Animation Magazine

Author: Mercedes Milligan

  • KidsCave’s ‘Kitti Katz’ Purr with S2 Netflix Order, Julian Scott Joins as COO & MD

    KidsCave’s ‘Kitti Katz’ Purr with S2 Netflix Order, Julian Scott Joins as COO & MD

    KidsCave Studios, the boutique animation studio founded in 2015 by award-winning and BAFTA nominated writer-director-producer Ed Bignell, announces a second series commission with Netflix for its kids’ animated action-comedy series Kitti Katz, which launches on the platform on May 18. This follows the debut of Robozuna, KidsCave’s first original series which was released on Netflix in late 2018.

    “We are thrilled to bring Kitti Katz, our vibrant, sassy second original series, to Netflix in May and can’t wait to see the reaction,” said Bignell. “The show perfectly illustrates our aim of creating unique and engaging story-worlds for children that feature characters and stories with universal appeal, which weave important life lessons into irresistible and unmissable adventures.”

    Kitti Katz | 10 x 22’ | CGI action-comedy | Kids aged 6-12

    Combining thrilling action, soapy storylines and stylish teen heroines, it follows the epic adventures of Tabs, Zami and Kia, 14-year olds who gain the magical ability to transform between cute kittens and powerful super-cat-girls. As the new chosen ones they attempt to save the world from an evil Egyptian Goddess of the Underworld, Anubia — while also trying to navigate the social minefield of high school, stay friends and keep the Kitti Katz together. And Tabs must also handle the romantic attentions of Valentin, who’s dating the school’s mean girl, Charity— whose life is about to get a lot more mysterious!

    Robozuna  | 40 x 22’ | CGI science fiction | Kids

    Robozuna follows the action-packed adventures of an orphan boy and his robot friend as they compete in a tournament in order to free their country from an evil empire and its legion of robots. The  cinematic children’s animation series for Netflix and ITV released a range of products with master toy partner Bandai and the brand is included within the Roblox gaming platform.

     

    Julian Scott

    Looking to build on this momentum, KidsCave further revealed that experienced executive producer Julian Scott has joined the company as COO and MD to help drive an ambitious growth plan which will expand and diversify the studio’s output.

    “We’re delighted to have Julian on board to help us deliver more high-quality series like Kitti Katz and Robzuna,” Bignell continued. “He has a fantastic track record of spotting strong, creatively unique and commercially viable IP and ensuring it is delivered on time and on budget and he’s a huge asset as we look to drive our exciting plans for expansion.”

    Scott commented, “I’m thrilled to be joining KidsCave at this exciting time and look forward to helping us build on our current success. As well as nurturing existing commercial and production relationships and building new ones, I’m focusing on maximizing our huge potential, whether that’s by exploiting our expansive development slate, taking on animation service work, diversifying into live action or through other intriguing possibilities.”

    Julian Scott is a BAFTA nominated executive producer who has developed, financed and co-produced films and television series in the international arena for over 25 years. His previous roles include Director of International Production for L.A.-based Walt Disney International Television, overseeing 33 branded shows across the globe; and Vice President, Creative Development and Group Vice President of European Operations at Sesame Workshop in New York and then London. As COO at KidsCave Studios he oversees the corporate development of the studio and manages its day-to-day operations. In addition to his role as COO at KidsCave, Scott will continue as a consultant for Animation and Kids TV with Film London.

    kidscave.com

  • Cartoon Network Teases ‘Tiny Toons Looniversity’ with a Look at Campus Life!

    Cartoon Network Teases ‘Tiny Toons Looniversity’ with a Look at Campus Life!

    Warner Bros. Animation today issued a letter of acceptance to prospective loonies, complete with an informative video introduction to Tiny Toons Looniversity! Premiering this fall on Cartoon Network and the rebranded Max streamer, the half-hour animated comedy series reboots the Emmy-winning WBA/Amblin Television classic Tiny Toon Adventures for a new generation.

    The new show follows Babs, Buster, and the rest of the crew as they begin their academic lives at Acme Looniversity. At the esteemed institution of higher hijinx learning, they form long-lasting friendships and perfect their cartoony craft while studying under the greatest cartoon characters in history, the Looney Tunes.

    Here’s the letter from “Dean Granny” sent to future Acme alums:

     

    Dear Prospective Toon,

    Congratulations! You’ve been admitted into ACME Looniversity — the wackiest university in all of Acme Acres! Now you’re probably thinking, “Um, did I apply?” Nope, but we won’t let a silly little thing like that keep you from fulfilling your po-TOON-tial.

    Since 1933, “ACME Loo” has been the premier higher-education choice for those yearning to learn from the biggest toon stars in the looniverse!

    Our esteemed faculty are legends in their fields. Learn how to survive Wabbit Season with Professor Bugs Bunny in the Center for Visual Gags. Show Coach Foghorn Leghorn that you’re fast and furry-ous in our Tooneyball games. Eat at our state-of-the-art facility run by Michigan J. Frog Star-winning Chef Lola Bunny or enjoy a coffee between classes at the Loo Bru, delivered mostly intact by Dizzy Devil. Whether it’s a masterclass in Mockery with Signage or basic Gravity Defiance, we’re here to make your toon dreams come true!

    See above for a very serious, not silly at all, video on ACME Looniversity.  See you in class this fall on Cartoon Network and Max!*

    Dean Granny
    *Unless you’re accidentally turned invisible by one of Wile E Coyote’s devices.

     

    Tiny Toons Looniversity is produced by Amblin Television in association with Warner Bros. Animation.

  • DreamWorks to Bring ‘Ruby Gillman’ Premiere, ‘Trolls 3’ and ‘Puss in Boots 2’ to Annecy

    DreamWorks to Bring ‘Ruby Gillman’ Premiere, ‘Trolls 3’ and ‘Puss in Boots 2’ to Annecy

    DreamWorks Animation, the Oscar-winning studio behind the Shrek, How to Train Your Dragon, Trolls, The Boss Baby, Puss in Boots and Kung Fu Panda franchises, will showcase its latest projects at the 2023 Annecy International Animation Film Festival, taking place in the French Alps town June 11-17 (annecyfestival.com).

    “We are excited to showcase our newest projects to the global animation community at Annecy,” DreamWorks Animation President Margie Cohn says. “As a studio that celebrates creativity and innovation, it’s an honor for us to participate in this annual event and share our passion for animation with fans from around the world. We look forward to connecting with other industry leaders, and for the opportunity to engage with audiences through the power of storytelling.”

    On Tuesday, June 13, at 4 p.m., at the L’Impérial Palace Hotel, DreamWorks Animation will present a Studio Focus session on two upcoming film projects. Academy Award-nominated director Kirk DeMicco will lead a discussion on the visual design and making of the new original film Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken. The presentation will also offer attendees an exclusive first look at an unannounced film from the studio.

    Following this special presentation, DWA will present the World Premiere of Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken on Thursday, June 15 at the Bonlieu at 8:30 p.m. (in theaters June 30). The screening event will include a special introduction by DeMicco, producer Kelly Cooney Cilella and co-director Faryn Pearl.

