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Inhabited exclusively by lesbians, the planet Clitopolis operates as a queer utopia isolated from any heterosexual foes as it floats inside the safety of “gay space” (a gated portion of the universe specifically for LGBT entities). Everyone there loves to party, except for Saira (Shabana Azeez), the ruling queens’ only daughter, a sheepish 23-year-old with extreme self-esteem issues. A painful breakup with her daredevil girlfriend Kiki (Bernie Van Tiel) — after dating for just two weeks — further unravels her fragile emotional state and sets in motion the odyssey in “Lesbian Space Princess,” a sapphic sci-fi animated romp for adults.

Behind this idiosyncratic and intermittently amusing vision are Australian co-writer-directors Emma Hough Hobbs and Leela Varghese, who tonally seem to take a page from some of Cartoon Network’s edgier shows, while thematically aligning more closely with “Steven Universe” — with the addition of explicit sexual references. Furthermore, key scenes indicate that “Sailor Moon...

The ’90s and early ’00s were a new golden era for TV animation, a time when shows could come not from executives and board rooms, but from people with a unique creative vision. Nickelodeon exploded unto the scene with “Doug,” “Rugrats,” and “The Ren & Stimpy Show” before Cartoon Network responded a few years later with their first original cartoons starting with “Dexter’s Laboratory.”

That show helped establish Cartoon Network as an incubator of talent and ideas, an incubator that would later become a studio when Cartoon Network Studios was properly founded as a separate entity from Hanna-Barbera and Warner Bros. Animation 25 years ago. Continuing the spirit of experimentation and creatively driven projects from the early days of the network, the studio’s first show was unlike anything else at the time, a genre-bending action show with little dialogue, born out of complaints from its creator, Genndy Tartakovsky.

“I had...

The Adult Animation Spotlight panel between Warner Bros. Animation and Adult Swim at Annecy Animation Festival summarized a number of titles in the overlap between the two studios, including the Anderson Entertainment collaboration “Hit Squad.”

The presentation was lead by Peter Girardi, EVP of Alternative Programming at Warner Bros. Animation and Adult Swim President Michael Ouweleen.

The highlight of the session, however, turned on discussion of “Heist Safari,” an animated action comedy from director Genndy Tartakovsky, who also attended the festival with his first feature, “Fixed,” s Sony Pictures Animation movie acquired by Netflix.

Tartavoksky had pitched “Heist Safari” live at last year’s edition of the festival to Ouweleen. During this spotlight panel, the pair shed a little more light on the new series from the “Samurai Jack” creator, adding a few more details of the series, which follows three frogs, all brothers, as they attempt to rob a bank.

Fans of Steven Universe have a lot to celebrate today, as it has been announced that a sequel series is in development for Prime Video. Airing on Cartoon Network from 2013 to 2019, the beloved animated show became a cultural phenomenon thanks to its mature themes, diversity, and mythology. The new series will look to continue in that same manner, while also presenting fans with some fresh new adventures.

Announced at Annecy by creator and executive producer Rebecca Sugar, the sequel series is to be called Steven Universe: Lars of the Stars, and will follow the "eternal teenager" voiced by Matthew Moy. It's been five long years since the conclusion of the limited series Steven Universe Future – which served as an epilogue to the flagship show – and for Sugar, she can't wait to dive back into things:

"I miss my world and my characters. I can't wait to share the sequel with...

A Steven Universe sequel series is in development at Prime Video, focusing on the adventures of a familiar character from the original series. Steven Universe's seasons, alongside its movie and sequel show, Steven Universe Future, provided a complete story for the title character and his friends in Beach City with the Crystal Gems. The original series and its subsequent sequels have been critically praised for its characters, writing, and LGBTQ+ themes. The franchise has also been nominated for multiple awards across its run, including Steven Universe future getting an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Short Form Animated Program.

Now, Deadlinereports that a new Steven Universe show was unveiled at Annecy. Titled Steven Universe: Lars of the Stars, the show will follow the intergalactic adventures of space pirate Lars Barriga after the events of the original series. He and his crew will be seeking loot while avoiding the law and learning...

Steven Universe is expanding. A follow-up to the hit Cartoon Network series is currently in development at Prime Video, TVLine has learned.

Steven Universe: Lars of the Stars will explore “the past, present and future of the Steven Universe universe,” per the official description. “The sequel series follows Lars Barriga, eternal teenager and space outlaw, as he and his pirate crew smuggle contraband, evade the authorities, and uncover the darkest secrets of the fallen Gem Empire.”

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Today, during a Studio Showcase at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Cartoon Network Studios announced that it is currently developing Steven Universe: Lars of the Stars for Prime Video. The new show is a follow-up to the Peabody Award–winning series Steven Universe.

From executive producers Rebecca Sugar and Ian Jones-Quartey, Steven Universe: Lars of the Stars explores the past, present, and future of the Steven Universe universe.

The sequel series follows Lars Barriga, eternal teenager and space outlaw, as he and his pirate crew smuggle contraband, evade the authorities, and uncover the darkest secrets of the fallen Gem Empire.

