Superights has been chosen as global distributor for kids’ series Tara Duncan (52 x 13’). Aimed at six- to nine-year olds, the show is based on the eponymous 15-volume French global saga written by Sophie Audouin-Mamikonian, published in 27 countries, translated in 19 languages with tens of millions of copies sold worldwide.
Tara Duncan is produced by Audouin-Mamikonian’s own production entity, Princess Sam Pictures. Superights will represent worldwide rights distribution, except in Mainland China.
The series follows Tara, an ordinary girl from Earth who is actually the heir to the throne of the luxuriant Meme empire. To awaken her powers and learn to defend her family and subjects, Tara journeys to the magical planet OtherWorld. She goes to a school supervised by a dragon and meets her friends, theMagicGang. Together, they play celestial polo, solve mysteries, rescue people, maintain harmony in the empire and, above all, face villains like the evil Magister who is pursuing Tara to steal her magic and conquer OtherWorld. In addition to her missions, Tara leads a personal quest: to find a cure to save her grandfather, who turned himself into a dog by mistake.
Blending 3D CGI and motion-capture techniques, the show promotes key themes and values such as girl empowerment, diversity, bravery, teamwork, inclusion, empathy and self-confidence.
Tara Duncan
“Superights ventures into a new genre with Tara Duncan, a strong and powerful character who adds a new dimension to our lineup,” said Nathalie Pinguet, Deputy General Manager at Superights. “We couldn’t be happier and more honored to welcome Tara, an icon of empowerment among all of our heroes. This adventure-fantasy series is already a hit in many countries, and I am sure we will find Tara new homes very shortly.”
Audouin-Mamikonian added, “We are very happy to have an experienced partner such as Superrights to help our young company, Princess Sam Entertainment Group and its two subsidiaries, Princess Sam Pictures and Princess Sam Consumer Products, to continue to bring Tara Duncan to the world. Tara Duncan is quite unique, and we needed the skills and expertise of an executive like Nathalie to understand our needs. Now, as our super villain Magister says, ‘Let’s conquer the world together!’”
Season 1 has been already sold to many countries including, France (Disney, Gulli), Belgium (Disney, RTBF), Finland (Nelonen), Italy (DEA Kids, Sky, Rai), Ireland (RTE), Latvia (LTV), Lithuania (LRT), Netherlands (Disney), Norway (NRK), Portugal (SIC K), Switzerland (RTS), United Kingdom (ITVX), Hong-Kong (VIU), Indonesia (RTV), Japan (Disney), New Zealand (TVNZ), Singapore (Mediacorp), Middle East (MBC), Israel (NOGA), Africa (Disney, Gulli), Canada (TéléQuébec) and has already begun to be broadcast in some territories.
A second season of 52 new episodes is currently in production, with a plan to further produce 2 x 26’ special episodes. The property will be supported by a licensing and merchandising strategy, handled by Princess Sam Consumer Product, in order to create a 360, fully-integrated brand identity. A digital ecosystem is being developed to serve the Tara fan community, dubbed “Taraddicts.”
For the first time ever, all episodes from Adult Swim’s award-winning original adult animated series are brought together in one set with Metalocalypse: The Complete Series. Fans of heavy metal mayhem can binge all 62 episodes of the four-season run, previously released special features and the final death rock opera Metalocalypse: The Doomstar Requiem – A Klok Opera.
The quarter-hour animated series chronicles the world’s most popular entertainment act in the known universe — extreme metal band, DETHKLOK (Nathan Explosion, Skwisgaar Skwigelf, Toki Wartooth, William Murderface and Pickles) — as they balance their rabid popularity with the brutality of everyday life. Metalocalypse originally premiered in 2006 on Adult Swim and was created by Brendon Small and Tommy Blacha.
Synopsis: Between the pressures of fame, family, their psycho fans, and a secret organization out to destroy them, the biggest death metal band on the planet will rock the world or die trying. Whether you’re a lifelong fan, or new to the brutality, bow down to Metalocalypse: The Complete Series. It doesn’t get any more metal than this!
The collection will be available to purchase Digitally ($34.99 SRP / $49.99 in Canada) through Prime Video, AppleTV, Google Play, Vudu and more, and on DVD ($124.99 / $99.99 Can.) on August 15. All previously created home video bonus materials are included.
Metalocalypse: The Complete Series is the perfect way to prepare and perfect your headbanging skills ahead of DETHKLOK’s 29-date national tour with BABYMETAL and Jason Richardson, kicking off on August 30, which will lead into the release of the new movie Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar. See our previous coverage for more info.
Lil Critter Workshop (LCW) has made two key moves to expand its global business this week, launching Lil Critter Digital — a digital-first animation production studio out of Malaysia, which provides total solutions for art, design and production for social media and web series content — while continuing to develop long-form animated series from its Bristol, U.K. base with the aid of newly appointed Consultant Development Executive, Jan Stradling.
Lil Critter Digital’s first project is Lawak Campus: School Daze, a 104 x 15 second surreal comedy series for tweens which has launched on TikTok and will also debut as a 52 x 2’ web series in English on YouTube and in a Bahasa Malaysia exclusive to Astro later this year. The mad-cap co-viewing series which follows three best friends and their school mates as they learn to navigate essential life skills at school. The shorts have already garnered an impressive 96.3k followers since they launched in TikTok last month.
Lawak Campus: School Daze animated series is adapted from KGS’ original comic Lawak Kampus, which became a major hit in Asia when it debuted in 2003 and sold over 7.7 million copies in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and China. The transition from comic to animation highlights KGS’ new direction to introduce the comic via short-form videos with diverse, highly engaged audiences around the world.
“It is essential for companies to keep moving with the times, especially when it comes to digital content,” says LCW’s Co-Founder and Executive Producer, Walid Omar. “Developing a digital-first strategy will enable us to create fast turn-around properties at the same time as building our portfolio of animated series for more traditional broadcast outlets and platforms.
“In tandem, we are committed to growing our U.K. presence and we are thrilled that a senior broadcasting executive with Jan’s experience will be working with us on our slate of development projects that are being spearheaded from our Bristol base.”
Stradling joins LCW with a wealth of experience holding senior positions, including Commissioning Editor/Executive Producer at the ABC is Australia and Senior Network Producer at Walt Disney Television, Australia and New Zealand. She will be overseeing the company’s development slate from LCW’s U.K. base, following the new studio launch in Bristol last year which is focusing on developing the company’s own IP, working with creative talent, studios and co-production partners in the U.K. and across Europe.
GKIDS announced today it has acquired all North American distribution rights for the music drama anime Blue Giant. The film will play as a sneak preview screening at the 2023 Annecy International Animation Film Festival before its release in NorAm theaters later this year.
Blue Giant is directed by Yuzuru Tachikawa, who helmed the mega hit anime series Mob Psycho 100, as well as the cult hit series Death Parade, DECA-DENCE, and the latest film in the blockbuster Detective Conan franchise, Detective Conan: The Black Iron Submarine.
