Having already taken pioneering strides with its 2018 film Allahyar and the Legend of Markhor, the first animated feature produced entirely in the Unreal Engine, Islamabad-based 3rd World Studios has tackled another first with its action-packed sci-fi sequel. According to the producers, Allahyar and the 100 Flowers of God is the first stereoscopic 3D animated feature produced in Pakistan.
The first Allahyar movie follows the titular young protagonist and a motley crew of endangered species animals (Mehru the markhor goat, Hero the chukar partridge and Chak’ku the snow leopared) caught up in an unbelievable adventure that sheds light on illegal wildlife hunting. In Allahyar and the 100 Flowers of God, Allyahar and the unflappable Hero set out to solve the mystery of the disappearing trees in the Chinnar forest, and find themselves transported to a remarkable high-tech world where they team up with new friends to save Allahyar’s father from a race of wood-poaching robots.
Written and directed once again by Uzair Zaheer Khan, Executive Producer of 3rd World Studios, Allahyar and the 100 Flowers of God features a voice cast packed with Pakistani star power, featuring Humayun Saeed, Ali Zafar, Iqra Aziz, Meera, Bushra Ansari, Nadia Jamil, Anum Zaidi, Azlan Uzair and Azfar Jafri.
Released in 3D across Pakistan in late June, for Eid al-Adha, the film was created in a custom pipeline combining motion-capture technology, again utilizing Unreal Engine for much of the production. You can get a peek at the process in the studio’s behind-the-scenes video on the making of an animated COVID-19 PSA.
Free-to-play games publisher Tilting Point and real-time strategy game developer AN Games, under license from Paramount Consumer Products, are developing a multiplayer strategy mobile game set in the world of Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender franchise. Launching in 2024, the game’s official title and additional details will be announced in the coming months.
Based on the renowned animated television series Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra, the strategic mobile game will have players explore the Avatar world, interact with beloved characters and work together with other players to defeat a Barbarian Death Cult that worships an evil spirit set on dominating the world.
Tn this multiplayer strategy mobile game, players will take on the role of a leader tasked with building an army and community to restore balance in the Avatar world. Strategy is key as players will need to build cities, manage resources, construct and upgrade buildings, explore the world and engage in tactical combat to become victorious. Players will work together to expand territories, manage resources and restore harmony.
“My kids grew up watching Avatar: The Last Airbender and I was there for every episode,” said Kevin Segalla, CEO & Founder of Tilting Point. “We loved it so much that when they got older, the whole family got our first tattoos — each of us with one of the four element symbols that best represented our personalities! Nickelodeon and Paramount Consumer Products created an amazing show, and between Tilting Point and the mobile strategy experts at AN Games, we are super excited to be making a game that will be just as amazing.”
This will be Tilting Point’s third mobile game with Nickelodeon and Paramount Consumer Products after the 2020 award-winning SpongeBob: Krusty Cook-Off and the recently announced SpongeBob Adventures: In a Jam! which is currently available for pre-registration. The developer’s catalog of license IP titles also includes Star Trek Timelines, Narcos: Cartel Wars and Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures, to name a few.
Toy and entertainment company MGA Entertainment, Inc. (MGA), in collaboration with nurturing dolls manufacturer, Zapf Creation AG, announces the first-ever original animated series from legacy brand, BABY born®. After 32 successful years in the market and 26 million dolls sold worldwide, the new series will introduce preschoolers to BABY born girl Emma, her stuffed bear Teddy and friends as they learn, grow and explore the world by playing make-believe.
Set to premiere August 26 on YouTube and Kidoodle.TV., the BABY born series is designed to inspire creativity, teamwork and imagination, featuring 19 original songs across 18 episodes (90 minutes of content). Each five-minute episode presents a new adventure, filled with social and emotional obstacles that the characters must overcome together through teamwork and friendship. Viewers will Emma and her friends in their imaginative adventures including riding flying bikes, baking cupcakes, camping overnight and swimming.
“We are excited to bring BABY born’s magical world to life through a colorful and creative short-form animated series,” said Anne Parducci, MGA Entertainment’s Chief Content Officer, “Families will enjoy the exceptionally catchy music, fun themes and loveable characters.”
Following its English-language YouTube & Kidoodle.TV premiere, BABY born will expand to other media distribution and languages in the Fall 2023.
“For more than three decades, BABY born has been a cherished companion for children worldwide, and this animated series is a natural extension of the brand’s commitment to creating imaginative and educational experiences. We can’t wait to share BABY born adventures with children and their families,” said Thomas Eichhorn, ZAPF Creation AG Executive Board Member.
BABY born dolls and accessories are available now in the U.S. at select Target, Walmart, Amazon and other retailers.
The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) selection at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), taking place September 7 to 17, will feature compelling documentary and animated storytelling from emerging filmmakers. This includes the World Premiere of Montreal director Marielle Dalpé’s professional debut: the animated short Aphasia.
Premiering in the TIFF Short Cuts program, Aphasia is described as an unsettling sensory experience that immerses us in the world of people with Alzheimer’s disease who are facing the loss of their language capabilities. The film utilizes a mixed technique, blending under-camera and digital animation.
Aphasia [c/o the National Film Board of Canada]From the NFB:
Propelled by a jarring, lyrical aesthetic, the film pulls viewers into a disconcerting sensory experience. Visuals and sounds multiply and are superimposed on each other. Images collide as the voice of the narrator, Clare Coulter, dissolves into echoes. Meanwhile, startling glitch effects shatter the clean lines of the images.
In her debut professional animated short, Marielle Dalpé is not content to simply evoke the world of language dysfunction. Instead, she fully immerses us in it. The film allows us to feel what it must be like to engage in a battle with time and the limits of our own minds, while everything seems to be slipping away…
This powerful and important work highlights the ambiguous fragility of existence, and reminds us of that which makes us uniquely human: our ability to communicate.
