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The realm of animation continues to be a highly experimental and unique field. Although many associate animation with child-focused cartoons, the medium has proven its weird potential, offering everything from educational kids' programming to provocative adult stories.

Some of the strangest animated series are also the best examples of animation's potential. It takes sophisticated animation to make a weird series like ReBoot work or make the math-based combat skills in Cyberchase look good. Though it's often to their credit, these animated series feel more like fever dreams than anything else.

Updated on February 12, 2025, by John Curtin: Animation is a unique form of media that has offered up some of the most creative and experimental ideas throughout the years. As a result, many animated shows have gone in a very weird direction, setting them apart from any other form of entertainment. From kids' shows to adult cartoons and everything in between,...

The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) on Thursday revealed the nominations for the third annual Children’s and Family Emmy Awards, which will take place in Los Angeles on March 15.

According to NATAS, the “standalone competition spotlights the pinnacle of creativity and innovation in children’s entertainment.”

Additionally, two winners and an honorable mention in the juried category, Pubic Service Initiative, were announced on Thursday. Winners in the juried individual achievement in animation categories will be announced early next year, as will the lifetime achievement nominee and ceremony host.

“This year’s nominations are particularly meaningful as much of the work being honored was delayed due to last year’s strikes,” says Rachel Schwartz, head of the Children’s & Family Emmy Awards. “It is a privilege to have been named Head of a competition that is not only honoring exceptional talent but is also shaping the way...

The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences today revealed the nominees for its third annual Children’s & Family Emmy Awards, the stand-alone competition that honors creativity and innovation in children’s entertainment.

See the full list below.

Winners will be feted during the 2024 Children’s & Family Emmys ceremony March 15 in Los Angeles. Winners in the Juried Individual Achievement in Animation categories will be announced early next year, as will the Lifetime Achievement honoree and ceremony host and presenters.

“This year’s nominations are particularly meaningful as much of the work being honored was delayed due to last year’s strikes,” said Rachel Schwartz, Head of the Children’s & Family Emmy Awards. “It is a privilege to have been named head of a competition that is not only honoring exceptional talent but is also shaping the way children and their families interact with the world.”

Here are the nominees for...

A writers’ strike at PBS was narrowly averted on Thursday night as the Writers Guild of America East and member stations reached a deal.

The three stations involved in the negotiations — Boston-based Wgbh, Tri-State-area station Thirteen and greater L.A.’s PBS SoCal — announced the tentative deal on Friday morning, with the union confirming the provisional agreement just a few hours later. “Thirteen, GBH, and PBS SoCal are pleased to have reached an agreement with WGA East. We look forward to continuing our work to deliver trusted public media to our audiences,” a spokesperson for the employer group stated on Friday morning.

The unionized writers covered under the contract work on programs including Frontline, American Masters, Nova and some Ken Burns specials. They also write for the animated series Cyberchase, Carl the Collector, Molly of Denali and Work It Out Wombats.

Few details are available about the deal at present, but according to the union,...

There won’t be a strike at PBS after all. WGA-represented writers for the public network reached an agreement ahead of their cutoff time midnight on Thursday, TheWrap has learned.

“Thirteen, GBH and PBS SoCal are pleased to have reached an agreement with WGA East,” the stations said in a statement. “We look forward to continuing our work to deliver trusted public media to our audiences.”

The specifics of this agreement were not released.

There are currently 150 freelance writers who work at the three top PBS affiliates. WGA members were asking for fair compensation for writer-producers as well as for made-for-new-media programs be given WGA coverage and for there to be “reasonable residual payments for reuse on streaming services.” However, the biggest story in this particular standoff has to do with animation writers.

The guild asked for animation writers to have full union protections, which would be the first deal of its kind.

Exclusive: Writers at PBS member stations are still hoping to secure a new union contract before the clock strikes midnight on Friday, and the 94-member bargaining unit strengthened its plea ahead of a potential strike with a pledge from more than 200 PBS animation writers who have agreed not to cross their potential picket line.

The WGA East negotiating committee delivered the pledge to PBS management during Wednesday’s talks, just one day before a strike could be called, Deadline has learned.

