Category: Reviews
Re-VIEW: ‘Ultraman: Rising’ - A Balance of Heart and Mind
Shannon Tindle’s new 3DCG feature combines breathtaking visual design with a heartfelt story that explores themes of family and identity through the journey of a young athlete, Ken Sato, struggling to balance his life as a baseball star and a giant superhero when suddenly faced with raising a baby kaiju.
Review: The 22nd Annual 'Animation Show of Shows'
This year’s selection of 10 shorts, including films by Patrick Smith, Gil Alkabetz, and Oscar winner Frederic Back, showcases a variety of techniques and tones in a celebration of unconventional approaches to the medium.
Re-VIEW: ‘Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio’ - A Fable for the Modern Age
The Oscar-winning director’s timely masterpiece about a father and son finally united in the simple knowledge, and unconditional acceptance, that each of them is who he is, reminds us that acceptance of diversity is vitally important, perhaps more now than ever before.
The Animation Pimp Presents - Binocular Briefs November 2022
AWN’s monthly survey of animated shorts making the festival circuit rounds includes ‘A Tiny Man,’ ‘Sliver Cave,’ ‘Slow Light,’ ‘#BINARYGENDERNORM: GIRLS,’ and ‘Magical Caresses - Masturbation: A Short Story of a Great Taboo.’
‘Cryptozoo’ Review: Bakus & Gorgons & Satyrs – Oh My!
AWN’s Miscweant examines Dash Shaw’s new animated feature film, set in ‘surreal’ 1967, about an activist group trying to protect supernatural cryptids from amoral government agents.
Re-VIEW: The Fabulous Journey of ‘Luca’
Enrico Casarosa’s heartwarming story of a shy young sea monster, whose insatiable curiosity helps him discover the magic in the everyday, is as complex as the ocean is deep.
Re-VIEW: ‘Soul’ and the Cinematic Empathy Machine
Directors Pete Docter and Kemp Powers invite audiences to ponder their own life choices, forging a link between storyteller and spectator that reaffirms the emotional power of cinema.
Re-VIEW: Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart’s ‘Wolfwalkers’
This beautifully designed film, a story of conflict between civilization and nature, stands in defiance of individualism, reminding us that despite our own strength and resolve, we still need the energy and healing power of the community.
Review: FIAF’s 2020 Animation First Festival
Review: ‘Weathering with You’ - Finding That Place Where You Belong
Makoto Shinkai’s latest is an aesthetically pleasing animated tapestry with characters and relationships that are funny, dramatic and real.
Book Review: On Animation: The Director’s Perspective Volumes 1 and 2
Bill Kroyer, Tom Sito and Ron Diamond’s expansive anthology is an intimate and comprehensive record of firsthand experiences from a ‘Who’s Who’ of top industry directors.
Reviews: ‘Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles’ and Rob Paulsen’s ‘Voice Lessons’
The Misweant writes about a different labyrinth and definitely not those ‘Turtles;’ plus, with apologies to Rocket J. Squirrel, ‘that voice… where have I heard that voice?’
See My Field: Must-See Animated Features at Annecy 2019
From ‘I Lost My Body’ to ‘The Swallows of Kabul,’ cultural, narrative and aesthetic diversity reign in this year’s expanded feature film competition.
Nine VR Works Selected to Compete at Annecy 2019
Organizers of the 43rd annual animation festival have announced their competitive virtual reality lineup chosen from 90 projects submitted from 30 countries.
Disney Channel Orders Third Season of ‘Big Hero 6’ Ahead of Season 2 Premiere
Second season debut of Emmy-nominated series, based on Disney’s 2014 Oscar-winning animated feature, set for May 6.
Review: ‘Mary Poppins Returns’
AWN ‘s ‘Miscweant’ waxes nostalgic as he breaks down Disney’s return to the world of their 1964 classic, ‘Mary Poppins.’
Review: ‘Ralph Breaks the Internet’
AWN’s “Miscweant” shares his take on brand names, Disney Princesses and a refreshing break from clichéd buddy movies.
CTNx 2018 - CTN animation eXpo
The CTN Animation Expo, coming November 15-18, 2018, is a unique event that brings creative talents together by providing a collaborative arena in the heart of the animation market to promote employment, education and industry growth.
Review: ‘Fireworks’
A magical story about adolescent love triangles, problems at home, stupid teenage boys and desires to break free and be something or someone else.