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Fumi Kitahara, a widely respected animation publicist who helped steer award-winning campaigns for studios including DreamWorks, Aardman, Laika, Netflix, and Disney, passed away on Monday due to complications from a rare form of blood cancer, her family announced. She was 56.

“Dear Friends of Fumi,” the family wrote. “We’re devastated to share that our dear Fumi passed away this afternoon, February 24, after her long struggle with a rare blood cancer. She was surrounded by the love of her family and close friends.”

Signed “Simon, Max & the Kitahara Family,” the joint statement continued, “We know many of you will be as heartbroken as we are in saying goodbye to her unforgettable personality, her infectious smile, and her warm and loving heart. This is an unimaginable loss for us, our family, and the animation community. Thank you for the love, support, and friendship you have shown her over the years. She meant the world to so many.

Fumi Kitahara, the animation publicist who guided award-winning campaigns for DreamWorks, Aardman, Laika, Netflix, Disney and independent studios during her distinguished 30-plus years in the industry, has died. She was 56.

Kitahara died Monday in Los Angeles of complications related to her long battle with a rare blood cancer, a spokesperson for Walt Disney Animation announced.

Among the many acclaimed animated features she helped to publicize are the first three Shrek films, Chicken Run, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, How to Train Your Dragon, Coraline, Kubo and the Two Strings, Over the Moon and The Sea Beast.

She also oversaw the awards campaigns for numerous Oscar-winning shorts, including such recent titles as The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse and War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John and Yoko.

Born on March 2, 1968, Kitahara graduated from California State University Northridge with a degree in business marketing.

Fumi Kitahara, a respected publicity executive who guided award-winning campaigns for studios including DreamWorks, Aardman, Laika, Netflix and Disney, died Monday of complications related to a rare blood cancer. She was 56.

Among the features Kitahara helped publicize are the first three “Shrek” films, “Chicken Run,” “Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit,” “How to Train Your Dragon,” “Coraline,” “Kubo and the Two Strings,” “Over the Moon” and “The Sea Beast.”

She oversaw awards campaigns for Oscar-winning shorts such as “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse,” and “War is Over! Inspired by the Music of John and Yoko.”

Kitahara graduated from Cal State Northridge and started her career in 1992 at Walt Disney Studios in the office of Howard Green, working with him on features including “The Lion King,” “Pocahontas,” “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “Toy Story,” and “Frank and Ollie,” in addition to a variety of live-action titles.

Retired NFL player Tim Tebow is going to be a dad! The former quarterback and his wife Demi-Leigh Tebow announced they are expecting their first baby together. “We are just so excited and so over the moon to be having a baby together.”

The couple announced the news with an Instagram video that showed them during a photoshoot where Demi wore an all-white dress and Tim was dressed in light colors. They showed a reel of sonogram images and clips of the NFL player holding his wife close. They set the video to the song “I Get To Be The One” by JJ Teller. The 2017 Miss. Universe captioned the video, “Baby Tebow .”

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The couple spoke with People in an exclusive interview sharing their excitement about growing their family. The former Jacksonville Jaguars player shared that he and his...

Welcome to our weekly rundown of the best new music — featuring big singles, key tracks from our favorite albums, and more. This week, Karol G and her fellow Colombian stars pay tribute to their homeland, Zach Bryan wants to take the high road even if he can’t find it, and Griff shares a hypnotic tune for the post-club haze. Plus, new music from Flo, State Champs, and Julia Michaels.

Karol G, Feid, Dfzm feat. Ovy On The Drums, J Balvin, Maluma, Ryan Castro, Bless, “+57” (YouTube)

Zach Bryan, “High Road” (YouTube)

Griff,...

Earlier this week, Tomorrow x Together shared the official music video for “Over the Moon,” a single from their latest mini-album The Star Chapter: Sanctuary. In the video, the group danced in parking lots and sprinted down hallways with palpable urgency. Now, the quintet are offering a more serene approach to the record with an alternate English-language recording and revamped video for “Over The Moon (Our Sanctuary Version).”

In the video, Txt members Yeonjun, Soobin, Beomgyu, Taehyun, and Hueningkai embark on a road trip to clear their mind. The sunny...

Five-member K-pop act Tomorrow X Together are back with a new listen, The Star Chapter: Sanctuary. The EP has arrives with a music video for “Over The Moon,” which features Txt’s trademark approach to dynamic choreography. Watch it below and stream the full album.

The dreamy focus track, “Over The Moon,” is another glittering, bouncy entry into Txt’s repertoire, while the easygoing “Heaven” slots itself nicely along other discography classics like “Drama” or “Wishlist.” The R&b-infused “Danger” dips back towards minsode 2: Thursday’s Child territory, playfully modulating the vocals on the chorus.

