Montreal/Madrid-based international sales and distribution company Pink Parrot Media’s 3D animated family feature Butterfly Tale will include an original song from the Juno-winning and Grammy-nominated Canadian pop singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes: “Something Big.” PPM will be representing the project in Cannes.
Co-produced by Canada’s CarpeDiem (Snowtime!, Racetime) and Germany’s Ulysses Filmproduktion (Ooops! Noah Is Gone, The Amazing Maurice), Butterfly Tale is scheduled to be released internationally later this year including in Canada by Vortex and Maison 4:3, together with Pink Parrot Media, and in Germany by Wildbunch.
The film’s soundtrack, produced by Blu Dog, will feature “Something Big” performed by Shawn Mendes, courtesy of Island Records, under license from Universal Music Canada Inc., alongside new original songs “Anywhere with You” performed by Johnny Orlando, a rising talent from Universal Records, courtesy of Universal Music Canada Inc; “Champions” performed by La Zarra, who is representing France in the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest; “Silence be Still” performed by Coeur de Pirate; “Fly Away” performed by Joshua Alexander and “Now or Never” performed by Jennifer Lee Dupuy.
Butterfly Tale is directed by first time film helmer, Sophie Roy, written by Heidi Foss (Pup Academy) and Lienne Sawatsky (Wishfart) and produced by Marie-Claude Beauchamp for CarpeDiem and Ulysses’ Emely Christians. The lead characters are voiced by Tatiana Maslany (She-Hulk: Attorney at Law) and Mena Massoud (Aladdin 2019).
Butterfly Tale
Pink Parrot Media has already secured a raft of international distribution deals for Butterfly Tale, including: Wildbunch (France), Monolith (Poland), Front Row (Middle East), Filmart (Turkey), Mis Label (Scandinavia), Just Ent (Benelux), Pro Film (Bulgaria), SC Idea Films (Romania), Blitz (Former Yugoslavia), Flins&Piniculas (Spain), Forefront Media (South Africa), Top Film (CIS and Baltics) and Kaleidoscope (U.K.).
“We’re in the final phase of post-production on Butterfly Tale and its fantastic to see this beautiful project come together, including the soundtrack which features an incredible collection of musical stars,” said Tania Pinto Da Cunha, PPM Partner/VP and Head of International Sales & Acquisitions. “The upbeat and catchy songs from Shawn Mendes and these talented artists perfectly encapsulate the magic and feel of Butterfly Tale, and we’re sure will elevate audiences’ experience of this heart-warming and heroic tale.”
Synopsis: Set along the diverse, picturesque and ever-changing backdrop of the great Monarch butterfly migration, Butterfly Tale is the heartwarming tale of a gutsy and loveable, yet inept, one-winged butterfly named Patrick (Massoud), who stows away in a milkweed trailer in order to be part of the journey of a lifetime. With his best friend, a goofy caterpillar named Marty, and Jennifer (Maslany), a butterfly who is afraid of heights, Patrick will become an unlikely hero. But first he must face his fear, embrace his uniqueness and triumph over adversity while battling changing weather patterns, humans and three evil birds bent on revenge.
The Portland Art Museum has announced that Academy Award-winning director Guillermo del Toro will take part in a public conversation at the Museum on June 23, in conjunction with Guillermo del Toro: Crafting Pinocchio, the special exhibition opening June 10.
Organized by The Museum of Modern Art, Guillermo del Toro: Crafting Pinocchio invites audiences to explore the extraordinary artistry, creativity and storytelling behind the masterful stop-motion animated Netflix film Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, which recently won del Toro and co-director Mark Gustafson the 2023 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Guillermo del Toro: Crafting Pinocchio is a celebration and exploration of the inventiveness, passion, and artistic cooperation that goes into making a cinematic vision come to life.
Known for taking artistic originality to new heights across film, television, animation, and more, Guillermo del Toro is one of the most inventive and iconic directors of the 21st century. During the weekend of his talk at the Portland Art Museum, del Toro will also be among the honorees of PAM CUT // Center for an Untold Tomorrow’s 2023 Cinema Unbound Awards, celebrating groundbreaking and innovative multimedia artists, and the Museum will present special screenings of work from across the filmmaker’s acclaimed career.
The Museum’s exhibition, along with a robust slate of programs will givespecial attention to the talent and creative collaboration of hundreds of local cinematic animation artists at ShadowMachine — a renowned stop-motion animation studio based in Portland, Oregon, a city increasingly recognized as a creative hub of the art form. Programs will include Animation Art Days throughout the summer with ShadowMachine artists and other Portland-based animators and scholars; a multimedia installation by Portland artist, performer and musician Larry Peace-Love Yes, whose artwork was an inspiration on ShadowMachine’s set during the production of Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio; and PAM CUT youth summer camps exploring the art of animation, including gaming, design, stop-motion, AR, and more.
with Amy Dotson, PAM CUT // Center for an Untold Tomorrow Director and Portland Art Museum Curator of Film & New Media
Friday, June 23, 2023, 3 p.m. Portland Art Museum’s Grand Ballroom (TICKETS)
Celebrating his work as a filmmaker and multimedia artist, join us for a conversation between iconic filmmaker Guillermo del Toro and PAM CUT Director and Portland Art Museum Curator of Film & New Media, during which the two will discuss the artist’s process and vision around creating Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio and his connection to the hundreds of artists here at Portland’s ShadowMachine who helped bring his cinematic vision to life. Presented by Netflix.
Discovering del Toro Film Series
June 23-25, Whitesell Auditorium, Portland Art Museum (in collaboration with MoMA)
Friday, June 23
The Devil’s Backbone, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 24
Blade II, 4:30 p.m.
Pan’s Labyrinth, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 25
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, 1:30 p.m. (free with Museum admission)
The Shape of Water, 4:30 p.m.
Hellboy, 7:30 p.m.
Free Screenings of Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio
(Free with paid Museum admission; viewing opportunities with open captions and audio descriptions as well as sensory-friendly screenings.)
Saturday, June 10 & June 17
11:00 a.m. – Open caption screening with available audio description
2:00 p.m.
Sunday, June 11 & June 18
11:00 a.m. – Sensory-friendly screening with lower volume and brighter lighting
2:00 p.m.
Friday, June 16
2:00 p.m.
Sunday, June 25
1:30 p.m.
Pinocchio: Animation Art Days
Peek into the artistic, animation and storytelling process, as told by ShadowMachine artists and other Portland-based animators and scholars. All ages are welcome.
June 25 – ShadowMachine Cinematography Department
July 15 – ShadowMachine Art Department
August 13 – ShadowMachine Puppet Department
September 10 – ShadowMachine Animation Department
Guillermo del Toro: Crafting Pinocchio
Showcasing the collaborative art, craft and storytelling of the film, Guillermo del Toro: Crafting Pinocchio immerses audiences in its world, featuring iconic creatures, set pieces, stop-motion animation technology and fantastical visual and sound elements. At more than 8,000 square feet, the exhibition will guide audiences through the creation and collective artistry of del Toro’s work.