The film follows the story of Dai Miyamoto, a former high school basketball player who discovers a love of jazz, and dedicates himself to learning the saxophone. He leaves his town for the clubs of Tokyo, determined to become the best saxophone player in the world, but he soon discovers the life of a professional musician is not for the faint of heart.
“Blue Giant is a thrilling and moving exploration of what it takes to pursue true artistic and creative excellence,” said GKIDS’ President David Jesteadt. “We are proud to share this special film that captures the spirit of the beloved manga for a new audience, with one of the best soundtracks I’ve heard in years.”
Blue Giant is adapted from the manga of the same name, written and illustrated by Shinichi Ishizuka. The series won the Japan Media Arts Festival Award and the Shogakukan Manga Award, and was nominated for the Osamu Tezuka Cultural Prize and as “Comic of the Year” at the Angoulême International Comics Festival. NUMBER 8, the editor of the original manga, joined the film production to write the script.
World-renowned virtuoso pianist Hiromi Uehara composed the in-story original music played by Miyamoto and his jazz trio JASS, and additionally plays for the character Yukinori Sawabe. Drummer Shun Ishikawa, of the global hit band Millennium Parade, and saxophonist Tomoaki Baba play for the characters Shunji Tamada and Dai Miyamoto, respectively.
Blue Giant opened domestically in Japan on February 17, and earned over 1 billion yen (approx. $7.5 million) at the box office through its initial theatrical run. The all-rights North American distribution deal was negotiated between GKIDS and TOHO CO., LTD.
Preview songs from the Blue Giant soundtrack are available to stream at bluegiantmovie.com.
Today, Disney Branded Television and Disney Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) took to the stage at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival to announce new projects, debut sneak-peeks, and highlight the expansion of current hit series that are poised to usher in the next century of Disney storytelling.
Titled “The Next 100,” the presentation centered on both Disney’s storied legacy in animation, as well as how the company is creating the next generation of hits. Hélène Etzi, Country Manager & General Manager of Media for The Walt Disney Company France, opened the presentation with Orion Ross, Vice President of Animation for The Walt Disney Company EMEA, and Ayo Davis, President of Disney Branded Television, making several announcements.
Ross announced greenlights for the all-new preschool adventure series Magicampers, set to premiere globally on Disney+ and Disney Junior next year, and the original comedy series The Sunnyridge 3. He also gave attendees a first look at the official trailer for the sci-fi anthology Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire, premiering July 5 on Disney+ (check it out here). New episodes of fan-favorite Chip ‘n’ Dale: Park Life, coming later this year, were revealed, and the latest artwork for the upcoming EMEA originals The Doomies and Dragon Striker was unveiled.
Davis gave attendees a sneak peek of upcoming series and made several announcements, including the greenlight of Disney Junior’s Ariel, a new series inspired by The Little Mermaid. Executive producer Lynne Southerland answered questions onstage and previewed an early animation test featuring Ariel and fan-favorite character Flounder.
Davis also announced the new Disney Channel series StuGo, as well as renewals for four popular series: season four of Marvel’s Spidey and His Amazing Friends, season three of Firebuds, season three of The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder and season two of Kiff. She also shared sneak peeks of several animated shorts, along with other announcements (see below).
Ross and Davis commented: “We’re delighted to be in Annecy announcing our continued commitment to working with leading studios and creators here in France and across the globe, to bring new voices, universal stories and brilliant animation to kids and family audiences around the world.”
New Series Greenlights
Disney Branded Television
Disney Junior’s Ariel(Disney Junior)
Executive producer: Lynne Southerland
Producer: Ezra Edmond
Supervising Director: Kuni Tomita Bowen
Art Director: Chrystin Garland
Story Editors: Norma P. Sepulveda and Keith Wagner
Produced by: Wild Canary in association with Disney Junior
Disney Junior’s Ariel is an animated musical series for preschoolers inspired by the beloved story of The Little Mermaid. It follows eight-year-old mermaid princess Ariel as she and her friends embark on fun-filled, action-packed underwater adventures throughout their Caribbean-inspired fairytale kingdom of Atlantica and beyond. The series features fan-favorite characters, including King Triton, Ursula, Sebastian and Flounder, as well as exciting new additions like Ariel’s two best friends, mer-children Lucia and Fernie, and lots of other adorable sea creatures. The series is currently in production for a 2024 release across Disney platforms worldwide.
StuGo characters
StuGo(Disney Channel)
Creator/Executive Producer: Ryan Gillis
Co-Executive Producer: Sunil Hall
Story Editor: Craig Lewis
Produced by: Titmouse in association with Disney Channel
StuGo is an original animated series about six overambitious middle schoolers who are tricked into attending a fake academic summer camp by a mad scientist. Now they’re stuck for three months on a wild tropical island with mind-reading manatees, giant fighting fungi and fashion-forward mutants ― less academia than they’d hoped for, but a lot more adventure.
The newly announced cast includes Tania Gunadi as Pliny, Zosia Mamet as Merian, Gabourey Sidibe as Francis, Charlyne Yi as Larry, Zach Reino as Chip, Deborah Baker Jr. as Sara, and Lorraine Toussaint as Dr. Lullah.
Disney EMEA
Magicampers
Magicampers(Disney+)
Creator: Obie Scott Wade
Executive Producer: Sandrine Nguyen Tiet
Director: Daniel Dubuis
Writers: Ashley Mendoza, Simon Nicholson, Elizabeth Kamir
Produced by: Mikros Animation for Disney EMEA
Disney’s preschool original Magicampers follows the adventures of best friends Darly and Loomis at a day camp for magical creatures on a fantastical island. Darly is half-pig and half-Pegasus, Loomis is half-donkey and half-unicorn, and their young friends are also mythical mashups of all stripes. Every day they go on incredible journeys of discovery and dream of becoming legendary, having their stories told and retold for all time. At the heart of the series, Darly and Loomis will learn that becoming a legend isn’t about mastering magic powers or winning the biggest prize — it’s about understanding and accepting yourself and others and working together with all kinds of friends. The series stars a diverse young cast as the Magicampers, with Emmy Award winner Uzo Aduba (Mrs. America, Orange Is the New Black) as nature spirit and camp leader Treena.
THE SUNNYRIDGE 3 (Disney)
The Sunnyridge 3 (Disney+)
Creators: Stevie Gee and Essy May
Executive Producers: Chapman Maddox, Jen Coatsworth, James Stevenson Bretton, Jon Rutherford, Benjamin Lole
Director: Liz Whittaker
Head Writer: Jack Bernhardt
Produced by: Blink Industries and Boat Rocker for Disney EMEA
In the original comedy-mystery series The Sunnyridge 3, a trio of lifelong best friends investigate strange goings-on in a uniquely bizarre shopping center on the fringes of suburban London. Rose, Jeru and Wayne practically grew upat the Sunnyridge Mall, but this summer, the weirdness has gone to a whole new level. With their imaginations running wild, they will chase down any conspiracy theory no matter where it leads. Could it be werewolves, hauntings or an ancient curse? Robots, aliens or renegade AI? The trio will discover that the truth is always stranger than fiction in this unpredictable genre-bending mashup created by British team Stevie Gee and Essy May. Multiple award-winning U.K. animation studio Blink Industries (Dead End: Paranormal Park; Love, Death + Robots) produces, in association with multiple award-winning global entertainment company Boat Rocker (Dino Ranch, Love Monster).