    Also on June 15, a Work-in-Progress presentation of the new chapter in DreamWorks Animation’s blockbuster musical franchise, Trolls Band Together (in theaters November 17), will be held at Bonlieu at 5 p.m. The Trolls Band Together panel will be led by the film’s returning director Walt Dohrn, producer Gina Shay and co-director Tim Heitz. The presentation will offer a sneak peak of the film’s animation and all-new original songs.

    Then, at 10 p.m. on June 15, a special outdoor screening of the Oscar-nominated blockbuster Puss in Boots: The Last Wish will take place at Le Pâquier d’Annecy, under the wishing stars. Since its release, the sequel has been met with critical acclaim, garnering praise for its stunning animation, insightful story and impressive voice performances, led by Antonio Banderas. The film, which is directed by Joel Crawford and produced by Mark Swift.

  • Fred Rogers Prod. Launches ‘Writers’ Neighborhood’ for Underrepresented Talents

    Fred Rogers Prod. Launches ‘Writers’ Neighborhood’ for Underrepresented Talents

    Fred Rogers Productions (fredrogers.org), the children’s media organization behind multiple Emmy-winning PBS KIDS series, has formed the Writers’ Neighborhood, a five-year initiative focused on identifying and supporting new and emerging writers from underrepresented racial groups as they build careers in children’s media.

    The eight-week program aims to help hone the skills and broaden the experience of talented creatives who better represent the increasingly diverse audience for the company’s own hit series, like Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Alma’s Way and Donkey Hodie, as well as that of the broader children’s media industry.

    In the wake of its successful pilot in fall 2022, Fred Rogers Productions will accept applications for the program’s second cohort from May 1 to May 15.

    “Many writers in children’s media are freelancers, so we designed the Writers’ Neighborhood with a dual focus of developing your craft and building your career,” said Ellen Doherty, Chief Creative Officer, Fred Rogers Productions. “Knowing how to write a good story or develop engaging characters is a completely different skill set from finding work, asking for and understanding feedback, or cultivating relationships, and we want to help our fellows gain experience on all fronts.”

    Writers’ Neighborhood fellows tour Pittsburgh [c/o Fred Rogers Productions]
    The Fred Rogers Productions Writers’ Neighborhood will welcome eight fellows per cohort as they learn to be intentional in their writing process, determine context for a series when they are not on a production staff, and interpret and take notes, among other important skills, including how to find and secure jobs in the field.

    Beyond the eight-week program, Fred Rogers Productions will offer additional mentorship connections and opportunities to engage in industry activities and events. Many of the fellows who participated in last year’s pilot program are now writing episodes for series currently in production at Fred Rogers Productions.

    Fred Rogers Productions will host an application information webinar on April 27, 2023, details for which can be found on LinkedIn. The Writers’ Neighborhood is open to individuals ages 21 and older as of the entry date. Other eligibility requirements include:

    • Must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States
    • Have not had extensive media writing experience such as having written more than four episodes for a United States-based network or cable scripted/narrative series
    • Identify with an underrepresented racial group (Asian, Pacific Islander, Black, Hispanic/Latinx, Native American/Indigenous, Middle Eastern/North African, or multiracial).

    writersneighborhood.fredrogers.org

  • Paramount & SEGA Punch-Up Cast for ‘Knuckles’ Spin-Off Series

    Paramount & SEGA Punch-Up Cast for ‘Knuckles’ Spin-Off Series

    Paramount+, Paramount Pictures and SEGA of America have announced additional casting and the start of production for the streamer’s upcoming live-action/CG hybrid series Knuckles, the latest in the “Cinematic World of Sonic the Hedgehog.” The show will follow Knuckles on a hilarious and action-packed journey of self-discovery as he agrees to train Wade as his protégé and teach him the ways of the echidna warrior.

    The series takes place between the films Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Sonic the Hedgehog 3, which is slated for theatrical release on December 20, 2024.

    In addition to Idris Elba, previously announced to return as the voice of Knuckles, Adam Pally will reprise his role from the film franchise as Wade Whipple. The series ensemble also includes recurring cast Edi Patterson (The Righteous Gemstones), Julian Barratt (Mindhorn), Scott Mescudi (Don’t Look Up), Ellie Taylor (Ted Lasso) and guest star Rory McCann (Game of Thrones). Tika Sumpter will also guest star, reprising her role as Maddie.

    Additional cast to be announced.

    Production on Knuckles began earlier this month in London. All of the key creative team from the previous films are returning for the series, including Jeff Fowler, the films’ director, who is directing the pilot episode, as well as Neal H. Moritz, Toby Ascher, John Whittington and Toru Nakahara, who serve as executive producers on the series alongside Elba. Additional directors for the series include Ged Wright, Brandon Trost, Jorma Taccone and Carol Banker.

    Whittington, who wrote on Sonic the Hedgehog 2, wrote the pilot and is the head writer for the series. The other series writers include Brian Schacter and James Madejski.

    Sonic the Hedgehog 2 earned over $190 million in domestic box office, and over $214 million internationally for a combined total gross of over $405.4 million. On Paramount+, the sequel marks the top-performing Kids & Family film on the service and is also one of the streamer’s most re-watched films.

  • Sky Commissions Third Season of ‘The Brilliant World of Tom Gates’ from TG Ent.

    Sky Commissions Third Season of ‘The Brilliant World of Tom Gates’ from TG Ent.

    Sky announced that it has commissioned a third season of the BAFTA Scotland award-winning kids’ series The Brilliant World of Tom Gates (20×11’) from TG Entertainment Limited. The new batch is currently in production and will be available on the Sky Kids channel and on demand, as well as on streaming service NOW in the U.K. & R.O.I. in early 2024.

    “We know how much our audiences are loving Tom Gates, so we are delighted to be bringing a third series of The Brilliant World of Tom Gates to screens; filled with all the comedy, escapades and creativity Tom’s loyal fans expect,” said Lucy Murphy, Director of Kids Content at Sky U.K. & Ireland.

    Ken Anderson & Arabella Page Croft of TG Entertainment Ltd., executive producers on Tom Gates, said, “We are thrilled that Sky Kids has commissioned another series of The Brilliant World of Tom Gates. We are already in production and having great fun planning more hilarious and epic exploits for Tom and his pals.”

    In addition to the commission, global children’s media and distribution company WildBrain has secured more international sales for the show. Tom’s entertaining exploits will air in new territories through TV3-Televisió de Catalunya’s children’s channel SX3 (Spain) for Seasons 1 & 2 and both the Christmas and Halloween specials, Showmax (Africa) for Seasons 1 & 2 and Knowledge (Canada) the Halloween special. WildBrain is global distributor for The Brilliant World of Tom Gates outside the U.K., including both the Halloween and Christmas specials.

    The Brilliant World of Tom Gates is a Sky Original kids’ series featuring a modular mixed-media magazine format, based on the award-winning, multi-million-copy-bestselling Tom Gates books written and illustrated by Liz Pichon and published by Scholastic.

    A combination of 2D and stop-motion animation with live action, the series blends Tom’s humorous antics and school life with crafting ideas and makes for viewers to recreate, along with interactive games, gags and catchy songs.

