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| (Image Source: Animation Magazine/TeamTO) |
After more than two decades as a leading force in European animation, TeamTO has announced the launch of TeamTOKO Animation, a dedicated anime-inspired production division focused on original animated series and feature films, alongside select high-end service work. The studio also unveiled a refreshed brand identity. Together, these initiatives mark a significant new chapter for TeamTO, reflecting its creative evolution following a year of post-acquisition stabilization under RIVA Studios and signaling its expanding global ambitions.
TeamTOKO is a creator-led production division dedicated to original 2D and 3D projects rooted in anime-inspired storytelling, developed through close collaboration between European and Japanese talent. The division operates as an integrated yet distinct creative unit within TeamTO, expanding the studio’s creative scope while its established slate of premium 3D CGI projects continues in parallel. RIVA Studios Co-Founder Tara Sibel said, “Anime was our gateway into animation. It’s where our love for the medium truly began. It revealed to us the emotional depth and boundless imagination that animation can hold. As TeamTO enters this next chapter, embracing that influence feels both natural and deeply personal. With TeamTOKO, we are honoring TeamTO’s legacy while opening the door to bold new storytelling — carrying it forward with renewed imagination, ambition, and heart.” TeamTO first hinted at this creative direction at the 2025 Annecy International Animation Film Festival with the announcement of Shadow Soccer, a 26-episode shōnen anime series directed by French filmmaker Slimane Aniss. That momentum continued with the selection of the original animated feature film Akira’s Flying Wheelchair (90’) at the 2026 edition of Cartoon Movie in Bordeaux, developed in collaboration with French, Italian, and Japanese talent.
TeamTO Art Director Olivier Plazas commented, “TeamTOKO marks the beginning of a new era for the studio, rooted in our lifelong love of anime as both a visual language and a storytelling tradition. By embedding this expertise at the heart of the studio, we can push stylization, composition, and emotion in bolder, more cinematic ways, while maintaining the level of craftsmanship that defines TeamTO.” Alongside the launch of TeamTOKO, TeamTO has introduced a refreshed visual identity anchored by the tobiuo, the Japanese word for flying fish, and the inspiration behind the “TO” in TeamTO. A symbol of movement, transition, and creative freedom, the flying fish reflects the studio’s ability to move fluidly between cultures and storytelling traditions, honoring its long-standing admiration for Japanese animation while remaining firmly rooted in its European identity. TeamTOKO debuts with its own complementary logo and visual identity, signaling a focused creative direction defined by cross-cultural exchange, authorship, and artistic ambition.
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CreaZion Studios Brings Anne Hathaway’s Eerie Pop Thriller Mother Mary To Philippine Cinemas On April 2026
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| (Image Source: Starmometer/CreaZion Studios) |
Anne Hathaway’s pop psychological thriller Mother Mary is set to hit Philippine cinemas on April 22, 2026. This was announced by CreaZion Studios, the movie's exclusive distributor in the country, alongside the release of its official Philippine trailer and poster. Hathaway (Interstellar, The Devil Wears Prada) stuns as the titular global pop icon in this new, ambitious film produced by A24. The full synopsis goes: “Long-buried wounds rise to the surface when iconic pop star Mother Mary reunites with her estranged best friend and former costume designer Sam Anselm (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s Michaela Coel) on the eve of her comeback performance.” The film makes the viewers curious – how much of your soul are you willing to lose for fame and vanity?
Mother Mary is written and directed by David Lowery (The Green Knight, A Ghost Story). The filmmaker takes viewers to a musical journey in the backdrop of an unlikely reunion between former friends, while exploring the haunting effect of long-lost formidable connections. The movie features original music by Charli XCX, Jack Antonoff, and FKA Twigs who also acts in “Mother Mary”. The film's singles “Burial”, performed by Hathaway, and “My Mouth is Lonely For You” by Twigs are now available on digital music streaming platforms worldwide while the film’s digital soundtrack featuring seven songs will be released on Hathaway’s music streaming accounts on April 2026. Mother Mary also showcases an impressive cast that includes Hunter Schafer (Euphoria, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes), Kaia Gerber (Babylon, Shell) and FKA Twigs. Mother Mary is the second A24 title CreaZion Studios is bringing to Filipino audiences this year, following BACKROOMS with a Philippine release date on June 3. The acquisition of these highly-anticipated films is part of the company’s #KwentoMoTo mission to make “Human Stories And Human Experiences” accessible to Filipino and Southeast Asian audiences.
