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Ernie Hudson, known for portraying Winston Zeddemore in the Ghostbusters film franchise, has been announced as the successor to the late Carl Weathers in the role of Combat Carl for Pixar Animation Studios’ upcoming sequel, Toy Story 5. The next entry in the blockbuster film series, which pioneered CG animated moviemaking, will be released on June 19, 2026 by Disney.
Hudson is a Michigan-born actor, playwright and producer who got his start on the stage in the early 1970s, making his feature film debut in Leadbelly. He has enjoyed a prolific film and television career, with notable roles in Leviathan, Airheads, The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, The Crow, The Basketball Diaries, Congo and Miss Congeniality, as well as HBO’s Oz, Desperate Housewives, Law & Order, Grace and Frankie and Quantum Leap. His recent animation voice-over credits include Angry Bird Mystery Island, Infinity Train and Puppy Dog Pals. Hudson will celebrate his 80th birthday in December.
Weathers was an NFL and CFL player in the early 1970s before transitioning to an acting career, gaining wide recognition as Apollo Creed in the first four Rocky movies, and later as Col. Dillon in Predator and Chubbs in Happy Gilmore. More recently, he had a recurring role as Greef Karga in The Mandalorian on Disney+, for which he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy. He also had a recurring voice role as Omnitraxus Prime in the Disney Channel animated series Star vs. the Forces of Evil, and was a repeat guest star on Cartoon Network’s Regular Show as the God of Basketball. Toy Story 4 (2019) was his last feature film project before his death in February 2024 at age 76.
Combat Carl is a G.I. Joe-inspired action figure character who first appeared in the Halloween TV special Toy Story of Terror! (2013) voiced by Weathers, and returned with three variants in Toy Story 4. A Caucasian toy of the same name is seen in the first Toy Story movie as one of Sid’s plastic victims.
From Pixar:
The toys are back in Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 5 and this time around it’s Toy meets Tech. Buzz, Woody, Jessie, and the rest of the gang’s jobs get exponentially harder when they go head to head with this all new threat to playtime.
Hudson joins returning voice stars Tom Hanks (Woody) and Tim Allen (Buzz Lightyear). SAG Award nominee Anna Faris, who has provided voices for Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Alvin and the Chipmunks and The Emoji Movie, has been cast in an undisclosed role.
Creative media and digital storytelling company Spate Media has announced the launch of its latest original series, SpateVerse Sound Lounge. The new hip hop animation blends headphone culture, Afrofuturism, and superhero energy — expanding Spate Media’s growing SpateVerse, an animation universe spotlighting powerful Black characters.
SpateVerse Sound Lounge features music-driven short-form content built for platforms like TikTok, YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels. At its core are characters like Jade “Jet” Morrison, Shay the Producer, Keesha the Editor and Jazmine the Legal Boss — all wearing headphones, symbolizing sonic focus, self-expression and creativity. Each episode taps into the intersection of Black superheroes, urban storytelling and digital culture, creating modern animated worlds with roots in the real-life hip hop industry.
Alongside the Sound Lounge, Spate Media is developing a slate of original content under its growing animation and digital content studio:
Spate Concert Watch – A fast-paced show spotlighting the biggest hip hop and R&B tours, from Drake to Travis Scott.
Spate News in One Minute– Quick-hit updates on music, entertainment, and viral stories — optimized for mobile-first audiences.
Show Your Influence – Highlighting celebrities and everyday people using their platforms for real impact in their communities.
Spate Animation Studios – A rising indie animation studio focused on creating original IP rooted in music, culture and empowerment.
“We’re building a movement that merges animation, music, and influence,” says Antoine King, Founder of Spate Media. “The SpateVerse is where headphone culture meets heroism, and where urban creativity becomes the universe.”
Looking ahead, Spate Media is also planning Spate University, a future-forward school dedicated to technology, business and creative entrepreneurship. The long-term vision: empower the next generation of content creators and innovators through culturally relevant education.
We Ghosted Media, founded by Emmy Award-winning animation producer Jaclynn Demas (Peg+Cat) and producer Chris Jammal (Bob’s Burgers), is joining forces with Lamina1 to develop and launch its latest animated comedy series, Owen Nowhere. Forgoing the traditional studio release, We Ghosted Media will debut its latest IP on the next-generation Web3 and AI-powered platform, enabling them to fully own and control their IP from incubation to distribution.
