We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience, serve personalised ads or content, and analyse our traffic. By clicking "Accept All", you consent to our use of cookies.
Customise Consent Preferences
We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.
The cookies that are categorised as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ...
Always Active
Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.
No cookies to display.
Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.
No cookies to display.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
No cookies to display.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyse the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
No cookies to display.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customised advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyse the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.
In the final Chapman University Walt Disney Studies Speaker Series event for this academic year, documentary director Theodore Thomas, son of celebrated Disney animator and one of the “Nine Old Men” Frank Thomas, will host the unique and rarely seen documentary, Growing Up with Nine Old Men, a fascinating story about what childhood was like within this rarefied creative “family.”
Thomas will introduce this 2013 documentary featurette, and after the screening will discuss his unique connection to Walt Disney and to Disney’s golden era of animation, and reveal intimate insights into one of the studio’s most storied creative collectives.
The “Nine Old Men” was a core group of Disney animators who worked at the Studio from the 1920s to the 1980s — the group was named by Walt Disney himself as a play on the nickname of FDR’s Supreme Court. Some of the Nine Old Men also worked as directors, creating some of Disney’s most popular animated movies, from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to The Rescuers.
According to John Canemaker, animation historian, Oscar-winning animator, and professor of film animation at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, the Nine Old Men were the backbone of Disney’s animation department, instrumental in developing and refining the art of character animation and establishing the basic principles of the medium, which continue to be used today.
The final eventin the four-month-long series, curated by acclaimed Disney historian Jeff Kurtti, is open to the public, admission is free, and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis on Friday, May 16 at 7 p.m. in the Sandhu Conference Center located at 571 N. Grand St., Orange, California.
Chicken Jockey uproar notwithstanding, Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures’ A Minecraft Movie is still the top game at the domestic box office. Based on Mojang’s bestselling sandbox game, the pic looks to edge out Ryan Coogler’s Sinners (Warner) for a $44 million-plus weekend — with a chance at $50M according to some box office watchers. The live-action/CG adventure is playing at 4,032 in its third weekend.
Projected to come in at No. 3 is the fully animated faith-based indie The King of Kings, from Angel Studios. The story of Jesus Christ via Charles Dickens took in $6M on Good Friday, eyeing a $17M second weekend, and is expected to bring its domestic total to $45M before Easter Monday.
The Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco has announced an exclusive panel featuring directors from the nearby Pixar Animation Studios, taking place at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 17. Tickets go on sale for Walt’s Circle donors April 15; for Supporter, Founding and Friend-level members on April 16; all members on April 17; and to the pubic on April 18.
Directing At Pixar:
Looking for a new “direction” this Spring? Join us for an exclusive panel discussion moderated by Pixar producer Jonas Rivera with directors Carrie Hobson, Mike Jones, Peter Sohn and Michael Yates as they share insights about their experiences working in various departments at Pixar Animation Studios and directing projects encompassing television shows (including this year’s Disney+ series, Win or Lose), animated short films, and animated feature films.
Carrie Hobson began at Pixar Animation Studios as an art intern in 2012. She was hired full time in the Story Department in 2016 and worked as a story artist on the Academy Award-winning feature Toy Story 4 (2019) and was also the Associate Executive Producer of Luca (2021). Hobson most recently wrote, directed, and executive produced the new series Win or Lose, along with Michael Yates, which debuted on Disney+ on February 19.
Michael Yates joined Pixar Animation Studios in 2015 as a story artist. Yates worked on Cars 3 (2017), in addition to Academy Award®-winning films Toy Story 4 (2019) and Soul (2020). Yates is Director and Executive Producer of the new Pixar series Win or Lose, along with Carrie Hobson, which debuted on Disney+ on February 19.
Peter Sohn joined Pixar Animation Studios in September 2000 and has worked on Academy Award®-winning feature films including Finding Nemo (2003), The Incredibles (2004), and WALL•E (2008). Sohn made his directorial debut on the Pixar short Partly Cloudy (2009), and then went on to direct his first feature The Good Dinosaur (2015). He was an Executive Producer on Luca, which debuted on Disney+ in June 2021. Most recently, Sohn directed Disney and Pixar’s feature film Elemental, which opened in theaters on June 16, 2023 and is now streaming on Disney+. Elemental was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
In his role as a Creative VP, Sohn is involved in key creative decision-making at the studio and consults on films in both development and production.
Mike Jones has been a writer and story consultant at Pixar Animation Studios since June 2013 and he joined the studio full time in March 2017. He co-wrote Pixar’s Academy Award-winning feature film Soul, which debuted on Disney+ on December 25, 2020, and Luca, which released on Disney+ on June 18, 2021. He has served on the brain trusts for many Pixar films including Finding Dory (2016), Incredibles 2 (2018), and the Academy Award-winning features Inside Out (2015), Coco (2017), and Toy Story 4 (2019). He also serves on the story trusts for many SparkShorts as well as features in early development. Most recently, Jones wrote, directed, and executive produced the original series Dream Productions, inspired by the world of Inside Out, and released on Disney+ in December 2024. Dream Productions also won the 2025 ASIFA Annie Award for Best Limited Series.”
