Animation

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Find Your Footing on Stage 32: Join Our December Community Open House!

Find Your Footing on Stage 32: Join Our December Community Open House!

Monday, December 29th at 12:00 pm PT!

Every success story begins with a first step.

If you’re ready to take yours, join me, Ashley Smith, Head of Community at Stage 32, for our December Community Open House Webcast happening Monday, December 29th at 12:00 pm PT!

Free Registration: https://www.stage32.com/education/products/stage-32-s-december-community-open-house-webcast-with-ashley-smith

Whether you’re chasing representation, looking for collaborators, or simply tired of creating in isolation, this live event is your chance to show up, be seen, and start making real progress.

This isn’t just an overview — it’s your creative launchpad. You’ll walk away with practical tools, new connections, and a clear path forward, no matter your background or where you are in your career.

You’ll Learn How To:

  • Navigate Stage 32 like a pro and make the platform work for your goals
  • Build authentic connections through the Stage 32 Lounges
  • Access Education, Certification, and Script Services tailored to your next big move
  • Show up in ways that get you noticed by the right people at the right time
  • Participate in real-time Q&A and get guidance specific to your path

Whether you’re a writer, filmmaker, actor, producer, composer, editor, or wear multiple creative hats — this is where your Stage 32 journey truly begins.

If you can’t attend live, don’t worry — registering ensures you’ll receive the full recording to watch anytime from anywhere.

Who’s planning to join me live for the Open House?


Fares Moha
Synopsis

Just wrapped the synopsis , If you read it, I’d really appreciate any feedback. Thank you!

Maurice Vaughan

Happy Holidays, Fares Moha! Congratulations on wrapping your synopsis! I'm about to check it out and post feedback.

Maurice Vaughan
11 Tips For Bringing Your Animated Characters To Life

"It is a truly rewarding experience when animation artists breathe life into their characters by creating movement as though they’re real humans." —Eyo Obot (animator)

Eyo shares 11 tips to successfully create characters that feel as grounded and realistic as they are "cartoony" in today’s blog.

Wh...

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Banafsheh Esmailzadeh
The other greatest anime scene of all time (in my opinion)

Samurai Champloo is another one of my favourites, by the creators of the classic Cowboy Bebop. Centring around Fuu, a young girl in search of the Sunflower Samurai; Ryukyan breakdance fighter Mugen; and bespectacled master swordsman Jin, packed with action and many lofi earworms (particularly courte...

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Samurai Champloo: Episode 11 Escape
Samurai Champloo: Episode 11 Escape
The brothel escape scene from episode 11 of Samurai Champloo. The background song is "Counting Stars" by Nujabes on the album Hydeout Productions: 2nd collection. Rest in peace Nujabes, you will be sorely missed.
Vikki Harris
Lyrics Protection

I have begun to write my first animation screenplay. I am incorporating songs into the screenplay. My question is: Do we need to copyright the lyrics in the screenplay separately than the screenplay or when the screenplay is registered the lyrics are automatically protected as well?

Ibukunoluwa Akinsika

Vikki Harris If the lyrics are your original work, they are already protected the moment you write them. Registering the screenplay will cover the script as a whole, but it does not magically turn lyr...

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Vikki Harris
Rendering Time

Does anyone know how to speed up rendering time of animation?

Banafsheh Esmailzadeh
The greatest anime scene of all time (in my opinion)

Being the Utena fanatic that I am, I keep coming back to this scene from the movie, Adolescence of Utena. I love everything about it, to the music, the dance, the symbolism… truly the one to beat not just in terms of romance but sheer quality.

What’s your pick for the greatest anime scene of all time...

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Charmane Wedderburn

Gorgeous choice. Utena has a way of embedding meaning into movement and music in a way that stays with you. It really sets a high bar.

Banafsheh Esmailzadeh

Thanks Charmane Wedderburn, you're absolutely right. Utena really is a masterpiece and entirely why I love Kunihiko Ikuhara so much and wish I could be him xD I gotta rewatch Adolescence of Utena now...

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Cyrus Sales

Banafsheh Esmailzadeh This was a cool scene. The co-owner is more of the anime fan than I am (I'm audio). I'll have to get my teams take on their favorite scene and drop them here. Thanks for sharing!...

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Charmane Wedderburn

“Haha, completely understandable — Ikuhara sets an impossible standard. Adolescence of Utena is always worth the rewatch… it somehow reveals something new every time.”

Fares Moha
First Animated Series Synopsis — Looking for Quick Feedback & Advice

Hello friends, I just finished the synopsis for an animated series, and it’s my first time trying this kind of project. I’d really love to hear your thoughts. I’m still hesitating about turning it into a script, so I’m testing the waters. Thanks, everyone!

Cyrus Sales

Hey Fares Moha , I really like the poster design—it immediately caught my eye. I love the storyline too; it’s super unique, and honestly, I feel like this is exactly what animation needs right now—som...

