Animation Magazine

Author: Mercedes Milligan

  • New Trailer: Makoto Shinkai’s ‘Suzume’ Sets A-List Japanese Cast

    New Trailer: Makoto Shinkai’s ‘Suzume’ Sets A-List Japanese Cast

    CoMix Wave Films, STORY and TOHO have revealed a new trailer for Your Name. and Weathering With You director Makoto Shinkai’s latest film, Suzume. The just released preview features performances from the newly announced Japanese voice over cast. (See the previously release trailer and synopsis info here.)

    The film is due to open in Japan on November 11, and will be distributed in all major territories next year, including North America (Crunchyroll); Latin America, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East and select European territories (Crunchyroll & Sony Pictures Entertainment); and French- and German-speaking Europe (Crunchyroll, SPE & Wild Bunch International).

    Joining Nanoka Hara as Suzume Iwato and Hokuto Matsumura as Souta Munakata will be acclaimed Japanese actress Eri Fukatsu as Suzume’s aunt, Tamaki Iwato, who lives with Suzume as her guardian while working as a manager at a fishing company. Fukatsu is known for her performance in Villain (Akunin, 2010) for which she won the Best Actress Award at the Montreal World Film Festival as well as the Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role. She most recently starred in the TV drama, Come Come Everybody.

    Joining her will be Kabuki actor Hakuo Matsumoto, who will be playing Souta’s grandfather and ‘Master Close,” Hitsujiro Munakata, who is stern and cold but cares deeply for Souta. Matsumoto has had a decorated career spanning stage plays and TV dramas, most notably the Man of La Mancha stage play adaptation, which launched his 50-year career on the boards.

    “In spite of my lack of experience, director Shinkai and the rest of the crew poured everything into this project, which will be reflected in the emotion delivered straight into the hearts of audiences around the world,” Fukatsu shared with the announcement.

    Matsumoto added, “It was my first time playing a character in an anime film, and director Shinkai did a wonderful job of guiding me through to the best performances. He was very friendly and kept a positive mood during production, for which I am very grateful.”

    Additionally, Tamaki’s fisherman colleague Minoru Okabe will be voiced by Shota Sometani. Rumi Ninomiya, the bar hostess and single mother of two who Suzume encounters in Kobe, will be voiced by Sairi Ito.  Chika Amabe, the energetic high school girl Suzume meets in Aichi, will be voiced by Kotone Hanase. And, Suzume’s mother Tsubame Iwato will be voiced by Kana Hanazawa.

    In the new trailer, Souta first encounters Suzume and asks if she knows of a door in the area. This chance meeting sets Suzume off on her travels across Japan with Souta (who has been transformed into a chair following an interaction with the speaking cat nicknamed “AristoCat”), closing doors that are causing natural disasters. Along the way to complete Souta’s door-closing mission, she meets Chika and Rumi.

    Meet the Characters

    Tamaki Iwato: Suzume’s aunt who works at a local fishing company. She lives with Suzume as her guardian, but can be a little overprotective at times.

    • “To breathe life into Suzume’s aunt Tamaki by giving her a voice, I humbly took up the challenge despite it being my first time working on a project like this. In spite of my lack of experience, director Shinkai and the rest of the crew poured everything into this project, which will be reflected in the emotion delivered straight into the hearts of audiences around the world. Helping deliver that is my mission for Suzume, and I intend to leave nothing on the table.” — Eri Fukatsu

    Minoru Okabe: He works at a local fishing company in the town where Suzume lives and is Tamaki’s coworker. He has a one-sided crush on Tamaki.

    • “Never did I imagine myself participating in Suzume, when I first saw the trailer in theaters. Director Shinkai is subtle yet precise in his approach, and I am honored to be a part of the dynamic worlds he creates. The character I play in this film, Minoru, is a fresh, pure and honest soul, and is like a metaphor embodying the town’s spirit where Suzume is from. I hope that everyone has the chance to see this movie in theaters and find out what adventure awaits on the other side of the door. I have no doubt that everyone will be drawn into this magnificent world.” —Shota Sometani

    Rumi Ninomiya: A single-mother raising young twins and runs a bar in Kobe city. She picks up Suzume who was hitchhiking on the side of the street.

    • “My first reaction when I saw the trailer for Suzume in theaters was, ‘Yes! Finally, another Shinkai film!’ and was in 100% audience mode. Little did I know I was about to receive an offer to play a character in this wonderful film. You can imagine my surprise! I never imagined myself jumping into Shinkai’s world. The character I play, Rumi, is a strong, bright, lively and caring woman, so as I was reading her lines and going into character, I could feel my mind at ease. Makoto Shinkai’s direction was very courteous and delicate in some ways that made me want to rise to the occasion of performing my character as well as I could. Recording in the sound booth was an absolute joy, but now that we’re done, I’m back to being a member of the audience, eagerly awaiting the film’s release.” — Sairi Ito 

    Chika Amabe: The energetic high school girl Suzume encounters in Ehime Prefecture, who is the same age as Suzume. Her family runs a local inn.

    • “My audition was my first time voice acting, so I was honored to have director Shinkai guide me through my performance. When I heard that I got the role, I remember thinking, ‘Are you sure I’m the one?’ but was ecstatic nonetheless. Chika is a junior in high school from Ehime Prefecture and encounters Suzume on her journey. She’s someone Suzume can lean on, while also nudging Suzume forward. The recording process was so much fun because I got to go into such a bright and energetic character. No matter the age, this is a film that gives people courage and helps you reaffirm your love for one another. It will mean different things to different people. I’m honored to be a part of such a wonderful film.” — Kotone Hanase

    Tsubame Iwato: Suzume’s mother. She’s an amazing cook and craftsperson who can carve almost anything out of wood. She’s also Tamaki’s older sister.

    • “I’m delighted to once again be cast in one of Makoto Shinkai’s films. My character, Tsubame, is a cheerful and lively woman who is also Tsubame’s mother. And, she has very strong ties to that chair that Suzume used when she was little. I took great care in performing the memorable ‘slice-of-life’ scenes throughout the film. I thought Suzume was lovely as she ventured out on her ‘journey to close doors’ while discovering herself along the way. This film is a must-see in theaters!” — Kana Hanazawa

    Hitsujiro Munakata: Souta’s grandfather. He is also Souta’s mentor and master when it comes to their profession of “Closing” doors. However, he is currently in a hospital in Tokyo.

    • “It was my first time playing a character in an anime film, and director Shinkai did a wonderful job of guiding me through to the best performance. He was very friendly and kept a positive mood during production, for which I am very grateful. Hitsujiro was a difficult character to play. The director’s first words were, ‘This character needs to be dignified, with class’ and I thought over and over to myself, what ‘class’ meant in my performance. The team members on the project were all amazing and treated me so well on set. I cannot wait for the November 11 release of the film, and hope everyone is as excited as I am.” — Hakuo Matsumoto
    Suzume
    Suzume
  • ‘Fruits Basket -prelude-,’ ‘Fairy Tail: Dragon Cry’ Join Crunchyroll Movie Lineup in October

    ‘Fruits Basket -prelude-,’ ‘Fairy Tail: Dragon Cry’ Join Crunchyroll Movie Lineup in October

    Crunchyroll will close out its weekly summer movie programming schedule on October 6 with Fruits Basket -prelude- and Fairy Tail: Dragon Cry coming to the anime streaming service in both subtitled and dubbed versions.

    Fruits Basket -prelude-

    Fruits Basket -prelude- received a special event run, distributed by Crunchyroll, premiering for the first time in theaters outside Japan in North America and the United Kingdom this past summer. It is a prequel film to the award-winning 2019 anime series Fruits Basket, which is based on the award-winning shoujo manga of the same name, written and illustrated by Natsuki Takaya.

    Synopsis: Before there was Tohru and Kyo, there was Katsuya and Kyoko. Discover the turbulent beginning of Tohru’s mom’s dark past, and the man who breathed new hope into her. Watch the evolution of their love story and the birth of the Honda family, as this chapter completes the full adaptation of the heartwarming Fruits Basket story. Directed by Yoshihide Ibata, produced by TMS Entertainment and 8PAN.

    • Dub languages will include: English
    • Sub languages will include: English, Latin American Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, Italian and Castilian Spanish

    Fairy Tail: Dragon Cry

    Fairy Tail: Dragon Cry debuted theatrically in 2017 worldwide with a special event run in North America by Funimation. The film takes place between the last two story arcs of the series within Fairy Tail Final Season, which is based on the popular manga series written and illustrated by Hiro Mashima.

    Synopsis: The Dragon Cry is a magic staff rumored to possess the power to destroy the world. For years, it’s been safely guarded in the Kingdom of Fiore until Zash, a traitor of Fiore, steals it. Luckily, the task of recovering the Dragon Cry is the perfect job for the wizards of Fairy Tail — enter Natsu, Lucy, Erza, Gray, Wendy, and the cats! Directed by Tatsuma Minamikawa, produced by A-1 Pictures.

    • Dub languages will include: English
    • Sub languages will include: English

    (Schedule subject to change. Subbed and dubbed languages may vary per title.)

    Since August, Crunchyroll has been adding new anime movies to its platform every week, including JUJUTSU KAISEN 0; Katsuhiro Otomo’s Akira; Makoto Shinkai’s Your Name.; Mamoru Hosoda’s Wolf Children, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time and The Boy and the Beast; Afro Samurai: Resurrection; Josee, the Tiger and the Fish; The Stranger by the Shore; Sword of the Stranger; ODDTAXI in the Woods; Sing a Bit of Harmony and Naoyoshi Shiotani’s PSYCHO-PASS Sinners of the System film trilogy. New movie drops will continue on through October.

  • Four Animated Series Vie for 2022 International Emmy Award

    Four Animated Series Vie for 2022 International Emmy Award

    Nominations for the 2022 International Emmy Awards were announced today by the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. There are 60 Nominees across 15 categories and spanning 23 countries, including four contenders in the Kids: Animation category, each hailing from a different nation.

    “When you look at the geographic spread, diversity and quality of our Nominees, it becomes obvious that great television knows no borders and is emerging around the world,” said International Academy President & CEO Bruce Paisner. “We look forward to recognizing these outstanding programs and performances on our global stage with the International Emmy.”

    All nominees will convene at the International Emmy World Television Festival for Nominee Panels & Presentations and special events, from November 18-20, the weekend before the awards ceremony. Winners will be announced at the 50th International Emmy Awards Gala in New York City, on Monday, November 21.

