Banijay Kids & Family announced a new animated series project, Super Happy Magic Forest, produced by Tiger Aspect Kids & Family (Corpse Talk, Charlie and Lola) with Movimenti Production (Topo Gigio, Tear along the Dotted Line) — both Banijay Kids & Family companies. A broadcast collaboration with BBC (U.K.) and Rai Kids (Italy), the 2D show is based on the popular picture books of the same name by Matty Long. A pre-sale has also been secured with France’s Canal+.
“Tiger Aspect Kids & Family and Movimenti Production are a powerful duo of producers and a brilliant example of the combined creative talents within our team,” said Benoît Di Sabatino, Banijay Kids & Family CEO. “We are very proud that the BBC and Rai Kids have chosen Super Happy Magic Forest as a bridge between the international kids content community.”
First published by Oxford University Press in 2015, Super Happy Magic Forest is a comedy quest adventure series featuring five heroes, brought together by their mutual love of questing, picnics and frolicking. Led by the outgoing and courageous faun, Hoofius; Blossom (unicorn), Herbert (gnome), Twinkle (fairy) and Trevor (mushroom) battle villains, share journeys, and have a jolly good time along the way as they learn how to be true heroes and how to quest sensibly.
“I am beyond excited that the five heroes of the Super Happy Magic Forest books are making the journey from page to screen,” Long beamed. “What started as me doodling in a sketchbook will become a whole series of animated adventures and I cannot wait to share them with everyone.”
The 52 x 11′ minutes series will bring to life the world created in the books, in a colorful 2D animation for ages seven and up. Executive producers are Tiger Aspect Kids & Family’s MD Tom Beattie (Mr Bean: The Animated Series) and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh (Phineas and Ferb).
“I have been on my own long quest to bring this project to screen and I’m Super Happy that we can now frolic into the magic forest and bring Matty’s beautiful, funny world to life,” said Beattie.
Kate DiCamillo’s double Newberry Award-winning story The Magician’s Elephant is getting an enchanting animated feature treatment on Netflix next month, brought to life by the CG conjurers of Animal Logic. The streamer today revealed the official trailer for the family flick directed by VFX veteran Wendy Rogers (Puss in Boots, Flushed Away, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian).
“It is my honor to introduce you to The Magician’s Elephant, a joyful animated reimagining of Kate DiCamillo’s prize-winning novel,” Rogers shared. “Our film follows optimistic young Peter on a quest to find his sister — an adventure that involves achieving three impossible tasks and an unexpected elephant encounter.”
When young Peter sets out to find his sister, his optimistic spirit guides him through an unexpected encounter with an elephant and three seemingly impossible tasks, also giving hope to his entire town along the way.
Watch the trailer below:
The Magician’s Elephant is produced by Julia Pistor (Dora and the Lost City of Gold, The Spiderwick Chronicles) and written by Martin Hynes (Toy Story 4).
The voice cast features Noah Jupe as Peter, Sian Clifford, Pixie Davies, Natasia Demetriou, Dawn French, Brian Tyree Henry, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Aasif Mandvi, Mandy Patinkin, Miranda Richardson and Benedict Wong as The Magician.
“I hope you will enjoy the cinematic journey into our fabled world, and be inspired by Peter’s grit, determination and belief that anything is possible: his spirit has strong resonance for our present day, a time in which we must not only believe that the world can be different, but that we must take action to make positive change!”
You can read all about the making of the movie in the next issue of Animation Magazine (No. 329) in early March.
DreamWorks Animation’s long-awaited return to the Shrek universe begins its next adventure when Puss in Boots: The Last Wish arrives on Digital on February 21, followed by a 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD release on February 28, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.
Nominated for Best Animated Film by both the Academy Awards and the BAFTA Film Awards, Puss in Boots’ latest adventure now includes over an hour of bonus content featuring an all-new exclusive animated short The Trident, deleted scenes, a lyric video, and a cast of characters.
Synopsis: Everyone’s favorite leche-loving, swashbuckling, fear-defying feline returns in a new adventure, as the daring outlaw discovers that his passion for adventure and heroic missions have taken their toll. Puss in Boots has burned through eight of his nine lives, though he lost count along the way. Getting those lives back will send Puss in Boots into the Black Forest to find the mythical Wishing Star on his grandest quest yet. With only one life left, Puss is forced to humble himself and ask for help from his former partner and nemesis: Kitty Softpaws. They are joined in their journey by a chatty and cheerful mutt named Perrito. Together, our trio of heroes will need to stay one step ahead of the fairy tale realm’s craftiest crooks including Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
The film is directed by Joel Crawford (The Croods: A New Age), produced by Mark Swift (The Croods: A New Age, Madagascar films) co-directed by Januel Mercado and written by Paul Fisher (The Croods: A New Age) and Tommy Swerdlow and starring Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek Pinault, Harvey Guillén (What We Do in the Shadows), Florence Pugh (Black Widow), Olivia Colman, Ray Winstone (Black Widow), Samson Kayo (Sliced), John Mulaney (Big Mouth), Wagner Moura (Narcos), Tony nominee Da’Vine Joy Randolph (Trolls World Tour) and Emmy nominee Anthony Mendez (Jane the Virgin). The original score is by Heitor Pereira.
Bonus Features
All-New Exclusive Short The Trident – When you’re the legendary Puss in Boots, life and death go paw in paw. In this epic original short, Puss recalls one of his most daring deaths yet.
Deleted Scenes
Potty Break
Love and Death
Wall O’Snakes
A Cast of Characters – You know their voices, now see the faces behind all the beloved Puss in Boots characters.
