Paris-based distribution company Superights just announced a new addition to its growing catalog, I Love This Job (26 x 7’), produced by Polish company Animoon. The 2D-animated preschool series will be presented during Kidscreen Summit in Miami next week. Superights will represent the series worldwide, excluding Poland.
I Love This Job stars three animal friends: Daniel the cat, Ruby the Monkey and George the Elephant. Together, the group of friends will learn about the different worlds of various jobs. From plumber to paleontologist, kids will have the opportunity to explore plenty of different aspects of professional life. The series embraces educational values and drives children’s curiosity about different job cultures and how to follow and apply your passion in your work.
I Love This Job
“I Love This Job perfectly complements the ‘edutainment’ part of our catalog with its unique focus on jobs,” said Nathalie Pinguet, Deputy General Manager of Superights. “We are thrilled to partner with Animoon on this colorful show. We strongly believe that the series will demonstrate to kids around the globe how vital passion is to work. Don’t hesitate to come and meet us during Kidscreen to learn more about the show.”
Grzegorz Wacławek, Animoon’s CEO and producer of the series, added, “I am extremely excited about the opportunity to work with Superights. I’ve been following their remarkably curated portfolio of projects for many years, and I’ve always dreamed that Animoon’s production would be among them. I’m glad that I Love This Job is the project that, with the support of Superights, has the chance to conquer the world and reach the audiences with such a precious message.”
GKIDS announced today that it has acquired the North American audiovisual distribution rights for Spirited Away: Live on Stage, filmed during the hit production’s 2022 run at the historic Imperial Theatre in Tokyo, Japan. GKIDS will release the filmed stage production theatrically in spring 2023.
The stage play is based on Hayao Miyazaki’s Academy Award-winning animated feature and is adapted and directed for the stage by Tony Award-winner John Caird, Honorary Associate Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, who gained international acclaim for adapting and directing the world premiere of the landmark production Les Misérables.
Chinese release poster; U.S. poster TBA
GKIDS will release two separate filmed performances of the production, starring Kanna Hashimoto and Mone Kamishiraishi double-cast as the lead heroine, Chihiro. Character actor Mari Natsuki, who voiced the sorceress Yubaba and her twin sister Zeniba in the original motion picture, returns to her original role, double-cast with voice actor Romi Park.
They are accompanied by a star-studded cast in the key roles: Kotaro Daigo and Hiroki Miura as Haku, Koharu Sugawara and Tomohiko Tsujimoto No Face, Miyu Sakihi and Fu Hinami as Lin/Chihiro’s Mother, Tomorowo Taguchi and Satoshi Hashimoto as Kamaji, Kenya Osumi as Aniyaku/Chihiro’s Father, Sunao Yoshimura as Chichiyaku and Obata no Oniisan as Aogaeru.
“We are thrilled to offer this unique opportunity for Studio Ghibli fans in America to experience the stage production that wowed Japanese press and audiences last year,” said GKIDS’ President David Jesteadt. “This imaginative stage adaptation by the legendary John Caird, featuring two wonderful performances by lead actors Kanna Hashimoto and Mone Kamishiraishi, helps bring to life one of the greatest films of all time in a dazzling new way.”
Synopsis: Hayao Miyazaki’s Academy Award®-winning animated feature film comes to life in this first-ever stage adaptation, full of dazzling sets, captivating musical numbers, and wondrous puppets of beloved characters. Adapted and directed by Tony Award®-winner John Caird (Les Misérables), two unique casts and performances were filmed during the show’s acclaimed 2022 run at Tokyo’s historic Imperial Theatre, featuring Kanna Hashimoto and Mone Kamishiraishi as Chihiro.
While traveling to their new home, Chihiro and her family stumble into a world of fantastic spirits ruled over by the sorceress Yubaba. When her parents are turned into pigs and she is put to work in a magical bathhouse, Chihiro must use her wits to survive in this strange new place, find a way to free her parents, and return to the normal world.
Maoko Imai helped with the adaptation of Miyazaki’s original film. The stage production also features the music by film composer Joe Hisashi, orchestrated and arranged by Brad Haak with associate music supervision support from Conor Keelan. The magical story is brought to life with sets designed by Jon Bausor, costumes by Sachiko Nakahara and over 50 puppets, designed by Toby Olié (The Little Mermaid 2012 for Walt Disney Theatrical, Pinocchio 2017 for the National Theatre, Animal Farm 2022 U.K. Tour).
Spirited Away: Live on Stage was created in association with Studio Ghibli, and presented by Toho Co., Ltd. The NorAm distribution deal was negotiated between GKIDS and Toho.
Animac, International Animation Film Festival of Catalonia, has announced the list of titles selected for several of its official sections — Shorts, Future Talent, Little Animac, and Talent.cat — which will be screened in this 27th festival to be held onsite in Lleida, Spain from February 23-26 and online through the Filmin platform March 3-12. The selection includes Oscar-nominated NFB short The Flying Sailor (Shorts 1), by Canadian directors Wendy Tilby and Amanda Forbis.
This year, the official section for the Shorts track showcasing the best and most recent animated short films from around the world, presents 40 films from 22 different countries over five sessions. In addition to The Flying Sailor, notable titles in this section include stop-motion short Salvation Has No Name (Shorts 2) directed by Joseph Wallace (U.K./France/Czech Republic); Amarradas(Shorts 2), the Goya-nominated film by Carmen Córdoba that explores the link between a mother and daughter (Spain); Sierra(Shorts 4) by Sander Joon, which enters a surreal world of car racing (Estonia); and O Homem do Lixo / The Garbage Man (Shorts 4) by Laura Gonçalves, which tells the story of a man who endured a hard life with humor and imagination (Portugal).
The Flying Sailor
Amok(Shorts 3) by Balázs Turai (Hungary/Romania), winner of the Cristal Award at the Annecy festival, will also screen, as will Babičino seksualno življenje / Granny’s Sexual Life (Shorts 3), by Urška Djukić and Émilie Pigeard (Slovenia/France), nominated for the César Award. The first of these is a short with no dialog in which the protagonist faces his inner demons after losing his fiancée and his good looks in a freak accident, while the second goes on a journey back to the youth of a grandmother to show Slovenian women in the first half of the 20th century.
The section for narrative and visual experiments within the official Shorts section, Shorts 5 White Cube, will feature the films The Hour Coatby Amy Kravitz (U.S.); Backflip by Nikita Diakur (Germany/France); Boca by Frederic Amat (Spain); and Intermission by Réka Bucsi (Hungary), among others.
Backflip
The section Future Talent, dedicated to shorts from animation schools around the world, this year has three sessions with a total of 37 shorts selected from 14 countries, notably À bicyclette by Océane Lavergne, Benjamin Langagne, Lucas Durot, Pierre Cilluffo, Marine Beuvain and Kerrian Detay; Slouch by Michael Bohnenstingl; and Oscar-nominated An Ostrich Told Me the World Is Fake and I Think I Believe It by Lachlan Pendragon.