Lamina1 provides long-term sustainability and revenue opportunities through on-chain rights management, fan-driven economies and interactive digital experiences.
“We are witnessing a seismic shift in the industry as more and more Emmy award-winning creators opt out of the traditional studio system and instead seek opportunities to share their IP directly with consumers,” said Lamina1 CEO Rebecca Barkin. “Lamina1 facilitating the launch of Owen Nowhere is further indication that creator giants like Demas and Jammal are exploring alternatives to protect and control their IP long-term.”
Owen Nowhere is an animated comedy that follows Owen B. Gloom, a pre-teen aspiring influencer living his life on the open road with his most unusual parents, who happen to be retired vampires, Vlad and Glad Gloom. With each episode, Owen Nowhere offers a snackable, co-viewing experience that seamlessly fits into Lamina1’s interactive, community-powered platform.
The partners note that their team-up on the new toon underscores a movement in the industry, as arts and entertainment talent seek greater creative autonomy, direct audience engagement and new monetization models beyond traditional studio constraints.
“Lamina1 is redefining the content industry, giving creators the power to break free from outdated models and take control of their work,” said Demas. “With Owen Nowhere, we’re not just launching a show — we’re reshaping how animated storytelling connects with audiences. This is about ownership, sustainability, and a direct connection with fans who fuel our creative vision.”
Demas has produced internationally popular shows for kids and families, including Peg+Cat, Wonder Pets!, Blue’s Room and Click, Clack, Moo: Christmas at the Farm. Formerly the supervising producer and writer for Nickelodeon International Creative, Demas has been the creative lead on several high-profile campaigns, reaching audiences in 150+ countries. Her work at Nickelodeon International has received industry recognition with a Promax win, GEMA Europe nominations, and a Children’s and Family Emmy nomination.
Debuting shortly after the upcoming launch of Neal Stephenson’s Artefact, a narrative, fan-driven digital storyworld launching in collaboration with Weta Workshop later this year, the Owen Nowhere team say they are embracing Web3 to bypass outdated gatekeeping models and experiment with new ways to drive fandom and build community in the next online era.
“We are thrilled to partner with Lamina1 — enabling us to lead the charge in encouraging creators to lean into this next-gen technology to maintain ownership over the work we give so much of ourselves to create,” said Jammal.
Jammal is a three-time Emmy nominated assistant director on the primetime animated comedy Bob’s Burgers. He has also written and created shows for Nickelodeon and PBS; storyboarded for Disney, Amazon, Nick Jr., Sesame Street, and Fox; animated music videos for They Might Be Giants and Lazoo; and much more. Outside the studio, Jammal hones his comedy skills as a stand-up comic.
Through Lamina1’s technology, Owen Nowhere fans will be able to interact with and participate in the character’s evolution directly. With the company’s “Space” innovation, the project will feature exclusive behind-the-scenes content, episodes, collectible digital assets and community-driven experiences.
“Lamina1 is built to empower creators with true autonomy—enabling them to own not just their IP, but also their audience, their distribution, and their revenue streams”, said Geraldine Pamphile, Chief Operating & Business Officer of Lamina1. “With Owen Nowhere, We Ghosted Media is redefining how animation reaches and engages fans. This partnership is a testament to the future of content: creator-led, community-driven, and powered by Lamina1.”
The Academy’s Board of Governors has approved awards rules and campaign promotional regulations for the 98th Academy Awards. In addition, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced key dates for the 2025 awards season. As previously announced, the 98th Oscars will air live on ABC on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.
In a procedural change, Academy members must now watch all nominated films in each category to be eligible to vote in the final round for the Oscars. All designated nominees will also be included on the final ballot.
Of note for Animation Magazine readers, in the Animated Short Film category, voting privileges in the nominations round will be extended to all Academy members who opt in to participate. Members must view all 15 shortlisted films to be eligible to vote in the category.
