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DreamWorks & Netflix’s Ready for More Kung Fu Panda Action July 2022!

The best news from this month for DreamWorks Kung Fu Panda fans is that Po’s adventures aren’t over. After three successful films, five standalone pieces and two series–one on network television and the other on Amazon–Netflix has its eye to continue the adventures with the lead in The Dragon Knight!

There isn’t too much information to reveal as some aspects are still being developed or are under wraps. All we know so far is that weasels are the primary antagonists in this upcoming series. Confirmed is Jack Black returning to the role instead of Mick Wingert who voiced the title character in Paws of Destiny. This actor also confirmed to Entertainment Weekly that it’s coming July 2022!

Story Synopsis:

When a mysterious pair of weasels set their sights on a collection of four powerful weapons, Po must leave his home to embark on a globe-trotting quest for redemption and justice that finds him partnered up with a no-nonsense English knight named Wandering Blade. Together, these two mismatched warriors set out on an epic adventure to find the magical weapons first and save the world from destruction – and they may even learn a thing or two from each other along the way.

Where’s Noah in Netflix’s Extinct?

Unfortunately, there’s no anthropomorphic avengers to really save Extinct from mediocrity.

Available to view on Netflix

Extinct is an odd animated film with an unusual history. It’s clearly made for a Chinese audience in mind and it doesn’t always acknowledge it. This movie written by Joel Cohen, John Frink, and Rob LaZebnik (best known for their work on The Simpsons) doesn’t translate over well. I imagine the plan was that, should this movie be successful, it’d launch a merchandise empire of oddball shaped critters.

This film first debuted in the UK, went to Russia and it took the long route to making it back to the Americas. Its like these doughnut shaped animals don’t want to be found, and nor do they want the love from the country that can help this movie survive. Instead, it’s on Netflix.

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It’s Time for Tea Pets, A Nearly Forgotten Joy

This movie’s been renamed Toys and Pets for International audiences and the translation isn’t the best.

Image gallery for Tea Pets - FilmAffinity

This movie review is sponsored by Umi Tea Sets. Please visit https://www.umiteasets.com/collections/tea-pets to see their latest tea pet offerings.

Light Chaser Animation Studios
Spoiler Alert

Tea Pets was a movie I had to watch during the last days of Chinese New Year and it’s one that’s not as well known. The animation house earned its cred with White Snake and its sequel, and it’s odd they would sell the rights of this early effort to a less than ideal international distributor.

These little clay figures trace back to 13th Century China and are used during tea ceremonies. These figurines bring good luck to those who affectionately play with them during tea time. All it takes is to pour some tasty liquid over them and they’ll come to life. The unkilned porous clay transforms the colours into another pigmentation, and it’s amazing to watch.

According to one online source, writer/director Gary Wang saw some for sale at in an antique store in Paris! It reminded him of home. Although I’ve never seen them at Murchie’s Tea & Coffee in Victoria, BC, or any Asian tea houses here in town, I had to wonder. I’d love to have a feline tea pet to keep me smiling on those grey days.

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Just How Buck Wild is the New Ice Age Under Disney?

After five movies, it’s safe to assume most fans know the franchise well enough so that the intro isn’t needed. Disney didn’t want to bring Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, and Denis Leary back.

Even under the auspices of Disney putting Blue Sky Studios to rest, the Ice Age continues. Instead of continuing in the adventures of Manny and Elle, the mammoths, Diego the sabre-tooth tiger, and Sid the sloth, the focus shifts to the supporting characters of Crash (Vincent Tong) and Eddie (Aaron Harris). These two nutty possums are part of the main cast’s extended family and are Elle’s brothers. A quarter of the film reacquaints viewers of how this unlikely pairing came to be, and while it’s nice to get that recap, the other reintroductions feel unneeded. They remind viewers of the crazy dysfunctional aspect of this group as a whole.

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Fireheart Trailer and When to Expect It

The trailer shows an ambitious work about a young girl aspiring to be the world’s first female firefighter

eOne Films UK

L’Atelier Animation’s upcoming movie, Fireheart didn’t make my lists because it’s uncertain it will hit theatres or festivals this year. It’ll make its debut in France and other territories are most likely soon to follow come Summer. This news is exciting as the trailer shows an ambitious work about a young girl aspiring to be the world’s first female firefighter, much like how Disney’s Mulan wants to join a certain boy’s club of elite warriors.

The tale is set in New York during the roaring twenties, and this time was especially tough when women had little rights. Women’s Suffrage was getting started, and for Georgia, the teen heroine, she not only has to deal with her daddy’s opinion but also has to be in disguise if she’s being recruited.

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From Comic to Film Finally! Cerebus the Aardvark and Where to Find Him

Cerebus the Aardvark Movie Poster Available to watch on Plex (Free)

Cerebus the Aardvark is very grey and furry–often very grumpy–and that won’t stop him from dealing with Necross the Mad and Elron. Although some viewers of this indie work may see this film as a work in progress, it’s actually considered complete–warts and all. The animation quality is reminiscent of those late 90s video games.

The marionette style quality in The Absurd, Surreal, Metaphysical and Fractured Destiny of Cerebus the Aardvark works to highlight the bizarro Conan the Barbarian-like world that writer/artist Dave Sims made. Oliver Simonsen is the director behind this film, and he got the creator’s approval to move forward. It took more than a decade to realise, and the result is something comic book aficionados can appreciate more than PIXAR fans. It’s for that reason I won’t give this product a numerical score.

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