Little Animac, the section of the festival aimed squarely at the very young and their families, has programmed 48 films from 18 countries in six different sessions. The aim of Little Animac is to introduce children to the world of animation and its various techniques while encouraging their curiosity and taste for cinema.
Salvation Has No Name
The films screened will include the series of micro shorts Našeprasátko(Little Animac 1 Short & Sweet) by Jaromír Plachý, creator of the adventure videogame Botanicula; The Smeds and the Smoos (Little Animac 2) by Daniel Snaddon and Samantha Cutler, the tenth adaptation of a book by the writer Julia Donaldson from Magic Light Pictures; and Operación Frankenstein (Little Animac 3) by José María Fernández de Vega, a film with a surprising ending, far from the classic tale.
Other notable films in this kids & family section include Les astres immobiles (Little Animac 4) by Noémi Gruner and Séléna Picque, a story that spotlights the life of Chenghua and her parents’ difficulties, and La joya del pantano (Little Animac 5) by Camilo Ayala Nieto.
The films included in the official sections Shorts, Future Talent and Little Animac are eligible for the festival’s audience award.
Amarradas
The Talent.cat section , which brings together animation films from students in Catalan-speaking territories, this year has the participation of 14 schools which have submitted 16 films: Let’s Dance, Beyond the Fringe, La Cucharada, Half-Dog, Pank con chocolate, Sweet Side, Jidai(次代), Era del presente, Ventanas, Pieces of Us, Chimborazo, Sully, Sunburned, Vestigis, Proceso Mental and Papirola. The winning film will be selected by a jury of professionals.
“It should be noted that, although Animac is the oldest festival, it is also the youngest because it welcomes all these creations by students from different schools in Catalonia,” says festival director Carolina López.
Amok
Organized by Lleida City Council Animac 2023 celebrates the creativity of Latin American animation under the motto “LatAm Boom!”, highlighting defining features of the region such as cultural richness, the search for local stories and aesthetics, diversity, magic realism and political and social commitment.
This showcase will feature the best of animated cinema with monographic and retrospective sessions, as well as a handpicked selection of recently created short and feature films from around the world, exhibitions, talks and masterclasses for lovers of animation. The entire program will soon be announced in a press conference in Lleida, and can also be consulted on the official website of the event.
Studios, distributors and individuals from 11 European countries have been nominated for the 2023 Cartoon Tributes, which recognize the most outstanding achievements of European film animation in the previous year.
The winners of these awards in three categories — Director, Distributor/Sales Agent and Producer of the Year — will be voted for by the professionals attending Cartoon Movie, the pitching and co-production event for European animated films that will celebrate its 25th anniversary in the French city of Bordeaux from March 7-9. More info available at cartoon-media.eu/movie.
The major contributions by the nominees in their respective fields have significantly impacted the European animation industry, enhancing the dynamism and creativity it currently enjoys. Winners will be announced in the Bordeaux Congress Centre on March 9 at noon.
Amandine Fredon & Benjamin Massoubre for Little Nicholas: Happy as Can Be (France)
Awarded with the Annecy Cristal for a Feature Film in 2022, Little Nicholas: Happy as Can Be is Amandine Fredon & Benjamin Massoubre’s first film as directors. An adaptation from a popular children’s book series created by René Goscinny and illustrated by Jean-Jacques Sempé, the film has been hailed as “an ode to the joys of childhood.” Fredon has previously directed television series, while Massoubre has mainly worked as an editor (Calamity, a Childhood of Martha Jane Cannary; I Lost My Body).
Áron Gauder for Four Souls of Coyote (Hungary)
Graduated from Moholy-Nagy University in Budapest and the Universität der Künste in Berlin, film director and scriptwriter Áron Gauder has won numerous awards, including the Annecy Cristal Award in 2005 with his feature animated film The District!. To be presented at Cartoon Movie 2023 as sneak preview, Four Souls of Coyote is billed as an epic adventure tale of the Native American creation myth.
Mascha Halberstad for OINK (Netherlands)
Dutch filmmaker and illustrator Mascha Halberstad first film OINK is another contender for this category. With a Roald Dahl atmosphere to it, this stop-motion film was selected at the Berlinale in 2022. Halberstad will be presenting her next film at Cartoon Movie: Fox and Hare Save the Forest, based on Sylvia Vanden Heede’s books.
José Miguel Ribeiro for Nayola (Portugal)
José Miguel Ribeiro’s first feature film tells the story of three generations of women during the 25-year Angolan civil war. Graduated from the Lisbon Art School, Ribeiro has previously directed several short films, including Cartoon d’Or winner A Suspeita in 2000. Nayola was first presented at Cartoon Movie as an in-development project in 2016, and six years later had its sneak preview at the event.
European Distributor of the Year
I Wonder Pictures (Italy)
Bologna-based I Wonder Pictures distributes theatrically and digitally “the best biopics, docs and feature films from all over the world.” Flee, Ernest & Celestine, Little Nicholas: Happy as Can Be and Unicorn Wars are some of the company’s most recent films distributed in Italy.
KMBO (France)
Animation is at the heart of the KMBO, a film distribution company created in 2007. Based in Paris, the company releases around 10 films each year, and works with both auteur and commercial animation films. The Amazing Maurice, Moonbound, Just Super and The Elfkins: Baking a Difference are some of the titles distributed by the company recently.
Pink Parrot Media (Spain)
Pink Parrot Media is an international sales company focused on animation and live-action family entertainment. Based in Madrid, the company’s core business lays in CGI animated features, but it also distributes 2D animation, animated TV series and live-action family features. Pink Parrot’s catalog includes films such as Valentina and Trash, and projects in production such as Butterfly Tale, which will be presented at Cartoon Movie 2023.
Rosebud.21 (Greece)
Rounding out the nominees in this category is Athens-based Rosebud.21, a boutique distribution company with more than 500 titles distributed in Greece and Cyprus, including major European animated films such as Ooops! Noah Is Gone…, Where Is Anne Frank? and My Life as a Courgette.
European Producer of the Year
No Dogs or Italians Allowed is a co-production between France’s Les Films du Tambour de Soie, Vivement Lundi ! and Foliascope together with Italy’s Graffiti Film, Switzerland’s Nadasdy Film, Portugal’s Ocidental Filmes and Belgium’s Lux Fugit Film. Directed by Alain Ughetto (Jasmine), this stop-motion film won both the Jury Prize at Annecy and the European Film Award for Best European Animated Film in 2022.
A co-production between Germany’s Ulysses Filmproduktion and U.K.’s Cantilever Media, 3D animation film The Amazing Maurice is co-directed by Toby Genkel & Florian Westermann. Selected at Sundance Film Festival 2023, the film is based on a book by British author Terry Pratchett.
Titinaby Kajsa Næss is a co-production between Norway’s Mikrofilm and Belgium’s Vivi Film. Oslo’s Mikrofilm won the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film in 2007 with The Danish Poet. Based in Brussels, Vivi Film has participated as co-producer in highly renowned films such as The Triplets of Belleville and The Secret of Kells, and will be presenting The Legend of Lune at Cartoon Movie 2023.
