Award-winning children’s educational and life skills app Lingokids has launched a new series for kids called Lucas and Me. In an ever-changing world that sometimes forgets the power of play, the series follows a delightful mouse and puppy duo that embark on adventures together and learn important modern life skills along the way.
Designed for ages 2-5, the show illustrates key lessons in friendship, responsibility and dealing with real-life situations through a blend of 2D animation and live puppets. In each episode, the two main characters model positive behaviors and attitudes for children to emulate. From facing fears during thunderstorms to learning about forgiveness, Lucas and Me supports children’s development by integrating educational lessons with delightful experiences and loveable characters.
Families can watch the trailer now on YouTube, and watch the series on the Lingokids app, where episodes will be released regularly.
“At Lingokids, we strongly believe that characters are the best learning companions for kids of all ages,” said Vladimir Klimov, Director of Content Strategy at Lingokids. “Lucas and Me gives life to two entertaining friends who will help our youngest viewers obtain valuable knowledge about the world. It’s a show for the entire family with many plot elements that will engage parents as much as kids.”
Lucas and Me is created and directed by Guillermo García-Carsí, the creator of the kids’ animation hit Pocoyo. The scripts for the series were co-written by García-Carsí and Emmy-winning and Oscar-nominated studio Baboon Animation. Mike Pollock, known as the voice of iconic villain Dr. Eggman in Sonic the Hedgehog, provides the voice of the Mouse.
“The idea of Lucas and Me comes from my pet beagle, Lucas, from my teen years. It’s a character I’ve been wanting to develop for years now. My first attempt to introduce him was in Pocoyo as a secondary character named Lula, but now in this series he is the star, and we can appreciate his personality in all his humor and glory,” said García-Carsí.
“This is the story of a cute-as-chaotic beagle and his friend, a savvy mouse who teaches him about right and wrong, without losing his cool (or at least trying not to). The Lingokids series, Lucas and Me, can serve as a tool for us adults and for kids to guide us on how to deal with our chaotic instincts in our daily lives. Or you can just watch it for fun!”
New episodes of Lucas and Me will debut regularly on the Lingokids app.
Netflix has dropped a fully rocking, explosive and outrageous trailer for Agent Elvis, the new adult animated comedy series from Sony Pictures Animation that sees the music legend fulfill his lifelong dream of being a super spy. The spot promises plenty of secret agent action, femmes fatales and at least one monkey with questionable habits when the show drops on Friday, March 17.
Joining previously announced voice of Elvis Matthew McConaughey on the cast list are:
Kaitlin Olson as CeCe Ryder – CeCe is the unpredictable, highly skilled secret agent who barges into Elvis’ life when he joins TCB. A product of the counterculture, she enjoys annoying Elvis but is always mission-focused. Except for when she isn’t.
Johnny Knoxville as Bobby Ray – Elvis’ best friend and not-so-bright sidekick. He’s Elvis’ entourage all wrapped up into one and fully devoted to his boss, The King of Rock n Roll.
Niecy Nash as Bertie – Bertie is the strong-willed mother figure who has known Elvis since he was in diapers. She runs his day-to-day life and is the only one who can go toe-to-toe with Elvis.
Tom Kenny as Scatter – Elvis’ weaponized, chain-smoking, degenerate former NASA chimp with a trigger happy dark side.
Don Cheadle as The Commander – The mysterious spy master who runs the covert agency known as The Central Bureau (“TCB”). He’s the mercurial man in charge who knows where all the non-metaphorical bodies are buried.
The guest star line-up includes Ed Helms, Jason Mantzoukas, Christina Hendricks, Kieran Culkin, Chris Elliot, Asif Ali, Fred Armisen, Ego Nwodim, Simon Pegg, Craig Robinson, Gary Cole, George Clinton, Tara Strong and Tony Cavalero. Priscilla Presley, former wife of Elvis and co-creator of the series with John Eddie, will also be voicing herself in the show.
Synopsis: Elvis Presley trades in his jumpsuit for a jet pack when he is covertly inducted into a secret government spy program to battle the dark forces that threaten the country he loves — all while holding down his day job as the King of Rock and Roll.
https://youtu.be/UCk3wHGJ3qs
The series is the first adult animated project from Sony Pictures Animation (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) and is produced in partnership with Authentic Brands Group and Titmouse. Elvis Presley’s iconic look is brought into animation with the help of Academy Award nominee Robert Valley, and Agent Elvis’ wardrobe is designed by legendary fashion designer John Varvatos.
Mike Arnold is series showrunner, head writer and executive producer, with John Eddie as co-showrunner and writer. Executive producers are Kevin Noel, Matthew McConaughey, Chris Prynoski, Shannon Prynoski, Antonio Canobbio, Ben Kalina, Jamie Salter, Corey Salter and Marc Rosen. Fletcher Moules (Entergalactic) is co-exec producer.
Academy Award-nominated French animation studio Xilam Animation’s new CG-animated slapstick comedy series Karate Sheep (78 x 7’) is making its worldwide premiere on Netflix tomorrow (March 2), marking the launch of Netflix’s first animated commission that is supported by the French public funding body CNC.
To support the streaming launch, Xilam has developed an extensive digital and social media campaign. This includes a Karate Sheep YouTube channel, which features episodes, compilations and shorts and has achieved nearly 500,000 views since launching in January. A dedicated TikTok account has generated 3 million views, and a branded Karate Sheep filter is now available for use on the platform. On TikTok, over 25% of the Karate Sheep audience is from the U.S. market. Xilam is also developing a Karate Sheep gaming app for launch later this year.
Created by Xilam Animation’s Hugo Gittard (Zig & Sharko, Mr Magoo) Karate Sheep (formerly Trico) targets kids six- to nine-years old and follows Trico, an enthusiastic sheep who loves to share new objects and ideas with the rest of the flock. This causes trouble in the mountain pastures — especially for Wanda, a tough ewe whose job is to keep the sheep safe. This is no small feat, especially when Wolf is always lurking, waiting to make the most of the chaos.
“Slapstick comedies are a core part of our company’s legacy and DNA, so we’re excited to be collaborating with Netflix to bring another series in this genre to international audiences,” said Marc du Pontavice, Founder & CEO of Xilam Animation. “Karate Sheep is a unique blend of themes — there’s friendship, teamwork and accepting the differences of others, but there’s also martial arts, plenty of humor and a celebration of nature in the mix too. The response and engagement for our Karate Sheep digital campaign has been really positive, so we can’t wait to now see the response from families around the world.”
