Skydance’s Identity Crisis; Canada’s Kids Media Crossroads; ‘Adventure Time’s’ In-House Animation

This week’s biggest story is one of the biggest in Hollywood history. Paramount Skydance’s $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery cleared its final legal hurdle and is expected to close October 6, leaving the industry with one fewer major studio, employer, and buyer. And we learned today what David Ellison plans to call the combined parent company: Skydance. The Paramount and Warner Bros. studio names will survive, but the umbrella organization sitting above them — along with HBO, CBS, Nickelodeon, CNN, DC Studios, and more — will carry the name Ellison gave his nascent production company about 20 years ago.

North of the border, a major new report warned that Canada’s kids media business is in serious trouble, with 85% of surveyed industry respondents describing the sector as declining or in crisis. Adventure Time: Side Quests is making a case for bringing more animation production back in-house, with supervising director Victor Courtright arguing that the model can compete with overseas outsourcing on both cost and turnaround time. And Netflix says the KPop Demon Hunters sequel will get a “very broad theatrical release,” another sign of the streamer’s rapidly changing approach to cinemas.

Also this week: Apple Studios VFX workers secured their first IATSE contract after a two-year organizing effort; we launched our 2027 Oscar shorts series with Bea Lema’s gorgeous embroidered Corpus Christi; LightBox Expo founders Bobby Chiu and Jim Demonakos talked to us about the state of the industry and why their event is taking a hard line against generative AI; Hoppers director Daniel Chong is kicking off this year’s 24 Hours Animation Contest for Students; and veteran Pixar and Disney story artist Christian Roman will lead a two-session storyboarding workshop for Black N Animated.

Check out these stories and more at cartoonbrew.com.

1. 
   Paramount-Warner Bros. Parent Company Will Be Named Skydance

   David Ellison is putting his 20-year-old brand atop two studios with more than a century of Hollywood history each as the $111B deal nears closing.
2. 
   Canada’s Kids Media Industry Is In Crisis, New Report Says The System Needs To Be Rebuilt

   Project Sunbeam calls for a new funding model as Canadian kids increasingly turn to YouTube, streaming, games, and creator media.
3. 
   Netflix Promises ‘Very Broad Theatrical Release’ For ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Sequel

   Ted Sarandos says the animated follow-up will be part of Netflix’s growing theatrical ambitions, marking a shift from the original’s streaming debut.
4. 
   ‘Adventure Time: Side Quests’ Season 2 Is A Proof Of Concept For More In-House Animation (EXCLUSIVE)

   Showrunner Nate Cash and supervising director Victor Courtright unpack the season premiere, and make the case for producing more animation domestically.
5. 
   2027 Oscars Short Film Contenders: ‘Corpus Christi’ Director Bea Lema

   Bea Lema discusses 'Corpus Christi,' her partly embroidered animated short about mental illness, religion, family, and inherited trauma.

6. 
   Judge Clears Final Hurdle For Paramount-WBD Merger, And Hollywood Gets A Little Smaller

   The states have settled their antitrust challenge, leaving one fewer major employer, buyer, and competitor in an already shrinking industry.
7. 
   Apple Said No, But Its VFX Workers Said Yes, Voting 12-0 To Unionize With IATSE

   The deal includes wage minimums, health and retirement benefits, overtime and rest rules, and protections covering artificial intelligence.
8. 
   LightBox Founders On Building Community And Taking A Hard Line Against Generative AI: ‘We Think Generative AI Is Theft And It’s Not Real Art’

   The LightBox co-founders discuss the animation job market, studio recruiting, career development, and creating new opportunities for artists at every level.
9. 
   ‘Hoppers’ Director Daniel Chong To Kick Off 24 Hours Animation Contest For Students

   Teams of five students from around the world will have just 24 hours to create a 30-second animated film based on a mystery theme, unvieled this Friday.
10. 
    Pixar, Disney Vet Christian Roman To Lead Black N Animated Storyboarding Workshop

    Black N Animated’s two-session course will cover story structure, visual storytelling, cinematography, composition, acting, and storyboard critique.