Unicorn Wars,a fantastic anti-war fable by Alberto Vázquez, rounds up the nominations for this category. The film is a co-production by Spain’s Abano Producións and UniKo, together with Academy-awarded animation studio Autour de Minuit and Schmuby/Borderline Films in France. The film has also earned a double nomination for 2023 Spain’s prestigious Goya Film Awards. Abano Producións and UniKo have recently worked together on Sultana’s Dream. UniKo and Autour de Minuit have already coproduced two of Vázquez’ short films: Decorado (2016) and Homeless Home (2020).
The space-time skipping new DC Universe Movie Legion of Super-Heroesis ready to transport Supergirl and her legions of fans to the distant future via Digital, 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack or Blu-ray today, from Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment. Marking the release, WBDHE has unveiled a new clip and super images from the 2D-animated adventure, produced by Warner Bros. Animation.
Synopsis: Welcome to the 31st century and the Legion Academy, where a new generation hones their powers with hopes of joining the Legion of Super-Heroes. Devastated by tragedy, Supergirl struggles to adjust to her new life on Earth. Taking her cousin Superman’s advice, Supergirl leaves their space-time to attend the Academy. There, she quickly makes new friends, as well as a new enemy with old ties: Brainiac 5. But a nefarious plot lurks in the shadows — the mysterious group known as the Dark Circle seeks a powerful weapon held in the Academy’s vault. Find out if the budding heroes can rise to the challenge in this all-new DC Universe Movie!
Four new images were unveiled today:
Legion of Super-Heroes
Legion of Super–Heroes headquarters is adorned with tributes to some of the greatest Legionnaires, including holographic representations of Cosmic Boy, Saturn Girl and Lightning Lad, as well as in-flight holograms of Matter Eating Lad and Sensor Girl.
Legion of Super-Heroes
Supergirl (Meg Donnelly) prepares to level a knockout blow in this close-up of the beloved character during an action-packed scene in Legion of Super-Heroes.
Legion of Super-Heroes
Legionnaires gather to inspect a large crater, including a virtual who’s who of the cast — Arms Fall Off Boy (voiced by Ben Diskin), Bouncing Boy (Ely Henry), Supergirl (Meg Donnelly), Dawnstar (Cynthia Hamidi), Brainiac 5 (Harry Shum, Jr.), Invisible Kid (Zeno Robinson) and Phantom Girl (Gideon Adlon) — in this scene.
Legion of Super-Heroes
The infamous Dark Circle approaches as a battle begins in Legion of Super-Heroes…
In the new clip, Brainiac 5 and Supergirl must make a hasty escape, and traveling through the air under cover of darkness is the most clandestine path. However, the resulting scenario — Supergirl needing to carry Brainiac 5 in her arms — is a bit embarrassing for the super genius. Meg Donnelly (American Housewife, The Winchesters) provides the voice of Supergirl, with Harry Shum, Jr. (Everything Everywhere All At Once, Crazy Rich Asians) as Brainiac 5.
European multi-genre indie Mediawan Kids & Family has announced its first international acquisition for the division, with the purchase of a majority stake in U.K.-based production company Wildseed Studios. The multi-award-winning outfit partners with both emerging and established talent to produce creator-led scripted animated and live-action content for children, families and young adults with international appeal.
Wildseed Studios was founded in 2013 by Jesse Cleverly, former Head of co-productions and acquisitions at BBC Children’s, and Miles Bullough, former Head of broadcast at Aardman Animations. It has produced worldwide hits such as children’s animation series Dodo (Sky Kids), kids 8-11 animated comedy Counterfeit Cat (Disney Channel) and in live-action, the family series The Last Bus (Netflix), multi-award winning feature film Hungerford and the soon-to-be-screened special Ama’s Story (Sky Kids).
“I am delighted to welcome Jesse, Miles and their team to Mediawan Kids & Family,” says Julien Borde, President of Mediawan Kids & Family. “Wildseed is a renowned and well-established U.K. producer with a strong network of international talent and partners. They have a unique take on innovation and a real know-how on talent incubation. We are thrilled to start working with them to allow new talent to bring new stories and universes to kids, young adults and families. Wildseed will pursue the development of its own slate of content but also partner with our studios in Europe to bring new co-productions to the market.”
Jesse Cleverly, Co-Founder & Creative Director at Wildseed Studios, adds, “We are excited to be part of the Mediawan family and hugely admire their modern, agile approach to creativity and partnership. With Mediawan’s support, we look forward to discovering more award-winning creators and their original properties, producing more world-class content for audiences below 30 and growing Wildseed within the Mediawan group. One of the attractions of Mediawan for us was the ability to continue to drive our own diverse slate of shows, as well as working with other studios in the group to develop co-productions with a truly international focus.”
The new partnership will allow Mediawan Kids & Family to enrich its catalog with new animation and live-action content and extend its network of international talent. It will also provide a strong and complementary addition to its existing portfolio of studios.
“We are thrilled with this new partnership. After Italy and the development of an Animation branch within our studio Palomar, it is a new establishment in a territory where animation is key, matching perfectly with our European studio strategy we are developing on all our genres”, concludes Elisabeth d’Arvieu, Managing Director of Mediawan Pictures.
ShortsTV, the first and leading global channel and network dedicated to short films, announced the 18th annual Oscar Nominated Short Films theatrical release with a new trailer that premiered today. The release, only available in theaters, will contain the short films nominated in the categories of Live Action, Animation and Documentary.
Starting February 17, the 2023 Oscar Nominated Short Films will be available in over 500 theaters across 75+ theatrical markets including New York and Los Angeles. This is the only opportunity for audiences to watch the short film nominees in theaters before the 95th Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday, March 12.
“This is the year for short films,” said ShortsTV CEO and Founder Carter Pilcher. “In a world that is shifting rapidly to a creator economy of short-form storytellers, these 15 filmmakers are the pinnacle of talent. Nominees include some of the biggest names in global film, like Alfonso Cuarón, to some of the best-known storytellers, like Charlie Mackesy. The Oscars celebrate great filmmaking and the Oscar Shorts are some of the year’s best films in any category. They break new ground, tell stories with brilliant flashes of imagination and elevate the art of storytelling in new ways. We are thrilled to bring the Oscars’ best films once again to the big screen for audiences across the country.”
The previously announce Animated Shorts nominees will make up about 97 minutes of the program:
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse (2022, U.K.)
Director: Peter Baynton, Charlie Mackesy
Synopsis: The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse is a story of kindness, courage, and hope in traditional hand-drawn animation, following the unlikely friendship of the title characters as they journey together, in the boy’s search for home. Based on the book of the same name.
The Flying Sailor
The Flying Sailor (2022, Canada)
Director: Amanda Forbis, Wendy Tilby
Synopsis: In 1917, two ships collided in the Halifax Harbour, causing the largest accidental explosion in history. Among the tragic stories of the disaster is the remarkable account of a sailor who, blown skyward from the docks, flew a distance of two kilometres before landing uphill, naked and unharmed. The Flying Sailor is a contemplation of his journey.
