Mikey, Donnie, Leo and Raph are heading shell for leather towards home video, with the acclaimed animated feature Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem set to make its Digital debut on Friday, September 1 from Paramount Home Entertainment. The latest take on the popular comic-book franchise has a solid 97% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Fans who purchase the film on Digital can delve into the making of the movie with over 40 minutes of bonus content! Join the young new voice cast as they explore the “teen” in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, then go behind-the-scenes with the all-star voice cast, including Jackie Chan, Ice Cube and many more! Explore the film’s unique animation style, plus learn to draw the leader of the Ninja Turtles, Leonardo.
Synopsis: After years of being sheltered from the human world, the Turtle brothers set out to win the hearts of New Yorkers and be accepted as normal teenagers through heroic acts. Their new friend April O’Neil helps them take on a mysterious crime syndicate, but they soon get in over their heads when an army of mutants is unleashed upon them.
Bonus Content:
TEENage Mutant Ninja Turtles — For the first time the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are voiced by actual teenagers! Hear how each Turtle was cast and how having all four boys record together helped create the authentic camaraderie seen on screen.
The Mutant Uprising — Get to know the Turtles’ mutant antagonists, led by the wild and original character Superfly, voiced by Ice Cube.
New York, New York: The Visual World of MUTANT MAYHEM — Take a deep dive into the breakthrough visual style of the film’s characters and environments and how they evolved over time.
Learn to Draw Leo — Try your hand at drawing the Turtle leader with this fun tutorial!
Mass FX Media has announced its move to a new, custom-built studio that will expand the company’s design-forward post-production capabilities while bringing the Colorado film community access to the region’s premier Dolby Atmos theater for sound mixing, color grading and QC screenings. The move comes on the heels of Mass FX’s success producing the animation and visual effects for such critically acclaimed documentaries as The Social Dilemma, Chasing Coral and The Jewel Thief, in addition to numerous direct-to-brand motion design projects.
Located in the artist-friendly Wheat Ridge community just northwest of Denver, the state-of-the-art, 5,000-square-foot facility has been purpose-built to empower creatives to thrive, and engineered to meet demanding color and sound specifications. Mass FX spent 18 months on the build, filling its new studio with an intentional balance of technology and creative comfort.
Mass FX color suite
“Building this new studio has been my dream because we can now support our amazing team of creatives with a space that helps us work the way we want to work,” said Shawna Schultz, who co-founded Mass FX alongside husband Matt Schultz. “Every space — from the theater and conference room to the offices and even the kitchen — is designed so we can creatively collaborate. I’m most excited because I know we’re going to do our best work here, and just a few weeks in, it’s already been better than I imagined.”
Mass FX’s new studio has an inviting, multipurpose front lobby and conference area that connect to its stunning, 20-seat theater. Designed to be equal parts color suite, mixing stage and screening room, this theater features the industry-leading Meyer Acheron series loudspeakers, Christie 4K digital laser projection, 17-foot Stewart SnoMatte 100 screen, ‘mega-comfy’ seats and functional work surfaces. Additional displays in the adjoining lobby create an overflow room for larger screenings and parties.
Mass FX theater
In addition to the theater, the new space features both dedicated offices and common areas that encourage interaction among Mass FX’s staff and clients. The space was also carefully designed to meet stringent access and security requirements for high-security projects that move through the studio.
“Our new space isn’t just about outgrowing the 1,300-square-foot office where we became a premium storytelling team. It’s about giving our projects and clients the consistency of one creative vision during the post process…providing a one-stop shop that allows us to shorten production timelines and make tweaks on the spot during finishing,” Shawna explained.
Added Matt Schultz: “To Shawna’s point, we’re offering a continuity of creative and aligned vision across the entire project and post process. I want people to come to us and feel that we have the big picture at heart…that when we set forth to do something, the creative will be informed not only by stunning design and elegant motion, but also in how editorial, sound and color choices combine to create a unified, excellent product.”
Lobby
Meeting space
Front room
Conference room
Founded in 2011, Mass FX Media is a post-production studio at the intersection of animation and non-fiction. massfxmedia.com
Cloud 10 Studios, a woman-owned creative group seeking to empower diverse entrepreneurship in the film and animation industry, today announced the launch of Cloud 10 Originals.
The studio will make its first foray into into original production, working with industry creatives Gary Trousdale (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, The Hunchback of Notre Dame), Tab Murphy (Batman/Superman: Apocalypse,Tarzan),Brian McKissick (Watchmen, Will Trent), Tobin Jones (How to Train Your Dragon, Incredibles 2, The Matrix Reloaded) and Kyle Portbury(Beyond the Search).
“We are very excited to be at the point where we can self-fund the development of several Cloud 10 originals working with these industry legends. We now have 10 projects in our slate with our first in early production,” says Cloud 10 Founder & CEO Tracey Dispensa.
Cloud 10 Studios plans to execute its content as high-quality 3D animation, using both a 3D animation pipeline and a real-time pipeline leveraging Epic Games’ Unreal Engine as a key component. “We’ve already been using Unreal Engine for 80% of our projects at Cloud 10 Studios. From commercials to animated short films, and AAA video game cinematics, we’ve honed our ability to leverage the best of both worlds,” notes Dispensa. “The tool still has so much potential to build efficiencies and cost-savings in our workflow while maintaining the quality we’re targeting.”
“The rise of streaming platforms and demand for content has been incredibly impactful in providing avenues for more voices to be heard. This is providing opportunities for newer companies, like Cloud 10 Studio, to boldly enter the marketplace with a great chance for success,” the studio head adds.
Dispensa is an accomplished veteran with extensive production leadership experience in feature films, television, immersive experiences and live events.
“In an industry with few women-led studios, I’m honored to be an advocate for both our industry and the rising women leaders within it. Like so many others, I used to dream about opening my own studio, and I hope I can inspire others to follow their dreams, too,” says Dispensa. “Our industry remains difficult for woman entrepreneurs, where even the process of being certified as a woman-owned business can be overwhelming. My goal is to encourage and empower others to have the resilience to break through.”
Honing her skills with esteemed companies such as DreamWorks Animation, Industrial Light & Magic, Intel, Gartner and Reel FX, Dispensa’s work includes iconic franchises like Shrek, Madagascar, How to Train Your Dragon and Warner Bros.’ SCOOB!. Now, as an active Producers Guild of America and WIA (Women In Animation) member, Dispensa remains committed to championing diversity and empowering women within the industry.
To plant seeds for the future, Dispensa interacts with local schools, inspiring young talent to pursue their dreams. “Many don’t see the film industry as a tangible dream, especially kids from underprivileged communities and backgrounds. So, I have a personal mission to let them know I am here to help if this is a dream they want to follow.
Founded in 2018 with hubs in Dallas and Las Vegas, Dispensa serves as the hands-on Managing Director for Cloud 10 and often takes on the role of Executive Producer for prestigious clients, including Warner Bros., ICON Technology, Salesforce and Baylor Scott & White Health.
A new series of two-minute animated LK School Daze shorts will debut worldwide this week, with the first webisode dropping Friday on YouTube. The first batch will run to 52 YT-exclusive webisodes.
In tandem with the release date announcement, a first look at the series was launched across LK School Daze platforms. The teaser sees the students Vanness, Aditas, Froggy, Zero, Anthony, Bepop, Xena, Sharkhead and Mickey looking horrified as Yumi and Ami tell a scary tale about puberty.
