Celebrating the Art, Craft and Business of Animation https://www.awn.com/ en-US 15 Wed, 17 Dec 2025 15:55:42 -0800 Wed, 17 Dec 2025 15:56:13 -0800 https://www.awn.com/news/xilam-ugc-team-empire-ants-series-adaptation The project, based on the popular Bernard Werber novel, will be produced using live-action for the human narrative and VFX for the ant world. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/xilam-ugc-team-empire-ants-series-adaptation Wed, 17 Dec 2025 15:55:42 PST Books https://www.awn.com/vfxworld/re-view-frankenstein-acts-love-and-forgiveness Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro’s most complete work to date transforms Mary Shelley’s iconic 1818 novel from a cautionary tale of the perils of hubris into a redemptive fable about the ability to forgive. Dr. Maria Elena Gutierrez https://www.awn.com/vfxworld/re-view-frankenstein-acts-love-and-forgiveness Tue, 16 Dec 2025 17:11:48 PST Books https://www.awn.com/animationworld/jeff-kinney-talks-parenting-and-diary-wimpy-kid-last-straw The hugely successful author and screenwriter brings his and his team’s personal experience – and plenty of real stories – to the new 3DCG film about Greg Heffley dealing with his father Frank’s outsized expectations; based on his novels that follow a disaster-prone middle school student, it’s now streaming on Disney+. Victoria Davis https://www.awn.com/animationworld/jeff-kinney-talks-parenting-and-diary-wimpy-kid-last-straw Mon, 15 Dec 2025 16:23:54 PST Books https://www.awn.com/animationworld/exploring-world-animation-animation-atlas Columnist Andrew Osmond interviews ‘Ghibliotheque’ podcasters Michael Leader and Jake Cunningham about their new book that travels the globe to dig deep into the medium (hint - it’s not a genre.) Andrew Osmond https://www.awn.com/animationworld/exploring-world-animation-animation-atlas Tue, 09 Dec 2025 16:38:22 PST Books https://www.awn.com/news/disney-announces-hey-aj-animated-family-comedy The whimsical and music filled series about an imaginative young girl and her stuffed bunny sidekick is inspired by author and Super Bowl champion Martellus Bennett, who stars and serves as EP; kicks off January 13 on Disney Jr., next day on Disney+. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/disney-announces-hey-aj-animated-family-comedy Mon, 08 Dec 2025 20:13:41 PST Books https://www.awn.com/news/visual-effects-society-announces-ves-handbook-fourth-edition The newest VES Handbook of Visual Effects edition includes contributions from 30 new VFX experts and covers new topics like AI; releases December 18 from Routledge. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/visual-effects-society-announces-ves-handbook-fourth-edition Mon, 08 Dec 2025 5:34:15 PST Books https://www.awn.com/news/buck-brings-dunkins-little-holiday-munchkin-life A bite-sized hero takes center stage in the children’s book and commercial, narrated by Mindy Kaling; supports the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/buck-brings-dunkins-little-holiday-munchkin-life Wed, 03 Dec 2025 16:16:09 PST Books https://www.awn.com/news/hbo-announces-game-thrones-spinoff-series-renewals ‘A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms’ will return for Season 2 in 2027 - Season 1 debuts this coming January 18; ‘House Of The Dragon’ Season 4 will premiere in 2028 – Season 3 returns summer 2026. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/hbo-announces-game-thrones-spinoff-series-renewals Mon, 24 Nov 2025 10:23:58 PST Books https://www.awn.com/news/exclusive-watch-wondla-season-3-its-not-too-late-clip Based on the Tony DiTerlizzi book series ‘The Search for WondLa,’ the final chapter brings the story to an epic climax - a sweeping, emotional battle for the future of Orbona as Eva 9 tries to bridge 2 divided worlds and prove the ultimate truth; hits Apple TV on November 26. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/exclusive-watch-wondla-season-3-its-not-too-late-clip Mon, 24 Nov 2025 9:12:52 PST Books https://www.awn.com/news/creating-worlds-disney-and-20th-century-studios-cinematic-art-dylan-cole-released The Oscar-nominated co-production designer of ‘Avatar: The Way of Water,’ who oversees design on the ‘Avatar’ franchise, shares his incredible artwork, including concept sketches, posters, and matte paintings, from a 20-year career. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/creating-worlds-disney-and-20th-century-studios-cinematic-art-dylan-cole-released Tue, 18 Nov 2025 11:30:54 PST Books https://www.awn.com/news/kodansha-usa-releases-totto-chan-little-girl-window-sequel English translation of the long-awaited follow-up of Tetsuko Kuroyanagi’s 1981 bestselling memoir that sold over 26 million copies is now available; book signings in New York begin November 22. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/kodansha-usa-releases-totto-chan-little-girl-window-sequel Tue, 18 Nov 2025 9:42:41 PST Books https://www.awn.com/news/lord-and-millers-project-hail-mary-trailer-2-drops Ryan Gosling puts the ‘not’ in ‘astronaut’ as a 6th grade teacher who wakes up on a spaceship with no idea how he got there… until he remembers he’s Earth’s only hope to avoid extinction; in theaters March 20, 2026. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/lord-and-millers-project-hail-mary-trailer-2-drops Tue, 18 Nov 2025 8:29:11 PST Books https://www.awn.com/news/laika-rizzoli-universe-partner-5-book-deal In honor of the studio’s 20th anniversary, the multi-title collaboration will feature original art and photography, never-before-seen archival material, and behind-the-scenes secrets across all of the stop-motion studio’s films. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/laika-rizzoli-universe-partner-5-book-deal Fri, 14 Nov 2025 8:54:51 PST Books https://www.awn.com/animationworld/don-bluth-talks-somewhere-out-there-documentary-and-future-production-dreams The famed director, filmmakers Dave LaMattina and Chad Walker, and Lavalle Lee discuss the new film, which recently premiered at SAVFF 2025, that takes an unvarnished look at the career highlights and lowlights of the man who bravely left Disney to make films like ‘The Secret of NIMH.’ Victoria Davis https://www.awn.com/animationworld/don-bluth-talks-somewhere-out-there-documentary-and-future-production-dreams Thu, 13 Nov 2025 12:53:11 PST Books https://www.awn.com/news/bluebolt-shares-thursday-murder-club-vfx-breakdown-reel The studio delivered 250 invisible visual effects shots on the Chris Columbus cold case whodunnit, starring Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan and Ben Kingsley, now streaming on Netflix. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/bluebolt-shares-thursday-murder-club-vfx-breakdown-reel Wed, 12 Nov 2025 13:15:13 PST Books https://www.awn.com/news/apple-tv-drops-wondla-3rd-and-final-season-trailer Based on the Tony DiTerlizzi book series ‘The Search for WondLa,’ the final chapter of the 3DCG adventure trilogy streams November 26. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/apple-tv-drops-wondla-3rd-and-final-season-trailer Wed, 12 Nov 2025 11:22:15 PST Books https://www.awn.com/animationworld/little-am-lie-or-character-rain-shows-life-always-worth-living Directors Maïlys Vallade and Liane-Cho Han discuss their tender, poignant and beautifully animated film about the healing power of human connection, told through a story about a young Belgian girl born and raised in Japan, whose self-centered life is abruptly changed by death and grief; from GKIDS, in theaters November 7. Victoria Davis https://www.awn.com/animationworld/little-am-lie-or-character-rain-shows-life-always-worth-living Fri, 07 Nov 2025 12:16:44 PST Books https://www.awn.com/vfxworld/chris-maclean-talks-mule-bokehs-and-visualizing-math-foundation-season-3 The VFX supervisor on all 3 seasons of Apple TV’s hit sci-fi drama, about a band of exiles on a journey to save humanity and rebuild civilization, discusses his love of the story and fondness for shooting things practically, producing almost 4,000 visual effects shots, 1,000 more than on Season 2. Trevor Hogg https://www.awn.com/vfxworld/chris-maclean-talks-mule-bokehs-and-visualizing-math-foundation-season-3 Wed, 05 Nov 2025 15:07:50 PST Books https://www.awn.com/news/paramount-drops-running-man-featurette It's the deadliest reality show known to man… the darkest, most violent game in the world… there's a billion dollars at stake... oh, and did we tell you it’s rigged? In theaters November 14. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/paramount-drops-running-man-featurette Fri, 31 Oct 2025 17:08:33 PDT Books https://www.awn.com/animationworld/webs-dewclaws-and-barn-builds-behind-making-charlottes-web For showrunner Luke Matheny and director Yurie Rocha, ‘getting it right’ on certain key visual elements was critical in their 3-part 3DCG adaptation of E.B. White’s classic book about the loving bond between a gentle pig and a wise, selfless spider determined to save his life; now streaming on HBO Max. Victoria Davis https://www.awn.com/animationworld/webs-dewclaws-and-barn-builds-behind-making-charlottes-web Thu, 30 Oct 2025 15:26:13 PDT Books https://www.awn.com/news/turning-door-animated-feature-gets-underway-announces-cast Oscar winner Alicia Vikander (The Danish Girl), Jamie Dornan (Belfast), Jodie Turner-Smith (Tron: Ares), Oscar-nominated Bill Nighy (Living) and Emmy winner Gillian Anderson (Sex Education) have boarded Nicholas Ashe Bateman’s upcoming family fantasy, now in production. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/turning-door-animated-feature-gets-underway-announces-cast Thu, 30 Oct 2025 11:55:03 PDT Books https://www.awn.com/news/wingfeather-saga-season-3-ice-prairies-cast-expansion-announced David Oyelowo, Tantoo Cardinal, and Henry Witcher join Angel Studios and Shining Isle’s animated series about the Igiby family set in the rich fantasy world of Aerwiar; premieres November 12. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/wingfeather-saga-season-3-ice-prairies-cast-expansion-announced Thu, 30 Oct 2025 9:15:52 PDT Books https://www.awn.com/animationworld/stitch-head-animated-horror-comedy-offers-kids-love-and-hope It’s ‘Frankenstein’ meets ‘Wallace & Gromit’ in the adaptation of Guy Bass’ children’s book about a small, forgotten creature living in a long-abandoned castle tasked with protecting a mad professor’s wildly inventive creations from the suspicious townspeople; in theaters October 29. Victoria Davis https://www.awn.com/animationworld/stitch-head-animated-horror-comedy-offers-kids-love-and-hope Wed, 29 Oct 2025 15:12:34 PDT Books https://www.awn.com/news/karen-fang-discusses-background-artist-life-and-work-tyrus-wong The professor and film scholar’s definitive biography of the legendary artist, a Chinese immigrant, details how his storied career quietly shaped American visual culture. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/karen-fang-discusses-background-artist-life-and-work-tyrus-wong Thu, 23 Oct 2025 13:05:44 PDT Books https://www.awn.com/news/curtis-baxter-pen-war-no-name-webtoon-series The writer is also adapting the epic Robert Repino sci-fi book franchise into an 8-episode animated series; Webtoon slated for early 2026 release. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/curtis-baxter-pen-war-no-name-webtoon-series Thu, 23 Oct 2025 8:58:11 PDT Books https://www.awn.com/news/oscar-winning-piper-director-alan-barillaro-releases-bunns-rabbit The highly illustrated ‘graphic-ish’ novel for young readers tells the story of a rabbit born with small ears who braves staring neighbors and disapproving elders to explore the wonderful world outside the warren; see the author at LightBox Expo on October 25. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/oscar-winning-piper-director-alan-barillaro-releases-bunns-rabbit Tue, 21 Oct 2025 11:07:12 PDT Books https://www.awn.com/news/animation-atlas-now-available The ‘Ghibliotheque’ guide to animated film spans 30 chapters, each focusing on a different country’s local talent and global impact, with more than 150 images and illustrations from a wide selection of top movies. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/animation-atlas-now-available Tue, 21 Oct 2025 9:44:25 PDT Books https://www.awn.com/news/exclusive-essay-and-strip-essential-peanuts-deluxe-coffee-table-book AWN shares the March 14, 1969 moon landing strip, along with former Shuttle astronaut Mike Massimino’s piece about bringing his stuffed Snoopy into space, from the new book that celebrates Charles M. Schulz’s iconic comics’ 75th anniversary. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/exclusive-essay-and-strip-essential-peanuts-deluxe-coffee-table-book Thu, 09 Oct 2025 16:39:39 PDT Books https://www.awn.com/news/hbo-sets-knight-seven-kingdoms-debut-drops-teaser-trailer We finally get a release date for the highly anticipated spinoff series, based on George R. R. Martin’s novella ‘The Hedge Knight,’ set a century before ‘Game of Thrones,’ which follows the exploits of 2 unlikely heroes. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/hbo-sets-knight-seven-kingdoms-debut-drops-teaser-trailer Thu, 09 Oct 2025 11:09:36 PDT Books https://www.awn.com/news/watch-trailer-bad-guys-breaking-series-coming-netflix New animated comedy from DreamWorks Animation features everyone’s ‘favorite felons’ trying to earn their reputation before they became ‘The Bad Guys;’ Streams November 6. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/watch-trailer-bad-guys-breaking-series-coming-netflix Wed, 08 Oct 2025 11:20:40 PDT Books