Aardman Appoints 3 New Members to Board of Trustees
Caroline Norbury OBE, Deep Sehgal, and Laurence Green boast experience across advertising, creative industries, and Film & TV; will help ensure company runs to the standards and values of its employees and Aardman’s founders.
3 Animation Guild Leaders to Vote Against New Contract
Several members of the negotiating committee have expressed discontent on social media over the guild’s new AMPTP tentative agreement, citing a lack of protections for artists against generative AI and staffing minimums.
AVAF, SAIK, Toonz Team for International AniMela-AMS Fest
The event, which features a strategic partnership with the Annecy Festival, is scheduled for March 6–9, 2025, and will offer knowledge centers, experiential zones, film screenings, and professional networking opportunities for India's creative sector.
Barrier Four, Netflix Team on ‘Cobra Kai,’ ‘Spellbound’ Experiences on Roblox
In a novel move the animation studio has dubbed 'Playable Media,' both experiences allow players to engage in fully interactive, playable scenes directly from both universes.
Hulu Unveils ‘The Bravest Knight’ Season 2 First Look
All six episodes of the Hulu Original, GLAAD Media Award-winning 2D animated series premiere on December 13.
52nd Annual Saturn Awards Nominees Announced
This year’s Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films ceremony will be held on Sunday, February 2, 2025 in Los Angeles; will stream live on ElectricNOW and The Roku Channel for free.
The Animation Guild Unveils New Contract Terms
Members have expressed discontent over the agreement negotiated by the guild (TAG 839), citing a lack of protections for artists against generative AI and staffing minimums.
Prime Video Drops Official Trailer for ‘Invincible’ Season 3
The first 3 episodes of Robert Kirkman’s hit animated series set for February 6, 2025 debut, with additional episode drops every Thursday through March 13.
EdenX Unveils ‘AI Movie Theme Park’ Software
The gen AI-powered video platform allows fans of film and TV to create highly personalized and interactive movies based on a single selfie with their gen AI software.
82nd Golden Globe Awards Nominations Announced
‘The Wild Robot’ scores nods in best animated motion picture, best original score, best original song, and best cinematic achievement, while ‘Flow,’ ‘Inside Out 2,’ ‘Memoir of a Snail,’ ‘Moana 2,’ and ‘Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl’ are also nominated for best animated motion picture; winners will be announced at an awards ceremony January 5, 2025 live on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
‘That Christmas’ Now Streaming on Netflix
The festive 3DCG animated feature from Locksmith Animation, directed by Simon Otto, and based on the kids’ book trilogy by famed author Richard Curtis, debuted December 4.
White Board Geeks Workers Rally for Fair Contract
The dozen animation workers oppose pay cuts, call for improved benefits such as health care, and seek fair job security protections.
Adult Swim Adds ‘Family Guy’ to 2025 Primetime Lineup
Back-to-back episodes of the series will air weekdays from 10:00 – 11:30pm ET/PT in 2025; a three-day marathon will air every evening from 7pm to 5am ET/PT starting January 1.
RIVA Studios Acquires TeamTO
The French animation studio has been saved from bankruptcy; new execs include Marco Balsamo, Jay Oliva, and Tara Sibel Demren; founders Guillaume Hellouin and Corinne Kouper continue on as executive advisors and executive producers on current and upcoming projects.
MY CHRISTMAS WISH LIST OF BOOKS FOR ANIMATORS
It is getting to be that time of the year when we are all thinking about gifts. One of my favorite presents to give and receive is books. This year there has been a bountiful crop of books to give to your favorite animator or to gift to yourself. From a book about Simon Stampfer and his Stroboscopic Disks to a tiny Viennese animation gallery, to two books about Portuguese animation and animators at BAP Studio there is something for everyone out there. I even wrote a book and it will be published on the 20th of December.
Apple TV+ Sets ‘Eva the Owlet’ Season 2 Premiere, ‘Eva’s Moon Wish’ First Look Clip
The new season of the CG-animated series will premiere on January 24, 2025, while the upcoming holiday special debuts December 13.
2024 TIGA Games Industry Awards Winners Announced
The UK video games industry trade association awarded Game of the Year accolades to ‘Helldivers 2,’ while The Chinese Room and Secret Mode's ‘Still Wakes The Deep’ earned both Best Audio Design and Heritage in Games.
Exclusive: ‘Big City Greens’ and ‘ZOMBIES: The Re-Animated Series’ Holiday Specials Clips
As part of the ‘Disney Channel’s Fa-La-La-Lidays’ programming slate, Disney Branded Television will deck the halls with new specials of both series premiering December 7, and December 11 / December 18 respectively on Disney+.
Kedoo Announces New ‘Booba’ Episodes, Series, Broadcast Deals
Season 5 is now available for TV distribution, while the new live-action ‘edutainment’ series ‘The Booba Show’ launches on YouTube in January 2025; the original series will air on ITVX, Nine Networks, Star Channel, RTL, VOYO, and CDA Premium starting in 2025.
FMX Drops 2025 Conference Trailer
Created by Samuel Lewek and his team at the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, ‘Dancing in Norms’ reflects the upcoming event’s ‘Rhythm of Change’ theme; ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 2 is first confirmed presentation.
Disney Drops ‘Snow White’ Trailer
Hi Ho indeed! Catch the first extended look at Snow White, the Evil Queen, the famed Magic Mirror, the cursed apple, and of course, Bashful, Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, and Sneezy, in the live-action/3DCG hybrid musical reimagining of the classic 1937 film, starring Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot, hitting theaters March 21, 2025.
Too Much Christmas? The Challenges of Making ‘Mickey and the Very Many Christmases’
Tom Rogers and Rachel Ruderman discuss story development, animation design, and music production on their all-new 3DCG holiday special that finds Mickey making a magical wish that every day could be Christmas, but having second thoughts when that wish comes true; now airing on Disney Channel and Disney Jr. and streaming on Disney+.
Adrian Rashad Driscoll Joins RADiCAL Advisory Board
The teacher and EAST Initiative advocate plans to promote RADiCAL’s mission of democratizing content creation by empowering young people in underprivileged and under-represented communities via emerging technologies.
‘Tabby McTat,’ ‘La Vida Secreta de tu Mente’ Nab International Emmy Awards
The CG animated film, which follows a busker and his cat, won Best Kids Animation; Warner Bros. Discovery’s animated series aimed at solving the greatest mystery in the universe nabbed the Kids: Factual & Entertainment award.