Thunderbird Entertainment Group Inc. today announced that Rocket Saves the Day, a brand-new original movie from its kids & family label Atomic Cartoons, will debut in the U.S. on PBS KIDS on December 26. The fun, 2D-animated adventure for preschoolers and their parents is based on the New York Times bestselling Rocket book series created by Tad Hills and published by Random House Children’s Books.
Rocket Saves the Day is a hero’s journey in which an enthusiastic young pup named Rocket and his new best friend, Little Yellow Bird, embark on a quest to save their town through the power of reading. Throughout the journey, Rocket and his friends learn how to put letters and sounds together to make words — the building blocks of reading. Its animation style embodies a unique and distinctive hand-drawn look that mirrors Hills’ textured illustrations.
“Tad Hills created such a rich and wonderful world in the Rocket books. They engage kids’ imaginations and celebrate the joy of learning, and we knew immediately that they would translate beautifully to animation,” said Matthew Berkowitz, Chief Creative Officer, Atomic Cartoons/Thunderbird and Thunderbird President. “PBS KIDS has been an incredible partner on the production. As our latest Atomic original release, Rocket Saves the Day exemplifies the kind of content we aspire to bring to life— an entertaining romp of an animated adventure, and inspiring kids to read!”
Adriano Schmid, VP, PBS KIDS Content, PBS, adds, “PBS KIDS’ characters spark fun and learning, and we’re thrilled to welcome Rocket to the family. We hope kids and parents will enjoy the movie together on December 26, and build reading skills along the way.”
Developed and written by Emmy-winning kids’ TV screenwriter Rachel Lipman (Rugrats, Dinosaur Train, Hey Arnold!), Rocket Saves the Day was adapted for television by Peabody-winning producer Lynn Kestin Sessler. Along with Joel Bradley and Trevor Bentley for Atomic, Tad Hills, Lynn Kestin Sessler and Rachel Bader serve as executive producers. Atomic’s Heather Renney serves as supervising producer.
Rocket Saves the Day is the latest owned IP announced by Thunderbird, which manages and controls global media distribution rights to the movie. Thunderbird Distribution will debut Rocket Saves the Day to prospective international buyers at the MIPJunior/MIPCOM content market in Cannes (October 14-19).
Moonbug Entertainment, a subsidiary of Candle Media, today announced the launch of Nina’s Familia, the newest CoComelon spinoff series starring JJ’s lovable, sporty classmate and friend, Nina Reyes, who first debuted on the show in 2019. New episodes of the series will launch on the Nina’s Familia YouTube channel each Friday from today (September 29).
Nina’s Familia is an extension of the CoComelon universe, but now from the Reyes family’s perspective. Through the familiar style of three-minute songs and nursery rhymes, children will now experience stories of family, social-emotional learning, positivity and healthy habits through the lens of a bilingual, multigenerational, Mexican-American family.
The show offers a Spanish-language twist on CoComelon‘s tradition of imparting early-life lessons through song. Nina’s Familia will include Spanish in every episode — some fully performed in the language — with songs including “¡Dale, Dale, Dale!,” “Pin Pon es un Muñeco” and “Estrellita Dónde Estás.” In addition to language, Nina’s Familia will also include culturally significant storylines and songs themed on recognizable Mexican-American traditions, like Día de los Muertos and Noche Buena Christmas.
“Nina’s Familia is the kind of series I’ve always wanted to be a part of, but is so rarely seen. It’s one where an intelligent, caring, adventurous Mexican-American girl can do anything and be anything, all while being surrounded and supported by a strong Latine family,” said Anthony Falcón, creative lead on the series. “This show embodies everything so many of us at Moonbug wish we had growing up. The type of content we want to create for our daughters, nieces, nephews, etc. It’s an opportunity for every little Latine kid to see themselves and their family represented on screen in the way we’ve been waiting for. That’s what makes this series so important for Moonbug.”
Jellyfish Originals, the kids and family content division of award-winning global animation & VFX studio Jellyfish Pictures, has secured the rights to adapt author and presenter Dermot O’Leary’s children’s book series, Toto the Ninja Cat (published by Hachette). The feline adventures will be transformed into an animated comedy-adventure series for the studio’s original content slate.
Based on the popular books written by O’Leary and illustrated by Nick East, the series is inspired by the author’s own cats and tells the story of Toto, a partially-sighted cat with razor-sharp senses, a nose for danger and a crime-busting spirit of adventure. Toto the Ninja Cat incorporates themes of friendship, inclusivity and winning in the face of adversity.
“Toto the Ninja Cat is about to go on her next big adventure, being brought to life in her own animated children’s series,” said O’Leary. “I had so much fun writing the books and so I can’t wait to see the world I created on the page unfold on the screen. I look forward to working with Jellyfish Pictures and Hachette on making this a reality.”
Emmy Award-winning and BAFTA-nominated writing duo Huckerby & Ostler (Peter Rabbit, Moomin Valley, Danger Mouse) are heading up the TV adaptation. O’Leary will also act as executive producer, alongside Dee Koppang O’Leary, whose credits include Bridgerton, The Crown, The Split and Rivals (and happens to be married to the author).
The deal was negotiated by Karen Lawler, Head of Media Rights & Audio at Hachette Children’s Group (HCG), and Natalie Llewellyn, Managing Director – Animation & Originals at Jellyfish Pictures.
“Toto is a strong, empowering female lead who demonstrates positivity, adaptability and resilience,” Llewellyn pointed out. “We’re delighted to be working with Dermot and HCG and can’t wait to bring Toto’s hair-raising adventures to life, encouraging kids everywhere to embrace their inner ninja!”
Lawler added, “The HCG Media Rights team have loved Toto since her first day in print. We are committed to fostering strong relationships between book creators and producers, working with the best in the business and pairing our books with the right partners — and we know Jellyfish Pictures will be the purr-fect match for Toto!”
The books have proved to be a global success with Hachette Children’s Group publishing five books to date, selling over half a million copies worldwide and translating the titles into 17 different languages.
Jellyfish Originals manages the development, rights management, financing and commercial exploitation of original animated properties. Their inaugural original series, Stan & Gran, co-produced with Jollywise Media, was recently greenlit by Milkshake! U.K. and goes into production early 2024.
Sony Pictures Classics announced today it has acquired all rights in North America, Latin America, the Middle East and Australia/New Zealand to Oscar nominee DK Welchman and Oscar winner Hugh Welchman’s The Peasants, which Poland has submitted as their official entry for the Best International Feature category for this year’s Academy Awards.. The latest painted-animation film from the duo behind Loving Vincent will also be submitted in the Best Animation category.