The Pinkfong Company (Baby Shark) announced today the multi-platform release of Pinkfong & Hogi: New Friend Ninimo, a new 3D animated series serving as a sequel to the popular show Pinkfong Wonderstar. Beginning April 18, families worldwide can access the series across major streaming platforms including Prime Video, The Roku Channel, Kidoodle.TV, HappyKids and the Pinkfong & Baby Shark App.
The 13-episode series (11 minutes per episode) follows Pinkfong, Hogi, and their new friend Ninimo on heartwarming adventures—now reaching a wider global audience through multiple streaming platforms. The official trailer is available on Pinkfong’s official YouTube channel and social media channels.
Pinkfong & Hogi: New Friend Ninimo builds upon the success of Pinkfong Wonderstar, which first gained global recognition when released through YouTube Originals in 2020. The series recently showed its continued popularity in October 2024 when its spin-off movie Pinkfong & Hogi Mini-Movie: The Tricky Three Cars, reached Netflix’s Top 10 Kids TV Shows in 10 countries and territories.
“We’re excited to bring Pinkfong & Hogi: New Friend Ninimo to audiences worldwide through these trusted streaming platforms,” said Bin Jeong, CEO of Pinkfong USA. “This multi-platform release allows us to share our content with children and families worldwide while further developing our beloved Wonderville universe.”
In the new series, Pinkfong’s magic mysteriously disappears just as Ninimo — a magical cat with Mo perched atop Nini’s head — arrives in Wonderville. Viewers follow Pinkfong’s journey as he navigates life without his magical abilities or memories of the home planet Staria, discovering with help from Ninimo that friendship and teamwork can be the most powerful magic of all.
Through characters with distinct personalities and preferences, the series delivers age-appropriate lessons on embracing differences, problem-solving, and building strong friendships. The characters’ unique and catchy theme songs also add to the show’s charm, making it both engaging and easy to sing along with.
Studio Ghibli Fest2025 will present a lineup of eight features, in celebration of the historic animation house’s 40th anniversary. GKIDS and Fathom Entertainment have curated a new slate of fan favorites, notably including Isao Takahata’s emotional tour-de-force Grave of the Fireflies and Hayao Miyazaki’s Oscar-winning The Boy and the Heron, which joins the Studio Ghibli Fest lineup for the first time since its theatrical release.
This year’s lineup highlights the works of studio co-founders Takahata and Miyazaki, as well as Oscar-nominated director Hiromasa Yonebayashi of The Secret World of Arrietty, celebrating a special 15th anniversary.
Each of the eight animated features will be shown in both original Japanese and English dubbed versions and will include surprise special extra content as well. Tickets for Studio Ghibli Fest 2025 are on sale now, and can be purchased online by visiting FathomEntertainment.com, GhibliFest.com or at participating theater box offices. (Theater participants are subject to change).
“Fathom has enjoyed many years of great success collaborating with GKIDS for Studio Ghibli Fest 2025, and we applaud Studio Ghibli’s 40th anniversary. Loyal fans join us in celebrating its curation of iconic Japanese animation content and bringing it to the big screen,” said Ray Nutt, CEO of Fathom Entertainment. “Fathom has become synonymous with the cinematic theatrical experience for specialized content — both feature films and alternative, non-traditional programming. Studio Ghibli Fest is a shining example of the power of celebrating great content in theatres and we are thrilled to partner once again in 2025.”
“GKIDS is thrilled to return once again with an annual event celebrating one of the most iconic and celebrated animation studios in the world,” said David Jesteadt, President of GKIDS. “We look forward to continued partnership with Fathom Entertainment on another great year of films from Studio Ghibli, including the first-ever national re-release of Hayao Miyazaki’s latest masterpiece, The Boy and the Heron.”
Specialty retailer Hot Topic will also be celebrating Studio Ghibli Fest 2025, offering a 25% discount for in-store purchases when attendees show their Studio Ghibli Fest 2025 ticket stub. Visit a Hot Topic store for more details.
Studio Ghibli Fest 2025 Schedule
Check with your local participating theaters or online ticketing site for specific showtimes.
Asteria, a production studio implementing generative AI, is launching an adult animated shortform series title The Odd Birds Show across social media platforms, including YouTube, TikTok and Instagram. The show centers on a dysfunctional bird family who host their own talk show, and is created by director, producer & animator Arvid Tappert.
The Odd Birds Show utilizes a production pipeline combining traditional animation skills with AI tech. Tappert’s hand-drawn character designs were rendered as 3D assets and fine-tuned with AI. The animation process combined human-driven 3D animation, AI, VR puppeteering and motion tracking. Facial expressions and movements were manually polished.