Puss in Boots
Kitty Softpaws
Perrito
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Jack Horner
Worlf
In the Beginning – Go behind the scenes with the filmmakers of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish to discover how they brought this great tale to life.
Jack Horner’s Line-O-Rama – Jack Horner says it all in this comedic line-o-rama.
“Fearless Hero” Lyric Video – Sing along from home!
How to Draw the Purrfest Pawtrait – Join director Joel Crawford and co-director Januel Mercado as they teach us how to draw our favorite characters.
Puss in Boots
Kitty Softpaws
Perrito
How to Make a Paper Perrito – Every hero needs a sidekick and this ‘how to’ will help you create your very own.
Kitty Cam – Sit back, relax and enjoy a festive cluster of kittens as they frolic and play. This cat-stravaganza is sure to entertain for hours.
Feature Commentary – with director Joel Crawford, co-director Januel Mercado, producer Mark Swift, editor James Ryan and head of story Heidi Jo Gilbert
Today, Comedy Central launched the first-look trailer and announced the guest stars set to appear in the new adult animated adventure comedy series, Digman! The series, which premieres Wednesday, March 22 at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT, marks the first to be written and produced by Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning actor and producer Andy Samberg (Palm Springs) along with co-creator and showrunner Neil Campbell (Brooklyn Nine-Nine).
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. In addition to the previously announced principal cast, which also includes 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), Digman! will feature guest performances from:
Clancy Brown (SpongeBob SquarePants, Tales of Arcadia)
Andy Daly (The Great North, Inside Job)
Cole Escola (Big Mouth, Tuca & Bertie)
Harvey Guillén (Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, What We Do in the Shadows)
Kirby Howell-Baptiste (Infinity Train, The Sandman)
Marc Evan Jackson (Central Park, Brooklyn Nine-Nine)
Rachel Kaly (What Can I Get Started for You podcast)
Kerri Kenney (Harvey Beaks, Reno 911!)
Lauren Lapkus (Star Trek: Lower Decks, Orange Is the New Black)
Jane Lynch (Wreck-It Ralph, Only Murders in the Building)
Mike Mitchell (Dicktown, Parks and Recreation)
Kyle Mooney (SNL, Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
Claudia O’Doherty (Koala Man, Killing It)
Lennon Parham ( Little Demon, Minx)
Daniel Radcliffe (Miracle Workers, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story)
Maya Rudolph (Big Mouth, Human Resources)
Paul Rust (The Great North, Love)
Jason Schwartzman (Klaus, My Entire High School Sinking into the Sea)
Carl Tart (Inside Job, Star Trek: Lower Decks)
Joe Lo Truglio (Bob’s Burgers,Brooklyn Nine-Nine)
and director-writer 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 banner. Animation studio Titmouse will executive produce, with their own Chris Prynoski, Shannon Prynoski, Antonio Canobbio and Ben Kalina.
Digman! joins MTV Entertainment’s growing arsenal of adult animation including previously announced titles, including Everybody Still Hates Chris, a reimagined animated version of superstar Chris Rock’s popular award-winning family show Everybody Hates Chris; Jodie, a film spin-off of MTV’s iconic Daria franchise with Tracee Ellis Ross in the titular role; along with the award-winning South Park franchise and the critically lauded Mike Judge’s Beavis and Butt-Head series and film Beavis & Butt-Head Do the Universe.
The production arm of Guinness World Records, GWR Studios and Turkish studio Fauna Entertainment (Briko, Kukuli) are partnering to develop a new animated series, Brody Luckystar. The alliance marks GWR’s first fully-animated series project, which will take the globally famous recorder of feats into a 2D world that celebrates the fun and challenge behind each record attempt.
“Brody Luckystar is a shining example of how we can draw on the amazing world of Guinness World Records to create entertaining stories that will show audiences the determination and emotion involved in each and every record attempt,” said Karen Gilchrist, VP of Television & Digital for GRW. “We’re thrilled to be partnering with Fauna Entertainment to bring this to life in the animated space for the first time.”
Brody Luckystar will follow the adventures of its titular character Brody and her family as they move to a new town where everyone has a world record — everyone that is, except Brody. Aimed at young tweens, the series will emphasize the importance of enjoying the journey, not just the destination. Brody desperately wants to break a record and in her quest to achieve this goal she learns so much about friendship, family and the importance of staying true to her values.
“From the first day of ideation, Brody has been so special to us. Brody is a compelling hero who loves her friends and family while having big dreams, like most of us, she embodies all the challenges she faces while trying to achieve her ambition of breaking a world record,” Emre Aksoy, CBO of Fauna Entertainment, shared. “We hope that Brody will be a positive role model for children worldwide who will be able to identify with Brody and root for her to achieve her dream.
Emmy Award-winning screenwriter Eric Shaw (SpongeBob SquarePants, Big Nate) is on board to write the pilot scripts. The collaboration will see GWR Studios and Fauna Entertainment work together to develop all of the show assets, along with the scripts, bible and animatics, as they prepare to present the series to potential commissioners and co-production partners.
IDW is fielding both its Publishing and Entertainment operations to kick off development of Team Spirit, an original comedy for kids 6-11 created by Tshepo Moche (Mama K’s Team 4, Kizazi Moto), Raffaella Delle Donne (Mama K’s Team4, Pearl of the Sea graphic novel) and Marc Dey. In partnership, the concept will be produced as both a graphic novel and an animated series.