The Doomies (Disney+)
Creators: Andrès Fernandez & Pozla (a.k.a. Rémi Zaarour)
Producer: Marc du Pontavice
Director: Andrès Fernandez
Head Writer: Henry Gifford
Produced by: Xilam Animation for Disney EMEA
When best friends Bobby and Romy mistakenly open a gateway to another world, they turn their sleepy coastal town into a hotspot for terrifying creatures of doom. Roped into an epic supernatural mystery, they will cross paths with the so-called “Chosen One” and do battle with both literal and inner monsters. The Doomies is a spooky comedy that combines thrills, chills and surprises with character-driven comedy from an odd couple of ordinary teens engulfed by extraordinary circumstances. Its fast-paced humor and high-stakes action take place in a quirky French town in the heart of Brittany, imagined with moody flair and graphic style.
Dragon Striker
Dragon Striker (Disney+)
Creator/Producer: Sylvain Dos Santos
Director: Charles Lefebvre
Head Writer: Paul McKeown
Produced by: Cybergroup Studios and La Chouette Compagnie for Disney EMEA
When the world’s most popular sport combines with magic, awesomeness escalates quicker than a dragon-powered strike! In this action-packed adventure full of comedy and high-stakes sports drama, elite players have magical signature moves they can use on the pitch. Twelve-year-old Key is a farm-boy fanboy who can only dream of entering the famous school where the greatest players train before joining the big leagues — until he discovers he has his own ultra-powerful spell and may even be the legendary Dragon Striker. Key joins a team of hapless underdogs who band together to take on the school champions, all the while fighting to prevent an ancient evil from resurfacing.
Disney Branded Television
The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse: Steamboat Silly (July 28 on Disney+)
Executive Producer: Paul Rudish
Producer: Philip M. Cohen
Director: Eddie Trigueros
Produced by: Disney Television Animation
The beloved Emmy Award-winning The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse shorts culminate with a final episode titled Steamboat Silly, which follows Mickey Mouse and his friends as they must stop hundreds of old film reel versions of Mickey from wreaking havoc all over town. The short will debut July 28 on Disney+ as part of Disney’s 100-year anniversary celebration.
Primos(Disney Channel)
Creator/Executive Producer: Natasha Kline
Producer: Philip Cohen
Supervising Director: Shaun Cashman
Story Editor: Karla Sakas Shropshire
Produced by: Disney Television Animation
From Emmy Award-nominated creator and executive producer Natasha Kline, Primosintroduces Tater Ramirez Humphrey, an eccentric girl with big dreams, determined to find what makes her extraordinary. When her 12 chaotic cousins (“primos” in Spanish) move in for the summer, they help her discover her true self. The series is inspired by Kline’s childhood experiences with her extended multicultural Mexican American family.
https://youtu.be/vPY8gk4QHrw
The newly announced main cast includes Myrna Velasco as Tater Ramirez Humphrey; Melissa Villaseñor as Tater’s younger sister, Nellie Ramirez Humphrey; Michelle Ortiz as Tater’s mom, Bibi Ramirez Humphrey; and Jim Conroy as Tater’s dad, Bud Humphrey.
The recurring cast includes Angélica María as Tater’s grandmother, Buela; Liza Koshy as Tater’s friend, Serena; and cousins Becca Q. Co (Lotlot), Cristina Valenzuela (Tere and Toñita), Elizabeth Grullón (Lita), Jonathan Melo (Scooter), Sarah Tubert (Cookita), Natasha Kline (Gordita and ChaCha), Nomi Ruiz (Tabi), Rick Simon (Big Nacho and Cousin Bud) and Ryan Anderson Lopez (Nachito).
ZOMBIES: The Re-Animated Series
ZOMBIES: The Re-Animated Series (Disney Channel)
Executive Producers: Aliki Theofilopoulos, Jack Ferraiolo, Gary Marsh, David Light, and Joseph Raso
Producer: Melanie Pal
Supervising Director: Leah Artwick
Story Editor: Rachel McNevin
Produced by: Disney Television Animation
Meg Donnelly and Milo Manheim will reprise their roles as Seabrook’s star-crossed zombie/cheerleader couple, Zed and Addison, in Disney Branded Television’s next iteration of the hit ZOMBIES franchise. Fans can first catch the Seabrook crew in animated form in ZOMBIES: The Re-Animated Series Shorts,premiering Friday, July 21, on Disney Channel, Disney Channel YouTube and DisneyNOW, and thereafter on Disney+. Next, ZOMBIES: The Re-Animated Series, a new comedy-musical animated series, will premiere on Disney Channel.
ZOMBIES: The Re-Animated Series Shorts is an animated short-form series that continues the adventures of fan favorites Zed, Addison and the Seabrook crew from the hit ZOMBIES franchise. The shorts, which keep the spirit and jam-packed music of the movies, find the friends encountering new monsters — a carnivorous plant monster, horrifying mega-cricket and even evil clones — while dealing with school and new experiences like a never-ending summer time loop.
Reprising their roles are Ariel Martin, Chandler Kinney and Pearce Joza as werewolves Wynter, Willa and Wyatt; Carla Jeffery and Trevor Tordjman as cheerleaders Bree and Bucky; Jonathan Langdon as Coach; James Godfrey and Kylee Russell as zombies Bonzo and Eliza; and Terry Hu as outer space alien A-Spen.
Playdate with Winnie the Pooh
Playdate with Winnie the Pooh (Disney Junior)
Executive Producer: Chris Hamilton
Co-Executive Producer: Elise Fachon
Producer: Greg Chalekian
Director: Jojo Ramos Patrick
Produced by: OddBot Inc. in association with Disney Junior
Playdate with Winnie the Pooh follows a young Pooh Bear as he enjoys playdates with his friends. Set in the exciting outdoors of the Hundred Acre Wood, these musical shorts emphasize collaborative play and the joy of spending time with others. Playdate with Winnie the Pooh is set to debut this summer in the U.S. and will then rollout globally.
Disney Junior Wonderful World of Songs (Disney Junior)
Executive Producer: Chris Hamilton
Co-Executive Producer: Elise Fachon
Producer: Greg Chalekian
Director: Henry Dalton
Produced by: OddBot Inc. in association with Disney Junior
These musical shorts for preschoolers celebrate the heritage of Disney with classic characters and songs from beloved movies, series and attractions that highlight the wonder and magic of the iconic brand. Performed by popular musical artists Rob Cantor and Genevieve Goings (Disney Junior Nursery Rhymes), the shorts feature reimagined versions of classic songs, including “Circle of Life” from “The Lion King,” “You Can Fly!” from “Peter Pan,” “How Far I’ll Go” from “Moana” and “It’s A Small World.” The shorts will begin airing on Disney Junior and Disney+ in the U.S. this summer as part of Disney’s 100-year anniversary celebration.
