Lilo & Stitch 2 Announced, Elio Holds Strong, and Akira Rights Lapse: Animation News

Animation Industry News and Box Office Updates

• 🎙️ Jim Hill and Drew Taylor discuss recent animation and industry news, with Drew recovering from illness, leading to a shorter episode.
• 🦠 Drew recounts contracting an illness in Paris, possibly from a child at Disneyland Paris.
• 💰 The episode is sponsored by Indeed and features box office updates, including the performance of "Formula 1" and "How to Train Your Dragon."

Box Office Performance and Sequels

• 📈 Elio showed a strong hold in its second weekend, surpassing $42 million domestically.
• 🌟 The live-action Lilo & Stitch has crossed $945 million worldwide, prompting Disney to officially announce a sequel, currently in early development.
• 🗓️ The live-action Tangled has been reportedly pushed to 2029, potentially to accommodate the Lilo & Stitch sequel.

Major Studio Rights and Adaptations

• 🎬 Warner Bros. has let its rights to the live-action Akira adaptation lapse after years of development, opening the door for a new studio to reimagine the cyberpunk classic.
• 🎭 Laika's ParaNorman will return to theaters for Halloween 2025 as part of the studio's 20th-anniversary celebration, with a new CGI short also in the works.
• 🎶 A new stage musical version of The Princess Bride is in development, with music by Bobby Lopez and Christian Anderson Lopez, though it is not being produced by Disney Theatrical.

Disney Animation and Theatrical Releases

• 🇨🇳 Disney is promoting Zootopia 2 in China with a series of 2D animated short films, highlighting the franchise's popularity there.
• 🎭 A new production of Hercules has opened in London and is expected to come to Broadway, while a 30th-anniversary tour of Beauty and the Beast is traveling across the US.
• 💡 The original Beauty and the Beast film's CG elements are discussed, including a planned but ultimately scrapped CG forest scene during Belle's wolf pursuit.

Podcast and Media Updates

• 🎧 Drew Taylor promotes his podcast Light the Fuse, the official Mission Impossible podcast.
• 🎙️ Jim Hill Media podcasts are highlighted, including Disney Dish, Epic Universal Podcast, Disney Merch Podcast, Manufacturing the Magic, and Disney Impact.
• 🎢 The history of Epcot's World of Motion and Test Track is set to be discussed on the Disney Unpacked podcast.