The Portland Art Museum’s presentation of Guillermo del Toro: Crafting Pinocchio will expand on the richness of the local stop-motion animation community by giving visitors a look inside the artists’ process. The exhibition and programs will give special attention to the talent and creative collaboration of the local cinematic animation artists at ShadowMachine.
Guillermo del Toro: Crafting Pinocchio is organized by The Museum of Modern Art. The exhibition is organized by Ron Magliozzi, Curator, and Brittany Shaw, former Curatorial Assistant, with Kyla Gordon, Research Assistant, Department of Film, The Museum of Modern Art. The Portland Art Museum’s expanded presentation is curated by Amy Dotson, Curator of Film and New Media and Director of PAM CUT // Center for an Untold Tomorrow.
Magic Frame Animation and Creation Entertainment Media today announce their collaboration for the kids’ animated feature film, Secret Magic Control Agency II: Mission Sleeping Beauty, the sequel to the popular Netflix film from 2021. The studio partners will present the film, which is currently in production, at the Cannes Marché du Film this month.
“This film continues the story of the much-loved characters from the first Netflix film, but with an entirely new mission!” says Lidia Chirita, Head of Sales and Co-Productions at Magic Frame Animation. “We know that families around the world will love the comedy, adventure and amazing visuals that this film has to offer. We’re very excited to be working with our partners at Creation Entertainment Media and to be showcasing the project for the first time at Marchédu Film.”
In this sequel to Secret Magic Control Agency, which topped the global viewership charts as one of Netflix’s most watched films, agents Hansel and Gretel return to undergo their most important mission yet. In a race against the clock, the agents must work together to save a princess from her enchanted slumber. But when they cross paths with a sorcery-wielding Prince who is after the same prize, Gretel finds herself battling the most powerful force she’s ever experienced… true love.
Returning for the second film is award-winning actress Sylvana Joyce and Nicholas Corda (Pokémon, Avatar: The Last Airbender). Alex Tsitsil’in will direct, with the film’s music composed by Sefi Carmel.
The producers are eager to introduce their endearing family comedy-adventure which brings the beloved characters of classic fairy tales Hansel and Gretel and Sleeping Beauty to the screen. Following the success of the first outing, fans can look forward to an engaging story told with vibrant, magic-infused animation.
“We’re incredibly excited about this project, especially as there has been such a great response to the first Secret Magic Control Agency film,” says Carmel, CEO of Creation Entertainment Media. “Audiences can expect to see some returning characters, and some new ones, in what will be an exciting adventure for all the family to enjoy. We look forward to presenting the film at Cannes!”
IBERMEDIA NEXT has opened its call for applications for its next line of funding today (Friday, May 12). The initiative, which is framed within the IBERMEDIA Program and is financed with NextGenerationEU funds, proposes grants of up to €150,000 and a support program valued at up to €95,000 for digital animation or live-action projects that include a high percentage of animation.
Applications are now open through the new website, ibermedianext.com.
In addition to the online call, a presentation on IBERMEDIA NEXT will also take place during the Ibero-American Animation Quirino Awards in San Cristóbal de la Laguna, Tenerife (May 11-13) before the professional community of the sector, with the participation of Víctor Herreruela (Coordinator of the Ibermedia Technical Unit) and attended by José Luis Farias (Executive Producer of the Quirino Awards), and on behalf of The Ibero-American Animation League, José Iñesta (Director of the Pixelatl Festival) together with Silvina Cornillón (Manager of Animation! Ventana Sur).
The presentation will be held at 6:30 p.m. (Canary Islands time, UTC/GMT+1) in the Function Room of Lercaro Palace within the Quirino Awards official program. This conference, which has pursued its goal of connecting the Ibero-American animation community for six years, is one of the allied organizations of IBERMEDIA NEXT together with The Ibero-American Animation League, comprising the Quirino Awards, the Pixelatl Festival (Guadalajara, Mexico) and Animation! Ventana Sur (Buenos Aires, Argentina).
The discussion will offer attendees the opportunity to learn details about this unprecedented funding round from IBERMEDIA NEXT.
Promoting New Technologies in Animation
The period for receiving applications for the IBERMEDIA NEXT funding will continue until August 21, 2023, open to prototypes, teasers, pilots, short films and videoclips are eligible, among other options. The minimum project duration must be five minutes and it must use new technological tools for animation and/or open code tools in its development. The final result of these projects will be traditional audiovisual content, virtual reality (VR), extended reality (XR) or augmented reality (AR). Digital animation or hybrid projects are admitted, as long as the latter include at least 75% animation in the footage.
An innovative initiative of the IBERMEDIA Program, IBERMEDIA NEXT is framed within the “Spain, Audiovisual Hub of Europe” Component 25 of the European Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, and is financed by NextGenerationEU funds.
After careful consultation with the sector, these grants have been designed according to the needs of Ibero-American and Italian companies and creators that work in digital content and seek to explore the possibilities of new technologies, which need to find funding to continue creating, establish a solid network of contacts in the sector, or have a presence in the right contexts to make their work known.
Networking at the Virtual Plaza: The First Step
One of the intentions of IBERMEDIA NEXT is to facilitate connections between sector agents. For this reason, its website hosts the IBERMEDIA NEXT PLAZA tool for professionals — a free platform on which companies and producers from Spain, Italy and Portugal can connect with other companies and creators from all the member states of the IBERMEDIA Program. Registration on IBERMEDIA NEXT PLAZA will be the first necessary step to be able to present applications for the grants.
To create community and share the generated knowledge, IBERMEDIA NEXT also assumes the creation and maintenance of a large public archive that will include, among other useful materials, a series of video tutorials aimed at the animation and digital content sectors, to favor the professionalization of new talent thanks to the application of new technological tools in production processes.
Victor Herreruela presents the new IBERMEDIA NEXT funding line during the Quirino Awards in Tenerife this week.
Support Beyond the Economic Aid
In addition to an economic contribution of up to €150,000, the audiovisual projects chosen in this first line of funding of IBERMEDIA NEXT will also have a complete program of training, consultancy, promotion and dissemination, valued at €95,000. These projects and the companies and professionals that lead them will also benefit from networking opportunities, having the chance to participate in promotional activities in events of The Ibero-American Animation League (Pixelatl, Quirino Awards and Animation! Ventana Sur), as well as other sector events.
Training and support of the projects that benefit from the call for proposals, which will include group classes as well as individualized tutorials in an asynchronous online format, in addition to on-site advice during The Ibero-American Animation League events, will be private and personalized. There will be a series of consultants, outstanding professionals chosen by IBERMEDIA NEXT, who will guide the development of each project, providing ad hoc consultancy sessions that permit optimization of approaches and increase the possibilities for success within the industry. To adapt as much as possible to the needs of the selected projects, this group of highly qualified consultants will be chosen after the finalist projects have been selected.
In practical terms, the process begins by seeking partners for the project on IBERMEDIA NEXT PLAZA, creating the team and making the application within the deadline. After the decision has been made, in November 2023, the status of each application can be checked on ibermedianext.com. Over the following few months, IBERMEDIA NEXT will announce the members comprising the evaluation committee of the finalist projects, who are also commissioned with defining the strategic lines of the training program.
