Nintendo icon Mario gets an epic power up in the new, final trailer for The Super Mario Bros. Movie unlocked by Universal Pictures and Illumination today. The pic opens exclusively in theaters on April 5.
The new spot takes us into the bowels of Bowser’s dungeon and offers glimpses of the world-clashing war of the Koopa and Mushroom Kingdoms. Plus, we get to see the plucky plumber and his frenemy Donkey Kong charge through a platform challenge and more beautifully rendered corners of the video game inspired world.
Synopsis:
While working underground to fix a water main, Brooklyn plumbers Mario (Chris Pratt; Jurassic World and The LEGO Movie franchises) and brother Luigi (Charlie Day; It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) are transported down a mysterious pipe and wander into a magical new world. But when the brothers are separated, Mario embarks on an epic quest to find Luigi.
With the assistance of a Mushroom Kingdom resident Toad (Keegan-Michael Key; The Lion King) and some training from the strong-willed ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom, Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy; The Queen’s Gambit), Mario taps into his own power.
The star-studded cast also features Jack Black (Jumanji films) as Bowser, Seth Rogen (Neighbors franchise) as Donkey Kong, Fred Armisen (Portlandia, Saturday Night Live) as Cranky Kong, Kevin Michael Richardson (American Dad!, Family Guy) as Kamek and Sebastian Maniscalco (Green Book) as Spike, plus a special voice appearance by Charles Martinet, who has voiced the characters of Mario and Luigi in the Super Mario games for more than 30 years.
The film is directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic (Teen Titans Go!, Teen Titans Go! To the Movies) from a screenplay by Matthew Fogel (Minions: The Rise of Gru, The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part).
The Super Mario Bros. Movie
The Super Mario Bros. Movie
From Nintendo and Illumination (Despicable Me, Minions, Sing, The Secret Life of Pets), the movie is produced by Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri p.g.a. and by Nintendo’s Representative Director and Fellow Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of Mario, after more than six years of discussions and collaboration. The film is co-financed by Universal Pictures and Nintendo and will be released worldwide by Universal Pictures.
With just a few nail-biting days until the 95th Academy Awards take place in Hollywood and we find out which animated short films and features will be crowned the year’s best by AMPAS, the Academy has released a new video spotlighting some of the nominees. In Drawn to the Moment, viewers get to sit down with talented directors as they draw the stars of their films receiving the Oscar while sharing fun facts and observations about these characters and their creative processes.
Featured nominees in the video are:
Domee Shi (Director & Co-Writer of Turning Red)
Joel Crawford (Director of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish)
Chris Williams (Director & Writer of The Sea Beast)
João Gonzalez (Writer, Director, Animator & Composer of Ice Merchants)
The 2023 Oscars ceremony will air live on ABC on Sunday, March 12, starting at 5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. ET. The show, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, will also be available to stream on Hulu Live TV, YouTubeTV, AT&T TV and FuboTV.
The 25th edition of Cartoon Movie was full of surprises and brimming with feeling, as attendees flocked enthusiastically to pitch sessions for the latest creative and compelling animated features from across Europe. Many of these stories represent contemporary concerns and social movements for both family and adult audiences.
This year’s program in Bordeaux presented 58 projects from 16 countries, with a total budget of 422.4 million euro, representing 81 hours of animation. The countries who brought the most projects are France (25 projects), Germany (eight), Spain and Italy (five), Belgium with (three), Denmark (two) and Armenia, Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Ukraine with one project each.
The event welcomes 876 participants from 40 countries, including 282 registered buyers from 35 nations (18% new to the show). Organizers of Cartoon Movie revealed the In Development and In Production projects that received the most attention with the highest number of buyers attending the pitch:
Back to Tomioka
Top 10 Overall
1. Back to Tomioka (France)
2. Julián(Ireland / Denmark / France / Canada / United Kingdom)
3. Ninn(France)
3. Yap Yap – The Secret Forest (Denmark / Sweden)
4. Merry Christmas Monsieur Hulot (France)
4. Moses the Pirate(Germany)
5. The Hermit and the Bear (France)
6. Fox and Hare Save the Forest(Netherlands / Luxembourg / Belgium)
7. I’m Still Alive (Italy / Israel / Belgium)
8. The Horn Quartet Goes to Bollywood(France / Belgium)
9. Birds Don’t Look Back(France / Luxembourg / Poland)
-TIED-
10. The Precious Gift(Czech Republic / France)
10. Clarissa(Germany)
Top 10 European Co-Productions
1. Julián(Ireland / Denmark / France / Canada / United Kingdom)
2. Birds Don’t Look Back (France / Luxembourg / Poland)
3. Fox and Hare Save the Forest (Netherlands / Luxembourg / Belgium)
4. Love Is a Gypsy Child – A Carmen Story (France / Spain / France)
5. Yap Yap – The Secret Forest(Denmark / Sweden)
6. Beausoleil(France / Luxembourg)
7. I’m Still Alive (Italy / Israel / Belgium)
8. The Precious Gift (Czech Republic / France)
9. The Horn Quartet Goes to Bollywood (France / Belgium)
10. Yakari 2(France / Belgium)
A number of key trends and special spotlights kept this landmark edition of Cartoon Movie fresh.
Forest
The concern for climate change was reflected in many projects: 16% of the selected projects address a topic related to ecology, for example in Forest, Back to Tomioka, Four Souls of Coyote and Yap Yap – The Secret Forest.
This year, 21% of the projects approach the question of the kind of society we live in, and what we want for the future, tackling themes of inclusion, diversity, migration, political issues, gender and more. Such projects included Julián, The Legend of Magnus the Good, I’m Still Alive and Zako.
The importance of inspiring children and young adults with heroic women and girls on screen also remains relevant, with 17% of projects opting for a girl-powered story in projects like The Legend of Lune, Clarissa, Fiammetta andRosa and the Stone Troll.
Each year, Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region, the Pôle Image Magelis and Bordeaux Metropole escort a cadre of animation creators and producers at the pitch events. For 2023, seven projects are supported by the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region: Beausoleil, Jim Queen, Chicken for Linda!, Happy End, Mars Express, The Hermit and the Bear and Alpha Two’s Dreamed Journey. Beausoleil and Mars Expressare also supported by the Département Charente. Bordeaux Metropole and the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region are also represented by projects from their animation studios: Betty’s Dream, Long Time a Girl: An Endless City Adventure and The Hermit and the Bear.
