All AWN Content

Heading to Tokyo Headline News

Hiroaki Kitano to Deliver SIGGRAPH Asia 2024 Keynote

The Sony Group CTO will present his talk, ‘Co-Creating Worlds with Game Designers, Animators, and Filmmakers’ on December 5, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. JST; SIGGRAPH Asia will be held in Chiyoda, Tokyo, December 3 - 6.

AI De-aging Comes of Age Headline News

Watch De-Aging Featurette on Robert Zemeckis’ ‘Here’

By Dan Sarto | Tuesday, November 26, 2024 at 8:00am

Releasing today on Digital and January 21 on Blu-ray and DVD, the film reunites the ‘Forrest Gump’ director, writer, and stars Tom Hanks and Robin Wright, who through AI-enabled VFX tools from Metaphysic, travel through several generations of family love, laughter and loss.

A Stocking Full of AI Song Headline News

Fantoons Drops Animated Music Video for Brenda Lee's ‘Noche Buena y Navidad’

The new Spanish language adaptation of Lee’s holiday hit ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’ was created with the singer’s full authorization via ‘responsibly sourced’ AI.

Solidarity! Headline News

The Animation Guild and AMPTP Reach Tentative Agreement

By Dan Sarto | Monday, November 25, 2024 at 11:01am

After 3 months of bargaining, the guild (TAG 839) has negotiated a new deal centered on fair wages, job security, and guardrails around Generative AI use.

Community Outreach Headline News

Animation Educator’s Forum Announces 2024-25 Student Scholarship Recipients

The 11 honorees from the United States, Spain, France and Australia - 3 graduates and 8 undergraduates - will receive an evenly distributed prize of $44,000.

Could That New Blur Be… Keanu? The Blue Blur is Back! Headline News

Paramount Drops ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ Trailer #2

By Dan Sarto | Monday, November 25, 2024 at 9:47am

A superpowered villain - Keanu Reeves’ Shadow - appears, forcing Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails to reunite… with an all new, highly unlikely alliance - dare we say the name, Dr. Robotnik!; the animated/live-action feature hits theaters December 20.

Upcoming Features Headline News

The Salvation Poem Project Unveils ‘Light of the World’ Teaser Trailer, Key Art

Tom Bancroft and John J. Schafer direct the upcoming 2D animated film, based on the life of Jesus seen through the eyes of his youngest apostle John, hitting U.S. theaters nationwide September 5, 2025.

Looking For New Storytellers Headline News

WEBTOON Sets ‘Webcomic Legends’ Contest Launch

Launching in March 2025, the contest will reward 40 winning webcomic entries with over $1 million in cash prizes and the chance to join the WEBTOON Originals program.

On the Road to Tokyo Headline News

‘Au 8ème Jour’ Takes Best in Show at SIGGRAPH Asia Computer Animation Festival

By Dan Sarto | Monday, November 25, 2024 at 6:24am

‘Sopa Fria’ takes the Jury Special award, while ‘Fire’ takes the Best Student Project award in the annual animated film competition; winners and other top contenders to screen at the Electronic Theater next week at the conference, held this year in Tokyo, Japan.

Go With the Flow ANIMATIONWorld

‘Flow’: Cat-aloging Gints Zilbalodis’ Journey of Teamwork and Self Discovery

The Latvian director employs beautifully stylized and detailed 3D animation, somewhat photoreal, somewhat painterly, to tell without words his engaging story about a cat waking up in a world invaded by water, where humans have disappeared, who must belay his instincts and learn to get along with a group of animals in order to survive.

Octo-no! Headline News

Sony Pictures Sues Wanda Over Failed Purchase Option

The suit, which seeks $49 million (plus interest), was filed earlier this year, alleging Wanda Hong Kong failed to ‘properly engage’ in a 2017 purchase option agreement for Vampire Squid Productions, the ‘Octonauts’ holding company.

Business Headline News

SUPERPROD, Coolabi to Develop ‘Beast Quest’ Animated Series

Based on the children’s fantasy book series by Adam Blade, the adaptation will follow the adventures of Tom and Elenna on their quest to protect the Kingdom of Avantia from the evil wizard Malvel.

Let It Slide My Friend Headline News

Bill Plympton’s ‘Slide’ to Screen at SVA

Screenings of the award-winning animated film will be held at the School of Visual Arts Theatre November 25 and December 7; Plympton will also appear at the Big Apple Holiday Con on November 23.

Could That New Blur Be… Keanu? The Blue Blur is Back! Headline News

‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ Featurettes and Character Posters Released

By Dan Sarto | Friday, November 22, 2024 at 1:49pm

Keanu Reeves stars as ‘Shadow the Hedgehog,’ a mysterious villain that Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails must reunite against… with an all new, highly unlikely alliance – dare we say the name, Dr. Robotnik!; the animated/live-action feature hits theaters December 20.

Monstrous Family Dynamics ANIMATIONWorld

‘Spellbound:’ Making Children of Divorce Feel Seen

Vicky Jenson and Skydance Animation’s new, original fairy tale take on a very real contemporary family dynamic, with a princess struggling to keep up appearances while hiding the fact her parents, the king and queen, have been turned into massive, rampaging monsters, debuts November 22 on Netflix.

Finding the Next Great Filmmakers Headline News

Creo Announces Sony Future Filmmaker Awards 2025 Jury

Entries are now being accepted to the competition - jury includes filmmaker Jason Reitman, filmmaker and writer Minhal Baig, 3000 Pictures president Elizabeth Gabler, and director Justin Chadwick; event runs June 2-6, 2025 at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City.

It’s Not All For Kids ANIMATIONWorld

Magnets, Lube and an R-Rating: Adam Elliot Discusses ‘Memoir of a Snail’ at SAVFF

The Oscar-winning director of ‘Harvie Krumpet’ discusses his new, award-winning, decidedly not-for-kids stop-motion feature, including the use of sophisticated magnetic puppets, being forced to play board games as a kid, and how personal lubricant makes the best tears because it can go all day and not evaporate.

Business Headline News

Industry Vets Launch ‘Creative Sprouts’ Consultancy

Marion Edwards, Jodie Morris and Chris Rose have partnered on the collective, which offers hands-on creative workshops to give kids’ IP creators tailored, high-impact support.

Remembering the Last Hawaiian Queen ANIMATIONWorld

‘The Queen's Flowers’ Celebrates Hawaii’s Queen Lili’uokalani’s Legacy of Love and Forgiveness

Ciara Leinaʻala Lacy’s new short, her first animated film, is a magical take on a touching, true story about the island nation’s last ruling monarch, known for her kindness, spare candy, and ever-present butterfly brooch, overthrown and imprisoned by U.S.-led forces in 1893, and a young girl who used to sneak into the Queen’s garden to steal the beautiful flowers.

Dare to be bad! Headline News

The Felons Return in ‘The Bad Guys 2’ Trailer

By Dan Sarto | Thursday, November 21, 2024 at 1:10pm

Everyone’s favorite bad guys kind of gone good are back in DreamWorks Animation’s upcoming animated comedy about a crackerjack crew of animal outlaws, now-reformed, who get hijacked into a high-stakes, globe-trotting heist, masterminded by a new team of criminals: The Bad Girls; coming summer 2025.

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