Discover Family is inviting viewers to join a wild animal-focused adventure in its latest series, which introduces four friends who may look like ordinary second graders, but are secretly the heroic Petronix Defenders. With their secret identities, the super-powered kids are always ready to save wild animals in danger, any where in the world, at any time.
Petronix Defenders premieres Saturday, October 15 at 8:30 a.m. / 7:30 C, with new episodes premiering Saturdays at 9 a.m. / 8 C.
Synopsis: Along with their high-tech pets, the Petronix Defenders (Emma, Jia, Tim and Matt) use their supercharged backpacks to defend animals — after all, animal problems sometimes need animal solutions. Receiving special alerts from around the globe about an animal requiring assistance — from a polar bear cub needing a boost in the Arctic, to a struggling blue whale in Bali — these superheroes are up for any mission! The Petronix Defenders not only care about animals, but also about the environment in which they live in.
In the series premiere, the Petronix Defenders are hot on the tracks of a lost and wounded cheetah cubs, in need of being reunited with their cheetah family. Emma leads the mission, enlisting the help of her tech pet, Kitt-10. But when Kitt-10 gets jealous of Emma’s attention towards the cubs, Matt steps in to help her get Kitt-10 and the lost cub back.
Petronix Defenders airs on Discovery Family and is produced by Method Animation (part of Mediawan Kids & Family) and will premiere in Spanish on Discovery Familia on Saturday, November 5 at 9 a.m. ET.
More news from hit animated series out of the Javits Center this weekend!
The Dragon Prince returned to New York Comic-Con with a panel previewing the upcoming Season 4, the first season in the next phase of saga: “Mystery of Aaravos.” Creators Aaron Ehasz and Justin Richmond announced the big news that S4 will launch on Netflix on November 3 with all nine episodes, and revealed the official trailer and key art.
As previously announced, S4 will see the enigmatic Startouch elf Aaravos’ plans begin to take shape. Under Aaravos’ guidance, Claudia has resurrected her father, Viren, at great cost to herself, but he only has 30 days to live unless they free Aaravos from his mysterious prison. Claudia will stop at nothing to unearth the long-lost location of Aaravos’ prison in order to save her father, while our heroes must race against time to stop her from unleashing the dangerous Startouch elf on the world…
The new season will also introduce Earthblood elves for the first time, including a new character — the affable and loveable Terry (voiced by Benjamin Callins) — and a new environment, the Drakewood.
Paramount+ debuted the official mid-season trailer for Season 1 of its kid-targeted series Star Trek: Prodigy. The spot was introduced by executive producers Kevin and Dan Hageman during the Star Trek Universe panel. New images from the upcoming episodes were also revealed. Ten new episodes roll out Thursdays starting October 27 on Paramount+ in the U.S. and Oct. 28 n LatAm, Australia, Italy and the U.K., later in the year in S. Korea and select European countries.
https://youtu.be/fr7QogRioqo
It was also announced at the panel that Star Trek: The Next Generation actor Ronny Cox has joined the Prodigy S1 recurring voice cast with a recurring role, reprising his role as Admiral Edward Jellico (a promotion from his original character, Captain Jellico).
Cartoonito revved up its debut Batman-themed preschool series Batwheels at NYCC, treating the youngest DC fans to an immersive racetrack experience and an overclocked panel in which co-exec producer Michael G. Stern and supervising producer Simon J. Smith revealed two new iconic characters joining the series:
Poison Ivy (voiced by Kailey Snider) — Nobody makes Batman and the Batwheels go green around the gills quite like Poison Ivy. Watch out for her sneaky vines, and powered-up pollen — this veggie villain is on a mission to help Gotham City return to its primitive roots by turning the streets into her own personal garden where plants rule! Ivy sees each and every sprout and flower as her own and will stop at nothing to protect and nurture them — especially when she lovingly sings to her budding babies!
Green Arrow (voiced by MacLeod Andrews) — As quick with a quip as he is with his quiver, Green Arrow is Batman’s crime-fighting bro with a bow. Green Arrow gets his kicks taking down baddies with his multipurpose arrows and ribbing Batman with his good-natured humor when the day’s work is done.
L-R: Xolo Maridueña (Snowy the Snowcrawler), Jacob Bertrand (Bam the Batmobile), AJ Hudson (Robin) and Lilimar (Batwing) cruise into the ‘Batwheels’ activation.
The cast of Batwheels also explored the Gotham City Raceway activation located just outside the Jacob K. Javits convention center. The immersive experience allowed young Batfans to buckle up in their very own Batwheels vehicle as they helped Bam the Batmobile on a special mission through a racetrack.
Batwheels premieres Monday, Oct. 17 at 9 a.m. on Cartoonito on Cartoon Network and streams the following day on the Cartoonito hub on HBO Max.
The Crunchyroll Industry Panel announced three new series coming to its anime streaming destination, plus eCommerce exclusives and a new game tied to the next season of My Hero Academia. Viewers can look forward to…
Revenger (Nitroplus) | coming Soon (worldwide exc. Asia) — As master assassin Usui Yuen looks into a series of assassinations made on the grand samurai clan, the Satsuma, he encounters Kurima Raizo, member and survivor of one of the attacks. Together, they discover the true nature of these murders is bigger than over stolen resources. As they get closer to the truth, will they come out alive to exact revenge?
The Iceblade Sorcerer Shall Rule the World
The Iceblade Sorcerer Shall Rule the World (Cloud Hearts) | January 2023 (worldwide exc. Asia) — The Iceblade Sorcerer is hailed as the most powerful sorcerer in the world. The one who inherited this title, Ray White, struggles to deal with his own immense power. After fighting in the Far East War, his last accomplishment, he vanished from the battlefield along with a deeply scarred psyche. Three years have passed since then, and Ray has enrolled at the Arnold Academy of Magic, a school attended by elite sorcerers from around the world. Ray is the first “Ordinary” to attend this academy since it was founded, so he’s greeted by looks of scorn and contempt from its noble-born students. And now, he and the priceless friends he has found there are about to become entangled in multiple schemes. So begins the story of the most powerful sorcerer’s school life filled with both friendship and hardship.
By the Grace of the Gods S2
By the Grace of the Gods Season 2 (Maho Film) | January 2023 (worldwide exc. Asia) — Only 39 years into a life full of bad luck, Ryoma Takebayashi passes away in his sleep! Taking pity on him, three divine beings show compassion by reincarnating him as a young boy to a magical, new world. Now he spends his time researching and caring for slimes. But after healing an injured traveler, Ryoma decides to set out with his new friends on a journey to use his power to help others.
In the Crunchyroll Store (store.crunchyroll.com), fans can look forward to exclusive Funko Pop! figures including Attack On Titan: Formal Levi Funko Pop! (available for pre-order) and Dragon Ball Z: Whis Eating Noodles. Plus, new figures including Izuku Midoriya from My Hero Academia and a Nendoroid of Inosuke Hashibira from Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba. Finally, Crunchyroll revealed the upcoming Limited Edition Blu-ray + DVD for That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 2 Part 2, which will feature a 120-Page Art Book, special Enamel Pin and more. (Fans can use the code CRNEW at checkout to get 15% off.)