    Find the complete list of nominees here.

    Kids: Animation Nominees

    • Dapinty, Una Aventura Musicolor [Dapinty, A Musicolor Adventure] Silverwolf Studios | Colombia
    • Fumetsu No Anata E [To Your Eternity] NHK | Japan
    • Les Lapins Cretins – Invasion: Mission sur Mars [Rabbids Invasion: Mission to Mars] Ubisoft Motion Pictures Rabbids | France
    • Shaun the Sheep: Flight Before Christmas | Netflix, Aardman | United Kingdom
  • Exclusive Art: Clover Press & Yoe! Kickstart ‘Popeye Variations’ Book Featuring 75+ Cartoonists

    Exclusive Art: Clover Press & Yoe! Kickstart ‘Popeye Variations’ Book Featuring 75+ Cartoonists

    One of Toon Town’s oldest and dearest denizens gets a flipped out modern revamp from a staggering roster of contemporary comics artists in Popeye Variations, a new book project from Clover Press and Yoe! Books now on Kickstarter. The 10 x 10 hardcover will feature unique spins on E.C. Segar’s spinach-scarfing sailor created by more than 75 underground and mainstream cartoonists.

    “We’re excited to publish this amazing collection of Popeye art, some seen in limited circles, but all deserving to be shared with Popeye fans around the world,” said Publisher Hank Kanalz. “Craig Yoe and Robbie Robbins have curated and designed a beautiful hardcover that must not be missed.”

    Animation Magazine is delighted to debut three comic strips that will appear in the book, created by R. Sikoryak (Masterpiece Comics), Eisner Award winner Dean Haspiel (The Red Hook) and the stellar combo of Scott Shaw! and Usagi Yojimbo creator Stan Sakai.

    R. Sikoryak for Popeye Variations
    R. Sikoryak for Popeye Variations
    Dean Haspiel for Popeye Variations
    Dean Haspiel for Popeye Variations
    Scott Shaw! & Stan Sakai for Popeye Variations
    Scott Shaw! & Stan Sakai for Popeye Variations

    Across over 100 pages, Popeye Variations will present more strips by the likes of  Jeffrey Brown (Darth Vader and Son), Cat Farris (The Ghoul Next Door), Eisner-winning artist Erica Henderson (The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl), National Book Award finalist Shin Ying Khor (The Legend of Auntie Po), Eisner-winning cartoonist Liniers, Roger Langridge (The Muppets), The Humans creator Tom Neely, writer Jeff Parker (Blighter), Sarah Winifred Searle (The Greatest Thing).

    The collection also paints Popeye in a new light with pin-up pieces by animation and comics stars like director & painter Jorge Gutierrez  (The Book of Life, Maya and the Three), Roz Chast (The New Yorker), Kelley Jones (Batman, The Sandman), Sam & Max creator Steve Purcell and Adventure Time storyboard artist Derek Ballard.

    Popeye Variations also features many of the original variant covers created for IDW Publishing and Yoe! Books’ 2012 re-presentation of of the classic Popeye comic book series launched in 1948 by Segar’s longtime assistant, Bud Sagendorf. As a bonus to Kickstarter supporters, several of these covers are being offered as special tiers for the campaign.

    Popeye is owned bye King Features, a unit of Hearst Newspapers. Follow along with the beloved sailorman’s latest adventures at popeye.com.

    For updates on the project, follow Clover Press on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook and Yoe! Books on Twitter and Facebook.

    To support the campaign for Popeye Variations, visit Kickstarter.

    Popeye Variations cover

  • Chaos Releases V-Ray 6 for Cinema 4D

    Chaos Releases V-Ray 6 for Cinema 4D

    Today, Chaos launches V-Ray 6 for Cinema 4D, expanding artistic control on everything from particles to the sky. C4D users can now access production-ready features like V-Ray Enmesh, the new procedural clouds system and V-Ray Decal.

    V-Ray 6 for C4D: V-Ray Decal
    V-Ray 6 for C4D: V-Ray Decal

    V-Ray Decal can project anything, from 3D stickers and labels to weathering elements like cracks, stains and scratches, onto any surface — all in a few clicks. Decals can be applied at angle, without extra UVW work or disturbing the underlying materials, giving artists more creative freedom in their work. A displacement setting is also available for when users want even more realism.

    V-Ray 6 for C4D: V-Ray Enmesh
    V-Ray 6 for C4D: V-Ray Enmesh

    V-Ray Enmesh is a new system that repeats geometry across the surface of an object in the most memory-efficient way possible. With Enmesh, artists can start treating geometry like a texture, creating patterns like panels, fences and fabrics that are ready for their close-up. Enmesh is so easy on the memory, users can add billions of polygons to a scene without compromise.

    V-Ray 6 for C4D: Procedural Clouds
    V-Ray 6 for C4D: Procedural Clouds

    Procedural Clouds have been added to the V-Ray Sun and Sky system, removing the need to settle for a static HDR or a cloudless sky. Artists can now customize their scenes, taking full advantage of ray-traced lighting, ground shadows and volumetric effects as they animate.

    V-Ray 6 for C4D: ACEScg
    V-Ray 6 for C4D: ACEScg

    Additional Updates Include:

    • Particle Rendering Support – Quickly render particles based on different parameters such as size, speed and color. It’s now easier to create a wide variety of effects — from splashes and foam to bubbles and sparks.
    • ACEScg Support – Gain a wider color palette with an industry-standard ACEScg color-encoding system, complete with automatic adjustments for textures, dispersion, sun & sky and light temperature.
    V-Ray 6 for C4D: Finite Dome Light
    V-Ray 6 for C4D: Finite Dome Light
    • Finite Dome Light – Fine-tune the scale and depth of your product designs/HDRI renders with the V-Ray Dome Light’s new, more flexible ground projection capabilities.
    • Light Cache in IPR – The output of V-Ray’s Interactive Production Renderer (IPR) is now identical to the production renderer, so teams can make better decisions in the moment.
    • Better Reflections – With the new energy compensation updates, rough metals and surfaces will look even more realistic.
    • Better Translucent Materials – Render frosted glass and marble faster with the V-Ray Material’s new illumination mode.
    V-Ray 6 for C4D: Thin Film
    V-Ray 6 for C4D: Thin Film Materials
    • Thin-Film Materials – A new thin-film layer has been added to the V-Ray Material, making it easy to create iridescent materials like soap bubbles and oil spills.
    • Panorama Viewer – Panoramas can now be explored and edited in the V-Ray Frame Buffer (VFB), without the need for third-party tools.
    • Composition Guides – A new proportions layer makes it easy to pick the right camera angle with the help of visual guides like the rule of thirds and the golden spiral.
    • VFB IPR Selections – Materials, objects and focal points can now all be selected while rendering, with a simple mouse click.
    V-Ray 6 for C4D: Particle Shading
    V-Ray 6 for C4D: Particle Shading

    For a full feature tour, please visit the V-Ray 6 for Cinema 4D “What’s New” page.

    V-Ray 6 for Cinema 4D is available now for Windows, Mac OS and is compatible with Cinema 4D versions R21 to 2023. All V-Ray subscription plans work for all supported host applications, including Cinema 4D, Maya, Houdini, 3ds Max, Nuke, Revit, Rhino, SketchUp and Unreal. Pricing can be found on the Chaos website.

    V-Ray for C4D | Chaos.com

  • Milk VFX Moves to Clerkenwell Studio with Upsized Talent Team

    Milk VFX Moves to Clerkenwell Studio with Upsized Talent Team

    Award-winning visual effect company Milk VFX has moved into new premises in London’s Clerkenwell. The new studio will act as the hub for Milk’s hybrid working set up — with a capacity of 200 artist seats — with creative teams coming together at least two days a week in person, and some members of the team remaining fully remote.

    “Milk’s new Clerkenwell studio is a great new base — in Milk’s busiest year ever — as we build a strong platform for growth, expanding our scale and capabilities creatively and commercially and mentor the next generation of creative talent,” said Jag Mundi, Milk’s Executive Chairman.

    The Woman King
    The Woman King

    Milk’s move to a new home comes as the studio continues to boost its creative and production teams to work across an exciting range of episodic and film projects. These include the  second season of Amazon’s Emmy-nominated Good Omens. Milk also recently announced its partnership with Loud Minds to exclusively create the VFX for new eight part NBC series Surviving Earth, and recently completed production on new Sony feature The Woman King from director Gina Prince-Bythewood, with Milk’s co-owner Sara Bennett as overall VFX Supervisor.

    Alongside these, Milk recently delivered a variety of work on Netflix/Working Title features The Swimmers and What’s Love Got to Do with It; Amazon feature Catherine Called Birdy,  which have just premiered at Toronto International Film Festival; Netflix comedy feature Me Time; Amazon feature Your Christmas or Mine; and Amazon Studios/Left Bank Picture’s upcoming episodic series, Three Pines.

    Milk has appointed experienced VFX and real-time technology supervisor and virtual production and immersive specialist He Sun (The Lion King, The Mandalorian, The Fear Index) who joins from Rebellion Film Studios, where he was VFX Supervisor and Managing Director. He Sun will supervise Milk’s team on Surviving Earth alongside VFX Supervisor and Milk co-owner, Jean-Claude Deguara, bringing his rich, award-winning
    gaming technology, virtual production, immersive and VFX experience to the project.

    He Sun
    He Sun

    He joins Milk along with several new hires: VFX Supervisor David Sadler-Coppard (Star Trek: Discovery, Avenue 5, The Wheel of Time), CG Supervisor Enrico Selmi (Avengers: Infinity War, Doctor Strange) and Head of Rigging and Creature FX Will Pryor (Aladdin, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom).

    Milk has also hired award-winning, veteran VFX Producer Paul Edwards as Head of Production (Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Annihilation, No Time to Die). Edwards brings 25 years of high caliber experience from a career spanning VFX studios from DNEG to Cinesite, most recently overseeing Marvel’s Moon Knight at Union VFX.

    Edwards is joined by VFX Producers Katherine Smith (Maleficent, Game of Thrones), Marie O’Brien (Fate: The Winx Saga, I Used to Be Famous) and Chaya Feiner (Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, Paddington).

