Island FanCon returned to Langford for its third year, and the question of what it wants to be is still being answered. Here’s what worked, what didn’t, and why The Viking Group’s shadow looms over all of it.
As Island FanCon enters its third year, it faces an uphill climb. Managing expectations will be tough. What exactly is it trying to be? The identity introduced from the get-go is obvious: help the City of Langford grow. When this event is sponsored by The Viking Group, that detail is hard to miss. And this year, they’re the first thing everyone spots when entering the arena.
When this event is one of the few gatherings still existing for Greater Victoria, geeks are noticing. As for comparing it alongside larger regional conventions in the Lower Mainland, anyone attempting to do so doesn’t really understand the difference between fan-run and corporate.
When this event’s cousins, Metro Con and Northern Fan Con, share the same vibe, expectations need to be lowered accordingly. And as the Island show is still shaping its identity, patience is required. Some attendees come looking for something similar to Fan Expo Vancouver, and honestly, that’s not what Island Fan Con is about. It’s not a full-scale show, and it was never meant to spotlight every geek operation in the municipality.
Netflix’s Scooby-Doo Origins is using a real Great Dane for the first time, and that choice may define whether this live-action reboot can charm old fans and new viewers.
Last week, Netflix announced the rest of the cast for Scooby-Doo Origins, which is currently in production in Atlanta, Georgia. Whether this live-action reboot is truly needed, and whether it can work, depends on a fan’s point of view. After seeing how the production is approaching the property, I’m willing to give it a chance. To make everything live-action with minimal CGI use looks great.
When the studio revealed on Instagram how the canine looks, fans of the long running franchise will either yelp or go aww. That alone has sparked plenty of debate.
Amazon passed on Martin Gero’s Stargate pitch, but the franchise’s best next step was never about military ops anyway. Here’s why Skaara’s afterlife is the story worth telling.
Movement on reviving Stargate is on hold following the news that Amazon execs didn’t like the idea showrunner Martin Gero pitched. He worked on SG-1 and Atlantis, and many fans thought whatever he pitched would automatically get green lit. His track record is generally good since he’s even helped bring Quantum Leap back, even though that never saw a finale.
According to Variety, a source with knowledge of the production had to let the cat out of the bag. He did not say what the concerns were, other than that the concept may alienate part of the fandom. The social media post from Joseph Mallozzi didn’t say much either.
Although not every Chinese animated film makes it to international distribution, they are worth seeking out for the die hard donghua fan.
China’s animation scene is quietly doing something interesting. Not everything has to preach Confucianism or Daoism from the mountaintop. Some challenge it, and others interpret it. As for what’s upcoming, the more interesting Chinese animated films of 2026 are leaning into practical adventures. They fold history, folklore, comedy, and mystery into stories aimed either with or beyond the usual mythological spectacle.
That matters because this industry still mostly focuses on younger audiences. Certain familiar IPs still need to be mentioned, but studios are also stretching into historical storytelling. Light Chaser Animation, in particular, looks ready to make history its next big playground. And while fans are still waiting for the final instalment of Ne Zha, here’s an update on what came out this month and what’s still ahead for the remainder of 2026.
Three Kingdoms Part One:
Struggle for Luoyang
(三国第一部：争洛阳)
Release Date: 10 July 2026
Light Chaser Animation’s next major historical epic is now dated for July 10. The studio’s official channel identifies the film as Three Kingdoms: The Beginning. Earlier reports connect the project to Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, and the larger collapse of the Eastern Han order, which makes this less of a simple battlefield retelling and more of a political origin story. Early trailers suggest a style similar to Chang An, where the focus is on certain players before the big fight. If that approach holds, this could become one of 2026’s major Chinese animation events.
Master Zhong
(钟馗)
Release Date: 16 June 2023 Festival, 30 May 2026 Wide
This one has now firmed up for a May 30, 2026 theatrical release in China. Reports describe it as a family-friendly mythological animated feature built around Zhong Kui, the demon-quelling figure from Chinese folklore. Production credits vary slightly by outlet, so I’d avoid overloading the paragraph with names unless using the film’s official materials. The widely reported core is that iQIYI Pictures is involved, and the story follows a human girl, Chujiu, after she enters the underworld and becomes tangled in Zhong Kui’s fight against demonic forces.
The Great Sage Rises
(大圣崛起)
Release Date: 10 July 2026
Sun Wukong returns to the summer animation race with The Great Sage Rises, now dated for July 10, 2026. This is not being positioned as Tian Xiaopeng’s direct sequel to : Hero Is Back, so that distinction is worth making clear. Reports identify October Sky Pictures, one of the key companies behind Hero Is Back, as part of this project, with Wang Chuan of Kuiba attached as producer and/or screenwriter depending on the source. The story reportedly digs into hidden conflicts behind the Journey to the West legend, including Sun Wukong, Liu’er, and new figures such as Bifang and Bo Xun.
A Story About Fire
(燃比娃)
Release Date: 28 April 2026
Shanghai Animation Film Studio’s A Story About Fire has already opened in China through the National Arthouse Alliance circuit. This is the studio’s first feature-length xuan paper hand-painted animated film, and reports note that the production used more than 50,000 hand-painted sheets. Its story draws from Qiang mythology, following a young hero and his dog on a journey tied to fire, warmth, growth, and origin. This one is less about franchise muscle and more about preserving a handmade Chinese animation tradition in a modern feature format.
