After three busy days of pitching sessions, introductions and reconnections, Cartoon Forum2022 wrapped another successful edition last week showcasing a slew of high-quality, creative animated series projects from across Europe.
Contemporary challenges were hot topics for these toons, and French co-pros proved a hit at the Toulouse event, with crowds packing the presentation rooms for The Tern (Cyber Group Studios), F****ing Cat(Autour de Minuit Productions), Phil & Sophia (Xilam Animation), Shepherdess Warriors (Vivement Lundi !) and Witch Detectives (Method Animation).
This year, 80 projects of animated TV series were presented this year from 19 European countries, for a total budget of 367.2 million EUR, representing 473 hours of animation. The countries who brought the most projects are: France (37), Spain (eight), Ireland & Germany (six), Italy (five) and Poland (three).
Lisa & Kolos
Top 10: Pitch Attendance for European Co-Pros
(Ranked by number of participants in the pitching room for projects co-produced in at least two European countries)
The matchmaking event welcomed 1,075 participants from 40 countries, including 292 buyers, on site in Toulouse. This included 13% new buyers from around the world, such as Hop! Media Group (Israel), Ox Eye Media (United States), Editions Kinaye (France), Disney Branded Television (United States) and La Petite Agence (France).
Cartoon Forum was also proud to boast a 50/50 gender balance of women and men attending this year’s confab. As for the producers behind this year’s selected projects, 54% were men, 26% were women and 20% of shows had both women and men as producers.
Top Trends of Cartoon Forum ’22
BeddyByes
Preschool projects trigger creativity. Shaping tomorrow’s animation audience; the 20 projects aimed at preschool & upper preschool viewers — including BeddyByes, Trotro & Zaza, Gouti’s Great Journey, Mogu & Perol and Max — were ‘bursting with creativity.’ This selection hailed from nine different countries.
Graine and Princess Bilboquet
Edutainment is very strong. Making learning fun is a major challenge in television, but several of this year’s projects tackle important social themes in a very fun way. Graine and Princess Bilboquet encourages viewers to discover their personal identity Polka Dot Zebra to embrace what makes them unique, and Umami to find their own place in the world.
The Last Whale Singer
Sustainability as a challenge. Awareness about the climate change crisis is not just for grownups. Many projects were dedicated to exploring this contemporary issue with tomorrow’s eco warriors, such as The Last Whale Singer, Keiko and the Floating World and Welcome to Permacity.
My Superhero My Superhero HusbandHusband
Supporting new voices. Cartoon Forum is very keen to encourage new voices. The 2022 edition had 34 new producers pitching for the first time, displaying different points of view and storytelling references from people with diverse cultures, ideas, and worlds to explore in shows like My Superhero Husband, Feathered Vignettes and Best Friends Forever… Stranded!.
Plus, the Coaching Program dedicated to local animation students as well as the student activities of the 2022 Spotlight on Spain gave young talents a sneak peek into the animation industry.
Pre-recorded pitches are still available to stream on the Cartoon Forum digital platform until October 9 at 23:59 CET.
Cartoon Forum 2023 will be held September 18-21 in Toulouse. Because the Rugby World Cup will also be held in the city around these dates, registration will open April 2023 and those planning to attend are encouraged to reserve travel and accommodation in a timely manner.
Daffy and Porky are pulling a literal graveyard shift in the new sneak peek clip for “Bugs Bunny’s Howl-O-Skreem Spooktacula” — the new half-hour Looney Tunes Cartoons Halloween special streaming Thursday, September 29 on HBO Max.
The clip dug up today is for the short “Graveyard Goofs,” which follows Daffy (voiced by Eric Bauza) and Porky (Bob Bergen) down to the cemetery to take a dear friend to a final resting place.
The special will also feature the show’s first dedicated short featuring Witch Hazel (Candi Milo), titled “Hex Appeal” (which was sneak peeked at San Diego Comic-Con, watch here). Plus, Sylvester (Jeff Bergman) checks in to a suspicious motel, and Bugs (Bauza) meets a mummy!
From Warner Bros. Animation and starring the cherished Looney Tunes characters, Looney Tunes Cartoons echoes the high production value and process of the original theatrical shorts with a cartoonist-driven approach to storytelling. In this modern iteration, marquee characters are featured in their classic pairings in simple, gag-driven and visually vibrant stories.
Looney Tunes Cartoons is executive produced by Pete Browngardt (Uncle Grandpa) and Sam Register (Teen Titans Go!). The voice cast features Bauza (Bugs Bunny/Daffy Duck/Tweety/Marvin the Martian), Bergen (Porky Pig), Bergman (Elmer Fudd/Sylvester), Fred Tatasciore (Yosemite Sam) and Candi Milo (Granny), Michael Ruocco (Beaky Buzzard).
Brenda Chapman (Academy Award-winning co-director of Brave),Everett Downing, Jr. (co-director of the Academy Award-winning Hair Love and director of the upcoming My Dad the Bounty Hunter), James Gurney (creator of Dinotopia), Mark “Crash” McCreery (concept artist, Jurassic Park), Neville Page (concept artist, star Trek) and Dice Tsutsumi (co-director of the Academy Award-nominated The Dam Keeper and director of the upcoming ONI: Thunder God’s Tale) are among the 500+ participants attending LightBox Expo 2022 this fall.
LightBox Expo 2022 will be held from October 14-16, featuring more than 150 panels and the prestigious Concept Art Awards. This year marks the return of this celebration of the arts to Pasadena, California for the first time since the show’s inaugural edition.
“We’re delighted to host LightBox Expo in person after two years of virtual events,” said LightBox Expo’s Creative Director, character designer/illustrator Bobby Chiu. “Throughout the pandemic, we experimented with ways to bring artists together online, including launching our popular LightBox Expo Discord channel. And while that’s been a rewarding experience for the LightBox Expo community which has grown internationally in ways we never could have imagined, there’s absolutely nothing like walking through an event filled with over 500 of the most talented artists, writers, and filmmakers working today.”