The pick-up follows the film’s critically acclaimed world premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival as part of the Special Presentations section.
The Peasants was produced by Breakthru Films and co-produced by Digitalkraft d o.o., Art Shot vsį, Breakthru Productions Sp. z o.o., Canal+ Polska S.A., Narodowe Centrum Kultury, Mazowiecki Instytut Kultury and SKP – Ślusarek Kubiak Pieczyk Sp. k., in association with New Europe Film Sales and Carte Blanche, and with the support of Polish Film Institute, Film Center Serbia and Lithuanian Film Center. It was co-financed by The Polish National Foundation and financed by funds from the Minister of Culture and National Heritage.
The film tells the story of Jagna, a young woman determined to forge her own path within the confines of a late 19th century Polish village — a hotbed of gossip and on-going feuds, held together, rich and poor, by pride in their land, adherence to colorful traditions and a deep-rooted patriarchy. When Jagna finds herself caught between the conflicting desires of the village’s richest farmer, his eldest son and other leading men of the community, her resistance puts her on a tragic collision course with the community around her.
The Peasants‘ animation reflects half a century of European painting tradition, from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, with an emphasis on the Young Poland Movement. The film was first shot as a live-action feature film before a group of over 100 painters began working on the animation, which took over two years to complete. This same painting on canvas animation technique was implemented in the filmmakers’ Oscar-nominated Van Gogh biopic Loving Vincent.
“100 years ago, Reymont, an author little known outside of Poland, won the Nobel Prize for Literature and his book travelled to over 100 countries worldwide. We hope our adaptation of his book, The Peasants, brought to life in oil-painting animation will similarly reach out and touch audiences around the globe and, like he did, find award success too,” said DK Welchman and Hugh Welchman. “There could be no better partner in this endeavor than Sony Pictures Classics, with their incredible catalog that includes many of our favorite films of all time and iconic animations that achieved the very rare feat of being nominated in the Best International Film category at the Oscars and Golden Globes.”
“It’s an indescribable experience and achievement created by singular amazing artists,” added Sony Pictures Classics.
The deal was negotiated between SPC, Jan Naszewski of New Europe, and Nick Shumaker from Anonymous Content.
Paris-based kids’ entertainment studio TeamTO has acquired the rights to Elisabeth, Princess of Versailles, a popular book series written by Annie Jay and illustrated by Ariane Delrieu. Based on the real-life younger sister of 18th century monarch King Louis XVI, TeamTO’s latest animated adaptation project turns the spotlight on strong and quick-witted girls in history.
Princess Elisabeth is smart and curious, but lonely at the Palace of Versailles. All that changes when she forms an inseparable friendship with Angélique, the daughter of her new governess. Together with the help of Théo, a young pageboy, they set off to investigate mysteries around the palace.
The series is driven by the ingenuity and mathematical skills Elisabeth uses to solve problems. The intrigue of the palace of Versailles, the secrets it contains, its hidden passageways and concealed doorways in bookshelves — not to mention the great outfits! — provide a perfect backdrop for childhood adventures.
“Elisabeth, a real historical figure, is a rebel who represents how conformity and societal rules can be resisted and challenged, an engaging concept for children in today’s modern world,” said Corinne Kouper, SVP of Production & Development for TeamTO. “She is a strong character who reminds us that girls with mathematical brains and leadership skills did actually exist throughout history — they were just forgotten about by history writers. This uniquely French story is waiting to be told by a French studio and our whole team is thrilled to take on the challenge!”
Mary Bredin, Creative Development Producer, added, “We are so excited to be telling stories about Versailles from a girl’s point of view. This provides a very fresh perspective into this unique world which will make the characters and their challenges resonate with children all over the world. The classic ‘Princess’ story is universal, but a smart Princess is what the world needs today — and Elisabeth is just that!”
First published by leading kids editorial label Albin Michel in 2015, Jay and Delrieu’s Elisabeth, Princess of Versailles book series has been a major success. The royal adventure is now on its 26th volume and has sold over 1.5 million copies in print, audio and ebook form.
While they are primarily known for the fan-favorite characters, memorable moments and imaginative worlds they bring to the screen, it is always a joy to get to know the names, faces and personalities of top toon creators! A new feature-length documentary, Pencils vs. Pixels, will provide an opportunity to do just when it arrives on VOD on November 7.
From Strikeback Studios and Hideout Pictures, the film is described as: “A celebration of 2D hand-drawn animation and the transformative journey from the Disney Renaissance to the computer animation revolution … and the inspiring future yet to come.”
Ming-Na Wen guides viewers as the narrator of ‘Pencils vs. Pixels’
2023 Hollywood Walk of Fame honoree Ming-Na Wen (the voice of Disney’s Mulan), the film features notable animators including:
Seth McFarlane (creator and Emmy-winning voice star of Family Guy, American Dad! and The Cleveland Show, another Walk of Famer)
Gravity Falls creator Alex Hirsch (producer, Inside Job; writer/story, The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack, The Mitchells vs. the Machines)
Disney Legend Floyd Norman (Sleeping Beauty, Robin Hood, Toy Story 2, Mulan)
Oscar-winning filmmaker and acclaimed Disney animator Glen Keane (Dear Basketball)
The Proud Family creator and former Disney supervising animator Bruce W. Smith
Jorge Gutierrez, creator of the Annie & Emmy-winning Maya and the Three limited series and Golden Globe-nominated feature The Book of Life
multi-Oscar & Annie Award winning director and Chief Creative Officer of Pixar, Pete Docter (Soul; Inside Out; Up; Monsters, Inc.)
acclaimed Disney filmmaker John Musker (The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Hercules, The Princess and the Frog, Moana)
…and more!
Tom Bancroft, an animation author and educator who created many beloved Disney characters, produced and appears in the documentary.
The 72-minute documentary is directed by Bay Dariz and Phil Earnest; Dariz also served as writer and produced the film with Disney animation veteran Tom Bancroft. Executive producers are Shannon Houchins, Noor Ahmed and Christopher Joe.
GKIDS announced today that Howl’s Moving Castle, the 2004 film from Academy Award-winning director Hayao Miyazaki, has earned over $3.2 million in North American box office during Studio Ghibli Fest 2023, presented in partnership with Fathom Events. The annual event re-released the film in over 1,000 theaters from September 23-27, scoring the number three box office position on September 27 and top position in per screen average.