Asteria launched last fall, founded by filmmaker and entrepreneur Bryn Mooser. The studio recently partnered with research company Moonvalley to deliver a foundational AI video model dubbed Marey, which it says was trained on “ethically-sourced data” owned and licensed by Asteria.
Today, ATX TV Festival and Hulu have announced a King of the Hill Reunion and Sneak Peek at the Emmy-winning show’s revival, on Friday, May 30 at 7 p.m. This Texas-sized toast to the Fox animation classic will take place during the Festival’s 14th Season, happening May 29 – June 1 in Austin.
Marking 15 years since the last original episode of King of the Hill aired, the show’s creators and cast will make their way to Texas to revisit the series and reflect on behind-the-scenes stories, their favorite moments from their time on the show, and more. The reunion will also feature a sneak peek at the series’ upcoming Season 14 revival premiering this summer on Hulu.
Panelists include:
Mike Judge, Co-creator/Executive Producer
Greg Daniels, Co-creator/Executive Producer
Saladin K. Patterson, Executive Producer and Showrunner
Pamela Adlon, Voice Cast (Bobby Hill)
Lauren Tom, Voice Cast (Connie / Minh Souphanousinphone)
For Camp Badgeholders and invited guests, the panel will be followed by a backyard barbecue-style shindig where folks will feel like they’ve stepped into the Hill Family’s backyard in Arlen for the first time since the show’s finale in 2009. The after-event will showcase food and drink from Texas favorites, local brands, exclusive King of the Hill themed photo ops and giveaways, backyard games, and great tunes. The event is presented by Hulu.
Single tickets to the King of the Hill Reunion Panel & Revival Sneak Peek presented by Hulu and festival badges are available at atxfestival.com/attend.
During Friday’s Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo, the Lucasfilm Animation panel revealed a new animated series starring the double-bladed lightsaber-wielding Sith Lord, Darth Maul. Titled Maul: Shadow Lord, the series will arrive on the streamer in 2026.
Actor Sam Witwer (Being Human, The Mist) — who has voiced Maul in severalprojects including Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Rebels, multiple LEGO Star Wars titles and video games as well as in the live-action feature Solo: A Star Wars Story — appeared on stage to announce he would be reprising the character once again for this new series.
According to starwars.com, Maul: Shadow Lord will track the black and red baddy as he plots to rebuild his criminal syndicate and unite underworld factions under his leadership on a planet untouched by the Empire, following the events in the final season of The Clone Wars.
An in-room-only sizzle reel was played for panel attendees.
Lucsfilm Animation further announced that Season 3 of Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures is on the way. Cuddly Jedi-in-training Nubs made his first-ever Star Wars Celebration appearance. The furry blue Pooba showed off a sizzle reel of upcoming adventures, and met other “younglings” in the Kids Corner.
Young Jedi Adventures S3 will continue the adventures of Kai Brightstar, Lys Solay, Nash Durango, RJ-83 and Nubs as they learn the ways of the Force. The new season will also introduce a quirky band of comical droids named Beepers, Dozer and Gigi, as well as Dotti from Dotti’s Droid Depot and the eccentric droid builder Rek Minuu.
Season 3 will launch this fall on Disney Jr. and Disney+, where fans can catch up on the first two seasons.
To promote green practices in the animation industry, Ecoprod, CineRegio (the European network of regional film funds) and Green Film have formed a collective group dedicated to promoting green practices in the animation industry. The group’s primary objective is to develop a Green Animation Guide for international use, with the aim of progressing towards an international certification system.
Developed collaboratively with Cine Regio and several of their members, including ALCA (Book, Audiovisual and Cinema Agency in Nouvelle-Aquitaine), Catalonia Film Commission – ICEC, EC1 Lodz Film Commission, Film London, Screen Scotland, Trentino Film Commission & Fund and Viken Filmsenter, this initiative reflects a collective effort to promote environmentally sustainable practices across borders.
Members of the international animation industry are invited to fill out a new survey designed to collect the opinions and experiences of animation professionals, determine benchmarks for existing best practices and identify professionals interested in becoming more involved in the development of the Green Animation Guide.
Recently, Toho Group released its Mid-Term Plan for 2028, outlining ambitious goals for its various entertainment business divisions. The iconic Japanese studio is looking towards its 100th anniversary in 2032, and unveiled a new corporate slogan: “Entertainment for YOU — Inspiring People Around the World.”
The next three years from 2025 to 2028 will be a pivotal phase of ongoing investment, growth and corporate transformation for Toho, building on the 2025 Mid-Term Plan’s focus on post-pandemic recovery and foundation building, and working towards breakthrough growth and global expansion in 2032 and beyond.
Looking back, the past three years have been a defining chapter in Toho’s global success, delivering an historic VFX Oscar win for Godzilla Minus One, the worldwide success of the anime Jujutsu Kaisen, to the sold-out London performances of Spirited Away, based on the beloved Hayao Miyazaki move..
