‘Forgotten Island’ Stumbles; ‘Futurama’s’ Drawing Rules; Inside ‘Ray Gunn’

It was a rough opening weekend for Forgotten Island, which earned strong reviews but struggled to turn them into ticket sales. We dig into the numbers for DreamWorks’ original feature and what they might mean for its theatrical run, plus check in on the latest performance of Coyote vs. Acme.

Elsewhere, we got our hands on the Futurama drawing guides and learned the surprisingly specific dos and don’ts of drawing Fry, Bender, and Leela after nearly 30 years of production. And at Ottawa, Brad Bird and several key Ray Gunn artists took us inside the making of the long-awaited film, breaking down its retro-futurist world, character animation, costumes, and noir-inspired cinematography.

Also this week: an exclusive trailer for Awake, the animated short built around a letter Mahmoud Khalil wrote in immigration detention; OIAF hands out its 2026 awards; Manchester unveils a feature lineup packed with major upcoming titles; ACE Canada names its latest cohort; Titmouse gets ready to roll the dice for a good cause; and we share some hard-earned advice for getting the most out of animation markets.

1. 
   The Rules For Drawing ‘Futurama,’ From Fry’s Teeth To Bender’s 40% Problem (EXCLUSIVE)

   Futurama co-creator David X. Cohen and supervising director Peter Avanzino discuss how the series has maintained its visual identity for almost 30 years.
2. 
   DreamWorks’ Original ‘Forgotten Island’ Flops With $12.8M Opening Despite Rave Reviews And Audience Scores

   The critically acclaimed animated feature earned just $20.65 million worldwide through Sunday, despite an A CinemaScore and strong audience reactions.
3. 
   Mahmoud Khalil’s Immigration Detention Letter Come To Life In ‘Awake’ Trailer (EXCLUSIVE)

   Directors Elyse Kelly and Dan Fipphen discuss transforming Khalil’s writing into a five-minute animated documentary ahead of its Edmonton debut.
4. 
   Brad Bird Wants To Push Animation ‘Less Towards The Kiddies Table’ With ‘Ray Gunn’

   Bird was joined by Cinesite VFX supervisor Adel Abada, costume designer Neysa Bové, and head of animation Jason Ryan at OIAF to discuss 'Ray Gunn.'
5. 
   Titmouse Foundation To Host All-Day Tabletop Gaming Fundraiser ‘Dirty 20’ In Burbank

   The Burbank event will pair dozens of tabletop games with VIP sessions, an artist marketplace, commissions, and a BRIC Foundation art show.

6. 
   Manchester Animation Festival Unveils 2026 Competition, Full Program With ‘Wildwood,’ ‘Ray Gunn,’ ‘Forgotten Island’

   The feature competition includes ‘In Waves,’ ‘Blaise,’ ‘We Are Aliens,’ ‘Viva Carmen,’ and ‘Brave Cat,’ spanning coming-of-age, sci-fi, comedy, and musicals.
7. 
   ‘We Are Aliens,’ ‘Praying Mantis’ Win Top Prizes As ‘Ball Face’ Makes Student Film History At OIAF 2026

   Other Ottawa International Animation Festival winners included 'Eri,' 'The Comet,' Adult Swim’s 'The Elephant,' and Don Hertzfeldt’s 'Paper Trail.'
8. 
   How To Make An Animation Market Worth Your Time And Money

   At OIAF, animation professionals shared practical advice on preparing for a market, building relationships, following up, and attending when money is tight.
9. 
   ACE Canada Names Nine Animation Professionals For Its Fifth Career Excelerator Cohort

   The Netflix-backed program will bring together artists and filmmakers from across Canada to make an animated short and gain senior-level credits.