News.
‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’ Creator Jeff Kinney On The ‘Intoxicating’ Nature Of Animation Storytelling
Anyone who has raised a child or spent any extended time with one in the last 20 years will have almost certainly encountered author and cartoonist Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid empire. His first line-drawn, black-and-white book about hapless middle schooler Greg Heffley debuted in 2007 and immediately ignited a global phenomenon. Since then, Kinney has written 20 books in the main Wimpy Kid series and this year reached the extraordinary milestone of 300 million copies sold worldwide.
That level of success inevitably led to adaptations, including four live-action theatrical features. In 2021, Disney+ rebooted the franchise in CG feature form, launching a new run of animated Diary of a Wimpy Kid films. The latest installment, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw, debuted last week on the streamer. It is the second holiday-themed film and the fourth produced by Vancouver, British Columbia–based Bardel Entertainment.
“We’ve had the privilege of introducing our kids to the holiday classics like the Peanuts specials and The Grinch and things like that,” Kinney told Cartoon Brew about jumping into holiday animation tradition. “And we’re taking our crack at it in the Wimpy world, to make something that lasts. To do that, you have to have something that’s got some heart to it. What we strive to do is to tell a story that’s emotionally resonant, that somebody might want to return to next year.”
All four animated Wimpy Kid films have been scripted by Kinney, marking his first foray into screenwriting. In The Last Straw, he and first-time franchise director Matt Danner (Muppet Babies) use the cheerful holiday season as a contrast to the contentious relationship between clueless tween Greg (Aaron D. Harris) and his demanding, impatient father, Frank (Chris Diamantopoulos).
“I think Matt thinks very naturally in the language of animation,” Kinney said of Danner’s contributions. “He’s always thinking about how to plus a scene. He’s always thinking, ‘Okay, you’ve got the emotional part down on the page, or the dialogue, but how can we make this visually interesting?’”
Kinney continued, “What Matt has really taught me is this idea of the ‘game of a scene,’ where every scene, even if it’s a small scene, has some sort of rhythm to it. Or, that there’s some sort of joke that’s riding right underneath the surface. I always think about that now when I’m writing a scene. I think about what’s the game of the scene? What’s going to make this work? What’s going to make this scene understandable so that the audience is tracking what’s happening and seeing, and so that’s been a gift to me.”
Greg has always been a character who navigates the world like a physical comedian. He’s a champion of pratfalls and unintended disasters — an ideal fit for animation. But Kinney said Danner and the Bardel team expanded that comedic sensibility across the rest of the characters as well.
“The scene that I can’t take credit for is where Greg and his father are talking in the gym,” he said. “There’s a lot of exposition, but during the scene, Frank, Greg’s father, is doing these really ridiculous, sort of isometric exercise poses. It’s very, very funny. But it’s not anywhere on the page. It’s not what I conceived of, and if [my script] had been let stand, it would just be two people talking to each other. And that’s not good enough for animation. You have to use the benefits of the language, and use the advantages of animation to tell a better story, to amplify your story.”
With four CG-animated films behind him, Kinney said the process has opened his eyes to how different animation storytelling is compared to writing the books’ joke-driven narratives.
“I think right out of the gate, it took a little bit of time to get the modeling right with just a little bit back and forth,” Kinney said of adapting his line drawings into a 3d version of his world. “But the workers at Bardel are very, very skilled. I remember when I saw the first real animation test of Greg and Rowley talking together in Rowley’s room in the first movie, and I was really blown away. I couldn’t stop watching it because there was so much nuance to it. It was very sumptuous to look at. And I kind of couldn’t believe that we could do that because the budget behind these movies is not a Pixar-level budget. So to have something that looks so lush for a reasonable price is really satisfying.”
He added that there is something exhilarating about seeing even a single script direction — such as “EXT. SNOWY NEIGHBORHOOD – DAY” — become an entire town rendered on screen.
“By writing those words, you’ve set something in motion, and it might cost, like tens of 1000s of dollars, if not more, money in the budget and in manpower, to produce that scene that you wrote with just one sentence. That kind of thing can be very empowering and sort of intoxicating, because you’re literally creating worlds with your words.”
As for the future of Wimpy Kid in animation, Kinney said: “The hope is to make a movie where we take the Heffleys really out of this environment and put them in a totally different environment, and that will be a big challenge to us. I think that will add a lot of depth to the Wimpy Kid world and universe, so that’s the hope that we keep expanding this thing, so that we have a whole library of movies set with these characters. And, to tell really funny stories for years to come.”
"Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw" Marks the Franchise's Best Entry Yet
After taking 2024 off, the Diary of a Wimpy Kid animated franchise returns to Disney+ with The Last Straw, a film that not only reaffirms the series’ charm but also marks its strongest entry yet. Across its first three installments, the franchise steadily found its footing, refining its tone and better translating the book’s awkward humor, and doodle-book energy into feature-length storytelling. This fourth outing continues that upward trajectory, setting a new high bar for what these adaptations can deliver.
Jeff Kinney once again adapts his own work, which has always been the secret sauce of these films. But this time he’s joined by a new creative partner at the helm: Matt Danner. Disney fans will recognize Danner as the creative force behind Legend of the Three Caballeros, and his influence is immediately felt. The comedic timing hits sharper, the character animation has more elasticity and personality, and the pacing feels more confidently calibrated for a streaming family audience. The result is a film that balances the snappiness of Kinney’s books with the expressiveness animation affords.
One of the biggest shifts is environmental: what was originally a summer-set story has now been moved to winter, a clever adjustment designed to match the holiday release window. The snowy setting adds cozy seasonal flair, but it never becomes the movie’s focus. Instead, the film wisely centers the evolving relationship between Greg Heffley and his dad Frank — voiced with warmth and comedic earnestness by Mickey Mouse himself, Chris Diamantopoulos. Their dynamic has always been part of the spine of Kinney’s books, but this adaptation moves it to the forefront, giving the film surprising emotional heft. Having this story arrive during a season already steeped in family rituals makes the father-son theme land even more effectively.
Much of what continues to stand out about these animated adaptations is Kinney’s willingness to reshape his own material. Rather than clinging to every beloved beat from the book, he trims, expands, or reimagines scenes to better support a cinematic structure. It’s a sign not just of creative confidence but of a rare kind of authorial generosity — he knows the movies aren’t meant to be illustrated carbon copies but living interpretations. Many of the set pieces are updated or reframed, and the mischief Greg gets into feels fresh without betraying the spirit of the original. The heart of the story remains intact, but the storytelling is cleaner, more cohesive, and built with filmgoers (or streamers) in mind.
The film also carries a deeply personal touch: it’s dedicated to Jeff Kinney’s father, who passed away earlier this year. While the specifics of their relationship are private, the emotional threads woven through the movie feel universal. The film captures something true about father-son relationships — the push and pull between frustration and admiration, the misunderstandings that pile up, and the quiet, unconditional love at the center of it all. That sincerity radiates throughout The Last Straw, elevating it beyond a simple comedic romp.
Ultimately, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw is both a crowd-pleaser and a step forward, reinforcing why this franchise — and its continued evolution — remains worth watching. With Danner’s direction energizing the visuals and Kinney’s thoughtful adaptation grounding the story, the film becomes a warm, funny, and resonant family watch perfectly timed for the holidays.
If this is the direction the franchise continues to move in, Greg Heffley’s animated misadventures should have a long, healthy life ahead on Disney+.
Check Out Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw on Friday December 5th!
Retribution: A US Marine’s Fight For Justice, From the Russian Gulag to Ukraine’s Frontlines
Fighting for a cause—and for payback.
Born in Texas in 1991, Reed grew up in California. Joining the Marines after high school, he was chosen to be one of the guards at Camp David and was photographed with President Obama. After the Marines, he worked for a company providing security to State Department personnel overseas. On an online dating site, he met Lina, a Russian woman. They became close; he decided to join her in Moscow and learn the language. One evening, with a group of Lina’s friends, he became drunk and aggressive and was taken to a police station to sober up. He was charged with assaulting the arresting officers. Remanded to custody awaiting trial—at which he was found guilty despite no proof of the crime—Reed began his experience with the Russian penal system. With the help of co-author DeFelice, he describes his ordeal in direct, vivid prose. “Two of the twenty or so guards at the prison were decent, one probably because he was being bribed,” he writes. “The rest were bastards to the nth degree, going out of their way to treat inmates like dirt. The system itself breeds contempt and sadistic behavior.” Reed found that the Russian mafya—career criminals—were the key to surviving prison life, providing contraband, including cell phones and a communications network that kept him in touch with Lina and his parents. Reed refused to cooperate with his jailers and went on hunger strikes. Meanwhile, his parents lobbied the government, and after three years, he was exchanged for a Russian arms dealer. Back home in the U.S., he decided to seek his revenge: He’d go to Ukraine to join the fight against Russia. “The Russians had stolen nearly three years of my life,” he writes. “I was going to make them pay.” What ensues is his quest to do the right thing, no matter the cost.
