The Spark Computer Graphics Society (Spark CG), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and fostering the computer graphics industry, has announced the in-person program for its hybrid Oscar-accredited festival, Spark Animation 2023 which will be held in person in Vancouver, BC from November 9-12, and online from November 13 to December 31.
Western Canada’s biggest animation-focused event, Spark Animation’s 2023 edition will be full of premiere screenings, expert talks and illustrious guests. Tickets and passes are now on sale at sparkcg.org.
Conference Highlights
This year’s Spark conference (November 11 & 12) features presentations on some of the most high-profile animated projects of the year, including:
Nimona with co-director Troy Quane and animation supervisor Ted Ty
Elemental with animation supervisor Allison Rutland
Blue Eye Samurai with supervising director Jane Wu
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem with director Jeff Rowe
Agent Elvis with animation director Robert Valley
Spark Animation will also welcome award-winning author and historian Mindy Johnson to present on her latest ground-breaking discovery of the work of pioneering animator Bessie Mae Kelley.
Premiere Screenings
Feature films making global and local premieres at the festival (November 9-12) include:
World Premiere — The Worlds Divide, the latest film from Victoria-based independent director Denver Jackson, who will be in attendance.
BC Premiere — Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget; director Sam Fell in attendance.
Canadian Premiere — Pencils vs. Pixels; producer Tom Bancroft in attendance.
Canadian Premiere — Scarygirl; co-director Tania Vincent & creator Nathan Jurevicius in attendance.
Canadian Premiere — Slide; director Bill Plympton in attendance.
World Premiere — Ostinato, the latest project from Women in Animation Vancouver’s ACE Program; program participants in attendance.
The festival will also screen over 100 short films across seven short film programs, among them a number of North American, Canadian and regional premieres including the Canadian Premiere of Oscar-winning director Andrew Ruhemann’s The Day I Became a Bird, the Canadian Premiere of legendary director John Musker’s short film I’m Hip and the BC Premiere of legendary Canadian director Janet Perlman’s The Girl with the Red Beret.
Getting Together
As part of Spark’s commitment to engage and support the local community, the festival is expanding the offering of free screenings, including community screenings of Scarygirland Kensuke’s Kingdom, and three programs of short films.
A Career Fair (November 11) and Artist Alley featuring over 50 creators (November 12), will also be taking place during the festival and are free to attend.
At New York Comic Con, Crunchyroll confirmed the Kaiju No. 8 anime series announced in August would be coming to its streaming service in Spring 2024, subtitled and dubbed, exclusively in more than 200 countries and territories, simulcast weekly after its broadcast in Japan.
Adapted from the manga by Naoya Matsumoto, the series centers on a group of characters living in a world where giant monsters (kaiju) attack humanity and cope with the creatures’ destructive aftermath.
A special message from Matsumoto was shared during the Crunchyroll Industry Panel at NYCC:
“Hello from Japan to everyone attending New York Comic-Con. I’m the author of Kaiju No. 8, Naoya Matsumoto. It’s a story about someone struggling in a harsh world without ever giving up, in the hopes of leading people into an even slightly brighter future. To anyone dealing with the complexities of reality that reads this manga, I hope it can help make your future a little brighter, too. Next year when Kaiju No. 8 begins to air in America and worldwide, I’ll be looking forward to seeing your reactions. I hope you’re looking forward to it, too!”
Kaiju No. 8 is animated by Production I.G (Psycho-Pass, Ghost in the Shell), with kaiju artwork and design supervision by Studio Khara (Evangelion: New Theatrical Edition; pre-visualization development, Shin Godzilla).
The previously announced Japanese voice cast includes Masaya Fukunishi as Kafka Hibino/Kaiju No. 8, Wataru Katoh as Reno Ichikawa and Asami Seto as Mina Ashiro. Additional castin for the roles of Kikoru Shinomiya and Hoshino will be announced at a future date.
Husband-and-wife filmmaking team Jared and Jerusha Hess (Napoleon Dynamite, Nacho Libre) have entered the animated short Academy Awards race with Ninety-five Senses — a heartfelt tribute to the bodily experience, delivered by a death row inmate with limited time to enjoy it. Premiered at HollyShorts 2022, the film marks the Hesses’ first foray into animation, and heads into Oscars season with the Academy Awards-qualifying Grand Jury Award for Best Animated Short from the Florida Film Festival.
Tim Blake Nelson, known his roles in the Coen brothers’ O Brother Where Art Thou? and The Ballad of Buster Scruggs as well as his recurring turn as The Leader in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, lent his voice to the main character, Coy — a folksy philosopher facing his own mortality. As Coy bids a final farewell to each of his five senses, he reflects on his troubled past and dreams of a vibrant, multisensory afterlife.
Ninety-fiveSenses has been selected by 17 Oscar-qualifying film festivals around the world, winning awards at Animation Dingle in Ireland (Best International Professional Short), the Guadalajara International Film Festival in Mexico (Rigo Mora Special Jury Award) and most recently the Flickers’ Rhode Island Film Festival (First Prize, Best Short Animation).
Ninety-five Senses was produced as part of the MAST program of the non-profit Salt Lake Film Society. MAST provides grants, training and mentorship to animators and filmmakers, with a special emphasis on projects that change minds and change the world. Its program includes a fellowship, labs, mentorship, career advocacy, networking, contests, productions and funding.
The film’s producers are MAST co-founders Miles David Romney, a veteran Broadway investor and co-producer (Moulin Rouge!, Hadestown, Life of Pi), and Tori A. Baker, CEO of Salt Lake Film Society and Board VP of The Cinema Foundation. More information available at maststudio.org.
While Ninety-five Senses is their first animated short film, the Hesses also collaborated on the Netflix Original animated feature Thelma the Unicorn (2024).
Nickelodeon in India has debuted its first-ever co-production with Nickelodeon International, The Twisted Timeline of Sammy & Raj, which premiered locally on October 15 and will roll out new time traveling comedy-adventures every Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m.
The series follows the escapades of two cousins who possess a mysterious time-altering app. With the extraordinary ability to pause, rewind and fast-forward time itself, Sammy and Raj embark on a series of amusing adventures as they attempt to tackle various issues. However, their well-intentioned efforts often end up causing a comical chaos.