A full day of master classes was organized during the Coaching Program, dedicated to young talents from nine French local schools. Two projects pitched at Cartoon Springboard — Cartoon Movie’s sibling event in Madrid dedicated to young talents and graduates — were pitched at Cartoon Movie: Otis and The Precious Gift.
A delegation of 23 Ukrainian animation professionals was able to join Cartoon Movie, presenting many examples of the movies, shorts and TV series produced by Ukrainian companies. At the beginning of March, Mavka. The Forest Song — first shown at Cartoon Movie in 2017 — was released in Ukraine with great success and has already sold to 80 countries. This week, Animagrad (FILM.UA Group), the studio behind this hit, pitched its latest CG-animated feature, Roxelana.
Cartoon Tributes winners 2023
Cartoon Tributes
Voted by their fellow European animation professionals attending Cartoon Movie, the winners for the Cartoon Tributes were announced Thursday at a special ceremony. The trophies of the 22nd edition went to individuals and companies from France and Netherlands, and to a co-production feature film involving studios from France, Italy, Switzerland, Portugal and Belgium.
No Dogs or Italians Allowed earned the Producer of the Year prize for France’s Les Films du Tambour de Soie, Vivement Lundi ! and Foliascope, Italy’s Graffiti Film, Switzerland’s Nadasdy Film, Portugal’s Ocidental Filmes and Belgium’s Lux Fugit Film. Directed by Alain Ughetto (Jasmine), this stop-motion film won both the Jury Prize at Annecy and the European Film Award for Best European Animated Film in 2022.
Dutch filmmaker and illustrator Mascha Halberstad was recognized as Director of the Year for her debut feature film, Oink, which premiered at the 2022 Berlinale as Opening Film of the Generation K+ section, and was nominated for the European Film Awards 2022. Halberstad presented her next film at Cartoon Movie, Fox and Hare Save the Forest, based on Sylvia Vanden Heede’s books.
Established in 2007, Paris-based KMBO is a film distribution company whose catalog combines auteur and commercial animated films. The Amazing Maurice, Moonbound, Just Super and The Elfkins – Baking a Difference are some of the titles distributed by the company recently. This impressive slate helped secure the outfit’s status as Distributor of the Year.
Roberto Saviano’s autobiographical graphic novel adaptation ‘I’m Still Alive’ won the 2023 Eurimages Co-Production Development Award
Eurimages Co-Production Development Award
CartoonMovie and Eurimages, the cultural fund of the Council of Europe, also announced the winner of the €20,000 Eurimages Co-Production Development Award. The award is intended to reward an artistically outstanding animation project in development, which is intended to be made as a co-production.
The winner for the 2023 edition is I’m Still Aliveby Roberto Saviano. The film is a production of MAD Entertainment (Italy), Lucky Red (Italy), SIPUR (Israel) and Gapbusters (Belgium).
Based on his autobiographic graphic novel illustrated by Asaf Hanuka (Waltz with Bashir), I’m Still Alive tells the story of a man forced to live under police protection for over a decade. Narrated in first person in his own voice, the movie spotlights 15 years of the author’s real life, starting from his debut bestselling organized crime exposé, moving forward and backward, mixing flashbacks from his childhood and imaginary events he couldn’t help dreaming of.
The jury was composed of Simon Crowe (SC Films International, United Kingdom), Elena Kotova (Eurimages) and Pierre Mazars (Charades, France). The panel was impressed by the diversity and quality of projects under consideration, and selected the winner for its creative boldness and narrative courage.
Cartoon Movie 2024 will be held March 5-7 in Bordeaux, France. Visit cartoon-media.eu/movie to learn more.
Apple TV+ today released the trailer forEva the Owlet, premiering globally on Friday, March 31. The new animated kids and family series is based on the New York Times bestselling Scholastic book series Owl Diaries by award-winning author Rebecca Elliott. The stories have been translated into eight languages with 11 million copies in print.
The new animated series centers on Eva, a creative, cheeky owlet who lives next door to her best friend Lucy in the woodland world of Treetopington. With big ideas and an even bigger personality, Eva goes on high-flying adventures, expressing herself in her diary along the way!
Produced by award-winning Scholastic Entertainment (Clifford the Big Red Dog, The Magic School Bus) with production services and 4K animation by 9 Story Media Group’s Emmy-winning and Academy Award-nominated studio Brown Bag Films in Dublin and Bali (Doc McStuffins, Vampirina, Octonauts), Eva the Owlet features original songs by critically acclaimed musician and singer-songwriter Fitz of Fitz and the Tantrums.
Eva the Owlet
Voice talent includes Vivienne Rutherford (Eureka!, 911: Lone Star) as Eva, Jessica DiCicco (The Loud House, Puppy Dog Pals) as Eva’s mom, Dino Andrade (Loud House, We Baby Bears) as Eva’s dad, as well as Romy Fay (Best Foot Forward), Sascha Yurchak, Jon Olson (The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, Pokémon: Detective Pikachu), Evie Hsu (Team Mekbots), Sarah Vattano (The Uglies; Rise Up, Sing Out), Pressly James Crosby (General Hospital) and Kenna Ramsey (Rent).
Eva the Owlet is executive produced by Scholastic Entertainment’s Peabody and Daytime Emmy Award-winning team, including Iole Lucchese (Clifford the Big Red Dog), Caitlin Friedman (Stillwater), and Jef Kaminsky (Signs of Survival). Head series writers and Daytime Emmy Award nominees Annabeth Bondor-Stone (Helpsters) and Connor White (Helpsters) serve as co-executive producers, and Daytime Emmy Award nominee Damien O’Connor (Angela’s Christmas, Angela’s Christmas 2) serves as supervising director.
Eva the Owlet
The late Dr. John F. Evans, a writing clinician, National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach at Duke Integrative Medicine, and the Founder and Executive Director of Wellness & Writing Connections, LLC served as the expressive writing expert on the series through Apple TV+’s changemakers initiative. The series was one of the last projects he worked on, hoping to inspire young viewers to write, to find their voices, and to believe in themselves.
Read more about Eva the Owlet in the April ’23 issue of Animation Magazine, available now!