Building Innovative Avenues through IBERMEDIA
IBERMEDIA is an incentive program for the co-production and co-development of fiction, documentary and animation films and series, made in a community comprising 23 countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Chile, Ecuador, El Salvador, Spain, Guatemala, Honduras, Italy, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela.
Since its creation in 1998, the program has managed 31 financial aid calls, in which 1,099 grants have been given to the co-production of Ibero-American feature films, 1,143 grants for the development/co-development of series; grants for the promotion and distribution of 292 films and the exhibition of 298. In addition, more than 3,390 training grants have been awarded to sector professionals throughout Ibero-America.
IBERMEDIA NEXT is an initiative of the IBERMEDIA Program to house new pilot lines that support different productions from the classic lines of the Program: the application of new technologies in the field of digital animation and audiovisual content with a high percentage of animation.
It also has the collaboration of the Ibero-American Animation Quirino Awards and The Ibero- American Animation League, to which they belong together with Animation! Ventana Sur and the Pixelatl Festival. The Quirino Awards arose from the need to recognize talent in the Ibero-American animation industry, create connections and networks on both sides of the Atlantic and provide a framework to celebrate as a forum for co-production and business.
The Ibero-American Animation League was launched in 2018 as an alliance to strengthen collaboration and promote creators from the region. Launched by the Quirino Awards, the Pixelatl Festival and Animation! Ventana Sur, it arose in response to the increase in international co-productions between Ibero-American producers, with the aim of strengthening international cooperation in the region.
FIAPF (International Federation of Film Producers’ Associations) and WIA (Women in Animation) announced the five delegations selected for the second edition of Stories x Women, a program aimed at increasing diversity of voices in animation globally by supporting access to international opportunities for women animators who want to tell their authentic stories from emerging national film and audiovisual animation communities of Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America.
“For 10 years, WIA has been focused on reaching 50/50 gender parity in animation by 2025. The Stories x Women program aligns perfectly with our mission of supporting and empowering people of underrepresented gender identities in animation. It’s actively removing barriers faced by women and gender non-conforming creatives and making space for them to tell their authentic stories,” said Marge Dean, WIA president. “We can’t wait to see the growth and development of this international group of talented creators.”
These creators, chosen from a pool of 130+ candidates, will benefit from a series of mentoring sessions led by internationally acclaimed animation experts, as well as 1:1 coaching sessions that will prepare them to pitch their projects in the upcoming 2023 Annecy International Animation Film Festival and Market (MIFA), including as part of the MIFA Pitching Sessions.
This second edition of Stories x Women was open to two-people teams, which had to have a woman in a leading project role such as producer, director or screenwriter.
The selected delegations are (sorted out by country in alphabetical order):
Superpunk – Brazil. A project led by Mirtes Santana (with Guilherme Petreca)
Negocio de Brujas (Witch’s Business) – Chile. A project led by Paulina Sanhueza Meléndez (with Alejandra Jaramillo Fanta)
Nerea – Dominican Republic. A project led by Fabiola Contreras Rosso (with Arima Léon)
The Golden Pig – Malaysia. A project led by Hwei Ling Ow (with Kate Goodwin)
Papo Hapo – Turkey/Kenya. A project led by Irmak Atabek Ndungu (with Mbithi Masya)
“FIAPF is proud to bring the second edition of Stories x Women with WIA with the support of The Walt Disney Company and Sony Pictures Entertainment. Our industry, in particular its production segment, is committed to bringing new stories and new voices to our audiences across the world. Stories x Women supports the work of women animators from regions that are less visible in the international market and is an extra contribution to the collective efforts made by this industry in that field,” says Luis Alberto Scalella, President of FIAPF. “As the global voice for producers worldwide, FIAPF promotes all forms of film genres, including animation and its universal language.”
Meredith Robert, Disney Executive Vice President of TV Animation, commented, “I’m thrilled to be part of this exciting initiative to support, mentor and champion women in animation from around the world. Annecy is the world’s premier animation festival and inviting these incredible storytellers to the festival, and giving them access to all its resources and connections, will go a long way to helping them bring their unique stories to the world.”
Author and Emmy Award winner Mo Willems, Stampede Ventures and RedBird Capital Partners today announced the formation of Hidden Pigeon Company (“HPC”), a multiplatform kids and family content company that will leverage Willems’ best-selling catalog of children’s books and intellectual property across all entertainment platforms, including television, film, digital, gaming, live events, location-based experiences, publishing, consumer products and more.
HPC will harness its relationship with Stampede and now RedBird to build on the reach of Willems’ franchises and further enhance the development of his intellectual property through premier entertainment offerings and products created for kids and family audiences on a global basis.
“The Hidden Pigeon Company takes its name from how kids and former kids delight in finding The Pigeon hidden in every one of my books,” said Mo Willems. “It is my hope to create a similar bit of surprise and delight in the fabric of everything we make or do. I am thrilled to have found wonderful collaborative partners to make that hope a reality.”
The creation of HPC follows the success of Stampede Ventures and Willems’ existing producing partnership, which has already earned early success with two specials that premiered on HBO Max/Max — Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Underground Rock Experience and Storytime All Stars Presents: Don’t Let the Pigeon Do Storytime (2020), which was nominated for two daytime Emmys.
“We’ve deeply enjoyed the success of our partnership with Mo and Cher Willems to date, and it’s shown us that the popularity of his IP and the appetite for premium family entertainment are a powerful combination,” said Greg Silverman, Stampede Ventures’ CEO and Founder.
With RedBird’s significant financial investment and industry expertise, HPC will be able to expedite its development pipeline, infrastructure expansion and commercial initiatives. RedBird’s involvement also marks the firm’s expansion into the kids’ and family entertainment sector.
“Working with creative entrepreneurs like Mo is at the core of our investing strategy,” said Gerry Cardinale, RedBird Capital Founder & Managing Partner. “The creation of HPC is consistent with RedBird’s broader media investment thesis of acquiring best-in-class IP and scaling its scope of impact and commercialization. Our goal is to help this new company and partnership transform the traditional kids and family entertainment landscape and the way audiences experience Mo’s stories.”
Chris Bosco, Stampede Ventures’ President, noted, “The launch of Hidden Pigeon Company with RedBird is our opportunity to bring the full range of Mo’s creative genius into one entity crafted to expand the impact of his work. RedBird’s extensive experience will be critical in HPC’s long-term success, and we are thrilled to have their support and partnership.” .
In addition, HPC will also house a new publishing imprint called Specific House, which has partnered with publisher Union Square & Co. to launch Willems’ latest New York Times Best Seller, the new adult humor book Be the Bus – The Lost & Profound Wisdom of The Pigeon, as well as the recent New York Times Best Seller The Pigeon Will Ride the Roller Coaster! and the upcoming Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Sleigh!, which will be The Pigeon’s first-ever holiday book, and more titles to come.
Willems is repped by his long-term literary agent, Marcia Wernick at Wernick & Pratt Agency, LLC, who will continue to represent his domestic literary rights.
Gold Valley Films and Toonz Media Group announced today that an adaptation of the Scandinavian children’s classic The Wonderful Adventures of Nils is coming to the big screen as an animated feature for the first time. Nils: The New Adventure is based on the book by Selma Lagerlöf, the first woman to ever win the Nobel Prize in Literature. The project will be helmed by Jason Reisig, co-director of Warner Animation Group’s Smallfoot ($214 million worldwide box office).
