Max Renews ‘Creature Commandos’ for Season 2
The Max Original adult animated series from James Gunn, produced by DC Studios and Warner Bros. Animation, gets a second season pickup; show about a secret team of incarcerated monsters recruited for missions too dangerous for humans marks the first title in the new DC Universe.
The Animation Guild Ratifies New AMPTP Contract
With a voter turnout even greater than the last cycle’s turnout, a supermajority of IATSE Local 839 members voted to ratify the 2024-2027 Animation Guild Master Agreement.
Autodesk Reveals New Artist Tools and Workflows at AU 2024
At this year's Autodesk Univerisity, with the help of Mikros Animation, Digital Fish, and Wonder Studio, the tech giant demonstrated a slew of program feature updates and improvements across its product lineup, all designed to increase creative productivity and lower barriers for great storytelling.
Ring In 2025 with ‘Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood’
The 4 new episodes feature gentle life lessons about family, finding out how to be fair, learning to say sorry, and more when they premiere on PBS KIDS the week of January 6.
TV Academy, National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences to Share Members
In a groundbreaking new partnership, the former rivals will now share members in the peer groups Children’s Animation, Children’s Live Action, Daytime, and Documentary.
Animation Journalist Nancy Denney-Phelps Releases ‘On the Animation Trail’
The book, which features covers by Joanna Quinn, charts the last 20 years of animation festivals, from Annecy, the oldest animation festival in the world, to Beirut and the founding of the festival in Peja, Kosovo; pre-order is available now.
52nd Annual Annie Award Nominations Announced
Best Animated Feature nominees ‘Inside Out 2,’ ‘Kung Fu Panda 4,’ ‘That Christmas,’ ‘The Wild Robot,’ ‘Ultraman: Rising,’ and ‘Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl’ top the expansive list of category nominations; animation’s biggest awards ceremony is scheduled to return live on Saturday, February 8 at UCLA’s Royce Hall.
Fresh off the press: my book ON THE ANIMATION TRAIL - 20 Years of Animation History is now out!
Just in time for the holidays, my book ON THE ANIMATION TRAIL - 20 Years of Animation History has been released today
Shout! Studios Reveals ‘Panda Bear in Africa’ Digital Release
The animated feature from Shout! Studios and Shout! Kids in collaboration with Cinema Management Group will be available for rent or purchase on all major digital platforms on January 28, 2025.
Disney, BBC Studios Announce ‘Bluey’ Feature
Company acquires global theatrical film rights to 'Bluey The Movie,' which will hit theaters in 2027, then stream on Disney+ and air on ABC iView and ABC Kids in Australia.
DREAMBOX360º Launches ‘A Christmas Dream’ 5D Projection Experience
The immersive event aims to bring the magic of the holidays to life with 5DX experiences, such as cutting-edge projection visuals, sound, and special effects.
Torill Kove Tells the Story Behind the Imagery in ‘Maybe Elephants’
Oscar-winning animator Torill Kove, known for her unique style of personal storytelling, now dives into the inspiration for the images in her award-winning short ‘Maybe Elephants’ and how they were crafted.
Taking a Look at ‘Look Back’
Journalist and animation expert Andrew Osmond returns to AWN’s pages after almost 20 years, explaining his reshaped attitude - from skeptic to convert – towards anime while sharing his review of Kiyotaka Oshiyama’s newest film.
The Pokémon Company, Aardman Team on Mystery Project
Set for a 2027 release, the collaboration promises ‘brand-new adventures’ set in the Pokémon universe, presented in Aardman’s classic Claymation style.
Rob Edwards to Adapt ‘Brown Sugar Fairies: Saroja’s Quest’ Children’s Book
The ‘Princess and the Frog’ screenwriter will write, direct, and produce the animated film; author Aiysha Sinclair produces alongside Stranger Comics president Sebastian A. Jones.
Minno Acquires ‘The Dead Sea Squirrels’ Exclusive Worldwide Rights
The animated series from Mike Nawrocki, co-creator of 'VeggieTales,' will debut on streaming service in early 2025.
Re-VIEW: ‘That Christmas’ – A Seasonal Film for Life
Set in a charming coastal town during Christmas, Simon Otto and Locksmith Animation’s new film explores themes of empathy, compassion, and human connection, weaving stories of love, resilience, and community through the perspectives of children and adults; now streaming on Netflix.
Disney Removes Trans Narrative from ‘Win or Lose’
Pixar’s first longform series will no longer feature the storyline, with the studio explaining, ‘many parents would prefer to discuss certain subjects with their children on their own terms and timeline.’
The Ed Asner Family Center Hosts ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ Staged Table Read
The December 14 radio play-focused fundraiser benefitted the non-profit center, an LA resource for special needs individuals; event featured Tom Kenny, Joey King, Mark Hamill, Tom Bergeron, Phil Lamarr, and many others.
Applications For WIA’s 2025 ‘Stories x Women’ Now Open
Selectees for the unique pitch development program receive a series of mentoring and coaching sessions led by animation experts who will prepare them to present at Annecy 2025; application deadline is February 7, 2025.
Sae Okamoto Talks Mechanical Arms and Animating Mechas
8 years after a successful Kickstarter, the first-time anime series director’s show, ‘Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms’ is now streaming on Crunchyroll; it blends traditional 2D with hand-retouched 3DCG to deliver fluid, lifelike human-machine characters.
Prime Video Renews ‘Secret Level’
On the heels of its December 10 premiere, a second season has been ordered for the record-setting animated anthology from Tim Miller, which features original stories set within the worlds of some of the most beloved video games.
Crunchyroll Announces Winter 2025 Anime Lineup
Highlights of the upcoming slate include ‘Solo Leveling’ Season 2, ‘ZENSHU’, ‘The Apothecary Diaries’ Season 2, and more.
Progress and the Cycle of Creativity
A gentle reminder to my animation colleagues.
Miyu Distribution Acquires ‘The Great History of Western Philosophy’
See the trailer and images; inspired by Lacanian theory, the animated feature from Aria Covamonas utilizes a Dadaist-style collage of public domain footage and audio to emphasize its play on reality and perception.
