Latest news with #CartoonNetwork
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Steven Universe' Sequel in the Works at Amazon
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. More from The Hollywood Reporter Amazon Finds Its American Gladiators and Hires '106 & Park' Co-Host as Sideline Reporter (Exclusive) Cannes Lions CEO Complains: "Creatives Are Feeling Less Confident" 'BoJack Horseman' Creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg on Ditching Satire for Sincerity in 'Long Story Short' 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, '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.' Should it go to series at the Amazon-owned Prime Video, Lars of the Stars will be the first Steven Universe show not to air on Cartoon Network. The original series ran from 2013-19 and was followed by a feature-length movie and the series Steven Universe Future, which concluded in 2020. As for Teen Titans Go!, the renewal extends the show's record as the longest-running DC animated series. A premiere date for season 10, which will continue to follow the (mis)adventures of Robin, Starfire, Cyborg, Beast Boy and Raven, will be announced later. Luke Cormican, Peggy Regan and Sam Register executive produce the series, which comes from WB Animation. The Annecy showcase also featured first-look clips and concept art for Foster's Funtime for Imaginary Friends, the preschool spin-off show of Craig McCracken's Cartoon Network hit Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends; The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball, the revival seventh season of Ben Bocquelet's The Amazing World of Gumball, which will air on Hulu and Cartoon Network International; and SuperMutant Magical Academy, the upcoming Adult Swim show from Regular Show and Close Enough creator J.G. Quintel, based on Jillian Tamaki's webcomic of the same name. Best of The Hollywood Reporter 'The Studio': 30 Famous Faces Who Play (a Version of) Themselves in the Hollywood-Based Series 22 of the Most Shocking Character Deaths in Television History A 'Star Wars' Timeline: All the Movies and TV Shows in the Franchise
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Stranger Things,' Video Games and French Comics to Light Up Lucca
Netflix, Cartoon Network and Crunchyroll will lead the entertainment lineup at Lucca Comics & Games 2025, the international pop culture festival, which returns to the Tuscan city for this year's event, running Oct. 29-Nov. 2. Netflix will spotlight the fifth and final season of Stranger Things with a special event at Lucca on Oct. 31, ahead of the show's multi-part release starting in late November. Cartoon Network will unveil The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball, an interactive pavilion experience inspired by Ben Bocquelet's cult animated series, which has been revived for a final, seventh season, that will premiere on Hulu and Cartoon Network International. Crunchyroll will return to Lucca with a dedicated anime space featuring screenings, previews, and exclusive merchandise. More from The Hollywood Reporter Emma Forrest's Upcoming Novel 'Father Figure' Set for See-Saw Films Adaptation KVIFF Sets Jiri Bartoska Tribute With Opening Film, Exhibition, La Roux to Perform Opening Concert Iran Film, Dakota Johnson, Stellan Skarsgard, Peter Sarsgaard, Vicky Krieps Honors Set for Karlovy Vary Headline's Lucca's video game section this year will be Japan's Kojima Productions, presenting Hideo Kojima's Death Stranding 2: On The Beach. Fellow Japanese game designer Keiichiro Toyama, the creator of Silent Hill and Gravity Rush will also attend, to discuss his career and his most recent title, the action-horror game Slitterhead, developed Bokeh Game Studio, and partially inspired by Hong Kong film auteurs Wong Kar-wai and Fruit Chan. Also on the Lucca lineup this year is indie developer Luca Galante (Vampire Survivors.) This year's official poster, unveiled in advance of the event, was designed by French illustrator Rébecca Dautremer. The artwork, titled 'French Kiss' — a tribute to this year's country of honor —imagines six fantasy figures, including a witch, a werewolf and a manga-style monster, suspended in the moment before a transformative kiss. Dautremer will debut her new graphic novel, Ruby Rose, at Lucca and the festival host an exhibition of her work at a new space in the city's Palazzo Guinigi. Lucca will also showcase trailblazing figures in the French comics scene, including Moebius, Claire Bretécher, Jacques Tardi, and Florence Cestac. Check out this year's poster below. Best of The Hollywood Reporter 'The Studio': 30 Famous Faces Who Play (a Version of) Themselves in the Hollywood-Based Series 22 of the Most Shocking Character Deaths in Television History A 'Star Wars' Timeline: All the Movies and TV Shows in the Franchise