LK School Daze is based on Kadokawa Gempak Starz’s comic series Lawak Kampus, created by Keith Chong, which became a major hit in Asia when it debuted back in 2003 and sold over 7.7 million copies in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and China. The series follows three socially dysfunctional best friends — Vanness, Aditas, Froggy — and their schoolmates as they do their worst to learn the essential life skills they need in and around school.
Building on its popularity, LK School Daze shorts debuted on TikTok in May 2023, garnering more than 37.67 million video views, 1.69 million likes and 124,000 followers.
To celebrate the series’ YouTube debut, it will be hosting a virtual watch party for its first webisode, titled “Growing Pains,” which will be live on LK School Daze Official YouTube Channel on Friday, September 1 at 11 a.m. (GMT) / 7 p.m. (MYT).
LK School Daze is produced by Lil Critter Workshop, an animation production house with studios in Malaysia and the U.K. (lilcritterworkshop.tv)
The Walt Disney Company announced today a special restored and remastered 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release of the Walt Disney Animation Studios’ first ever animated feature — Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937).
This will be the first time that the classic film has been made available in stunning 4K UHD, as part of The Walt Disney Studios’ continuing major restoration program using new scans of the original nitrate negative and with the creative input of Disney Animation experts Eric Goldberg (one of the modern masters of Disney animation) and Michael Giaimo (production designer of Wish, Frozen, Frozen II and Pocahontas). This newly restored version of the beloved film is part of Disney’s 100th anniversary celebration, and follows the recent restoration of Disney Animation’s Cinderella, released in 4K UHD earlier this year.
This new Disney100 edition will be released nationwide in a special collectible O-sleeve. There will also be a number of retail exclusives, with Best Buy offering a special Steelbook and Walmart offering animated titles in Disney100 edition slipcovers with a Snow White and the Seven Dwarfscollectible pin.
Synopsis: The beautiful and kindhearted princess Snow White charms every creature in the kingdom except one — her jealous stepmother, the Queen. When the Magic Mirror proclaims Snow White is the fairest one of all, she must flee into the forest, where she befriends the lovable seven dwarfs — Doc, Sneezy, Grumpy, Happy, Bashful, Sleepy and Dopey. But when the Queen tricks Snow White with an enchanted apple, only the magic of true love’s kiss can save her!
Based on the Brothers Grimm tale, the ambitious full-color picture was overseen by Disney directors David Hand, Perce Pearce, William Cottrell, Larry Morey, Wilfred Jackson and Ben Sharpsteen, produced by Walt Disney. Snow White — the studio’s most realistic, human character ever designed at the time — was overseen by Disney Legend Hamilton Luske, who directed young dancer Marge Champion through live-action reference footage for the animators.
The film stars Adriana Caselotti as Snow White, Lucille La Verne as the Queen, Roy Atwell as Doc, Pinto Colvig as Grumpy, Otis Harlan as Happy, Scotty Mattraw as Sneezy, Eddie Collins as Dopey, Harry Stockwell as the Prince, Moroni Olsen as Magic Mirror and Stuart Buchanan as the Huntsman.
Bucket Listers(creators of The Malibu Barbie Cafe, The Golden Girls Kitchen, and theLos Angeles Bucket List) and Superfly (creators ofthe Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival, The FRIENDS Experience and The Lizzoverse) will be partnering on their first joint venture: the Family Guy Experience, a location-based homage to one of TV’s most beloved cartoon families.
Starting September 27, the Family Guy Experience will transform Downtown Los Angeles (613 Imperial Avenue) into Quahog, Rhode Island — the fictional hometown of the Griffin family. The immersive experience is inspired by the Emmy Award-winning series Family Guy, produced by 20th Television Animation.
“Bucket Listers is stoked to join forces with Superfly and bring the world of Family Guy to life,” says BL’s Head of Experiences Derek Berry. “We pride ourselves on creating experiences that our community of 15 million+ fans won’t find anywhere else. The opportunity to partner up on the creation of this concept was a no-brainer. There couldn’t be a better dream team.”
“Just call us an experiential Voltron,” says Superfly Co-Founder, Kerry Black. “We can’t wait for this talented team to bring to life one of the great animated series in Family Guy — we know the evil monkey is watching!”
Family Guy
The indoor/outdoor experience (starting at$27 a ticket) will transport guests directly into the Family Guy universe. Aptly named after Quagmire’s signature phrase, the Giggity Golf part of the concept will feature a custom putt-putt course, recreating some of the show’s most iconic and beloved moments along the way. Visitors can expect fully themed golf replicas (for anyone who’s ever dreamed of putting across the Griffin living room) that test their skills of the game (and show knowledge) while doubling as the perfect chance for group photo moments.
The Family Guy Experience will also house a replication of the Drunken Clam bar and an Eat My Junk food truck for pre-tee and post-game bites and cocktails (Panini Car Sandwiches, Hamburgers & Jelly Donut combos, Lois’s homemade cookies and Hot Dog straws). No visit would be complete without a browse through the retail shop, where a variety of exclusive merchandise will be available for fans to take home.
Every ticket purchase includes a reserved spot and a guaranteed window of time to golf. The price of each VIP ticket also includes a welcome drink with additional food and drinks available for onsite purchase. Tickets are available exclusively throughBucket Listers. Follow @familyguyminigolf and @losangelesbucketlist for all the latest news and details. Join the waitlist to be notified first of tickets going on sale.
All-new episodes of Family Guy air Sundays on FOX (Season 22 of Family Guy premieres Sunday, October 1) and are available to stream exclusively on Hulu the following day. Previous seasons can be found exclusively on Hulu, Freeform and the FXX network.
Attendees of Fan Expo Canada 2023 in Toronto were among the first to learn of new anime offerings on the way, announced during the Crunchyroll Industry Panel on Friday, August 25. Here’s an overview of the brand-new series and additional seasons joining the platform’s streaming lineup in the near future:
The Saints Magic Power Is Omnipotent Season 2
Studio: Diomedéa | Coming this Autumn | Worldwide excluding German Speaking Territories & Asia but including Indian subcontinent
Synopsis: After years as a workaholic, Sei’s dream of a life of leisure has finally come true! She’s summoned to a magical kingdom where she crafts lifesaving potions and becomes the most valued citizen. But will her love of research hurt her chances with the dashing Commander of the Third Order of Knights, Albert Hawke?
The Witch and the Beast
Yokohama Animation Lab | January 2024 | Worldwide excluding Asia
Synopsis: It all started with the 17 “Origins” when their powers were passed down to individuals who still exist around the world today. A man carrying a coffin and a girl with the eyes of a beast appear in a town. The girl, once cursed by a witch, now searches for a way to undo the spell. Her quest for revenge is complicated when a beast captures the witch. This magnificent and intense dark fantasy begins now!
HIGH CARD Season 2
Studio Hibari | January 2024 | Worldwide excluding MENA, France and French-speaking countries, Spain and Portugal; excluding Asia but including Indian subcontinent
Synopsis: After discovering that the orphanage he grew up in is on the brink of closing due to financial stress, former street urchin Finn sets out for a casino with the aim of making a fortune and saving his childhood home. However, nothing could have prepared him for the nightmare that awaits.
Caught in a car chase and a bloody shootout over manʼs “lucky” card, Finn learns of the 52 X-Playing Cards with the power to bestow superhuman powers and abilities to the ones that possess them. With these cards, people can access the hidden power that can be found within themselves. Embroiled in the political intrigue, Finn is inducted into High Card, a shadowy organization tasked with recovering the X-Playing Cards before they fall into the hands of those who would use their power for nefarious ends.
