On YouTube now, my mini-doc on how #LuxoJr sparked #Pixar’s first #Oscar nomination: youtu.be/7Aav_659604?...
Nick Spake
@cartooncontender.bsky.social
Author of “Bright & Shiny: A History of Animation at Award Shows.” Available here: https://a.co/d/1Jm5ipo Entertainment Writer at WatchMojo, Flickreel, and Story Monsters Magazine. Member of Phoenix Film Critics Society and HCA. Visit CartoonContender.com
I spoke with director Matthias Strasser about his Student Academy Award-winning animated short, "The Panic Inside." cartooncontender.com/news-and-rev... #Oscars
The Panic Inside | Student Academy Award-Winning Short Director Interview
Cartoon Contender speaks with director Matthias Strasser about his Student Academy Award-winning animated short, The Panic Inside.
cartooncontender.com
Congrats to #LongStoryShort and #SnoopyPresentsSummerMusical on their #TCAAward wins! cartooncontender.com/news-and-rev...
Long Story Short Wins Inaugural TCA Award For Outstanding Achievement in Animation
Netflix’s Long Story Short has won the TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Animation.
cartooncontender.com
My Current #BestVisualEffects Predictions: 1. Dune: Part Three 2. Project Hail Mary 3. The Odyssey 4. Avengers: Doomsday 5. Godzilla Minus Zero Should I make room for Spider-Man: Brand New Day? That $2 billion+ has to translate to a nomination somewhere, right?
Statham’s charisma, a solid supporting cast, and Jean-François Richet’s hard-hitting direction help to elevate #Mutiny from a direct-to-video action picture to one that’s just barely worth seeing on the big screen. My review: www.flickreel.com/mutiny-review/
Mutiny Review | Flickreel
While this is a standard setup, Statham isn’t the only reason to check out Mutiny.
flickreel.com
If Anthony Bourdain were still alive, I think he’d enjoy #Tony. That’s not to say he’s portrayed in the most flattering light, although based on a quote at the top of the movie, Bourdain knew that his teenage self needed a good ass-kicking. My review: www.flickreel.com/tony-review/
The stop-motion animated feature #MemoryHotel is making its U.S. debut at the Portland Festival of Cinema, Animation and Technology. Check out my review here: cartooncontender.com/news-and-rev...
Memory Hotel Review | Portland Festival of Cinema, Animation & Technology
There is a lot to appreciate in Memory Hotel, from its production values to its timely themes.
cartooncontender.com
Phoenix Film Festival will be having a screening of Alberto Vázquez’s latest animated feature “Decorado” next Thursday, August 27. I’ll be there as part of a post-discussion. Get your tickets now! www.phoenixfilmfestival.com/decorado
40 years ago today, #Pixar premiered #LuxoJr. at SIGGRAPH. It went on to achievement an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Short - a first for an entirely CGI production. I explore the short’s production, Oscar nomination, and legacy in this video with some special guests: youtu.be/7Aav_659604?...
The Legacy of Luxo Jr. | How a Lamp Sparked Pixar’s First Oscar Nomination
YouTube video by Cartoon Contender
youtu.be
RIP Hayden Panettiere, a former child star, teen idol, and adult actress who seemed like she still had so much more to give. (1989-2026).
The ending of “Kingdom Hearts” has always been a tear-jerk for me. It hits especially had with the passing of Hayden Panettiere, who originally voiced Kairi. Simple and clean is the way that you're making me feel tonight. It's hard to let it go. youtu.be/KJ_nUwHsgUc?...
KINGDOM HEARTS HD 1 - Ending Scene
YouTube video by rainbit
youtu.be
Congrats to #HazbinHotel, #Ted, and #WitchHatAtelier on picking up wins at the #AstraTVAwards. cartooncontender.com/news-and-rev... @theastraawards.bsky.social
Hazbin Hotel, Ted, & Witch Hat Atelier Win at 2026 Astra TV Awards
Hazbin Hotel, Ted, and Witch Hat Atelier were among the animated winners at the 2026 Astra TV Awards.
cartooncontender.com
Disney previewed several promising films at #D23, including a few that will be eligible for Best Animated Feature at the 100th Academy Awards. cartooncontender.com/news-and-rev...