    “We’re thrilled to have a brand new home and hub for our hybrid working set up in London’s Clerkenwell and to be welcoming such talented new additions to our growing Milk team,” said Sara Bennett, Milk co-owner and VFX Supervisor. This is an exciting time for us all as we deliver a raft of outstanding episodic and feature content.”

    milk-vfx.com

    Milk VFX Clerkenwell
    Milk VFX Clerkenwell
  • Heritage Blasts Anime Art Record as 3rd ‘Everything Cool’ Auction Tops $3.1M

    Heritage Blasts Anime Art Record as 3rd ‘Everything Cool’ Auction Tops $3.1M

    Heritage’s The Art of Anime and Everything Cool Signature Auction continues to gain popularity and attract eye-catching consignments to tempt collectors of original comics, trading cart artwork and animation cels.

    The third installment, a four-day sold-out event, closed late Monday night and outpaced its predecessors both in dollar value and the number of bidders who participated. The sale realized $3,115,598 to shatter the record high set last December, with numerous lots far exceeding their initial estimates. And more than 4,700 bidders competed for their slices of history online, over the phone and in person, the largest turn-out yet.

    Charles Schulz Peanuts Sunday Comic Strip with Lucy and Charlie Brown 2-21-54 Original Art_Heritage_Auctions
    Charles Schulz ‘Peanuts’ Sunday Comic Strip with Lucy and Charlie Brown, Feb. 21, 1954, Original Art (Heritage Auctions)

    “We were thrilled with the success of our December Animation Art auction, which brought more than $2.6 million, and this sold-out sale of more than 2,200 lots went well above and beyond that,” says Heritage Auctions VP and Director of Animation & Anime Art Jim Lentz. “Animation art in all its forms has never been more popular among collectors, as evidenced by the results of this auction and its predecessors. It has been enormously rewarding and thrilling to curate these sales at Heritage Auctions, and a jump in bidders by nearly 1,000 this time suggests the upward trend will only continue.”

    In a surprising twist for animation auction hounds, this feat was accomplished without a single lot of Disney art — which have long proven the most popular and coveted cels among collectors. However, pieces will be offered separately from Dec. 9-12 during The Art of All Things Disney Animation Art Signature Auction.

    Akira - Kaneda Production Cel
    Akira – Kaneda Production Cel and Animation Drawing Group of 2 (Heritage Auctions)

    The leading lots in the third Art of Anime and Everything Cool event ranged from an original Feb. 21, 1954, Peanuts Sunday comic strip by Charles Schulz, which realized $72,000; to a production cel and animated drawing from Hayao Miyazaki’s 1989 Studio Ghibli masterpiece Kiki’s Delivery Service, which sold for $40,800; to a painting of Wolverine made by Greg and Tim Hildebrandt for Marvel Comics’ popular 1994 Masterpieces Powerblast trading-card series, which opened the four-day event by selling for $33,600.

    Also included in this sale were 49 lots from Akira, the extremely popular 1988 Japanese animated cyberpunk action film directed by Katsuhiro Otomo and based on Otomo’s 1982 manga of the same name. Not surprisingly, a production cel and animation drawing from Akira featuring Kaneda speeding on his iconic bike ranked among the event’s top lots when it sold for $33,600.

    The Nightmare Before Christmas - Sally
    The Nightmare Before Christmas – Sally Stop-Motion Puppet (Heritage Auctions)

    Another diverse offering of this edition was a stop-motion puppet of Sally, one of the stars of the Henry Selick-directed, Tim Burton-produced The Nightmare Before Christmas. This scarce, masterfully crafted, hand-painted work also realized $33,600.

    The 57 Studio Ghibli offerings in this auction proved covered keepsakes among collectors, who fought over such works as a production cel from the pigeon-feeding sequence in 1986’s Castle in the Sky, which realized $30,000; and a grinning Catbus from 1988’s My Neighbor Totoro, which sold for $26,400.

    One of the most sought-after pieces in this auction didn’t come from a specific cartoon, but a network: Nickelodeon. When Universal Studios in Orlando opened on June 7, 1990, Nickelodeon Studios opened alongside it; two years later, a time capsule for the network was planted “as a gift to kids of the future.” Eventually, the capsule was moved to Burbank, where it’s still scheduled to be opened on April 30, 2042, but the enormous time-capsule cover — more than 42 inches in diameter, more than 45 pounds in weight — sold last weekend for $19,200.

    The Flintstones - Betty Rubble and Dino
    The Flintstones – Betty Rubble and Dino Original Model Sheet Art by Ed Benedict (Heritage Auctions)

    This was also a landmark auction for The Flintstones, largely thanks to the original concept drawings by Hanna-Barbera animation greats Ed Benedict and Dick Bickenbach that were once displayed in the Norman Rockwell Museum. A complete 55-page set of original storyboard artwork for the 1963 episode “The Blessed Event” realized $18,000 — one collector now has the entirety of Pebbles’ first baby album. And Benedict’s 1960 model sheet featuring Betty Rubble and Dino sold for $12,000.

    And not to be outdone, several collectors dreamed of Jeannie — but only one could win the I Dream of Jeannie opening sequence production cel featuring Jeannie and her bottle. That sold for $16,800.

    See all that Heritage Auctions has to offer at ha.com.

    I Dream of Jeannie -Opening Sequence
    I Dream of Jeannie -Opening Sequence – Jeannie and Bottle Production Cel with Custom Smoke Background (Heritage Auctions)
  • Sky Kids Slates Spooky Animated Specials for Halloween

    Sky Kids Slates Spooky Animated Specials for Halloween

    Halloween is creeping up, and Sky Kids is preparing by unveiling spooky new animated and live-action content fit for the season. “We know kids love Halloween, so this year we’re excited to launch new BOO-tiful specials starring some of their favorite characters and bring even more spooky fun to Sky Kids with Gary, the adorable Ghastly Ghoul,” said Lucy Murphy, Director of Kids Content at Sky.

    Aimed at ages 5-7, the CG-animated original The Ghastly Ghoul is set to premiere October 7. Starring characters voiced by Ardal O’Hanlon (Father Ted, My Hero), Sophie Okonedo (Hotel Rwanda, Æon Flux) and Michael McElhatton (Game of Thrones, The Fall), this half-hour special sees Gary (O’Hanlon), a cute and vibrant little monster who doesn’t believe he’s scary enough, disguise himself as The Ghastly Ghoul.

    The show takes viewers on an eerie, enchanted journey as Gary leaves Halloween Town and becomes trapped in the human world, where he soon forms a friendship with a young girl, Beatrix, who is facing her own fears around the spooky holiday. Together they help inspire a sense of self and belief in one another, as they try to find a way to get Gary home again during a Halloween night filled with magic and adventure.

    With an aspirational lead female character who is accompanied by her adorable best friend, this show is the perfect trick or treat combination for kids and families alike to feast their eyes upon and enjoy at home this Halloween. The series is produced by multi award-winning studios Lupus Films (The Tiger Who Came to Tea) and Dublin-based Dream Logic (The Christmas Letter).

    Tom Gates: A Monster Halloween
    Tom Gates: A Monster Halloween

    Also in store and soon to be hitting screens is Tom Gates: A Monster Halloween, premiering October 24 and sketched out for viewers 7+. This special marks the first ever Sky Kids crossover, as an animated version of YouTube superstar DanTDM (Let’s Game) guest stars. The show sees Tom Gates and his friends plan the perfect night of trick and treating with some unexpected help from DanTDM, and chilling twists and turns along the way.

    Young viewers and their families can also tune into to the live-action specials MC Grammar’s Halloween Party (premieres October 14, ages 5+) and the 45-minute KIDZ BOP Haunted Halloween (October 21, ages 8+) — both of which are sure to get kids singing and dancing along with frighteningly festive tunes.

  • Exclusive Clip: ‘Get Rolling with Otis’ Shares a Tune of Gratitude

    Exclusive Clip: ‘Get Rolling with Otis’ Shares a Tune of Gratitude

    Apple TV+ is getting in gear for the Season 2 premiere of its preschool animated series, Get Rolling with Otis, which will spark new adventures with the talking tractor and his farmyard friends on September 30.

    Ahead of the season launch, Animation Magazine is charmed to debut a musical preview of an upcoming episode, “The Thankful Parade,” a harvest season adventure in which Otis and his friends celebrate the things they are most grateful for. The episode is paired with a hay maze adventure featuring Kevin, Elaine and Sal.

    Based on the Penguin Random House book series by Loren Long, Get Rolling With Otis from 9 Story Media Group and Brown Bag Films welcomes young viewers to Long Hill Dairy Farm, home to Otis the tractor and all his friends. Otis may be little, but he has a big heart. Whenever he sees a friend in need, he hits the brakes, asks how they’re feeling, and rolls into action to help! Get rolling with new adventures, new friends, and a little tractor who’s big on helping others.

    The voice cast includes Griffin Robert Faulkner as Otis, Elliot Fullam as Sal, Katie Grober as Celeste, Micah Gursoy as Kevin, Leah Janvier as Daisy, Josiah Gaffney as Louie, James Monroe Iglehart, Elena Hurst, Dylan Martin Frankel and Dave Droxler.

    The series is executive produced by Vince Commisso, Wendy Harris, author Long, Darragh O’Connell, Jane Startz and Angela C. Santomero. Dr. Michele Borba — educational psychologist, best-selling author, frequent media contributor on TODAY show and an expert in parenting, bullying and character development — serves as the ‘compassionate action expert’ on the series through Apple TV+’s changemakers initiative.

  • Stellar Creative Lab Launches CG Animation Studio in Toronto

    Stellar Creative Lab Launches CG Animation Studio in Toronto

    Stellar Creative Lab has launched a brand new Toronto-based studio with a focus on high-end series and feature projects, offering both in-studio artist space and hybrid/remote working. The first production will be an adult CG animated series for a well-known streaming service.

    Tracy Grant
    Tracy Grant

    Line Producer Tracy Grant, based in Toronto, will be leading the team and has already started the recruiting and hiring process. “Our goal is to start with smaller teams in multiple departments, bringing brilliant Toronto and Ontario talent to this new series and the Stellar Creative Culture,” Grant stated.

    The company was launched five years ago in Vancouver, founded by industry veterans Hasmi (Giakoumis) Ferguson (Babar), formerly of Toronto, and Bert Van Brande (Sausage Party).

    Bert Van Brande
    Bert Van Brande

    “Our focus, from the day we launched, has been to deliver feature-quality, no matter what project we are producing,” said Van Brande. “Stellar’s past credits are proof-positive of the power and flexibility of the pipeline we’ve designed and developed in five short years.”