Educator and children’s author Danielle Lindner, CEO of Rethinking Inc. LLC,andacclaimed musician and film composerBenjamin Weinman, co-founder of mathcore band Dillinger Escape Plan, today announced that they are in development with avibrantnew children’s2Danimatedseries,Jupiter Rocks! The 52 x 11′musical comedy for upper preschool (ages four to seven) is set for delivery in Q2 2025.
Jupiter Rocks! follows the life of guitar-playing seven-year-old Penelope Sing, whose life is uprooted when her mom becomes Earth’s Planet Ambassador to Jupiter. Penelope struggles to fit into a world full of “aliens” and her new neighborhood but finds her groove after she joins the school rock band. Along with her friends both new and old —whovisit via the Jupiter speedy space shuttle — Penelope meets many challenges as she navigates living in a wacky new world, but uses humor, music and wit torock androll through it all.
“We created Jupiter Rocks! (JR) to not only showcase diversity and inclusion but to show our children that it is often our differences that become strengths! Every episode promises an exciting adventure where our main character and her friends solve their problems with creative and musical solutions. Much like I did growing up in an educational system that often didn’t reward the more ‘Right Brain’ kids out there,” said Weinman. “Our goal is also to create programming that can be enjoyed and discussed by both children and their parents, creating an opportunity for connection that will last a lifetime.”
The colorful, comical series presents relatable characters and stories which touch on key themes such as diversity and inclusivity, collaboration and friendship. Jupiter Rocks! also cultivates musical appreciation and encourages kids to make music for themselves, with an original soundtrack of specially written songs from Weinman.
Joint creators and producers Lindner and Weinman are currently in discussion with multiple broadcasters and distributors.
“There is a real buzz around Jupiter Rocks!, a unique new show in which the newest kid from Earth, Penelope, dazzles her new friends on Jupiter when she joins the school band. Her new sounds make the alien kids go wild!” Lindner enthused. “The series is a celebration of diversity and inclusivity as her friends in The Space Rocks collaborate to solve problems as they embark on some wacky adventures using Penny’s superpower, music! This feel-good show is sure to keep children and their parents entertained and we look forward to introducing Jupiter Rocks! to potential partners.”
Jupiter Rocks!
Acclaimed children’s author, parenting expert and creator Lindner wrote and stars in Miss Danielle’s Preschoolbuds, a kids’ series adapted from her book series of the same name which is available free on Prime Video. Incorporating song, live action and interactive lessons that challenge, engage and entertain, the show follows everyone’s favorite teacher, Miss Danielle, as she is joined by the Preschoolbuds who learn about the world around them and what being a kid in Niceville is all about. (daniellelindner.com)
Weinman is an American musician, film composer and music manager, most notable for being the co-founder, lead guitarist and primary songwriter of Dillinger Escape Plan. He combines intricate speed with depth of feeling on his guitar, garnering admiration from guitarists worldwide, and was named one of the “100 greatest guitarists of all time” by Spin magazine. Weinman has performed with acts such as Nine Inch Nails, System of a Down and The Prodigy, and collaborated with rapper Wyclef Jean. Weinman also composed the scores for the films Alien Abduction, Red 48, The Survivalist and the upcoming film Banshee.
GFM Animation has boarded animated feature comedy Molesworth to handle worldwide distribution sales, working with production studio Lupus Films and producers Camilla Deakin and Ruth Fielding on production financing. Based on the bestselling series of boarding school books by Geoffrey Willans and illustrated by Ronald Searle, the film will be directed by accomplished animator Uli Meyer (Space Jam, Mary Poppins Returns, Chip ‘N’ Dale: Rescue Rangers).
“Bringing to life this much-loved character, using Uli Myer’s fabulous 2D skills and great script, creates a great adventure story that we’re confident will appeal to a modern audience worldwide. We are delighted to partner with Lupus Films. It’s great to be working with a proven British animation studio,” said Sean Feeney, Head of Production for GFM Animation.
Synopsis:
Molesworth tells the story of Nigel Molesworth, a self-confident, tousle-haired public school boy with a mischievous nature and a penchant for daydreams. It is a tale of adventure, mystery and just a touch of romance (much to Molesworth’s disgust!). But mainly it’s about the high japes he gets up to with his schoolfriends from St Custards School for Boys as they go head-to-head at an Interschool Festival with the pupils from St Moderns School for Girls.
Pitched against each other there is much more at stake than a gold cup to gather dust in a trophy cabinet. St Custards’ useless headmaster has gambled away the school funds and if new funds can’t be raised, the school will close. This could mean — horror of horrors! — merging with the girls school. Luckily, Molesworth has another plan. He has discovered that there is a fabled treasure buried under the school. All he needs to do is get past the headteacher, his evil henchwoman Matron, the gangsters, and the St Custards crocodile…. Easy!
The feature is being produced by multi-award-winning studio Lupus Films (Deakins and Fielding) and Luxembourg’s Mélusine Productions (Stéphan Roelants), which has credits on acclaimed hand-drawn features Ernest and Celestine, Song of the Sea, The Breadwinner, Wolfwalkers and Summit of the Gods. The screenplay is written by Keiron Self and Giles New (The Canterville Ghost, A Christmas Number One). The role of Molesworth himself will be voiced by Matt Lucas (Bridesmaids, Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland).
“The Molesworth series of books were among my favorites when I was growing up. The hilarious humor and wonderful illustrations by Ronald Searle cry out to be adapted as animation,” commented Deakin. “We’ve always been great admirers of Uli Meyer’s work at Lupus Films, so when he asked us to come on board this exciting project we jumped at the chance.”
Lupus Films recently celebrated their 20th anniversary, during which time they have created high-quality entertainment for families worldwide, including The Snowman & The Snow Dog, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, The Tiger Who Came to Tea and the forthcoming feature adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s novel Kensuke’s Kingdom.
“It has been a lifelong dream to bring Geoffrey Willan’s and Ronald Searle’s iconic characters from the Molesworth books to life in an original story,” added Meyer. “Teaming up with Camilla and Ruth from Lupus Film was a no-brainer. As any fule kno…”
Comedy Central has dropped an action-packed trailer for its new adult animated comedy Digman!, following the questionable adventures of a washed up archaeology superstar trying to get back in the dirt and set to a rather haunting cover of “All Star” by Smashmouth. The debut toon written and produced by Emmy and Golden Globe winner Andy Samberg (Palm Springs), with co-creator/showrunner Neil Campbell (Brooklyn Nine-Nine), premieres Wednesday, March 22 at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT.