“The Twisted Timeline of Sammy & Raj is a collaborative testament between Nickelodeon International and us to deliver diverse, inclusive top-quality content for our young audiences,” said Anu Sikka, Viacom18’s Head – Creative, Content & Research, Kids TV Network. Filled with humor, this story of time travel is a fresh and unparalleled addition to our slate. We are confident that this show will grow to become an instant favorite, reaffirming our commitment to kids and the category.”
Chris Rose, VP of International Production & Development for Paramount’s Global Kids & Family Group, said, “The Twisted Timeline of Sammy & Raj is the successful result of our partnership with Viacom18. Thanks to an extensive collaboration and strong teamwork, we managed to create a powerful story that explore differences between Eastern and Western sensibilities. The team in India was key to creating the story line and defining the characters for a kids’ show which gives audiences a taste of Indian culture, while capturing universal storylines that appeal to all audiences.”
Supporting the series launch is a multi-screen marketing plan across the Nickelodeon franchise — including social media, digital platforms, games, connected TV and influencer collaborations. The campaign also features an AR filter which will transport kids in time by altering their appearance.
The Twisted Timeline of Sammy & Raj joins a Nickelodeon lineup of Indian animation originals, including Motu Patlu, Shiva, Rudra, Pinaki & Happy – The Bhoot Bandhus, Chikoo Aur Bunty and Abhimanyu Ki Alien Family.
EVP Victoria Lozano took to the stage at MIPJunior in Cannes on Sunday to set out the vision and inspiration behind Crayola Studios’ move into entertainment content. Delivering the Keynote presentation, Lozano stressed the long-term commitment to Crayola Studios, revealed the insights that helped inform the decision and announced a significant new production deal with 9 Story Media Group.
“As world leaders in creative self-expression, the move is a logical next step for the brand,” said Lozano. “With the establishment of Crayola Studios, we seek to inspire and nurture the next generation and help them develop lifelong creative mindsets. I believe Crayola’s unique perspective and its long-standing mission and values present an exciting opportunity for the industry as it searches for and develops stand-out new entertainment content with creative self-expression at its heart.”
Research undertaken by Crayola demonstrates that parents are on board with Crayola’s move into entertainment content, with Crayola Studios receiving a 94% appeal rating. At least 95% of respondents said they expected shows from Crayola Studios to be highly entertaining, creative and educational, as well as more creative than other shows currently available. Lastly, interest in individual show concepts grew by an average of 75% when parents learned these would be presented by Crayola Studios.
“Parents value creativity, but many are looking for help to nurture it in their kids. Creativity is a life skill critical to future potential. So, it is only natural for Crayola, that has been a trusted part of kids’ and families’ lives for over a century, to take on a role of championing and celebrating children’s creative self-expression,” explained Lozano. “Crayola has a unique perspective, one that we’ve translated into key tenets for entertainment revealing a white space in the industry. No one does — or frankly can do — this the way Crayola can.”
In addition to outlining the genesis of and rationale behind Crayola Studios, Lozano unveiled the company’s significant development, production co-financing and licensing deal with 9 Story Media Group. Crayola Studios will work with the award-winning content creator, producer and distributor on series development, with 9 Story handling production and distribution and Crayola managing the licensing and merchandising for the franchises.
The first title in the multi-project deal, in active development in partnership with MIMO Studios, is The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian. The animated adaptation of Gen-Z Media’s award-winning kids’ podcast written and performed by Jonathan Messinger with the help of his son. A first-look is being presented to buyers at MIP.
“We are excited to work with 9 Story and this strong partnership demonstrates Crayola’s ambition for our move into kids’ content,” Lozano commented. “Our aim is to work with best-in-class creators, studios and distribution partners who share our vision in creating inspiring, joyful, and encouraging new multi-genre content. We know 9 Story’s outstanding expertise and flair will help us to achieve something special.”
Vince Commisso, President & CEO of 9 Story Media Group, said, “Crayola is a brand trusted by families worldwide for generations. We’re very happy to be teaming up with them to develop content that explores the limitless possibilities of children’s creativity. Their unique insight into the creative self-expression of kids, coupled with our industry experience and expertise opens up incredible possibilities to produce a range of content that families worldwide will take into their hearts.”
Apple TV+ today released the trailer for the new animated, spooky adventure series for kids from DreamWorks Animation, Curses!, premiering just in time for Halloween on Friday, October 27.
When a generations-long family curse turns Alex Vanderhouven to stone, it’s up to his two kids, Pandora and Russ, along with his wife Sky, to return artifacts stolen by their ancestors to their rightful homes and finally lift the curse for good.
The family-oriented series is created and executive produced by Jim Cooper (DreamWorks Dragons) and Jeff Dixon (The Hurricane Heist). John Krasinski (A Quiet Place Parts I & II) also serves as executive producer with Allyson Seeger (Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan) as co-executive producer. Leo Riley (Guardians of the Galaxy, Tron: Uprising) is supervising producer, with Chris Copeland (Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts) and Justin Copeland (Wonder Woman: Bloodlines) serving as creative consultants.
The series features the voice talents of Emmy Award nominee Gabrielle Nevaeh (Monster High) as Pandora, Andre Robinson (The Loud House) as Russ, Emmy Award nominee Lyric Lewis (Waffles + Mochi) as Sky, SAG Award winner Reid Scott (Veep) as Alex, Rhys Darby (Our Flag Means Death) as Stanley, James Marsters (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) as Larry, Emmy Award winner Rhea Perlman (Barbie) as Margie, Tony Award winner Phylicia Rashad (A Raisin in the Sun) as Georgia Snitker and Robert Englund (A Nightmare on Elm Street) as Cornelius.
Read all about the conjuring of Curses! in Animation Magazine‘s supersized awards season kickoff issue (December ’23, No. 335), available soon.
The Crunchyroll Industry Panel at New York Comic Con 2023 was held Friday afternoon in the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City, offering a world premiere of the trailer for Bye Bye, Earth (coming in 2024), a first look at Classroom of the EliteSeason 3 and announcing a slate of new series, including Kaiju No. 8 (April 2024).