“All you need in life are manners, dignity, and the will to bet on your own life.” A frenzied battle amongst these card obsessed players, fueled by justice, desire and revenge, is about to begin!
A Sign of Affection
Ajia-do | 2024 | Worldwide excluding Asia
Synopsis: With these hands, I want to tell you that I love you … The manga by Suu Morishita has sold over 3,400,000 copies to date, and has won many awards while receiving strong reactions across social media. Yuki, a deaf college student, is struggling one day when an upperclassman from her school, Itsuomi, helps her out. Itsuomi isn’t put off at all by her lack of hearing and interacts with her naturally. As he gradually opens up a new world to her, Yuki begins to develop feelings for Itsuomi … Thus begins the pure love story of Yuki, a deaf college girl, and Itsuomi, her upperclassman who travels the world with her.
Sasaki and Peeps
SILVER LINK. | 2024 | Worldwide excluding Asia
Synopsis: Sasaki is a middle-aged office worker living in Japan. Feeling drained by the vapid corporate world, he heads to the pet shop in search of a new companion. There he finds an adorable bird named Peeps and takes him home. But Sasaki quickly learns that Peeps isn’t your average bird … he’s a powerful mage from another world! Together, they embark on a magical adventure filled with swords and sorcery.
As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I’ll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the New World
studio MOTHER | 2024 | Worldwide excluding Asia
Synopsis: Our protagonist, Ars Louvent, was reincarnated in another world as the young son of a minor noble who owns a small domain. Ars was not particularly strong or intelligent, but he was born with the Appraisal Skill that’s able to see others’ abilities and statuses. He uses his skill to find the best hidden talents in the world to make their small, weak domain into the best. An isekai tale about unification is about to start, featuring the kind-hearted Ars and the unique talents he manages to find!
Independent production company Wada Wada Entertainment announces today that pre-production has begun on its first animated feature filmWeird Waters, following two successful TV seasons on Peacock, Roku and Tubi in the U.S. and streaming platforms worldwide. The series is distributed by 9 Story Distribution International.
Created by Wada Wada co-Founder Frank Sandor, Weird Waters is an animated CGI fantasy adventure that follows three tropical Best Fish Friends Forever (BFFFs) BZ, I.M. Tiger and Jam, in a tale that celebrates bravery, friendship and the power of believing in oneself. After accidentally landing in the deep end of a magical pond, Jam, a courageous yet rebellious young Neon Tetra, joins forces with BZ and I.M. Tiger on a thrilling underwater adventure guaranteed to make waves.
Global YouTube star Anastasia Radzinskaya, otherwise known as her handle Like Nastya, has signed on to voice Jam, a precocious Neon Tetra who has to discover the hero within! With an enormous global fanbase of over 350 million subscribers, Nastya’s casting in Weird Waters marks her first big screen project.
“Extending the Weird Waters universe and our passion for freshwater tropical fish to the big screen is a testament to how popular our beloved fishy friends are,” says Sandor. “With Nastya bringing her own unique spark and personality to Jam, we’re excited to embark on this next aquatic adventure.”
Speaking on her new animated adventure, Nastya says, “I’m already a fan of the series and screamed when I was approached to voice Jam. She’s so adventurous and fun-seeking, just like me! I can’t wait for everyone to experience this beautiful tropical world come to life.”
Weird Waters (working title) is written by Joshua Staman (Weird Waters series, Dependent’s Day), directed by veteran animator Salem Arfaoui (Moana, Despicable Me, The Secret Life of Pets)and produced by Wada Wada Entertainment, Lunchbox Labs and Jeremy Loethen (Fantasy Football). The feature length film is slated to hit theaters early 2025.
Weird Waters is represented by Courageous Artists. Like Nastya is represented in this endeavor by Davin Riley, head of L.A./N.Y.C.-based Trival Media.
In an early unwrapping into this year’s holiday animated special haul, today’s (Monday, August 29) new episode of Futurama Season 11 on Hulu will see the return of festive favorites Robot Santa, Chanukah Zombie and KwanzaaBot — voiced by the late hip hop icon Coolio in his final appearance on the show. The Grammy-winning rapper born Artis Leon Ivey Jr. died September 28, 2022 at age 59.
In S11 Episode 6, “I Know What You Did Next Christmas,” Bender and Zoidberg travel through time to launch an attack on the bloodthirsty Robot Santa. Check out the sneak-peek, musical KwanzaaBot clips and find a full episode summary below.
Episode Summary: Xmas season is coming up, so once again, evil Robot Santa will be delivering his annual attack. We see an animated TV holiday special, (featuring Coolio as KwanzaaBot and Mark Hamill as Chanukah Zombie), that reminds us how Robot Santa’s programming failed on his very first delivery, back in 2801, and ever since then he’s been mistakenly judging everyone to be “NAUGHTY”.
The Professor (Billy West) decides to end this travesty once and for all! Santa cannot be attacked … except through TIME. So the Professor reveals he has restored his old time machine (from classic episode 6.07, “The Late Philip J. Fry”). His plan is to go back in time to 2801 and reverse Santa’s naughty sensor so it will function correctly. It’s a nerve-wracking assault, but … he succeeds! It will be the first happy Xmas in centuries!
Futurama – “I Know What You Did Next Xmas” [ph: Matt Groening/Hulu]
Futurama – “I Know What You Did Next Xmas” [ph: Matt Groening/Hulu]
In honor of the occasion, the whole Planet Express crew takes Xmas week off, and everyone goes to spend time with their families. In the general excitement, Bender (John DiMaggio) and Zoidberg (West) are left behind, having no families to go home to. They are lonely and bitter. Their bitterness leads to drinking (“dumpster nog”), and they soon become drunk and end up bonding for the first time in series history. Then they get angry … if they can’t have a nice Xmas, they will ruin it for everyone else! They decide to kidnap Santa.
Futurama – “I Know What You Did Next Xmas” [ph: Matt Groening/Hulu]Futurama is created by Matt Groening and developed by Groening and David X. Cohen. Season 11, picking up with Fry and the gang after a brief 10-year hiatus, features the voices of returning stars John DiMaggio, Billy West, Katey Sagal, Tress MacNeille, Maurice LaMarche, Lauren Tom, Phil LaMarr and David Herman. Executive producers include Groening, Cohen, Ken Keeler and Claudia Katz.
Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon Movies and Spin Master Entertainment have announced a paw-some lineup of original songs for PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie, in theaters September 29. The new tunes include:
“Learning To Fly” by Grammy Award-winning artistChristina Aguilera, to be released by RCA Records on September 22.
“Down Like That” by Grammy Award-nominated performerBryson Tiller,to be released by Trapsoul/RCA Records on September 8.
“Bark to the Beat” by actor and singer Mckenna Grace, who also lends her voice to the character of Skye in the film, the PAW Patrol’s high-flying pup. “Bark to the Beat” features multi-platinum artist blackbear and will be released by Photo Finish Records on September 15.
The studios also recently unveiled a raft of cameo character posters and announced that the film has inspired a new immersive adventure at CAMP, The Family Experience Company. Produced by Spin Master Ent., the experience opens at CAMP’s Columbus Circle location on September 9. Limited tickets are available at camp.com/the-paw–patrol-experience.
Families will step through CAMP’s Magic Door, this time in the shape of a PAW Patroller vehicle, and explore a 5,500 square-foot world inspired by the new film and created in collaboration with Paramount. PAW Patrol and CAMP fans will have the opportunity to engage with their favorite pups, play out action-packed missions and celebrate the larger-than-life movie:
Train to become a member of The Junior Patrollers!