And Crunchyroll Games will go PLUS ULTRA with My Hero Academia: The Strongest Hero alongside the debut of the show’s sixth season. New villains will be available to collect every week in October, starting with Shigaraki, and players and log in every day for exclusive rewards and special bundles.
Hold on to your mortal soul, because Henry Selick’s eagerly awaited return to the director’s chair is ready to rock it right out of your goopy human body.
Ahead of the movie’s premiere later this month, Netflix has cracked the coffin lid on Wendell & Wild with a new official trailer detailing Kat’s (voiced by Lyric Ross from This Is Us) tragic and mysterious past and the devilish plans the titular demon brothers (Jordan Peele & Keegan-Michael Key) have for the human realm. New key art was also debuted.
The spot features an original, unreleased track from MTV Video Music award-nominated rapper and singer Doechii, titled “I Told Em.” The artist, who this year signed with Top Dawg Entertainment (Kendrick Lamar, SZA) following the viral success of her TikTok hit “Yucky Blucky Fruitcake,” shared her excitement about the trailer reveal today.
“I’ve been a big fan of Jordan Peele and Henry Selick for a long time so being able to help provide music to this trailer was awesome. I love anything that shows alternative representation of people like me in weird, quirky ways. Happy Halloween!”
As it promises in the preview: “This Halloween, prepare for nuns, demons, murder, some children, a goat and a dead priest…”
Watch the new trailer below:
Synopsis: From the delightfully wicked minds of Henry Selick and producer Jordan Peele comes Wendell & Wild, an animated tale about scheming demon brothers Wendell (Key) and Wild (Peele), who enlist the aid of Kat Elliot — a tough teen with a load of guilt — to summon them to the Land of the Living. But what Kat demands in return leads to a brilliantly bizarre and comedic adventure like no other, an animated fantasy that defies the law of life and death, all told through the handmade artistry of stop motion.
The voice cast also features Angela Bassett (Black Panther), James Hong (Kung Fu Panda), Tamara Smart (A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting), Natalie Martinez (The Twilight Zone), Tantoo Cardinal (Dances with Wolves), Gabrielle Dennis, Igal Naor, David Harewood, Maxine Peake, Ramona Young (Never Have I Ever), Sam Zelaya, Seema Virdi, Gary Gatewood and Ving Rhames (Pulp Fiction)
The picture is written by Selick (Coraline, The Nightmare Before Christmas) and Academy Award winner Peele (Get Out,Nope), produced by Selick, Peele and Win Rosenfeld (Monkeypaw) and Ellen Goldsmith-Vein (The Gotham Group), with music by Bruno Coulais. Exec producers are Lindsey Williams and Eddie Gamarra (TGG); Kamil Oshundara; and Ian Cooper (Monkeypaw).
Wendell & Wild premieres on Netflix on October 28. Read more about the movie in our story from the November issue of Animation Magazinehere.
SpongeBob SquarePants Presents The Tidal Zone, the first-ever SpongeBob Universe crossover special, will celebrate the bizarre moments, comedy and spirit of the beloved yellow sea sponge that fans have enjoyed for over 20 years when it premiere Friday, November 25 on Nickelodeon U.S. The multidimensional adventure through Bikini Bottom will air overseas next year.
An exclusive look at the crossover special, including an all-new clip, was revealed today during a panel at New York Comic Con 2022 where fans gathered to hear from voice stars Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants), Bill Fagerbakke (Patrick Star), Jill Talley (Karen, Squidina) and Dana Snyder (GrandPat), along with executive producers Marc Ceccarelli and Vincent Waller from Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants, The Patrick Star Show and Paramount+ original series Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years.
Synopsis:SpongeBob SquarePants Presents The Tidal Zone is a journey into an hour of television where two dimensions can become three, and French divers can wear black ties. Observe a tale of both comedy and caution, of satire and stupidity. Minds may switch, bodies may shrink, and robots may rise in…“The Tidal Zone.”
The news comes on the heels of the recently announced pickup for a 14th season of SpongeBob SquarePants (26 episodes), which will continue to follow incurable optimist SpongeBob, Patrick, Sandy, Mr. Krabs, Plankton and Squidward, along with all of the denizens of Bikini Bottom.
The SpongeBob Universe will continue to expand with more new episodes of Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years now available on Paramount+ and The Patrick Star Show continuing to rollout on Nickelodeon, along with three character-driven movies launching exclusively on Paramount+, and a fourth theatrical release from Nickelodeon Animation currently in development.
Paramount+, Nickelodeon and Hasbro’s Entertainment One (eOne) today revealed the official trailer for the upcoming original animated series Transformers: EarthSpark, which will debut its first 10 episodes in the U.S. and Canada on Friday, November 11, on Paramount+. The series will also debut overseas beginning in November on Paramount+, where the service is available, and on Nickelodeon channels around the world.
The trailer debuted in a panel at New York Comic Con, where fans gathered to hear from voice cast members Diedrich Bader (Mandroid), Sydney Mikayla (Robby Malto), Zion Broadnax (Mo Malto), Cissy Jones (Elita-1), co-executive producer Dale Malinowski and executive producer Ant Ward.
Transformers: EarthSpark introduces a new generation of Transformers robots — the first to be born on Earth. Together with the human family who welcomes them in and cares for them, they’ll redefine what it means to be a family.
A fresh batch of voice talent as also announced for the battlin’ bots latest adventure:
Nolan North (Rick and Morty) as Swindle and Hardtop – Swindle and Hardtop are Decepticon brothers and professional mischief makers. Swindle is the brains, a wheeler and dealer always looking to take advantage of a situation, and Hardtop is the muscle, an experienced tracker and an expert shot.
Michael T. Downey (Chicago Fire) as Wheeljack – Wheeljack is a resourceful mechanic and experienced scientist Autobot who spends his time working out the kinks of his most recent invention.
Marc Evan Jackson (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) as Agent Schloder – Agent Schloder is a hard-nosed G.H.O.S.T. operative on a mission to climb the corporate ladder to the executive suite where his sister comfortably sits.
Sean Kenin Reyes (Pokémon) as Soundwave – A ‘con of few words, Soundwave maintains a cold exterior by choosing to express himself through his fists.
Nicole Dubuc (Young Justice) as Skywarp and Nova Storm – Skywarp and Nova Storm were partners on an elite squad of Decepticons with jet alt-modes called Seekers. They’ve been displaced after the end of the war and are doing whatever they must to survive.
Martha Marion (The Wave) as Arcee – Arcee has been an Autobot for millions of years, and she’s collected a wealth of experience along the way. Being on the smaller side for a bot, Arcee proves that being undersized has its own advantages.