As part of the 2025 plan, Anime was included as a “fourth pillar” of the company’s business operations. Operating revenue for Toho’s anime business increased from ¥24.2 billion in 2023 (9.9% of the Group’s consolidated operating revenue) to ¥46.5B (16.4%) in 2024 and ¥55.4B (17.7%) in fiscal year 2025.
During this time, Toho acquired important animation subsidiaries and affiliates including Toho Animation Studio, Science SARU and GKIDS, as well as partial stakes in CoMix Wave Films, Bandai Namco Holdings, Orange and Igloo Studio.
Among the key points of the Mid-Term Plan 2028, Toho aims to achieve an operating profit of 200% or more in its IP & Anime business by doubling the number of employees at Toho Animation by 2032.
The Plan outlines the company’s intent to reinforce its IP & Anime organizational framework and expand its talent base, enhancing production studio capabilities to develop and distribute high-quality content and IP worldwide. It will pursue the 200%+ operating profit by further increasing revenues from overseas business and games, which are growth areas.
Key goals:
Increase the production of quality content and IP by expanding Toho Animation’s creative development, production and marketing structures and enhancing the Group’s production studio functions.
Targets for 2032:
Increase anime seasons produced from 14 (2025) to 30
Increase number of employees from ~60 to 120
Strengthen the lead in managing content and IP abroad by increasing overseas offices and enhancing licensing functions in each region
Promote fan engagement by enhancing Toho’s e-commerce platform, integrating it with a new membership service and introducing IP-themed cafes inspired by popular anime and characters
Promote the development and release of digital games based on Godzilla and hit anime series, such as Haikyu!!, My Hero Academia, Dr. STONE, Jujutsu Kaisen, SPY X FAMILY, Kaiju No. 8, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End and The Apothecary Diaries
The Mid-Term Plan 2028 has been temporarily removed from Toho’s website pending a correction. The document can be read in full here.
A piece of animation history is ready to fetch a fresh audience online, Bill Plympton’s hand-illustrated short Guard Dog bounds onto YouTube. The 2004 dark comedy short was produced at the indie animation icon’s Plymptoons studio, and was inspired by a simple walk in the park.
In the five-minute film, Plympton (Your Face, The Tune, Idiots and Angels) examines why dogs bark at such innocent little creatures as pigeons and squirrels. What are they afraid of? Guard Dog offers a humorous, surreal answer to the age old questions.
Guard Dog was nominated for best animated short at the 2005 Academy Awards. It was also recognized with the Best in Show prize form ASIFA-East, a Special Prize at Hiroshima International Animation Festival, an Audience Award at Uppsala International Short Film Festival, and screened in competition at Tribeca Film Festival, among many others. The short screened in theaters in front of Plympton’s feature film, Hair High, and toured with The Animation Show. In 2015, Guard Dog was inducted into the Academy Film Archive for preservation.
The recognizable mug of the titular dog went on to appear in three more short films — Guide Dog (2006), Hot Dog (2008) and Horn Dog (2009) — and made a cameo in Plympton’s feature films Idios and Angels (2009) and Cheatin’ (2013), as well as the music video for Weird Al Yankovic’s “TMZ” (2011). Plympton has described the Guard Dog as his “Mickey Mouse,” a real slobbery icon of indie animation.
Learn more about Plymptons work and find other films available to watch now at plymptoons.com.
Toei Animation has announced the first-ever short-form anime series in the PreCure universe, PetitCure. Episodes began streaming at the beginning of the month and are free to access on YouTube and Toei’s social media platforms.
The hyper-cute new series features the lovable fairies from PreCure and other “little friends” as they embark on adorable mini adventures.
Viewers can return to the imaginative world of WondLa, as Apple TV+ unveils a sneak peek clip from the second season of the animated adventure trilogy, premiering globally on April 25 with all seven half-hour episodes. From Skydance Animation (Luck) and based on Tony DiTerlizzi’s New York Times bestselling book series The Search for WondLa, the series is showrun and executive produced by Bobs Gannaway.
This second installment of the series features the voices of Jeanine Mason (Roswell, New Mexico) as Eva, Emmy Award winner Brad Garrett (Everybody Loves Raymond) as Otto, Gary Anthony Williams (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows) as Rovender, Alan Tudyk (Resident Alien) as Cadmus Pryde and many more. Emmy Award nominee Teri Hatcher (Desperate Housewives) returns as the voice of Eva’s new caretaker. New cast members include John Kim (Cruel Intentions) as Hailey, and Ana Villafañe (Castro’s Daughter) as Eva 8.
Synopsis: This futuristic coming-of-age story follows 16-year-old Eva 9 as her epic journey continues, and she uncovers startling truths about her past and the world she calls home. Picking up from season one’s shocking cliffhanger, Eva is drawn toward the promise of home — but new discoveries only lead to more unanswered questions. As she searches for the truth, Eva finds herself pursued by a relentless force that believes she holds the key to something far greater than she ever imagined. In a season brimming with revelations, sacrifice, and an existential fight for survival, Eva must choose where she truly belongs.
