Along withFrancisco Gonzalez’sexcellent weekly news recaps–This Week in Superhero NewsandThis Week in Movie Trailers–we’re happy to provide you withThis Week in Animation Newsto get you caught up on all things animated you might have missed over the past seven days. We’re talking movies, TV shows, digital shorts, and everything in between.
First up is this excellent fan-made trailer forRupert Sanders' upcoming adaptation ofGhost in the Shell. The Paramount Pictures film starsScarlett Johanssonin the lead role of The Major, a cybernetically enhanced crime fighter tasked with taking down bad guys in a far-flung future. While Sanders and Johansson look up to the task of tackling this fan-favorite anime, a recent comparison trailer that matches live-action sequences with the same scenes from the animated franchise makes me even more excited for the film. The creative team behind the adaptation have clearly been paying attention.
Also starringPilou Asbækas Batou, withBeat Takeshi(a.k.a.Takeshi Kitano) as Public Security Section 9 founder and chief Daisuke Aramaki, plusJuliette Binoche,Kaori Momoi, andRila Fukushima, and other Section 9 task force members played byChin Han,Danusia Samal,Lasarus Ratuere,Yutaka Izumihara, andTuwanda Manyimo,Ghost in the Shellarrives in theaters on July 20, 2025.
You can check out thecomparison trailerbelow followed by more animation news you might have missed this past week:
For more of our coverage onGhost in the Shell, be sure to take a look at some of our recent write-ups below:
Interview with the Late Leonard Cohen Gets the Animated Treatment
After the sad news that legendary singer/songwriterLeonard Cohenhad passed away,EWhappened upon this animated treatment of one of his interviews, courtesy ofPBS Digital Studios' “Blank on Blank.“Titled “Leonard Cohen on Moonlight,” this rare conversation with the “Hallelujah” singer hails from Aug 26, 2025 on WBAI FM. He read his poem “Two Slept Together” at the interviewer’s request and told the story of how he wrote the song “Sisters of Mercy.” You can also hear Cohen read an excerpt from an unpublished novel he was working on. The full transcript of the piece can be foundhere.
‘Happy Wheels’ Videogame Gets a Web Series
The super popular online video gameHappy Wheelslaunched its web series earlier this week.Jim Bonacci‘s creation is now a Machinima series that features the game’s iconic dark humor, blood and gore. Fan-favorite characters such as Wheelchair Guy, Irresponsible Dad and Lawnmower Man are featured in the title town dubbed as “the most dangerous community on Earth” where “people are mangled everyday by traps, spikes, mines, cars, unsafe roads and hazards. But no one seems to notice. To reduce some of the carnage in town, five concerned citizens form a safety awareness committee but often fail with hilarious results.”
Happy Wheelsfeatures the voice work ofJordan Maron (CaptainSparklez),Lance Stewart (Lance210),Anna Brisbin (Brizzy Voices),Ryan McNulty (xRPMx13),Shanna Malcolm (HeyYoShanna),Tyler Pappas (LogDotZip),Jerome Aceti (JeromeASF),Ricky Hayberg (RickyFTW),Eliot Dewberry,andTay Zonday.
Check out the launch trailer here.Happy Wheelsis also available onSkyQ(U.K.),AMC Iberia(Spain and Portugal) andSohu(China).
Hayao Miyazaki’s Return
Earlier this week, it was reported thatMiyazaki would not only be coming out of his retirement to direct a new film, but it would be his first (and likely last) computer generated-animation effort. The legendary Oscar-winning director was busy working on a computer-generated animated short film namedBoro the Caterpillar, but decided that the idea needed a feature-length treatment. This could very well be the longtime animation director’s final film, unless he finds the medium to his liking and comes back for another go-round.
In the meantime, another of Miyazaki’s masterpieces will be returning to the big screen.Spirited Awayis getting a theatrical re-release for two days only. The film’s 15th anniversary will also be celebrated with an exclusive Ghibli short film. The U.S. theatrical release will be on Sunday, December 4th at 12:00p.m. (dubbed in English) and Monday, December 5th at 7:00p.m. (English language subtitles) local time both dates. Click the link above for more details.