India Today
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Cartoon anthems we grew up on: A nostalgic spin this world music day
This World Music Day, we're rewinding to the real soundtracks of our childhood. Before playlists and algorithm-generated mood mixes, we had something better — cartoon theme songs and show intros that became part of the zeitgeist. These themes announced joy, chaos, and unforgettable stories in under a minute. For every '90s kid, those tunes weren't just background music. They were the opening credits to a simpler, sillier school or on Sunday mornings, we didn't check the time — we just heard that one iconic tune and knew what was on. This World Music Day, we're tuning into those memory-loaded melodies that still live in our heads... rent-free.'SCOOBY-DOO KAHAN HO TUM?' – SCOOBY-DOO (CARTOON NETWORK, HINDI)'Scooby-Doo, tum kahan ho?' The Hindi version of Cartoon Network's OG mystery gang theme made ghost-chasing cool and singable. Whether you were into Velma's brains or Shaggy's snacks, this jingle—with its rhyming lyrics and groovy beat—instantly pulled you into the gang's next spooky (but not scary) adventure. The line 'Chhupo mat bhai, Scooby-Doo tum kahan ho?' still hits like a flashlight in a dark hallway. advertisement 'JUNGLE JUNGLE BAAT CHALI HAI' – THE JUNGLE BOOK (DOORDARSHAN)Nothing screams Sunday morning more than this absolute classic. Written by Gulzar and composed by Vishal Bhardwaj, the theme song of The Jungle Book wasn't just a tune — it was a ritual. Every kid who sang 'jungle jungle baat chali hai' at full volume was part of the Mowgli fandom. It united generations with its warmth, rhythm, and that feeling of running barefoot through the forest with Baloo and Bagheera. 'ZINDAGI TOOFANI HAI' – DUCKTALES (DISNEY CHANNEL, HINDI)Scrooge McDuck diving into coins? Yes. But Scrooge McDuck with Shaan's voice singing 'zindagi toofani hai'? Iconic. This Hindi theme song was packed with rhythm, adventure, and enough pep to make treasure-hunting feel like your everyday to-do list. We didn't just watch DuckTales — we jammed to it. 'ZABAAN SAMBHALKE' – ZABAAN SAMBHALKE (DD METRO)India's take on Mind Your Language came with its catchy chaos in musical form. The title track was playful, punny, and set the perfect tone for the following cultural mix-up comedy. If you grew up on DD Metro, this song is somewhere between your brain's nostalgia and your tongue's muscle memory. 'DEKH BHAI DEKH' – DEKH BHAI DEKH (DOORDARSHAN)Before Netflix sitcoms and YouTube skits, there was the Diwan family. And their jazzy, toe-tapping theme song was an instant classic. 'Dekh bhai dekh' wasn't just a title — it was an invitation. To laugh, relate, and get wrapped up in the warmth of a family that was just as dramatic as ours. 'FAMILY NO. 1' – FAMILY NO. 1 (SONY TV)A late 90s sitcom that perfectly captured the chaos of two single-parent families sharing one home — and a theme song that felt like a mini-musical. Quirky and upbeat, this track opened every episode with exactly the kind of comic energy the show delivered. advertisement'MERA NAAM HI SHINCHAN HAI' – SHINCHAN (HUNGAMA TV)Sure, it came in the early 2000s — but every 90s kid knows this song by heart. Shinchan's Hindi theme was equally annoying, adorable, and catchy AF. The way he introduced himself in song, with all his naughty antics on display, made this one a full-blown personality anthem. The second you heard 'Mera naam hi Shinchan hai...' — chaos was guaranteed. 'BOB THE BUILDER KARKE DIKHAYENGE' – BOB THE BUILDERAn anthem of optimism! Bob's theme wasn't just catchy — it was motivational. That upbeat chant, first heard on Cartoon Network and later on POGO, made you believe you could fix anything — homework, broken toys, life itself. Fans of the show can still catch the original song and the fun of the series on the CBeebies YouTube channel. advertisementNOSTALGIA THAT STILL HITS THE RIGHT NOTEThese weren't just theme songs. They were memory markers of snack breaks, noisy cousins, and sitting way too close to the TV. On World Music Day, while the world celebrates timeless classics and trending sounds, let's not forget the cartoon tunes that needed no playlists — just a channel switch and your full go on, hum one. You still know every beat.
