Animation Magazine

Author: Mercedes Milligan

  • Event Updates: SCAD TVFest Lineup, Animation First Winners, PaleyFest Celebrates ‘Family Guy’

    Event Updates: SCAD TVFest Lineup, Animation First Winners, PaleyFest Celebrates ‘Family Guy’

    The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) will bring the SCAD TVFest back to Atlanta, GA from February 7-10. Now in its 12th year, the event will take place at the new, state-of-the art SCADshow theater.

    “It is always a pleasure to celebrate the best in television at SCAD TVfest in Atlanta,” said Christina Routhier, senior executive director of SCAD theaters and festivals. “From our terrific honorees, including iconic actors Kelsey Grammer, George Lopez, and Ken Watanabe, to our shows and panels lineup featuring some of the most buzzed-about shows like The Gilded Age and The Morning Show, we can’t wait to give Atlantans and our phenomenal SCAD students a full slate of exciting programming.”

    The Opening Night Gala screening is the US season two premiere of the Max Original drama series Tokyo Vice. Animated highlights of the program include:

    • Hazbin Hotel (Prime Video) with voice cast Erika Henningsen, Blake Roman, Amir Talai, Joel Perez, and Jessica Vosk and creator and showrunner Vivienne Medrano
    • Invincible (Prime Video) with voice actor Khary Payton and co-showrunner Simon Racioppa
    • Invincible Fight Girl (Cartoon Network, Max) with creator and executive producer Juston Gordon-Montgomery, art director David Depasquale and supervising producer Bryan Newton
    • My Adventures with Superman (Adult Swim/Max) with voice cast Jack Quaid, Alice Lee and Ishmel Sahid, co-showrunner and co-executive producer Jake Wyatt, and art director Jane Bak
    • Scott Pilgrim Takes Off (Netflix, Universal Content Productions) with creators, showrunners and writers Bryan Lee O’Malley and BenDavid Grabinski
    • The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy (Prime Video) with creator, showrunner and executive producer Cirocco Dunlap and production designer and co-producer Robin Eisenberg
    • Animated Horizons: Exploring the Visual Verse of USG — Panel — embarks on an adventure into the imaginative and limitless worlds of Universal Studio Group’s hit animated television shows. This acclaimed group of creatives will discuss the artistry, innovation, and storytelling prowess that breathes life into animated characters and worlds. Confirmed panelists include Robert Carlock (Mulligan), Sam Means (Mulligan), Bryan Lee O’Malley (Scott Pilgrim Takes Off) and BenDavid Grabinski (Scott Pilgrim Takes Off).

     

    Animation First winners
    Animation First awarded prizes to ‘The Purple Season’ (right), ‘Fire’ (top left) and ‘The Sun Is Bad’

    The French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF) announced the winners of the 2024 Animation First festival. Back for the seventh year, the event is the only U.S. fest dedicated to showcasing Francophone animation.

    Francophone Shorts Winners: 

    • Best Francophone Short 2024: The Purple Season (La saison pourpre). Dir. Clémence Bouchereau
    • Honorable Mention: Maurice’s Bar. Dir. Tom Prezman, Tzor Edery
    • Honorable Mention: Summer 96 (Été 96). Dir. Mathilde Bédouet

    Student Short Film Winners

    • Best French Student Short: Fire. Esther Lamassoure, Baptiste Fraboul, Florent Sabuco, Julie Le Forban, Valentin Serre, Léna Gittler (Ecole des Nouvelles Images)
    • Best American Student Short: The Sun Is Bad. Chenrui Lan, Elle Yeung, Henry Ni, Ivan Chui, Laura Correal, Liren Sun, Quinn Marsh, Rachel Mow, Rielle Yap Ong, Samson Flanagan (SCAD)
    • Honorary Mention: *Dance with the Seashells!*. Théo Carme, Julie Fournier, Alessandra Rosmarino, Anaëlle Saba (Gobelins)

     

    Paley Center_Family Guy

    The Paley Center for Media today announced the schedule for the 41st annual television celebration PaleyFest LA, which will take place from Friday, April 12 through Saturday, April 20 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. Citi Cardholders and Paley Members receive presale access to tickets starting on January 30.

    The 2024 program will include a celebration of the 25th anniversary of FOX toon Family Guy with a live table read featuring the show’s voice stars, a musical performance led by series composer Walter Murphy and more fun surprises on Friday, April 19 at 7:30 p.m.

    The Family Guy event will include Seth MacFarlane, creator, executive producer (Peter Griffin, Stewie Griffin, Brian Griffin, and additional voices); Alex Borstein (Lois Griffin and additional voices); Mila Kunis, (Meg Griffin); Seth Green (Chris Griffin); Rich Appel, executive producer and co-showrunner; Alec Sulkin, executive producer, co-showrunner and additional voices; Kara Vallow, executive producer; Danny Smith, executive producer and additional voices; and John Viener.

    “While I’d been counting on a 24th anniversary celebration at PaleyFest, this is the next best thing, and I’m honored to participate,” said MacFarlane.

    Also of interest to animation fans will be a spotlight on Netflix’s new live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series in its PaleyFest debut. the 7 p.m. session on Sunday, April 14 will feature Albert Kim, showrunner, executive producer and writer; Jabbar Raisani, executive producer and director; Gordon Cormier (Aang); Kiawentiio (Katara); Ian Ousley (Sokka); Dallas Liu (Zuko); Paul Sun-Hyung Lee (Uncle Iroh); and Elizabeth Yu (Azula).

  • Toonz Takes Bilibili Kids Animation Hit ‘Mech Car’ Global

    Toonz Takes Bilibili Kids Animation Hit ‘Mech Car’ Global

    Toonz Entertainment, the distribution wing of global kids’ and family entertainment co. Toonz Media Group, has picked up worldwide right to the award-winning Chinese animated series Mech Car, produced by Bilibili. The 52 x 11′ 3D CG series for kids 6-10 is a fantasy adventure celebrating courage, exploration and problem solving.

    The story revolves around a plucky vehicle character called Dash, who along with his friends embark on an adventure to save Mech Lands from scheming villains by collecting different gems, which provide mystical powers.

    Mech Car

    Mech Car has already received accolades, including the award for Best Director – Animation Short at Los Angeles Independent Film Festival, and was named the Best Kids’ Animation 2019 by the National Radio and Television Administration of the People’s Republic of China.