Aphasia [c/o the National Film Board of Canada]
Aphasia [c/o the National Film Board of Canada]
Aphasia [c/o the National Film Board of Canada]
Aphasia [c/o the National Film Board of Canada]
The English-language version screening at TIFF features the voice of veteran Toronto-born actress Clare Coulter (Three Pines). The 3’45” film is produced by Marc Bertrand and executive produced by Christine Noël for the NFB’s French Program Animation Studio. The sound design is by Luigi Allemano, who also worked on Wendy Tilby and Amanda Forbis’s Oscar-nominated NFB animated short The Flying Sailor.
Since graduating from Concordia University’s Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema, Dalpé has been a finalist in the 2017 edition of the NFB’s Cinéaste recherché(e) contest, and received a special mention at the pitch competition held at the Cinémathèque québécoise’s Sommets du cinéma d’animation in 2020.
Following its TIFF premiere, Aphasia is also selected for the Ottawa International Animation Festival (September 20–24).
Canadian animation production company Huminah Huminah Animation has promoted Steve Cooke from his Head of Production role to VP of Production & Operations. Cooke joined the studio in 2022 and has been significantly involved in expanding the studio’s capability and capacity, applying his 20-years of experience in the industry.
Prior to joining Huminah Huminah, Cooke had been working at IOM as Studio General Manager from 2020 to 2021, with a previous stint from 2004 to 2019 at DHX, where he was Supervisor of CG on Rev and Roll, Inspector Gadget, Doozers, Fireman Sam, SuperWhy, Wishenpoof and Little People. Previous to that he was Art Director on Bo on the Go, Monster Math Squad, Animal Mechanicals and before that a stop-motion animator on Lunar Jim.
Cooke’s animation career began in 1998 at Cage Digital, where he served as a senior animator on Salter Street’s series Lexx. He has also worked as a lead artist at several other Canadian companies over the years.
Kevin Johnson
On the heels of the recent appointment of Skyler Mattson as CEO of Saffronic has further expanded its executive team with the appointment of Kevin J. Johnson as its first Executive Creative Director. In his new role, Johnson will collaborate with Kristy Scanlan, recently appointed SVP of Business Development, to foster relationships with new and existing clients — such as DreamWorks Animation (Gabby’s Dollhouse, Dragons: The Nine Realms, Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous), WildBrain and Trioscope.
Based in Los Angeles, Johnson has over 30 years of experience in animation. Most recently, he served as Supervising Director at Universal 1440 Entertainment on the last four seasons of Curious George. Prior, he directed the animated feature Dog Gone Trouble, distributed by Netflix. He was also the Animation Supervisor on Fox’s feature film Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked and the director of The Jungle Book. His animation experiences also include Head of Story on Astroboy and a creative consultancy on The Zula Patrol for PBS.
Saffronic‘s management team, now led by Mattson, also includes industry veterans Kumar Chandrasekaran and Prabhakar Sambandan, each with over 25 years of industry experience with major entertainment companies and brands. They serve as joint Studio Directors at the company’s production facility inIndiain the city ofChennai. Sally Toms, an agency veteran, runs operations.
Katharina Pietzsch
BBC Studios Kids & Family announced two senior appointments to complete the new division’s senior management restructure designed to support its ambitious growth plans.
Katharina Pietzsch, now VP Content Sales, will lead the sales and co-production strategy for the BBC Studios Kids & Family portfolio. Working closely with the content and production teams in this senior client facing role she will manage priority accounts with responsibility for enhancing sales revenue and profit targets across co-productions, commissions and tape sale activity globally.
Pietzsch joins the division from ZDF Studios, where she was a Director in its Junior department and brings extensive experience of international sales, co-productions and co-commissions of kids and family programs. She originally joined ZDF Studios as a management trainee and has worked as Acquisitions Manager for ZDF and KiKA and Sales and Coproduction Director for ZDFS’s kids & family content.
Kelly Wood
Kelly Wood takes on the newly created role of Head of Content Strategy. Leading the high-performing content strategy team, Wood will work closely with other BBC Studios Kids & Family leads to define global and local content strategies and roll-out plans for its brands on BBC Studios global channels, third party services and digital platforms to ensure each Kids & Family show achieves maximum reach with young audiences.
Wood brings a wealth of knowledge to BBC Studios Kids & Family. Her previous role as editorial lead at Paramount Kids and Family U.K. and Ireland, saw her overseeing content and programming strategy for the Nickelodeon brand across linear and non-linear platforms in the region. Prior to this, Wood worked at Channel 4 and media agency OMD.
Dylan VanWormer [c/o College for Creative Studies]
The College for Creative Studies (CCS) in Detroit has appointed Disney Animation alum Dylan VanWormer as Assistant Professor in the Entertainment Arts department — which is focused on animation, concept design and game design and overseen by program Chair David Gazdowicz. VanWormer assumes his role at the College this upcoming fall semester, instructing students at various levels in their education and focusing on digital media arts, expanding into 3D animation in the spring.
In 2011, VanWormer received his BFA in computer design from Ringling College of Art and Design. He began his post-graduate career as a look development supervisor at Moonbot Studios, where he was responsible for developing, refining and executing the final look for animated characters. He continued his career at Walt Disney Studios as a lead look development artist, working on award-winning feature films Zootopia, Moana, Wreck-It-Ralph 2, Frozen 2 and Raya and the Last Dragon.
After his Disney, VanWormer was employed at General Motors, where he handled the creative oversight of the UX 3D team before transitioning to a role at Marvel Studios as a senior look development artist. There, he worked closely with the production designer and showrunners to help transpose 2D designs into detailed 3D.
Tim Burke
DNEG announced the hiring of Academy Award and BAFTA winner Tim Burke as Visual Effects Supervisor. Burke brings more than two decades of experience to his new role and will be based out of DNEG’s London studio. “I’ve worked with DNEG as an independent VFX Supervisor for 20 years, watching the facility grow from strength-to-strength during that time, so I am very excited to be forging even closer ties with the company and the amazingly talented artists who work there, during this next chapter of my career,” said Burke.