The 2023 edition of the annual Studio Ghibli Fest brings Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki’s full feature film catalog back to North American cinemas, and concludes with a bring-back of the Academy Award-winning masterpiece Spirited Away, which screens October 28-November 1 in theaters across North America. Showtimes for Spirited Away are:
Saturday, October 28 at 3:00 PM (Japanese with Subtitles)
Sunday, October 29 at 4:00 PM (English Dubbed) and 7:00 PM (English Dubbed)
Monday, October 30 at 7:00 PM (English Dubbed)
Tuesday, October 31 at 7:00 PM (Japanese with Subtitles)
Wednesday, November 1 at 7:00 PM (English Dubbed)
To date, Studio Ghibli Fest 2023 has generated over $13 million in box office across 10 titles, and over $40 million since the festival’s debut in 2017. This year’s screenings are available across 1,028 theaters in North America. Tickets for the remaining Studio Ghibli Fest 2023 events can be purchased online now by visiting FathomEvents.com, GhibliFest.com or at participating theater box offices.
Continuing the celebration of living animation legend Miyazaki, GKIDS will release his highly anticipated new feature film The Boy and the Heron wide across North American theaters on December 8. As with previous Studio Ghibli titles, the film will be shown in its original Japanese with English subtitles, as well as a new English language version.
The Boy and the Heron made its international premiere to critical acclaim as the Opening Night Gala Screening at the Toronto International Film Festival, and held its European premiere as the Opening Night Feature of San Sebastian Film Festival; it will make its U.S. premiere at the New York Film Festival this weekend, and will hold its U.K. premiere at BFI London.
DreamWorks Animation announced today it is adapting Caldecott Honor winner Peter Brown’s New York Times bestseller The Wild Robot into an animated theatrical feature. Three-time Academy Award nominee Chris Sanders has adapted the screenplay and will direct, Jeff Hermann is set to produce and Dean DeBlois will executive produce.
When Rozzum 7134 (“Roz” for short), a robot designed for a futuristic urban world, finds herself washed ashore on a deserted island, a tale of survival and discovery begins when she becomes the unexpected protector to an orphaned gosling, which she names Brightbill. Together they struggle to survive the harsh environment, but only succeed with the help of a close-knit group of misfit animals, who become first friends, then family. Ultimately Roz and company save the island from a robotic invasion by Roz’s manufacturer, looking to bring her back to civilization by any means necessary. In the process she becomes something much more than she was programmed to be, a ‘wild robot.’
Beneath the action and comedy, The Wild Robot tells an emotional story about how we all have the power to “exceed our programming,” to become more than we were destined to be. Roz not only finds a way to survive in this dangerous world, but also brings new meaning to her “life” by taking on the responsibility of parenthood. The movie celebrates what it means to be wild and alive, and how cooperation is the key to survival in a harsh world.
Chris Sanders
Jeff Hermann
The film marks the return of Sanders to DreamWorks Animation, where he previously directed and wrote How to Train Your Dragon with DeBlois and The Croods with Kirk DeMicco. Sanders also wrote and directed Lilo & Stitch with DeBlois for Disney.
Hermann most recently produced The Boss Baby: Family Business, co-produced Kung Fu Panda 3 and produced several of DreamWorks Animation’s recent award-winning short films.
Sanders, Hermann and DeBlois are joined on The Wild Robot by production designer Raymond Zibach (Kung Fu Panda 1, 2 and 3), head of story Heidi Jo Gilbert (Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, The Croods: A New Age) and editor Mary Blee (The Boss Baby: Family Business, How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World).
Since the book’s debut in 2016, Brown has published the equally successful New York Times bestseller The Wild Robot Escapes in 2019, and will release his next book The Wild Robot Protects on September 26.
Brown is the author and illustrator of many bestselling children’s books, including Children Make Terrible Pets and The Curious Garden. He is the recipient of a Caldecott Honor for Creepy Carrots!, two E.B. White Read Aloud Awards, a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book award, and a Children’s Choice Award for Illustrator of the Year.
Bilibili Inc., a leading video community for the younger generation in China, unveiled a total of 68 upcoming Chinese animation titles during its Anime Made by Bilibili 2023-2024 event. The expanded lineup underscores the platform’s position in the Chinese animation industry, its continuing efforts to empower homegrown animation creators, and its determination to introduce Chinese animation to global audiences.
Yao-Chinese Folktales “Nobody”
The diverse slate announcement encompasses a range of styles and narratives, from traditional tales to modern anime-inspired stories. Among the highlights was Yao – Chinese Folktales, an original animation co-produced by Bilibili and Shanghai Animation Film Studio, which has been a hit among Chinese viewers for its imaginative adaptations of traditional Chinese stories and aesthetics. The series has accumulated 290 million views (10 million in its first three days of release alone) and sparked over 18,000 fan creations on Bilibili.
Bilibili announced it has teamed up with Shanghai Animation Film Studio and Shanghai Film Infinity to produce a second season of the folkloric anthology, as well as a feature film adaptation focusing on the breakout star of season one: a wild boar spirit who rebels against his cruel superiors in the episode “Nobody,” a take on the classic Journey to the West which resonated with young adults with its reflection of contemporary class struggles. (Watch)
Other highly anticipated titles include:
Link Click
Link Click Special Season – Link Click is one of the most popular Chinese animations among international audiences. An English dubbed version of Link Click Season 1 was launched on Crunchyroll in 2022, followed by Japanese and Korean dubbed versions on local TV channels. The series received an impressive rating of 8.73/10 on MyAnimeList, with a peak ranking of No. 18. (Watch)
My Three-Body Season 4 – Originally a fan-made animation adaptation of The Three-Body Problem uploaded on Bilibili, My Three-Body’s high-quality production attracted Bilibili and The Three-Body Universe, the rightsholder of the Three-Body IP, to initiate development and production of the series. (Watch [regionally restricted])
To Be Hero X – Co-produced by Bilibili and Sony’s animation studio Aniplex, the series undertakes a unique art style that combines 2D and 3D animation. Its trailer received over 100,000 likes on Twitter when it was first released.
Bilibili has become a major online destination for anime, comics and games (ACG) culture in China, and Chinese animation has proven increasingly popular on the platform. Bilibili has launched nearly 600 Chinese animation titles, including 181 titles featured from the beginning of 2022 to date.
Since 2018, the number of monthly active Chinese animation viewers on Bilibili has seen a six-fold increase. In the past year, 62% of ACG fans on Bilibili regularly watch Chinese anime titles, making it a primary draw on the platform. Bilibili users collectively spend over 700 million hours annually watching Chinese animations, with each viewer completing 10 series annually on average. Total interactions around Chinese animation on Bilibili topped 5 billion over the past year. Over 57% of the platform’s Chinese animation viewers are under the age of 23.
