A few of our favorite things to watch, read, play with and enjoy that make every day feel like an animated summer vacation!
The Boy and the Heron
Take home maestro Hayao Miyazaki’s latest Oscar-winning masterpiece — a thrilling fantasy woven through with themes of grief, family, duty, friendship and responsibility — with a flock of special features: storyboard, “Spinning Globe” MV, drawing demo and interviews with composer Joe Hisaishi, producer Toshio Suzuki and supervising animator Takeshi Honda. Produced by Studio Ghibli.
[4K UHD, Blu-ray, LE SteelBook | GKIDS/Shout! Factory]
The Art of DreamWorks’ Kung Fu Panda 4
Soak up the skadoosh-worthy creativity behind the Dragon Warrior’s latest big screen adventure! Presenting hundreds of character designs and concept pieces, this packed hardcover takes readers behind-the-scenes of the film with exclusive interviews with writers, artists and filmmakers. Franchise stalwart James Hong (the voice of Mr. Ping) penned the intro to the book, which is written by Tracey Miller Zarneke.
[$50 | Cameron Books]
Self Care Essentials
This summer, audiences have overclocked their emotional processing as Pixar’s Inside Out 2 brings Riley and all her feelings returned to the big screen, rocketing past box-office records.
In keeping with themes of psychic regulation, we picked from the raft of consumer products partnerships the Flip-A-Mood Reversible Plush, which everts from Joy to Sadness [Just Play, $12], and the One of a Kind three-step Barrier Boost routine from Bubble Skincare [$45 value | hellobubble.com] — because you and your skin deserve healthy boundaries!
Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part Three
The DC Tomorrowverse comes to an epic conclusion with this trilogy capper, which finds famous superheroes from multiple universes joining forces to stop the ultimate threat to all existence: the Anti-Monitor.
[$20 Dig., $48 4K UHD, $30 BD | WBDHE | July 23]
Scott Pilgrim 20th Anniversary Hardcover Box Set
The complete Eisner-winning graphic novel series by Bryan Lee O’Malley, presented in six newly designed color (pictured) or original black-and-white volumes. Features new art by the creator, deluxe clamshell box, exclusive Making of Scott Pilgrim compilation, sticker sheet and top-secret SP items.
[$250 | onipress.com | pre-order, ships in August]
Smells Like a Hit
Illumination’s latest summer blockbuster Despicable Me 4 offers the perfect blend of gadgetry, slapstick humor, heist action and beloved characters to create an L&M success.
One of the more winsome offerings from Moose Toys is the outrageous Ultimate Fart Blaster [$30], featuring “lights, sounds & smells” as it blasts “real fart rings.” Hours of entertainment! The line also features interactive Mega Minions figures [$13] and transformation chamber playset [$30].
A Place Further Than the Universe Collector’s Edition
The celebrated slice-of-life anime about four girls on a life changing journey to Antarctica gets the deluxe treatment in this new set, including four Blu-ray discs, two OST CDs, four art carts, poster, 92-page booklet and bonus content. Produced by Madhouse, the series is directed by the talented Atsuko Ishizuka (Goodbye, Don Glees!)
[$100 | Shout! Factory]
Hanna and Barbera: Conversations
Covering 50-plus years of cartoon history, this collection includes first-person accounts by Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera — the influential and prolific producers behind Tom and Jerry, The Flintstones and Scooby-Doo — as well as recollections by artists and executives who worked closely with the pair.
[$30 PB, $110 HC | University Press of Mississippi]
Bot Friends Forever
Fans are eagerly awaiting the return of one of the biggest entertainment franchises to big-screen animation this fall in Transformers One. Ahead of the movie’s debut, Hasbro has already rolled out new toys inspired by the flick. Products range from the Ultimate Energon Optimus Prime (Orion Pax) [$30] to the SD Race Chargers two-pack [$20] and beyond.
Dexter’s Laboratory: The Complete Series
For the first time ever, Cartoon Network classics fans can bring home Genndy Tartakovsky’s Emmy-winning series in all its science-y glory! Enjoy all 78 episodes of boy genius Dexter’s amazing inventions, Mandark’s obnoxious rivalry and Dee Dee’s vacuous flair for destruction.
[$70 DVD | WBHE]
Made in PDX
Award-winning studio LAIKA has partnered with another Portland-based company, gender-fluid clothing brand Wildfang, to create a three-piece collection inspired by the settings of Coraline, The Boxtrolls and Kubo and the Two Strings. The long- and short-sleeved button-up shirts feature original illustrations translated from the films’ distinctive visuals.
[$88-118 | wildfang.com]
Otaku ‘R’ Us
A new e-tailer catering to U.S. anime fans has launched with iiZO, backed by Toho International to boost the Japanese studio’s hot properties like Spy X Family, My Hero Academia, Jujutsu Kaisen and Godzilla. Offering a range of apparel, figures, home goods, plush and more, the site is highly bookmarkable for its rare finds, pre-order option and exclusive — such as iiZO-only branded skateboard decks from Sokudo Society.
[$75 | iizo.shop]
Crafty Crimefighting
Show your love for sugar, spice and Chemical X and learn a new hobby with the adorable Powerpuff Girls collab with crochet kit maker Woobles.
Each character set (Blossom, Bubbles, Buttercup and Mojo Jojo) includes everything you need to create your masterpiece, including materials, tools, pattern, video tutorials and access to help from the Woobles experts [$40 each]. Loop in some friends or fill your whole summer with the full Fight Like a Girl four-kit bundle! [$140 on sale | thewoobles.com]
The Be-Ooo-tiful Game
If delayed satisfaction and “mathematical” RPG action are your thang, click over to Kickstarter before the end of May to snag Adventure Time: The Roleplaying Game. With nearly 10 times the funding goal reached at print time, there’s plenty of cool perks to look forward to when the final product ships next year.
[kickstarter.com]