Ice Merchants
Ice Merchants (2022; Portugal, France, U.K.)
Director: João Gonzalez
Synopsis: Every day, a father and his son jump with a parachute from their vertiginous cold house, attached to a cliff, to go to the village on the ground, far away where they sell the ice they produce daily. ***First-ever Portuguese film to be nominated for an Oscar.
My Year of Dicks
My Year of Dicks (2022, U.S.)
Director: Sara Gunnarsdóttir
Synopsis: An imaginative 15-year old is stubbornly determined to lose her virginity despite the pathetic pickings in the outskirts of Houston in the early ’90s. Created by Pamela Ribon from her critically-acclaimed memoir.
An Ostrich Told Me the World is Fake and I Think I Believe It
An Ostrich Told Me the World Is Fake and I Think I Believe It (2022, Australia)
Director: Lachlan Pendragon
Synopsis: When a young telemarketer is confronted by a mysterious talking ostrich, he learns that the universe is stop motion animation. He must put aside his dwindling toaster sales and focus on convincing his colleagues of his terrifying discovery.
It’s a big week for adult animation, as Comedy Central prepares for the premiere of South Park Season 26 as well as the broadcast debut of Mike Judge’s Beavis & Butt-head, both bringing their special brands of irreverent, chaotic humor to the network on Wednesday, February 8.
South Park “Cupid Ye”
South Park returns for its mindboggling 26th season on Wednesday, premiering at 10 p.m. ET/PT. In the launch episode, “Cupid Ye,” Cartman (voiced by Trey Parker) is jealous of the friendship that has developed between Kyle (Matt Stone) and Tolkien (Adrien Beard) … and decides to do something about it. Check out the sneak peek clip below!
Comedy Central’s Emmy and Peabody Award-winning series South Park launched on August 13, 1997, and is based on the VHS-shared, animated short entitled The Spirit of Christmas. Co-creator 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.
Mike Judge’s Beavis and Butt-head will bring the unruly reboot to broadcast for the first time, launching Feb. 8 at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT. Season 1 episodes of the new series will roll out weekly on Wednesdays after South Park, making Comedy Central a midweek adult animation destination.
From Emmy Award-winning creator Mike Judge and MTV Entertainment Studios, the new iteration featuring the iconic duo’s first original episodes in over 10 years originally premiered August 4, 2022 on Paramount+, following the critically acclaimed Paramount+ original film Beavis and Butt-head Do the Universe.
Created and voiced by Judge, Beavis and Butt-head originated in Judge’s 1992 short Frog Baseball, which aired on MTV’s Liquid Television. The original Beavis and Butt-Head series ran for seven seasons from March 8, 1993 to Nov. 28, 1997, and was revived in 2011 with an eighth season airing on MTV. Mike Judge’s Beavis and Butt-Head is executive-produced by Judge, Lew Morton and Michael Rotenberg, and Chris Prynoski, Shannon Prynoski, Ben Kalina and Antonio Canobbio for Titmouse.
Beyond Entertainment, part of content powerhouse Banijay, today announces it has entered into a new partnership with independent animation and creative studio Custom Nuts.
Under the banner Beyond Custom Nuts, the partners have agreed a slate development deal to co-produce cutting-edge animated series for the international market, with the first three projects (Jock & Sunny, Shape & Shapers and Classical Chaos) launching this month at Kidscreen Summit. Further developments will be added from the pipeline through 2023 and into future years.
Melinda Wearne, Beyond Entertainment’s executive charged with scripted development and production across kids and premium drama, has been driving the new relationship. Her wealth of experience includes overseeing the production of numerous award-winning animated and live-action series for prominent networks including Warner, Netflix, ABC and China’s CCTV. These include Netflix Original Beat Bugs, winner of the 2017 Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Pre-school Animated Program; Motown Magic for Netflix; and Hoopla Doopla, a co-production between ABC and CCTV in China, which she also created.
“This new co-production venture combines Beyond’s strength in scripted storytelling and its international reach, with the unique creative talents of the Custom Nuts team to present an exciting opportunity for us both,” said Wearne. “Our partner’s knowledge of, and expertise in, both anime and western cartoon narratives gives it a unique edge and together we are well placed to create and deliver truly global entertainment. We are thrilled to announce this new partnership and cannot wait to formally introduce Beyond Custom Nuts titles at Kidscreen.”
Custom Nuts was co-founded in 2019 by Silas Hickey (formerly APAC regional head of development and original production for Cartoon Network) and Matthew Howison. With a diverse slate of original and co-developed content with major studios and media
platforms across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, the company was established with the goal to combine the best of Japanese anime and western cartoons into a new kind of hybrid animated entertainment. Based in Tokyo, Custom Nuts also has offices in Hong Kong and Los Angeles.
“The opportunity to combine anime and western cartoon storytelling and formal aesthetics is a creative vision that I have always been driven to fulfil. Beyond Custom Nuts was formed to solve these kinds of complex transnational conundrums,” noted HIckey. “Beyond’s scale and expertise will help us to accelerate the time from script to screen without compromising on quality — or our creative vision — and will allow us jointly to retain more control and ownership over our IP as we take it out to the market. We have exciting times ahead.”
Beyond Custom Nuts launch slate:
Jock & Sunny: (52 x 7′) anime hybrid sci-fi/slapstick comedy for kids with strong co- viewing potential.
Jock and Sunny are stranded in a fantasy sci-fi version of Tokyo and must survive shady odd jobs, the local rock scene and deportation if they’re ever going to build awesome new lives.
Shape & Shapers: (26 x 11′) factual/slapstick anime for a 13+ audience.
An anime inspired series about surfing, subculture and the evolution of the modern surfboard.
Classical Chaos: 26 x 11′ + feature-length specials for kids with strong co-viewing potential.
A specially curated collection of kid-relatable animated classic literary adaptations, combining the aesthetics of anime and golden-era vaudevillian cartoons.
NBCUniversal’s streaming service Peacock (peacocktv.com) today announced additional voiceover cast for its upcoming, first-ever adult animated comedy series In the Know, announced in September. The series will feature the voices of Caitlin Reilly (Loot, Hacks), Charlie Bushnell (Diary of a Future President, Percy Jackson and The Olympians), J. Smith-Cameron (Succession, Rectify) and Carl Tart (Grand Crew).
Mike Judge (Beavis and Butt-Head, Silicon Valley, King of the Hill), Zach Woods (Silicon Valley, The Office) and Brandon Gardner will co-create and executive produce. Judge and Woods will both star.
Alongside Judge, Greg Daniels (The Office) and Dustin Davis executive produce for Bandera Entertainment in addition to Alexander Bulkley and Corey Campodonico for Shadowmachine (Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, BoJack Horseman, Tuca & Bertie).
The series comes from studio Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, and executive producers Bandera Entertainment and Shadowmachine.