    These credits include Disney’s Baymax Dreams real-time shorts (created with Unity), Fancy Nancy, Golden Age and The Addams Family CG-feature marketing tool kit.

    Stellar’s Vancouver Studio is currently working on Marvel Studios series, including multiple seasons of Emmy-nominated What If?… and the recently announced Marvel Zombies.

    Hasmi Ferguson
    Hasmi Ferguson

    “Stellar is thrilled to be working in the Marvel Universe with Marvel Studios’ exceptional teams. We are so proud of our team for creating such world class content for our wonderful partners at Marvel,” added co-founder Ferguson.

    Just wrapping production at Stellar are the last few episodes of DreamWorks Television Animation’s Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight. This fresh instalment of the Kung Fu Panda franchise launched on Netflix Canada mid-July in the Top 10.

    Dave Dick
    Dave Dick

    Dave Dick, story director on 22 episodes of the new Kung Fu Panda series, said of his time at Stellar, “We try to create an environment where people deliver their best work with the tools and support to learn and keep honing their craft.” Dick is the Stellar Unit Director and overall AD on the new, to be announced adult CG series that will be launching teams in Toronto.

    According to Ferguson, the Ontario expansion was driven by interest from local talents: “We have been inundated with applications from experienced, exceptional Ontario artists who want to work on high quality adult properties, something Stellar has garnered a reputation for producing. I spent my formative years in animation in Toronto, starting at Nelvana, and I look forward to working with past colleagues and new artists from Ontario once again.”

    steallarcreativelab.com

  • First Look: Magic Light Reveals ‘The Smeds and the Smoos’ Ahead of BBC Debut

    First Look: Magic Light Reveals ‘The Smeds and the Smoos’ Ahead of BBC Debut

    Oscar-nominated producer Magic Light Pictures (The Gruffalo, Room on the Broom, Revolting Rhymes) is ready to introduce the world to the animated stars of The Smeds and the Smoos, the studio’s latest adaptation of a book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.

    The intergalactic adventure is set on a world where the red Smeds and blue Smoos must learn to overcome their differences and work together to find Janet and Bill, a young couple who have eloped to escape longstanding family rivalries.

    Featuring Adjoa Andoh as Grandmother Smoo, Bill Bailey as Grandfather Smed, Rob Brydon as Uncle Smoo, Daniel Ezra as Bill, Sally Hawkins as Narrator, Ashna Rabheru as Janet and Meera Syal as Aunt Smed, the half-hour film is due to premiere on BBC One (U.K.) at Christmas, and will stream on iPlayer.

    “There’s just the sort of ignorant prejudice that people can harbor about each other until they come together and actually love and that survival and kinship are the things that bind all of us,” commented Andoh. “Grandma Smoo, utterly capable, she can drive a rocket, she can clump about the place, she can blow her trumpet, delight in her kids and her grandkids and she can hate with a passion as well. Grandma Smoo’s not a woman of mild tastes, everything’s fairly strong with her. So when she’s your implacable enemy, she’s implacably your enemy. But you could change her mind at any moment and then she will love you to death.”

    ” I think the main themes of the film are that we should just accept differences in others. I think the thing I get from it is that the older generation tend to be more resistant to change. And actually, sometimes it takes the younger generation to sort of breach that divide,” added Bailey. “Grandpa Smed, he’s the kind of patriarch of the Smed family, and he’s very much the kind of protector of the family, and he’s in charge. And he’s quite sort of traditional, and a bit stuck in his ways. And he’s sort of a little bit of a stick in the mud, really, but he’s kind. He’s not an ogre. He’s a kindly old grandpa who cares about his family, I think that’s the best way to describe him.”

    The Smeds and the Smoos
    ‘The Smeds and the Smoos’ first look. (L-R) Bill Bailey as Grandfather Smed, Asha Rabheru as Janet, Daniel Ezra as Bill and Adjoa Andoh as Grandmother Smoo
  • New ‘My Father’s Dragon’ Trailer Promises a Soaring, Magical Adventure for Families

    New ‘My Father’s Dragon’ Trailer Promises a Soaring, Magical Adventure for Families

    Netflix conjured a magical mid-week treat for animation fans this morning when it unveiled fresh artwork and a brand-new trailer for My Father’s Dragon, Oscar-nominated director Nora Twomey’s (The Breadwinner) eagerly awaited feature adaptation of the Newbery-honored children’s book.

    Written by Oscar nominee Meg LeFauve (Inside Out, The Good Dinosaur) and produced by five-time Academy Award-nominated Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon (The Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea, Wolfwalkers), the movie arrive on streaming November 11 to enchant family audiences. Netflix is also planning a select theatrical run for finely crafted 2D animated fantasy.

    My Fathers Dragon
    Elmer (Jacob Tremblay) and Boris (Gaten Matarazzo) in ‘My Father’s Dragon’ (Netflix © 2022)

    “Our actors, animators and artists at Cartoon Saloon and Mockingbird Pictures have worked together to craft this film, inspired by Ruth Stiles Gannett’s amazing book. We were drawn together by a desire to tell a very special tale of friendship, adventure and true bravery,” said Twomey.

    “I fell in love with storytelling as a child and Netflix excels at celebrating all kinds of stories, through different styles and distinct voices. When Netflix came onboard with this film, before we even had a script, it was to encourage us to make the best film we possibly could. Our crew created a beautiful, animated lens to look through and I can’t wait to share the view with audiences around the world.”

    My Father's Dragon
    My Father’s Dragon – “Tiger Forest” (Netflix © 2022)

    Synopsis: Struggling to cope after a move to the city with his mother, Elmer runs away in search of Wild Island and a young dragon who waits to be rescued. Elmer’s adventures introduce him to ferocious beasts, a mysterious island and the friendship of a lifetime.

    Watch the trailer below:

    The voice cast features: Jacob Tremblay as Elmer, Gaten Matarazzo as Boris the Dragon, Golshifteh Farahani, Dianne Wiest, Rita Moreno, Chris O’Dowd, Judy Greer, Alan Cumming, Yara Shahidi, Jackie Earle Haley, Mary Kay Place, Leighton Meester, Spence Moore II, Adam Brody, Charlyne Yi, Maggie Lincoln, Jack Smith, Whoopi Goldberg and Ian McShane.

    My Father’s Dragon is produced by Bonnie Curtis, Julie Lynn and Paul Young. Executive producers are Meg LeFauve, John Morgan, Tomm Moore, Gerry Shirren, Ruth Coady and Alan Moloney.

    My Father's Dragon

  • People on the Move: Tara Strong Wins SOVAS Legacy Award, Invisible Universe Taps Nerissa Holder Hall, Adeline Tormo Heads La Chouette Sales & More

    Tara Strong Legacy Award

    The Society of Voice Arts & Sciences (SOVAS) announced
    voice actor Tara Strong as the recipient of this year’s Voice
    Arts Legacy Award for Arts and Entertainment. The award recognizes Strong’s four-decade career in animation and video games, providing the voice roles for animated series such as The New Batman Adventures, Teen Titans, Teen Titans Go!, Rugrats, The Powerpuff Girls, The Fairly OddParents, Xiaolin Showdown, My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic and Ben 10.

    The Voice Arts Legacy Award will be presented by Cree Summer, whose own extraordinary list of credits began simultaneously with Strong’s on the same job. Both women are Canadian-American actors and singers working extensively in animation, voicing long-running characters, and they have been “besties” since childhood. The award will be presented on December 15 at the 13th Annual That’s Voiceover Career Expo at the Marriot Convention Center in Burbank, California.

     

    Nerissa Holder Hall
    Nerissa Holder Hall

    Internet-first animation studio Invisible Universe has named Nerissa Holder Hall as Head of Franchise, focused on commercializing the company’s suite of IP (especially its first and largest franchise, Qai Qai), identifying new opportunities and expanding the characters to new media formats including publishing, long-form series, movies, consumer products, and more. She will manage the execution and maintenance of existing deals, as well as develop relationships with potential commercial partners.

    Prior to Invisible Universe, Hall served as the Senior Director of Content Strategy for Nickelodeon’s interactive learning app, Noggin. She started her career writing and consulting on the teams of several of Nickelodeon’s iconic animated children’s series, including Dora the Explorer and Go, Diego, Go!. Additionally, she has guided a multitude of producers, writers, animators and executives to create children’s content in all areas of the media landscape at PBS/WNET, Pinna, Callaway Digital Arts and others.

    Hall is also the founder of Mirror Mirror Books, a direct-to-consumer publishing company that creates personalized picture books that help children handle life’s big moments by seeing themselves as characters in the story.

    Adeline Tormo
    Adeline Tormo

    French animation studio La Chouette Compagnie has appointed Adeline Tormo, formerly Head of Sales at HARI Group, as Head of Sales with the mission of defining the international financing and exploitation strategies for the company’s content, and overseeing their implementation. Tormo will be present at the next MIPCOM, which will be an opportunity to present Chouette’s various projects in development, including Taki Tanuki (52 x 7′), Poule Mouillette (52 x 11′) and Theo les bons tuyaux (52 x 5′). The company is preparing to launch Dragon Strikers on Disney+.

    Tormo began her career in 2008 at Gaumont Animation as an intern in the Sales and Marketing department. In 2009, she was appointed International Sales Manager, in charge of the distribution of the animated series catalog in Eastern Europe and Latin America. In addition to these territories, between 2010 and 2014, Adeline was responsible for the exploitation of properties such as Calimero and Galactik Football in the U.S., France, the Middle East and Africa. In 2014, Tormo was promoted to VP International Sales, adding sales of U.S. and French drama series produced by Gaumont Television to her portfolio.

    She joined the HARI Group in 2016 as Head of Sales to create and lead HARI International subsidiary. In 2019, three years after launching the business, HARI International won France’s Export Award for the series Grizzy & the Lemmings,  the best-selling French animated series in the world that year. Tormo holds a master’s degree in Management from Paris IX Dauphine and a master’s degree in Law and Administration of Audiovisual Communication from Paris I Sorbonne.

     

    Namit Malhotra
    Namit Malhotra

    The U.K.’s 20th Asian Achievers Awards have named DNEG CEO and Chairman Namit Malhotra a winner in this year’s Arts & Culture category. Malhotra is also the founder and non-executive director of DNEG’s parent company, Prime Focus Limited. As a film producer, his credits include the recently released action-adventure epic Brahmastra (2022) and the
    upcoming animated feature film Garfield (2024), which DNEG Animation is co-producing with Alcon Entertainment for Sony Pictures.