Kari Wahlgren(Star Trek: Lower Decks) as Executive Agent Croft – Intelligent, a master planner, and the woman pulling the strings of the Autobots, Croft has a far more nefarious scheme than any Decepticon.
Daran Norris (The Fairly OddParents) as Mr. Smelt – Mr. Smelt is Witwicky Charter School’s frustrated drama teacher, who will never surrender his dreams of starring on stage and screen.
These stellar additions join previously announced cast members Sydney Mikayla (Robby Malto), Zion Broadnax (Morgan ‘Mo’ Malto), Benni Latham (Dot Malto), Jon Jon Briones (Alex Malto), Kathreen Khavari (Twitch), Zeno Robinson (Thrash), Danny Pudi (Bumblebee), Alan Tudyk (Optimus Prime), Rory McCann (Megatron), Cissy Jones (Elita-1) and Diedrich Bader (Mandroid).
Transformers: EarthSpark is created and co-executive produced by Dale Malinowski (Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and executive produced by Ant Ward (Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), developed for television by Claudia Spinelli, Senior Vice President, Big Kids Animation, Nickelodeon. Production is overseen for Nickelodeon by Mikiel Houser, Executive in Charge of Production, and for eOne by Kari Rosenberg.
Read more about the making of Transformers: EarthSpark in the December ’22 issue of Animation Magazine, available soon.
From the bustling halls of New York Comic Con, Disney Branded Television announces it has ordered a second season of the highly animated series Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, due to premiere on Disney Channel on February 10 and soon after on Disney+.
Attendees of the NYCC series panel today were also treated to a first look at the opening title sequence — featuring the jamming theme tune “Moon Girl Magic” written and produced by executive music producer Raphael Saadiq and performed by series voice star Diamond White (voice of Lunella, a.k.a. Moon Girl).
The Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur soundtrack, from Walt Disney Records, is also set for release on Feb. 10 and will feature songs from the first season. Next summer, fans can also look forward to a brand-new assortment of toys, apparel and more based on the series.
Listen to the theme song on major online platforms through the Marvel Music hub here.
Based on Marvel’s hit comic books, the series follows the adventures of 13-year-old super-genius Lunella Lafayette and her 10-ton T-Rex, Devil Dinosaur, whom she accidentally brings through time into present-day New York City. Equipped with Devil’s fierce loyalty and brawn, the loving support of her family and best friend Casey, Lunella sets out to make a difference and protect her Lower East Side neighborhood from danger.
In addition to White, the series stars Fred Tatasciore as Devil Dinosaur; Alfre Woodard as Lunella’s grandmother, Mimi; Libe Barer as Lunella’s best friend and manager, Casey; Sasheer Zamata as Lunella’s mom, Adria; Jermaine Fowler as Lunella’s dad, James Jr.; Gary Anthony Williams as Lunella’s grandfather, Pops; and series executive producer Laurence Fishburne in the recurring role of The Beyonder, a curious and mischievous trickster.
As previously announced, Season 1 guest stars include Gideon Adlon, Pamela Adlon, Anna Akana, Ian Alexander, Alison Brie, May Calamawy, Andy Cohen, Wilson Cruz, Daveed Diggs, Asia Kate Dillon, Luis Guzmán, Maya Hawke, Jennifer Hudson, Dr. Mae Jemison, Josh Keaton, June Diane Raphael, Paul Scheer, Cliff “Method Man” Smith, Cobie Smulders, Wesley Snipes and Tajinae Turner. Recurring stars include Omid Abtahi, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Michael Cimino, Indya Moore and Craig Robinson.
Produced by Disney Television Animation, the series is executive produced by Fishburne and Helen Sugland’s Cinema Gypsy Productions (black-ish) and Steve Loter (Kim Possible).
For Season 2, Rodney Clouden (Futurama) and Pilar Flynn (Elena of Avalor) are co-executive producers; Kate Kondell (The Pirate Fairy) is co-EP and story editor; Halima Lucas (East of La Brea) is co-producer and story editor; Ben Juwono (Big Hero 6 The Series) is co-producer and supervising director; Chris Whittier (Big Hero 6 The Series) and Jose Lopez (Transformers Prime) are art directors; Rafael Chaidez (Kung Fu Panda) is a producer.
DC’s beloved baddie couple is taking things to the next level in 2023, when HBO Max makes a date with Harley Quinn: A Very Problematic Valentine’s Day Special.
Premiering in February 2023, this extra-lovey episode of critically acclaimed Max Original Harley Quinn will feature Harley and Ivy celebrating their very first Valentine’s Day together, while also revealing how the rest of the ragtag crew spends the gushiest, mushiest, most romantic day of the year.
The special features the voices of series cast and recurring stars Kaley Cuoco (Harley Quinn), Lake Bell (Poison Ivy), Alan Tudyk (Joker), Matt Oberg (Kite-Man), James Wolk (Superman), Natalie Morales (Lois Lane), Chris Diamantopoulos (Aquaman), James Adomian (Bane), Jim Rash (Riddler), Vanessa Marshall (Wonder Woman), Rachel Dratch (Nora Fries) and Michael Ironside (Darkseid); as well as Janet Varney(Injustice), Leila Birch (Mr. Peabody & Sherman), Tyler James Williams (Abbott Elementary), Josh Helman(Mad Max: FuryRoad), Casey Wilson (GoneGirl) and others.
Based on characters from DC, Harley Quinn: A Very Problematic Valentine’s Day Special is produced by Delicious Non-Sequitur Productions and Yes, Norman Productions in association with Warner Bros. Animation. Executive producers are Justin Halpern, Patrick Schumacker, Dean Lorey, Jennifer Coyle, Kaley Cuoco and Sam Register.
Disney Branded Television has announced its upcoming animated buddy-comedy series Kiff will star Kimiko Glenn (Orange Is the New Black) in the titular role — an optimistic squirrel whose thirst for life takes her on countless adventures through her town. H Michael Croner (Craig of the Creek) will co-star as her naive and lovable bestie, a bunny named Barry.
Slated to premiere in 2023 on Disney Channel, the series comes from South African creators and executive producers Lucy Heavens and Nic Smal. The casting news and teaser trailer were revealed today at New York Comic Con.
Kimiko Glenn [ph: Christian Högstedt] | H. Michael Croner [ph: Sela Shiloni]
Set in a world where animals and magical oddballs tackle day-to-day life alongside one another, the series follows Kiff and Barry as they navigate school, relationships and their often eccentric community.
Inspired by the people and places Heavens and Smal experienced when they were growing up in Cape Town, South Africa, each half-hour episode, comprised of two 11-minute stories, will include a new original song.
Joining Heavens and Smal on the creative team is Emmy Award winner Kent Osborne (Phineas and Ferb, Adventure Time), who will serve as co-producer and story editor, and Winnie Chaffee (Captain Planet and the Planeteers) as producer. Kiff is produced by Titmouse in association with Disney Channel.
