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Interviews

The Gold Standard in Animation Production ANIMATIONWorld

It All Started with a Funny Bird Name: Reflections on 25 Years of Titmouse

For co-founders Chris and Shannon Prynoski, what began as a side-gig selling t-shirts eventually became an award-winning animation production powerhouse with studios in Burbank, Hollywood, NY and Vancouver and a legion of adoring, passionate, and often slightly bent fans.

From Handing Out Donuts to Writing Famous Anime ANIMATIONWorld

Cyborgs, War Dramas and Evangelions: A Career in Anime

Columnist Andrew Osmond interviews Yoshiki Sakurai about his journey from a British high school to writing for such landmark anime as ‘Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex,’ ‘Giovanni’s Island,’ and ‘Evangelion.’

Who Doesn’t Love Dennis the Wolf? VFXWorld

‘A Minecraft Movie’: Wētā FX Helps Adapt an Iconic Game One Block at a Time

By Dan Sarto | Thursday, May 29, 2025 at 12:18pm

VFX Supervisor Sheldon Stopsack and Animation Supervisor Kevin Estey discuss the studio’s extensive world building and character design / animation work on Jared Hess’ hit comedy adventure, delivering 450 visual effects shots that wove together the game’s block-based aesthetic with live-action photography; work included villain Malgosha, The Overworld, The Nether, 12 different Piglin variants, zombies, skeletons, and loveable wolf Dennis.

Business ANIMATIONWorld

A Conversation with Luigi Loy: The Journey of ‘Flow’ from Festivals to Oscar Glory

Learn about how Sacrebleu, a leading independent production / distribution company, relies on festivals for generating exposure and market awareness for short and feature films, taken from an interview by Chris Donahue, film and TV professor at SCAD and Academy Award and Emmy Award-winning producer, during a Master Class at the recent SCAD Animation Festival in Lacoste, France.

Giggity Giggity Goo ANIMATIONWorld

‘Family Guy’: Rich Appel and Alec Sulkin Talk Longevity, Collaboration, and Doing it By Hand

By Dan Sarto | Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at 4:56pm

In this candid conversation, the series’ EPs and showrunners discuss the show's enduring success, their long-running creative partnership, and how production has evolved while staying true to its roots.

Life finds a way ANIMATIONWorld

Scott Kreamer Talks Morally Grey Areas and Italian Grandmas in ‘Chaos Theory’ Season 3

The DreamWorks Animation series showrunner and EP discusses the new season’s multi-layered character arcs, which include Kenji’s unraveling as he deals with the grief of Brooklynn’s rejection, and her growing inner turmoil as she’s drawn deeper into a web of criminal dinosaur trafficking; debuts April 3 on Netflix.

Big Pharma Meets Magic Mushrooms ANIMATIONWorld

The Dark, Comic World of Steve Hely’s and Joe Bennett’s ‘Common Side Effects’

By Dan Sarto | Tuesday, February 4, 2025 at 2:14pm

The creators of Adult Swim’s all-new comedy/thriller discuss their deep dive into the mysterious and surreal world of a newly discovered healing mushroom, big pharma, wellness culture, and their disruptive effects on society.

Policework Can Be Ruff ANIMATIONWorld

Bringing ‘Dog Man’ to Life: A Conversation with Peter Hastings and Karen Foster

By Dan Sarto | Wednesday, January 29, 2025 at 3:38pm

The director and producer discuss DreamWorks’ latest cinematic gem, adapted from NYT bestselling author Dav Pilkey’s kids’ book series about a dog who becomes much more than a police officer’s ‘best friend’ after they are both hurt on the job and fused together in a harebrained but live-saving surgery; hits theaters January 31.

We Return to Piltover and Zaun ANIMATIONWorld

Unveiling ‘Arcane’: A Conversation with Pascal Charrue and Alexis Wanneroy

By Dan Sarto | Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at 1:59pm

The co-executive producer/director and co-supervisor of animation discuss the challenges, inspirations, and innovative techniques that pushed visual and storytelling boundaries and helped shape Netflix’s award-winning series’ second and final season.