Xilam holds second-window global linear TV distribution and merchandising rights for Karate Sheep. The series premiered on Super RTL in late 2022.
Carl Reed, producer of the Academy Award-winning short Hair Love, has launched Composition Media — a diverse and forward-thinking animation studio with an innovative approach to making animated film and TV content for a global audience, with much of the content highlighting minority and underrepresented communities.
Reed’s St. Louis-based studio launches with a slate that includes two animated features and an animated kids TV series. The two movies are Bad Grandmas, co-produced alongside Steve Harvey’s East 112, and the previously announced Sky & Luna, a co-production with PoC Studios and Man of Action Entertainment.
“I am incredibly excited to finally unveil our animation studio and showcase the incredible work our team has been pouring their hearts and souls into,” said Reed, Founder & CEO of the new studio. “Our aim is to break the mold and elevate the art of animation by producing content that truly represents our audiences. But more than that, we want to push the boundaries of what animation can be. It’s time to move past the limitations of animation as just a genre and explore the limitless possibilities of this medium.”
Bad Grandmas is a 2D-animated adult-comedy film that follows a closely-knit group of unfiltered older ladies as they attempt to stay relevant as they age. They party, get Brazilian Butt Lifts, go to nightclubs and show how 65 is now the new 25. The movie is described as a cross between The Boondocks and The Golden Girls, and will feature a talented cast of comedians.
Created by Brandon Lee Anderson, who is represented by Joseph Adeife of Adeife & Rabii APC, and executive produced by Reed, Harvey and Brandon R. Williams, Bad Grandmas “celebrates the idea that it’s never too late to have fun and be young at heart.”
Sky & Luna represents the first movie in an eight-picture slate partnership Composition Media has with Labid Aziz’s PoC Studios. In the film, lonely 11-year-old Sky has finally found a new best friend who is out of this world … literally: Luna is a shapeshifting alien sent to Earth to explore the planet. Instead, she is hunted by a top-secret government organization tasked with eradicating extraterrestrial threats — an organization run by Sky’s own mother!
Sky & Luna will be directed by Man of Action’s Duncan Rouleau, with Patricia Villetto penning the screenplay, and is based on a story by Creation Station and Man of Action. Reed is producing the movie with Man of Action, Creation Station and PoC Studios’ Chief Creative Officer Andy Cosby.
Catapult Feud
On the TV front, Composition is adapting the popular and critically acclaimed board game Catapult Feud into an animated television series of the same title. The kids’ program centers on two feuding families, the Cunningfields and the Chauforts, who compete with catapults and conspiracies to conquer each other and rule the Kingdom. While the adults just can’t seem to get along, it’s not the end of the world (yet), because the next generation of Cunningfields and Chauforts have a plan to bring the peace…
Reed co-founded Lion Forge Comics in 2011, and later co-founded Lion Forge Animation in 2018, serving as its President and Chief Creative Officer. While with Lion Forge, Reed produced Matthew Cherry’s Hair Love, which won an Academy Award for Best Animated Short; Rise Up, Sing Out, an Annie Award and NAACP Image Award-nominated animated musical series featuring music by The Roots for Disney Junior/Disney+; and the Emmy-nominated animated musical series Rhymes Through Times, created by Nick Jr./Noggin and featuring music performed by Christopher Jackson (Hamilton).
As an organization that embraces and embodies disruption in the entertainment ecosystem, Composition Media presents universally themed stories to audiences looking for elevated content. Adopting a transmedia approach to seed and develop IP through collaboration with storytellers around the world, Composition Media brings fresh entertainment properties to audiences globally.
TodayHulu announced its partnership with OVFX Studios, the animation studio from The Outlook Company, that will make the streaming service the new home for the Kulipari franchise based on the popular children’s books written by former NFL player Trevor Pryce. The third season and latest addition to the franchise, entitled A King Rises, will be a three-episode arc that brings the “Amphibilands” saga to a close with the coronation of a new King of the Lands. It will debut on Hulu in late 2023.
The original first two seasons of the show, entitled Kulipari: An Army of Frogs and Kulipari: Dreamwalker, begin streaming today and come to Hulu as all-new special editions, remastered with new artwork, remixed sound and credit sequences. Both seasons will be featured in Hulu’s “Black Stories Always” hub honoring Black stories and visionary storytellers in February, and year-round.
Finally, the OVFX Studios’ first feature film will be a reboot of the first Kulipari book in the series, An Army of Frogs, in lifelike 3D, made with the latest in motion-capture technology and rendering techniques, that will restart the franchise in a fresh, reimagined way. It will premiere exclusively on Hulu in late 2024.
All projects, written and directed by Pryce, are being produced by The Outlook Company, a minority-owned, innovative digital animation and production studio in Baltimore in the Hoen Building, a new development near the Johns Hopkins Medical campus. It now houses a world-class, high-end capability animation studio with 80 artists, and has become the leader in the growing art ecosystem in the Mid-Atlantic region, particularly in Baltimore.
“We are beyond excited to partner with Hulu on the next productions of the Kulipari Franchise,” said Pryce. “They’ve been inspiring to us, and have trusted our process from the beginning. Especially being a new studio, one that is embracing cutting-edge technology and is partly funded with public and private capital, and staffed with mostly first-time artists, this is the opportunity we needed to show what this part of the world could do in the competitive franchise and pop culture space. And to do this in both 2D and 3D, we couldn’t have picked better partners to help us with that mission.”
Both upcoming projects are being distributed by Splash Entertainment out of Woodland Hills, California.
Kulipari: An Army of Frogs and Kulipari: Dreamwalker originally premiered as Netflix Original series in 2016 and 2018, respectively. The voice cast featured Josh Keaton, Mikey Kelley, Lacey Chabert, Phil Lamarr, Keith David, Charlie Adler, Wendie Malick, Mark Hamill, Jess Harnell, Candi Milo, Cree Summer, Kevin Michael Richardson, Kath Soucie, Rolonda Watts, Amy Margolis and Laraine Newman.
MotorTrend Group, a Warner Bros. Discovery company, will premiere the MotorTrend Original Series Super Turbo Story Time on March 14 across the brand’s television and streaming platforms. MotorTrend’s first animated show, developed in partnership with award-winning studio Titmouse (Big Mouth, The Legend of Vox Machina, Pantheon), celebrates car culture through a celebrity-storyteller format featuring boisterous, over-the-top adult animation that both seasoned car fans and audiences new to the automotive world can enjoy.