When a misunderstood boy is shrunk to mini size by a vengeful pixie, he must team up with a bumbling goose on the journey of a lifetime to change himself back. Will he “grow up” in time?
Nils: The New Adventure is part of the six animated picture co-financing and co-producing deal between Toonz Media Group and Gold Valley Films. The first two pictures announced by the two studios as part of the deal are Little Emma, which is having its world premiere screenings at the Cannes Film Market, and Pierre the Pigeon-Hawk from producer-director John D. Eraklis’ Exodus Film Group.
‘Nils: The New Adventure’ early artwork
Additionally, longtime Toonz executive Gulshan David is joining the feature film division as Vice President, International Distribution and Sales, reporting to Ariel Veneziano, President of Feature Film at Toonz Media Group.
David has over two decades of experience in sales, marketing, and business development, including in leadership positions. He has been associated with Toonz Media Group since 2010 in senior positions such as Director of Marketing, Distribution and Syndication division. He was Vice President of Media Sales with Imira Entertainment, a Toonz company. Prior to joining Toonz, David was the Assistant Marketing Manager with Sony Pictures Entertainment India.
“I am thrilled to join the newly launched division as VP of Sales and stay within the Toonz family, where I will work with Ariel and Allen Tsang of Gold Valley. These are exciting times to be part of the productions Nils, Pierre and Little Emma with Toonz and Gold Valley Films,” said David.
Veneziano commented, “Gulshan is a terrific addition to the team, as he comes with a wealth of experience that will be instrumental in ramping up Toonz’s film sales and distribution arm, starting at Cannes.”
Toonz Media Group and Gold Valley Films will be available for meeting s during the Cannes market at the Residences du Grand Hotel, Cormoran 1 entrance, 4th floor.
The meddling monsters of Human Resources will return in their second (and final) season on June 9, and Netflix has dropped the official trailer for what promises to be a raunchy, irreverent ride of inflamed passions, disembodied genitals and, yes — even love.
Synopsis: From the inventive minds that brought us the award-winning adult animation favorite Big Mouth comes the even edgier and adult-ier Human Resources. The spin-off pulls back the curtain on the daily lives of the creatures — Hormone Monsters, Depression Kitties, Shame Wizards and many more — that help humans journey through every aspect of life from puberty to parenthood to the twilight years. It quickly becomes clear that though the protagonists are creatures, they have a lot of humanity themselves.
https://youtu.be/jBupl81yAEQ
The series features the voices of Nick Kroll, Maya Rudolph and David Thewlis reprising their Big Mouth roles as well as Aidy Bryant, Brandon Kyle Goodman, Keke Palmer and Randall Park among others.
New guest stars for S2 are Florence Pugh, Miley Cyrus, Eugene Levy, Sam Richardson, Niecy Nash-Betts, Jason Mantzoukas and Isabella Rossellini. Return guest stars include Hugh Jackman, Pamela Adlon, Rosie Perez, Henry Winkler, Thandiwe Newton, Jemaine Clement, Maria Bamford, Bobby Cannavale and Cole Escola.
Human Resources co-created and executive produced by Kelly Galuska, Nick Kroll, Andrew Goldberg, Jennifer Flackett and Mark Levin.
Frederator Networks has announced the launch of Cartoon Hangover Shots, a social video animation incubator program for original ‘kidult’ animations. The pioneering streaming video and independent animation production company is behind the largest global toon network on YouTube and has produced more than 19 series and 250 shorts over the past 20 years.
The new initiative aims to address the growing demand for short-form content across social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and YouTube. Cartoon Hangover Shots, the network promises, will pour out ‘perfectly odd entertainment for perfect people.’ To this end, the animation community at large is welcome to join Frederator’s network of creators in submitting their animations to be featured on Cartoon Hangover social platforms.
The program offers creators increased engagement and viewership for short-form animation in a way that has become difficult in more traditional media, providing a gateway to millions of animation fans worldwide and an incredible launchpad for outstanding work that deserves to be seen.
“Cartoon Hangover Shots represent the quick consumption of mobile-friendly animations,” says Kenny Ash, President of Frederator Networks. “Pilots can take months and longer to create, especially if you’re an independent animator. Our goal with Cartoon Hangover Shots is to provide the animation community with a platform that helps eliminate the time, energy and funds it may take creators to start building audiences for their work.”
Madhous
Founded in 2012 as part of the YouTube Original Channel Initiative, Cartoon Hangover boasts more than 2.5 million followers and over 300 million views. The channel features original series from the leading voices in independent animation, including Natasha Allegri’s Bee and PuppyCat, Pendleton Ward’s Bravest Warriors, Too Cool! Cartoons and GO!
First to join the new Shots initiative is Madhouse, created by Lucy Animation Studio. Madhouse is described as: “The endogamous child between the psychological horror film, The Silence of the Lambs, the personal relationships of The Office and charisma of Ren & Stimpy. A mixture that has been called insolent, irreverent and unethical … but tasty.”
ZMX, another ‘shot’ to join the platform, is created by Jonti Picking (Weebl’s Stuff) and Paul Neafcy and takes place after a zombie apocalypse, where a lone-wolf–former BMX champion– must confront her past and face her future when forced to ride again as leader of a ragtag group of BMX kids.
Independent creators and others interested in participating can apply for the Cartoon Hangover Shots program at cartoonhangovershots.com.
Kids’ & family entertainment company WildBrain Ltd. has promoted Josh Scherba to the role of President and Chief Executive Officer. Scherba has also been appointed to the Company’s Board of Directors. Under the Company’s succession plan, Scherba replaces Eric Ellenbogen, who has stepped down as CEO and Vice Chair. Additionally, Jim Fielding, Chief Marketing and Brands Officer, has been appointed as Strategic Advisor to the CEO and Board of Directors.
“WildBrain has made significant progress over the last three years to emerge as a leading platform for the monetization of kids and family IP in the global market. As we look to the future, our focus is to continue building on this strategy to accelerate the growth of key franchises globally,” said Don Wright, Chair of WildBrain’s Board of Directors. “As President, Josh played an integral role in setting and implementing WildBrain’s 360-degree strategy, and he has been a driving force behind all aspects of the Company’s highly successful content business, from its award-winning animation studio through to its world-leading global distribution business. We’re confident Josh has the right combination of strategic vision, deep industry expertise and operational insights to take WildBrain forward into this next phase of growth.
“The Board is also pleased to further benefit from Jim Fielding’s far-reaching industry experience in the evolution of his relationship with the Company. We’ve worked with Jim for years in his capacity as a consultant for our Peanuts brand, where he developed the current growth strategy, before he joined WildBrain as an executive. He has provided valuable strategic and operational counsel across key brands, transforming the Company’s approach to marketing and franchise activation. Jim has a rich history with top media and consumer-products companies and possesses a deep understanding and strong track record of implementing IP strategy and monetization. We look forward to working with Jim to further leverage his strategic expertise as we embark on this next phase to accelerate the monetization of our brands and build long-term shareholder value.”