The half-hour animated series 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 principal cast 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).
As previously announced, the Season 1 guest cast list for Digman! includes Clancy Brown, Andy Daly, Cole Escola, Harvey Guillén, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Marc Evan Jackson, Rachel Kaly, Kerri Kenney, Lauren Lapkus, Jane Lynch, Mike Mitchell, Kyle Mooney, Claudia O’Doherty, Lennon Parham, Daniel Radcliffe, Maya Rudolph, Paul Rust, Jason Schwartzman, Carl Tart, Joe Lo Truglio and Edgar Wright.
The series is created by Samberg and Campbell and produced by CBS Studios alongside Ali Bell and The Lonely Island’s Party Over Here. Animation studio Titmouse and Chris Prynoski, Shannon Prynoski, Antonio Canobbio and Ben Kalina are executive producers.
Carlos Gaxiola, Angel Ibarra A., and their team at Guadalajara-based animation studio Demente have teamed up with show creators Michel Montijo and Steve Skrovan (Everybody Loves Raymond, Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, School of Rock) of Laka Laka Entertainment to take their supernatural passion project The Go-Go Brothersto market. The producers are looking to hook broadcast partners with an energetic, monster-bashing new trailer.
Synopsis: Rodrigo, Santiago, and Diego Gomez are the “Go-Go Brothers,” three young boys who hunt the monsters of urban legends that haunt every region of the country. Traveling around in an old RV with their unsuspecting carny parents and led by Catori, their spirit guide, the boys capture various scary creatures and send them off to Monsterland so that children everywhere can have sweet dreams.
The Go-Go Brothers, main charactersThe Go-Go Brothers, monsters
“Every area of the country has some sort of scary, weird urban legend creature,” explains Montijo. “We looked it up. There are thousands of them, each a product of the geographical area. If a town has a swamp, sure enough there’s a swamp creature, a mountain, there’s a mountain creature, a desert, there’s a desert creature. The possibilities are endless … Because the parents are carnies, the family can travel all across the country and beyond, so the Go-Go Brothers and Catori can encounter so many different types of situations.”
“And it’s wide open for colorful, unique animation and storytelling specific to each particular region,” Demente’s Gaxiola adds.
The series of 11-minute episodes aimed at kids six- to 12-years old begin when the Gomez family vehicle breaks down en route to a gig, and the three boys are dispatched to get new wheels while Papa and Mama try to make it to the carnival owned by grumpy Mr. Crump, who has it in for them. The brothers score a cheap RV, only to find it is already occupied by a ghost.
Catori, the restless spirit, is on a mission to hunt down the monsters of urban legends that haunt the dreams of children everywhere… She just hasn’t been able to catch a single one, so far. In the pilot episode, the Go-Go Brothers and Catori hunt down mischievous gremlins wreaking havoc, having migrated from the “airplane graveyard” nearby.
The Go-Go Brothers – Carnival style frame
Demente has worked with major international entertainment companies such as Warner Bros. Animation (Night of the Animated Dead), WildBrain (Animal Mechanicals), Mattel (Hello Kitty and Friends Mini Tales), Moonbug (Thomas & Friends), Augenblick Studios (City Island), Bardel (Rick and Morty), Bento Box and Titmouse, among others. Its current slate also includes the first project under its pact with multiplatform lucha libre entertainment company Masked Republic, Legend of Luchasatsu .
Themes of loss, friendship, resilience and inspiration weave together in We the Lightnings, a deeply personal short film written, and directed by Icelandic musician/filmmaker Kristin Bjork Kristjansdottir, a.k.a. Kira Kira (Grandma Lo-fi; composer, Dream Corp LLC). Ahead of the five-song original soundtrack drop on digital and 10″ vinyl (from Reykjavik Record Shop) on March 10, Animation Magazine is pleased to share a behind-the-scenes featurette in which the creator shares the influences and process of crafting the film’s music.
“The music I wrote for We the Lightnings is an act of love for that which remains with us at times of loss. So rather than lamenting what or those who have passed, I like to gently move on in the certainty that love does not die,” says Kira Kira. “Music is energy and keeping a sacred space of clarity around it is paramount to me. That does not mean articulating why or explaining how. It is just a filtering system that only lets love through. I hope the music beams some sense of wonder and comfort out there.”
We the Lightnings is a dreamlike hybrid animation about how love and friendship can rescue us when we are at our lowest, grieving a loss. Featuring artwork by Oscar-nominated My Year of Dicks director Sara Gunnarsdóttir, the film is a 12-year labor of love.
Promotional group portrait for ‘We the Lightnings’ by Sara Gunnarsdóttir
Synopsis:
Núa burns through her last drops of gasoline to get to a sanctuary at the end of the road, where powerhouses, musicians and mystics have gathered for a letting go ritual in honor of her mother’s passing.
Music, performed by an ensemble of Icelandic musicians who appear in the film and play on the score, serves as the welcoming embrace that catches Nua on her arrival back home after her life has spiraled out of control.
We the Lightnings is produced by Ursus Parvus and Powernap Productions, co-produced by Nýr kafli. The film had its premiere at the 2021 Reykjavik International Film Festival. Distribution is handled by 7 Palms Entertainment.
A supermajority of production workers at Walt Disney Animation Studio (WDAS) has unionized with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) to bargain their first collective agreement. However, studio leadership refused to voluntarily recognize the organizing effort and chose to exclude more than half of the bargaining unit based on job title.
The Animation Guild points out that this decision to specifically exclude production managers and production supervisors, runs contrary to the studio’s past practice of recognizing workers who perform comparable duties across multiple existing collective bargaining agreements. The IATSE, supported by The Animation Guild, has an existing union contract with Walt Disney Animation Studios under The Secret Lab agreement that covers more than 550 feature film artists, including CG artists, storyboard artists, character designers, animation supervisors, visual effects supervisors, etc.
The WDAS Production Organizing Committee responded to the news with this statement:
“Disney denying Production Coordinators, Production Supervisors, and Production Managers voluntary recognition and trying to divide us signals that they want us to be scared, to give up, and accept less than we deserve. If they think this will make Production cower, they are wrong. Production is a craft in its own right, and by forming our union we are saying we deserve to have viable and sustainable careers paths, living wages, and the ability to retire with dignity.”