The comedic series will launch with a two-episode premiere of back-to-back airings on Tuesday, March 14 at 10 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. ET/PT on MotorTrend TV. It will also be available on the MotorTrend+ streaming service the same day. The series will continue with half-hour blocks on Tuesdays at 10 p.m. The first episode is available free on MotorTrend+ without a subscription.
Each show in the eight-episode first season of Super Turbo Story Time is hosted by a new pair of celebrity guests who share larger-than-life, untold and (mostly) true stories from the automotive world. While one host shares their most unbelievable automotive tale, the other host listens intently, ready to flag any holes in the story or simply crack jokes from the peanut gallery. Using energetic, stylized animation blended with active interviews with top celebrities and automotive authorities, the series brings each host’s narrative to life in a highly entertaining, informative style.
Featured hosts include Rob Corddry, comedian, producer and co-host of Top Gear America on MotorTrend+; actress, producer and car builder Emelia Hartford; David Freiburger, co-host of Roadkill on MotorTrend+; rapper, actor and songwriter Xzibit; Kristen Lee, automotive journalist; racer and the voice of Formula D, Jarod DeAnda; Jeff Glucker, co-founder and executive editor of Hooniverse; Dave Shuten of Discovery Channel’s Car Kings; actress and stunt woman of Death Proof, Zoë Bell; actor, comedian, writer and producer Colton Dunn; and more.
Super Turbo Story Time is a co-production from Titmouse and MotorTrend Studio, a division of MotorTrend Group. For Titmouse, Daniel C. Katz is executive producer (Deep Space 69, Triptank). Chris Prynoski (The Legend of Vox Machina), Shannon Prynoski (Fairfax), Antonio Canobbio (Arlo the Alligator Boy) and Ben Kalina (Big Mouth) also executive produce. For MotorTrend Group, Gabriel VanHuss is executive producer and VP Development, Levi Rugg is executive producer, Mike Suggett is Head of Programming & Development, and Alex Wellen is Global President & General Manager.
MotorTrend is available on Amazon Prime Video Channels in the U.S., U.K. and Canada, Apple TV Channels and Roku Premium Subscriptions. MotorTrend+ is available across iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Android mobile and TV devices, Google Chromecast, Amazon FireTV, Roku and on the web.
Barbie’s younger sister, Skipper Roberts, saves the day with her unique babysitting skills when Barbie: Skipper and The Big Babysitting Adventure debuts on Netflix in the U.S on March 16. The 60-minute movie is the 42nd Barbie film, preceded by the character’s first-ever interactive special, Barbie: Epic Road Trip, also on Netflix.
“In this all-new, animated movie, Skipper explores her passion for babysitting as first seen in the ‘Baby Sister Babysitter’ episode of Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures,” notes executive producer Frederic Soulie (Barbie: Big City, Big Dreams, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe), SVP & General Manager, Mattel Television. “We love expanding and continuing the storylines of our beloved characters, and we’re eager for fans to see what Skipper and the rest of her friends have in store in Barbie: Skipper and The Big Babysitting Adventure.”
“Skipper Roberts has been a fan-favorite character amongst our devoted community of fans for decades, which is why we’re especially excited to introduce her as a title character for the first time,” says exec producer Christopher Keenan (Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe), SVP of Creative & EP Global Content, Mattel Television. “Not only is Skipper shy and quiet, yet sarcastic and funny in her own unique ways, she’s also a perfect role model for the next generation as she showcases the importance of individuality, confidence and self-growth.”
Barbie: Skipper and The Big Babysitting Adventure
Synopsis: Barbie’s younger sister Skipper is a babysitting expert, but when her babysitting business hits a snag, she takes a summer job at a water park and tries out different jobs with some new friends. A birthday party at the park goes awry and Skipper’s babysitting skills save the day! The success renews Skipper’s confidence in her babysitting business, and she and her new friends start a babysitting squad. This exciting new movie features new characters and two all-new songs!
The new movie explores themes of self-discovery, confidence, overcoming difficulty, the power of teamwork and the value of support from friends and family.
The Big Babysitting Adventure features the voices of Kirsten Day (Skipper, Tammy), America Young (Barbie), Ogie Banks (Sandwich Board Guy, Driver), Laila Berzins (Captain, Handsome Host), Alex Cazares (Anna, Brian, Helga, Big Kid, Book On Tape), Greg Chun (George, Cooks, Zincenzio Dracula), Julyza Commodore (Cheri, Chantal), Innocent Ekakitie (Deacon), Lisa Fuson (Margaret), Madelyn Kratzer (Erica), Natalie Lashkari (Chelsea), Cristina Milizia (Maria, Lola, Flight Controller), Cassandra Morris (Stacie), Zaela Rae (Joy), Archana Rajan (Navya), Ritesh Rajan (Ken, Mob Guy, Scary Monster, Tough Jock), Bill Rogers (Milton, Trucker Pete, Mr. Moneyclown, Extremely Tall Kid), Stephanie Sheh (Hip Girl, Flight Attendant, Erica & Derek’s Mom), Henry Wu (Derek, New Kid) and Samir Corbin (Additional Voices).
Barbie: Skipper and The Big Babysitting Adventure
The new movie is directed by Steve Daye (Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse) and written by Daniel Bryan Franklin (Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures). Ann Austen is co-exec producer, Susan Corbin and Jeffrey R. Hawley are senior producers and Shannon Nettleton is executive in charge of production.
Barbie: Skipper and The Big Babysitting Adventure joins Barbie: Epic Road Trip and more Barbielicious content, including Barbie: Dreamhouse Adventures, Barbie: Mermaid Power and Barbie: It Takes Two now streaming on Netflix.
9 Story Media Group has entered into a development deal with Earth Rangers, the largest youth conservation organization in the world, to create a new animated comedy series for kids 6-9. Together, the companies have commenced development on a new series designed to empower kids and their families in the face of growing anxiety over the state of the planet.
In addition to the series, the teams are also working on a six-episode serialized podcast (8-10 minutes per episode).
“I am a big believer in the Earth Rangers’ mission to create new generations of conservationists,” said Vince Commisso, President & CEO of 9 Story Media Group and board member of Earth Rangers. “We have a responsibility to future generations to fix what is happening with our planet. We also know from our experience working on Wild Kratts over the last decade, that kids are inherently passionate about the environment from an early age. Our goal with this partnership is to reach a slightly older audience and help maintain this passion for animals and the environment.”
