InFurNation Rotating Header Image

Animation

Welcome Back to Transylvania!

Some good news coming our way thanks to Cartoon Brew: After initially bowing out of directing the Hotel Transylvania movie series after the second (very successful!) film, Genndy Tartakovsky had a change of heart and will in fact return to direct Part 3. “Acknowledging the surprising turn of events, Tartakovsky said in a statement, ‘I thought I was done exploring the world of Hotel Transylvania after the first two films, but while I was away from the franchise finishing my TV show Samurai Jack, an idea sparked that I got really excited about and made it irresistible to return and helm myself this third adventure.’  Michelle Murdocca will produce the film again, and Adam Sandler will executive produce and return as the voice of Dracula. Michael McCullers (Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Boss Baby) is writing the screenplay, and Selena Gomez and Andy Samberg will revive their roles as Mavis and Johnny, respectively. Sony has slated the third installment of Hotel Transylvania for September 21, 2018. ” Maybe then we’ll find out more about the relationship of half-vampire Dennis and all-werewolf Winnie. (They zing’d, after all!). The article at Cartoon Brew also mentions other upcoming Sony Pictures animated projects, including The Star (formerly The Lamb — a faith-based feature that follows a young donkey who helps to bring about the very first Christmas).

image c. 2016 Sony Pictures

image c. 2016 Sony Pictures Animation

Save

A Wiggle in Time

Future-Worm! is a new 2D animated TV series coming to Disney XD this August. According to the Deadline: “Created and executive-produced by Emmy-winning director Ryan Quincy (South Park), Future-Worm! centers on Danny, played by Andy Milonakis, an optimistic 12-year-old who creates a time machine lunch box, and then meets and befriends a fearless worm (James Adomian) from the future (with titanium-enforced abs). The comedy follows Danny and Future Worm as they embark on adventures through space, time, and study hall. The characters were introduced last year in a popular Future-Worm! short-form series …on Disney XD’s YouTube Channel.” Which you can find right here.

Image c. 2016 Disney XD

Image c. 2016 Disney XD

Save

Llamas On Netflix

We got this from Animation World Network: “Genius Brands International, Inc. (GBI) announced that Netflix, the world’s leading Internet TV network, will premiere GBI’s new original preschool series, Llama Llama, to members worldwide in 2017. Currently in production on 15 half-hour episodes, Llama Llama, based on the award-winning and bestselling book series by author and illustrator Anna Dewdney, is led by an all-star team of creators, including Oscar-winning director Rob Minkoff (The Lion King), director Saul Blinkoff (Doc McStuffins, Barbie’s Dreamtopia, Winnie the Pooh), Emmy winning writer Joe Purdy(Arthur), legendary Disney art director Ruben Aquino (Frozen, The Lion King, Aladdin, Mulan) and Emmy-award winning producers Jane Startz and Andy Heyward… Llama Llama is an animated series about childhood moments and adventures, as well as the special connections between the lead character, Llama, his parents, grandparents and best friends. Llama Llama tells heart-warming tales of life in a safe, friendly town seen through the eyes of Llama as he interacts with the amazing world around him.” We’ll keep you informed of the exact release date.

image c. 2016 GBI

image c. 2016 GBI

Save

Vroom Vroom

Back from CaliFur, and there’s lots to talk about! Over at Cartoon Brew they have an article about the first trailer for the upcoming live-action film Monster Trucks. “The film, based on Hasbro’s Monster Trucks toy line, has been covered here on Cartoon Brew because it is the live-action directorial debut of Ice Age director and Blue Sky co-founder Chris Wedge. Wedge directs from a story by Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger (Kung Fu Panda, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, Trolls) and Matthew Robinson (The Invention of Lying), and screenplay by Derek Connolly (Safety Not Guaranteed, Jurassic World).” The story follows a high-school boy named Trip who discovers a gelatinous, tentacled, very toothy — yet very friendly monster. Said monster (Trip calls him “Creech”) has the strange ability to meld himself (itself?) with Trip’s pick-up truck — hence the film’s title. Adventures and hi jinks ensue. The film has been delayed several times in its production history: Originally set for release in May of 2015, Paramount is now hoping to have it out in January of 2017.