A powerful memoir, especially for its close-up portrait of life in a gulag.
Retribution: A U.S. Marine’s Fight for Justice, from the Russian Gulag to Ukraine’s Front Lines
Reed debuts with an engrossing recap of his imprisonment in Russia and his subsequent Ukrainian military service. In 2019, while visiting his girlfriend in Moscow, Reed—who’d left the Marine Corps three years earlier—was detained after getting belligerently drunk at a party. Without evidence, he was charged with assaulting a police officer, and after the judge presiding over Reed’s trial dug up a photo of the author with President Obama at Camp David, he was sentenced to nine years in prison. His parents pressured the Biden administration to conduct a prisoner swap, which led to Reed’s release in 2022. Describing in visceral terms the starvation and physical abuse he endured while incarcerated, Reed sets the stage for his decision to seek revenge by fighting Russian forces in Ukraine. He enrolled as a paid volunteer in a Ukrainian commando unit, and nearly died in an explosion before retiring from combat to pursue a degree in international studies. Aided by coauthor DeFelice’s unfussy prose, Reed provides an unvarnished glimpse into the brutality of the Russian prison system and the psychology of vengeance. It’s a sobering account.
4.5-STAR REVIEW: THE HEART OF IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE by Jimmy Hawkins
In this special book, Jimmy Hawkins helps us focus on the true meaning behind the classic holiday movie. It’s not just the message or its many famous lines but rather the motivation behind the creation of the film and director Frank Capra’s unrelenting vision for what it should be.
As a boy, Jimmy played George Bailey’s youngest son, Tommy. And he has spent the eight decades since living out the heart of the story and becoming arguably the world’s foremost expert on the movie. Filled with unpublished facts that the author has collected about the cast and crew, this book gives a clearer understanding of what they all brought to the scripted pages.
Through excerpts from the screenplay, never-before-seen photos, and a lifetime of friendship with both Frank Capra and the stars of the movie, Hawkins guides us to discover why this story still touches the spirit decades after its release. Because It’s a Wonderful Life is not just George Bailey’s or Frank Capra’s story—it’s the story of all of us, and of many generations to come.
For many people, a Christmas tradition includes watching holiday-themed movies. Nostalgia dictates that no list would be complete without a particular classic film from 1946.
Author Jimmy Hawkins brings together a compilation of unpublished facts about the cast and crew in The Heart of It’s a Wonderful Life. As one of the actors, he offers unique insight into the behind-the-scenes of this inspirational film.
Organized into 19 scenes, the story incorporates photographs alongside snippets of the script. By the end of the 183-page book, which includes notes, readers gain a deeper understanding of George Bailey’s journey and why the lessons learned are still relevant. The book’s organization makes it easy to digest with key takeaways.
As a mix of film trivia and inspirational thoughts, the book also shines the spotlight on director Frank Capra and main characters Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed.
The Heart of It’s a Wonderful Life pays homage to a classic film while emphasizing the overall message.
The Heart of It's a Wonderful Life by Jimmy Hawkins: The perfect hostess gift for the holidays or an ideal stocking stuffer.
Playing adorable little Tommy Bailey at 4 years of age, Jimmy Hawkins was the youngest member of the cast when movie director Frank Capra began shooting the first scenes nearly 80 years ago. For this anniversary of the now perennial classic film, Jimmy Hawkins shares his insights into what belatedly made this film an inspiration to millions of viewers in The Heart of It’s a Wonderful Life.
A Child Star with a Lasting Legacy
The other three fictional Bailey children were child actors Carol Coombs (Janie), Karolyn Grimes (Zuzu) and Larry Sims (Pete), with the two girls having the shortest careers in films. The professional life of eldest child Larry began at the age of 2 as a baby model appearing in Saturday Evening Post advertisements before being bestowed with the nickname “Baby Dumpling” for his recurring role as Alexander Dagwood in the Blondie film series. Only 16 when he quit acting, he became an engineer with a multi-international firm but also maintained his show business exposure in the nascent medium of television.
Jimmy Hawkins continued to have substantial roles in over 40 movies and more than 300 television roles, including 8 years as a cast member of The Donna Reed Show. Also an expert horseman and notable trick rider, he first appeared as Tagg Oakley on the Annie Oakley Show with his expertly trained horse Pixie before touring as part of Western star Gene Autry’s shows.
