine on their own. Manager Simon Fuller, however, would not comment on the group’s future plans, so it sounds like they're testing the waters on this idea at the moment. Any interest from fans out there who actually remember The Spice Girls?

Tiffany Haddish Joins 'The LEGO Movie 2'

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Image via Universal Pictures

THR reports that Tiffany Haddish (Girls Trip) will be joining The LEGO Movie 2 voice cast in an unspecified role. Described only as playing "a key new character", Haddish will join Chris Pratt and Elizabeth Banks returning as Master Builder Emmet Brickowoski and Wyldsyde, and Will Arnett, who is returning to voice Batman, with Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill will return as Superman and Green Lantern, respectively.

Mike Mitchell directs with Dan Lin producing alongside Phil Lord and Chris Miller, and Roy LeeRyan Halprin and Will Allegra are co-producing while Allison Abbate and Chris Leahy will be overseeing for Warner Animation Group. The LEGO Movie 2 arrives February 8, 2019.

El Rey Network Teases All-New Animated Shorts Showcase

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