InThis 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!
Hopefully you had a chance to check out all the ridiculous animation news that came out ofSan Diego Comic-Con, but if not, I’ve rounded a bunch of it up for youhere. As forthisweek, we have updates on pair of animated comedy series from talented TV talk show hostsStephen ColbertandJon Stewart, though while Colbert’s Trump-slanted series is heading to Showtime, Stewart’s ambitious animated HBO show has gotten the ax. Elsewhere on the small screen, the full run of Disney XD’sMarvel’s Spider-Manorigin stories is available online so you can see Peter Parker’s scientific approach to his new powers before the series debuts on August 19th.
In the movie world, a new clip has been released forPUPPY!, which plays in front ofThe Emoji Moviethis weekend. Also, the first trailer for Sony Pictures Animation’s Christmas taleThe Starhas arrived. And since I like to highlight indie animation studios whenever I can, I’ve also included some looks at projects debuting this week–likeHeeldraggersandThe Weeklings–as well as in-the-works project,The Wrong Rock. You might just find your new favorite series here!
For the latest animation stories we’ve already covered on the site this week, and for a little bit of leftover news fromD23, 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!
RIP June Foray: Legendary Voice Actress Passes Away at 99
Before we get into this week’s news, I’d like to take the time to rememberJune Foray. The legendary voice actress with over 300 roles passed away this week at the age of 99. Fans will remember her best as the voice of Rocky the Flying Squirrel fromRock and His Friends/The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle, a role that lasted nearly 60 years and was even her last credited performance. Appearing on radio shows throughout the 1930s, turning in uncredited performances for Disney movies and animated shorts throughout the 50s and 60s, and voicing Granny inLooney Tunesfor decades, Foray was a singular talent in the industry. She will be missed.
The news was revealed by Foray’s friend,Dave Nimitz, viaFacebook:
Animated Trump Series Heads to Showtime
ViaBC, we have word thatStephen Colbertis bringing a 10-episode animated series chronicling the alt-life ofPresident Donald Trumpand his cohorts to Showtime. The opening segment of the network’s specialStephen Colbert’s Live Election Night Democracy’s Series Final: Who’s Going To Clean Up This Sh*t?inspired the new series.
Colbert will executive produce the currently untitled project with an aim to premiere this fall. The plan is for a quick episode turnaround time in order to stay timely with current events, though the pace at which this administration churns out new content for comedians is tough to keep up with.
Here’s how Showtime described the project:
The fresh, cutting-edge comedy will present the ‘truish’ adventures of Trump’s confidants and bon vivants – family, top associates, heads of government, golf pros and anyone else straying into his orbit – intrepidly exploring their histories and their psyches, revealing insights into what makes them so definitively Trumpian. It’s a workplace comedy where the office happens to be oval; it’s a character study in search of character, as seen through the eyes of an imaginary documentary crew.
And Colbert himself weighed in on his take on the First Family:
I know a lot of people wanted to do this, and I’m honored that the Cartoon President invited our documentary crew into his private world. I’ve seen some of the footage, and I look forward to sharing the man behind the MAGA.
CBS Television Studios will produce. Executive producers also includeChris Licht(The Late ShowEP) andTim Luecke, who co-createdThe Late Show‘s version of Animated Trump; Luecke will also serve as the show’s animator.
Why Jon Stewart’s Animated HBO Series Was Canned
While Colbert is getting his own animated series (of a sort) on a premium cable network,Jon Stewartis wondering what would have been with his own animated show on HBO. The short-lived project was scrapped for an over-ambitious plan, one that would see a new animated episode produced every day in order to stay apace with current events. Stewart and his team ultimately got the production turnaround down to two days, but it was still an untenable amount of stress for Stewart and the network.
Now, HBO programming presidentCasey Bloysis detailing just why the project fell through.THRhad his quotes from the ongoing TCA 2017 event:
You think about it like a pilot or development — you take a swing and hope it works. In this case, it didn’t work. And you move on … Once Jon realized that he could get close on the animation, what he realized also was in terms of the quality control and in terms of the writing, when you’re putting something out a couple of times a day, the quality control still has to be here. It just got to a point where it was like, is this worth his time? Is this worth our time? We kind of thought, ‘You know what? It was a good try, but ultimately not worth it.’
Hopefully Colbert’s series will have better luck getting off the ground.
The new animated short, PUPPY!, directed byHotel Transylvania’s Genndy Tartakovsky, will be debuting in theaters tomorrow attached toThe Emoji Movie. In the short, the residents of Hotel Transylvania find their world turned upside-down when youngster Dennis gets a surprise monster-sized pet!
First Trailer for ‘The Star’
The Sony Pictures Animation Christmas storyThe Startells the tale of Bo the Donkey (Steven Yeun) and his animals pals. He’s joined by:
In Sony Pictures Animation’s THE STAR, a small but brave donkey named Bo yearns for a life beyond his daily grind at the village mill. One day he finds the courage to break free, and finally goes on the adventure of his dreams. On his journey, he teams up with Ruth, a lovable sheep who has lost her flock and Dave, a dove with lofty aspirations. Along with three wisecracking camels and some eccentric stable animals, Bo and his new friends follow the Star and become accidental heroes in the greatest story ever told - the first Christmas.