Chiu co-founded the event in 2019 with Jim Demonakos, one of the directors of the award-winning documentary Mike Mignola: Drawing Monsters.
LightBox Expo
LightBox Expo is a multi-faceted experience for everyone from aspiring artists and students, to professionals and fans, with a focus on animation, illustration and concept art. The event organizers have announced a slate of more than 125 panels, with even more programming highlights to be announced closer to the show.
One of the show’s many highlights is The Concept Art Awards, an annual award ceremony designed to recognize and bring increased awareness of the role of concept artists throughout the world of movies, television, video games and more. This year’s finalists include artists working on projects like Encanto, Turning Red, Dune, The Batman, Moon Knight, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Apex Legends, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. The award ceremony will be held at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium with a live band.
Among the recipients of this year’s Concept Art Awards Lifetime Achievement Award is Mary Blair, the legendary concept artist of films including Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan and Cinderella, who will posthumously receive the award on Saturday, October 15.
LightBox Expo
Finalists for the professional categories include:
Animation:Encanto, Turning Red, Luck, Lightyear, Ron’s Gone Wrong, Vivo, The Sea Beast, Hotel Transylvania: Transformania, Arcane, Maya and the Three, Wolfboy and the Everything Factory, The Ghost and Molly McGee, Star Trek Prodigy, The Cuphead Show!, Prehistoric Planet
Live-Action:Spider-Man: No Way Home, Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Doctor Strange 2 in the Multiverse of Madness, The Batman, The Tragedy of Macbeth, Nope, Antlers, Eternals, Thor: Love and Thunder, Dune, The Matrix Resurrections, Jungle Cruise, The Suicide Squad, Reminiscence, Foundation, Moon Knight, Wheel of Time, Archive 81, The Book of Boba Fett, Obi Wan Kenobi, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Cowboy Bebop
Video Games:The Cycle: Frontier, Lost in Random, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, Apex Legends, GRIME, Source of Madness, The Tribes of Midgard, Deaths Door, Risk of Rain 2: Survivors of the Void, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Dying Light 2 Stay Human
LightBox Expo
“LightBox Expo was created in order to shine a spotlight on the creators behind your favorite animation, illustrations, games, and live action movies & TV shows, all under one roof,” said Jim Demonakos, LightBox Expo’s Convention Director. “This year’s event feels like a homecoming. After our debut event in 2019, we moved online, and we’re eager to get back together to celebrate the arts in person.”
Learn more about the Concept Art Association and the 2022 Concept Art Awards Presented by LightBox Expo by visiting their website or following them on Instagram.
Nickelodeon and Mattel today revealed a sneak peek clip and official key art for the original animated seriesMonster High, which will premiere in the U.S. on Friday, October 28 at 7 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon. The comedy-adventure series following the teenage children of famous monsters will also debut in Canada, the U.K. and Australia later this year on Nickelodeon and Paramount+, and in additional international territories in 2023.
Also announced today is an all-star lineup of additional voice talent:
Ken Marino (Reno 911!) as Dracula – Dracula is about 4,000 years old and Draculaura’s dad. He wants to be a good father but does not always have the necessary tools for the job.
Felicia Day (Mystery Science Theater 3000) as Ghoulia Yelps – Curious, clever and with ultra-fast fingers, Ghoulia is a zombie and the top gamer at Monster High.
Valeria Rodriquez (The Valley of Tears) as Spectra Vondergeist – This ghostly girl makes up for her translucent appearance by being super chatty. She just wants to be seen!
Scott Menville (Teen Titans Go!) as Romulus – Romulus is the current head of the were pack at Monster High, though he’s still got a bit of learning and growing to do.
Cole Massie (Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers) as Finnegan Wake – Charming and chill, Finnegan is a merman who uses a wheelchair to get around on land. He has a beautiful singing voice, just like his aunties, the sirens.
Victoria T. Washington (Dropouts) as Howleen – Howleen is a natural leader who values integrity over the pack mindset and always speaks her mind.
Jordan R. Coleman (A Million Little Things) as Manny Taur – Big, bull-headed Manny looks like a brute, but he’s the gentlest kid at school. With his penchant for solving puzzles, he’s one of the only students that can compete with Draculaura for honors as a top student.
Krystina Alabado (Sesame Street Mecha Builders) as Nefera De Nile – Nefera is the mummy who has it all – beauty, popularity, royalty, and a heart of gold (literally, she dipped her heart in gold and keeps it in a jar).
The new voice actors join previously announced cast members Gabrielle Nevaeh Green (Clawdeen Wolf), Courtney Lin (Draculaura), Iris Menas (Frankie Stein), Tony Revolori (Deuce Gorgon), Kausar Mohammed (Cleo De Nile), Valeria Rodriguez (Lagoona Blue), Alexa Kahn (Torelei Stripe), Alexander Polinsky (Heath Burns) and Debra Wilson (Headmistress Bloodgood).
The all-new series (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.
In addition to the animated series, a live-action television movie musical based on the iconic franchise is slated to premiere Thursday, October 6 on Nickelodeon and Paramount+. Both projects join other Mattel Television content in production, including series and specials based on Barbie, Masters of the Universe, Thomas & Friends, Polly Pocket, Pictionary and Fireman Sam, to name a few.
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.
Curiosity Ink Media, the original storytelling division of Grom Social Enterprises, has secured the husband-wife screenwriting team and best-selling authors Chelsea and Matt Giegerich to craft the storyline for its animated coming-of-age adventure ThePiratePrincess. The news was announced today by Darren Marks, Chairman and CEO of Grom Social Enterprises, Inc.
The Pirate Princess introduces movie-goers to Zasha, a young woman who finds herself at a crossroads when she discovers she was actually born a princess to an ousted royal family. She is torn between the only family she has ever known, a loving band of marauding pirates, and reclaiming her true identity.