The trilogy’s sophomore season is executive produced by Tony DiTerlizzi and Bobs Gannaway alongside Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Jeremy Bell, Julie Kane-Ritsch and Skydance Animation’s John Lasseter, David Ellison and Dana Goldberg. The series is also produced by Tony Cosanella.
Video Player
Media error: Format(s) not supported or source(s) not found
Ahead of its own June festivities in the French Alps, the Annecy Festival will present an Annecy Animation Showcase as part of the Festival de Cannes’ Animation Day (May 18). The showcase will present five feature films from established filmmakers and upcoming storytellers on the global scene.
Variety shared the details of the featured movies:
Synopsis: Adapted from the beloved picture book Julián Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love, Julián follows a boy who wants to be a mermaid. The wide-eyed Julián spends a summer of discovery in N.Y.C. with his Abuela. Nearly strangers, they brace themselves for tense conversations and new adventures. The colourful chaos of Abuela’s world, and the stories she tells him, awakens something within Julián… questions about who he is and who he could be. Julián’s journey will reach across the diaspora, from Brooklyn block to the depths of the ocean, in an intergenerational ebb and flow. Through Abuela’s world, Julián explores his identity, gender expression and the hidden heritage of his family.
Sunny (GKIDS)
Sunny
Michael Arias | GKIDS
Japan, U.S. | 2029
Synopsis: From Tekkonkinkreet director Michael Arias, Sunny is a moving narrative set in 1970s Japan. The film takes viewers inside Star Kids, a foster home that’s a sanctuary for children caught in the cracks of society. Told through the eyes of its young inhabitants, Sunny explores the fragile strength of found families and childhood resilience. Though still a few years from completion, the project already signals the return of a masterful voice in anime cinema with a poignant, socially resonant story.
Ana, en passant (Apiario Creative Studio)
Ana, en passant
Fernanda Alves Salgado | Apiario Creative Studio
Brazil, Portugal | 2026
Synopsis: Loosing herself in a new city, Ana finds Alice, her doppelgänger, and follows her. Face to face, glimpsing their respective abysses, they will discover what it means to become themselves, as they uncover new paths amidst the memories, languages and images of the cities they inhabit.
Dante (Lee Film)
Dante
Linda Hambäck | Lee Film
Sweden, Denmark, Norway | 2026
Synopsis: Alternately titled Me, Dante and the Dump, the film is based on Frida Nilsson’s book, directed by Lee Film founder Linda Hambäck (who previously adapted Nilsson’s The Ape Star) and written by Hambäck and Jessika Jankert. The comedy-mystery centers on Helge, a prime suspect in the theft of millions. What follows is a narrow trash can escape and the acquaintance of an obnoxious dump-dwelling rat named Dante.
Mu Yi and the Handsome General (Studio La Cachette)
Mu Yi and the Handsome General
Julien Chheng | Studio La Cachette
France | 2026
Synopsis: Somewhere in a picturesque and peaceful countryside of China, Mu Yi, 14, uncovers terrible secrets about the circumstances of her birth. Embarking on an epic quest for justice, she finds the most unlikely allies: a beautiful hero from past legends, and a tiger-riding god. What is Mu Yi could rewrite History ?
As part of their 25th anniversary celebrations, Titmouse (titmouse.net), the award-winning animation studio behind Big Mouth, The Legend of Vox Machina, Metalocalypse, Star Trek: Lower Decks and more, has officially opened pre-orders for its first-ever tabletop RPG Drunkards, Druggies & Delinquents. Copies will begin shipping in late August ahead of the Fall 2025 release.
Drunkards, Druggies & Delinquents began as a passion project in 2023 inside Titmouse’s tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) room and quickly spiraled into something stranger, funnier and more ambitious than anyone planned. Helmed by Titmouse Founder and President Chris Prynoski and Chief Creative Officer Antonio Canobbio, along with a rogue’s gallery of creatives, the game blends the studio’s love of old-school tabletop with its unhinged aesthetic. It’s the next chapter in Titmouse’s evolution, bringing their signature chaos into the world of tabletop games.
“We created this game to bring people together over laughs, mayhem, and a little controlled chaos,” said Prynoski. “It’s all about cutting loose, embracing the ridiculous, and making memories — fuzzy or not.”
About DD&D: A light RPG for chaos gremlins and comedy nerds alike, the game is equal parts fantasy quest, party game, and collaborative trainwreck. Players take on the roles of unpredictable anti-heroes like bard dropouts, goblin stoners, and fallen wizards, diving headfirst into absurd quests powered by their wits, storytelling chops, and chaotic energy. Whether you’re sipping whiskey, smoking air, or sticking to soda, gameplay is fast, loose and hilariously deranged. The deeper you go, the weirder the world gets — rewarding absurd decisions and wild improvisation over logic or strategy. It’s not about winning; it’s about creating the most deranged story at the table.