Notably, all the members contributed to the lyric-writing process with more credits than ever: Yeonjun, Beomgyu, and Taehyun offered contributions to “Danger,” while “Resist (Not Gonna Run Away)” features songwriting from Soobin, Beomgyu, Taehyun, and Hueningkai.

Revisit our exclusive chat with Tomorrow X Together’s Yeonjun for a discussion around his debut solo song,...

Hailing from the Virginia Beach Atlantis Apartments, and what he considers to be “the mud,” Pharrell Williams admitted he is shocked to have the opportunity to bring forth his life’s story with Legos.

At a Piece By Piece screening and “Over The Moon” Lego activation in Los Angeles on Friday, the artist explained, “That’s what impossible looks and sounds like … I wasn’t interested in my story, but only until I realized the most fun part and the most integral part of it all was getting over my ego.”

The star — who’s known for his hit songs including “Happy,” Britney Spears’ “I’m a Slave 4 U” and Snoop Dogg’s “Drop It Like Its Hot,” as well as his fashion with collaborations with brands like Louis Vuitton — is the subject of an upcoming coming-of-age film centered on the highs and lows he experienced as he achieved success.

Publisher Over the Moon and developer Treetrop have something a little more light-hearted this Halloween season for gamers with their 4-player comedy horror game Terrorbytes. Not to be confused with the upcoming documentary by the same name from CreatorVC, Terrorbytes is inspired by the likes of Tron and Stranger Things, and will launch into Early Access on Steam later this month.

Terrorbytes follows four rebellious young friends. A terrible and sadistic virus has twisted and turned everything upside down, as the group has been sucked into a haunted arcade cabinet and forced to take on the role of the ghosts (the game’s old villains) on the run from Ms Croak-Man. Can you survive long enough to uncover the mysterious evil that has trapped you, and escape?

Cooperation in Terrorbytes is key. All players collect pellets for energy, which go into a shared pool, and everything has a cost; even sprinting costs energy,...

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Pharrell Williams‘ latest collaboration has officially blasted off ahead of his animated biopic, Piece by Piece, hitting theaters this month. From Grammy-winning producer, to fashion mogul, and even skincare line creator, Williams has now added Lego co-designer to his resumé, releasing a new build set inspired by the “boundless potential of human creativity.”

The Lego x Pharrell Williams “Over the Moon” Builder Set ($109.99) is available online now, featuring...

As Days of Our Lives’ cute little Thomas, Cary Christopher has won the hearts of fans. He’s also appeared in a few TV shows, including Fuller House and The Rookie. Now he’s got an incredible new series he’s working on, which boasts a great cast. The young actor excitedly shared the news on social media, and is ready for action.

Excited is an Understatement

Young Thomas will have to navigate some difficult issues with the fake Abigail (AnnaLynne McCord) story on Days. But while that plays out, Cary Christopher shared incredible news on Instagram, writing, “I don’t even have the words for how excited I am to be a part of this series!!!! Thank you to my amazing agent Kathy, manager Sandra, and entertainment lawyer Ryan!! Lucky to have the best team around!!!! Love you guys!!!” (Find out about the fake Abigail’s regrets.)

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Ahead of the release of his animated Lego biopic “Piece by Piece” with Focus Features, Pharrell Williams was the star guest at a special event held by Lego in Paris, where the multi-hyphenate took to the stage to discuss his growing collaboration with the company.

Alongside the film, which is directed by Morgan Neville and recently screened at Telluride and Toronto to reviews praising its originality, Williams has teamed with Lego on a new toy set, which features a black-and-gold rocket ship with a vibrant jet stream of colors.

The new set, titled “Over the Moon,” was on display at the cosmic-themed event, held at Espace Niemeyer, the iconic Oscar Niemeyer-designed former headquarters of the French Communist Party. The event was attended by an array of local creatives — of which Williams is now one, having recently moved to Paris to take up his position as Louis Vuitton’s men...

Sandra Oh has doubled her donation to the Toronto Reel Asian Film Festival for prize-giving to $100,000.

During a reception at the Toronto Film Festival, the Killing Eve star added another $50,000 to make her overall contribution to the festival’s Reel Asian Fire Horse Award $100,000 over five years.

Oh, a longtime activist for Asian storytelling, told the reception: “Even though there is a place and a space for us now, it’s so important that we develop people, and this is the place where we can do it.” After wrapping her run playing Dr. Cristina Yang on the ABC medical drama Grey’s Anatomy, Oh has championed stories that explore the Asian American identity.

The Korean Canadian actor was in Toronto this week as the honorary co-chair of the TIFF Tribute Awards held on Sunday evening. Oh also attended the 30th anniversary screening at TIFF of Mina Shum’s Double Happiness, in which she starred,...

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has re-elected producer Janet Yang as president for a third term.