Glenn is represented by Buchwald and Untitled; Croner by Imperium 7 Talent Agency.
Huluween is ramping up the toon terror this year with the anthological The Paloni Show! Halloween Special! from Solar Opposites creator Justin Roiland (who just scored a fifth season renewal for that out-of-this-world comedy). Featuring the voices of Roiland, Zach Hadel, Pamela Adlon, Vatche Panos and Kari Wahlgren, the special debuts on Hulu streaming October 17.
In this special, Leroy, Reggie and Cheruce Paloni have been given the opportunity of a lifetime to be the hosts of an unforgettable Halloween Special full of “spooky” shorts from a group of up-and-coming animators. As previously announced, these mad geniuses include Salad Fingers creator David Firth, Smiling Friends creator Michael Cusack and Tig ‘n Seek creator Myke Chilian, to name a few.
The Paloni Show! Halloween Special!, executive produced by Roiland and Ben Bayouth (Blark andSon), comes from 20th Television Animation.
Today, YouTube Originals Kids & Family premieres the Corpse Talk:Halloween Special, an extra spooky seasonal treat from animated comedy Corpse Talk. Produced by Tiger Aspect Kids & Family (part of Banijay Kids & Family), the 15-minute special will be available on the Cartoons For Kids YouTube channel and on the YouTube Kids app from today (October 7).
The Corpse Talk: Halloween Special takes place in the graveyard studio where host Adam (actor and YouTube star Joe Sugg) is joined by Mary Shelley (Julia Davis), author of Frankenstein; Bram Stoker (Ardal O’Hanlon) author of Dracula; and finally, the discoverer of King Tutankhamun’s tomb, Howard Carter (Tony Gardner). Through Adam’s chat-show banter, we discover how Frankenstein was created on a rainy holiday and how many underpants Tutankhamun needed in his afterlife, while Bram Stoker is introduced to gaming. Viewers will also find out which is the scariest story and which of the guests … or the host … is the most scared!
Corpse Talk, which premiered this May, is a light-hearted and educational series based on the children’s graphic novels and comics of the same name, created by Adam and Lisa Murphy. Episodes are hosted by the witty and cheeky Adam (Sugg), who brings a variety of monarchs, artists, scientists and innovators back to life, to interview them and find out about their extraordinary and celebrated life stories in an unusual and very special kind of chat-show.
Spanish-language versions of all Corpse Talk episodes also start rolling out today on the Viva Mr. Bean YouTube channel, with new episodes launching every Friday and Tuesday. The Corpse Talk: Halloween Special will air in Spanish on October 25.
Tiger Aspect Kids & Family has worked with educational and historical consultants to develop a range of accompanying educational resources for each of the episodes, including the Halloween special, which are available here.
“Corpse Talk is a great introduction to history, which strikes the perfect balance between comedy, entertainment and learning,” said Tom Beattie, MD Tiger Aspect Kids & Family. “We’ve achieved our goal of the audience learning through laughter, as well as me! I’m really pleased that YouTube has let us have some more fun in the Corpse Talk studio.”
Corpse Talk is executive produced by Beattie, directed by Oliver Brown, produced by Helen Burt, with Greg Jenner (Horrible Histories) as historical consultant, and the series is written by Nick Ostler and Mark Huckerby (Danger Mouse, Peter Rabbit) . Craig Hunter is Global Head of Kids & Family Originals for YouTube and Daniel Haack is creative lead.
In advance of its series premiere, FOX Entertainment has renewed its all-new animated comedy Krapopolis for a second season. From Emmy Award-winning creator and executive producer Dan Harmon (co-creator of Rick and Morty), Krapopolis marks FOX Entertainment’s first wholly owned animated series and is produced by FOX’s Emmy-winning animation studio, Bento Box Entertainment. The announcement was made today by Michael Thorn, President of Entertainment, FOX Entertainment.
Krapopolis is set in mythical ancient Greece and tells the story of a dysfunctional family of humans, gods and monsters that try their hand at running the world’s first cities — without trying to kill each other, that is. The series features the voices of Emmy Award winner Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso), Richard Ayoade (The IT Crowd), Matt Berry (What We Do in the Shadows), Pam Murphy (Mapleworth Murders) and Duncan Trussell (The Midnight Gospel).
Krapopolis will premiere in 2023. The company’s recently formed content sales unit, FOX Entertainment Global, will introduce the comedy to international program buyers at MIPCOM in Cannes this month.
“As you can imagine, anything Dan Harmon does is unflinchingly irreverent and filled with his signature, bold characters; and these early episodes of Krapopolis far surpass even our highest expectations,” said Thorn. “While we continue to evolve FOX’s animation brand, it’s a true delight watching Dan and his team work their magic on Krapopolis. But it’s an even bigger thrill to be so confident in this special project to be able to reward it with an early renewal.”
Krapopolis is an outgrowth of Harmon’s direct animation deal with FOX Entertainment.
In the series, Ayoade voices Tyrannis, the mortal son of a goddess. He’s the benevolent King of Krapopolis trying to make do in a city that lives up to its name. Waddingham plays Deliria, Tyrannis’ mother, goddess of self-destruction and questionable choices. Within her extended Olympian family — forged in patricide and infidelity — she’s known as the trashy one. Berry is Shlub, Tyrannis’ father, a mantitaur (half centaur [horse + human], half manticore [lion + human + scorpion]). He is oversexed and underemployed, claims to be an artist and has literally never paid for anything, in any sense of that word, for his entire life. Murphy voices Stupendous, Tyrannis’ half-sister, daughter of Deliria and a cyclops. Trussell plays Hippocampus, Tyrannis’ half-brother, offspring of Shlub and a mermaid, and, obviously, a hot mess, biologically speaking.
In August, FOX Entertainment’s Web3 media and creative technology company Blockchain Creative Labs launched krapopolis.com — a dedicated marketplace for the program, marking network television’s first animated series to be curated on the blockchain — which sells digital goods and NFTs that provide fans exclusive experiences, including access to token-gated content, exclusive show voting rights, private Discord channels and access to meet-and-greets with the cast and crew.
Krapopolis is produced by FOX Entertainment’s Emmy-winning animation studio, Bento Box Entertainment. The program is fully owned by FOX Entertainment.
FOX U.S. will air a special Thanksgiving weekend sneak peek of the comedy on November 27.
Read more about Krapopolis and other high-profile NFT animation projects in Animation Magazine‘s recent spotlight here.
Wendy Tilby and Amanda Forbis’s National Film Board of Canada (NFB) animated short The Flying Sailor will make its U.S. festival premiere this fall at the New York City Short Film Festival and AFI FEST in Los Angeles.
Inspired by an incredible true-life story from the 1917 Halifax Explosion, the largest accidental non-nuclear explosion in history, The Flying Sailor is the latest work by the Calgary-based animation duo. Tilby and Forbis have previously teamed for the Oscar-nominated animated shorts When the Day Breaks (1999) and Wild Life (2011).Tilby was also nominated individually for Strings (1991).