    Season 3 will see excellent doodler and enthusiastic avoider of homework (but not caramel wafers) Tom embark on more rib-tickling adventures at home and school, with his friends and family. Favorite characters such as frenemy Marcus and friends Leroy and Indrani return for more fun and new characters, Celeste and Kit join the gang. New episodes will see Tom’s band, The Dog Zombies’ position as musical top dogs under threat from a mysterious new band; Tom faces his worst nightmare as he gets stuck in a lift with Marcus; and Leroy conjures up confusion with a mysterious magic box.

    The returning voice cast including Mark Bonnar (Line of Duty, Shetland), Catherine Tate (Catherine Tate Show, Doctor Who, Billionaire Boy) and Logan Matthews as Tom are joined by Daya Singh Atwal as Mark, Leshanty Bonsu as Florence and Abby Wallace as Amy.

    The new season will also feature 10 new tunes penned by songwriter Mark Flannery.

    The Brilliant World of Tom Gates is produced by TG Entertainment Ltd. – a company jointly owned by Black Camel Pictures and Wild Child Animation. Executive producers are Anderson from Wild Child Animation, Croft from Black Camel, author-illustrator Pichon and Ian France, Commissioning Editor at Sky. The series director is George Sawyer and series producer is Sueann Rochester. Head writer on the show Ben Ward is joined by new writing talent Jo Neary, Nadia Shireen and Sarah Mills for S3, and animation production services are provided by Wild Child Animation.

    Pichon’s award-winning book series has sold more than 16 million copies worldwide and has been translated into 47 languages. The heavily illustrated novels, in handwritten font with Tom’s doodles and pictures embellishing the text, document in hilarious and relatable detail his everyday trials and tribulations at home and school. The 21st book in the series, Tom Gates: Five Star Stories (Hooray!), will be released in September.

  • Pixar’s ‘Elemental’ Will World Premiere as Cannes Closing Film

    Pixar’s ‘Elemental’ Will World Premiere as Cannes Closing Film

    Pixar Animation Studios returns to the Cannes Film Festival for the world premiere of its all-new feature film Elemental on May 27, ahead of its theatrical release on June 16. Debuting out of competition as the closing film of the 76th edition of the festival, Elemental is the fourth film from the storied studio to be selected for the event, following Up, Inside Out and Soul.

    “As we all emerge from our pandemic cocoons and come together in story rooms, animation dailies and impromptu brainstorming sessions, it’s a joy and honor to have Pixar back on La Croisette,” said Pete Docter, Pixar’s Chief Creative Officer. “Directed by the extraordinary storyteller Peter Sohn, Elemental is so funny, full of heart and, frankly, stunning to see. It was created for audiences to experience on the big screen and I love that it’ll make its world premiere at Cannes.”

    Docter, Sohn and producer Denise Ream, p.g.a. will join members of the film’s voice cast at the event. Cannes has hosted the international competition since 1946.

    “For many years, the Cannes Film Festival has welcomed animated films from around the world,” said Thierry Frémaux, General Delegate, Cannes Film Festival. “Pixar Animation Studios, with Up — directed by Pete Docter — made Cannes history by opening the 62nd edition of the Festival in 2009. It was a wonderful event! This is another great opportunity to present the amazing Elemental on the closing of this 76th Cannes Film Festival and to think about our lives in such a powerful way.”

     

    “Elemental” at the Cannes Festival. Original artwork by Peter Sohn/Pixar

    Elemental is an all-new, original feature film set in Element City, where fire-, water-, land- and air-residents live together. The story introduces Ember, a tough, quick-witted and fiery young woman, whose friendship with a fun, sappy, go-with-the-flow guy named Wade challenges her beliefs about the world they live in. The voice cast includes Leah Lewis as the fiery Ember; Mamoudou Athie as the water-guy Wade; Ronnie del Carmen as Ember’s soon-to-be retired dad, Bernie; Shila Ommi as Ember’s love-seeking mom, Cinder; Wendi McLendon-Covey as Wade’s stormy and Air-Ball-loving boss, Gale; Catherine O’Hara as Wade’s welcoming mom, Brook; Mason Wertheimer as Ember’s admiring neighbor, Clod; and Joe Pera as an overgrown city bureaucrat, Fern.

    The film is directed by Sohn, produced by Ream, and executive produced by Docter, screenplay by John Hoberg & Kat Likkel and Brenda Hsueh with story by Sohn, Hoberg & Likkel and Hsueh. The film’s original score was composed and conducted by Thomas Newman.

    Disney will open Elemental with Pixar’s all new short, Carl’s Date, in U.S. theaters on June 16.

  • First Clip Revealed for ‘The Venture Bros.: Radiant Is the Blood of the Baboon Heart’

    First Clip Revealed for ‘The Venture Bros.: Radiant Is the Blood of the Baboon Heart’

    Fans of Hank, Dean, Brock and the Doc got their first glimpse at the highly anticipated new feature-length Venture Bros. adventure today, as the first clip from the all-new original movie The Venture Bros.: Radiant Is the Blood of the Baboon Heart debuted.

    In this clip Brock (Patrick Warburton) has a lead on where Hank (Chris McCulloch) may be and leads a team to discover his whereabouts while Dr. Venture (James Urbaniak) and Dean (Michael Sinterniklaas) look on from the control room with Gen. Hunter Gathers (McCulloch).

    Synopsis: Picking up after the events from the shocking Season 7 finale, The Venture Bros.: Radiant Is the Blood of the Baboon Heart unfolds as a nationwide manhunt for Hank Venture leads to untold dangers and unexpected revelations, while The Monarch is literally out for Dr. Venture’s blood. An imposing evil from the past reemerges to wreak havoc on the Ventures, The Guild, and even the Monarch marriage — it will take friends and foes alike to restore the Ventures’ world to order… or end it once and for all.

    Based on one of Adult Swim’s longest-running award-winning original adult animated series, The Venture Bros., the movie brings back the above-mentioned voice talents of Urbaniak (The Fabelmans), Warburton (Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events), Sinterniklaas (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), McCulloch (Superjail!) and Doc Hammer (The Venture Bros.) as Dr. Mrs. The Monarch.

    The film also stars Nina Arianda (Being the Ricardos) as Mantilla, Clancy Brown (John Wick 4) as Daisy and Red Death, John Hodgeman (Up Here) as Snoopy, Hal Lublin (Welcome to Night Vale) as Clayton, Jane Lynch (Glee) as Bobbi St. Simone, Charles Parnell (Top Gun: Maverick) as Jefferson Twilight, Jay Pharoah (Spinning Gold) as Nuno Blood, Steven Rattazzi (New Amsterdam) as Dr. Orpheus, JK Simmons (Whiplash) as Ben and Dana Snyder (Aqua Teen Hunger Force) as The Alchemist.

    Series creators Doc Hammer and Jackson Publick wrote and executive produced and Publick also directed. From Titmouse, Adult Swim and Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment, the film will be available later this year.

    The Venture Bros. originally premiered on Adult Swim on August 7, 2004, and ran for seven seasons winning numerous awards including Best Animated TV Series Award at CineMe 2003, the Chicago International Animated Film Festival.