Bilibili’s Vice Chairwoman & Chief Operating Officer Carley Lee addresses the crowd during Anime Made by Bilibili 2023-2024
During the presentation, the company reiterated its commitment to investing in locally-produced animation and supporting local creators. “Bilibili believes in the immense potential and value of Chinese animation, and remains steadfast in its commitment to excellence, prioritizing quality and surpassing user expectations,” said Carly Lee, Vice Chairwoman of the Board of Directors & Chief Operating Officer of Bilibili. “Furthermore, we remain dedicated to investing in and producing original content, providing a platform for aspiring animators to collaborate with Bilibili and nurture their talents.”
In 2021, Bilibili launched the Light Catcher Initiative to support animators, students and anime aficionados. This year, the company has supported over 50 rising stars in the industry and received over 300 original animations from passionate animators. Light Catcher also worked with 11 top animation universities in China to provide funding and resources for over 100 student-made animations.
This year’s Anime Made by Bilibili presentation also announced a new project supported by the company, Capsules Season 2, which invites animation talents, both domestic and international, to create a series of short animation videos. Tomato Kitchen, an episode from Capsules Season 1, won Best International Short Film during the 2023 International Animation Festival Chilemonos.
With a “Made for Global” vision, Bilibili is working to build its global production capacity and share more Chinese animation with fans worldwide. During the event, Bilibili inked a partnership with Fuji Television Network (Japan) to launch a dedicated channel B8station for Bilibili-produced animated titles. The two sides will also collaborate on the Japanese TV series adaptation of Link Click.
Fairies Albums
As of 2023, Bilibili has distributed nearly 70 Chinese animation titles internationally through partnerships with global mainstream platforms including Crunchyroll, Netflix, Rakuten VIKI, Astro and more. The MADEBYBILIBILI YouTube channel has featured 135 Chinese animation titles. Bilibili also actively explores collaboration with international production partners, including Aniplex and Red Dog on the production of leading Chinese anime titles such as Link Click and Fairies Albums.
“Bilibili is born from animation and holds a deep faith in it,” Lee added. “Back in 2018, when we went public, our vision was to make Chinese animation globally beloved. We will continue working alongside Chinese animators to turn this aspiration into reality, step-by-step.”
You can watch the full Anime Made by Bilibili 2023-2024 presentation here.
In a first for the company, Build-A-Bear Entertainment (a subsidiary of Build-A-Bear Workshop), with Foundation Media Partners, announces a collaboration with Cinemark Holdings to exclusively release the company’s new animated feature film Glisten and the Merry Mission in Cinemark theaters across the country, starting November 3. The first trailer dropped today on the movie’s official webpage and YouTube, sharing the message that Christmas is all about believing.”
Tickets for the film will be available starting October 12 at Cinemark.com and on the Cinemark app.
The theatrical agreement is enhanced by a special promotion, offering a free child’s ticket to see the movie at a Cinemark theater for guests who visit a Build-A-Bear Workshop and make a furry friend during the film’s theatrical run. Build-A-Bear and Cinemark will also be hosting Glisten and the Merry Mission special events at select theaters, with appearances by Glisten the mascot featuring unique bear building experiences with plush versions of characters from the movie.
“Cinemark is excited to work with Build-A-Bear Entertainment on this special theatrical film release for Glisten and the Merry Mission,” said Wanda Gierhart Fearing, Cinemark Chief Marketing and Content Officer. “There is nothing like seeing a film through a child’s eyes, and we can’t wait for families everywhere to get to partake in this unique multi-faceted event which is sure to spread holiday joy as an iconic furry friend comes to the big screen for the first time.”
The G-rated adventure is based on a storyline inspired by Build-A-Bear Workshop’s multi-year best-selling plush, the Merry Mission collection — which includes the enchanted snow deer, Glisten — and features a roster of award-winning celebrity voice talent, including Grammy nominee Julia Michaels and multi-Grammy Award winner Dionne Warwick, as well as Freddie Prinze Jr., Chevy Chase, Billy Ray Cyrus and Avatar: The Way of Water star, Trinity Bliss. Glisten and the Merry Mission features original music, including a special holiday song by Warwick produced by Grammy winner Damon Elliot.
“The mission for our Build-A-Bear Entertainment division is to create engaging and heartwarming content that extends our appeal and resonates with our fans, and this collaboration with Cinemark to theatrically debut Glisten and the Merry Mission, furthers this commitment,” said Sharon Price John, President & CEO of Build-A-Bear. “Our guests have loved this popular plush collection for years, and we believe they will be thrilled to see their favorite Merry Mission characters come to life on the big screen. We are delighted to partner with Cinemark and to have worked with this incredible team to bring our magical story to life.”
Patrick Hughes, President of Foundation Media Partners, added, “Glisten and the Merry Mission is the type of heartfelt, feel-good family film that a theatrical experience was made for, and Cinemark is the best at delivering that to audiences. We can’t wait for families to enjoy this movie together on the big screen to see some of their favorite Merry Mission characters come to life. With this direct theatrical debut, Foundation Media Partners and Build-A-Bear Entertainment continue to expand our entertainment footprint with a value-enhancing approach to developing, producing and releasing content as we evolve our innovative model.”
John is the executive producer of the film and joins Hughes as producer. In addition to Glisten and the Merry Mission, John has executive produced several feature-length films in conjunction with Foundation Media Partners, including Unstuffed: A Build-A-Bear Story, Honey Girls, Deliver by Christmas and Christmas CEO. Hughes has separately produced films including the family comedy, Bad Guys for DreamWorks Animation, and is currently producing Thelma The Unicorn for Netflix. Both companies are working together on a number of projects, including the reimagination of the story of ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’ with Hello Sunshine.
Synopsis: Glisten and the Merry Mission follows a young elfling, Marzipan, and her mother Cinnameg, the newly minted manager of Santa’s troubled North Pole workshop. Marzipan must believe in the magic of the season to help save Christmas which leads to the adventure of a lifetime and the search to rediscover the enchanted snow deer, Glisten. The pursuit of their merry mission is aided by Santa and a colorful cadre of reindeer and elves, including a big bear on the “naughty list” named Grizz, and the wise elf Sage Evergreen.
At the recent Meta Connect 2023 event, the tech world was introduced to the new immersive headset, the Meta Quest 3, which is billed as the beginning of a new era of mixed reality entertainment. As part of this unveiling, attendees got a sneak peek of a new mixed reality game featuring the iconic stop-motion animation duo Wallace & Gromit: Jamtastic!
The MR game tasks players with testing Wallace’s convoluted ‘jam to toast delivery system’ with an ever increasing variety of targets that take over their real-world environment … along with the mess they’ll end up making along the way! A short clip was shared during the event.
