Welcome to this very special edition ofThis Week in Animation News! Normally, this is your one-stop shop for all the animation news fit to print over the previous week. This weekend’s installment is not only getting off to an early start thanks toSan Diego Comic-Con, it’s also going to be regularly updated with the latest and greatest announcements that come out of the convention. The programming block is stacked and packed with all sorts of animation goodies, so be sure to revisit often to see what’s new!
We’re expecting some big things out of Comic-Con, like updates on Netflix’sVoltronandCastlevaniaseries, news on Season 3 ofYoung Justiceand more on Disney’s rebootedDuckTalesseries and Marvel’s animated shows. Plus, we’re expecting to see our first solid looks at Nickelodeon’s modern movie takes onRocko’s Modern LifeandHey! Arnold, along with their reveal (hopefully) of the stop-motionSpongeBob SquarePantsHalloween special. Plus updates on your favorite cartoons, animated movies, and anime series. All that and much more should be revealed by the end of Comic-Con 2017!
For the latest animation stories we’ve already covered on the site this week, and for a little bit of leftover news fromD23, 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!
Disney XD Deals Out a Bunch of Clips for ‘Milo Murphy’s Law’
In Disney XD’s one hour epic event, “Missing Milo,” Milo, along with time-traveling agents Cavendish and Dakota journey into the future only to find that Pistachios have become evil, sentient beings bent on taking over the world. It’s up to Milo to become a hero and save the day—and the future!
Milo Murphy is the great, great, great, great grandson of the original Murphy from “Murphy’s Law.” And anything that can go wrong with him, will most definitely go wrong! He’s a bit of a jinx but since he’s never known life any other way, he just makes the most of the adventure and the unrelenting calamity that follows him.
Here are some more clips from the Disney XD animated series:
Take a Listen to the Theme Song from Disney XD’s New Series ‘Big City Greens’
Big City Greens follows Cricket Green, a mischievous and optimistic country boy who just moved to the big city. His curiosity and enthusiasm will lead him and his wildly out of place family on epic journeys, perilous escapes, and into the hearts of his new neighbors.
‘DuckTales’ Sneak Peek Goes on an Underwater Adventure
A sneak peek from the premiere series event “DuckTales: Woo-oo!” where Huey, Dewey, Louie and Webby embark on their very first adventure with the legendary Scrooge McDuck!
DuckTalesNew Series Event Premieres Saturday, August 12th anywhere you watch Disney XD.
Based on the Emmy Award-winning series treasured by a generation of viewers, Disney XD’s animated comedy-adventure series “DuckTales” chronicles the high-flying adventures of Duckburg’s most famous trillionaire Scrooge McDuck, his mischief-making triplet grandnephews, Huey, Dewey and Louie, temperamental nephew Donald Duck and the trusted McDuck Manor team: big-hearted, fearless chauffer/pilot Launchpad McQuack, no-nonsense housekeeper Mrs. Beakley and Mrs. Beakley’s granddaughter, Webby Vanderquack, resident adventurer and the triplet’s newfound fierce friend.
‘Big Hero 6: The Series’ Sneak Peek Finds Hiro and Baymax in Peril
A sneak peek from the episode, “Fred’s Bro-Trillion,” where Hiro and Baymax get trapped inside super villain Baron Von Steamer’s lair.
Disney XD’s animated seriesBig Hero 6, picks up immediately following the events of the Walt Disney Animation Studios' Academy Award-winning feature film and continues the adventures and friendship of Hiro, the fourteen-year-old orphaned tech genius and Baymax, his very special plus-sized inflatable healthcare companion.Big Hero 6: The SeriesU.S. Premiere Fall 2017.
As the new kid at San Fransokyo Institute of Technology, Hiro faces daunting academic challenges at the prestigious “nerd school” and the social trials of being the “little man on campus.” Luckily, Hiro has his brains, his ingenuity and his best friend bot to help him find his way. But it’s off campus where things get dangerous. Along with neat freak Wasabi, bubbly mad scientist Honey Lemon, fanboy Fred and no nonsense Go Go, the friends form an unlikely, but awesome super hero team – Big Hero 6. Together they face madness and mayhem as a colorful array of science-enhanced villains threaten San Fransokyo.