Curiosity Ink says the movie will offer a rich blend of fantastical monsters, mysterious magic and high-stakes action, with a storyline and narrative are crafted to establish a universally embraceable tale of family loyalty, support and unconditional love.
“The Pirate Princess is a perfect example of the inventive stories, rich characters and eye-catching animation that is making Hollywood sit up and take notice of Curiosity Ink Media,” explains Marks. “It’s imperative that The Pirate Princess meets the filmgoing expectations of today’s families, and Chelsea and Matt are the ideal pairing to infuse this classic adventure tale with a contemporary swagger, laugh-out-loud comedy and family-friendly adventure.”
Chelsea and Matt Giegerich bring a deep biography in comedy and family-friendly entertainment to The Pirate Princess. The duo recently penned the Sony Pictures Entertainment feature film PartyBoat (starring comedian Jay Mohr), and are currently in development on a film with Jamie Foxx and his producing partner Datari Turner. The Giegeriches have also developed projects for Nickelodeon, Olive Bridge Entertainment and Cloud 9 Entertainment.
As best-selling authors, rights to their series of mystery novels, TheAppleOrchardMysteries, have been acquired by Fezziwig Studios, with the books surpassing 50 million page reads on Amazon.
Hulu is ready to bring some seasonally outer space-y mayhem to screens this month when the new Solar Opposites Halloween special premiers on October 3, exclusively on the streamer.
“A Sinister Halloween Scary Opposites Solar Special”: Sometimes Alien life can be spooky. The Solar Opposites do a Halloween Special!
The special features series voice stars Justin Roiland as Korvo, Thomas Middleditch as Terry, Mary Mack as Jesse and Sean Giambrone as Yumyulack.
The special joins the recently launched third season (and preceding two missions) of Solar Opposites on Hulu. Co-created by Justin Roiland (Rick and Morty) and Mike McMahan (Rick and Morty, Star Trek: Lower Decks), the series centers on a team of four aliens who are evenly split on whether Earth is awful or awesome. Korvo and Yumyulack only see the pollution, crass consumerism, and human frailty while Terry and Jesse love TV, junk food and fun stuff.
In Season 3, this alien team strives to be less of a team and more of a family team.
Solar Opposites is executive produced by Roiland, McMahan and Josh Bycel. The series is produced by 20th Television Animation.
In honor of today’s observed California Native American Day (Friday, September 23), Netflix debuted new artwork and the official trailer for Spirit Rangers, its exciting new animated preschool series that heralds a new era for Indigenous representation on screen and behind the scenes.
Created by Santa Ynez Chumash tribal member and the first California Native American showrunner Karissa Valencia Karissa Valencia, who executive produces alongside award-winning kids’ animation veteran Chris Nee, the 10 x 22′ series from Netflix Animation and Laughing Wild in association with Superprod premieres October 10 (Indigenous Peoples’ Day).
Synopsis: Inspired by stories from Native American tribes and the majestic landscapes of national parks of America, Spirit Rangers explores the adventure and beauty of nature through the eyes of Kodi (voiced by Wačíŋyeya Iwáš’aka Yracheta), Summer (Isis Celilo Rogers) and Eddy Skycedar (Talon Proc Alford), Chumash/Cowlitz siblings who share a secret. This trio of kids are “Spirit Rangers” who help protect the land and spirits of the national park that they call home in California. Taking on new perspectives as a grizzly bear cub, red-tailed hawk and spunky turtle, the Skycedar kids take on every challenge — from helping a lost thunderbird to waking a sleepy sun — with courage and compassion.
Also starring Kimberly Guerrero as Mom, John Timothy as Dad, Cree Summer as Lizard and DeeDee, Shaun Taylor-Corbett as Coyote, Wes Studi as Sunny, Tantoo Cardinal as Moon, Devery Jacobs as Wind Eagle and Nyla Rose as Lawetlat’la.
Read more about the making of Spirit Rangers in the Nov. ’22 issue of Animation Magazine (No. 324), available soon!
Netflix October Highlights
Netflix Halloween “Streams & Screams” Collection
Deadly dangers, spooky strangers and more: A spine-tingling collection made for sharing — and scaring. View the collection at netflix.com/halloween.
Oct. 1
Barbie: It Takes Two Season 2
Charlotte’s Web (2006)
Labyrinth
Scooby-Doo, Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie
Chip and Potato
Oct. 3
Chip and Potato Season 4 (Netflix Family)
Challenge by challenge, adventure by adventure, giggle by giggle — yip yip! Join Chip, Potato and their pals for another season of learning and growing.
Oct. 7
Tiger & Bunny 2 Part 2 (Netflix Anime)
Ice-wielding superhero Blue Rose decides to leave the world of “Hero TV” to go back to her old life as a teenage girl named Karina who loves to sing.
Tiger & Bunny 2
Oct. 9
Missing Link
Oct. 10
LEGO Ninjago: Crystallized (S4) Part 2
Spirit Rangers (Netflix Family)
Native American siblings Kodi, Summer and Eddy have a secret: They’re “Spirit Rangers” who help protect the national park they call home!
Dead End: Paranormal Park
Oct. 13
Dead End: Paranormal Park Season 2 (Netflix Family)
Barney, Norma, Pugsley and friends encounter a slew of strange new creatures, from angels to evil twins to an army of deranged Pauline Phoenix dolls.
Exception (Netflix Anime)
In a distant future where humans are forced to leave Earth, a spacecraft carrying a 3D printed crew of specialists is sent to terraform a new planet.
Exception
Oct. 17
Waffles + Mochi’s Restaurant (Netflix Family)
Food-loving friends Waffles and Mochi get cooking in their very own restaurant, where hungry customers come to feast on flavors from all over the world!
