Latest news with #NickelodeonAnimation
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Nickelodeon, Paramount Animation Smurf Up Annecy Crowds With Packed Slate and Exclusive SpongeBob SquarePants Preview
Annecy crowds were in for a treat as Ramsey Naito, President of Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation, and longtime festival supporter, opened the studios' 2025 showcase with a preview of the upcoming projects. 'PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie,' 'The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender' and 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem 2' are all in active development. 'PAW Patrol' is set to hit theaters July 24, 2026, followed by Aang's animated return on Oct. 9. Fans of pizza-loving martial artist turtles will need to wait until Sept. 27, 2027, for the next 'TMNT' bigscreen appearance — or will they? Read on to find out. More from Variety Cartoon Network Studios Icons McCracken, Tartakovsky, Sugar, Quintel, Ward and Muto on The Studio, State of the Industry and What Inspires Them 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' Naito, one of the most prominent animation executives in Hollywood today, expressed her excitement about returning to Annecy. She also unveiled new additions to the cast of 'The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants.' Joining the regular cast and Mark Hamill are Regina Hall ('Scary Movie,' 'Girls Trip'), Sherry Cola ('Nobody Wants This,' 'Shrinking'), Arturo Castro ('Tron: Ares,' 'Matchbox'), George Lopez ('Lopez vs Lopez,' 'The Underdoggs'), and four-time Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum rapper Isis 'Ice Spice' Gaston, who also contributes an original song. Before diving into SpongeBob, Naito turned attention to a tiny mushroom village in a magical forest, home to the most famous blue characters on Earth (apologies to Pandora). Director Chris Miller returned to Annecy to present the first 20 minutes of his upcoming summer tentpole 'Smurfs,' ahead of its July 18, 2025 release. Last year, he showed early footage at MIFA. Now, with the film nearly complete, Miller spoke about the project's unique blend of CG and 2D animation. 'I'm delighted to bring the Smurfs back to the big screen with a project blending CG and 2D animation so closely,' said Miller. 'For me, animation isn't all about pixels and keyframes. It's about moving an audience and infusing every frame with the same heart, color and charm that Peyo put in his original ideas more than 60 years ago.' Production is already underway on Season 4 of the CG-animated TV series. Nele De Wilde, CCO of Peyo Company, noted how closely the studio collaborated with Paramount, eight years after Sony Pictures Animation's 'Smurfs: The Lost Village.' 'Paramount were very respectful of our input,' said De Wilde. 'Friendship, helping each other and respecting nature are timeless values at the core of the Smurfs' identity. Paramount was committed to bringing these ideas to life in a modern, adventure-packed film.' These values also spoke to Rihanna, who voices Smurfette. 'That's gangster,' said her partner A$AP Rocky to Variety earlier this year. The film's musical energy and visually rich medieval-fantasy setting, powered by Cinesite Montreal's animation, promise to get kids 'Smurfin' all day long.' The story centers on a Smurf with no name who seeks to discover his unique identity, aided by Smurfette, Hefty and other classic characters. Gags like 'Quiet,' 'Soundtrack' and 'Shark-Taming Smurf' had the Annecy audience in stitches. A standout moment introduced Razamel, Gargamel's equally inept brother, as a new villain. By the film's end, the Smurfs tumble through a multiverse portal into real-world Paris, to Grouchy's great dismay. The film will premiere in Brussels on June 28, 2025, painting the city blue ahead of its global rollout. Next up, director Derek Drymon shared a behind-the-scenes look at 'The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants.' A SpongeBob veteran, Drymon returned to the franchise after co-directing 'Hotel Transylvania 4' in 2022. 'We wanted to recapture the spirit of the first season,' said Drymon. 'I'm so thankful to Paramount for backing a creator-led project. What wins the day is being a kid, and that's what we infused in this feature.' Audiences were treated to the first full act, in which SpongeBob finally grows tall enough to ride a rollercoaster but backs out at the last moment, only to be pulled into an even scarier pirate adventure with the Flying Dutchman. He then signs away his fate and plunges into the Underworld. Blending 3D animation with cutting-edge 2D, this visually dynamic installment follows in the stylistic footsteps of 'The Mitchells vs. the Machines' and 'Spider-Verse.' It will hit theaters Dec. 19, 2025. Following a brief Q&A with Miller and Drymon, moderated by Paramount SVP Emily Nordwind, audiences got one last surprise: two never-before-seen shorts. 'Order Up,' a dialogue-free SpongeBob short directed by Sean Charmatz ('Orion and the Dark'), will debut in front of 'Smurfs' in July. The slapstick comedy had been sitting in the Nickelodeon/Paramount vault for nearly a decade. The second short, 'Chrome Alone 2: Lost in New Jersey,' is a 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' tale directed by Kent Seki. With a visual style similar to Jeff Rowe's 'Mutant Mayhem,' this installment takes a comedic look at artificial intelligence and will premiere alongside the new SpongeBob film in December. 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
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Regina Hall, Ice Spice Join New ‘SpongeBob' Movie