Search for missing Meteor Crystals
Put out fires just like Marshall
Build a skyscraper (and knock it down) just like Rubble
Put the pedal to the metal on Chase’s Roadway
Soar like Skye on a zipline over Adventure City
Watch special previews of PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie from inside PAW Patrol HQ
Shop PAW Patrol toys from Spin Master and additional products for the home and more.
Families that secure tickets on opening day will get a special meet and greet with the PAW Patrol at the end of their adventure.
Synopsis: When a magical meteor crash lands in Adventure City, it gives the PAW Patrol pups superpowers, transforming them into The Mighty PUps! For Skye, the smallest member of the team, her new powers are a dream come true. But things take a turn for the worse when the pups’ archrival Humdinger breaks out of jail and teams up with Victoria Vance, a meteor-obsessed mad scientist, to steal the superpowers and turn themselves into supervillains. With the fate of Adventure City hanging in the balance, the Mighty Pupshave tostop the supervillains before it’s too late, and Skye will need to learn that even the smallest pup can make the biggest difference.
The voice cast features Christian Conver as Chase, Luxton Handspiker as Rubble, Kingsley Marshall as Marshall, Mckenna Grace as Skye, Callum Shoniker as Rocky, Nylan Parthipan as Zuma, Marsai Martin as Liberty, Taraji P. Henson, Ron Pardo, Lil Rel Howery, Kim Kardashian, Chris Rock, Serena Williams, Alan Kim, Brice Gonzalez,North West, Saint West, Christian Corrao, with James Marsden and Kristen Bell, introducing Finn Lee-Epp.
Based on the television series created by Keith Chapman, Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies and Spin Master Entertainment present a Spin Master Entertainment production: PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie. Produced by Jennifer Dodge, p.g.a., Laura Clunie, p.g.a. and Toni Stevens, p.g.a.; executive producers RonnenHarary, AdamBeder and PeterSchlessel.
Trailblazing Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor will help welcome young viewers and their families back to the world of Alma’s Way next month, opening Season 2 of the Fred Rogers Productions animated series in a special guest appearance. A week of new episodes kicks off September 18 on PBS KIDS, in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month.
S2 premieres with the special half-hour episode. In “Justice Sonia and Judge Alma,” Alma meets Justice Sotomayor and is inspired to help her friends determine what’s fair. Then in “Justice Sonia and Umpire Alma,“ when Justice Sotomayor encourages Alma to be an umpire at a kickball game, Alma wonders if she made the right call about a play.
The episode features Sotomayor voicing her animated alter ego and series creator Sonia Manzano (known for playing Maria on Sesame Street) playing Alma’s grandmother, Granny Isa. Manzano also wrote one of the stories for the episode.
Alma’s Way centers on a six-year-old Alma Rivera, a proud, confident Puerto Rican girl growing up in the Bronx — inspired by Manzano’s own childhood. Each episode of showcases different aspects of Latino culture through music, food, language, and more. The series is executive produced by Manzano and Daytime Emmy Award winner Ellen Doherty (Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Cyberchase), Chief Creative Officer, Fred Rogers Productions.
Sotomayor was also born in the Bronx, in 1954. She earned a B.A. in 1976 from Princeton University and earned a J.D. from Yale Law School in 1979. She served in New York’s D.A.’s office as well as private practice before being appointed to the U.S. District Court, then the U.S. Court of Appeals and finally to the Supreme Court by President Barack Obama in 2009. She is the first woman of color and first Latina to serve SCOTUS.
Sonia Manzano [ph: David Gonzalez, c/o Fred Rogers Productions]
Sonia Sotomayor [official U.S. Supreme Court portrait, 2009]
Alma’s Way Season 2 begins with the following episodes:
September 18
“Justice Sonia and Judge Alma” — Inspired by meeting Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Alma tries to help her friends determine what’s fair.
“Justice Sonia and Umpire Alma” — When Justice Sotomayor encourages Alma to be an umpire at a kickball game, Alma wonders if she made the right call about a play.
September 19
“To Break or Not to Break” — Beto invites Alma and their friends to break his piñata, but when Alma sees he’s hesitant about doing it, she wants to find out why.
“The New Mr. Octy” — After Alma gives away a toy she doesn’t play with anymore, she wonders if she made a mistake.
September 20
“Mofongo on the Go” — When Alma and Eddie open a mofongo food truck, they run out of time to actually make the mofongo.
“Alma Scoots Around” — Alma keeps challenging André to scooter races to prove she’s the fastest.
September 21
“Piragua Problem” — There’s a new piragua flavor named after Alma, but what should Alma do when she doesn’t like it?
“Balloon Blues” — Alma isn’t sure what to do when André doesn’t want to play with balloon animals anymore
The 13th Streamy Awards were bestowed Sunday in an energetic ceremony hosted by YouTube star MatPat. Packed with special guests from across the creator community, the event doled out 50 awards recognizing excellence in a variety of content verticals and areas of expertise.
Taking this year’s prize in the Animated category was the adult-targeted YouTube series Helluva Boss, created by Vivziepop (HazbinHotel), a.k.a. Vivienne Medrano. Launched in October 2020 and now in its second season, the colorful and off-kilter 2D comedy follows the employees of I.M.P (Immediate Murder Professionals), an imp-run assassination company in Hell: Blitzø, the boss of the venture; weapons specialist Moxxie; powerhouse Millie; and receptionist/hellhound Loona. With the help of an ancient book obtained from Stolas, a Goetial demon of Hell, they access the human world to complete their demon-appointed tasks.
The show is produced by Medrano’s Burbank-based animation studio SpindleHorse Toons, and features the voices of Brandon Rogers (Blame the Hero), Richard Horvitz (Invader Zim), Vivian Nixon (Grey’s Anatomy), Erica Lindbeck (ThunderCats Roar) and Tony Award nominated actor-singer Bryce Pinkham (Broadway’s A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder).
In partnership with the BRIC Foundation, the Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF) presents Art + Biz Day: BRIC @ TAC as a part of The Animation Conference (TAC). Accessible to all OIAF 2023 TAC and AnimaPass passholders, the event will be held on September 22, and includes programming focused on ‘breaking, reinventing, impacting and changing the animation industry.’
“We’re so excited about the first of many collaborations with OIAF,” says BRIC Foundation’s Talent Manager & Co-Founder, Alison Mann. “Recognizing the desire and challenges the industry faces to recruit more diverse talent, we remain committed to creating access for marginalized communities into animation, VFX and gaming careers together. This year, we look forward to bringing productive discussions around how to break into the industry and the importance of elevating your personal brand.”
Art + Biz Day features a keynote presentation moderated by Mann with Kris Wimberly, co-founder and Head of Creative for Studio Smokescreen. Mann and Wimberly will discuss Wimberly’s career pathway in animation, from a service position at Disney to founding his own animation studio.
“We are proud to be partnering with the BRIC Foundation on an event that will help to inspire and open doors for a new generation of voices in the animation world,” says OIAF’s Managing Director Kelly Neall. “The animation industry won’t want to miss this opportunity to find new talent and to participate in equity-focused initiatives.”
‘Only You’ anthology shorts (L-R) ‘Yellowbird,’ ‘Kimotiwin: The Act of Stealing Lightning’ and ‘Burning Rubber’ will be spotlighted in an Art + Biz Day session.
Highlights of Art + Biz Day: BRIC @ TAC also include:
A networking breakfast presented by Canada Media Fund (CMF) and Nickelodeon, with Opening Remarks from a CMF representative.
