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. We’re talking movies, TV shows, digital shorts, and everything in between!
This week, we’ve already seen the stunning start toMoana’s box office performance with a record-setting Tuesday preview for the Thanksgiving holiday week. Disney’s new feature film will also screen with the short filmInner Workingsplaying in front of it; you may sneak a peek at it in a newly released trailer. Elsewhere in the trailer department, we saw a darkly dramatic first look at Pixar’sCars 3and a mysterious, mischievous new trailer for Sony Pictures Animation’sSmurfs: The Lost Village.
In honor ofAn American Tail’s 30th anniversary this month, we looked back at the film’s lessons and found them to be strikingly relevant in the modern era; the animated classic is worth a revisit on its own merits, but its contemporary cultural relevance makes another watch even more worthwhile. And as always, we’ve gathered the best animated movies available for you to stream on Netflix this month!
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!
‘Justice League Dark’ Trailer Breakdown by Director Jay Oliva
After anew trailerforJustice League Darkconfirmed the animated film’s R rating, followed by an announcement of the film’searly 2017 release date, directorJay Olivachatted withEmpireto breakdown the early look at the anticipated film. Be sure to head there for the full write-up. We’ve included some of the highlights below:
On the film’s R rating:
If I knew that I could get away with a rated R, I would have made it ahardR. When we make these films, our goal is always a PG-13, so there’s certain things that we know we can get away with and things that we can’t; we can’t do beheadings and we can’t do arterial blood spray or anything like that. I’m just trying to tell the best story that I can, and from there we edit some things out, or we attempt to hide things. Instead of showing a beheading, we’ll cut to the shadow on the wall as you see the beheading in the shadow, but you don’t actually see it.The Killing Jokewas kind of a godsend in the sense of, because of its success and because Home Video took a chance of releasing it as an R, it paved the way forthisto be an R.
Swamp Thing:
Constantine may have been my first question, but Swamp Thing was the second. We were actually kicking around the idea of doing a Swamp Thing direct to video movie years ago, but that never saw fruition. When this came about, it was the perfect opportunity to use him. He and Constantine know each other, but they don’tlikeeach other. Then again, not many people like Constantine, because he kind of rubs you the wrong way, you know? He’s kind of like Batman in some ways. He’s the supernatural version of Batman. Basically Constantine and Batman give zero fucks about anything.
Justice League Darkwill be available for digital download on January, 24 2017, and in on Blu-ray/DVD combo pack in the U.S. on August 14, 2025.
‘Mune: Guardian of the Moon’ North American Rights Nabbed by GKIDS
GKIDS, the producer and distributor of award-winning animation for both adult and family audiences, announced that it has acquired the North American distribution rights for the forthcoming animated featureMune: Guardian of the Moon. The French film is from the producers of the 2016 animated featureThe Little Princeand will be released theatrically in early 2017, in a new English language version.
Directed byAlexandre HeboyanandBenoît Philippon,Mune: Guardian of the Moonwon the Young People’s Jury Award at the TIFF Kids International Film Festival and won Best Film at the Toyko Anime Awards. ComposerBruno Coulaiswas nominated for Soundtrack Composer of the Year at the World Soundtrack Awards for his work including the film’s score. The film was sold by Kinology, who is also a co-producer on the film.
Here’s the official synopsis:
As legend has it, the first Guardian of the Sun threw a harpoon into the cosmos and roped the sun to bring light and warmth to all of humanity. Then the Guardian of the Moon lured the moon to the Land of Darkness to provide a balance to the sun and supply the world with dreams. At a momentous ceremony to appoint the two new guardians, an accident seems to occur; the heir apparent is passed over, and the title Guardian of the Moon is bestowed on the waif-like Mune, a small and frightened forest faun who seems wholly unprepared to take on such a weighty responsibility. This news excites Necross, the nefarious ruler of the Underworld, a corrupted ex-guardian who decides to take advantage of Mune’s weakness and steal back the sun for himself. Now it is up to unlikely hero Mune and his friend Glim - a headstrong young girl with wax for skin - to save the sun and restore order to the world.
‘Kung Fu Panda’ Court Case Ends with Fraud Conviction
Well here’s a bit of an odd story from the legal side of the animation world. Apparently a cartoonist took issue with DreamWorks Animation’sKung Fu Pandafranchise and sued the studio for allegedly stealing his idea. That in and of itself isn’t all that uncommon. What’s bizarre, however, is the plaintiff’s unprecedented amount of evidence doctoring in such a case.