Series Renewals
Disney EMEA
Chip ‘N’ Dale: Park LifeNew Episodes (Disney+)
Producer: Marc du Pontavice
Directors: Jean Cayrol, Frédéric Martin, Khalil Ben Namaane
Head Writer: Nicole Paglia
Produced by: Xilam Animation for Disney EMEA
Chip ‘n’ Dale: Park Life stars Disney’s much-loved chipmunk underdogs in a nonverbal, classic-style comedy, following the ups and downs of two little creatures living life in a big city park. Combining the traditions of slapstick cartoons with contemporary, comedic character-driven narratives, season two introduces huge new adventures for the two tiny troublemakers. Nervous worrier Chip and laid-back dreamer Dale are joined in their perpetual pursuit of acorns by Donald, Pluto, Butch and other iconic Disney characters as they face down bullies, great and small.
Disney Branded Television
Marvel’s Spidey and His Amazing Friends Season 4 (Disney Junior)
Executive Producer: Harrison Wilcox
Co-Executive Producers: Bart Jennett and Chris Moreno
Co-Producer/Story Editor: Becca Topol
Supervising Producer: Steve Grover
Produced by: Disney Junior and Marvel Studios in association with Atomic Cartoons
The first full-length Marvel series for preschoolers, Marvel’s Spidey and His Amazing Friends follows the adventures of Peter Parker, Gwen Stacy and Miles Morales as they team up with Iron Man, Hulk, Ms. Marvel and Black Panther to defeat foes like Rhino, Doc Ock and Green Goblin and learn that teamwork is the best way to save the day. Season four of the hit series will once again introduce even more new heroes and baddies for the Spidey team to interact with and be part of their adventures.
Firebuds Season 3 (Disney Junior)
Creator/Executive Producer: Craig Gerber
Producer: Craig Simpson
Supervising Director: Robb Pratt
Co-Story Editors: Krystal Banzon and Jeremy Shipp
Produced by: Disney Television Animation
From Emmy Award-winning creator and executive producer Craig Gerber (Elena of Avalor, Sofia the First), Firebuds is a music-filled series following a team of young kids who are the children of first responders, and their talking vehicle sidekicks, as they embark on adventures together and learn what it truly means to be a hero. Season three of the series will feature a water rescue theme.
The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder Season 3 (Disney+)
Creator/Executive Producer: Bruce W. Smith
Executive Producer: Ralph Farquhar
Co-Executive Producer/Story Editor: Calvin Brown, Jr.
Co-Executive Producer: Latoya Raveneau
Producer: Jan Hirota
Produced by: Disney Television Animation
The Emmy and NAACP Award-winning The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder revival follows the adventures and misadventures of 14-year-old Penny Proud and her Proud Family as they navigate modern life with hilarity and heart. The 2020s bring new career highs for mom Trudy, wilder dreams for dad Oscar and new challenges for Penny. Penny’s friends return, including Dijonay, LaCienega, Zoey and Michael, along with a couple of new faces, Maya and KG. Penny’s Suga Mama also returns, ready as ever to dispense tough love or a gentle hand whenever Penny needs it.
Kiff Season 2 (Disney Channel)
Creators/Executive Producers: Lucy Heavens and Nic Smal
Co-Producer/Story Editor: Kent Osborne
Producer: Winnie Chaffee
Produced by: Titmouse in association with Disney Channel
From South African creators and executive producers Lucy Heavens and Nic Smal, Kifffollows an optimistic squirrel, Kiff, and her chill bunny bestie, Barry, as they navigate school, relationships and their often-eccentric community in Table Town, a world where animals and magical oddballs tackle day-to-day life together. Inspired by the people and places Heavens and Smal experienced when they were growing up in Cape Town, each half-hour episode, comprised of two 11-minute stories, includes a new original song.
Immerse yourself in the world beyond the world of Wallace and Gromit like never before, in thrilling VR-O-Rama! Yes, stop-frame fans, a peek at Wallace & Gromit in The Grand Getaway has landed, from Aardman and immersive content studio Atlas V. The iconic animated duo’s first virtual reality experience revealed its key art, logo and teaser trailer during Saturday’s Future Games Show, as part of Summer Game Fest. The project was initially announced last year.
Wallace & Gromit in The Grand Getaway is an interactive, narrative-led VR experience for Meta Quest VR headsets which will take fans on a brand-new adventure with Wallace and Gromit. For the first time, users will be able to walk around, explore and get a hands-on (or paws on!) experience within the world, and truly be a part of the pair’s adventures.
In The Grand Getaway, holidays are in the offing for Wallace and Gromit. Everything is prepared to enjoy some sun, sand and the chance to test out their latest contraption, the Auto-Caddy. But Wallace has his dates mixed up and the pair have to be on the other side of the country in just half an hour. There’s only one solution … they’ll take the Rocket!
Under the guidance of BERYL, their beverage and employee-related logistics contraption, Wallace and Gromit pack and prepare for take-off. But shortly after launch, a mishap with the controls sends the team hurtling off course. This is going to be a holiday to remember!
Finbar Hawkins and Bram Ttwheam are co-directing the experience for Aardman with the support of Academy Award winner and creator of Wallace & Gromit, Nick Park, and Wallace & Gromit Creative Director Merlin Crossingham. Ben Whitehead will again voice Wallace, as he has done for previous projects, following in the footsteps of the late Peter Sallis.
The project is a co-production between Aardman and the award-winning creators of the VR experience Spheres and Gloomy Eyes at Atlas V, in association with No Ghost and Albyon, and published by immersive distributor and publisher Astrea, with Meta Quest team support.
Wallace & Gromit in The Grand Getaway will launch in 2023 for Meta Quest.
Wallace and Gromit first appeared in Nick Park’s Academy Award-winning Wallace & Gromit: A Grand Day Out (1989), and went on to star in three further half-hour specials (Wallace & Gromit: The Wrong Trousers [1993], Wallace & Gromit: A Close Shave [1995] and Wallace & Gromit: A Matter of Loaf or Death [2008]) and an Oscar-winning feature-length film, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005). The duo have won over 100 awards at festivals, including three Academy Awards and five BAFTA Awards over the last 30-plus years.
Most recently, they featured in their first augmented reality story, The Big Fix Up (2021), and a new Wallace & Gromit film is in production for 2024, directed by Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham.
Community-driven content studio Battle Island announces the additions of Justin Long (Alvin and the Chipmunks), Michael Longfellow (Saturday Night Live) and K-pop idol AleXa to the cast of Ghosts of Ruin. The immersive animated series is set to debut this fall via Gala Film, the film and television division of content and technology innovator Gala.
“It’s an honor to unveil such an extraordinary lineup of remarkable talent for Ghosts of Ruin,” said series executive producer Katie Stippec. “The addition of Justin Long, Michael Longfellow and AleXa to the cast assembles an awe-inspiring ensemble. With their combined expertise, we are crafting a world of unrivaled storytelling and captivating visuals.”