A spotlight on ONLY YOU: An Animated Shorts Collection highlights directors Tsvetelina Zdraveva and Jerred North (Yellowbird), director Chris Fequiere and writer Dara King (Burning Rubber), and directors Caeleigh Lightning and Keara Lightning (Kimotiwin: The Act Of Stealing) and their experiences with the Max x WBD Access Animated Shorts Program. Zdraveva, Fequiere, King and C. Lightning will be present at the event.
Meet a Mentor Sessions, hosted by the BRIC Foundation, that provide an opportunity for feedback on demo reels from industry experts at real-time mentoring sessions. These sessions serve to create access for underserved groups to network, have their work reviewed and access industry opportunities.
TACruns from September 20 to 22. Additional programming for this networking and industry-focused forum will be announced over the course of the next few weeks.
Visual effects crews at Walt Disney Pictures filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for an election to unionize with the backing of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), the union announced Monday. This marks only the second time in history VFX professionals have come together to demand the same rights and protections as their unionized colleagues throughout the film industry — the other being Marvel VFX workers’ similar filing just this month.
Walt Disney Pictures, part of Walt Disney Studios, has been at the forefront of the entertainment industry for a century. Established originally as Walt Disney Productions, it was renamed in 1983. The unionizing VFX workers are responsible for creating the VFX across the studio’s impressive catalog, including the live-action adaptations of animated classics The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin as well as the ride-based Pirates of the Caribbean blockbusters, among others.
The historic move follows a supermajority (over 80%) of the 18 in-house VFX crewmembers at Walt Disney Pictures signed authorization cards signaling their desire to unionize. With today’s filing, a labor board election could commence as soon as two to three weeks. If a majority of these workers vote in favor of unionizing in that election, the studio would be required to begin good-faith negotiations for a contract covering these workers as a group.
“Today, courageous visual effects workers at Walt Disney Pictures overcame the fear and silence that have kept our community from having a voice on the job for decades,” said IATSE VFX Organizer Mark Patch. “With an overwhelming supermajority of these crews demanding an end to ‘the way VFX has always been,’ this is a clear sign that our campaign is not about one studio or corporation. It’s about VFX workers across the industry using the tools at our disposal\ to uplift ourselves and forge a better path forward.”
While positions like production designers/art directors, camera operators, sound, editors, hair & makeup artists, costumes/wardrobe, script supervisors, grips, lighting, props and paint (among others) have historically been represented by IATSE in motion picture and television, workers in VFX classifications have not. VFX job classifications have largely remained non-union since the modern industry was pioneered during production of the first Star Wars films in the 1970s.
The unionizing workers are demanding fair compensation for all hours worked, adequate health care, retirement benefits and, more generally, the same rights and protections afforded to their unionized coworkers who are already represented by IATSE. These demands echo the increasingly prevalent calls for improvements across the VFX industry, and are corroborated with the sentiment uncovered by IATSE’s 2022 VFX Worker Rate and Conditions Survey, which was published in March.
IATSE has reported unprecedented demand for unionization across all sectors of the entertainment industry, and this groundbreaking move by Walt Disney Pictures’ VFX workers is part of a massive wave of organizing throughout the business. Earlier this month, workers at Gladius Studios across animation, VFX and video game classifications voted unanimously to unionize with The Animation Guild (TAG), IATSE Local 839.
Following Marvel Studios VFX Workers’ unprecedented filing earlier this month, the labor board’s unionization election for the studio is now underway, with the votes set to be counted September 12.
“The determination of these VFX workers is not just commendable, it’s groundbreaking,” said Matthew D. Loeb, International President of IATS. “Their collective action against the status quo represents a seismic shift in this critical moment in our industry. The chorus of voices demanding change is unprecedented, and demonstrates our united movement is not about any one company, but about setting a precedent of dignity, respect and fairness for all.”
The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees or IATSE (full name: International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, Its Territories and Canada), is a labor union representing over 170,000 technicians, artisans and craftspersons in the entertainment industry, including live events, motion picture and television production, broadcast and trade shows, in the United States and Canada.
The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) has announced that SCAD AnimationFest will return to Atlanta, Georgia this September 28-30. The three-day festival will be the first held at SCAD’s new state-of-the-art, 700-seat theater SCADshow.
SCADFILM’s signature festival for digital media will feature sessions with top executives and creatives from Netflix, Gearbox, Cartoon Network Studios, FOX, Viva Kids, Animal Repair Shop, Crafty Apes, Artie and FuseFX, as well as SCAD faculty and alumni at the forefront animation, motion media design and visual effects. This year, SCAD AnimationFest programming has expanded to include gaming and virtual production, industries that continue to intertwine and create a new transmedia world of entertainment.
“As the nation’s biggest and best festival celebrating student animators and industry trends, SCAD AnimationFest shines in three-dimensional wonder — especially true this year, as SCAD unveils our state-of-the-art, 700-seat theater in the heart of Midtown,” said SCAD President & Founder Paula Wallace. “This screen is as colossal as SCAD’s student talent. It’s the perfect stage for the world premiere of The Last Dungeon, the latest triumph from SCAD Animation Studios and a collaborative marvel from more than 40 SCAD Bees. Truly a masterpiece in motion!”
SCADFILM will recognize Adam Muto as the 2023 Spotlight Award recipient, for his innovative contributions to the animation and entertainment industries. Muto will be presented with his award on Friday during a special screening event of his new Max series Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake, followed by a Q&A to share insights about his incredible journey in animation.
SCAD will also honor keynote speaker Theodore “Ted” Ty for Outstanding Achievement in Animation at this year’s festival. Ty, the global head of character animation at DNEG Animation, will present a behind-the-scenes look at the popular Netflix movie Nimona, based on the popular 2015 graphic novel by ND Stevenson.
On Saturday night, FOX Entertainment is hosting an exclusive preview screening of Krapopolis, the all-new animated comedy from Emmy Award winner, creator and executive producer Dan Harmon. Members of the production team will give attendees a behind-the-scenes look at the series.
Several highly anticipated sessions at SCAD AnimationFest feature work from students and faculty, including a preview of the new animated film Inspector Sun and the Curse of the Black Widow, followed by a Q&A with producer and SCAD film professor Jason Kaminsky and screenwriter Rocco Pucillo.
An attendee favorite, this year’s Saturday Morning Cartoons session will feature Vooks Storytime animated stories and Tab Time episodes.
SCAD Animation Studios, the world’s only animation studio at a university, will host the premiere screening of The Last Dungeon. This project from SCAD Animation Studios is the first student animated film to be created using Unreal Engine and is a true SCAD collaboration. Students from many different degree programs worked together on this production, including animation, visual effects, acting and sound design, to build a cohesive, harmonious score and riveting soundtrack to pull it all together.
“This year SCAD AnimationFest explores how technology is evolving beyond traditional definitions of animation to develop new and innovative transmedia storytelling,” said Leigh Seaman, Senior Executive Director of SCADFILM. “As a top-ranked program in animation, interactive design and game development, visual effects, motion media, illustration and more, SCAD is uniquely qualified to host the best in the industry as presenters and mentors.”