Check out the new series' opening title sequence below:
‘Archer’ Season 9 Heads to “Danger Island” on FXX in 2018
After a turn as a hardboiled private eye in 1947 Los Angeles,Archeris headed to “Danger Island” for its upcoming ninth season.
Creators of FXX’s Emmy Award-winning, animated, half-hour comedy revealed the theme and title treatment at the conclusion of theArcherpanel this evening at San Diego Comic-Con. The panel discussion in the Indigo Ballroom brought together Executive ProducerMatt Thompsonand Co-Executive ProducerCasey Williswith the voice cast ofH. Jon Benjamin,Aisha Tyler,Jessica Walter,Judy Greer,Amber NashandLucky Yates.
The ninth season of Archer will premiere on FXX in 2018.
Archerwas created byAdam Reedand Floyd County Productions and is executive produced by Reed and Matt Thompson.Archerrecently received an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Animated Program for the second consecutive year, and won the Emmy Award last year. The show is produced by FX Productions.
‘Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ to Feature a Samurai Arc with Usagi Yojimbo
Turtles fans turned out for Nickelodeon’sTales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesat San Diego Comic-Con 2017 on Friday, July 21, where executive producerCiro Nieli, legendary creators and collaboratorsKevin EastmanandStan Sakai(“Usagi Yojimbo”),Yuki Matsuzaki(voice of Miyamoto Usagi), along with series voice cast members:Rob Paulsen(Donatello),Greg Cipes(Michelangelo) andEric Bauza(Tiger Claw).
The panel’s sneak peeks included: the world premiere of a full-length episode, “Lone Rat and Cubs,” written and presented by TMNT co-creator, Kevin Eastman; a clip from new episode, “Yojimbo,” from the upcoming Samurai story arc; and concept art by Ciro Nieli showcasing new characters and designs of Usagi and the villains the Turtles will face this season.
The three-part Samurai arc begins Sunday, July 23, at 9:00 a.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon.
Cartoon Network’s ‘Unikitty’ Taps “Babymetal” for Theme Song
Cartoon Network’s new seriesUnikitty!pleased the crowd at San Diego Comic-Con yesterday with a screening of its pilot, but a surprising new fandom sprung up online when it was revealed that the Japanese metal idol band “Babymetal” would be performing the theme song. In an unexpected crossover of the two fandoms, metal aficionados and fans of “Babymetal” alike gravitated toward the new animated kids cartoon simply because of the theme song announcement. That’s very cool. And it’s likely just the start of a very interesting new fanbase, if brand-new fan art is any indication.
ShowrunnerEd Skudderand writerAaron Waltkeconfirmed the band’s involvement in creating a brand new song over social media, just before interest in the collaboration exploded across Twitter.
Check out the news and some examples below:
Nickelodeon Offers Sneak Peek at ‘Rocko’s Modern Life: Static Cling’
I don’t think I’m alone in saying that this first look atRocko’s Modern Life: Static Clingis exactly what I wanted/needed/expected from a reboot. The animation is crisp but in keeping with the original style, the humor is spot-on, and the meta references are just as good today as they were in the 90s, if not better. I can’t wait to see more!
Rocko’s Modern Life: Static ClingstarsCarlos Alazraquias Rocko, Spunky, and Leon;Tom Kennyas Heffer Wolfe, Chuck, and Really Really Big Man;Mr. Lawrenceas Filburt Turtle and Maitre D’;Charlie Adleras Ed Bighead, Bev Bighead, Mr. Dupette, Grandpa Wolfe, and Mrs. Fathead;Linda Wallemas Aunt Gretchen and Dr. Hutchinson;Jill Talleyas Nosey andJoe Murrayas Ralph. Additionally,Steve Littlejoins the cast as Cowboy andCosmo Segurson, who’s also the director, will voice Pillow Salesman.
Just like the original ‘90s series, this hand-drawn special stars Rocko, a wallaby who emigrated from Australia to the United States and enjoys the simple things in life; Heffer, Rocko’s best friend; Filburt, Rocko’s other best friend; and Ed Bighead and Bev Bighead, Rocko’s neighbors; as well as the other colorful characters.