Attached are head writer Mark Steinberg (Hotel Transylvania, Big Blue, Numb Chucks) and story consultant Nelu Handa (Run the Burbs, Baroness von Sketch Show, Odd Squad), who was recently selected as a participant of the CBC-BIPOC TV & Film Showrunner Catalyst program. Development is being led by 9 Story VP of Development Karen Fowler (Rosie’s Rules, The Electric Company, Scout and the Gumboot Kids, Dot) out of the Toronto studio.
“Partnering with Earth Rangers to build and activate a global community of engaged kids is thrilling,” said Fowler. “It’s a blast developing this animated workplace comedy as part of that vision. Our podcast mini-series will be an appetizer for the show and capitalizes on Earth Rangers’ already significant and dedicated audience. Entertaining kids and amplifying the mission with actionable, connected takeaways is super satisfying and we are excited to find the right partners to take this out to global audiences.”
Established in 2004, Earth Rangers has over 350,000 members and alumni across Canada and recently announced its expansion into the U.S. In addition to the Earth Rangers App and Earth Rangers Clubs, the organization is also active with in-school offerings and provides educator resources and professional development. Through a variety of programs and content, Earth Rangers seeks to empower kids to become environmental leaders at home, in school and in their communities.
“Earth Rangers has always strived to meet kids where they are — our live school assemblies, award-winning podcast and mobile app have successfully done that and we see this series as the next big piece of the puzzle,” said Tovah Barocas, President of Earth Rangers. “The passion and commitment of kids for protecting the environment never ceases to amaze me — creating a series that mirrors those qualities back to them through compelling characters and humor is guaranteed to resonate.”
Studio Ghibli Fest is back in theaters and bigger than ever this year — highlighting all 10 of Hayao Miyazaki’s iconic animated films with Studio Ghibli, as well as the first-ever North American screenings of Spirited Away: Live On Stage, featuring two separate full performances filmed during the production’s acclaimed run in Tokyo last year.
It’s a year of celebrating animation master Miyazaki with the first-ever nationwide retrospective of his Studio Ghibli works, including several anniversary titles: the 35th Anniversary screenings of My Neighbor Totoro, 15th Anniversary screenings of Ponyo, and 10th Anniversary screenings of The Wind Rises. GKIDS, celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, continues its partnership with Fathom events and expand Studio Ghibli Fest 2023 to more screening dates than ever before to meet increased fan demand.
“We’re excited to partner with GKIDS and honor Hayao Miyazaki this year by bringing his collective body of work to the big screen. He has always been a leader, visionary and inspiration to fans and critics alike and we know this series, including the debut of Spirited Away: Live On Stage will be well received by fans across the country,” said Ray Nutt, CEO of Fathom Events.
GKIDS President David Jesteadt added, “We are thrilled to return to theaters with Studio Ghibli Fest 2023, in continued partnership with Fathom Events. Over the past years, it has been incredible to experience the studio’s films on the big screen with fans, and this year’s focus on director and studio co-founder Hayao Miyazaki will celebrate the incredible films one of cinema’s greatest talents.”
Each of the 10 animated features will be shown in both original Japanese and English dubbed versions and will include exclusive selections from the documentary series 10 Years with Hayao Miyazaki.
Tickets for Studio Ghibli Fest 2023 can be purchased online now by visiting FathomEvents.com, GhibliFest.com or at participating theater box offices. (Theater participants are subject to change).
STUDIO GHIBLI FEST 2023 SCHEDULE All event listings are in local time.
Anima Festival 2023 has wrapped up a successful return to cinema showcases in Flagey, Belgium, after 10 days packed with more than 40 sold-out showings, captivating filmmaker discussions attached to almost 70 screenings and festive events such as the new Drink and Draw, the Fiesta Española, Queer Night and Animated Night.
The number of professional accreditations tripled and the number of student accreditations has doubled this year — the attendance of almost 30,000 in Flagey alone are on par with 2020, a record year for the festival. Figures for Anima at the Palace and the Cinematek are not yet known, nor are those for the decentralizations, since Anima will for the first time be extended throughout next week in Wallonia thanks to the school holidays being twice as long as before.
Anima will also be able to count on a new virtual audience from for another month February 27, with an online film offer available throughout Belgium on the Sooner streaming platform.
The winners of this triumphant return edition of Anima are…
Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman
No Dogs or Italians Allowed
Oink
Best Animated Feature – Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman by Pierre Földes
Audience Award for Best Animated Feature – No Dogs or Italians Allowed by Alain Ughetto
Best Animated Feature for Children – Oink by Mascha Halberstad
Letter to a Pig
Feux
It’s Nice in Here
Ice Merchants
La Quête de l’Humain
Grand Prix for Best International Short Film – Letter to a Pig by Tal Kantor
Best Student Short Film – Feux by Mohammad Babakoohi
Special Jury Award – It’s Nice in Here by Robert-Jonathan Koeyers
Audience Award for Best Short Film – Ice Merchants by João Gonzalez
Animated Night Audience Award for Best Short Film – La Quête de l’Humain by Mélina Ienco, Lucie Juric, Caroline Leibel,
Faustine Merle & Claire Pellet (Gobelins)
Funny Birds
The Queen of Foxes
Best Short Film for Children – Funny Birds by Charlie Belin
Special Jury Mention – La Reine des Reinards by Marina Rosset
Audience Award for Best Short Film for Children – Funny Birds by Charlie Belin
Ce qui bouge est vivant
Pina
Passagers
Siberiade
Best Belgian Short Film – Ce Qui Bouge est Vivant by Noémie Marsily
Grand Prix for Best Short Film of the Federation Wallonie-Bruxelles – Pina by Jérémy Depuydt & Giuseppe Accardo
Author Award – Siberiade by Nado Poton
Best Student Short Film – Passagers by Célia Hardy
Marco & Polo Go Round
Swarm
Best VR Short Film – Marco & Polo Go Round by Benjamin Steiger-Levine
Audience Award for Best VR Short Film – Swarm by Maarten Isaak de Heer
The 6th Hollywood Critics Association (HCA) creative arts and film awards were held Friday evening (Feb. 24), awarding the Best Picture prize to Everything Everywhere All at Once, which took home an impressive seven trophies total. Comedian Tig Notaro hosted the event, which livestreamed on YouTube. While a certain wooden puppet scored the top animation honor, a lovable googly-eyed mollusk was also a winner:
Best Animated Film — Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio
Best Indie Film — Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
Best Voice or Motion-Capture Performance — Jenny Slate in Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
The Producers Guild of America (PGA) hosted the 34th Annual Producers Guild Awards Saturday night (Feb. 25) at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. The evening recognized influential film producers and entertainment icons with special honors including Tom Cruise with the David O. Selznick Achievement Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures; Mindy Kaling with the Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television; Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy with the Milestone Award; and Till with the Stanley Kramer Award.
Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures — Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio— Producers: Guillermo Del Toro, p.g.a.; Gary Ungar, p.g.a.; Alex Bulkley, p.g.a.
Outstanding Children’s Program — Sesame Street (Season 52) *previously announced
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Feature Animation — Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (Netflix) — Supervising Sound Editor/Sound Designer: Scott Martin Gershin MPSE; Sound Effects Editors: Masanobu “Tomi” Tomita, Andrew Vernon MPSE, Chris Richardson; Dialogue Editor: Dan Gamache MPSE, Chris Richardson; Foley Artists: Dan O’Connell, John Cucci MPSE
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Non-theatrical Animation — Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie (Nickelodeon) — Supervising Sound Editor: Jeff Shiffman MPSE; Sound Effects Editors: Jessey Drake MPSE, Brad Meyer MPSE; Dialogue Editor: Xinyue Yu MPSE; Foley Editor: Carol Ma
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie
ICYMI: 27th Art Directors Guild Awards (ADG)
Animated Feature Film — Guy Davis and Curt Enderle, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio
Canela Media, the minority-owned, technology-driven company committed to redefining digital media experiences for the Latino community, will be celebrating International Women’s History Month this March with special programming across all its verticals, including a new animated edutainment series on Canela Kids.
Presented by Target, the celebratory programming will be supported by curated content meant to highlight Latina trailblazers for their work that continues to add value to our communities.
“We celebrate women all year long at Canela Media, but International Women’s History Month gives us a moment to pause and highlight many of our Latina trailblazers and future leaders across our content verticals: entertainment, music, kids and sports,” commented Isabel Rafferty Zavala, Founder and CEO of Canela Media. “I’m especially proud of our Canela Originals featuring stars like Kate del Castillo and Roselyn Sánchez and our animated series SúperEllas aimed at inspiring future Latina leaders premiering on March 8 on our newly launched Canela Kids app.”
Canela Kids will be joining in on the celebration of International Women’s History Month with its “Chicas Al Poder” Collection (“Girl Power”), that includes the new educational series SúperEllas, meant to engage and inspire children through colorful chronicles that explore the lives of Latinas who have inspired generations, such as Frida Kahlo, Celia Cruz, Rita Moreno, Selena Quintanilla, Ellen Ochoa, Isabel Allende and Lorena Ochoa.
The animated series will premiere exclusively on Canela Kids on March 8.
Glimpse a world of untold tushy luxury in the new sneak peek for this week’s South Park Season 26 episode premiere. Debuting Wednesday, March 1 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Comedy Central, “Japanese Toilet” introduces the wonders of these high-tech plumbing fixtures to a quaint li’l ol’ Colorado town.
Comedy Central’s South Park the series launched on August 13, 1997, and is based on the VHS-shared, animated short entitled The Spirit of Christmas. Co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone also executive produce the series with Anne Garefino and Frank C. Agnone II. Eric Stough, Adrien Beard, Bruce Howell and Vernon Chatman are producers. Christopher Brion is the creative director of South Park Digital Studios. South Park has earned five Emmy Awards, to date, and a George Foster Peabody Award.
MTV Entertainment Studios’ expansive deal with Parker and Stone includes extending South Park on Comedy Central through 2027 and taking the series through an unprecedented 30th season. In addition to the series extension, the deal includes 14 South Park original made-for-streaming events exclusively for Paramount+, including South Park: The Streaming Wars Parts 1 & 2, South Park: Post COVID and South Park: Post COVID: The Return of COVID.
In celebration of Pokémon Day, Netflix today announced Pokémon Concierge, its first collaborative production with The Pokémon Company and an ambitious stop-motion project produced by critically acclaimed dwarf studios (Domo-kun, Mogu & Perol,Rilakkuma and Kaoru).
Expanding the Pokémon world, the story follows Haru, a concierge at the “Pokémon Resort,” and her interactions with Pokémon and their owners who visit as guests.
“Netflix is looking forward to delighting fans in Japan and around the world with Pokémon Concierge, an entirely new visual and storytelling experience featuring ground-breaking stop-motion animation set in the Pokémon world in close collaboration with The Pokémon Company,” said Minyoung Kim, Vice President of Netflix Content in Asia. “We’re also excited to reveal this new series on Pokémon Day and provide fans with even more things to look forward to on this special holiday celebrating the popular franchise.”
Friede
The new series announcement follows The Pokémon Company’s Friday unveiling of new characters Friede and Captain Pikachu for the upcoming Part 2 of Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series 2D anime.
In the new show, Friede, a Pokémon Professor, and Captain Pikachu will assist and battle alongside the new series’ dual protagonists — Liko from the Paldea region and Roy from the Kanto region in the U.S. version of the show — on thrilling adventures across the Pokémon world while unraveling the mysteries of Liko’s pendant and Roy’s Poké Ball.
Captain Pikachu
“As the Pokémon world expands and evolves, fans will be able to embark on a new journey of action, adventure and friendship through the eyes of unique characters like Friede and Captain Pikachu when the next animated series begins premiering later this year,” said Taito Okiura, vice president of marketing for The Pokémon Company International. “For 27 years, Pikachu has been synonymous with the Pokémon franchise, and we look forward to seeing this beloved Pokémon continue to have a significant presence in the animated series and remain an icon for the brand.”
Check out the latest English-dub trailer for Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series Part 2 below.
In addition to the animated series updates, Pokémon Day announcements included new game experiences and products set to launch in 2023, celebrating the theme “Pokémon Together.”
The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero for Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet (Downloadable Content)
Global sales of the Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet video games for the Nintendo Switch family of systems surpassed 10 million combined units in the first three days following their worldwide launch on November 18, 2022 — the highest global sales for any software on any Nintendo platform in that same timeframe. The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero will take fans deeper into the world of Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet with two different adventures — Part 1: Hidden Treasure of Area Zero: The Teal Mask, launching in fall 2023, and Part 2: The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero: The Indigo Disk, releasing at a later date. Fans can purchase The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero now on Nintendo eShop.