Burke’s award-winning credits as VFX Supervisor include Ridley Scott’s Gladiator (2000), for which he received the Academy Award for Best Effects, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), for which he received a VES Award for Outstanding Visual Effects in an Effects Driven Motion Picture, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011), which earned him a BAFTA for Best Special Visual Effects.
Burke most recently served as Production VFX Supervisor for Disney’s The Little Mermaid. His other credits as Production VFX Supervisor include Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, The Legend of Tarzan and the last four films in the Harry Potter franchise, with director David Yates. He also served as Production VFX Supervisor for director Alfonso Cuarón on Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and for Ridley Scott on Hannibal and Black Hawk Down, amongst others.
Munich-based VFX house TRIXTER announced a leadership transition: Simone Kraus Townsend, Co-Founder & Chief Creative Officer/Animation Supervisor, and Christian Sommer, Chief Executive Officer & Executive Producer, will be departing their current roles, with Kraus Townsend turning her full focus to creative endeavors as Animation Supervisor. The change follows Cinesite’s acquisition of TRIXTER in 2018. Now that TRIXTER’s integration into the Cinesite group is complete, studio management has been restructured.
Transitioning into Kraus Townsend and Sommer’s leadership roles at TRIXTER will be Christina Caspers-Roemer as General Manager & Managing Director, and Christopher Hantel as Head of Finance & Managing Director. Caspers-Roemer has a background in virtual production and other cutting-edge technologies which can make filming & VFX production more creative and budget-friendly. Hantel brings 23 years of experience in the media industry with a focus on services, film production and a wide range of entrepreneurial topics.
Caspers-Roemer recently re-joined TRIXTER as Head of Studio & Business Development after working as Managing Director at Dark Bay GmbH – Europe’s largest virtual production stage. With a background in VFX and XR, she previously worked as Head of Operations & HR for TRIXTER on projects such as Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Black Widow, The Suicide Squad, Foundation Season 2 and more.
Hantel, who joined TRIXTER as Chief Financial Officer and Managing Director in April 2023, is a highly experienced Managing Director, CFO, and Commercial Manager. He has held many executive positions throughout his career, including serving as Commercial Manager of ARRI Media GmbH and Managing Director of Band Pro Munich GmbH.
L-R: (top) Artie Pena, Sara Putt, Emily Dean, (bottom) Geraldine Weber, Yat Siu, Alan Keane
More Exec Moves & Creative Hires
Nexus Studios signed Love, Death + Robots:The Very Pulse of the Machine director Emily Dean to its global roster for commercial representation.
Kavaleer Productions announced two significant hires: veteran story editor Alan Keane as Development Producer and Producer Geraldine Weber, who brings 25 years of experience to the award-winning Irish animation studio.
AlongSide Global, having recently acquired animation studio Bonfire and launched multi-medium creative prodco Organs, welcomed Scott Pryor as Director of Production.
Jetpack Distribution appointed Wildbrain alumni Rebecca Lugo as the company’s new Head of Global Sales.
Moonbug Entertainment, part of Candle Media, appointed Yasmin Zahid as the company’s new Head of Distribution & Brand Partnerships, APAC.
Camp Lucky expands its creative post talent with the addition of Flame artist Artie Peña.
Sara Putt, Founder & MD of Sara Putt Associates, has been announced as BAFTA‘s newly elected Chair,succeeding Krishnendu Majumdar.
Animoca Brands Co-Founder & Executive Chairman Yat Siu has been appointed to the Task Force on Promoting Web3 Development established by the Hong Kong government.
Enjoying record-breaking on-site attendance, the 27thLA Shorts International Film Festival celebrated a highly animated edition this year. The Brave Locomotive, Andrew Pierce Chesworth’s homage to classic Merrie Melodies and Disney shorts, earned the Best Animation honor and immediately became qualified for Academy Award consideration. An accomplished animator, Chesworth was previously nominated for the best animated short Oscar for One Small Step, which he directed with Bobby Pontillas at TAIKO Studios.
Described in its crowdfunding campaign as “a love letter to the Andrews Sisters and 1940s animation,” Chesworth began developing the concept in 2008 and recorded the original music with Tom Hambleton in 2009. After spending many years on the shelf as Chesworth pursued his studio animation career, the Old West tale of a mighty little train facing disaster is chugging along the festival circuit and will be released online later this year.
“My crew and I couldn’t be more grateful for The Brave Locomotive winning Best Animation at its LA Shorts International Film Fest premiere!” Chesworth enthused. “The Brave Locomotive had a very long, noncontiguous production journey, so it was a profound gift to feel love reflected back by audience members. The film wouldn’t be what it is without the brilliant music by Tom Hambleton. I was thrilled to see his work get so much deserved affection in the panel after the screening!”
Additionally, the LA Shorts hosted multiple visually stunning animated films from Max’s Only You: An Animated Shorts Collection, the University of Southern California (USC) and talented indie creators such as Vishavjit Singh and Ryan Westra (American Sikh), Linda Malik and Brainstorm Productions (Willow’s Tale), Jour Majesty a.k.a. Michael C. Perry (Walls) and Chelsea Heard (Curls).
Curls
Willow’s Tale
American Sikh
The festival dedicated Wednesday, July 26 to the bulk of its animation offerings, including a Q&A with select filmmakers and an interactive panel of animation and visual effects veterans. In attendance were representatives from Max competition films Yellow Bird and Welcome to 8th Street, The Backseat Lovers viral stop-motion music video “Snowbank Blues” and several collaborators from the 17 titles in this programming block.
Industry pros on the animation career panel included entertainment executives Terry Kalagian (Gaumont) and John Andrews (Cosmos-Maya, Los Angeles Animation Film Festival), voice director Kristi Reed (Summer Camp Island), writer/creator Jeffrey Reddick (Final Destination, Young Captain Nemo), write/actor Raymond Singer (Mulan [1998], Only Here and Now) and moderator Marlene Sharp (Sonic Boom, Young Captain Nemo). The collection of in-person ‘toon-centric events took place at Regal Cinemas LA Live in downtown Los Angeles.