Although but a child when he appeared as Tommy Bailey, the experience had an emotional impact sustained to the present day. Throughout the course of the many years since the film’s release, Jimmy Hawkins has conversed with or conducted in-depth interviews with hundreds of people connected with the making of the film, including the director, cast and crew, and has compiled their recollections as well as photographs and home movies into this entertaining volume.
Revisiting a Timeless Classic
Of all of the films he directed, It’s a Wonderful Life is said to have been Frank Capra’s personal favorite. The initial 1946 movie theater release made scarcely a ripple and even garnered several negative reviews. Evidently, postwar audiences weren’t terribly receptive to the storyline of Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey attempting suicide before being rescued by apprentice angel Clarence Odbody.
In 1974, Republic Pictures, then owner of the film rights, failed to file the renewal application with the U.S. Copyright Office prior to the 28-year initial term’s expiration. This oversight allowed distributors to broadcast and sell the film freely for over two decades before a lengthy court battle over the music rights allowed Republic to regain control until 2042. The frequent holiday showings to succeeding generations resulted in establishing it as a best-loved classic.
In the book’s forward message, the author has written: The heart of It’s a Wonderful Life is the profound message that every individual’s life has a significant impact on the world, even if it seems insignificant. George Bailey’s revelation, shown through Clarence’s intervention, underscores the interconnectedness of human lives and the ripple effects of our actions. The film highlights how George’s life, seemingly ordinary, touched countless others in Bedford Falls, impacting their well-being, their relationships and the overall community.
A Continual Message of Hope
Significantly, the film has emerged as a powerful tool in its use in suicide prevention. A special person known to this reviewer was a young graduate student employed in the mid-1970s as a Mental Health Worker at an in-patient psych center took it upon himself to bring his own Betamax video and player to work to share the still relatively unknown film with the adolescent patients, whose positive response was palpable.
This charming little book incorporates photographs, anecdotes, film history and excerpts from the screen play to enchant and inspire its readers. The Heart of It’s a Wonderful Life: How the Most Inspirational Movie of All Time Still Inspires the Spirit would make the perfect hostess gift for the holidays or an ideal stocking stuffer, and might brighten the day for someone experiencing depression or challenging times.
The Heart of Its a Wonderful Life by Jimmy Hawkins - How the Most Inspirational Movie of All Time Still Inspires the Spirit
It's not who you know, it's whom you know and now we know Jimmy Hawkins, through his genuinely excellent writing skills! This should come as no surprise, given Jimmy's proven gift for communication as an actor; and for every smart Christmas shopper, his book is the ideal quintessential all-American present for the person that has everything. This book is going to appeal to everyone and everyone on our panel was beyond delighted with this work! Even if your name is Scrooge, you're going to love it.
It is the total inside story and absolutely nothing is secondhand, exactly how we like it at Whom You Know! We love how the book is organized and the whole work is well-framed. Every action really does have a reaction and the chemistry of life is a wonderful thing! Intelligent disobedience is introduced as a great concept and we like how a lot of the movie script of It's A Wonderful Life is included. Tommy Bailey actually was young and impressionable at the time of the movie, and the experience has left a memorable lasting mark on him which we are so lucky he shares with us readers.
The Heart of It's a Wonderful Life underscores how you can make a difference in the world. Be sure to self-reflect! Accountability matters and this inside story is amazing any time of year, but especially now.
The Heart of It's a Wonderful Life has earned our Highest Recommendation.
The Heart of Bedford Falls Still Beats: Jimmy Hawkins Revisits “It’s a Wonderful Life”
The Heart of It's a Wonderful Life by Jimmy Hawkins
The perfect hostess gift for the holidays or an ideal stocking stuffer.
Jimmy Hawkins is an actor, producer, philanthropist, former advisory board member of the Jimmy Stewart Museum, the Donna Reed Foundation and the It’s a Wonderful Life Museum in Seneca Falls, New York, as well as writer of several books about the 1946 film It’s a Wonderful Life.
Playing adorable little Tommy Bailey at 4 years of age, he was the youngest member of the cast when movie director Frank Capra began shooting the first scenes nearly 80 years ago. For this anniversary of the now perennial classic film, Jimmy Hawkins shares his insights into what belatedly made this film an inspiration to millions of viewers in The Heart of It’s a Wonderful Life.
A Child Star with a Lasting Legacy
The other three fictional Bailey children were child actors Carol Coombs (Janie), Karolyn Grimes (Zuzu) and Larry Sims (Pete), with the two girls having the shortest careers in films. The professional life of eldest child Larry began at the age of 2 as a baby model appearing in Saturday Evening Post advertisements before being bestowed with the nickname “Baby Dumpling” for his recurring role as Alexander Dagwood in the Blondie film series. Only 16 when he quit acting, he became an engineer with a multi-international firm but also maintained his show business exposure in the nascent medium of television.