The Flying Sailor (c/o NFB, 2022)
The Flying Sailor will stream online from October 20 to 23 as part of the 18th N.Y.C. Short Film Festival (nycshorts.com), followed by an in-person screening in L.A. on Saturday, November 5, at 4 p.m. as part of AFI FEST’s Shorts Program 3 at the TCL Chinese Theatre (fest.afi.com).
The film makes its U.S. debut after its world premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France, a North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and acclaim on the 2022 global festival circuit. To date, The Flying Sailor has been awarded at Animafest Cyprus, São Paulo International Short Film Festival, Ottawa International Animation Film Festival and Calgary International Film Festival.
The Flying Sailor (c/o NFB, 2022)
Synopsis: Two ships collide in a harbor, an explosion shatters a city, and a sailor is blasted skyward. With ears ringing, blood pulsing and guts heaving, he soars high above the mayhem and towards the great unknown.
Inspired by the incredible story of a man who was blown two kilometers through the air by the Halifax Explosion, The Flying Sailor is at once a bold blend of comedy, suspense and philosophy and an exhilarating contemplation of the wonder and fragility of existence.
The film was produced and executive-produced by David Christensen for the NFB’s North West Studio in Edmonton, Alberta.
Crunchyroll has launched ticket sales for the highly-anticipated One Piece Film Red, opening in theaters in Australia and New Zealand on November 3 and in the United States and Canada on November 4. Advanced tickets are available at Fandango.com.
The global anime hub also revealed the English voice cast, including popular American YouTube star AmaLee as the voice of new character Uta, with songs performed by Japanese singer Ado. The film will introduce audiences to Uta, the most adored singer in the world, whose identity has been concealed and is the daughter of the legendary pirate Shanks. The film will be available in English subtitled and dubbed.
Additionally, Crunchyroll has debuted two new motion posters.
English Voice Cast
Uta voiced by AmaLee with songs performed by Ado
Monkey D. Luffy voiced by Colleen Clinkenbeard Carroll
Gordon voiced by Jim Foronda
Shanks voiced by Brandon Potter
Koby voiced by Micah Solusod
Bartolomeo voiced by Tyson Rinehart
Usopp voiced by Sonny Strait
Nami voiced by Luci Christian
Law voiced by Matt Mercer
Sanji voiced by Eric Vale
Chopper voiced by Brina Palencia
Roronoa Zoro voiced by Christopher R. Sabat
Brook voiced by Ian Sinclair
Robin voiced by Stephanie Young
Brulee voiced by Rachel Robinson
Oven voiced by Jason Marnocha
The One Piece fun continues to sail along with a film panel at New York Comic Con featuring members of the English and Japanese crew on Saturday, October 8 at the Empire Stage at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. The panel will feature English dub cast members Colleen Clinkenbeard (Luffy), Christopher R. Sabat (Zoro), Luci Christian (Nami), Sonny Strait (Usopp) and Ian Sinclair (Brook). Additionally, Japanese filmmakers Goro Taniguchi (director), Shinji Shimizu (executive producer) and Hiroaki Shibata (producer) will participate in the conversation, with Anthony Bowling (ADR director) and Kyle Cardine (Crunchyroll) hosting.
One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda serves as the executive producer of One Piece Film Red, which is directed by Goro Taniguchi (One Piece Defeat Him! The Pirate Ganzack! OVA) and written by Tsutomu Kuroiwa (One Piece Film: Gold).
Synopsis: Uta — the most beloved singer in the world whose voice has been described as “otherworldly” — is renowned for concealing her own identity when performing. Now, for the first time ever, she will reveal herself to the world at a live concert.
With the Navy watching closely, the venue fills with Uta’s fans — including excited pirates and the Straw Hats led by Luffy, who simply came to enjoy her sonorous performance — all eagerly awaiting the voice that the whole world has been waiting for to resound. The story begins with the shocking revelation that she is the enigmatic Shanks’ daughter.
Los Angeles’ Animation Is Film festival (AIF) has announced its Closing Night film will be a Special Presentation of Netflix’s stop-motion feature Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio. The closing night event will be held at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater (8949 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills), featuring multi-award-winning director Guillermo del Toro in person on Saturday, October 29. The film is due to launch on streaming on December 9.
The festival has also revealed it will screen the World Premiere of the English-language dub of One Piece Film Red as the Centerpiece of the festival, on Saturday, October 22, ahead of its North American theatrical release on November 4.
Last week, AIF announced the Opening Night Selection, Henry Selick’s Wendell & Wild, as well as Competition Section titles, including the North American Premiere of Nora Twomey and Cartoon Saloon’s My Father’s Dragon and Annecy’s Cristal Award-winning Little Nicolas. The festival will also present special screenings of award season contenders Luck, Turning Red, Aurora’s Sunrise and more.
Directed by del Toro and Mark Gustafson, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio is a reinvention of the classic Carlo Collodi tale about the wooden marionette magically brought to life to mend the heart of a grieving wood carver named Gepetto. The whimsical stop-motion film follows the mischievous adventures of Pinocchio as he sets out to find his place in the world.
The film’s all-star voice cast features Ewan McGregor as Cricket, David Bradley as Geppetto and Gregory Mann as Pinocchio, Finn Wolfhard, Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett, John Turturro, Ron Perlman, Tim Blake Nelson and Burn Gorman, with Academy Award winners Christoph Waltz and Tilda Swinton.
“In both spirit and action, Guillermo del Toro exemplifies the Animation Is Film mission — a filmmaker of the highest order embracing animation as a cinematic artform of the highest order,” festival founder Eric Beckman enthused. “Bringing Pinocchio to life has been the filmmaker’s passion and labor for over 20 years. We are honored and humbled beyond words that he has chosen to unveil it to U.S. audiences at Animation Is Film. Thank you Guillermo!”
One Piece Film Red
Toei Animation’sOne Piece Film Red, directed by Goro Taniguchi (One Piece – Defeat Him! The Pirate Ganzack) and written by Tsutomo Kuroiwa (One Piece Film: Gold), commemorates the 25th anniversary of creator Eiichiro Oda’s popular manga series — the top-selling manga title of all time. This 15th feature film installment of the global hit franchise delves deep into the legendary pirate Shanks and introduces a new character, Uta.
Uta — the most beloved singer in the world whose voice has been described as “otherworldly” — is known for concealing her identity when performing. Now, for the first time ever, she will reveal herself to the world at a live concert. With the Navy watching closely, the venue fills with Uta’s fans — including excited pirates and the Straw Hats led by Monkey D. Luffy. The story begins with the shocking revelation that she is the daughter of the enigmatic Shanks.
