Cricket Green “Directs” an Epic Trailer Ahead of “Big City Greens” Season Three Premiere on Disney Channel
The Green Family Farm reopens for business on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022.
“The Ghost and Molly McGee” Combines Music and Charm for a Worthy Successor to Classic Disney Channel Shows
If anything stands out in the first five episodes of new Disney Channel animated series “The Ghost and Molly McGee,” now streaming on Disney Plus, it’s that this show is absolutely in the style of beloved Disney Channel animated projects, while bringing its own style to the 2021 cartoon slate.
The first episode, Curses, is available free on YouTube as well!
Here are five reasons why we think “The Ghost and Molly McGee” should be mandatory screening this fall:
- So Many Jokes: The well-written comedy is enhanced by the delivery of incredible leads Ashly Burch (Enid from “OK K.O.!”) and Dana Snyder (Gazpacho from “Chowder”).
- Great Songs: These songs, in a variety of styles, are going to stick with you. If you’re not already a fan of Tally Hall band member and Internet sensation “Actual Cannibal Shia LeBeouf” creator Rob Cantor, who writes the original music for the show, you will be.
- Beloved Character Tropes with a New Spin: Molly’s manic positivity brings the Thai-American character a Star Butterfly — or even Amphibia’s Sprig as a teen girl — vibe. It’s all the better when combined with Scratch’s spoil-sport commitment, like Phineas & Ferb’s Candace Flynn, and the cheating, scheming, grump of Grunkle Stan.
- Binge-worthy: The episodes are a tight 11-minutes each and easy to watch one after another.
- Weird, Great Family: More than just a small family unit of Molly’s parents and brother, the show includes a vibrant, ridiculous community that fills out the heart of the stories.
Amphibia S3 premiere promo art!
on twitter (in order): @/OldLadyBoats, @/annalmonds, @ /rattusRose, @/Radrappy, @/faith_schaffer, @/britneythoreson, @/GinaGaravalia, and @/raebits
Season 3 of “Amphibia” premieres on Disney Channel on October 2, 2021!
(via cartoon-hell)
Stephanie Beatriz takes the lead as Mirabel in Disney’s ENCANTO Trailer
The musical animated feature “Encanto” follows the Madrigals, a family who lives in an enchanted house that blesses all of the members with magical gifts except Mirabel. But when the magic and home become unstable, Mirabel is more than ready to do what it takes to make things right.
The voice cast includes Stephanie Beatriz as Mirabel; María Cecilia Botero as Mirabel’s grandmother Alma aka Abuela; John Leguizamo as Bruno; Angie Cepeda and Wilmer Valderrama as Mirabel’s parents, Julieta and Agustín; and Diane Guererro and Jessica Darrow as Mirabel’s sisters, Isabela and Luisa. Also lending their voices are Carolina Gaitán and Mauro Castillo as Mirabel’s aunt and uncle, Pepa and Félix; and Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz and Ravi Cabot-Conyers as Mirabel’s cousins Dolores, Camilo and Antonio, respectively.
“Encanto” opens in theaters on November 24, 2021.
Disney Renews “The Ghost and Molly McGee” For Second Season Ahead of Series Premiere
Disney TV Animation gets into the spooky spirit early (not unlike many of you!) by ordering a second season of its new original show about an overenthusiastic middle schooler making best friends with the ghost cursed to follow her.
The first season airs on the Disney Channel starting October 1, 2021.
Molly, voiced by Ashly Burch, is surrounded by a great voice cast, including Dana Snyder as Scratchy the Ghost and Jordan Klepper and Sumalee Montano as the McGee parents.
Fans of “Steven Universe” will love hearing Michaela Dietz (Amethyst) as Molly’s brother Darryl.
Guest stars for season one include:
- Kelsey Grammer (Fraiser, Storks)
- Natasha Rothwell (DuckTales)
- Greta Gerwig (Isle of Dogs)
- Yvette Nicole Brown (Community)
- Jane Lynch (Wreck-It Ralph)
- Jenifer Lewis (The Princess and the Frog)
- Danny Trejo (Maya and the Three)
- Aparna Nancherla (BoJack Horseman)
- Pamela Adlon (Milo Murphy’s Law)
- Patton Oswalt (Marvel’s M.O.D.O.K.)
- D’Arcy Carden (The Good Place)
- Thomas Lennon (Jellystone)
- Jessica Keenan Wynn (Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again)
- Sean Giambrone (Solar Opposites)
- Courtney
DuckTales has been picked up for a third season on the Disney Channel, and across the English Channel, David Tennant (Scrooge) is putting up with extra nephew shenanigans in the above celebratory video!
2019 Oscar Nominations in Animation
This morning, the Academy Award nominees were announced (full list here). Here is how animation stacked up in the list:
Best Animated Feature Film:
- “Incredibles 2” — Disney/Pixar’s hit sequel to their original family superhero film
- “Isle of Dogs” — Director Wes Anderson’s latest stop-motion adventure follows a Japanese boy on a mission to rescue his dog.
- “Mirai” — Japanese import with stunning 2D animation and a charming story of family and time-travel, by director Mamoru Hosoda
- “Ralph Breaks the Internet” — Walt Disney Animation continues the tale of Wreck-It Ralph with a lot of laughs and heart
- “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” — Sony proves how far it can go with the proper push, with incredible comics-inspired animation and Spider-Man like you’ve never seen him.
Honestly, I’m having a hard time picking the best film from this list. All my favorite animated films from last year are represented, proving again what a great year 2018 was in animation. These films are funny and inspiring and beautiful. LOOK AT THEM!
ANIMATED SHORT FILM
- “Animal Behaviour” — The National Film Board of Canada presents David Fine & Alison Snowden’s short about "a group therapy session, with animals.”
- “Bao” — A “culinary fable” from Pixar’s first female director of an animated short, Domee Shi, with inspiration from her Chinese immigrant parents’ protective style of love.
- “Late Afternoon” — Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon’s exploration into a woman’s experience with memory loss, directed by Louise Bagnall. (Watch in full here).
- “One Small Step” — Newcomer TAIKO Studios’ first project “follows the story of Luna, a Chinese American girl who dreams of becoming an astronaut,” from Disney veteran animators. (Watch in full here).
- “Weekends” — This hand-animated personal project by Pixar animators follows a young boy “shuffling between the homes of his recently divorced parents” in 1980s Toronto.
What stands out the most in this year’s lineup of animated short films must be how deeply personal the stories remain. Another great aspect of these films? The character designs:
Congratulations to all the nominated films!
- Courtney ( @harmonicacave )
Disney is live-streaming 24 hours of Mickey Mouse shorts in honor of Mickey’s 90th Birthday today (Nov. 7, 2018).
As a huge fan of these shorts, I’ll definitely be tuning in (though not for all 24 hours!). Who else will be watching today?
- Courtney ( @harmonicacave )
Google celebrates Chinese-American illustrator Tyrus Wong in a lovely homage to his paintings and animation.
Wong died in 2016 at the age of 106, but his legacy continues, especially through the inspired backgrounds he created for Disney’s “Bambi.” He was also an illustrator at Warner Bros.
When Wong retired in the 1960s, he began to create intricate kites, which he would fly most Saturdays. He also continued to paint.
- Courtney ( @harmonicacave )
Thank you for your great work, Ed Catmull. Enjoy your retirement next year!
Pixar co-founder Ed Catmull announced this week that he is stepping down as president of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios at the end of the year. He will stay on as an advisor during the transition to his retirement through July 2019, leaving presidents Jim Morris (Pixar) and Andrew Millstein (Walt Disney Animation) to continue in their leadership roles.
- Courtney (harmonicacave)