Latest news with #AdventureTime
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Fortnite x FOX father's day collab: Hank Hill, Bob Belcher & Cleveland Brown set to enter the island
Image via Epic Games Fortnite's next major crossover brings the laughs this Father's Day as Epic Games teams up with FOX to launch a unique skin bundle featuring three of television's most beloved animated dads. Beginning June 13, 2025, players can step into the shoes of Hank Hill, Bob Belcher, and Cleveland Brown - each with signature items inspired by their iconic shows. This marks another milestone in Fortnite's ever-expanding universe of collaborations. Following recent appearances by Adventure Time, Mortal Kombat, and even Sabrina Carpenter, this FOX collaboration continues the trend of bringing pop culture favourites into the game - with a humorous, dad-themed twist. What's inside the FOX dad bundles? Each character will be available as part of a themed bundle, complete with skins, back blings, pickaxes, and emotes that pay homage to their personalities and professions. Hank Hill (King of the Hill) Known for his love of propane and Texas charm, Hank's bundle includes a Strickland Propane Tank back bling, Sirloin'd Tongs pickaxe, Alley Hangout emote, and Gas Gauge weapon wrap. The full set is expected to cost 3,500 V-Bucks. Bob Belcher (Bob's Burgers) The burger-flipping family man comes with a Flying Burger back bling, Bob's Spatula pickaxe, and two emotes: Bob's Happy Dance and Burger of the Day. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo His bundle will reportedly cost 3,200 V-Bucks. Cleveland Brown (Family Guy) Cleveland's postal career is reflected in his gear, featuring a Mailbag back bling, Mailbox pickaxe, and Mailman's Stroll emote. This set will retail for 2,900 V-Bucks, making it the most affordable of the three. All skins will also be sold individually at 1,500 V-Bucks each, while emotes and gear range between 400–800 V-Bucks. The internet reacts to Fortnite's dad crossover The community response has been overwhelmingly positive, with fans praising the nostalgic value of seeing Hank Hill, Bob Belcher, and Cleveland Brown enter the Fortnite universe. Social media buzz suggests that longtime viewers of these shows are eager to add the iconic dads to their locker. Though the skins offer no competitive edge, their arrival is expected to boost login numbers, especially over the Father's Day weekend. With faster queue times and packed lobbies likely, Fortnite seems set for another traffic spike. This crossover also reflects Fortnite's ability to connect generations. For many, these characters represent childhood or family viewing, and now they get to share that joy in-game. The event celebrates not just Father's Day, but also Fortnite's role as a pop culture playground where characters from across the media can share the spotlight. Also Read: Epic Games sues Fortnite cheat developer and distributors in fresh crackdown
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cartoon Network Studios Icons McCracken, Tartakovsky, Sugar, Quintel, Ward and Muto on The Studio, State of the Industry and What Inspires Them
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 ('Dexter's Laboratory,' 'Samurai Jack'), Rebecca Sugar ('Steven Universe'), Pendleton Ward ('Adventure Time,' 'The Midnight Gospel') 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. More from Variety Taicca and Gobelins Paris Announce Partnership at Annecy to 'Nurture Original Stories from Taiwan': 'Dream Bigger and Reach Further' 'Arcane' Producer Fortiche Teaming With ARTE France on Coming-of-Age Mini-Series 'Miss Saturne' GKIDS Acquires North American Rights to Hong Kong Animated Feature 'Another World,' Premiering at Annecy (EXCLUSIVE) 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, the creative spirit that fueled their iconic shows still drives the creators, and likely the next generation, too. 'There are people who are making independent animated shows themselves,' McCracken said, pointing to projects like Vivienne Medrano's hugely popular YouTube pilot-turned-Prime original series 'Hazbin Hotel' as evidence that a new wave is possible, though likely through free online platforms such as YouTube first, not television. 'You almost go the independent route first, get noticed, get an audience, and then the channels and the streamers.' Sugar and Muto were quick to praise Green Street Pictures' 'Scavengers Reign' and 'Common Side Effects' as other examples, the former having started life as a short that gained significant recognition online before resulting in a series greenlight. Tartakovsky wasn't so sure about the scalability or reliability of those models to result in long-term commercial successes, though. 'IP is the only word now,' he proposed, lamenting studios' current focus on rebooting existing franchises. 'It's harder for a new generation to break out like this again when [the studios] are just trying to do things that already exist,' echoing a plea Mudo made during the anniversary panel for studios and broadcasters to 'start greenlighting things, please.' Quintel added a silver lining: while short programs and incubators may be on pause, the mentoring tradition is alive. 