Crunchyroll originally announced Bye Bye, Earth in November 22. The original anime series is created by author and screenwriter Tow Ubukata (Fafner in the Azure) and directed by Yasuto Nishikata (Seven Deadly Sins the Movie: Prisoners of the Sky), with series composition by Hiroyuki Yoshino (Macross F; World Trigger) and music composed by Kevin Penkin (Made in Abyss; The Apothecary Diaries). LIDEN FILMS (Tokyo Revengers; Bastard!! Heavy Metal Dark Fantasy) is behind the animation.
Synopsis: In a world of anthropomorphic animals, Belle Lablac was born as the only human being. Having no fangs, fur, or scales, she was called “Faceless,” and she lived a lonely life with no one else she could identify with.
“I want to be part of the world…”
With such longing in her heart, she decides to set out on a journey to find her roots, carrying the Runding, a great sword as tall as she is. She doesn’t know how many adversities await her along the way…
This masterpiece by the remarkable Tow Ubukata is considered to be his origin, and many have deemed it impossible to animate. But at long last, it will be adapted into anime form by the top creators that represent Japan!
The anime platform also announced that pre-registration is now open for the upcoming online action game One Punch Man: World on Windows PC, iOS, and Android. The title hails from Crunchyroll Games and Perfect World (Tower of Fantasy), based on the global hit anime.
Plus, the Crunchyroll Store is ready for holiday shoppers. Joining the 30,000-plus items (including 17,000 manga titles) available, new NYCC merch including Attack on Titan-themed watches; a Chainsaw Man Pochita Otaku Lamp; a new Trigun Funko Pop featuring Vash and Kuroneko; and a Sailor Moon Glitter Version FiGPiN will be available soon, while supplies last. Fans can also save up to 20% on manga and 25% on home video every day.
New Series Coming Soon to Crunchyroll
Classroom of the Elite Season 3 | Studio: Lerche | January 2024
Synopsis: Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School is a dream school which boasts a 100% employment and college entry rate and gifts points worth 100,000 yen to each of its students every month. Beneath that ideal exterior, though, it’s a meritocracy, affording preferential treatment to only a select few elites. With the third term approaching, Ayanokouji and his classmates, having moved up from Class D to Class C, are heading out for a school camping trip. There, they face a special exam known as the “mixed training camp” in which all class years participate. As the name suggests, groups of men and women are created from students from all classes, and the individual groups are scored. The students all tremble as they’re forced to work with students who were previously enemies to achieve high scores, facing the threat that any group that doesn’t achieve a certain benchmark will be expelled! The tumultuous third term is about to begin!
Spice and Wolf: merchant meets the wise wolf | Passione | Coming Soon
Synopsis: Lawrence is a traveling merchant selling various goods from a horse-drawn cart. One day, he arrives at a village and meets a beautiful girl with the ears and tail of an animal! Her name is Holo the Wisewolf and she brings bountiful harvests. She wishes to return to her homeland, and Lawrence offers to take her. Now, the once-lonely merchant and the once-lonely wisewolf begin their journey north. (Trailer)
The Unwanted Undead Adventurer | CONNECT | 2024
Synopsis: Rentt Faina has hunted monsters for the last 10 years. Sadly, he’s not great at his job, stuck hunting slimes and goblins for a few coins each day. His luck turns when he finds an undiscovered path. At the path’s end, he meets his demise in the maw of a legendary dragon. But, he wakes up as an undead bag of bones! He sets out to achieve Existential Evolution and rejoin the land of the living. (Trailer)
7th Time Loop: The Villainess Enjoys a Carefree Life Married to Her Worst Enemy!| Studio KAI and HORNETS | 2024
Synopsis: Rishe Irmgard Weitzner, a duke’s daughter, has a secret: she died at the age of 20 and returned to the moment five years prior when her engagement was called off. She has already experienced this time loop six times and lived out those five years a different way each time, as a merchant, a doctor, a maid, a knight, and more. Now, on her seventh go-around, she’s determined to live to a ripe old age and spend it relaxing. But the moment she flees the castle with that decision in her heart, she runs into the infamously cruel crown prince of a rival kingdom, Arnold Hein. He happens to be the one who killed her during her life as a knight, but now, he seems to have taken a bizarre liking to her … and begs her to become his wife. Thus, in order to stay alive and prevent a war, Rishe utilizes her previous experiences to kick off her seventh life as the bride of an enemy nation’s crown prince. (Trailer)
Sengoku Youko | WHITE FOX | January 2024
Synopsis: The world is divided into two factions: humans and monsters called katawara. Despite being a katawara, Tama loves humans and vows to protect them from evil, even if it means fighting her own kind. Her brother Jinka, however, hates humans, despite mostly being one. The siblings are joined by a cowardly swordsman named Shinsuke, who wants to learn how to become strong. When the group uncovers a plot to experiment on humans and transform them into monsters, they vow to defeat whoever is behind it… Even if it means battling an entire army of warriors. (Trailer)
The Foolish Angel Dances with the Devil | Children’s Playground Entertainment | Coming Soon
Synopsis: Masatora Akutsu, a demon on a recruitment mission in a human high school, is drafting allies for Hell against the heavenly angels. But when seated beside the captivating Lily Amane, he’s in for a devilishly hilarious celestial surprise! (Trailer)
My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! Movie | SILVER LINK. | Coming Soon
Series Synopsis: Wealthy heiress Catarina Claes is hit in the head with a rock and recovers the memories of her past life. It turns out the world she lives in is the world of the game Fortune Lover, an otome game she was obsessed with in her past life… but she’s been cast as the villain character who tries to foil the protagonist’s romances! The best ending the game has for Catarina is exile, and the worst, death! She’ll have to find a way to avoid triggering the flags of doom, and make her own happy future! The misunderstanding-based screwball love comedy now begins! (Trailer)
Beginning on October 16 in honor of The Walt Disney Company’s 100th anniversary, first-of-its-kind digital destination is launching within TikTok. Fans will be able to watch videos from across Disney’s brands, create their own videos with Disney music and effects, play daily Disney trivia, and collect and trade “Character Cards” to win unique profile frames to show off their fandom.
“The Walt Disney Company has an incredible legacy of bringing joy and excitement to a global community through its iconic films and TV series, heartwarming characters, thrilling parks and memorable brands,” said Nicole Iacopetti, Global Head of Content, TikTok. “We’re thrilled to partner with Disney to celebrate the company’s undeniable impact on entertainment and on families around the world, starting by giving TikTok’s passionate community of Disney fans unique access to content and experiences they can’t find anywhere else. We look forward to continuing to partner alongside Disney to give our community new and exciting opportunities to enjoy their favorite content.”