The trio of Cape Town, South Africa-based writer-producers have gained industry recognition for handling the creative for an array of global animated hits for Disney, eOne, Baobab Studios, Wekids, Snipple Animation, Netflix, Cartoon Network/Boomerang, Cbeebies, Urucu Media, Zodiak Kids, Illuminated Films and Triggerfish Animation Studios.
“Tshepo Moche, Raffaella Delle Donne and Marc Dey are incredibly gifted creative talents with a track record of proven successes that have placed their projects front and center in the global animation community,” said Daniel Kendrick, Senior Director of Kids, Family & Animation. “Team Spirit is a widely offbeat and fun comedy tailor-made for today’s 6-11 year-olds that will impact both the worlds of publishing as a graphic novel series and television as an animated series. We are excited to join with Raffaella, Marc & Tshepo and apply our full resources in both areas of publishing and entertainment to bring their uniquely off-the-wall vision to life.”
Team Spirit
Team Spirit follows the comedy adventures of a middle school girl who also happens to be a were-hyena and her best bud — a hulking dancing demon — who form their own cheer squad to show that despite their typical teen angst (and atypical supernatural oddities) they have enough Team Spirit to just about raise the dead.
“Team Spirit is a shout-out to those of us that aren’t natural achievers or super-talented. The truth is, Luna is a little ungainly and will never be the best cheerleader but what’s not to love about a were-hyena who puts the grrrrrrr in grit!,” said Dey. “We are over the moon to be partnering with IDW, who right from the get-go, fell in love with Luna and the Moonbeams and have been champions of our supernatural oddballs ever since.”
Moche, Delle Donne and Dey are currently serving as the creative team behind the Disney+ preschool animated series Kiya and the Kimoja Heroes, a co-production with eOne Entertainment, Triggerfish, Frog Box, Entertainment Media, TeamTO and France Télévisions that was created by Marc Dey and Kelly Dillon.
Worldwide Dutch and Flemish content sales company Incredible Film has boarded the 2D hand-drawn animated preschool feature series Tummy Tom, based on the popular picture book character. Producers BosBros (Princess Arabella) and Phanta Animation (Pim & Pom at the Museum, upcoming Miss Moxy) are planning to deliver four movies starring the curious cat, beginning with Tummy Tom’s Teddybear, which entered production at the end of 2022.
“With the first film ready for delivery by Spring 2024 and the second one by December 2024, we are now starting to sell the international exploitation rights of the films,” says Daniëlle Raaphorst, CEO of Incredible Film. “We are very much looking forward to sharing the first test footage with our partners.”
The tales of Tummy Tom (or Dikkie Dik in Dutch) originated in read-along segments on the local version of Sesame Street in 1978. The books by Jet Boeke were first published by Gottmer in 1983, and have since sold millions of copies. More than 40 years later, Tummy Tom is one of the nation’s bestselling preschool children’s book characters and enjoys 100% name recognition. The puss’s popularity has also expanded beyond the borders of The Netherlands over the years.
The character is described as a funny, inquisitive, adventurous, and a slightly mischievous ginger tomcat. Together with his animal friends, he explores the world around him just like a preschooler would. The stories are funny and sometimes a bit exciting and usually take place in and around the house.
“We think it is now time for Tummy Tom to become a real movie star and want to continue the adventures of Tummy Tom in the form of feature films for toddlers and preschoolers,” says producer Burny Bos of BosBros.
For Tummy Tom’s film debut, the producers have developed an appealing 2D hand-drawn animation style that captures the look and feel of the original Tummy Tom character. The movies will be narrated by a pleasant, warm voiceover that can sometimes read Tummy Tom’s thoughts but also provides commentary on the events. Sometimes, the narrator calls on the young audience to help Tummy Tom — by calling out, singing along or whistling, for example.
“Within a four-year timeframe, we are planning to produce four Tummy Tom feature films,” says Petra Goedings, owner of Phanta Animation. “Financing of the first film, Tummy Tom’s Teddybear, is in place and production has started. The second one is close to being financed and the last two films are expected to be financed by the end of 2024.”
The winner of the 14th Annual Kidscreen Awards were revealed at a Valentine’s Day ceremony Wednesday night, hosted by drag performers and child educators Fay Slift and Fluffy Soufflé (The Fabulous Show with Fay and Fluffy), sponsored by the Canada Media Fund. The awards recognized the year’s best work in children’s television and digital media as determined by two panels of industry judges.