    Toonz Entertainment will distribute this series exclusively in EMEA, LatAm, North America, Russia and CIS. The Toonz Group company has also acquired non-exclusive distribution rights in APAC, including the Indian Subcontinent but excluding China, Japan and Korea.

    “We are delighted to associate with Bilibili for this highly successful and acclaimed series called Mech Car,” said Bruno Zarka, President – TV Co-production, Distribution & Syndication, Toonz Media Group. “Toonz Entertainment [has the] strong distribution capabilities and network to take this series to a wider audience across the globe and I am excited to see what our robust team can accomplish.”

    toonz.co

    Mech Car

  • Jazz Anime ‘Blue Giant’ Tunes Up Spring Home Release

    Jazz Anime ‘Blue Giant’ Tunes Up Spring Home Release

    Blue Giant

    The critically acclaimed music-driven anime drama Blue Giant is warming up for its home entertainment gig, due to release April 30 on Blu-ray and all major digital platforms, from GKIDS with distribution from Shout! Studios. The set includes a Q&A with Grammy Award-winning jazz pianist Hiromi Uehara, as well as trailers & teasers.

    Blue Giant is available for pre-order now, from GKIDS.com, ShoutFactory.com, Amazon and Apple.

    Synopsis: Dai Miyamoto’s life changes when he discovers jazz. He picks up a tenor saxophone and practices every day. After leaving his hometown Sendai, he pursues a music career in Tokyo with help from his friend Shunji. One day, Dai plays passionately from the heart and convinces talented pianist Yukinori to start a band together. Along with Shunji, a beginner drummer, they form the three-piece band JASS. With each live performance, they get closer and closer to their dream of playing at So Blue, the most famous jazz club in Japan, in hopes of forever changing the world of jazz.

    From director Yuzuru Tachikawa (Mob Psycho 100, Death Parade, DECA-DENCE) and based on the award-winning manga by Shinichi Ishizuka, Blue Giant features a jazz soundtrack composed by Hiromi Uehara and performances with drummer Shun Ishikawa, of the global hit band Millennium Parade, and saxophonist Tomoaki Baba.

  • Zodiac Animals Assemble in New ‘The Tiger’s Apprentice’ Clip

    Zodiac Animals Assemble in New ‘The Tiger’s Apprentice’ Clip

    Paramount+ today unleashed a new clip from The Tiger’s Apprentice, the animated family adventure based on the book by Laurence Yep. Featuring a stellar voice cast, the movie premieres Friday, February 2, in the U.S. and Saturday, February 3, in the U.K.

    In the new footage, which hints at the thrilling action awaiting streaming audiences, Hu the Tiger (voiced by Henry Golding) calls together the animal figureheads of the Chinese Zodiac — Horse (Diana Lee Inosanto), Snake (Poppy Liu), Rabbit (Greta Lee), Rooster (Jo Koy), Dog (Patrick Gallagher), Pig (Deborah S. Craig), Naomi (Sherry Cola) and Mistral, the Dragon (Sandra Oh) — to protect their teenage Guardian (Brandon Soo Hoo).

    The Tiger’s Apprenctice follows Chinese-American teenager Tom Lee (Soo Hoo), whose life changes forever when he discovers he is part of a long lineage of magical protectors known as the Guardians. With guidance from a mythical tiger named Hu, Tom trains to take on Loo (Michelle Yeoh), a force that is as powerful as a Guardian but with evil intentions to use magic to destroy humanity. To have a fighting chance against Loo, Tom must reunite all 12 Zodiac animal warriors and master his own newly discovered powers.

    The voice cast also boasts Lucy Liu, Golden Globe winner Sandra Oh, Bowen Yang, Leah Lewis and Kheng Hua Tan.

    The Tiger’s Apprentice, a Paramount+ original movie in association with Paramount Animation, is a Jane Startz Production and is based on Yep’s novel of the same name. Directed by Raman Hui (Monster Hunt 1 & 2; co-director, Shrek the Third) and co-directed by Paul Watling (Kid Cosmic) and Yong Duk Jhun (head of layout, Ferdinand) with a screenplay by two-time Oscar nominee David Magee (Life of Pi, Finding Neverland) and Christopher Yost (Cowboy Bebop [2021], Thor: Ragnarok) and music by Steve Jablonsky, the film is produced by Jane Startz, p.g.a., Sandra Rabins, p.g.a., and Bob Persichetti, p.g.a., with Maryann Garger, Kane Lee and Carlos Baena serving as executive producers.

    Read all about the making of The Tiger’s Apprentice in the March issue of Animation Magazine (No. 338), available soon!

  • Netflix Animation Announces Casting for ‘Thelma the Unicorn,’ ‘Wereworld’

    Netflix Animation Announces Casting for ‘Thelma the Unicorn,’ ‘Wereworld’

    Netflix has announced some key casting news for two of its upcoming animated projects. First up, the streamer revealed that Grammy Award-winning artist Brittany Howard will voice the titular character in Thelma the Unicorn, premiering later this year. Netflix also debuted three new images from the movie.

    The voice cast will also feature Will Forte as Otis, Jemaine Clement as Vic Diamond, Edi Patterson as Megan, Maliaka Mitchell as Peggy, Ally Dixon as Nikki Narwhal, Fred Armisen as Danny Stallion, Zach Galifianakis as Crusty Trucker and Jon Heder as Reggie.

    Based on the book by Aaron Blabey (The Bad Guys), who serves as executive producer, the 3D CG-animated Netflix Original feature is written by Jared and Jerusha Hess (Napoleon Dynamite, Ninety-five Senses) and directed by Jared Hess and Lynn Wang (Unikitty!, Teen Titans Go). Industry veteran Pam Coats is also a producer, and composer John Powell is providing the music.

    Synopsis: Thelma is a small-time pony who dreams of becoming a glamourous music star. In a pink and glitter-filled moment of fate, Thelma is transformed into a unicorn and instantly rises to global stardom. But this new life of fame comes at a cost.

     

    In more Netflix Animation buzz, the What’s On Netflix blog revealed that the epic fantasy-adventure series Wereworld has brought on British actor Louis Landau (The Serpent Queen) to play the main protagonist Drew’s brother, Trent Ferran, while Nina Barker-Francis (House of the Dragon) has been tapped to play Whitley, a friend of Drew’s.