Pokémon Trading Card Game Classic
Created as a collaboration among The Pokémon Company, Creatures Inc., and design firm nendo, Pokémon Trading Card Game Classic is a premium Pokémon TCG set that is designed to last a lifetime. Pokémon Trading Card Game Classic contains everything fans need to play the Pokémon TCG, including preconstructed decks and gameplay accessories — all of which have been uniquely designed to be both beautiful and functional to deliver a polished battling experience
Pokémon Sleep
First announced in May 2019, Pokémon Sleep aims to offer a fun and enriching experience to Trainers by having a player’s time spent sleeping — and the time they wake up — affect the gameplay. Today it was announced that Pokémon Sleep is slated to launch in summer 2023 for iOS and Android devices. Fans will join Professor Neroli — who studies Pokémon sleep styles — and Snorlax, to carry out research into how Pokémon sleep.
Pokémon GO Plus +
The Pokémon GO Plus + accessory uses Bluetooth Low Energy technology to link with smartphone apps for use in Pokémon GO and Pokémon Sleep gameplay. For Pokémon GO, the Pokémon GO Plus + enables players to throw Poké Balls automatically. Pokémon Sleep players can use the device to track their sleep in conjunction with their smartphones. The Pokémon GO Plus + will be available on July 14, 2023.
EVENTS
LIVE COMPETITIVE
The 2023 Pokémon World Championships will be hosted in Japan for the first time ever, taking place at the PACIFICO Yokohama from August 11–13. Participants will battle in the Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet video games, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, Pokémon GO and Pokémon UNITE.
IN-GAME
Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet – Tera Raid Battle: From Monday, February 27, to Sunday, March 12, Trainers will encounter two newly discovered Paradox Pokémon: Walking Wake in Pokémon Scarlet and Iron Leaves in Pokémon Violet.
Starting at 7a.m. PST on Monday, February 27, Trainers will be able to connect Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet to Pokémon GO. New gameplay experiences will be available in each game after they’ve been connected, including new ways to interact with Vivillon and Roaming Form Gimmighoul.
The Legendary Pokémon Zacian will join the fray in Pokémon UNITE. From Sunday, February 26, at 8 p.m. PST to Sunday, March 26, at 4:59 p.m. PDT, players can roll dice they receive by logging in (and through other means) to advance squares on a board. They can earn adventure coins by completing missions on each square and then exchange them for Zacian’s Unite license. To commemorate Pokémon Day, players can use a gift code (POKEMONDAY) to get a gold Zacian Pokémon boost emblem, which has useful effects in battle.
Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly have just arrived from the Paldea region to join Pokémon Café ReMix. Players can choose one of the three to join their staff if they play the event that’s now under way. A new dish, Paldea plate, inspired by Paldea Pokémon, will also appear. The Welcome from Paldea event will take place from Monday, February 27, to Friday, March 17.
Trainers can celebrate Pokémon Day and Pokémon Masters EX’s 3.5 Year Anniversary with special log-in bonuses and new master sync pairs. Those who log in today will receive 3,000 gems as a celebratory gift. Trainers can also log in throughout the coming weeks to claim additional bonuses, such as a 5★ Champion Select Scout Ticket and 10-Pair Scout Tickets.
Enter a big top like no other when the indie animated family adventure Animal Crackers bows on Digital and On Demand on April 18 from Lionsgate. Featuring a star-studded cast, the CG-animated featurewill be available for the suggested retail price of $3.99 for Video on Demand and $9.99 for Electronic Sell-Through.
Synopsis: When Owen and his family inherit his uncle Bob’s rundown circus, it seems more like a curse than a gift. But it becomes an entryway to magical adventure when Owen is presented with a mysterious box of animal crackers — with the power to transform the bearer into any animal in the box! It looks like the circus will be a success, until Bob’s villainous brother learns about the box … and he will stop at nothing to get it!
The star-studded cast includes Emmy nominee John Krasinski (The Office) as Owen, Golden Globe winner Emily Blunt (A Quiet Place franchise) as Zoe, Emmy winner Danny DeVito (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) as Chesterfield, Ian McKellen (The Lord of the Rings franchise) as Horatio P. Huntington, Emmy nominee Raven-Symoné (Raven’sHome) and Sylvester Stallone (Rocky franchise).
Animal Crackers also features performances by Patrick Warburton, Wallace Shawn, noted voice over artists Tara Strong, Harvey Fierstein, Kevin Grevioux and James Arnold Taylor, and the late Gilbert Gottfried.
Animal Crackers was produced in 2017 and debuted on Netflix in 2020. The film was produced by Blue Dream Studios / Blue Dream Studios Spain, MayDay Movie Prod., Odin’s Eye Animation, Storyoscopic Films, in association with Beijing Wen Hua Dongrun Investment Co. and China Film Group Corporation.
“Animation Connects!” is the motto of the anniversary edition of the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS), which will hold its 30th edition from April 25-30. In line with this motto, the 2023 program will focus on connections between the audience, professionals, artists, talents and established filmmakers.
Across different film programs and events, a spectrum of presentations from “best of” programs to the most current films and topics will screen at various venues in Stuttgart, including the Schlossplatz and the Innenstadtkinos, with the goal of bringing the world of animation together in the German hub.
Tickets for accreditation and festival passes are now available at ITFS.de/en/tickets. Early Bird rates are available until March 15.
As always, the heart of the festival is the International Competition, featuring the latest must-see animated shorts from around the world. The diverse program showcases important themes such as the exploration of migration and trauma, sexuality and gender, environment, social anxiety and loneliness, as well as films exploring the “human abyss.” A selection of this year’s Oscar-nominated short films will also be screened.
See the complete short film competition lineup here; the AniMovie feature film competition will be announced soon.
Letter to a Pig
Salvation Has No Name
Migration and Trauma
In Letter to a Pig (France/Israel, 2022), award-winning animator and visual artist Tal Kantor showcases a unique technique that combines drawing, photography, video, painting and animation. The story is about a Holocaust survivor reading a letter he wrote to the pig who saved his life. While listening, a young schoolgirl falls into a strange dream, where she is confronted with questions of identity, collective trauma, and the extremes of human nature.
Joseph Wallace’s Salvation Has No Name (Czech Republic/France/United Kingdom, 2022) is dedicated to the topics of migration and narrow-mindedness. A troupe performs a play about a priest and a refugee woman. As their misguided story unfolds, the boundaries between fiction and reality begin to blur and the situation escalates.
Scale
Pachyderme
A View to the Human Abyss
The ITFS will screen the short film Scale (Belgium/France/United Kingdom, 2022) by award-winning filmmaker Joseph Pierce (among Screen International‘s “Stars of Tomorrow” in 2008). The film centers on a ma losing his sense of scale: As Will’s drug addiction gets worse, he tries to unravel the sequence of events that led to his predicament before he is lost forever.
