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ANIMATIONWorld Magazine

Is This How Empathy Ends? ANIMATIONWorld

Sean Ono Lennon and Rich Ragsdale Talk ‘The Great Parrot-Ox and the Golden Egg of Empathy’

The pair discusses the Claypool Lennon Delirium’s expansive new hand-crafted transmedia project, a cautionary tale of a dystopian, AI ruled world woven into 3 animated shorts, a 24-page comic book, and 14-song album, releasing today, May 1.

That’ll Do Pig ANIMATIONWorld

Andy Serkis and Cinesite Talk Gnashers, Nostrils and Noir in ‘Animal Farm’

3DCG reimagined adaptation of the famous George Orwell novel, with an all-star cast that includes Seth Rogen, Glenn Close, Kieran Culkin, and Woody Harrelson, hits theaters on May 1.

Who Doesn’t Love a Body Swap Mishap ANIMATIONWorld

'Swapped' Director Nathan Greno on Building an Empathy-Driven Animated World

By Dan Sarto | Thursday, April 30, 2026 at 9:08am

The filmmaker explains how his new Netflix and Skydance Animation 3DCG comedy evolved from a teen superpower pitch into a nature-inspired story of plant-animal hybrids swapping bodies and learning to live together.

Honoring Innovation in Animation ANIMATIONWorld

DreamWorks Sci-Tech Award Winners Talk Innovation History and Trajectory

Baptiste Van Opstal, Jeff Budsberg, Michael Losure, Jon Lanz, and Eszter Offertaler detail key state-of-the-art animation tools, their evolution, and how the studio fosters time-intensive development of production technology that has given award-winning films like ‘The Wild Robot’ and ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ their uniquely stylized looks.

It’s Anime-zing! ANIMATIONWorld

Anime Producer Kei Watabiki and Manga Editor Yuki Yokoi Talk 35 Years of ‘Baki’

Since 1991, the venerable franchise has celebrated no-rules, hand-to-hand combat and the philosophy of ‘strength;’ the latest series, ‘Baki-Dou: The Invincible Samurai’ ups the ante and action with a resurrected Edo-period master swordsman.

My Brother the Minotaur ANIMATIONWorld

‘My Brother the Minotaur’: A Mystical Being Embraces Community and Individuality

Donal Mangan’s long-gestating series about a myth-tinged, coming-of-age adventure that follows a young minotaur and his human brother searching for answers about his past while exploring belonging and identity premieres April 24 on Apple TV.

Memories That Never Fade ANIMATIONWorld

‘Akira’ and ‘Battle of the Planets’: 2 Anime That Made Me

With the Katsuhiro Otomo classic 1988 film now playing in UK and Ireland cinemas, columnist Andrew Osmond reflects on the impact it had on him decades ago, and how it links to a TV cartoon from his childhood.

It’s Always About the Path Not the Destination ANIMATIONWorld

‘Spacetime Chronicles’ Unfolds a Fragile, Surreal Paper-Animated Tale

Webby Award-winning director Stefano Bertelli’s stop-motion film about a man’s dreamlike inner journey between reality and limbo used low poly 3D paper shapes with many smaller flat surfaces, folds and creases; tough to animate, lovely to watch.

A Very Curious Gorg ANIMATIONWorld

The Vintage Anime ‘Giant Gorg’: A Hero Robot’s Answer to King Kong

Columnist Andrew Osmond looks back at a decades’-old Japanese cartoon available on streaming, which presents itself as a fast and furious kids’ show – until the shock of the last episodes.

More Wubbin More Dubbin Headline News

'Rick and Morty' Animated Movie in Development at Warner Bros.

By Dan Sarto | Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 9:47am

Longtime series director Jacob Hair is attached to direct the planned feature, with Dan Harmon confirming he’s keeping the planned big-screen adventure inside the show’s creative orbit; the Adult Swim series’ Season 9 premieres May 24.

It’s Flippin Cool Headline News

Exclusive Art Reveal: Kickstarter Launches for ‘Flippitoons’ Collector Art Book

By Dan Sarto | Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 9:11am

Clover Press’ 224-page deluxe hardcover from Jim Fletcher and James Martin catalogs more than 100 reversible ‘Creeepilicious Creatures’ from the Flippi-verse that transform when the book is turned right side up or upside down, with rhyming prose designed to read in either direction.

Technology Headline News

DreamWorks' MoonRay Renderer Joins the Academy Software Foundation

By Dan Sarto | Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 12:24pm

The open source path-tracing renderer has powered every DWA feature since 2019, including ‘The Wild Robot’ and ‘The Bad Guys 2;’ ASWF’s Open Source Days set for July 19-20 in LA.