'We're hiring people straight out of school. They've never done it, and they're learning on the show how to board, how to do premise-driven animation.' Several of the speakers emphasized that the animation industry has long been subject to cycles, and more original content could break through in the future. A recurring theme during the afternoon's discussion was how arbitrary past constraints now seem in the age of digital distribution. 'The reason our shows are 11 minutes is because that's how you divide 22,' McCracken said. 'But who says a show has to be seven minutes or 11 minutes? Why can't it be two minutes? Or an hour?' When it came to audience impact in the modern distribution ecosystem, the room was somewhat split between creative independence and audience-driven development. 'When you put something online, you can see how the audience reacts and adjust based on the feedback… just sharing with the people viewing,' McCracken mused. Tartakovsky pushed back: 'Maybe this is an antiquated way of thinking, but if we follow the audience, it's really dangerous. I want to give the audience what I think is going to be good. I want to do something original and unique that can stand out.' The assembled artists acknowledged the massive transformation of global collaboration thanks to new tools and technologies as well as the prominence of social media platforms and portfolio sites. McCracken now runs almost his entire show, a preschool 'Foster's spinoff' out of London, working remotely from Los Angeles. 'It's exactly the same job. It's just remote. It's no different than being back at the studio,' he said. Tartakovsky's teams are similarly international. 'I have a running list of Instagram people I want to work with,' he said. 'That's how I found the studio that did 'Primal,'' he explained, surprising some at the table. 'They had a short film based on one of their comic books, and I didn't want to do things the old way, so I contacted them at their very small studio in Paris, and they agreed to do it. And what they did was incredible.' Most of the creators use social media and video platforms to find inspiration and potential collaborators, while Quintal and Sugar said they've made transformative connections at comic conventions. Muto argued that individual portfolio sites, popular in decades past, have been making a comeback, and Ward pointed out that 'the Women in Animation website is a great resource for finding artists.' But for all the changes, some things have stayed the same, especially the camaraderie that has kept this group linked for decades. 'You hook onto talent that you like,' said Tartakovsky. 'My art director from 'Samurai Jack' has done pretty much everything with me. I have a background designer who worked with me all the way back on 'Dexter' who I just started working with again. You love these people.' McCracken agreed. 'It takes a very special, insane brain to do this job… It's bananas that we do this,' he laughed. 'So if any of us pull it off, we're like, 'Great job,' and we want to work with those people again and again.' 'It's so hard to build a crew,' admitted Mudo. 'Every time you have to lay off everybody and completely reconstitute, which is something that is a bigger part of the modern streaming cycle, it feels like you have to make a new show, even if it's just a new season of the same show. That explains a lot about why we end up working with the same people.' Each having varying degrees of experience working on more mature productions, the creators celebrated the freedom that adult animation now offers. Sugar recalled, early in 'Steven Universe's' broadcast run, that she would often be told that smaller fandoms of her show were insignificant to the network, as it was more interested in capturing a wide TV audience of all ages and demographics. With adult animation, she argued, fandoms are now more important than ever, and smaller groups of dedicated viewers can have a much more significant impact on a show's success. 'It seems like now we can start something where that is what matters most,' Sugar said, referring to the specificity and passion of modern fandoms. 'That can matter the most.' Even with a billion-dollar global success like the 'Hotel Transylvania' films under a filmmaker's belt, in the case of Tartakovsky, getting original ideas greenlit remains difficult. 'Three 'Hotel Transylvania' movies, almost $2 billion, and I still have a hard time getting an original greenlit,' Tartakovsky said. 'Every time I pitch, I hear that they love it, but that somehow they also don't love it.' After three decades, these creators aren't just surviving in an ever-shifting industry. They're still experimenting, still mentoring, and still hungry for what's next. Best of Variety 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? 25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Steven Universe: Lars of the Stars' Unveiled in Annecy: Studios Sneak Peek New ‘Regular Show,' ‘Foster's,' ‘Adventure Time,' ‘Gumball' Series