Choose from 12 absurd Classes like the Beerbarian, Weed Wraith, Whiskey Wizard or Druid of the Flower — each with a base stat profile, two attacks, a Special Skill and a Unique Trait. Customize your delinquent with Equipment (permanent buffs or debuffs) and Items (one-time-use chaos), then dive into combat by rolling the signature d12 to summon monsters like Meat Man, The Cough Fiend, or the surprisingly chill Friendly Ooze. The longer you survive, the more chaotic — and ridiculous — the monster pile becomes.
“We didn’t want balance. We wanted bedlam,” said Canobbio. “This game is about encouraging the worst possible decisions for the best possible time.”
The creators developed the game to thrive on collaborative storytelling and absurd improvisation, not strategy. It’s easy to pick up, perfect for game nights, con hotel parties, one-shots, or as a warm-up to longer campaigns. Visually, the game is an animated fever dream featuring original artwork from countless long-time Titmouse collaborators including Pendleton Ward, Phil Bourassa, Matt Furie, Christy Karacas, SKINNER, and other cult-favorite artists from the Titmouse multiverse.
Inside the box:
A zine-style Game Master guide packed with quest prompts, faction lore, optional “House Chaos” rules, and DIY mechanics that reward ridiculous behavior, punish logic and favor storytelling over math
Pre-generated Delinquent character sheets featuring off-the-wall archetypes like the “Dwarven Hypeman” or “Witch Who Thinks It’s Her Birthday”
Custom adversary and item cards that introduce everything from “Magic Edibles of Doubt” to “Cranky Talking Furniture”
Optional substance prompts that can be swapped for dares, jokes or purely fictional play
Key Features:
Designed for 3–8 players, ages 17+.
Sessions last 1–3 hours, with replayable mayhem baked in.
Fully sober-friendly; play drunk, high or bone-dry. The only thing required is creativity.
Built for laughter, not combat, but there’s plenty of both.
Drunkards, Druggies & Delinquents is now available for pre-order at titmousestuff.com, where you can find all kinds of goodies inspired by the studio’s work.
Audiences are introduced to the “exclusive, hyper-limited, often-imitated, never replicated, flyer-than-fly” stars of Sneaks in an all-new exclusive clip shared with Animation Magazine. The CG-animated movie, written and directed by Rob Edwards (writer of Disney’s The Princess and the Frog and Treasure Planet) and co-directed by Chris Jenkins (10 Lives, Duck Duck Goose), opens in theaters nationwide on April 18 through Briarcliff Entertainment.
The first-look footage (which you can watch below) takes us into the buzzing energy of a designer sneaker drop, where shiny new pair of shoes Ty (voiced by Anthony Mackie) and Maxine (Chloe Bailey) are waiting to be raffled to a proud new owner. We are also introduced to the nefarious Collector, played by the inimitable Laurence Fishburne.
Synopsis: Sneaks follows the adventures of Ty, a misguided designer sneaker who doesn’t know life outside the comforts of his velvet-lined shoe box. After his sister is stolen by a shady collector, Ty must venture into N.Y.C. to find and rescue her. In his adventure, Ty meets a rag-tag group of footwear friends from all walks of life who help him find the courage to step outside of his shoe box and find his “sole-mate.”
Laurence Fishburne voices The Collector in Rob Edwards’ ‘Sneaks’
Britany (voiced by Ella Mai)
Adriana (voiced by Macy Gray)
The film’s voice cast also features Martin Lawrence, Swae Lee, Macy Gray, Roddy Rich, Ella Mai, Quavo, Coi Leray, with Keith David and Chris Paul.
Sneaks is a family animated adventure produced by Len Hartman, Gil Cloyd, Laurence Fishburne and Helen Sugland; executive produced by Robyn Klein, Jeremy Ross, Meko Yohannes; with music by Grammy Award winner Mustard, the film’s executive music producer.
The Tribeca Festival has announced the lineup of animated, narrative and documentary feature films selected for its 24th edition, taking place in the Lower Manhattan neighborhood from June 4-15. Notably for animation lovers, the program will present two indie projects and a highly anticipated entry from one of the iconic franchises of sci-fi/horror film, plus an early chance to catch the new live-action take on How to Train Your Dragon (in theaters through Universal on June 13).
Making its North American Premiere in the International Narrative Competition, The Square is an auteur effort from Korean filmmaker Bo-sol Kim, presented with English subtitles. Kim wrote, directed and produced the project. So-hye Park was also producer, and Yu-jin Oh assisted Kim with the editing. The voice cast features Woon-jong Jeon, Chan-yong Lee, Ga-young Lee and You-jun Lee. Korea’s M-Line Distribution is handling rights.
Synopsis: In this stunningly animated romantic drama, a young Swedish diplomat and North Korean traffic officer fall in illicit love, but as his posting to the Embassy in Pyongyang draws to a close, they must make an impossible decision.