In addition, several people were elected to board officer positions, including Lesley Barber, Vice President; DeVon Franklin, Vice President; Donna Gigliotti, Vice President/Treasurer; Lynette Howell Taylor, Vice President and Howard A. Rodman, Vice President/Secretary.

“I am thrilled to have Janet return as Academy President for a third term to continue our great work of the past two years,” said Academy CEO Bill Kramer. “I also am so pleased to welcome this year’s incredible slate of dedicated board officers. I look forward to collaborating with our officers and governors to advance the Academy’s mission, serve our global membership, celebrate the work of our international filmmaking community, continue to ensure the financial health of the Academy, and broaden our reach and impact within the industry.”

It’s Yang’s sixth year as a Governor-at-Large,...

Producer Janet Yang has been re-elected president of the Academy president and will serve a third term.

The board of governors has also elected the following to officer positions: Lesley Barber, vice president, Devon Franklin, vice president, Donna Gigliotti, vice president/treasurer, Lynette Howell Taylor, vice president, and Howard A. Rodman, vice president/secretary.

Yang is beginning her sixth year as a governor-at-large. She has been a member of the Academy’s producers branch since 2002 and her producing credits include The People vs. Larry Flynt and The Weight Of Water, and she served as executive producer on The Joy Luck Club and Over The Moon.

Janet Yang has been re-elected president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Academy announced on Thursday.

Yang was elected to her third one-year term as president by the Academy’s Board of Governors, which also elected five vice presidents: Lesley Barber, DeVon Franklin, Donna Gigliotti, Lynette Howell Taylor and Howard A. Rodman.

A member of the Academy’s Producers Branch, Yang was nominated as a Governor-at-Large by then-Academy President John Bailey in 2019 and re-nominated by AMPAS President David Rubin in 2022. Her films include “The Joy Luck Club,” “The People vs. Larry Flynt,” “South Central” and “Over the Moon.”

“I am thrilled to have Janet return as Academy President for a third term to continue our great work of the past two years,” said Academy CEO Bill Kramer in a statement. “I look forward to collaborating with our officers and governors to advance the Academy’s mission,...

Janet Yang, the veteran producer who has served as the president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences since August 2022, has been re-elected to that position by the Academy’s board of governors, the organization announced on Thursday.

Also elected to vice president positions were Lesley Barber (chair, Membership Committee); DeVon Franklin (chair, Equity and Inclusion Committee); Donna Gigliotti (chair, Finance Committee), who will also serve as treasurer; Lynette Howell Taylor (chair, Awards Committee); and Howard A. Rodman (chair, Governance Committee), who will also serve as secretary.

Franklin, Howell Taylor and Rodman were re-elected; Gigliotti previously served as an officer but not last term; and this will be the first officer stint for Barber.

“I am thrilled to have Janet return as Academy president for a third term to continue our great work of the past two years,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer said in a statement. “I also...

In a election that was clearly less contentious than the current one for U.S. president, producer Janet Yang was re-elected president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences by the organization’s Board of Governors. This will be her third consecutive term and comes as no surprise since AMPAS presidents generally are re-elected each year of a possible four single terms as long as they have not been termed out on the Board itself.

Also elected to officer positions by the Board were first-timer Lesley Barber, Vice President; DeVon Franklin, Vice President; Donna Gigliotti, Vice President/Treasurer; Lynette Howell-Taylor, Vice President; and Howard A. Rodman, Vice President/Secretary.

“I am thrilled to have Janet return as Academy President for a third term to continue our great work of the past two years,...

Exclusive: Former UTA agent Anna Berthold-Zuk has joined Stampede Ventures as Executive Vice President of Animation and Kids & Family, the company’s President Chris Bosco announced on Thursday.

In her new role, Berthold-Zuk will guide Stampede’s existing kids & family initiatives and oversee expansion in this space as she continues to build out additional creator-driven ventures aimed at launching new franchises. Additionally, she will work to find ways to overcome current hurdles in the kids & family business by building out strategic ventures necessary to support the launch of said franchises in the wake of continual constriction within the industry.

Berthold-Zuk’s appointment bolsters Stampede’s ability to expand its Kids & Family reach in tandem with their existing ventures including Mo Willems’s Hidden Pigeon Company with RedBird Capital Partners and HappyNest Entertainment, a co-venture with UTA, which Berthold-Zuk helped put together. Looking ahead, she will work closely with Sadaf Cohen Muncy,...

Netflix on Wednesday unveiled the voice cast of CG animated feature film That Christmas from Locksmith Animation (Ron’s Gone Wrong) and director Simon Otto’s (How to Train Your Dragon trilogy). The movie will star Brian Cox as Santa, Fiona Shaw as Ms. Trapper, Jodie Whittaker as Mrs. Williams, and Bill Nighy as Bill.

They are the residents of a charming seaside town where things turn upside down one Christmas. The film will debut on Netflix later this year.