  • ‘Frog and Toad’ Hops to Apple TV+ with Official Trailer Debut

    ‘Frog and Toad’ Hops to Apple TV+ with Official Trailer Debut

    Apple TV+ today released the trailer for Frog and Toad, the highly anticipated animated kids and family series based on the beloved Caldecott and Newbery Honor-winning four-book series by Arnold Lobel (published by HarperCollins Children’s Books), premiering on Friday, April 28.

    Frog is a frog. Toad is a toad. They have a lot in common… but they are also very different. Frog and Toad are best friends who know that the true secret to friendship is not only enjoying the things you have in common, but embracing the things that make you different. Since our differences are what makes us special, Frog and Toad celebrate what makes them unique!

    Emmy Award winner Rob Hoegee (Stillwater, Niko & the Sword of Light) serves as showrunner for Frog and Toad, and Emmy Award winning studio Titmouse (Big Mouth, Star Trek: Lower Decks, The Legend of Vox Machina) produces the animation. Hoegee executive produces alongside Adrianne Lobel, Adam Lobel and Titmouse’s Chris Prynoski (The Legend of Vox Machina), Shannon Prynoski (Fairfax), Antonio Canobbio (Arlo the Alligator Boy) and Ben Kalina (Big Mouth).

    Frog and Toad

    The talented voice cast includes Academy Award winner Nat Faxon (Our Flag Means Death, The Connors) and Emmy Award nominee Kevin Michael Richardson (The Simpsons, Family Guy) as Frog and Toad, as well as appearances by:

    • Ron Funches (Trolls)
    • Fortune Feimster (Good Fortune, Kenan)
    • Cole Escola (At Home with Amy Sedaris)
    • Aparna Nancherla (The Great North)
    • John Hodgman (Up Here)
    • Yvette Nicole Brown (Disenchanted, Act Your Age)
    • Stephen Tobolowsky (The Goldbergs)
    • Emmy Award nominee Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants)
    • Selene Luna (Coco)
    • Emmy Award nominee Margaret Cho (Fire Island)
    • and Betsy Sodaro (Duncanville).

    Read more about Frog and Toad in the May ’23 issue of Animation Magazine, available soon!

  • Star-Studded Short ‘Bug Therapy’ Sets Online Release for Mental Health Month

    Star-Studded Short ‘Bug Therapy’ Sets Online Release for Mental Health Month

    Michael Jann and Michele Jourdan of Citronella Stories announced today that their award-winning animated short Bug Therapy will have a special limited release in North America across online platforms and select theaters, at no cost, for the entire month of May, to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month.

    The short, which highlights the importance of therapy and mental health and boasts a buzzworthy celebrity voice cast, will begin a wider release in June, with plans for a global release this fall. The filmmakers are currently developing a feature-length Bug Therapy movie, as well as an animated series extension.

    “Right now, more people than ever are struggling with mental-health. We just wanted to make people laugh, and say ‘everyone struggles with something, and there’s no shame in asking for help’,” said Jann and Jourdan. “We’re blown away by the amazing stars who instantly jumped on board to make this film as funny and entertaining as it is. Their hilarious performances show, ‘it’s okay to not be okay!’”

    Bug Therapy
    Bug Therapy

    Synopsis: Citronella (voiced by Meghan Trainor), a mosquito who faints at the sight of blood, tries to muster the courage to attend group therapy, led by Dr. Pill (Dr. Phil McGraw), to overcome her phobia. She learns that everyone faces mental health struggles – Stick Bug (Sterling K. Brown) battles depression over never feeling seen, Fly (Jay Leno) is OCD and germaphobic and can’t stop washing his hands, Grasshopper (Tom Green) suffers from addiction to coffee, Praying Mantis (Emily Goglia) is narcissistic/delusional and believes she’s God, Dragonfly couple (Michael Jann and Michele Jourdan) are co-dependent, and Spider (Jason Reisig) tries to overcome his phobia of spiders.

    The film is directed by Jason Reisig (Smallfoot) and written/created by Jann ( Emmy-nominated former Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon writer) and Jourdan of Citronella Stories, and animated by 88 Pictures. Randy Mills is producer, Eric Bergman co-produces, Jann and Jourdan are executive producers, along with Reisig, Mills and 88 Pictures’ Milind D. Shinde.

    This special limited release of Bug Therapy across online platforms will begin on May 1, May Day — an appropriate date as the origin of “Mayday” comes from the French phrase “M’aidez,” which means “Help me,” and fits with the main messages of the film.

    Bug Therapy
    Bug Therapy

    Bug Therapy is also set to screen at NAMICon 2023, the National Alliance on Mental Illness Conference which takes place in Minneapolis from May 24-27, 2023 with encore screenings online June 6-8 during the NAMICon virtual conference. Jann and Jourdan will be screening the film and sharing their personal story at the event.

    NAMICon CA CEO Jessica Cruz noted, “[Bug Therapy] is literally our mission statement! To fight the stigma, and to change the conversation about mental health. This could help so many people.”

    NAMICon features more than 50 sessions and a networking environment that engage, challenge and include guests in dynamic discussions and inspiring moments in the name of mental health awareness, education and advocacy.

    Bug Therapy
    Bug Therapy

    Jann and Jourdan are represented by Mitchel Stein of The Stein Agency, Angie Lucania and Sean Dubravac of Entertainment Lab, and Lon Haber & Co | Mugsy PR. McGraw is repped by UTA. Trainor is repped by CAA. Leno is repped by ICM. Brown is repped by CAA and JWS Entertainment. Green is repped by Gersh and The Conversation Company. Goglia is repped by Firestarter Entertainment. Reisig is repped by Hummel Entertainment.

    bugtherapy.film

  • 2023 Annecy Festival Celebrates Queer Stories in Animation

    2023 Annecy Festival Celebrates Queer Stories in Animation

    The prestigious European animation celebration Annecy Festival, taking place this year from June 11-17, announced today a thematic spotlight on Pride and Diversity, featuring four short film programs exploring queer life from international, artistic perspectives in recent productions. The program has been coordinated by Benoit Berthe Siward, Founder of The Animation Showcase and Co-Founder of LGBTQ+ in Animation.

    “This theme has become a topical issue, especially for young filmmakers, many of whom tackle issues related to gender and diversity every year,” explains Marcel Jean, the Festival’s Artistic Director. He sat down to discuss the Pride and Diversity program on video:

     

    Annecy Festival – Pride and Diversity Program

    TRUE QUEER STORIES by Holly Murtha
    How does it feel to be queer in this world? This program is a showcase of real-life stories from the LGBTQ+ community. Ranging from new perspectives on love, relationships and desire, to an ode to family and community. From journeys of self-discovery to closeted, troubled lives, this section is a reminder of the diversity of lived experiences inside the queer community and the importance of representation.

    Among the films:

    • All Those Sensations in My Belly by Marko Djeska (Croatia, Portugal) 
    • Oneself Story by Géraldine Charpentier (Belgium) 

    HIDDEN QUEER DESIRES by Patricio Plaza
    For so much time, queer desire has been forced to be lived with guilt, in the margins of society, hidden or unspoken. Times have changed but the marks of historical persecution are still a struggle for many queer identities.

