Along withFrancisco Gonzalez’s excellent weekly news recaps–This Week in Superhero NewsandThis Week in Movie Trailers–we’re happy to provide you withThis Week in Animation Newsto get you caught up on all things animated you might have missed over the past seven days. It’s your one-stop shop for news regarding cartoons, anime, and animated web series. We’re talking movies, TV shows, digital shorts, and everything in between!
New stories include music videos from the new animated releaseSingand Disney’s wildly successfulMoana, plus a new trailer for Studio Ghibli’sPrincess Mononoke, which is going to enjoy a theatrical re-release early in 2017. We’ve also got the first trailer forRock Dog(if that’s a thing that interests you), which starsLuke Wilson,Eddie Izzard, andJ.K. Simmonsamong other notable voice talents. Speaking of voice acting,Elizabeth Banksis also set to lend her own voice to an animated alien in the virtual-reality shortAsteroids!, which will be debuting at Sundance.
For the latest animation stories we’ve already covered on the site this week, 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!
First Trailer for ‘Rock Dog’ Is Basically ‘Poochie: The Movie’
Here’s the movie’s official synopsis:
For the Tibetan Mastiffs living on Snow Mountain, a dog’s life has a simple riff: Guard a peaceful village of wool-making sheep from the thuggish wolf Linnux (Lewis Black) and his rabid pack. To avoid distractions, Mastiff leader Khampa (J.K. Simmons) forbids all music from the mountain. But when Khampa’s son Bodi (Luke Wilson) discovers a radio dropped by a passing airplane, it takes just a few guitar licks for his fate to be sealed: Bodi wants to be a rock ‘n’ roll star. Yet that means defying his father’s wishes, heading to the city, and locating the legendary – and reclusive – musician Angus Scattergood (Eddie Izzard), who needs to write a new song and fast.
If Bodi can put a band together, help Angus with his song, and defeat the wolves’ plot to take Snow Mountain, his life will be in tune. Bodi will become what he’s always dreamed of being: More than a dog … more than a Rock God… he’ll be a ROCK DOG!
‘Princess Mononoke’ Theatrical Re-Release Trailer
There are at least two things I didn’t know aboutHayao Miyazaki’sPrincess Mononoke: The first is that the English script adaptation was written in part byNeil Gaimanof all people! The award-winning author recentlyshared this 2009 interviewin which he talked about the process of adapting the film and how a special screening fromHarvey Weinsteingot him hooked on the film.
The second is that the Studio Ghibli film is coming back to theaters for two nights only this January. Here are the details forPrincess Mononoke’s theatrical re-release:
GKIDS, Fathom Events, Studio Ghibli and Hot Topic present a special 20th Anniversary celebration of Hayao Miyazaki’s classic PRINCESS MONONOKE, returning to US theaters for two nights only, Jan 5th and 9th, 2017. (It’s also in celebration of Miyazaki’s birthday!)
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to see this amazing film on the big screen, joined by an exclusive screening of ON YOUR MARK, a music video directed and animated by Hayao Miyazaki, now in HD and glorious surround sound. You’re going to love it.
Find a theater near you and buy advance tickets at www.fathomevents.com.
‘Moana’ Song Clip Features Jemaine Clement as a Shiny Crab
Lin-Manuel MirandaandAuli’i Cravalhoshare honors for the Golden Globe-nominated song “How Far I’ll Go” but that track is just one example of the Disney film’s amazing soundtrack which is available as a two-disc deluxe edition digital deluxe edition wherever music is sold and streamed. Another song from the film arrived earlier this week, featuring the singing style ofJemaine Clement.
For more onMoana, take a look at some of our recent write-ups below:
‘Sing’ Cast Join Jimmy Fallon and The Roots to Sing a Holiday Classic
Jimmy and The Roots join Paul McCartney, Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Seth MacFarlane and Tori Kelly for an a cappella rendition of “Wonderful Christmastime.”
And here’s a bonus music video from theSingsoundtrack featuringAriana Grande:
For more onSing, take a look at some of our recent write-ups below:
Elizabeth Banks to Voice an Alien in ‘Asteroids!’ Short
AsTHRreports,Elizabeth Bankswill be stepping into the virtual reality real in an upcoming animated VR short titledAsteroids!The film hails from fromMadagascardirectorEric Darnelland his Baobab Studios. Select VR platforms will get a sneak peek on Thursday before the short’s debut next month at Sundance.
Asteroids! sees the viewer taking on “the role of a helper-bot alongside aliens Mac and Cheez. Joined by their other robot sidekick, Peas, the viewer embarks on a mission in outer space. Banks will voice Cheez, a loveable, kind-hearted alien.”
Asteroids!follows up Darnell and Baobab’s debut shortInvasion!, which also featured Mac and Cheez. A feature-length film based on theInvasion!characters and story is in the works. Check out the short below:
GKIDS Announces Voice Cast for Golden Globe-Nominated ‘My Life as a Zucchini’
GKIDS has announced the English voice cast for Golden Globe nomineeMy Life as a Zucchini. The film will feature the voices ofWill Forte,Nick Offerman,Ellen PageandAmy Sedaris. The English world premiere will take place at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival while the domestic theatrical release is set for February 2017, in both the English language and original French language versions.
The official Swiss submission has been shortlisted for the “Best Foreign Language” category for the 2017 Academy Awards, where it will also be competing for Best Animated Feature.
Here’s the film’s synopsis:
After his mother’s sudden death, Zucchini is befriended by a police officer, Raymond, who accompanies him to his new foster home, filled with other orphans his age. At first he struggles to find his place in this at times strange and hostile environment.
But with Raymond’s help and his newfound friends, Zucchini eventually learns to trust and love, as he searches for a new family of his own. Brought to life through striking character designs and expressive stop-motion animation, the story soars with laughter, sorrow, and joy, and stands as a testament to the resilience of the human heart.