It is signed by 222 writers across more than 20 animated series that are not currently covered by the Writers Guild of America Public Television Freelance Agreement as a show of solidarity.

“By adding my name, I pledge to help the WGA win union protection for all PBS writers under the Public Television Freelance Agreement by withholding any and all writing services, including for animation, on any existing or new projects...

Gilbert Gottfried has one of the most recognizable voices of anyone in the last few decades, and before he passed, he lent that memorable voice to numerous beloved TV shows, movies, and comedy specials, netting himself an impressive net worth. Some movie and TV fans may not recognize the name Gilbert Gottfried immediately, but they'll certainly know exactly who he is once they hear just a handful of his roles. He was Iago in Aladdin, Digit in Cyberchase, Sidney Bernstein in Beverly Hills Cop II, and on SNL. Gottfried had his hand in many different pots.

Born on Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York, Gilbert Gottfried began his career on stage as a comedian and quickly made his way to TV, becoming a cast member on SNL for the 1980-1981 season. After 10 years of dating Dara Kravits, he married her in 2007 and the pair had two children soon after, Lily...

Writers at PBS may soon be on strike, if a new deal between the company and the Writers Guild of America isn’t reached within the week.

The WGA East revealed Monday that the 94-member bargaining unit of writers at PBS member stations Wgbh, Thirteen and PBS SoCal officially authorized a work stoppage, which will go into effect when the current contract expires at 11:59 p.m. Et on November 21.

According to the guild, the vote had 83% participation, with 100% of voters favoring the strike authorization. The WGA East council and WGA West board of directors both unanimously approved the vote.

Among the priorities this bargaining cycle, which the WGA East says that they have been unable to secure thus far, include union protections for animation writers, compensation for writer-producers, WGA coverage of all made-for-new-media programs and residual payments for reuse on streaming services.

“Writers Guild members at PBS would much...

Writers Guild of America members at PBS authorized a strike of PBS. The strike will happen if management does not agree to a fair deal before the current contract expires at 11:59 p.m. Et on Nov. 21. This decision came after the network failed to come to the negotiation table for weeks.

Of the 94-member bargaining unit represented, 100% voted in favor of strike authorization on Monday. This figure accounted for 83% participation by members. The Council of the WGA East and the Board of Directors of the WGA West also both unanimously approved the strike authorization vote.

Additionally, writers at 20 animated PBS series — including “Alma’s Way,” “Carl the Collector,” “Cyberchase,” “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood,” “Molly of Denali,” “Pinkalicious & Peterrific” and “Work It Out Wombats!” — signed a pledge to not cross a picket line should a strike be called by the union. If a deal isn’t reached and a strike is called,...

At New York Comic Con, it was revealed that Rick and Morty has been renewed for two additional seasons. The Adult Swim animated show is a satirical take on Back to the Future following a young man named Morty Smith who travels to other dimensions with his mad scientist grandfather Rick Sanchez via a flying saucer. The show is set to continue with the upcoming Rick and Morty season 8, which premieres in 2025.

At New York Comic Con, Rick and Morty executive producers Dan Harmon and Scott Marder revealed that the show had been renewed by Adult Swim for seasons 11 and 12. This is in addition to the season 9 and 10 renewals that were already set. With four additional seasons set to premiere after the upcoming season 8, this means that the animated show will run until at least 2029. Read a statement on the renewal from Adult Swim president Michael Ouweleen, Harmon, and Marder...

There's good news for Scooby-Doo fans looking to relive some nostalgia from the late '80 and early '90s. A Pup Named Scooby-Doo is now streaming on Max, and the series turns what you know and love about the franchise on its head. Instead of featuring the Mystery Inc. crew in their adulthood, the show ages everyone down to their childhood. Instead of being a fully grown dog, Scooby-Doo is a puppy in this series, as the name suggests.

A Pup Named Scooby-Doo Release Date September 10, 1988Main Genre AnimationCast Don Messick, Casey Kasem, Carl Steven, Kellie Martin, Scott Menville Expand

The show ran for three seasons and had just 27 episodes total, but it became a cult classic that continued to air on channels such as Cartoon Network throughout the 2000s. Sadly, the show was Don Messick's last time voicing Scooby before passing away in 1997.

