Sunday, June 17, 2018

Work Around Town #3

Rick and Morty - end of second season.

And now, another overview of production going on in Southern California's animation industry. You will note that there are additions and subtractions from the last installment, but many series titles remain. As before, this list will be amended and corrected over the next few days/weeks. (Sadly, there are always errors.)

(You will find the Animation Guild's studio list -- showing which Los Angeles studios are union -- here.)

Amazon

Danger and Egg -- ongoing

Too Loud -- ongoing

Bureau of Magic

Lost in Oz -- *ENDED (Amazon Prime)

Cartoon Network

Powerpuff Girls -- ending

Ben 10 -- ongoing

Mighty Magiswords -- ending

Steven Universe (shorts) -- ongoing (and building on momentum)

We Bare Bears (shorts) -- ongoing

Ok-Ko Let's Be Heroes -- ongoing

Splittin' Rent -- ongoing (aka "Close Enough" -- see Adult Swim)

Summer Camp Island -- ongoing

Thundercats Roar -- ongoing

Apple and Onion -- ongoing

Per report's, Cartoon Network's "Bite Size" online network has closed down.

Victor & Valentino -- ongoing

Infinity Train -- ongoing

Craig of the Creek -- ongoing

Adult Swim (a Cartoon Network subset)

Close Enough -- ongoing (aka "Splittin' Rent")

Tiggle Winks -- ongoing (shorts)

Primal (Genddy Tartokovsky)

Skydance Media Animation

This new cartoon unit, barely more than a year old, has just hired two DreamWorks Animation Television veterans -- Ian Sheppard and Lawrence Jonas -- to SMA's senior executive staff. The pair will be running Skydance's television slate and reporting to division topkick Bill Damaschke.

Split -- ongoing feature

Luck -- ongoing feature

Television projects -- to be announced

Warner Bros. Animation

Unikitty -- ongoing

Scooby Doo and the Red Ghost -- (long form Scoob)

Guess Who, Scooby Doo -- ongoing

* As always, there are various Scoobs.

Lego Justice League -- ongoing

Wabbit/New Looney Tunes -- ongoing

The Looney Tunes shorts program was announced this month. ... From the hyper-ventilating press release:

"Looney Tunes Cartoons echoes the high production value and process of the original Looney Tunes theatrical shorts with a cartoonist-driven approach to storytelling. Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig and other marquee Looney Tunes characters will be featured in their classic pairings in simple, gag-driven and visually vibrant stories. Each cartoon will vary from one to six minutes in length. ..."

Animaniacs -- upcoming reboot (co-production of Amblin' TV and WBA)

"Animaniacs" will be an update of the original 99 episodes from the early nineties.

Mike Tyson Mysteries -- ongoing

Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz -- ongoing

Teen Titans Go! -- ongoing

DC Superhero Girls -- ongoing

Green Eggs and Ham -- ongoing

Wacky Racers -- ongoing

Young Justice -- ongoing

Flintstones -- ongoing (African-American cast)

Warner Animation Group

The Lego Movie Sequel -- ongoing

Smallfoot -- ongoing

Space Jam 2 -- ongoing

The Billion Brick Race -- ongoing

Scooby -- ongoing

Warner Animation Group has pre-production facilities at multiple locations in Burbank and Hollywood; most production work (a la Illumination Entertainment) is done in foreign lands ... often at Animation Logic in Sydney.

Hasbro

Micronauts -- ongoing

My Little Pony* -- ongoing

Equestrian Girls* -- ongoing

Hasbro now does much of its work at Boulder Media in Ireland. Writing for Boulder shows* continues to be done in Southern California.

Nickelodeon

Cyma Zarghami, longtime President of Nickelodeon, stepped down in early June. Allegedly, Viacom's upper management was displeased that Nick lagged competitors in the internet streaming department. Also, too, new Viacom Prez Bob Bakish has been sweeping with a big broom.

Invader Zim (tv movie) -- ongoing

Sponge Bob Square Pants -- ongoing

The Loud House -- ongoing; ratings continue strong.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles -- reboot is ongoing

Welcome to the Wayne -- ongoing

Shimmer and Shine -- ongoing

Glitch Tech -- ongoing

Rocko's Modern Life -- ongoing

Henry Danger -- wrapping up

Disney TV Animation

Amphibia -- ongoing

Mickey's Roadster Racers -- ongoing

Star vs The Forces of Evil -- ongoing

Puppy Capers -- ongoing

Sofia the First -- ongoing

Tangled -- ongoing

Mickey Mouse shorts -- ongoing

Duck Tales -- ongoing

Fancy Nancy -- ongoing. (As of February 15, 2018 there is no announced air date, but the show is scheduled for launch this summer. Actors Allyson Hannigan and Rob Riggle have just been cast as Nancy's parents. This is a Disney Jr. show.)

