Article Type: Interviews | Animation World Network

David Wachtenheim and Robert Marianetti Talk ‘Leo’

The long-time creative partners, who with co-director Robert Smigel brought us ‘SNL’s iconic ‘Saturday TV Funhouse,’ discuss working alongside Adam Sandler on his quest to create an animated musical comedy for kids about kids, and the ‘huge’ chance they got, in their 50s, to helm a major animated comedy for Netflix, their feature film directorial debut.

In 3D, CG, Digital Media, Films, Music and Sound, People, Voice Acting | ANIMATIONWorld | Geographic Region: All

What We’ll Do for our First Crush ANIMATIONWorld

The Charming, Lyrical Sweetness of ‘The Day I Became a Bird’

Oscar-winning ‘The Lost Thing’ director Andrew Ruhemann and producer David Park talk about their soulful animated short, in which a young boy finds an unusual way to win the heart of his crush.

In 3D, CG, Digital Media, Music and Sound, People, Short Films, Technology | ANIMATIONWorld | Geographic Region: All

Holiday Magic ANIMATIONWorld

‘The Velveteen Rabbit’ Captures Holiday Nostalgia with Stylized Animation Mix

Magic Light Pictures’ charming new special blends live-action, stop-motion, 3D, and 2D animation to reimagine Margery Williams’ classic story of a child who, with his new favorite toy, discovers lifelong friendship and a world of magic; now streaming on Apple TV+.

In 2D, 3D, CG, Digital Media, Films, People, Stop-Motion, Voice Acting | ANIMATIONWorld | Geographic Region: All

Be Careful What You… Well You Know! ANIMATIONWorld

Jennifer Lee Talks Walt Disney Animation Studios’ ‘Wish’

Reflecting on 100 years of moviemaking, the studio’s Chief Creative Officer and writer/executive producer of its new animated musical – hitting theaters today - discusses the return of the classic Disney villain, using modern animation technology to create a throwback visual style, and how Walt Disney’s push to always evolve as storytellers and innovators still guides her efforts today.

In 3D, CG, Films, People, Voice Acting, Writing | ANIMATIONWorld | Geographic Region: All

A Different Angle to a Traumatic Historical Event ANIMATIONWorld

‘Letter to a Pig’: Traumatic Memory Through the Eyes of Youthful Imagination

Filmmaker Tal Kantor’s first solo short film uses live-action and hand-drawn animation to tackle the heavy and complex subject of a Holocaust survivor addressing a classroom full of students, sharing a letter he wrote to the pig who saved his life, and how reality, memory, and imagination blend together in one young schoolgirl’s reaction.

In 2D, CG, Digital Media, People, Short Films, Technology | ANIMATIONWorld | Blogs: Ambling Around | Geographic Region: All

All You Need is More Glitter! ANIMATIONWorld

Walt Dohrn Talks ‘Trolls Band Together’

With DreamWorks Animation’s funny and vibrantly beautiful ‘Trolls’ threequel hitting theaters today, the director shares his thoughts on the expansive comedy adventure teeming with great songs and new characters, including the evil pop duo Velvet and Veneer, who take the third act by musical storm.

In 3D, CG, Films, Music and Sound, People, Voice Acting | ANIMATIONWorld | Geographic Region: All

Diversity in Creative Development ANIMATIONWorld

Ellen Doherty Talks Fred Rogers’ Legacy and the Future of Writers' Neighborhood

22 years after the final episode of ‘Mister Rogers' Neighborhood’ aired, Fred Rogers Productions continues its mission to create quality kid’s content with a slate of award-winning series and its innovative, eight-week program for emerging BIPOC writers that focuses on how to build and sustain a career as a freelance writer in children's media.

In 2D, 3D, Business, Community Outreach, Diversity and Inclusion, Education and Training, People, Television, Writing | ANIMATIONWorld | Geographic Region: All

In Space No One Can Hear You Underachieve ANIMATIONWorld

Mike McMahan Talks ‘Star Trek: Lower Decks’ Season 4

As he does with AWN every season, the two-time Emmy winner riffs on his latest collection of sci-fi adventures that ‘boldly, but not too boldly’ go where no one has gone before; his uniquely funny and very ‘Trekky’ adult animated comedy, the ‘Star Trek’ franchise’s first, is now streaming on Paramount+.