That Christmas is an adaptation of the children’s book series (The Empty Stocking, Snow Day and That Christmas) written by BAFTA Award-winning and Oscar-nominated writer and director Richard Curtis (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, Love Actually, Yesterday). “A film of firsts, it marks Curtis’ first animation project as well as the directorial debut for animation veteran Otto,” Netflix said.

The film also stars Lolly Adefope, Alex Macqueen,...

First look at Liam Hemsworth as Geralt in The Witcher season 4 is expected very soon, with preparation underway at Longcross Studios. Hemsworth bulked up for the role and is getting screen tests done. Henry Cavill passes the torch to Hemsworth in The Witcher season 4.

The first look at Liam Hemsworth as the monster hunter Geralt of Rivia in The Witcher season 4 is expected to be revealed “rather soon,” according to Redanian Intelligence. As per their report, there is currently work now being done at Longcross Studios, with the preparation for Hemsworth to take over from Henry Cavill underway, including “screen tests and photoshoots with Liam Hemsworth in costume and wig.”

According to the report, “Netflix is planning to release a first look rather soon,” meaning fans of The Witcher will at last be able to judge how Hemsworth looks as the main character. Filming on season 4 is reportedly all set to begin in mid-April,...

Welcome to your weekly rundown of the biggest stories from Netflix’s top 10 hourly figures drop for the week ending December 10th, 2023. Lots to cover again this week with titles covered including Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, Yu Yu Hakusho, Leave the World Behind, Obliterated, Car Masters, and another look at the Big Netflix Data Dump

In case you didn’t know, every Tuesday, Netflix updates its top 10 stats page with 40 new hourly figures of the top movies and shows of the past seven days.

Note: In this report of Netflix’s hours viewed from December 11th, 2023 to December 18th, 2023, we’ll use “Complete Viewings Equivalent,” or Cve, expressed in millions. That means we divide the hours viewed announced by Netflix by the runtime of films or series. It allows for better comparisons between films and series, but it’s not an audience metric. It is the minimum number...

Thanksgiving weekend featured an animation face-off between a titan of the industry, the 100-year-old Walt Disney Animation Studios, and a relative upstart, Netflix, which only started releasing its own animated features in 2019.

Disney’s holiday movie, “Wish,” was a musical extravaganza featuring the watercolor backgrounds of the studio’s past combined with cutting-edge CGI, while Netflix’s “Leo” was a more budget-conscious musical set in modern-day Florida.

It was a showdown of theatrical versus streaming, legacy studio versus blustery upstart, fairy tale versus contemporary storytelling. And the results were startling.

While “Wish” came in third at the box office with a disappointing $31.6 million, the Adam Sandler-starring “Leo” debuted to 34.6 million views (which is hours viewed divided by total runtime), according to Netflix, which in box office terms equaled a haul of around $500 million for its opening weekend, one insider with knowledge of the situation told TheWrap. “Leo” has been...

Actor and comedian Ken Jeong, who is currently a judge on Fox’s “The Masked Singer,” is developing a talk show with an eye toward a 2024 launch, according to media reports on Friday.

He taped a test show in New York on Friday, Deadline reported. That’s not a SAG strike violation as talk show hosts are under a different contract and no longer a WGA red flag — as it was for Drew Barrymore and Bill Maher — as writers have gone back to work after successfully negotiating a new contract with the AMPTP.

Jim Biederman of “The Kids in the Hall” will serve as showrunner, writer and director. He’ll also executive produce alongside Jeong for Debmar-Mercury, the company behind “The Wendy Williams Show” and “The Nick Cannon Show.”

Prior to joining “The Masked Singer,” Jeong starred in the ABC sitcom “Dr. Ken.” He also played Ben Chang on NBC...

“Moana” and “Raya and the Last Dragon” producer Osnat Shurer has left the Magic Kingdom.

She has joined Baobab Studios, where she will serve as co-chief creative officer alongside company founder and Cco Eric Darnell, a DreamWorks veteran who worked as a director on “Antz” and every “Madagascar” film (including “Penguins of Madagascar”).

Shurer joined Disney more than a decade ago as a VP of development, having come from Pixar where she oversaw short films like the Oscar-nominated “Boundin’” and “Lifted.” She also worked on shorts that appeared on the studio’s home video releases like “Jack Jack Attack,” written and directed by Brad Bird, which appeared on the home video release of “The Incredibles.”

Baobab Studios describes itself as “the leading interactive animation studio” and has produced a number of award-winning VR experiences. At Baobab Shurer joins Maureen Fan, the chief creative officer (she is a veteran of game...

Indie animation studio Baobab Studios has brought in Oscar-nominated producer Osnat Shurer (Moana) to serve as Co-Chief Creative Officer alongside Cco Eric Darnell (Madagascar).

