Celebrating the Art, Craft and Business of Animation https://www.awn.com/ en-US 15 Mon, 15 Dec 2025 10:59:32 -0800 Mon, 15 Dec 2025 11:00:11 -0800 https://www.awn.com/news/tiny-chef-takes-over-california-academy-sciences Opening this past Saturday, the new planetarium film and exhibit celebrates regeneration and climate action through the beloved character’s whimsical felted lens. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/tiny-chef-takes-over-california-academy-sciences Mon, 15 Dec 2025 10:59:32 PST Stop-Motion https://www.awn.com/animationworld/chris-lavis-talks-girl-who-cried-pearls The Oscar-nominated filmmaker discusses his and Maciek Szczerbowski’s latest stop-motion tour de force, how the tough decision to cut 3 minutes was the right call, and how a ‘beautiful film’ is easily forgotten if the story doesn’t move the audience. Victoria Davis https://www.awn.com/animationworld/chris-lavis-talks-girl-who-cried-pearls Thu, 11 Dec 2025 13:56:59 PST Stop-Motion https://www.awn.com/news/buffalo-wild-wings-launches-hank-halls-holiday-campaign The festive spot, styled like a 1950s stop-mo Christmas special, opens on Christmas Eve at the restaurant. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/buffalo-wild-wings-launches-hank-halls-holiday-campaign Thu, 04 Dec 2025 9:06:33 PST Stop-Motion https://www.awn.com/news/blinkink-creates-stop-motion-world-xfinity-wifi-campaign Directors Andy Biddle and Adeena Grubb teamed with model makers at Sculpt-Double for the spot, which follows a furry rabbit family as they discover the joy of staying connected. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/blinkink-creates-stop-motion-world-xfinity-wifi-campaign Wed, 19 Nov 2025 12:35:21 PST Stop-Motion 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 Stop-Motion https://www.awn.com/news/bigone-launches-maison-de-castle-animated-series-youtube The physical figure-animation hybrid series, which merges stop-motion with real-time CGI face-swapping technology, is now streaming in 4K. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/bigone-launches-maison-de-castle-animated-series-youtube Fri, 07 Nov 2025 14:00:22 PST Stop-Motion https://www.awn.com/news/telstra-nexus-studios-team-together-builds-better-stop-mo-spot Directed by Johnny Kelly and created in partnership with +61 and Bear Meets Eagle on Fire, the commercial features the animators’ visible hands for a ‘behind-the-scenes’ feel. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/telstra-nexus-studios-team-together-builds-better-stop-mo-spot Tue, 04 Nov 2025 17:15:14 PST Stop-Motion https://www.awn.com/news/exclusive-cinema-relics-investigations-tackles-coraline-stop-mo-puppet In the latest episode of his new show, former ‘Prop Culture’ host Dan Lanigan, along with resident investigator Martin Meunir, dive into the iconic character’s meticulous construction, as well as the film’s off-camera advancements that changed stop-motion filmmaking forever. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/exclusive-cinema-relics-investigations-tackles-coraline-stop-mo-puppet Wed, 29 Oct 2025 10:46:40 PDT Stop-Motion https://www.awn.com/animationworld/paul-hollingsworth-talks-weirdos-and-one-final-day-stop-motion-shorts The Digital Wizards Studios founder originally chose sculpting because he couldn’t draw; 2 decades later, the veteran of LEGO stopmo projects for ‘Jurassic Park,’ ‘Happy Potter,’ ‘The Avengers’ and ‘Star Wars’ has 2 completely different but equally rewarding films on the festival circuit. Victoria Davis https://www.awn.com/animationworld/paul-hollingsworth-talks-weirdos-and-one-final-day-stop-motion-shorts Fri, 24 Oct 2025 16:26:08 PDT Stop-Motion https://www.awn.com/animationworld/ozlem-akturk-talks-tiny-chef-show-and-life-after-cancellation For the creator of the Emmy and Annie Award-winning stop-motion preschool series whose titular character cooks up delightful, herbivorous ‘weshipees’ and bite-sized meals alongside a lineup of top celebrity guest stars and his enthusiastic robot buddy, the end of their Nickelodeon show has meant a new set of challenges… and opportunities. Victoria Davis https://www.awn.com/animationworld/ozlem-akturk-talks-tiny-chef-show-and-life-after-cancellation Thu, 16 Oct 2025 15:59:32 PDT Stop-Motion https://www.awn.com/news/netflix-guillermo-del-toro-and-gobelins-paris-launch-stop-mo-studio To be housed at the school’s Paris campus and co-funded by the streamer and filmmaker, the initiative will begin its planning phase in the upcoming academic year. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/netflix-guillermo-del-toro-and-gobelins-paris-launch-stop-mo-studio Fri, 10 Oct 2025 15:30:06 PDT Stop-Motion https://www.awn.com/news/death-does-not-exist-il-burattino-e-la-balena-lead-oiaf-2025-winners Félix Dufour-Laperrière takes home the Grand Prize for feature animation, while Roberto Catani takes home the Grand Prize for short animation, at the 49th annual Ottawa International Animation Festival. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/death-does-not-exist-il-burattino-e-la-balena-lead-oiaf-2025-winners Sun, 28 Sep 2025 7:07:49 PDT Stop-Motion https://www.awn.com/news/laika-celebrates-20-years-paranorman-return-theaters The spooktacular stop-motion film will re-release in newly remastered 3D and 2D formats as part of the studio's year-long 20th Anniversary celebration; hits international markets on October 23 and the US on October 25. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/laika-celebrates-20-years-paranorman-return-theaters Mon, 15 Sep 2025 12:28:17 PDT Stop-Motion https://www.awn.com/event/spark-animation-2025 Spark CG returns to Vancouver with its animation festival and conference featuring an expansive program of talks, presentations, screenings, and network opportunities; the events run September 18-21. AWN Staff Editor https://www.awn.com/event/spark-animation-2025 Fri, 12 Sep 2025 12:04:28 PDT Stop-Motion https://www.awn.com/news/6-animated-features-compete-oiaf-2025 ‘ChaO,’ ‘Death Does Not Exist,’ and ‘Olivia and the Invisible Earthquake,’ each an award winner at this summer’s Annecy Festival, lead the set of films in competition; festival runs September 24-28. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/6-animated-features-compete-oiaf-2025 Thu, 11 Sep 2025 14:43:16 PDT Stop-Motion https://www.awn.com/animationworld/women-wearing-shoulder-pads-weird-sexy-stop-motion-game-changer Gonzalo Cordova and Cinema Fantasma deliver a surreal, over-the-top telenovela comedy that blends 1980s Ecuadorian fashion, culture, comedy, and guinea pigs; new episodes air Sundays on Adult Swim at midnight, the next day on HBO Max. Victoria Davis https://www.awn.com/animationworld/women-wearing-shoulder-pads-weird-sexy-stop-motion-game-changer Thu, 28 Aug 2025 13:09:42 PDT Stop-Motion https://www.awn.com/news/exclusive-clip-shape-island-season-2-apple-tv Stop-motion kids’ and family series, with serious Square, intrepid Circle, and tricky Triangle, based on the ‘Shapes’ picture books from Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen, premieres August 29. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/exclusive-clip-shape-island-season-2-apple-tv Thu, 28 Aug 2025 9:00:31 PDT Stop-Motion https://www.awn.com/news/apple-tv-unveils-shape-island-season-2-trailer Upcoming season of the stop-motion kids and family series, based on the ‘Shapes’ picture books from Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen, premieres August 29. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/apple-tv-unveils-shape-island-season-2-trailer Tue, 19 Aug 2025 9:09:13 PDT Stop-Motion https://www.awn.com/news/disney-jr-unveils-animation-slate-disney-jr-lets-play-event New preschool series, specials, and castings expand the worlds of network’s Disney, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and Pixar franchises, including ‘Cars: Lightning Racers,’ ‘Marvel’s Avengers: Mightiest Friends,’ and ‘Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures.’ L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/disney-jr-unveils-animation-slate-disney-jr-lets-play-event Thu, 14 Aug 2025 8:51:06 PDT Stop-Motion https://www.awn.com/news/coinbase-aardman-team-human-nature-ad-campaign The stop-motion series aims to find if talking critters can help people understand the challenges of the traditional financial system, and present cryptocurrency as a tool to increase their financial freedom. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/coinbase-aardman-team-human-nature-ad-campaign Mon, 28 Jul 2025 9:10:58 PDT Stop-Motion https://www.awn.com/animationworld/my-melody-kuromi-celebrates-sanrios-legacy-kawaii-stop-motion Director Tomoki Misato discusses crafting and filming a tactile, textured, and hand-made world for the beloved characters’ new series using wool, magnets, 3D printers, and an innovative motion control camera rig; now streaming on Netflix. Victoria Davis https://www.awn.com/animationworld/my-melody-kuromi-celebrates-sanrios-legacy-kawaii-stop-motion Fri, 25 Jul 2025 15:56:45 PDT Stop-Motion https://www.awn.com/news/apple-tv-sets-shape-island-season-2-return Based on the picture books from Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen, new episodes of the stop-motion preschool series will premiere globally on August 29. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/apple-tv-sets-shape-island-season-2-return Mon, 21 Jul 2025 16:49:51 PDT Stop-Motion https://www.awn.com/animationworld/saurus-city-stop-motion-tale-knights-dinosaurs-and-found-families Set in a dino-populated medieval fantasy world, writer-director Nate Smith’s film follows a grizzled knight’s journey to understand the courage and love it takes to give a child a better life, echoing the real-life adoption experiences of its creators. Victoria Davis https://www.awn.com/animationworld/saurus-city-stop-motion-tale-knights-dinosaurs-and-found-families Fri, 18 Jul 2025 13:35:26 PDT Stop-Motion https://www.awn.com/news/adult-swim-drops-women-wearing-shoulder-pads-official-trailer The stop-motion comedy follows Marioneta, a proud wealthy Spaniard living in 1980s Quito, Ecuador; series premieres August 17. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/adult-swim-drops-women-wearing-shoulder-pads-official-trailer Wed, 16 Jul 2025 8:04:18 PDT Stop-Motion https://www.awn.com/news/tippett-studio-shares-new-vfx-showreel Oscar winner Phil Tippett’s visual effects and animation production company showcases its latest work on projects including ‘Star Wars: Skeleton Crew,’ ‘The Book of Boba Fett,’ and ‘The Mandalorian.’ Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/tippett-studio-shares-new-vfx-showreel Tue, 08 Jul 2025 11:21:08 PDT Stop-Motion https://www.awn.com/news/cartoon-network-shares-wonderfully-weird-world-gumball-opening-sequence The new series will launch on October 6 across EMEA, Latin America, APAC and on HBO Max; series blends 2D and 3D animation, CGI, puppetry, photorealism, and live-action. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/cartoon-network-shares-wonderfully-weird-world-gumball-opening-sequence Wed, 02 Jul 2025 9:34:50 PDT Stop-Motion https://www.awn.com/animationworld/paper-daughter-chinese-immigrants-great-granddaughters-thank-you Cami Kwan shares the emotional debt she feels she owes in her heartfelt, stop-motion short about her great grandmother Joy Dep Chan, who immigrated from China to America in 1926 but was reluctant to reveal her story to anyone other than her great granddaughter. Victoria Davis https://www.awn.com/animationworld/paper-daughter-chinese-immigrants-great-granddaughters-thank-you Tue, 01 Jul 2025 9:56:04 PDT Stop-Motion https://www.awn.com/animationworld/michel-gondry-talks-maya-give-me-title Interviewed by ASIFA-Hollywood executive director Aubry Mintz at the Annecy Festival, the famed, Oscar-winning director, writer, and artist discusses thinking outside the box and inside the frame with his new cut-out animation film. Aubry Mintz https://www.awn.com/animationworld/michel-gondry-talks-maya-give-me-title Tue, 24 Jun 2025 12:57:24 PDT Stop-Motion https://www.awn.com/news/laikas-paranorman-returns-theaters-remastered-reald-3d The 1-week Halloween run features ‘ParaNorman: The Thrifting,’ a new CG short film starring Anna Kendrick and Finn Wolfhard; hits the US on October 25 and international markets October 23. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/laikas-paranorman-returns-theaters-remastered-reald-3d Fri, 20 Jun 2025 9:12:08 PDT Stop-Motion https://www.awn.com/news/exclusive-clip-donn-tiki-marlene-dietrich-story Filmmakers Alex Lamb and Max Well’s new documentary mixes 2D, stop-motion, archival footage, and expert interviews to tell the incredible story of Ernest Raymond Beaumont Gantt, better known as Don the Beachcomber, creator of the Tiki bar. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/exclusive-clip-donn-tiki-marlene-dietrich-story Tue, 17 Jun 2025 9:00:25 PDT Stop-Motion