Conversations, presentations and panels at SCAD AnimationFest include:
Keynote by Aaron Deerfield, lead cinematics animator at Gearbox: Constructing a Career in Transmedia
Panel Discussion: Transforming the Peach State with FuseFX
Industry Insights: Georgia’s Digital Boom
Innovating Game Night with Infinite Rabbit Holes
Panel Discussion: Embrace the Rush: The Power of Emerging Tech
SCAD student, faculty and alumni presentations include:
SCAD Alumni Voices
SCAD Animation Studios presents: The Making of The Last Dungeon
SCAD Student Film Spotlight: The Making of Vainglorious
Find Yourself On the Green: An Immersive Public Art Space with SCADpro
SCAD Student Animation Showcase
SCAD AnimationFest passes will be available for sale starting Thursday, August 31. For passes, full schedule and more information, visit scad.edu/animationfest.
Iconic Events Releasing is bringing the action and bold visual storytelling of anime to the big screen with a slate of upcoming nationwide theatrical events for the latest installment of AX Cinema Nights. A different acclaimed anime feature will be screened at over 300 theater locations across the country beginning in September and continuing through February 2024.
The lineup includes a Satoshi Kon Film Festival that will screen three of the legendary director’s most renowned anime feature films: Perfect Blue (25th Anniversary), Tokyo Godfathers (20th Anniversary) and Paprika, as well as special presentations of Mamoru Oshii’s Ghost in the Shell and Shinichirō Watanabe’s Cowboy Bebop: The Movie. Both subtitled and dubbed screenings are scheduled.
AX Cinema Nights is a year-round movie event series celebrating the best new and classic anime films by bringing them to theaters across North America. It provides the passionate fan community with immersive and unforgettable experiences beyond the annual Anime Expo.
Perfect Blue 25th Anniversary – Presented in partnership with GKIDS Screens Sept. 6 (sub), Sept. 7 (dub), Sept. 10 (encore of choice)
Anime Expo Cinema Nights invites you to revisit Perfect Blue, the groundbreaking and rarely screened first film from the legendary director Satoshi Kon (Paprika, Paranoia Agent), as it returns to theaters for its 25th anniversary.
Rising pop star Mima has quit singing to pursue a career as an actress and model, but her fans aren’t ready to see her go… Harboring feelings of guilt and haunted by visions of her former self, Mima’s reality and fantasy meld into a frenzied paranoia. As her stalker closes in, in person and online, the threat he poses is more real than even Mima knows, in this iconic psychological thriller that has frequently been hailed as one of the most important animated films of all time.
Perfect Blue
Ghost in the Shell – (Lionsgate) Screens Nov. 8 (sub), Nov. 9 (sub), Nov. 12 (encore of choice)
Anime Expo Cinema Nights invites you to return to the visually stunning and poignant classic Ghost in the Shell.
2029: A female cybernetic government agent, Major Motoko Kusanagi, and the Internal Bureau of Investigations are hot on the trail of “The Puppet Master,” a mysterious and threatening computer virus capable of infiltrating human hosts. Together with her fellow agents from Section 9, Kusanagi embarks on a high-tech race against time to capture the omnipresent entity. Director Mamoru Oshii’s award-winning cyber-tech thriller, based on the manga by Shirow Masamune, is lauded as one of the leading Japanese animation films of all time.
Ghost in the Shell
Tokyo Godfathers 20th Anniversary (Sony Pictures) Screens Dec. 11 (sub), Dec. 12 (sub), Dec. 13 (encore of choice)
Anime Expo Cinema Nights invites you to celebrate Tokyo Godfathers, the acclaimed holiday classic from master director Satoshi Kon (Paprika, Perfect Blue), as it returns to theaters to celebrate its 20th anniversary with a 4K restoration under the supervision of the original art director and producers.
On Christmas Eve, three homeless companions stumble upon a baby girl in a garbage heap. They name her Kiyoko, and vow to care for her as they track down her family. Haunted by memories of their own broken pasts and pursued by a cast of shadowy characters from Tokyo’s nightlife, Hana, Gin and Miyuki overcome their differences and learn to trust one another as a new, makeshift family. With the New Year fast approaching, the mystery behind baby Kiyoko deepens, and these unlikely heroes discover the surprising — and sometimes miraculous — connections that have brought them all together.
Co-written by Keiko Nobumoto (Cowboy Bebop) and featuring a whimsical score by Keiichi Suzuki, Tokyo Godfathers is a masterpiece by turns heartfelt, hilarious and highly original, a tale of hope and redemption in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.
Tokyo Godfathers
Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (Sony Pictures) Screens Jan. 21 (sub), Jan. 22 (sub), Jan 23 (encore of choice)
Anime Expo Cinema Nights presents Cowboy Bebop: The Movie. Caught up in a world of dreams, lost in the cruelty of reality.
What should have been an easy bounty turns into biological war after a terrorist gets hold of a deadly virus. Drawn in by the pretty price on the mastermind’s head, Spike and the Bebop crew are ready to collect a much-needed reward. Unfortunately, the gang’s about to find themselves in more trouble than money when the terrorist threatens to unleash the virus on Halloween –effectively killing everyone on Mars. With little time and leads that seem more dreamy than helpful, they’ll have to use their own bag of tricks to stop a dangerous plot.
Cowboy Bebop
Paprika (Sony Pictures Classics) Screens in Feb. 7 (sub), Feb. 8 (sub), Feb. 11 (encore of choice)
Anime Expo Cinema Nights presents the final film by visionary director Satoshi Kon with his mind-bending thriller, Paprika, which has been restored in 4K for the first time.
When a machine that allows therapists to enter their patients’ dreams is stolen, all hell breaks loose. Only a young female therapist, Paprika, can stop it.
The Junior Co-Production Market (cinekid.nl) returns to Pathé Amsterdam Noord during the 2023 Cinekid for Professionals program. Seventeen projects will be presented to the industry, including eight films, seven series and two works-in-progress.
Submissions came from a wide range of countries, with selected projects originating from five more countries than last year, such as Brazil (Tata), Ukraine (Monsterberry Jam) and Serbia (The Secret of The Dragon’s Fellowship). The Netherlands has a strong presence at the Market this year, with two productions, including The Rules of Three, the new project from Margien Rogaar, director of this year’s Cinekid Festival Opening Film Jippie No More! In addition, three Dutch co-productions will be presented at the Market. Stories about the environment, war and loss are highly represented in the selected projects.
Animation dominates this year’s selection, with nine projects (compared to seven live-action projects and one documentary). Highlights from this category include the much-anticipated feature sequel Fox and Hare Save the Forest, from Amsterdam production company Submarine in co-production with Walking the Dog and Doghouse, which will be presented as a work-in-progress. Another highlight is the new series from Market alum Kuli Film, ORF, in co-production with One to One Films.
ORF
Cinekid for Professionals supports the entire life cycle of a film, and therefore is proud that two of the selected projects have participated in training programs such as Script LAB and Directors LAB, or have pitched at the Market at an earlier stage. These projects are One Brother Too Many, which participated in the 2022 Directors LAB and the work-in-progress Block 5, which was pitched in development at the 2021 JCM and is set to be released next year.
“We succeeded in presenting a diverse selection, reflecting a broad spectrum of topics for all age groups. We see social themes presented from preschool to coming of age in playful and hopeful projects, such as Big Bang Parade, an original concept in which several stories from different filmmakers are connected playfully,” said Cinekid Festival Director Heleen Rouw.
Sara Juričić, Head of Cinekid for Professionals, noted, “The projects in the Junior Co-Production Market are more than just movies; they are the voices of a new generation ready to make a difference through the power of film. Through it, they entertain and inspire, serving as catalysts for transformative impact, penned with unwavering resolve and presented with the boundless ingenuity of young visionaries.”
The Junior Co-Production Market brings financiers, producers, and broadcasters into contact with a selection of new and innovative film and series projects for children from established and emerging sector makers. Over two days, the projects will be presented to the international children’s media industry and participate in one-on-one meetings with interested professionals.