    The third generation of a filmmaking family, Malhotra’s journey began in 1995 with a garage start-up in Mumbai. Since then, he has overseen Prime Focus’ listing on the National Stock Exchange of India, having pioneered a series of technology firsts in the Indian film industry and built India’s largest independent media services company. Malhotra later expanded Prime Focus’ reach to the U.K. and North America, acquiring Double Negative (DNEG), where he scaled the company to create a global network of VFX and animation studios. Since then, DNEG has expanded its headcount from 700 to more than 8,000, adding new services and divisions, and earned seven Academy Awards for Best VFX, most recently for Dune (2022) and Tenet (2021).

    Additionally, Malhotra oversaw the investment of $250 million by Novator Capital Advisers, LLP, in August 2021, positioning  DNEG to further capitalize on the high demand in the content services marketplace, including gaming, original content and IP creation. In April 2022, Malhotra’s DNEG entered into an expanded multiyear services agreement to provide visual effects and virtual production services for Netflix on Netflix series and feature programming through 2025.

     

    Nelson Hyunh
    Nelson Hyunh

    Thunderbird Entertainment Group Inc.  announced the
    appointment of Nelson Huynh to the role of Director, Distribution Sales. In this newly created role, Huynh will draw on his sales experience and global industry network, primarily cultivated during his tenure at Kidscreen, owned by Brunico Communications.

    Huynh will license Thunderbird’s animated and live-action kids series from Atomic Cartoons and primetime scripted series from Thunderbird to broadcasters, streamers and other media outlets with a focus on EMEA, Latin America and Asia. Based in Toronto and Reporting to Richard Goldsmith, President of Global Distribution and Consumer Products, he will also work to secure commissions, presales and co-productions for new series from Thunderbird’s animated, scripted and unscripted (Great Pacific Media) series production divisions. And Huynh will represent Thunderbird Distribution at major global media markets, beginning with MIPJunior and MIPCOM in Cannes in October.

     

    More People
    L-R: (top) Kate Dickson, Will Mok, YOUTH, Ashley Mady, (bottom) Emilia Mazik, Ryan Tudhope, Jen Rudin, Julian Fitzpatrick

    More Moves:

    • Oscar-winning creative studio Framestore welcomes Ryan Tudhope (Top Gun: Maverick) as its newest Creative Director and VFX Supervisor to its film and episodic team.
    • L.A.-based friends & Family have signed Brazilian directing collective YOUTH (João Machado, Yuri Maranhão and Eduardo Lubiazi) to its roster.
    • Kids’ social/NFT education platform Zigazoo has appointed Ashley Mady as President of Consumer Products.
    • Acamar Films (Bing) tapped Kate Dickson as the Camden-based indie studio’s new Director of Communications.
    • Amsterdam’s Kaboom Animation Festival has named Emilia Mazik as its new Head of Industry, responsible for the Industry Days program for 2023.
    • Animation V.O. veteran Jen Rudin has joined the APA agency from ICM to launch and head up its Animation & Voice Over Department.
    • Creative and technology studio Preymaker, currently enjoying a successful festival run with original real-time animated short BLUE (created with UE) welcomes Emmy-nominated VFX Artist Julian Fitzpatrick and Producer Will Mok.
    • London-based Blue Zoo opens a major new chapter with the launch of digital and licensing divisions for its original IP (Pip & Posy, Millie and Lou, Numberblocks). Joining the studio are Stephanie Gauld as Digital Director, Karen McNally as Licensing Director and Alison Warner has been promoted to Head of Original Content.
    Blue Zoo team
    Blue Zoo’s new digital & licensing leads (L-R) Stephanie Gauld, Alison Warner and Karen McNally.
  • Disney TV Takes Wing for an Animated October with ‘The Owl House’ Return & Halloween Highlights

    Disney TV Takes Wing for an Animated October with ‘The Owl House’ Return & Halloween Highlights

    Next month,, Disney will present a pumpkin-spiced brew of seasonal stories that inspire and connect kids ages 2-14. Each day for more than a month, Disney Channel’s “Calling All The Monsters” and Disney Junior’s “Trick or Treats” programming events will serve as the premiere destination for Disney Branded Television’s Halloween-themed content, including new Halloween-themed Eureka!, Mickey Mouse Funhouse and Firebuds episodes and marathons for the whole family to enjoy through Monday, October 31.

    From Sept. 26, Disney Channel is also airirng Halloween-themed movies every weeknight (8:00 p.m. EDT/PDT), including fan favorites Hotel Transylvania, Hotel Transylvania 2, Hotel Transylvania 3, Halloweentown and Halloweentown II.

    On Disney XD, don’t miss the Season 1 finale week of GhostForce, airing new episodes daily at 5 p.m. EDT from Monday, Oct. 3 to Friday, Oct. 7. And the Pixar special Toy Story of Terror will be presented on the channel throughout the month.

    Disney Halloween

    Beyond these tricks and treat, throughout October Disney Channel, Disney Junior and Disney XD fans can tune in for a return to Dana Terrace’s magical Boiling Isles in the new special of The Owl House, kicking off the Peabody Award-winning series’ truncated final season; soar to the rescue with more Hamster & Gretel; enjoy more good clean country fun with Big City Greens; and more.

    Saturday, Oct. 1

    9:00-9:30 a.m. EDT (Disney Channel) Big City Greens

    • “Country Side” While Cricket shows Remy the fun of country life, Tilly seeks new sleeping arrangements.
    • “Junk Mountain” Cricket tries to win back his old country friend, Hector. Harvey Guillén (What We Do in the Shadows) guest stars as Hector. Ali Stroker (Broadway’s Oklahoma!) guest stars as Hector’s girlfriend, Sunday. Rylee Alazraqui (Puppy Dog Pals) guest stars as Hector’s younger sister, Lupita.

    9:30-10:00 a.m. EDT (Disney Channel) Hamster & Gretel

    • “The Nightmarionette” Hamster and Gretel battle a villain who projects people’s greatest fears before their eyes. With Kevin and Fred’s help, Gretel must face her biggest fears in order to defeat him.
    • “Abuelita’s World” When Kevin and Gretel’s grandmother comes to look after them, she lays down a strict set of rules. Meanwhile, a giant baby is destroying the city, and they must figure out how to stop him.

    Friday, Oct. 7

    7:00-7:30 a.m. EDT (Disney Channel) / 4:00-4:30 p.m. EDT (Disney Junior) Alice’s Wonderland Bakery

    • “If the Shoe Hat Fits” Alice and Fergie create an unbirthday dish for Hattie. Donald Faison (Scrubs) recurs as Harry the March Hare.
    • “Cookie is Booked” When Cookie starts her Royal Book Pick tour, she realizes her missing ingredient is Alice. Yvette Nicole Brown (Big Shot) recurs as Mama Rabbit.

    10:30-11:00 a.m. PT (Disney Channel) 7:00-7:30 p.m. EDT (Disney Junior) Firebuds

    • “Sleepover Stakeout” Jayden plans a sleepover stakeout to catch the thief of his new invention. Lauren “Lolo” Spencer (Give Me Liberty) recurs as Jayden’s sister, Jazzy. LaChanze (Broadway’s The Color Purple) recurs as Jayden’s mom, Jenna. Brandon Victor Dixon (Broadway’s Shuffle Along) guest stars as Jayden’s dad, Jamal.
    • “Rescue Club” Carly wants to join the school’s Rescue Club, even though she’s not a rescue vehicle like the Firebuds.

    11:00-11:30 a.m. PT (Disney Channel) / 12:00-12:30 p.m. EDT (Disney Junior) Mickey Mouse Funhouse

    • “Welcome to Giant Crab Island!” Mickey, Minnie and friends explore Giant Crab Island, where they meet its friendly resident, Cora the Giant Crab.
    • “Ghosts of Haunted Gulch” Mickey and the gang get a call from Mayor Clarabelle, who needs help clearing spooky ghosts out of Sunny Gulch. Grammy-nominated country singer Mickey Guyton recurring as Wanda Warbler.
    Hamster & Gretel
    Hamster & Gretel

    Saturday, Oct. 8

    9:00-9:30 a.m. EDT (Disney Channel) Big City Greens

    • “Farmer Remy” Remy attempts to find his “country grit” while Cricket takes tractor-driving lessons.
    • “Homeward Hound” Phoenix journeys back to Big City to retrieve Saxon while Gramma and Gloria go to a club. Jameela Jamil (She-Hulk: Attorney at Law) recurs as the Greens’ dog, Phoenix. Alfred Molina (Spider-Man: No Way Home) recurs as the Greens’ rooster, Cogburn.

    9:30-10:00 a.m. EDT (Disney Channel) Hamster & Gretel

    • “U.F. UH-OH! Part I” The Grant-Gomez family takes a trip to Las Vegas. While Dave and Carolina reflect on what life without kids would be like, Kevin, Hamster and Gretel explore Vegas on their own and encounter FistPuncher and The Destructress.
    • “U.F. UH-OH! Part II” As things in Vegas escalate, Hamster, Kevin and Gretel encounter the UFOs that gave them their powers and learn that much more sinister things are happening.

    Sunday, Oct. 9

    7:00 p.m. EDT (Disney Channel) Tim Burton’s The Corpse Bride

    Friday, Oct. 14

    8:30-9:00 a.m. EDT (Disney Channel) / 12:30-1:00 p.m. EDT (Disney Junior) Marvel’s Spidey and His Amazing Friends

    • “Can’t Stop Dancing” Team Spidey must save the Avengers from Gobby’s dancing ray.
    • “The Ant Thief” Miles and Ghost-Spider go on a tiny adventure with Ant-Man and Wasp after the museum is robbed by ants. Sean Giambrone (The Goldbergs) and Maya Tuttle (Marvel Future Revolution video game) recur as Ant-Man and Wasp, respectively.

    9:45 a.m. EDT (Disney Junior) Dino Ranch

    • “The Creepy Cryosaur” Clara Tinhorn tries to scare the junior ranchers during their pumpkin patch harvest and gets a taste of her own medicine.

    10:30-11:00 a.m. PT (Disney Channel) / 7:00-7:30 p.m. EDT (Disney Junior) Firebuds

    • “Cliffhanger” The Firebuds must rescue Iggy and Rod after their recklessness lands them on the narrow ledge of a cliff.
    • “The Very First Fire” Bo and the Firebuds take on their very first fire at the park playground.

