cartoons

Andy Paley, ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’ songwriter, dead at 72 after cancer battle: ‘He gave us all a purpose’

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Andy Paley, ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’ songwriter, dead at 72 after cancer battle: ‘He gave us all a purpose’

The man behind the iconic music of “SpongeBob SquarePants” has died. Andy Paley passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 20, after a brief battle with cancer, a representative for his band, Tom Kenny & the Hi-Seas, confirmed to Variety and Deadline. He was 72. Andy Paley. Getty Images He created several catchy songs for “SpongeBob SquarePants.” ©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection “We were … Read more

Disney would never allow Jessica Rabbit in the ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit’ sequel, says director: ‘They can’t’

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Disney would never allow Jessica Rabbit in the ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit’ sequel, says director: ‘They can’t’

What’s a “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” sequel without Jessica Rabbit? The film’s director, Robert Zemeckis, shared his thoughts on a possible follow-up to the 1988 classic that featured the sexy and flirty animated wife of Roger Rabbit donned in her iconic red dress that highlighted her hourglass figure. While on the Oct. 30 episode of … Read more

‘Clenched fist meme’ from animated show ‘Arthur’ turns 25 — here’s how the moment went viral

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‘Clenched fist meme’ from animated show ‘Arthur’ turns 25 — here’s how the moment went viral

The famous “clenched fist” meme taken from the animated TV series “Arthur” has turned 25, and the well-known image has two big celebrities to thank for its popularity. The meme began as a moment in a Season 4 episode of the PBS children’s show. The episode, “Arthur’s Big Hit,” aired in the US on Oct. … Read more

‘Snow White’ reboot star Rachel Zegler responds to backlash over her comments criticizing original 1937 film: ‘Made me sad’

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‘Snow White’ reboot star Rachel Zegler responds to backlash over her comments criticizing original 1937 film: ‘Made me sad’

The star of Disney’s live-action “Snow White” reboot, Rachel Zegler, is defending herself from backlash she received after calling out the “weird” love story in the original animated film years ago. In a new interview with Variety, Zegler accused her critics of taking her comments “out of context” after interview footage from 2022 featured her … Read more

Farmers carve ‘Peanuts’ comic characters in corn mazes nationwide to celebrate 75-year anniversary

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Farmers carve ‘Peanuts’ comic characters in corn mazes nationwide to celebrate 75-year anniversary

Over 80 farms in the United States and Canada have trimmed their hedges to honor “Peanuts” creator Charles M. Schulz and his timeless, beloved characters. Corn maze farmers have teamed up with Peanuts Worldwide to create “Peanuts”-themed attractions, as the Associated Press noted. Schulz released the first strip 75 years ago in Oct. 1950, across seven … Read more

Inside story behind YES App’s new Saturday morning cartoon ‘Bronx Buds’

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Inside story behind YES App’s new Saturday morning cartoon ‘Bronx Buds’

The YES App is taking a swing at bringing back the era of Saturday morning cartoons. The Yankees’ flagship network announced Thursday morning that its digital arm is launching “HexClad Presents Bronx Buds” on Saturday, Aug. 17. “We’re always looking for strategic opportunities to reach younger fans,” Jason Feneque, the Senior Director of Distribution & Special … Read more

SpongeBob SquarePants is autistic, voice actor says: ‘That’s his superpower’

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SpongeBob SquarePants is autistic, voice actor says: ‘That’s his superpower’

Tom Kenny, the actor who voices SpongeBob SquarePants, revealed that the animated character is autistic. Kenny, 62, recently spoke at the 2024 Motor City Comic Con in Detroit and told fans about a past time he confirmed SpongeBob’s diagnosis. “SpongeBob’s kind of on the spectrum too as a character,” he said in a video from … Read more

Hello Kitty is not a cat, creators declare — despite her whiskers, ears and name

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Hello Kitty is not a cat, creators declare — despite her whiskers, ears and name

The cat’s out of the bag. On the 50th anniversary of Hello Kitty, fans were shocked to learn that their beloved cat-inspired character is, in fact, not a feline at all. “Hello Kitty is not a cat,” Jill Cook, the director of retail business development at Sanrio, the creators of the iconic cartoon, told Today. “She’s … Read more

Teletubbies get ‘X-rated’ makeover for Gen Z and millennials, but not all are thrilled: ‘This is sacrilegious’

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Teletubbies get ‘X-rated’ makeover for Gen Z and millennials, but not all are thrilled: ‘This is sacrilegious’

Is that Tinky Winky twerking?  Once upon a time, the Teletubbies were a cutesy quad of 10-foot, childlike humanoids sporting signature onesies.  The color-coded TV characters brought wholesome joy to infants, toddlers and tykes of the late 1990s and early aughts from their grassy hill house in Teletubbyland.  But now, the faux babies have become … Read more

Simpsons fans left shocked by Mr. Burns’ ‘awful’ voice in latest season

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Simpsons fans left shocked by Mr. Burns’ ‘awful’ voice in latest season