    Synopsis: Based on the books by Curtis Jobling, Wereworld is an epic fantasy adventure series that follows Drew Ferran as he comes of age and discovers he’s the last of a long line of Werewolves, and rightful (yet reluctant) ruler of a land governed by Werelords. Drew must fight to abolish the tyranny of the Lionlords and reclaim the throne.

    The 3D CG series is directed by Tom Brass for Jellyfish Pictures and produced by Angelo Abela, Tim Compton, Curtis Jobling (also lead writer) and Barry Quinn for Lime Pictures. Wereworld received an upfront order of 16 x 22′ from the streamer, which could drop all at once or be split into two seasons. According to Jobling’s website and network posts, the author is adapting all six novels in the 2011-2013 book series; the show was previously anticipated for release in late 2023 or early 2024.

  • Pharell Williams’ LEGO Brick Biopic ‘Piece By Piece’ Sets October Release

    Pharell Williams’ LEGO Brick Biopic ‘Piece By Piece’ Sets October Release

    Focus Features has partnered with Pharrell Williams’ i am OTHER and The LEGO Group to release Piece By Piece, an innovative retelling of Williams’ life story rendered in LEGO animation. Described as an “unparalleled motion picture experience” capturing the multiple Grammy Award winner’s unique vision, which “defies genres and expectations to transport audiences into a LEGO world where anything is possible,” the film will open in theaters on October 11 this year.

    “Pharrell Williams is a true trailblazer whose influence across music, art and fashion continually reshapes global culture with an undeniable sense of joy,” said Focus Features Chairman Peter Kujawski. “In partnering with the inimitable Morgan Neville and the limitless creativity of the LEGO brand his visionary spirit comes to life in a wholly unique and uplifting way that will inspire everyone to dance, to sing, and to use their voice to build the world they want to see, brick by brick, and piece by piece.”

    From Focus Features, Piece By Piece is directed by Academy Award winner Morgan Neville and produced by Neville and Caitrin Rogers (Tremolo Productions) alongside producers Williams, Mimi Valdés and Shani Saxon (i am OTHER). Jill Wilfert and Keith Malone are executive producing for The LEGO Group.

    “Five years ago, Pharrell Williams approached me with the idea of helping him tell his story through LEGO animation. It was one of those rare moments where I knew in a second that this was a journey I wanted to go on,” Neville recalled in the announcement. “I’m grateful to our partners at Focus Features and at The LEGO Group for their belief in our crazy mission. We assembled an incredible team of creative collaborators to help make a new type of film. I can’t wait for people to see it.”

    “When I had this crazy vision to tell this story through LEGO bricks, I couldn’t have imagined a better partner than Morgan. He is a legend,” said Williams. “Grateful that Focus wanted to collaborate with us and I’m honored to share this with the world and bring people into my universe. Building with LEGO bricks encourages us to follow our imagination … who would’ve thought that playing with these toys as a kid would evolve into a movie about my life. It’s proof that anyone else can do it too.”

    Williams is a recording artist, producer, songwriter, philanthropist, fashion designer and entrepreneur with 10 billion combined global music streams to date. He has been honored with 13 Grammy Awards and two Academy Award nominations, for his original song “Happy” (Despicable Me 2) and for Best Picture-nominated Hidden Figures (2016) as producer. Williams also received a Golden Globe nomination for co-scoring the film. In 2019, Williams received an Emmy nomination for his original song “Letter to My Godfather,” for Netflix’s Black Godfather. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame for his work as The Neptunes.

    In 2018, Pharrell narrated Illumination-Universal’s The Grinch, authored the book A Fish Doesn’t Know It’s Wet and released the Netflix Original series Brainchild (2018) with his producing partner, Valdés. Other projects include Dope (2015), Roxanne Roxanne (2017), Voices of Fire (2020) and Amazon’s Harlem, which has been renewed for a third season. In February 2023, Williams was named Louis Vuitton’s new Menswear Creative Director.

    “Pharrell is a true visionary and is someone who continually pushes the boundaries of what creativity means; something very close to our hearts here at the LEGO Group,” said Wilfert, the company’s SVP of Entertainment Partners & Content. “We believe the LEGO brick is the ultimate creative medium, allowing people to build, unbuild and rebuild in as many ways as they can imagine, mirroring how Pharrell has continually innovated in his own life. Getting the opportunity to partner with him; with an incredible storyteller like Morgan Neville; and the wonderful team at Focus Features has been truly inspiring. The combined creativity of Pharrell and the LEGO brick is truly something special to see come together.”

    Williams alongside i am OTHER, Neville and the Piece By Piece film are represented by WME.

  • Terribly Terrific Inks ‘Ella Gator’ Development Deal with CeREELs

    Terribly Terrific Inks ‘Ella Gator’ Development Deal with CeREELs

    Seoul-based IP creator CeREELs has tapped veteran television creatives Mike Luzzi and Tim Shankweiler of New York studio Terribly Terrific Productions to develop a long-form animated series adapted from the popular YouTube toons, Ella Gator. The new show will make its market debut in the second half of 2024.

    Launched in 2020, Ella Gator is a series of animated music videos centered on an alligator living in the Florida Everglades with her family, who can’t seem to fit in either with her fellow reptiles or in the fascinating human world. The YouTube shorts have racked up more than 63 million views. The long-form series promises to take Ella’s adventures of self-discovery to new and exciting heights!

    You can watch the full playlist of Ella Gator on the CeREELs YouTube channel here.

    Led by Luzzi and Shankweiler, who each bring 20 years of experience in kids’ TV animation to the venture, Terribly Terrific’s mission is to create content that engages a diverse audiences through relatable characters, creative visuals and unique curricula. The studio produced the Gold Telly Award-winning Sesame Street short Sandwich Shape-Off, now streaming on Max.