Cartoon Brewreported on the events of the case, which ended in a conviction of wire fraud and perjury by a Boston federal jury. The accusation that DreamWorks stole his idea forKung Fu Pandafell apart when it came to light that his “evidence” of the idea, supposedly dated to the early 90s, was actually fake concept art that was created using aLion Kingcoloring book from 1996. He also retroactively doctored hisPanda Powerconcept art to hew closer toKung Fu Pandaafter seeing the film’s trailer in 2008, which is what started the legal trouble. He’ll now face up to 25 years in prison. You can find the full write-up of the legalities atLaw360.
‘SuperMansion’ Holiday Special ‘War on Christmas’ Revealed in First Trailer
Crackle released a brand new trailer for the upcomingSuperMansionChristmas special entitledSuperMansion: War On Christmas.Bryan Cranston, Keegan-Michael Key, Seth GreenandJillian Bellstar alongside guest starsJim ParsonsandGary Anthony WilliamsLook for the episode to premiere on Thursday, December 8th.
SuperMansion: War On Christmasfocuses on a dysfunctional group of self-righteous superheroes, The League of Freedom, who can’t agree on anything, but must band together to save Christmas when an interstellar imp, Mr. Skibumpers (Jim Parsons), unleashes a real-life Santa Claus (Gary Anthony Williams) who experiences an existential crisis and runs amok. Ultimately, the team comes to understand that their differences of opinion are what the holiday spirit is all about.
SuperMansion: War on Christmasis created and produced byMatthew Senreich(“Robot Chicken”) andZeb Wellswho also serves as a writer.Seth Green, John Harvatine IV, Eric Towner, Tom Root, Bryan Cranston, James Degusand Moon Shot Entertainment join as executive producers with production by Stoopid Buddy Stoodios.
Season two ofSuperMansionwill return in early 2017. you’re able to binge-watch all 13 episodes of season one for free on Crackle now.
Check out the new trailer and poster below:
‘Justice League Action’ Four-Part Premiere Date Revealed
The world’s greatest DC Super Heroes are heading to Cartoon Network in the premiere ofJustice League Action,an all-new animated series that will kick off with “Shazam Slam,” a four-part special event debuting,Friday, December 16th at 6:00 p.m.(ET/PT). Produced by Warner Bros. Animation and based on iconic DC characters,Justice League Actionwill premiere new episodesSaturdaymornings on Cartoon Network, beginningDecember 24th.
In “Shazam Slam,” the villainous Black Adam battles Batman on the Rock of Eternity and unleashes a horde of Djinn determined to turn the Earth back to its pre-human, volcanic state. Affected by the otherworldly powers of these primordial monsters, Batman becomes possessed and is turned into a giant flying Batmonster laying waste to the Hall of Justice, with only Superman capable of taking the fight to the Dark Knight. One by one, the Justice League - with the help of Shazam (voiced bySean Astin) and The Wizard (voiced byCarl Reiner) - must hunt down and defeat each Djinn in order to yet again save the world from destruction.
Justice League Actionmarks the return ofKevin Conroy(Batman: The Animated Series), beloved by fans worldwide as one of the most iconic voices of Batman, to a weekly animated television series. The series will also deliver an all-star lineup of regular and guest cast voices, includingMark Hamillas Joker,James Woodsas Lex Luthor,Diedrich Baderas Booster Gold and many more iconic DC Super Heroes and Super-Villains.Sam Register(Teen Titans Go!) serves as executive producer, withButch Lukic(Justice League, Batman Beyond),Alan Burnett(Batman: The Animated Series) andJim Krieg(Green Lantern: The Animated Series) as producers.
Check out a clip below:
Disney/Pixar’s ‘Coco’ Release Date Teased
We still don’t know much about co-directorLee Unkrichand co-director/writerAdrian Molina’s upcoming Disney/Pixar filmCoco,but now at least we have a reminder of the release date.The last we heard,Cocowould take inspiration from Dia de los Muertos and be a “celebration of a lifetime, where the discovery of a generations-old mystery leads to a most extraordinary and surprising family reunion. The themes of family, remembrance and connection across generations are at the story’s core, and the celebration of Dia de los Muertos serves as the perfect backdrop for the main character – 12-year-old Miguel, who lives in rural Mexico – to ask where he comes from and what his place is within his family.”
Keep an eye out for more fromCocoover the next year, and look for it in theaters on June 30, 2025.