With more than 48 Disney handles participating, the four-week activation will be live in 24 regions around the globe, highlighting the breadth of content from The Walt Disney Company. Fans of Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, Marvel, ESPN, National Geographic, Disney Parks and more can expect daily content connections with their favorite characters, franchises, movies and Disney memories. The company boasts more than 150 million followers across its brand-operated TikTok accounts
“For more than 100 years, Disney has been a leader in creative innovation and storytelling, so we are thrilled to continue that legacy with this first-of-its-kind experience on TikTok,” said Asad Ayaz, Chief Brand Officer of The Walt Disney Company. “With over 240 billion views across Disney’s portfolio of brands and experiences, TikTok has become a go-to destination for Disney fans to create, engage and connect around their favorite Disney films, shows, characters and experiences, so we’re thrilled to partner with them as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the company.”
TikTok is also curating a special Disney100 Playlist for our community featuring some of the most popular hits from the Disney catalog, including songs from classic movies like Cinderella and The Lion King as well as the upcoming Wish, alongside hits from the likes of Toy Story and and more.
In addition to launch of the Disney100 hub, Disney will become a TikTok Pulse Premiere publisher, allowing advertisers to deliver ads adjacent to some of the most premium entertainment and sports content in the world only from Disney on TikTok’s For You feed. (Details about Pulse Premiere contextual advertising here.)
Showmax has released a trailer for Twende — the first Showmax Original 2D animated series. The show follows a pangolin — an endangered species which is the slowest on the savannah and the most-trafficked type of animal in the world — who makes up for his natural lack of speed by driving a motorcycle taxi.
“Twende’s belief that, ‘life is about the journey, not the destination’ is constantly at odds with his job as a boda boda driver in the bustling, fictional East African city of Milima,” says South African showrunner Greig Cameron, who also wrote and directed Seal Team, which cracked the Netflix Global Top 10 film list in January last year, as well as the hit soccer animated series, Supa Strikas.
The series pilot debuted at Annecy 2021, and the trailer was recently premiered at the Cape Town International Animation Festival. MultiChoice Studios is handling international sales and will present Twende at MIPCOM next week.
Twende is voiced by Junior Nyong’o (The Legend of Lwanda Magere, Hamlet), while June Gachui (Crime and Justice, Nairobi Half Life) plays his unlikely best friend and navigator, Nuru — a whip-smart bird (specifically, a lilac-breasted roller, Kenya’s national bird) who always looks out for her bestie, even if his chilled-out vibe drives her crazy sometimes. Kalasha Awards nominee Elsaphan Njora (Super Sema, Kati Kati) voices Boss, the perennially broke and exhausted hyena who owns the boda boda agency where Nuru and Twende work. He’s a single dad with more mouths to feed than he can count.
The all-Kenyan voice cast also includes Charles Ouda (Crime and Justice) as showy stunt driver Kimbe and Mkamzee Mwatela (Mali) as Boss’s rival, Madam Mongoose, CEO of the evil tech empire Goober. Kalasha Awards winner Nyokabi Macharia (Super Sema), Joyce Musoke (Second Family) and seasoned voice actor and director Khaemba W. Edward (Ogas at the Top, The XYZ Show) provide additional voices.
The concept was created by Charlie Maas and Regan Riskas Maas while they were touring East Africa. “My older brother is always late, so we were constantly yelling at him, ‘Let’s go. Let’s go. Let’s go.’ And the guide started saying, ‘Twende! Twende!’” says D&AD and Cannes Lions winner Charlie Maas. “So his nickname for the trip became ‘Twende the Pole Pole Man.’ We wrote the original theme song in the back of that Jeep and sang it about 100 times over the next few days.”
Regan Riskas Maas (assoc. producer, Transformers: Age of Extinction) adds, “Driving through Nairobi later, we were astounded by the traffic. We couldn’t believe the many matatu buses and boda boda drivers weaving in and out of traffic. That really left an imprint on us, so we started to imagine the slowest man on the Savannah driving a boda boda, and what that might look like. And so, in true Twende fashion, it took a long, meandering yet overwhelmingly positive journey to get from there to where we are now.”
The creators felt it was important to enlist local writers, directors and animators to bring the concept to life, which they did through a partnership between London-based Braintrust and Mind’s Eye Creative in Johannesburg — a leading 2D studio in South Africa which has created award-winning international content for Cartoon Network, Disney XD, Netflix, Nickelodeon and more for over a decade.
Twende’s co-creators are South Africans Mike Scott, a Triggerfish Story Lab winner who has well over 100M views on YouTube, and Kayla Archer (DISCOP Animation Du Monde pitch finalist Hiraeth). The writing team includes Zambian Malenga Mulendema, who created Netflix’s first African animated series, Supa Team 4; Nigerian Vanessa Kanu (Supa Team 4, Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire); Kenyan J. Njogu Macharia, winner of ScreenCraft Animation Competition 2021 and Coverfly Pitch Week 2022 finalist; and South African head writer Sheldon Bengtson, a DISCOP Joburg Animation Pitch winner who was shortlisted for the Triggerfish Story Lab.
Twende also features original music from Kenyan producer and Kalasha winner Eric Musyoka (Rafiki), with a score by top South African music studios The Music Works, Phonographic and Pressure Cooker Studios.
While the subject of animal poaching isn’t directly addressed in this light-hearted comedy, the producers hope their animated pangolin star will help spread awareness of the species and the threats facing them.
“It’s such a shame that this is happening to this amazing and unique animal,” says Kenyan executive producer Kwame Nyong’o (Annecy official selection, The Wonderful Story of Aisha, Ali and Flipflopi the Multicoloured Dhow Boat), who was also part of the team behind the multi-award-winning Most Eligible Bachelor Tinder campaign with the Ol Pejeta Conservancy for the last Northern White Rhino on Earth. “Twende is a super silly show, but we hope that, between all the humour and all the hijinks, our audience will fall in love with pangolins as much as we have and do their part to help protect them.”
Twende will premiere on Showmax across Africa on December 4. New episodes will roll out on Saturdays.