This year’s winning animated projects include:
PROGRAMMING—PRESCHOOL
Best New Series Deepa & Anoop | Mattel Television for Netflix
Best Animated Series Bluey — Season 3 | BBC Studios Kids & Family, Ludo Studio, ABC Australia
Best Mixed-Media Series The Tiny Chef Show |
Imagine Kids+Family, Tiny Chef Show Productions, Factory, Nickelodeon Animation, Dunshire Productions
Best One-Off, Special or TV Movie Mickey and Minnie Wish Upon a Christmas | Disney Television Animation
Best Holiday or Special Episode “Holiday Goose Chase” Madagascar: A Little Wild | DreamWorks Animation for Hulu and Peacock
Best Inclusivity Deepa & Anoop| Mattel Television for Netflix
Best in Class “Holiday Goose Chase” Madagascar: A Little Wild| DreamWorks Animation for Hulu and Peacock
PROGRAMMING—KIDS
Best New Series Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight | DreamWorks Animation for Netflix
Best Animated Series Miraculous:Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir | Zagtoon, Method Animation, Disney Channel
Best Mixed-Media Series The Brilliant World of Tom Gates | TG Entertainment, Wild Child Animation, Black Camel Productions, Sky Kids
Best One-Off, Special or TV Movie Superworm | Magic Light Pictures for BBC One
Best Holiday or Special Episode Snoopy Presents: To Mom (and Dad), With Love | WildBrain for AppleTV+
Best in Class Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight | DreamWorks Animation for Netflix
PROGRAMMING—TWEENS/TEENS
Best Animated Series Central Park | 20th Television for Apple TV+
Best Mixed-Media Series Lost Ollie | 21 Laps Entertainment for Netflix
Best Inclusivity The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder | Bar Productions, Disney Television Animation, WildBrain, Snipple Animation
CREATIVE TALENT
Best Animation Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas| Aardman for Netflix
Best Design Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight | DreamWorks Animation for Netflix
Best Directing The Tiny Chef Show | Imagine Kids+Family, Tiny Chef Show Productions, Factory, Nickelodeon Animation, Dunshire Productions
Best Music Deepa & Anoop | Mattel Television for Netflix
Best Writing Central Park| 20th Television for Apple TV+
Best Voice Talent Deepa & Anoop | Mattel Television for Netflix
Netflix has unveiled the latest addition to its anime lineup: a new series based on the manga Pluto, produced by Genco (Sword Art Online, Accel World), with animation production by Studio M2 (Onihei, Usuzumizakura: Garo) and set for release later this year. The streamer unveiled a sneak peek at the sci-fi series, which takes a classic character in a new direction.
Created by Naoki Urasawa (20th Century Boys, Yawara!, Master Keaton) and his long-time co-creator Takashi Nagasaki, the glabally acclaimed Pluto manga is based on Osamu Tezuka’s Astro Boy arc ‘The Greatest Robot on Earth’ from 1964.
“The animated Pluto is the real deal, and in addition to this being Urasawa’s latest work, this is also a new Tezuka anime,” notes project supervisor Macoto Tezka, son of the late manga legend. “I can hardly wait to see how this new generation of anime turns out.”
The series is being produced with the cooperation of Tezuka Productions.
The suspense drama takes place in a neo-futuristic world where humans and high-functioning robots live in complete harmony. The manga has won numerous awards, including the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize. The 2015 stage adaptation of Pluto returned in 2018 by popular demand and toured Japan and Europe.
“I applaud the courage of everyone that has taken on the challenge of making an anime based on Pluto,” says Urasawa. “I am excited about the birth of this new series to win over people’s hearts. I hope that now more than ever, Osamu Tezuka’s message reaches the world.”
Nagasaki adds, “Pluto inherits the philosophy of Tezuka and does not merely convey a message of anti-war, but reminds us that there is suffering on both sides… but still, the only remaining answer is peace.”
The Japanese voice cast for the anime features Shinshu Fuji as Gesicht, Yoko Hikasa as Atom and Minori Suzuki as Uran.
Prepare for sick air, sweet moves and Titan-sized laughs as the Teen Titans return to Studio J — home of the Sports Emmy-winning show Inside the NBA — to give their comedic brand of sports analysis for this year’s AT&T Slam Dunk, part of State Farm All-Star Saturday Night.
The Cartoon Network Special Edition: NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest Presented by Jordan Brand marks the second mash-up between Cartoon Network, the National Basketball Association (NBA), and Warner Bros. Discovery Sports, featuring characters from the popular Teen Titans Go! animated series putting a wacky superhero spin on the competition.
The quarter-hour, commercial-free special will debut Sunday, Feb. 19 at 5 p.m. ET/PT on Cartoon Network — one day after the original, full-length contest airs at 8 p.m. ET on TNT. The broadcast will re-air on Cartoon Network at 5:45 p.m. ET/PT after the premiere. Sports fans can then click back to TNT at 8 p.m. to watch the 72nd NBA All-Star Game.
As previously announced, KJ Martin (Houston Rockets), Trey Murphy III (New Orleans Pelicans), Mac McClung (Philadelphia 76ers) and Jericho Sims (New York Knicks) will be battling for hoop supremacy in the 2023 AT&T Slam Dunk.
“Last year’s collaboration with Warner Bros. Discovery Sports and the NBA proved superheroes and basketball make the perfect team so expect this time to be bigger, bolder and of course, filled to the rim with the best slam dunks,” said Deena Beach, Head of Marketing, Cartoon Network, Boomerang & Adult Swim. “Thanks to our Jordan Brand partner, we will deliver an uninterrupted viewing experience, yet again, for our audience and everyone’s favorite Teen Titans.”
Cartoon Network Special Edition: NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest Presented by Jordan Brand will feature highlights from this year’s AT&T Slam Dunk. Robin, Raven, Beast Boy, Cyborg and Starfire will host the special from the home of Inside the NBA, offering hilarious commentary, unique basketball insights and outlandish animated replays.
The special will also feature a dream team of animated all-stars with Scooby-Doo and Velma serving as the night’s sideline reporters and, despite Robin’s wishes, seasoned contest judges Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and Aquaman will return this year to re-score the event’s most impressive dunks.
In addition to the Special Edition, Cartoon Network, Warner Bros. Discovery Sportsand the NBA are partnering to bring young fans monthly Cartoon Network Titans of Dunk shorts featuring Teen Titans Go! characters showcasing some of the best dunk highlights from across the NBA.
Fans can also tune in to a new half-hour Teen Titans Go! episode, “Teen Titans Action,” premiering Monday, Feb. 20 at 6 p.m. ET/PT on Cartoon Network. The supersized episode follows the Teen Titans as they attempt to become action heroes in hopes of securing a toy licensing deal.