Boasting 30+ years of experience in animation, Shurer comes to the company from Walt Disney Feature Animation, where she served as VP of Development, having simultaneously held a role as the executive producer of the short films group at Pixar. Going forward, she’ll be part of a creative brain trust which includes Darnell and Kane Lee (Chief Content Officer), and such advisors and investors as Ed Catmull and Oscar-winning filmmaker Glen Keane, among others.

Among the first projects Shurer will work on at Baobab are the Momoguro multiplatform franchise, which includes a digital collectibles game, an upcoming Roblox game, and a TV series in development, and two falling under a TV development deal with Disney+.

For director Anthony Stacchi (“The Box Trolls”), re-energizing the 16th-century Chinese novel “Journey to the West” for Netflix’s animated feature “The Monkey King” meant turning the titular character into something very modern: an antihero. This was supported by executive producer Stephen Chow (“Kung Fu Hustle”), who previously directed a live-action version of “Journey to the West.”

“Stephen Chow has made a career of making heroes out of really unlikeable jerks,” Stacchi told IndieWire. “And you stick with ’em on their journey ’cause you know why they are the way they are, and you’re hoping for them to redeem themselves. So we did that here. He is a selfish, arrogant jerk from the beginning, and that way through the end. But you understand why he’s fighting for acceptance, you know where his anti-authoritarian attitude comes from.”

They also emphasized a goofy tone throughout the journey, in which Monkey King...

The 16th century literary classic Journey to the West is the mother of all Chinese fantasy. The mythological saga has spawned countless adaptations in various media across Asia and beyond, from the cult late ‘70s Japanese TV series to Peking Opera, videogames, graphic novels and a stage spectacle with a score by Blur frontman Damon Albarn and design elements by Gorillaz illustrator Jamie Hewlett.

Prominent among the innumerable film versions is the 2013 blockbuster Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons, directed by Stephen Chow. A similar livewire action-comedy energy infuses Netflix’s The Monkey King, a children’s animated feature based on the sprawling novel’s most popular strand, on which Chow serves as executive producer.

Following well-received originals like Klaus, Over the Moon, My Father’s Dragon, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio and Richard Linklater’s Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Childhood — plus such smart acquisitions as The Mitchells vs. the Machines...

An exclusive new featurette delves deeper into the legend of The Monkey King, the computer-animated fantasy adventure that is due to land on Netflix on Friday. Coming courtesy of the streaming giant, The Monkey King will take audiences back to a time of ancient gods and demons and, of course, the egotistical outcast known as The Monkey King. You can check out our exclusive featurette below.

Inspired by an epic Chinese tale, The Monkey King is an action-packed family comedy that follows a rebellious and charismatic monkey and his magical fighting stick on an epic quest for victory over 100 demons, an eccentric Dragon King, and Monkey’s greatest foe of all —his own ego. Along the way, a young village girl challenges his self-centered attitude and shows him that even the smallest pebble can have a big ripple effect on the pond of time.

The Monkey King is directed by...

The producer also begins her fifth year as an Ampas governor-at-large.

Producer Janet Yang has been elected to a second term as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Ampas) by the US organisation’s board of governors.

Yang, first elected Ampas president this time last year, is also beginning her fifth year as a governor-at-large for the Academy.

A member of the Academy’s producers branch since 2002, Yang’s producing credits include The Joy Luck Club, The People vs Larry Flynt and animated feature Over the Moon.

Also elected to the Ampas board, as vice-presidents and chairs of their respective committees,...

Janet Yang has been re-elected as president of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. Her second-term re-election was made by the Academy’s board of governors who additionally elected a number of officer positions for 2023-2024.

Yang is an Emmy-winning producer with credits on projects including “The Joy Luck Club,” “The People vs. Larry Flynt,” “Zero Effect,” “High Crimes,” “Dark Matter,” “Shanghai Calling” and “Over the Moon.” She climbed to her success in Hollywood after working under Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy who helped show her the ropes at Amblin.

“I’ve felt like an outsider many times throughout my life,” Yang said this year at the Oscars. “It’s wonderful to have a sense of belonging, and terrible not to … If I can help open the door for other women and people of color, I’m thrilled.

Since 2002, she has been a member of the Academy’s...

Janet Yang has been elected to her second term as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, AMPAS announced Tuesday. Yang was chosen by the Academy’s 55-member Board of Governors at the first meeting of the 2023-2024 board, which was elected in June.

Yang is the fourth woman to serve as Academy president, and the first Asian-American. She is a member of the Academy’s Producers Branch, with a filmography that includes “The Joy Luck Club,” “The People vs. Larry Flynt” and the animated feature “Over the Moon.”

Yang is a one of three Governors-at-Large. Where most of the AMPAS governors are elected by specific branches, the at-large positions are nominated by the Academy president and elected by the board. She was first nominated for the board by then-president John Bailey in 2019 and nominated again by David Rubin in 2022, putting her in the second year of her second three-year term.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Tuesday that its Board of Governors has re-elected producer Janet Yang as president of the organization. Members elected new people to fill the majority of officer positions as well, with only Lynette Howell Taylor and Kim Taylor-Coleman returning to their posts.