Steve Kaplan, Business Representative for IATSE Local 839 / The Animation Guild, says, “We gave the studio an opportunity to work collaboratively, but their refusal to voluntarily recognize the bargaining unit directly challenges the supermajority of support for unionizing the workers. We take the request for representation to heart, and we will commit resources to ensuring that the production workers achieve the rights and improved conditions that only a collective agreement can bring.”
The IATSE, on behalf of The Animation Guild, filed a petition for an NLRB election on March 6, 2023.
“Every behind-the-scenes entertainment worker deserves a chance to make their voice heard and democratically decide for themselves if they want to be represented by a union. It’s disturbing that the Walt Disney Company would prefer to create division within one of its own workplaces by trying to single out some workers from a unionizing group just so they can pay them less and deny them the benefits and protections they deserve,” adds IATSE International President Matthew D. Loeb. “Disney already employs IATSE members as department heads and similar job titles across their business. This is a blatant attempt to undermine the collective bargaining rights of our members and to drive down standards for all workers in our industry. We’re not leaving anyone behind. We’ll see you at the NLRB.”
The production workers at Disney united to oppose low wages, unpaid overtime and other unsustainable workplace practices. The group has been pursuing their contract goals for more than a year.
“The compensation we currently receive doesn’t come close to matching the value of the work being performed, let alone allow most of us to be financially independent. Our salaries make it difficult for us to stay in these jobs we love as a lifelong career and live a moderately comfortable life without being financially dependent on a partner, parent or second job,” says Production Coordinator Hannah Bialosky. “Meanwhile, the content we help create goes on to make billions of dollars for Disney through box office revenue, merchandise, gaming, publishing, streaming, parks attractions and more. It is past time the studio recognizes our value and the critical role we play in their productions and compensate us fairly.”
Allison Smartt, who has been working with the group to unionize, notes, “Like the beloved characters and films they are integral in making, these animation production workers are everyday people who found the strength within themselves to do something extraordinary — collectively demanding respect, equity, and dignity by forming a union. Now, they need the support of their community to achieve their goal.”
IATSE and the WDAS Production Organizing Committee have launched a solidarity petition for public support of their efforts. You can find it here.
Paramount+ today announced that the second season of adult animated series Mike Judge’s Beavis and Butt-head will premiere two episodes on the service Thursday, April 20 in the U.S. and Canada, and in Australia and the U.K. on Friday, April 21, with further international markets to follow.
In the second season, Beavis and Butt-Head triumphantly return as two guys who like things that are cool and don’t like things that suck.
Mike Judge’s Beavis and Butt-head is executive-produced by Mike Judge, Lew Morton and Michael Rotenberg, and Chris Prynoski, Shannon Prynoski, Ben Kalina and Antonio Canobbio for animation studio Titmouse.
Created and voiced by writer, producer and director Mike Judge, the characters of Beavis and Butt-Head originated in Judge’s 1992 short film Frog Baseball, which was broadcast by MTV’s animation showcase Liquid Television. After MTV commissioned a full series around the characters, Beavis and Butt-head ran for seven seasons, from March 8, 1993 to Nov. 28, 1997. The series was revived in 2011 with an eighth season airing on MTV.
During its initial run, Beavis and Butt-Head received widespread critical acclaim for its satirical commentary on society. The show’s popularity spawned various related media, including the theatrical film Beavis and Butt-Head Do America in 1996.
Paramount+ also hosts the critically acclaimed Paramount+ original film Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe, the 1996 classic movie Beavis and Butt-Head Do America, as well as remastered versions of the classic series.
South Africa-based international SVOD platform Showmax is ready to score with its first original animated series, Jay Jay: The Chosen One. A super heroic reimagining of the childhood of Nigerian football legend Augustine “Jay Jay” Okocha, the 13-episode series premieres April 6.
Okocha played for the Nigerian national team between 1993 and 2006 and led the country to Olympic victory at the 1996 Atlanta games. He also played in three FIFA World Cups and has become a celebrated football commentator. The new series is designed to be a representational boost for Nigerian children, full of positivity, humor and educational content that will motivate young viewers through fantasy adventures and the power of sport.
Jay Jay: The Chosen One follows the adventures of Augustine, an 11-year-old boy who dreams of representing his school at a prestigious football tournament with a team made up of his rag-tag group of friends. The series charts Jay Jay’s passion for football, as well as his love for the animal kingdom, who in return for his fight against illegal poaching, bestow superpowers upon him.
“I’m honored to have an animated series that reimagines my childhood. Jay Jay: The Chosen One is going to bring back good childhood memories as well as inspire young children who have dreams to be football players,” said Okocha. “I’m excited about the show and grateful to Showmax and the production team who worked hard to bring it to life.”
The series is voiced by a talented Nigerian cast, including award-winning teen actor Prince Unigwe (Glamour Girls, Samson in 2nd February), who voices young Jay Jay; veteran actor Chinedu Ikedieze (Aki of Aki and PawPaw, Efe on The Johnsons); Samuel Ajibola (Spiff on The Johnsons); pro-footballer turned actor Eric Obinna; Tinsel actress Mena Sodje; upcoming actor Lexan Peters; and child actor Pamilerin Ayodeji (Daniella in The Father).
“We are so excited to bring this first-of-its-kind series to our streaming audience,” said Yolisa Phahle, CEO of Showmax and Connected Video at MultiChoice. “Not only is Jay Jay: The Chosen One another locally inspired Showmax Original, it marks the beginning of our adventures in animation. This is a show we believe will find audiences globally and shines the spotlight on yet another world-class African achiever that we hope will be enjoyed by kids and the entire family.”
The series soundtrack features music from popular Nigerian singer and vocalist, Waje.
Jay Jay: The Chosen One is animated by Pune-based Nihilent Limited in partnership with the production studio 5th Dimension as well as animation studio iRealities, both based in Mumbai.
“I always knew that creating a sports-based animation series for kids would be challenging and rewarding at the same time,” noted LC Singh, Director & Executive Vice Chairman of Nihilent Limited. “The amount of work that goes into every single frame is immense, but seeing the final product come to life makes it all worth it. I’m grateful for the opportunity to bring this vision to the world and to collaborate with such talented Nigerian voice artists, animators, and Showmax.”
