Latest news with #animation
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Pixar's Newest Film ‘Hoppers' Asks, ‘What if You Could Talk to Animals?'
We spoke with director Daniel Chong about his debut feature-length film releasing in spring of 2026, and how he compares the process to parenting. As Pixar has built a reputation on writing its own rulebook for crafting stories that are both relevant and timeless, the question, "What if?" has been a guiding light in many of their on-screen ventures. That question looms large in the idea behind their upcoming feature film, Hoppers, releasing in theaters March 6, 2026. The premise reads: What if you could talk to animals and understand what they're saying? In Disney and Pixar's all-new feature film Hoppers, scientists have discovered how to 'hop' human consciousness into lifelike robotic animals, allowing people to communicate with animals as animals! The adventure introduces Mabel, a college student and animal lover who seizes an opportunity to use the technology, uncovering mysteries within the animal world that are beyond anything she could have imagined. Have a look at the brand new teaser trailer: Now, if you're thinking that's giving some big James Cameron's Avatar vibes, you're not wrong. In fact, Daniel Chong, the director of Hoppers openly acknowledges the influence–though he calls it just a "soft jumping-off point" for where the movie is really headed. In addition, he mentions another big film franchise that he drew inspiration from. "One of the other biggest influences for us was Mission: Impossible," Chong tells Parents. "The movie becomes a bit of an espionage movie, where Mabel is going undercover. It will lead to a lot of crazy thrills that you did not expect." Chong goes on to describe the character of Mabel as being just as unpredictable as the adventure she's on, and how viewers who are animal lovers and rule-breakers (for a good cause) should get a lot of enjoyment from Hoppers. Character and Narrative Connections As with many of the directors in Pixar's filmography, Chong's relationship to his first feature film is a personal one. Having been a story artist at Pixar before becoming a director, he says it's only natural that a lot of himself would be sprinkled throughout the story. He points to his love for animals and his fascination with how they coexist with humans as the original thematic spark behind the movie. He also reveals how he leaned on his own close relationship with his mother to inform Mabel's relationship with her grandmother in the film. "I channeled a lot of that into the movie, because that's the relationship that grounds [Mabel] in her love of nature and why she wants to protect it so desperately," says Chong. "Mabel is also a bit unhinged, and a little chaotic, and unpredictable. She's led by her passions, so [viewers] can expect some unpredictability from her." As seen in the trailer, Mabel's protective instinct should serve her well at some points and not so well at others, as she navigates a world very different from her own. Chong speaks to how the characters treading into scientific innovation leads to them crossing wires with some established rules of nature. And while the two don't always mix, there are some lessons that can come from it. "A lot of the movie is about how [Mabel] coexists, not just with other animals, but with other people," Chong notes. "[It's about] how she relates to them, and the consequences of decisions she makes, good and bad. She's learning to navigate connection more than anything; and as she does, she'll learn how to build them over the process of the story." Research and Mystery As for how he chose a beaver to be the avatar animal for Mabel's experience, Chong says it came after a lot of trial and error, but it was a decision that made a ton of sense after doing research. "They call [beavers] one of the 'ecosystem engineers'", says Chong. "During the rewinding of Yellowstone National Park, wolves were a big part of that equation, but beavers played a big role also. Once the beavers set up their ponds and lodges, all these other animals began to return to the area because the ecosystem [they helped build] restored the habitat." Chong explains how the knowledge that these "little rodents can do engineering" inspired him to make them the focal point in the movie, highlighting that even the smallest among us can make a big impact. Diving a little deeper into the research Chong and the team did for Hoppers, he talks about a trip they took to Yellowstone where they immersed themselves in the wild with the animals, just like Mabel will be. "One of the cool things they tell you as you enter Yellowstone is, 'You are now entering the animals' world. This is not your place, so you need to respect it,'" Chong recalls. "It was a really grounding experience for all of us to recontextualize our place." The film's art team also went to Colorado to actually swim in beaver ponds, with the guidance of Emily Fairfax. Ph.D, Assistant Professor of Geography at the University of Minnesota and beaver expert. While there, they took photos and learned everything they could about beaver habitats. Chong laughs, saying, "I'm glad I didn't go because I have a feeling I would not have survived. But they went the extra mile for the research, and I hope it shows in the movie." Regarding Mabel's journey in the movie, Chong teases how she may get a rude awakening when it comes to respecting animals' habitats as well. "That's the thing about the animal world–there's still so much we don't understand. There's so much mystery; and we may not ever understand animal intelligence totally. But that's the fun of the movie–seeing how that all plays out." How the 'Village' Brings Everything to Life While Chong does not have kids, and doesn't profess to understand all that the parenting journey entails, he is a "parent" to this movie. And he draws a very clear connection to both processes needing a village. "Making a movie (especially one at Pixar) is a tough journey," he acknowledges. "It takes a long time, and you're basically iterating the same story over and over and over again [to the point that] you can lose your way and lose perspective so easily." Sound familiar? "The only thing that really helps me survive this process is the support of the people around me," Chong continues. "I felt very luck to have a great team–some of them I've known for quite a long time. Having a support system I can rely on really made it more plausible, so I didn't have to cary the burden of making the movie every day." Chong says he hopes the work this village put in on Hoppers will ultimately shine through next spring. Read the original article on Parents Solve the daily Crossword
CTV News
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Saint John ‘Toon Dojo' offers stress-free course on finer points of animation