    Among the films:

    • We Were a Sterile Bomb by Dotan Moreno (Israel)
    • Adorable by Cheng-Hsu Chung (Taiwan, U.K.)
    • Piteous Liaisons by Chloé Alliez and Violette Delvoye (Belgium, France)

    HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS by Jakub Spevák
    This section of films is dedicated to the feeling of belonging — which for queer people often means creating a safe place, a refuge. Films explore the need to share, to be yourself, to love, to forgive… As queer people, do we have to keep pretending to fit in?

    Among the films:

    • Chado by Dominica Harrison (U.K.)
    • Purpleboy by Alexandre Siqueira (Portugal, France, Belgium)
    • In Nature by Marcel Barelli (Switzerland)

    FREAKS & PROUD by Jakub Spevák
    Queer individuals have often been labelled as freaks, monsters, mutants, even ghosts who haunt society. This section of films takes these often pejorative labels and deconstructs them. Films show “queer” in all its diversity and open their arms to the weirdness and strangeness.

    Among the films:

    • Slug Life by Sophie Koko Gate (U.K.)
    • The Boob Fairy by Léahn Vivier-Chapas (France)
    • Superbia by Luca Tóth (Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia)

     

     

    Barry J.C. Purves and “Tchaikovsky”

    The Festival will also be awarding an Honorary Cristal to the British filmmaker Barry J.C. Purves, creator of a seminal stop-motion piece and pioneer of embracing homosexual themes in animation. His most acclaimed short films will be shown together in a retrospective program, and the Screen Play auteur will be presenting a Masterclass.

    Annecy’s Jean points out Achilles, which Purves made in 1995, as a major landmark in the history of homosexual representation in animation. “The director’s audacity is impressive in terms of theme, aesthetics and direction. Not to mention his technical mastery, which is nothing short of exceptional!” says Jean. “This year, we are paying tribute to one of contemporary animation’s most esteemed figures.”

     

     

    As ever, “pride and diversity” will be on display throughout the Annecy Festival’s extensive programming, not just within the themed short film collections. The Work-In-Progress sessions will include the feature film Eugene, written by Joëlle Oosterlinck and directed by Anaïs Caura. The film portrays the life of Eugene Falleni, a trans man accused of murdering his wife in Australia in the 1920s.

    Also, among the films in the Official Short Films selection is Christopher at Sea by Tom CJ Brown, winner of the Arte France Prize and Ciclic Prize at the Mifa Pitches in 2018.

    Mifa is also renewing its Parity – Diversity programming and developing it to reflect the Festival’s Animation, Pride and Diversity programs: the Women In Animation World Summit will deal more comprehensively with inclusion and diversity issues; women’s animation associations around the world will present pitch project sessions, the Mifa Conferences and a panel discussion at the Mifa Campus will provide the chance to raise specific questions and attempt to deliver some solutions.

     

     

    Flee
    Flee

    Going into its seventh decade, the Annecy Festival has a long track record of spotlighting films addressing LGBTQIA+ issues and experiences, from the comical to the heartbreaking to the bitter-sweet. The event offers an international free speech platform to directors from around the world to present shorts, series, graduate films and animated features in competition.

    Some award-winning queer stories from the last few years include  In Deep Waters, short film by Sarah Van Den Boom (France, Canada), Festivals Connexion Award – Région Rhône-Alpes with Lumières Numériques (2015); Moms on Fire, short film by Joanna Rytel (Sweden), Jury Distinction (2016) and Festivals Connexion Jury Distinction – Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes/In partnership with Lumières Numériques & Pilon Cinéma (2016); The Fish Curry (Maacher Jhol), short film by Abhishek Verma (India), City of Annecy Award (2017); and the multi-award winning Flee, feature film by Jonas Poher Rasmussen (Denmark, France, Norway, Sweden), Cristal for a Feature Film (2021), Gan Foundation Award for Distribution (2021) and Best Original Music Award for a Feature Film, sponsored by the SACEM (2021).

    Annecy Festival will hold its 2023 edition in France from June 11-17. Registration is now open. More information available at annecyfestival.com.

  • Watch: Disney Channel Celebrates 40th Anniversary

    Watch: Disney Channel Celebrates 40th Anniversary

    One of TV’s top destinations for quality kids’ animated content, Disney Channel is this month celebrating 40 years on the air! Launched in April 1983 as “The Disney Channel,” the outlet has offered generations of fans a broad lineup of animated and live-action content across hundreds of series and original movies.

    “For four decades, Disney Channel has been home to some of the most iconic and beloved stories in the Disney portfolio,” said Ayo Davis, President, Disney Branded Television. “We are thrilled to celebrate this momentous anniversary with our incredible talent past and present, our gifted creative partners and, most importantly, with you — our passionate and loyal fans around the world.”

    Across its four decades, Disney Channel has debuted award-winning series and movies that influenced fandoms, fashions and the careers of up and coming talents. From Tiger Town, High School Musical, Hannah Montana, Lizzie McGuire, That’s So Raven, Wizards of Waverly Place, Jessie and Descendants, to Phineas and Ferb, Kim Possible, Gravity Falls and The Proud Family, Disney Channel has not only created memories for millions of kids and families, but also helped kickstart the careers of many successful actors and artists and sent countless songs to the top of the charts.

    “When Disney Channel launched, it brought the magic of Disney storytelling into people’s homes for the first time on a daily basis, and over the years it served as the most easily accessible and constant cultural touchpoint into the Disney brand,” said Debra OConnell, President, Networks & Television Business Operations, Disney Entertainment. “Before they ever went to a Disney movie or hugged a beloved character at the Parks, many generations of people met their heroes for the first time on Disney Channel. That is a relationship that we cherish across the company today and is still unparalleled across the industry.”

    Disney Channel continues to build on this legacy with fan-favorite, award-winning programming, including current series Big City Greens, Kiff, Hamster & Gretel, Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, Raven’s Home, Bunk’d, Secrets of Sulphur Springs, The Villains of Valley View and Saturdays, as well as the upcoming revival of Phineas and Ferb, new installments in the Zombies franchise, and more.

    Helping celebrate Disney Channel’s 40th is an animated tribute video from Chibi Tiny Tales featuring fan-favorite characters from throughout Disney Channel’s history (watch below or on YouTube), as well as fun throwback posts across Disney Channel’s official Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and Facebook accounts — which will be shared all month long.

    Fans can also tune into Disney Channel’s YouTube channel, where full Disney Channel episodes — both old and new — are being live streamed through the end of April.

    Happy 40th birthday, Disney Channel!

  • SEGA to Acquire ‘Angry Birds’ Studio Rovio

    SEGA to Acquire ‘Angry Birds’ Studio Rovio

    SEGA Corporation, a subsidiary of SEGA SAMMY Holdings, at the meeting of its Board of Directors held on Monday, April 17,  has opted to offer an acquisition agreement to Finland-based mobile game company Rovio Entertainment Oyj, through SEGA’s wholly-owned U.K. subsidiary SEGA Europe Limited.

    Through the Tender Offer, SEGA aims to acquire the entirety of Rovio’s outstanding shares and options at EUR 9.25 per share and EUR 1.48 per option, or EUR 706 million in total (approximately ¥103,680 million converted at EUR1 = ¥146.9. Rovio’s board of directors has agreed to and expressed support for the Tender Offer. Shareholders in Rovio who in aggregate hold shares corresponding to approximately 49.1 percent of the outstanding shares and votes in Rovio, have irrevocably undertaken to accept the offer, subject to certain customary conditions.