Teen Titans Go! is produced by Warner Bros. Animation.
Walt Disney Animation Studios’ latest animated feature, Strange World, is now available on 4K, Blu-ray and DVD. Audiences can now enjoy the epic adventure at home with never-before-seen bonus features and deleted scenes.
To celebrate the release, Disney has unveiled an all-new behind-the-scenes clip featuring the cast recording some of their lines, as well as fantastical development artwork from the film.
More info on the home release of Strange Worldhere.
The clip features interview excerpts with editor Sarah K. Reimers, director Don Hall and voice stars Gabrielle Union (Meridian Clade), Jake Gyllenhaal (Searcher Clade), plus recording booth footage of Jaboukie Young-White (Ethan Clade) and Lucy Liu (Callisto Mal).
HIDIVE has acquired the new action-fantasy TV series Helckfrom Nippon TV, based on the popular shōnen manga written and illustrated by Nanaki Nanao. The anime adaptation will be simulcast exclusively on HIDIVE and is scheduled to premiere during the Summer 2023 season. To mark the announcement, HIDIVE also debuted the show’s first-ever promo video.
“We’re thrilled to offer the highly anticipated anime series Helck as a HIDIVE exclusive,” said John Ledford, President of HIDIVE. “This exciting new action fantasy series is just the first of many exclusive simulcasts that our subscribers — especially shōnen fans — can look forward to watching on HIDIVE this summer!”
Synopsis: A certain country in the demon world. The Demon King was defeated by the hands of one of the heroes, and a competition was held for the title of the New Demon King. The Imperial Four Heavenly Kings Vermilio, who is in charge of the tournament, is furious at the participation of the human hero Helck, who is supposed to be his enemy.
After receiving news of the fall of the castle of Urum before the final, Vermilio sets out to retake Urum Castle with Helck and other finalists. With a smile, Helck says, “Let’s destroy humans.” Are those words true? The truth behind the smile is…
The 12-volume Helck manga series launched in 2014 and was serialized in both Shogakukan’s Ura Sunday website and MangaONE. In 2015, it was named one of the Top 10 titles at the Next Manga Awards.
The Helck series is directed by Tatsuo Sato with writing by Toshizo Nemoto and Mitsutaka Hirota, character design by Yoshinori Deno, and animation by SATELIGHT Inc. (Macross Delta, Aquarion, Symphogear). Featuring the voices of Katsuyuki Konishi as Helck, Mikako Komatsu as Vermilio, Yoshitsugu Matsuoka as Azudra, Akira Ishida as Hon and Shiki Aoki as Asta.
For more information on HIDIVE or to sign-up for a free seven-day trial, visit hidive.com.
Beloved Brazilian kids’ franchise Monica and Friends (Turma da Mônica) has since spawned countless comic books, toys and animated and live-action series and films since debuting in 1959. Now, as of October 2022, Monica stars in her first 3D CG project, Vamos Brincar com a Turma da Mônica (Let’s Play with Monica and Friends).
Streaming on the Giga Gloob app in Brazil, the first episode is now also available on the Monica and Friends YouTube channel, where the brand enjoys a 12 billion-strong audience.
Let’s Play follows Monica, Cebolinha (Jimmy Five in the English version), Magali (Maggy), Cascão (Smudge) and Milena as they explore the world through games and experiments, with lots of music and fun. Their adventures are always under the watchful and astute eye of the rabbit Sansão (Samson), Monica’s inseparable companion. The preschool TV series for is aimed at four-year olds; 52 x 7′ episodes have been produced so far.
Vamos Brincar com a Turma da Mônica (Mauricio de Sousa Produções)
For this franchise first, it fell to the team at Hype Animation in Porto Alegre to animate the series, which is produced by Mauricio de Sousa Produções (MSP). The studio’s series work includes Dino Adventures,Taina and the Amazon’s Guardians and Guitar & Drum (with Punkrobot). Hype is also a part of Latin America’s largest collective animation studio, Los Amigos (Angry Birds Bubble Trouble).
“Monica and Friends is part of Brazilian culture,” says Hype’s CEO Gabriel Garcia. “It is very rewarding to see how much care the whole team has put into this project starring the characters created by Mauricio de Sousa. We have six decades to honor.”
Vamos Brincar com a Turma da Mônica is produced by MSP with animation by Hype Animation, sound by Ultrassom Music Ideas, in coproduction with Giga Gloob, Gloobinho and Globoplay.
Founded by Monica and Friends creator Mauricio de Sousa, MSP has grown from the label attached to the beloved comic strip to one of Brazil’s largest entertainment companies, covering publishing, licensing and content production.
From the famed animation studios Production I.G (Psycho-Pass, Ghost in the Shell, Attack on Titan) and Signal.MD (Birthday Wonderland, Cyborg 009: Call of Justice) comes DEEMO Memorial Keys, the feature film inspired by the internationally acclaimed DEEMO rhythm video game from Rayark Inc., which has over 28 million downloads worldwide.
Bring the fantastical and touching tale of Deemo and Alice to life, DEEMO Memorial Keys is directed by Shuhei Matsushita (Fuse: Memoirs of a Huntress) with Junichi Fujisaku (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Blood franchise) as a general director. Yuki Kajiura (Demon Slayer, Fate/Zero) created the film’s theme (performed by Hinano Takashima) and image songs.