    CeREELs was founded in 2019 and has since build p a stable of more than 40 original Ips and 400-plus original videos on YouTube, boasting over 97 million views. The outfit works with a range of independent musicians, artists and studios around the world to create varied and inclusive content.

    terriblyterrific.nyc

  • Netflix Snags Global Streaming Rights to Studio Ponoc Slate, Sets ‘The Imaginary’ Premiere for 2024

    Netflix Snags Global Streaming Rights to Studio Ponoc Slate, Sets ‘The Imaginary’ Premiere for 2024

    Studio Ponoc and Netflix have forged a multi-film partnership to bring animated features from the Japanese prodco to Netflix members around the world as the exclusive global streaming home of its upcoming films. The platform will also present the previously released feature Mary and the Witch’s Flower and three-part shorts collection Modest Heroes in the U.S. from February 1.

    The first new release to emerge from this partnership will be The Imaginary, based on the award-winning novel by author A.F. Harrold and illustrated by Emily Gravett, to be released on Netflix worldwide later this year following an exclusive theatrical run in Japan.

    Directed by renowned animator Yoshiyuki Momose (Spirited Away), The Imaginary portrays the depths of humanity and creativity through the eyes of young Amanda and her imaginary companion, Rudger. Their fantastical adventures launched from her attic, lead them to discover a magical world of creatures and places never before seen until a sinister force threatens to destroy their imaginary world and the friendship within it. The film is describes as an unforgettable adventure of love, loss and the healing power of imagination.

    Momose previously directed the short Life Ain’t Gonna Lose for Studio Ponoc’s Modest Heroes anthology (2018) as well Tomorrow’s Leaves, commissioned by the Olympic Foundation for Culture and Heritage for the Tokyo 2020 games’ cultural program. The Imaginary is produced in hand-drawn animation implementing “first-of-their-kind techniques of light and shadow.”

    Based in Tokyo, Studio Ponoc was founded in 2015 by two-time Oscar-nominated former Studio Ghibli producer Yoshiaki Nishimura (The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, When Marnie Was There). Nishimura serves as producer on The Imaginary as well.

    The name “Studio Ponoc” comes from the Croatian word “ponoć”, which means “midnight,” or the beginning of a new day, reflecting Nishimura’s goal of a new start for globally-appealing animation created in Japan for all audiences around the world. Its debut feature film is the critically acclaimed Mary and the Witch’s Flower (2017) by Academy Award-nominated director Hiromasa “Maro” Yonebayashi (The Secret World of Arrietty, When Marnie Was There).

    “Studio Ponoc is thrilled to bring our storytelling and innovative hand-drawn, hand-painted animated films to all audiences, and in particular to children and their families to enjoy together, around the world on Netflix,” said Nishimura. “Netflix’s genuine commitment to supporting animation as a vital and valuable storytelling medium, and to growing high-quality and trailblazing animation, makes Netflix a truly excellent partner.”

    This announcement follows a year of monumental achievements for Netflix feature animation, including Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio winning the Oscar for Best Animated Feature and Leo, starring Adam Sandler, making the biggest debut ever for a Netflix animated film.

    The Imaginary teaser key art

  • Classic Toy Co. Radio Flyer Ventures into Family Animation with New Studio

    Classic Toy Co. Radio Flyer Ventures into Family Animation with New Studio

    Today, Radio Flyer, the 107-year-old toy company and maker of the Original Little Red Wagon is announcing its latest venture into animated storytelling with a new division, Radio Flyer Studios. The family-owned, Chicago-based company aims to become a destination for family entertainment focused on stories about family, adventure, active play and outdoor exploration.

    Radio Flyer Studios will produce digital-first animated family content that will live online. The inspiration behind the new venture stems from the company’s Emmy Award-winning short film, Taking Flight (takingflightfilm.com). Produced by Moonbot Studios and directed by Academy Award winner Brandon Oldenburg (The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore), the short was produced in 2016, inspired by a century of Radio Flyer stories.

    “With the founding of Radio Flyer Studios, we will continue the work we started with Taking Flight,” says Robert Pasin, Chief Wagon Officer at Radio Flyer. “Radio Flyer’s mission is to bring smiles to kids of all ages and create warm memories that last a lifetime. The studio will bring our iconic brand to life in new ways that continue to spark the same joy and imagination that we have for over 100 years.”

    Pasin brought in kids’ media veterans to establish the new studio, including:

    • Carrie Miller, Head of Studio, will oversee business, distribution, development, and production. Miller previously worked for 15 years at Frederator Networks assisting in the marketing, distribution, development, and production of countless series for adults and children including Adventure Time, Bee and Puppycat, Bravest Warriors and the 107 Facts series. Miller was most recently COO at Augenblick Studios, a boutique studio in Brooklyn.
    • Deborah Frank, Executive Producer, will manage all stages of development and production. Frank has worked on several PBS KIDS properties including Work It Out Wombats! and Arthur at GBH Kids in Boston, as well as a variety of multiplatform and digital-first series. Most recently, she was the Supervising Producer on City Island for Future Brain Media.

    Radio Flyer Studios marks the company’s latest expansion into creating brand experiences for families. Last year, Radio Flyer opened its first-ever retail store as a hub of FUNomenal™ Radio Flyer activity with engaging ways for families to shop for and interact with the product and the brand.

    radioflyer.com

  • Coolabi & Tencent Get Purring on ‘Warrior Cats’ Animated Productions

    Coolabi & Tencent Get Purring on ‘Warrior Cats’ Animated Productions

    U.K.-based Coolabi Productions (Clangers, Scream Street, Poppy Cat) has signed a deal with China’s Tencent Video to develop its global publishing phenomenon Warrior Cats for television and film. Tencent Video, in collaboration with Coolabi, will work with the original characters and storylines to create the first official animated adaptations, aimed a global audiences.

    WarriorsWarrior Cats is a hugely successful feline fantasy book series about clans of wild cats, created by Working Partners, a Coolabi Group company. The Erin Hunter-penned series has sold over 70 million books to date which have been translated into 38 languages and been a fixture on the New York Times bestseller list for the last 16 years. The property has already expanded to graphic novels and games.

    The brand has a huge and passionate fanbase across the world, garnering over 1.7 million annual users on the official Warrior Cats website last year, half a billion views across user generated content on YouTube in 2023 alone plus almost 2 billion views on TikTok. The Warrior Cats: Ultimate Edition game on Roblox is consistently one of the highest-ranking branded games on the platform and has been played more than 430 million times.