Oct. 18
LiSA Another Great Day (Netflix Documentary – Japan)
Glimpse into the world of the songstress known as the “Anime Song Queen” as she reflects on the first decade of her career and looks to the future.
ONI: Thunder God’s Tale
Oct. 21
ONI: Thunder God’s Tale (Netflix Family)
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. (Read more in the November issue of Animation Magazine, available soon!)
Pokémon Ultimate Journeys(Netflix Family)
Ash and Goh chase their goals — and embark on more amazing adventures — as their journey through the wild world of Pokémon continues.
Oct. 22
LOL Surprise! Winter Fashion Show
Oct. 25
Barbie Epic Road Trip (Netflix Family)
In this interactive adventure, Barbie goes on a cross-country trek with friends and makes big decisions about the future. Which dream will she choose?
Guillermo Del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities (Netflix Series)
Bizarre nightmares unfold in eight tales of terror in this visually stunning, spine-tingling horror collection curated by Guillermo del Toro.
Daniel Spellbound
Oct. 27
Daniel Spellbound (Netflix Family)
A teen tracker follows in his late father’s footsteps to uncover a conspiracy in the magical world in this exciting supernatural adventure series.
Hotel Transylvania 2
Romantic Killer (Netflix Anime)
Living her best single life, romance is the last thing on Anzu’s mind — until a tiny match-making wizard suddenly turns her life into a clichéd romcom.
Big Mouth
Oct. 28
Big Mouth Season 6 (Netflix Series)
S6 focuses on the theme of family as the beloved characters continue each of their journeys, discovering that while you can’t always pick your family, you can surround yourself with those that love you for who you are.
Wendell & Wild (Netflix Film)
From the delightfully wicked minds of Henry Selick and producer Jordan Peele, comes an animated tale about scheming demon brothers Wendell (Keegan-Michael 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. (Read more in the November issue of Animation Magazine, available soon!)
Wendell & Wild
Last Call:
Leaving 10/7: Sofia the First Seasons 1-4
Leaving 10/14: Bleach The Movie: Fade to Black,Bleach the Movie: Hell Verse
Something huge is in store for the Green family in this weekend’s brand-new episode of Emmy- and Annie Award-winning animated series Big City Greens, now in its third season.
Big City Greens follows the offbeat adventures of 10-year-old Cricket Green, who moved from the country to the big city with his wildly out-of-place family, including hard-working father Bill, sweet-and-sour Gramma Alice and quirky older sister Tilly. His natural curiosity and enthusiasm lead him and his family on epic journeys.
Indicatively titled “The Move,” we’ve got a sneak peek at the mid-season premiere episode, which debuts Saturday, September 24 at 9:30 a.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel. Check it out!
https://youtu.be/AuyEU3jSjT0
The series stars Chris Houghton as Cricket Green, Artemis Pebdani (Scandal) as Gramma Alice, Marieve Herington (How I Met Your Mother) as Tilly Green and Bob Joles (Puss in Boots) as Bill Green.
Big City Greens is the brainchild of comic book creators and brothers Chris and Shane Houghton (Harvey Beaks) and influenced by their childhood in the small rural town of St. Johns, Michigan, with many of the locations and characters based on their own family members and real-life townsfolk.
In January, Disney Branded Television announced that the series has been renewed for a fourth season, which will bring its episodic total to over 100, as well as a movie musical inspired by the show to air on Disney Channel and Disney+. The movie and series creative team include Michael Coughlin (The Muppets) as producer, Stephen Sandoval (The Owl House) as co-executive producer and Joachim Horsley (Spirit Riding Free) as composer. Big City Greens is a production of Disney Television Animation.
Trickfilm Entertainment Inc. announced the official launch of its new online platform, Trickfilm, with a mission to ‘democratize the production, distribution and monetization of independent animation around the world.’
As an alternative to the animation industry’s traditional business model, Trickfilm aims to transfer the control (and the rewards) back into the hands of the people who create and own the intellectual property.
“The market for animated content is exploding, but creators don’t necessarily benefit from this increase in the demand for their work,” said Trickfilm CEO & Founder Jeremy McCarron. “Trickfilm empowers animation producers to connect directly with their true fans and to earn revenue through their creations.”
Trickfilm provides a platform through which filmmakers can distribute their work, without restriction, and monetize it through the direct sale of associated digital, virtual and physical goods to their audiences. The platform also allows audiences to discover a wide variety of genres, mediums, formats and styles of animation from all over the world and to directly support the artists who create it.
“Our goal is to become the home for independent animation,” continues McCarron, “where viewers have access to amazing artists, content, and merchandise anywhere, any time. It’s Saturday morning cartoons as a service!”
A pumpkin bucket full of Halloween-themed animated goodness is coming to PBS KIDS this month, as the nationwide pubcaster unwraps brand-new episodes and specials from Alma’s Way, Donkey Hodie, Curious George and Molly of Denali, plus the return of gently spooky seasonal specials from Octobers past.
October 10
Alma’s Way “Trick-or-Treatasaurus/The Haunted Hallway”
When Junior accidentally ruins his dinosaur Halloween costume, Alma, Mami and Tía Gloria must figure out a way to turn the mistake into a fright-night delight.
It’s Halloween at the community center, and Alma, Rafia and Lucas are determined to have the best Haunted Hallway ever. But when Alma decides that she wants to make the Hallway even spookier than before, people stop visiting. What gives?
Donkey Hodie “A Donkey Hodie Halloween”
In this 22-minute special, it’s Purple Panda’s first Halloween in Someplace Else, but he’s afraid because he doesn’t know what to expect. Donkey Hodie is here to help! She prepares Panda for all the things he’ll see on Halloween while their pals make it extra special.
A Donkey Hodie Halloween (courtesy of Fred Rogers Productions)
Molly of Denali “Bubbling Up/Eenie Eenie Aye Over”
Molly, Tooey and Trini find mysterious bubbles while canoeing on Lake Qyah. Who’s making the bubbles? Could it be wood frogs, a freshwater seal or … a lake monster? Hopefully Grandpa Nat and Nina can help them solve the case!