    1:25-1:55 p.m. EDT (Disney Junior) Eureka!

    • “Barry’s Brrr-thday” Eureka learns that Barry’s biggest wish is to have a beach party for his winter birthday. Ryan Michelle Bathé (The Endgame) guest stars as Barry’s mom, Sierra.
    • “Ptero Tap” Eureka is so good at Ptero-Tap that she invents a ball machine to serve as a competitor.

    Saturday, Oct. 15

    9:00-9:30 a.m. EDT (Disney Channel) Big City Greens

    • “Pie Hard” Gramma challenges the local diner owner to a “pie-off” to see whose pie is Tilly’s favorite. Brooke Dillman (Bob’s Burgers) guest stars as diner owner Patti. Tony Cavalero (The Conners) guest stars as a server at Patti’s Diner, Wayne.
    • “Rat Tail” Nancy tries to get Cricket to cut his new rat tail without admitting that she hates it. Candace Kozak (Doc McStuffins) recurs as Young Nancy.

    9:00-9:30 p.m. EDT (Disney Channel and Disney XD) The Owl House

    • “Thanks to Them” After months of trying, Luz and her friends make a daring attempt to return to the Demon Realm.
    Big City Greens
    Big City Greens

    Sunday, Oct. 16

    7:00 p.m. EDT (Disney XD) Tim Burton’s The Corpse Bride 

    Friday, Oct. 21

    8:30-9:00 a.m. EDT (Disney Channel) / 12:30-1:00 p.m. EDT (Disney Junior) Marvel’s Spidey and His Amazing Friends

    • “Sand Trapped” Team Spidey gets trapped in Sandman’s giant sand maze. Tom Wilson (Back to the Future) recurs as Sandman.
    • “Too Much Fun” The Spidey Team swings into action to bring back the fun after Electro supercharges the amusement park. Stephanie Lemelin (Young Justice) recurs as Electro.

    10:30-11:00 a.m. PT (Disney Channel) / 7:00-7:30 p.m. EDT (Disney Junior) Firebuds

    • “Marsh Mayhem” Kid reporter, June, gets famous at school after reporting a sighting of an urban legend. Rich Sommer (Mad Men) and Antonia Thomas (The Good Doctor) guest star as the Firebuds’ teachers, Mr. Wexell and Ms. Coolidge.
    • “The Art of Friendship” The Firebuds create a giant mobile to cheer up kids in the hospital. LaChanze (Broadway’s The Color Purple) recurs as Jayden’s mom, Jenna.

    Saturday, Oct. 22

    9:00-9:30 a.m. EDT (Disney Channel) Big City Greens

    • “Frilly Tilly” Tilly makes changes to her country’s coming-of-age ceremony, and Gramma is not having it.
    • “Montaged” Cricket fast-tracks his training for a rodeo and gets trapped in a never-ending montage.

    Friday, Oct. 28

    10:30-11:00 a.m. PT (Disney Channel) / 7:00-7:30 p.m. EDT (Disney Junior) Firebuds

    • “Lights Out” The Firebuds rally their community to exchange emergency supplies during a blackout. Melissa Rauch (The Big Bang Theory) recurs as Bo’s mom, Beth. Lauren “Lolo” Spencer (Give Me Liberty) recurs as Jayden’s sister, Jazzy.
    • “Handle with Car” – The Firebuds help relocate fragile lizard eggs to a preserve. Melissa Rauch (The Big Bang Theory) recurs as Bo’s mom, Beth.

    Saturday, Oct. 29

    9:00-9:30 a.m. EDT (Disney Channel) Big City Greens

    • “Pizza Deliverance” A pizza delivery girl from Big City must flee from a crazed country family. Sydney Park (Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists) guest stars as a Big City pizza delivery girl, Tina.
    •  “Horse Girl” When Bill gets a horse for the day, Tilly must hide how much she secretly hates horses.
    Firebuds
    Firebuds

     

     

  • Netflix TUDUM Japan Recap: New Anime Announcements, First Looks & More

    Netflix TUDUM Japan Recap: New Anime Announcements, First Looks & More

    While Netflix treated fans to a new featurette for Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio during the stateside TUDUM this weekend, the mirror fan event in Japan unveiled a deluge of anime news and updates.

    Opening the presentation, actress and host of the anime section Ayane Sakurawelcomed fans with a special spotlight, starting with a performance by composer Hiroyuki Sawano at the Special Music Stage at TUDUM Japan.

    Voice actress Fairouz Ai then presented a trailer for anime series JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure STONE OCEAN.

     

    Fans were then treated to the title, design and character art reveal for the new series Onmyoji, the first ever anime adaptation of Baku Yumemakura’s novel. The series will launch in 2023.

     

    Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre debuted stills from the upcoming series, based on selected works by the celebrated manga artist — including Hanging Blimp, Tomie・Photo, Four x Four Walls and Intruder.

    New cast members were also announced: Riho Sugiyama, Daisuke Kishio, Rie Suegara, Yumiri Hanamori, Yuji Mitsuya and Hiro Shimono.


    Tiger & Bunny 2 actors Hiroaki Hirata (voice of Wild Tiger) and Masakazu Morita (Barnaby Brooks Jr.) were next to take the TUDUM stage with a presentation for their upcoming season. Part 2 episodes launch on Netflix on October 7.

     

    Moonrise

    It’s Earth vs. the Moon in the new series Moonrise (2024), which brought a new teaser trailer and special artwork by character designer Hiromu Arakawa into fans’ orbit.

    Moonrise tells a story written by novelist and screenwriter Tou Ubukata, who won several awards for his novel Tenchi Meisatsu and has handled series composition and screenplays for popular anime series such as Fafner in the Azure and Psycho-Pass. Manga artist Hiromu Arakawa (Fullmetal Alchemist, Silver Spoon)  designed the characters. Series director is Masashi Koizuka (Seasons 2 and 3 of Attack on Titan) and the animation is handled by WIT Studio (Ranking of Kings, SPY x FAMILY).

     

    My Daemon
    My Daemon

    Another new anime series, My Daemon from writer Hirotaka Adachi (a.k.a. Otsuichi), debuted artwork during TUDUM, giving fans their first look at main character Kento and his daemon, Anna. Bangkok-based animation & games outfit Igloo Studio is producing the series.

     

    Gritty new sci-fi/drama series Make My Day announced its main character cast of Masaomi Yamahashi, Ayahi Takagaki, Kazuhiro Yamaji and Akio Otsuka, and revealed some of the mechanical art that went into the show’s design. 

     

    TUDUM viewers also got a glimpse at the new original sci-fi space horror anime series exception in a new promotional video ahead of its October 13 premiere.

    Synopsis: In the far future, humanity has been driven from Earth and forced to move its population to another galaxy. Members of a scouting team are sent to search for a planet suitable for terraforming. The crew was created through a biological 3D printer, but a system malfunction causes one of the crew members, Lewis, to emerge in a deformed state. As Lewis turns on his fellow crew members Nina, Mack, Patty and Oscar, a countdown to the end of the mission begins in the frightening darkness of the ship.

     

    Voice actors Mutsumi Tamura and Asami Seto then took to the TUDUM stage with a presentation of their new feature film, Drifting Home, about two childhood friends as set adrift into a mysterious sea alongside an entire housing complex. The movie is now streaming on Netflix worldwide. Read more about it in the November ’22 issue of Animation Magazine (available soon)!

     

    Voice actor Ayumu Murase was up next, presenting a new teaser trailer for The Seven Deadly Sins: Grudge of Edinburgh. The all-new movie is based on an original story by series creator Nakaba Suzuki. Part 1 launches on Netflix worldwide in December.

    Synopsis: Fourteen years since the Kingdom of Liones defeated the Demon Clan and brought peace to the land, Prince Tristan is tormented by his inability to control two great powers: the Demon Clan power of his father, Meliodas, who served as captain of the Seven Deadly Sins as the Dragon Sin of Wrath, and the Goddess Clan power of his mother, Elizabeth. When Elizabeth’s life is threatened, Tristan flees the kingdom and heads toward Edinburgh, where Deathpierce — who was once a member of group of the kingdom’s Holy Knights, the Pleiades of the Azure Sky — maintains his castle. But what are Deathpierce’s intentions? The wheel of fate begins to move and sweeps up even The Seven Deadly Sins…

     

    The Way of the Househusband announced it will return with a look at new stills from the series.

     

    Lookism, the new animated series based on the popular Korean webcomic about a teenager who wakes up one day with a handsome face and perfect body, was announced during the TUDUM event with an exclusive clip. The animation is produced by Studio Mir (DOTA: Dragon’s Blood, The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf). The original webcomic, launched in 2014 (serialized on LINE Manga and Naver WEBTOON), has racked up 8.7 billion views globally.

     

    Actresses Rie Takahashi and Mikako Komatsu from the anime adaption of the manga Romantic Killer were next to the TUDUM stage with a presentation on their series about giving up the single life for dating, premiering October 27.

     

    Legendary filmmaker Takashi Miike was announced as the chief director for the new anime series Onimusha, based on Capcom’s video game series of the same title. Fans got a first-look at the artwork for protagonist Miyamoto Musashi, modeled after the late Japanese screen icon Toshiro Mifune.

     

    Animation fans were treated to the teaser for the four-part animated series rooted in Japanese folklore, ONI: Thunder God’s Tale. Set in a mystical world of Japanese gods and spirits, a courageous girl strives to follow in her mysterious father’s footsteps and find her true powers in this beautifully rendered new show from Dice Tsutsumi (The Dam Keeper). Read more about it in the November ’22 issue of Animation Magazine.

     

    Netflix’s favorite irate red panda office worker Aggretsuko will be back for Season 5, and TUDUM viewers got the first look at stills from the new season.

     

    Gudetama: An Eggcellent Adventure, the new series premiering December 14 featuring the globally popular egg and chick combo, Gudetama and Shakipiyo, was featured in a special presentation with a trailer for the show.

     

    In addition to these animated sneak peeks, Fairouz Ai, the voice actress for “Jolyne” from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: STONE OCEAN, joined live-action stars Kento Yamazaki and Tao Tsuchiya from Alice in Borderland and Nana Mori and Natsuki Deguchi from The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House in a special interview segment dubbed “Beyond Borders” and talked about personal growth through their characters, and reaching fans outside of Japan.