Two prizes will be awarded to projects from the selection. The best eligible project with European co-production potential will receive Eurimages’ prestigious Co-Production Development Award and €20,000 in cash. The Filmmore Post-Production Award comes with a €5.000 prize and will go to the best live-action project. The winners will be announced during the Cinekid Awards on Wednesday, October 25.
The Dream Master
Junior Co-Production Market Projects
(* Denotes animated projects where we were able to confirm.)
Film
Big Bang Parade *
Directed by Britt Raes, Hermien Verstraeten, Nienke Deutz, Imge Özbilge, Sine Özbilge, Karolien Raeymaekers and Martyna Koleniec
Written by Ilka De Bisschop
Production Companies: Lunanime BV, Momakin and Flinck Film
Produced by Degryse Annemie
Production Countries: Belgium, Poland, and The Netherlands
The ‘Big Bang Parade’ will be a compilation film for young and old, consisting of short animated films by various makers. The short films are interwoven by the central theme of space, but each has its own identity and graphic style. It will be a colorful ode to artistic diversity and a particular asset for young viewers from 3 to 5 years old. (From Lunanime)
The Dream Master * Directed by Kristian Nordentoft
Written by Jesper Fink
Production Company: Copenhagen Bombay
Produced by Sarita Christensen and Mette Valbjørn Skøtt
Production Country: Denmark
Nine-year-old Catherine is used to setting aside her own needs when taking care of her younger sister Sophie who has multiple impairments. But one day Catherine suddenly finds herself in an underwater dreamworld where Sophie is a giant pink unicorn called The Dream Master. Together, they set out on an enchanting adventure where they meet all sorts of magical creatures: talking toys, rapping mermaids, and much more. The many hardships bring the sisters closer. Outside, in the real world, they can’t communicate, but through imagination Catherine discovers a way to communicate with her sister. And for the first time she feels that she finally got the little sister she always wished for. (From Copenhagen Bombay)
Hanneke & Fiet
Directed by Mischa Kamp
Written by Tamara Bos
Production Companies: NL Film and TV and Endemol Shine Israel
Produced by Dennis Cornelisse
Production Country: The Netherlands and Israel<
Nico Finds a Treasure
Directed by Konstantinos Frangopoulos
Written by Alexandra Dyranis-Maounis
Based on the short story by Ali Mitgutsch
Production Companies: Anemon Productions, asterisk*, Bind Film and Lieblingsfilm
Produced by Rea Apostolides, Yuri Averof, Joram Willink and Philipp Budweg
Production Countries: Greece, The Netherlands and Germany
One Brother Too Many
Directed by Tove Undheim
Written by Tove Undheim
Production Company: Miso Film
Produced by Hedda Hansson Rudi
Production Country: Norway
The Rules of Three(working title)
Directed by Margien Rogaar
Written by Evianne Lamme and Fiona van Heemstra
Production Companies: BIND and URSUS Parvus
Produced by Joram Willink, Maaike Neve and Hlin Johannesdottir
Production Countries: The Netherlands and Iceland
Secret of the Dragon’s Fellowship Directed by Vanja Hovan
Written by Milan V. Puzic, Uros Petrovic and Vanja Hovan
Production Companies: Biberche Productions, Maxima Film, Palchica Productions, Bela Film and Kwassa Films
Produced by Nikolina Vucetic-Zecevic
Production Countries: Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, and Belgium
Firsts (Primeras)
Series
Children of Water
Directed by Joy Penroz
Written by Joy Penroz
Production Companies: Raki Films and RTVC Señal Colombia
Produced by Sylvian Grain
Production Countries: Chile, Colombia
Firsts *
Directed by Bambú Orellana and Paloma Mora
Written by Elena Gobernado, María Mínguez, Noelia Martínez Y Guadalupe Sáez, Catalina Fontecilla, Javier Risco, Michelle Redón, Bárbara Salinas and Bambú Orellana
Production Companies: Admirable Films, TV ON Producciones and TYPPO Creative Lab
Produced by Paloma Mora
Production Countries: Spain and Chile
Firsts is an anthological, animated show depicting the life stories of women from around the world who became pioneers in fields that until then, were reserved only to men. With passion and determination, these young women decided to push the envelope and change the rules in order to make their dreams come true. By doing so they became the “Firsts” to enter fields such as sports, science, the arts and social movements. This show for kids 7+ and family, presents the stories of people coming from different parts of the world and cultures. It’s a proposition to see what happens when we open the door to those, we see as strangers and an invitation to dream big and be whoever we may wish to be. (From Cartoon Forum)
Mia Moké
Directed by Jeremie Becquer, Julien Becquer and Karim Gadjigo
Written by Karim Gadjigo and Louise Dubois
Production Companies: Special Touch Studios, African Touch Studios, Ozemnia and Paul Thiltges Distributions
Produced by Sebastien Onomo
Production Countries: France, Senegal, Cameroon, and Luxembourg
Monsterberry Jam
Monsterberry Jam *
Directed by Roman Kepkalo
Written by Roman Kepkalo
Production Company: YARKI
Produced by Yana Palamarenko
Production Country: Ukraine
A boy named Matthew is forced to leave the big city and move with his mother to a small town. He is terribly disappointed and bored. But everything changes when Matt discovers that all the inhabitants of this town are real monsters from fairy tales and legends who are only pretending to be people. (From Cartoon Forum)
Odd Adventures of Ninja & Bibby *
Directed by Piotr Różycki
Production Company: Laniakea Pictures
Produced by Zofia Jaroszuk
Production Country: Poland
Ninja and Bibby are the dynamic duo of familiars who serve Yga, a witch-veterinarian with a heart for helping animals. With the aid of Yga’s magical powers and arcane knowledge, these two embark on thrilling missions to procure unique ingredients for magical elixirs. Each quest transports them to a world of legends come alive, where they encounter mysterious artifacts and unexpected consequences. But the road to success is not without danger. In addition to facing terrifying monsters, the pugs must also outsmart their feline nemesis, Balthazar. A Persian cat and embodiment of all flaws, Balthazar is obsessed with getting his paws on the Book of All Spells, the most precious magical item owned by the pug sisters. (From Polish Film Institute)
ORF *
Directed by Jan Cechl
Written by Eva Prchalová, Jan Cechl
Production Companies: Kuli Film and One to One Films
Produced by Radim Procházka and Irina Calado
Production Countries: Czech Republic and Portugal
Tata
Tata *
Directed by Celia Catunda and Kiko Mistrorigo
Written by Rita Catunda
Production Company: Pinguim Content
Produced by Ricardo Rozzino
Production Country: Brazil
Tata is a surprisingly energetic turtle who is also intelligent, spirited and, above all, a really good friend. Her library is full of the most fascinating stories of exotic places and animals and she loves reading all about them and looking at their colorful pictures. Tata and her friends set off to find the magical creatures she has read about. This youthful explorer leads her friends on the most fantastic expeditions into the dense forests surrounding their yard, where they have exciting adventures as they search for the exotic animals. (From Pinguim Content/Animation Magazine)
Works in Progress
Block 5
Directed by Klemen Dvornik
Written by Dora Šustić
Production Companies: A Atalanta, Antitalent, BFilm and Living Pictures
Produced by Barbara Daljavec
Production Country: Slovenia, Croatia, and Czech Republic
Fox and Hare Save the Forest *
Feature Film
Directed by Mascha Halberstad
Written by Fabie Hulsebos
Production Companies: Submarine, Walking the Dog and Doghouse
Produced by Janneke van de Kerkhof
Production Countries: The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg
World Sales: Urban Distribution International
Benelux Distributor: Periscoop Film
One day, Fox and Hare find that Owl has disappeared. Together with their friends, they search the forest to find him, but instead they discover a big lake that was not there before. Could the sudden appearance of the lake have anything to do with Owl’s disappearance? They must go and find Owl, who is somewhere out there on the rapidly rising water … It is the start of an exciting and fun adventure. Fox and Hare Save the Forest is a happy, friendly, colorful and humorous animation feature for children aged 4 to 7 years. The film is based on the eponymous books by Sylvia Vanden Heede, illustrated by The Tjong-Khing and published in more than 10 countries by Lannoo. (From Cartoon Movie)
The ultra-adorable bear bros. return to Cartoon Network this weekend in star-powered new episodes of We Baby Bears Season 2. Premiering Saturday, August 26 at 10 a.m. ET/PT, the two episodes feature musician guest stars Willow Smith, Anderson .Paak and L.A.-based, all-girl pop-punk band The Linda Lindas!