Atlas V and Wallace & Gromit studio Aardman have confirmed that they are actively developing this title for the upcoming Meta Quest 3 headset. Jamtastic! will be available for Quest 2, 3 and Pro headsets and included with the purchase of The Grand Getaway VR experience, which is set to be released at the end of the year.
About Jamtastic!
This mixed reality game brings audiences even closer to the VR experience, challenging them to stand-in as Wallaceʼs very own contraption tester while he is away on his Grand Getaway. Players will be given Wallace’s latest breakfast contraptions: a hand-controlled Jam Cannon and a torrent of target-firing toasters which all need putting through their paces.
Taking advantage of Meta Quest 3’s stereo color cameras feature, Jamtastic! takes place in the playerʼs real-world environment, quite literally bringing Wallace and Gromit into their living room and their world into the playerʼs own.
Jamtastic! is designed with replayability at its core, with players presented with more and more chaotic challenges as they progress, testing timing, accuracy and speed.
Wallace & Gromit in The Grand Getaway and Jamtastic! are a co-production between Academy Award-winning animation studio Aardman and the creatives behind VR sensations such as Spheres and Gloomy Eyes, Atlas V, in association with No Ghost (Madrid Noir) and Albyon (Monstrorama), and with the support of immersive distributor and publisher Astrea, the Meta Quest team, and, for Jamtastic!, the German producer Reynard Films (Biolum).
Sunlight Entertainment, the production studio owned by the Kaji family (Ryan’s World), and acclaimed Japanese studio Toei Animation today announced the debut of the brand-new animated series, Elemon. The anime-style edutainment adventure blends chemistry basics with kid-friendly comedy, action and drama packed into 11-minute episodes.
“This is the first children’s animated project for Toei Animation in a long time to start from the seed of an original story. I’ve often heard that original works come with ‘growing pains,’ but this project made me realize just how fun it is to create an entire world from scratch,” says Yoshihide Moriyama, producer at Toei Animation. “I believe this is the result of [Sunlight Ent. CEO] Shion Kaji’s ideas, cultivated through Ryan’s World, and [director] Poeyama’s boundless creativity that pushes the very limits of flash animation. This show is full of entertainment for children around the world to enjoy and learn from, so please, I invite you to come and meet your favorite Elemon!”
All casting and recording for Elemon were contracted and completed before the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes and are compliant with SAG-AFTRA rules and conditions.
Viewers can tune in to Elemon on multiple kids & family platforms:
ELEMON YouTube Channel by Ryan’s World – episode 1 is available now (watch it below), with new episodes continuing to drop weekly. Tune in to the channel on October 1 for a livestream viewing party for the show’s debut.
The Roku Channel Kids & Family – a 20-minute special will stream for free on October 1.
Kidoodle.TV – the entire season will drop on the SAFE STREAMING™, global AVOD channel on October 19.
Synopsis: In the futuristic city of New Olympia Polis, an amazing new scientific advance has arrived: Elemon — fantastical creatures made from chemical elements. In this city lives Leo Woods, a brilliant 10-year-old inventor who dreams of one day becoming an Elemon creator, just like his hero, Professor World. One fateful morning, he achieves his dream and sets out to create a team of all-new Elemon!
But with these awesome creatures also comes great danger. A mysterious group known as Team Ninja is intent on kidnapping Leo’s Elemon, to steal his technology and use it for their own nefarious purposes. Over the course of the series, Leo, Ela and Ryan bond with their Elemon, learn about chemistry, and battle it out with Team Ninja!
The original story of Elemon was created by Shion Kaji, Ryan Kaji’s father and CEO of Sunlight Entertainment. The original work is from Toei Animation and co-produced by RYMATION and Analyze Log Co., Ltd. Serving as the director is Japanese Flash animation maestro Poeyama.
“I think Elemon is such a unique project because it helps spark children’s interest in chemistry. Inspiring kids to learn about a subject that’s typically difficult for them to grasp at such an early age is special to me,” says Shion Kaji, CEO of Sunlight Ent.”We’ve really designed each Elemon character based on true elements in the periodic table, and translating those through cute characters and compelling storylines sets young ones up for success in learning about science in a fun and age-appropriate way. With Poeyama offering his innovative approach to flash animation and Toei Animation delivering the Japanese anime style fans know and love, Elemon is poised to be a one-of-a-kind ‘edutainment’ show, and I can’t wait for families to watch.”
Poeyama, who serves as director, character designer & chief animation director on the series, comments, “I was thrilled when I got the chance to be involved in this project of launching a brand-new animated series for children, and seeing it take shape proved far more challenging and rewarding than I had originally anticipated. Interest in the physical world around us is universal. In this show, we wanted to create a fantastical world, where the audience can meet new friends, using the very building blocks of life as our starting point. I also wanted to depict a story about the bonds that lead to lasting friendships and irreplaceable partners. I hope you’ll soon meet your favorite Elemon and learn more about the ‘elements’ that make them who they are!”
The English voice actors include Caitlyn Elizabeth (Leo), Cristina Vee (Ella), Marlin Chan (Professor World), Frank Todaro (Joshua), Laura Post (Amanda), Ryan Kaji (Ryan), Brent Mukai (Shion), Keith Silverstein (Jones / Com), Deva Marie Gregory (Alyssa Jones), Cedric Williams (Joseph), Tyler Shamy (Thomas), Griffin Puatu (Mateo) and Patrick Seitz (Madox).
“It was a lot of fun dubbing the show and getting to see myself on screen as an anime character,” said Ryan Kaji. “My Elemon has a very cool design that I’m super proud of, and I can’t wait for my family, friends and fans to see that and so much more fun stories from the show!”
Netflix’s preschool slate is growing with a kid-friendly caboodle of new animated series on the way this fall and into 2024. Highlights include the first words for CoComelon star JJ, new shows featuring Hot Wheels and Frank L. Baum’s land of Oz, more seasons of Spirit Rangers, Dew Drop Diaries, Oggy Oggy and much more.
New Series
CoComelon Lane
CoComelon Lane will premiere November 17. The new show, from Moonbug Entertainment, marks CoComelon‘s first-ever dialog-driven series with new storylines and songs that cover developmental milestones like getting a first haircut and visiting the dentist’s office to more intimate moments like being invited to a friend’s house for dinner and learning how to take care of a family pet.
Hot Wheels Let’s Race (2024), based on the number-one selling toy in the world, is a high-octane series that ignites and unlocks the challenger spirit within every racer! The series follows the newest generation of racers as they experience mind-blowing races, extreme stunt contests, and thrill-seeking challenges. Created and produced by Mattel Television.