New episodes of Jay Jay: The Chosen will roll out exclusively on Showmax.com every Thursday following the April 6 premiere.
Melissa Benoist (HBO Max’s upcoming Girls on the Bus) joins the voice cast of the Emmy-nominated He-Man adaptation Masters of the Universe: Revolution as the heroine, Teela. Fresh off her run as the titular superhero Kara Danvers/Kara Zor-El in the hit CW show Supergirl, Benoist joins an all-star cast which includes Chris Wood as He-Man, Emmy nominee Mark Hamill as Skeletor and William Shatner in a still-to-be announced role.
Just in time for International Women’s Day, today’s news marks Benoist’s third collaboration with Kevin Smith, having previously appeared in the films Jay and Silent Bob Reboot and Clerks III. Benoist’s role as Teela will mark her second time working with husband Chris Wood, who appeared in the earlier seasons of Supergirl as Mon-El.
“I jumped at the opportunity to work alongside my friend, Kevin Smith and join the Revolution family as another bold and fearless heroine,” said Melissa Benoist. “I look forward to sharing the next evolution of Teela’s story with fans.”
Set as the follow-up to 2021’s Revelation, Revolution finds Benoist joining the fray as Teela alongside He-Man and the rest of the Masters as they struggle to save Eternia from the tangles of darkness. Revolution is an all-new story that focuses on the classic He-Man vs. Skeletor rivalry in a way audiences have never seen before. It’s technology up against magic as He-Man and the heroic warriors face the forces of Skeletor and a deadly threat to the Planet in the next epic chapter in the battle for Eternia.
“On the heels of our 40th anniversary, He-Man is more prevalent in pop culture than ever before, which is why we’re especially excited to bring the force that is Melissa Benoist into the fold,” said Fred Soulie, Senior Vice President and General Manager at Mattel Television. “Melissa already exemplifies every aspect of Teela’s formidable personality, and we know that she will continue to showcase the same heart as she did in Supergirl, providing audiences with a new iteration of a classic character synonymous with strength and heroism.”
Masters of the Universe: Revolution is set to debut on Netflix in 2024 and is executive produced by Mattel’s Fred Soulie, Rob David and Christopher Keenan, as well as Ted Biaselli and Kevin Smith.
Dennis Jackson, the creator the award-winning children’s series Wapos Bay, has teamed up with his son, Eric Jackson of Saskatoon’s Paxolotl Media Inc., along with Leif Kaldor and Leslea Mair of Winnipeg’s Zoot Pictures to present CHUMS, a new 3D animation series for preschoolers 3-6. An initial season of 9 x 30’ episodes of the series is currently in production in Winnipeg and Saskatoon for broadcasters APTN and Citytv Saskatchewan. The series is slated to premiere in early 2024 and will also be available for streaming on APTN lumi.
In the world of CHUMS, ayoung eaglet named Ira and herrag tag group of furry friends on Turtle Island are discovering their relationships to each other and to their environment on mother earth. Ira’s group of “Chums” — friends — includes Flies with Eagles, a young girl who is always willing to help; Emiree, a baby beaver with the softest heart; Romper, a rabbit that has trouble paying attention; and Pterry, a ptarmigan who wishes he could fly better. Our newfound chums take it upon themselves to be the explorers of Turtle Island, and to discover and learn about the world around them.
CHUMS
CHUMS is designed to encourage the discovery of traditional Indigenous relationships to the animals and environment around us. It is being produced in three languages — English, Cree and Ojibwe — with the aim of helping to preserve Indigenous languages for children before official schooling begins. The show is formatted for lip synching and versioning the characters into the various languages.
Joining creator/director Darren Jackson and co-writer/producer Eric Jackson is an all-Indigenous creative team and cast. Zoot Pictures’ Leslea Mair is executive producing. The crew also includes art director Stephanie Boulet; tech design by Winnipeg-based FRANK Digital.
For many of the Indigenous kids doing the voices of the animated characters, this is their first acting break, and an opportunity to refine their skills behind the mic. That mentoring element is mirrored in the pairing of Saskatoon’s Paxolotl Media with veteran Winnipeg production company Zoot Pictures, aimed at developing more Indigenous production companies.
CHUMS
The project also marks the creation of a new animation studio based in the Canadian Prairies. The producers have assembled a team of animation talents from across the two provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The project offers experience to under-represented cast and tech people in the film and television industry and acts as an important vehicle for training and team building. Junior animators have been paired with experienced veterans as part of a multi-year program to train Indigenous animators, modelers and riggers.
“Beyond the entertaining and educational aspects of CHUMS, it’s really exciting to be working alongside my dad. I’ve been saying I would ever since I was a kid and he was getting his Bachelor’s degree in film,” says Eric Jackson of Paxolotl Media. “Creating an entirely new animation studio in the Prairies with my dad and my kids makes this a pretty unique thing for all of us. Not just now, but for the future if they follow in our footsteps to continue creating Indigenous stories.”
CHUMS
Executive producer Leslea Mair of Zoot Pictures adds, “CHUMS is an exciting, innovative project is so many ways, and we’re fortunate that our broadcast partners, APTN and Citytv Saskatchewan, have been such enthusiastic supporters of it from the get-go as well as each step along the way.”
CHUMS was developed with APTN, the Canada Media Fund and the Indigenous Screen Office. The series is produced with the participation of the Shaw Rocket Fund, the Canada Media Fund, the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit, the Manitoba Provincial Tax Credit, the Saskatchewan Feature Film and Television Production Grant Program and the Indigenous Screen Office.
CHUMS
Kerry Moraes-Sugiyama, the APTN executive in charge of Indigenous language production on a national level, says that the network is excited about this new series. “This animated series connects young children to mother earth and helps lead to some great conversations about our relationships.”
Dennis Jackson created the classic Canadian stop-motion series Wapos Bay, which aired from 2005 to 2011 on APTN as well as on the First Nations Experience Network (FNX) in the U.S. The show’s pilot episode won the Canada Award for best multicultural program as well as a Golden Sheaf Award for best children’s production. The first two seasons were co-produced by the National Film Board of Canada.