Other substantive awards rules changes include:
Category rules for eligibility and voting for the inaugural Academy Award for Achievement in Casting have been codified. There will be a preliminary round of voting to determine a shortlist of 10 films, and prior to nominations voting, Casting Directors Branch members will be invited to view a “bake-off” presentation of the shortlisted achievements, including a Q&A with the designated nominees.
In the rules for film eligibility, the following language regarding Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been introduced, as recommended by the Academy’s Science and Technology Council:
With regard to Generative Artificial Intelligence and other digital tools used in the making of the film, the tools neither help nor harm the chances of achieving a nomination. The Academy and each branch will judge the achievement, taking into account the degree to which a human was at the heart of the creative authorship when choosing which movie to award.
For consideration in the Best Picture category, films released from January 1, 2025, through June 30, 2025, must have shown proof of submission for Producers Guild of America (PGA) mark certification or awards-only determination no later than September 10, 2025. Films released from July 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025, must have shown proof of submission to the PGA no later than November 13, 2025.
In the Cinematography category, there will now be a preliminary round of voting for the Cinematography award to determine a shortlist of between 10 and 20 films.
In the International Feature Film category, the eligibility requirement regarding creative control has been updated to be inclusive of filmmakers with refugee or asylum status.
The submitting country must confirm that creative control of the film was largely in the hands of citizens, residents, or individuals with refugee or asylum status in the submitting country.
For the Music categories, there will now be a separate, earlier deadline of Wednesday, October 15, 2025, 5 p.m. PT for song submissions. Original Score submissions will be due no later than Monday, November 3, 2025, at 5 p.m. PT.
The Academy also updated and clarified formatting and language in the campaign promotional regulations for the 98th Oscars. The campaign promotional regulations specify how motion picture companies and individuals directly associated with Oscars-eligible motion pictures may promote such motion pictures, achievements and performances to Academy members and how Academy members may promote Oscars-eligible motion pictures, achievements and performances.
Substantive changes to the campaign promotional regulations include:
Oscar-qualifying film festivals may now have access to approved mailing houses to share information about festival programming with Academy members.
Public communications (including any social media posts, reposts, shares and comments) may not disparage the techniques used in or subject matter of any motion picture. Any Academy member, motion picture company or individual directly associated with an eligible motion picture found to be in violation will be subject to penalization.
Academy key dates, including submission deadlines and voting periods, for the 2025 Oscars season are as follows:
Thursday, August 14, 2025 — First submission deadline for Animated Short Film, Documentary Feature Film, Documentary Short Film and Live Action Short Film categories
Wednesday, September 10, 2025 — First submission deadline for General Entry categories, Animated Feature Film, Best Picture and RAISE form
Wednesday, October 1, 2025 — Submission deadline for International Feature Film
Monday, October 6, 2025 — Student Academy Awards
Thursday, October 9, 2025 — Final submission deadline for Animated Short Film, Documentary Short Film and Live Action Short Film categories
Wednesday, October 15, 2025 — Submission deadline for Music (Original Song)
Thursday, October 16, 2025 — Final submission deadline for Documentary Feature Film
Monday, November 3, 2025 — Submission deadline for Music (Original Score)
Thursday, November 13, 2025 — Final submission deadline for General Entry categories, Animated Feature Film, Best Picture and RAISE form
Sunday, November 16, 2025 — Governors Awards
Monday, December 8, 2025 — Preliminary votingbegins 9 a.m. PT
Aniplex of America and Crunchyroll announced today that the record-breaking anime sensation Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train will return to theaters, now in 4K. The film will encore across the United States and Canada on May 14, as well as select international territories starting on May 14. Distributed by Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment in North America, the film, originally released in 2020, will be shown in both Japanese with English subtitles as well as dubbed in English.
Tickets for the re-release will go on sale on Wednesday April 30 (check your local listings).
Set after the events of the first season of the television series, Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train sees Tanjiro, Nezuko, Zenitsu and Inosuke embark on a new mission. Together with one of the most powerful swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps, Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku, they investigate the mysterious disappearance of over 40 people aboard the Mugen Train.
Synopsis: In a world riddled with demons, a young man, Tanjiro Kamado, and his comrades investigate the disappearance of passengers aboard a mysterious train as members of the Demon Slayer Corps, an organization dedicated to protecting humanity. With the help of a powerful ally, these Demon Slayers must confront evil in a heroic battle to bring an end to the nightmare!
