Editor’s Note
Iam sure you will agree that the first quarter of 2020 has proved quite an unpredictable period for all of us, no matter where we live or what we do for a living. With the cancellation of many of the usual animation and VFX events we attend and cover due to the global spread of COVID-19, we have all been dealing with a certain amount of uncertainty and anxiety. As much as it’s important to practice all the public health and safety precautions, it’s also normal to hope that things will return to the way they were just a few months ago.
It’s been only a few weeks since we learned of the cancellation of Hong Kong Filmart, SXSW, MIPTV, NAB, E3 and FMX and watched as media stocks crashed when the World Health Organization officially announced the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. Like you, we are hoping that countries all over the world will be able to contain and fight this terrible disease as soon as possible. In the meantime, we should all pay close attention to the guidelines provided by the scientific and medical experts (WHO is a good resource: who.int/emergencies/novel-coronovirus-2019), stay safe and try and be there for those who are in need of compassion and assistance as much as possible.
As many in our industry are now working from home, we would like to remind you that we’re doing everything we can to make sure we keep you up to date with the latest developments in the world of animation and visual effects. Since many of our industry events may continue to be cancelled in the weeks ahead, make sure you sign up to get our daily newsletter take advantage of our free digital subscription offer by visiting the Susbscribe page at animationmagazine.net and entering the code MHOME20. We also have a special discount on our print subscription rates available for a limited time.
We hope you enjoy reading about three new animated features that are either released theatrically or will be available for streaming in the next few weeks. Disney-Pixar’s Onward has already found its base among animation fans and received praise from critics worldwide, while DreamWorks’ Trolls World Tour is ready to hit the screens in the U.S. on April 10. We have excellent behind-the-scenes stories on both titles by our longtime contributors Karen Idelson and Tom McLean. We also have a sneak peek at Kris Pearn’s whimsical new feature The Willoughbys, which will premiere on Netflix this month. We’re sure you’ve never seen an animated family quite like this one before!
Our “Rising Stars of Animation” feature has been a popular part of our April issues for the past few years, and 2020 is no exception. It has become more difficult to keep the number of profiles down to 14, because there are so many talented individuals working in our thriving industry today. So, consider our 2020 selection just a sampler. We look forward to profiling more of these brilliant animation stars. Remember, you can always recommend your favorite toon talent by emailing us at edit@animationmagazine.net.
Here’s to all of us keeping safe, healthy and hopeful in the weeks ahead. And please, leave some toilet paper and hand sanitizer for everyone else at the stores!