The whimsical and beautifully animated ode to the power of music will be available for home audiences on Blu-ray/DVD And Digital download on March 28 from Eleven Arts and Shout! Factory, following its nationwide theatrical release.
Available for the first time in North America, the DEEMO Memorial Keys Blu-ray+DVD combo pack presents the film in both English audio and Japanese audio with English subtitles, plus special bonus content including trailers and promotional videos.
Synopsis: Fall in love with the enchanting tale of Deemo, a mysterious, lonely character who lives in solitude, playing the piano in a castle. One day, a girl who has lost her memory falls from the sky. Wanting to help her recover her memories and return to her world, Deemo discovers that a tree kept atop the piano will grow whenever the piano is played. But if Deemo succeeds in helping her, will the loss of her companionship prove to be too much?
This gentle, ephemeral story of love spun by Deemo, the girl, the mystical residents of the castle and a tree that grows with the sound of the piano will make you want to return to this world again and again.
The English voice cast features Michelle Marie (Ryoma! The Prince of Tennis, The House of the Lost on the Cape), Anairis Quiñones (Rainbow High, My Hero Academia), Bryce Papenbrook (Attack on Titan, Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir), Mike Pollock (A Night Before Christmas, A Cat in Paris), Luci Christian (Gintama: The Movie, My Hero Academia) and Stephanie Sheh(Your Name., Sailor Moon Crystal).
DEEMO Memorial Keys is available for pre-order now at ShoutFactory.com and will be available in stores and through other retailers.
Following a successful launch in November, Paper Owl Films’ woodland animated series Happy the Hoglet has received an enthusiastic Season 2 recommission from both its broadcasters, ITV (U.K.) and RTÉjr (Ireland).
“We’re extremely delighted with the performance of Happy across our platforms,” said Darren Nartey, Acquisitions Manager at ITV. “It’s a beautiful, engaging and well-written show, and our young audience have responded really well to it.”
Suzanne Kelly, Head of Children’s Content at RTÉ, commented, “Happy the Hoglet and his wonderful bunch of friends reassure RTÉjr viewers that no matter how grumpy, sad or cross we are, we can work through it together. I am really excited about Happy the Hoglet on RTÉjr. Everyone could do with some Happy right now!”
Production of the next 26 episodes of Happy the Hoglet is planned to start in late 2024, and Paper Owl Films can be found at Kidscreen Summit this week meeting with international partners interested in investing in the show.
Happy the Hoglet follows a baby hedgehog’s adventures with his friends as they explore their feelings. Each episode focuses on an adventure during which Happy learns to understand emotions from feeling excited to ‘hangry’ or feeling like he just needs a quiet minute.
The show is designed to help its young audience overcome negative feelings and make the most of positive ones.
“Toddlers need to learn emotional resilience earlier than ever given the world they are set to grow up in. The reaction to the first series of Happy has been huge so we are thrilled to be bringing the show to Kidscreen Summit.” said Paper Owl Films Creative Director Grainne McGuinness.
Aardman is the distributor for Season 1 and upcoming Season 2 of Happy the Hoglet.
Genius Brands International, Inc., through its Frederator Network subsidiary (a division of WOW! Unlimited Media), today announced an exclusive content deal with digital media company BuzzFeed. The agreement grants Frederator Network the exclusive opportunity to develop and produce longform series based on the digital properties created by BuzzFeed Animation Lab.
“Our partnership with BuzzFeed offers Frederator a tremendous opportunity to expand on the creativity of their animation lab to further develop their original IP into long-form series for global audiences,” said Michael Hirsh, CEO of WOW! Unlimited Media. “BuzzFeed is considered the most watched digital publisher with billions of global content views and nearly 30 million dedicated BuzzFeed Animation Lab fans, which gives us a huge audience and ability to promote each series to a highly-engaged fan base!”
The first short-form content for series development by Frederator will be The Land of Boggs, a zany buddy comedy that currently boasts over 10 million followers. Other content under consideration for long-form development includes The Good Advice Cupcake, an aggressively optimistic pastry touting over 6M followers; the lowbrow sister comedy Weird Helga, with over 9M followers; and the adorable gender-inclusive series, Chikn Nuggit, with over 7M followers.
Weird Helga
“The BuzzFeed Animation Lab has seen huge success and explosive growth for our animated properties, and we are thrilled to partner with Frederator Studios for development. They have an unparalleled track record in the industry and are the perfect shepherds to take our animated properties into a new format and expand our audience.”
Frederator Studios will serve as the global content sales agent, headed by Director of Development Isabel Schultz, and Genius Brands’ consumer products’ division will develop the retail program for the slate of IP, spearheaded by Chief Brand Officer Kerry Phelan, and in close partnership with BuzzFeed.
About the BuzzFeed titles:
Chikn Nuggit
The Land of Boggs is a comedy about two best buds wreaking havoc on their hometown of Boggville during summer vacation. tiktok.com/@thelandofboggs
The Good Advice Cupcake follows an aggressively optimistic cupcake who gives advice on surviving life and being a beautiful b*tch with her pastry friends. tiktok.com/@thegoodadvicecupcake
Weird Helga is a coming of age, character-driven series that follows odd-couple twins Helga and Honey and the problems they face as ‘blossoming’ young adults. tiktok.com/@weirdhelga
Chikn Nuggitis a gender-inclusive comedy series about a weird, long-eared dog named Chikn Nuggit and his similarly magical fast-food-named pals. tiktok.com/@chikn.nuggit
No matter what your plans for Valentine’s Day, you’ll want to make a date with the ones you love for February 17 — the ones you love being the wonderfully wacky toons of Animaniacs, which launches its third and final season on Hulu this Friday. Grab a heart shaped box of discounted boxes and dig into all 10 episodes!