    Rovio is a global mobile-first, games company that creates, develops and publishes mobile games, which have been downloaded over 5 billion times. The studio is best known for the global Angry Birds brand, which started as a popular mobile game in 2009, and has since evolved from games to various entertainment, anime, and consumer products through brand licensing.

    “Among the rapidly growing global gaming market, the mobile gaming market has especially high potential, and it has been SEGA’s long-term goal to accelerate its expansion in this field,” said Haruki Satomi, President & Group CEO, Representative Director of SEGA SAMMY Holdings. “I feel blessed to be able to announce such a transaction with Rovio, a company that owns Angry Birds, which is loved across the world, and home to many skilled employees that support the company’s industry leading mobile game development and operating capabilities. Historically, as represented by the Sonic the Hedgehog series, SEGA has released countless video game titles to various gaming platforms. I am confident that, through combination of both companies’ brands, characters, fanbase, as well as corporate culture and functionality, there will be significant synergies created going forward.”

    SEGA aims to accelerate its growth in the global gaming market and increase its corporate value by generating synergies between SEGA’s existing businesses and Rovio’s strengths, including its global IPs and live-operated mobile game development capabilities. More specifically, SEGA aims to create synergies with particular focus in:

    • Utilization of Rovio’s expertise in live service mobile game operation, to bring SEGA’s current and new titles to the global mobile gaming market, where there is large potential, and many users can be accessed. Rovio’s platform, Beacon, has been operating for 20 years around the United States and Europe.
    • Rapid expansion of both companies’ fanbases through multi-media expansion of global characters. Rovio and SEGA have both succeeded in extending IPs Angry Birds and Sonic the Hedgehog, to various media outside of video games, such as movies, anime and merchandising.
    • Support cross-platform expansion of Rovio’s IP using SEGA’s capabilities. Rovio is aiming to expand its platform outside of mobile gaming, and SEGA will actively look to support this process through its capabilities
    Sonic Prime [c/o Netflix © 2022]
    Sonic Prime [c/o Netflix © 2022]

    “I grew up playing Sonic the Hedgehog, captivated by its state-of-the-art design. Later, when I played Angry Birds for the first time, I knew that gaming had evolved into a true mainstream phenomenon, with the power to shape modern culture,” commented Alexandre Pelletier-Norman, CEO of Rovio. “Joining Rovio has been an honor and I am proud to have seen Angry Birds continue to grow, as we released new games, series and films. Less known but equally impressive is our industry-leading proprietary technology platform, Beacon, holding 20 years of expertise, allowing tight-knit teams to develop world-class GaaS products.

    “Our mission is to ‘Craft Joy’ and we are thrilled at the idea of using our expertise and tools to bring even more joy to our players, enhancing and expanding Rovio’s and SEGA’s vibrant IPs. Red and Sonic the Hedgehog: two globally recognized and iconic characters made by two remarkably complementary companies, with a worldwide reach that spans mobile, PC/console, and beyond. Combining the strengths of Rovio and SEGA presents an incredibly exciting future.”

    The friendly takeover feeds into SEGA’s positioning the consumer segment of its entertainment content business as a growth area for its mid-term plan (FY2022/3-FY2023/4), which has seen the company accelerate efforts to strengthen this business through building its existing IPs into global brands, increasing user engagement through multi-platform support and a greater variety of media. The company plans to invest up to  ¥250 billion during the five-year period ending FY2026/3 in investment opportunities in the consumer area.

    SEGA has previously bolstered its global development capabilities by acquiring numerous other development studios, from U.K.-based The Creative Assembly in 2005) to  Japan’s ATLUS CO. LTD. (formerly Index Corporation) in 2013.

    The global gaming market projected to reach US$263.3 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 3.5% from 2022 to 2026. The mobile gaming market in particular, is set to grow at a CAGR of 5.0% to represent 56% of the global gaming market overall, an increase from 53% in 2022. (Source: IDG Report; October, 2022.) Through the acquisition, SEGA aims to take-in Rovio’s live-operated mobile game development capabilities and expertise in mobile game operation, to accelerate the development of mobile-compatible and multi-platform-supported version of SEGA’s existing game IPs, thereby strengthening and further accelerating global expansion of SEGA’s game portfolio.

    The acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter of FY2024/3 and is contingent on the completion of reviews under applicable antitrust laws and other customary conditions.

  • Pixar Releases RenderMan 25 with Advanced Denoising

    Pixar Releases RenderMan 25 with Advanced Denoising

    Pixar Animation Studios today released version 25 of RenderMan, its award-winning technology for rendering animation and visual effects. The latest version features advanced denoising technology which uses machine learning from Disney Research to significantly transform the rendering process.

    Additionally, this major release delivers many enhancements for production rendering with new creative controls for stylization, robust scalability and increased integration with Pixar’s USD (Universal Scene Description). Finally, Pixar’s next generation renderer, RenderMan XPUTM, reaches new milestones with support for volumes, secondary passes, and pure performance for feature film animation and VFX.

    ‘Elemental’ concept art by director Peter Sohn. © 2022 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

    RenderMan’s advanced denoising technology in version 25 uses a novel approach to harness machine learning for unprecedented leaps in both quality and speed. Developed by Disney Research in collaboration with Industrial Light and Magic, Pixar Animation Studios, and Walt Disney Animation Studios, this state-of-the-art technology has already seen heavy use in production, including every Pixar film since Toy Story 4. The Denoiser excels at preserving fine details, like hair and scratches, which have traditionally been challenging for other denoisers, and it has dramatically reduced render times for both feature animation and VFX.

    “The new Denoiser has transformed our studio pipeline allowing shots to be rendered which would otherwise be impossible,” said Pixar CTO Steve May. “Bringing this new technology to the RenderMan community will transform pipelines and help inspire artists across the industry.”

    ‘Elemental’ is the latest production to utilize RenderMan’s advanced tools. © 2023 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

    RenderMan artist tools for Autodesk’s Maya, Blender, Foundry’s Katana and SideFX Houdini have all been comprehensively updated for version 25, including support for the VFX Reference Platform 2021. More physically accurate results are now possible with updates to the MaterialX Lama shading system, and a broader range of non-photorealistic imagery is enabled with new artistic features for RenderMan Stylized Looks. Additionally, this release delivers new materials for artists, including new material libraries and production-ready assets.

    “I’m super impressed with the quality of the deep-learning denoiser from Disney Research, its multi-frame denoising is fantastic for animation and VFX work — really helps in reducing our render times.” said Will Earl, Head of Lighting and Optimization at MPC.

    Mitch Prater, LAIKA Shading Technology Supervisor, noted,“Denoising of CG imagery is the most perfect use-case for neural processing imaginable, and the results prove it: they’re perfection!”

    RenderMan version 25 is available for download now at renderman.pixar.com for customers on maintenance. Individual licenses of RenderMan are available for $595, and $250 for yearly maintenance. Quantity discounts are available. Researchers, individual artists and students creating non-commercial projects will have access to Non-Commercial RenderMan at the same time, now with the addition of XPU. Contact rendermansales@pixar.com for a quote.