French filmmaker Stéphanie Clément’s Pachyderme (2022) offers a glimpse into one of Louise’s summer days in the countryside with her grandparents. But the familiar is overshadowed by anxiety, sadness, and a monster so subtle and frightening.
Sandwich Cat
The Invention of Less
Environment & Society, with a Pinch of Humor
In a humorous short film, the film Sandwich Cat by David Fidalgo Omil (Spain, 2022) shows us a mirror image of humanity with all its good and especially bad qualities. David himself plays a decisive role. Can we humans still be saved?
In 2031, a young female polar bear has to leave her home due to global warming and moves to Zurich. Together with the other animals who have fled, she manages to get by with odd jobs. But then she has a world-changing idea! The Invention of Less by Noah Erni (Switzerland, 12/2021) shows in a humorous and entertaining way how the world might be saved by a little trick.
Ice Merchants
The Flying Sailor
Oscar-Nominated Films at ITFS
In addition to some nominated shorts that screened at ITFS last year, this year’s ITFS is screening several Oscar nominated films:
João Gonzalez was the first Portuguese filmmaker ever to be nominated for an Academy Award. In addition to the Jury Prize for Best Short Film in the Critics’ Week Competition at the Cannes Film Festival, Ice Merchants (France/Portugal/United Kingdom, 2022) received a nomination for Best European Short Film at the 2022 European Film Awards. The film tells the story of a father and his son who parachute out of their vertiginous cliff-mounted cold house every day to go to the distant village on the ground where they sell their ice.
The Flying Sailor by Amanda Forbis & Wendy Tilby (Canada, 2022) is a film based on a true incident and a meditation on the unexpected voyage of a sailor.
In addition, the Oscar-nominated film My Year of Dicks (Sara Gunnarsdottir, Iceland/U.S.A., 2022) will be screened in the ITFS supporting program.
Passenger
Dog-Apartment
Social Anxieties and Loneliness
In Passenger(Pasajero) by Juan Pablo Zaramella (Argentina, 2022), we accompany a man on his train journey where he gets into numerous social conflicts. He travels from the solitude of the countryside to the populated city, establishes superficial relationships with random passengers, confronts them with their social codes and finally processes these deep inside himself to find a way to adapt to his surroundings.
The dark stop-motion film Dog-Apartment (Koerkorter, Estonia, 2022) by award-winning animator Priit Tender is about the bizarre relationship between a discarded ballet dancer and his butcher, where he has a job to satisfy his voracious rented apartment. A film full of metaphor, about daily routines, broken souls trapped in a bleak world with their anxieties and hardships.
Sasha
Gender & Identity
The Romanian short film Sasha by Serghei Chiviriga (2022) is about a teenager in the shape of a snail, who, confused by the whole world and the own body, is forced to discover the truth about the own sexual identity in a strange way.
Iouri Stepanov and his Lakeside Animation studio have partnered with Aron Dunn/Treason Media to bring the new Welcome to the Imagin-Atrix animated series, written and developed by Dunn, to animated life. The show centers on a pop-culture obsessed tween named Dave who makes his makes his fan fantasies come true with the help of an incredible device.
“Based on my long-standing relationship with Iouri and the team at Lakeside, I knew they were a perfect partner this project,” said Dunn. “I’m thrilled that they want to be part of this riotous celebration of imagination. Iouri’s team of amazing artists will render an eye-popping world that I’m sure audiences will want to leap into and join Dave on his adventures.”
Stepanov/Lakeside acquired the option/development rights to the project in an agreement with Green Kids Club. The ThinkTank Emporium and Treason Media initially teamed up with children’s author Sylvia Medina to develop this imaginative animated comedy.
“It is indeed a pleasure to be working with Aron once again on this uniquely creative animated comedy concept,” said Stepanov.
Synopsis: When overly-imaginative, 11-year-old Dave finds an alien device called the IMAGIN-ATRIX, he unlocks the power to bring his wildest daydreams to life. Now, this pop-culture obsessed kid and his friends can embark on adventures through their favorite comics, video games, movies and more. Each time Dave rewrites the world he faces a new challenge that he must overcome in order to reset the Imagin-Atrix. Reality is never going to be the same again.
“We are pleased to be working with Iouri and his studio to bring Welcome to the Imagin-Atrix to a global audience via various media platforms and licensed product opportunities,” said consultant David Wollos, Co-Founder of The ThinkTank Emporium. “The sheer potential in all these areas for Welcome to the Imagin-Atrix is a wonderful asset for all concerned and its strategic relationship with Aron.”
Green Kids Club creator, environmental engineer and author Sylvia Medina, who helped develop the new series, added, “I’m delighted to be working with Aron again. I knew he had the epic imagination, unique perspective and ability to make kids laugh. While the spark of inspiration came from one young boy, together we’ve crafted a series that will appeal to children worldwide and ignite their imaginations.”
On the heels of the successful opening of The Amazing Maurice across 1,700-plus screens in the U.S., Viva Kids has locked in theatrical release dates for the remainder of its 2023 PG-rated slate, which includesTAT Productions’ Epic Tails, the Samuel Goldwyn Writing Awards screenplay winner Inspector Sun, the highly anticipated Dragonkeeperand R.L. Stine’s Zombie Town, starring Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase and TikTok star Madi Monroe.
After The Amazing Maurice premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, Viva released the critically acclaimed indie exclusively in theaters on February 3 with a 45-day theatrical window and successfully grossed over $2.6 million at the U.S. box office in its first 10 days.
“As a true independent film distributor Viva is thrilled to not only see The Amazing Maurice succeed at the box office, but also garner positive acclaim from critics and audiences alike,” says Victor Elizalde, President of Viva Kids. “We are confident our 2023 slate of movies will draw in theater-goers and keep the kids/family momentum going.”
Epic Tails
Described as The Secret Life of Pets meets Hercules, Viva will release Epic Tails theatrically in the U.S. on May 12. The film also known as Argonuts in Europe tells the story of Pattie, a quirky, intelligent mouse and her feline friend Sam, as they embark upon an exciting adventure through Ancient Greece.
Epic Tails
Epic Tails is led by The Jungle Bunch director David Alaux and producer Jean-François Tosti, who both co-founded TAT productions with writer Éric Tosti. Viva Kids previously distributed TAT’s Terra Willy (2020) and Pil’s Adventures (2022), both of which were an international success and garnered critical acclaim.