Synopsis: Yakko (Rob Paulsen), Wakko (Jess Harnell) and Dot (Tress MacNeille) return with an all-new season of laughs, songs, pop culture parodies, and enough zany antics to fill a water tower (or at least 10 episodes!).
Pinky (Paulsen) and Brain’s (Maurice LaMarche) never ending plans to take over the world journey them to the ends of new lands, deserts, and even the space time continuum. And while new friends, Starbox (Danny Jacobs) and Cindy (Eleanor Johnson) continue their play date, the Warner siblings must battle their way out of a video game, learn the secrets of being a teen influencer, and escape a mad scientist’s island all while finding time to teach us about the threat of global warming!
Steven Spielberg returns as executive producer of the series, with Sam Register, President, Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios, Amblin Television Co-Presidents Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey also serving as executive producers. Wellesley Wild and Gabe Swarr serves as co-showrunners and executive producers. Animaniacs is produced by Amblin Television in association with Warner Bros. Animation.
Independent filmmaker Heather Parra (The Uprising, Hard 8, Cyborg X) is venturing into animation, releasing a trailer for the family fantasy adventure Talon. The 2D-animated glimpse into a magic-infused prehistoric world, produced by Kris Wimberly’s Los Angeles-based Studio Smokescreen (Tent Sale), has totted up hundreds of thousands of views since debuting to a largely positive response.
Synopsis: What if the Great Dying was an accident caused by a fleeing alien searching for heroes? What if the K-T asteroid was the result of a battle between magic-enhanced dinosaurs and a power-hungry ancient race from the stars? Talon is a pure escapism series about the speculative history of our planet and, at its center, a young kindhearted Dakotaraptor born with magical powers. She joins an otherworldly wizard on a quest to find seven others like her and save their world from a sinister alien threat.
Parra’s Renegade Dreamer Entertainment label is working on a full-length pilot, which fans can support here.
Comics label ABLAZE will be offering fans classic titles created by Osamu Tezuka, the “Godfather of Manga.” Published for the first time in English, the graphic novels and collections taken from Tezuka’s approximately 700 manga works and tens of thousands of pages will roll out from August 2023 through 2024.
One Hundred Tales – August 2023
An adaptation of the Faust legend as a samurai period piece. Ichirui Hanri is an ordinary accountant servicing his lord. Though innocent, he is sentenced to death by hara-kiri after being entangled in a power struggle. A witch named Sudama appears and offers Hanri three wishes in exchange for his soul. Hanri accepts. Is it worth it?
Shakespeare Manga Theater – Q4 2023
Over the course of his career, Tezuka adapted many of Shakespeare’s works: Hamlet, Othello, The Taming of the Shrew, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet (featuring Astro Boy!) and The Merchant of Venice. This book collects them into one volume and is sure to be popular not just with Tezuka fans, but also schools interested in presenting Shakespeare in a format that is easier for readers to engage with.
Tomorrow The Birds – Q2 2024
A science fiction manga depicting a future society in which evolved birds surpass humanity, Tomorrow the Birds is a parable about how we treat those who aren’t like us, and the eventual price that must be paid for arrogance. An unforgettable tapestry of seven-page chapters and longer stories.
Neo Faust – Q4 2024
This adaptation of Goethe’s Faust is Tezuka’s third rendering of this classic and one of the serializations he was working on at the time of his death. Despite being terminally ill, Tezuka continued to develop his already legendary storytelling and illustrations and left behind this enthralling take on a timeless theme.
Morph statue in London
Larger-than-life displays of beloved children’s characters have popped up across London in a new exhibition marking the launch of the Sky Kids 24-hour, ad-free TV channel. A three-meter-high statue of Aardman’s timeless TV character Morph appeared over night at Potters Fields, next to Tower Bridge; an illuminated Miffy sculpture was spotted in Observation Point on Southbank; and a gigantic Where’s Wally puzzle was uncovered in Shoreditch.
Miffy’s Adventures Big and Small, Where’s Wally and The Epic Adventures of Morph are set to air on the new channel from today, alongside a variety of brand-new Sky Original kids programs. The pop-up experience follows a poll of 2,000 Brits by Sky Kids which reveals the nation’s favorite British TV children’s characters of all time. Morph claimed the bronze medal with 19% of the votes, with much-loved puppet duo Sooty and Sweep, topping the list with 28% of the votes, and Basil Brush not far behind in second place (20%). See the Top 20 list here.
Cyber Group Studios (Gigantosaurus) has expanded its relationship with NorAm indie studio Splash Entertainment (Chloe’s Closet, Sabrina: Secrets of a Teenage Witch, Norm of the North), inking an exclusive content deal that covers Splash’s extensive catalog of 500_hours of international and European content. Splash titles have aired in more than 180 territories worldwide and have won numerous awards including 13 Daytime Emmys, 15 Parents Choice Awards and a BAFTA.
Last year, Cyber Group Studios joined forces with Splash Ent. to form CyberSplash, a Paris-based entity, to create and produce original animated series and feature films for kids and families around the world. New shows launching under this banner include Family Rocks, a preschool series about the first modern family of the Sone Age. The 78 x 7′ digital cutout show is co-produced with Israel-based Ananey Studios (Spyders, Greenhouse Academy, Craft Party), part of Paramount Global.