Showrunner Michael Ryan agreed, “The additions of Justin, Michael and AleXa bring an exciting range of variety and talent to our amazing cast,” said. “For fans who enjoy action-packed animation with a futuristic twist, Ghosts of Ruin will become an automatic favorite.”
Ghosts of Ruin is described as a gritty dystopian animated series that explores gaming through a world of advanced tech that allows players to feel their games. In the series, gamers come together to compete in a neural reality battle royale tournament called Ruin, but a rogue program emerges to turn their paradise into a living nightmare.
Justin Long is best known for his roles in Dodgeball, Barbarian and the upcoming Disney+ series Goosepbumps. In addition to his major roles in multiple horror and comedy films, Long is also an accomplished director and screenwriter. Long will be the voice of Marcus, a highly skilled entrepreneur and visionary, who is the CEO of the tech company that owns Ruin.
Michael Longfellow is an American actor, writer and stand-up comedian who will be joining the Ghosts of Ruin cast this summer. He has starred in multiple series and in 2022, Longfellow made his Saturday Night Live debut when he officially joined the cast for their 48th season. Longfellow will voice Assassin, the world’s most famous esports athlete with a fan base that dwarfs that of his closest competition.
AleXa is a K-Pop singer, dancer and songwriter and made her multilingual K-Pop debut with “Bomb” in 2019. In 2022, her song “Wonderland” won NBC’s American Song Contest, and ranked #38 on Billboard’s Pop Airplay Chart, propelling AleXa to the sixth most played Korean artist on U.S. radio, and the first female Korean act to present at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards. AleXa will be the voice of Juggernaut, an irreverent and extremely hyper pro-gamer and content creator.
The show’s animation will be produced by B.Water, an award-winning studio based in Barcelona, Spain; Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain; and Cologne, Germany. B.Water is known for its creative quality and pioneering work in real-time pipelines, Unreal and Unity. In recent years, the studio has averaged five to seven animated productions per year in both television and features.
Oscar-nominated animator and director Thierry Marchand (Oktapodi, 2007) is leading Ghosts of Ruin creative development, and Marion Bayard, the long-time head of Mikros production in Paris, is heading production.
Ahead of its debut this fall, the creators and executive producers of Ghosts of Ruin will host an exclusive sneak peek at the new series, followed by an in-depth discussion and Q&A, at this year’s Annecy Festival on Wednesday, June 14, at 11:30 a.m.
Ghosts of Ruin is produced and developed by Battle Island (battleisland.io). The studio’s debut animated series is created by PJ Accetturo and Ryan Ramsey, with executive producers Michael Ramey and Emmy-nominated Katie Stippec, and written by showrunner and Emmy Award winner Michael Ryan. Fans can learn more and gain early access to the series’ limited release at film.gala.com.
Disney+ today released the trailer for the upcoming animated anthology Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire, which will premiere exclusively on the streaming service on Wednesday, July 5.
Featuring stories from creators hailing from Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe, the action-packed anthology draws on Africa’s rich histories and diverse cultures to present 10 sci-fi and fantasy stories that bring to life boldly imaginative visions of the continent’s future.
The 10 films are:
“Stardust” (Ahmed Teilab, Egypt)
“Mkhuzi: The Spirit Racer” (Simangaliso “Panda” Sibaya and Malcolm Wopé, South Africa)
“Hatima” (Terence Maluleke and Isaac Mogajane, South Africa)
“Enkai” (Ng’endo Mukii, Kenya)
“Moremi” (Shofela Coker, Nigeria)
“Surf Sangoma” (Nthato Mokgata and Catherine Green, South Africa)
“Mukudzei” (Pious Nyenyewa and Tafadzwa Hove, Zimbabwe)
“First Totem Problems” (Tshepo Moche, South Africa),
“Herderboy” (Raymond Malinga, Uganda)
“You Give Me Heart” (Lesego Vorster, South Africa).
Disney+’s first South African original animated series, Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire is executive produced by Peter Ramsey (co-director of the Oscar-winning Spider-Man: Into he Spider-Verse), alongside Tendayi Nyeke and Anthony Silverston from Cape Town-based Triggerfish, the lead studio on this anthology.
An out-of-this-world teaser trailer, poster and images for Disney and Pixar’s 28th feature film Elio have beamed up. Additionally, it was revealed that Jameela Jamil and Brad Garrett will join previously announced voice stars America Ferrera and Yonas Kibreab in the intergalactic misadventure scheduled to take off next spring — March 1, 2024.
Synopsis: For centuries, people have called out to the universe looking for answers —in Disney and Pixar’s all-new movie Elio, the universe calls back!
The original feature film introduces Elio, an underdog with an active imagination who finds himself inadvertently beamed up to the Communiverse, an interplanetary organization with representatives from galaxies far and wide. Mistakenly identified as Earth’s ambassador to the rest of the universe, and completely unprepared for that kind of pressure, Elio must form new bonds with eccentric alien lifeforms, survive a series of formidable trials and somehow discover who he is truly meant to be.
Directed by Adrian Molina (screenwriter and co-director of Coco) and produced by Mary Alice Drumm (associate producer of Coco), the film features the voices of America Ferrera as Elio’s mom, Olga; Jameela Jamil as Ambassador Questa; Brad Garrett as Ambassador Grigon; and Yonas Kibreab as the title character.
Dwarf Animation Studio has announced a partnership with france.tv studio, a wholly owned subsidiary of the French national public television broadcaster, France Televisions, which will become a majority owner and provide the animation facility with more robust operational infrastructure, while accelerating france.tv studio’s long-term goal of building a creative hub in the South of France.
Dwarf Animation Studio is best known for Netflix series My Dad the Bounty Hunter and Trash Truck, executive produced by Oscar winner Glen Keane, as well as Monsters at Work for Disney+, among others. The studio fosters a creative culture that is inspired by technology, exemplified by the new shorts that Dwarf Animation Studio is producing using Epic Games’ real-time solution, Unreal Engine.
“I’m incredibly delighted to join forces with the amazing team at france.tv studio to welcome the creative community to the South of France. Having such an opportunity to grow and develop Dwarf Animation Studio as well as build a creative hub together is a truly gratifying and eye-opening experience,” said Olivier Pinol, Dwarf Animation Studio Founder & Chief Creative Officer.
Arnaud Lesaunier, Chairman of france.tv studio, commented, “We are proud of this partnership with Dwarf which is a great opportunity. Dwarf’s industry expertise fits perfectly well into our creative ecosystem and activities, allowing notably for technological synergies to grow within our studio.”
france.tv studio CEO Laurence Schwob added, “This partnership with Dwarf Animation Studio, who is pushing the envelope in real-time animation, comes at an exciting time as france.tv studio was recently awarded an endowment by the French Ministry of Culture as part of the ‘France 2030’ initiative, which aims to develop advanced technology in France associated with production innovation of new forms of entertainment.”
My Dad the Bounty Hunter
Founded in 2010 and located in Montpellier, the team at Dwarf Animation Studio boasts a wide range of experience in the disciplines of asset building, animation, lighting, compositing and rendering. The studio draws creatives from around the globe and aligns with innovative and future-forward technologies.