The film is directed by Haruo Sotozaki, featuring the original story by the original Demon Slayer manga’s creator Koyoharu Gotoge with screenplay and animation production by studio ufotable.
A critical and box office success, Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train holds the record as the highest-grossing Japanese anime movie of all time and the highest-grossing Japanese film at the global box office, garnering over 500 million USD to date. The film had the highest opening weekend in domestic box office history for any foreign language film, and went on to become the second-highest grossing Japanese anime film in North America. It also garnered a 98% critic score and 99% audience score (with 10,000+ verified ratings) on Rotten Tomatoes.
Fans will have the chance to revisit Mugen Train next month prior to Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle, the latest film in the franchise, coming to theatres in the United States and Canada on September 12, distributed by Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment. The first film of the three-part cinematic trilogy represents the final arc and culmination of the hugely popular award-winning anime shonen series.
GKIDS is prepping another visually and narratively compelling Japanese animated feature for release in North America, boarding 100 Meters(Hyakuemu) as a producing partner and distributor. The footrace drama is directed by Kenji Iwaisawa, who rose to international prominence with his animated indie rock movie On-Gaku: Our Sound.
100 Meters will release across NorAm in October in the original Japanese and a new English-language version, following its September 19 debut in Japan. The project was previewed at the 2024 Annecy International Animation Film Festival as part of the Work-in-Progress lineup.
Synopsis:100 Meters follows Togashi, a naturally gifted track star. In sixth grade, he meets Komiya, a transfer student who is full of determination but lacks technique. In teaching him, Togashi gives Komiya a new purpose: to win no matter what. Years pass by, and Togashi and Komiya meet again as rivals on the track and reveal their true selves.
Based on the original manga by Uoto (Orb: On the Movements of the Earth), 100 Meters is in production at studio Rock’n Roll Mountain, and is produced by Pony Canyon, Tokyo Broadcasting System and Asmik Ace alongside GKIDS.
Iwaisa directs from a screenplay by Yasuyuki Muto (Tokyo Revengers, Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway). The creative team also includes character designer & executive animation director Keisuke Kojima, art director Keikankun Yamaguchi and composer Hiroaki Tsutsumi. Producers include Yūsuke Terada, Yūki Katayama, and Akane Taketsugu.
Just ahead of the GKIDS announcement, the official website for the 100 Meters manga launched a teaser trailer, which revealed the composer, the two lead Japanese voice actors and the Japan release date.
Tori Matsuzaka, who largely performs in live-action such as in the TV series adaptation of In This Corner of the World and the 2022 Whisper of the Heart film, will voice Togashi. Matsuzaka’s animated film roles include Hello World and New Dimension! Crayon Shin-can the Movie: Battle of Supernatural Powers ~Flying Sushi~.
Shōta Sometani will play Komiya. He is best known for his lead roles in the live-action films Himizu and Parasyte, but has notably recorded voice roles for acclaimed animated features including Mamoru Hosoda’s Wolf Children, The Boy and the Beast and Belle, and Makoto Shinkai’s Suzume.
Star Wars Celebration 2025 came to a close last night in Tokyo, after three days of nonstop spotlights on Lucasfilm’s slate of major theatrical titles and live-action and animated series and specials on Disney+. The weekend featured numerous big announcements, surprise celebrity appearances and exclusive details and first looks at upcoming chapters of the iconic Star Wars franchise.
2025 marks the 16th occurrence of the bi-annual global event, and this year’s event was the biggest international Star Wars Celebration ever, with over 105,000 guests from 125 countries in attendance, which is an 8% increase in overall attendance from the last Celebration, which took place in 2023 in London. It was also the fastest Celebration to sell out. The three-day event, which took place at Makuhari Messe Convention Center in Tokyo, featured 26 hours of programming across the three main stages, and 100 hours of fan panel and podcast content.