The Rocketeer -- ongoing (Season #1; Disney Jr. via Wild Canary)

Wicked World -- ongoing

The Lion Guard (Disney Jr. "Baby Lion King") -- ongoing

The Owl House -- ongoing

The Three Caballeros -- ongoing

Muppet Babies -- ongoing (produced at Oddbot, Inc.)

Country Club/ aka Big City Greens -- ongoing

Big Hero Six -- ongoing

Elena of Avalor -- ongoing

Vampirina* -- ongoing (*the show was paicked up for a second season in late January by Disney Jr. It's produced by Brown Bag Films, which has studios in Dublin, Toronto and Manchester.)

T.O.T.S. -- ongoing

UPDATE -- July 19: The Walt Disney Company (via LucasFilm) is producing 12 new episodes of Clone Wars, which was seen on Cartoon Network from 2009 through 2013. This new iteration will be streamed on Disney's yet-to-be-launched SVOD service in 2019.

Disney Toons Studios

Planes sequel -- kaput

Update: The Walt Disney Company announced on June 28th that they are closing DTS and laying off and/or transferring remaining staff. Disney has been in the direct-to-video animated feature business sine the release of "Return of Jafar" in 1994. It was a long, lucrative run for the Mouse, but markets change (who buys DVDs anymore?) and audiences' passions shift.

The company made big profits with items like "Lion King 1 1/2", but the "Planes" franchise gendered little excitement. Producing low-budget features for the big screen didn't work either, because the movies -- particularly "Planes 2" -- made no money. Disney Toons Studios, RIP.

Walt Disney Animation Studios

The big news here: creative chief John Lasseter departs the end of the year. (Some media outlets have wondered aloud why he's being retained as a consultant through December; our info is that Lasseter's employment contract runs through December, so since he's being paid anyway, the House of Mouse wants to get a wee bit of bang for its buck.

One other significant Walt Disney Animation Studios departure this year: longtime director John Musker decided to hang up his director's hat and leave for other pursuits, throwing a goodbye party at Burbank's Pickwick Center as he walked out the door.

Update: And now replacements for Mr. Lasseter at Pixar and Walt Disney Animatin Studios (per a trade paper): "Pete Docter and Jennifer Lee have been named a chief creative officers of Disney’s animation divisions, with Docter stepping up at Pixar Animation Studios, where he has directed such films as Up and Inside Out, and Lee heading up Walt Disney Animation Studios, where she helmed Frozen." ...

Wreck-It Ralph 2 -- ongoing

Frozen 2 -- ongoing

(Various other projects at various stages of development, "Dragon Empire" allegedly being one of them. But not -- so far as I know -- officially announced by the studio.)

DreamWorks Animation

How to Train Your Dragon 3 -- ongoing

Trolls 2 -- ongoing

The Croods 2 -- ongoing (back on the schedule)

The Boss Baby 2 -- ongoing

Shrek 5 -- ongoing

Madagascar 4 -- ongoing

Puss in Boots 2 -- ongoing

Madagascar 4 -- ongoing

The majority of DreamWorks Animation theatrical projects are sequels, but there are also a number of originals

Dreamworks Animation TV

Veggie Tales -- ongoing

Rocky and Bullwinkle -- ongoing

Dinotrux -- ongoing

Home: Adventures of Tip and Oh -- ongoing

Kung Fu Panda -- ongoing

Wizards -- ongoing

3 Below -- ongoing

Troll Hunters -- wrapping up

Voltron -- ongoing

Dragons Jr -- ongoing

Harvey Street Kids (AKA "Harvey Girls) -- ongoing

Captain Underpants -- ongoing

Spirit Riding Free -- ongoing

Trolls -- ongoing

Boss Baby -- ongoing

She-Ra: Princess of Power -- ongoing

Cleopatra In Space -- ongoing

Minions -- ongoing

Noddy, Toyland Detective -- ongoing

DWA tv employees are now pitching original IPs to the company and multiple ideas have been greenlit for development.

Starz - Film Roman

Sold to Lions Gate -- no announced projects.

Rough Draft

Disenchantment -- ongoing (New Matt Groening show, long in development.)

Mega Man -- ongoing

Clash of Clans -- ongoing (YouTube series)

Frederator

Costume Quest -- ongoing (for Amazon)

Paramount Animation

Paramount Animation, under the leadership of former DWA exec Mireille Soria, has green lit multiple new projects. Paramount uses the Warner Animation Group and Illumination Entertainment production model of developing feature projects in Southern California and doing the productions with an overseas studio.

