Sony Pictures Animation didn’t release anything last year and it’s felt a little odd not seeing something from the studio for such a long period of time. Not, however, quite as odd as not having a new Pixar film last year (for the older fans, such as this writer, it wasn’t too unusual considering that Pixar didn’t release one film every calendar year in the past). At one time, Sony Pictures Animation intended to release Popeye in fall 2014, but the project had to be pushed back. Nothing took its place, so 2014 was the first year, since 2010, that Sony didn’t release a new film.
Hotel Transylvania 2, a film that was inevitable since the first film’s opening back in 2012, is the studio’s first release since fall 2013’s Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2.
As many animation fans may know, animation wizard Genndy Tartakovsky (Dexter’s Laboratory, Samurai Jack) has returned to the director’s chair for this installment, and it was announced in November that Mel Brooks joined the cast. He’ll be voicing Dracula’s father, Vlad. The sequel will also be penned by one of the first film’s writers, Robert Smigel.
Today, Sony Animation released the first teaser…
This teaser expectedly keeps the comedic tone of the first film. It doesn’t show much other than Jonathan and Mavis’ son. This is understandable, as animated film teasers are usually just meant to give audiences a taste of what’s in store (preferably, with a couple of jokes or one big joke). A studio like Pixar takes full advantage of this advertising opportunity. It’s even possible that this fun little sequence will be in the finished film, for Hotel Transylvania‘s first teaser also used an actual scene from the film (albeit altered).
Opening September 25th, Hotel Transylvania 2 is certain to be another surefire hit for Sony Animation.