CEO Bill Kramer, who started his role around the same time as Yang last year, said in a statement, “I am thrilled to welcome this year’s board officers. Under Janet’s esteemed leadership, these dedicated governors will guide the Academy’s ongoing efforts to elevate the work of our global membership and film community, highlight our industry’s rich history, foster meaningful dialogue, and continue to build equity and inclusion in every aspect of our organization.”

Yang will now be in her second term as president, and her fifth year as a Governor-at-Large, having made history as the first Asian-American,...

Janet Yang has been re-elected president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences by the organization’s Board of Governors.

The producer will be serving her second consecutive one-year term and was widely expected to take the reins once again. Presidents can serve up to four consecutive one-year terms as long as they are eligible, and Yang is only in her fifth year as a Governor-at-Large and thus conceivably could run again in 2024 and 2025. AMPAS presidents almost always are re-elected without much controversy.

Board officers also were elected, and it will be a group with a lot of new faces compared to 2022. The lineup is as follows:

Bonnie Arnold, Vice President

Howard Berger, Vice President

Brooke Breton, Vice President

Tom Dufffield, Vice President/Treasurer

DeVon Franklin, Vice President

Lynette Howell Taylor,...

Blue Whales: Return Of The Giants 3D takes viewers on a journey of a lifetime to explore the world of the magnificent blue whale, a species rebounding from its near extinction. Following two scientific expeditions—one to find a missing population of blues off the exotic Seychelles Islands, the other to chronicle whale families in Mexico’s stunning Gulf of California—the film transforms our understanding of the largest animal ever to have lived. From its almost incomprehensible size to its spectacular feeding habits; from the surprising role it plays in the health of our oceans to its awesome long-distance communications, the film provides an unforgettable window into the lives these animals live—and the extremes scientists must endure to study them. Joined by a cast of supporting characters—from dolphins and sperm whales to sea lions and orcas—the blue whale finally gets its star turn … in life size,...

Producer Pellin Chou set to attend special screening.

Netflix animation The Monkey King has been set as the closing film of the 22nd New York Asian Film Festival (Nyaff), marking the first time the festival has partnered with the streaming giant.

The special screening will take place on July 30, more than two weeks before the August 18 premiere on Netflix worldwide. It will be attended by Netflix Animation producer Peilin Chou, a former Oriental Dreamworks executive who produced Abominable and was Oscar-nominated for Over The Moon.

The feature is directed by Anthony Stacchi, who was nominated for an Oscar in 2015 for co-directing The Boxtrolls,...

Jimmy O. Yang, Bowen Yang, Jo Koy, Stephanie Hsu and Bd Wong voice star in Netflix’s new comedic action-adventure The Monkey King, which sees its titular character battling demons, dragons and his own ego.

Dropping Monday, the animated family film’s more-than-two-minute first look teases Yang’s “most spectacul-errific, amazing-derful” hero Monkey King, in a story set in a time of ancient gods and demons. An outsider in his own community, the Monkey King, along with his trusty companion “stick (voiced by Nan Li),” takes on the challenge of defeating 100 demons and garnering the attention of “the immortal ones.”

With little support from those he grew up around, the Monkey King ventures to a human village, where he accepts the challenge of protecting the community from a fiery demon known as Red Girl (Sophie Wu). After nearly destroying the entire community in the process, he garners the attention of...

“The contradictions are extreme and resonate to me in the current unsettling political situation,” admits Bradley Whitford about the bleak reality of “The Handmaid’s Tale.” For our recent webchat he continues, “There seems to be a backlash to what should be described as liberal democracy. It’s interesting to see how a character like this is trying to navigate that world.” Watch the exclusive video interview above.

The dystopian drama for five seasons has explored a world where low fertility rates have led to the east coast of America being run as a religious totalitarian government under the name ‘Gilead.’ With women forced to live as concubines and slaves. The most recent season sees June (Elisabeth Moss) continuing to live as a refugee in Canada.

SEEYvonne Strahovski interview: ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’

The former “West Wing” star plays Commander Joseph Lawrence, one of Gilead’s architects. At times he has shown compassion,...

“Nimona” took a twisty road to the big screen. But now it’s ready for its debut at Annecy Animation Film Festival. Pictured above is an exclusive still from the anticipated fantasy adventure.

Based on the graphic novel by N.D. Stevenson, the feature follows Ballister Boldheart, a knight in a futuristic medieval world who is framed for a crime he didn’t commit. The only one who can help him prove his innocence is Nimona, a mischievous teen who happens to be a shapeshifting creature he’s sworn to destroy.