Synopsis: Lauren Caspian is NPR’s third most popular host. He’s a well-meaning, hypocritical nimrod, just like you and me. He’s also a stop motion puppet. Each episode follows the making of an episode of Lauren’s show In the Know, in which Lauren conducts in-depth interviews with real world human guests. Lauren collaborates with a diverse crew of NPR staff. They are also puppets and nimrods.
Cast & Characters:
Zach Woodswill voice Lauren Caspian, host of the In the Know radio program.
Caitlin Reilly (Loot, Hacks) will voice Fabian, researcher and fact checker.
Charlie Bushnell will voice Chase, college intern.
J. Smith-Cameron will voice Barb, co-executive producer of In the Know.
Author Mike Bauman has teamed up with U.S. studio Baboon Animation and Mexican animation outfit Demente, to develop his successful kids’ fantasy publishing title Venom Wars of the Desert Realm into a TV series. Baboon will develop the storytelling and humor for the screen based on the original IP, as well as tackling scripts; Demente will handle the animation.
Venom Wars of the Desert Realm (52 x 11’) is a 2D animated series aimed at children aged 7-11. The story follows three orphaned hares who are called upon by an ancient prophecy to rescue a kidnapped prince and stop a deadly force from conquering their desert home.
“We are delighted to announce the collaboration between multiple award-winning Baboon Animation and Demente on Venom Wars,” said Baumann. “Both studios are first-class producers and have a strong track record in creating shows that resonate with children. We are delighted that they have recognized the potential of Venom Wars and we look forward to partnering with them as we develop the Venom Wars franchise.”
Baboon Animation President Mike de Seve added, “I found these strong, young characters extra appealing from the moment I saw them. It’s a story of bravery, hope and family, played out on an epic scale while never losing its sense of humor for a second. What’s not to like?”
Founded by DreamWorks alumnus de Seve (Madagascar, Shrek 2, Shrek the Third), Baboon (baboonanimation.com) boasts accomplished worldwide animation writing and voicing teams, with 31 Emmys collectively. The studio is currently working on a number of projects, including a prequel film and series based on A.A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh (with IQI Media), Bek and the Bunnies(with Toon2Tango) and the just-announced Cheez N Nugget(with producer Fonda Snyder and creators Neta Holzer & Allon Zaslansky).
Guadalajara-based Demente (demente.studio) has worked with major international entertainment companies such as Warner Bros. Animation (Night of the Animated Dead), WildBrain (AnimalMechanicals), Mattel (Hello Kitty and Friends Mini Tales), Bardel, Bento Box and Titmouse, among others. Its slate also includes the first project under its pact with multiplatform lucha libre entertainment company Masked Republic, Legend of Luchasatsu.
Dominique Bourse has been appointed Chairman & CEO of Cyber Group Studios, succeeding Pierre Sissmann. He was previously the company’s Chief Operating Officer.
“It is a great honor to follow in the footsteps of Pierre Sissmann, my partner since 1988, when we began nearly 14 years working together at Disney,” said Bourse. “After creating and managing the first European Entertainment & Media venture capital fund in 2000, since 2005, we have been developing an international group, now with 300 collaborators and partners, which has become a global player in the animation industry.
“Today, we are opening a new chapter in our story. Building on a solid foundation, a best-in-class management team, and driven by a phase of tremendous growth in the global market, the transition of leadership will be smooth. My ambition is for our company to enter the select circle of top independent global industry leaders.”
Sissmann commented, “I am extremely proud to have contributed toward creating a world leader in audiovisual animation programs with a great global team that has proven its capacity to innovate in both creative development and technology to develop the best programs. I leave it to Dominique Bourse, my partner of more than 30 years, to lead Cyber Group Studios and all its collaborators and artists to new heights and I thank him for all these years working together.”
While studio co-founder and longtime animation industry veteran Sissmann is officially retiring, he continues to work on the development of new series for the studio.
Founded in 2005 by Sissmann and Bourse, Cyber Group Studios is an international producer and distributor of animated programs for children. The company has created and developed a large catalog of original series, some of which, like Gigantosaurus, have become international franchises. While its series cover the complete range of animation styles and narrative genres, CGS believes the through line of all its projects (aimed at a global audience of children ages 3-12 and families) is a rich narrative experience supported by a strong musical component and technological innovation, thanks to the studio’s global talent pool, cultivated for many years.
Over the years, the company has internalized the value chain: It develops, produces and exploits its series’ media rights with linear broadcasters, streaming platforms and OTTs worldwide.
Cyber Group Studios also produces and/or distributes series owned by third-party producers, such as the production partnership The Walking Dead – Last Mile (Massively Interactive Live Event) with Skybound, Genvid Technologies and Meta in 2022.
The company leverages its intellectual properties with a global network of licensees and creates consumer products based on the characters in its series.
The group’s 300 employees are spread over three continents, with six development and/or production studios in France, the U.S., the U.K., Italy and Singapore. In addition, Cyber Group Studios has developed partnerships in other countries, including China (Gigantosaurus with CCTV) and Japan (collaboration with Square Enix on the Final Fantasy IX series). Over the past 17 years, the group has garnered multiple nominations and international awards.
“Our roadmap for the coming years is to continue our international development and the growth of our development/production platforms as well as to intensify our R&D strategy and digital business to offer ever richer and more immersive entertainment experiences. We will also enter the Young Adult segment,” said Bourse.
Every once in a while, man accomplishes the impossible. All it takes is someone with a dream…
Well, irreverent Rock ‘n’ Roll history fans’ dreams came true today when Netflix unveiled the official teaser trailer, new artwork and the voice of the King for Agent Elvis, debuting exclusively on the streaming platform in March. The show marks the first adult animated series from Oscar winning studio Sony Pictures Animation (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse),
The voice cast for Agent Elvis stars Matthew McConaughey as the voice of Elvis Presley — global superstar by day, ass-kicking vigilante by night, who eventually joins the secret agency “TCB” as Agent Elvis.
The series is created and executive produced by Priscilla Presley and John Eddie, who also serves as writer and co-showrunner. Mike Arnold is head writer and showrunner. Executive producers are Kevin Noel and Matthew McConaughey; Chris Prynoski, Shannon Prynoski, Antonio Canobbio and Ben Kalina for Titmouse; Jamie Salter, Corey Salter and Marc Rosen. Fletcher Moules (Entergalactic) is co-executive producer.
Agent Elvis is produced in partnership with Authentic Brands Group and Titmouse. Elvis Presley’s iconic is being recreated for animation with the help of Academy Award nominee Robert Valley (director of Pear Cider and Cigarettes; Love, Death + Robots “Zima Blue” & “Ice”) and Agent Elvis’ wardrobe is designed by legendary fashion designer John Varvatos.
Twelve new participants join Nickelodeon’s annual Writing and Artist Programs, designed to develop the next generation of creative voices from underrepresented communities. This year’s programs are back in person at the Nickelodeon Animation Studio in Burbank for the first time since 2020, where group members will develop their skills with hands-on work. The long-running Writing Program enters its 23rd year, while 2023 marks the 12th year for the Artist Program.
