A new 2D feature film out of Spain is gathering some strong critical reviews. Chico & Rita is set in 1948, and we follow two music lovers through a worldwide love affair that stretches across Cuba, New York, Paris, Hollywood and Las Vegas. The project was rotoscoped at Lightstar Studios in Brazil using Toon Boom Harmony, and HoBSoft built the pipeline. The US premiere was held at the Telluride Film Festival earlier this month, after which the Hollywood Reporter posted a glowing review, while somehow also slighting the plot as “paper-thin.” The 90-minute film was directed by Fernando Trueba, Javier Mariscal and Tono Errando and here’s the trailer.

What do you get when you cross Antiques Roadshow with a scary movie like House on Haunted Hill? Well, I’m not going to tell you and spoil all the fun, am I? You’ll have to click the little triangle below and see for yourself. It’s a new animated comedy sketch written by David Mitchell and Robert Webb, and animated by Harry Partridge. Here’s the latest BBC Comedy Extra – Attic Junk:

It’s been 14 years since Dennis Sisterson produced his first Public Information Film for Hamsters. The short went on to win the audience prize for Best Student Film at the 1998 Zagreb International Animation Festival. Instead of using pencil & paper this time, Dennis drew straight into Flash, producing episode 2: Free Speech for Hamsters. Now that the Draw Mohammad Day artist is in hiding, it should be apparent that this topic is worth a bit more reflection. As an atheist myself, I can definitely relate to some of the messages poured into the film, but that’s probably because I have no moral code (wink).

By way of Collective New York, Ben Callner directed this new spot about The National Children’s Study. It’s not surprising to learn the statistics about childhood asthma, obesity and diabetes, but that makes it no less heart wrenching. Helene Friren designed, storyboarded, animated and composited the piece, which was produced using Flash.

Australian animation maestro Adam Phillips designed and animated this new D&D promotional short. It coincides with the launch of the 4th edition of the Dungeons & Dragons Red Box, a starter set designed to welcome new players into the RPG. Phillips used Toon Boom Storyboard Pro and Toon Boom Animate Pro 2 to bring this short, titled RedBox Ninjas, to life.