Pinol, a veteran of DreamWorks Animation and Weta Digital (now Wētā FX) added, “Our ambition is to help shape the next phase of the animation production pipeline by adding greater flexibility through a quicker iterative process. We’ve initiated a Discord Server dedicated to real-time animation and VFX to help build community and share knowledge with other studios around the world.”
Future plans for Dwarf Animation Studio include building out front-end pre-production offerings such as visual development, storyboarding and editorial, strategically aligning with best-in-class creators to collaborate on realizing their vision, and leveraging the creative and technical facilities owned by france.tv studio to become an all-in-one production solution.
Robot Playground Media (RPM) has recruited a team of top animation companies from APAC and rest of the world to produce the previously announced option pick-up for A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts — a 10-episode animated horror anthology based on award-winning author Ying Chang Compestine’s hit English-language YA book of the same title. Episode 1, titled “Egg Fried Rice,” is currently in production as a pilot order from Singapore’s national media network and largest content creator, Mediacorp.
The project was one of the winning pitches at Mediacorp’s Content Development Pitch 2022 competition, which was part of Creatives Assembly, the company’s annual call for content ideas. The pilot episode, slated for an early 2024 release, has been commissioned for production and will be financed by Mediacorp, with 108 Media co-financing on a series order.
A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts
RPM will be the lead producer for the anthology and has assembled a global lineup of animation studios that will each create its unique horror short, including Igloo Studio (Thailand), Studio Climb (Malaysia), Something Big (France), Disnosc (France), Werlen Meyer (France) and Xanthus Animation (Taiwan). More participating studios are soon to be announced. RPM will be producing two episodes itself, including the pilot.
The series is of 10 self-contained ghost stories laid out as a 10-course “banquet,” complete with appetizers, main courses and dessert, with each different dish representing a ghastly tale of horror unfolding during the Hungry Ghost Festival — a Chinese custom where food offerings are made to appease ghosts roaming the earthly realm during the seventh month of the lunar calendar.
Tapping into the global Chinese diaspora and its cultural influences, particularly its cuisine, each animation studio will bring a distinct vision to these stories set in different cities around the world. RPM says this approach aims to keep the series diverse, authentic and creatively balanced for the global markets.
A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts
A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts
Each episode will be between 13 and 24 minutes long and the episodes will be titled:
Egg Fried Rice
Steamed Dumplings
Sweet and Sour Pork
Hot Pot
Kung Pao Chicken
Peking Duck
Cold Platter
Glutinous Rice Balls
Dim Sum
Long Life Noodles
A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts
“The combination of Chinese food and the afterlife is an irresistible pairing for what we envision to be a groundbreaking animated series for a modern audience,” said Ervin Han, CEO & Co-Founder of RPM. “Ten deliciously macabre tales created by some of the most exciting indie studios from Asia and around the world. Horror is a genre that has been underserved in animation for too long. With Banquet, we aim to create a long-running horror series that will satisfy the appetite of a global audience hungry for bold, fun and imaginative adult animation. Let the feast begin!”
Angeline Poh, Chief Customer & Corporate Development Officer of Mediacorp, added, “Robot Playground Media wowed us with their pitch for A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts at our Content Development Pitch competition. We are thrilled to be working with them to produce ‘Egg Fried Rice’. This collaboration underlines Mediacorp’s commitment to invest in the development of good stories, as well as our dedication to nurturing and supporting creative talents. This exciting and innovative concept promises a spine-chilling viewing experience for the global audience, and we can’t wait to delve into this unique culinary journey of terror!”
Compestine is an award-winning writer, speaker and cooking show host. She has authored over 20 books and is a leading national authority on Asian culture and cuisine, who is frequently invited to lectures at schools and various organizations around the world.
The production will be executive produced by Justin Deimen, Compestine and Abhi Rastogi for 108 Media, and Ervin Han, Bernard Toh and Raul Garcia for Robot Playground Media.
From Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon Movies and Spin Master Entertainment, preschooler’s beloved four-legged pack of heroes is ready to unleash their powers in the new official trailer for PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie, in theaters September 29. A new poster and images were also let out of the kennel today.
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 Pups have to stop the supervillains before it’s too late, and Skye will need to learn that even the smallest pup can make the biggest difference.
PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie features the voices of Mckenna Grace, Taraji P. Henson as Vee, Marsai Martin as Liberty, Christian Convery as Chase, Ron Pardo as Mayor Humdinger, Lil Rel Howery, Kim Kardashian, Chris Rock, Serena Williams, Alan Kim, Brice Gonzalez, North West, Saint West, Christian Corrao, Luxton Handspiker as Rubble, Nylan Parthipan, Callum Shoniker as Rocky, with James Marsden and Kristen Bell, introducing Finn Lee-Epp.
Callum Shoniker as “Rocky”, Christian Corrao as “Marshall”, Christian Convery as “Chase”, McKenna Grace as “Skye”, Luxton Handspiker as “Rubble”, Nylan Parthipan as “Zuma”, and Marsai Martin as “Liberty”
Taraji P. Henson as “Vee”
North West as “Mini” and Alan Kim as “Nano
Kim Kardashian as “Delores”
The film is directed by Cal Brunker (PAW Patrol: The Movie, The Nut Job 2, Escape from Planet Earth), written by Brunker and Bob Barlen from a story they crafted with Shane Morris. Based on the PAW Patrol television series created by Keith Chapman.
Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies and Spin Master Entertainment present A Spin Master Entertainment production. Producers are Jennifer Dodge, p.g.a.; Laura Clunie, p.g.a.; and Toni Stevens, p.g.a. Executive producers are Ronnen Harary, Adam Beder and Peter Schlessel.
Netflix today booted up the official teaser trailer for its totally rad futuristic anime action-comedy Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix. Coming this fall, the original series flings alternative characters from the worlds of French video game company Ubisoft into reference-packed, neon-tinged homage to the early 1990s.
Synopsis: The year is 1992. The country formerly known as the U.S.A. is now called Eden, a technocracy ruled by propaganda and corruption. Super-soldier Dolph Laserhawk has just been betrayed by the love of his life and locked up in Eden’s top security prison Supermaxx. He must now lead a team of rebel outcasts on risky undercover missions in order to survive.
The series is created and executive produced by Adi Shankar (Castlevania, Devil May Cry), who voices Red from the Niji Six in the show, inspired by Rainbow Six Siege. French comics artist and animator Balak, a.k.a. Yves Bigerel, lends his voice as the sweet but deadly Assassin, Bullfrog, inspired by Assassin’s Creed. Dolph Laserhawk is voiced by Nathaniel Curtis (Witcher: Blood Origin, It’s A Sin), Mark Ebulue (Watch Dogs 2) voices Marcus Holloway and Boris Hiestand (Assassin’s Creed Valhalla) voices Alex.
Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix is produced by Helene Juguet, Hugo Revon and Gerard Guillemot for Ubisoft Film & Television. Paris-based Bobbypills (Crisis Jung, Peepoodo) is the animation studio, with Mehdi Leffad serving as director of the show and Balak (Lastman) as the studio’s creative director.