Both programs are overseen by the Paramount Office of Global Inclusion and aligned with the company’s Content for Change initiative.
“We are thrilled to welcome the new participants and future storytellers to the Nickelodeon Writing and Artist Programs,” said Marva Smalls, Paramount’s Executive Vice President, Global Head of Inclusion. “For over 20 years, this program has been a catalyst for many people in the creative community to learn and develop the tools needed to launch their careers. Programs like these continue our commitment to an inclusive talent pipeline and diverse representation within both creators and the content they produce at Paramount.”
Within the Writing Program, all participants have the opportunity to network with executives and show creators, gain firsthand experience writing scripts, pitch story ideas, attend workshops, seminars, and classes, and experience working writers’ rooms. These writers will develop their skills with hands-on work during the yearlong program.
During the program, the writers will be paired with executive mentors to offer guidance, including Nickelodeon’s Mollie Freilich (Director, Current Series Animation), Leslie Wishnevski (Manager, Animation Development) and Linda Halder (Director, Live-Action Development).
The Writing Program participants are:
Paige Elson
Paige Elson: Paige Elson is a writer, actor and comedian originally from Stockton, Calif. While studying at Pepperdine University, she created a webseries with her fellow acting peers, wrote and performed monologs, and even created, produced and performed in a showcase for the theater department’s Black performers. As a Black, biracial, queer woman raised by a single, white mother, she often explores themes of Blackness, biracial-ness, womanhood, identity and unconventional families in her writing.
Michelle Miyoko Timm
Michelle Miyoko Timm: Michelle Miyoko Timm is a biracial Japanese American from Castro Valley, Calif. She attended Las Positas Community College, where she took an acting class she loved so much that she dropped out at age 19 and moved to Los Angeles. Unfortunately, she discovered that she’s a terrible actress. She did, however, find a love for improv and sketch comedy, and writing short films. Timm decided to pursue comedy writing instead, and is proudly becoming her father at the volume of her mother.
Bryan Smith & Mayanna Berrin
Bryan Smith and Mayanna Berrin (“Bryanna”): Bryan Smith and Mayanna Berrin are what’s known in show-biz as a “Triple Threat” — they write together, they do stand up together and they apply for writing programs together! The essence of their voice as a writing team comes from the beautiful, messy collision of their opposite lived experiences. Berrin found her comedic style in her loud, mixed Long Island family that sent her to improv classes before she could talk. Smith developed his need-for-laughter growing up as an identical twin in Colorado.
During the six-month Artist Program, aspiring artists will learn from lead artists and practice their craft as they work on an animated series in various stages of production. The Artist Program tracks include storyboard, general design or CG generalist.
The artists are paired with artistic mentors at Nickelodeon to guide their production experience from shows, including Transformers: EarthSpark, Max and the Midknights, The Loud House, SpongeBob SquarePants and more.
The Artist Program participants are:
Chase Mack
Chase Mack (Storyboard Track): Chase Mack was born in Houston, Texas and spent his formative years drawing and immersing himself in animation and filmmaking through local art classes and clubs. Mack graduated from The University of Texas at Dallas with a bachelor’s degree in Arts, Technology and Emerging Communications with a focus in animation. Mack continues to further his passion in storytelling so that he can inspire the next generation of artists.
Dianna Kim
Dianna Kim (General Design Track): Dianna Kim was born and raised in SoCal’s South Bay, spending summers at the beach or watching cartoons. As art was still just a hobby, she studied economics at UCLA and began a career in tech marketing. When she was abruptly laid off in early 2020, Kim found joy in drawing again and she made the big decision to pursue a career in animation. Through online classes, she found a love for creating spaces and telling stories through background art.
Chad Bennett
Chad Bennet (Storyboard Track): Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Bennett loved cartoons and spent most of his childhood drawing comics and characters inspired by the shows he saw on television. Thanks to the Internet and the advent of social media, Bennett discovered making silly cartoons could be a job! He pursued a degree in animation at Columbia College Chicago, where he found a deep love for storyboarding. Bennett recently moved to Los Angeles to break into the industry, hoping to share his sense of humor and his desire for complexity and diversity in the animation world.
Elise Fedoroff
Elise Fedoroff (CG Generalist Track): Elise Fedoroff is a Los Angeles-based 3D artist who grew up with a passion for telling stories through her art. Fedoroff secured her love for animation in the California State Summer School for the Arts pre-college program at CalArts, after which she attended Ringling College of Art and Design. There she discovered a passion for 3D modeling and texturing, and after graduating, put her skills to work in the toy industry.
Doyung Lee
Doyung Lee (Storyboard Track): Doyung Lee started his storyboarding journey two years ago, learning through mentorship programs like Rise Up Animation and Story4All, as well as numerous online resources. In college, he studied engineering where he fed his creativity by learning various forms of printmaking, building robots and coming up with eclectic art projects.
Jonathan Fernandez
Jonathan Fernandez (General Design Track): Jonathan Fernandez is a visual development artist based in Los Angeles. As a child, he was inspired to draw and paint because of his love for television shows and movies. In college he jumped around different career paths but always found time to draw and paint. Fortunately, he stumbled upon a concept art painting that reignited his curiosity and redirected him to pursue animation.
Bikram Singh
Bikram Singh (Storyboard Track): Bikram Singh grew up in the suburbs of Sacramento, Calif. watching Saturday morning cartoons and anime. His passion for animation led him to enroll in the Animation/Illustration program at San Jose State University and there he joined the illustrious Shrunkenheadman Club. After graduating, he did design and animation work for various companies and organizations in the Sacramento area.
Richard Rodriguez
Richard Rodriguez (General Design Track): Richard Rodriguez is a visual development artist from Southern California with a sense of humor and lively imagination influenced by the cartoons that captivated him in his youth. Rodriguez honed his artistic skills at ArtCenter College of Design, where he discovered the power of visual storytelling. While working in animation has been his long-time goal, his greatest ambition is to entertain and inspire young audiences in the same way as storytellers have done for him.
Following in the footsteps of many others, alumni of the Writing Program currently working at Nickelodeon include; Josh Brown (story editor, Baby Shark’s Big Show), Angel Hobbs (staff writer, That Girl Lay Lay), Sarah Allan (writer, Big Nate), Jeff Sayers (staff writer, The Loud House) and more. Additionally, Program Alumnus writer/producer Sameer Gardezi, in collaboration with his brainchild Break the Room, works closely with NWP designing and architecting innovative curricula for the workshops and writers’ rooms exercises.
Alumni of the Artist Program include Roger Hernandez (CG Generalist, Big Nate), Dominique Evans (Visual Development Artist, Transformers: EarthSpark), Sarah Jacques (Art Director, Santiago of the Seas), Jasmine Reyes (Storyboard Revisionist, Big Nate), Anna Hill (Storyboard Artist, The Loud House), Carl Edward Mongan (Storyboard Revisionist, Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years), Marisa Torres(Visual Development Artist, Santiago of the Seas & Rock, Paper, Scissors), Jake Kim (Storyboard Revisionist, Shimmer & Shine). Outside of Nickelodeon, alumni of both Programs have gone on to create shows and hold staff positions at every major studio and network.
