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Category: Writing

Awarding Excellence in Animation Headline News

'KPop Demon Hunters' Dominates at 53rd Annual Annie Awards

By Dan Sarto | Sunday, February 22, 2026 at 6:55am

Maggie Kang, Chris Appelhans and Netflix’s blockbuster feature took home 10 wins, including Best Feature, while ‘Arco’ won for Best Independent Feature; ‘Common Side Effects’ led all TV shows with 4 wins, followed closely by ‘Win or Lose’ and ‘Love, Death + Robots’ with 3 each, at the animation industry’s gala event held last night at Royce Hall in Los Angeles.

Who Said You Can Never Really Go Back Home? ANIMATIONWorld

The Improbable Return to FOX: Matt Weitzman Talks ‘American Dad!’

By Dan Sarto | Friday, February 20, 2026 at 3:14pm

The show’s co-creator and co-showrunner reflects on 20 years of producing the Seth MacFarlane animated comedy, the previous 10 at TBS before the seemingly miraculous 4-season renewal that brought the prodigal son back to its Animation Domination home; Season 20 debuts this Sunday, February 22.

Honoring Black History Month Headline News

Exclusive Excerpt: ‘First Freedom: The Story of Opal Lee and Juneteenth' Graphic Novel

By Dan Sarto | Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 9:11am

Oni Press’ 208-page biography by Angélique Roché, with artists Alvin Epps, Millicent Monroe and Bex Glendining, chronicles the ‘Grandmother of Juneteenth’s decades-long fight to officially recognize American emancipation as a national holiday; now on-sale.  

It’s Anime-zing! Headline News

Pony Canyon Drops First Teaser for ‘To You in the Beyond’

By Dan Sarto | Friday, February 13, 2026 at 4:01pm

Junichi Wada directs the coming-of-age anime feature adaptation of Akiko Abe’s Honya Taisho Award-winning novel about complex emotions and hidden secrets of boys and girls on Tokishima Island, hitting Japanese theaters on October 9.

Doh! ANIMATIONWorld

Showrunner Matt Selman Talks ‘The Simpsons’ Milestone 800th Episode

By Dan Sarto | Friday, February 13, 2026 at 2:09pm

The executive producer explains his constant feelings of imposter syndrome and drive to ‘not blow it’ as he leads the iconic show, fresh off a 4-season renewal and announced 2027 feature film, towards new creative spaces even after almost 4 decades on the air.

More in Store for Yorubaland ANIMATIONWorld

‘Iyanu’: A ‘Pipe Dream’ Becomes Reality

Nigerian filmmaker Roye Okupe’s series, nominated for multiple NAACP Image Awards, draws on African mythology, family influence, and years of independent world-building as it follows a brave young orphan living in the magical kingdom of Yorubaland; produced by Lion Forge Entertainment, the HBO Max and Cartoon Network show has been renewed for a second season, alongside a second feature, both set to arrive later this year.

Awards Headline News

‘The Simpsons,’ ‘Frankenstein,’ and ‘Andor’ Lead 2026 WGA Awards Nominations

By Dan Sarto | Tuesday, January 27, 2026 at 2:45pm

3 FOX series and shows from Hulu and Netflix nab animation noms, while films/TV shows from Apple TV, Lucasfilm, Netflix and Warner Bros. among non-animated works also getting the nod; ceremony set for March 8.

You Had Me at Skeletor Headline News

Trailer Drops for Travis Knight’s ‘Masters of the Universe’

By Dan Sarto | Friday, January 23, 2026 at 9:43am

By the Power of Grayskull, there’s a new He-Man on the horizon in the live-action fantasy adventure about 10-year-old Prince Adam re-uniting with his magical Sword of Power, then heading home to save Eternia; from Mattel Films and Amazon MGM Studios, in theaters June 5.

The Hedgehog is a God ANIMATIONWorld

‘Fureru’ and the Anime Works of Mari Okada

Columnist Andrew Osmond assesses the new film, now streaming on Crunchyroll, and backlist by one of anime’s most prolific writers.

On the Road to the Oscars Headline News

Nominations Announced for the 98th Academy Awards

By Dan Sarto | Thursday, January 22, 2026 at 7:36am

‘Arco,’ ‘Elio,’ ‘KPop Demon Hunters,’ ‘Little Amélie or the Character of Rain,’ and ‘Zootopia 2’ nab noms for Best Animated Feature, while ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash,’ ‘F1,’ Jurassic World: Rebirth,’ ‘The Lost Bus,’ and ‘Sinners’ get the nod for Best Visual Effects.  

obituaries Headline News

‘The Lion King’ Co-Director Roger Allers Passes at 76

The longtime Disney writer and director, nominated for an Oscar for his 2006 animated short, ‘The Little Matchgirl,’ passed away at his home in Santa Monica following a short illness.