Scherba stated, “It’s an incredibly exciting time at WildBrain, and I’m honoured that our board has put their support behind me to lead the Company. I look forward to continuing to work with our talented people across the organization, our passionate management team and the Board to further execute on our global strategy, with a renewed focus on key franchises to drive profitability for the long-term success of the business and enhance value for shareholders. With our beloved iconic brands, such as Peanuts, Teletubbies and Strawberry Shortcake, as well as the creative expertise we’ve invested in across our teams and our truly global reach in distribution and licensing, we hold a unique position of strength in the evolving marketplace to continue capitalizing on meaningful partnerships for content and consumer products.”
Scherba is a deeply experienced executive drawing on over 20 years in the global industry, who has been with WildBrain since its founding in 2006. He was appointed President in 2018 and has fostered a content-led approach to igniting and monetizing brands from WildBrain’s deep vault of valuable IP as well as partner-owned brands. Well known in the entertainment industry as the primary face of business for WildBrain, Scherba has built strong, long-term relationships with numerous major partners, including Apple TV+, Netflix, Amazon, SEGA, YouTube, the BBC, LEGO, Mattel and many others. Most recently, Scherba was the driving force behind WildBrain’s agreement to acquire House of Cool, to significantly expand the Company’s capabilities for premium series, specials and features.
“WildBrain is one of the most exciting companies I’ve worked with in my career,” said Fielding. “Over the past few years, we’ve made strong progress elevating and celebrating brands like Peanuts, Teletubbies and Strawberry Shortcake. With its rich portfolio of IP, combined with its extensive infrastructure and capabilities for content and brand management, plus its wealth of talented people dedicated to creative excellence, WildBrain holds great potential in today’s global market. I’m excited to continue my work with Josh and the Board to help further ignite WildBrain’s IP and drive future growth.”
Fielding has deep experience leading consumer-products groups at the world’s top media companies, including Disney, DreamWorks and Twentieth Century Fox. He is a former President of Disney Stores Worldwide, where he completely redefined the digital and physical experience around the globe. Fielding has held leadership roles at top retailers, including Claire’s Stores, Inc., where he was CEO, The Gap, Lands’ End, and the J. Peterman Company. During his 30-year career, he has recruited and trained global leaders in a variety of disciplines and at all levels.
Fielding will maintain oversight of the Company’s franchise and marketing functions during a transition period, while working with Scherba and the Board to implement new leadership.
“On behalf of the entire Company and board, I’d also like to recognize Eric for his important leadership over the past several years in the strategic transformation of WildBrain,” Scherba concluded. “Eric has helped reshape the Company, setting it on a renewed path of sustainable growth and positioning it for a successful future. During his tenure, he elevated the Company’s commitment to creative excellence and expanded its global reach by implementing a unified 360-degree strategy across the organization, rebranding the Company, and assembling a top management team. We’re grateful for Eric’s vision and valuable contributions and wish him all the best.”
Ellenbogen stated, “It’s been a tremendous experience to have led the evolution of WildBrain into the industry leader that it is today. I’m pleased to leave the Company in a much stronger position than I found it, and I’ve greatly enjoyed working with WildBrain’s board, management team and talented employees across the global organization. I have every confidence that Josh is the right person to continue on the path we set together for WildBrain’s future.”
On the heels of last night’s season finale, Comedy Central announced that the adventure will continue for the world’s best self-assessed archaeologist, renewing the original animated comedy Digman!for a second season. The series marks the first to be written and produced by Emmy and Golden Globe winning actor and producer Andy Samberg (Palm Springs) along with co-creator and showrunner Neil Campbell (Brooklyn Nine-Nine).
Digman! is set in a world where archaeologists are massive celebrities and the coolest people on the planet, with Samberg providing the voice of the protagonist, Rip Digman. The stellar voice cast also features Mitra Jouhari (Three Busy Debras), Tim Robinson (I Think You Should Leave), Dale Soules (Orange Is the New Black), Guz Khan (Our Flag Means Death), Melissa Fumero (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) and Tim Meadows (The Goldbergs).
In case you missed the epic S1 conclusion, here’s a peek at the final showdown between Rip and Zane Troy (Khan), our hero’s former assistant and current rival in both treasure hunting and … songwriting?
The series is created by Samberg and Campbell and produced by CBS Studios alongside Ali Bell and The Lonely Island’s Party Over Here banner. Animation studio Titmouse executive produces, with their own Chris Prynoski, Shannon Prynoski, Antonio Canobbio and Ben Kalina.
Digman! joins MTV Entertainment’s growing arsenal of adult animation including previously announced titles, including Everybody Still Hates Chris, a reimagined animated version of superstar Chris Rock’s award-winning family show Everybody Hates Chris;Jodie, a film spin-off of MTV’s iconic Daria franchise with Tracee Ellis Ross in the titular role; the award winning South Park franchise and the critically lauded Mike Judge’s Beavis and Butt-Head series and film Beavis & Butt-Head Do the Universe.
A delightful animated tradition continues this year as BAFTA-winning and Oscar-nominated producers Magic Light Pictures and U.K. broadcaster the BBC announce their latest Christmas collaboration: Tabby McTat. Set on the streets of London, the story centers on the warm, wonderful friendship between a musical cat and a talented busker named Fred.
The film is adapted from the successful picture book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, and marks the 11th animated adaptation of their work produced by Magic Light Pictures for the BBC. The storytelling duo are celebrating 30 years of creative partnership this year, which is also the 20th anniversary of studio Magic Light Pictures.
“I used to love busking with my husband Malcolm when we were living in Bristol, and also in Paris. We also both love cats — in fact, we’ve just acquired two new kittens named Tabitha and McTat,” Donaldson shared in the announcement. “So, this story is really close to my heart and combines two of my passions: singing and cats!”
Starring Rob Brydon (Gavin and Stacey) — lending his well-known voice to his 11th Magic Light Pictures/BBC project — and Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísú (Gangs of London), the film follows Fred (Brydon), a busker, and his cat Tabby McTat (Dìrísú), who enjoy a contented life singing on the streets of London to delighted audiences. One day when chasing a thief, Fred falls and breaks his leg and is qhisked away in an ambulance. What will become of the busker’s cat left alone on the city streets?
The animated adventure also stars Cariad Lloyd (Peep Show) as Prunella, Joanna Scanlan (The Thick of It) as Pat and Susan Wokoma (Enola Holmes) as Sock, narrated byJodie Whittaker (Doctor Who).
Tabby McTat is directed by Sarah Scrimgeour (Superworm) and Jac Hamman (Superworm), written by Max Lang and Suzanne Lang, and produced by Barney Goodland and Michael Rose of Magic Light Pictures. The film was acquired by Charlotte Moore, BBC Chief Content Officer and Nawfal Faizullah, BBC Drama Commissioning Editor. Animation services are provided by Red Star Studio.
“Julia and Axel’s book is a beautiful, heartwarming story that we’re delighted to be adapting for BBC viewers this Christmas,” said Goodland. “The friendship between Fred and Tabby is a truly special one and the film explores how their relationship changes unexpectedly as their lives move forward, and ultimately, how they learn to embrace that change.”
Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, commented, “Magic Light’s hugely entertaining adaptations of Julia and Axel’s works have been delighting families and viewers of all ages for over a decade now. I know that Tabby is a character loved by many, so I could not be happier that he’ll be brought to life this Christmas on BBC One and iPlayer.”
Magic Light Pictures directly manages film production, global distribution, marketing and licensing of its productions and brands, including its best-known brand The Gruffalo, based on the best-selling picture books by creators Donaldson and Scheffler. Its 10 previous adaptations of the duo’s works have been sold to over 180 broadcasters worldwide, and the studio has totted up three Oscar nominations, four BAFTA wins and numerous other international awards over its two decades of operation.
On the heels of releasing The Wingfeather Saga Season 1 Soundtrack, Nashville based Shining Isle Productions has begun production of the Angel Studios series’ seven-episode second season. The Wingfeather Saga S2 continues the epic adventure, based on the second novel in Andrew Peterson’s best-selling book series: North! Or Be Eaten.
Joining the cast for S2 are The Lord of the Rings star Billy Boyd, Annie Award winner Eva Whittaker (Wolfwalkers) and Lesley Nicol (Downton Abbey). Returning cast members include Jodi Benson (The Little Mermaid, Toy Story), Kevin McNally (Pirates of the Caribbean) and Henry Ian Cusick (Lost).
“The first season set the foundation for the epic adventure that we are now launching into with Season 2,” explained showrunner J. Chris Wall. “The family discovered long-kept secrets about their identity and is now on the run towards dramatic events that will change their lives forever. The adventure and peril are ratcheted up immediately in the first episode. We’ve got some amazing characters and enemies to introduce that we know will have families on the edge of their seats!”
Funding for the production has come from more than 10,000 crowd-investors, making The Wingfeather Saga the #1 crowdfunded animated family series in history, Angel Studios points out. Additional funding is now committed for the second season by the platform’s venture arm, Angel Acceleration Fund.
“Angel is thrilled at the success of Season 1 of The Wingfeather Saga,” said Angel Studios President Jordan Harmon. “With the support of many crowdfunding investors, the Angel Acceleration Fund, and others, the magical Wingfeather world will continue to grow and be experienced by millions of families.”
The Angel Studios Original animated fantasy series wrapped Season 1 with a season finale on March 10; seven seasons are planned to bring the complete saga to screens.
The Wingfeather Saga Season 1 is available to stream at angel.com and on the Angel Studios app.
Apple TV+ today released the trailer for the third season of hit animated series Stillwater, premiering globally on Friday, May 19.
The third season of the Peabody- and Daytime Emmy Award-winning series centers on siblings Karl (Judah Mackey), Addy (Eva Ariel Binder) and Michael (Tucker Chandler), who encounter everyday challenges — big and small — which sometimes feel insurmountable. Fortunately for these three, they have Stillwater (James Sie), a wise panda, as their next-door neighbor.
Through his example, stories and gentle humor, Stillwater teaches the children the concept of mindfulness, while offering them a deeper understanding of their feelings as well as tools that help them face their own day-to-day challenges.
Based on the award-winning and bestselling Scholastic Zen book series by Jon J Muth, Gaumont and Scholastic Entertainment produce with Sidonie Dumas, Christophe Riandee, Nicolas Atlan, Terry Kalagian, Iole Lucchese, Caitlin Friedman, Jef Kaminsky, Jun Falkenstein and Rob Hoegee serving as executive producers.
Stillwater was produced in collaboration with awareness and intention expert Mallika Chopra, author of Buddha and The Rose and the Just Be series for kids, and CEO of Chopra Global, through Apple TV+’s changemakers initiative.
Global K-pop sensation BTS is suiting up for the screen in Bastions, a new CGI superhero adventure featuring some of the hottest music acts out of Korea. Crunchyroll announced today the acquisition of the upcoming animation series from Korean producer Thymos Media ,and will begin airing the five-part series on Saturdays, beginning May 13.
The global streaming rights extend worldwide, excluding China, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, North Korea and South Korea.
“Crunchyroll has an extraordinary opportunity to introduce fans to more animation styles from Asia, and this exciting new series from Korea does just that. And having the music of so many K-pop stars really broadens the appeal of Bastions,” noted Asa Suehira, Crunchyroll’s Chief Content Officer.
Bastions follows a group of rookie superheroes in a world where superheroes compete for popularity. The young dynamos emerge as full-fledged heroes after saving Earth from a crisis by uncovering the identity of a villain responsible for environmental pollution.
The series features several original K-pop songs — including an exciting main traick and theme song by BTS. It’s the first project by BTS as a group since it released its anthology album Proof in June last year. Bastions will also feature music from K-pop girl group Le Sserafim and singers Heize and AleXa participating on its soundtrack.
“BTS is expected to provide an overwhelming sense of immersion to the emotions and action scenes of the series by singing the theme song in perfect harmony,” a rep from Thymos Media said.
Synopsis: These unconventional heroes are gearing up to prevent disaster! In a world where superpowers are the norm, a group of beloved idols work together to keep society safe. But they’re about to face a new enemy: Wash Green. This megacorporation may call itself eco-friendly, but it’s really the leader in environmental pollution. Can Bastions persevere and save the planet?
London-based VFX and animation studio Jellyfish Pictures today announced two key senior animation hires, joining its feature film department in lead roles.
Louis Flores
Industry veteran Louis Flores has joined the Jellyfish Animation Features team as Visual Effects Supervisor, bringing over 25 years of experience to the role. Formally Head of Effects at DreamWorks Animation and, most recently, VFX Supervisor at Mikros Animation, Flores has worked on iconic film franchises including Kung Fu Panda, Trolls, Croods and How to Train Your Dragon.
“I am thrilled to be a part of Jellyfish Pictures during such an exciting time,” said Flores. “The company is well-known for its outstanding creativity in VFX and Animation. I’m looking forward to working closely with Natalie, Chrissy and the rest of the animation team to create amazing projects for our clients!”
Chrissy Metge
Animation and VFX senior executive Chrissy Metge has been appointed Executive Producer, Animation. Formally at DNEG and Wētā FX, she boasts over two decades of credits that include Entergalactic, Ron’s Gone Wrong, Iron Man 3, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and The Hobbit franchise.
“The opportunity to join Jellyfish Pictures was really compelling,” Metge noted. “The company has great ambitions, an amazing culture and really cares about creativity. I’m excited to be part of a first-class features team and can’t wait to get started!”
Metge and Flores will partner on a forthcoming, undisclosed animated feature production for a Hollywood studio and their appointments reinforce Jellyfish Animation’s continued expansion into the feature animation and high-end episodic content market. Jellyfish Pictures is also currently in production on an animated series for Netflix EMEA/Lime entitled Wereworld, based on a popular book series by Curtis Jobling, and a feature adaptation of one of Roald Dahl’s well-known children’s books for Netflix Feature Animation.
Natalie Llewellyn, Managing Director – Animation and Originals, commented, “We are thrilled to welcome Chrissy and Louis, two hugely respected and accomplished senior executives, to the Jellyfish Animation team. They bring top-tier talent and expertise to our burgeoning features department and will be valuable members of our creative and production leadership team as we strategically grow our features business.”