“Whether you are a fan of elevated genres or you simply want to have a good time watching a movie, CreaZion Studios got you covered with an exciting lineup of film offerings that can be enjoyed on the best screen and great surround sound possible, in cinemas near you. By bringing in the most disruptive and talked-about films to the country and Southeast Asian (SEA) region, CreaZion Studios hopes to bridge human stories and experiences to this side of the world,” said CreaZion Studios President and CEO RJ San Agustin. In 2024 and 2025, CreaZion Studios successfully brought to the domestic and SEA markets the critically-acclaimed filmmaker Park Chan Wook’s No Other Choice, the A24 fantasy adventure film The Legend of Ochi, and the award-winning body horror film The Substance.
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WeWatch Partners With Mango TV To Elevate Premium Entertainment Lineup
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| (Image Source: Television Asia Plus/WeWatch) |
MangoTV has officially launched on WeWatch, bringing its iconic portfolio of phenomenal variety shows and hit dramas to the Southeast Asian market. This strategic partnership strengthens WeWatch’s premium content matrix by introducing high-production-value titles that resonate with regional audience trends.
Known for its global variety IPs, MangoTV’s lineup on WeWatch includes the flagship Hello, Saturday (starring Dylan Wang), alongside hit franchises Sisters Who Make Waves, Call Me By Fire, and Who’s The Murderer. These programs are complemented by a powerhouse roster of scripted series led by the highly anticipated historical epic The Flourished Peony featuring the iconic reunion of Yang Zi and Li Xian. The collection further includes the critically acclaimed Glory, the romantic Deep Affection Eyes, and the grand saga Youthful Glory. WeWatch CEO Sarah Wang stated, “Our partnership with MangoTV marks a milestone in expanding premium entertainment in Southeast Asia. With its hit shows and celebrity talent, MangoTV brings vibrant new content to the WeWatch platform, making high-quality entertainment more accessible to local audiences. WeWatch remains committed to delivering advanced technology, richer viewing experiences, and new opportunities for local partners and young talent.”
MangoTV Senior Director of International Operations Li Dongxu added, “Leveraging Southeast Asia’s dynamic youth market and robust demand for quality content, we will collaborate closely with WeWatch. Our goal is not only to export high-quality Chinese content but also to explore content creation models that resonate more deeply with local cultural contexts.” By integrating MangoTV’s influential IPs with WeWatch’s local distribution expertise, both parties aim to deliver a culturally resonant, immersive viewing experience for users across the region.
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HONNE And NIKI Collaborate On New Version Of ‘Location Unknown’ For HONNE’s 10th Year Anniversary
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| (Image Source: Starmometer/HONNE) |
HONNE celebrate their 10-year anniversary with a reimagined version of their iconic track “Location Unknown” featuring Indonesian-born, LA-based singer-songwriter NIKI. Released in 2018, the song quickly became a fan favourite – this collaboration offers a fresh take while preserving the emotional depth that has resonated with listeners worldwide.
Speaking on the song’s legacy over the past decade, HONNE said, “‘Location Unknown’ has always held a special place in our hearts. When we wrote it, there was something about it that felt bigger than us. We didn’t know what that meant at the time, but over the years we’ve watched it travel far beyond the studio and into people’s lives all over the world. Seeing how it’s soundtracked so many different chapters for listeners has been surreal. To revisit it ten years later with NIKI feels incredibly full-circle. She’s been a friend and collaborator for a long time, and knowing the song meant something to her personally makes this version even more meaningful. It feels like we’re celebrating not just the song, but the journey it’s taken all of us on.” NIKI says, “I’m so excited to be a part of the 10 year celebration of HONNE! I was personally a fan of them when ‘Location Unknown’ came out in 2018. It was a song on my college playlist, and I feel transported right back to that era of my life anytime I listen to it. So, you can imagine my excitement when the guys reached out about this celebratory feature! It felt so full-circle and special, I am honoured.”
The new single follows the previous release, “Warm On A Cold Night (10 Years)”, lifted from the recently announced ‘HONNE — 10’, a special re-recording project featuring stripped-back, reimagined versions of some of their most beloved songs. The new 12-track album revisits material from the duo’s first two albums, presenting the songs in an intimate, minimal setting that highlights their lyrics and emotional core, while capturing the honesty and warmth that have defined HONNE’s music over the past decade. Reflecting on the project, HONNE shares, “We’ve been sitting on this for a while, and we’re really excited to finally share it with you. To mark 10 years of HONNE, we went back to the songs that started everything, recording stripped-back acoustic versions from our first two albums. Spending time with these songs again reminded us why we started HONNE in the first place, and why this music still means so much to us.” The full 12-track album, ‘HONNE — 10’, will be released on May 15, 2026. Looking back on a decade of music, the band states, “We love these songs with all our hearts. They’ve been the soundtrack to our lives for the last 10 years.” The reimagined album stands as both a celebration and a thank you – a reflection of where HONNE began, how far they’ve come, and the deep connection they continue to share with their fans. In addition, HONNE will take these new versions on the road in 2026 with a soon-to-be-announced tour performing a stripped-back and intimate set in seated theatres worldwide.