Composing for Animation ANIMATIONWorld

‘Kensuke’s Kingdom’: Weaving Captivating Music into a Hand-Drawn Visual Feast

Composer Stuart Hancock discusses how he created the evocative soundtrack that so beautifully meshed with Neil Boyle and Kirk Hendry’s poignant 2D animated adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s novel, spotlighting the power of connection and the beauty of nature; releases November 26 on VOD.

Springfield Takes It in the Shorts ANIMATIONWorld

Al Jean Talks ‘The Simpsons’ Short ‘The Most Wonderful Time of the Year’

By Dan Sarto | Wednesday, November 20, 2024 at 3:24pm

The iconic show’s long-time executive producer and showrunner shares his thoughts on his team’s latest short film - featuring Sideshow Bob, famous Disney+ villains, and so-called Halloween spirit - as well as his love of the format, and the important role shorts play in the franchise’s universe since the move to Disney.

Pals Forever… Not! ANIMATIONWorld

Christopher Batty Talks the Cinematography of ‘Transformers One’

By Dan Sarto | Thursday, November 14, 2024 at 12:36pm

From the innovative use of mocap for fast prototyping with virtual story reels to choosing the right cameras to ensure a proper sense of scale on massive sets and environments, the cinematographer discusses how he handled layout and composition on Josh Cooley and Paramount’s 3DCG origin story of how two best friends became the sworn enemies Optimus Prime and Megatron.

Splinter Me This VFXWorld

Getting It Right: The Carefully Calibrated VFX that Makes ‘The Boys’ ‘The Boys’

As Visual Effects Supervisor Stephan Fleet makes clear, there’s more to the visual stylings of the acclaimed Prime Video series than exploding heads and flesh-eating flying sheep.

It’s Tough Being a Demigod VFXWorld

Building the World of ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’

From the Minotaur and the Chimera to the Underworld and the pit of Tartarus, Senior VFX Supervisor Erik Henry talks about what it took to create the mythological universe for the hit Disney+ series, now streaming.

Brick by Brick ANIMATIONWorld

‘Piece by Piece’ Resets Expectations of What LEGO Movies Can Be

Director Morgan Neville and animation director Howard E. Baker discuss how they blended LEGO animation and documentary filmmaking techniques to visualize Pharrell Williams’ unique musical journey, offering a fresh take on how animated biopics can capture the emotional depth of their subjects.

preschool animation ANIMATIONWorld

‘Mighty Monsterwheelies’: Universal’s ‘Monster’ Truck Heroes for Preschoolers

Creator Kyel White and EP Stephanie Simpson talk about their new animated adventure-comedy series from DreamWorks Animation, which turns some of Universal Pictures’ most well-known cinematic ‘monsters’ into heroic rescue vehicles; show debuts October 14 on Netflix.

We Want More Lara! ANIMATIONWorld

‘Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft’: Tasha Huo’s 2D Take on an Unconventional Female Heroine

The EP, Showrunner and writer of the new Netflix series talks about her longstanding adoration of the globetrotting adventurer, the animation style that gives the series a dreamy appeal, and what episodes she’s most looking forward to fans watching; show debuts today, October 10.

Boo! ANIMATIONWorld

Creators Jeff Dixon and Jim Cooper Talk ‘Curses!’ Season 2

With their dad finally freed from his curse, the reunited Vanderhouven family continues working to undo the damage done by their greedy ancestors… but when dad doesn’t seem quite the same, they must come together as family to face a brand-new set of mysteries, both at home and abroad; debuts October 4 on Apple TV+.

A Bond Like No Other ANIMATIONWorld

‘The Wild Robot’: An Eloquent Exploration of Self, Technology, and Nature

Oscar-nominated writer/director Chris Sanders and producer Jeff Hermann discuss DreamWorks Animation's beautifully animated and emotionally compelling film, based on the beloved bestseller by Peter Brown, about a domestic robot shipwrecked on an uninhabited island who must learn to adapt to the harsh surrounding, opening today in theaters.

Welcome to Hells Door! ANIMATIONWorld

Beyond Thor and Loki: ‘Twilight of the Gods’ Takes a Deeper Dive into Norse Mythology

Executive producers Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder, and Wesley Coller discuss their all-new 2D adult animated series about an iron-willed warrior’s vow of vengeance on the Thunder God, now streaming on Netflix.

Heading to Savannah! ANIMATIONWorld

Unpacking SCAD AnimationFest 2024 With Paula Wallace and Dan Bartlett

The university’s founder and the Dean of the School of Animation and Motion discuss the array of top speakers and program highlights, including Genndy Tartakovsky receiving the Award of Excellence and Toby Wilson presenting 'Blue Eye Samurai,' at the annual celebration of animation, which starts tomorrow, September 26, running through September 28.

An Homage to Batman and Robin ANIMATIONWorld

Channeling the Caped Crusaders in ‘Rick and Morty: The Anime’ Promo

Open the Portal’s David Braun and Aron Fromm talk about an almost fanatical attention to detail on their ‘Batman: The Animated Series’-inspired spot supporting today’s ‘Alien Elle’ episode of Adult Swim’s all-new anime series from visionary director Takashi Sano.

Dang that Guy Can Draw! VFXWorld

‘Harold and the Purple Crayon’ Hits the Hybrid Sweet Spot

Director Carlos Saldanha and VFX Producer Ken Wallace talk about coloring outside the lines to create Sony Pictures’ live-action/animated adaptation of Crockett Johnson’s famed kids’ book, now playing in theaters nationwide.

Talk to the Blade ANIMATIONWorld

The Beauty Behind the Blade: How ‘Blue Eye Samurai’ Brings Edo-Period Japan to Life

By Dan Sarto | Friday, August 16, 2024 at 2:00pm

Creators Amber Noizumi and Michael Green, along with supervising director and producer Jane Wu, talk about their improbable hit animated historical drama, nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys and winner of 3 juried Emmys this past Wednesday, that follows a mixed-race Japanese sword master living a life in disguise and shame while seeking vengeance in the early 1600s; now streaming on Netflix.

The Ex-Jedi Returns VFXWorld

The ‘Imperfect’ Visual Effects that Make ‘Ahsoka’ Shine

Award-winning VFX supervisor Richard Bluff talks about his work delivering more than 4,000 shots on the Disney+ Star Wars spinoff that has just been nominated for five Emmy Awards.

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Life finds a way ANIMATIONWorld

Scott Kreamer Gets Nostalgic Talking ‘Jurassic World: Chaos Theory’s Final Season

For the show’s longtime executive producer, the last 9 episodes of DreamWorks’ hit 3DCG series brings the story of ‘The Nublar Six’ to a satisfying – and action-packed - conclusion; debuts November 20 on Netflix.

Don’t You Wish… ANIMATIONWorld

Creating the Grounded Fantasy World of ‘In Your Dreams'

By Dan Sarto | Monday, November 17, 2025 at 5:37pm

For director Alex Woo, production designer Steve Pilcher, and VFX supervisor Nicola Lavender, anchoring their animated film with an emotional story about a child trying to keep their family from breaking apart gave its dream world both meaningful and believable stakes; now streaming on Netflix.

Just Lupin You All In ANIMATIONWorld

Takeshi Koike Talks ‘Lupin the Third’

Anime columnist Andrew Osmond interviews the director about his 13 years spent working on the famous franchise based on the manga by Monkey Punch.

Say it Ain’t So Korvo! ANIMATIONWorld

Mike McMahan and Josh Bycel Reflect on the ‘Solar Opposites’ Final Season

By Dan Sarto | Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at 5:05pm

The showrunners and co-creators discuss how, for now, they’ve concluded their hilarious Hulu animated comedy, wrapping up key arcs, keeping others hanging, and always pushing for what great adult animation can deliver for audiences.

Capisce? ANIMATIONWorld

Exclusive: ‘Beefy Frank’ - An Antipasto of Heart and Horror

Creators Mike Carlo and Jason Alvino, and EP Christy Karacas, veterans of shows like ‘Superjail!,’ ‘King Star King’ and ‘Ballmastrz: 9009’ talk about their new animated comedy featuring a low-level mobster accidentally mutated into a disembodied head with telekinetic powers, and his life and family struggles after getting released from jail.

It’s Bender-rific! ANIMATIONWorld

Script First, Chaos Later: How ‘Futurama’ Captures Comedic Mayhem

By Dan Sarto | Monday, October 6, 2025 at 3:55pm

Billy West, Lauren Tom, and Phil LaMarr unpack Season 13’s mix of sharp scripts, group records, and character beats - from a crankier Farnsworth to Amy and Kif’s parenting - while explaining why honoring the writers’ words matters more than ad-libbing; now on FXX and Hulu.

It’s Pawsome! ANIMATIONWorld

Sarah Mullervy Talks ‘Glamsters’ and Jungle Struggles in ‘SuperKitties’ Season 3

With a Children’s and Family Emmy Award and Season 4 renewal in hand, the hit preschool animation series that follows four fierce and furry superhero kitties on a mission to make their hometown a more ‘pawesome’ place launches its new season today, October 1, on Disney+.

The Gold Standard in Animation Production ANIMATIONWorld

It All Started with a Funny Bird Name: Reflections on 25 Years of Titmouse

For co-founders Chris and Shannon Prynoski, what began as a side-gig selling t-shirts eventually became an award-winning animation production powerhouse with studios in Burbank, Hollywood, NY and Vancouver and a legion of adoring, passionate, and often slightly bent fans.

From Handing Out Donuts to Writing Famous Anime ANIMATIONWorld

Cyborgs, War Dramas and Evangelions: A Career in Anime

Columnist Andrew Osmond interviews Yoshiki Sakurai about his journey from a British high school to writing for such landmark anime as ‘Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex,’ ‘Giovanni’s Island,’ and ‘Evangelion.’

Who Doesn’t Love Dennis the Wolf? VFXWorld

‘A Minecraft Movie’: Wētā FX Helps Adapt an Iconic Game One Block at a Time

By Dan Sarto | Thursday, May 29, 2025 at 12:18pm

VFX Supervisor Sheldon Stopsack and Animation Supervisor Kevin Estey discuss the studio’s extensive world building and character design / animation work on Jared Hess’ hit comedy adventure, delivering 450 visual effects shots that wove together the game’s block-based aesthetic with live-action photography; work included villain Malgosha, The Overworld, The Nether, 12 different Piglin variants, zombies, skeletons, and loveable wolf Dennis.

Business ANIMATIONWorld

A Conversation with Luigi Loy: The Journey of ‘Flow’ from Festivals to Oscar Glory

Learn about how Sacrebleu, a leading independent production / distribution company, relies on festivals for generating exposure and market awareness for short and feature films, taken from an interview by Chris Donahue, film and TV professor at SCAD and Academy Award and Emmy Award-winning producer, during a Master Class at the recent SCAD Animation Festival in Lacoste, France.

Giggity Giggity Goo ANIMATIONWorld

‘Family Guy’: Rich Appel and Alec Sulkin Talk Longevity, Collaboration, and Doing it By Hand

By Dan Sarto | Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at 4:56pm

In this candid conversation, the series’ EPs and showrunners discuss the show's enduring success, their long-running creative partnership, and how production has evolved while staying true to its roots.

Life finds a way ANIMATIONWorld

Scott Kreamer Talks Morally Grey Areas and Italian Grandmas in ‘Chaos Theory’ Season 3

The DreamWorks Animation series showrunner and EP discusses the new season’s multi-layered character arcs, which include Kenji’s unraveling as he deals with the grief of Brooklynn’s rejection, and her growing inner turmoil as she’s drawn deeper into a web of criminal dinosaur trafficking; debuts April 3 on Netflix.

Big Pharma Meets Magic Mushrooms ANIMATIONWorld

The Dark, Comic World of Steve Hely’s and Joe Bennett’s ‘Common Side Effects’

By Dan Sarto | Tuesday, February 4, 2025 at 2:14pm

The creators of Adult Swim’s all-new comedy/thriller discuss their deep dive into the mysterious and surreal world of a newly discovered healing mushroom, big pharma, wellness culture, and their disruptive effects on society.

Policework Can Be Ruff ANIMATIONWorld

Bringing ‘Dog Man’ to Life: A Conversation with Peter Hastings and Karen Foster

By Dan Sarto | Wednesday, January 29, 2025 at 3:38pm

The director and producer discuss DreamWorks’ latest cinematic gem, adapted from NYT bestselling author Dav Pilkey’s kids’ book series about a dog who becomes much more than a police officer’s ‘best friend’ after they are both hurt on the job and fused together in a harebrained but live-saving surgery; hits theaters January 31.

We Return to Piltover and Zaun ANIMATIONWorld

Unveiling ‘Arcane’: A Conversation with Pascal Charrue and Alexis Wanneroy

By Dan Sarto | Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at 1:59pm

The co-executive producer/director and co-supervisor of animation discuss the challenges, inspirations, and innovative techniques that pushed visual and storytelling boundaries and helped shape Netflix’s award-winning series’ second and final season.

Composing for Animation ANIMATIONWorld

‘Kensuke’s Kingdom’: Weaving Captivating Music into a Hand-Drawn Visual Feast

Composer Stuart Hancock discusses how he created the evocative soundtrack that so beautifully meshed with Neil Boyle and Kirk Hendry’s poignant 2D animated adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s novel, spotlighting the power of connection and the beauty of nature; releases November 26 on VOD.

Springfield Takes It in the Shorts ANIMATIONWorld

Al Jean Talks ‘The Simpsons’ Short ‘The Most Wonderful Time of the Year’

By Dan Sarto | Wednesday, November 20, 2024 at 3:24pm

The iconic show’s long-time executive producer and showrunner shares his thoughts on his team’s latest short film - featuring Sideshow Bob, famous Disney+ villains, and so-called Halloween spirit - as well as his love of the format, and the important role shorts play in the franchise’s universe since the move to Disney.

Pals Forever… Not! ANIMATIONWorld

Christopher Batty Talks the Cinematography of ‘Transformers One’

By Dan Sarto | Thursday, November 14, 2024 at 12:36pm

From the innovative use of mocap for fast prototyping with virtual story reels to choosing the right cameras to ensure a proper sense of scale on massive sets and environments, the cinematographer discusses how he handled layout and composition on Josh Cooley and Paramount’s 3DCG origin story of how two best friends became the sworn enemies Optimus Prime and Megatron.

Splinter Me This VFXWorld

Getting It Right: The Carefully Calibrated VFX that Makes ‘The Boys’ ‘The Boys’

As Visual Effects Supervisor Stephan Fleet makes clear, there’s more to the visual stylings of the acclaimed Prime Video series than exploding heads and flesh-eating flying sheep.

It’s Tough Being a Demigod VFXWorld

Building the World of ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’

From the Minotaur and the Chimera to the Underworld and the pit of Tartarus, Senior VFX Supervisor Erik Henry talks about what it took to create the mythological universe for the hit Disney+ series, now streaming.

Brick by Brick ANIMATIONWorld

‘Piece by Piece’ Resets Expectations of What LEGO Movies Can Be

Director Morgan Neville and animation director Howard E. Baker discuss how they blended LEGO animation and documentary filmmaking techniques to visualize Pharrell Williams’ unique musical journey, offering a fresh take on how animated biopics can capture the emotional depth of their subjects.

preschool animation ANIMATIONWorld

‘Mighty Monsterwheelies’: Universal’s ‘Monster’ Truck Heroes for Preschoolers

Creator Kyel White and EP Stephanie Simpson talk about their new animated adventure-comedy series from DreamWorks Animation, which turns some of Universal Pictures’ most well-known cinematic ‘monsters’ into heroic rescue vehicles; show debuts October 14 on Netflix.

We Want More Lara! ANIMATIONWorld

‘Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft’: Tasha Huo’s 2D Take on an Unconventional Female Heroine

The EP, Showrunner and writer of the new Netflix series talks about her longstanding adoration of the globetrotting adventurer, the animation style that gives the series a dreamy appeal, and what episodes she’s most looking forward to fans watching; show debuts today, October 10.

Boo! ANIMATIONWorld

Creators Jeff Dixon and Jim Cooper Talk ‘Curses!’ Season 2

With their dad finally freed from his curse, the reunited Vanderhouven family continues working to undo the damage done by their greedy ancestors… but when dad doesn’t seem quite the same, they must come together as family to face a brand-new set of mysteries, both at home and abroad; debuts October 4 on Apple TV+.

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