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New ‘Star Wars’ Cartoon Shorts Debut Online, Bringing Female Heroes in Full Force

Today marks the debut of Star Wars Forces of Destiny, a series of original animated shorts set in that galaxy far, far away and focusing on the franchise’s roster of female heroes. The first installment, titled “Sands of Jakku,” covers a moment not seen in The Force Awakens: Rey (voiced by Daisy Ridley) and BB-8 must escape a ravenous, metal-craving Nightwatcher worm (which keen-eyed film viewers briefly spotted early on in the film) on their way to Niima Outpost — the place where they eventually meet Finn.

Full Story:  New ‘Star Wars’ Cartoon Shorts Debut Online, Bringing Female Heroes in Full Force

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Comcast’s NBCUniversal Looks to Storm Disney’s Animation Castle

Until last year, Illumination was Universal’s only animation studio — but that all changed when NBCUniversal, which declined to comment for this story, announced in April 2016 it was acquiring DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. for $3.8 billion. It was a hefty fee for the Steven Spielberg-founded animation studio, especially considering its hit-and-miss record over the past five years. Nonetheless, the deal was approved by board members and closed in August.

Read full story at:  Comcast’s NBCUniversal Looks to Storm Disney’s Animation Castle – TheStreet

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Every DC Universe animated movie is being collected into one huge anniversary boxset

I can pretty well bet this is something I will want but can’t afford.  *sigh*  🙂

Ten years later, DC Comics and Warner Bros. Animation are celebrating this milestone by collecting every film into one massive boxset. That’s 30 animated movies, as well as the five DC Showcase short films that make the most of their brief running time: The Spectre, Green Arrow, Jonah Hex, Catwoman and Superman/Shazam: The Return of Black Adam.

Read & see the list at:  Every DC Universe animated movie is being collected into one huge anniversary boxset

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MAPS – Asia’s first animation theme park opens in Malaysia | blooloop

This would be so cool to visit!

The RM520 million ($120m/€105m) project from Sanderson-backed Animation Theme Park Sdn Bhd is billed as the first animation-centred theme park in Asia. Spread across a 21 hectare site in Bandar Meru Raya (Ipoh, Perak), it features more than 40 attractions in six themed zones. From BoboiBoy to The Smurfs, the park features both local and internationally-known characters.

Source: MAPS – Asia’s first animation theme park opens in Malaysia | blooloop

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4 ways comic books shaped Elon Musk’s bold vision of the future

When he wasn’t reading a slew of science fiction books, classics like “Lord of the Flies” or the encyclopedia, Musk says his favorites were Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, Doctor Strange and Iron Man. His love for comics came full circle when Musk was tapped for a cameo in “Iron Man 2.” He was so excited about the opportunity he let Marvel Studios film scenes for the movie at SpaceX’s headquarters for free.

Hey Parents, you might want to think twice about discouraging your kids from reading comics all the time 🙂

Source: 4 ways comic books shaped Elon Musk’s bold vision of the future

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New Animation Film Festival Will Change America’s Concept of Medium 

Producer and distributor GKIDS has a big idea for the animated world, best expressed in three little words: ANIMATION IS FILM. It’s both a philosophy and the name of a newly announced festival cooked by the company best known for bringing animated offerings from Studio Ghibli and other rising stars (think “My Life as a Zucchini” and “My Entire High School Sinking Into the Sea”) to domestic screens. GKIDS will launch the festival this October in partnership with both France’s own Annecy International Animation Film Festival and IndieWire’s sister publication, Variety.

Read at IndiWire: New Animation Film Festival Will Change America’s Concept of Medium | IndieWire