Welcome to 8th Street
Yellow Bird
As a pre-opening night treat, the Immaculate Heart Community sponsored a free LA Shorts screening of feature length documentary Rebel Hearts at Laemmle NoHo Theatre, to a packed house. This non-fiction film, which chronicles the Southern California history of the socially conscious Community and its founders, features integrated animated sequences as well as live-action footage.
“I was thoroughly impressed with the heart and soul of our animators this year,” noted festival coordinator Jared Nigro. “In a tumultuous time for the animation industry, the perspective and dedication to craft transcended any sense of hard times. Animation continues to be a powerhouse of talent. This year’s films, alongside our star-studded animation panel, proved this to be truer than ever.”
Find more information about the LA Short International Film Festival at lashortsfest.com.
Kids’ & family entertainment indie Studio 100 Media has struck deals with streaming platforms Peacock (U.S.A.), Kabillion (U.S.A.) and ITVX (U.K.) for the CG animated series FriendZSpace. Targeted at children five to nine years old, the 52 x 11’ series co-produced by Flying Bark Productions and T&B Media Global is set to launch in August 2023 on ITVX and on Peacock and Kabillion later this year.
Created by Dan Clark (Team Smithereen, Yo Gabba Gabba) and Oscar Covar (Team Smithereen, Tasty Tales of the Food Truckers), the fast-paced action-comedy series center on best friends Alice, Leo and Kim. The trio may seem like regular human kids, but behind their normal façade they are risk-taking deep space friend-makers.
Each episode follows the three as they jet into space in their unpredictable star cruiser, The Dart. Accompanied by BotDog (half puppy and half high-tech Swiss army knife) their mission is simple and wonderfully weird: locate planets, find alien kids, introduce themselves, and make friends. But making friends with alien kids is tricky! Some kids live in the bushy eyebrows of a dangerously moody slobbering beast, while the kids from another planet are so colossal, the Earth kids need to climb them like skyscrapers just to say, “Hi!”
Every alien kid they meet is ‘friendable’. But befriending alien kids is never easy. Different customs, funny alien biological quirks and pressing narrative events create comic complications that must be overcome! FriendZSpace is all about kids and kid culture — alien and human — it ́s about embracing our differences and getting into exciting trouble in the process!
PACT Advertising and Yeti Farm Animation Studio announce their new creative partnership to develop a new Peter and Penny Puck children’s animated series and other Peter Puck animated content for broadcast and streaming channels.
Originally created by Hanna-Barbera with the creative assistance from hockey sportscaster Brian McFarlane, the character continues to appeal to hockey fans young and old. In the months ahead, Peter Puck will be creatively refreshed for a contemporary audience, along with his sister, Penny Puck.
“Since their U.S. and Canadian debuts in the early 1970s, Peter and Penny Puck have captured the hearts of hockey fans across North America,” comments Donald Bilodeau, Co-Founder, PACT Advertising. “We recognized the need for great children’s content and searched for the right animation partner to help us realize the potential of these iconic and beloved characters. We’re overjoyed to enter in a creative partnership with Yeti Farm’s world-class animation talent. From the start, the team at Yeti brought so much passion to this project. Together, Peter and Penny Puck will be the new ambassadors for hockey and youth sports for players and athletes of all ages.”
Peter Puck was originally introduced in 1973 during hockey game broadcast intermissions to help teach viewers at home about the rules of hockey, as well as the wholesome values of fairness, fun at play, respect in sports and good sportsmanship.
While reimagined for a contemporary audience, the production partners say the new Peter and Penny Puck will continue to educate, entertain and inspire viewers, advancing the timeless values that make these characters so important to hockey and the wonderful world of sports. Plans for Peter Puck animated content include streaming series for children and prime time audiences and animated public service interstitials.
“Originals and brands that have both the existing and potential legacy to delight and impact kids and their caregivers’ quality of life are at the heart of our ‘Why’ at Yeti Farm and part of our founding core values,” says Jay Surridge, Chief Creative Officer, Yeti Farm. “As ambassadors of youth sports including hockey, we immediately recognized the opportunity to foster a positive and modern message around the classic recognizable Peter and Penny Puck characters. We cannot wait to bring them back to life in a fun, engaging and contemporary way in this exciting partnership.”
An new bricktastic adventure begins today with the release of the official trailer and key art for LEGO® Disney Princess: The Castle Quest. The all-new animated special from Disney Princess and the LEGO Group will premiere August 18 on Disney+, leading into the World Princess Week celebration.
Synopsis: Tiana, Moana, Snow White, Rapunzel and Ariel are off on an adventure as they are each unexpectedly transported to a mysterious castle. Shortly after arriving, they soon discover that Gaston has hatched an evil plan to take over all their kingdoms! The Princess characters must work together to solve challenges hidden deep within the castle walls and try to save their kingdoms from Gaston. Will bravery, quick-thinking and teamwork prevail?
LEGO Disney Princess: The Castle Quest features the voices of Jodi Benson (The LittleMermaid, 1989) as Ariel, Auli’i Cravalho (Moana) as Moana, Mandy Moore (Tangled) as Rapunzel, Anika Noni Rose (The Princess and the Frog) as Tiana, and Katie Von Till (Sofia the First) as Snow White. Additional cast includes Richard White (Beauty and the Beast, 1991) as Gaston, Joanne Worley (Beauty and the Beast, 1991) as Wardrobe, Corey Burton as Magic Mirror and Jim Cummings as King Triton.
Michael D. Black is the director and Robert Fewkes, Pamela J. Keller, Joshua R. Wexler and Sanjee Gupta are producers.
Viewers also have the opportunity to shop the LEGO Disney Princess Ultimate Adventure Castle collection featured in the special on shopDisney.com and retail locations globally.
Earlier this month, Disney kicked off its “Wonder of Princess” festivities, as part of the on-going celebration of 100 years of Disney. The celebration of the Disney Princess brand will culminate with the return of World Princess Week (August 20–26), a global extravaganza that highlights the impact of the Disney Princess characters.