When a power outage cuts their video game short, Molly, Tooey and Trini go outdoors and learn a ball game from Walter and Grandpa Nat: Eenie Eenie Aye Over! Do the kids have what it takes to beat the grownups?
October 14
Curious George “Tale of the Frightening Flapjacks/Happy Yelloween”
It’s Halloween in the Country! George and The Man with the Yellow Hat arrive at the pumpkin patch to pick out the perfect pumpkin to make a jack-o-lantern for the Renkins’ Halloween bonfire. Bill has been assigned with telling this year’s Scary Story at the bonfire, and he has a doozy of a spooky tale featuring a creepy cave, flying flapjacks and the Griddlecake Grizzly! The problem is, his tale was inspired by a dream from the other night and he woke up before it was over — and now Bill doesn’t have an ending to his story! So George and Allie set out to recreate Bill’s dream and fun-scare him into a little inspiration.
George-the-elephant and Allie-the-dragon are having great fun trick-or-treating on Halloween night — when suddenly it starts to rain! Back at George’s house, they decide to wait out the storm. Maybe the rain will pass and they can go back outside? But when all of the neighbors drop by one by one, in soaking wet costumes, George and Allie realize it is time to give up — and continue the celebration inside! After all, for trick-or-treating, all you need are treats and doors! So they bring everyone together and, with a little help from The Man with the Yellow Hat’s closet, they figure out how to have a perfect, fun and dry … Yello-ween.
Manchester Animation Festival (MAF), the U.K.’s largest animation festival, has revealed its program for 2022. Returning for its eighth year, the festival will offer audiences a unique opportunity to engage with some of the year’s most talked about animated content from around the world.
Returning in person for the first time in two years, the festival will also showcase some of Manchester’s finest spaces, with sessions taking place at the HOME cinema arts center, the University of Salford, Odeon Great Northern, Manchester Central Library and The International Anthony Burgess Foundation.
Over 100 events such as screenings, panels, workshops, masterclasses, Making Of and studio talks will take place during the festival from November 13-18. Further information and the full program can be found at manchesteranimationfestival.co.uk, with tickets on sale now.
Lloyd of the Flies
Headline events at the festival include a Making Of session which will take a deep dive into Aardman’s animated series Lloyd of the Flies. The highly-anticipated original series follows the comedy adventures of housefly Lloyd B. Fly and his insect friends as they explore the strange world beyond the confines of the compost bin. Stars include Tom Rosenthal (Plebs, Friday Night Dinner) and Callum Scott Howells (It’s A Sin).
Dead End: Paranormal Park
Fans will also be invited to take an exclusive behind the scenes look at hit Netflix animation series Dead End Paranormal Parkwith creator Hamish Steele and series producer Jen Coatsworth, made by Blink Industries (Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared). Based on the Dead Endia graphic novels and set in a haunted amusement park, the comedy horror adventure series sees Barney (Zach Barack) and Norma (Kody Kavitha) take on eerie unknown forces with the help of talking dog Pugsley.
Collecting the Manchester Animation Festival Fellowship Award for 2022 are Camilla Deakin and Ruth Fielding of Lupus Films. Known for The Snowman and the Snowdog, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt and The Tiger Who Came to Tea, the company has created some of the world’s most beloved adaptations of illustrated classics, including a feature adaptation of Ethel & Ernest by Raymond Briggs. In a special session for MAF, they will tell the story of their successful studio, look back on some of their favorite films, as well as give audiences a sneak preview of what is next for Lupus.
Lupus Films’ upcoming slate includes the Michael Morpurgo adaptation ‘Kensuke’s Kingdom’
In a very special event celebrating 30 years of legendary studio Mackinnon & Saunders, Ian Mackinnon and Peter Saunders will give audiences an in-depth look at some of their impressive array of works, including features Fantastic Mr. Fox, Corpse Bride and children’s series Postman Pat, Bob the Builder and Rastamouse.
MAF’s Family Day makes a welcome return for 2022 with a workshop from hugely popular children’s series Hey Duggee designer Ross Phillips. He will reveal the secrets behind creating beloved characters and teach children how to draw some of their favorite characters from the show, create their very own Squirrel Club member and earn a Character Workshop Badge.
The Amazing Maurice
There will also be a special festival preview screening of The Amazing Maurice, an animated family film from Sky based on the wildly popular Discworld novels by Terry Pratchett. Featuring an all-star cast, the film tells the story of a streetwise ginger cat who comes up with a money-making scam by befriending a group of self-taught talking rats.
Unicorn Wars – Blending animated classic Bambi with anti-war epic Apocalypse Now, Unicorn Wars follows a group of inexperienced teddy bear recruits who are sent on a dangerous mission to save the Magic Forest from unicorns in a dark comedy that uses animated fantasy to ponder the origin of evil.
The Island – With a hypnotic soundtrack and colorful surreal visuals, The Island is an animated musical that tips the Robinson Crusoe story on its head. After saving Friday, the only survivor of an illegal refugee boat, Robinson confronts current affairs through visual poetry and symbolism in a world where everybody looks for their own paradise. (U.K. Premiere)
My Love Affair with Marriage – My Love Affair with Marriage follows lovelorn Zelma, but the more she tries to conform, the more her body resists in this story about acceptance and inner female rebellion.
Nayola – Following three generations of women in a 25-year-long civil war in Angola, Nayola sees past and present interlace. The mother goes in search of her missing husband at the height of the war and doesn’t return. Her daughter has become a subversive rapper while her grandmother tries to contain her for fear of the police coming to arrest her.