  • ASIFA Animation Educators Forum Announces Inaugural Hall of Fame Inductees

    The Animation Educators Forum (AEF), a non-profit association of teachers and scholars whose focus is the art of animated film, announce the inaugural group selected to its new Hall of Fame. Dedicated to the artists and scholars whose teaching influenced the history of animation, the AEF will announce a new group of recipients each January.

    The first Hall of Fame class is:

    Art Babbitt
    Art Babbitt

    Art Babbitt (1907-1992) Animator — Babbitt began at Terrytoons before becoming one of Walt Disney’s top animators, where he became an early champion of animation unions. He helped jump start Disney’s in-house training program, taught at USC in 1957 and the Animation Guild. Babbitt later lectured the Richard Williams’ London team in 1973. For many years Williams’ notes of his lectures were considered essential reading for animators.

     

    Giannalberto Bendazzi
    Giannalberto Bendazzi

    Giannalberto Bendazzi (1946-2021) Animation Historian/Teacher — Bendazzi is best known for writing Cartoons − 100 Years of Cinema Animation, which became a standard textbook in the field. He later edited the three-volume Animation: A World History. Bendazzi taught animation history at the Università degli Studi di Milano (2002-09) and the Nanyang Technological University of Singapore (2013-15), as well as being an adjunct professor at Griffith University in Australia.

     

    Frank Braxton
    Frank Braxton

    Frank Braxton (1929-1969) Animator — Braxton was the first Black animator to break the color barrier at both Walt Disney, and later Warner Bros. He also worked for MGM and John Hubley and was a President of the Screen Cartoonists Guild. In the late ’50s, Braxton began an animation program near Watts for minority high school students.

     

    Tissa David
    Tissa David

    Therese “Tissa” David (1921-2012) Animator — A Hungarian-American animator, who was one of the pioneering women in animation. Described as “New York’s Master Animator”, David worked extensively on commercials and projects for Jean Image, John Hubley, Richard Williams and Michael Sporn. Wherever she worked she conducted masterclasses for young animators. She also guest lectured at NYU Tisch School of the Arts and the School of Visual Arts.

     

    Jules Engel
    Jules Engel

    Jules Engel (1909-2003) Artist, Filmmaker & Educator — Engel spent decades in the animation industry (Disney, UPA, Format Films, etc.), variously working as a color stylist, background artist, producer and director, before joining CalArts in 1969. He was Founding Director of its Animation Program and Experimental Animation Department, mentoring many notable animation artists. He also made a number of personal films and documentaries and won the Winsor McCay and Norman McLaren Heritage Awards.

     

    David Evans
    David Evans

    David Evans (1924-1998) Computer Graphics Teacher — With his colleague Ivan Sutherland, Evans conceived and built the computer graphics program at the University of Utah, one of the earliest in the world. Their program produced many breakthroughs and trained many of the principal figures in the Digital Revolution that transformed motion pictures and interactive games in the 1990s.

     

    Don Graham
    Don Graham

    Don Graham (1883-1976) Drawing Teacher — Starting teaching at Chouinard Art Institute, Graham was brought on by Walt Disney to improve the drawing skills of his animators and organize a training curriculum. Many of them credit Graham with changing their approach to drawing at in so doing change the direction of American animation. After 1941 He continued to teach at Chouinard, as well as Ray Patin Studio, until his retirement in 1970.

     

    Jim Macaulay
    Jim Macaulay

    Jim Macaulay (1924-2015) Animation Teacher — Jim began in England at J. Arthur Rank, and moved to Canada after the war. He worked for the National Film Board and several live-action production companies. He was among the first group of animation instructors at Sheridan College’s new animation program in the early 1970s. Until his retirement in 1988 he trained a generation of Canada’s top animation talent. Artists who would not only be major players in their own domestic industry, but who would fan out across the world and contribute to productions from Berlin to Bristol, Brisbane to Beijing.

     

    Bill Moore
    Bill Moore

    Bill Moore, Graphic Design Teacher — When CalArts grads of the ’70s were asked, “Of all your teachers, if you had to name one who was paramount to your education, who was it?,” the overwhelming response was Bill Moore. Moore began at Chouinard, then moved to CalArts to teach the fledgling animation program. Many credited him with not just learning technique, but critical thinking.

     

    Les Novros
    Les Novros

    Les Novros (1909-2000) VFX Animator & Teacher — In 1941, Novros left his job as a Disney layout artist to start Graphic Films, which became known for its large format films and its work on the visual effects for 2001: A Space Odyssey. In 1942, at USC he established its first animation class: “Principles and Mechanics of Animation.” He later developed his “Filmic Expression” class, which inspired several generations of live-action and animation filmmakers

     

    AEF’s Hall of Fame is accessible on the Animation Educator’s Forum website, animationeducatorsforum.com. Candidate suggestions can be submitted through the website to the attention of Tom Sito, administrator.

  • HIDIVE Grows Fall Anime Harvest with ‘Bibliophile Princess,’ ‘Akiba Maid War’ and ‘Urusei Yatsura’ Reboot

    HIDIVE Grows Fall Anime Harvest with ‘Bibliophile Princess,’ ‘Akiba Maid War’ and ‘Urusei Yatsura’ Reboot

    HIDIVE, AMC Network’s streaming service for Japanese animation and live-action content for both die-hard otaku and more casual pop-culture fans, has added another enticing trio of anime titles to its Fall lineup.

    Bibliophile Princess, the arresting historical drama anime based upon the light novel and manga of the same name, will premiere exclusively on HIDIVE during the Fall 2022 season.

    Synopsis: Known as the Bibliophile Princess for her unquenchable love of books, Lady Eliana Bernstein wants nothing more than to shirk social duties in favor of retreating to the library. So, when the handsome Crown Prince Christopher promises to shield her from high-society drudgery in exchange for pretending to be his fiancée, she jumps at the chance to hide behind their sham relationship and read to her heart’s content (especially since he’s offered her access to the palace library). But much like the plot of her favorite novel, soon Eli’s feelings for the prince develop in unexpected ways, and she realizes she can’t always judge a royal book by its cover.

    Bibliophile Princess is produced by studio Madhouse (NANA, Death Note) and is directed by Taro Iwasaki (One Week Friends) with series composition from Mitsutaka Hirota (Rent-A-Girlfriend). Mizuka Takahashi (sub-character design in Overlord III) provides character design. Reina Ueda (Kanao Tsuyuri in Demon Slayer) stars as Lady Eliana Bernstein alongside Ryohei Kimura (Hirotaka Wakamatsu in Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun) as Prince Christopher.

     

    Akiba Maid War

    HIDIVE will debut Akiba Maid War, an original anime project from P.A. Works (Ya Boy Kongming!) and Cygames (Zombie Land Saga) in October.

    Synopsis: Akihabara is the center of the universe for the coolest hobbies and quirkiest amusements. In the spring of 1999, bright-eyed Nagomi Wahira moves there with dreams of joining a maid café. She quickly dons an apron at café Ton Tokoton, a.k.a. the Pig Hut. But adjusting to life in bustling Akihabara isn’t as easy as serving tea and delighting customers. Paired with the dour Ranko who never seems to smile, Nagomi must do her best to elevate the Pig Hut over all other maid cafés vying for top ranking. Along the way she’ll slice out a place for herself amid the frills and thrills of life at the Pig Hut. Just when Nagomi’s dreams are within her grasp, she discovers not everything is as it seems amid the maid cafés of Akihabara.

    Masui Soichi (Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai) directs the series while Nii Manabu (Kakegurui Twin, The Day I Became a God) serves as both the chief animation director and character designer. Akiba Maid War stars Kondo Reina (Eta in The Eminence in Shadow and Ryo Shinonome in Cinderella Nine) as Nagomi Wahira and Sato Rina (Senjumaru Shutara in Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War and Kaede Kagayama in Non Biyori) as Ranko Mannen.

     

    Urusai Yatsura

    And one of anime’s favorite characters makes her way to HIDIVE with the streamer’s acquisition of Urusei Yatsura, the highly anticipated new TV series based on the best-selling manga of the same name by legendary mangaka Rumiko Takahashi (Inuyasha, Ranma ½, Maison Ikkoku). This new adaptation features the instantly recognizable Invader Girl Lum and will premiere on HIDIVE during the Fall 2022 simulcast season.

    Synopsis: When an alien race known as the Oni invade Earth, the chronically unlucky and unapologetically lecherous Ataru Moroboshi is selected as humanity’s representative in a duel for the fate of the planet! His opponent is Lum, the Oni’s very pretty princess, and it’s only thanks to Ataru’s unscrupulous behavior that he’s able to scrape out a win in a treacherous game of tag against her. Ataru thinks he’s had his lucky break at last, but when Lum takes a shine to him off the battlefield, the conflict follows him home as Lum invades not only planet Earth, but also the womanizing Ataru’s love life!

    Animated by David Production (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind, Cells at Work, Fire Force), Urusei Yatsura is directed by the duo behind JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind, Hideya Takahashi and Yasuhiro Kimura, and written by Yuko Kakihara (Cells at Work!, Kids on the Slope).

    The series will star Sumire Uesaka (Rika Sonezaki in O Maidens in Your Savage Season, Hayase Nagatoro in Don’t Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro) as Lum, Hiroshi Kamiya (Levi in Attack on Titan, Trafalgar Law in One Piece) as Ataru Moroboshi, Maaya Uchida (Rikka in Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions, Hiyori in Noragami) as Shinobu Miyaki and Mamoru Miyano (Light in Death Note, Rintaro in Steins;Gate) as Shutaro Mendo.

    The future home video releases for all these titles will be distributed by and available from Sentai.

    hidive.com |  Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

  • Adult Swim’s Down Under Party Girls Return in ‘YOLO: Silver Destiny’

    Adult Swim’s Down Under Party Girls Return in ‘YOLO: Silver Destiny’

    Adult Swim returns to the weird world of Wollongong when YOLO: Silver Destiny debuts Sunday, January 22 at midnight on Adult Swim, and the next day on HBO Max.

    From Michael Cusack, the co-creator of Adult Swim’s Smiling Friends, Rick and Morty: Bushworld Adventures (watch) and Hulu’s upcoming Koala Man, the follow-up to YOLO: Crystal Fantasy sees the return of Australia’s favorite party girls, Sarah (Sarah Bishop) and Rachel (Todor Manojlovic), who are still looking for chill experiences and hot guys in the bizarre town of Wollongong.