James Waugh SVP, Lucasfilm Franchise Content & Strategy and Executive Producer speaks on stage at First Look: Star Wars: Visions Volume 3 at Celebration Stage during Star Wars Celebration Japan Day 3 on April 20, 2025 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images for Disney)
Among the animation highlights, Sunday’s events saw hosts Sascha Boeckle and DJ Taro debut a first look at Volume 3 of the acclaimed multi-studio shorts anthology series Star Wars: Visions, which will debut October 29 exclusively on Disney+, followed by a panel discussion featuring filmmakers from david production, Kamikaze Douga, Kinema citrus Co, Polygon Pictures, Production I.G, Project Studio Q, TRIGGER and WIT Studio.
Volume 1 of Star Wars: Visions, which premiered in 2021, received an Emmy nomination for the short, “The Duel.” The Emmy, Lumières and Annie Award-winning second volume was released in 2023, and featured shorts by global animation studios including Aardman, Cartoon Saloon, Triggerfish and Punkrobot.
Takanobu Mizuno, Hitsohi Haga and Naoyoshi Shiotani are seen on stage at First Look: Star Wars: Visions Volume 3 at Celebration Stage during Star Wars Celebration Japan Day 3 on April 20, 2025 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images for Disney)
Jacob Ayers, Co-Producer speaks on stage at First Look: Star Wars: Visions Volume 3 at Celebration Stage during Star Wars Celebration Japan Day 3 on April 20, 2025 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images for Disney)
With Volume 3, the animated anthology returns to where it all began with nine shorts from nine different anime studios to further demonstrate the diversity and creativity of Japanese animation. The titles of each studio’s short, the directors, and key details were revealed for all nine shorts:
David Production – “BLACK”
Directed by Shinya Ohira
A psychedelic battle between past and present, light and dark, and life and death plays out in the haunted psyche of an Imperial trooper who is on the cusp of defeat.
Kamikaze Douga + ANIMA – “The Duel: Payback”
Directed by Takanobu Mizuno
With the help of some unexpected allies, Ronin faces off against his greatest foe – a twisted Jedi known as the Grand Master who is bent on revenge.
Kinema Citrus – “The Lost Ones”
Directed by Hitoshi Haga
After assisting refugees escape a natural disaster, an incognito F is forced to confront the ghosts of her past when their refugee ship is intercepted by the Empire.
Tadahiro Yoshihira speaks on stage at First Look: Star Wars: Visions Volume 3 at Celebration Stage during Star Wars Celebration Japan Day 3 on April 20, 2025 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images for Disney)
Polygon Pictures – “The Bird of Paradise”
Directed by Tadahiro Yoshihira
After she is blinded in battle, a hot headed Jedi padawan must undergo a series of spiritual trials in order to overcome the temptation of the Dark Side.
Production I.G – “The Ninth Jedi: Child of Hope”
Directed by Naoyoshi Shiotani
Pursued by Jedi Hunters, and blasted adrift into space, Kara encounters a seemingly abandoned ship tended to by a mysterious droid.
Project Studio Q – “The Song of Four Wings”
Directed by Hiroyasu Kobayashi
A princess-turned-rebel protects a child from the might of the Empire on a snowbound planet.
TRIGGER – “The Smuggler”
Directed by Masahiko Otsuka
A smuggler, desperate for a quick payday, agrees to take on a job to bring a wanted young prince to safety as the Empire pursues.
WIT Studio – “The Bounty Hunter”
Directed by Junichi Yamamoto
A rogue bounty hunter takes on a job for a shady industrialist that has unexpected consequences for her and her droid.
Junichi Yamamoto speaks on stage at First Look: Star Wars: Visions Volume 3 at Celebration Stage during Star Wars Celebration Japan Day 3 on April 20, 2025 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images for Disney)
Hiroyasu Kobayashi speaks on stage at First Look: Star Wars: Visions Volume 3 at Celebration Stage during Star Wars Celebration Japan Day 3 on April 20, 2025 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images for Disney)
While complete cast details have not been announced, an exclusive sizzle was screened for fans in room (and on the Star Wars LIVE! Stream), which featured the voices of Ami Maeshima, Yasuko Hatori, Takako Honda, Yume Miyamoto, Makoto Koichi and Chinatsu Akasaki from the Original Language cast, and George Takei, Sonoya Mizuno, Nick Kishiyama, Lincoln Bonilla, Jimmie Yamaguchi, Mike Bodie and Stephanie Hsu from the English dub.