“Nimona” started out at 20th Century Fox’s animation shingle Blue Sky Studios, which optioned the novel in 2015. Nick Bruno and Troy Quane were brought onboard in 2020 when creative direction of the film changed. The film continued production apace even after Disney completed its $71.9 billion merger with 20th Century Fox in 2019.

Production continued during the pandemic as well, but then in 2021, Disney shuttered Blue Sky.

Ming Lee is one of the most significant characters in Pixar’s coming-of-age gem Turning Red, and the actor her voice belongs to is a prolific and recognizable star of movies and television. Turning Red is a cinematic metaphor for puberty in which a 13-year-old girl named Mei who, thanks to a curse she inherited, transforms into a giant red panda every time she experiences a powerful emotion. The heart of the movie is Mei’s relationship with her overprotective mother, Ming Lee. Ming Lee is aware of her daughter’s panda curse, but she’s more concerned about her rebellious plan to attend a boy band’s concert.

Turning Red’s maternal character falls into the familiar parental archetype of coming-of-age movies. Ming Lee is an overbearing mother who won’t accept anything less than perfection from her daughter, making her the closest thing that Turning Red has to an antagonist.

The cast of One True Loves includes a combination of blockbuster movie stars and Broadway talents in a story of three characters who unexpectedly find themselves in a complicated love triangle. Based on the novel of the same name by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Daisy Jones & the Six), the romantic drama follows a woman torn between her thought-dead husband and her new fiancé. It's like a gender-swapped remake of the Cary Grant and Irene Dunne classic My Favorite Wife, minus the screwball comedy antics, and One True Loves is similarly hinged on the appeal of its casting.

While not filled with household names, especially compared to previous movies directed by Andy Fickman (Playing With Fire), which were led by the likes of Dwayne Johnson, John Cena, and Bette Midler, the main and supporting cast of One True Loves consists of recognizable actors from some of the biggest entertainments of the past decade.

Netflix is a real studio now.

The once and seemingly future king of streaming has taken home its first Oscar for Best Animated Feature for “​​Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio,” a stop-motion animated film that reimagines Carlo Collodi’s classic tale about a wooden puppet who comes to life.

Directed by del Toro, now a three-time Oscar winner, and Mark Gustafson, the film features the voices of Gregory Mann and David Bradley as Pinocchio and his father, the carpenter Geppetto, respectively, while Cate Blanchett, nominated for Best Actress again this year for her work in “TÁR,” voices the mistreated monkey Spazzatura. A visually stunning interpretation of the source material that leans into darker themes about life and death, the film fiercely proves that, despite some viewers’ preconceived notions and a frequent focus on kid-friendly stories, the animation genre is not just for children.

Following positive reviews from critics for its visuals and emotional storytelling,...

The guest on this episode of The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast, which is posting the day before the 95th Oscars takes place in Hollywood and airs on ABC, is Janet Yang, the first-term president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Yang, the Queens-born daughter of Chinese immigrants, is only the 36th person — and just the fourth female, second person of color and first person of Asian descent — to lead Hollywood’s most powerful organization, following in the footsteps of luminaries like Douglas Fairbanks, Frank Capra, Bette Davis, George Stevens, Gregory Peck, Robert Wise and Karl Malden.

Over the course of a conversation at the Loews Hollywood Hotel, where Yang has been staying this week in order to oversee preparations for the Oscars at the adjacent Dolby Theatre, the 66-year-old reflected on a life and career that has defied the odds at every turn.

Yang speaks...

Better Call Saul star Rhea Seehorn is returning to Albuquerque for her upcoming show. Arriving at its conclusion late last year, Better Call Saul wrapped up as one of the best shows of 2022 and presented a strong argument for being regarded as one of the best dramas of all time.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Seehorn discussed reuniting with Breaking Bad creator and Better Call Saul co-creator Vince Gilligan for an upcoming Apple TV+ drama series. The project will film in Albuquerque, the key location in the Breaking Bad universe — even though, as Seehorn makes clear, it's not related to the Breaking Bad world. Seehorn's quote is included below:

As far as I know, it has not been nailed down where we’re filming, but I am never surprised. Vince is very loyal and likes the family of people that he has worked with and prefers to hire...

Exclusive: Avantika (Senior Year), Christopher Briney (The Summer I Turned Pretty) and Bebe Wood have landed major roles in Paramount Pictures’ film adaptation of the Tony-nominated Broadway hit, Mean Girls, which is itself based on the classic Paramount comedy of the same name.

The actors join an ensemble for the Paramount+-bound feature that also includes Angourie Rice, Reneé Rapp, Auli’i Cravalho and Jaquel Spivey, as previously announced.