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 Register return for the milestone season. More from Variety 'Cat in the Hat' Teases Not One, but Three Different Worlds - and a Pig in a Wig Passion Paris, Amplitude Studios Partner on Animated Series Set in the Endless Universe (EXCLUSIVE) 'We Did Not Make 'Animal Farm' for Any Algorithm': Director Andy Serkis on Animating Orwell This year's Cartoon Network Studios, Warner Bros. Animation, Hanna Barbera studio focus presentation was a bit different than what annual attendees have come to expect from the outfit. Traditionally, the company's executives offered up a rapid-fire look at large parts of its pipeline, but this year, with many of the company's most legendary creators in town to celebrate 25 years of CNS, the talent took over. Executive produced by Sugar alongside her partner and 'OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes' creator Ian Jones-Quartey, 'Steven Universe: Lars of the Stars' will follow up on the original show, tracking fan-favorite character Lars Barriga, described as an 'eternal teenager and space outlaw.' According to the official description, the sequel series will chart Lars and his pirate crew as they 'smuggle contraband, evade the authorities, and uncover the darkest secrets of the fallen Gem Empire.' The original 'Steven Universe' became a cultural phenomenon during its 2013–2020 run, earning a Peabody Award for its storytelling, diversity and emotional depth. This new chapter promises to explore the 'past, present and future of the Steven Universe universe,' deepening the lore of the series that redefined modern animation. Before sharing her exciting news, Sugar, unannounced, emerged from the assembled audience to perform a new original song that she wrote for the upcoming second season of CNS's popular 'Adventure Time' spinoff, 'Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake.' Several clips and images were shared from the show's second season, which made it clear that the Huntress character will play a much larger role this time around. Leading the 'Adventure Time'-related section of the day's presentation was showrunner Adam Muto, who also offered up a very early look at 'Adventure Time: Side Quests.' The show's opening sequence, still a work in progress, was shared, and will feel extremely familiar to fans of the original series. 'Regular Show' creator J.G. Quintel teased his new 'Regular Show' series, but coyly kept most details, including the show's title, a closely hidden secret. He did say he would share some artwork of new characters from the show, but instead just flipped through a tasty looking slideshow of cartoon food products. Quintel was less withholding when it came to another of his projects, the upcoming YA animated series 'Super Mutant Magic Academy,' based on the comic of the same name by Jillian Tamaki. Artwork and an animatic were shown, giving the impression that the show will land somewhere between 'X-Men' and 'Harry Potter,' as its title plainly suggests. The Studio Focus also included an appearance from cartoon legend Craig McCracken, who shared an early look at his upcoming preschool adaptation of 'Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends.' And while the show will be aimed at a younger audience, McCracken insisted it would not necessarily be educational or aspirational, prioritizing humor above all else. In a brief animatic clip, it was made clear when Bloo taught the invisible friends around him that the day's lesson was to never ever ever ever ever trust adults, because they will make you do things like eat broccoli. Best of Variety 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? 25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week
Hindustan Times
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Steven Universe sequel Lars of the Stars in development with Prime Video
It's been five long years since fans said goodbye to Steven Universe, but the magic clearly isn't over yet. The animated universe that gave us gems, fusion and unforgettable soundtracks is set to expand this time, with a twist no one saw coming. Enter Steven Universe: Lars of the Stars, a spin-off show that takes the spotlight away from Steven and hands it over to Lars Barriga. The pink-haired space pirate (and former donut boy) is now front and centre of his very own adventure. The new series is reportedly being developed at Prime Video, making it the first Steven Universe project not to premiere on Cartoon Network. The announcement was made at the prestigious Annecy International Animation Film Festival, where creator Rebecca Sugar shared the news in her signature style-right after a live performance of an original song she wrote for Adventure Time, reported The Hollywood Reporter (THR). According to the official logline, the upcoming series will follow Lars as an 'eternal teenager and space outlaw' leading a ragtag pirate crew. Their adventures