Jimmy Hawkins continued to have substantial roles in over 40 movies and more than 300 television roles, including 8 years as a cast member of The Donna Reed Show. Also an expert horseman and notable trick rider, he first appeared as Tagg Oakley on the Annie Oakley Show with his expertly trained horse Pixie before touring as part of Western star Gene Autry’s shows.
Although but a child when he appeared as Tommy Bailey, the experience had an emotional impact sustained to the present day. Throughout the course of the many years since the film’s release, Jimmy Hawkins has conversed with or conducted in-depth interviews with hundreds of people connected with the making of the film, including the director, cast and crew, and has compiled their recollections as well as photographs and home movies into this entertaining volume.
Revisiting a Timeless Classic
Of all of the films he directed, It’s a Wonderful Life is said to have been Frank Capra’s personal favorite. The initial 1946 movie theater release made scarcely a ripple and even garnered several negative reviews. Evidently, postwar audiences weren’t terribly receptive to the storyline of Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey attempting suicide before being rescued by apprentice angel Clarence Odbody.
In 1974, Republic Pictures, then owner of the film rights, failed to file the renewal application with the U.S. Copyright Office prior to the 28-year initial term’s expiration. This oversight allowed distributors to broadcast and sell the film freely for over two decades before a lengthy court battle over the music rights allowed Republic to regain control until 2042. The frequent holiday showings to succeeding generations resulted in establishing it as a best-loved classic.
In the book’s forward message, the author has written: The heart of It’s a Wonderful Life is the profound message that every individual’s life has a significant impact on the world, even if it seems insignificant. George Bailey’s revelation, shown through Clarence’s intervention, underscores the interconnectedness of human lives and the ripple effects of our actions. The film highlights how George’s life, seemingly ordinary, touched countless others in Bedford Falls, impacting their well-being, their relationships and the overall community.
A Continual Message of Hope
Significantly, the film has emerged as a powerful tool in its use in suicide prevention. A special person known to this reviewer was a young graduate student employed in the mid-1970s as a Mental Health Worker at an in-patient psych center took it upon himself to bring his own Betamax video and player to work to share the still relatively unknown film with the adolescent patients, whose positive response was palpable.
This charming little book incorporates photographs, anecdotes, film history and excerpts from the screen play to enchant and inspire its readers. The Heart of It’s a Wonderful Life: How the Most Inspirational Movie of All Time Still Inspires the Spirit would make the perfect hostess gift for the holidays or an ideal stocking stuffer, and might brighten the day for someone experiencing depression or challenging times.
About Jimmy Hawkins:
Jimmy Hawkins played Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed’s son, Tommy Bailey, in the classic Frank Capra film It’s a Wonderful Life, as well as appearing in over forty movies and more than three hundred TV shows. Along with his many other credits as producer, he produced the all-star television special for PBS based on the Lux Radio Theater’s version of It’s a Wonderful Life in celebration of its fiftieth anniversary. Jimmy is the author of five popular It’s a Wonderful Life books and served on the advisory boards of the Jimmy Stewart Museum, the Donna Reed Foundation, and the Seneca Falls It’s A Wonderful Life Museum.
Eric Bauza Nominated for Children’s & Family Emmy
Bauza has been nominated for the fourth year in a row, this time for the roles of Daffy Duck and The Do-Do in Daffy in Wackyland
With the Premiere of ‘Monster: The Ed Gein Story’ Here is Some Info About Harold Schechter’s ‘Psycho’ About the Same Killer
Nancy A. Collins’ ‘Blade Runner Black Lotus: las Vegas #1’ Met With Rave Reviews
This all-new series features a deadly Replicant combat model, Elle, also known as the Black Lotus Killer, who continues her search for answers about her mysterious past. The issue is out September 17, 2025.
The cover for ‘The Heart of It’s a Wonderful Life’ by Jimmy Hawkins, who played Tommy Bailey in the film. Hawkins’ book releases September 23, 2025.
‘The Heart of It’s a Wonderful Life’ Comes out September 23, 2025
Disney Veteran Matt Danner Has Signed on to Direct New Diary of a Wimpy Kid Animated Film
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw delves into Greg's complicated relationship with his father Frank, who is determined to toughen up his son by enrolling him in sports. It will debut on Disney+ on Dec. 5.
