Celebrating the Art, Craft and Business of Animation https://www.awn.com/ en-US 15 Fri, 19 Dec 2025 13:39:58 -0800 Fri, 19 Dec 2025 13:41:51 -0800 https://www.awn.com/news/millimages-storyzoo-friends-partner-linear-fast-avod-and-svod-channels Deal to bring kids’ series to European viewers calls for licensing of more than 300 episodes from globally recognized preschool catalog, including ‘Louie (Louie, Draw Me),’ ‘Mouk,’ ‘Hilltop Hospital,’ and ‘Molang.’ Victoria Davis https://www.awn.com/news/millimages-storyzoo-friends-partner-linear-fast-avod-and-svod-channels Fri, 19 Dec 2025 13:39:58 PST Digital Media https://www.awn.com/news/tubi-expands-animation-partnership-animated-comedy-slate Newly added titles include series from the animation collective Explosm, Skybound Entertainment’s ‘PSI Cops,’ and ‘Melvin’s Macabre’ from Meatcanyon. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/tubi-expands-animation-partnership-animated-comedy-slate Thu, 18 Dec 2025 14:44:24 PST Digital Media https://www.awn.com/news/adult-swim-renews-haha-you-clowns-2-additional-seasons The animated comedy from creator Joe Cappa follows three doting teenagers and their recently widowed dad as they navigate life’s awkward, funny, and emotional moments together. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/adult-swim-renews-haha-you-clowns-2-additional-seasons Thu, 18 Dec 2025 13:21:44 PST Digital Media 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 Digital Media https://www.awn.com/vfxworld/visual-effects-practically-speaking-gen-v-season-2 VFX Supervisor Karen Heston talks gender-changing and shrinking/growing characters, moveable silicone blood mats, and capturing as much as possible in-camera on the second season of the Prime Video ‘The Boys’ spinoff about students at Godolkin University whose lives are complicated by injections of Compound V. Trevor Hogg https://www.awn.com/vfxworld/visual-effects-practically-speaking-gen-v-season-2 Wed, 17 Dec 2025 11:47:39 PST Digital Media https://www.awn.com/news/one-us-brings-swamp-witcher-season-4 Watch the VFX breakdown reel featuring the studio’s work crafting 210 visual effects shots across 4 episodes; highlights include the parasite-ridden Greylock, reimagined Roach Hounds, and the unsettling Mother and Little Rusalka swamp duo. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/one-us-brings-swamp-witcher-season-4 Wed, 17 Dec 2025 10:36:56 PST Digital Media https://www.awn.com/news/netflix-drops-stranger-things-5-volume-2-trailer Head back to the Upside Down; the next episode set of the fight to find and kill Vecna premieres December 25, followed by The Finale on December 31; Volume 1 is now streaming. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/netflix-drops-stranger-things-5-volume-2-trailer Wed, 17 Dec 2025 9:13:52 PST Digital Media 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 Digital Media https://www.awn.com/animationworld/winter-tv-anime-roundup-shooting-santa-and-monstrous-mermaids Columnist Andrew Osmond looks in on some of the top current shows, including ‘Sanda,’ ‘The Monster Wants to Eat Me,’ and ‘Touring After the Apocalypse.’ Andrew Osmond https://www.awn.com/animationworld/winter-tv-anime-roundup-shooting-santa-and-monstrous-mermaids Tue, 16 Dec 2025 15:08:04 PST Digital Media https://www.awn.com/news/livingston-taylor-joins-hundred-acre-woods-winnie-and-friends-winnie-pooh The celebrated folk singer will perform a live song from the upcoming Kartoon Studios animated series at a table read following sneak peek showing on December 16 at the Chinese Theatre. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/livingston-taylor-joins-hundred-acre-woods-winnie-and-friends-winnie-pooh Tue, 16 Dec 2025 13:12:15 PST Digital Media https://www.awn.com/news/prime-video-moves-fallout-season-2-release The announcement was made with a Wasteland transformation on the Exosphere of Sphere in Las Vegas; premiere set for today, December 16. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/prime-video-moves-fallout-season-2-release Tue, 16 Dec 2025 2:33:47 PST Digital Media 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 Digital Media https://www.awn.com/news/milk-shares-witcher-season-4-vfx-breakdown-reel The studio contributed visual effects across multiple episodes of the Netflix fantasy series, including two technically complex fight sequences in Episode 6; work includes choreographed battles, magic, blood, and CG swords. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/milk-shares-witcher-season-4-vfx-breakdown-reel Mon, 15 Dec 2025 11:39:45 PST Digital Media https://www.awn.com/news/andreas-dejas-award-winning-mushka-now-streaming Now out on all major VOD platforms, the Disney Legend’s 28-minute hand-drawn animated short, nearly a decade in the making, tells the heartwarming story of a young Ukrainian girl who must decide to save or leave in the wild an orphaned Siberian tiger cub she discovers.  Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/andreas-dejas-award-winning-mushka-now-streaming Mon, 15 Dec 2025 10:17:32 PST Digital Media https://www.awn.com/news/netflix-sets-devil-may-cry-season-2-release In the upcoming season, a war between worlds ignites as Dante must battle the only force that mirrors his own: his estranged twin brother Vergil; premieres May 12, 2026. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/netflix-sets-devil-may-cry-season-2-release Mon, 15 Dec 2025 9:27:11 PST Digital Media https://www.awn.com/news/webtoon-announces-2026-creator-program-expansion A new suite of programs will empower more Creators with expanded monetization opportunities and international creator engagement; Creator Residency will roll out in 2026. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/webtoon-announces-2026-creator-program-expansion Thu, 11 Dec 2025 12:24:02 PST Digital Media https://www.awn.com/animationworld/shorts-focus-andr-s-palmas-shimmer The 3D animated film, produced at Mexico’s Escena Animation Studio, tells the story of shipwrecked family whose father’s efforts to secure their rescue blinds him to his neglect and the mistrust he fostered in his eldest daughter, who forces him to choose between his dreams and his children. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/animationworld/shorts-focus-andr-s-palmas-shimmer Wed, 10 Dec 2025 16:01:20 PST Digital Media https://www.awn.com/animationworld/snow-bear-how-aaron-blaise-lost-love-then-found-it-again The famed former Disney animator and ‘Brother Bear’ director channeled the tragic 2007 loss of his wife into his award-winning hand-drawn 2D short film about a lonely polar bear’s quest to find, and eventually make, a friend… until the weather warms up. Victoria Davis https://www.awn.com/animationworld/snow-bear-how-aaron-blaise-lost-love-then-found-it-again Wed, 10 Dec 2025 13:28:09 PST Digital Media 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 Digital Media 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 Digital Media 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 Digital Media https://www.awn.com/news/tinybuild-releases-hello-neighbor-welcome-raven-brooks-animated-series In addition to YouTube, Seasons 1 and 2 of the horror survival video game adaptation are available on Prime Video in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia; other IP ventures include the upcoming ‘Hello Neighbor’ feature film and ‘Hello Neighbor 3’ video game. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/tinybuild-releases-hello-neighbor-welcome-raven-brooks-animated-series Tue, 09 Dec 2025 10:42:59 PST Digital Media 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 Digital Media https://www.awn.com/news/disney-announces-hey-aj-animated-family-comedy The whimsical and music filled series about an imaginative young girl and her stuffed bunny sidekick is inspired by author and Super Bowl champion Martellus Bennett, who stars and serves as EP; kicks off January 13 on Disney Jr., next day on Disney+. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/disney-announces-hey-aj-animated-family-comedy Mon, 08 Dec 2025 20:13:41 PST Digital Media https://www.awn.com/news/lion-forge-announces-iyanu-holiday-livestream The full-day virtual fan event on December 13 will feature cast appearances, a table read, merch drops, giveaways, a sponsored gameplay showcase, and an exclusive first look at ‘Iyanu’ Season 2. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/lion-forge-announces-iyanu-holiday-livestream Mon, 08 Dec 2025 14:56:01 PST Digital Media https://www.awn.com/news/hbo-drops-knight-seven-kingdoms-trailer The six-episode season, set a century before the events of ‘Game of Thrones,’ debuts January 18; will also stream on HBO Max. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/hbo-drops-knight-seven-kingdoms-trailer Mon, 08 Dec 2025 14:16:05 PST Digital Media 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 Digital Media 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 Digital Media https://www.awn.com/news/adult-swim-smalls-blue-world-short-series-debuts-today-youtube From Boston-based animator Nick Cabana (03mania), the 3-part series follows Dr. Green, a desperate therapist who will try anything to save his business and keep his last remaining client. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/adult-swim-smalls-blue-world-short-series-debuts-today-youtube Fri, 05 Dec 2025 9:49:46 PST Digital Media https://www.awn.com/news/buck-brings-dunkins-little-holiday-munchkin-life A bite-sized hero takes center stage in the children’s book and commercial, narrated by Mindy Kaling; supports the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/buck-brings-dunkins-little-holiday-munchkin-life Wed, 03 Dec 2025 16:16:09 PST Digital Media