For more information on the Nickelodeon Writing Program, visit @NickWriting on Twitter, @NickWritingProgram on Instagram or nickwriting.com; and @nick_artists on Instagram or nickartist.com for the Artist Program. The next submission period opens July 1, 2023 for both Programs.
Multi-Emmy-winning company Baboon Animation (Angry Birds, Gigantosaurus) has joined forces with Fonda Snyder and Israeli creators Neta Holzer and Allon Zaslansky to produce Cheez N Nugget: Gone Bad, an animated slapstick buddy comedy about the unlikely and undying friendship between two fun foods.
The series is executive produced by industry veteran Snyder (Storyopolis, Alchemy Ink). The collaborators are searching out production partners, distribution and broadcasters for the tasty new buddy comedy.
Synopsis: Cheez and Nugget are two best friends living in a food product world, where it’s super cool to be fresh, healthy, low-calorie, low-fat, gluten-free, lactose-free, organic … and, they are not. One is a stinky cheese ball, a former adorable child star, and Nugget is — well, a nugget, origins unknown.
When this unlikely pair finds out they share the exact same expiration-stamp-they create the best bucket list ever, determined to do it all! These two will do anything to live every day to the fullest, even if it means leaving a trail of destruction behind them — which happens every time.
The concept was inspired by Snyder, conceptualized by Holzer (animation director) and Zaslansky (writer) and written by the team at Baboon. The series is planned as a 2D animated, 26 x 11′ show for kids aged 6-11 employing a POC cast. The show will also be developed as a podcast through Baboon’s new voice company.
“When it comes to buddy teams, Cheez n Nugget take the cake. I mean literally in episode six when they take the cake out to lunch. And out to lunch is really what this show is,” says Baboon Animation’s Mike de Seve, co-creator of top-rated slapstick series Taffy (Cyber Group Studios / Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA — formerly Turner Broadcasting System Europe).
Snyder adds, “It’s got friendship and heart that leaps off the plate and does a dance in your lap so make sure not to forget your napkin.”
Today (Friday, February 3), adult animated series The Gimmicks: House of Chicothrows its Season 2 final into the ring, marking a new milestone for the pioneering Web3 toon with an all-Latino cast. The second installment in Toonstar’s The Gimmicks project, you can watch the epic conclusion and catch up on all seven S2 episodes at therealgimmicks.com/episodes.
Executive produced by Mark Consuelos, House of Chico centers on The Gimmicks fan-favorite Chico el Luchador (voiced by pro wrestler Rocky Romero), as he returns to his home in Mexico following a failed wrestling career in America. Throughout the season, fans have voted on storylines.
The series’ cast of Latino influencers and rising stars also includes:
Jairo Orozco + Bryan Rojo (@MexicanGueys)
Eric Ochoa (@Supereeego)
Jesus Sepulveda (HBO Comedy Special Mr. Tough Life)
Laura DiLorenzo (Netflix’s Selena: The Series)
Fabian Alomar (FX’s Mayans MC)
Web3 animation studio Toonstar is behind the community-driven animated NFT project The Gimmicks, which was created to open a new innovative door in entertainment that puts creative control and commercial benefit into the hands of both creators and fans. You can join the show’s community on Avalanche.
London-based Snipple Originals, the original content arm of global prodco Snipple Animation, has announced a brand-new 2D animated preschool show The Singalings. An edutainment title featuring music, comedy and original earworms, the project comprises 26 x 1’45” songs, 26 x 5′ episodes, two song compilations and five episode compilations.
The series has already been acquired by Sky (U.K.) and is set to air later this year on the new Sky Kids linear TV channel and on demand. Jetpack Distribution, has picked up the worldwide rights (outside of the U.K.) and will be presenting the show to buyers for pre-sale at Kidscreen Summit this month.
“The Singalings is a fantastic addition to our Kidscreen line up and harnesses the power of music and songs for that age group. We’ve all been singing along!” said Gillian Calvert Ridge, Global Distribution Director, Acquisitions & Development, Jetpack
The Singalings — which kicks off each episode with a song — centers on three inquisitive and eager extra-terrestrials, Melody, Harmony and Bop, who are here to discover all they can about Earth! The excitable little Singalings can’t help but sing along as they explore Earth and all it has to offer! A sing-a-long visit to the zoo, the beach, a funfair and even a ride on the bus. The Singalings love to investigate.
“The Singalings has a bold and eye-catching style. It’s a simple and hilarious animation with songs that are infectious; and guaranteed to get kids singing for days after, even after hearing just once!” said Karina Stanford-Smith, Director of Animation Development, Snipple Originals. “It’s a fun show with a modern pre-school audience in mind; and entertains as well as teaches.”
The Singalings
Snipple Originals now has 10 shows (220 half hours of content) in development across multiple genres including: comedy, action, adventure and edutainment. The division launched in 2020 alongside a £6m investment from BGF, one of the largest and most experienced growth capital investors in the U.K. and Ireland. It is spearheaded by award-winning producer Stanford-Smith.
Snipple Originals is part of Snipple Group, led by founders CEO Kaine Patel, Studio Director Jonathan Tinsay and Creative Director Romy Garcia. The company works with major networks and studios including Disney, DreamWorks, Warner Bros. Discovery, Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon. Its portfolio includes evergreen toons such as Animaniacs, Green Eggs and Ham, DuckTales, Be Cool Scooby Doo, Phineas and Ferb, The Proud Family and many more.
“We’re building a sizable slate across multiple genres; taking brilliant ideas and turning them into content kids and families will love,” commented Patel.
Deaf Crocodile Films has opened pre-orders for its release of the rarely-seen 1987 Romanian animated sci-fi filmThe Son of the Stars(Fiul Stelelor / Ultima Misiune) for the first time ever on Blu-ray. The film will be released in the original Romanian audio with English subtitles.
Described as a wild mid-eighties mash-up of The Empire Strikes Back, Alien and Tarzan, the film was directed by the same creative team behind Delta Space Mission (previously released by Deaf Crocodile), Călin Cazan and Mircea Toia. The picture also features a scored by pioneering synth-rock artist Stefan Elefteriu.
The Son of the Stars
Speaking on the filmmakers’ influences, Cazan explained, “The Edgar Rice Burroughs Tarzan novels were important books from our childhood. You may know that Animafilm producer and director Victor Antonescu made a film from Robinson Crusoe, as well as short films from the Brothers Grimm. Herman Melville’s Moby Dick was another inspiration, and life in the jungle as depicted in Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book. We knew the Walt Disney version, and the earlier live-action version by Alexander Korda.”