Max has released the official trailer and key art for the streamer’s original series Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai. The new spot takes viewers along on a dive into the world of magic and mythology to be found in this animated prequel to the iconic Gremlins films. The new series debuts with the first two episodes on Tuesday, May 23; two new episodes debut weekly on Thursdays.
Synopsis: Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai takes viewers back to 1920s Shanghai where the Wing family first meets the young Mogwai called Gizmo. Young Sam Wing (future shop owner Mr. Wing in the 1984 Gremlins film) accepts the dangerous task to take Gizmo home and embarks on a journey through the Chinese countryside. Sam and Gizmo are joined by a teenage street thief named Elle, and together they encounter — and sometimes battle — colorful monsters and spirits from Chinese folklore. Along their quest, they are pursued by a power-hungry industrialist named Riley Greene and his growing army of evil Gremlins.
The all-star voice cast features Izaac Wang as Sam Wing, AJ LoCascio as Gizmo, Gabrielle Nevaehas Elle, Matthew Rhys as Riley Greene, Ming-Na Wen, James Hong and BD Wong. The series also features notable guest stars including Zach Galligan, who starred as the hero Billy Peltzer in the original Gremlins films, Sandra Oh, Randall Park, George Takei and Bowen Yang.
Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai is produced by Amblin Television in association with Warner Bros. Animation. Steven Spielberg serves as executive producer, along with Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey, Presidents of Amblin Television, and Sam Register, President, Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios. Tze Chun serves as showrunner and executive producer. Brendan Hay serves as executive producer with Dan Krall serving as supervising producer. Joe Dante serves as consulting producer.
Following engagements in 13 cities and rave reviews from critics and audiences across North America, experiential projection leader Lighthouse Immersive Studios and the iconic Walt Disney Animation Studios have announced that Los Angeles will be the next city to premiere Immersive Disney Animation on June 23, 2023. The Los Angeles iteration will be housed in Lighthouse ArtSpace Los Angeles — previously home to the popular Original Immersive Van Gogh – in the former Amoeba Music Building at 6400 Sunset Blvd.
Tickets for the Los Angeles presentation of Immersive Disney Animation start at $29.99 and go on sale Friday, May 12 at 10 a.m. PT at lighthouseimmersive.com/Disney.
‘The Princess and the Frog’ – Immersive Disney Animation [ph: Kyle Flubacker]
The creative team behind Immersive Disney Animation is led by Oscar-winning producer J. Miles Dale (Best Picture 2018, The Shape of Water), Disney Animation Special Projects Producer Dorothy McKim (Oscar-nominated short Get A Horse!), who is spearheading the project for the centenarian studio, Lighthouse Immersive’s Global Creative Director David Korins (Tony Award nominee for Hamilton, Emmy Award winner for Grease Live) and Mexico City-based Cocolab.
Described as a “jaw-dropping” (Axios) “peek behind the curtain that you would just never otherwise get” (Boston Globe) and an experience that makes visitors “really feel like [they’ve] stepped inside [their] fave film” (Elite Daily), Immersive Disney Animation made its world premiere in Toronto in December 2022, and is now open in 13 North American cities — including Atlanta, Boston, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Nashville and San Antonio — and its first intercontinental presentation in Tokyo. Disneyphiles in more cities will get a chance to experience the magic as well, with further destinations soon to be announced.
[ph: Kyle Flubacker]
“The rollout of Immersive Disney Animation has been met with overwhelming positivity and tremendous acclaim in the 13 cities we’ve debuted the show so far,” said McKim. “And we are proud to announce that we will be presenting this spectacular exhibition in the birthplace of Disney Animation, where our studio’s first creations took shape. We can’t imagine a more fitting locale for this celebration of Disney animation, and the incredible artists and animators that bring these worlds to life.”
Immersive Disney Animation presents the music and
artistry within Disney Animation’s canon of films — from hits of today like Encanto, Zootopia and Frozen, to all of the classics including The Lion King, Peter Pan and Pinocchio. The goal was to make audiences feel as if they have entered the incredible worlds of these beloved films.
‘Encanto’ at Immersive Disney Animation
“As a filmmaker, I am always seeking out ideas that can engage an audience in new and interesting ways, and to show them something that they have never seen before,” says producer Dale. “Using the new technology that the immersive experience offers is exciting, but it’s important that it not interfere with the emotional investment that Disney fans have in the characters and storylines that audiences have come to cherish. This groundbreaking approach that Lighthouse Immersive Studios has created does exactly that by giving the viewer the sensation that they are actively sharing the space with the characters they most love from the Disney Animation library. Most of our guests have seen these films multiple times, but they tell me that they feel as though they are seeing them in an entirely new way, and that was always our goal.”
McKim adds, “Having been a part of Disney Animation for over 40 years, I truly consider this one of the great joys within my career, partnering with Lighthouse Immersive to bring our characters, stories and films to audiences in thrilling and new ways. Watching the joy and delight the show brings to audiences is what dreams are made of.”
‘Frozen’ at Immersive Disney Animation [ph: Kyle Flubacker]
Beyond the industry-leading projection design that Lighthouse Immersive is known for, Immersive Disney Animation is further enhanced by expansive environmental design by Lighthouse Immersive’s Global Creative Director David Korins.
Additional interactive features within the projection show include responsive floor projection design that moves with the audience and custom bracelets that light up in sync with the projections and based on the audiences’ movements through the galleries. In a particularly show-stopping moment, the “Gazillion Bubbles” special effects team fills the 500,000 cubic feet of galleries with bubbles.
“Just imagine journeying through Zootopia with Judy Hopps, diving to the ocean floor with Ariel, flying on a magic carpet with Aladdin, and stepping into Casita with Mirabel and the family Madrigal. This is where the Immersive Disney Animation takes you,” says Lighthouse Immersive Studios Founder & Producer Corey Ross.
“Lighthouse ArtSpace Los Angeles has housed one of the most impressive stagings of Immersive Van Gogh for the better part of two years,” Ross adds. “It is one of the most popular, best-selling venues of the 20+ other Lighthouse ArtSpaces we’ve opened across North America, and Immersive Disney Animation is going to take it to a whole new level.”
Lighthouse ArtSpace Los Angeles is hosting a final slate of showings for Immersive Van Gogh from June 1-11 before Immersive Disney Animation takes over as the standalone experience. Tickets are on sale now at vangoghla.com.
‘The Lion King’ at Immersive Disney Animation
All images courtesy of Lighthouse Immersive Studios.
London-based animation house Keyframe Studios (keyframestudios.co.uk) has delivered Season 2 of their popular preschool show Adventures of Zeze Zebra; 14 new episodes launching on Kidoodle in the U.S. and Ketchup in the U/K. The IP has now been acquired by Cubestar in China and recently debuted on Tencent, with Youku and iQIYI to follow.
“Adventures of Zeze Zebra is a beautifully crafted and excellent educational early childhood animation, and we are looking forward to its performance in China,” said Cubestar’s Peter Huang.