As part of its VIZ Originals line, publisher VIZ Media has launched a one-shot submissions portal which will see American aspiring creators published alongside Japanese legends such as Rumiko Takahashi, Junji Ito and Haro Aso via the VIZ Manga digital service. The new platform will produce bite-size original manga stories covering a variety of interests from horror to comedy and from action to romance, all locally created by debut and seasoned writers.
The Japanese one-shot model for serialization is a highly successful avenue to launch new manga creators: A one-shot (a complete story running between 15-60 pages) is published for an already built-in audience who then determine whether it should go on to be serialized as a manga series.
Leading the acquisitions is former Weekly Shonen Jump Editor-in-Chief Hisashi Sasaki, who oversaw the prestigious Japanese manga magazine at a time when some of the most admired and highest grossing creators were being serialized, including Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece, Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto and Tite Kubo’s Bleach.
“In Japan, a yomikiri or one-shot story has a proven track record for producing hit manga, and I’m thrilled to implement this method at VIZ for local writers in the U.S.,” said Sasaki. “I’m particularly excited to work with aspiring mangaka as Japanese pop culture continues to keep fans enthused and wanting more.”
Creators whose submissions are selected will also have the opportunity to work closely with editor Sasaki, making VIZ Media the only publisher in the U.S. to offer this experience domestically. Until now, manga-influenced creators who aspire to work with Japanese editors have had to travel to Tokyo for such an opportunity.
Additionally, successful one-shots can access tap into all VIZ Media’s operations have to offer, including the licensing and establishing of an IP as an ongoing series for digital and print formats, producing their story into an anime, and the production of consumer products.
Visit the VIZ Originals submission portal to learn more and submit your next-hit idea: viz.com/create.
Comedian and voice actor Kevin McDonald joins fellow Kids in the Hall creator Bruce McCulloch in Lakeside Animation Studios’ upcoming adult animated series Paralegal. Also joining the cast is Canada’s Got Talent finalist Courtney Gilmour, and the award-winning comedy troupe of TallBoyz (Tim Blair, Guled Abdi, Franco Nguyen and Vance Banzo).
The series follows Jerry, an eager to please junior lawyer, who teams up with Luther, a recently deceased super-slick attorney to create a law firm catering to ghosts. With the help of the legal and supernatural experts in Jerry’s own immediate family, they work together to right the wrongs that were done to their clients, living and/or dead.
McDonald will voice a mystical Llama who dictates the karmic fates of all souls in the universe, while McCulloch will voice Jerry’s nemesis, Marlon Brisk — a local crime lord/spirit medium.
The series is created by Tim Blair (TallBoyz), Jeremy Dobski (Just For Laughs) and Matt Lyon (Arctic Dogs, Red Iron Road).
Lakeside Owner/Executive Producer Iouri Stepanov and Chief Content Officer Aron Dunn will be presenting the project to networks, platforms, distributors and financiers at MIPCOM in Cannes (contact Dunn for more information, aron.dunn@lakesideanimation.com). The project is in active development. A fully illustrated pitch deck and pilot script are available. Lakeside is producing an animated teaser that will be available this winter.
Lion Forge Entertainment announced today it has set a first-look deal with award-winning Nigerian creator and producer Roye Okupe, founder of YouNeek Studios and creator of the YouNeek YouNiverse. Okupe and Lion Forge are currently working together on the animated fantasy series Iyanu (Max / Cartoon Network), based on Okupe/YouNeek Studios’ and Dark Horse Comics’ award-winning graphic novel Iyanu: Child of Wonder.
“Roye Okupe’s incredible talent as a creator, writer and director is a testament to his dedication to storytelling that resonates with audiences of all backgrounds,” says David Steward II, Founder & CEO of Lion Forge Entertainment. “His creative vision aligns seamlessly with Lion Forge’s mission to offer diverse, culturally rich narratives that allow children to see themselves represented on screen. We are honored to embark on this journey with Roye and explore the boundless potential of the YouNeek YouNiverse.”
Under the deal, Lion Forge will adapt Okupe’s bestselling graphic novels (published through Dark Horse Comics) for TV, film and games, including Malika: Warrior Queen, E.X.O. – The Legend of Wale Williams, WindMaker and The Oloris. Okupe will also collaborate on Lion Forge’s own original projects as a developer, writer and/or director for the studio. The partnership also expands Lion Forge’s Iyanu rights to include live action.
“I am delighted to call Lion Forge Entertainment my creative home. They have shown unwavering support for my vision of Iyanu and the YouNeek YouNiverse, and I am eager to work closely with them on bringing these stories to life,” says Okupe. “This partnership not only strengthens our commitment to authentically represent Nigerian and African stories but also opens the door to new, original projects within the YouNeek YouNiverse and Lion Forge’s exciting originals. Together, we aim to make a lasting impact on the world of entertainment.”
Stephanie Sperber, CCO of Lion Forge Entertainment, adds, “I look forward to exploring Roye’s captivating YouNeek YouNiverse and collaborating closely with him to develop additional authentic and compelling content for kids and families around the world. Together, we aspire to create generational stories that entertain and inspire.”
Production is currently underway on the Iyanu animated series. Lion Forge will introduce the project to global distributors at MIPCOM next week, offering a look into Iyanu’s captivating world as an epic superhero tale steeped in Nigerian culture, music and mythology. Okupe will also be discussing all things Iyanu (including offering an exclusive first look) during Dark Horse’s “World of Iyanu” panel this Sunday at New York Comic Con.
Born and raised in Lagos, Okupe is an accomplished author and filmmaker whose passion for comics and animation drove him to found YouNeek Studios in 2015. Through this platform, he has pursued his vision to create an interconnected universe of superhero and fantasy stories that draw inspiration for African history, culture and mythology.
Leading anime platform Crunchyroll has launched a new 24/7 channel fully dedicated to the booming artform of anime. The channel is now available on LG Channels, The Roku Channel and VIZIO WatchFree+, coming to Amazon Freevee on October 17.
The Crunchyroll channel offers a telecast schedule of fan-favorite catalog anime. Series available at launch include Horimiya, Ranking of Kings, Moriarty the Patriot, PSYCHO–PASS, Arifureta, Sugar Apple Fairytale, To Your Eternity and Code Geass. New and premium anime content will remain on Crunchyroll’s SVOD and AVOD services.