Inspector Sun
The family-friendly crime mystery Inspector Sun is slated for a domestic theatrical release on September 1. With shades of Murder on the Orient Express, Inspector Sun unfolds in the glamorous travel age of the 1930s, on a seaplane en route from Shanghai to San Francisco.
Inspector Sun
Inspector Sun is a co-production of The Thinklab Media and Gordon Box in association with 3Doubles Productions. The film was directed by Julio Soto Gúrpide (Deep) from a screenplay by Rocco Pucillo who won the 2013 Samuel Goldwyn Writing Award for this script. Viva’s Senior Vice President Laura Prieto negotiated the U.S. distribution deal with Peter Rogers of Kapers Animation.
Dragonkeeper
Viva has set an October 27 theatrical date for Dragonkeeper. The Spain-China co-production features the voices of Bill Nighy (Love Actually), Bill Bailey (Hot Fuzz), Anthony Howell (Alien: Isolation) and newcomer Mayalinee Griffiths. Based on the first book in Carole Wilkinson’s series of fantasy novels, the film follows Ping, a young orphan who must venture across ancient China to help the last surviving dragons from extinction. Across her wild and dangerous journey Ping finds a way to unlock her power and discover that she is a true dragonkeeper.
Early visual development on the film comes from animation vet Sergio Pablos (Despicable Me, director of Klaus), while the film is directed by Salvador Simó (Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles). The film is set to be the biggest completed Spain-China co-production to date.
Closing out 2023, Viva is planning a day-and-date theatrical for R.L. Stine’s Zombie Town, to be timed with Huluween.A family-friendly, action-packed adventure based on Stine’s book of the same name, Zombie Townstars Dan Aykroyd (Ghostbusters, Driving Miss Daisy), TikTok superstar Madi Monroe (A Piece of Cake, Around the World in 80 Days), comedic legend Chevy Chase (Vacation, Caddyshack), with a cameo from the author himself. Blending teen romance, humor and mystery, Zombie Town is a love letter to fans of R.L. Stine and millennial cult classics such as Halloweentown and the Goosebumps series.
China’s Winsing Animation will be attending Asia’s leading entertainment content market, Hong Kong International Film and Television Market (HKFilmart), to present its upcoming slate of new animated titles. Winsing will be based in the Guangdong Pavilion during the show, from March 13-16.
With the return of HKFilmart to an in-person trade event for the first time in three years, entertainment players in the region are eager to accelerate the market’s recovery. Winsing has seized the opportunity to grow and expand its animation production offerings during the hard COVID times. Now, Winsing heads to Hong Kong with a content-rich lineup, with more than 10 new animated series and film titles.
Taking the lead is the latest animated feature film in the GG Bond Racing franchise, Racing 72H, a highly anticipated family film set to premiere in theaters this year.
In addition to Winsing’s flagship IP GG Bond and GOGOBUS, as well as Team S.T.E.A.M.!, which will be aired on Hong Kong VIU TV starting February 27, the studio will unveil multiple work-in-progress animation titles that target different age groups — particularly youth-oriented 3D-animated series across the genres of fantasy adventure, mecha action, sci fi, hand-painted-style sitcoms and Chinese traditional culture and myths.
Winsing will hold a substantial project presentation to introduce several new anime slate at Filmart, seeking distribution and co-production partners for its upcoming slate.
James Leon’s 8th Gear Entertainment and Ted Field’s Radar Pictures are teaming up to bring the famous giant tortoise Lonesome George and his remarkable true story to life on the big screen in a new 3D CGI-animated family adventure movie.
The real Lonesome George was known as the rarest creature on Earth, the last known individual of his Pinta Island subspecies. His life and story continue to inspire and serve as an international symbol for conservation efforts in the Galápagos Islands and throughout the world.
James Leon
“Lonesome George is a remarkable true story of a one-of-a-kind survivor,” says Leon. “The legend of Lonesome George is a cherished part of Ecuadorian history and beloved by people around the world. This is the first time Lonesome George, and his story, will be brought to the big screen.”
From a story by Leon in collaboration with James Byrkit (writer on the Academy Award-winning animated feature Rango), the movie will follow Lonesome George, the giant tortoise of the Galápagos, who is the last of his kind, as he sets out on an epic adventure with a ragtag team of animal friends to find others like him — and discovers the true meaning of family.
“This will be a brilliant, animated feature that is hugely enjoyable for kids, grownups and everyone in between,” notes Field. “There is something for everyone here and we’re proud that it also delivers an environmental message that everyone can get behind.”
Leon, who runs Miami-based production company 8th Gear Entertainment, is producing Lonesome George alongside Radar Pictures’ Field (Jumanji and Chronicles of Riddick franchises, The Last Samurai), Anthony Tringali, Maria Frisk, and Michael Napoliello, with Byrkit serving both as both producer and screenwriter.
The movie aims to bring to light environmental issues that affect our planet, conservation and the ongoing evolution of ecosystems and its impact on the future of the environment and the world. A percentage of the revenue generated by the film will be donated to the Leaders for Change Foundation, which brings awareness to the necessary protection of the Galápagos Islands and their irreplaceable ecological wonders.
Lonesome George was the last known Pinta Island giant tortoise. He is believed to have hatched around 1910, and died in 2012.
“We have taken careful consideration in supporting a project like this, which expresses the importance of maintaining the ecological homeostasis of this beautiful region and conservation of its endemic species. That is why I, as the President of Ecuador, and the Ministry of the Environment, fully endorse this magnificent project, because we believe in its educational value, in the impact it will have on scientific research, and in the help it will provide in raising awareness of the significance of its existence,” Ecuador President Guillermo Lasso Mendoza asserts.
“Being considered a Natural Heritage of Humanity is a source of pride not only for Ecuadorians but for all those wanting to make an impact on environmental awareness. This movie will ultimately bring the attention it deserves.”
Today, George is preserved at the Charles Darwin Research Station in Ecuador, where he is visited by over a hundred thousand fans every year. As a tribute to George and his legacy, his image is enshrined as the logo of the Galápagos Conservancy and The Charles Darwin Foundation.
In addition to Lonesome George, 8th Gear Entertainment and Radar Pictures are partnering to bring the fast paced sport of FIA ABB Formula E racing to the big screen via a female-centered, racing action-thriller titled Breakneck, which is planned a franchise starter in the vein of Fast & Furious with full FIA ABB Formula E backing and participation.
Lonesome George is now preserved and displayed at the Charles Darwin Research Station and remains an important symbol of conservation in Ecuador and around the world.