Wonder Park -- wrapping

It's A Wonderful Sponge -- ongoing ("SpongeBob" project which has been stopped and restarted multiple times)

Monster on the Hill -- ongoing

Luck -- ongoing

Bento Box

Bob's Burgers -- ongoing

Paradise PD -- ongoing (Netflix)

Fox Animation

Fox Animation Studios has two locations in Southern California. The facility housing "Family Guy" and "American Da" is on Wilshire Boulevard in L.A.; the facility doing "The Simpsons" is On Alameda Boulevard in Burbank.

Family Guy -- ongoing

Seth M. no longer does day-to-day oversight of "FG"; he delegates, does a variety of voices, and concentrates on his live-action activities from headquarters in Beverly Hills

American Dad -- ongoing

The Simpsons -- ongoing

Genius Brand (Andy Heyward Company. Andy ran DIC decades ago. The company was bought by ABC before ABC was part of Disney.)

Lama Lama -- ongoing (for Netflix)

Marvel Animation

Avengers Assemble -- wrapping up

Guardians of the Galaxy -- wrapping up

Spider-man -- wrapping up

We're informed that Marvel Animation will be going into hibernation.

Titmouse/Robin Red Breast

Moon Beam -- ongoing

Megalopolis -- ongoing

Super Jail -- ongoing

The Venture Brothers -- ongoing

Niko and the Sword of Light -- ongoing

Big Mouth -- ongoing

Tigtone -- ongoing

Scavengers -- ongoing

Activision

Skylanders Academy -- ongoing

Renegade -- ongoing

ABC Mouse (flash show) -- ongoing

Star Burns Industries

Rick and Morty (Rick and Morty LLC) -- ongoing

Animals -- ongoing

Shadow Machine

Bo Jack Horsemen -- ongoing

Dad Boner -- ongoing

Six Point/Six Point 2

Apollo Gauntlet (Adult Swim) -- ongoing

Star Chaser pilot --

Wild Canary

Puppy Dog Pals (Disney Jr.) -- ongoing

The Rocketeer -- ongoing (Season #1 -- 11-minute episodes -- for Disney Jr.)

Stupid Buddies Stoodio

Robot Chicken -- ongoing

Buddy Thunderstruck -- ongoing

SuperMansion -- ongoing

Hot Streets -- ongoing

Leodoro Productions

F is for Family -- ongoing

Universal

Alvin and the Chipmunks -- ongoing

Curious George -- ongoing (newer flash version)

Illumination Entertainment Studios

Secret Life of Pets 2 -- ongoing

Minions 2 -- ongoing

Sing 2 -- ongoing

Johnny Express -- ongoing

Despicable Me 4 -- ongoing

Untitled Mario feature -- ongoing

Illumination Entertainment's next release is "The Grinch", out November 9th. IE is heavy on sequels, but why not? The various franchises have enabled Illumination to open its own mint.

Splash Entertainment

Kulipari: An Army of Frogs -- ongoing (Netflix)

Woody Woodpecker (10 5-minute cartoons for South America)

Bureau of magic -- ongoing

The mice! The mice! Inside stories of Disney Animation in two exciting volumes ... Mouse in Transition and Mouse in Orbit. Available now! ... and into the future (we think)!

69 comments:

  1. Does the "(shorts)" next to Steven Universe just mean that more shorts are in production alongside the main show?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My Cartoon Network spies say that a long-form "Steven Universe" is being done, with regular-length TV episodes likely to follow. (Not official; just what insiders relay.)

      Delete
    2. What does a "long-form" Steven Universe mean? The only thing I think of when I see that is a movie or a one hour special. 🤔🤔🤔

      Delete
    3. Also curious what "long-form" means. Are they doing something like those miniseries Adventure Time had?

      Delete
    4. My understanding: Long-form=More than a half hour.

      Delete
  2. Sad to see Powerpuff Girls(2016) end so short, it still has a lot of potential i know why it's ending but it would've been nice to see some more good stuff added for it. Welcome to the Wayne is ongoing Thank God! Mickey Mouse is still ongoing that's good, and What about Final Space?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Final Space was renewed for a Season 2 back in May

      Delete
  3. Steve, do you know if the animation in Space Jam 2 is 2D or CGI?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Likely in CG. WB had no luck with their last hand-drawn hybrid. (I'm guessing here.)

      Delete
  4. Are you sure Sofia the First is still ongoing? I heard it wrapped production and the crew moved on to Fancy Nancy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If that's the case (I know it's near ... or at ... the end) post will be changed.

      Delete
  5. Walt Disney Animation Studios announced a new movie called "Dragon Empire" directed by Paul Briggs and Dean Wellins.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "Dragon Empire's" existence has been put out on the internet, but I don't believe Disney has made any official announcement about the movie.