The network will be programmed with dubbed series in English at launch. Other promotional, genre and theme programming blocks will be scheduled for viewers to sample the wide range of anime being created from Japan.
“The Crunchyroll channel is a gateway to the world of anime where we will guide viewers to discover new worlds, new stories and new characters,” said Rahul Purini, President of Crunchyroll. “And thanks to our distribution partners at launch, millions of fans have easy access to the medium that is taking the world by storm!”
The channel is a collaboration between Sony Pictures Entertainment’s Crunchyroll and GSN.
At New York Comic Con today, Adult Swim announced a new stop-motion series Women Wearing Shoulder Pads, which follows a wealthy Spaniard living in Ecuador as she journeys through the complicated world of love, family, commercials and cuyes, a.k.a. South American guinea pigs. The new series will mark Adult Swim’s first-ever Spanish-language series along with its return to the stop-motion animation format.
During the panel, the network also announced the third season renewal of the animated comedy YOLO from Smiling Friends co-creator Michael Cusack. With a second season that ranked #2 in its timeslot across cable in key demos, the third installment, YOLO: Rainbow Trinity will follow Australian best friends Sarah and Rachel on even more absurd and fantastical adventures.
Women Wearing Shoulder Pads is a quarter-hour comedy that features an all-female cast and centers on Marioneta, an extremely wealthy and ambitious Spaniard living in South America pursuing business and pleasure.
Produced entirely in Spanish, with English subtitles, the series comes from creator Gonzalo Cordova (writer/producer, Tuca & Bertie, Adam Ruins Everything) in partnership with Mexico City-based studio Cinema Fantasma (Frankelda’s Book of Spooks).
“While we’ve all seen a million stop-motion shows in Spanish featuring an all-female cast centered on the plight of guinea pigs, Gonzalo’s unique voice and the visually rich stop-motion from Cinema Fantasma meant that we couldn’t pass up on Women Wearing Shoulder Pads,” said Michael Ouweleen, President, Adult Swim. “We are also big fans of Michael Cusack’s creative vision, and it’s a huge win for us to continue working with him on the hilarious YOLO.”
Disney Junior’s music-filled first-responder toon Firebuds is ready to spring back into action for Season 2, premiering Wednesday, November 1 as a simulcast on Disney Channel and Disney Junior at 12 p.m. (noon) EDT/PDT. A first batch of S2 episodes will also launch on Disney+ and other on-demand platforms the same day, and the season premiere will be available on Disney Junior YouTube.
From Emmy-winning creator and executive producer Craig Gerber (Elena of Avalor, Sofia the First), Firebuds follows a team of young kids who are the children of first responders, and their talking vehicle sidekicks, as they learn what it truly means to be a hero. Produced by Disney Television Animation, each episode is comprised of two 11-minute stories and at least one new original song.
Season 2 features a forest rescue theme, and finds the Firebuds crew joined by some new friends and equipped with new gear to use in the great outdoors. Throughout the new season, the Firebuds embark on daring forest rescues while continuing to help their neighbors in Gearbox Grove.
Some of these new emergency preparedness pals are voiced by notable guest stars, including:
Adam Pally (Happy Endings) as Diamond Diesel Dave
Ariel Winter (Sofia the First) as Calamity Train
Bret McKenzie (Flight of the Conchords) as Uncle Hugh
Dante Basco (American Dragon: Jake Long) as Caesar Bayani
Diedrich Bader (American Housewife) as Carlowe
Ernie Hudson (Ghostbusters) as Chase Thunderstock
Harvey Guillén (Mickey Mouse Funhouse) as Uncle Tad
Jack McBrayer (Wreck-It Ralph) as Harvey the RV
Lea Salonga (Mulan) as Yolanda Yamada
Leisha Hailey (American Dad!) as Annie Spokely
Punkie Johnson (Saturday Night Live) as Cousin Fanny
Returning guest stars include Aimee Carrero (Marina Ramirez), Atticus Shaffer (Wayne Riley), Allison Case (Viv Vega-Vaughn), Brandon Victor Dixon (Jamal Jones), Deedee Magno Hall (Lola Belen), JB Tadena (Lolo Ben), José Andrés (Chef Al), Keith David (Manny Kablamee), LaChanze (Jenna), Lauren “Lolo” Spencer (Jazzy Jones), Lisa Loeb (Laura), Nat Faxon (Throttle), Natalie Morales (Val Vega-Vaughn), Oscar Nuñez (Chef Fernando), Rich Sommer (Mr. Wexell), Melissa Rauch (Beth Bayani), Pamela Adlon (Principal Kagan), Padma Lakshmi (Chef Pavani), “Weird Al” Yankovic (Latch).
The show’s regular lead cast is Declan Whaley (Bo), Carter Jones (Flash), Vivian Vencer (Violet), Lily Sanfelippo (Axl), JeCobi Swain (Jayden), Caleb Paddock (Piston), Lou Diamond Phillips (Chief Bill Bayani) and Yvette Nicole Brown (Chief Faye Fireson).
Gerber is creator/executive producer of Firebuds, working alongside producer Craig Simpson, supervising director Robb Pratt, story editors Krystal Banzon and Jeremy Shipp, songwriter Beau Black and composer Frederik Wiedman.
Fans of the Firebuds crew can also look for Disney Junior Music: Firebuds digital soundtrack EP from Walt Disney Records; storybooks from Disney Publishing; and an innovative toy line including vehicles, figures and playsets from Spin Master, the North American toy licensee for the series. New Halloween costumes featuring Bo, Violet and Flash are currently available from Disguise and on-sale on Amazon.com. Additionally, Bo and Flash are featured in Disney Junior Live On Tour: Costume Palooza which is currently making stops at more than 60 North American cities throughout 2023.
Netflix has unsheathed a thrilling full-length trailer for its visually striking adult animated drama Blue Eye Samurai, which premieres November 3 on the streamer.
Created by series executive producers and writers Amber Noizumi and Michael Green (writer of Logan and Blade Runner 2049), the eight-part series is set in Edo-period Japan and follows a mixed-race woman who turns her well-honed martial arts skills toward revenge.