A Pup Named Scooby-Doo is the eighth iteration of the franchise,...

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) has announced its 2023 Gold and Silver Circle inductees, honorees who have significantly contributed to children’s television.

The inductees will be honored at the second annual Children’s & Family Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on Dec. 17.

According to NATAS, “the Gold and Silver Circle is a society of honor. Inductees have performed distinguished service within the industry, setting standards for achievement, mentoring, leadership, and professional accolades for 50 or 25 years, respectively. They represent the best and the brightest in the television community.”

Gold Circle – 2023 Children’s & Family Inductees:

Peter Engel, Producer/Executive Producer (“Saved By The Bell,” “One World”) David Newell, Actor/Producer/Public Relations Director/Props/Manager/Talent Booker (“Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” “My Tale of Two Cities”) Fred Seibert, Producer/Creator/Innovator/Creative Genius/Mentor/Mensch (“Adventure Time,” “The Fairly OddParents”)

Silver Circle – 2023 Children’s & Family Inductees:

Vicki Ariyasu, Senior Vice President,...

Scooby-Doo is undeniably one of the greatest cartoon franchises ever created, with countless films and TV shows being released since its 1969 launch. Crafted from the genius minds of Joe Ruby and Ken Spears, the beloved series follows the lovable talking Great Dane and amateur teen sleuths Shaggy, Velma, Daphne, and Fred as they drive around in The Mystery Machine, solving crimes and cases across the country, uncovering countless great Scooby-Doo villains. Initially titled Mysteries Five with a bongo-playing sheepdog and five teenagers solving spooky mysteries, the program changed its lead pooch to a Great Dane, and the rest is history.

The long-running franchise has been a constant staple in the entertainment industry, producing successful spin-off shows like What’s New, Scooby-Doo, A Pup Named Scooby-Doo, and The New Scooby and Scrappy Show. A multitude of both animated and live-action films have also been created, with 37 direct-to-video pictures being released, including...

Scooby-Dooby-Doo, where are you? On our TV screens for more than five decades, that's where. Scooby-Doo's been a part of the pop culture lexicon for nearly all of those now 54 years. The 1960s were arguably Hanna Barbera's golden era, with The Flintstones, Yogi Bear, The Jetsons, Top Cat, Jonny Quest, Space Ghost, and Wacky Races among the most recognizable titles of the day. However, most other shows stayed confined to the '60s and '70s, only living on today in reruns. Some – notably The Flintstones – continued with spin-offs and movies, but there were often long hiatuses between projects.

As for Scooby-Doo, there's rarely been a hiatus lasting more than a few years. For the most part, it's aired continuously since its debut in the '60s. Nowadays, fans can usually count on at least one new movie per year. But what's the secret? How has the mystery-solving dog,...

Most of the world knows Mark Hamill by sight. He played Luke Skywalker in the "Star Wars" franchise, an acting gig that has spanned over four decades. You might even have an action figure of him in your house right now. In addition, Hamill has slayed audiences with his voice work as the Joker in Batman TV shows, animated projects, and video games since 1992. Hamill's voice work (including his insanely accurate impression of "Star Wars" co-star Harrison Ford) is incredible, and while he won a Daytime Emmy for his role in "Elena of Avalor," he was never even nominated for the Joker. That's a crime, and it's unlikely to happen now that his Batman counterpart Kevin Conroy has died. 

One job he did get a Daytime Emmy nomination for was voicing Darth Bane in season 6, episode 13 of the animated series "Star Wars: The Clone Wars," entitled "Sacrifice." However, according to...

Audiences remember The Creeper, The Spooky Space Kook, and terrifying villains like El Chupacabra in the Scooby-Doo franchise. However, some villains the gang ran across over the years were truly silly and laughable, for several reasons. The aliens in Scooby-Doo and the Alien Invaders were much too campy and inept to be taken seriously, and Marcy in What's New Scooby-Doo decided that property damage would be the best way for her birthday to be remembered.

