In This Week in Animation News, I’ll take a look at the previous week in the world of animation 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!
In very exciting news for anime fans,Dragon Ball Superhas been teasing a powerful transformation for Goku, the good-natured, fighting-obsessed Saiyan who’s been leading the franchise for 30 years. (I’m curious to hear your thoughts on it, fans!) Elsewhere, we’re blending a lot of TV and movie news this week:Teen Titans Go!is headed to the big screen,Clifford the Big Red Doglands a director for a live-action/animation hybrid film, andRWBYgets a Kickstarter going for a board game ahead of Volume 5’s return later this month. Lots of random stuff, so I hope you find something you enjoy!
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!
Will Goku’s New Power Finally Be Revealed?
In upcoming episodes ofDragon Ball Super, Goku is going to sport an all-new look (along with incredible powers and abilities, I’m sure) in order to survive the Tournament of Power. I’m not entirely sure just what they’ll call the new form (as long as it’s not Super Saiyan Rosé, I’m good) or what exactly Goku’s new abilities/weaknesses will be, but it’s an exciting moment for sure.
Fans of the original run ofDragon Ball Z, like myself, likely still count Goku’s first transformation into Super Saiyan as a groundbreaking moment in the anime. Now, new and returning fans alike will get to see Goku go to yet another level. The excitement is diluted somewhat since we’ve already seen him go into Super Saiyan God mode and Super Saiyan Blue on a number of occasions, but this new silver-eyed, black-haired Goku is something else … perhaps approaching the level of Kai.
We’re all waiting for Goku to take on Jiren in the tournament, but how that will impact the Saiyan’s next power level (and his fellow fighters) remains to be seen. Do you have thoughts and theories? Let me know in the comments!
Check out the artwork, courtesy ofTodd Blankenship(viaComicbook.com):
‘My Little Pony: The Movie’ Releases a New Trailer and First Clip
My Little Pony: The Movie – Coming to theaters October 6! The film has an all-star voice cast including Emily Blunt, Kristin Chenoweth, Liev Schreiber, Michael Peña, Sia, Taye Diggs, Uzo Aduba and Zoe Saldana.
A new dark force threatens Ponyville, and the Mane 6 – Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rarity – embark on an unforgettable journey beyond Equestria where they meet new friends and exciting challenges on a quest to use the magic of friendship to save their home. Lionsgate and Allspark Pictures present, a DHX Media production.
Atomic Cartoons to Animate ‘The Last Kids on Earth’
Thunderbird Entertainment and its animation studio Atomic Cartoons have optioned the rights to bringMax Brallier’s New York Times bestselling book seriesThe Last Kids on Earthto television. Brallier will write the animated series and Executive Produce alongside Atomic’sJennifer McCarronandMatthew Berkowitz. The studio’s production is already underway.
The comedic book series, created and written by Brallier, and illustrated byDoug Holgate, follows thirteen year old Jack Sullivan and a band of suburban middle schoolers who live in a decked-out tree house, play video games, gorge themselves on candy, and battle zombies in the aftermath of the monster apocalypse. It’s a hilarious series filled with wisecracking kids, crazy gadgets, and a lifetime supply of zombies and giant-sized monsters that has been described asDiary of a Wimpy Kid meets The Walking Dead.
The highly anticipated third installment “The Last Kids on Earth and the Nightmare King” was just released and isavailable nowfrom Viking, an imprint of Penguin Random House.
‘Clifford the Big Red Dog’ Movie Lands Director Walt Becker
AsTHRreports, Paramount’s plans for a live-action/animation hybrid adaptation ofClifford the Big Red Doghave gotten a leg up with the addition of directorWalt Becker(Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip). First published in 1963, the title pooch is a 25-foot-tall canine companion living with his human owner, a child named Emily Elizabeth. An animated series has appeared on PBS since 2000 but a feature film has yet to make it to the big screen.
For this version,Justin Malen(Office Christmas Party) wrote the first script, now being rewritten byEllen Rapoport.Deborath Forteproduces for Scholastic Media through her Silvertongue Films banner withJared Massoverseeing the project for Paramount.Clifford the Big Red Dogwill add another animal movie to Becker’s menagerie, following up onOld Dogs, Wild HogsandBuying the Cow.