Today, The Pokémon Company International streamed the latest Pokémon Presents to fans around the world, revealing new experiences across the franchise — including two additions to the b rand’s animation canon. Further details were also shared about the downloadable content for Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet, which were released in November 2022 as the newest titles in the core Pokémon game series.
The event unveiled the new animated web series Pokémon: Paldean Winds, which brings the Paldea region to life in an all-new way. This limited original series follows three academy students — Ohara, Aliquis and Hohma — on their journey of growth and learning while attending school. Fans can look forward to watching Pokémon: Paldean Winds on the official Pokémon YouTube channel starting September 6.
Pokémon: Paldean Winds
Pokémon: Paldean Winds
Pokémon: Paldean Winds
The Pokémon Company International will also premiere a short animated series, titled Pokémon: Path to the Peak, this month concurrent with a special screening at the 2023 Pokémon World Championships, taking place at the PACIFICO Yokohama. Viewers will follow Ava and her partner Pokémon, Oddish, on their journey to rise to the top in the world of competitive Pokémon Trading Card Game play. Fans around the world will also be able to watch the first episode on the official Pokémon YouTube channel on August 11.
Pokémon: Path to the Peak
Pokémon: Path to the Peak
Pokémon: Path to the Peak
Pokémon Scarlet & Violet News:
The first adventure in The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero, the new DLC for the blockbuster Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet video games, will launch on September 13. In Part 1: The Teal Mask, players take a school trip to the land of Kitakami, where they join an outdoors study program held jointly between their academy and another school. Players can look forward to meeting Pokémon not found in the Paldea region while unearthing the mysteries behind an old Kitakami folktale. A new trailer for The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero can be seen here. More details about Part 2: The Indigo Disk will be revealed at a later date.
A special in-game event, Get Mew & Mewtwo!, will mark the debut of the Mythical Pokémon Mew and the Legendary Pokémon Mewtwo in the Paldea region. Beginning today through September 18, 2023, at 7:59 a.m. PDT, players can add Mew to their team by entering the password GETY0URMEW in the Mystery Gift menu. In addition, a special Tera Raid Battle event will take place between August 31 at 5:00 p.m. PDT and September 17, 2023, at 4:59 p.m. PDT. In this event, players can challenge and catch a Mewtwo with the Mightiest Mark. A new trailer for Get Mew & Mewtwo! can be found here.
New Game Announced:
Releasing exclusively for Nintendo Switch on October 6, the Detective Pikachu Returns video game is now available for preorder on Nintendo eShop and at participating retailers and online stores. This new title stars the one and only tough-talking, coffee-loving, great Detective Pikachu and his trusty partner, Tim Goodman. With the help of many other Pokémon, Tim and Pikachu work together to solve a series of mysterious incidents occurring in Ryme City, a place where humans and Pokémon live side by side. The latest trailer for Detective Pikachu Returns can be found here.
New updates and experiences were also revealed for popular mobile games across the franchise, including Pokémon GO, Pokémon Sleep, Pokémon UNITE, Pokémon Masters EX and Pokémon Café ReMix. In addition, The Pokémon Company International also announced that today, the bestselling Pokémon Trading Card Game video game will be coming to Game Boy – Nintendo Switch Online, as well as Pokémon Stadium 2 to Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Switch Online. To learn more about all these latest announcements, Trainers can tune in to today’s Pokémon Presents.
Visual effects crews at Marvel Studios filed for a unionization election with the National Labor Relations Board on Monday. Entertainment union IATSE points out that this move signals a major shift in an industry that has largely remained non-union since modern VFX was pioneered during production of the first Star Wars films in the 1970s. A supermajority of Marvel’s more than 50 worker crew signed authorization cards indicating they wished to be represented by IATSE (the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees).
This marks the first time VFX professionals have joined together to demand the same rights and protections as their unionized colleagues in the film industry. Mark Patch, VFX Organizer for IATSE, highlighted the significance of this moment: “For almost half a century, workers in the visual effects industry have been denied the same protections and benefits their coworkers and crewmates have relied upon since the beginning of the Hollywood film industry. This is a historic first step for VFX workers coming together with a collective voice demanding respect for the work we do.”
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 historically have not.
“Turnaround times don’t apply to us, protected hours don’t apply to us, and pay equity doesn’t apply to us,” notes VFX coordinator Bella Huffman. “Visual effects must become a sustainable and safe department for everyone who’s suffered far too long and for all newcomers who need to know they won’t be exploited.”
The Marvel VFX workers’ filing for a union election comes at a pivotal moment in the film and television industry, amidst ongoing strikes by both the Actors and Writers Guilds as both seek fair contracts with the studios and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).
“We are witnessing an unprecedented wave of solidarity that’s breaking down old barriers in the industry and proving we’re all in this fight together. That doesn’t happen in a vacuum,” IATSE International President Matthew D. Loeb asserts. “Entertainment workers everywhere are sticking up for each other’s rights, that’s what our movement is all about. I congratulate these workers on taking this important step and using their collective voice.”
Disney-owned Marvel Studios has created some of the biggest VFX-fueled box-office successes in film history, exceeding $2 billion with Avengers: Endgame and Avengers: Infinity War. The studio also delivers content inspired by the MCU to Disney+, such as the critically acclaimed WandaVision and Loki. Upcoming projects currently in post production include theatrical movies The Marvels and Captain America: Brave New World, as well as Loki Season 2, Echo, Ironheart and Agatha: Coven of Chaos for Disney+.
The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees or IATSE (in full: 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 168,000 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.
IATSE also encompasses The Animation Guild (IATSE Local 839), which represents animation artists and production workers.
Fans of all ages can look forward to the next installments of their favorite animated adventures, a brand-new series and a celebratory special this fall on Cartoon Network. Highlights include the stateside premiere of The Heroic Quest of the Valiant Prince Ivandoe and a 100th anniversary mash-up from Teen Titans Go!
“CartoonNetwork presents the best in animation for all generations with iconic, creator-driven shows,” said Michael Ouweleen, President of CartoonNetwork and Boomerang. “This fall is no exception as we premiere new seasons and series from the talented crews at CartoonNetwork Studios, Warner Bros. Animation and Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe.”