What D23 Tells Us About Next Year’s Best Animated Feature Race
In 2027, Disney will release at least five films that will be eligible for Best Animated Feature consideration at the 100th Academy Awards.
cartooncontender.com
For me, #KingdomHearts: The Series was the most mind-blowing announcement at #D23. Of course, there were several other highlights, including new details on #Incredibles3, #FrozenIII, #Coco2, The Bluey Movie, Gatto, the Oswald miniseries, and The NEW Simpsons Movie.
In Season 2, #XMen97 once again delivers where many of the live-action movies fell short, namely with Apocalypse. My SPOILER review: cartooncontender.com/news-and-rev...
X-Men '97 Season 2 Spoiler Review | An Apocalypse to Remember
As much as this season revolves around Apocalypse, X-Men ‘97 remains an ensemble piece.
cartooncontender.com
Acme sucks. So does David Zaslav. #CoyoteVsAcme rules, though! See it and read my review: cartooncontender.com/news-and-rev...
Coyote vs. Acme Review | David Zaslav Dun Goofed
It’s ironic that Coyote vs. Acme would possess such clever dialogue, considering that the protagonist doesn’t speak.
cartooncontender.com
Artists from Eyes of Wakanda, Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal, The Mighty Nein, and Star Wars: Visions are among this year's juried winners for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation #Emmys. cartooncontender.com/news-and-rev...
2026 Emmys | Individual Achievement In Animation Winners Announced
Eyes of Wakanda, Primal, The Mighty Nein, and Star Wars: Visions are among this year's Emmy winners for Individual Achievement In Animation.
cartooncontender.com
While #TheEndofOakStreet plays like an early Amblin Entertainment throwback, it can also resonate with a younger generation who spent nearly a year in lockdown. My review: www.flickreel.com/the-end-of-o...
The End of Oak Street Review | Flickreel
In many respects, The End of Oak Street is the Jurassic World sequel we’ve been waiting for, seeing a suburban neighborhood clash with dinosaurs.
flickreel.com
#CoyoteVsAcme is a cleverly written courtroom comedy. That’s ironic, considering that the main character doesn’t speak. Of course, this entire production is laced with irony. Wile E.’s lawsuit against ACME came to mirror the filmmakers’ uphill battle just to get this movie released.
#EndOfOakStreet plays like “Jurassic Park” meets “Poltergeist.” In many respects, it’s also what we’ve been wanting out of the past few “Jurassic World” sequels, having dinosaurs run amuck in a fresh setting.
Dinosaurs running amuck in suburbia. Was this really that hard to give us, “Jurassic World” movies? #EndOfOakStreet
What's getting nominated for #BestVisualEffects at the 99th Academy Awards, and how many of the nominees will star Zendaya? cartooncontender.com/news-and-rev... #Oscars
2027 Oscars | Best Visual Effects Questions + Predictions
Will Dune: Part Three win Best Visual Effects at the 99th Academy Awards, or could Project Hail Mary and The Odyssey put up a fight?
cartooncontender.com
Congrats to the teams behind "Cows," "Gauze," and "The Panic Inside" on their #StudentAcademyAward wins! cartooncontender.com/news-and-rev...
2027 Oscars | Student Academy Awards Animation Winners Announced
Cows, Gauze, and The Panic Inside are among this year's Student Academy Award winners for animation.
cartooncontender.com
The #AnnieAwards are introducing a category for #anime. Which shows do you think should be nominated this year? cartooncontender.com/news-and-rev...
Annie Awards Introducing Anime Category | Which Shows Will Be Eligible?
54th Annie Awards will introduce a new category, Best International Anime Production for TV/Media.
cartooncontender.com
2027 is five months away. So why hasn’t James Cameron announced that #Titanic is getting an IMAX rerelease for its 30th anniversary?
So, the painters got the wrong paint and now my room looks like “Backrooms.” Should I keep it like this? 🤷♂️ @a24movies.bsky.social
Animation's dominance on the 2026 festival circuit will continue at #TIFF2026. Several animated features are set to make their North American premieres, while at least one will have its world debut. cartooncontender.com/news-and-rev...
TIFF 2026 | Several Animated Features to Make North American & World Premieres
Several animated features are set to have their North American premieres at TIFF, while at least one will make its world debut.
cartooncontender.com