DreamWorks Animation Cancels ‘The Croods’ Sequel
Fans of DreamWorks Animation’sThe Croodswere disappointed recently when the studio announced they hadcanceled plans to go ahead with a sequel. Despite bringing brothersKevinandDan Hagemanonboard as screenwriters this past August and having a previously scheduled July 20, 2025 release date, the move from 20th Century Fox to Universal Pictures may have sealed the sequel’s fate. However, reports also cited thatThe Croods 2was a troubled project that had been having difficulty finding the right story in spite of the fact that it had been seen as a lucrative franchise like the studio’sKung Fu PandaandHow to Train Your Dragonseries
DreamWorks Animation’s acquisition by NBCUniversal in April of this year has raised questions as to howJeffrey Katzenberg’s animation studio would fare given that the Universal-owned Illumination Entertainment is proving itself on equal footing with its output.The Croods 2is the first casualty of the acquisition but it might not be the last as the focus shifts to a “quality over quantity” approach. Sorry,The Croodsfans!
SNL Trio to Lend Their Voices to Nickelodeon’s Holiday TV Movie ‘Albert’
Nickelodeon is in the holiday spirit!Albert, an original animated TV movie about a tiny Douglas fir tree who goes on a journey to become the city’s most famous Christmas tree ever, will premiereFriday, Dec. 9, at 7:00 p.m. (ET/PT). The one-hour, CG-animated holiday tale stars the comedic voice talent ofBobby Moynihan(Saturday Night Live) in the title role alongsideSasheer Zamata(Saturday Night Live),Judah Friedlander(30 Rock) andRob Riggle(21 Jump Street).
Albertis the story of a tiny Douglas fir tree who has big dreams of becoming Empire City’s most famous Christmas tree. When the search for this year’s tree is announced, Albert believes he has found his calling and hits the road with his two best friends, Maisie (Zamata), the persistently positive palm tree, and Gene (Friedlander) the abrasive and blisteringly honest weed, to fulfill his destiny. With a few prickly situations along the way, and Cactus Pete (Riggle) out to stop him, Albert learns the true meaning of Christmas. The hour-long TV movie will also feature two original songs, “The Best Thing That Can Happen to Christmas” and “Christmasiest Christmas,” performed by the voice cast.”
Additional cast members include the voices of:Cheri Oteri(Saturday Night Live) as a TV news correspondent;Brenna Yde(School of Rock) as Molly, Earth Mama’s granddaughter;John DiMaggio(Adventure Time) as Donny, Molly’s father; andMary Pat Gleason(Mom) as Earth Mama, the owner and caretaker of the nursery.Albertis directed by Oscar®-nominatedMax Lang(The Gruffalo), executive produced byWill McRobbandChris Viscardi(The Adventures of Pete & Pete), and written byWill and Aaron Eisenberg(The Massively Mixed-Up Middle School Mystery) andJoe Stillman(Shrek). The Eisenbergs are also co-executive producers, and Viscardi serves as Nickelodeon’s SVP, Content Development, Nickelodeon Franchise Properties.
Watch the first trailer forAlbertbelow:
New ‘Smurfs: The Lost Village’ Trailer Coming Next Week
Directed byKelly Asbury(Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron,Shrek 2,Gnomeo and Juliet), the newestSmurfsmovieSmurfs: The Lost Villagewill be the first time the title characters appear in an all-computer-generated world without human co-stars. As you can see in the teaser below, next week will bring a closer look at the film.
StarringDemi Lovatoas Smurfette.Mandy Patinkinas Papa Smurf,Rainn Wilsonas Gargamel,Joe Manganielloas Hefty,Danny Pudias Brainy Smurf andJack McBrayeras Clumsy Smurf,Smurfs: The Lost Villageopens in theaters July 05, 2025.
‘Moana’ Review:
Our ownPerri Nemiroffhad a chance to check out Disney’sMoanaduring AFI Fest 2016 and shared her thoughts on the film in herreview. In short, she saidMoanais “yet another magical, exciting and moving adventure packed with catchy songs, lovable characters and truly touching moments.” Be sure to check out her full review at the link above to find out why “Moanais the celebration of uniqueness, culture, family and pure joy that we need right now,” and see what Perri scored it.