The day ended with an announcement from James Waugh, Lucasfilm’s SVP Franchise Content & Strategy, who also serves as an executive producer on Star Wars: Visions, that the series will continue with the creation of an all-new banner Star Wars: Visions Presents, which will be used to tell longer-form stories.
Kenji Kamiyama (The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim) joined Waugh on stage to announce the first title to be released under the new banner: Star Wars: Visions Presents – The Ninth Jedi. Kamiyama will serve as supervising director of the limited series, which will continue the story of Lah Kara that first debuted in Star Wars: Visions Volume 1.
Star Wars: Visions Presents – The Ninth Jedi, a new limited series, will premiere on Disney+ in 2026.
Takanobu Mizuno, Hitsohi Haga and Naoyoshi Shiotani are seen on stage at First Look: Star Wars: Visions Volume 3 at Celebration Stage during Star Wars Celebration Japan Day 3 on April 20, 2025 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images for Disney)
Previously, during Friday’s special Lucasfilm Animation Panel to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the division, fans were treated to the world-premiere of the first episode of Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld, an all-new anthology series of animated shorts from creator Dave Filoni, which will premiere May 4 exclusively on Disney+.
The popular series, which began in 2022 with Tales of the Jedi and continued in 2024 with Tales of the Empire, this time focuses on the criminal underbelly of the Star Wars galaxy through the experiences of two iconic villains. Former assassin and bounty hunter Asajj Ventress is given a new chance at life and must go on the run with an unexpected new ally, while outlaw Cad Bane faces his past when he confronts an old friend, now a Marshal on the opposite side of the law.
The panel ended with an announcement many fans have been waiting for: a brand-new series from Lucasfilm Animation with another rogue at the centire: Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord, premiering on Disney+ in 2026, starring Sam Witwer. Guests were then treated to an exclusive first look at the series, and gifted an exclusive Lucasfilm Animation special 20th anniversary poster.
Later that day, everyone’s favorite Pooba, Nubs, then came to the Star Wars LIVE! stage, where it was announced that the third season of Later that day, everyone’s favorite Pooba, Nubs, then came to the Star Wars LIVE! stage, where it was announced that the third season of Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures will debut this Fall on Disney+ and Disney Jr. will debut this Fall on Disney+ and Disney Jr.
Saturday was devoted to the return of two of Disney+’s most popular series, as well as the reveal of a new LEGO Star Wars animated project: LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy – Pieces of the Past. Ahmed Best, the actor behind Jar Jar Binks, introduced the project and a new teaser poster.
In Pieces of the Past, a new threat rises in the galaxy, and Sig Greebling and Darth Dev must combine their powers of Force Building and Sith Breaking to stop it. Alongside Jedi Bob, Yesi Scala, and Servo, they will journey into the deepest corners of LEGO Star Wars lore, uncovering pieces of all the galaxies that have come before…
Friday’s festivities also included a special panel to celebrate Industrial Light & Magic’s contributions to the entertainment industry, as 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the groundbreaking visual effects company.
The filmmakers from Light & Magiccame to the stageto talk about the second season of the acclaimed Lucasfilm documentary series, which first premiered in 2022 and is now streaming on Disney+. Season 2 is a three-part series produced by Imagine Documentaries that follows ILM as it enters its most challenging and revolutionary period: the dawn of digital. From creating the first fully realized CG character to solving the challenge of digital water, it is an era that finds ILM scaling new heights of innovation despite dramatic setbacks.
The director for Light & Magic S2 is Joe Johnston, and the executive producers are Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Justin Wilkes, Sara Bernstein, Joe Johnston, Lawrence Kasdan, Kathleen Kennedy and Carrie Beck. Jacqui Lopez, Ted Schillinger and Michael Garcia serve as co-executive producers. The series producers are Meredith Kaulfers and Christopher St. John, and Nicole Pusateri is the supervising producer.
