Along withFrancisco Gonzalez’s excellent weekly news recaps–This Week in Superhero NewsandThis Week in Movie Trailers–we’re happy to provide you withThis Week in Animation Newsto get you caught up on all things animated you might have missed over the past seven days. 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!
This week brought us the Golden Globe nominations, which included Best Animated Motion Picture nominees likeKubo and the Two Strings,Moana,andZootopia.In continuing awards talk,Lin-Manuel Miranda’s music forMoanashould be the frontrunner for Best Original Song in the Oscars race, but it’ll be a tough category. Miranda also hasVivo, an animated movie set up at Sony, that’s been years in the making. Elsewhere, new trailers dropped forDespicable Me 3,The Boss Baby, and a re-release of a high-definition remastering of the originalGhost in the Shellanime. Plus, we got an early look at the new Warner Bros. Animation superhero series,Justice League Action.
For the latest animation stories we’ve already covered on the site this week, 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!
‘Attack on Titan’ Season 2 Air-Date Revealed
Funimationannounced its acquisition ofAttack on TitanSeason 2 and the return of the worldwide hit anime series which was first introduced to U.S. and Canadian audiences in 2013.Attack on TitanSeason 2 is scheduled to premiere in April 2017 in Japan.
“Attack on Titanbecame an instant hit since it first streamed in 2013 and we are thrilled to bring fans the long-awaited Season 2 of the series,” saidGen Fukunaga, CEO and founder of Funimation. “Attack on Titanis truly a worldwide phenomenon that has continued to grow at a non-stop pace. Fans can look forward to an exciting second season.”
Attack on Titan(“Shingeki no Kyojin” in Japanese) is based on the New York Times best-selling manga series byHajime Isayamaand tells the story of a world in which the last of humanity fights to survive against man-eating giants called Titans. With now 21 volumes in print and an estimated 70 million copies in print today,Attack on Titanhas inspired spin-off manga and novels, the anime series, a live action movie and numerous video games. Funimation simulcast the original 25-episode, Season 1 ofAttack on Titanas well as released it on home video throughout North America.
“Attack on Titanis one of those rare titles that has reached true cult status with anime fans,” saidMike DuBoise, EVP and COO of Funimation. “It’s been more than 3 years since the last episode ofAttack on TitanSeason 1 and passion from its fans has not waned. We look forward to premiering it on FunimationNow.”
Experience the Golden Globe-Nominated Song “How Far I’ll Go” from ‘Moana’
Written byLin-Manuel Mirandaand performed byAuli’i Cravalho, the Golden Globe-nominated song “How Far I’ll Go” is just one example of the Disney film’s amazing soundtrack; the two-disc deluxe edition and the digital deluxe edition soundtrack are available wherever music is sold and streamed.
And for more onMoana, take a look at some of our recent write-ups below:
‘Justice League Dark’ Clip Conjures Up Constantine
Jump ahead to the 2:38 mark in the above video to check out a new clip from Warner Bros. Animation’s upcoming film,Justice League Dark. Plus, stick around for an interview with the voice of John Constantine,Matt Ryan, along with more looks at the movie. He’s joined by a voice cast that includesJason O’Maraas Batman,Camilla Luddingtonas Zatanna,Nicholas Turturroas Deadman,Ray Chaseas the demon Etrigan, andRoger R. Crossas Swamp Thing.
Here’s the official synopsis:
When innocent civilians begin committing unthinkable crimes across Metropolis, Gotham City and beyond, Batman must call upon mystical counterparts to eradicate this demonic threat to the planet. Enter Justice League Dark, reluctantly led by the Hellblazer himself, John Constantine. Like Batman, Constantine is a cunning, often cynical loner who is the best at his chosen profession – but quickly realizes the sinister forces plaguing the planet will require help from other supernatural alliances. Forming a new “league” with sorceress Zatanna, otherworldly Deadman, and Jason Blood and his powerful alter ego Etrigan the Demon, this team of Dark Arts specialists must unravel the mystery of Earth’s supernatural plague and contend with the rising, powerful villainous forces behind the siege – before it’s too late for all of mankind.
‘Justice League Action’ Behind-the-Scenes Character Featurette Reveals Future Glimpses
DC, Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network recently debutedJustice League Action, an all-new animated series that balances humor and heroic action in a very entertaining way. In this DC All Access animation clip, they talk to character designerShane Glinesabout the new show that reunites DC’s greatest super heroes. Shane reveals a few behind-the-scenes secrets about the look of the characters and discusses the tone of the show. In addition to a clip from the recent premiere episode “Shazam Slam”, you can also get looks at upcoming scenes and characters in future episodes!