Mean Girls choreographer Kyle Hanagami

The original film adapted by Tina Fey from the Rosalind Wiseman book Queen Bees and Wannabes follows high school new girl Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan) in her attempt to fit in with A-list girl clique, The Plastics. The effort is sabotaged when she makes the mistake of falling for Aaron, the ex-boyfriend of alpha Plastic Regina George. Premiering on stage at Washington, D.C.’s National Theatre in 2017 and jumping to Broadway the following year,...

Netflix has laid off 30 staffers from its Film Animation teams, IndieWire has confirmed.

Earlier this year, Netflix unveiled new leadership for its Animation Film team: vice president of Animation Film Content Karen Toliver and VP of Animation Film Production Traci Balthazor. Wednesday’s changes organize the animated-film production business under Balthazor, a person with knowledge of the plans told us. The 30 roles in question were no longer needed, the person said.

Netflix has had seven animated projects nominated for Oscars over the past five years, including a win for “If Anything Happens, I Love You” (Best Animated Short Film). The other nominated animated films include 2022 nominees “Robin Robin” (Best Animated Short) and “The Mitchells vs. The Machines” (Best Animated Feature), 2021’s “Over The Moon” (Best Animated Feature Film) and “A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon” (Best Animated Feature), and 2020’s “I Lost My Body” (Best Animated Feature) and “Klaus” (Best...

Netflix Animation has laid off 30 employees, Variety has confirmed.

The news comes after recent executive shake-ups, with Netflix earlier this year appointing Karen Toliver as vice president of animated film content and Traci Balthazor as vice president of animated film production.

The layoffs are a result of Netflix consolidating its animation film production team under one central leader, Balthazor, as she continues to work closely with Toliver.

The downsizing does not signal a decrease in output from Netflix Animation, which has earned seven Oscar nominations since 2020, winning for “If Anything Happens, I Love You.”

The streamer’s slate of animated features and shorts includes “Robin,” “Klaus,” “Over the Moon, Back to the Outback,” Richard Linklater’s “Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Childhood” and Chris Williams’ “The Sea Beast.” Coming soon are Henry Selick and Jordan Peele’s “Wendell & Wild,” Nora Twomey’s “My Father’s Dragon,” Guillermo del Toro’s “Pinocchio,...

Exclusive: The Netflix Animation overhaul continues with the exit of 30 employees, Deadline has confirmed. This comes after Netflix set new leadership for the Animation Film team with Karen Toliver (VP Animation Film Content) and Traci Balthazor (VP Animation Film Production). They have been tasked with streamlining the animation team, which explains the attrition.

This does not signal a downturn in animation output for a division that in five years had seven Oscar nominees, with a win for If Anything Happens, I Love You.

Netflix’s original animation productions includes Robin, Robin, Klaus, Kris Pearn’s The Willoughbys, Over the Moon, Back to the Outback, Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Childhood from Richard Linklater, and the recently released The Sea Beast directed by Chris Williams. Upcoming releases including Henry Selick’s Wendell & Wild, Nora Twomey’s My Father’s Dragon, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, Wendy Rogers’ The Magician’s Elephant,...

Prime Video has debuted the trailer for ‘My Best Friend’s Exorcism,’ based on the novel from New York Times best-selling author Grady Hendrix.

Surviving the teenage years isn’t easy, especially when you’re possessed by a demon. It’s 1988, and best friends Abby (Elsie Fisher) and Gretchen (Amiah Miller) are navigating boys, pop culture, and a paranormal force clinging to Gretchen like a pair of neon legwarmers. With assistance from overly confident mall exorcist Christian Lemon (Christopher Lowell), Abby is determined to compel the demon back to the pits of hell—if it doesn’t kill Gretchen first. At turns horrifying and hilarious.

The movie pays homage to 1980s pop culture with a totally timeless tale of terror and true friendship.

Directed by Damon Thomas and written by Jenna Lamia, the film stars Elsie Fisher, Amiah Miller, Cathy Ang, Rachel Ogechi Kanu (Cheer for Your Life), and Christopher Lowell.

"My Best Friend’s Exorcism is directed by Damon Thomas and written by Jenna Lamia from the book by Grady Hendrix (Satanic Panic). The film stars Elsie Fisher, Amiah Miller, Cathy Ang, Rachel Ogechi Kanu (Cheer for Your Life), and Christopher Lowell.

Surviving the teenage years isn’t easy, especially when you’re possessed by a demon. It’s 1988, and best friends Abby (Elsie Fisher) and Gretchen (Amiah Miller) are navigating boys, pop culture, and a paranormal force clinging to Gretchen like a pair of neon legwarmers. With assistance from overly confident mall exorcist Christian Lemon (Christopher Lowell), Abby is determined to compel the demon back to the pits of hell—if it doesn’t kill Gretchen first. At turns horrifying and hilarious, My Best Friend’s Exorcism pays homage to 1980s pop culture with a totally timeless tale of terror and true friendship. Based on Grady Hendrix’s best-selling novel."

Available...