That pineapple under the sea is getting pretty crowded. Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation on Tuesday unveiled new cast additions for their upcoming The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants movie, with Regina Hall, Sherry Cola, Arturo Castro, George Lopez and Ice Spice joining the ensemble. The four-time Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum-selling rapper will also contribute an original song to the film. More from The Hollywood Reporter ITV Studios Names Tim Carter Managing Director, Unscripted, U.K. Disney+ Names Angela Jain Content Chief for EMEA Amid Slate Growth Push 'The Simpsons,' Matt Groening Honored as "Icon of Animation" at Annecy They join returning cast members Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants), Clancy Brown (Mr. Krabs), Rodger Bumpass (Squidward), Bill Fagerbakke (Patrick), Carolyn Lawrence (Sandy), Mr. Lawrence (Plankton) and Mark Hamill (Flying Dutchman) in the feature directed Derek Drymon and written by Pam Brady and Matt Lieberman. The log line for the film has SpongeBob and friends journeying to the depths of the ocean to face the ghost of the Flying Dutchman. The film is set for a December release. Ramsey Naito, president of Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation, made the cast reveal at a studio showcase at the Annecy international animation festival in France on Tuesday. The event included sneak peeks at upcoming Paramount and Nickelodeon features and series, including Chris Miller's Smurfs movie, PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie, The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem 2. Drymon presented the complete first act of The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants, and Miller showed the opening 20 minutes of Smurfs, which will bow theatrically on July 18. Smurfs stars Rihanna as Smurfette — who Miller said exhibited 'a deep knowledge of Smurf lore, she knew way more than I did.' The film's voice cast includes John Goodman, James Corden, Nick Offerman, Sandra Oh, Natasha Lyonne, Amy Sedaris, Daniel Levy, Octavia Spencer, Nick Kroll, Hannah Waddingham, Alex Winter, Maya Erskine, Billie Lourd, Xolo Maridueña, Marshmello, Jimmy Kimmel and Kurt Russell. The event concluded with the premiere of two animated shorts. SpongeBob: Order Up, directed by Sean Charmatz will screen theatrically ahead of Smurfs this July. Chrome Alone 2: Lost in New Jersey, a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles short directed by Kent Seki, will premiere alongside The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants in December. Best of The Hollywood Reporter 13 of Tom Cruise's Most Jaw-Dropping Stunts Hollywood Stars Who Are One Award Away From an EGOT 'The Goonies' Cast, Then and Now
Express Tribune
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Ice Spice to join the voice cast of the upcoming SpongeBob movie with an original song
Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation have revealed an exciting new lineup of cast members for The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants, slated to hit theaters in December. The star-studded ensemble includes Regina Hall, Sherry Cola, Arturo Castro, George Lopez, and the multi-platinum rapper Ice Spice, who will also contribute an original song to the movie's soundtrack. This marks a significant step in Ice Spice's entertainment career, building on her already impressive music success. The movie, directed by Derek Drymon with a screenplay by Pam Brady and Matt Lieberman, will follow SpongeBob SquarePants and his friends on an underwater adventure to face the ghost of the Flying Dutchman. Fans of the franchise will be delighted to see the return of the beloved original voice cast, including Tom Kenny as SpongeBob, Bill Fagerbakke as Patrick, Clancy Brown as Mr. Krabs, Rodger Bumpass as Squidward, Carolyn Lawrence as Sandy, and Mr. Lawrence as Plankton. Mark Hamill also reprises his role as the Flying Dutchman. Ice Spice's involvement in The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants comes full circle after the rapper's 2022 release, "Bikini Bottom," a track inspired by the animated series. Although it initially received some online teasing for its SpongeBob-like sound, the song went on to become one of her signature hits. The rapper has since gained substantial recognition with breakout songs like 'Munch (Feelin' U).' Now, Spice is adding her own flair to the SpongeBob franchise with a new original track for the upcoming film. The announcement was made at the Annecy International Animation Festival, where other upcoming Paramount and Nickelodeon projects, such as Smurfs and PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie, were also previewed. The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants is set for a December release, and it promises to bring a mix of nostalgic favorites and fresh talent to the big screen. This year, Ice Spice follows in the footsteps of Rihanna, who voices Smurfette in the Smurfs movie, and both artists are shaping a significant year for animated film soundtracks.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
SPIN MASTER'S PAW PATROL: THE DINO MOVIE™ ROUNDS OUT ROARING CAST WITH JAMEELA JAMIL, TERRY CREWS, SNOOP DOGG, BILL NYE, PARIS HILTON, HENRY BOLAN, MEREDITH MACNEILL, AND MORE