AIF’s partners for 2022 are Apple Original Films, ASIFA-Hollywood, Cartoon Network, Crunchyroll, DreamWorks Animation, ELMA, Fathom Events, Gotham Group, Illumination, LAIKA, Locksmith Animation, Netflix, Nickelodeon, Paramount Animation, Pixar Animation Studios, Shout! Factory, Skydance Animation, Sony Pictures Animation, StretchSense, Walt Disney Animation and Warner Bros. Animation. The festival, founded by GKIDS and the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, presents a selection of new animated feature films from Asia, Europe, South America and North America, with both juried and audience prizes.
During its New York Comic-Con Panel on Thursday, Hulu took fans down under for an early look at the marsupial madness of upcoming adult animated comedy Koala Man, and announced additional voice casting for the launch season.
Joining previously announced voice stars Hugh Jackman, Sarah Snook, Demi Lardner and creator Michael Cusack (YOLO: Crystal Fantasy, Smiling Friends) will be cast members Jemaine Clement(DC League or Super Pets, Kiri and Lou, Flight of theConchords), Rachel House (Cowboy Bebop, Moana, Thor: Ragnarok) and Jarrad Wright (The Big Lez Show, The Mike Nolan Show).
The show will also welcome Lord of the Rings stars Miranda Otto(Chilling Avdentures of Sabrina, andHugo Weaving(TheMatrix) as special guests.
Synopsis:Koala Man follows middle-aged dad Kevin and his titular not-so-secret identity, whose only superpower is a burning passion for following rules and snuffing out petty crime in the town of Dapto. Though it may seem like any other Australian suburb, forces of evil both cosmic and man-made lie in wait to pounce on unsuspecting Daptonians. On a quest to clean up his hometown, and often roping his frustrated family into his adventures, Koala Man stands at the ready. He’ll do whatever it takes to defeat villainous masterminds, supernatural horrors, or worse: jerks who don’t take their rubbish bins down on the proper days.
Jemaine Clement as Principal Bazwell in Koala Man (Hulu)
Cast & Characters:
Jemaine ClementasPrincipal Bazwell(New)
A nerdy and caring mentor to Liam and an ineffectual dandy of a man, always poised to support the students of North Dapto High with a helpful anecdote or encouraging song lyric.
Hugo Weaving as King Emudeus (New)
The wise and noble monarch of Australia’s emus.
Miranda Otto as Mindy (New)
A sweet young koala cub with whom Koala Man shares a deep and mysterious connection.
Jarrad Wright as Spider (New)
Kevin’s bogan best friend and neighbor who’s always down to help with a Koala Man mission, especially if someone needs to provide an illegal weapon to do so.
Rachel House as Janine (New)
Janine is Vicky’s friend and coworker at the school canteen. A hard partier.
Rachel House as Louise (New)
Louise is The proprietress of the bowling club who has a deep, and some would say inexplicable, attraction to Koala Man.
Hugo Weaving as King Emudeus in Koala Man (Hulu)
Sarah Snook as Vicky
Vicky thinks her husband Kevin is just going through a phase. While she tolerates Koala Man, she hopes Kevin will snap out of whatever bizarre mid-life crisis he’s going through. Vicky sincerely loves Kevin for his reliability, but now that his Koala Man duties are making him less reliable, Vicky’s questioning if settling down was the right choice. She sees how dedicated Kevin is to being Koala Man and, as the school canteen lady, feels like she’s missing having a passion in life.
Demi Lardner as Alison
Alison, Liam’s 35-seconds-older twin, has an almost sociopathic preoccupation with being popular. Ruthlessly intelligent, determined, and manipulative, Alison knows exactly how many followers you have on IG. She’s got a list of all the coolest kids and a plan to destroy them so she can rise the ranks. To do so, Alison tries to distance herself from Liam, Vicky, and Koala Man, staying laser-focused on becoming The Most Powerful Girl in School.
Hugh Jackman as Big Greg The most well-liked man in Dapto and the head of the Town Council, Big Greg has only known success. Formerly the host of Fishing Big with Big Greg, Australia’s third most popular fishing show, Big Greg has ridden his celebrity into a trusted position in Dapto. As Kevin’s direct supervisor, Big Greg makes Kevin feel inadequate as a provider and a man. To add insult to injury, Daptonians constantly credit Big Greg for Koala Man’s work saving the town.
Miranda Otto as Mindy in Koala Man (Hulu)
Michael Cusack as…
Liam – Liam is Kevin and Vicky’s wimpy shrimp of a 13 year old son. Liam’s credulous, romantic, and the uncoolest kid in Dapto, possibly in the entire state of New South Wales, maybe even in all of Australia. Liam thinks his dad moonlighting as Koala Man is so cool, even though the kids at school hate Koala Man. He’s similarly proud that Vicky works at the canteen and unashamed of being a mummy’s boy. Liam’s perfect day would include painting Swordstorm figurines, playing computer games, and dinner at an American restaurant.
Kevin – Kevin believes that there are rules all members of society must abide by in order to live happy and productive lives. Of course, he’s apparently the only one in his hometown of Dapto who feels that way. A seemingly unremarkable man with an actually unremarkable job as the IT coordinator for the Town Council, Kevin knows if his fellow citizens could just see things his way, they’d see that’s the right way. Unfortunately, there’s injustice in every direction. If only Kevin had some way of righting those wrongs, of combating the forces of evil that threaten Dapto… if only he had…
…an alter-ego. Koala Man is Kevin’s superhero identity. Koala Man takes to the streets to do things Kevin can’t do in his civilian life. From confronting interdimensional aliens to making sure everyone’s grass length adheres to local ordinances, there’s no crime too big or law too obscure for Koala Man.
Darren & Damo – Dapto’s least favorite sons, Darren & Damo are drug-addled, low-level criminal ne’er-do-wells who always seem to find themselves running afoul of Koala Man. To say they are Koala Man’s nemeses would be to give them too much credit, as they seem to share a single brain cell between them.
Rachel House as Janine and Sarah Snook as Vicky in Koala Man (Hulu)
Koala Man is created by Cusack and executive produced by Solar Opposites and Rick and Morty co-creator Justin Roiland and Pokémon: Detective Pikachu writers Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit. Michael Cowap also serves as executive producer. “Koala Man” is produced by 20th Television Animation for Hulu.
Nickelodeon and Mattel today released the official trailer for Monster High, the original animated series based on the global hit franchise. The series trailer will debut on-air within the premiere of the live-action television movie musical Monster High The Movie tonight at 7 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon. Then, stay tune for a sneak-peek full episode of the animated series airing right after the movie.
In the Monster High sneak peek episode, “Food Fight,” Draculaura practices witchcraft, and Clawdeen and Frankie must help her subdue the tater tot she brought to life. Then, in “Unfinished Brain-ness,” Frankie is “cursed” from their brain’s past life and gets help from Clawdeen and Draculaura to break it. The episode can be seen on the Nick App, Nick.com and VOD beginning Friday, Oct. 7. Audiences can also see a sneak peek of Monster High beginning Friday, Oct. 7 on the Nickelodeon YouTube channel.