Teen Titans Go!, the longest-running animated series in DC history, has also been renewed for a tenth season on Cartoon Network (Iyanu). In the series, Robin, Starfire, Cyborg, Beast Boy, and Raven continue the fun with all-new comedic adventures, giving viewers a look at what life is really like as a teen superhero…...

A sequel of Cartoon Network hit Steven Universe is being developed for Prime Video.

Steven Universe: Lars of the Stars explores the past, present and future of the universe. The sequel follows Lars Barriga, eternal teenager and space outlaw, as he and his pirate crew smuggle contraband, evade the authorities and uncover the darkest secrets of the fallen Gem Empire.

The news was unveiled at Annecy by creator and EP Rebecca Sugar at a Cartoon Network Studios and Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe session.

Telling the coming-of-age story of a young boy with friends and aliens in the fictional town of Beach City, Steven Universe has been hugely popular for Cartoon Network, running for five seasons and 160 episodes. The new version will, however, not air on the network but on the Amazon streamer if it makes it to greenlight.

Sugar will EP the sequel with producing partner Ian Jones-Quartey.

At Annecy, she...

It's been over six years since the animated series Steven Universe came to an end, and aside from the 2019 movie and the 2020 epilogue series, Cartoon Network has yet to revisit the world of its grand coming-of-age space opera. Created by Rebecca Sugar, the groundbreaking show premiered in 2013 and became a standout for kids and parents alike, winning an Emmy and a Peabody award and being hailed for its story of love, family, inclusion, and identity centered on young Steven and the Crystal Gems. Now, it's finally time to revisit the cosmos through the eyes of the series' eternal teenage outlaw. At the Annecy International Animation Film Festival Studio Showcase by Warner Bros. Animation, Cartoon Network Studios, and Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe, a new sequel series titled Steven Universe: Lars of the Stars was announced to be in development for Prime Video.

Lars of the Stars is described as an exploration of "the past,...

“Steven Universe” lives on.

The Peabody-winning series, created by Rebecca Sugar for Cartoon Network Studios, is returning with “Steven Universe: Lars of the Stars.” The spinoff is currently in development for Prime Video.

The new show hails from executive producers Sugar and Ian Jones-Quartey and “explores the past, present and future of the ‘Steven Universe’ universe,” according to the official release. It is being described as a “sequel series” that follows “Lars Barriga, eternal teenager and space outlaw, as he and his pirate crew smuggle contraband, evade the authorities and uncover the darkest secrets of the fallen Gem Empire.” We’re in.

“Steven Universe” debuted on Cartoon Network back in November 2013 and ran until January 2019, amassing 160 episodes and inspiring a follow-up television movie, the excellent “Steven Universe: The Movie,” in 2019. A limited series, which served as an epilogue to the main show, “Steven Universe Future,” then aired in 2019 and 2020. The...

Cartoon Network Studios is expanding the beloved “Steven Universe” franchise with a brand-new series, “Steven Universe: Lars of the Stars,” now in development for Prime Video. The announcement was made Wednesday during the Warner Bros. Animation, Cartoon Network Studios and Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe showcase at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival by “Steven Universe” creator Rebecca Sugar.

After a very brief introduction from studio president Sam Register, the great and powerful – which featured a clip of him appearing as an Oz-like floating head surrounded by jets of flames – it was revealed “Teen Titans Go!”, the longest running animated series in DC history, has been renewed for a tenth season on Cartoon Network. The irreverent comedy, based on DC’s teen superhero team, continues to follow Robin, Starfire, Cyborg, Beast Boy and Raven as they juggle crimefighting with the absurdities of teenage life. Executive producers Luke Cormican, Peggy Regan and Sam...

Five years after the last iteration of Steven Universe ended, the show’s, uh, universe is expanding again.

A sequel series focused on supporting character Lars Barriga is in the works at Prime Video. Steven Universe: Lars of the Stars comes from the original show’s creator, Rebecca Sugar, and supervising director Ian Jones-Quartey, who will executive produce. Cartoon Network Studios is behind the project, which was announced Tuesday at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival.

Steven Universe ‘Lars of the Stars’ Cartoon Network Studios

Sugar announced the new show at Annecy after giving a live performance of one of her original songs, written for Cartoon Network’s hit Adventure Time series.

At the same session for Warner Bros. Animation, Cartoon Network Studios and Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe, Cartoon Network announced an Adventure Time spin-off, Adventure Time: Side Quests, and season 10 renewal for Teen Titans Go!.

Lars of the Stars, per its logline,...

In an intimate and candid discussion at this year’s Annecy Animation Festival, the biggest names behind some of television’s most iconic animated series met with Variety to talk legacy, change and the shifting landscape of the medium they helped define.

Creators Craig McCracken (“The Powerpuff Girls” “Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends”), Genndy Tartakovsky, Rebecca Sugar (“Steven Universe”), Pendleton Ward and J.G. Quintel (“Regular Show”) and “Adventure Time” executive producer and showrunner Adam Muto opened up about the origins of their work, a new era of creation and what it means to still be pushing boundaries after decades in the business.