Stop-Motion Short “Preetha’s Poem” Revealed as Part of Netflix’s ‘Daughters of Destiny’
“I am that girl who shoots bullets into the sky and makes doorways of freedom, hope and relief."“Preetha’s Poem,” a stop motion video illustrating a young girl’s desire to escape the Indian caste system, was released today by Netflix for its original documentary seriesDaughters of Destiny. Brought to vivid life by female-run NYC animation studioMighty Oak (who specialize in hand-made animation techniques), the visual poem takes shape with silhouettes that visualize the pain of a mother and her young daughter’s wish to pull her out of despair.Daughters of Destinylaunches today on Netflix.
Daughters of Destinyis a 4-part Netflix original documentary series that chronicles the lives of five girls from Indian families who are among the so-called “Dalit” caste and most impoverished communities in the world. The series witnesses the girls grow up (ranging in age from 7 to 23 over the course of the 4 episodes) while they are raised at Shanti Bhavan, a unique co-ed residential school in Tamil Nadu. The expectation for these girls and all the children who attend Shanti Bhavan is that they must grow up to support themselves, lift their families and communities out of poverty and contribute to the larger world.
Directed by Academy Award® winning filmmaker Vanessa Roth (Freeheld, Best Documentary Short, 2007), the series highlights the struggle of students as they strive to define themselves, re-define gender and class and create a new future for the generations that will come after them. The strength and power of the girls’ own storytelling and dramatic experiences over the 7 years of filming from the gates of Shanti Bhav, into their homes brings viewers through their stories of family, love, loss, hard work and courage. An original music score by Academy Award® winning composer A.R. Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire, 2008), punctuates this emotional journey.
Watch All of ‘Marvel’s Spider-Man’ Origin Stories
Peter Parker is on a field trip to Oscorp when he accidentally gets bitten by a radioactive spider.
After suffering some side-effects from his spider bite, Peter Parker decides to use the scientific method to figure out what is happening to him.
Peter Parker hypothesizes that his body is developing super powers and begins testing them out.
Peter Parker predicts that his new abilities could bring him fame and fortune and begins to seek out a way to make a name for himself.
The new and improved Peter Parker makes his official debut by entering a wrestling competition.
When his quest for fame results in personal tragedy, Peter Parker learns that with great power comes with great responsibility.
Peter Parker is accepted into Horizon High - a high school for brilliant young scientific minds. He struggles with the duality of his social life at school and hiding his secret identity of Spider-Man from everyone including his best friend, Harry Osborn, who attends the competing Osborn Academy for Geniuses. As Peter embraces his alter-ego, and battles against super villains like Vulture, Lizard, Doc Ock and Hammerhead, he is forced to watch Harry slowly descend to the wrong side of good and evil.
‘Mech-X4’ Gets an Animated Motion Comic
Armed with a new tech upgrade, MECH-X4 battles an old foe. With new monsters on the horizon, they will need all the help they can get!
The MECH-X4 adventure goes global, as the team battles a brand new monster in India.
MECH-X4 unleashes new modes for an unexpected adventure in China and Japan.
Ryan Walker mysteriously awakens MECH-X4, a giant robot built to defend Bay City against impending doom. When monsters begin to descend, Ryan recruits his two best friends and his brother to help pilot the robot that is their only hope of saving their town from mass destruction.
Help ‘The Wrong Rock’ Get off the Ground
The teaser above, released in January of this year, gives an early look at the new animated tale fromMichael Cawoodand theArtella virtual studio platform. LA-based studioHEROmationhas assembled a team of filmmakers and animators from around the world who bring their experiences working for major movie studios, indie operations, and video games on this new project,The Wrong Rock.
Martin the mushroom was born on the wrong rock. He overcomes enormous challenges to travel to a faraway rock where he hopes to be accepted.
This is a fantastic tale of the pure of heart overcoming bigotry. Anyone who’s experienced, sexism, racism, ageism, political or religious persecution will relate to this story. A character who’s passion is unlike the people who he grew up around, discovers a place he can be himself, but faces enormous obstacles to get there. Along the way he exposes the futility of the other character’s bigotry and bias and puts it all in perspective so that they can finally deal with the bigger issues in life.
To get a sampling of Cawood’s previous work, take a look at his short filmDevils, Angels & Datinghere. And if you like the look and sound ofThe Wrong Rock, keep an eye on the project’s website (linked above) for their newIndieGoGo campaignthat’s active right now!
‘Heeldraggers’ Series' Debut Drops This Week
If you’re not quite feeling grown-up and are in no hurry to feel that way, perhaps End Cue’s new animated seriesHeeldraggersis for you. After getting a chance to check out five episodes early, I’m happy to say that the show feels likeDariafor the current generation. The timing couldn’t be better since the MTV hit dropped 20 years ago, satirizing the grunge movement, socially-awkward adolescence, and Y2K dread.Heeldraggersis cut from the same self-conscious cloth. It follows a trio of just-out-of-college Millennials in New York City as they attempt to find love, employment, and the meaning of life.
Here’s how creatorEmily Bernsteindescribes the project:
Heeldraggersis a coming-of-age story for people who are REALLY taking their time growing up, aka dragging their heels towards “adulthood,” whatever that means. They’re trying to reconcile the important, but boring voice of their inner adult with the spirit and curiosity of their inner child. With this project, I wanted to illustrate that growing up is a lifelong process-slash-disaster-slash-b
alancing-act of trying to do what you love but also pay your bills on time. Somewhere between obnoxious, self-adsorbed child and joyless zombie adult there has to be a happy medium. Right?
Head over to theHeeldraggerswebsiteto watch Season 1, starting Tuesday, August 1st at 12pm ET.
