https://www.cartoonbrew.com Cartoon Brew en-US https://www.cartoonbrew.com/feature-film/back-to-tomioka-francois-marc-baillet-268937.html Director François-Marc Baillet discusses adapting the graphic novel, his personal connection to the story, and depicting a community with respect. Feature Film Interviews Back to Tomioka Crunchyroll Foliascope François-Marc Baillet Tokyo International Film Festival https://www.cartoonbrew.com/feature-film/back-to-tomioka-francois-marc-baillet-268937.html#disqus_thread https://www.cartoonbrew.com/?p=268937 Tue, 03 Nov 2026 18:26:15 +0000 Director François-Marc Baillet discusses adapting the graphic novel, his personal connection to the story, and depicting a community with respect. https://www.cartoonbrew.com/awards/pigeons-director-amos-sussigan-oscars-short-268929.html Sussigan discusses turning fears about AI and obsolescence into an animated pigeon documentary, made by 45 artists on almost no budget. Awards Interviews Shorts Academy Awards Amos Sussigan Andy Serkis BMC Films Oscars 2027 Shorts Pigeons The Hub Media https://www.cartoonbrew.com/awards/pigeons-director-amos-sussigan-oscars-short-268929.html#disqus_thread https://www.cartoonbrew.com/?p=268929 Tue, 03 Nov 2026 17:50:47 +0000 Sussigan discusses turning fears about AI and obsolescence into an animated pigeon documentary, made by 45 artists on almost no budget. https://www.cartoonbrew.com/events/in-waves-netflix-fyc-screening-qa-reception-268835.html Join us on November 7 for Phuong Mai Nguyen’s animated adaptation of AJ Dungo’s graphic memoir about love, loss, and surfing. Events Feature Film In Waves Netflix Phuong Mai Nguyen https://www.cartoonbrew.com/?p=268835 Tue, 03 Nov 2026 16:58:05 +0000 Join us on November 7 for Phuong Mai Nguyen’s animated adaptation of AJ Dungo’s graphic memoir about love, loss, and surfing. https://www.cartoonbrew.com/newsletter/wildwood-holds-strong-fathom-ceo-interview-disney-cuts-continue-268917.html To kick off this week, we spoke with Fathom Entertainment CEO Jason Brenek about the distributor’s growing ambitions. Its widest release to date, Laika’s Wildwood on more than 3,000 screens, &#8230; <a href="https://www.cartoonbrew.com/newsletter/wildwood-holds-strong-fathom-ceo-interview-disney-cuts-continue-268917.html">Continued</a> Newsletter https://www.cartoonbrew.com/newsletter/wildwood-holds-strong-fathom-ceo-interview-disney-cuts-continue-268917.html#disqus_thread https://www.cartoonbrew.com/?p=268917 Tue, 03 Nov 2026 16:39:20 +0000 To kick off this week, we spoke with Fathom Entertainment CEO Jason Brenek about the distributor’s growing ambitions. Its widest release to date, Laika’s Wildwood on more than 3,000 screens, &#8230; <a href="https://www.cartoonbrew.com/newsletter/wildwood-holds-strong-fathom-ceo-interview-disney-cuts-continue-268917.html">Continued</a> https://www.cartoonbrew.com/distribution/fathom-entertainment-jason-brenek-interview-268856.html Brenek discusses Laika’s creative control, lessons from a surprise box office hit, and plans to bring more anime to U.S. theaters. Distribution Executives Interviews Fathom Entertainment Glitch Productions Jason Brenek Laika The Amazing Digital Circus TIFFCOM Tokyo International Film Festival Wildwood https://www.cartoonbrew.com/distribution/fathom-entertainment-jason-brenek-interview-268856.html#disqus_thread https://www.cartoonbrew.com/?p=268856 Tue, 03 Nov 2026 15:58:10 +0000 Brenek discusses Laika’s creative control, lessons from a surprise box office hit, and plans to bring more anime to U.S. theaters. https://www.cartoonbrew.com/awards/nippon-anime-awards-association-of-japanese-animations-268909.html The AJA-backed initiative aims to celebrate anime’s artists and productions while supporting emerging talent and new business opportunities. Anime Awards Association of Japanese Animations Nippon Anime Awards TIFFCOM Tokyo International Film Festival https://www.cartoonbrew.com/awards/nippon-anime-awards-association-of-japanese-animations-268909.html#disqus_thread https://www.cartoonbrew.com/?p=268909 Tue, 03 Nov 2026 15:32:55 +0000 The AJA-backed initiative aims to celebrate anime’s artists and productions while supporting emerging talent and new business opportunities. https://www.cartoonbrew.com/artist-rights/disney-layoffs-continue-thousands-of-cuts-268895.html According to reports, managers have been asked to cut annual costs by 20%, with the savings coming from a mix of redundancies and other expense reductions. Artist Rights Business Studios Character.ai Josh D’Amaro Layoffs The Walt Disney Company