Dog of God
Another indie entry is the occult mystery-comedy Dog of God, which will hold its World Premiere as part of the Festival’s genre film track, Escape from Tribeca (screening with English subtitles). The Latvia-U.S. co-production is directed by brothers Lauris Abele and Raitis Abele, who also wrote the screenplay with Ivo Briedis and Harijs Grundmanis.
The Abeles — Latvian filmmakers whose previous live-action delves into paganism (Baltic Tribes), ostracization (Castratus the Boar) and psychology (Troubled Minds) have earned recognition at Tampere, Prague and Tallinn Black Nights — also edited the pic, and Lauris composed the soundtrack. Raitis Abele was the producer alongside Kristele Pudane. Grundmanis was the project’s lead artist, with Aigars Gercans as lead animator.
Produced in Latvian and German, the voice cast is led by Jurgis Spulenieks, Kristians Karelins, Einars Repse, Agate Krista, Regnars Vaivars and Armands Bergis.
Synopsis: Rotoscope animation sets the stage for this wild 17th century look at a woman accused of witchcraft whose trial reveals the presence of a werewolf in a deeply religious Livonian community’s midst.
Predator: Killer of Killers
Another tooned up highlight of this year’s Escape from Tribeca program is Predator: Killer of Killers, which will open a new animated chapter in the Predator universe on Hulu on June 6. The stylized CG feature is produced by 20th Century Studios and is directed by Dan Trachtenberg (10 Cloverfield Lane, Prey), with Josh Wassung, from animation company The Third Floor, serving as co-director.
The film is written byMicho Robert Rutare and story by Trachtenberg and Rutare, based on characters created by Jim Thomas & John Thomas. The producers are John Davis, Dan Trachtenberg, p.g.a., Marc Toberoff, Ben Rosenblatt, p.g.a., with Lawrence Gordon, James E. Thomas, John C. Thomas, and Stefan Grube as executive producers.
The voice cast features Lindsay LaVanchy, Louis Ozawa Changchien, Rick Gonzalez and Michael Biehn.
Synopsis: The anthology story follows three of the fiercest warriors in human history: a Viking raider guiding her young son on a bloody quest for revenge, a ninja in feudal Japan who turns against his Samurai brother in a brutal battle for succession, and a WWII pilot who takes to the sky to investigate an otherworldly threat to the Allied cause. But while all these warriors are killers in their own right, they are merely prey for their new opponent — the ultimate killer of killers.
The Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF) has revealed its 2025 poster, designed by Academy Award-winning Canadian director, animator and illustrator Torill Kove. Each year, a different animator is selected to design the OIAF poster, resulting in a unique piece of art that reflects that animator’s craft. This year’s poster takes inspiration from the Festival’s iconic image, the owl.
Torill Kove [ph: Julie Artacho]“Last spring, Chris [Robinson] asked me if I would create the OIAF poster and signal film for 2025. I thought, ‘Sure, that’s ages from now and will involve drawing at least one owl —and I love owls!’ I happily accepted the job and mentally filed it under ‘later,’” says Kove. “Only a few months later, Chris messaged me to ask if I had made any progress on the poster and if I had anything to show. I didn’t, but I felt I should present something. So, I sketched a grumpy owl sitting in a tree. Why grumpy? I’m not sure — it’s a common expression for owls, though I understand it doesn’t necessarily reflect their actual mood.”
“When I began working on the poster for real, I had grown fond of the grumpy owl,” Kove adds. “Since he looked a little lonely, I added some small stick figure owls that appear to be flying off the phenakistoscope. And orange is my favorite color.”
Born in Norway and having lived most of her life in Montreal, Canada, Kove discovered a passion for animation that led to several Academy Award nominations. Her first nomination was in 2000 for My Grandmother Ironed the King’s Shirts (1999), which was inspired by the story of her grandmother who had ironed the shirts of Norway’s King Haakon VII.
In 2007, Kove’s The Danish Poet (2006) became her second Oscar nomination and first win the Animated Short Film category at the 79th Academy Awards. Her later short Me and My Moulton (2014) was nominated for the 87th Academy Awards.
Kove’s films have screened worldwide at several prestigious festivals, including the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), and OIAF. Her most recent animated short film, Maybe Elephants (2024), screened at OIAF 2024 in competition. The film was included in TIFF’s annual Canada’s Top Ten list for 2024.
“Torill’s artwork brings a breath of fresh air to our festival poster, with a simplicity and brightness that sets it apart from the more layered and abstract designs we’ve traditionally embraced,” says OIAF Artistic Director Chris Robinson. “After years of wild, wacky imagery, we wanted to try something more straightforward and direct, and Torill’s work captures that spirit perfectly. It’s a bold and beautiful new direction for OIAF, and we couldn’t be more excited to share it.”