    “We are delighted to have concluded an agreement with Tencent Video which will see Warrior Cats brought to animated life around the world,” said Jeremy Banks, CEO of Coolabi Group. “Official animation has consistently been top of the list of requests made of us by the enormous global community of Warrior Cats fans and I cannot think of a better partner to collaborate with. My team and I could not be more excited about working with the wonderful team at Tencent Video and look forward to seeing Warriors Cats on screens, big and small, across the world.”

    warriorcats.com

     

  • Trailer: ‘Royal Crackers’ Returns for Second Serving on Adult Swim Feb. 29

    Trailer: ‘Royal Crackers’ Returns for Second Serving on Adult Swim Feb. 29

    Royal Crackers

    The most-watched new Adult Swim series of 2023, the animated comedy about a dysfunctional family dynasty, Royal Crackers, premieres Thursday, February 29 at midnight ET/PT. New episodes of will be available the next day on Max.

    Created by and starring Jason Ruiz, the half-hour comedy also stars Andrew Santino (Dave, Bad Friends podcast), Jessica St. Clair (Veep, The Deep Dive podcast), David Gborie (Exploding Kittens, My Momma Told Me podcast) and Maile Flanagan (Naruto, Not Dead Yet).

    “This show is near and dear to me and our team is second to none,” said Ruiz. “I’m incredibly grateful to Adult Swim for supporting Season 2 — which explores the deeper, lighter and darker sides of The Hornsbys.”

    Royal Crackers

    S2 Synopsis: In Royal Crackers Season 2, the storylines delve deeper into brothers Stebe (Ruiz) and Theo’s (Santino) daddy issues as they’re forced to confront their father’s dark past. Theo continues to grapple with the aftermath of his fall from stardom and attempts to navigate his way towards self-acceptance. Meanwhile, Deb (St. Clair) and Stebe’s highly sexually charged relationship undergoes significant challenges, putting their bond to the test. Matt (Flanagan) struggles to fit in at school and with his family. All the while the Royal Crackers company tries to not only maintain relevance, but also to become the most popular snack food in the whole frickin’ world.

    Ruiz also serves as executive producer along with Seth Cohen (The Last Man on Earth, Hoops) and Evan Mann (Arrested Development). The series is produced by Titmouse.

  • Trailer: IFC Films Brings ‘Stopmotion’ Horror Tale to Theaters

    Trailer: IFC Films Brings ‘Stopmotion’ Horror Tale to Theaters

    Stopmotion poster

    The artist Georgia O’Keefe once said, “To create one’s own world takes courage.” … That may be especially true for the animator protagonist of Stopmotion, the new horror film directed by British filmmaker Robert Morgan which is ready to unnerve moviegoers when IFC Films launches a nationwide theatrical release on February 23. Shot in live action, the film pictures the main character’s embattled psyche through the lens of stop-frame animation.

    Synopsis: Ella Blake is a stop-motion animator who is struggling to control her demons after the loss of her overbearing mother. Suddenly alone in the world, she embarks upon the creation of a macabre new puppet film, which soon becomes the battleground for her sanity. As Ella’s mind starts to fracture, the characters in her animated film take on a terrifying life of their own, and the unleashed power of her imagination threatens to destroy her.

    Written by Morgan and Robin King, the film stars Aisling Franciosi (The Nightingale, Game of Thrones) as Ella, Stella Gonet (Breeders, Holby City) and Tom York (Poldakr, American Gods).

    Morgan is himself a stop-motion animator, having previously created the BAFTA Cymru Award-winning short film The Separation (2003) and BAFTA Film Award-nominated Bobby Yeah (2011) as well as festival hits Tomorrow I Will Be Dirt (2019), Monsters (2004) and The Cat with Hands, among others.

    Stopmotion is Morgan’s feature film directorial debut. The movie won the Special Jury Prize at Sirges and was nominated for Best Picture, and earned Morgan the Best Director prize at Fantastic Fest.

  • ‘Cradle’ Author Will Wight Joins Forces with DC Animation Director Jay Oliva for Adaptation

    ‘Cradle’ Author Will Wight Joins Forces with DC Animation Director Jay Oliva for Adaptation

    Cradle, the New York Times best-selling fantasy book series that started as a self-publishing operation a decade ago, has returned to its grassroots beginnings, teaming up with award-winning Lex+Otis Animation Studio for a Kickstarter to support an animated adaptation that will expand the stories, realm and characters of the books for fans.

    Author Will Wight, founder of Hidden Gnome Publishing, has joined forces with celebrated animation director Jay Oliva (Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox) and his Lex+Otis team to crowdfund and deliver Cradle: Unsouled, which will animate the events of the series’ first book. Depending on the level of support from fans, the project could manifest as a TV series pilot or series of episodes — achieving the initial goal would allow Lex+Otis and the Hidden Gnome Publishing team to produce a fully-realized animatic; essentially the film prior to colored animation and final polishing.

    Cradle - Village
    “Village” landscape from ‘Cradle’

    “We wanted to do this as a Kickstarter instead of seeking private funding because we wanted this to be completely a fan project,” says Wight. “Jay’s a fan, I’m a fan, and we want to bring all the Cradle fans with us on this journey. The more support we get from the fan base, the bigger and better we can tell the story, but we’re committed to telling the story no matter how much we raise.”

    The Kickstarter campaign is live, and has already achieved over half its initial goal of $1 million, courtesy of more than 3,500 backers. The Cradle: Unsouled Kickstarter ends on February 9, and includes tiered perks for supporters that range from early viewing access to the animation and unique digital artwork and story content, to physical art prints, Cradle-inspired toys and accessories, to exclusive autographed materials, a private screening and on-screen credits.

    Oliva, noted for his unparalleled work on animated films for Warner Bros. and DC, has already been deeply involved in creating character designs and storyboards for the piece, recreating the vision of Wight and his key Hidden Gnome associates, siblings Sam Wight and Rebecca Wight.

    “As we were preparing to release the 12th and final book in the series, we began discussing where we could take Cradle next — how we could bring these stories to people in another medium. We realized that we had to pursue a more visual approach to storytelling, and animation seemed the logical direction,” Will Wight explains. “At the same time, Jay approached us — he loved the stories, and I was already a fan of his work. He made a trip to visit us in Florida, and there was an instant connection. Our first priority was to ensure that any adaptation of Cradle was authentic to its source material, and Jay’s enthusiasm, his passion for the books, and his years of experience made Lex+Otis the obvious choice.”