image c. 2016 Paramount Pictures

image c. 2016 Paramount Pictures

New Kid Toons on Amazon

We got this from the Animation Magazine web site: “A new Amazon Video pilot season kicks off on June 17 in the US, UK, Germany, Austria and Japan. And this year’s crop includes five new kids’ animation series to keep an eye on: Little Big Awesome, Morris and the Cow, Toasty Tales, The Curious Kitty and Friends and Jazz Duck. (There’s also a live-action project from Sid & Marty Krofft: Sigmund and the Sea Monsters.)” Yes that’s right: They’re re-making the 1970’s live-action series about two young boys who live by the ocean and their secret friendship with an outcast tentacled sea-monster. Turns out that the whole slate of six features some anthropomorphic content, even if all of them aren’t necessarily anthropomorphic animals! Check out the article to learn more.

image c. 2016 Amazon Video

image c. 2016 Amazon Video

The Ladies, They Do Like Ladies

Here’s what it says: “On Loving Women is a new collection of stories about coming out, first love, and sexual identity by the animator Diane Obomsawin. With this work, Obomsawin brings her gaze to bear on subjects closer to home—her friends’ and lovers’ personal accounts of realizing they’re gay or first finding love with another woman. Each story is a master class in reaching the emotional truth of a situation with the simplest means possible. Her stripped-down pages use the bare minimum of linework to expressively reveal heartbreak, joy, irritation, and fear.” What it does not say is that Obomsawin tells these stories through simply drawn but very anthropomorphic characters. Now this 2014 trade paperback has been re-released by Drawn & Quarterly.

image c. 2016 Drawn & Quarterly

image c. 2016 Drawn & Quarterly

Rattle and Hummmm…

We came across this announcement from Screen Daily: “Kaleidoscope Film Distribution (KFD) is handling world sales on animated feature Danny Diamondback, which Aardman Animation alumni Darren Walsh (Shaun The Sheep TV series) will direct. It’s the story of a young rattlesnake with a musical talent in his tail. The film is based on the children’s novella of the same name, first published by Harper Collins and written by illustrator and production designer Barry Jackson (How The Grinch Stole Christmas). Jackson has written the script and will be heading up production design on the project. Siege Train Studios’ Curtis Augspurger (Valiant), Matthew Hampton, and Cora Palfrey will produce the film alongside Jackson. Bibo Bergeron (Shark Tale) will serve as executive producer.” That’s one heck of a lotta veteran anthropomorphic talent on one project. No word yet on if the film is to be CGI or claymation. Guess we’ll find out after they give us a projected release date!

image c. 2016 Kaleidoscope Entertainment

image c. 2016 Kaleidoscope Entertainment

Cheaters Are Fast, But Not Fast Enough

This June, Boom! Studios will release Cheat Code, the latest Original Graphic Novel based on the popular animated series The Amazing World of Gumball from Cartoon Network. “Cheaters never prosper. But Gumball and Darwin don’t know that! While the Watterson boys are grounded, their classmates advance ahead of them in the new, super-popular video game Monster Fight Friends. A mysterious and forbidden cheat code is just what they need. Too bad it unleashes a gigantic, tech-crazy kaiju onto the streets of Elmore! Written by Megan Brennan (Pencil Pup) and illustrated by Katy Farina, The Amazing World of Gumball: Cheat Code takes adventure in Elmore to a whole new level.” Find out more about this new trade paperback over at Simon & Schuster.

image c. 2016 Boom! Studios

image c. 2016 Boom! Studios

Ruh Roh!

If you haven’t caught the word, this May DC Comics and Hanna Barbera plan to take Scooby Doo and the gang in a very… different direction, with the premier of the new full-color comic book series Scooby Apocalypse. “Those meddling kids — Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy, and their dog, Scooby-Doo — get more ghost-debunking than they bargained for when faced with a fundamental change in their world. The apocalypse has happened. Old rules about logic no longer apply. The creatures of the night are among us, and the crew of the Magical Mystery Machine has to fight to survive—because in the apocalyptic badlands of the near-future, the horrors are real! This new monthly series takes Scooby and the gang to a whole new level and features character designs by comics superstar Jim Lee!” Plus writing by Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis, with regular art by Howard Porter. Read an interview with Mr. Giffen over at Newsarama.

image c. 2016 DC Comics

image c. 2016 DC Comics