‘Teen Titans Go!’ Movies Heads to the Big Screen Next Summer
Cartoon Network’sTeen Titans GO!, now in its fourth season, will be moving to the big screen next year. The adventures of Robin, Beast Boy, Raven, Cyborg, and Starfire are getting the animated film treatment and will be arriving in theaters on July 20, 2025. Warner Bros. didn’t release any further details, so hopefully that’ll tide fans over for the time being.
But there are more DC Comics characters on the way. A live-actionTitansis due to arrive on DC’s new digital streaming service sometime next year.Titanswill be written byAkiva Goldsman,Geoff Johns, andGreg Berlanti.
Additionally, Season 3 ofYoung Justicewill arrive on the platform as well.Sam Registeris executive producer ofYoung Justicewith Emmy Award-winnerPhil Bourassaserving as the series’ art director.
Kickstarters Worth Checking Out: ‘RWBY’ Board Game; ‘Amazing Things Happen’ Animated Series
HeyRWBYfans! There’s a new board game based on Rooster Teeth’s excellent animated series and you can help to bring it to players everywhere. “RWBY: Combat Ready” has an ongoingKickstarter projectthat you can get in on right now. The project is a joint creation between Rooster Teeth and Arcane Wonders, creators of other great board games like Sheriff of Nottingham, Mage Wars, and Viral.
Stories have been written, art has been drawn, and original characters have been created in every shape and form. Now you and your friends can each play as one of the four main RWBY characters. Be Ruby Rose and rise to victory with her Crescent Rose; slice and dice the Grimm as Weiss Schnee, wielding her Myrtenaster; join in and fire from afar as Blake Belladonna with her Gambol Shroud; or leap in and create massive explosions as Yang Xiao Long with her Ember Celica.
To see how to play, check out this video:
For another worthwhile Kickstarter project, be sure to check outAmazing Things Happen, an animated series that aims to “plant a little understanding and acceptance of autism in future generations.” See more details at the link above or read more about the project below:
With help from various autism experts, we are invitingchildren on the autistic spectrum to share their own stories, experiences and view of the world, in their own words.We’ll animate their wordsand put together 5 additional instalments to complete a 6 part series. The animations will be published online for free without geographic restrictions or advertising. It will be downloadable for use in locations without internet access and released under a Creative Commons license, therefore anyone will be able to use it anywhere as long as it’s not being used for profit.
Will it work?
It’s already working. This series is a follow-up project to Alex Amelines' introduction to autism for children by the same name.Amazing Things Happen went viral upon its releasein April 2017 it has been viewed over 50 million times, dubbed into 20 languages and shared over a million times. We have been overwhelmed by positive, supportive messages from individuals on the spectrum, parents, teachers and autism professionals describing how it has helped them to explain and promote understanding of autism.
Lauren Graham Sings in Disney Junior’s ‘Vampirina’ Clip
Yahoohad this first look at (and listen to)Lauren Grahamsinging in Disney Junior’sVampirina. The network is gearing up for the October 1st premiere of their new show which follows the Hauntley family, friendly vampires who have recently relocated from Translyvania to Pennsylvania. Centering on the young Vampirina (aka “Vee,” voiced byIsabella Crovetti) as she learns to navigate her new school as someone who’s different. James Van Der Beek will play her father, opposite Graham.
Based on the popular children’s book series “Vampirina Ballerina”, the show comes fromDoc McStuffinscreatorChris Nee. Broadway greatsPatti LuPoneandBrian Stokes Mitchellalso star as Vee’s grandparents, Nanpire and Grandpop, withWanda Sykesis a series regular voicing Vampirina’s gargoyle sidekick, Gregoria.
Vampirinapremieres October 1st with back-to-back episodes at 11 a.m. simulcast on Disney Junior and Disney Channel. New episodes will air every Monday and Friday in October. Check out a pair of new videos for the upcoming series below:
Oriental DreamWorks Unveils Animated Slate
Oriental DreamWorks announced the appointment of respected industry veteranPeilin Chouas Chief Creative Officer along with key projects coming up for the DreamWorks Animation venture. Here’s a look at some of the upcoming pictures:
