Celebrating the Art, Craft and Business of Animation https://www.awn.com/ en-US 15 Fri, 19 Dec 2025 15:30:53 -0800 Fri, 19 Dec 2025 15:35:37 -0800 https://www.awn.com/animationworld/ugly-mugs-and-ai-gone-wrong-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-chrome-alone-2-lost-new In Paramount Picture’s animated short, a mysterious company run by an AI Robot, Chrome Dome, seeks to profit off the boy’s new hero status… with cheap, twisted, and lame looking toys that barely resemble the team. Victoria Davis https://www.awn.com/animationworld/ugly-mugs-and-ai-gone-wrong-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-chrome-alone-2-lost-new Fri, 19 Dec 2025 15:30:53 PST Films https://www.awn.com/news/angel-release-andy-serkis-animal-farm-theaters The 3DCG adaptation of George Orwell’s classic novel boasts a voice cast that includes Seth Rogen, Glenn Close, Kieran Culkin, and Woody Harrelson; hits the cineplex on May 1, 2026. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/angel-release-andy-serkis-animal-farm-theaters Thu, 18 Dec 2025 13:57:25 PST Films https://www.awn.com/news/academy-youtube-partner-exclusive-global-rights-oscars From 2029 through 2033, the annual awards, including red carpet coverage, behind-the-scenes content, and Governors Ball access, will be available live and for free on YouTube, and for YouTube TV subscribers in the United States. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/academy-youtube-partner-exclusive-global-rights-oscars Thu, 18 Dec 2025 7:39:31 PST Films https://www.awn.com/news/jon-m-chu-receive-inaugural-judy-garland-award-2026-lumiere-awards The Advanced Imaging Society has partnered with the famed performer’s daughter, Lorna Luft, to establish the new award that honors individuals whose ‘artistry, imagination, and cultural influence embody the highest ideals in entertainment.’ Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/jon-m-chu-receive-inaugural-judy-garland-award-2026-lumiere-awards Wed, 17 Dec 2025 18:05:54 PST Films https://www.awn.com/news/rsiff-annecy-festival-partner-boost-saudi-animation-industry Deal calls for Saudi animators to participate in MIFA; annual ‘Best of Annecy’ festival to be held at Culture Square; animated Saudi shorts and features to be showcased at Annecy. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/rsiff-annecy-festival-partner-boost-saudi-animation-industry Wed, 17 Dec 2025 16:58:57 PST Films https://www.awn.com/news/bluebolt-adds-vfx-supervisor-ben-white Boasting nearly 30 years’ experience, the visual effects vet joins from the Cinesite group, where he served as VFX Supervisor on projects including ‘Black Widow,’ ‘Loki,’ and ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.’ L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/bluebolt-adds-vfx-supervisor-ben-white Wed, 17 Dec 2025 16:18:08 PST Films https://www.awn.com/vfxworld/re-view-frankenstein-acts-love-and-forgiveness Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro’s most complete work to date transforms Mary Shelley’s iconic 1818 novel from a cautionary tale of the perils of hubris into a redemptive fable about the ability to forgive. Dr. Maria Elena Gutierrez https://www.awn.com/vfxworld/re-view-frankenstein-acts-love-and-forgiveness Tue, 16 Dec 2025 17:11:48 PST Films https://www.awn.com/news/academy-announces-shortlists-10-categories-98th-oscars VFX category narrowed down to 10 films, animated shorts to 15; voting for nominations runs next month, January 12-16, with nomination announcements set for January 22, 2026. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/academy-announces-shortlists-10-categories-98th-oscars Tue, 16 Dec 2025 11:56:43 PST Films https://www.awn.com/news/exclusive-clip-angels-david-animated-musical The upcoming 3DCG film, which charts the eponymous boy’s rise from shepherd to king as he challenges a giant and defends his kingdom, hits theaters December 19. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/exclusive-clip-angels-david-animated-musical Tue, 16 Dec 2025 7:02:26 PST Films https://www.awn.com/animationworld/jeff-kinney-talks-parenting-and-diary-wimpy-kid-last-straw The hugely successful author and screenwriter brings his and his team’s personal experience – and plenty of real stories – to the new 3DCG film about Greg Heffley dealing with his father Frank’s outsized expectations; based on his novels that follow a disaster-prone middle school student, it’s now streaming on Disney+. Victoria Davis https://www.awn.com/animationworld/jeff-kinney-talks-parenting-and-diary-wimpy-kid-last-straw Mon, 15 Dec 2025 16:23:54 PST Films https://www.awn.com/news/exclusive-2026-animation-first-festival-announces-full-program The biggest animation festival in the U.S. sets its upcoming slate; Cannes Award winner ‘Dandelion’s Odyssey’ by Momoko Seto to screen opening night; talk with Oscar-winning sound designer Nicolas Becker also revealed; event runs this coming February 3-8 with a focus on Belgian films. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/exclusive-2026-animation-first-festival-announces-full-program Fri, 12 Dec 2025 8:43:30 PST Films https://www.awn.com/animationworld/exploring-world-animation-animation-atlas Columnist Andrew Osmond interviews ‘Ghibliotheque’ podcasters Michael Leader and Jake Cunningham about their new book that travels the globe to dig deep into the medium (hint - it’s not a genre.) Andrew Osmond https://www.awn.com/animationworld/exploring-world-animation-animation-atlas Tue, 09 Dec 2025 16:38:22 PST Films https://www.awn.com/news/quentin-tarantino-and-unreal-engine-bring-kill-bills-lost-chapter-life-fortnite The Oscar-winning director’s long-rumored sequence, ‘The Lost Chapter: Yuki’s Revenge,’ comes alive as Epic Games and The Third Floor use UE’s virtual production and MetaHuman tools to merge live-action, animation, and interactivity in real-time for a ground-breaking cinematic experience. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/quentin-tarantino-and-unreal-engine-bring-kill-bills-lost-chapter-life-fortnite Tue, 09 Dec 2025 15:24:47 PST Films https://www.awn.com/animationworld/uncontrollable-art-demon-slayer-kimetsu-no-yaiba-infinity-castle Ufotable director Haruo Sotozaki and DOP Yuichi Terao discuss how their work on the hugely successful, Golden Globe-nominated animated film was meaningless unless they could tap into the maximum level of emotion and deep feeling a character would express and bring that onto the screen for the audience. Victoria Davis https://www.awn.com/animationworld/uncontrollable-art-demon-slayer-kimetsu-no-yaiba-infinity-castle Tue, 09 Dec 2025 11:26:59 PST Films https://www.awn.com/news/heat-paramount-makes-hostile-takeover-bid-warner-bros-discovery David Ellison’s Paramount Skydance has extended an all-cash offer at $30 per outstanding share (approximately $108.4 billion) for WBD after Netflix’s initial offer was accepted; shareholders have 10 business days to accept or reject the new offer. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/heat-paramount-makes-hostile-takeover-bid-warner-bros-discovery Tue, 09 Dec 2025 9:51:22 PST Films https://www.awn.com/news/83rd-golden-globe-awards-nominations-announced ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ scores nods for best animated feature, best cinematic and box office achievement, and best original song, while ‘Arco,’ ‘Demon Slayer,’ ‘Elio,’ ‘Little Amélie or the Character of Rain’ and ‘Zootopia 2’ are all nominated for best animated motion picture; awards ceremony set for January 11. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/83rd-golden-globe-awards-nominations-announced Mon, 08 Dec 2025 12:35:52 PST Films https://www.awn.com/news/netflix-warner-bros-discovery-agree-827-billion-acquisition The cash and stock transaction, valued at $27.75 per share of WBD and approximately $82.7 billion overall, is expected to close in the next 12-18 months. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/netflix-warner-bros-discovery-agree-827-billion-acquisition Mon, 08 Dec 2025 6:09:38 PST Films https://www.awn.com/news/world-vfx-day-2025-releases-full-program The final lineup for the free event, which each year spotlights the VFX and animation industries, features over 65 speakers across 15 hours of talks; will live stream via YouTube on December 8. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/world-vfx-day-2025-releases-full-program Thu, 04 Dec 2025 17:19:45 PST Films https://www.awn.com/news/moonbug-names-cocomelon-movie-director-music-producer Kat Good takes the helm, and Justin Tranter boards as executive music producer, for the first feature in the franchise, a 3DCG film animated by the DNEG Group. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/moonbug-names-cocomelon-movie-director-music-producer Thu, 04 Dec 2025 8:27:40 PST Films https://www.awn.com/animationworld/walrus-taxi-driver-and-talking-plant-baku-kinoshita-interview Columnist Andrew Osmond talks to the director about his 2 acclaimed anime, the TV series ‘Odd Taxi’ and his new film, ‘The Last Blossom.’ Andrew Osmond https://www.awn.com/animationworld/walrus-taxi-driver-and-talking-plant-baku-kinoshita-interview Wed, 03 Dec 2025 12:20:15 PST Films https://www.awn.com/news/maison-43-10th-ave-productions-unveil-lydia-and-mist-rider-trailer-official-poster The 3DCG adventure about a young girl trying to find her kidnapped brother stars Sophie Nélisse Mizinga Mwinga, Hasani Freeman and Sarah Booth; hits Canadian screens February 20, 2026. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/maison-43-10th-ave-productions-unveil-lydia-and-mist-rider-trailer-official-poster Wed, 03 Dec 2025 10:30:39 PST Films https://www.awn.com/animationworld/re-view-kpop-demon-hunters-beauty-broken-glass Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans’ hit animated musical about a trio of women battling against a band of demons intent on taking over the world presents big ideas with a deceptively light touch; its gorgeously accessible imagery and brisk toe-tapping pace are as catchy as the lyrics of its songs. Dr. Maria Elena Gutierrez https://www.awn.com/animationworld/re-view-kpop-demon-hunters-beauty-broken-glass Mon, 01 Dec 2025 12:46:01 PST Films https://www.awn.com/news/cinesite-shares-lost-bus-vfx-breakdown-reel The studio delivered over 200 visual effects shots on the Apple TV film, starring Matthew McConaughey, inspired by real events of the 2018 Camp Fire, the deadliest US wildfire in the last century. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/cinesite-shares-lost-bus-vfx-breakdown-reel Mon, 01 Dec 2025 8:36:17 PST Films https://www.awn.com/news/trixter-undergoing-layoffs-and-restructuring The German VFX studio, part of the Cinesite Group, shares that it unfortunately has had to downsize but remains operational and in production on feature film projects. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/trixter-undergoing-layoffs-and-restructuring Fri, 28 Nov 2025 10:38:36 PST Films https://www.awn.com/news/join-awn-and-alex-woo-your-dreams-screening-netflix-animation-studios You’re invited to come watch and enjoy the all-new animated comedy, followed by a Q&A with the director/writer and reception, on Wednesday, December 3 at 7:00 pm in Burbank! Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/join-awn-and-alex-woo-your-dreams-screening-netflix-animation-studios Fri, 28 Nov 2025 8:45:54 PST Films https://www.awn.com/news/sony-pictures-animation-drops-goat-trailer-2 All-new animated comedy from the studio that made ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ tells the story of Will, a small goat with big dreams who gets a once-in-a-lifetime shot to join the pros and play ‘roarball’ with the fiercest animals in the world; in theaters February 13. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/sony-pictures-animation-drops-goat-trailer-2 Wed, 26 Nov 2025 12:19:17 PST Films https://www.awn.com/news/obscured-releasing-premiere-endless-cookie-new-york-los-angeles Watch the official trailer - the multi-award-winning animated documentary from Seth and Peter Scriver, a colorful depiction of the many overlapping episodes of their lives, will release on December 5. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/obscured-releasing-premiere-endless-cookie-new-york-los-angeles Tue, 25 Nov 2025 15:13:14 PST Films https://www.awn.com/news/angel-butch-hartman-studios-release-christmas-king The Garden Cartoon Holiday film, which follows Lenny the Lion and Lucy the Lamb as they find the first snowflake of Christmas, hits Angel platforms on December 11. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/angel-butch-hartman-studios-release-christmas-king Tue, 25 Nov 2025 13:44:18 PST Films https://www.awn.com/news/how-grinch-stole-christmas-25th-anniversary-edition-now-available All-new remastered 4K and limited edition steelbook versions have been released of the classic holiday tale, directed by Ron Howard and starring Jim Carrey, that include over 30 minutes of bonus content. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/how-grinch-stole-christmas-25th-anniversary-edition-now-available Mon, 24 Nov 2025 14:26:52 PST Films https://www.awn.com/news/35-animated-features-eligible-academy-awards-consideration Academy members will vote to determine five nominees for best animated feature film award at the 99th Oscars; films also qualify for other categories including best picture. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/35-animated-features-eligible-academy-awards-consideration Fri, 21 Nov 2025 13:39:23 PST Films