From their silly schemes to their ridiculous actions and cheesy (one monster was literally made of cheese!) costumes, there are some villains that were just too foolish to be taken seriously.

Marcy (What's New Scooby-Doo?)

Marcy ranks among the silly villains because of the motivation behind her nefarious acts in the Halloween episode of What's New Scooby-Doo? as well as thinking that her plan would truly get her what she wanted. She is angry because her birthday is overlooked,...

Hollywood is sharing tributes to late comedian Gilbert Gottfried upon news of his passing.

On April 12, the Gottfried family wrote, “We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved Gilbert Gottfried after a long illness.”

The family shared on Twitter, “In addition to being the most iconic voice in comedy, Gilbert was a wonderful husband, brother, friend, and father to his two young children. Although today is a sad day for all of us, please keep laughing as long as possible in Gilbert’s honor.”

Gottfried was 67 years old. The actor began his career at age 15 in the New York City stand-up comedy circuit before making his TV debut in 1980. Gottfried went on to star on “Saturday Night Live” and famously voiced Iago in “Aladdin,” contributing his iconic voice to many beloved animated series. Gottfried most recently had a long-running voice stint on the PBS Kids series “Cyberchase.”

“Seinfeld” alum Jason Alexander wrote,...

Gilbert Gottfried, the controversial and one-of-a-kind comedian and actor with a voice as unique as his comedy, died today after a lengthy illness, his family announced. He was 67.

A statement posted on Gottfried’s Twitter page reads: “We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved Gilbert Gottfried after a long illness. In addition to being the most iconic voice in comedy, Gilbert was a wonderful husband, brother, friend and father to his two young children. Although today is a sad day for all of us, please keep laughing as loud as possible in Gilbert’s honor. Love, the Gottfried family.”

Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2022: Photo Gallery

NBC News reported that Gottfried died at 2:35 p.m. Et of recurrent ventricular tachycardia — an abnormal heart rhythm — due to myotonic dystrophy type II. The cause was attributed to Glenn Schwartz, Gottfried’s longtime friend and publicist.

Gottfried was known for trademark shrill,...

Legendary comedian Gilbert Gottfried has died at the age of 67.

Gottfried’s manager Tommy Nicchi tells TVLine that the comedian died at 2:35 pm Et Tuesday from recurrent ventricular tachycardia due to myotonic dystrophy type II.

More from TVLineLittle House on the Prairie's Hersha Parady Dead at 78Wwe Hall of Famer Terry Funk Dead at 79 - Ric Flair and Mick Foley Pay TributeAnother World's Nancy Frangione Dead at 70

“We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved Gilbert Gottfried after a long illness,” the Gottfried family said in a statement. “In addition to being the most iconic voice in comedy,...

Gilbert Gottfried, the comedian, “Aladdin” star and owner of the most recognizable voice in Hollywood, has died after battling a long illness, his family announced Tuesday. He was 67.

His publicist told the Washington Post that he died of myotonic dystrophy type 2, a form of muscular dystrophy.

“We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved Gilbert Gottfried after a long illness. In addition to being the most iconic voice in comedy, Gilbert was a wonderful husband, brother, friend and father to his two young children. Although today is a sad day for all of us, please keep laughing as loud as possible in Gilbert’s honor,” his family wrote on Twitter.

Many people in Hollywood, including comedians Jason Alexander, Dane Cook and more, paid tribute to Gottfried after the shocking news of his death. “Gilbert Gottfried was never not funny,” wrote Cook. “He was a lovely guy, always friendly and made many people happy.

Gilbert Gottfried, the beloved comedian known for his outsize onstage talents as a stand-up comic and as an iconic voice actor on television and film, has died. The actor was 67 and died after battling a long illness.

The news was first shared via Twitter by fellow comedian Jason Alexander, who wrote, “Gilbert Gottfried made me laugh at times when laughter did not come easily. What a gift. I did not know him well but I loved what he shared with me. My best wishes and sympathy to his family.”