‘Justice League Dark’ Gets an R Rating
It was a big week for DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation’s upcoming featureJustice League Dark. Not only did we get anew trailerfor the highly anticipated animated feature, we also learned that it would follow in the footsteps ofBatman: The Killing Jokein that it would feature an R rating. Then, we goteven more detailsfor the Warner Bros. Home Entertainment release.
Justice League Darkwill be released first as a digital download on August 05, 2025 (for $19.99 in HD and $14.99 in SD) before dropping on Blu-ray ($24.98) and DVD ($19.98). There will also be a Blu-ray Deluxe Giftset edition available for $39.99 that features a Constantine figurine. The Blu-ray features will include sneak peeks atTeen Titans: The Judas Contract,Justice League: Gods and Monsters, andJustice League: Doom; featurettes on Swamp Thing, the New York Comic-Con panel, Constantine and Deadman; and two episodes from the DC Vault, “Dawn of the Dead Man!” and “Trials of the Demon!” fromBatman: The Brave and the Bold.
Here’s the synopsis forJustice League Dark:
When innocent civilians begin committing unthinkable crimes across Metropolis, Gotham City and beyond, Batman must call upon mystical counterparts to eradicate this demonic threat to the planet. Enter Justice League Dark, reluctantly led by the Hellblazer himself, John Constantine. Like Batman, Constantine is a cunning, often cynical loner who is the best at his chosen profession – but quickly realizes the sinister forces plaguing the planet will require help from other supernatural alliances. Forming a new “league” with sorceress Zatanna, otherworldly Deadman, and Jason Blood and his powerful alter ego Etrigan the Demon, this team of Dark Arts specialists must unravel the mystery of Earth’s supernatural plague and contend with the rising, powerful villainous forces behind the siege – before it’s too late for all of mankind.
Netflix Original Animated Series ‘Pacific Heat’ Debuts in First Trailer
We were happy to bring you theexclusive launch trailerfor the new Netflix Original Animated Series,Pacific Heat. If you’ve been waiting for an animated comedy about Australian cops taking on crooks on the Gold Coast, then this show is most definitely for you. The first trailer looked promising and it’ll only be a couple short weeks until the action/comedy series debuts on Netflix.
Here’s the series' official synopsis:
Pacific Heat is an animated comedy series, based on the exploits of a dynamic unit of undercover police investigators working on the glitzy “Gold Coast” of Australia. This glamorous, sophisticated, and sun-drenched paradise masks a hot-bed of crime; everyone from drug smugglers and biker gangs to eco-terrorists and the person who invented frozen yogurt. to tackle this seedy underbelly police authorities established “Pacific Heat.” This covert squad of highly trained operatives technically does not exist (although they do have their own Facebook page), but when criminals strike, “Pacific Heat” will be there; unconventional, uncompromising and unafraid to operate outside the law – provided at least one of them is wearing a fluorescent safety vest. Pacific Heat was created by the award-winning Working Dog team of Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner and Rob Sitch.
Keep an eye out forPacific Heaton Netflix in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. / Ireland starting December 2nd!
‘The Dam Keeper’ Short to Get Feature Film Treatment at Fox
Varietyreports thatThe Dam Keeper, the 2014 animated short film sans dialogue that earned an Oscar nomination for “Best Short Film, Animated”, will be getting the computer-generated feature film treatment at 20th Century Fox Animation. The studio will team up with Tonko House, which produced the short film written and directed by co-foundersRobert KondoandDaisuke ‘Dice’ Tsutsumi, to tell the story of an anthropomorphic pig tasked with keeping a windmill spinning in order to prevent poisonous gas from descending upon a town. ScreenwriterJohn Henry Hinkelis also onboard the project; this versionwillhave dialogue, which should pose a different sort of challenge than the original short. There’s also a 10-episode animated series in the works, one bound for Hulu in Japan, as reported byCartoon Brew.