“It was a strange Cold War here in Romania in the 1980s. We were able to see the movies from America one year later after they launched in the U.S. We saw Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back, and maybe we were inspired by them. They remained important points in our moviemaking,” the director added.
The Son of the Stars
Working with the Romanian National Film Archive and Cinematheque and the Romanian Film Centre, Deaf Crocodile has created a new 4K restoration from the original 35mm camera negative and sound elements, overseen by Co-Founder and in-house restoration expert Craig Rogers.
“I’m always excited when we get to work on a vintage animated film,” said Rogers. “I enjoy finding the balance in the restoration process of making the film look as good as possible but being sure always that it retains its hand-made analog feel. All that ‘imperfection’ is what sets it apart from the all-digital animation of today.”
The Son of the Stars
Synopsis: In the year 6470, a husband and wife team of explorers receive a mysterious distress signal from a female astronaut who disappeared decades earlier. They leave their son, Dan, on board their ship while they go searching for the missing woman — but fate intervenes, crash-landing the ship on a jungle-like planet populated by bulbous, telekinetic aliens and eerie stone gardens of frozen space creatures.
As Dan grows up and moves toward his destiny, he encounters giant disembodied eyeballs, a world of massive decaying Cubist structures, floating purple tentacles, alien-headed cosmic flowers and even a sword-wielding medieval Space Knight in armor — haunted by psychedelic visions of his lost parents and the missing cosmonaut.
“The Son of the Stars a truly amazing fusion of different styles and storytelling traditions in animation, from Eastern European mythology with sword-wielding medieval Space Knights, to early ’80s Japanese anime, to classic lost-child narratives like Tarzan and The Jungle Book,” commented Deaf Crocodile Co-Founder and Head of Acquisitions & Distribution, Dennis Bartok.
“Of course, comparisons to George Lucas and the Star Wars universe are very strong as well — but the incredible thing is how unique, psychedelic, and incredibly entertaining Călin Cazan and Mircea Toia’s synthesis of all these elements is in The Son of the Stars. For fans of 1980s animation and sci-fi, it’s a major rediscovery.”
The Son of the Stars is now available for pre-sale via Deaf Crocodile’s home video distribution partner OCN / Vinegar Syndrome in a limited edition slipcover and standard edition. Order here.
The Son of the Stars
Blu-ray Release Features:
New 4K scan of The Son of the Stars from the original 35mm negative and sound elements, with digital restoration by Craig Rogers and Tyler Fagerstrom for Deaf Crocodile Films.
New video interview with co-director Călin Cazan, moderated by Dennis Bartok of Deaf Crocodile.
New commentary track by film journalist Samm Deighan.
New booklet essay by comics artist, editor, and publisher Stephen R. Bissette (Swamp Thing).
Blu-ray authoring by David Mackenzie at Fidelity In Motion.
Apple TV+ will welcome back its ferocious warrior-kid and her noble steed tomorrow (Friday, February 3) for a second season of Common Sense Selection and GLAAD Award-nominated animated kids and family comedy, Pinecone & Pony! Fans can enjoy an animated appetizer with the sneak peek clip from S2 episode “Harvest Spirit Quest” below!
Based on the book The Princess and the Pony by New York Times bestselling author Kate Beaton and hailing from DreamWorks Animation, the positive and popular series follows a young warrior-in-training named Pinecone and her best friend Pony, whose adventures together teach them how to be brave in the face of adversity, to speak truth to power, and what it truly means to be a hero.
Pinecone & Pony is produced by DreamWorks Animation along with First Generation Films and Atomic Cartoons, and executive produced by showrunner Stephanie Kaliner. Beaton, Christina Piovesan and Mackenzie Lush are executive producers.
The series features the voice talents of Maria Nash (Elinor Wonders Why), Alicia Richardson (Mistletoe Time Machine), Andy Hull (What We Do in the Shadows), Rachel House (Foundation), Thom Allison (Coroner), Chase W. Dillon (Haunted Mansion, The Book of Clarence) and Viola Abley (Scaredy Cats, Schmigadoon!).
Pinecone & Pony Season 2 is part of Apple TV+’s growing slate of kids’ animated series and specials. Recently announced new series Eva the Owlet , Frog and Toad and hybrid show Jane will be debuting in the next few months, as will new seasons of Pretzel and the Puppies, Harriet the Spy, Stillwater and an Earth Day special for Sago Mini Friends, plus more classic Peanuts titles.
Grom Social Enterprises, Inc. today announced that its original content division Curiosity Ink Media and international animation producer/distributor Toon2Tango GmbH & Co. KG will begin production later this year on their previously announced animated holiday special, Santa.com (working title). This feature film gift will be unwrapped in theaters in Fall 2025.
The two companies, which have also partnered on the preschool series Hey Fuzzy Yellow! and Baldwin, have nearly completed financing for the film and will jointly oversee the development of all three projects concurrently. Today’s announcement was made by Curiosity Ink Media’s Chief Executive Officer, Jared Wolfson, and Toon2Tango Chief Executive Officer, Ulli Stoef.
Santa.com takes place in a world where Santa’s Workshop has undergone a technological revolution. Magic and tradition have been replaced with automation and efficiency. Even Santa himself has seemingly retired, leaving his workshop operations in the hands of a new generation of tech-savvy elves. But when a grinchy computer hacker takes control of Santa’s Workshop and threatens to destroy Christmas unless Santa is handed over, Yoyo, a lovable but naïve, homeschooled elf unexpectedly becomes the North Pole’s last hope at saving the day. Fortunately, Yoyo isn’t alone. Along with his cynical HR elf colleague, his loyal reindeer pup, and a misfit packaging drone, Yoyo sets off on a wild and heartwarming mission to find Santa, all while helping everyone rediscover the true magic of Christmas.
“The response to Santa.com’s original plot and unique angle on Christmas adventure has been overwhelmingly positive,” says Wolfson. “The world is long overdue for a contemporary Christmas classic, and Curiosity Ink Media is thrilled to team up with the incredibly talented team at Toon2Tango to bring this film to audiences around the globe. Our sights are squarely set on a mission to craft and deliver an iconic and enduring holiday classic that kids and families will enjoy together year after year.”
Stoef agrees, “Christmas is a brand on its own and with Santa.com we intend to produce a worldwide hit franchise that is just the beginning! We intend to bring joy to families around the world for many years to come and are thrilled to partner with the fantastic team of Grom and Curiosity Ink Media.”
In January, Toon2Tango and Curiosity Ink entered into a co-production relationship, with an equity stake in Hey Fuzzy Yellow!, a preschool series that will serve as a launchpad for an intended entertainment franchise property. The series has secured financial backing and distribution agreements with several international programming services. Curiosity and Toon2Tango will jointly co-produce the series which blends original music, accessible comedy and an edutainment curriculum for preschoolers that imparts important life lessons while encouraging critical thinking skills through exploration and play.
Curiosity Ink and Toon2Tango will be showcasing Santa.com and Hey Fuzzy Yellow! as well as ancillary revenue opportunities for the properties at the Kidscreen Summit in Miami this month.