We Want More Peanuts Headline News

‘Camp Snoopy’ Season 2 Leads Apple TV’s Summer ‘Peanuts’ Slate

By Dan Sarto | Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 9:14am

The Beagle Scouts return to Camp Spring Lake for new outdoor adventures with Charlie Brown and the gang on June 26, followed by the debuts of ‘This is America, Charlie Brown’ and ‘The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show’ in July and the new special ‘Snoopy Presents: There’s No Place Like Home, Snoopy’ on July 31.

In-Passing Headline News

‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ Voice Actor Tom Kane Dies at 64

By Dan Sarto | Monday, May 18, 2026 at 5:01pm

The prolific animation and video game actor, known for Yoda in both animated ‘Clone Wars’ series, Woodhouse in ‘Archer,’ and Professor Utonium in ‘The Powerpuff Girls,’ passed away from complications of a stroke.

Zoinks! Headline News

Scooby and Shaggy Head to Japan in Tubi’s 'Yokoso Scooby-Doo!'

By Dan Sarto | Monday, May 18, 2026 at 3:16pm

Frank Welker and Matthew Lillard will once again voice the prolific pair as the first original anime 'Scooby-Doo' series gets greenlit, with Warner Bros. Animation producing and OLM providing production services.

The Old Glass Slipper Trick Headline News

Bette Midler to Voice Fairy Godmother in Netflix’s 'Steps'

By Dan Sarto | Monday, May 18, 2026 at 11:52am

The Divine Miss M joins the cast of the upcoming original animated film, starring Ali Wong, Amada Seyfried, and Stephanie Hsu, that reimagines the classic fairytale, centering on Cinderella’s supposedly ‘evil’ stepsisters.

Meow! Headline News

David Derrick Jr., John Aoshima to direct 'Hello Kitty' Feature

By Dan Sarto | Monday, May 18, 2026 at 11:14am

The New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Pictures Animation feature follows Hello Kitty and her friends on a ‘cinematic adventure designed to delight audiences of all ages;’ Ramsey Naito producing, will release globally on July 21, 2028.

Ooo We’re Heading Back to Ooo Headline News

Finn and Jake Return this June in ‘Adventure Time: Side Quests’

By Dan Sarto | Monday, May 18, 2026 at 10:32am

Cartoon Network has announced U.S. and international premiere dates for its new animated ‘Adventure Time’ companion series that follows the intrepid pair on standalone adventures across the land of Ooo.

Family… You Gotta Love Em Headline News

Exclusive: Netflix Shares ‘Long Story Short’ Inside the Series Featurette

By Dan Sarto | Monday, May 18, 2026 at 8:52am

Watch creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg (‘BoJack Horseman’) and cast, including Max Greenfield, Nicole Byer and Angelique Cabral, discuss the highly relatable, emotionally complex world of the hit animated series, digging deeper into the WGA-winning ‘Shira Can’t Cook’ episode.

Pups to the Rescue Headline News

Nickelodeon and Spin Master Renew ‘PAW Patrol’ and ‘Rubble & Crew’

By Dan Sarto | Friday, May 15, 2026 at 3:05pm

The preschool shows get picked up for Seasons 14 and 15 and 5 and 6, respectively, with new episodes set to premiere this summer on the network and Nick Jr.

Cheesehead Nirvana Headline News

Stoopid Buddy Stoodios and Green Bay Packers Drop Animated 2026 Schedule

By Dan Sarto | Friday, May 15, 2026 at 2:14pm

Hilarious stop-motion short is part of multimedia campaign for the NFL team’s 2026 game schedule that also includes 2 playable video games, and the return of a Packers mascot from the 1980s (there's lots of BTS images from the production).

Supporting a New Generation of Animation Creatives Headline News

CTN Foundation Launches Roger Allers Legacy Scholarship Award

By Dan Sarto | Friday, May 15, 2026 at 12:06pm

New initiative to support emerging storytellers across directing, story art and libretto writing will provide mentorship with top industry artists including Sir Timothy Miles Rice, John Musker, Kirk Wise and Brenda Chapman.

I Flush Not Shirk My Duties Headline News

Exclusive ‘Bob’s Burgers’ Season Finale Clip: ‘Stuck in the Middle with Hu(go)’

By Dan Sarto | Friday, May 15, 2026 at 11:20am

In the first of the season’s 2 final episodes, Bob is forced to spend time with one of his least favorite people, while Tina is entrusted with something very close to Jimmy Junior’s heart; airs Sunday, May 17 on FOX.