Gottfried’s family shared a message on social media as well confirming his death. “We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved Gilbert Gottfried after a long illness,” the message from the Gottfried family said. “In addition to being the most iconic voice in comedy, Gilbert was a wonderful husband, brother, friend and father to his two young children.

WestEnd Films has launched international sales on “Lamya’s Poem,” an animated feature by Alexander Kronemer, which will be part of Annecy’s Works in Progress panel at the digital version of the world’s largest animation festival and market that begins Monday.

WestEnd builds on an established reputation representing prestigious independent arthouse animated features, such as Oscar-nominated films “The Breadwinner,” executive produced by Angelina Jolie, and “Song of the Sea.”

“Lamya’s Poem” is an inspiring and timely tale about a 12-year-old Syrian refugee girl named Lamya. When she flees the violence of her country, she is given a book of poetry of the famous 13th-century poet Rumi. As the perils of her journey mount, the book becomes a magical gateway where she meets Rumi when he was a boy and also a refugee fleeing the violence of his time. In a shared dreamworld, they battle the monsters that follow them from their real world situations,...

What started a week ago as a phone call between the Los Angeles Unified School District superintendent and the leader of the city’s flagship PBS stations has quickly turned into a massive at-home learning initiative being implemented by public TV stations across the country.

As concerns continued to grow over the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19), Lausd superintendent Austin Beutner contacted PBS SoCal/Kcet CEO Andrew Russell on Sunday, March 8 with a question: Could the school district, which operates its own, smaller PBS TV station (Klcs-Channel 58) partner with the market’s two major public broadcasters (PBS SoCal/Koce-Channel 50 and Kcet-Channel 28) to help serve students should schools be shut down?

Both sides wasted no time springing into action. By March 12, a day before before Lausd confirmed that students would be sent home and taught via remote learning, PBS SoCal and Kcet (which merged operations in 2018) announced an unprecedented plan to program its two channels,...

Fred Rogers Productions, the nonprofit children’s entertainment producer behind the PBS Kids series Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Odd Squad, and Peg + Cat, has promoted Ellen Doherty to chief creative officer, a newly-created position.

In her new role, Doherty will oversee an expanding portfolio of children’s content across multiple platforms and manage a growing team of creative professionals. She reports directly to president and CEO Paul Siefken.

“Ellen is a creative dynamo who has done a fantastic job expanding our ‘Neighborhood’ with extraordinary content,” said Siefken. “From her oversight of our award-winning portfolio to exceptional new projects in development, Ellen has been instrumental at every stage of the creative process, and we’ll continue to benefit from her know-how and talent.”

Doherty said being a part of the Frp team “is a true joy. I’m excited about the milestones we’ve achieved with our current series and look forward...

Spencer Mullen May 22, 2019

The Lighthouse, Stranger Things, Arthur, and more in today's daily Link Tank!

New research indicates that continental glaciers are melting faster than originally thought.

"Research released this week uncovers a situation that’s far worse than we thought. Scientists have seriously underestimated just how much water will melt off continent-sized glaciers, aka ice sheets, that are shrinking because of Earth’s increasingly hot atmosphere. The news opens a set of bigger questions facing scientists: How severe will sea level rise become by the end of the 21st century?"

Read more at Inverse.

Alabama refused to air an episode of Arthur featuring two men getting married.

"I always thought Arthur was one of the more tolerable shows that my younger relatives watched after school (don’t get me started on Cyberchase), but I never expected it to make headlines as inclusive television. I was more than happy to be proven wrong,...

It was announced that Tony nominee Max von Essen An American in Paris, Evita, Les Mis will play Dr.BradKris in the sold out, one-night-only benefit reading of Hollywood Nurses, the new pulp comedy written by Sheila Head Head Games, PBS's 'Cyberchase' and Peter Michael Marino Desperately Seeking the Exit, Late with Lance, and directed by Carl Andress Die, Mommie, Die, The Tribute Artist. Von Essen joins Golden Globe Award winner Kathleen Turner Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Tony Award nominee Geneva Carr Hand to God, Olivier Award winner Lesli Margherita Matilda and Taylor Louderman Kinky Boots.