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Fares Moha

Cyrus Sales Thanks so much — I really appreciate that. I’m happy the poster caught your eye, and even more that the story feels like the kind of “something different” animation could use right now.

And...

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Maurice Vaughan

You're welcome, Fares Moha. Happy Holidays!

Fares Moha

Maurice Vaughan happy holidays!

Charmane Wedderburn

Exactly — that’s part of the joy of it. Once the seed is planted, the process has a way of surprising us. Wishing you a strong and interesting growth.

Kevin Jackson
‘Zootopia 2’ Crosses $1B, Becomes The Ninth-Highest-Grossing Animated Film Ever

Disney’s Zootopia 2 continued its impressive box office run over the past weekend, reclaiming the No. 1 position in North America over its third frame.

Maurice Vaughan

That's phenomenal, Kevin Jackson! I hope we get more animation movies and more theater releases because of it (original and IP).

Kevin Jackson

I am sure we will. Animation has been killing it at the box office over the past 2 years.

Cyrus Sales

Kevin Jackson I knew Zootopia was a popular however I had no idea it was pulling those numbers and hitting the top 10 of highest grossing animated film EVER. Not too sure why this is blowing my mind l...

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Kevin Jackson
These Animated shows are leaving Netflix Soon

She-Ra

Kipo

Mob Psycho 100

Full Metal Alchemist and much more.

Sigh. Not enough hours in the day to keep up. Which one are you saddest about?...

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Over 100 Netflix Originals Leaving Netflix Throughout 2026
Over 100 Netflix Originals Leaving Netflix Throughout 2026
From kids favorites from DreamWorks Animation Television to The Last Kingdom to Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, here's a look at the Originals leaving in 2026.
Maurice Vaughan

You're right, Kevin Jackson. Not enough hours in the day to keep up. I need to watch Captain Underpants Mega Blissmas and Captain Underpants Epic Choice-o-Rama before they leave. The first book came o...

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Kevin Jackson

Oh kool. My son loves Captain Underpants. He has a lot of the books. Almost the entire collection and he loves the TV show.

Maurice Vaughan

They should make Captain Underpants games, Kevin Jackson.

Charmane Wedderburn

It’s wild how fast the library turns over. Kipo really stayed with me — the joy and imagination in it felt rare.

Cyrus Sales

Kevin Jackson I had no idea Full Metal Alchemist was on Netflix and now i'm slightly upset and jaded because I've been wanting to watch this.

update in the same post: I didn't see it on the list of an...

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Hadrien Hein
Shonen spirit

Hello, I am a 2D junior animator trying to do his way in the jungle of visual art. I am happy to meet you. If you have advise to help me to follow my way, do not hesitate. I am eager to share inspiration and improve my skills with passionate people! How long have you worked in the artistic field? How did it changed since the beginning of your journey?

Bob Harper

I've been in the business for almost three decades, and now it's all about creating your own content and brand, as well as learning a variety of skills. Back in the day, it was just about specializing...

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Hadrien Hein

Oh ok, you mean that we need to be more versatile and creative than the machine, right? Thank you, good luck to everyone

Keya Hall

Welcome!!! I write anime and would love to connect with you.

Hadrien Hein

Oh, that must be very challenging! It's not easyier to write than to draw! Please, tell us more!

Charmane Wedderburn

Hi Hadrien — welcome. One thing I’ve learned over time is that consistency matters more than certainty. The field has changed a lot technologically, but what hasn’t changed is the value of voice, curi...

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Bob Harper
Bob Iger LOVES AI

I guess the fear of losing out on the trend, much like losing out on piracy, Disney is in the camp of "If we can't beat them, join them!" And so it begins...

https://www.wsj.com/business/media/disney-to-invest-1-billion-in-openai-......

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Bob Harper

Chase Carmichael Not everyone loves AI. I'm happy you found a use for it, and it helps you grow. Unfortunately, that's not why Iger and most studios love it....

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Chase Carmichael

Bob Harper. Then, what is it?

Bob Harper

Chase Carmichael They love it because it will cut costs for development and production.

Laurie Ashbourne

https://deadline.com/2025/12/disney-openai-deal-animators-sora-1236651227/ - Disney’s OpenAI Deal: Soulless Exploitation Or Necessary Innovation? Former Mouse House Animators Have Thoughts...

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Bob Harper

Laurie Ashbourne Great article. It confirms what you and I both assessed how Disney will exploit the AI Content. Many of my animation colleagues voice similar opinions.

Cyrus Sales
Warner Bros. Discovery Update

Warner Bros. Discovery’s board has unanimously recommended that shareholders reject Paramount’s tender offer, stating it does not provide sufficient value and carries significant uncertainty. The company is standing by its current strategic direction.

What do you think this signals for the future of...

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