The Citizen
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Local changemakers bring big-screen joy to Alexandra
For a few hours on Friday evening, the township of Alexandra shed its usual shadows of hardship, poverty, and crime, and came alive with community spirit. Just near the intersection of Thoko Ngoma and Far Eastbank streets, children gathered for a movie night hosted by The Eye Pictures 1920, in partnership with the Stepping Tennis Foundation. Read more: The enduring legacy of Kings Cinema The event saw little ones treated to the hilarity of Despicable Me 4, an experience curated with care. 'I played it because it's funny. I have watched the movie, it made me laugh, and I wished to enjoy it with others,' said Siyabonga 'Makwera' Twala, of The Eye Pictures 1920. It was the fourth screening in this initiative by The Eye Pictures 1920, but the first one in collaboration with the Stepping Tennis Foundation. Twala's inspiration traces back to a cherished memory from 2010, when he and his friends would watch cartoons together on a big screen at a park in Eastbank. 'Coming back from school we would go there and watch Cartoon Network. We first saw Phineas and Ferb there.' It was this nostalgia that sparked his mission to recreate those moments, offering the children of Alexandra their own version of that joy. Stepping Tennis member Sibusiso 'Scuba Ray' Shongwe resonated with the vision. 'Siyabonga wanted to give back to the less privileged. It is not everyone who knows this cinema setting. So, my friend wanted to bring it to the township.' Shongwe, who is a long-time supporter of the initiative, added that since he works with children, he also wanted to give them something magical. In a township often overlooked because of its challenges, a projector, and a bit of heart from two local changemakers, turned an ordinary street into a place of unity and laughter. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
BFDI: Online series continues to soar
While many children's series end up licensed to streaming platforms or cable channels, BFDI never left YouTube. It began with a maths assignment and a folded piece of printer paper with cartoons on it. This was how twin brothers Michael and Cary Huang from California set off on the path to creating Battle for Dream Island (BFDI). It's a YouTube animated series that has kept millions of kids, teenagers and even some grownups tapping to their screens for over a decade. It was an unlikely beginning. 'My brother Cary had to create a fake catalogue for an algebra class in 2009,' said Michael Huang. 'Inside it was a comic about how rock, paper and scissors, the hand gesture game, could be improved. He replaced them with water, sponge and fire.' The idea simmered, and eventually, characters became a cast. The cast became a story. And the story became a show. 'We were travelling when we decided to animate some of these comics,' Michael explained. 'I was really getting into digital animation at the time. It made sense to combine that with Cary's characters. That's how BFDI was born.' Unlikely beginnings In the early days, Cary was also drawing his own version of a Cartoon Network show called Total Drama Island on folded paper booklets. He called it Total Fiery Island. It was, in a way, pastimes that foreshadowed it all. Michael read film at the University of California Berkeley. Cary graduated from Stanford with a degree in computer science. The two share creative DNA as much as they do actual DNA. Watch BDFI's debut episode As the show debuted and episodes rolled out, audiences liked the silliness of BFDI, the unpredictability, and the unapologetic embrace of the somewhat bizarre. It was a game show parody, but also something a bit more whacky and smarter. An animated contest where characters like Leafy and Firey jostled for popularity, but where the humour teetered on slapstick of the Charlie Chaplin variety. A willingness to be totally goofy 'Cary is the heart of BFDI,' said Michael. 'He's always had this willingness to be completely goofy, and it stuck,' he shared. 'Even as we got older, through high school and college, we kept making episodes. That same tone became part of the show's identity. It's also been tricky to bring in additional writers because of that. But recently, we've hired two new writers who now also direct. They really understand it. One of the two even moved to Los Angeles to work with us.' Also Read: Mr Men Box Set's A Winner While many children's series end up licensed to streaming platforms or cable channels, BFDI never left YouTube. The twins embraced online distribution instead, long before media companies were betting on creators who recorded from their bedrooms. 'Some people compare us to shows like Cocomelon or Blippi, but I'd say our closest counterpart is creator channel LankyBox,' Michael said. The two channels recently agreed to work together and react, online, to one another's content. 'There's this whole ecosystem of creators doing things outside the traditional model. And it's working.' Old school animation appeal BFDI's animation is almost old-school in its appeal. There are no glossy Pixar finishes or ultra-detailed Disney characters here. The style is simple, colourful, and often deliberately rough around the edges. Michael isn't convinced that realism has anything to do with what makes animation good. 'I remember watching that Lion King remake a few years ago,' he said. 'It looked real but didn't feel like anything. What we've seen in the past few years, especially with Spider-Verse, is that people actually want more stylised, more imaginative animation. Something different.' And BFDI has become more than just a show. Fans are building games on Roblox and Fortnite based on the series. Some are even livestreaming play-throughs and remixing characters. 'There's a whole world of fan-made stuff on Roblox,' said Michael. 'That connection with the audience is something we haven't explored fully, but we want to.' For the first ten years, YouTube ad revenue funded the brothers. That changed in 2019. 'We started exploring merchandising. Plush toys, silicon lamps, the works,' Michael said. 'We didn't go through the agencies most creators use. We found our own manufacturers, did fulfilment ourselves. Also, we didn't even know people outsourced that kind of thing.' Now add live events to the mix, and BFDI is now running a tight and succesful media operation out of Los Angeles, with a full team and a growing audience of millions. From pause, to play again A pause caused by the brothers' respective studies is now back in play before expansion, Michael said, and there's some unfinished business. 'A lot of fans remind us that we haven't finished Season Two or Season Three,' he said. 'We made one episode of Season Three and then skipped to Four. Right now, we just want to finish what we started. No large-scale musicals, no other major spin-offs, not yet. Just wrapping up the story properly.' Once that's done, the sky's the limit for this popular show that's embedded itself into global popular culture. Now Read: Joburg's Forgotten Movie Empire