Kove’s OIAF design will join the works of past artists Lei Lei (2024), Matthew Rankin (2023), Angela Stempel and Amanda Bonaiuto (2021), Gary Baseman (2007), Gary Panter (2005) and Dave Cooper (2001), among others.
This year’s OIAF runs from September 24 to September 28. Visit the animationfestival.ca for more information about this year’s festival.
Milk VFX and Lola Post have announced the addition of two new senior team members as part of their ongoing growth: Sarah Essam has been appointed as Business Development Producer, while Jonny Vale joins as Head of Marketing and Communications.
With studios in London, Bordeaux, Barcelona and Dublin, Milk and Lola continue to build momentum across key creative markets. These strategic hires come at a pivotal time as the studios look to deepen client relationships, enhance market visibility and strengthen their positioning in the global VFX industry.
Essam, a seasoned producer with a wealth of experience working behind the scenes in large-scale VFX production, will be instrumental in supporting business development and client partnerships across both studios. She has previously held production roles at Framestore and MPC, with credits on films including Blade Runner 2049, Suicide Squad, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and His Dark Materials.
Vale, with over 15 years of marketing and communications experience in the film and episodic industries, has led successful campaigns for major productions, including The Lion King, Prehistoric Planet, The Jungle Book and Prometheus. His expertise will help enhance the global visibility and showcase the creative capabilities of both Milk and Lola.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Sarah and Jonny to our expanding team. Both bring a wealth of experience and a forward-thinking approach that will help drive our continued growth,” said Roo Knight-Jones, Business Development Director at Milk and Lola. “Sarah will play a pivotal role in deepening relationships with our key clients and further strengthening our presence across our studio network. Jonny’s strategic insight into market engagement will be instrumental in amplifying the visibility of both Milk and Lola and showcasing the breadth and depth of our creative capabilities.”
These key appointments reflect Milk and Lola’s commitment to further enhancing their industry leadership and expanding their global creative presence.
Educational animation company Wonder Media is working with students and teachers from 17 different Pittsburgh-area school districts to create a new conservation-focused feature film that’s written, acted, animated and scored by the students themselves.
In Finding Stories of Wonder in the Land of Oz, Dorothy and her friends develop solutions to serious ecological problems that are based on real-life science and cutting-edge technology.
For example, in Elizabeth Forward School District’s film segment, Dorothy and the Tin Man encounter a native whose jungle is being destroyed, so they devise a plan based on actual science: using the Wizard’s drones to plant seeds, which will help the natives regrow their food and defend their home.
“I think every student has grown throughout this process. They all embraced their roles and rose to create projects that truly inspired me,” said Elizabeth Forward Director of Choirs and Media Studies Dr. Angie Berna Milliren, who will also lead her students in scoring the film.
Students in other districts are tackling equally important ecological topics, including:
Deforestation (Deer Lakes School District)
Drought Adaptations (Keystone Oaks School District)
Forest Conservation (New Castle Area School District)
Environmental Awareness and Community Resilience (Fox Chapel Area School District)
Water Conservation (Beaver Area School District)
Water Contamination and Controlling Runoff (South Allegheny School District)
“Our students must complete research to build their scene, which makes this project even more meaningful. They’re sharing experiences related to our scene, and seem genuinely concerned about contamination and pollution,” said South Allegheny Elementary STEAM Instructor Jennifer Rea.
New Castle Area 6th Grade Accelerated ELA/Science Teacher Kara Reider noted, “Our students now pay attention to their surroundings more than they have before. Not only is this project challenging their writing, it has also grabbed their attention in science and the natural world around them.”
Finding Stories of Wonder in the Land of Oz is being made by students using the Story Maker 3D-animation system from Wonder Media. The production will make its theatrical premiere in Pittsburgh in May 2025. The project is supported by The Grable Foundation.
![The King of Kings [Angel Studios]](https://www.animationmagazine.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/The-King-of-Kings-group.jpg)
![WondLa [Apple TV+]](https://www.animationmagazine.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/WondLa_020202.jpg)
![Sneaks [c/o Briarcliff Enterainment]](https://www.animationmagazine.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/Sneaks_Stills_1.2.7.jpg)
![Sneaks [c/o Briarcliff Enterainment]](https://www.animationmagazine.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/Sneaks_Stills_1.3.2.jpg)
![Sneaks [c/o Briarcliff Enterainment]](https://www.animationmagazine.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/Sneaks_Stills_1.3.7.jpg)
![Sneaks [c/o Briarcliff Enterainment]](https://www.animationmagazine.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/Sneaks_Stills_1.4.1.jpg)
![Sneaks [c/o Briarcliff Enterainment]](https://www.animationmagazine.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/SNEAKS-still-Ella-Mai.jpg)
![Sneaks [c/o Briarcliff Enterainment]](https://www.animationmagazine.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/SNEAKS-Still-Macy-Gray.jpg)
![Torill Kove [ph: Julie Artacho] provided by NFB](https://www.animationmagazine.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/Torill-Kove_Julie-Artacho.jpg)