We Baby Bears
Today (Monday, August 7) marks the premiere of new episodes of Bugs Bunny Builders from Warner Bros. Animation. This preschool series features Bugs, Lola, Daffy, Porky and Tweety working together to pull off some of the looniest construction jobs ever. Beginning today, five new episodes will debut Monday-Friday at 8:45 a.m. on CartoonNetwork.
New episodes of fan-favorite series We Baby Bears from CartoonNetwork Studios will debut on August 26 at 10:00 a.m. This story arc follows baby bear brothers Grizz, Panda and Ice Bear and will include guest appearances from Linda Lindas, Anderson .Paak and Willow Smith.
Batwheels
Batwheels, DC’s super heroic series for preschoolers, returns with new episodes on September 11 at 7:45 a.m. From Warner Bros. Animation, the high-speed animated series follows a group of young super vehicles as they help Batman, Batgirl and Robin keep the streets of Gotham City safe. This batch includes a special episode featuring the voice of the legendary Batman actor Adam West, which will debut on Friday, September 15 ahead of Batman Day on September 16.
Teen Titans Go! — Warner Bros. 100th Anniversary Special
Perennial favorite series Teen Titans Go! from Warner Bros. Animation — starring Robin, Starfire, Raven, Beast Boy and Cyborg — continues its eighth season with a new Warner Bros. 100th Anniversary Special arriving September 23 at 9:30 a.m. During the episode, the gang visits the famed Warner Bros. studio lot for an adventure with exciting surprise guests.
First-look images promise cameos from classic characters out of DC (Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman, Flash), Hannah-Barbera (Scooby-Doo, the Jetsons, Yogi Bear, Magilla Gorilla), Looney Tunes, Cartoon Network (Dexter and Deedee, Finn) and even the mogwai!
Produced by Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe and set for its U.S. debut on Cartoon Network on November 11 at 9:00 a.m., The Heroic Quest of the Valiant Prince Ivandoe tells the tale of Prince Ivandoe, a self-assured and delusional young buck, joined by his dedicated and clever squire, Bert, on a magical and hilarious hero’s quest, through kingdoms filled with swashbuckling, royal rivalries and magical fairy tale creatures.
These new episodes will also be available to stream on Max.
Animation Nights New York (ANNY), the monthly NYC screening event for artistic, compelling and entertaining animated short films and VR experiences, is bringing back its in-person event model for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Local cinephiles can mingle once more for the 85th ANNY program taking place this month.
Catch Program #85 in-person on Tuesday, August 15 at The Gutter Spare Room in Brooklyn (21+), from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET. Space is limited for this open-seating engagement; RSVP via Eventbrite here.
The films in competition are:
Skinny World by Huaxu Yang (China)
Winking Out by Juliette Mauduit (Belgium)
But What by Rose Stark (U.S.)
Night Train by Sofia Gutman (France)
Yellowbird by Tsvetelina Zdraveva & Jerred North (U.S.)
The Sun Is Always Shining by Claudia Bicen (U.S.)
Cornucopia by Ani Antonova & Dimiter Ovtcharov (Austria)
Death of the Gods by Leto Stojanovic Meade (U.K.)
Alive by Lin Sihan (Canada)
A Blue Giant by Gyeongmu Noh (Korea)
Pulse at the Centre of Being by Tsz-wing Ho (Hong Kong)
For those unable to attend the live event, the program will also be available on VOD for one day only on Sunday, August 20, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET. Animation lovers can connect and discuss the films in the ANNY Virtual Events Space. RSVP vis Eventbrite or ANNY.
Following a strong Tuesday preview turnout which brought in $3.85 million, and surfing atop a wave of critical praise and strong audience word of mouth, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhemrode to a five-day opening of $43.073 million domestically. The $70M film surpassed post-preview estimates hovering around $30M-$40M; 16% of box office came from premium screens and 3D was 13%.
While the Turtles came in behind billion-dollar Barbie and Oppenheimer, Paramount Pictures/Nickelodeon Movies are looking forward to a cowabunga-worthy performance as TMNT:MM has yet to see a majority of its international market launches and won’t see major animated family flick competition until PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie opens in eight weeks.
TMNT:MM is currently sitting on the highest Rotten Tomatoes critic score for any animated film this year with 96% Fresh (edging out Sony/Marvel’s Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse at 95%) and boasts an audience score of 92% as of Monday. Audience polls show kids and parents are enthusiastic in their ratings and recommends.
Audience & Reactions:
54% general audience/46% family
60% male/40% female
39% 18-34, 34% <18, 24% 35+
38% Cauc. / 34% Hisp. / 18% AA / 5% Asian / 5% NatAm other (62% multi-cultural)
Ratings: 60% Excellent / 30% Very Good = 90% Total Positive for general audiences, 90% parents, and 95% kids
Recommends: 69% definite recommend for general audience, 70% for parents, 66% must see for kids
4.5/5 stars on PostTrak for general audience and parents, kids were 5/5 stars; A CinemaScore
39% of the general audience and 53% of kids said it exceeded their expectations.
Other animation titles still in rotation include Disney-Pixar’s Elemental, which added $1.2M to its total gross ($148.3M) in its eighth weekend. Across the Spider-Verse swung $530,000 ($380.1M total) after 10 weekends. DreamWorks’ Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken pulled $30K ($15.7M, 6th w/e). And Illumination/Nintendo’s megahit The Super Mario Bros. Movie continues to pick up coins with a $10K weekend no. 18 ($574.2M).
Something special is coming down the tracks for Season 2 of Donkey Hodie, the popular puppet series inspired by Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. Five new episodes will debut on PBS KIDS beginning August 14, and will be streaming for free.
Rolling out of the original show’s history into Donkey Hodie’s neighborhood is Trolley, making its debut as a real, moving vehicle character ready to whisk the puppet friends away. The reimagined car sparks to life with distinctive chimes created with the exact same celeste instrument used in Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.