https://www.cartoonbrew.com/artist-rights/disney-layoffs-continue-thousands-of-cuts-268895.html#disqus_thread https://www.cartoonbrew.com/?p=268895 Tue, 03 Nov 2026 14:52:36 +0000 According to reports, managers have been asked to cut annual costs by 20%, with the savings coming from a mix of redundancies and other expense reductions. https://www.cartoonbrew.com/series/blue-eye-samurai-season-2-release-date-teaser-268890.html Mizu takes her revenge quest to London, while back in Japan, Akemi and Taigen face a dangerous new shogun and Ringo searches for purpose. Series Streaming Amber Noizumi Blue Eye Samurai Blue Spirit Michael Green Netflix https://www.cartoonbrew.com/series/blue-eye-samurai-season-2-release-date-teaser-268890.html#disqus_thread https://www.cartoonbrew.com/?p=268890 Tue, 03 Nov 2026 14:00:04 +0000 Mizu takes her revenge quest to London, while back in Japan, Akemi and Taigen face a dangerous new shogun and Ringo searches for purpose. https://www.cartoonbrew.com/awards/apart-pola-maneli-oscar-qualified-short-268847.html A forbidden friendship in apartheid South Africa is the focus of today's short, inspired by resistance woodcuts, harsh sunlight, and Nguni geometric patterns. Awards Interviews Shorts 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks Apart Jeff Leisawitz Lubabalo Mtati Oscars 2027 Shorts Spike Lee Taking Over NY Tim Jones https://www.cartoonbrew.com/awards/apart-pola-maneli-oscar-qualified-short-268847.html#disqus_thread https://www.cartoonbrew.com/?p=268847 Mon, 02 Nov 2026 17:12:43 +0000 A forbidden friendship in apartheid South Africa is the focus of today's short, inspired by resistance woodcuts, harsh sunlight, and Nguni geometric patterns. https://www.cartoonbrew.com/box-office-report/wildwood-laika-week-2-box-office-fathom-entertainment-268837.html Laika’s stop-motion feature fell just 27% in its second weekend, reaching $27.4 million domestically as audience polling pointed to strong word of mouth. Box Office Report Feature Film David Burke Fathom Entertainment Jason Brenek Laika Travis Knight Wildwood https://www.cartoonbrew.com/box-office-report/wildwood-laika-week-2-box-office-fathom-entertainment-268837.html#disqus_thread https://www.cartoonbrew.com/?p=268837 Mon, 02 Nov 2026 16:37:15 +0000 Laika’s stop-motion feature fell just 27% in its second weekend, reaching $27.4 million domestically as audience polling pointed to strong word of mouth. https://www.cartoonbrew.com/anime/anime-28-billion-japanese-studios-global-growth-268825.html Nippon Animation’s Hitomi Hiratsuka and Production I.G’s Yoko Ueda discuss overseas partnerships, family audiences, and lasting fan connections. Anime Business Festivals Markets Studios Anime Industry Report Association of Japanese Animations Hitomi Hiratsuka HumanMedia Kazuko Ishikawa Masahiro Hasegawa Megumi Onouchi Nippon Animation Production I.G. TIFFCOM Tokyo International Film Festival Yoko Ueda https://www.cartoonbrew.com/anime/anime-28-billion-japanese-studios-global-growth-268825.html#disqus_thread https://www.cartoonbrew.com/?p=268825 Mon, 02 Nov 2026 14:44:04 +0000 Nippon Animation’s Hitomi Hiratsuka and Production I.G’s Yoko Ueda discuss overseas partnerships, family audiences, and lasting fan connections. https://www.cartoonbrew.com/box-office-report/sanxingdui-future-past-week-2-box-office-268831.html ‘Sanxingdui: Future Past’ reportedly cost $1.5 million to produce, but Chinese box office forecasts suggest it won’t gross even a third of that. Artificial Intelligence Box Office Report Feature Film Bona Film Group Sanxingdui: Future Past https://www.cartoonbrew.com/box-office-report/sanxingdui-future-past-week-2-box-office-268831.html#disqus_thread https://www.cartoonbrew.com/?p=268831 Mon, 02 Nov 2026 14:09:35 +0000 ‘Sanxingdui: Future Past’ reportedly cost $1.5 million to produce, but Chinese box office forecasts suggest it won’t gross even a third of that. https://www.cartoonbrew.com/studios/gao-shan-pictures-studio-profile-268817.html Based on Réunion, the studio is expanding across borders while investing in local talent, sustainable production, and creative partnerships. Interviews Studios Arnauld Boulard Gao Shan Pictures https://www.cartoonbrew.com/studios/gao-shan-pictures-studio-profile-268817.html#disqus_thread https://www.cartoonbrew.com/?p=268817 Mon, 02 Nov 2026 13:22:10 +0000 Based on Réunion, the studio is expanding across borders while investing in local talent, sustainable production, and creative partnerships. https://www.cartoonbrew.com/series/death-stranding-isolations-teaser-disney-plus-268713.html Sci-fi