    Cradle - Overview
    ‘Cradle’ concept artwork

    Oliva notes, “When you read a Cradle book, the stories and detailed descriptions are so vivid and iconic that it virtually begs for an animated adaptation. These are fully fleshed out characters in rich, lush environments. Even if I wasn’t the one animating it, I’d be lining up to see these stories brought to the screen.”

    Audiobook narrator and #1 New York Times best-selling author Travis Baldree has already agreed to join the adventure, providing his voice to the still-in-production sizzle reel, and setting his sights on at least one character to whom he’d like to voice.

    Visit the Cradle: Unsouled Kickstarter page here to view more materials, learn more about the project and support the animated adaptation.

  • Nuttery Ent. & Toonz Media Dream Up ‘Defenders of Imagination’ Pilot

    Nuttery Ent. & Toonz Media Dream Up ‘Defenders of Imagination’ Pilot

    Nuttery Entertainment and Toonz Media Group announce the start of the production for the pilot episode of their new animated series, Defenders of Imagination. Based on the long-running book series character Håkan Bråkan, created by best-selling Swedish authors Anders Jacobsson and Sören Olsson, the Defenders of Imagination is taking aim at Annecy to premiere its fight against boredom using a unique blend of fantasy, adventure, and comedy.

    Defenders of Imagination revolves around a dynamic and imagination-powered brother-and-sister duo and the other in habitants of their small town of Glimmerdahl. Alongside their friends, these siblings stand against the adults, led by stoic and passionless Dr. Meyn, threatening to transform the world into a dull, productive and quiet dystopia.

    “Defenders of Imagination is based on the iconic Håkan Bråkan, a character that has already won the hearts of many through the incredible works of Anders Jacobsson and Sören Olsson. The series aims to expand the universe they’ve created, and introduce new characters and adventures that will resonate with young viewers today,” said Magnus Jansson, CEO of Nuttery Entertainment. “We are thrilled to collaborate with Toonz Media Group on this production, and bring our shared creative vision for Defenders of imagination to life.”

    P. Jayakumar, CEO of Toonz Media Group, commented, “We are excited to bring Defenders of Imagination to life, a series that not only entertains but also resonates with both kids and adults. The show’s emphasis on imagination and the contrast between the whimsical world of children and the mundane world of adults makes it a perfect family viewing experience. Our collaboration with Nuttery Entertainment for Defenders of Imagination represents a fusion of artistic talents and storytelling prowess. We are confident that this series will leave a lasting impression on our young audience and inspire them to cherish the power of imagination.”

    The 11-minute, CGI-animated pilot aims to launch a full series aimed primarily at kids aged 6-9, but written to offer co-viewing opportunities for adults. The full Season 1 package will consist of 52 episodes.

    nutteryentertainment.com | toonz.co

  • Industry Veteran Rick Mischel Launches Artists Animation Studio in Canada

    Industry Veteran Rick Mischel Launches Artists Animation Studio in Canada

    Animation producer and studio executive Rick Mischel (Sony Pictures Animation, Mainframe Studios, Bardel Entertainment, Technicolor) announces today the launch of the newly formed Artists Animation Studio, headquartered in Kelowna, British Columbia. Mischel will serve as the Founder & CEO of the new venture, which has emerged from his acquisition of the award-winning Yeti Farm Creative Animation Studio (Hotel Transylvania: The Series, Summer Memories, Pete the Cat, Lower Decks, Alpha Betas).

    Joining Mischel at Artists Animation Studio are Yeti Farm Creative Animation Studio’s Co-Founder Todd Ramsay (Hotel Transylvania: The Series, Pete the Cat, D.N. Ace, Angry Birds) as Head of Animation, while Co-Founder Ashley Ramsay departs to pursue new opportunities. Dan Christman (Agent Elvis, Invincible, DinoTrux) joins as Supervising Producer, with Rachel Bepple (My Little Pony, Frog and Toad, Hotel Transylvania: The Series) named as Producer.

    “Building Yeti Farm Creative Animation Studio from the ground-up has been a thrilling experience, and Ashley and I are extremely proud of our work,” said Todd Ramsay. “It is a privilege to continue our legacy by joining Rick in this new venture as Head of Animation where we will continue to push creative boundaries as we work together to deliver high-caliber entertainment to our clients and to audiences around the world.”

    Ashley Ramsay added, “Todd and I are proud of the prestigious projects we and our creative team have developed and produced since we launched our studio in 2007. While I’ve made the difficult decision at this time to move on to new endeavors, I’m confident that with Rick’s leadership and trusted reputation and Yeti’s creative legacy, the new Artists Animation Studio will be an industry force!”

    Located in the state-of-the-art former Yeti Farm facility, Mischel and his team will continue to build on the former studio’s legacy, providing full-scale animation service capabilities from script to screen at a competitive cost for studios around the world, with the help of the region’s enhanced Canadian Tax Credit incentives. Artists Animation Studio will focus on 2D Harmony and hand-drawn animation services for adult and children’s series and films, advertising and digital content.

    “Artists Animation Studio reflects my mission to deliver a full suite of animation services, driven by artists who are committed to creative excellence and client satisfaction,” commented Mischel. “Todd and Ashley have built a top-tier animation studio, which provides us with a solid platform to further expand our service capabilities. I look forward to working together with Todd, Dan and Rachel, all whose work I have admired over the years, as well as the amazing creative talent based in Kelowna and British Columbia as we continue to grow the studio’s roster and range of projects globally.”

    With 30 years of experience in the animation industry, Rick Mischel has been an executive producer (Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Hotel Transylvania: The Series) at Sony Pictures Animation since 2014. From 2018–2022, he served as CEO of Bardel Entertainment, overseeing a team of over 400 artists and productions for some of the industry’s leading broadcasters and IP owners, including Fox, Nickelodeon, Netflix, Disney and Warner Bros. — he received an Emmy Award in 2020 as an executive producer for Bardel’s work on Rick and Morty. Prior to Bardel, Mischel served as SVP & GM of Sony Pictures Imageworks, where he launched the animation and VFX facility in Vancouver behind hits such as Hotel Transylvania, Smurfs and the Academy Award-winning feature academy award winning feature, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.

