Annecy: 'Steven Universe' Sequel Series Announced And More
Last week, many of animation's legendary figures were at Annecy for a celebration of the 25th Anniversary of Cartoon Network. Several of them took part in the joint Warner Bros Animation, Cartoon Network Studios and Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe studio focus presentation.
Most prominently, Rebecca Sugar announced that a brand new Steven Universe sequel series was in production for Prime Video. Steven Universe: Lars Of The Stars is executive produced by Sugar alongside her partner and OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes creator Ian Jones-Quartey. The series will follow on from the original and follow the fan-favourite character Lars Barriga, described as an “eternal teenager and space outlaw.” As the official synopsis has it, the series will track Lars and his pirate crew as they “smuggle contraband, evade the authorities, and uncover the darkest secrets of the fallen Gem Empire.”
The series will feature the "past, present and future" of the Steven Universe universe, deepening the lore of a series that changed modern animation.
It was also confirmed that Teen Titans Go! is returning for a 10th season on Cartoon Network. The superhero comedy is now the longest running DC animation in history. Robin, Raven, Cyborg and Starfire will return to juggle the life of superheroes with the challenges of life as a teenager. Executive producers Luke Cormican, Peggy Regan and Sam Register return.
There was also a preview of the upcoming second season of Adventure Time spin-off, Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake, including a new song written and performed by Rebecca Sugar. Showrunner and producer Adam Muto offered an early look at the season, which will take place more in Fionna's world and less in Ooo. Although Huntress Wizzard will have an expanded role in the second season.
“This time, we wanted to keep most of the adventures in Fionna’s world,” Muto said. “And I thought that would make it more normal, but it’s still pretty strange. And that’s kind of baked into ‘Adventure Time’ DNA.”
WBA's SVP of development Audrey Diehl took over for a preview of the new Adventure Time spin-off Adventure Time: Side Quests. She shared an in production look at the series's opening titles, which will apparently look very familar to fans of the original. It also includes a newly recorded version of the show's theme song, once again recorded by the Moldy Peaches.
Regular Show creator J.G. Quintel teased his upcoming new Regular Show series. Most of the details, including the official title, are being kept under wraps. Quintel was much more forthcoming on his over upcoming series Super Mutant Magic Academy, based on the comic of the same name by Jillian Tamaki. Artwork and an animatic were shown from the series, which is described as a cross between X-Men and Harry Potter.
“I try really hard to find people through comics,” Quintel explained how the show came together. “Back in 2015, I found this comic called ‘Super Mutant Magic Academy’ by Jillian Tamaki. I met her and said, ‘You should make this into a show,’ and she said, ‘I can’t, but maybe if you did it.’ I told her I would remember that, and literally seven years later I called her when I got a development deal at [the studio.]”
Animation icon Craig McCracken showed an early look at his preschool reimagining of Fosters Home For Imaginary Friends. Although it will be aimed at a younger audience, McCracken insisted its not necessarily educational or aspirational and is primarily concerned with comedy.
“It’s almost like a cartoon parody of a preschool show,” McCracken said, explaining that a rule during production was "Laughs over lectures". He emphasised that the show is meant to be entertainment first and foremost.
Finally, CNS executive producer Ben Bocquelet presented a preview of the upcoming Gumball revival, The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball. Produced by Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe the new series might as well be a seventh season of the original show, with the tone, aesthetic and many of the people who worked on it the same. The audience was treated to a preview clip, that reportedly kept fans of Gumball very happy.