Dee & Friends in Oz
Dee & Friends in Oz (2024) is a fantasy adventure musical for preschoolers: A young girl named Dee discovers a wonderful magical land of Oz, where she meets new friends and is challenged to save the day, and save Oz! Produced by 9 Story.
Mighty Monsterwheelies
Mighty Monsterwheelies (2024) taps into the Universal Monsters vault for an action-packed adventure-comedy series which reimagines classic characters as half-monster, half-truck vehicle heroes who team up to use their special powers to serve and protect the all-vehicle city of Motorvania from troublemakers like Phantom Freeze and Invisible Van. Produced by DreamWorks Animation.
Peppa Pig
Popular Characters Coming to Netflix
(Available in select regions.)
Peppa Pig Seasons 3-6 (2024)
Blippi’s Big Dino Adventure – Special – (October 9)
The teaser trailer for Scavengers Reign, Max’s new adult animated series released today. The show debuts with three episodes on Thursday, October 19 at midnight PT, followed by three episodes weekly through November 9 on Max. Created by Joe Bennett and Charles Huettner, based on their short film Scavengers (watch on YouTube), the series is a haunting journey across an alien planet where slightest ecological imbalance can have drastic consequences.
Synopsis: The remaining crew of a damaged interstellar freighter ship find themselves stranded on a beautiful yet unforgiving alien planet — where they must survive long enough to escape or be rescued. But as the survivors struggle to locate their downed ship and missing crewmates, their new home reveals a hostile world allowed to thrive without human interference.
Featuring lush, visually stunning animation, Scavengers Reign presents a wholly unique view of the consequences of unchecked hubris and humanity’s eternal desire to conquer the unknown.
Scavengers Reign features the voices of Wunmi Mosaku as Azi, Bob Stephenson as Sam, Sunita Mani as Ursula, Ted Travelstead as Kamen and Alia Shawkat as Levi.
The show is executive produced by Chris Prynoski, Antonio Canobbio, Shannon Prynoski and Ben Kalina from award-winning animation studio Titmouse (Big Mouth, Star Trek: Lower Decks, The Legend of Vox Machina); Joe Bennett, Charles Huettner, as well as co-executive producers Sean Buckelew and James Merrill and supervising director Benjy Brooke from Green Street Pictures.
Founded in 2020 by Bennett, Merrill, Buckelew and Brooke, Green Street Pictures is a full service independent animation studio based in Los Angeles. In addition to Scavengers Reign, the studio’s original production slate also includes the upcoming Common Side Effects for Adult Swim, announced at Annecy.
Read more about the making of Scavengers Reign in the November ’23 issue of Animation Magazine, available now.
HIDIVE, AMC Networks’ anime streaming service, and IFC Films announced today their U.S. theatrical release for the critically acclaimed anime film The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes. The highly anticipated romantic fantasy, which is based on the popular light novel and manga series of the same name by Mei Hachimoku, will screen in cinemas Stateside starting Friday, November 3. The film will be presented in both Japanese with English subtitles and English dub depending on date and theater location.
“We are excited to team with IFC Films on the U.S. release of The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes,” said John Ledford, President of HIDIVE. “This award-winning and critically acclaimed film is sure to wow audiences. Anime fans will not want to miss this limited theatrical release in November!”
Tickets for the The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes will be available for purchase starting Tuesday, October 10 at tunneltosummer.com, which also provides a complete list of theater locations (subject to change). Tickets will also be available via participating theater box offices as well.
As part of today’s news, the companies also revealed they will be hosting a special movie panel featuring the stars of the English dub during New York Comic Con (NYCC) alongside the earlier announced World English Dub Premiere. The premiere and panel will take place on Thursday, October 12 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern in Room 405 of the Javits Center at NYCC.
Synopsis: Kaoru Tono heard a rumor: The laws of space and time mean nothing to the Urashima Tunnel. If you find it, walk through and you’ll find your heart’s desire on the other side … in exchange for years of your own life.
One night, Kaoru just so happens to find himself standing in front of a tunnel that looks suspiciously like the one the rumor describes. He finds himself thinking of Karen, the sister he lost in an accident five years ago. To Kaoru’s surprise, he’s been followed by the new transfer student Anzu Hanashiro, who promises to help him experiment with the mysterious tunnel — but what does she want from Kaoru in exchange? And what will he have left to give, after the tunnel’s done with him?
Written and directed by Tomohisa Taguchi (Digimon Adventure and Persona 3 film franchises), produced by Pony Canyon and animated by CLAP, the film also features character design by Tomomi Yabuki and music by Harumi Fuuki; Yuki Hatakeyama is art director.
The Japanese voice cast includes (character – actor):
Kaoru Tono – Oji Suzuka
Anzu Hanashiro – Marie Iitoyo
Shohei Kaga – Yu Hatanaka
Koharu Kawasaki – Arisa Komiya
Mr. Hamamoto – Haruka Terui
Kaoru’s Father – Rikiya Koyama
Karen Tono – Seiran Kobayashi
The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes was recently honored in the feature film category at the 2023 Annecy International Animation Festival in France, where it received the Paul Grimault Award.
Catch up on more key reveals from DROP 01, including the series announcements for Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft (plus Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, Masters of the Universe: Revolution and Pluto) and Devil May Cry (plus .
Missed the advance screening of Castlevania: Nocturne during today’s Netflix DROP 01 showcase? Well, allow us to alleviate at least some of your fears: The first seven minutes of episode 1 are now available to watch on YouTube. The opening clip features a brutal fight between the vampire Orlox (voiced by Zahn McClarnon) and Julia Belmont (Sophie Skelton) in front of her young son, Richter.
The 8 x 25′ series, the next chapter in the acclaimed adult animated game adaptation Castlevania, officially premieres on Netflix tomorrow (Thursday, September 28).
Synopsis: France, 1792 — the height of the French Revolution. In a remote part of western France, the counter-revolutionary aristocracy has forged an alliance with a terrifying Vampire Messiah, who promises to ‘eat the sun’ and unleash an army of vampires and nightcreatures to crush the revolution and enslave humanity. Annette, a sorceress from the Caribbean, seeks out Richter Belmont, last descendant of the long-fabled family of vampire hunters, to lead the resistance.
From showrunners Kevin Kolde (Castlevania) and Clive Bradley (Trapped), Castlevania: Nocturne is produced by Project 51 Productions and animated by Powerhouse Animation for Netflix. Bradley also serves as creator/writer. Sam Deats and Adam Deats share directing duties. Zodwa Nyoni, Temi Oh and Testament also wrote episodes for Nocturne.