Following last year’s finale of the Arthur series after a 25-year run, creator Marc Brown is beginning his next chapter in the world of children’s television with Hop, a new animated preschool series featuring characters with disabilities, greenlit today by Max. Co-creators and fellow Arthur alums Peter K. Hirsch and Tolon Brown, will join Brown in bringing his children’s book illustrations to life in the new show, produced by Epic Story Media and animated by Loomi Animation.
“Even before Arthur ended, I was nurturing a new project about a little frog named Hop, for a younger audience,” said Brown. “As Hop’s world grew in my imagination, I drew inspiration from the great work my friend Fred Rogers had done. With Arthur, we occasionally introduced characters with disabilities, but they never became part of the ensemble cast in any meaningful way. But the characters in Hop reflect many kids who are underrepresented in the media. Some of our characters have disabilities but they never define who they are or what they can achieve. Kids are kids and each one is unique and filled with potential. And kids love to have fun, that’s what Hop is all about!”
Hop follows an eclectic group of besties whose comedic adventures teach preschoolers about embracing their own uniqueness. Led by Hop, an enthusiastic, empathetic frog with one leg shorter than the other, he and his quirky friends address kid-relatable problems with a healthy dose of laughter, silliness and adventure. Epic has engaged advocacy nonprofit RespectAbility — dedicated to fighting stigma and advancing opportunity for people with disabilities — to consult on the series.
Set in the aspirational community of Fair Village, every episode is grounded in emotional reality but soars into the world of fantasy, populated by dragons, trolls, talking banjos and magic crayons. With a gentle balance of humor and heart, our heroes go on fun escapades to discover that they can overcome any obstacle with perseverance, creativity, and teamwork. Together, they show us the power of friendship and kindness as they navigate the mud puddles of life.
“We’re extremely proud of our work and collaboration with industry experts on representing characters in an inclusive way,” said Ken Faier of Epic. “It is an honor to have developed ‘Hop’ with Marc, Peter and Tolon who know how to engage not only today’s youth but parents looking for quality content. We believe Hop will have longevity in the marketplace for many years to come.”
Michael Ouweleen, President of Adult Swim, Cartoon Network & Boomerang, added, “Marc is a legend in children’s programming, having created one of the most iconic television shows that has garnered almost every honor imaginable. Hop exudes everything families love about Arthur, but with a fresh cast of modern characters that authentically represent the sundry of little eyes watching TV.”
The series stars:
Hop (voiced by David Connolly) – Hop is an outgoing six-year-old frog with one leg shorter than the other, whose superpower is empathy. He lives on a houseboat with Penny and runs a retro-diner called the Lilypad that also functions as the gang’s clubhouse. A natural-born leader, Hop spearheads the group on their zany adventures and embodies what it means to be an accepting, caring and supportive friend. Broadway actor and disability advocate David Connolly voices Hop. Connolly is a recipient of the Premier of Ontario’s Award of Excellence in Applied Arts and happens to be a double below-knee amputee. He is the first amputee to have performed on Broadway.
Penny (voiced by Moneesha “Misha” Bakshi) – Penny is Hop’s slightly older sibling. Silly, goofy and bubbling with enthusiastic energy, Penny often seems like they’re spinning out of the control. Penny is a source of broad physical comedy and with their quirky sense of humor and talking banjo, Penny is the lovable clown of the group.
Hoot (voiced by Makeda Bromfield) – Like her name suggests, Hoot is the life of the party. Charming, scatterbrained, and a bit of a diva, Hoot is the character with big dreams and an even bigger heart. She lives on an organic farm with several disobedient chickens, a playful cow and an erudite talking car named Jinx. Hoot is an affectionate, whimsical spirit with a sixth sense for finding the fun in any task.
Filipa (voiced by Charlotte Walker) – Filipa is a fiercely intelligent squirrel who lives in the woods in an elaborate treehouse which she built herself with the help of her magical crayon, Grape Lightning. She is precise, honest and always says exactly what’s on her mind. Although no one has ever diagnosed her, Filipa is neuro-divergent; a disdain for loud noises and big crowds comes along with her passionate creativity. However, the Hoppers accept her just the way she is, and in return she is the most loyal friend they could ever ask for. Filipa is voiced by Charlotte Walker, a new voice actor and current student at George Brown College in Toronto who also happens to be autistic.
Benny (voiced by Jake Shannon) – Benny is an alligator who may look fearsome, but is the sweetest, shyest — and most neurotic — one of the group. He’s afraid of spiders, mayonnaise, small spaces, wide spaces and all spaces in between. But with the help of his friends, along with his knight-doll Brave Sir Ben, there’s no fear Benny cannot face — and even have fun while facing it! Benny loves reading and he’s a gifted inventor and storyteller, which is why he runs the local book-toy-and-game library.
Alfred (voiced by Makeda Bromfield) – Alfred Beaver is the youngest member of the group and even though his snooty older brother and sister (Ronny & Lonny) disapprove of him associating with such frivolous characters, Alfred takes every opportunity he can to hang out with the Hoppers. Alfred is wide-eyed, open-hearted and irrepressibly eager to learn from Hop and try to do things on his own. Even though he’s very innocent, he’s no pushover, and Alfred takes on challenges with a heaping dose of grit and determination.
As the Annecy Festival celebrates animation from Mexico this week, London-based sales agency WestEnd Films has announced that it has partnered with Lupus Films on their forthcoming hand-drawn animated feature about the life of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, Las Dos Fridas.
Written and directed by BAFTA Award-winning writer and director Paloma Baeza (Poles Apart, The House), herself of Mexican descent, Las Dos Fridas will explore the reasons why Kahlo still captivates 65 years after her death:
With a visual style inspired by the artist’s paintings and illustrations, Las Dos Fridas will form a rich canvas of a life filled with laughter, romance and pain as it focuses on the key moments which changed Kahlo’s life — from the motor accident that permanently disabled her and led her to paint, to her tumultuous love affairs with life partner and soul mate, Diego Rivera, and photographer Nickolas Muray.
Combined with a dramatized depiction of Kahlo’s vivid imagination and entering the surreal worlds of some of her most famous works, the film will paint a searingly intimate and beautiful portrait of this multi-faceted icon.
The film is helmed by an all-female team which includes Baeza, producers Camilla Deakin and Ruth Fielding of Lupus Films (Kensuke’s Kingdom, Ethel & Ernest, The Tiger Who Came to Tea) and award-winning art director Sharon Liu (The Tiger Who Came to Tea, Nina Simone: Color Is a Wonderful Thing).
WestEnd Films will sell the film under its WeLove label, launched to promote female talent and bring female driven content to serve audiences across all genres.
“We are delighted to be working with the talented team at Lupus Films, we have long admired their imaginative and moving adult animations,” said Maya Amsellem, Co-Founder of WestEnd Films. “Paloma is a real talent and together they are the perfect team to paint a picture of this inspirational icon of female creativity, the film will be as raw and honest as Frida’s own biographical paintings.”