Sony Music Entertainment’s Premium Content Division today announced a partnership with Leo Messi Management SL to develop a new, original animated series inspired by Argentinian soccer star Lionel Messi.
Currently in development, the series will depict Messi as a child as he confronts obstacles while traveling throughout a video game. Produced for children and young adolescent audiences, the global series will feature original music from Sony Music Ent. artists and composers.
“Since I was a kid, I’ve always loved animated series and my kids are big fans of animated characters. Being able to participate in an animation project makes me happy, because it fulfills one of my dreams! I would like to thank Sony Music for joining this project and we hope that everyone will like the result, especially the girls and the boys,” said Messi.
To date, Rosario-born Messi is the only athlete in the world to win seven Ballon d’Or awards, six FIFA World Player of the Year awards, six Golden Boots and two World Cup Golden Balls. In addition, Messi led Argentina to a World Cup win in December 2022. Off the pitch, Messi is recognized for his sportsmanship and passion for the sport, which will be featured heavily throughout the series.
“It is a privilege for Sony Music to collaborate with Lionel Messi on this project to showcase the power and lessons of sports in partnership with the greatest football player of all time and one of the greatest athletes in history,” said Fernando Cabral, Executive Vice President, Business Development, Latin-Iberia Regional, Sony Music Entertainment. “We look forward to bringing this heartwarming and humbling series to screens for audiences of all ages around the world.”
The series will be available in English, Spanish and several other languages. Sony Music’s Premium Content Division will oversee the development and distribution of the series.
For moviegoers seeking a unique, surreal and probing animated experience, New York City’s Film Forum will present the U.S. theatrical premiere of Pierre Földes’ Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman on Friday, April 14. Following this engagement, the critically acclaimed European co-pro will enjoy a wider rollout across U.S. theaters through Zeitgeist Films.
Adapted from internationally bestselling author Haruki Murakami’s short stories and brought to the big screen using an innovative live-action 3D motion-capture process, the Film Forum describes an animated tale wherein ‘mundane and psychedelic narratives interlock ingeniously, as each protagonist traverses emotional and physical distances, fantasy and memory, in search of deeper human connection. The result is an elegant, whimsical and haunting experience.’
Synopsis: A lost cat, a voluble giant toad and a tsunami help an unambitious salesman, his frustrated wife and a schizophrenic accountant save Tokyo from an earthquake and find meaning in their lives.
Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman had its world premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, where it was awarded the Jury Distinction for Best Feature. The film also won the Grand Prize at Anima, the Brussels International Animation Film Festival, and screened at festivals in Toronto, Busan and Rotterdam.
The project is the feature film directorial debut of composer Földes (son of Oscar-nominated computer animation pioneer Peter Foldes), who also wrote, animated and composed. Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman is produced by Tom Dercourt, Pierre Baussaron, Olivier Pere, Pierre Urbain, Emmanuel-Alain Raynal, David Mouraire.
The voice cast features Ryan Bommarito (Komura), Shoshana Wilder (Kyoko), Marcelo Arroyo (Katagiri), Scott Humphrey (Sasaki), Arthur Holden (Mr. Suzuki) and Pierre Földes as the Frog.
Production companies are Cinéma Defacto and Miyu Productions (France), in coproduction with Studio MA (France), micro_scope (Canada), An Original Picture (Netherlands), Doghouse Films (Luxembourg), Production l’Unité Centrale (Canada), Arte France Cinéma and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Cinéma. The Match Factory handles international sales.
Film Forum presents Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman with support from the Roy Lichtenstein Foundation Fund and the Ada Katz Fund for Literature in Film.
Banijay Kids and Family today announced a partnership with Belgian publisher Editions Dupuis (Spirou, Lucky Luke), part of Média-Participations, to transform the hit ‘spy-fi’ animation Totally Spies! into a unique webtoon for recently launched digital platform ONO.
Developed for smartphone reading, the vertical strips will bring the characters of Totally Spies! to a new medium. The webtoon will be available as a weekly serialization in French, and available for foreign rights.
“We are so pleased to announce this very exciting deal which marks the start of our relaunch strategy of this iconic brand, prior to the new series reveal on M6/GULLI (France) and Discovery Kids LatAm in 2024,” said Delphine Dumont, Chief Commercial Officer, Banijay Kids & Family. “Lots more to come for our favorite spies!”
Totally Spies! Webtoon
The 2D-animated Totally Spies! franchise, produced by Zodiak Kids & Family France, is set to return to screens in 2024 with a brand-new series, following its original six-season run between 2001 and 2013. The upcoming series follows the three legendary secret agents, Sam, Clover and Alex, as they move to a new city and take on a fresh crop of villains.
“Totally Spies! is a globally-loved show with a strong existing fanbase, and given the excitement for the new series, demand from fans for brand extensions is high. Webtoons offer a new and modern reading format for young audiences, and this project will ensure we continue catering to our audiences and the changing ways in which they consume their entertainment,” notes Annick Bizet, New Business & Strategic Alliances Director, Banijay Kids & Family.
Stéphane Ferrand, Senior Publishing Director, Editions Dupuis adds, “Strong, leading female characters, action and adventure, humor, fashion, gadgets … Totally Spies! is one of those rare transgenerational licences whose ingredients conceal an ever-relevant modernity. The webtoon is now a favored medium for reading content among young people around the world and the marriage between this and such a strong IP was inevitable.”
The highly anticipated animated fantasy-adventure Mavka. The Forest Song, produced by The Stolen Princess studio Animagrad (FILM.UA Group) in Ukraine, has dropped its official international trailer as the feature film prepares to share its folkloric enchantments with audiences around the world. Mavka premiered domestically on March 2 and set box-office records with its opening, beating out Avatar: The Way of Water with 189,048 admissions.
Mavka. The Forest Song launches its wide theatrical release with more than 80 countries already having acquired distribution rights — and the list is still growing. More than 50 countries and territories have set release dates.
The adventure follows Mavka — a Soul of the Forest and its Warden — as she faces an impossible choice between love and her duty as guardian to the Heart of the Forest, when she falls in love with a human, the talented young musician Lukas. The ambitious CG animated project is inspired by ancient Slavic traditions and rituals, ornaments and patterns, national visual symbols in costumes, folk melodies and also by the classic fairytale drama “The Forest Song” by Ukrainian poetess Lesya Ukrainka. Environmental protection themes and local wildlife are also strongly represented.