In 2D, CG, Digital Media, People, Television, Voice Acting, Writing | ANIMATIONWorld | Geographic Region: All

Boo! VFXWorld

Cinesite Goes All Mysterious for Kenneth Branagh’s ‘A Haunting In Venice’

Production VFX Supervisor Artemis Oikonomopoulou talks ghosts, cryptic water messages, and 1947 Venice, along with lots of invisible effects – and some CG bees – on the director’s third outing as famed Belgian detective Hercule Poirot in the latest cinematic adaptation of an Agatha Christie novel.

In 3D, Acting, CG, Films, People, Post-production, Visual Effects | VFXWorld | Geographic Region: All

Adapting a Classic ANIMATIONWorld

'Peter & the Wolf’ Tackles a Child’s Grief with Detailed Modeling and Punk 2D

The film, featuring music and narration by Gavin Friday and artwork based on original illustrations by Bono, retells and transforms Prokofiev’s 1936 symphonic fairytale into a story about a 12-year-old boy coping with the pain of losing his mother; short debuts October 19 on Max.

In 2D, CG, Digital Media, Music and Sound, People, Short Films | ANIMATIONWorld | Geographic Region: All

Vampire Messiahs Oh My! ANIMATIONWorld

‘Castlevania: Nocturne’ Brings Together Decades of Franchise History and Nostalgia

Directors Sam & Adam Deats and EP/co-showrunner Kevin Kolde talk about their all-new series, the latest installment in the ‘Castlevania’ universe, a coming-of-age story of reckoning with trauma while destroying monsters and vampires alike… with lots of blood; now streaming on Netflix.

In 2D, CG, Digital Media, Games, Music and Sound, People, Television, Voice Acting | ANIMATIONWorld | Geographic Region: All

Hand-Drawn Games ANIMATIONWorld

Disney Illusion Island: An All-New, Hand-Drawn Game with 95-Year-Old Characters

Writer/creative director AJ Grand-Scrutton and animation director Eric Ciccone talk about Dlala Studios’ revival of one of Disney’s oldest character designs, building an entire 2D animated game world for Mickey & Friends that includes a new story and original orchestral score, recently launched exclusively on Nintendo Switch.

In 2D, Art, CG, Games, People, Technology | ANIMATIONWorld | Geographic Region: All

We Want More Zombies VFXWorld

Wētā FX Flexes its Cordyceps in ‘The Last of Us’ VFX

Visual Effects Supervisor Simon Jung and Animation Supervisor Dennis Yoo talk clickers, bloaters, giraffes, and fungi, some of the captivating and ghastly visuals they helped produce for HBO’s critically acclaimed and wildly popular series, nominated for 25 Emmys including Outstanding Visual Effects in a Season or Movie.

In 3D, CG, Digital Media, Games, People, Television, Visual Effects | VFXWorld | Geographic Region: All

Filmmaking Slight of Hand 101 VFXWorld

‘I’m a Virgo’ Channels ‘The Lord of the Rings’ Camera Tricks for its Own ‘Giant’ Magic

FuseFX VFX supervisor Jamie Barty shares his studio’s work using old-fashioned in-camera forced perspective to help tell the story of a 13-foot-tall young Black man, Cootie, as he experiences the beauty and contradictions of the real world, in Boots Riley’s new series, now streaming on Prime Video.

In 3D, Acting, CG, Digital Media, People, Television, Visual Effects | VFXWorld | Geographic Region: All

We're Sad to See You Go ANIMATIONWorld

Paul Rudish Talks ‘Steamboat Silly,’ the Final ‘New’ Mickey Mouse Short

After a decade and more than 120 episodes, ‘The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse,’ previously known as ‘Mickey Mouse’ shorts, concludes its magnificent run with one last film, a walk down memory lane that pays homage to the one that started it all, premiering today on Disney+.

In 2D, Cartoons, CG, Digital Media, People, Short Films, Television | ANIMATIONWorld | Geographic Region: All

Can’t Get Enough Fairy Tales! ANIMATIONWorld

‘Dew Drop Diaries’ Shows Why Audiences Love Their Fairy Stories

Rick Suvalle and Aliki Theofilopoulos talk about the new DreamWorks Animation 3DCG series, premiering July 24 on Netflix, and how many of us secretly wish for a little magical ‘someone’ in our lives to help look out for us and our loved ones.