‘Dr. Wertless’ New Graphic Novel by Harold Schechter
Acclaimed true crime author, Harold Schechter, and multiple Eisner award-winning cartoonist, Eric Powell, present a graphic novel that takes an unbiased look at the flawed and complex man, whose obsessive dream of freeing the world from violence nearly murdered the comics industry.
Coyote vs. Acme at SDCC!
‘Coyote vs. Acme’ Footage Debuts at San Diego Comic Con
The film is set to release August 28, 2026, and features the voice talents of Eric Bauza
‘He didn’t think he was a good man’: New Book Reveals Unseen Portrait of JFK
In an exhaustively researched book, J Randy Taraborrelli looks at the private, public and secret lives of the president
Catch Eric Bauza on ‘Super Mega Cakes’
Duff Goldman's cake-making marathon continues as he and his team must create a cake inspired by the world of classic cartoons. Duff opts for a famous moment from the world of Bugs Bunny, while the challenging team, led by renowned wedding cake designer Lincoln Alexander, tries to beat Duff by creating a chaotic Tom and Jerry chase scene. Both cakes must incorporate gravity defying effects, and judges Amaury Guichon, Sherry Yard and special guest Eric Bauza, the voice of Bugs Bunny, determine which cake wins $10,000 and a chance at the grand prize.
An Excerpt from J. Randy Taraborrelli’s Latest Biography ‘JFK: Public, Private, Secret’
Read all about Taraborrelli’s bombshell new book at People
‘JFK: Public, Private, Secret’ Featured on Publishers Weekly
Read all about Taraborrelli’s latest Kennedy biography, dubbed “a sentimental and entertaining take on a great American soap opera.”
‘JFK: Public, Private, Secret’ Lands Stellar Review at Kirkus
Hailed an “excellent biography of the 35th President”, read the full review on Kirkus
J. Randy Taraborrelli’s ‘JFK: Public Private Secret’ Named One of Amazon’s Editors Best Books of July
The New York Times bestselling Kennedy historian’s latest biography comes out July 15, 2025
Open Road Media Has Picked Up Three Titles of ‘Vamps’ Series by Nancy Collins
Set in a dark fantasy world, the ‘Vamps’ series combines contemporary relationship drama with the merciless interfamily intrigue of Game of Thrones and Succession. The lead characters are protagonist Cally Monture, a scrappy half-vampire from Brooklyn struggling to provide for her single mother, and antagonist Lilith Todd, the spoiled, narcissistic, and insecure daughter of the wealthiest vampire in America who lives in a penthouse on the Upper East Side. Both girls are eighteen years old and also happen to be half-sisters.
Eric Bauza Voices Character in ‘Shovelling’ for the National Film Board of Canada
It is a personal story of a young father of Filipino descent living in Scarborough, directed by Mathias Horhager.
Eric Bauza to Perform at the Hollywood Bowl
Bugs Bunny at the Symphony returns to the Bowl, celebrating Bugs Bunny’s 85th—and this cherished concert’s 35th—anniversaries!
Jimmy Hawkins Publishing a New "‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ Book with HarperCollins Focus
Matt Danner to Direct His Second ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’ Film
Matt Chapman Working on Fourth Installment of the ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’ Series
Eric Bauza Wins Emmy for the Third Year in a Row!
He won the award for Outstanding Voice Performer in a Children's or Young Teen Program for his work on Teen Titans Go!
He Voices Porky Pig, and That’s Not All, Folks
Read all about Eric Bauza’s journey into voice acting in this New York Times article
New Clip from Looney Tunes ‘The Day the Earth Blew Up’
Daffy Duck watches everyone lose their minds in this hilarious clip from the film, premiering Friday March 14th
Eric Bauza ‘Talks Toons’ With Time For Kids
Learn how Eric brings animated characters to life here
Eric Bauza to host the Children’s and Family Emmy Awards on March 15th
‘The Day the Earth Blew Up’ Lead with a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes
Check out the stellar review here
ITN Acquires ‘Joe Baby’ Written by Todd Samovitz
The film follows a private investigator hired to track down 10 million dollars stolen in a dodgy real estate deal, opening a complex can of worms.
Eric Bauza Goes Off Script at the Writer’s Guild Awards
Watch Eric’s hilarious intro for the Best Animation Award here
Dave Lee Down Under Reviews ‘The Day the Earth Blew Up’
Check out Dave’s review here
Eric Bauza to Present the Nominees for ‘Best Animation’ at the Writer’s Guild Awards
Watch the Awards Show livestream on Saturday February 15 at 4:30pm
Catch This Sneak Peek of ‘The Day the Earth Blew Up’
Everything We Know About ‘The Day the Earth Blew Up’
Read all about the new animated feature coming to theatres March 14
New Looney Tunes Movie Coming to Theatres March 14!