Watch: Seth Rogen and Top Animators Talk Ethnic Stereotypes and Princesses
THR’s panel of top animation creators — includingByron Howard(Zootopia),Garth Jennings(Sing),Travis Knight(Kubo and the Two Strings),Mike Mitchell(Trolls),John Musker(Moana) andMark Osborne(The Little Prince) — talk about their “inspirations, when to avoid having certain characters kiss and why you have to “kill yourself” when working in animation.” The hour-long discussion touched on such topics as ethnic stereotypes and modern-day princesses. It’s easy to look at this panel of seven White males and scoff at the idea of them having anything interesting to say about diversity or feminism, but their body of work should speak more loudly than their skin-deep appearance at first blush. It’s a must-watch for any animation enthusiast.
Cartoon Network Acquires ‘My Knight and Me’
When Princess Cat is kidnapped by an evil dragon during a training exercise, it’s up to Jimmy and his dad to save her before it’s too late!
Deadlinereports that Cartoon Network’s latest animated acquisitionMy Knight and Mewill be making its debut on Monday, January 2nd at 4pm. The series that follows “the adventures of a colorful and charismatic trio of knights in shining armor” was created and directed byJoeri Christiaenand is produced by France’s TeamTO and Belgium’s Thuristar. The series revolves around “loyal, street-smart Jimmy the Squire (Jules de Jongh); his best friend, the fun and daring Cat the Princess (Kaycie Chase); and his father Henri of Orange (David Gasman), a charmingly inept but passionately chivalrous knight who might not be the most efficient protector of the realm, but he sure is the funniest. Together, they set out to make the Dark Ages a little brighter and a whole lot more fun.” Turner’s Boomerang premiered the cartoon in the UK earlier this year;My Knight and Mewill continue its rollout on Turner’s platforms around the world.
GKIDS to Release Studio Ghibli’s ‘Ocean Waves’ in the U.S. for the First Time
GKIDS, the producer and distributor of award-winning animation for both adult and family audiences, announced that it will release Studio Ghibli’sOcean Waves, which has never before been released in the U.S. … until now! The film will play starting on December 28th at IFC Center in New York, and one night only in Los Angeles at the Egyptian Theatre, in a new 4K restoration. The film will then be released on home video formats in Spring 2017.
Ocean Wavesis directed byTomomi Mochizukiand written byKaori Nakamura, which was adapted from a novel of the same name bySaeko Himuro. The film was originally made in 1993 for Japanese television.
Here’s the official synopsis forOcean Waves:
Rarely seen outside of Japan,OCEAN WAVESis a subtle, poignant and wonderfully detailed story of adolescence and teenage isolation. Taku and his best friend Yutaka are headed back to school for what looks like another uneventful year. But they soon find their friendship tested by the arrival of Rikako, a beautiful new transfer student from Tokyo whose attitude vacillates wildly from flirty and flippant to melancholic. When Taku joins Rikako on a trip to Tokyo, the school erupts with rumors, and the three friends are forced to come to terms with their changing relationships.
OCEAN WAVESwas the first Studio Ghibli film directed by someone other than studio founders Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, as director Tomomi Mochizuki led a talented staff of younger employees in an adaptation of Saeko Himuro’s best-selling novel. Full of shots bathed in a palette of pleasingly soft pastel colors and rich in the unexpected visual details typical of Studio Ghibli’s most revered works,OCEAN WAVESis an accomplished teenage drama and a true discovery.
Studio Ghibli Animators to Release ‘Mary and the Witch’s Flower’ Through Studio Ponoc
James Purefoy Confirms Voice Role in ‘Trollhunters’
DreamWorks Animation and series' creatorGuillermo del Toroare bringingTrollhuntersto Netflix. The original tale suffused with mythology and magic follows Jim (Anton Yelchin), “a teenager who unwittingly becomes a defender of the phospholuminescent civilization of trolls that live beneath his town. The 26-episode series, produced in part byMarc Guggenheim, will bow on December 23rd.
Kelsey Grammerplays the six-eyed troll ally Blinky, withRon Perlmanvoicing Bular, the villain and primary antagonist.Charlie Saxtonvoices Jim’s human pal Toby, whileSteven Yeunstars as the bully Steve. Other voice talents includeLexi Medranoas Claire,Jonathan Hydeas Mr. Strickler,James Purefoyas Kanjigar,Fred Tatascioreas Aaarrrgh!, andAmy Landeckeras Barbara.
The series also serves as a tribute of sorts to the late Yelchin, who passed away earlier this year;Trollhuntersis his final work. Look for more onTrollhunters, Yelchin, and more from an interview with Guggenheim coming this week!
