Netflix And Amy Poehler’s Paper Kite Team On New Animated Feature ‘Steps’; Newcomer Alyce Tzue To Direct

Elaine Low Senior TV WriterCartoon Network Studios debuted a new iteration of its animated shorts program, Cartoon Cartoons, its first dedicated shorts initiative in over a decade that will look to showcase diverse stories, discover new creative voices and mentor the next generation of animators.The program’s predecessor, an animated incubator, began in 1995 as World Premiere Toons, and the initiative has over the years launched popular, award-winning series such as Genndy Tartakovsky’s

Netflix Spain unveiled seven new projects, including “If Only,” a Spanish adaptation of the Turkish original banned from shooting by Erdogan’s government.Where once Netflix would host its presentations early in the year and announce its ambitions for the next twelve months, the platform’s original Spanish programming pipeline has grown to an extent that Thursday’s showcase only covers the next few months and hinted at plenty more to come in late 2021.In both level and volume of production, the

Grey Daze, the band fronted by Chester Bennington before he went on to form Linkin Park, are working on a new album to honour the late singer.Bennington left the band in 1998, but had reunited with them and was in the middle of re-recording music for a new album when he died in 2017.Last year, Grey Daze released ‘Amends’, an album of reworked tracks from their back catalogue, built around Bennington’s original vocal takes.

John Hopewell Chief International CorrespondentDisney Plus has acquired Latin American broadcast rights to animated musical “Turu and the Wackies,” a 26-episode CGI spin-off series from the hit 2019 toon movie “Turu, the Wacky Hen,” a Spanish Academy best animated feature winner that Filmax has sold to 75 countries.In further deals, Spanish public broadcaster RTVE has taken broadcast rights in Spain and A’Punt those to Spain’s Valencia region.An ode to diversity, “Turu, the Wacky Hen” turns on

Twenty One Pilots returned last night (April 7) with new track ‘Shy Away’, and have revealed that the song features an unlikely guest.The new song is the first taste of Joseph and bandmate Josh Dun’s sixth album ‘Scaled And Icy’, which will land on May 21 via Fueled By Ramen.In a new interview with the BBC, Joseph revealed how his one-year-old daughter accidentally appears on ‘Shy Away’.He said: “You’ll hear this little baby cooing noise and it’s actually because, when I was first working on the

Amy Poehler, Naomie Harris and Jessica Barden are among the 80 actors and entertainment professionals who have signed an open letter against prejudice and discrimination towards disabled talent in Hollywood.

open letter calling for an end to prejudice and discrimination towards disabled talent in Hollywood.The letter claims there’s an “urgent need to act on disability inclusion” and urges major studios to appoint permanent disability officers.It goes on to say the number of disabled characters on screen “continues to severely under-represent the actual US population living with disabilities”.The letter added: “Due to years of misrepresentation in the media, social barriers, and chronic ableism, the

EXCLUSIVE: Cristiana Dell’Anna, star of the HBO Max crime series Gomorrah, has landed the lead role of U.S. Catholic nun Frances Xavier Cabrini in Alejandro Monteverde’s true story feature retelling Cabrini. Production starts June 28 in Buffalo, NY and NYC.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentAs Hollywood continues its ongoing fight for increased diversity and representation across the industry, disability is rarely included.Entrepreneur and disability activist Keely Cat-Wells is teaming up with major Hollywood figures to urge movie studios to hire a permanent disability officer.

Animated family comedy Duncanville has been renewed for a third season at Fox ahead of the premiere of its second season.

Netflix is betting big on anime in 2021, but there’s arguably no title as highly anticipated as “Yasuke.” This project takes the true story of a legendary Black samurai of the same name, voiced by LaKeith Stanfield, and adds in a whole lot more magic than you’d expect. Ahead of its release at the end of the month, Netflix has finally released the first trailer for the anime.

Amanda Seyfried has another Netflix movie on the way!

About 20 years ago, “Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron” delighted audiences and ended up being nominated for an Oscar for Best Animated Feature. The franchise would go on to spawn a Netflix TV series, but no formal sequel film was released.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterIn a competitive situation, Mike Scully and Julie Thacker Scully have signed with Verve, Variety has learned exclusively.The husband and wife duo most recently co-created the Fox animated series “Duncanville” with Amy Poehler, on which they also serve as co-showrunners. Poehler also provides the voice of the lead character on the show and serves as an executive producer along with Scully and Thacker Scully.

If you’re a “Star Wars” fan, you likely fall into one of two categories.

EXCLUSIVE: Danny McBride’s Rough House Pictures is partnering with Spire Animation Studios to develop the animated feature, Trouble.

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