Monster High (26 episodes) follows Clawdeen Wolf, Draculaura, Frankie Stein and Deuce Gorgon as they discover who they are, embrace their differences, and learn to be fierce and fearless at the one place they all belong: Monster High. The comedy-adventure animated series will premiere in the U.S. on Friday, October 28, at 7 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon, in Canada on Oct. 29 on YTV, and in the U.K. and Australia later this year on Nickelodeon and Paramount+.
The voice cast features Gabrielle Nevaeh Green as Clawdeen Wolf, Courtney Lin as Draculaura, Iris Menas as Frankie Stein, Tony Revolori as Deuce Gorgon, Kausar Mohammed as Cleo De Nile, Valeria Rodriguez as Lagoona Blue, Alexa Kahn as Torelei Stripe, Alexander Polinsky as Heath Burns and Debra Wilson as Headmistress Bloodgood.
Mattel first introduced Monster High in 2010, and it quickly became one of the most successful and beloved kids’ properties of all time. The franchise seeks to foster a more accepting world where everyone is proud to be their authentic self, which is more relevant now than ever before. Today, Monster High is back with a reimagined set of fangtastic characters reflected in a new set of dolls, accessories, apparel, costumes and more inspired by the original ghouls for a new generation that embraces what makes them unique and rallies people everywhere to express themselves.
Shea Fontana (Polly Pocket) serves as showrunner and co-executive producer of Monster High, with Nick Filippi (Big Hero 6: The Series) as supervising producer. Production is overseen for Nickelodeon by Claudia Spinelli, Senior Vice President, Big Kids Animation, and Nikki Price, Director of Franchise Animation. Fred Soulie, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Mattel Television, and Christopher Keenan, Senior Vice President of Creative, serve as executive producers for Mattel.
The powerful beings of Japanese mythology join forces with the animation heroes of studio Tonko House in the new Netflix event series ONI: Thunder God’s Tale. Beautifully animated in a stop-motion styled CG technique, the four-episode tale arrives on streaming October 21.
Synopsis: In a world filled with the oddball gods and monsters of Japanese mythology, one of the creature’s free-spirited daughters, Onari, is determined to follow in the footsteps of the mighty heroes of lore, but her unique powers are yet to be revealed. Does she have what it takes to fight to protect her peaceful village from the encroaching threat of the gods’ mysterious enemies, the “Oni”?
Created by showrunner and executive producer Dice Tsutsumi (The Dam Keeper), the show features the voices of Momona Tamada, Archie Yates, Craig Robinson, Tantoo Cardinal, Brittany Ishibashi, Omar Miller, Anna Akana, Charlet Takahashi Chung, Miyuki Sawashiro, Yuki Matsuzaki, Seth Carr, Robert Kondo and George Takei.
ONI: Thunder God’s Tale is written by Mari Okada (A Whisker Away, Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms) and produced by Sara K. Sampson. Executive producers are Tsutsumi, Robert Kondo and Kane Lee; co-exec producers are Sampson and Megan Bartel.
Read all about the making of ONI: Thunder God’s Tale in the November issue of Animation Magazine, available now.
MIA – International Audiovisual Market returns to Rome, Italy for this 8th edition October 11-15, complemented by a MIA Digital platform allowing registered participants to access sessions live and on-demand. Established by ANICA (Italian Association of Film, Audiovisual & Digital Industries) and APA (Audiovisual Producers Association), the event continues to grow year on year, welcoming more than 2,000 industry professionals in 2021 and reviewing more than 500 projects submitted this year from 65 countries.
The 2022 market will debut an exciting new section dedicated to Animation, curated by an all-female team (Maïa Tubiana, Carla Vulpiani, Daniela Di Maio and Sabrina Perucca), along the already existing editorial divisions dedicated to Doc&Factual, Drama and Film. The category covers both episodic and feature film projects seeking co-production partners, buyers and financial supporters.
For its first edition, the Animation Co-Production Market & Pitching Forum has selected 13 projects hailing from 12 countries. These projects include TV Series, Stand Alone & Feature Films, and have been selected for their strengths in terms of visual assets, script and solidity in terms of story and financial structure, and they closely reflect the major macro-areas of animation co-production in Europe. The market features debuting projects as well as already announced ones looking to close the last gap of financing and finalize development.
The Selection Committee included by Mounia Aram, Founder & Distributor of MA Company (France); Simon Crowe, Founder & CEO of SC Distribution International (U.K.); Cecilia Padula, VP, Kids & Family, Brand Head South Europe Middle East & Africa at Paramount (Italy); Claudia Schmidt, Head of Kids & Family Entertainment at Beta Films (Germany); Kristel Tõldstepp, Head of Studio & Producer at Afilm (Estonia).
Among the selected projects, Italy will be represented by Sergio Manfio’s The Black Diamond Race, developed by Gruppo Alcuni and produced by Francesco Manfio; a period pre-teen series set amidst early 21st-century Modernism, and Movimenti Production (a Banijay company) presenting Flydog by Giorgio Scorza and Davide Rosio, a series that follows the courses charted by artists of contemporary storytelling and heroes of underground pop culture — promising to be far from politically correct.
A strong female-led project in both direction and production comes from Denmark, in Copenhagen Bombay’s feature film I Am Helena, directed by Karla von Bengtson and produced by CEO Sarita Christensen, named one of 25 Executives to Watch globally by Animation Magazine in 2015.
From Amsterdam’s Submarine, a production company and studio with an animation slate under its belt that includes a multitude of award-winning films and series, comes Echo Boy, a sci-fi romantic thriller about a cynical teenager determined to solve the murder of her parents committed by Echo, a malfunctioning humanoid robot designed to serve. The adaptation of Matt Haig’s homonymous novel is produced by Submarine co-founder Femke Wolting.
France, a leading animation production country, will be represented by Sacrebleu Productions with Félix! He Can Explain Everything!, a comic, adventurous and mysterious series about little Félix and his incredible stories, created by Thomas Leclercq, Lucas de Thier & Ludovic Lefebvre, produced by Ron Dyens. And Laïdak Films will present the feature film Round and Round the Wishing Well (by Hugo de Fautcompret, produced by Ivan Zuber), based on the winner of the Special Jury Prize for TV Special at Annecy and Oscar nominee for Best Animated Short, Mum Is Pouring Rain.
Elsewhere in the program, MIA will through the lens of co-production examples present one of the most interesting and least explored global markets, Africa, in the Defining the World Markets panel, where speakers will discuss a new view of the international audiovisual landscape from the perspective of animation producers from South Africa and Ghana. Among them will be Mounia Aram (MA Company), Sithembiso Mpehle (Tshimologong) and Francis Y. Brown (AnimaxFYB), who will talk about how to navigate the global animation industry.