The conversation ranged from nostalgic memories of Cartoon Network Studio’s golden era – Annecy hosted a celebratory 25th anniversary panel for the studio on Tuesday afternoon – to bold speculation about the future of animation. At its core was the recognition that while technology, audience behavior and corporate structures have transformed dramatically,...

If he was starting out today, Dexter’s Laboratory creator Genndy Tartakovsky would “make cartoon after cartoon until something hits.”

That was Tartakovsky’s pearl of wisdom delivered to a packed Annecy audience as he celebrated 25 years of Cartoon Network Studios with a sextet of creators of some of the biggest American cartoons of all time, including The Powerpuff Girls, Adventure Time and Steven Universe.

Tartakovsky, who is also in Annecy promoting Netflix’s Fixed, figures it’s easier than ever to get your big break because young cartoonists can flood YouTube with ideas.

“It’s partly independent now because you can make it and put it on your own kind of cable channel,” he added. “That’s what I’d do [if I were starting now]. I’d work a day job and then at night I’d make cartoon after cartoon until something hits. It was more difficult when we were coming up.

Wia [Women in Animation] has announced the lineup for its 2025 World Summit at Annecy.

As revealed exclusively to Variety, the ninth edition of the event, taking place on June 9, will be themed The Future is Animated and will focus, among other things, on adult animation.

“It’s a subject very close to my heart, as I produce ‘Invincible’ and run the studio over at Skybound Entertainment. Our whole focus is adult animation,” admitted Wia president Marge Dean.

“We want to address issues and challenges that the industry is facing from all aspects, and particularly around gender justice, but we always try to take a positive approach. Everyone knows the industry is struggling right now. There’s a lot of unemployment and a lot less work being done. But adult animation is definitely a growing area in the industry.”

Marci Proietto, executive vice president of animation for 20th Century Fox; Marshell Becton,...

Here’s How To Watch Powerpuff Girls (Photo Credit – Prime Video)

The Powerpuff Girls started off as three superpowered sisters saving their city from monsters and bad guys. Lately, however, they’ve been fighting a different kind of battle to stay visible in the streaming world. Even though they recently made a comeback on Cartoon Network’s morning lineup, HBO Max has quietly taken the original 1998 series off its platform.

Popular Cartoon Network Shows Continue To Disappear From Streaming

This move follows a trend that animation fans know all too well. One by one, old Cartoon Network favorites are disappearing from streaming libraries. The Powerpuff Girls now sit beside shows like Ed, Edd n Eddy, Teen Titans, and The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, all removed with little fanfare.

Where To Watch The Original Powerpuff Girls In 2025

The series originally gained a strong fan base by blending action and slices of everyday childhood problems.

After announcing multiple reboots and spin-offs of popular classic Cartoon Network shows, it seems Warner Bros. is doubling down on its plans, teasing that the future of its animation division will involve bringing back existing IP as it "makes good business sense." In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Warner Bros. executive Vanessa Brookman stated, "The easiest way for me to do that now is to do it with our really beloved IP." Interestingly, Warner Bros. wants to bring back classic titles, as there were numerous reports of shows being pulled off Max, like Ben 10, Steven Universe, and The Regular Show, to name a few. It also doesn't help that the Cartoon Network website shut down last year.

But while shows are being pulled from Warner Bros' streaming library, the studio did announce numerous new projects, such as a new season of The Amazing World of Gumball, more Adventure Time content,...

Warner Bros. Animation will unveil upcoming series “Get Jiro” and “Bat-Fam” at France’s Annecy Intl. Animation Film Festival during its Behind-the-Scenes panels.

In further news, Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe will also present this year’s official Annecy Festival trailer, overseen by executive producer Ben Bocquelet and director Grant Orchard. Directed by Grant Orchard with Ben Bocquelet as executive producer, it features Bugs Bunny and other Warner Bros. iconic characters making their way to the festival.

“Get Jiro” is based on the New York Times bestselling DC/Vertigo graphic novel and set in a not-too-distant future Los Angeles, where master chefs rule the town and “people literally kill for a seat at the best restaurants. A mysterious sushi master named Jiro enters a bloody culinary war to craft his recipe for revenge,” promised the team.

“Bat-Fam” will follow the events of “Merry Little Batman,” and Batman, Alfred and young Damian...

The Powerpuff Girls was a popular cartoon franchise that first aired in 1998. Since then, it has released multiple spin-offs and was close to airing a live-action adaptation on the CW. After years of being off the air, the show is coming back to television this April, with a new time slot on Cartoon Network.

ComicBook.com reported that the late-'90s animated series will return to Cartoon Network on April 12 as part of its new morning lineup. It also revealed that the 2013 show Steven Universe will join this lineup. Both programs will air next to each other, with Steven Universe scheduled to appear at 10 a.m. and The Powerpuff Girls at 10:30 a.m. There is no word on whether the 2016 reboot will also make a return at a later date.

