‘Coyote Vs. Acme’ Launches Oscar Race; Halloween Horrors; Remembering Patrick Stewart

This week, Coyote vs. Acme cleared another unlikely hurdle when the Academy granted it approval to compete for the animated feature Oscar. Ketchup Entertainment is preparing a campaign for the film that Warner Bros. once shelved, adding a potentially disruptive contender to this year’s race.

With Halloween approaching, we spoke with Ervin Han about A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts, an international horror anthology whose animated meals are designed to make your mouth water before making your skin crawl. Atsushi Nishigori, meanwhile, takes us through the aliens, battle royales, and vampire romance of CloverWorks’ Grotesqqque. And Cecilia Andalón Delgadillo’s haunting stop-motion debut Dolores is now online.

We caught up with anime legend Rintaro, and the Metropolis and Galaxy Express 999 director offered up a blunt assessment of an industry increasingly reluctant to take risks. Elsewhere, John Pomeroy reunited veteran hand-drawn animators for Prada’s holiday campaign, bringing classic 2D craft to a new series of ads.

And the animation industry lost another much-loved voice actor with the death of Patrick Stewart.

Check out these stories and more at cartoonbrew.com.

1. 
   Ketchup Lights The Fuse On ‘Coyote Vs. Acme’ Animated Feature Oscar Campaign After Academy Approval

   Once shelved by Warner Bros., Dave Green’s hybrid could turn its unlikely comeback into an awards-season black eye for the studio that buried it.
2. 
   Patrick Stewart, Who Performed In ‘Plague Dogs,’ ‘American Dad!,’ ‘The Prince Of Egypt,’ And Voiced Poop In ‘The Emoji Movie,’ Dies At 86

   From Major to Pharaoh Seti to Avery Bullock, Stewart brought authority, warmth, and irreverent humor to a voice acting career spanning more than four decades.
3. 
   Making Your Mouth Water And Your Skin Crawl: Ervin Han On ‘A Banquet For Hungry Ghosts’

   The filmmaker discusses adapting Chinese food-themed ghost stories, coordinating four studios, and making animated meals look both delicious and terrifying.
4. 
   Aliens, Battle Royales, And Vampire Romance: Atsushi Nishigori Poured His All Into ‘Grotesqqque,’ A Three-Course Anime Omnibus

   The director discusses digital animation, contrasting visual styles, and balancing creative roles in his ambitious three-part feature.
5. 
   ‘At This Rate, There Will Be No Future’: Anime Icon Rintaro On Animation’s Aversion To Risk

   At Busan, the director of ‘Galaxy Express 999’ and ‘Metropolis’ discusses remakes, generative AI, and the importance of creating something new.

6. 
   A Forbidden Cornfield Leads To Underworld Terrors In Mexican Stop-Motion Short ‘Dolores,’ Now Online

   Cecilia Andalón Delgadillo discusses the corn-husk puppets, ancient Mexican influences, and stop-motion craft behind her haunting debut short 'Dolores.'
7. 
   Prada Taps Disney And Bluth Veterans For A Classic Hand-Drawn Holiday Campaign

   Led by John Pomeroy, the team of studio vets blended 2D woodland creatures with live action and shot a BTS video discussing their carefully preserved craft.
8. 
   Australia’s ABC Demands Far-Right Political Party One Nation Stop Using Bluey In Its Propaganda

   Australia’s ABC demands far-right party One Nation stop using Bluey in violent political cartoons and considers legal action.
9. 
   ‘Living Large’ And ‘Dog Alone’ Take Top Honors At 2026 Emile Awards

   ‘Arco’ picked up two craft prizes at the Krakow-held awards, with ‘Little Amélie’ and ‘On Weary Wings Go By’ also among the winners.
10. 
    MeTV Toons To Honor Eric Bauza With Bugs Bunny Special And Classic Shorts Program

    Airing October 31, “Hare’s to Bugs!” features Bauza reflecting on the beloved character, followed by a lineup of classic Warner Bros. shorts.