Attendees heard from director Johnston and Howard via videotaped greetings, and Sam Witwer (voice of Maul) moderated a panel discussion comprised of Ahmed Best (Jar Jar Binks), Lynwen Brennan (President and General Manager, Lucasfilm Business), Doug Chiang (SVP and Dxecutive Design Director, Lucasfilm), Janet Lewin (SVP, General Manager and Head of ILM), John Knoll (ILM Executive Creative Director, Senior Visual Effects Supervisor) and Rob Coleman (ILM Creative Director and Senior Animation Supervisor). Filmmakers then unveiled the trailer and key art.
During the Star Wars Celebration 2025 event, sharing updates on the popular Disney-owned Lucasfilm brand live from Japan, actor Ahmed Best (Jar Jar Binks) took to the stage to announce a new show in the LEGO Star Wars line, LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy – Pieces of the Past. Fans were treated to a brand-new teaser poster for the sequel series.
In Pieces of the Past, a new threat rises in the galaxy, and Sig Greebling and Darth Dev must combine their powers of Force Building and Sith Breaking to stop it. Alongside Jedi Bob, Yesi Scala, and Servo, they will journey into the deepest corners of LEGO Star Wars lore, uncovering pieces of all the galaxies that have come before…
Returning voice cast includes Gaten Matarazzo (Sig Greebling), Tony Revolori (Darth Dev), Bobby Moynihan (Jedi Bob), Marsai Martin (Yesi Scala), Michael Cusack (Servo), Ahmed Best (Darth Jar Jar) and a special appearance by Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker). The four-piece sequel series welcomes Ashley Eckstein as LEGO BrickHeadz Ahsoka Tano and Ben Schwartz as Jaxxon.
LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy – Pieces of the Past is written by Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit, directed by Chris Buckley, and debuts on Disney+ September 19, 2025.
My Hero Academia: You’re Next, the smash-hit fourth theatrical feature in the successful anime series, is powering up for its streaming launch today (Sunday, April 20) on Crunchyroll, premiering at 5 p.m. PT (time subject to change). Produced by acclaimed studio Bones and directed by anime veteran Tensai Okamura (The Seven Deadly Sins, Blue Exorcist, Wolf’s Rain), the film received a North American theatrical release from Toho International in October.
Synopsis: Deku and his Hero Course classmates at U.A. High are determined to carry on the ideals of All Might. After Deku faces Tomura Shigaraki, a mysterious figure emerges resembling All Might. When the heroes uncover his devious plans, he is revealed to be Dark Might. He unleashes his Quirk to create a massive fort, absorbing all in its path. It’s up to Class 1-A to stop Dark Might and save the world!
Okamura directs from a screenplay by Yosuke Kuroda. The core production team includes main character designers Yoshihiko Umakoshi; character designer, animation director & composer Yuki Hayashi; chief animation director Hitomi Odashima; art director Manami Azuta; color designer Kazuko Kikuchi; and DPs Mayuko Furumoto and Takashi Sawa. The film’s theme song “Homunculus” is performed by Vaundy, winner of the MTV Music Video Awards Japan’s Artist of the Year.
The My Hero Academia anime series is based on the manga created by Kohei Horikoshi, who served as general supervisor, original character designer and original story creator on You’re Next.
Japanese Voice Cast
Izuku Midoriya voiced by Daiki Yamashita
Katsuki Bakugo voiced by Nobuhiko Okamoto
Shoto Todoroki voiced by Yuki Kaji
Ochaco Uraraka voiced by Ayane Sakura
Tenya Ida voiced by Kaito Ishikawa
Endeavor voiced by Tetsu Inada
Hawks voiced by Yuichi Nakamura
Giulio Gandini voiced by Mamoru Miyano
Anna Scervino voiced by Meru Nukumi
All Might / Dark Might voiced by Kenta Miyake
English Voice Cast
Izuku Midoriya voiced by Justin Briner
Katsuki Bakugo voiced by Clifford Chapin
Shoto Todoroki voiced by David Matranga
Ochaco Uraraka voiced by Luci Christian
Tenya Ida voiced by J. Michael Tatum
Endeavor voiced by Patrick Seitz
Hawks voiced by Zeno Robinson
Giulio Gandini voiced by Mauricio Ortiz-Segura
Anna Scervino voiced by Kayli Mills
All Might / Dark Might voiced by Chris Sabat
Watch the English dub trailer below (for those that prefer, the English subtitled trailer is available here).
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.
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