Belzebubs
Additional pitch selections are:
Anselmo Wannabe by Massimo Ottoni (Italy/Portugal)
Produced by Federico Turani (Ibrido Studio)
Belzebubs by Samppa Kukkonen (Finland)
Created by JP Ahonen, produced by Tehri Väänänen (Pyjama Films)
The Breath of the Mountain by Lorenzo Latrofa (Italy)
Produced by Alessandro Borrelli (La Sarraz Pictures)
Comrades by Olivier Patté (France/Poland/Belgium/Luxembourg)
Produced by Maria Blicharska (Blick Productions)
Fio Lina and the Maestro (Switzerland)
Produced by Sarah Born (Catpics)
No Pets! (Italy/Spain/Poland)
Produced by Boris Bertolini (Nuvole e strisce)
Sidi Kaba and the Gateway Home by Rony Hotin (France/Luxembourg/Belgium/Germany)
Produced by Sébastien Onomo (Special Touch Studio)
Register to participate in MIA and see more of the program offerings at miamarket.it.
Vancouver-based Global Mechanic Media continues to broaden its development slate for 2022 with new creative partnerships and preschool projects that will be ready just in time for MIPCOM & MIP Junior (October 15-20).
The boutique animation studio will be introducing the market to new shows including Wolf & Button (co-developed with GBH Kids and co-created by Kathy Waugh and Glen Berger), Oddly Kids (created by Montreal-based writer Angela Goulène), Shy Willow(in partnership with New York’s MiMO Studios and based on the popular book property by Cat Min), What On Earth (created by four-time Emmy-winning writer Lynn Brunelle), Junior Explorers Club(created by Cheryl Carlesimo) and Cup + Pup, the company’s own in-house creation by Tina Ouellette and Bruce Alcock.
“Our studio has always prided itself on creating meaningful content for young children, while we love pure comedies, it was time to greatly ramp up our fun and educational preschool slate,” shared CEO Ouellette. “Plus we know that great ideas come from strong partnerships which is why we have teamed up with some amazing companies and highly imaginative creators.”
Director of Development Eric Y. Lapointe added, “As we continue to see our original content business grow with funding, TV development deals and strong broadcast interest, we are now in a strong position to get projects over the finish line and into production.”
Oddly Kids
New Series from Global Mechanic:
Wolf & Button is an animated series co-created by the Emmy-winning team of Kathy Waugh and Glen Berger and co-developed by GBH Kids & Global Mechanic. Wolf & Button is for adventurous kids who aren’t yet old enough to cross the street. It’s about two best friends in the world and how the world looks and feels to these two little kids.
Oddly Kids, created by young multilingual Montreal-based writer Angela Goulène, is an animated series that focuses on things like autism, ADHD and basically anything that can make a child appear different explained in a kid-friendly way! Through the eyes of a brother and sister duo, Jonathan and Trixie, we learn about the differences between children, with a message of inclusion ultimately ending every short story. The idea is to show that, ultimately, the Oddly Kids and the other children aren’t so different after all.
Shy Willow is in partnership with New York’s MiMO Studios, who acquired and developed the project initially, and based on the popular picture book by Cat Min. This is an animated series that transports kids to a magical world where everyone works together to make dreams and wishes come true. Willow, a shy rabbit who lives in an abandoned mailbox, and her friends have one thing in common: the ability to make dreams and wishes come true for the children in the town.
What On Earth is an all new preschool co-developed by Lynn Brunelle (Bill Nye The Science Guy, Artopia). Imagine if the Earth was an actual character who decided to start posting on social media? She’d have a lot to say! Well, Earth is now on social media, sharing her inside scoop on the wild and wonderful things that call her home. This is an animated series with live action cutaways for curious kids, ages 5-8, who love to laugh!
Junior Explorers Club, a collaboration with Stone House Productions, is made for bridge audiences that inspire the “Junior Explorers” to appreciate their local libraries & discover a panoply of cultures. Ada, the friendly librarian, has traveled the globe and brings her well worn scrapbook to share culturally specific animated folktales and provide an imaginative portal to the world near and far.
Cup + Pup shows kids that a little help goes a long way and offers a charming animated series for 3- to 5-year olds that reveals how little kids can effect a big change in their distinct neighborhood through small acts of kindness. Cup + Pup are best friends and, alongside their caregiver Granpa Phil, every day becomes a new opportunity to learn how to be good citizens.
Since 2000, Global Mechanic has produced thousands of hours of animation for children’s series, films, commercials, digital media, and art projects. The studio has also worked in partnership with Nickelodeon, Netflix, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim and PBS, including Emmy-winning series Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman and the award-winning interactive series, Scribbles & Ink. The company is led by principals Bruce Alcock and Tina Ouellette.
The Geena Davis-led Bentonville Film Festival in Arkansas (June 13-18, 2023; streaming through June 25) has partnered with Kickstart Entertainment to introduce a new Animation competition category, offering cash awards and studio support.
“Kickstart Entertainment has supported and produced the Bentonville Film Festival since its inception in 2015. We have a robust animation business with studio’s in multiple countries so we jumped at the opportunity to help create and support a new short category to introduce diverse artists, content creators and audiences into the BFF community,” said Jason Netter, Founder & CEI of Kickstart and Producer of BFF. “We are honored to provide 20,000 in cash prizes plus studio support for this category.”
In collaboration with founding partner Walmart and presenting partner Coca-Cola, the 9th edition will return to in-person festivities next year (plus select programs streaming worldwide) with competition screenings, industry panels, filmmaker conversations and studio spotlights.
“We can’t wait for our 2023 festival and are so proud to be nearly a decade into formally championing underrepresented visionaries,” said actress, producer and activist Davis, who chairs the festival. “BFF is designed to support storytellers from across the globe with opportunities to showcase their unique stories. We are thrilled to be the gathering place for these diverse artists sharing bold work while providing a global platform to give wider access to these artists and their stories.”
BFF President Wendy Guerrero added, “We’re delighted to bring ground-breaking projects to the Heartland where we have been an annual convening place for independent film, artists, and audiences for the last eight years. With the culturally rich community, accessibility to outdoor adventure, and focus on innovative technology, we are excited about the added short film categories in Animation and Adventure at the 2023 festival. By expanding our program in these areas, it will further our mission in championing women, people of color, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people with disabilities, older persons (50+) and large-bodied individuals in two new categories for 2023.”
In line with this mission, the 2022 festival built a program with more than 82% of the competition titles from content creators who identify as female or gender non-conforming; 65% who identify as Black, Indigenous, a person of color, Asian or Pacific Islander; 62% who identify as LGBTQIA+; 42% who are over 50; and 20% who identify as a person with differing abilities.
Feature film submissions for the 9th BFF are now open on FilmFreeway; Short Film submissions (including Animation) and Episodics will launch on November 14.
Founded in 1999, Kickstart Entertainment is an animation and live-action production company with locations in Vancouver, Los Angeles, Arkansas, Toronto, Hong Kong and Suzhou. The studio’s animation credits include Angry Birds: Summer Madness, Lucas the Spider, Ready Jet Go!, Bottersnikes & Gumbles, Transformers Rescue Bots and Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles.