Discovery Family Channel and Discovery Familia today announced the launch of Hanni and the Wild Woods, a brand-new nature-focused animated series, set to premiere in the U.S. this coming April. From Korean creator Minah Eom and produced by TOBEIT Global Corp., the nature edutainment series teaches kids about the wonderful world surrounding us. Each episode is filled with original music and themes about helping animals, insects, plants, and the importance of nature conservation.
Hanni is the leader of the Forest Friends, who cares deeply about everyone and wants her friends in the Wild Woods to live in harmony. While Hanni and the Forest Friends are having fun, these beautifully animated characters are stewards of the environment, and encourage the audience to learn and do their part in helping protect our planet.
“The concept sprung from a desire to give my two daughters a meaningful gift that can remind them of me forever,” said Eom. “In turn, they provided me with the motivation and inspiration in every moment of my creative work and made everything possible.”
Heading into the European Film Market in Berlin (Feb. 16-22), GFM Animation has announced it will partner with Gringo Films GmbH, Fabrique d’Images and Wild Bunch on Stitch Head, a new animated family feature based on the book by Guy Bass. The adaptation is written and directed by Steve Hudson (True North), and co-directed by Toby Genkel (The Amazing Maurice).
“We are always looking for top tier independent properties that have franchise potential,” said GFM Animation’s Chairman, Guy Collins. “When we were approached by Wild Bunch, Germany, and Gringo Films, we were immediately drawn in by the quality of the storytelling and early visuals and could clearly see the film’s potential. It is exciting to board the film at this point with CG animation starting shortly and look forward to sharing this raucous twist on the Frankenstein story with distributors at the EFM.”
Based on the first book in award-winning author Bass’s popular children’s series, the film tells the story of Stitch Head, a small, modest-looking creature awoken to Almost-Life™ by a mad professor in a castle high above the little town of Grubbers Nubbin. Having finished one creation, the professor promptly moves on to the next, so it’s up to Stitch Head to take care of all the monsters and, most of all, keep them safe: act too monstrous, and the townsfolk below will form an angry mob and burn down the castle.
For good reason, Stitch Head and his fellow-monsters are as terrified of humans as the townsfolk are of the things they suspect dwell in the castle. But then, one day, a travelling freak show comes to town, led by its desperate owner Fulbert Freakfinder. The show is on its last legs and frankly, not frightening at all. When Freakfinder meets the humble Stitch Head, he knows at last he has found a star who will turn his fortunes around completely.
The film’s voice cast is led by Asa Butterfield (Sex Education) as Stitch Head, Joel Fry (Cruella) voicing Stitch Head’s freshly-created best friend, Creature, and Tia Bannon (Midnight Sky) who voices Arabella, a fearless young girl and the monster’s greatest ally. They are joined by Rob Brydon (The Amazing Maurice), Alison Steadman (Life Is Sweet), Fern Brady and Jamali Maddix.
Sonja Ewers produces for Gringo Films, Mark Mertens for Fabrique d’Images. Marc Gabizon and Michael Luda co-produce with Fabrique d’Images, Traumhaus Studios and Senator Film acting as co-production companies. Development and pre-production has been undertaken at Fabrique d’Images, Lava Labs and Pixomondo. Nick Urata (Academy Award winner for Little Miss Sunshine) will compose the film’s score.
“A castle full of monsters all terrified of humans is a great starting point for a comedy — and for a film that empowers kids to face down fears,” said Ewers. “In the end, laughter is stronger, and we’re delighted GFM Animation will be bringing Stitch Head to audiences around the world.”
GFM Animation’s current slate also includes Enzo d’Alo’s A Greyhound of a Girl, screening in competition at the Berlinale; 10 Lives, featuring the voices of Mo Gilligan, Simone Ashley, Sophie Okonedo, Zayne Malik, Bill Nighy, Jeremy Swift and Dylan Lewellyn, directed by Chris Jenkins; and Sneaks, starring Laurence Fishburne, Martin Lawrence, Anthony Mackie, Roddy Ricch, Ella Mai, Macy Gray, Swae Lee and Chris Paul.
Genius Brands International today announced its first AI-generated children’s series, Kidaverse Fast Facts, utilizing OpenAI’s ChatGPT, among other AI technologies.
“We’re excited to bring this innovative series to market and, by using ChatGPT, the series is able to quickly and effectively adapt and deliver our content and concepts in a kid-friendly, snackable format,” said Andy Heyward, Chairman & CEO of Genius Brands. “The future of children’s entertainment is here, and we’re thrilled to be at the forefront of this revolution.”
The series will premiere in March across Genius Networks’ YouTube and social channels, before rolling out under both Kartoon Channel! and Ameba across multiple AVOD, SVOD and FAST platforms, including Prime Video Channels, Amazon Fire, Apple TV, Apple iOS, Android TV, Android Mobile, Pluto, Roku, Samsung, LG and Vizio Smart TVs.
Aimed at children ages 4-11, Kidaverse Fast Facts uses AI for its scripts, images, voices and animation. The series will include new and exclusive shorts hosted by History Henry, Science Sally and Sporty Steve, meant to educate children worldwide with fun and interesting lessons and facts about science, history, music, literature and more.
“AI is a game changer for us, providing significant cost efficiencies and speed to market, allowing us to expand our content initiatives and fuel our programming pipeline in a way that couldn’t have been possible before,” said Todd Steinman, President of Genius Networks. “These AI tools and the content they create will certainly have a huge impact in children’s entertainment and beyond. With its innovative use of AI, we are confident that Kidaverse Fast Facts will be a hit with kids and parents around the world!”
