Call for Entries: India’s Waves Originals Animation Filmmaker Competition
The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and Dancing Atoms Animation Studios have partnered on a unique new animation filmmaker competition; anyone of Indian origin can submit a project idea for a chance at masterclasses, mentorships, prizes and to pitch to industry leaders at Waves 2025.
Max Drops ‘Gremlins: The Wild Batch’ Season 2 Trailer
The adventures continue when havoc-wreaking Mogwai heads to San Francisco and the American West; Part 1 of the 2-part season debuts October 3.
Apple TV+ Drops ‘Curses!’ Season 2 Trailer
From DreamWorks Animation, the spooky animated adventures continue as the Vanderhouven family keeps trying to undo the generational curse caused by their greedy ancestors, streaming globally October 4.
Powerhouse Animation Workers Ratify TAG 839 Union Contract
The Austin-based workers’ 96% supermajority vote approves new contract prioritizing wage equality, job security and retirement benefits.
Former Disney and Google Exec Julie Ann Crommett Launches ‘You Got Moxie!’ Podcast
Each week, the Collective Moxie founder & CEO discusses steps and strategies behind making meaningful change across a wide set of industries; upcoming episodes include Pixar Animation’s Danielle Feinberg and Kamala Avila-Salmon, Founder & CEO, Kas Kas Productions/Former Head of Inclusive Content at Lionsgate.
‘The Sims’ Heading to the Silver Screen
Ahead of the prolific video game franchise’s 25th anniversary, Amazon MGM Studios confirms its first film adaptation is in the works.
Annapurna Interactive Staff Quits En Masse Following Deal Breakdown
The move follows failed talks between Annapurna Pictures founder Megan Ellison and Nathan Gary, former president of Annapurna Interactive, that were aimed at converting the division into a separate company.
Police Work is ‘Ruff’ - DreamWorks Animation Unleashes ‘Dog Man’ Trailer
NYT bestselling author Dav Pilkey’s newest kids’ book series gets its first big screen treatment; a dog becomes much more than a police officer’s ‘best friend’ after they are both hurt on the job; the 3DCG feature stars Pete Davidson, Isla Fisher, Lil Rel Howery, and Ricky Gervais, hitting theaters January 31, 2025.
XTR Acquires AI Animation Studio Late Night Labs
The film and television studio known for its feature documentary ‘Daughters’ will utilize the AI studio’s proprietary technology to help launch holding company Asteria Film Co. to produce animation, fiction, and non-fiction film and television.
Adult Swim SMALLS Unveils ‘Beantown: Trial by Fire’ Short
The 2D animated pixel art film created by Los Angeles-based animator/director Mike Manor, follows new hires Robert and Phil, who must serve customers until one of them dies, now streaming on YouTube.
ZBrush for iPad Now Available
Release of Maxon’s award-winning winning 3D creative software features many tools found in the desktop version and adds a customizable interface for arranging sculpting tools to optimize a personal user experience.
Sony Announces Virtual Production Tool Set Version 2.0
Coming this winter, the virtual production software update will deliver Camera and Display Plugin and Color Calibrator improvements for a better broadcast and cinema workflow; both apps are free with select features available under a paid license.
Polymath Motion Rebrands as Oddbeast
Motion design and production studio embraces the ‘Beast’ to reflect its expertise and ‘Odd’ to represent the rarity of its ‘high caliber’ creative work.
Chaos Drops ‘Butch Cassidy’-Inspired ‘Ray Tracing FTW’ Short
The film, made as part of the company’s ‘Project Arena’ deep dive into ICVFX (in-camera VFX), highlights the state of visual effects and filmmaking – from the artist’s point of view; new innovative virtual production tools integrate virtual shoots into overall production pipeline, enabling direct use of film production assets without any preprocessing.
The Animation Guild Releases GenAI Study
The AI Task Force’s report, ‘Critical Crossroads: The Impact of Generative AI and the Importance of Protecting the Animation Workforce’ describes the impact of GenAI on animation workers and the animation industry; report drops as The Animation Guild resumes previously failed negotiations with AMPTP.
Disney+ Sets ‘Inside Out 2’ Debut
The highest-grossing animated film of all time, which takes audiences back into the mind of newly minted teenager Riley just as headquarters is making room for new Emotions, streams September 25.
Microsoft Gaming to Layoff Nearly 650 Employees
The unfortunate move follows a previous wave of staff cuts earlier this year, after the newly acquired Activision Blizzard division sought to reduce “areas of overlap.”
Pixotope Partners with Happy Elephant Consortium for Asia Distribution
Strategic partnership opens new doors for the real-time virtual production solutions platform to expand its presence in China and selected countries across Southeast Asia.
David Lowery, Alfonso Cuarón’s New Short, ‘An Almost Christmas Story,’ Coming to Disney+
The 'Peter Pan & Wendy' director and the 5-time Oscar winning-director’s animated film, about a curious young owl stuck in a tree bound for Rockefeller Plaza, stars Jim Gaffigan, Natasha Lyon, Phil Rosenthal and John C. Reilly, streaming this fall.
‘The Jungle Bunch’ and ‘Miss Moon’ Coming to German Speaking Territories
PGS Entertainment and Gropp Consultancy team up to bring the popular animated kids’ series to the region’s popular broadcast and streaming platforms.
Metaphysic Resurrects Eminem’s Alter Ego ‘Slim Shady’ in MTV Video Music Award Win
Eminem’s 1999 alter ego returns, via AI, live onstage at the ceremony and on the music icon’s ‘Houdini’ video, which scored the first VFX VMA honor for a digital character recreated in an AI-powered pipeline – watch it here!
Cartoon Forum’s 2024 Tributes Nominees Announced
The annual awards celebrate European animation achievements; 12 companies compete this year for Broadcaster, Investor/Distributor, and Producer of the Year awards; the forum kicks off September 16 with Tribute awards presented closing day, September 19.
Netflix Shares ‘Zack Snyder’s Twilight of the Gods’ Official Trailer
The action is fierce as the daring warrior Sigrid seeks vengeance against the Gods in this stylized 2D animated series, set in a world of Norse mythology filled with great battles, great deeds, and great despair; streams September 19.
LightBox Expo Reveals Expansive 2024 Program Lineup
The 3-day event, a celebration of the best in Animation, Live Action, Illustration and Video Games, returns to Pasadena October 25-27; over 200 hours of featured programming includes presentations, panels and workshops from leading industry talent.
Exclusive: Bad Witch Pics Drops ‘Brim Broome Boulevard’ Trailer
New stop-motion film, animated by a team at Portland-based HouseSpecial that includes veterans of ‘Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio,’ ‘Wendell & Wild,’ and ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas,’ follows a child who wanders through a set of mysterious doors on a journey of self-discovery where fear and fashion intertwine.