Fans of The Simpsons have been left shocked by how the voice of Mr. Burns sounds in the latest season of the show. The FOX series has been running for more than three decades, and as a result much of the voice cast have gotten considerably older than when the first season aired. Mr.Burns hasn’t always been … Read more

Did ‘Bluey’s mom smoke weed? Kids show creators address fan theories on Chilli’s sordid past

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Did ‘Bluey’s mom smoke weed? Kids show creators address fan theories on Chilli’s sordid past

By now you would’ve heard all about the theory that Chilli and Bandit are members of an underground crime ring thanks to their occupations – believe it or not.  Now, die-hard fans of the cartoon are further convinced Bluey’s mom Chilli isn’t as innocent as we all think she is – and it’s all thanks to a throwaway line heard in … Read more

‘Mind-blowing’ fact may explain truth about ‘The Simpsons’ characters

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‘Mind-blowing’ fact may explain truth about ‘The Simpsons’ characters

The Simpsons has been around for an impressive 35 seasons, which means many of us have grown up on the much-loved American cartoon.  Despite spending many afternoons binge-watching the show, there is one little detail that some fans have only just started to wonder. Why in 35 years have any of the main characters not aged?  The … Read more

‘The Simpsons’ creator reveals why characters are yellow

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‘The Simpsons’ creator reveals why characters are yellow

In all of our years binge-watching “The Simpsons” as young teens, never before have we thought too much about why the iconic characters are bright yellow. Until now.  According to the much-loved US animation’s creator, Matt Groening, there is a good reason why Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie (and every other character on the show for … Read more

Cartoon Chip Chilla accused of being a direct rip-off of Bluey and fans are fuming

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Cartoon Chip Chilla accused of being a direct rip-off of Bluey and fans are fuming

We knew Bluey was good the moment it aired on Aussie TV screens. So good that in just five years, it has become the most downloaded show in ABC iView history, has won a string of impressive gongs (including a BAFTA, Emmy and Logie), and continues to be one of the most streamed cartoons across the globe.  But you already knew … Read more

Seth MacFarlane quits ‘Family Guy’ amid Hollywood writers’ strike

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Seth MacFarlane quits ‘Family Guy’ amid Hollywood writers’ strike

He’s no longer part of the “Family.” “Family Guy” and “American Dad!” creator and star Seth MacFarlane has called it quits amid the ongoing, contentious Hollywood writers’ strike. The 49-year-old and his showrunners — Brian Boyle, Matt Weitzman, Rich Appel and Alec Sulkin — walked out in support of the ongoing Writers Guild of America … Read more

Al Jaffee dead at 102: Mad magazine cartoonist created popular Fold-In

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Al Jaffee dead at 102: Mad magazine cartoonist created popular Fold-In

“Mad Magazine” cartoonist Al Jaffee — who worked to create one of the satirical publication’s signature features, the back-cover “Fold-In” — has died. He turned 102 on March 13. His granddaughter, Fani Thomson, confirmed his death to the New York Times on Monday. He died of multi-system organ failure at a New York hospital. The … Read more

‘Animaniacs’ characters killed off in show’s shocking season finale

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‘Animaniacs’ characters killed off in show’s shocking season finale

The “Animaniacs” cartoon series was known for its irreverent, 4th-wall-breaking humor, but the final episode appeared to end with the characters’ violent deaths, leaving fans shocked.  “Animaniacs” was a cartoon originally created in the early 1990s that often parodied pop culture, historical figures, and pushed the boundaries of conventional cartoons at the time. The ensemble series, … Read more

‘Dilbert’ dropped by newspapers over creator Scott Adams’ ‘racist rant’

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‘Dilbert’ dropped by newspapers over creator Scott Adams’ ‘racist rant’

More newspapers say they are dropping the “Dilbert” comic strip after creator Scott Adams this week advised white people to “get the f–k away” from Black people. The Cleveland Plain Dealer announced the paper is cutting ties with Adams for the “racist rant” on his online show “Real Coffee with Scott Adams.” The move comes … Read more

Prince William has ‘wry smile’ over ‘South Park’ digs at Harry: royal insider

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Prince William has ‘wry smile’ over ‘South Park’ digs at Harry: royal insider

His highness may be getting a kick out of this animation humiliation.  Prince William’s funny bones are in for a good tickling, owing to the recent, thinly-veiled slings aimed at his estranged brother Harry and Meghan Markel via the Comedy Central animated series “South Park.” And royal experts predict that the prince will struggle to … Read more

‘Horrifying’ new Barney the Dinosaur look slammed

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‘Horrifying’ new Barney the Dinosaur look slammed

While kids adored the purple dinosaur Barney in the ‘90s, fans are not loving his new look. After the toy company Mattel announced a relaunch of the Barney franchise, the internet reacted to the beloved character’s “scary” extreme makeover. “Thank you, Mattel for giving me nightmares with this horrifying-looking #Barney,” one Twitter user wrote.  Another user tweeted, “man … Read more