Tag: Animation

Star Wars Celebration Newsletter Confirms ‘Tales of the Jedi’ Animated Anthology Series

It looks like the Star Wars celebration newsletter may have accidentally leaked the long-rumored Tales of the Jedi series. It’s been long rumored that they were working on an animated project, especially as the animation studio behind Monsters at Work hinted at a collaboration with Lucasfilm. Then there was a gift to Lucasfilm employees which included the logo for Tales of the Jedi. It was rumored we might get a confirmation at this year’s Star Wars Celebration event, but it seems their newsletter accidentally confirmed it, as shared by @SteeleWars on Twitter.

When you love secrets but don’t know how to keep them… pic.twitter.com/vHwmybUwZW
— Steele Wars Podcast (@SteeleWars) April 27, 2022

There has been quite the hunt on what exactly this series is going to end up being, as there’s also one that takes place during the High Republic that’s been strongly rumored and may even start production soon. Still, it seems that we might have a lot more heading our way during the upcoming Star Wars Celebration, as it might offer a few more teases of what the future has in store.

There was a noticeable absence of coverage for the franchise, as while Marvel Studios is promoting two Disney+ series and two films at the same tie, we are barely trying to keep up with Obi-Wan Kenobi and have no idea when we can expect something on Andor or any other project from the franchise. Here’s hopping that may change soon with the event by the end of May.

Source: Twitter

April 27, 2022
‘X-Men ’97’ Head Writer On Keeping the Spirit of the Original Series Alive

While most of our focus remains on the many live-action projects from Marvel Studios, we also have some exciting animated offerings on the horizon. While we know very little about the Marvel Zombies adaptation, the X-Men ’97 adaptation is quite exciting for those that grew up with the original animated series from the 90s. Adapting such a cult classic, head writer Beau DeMayo and his team have quite the challenge ahead of them.

In an interview with The Direct’s Russ Milheim, the series head writer talked about their approach to bringing the original to life while also talking about what elements they want to carry over from the original. The core of the potential lies in “honoring that earnestness” and keeping the emotional core of that original story.

And so I think the challenge to me was honoring that earnestness, that emotional sincerity in the show where it wasn’t just about the big bad of the day. That was almost, in some cases, an afterthought. It was really about the relationship of this found family, and how they cared about each other and had disagreements. And I always just come back whenever we’re talking in the writer’s room, or we’re talking to the directors, it’s just like, we have to have earnest emotion in every scene. Cause I really do think that was the secret sauce to the original series.
Beau DeMayo

He goes on to highlight that they aren’t approaching the project to “improve” upon the original. Rather, they have a simple message that truly reflects what the X-Men have always stood for in the comics.

And so, it is more a question of, what does that show look like knowing what we know now? And how it looks like, in today’s world, with everything that has changed, and everything that hasn’t changed, sadly—in our world.
Beau DeMayo

It certainly sounds like the team is definitely sticking to what made the original so iconic. So, we’ll get more than just the iconic opening but the same heart that made the original so memorable. With most of the cast also returning, it does add that special feeling once we get our first look at what this animated continuation has to offer.

Source: The Direct

April 26, 2022
A24’s ‘Hazbin Hotel’ Shares Updated Look at Alastor, The Radio Demon

Not too long ago, we got our first look at the upcoming A24 series adapting Hazbin Hotel as a series. We got a new look at Charlie Morningstar’s new redesign as she got a few nice updates for the upcoming production. That wasn’t all, as we now also got a first look at the updated design for Alastor, The Radio Demon. The character that talks as if he’s speaking through a 1930s radio became quite the fan-favorite from the initial pilot episode pitch.

He looks mostly untouched with just some added flourishes to his suit, such as the white accents. Creator Vivienne Medrano has jokingly also pointed out that he got to keep his “dumb haircut.” It was a standout character in the pilot and had a great design from the get-go, so it’s good they didn’t change much. We still haven’t seen any footage and hopefully, he also got to keep his iconic voice, but with Medrano’s involvement, they’ll surely keep elements such as that.

https://twitter.com/VivziePop/status/1504891931548999682

Overall, a great design and hopefully we’ll slowly get a look at the rest of the cast before they finally drop a trailer. For now, there’s still Helluva Boss to check out on YouTube as we wait for an official release of any update for the series. It’ll offer a different take on hell and promises a cast of colorful characters that all are trying to get rehabilitated. At least that’s what Charlie wants, Alastor might have some other plans.

Source: Twitter

March 18, 2022
Staff Uproar Has Led to the Restoration of a Same-Sex Kiss in Pixar’s ‘Lightyear’

There has been quite a bit of controversy surrounding Disney, most notably CEO Bob Chapek. His handling of the “Don’t Say Gay” bill has had some important consequences, as LGBTQ employees and allies of Pixar sent statements that “overtly gay affection” was being cut out of films by the studio. According to Variety, the same almost happened with the upcoming Pixar film Lightyear, which features the character of Hawthorne (Uzo Aduba) who was going to kiss another woman in the film. The recent uproar has led to the scene being added in once again. For many, this is a hopeful turn for the company and its handling of LGBTQ representation.

Pixar has long fought the battle to include LGBTQ representation in their projects but was consistently hitting a wall when working on their projects. The recently released Luca was also going to include a scene with the character Giulia. While it was claimed that the issue came from uncertainty with adding a girlfriend character to highlight the character’s sexuality, it seems that the Disney corporate review process has been their main issue. The statement included the following statement:

Nearly every moment of overtly gay affection is cut at Disney’s behest, regardless of when there is a protest from both the creative teams and executive leadership at Pixar. Even if creating LGBTQIA+ content was the answer to fixing the discriminatory legislation in the world, we are being barred from creating it

Sadly, this is quite an international issue with films like Onward featuring a lesbian cop getting banned in Kuwait, Oman, Quatar, and Saudi Arabia. Marvel Studios has shared a clear statement on their official account and has ensured that their recent release of Eternals wouldn’t get censored in any way. The fact that the scene was added back in for Lightyear is hopefully a big showcase for a more welcoming future, especially for the employees that have been fighting for it.

Source: Variety

March 18, 2022
REVIEW: ‘Centaurworld’ Season 2 Ends on a Strong Note

Centaurworld is a weird series to talk about. Megan Nicole Dong’s very different take on an animated musical series explores the story of a warhorse named, appropriately, Horse, as she ends up lost in an unlikely world filled with mystical, singing centaurs of different species. We move from a rather dark story as she believes her rider has fallen to her death, as she struggles with this very bizarre take on a fantasy world. The second season has arrived and picks up where the previous one ended. Does it continue the wackiness of the first, or take a different direction?

The biggest change in this storyline is that we spend quite a bit more time in the “regular” world with Jessie Mueller‘s Rider. While teased as a darker side of the storyline, it does take some wackier directions. It mainly serves to give us a look at the struggle on their side to introduce a new horse going by the name Becky Apples to add some drama for Horse getting jealous and Brian D’Arcy James‘ General.

There are some great moments, especially during her infiltration of a castle with Becky Apples, but it seems just as wacky rather than playing a stark contrast to the wackier Centaurworld. It’s a bit of a shame, as one of the selling points for my viewing in the first season was that stark contrast Horse highlights while trying to make sense of her new surroundings. As we have now gotten beyond the “fish out of water” storyline, they tried to find a balance to still keep a certain level of comedy going.

Speaking of, it feels surprisingly reserved this time around which works to its favor. There are still some wacky moments, mostly continued with Glendale and Durpleton, but there are fewer of those “what just happened” moments throughout. Early on it felt like a stark contrast, but it seemed deliberate as this time around we take a closer look at our characters. Durpleton has a cute story arc where he sees a dying Lizardman as his son, and it even builds into a newly discovered backstory of the character.

Horse was teased quite a bit to be a magical being and she has seemingly adjusted to her new body. So, her new ability to jump into people’s flashbacks is quite convenient but does offer an excuse for the team to offer some insight into our cast and especially for the strongest moments of the season later on. It also is built upon from the previous season which was a clever way to confirm it as foreshadowing.

The wacky characters of Centaurworld are the highlight for most of the season. We get introduced to the wacky Aristocrat centaurs, who are seemingly the most random element in the season, especially with their design. Though I could’ve done without the birdtaur influencers, who had one or two jokes that dragged out. Still, some of the returning casts are still as hilarious as they were last time. You can never go wrong with more Comfortable Doug, voiced perfectly by Flula Borg once again. Also, I’m embarrassed it took me until this season to realize the Tree Shamans were First Aid Kit.

Where the show shines once again is in the music, voice acting, and animation. There’s a lot of attention to detail to make sure these two worlds feel distinctive. Each centaur’s design seemingly gets crazier and crazier the more characters we meet. While I do feel like some of the songs dragged out, especially the final one, they were also great to listen to with some great stand-outs, such as the “Last Lullaby” from the finale.

The show’s greatest strengths lie in the exploration of its main antagonist, the Nowhere King. Brian Stokes Mitchell is a standout in the season, whose voice just adds a lot to the powerful design bringing this unholy being to life. Getting to figure out why he is the way he is and building upon the hints from the first season worked incredibly well. The show’s antagonist is so good that it’s a shame we don’t spend enough time with him throughout the season, or even get a lot of hints at the revelation.

While more subdued than the previous season, the final season of the series ends on a strong note. It does fall into old habits early on, but once we build-up to the final confrontation with the Nowhere King it certainly finds its groove. Plus, we get more insight into our usually wacky sidekicks that feel more centered with their own little plot points. There are some great laughs to have, and some mesmerizing music to surely make you want to stay a bit longer in the insanity that is Centaurworld.

December 21, 2021
Upcoming Marvel Studios Animation Projects to Explore 2D Art Styles

Ever since we’ve heard that Marvel Studios might expand its animation department, it opened up the floodgates of how they might tackle future projects. What If…? was our gateway into that very mission with its 3D style that brought iconic actors from previous projects to life. Of course, as they expand it opened up the question of how Marvel Studios may approach future animation projects. Would they stick to the one established in the Disney+ series, or might they take a unique take with each project? Well, a new job listing might give us a better hint at an upcoming project.

Disney and Marvel Studios are actively seeking a 2D/3D FX Designer. What makes this listing interesting is that there’s a strong emphasis on 2D FX work throughout, such as asking to showcase hand-drawn 2D FX abilities, general design work, and general familiarity with 2D animation principles as well as high-end anime 2DFX style. It’s great to see that Marvel Studios isn’t being restrictive to a specific type of animation. It’s one of the advantages of this new venture, as every artist can add their own distinctive style. So far, the only other animation style we heard of was for the upcoming I Am Groot Disney+ series, which supposedly is going for a photo-real 3D style.

Of course, the implication of familiarity with anime animation is noteworthy but doesn’t mean we’ll get a One Piece or Naruto-styled series. Series like the Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles utilized specific animation queues popularized in Japan to bring its action to life. It’s also generally become a trend to make use of its stylized approach to animation in the West. Some classic examples would be Teen Titans, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Samurai Jack, and even Marvel’s own Ultimate Spider-Man. So, it’s not uncommon for the popular genre to be part of 2D artists portfolio in the West nowadays.

This isn’t comparable to Star Wars: Visions, which included actual Japanese anime studios to develop its episodes. Yet, there’s always a chance that kind of cooperation is in the cards eventually for other Disney projects. They most likely simply are trying to find talented artists in the industry that have intimate knowledge of the different genres of 2D animation that are currently popular.

Source: Disney Careers

October 23, 2021
We Got an Early Look at Disney’s ‘ENCANTO’

Walt Disney Animation Studio may be on its 97th year and 60th film but there seem to be no signs of it slowing down. Its 60th outing, Encanto, comes out later this year and we at Murphy’s Multiverse got to see 30-minutes of footage from the film. What we saw wasn’t long but was enough to convince us that this movie is worth anticipating.

As the setup for the movie goes, The Madrigals are a family that’s been blessed by an Encanto, bestowing their line with powers unique to each family member. The family lives in a fantastical home and uses their abilities to keep their town prosperous. However, a mysterious dark force seems to be after the Madrigals, putting their house and powers in jeopardy. It all falls on Mirabel, the one family member without powers, to solve this sinister mystery haunting her family.

In the press junket for Encanto, co-director Charise Castro Smith talked about how each power a Madrigal family member has corresponded to family dynamics we’re all familiar with.

It’s special in a way that is a nod to family dynamics that we can all relate to. So there’s a strong, dependable child who’s the rock of the family. There’s the perfect golden child whose happiness blossoms. There’s a quiet kid who’s not so comfortable talking to people, so he talks to animals. And there’s the worrywart who can see the future, but only sees the bad things. So as we thought about that, we had a big breakthrough, because we realized that the family’s house didn’t have to be just a house, because in an Encanto the house itself could have powers too.

On the foreground of Encanto is a very Nancy Drew-esque tone that draws you in. The beats of Mirabel trying to piece together information about the family’s past and her investigations within the fantastical realms in their house evoke that of a young adult detective story, with the film’s fantastical titular subject matter serving as the background. The curious nature of Mirabel, on top of her status as the normie in the family, already makes her the quintessential underdog detective. Director Jared Bush had this to say about her:

Mirabel really carries this story. It is about her,and she goes on this journey. She’s funny and human and empathetic, deeply emotional and quirky, and I think literally unlike anything we’ve ever put on screen before. And Stephanie [Beatriz] not only nailed all of that, she brought her own personality to the character, ad libbed a ton of lines, and really elevated both this character and our movie considerably.

The Madrigal family home is a character in and of itself, in many ways serving as the crux of the family’s identity. Director Byron Howard spoke about the importance of the family’s mystical place of refuge not only as a storytelling device but also as a thematic anchor.

So we played with the idea of the physical as a literal representation of the family and their emotional connections. If the family’s happy, the house is healthy. If the family’s being playful, the house may be playful. But if the family is going through struggles, the house cracks Byron Howard

To respectfully remain true and genuine towards the cultural material they’re adapting, the Columbian Cultural Trust was formed. Composed of experts in Columbian music, anthropology, culture, architecture, and botany, this group was crucial in the development of Encanto. According to Jared Bush:

They’ve been part of the film, literally since the beginning, probably even before the beginning, reviewing early scripts, participating in every screening, and meeting with us weekly. That’s a lot of meetings to help ensure that the creation design look and feel of our world is on point. We are enormously indebted to them and all of the experts who formed our Columbian Cultural Trust.

Walt Disney Animation president Clark Spencer praised the work of directors Jared Bush and Byron Howard, who helmed the hit Zootopia a few years back, and their newfound collaborative partner Charise Castro Smith during the junket, saying:

One of the things I love so much, Byron and Jared, and then when Charise joined, was this creative world that the audience is going to fall in love with. And we had so many of those components. During my nearly 20 years of producing, I never had the chance to produce a Disney musical. So when the opportunity presented itself to work with Byron Howard, Jared Bush, and Lin-Manuel Miranda on Encanto, I jumped at the chance. And while it might seem crazy to run a studio and to continue to produce a film at the same time, I just couldn’t step away from a project I loved so deeply.

September 29, 2021
‘THE CROODS: FAMILY TREE’ Series Heading to Hulu and Peacock

DreamWorks isn’t done with the Croods family quite yet, as they just announced a brand new animated series based on the popular film franchise titled The Croods: Family Tree. It’s heading to Hulu and peacock and will start streaming as of September 23rd. Mark Banker and Todd Grimes are serving as executive producers on the series. We also got a brand new poster for the new series:

The story will continue where A New Age left off, as the Croods and the Bettermans learn to live together in an ideal prehistoric farm. You can expect a lot of misadventures as the two families try to overcome their differences as they adjust to living together in a tree house. Kelly Marie Tran once again voices Dawn with Amy Landecker joining as Ugga.

The franchise started back in 2013 which explored the prehistoric family. Initially, the cast consisted of Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, Catherine Keener, Cloris Leachman, and Clark Duke. They returned for the sequel film but will be voiced by other actors in the series. The film was one of the few that managed to release during last year’s pandemic and tested the waters on how the Box Office may perform. You can check out the first trailer here:

August 31, 2021
‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’s Batu Sener to Score Disney+’s ‘Ice Age’ Spin-Off

It looks like Disney+’s revival of the Ice Age franchise has found its composer, as Film Music reporter has revealed that Batu Sener will score Ice Age: Adventures of Buck Wild. The series will explore the character introduced in Dawn of the Dinosaurs, who is voiced by Simon Pegg. It’ll follow the story of the titular character in the Dinosaur World, alongside his sidekicks Crash and Eddie.

Sener has worked on various projects, such as How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, and Solo: A Star Wars Story. He worked on the projects that were led by composer John Powell, who also worked on a few of the Ice Age films. He took over from David Newman, who led the original 2002 film. The final film in the series was composed by John Debney.

The series was first announced during Disney’s Investors Day back in December. Since, we’ve heard very little about the series. It’ll be animated by 20th Century Studios. The focus on Buck Wild makes sense, as the character was one of the more popular additions to the franchise. He became a mainstay returning in the sequels Continental Drift and Collision Course.

As the story explores their time in the Dinosaur World, it will act as a prequel before they meet the main gang in the original franchise. So, we’ll follow their everyday taking on the larger-than-life reptiles. It’s uncertain if this might revive the franchise, and we’ll see other spin-offs in the franchise. The entry is currently eyeing a 2022 release.

Source: Film Music Reporter, Batu Sener, Twitter

August 3, 2021
‘What If’: Pandemic Pushed an Episode Into Season 2

It looks like we might’ve finally gotten the confirmation on how many episodes we can expect in Marvel Studios’ first foray into animation. What If executive producer Brad Winderbaum confirmed that they originally planned ten episodes in the first season before pushing one into the second due to the ongoing pandemic. It also seems to imply that we might get the second entry sooner rather than later.

We had to push an episode into Season 2. It was just, honestly, like everything else, that was a COVID impact. There was an episode that just wouldn’t hit the completion date, but luckily we do get to see it in the second season of the show. Season 2 will also be 9.

He also goes on to describe their approach to the length of each episode, as they weren’t restricted or given any mandate in regard to how they would tackle each episode, which acts as its own individual story.

We targeted a half an hour for each episode. Some of them come in a little longer, some of them come in a little shorter. We wanted to tell as many stories as we could and we had a certain budget we had to work with so it felt like that 10-episode — now 9-episode run — was the right quantity.

There are rumors that at least Captain Carter would make her way into live-action in the upcoming Doctor Strange sequel. The latest trailer also teased that this team of multiversal members will unite as the Guardians of the Multiverse. So, it’s uncertain how it might connect to an overarching story and continue into the second season. It’s still an anthology series at its core. At this point, anything is possible in the MCU.

Source: Collider

August 2, 2021