    YOLO: Silver Destiny begins when a chance encounter at a Sausage Sizzle sets the girls off in pursuit of their destinies — Sarah wants to grow a beautiful garden, and Rachel wants to become a dark Empress. Meanwhile, Lucas the Magnificent embarks on a mysterious new quest to overcome Sarah’s repulsion and win her heart.

    “In Season 2 we find Sarah and Rachel continuing on their quest for good times and positive vibes,” explains Cusack. “I can’t wait for fans to join them on all their strange, new Wollongong adventures as their fantasies become their destinies.”

    YOLO: Crystal Fantasy regularly won the half-hour across basic cable among adults 18-24, 18-34, and 18-49. Additionally, new episodes of the series beat the key late-night competition by mostly double and triple digits with those same adult demos.

    The first two episodes of YOLO: Silver Destiny will premiere back-to-back on Jan. 22 at midnight, with one new episode premiering weekly thereafter.

    The quarter-hour animated series is produced by Laura DiMaio with line producer Paul Moran. Executive producers include Cusack, Mike Cowap and Emma Fitzsimons. The series is produced by Princess Pictures with animation services provided by Monkeystack.

    YOLO: Silver Destiny

    *Note: The release date for YOLO: Silver Destiny is now January 22.

  • Academy Museum Celebrates LAIKA’s Groundbreaking Films

    Academy Museum Celebrates LAIKA’s Groundbreaking Films

    Throughout the month of October, The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures will celebrate the artistry of one of the most renowned animation studios in the world with The Magical Films of LAIKA, presented as part of its Family Matinees series.

    This series marks the first studio program partnership in which the Academy Museum will screen the studio’s entire filmography. LAIKA’s mastery of stop-motion storytelling, character and artistic craft will be on full display in brand-new 4K with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos remastered versions of each of the studio’s five award-winning films.

    In addition to the screenings, there will be a specially curated selection of LAIKA merchandise available in the Academy Museum Store, LAIKA artists will visit the studio to share their expertise and artistry with our guests, and walk-around characters from the films will be on hand for picture taking opportunities.

    Every weekend, the Academy Museum screens films for families of all ages. All movies in this series are rated G or PG, unless otherwise noted. The museum also offer accommodative screenings with open captioning, dim lightning and  lower volume for neurodivergent viewers.

    Guests are encouraged to cosplay* for the scheduled films.
    LAIKA Films

    Screening Details

    Oct. 1 | 11 a.m. | Missing Link: The most recent stop-motion feature from LAIKA — and, like all their previous films, an Animated Feature Oscar nominee — Missing Link tells the story of a scientist-explorer who thinks he has made the discovery of his life when he encounters a Sasquatch, only to find the Sasquatch has an agenda of his own that leads to a globe-spanning adventure and an unexpected friendship.

    Oct. 8 | 11 a.m. | Kubo and the Two Strings: Kubo, a young musician and storyteller, must undertake a dangerous journey with the help of a snow monkey (voiced by Charlize Theron) and a beetle warrior (Matthew McConaughey) in this stop-motion adventure influenced by Japanese art and culture. One of LAIKA’s most visually ambitious productions, it received nominations for Animated Feature Film as well as Visual Effects, only the second all-stop-motion film to be nominated in that category.

    Oct. 22 | 11 a.m. | The Boxtrolls: Alan Snow’s fantasy novel Here Be Monsters! inspired this gorgeously crafted stop-motion comedy about an orphaned boy, raised by a lovable pack of underground trolls, who has to save his unconventional family from an evil exterminator. Nominated for Animated Feature, the film features a vivid vocal performance by Ben Kingsley as the villainous Archibald Snatcher, supported by an impressive voice cast including Toni Collette, Elle Fanning, Jared Harris, Richard Ayoade, Nick Frost and Simon Pegg.

    Oct. 29 | 11 a.m. / Oct. 30 | 3 p.m. | ParaNorman: Kodi Smit-McPhee (The Power of the Dog) provides the voice of Norman in this visually imaginative and surprisingly emotional stop-motion animated feature from LAIKA, now celebrating its 10th anniversary. Norman Babcock is a teenage boy with the ability to communicate with the dead who finds himself forced to save his hometown from a witch’s curse. ParaNorman was nominated for Animated Feature and features a charming score by Jon Brion (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind).

    The 10th Anniversary screening of ParaNorman (2012) on October 30 at 3 p.m. will be followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers Chris Butler (writer/director), Arianne Sutner (producer) and Deborah Cook (costume designer)

    Oct. 30 | 11 a.m. | Coraline: For his first fully stop-motion feature since the classic The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), director Henry Selick adapted Neil Gaiman’s novella for this stylish, delightfully spooky, and dazzlingly designed horror fantasy, the first feature-length production from LAIKA and a nominee for Animated Feature. Dakota Fanning is the voice of Coraline Jones, a bold 11-year-old who passes through a tunnel from her new house to a seemingly perfect alternate home and family, but things are not as ideal as they seem.

    Come dressed in your best Coraline and ParaNorman cosplay* and meet costumed characters from both films until 2:30 p.m.

    ParaNorman
    ParaNorman

    Additional Activities

    Through the Academy Museum’s Education department, LAIKA artists will participate in two days of activities. The Calm Morning gathering on Saturday, October 29 from 10 a.m. to noon and the Drop-in Workshop for Families on Sunday, October 30 from 1-3 p.m. will feature two of LAIKA’s brightest stars:

    • Collaborative Costume Design Art Project with LAIKA’s award-winning costume designer Deborah Cook.
    • ParaNorman-themed Toilet Paper Zombie making activity with LAIKA stop-motion rigger Lindzay Irving.

    The Academy Museum Store will feature a wide-ranging assortment of LAIKA merchandise including early concept art from LAIKA films as well as sweatshirts, t-shirts, tote bags, a book of postcards, and collectible enamel pins. All items are exclusive to the Academy Museum Store.

    Also available will be items celebrating ParaNorman’s 10th anniversary and the Halloween season, featuring a ParaNorman design that gives a nod to vintage horror comic books.

    Coraline
    Coraline

    Visitor Info

    Tickets to the Academy Museum are available only through advance online reservations via academymuseum.org and mobile app.

    Film screening tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for seniors (age 62+), and $5 for students and children (age 17-). Matinees are $5 for all. Ticket prices for Academy Museum members are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, and $4 for students, children and matinee-goers.

    General admission tickets for the museum’s exhibitions are $25 for adults, $19 for seniors (age 62+), and $15 for students. Admission for visitors ages 17 and younger, and for California residents with an EBT card is free.

    Visitors are required to follow all current COVID-19 public health guidelines by the state of California and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health in place at the time of their visit.

    *Cosplay restrictions at the Academy Museum: body paint, functional props or weapons, full-face coverings. Guests in costume are subject to search at the discretion of Academy Museum staff at any time; the venue reserves the right to refuse entry for any reason.

  • Technicolor Creative Studios Spins Off as Independent, Publicly Traded Company

    Technicolor Creative Studios Spins Off as Independent, Publicly Traded Company

    Technicolor Creative Studios, previously a division of Technicolor SA, announced its listing as a standalone company today, following the planned distribution of 65% of its shares to Technicolor shareholders and concurrent listing on Euronext Paris.

    As of 9 a.m. CET on Tuesday, September 27, Technicolor Creative Studios will trade publicly under “TCHCS” on Euronext Paris. Going forward, Technicolor — comprising  the Connected Home and Vantiva Supply Chain Services divisions — will remain listed on Euronext Paris under its new name of Vantiva and the leadership of its new CEO, Luis Martinez-Amago.

    About the company: Founded in 1915, Technicolor led the film industry with the world’s first exploration of full color and sound motion pictures, developing a series of innovative color film processes in the early 20th century. The creative technology brand later acquired leading VFX studios MPC, The Mill and Mikros Animation in addition to establishing Technicolor Games. These four studios now operate under the new brand name, Technicolor Creative Studios, to focus on growth in the entertainment and advertising markets.

    Technicolor Creative Studios has a rich legacy for innovation in the entertainment and advertising industries. Major projects include Academy Award-winning features Gladiator, 1917, The Jungle Book and Life of Pi, as well as recent blockbusters Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Nope and Disney’s new live-action iteration of Pinocchio. The company’s animation division is credited with the world’s most recognizable animation IP including SpongeBob SquarePants and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Advertising and brand experience studio The Mill has earned over 500 awards & accolades across its 30-year history, consistently producing work for the world’s most notable brands from iconic Super Bowl commercials to globally renowned campaigns.

    MPC - The Lion King
    Technicolor Creative Studios’ VFX and animation studio MPC has worked on blockbusters like Disney’s live-action ‘The Lion King’

    Technicolor Creative Studios CEO Christian Roberton will be joined by an executive committee of seasoned industry professionals leading the business, including studio Presidents Tom Williams, Josh Mandel, Andrea Miloro and Jeaneane Falkler.

    Technicolor Creative Studios plans to become the first-choice production partner for the world’s most successful entertainment companies and brands. Each studio in the network will be powered by shared technologies, creative talent, R&D and investment in future platforms. TCS asserts its studios have the structural power to provide clients content solutions across their IP journey, from film development to in-game assets and marketing materials. The primary goal of the new structure is to provide each of its subsidiary brands and their respective clients with the infrastructure needed to consistently deliver the best creative output.

    Technicolor Creative Studios is home to 11,700+ employees across 11 countries, with plans to continue growing into 2023 to meet market demand across all its verticals.

    The new structure and collaborative vision will be cemented further with a Technicolor Creative Studios campus opening this year in Los Angeles (Culver City), which will host all studio brands under one roof, with the addition of a bespoke Virtual Production stage and Creators Hub. By being fully independent, TCS is taking a strategic step to extend its leadership and expand into new and scalable markets, capitalizing on the burgeoning global demand for VFX and animated content.

    Christian Roberton
    Christian Roberton

    “My ambition is to build the world’s most successful visual arts company. We believe our legacy for innovation and creativity is our foundation for the future, and the success of our studios will rely on continued investment in cutting-edge technology, the world’s best talent and our ongoing relationships with major entertainment studios and brands,” comments Roberton, CEO of the newly independent company. “The next chapter as an independent company will be pivotal in our growth and evolution.”

    technicolorcreative.com