involve smuggling contraband, dodging galactic law and uncovering 'the darkest secrets of the fallen Gem Empire.' It sounds like a far cry from Beach City's slice-of-life episodes, but if the original show taught us anything, it's that Rebecca Sugar doesn't do boring. Ian Jones-Quartey, supervising director of the original, joins Sugar as an executive producer, with Cartoon Network Studios backing the project. Although it hasn't officially gone to series yet, the buzz at Annecy and the platform shift to Prime Video indicate that Lars' journey through the stars is very much in motion. It wasn't just Steven Universe making headlines. Warner Bros. Animation, Cartoon Network Studios and Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe brought the goods. Among the biggest reveals? Adventure Time: Side Quests, a new spin-off diving into more of Finn's earlier solo adventures. Meanwhile, Teen Titans Go! received a Season 10 renewal, continuing its reign as the longest-running DC animated show. Also spotted: new visuals for Foster's Funtime for Imaginary Friends, the preschool reboot of Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends; The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball, a Hulu revival of The Amazing World of Gumball; and SuperMutant Magical Academy, the Adult Swim adaptation of Jillian Tamaki's cult webcomic. Yes, Steven Universe was widely praised for its LGBTQ+ representation, including characters like Garnet (a fusion of two female-presenting gems in a romantic relationship), and for addressing gender identity and non-traditional family dynamics. The story reached its intended conclusion with Steven Universe Future, which served as an epilogue to the original series. Creator Rebecca Sugar said it was the right time to let the characters rest and give the story closure. Yes, though Steven Universe explores complex emotional and social themes, it remains kid-friendly. While Steven was never given a specific medical diagnosis in Steven Universe Future, the show strongly suggests that he is dealing with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Hindustan Times
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Usually demure Cartoon Network skewers 'bigoted' trolls on their Pride Month post; Reddit can't get enough of the sass
The official Instagram account of Cartoon Network marked the ongoing Pride Month by posting some fan art of several LGBTQ characters from its former shows. The post received love from fans, but also a lot of trolling and hate, including homophobic comments. However, the Cartoon Network social media team decided not to take the hate lying down and clapped back at the 'bigoted' comments, earning praise on social media. Earlier this week, Cartoon Network shared a carousel post featuring fan art of queer CN show characters. "You are an EXPERIENCE! Pride is a reminder to live bravely in your authenticity - use your voice, stand up for others, and spread love," read the caption. The post also credited the original artists whose work was used. However, several comments slammed CN for 'ruining their childhood'. One read, "My childhood is gone, there is nothing else to say." It received a sassy reply from the CN team that read: "Doesn't seem you are a grown up though." When one commented wrote, "This is a joke, right," the account responded, "Look in the mirror, you'll see one." The following day, Cartoon Network added two comments on the post. One read, 'Watching comments be mad about characters from a show that aired 15 years ago.' A post shared by Cartoon Network (@cartoonnetworkofficial) The exchange was shared on Reddit with the caption: "Cartoon Network responded to users who left bigoted comments underneath their recent Pride Month post on IG, which showcased fan art of various LGBTQ+ characters." The top comnment read, "I typically roll my eyes at snarky corporate social media stuff, but i like this. Another added, "Based Cartoon Network. One of my first memories ever includes watching that channel lol." Many remarked that the characters in the post were known to be queer anyway, which made the backlash strange. "My favorite part about this is that all of the characters shown are canonically LGBT. It's not just fan art or headcanons. like, did any of these people actually watch either of these shows? Marceline and Bubblegum are canonically in a lesbian relationship; they wear each other's clothes, sing each other love songs, and they kiss on screen in the finale episode. Don't get me started on Steven Universe," wrote one. Another added, "I love Adventure Time, but I'm confused that people thought Marceline and Princess Bubblegum were straight." Even Cartoon Network joined the chorus and added a comment that read: "Some of y'all need to rewatch some episodes and it shows." Pride Month, sometimes specified as LGBTQ Pride Month, is a month-long observance dedicated to celebrating LGBTQ pride and commemorating the contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer culture and community. It is observed every year during June.