Featuring the voice talent of Eric Bauza—starring as both Daffy and Porky Pig—catch The Day the Earth Blew Up next month
‘Tricksters in the Madhouse’ Option Extended
Tricksters in the Madhouse recreates the heart-stopping game that would shock white basketball fans raised to view black athletes in separate and unequal terms.
Matt Danner Interviewed on Portal One
Matt faced off in a game of Rally on the Arcade Show!
The Teaser Trailer for ‘The Day the Earth Blew Up’ Has Officially Released
Starring Eric Bauza as the voice of Daffy Duck and Porky Pig, this hilarious animated feature film premieres February 28, 2025
‘Joan Mitchell: Lady Painter’ Picked Up by Producer
The first full-scale biography of the famed painter, written by Patricia Albers, has been optioned.
Eric Bauza Speaking at a Q&A for ‘The Day the Earth Stood Still’ Screening at the London Hotel.
He will also be going to New York to do publicity for the film soon!
Matt Chapman Working as a consultant on ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’ Animated Film
Eric Bauza Voices Porky and Daffy in new Looney Tunes Film ‘The Day the Earth Blew Up’
Porky Pig and Daffy Duck are making their hilarious return to the big screen in this sci-fi comedy adventure, the first-ever fully animated Looney Tunes feature-length movie created for a cinema audience.
Matt Danner has Inked a Deal with Sony
Matt Danner to Executive Produce a new series for Sony based on a video game
Randy Taraborrelli’s ‘JFK: Public, Private, Secret’ Releasing July 2025
In this deeply researched presidential biography, J. Randy Taraborrelli tells John F. Kennedy’s story in a provocative new way by revealing how public moments in his life were so influenced by private relationships with not only his family, but also Jackie’s.
Corey McGowan Has Attached a Writer to ‘Tricksters in the Madhouse’
Tricksters in the Madhouse recreates the heart-stopping game that would shock white basketball fans raised to view black athletes in separate and unequal terms.
Adam Sikes’ ‘The Underhanded’ Picked Up by Showrunner
Matt Chapman Working on an Animated Feature for Disney
Eric Bauza Voices Characters in ‘Looney Tunes: Wacky World of Sports’ Video Game
The game releases September 27, 2024 on Console and PC, and features Eric as the voice of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, Porky Pig, Marvin Martian, and Tweety!
Margot Mifflin’s ‘The Blue Tattoo’ Has Been Optioned
The Blue Tattoo tells the harrowing story of thirteen-year old pioneer Olive Oatman, who lived as a slave for a year before being traded to the Mohave, who tattooed her face and raised her as their own.
University of Nebraska Press’ ‘Black Bruins’ Optioned
A producer has optioned Black Bruins by James W. Johnson. Black Bruins chronicles the inspirational lives of five African American athletes who faced racial discrimination as teammates at UCLA in the late 1930s.
J. Randy Taraborrelli’s ‘The Hiltons’ Has Been re-Optioned
‘The Hiltons’ is a sweeping saga of the success-and excess-of an iconic American family.
Jim DeFelice Writing a New Book for William Morrow
Eric Bauza Interviewed on the Brett Allan Show
Check out Eric’s interview on what it’s like to be Bugs Bunny!
Eric Bauza Spoke at the Hawaii International Film Festival ’Ōpio Fest
Eric was invited to be a guest speaker at the ’Ōpio Fest, where students of the University of Hawaii had the opportunity to pick his brain and learn about his career in animation.
University of Nebraska Title Maestro Recently Optioned
Maestro by James O. Gump was optioned by a producer.
Eric Bauza On the Fight to Save Coyote vs. Acme
Macho Row and War in the Boats Picked Up for Development
Macho Row by William C. Kashatus and War in the Boats by William J. Ruhe, both titles by the University of Nebraska Press, have been optioned for development
Matt Danner’s Animated Series ‘Super Free Play’ to be Produced
Danner’s original animated series is about a set of super powered siblings, and is set to be produced by Animasia Studios
Eric Bauza Wins Again at the 2nd Annual Children’s & Family Emmy Awards
After winning an Emmy for Outstanding Voice Performance in an Animated Program last year, Eric has won his second Emmy, this time for Outstanding Voice Performance in a Preschool Animated Program. Congratulations, Eric!