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BINI Drops Back-To-Back Singles “Unang Kilig”, “Honey Honey”
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| (Image Source: ABS-CBN Corporation) |
BINI embraces the spirit of young love in the new single “Unang Kilig” alongside with the surprise drop of “Honey Honey”. The nation’s girl group shows no signs of slowing down with their back-to-back music releases. “Unang Kilig”, composed and produced by Jeremy G, captures the rush of blossoming romance — that heart-fluttering moment of wondering whether it’s finally time to confess your feelings.
The group’s latest releases follow a series of major live performances including drawing over 14,000 fans at the Valentine’s Kiligan Fest at Robinsons Place Manila where “Unang Kilig” was first teased. The official music video, now streaming on BINI Official’s YouTube channel, features the members auditioning for acting roles where they are screened by Charo Santos, Cathy Garcia-Sampana, Olivia Lamasan, and Ogie Diaz. They also acted alongside Kapamilya actors Vhong Navarro, Richard Gutierrez, and Gerald Anderson. Meanwhile, “Honey Honey” was released as a surprise along with “Unang Kilig”. It celebrates the sweetness of being in love, highlighting the simple yet meaningful moments shared with someone special. The song was produced and co-written by Jacob Munk and Pontus “Oneye” Kalm — who have worked with international artists such as Miley Cyrus, Liam Gallagher, and BTS — alongside Grammy-winning songwriters Greg Shilling, Melanie Fontana, and Star Music artist Khimo Gumatay.
More surprises from BINI are coming this year as they prepare for their upcoming performance in Coachella on April 2026 where they will represent Philippine music alongside other global artists including Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, and Karol G. With new music, international collaborations, and a historic global stage awaiting them, BINI continues to carry Filipino talent to new heights. “Unang Kilig” and “Honey Honey” are now available on all digital music streaming platforms worldwide.
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“The Secrets Of Hotel 88” Tops iWant Chart, Draws More Viewers Into Mystery-Filled Collab
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| (Image Source: ABS-CBN Corporation) |
GMA Network and ABS-CBN’s mystery-romance collaboration “The Secrets Of Hotel 88” has reached the No. 1 spot on iWant’s most-watched series list as viewers continue to tune in for its gripping twists, high-stakes drama, and the strong appeal of its young cast. Since its debut, the series has generated social media buzz for its story that keeps audiences guessing each episode. Blending mystery, romance, and family drama, “The Secrets Of Hotel 88” delivers a different viewing experience that has hooked audiences.
Featuring stars from “Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Collab Edition Season 1” including Mika Salamanca, Brent Manalo, AZ Martinez, Ralph De Leon, River Joseph, Klarisse De Guzman, Esnyr Ranollo, Xyriel Manabat, Josh Ford, Kira Balinger, Dustin Yu, Bianca De Vera, and Will Ashley alongside Gardo Versoza, Dominic Ochoa, and Ina Raymundo, the series brings together rising talents and seasoned actors in a suspense-driven narrative set against the haunting backdrop of Hotel 88. The series opens with Federico (Gardo) and Michael (Dominic) murdering Sandro (Christian Vasquez) in self-defense, a dark secret they’ve kept for decades. Years later, their families remain closely linked as the Fernandez brothers — Kiko (Will), Gio (Brent), and Martin (Ralph) — grow up spending summers at Hotel 88 alongside the Almazan siblings — Luna (Mika Salamanca), Jade (Bianca), Leon (River), and Justin (Josh). Tensions erupt when Michael discovers that his wife Frida (Ina) is having an affair with Federico. Decades later, just as Federico and Michael appear to reconcile, both men are murdered in broad daylight by an unknown killer, igniting the mystery of the entire story.
Catch episodes 1–5 of “The Secrets Of Hotel 88” for free on iWant and watch each new episode for free on the platform after it airs on free TV. For viewers who want to stay ahead of the mystery, subscribers can stream new episodes seven days before their free TV broadcast on iWant. Download the iWant app now and subscribe to enjoy early access to “The Secrets Of Hotel 88” plus an expansive library of Filipino series, films, and exclusive originals — anytime, anywhere.