Ever since the series first premiered in November 1998, The Powerpuff Girls has lasted for six seasons and released a feature...

Fans in the U.S. will soon be saying goodbye to Avatar: The Last Airbender's sequel series, The Legend of Korra, on the world's biggest streaming platform, with all four seasons being de-listed, although its predecessor and the live-action series adaptation will remain.

Via What's on Netflix, The Legend of Korra was removed from other international territories on Netflix last year and is now planned to depart Netflix’s U.S. streaming roster on April 16, 2025. Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra were added to the service in 2020, where they gained a newfound fan base and popularity. Despite being 15 years old at that point, The Last Airbender spent an astounding 61 days in the streaming services' top 10 charts, while The Legend of Korra spent a respectable 20 days in the U.S. top 10.

Avatar: The Last Airbender's Dark Sequel Series Will Soon Be Leaving Netflix Streaming

Netflix’s...

This just in — Looney Tunesis no longer streaming on Max! The Warner Bros. show is one of many cartoon series that the platform has removed in recent times. In October 2024, fans learned that Max had taken down several big shows from the studio, including Ben 10, Chowder, Steven Universe, and Regular Show, without warning. Not just that, but Warner Bros. has also removed several of theScooby-Doo movies from Max, along with two Tom & Jerrytitles.

The 2010s and 2020s saw a surge of American children's media that put queerness front and center. Take the work of N.D. Stevenson, such as the Netflix series "She-Ra and the Princesses of Power" and the animated film "Nimona," based on his graphic novel. From "Steven Universe" to "The Owl House," cartoons have gotten a lot gayer in the last decade.

And it is almost precisely a decade because Nickelodeon's "The Legend of Korra" is the show that broke down the dam in 2014. In the show's fourth and final season, Avatar Korra (Janet Varney) falls in love with her best friend, Asami Sato (Seychelle Gabriel). A sequel to "Avatar: The Last Airbender," "The Legend of Korra" is set in a fantasy world where people can bend one of the four elements. Korra, as the reincarnation of world defender the Avatar, can bend all four. If kids can accept a world that fantastical,...

Last May, Warner Bros. and Player First Games’ launched the video game MultiVersus, a free-to-play platform fighter game that was made available as “a free download for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 consoles, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One consoles, and PC (Steam and Epic Games Store), with full cross-play and cross-progression support.” Unfortunately, it turns out that the game only had one year of life in it, as Warner Bros. Games has now announced that online service for MultiVersus will be coming to an end on May 30th.

Warner Bros. Games wrote, “We have an important update to share regarding MultiVersus. After careful consideration, our next Season will serve as the final seasonal content update for the game. MultiVersus Season 5 will begin on February 4, 2025, and run through May 30, 2025, adding two new playable characters to the roster – DC’s Aquaman and Looney Tunes’ Lola Bunny. All new Season 5 content, including Aquaman and Lola Bunny,...

Cartoon Network is responsible for some of the best 1990s cartoons period, but the network's reign of dominance didn't end with the turn of a new millennium. The channel had plenty of holdovers from the previous decade, but more excitingly, it introduced plenty of other great animated series for kids of all ages to enjoy. 

There were absolutely cartoons that dabbled in standalone episodes where you could tune in any week and know what's going on. Courage had new monsters to face while Johnny Bravo was getting himself into all sorts of ridiculous mishaps. However, Cartoon Network also began dabbling with more long-form storytelling. Kids could also watch "Justice League" and partake in a more serious superhero story about governmental overreach. There was something for every palate whether you wanted silly jokes or more high-octane action. 

Anyone who says animation peaked in the '90s needs a reality check. Here...

Cartoon Network fans are starting 2025 with disappointment as several beloved animated series have been removed from Max.

Let’s remember that last month, we learned that Max, the streaming home of countless DC shows and movies, is facing some unexpected changes as four fan-favorite DC animated series were set to leave its library by the start of 2025.

Namely, Teen Titans, Teen Titans Go!, Static Shock, and Green Lantern: The Animated Series are no longer available after December 31. However, it seems that those were not the only projects removed from Max’s library starting January 1.

Among the notable titles now missing are the first seven seasons of Teen Titans Go!, the original Teen Titans, Ed, Edd n’ Eddy, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, The Looney Tunes Show, Static Shock, and Green Lantern: The Animated Series.

While the eighth season of Teen Titans Go! remains available, fans hoping to...

Quick Links Hamill's Role as Skips in Regular Show Despite Being Unsure Initially, Mark Hamill Grew to Love His Regular Show Role

Mark Hamill is one of the most iconic actors of the last few decades. Of course, he'll always be synonymous with Luke Skywalker or, in the world of animation, as the voice of the Joker in multiple TV shows, movies, and video games. However, one of Hamill's lesser-known roles is also reportedly one of his favorites.

From 2010 to 2017, Hamill provided the voice of the yeti-like character Skips on Cartoon Network's animated comedy Regular Show. This series was a part of Cartoon Network's 2010s resurgence, airing alongside other acclaimed hits like Adventure Time, The Amazing World of Gumball, and Steven Universe. The cast and crew of Regular Show consisted of up-and-coming relative unknowns in the animation sphere, so landing a name like Hamill was a big deal. It paid off,...

Warning: Spoilers Ahead for MultiVersus: Collision Detected #2!The official return of Steven Universe in a crossover comic reminded me just how much I missed the show. It has been four years since Rebecca Sugar's acclaimed Cartoon Network series ended with Steven Universe Future. I still remember countless months of waiting for every new Steven Bomb to see what was next for the overarching narrative, and this new comic offers at least a hint of that thrill.

MultiVersus: Collision Detected #2 written by Bryan Q. Miller, with art by Jon Sommariva has a premise that I love, to start with, as DC's "trinity" of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman find themselves on the hunt for various visitors across the multiverse, including many iconic cartoon character.

Among the notable heroes and villains are Shaggy and Scooby-Doo, the Wicked Witch of the West and Rick Sanchez from Rick and Morty, though the appearance...

Cartoon Networks Steven Universe shouts the power of love can change! from the rooftops, but one character breaks the show's rule in a great way. Steven Universe has many riveting character arcs over its five-season run, notably Peridots wonderfully written redemption arc, but Rose Quartz has the most unique and complex storyline of them all. The Cartoon Network show's decision to split from a traditional character growth structure for Rose Quartz created a twist on the "beloved dead mother" archetype. Rose is not just the ghost haunting the narrative but the rose-tinted filter the characters must shatter to grow.

Steven Universe, created by Rebecca Sugar, is the coming-of-age story of 13-year-old Steven Universe as he attempts to master his powers and become a Crystal Gem. While the critically acclaimed animated series maintained relative lightheartedness, it was unafraid to tackle themes such as freedom, identity, and a person's right to exist as the show progressed.

Hundreds of members of the Animation Guild, along with fellow IATSE members joining in solidarity, gathered at the IATSE 80 headquarters in Burbank on Saturday ahead of Monday’s start of contract negotiations.

The crowd was over twice that of the Guild’s previous rally in 2022. Animation writer and negotiating committee member Joey Clift told TheWrap that the union had over 2,000 RSVPs as of Friday, doubling the number of the 2022 event. He estimated that nearly 2,500 people attended in the near 90-degree heat.

Mike Rianda, animator known for his work on “Gravity Falls,” emceed the festivities Saturday afternoon. Rianda kicked off the rally by bringing up six “animation avengers” to the stage to rally the crowd, including “Steven Universe” creator Rebecca Sugar, “Hotel Transylvania” and “Samurai Jack” creator Genndy Tartakovsky and legendary Disney and DreamWorks animator James Baxter.

Stand With Animation Rally on Aug. 11, 2024 (Credit: Tess Patton for TheWrap)

Attendees also heard from guild leaders,...

Cartoon Network is offline. Warner Bros. Discovery has apparently pulled the plug on the official website for Cartoon Network shortly after squashing the cartoon-centric streaming service Boomerang.

Per THR, the network's official website (CartoonNetwork.com) now redirects visitors directly to the sign-up page for the streaming service Max, which hosts Cartoon Network content for paid subscribers. The message notes that cable subscribers can continue to enjoy Cartoon Network programming on television and connected apps, but when it comes to streaming, the page noted, Looking for episodes of your favorite Cartoon Network shows? Check out whats available to stream on Max (subscription required)."

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Related The 35 Most Popular Cartoons Of All Time, Ranked

Icons in pop culture such as Scooby-Doo, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and SpongeBob SquarePants are some of the most popular cartoons of all time.

The website had offered free content for visitors up until Aug. 8. Along with various video clips,...

Cartoon Network has been scrubbed from the web.

Warner Bros. Discovery this week pulled the entire contents of cartoonnetwork.com offline — redirecting visitors to a landing page on Max, its subscription-streaming service, encouraging fans to sign up to watch their favorite Cartoon Network shows. The shuttering of the site appears to have happened Thursday, Aug. 8.

“Looking for episodes of your favorite Cartoon Network shows? Check out what’s available to stream on Max (subscription required),” a pop-up message says on the new Max landing page. “Sign up for Max, where you can also create a Kids Profile with ratings restrictions and additional privacy protections to keep it fun and kid-friendly! Cable subscribers, continue to enjoy your favorite Cn programming on your TV and connected apps as well!”

In a statement, a Cartoon Network spokesperson told Variety: “We are focusing on the Cartoon Network shows and social media where we find...

Terry Gilliam’s “Time Bandits” is meeting a new generation this month, with a TV adaptation on Apple TV+. But there are some familiar elements to it.

The series follows of gang of bandits, traveling through time in an effort to steal as many important (and really just cool) artifacts as they can. But their means of traveling through time and space itself is stolen, meaning they’re also on the run from the Supreme Being.

Here’s everyone you need to know in the “Time Bandits” series.

Kevin Haddock (Kal-El Tuck) Apple TV+

Kevin is the young boy whose bedroom ends up being a bit of a temporal waystation, and who ends up being a hero in the story. He’s played by newcomer Kal-El Tuck, who previously starred in a pair of shorts and one episode of “Andy and the Band.”

Penelope (Lisa Kudrow) Apple TV+

Penelope is...

Nearly 25 years into the Golden Age of Television, we are finally ready to create a definitive list of the greatest queer television of all time. Any sooner, and the pickings of series that are both fully embodied in their queerness and top notch artistically would have been a wee bit slim. Luckily for those of us who prefer a fuller bodied canon, slim fit is over. It’s time to celebrate the wonderful wide world of queer television that has exploded over the last nearly quarter of a century.

With so many options to consider, we decided to open this list with a bang: Just the classics. After years of sifting through sweeps-week teases and low-budget soaps, it feels both exhilarating and overwhelming to be able to cull from a wealth of excellent queer programming. This list recognizes the trailblazing classics that paved the way, as well as the boundary-breakers...

Ahead of today’s Warner Bros. Animation studio focus panel at the Annecy Animation Festival, Variety has learned that Cartoon Network Studios (Cns) is working on three new “Adventure Time” properties, including a movie and two new series.

Currently in development, details are still scant regarding the “Adventure Time” movie, but the project features an animation superstar lineup of talent including “Steven Universe” creator Rebecca Sugar, “Over the Garden Wall” co-creator Patrick McHale and “Adventure Time” showrunner Adam Muto. All are “Adventure Time” vets.

Already greenlit at Cns, “Adventure Time: Side Quests” is a kids’ series that will take audiences back in time to when Finn was just a kid who dreamed of epic quests and monster fights with his best friend, Jake the Dog.

Rather than featuring a lore-heavy narrative spread across episodes and seasons, as “Adventure Time” and “Fiona and Cake” did, “Side Quests” will deliver stand-alone episodes...

Cartoon Network has always been a place of experimentation. In the early years, shows like "Dexter's Laboratory" brought Sam Raimi references to animation. In the early '00s, shows like "Samurai Jack," "Ben 10," and "Codename: Kids Next Door," added deep mythologies and more serialized storytelling. And in the 2010s, the network experimented with visuals in shows like "Flapjack" and "Adventure Time," which brought weirdness back into Cartoon Network.

This experimentation continued, with animators who got their start on the likes of "Flapjack" going on to develop influential and fantastic shows on their own. Still, as bold and imaginative as all these shows were, they were still mostly white men in charge of creating those cartoons. That all changed in 2013 with the release of "Steven Universe" -- one of the best cartoons of the century and a deeply emotional and inventive show inspired by superheroes and magical-girl anime. The show follows Steven,...

Perhaps the most overlooked series in the "Star Trek" canon ("Short Treks" and "Very Short Treks" notwithstanding), "Star Trek: The Animated Series" may be accepted as the final two years in the U.S.S. Enterprise's five-year mission. "Star Trek: Tas" debuted on September 8, 1973, four years after the cancelation of "Star Trek," to reunite the original cast and writers to explore Starlfeet's adventures in a 30-minute, animated format. The animation was provided by Filmation, the studio that had previously overseen multiple Batman and Superman cartoons, Archie cartoons, "Gilligan's Island" spinoffs, and which would go on to produce the ultra-popular "Fat Albert," "The Groovy Goolies," "BraveStarr," and "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe." Filmation shows were popular among kids, but their animations tended to be stiff and inexpressive. The most prominent feature of "Star Trek: Tas" is how static it looks.

However, the shortened runtime forced the writers of "Tas...

Earlier this week, we learned that iconic slasher Jason Voorhees from the Friday the 13th franchise will be a playable character in Warner Bros. and Player First Games’ upcoming video game MultiVersus, a free-to-play platform fighter game that will be making its way out into the world on May 28th as “a free download for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 consoles, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One consoles, and PC (Steam and Epic Games Store), with full cross-play and cross-progression support.” Now Jason has gotten his own gameplay trailer, which can be seen in the embed above.

As a press release notes, this trailer show us that “Jason towers over the competition as a Tank class character with a scary moveset that incorporates his axe and machete weapons, teleporting ability to show up right behind opponents and stuff them into a sleeping bag, fatally folding a bed in half to launch enemies off the map,...

Way back at the end of 2021, Warner Bros. announced that they were teaming up with Player First Games to develop a free-to-play platform fighter game called MultiVersus. The game will finally be making its way out into the world on May 28th as “a free download for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 consoles, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One consoles, and PC (Steam and Epic Games Store), with full cross-play and cross-progression support”… and a newly unveiled trailer for Season 1: Puns & Villainy reveals that Jason Voorhees from the Friday the 13th horror movie franchise and Agent Smith from The Matrix film series will be included as playable characters alongside a long list of characters based on Warner Bros. Discovery franchises. The announced characters are Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Harley Quinn, Black Adam, and The Joker of DC Comics; Shaggy and Velma of Scooby-Doo; Bugs Bunny, Tasmanian Devil a.k.a. Taz,...