The series stars Edward Bluemel as Richter Belmont, Thuso Mbedu as Annette, Pixie Davies as Maria Renard, Sharon D. Clarke, Richard Dormer as The Abbot, Iain Glen, Sydney James Harcourt as Edouard, Elarica Johnson as Drolta, Nastassja Kinski as Tera, Zahn McClarnon as Orlox, Aaron Neil as Mizrak, Franka Potente as Erzsebet Bathory and Sophie Skelton as Julia Belmont.
Catch up with more DROP 01 reveals in part one (Devil May Cry announcement, plus Blue Eye Samurai, Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix and Sonic Prime – Chapter 3) and the debut of the opening minutesof Castlevania: Nocturne.
Lara Croft is getting an anime-style makeover for her new Netflix adult-targeted series Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft. The project was announced today during the DROP 01 virtual showcase for the streamer’s genre animation titles.
Set to debut in 2024 exclusively on Netflix, the series is based on the hit action-adventure video game franchise launched in 2001, which follows the British archaeologist across the globe as she infiltrates dangerous ruins on the hunt for lost and legendary artefacts. The character graced the big screen in two movies starring Angelina Jolie (2001 & 2003) and again in a 2018 reboot starring Alicia Vikander.
Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft is produced by Legendary Entertainment with game developer Crystal Dynamics, animated by Austin-based studio Powerhouse Animation (Castlevania, Blood of Zeus, Seis Manos, The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf).
Have you seen a girl with hair like this?
The event also offered toon fans a sneak peek at Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, the brand-new spin on the cult-hit graphic novels by Bryan Lee O’Malley and live-action movie directed by Edgar Wright. The eight-episode animated series debuts exclusively on Netflix on November 17.
Synopsis: Scott Pilgrim meets the girl of his dreams, Ramona Flowers, but learns he must defeat her seven evil exes in order to date her. Then things get even more complicated.
The series is directed by Abel Gongora of Science SARU studio in Japan. Serving as executive producers, writers and co-showrunners are creator O’Malley and BenDavid Grabinski; executive producers are Marc Platt, Jared LeBoff, Adam Siegel (Marc Platt Productions); Michael Bacall; Edgar Wright, Nira Park (Complete Fiction); and Eunyoung Choi (Science SARU).
Bringing even more animated action is Masters of the Universe: Revolution, the next installment in Kevin Smith’s epic reboot of the MOTU saga. DROP 01 viewers were the first to check out a new monster-thrashing clip featuring He-Man vs. Scare Glow! Revolution is slated to premiere in 2024.
Synopsis: It’s technology versus magic when He-Man and the heroic warriors face the forces of Skeletor and something more in Masters of the Universe: Revolution — the new epic chapter in the battle for Castle Grayskull!
The newly mechanized Skeletor, armed with the might of Motherboard, attacks the heart of Eternia while Prince Adam grapples with a new responsibility and what that means for him as He-Man! Adam is forced to choose between the scepter or the sword, and a life as either the King or the Champion! Meanwhile, the new Sorceress Teela searches for the secret of Snake Magic in the mists of Darksmoke to rebuild a magic realm and help He-Man hold off the greatest threat Eternia has ever faced: the return of the despot Hordak, the ruthless leader of the Horde Empire!
The voice cast features Chris Wood as He-Man, Mark Hamill as Skeletor, Melissa Benoist as Teela, Keith David as Hordak, Diedrich Bader as King Randor, Liam Cunningham as Duncan, Lena Headey as Evil-Lyn, Griffin Newman as Orko, Tiffany Smith as Andra, Tony Todd as Scare-Glow, Meg Foster as Motherboard and William Shatner in a yet-to-be-announced role.
The 5 x 25′ series is produced by Mattel Television and Netflix, animated by Powerhouse Animation Studios. Executive producers are Kevin Smith, Ted Biaselli, Rob David, Christopher Keenan and and Frederic Soulie. Themes by Bear McCreary, music by Sparks & Shadows.
In this section of the showcase, anime fans also got to see an exclusive image from Pluto, the upcoming series based on Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki’s original comic, inspired by “The Greatest Robot on Earth” arc from Osamu Tezuka’s iconic Astro Boy manga.
Logline: The suspense drama takes place in a neo-futuristic world where humans and high-functioning robots live in complete harmony.
The globally acclaimed manga has won numerous awards, including the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize. The 2015 stage adaptation of Pluto returned in 2018 by popular demand and toured Japan and Europe.
‘Pluto’ exclusive DROP 01 image [c/o Netflix]
The series is produced by GENCO, with animation by Studio M2 (Japan), supported by Tezuka Productions and Shogakukan’s BIG COMIC. The core crew includes director Toshio Kawaguchi, creative supervisor Macoto Tezka and character designer Shigeru Fujita. Executive Producers: Masao Maruyama, Taro Maki, Yuji Yamamoto Manga creators Urasawa and Nagasaki serve as creative advisor and producer, respectively. Executive producers are Masao Maruyama, Taro Maki and Yuji Yamamoto. Music by Yugo Kanno.
The Japanese voice cast features Shinshu Fuji as Gesicht, Yoko Hikasa as Atom, Minori Suzuki as Uran, Hiroki Yasumoto as Montblanc, Koichi Yamadera as North #2, Hidenobu Kiuchi as Brando, Rikiya Koyama as Hercules, Mamoru Miyano as Epsilon, Toshihiko Seki as Pluto, Toshio Furukawa as Dr. Ochanomizu, Eizou Tsuda as Dr. Tenma, Romi Park as Helena, Michio Hazama as Duncan and Hideyuki Tanaka as Brau-1589.
Follow up on the rest of the DROP 01 announcements in part two (Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft series announcement, plus Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, Masters of the Universe: Revolution and Pluto) and the online debut of the first seven minutes of Castlevania: Nocturne.
Kicking off today’s DROP 01 event — a virtual showcase of Netflix‘s hottest genre animation titles, featuring a triple episode premiere of Castlevania: Nocturne — the streamer has announced a new anime adaptation of a hit video game property: Devil May Cry. During the stream, a first-look teaser was revealed for the eight-episode project.
The Devil May Cry series is being produced by Netflix, Capcom and Korean animation shop Studio Mir (DOTA: Dragon’s Blood, The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf). Adi Shankar (Castlevania) is creator, executive producer and showrunner for the show, which is written by Alex Larsen (Yasuke). Capcom’s Hideaki Itsuno and Mir’s Seung Wook Lee are also executive producers.
“I’m honored that Netflix and Capcom have entrusted me to shepherd the Devil May Cry franchise,” said Shankar. “Alex Larsen and I love these characters, we are part of the fandom, and vow to surpass the exceptionally high bar we set for ourselves.”