In the new spot, blood sprays and flames rage as we learn about the violent origins of our antihero, Mizu (voiced by Maya Erskine) and catch glimpses of her quest to find the man who made her ‘a monster.’ Along the way, her reputation as a demon with the sword precedes her, and strained alliances are forged…
Masi Oka (Heroes) as Ringo, an overeager, loyal soba maker who leaves his father to apprentice with Mizu and guide her on her quest for revenge. He yearns to be a great samurai despite being born with no hands.
Darren Barnet (Never Have I Ever) as Taigen, achiseled samurai revered as an undefeated warrior until Mizu bests him at his dojo and ruins his engagement to Akemi. He vows to restore his honor by killing Mizu, but the two forge a complicated friendship.
Brenda Song (Amphibia) as Akemi, the gilded yet determined daughter of Lord Daichi of the Tokonobu clan, Akemi dreams of controlling her own fate. After her engagement to Taigen is thwarted, she sets out on the open road.
George Takei (Star Trek) as Seki, Akemi’s kind and wise attendant who spent years raising her.
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (The Last Emperor) as The Swordmaker, a renowned bladesmith, also known as Master Eiji. After losing his eyesight in a fire, he has learned to use fire to make fearsome blades. The Swordmaker takes Mizu in and becomes a father figure to her while training her to make swords.
Randall Park (Fresh Off the Boat) as Heiji Shindo, a trader of flesh, opium, and guns, and partner to Western trader Abijah Fowler. He plots to take control of the Shogunate with Fowler.
Kenneth Branagh (A Haunting in Venice) as Abijah Fowler, Mizu’s potential father and main target. He’s an illegal trader from Ireland with perverse, violent tendencies and aims to kill the Shogun and break open Japan’s borders to Western influences.
Supporting voice cast includes Stephanie Hsu (Everything Everywhere All at Once) as sarcastic brothel employee Ise; Ming-Na Wen (The Mandalorian) as the business-minded yet wise and protective brothel owner, Madame Kaji; Harry Shum Jr. (Crazy Rich Asians) as the Shogun’s son, Takayoshi, who struggles with a stammer; and Mark Dacascos (Hawaii Five-O) as the fearsome assasin gang leader, Chiaki — among others.
Jane Wu is supervising director and producer for Blue Eye Samurai. writers include Noizumi, Green and Yana Billie-Chung; directors include Wu, Green, Ryan O’Loughlin, Earl A. Hibbert, Alan Wan, Sunny Sun and Alan Taylor. Executive producers are Green, Noizumi and Erwin Stoff.
The BBC and Magic Light Pictures (magiclightpictures.com) have released a first look at their next Christmas animated adventure, Tabby McTat, a story set on the streets of London about the warm and wonderful friendship between a musical cat and a talented busker called Fred.
“Tabby McTat is such a beautiful story about embracing change and the transitions in life as well — from childhood to adulthood and people going on journeys. There is so much warmth and celebration of family and community, but then there’s also, the moments of fear and loss that is often a gain,” said Jodie Whittaker (Doctor Who), who narrates the special.
“We had cats when we were growing up. My cat gave birth under my bed, and it was magical. But then as a child you realize your parents don’t let you keep them all. ‘What? I thought we were going to have five kittens forever.’ But I was lucky, and I did get to keep one of them. Its name was phenomenal — Wicket W. Warrick, named after an Ewok — and it had an older brother called Teebo, another Ewok! And my cat was beautiful, very beautiful with long brown hair and looked like an Ewok and with a personality very similar to mine — needy and a bit feral!”
The film, for BBC One and BBC iPlayer, is adapted from the successful picture book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler. It marks the 11th animated special adapted from their work produced by Magic Light Pictures for the BBC.
“The story is very special to me because as well as having been a busker myself, I’m also a great cat lover,” Donaldson noted. “At the time I wrote it we had cats, but they were very old and alas, are no more. But now we have two Tabby cats and they’re called Tabitha and McTat.”
Tabby McTat also features the voices of Rob Brydon (Gavin and Stacey) as Fred, Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísú (Gangs of London) as Tabby, Cariad Lloyd (Peep Show) as Prunella, Joanna Scanlan (The Thick of It) as Pat and Susan Wokoma (Enola Holmes) as Sock.
The film is directed by the Superworm duo Sarah Scrimgeour and Jac Hamman, written by Max Lang and Suzanne Lang, and produced by Barney Goodland and Michael Rose of Magic Light Pictures. Tabby McTat was acquired by Charlotte Moore, BBC Chief Content Officer and Nawfal Faizullah, BBC Drama Commissioning Editor. Animation services are provided by Red Star Studio.
Tabby McTat – first look image [Magic Light Pictures]
Adam Sandler brings a classroom pet lizard in his golden years to life in Leo, the new CG-animated family feature coming to Netflix on November 21. Sandler’s Happy Madison produced the comedy-adventure, which was also written by the comedy icon alongside Robert Smigel and Paul Sado.
In the official trailer released today, viewers are whipped along on Leo’s tail as he tastes freedom outside the terrarium and inspires the students as a scaly sage — backed by an appropriately retro rock soundtrack. New stills and a behind-the-scenes shot of Sandler and co-star Bill Burr were also unleashed.
Synopsis: Actor and comedian Adam Sandler (Hotel Transylvania, The Wedding Singer) delivers signature laughs in this coming-of-age animated musical comedy about the last year of elementary school — as seen through the eyes of a class pet.
Jaded 74-year-old lizard Leo (Sandler) has been stuck in the same Florida classroom for decades with his terrarium-mate turtle (Bill Burr). When he learns he only has one year left to live, he plans to escape to experience life on the outside but instead gets caught up in the problems of his anxious students — including an impossibly mean substitute teacher. It ends up being the strangest but most rewarding bucket list ever…
The voice cast also features Cecily Strong, Jason Alexander, Rob Schneider, Sadie Sandler, Sunny Sandler, Jackie Sandler, Heidi Gardner, Nick Swardson, Nicholas Turturro, Robert Smigel, Jo Koy and Stephanie Hsu.
Leo is directed by Robert Marianetti, Robert Smigel and David Wachtenheim. You can read about the making of the movie in next month’s issue of Animation Magazine (Issue No. 335).