Any viewers feeling lost after Star Wars: The Bad Batch can watch these shows for more family-focused sci-fi adventures. These suggested series explore themes of family and survival in space, which is great while viewers wait for more Star Wars content. These captivating and emotionally impactful sci-fi shows can fill the Bad Batch-shaped hole in any viewer's heart.

Now that Star Wars: The Bad Batch is over, many Star Wars viewers have been left wondering what to watch. With its third season now finished, it will likely be quite a while before any of the series main characters makes a return. Because of this, there is now a Bad Batch-shaped hole in many viewers' hearts, and choosing a new show to scratch this itch may prove difficult.

The Bad Batch itself is an emotional rollercoaster all about family and surviving in the wake of the Galactic Empires rise to power.

Back in November, Mark Hamill told fans at Fan Expo San Francisco that he would no longer be portraying the Clown Prince of Gotham. 

Despite being considered by many to be the best Joker of all time, Hamill believed he just couldn't play the role unless it was opposite Kevin Conroy's Batman. Conroy, who voiced Bruce Wayne/Batman across several projects, passed away in November 2022.

But it seems there was a little caveat that allowed for Hamill to reprise the iconic villain role one final time in an upcoming game called MultiVersus. As it turns out, prior to his passing, Kevin Conroy also voiced Batman in the fighting game. It's perhaps for this reason that Hamill made an exception to his previous statement and returned to the role of Joker in the game.

For those unfamiliar, MultiVersus is a free-to-play platform fighter, in the same vein as Nintendo's Super Smash Bros.

More and more sports teams and distributors are offering alternate broadcasts as the 2023-24 NHL and NBA seasons conclude.

How hard is Batman’s slapshot? Can Daffy Duck hit the five-hole? However improbable these questions seem, it appears they’re about to be answered! TNT Sports has announced that on Sunday, April 14, it will present an animated alternate broadcast of an NHL game between the Colorado Avalanche and the Vegas Golden Knights. The game will feature animated characters like Bugs Bunny, Shaggy, and Superman taking the place of NHL players and mirroring their actions on the ice in real-time, and it will allow Warner Bros. Discovery to flex its muscles and take full advantage of its ability to offer sports on multiple platforms.

The “MultiVersus” animated NHL broadcast will air exclusively on truTV and Max. A character draft where teams will pick the animated characters who represent them will be...

Avatar: The Last Airbender has its fans, but the show is particularly popular with fans and writers of fantasy fiction for its simple yet unique take on the elemental-based magic system. Bending, as it is called in the show, is often referred to as a prime example of a hard magic system, distinct from the kind of magic one sees in other fantasy stories like Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter.

Toph, from Avatar: The Last Airbender

The creators of the show revealed what was expected of them initially, and how they decided to design their world. Different and distinct from the usual Western Fantasies, the show drew from a myriad of sources, focusing on Asian philosophies to populate their world with concepts and ideas, while also deciding to make a magic system that makes sense to the audience.

Nickelodeon wanted something more like Harry Potter Daniel Radcliffe as...

It's difficult to encapsulate the impact of Pendelton Ward's animated juggernaut, "Adventure Time." Not only did the show serve as the launchpad for animators like Rebecca Sugar ("Steven Universe") and Julia Pott ("Summer Camp Island"), but it even served as the structural godfather for Donald Glover's "Atlanta." The series centers on a human boy named Finn and his adoptive brother Jake, a magical dog who can change size at will. The duo goes on magical adventures in very distant lands, meeting new friends, foes, and fascinating characters along the way. The nearly 300-episode series took home seven Emmys, launched a multimedia franchise, and got multiple spin-offs. It was a show that felt like it would go on forever ... until after 10 seasons, it came to a satisfying albeit bittersweet end.

As explained by Cartoon Network's chief content office Rob Sorcher in an oral history of "Adventure Time" published by the Los Angeles Times,...

Exclusive: Veteran actress, comedian and musician Kate Micucci (Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities) has launched development on Toy, a new animated series based on the popular Keenspot comic book created by Brett Murphy and Wilson Gandolpho. In addition to producing, Micucci will star and create music for the cartoon, having already recorded a first pass of the theme song.

Tobi Wilson, who serves as Senior Writer for Cartoon Network’s long-running hit The Amazing World of Gumball, is attached as showrunner and co-producer. Also set to produce are Keenspot’s Chris Crosby and Bobby Crosby, as well as David Campiti of Glass House Studios, who will be handling animation production.

Released in March 2023, Toy follows the adventures of a floppy-eared inventor of the same name, who also happens to be, you guessed it, a toy! He has two friends (at least two friends!), an ever-hungry crocodile and a skillful human girl,...

Cartoon Network has produced some of the best and most beloved kids' shows of all time, and it continues to do so decade after decade. The channel started broadcasting in 1992 as a division of Warner Bros. Discovery. Mainly, the network airs children's animated shows, with a preschool block early in the morning and a more mature block later in the day subtitled Adult Swim, which now operates as almost a different channel airing on the same network in the later hours.