Ramsey Naito, President of Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation, said, "We couldn't be more excited to bring audiences everywhere this next chapter of PAW Patrol that is bigger, better, and bolder than ever – featuring a standout cast that brings these characters to life in fresh and exciting ways." Jennifer Dodge, President of Spin Master Entertainment, said, "This amazing assembly of performers is befitting of the dino-sized franchise that is PAW Patrol . Alongside the brilliant talent already involved in the film, these cast additions will make this a must-see adventure, as our beloved team of rescue pups enters its second decade of captivating kids and families worldwide." PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie follows the recent ten-year anniversary of the global smash hit franchise and one of the world's most popular preschool shows. Building on the success of its first two films, which together earned over $350 million at the global box office, the film sees the return of director Cal Brunker, who co-wrote alongside Bob Barlen. It is being produced by Spin Master Entertainment's Jennifer Dodge, Laura Clunie, and Toni Stevens with Spin Master Co-Founder Ronnen Harary as executive producer, in association with Nickelodeon Movies. The film will have an exclusive theatrical release on July 31, 2026, distributed by Paramount Pictures worldwide, excluding Canada where Elevation Pictures distributes. Also newly announced are several young talents including Henry Bolan as Ryder. Starring as the beloved PAW Patrol pups are Lucien Duncan-Reid and Nylan Parthipan, returning as Rubble and Zuma, respectively, joined by Carter Young as Marshall, Hayden Chemberlen as Rex, Rain Janjua as Chase, and William Desrosiers as Rocky. The new additions join a star-studded voice cast that already includes EGOT winner Jennifer Hudson and popular comedian Fortune Feimster, as well as Emmy nominee Mckenna Grace, who reprises her role as Skye. TORONTO, May 7, 2025 /CNW/ - Spin Master Corp. (TSX: TOY) ( ), a leading global children's entertainment company, announced today that PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie , the upcoming third feature film in the blockbuster PAW Patrol franchise, has rounded out its cast with a host of fan-favorite stars, including Jameela Jamil, Terry Crews, Paris Hilton, Emmy ® winners Snoop Dogg and Bill Nye, Meredith MacNeill, and PAW Patrol veteran Ron Pardo. Story Continues In PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie, after their ship gets caught in a mysterious storm, the PAW Patrol pups crash land on an uncharted tropical island filled with dinosaurs. They meet Rex, a pup who has been stranded on the island for years and has become an expert in all things dino-related. When the PAW Patrol's archrival, Humdinger, begins recklessly mining in hopes of exploiting the island for its natural resources, he inadvertently causes a huge, dormant volcano to erupt. The PAW Patrol pups are thrown into a series of high-stakes, dino-sized rescues bigger than anything they've done before, as they must stop Humdinger before everything on the island goes extinct. Jamil is represented by UTA, 3 Arts, and Jackoway Austen. Crews is represented by CAA and Yorn Levine. Snoop Dogg is represented by WME, Yorn Levine, and Death Row Pictures. Nye is represented by UTA and Hamrick & Evans. Hilton is represented by UTA and YMU Entertainment. MacNeill is represented by GGA. Duncan-Reid is represented by AMI. Parthipan is represented by Play Management. Pardo is represented by The Characters Talent Agency. Young is represented by CESD and Luber Roklin. Chemberlen is represented by District Model & Talent. Bolan is represented by OAZ. Janjua is represented by Hero Artists. Desrosiers is represented by Premier Artists Management and AIM Talent. About PAW Patrol PAW Patrol, one of the most successful series in kids' television globally, follows the adventures of a tech-savvy boy named Ryder and his team of pups who are ready to save the day. Whenever there's trouble, pups Chase, Marshall, Rubble, Zuma, Rocky and Skye are ready for action, no matter what comes their way. With a mission to work together to keep Adventure Bay safe, no job is too big, and no pup is too small. Airing in over 160 countries, in 30 languages, the PAW Patrol series is consistently ranked among both top-rated preschool and kids' 6-11 series. Currently in its eleventh season on Nickelodeon, PAW Patrol's universal messaging resonates with children around the world and since its launch in 2013, the franchise has won countless awards. About Spin Master Spin Master Corp. (TSX:TOY) is a leading global children's entertainment company, creating exceptional play experiences through its three creative centres: Toys, Entertainment and Digital Games. With distribution in over 100 countries, Spin Master is best known for award-winning brands PAW Patrol®, Hatchimals®, Bakugan®, Kinetic Sand®, Air Hogs®, Melissa & Doug®, Rubik's® Cube and GUND®, and is the global toy licensee for other popular properties. Spin Master Entertainment creates and produces compelling multiplatform content, through its in-house studio and partnerships with outside creators, including the preschool franchise PAW Patrol, and numerous other original shows, short-form series and feature films. The Company has an established presence in digital games, anchored by the Toca Boca® and Sago Mini® brands, offering open-ended and creative game and educational play in digital environments. Through Spin Master Ventures, the Company makes minority investments globally in emerging companies and start-ups. With 29 offices spanning nearly 20 countries, Spin Master employs close to 3,000 team members globally. For more information, visit or @SpinMaster on LinkedIn and Instagram. About Nickelodeon Nickelodeon, now in its 46th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The brand includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, digital, location-based experiences, publishing and feature films. For more information or artwork, visit Nickelodeon is a part of Paramount's (Nasdaq: PARA, PARAA) global portfolio of multimedia entertainment brands. About Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Paramount Global (NASDAQ: PARA, PARAA), a leading global media and entertainment company that creates premium content and experiences for audiences worldwide. Paramount has some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, and Paramount Players. PPC operations also include Paramount Home Entertainment, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group. Cision View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Spin Master Corp. Cision View original content to download multimedia:
