Superprod Group and Vivement Lundi! are proud to announce the production of Harrison and Me, a 52 x 11′ 2D-animated comedy for five- to eight-year olds which raises awareness for young viewers about the need to take action for our environment every day. Loosely based on the books The Zero Waste Family by Bénédicte Moret and Jérémie Pichon, published by Thierry Souccar, the series is directed by Jean Duval and Abdelraouf Zaidi.
“We are delighted to announce the launch of Harrison and Me,” says Camille Serceau, Producer at Superprod Animation. “This series represents a new chapter in our mission to create series that entertain but also inspire young minds. We firmly believe that this new production will not only captivate children, but also encourage them to reflect on their relationship with nature and their impact on the environment.”
Aurélie Angebault, Producer at Vivement Lundi!, adds, “Harrison and Me is the result of a fruitful collaboration between our two studios, and we look forward to sharing this unique series. This series, which combines humor and ecological awareness, is a perfect example of our commitment to quality entertainment for children.”
Created for television by Angebault and Serceau, with the participation of Nathalie Dargent and Matthieu Chevalier, this new series recounts the adventures of Harrison, an organic and vegetal being, who comes into the lives of Charlie (6 1⁄2), her brother Zach (11) and their friends Bintou (11) and Léon (6). By welcoming and caring for Harrison, the gang of friends take initiative, discover how to act for the planet in their daily lives as children, and more broadly how to reconnect with nature.
Currently in production, the series is being produced in Charente and Brittany, and is supported by the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region, the Charente Department, the Brittany Region and Rennes Métropole. France Télévisions, the series’ development partner, will broadcast the series, as will RTS and TV5. Superights is responsible for international sales of the series worldwide.
“Having a good friend is great. When it’s Harrison, it’s even better!” comments Jean-Baptiste Lamotte, Head of Children’s Programming and Animation, France Télévisions. “Follow the journey of a family as original as they are sensitive to the environmental cause, and do as Zach, Charlie, do: reconnect with nature! Harrison and Me questions our relationship with nature, helps us to adopt the right eco-citizen gestures!”
ShortsTV has announced the 19th annual Oscar Nominated Short Films theatrical release with a new trailer that premiered today. The release, only available in theaters, will contain all of the short films nominated in the categories of Best Live Action, Best Animated and Best Documentary short film.
Starting February 16, the 19th annual Oscar Nominated Short Films will be available in over 700 theaters globally and in 75-plus theatrical markets, including New York and Los Angeles. This is the only opportunity for audiences to watch all of the short film nominees in theaters before the 96th Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday, March 10.
To learn more about the participating theaters and how to purchase tickets which are now available, please visit shorts.tv/theoscarshorts.
“This year, we at ShortsTV are celebrating 19 years of bringing these magical short films to theaters around the world,” said ShortsTV CEO & Founder Carter Pilcher. “Our commitment to championing the art form is stronger than ever and this year’s Oscar Nominated Short Films promise an unparalleled variety of storytelling brilliance. These shorts, more than ever before, showcase not only a rich range of themes but also a significant increase in diversity, from female representation to the emerging international filmmakers from all over the world. Women directors, producers and writers within the short film categories have taken center stage like never before, including the majority of the directors in the Best Animated category being women. From captivating narratives to thought-provoking themes, join us in experiencing the cutting edge of filmmaking that is the world’s best short films.”
This year’s theatrical release also includes a new partnership with Women In Cloud, a global network of 100,000 women tech founders, executives, tech professionals and allies in 67 countries. Women in Cloud who are committed to inspiring the tech ecosystem to be an inclusive force for change and take collective action by providing a powerful platform to collaborate, build community engagement and unlock $1 billion in new net economic access by 2030.
Letter to a Pig
Ninety-five Senses
Our Uniform
Pachyderme
War Is Over!
The animation nominees, announced January 23, are:
Letter to a Pig (2022) | Director: Tal Kantor | Countries of Origin: France, Israel
A Holocaust survivor reads a letter he wrote to the pig who saved his life.
Ninety-five Senses(2023) | Directors: Jared Hess, Jerusha Hess | Country of Origin: U.S.A.
An ode to the body’s five senses delivered by a man with little time left to enjoy them.
Our Uniform(2023) | Director: Yegane Moghaddam | Country of Origin: Iran
An Iranian girl unfolds her school memories on the wrinkles and fabrics of her old uniform.
Pachyderme (2022) | Director: Stéphanie Clément | Country of Origin: France
As every summer, Louise is entrusted to her grand-parents for a few days of vacation in the country. The green grass of the garden, the swimming in the lake, the fishing with Grandpa, everything seems as sweet as Grandma’s strawberry pies. Yet this year, the snow will fall in summer and a monster will die.
Set in an alternate WWI reality where a senseless war rages on, two soldiers on opposite sides of the conflict play a joyful game of chess. A heroic carrier pigeon delivers the soldiers’ chess moves over the battlefield as the fighting escalates.
This year’s program will include two “Highly Commended” animation films:
I’m Hip(2023) | Director: John Musker | Country of Origin: U.S.A.
A self absorbed cat, in a jazzy song and dance, proclaims his “hipness” to the world. The world is less impressed.
Wild Summon (2023) Directors: Karni Arieli, Saul Freed | Country of Origin: U.K.
A natural history fantasy film, following the dramatic life cycle of the wild salmon in human form. Narrated by Marianne Faithfull.
Warner Bros. Japan LLC has revealed additional characters and voice actors that will be featured in Suicide Squad ISEKAI — the upcoming original anime series, based on characters from DC. The new characters include Rick Flag, Katana and Amanda Waller, as well as characters original to the show. The series will be released globally in 2024.
Synopsis: In the crime-ridden city of Gotham, Amanda Waller, the head of A.R.G.U.S., has assembled a group of notorious criminals for a mission: Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Peacemaker, Clayface and King Shark. These Super-Villains are sent into an otherworldly realm that’s connected to this world through a gate. It’s a world of swords and magic where orcs rampage and dragons rule the skies — an “isekai!”
With lethal explosives planted in their necks, there’s no running or hiding, and failing the mission means a one-way ticket to the afterlife! Can Harley Quinn and her crew conquer this perilous isekai realm?! Brace yourselves for the pulse-pounding saga of the elite task force known as the “Suicide Squad” as they embark on a jaw-dropping adventure!
Produced by Warner Bros. Japan and WIT Studio, Suicide Squad ISEKAI is directed by Eri Osada with screenplay by Tappei Nagatsuki (Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World) and Eiji Umehara (Vivy – Fluorite Eye’s Song). The core creative team also features character designers Akira Amano (draft) and Naoto Hosoda and composer Kenichiro Suehiro. The series opening song, “Another World,” is performed by Tomoyasu Hotel.
The studio further announced that several of the voice actors will participate in a panel at Anime Japan 2024 in Tokyo, on March 23 at 9:15 a.m. JST (March 22, 4:15 p.m. PST). The featured guests will include:
Anna Nagase (voice of Harley Quinn)
Yuuichirou Umehara (voice of the Joker)
Reigo Yamaguchi (voice of Deadshot)
Jun Fukuyama (voice of Clayface)
Taku Yashiro (voice of Rick Flag)
Kujira (voice of Amanda Waller)
Reina Ueda (voice of Fione)
Meet the New Cast & Characters:
Rick Flag — voiced by Taku Yashiro
Elite solider who commands the villains. Ultra stoic. Although he is supposed to oversee the villains, often thrown away by their chaotic natures.
“I’m Taku Yashiro, and I voice Rick Flag. ‘The Suicide Squad is sent to ISEKAI!?’ was my first reaction, and I was happy to join this ambitious project as I learned more about it.
Rick Flag is perhaps the only one who respects order while working closely with the uncontrollable members of the Suicide Squad. He is someone who tries to complete his mission while facing unforeseen obstacles.
I hope this action-packed show will blow your mind and make your heart race with excitement!”
— Taku Yashiro
Katana — voiced by Chika Anzai
Ruthless cursed sword wielder. Mysterious figure that stands in Harley’s way. She accomplishes her mission with a cursed sword known as the “Soul Taker.”
“I was excited to join the world of the Suicide Squad as the voice of Katana, from the first moment of the recording session.
I kept my input to a minimum and only acted as written on the script called for, due to Katana’s mysterious nature in this series. I look forward to seeing how the director and animators will bring Katana to life in the anime.
I hope you will enjoy the familiar characters wreaking havoc in another world. I especially loved seeing the action scenes during the recording, and although they were unfinished, I can already tell that the finished product will be amazing!”
— Chika Anzai
Amanda Waller — voiced by Kujira
Powerful and merciless leader figure whose name will strike fear into the hearts of the villains. Original founder of the Suicide Squad and head of A.R.G.U.S. She is willing to sacrifice the lives of the villains to achieve her purpose.
“The basic story of The Suicide Squad is that the Super-Villains risk their lives to gain freedom. This time, they are sent to isekai. The quirky villains will go on a rampage in isekai… I am so hyped!!
I will be voicing Amanda Waller, the person who sends them to Isekai and blackmails them to act as she commands but ends up taking all the credits herself.
She is intelligent, but also ruthless and feels no guilt about wasting the super villains’ lives.
Please look forward to someone like me, who is easily swayed by emotion and compassion for others, voicing cold-hearted Amanda.
All of the characters are cute and charming. Please look forward to the adventures of groovy and outrageous villains!”
— Kujira
Fione — voiced by Reina Ueda
Princess of the kingdom in another world. She loves her people but is too shy to speak out against her mother, Aldora’s orders. She is fascinated by the free-spirited Harley.
“When I first saw the character visual, I thought Fione looked a bit timid because of her sad look on her face. She has such a beautiful heart, and her true feelings will be revealed as the story progresses. So please keep an eye out for her. This will be a show with some kick, so look out for the broadcast and streaming!”
— Reina Ueda
Aldora — voiced by Mamiko Noto
Queen of the kingdom in another world. She rules the kingdom and commands the war with the empire with her unwavering majesty. She tends to be harsh with Fione.
“I was very happy when I got the role. Aldora is a lonely queen with dignity. I hope I was able to convey her unapproachable mood and the cold feeling around her through my voice acting.
The series as a whole is fast-paced and the story unfolds as if you were running through it. I believe this anime can be enjoyed by everyone, so please look forward to it!”
— Mamiko Noto
Cecil — voiced by Jun Fukushima
The knight commander of the kingdom in another world. Once known as the savior of the kingdom, he was rewarded with legendary armor. He is a serious and worldly man. He is deeply devoted to Fione and cares for her.
“I play the role of Cecil, a knight commander from isekai. At last! My two favorite things are united! Suicide Squad ISEKAI. What!? Are we even allowed to put the two elements together!? What a time to live in, to see some familiar DC characters wreaking havoc in another world, when the title of the series itself is already sounds exciting enough. I am also grateful to be a part of it as a voice actor!
I voice character called Cecil. As you may have noticed already, he is an unique looking knight, just like the uniqueness of the series itself. I played him with passion to convey his cool nature but also with a pinch of wit, so please look forward to it!”
Nickelodeon has selected six new participants to join its esteemed annual Artist Program, which is overseen by the Paramount Office of Global Inclusion. Currently in its 13th year, Nickelodeon’s Artist Program is designed to provide a launchpad for emerging talent by offering opportunities for unique voices from underrepresented backgrounds. The participants will work from the Nickelodeon Animation Studio in Burbank.
“We are pleased to welcome the newest cohort of artists and storytellers to this year’s Nickelodeon’s Artist Program,” said Marva Smalls, Executive Vice President, Global Head of Inclusion, Paramount and Executive Vice President, Public Affairs, Nickelodeon “For over a decade, this initiative has cultivated the next generation of creatives by offering the support and tools needed for future careers across the entertainment industry. We are thrilled that many alumni from the program are placed in both full-time and freelance positions across our brands at Paramount and other media companies.”
During the six-month program, these aspiring artists will work directly on productions under the guidance of a creative mentor, participate in workshops, learn from lead artists and more across Storyboard, Visual Development and CG Generalist tracks.
Nickelodeon’s 2024 Artist Program
Brian Duran (Visual Development Track) is a half-Salvadoran and half-Taiwanese visual development artist from Southern California. Growing up, he was always fascinated with art and spent most of his childhood cultivating his passion by drawing alongside his older sister. He continued his journey at Art Center College of Design, where he discovered his love for storytelling. With his work, he strives to share intimate stories inspired by his culture and personal interests in hopes of offering unique perspectives that people can resonate with.
Heather Patterson (Storyboard Track) is a Los Angeles-based creative and full-time cat aunt to two domestic shorthairs. She grew up in a household full of adopted kids, and in school she learned how to create things — animations, video games, ads and gourmet dormitory instant ramen (the secret, an egg). To expand her horizons, she left the humid heat of Texas for the dry heat of L.A. and worked for six years as an advertising art director. Patterson’s dream is to work on stories she really needed as a kid — narratives that teach kids that their uniqueness and weirdness are the best part of them.
Kelly Copeland (CG Generalist Track) is a CG Artist from San Antonio, Texas, who specializes in all processes of character creation for 3D animation. She pursued her passions for art and technology in the visualization program at Texas A&M University, where she primarily focused on 3D modeling and rigging. Upon graduating (during the height of the pandemic), she decided to go back to school and work on a master’s degree, where she dove deeper into her understanding of all things 3D and developed new interests in look development and hair creation for characters.
Mai-Han Nguyen (Visual Development Track) is a Vietnamese American artist based in Washington, D.C., with a background in fine arts. As a kid, she would run to the library at recess to check out books — either princess fairy tales or horror stories and read them obsessively. Her love of the art found inside those books led her to study in printmaking at Boston University, and ultimately, to pursue animation after graduation. As a visual development artist, Mai-Han aims to design beautiful worlds tailored to the stories that occupy them.
Meibol Moran (Storyboard Track) is a proud Ecuadorian American artist and storyteller from a big immigrant family. Meibol made a name for herself in grade school as the kid who always drew all over her jeans and wrote stories instead of studying for math tests. After having her mind blown by the incredible worlds of Avatar: The Last Airbender, she chose to pursue a career in animation at Ringling College of Art & Design and graduated with honors in May of 2023. Meibol prefers drawing on appropriate canvases now, but still has the avid imagination of a kid.
Trinity Akins (Storyboard Track) hails from the lively state of Michigan. Trinity developed a deep love for cartoons from a young age, spending hours drawing and creating comic books for people to enjoy. In high school, she took charge as the epic president of the anime club. College life unfolded at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, where Trinity honed her abilities in storytelling. Fast forward to current day, Trinity has transformed into a spirited guest art teacher, not afraid of putting her students to the test! Trinity aspires to ignite creativity and imagination in others through her storyboards, inspired by the cartoons that sparked her own imaginative journey.
Previous Artists Program alums include Roger Hernandez (CG Generalist, Big Nate), Sarah Jacques (Art Director, Santiago of the Seas), Jasmine Reyes (Storyboard Revisionist, Big Nate), Anna Hill (Storyboard Artist, The Loud House), Marisa Torres(Visual Development Artist, Santiago of the Seas & Rock, Paper, Scissors), Bikram Singh (Storyboard Artist, SpongeBob SquarePants), and Katarina Perez (CG Generalist, Max and the Midknights). Outside of Nickelodeon, program alumni have also gone on to work freelance and staff positions on productions for various networks, including CBS, DreamWorks, Netflix, Disney Channel, Disney Jr., Hulu, and Cartoon Network.
Nickelodeon’s Artist Program launched in 2011 to open the door for talented artists with unique voices from underrepresented communities. The program mentors, develops, and staffs emerging artists with diverse backgrounds and experiences on the studio’s animated productions in CG, visual development and storyboard roles.
For more information about the new artists and the program, visit @nick_artists on Instagram and nickartist.com. The next submission period opens July 1, 2024.
Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland — the Irish national agency for film, television and animation — continues to be a leading funder of Irish animation, with seven new Irish animated projects on the agency’s 2024 Production Slate coming to international markets and audiences this year.
Irish delegates and production companies across the animation sector were in attendance at the Kidscreen Summit this week, to pitch and launch sales for a range of upcoming projects. The official Irish stand was supported by Screen Ireland, Animation Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Northern Ireland Screen.
Last month, Screen Ireland showcased its slate of more than 40 productions for the year, including animated series like Maddie + Triggs, Doodle Girl and interactive multi-platform project Where the Wild Geese Go. Live-action series for young audiences are also included in the agency’s slate.
“Screen Ireland is delighted to continue its support for the Irish animation sector with an official presence at the Kidscreen Summit, in partnership with Animation Ireland and Enterprise Ireland,” said Désirée Finnegan, Chief Executive of Screen Ireland. “It is a fantastic opportunity for Irish animators and production companies to connect with international industry. Our presence at Kidscreen is to showcase the breadth of what Ireland offers as a creative production partner — as well as the incredible range of work coming to the market in 2024.”
Ronan McCabe, Chief Executive of Animation Ireland, commented, “Animation Ireland is pleased with the growth in animation production despite the challenges and uncertainty in the current market. The support of Screen Ireland and our other stakeholders is an essential element in the continued success of Irish animation internationally. Kidscreen is an important market in the animation calendar. Irish studios and delegates are attending in big numbers this year. Animation Ireland is delighted to be part of the Ireland stand at the event along with our industry partners.”
Screen Ireland announced screen industry production figures for 2023, revealing a total production spend of €322 million in the Irish economy across local goods and services — despite high levels of international disruption due to industry strikes. Animation in particular saw growth in both local and incoming productions, up 68% overall to reach a total spend of €80 million.
Irish animation has been a long-standing international success story. With major global players like Brown Bag Films, Boulder Media, Giant Animation and Cartoon Saloon, the commercial and critical success of Irish animation is due to a mixture of business acumen, state support via the state tax incentive Section 481, a skilled and talented workforce, and a strong reputation for storytelling and visual artistry.
The full Screen Ireland 2024 project catalog is available at screenireland.ie.
Screen Ireland Animation 2024
Stories from the Backwoods (Ink and Light)
Rooney is a city raccoon and the first Park Ranger in Backwoods Forest. Utterly out of her depth in this strange new place, Rooney befriends the extremely enthusiastic but a little-too-loud local Hare. Hare helps Rooney tackle her new ranger tasks as they get to know each other and together they try to learn valuable lessons about friendship and community — with sometimes hilarious results.
Doodle Girl(Studio Meala, Alt Animation)
Doodle Girl takes place in a fantastical world inside a sketchbook, where everything and everyone is made of drawings, arts, and crafts! At the helm of this imaginative world is Doodle Girl, a whimsical and adorably whacky doodle equipped with an uncannily positive outlook and a magic pencil. When she says her magic words — “Doodle-Oodle-Doo!” — anything she draws becomes real and interactive. While she tends to doodle herself into a bit of trouble, there is nothing she loves more than making the sketchbook a happier place and helping her fellow doodles through creativity and imagination.
Ray of Sunshine (Daily Madness Productions, Elk Studios)
Ray is a sunshine-y, seven-year-old boy who lives in the Sunshine Apartments in the middle of Dublin city. A very sociable, outgoing kid with the gift of the gab, Ray loves to talk about anything and everything to anyone and everyone. Living in an apartment complex with his very own garden patch, Ray brightens the lives of his colorful neighbors with the only thing he loves more than a chat — tea parties where everyone is invited!
Sir Mouse 2 (Avalon Films, Fabrique Fantastique)
Bossy knight Sir Mouse and her forgiving, gentle friend Dragon share an unusual friendship. In this comedy series, each episode tells a daring tale about the two heroic friends in a medieval universe. With a modern feminist twist, the two friends challenge our preconceptions of all fairytale clichés.
Maddie + Triggs (Turnip + Duck)
Maddie + Triggs follows the adventures of a little girl called Maddie, who happens to have a visual impairment, and her doggy best friend Triggs. They live with their mum and dad in the colourful town of Higgledy-Piggledy. Together they experience the music and sounds of everyday life by really listening to the world around them.
Featuring audio-first storytelling, immersive sound design, vibrant animation and an original song in every episode, this is a truly inclusive and accessible TV show that can be fully enjoyed by audiences even if they cannot see it.
Sullivan Sails(Distillery Films)
Sullivan Sails follows a five-year-old child who is fascinated by the natural world, featuring beautiful music, artwork and a new destination in each episode. Inspired by his atlas, Sullivan creates a world of his own that is bursting with nature, adventure and color. Accompanied by his imaginary friend Benji — a talking fox and expert navigator — Sullivan encounters a new environment in every episode, from the darkest caves to the highest treetops!
Sullivan Sails encourages a love of adventure, exploration and imagination in young audiences, while introducing them to incredible facts about the natural world and encouraging discovery, play and interaction with their own environment.
Where the Wild Geese Go (EZ Films)
Tracking the brent goose’s annual migration using GPS, Where the Wild Geese Go brings young viewers on a journey alongside a team of scientists in this multi-platform project. This interactive hybrid animation/documentary series explores diverse cultures and global issues while taking children on a fun and engaging adventure as ‘goose detectives.’
Paramount+ today debuted a teaser for the upcoming original 2D animated series Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The series is produced by Nickelodeon Animation and Seth Rogen’s Point Grey Pictures, collaborators on last summer’s Paramount Pictures feature film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. The new show willpremiere this summer exclusively on Paramount+, joining the streamer’s comprehensive Turtles catalog.
Synopsis: From the universe of the Mutant Mayhem film, the all-new Paramount+ original series explores the adventures of everyone’s favorite pizza-loving heroes as they emerge from the sewers onto the streets of NYC. Leo, Raph, Donnie and Mikey are faced with new threats and team up with old allies to survive both teenage life and villains lurking in the shadows of the Big Apple.
Reprising their roles from Mutant Mayhem, the series features the voices of Micah Abbey (Cousins for Life) as Donatello, Shamon Brown Jr. (The Chi) as Michelangelo, Nicolas Cantu (The Walking Dead: World Beyond) as Leonardo, Brady Noon (Family Switch) as Raphael and Ayo Edebiri (The Bear) as April O’Neil. Additional casting will soon be announced.
From Nickelodeon Animation and Point Grey Pictures, Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is executive produced by Chris Yost (The Mandalorian, Thor: Ragnarok) and Alan Wan (Blue Eye Samurai, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles [2012 Series]). Production is overseen for Nickelodeon by Claudia Spinelli, Senior Vice President of Big Kids Animation, and Nikki Price, Director of Development and Executive in Charge of Production.
GKIDS has released a new clip featuring Studio Ghibli Co-Founder Toshio Suzuki speaking about his longtime colleague, writer-director Hayao Miyazaki, their latest Oscar-nominated film The Boy and the Heron and the future of animation.
The Boy and the Heron recently won the Golden Globe for Best Feature – Animated and received an additional nomination for Best Original Score, as well as nominations for Best Animated Film at the British Academy Film and Television Awards and Best Animated Feature at the Critic’s Choice Awards. The film has been nominated for Best Animated Feature for the Producers Guild Awards, Art Directors Guild Awards and the Cinema Audio Society Awards; received a nomination from the Society of Composers and Lyricists for Outstanding Original Score; and is nominated in seven categories at the ASIFA-Hollywood Annie Awards.
Also singled out by film critics, the film has been awarded Best Animated Feature by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, New York Film Critics Circle, Chicago Film Critics Association, San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle, Boston Film Critics Association, San Diego Film Critics Society, Philadelphia Film Critics Circle, Dallas Ft. Worth Film Critics Association, Florida Film Critics Circle, New Mexico Film Critics, and the Greater Western New York Film Critics Association.
The Boy and the Heron made its international premiere as Opening Night Gala of the 48th Toronto International Film Festival. Tickets to all five TIFF screenings sold out in record time, and the film received glowing reviews and placed top three for the TIFF People’s Choice Awards. The film made its U.S. premiere at the New York Film Festival, its European Premiere as the Opening Night of San Sebastian International Film Festival, and made its U.K. premiere at the BFI London Film Festival. The film was presented in IMAX at L.A.’s Chinese Theater as Opening Night of the Animation Is Film Festival.
The hand-drawn, animated feature — director Miyazaki’s first feature film in 10 years — is an original story written and directed by Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki, produced by co-founder Toshio Suzuki, and featuring a musical score from Miyazaki’s long-time collaborator Joe Hisaishi. Its theme song, “Spinning Globe,” was written and performed by global J-pop superstar Kenshi Yonezu.
GKIDS handles North American distribution for the famed Studio Ghibli library of films across all theatrical, home video, digital, and streaming platforms. The company has released Studio Ghibli’s most recent films in theaters nationwide, including the Academy Award-nominated The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, the Academy Award-nominated When Marnie Was There, From Up on Poppy Hill and more. Since 2017, GKIDS has produced the annual Ghibli Fest, a monthly nationwide theatrical program of Studio Ghibli film screenings in over 800 theaters across the country. The series continues this year with a focus on the films of Hayao Miyazaki.
Paramount+ today revealed the official trailer for the upcoming original event series Knuckles, the latest in the “Cinematic World of Sonic the Hedgehog,” from Paramount Pictures and SEGA of America. It was also announced that all six episodes of the series will be available to stream on Friday, April 26, exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S. and Canada; the following day, April 27, in all additional Paramount+ territories; and in Japan later this year. New teaser art and first-look series photography also dropped.
In addition to today’s official trailer, on Sunday, Feb. 11, an all-new Knuckles spot will debut during the CBS Television Network’s Super Bowl LVIII pregame broadcast. The Knuckles Super Bowl spot will also be featured in Nickelodeon’s special kids and family broadcast of Super Bowl LVIII, where Knuckles and some friends will make a surprise appearance.
The new live-action/CG hybrid event series follows Knuckles (voiced by Idris Elba) on a hilarious and action-packed journey of self-discovery as he agrees to train Wade (Adam Pally) as his protégé and teach him the ways of the Echidna warrior. The series takes place between the films Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Elba and Pally both reprise their roles from the film franchise.
The ensemble cast includes guest stars Stockard Channing (The West Wing), Edi Patterson (The Righteous Gemstones), Scott Mescudi (Don’t Look Up), Ellie Taylor (Ted Lasso), Julian Barratt (Mindhorn), Rory McCann (Game of Thrones), Cary Elwes (Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning), Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future), Paul Scheer (Black Monday) and Rob Huebel (Childrens Hospital).
Special guest star Ben Schwartz will reprise his role as Sonic, as well as special guest star Tika Sumpter, reprising her role as Maddie. Colleen O’Shaughnessey will also return as a special guest star in her role as Tails.
L-R: Scott Mescudi as Agent Mason and Ellie Taylor as Agent Willoughby [Paramount Pictures/Sega/Paramount+]
L-R: Knuckles (Idris Elba) and Rory McCann as The Buyer [Paramount Pictures/Sega/Paramount+]
All of the key creative team from the previous films have returned for the series, including the films’ director/executive producer Jeff Fowler, who directed the pilot episode and helped transition the film’s signature cinematic animation style to television, as well as Neal H. Moritz, Toby Ascher, John Whittington and Toru Nakahara, who serve as executive producers along with Idris Elba. Additional directors for the series include Ged Wright, Brandon Trost, Jorma Taccone and Carol Banker.
The series was created for television by John Whittington and Toby Ascher, who is showrunning during production. Whittington, who wrote Sonic the Hedgehog 2, serves as head writer and wrote the pilot for the series. Additional series writers include Brian Schacter and James Madejski.
The combined global box office for Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 stands at $725.2 million. On Paramount+, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is the top-performing kids & family film on the service in reach and is also one of the service’s most re-watched films. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will be released in theaters on December 20.
In addition to streaming exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Latin America, Australia, South Korea, Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Japan, Knuckles will stream on SkyShowtime in the Nordics, the Netherlands, Spain and Central and Eastern Europe. The series is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.
DeAPlaneta Entertainment has signed a deal with Belgian production company Haptic for its acclaimed young adult animated series, Hamsters. The Barcelona-based producer-distributor will manage international media and digital rights for the show, and is committed to growing the brand worldwide in the immediate future.
“We are delighted to take this step to distribution with DeAPlaneta Entertainment,” said Stef Wouters, Creative Producer at Haptic. “We know that we speak the same language and together we will take care of this sweet love brand and are certain that our two hamsters, Giovanni and Philippe, will seduce the world with their disarming humor. We are sure the world today needs a bit of humoristic sweetness more than ever.”
Hamsters is a 2D comedy series based on the webcomics by popular Instagram cartoonist Laura Janssens. The series, which has already dropped its first season (13 × 5′), follows two mischievous hamsters who comment the world from inside their cage: Giovanni aims to be the perfect hamster for the outside world, while Philippe only wants to live his own life. Full of humor and poignant commentary, the series reflects the lives of many young adults in the social media era.
“Hamsters humor is wildly funny. Working with unique brands like this, DeAPlaneta Entertainment’s portfolio continues its expansion of shows aimed specifically at young adult audiences, featuring edgy characters and situations,” said Carlos Biern, Content & Distribution Director, DeAPlaneta Kids & Family. “Hamsters is, for us, the first of many future additions of IPs we are starting work on with fresh digital artists that write and direct the way our new audiences demand.”
Co-produced by Haptic, 20STM and Streamz, with the support of the Flemish Audiovisual Fund (VAF), the Belgian Federal Taxshelter via Flanders Taxshelter and Wallimage, Hamsters is created by Janssens, who, apart of illustrating books and merchandise, is the mind behind some of the world’s most popular animated gifs.
The first season of Hamsters was released in Belgium on Streamz on 2023, receiving critical acclaim from the Belgian press: “beastly good,” “a charming series” (Het Nieuwsblad), “with captivating humour, Hamsters advocates to embrace imperfections” (De Morgen). The series has also been nominated for Best Flemish Animation Series at the 2023 Ensor Awards, Belgium’s prestigious cinema arts accolades.
Emmy Award-winning French animation production and distribution company Dandelooo has inked a deal with Paris-based production company Tournez S’il Vous Plaît (TSVP) for the new educational seriesBirds & Bees (20 x 3’), which highlights informative lessons around sexuality, emotions and body development.
Dandelooo has exclusive worldwide distribution rights to the original stop-motion series for eight- to 11-year olds, produced by Christie and Agnès Molia (TSVP). The first two episodes in English debuted at Kidscreen.
France Televisions and its education platform Lumni, having expressed a need for such a series in line with their public service obligations. Solicited by the broadcaster, DGESCO (General Directorate of School Education) — under the auspices of the Ministry of National Education — has given a favorable assessment to the show bible and the pilot script.
Written and directed by Pauline Brunner, Maxime Gridelet and Marion Verlé, with Virginie Boda as artistic producer, Birds & Bees sets out to address the sensitive subject of sexuality with emotion and humor. Recognizing the challenges children face in discussing emotional and sexual topics with parents, the series aims to prepare them to decipher the misconceptions they will inevitably encounter. The series aims to do this gently, by using child-friendly language, relying on the symbolic universe of stop motion and being supervised by a scientific committee to ensure that the content is accurate and suitable for the young audience.
Different associations are consulted according to the themes of the episodes, such as “En avant toutes!” (“Forward, All!”), awarded by the Foundation de France and Women of Europe for its actions in favor of gender equality and an end to violence against women and LGBTQI+ people.
Synopsis: Friendly and dynamic, Lili is an expert in sexual and emotional education. She answers all the questions that kids may have and imparts her wisdom as she guides the young viewers through her poetic and quirky stop-motion world. Sailing between raw testimonies from children, the series utilizes paper cut-out anatomical representations and a metaphorical visual universe composed of animated objects.
Noé, Hannah, Adama, Mina, Arthur, Mei, Louise and Dia all share the same neighborhood. Some are friends or classmates, siblings, or secretly in love… Coming from various social and cultural backgrounds, each child questions their body, feelings, or sensations in their own way… Their testimonies interact and complement each other to enrich the narrative.
“We are thrilled to have this pioneering series in our portfolio, reinforcing our commitment to offer high quality and impactful content for young audiences,” said Emmanuele Petry, Producer & Head of International for Dandelooo. “Birds & Bees not only breaks new ground in its educational approach but also promises to be a delightful and engaging experience for young viewers and their families”.
Originating from an award-winning game boasting a massive player base of over 30 million worldwide, the new Starlit Adventures CG-animated series (52 x 11′) is ready to be introduced to broadcasters and streamers. Aimed at kids ages 5-7, the project made its market debut at Kidscreen this week.
Created by Brazil-based Rockhead Studios, Starlit Adventures is set in a fantastical world populated with “Starlits” — kindly creatures with stars on their noses. Each of these animals has a Sibling Star in the sky. The game sees players take on the roles of intrepid Bo and Kikki the Starlit as they set out to retrieve the Sibling Stars stolen by the evil Nuru and hidden all over their colorful world.
The brand was born in 2015 and has gained popularity ever since. The four games of the franchise have been downloaded by more than 30 million for PC, game consoles and mobile. Starlit Kart (2021), the latest game in the franchise, has garnered over 5 million players in its first year on the market. Recently, it was selected by the Google Indie Games Fund as one of the top 10 games in Latin America. Starlit Adventures 2 is currently in production.
“The main goal now is to go beyond the Starlit universe where comics, 3D series, animated shorts, and sequels come together to create an unparalleled entertainment experience”, says Chris Lykawka, CEO of Rockhead Studios. “Our approach involves launching multiple free-to-play games, setting the stage for the animated series premiere in 2025.”
On the animation side, Starlit Toons (2022) has already set its course to TV and YouTube with a collection of 30-second 2D animated shorts tailored for a preschool audience. Bo and Kikki have also sailed through the pages of digital comic books in a limited series available in digital stores and translated into English, Portuguese, Spanish and Chinese.
A 1’50” pilot for the new Starlit Adventures animated series is already available to watch on YouTube.
Tulipop Studios, creator and owner of the award-winning Icelandic character-based IP, has been commissioned to produce Tulipop Seasons, three brand-new 2D animated seasonal specials, by RÚV in Iceland, NRK in Norway, SVT in Sweden, DR in Denmark and YLE in Finland.
The trio of 30-minute episodes are aimed at children aged 4-6 and build on the success of the Tulipop franchise and its Tulipop Tales television series, which has enjoyed a positive reception in both its domestic and international markets.
Each episode of Tulipop Seasons revolves around a seasonal theme — Winter, Spring and Fall — and, in-keeping with the television series, will be underpinned by original music playing a key role in each episode alongside the recognizable characters and their home, Tulipop Island.
Tulipop Seasons is produced by Tulipop Studios in Iceland in partnership with The Animation Band in Italy. The specials are produced by Tulipop’s Helga Arnadottir and directed by Sigvaldi J. Kárason. The core creative team also includes head writer Sean Carson and art director Signý Kolbeinsdóttir. The production of the seasonal specials will be fully completed in December 2025.
“It’s fantastic to see demand for more Tulipop content, bringing more of its wonderful world, diverse characters and positive messages to kids across the globe,” said Árnadóttir, CEO & Producer at Tulipop Studios. “The new seasonal specials will complement the 52 episodes we now have on our slate, underpinning our successful territory by territory licensing and distribution strategy.”
Agnes Wild, Head of Children‘s and Young Adults Programming and Acquisitioning at Icelandic broadcaster RUV, added, “This series is full of charm, from the depiction of the natural world to the highlighting of friendship, curiosity and diversity and it is testament to its magic that it has been a success internationally as well as here in Iceland. The commission of seasonal specials was a natural next step to complement the series and to bring more of the Tulipop world to kids across the globe.”
The 52 x 7’ episode series Tulipop Tales will be fully delivered this March. The first 26 episodes have already aired with great success in Iceland as well as on global broadcasters, with Serious Kids leading the charge as a distributor. Tulipop performs well on NRK Norway, YLE Finland and Canal+ Poland, and will soon be broadcast on MBC Middle East, Tele-Québec Canada and Showmax South Africa.
Aimed at upper preschool audiences, Tulipop content aims o teach kids important life lessons through engaging and entertaining adventures. Written by a team of Icelandic and international writers, with head writers Sara Daddy (Claude, Puffin Rock) and Emma Boucher (Messy Goes to Okido, Go Jetters), the series is developed in partnership with Dr. Natascha Crandall, Educational Consultant, who has vast experience in children’s media and a special interest in enhancing children’s growth and development through the power of media.
Tulipop studios is founded by Árnadottir and Kolbeinsdóttir, who created the original Tulipop illustrations in 2010. In addition to animated content, the brand spans a range of consumer products through more than 300 localized merchandising lines, with plans for a global product launch in the near future through a network of local agents. The animated series originally debuted on YouTube in 2017 and began airing on television last year.
Today, Canadian consumer products and media company Statement Worldwide announced the launch of its latest venture, Statement Animation, a dedicated imprint for animation content distribution. Following the company’s recent rebranding to Statement Worldwide, this strategic move represents its evolution and commitment to expanding its reach in the global animation industry.
Statement Animation will focus on the strategic distribution and impactful marketing of animated film and television content. With a history of animation publicity and marketing, this new imprint marks the company’s move into international sales and North American distribution, with a special emphasis on the Canadian market. While continuing to represent and oversee publicity campaigns for animation film and television clients, Statement Animation provides its clients and partners with an expanded reach and innovative approach to amplifying the global presence of animated content.
“Launching this imprint has been one of my biggest dreams and goals, to date,” said Matthew Celestial, President & CEO. “I want to continue celebrating independent animation as both an art form and a medium of collective entertainment for people worldwide. I look forward to Statement Animation serving as a partner to independent producers, filmmakers and production companies looking to reach a wider audience to celebrate their content.”
Celestial, known for his extensive work with animation studios globally, most recently handled public relations for Nelvana and Kids Can Press for their respective 50th anniversaries. He also oversaw publicity campaigns for the international production house Ado Ato Pictures, PBS Frontline and the Oscar-qualifying film festival, Spark Animation. He sits on the board of directors of the Toronto Animation Arts Festival International (TAAFI) and BRIC Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to providing opportunities for marginalized communities in the animation, gaming and tech industries.
Statement Animation will introduce its new venture at the European Film Market this month.
Sony Pictures has updated its domestic film release schedule with the official U.S. debut for SPY X FAMILY Code: White. The first feature film from the global hit anime will open in theaters on April 19 through Sony subsidiary Crunchyroll. The North American rights acquisition was announced by the distributor in November, and the film is due to screen in both Japanese with English subtitles and an English dub version.
Directed by Takashi Katagiri and written by Ichiro Ohkouchi from an original story by SPY X FAMILY creator Tatsuya Endo, Code: White is produced by WIT Studio (Bubble,Attack on Titan franchise) and CloverWorks (Her Blue Sky, Rascal Does Not Dream franchise) — formerly A-1 Pictures, a subsidiary of Sony Music Ent. Japan’s anime prodco Aniplex.
Synopsis: He’s a spy. She’s an assassin. Together, Loid and Yor keep their double lives to themselves while pretending to be the perfect family. However, their adopted daughter Anya, a telepath, knows both of their exciting secrets unbeknownst to them. While under the guise of taking his family on a weekend winter getaway, Loid’s attempt to make progress on his current mission Operation Strix proves difficult when Anya mistakenly gets involved and triggers events that threaten world peace!
Crunchyroll has also acquired the film’s rights for Latin America, Australia/New Zealand, and select territories in Europe, including Austria, Benelux, France, Germany, Italy, the Nordics, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland.
Based on the bestselling, Eisner- and Harvey-nominated manga written and illustrated by Endo (serialized in Shonen Jump Plus, over 31 million copies in circulation), the SPY x FAMILY series produced by Toho Animation originally debuted on April 9, 2022. Seasons 1 and 2 are available to stream on Crunchyroll.
Toonz Media Group and Miami‐based Cisneros Media have officially entered into a co‐production and co‐distribution agreement for Nerlies: Space Babies — a new CG-animated series inspired by the bestselling toys from the Mexican toy giant, Distroller. The strategic partnership will focus on the co‐production and global distribution of the 52 x 11′ series, preceded by a global digital content strategy and supported by an extensive licensing and merchandising strategy.
Nerlies: Space Babies follows the adventures of Ampi, a quirky yet shy seven‐year‐old girl, whose life takes a delightful twist when she becomes responsible for the care and feeding of three mischievous space babies. As Ampi navigates the challenges, the whimsical antics of the space babies gradually empower her to embrace her own uniqueness.
Certified as a European Union production, Cisneros Media Distribution will exclusively handle media content distribution rights in Latin America and North America, while Toonz will oversee distribution rights for the rest of the world. Future plans encompass a global‐scale licensing and merchandising initiative for the project.
“We are thrilled to partner with Cisneros Media for this promising IP. We are confident that the combination of a global digital strategy and an animated series will lead to the success of this venture. Our shared goal is to create enduring franchises that inspire and uplift children,” said P Jayakumar, CEO of Toonz Media Group.
Jonathan Blum, President of Cisneros Media, commented, “We are ecstatic to embark on this new journey alongside Toonz. Leveraging our extensive experience in the preschool content space with Toonz’s innovative vision and track record, we aim to build a remarkable global franchise.”
The co‐production is scheduled for release in 2026.
Studio 100 Media (Germany) and 3Doubles Producciones (Spain) announce the start of development of their collaborative CG-animated feature film, Flamingo Flamenco (80 minutes). Scheduled for delivery in Q4/2026, the all-ages musical adventure will be introduced to buyers at the upcoming European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin by global sales agent Studio 100 Film.
Flamingo Flamenco follows the spirited journey of Rosie, a young and exuberant flamingo girl, as she navigates personal loss and her quest to rediscover the joy of dance. The original storyline, which emphasizes the importance of perseverance, self-discovery and the power of determination, was penned by screenwriter Rob Sprackling (Shaun the Sheep Movie, Gnomeo & Juliet, The Queen’s Corgi).
Set against the backdrop of the famous Fuente de Piedra lagoon in Andalucía, Spain, this European production will introduce audiences to a diverse cast of animal characters, for a celebration of friendship and the beauty of dance. The film aims to resonate with kids, teens and families.
“It is an absolute delight to join forces in this truly collaborative venture, merging the imaginative energies of Studio 100 Media and 3Doubles Producciones to introduce Flamingo Flamenco to audiences across the globe,” says Thorsten Wegener, Producer and Director Business Operations at Studio 100 Media.
Dario Sanchez, CEO of 3Doubles Producciones, adds: “We are thrilled to be able to participate in this feature film where a part of Spanish culture and traditions are represented in a great adventure comedy and are excited to be working with Studio 100 Media on this new production.”
EFM will take place February 15-21 during the Berlinale.
Incredible Film today has debuted the snow-kissed trailer for A New Friend for Tummy Tom, the second in its line of 2D animated feature films based on the beloved Dutch kitty character.
The funny, inquisitive and slightly mischievous ginger tomcat’s next adventure was announced in November ahead of the Asia TV Forum, and is now gearing up for its European Film Market (EFM) debut next week.
Synopsis: In A New Friend for Tummy Tom the world of Tummy Tom and his friend Cat Mouse has suddenly changed. On a beautiful winter day they wake up with Snow! You can play and slide well in it. But something else has changed as well. A new dog on the blog turns the lives of Tummy Tom and Cat Mouse upside down. But the troublemaker end up being a good protector and a new friend
Following the first film, Tummy Tom’s Teddybear, A New Friend for Tummy Tom is produced by Amsterdam-based studios Phanta Animation (Miss Moxy) and BosBros (Princess Arabella). The 60-minute preschool feature is directed by Joost van den Bosch and Erik Verkerk.
Tummy Tom (or Dikkie Dik) first appeared on the localized version of Sesame Street in The Netherlands in 1978, and Dutch publisher Gottmer started publishing the books by Jet Boeke’s in 1983. Since then, millions of Tummy Tom books have been sold around the world.
Mattel announced today that Barbie, Stacie and friends are returning for an all-new animated adventure in Barbie and Stacie to the Rescue. Coming to Netflix March 14, the hour-long special will follow Barbie’s middle sister, Stacie, in her first-ever leading turn in a Barbie toon. The special includes five new original songs, new friends and more puppies than ever!
Synopsis: In Barbie and Stacie to the Rescue, audiences will soar to new heights with Barbie and Stacie as they embark on the adventure of a lifetime. Confident and adventurous, Stacie finds herself caught in the middle when the Roberts family heads to Wisconsin for a hot air balloon festival where she is too young for adult activities, yet too old to play with the little kids. But, when her older sisters Barbie and Skipper find themselves in trouble, Stacie finds she has the right skills to save the day.
“Our animated Barbie content is developed to both empower and entertain,” said Michelle Mendelovitz, Global Head of Mattel Television Studios. “By placing Stacie at the center of the story, Barbie and Stacie to the Rescue provides audiences with a new heroine in Stacie and an entirely new perspective on the Barbie universe. We cannot wait to share this fun-spirited special with Barbie fans.”
The latest installment of Mattel’s animated Barbie content follows 2023’s fan-favorite series Barbie: A Touch of Magic as well as other successful titles including Barbie: It Takes Two, Barbie: Epic Road Trip, Barbie: Mermaid Power, Barbie DreamHouse Adventures and many more.
Christopher Keenan and Frederic Soulie serve as executive producers on Barbie and Stacie to the Rescue, which is written by Kay Donmyer.
The special will be available on Netflix in the U.S., Canada, APAC (excluding China) and EMEA (excluding the U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Poland and Romania) on March 14. The special will debut in Latin America, the U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Romania and MENA September 5, also on Netflix. Broadcast partners including Super RTL, Cartoonito, POP, Kanal2 and Kidzone will distribute the special throughout the year.
The five-song music album for Barbie and Stacie to the Rescue will also release on March 14 and be available on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple and Amazon Music.
Julia Weber and Alice von Einem (formerly Buquoy) have announced the first projects from their recently formed global world sales company, Epsilon Film, a subsidiary of Beta Film. The label will specialize in the worldwide distribution of feature films, focusing on genres such as family entertainment and IP-driven content with broad commercial appeal, selecting and participating in projects at the earliest stage and collaborating through development, financing and production.
The two industry veterans are well known for their many years as Head of International Acquisitions & Sales and SVP International Acquisitions & Sales at Munich-based distribution company Global Screen, a TELEPOOL brand. As Managing Directors, both will oversee Epsilon Film’s sales and acquisitions activities. They are supported by Matthias Ziegler, a former Global Screen colleague, who brings a wealth of production experience to the new venture.
“Epsilon Film’s goal is to co-produce and distribute compelling stories that appeal to audiences of all ages and create cinematic and commercial cinema with a global reach,” said Weber and von Einem. “On top of our experience and solid producing partners, we can furthermore benefit and synergize from Beta’s attractive and broad corporate positioning and excellent reputation. Not only the excellent TV distribution with its great successes, but also the partnerships with distributors, producers and service providers from Germany and abroad are an important aspect. The lean and personal structure of Epsilon allows us to act quickly with the agility of a small boutique, while having the clout of a major player through the set-up. We are looking forward to meeting our clients and producers at the upcoming EFM in Berlin.”
The EFM (European Film Market), running Feb. 15-21 at the Berlinale, will be the launch pad for Epsilon Film, which will have an office in the Marriot Hotel. Weber and von Einem will be presenting the first titles in the outfit’s portfolio; two high-profile 3D animated films for family audiences based on well-known stories:
The charming and turbulent Snow White and Me, based on the classic fairy tale, is produced by Playwrite (Ronald Kruschak) and Ulysses Filmproduktion (Emely Christians; The Amazing Maurice, Niko – The Reindeer). Renowned Disney Animation screenwriter Philip LaZebnik (Mulan, Pocahontas, Prince of Egypt) is already on board.
FFL Film- und Fernsehlabor (Matthias Drescher) and RISE Pictures (Ulrich Schwarz; Dragon Rider, Stowaway) are producing Nessie Junior, in which none other than the descendant of the famous Loch Ness Monster goes on an exciting adventure for young and old.
“Alice and Julia are veterans in this industry with more than 20 years of experience in acquisitions and sales. With their excellent national and international network of producers and distributors, they are a perfect match to the sister company Beta Cinema,” said Moritz von Kruedener, Managing Director, Beta Film.
Dirk Schürhoff, Managing Director of Beta Cinema, agreed: “Julia and Alice’s experience in family entertainment and animation is really outstanding. We are very happy and proud to welcome them to the Beta family.”
Anime lovers can celebrate Valentine’s Day through their screens through the month of February, with a lineup of adored romance titles available to watch for free (with ads) for a limited-time AVOD event through Crunchyroll. These sweet treats range from classics like Ouran High School Host Club and Lovely Complex to newer fan faves like Kaguya-sama: Love Is War and Sasaki and Miyano.
Here’s the full candy box sampler (availability may vary by territory):
My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999 (Madhouse)
Akane Kinoshita, a female college student, faces the absolute worst situation when she ends up breaking up with her boyfriend after he has an affair with a woman he met playing an online game. While relieving her stress by rampaging through the open hunting grounds of an online game, Akane spills everything about her heartbreak to “Yamada”, a player she met by chance who happens to be in the same guild. “I don’t care,” is his curt reply. But when Akane gets a makeover and joins an offline event to get back at her ex-boyfriend, she hears those dreadful words again. And that was Akane’s fateful encounter with “Yamada.”
The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, REALLY Love You(Bibury Animation Studios)
Rentaro Aijo was rejected 100 times in middle school. He visits a shrine and prays for better luck in high school. The God of Love appears and promises that he’ll soon meet 100 people he’s destined to date. But there’s a catch — once destiny introduces someone to him, the two must happily love each other. If they don’t, they’ll die. What will befall Rentaro and his 100 girlfriends in high school?
Our Dating Story: The Experienced You and The Inexperienced Me(ENGI)
Ryuto Kashima is the school’s gloomy introvert, and he’s got a crush on Runa Shirakawa, the popular girl. After losing a bet to classmates, he confesses his feelings to Runa one day. Shocked and secretly just as inexperienced as Ryuto, Runa agrees to date him. The relationship grows between two people who are as similar as they are different. Will their young love blossom? Time will tell!
Tomo-chan Is a Girl!(Lay-duce)
Tomboy Tomo couldn’t have picked a more awkward high school crush ’cause it’s on her childhood friend, Junichiro, but he only sees her as one of the guys. Despite her pretty looks and signals, nothing gets through to this meathead! Will Junichiro ever realize Tomo’s into him and see her for the cutesy girl she actually is?!
Kaguya-sama: Love Is War (A-1 Pictures)
Known for being both brilliant and powerful, Miyuki Shirogane and Kaguya Shinomiya lead the illustrious Shuchiin Academy as near equals. And everyone thinks they’d make a great couple. Pride and arrogance are in ample supply, so the only logical move is to trick the other into instigating a date! Who will come out on top in this psychological war where the first move is the only one that matters?
Horimiya(CloverWorks)
A secret life is the one thing they have in common. At school, Hori is a prim and perfect social butterfly, but the truth is she’s a brash homebody. Meanwhile, under a gloomy facade, Miyamura hides a gentle heart, along with piercings and tattoos. In a chance meeting, they both reveal a side they’ve never shown. Could this blossom into something new?
Fruits Basket (2019) (TMS Entertainment)
Tohru Honda thought her life was headed for misfortune when a family tragedy left her living in a tent. When her small home is discovered by the mysterious Soma clan, she suddenly finds herself living with Yuki, Kyo and Shigure Soma. But she quickly learns their family has a bizarre secret of their own: when hugged by the opposite sex, they turn into the animals of the Zodiac!
My Dress-Up Darling (CloverWorks)
Wakana Gojo is a high school boy who wants to become a kashirashi — a master craftsman who makes traditional Japanese Hina dolls. Though he’s gung-ho about the craft, he knows nothing about the latest trends and has a hard time fitting in with his class. The popular kids — especially one girl, Marin Kitagawa — seem like they live in a completely different world. That all changes one day, when she shares an unexpected secret with him, and their completely different worlds collide.
Kimi ni Todoke – From Me to You (Production I.G)
Sawako Kuronuma has had a difficult time fitting in. Some say it’s her jet black hair, others say it’s her hushed manner of speaking, while still others claim it is due to her name’s similarity to Sadako, a character from a popular Japanese horror series. On her first day of high school, Sawako meets the one boy who treats her like a normal girl-Shota Kazehaya. Through his selfless aid, Sawako slowly learns to come out of her shell and even begins to make friends for the first time in her life. However, with a new social life come social pressures. Rumors begin to circulate about her, her friends, and even the kindhearted Kazehaya. As she grows into her new identity, Sawako must learn to deal with such pressures as well as start to understand the unfamiliar feelings inside of her, especially in regards to the boy who made her new start possible.