Timed to International Day of the Girl (October 11), global education nonprofit Room to Read launched the official trailer for its animation and live-action film series She Creates Change. The six-episode project aims to reach the 432 million adolescent girls (ages 12-18) in the world with content and educational curriculum that supports them in creating change in their lives and communities.
“Every girl around the world woke up today with the same need. She had to utilize skills like resilience, self- confidence and critical thinking to overcome challenges — for herself, her family or her community,” says Dr. Geetha Murali, CEO of Room to Read. “To achieve a world free from gender inequality, girls must develop these important skills and have access to role models that make perseverance possible. She Creates Change is Room to Read’s solution to accelerating equality for every girl in the world by spotlighting role models who demonstrate their use of key skills to accomplish positive change. Inspired by the stories presented in She Creates Change, I know young women everywhere will activate their abilities to be changemakers and make informed choices to shape their futures.”
She Creates Change comprises a series of six animated shorts with accompanying live-action mini-documentaries that tell the stories of six courageous young women from historically low-income communities in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Vietnam. Each girl confronts challenges unique to her life — such as harassment, food scarcity or early marriage — and uses particular life skills to advocate for herself. Stories address topics including climate justice, financial literacy, discrimination, menstruation and sexual harassment.
‘Keya’
To produce the film series, Nexus Studios — winner of the Academy Award, BAFTA, Cannes Grand Prix and the Grammy — curated a team of diverse women directors and artists from around the world with distinct visual styles, including Oscar nominee Siqi Song (Sister), Hannah Lau-Walker (Yeah, I’m good thanks.), Bonnie Forsyth (Femme Enfant), Claudia Chinyere Akole(ChinyereComic), Neeraja Raj (Meow or Never) and Prashanti Aswani (Machi).
Emmy-winner Martha Adams, whose pasts projects include Girl Rising and We Will Rise: Michelle Obama’s Mission to Educate Girls around the World, serves as series director and producer for the project. Executive producers are Brenda Chapman, the first woman to win an Oscar for best animated film (Brave), and veteran screenwriter and director Jill Culton (Abominable), recipient of Animation Magazine‘s Game Changer award for being the first woman to solo write and direct an original animated theatrical feature.
“For too long, the stories we have seen and heard through global media have not represented the voices of so many young women in the world,” Adams asserts. “The practice of sharing stories by women, about women and for women is an undeniably powerful way to help girls advocate for themselves and their rights. It is an honor for me to help share the diverse stories featured in She Creates Change. Though each girl’s individual circumstances may be unique, the courage and skills demonstrated are universal and exemplify how the rising generation of girls can use their voices to change their circumstances and societies.”
‘Dewmini’
‘Dewmini’ animation set
‘Trang’
London’s first Young Poet Laureate Warsan Shire, whose poetry was adapted for Beyonce’s Lemonade, crafted the screenplays. Rebel Girls, a global multi-media girl empowerment brand, is a strategic partner on the campaign and has produced books and audio stories that complement the film series.
The episodes feature voice overs by a roster of talent including Freida Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire), Charithra Chandran (Bridgerton), YouTube sensation Prajakta Koli (MostlySane), Dilshad Vadsaria (Greek), Adhir Kalyan (Rules of Engagement), Amita Suman (Shadow and Bone), Amrita Acharia (Game of Thrones) and Quyen Ngo (American Preprequisite).
“The path to a gender-equal world is being paved by Room to Read. Through its programs and ground-breaking content including She Creates Change, Room to Read demonstrates exactly what can — and does — happen when young women are supported to learn and imagine their own futures,” Pinto says. “She Creates Change is a poignant call to action for us all to increase our investment in girls’ education.”
‘Naifat’
‘Diksha’
‘Yashika’
Kenyan R&B pop singer Karun (Karungari Mungai) performs the original She Creates Change campaign song “Who Am I?” written by Warsan Shire and composed by Lucie Treacher.
The non-profit film project will be available in dozens of language — starting with English, Spanish and Hindi — and distributed throughout the world, through Room to Read programs and in partnership with community organizations and governments. Curriculum packages that align with the stories presented, based on Room to Read’s comprehensive seven-year Girls’ Education Program curriculum, will be provided online, through broadcast media and in-person programming.
Crunchyroll announced today that Makoto Shinkai’s Suzume will return to North American theaters for a special engagement beginning on Friday, October 27, through Sony Pictures Entertainment. The critically-lauded animated feature will return to over 200 theaters across the United States and select cities in Canada, screening in both Japanese with English subtitles and dubbed in English.
The film follows young Suzume and her companion, a talking chair, as they race to protect the world from impending disaster, guided by a mischievous cat. Inspired by the filmmaker’s observations in the wake of the 2011 earthquake that devastated Japan, this anime action-adventure is a combination of hand drawn and CGI animation.
The English-language dub version of the film features Nichole Sakura as the voice of Suzume Iwato, Josh Keaton as Souta, Jennifer Sun Bell as Tamaki, Joe Zieja as Serizawa, Rosalie Chiang as Chika, Amanda C. Miller as Rumi, Mela Lee as Miki and Cam Clarke as Munakata.
Produced by CoMix Wave Films and Story Inc., Suzume is directed, written and conceived by Shinkai, with character design by Masayoshi Tanaka (Darling in the Franxx, Eureka Seven: Hi-Evolution 1), animation direction by Kenichi Tsuchiya (Weathering with You, Your Name.) and art direction by Takumi Tanji (Your Name., Children Who Chase Lost Voices).
Suzume had its International Premiere in February 2023 at the Berlinale — the first time an anime feature has screened in its competition section in over two decades. The film was met with critical acclaim and went on to gross over $300 million worldwide during its initial theatrical run, making it the fourth highest-grossing anime film of all time. The film also earned a “Certified Fresh” 96% critics score and 98% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
The film has recently been nominated for Discovery of the Year by the World Soundtrack Awards and Best Animated Feature Film by the Asia Pacific Screen Awards, and was previously awarded Outstanding Achievement in Music at the 46th Japan Academy Awards.
Auteur filmmaker Shinkai has been considered a visionary in animation decades, a reputation spread worldwide by his most recent films Your Name. (2016) and Weathering With You (2019). The latter was selected as Japan’s entry for the Best International Feature Film category of the 2020 Academy Awards and nominated in four categories in the 47th annual Annie Awards, including Best Animated Feature – Independent.
