Cartoon Brew

A Hong Kong Storm Sparks Questions Of Memory, Identity, And Nature In Existential Short ‘Monsoon Blue’

A surreal Hong Kong monsoon stirs memory and identity in ‘Monsoon Blue,’ a festival-hit animated short now available to stream online.

Series

Netflix Unveils Trailer And Release Dates For Upcoming Trio Of Animated Dr. Seuss Titles

Netflix will debut three new Dr. Seuss animated titles this fall: ‘Red Fish, Blue Fish,’ ‘Horton!,’ and ‘The Sneetches.’

Law

Disney, Universal ‘Cannot Have It Both Ways’: Midjourney Slams Studios For Suing While Using GenAI

Midjourney responds to Disney and Universal’s lawsuit, arguing fair use and accusing studios of using GenAI while trying to restrict it for others.

Feature Film

‘The Glassworker,’ Pakistan’s First Hand-Drawn Animated Feature, Gets Trailer Ahead Of U.S. Release Date

Pakistan’s first hand‑drawn animated feature, ‘The Glassworker,’ unveils an English-language trailer ahead of its U.S. theatrical release this month.

Feature Film

‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Becomes Netflix’s Fourth Most‑Viewed Original Film, Eyes No 1 Spot

Only halfway through its 91‑day viewing window, Netflix’s current metric for tracking views, ‘KPDH’ is on track to claim the No. 2 spot by next week.

Artist Rights

Three Years After A Historic Unionizing Campaign, Raven Software’s ‘Call Of Duty’ QA Workers Have A Contract With Microsoft

After a 3-year fight, Raven Software QA testers secure a contract with Microsoft, gaining raises, overtime limits, and stronger career protections.

Feature Film

Sony Is Developing A Spider-Punk Spinoff Feature

Sony Pictures Animation is developing a Spider-Punk feature co-written by Daniel Kaluuya and Ajon Singh, expanding the hit Spider-Verse franchise.

Cartoon Brew Pick

‘CAGE’ Turns Trump’s Anti-Immigrant Authoritarianism Into A Nightmarish Ritual

In Nikita Kibirev’s one-minute short ‘CAGE,’ the U.S.-born Russian immigrant uses surreal horror to explore the fear and cycles of American authoritarian power.

Feature Film

A Live-Action ‘Moana’ Deepfake Didn’t Happen, But AI’s Hollywood Footprint Keeps Growing

Disney explored using AI in its feature films, including a deepfake Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson in the live-action ‘Moana’ remake, but cut it from the final film.

Business

Glassworks VFX Closes After Nearly 30 Years, Citing ‘Exceptionally Challenging Market Conditions’

Influential VFX studio Glassworks, known for its standout work on films, TV, and global ad campaigns, shuts down after nearly 30 years in the industry.

Feature Film

‘Living Between 2D And 3D’: How ‘The Bad Guys 2’ Pushed Its Hybrid Animation Further

DreamWorks animators reveal how ‘The Bad Guys 2’ amps up its hybrid style with hand-drawn effects, anime-inspired flair, and ambitious action set pieces.

Series

More Cartoon Network Shows Pulled From HBO Max

‘Courage the Cowardly Dog’ and ‘What’s New, Scooby-Doo?’ were pulled from HBO Max, as Warner Bros. Discovery pivots away from legacy animated shows.

Box Office Report

‘The Bad Guys 2’ Opens With $22.2 Million Domestically, Slightly Lower Than Its Predecessor

DreamWorks’ ‘The Bad Guys 2’ debuted at $22.2M domestically, signaling modest momentum but failing to surpass the original’s stronger box office launch.

Box Office Report

Animated Epic ‘Mahavatar Narsimha’ Becomes India’s Highest-Grossing Animated Film In Less Than Two Weeks

Ashwin Kumar’s ‘Mahavatar Narsimha’ crosses $11M, becoming India’s highest-grossing animated film, surpassing even top international releases.

Interviews

‘My Melody & Kuromi’ Screenwriter Shuko Nemoto: ‘There’s A Warmth To Its Handmade Quality’

Screenwriter Shuko Nemoto shares her process behind Netflix’s ‘My Melody & Kuromi’ and how she brought emotional depth to beloved Sanrio icons.

Feature Film

‘What If These Uber Eats Characters Had Internal Lives?’: Julian Glander On ‘Boys Go To Jupiter’

Julian Glander’s debut feature, ‘Boys Go to Jupiter,’ blends surreal CG animation, Gen Z humor, and DIY production into a one-of-a-kind indie film.

Distribution

Mili Pictures Defies Trends, Takes China’s ‘Wukong Warrior’ To Global Streaming Instead Of Theaters

Producer Bill Borden partners with Mili Pictures to launch ‘Wukong Warrior’ globally via TV and streaming, bypassing a traditional theatrical release.