In 3D, CG, Digital Media, People, Television, Voice Acting | ANIMATIONWorld | Geographic Region: All

One of the True Gentle Giants ANIMATIONWorld

Manual Cinema Silhouettes the Legendary Wilt Chamberlain in ‘Goliath’

The Emmy Award-winning production company used more than 200 paper puppets, each hand designed and fabricated to express a different gesture or emotion, to help show a side of the basketball legend the public didn’t see, in the three-part SHOWTIME documentary series, now streaming on Paramount+.

In 2D, AI, CG, Digital Media, People, Television, Voice Acting | ANIMATIONWorld | Geographic Region: All

Harnessing Creative Technology for New Storytelling Experiences ANIMATIONWorld

‘Hour Blue’ Explores Exciting New Paradigms in Immersive Storytelling

Chris DeFaria, former Warner Bros. Animation and DreamWorks Feature Animation president, offers an in-depth look at a groundbreaking multi-platform, mythic universe, co-created alongside Magic Leap founder Rony Abovitz and Wētā Workshop founder Richard Taylor, that harnesses the latest developments in creative technology to offer a new way for audiences to experience stories.

In 3D, AI, CG, Digital Media, People, Short Films, Technology, Transmedia, Visual Effects | ANIMATIONWorld | Geographic Region: All

Generative AI in Animation Design ANIMATIONWorld

Chad Nelson Talks ‘Critterz’ and the Future Role of AI

The writer and director of the first animated short whose imagery was entirely generated with OpenAI’s DALL-E takes a deep dive into the nuts and bolts of AI production and what this hard charging, disruptive technology could mean for M&E.

In 3D, AI, Art, CG, Digital Media, People, Short Films, Television, Voice Acting | ANIMATIONWorld | Geographic Region: All

Adults Can Be The Worst! ANIMATIONWorld

Tom is Still 10, Grown-Ups Still Dysfunctional in ‘Ten Year Old Tom’ Season 2

Creator Steve Dildarian discusses the past, present, and future of his acclaimed animated sitcom about a kid trying to make sense of the world and the less than helpful adults in his life, whose new season premieres today, June 29, on Max.

In 2D, CG, Digital Media, People, Television, Voice Acting | ANIMATIONWorld | Geographic Region: All

Anyone Can Wear the Mask ANIMATIONWorld

Fine-Tuning the Spider-Verse: A Chat with Justin K. Thompson

The co-director talks about his 'eye-bleeding' work on the visuals, and careful avoidance of excess wackiness, in Sony Pictures Animation’s acclaimed mega-hit 'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,' now playing in theaters worldwide.

In 2D, 3D, CG, Comics, Films, People | ANIMATIONWorld | Geographic Region: All

Recognizing Japan’s Child Suicide Epidemic ANIMATIONWorld

‘Lonely Castle in the Mirror’ Reflects Japan’s Ugly Rise in Child Suicide and Bullying

Director Keiichi Hara discusses his anime feature about a young girl, mercilessly harassed at school, who escapes through a portal to an enchanted castle where she and a group of teens must play a game together to uncover the mysterious connection that unites them; the GKIDS film’s limited North American theatrical run begins June 21.

In 2D, Anime, CG, Films, People, Voice Acting | ANIMATIONWorld | Geographic Region: North America

Anyone Can Wear the Mask ANIMATIONWorld

‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ Ups the Visual and Narrative Ante

Co-director Joaquim Dos Santos talks action, abstraction, and all things Spidey in a wide-ranging discussion of Sony Pictures Animation’s hit sequel, now playing in theaters worldwide.

In 2D, 3D, CG, Films, People, Voice Acting | ANIMATIONWorld | Geographic Region: All

One Last Ride VFXWorld

Wētā FX Brings a ‘Universe’ of Visuals to ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’

From giant red spaceships to tentacled, toothy Abilisks, the studio’s VFX and animation teams, led by VFX supervisor Guy Williams and animation supervisor Michael Cozens, pull out all the stops for the final chapter of James Gunn’s MCU trilogy.

In 2D, Acting, CG, Films, People, Previs/Postvis/Visualization, Technology, Visual Effects | VFXWorld | Geographic Region: All

Abe… Honestly ANIMATIONWorld

After a Brief 20-Year Hiatus, ‘Clone High’ Is Back in Session!

Supervising Director Anna Hollingsworth talks about the resurrection of the beloved adult animation sitcom, whose first two episodes premiered May 23 on HBO Max, with two new episodes dropping every Thursday, beginning June 1.

In 2D, CG, Digital Media, People, Television | ANIMATIONWorld | Geographic Region: All