No Dogs or Italians Allowed – Set in the early 20th century and chronicling the lives of the Ughetto family in Northern Italy, the Ughetto family patriarch dreams of a better life abroad. His grandson travels back in time through the magic of animation to revisit his family history. (U.K. Premiere)
Informative panels are an important part of MAF’s Industry Day programming
Manchester Animation Festival’s Industry Day is back and bigger than ever with a line up featuring panels filled with industry heavyweights. These include the State of Animation panel featuring: Patricia Hidalgo, Director of Children’s industry at BBC; Kate O’Connor, CEO of Animation UK; Michael Rose, MD of Magic Light Pictures; Tom Box, MD of Blue Zoo; Sean Clarke, MD of Aardman Studios; and Caroline Roberts-Cherry, co founder of Saffron Cherry, as they debate the issues facing the animation industry today.
Showcasing the very best of the North-West, the Making It in Manchester session will this year focus on gaming. The region boasts an impressive array of games companies using animation in their production and dealing with some of the biggest names in games.
Sculpt with Jim
Further sessions include an interactive Meet the Puppets event with both the Cosgrove Hall Films Archive and Mackinnon & Saunders, a BBC boxset screening featuring family favorites from CBeebies and CBBC, a sculpting social with Jim Parkyn, an online sneak peek at Chris Garbutt and Rikke Asbjoern’s upcoming Netflix interactive special We Lost Our Human and an Industry Insiders panel where experts from the world of animation will cover a wide range of topics.
With screenings of at least 121 different short films from over 37 different countries — more than ever shown before at the festival — and exclusive premieres including The Island, Claydreams and No Dogs or Italians Allowed, this is a MAF not to be missed.
The new Will Vinton documentary ‘Claydreams’ will make its U.K. premiere at MAF.
“We’re delighted to be bringing Pinocchio to MAF and celebrating Mackinnon & Saunders — Manchester’s very own Geppetto’s workshop where some of the puppets for the feature were made,” said Festival Director Steve Henderson. “With over 100 events this is our biggest and most exciting edition yet and we can’t wait to welcome audiences to Manchester in November for a selection of the best features, shorts and masterclasses from the world of animation.”
Manchester Animation Festival is presented with the support of the BFI (awarding funds from the National Lottery) and sponsored, partnered and supported by HOME, University of Salford, Manchester City Council, BBC Children’s & Education, Blue Zoo and Jellyfish Pictures.
Manchester Animation Festival Director is Dr. Steve Henderson, the Producer is Greg Walker and the Executive Producer and Programmer is Jen Hall.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has voted 14 students as winners of the 49th Student Academy Awards competition. This includes three international winners in the Animation category, which as with the other categories this year no longer distinguishes between U.S.-based and non-U.S. based schools.
This year, the Student Academy Awards competition received a total of 1,796 entries from 614 colleges and universities around the world. The 2022 winners join the ranks of such past Student Academy Award winners (est. 1972 as Patricia Cardoso, Pete Docter, Spike Lee, Patricia Riggen and Robert Zemeckis.
The winners are:
Laika & Nemo
Animation
Jan Gadermann and Sebastian Gadow, Laika & Nemo, Konrad Wolf Film University of Babelsberg, Germany
Lachlan Pendragon, An Ostrich Told Me the World Is Fake and I Think I Believe It, Griffith Film School, Australia
Yanis Belaid, Eliott Benard and Nicolas Mayeur, The Seine’s Tears, Pôle 3D Digital & Creative School, France
This is the first SAA win for Pôle 3D.
Lachlan Pendragon, An Ostrich Told Me the World Is Fake and I Think I Believe It,
All Student Academy Award-winning films are eligible to compete for 2022 Oscars in the Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film or Documentary Short Film category. Past winners have gone on to receive 65 Oscar nominations and have won or shared 14 awards.
For the first time since 2019, students will participate in an in-person award ceremony on Thursday, October 20, at 7:30 p.m., at the David Geffen Theater in Los Angeles. The medal placements — gold, silver and bronze — in the four award categories will be announced at the ceremony.
The 49th Student Academy Awards ceremony on October 20 is free and open to the public, but advance tickets are required. Tickets may be obtained online at oscars.orgstarting today. The David Geffen Theater is located at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures at 6067 Wilshire Boulevard.
The highly anticipated Season 4 return of the Emmy-winning Netflix original The Dragon Prince is just around the corner, and fans were today treated to another teaser trailer offering a look at where this magical animated journey will take them next. This next phase of the saga, dubbed The Dragon Prince: Mystery of Aaravos, will begin a multi-season arc centering on the enigmatic Startouch elf, Aaravos.
As announced at San Diego Comic-Con earlier this summer, Season 4 also introduces 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.
Produced by Wonderstorm and led by co-creators Aaron Ehasz (head writer of Avatar: The Last Airbender) and Justin Richmond (game director of Uncharted 3), the new season will debut with nine episodes in November.
Synopsis: It’s been two years since the Battle of the Storm Spire in 3. Peace has been restored throughout the lands but tensions persist between the human kingdoms and Xadia.
With Amaya at her side, Janai (Rena Anakwe) must rebuild the Sunfire elves from the ashes of the Corrupted Core. Ezran (Sasha Rojen) has fully stepped into his role as king of Katolis, protected by both Soren (Jesse Inocalla) and Corvus (Omari Newton) as his Crownguard. Zym is no longer just a hatchling. Callum (Jack De Sena) has replaced Viren (Jason Simpson) as High Mage. And Rayla (Paula Burrows) has since left Callum in search of Viren, her whereabouts unknown…
In Season 4, we see Aaravos’ (Erik Todd Dellums) plans begin to take shape. Under Aaravos’ guidance, Claudia (Racquel Belmonte) 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…
Animation Is Film (AIF), whose mission is to champion animation as a cinematic artform on par with live action, has unveiled its competition line-up, special events and presentations for its fifth in-person edition, running October 21-23 and 29 at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres in Hollywood.