Cartoon Network created tons of nostalgic content for kids growing up in the 90s and early 2000s, but not enough recognition is given to shows created during the 2010s. Cartoon Network continues to put out great new shows, from new series set in the Ben 10 universe to original action and adventure comedies like Steven Universe and Adventure Time. Many of these shows already have an established audience in...

Kate Micucci said Monday that she is cancer-free after having surgery a week ago following a lung cancer diagnosis.

The Big Bang Theory alum took to TikTok over the weekend to thank well-wishers “for of the good wishes and all the love” after revealing her diagnosis.

“I have great news which is that I am cancer-free,” she said Saturday. “The surgery last week went great, all the reports I got back are that it worked out and I don’t need to do any more treatment.”

She also thanked her nurses and doctors for the care and for “figuring [the diagnosis] out early, because I am very very lucky and I know that.”

@katiemicucci

Thank you to everyone who sent good wishes this week. It meant so much to me! ❤️ #cancerfree #solucky #update #goodnews #goodnewsontiktok #lungcancer

♬ original sound – Katemicucci

Last Tuesday, Micucci, 43, shared on TikTok that she underwent lung cancer surgery December 11. She said the diagnosis was a surprise because she’s never smoked. “But I guess it happens, and so the greatest news is they caught it early, they got it out — I’m all good,” she said at the time.

Mucci most recently was cast in a voice role for the upcoming animated Angry Birds Mystery Island TV series. Her other credits include NBC’s Four Kings, Scrubs, Till Death, Raising Hope, Steven Universe, How I Met Your Mother and Malcolm in the Middle, among others. Film credits include The Last Hurrah, Bart Got a Room and When in Rome.

Also an artist and a musician, she and Riki Lindhome comprise the musical comedy duo Garfunkel and Oates.

Season 2 is the best season, showcasing emotional storytelling and important LGBTQ+ representation. Season 5 concludes the original run with an expertly crafted finale, although some smaller moments are lost in the narrative weight. Season 4 is the weakest season, suffering from pacing issues and filler episodes that lack depth compared to the grand scale of season 3.

The Cartoon Network animated series Steven Universe is one of the most beloved cartoons of all time and throughout its original five-season run, movie, and epilogue series, it had so many incredible moments. Steven Universe was created by Rebecca Sugar and tells the story of a young human-gem hybrid who lives in Beach City with the Crystal Gems and together they fight to save the world from their own kind. Throughout the show’s run, Steven Universe addressed themes of love, family, and friendship, and connected with audiences through its deep lore and expert world building...

Kate Micucci, who portrayed Lucy on The Big Bang Theory, has revealed she was diagnosed with lung cancer.

“This is not a TikTok, it’s a SickTok”, the 43-year-old actress and comedian said in a video she shared on TikTok after undergoing surgery for the disease.

“I had lung cancer surgery yesterday,” Micucci said from the hospital. “It’s really weird because I’ve never smoked a cigarette in my life so uh, you know, it was a surprise. But I guess it happens and so the greatest news is they caught it early, they got it out — I’m all good.”

“It’s been a little bit of a trip,” she added, “I’ll probably be moving slow for a few weeks, but then I’ll be back at it.”

“Why am I still talking? … ‘cause I’m on drugs!” she quipped as she gave a thumbs up.

Her...

The revival of Steven Universe is promising, as the show has been revived before with a movie and miniseries. Fans didn't get enough time with an older, more mature Steven, leaving possibilities for a revival. Bringing back Steven Universe may tarnish the show's final reputation and struggle to manufacture conflict without any remaining villains.

The possibilities for the revival of Rebecca Sugar's hit show Steven Universe have many implications, both good and bad. Originally coming to a conclusion with the release of the 5th season in 2017, the staple icon of modern-day Cartoon Network has had a profound impact on the animation landscape. Its sophisticated musical offerings, signature "CalArts" animation style, and bold representation of the LGBTQ+ community has given the series lasting staying power as one of the few great defininitive Cartoon Network series of the 2010s.

Recently, creator Rebecca Sugar was asked by Variety about the possibility of a revival,...

From “Cheers” to “Frasier,” Kelsey Grammer’s Frasier Crane was a mainstay of comedy TV for 20 years, from the ’80s to the early-aughts. Now, after an equal amount of time off the air, Grammer is back in the role for Paramount+’s “Frasier.”

The streaming series is a revival-meets-reboot that once again spins off Grammer’s character with a new cast of colorful characters. Some original “Frasier” stars will return to guest star. However, David Hyde Pierce won’t return as Niles and John Mahoney, who played their father Martin, passed away in 2018.

That means Frasier – along with “Frasier” fans – will be surrounded by new faces. With that in mind, here’s a handy guide to the new “Frasier” cast and characters, including where you might have the actors before.

Kelsey Grammer as Frasier Crane (Chris Haston/Paramount+)

Everyone’s favorite tender-hearted egoist is back for more silly snobbery: Grammer...