"References form the bedrock of what this movie is, meaning there are two ways to analyse the success of this film. Either you see it as a vehicle for fan fulfilment, a moment for Nintendo heads to bask in the mainstream Hollywood sun, or as a film you walk into as a completely detached citizen who refers to any machine capable of running ROMs as a “Game Station.” A love letter is only legible to those immersed in the franchise, otherwise you’re as lost as a baby penguin in Tostarena..."

Skwigly are excited to announce the release of the Second Edition of the first official Skwigly book Independent Animation: Developing, Producing and Distributing Your Animated Films.

Written by Skwigly Editor in Chief Ben Mitchell, the book features an enormous array of exclusive input from many of the most prominent and prolific names in indie animation, as well as curational insight from the teams behind some of the industry’s biggest events, festivals and distribution avenues.

2023 marks the third year of our series of interviews for Autism Awareness Month, where we speak with those who have made stories and characters in animation that have reflected the experiences of autistic people as well as those on the spectrum themselves who have gone on to create some truly unique pieces of work that many have fell in love with on a global scale.

One of the people who have joined us for this year’s celebration is Charles Johnston, an Emmy award-winning writer in children’s television whose credits include Paw Patrol, Odd Squad, and Detentionaire. But he was also part of the writing team behind Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum, where he wrote a special episode on a particularly important figure.

For 25 years Cartoon Media’s Cartoon Movie event has been offering a co-production crystal ball to the animation landscape. An important space for people with ideas to meet people with the money and the connections to bring feature animation to the screen. It’s a great place to do business, but also a great place for Skwigly to report on the films of tomorrow.

We look at some of the highlights of the 2023 edition, and interview some of the directors in our podcast special...

Being happy is getting harder. Last year, a Harvard-led study found that younger adults scored the lowest on life satisfaction surveys, the inverse of a similar study conducted 20 years prior. In the UK, happiness amongst 16 to 25-year-olds hit a 13 year low. 

Enter: the happiest movie to ever exist. My Neighbour Totoro, by its very design, combats the squashing and cluttering of our brains. The film is an animated breathing exercise, an ore of joy. Miyazaki’s masterpiece digs its toenails beneath the soil and roots itself in nature...

Based on the true tale of friendship and rivalry between Umberto Nobile and Roald Amundsen, Titina is the first animated feature film by Norwegian acclaimed director Kajsa Naess, Co-produced by Naess’ own Mikrofilm studio and Belgian Vivifilm, this whole new story brings us to the North Pole for an epic expedition.

As Naess puts it, “it’s a tale of little men and their little feelings in gigantic landscapes, and the story of the dog who lived to tell it”.