I Gig You Not Headline News

Prime Video Orders ‘Odd Jobs’ Animated Comedy

From the minds of ‘Solar Opposites’ EP duo Mike McMahan and Dominic Dierkes, the series, set in an extreme late-stage capitalist hellscape, follows a reluctant team of gig-workers.

Beary Funny Headline News

Peacock Drops ‘Ted’ Season 2 Trailer

By Dan Sarto | Thursday, January 15, 2026 at 9:25am

New 8-episode season, set in 1994, sees Ted and his best friend John as seniors in high school; the hybrid live-action / CG series from Seth MacFarlane streams March 5.

Re-Experience the Crazy Adventure ANIMATIONWorld

‘Madagascar’ at 20: A Q&A with Tom McGrath and Eric Darnell

By Dan Sarto | Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at 6:00am

To mark the 20th anniversary of the first film in DreamWorks Animation’s storied franchise, the writers / directors revisit the film’s long development journey, discussing its core comedic premise, evolving themes, improvisational performances, and collaborative storytelling that turned a fish-out-of-water comedy into something truly memorable.

Hell Hath No Fury… Headline News

Warner Bros. Taps ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Writers for ‘Attack of the Fifty Foot Woman’

Danya Jimenez and Hannah McMechan will pen the Tim Burton-helmed remake of the 1958 B-movie, which follows an heiress who grows enormous following radiation exposure and exacts revenge on her cheating husband.

Finding the Next Great Filmmakers Headline News

Sony Future Filmmaker Awards Sets 2026 Jury

The jury includes director and producer Will Gluck; Rachel O’Connor, producer and President of Film and Television at Pascal Pictures; animation co-director Adam Rosette; and director Justin Chadwick, who returns for the fourth consecutive year.

Who Doesn’t Love a Goat Named Arthur? ANIMATIONWorld

Arturo Hernandez and Andrew Gordon Talk ‘Out of the Nest’

The director and co-director of the Thai-Chinese 3DCG adventure discuss the challenges – and subsequent fun - of jumping onto a project with much of the animation completed but a story, and production pipeline, which needed significant reworking.

Each Gesture Touched by Human Hand ANIMATIONWorld

‘anyone lived in a pretty how town’: How One Son’s Project Honors 3 Legacies

Daniel Kreizberg’s 2D short, a blend of modernist poetry and impressionistic illustrations, is inspired by E.E. Cummings’ poetry and paintings, narrated by Jane Goodall, and features a soundtrack by the filmmaker’s father, maestro Yakov Kreizberg.

Who Doesn’t Love a Goat Named Arthur? Headline News

Join Filmmakers at ‘Out of the Nest’ January 9 Screening and Pre-Reception

By Dan Sarto | Thursday, January 8, 2026 at 10:48am

Oscar winner and film EP Brandon Oldenburg to moderate Q&A at the AMC 16 in Burbank; Arturo Hernandez directs, and Andrew Gordon co-directs the 3DCG adventure from T&B Media Global, CCTV Animation, and Base FX.

The Annies are Coming! Headline News

53rd Annual Annie Awards Nominations Announced

By Dan Sarto | Monday, January 5, 2026 at 10:55am

Best Animated Feature nominees ‘Elio,’ ‘Little Amélie or the Character of Rain,’ ‘KPop Demon Hunters,’ ‘The Bad Guys 2,’ and ‘Zootopia 2’ top the expansive list of category nominations; animation’s biggest awards ceremony is scheduled to return live on Saturday, February 21 at UCLA’s Royce Hall

Time to Man Up! ANIMATIONWorld

Jeff Kinney Talks Parenting and ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw’

The hugely successful author and screenwriter brings his and his team’s personal experience – and plenty of real stories – to the new 3DCG film about Greg Heffley dealing with his father Frank’s outsized expectations; based on his novels that follow a disaster-prone middle school student, it’s now streaming on Disney+.

More Opportunities to Get Vertical Headline News

WEBTOON Announces 2026 Creator Program Expansion

A new suite of programs will empower more Creators with expanded monetization opportunities and international creator engagement; Creator Residency will roll out in 2026.

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