“Our partners are attracted by the quality of animation, a universal story, a combination of drama and humor, and music,” says Evgeniy Drachov, head of FILM.UA Distribution. “Mavka. The Forest Song has all the makings of a family animation success, and sales in a large number of territories show that our opinion is shared by professionals all over the world. We hope that the audience will like Mavka. The Forest Song, because the story of love and struggle for one’s world should resonate with people worldwide.”
‘Mavka. The Forest Song’ theatrical release map provided by Animagrad (FILM.UA Group)
On February 26, Italia Film, Muvi Cinemas and FILM.UA Group, with the support of the Embassy of Ukraine in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, held a highly attended pre-release screening, kicking off Mavka‘s wide theatrical release across the Middle East (Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen) and North Africancountries (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia, Western Sahara, et al), where the film hit screens March 2. On March 5, a screening of Mavka took place in Abu Dhabi.
Upcoming: On March 29, Universal Pictures Content Group and KMBO distribution company will release Mavka. The Forest Song across France, with a same day release in Belgium. Mavka will then roll out to New Zealand and Australia (April 6), The Netherlands (April 19), Italy (April 20), Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Macedonia, Kosovo (April 27), Andorra and Spain (April 28) and Vietnam (April 29), then to Hungary and Portugal (May 4) and Romania (May 12), Serbia and Montenegro (June 29), Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania )(July 14) and Turkey (August 25).
Release dates for the United States, Canada, LatinAmerica, South Korea, Mongolia, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Denmark, Finland,
Norway, Sweden and others will be announced soon in partnership with local distributors who have already acquired the film.
Mavka. The Forest Song first drew international attention when the initial teaser was presented at the MIFA content market in 2017, held within the Annecy International Animated Film Festival. That same year, it was the only Ukrainian project to be selected to pitch at Cartoon Movie in Bordeaux, for two years in a row. The project has since grown into a multi-platform “Mavka Universe” IP, which brings together people from the creative, technological and business spheres, scientific and public institutions, and government agencies.
Learn more aboutMavka. The Forest Song at mavka.ua and check out the new international trailer below.
The BAFTA Award-winning animated children’s TV series SuperTed celebrates its 40th anniversary with a new distribution and production deal with a new distribution deal with Splash Entertainment that will see a March 8 re-launch on kids’ AVOD channel Kabillion.
“This is the re-birth of a wonderful character who will now be introduced internationally to a completely new age demographic,” explains Francesca O’Keeffe, Managing Director of Petalcraft Demonstrations Ltd., the SuperTed rights owning company.
Originally created by Mike Young, who now serves as CEO of Splash Ent., SuperTed attained many achievements over the years, including being the first-ever outside production acquired by the Walt Disney Company. The classic series was commissioned by the Welsh-language television network S4C from Cardiff-based Siriol Animation, and has aired in just about every country in the world.
“I’m delighted that this iconic series, originally commissioned by S4C 40 years ago, gave Welsh children such pleasure in the past and now has the opportunity to entertain a new audience of young viewers,” said Sioned Geraint, S4C’s Content Commissioner for Children and Education.
Young added, “This is a truly emotional moment for me and my family to see the rejuvenation of our very first animated show and character.”
With over 200 SuperTed books published, the brand also became a staple of merchandise success, led by the toy teddy bear who shed his fur to reveal his secret Super-Bear identity.
The original 40-year-old fully animated production was recently revised through a technical “up-resolution” process and re-formatted to meet modern-day television requirements. In celebration of SuperTed’s anniversary and Welsh heritage, one full
episode will be included in the Welsh language.
Kabillion is a top-five network containing safe, age-appropriate, and free on-demand programming featuring branded channels “Pre-school,” “Girls Rule” (6–11) and “Action” (6–11). The Emmy Award-winning Kabillion runs on-demand on all major U.S. cable networks, including Spectrum and Comcast, as well as digitally on Roku, Amazon Fire, Apple and others.
Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) and Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) tonight announced the winners of the 2023 Writers Guild Awards (awards.wga.org) for outstanding achievement in writing for film, television, new media, news, radio/audio, and promotional categories during concurrent ceremonies.
Of interest to our readers, the Animation category saw a bit of a coup for the new generation of thoughtful, high-concept adult toons as first time nominee Undone (Prime Video) won out over three nominations for 13-time winner The Simpsons, Bob’s Burgers and Tuca & Bertie. The award went to episode “Rectify,” written by Elijah Aron & Patrick Metcalf.
Undone “Rectify”
The 73rd Annual ACE Eddie Awards (americancinemaeditors.org) presented by American Cinema Editors (ACE) announced winners Sunday night, recognizing outstanding editing in 14 categories of film, television and documentaries. The animated winners are:
Best Edited Animated Feature Film — Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio | Ken Schretzmann, ACE; Holly Klein
Best Edited Animated Series — Love, Death + Robots “Bad Travelling” | Kirk Baxter, ACE
In addition to the announcement of winners in competitive categories, Gina Prince-Bythewood accepted the prestigious ACE Golden Eddie Award for distinguished achievement in film. Film editors Lynne Willingham, ACE and Don Zimmerman, ACE received Career Achievement Awards for their outstanding contributions to film editing. The event was hosted by Ashley Nicole Black and presided over by ACE President Kevin Tent, ACE.
Ahead of the weekend, PETA announced its annual Oscat Award winners (peta.org). For the sixth year running, the group is recognizing compassionate stars and movies that used storylines, costumes and special effects to promote kindness to animals.
DreamWorks scored a double win at the Oscats. The studio’s star-studded sequel Puss in Boots: The Last Wish nabbed Best Animated Feature for promoting adoption and condemning hoarding and declawing animals. And its animated heist comedy The Bad Guys was honored with the Test Students, Not Animals award for its message that the real “bad guys” are the ones experimenting on animals.
Winning Best Actor for his role in Jurassic World: Dominion, Jeff Goldblum wowed the crowd with his in-character speech as Dr. Ian Malcolm, warning against using animals (dinosaurs) in research and declaring that “human beings have no more right to safety or liberty than any other creature on this planet.”
PETA also said “Yup” to Jordan Peele with its Primo Primate award for his use of a computer-generated chimpanzee in Nope’s haunting depiction of why wild animals don’t belong on television sets, created by MPC.