writer Tow Ubukata joins the hand-drawn series as writer, with new story details exploring the consequences of reconnecting a fractured America. Series Death Stranding Isolations Disney Plus E&H Production Kojima Productions Takayuki Sano Tow Ubukata https://www.cartoonbrew.com/series/death-stranding-isolations-teaser-disney-plus-268713.html#disqus_thread https://www.cartoonbrew.com/?p=268713 Mon, 02 Nov 2026 12:42:45 +0000 Sci-fi writer Tow Ubukata joins the hand-drawn series as writer, with new story details exploring the consequences of reconnecting a fractured America. https://www.cartoonbrew.com/feature-film/samhain-trailer-viva-calavera-arriate-268780.html Based on Lobón Leal’s graphic novel, the mixed-holiday adventure follows three friends into a world where magic and nature are exploited for profit. Feature Film ¡Viva Calavera! Arriate Lobón Leal Samhain https://www.cartoonbrew.com/feature-film/samhain-trailer-viva-calavera-arriate-268780.html#disqus_thread https://www.cartoonbrew.com/?p=268780 Sat, 31 Oct 2026 17:30:21 +0000 Based on Lobón Leal’s graphic novel, the mixed-holiday adventure follows three friends into a world where magic and nature are exploited for profit. https://www.cartoonbrew.com/awards/new-international-anime-award-tokyo-film-festival-268803.html At TIFFCOM, executives from Studio Chizu, A-1 Pictures, and Toho discussed recognizing anime’s diversity and nurturing its next generation of creators. Anime Awards Festivals A-1 Pictures Akira Shimizu Association of Japanese Animations Masaya Saito Ryota Fujitsu Studio Chizu TIFFCOM Toho Tokyo International Film Festival Yuichiro Saito https://www.cartoonbrew.com/awards/new-international-anime-award-tokyo-film-festival-268803.html#disqus_thread https://www.cartoonbrew.com/?p=268803 Sat, 31 Oct 2026 17:10:42 +0000 At TIFFCOM, executives from Studio Chizu, A-1 Pictures, and Toho discussed recognizing anime’s diversity and nurturing its next generation of creators. https://www.cartoonbrew.com/box-office-report/wildwood-laika-fathom-entertainment-268797.html A projected $7–8 million second weekend would put Travis Knight’s stop-motion fantasy roughly in line with earlier Laika releases. Box Office Report Feature Film Stop Motion Fathom Entertainment Laika Travis Knight Wildwood https://www.cartoonbrew.com/box-office-report/wildwood-laika-fathom-entertainment-268797.html#disqus_thread https://www.cartoonbrew.com/?p=268797 Sat, 31 Oct 2026 16:26:22 +0000 A projected $7–8 million second weekend would put Travis Knight’s stop-motion fantasy roughly in line with earlier Laika releases. https://www.cartoonbrew.com/festivals/tiff-daily-2-tiffcom-hungry-ghosts-268772.html Our second Tokyo dispatch explores financing across Asia and Europe, Ervin Han’s food-fueled ghost stories, and the craft behind four festival titles. Festivals Markets TIFFCOM Tokyo International Film Festival https://www.cartoonbrew.com/festivals/tiff-daily-2-tiffcom-hungry-ghosts-268772.html#disqus_thread https://www.cartoonbrew.com/?p=268772 Sat, 31 Oct 2026 11:00:23 +0000 Our second Tokyo dispatch explores financing across Asia and Europe, Ervin Han’s food-fueled ghost stories, and the craft behind four festival titles. https://www.cartoonbrew.com/business/tiffcom-co-pro-ervin-han-taiki-sakurai-ilan-urroz-268765.html Producers compare public funding in Europe with Asia’s reliance on private investment, exploring how international partnerships can bridge the gap. Anime Business Events Ervin Han Foliascope Ilan Urroz Robot Playground Media Salamander Pictures Taiki Sakurai TIFFCOM Tokyo International Film Festival https://www.cartoonbrew.com/business/tiffcom-co-pro-ervin-han-taiki-sakurai-ilan-urroz-268765.html#disqus_thread https://www.cartoonbrew.com/?p=268765 Fri, 30 Oct 2026 17:28:39 +0000 Producers compare public funding in Europe with Asia’s reliance on private investment, exploring how international partnerships can bridge the gap. https://www.cartoonbrew.com/shorts/pinkooland-trailer-luis-uson-268759.html Luis Usón’s animated horror short blends sci-fi and corporate satire in an Ecuadorian-Spanish production conceived as a proof of concept for a feature. Shorts Andres Aguilar Cécile Brossette Enric Sant Luis Uson María Burgués Matte CG Omar Rabuñal Varela Pinkooland https://www.cartoonbrew.com/shorts/pinkooland-trailer-luis-uson-268759.html#disqus_thread https://www.cartoonbrew.com/?p=268759 Fri, 30 Oct 2026 16:59:46 +0000 Luis Usón’s animated horror short blends sci-fi and corporate satire in an Ecuadorian-Spanish production conceived as a proof of concept for a feature.