    Previously, Mischel has held several C-Level positions, including Executive Vice President of Technicolor, managing over 500 artists in the gaming and animation arena in Los Angeles and India; CEO of Mainframe Entertainment, a publicly traded CGI animation studio specializing in television series, direct-to-video features and gaming animation; and President and COO of the publicly traded The Harvey Entertainment Company, home of such brands as Casper the Friendly Ghost and Richie Rich.

    Mischel also has produced independent features films, including Suicide Kings and The Specials. He began his career as an entertainment attorney at O’Melveny & Meyers.

    Since graduating from the Classical Animation program at Vancouver Film School in 2000, Todd Ramsay has worked for over 20 years in the animation industry as a designer, animator and director at various studios such as Atomic Cartoons, Bardel, Studio B and DHX. In 2007, Ramsay and his wife Ashley co-founded the creator-driven studio Yeti Farm Creative Animation from their basement, growing the business to over 150 employees. Based in a 4,350 sq.ft. state-of-the-art studio in Kelowna, the studio’s roster of projects includes Hotel Transylvania: The Series, Pete the Cat, D.N. Ace, Angry Birds animated shorts, Rocket Monkeys, Mysticons, Camp Lakebottom, Little Charmers and Max and Ruby. The studio also created assets for many EA Sports games and provided animation/design services for several advertising agencies.

    Dan Christman has worked in animation production in various capacities for nearly 20 years. From producer and line producer to supervising producer, he has worked on many projects across a multitude of animation styles from traditional cell-based to CG and cutout and everything in between. Most recently, Christman served as line producer on Titmouse’s Agent Elvis for Netflix and Sony Pictures Animation; and served as associate producer on Wind Sun Sky Entertainment’s Invincible for Prime Video. He previously served as a supervising producer at Bardel Entertainment, co-managing a team of 10 line producers with a crew of 350 people on fifteen productions; and was a line producer on Bardel’s DinoTrux for DreamWorks and Netflix and Captain Jake and the Neverland Pirates season four for Disney.

    For over 10 years, Rachel Bepple has worked in animation production in various roles in Canada. Most recently, she was as line producer for Titmouse, managing and leading daily operations of 2D animation production in Harmony and Flash, rigged and traditional pipelines on projects, including Frog and Toad, My Dad the Bounty Hunter and The Harper House.  Previously, she was a producer at Yeti Farm Creative Animation Studio, where she served as the sole point of contact for all client, post-vendor and broadcaster interactions. Bepple began her career in animation working at DHX Media as an animatic/offline editor.

     

    Learn more at artistsanimation.com. 

  • ‘Solar Opposites’ Trailers Valentine’s Day Special: Love Is in the Air…and That Means War!

    ‘Solar Opposites’ Trailers Valentine’s Day Special: Love Is in the Air…and That Means War!

    Hulu has delivered a heart-shaped box of pain and hilarity to adult animation fans, unleashing the trailer for the new Solar Opposites Valentine’s Day special, premiering Monday, February 5.

    Titled An Earth Shatteringly Romantic Solar Valentine’s Day Opposites Special, the holiday fling sees Korvo (Dan Stevens), Yumyulack (Sean Giambrone), Terry (Thomas Middleditch) and Jesse (Mary Mack) get “romantic AF” — so much so that they become determined to royally f*** the Earth and everyone on it.

    The Solar Opposites series centers on a team of four alien scouts who are evenly split on whether Earth is awful (see human frailty, crass consumerism, pollution etc.) or awesome (with its junk food, television and other brain-rotting, body-endangering fun). Produced by 20th Television Animation and executive produced by Mike McMahan and Josh Bycel, the show is currently in its fourth season on Hulu.

  • Toei Immersive Branch ONN’ON STUDIOS Launches Virtual Anime Fes

    Toei Immersive Branch ONN’ON STUDIOS Launches Virtual Anime Fes

    Toei Animation’s new business, ONN’ON STUDIOS, announced the Virtual Anime Fes for new releases, the project’s first attempt at an event in VR space. The festival will be livestreamed on YouTube and made available on VRchat. Kicking off Saturday, January 27 at approximately 3-5 p.m. JST, the event will be free to enter and watch on either platform.

    Set to take place on the permanent virtual stage of ImaginaryPark2070, which has integrated four different spaces — from the 1956 Oizumi Gakuen Area to the Near Future Shibuya Area — Virtual Anime Fes will feature a reading stage with performances by Kojiro Shindo (voice actor Akihiro Miura) and Shuhei Asano (Kenji Akabane) from Kado: The Right Answer, as well as announcements on the release of the Kaiju Decode MR game with Clarissa (Hitomi Kikuchi) and a new film project from the production team of Expelled from Paradise.

    Many more highlights are planned under wraps for the livestream, including surprise guests.

    Virtual Anime Fes Satellite

    Additionally, SATELLITE, the limited-time, super sugoi kawaii trio made up of Toei/ONN’ON’s official characters, Memory (Momo Asakura; WWW.WORKING!!, Charlotte, FAIRY TAIL, Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story), Neiro (Shino Shimoji; Aikatsu!, Hakumei and Mikochi, SHADOWS HOUSE, THE IDOLM@STER CINDERELLA GIRLS) and Kaeru (Karin Takahashi; Dr. STONE, Chainsaw Man, THE IDOLM@STER CINDERELLA GIRLS, D4DJ Groovy Mix), will make their debut at the event.

    Fascinated by human creativity through old damaged data (e.g., anime, music and movie), the three girls who live in the near future virtual world, which has evolved through the development of digital technology, will start their musical activities in a bid to archive data from the past.

    They will be the opening act of Virtual Anime Fes, performing their two debut songs, “Yoru wa ONN’ON” and “Satellite” for the public for the first time.

    Virtual Anime Fes Events

  • iam8bit Announces Double LP ‘Maya and the Three’ Vinyl Soundtrack Set

    iam8bit Announces Double LP ‘Maya and the Three’ Vinyl Soundtrack Set

    iam8bit has announced its latest vinyl collaboration, a special two-LP soundtrack for Netflix’s Emmy Award-winning Maya and the Three. For the animated event series, creator Jorge R. Gutiérrez and his talented team brought a fantasy Mesoamerican world to life, accompanied by an evocative soundtrack. iam8bit’s set will allow listeners bathe in its soundscape while enjoying all-new album art from the show’s creators.