The festival’s Opening Night kick-off will be on Friday, October 21, headlined by the U.S. Premiere of the critically acclaimed Netflix feature, Wendell & Wild. The film features the voices of Jordan Peele, Angela Bassett and Keegan-Michael Key, and will be followed by an in-person Q&A with BAFTA-winning director, Henry Selick.
“I’m delighted my new film Wendell & Wild — co-written and produced with Jordan Peele — will have its U.S. premiere at Animation Is Film, a festival that celebrates the non-traditional and ground-breaking in animated movies,” said Selick. “Our made-in-the-U.S.A. stop-motion feature is many things: scary, funny, creepy, sad, and empowering, but most of all, it’s very very original so I can’t think of a better place for its U.S. premiere than Animation Is Film. Hope you enjoy the show.”
For the first time in its history, the festival will be expanding to a second weekend. On Saturday, October 29, the festival will close with its awards ceremony, followed by a highly anticipated Special Screening of a film directed by a multi-award-winning director — to be revealed soon. Recipients of awards will be winners of Competition Jury and Audience prizes for Best features and shorts. AIF will also bestow a Special Prize in recognition of the career of Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, producer of Wendell & Wild and Founder/CEO of The Gotham Group, for her impact on the animation industry.
ONI: Thunder God’s Tale
This year, AIF continues to recognize and acknowledge the importance of animation by curating successful and critically-acclaimed films around the world. The festival will host three World Premieres — Titina, Gold Kingdom & Water Kingdom and the theatrical premiere of all four chapters of Tonko House’s ONI: Thunder God’s Tale. Additionally, it will bring back special sections including the popular shorts showcase presented in partnership with Annecy and Women In Animation that highlights the best of female directed animated films as well as a special student shorts showcase.
“Animation continues to redefine the scope of what cinema is capable of offering. With this, our fifth iteration, we submit to you a list of not only some of the most essential animated films of the year, but the most essential films period. The world has changed in the last five years, but the festival’s mission has not: Animation is film, and we are proud to continue screaming it from every rooftop,” asserts Matt Kaszanek, Director of AIF.
Marcel Jean, Artistic Director of the Annecy Festival, comments, “As one of the festival’s co-founders, Annecy is proud to support the fifth edition of Animation Is Film. Every year, this event brings an exceptional lineup of features and short films to the Los Angeles audience. Many of the films were screened in Annecy last June, including Le Petit Nicolas [Little Nicholas – Happy as Can Be], which was awarded with the Cristal du long métrage Award for feature film. It is the ideal time in film, to take the pulse of the state of the animation nation.”
AIF will also present “Work-In-Progress” features with sneak peeks at Disney’s Strange World and DreamWorks Animation’s Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. AIF will present special screenings of the Apple Original Films and Skydance Animation’s Luck, Pixar’s Turning Red, as well as GKIDS’ Summer Ghost.
AIF partnered up with multiple industry organizations to present this year’s festival: 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, 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.
Little Nicholas – Happy as Can Be
2022 Animation Is Film Slate
OPENING NIGHT Wendell & Wild (U.S.A. / U.S.A. Premiere)
Two scheming demons (Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele) strike a deal with a punk rock-loving teen so they can leave the Underworld and live out their dreams in the Land of the Living. A Netflix release.
Director Henry Selick attending
COMPETITION LINE-UP
Gold Kingdom & Water Kingdom (Japan / World Premiere) Kotono Watanabe’s feature debut tells the story of two warring kingdoms who have constructed a literal wall between them — and a promise to re-unite a century hence with the marriage of two of their citizens. 100 years later, when the designated bride and groom find each other, through unexpected means, they take fate into their own hands and redefine the Kingdoms’ (and their own) expectations.
Titina – (Norway, Belgium / World Premiere)
Italian airship engineer, Umberto Nobile, enjoys a quiet life with his beloved dog Titina, who charmed him into rescuing her from the streets of Rome. One day, Norwegian explorer superstar Roald Amundsen contacts him and orders an airship to conquer The North Pole. Nobile seizes the opportunity to go down in history. He brings Titina along, and the unlikely trio sets out on an expedition to the last undiscovered place on Earth. Their quest is successful but, in the aftermath, the two men start to quarrel over the glory … Through the eyes of the four-legged celebrity Titina, (re)discover a true story of triumph and defeat.
Director Kajsa Næss attending
Aurora’s Sunrise (Armenia, Germany, Lithuania / North American Premiere)
A teenage girl goes from genocide survivor to Hollywood star. Losing her family, escaping slavery, enduring trauma and Hollywood greed, Aurora travels a very long way to tell the world about her people’s tragedy. Her courage long forgotten, Aurora’s odyssey is revived through this unique testimony, archive footage, and the magic of animation.
Director Inna Sahakyan attending
My Father’s Dragon (Ireland, France / North American premiere)
The newest film from Oscar-nominated Nora Twomey and Cartoon Saloon, based on the Newbery-winning children’s book, this animated film follows a young boy who runs away to an island to rescue and befriend a young dragon. A Netflix release.
Director Nora Twomey attending
My Father’s Dragon
Little Nicholas (France, Luxembourg / U.S. Premiere)
Winner of the Cristal Award at Annecy, this animated adaptation of the beloved children’s series by René Goscinny and Jean-Jacques Sempé, this magical film follows the adventures of a mischievous boy and his schoolmates, teacher, and parents in Paris in the 1960s.
Oink (Netherlands, Belgium / West Coast premiere)
When nine-year-old Babs receives a pig named Oink as a present from her grandfather, she convinces her parents to keep it under the condition that Oink follows a puppy training. But her parents are not the biggest threat to Oink because actually her grandfather is secretly taking part in the sausage competition organized by The Society for Meat Products from Fresh Pigs
Director Mascha Halberstad attending
Perlimps (Brazil / West Coast premiere)
The newest film from Academy Award nominated Alê Abreu. Claé and Bruô, secret agents from enemy Kingdoms of the Sun and the Moon, must overcome their differences and combine forces to find the Perlimps and infiltrate into a world controlled by Giants where war is imminent. Presented in collaboration with the Latino Film Institute, LALIFF, and LatinX in Animation.