Lupus Films Co-Founder Deakin agreed, “We are really excited to have WestEnd Films aboard this very special project. Like us, they are a female owned and led company and their reputation of working with female talent across an incredibly diverse set of feature films speaks for itself. We are thrilled that they are as excited by the creative potential of Las Dos Fridas as we are.”
Las Dos Fridas has been developed with the assistance of the BFI (British Film Institute).
Disney today unveiled the official trailer for the new Pixar Animation Studios short Carl’s Date, based on the Oscar-winning animated feature Up and featuring the final performance of the late Ed Asner as our heroic curmudgeon, Carl. The short will run exclusively in theaters starting June 16, in front of Pixar’s Elemental — marking a return to the studio’s tradition of pairing shorts and features for a special theatrical experience.
Written and directed by Academy Award nominee and Emmy Award winner Bob Peterson and produced by Kim Collins, Carl’s Date goes home with Carl Fredricksen (Asner) and his lovable talking dog, Dug (Peterson), who were introduced in Up. Moviegoers will catch up with Carl as he reluctantly agrees to go on a date with a lady friend — but admittedly has no idea how dating works these days. Ever the helpful friend, Dug steps in to calm Carl’s pre-date jitters and offer some tried-and-true tips for making friends — if you’re a dog.
Portfolio Entertainment shared the sad news today (Friday, June 9) that the studio’s co-founding partner & CEO, Joy Rosen, has died. The warmly remembered animation executive passed peacefully on June 8, surrounded by family. She was 65 years old.
Rosen and long-time colleague, friend and business partner Lisa Olfman founded Portfolio in 1991. Launched in a spare bedroom with a borrowed typewriter, Rosen and Olfman transformed their ambitious startup into a leading production, distribution and animation company of kids and family entertainment with a roster that includes the Daytime Emmy-nominated PBS series The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot about That!, starring Martin Short, Hero Elementary, Doki and Groundling Marsh.
“We at Portfolio are heartbroken” says Olfman, Portfolio’s co-CEO. “Joy was my partner, my best friend, my sister-in-arms. Words can’t describe what a huge loss this is to her family, her friends, and to those in the business community who knew her. We will miss her tremendous heart, her wicked sense of humor and her buoyant optimism. A piece of us died today, but we will forever honor her legacy.”
Rosen led Portfolio’s global distribution division and molded it into a top player. Recognized for her intelligent deal-making and enduring relationships with both international broadcasters and content providers, Rosen was a consummate entrepreneur. Her strategic vision and indefatigable optimism were instrumental in the company’s multi-faceted expansion and in 2015 the partners launched Portfolio Animation, a state of the art animation studio.
Among her many industry distinctions, Rosen, together with Olfman, was awarded the 2015 WIFT-T Crystal Award for Outstanding Achievement in Business, the Rotman Canadian Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and was named in Profit Magazine‘s Top 100 Female Business Owners and Animation Magazine’s Top 25 Rising Women in the Business.
Born October 2, 1957 to Delores and Harry Rosen, Joy Lori Rosen was married to Dr. Lawrence Freedman for 39 years, and mother to Erin, Michaela and Evan Freedman — her children being, she always said, her greatest achievement. Rosen is also survived by her siblings Paula (Stephen Toope) and Eric Rosen (Rachel Nelson), and predeceased by her father.
Anime fans are in for a scary good time this summer on HIDIVE, which has acquired Pony Canyon’s new horror-supernatural series Dark Gathering. Based on Kenichi Kondo’s popular shounen manga series of the same name, the anime adaptation was first revealed last summer and is now set to premiere this July in Japan and as an exclusive summer simulcast on HIDIVE’s streaming service.
“We’re proud to have acquired this one-of-a-kind series from Pony Canyon and eager to premiere Dark Gathering as a HIDIVE exclusive series in July,” said John Ledford, President of HIDIVE. “Japanese horror is truly unique in the genre as well as a true rarity in anime, so we’re thrilled to introduce Pony Canyon’s Dark Gathering to international fans around the world. Dark Gathering joins our exciting summer simulcast line-up and illustrates our ongoing commitment to bring subscribers the best of Japan’s new anime each season.”
Synopsis: After a devastating encounter with a restless spirit, ghost-fearing psychic Keitaro Gentoga became a shut-in to avoid additional spectral catastrophes. But no man is a haunted island, and Keitaro eventually reintegrates with society by getting a part-time job as a tutor to the child prodigy Yayoi Houzuki. Yayoi isn’t just an academic genius, though. She’s a talented psychic medium hell-bent on finding the malevolent spirit behind her mother’s disappearance, and she’s gravely determined to drag Keitaro into her terrifying world of grotesque supernatural phenomenon.
Launched in 2019, Kondo’s Dark Gathering is serialized in Shueisha’s Jump Square and currently spans 12 volumes. The anime adaptation is directed by Hiroshi Ikehata and written by Shigeru Murakoshi, and is produced by OLM with music by KOHTA YAMAMOTO, Shun Narita and Yūsuke Seo.
A new stop-motion animated series, EvanTube’s Dollar Toy Squad by pocket.watch premiered today (Friday, June 9) on the Ryan and Friends Plus channel available through Prime Video (and soon on Xfinity).
The series hails from writer Matthew Schwartz and director Yoram Benz, the animation duo behind One Eyed Robot who have delivered numerous projects for Cartoon Network, TBS and MTV. Starring are pocket.watch creators EvanTube and JillianTube, who have a combined audience of more than 10 million YouTube subscribers.
Synopsis: Evan and Jillian receive a mysterious box of toys that transports them to One Buck City, where a ragtag team of budget action figures, the Dollar Toy Squad, are battling against the villainous Rust-O-Team.
Ryan and Friends Plus is an independent kids and family SVOD spotlighting original series and exclusive content from top kids’ creators, with over 3,400 episodes and 500 hours of content and 16 new hours being added every month.
The worlds of iconic movie monsters and action-packed TV animation collide in the new trailer for Skull Island, premiering globally on June 22, exclusively on Netflix. Following the first-look and full cast announcement last month, Kong fans can now get a more immersive look at this new survival adventure in the official trailer.
The 2D-animated series, produced by Legendary Television, unfolds as a group of kind-hearted explorers rescues Annie from the ocean, unaware that their act of heroism will lead them to the treacherous SkullIsland. This enigmatic place is home to bizarre creatures and terrifying monsters, including the mighty titan himself, Kong.
The ensemble cast features Nicolas Cantu (Dragons Rescue Riders: Heroes of the Sky, The Fabelmans) as the voice of the protagonist, Charlie; Mae Whitman (Family Guy, DC Super Hero Girls) as Annie; Darren Barnet (Never Have I Ever, Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles) as Mike; Benjamin Bratt as Cap (Poker Face, Coco); and Betty Gilpin (Mrs. Davis, Glow) as Irene.
SkullIsland is created, written and executive produced by Brian Duffield (Cocaine Bear, Love and Monsters). Jacob Robinson, Brad Graeber, Jen Chambers and Thomas Tull also serve as executive producers. The animation is produced by Powerhouse Animation, known for their work on hit series such as Castlevania and Blood of Zeus.
