Animation News: Golden Globes, Minions 2, Zootopia Production, and The Simpsons Voice Change

Golden Globes and Animation Awards

• 🏆 Pixar's "Soul" won the Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature, though co-director Kemp Powers was only notified 5 hours before the ceremony, highlighting issues with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
• 📉 The Golden Globes saw a significant 64% drop in viewership, raising questions about its future relevance.
• 🎭 The Annie Award nominations showed a split, with "Wolfwalkers" nominated for Best Indie Feature, despite "Soul" and "Wolfwalkers" tying for the most nominations overall.

Animated Film Delays and Releases

• 🗓️ Universal Pictures has pushed back the release of "Minions: The Rise of Gru" to July 2022, citing supply chain disruptions and a desire to maximize promotional partner support.
• 💰 "Minions" is the most profitable franchise for Universal, having grossed over $3.7 billion globally.
• 🎬 "Tom and Jerry" had a strong opening weekend, exceeding box office expectations with $14.1 million domestically and $38 million worldwide.
• 🐉 "Raya and the Last Dragon" is expected to surpass "Tom and Jerry" at the box office.
• 📺 New animated series "City of Ghosts" and "Pacific Rim: The Black" debuted on Netflix, with "City of Ghosts" praised for its unique approach to LA history.

Production Insights and Changes

• 💡 The production of Disney's "Zootopia" underwent significant changes, including shifting the lead character from Nick Wilde to Judy Hopps based on feedback from Pixar's Andrew Stanton.
• 🎶 Early versions of "Zootopia" featured a CIA-themed opening song by Sia, which was ultimately replaced by Shakira's version.
• 🎤 Kevin Michael Richardson has been hired as the new voice of Dr. Julius Hibbert on "The Simpsons," replacing Harry Shearer, following a policy change by Gracie Films.
• 🎬 Director Gore Verbinski is reportedly working on two new animated features, one of which will be a musical, with cinematographer Roger Deakins involved.

Disney Parks and Future Projects

• 🏨 Disney's Polynesian Village Resort is undergoing a Moana-themed renovation, which has drawn mixed reactions regarding its theming approach.
• 🎢 Future plans for "Zootopia" include a Disney+ series, a themed land at Shanghai Disneyland, and potential sequels, though official confirmation remains scarce.
• 🌟 "Zootopia" was a billion-dollar success, and the franchise continues to expand with new content on Disney+.