A new dojo in Saint John, N.B., doesn't teach students how to chop through boards of wood with one mighty blow or how to land precise kicks on enemies, but it is aiming to give their fingers a workout. The 'Toon Dojo' is offering a new route for people to explore the craft of animation in a workshop-oriented format. 'Although college is a really good path for people, I wanted to offer a more accessible path,' said Brian Finlay. 'Very tiny classes with only four students per class. That just allows for one-on-one time and gives students time to put in the line mileage.' Finlay, who worked as an animator with Disney, is the founder of Drawn to It Studios, which has been involved in projects like the Saint John-based 'Ug Wug' film. He's taught animation at different levels for the last 20 years. 'I'm very passionate about the craft,' he said. 'I take it as seriously as you can take something that involves you drawing cartoons all day.' Finlay designed the program to provide an outlet for people to delve into animation without the rigorous demands of a college-level course. 'Level up without the stress of accomplishing specific things at certain times,' he said. 'None of that stress.' Brian Finlay Brian Finlay, who runs the Toon Dojo, is pictured. (Source: Brian Finlay) Toon Dojo is not just a name for the workshop; Finlay is incorporating elements of martial arts into his teaching philosophy. 'Students begin with white pencils and graduate with black pencil,' he said. 'They move from pencil colour to pencil colour until they reach the industry standard of entry level.' Finlay offers one key tip for everyone considering working in animation: Don't be afraid to fail. 'Everybody who gets into it, the hardest part is to forget what they think they know about drawing,' he said. 'A lot of students approach it like every line has to be perfect. They don't like using erasers. We try to deprogram that. The best way to get better is to fail.' The Toon Dojo will offer sessions for teenagers and adults starting in August at the studio's office space on Carleton Street. 'We're definitely starting small and humble,' Finlay said. 'The hope is to grow the classroom size by a few workstations. We don't want to grow too big because that can cut down on the one-on-one time. 'We hope it will be part of an animation industry growth in Saint John.' For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
What parents need to know about ‘Smurfs' and more
Age 7+ Positive messages, peril and salty language in animated adventure. The latest take on the beloved blue cartoon characters follows Smurfette (voiced by Rihanna) and her friend No Name Smurf (James Corden) on an adventure to rescue Papa Smurf (John Goodman). While the movie has positive messages about believing in yourself, working as a team and persevering, there are several scenes of peril and animated violence, including a kidnapping, chases, a hero's presumed death, ominous portals and a machine designed to fatally smash Smurfs. There's also a fair bit of salty language, from insults like 'stupid' and 'idiot' to phrases and exclamations in which 'Smurf' is a stand-in for stronger words ('Smurf that,' 'load of Smurf,' 'I Smurfed my pants,' 'let's go Smurf that wizard up' and more). The name 'Kick-A-- Smurf' is bleeped. A past romance is implied between two characters, and colorful drinks are served at a bar. (89 minutes)
Gizmodo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
‘Arcane' Season 2 Gets a Lavish Home Release, Just in Time for Emmy Season
With Emmy season in full swing and a lot of eyes on whether Riot Games and Fortiche's League of Legends studio will sweep an already steep competitive lineup of animated shows, GKids has announced a slew of home release pre-order editions for Arcane season two, freeing it from the confines of streaming. In a press release, GKids announced that the home release of Arcane season two will feature a limited-run Collector's Edition. This will include SteelBook Editions in both 4K UHD and Blu-ray formats, a standard Blu-ray edition, and options for Digital Download-to-Own. Bonus features in Arcane's home release will include an artist gallery, a writer's room, and artist breakdowns of its three acts, as well as storyboards and music videos. All editions of Arcane season two are available for pre-order on GKids' website. GKids' home video pre-orders announcement for Arcane season two comes following the animated video game adaptation's two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Animated Program and Outstanding Sound Editing. In the series' history, Arcane has been nominated for seven Emmys, making it one of the most decorated video game-adapted series ever. To celebrate this achievement, Fortiche released an illustration of Jinx, a tradition it's established whenever Arcane is mentioned during awards season. Given that 2024 was a banner year for animation, it remains to be seen if Arcane can achieve similar success with its second and final season, potentially bringing home more awards. This success has notably legitimized video game adaptations as a valuable and worthwhile pursuit in the entertainment industry, one worth nurturing—especially for Riot Games—in the years to come. Humbled to receive nominations at this year's #Emmys, including Outstanding Animated Program. Congratulations to cast and crew 💙 Artwork by our talented artists. ✨#Fortiche #Arcane #Fortichers — Fortiche prod (@ForticheProd) July 16, 2025While we preferred season one of Arcane over season two, io9's review celebrated the show for its poignant queer representation and its extraordinary animation. Fortunately, aside from Riot Games' 'Timebomb'-focused post-show music video, the company isn't showing any signs of slowing down in producing more animated adventures within the expansive world of League of Legends. In other words, fans can look forward to exploring different narratives from the game without having to play League itself—something both Riot Games co-founder Marc Merrill and players caution curious Netflix viewers about. Both seasons of Arcane are available to stream on Netflix. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
Fast Company
3 days ago
- Fast Company
How Blender won over the design world
For decades, Blender—the open-source 3D software tool—had a quirk that distinguished it from other animation software on the market. Instead of clicking to select with the mouse or trackpad's left button, it required users to right-click selections. It was a small but strange defiance of usability norms, and it was illustrative of Blender's unconventional approach to design software. For years after launching in 1994, Blender was considered an under-the-radar tool. Its challenging UX and open-source nature meant it was used primarily by designers and animators who had no money to spend on five-figure professional 3D software licenses. Then in 2019, things changed. Blender rolled out a wholesale redesign, including switching right-select to left-select. It updated its interface to be easier to use and introduced new features that could compete with bigger-budget software packages like Cinema 4D and Autodesk's Maya. Data from Blender shows that download numbers jumped from tens of thousands of downloads per month to nearly 1 million after the relaunch, and since then user numbers have continued to grow.