Building on the success of S1, a two-minute nursery rhyme format, S2 takes the IP to the next level with exciting adventures and activities that will captivate and educate little ones in many ways. In S2, Zeze Zebra and her best friends embark on a journey of discovery in every episode, as they explore the world and all its wonders packed with fun and excitement — blasting off to the moon, navigating the high seas, and discovering ancient mysteries like the pyramids.
The show is a 4K CGI production crafted in Keyframe’s innovative, bespoke real-time content production ecosystem, built around Unity. This has proved to be a highly efficient workflow tool for the creative team and is substantially more environmentally friendly than traditional render processes, consuming 200x less energy.
DeAPlaneta Entertainment and KidsBeeTV have joined forces to add a range of preschool programming to the streaming platform. Through the new licensing agreement, Milo, the award-winning show about a five-year-old cat who explores different vocations, along with Super Dino, Baby Heidi and Bubble Bip, will be available this month on KidsBeeTV, addint to a total of six pre-k series from the studio.
“As a streaming platform for kids, we know that high-quality programming is essential for success,” said Hugo Ribeiro, the CEO of KidsBeeTV. “DeAPlaneta Entertainment is already a valued partner, and we’re thrilled to expand our collaboration through this new agreement.”
Milo
Milois an engaging and imaginative award-winning show about a curious and adventurous cat who loves exploring different professions. With the help of his friends, Milo tries different outfits and dives headfirst into the world of each job, learning valuable lessons and promoting a positive message of limitless possibilities for children.
Super Dino is an animated series about a team of intelligent and adorable dinosaurs led by a genius heroine. The show emphasizes the importance of cooperation, overcoming difficulties, and coping with crises.
Bubble Bip centers on a wacky video game hero named Bip who escapes into the real world and shows that even the most boring day can be an amazing adventure. With the mind of a three-year-old, Bip is brave, bright, naïve and an expert troublemaker.
Baby Heidi is an adorable nursery rhyme series featuring the charming and curious baby Heidi. She spends her days in a cozy cottage in the countryside, singing and laughing as she explores the wonders of nature and plays with her animal friends.
Galaxy High
Galaxy High
Emmy-winning media company World of Wonder announced an out-of-this-world addition to streaming service, WOW Presents Plus: cult classic Galaxy High. From producer/director Chris Columbus (‘Home Alone, Mrs. Doubtfire), the animated series features characters voiced by Nancy Cartwright (The Simpsons) and music by Don Felder of The Eagles.
Fish-out-of-water story Galaxy High follows two Earth teenagers who are accepted into the intergalactic high school on an asteroid. Doyle Cleverlobe was a skilled athlete and popular on Earth, while Aimee Brighttower was shy and the smartest girl in school. Once in space, their roles are reversed. The alien teenagers seem to accept Aimee, while Doyle tends to rub the aliens the wrong way.
Galaxy High‘ is World of Wonder’s first licensed series for the platform, expanding offerings for subscribers including additional projects in the animation space. The series joins WOW’s original animated projects Drag Tots and Why R Humans on the platform, with all 13 episodes available to watch now on WOW Presents Plus.
Sunny Bunnies
London-based content distribution company Media I.M. Incorporated has sold the first six seasons of Sunny Bunnies to Televisa in Mexico. The show will debut this summer on Televisa’s free-to-air channel Canal 5. The landmark deal will bring the Sunny Bunnies to Mexican terrestrial audiences for the first time. Following its merger with Univision last year, Televisa is now the largest Spanish-language media company in the world.
Sunny Bunnies is also breaking new ground in Europe as a result of Media I.M.’s push into the German-speaking markets. Canal+ Austria has picked up SVOD rights for the first four seasons of the show, along with 26 episodes of spin-off Sunny Bunnies Get Busy, which offers a range of fun crafting activities inspired by the loveable creatures.
Another new territory — Hungary — has been added to the Bunnies’ global footprint thanks to a new deal with TV2 Kids, which has taken the first four seasons of the show for its pay TV and SVOD/AVOD services. In addition, next month will see Sunny Bunnies roll out in Israel under a deal with Noga Communications for its kids’ channels YOYO and BUZZ. Noga has acquired the exclusive pay TV and non-exclusive OTT, internet, IPTV and VOD rights to Season 2, 3 and 5.
Launched in 2015 on YouTube, Sunny Bunnies was picked up in 2016 by Disney Channel, Disney Junior and DisneyNOW in the U.S. The series now airs in more than 160 countries and is supported by a comprehensive L&M strategy encompassing toys, books, magazine, publishing and apparel.
The Sunny Bunnies are five beaming balls that can appear anywhere there is a source of light, from sunshine to moonlight. In each episode, the cheeky creatures bring their fun and games to a different location — a circus, a sports stadium, a park — embarking on mischievous adventures and spreading laughter and happiness wherever they go. And at the end of every episode, the fun continues with a collection of bloopers.
The Tribeca Festival’s “Tribeca Immersive” showcase will present the world premiere of renowned Métis filmmaker and media artist Terril Calder’s National Film Board of Canada (NFB) installation Meneath: The Mirrors of Ethics, from June 7-18 in New York. The installation is adapted from Calder’s award-winning 2021 NFB stop-motion animated short, Meneath: The Hidden Island of Ethics, chosen as one of the top 10 short films of the year by TIFF and winner of nine awards.
Meneath: The Mirrors of Ethics charts the challenging journey of a precocious Métis infant as she contemplates her path to Hell. Using interfering screens in an object reminiscent of a puppet theatre, this stop-motion installation unearths Nokomis, the Wise Grandmother whispering the Sacred Teachings to Baby Girl, in parallel to Jesus shepherding her through seven Deadly Sins.
Photos c/o the NFB
About the experience:
In the middle of Turtle Island, a Métis Baby Girl is born. Her childhood wonder is disrupted when Jesus appears and tells her about the so-called sins of humanity. Convinced she is soiled and destined for Hell, the abuse and racism she endures leave her riddled with self-loathing and fear. To quell her trauma, Nokomis brings light to the Anishinaabe Teachings buried deep within Baby Girl. For every alleged Sin, Baby Girl is given a Teaching that fills her with strength and pride, and affirms a path towards healing.
Through a system of interfering screens, Terril Calder forces our gaze below the surface to witness a dissection of the colonial narrative, physically shifting the dominant Christian perspective. The installation offers an augmented reality-type looking glass into the Indigenous ethical voice that often remains hidden. Indigenous Teachings are reflected from the earth and fused into the story to create a unique viewing experience that’s dependent on where you stand in relation to the interfering screens.
Meneath: The Mirrors of Ethics features the voice of Gail Maurice (Cardinal, Tricksters) and was edited by the late visionary Indigenous filmmaker Jeff Barnaby (Rhymes for Young Ghouls, Blood Quantum). The installation was produced by Jelena Popović with Eloi Champagne as technical director, and Jason Ryle as consulting producer. The executive producers are Robert McLaughlin and Michael Fukushima for the NFB English Program Animation & Interactive Studio.
Terril Calder is one of the foremost Métis artists in Canada today. She is a multidisciplinary creator and an influential force in the realm of independent animation, producing work that is raw, unstable and haunting. While her current practice is focused on stop-motion projects, which she writes, directs, crafts and animates, Calder also has an extensive background in performance, visual and media art.
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