Launched in January 2022, the series follows the adventures of the furry stars of Daniel Chong’s We Bare Bears — Grizz, Panda and Ice Bear — as wee cubs, who journey across whimsical lands on their search for a place to settle in.
We Baby Bears “Triple T Tiger Lilies”
Episode “Triple T Tiger Lilies”
The Triple T Tigers visit Glitterwood Forest along with their amazing tigerlilies. Unica and the bears attempt to grow their own tigerlily, But short cuts and bad decisions soon result in disaster.
Guest Stars: Willow Smith, Anderson .Paak and his son, Soul Anderson
We Baby Bears “The Big Bloom”
We Baby Bears “The Big Bloom”
Episode “The Big Bloom”
Unica and the bears prepare to rock out in order to help the Grand Magnolia Tree bloom. This episode is the final of the Glitterwood Rocks arc.
North American distributor GKIDS today announced it will open the warmly anticipated European animated feature Ernest & Celestine: A Trip to Gibberitia in theaters nationwide from September 1. The initial list of participating cinemas was also detailed.
Directed by Jean-Christophe Roger and Julien Chheng, the 2D adventure is a follow up to the 2012 movie Ernest & Celestine, which won the César Award for Best Animated Film (2013) and earned a coveted Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature, as well as several Annie Award nods, in 2014.
Synopsis: Ernest remains an ursine troubadour dedicated to a life of music and art, and his constant grouchiness is softened by the creative whims of his mouse friend Celestine. When she accidentally breaks his beloved violin, they must take a long voyage to Ernest’s country of Gibbertia, home to the only artist who can repair it. But when they arrive, they are shocked to discover that all forms of music have been banned in Gibbertia for many years, and a land once known across the world for its incredible musicians has fallen silent.
It is up to Ernest and Celestine and their new friends, including a mysterious masked outlaw, to bring music and happiness back to the land of bears.
Participating Venues:
California
Los Angeles- Laemmle Monica Film Center
Claremont- Laemmle Claremont | Laemmle Newhall
Glendale – Laemmle Glendale
Murrieta- Reading Cal Oaks 17 with Titan LUXE Ontario- AMC DINE-IN
Ontario Mills 30 with Dolby Orange- AMC Orange 30 with IMAX, Dolby
San Diego- Angelika Carmel Mountain Theatre | Town Square 14
New York
New York- Village East Cinema by Angelika
Colorado
Highlands Ranch- AMC Highlands Ranch 24 with IMAX, Dolby
Hawaii
Honolulu- Cons Kahala 8
Mililani- Cons Mililani 14 with TITAN LUXE
Illinois
South Barrington- AMC Barrington 24 with IMAX, Dolby
North Carolina
Concord- AMC Concord Mills 24 with IMAX, Dolby
Ohio
Columbus- Gateway Film Center
Oklahoma
Oklahoma City- AMC Quail Springs 24 with IMAX, Dolby
Tennessee
Franklin- AMC DINE-IN Thoroughbred 20 IMAX, Dolby
Texas
Dallas- Angelika Film Center Dallas
Grapevine- AMC DINE-IN Grapevine 30 w/IMAX, Dolby
Virginia
Fairfax- Angelika Mosaic
Read all about the making of Ernest & Celestine: A Trip to Gibberitia in the Sept./Oct. ’23 issue of Animation Magazine, available soon.
The Justice League and Team RWBY take on their biggest adventure yet in Justice League x RWBY: Super Heroes & Huntsmen, Part Two, available to purchase Digitally on October 17 and on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray October 31. Following the April launch of Part One, the new animated film from Rooster Teeth Animation, DC and Warner Bros. Animation will see these world-saving teams unite again in a whole new environment.
Synopsis: On the heels of successfully escaping a deadly digital trap, the members of the Justice League emerge in their own world to discover that Grimm, ravenous creatures from Remnant, have overtaken Earth! In order to defeat the monsters, they must call on their new friends – Team RWBY – for help!
Joining the voice cast in this second go around are Jamie Chung (Big Hero 6, Batman: Soul of the Dragon) as Black Canary, David Dastmalchian (Dune, The Suicide Squad, Ant-Man)as The Flash, Laura Bailey (The Legend of Vox Machina, Naruto: Shippûden) as Wonder Woman, Troy Baker (The Last of Us, BioShock Infinite) as Batman and Travis Willingham (Critical Role, Sofia The First) as Superman.
Returning from Part One are Ozioma Akagha (Teen Titans Go!) as Vixen, Jeannie Tirado (Soul, Saints Row) as Green Lantern and Tru Valentino (The Rookie, The Cuphead Show!) as Cyborg, alongside RWBY mainstays Lindsay Jones (Camp Camp) as Ruby, Kara Eberle (RWBY: Ice Queendom) as Weiss, Arryn Zech (The Detective Is Already Dead) as Blake and Barbara Dunkelman (Blood Fest) as Yang. The film also features the voices of Maxwell Friedman (AEW Dynamite, The Iron Claw), Christopher Sabat (Dragon Ball Z) and J. Michael Tatum (My Hero Academia).
The film was co-directed by Yssa Badiola (Camp Camp) and Dustin Matthews (RWBY franchise) from a script penned by Meghan Fitzmartin (Supernatural, Justice Society: World War II). Producers are Kimberly S. Moreau (Legion of Super Heroes), Ethan Spaulding (Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion’s Revenge) and Jim Krieg (Batman: Gotham by Gaslight) with Laura Yates (Boyhood, RWBY, Red vs. Blue) as supervising producer; and Sam Register and Michael Uslan executive producing.
Special Features:
You Look … Different: RWBY on Earth – Earth is not exactly the same as Remnant, the world where Team RWBY live. The enemies are different. The Justice League heroes are different. And Team RWBY’s powers? They’re all extremely different. In this featurette, we get a closer look at Team RWBY on Earth.
I’ve Got Your Back – In Part One, Justice League and RWBY members had to work together to save Remnant. Now in Part Two, on Earth, they all must work together to save each other. In this featurette, we get into the story behind so many of the characters saving each other both physically and emotionally.
Justice League x RWBY: Super Heroes & Huntsmen, Part Two will be available October 17 to purchase Digitally from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, Vudu and more. 4K Ultra HD (SRP $39.99 U.S. / $44.98 Canada) and Blu-ray ($29.98 U.S. / $39.99 Can.) discs will be available on October 31 to purchase online and in-store at major retailers.