  • Polish Pre-K Toon ‘Toru Superfox’ Joins the CAKE Pack

    Polish Pre-K Toon ‘Toru Superfox’ Joins the CAKE Pack

    Kids’ entertainment specialist CAKE has partnered with Polish-based producers Animoon and Letko on new the preschool animated series Toru Superfox.

    “We are thrilled to be working with the talented teams at Animoon and Letko,” said Ed Galton, CEO at CAKE. “Toru Superfox has huge potential — original, beautifully animated, full of charm and appeal — and we are very much looking forward to presenting this project to partners and broadcasters at MIPTV.”

    The series is being produced by Palme d’Or nominee and Cartoon Tribute 2022 European Producer of the Year Animoon (Moomins, Even Mice Belong In Heaven, Acid Rain, III) and Polish-based 2D animated studio Letko. CAKE will handle international distribution rights, excluding Poland, to this 52 x 7’30”  series aimed at four- to seven-year olds.

    Toru Superfox is an adventurous fox on a quest to face the most puzzling of creatures … his emotions. Along with his best friends Bunio, a wild boar who loves napping and eating; Zoja, a resolute chick with an attitude and shy hedgehog Fenio, they imagine that the forest where they play is inhabited by the characters from their favorite comic books — including Supervixen, the legendary guardian of the forest based on Toru’s Grandma! Toru’s super power is empathy and whenever someone is in trouble, Toru puts on his superhero mask and comes to their rescue!

    The adventure-packed preschool series helps young children to understand, identify and deal with their feelings. With universal themes of acceptance and empathy told through imaginative adventure, discovery and problem solving, each storyline introduces examples of behavior or reactions that children may later refer to when coping with challenges in life.

    “We are extremely happy to cooperate with CAKE, a well-known distributor in the European and global markets,” said Grzegorz Wacławek, CEO at Animoon. “We hope that thanks to this partnership, audiences around the world will be able to enjoy Toru Superfox, our charming animated series for children.”

    Jakub Karwowski, CEO at Letko noted, “Our cooperation with CAKE is a great opportunity to promote Polish animation and the work of Polish artists around the world. We are very happy that, through our partnership, our brave fox Toru’s stories and adventures will be seen by global audiences.”

    cakeentertainment.com

  • Mondo TV, Toon2Tango Send ‘Agent 203’ on Global Mission with Multiple Sales

    Mondo TV, Toon2Tango Send ‘Agent 203’ on Global Mission with Multiple Sales

    Mondo TV Group and Toon2Tango have announced sales across multiple territories for their new kids’ “spy-fi” animation Agent 203 (26 x 22′ / 3D CGI). The show has been bought by major broadcasters across Italy, Poland, MENA and Central and Eastern Europe, and a distributor has been signed for China.

    The first batch of episodes has just been delivered, with broadcast launch in these territories expected in late 2023.

    Synopsis: “So, my dad was a secret agent?” Imagine Zoe Stranek’s surprise when she finds out her dad didn’t work at Starbucks, but used to be an intergalactic agent, protecting our planet against alien invasions. So when a weird, comical alien named Ulav, her dad’s old partner, tells her this, she decides to follow in her father’s footsteps. Together with her new alien bestie and her best friends Quigley and Rock, she protects our planet from General Gore, the ultimate badass alien, in memory of her beloved father.

    Created by Damjan Mitrevski, Jo Daris and Ulli Stoef, the series was commissioned by Germany’s SUPER RTL, which is expected to launch it to air in autumn 2023; the show is a co-production between Toon2Tango, Mondo TV and Cosmos Maya Animation and is distributed internationally by Toon2Tango and Mondo TV.

    Italy’s public broadcaster Rai Kids has pre-acquired Agent 203 with plans to show the adventure-comedy on its free-to-air children’s station Rai Gulp; a premiere is planned for autumn 2023.

    The show will also be free to air in Poland, where it will appear on leading public service TVP abc, and across the Middle East and North Africa on the Arabic-language service MBC 3. Mondo TV has also inked a pay TV deal with Hungary-based AMC Networks Central Europe, whose MINIMAX pay television channel will be broadcasting to a dozen Central European countries. In addition, PT Spectrum Film in Indonesia has licensed the media rights for the show.

    Toon2Tango has also signed a distributor, The Media Pioneers (TMP), a U.K.-China media group based in London, to represent the show in the Chinese market.

    “These new launches are significant announcements for the show,” says Matteo Corradi, Mondo TV President & CEO of Mondo TV. “The very positive response to Agent 203 at industry events is now translating into sales to renowned partners across the world. We’re delighted our long-term partner Rai Kids is on board for this exciting and inventive show which is on its way to so many major broadcasters in key territories, with many more soon joining them.”

    mondotv.it | toon2tango.com

  • ‘One Piece Film Red’ Captains Crunchyroll’s July Home Video Highlights

    ‘One Piece Film Red’ Captains Crunchyroll’s July Home Video Highlights

    One Piece Film Red, the smash-hit 15th film from the One Piece franchise, will be available to own on Blu-ray on July 11, from Crunchyroll. The film was the highest-grossing release in Japan in 2022, the fifth highest-grossing anime film of all time worldwide, and the highest-grossing Toei Animation and One Piece title of all time. The pic released in North American theaters on November 4, 2022.

    Special features within the One Piece Film Red Blu-ray include three special episodes that lead up to the events of the film, which are entitled “A Faint Memory! Luffy and Red-Haired’s Daughter Uta!,” “A Pledge for the New Genesis! Luffy and Uta!” and “The Captain’s Log of the Legend! ‘Red-Haired’ Shanks!”, along with trailers and a web preview.

    Synopsis: Uta — the most beloved singer in the world whose voice has been described as “otherworldly” — is renowned for concealing her own identity when performing. Now, for the first time ever, she will reveal herself to the world at a live concert.

    With the Navy watching closely, the venue fills with Uta’s fans — including excited pirates and the Straw Hats led by Luffy, who simply came to enjoy her sonorous performance — all eagerly awaiting the voice that the whole world has been waiting for to resound. The story begins with the shocking revelation that she is the enigmatic Shanks’ daughter.

    Crunchyroll’s July home entertainment releases also include:

    July 4

    • Obey Me! Season 2 (Sub Only) – Blu-ray

    • One Piece Season 13 Voyage 1 – Blu-ray/DVD

     

    July 18

    • The Devil Is a Part-Timer! Season 2 – Blu-ray

     

    July 25

    • The Ancient Magus’ Bride -The Boy from the West and the Knight of the Blue Storm – OVA – Blu-ray

     

    The Ancient Magus’ Bride, Obey Me!, One Piece and The Devil Is a Part-Timer! are currently streaming on Crunchyroll and all tiles mentioned above will be available to pre-order on the Crunchyroll Store.