Rocko’s Modern Life: Static Clingbrings the characters back to Earth after being lost in outer space since 1996. Rocko has trouble accepting this 21st century modern life, while Heffer and Filburt embrace every aspect of new technology, social media and the endless diversity of food trucks. Rocko whole-heartedly believes that his nostalgia for the past can save him from the tortures of the modern world.
Here are some more tidbits from the panel:
‘Voltron’ Season 3 Trailer, Premiere Date Revealed
Spoiler warningfor anyone who hasn’t caught up with Netflix’sVoltron Legendary Defenderyet, because here’s the Season 3 trailer!
The success of Zarkon’s defeat comes at a price: Shiro has vanished. With the ascension of the mysterious Prince Lotor and without a pilot for the black lion, the team must somehow find the strength to keep fighting. But how can they defend the universe without Voltron? Find out when all-new episodes of DreamWorks Voltron Legendary Defender come to Netflix, August 4.
Attendees to theVoltronpanel today were rewarded with a screening of the Season 3 premiere, “Changing of the Guard.” Executive producersJoaquim Dos SantosandLauren Montgomerywere joined by cast membersBex Taylor-KlausandTyler Labine, Pidge and Hunk respectively.A.J. LoCascio(Dawn of the Croods) joins the cast as Lotor, the villainous prince.
Season 3 has been confirmed as a 7-episode run that will premiere August 4th, but fans won’t have long to wait for the follow-up: Season 4 will hit Netflix this October.
Here’s a look at what the cast and crew had to say:
LAIKA Unveils Movie-Related Merchandise
Every once in a while, I have a good idea. This one happened to suggest that acclaimed stop-motion animation studio LAIKA neededa bold licensing and marketing strategyin order to thrive. Well that day is finally here!
The National Entertainment Collectibles Association (NECA), an entertainment conglomerate and global leader in licensed consumer goods, has signed a deal to produce a multi-category lineup of merchandise with Oscar-winning animation studio LAIKA. NECA will arrive in San Diego with an exclusive action figure for sale at Comic-Con, aCoraline in a Deluxe Display Box,and will be promoting the high end bespoke replicas of LAIKA’S hero puppets from its four Oscar-nominated films:Coraline(2009),ParaNorman(2012),The Boxtrolls(2014) andKubo and the Two Strings(2016). The deal was brokered by licensing agency Striker Entertainment, which represents the rights to the LAIKA library of legacy and future films.
The deal with NECA coincides with LAIKA’s pop-up exhibitThe LAIKA Experience,which is now running in San Diego throughJuly 23rd.The exhibit, located at 520 Fifth Avenue in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter, features props, puppets, monsters, and sets from LAIKA’s award-winning films as well as fan art, photo ops with LAIKA’s costumed characters, daily drawings for a pair of Nike’s LAIKA-themed shoes designed by Tinker Hatfield, social media activations, giveaways, and more. Travis Knight, President & CEO of LAIKA and director ofKubo and the Two Strings, is scheduled for an autograph session on Friday, July 21stat 3pm. LAIKA merchandise is also available at the pop-up store at The LAIKA Experience.
Highlights of NECA’s multi-category merchandise lineup include:
Future products will include:
“We are thrilled to have kicked off our new licensing program with this deal,” saysBrad Wald, LAIKA’s CFO and SVP of Business Operations. “There’s a history in working together with NECA on top-sellingCoralinereplicas (one is back by popular demand and available exclusively at the pop-up store at The LAIKA Experience). NECA is a leader in the industry in providing quality fan-based products and we’re excited to offer a wide portfolio to consumers that reflects LAIKA’s dynamic characters and unique aesthetic. We’re particularly excited by the bespoke puppet reproductions, which answer an ardent fan request that dates back to our first film.”
“Having worked with LAIKA in the past, we experienced that spark that is so necessary, yet so rare,” says NECA PresidentJoel Weinshanker. “We look forward to working with the amazingly creative folks at LAIKA to bring their amazing characters in physical form to the masses.”