MY love STORY!! (Madhouse)
Takeo Goda is a giant guy with a giant heart. Too bad the girls don’t want him! (They always go for his good-looking best friend, Sunakawa.) Used to being on the sidelines, Takeo simply stands tall and accepts his fate. But one day when he saves a girl named Yamato from a harasser on the train, his (love!) life suddenly takes an incredible turn! Takeo can hardly believe it when he crosses paths with Yamato again, and he finds himself falling in love with her … But with handsome Sunakawa around, does Takeo even stand a chance?
TONIKAWA: Over the Moon for You (Seven Arcs)
The sweet story of Nasa and Tsukasa continues! After surviving some awkward first nights together, dealing with doubters, and recovering from their apartment fire, it’s clear the fate of these lovers was written in the stars. Now, they’re ready to settle back into domestic bliss and finally plan their wedding ceremony! But with plenty of new friends on the way, what will their big day look like?!
Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion(Typhoon Graphics)
After a mysterious death, Park Eunha enters the world of a novel. She is revived as a minor character, Raeliana McMillan, who is to be poisoned to death by her own betrothed. In order to break up with her dangerous fiancé, she offers a surreptitious deal to the male protagonist of the novel, Noah Wynknight, but winds up romantically with other men that are not part of the plan. Will Raeliana successfully get out of this crisis and create a new ending for herself? Who will be the one that will join Raeliana in her new ending?
Sasaki and Miyano(Studio DEEN)
Miyano’s world of Boys’ Love manga turns to reality when chance leads him to Sasaki. Now, Sasaki wants to spend every opportunity with him.
Yona of the Dawn(Pierrot)
Currently, Hiryuu Palace has no one else next in line for the throne other than the 15-year-old princess, Yona, who had been raised with care. Finally, the night of her 16th birthday arrives. She expects it to be a wonderful day spent with her peace-loving father, Il, her servant and friend Hak, and her cousin Soo-won, who she had feelings for … However … That night, Yona goes to visit her father to tell him how she really feels, because he opposes to her getting married to Soo-won. However, when she gets to her room, she encounters a shocking truth.
Ouran High School Host Club(BONES)
You’ll fall for the boys in the Ouran Host Club: Tamaki’s truly romantic. Kaoru and Hikaru offer displays of brotherly love. You’ll adore brainy Kyoya, innocent Honey and manly Mori. Oh, and don’t forget Haruhi. He knows what girls want — of course, it’s because he’s a girl too! The Hosts must do their best to hide her secret, but Haruhi’s having a blast turning their perfect world upside down.
Tsuredure Children(Studio Gokumi)
To those of you out there who never could say “I love you” — This story is about ordinary highschoolers and how love makes them fired up, shaken, laugh, cry and hurt. Whether things go well or not, this story of adolescence and romance will show you how they spend their precious youth. Every character is the main character here, and you’re sure to find one you can sympathize with.
Lovely Complex(Toei Animation)
Koizumi’s just started high school, and she’s got a little problem: for a girl, she’s super tall! Meanwhile, her classmate Otani’s got a big problem: he’s virtually a midget, but still wants to join the basketball team. Written off as a bickering comedy duo by their teachers and classmates, the pair can’t decide who’s less likely to find love before graduating, and ultimately bet each other on who’ll actually land a mate.
Snow White with the Red Hair(BONES)
In the kingdom of Tanbarun lives an independent young pharmacist named Shirayuki. Shirayuki is a plain girl, save for her shock of beautiful apple-red hair. Her stunning mane gets her noticed by the prince, but instead of romancing her, he demands she be his concubine. Shirayuki chops off her lovely locks, and runs away to the neighboring kingdom where she befriends a handsome stranger.
Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai (CloverWorks)
Puberty syndrome: Abnormal experiences rumored on the internet to be caused by sensitivity and instability during adolescence. This year, Sakuta Azusagawa, a second-year student at a high school near Enoshima, meets several girls that are experiencing this “puberty syndrome.” For instance, he meets a wild bunny girl in the library. She turns out to be an actress on hiatus, Mai Sakurajima, who is also his senior at the school. For some reason, no one else can see this enchanting girl. How did she become invisible…?
All the Dragon Ball Action in One Place!
Crunchyroll has further announced the arrival of the complete Dragon Ballsaga to its growing catalog. The five famous TV series (over 800 episodes) will be available in the United Kingdom and France.
Dragon Ball Super(131 episodes) is already available with subtitles in the UK. The first series, Dragon Ball (153 episodes) is scheduled from February 9 in subtitled and dubbed versions. The other sequels will be available soon: Dragon Ball Z(291 episodes) from March 1, Dragon Ball GT (64 episodes) from March 15 and Dragon Ball Z Kai (167 episodes) from March 29.
The Dragon Ball phenomenon began in 1984, when Akira Toriyama’s famous manga was first published in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump. It swiftly became a leading title during its ten and a half years of publication. Since then, the manga’s success has gone from strength to strength, with an incredible 260 million copies sold worldwide. With Dragon Ball‘s ever-growing popularity, the series has expanded beyond manga to include animated series, films, games and merchandising. Produced by Toei Animation, the animated series began airing in 1986 and has since aired around the world.
Mysterious Dragon Balls lie scattered about the world. When all seven balls are gathered, one wish will come true. A wild, innocent boy named Goku and his friends set out on a journey in quest for the Dragon Balls.
Dragon Ball Z
With overwhelming and extraordinary power, new enemies descend upon Goku. Goku has no way out… In this second series, Gohan, the son of Goku joins the fighting battle and the action is even more vigorous.
Dragon Ball Super
The threat of Majin Buu has passed, and Goku and friends are all living in peace. The day of Bulma’s birthday party arrives, and everyone gets together again for the first time in a while. Then there appears Beerus, the God of Destruction. The story finally moves beyond the universe, into a new phase!
Dragon Ball Z Kai
An ancient legend says “Gather the Seven Dragon Balls and Shenron the Dragon will appear to make one wish come true.”
With such power, the Dragonballs are much sought after, especially by the most evil villains. With the help of his friends and family, Son Goku is ready to battle enemies to protect his friends, his family, and save the World.
Dragon Ball GT
Goku is turned into a child by another set of Dragon Balls. This time, the Dragon Balls lay scattered all over the universe, and they must be discovered within one year or the earth will disappear!
Crunchyroll Arrives on Samsung Smart TVs
In other Crunchyroll news, the global anime platform announced a new collaboration with Samsung Electronics that will enable Samsung Smart TV users across the globe to easily discover and enjoy anime directly on their screens. The application is now available to Samsung users in the U.S., with users in other markets to gain access by the end of the week.
With this launch, Samsung Smart TV users can access Crunchyroll’s extensive library of anime content, including over 46,000 episodes and movies, 3,300 Japanese music videos and concert specials, and the latest trending shows available on Crunchyroll on-demand, all with the option of subtitles or dubs across more than 12 local languages including English, Spanish (Latin America and Spain/Castilian), Portuguese, French, German, Arabic, Italian, Hindi, Telugu and Tamil.
“Anime is one of the fastest-growing entertainment mediums worldwide. We’re thrilled to enhance access to Crunchyroll for Samsung’s Smart TV users. Samsung is providing a seamless experience for both dedicated anime fans and the anime-curious, allowing them to easily sign up and access their favorite anime directly on their TV screens,” said Kaliel Roberts, Chief Product Officer at Crunchyroll.
Crunchyroll is home to the world’s largest selection of anime titles, including My Hero Academia, JUJUTSU KAISEN, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Chainsaw Man and Attack on Titan, as well as classics such as Cowboy Bebop and One Piece. The service is available in more than 200 countries and territories, offering its large library and new simulcast series shortly after they premiere in Japan. Available on all 2017-2023 Samsung Smart TVs, users can easily find Crunchyroll in the Samsung Smart TV app store.