Logline: In this animated adaptation of the popular Capcom game, sinister forces are at play to open the portal between the human and demon realms. In the middle of it all is Dante, an orphaned demon-hunter-for-hire, unaware that the fate of both worlds hangs around his neck.
The stylish Devil May Cry action-adventure games have won fans and critical plaudits for its diverse cast of characters and thrilling gameplay. First released in 2001 and created by Hideki Kamiya, the franchise has kept up with the latest in graphics and home video game technology. The latest full release, Devil May Cry 5, launched in 2019.
Another eagerly awaited title got the first-look treatment, as Netflix dropped new images and a teaser trailer for Blue Eye Samurai — a provocative and visually stunning cel-shaded CG series combining adult animation with a razor sharp, blood-spattered historical drama edge.
Set in Edo-period Japan, Blue Eye Samurai follows Mizu (voiced by Maya Erskine), a mixed-race master of the sword who lives a life in disguise seeking the deliverance of revenge.
The voice cast also features George Takei (Seki), Masi Oka (Ringo), Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (The Swordmaker), Brenda Song (Akemi), Darren Barnet (Taigen), Randall Park (Heiji Shindo) and Kenneth Branagh (Abijah Fowler). Supporting voice cast includes Stephanie Hsu (Ise), Ming-Na Wen (Madame Kaji), Harry Shum Jr. (Takayoshi) and Mark Dacascos (Chiaki), among others.
Blue Eye Samurai is created by Amber Noizumi and Michael Green (Logan, Blade Runner 2049), who also serve as executive producers and writers. Erwin Stoff is executive producer. Jane Wu is supervising director and producer. France- and Quebec-based Blue Spirit is the animation studio.
Read more about Blue Eye Samurai in the December ’23 issue of Animation Magazine, available soon.
Taking a turn for the totally radical, the neon-lit ’90s action extravaganza Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix — a mix ’em up of characters from the Ubisoft games library — dropped its official trailer and release date announcement. Also from exec producer Adi Shankar (you can read an interview with the creator about making Captain Laserhawk in the November ’23 issue of Animation Magazine, available now), the 2D adult animated series will premiere October 19.
Several new cast members were also announced: Caroline Ford as The Warden, David Menkin as Rayman, Courtney Mae-Briggs as Jade, Glenn Wrage as Pay’J and Daniel York Loh as Pagan Min. Netflix further revealed the vaporwave-inspired show will feature music by Oscillian.
Synopsis: The year is 1992. The country formerly known as the USA is now called Eden, a technocracy ruled by propaganda and corruption. Super-soldier Dolph Laserhawk has just been betrayed by the love of his life, his boyfriend Alex Taylor, and locked up in Eden’s off-the-grid maximum security prison, Supermaxx. Dolph is forced to lead a team of rebel outcasts on risky undercover missions under the order of the prison’s shadowy Warden.
Captain Laserhawk is an original animated series mixing alternative Ubisoft characters from beloved franchises such as Assassin’s Creed, Rayman and Far Cry in a highly referenced homage to the early ’90s.
The early sessions also saw the launch of a new teaser for another hit video game franchise adaptation: Sonic Prime. DROP 01 debuted the preview for Chapter 3, continuing the adventures of SEGA’s beloved blue hedgehog and his various furry friends in their quest to save the shattered universe. In the next season, Tails Nine takes control with visions of a new world.
Series Synopsis: It’s the Sonic you know and love until an incredible twist thrusts Sonic into a new adventure featuring a reinvented cast and Sonic like you’ve never seen him before, where the fate of the multiverse rests in his gloved hands. Sonic’s adventure is about more than a race to save the universe from the evil machinations of his longtime nemesis Dr. Eggman and his army of badnik robots, it’s a race to save his friends, friends that he took for granted.
Walt Disney Animation Studios shared a new trailer, poster and images this morning for its 100th anniversary year musical-comedy Wish, which opens in U.S. theaters on November 22.
Also revealed today are additional members of the film’s voice cast, who join previously announced cast members Ariana DeBose, who voices 17-year-old heroine Asha; Chris Pine, who lends his voice to the formidable King Magnifico; and Alan Tudyk, who provides the memorable voice of Asha’s pet goat, Valentino.
Cast members include:
Angelique Cabral as Queen Amaya (previously announced), the wife and sounding board of King Magnifico;
Victor Garber as Asha’s grandfather, Sabino, who — at 100 years old — is patiently waiting for his wish to be granted;
and Natasha Rothwell as Asha’s loving and supportive mom, Sakina.
Synopsis: Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Wish is an all-new musical-comedy welcoming audiences to the magical kingdom of Rosas, where Asha, a sharp-witted idealist, makes a wish so powerful that it is answered by a cosmic force — a little ball of boundless energy called Star. Together, Asha and Star confront a most formidable foe — the ruler of Rosas, King Magnifico — to save her community and prove that when the will of one courageous human connects with the magic of the stars, wondrous things can happen.
The film is helmed by Oscar-winning director Chris Buck (Frozen, Frozen II) and Fawn Veerasunthorn (Raya and the Last Dragon) and produced by Peter Del Vecho Frozen, Frozen II) and Juan Pablo Reyes Lancaster Jones (Encanto). Jennifer Lee (Frozen, Frozen II) executive produces — Lee and Allison Moore (Night Sky, Manhunt) are writers on the project. Wish features an original songs by Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Julia Michaels and Grammy-winning producer/songwriter/musician Benjamin Rice, plus score by composer Dave Metzger.
Ahead of the film’s theatrical premiere, fans can get an advance look at Wish as part of the studio spotlight programming at the Animation Is Film festival in Los Angeles next month.
The Max Original animated short film Peter & the Wolf will premiere on the platform Thursday, October 19. Based on the classic fairytale, the short film transforms Sergei Prokofiev’s symphony into a visually modern retelling, featuring music and narration by Gavin Friday and artwork based on original illustrations by Bono, from his book of the same name.
Logline:Peter & the Wolf follows grieving 12-year-old Peter, who is now in the care of his grandfather after enduring the loss of a parent. Upon hearing stories of a wolf on the loose, Peter decides to explore the vast meadow and forest nearby to try and find the wolf himself. Along the way he encounters creatures who help him on his quest, while contending with hunters aiming to win a prize for capturing the wolf.
The project is led by musician and composer Gavin Friday, with The Friday Seezer Ensemble performing Prokofiev’s score, newly arranged by Maurice Seezer and Gavin Friday.
Peter & theWolf is produced by BMG and Blink Industries and executive produced by Alistair Norbury & Stuart Souter for BMG, Benjamin Lole & James Stevenson Bretton at Blink Industries. Blink Industries’ Elliot Dear and Stephen McNally are directors, and the producer is Adriana Piasek-Wanski.