Jackie: Public, Private, Secret; Jackie, Janet and Lee Optioned by Tucker Tooley Entertainment
Tucker Tooley Entertainment has acquired the TV rights to the pair of books about First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis with plans to develop them into a limited series. Both New York Times Bestsellers are by J. Randy Taraborrelli.
The Underhanded: New Book by Adam Sikes
Releasing April, 2024, The Underhanded follows William Dresden, a professor with a troubled past. Dresden’s world is blown apart when a call from an MI6 officer reveals shocking information about his family, and plunges him into a battle against neofascists inciting violence across Europe.
‘Lawmen: Bass Reeves’ Receives Promising Reviews
Streaming on Paramount+, ‘Lawmen: Bass Reeves’ stands out as a striking Western miniseries led by David Oyelowo. The series is based on the first two books in Sidney Thompson’s Bass Reeves trilogy, published by University of Nebraska Press. Sidney also served as a consultant on the series.
‘Lawmen: Bass Reeves’ Charts a Strong Exploration into the Life of the Legendary Lawman
The Paramount+ series follows Reeves’ trajectory from an unwilling participant in the wrong side of the Civil War to one of America’s first (and best) dispensers of justice.
‘Lawmen: Bass Reeves’ series premiers on Paramount+ on 11/5
‘Lawmen: Bass Reeves’ first season is based on Follow the Angels, Follow the Doves and Hell on the Border by Sidney Thompson in his Bass Reeves trilogy. Sidney served as a consultant, and worked very closely with the writers on the series.
J. Randy Taraborrelli’s Jackie: Public, Private, Secret Released August, 2023
The colorful biography was Number 3 on the New York Times Bestseller’s List, and features previously untold bombshell details of Jackie Kennedy’s life. The book was optioned by a well-known producer well before its publication.
Eric Bauza Stars in ‘Tiny Toons: Looniversity’ Reboot
The animated Max series follows Buster Bunny, voiced by Eric Bauza, and Babs Bunny as they head off to college.
‘Krapopolis’ Draws 3.6 Million View Premiere
The Fox animated series set in ancient Greece features the voice talents of Eric Bauza.
Eric Bauza Wins Children’s Emmy!
Eric won for his work on Looney Tunes Cartoons as Bugs Bunny, Marvin the Martian, Daffy Duck, and Tweety.
‘Kiff’ Has Been Renewed for a Second Season
Eric Bauza voices Reggie and other characters on the Disney+ animated series which follows the adventures of an optimistic squirrel and her mellow best friend.
Eric Bauza to star in reboot of popular 90s animated series ‘Tiny Toons Looniversity’
Eric will voice Buster Bunny on the half-hour animated series which will premiere on Cartoon Network and Max in Fall 2023.
Burning the Breeze Optioned by Producers
The University of Nebraska Press novel tells the story of three generations of women and their intrepid efforts to succeed in the American West.
“Joe Baby” adaptation by Todd Samovitz acquired by Grandave
Grandave Intl. has acquired worldwide sales rights to action thriller feature “Joe Baby,” starring Dichen Lachman, Willa Fitzgerald, Harvey Keitel, and Ron Perlman.
Matt Danner Directing ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’ Film
The next ‘Wimpy Kid’ installment coming from 20th Century will be helmed by Matt Danner.
Matt Danner’s ‘Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again’: A Fun-Sized Animated Blast From the Past
Directed by Matt Danner, the new animated feature pays homage to the aspects of the live-action films that made them such memorable experiences.
J. Randy Taraborrelli’s author of 15 New York Times bestselling novels, has optioned three of his recent biographies
Taraborrelli’s ‘The Hiltons’ optioned by eOne; ‘Jackie: Public Private and Secret’ optioned by Tucker Tooley, ‘Once Upon a Time: Behidn the Fairytale of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier’ optioned by ITV.
Harold Schechter’s ‘Hell’s Princess’ optioned by Dark Castle
Amazon Charts Bestseller, ‘Hell’s Princess’ is a gripping narrative of the American female serial killer known as Lady Bluebeard.
Steeger Properties LLC Pulp Fiction Titles Picked Up by Major Producers
Major producers are actively packaging Steeger Properties’ Pulp Fiction properties.
Nancy Collins is Writing ‘Blade Runner’ Comic for Titan Comics
Four issue mini-series based on the acclaimed ‘Blade Runner: Black Lotus’ anime series.
Matt Danner’s Muppet Babies Nominated for 2 Emmys!
Muppet Babies nominated for Outstanding Writing and Outstanding Direction for a Preschool Animated Program.