Demon Agent
(大唐妖探)
Release Date: Summer 2026
Directed by Cheng Teng, co-director of Jiang Ziya / Legend of Deification, this 3D animated Tang dynasty detective fantasy is set in Chang’an, where humans and demons share the same streets. The film follows a wolf demon accused of murder who joins forces with a human trickster tied to the Di Renjie tradition. What makes this one stand out is the genre blend: part buddy comedy, part fantasy mystery, and part mechanical Tang dynasty spectacle. Chinese coverage has described it as the country’s first comedy-detective animated feature, with a summer 2026 release window.
GG Bond: Race Through Time
Release Date: May 1, 2026
The 11th theatrical instalment in the GG Bond franchise keeps pushing the series past its TV roots. Sometimes compared to Boonie Bears, which had its latest release over Chinese New Year, GG Bond is not tied to a celebration. The series often preaches more than it tells a story, but given the audience it’s designed for, friendship, integrity, and perseverance are woven in rather than tacked on. Alongside Phoebe, Super Q, Bobby, S-Daddy, and Dr. Mihoo, the little pig has built a steady audience over the years.
This time around, GG Bond befriends Star Navi, a fierce leopard racer with a complicated home situation. When Navi’s father suffers a career-ending injury, the two travel back in time to change the outcome. It’s a heavier emotional hook than the franchise usually reaches for, which suggests Winsing is testing whether the series can grow with its audience. The film has already opened in China and is now being positioned for international distribution.
Hong Kong
Another World
Release Date: June 2026
Read our movie review here.
Out of all the films slated for release this year, there are only two confirmed to have an international release. It’s a small world when GKIDS is involved with getting this gem out. The story follows Gudo, a Keeper who guides souls to the afterlife, as he bonds with a young girl whose unresolved rage keeps her stuck. Helping her move on means Gudo has to reckon with his own emotions, and the consequences of letting that anger loose.
Hong Kong produces far fewer animated features than the mainland, which makes this one stand out on its own. It also took home Best Animated Feature at the Golden Horse Awards, giving it real pedigree going into its wider release. And after its screening at the LA Asian Pacific Film Festival, word of mouth has been strong. This one lands emotionally, and apparently doesn’t let go.
Despite breaking records as the highest-grossing animated film ever, Ne Zha 2 still has no Blu-ray or 4K release in sight. With streaming available but shelves empty, the question remains: where is this global hit hiding?
Even though Ne Zha 2 is the highest-grossing animated movie in history and can already be streamed, there’s still no indication of when it will arrive on home video. This little hero is proving as elusive as White Snake 3 (aka Afloat). It’s a strange place to be in 2026, especially for a film that’s just over a year old. Merchandise is reportedly flying off the shelves, yet the movie itself has no physical release in sight.
This work hit Chinese theatres on January 29, 2025, and quickly lit up the global box office. The film grossed over $2.2 billion worldwide and now ranks among the highest-grossing films of all time, alongside Avengers: Endgame, Avatar: The Way of Water, and Titanic. It’s more than an animated milestone, it’s a cultural moment. So why is the home video shelf still empty?
YouTube fan theories love to claim the kids in the Dungeons and Dragons animated series are dead and trapped in purgatory, but the show’s own episodes tell a completely different story. From Terri’s real-world reunion with Bobby to Josef’s impact on actual history, the evidence for a living, breathing adventure has been hiding in plain sight the whole time.
You can watch the Dungeons and Dragons cartoon on YouTube, courtesy of Wizards of the Coast! Episodes are being released weekly.
The cottage industry of “ruined childhoods” isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Just look at MediaOCD’s World Classics use of the label for proof that revisiting old favourites with fresh eyes can actually add something. But on YouTube, a certain breed of content creator loves poking holes in beloved franchises, accuracy optional. Whether the target is He-Man or something else entirely, the clickbait title is usually doing most of the heavy lifting. One series that doesn’t deserve the treatment is the Dungeons and Dragons Cartoon.
On Reddit and elsewhere, the Backstage Tales theory is not alone. Although they are separate ideas, they all share the same DNA: Hank, Sheila, Bobby, Diana, and Eric died. Whether it was because they had no self worth or on that roller coaster ride, the consequences are grim, and are vaguely hinted at in the episode, “Quest of the Skeleton Warrior.”
As Island FanCon enters its third year, it faces an uphill climb. Managing expectations will be tough. What exactly is it trying to be? The identity introduced from the get-go is obvious: help the City of Langford grow. When this event is sponsored by The Viking Group, that detail is hard to miss. And this year, they’re the first thing everyone spots when entering the arena.
Last week, 
Movement on reviving Stargate is on hold following the news that 
China’s animation scene is quietly doing something interesting. Not everything has to preach Confucianism or Daoism from the mountaintop. Some challenge it, and others interpret it. As for what’s upcoming, the more interesting Chinese animated films of 2026 are leaning into practical adventures. They fold history, folklore, comedy, and mystery into stories aimed either with or beyond the usual mythological spectacle.
Release Date: May 1, 2026
Release Date: June 2026
Even though Ne Zha 2 is the highest-grossing animated movie in history and can already be streamed, there’s still no indication of when it will arrive on home video. This little hero is proving as elusive as White Snake 3 (aka Afloat). It’s a strange place to be in 2026, especially for a film that’s just over a year old. Merchandise is reportedly flying off the shelves, yet the movie itself has no physical release in sight.