Pages

Is This How Empathy Ends? ANIMATIONWorld

Sean Ono Lennon and Rich Ragsdale Talk ‘The Great Parrot-Ox and the Golden Egg of Empathy’

The pair discusses the Claypool Lennon Delirium’s expansive new hand-crafted transmedia project, a cautionary tale of a dystopian, AI ruled world woven into 3 animated shorts, a 24-page comic book, and 14-song album, releasing today, May 1.

That’ll Do Pig ANIMATIONWorld

Andy Serkis and Cinesite Talk Gnashers, Nostrils and Noir in ‘Animal Farm’

3DCG reimagined adaptation of the famous George Orwell novel, with an all-star cast that includes Seth Rogen, Glenn Close, Kieran Culkin, and Woody Harrelson, hits theaters on May 1.

Who Doesn’t Love a Body Swap Mishap ANIMATIONWorld

'Swapped' Director Nathan Greno on Building an Empathy-Driven Animated World

By Dan Sarto | Thursday, April 30, 2026 at 9:08am

The filmmaker explains how his new Netflix and Skydance Animation 3DCG comedy evolved from a teen superpower pitch into a nature-inspired story of plant-animal hybrids swapping bodies and learning to live together.

Honoring Innovation in Animation ANIMATIONWorld

DreamWorks Sci-Tech Award Winners Talk Innovation History and Trajectory

Baptiste Van Opstal, Jeff Budsberg, Michael Losure, Jon Lanz, and Eszter Offertaler detail key state-of-the-art animation tools, their evolution, and how the studio fosters time-intensive development of production technology that has given award-winning films like ‘The Wild Robot’ and ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ their uniquely stylized looks.

It’s Anime-zing! ANIMATIONWorld

Anime Producer Kei Watabiki and Manga Editor Yuki Yokoi Talk 35 Years of ‘Baki’

Since 1991, the venerable franchise has celebrated no-rules, hand-to-hand combat and the philosophy of ‘strength;’ the latest series, ‘Baki-Dou: The Invincible Samurai’ ups the ante and action with a resurrected Edo-period master swordsman.

My Brother the Minotaur ANIMATIONWorld

‘My Brother the Minotaur’: A Mystical Being Embraces Community and Individuality

Donal Mangan’s long-gestating series about a myth-tinged, coming-of-age adventure that follows a young minotaur and his human brother searching for answers about his past while exploring belonging and identity premieres April 24 on Apple TV.

Memories That Never Fade ANIMATIONWorld

‘Akira’ and ‘Battle of the Planets’: 2 Anime That Made Me

With the Katsuhiro Otomo classic 1988 film now playing in UK and Ireland cinemas, columnist Andrew Osmond reflects on the impact it had on him decades ago, and how it links to a TV cartoon from his childhood.

It’s Always About the Path Not the Destination ANIMATIONWorld

‘Spacetime Chronicles’ Unfolds a Fragile, Surreal Paper-Animated Tale

Webby Award-winning director Stefano Bertelli’s stop-motion film about a man’s dreamlike inner journey between reality and limbo used low poly 3D paper shapes with many smaller flat surfaces, folds and creases; tough to animate, lovely to watch.

A Very Curious Gorg ANIMATIONWorld

The Vintage Anime ‘Giant Gorg’: A Hero Robot’s Answer to King Kong

Columnist Andrew Osmond looks back at a decades’-old Japanese cartoon available on streaming, which presents itself as a fast and furious kids’ show – until the shock of the last episodes.

More Wubbin More Dubbin Headline News

'Rick and Morty' Animated Movie in Development at Warner Bros.

By Dan Sarto | Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 9:47am

Longtime series director Jacob Hair is attached to direct the planned feature, with Dan Harmon confirming he’s keeping the planned big-screen adventure inside the show’s creative orbit; the Adult Swim series’ Season 9 premieres May 24.

It’s Flippin Cool Headline News

Exclusive Art Reveal: Kickstarter Launches for ‘Flippitoons’ Collector Art Book

By Dan Sarto | Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 9:11am

Clover Press’ 224-page deluxe hardcover from Jim Fletcher and James Martin catalogs more than 100 reversible ‘Creeepilicious Creatures’ from the Flippi-verse that transform when the book is turned right side up or upside down, with rhyming prose designed to read in either direction.

Technology Headline News

DreamWorks' MoonRay Renderer Joins the Academy Software Foundation

By Dan Sarto | Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 12:24pm

The open source path-tracing renderer has powered every DWA feature since 2019, including ‘The Wild Robot’ and ‘The Bad Guys 2;’ ASWF’s Open Source Days set for July 19-20 in LA.