      Delete
  6. I heard a rumor there's going to be a new TV show based on Oswald the Luck Rabbit for Disney. Do you know if it's true?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Could you double check if Descendants: Wicked World is still ongoing at Disney TV? There hasn't been a new episode since February 2017 and no announcements about a renewal since.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Do you know if Universal is still making Land Before Time movies or have they stopped?

    ReplyDelete
  9. Steve, do you know if Ron Clements is planning to leave Disney too?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I believe Ron is working on a book on Walt Disney Animation Studios and will be working there for the foreseeable future. I DO know the John Musker elected to retire a few months ago, and did.

      Delete
  10. Why do you keep listing Danger and Eggs as ongoing when the creator Shadi Petosky says it hasn't been renewed?

    Also, is the African American Flintstones different from the Yabba Dabba Dinosaurs shows recently announced for Boomerang?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Only as accurate as the info I receive. As before, the post will change as new input arrives.

      Delete
  11. When you list "Super Jail" as ongoing under Titmouse, do you mean Ballmastrz: 9009? That show is done by them and created by one of the creators of Superjail. SJ's been over since 2014.

    also i think "Thundercats Roar" is done by Warner?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree it should be Ballmasterz 9009, but season 1 was being produced by Titmouse in their NYC studio.

      Delete
  12. Fancy Nancy is confirmed to be airing on July 13, there is a trailer out for it, it is also on the disneyabcpress site

    https://www.disneyabcpress.com/disneyjunior/shows/fancy-nancy/press-releases/

    ReplyDelete
  13. New Woody WoodPecker (Pica-Pau) cartoon?

    ReplyDelete
  14. Any more info on that Three Caballeros cartoon, good man?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. At this point "3C" is designed for overseas consumption.

      Delete
  15. Any Milo Murphy’s Law Update?

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  17. I hope your sources are correct when it comes to the marvel shows wrapping up. We deserve better quality shows from marvel

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  18. Just wanted to say you put Madagascar 4 in twice.

    ReplyDelete
  19. A little confused over Animaniacs reboot being "update of the original 99 episodes." Does that mean it will be a remake, then?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Reboot generally means that the new iteration of the series will look somewhat different and have somewhat different takes on characters and stories. (Think the new "Duck Tales" vs. the old "Duck Tales.")

      Delete
  20. No news of Bee & Puppycat or Bravest Warriors from Frederator?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bee's production moved to Japan, Bravest's production moved to Canada. These articles are mostly-California centric

      Delete
    2. Klan speaks wisdom.

      We are interested here in the Cartoon Biz that happens in Southern California. Plenty of show on distributions outlets that are made elsewhere. Not focused on those. "Work Around Town" [L.A.] has meaning!

      Delete
  21. Hey Steve any news on star vs the forces of evil is it ending on its 4th season?

    ReplyDelete
  22. Just a heads up, Trollhunters ended with its final 3rd season a month ago, so that should be corrected.

    Any news on Apollo Gauntlet?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "Trollhunters" ending its run; the other two "Arcadia" shows (and why they're doing half-hours about a town with a big racetrack in the San Gabriel Valley is beyond me) are starting theirs.

      (See above).

      Delete
  23. Wait a minute, this is NOT the end of 2016 PPG, there are three more episodes that need to do better. And they are Total Eclipse of the Kart, The Long Skate Home, and Oh Daisy.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hey, I didn't see adventure time on that list. I know its on its last few episodes so wrapping up? And Steven universe "shorts"?

    ReplyDelete
  25. Yeah, about the Rocky and Bullwinkle reboot? Is Dreamworks still making new episodes of the show, do you know if it's been canned after the first 13 episodes or what?

    ReplyDelete
  26. Super Jail on Titmouse section...did you mean Ballmasterz 9000? Super Jail is over for already more than 4 years with no new episodes.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Also to add, Moon Beam on Titmouse section aka Moonbeam City was cancelled 2 years ago

    https://deadline.com/2016/03/moonbeam-city-canceled-comedy-central-one-season-rob-lowe-1201728448/

    ReplyDelete
  28. you didn't mention in the Nickelodeon section that Pinky Malinky is going to be on Netflix

    ReplyDelete
  29. Wait... Curious George is still being made? I could've sworn that was cancelled in 2015 :/

    Are you sure Alvin and the Chipmunks is being made by Universal? I don't know if Technicolor's still making it or not ._.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Hello, I asked you back in June if Rocky and Bullwinkle was still in production...is it still in production? Do you know? Has it wrapped production?

    ReplyDelete
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  33. Replies
    1. will it be within 3 days? Thats exaclty 8 months since this one.

      Delete
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