  • Watch: ‘Bugs Bunny Builders’ Celebrates Earth Day with Taz-tastic Episode

    Watch: ‘Bugs Bunny Builders’ Celebrates Earth Day with Taz-tastic Episode

    Cartoonito’s Bugs Bunny Builders returns with new episodes today (Monday, April 17) on Cartoon Network and tomorrow on HBO Max. A new clip sneak peeks the episode “Taz Recycles,” in which the Looney Builders team up to help Taz build a special vehicle using recycled materials — just in time for Earth Day!

    Bugs Bunny Builders is the first Looney Tunes series produced specifically for preschoolers in over 20 years. The series combines the wackiness, humor and slapstick of the iconic characters with a modern Humancentric Learning framework that promotes children’s fascination with building and design, helping preschoolers cultivate essential skills including self-expression, creativity, problem-solving, collaboration and communication.

    In the show, Bugs and Lola are managers of the Looney Builders construction crew, comprising Daffy, Porky, Tweety and other familiar Looney faces. Together, the team helps their fellow citizens of Looneyburg with zany building projects. Whether building a thrilling new racetrack or creating an out-of-this-world ice cream sundae, no job is too big or wild for the Looney Builders when they work as a team and utilize their super-looney tools and souped-up vehicles.

    Bugs Bunny Builders
    Bugs Bunny Builders “K-9: Space Puppy”

    New Episodes

    • “Blast Off” — When Marvin the Martian crash lands in Looneyburg, he’s in a hurry to leave and hires The Looney Builders to build him a spaceship.
    • “K-9: Space Puppy” — Marvin the Martian hires The Looney Builders to build a doghouse on Mars for his puppy, K-9. Daffy soon bonds with K-9 and comes up with a plan to prolong their playtime.
    • “Cousin Billy” — When Daffy’s cool cousin Billy hires The Looney Builders to build her an art studio, Daffy tries to show off to prove how cool he is.
    • “Cheddar Days” — The Mouse Sisters hire The Looney Builders to build a cheese café featuring a mural by Sylvester who is having a bad day.
    • “Taz Recycle” — When The Looney Builders build Taz a wrecking ball vehicle, he struggles to learn how to operate it.

    Bugs Bunny Builders is produced by Warner Bros. Animation. Looney Tunes veteran Eric Bauza returns to voice Bugs, Tweety, and Daffy, alongside Bob Bergen reprising Porky, Chandni Parekh as Lola, Jeff Bergman as Sylvester, Alex Cazares as Petunia Pig and Fred Tatasciore as Taz. Abe Audish serves as showrunner and supervising producer. Sam Register serves as executive producer.

  • Newly Discovered In-Game Pokémon Appears in ‘Horizons’ Series

    Newly Discovered In-Game Pokémon Appears in ‘Horizons’ Series

    The Pokémon Company group revealed today that Trainers will be soon be able to uncover the mystery behind a newly discovered Pokémon found in The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero, the upcoming downloadable content for the Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet video game. This never before seen species will also appear in the franchise’s latest animated series, Pokémon Horizons: The Series, which recently premiered in Japan before its release around the world starting later this year.

    Who’s that Pokémon???

    Who’s that Pokémon, you ask? Sources outside the Pokédex say it resembles the Legendary Pokémon Terapagos — but its name and true nature are shrouded in mystery.

    It is small in stature and not particularly strong, but when push comes to shove, it can crystallize the energy in its body to form a protective shield. Apparently, it can also assume a dormant state when it feels that its life is in danger by pulling its head, limbs, and tail into its shell and making itself look like a jewel.​

    The recent premiere of Pokémon Horizons: The Series in Japan offered a sneak peek at the newly discovered Pokémon. In the animated series, Liko, one of the protagonists, carries a mysterious pendant that is seen transforming into this Pokémon. The Pokémon then reverts immediately after it protects Liko from danger.

    Rolling out internationally this year, the new Pokémon animated series that will follow a never-before-seen storyline and characters, including dual protagonists Liko and Roy, as they uncover various mysteries of the Pokémon world, such as the fascinating secrets surrounding this newly discovered Pokémon. Fans can follow @Pokemon on social media and subscribe to official Pokémon YouTube channel for updates.

    In The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero game event, players will leave the Paldea region and be able to delve deeper into the world of Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet. Visit Pokemon.com/ScarletViolet for more information.

    Pokémon Horizons: The Series
    Pokémon Horizons: The Series
  • ‘Apollo 10 1/2’, ‘Undone’ Studio Submarine Joins Mediawan

    ‘Apollo 10 1/2’, ‘Undone’ Studio Submarine Joins Mediawan

    Pan-European audiovisual content producer Mediawan has announced the acquisition of a majority stake of the Emmy Award-winning company Submarine. The Amsterdam-based studio develops and produces international scripted series and feature films, animation (kids and adult) and documentaries.

    Submarine has established itself as an innovative company, working across multiple genres and platforms, all with an international focus. Submarine also owns the largest animation studio in the Netherlands. Its roster of award-winning films and TV series has been built up in collaboration with an extensive network of internationally acclaimed creators such as Leonardo Fasoli (Gomorrah, ZeroZeroZero), Richard Linklater and Tommy Pallotta (Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood), Douglas Rushkoff and Hisko Hulsing (Undone).

    As it bolsters its talent pool in Europe with this new acquisition, Mediawan says this new partnership will accelerate the Group’s strategy in terms of setting up international co-productions as well as building a catalog of IPs that are attractive to major creatives. The acquisition of Submarine fits into the Group’s efforts to diversify its production capacities to offer the best possible support to creatives in all genres and territories.

    Elisabeth d'Arvieu © Lionel Guericolas
    Elisabeth d’Arvieu © Lionel Guericolas

    “We are delighted to welcome within Mediawan a team as creative and renowned as the Submarine team. Their expertise in all genres and particularly in adult animation and international series and their appetite for co-productions is a real asset for the continuous development of our group,” says Elisabeth d’Arvieu, CEO of Mediawan Pictures.

    Submarine has produced several acclaimed films and series, including the Emmy Award-winning documentary Bellingcat: Truth in a Post-Truth World, and the Netflix original production Nobody Speak: Trials of the Free Press.

    Most recently, Submarine produced Linklater’s latest film, Apollo 10 1⁄2: A Space Age Childhood on Netflix, and the Amazon Prime Video series Undone by BoJack Horseman creators Kate Purdy and Raphael Bob Waksberg. Submarine also produced The Sandman animated episode “A Dream of a Thousand Cats” for Warner Bros. Television and Netflix (playing in the TV Films competition at the 2023 Annecy Festival).

    Upcoming projects include drama series The Kollective, written by Gomorrah and ZeroZeroZero showrunner Fasoli and Maddalena Rvaglia; and Safe Harbor, a crime series inspired by true events from Ozark co-creator Mark Williams.

    Femke Wolting
    Femke Wolting
    Bruno Felix

    “We are thrilled about this new chapter in Submarine’s story,” said Femke Wolting and Bruno Felix, Founders and Managing Directors of Submarine. “Joining forces with Mediawan opens up a wealth of opportunities, allowing us to tap into their extensive network, resources and industry-leading expertise. This exciting partnership will fuel our mission of producing groundbreaking and innovative films and series that resonate with global audiences.”

    Submarine was advised on the deal by Hasham Khan of ABP Advisory.

    submarine.nl | mediawan.com