We Want More Peanuts Headline News

‘Camp Snoopy’ Season 2 Leads Apple TV’s Summer ‘Peanuts’ Slate

By Dan Sarto | Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 9:14am

The Beagle Scouts return to Camp Spring Lake for new outdoor adventures with Charlie Brown and the gang on June 26, followed by the debuts of ‘This is America, Charlie Brown’ and ‘The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show’ in July and the new special ‘Snoopy Presents: There’s No Place Like Home, Snoopy’ on July 31.

In-Passing Headline News

‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ Voice Actor Tom Kane Dies at 64

By Dan Sarto | Monday, May 18, 2026 at 5:01pm

The prolific animation and video game actor, known for Yoda in both animated ‘Clone Wars’ series, Woodhouse in ‘Archer,’ and Professor Utonium in ‘The Powerpuff Girls,’ passed away from complications of a stroke.

Zoinks! Headline News

Scooby and Shaggy Head to Japan in Tubi’s 'Yokoso Scooby-Doo!'

By Dan Sarto | Monday, May 18, 2026 at 3:16pm

Frank Welker and Matthew Lillard will once again voice the prolific pair as the first original anime 'Scooby-Doo' series gets greenlit, with Warner Bros. Animation producing and OLM providing production services.

The Old Glass Slipper Trick Headline News

Bette Midler to Voice Fairy Godmother in Netflix’s 'Steps'

By Dan Sarto | Monday, May 18, 2026 at 11:52am

The Divine Miss M joins the cast of the upcoming original animated film, starring Ali Wong, Amada Seyfried, and Stephanie Hsu, that reimagines the classic fairytale, centering on Cinderella’s supposedly ‘evil’ stepsisters.

Meow! Headline News

David Derrick Jr., John Aoshima to direct 'Hello Kitty' Feature

By Dan Sarto | Monday, May 18, 2026 at 11:14am

The New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Pictures Animation feature follows Hello Kitty and her friends on a ‘cinematic adventure designed to delight audiences of all ages;’ Ramsey Naito producing, will release globally on July 21, 2028.

Ooo We’re Heading Back to Ooo Headline News

Finn and Jake Return this June in ‘Adventure Time: Side Quests’

By Dan Sarto | Monday, May 18, 2026 at 10:32am

Cartoon Network has announced U.S. and international premiere dates for its new animated ‘Adventure Time’ companion series that follows the intrepid pair on standalone adventures across the land of Ooo.

Family… You Gotta Love Em Headline News

Exclusive: Netflix Shares ‘Long Story Short’ Inside the Series Featurette

By Dan Sarto | Monday, May 18, 2026 at 8:52am

Watch creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg (‘BoJack Horseman’) and cast, including Max Greenfield, Nicole Byer and Angelique Cabral, discuss the highly relatable, emotionally complex world of the hit animated series, digging deeper into the WGA-winning ‘Shira Can’t Cook’ episode.

Pups to the Rescue Headline News

Nickelodeon and Spin Master Renew ‘PAW Patrol’ and ‘Rubble & Crew’

By Dan Sarto | Friday, May 15, 2026 at 3:05pm

The preschool shows get picked up for Seasons 14 and 15 and 5 and 6, respectively, with new episodes set to premiere this summer on the network and Nick Jr.

Cheesehead Nirvana Headline News

Stoopid Buddy Stoodios and Green Bay Packers Drop Animated 2026 Schedule

By Dan Sarto | Friday, May 15, 2026 at 2:14pm

Hilarious stop-motion short is part of multimedia campaign for the NFL team’s 2026 game schedule that also includes 2 playable video games, and the return of a Packers mascot from the 1980s (there's lots of BTS images from the production).

Supporting a New Generation of Animation Creatives Headline News

CTN Foundation Launches Roger Allers Legacy Scholarship Award

By Dan Sarto | Friday, May 15, 2026 at 12:06pm

New initiative to support emerging storytellers across directing, story art and libretto writing will provide mentorship with top industry artists including Sir Timothy Miles Rice, John Musker, Kirk Wise and Brenda Chapman.

I Flush Not Shirk My Duties Headline News

Exclusive ‘Bob’s Burgers’ Season Finale Clip: ‘Stuck in the Middle with Hu(go)’

By Dan Sarto | Friday, May 15, 2026 at 11:20am

In the first of the season’s 2 final episodes, Bob is forced to spend time with one of his least favorite people, while Tina is entrusted with something very close to Jimmy Junior’s heart; airs Sunday, May 17 on FOX.

Pages