Lost Mexican Feature Resurrected; ‘Shaun’ Returns To Cinemas; UPA Doc Teased

Mexico’s third animated feature was effectively lost for more than 40 years. Now, Roy del Espacio has been restored, with animators Isabelle Aspin and Brian Smee creating four and a half minutes of new footage using hand-painted backgrounds, inked cels, cutouts, and vintage cel paint. We have an exclusive clip and the remarkable story behind the restoration.

Also this week, Shaun the Sheep returned to theaters in his third feature, The Beast of Mossy Bottom. We spoke with the Aardman filmmakers about bringing Halloween to the farm, finding the right level of scariness for young viewers, and completing the studio’s most ambitious feature on its tightest schedule yet.

In upcoming feature news, Laika released the final trailer for Wildwood, Netflix the first for its Cinderella stepsister comedy Steps, and a new documentary trailer celebrated UPA’s radical reinvention of American animation.

And we attended this year’s Cartoon Forum in Toulouse, Europe’s most important animation TV market, where we rounded up the standout pitches, exclusive first looks, and award winners from the event.

Check out these stories and more at cartoonbrew.com.

1. 
   Lost For 40 Years, Mexico’s Third Animated Feature, ‘Roy Del Espacio,’ Is Back With Help From Two Animators (EXCLUSIVE CLIP)

   Isabelle Aspin and Brian Smee explain how they created new animated footage for the restoration of Mexico’s long-lost 1983 animated sci-fi feature.
2. 
   ‘Shaun The Sheep’ Filmmakers On Kid-Friendly Scares And Bringing Halloween To Mossy Bottom

   Directors Steve Cox and Matthew Walker discuss spooky stop-motion, gothic lighting, and the film’s unusually fast Aardman production.
3. 
   ‘Animation Mavericks’ Trailer Celebrates UPA’s Radical Reinvention Of American Animation

   Kevin Schreck’s feature-length film chronicles the pioneering studio’s rise, artistic breakthroughs, political struggles, and enduring legacy.
4. 
   Cinderella’s Stepsisters Get Their Own Fairy Tale In First Trailer For Netflix’s ‘Steps’

   Directors Alyce Tzue and John Ripa put a comic new spin on the familiar fairy tale, with Amy Poehler among the film’s producers.
5. 
   ‘Goldie,’ ‘Strawberry Vampire’ Creator Emily Brundige Inspires New ‘Frames Per Second’ Animated Short

   The biographical short explores the family history that shaped Brundige’s work. It was animated by CCAD students working alongside industry professionals.

6. 
   Laika Unleashes The Final ‘Wildwood’ Trailer As Fathom Launches Tickets Sales

   Laika’s highly anticipated sixth stop-motion feature, directed by studio head Travis Knight, will release wide in theaters on October 23.
7. 
   200 Eyvind Earle Works, 35 For The First Time, To Be Displayed At Walt Disney Family Museum

   The reimagined Awaking Beauty traces the Sleeping Beauty stylist’s career and features more than 35 works never before shown at the museum.
8. 
   Cartoon Forum Spotlight: Standout Pitches; Exclusive First Looks; And Tribute Winners

   Cartoon Brew’s 2026 spotlight features our favorite pitches, exclusive series teasers, Tribute winners, and the event’s new sustainability award.
9. 
   ESMA Short ‘Cows’ Takes Gold At Student Academy Awards

   Silver went to Matthias Strasser's 'The Panic Inside' while Noran Fikri Alezabi, Xinyue Ma, and Yulin Yue's 'Gauze' took bronze. All three are Oscar-qualified.
10. 
    WildBrain To Handle Ad Sales For The ‘Miraculous’ Franchise

    WildBrain has added the hugely popular superhero franchise and its 53 million Youtube subscribers to its growing kids and family advertising network.