In this new season, kids and families will also meet Turtle-Lou, a “Speedy Delivery” turtle modeled after the original show’s beloved Mr. McFeely. Turtle-Lou will even sing the well-known “Speedy Delivery” song in an episode premiering on August 16.
Additionally, four new episodes of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood –— another top-rated Fred Rogers Productions series and the first Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood spin-off — also featuring Trolley will premiere on PBS KIDS on August 14, with all-new episodes featuring timely new strategy songs to help preschoolers and their families prepare for back-to-school.
Donkey Hodie meets Turtle-Lou, the Speedy Delivery turtle in Season 2 [c/o Fred Rogers Productions]
Donkey Hodie Season 2 Launch Episodes:
Trolley Visits Someplace Else – Ding-ding! Trolley visits Someplace Else for a big party. When the pals need help preparing, can they figure out what Trolley’s dings mean?
Wish Upon a Fish – Donkey thinks her pet fish Rogers is magic and will help her do hard things. But is it magic or practice?
The Breakfast Bowl – Donkey and Panda compete against each other in the Breakfast Bowl. Can they still have fun if only one of them can win?
Dancing Dandelions – Donkey, Panda, and Bob Dog plant Dancing Dandelion seeds and help each other find the right music to make the flowers grow.
Speedy Delivery – Turtle-Lou opens a Speedy Delivery service in Someplace Else. But how can he remember which neighbors get which packages?
Ruff Night – The pals have a sleepover at Bob Dog’s house, and Donkey can’t fall asleep. Can she change her bedtime routine just for tonight?
A Donkey Dilemma – Donkey promised to help Grampy bathe Gregory and also to play Bubble Bonanza with Panda today. What a dilemma!
The Quiet Game – The pals play too loudly while Rock Star Penguin tries to write a song. They make up a quiet game to help. Who can stay quiet the longest?
Feelings Detectives – Duck Duck has a super big feeling, but she doesn’t know what it is. Detectives Donkey and Panda are on the case!
Clyde’s Cloudy Day – When Clyde feels sad, the pals want to help him feel better, but he needs time. They give him time until he is ready to play.
Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood New Episodes:
Daniel Helps Take Care of Margaret – Daniel is upset when Dad Tiger can’t pick him up from school, but Nana Platypus helps take care of him.
Daniel Goes to the Dinosaur Playground – On a class trip, Daniel wants to stay with his mom, but she reminds him that Teacher Harriet is also there to take care of him.
Daniel’s Important Job at the Market – Daniel and Dad help Prince Tuesday at the market.
Daniel’s Important Job at the Enchanted Garden – Daniel is excited to plant flowers, but becomes upset when he gets the job of weeding. He learns that everyone’s job is important!
Everyone Has a Turn at Show and Tell – Daniel and his classmates learn how to take turns during Show and Tell.
Daniel Takes Turns at the Pool – At the Neighborhood pool, Daniel and Miss Elaina take turns playing with the bubble wand. Later, he and Prince Wednesday take turns using a pool noodle.
Daniel and Max Ask to Play – Daniel and Max see their friends playing, but don’t know how to join in. They learn that sometimes you just have to ask!
Daniel Asks to Play at the Music Shop – O the Owl is worried about joining his friends, but when he asks if he can play too, they say yes!
In honor of National Tree Day yesterday, Disney+ revealed that five newI Am Grootshorts are heading to the streamer beginning September 6. A new trailer, key art and stills featuring the adorable Marvel sprout debuted today.
Synopsis: The troublemaking twig returns to mischief in the second season of I Am Groot. This time, Baby Groot finds himself exploring the universe and beyond aboard the Guardians’ spaceships, coming face-to-face — or nose-to-nose — with new and colorful creatures and environments.
Vin Diesel is back as the voice of Groot in five all-new shorts. Kirsten Lepore, writer/director of Season 1, returns in the same capacity for Season 2. The supervising producer is Danielle Costa; producers are Craig Rittenbaum and Alex Scharf; executive producers areBrad Winderbaum, Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso and Kirsten Lepore. Dana Vasquez-Eberhardt is co-executive producer.
Distributor 8 Above announced today it will present the U.S. theatrical release of My Love Affair with Marriage, the second animated feature from Signe Baumane (Rocks in My Pockets, Teat Beat of Sex). The film will have its U.S. theatrical release at The Quad in New York on October 6, and at Laemmle Glendale in Los Angeles on October 13 (with a preview screening on October 12 at the Laemmle Royal). Other cities will follow.
Featuring the voices of Matthew Modine (Stranger Things), Dagmara Domińczyk (Succession), Michele Pawk, Cameron Monaghan (Shameless), Stephen Lang (Avatar), the award-winning, hand-drawn film centers on a spirited young woman determined to find love in the bewildering world.
Synopsis: My Love Affair with Marriage follows Zelma on her 23-year quest for perfect love and lasting marriage set against a backdrop of historic events in Eastern Europe.
Told from a woman’s point of view, the film blends historical, biological, societal, and emotional arcs with a lively sense of humor and musical numbers. This animated film for adults tackles the issues of love, gender norms, domestic violence, fantasies, and toxic relationships to propel a woman’s journey toward independence and liberation
Following its world premiere at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival, My Love Affair with Marriage went on to screen at over 90 film festivals worldwide, winning over 20 awards — including the Grand Prix at Animafest Zagreb.
Signe Baumane is a Latvian-born, Brooklyn-based independent filmmaker, artist, writer and animator. She has made 17 award-winning animated shorts but is best known for her first animated feature, Rocks in my Pockets, which covers a 100-year history of depression and suicide of women in her family, including herself. It premiered at Karlovy Vary in 2014 where it won a FIPRESCI prize, went on to over 130 international festivals and opened theatrically in the U.S. through Zeitgeist Films. Baumane is a Guggenheim Fellow and a Fellow in Film for New York Foundation for the Arts. She has a degree in Philosophy from Moscow State University.