    The album will be available for pre-order on iam8bit.com starting January 25.

    Set in a fantastical world filled with magic, the show follows Maya, a Mesoamerican-inspired warrior princess, as she embarks on an epic quest to fulfill an ancient prophecy and save humanity from the vengeful gods of the underworld.

    Gutiérrez is a designer, writer and director who also created (with his wife, Sandra Equihua) the Emmy winning animated series El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera and directed the Guillermo del Toro-produced feature film The Book of Life.

    The musical team behind Maya and the Three has equally notable chops: Tim Davies has lead orchestrator and/or conductor credits on a wide array of projects, including WandaVision, The Last of Us, God of War, Ratchet and Clank, Frozen and Frozen 2. Gustavo Santaolalla is an award-winning composer who has worked on The Last of Us Parts I and II as well as the award-winning HBO adaptation, and on August: Osage County, The House, The Motorcycle Diaries and more. Santaolalla won two Oscars for his scores for Brokeback Mountain and Babel. The pair previously collaborated with Gutiérrez on The Book of Life.

    iam8bit’s exclusive soundtrack ($42.99) includes 31 tracks on two albums, pressed on Sun and Moon-colored vinyl. They slide into a foil-embellished gatefold jacket with cover art from Gutiérrez and reverse art from Richard Chen.

    Maya and the Three soundtrack

    Disc One

    Side A

    1. Maya’s Theme
    2. The Tecas Ride
    3. Maya Begins
    4. Vaiven
    5. Rooster Skull Puma
    6. Teca Attacks
    7. Bolom Chon
    8. Mentira

    Side B

    • Luna Y Selva
    • Rico the Rooster Wizard
    • Chimi’s Theme
    • Chimi the Skull Archer
    • Cabrakan and Cipacti
    • Hura Can
    • Picchu’s Theme

    Disc Two

    Side C

    • Picchu the Puma Warrior
    • Huapangoso
    • Ah Puch the Mysterious Goddess
    • Zatz the Prince of Bats
    • Madres
    • Lord Mictlan and Acat
    • Strong Medicine
    • The Three Fight
    • The Divine Gate

    Side D

    • Esqueletos
    • Micte’s Flashback
    • The Greatest Wizard
    • Ouroboros, the Final Fight
    • The Moon and the Sun
    • El Raspon
    • Ronroco
  • ‘The Freak Brothers’ Season 2 Lights Up Digital Retailers in February

    ‘The Freak Brothers’ Season 2 Lights Up Digital Retailers in February

    The Freak Brothers S2
    © 2023 FFFB Two, LLC. Artwork & Supplementary Materials ®, ™ & © 2024 Lions Gate Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Based on Gilbert Shelton’s underground comic The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers ― which has sold over 45 million copies since its 1971 debut ― the Tubi adult animated series The Freak Brothers Season 2 arrives on Digital on February 26 from Lionsgate (SRP $9.99).

    S2 Synopsis: The Freak Brothers’ Mary Jane-fueled misadventures will take them from their high school reunion to matching wits with Mark Zuckerberg, settling old scores with Mitch McConnell, and battling Seth Rogan in a Pot Brownie Bake-Off at the Cannabis Cup.

    Animated by Starburns Industries (Rick and Morty) and Pure Imagination Studios (The Simpsons), the series voice stars Academy Award nominee Woody Harrelson, Primetime Emmy Award winner John Goodman, Primetime Emmy Award winner Tiffany Haddish and Pete Davidson. The cast is rounded out by Adam Devine, Blake Anderson, Andrea Savage, La La Anthony and rapper ScHoolboy Q.

  • Trailer: Netflix’s ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ Begins a Journey of Elemental Mastery in February

    Trailer: Netflix’s ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ Begins a Journey of Elemental Mastery in February

    Avatar: The Last Airbender

    Next month will see Netflix hit the reset button on a beloved franchise with the launch of Avatar: The Last Airbender, a new live-action adaptation of the critically acclaimed, fan-favorite Nickelodeon animated series created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. The official trailer launched today, showcasing the VFX magic bringing the elemental powers of the show’s heroes and villains to life — as well as the fantastical creatures inhabiting their world.

    The new series (eight hour-long episodes) premieres February 22, exclusively on Netflix worldwide.

    Synopsis: Water. Earth. Fire. Air. The four nations once lived in harmony, with the Avatar, master of all four elements, keeping peace between them. But everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked and wiped out the Air Nomads, the first step taken by the firebenders towards conquering the world. With the current incarnation of the Avatar yet to emerge, the world has lost hope.

    Avatar: The Last Airbender
    (L-R) Ian Ousley as Sokka, Kiawentiio as Katara, Gordon Cormier as Aang [c/o Netflix © 2024]

    But like a light in the darkness, hope springs forth when Aang (Gordon Cormier), a young Air Nomad — and the last of his kind — reawakens to take his rightful place as the next Avatar. Alongside his newfound friends Sokka (Ian Ousley) and Katara (Kiawentiio), siblings and members of the Southern Water Tribe, Aang embarks on a fantastical, action-packed quest to save the world and fight back against the fearsome onslaught of Fire Lord Ozai (Daniel Dae Kim). But with a driven Crown Prince Zuko (Dallas Liu) determined to capture them, it won’t be an easy task. They’ll need the help of the many allies and colorful characters they meet along the way.

    Avatar: The Last Airbender
    Avatar: The Last Airbender [c/o Netflix © 2024]
    Avatar: The Last Airbender
    (L-R) Dallas Liu as Prince Zuko, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as Iroh [c/o Netflix © 2024]

    The cast also features Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as General Iroh and Elizabeth Yu as Princess Azula. Recurring cast includes Ken Leung, Amber Midthunder, Danny Pudi, Randall Duk Kim and George Takei, among many others.

    Albert Kim (Sleepy Hollow, Nikita) serves as showrunner, executive producer and writer. Jabbar Raisani (Lost in Space, Stranger Things) and Michael Goi are executive producers and directors alongside directors Roseanne Liang (also a co-executive producer) and Jet Wilkinson. Dan Lin (The LEGO Movie, Aladdin [2019]) and Lindsey Liberatore (Walker) serve as executive producers from Rideback. The show features music by Japanese-American composer for TV and video games, Takeshi Furukawa (The Last Guardian, Star Wars: The Clone Wars.