In honor of International Owl Awareness Day, Apple TV+ has shared a sneak peek clip for the new Eva the Owlet shorts premiering globally today (Friday, August 4). Based on the New York Times bestselling Scholastic book series Owl Diaries by award-winning author Rebecca Elliott, the emotional intelligence series returns with four adorable shorts:
Diary, Cheer Me Up, Up, Up! follows Eva when she goes on a fly with Baxter to cheer herself up after breaking a pinecone she crafted.
In All About Baby Mo, Eva tells her diary all about Baby Mo after he covers one of her pages in scribbles, but she realizes how many things she loves about him.
Diary Doodles follows Eva as she doodles how she feels while waiting for the rain to stop.
In Diary, Cheer Lucy Up, Up, Up!, Eva helps Lucy write her own Cheer-Up List when Lucy feels sad after her favorite stuffed animal gets a hole in it.
Since first being published, Owl Diaries now has eight foreign language translations and 11 million copies in print. Eva the Owlet is produced by award-winning Scholastic Entertainment (Clifford the Big Red Dog, Goosebumps, The Magic School Bus) with production services and 4K animation by 9 Story Media Group’s Emmy-winning and Academy Award-nominated studio Brown Bag Films in Dublin and Bali (Doc McStuffins, Vampirina, Octonauts).
The show’s voice talent includes Vivienne Rutherford (Eureka!, 911: Lone Star) as Eva, Jessica DiCicco (The Loud House, Puppy Dog Pals) as Eva’s mom, Dino Andrade (Loud House, We Baby Bears) as Eva’s dad, as well as Romy Fay (Best Foot Forward), Sascha Yurchak, Jon Olson (The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, Pokémon: Detective Pikachu), Evie Hsu (Team Mekbots), Sarah Vattano (The Uglies; Rise Up, Sing Out), Pressly James Crosby (General Hospital) and Kenna Ramsey (Rent). Eva the Owlet also features original songs by critically acclaimed musician and singer-songwriter Fitz of Fitz and the Tantrums.
Eva the Owlet is executive produced by Scholastic Entertainment’s Peabody and Daytime Emmy Award-winning team including Iole Lucchese (Clifford the Big Red Dog), Caitlin Friedman (Stillwater) and Jef Kaminsky (Signs of Survival). Head series writers and Daytime Emmy Award nominees Annabeth Bondor-Stone (Helpsters) and Connor White (Helpsters) serve as co-executive producers, and Daytime Emmy Award nominee Damien O’Connor (Angela’s Christmas, Angela’s Christmas 2) serves as supervising director.
In Monday’s new episode of the re-defrosted Futurama, Bender and the whole Planet Express crew head west to join the bitcoin mining rush. Debuting August 7 on Hulu, “How the West Was 1010001” also features appearances by the Robot Mafia, stab-happy Roberto and the return of the Borax Kid — introducing Rusty the Donkey!
Featuring the voices of original cast members John DiMaggio, Billy West, Katey Sagal, Tress MacNeille, Maurice LaMarche, Lauren Tom, Phil LaMarr and David Herman, Futurama and the new Season 11 are created by Matt Groening and developed by Groening and David X. Cohen. Executive producers include Groening, Cohen, Ken Keeler and Claudia Katz.
Check out sneak-peek clips below, followed by full episode description.
S11 Episode 3 Summary: The Professor unwisely invested in bitcoin and lost everything. Now, he’s in debt to the Robot Mafia.
His one slim hope: the crew will need to join the gold rush of people flocking west to seek their fortune in the bitcoin mining frenzy. The Professor’s plan is to mine for the rare mineral Thallium, needed to make advanced computer chips used in the bitcoin operations stationed near the mines.
They re-outfit the Planet Express ship as a wagon and journey west to “Doge City.” There, massive bitcoin farms use such gross amounts of electricity that there is no power at all for the mining camps… so life is much like in the old west, with campfires, horses, whiskey, poker, player pianos, panning for nuggets, etc.
Several intertwining stories take place in the old west town: Fry joins forces with a renowned gunslinger, the Borax Kid. Leela takes a job in the local saloon. Hermes tries to keep his son Dwight from a life of crime. Zoidberg becomes a frontier doctor, and Bender buys a donkey. And all the while, insane robot Roberto terrorizes the town with his patented knife-gun.
Things come to a head when Amy discovers the largest Thallium nugget in history… enough to pay off the ransom. But… they have to guard it through a long, tense night from Roberto before it can be weighed and sold. The climactic scene features a sci-fi gunfight for the ages.
Futurama — “How the West was 1010001” [Matt Groening/Hulu]
Love is in the air in this week’s new episodes of Freeform’s original adult animated comedy Praise Petey, which you can preview in two new clips below. Created, written and executive produced by Anna Drezen (former head writer of Saturday Night Live), the series centers on a former New York City “It Girl” trying to come to grips with her new role as the leader of the rural cult she inherits from her deceased father.
Episodes 5 and 6 premiere today (Friday, August 4) at 10 p.m. ET / 9 p.m. CT on Freeform, streaming the next day on Hulu:
Episode 5: “Barn Wedding”
Petey and Eliza scheme to bring an honest income to New Utopia by renting out barns as wedding venues for the Manhattan elite. When her ex Brian is their first client, Petey scrambles to make it the perfect night — and to make him jealous.
Episode 6: “Not-Sad Adult Birthday”
It’s Petey’s birthday, also known as Crowning Day to the inhabitants of New Utopia. Petey is disappointed to learn that the celebrations are more about White instead of her. Eliza and Bandit both have surprises for Petey.
Praise Petey is led by a stellar voice cast led by Annie Murphy (Schitt’s Creek), Christine Baranski (The Good Fight), Stephen Root (Barry), John Cho (Star Trek) and Kiersey Clemmons (The Flash).
In addition to Dresden, the series is executive produced by Bandera Entertainment’s Mike Judge, Greg Daniels and Dustin Davis, along with ShadowMachine’s Alex Bulkley and Corey Campodonico (Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio) and Monica Padrick (Central Park). The series is produced by Disney Television Studios’ 20th Television Animation, with animation by ShadowMachine.