Director Alê Abreu attending
Unicorn Wars (Spain, France / West Coast premiere)
In Unicorn Wars, filmmaker Alberto Vázquez resorts to animated fantasy to ponder over the origin of evil. Two brothers — Azulín and Gordi — along with a group of new recruits without experience, are sent on a dangerous mission to save the Magic Forest from the unicorns that represent a threat for the security of their people. Will the little bears be up to the challenge? Presented in collaboration with the Latino Film Institute, LALIFF, and LatinX in Animation.
Director Alberto Vázquez attending
Unicorn Wars
Special Events & Studio Screenings
Luck (Apple Original Films & Skydance Animation)
The story of Sam Greenfield, the unluckiest person in the world! Suddenly finding herself in the never-before-seen Land of Luck, she must unite with the magical creatures there to turn her luck around. An Apple Original Films release.
Director Peggy Holmes attending
New Gods: Yang Jian (GKIDS)
As Yang Jian confronts the actions of his past, he must face a host of dangerous vigilantes seeking the same treasure with the power to alter the balance of their worlds. This latest entry in the New Gods universe from Light Chaser Animation (White Snake, New Gods: Nezha Reborn) features awe-inspiring action sequences set against breathtaking and wildly imaginative environments. Combining ancient lore with dazzling animation, New Gods: Yang Jian is a timeless adventure of epic proportions featuring one of China’s legendary mythic figures.
ONI: Thunder God’s Tale (Tonko House / Netflix Anime)
In a world filled with Japanese mythological oddball gods and monsters, one of the creatures’ 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”? Presented by CAPE and Gold House.
Dice Tsutsumi (Director/Creator), Sara K. Sampson (Producer), Robert Kondo (Executive Producer/Production Designer) and Kane Lee (Executive Producer) attending
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
WORK IN PROGRESS: Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (DreamWorks Animation): Director Joel Crawford takes us on a visual tour of the upcoming release, featuring never-before-seen footage and commentary.
WORK IN PROGRESS: Strange World(Walt Disney): The filmmakers, via new footage previously unseen, chart a course with the legendary Clade family to provide a sneak peak into Walt Disney Animation’s 61st feature film.
Summer Ghost (GKIDS)
A local urban legend claims that lighting fireworks at an abandoned airfield will call the “summer ghost,” a spirit that can answer any question. Three troubled teenagers — Tomoya, Aoi, and Ryo — do not know each other yet, but each has their own reasons to show up one day. When a sparkler is lit, a ghost named Ayane appears, and she reveals she is only visible to those “who are about to touch their death.” The three teens return home, but Tomoya soon begins visiting the airfield alone, as he becomes obsessed with the mystery surrounding Ayane and the true purpose of her visits. A GKIDS release.
Director loundraw attending
Turning Red (Pixar)
Young actress Rosalie Chiang lends her voice to Mei Lee, a 13-year old who suddenly “poofs” into a giant red panda when she gets too excited (which is practically ALWAYS). Sandra Oh voices Mei Lee’s protective, if not slightly overbearing mother, Ming, who is never far from her daughter — an unfortunate reality for the teenager. A Pixar release.
Director Domee Shi and producer Lindsey Collins attending.
Turning Red
Shorts Presentations
Shorts #1 – A collection of short animated films from around the world, curated by a prestigious panel of programmers. Free to the public.
Shorts #2: Student Showcase – A vibrant and diverse collection of student short films from some of the most highly regarded animation schools in the country. Free to the public.
Shorts #3 – Returning for its fourth straight year, this jewel of the Animation Is Film program highlights a collection of female-directed short films. Programmed in partnership with the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and Women in Animation.
AIF Online Panels
These panels will be posted during the festival.
Designing Storytelling
Storytelling is the expressive foundation that has evolved with and transcended artforms for millennia. In a discussion featuring a variety of artists within the broader media and gaming worlds we explore how design affects the storytelling (and vice-versa) within video games. With a specific focus on 2D and independent production, the conversation will explore how individual artists use their skills to enhance and affect the story and gameplay within this unique form of animated storytelling.
(Almost) On Their Own
Making an animated feature film is akin to scaling a mountain, it’s a painstaking, long and difficult process, even with a large crew and all the necessary tools. Attempting to create an animated feature with a skeleton crew and a shoestring, independent budget feels like an impossible task and yet a few filmmakers are doing just that with fantastic results. Any type of independent filmmaking requires grit, determination and creative resilience, but what are the unique challenges (or freedoms) that animation brings to the process? This panel of filmmakers who have all successfully produced a feature (or, shockingly, more than one!) discuss the nuances, horror stories and surprisingly delights that came from making the film (almost) all on their own.
Batwheels will officially zoom onto television screens beginning Monday, October 17. The first seven episodes will premiere on Cartoon Network’s Cartoonito preschool block at 9 a.m., before streaming the following day on (Oct. 18) on the Cartoonito hub on HBO Max. A new series trailer was also revealed.
Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, Batwheels marks DC’s first-ever Batman preschool series, offering young viewers a high-speed, vibrant CGI-animated iteration of the Caped Crusader.
Throughout the series, little ones and their families will ride along with an amazing team of super-vehicles — Bam (the Batmobile), Bibi (the Batgirl Cycle), Redbird (Robin’s racecar), Buff (the Bat-Truck) and Batwing (the Bat-plane) — as they help Batman, Batgirl, and Robin keep the streets of Gotham City safe. Whether it’s facing down the Legion of Zoom or one of Gotham City’s notorious Super-Villains, the Batwheels will use their incredible gadgets and creative teamwork to save the day.
Underneath the superhero adventures, Batwheels will teach children about what it means to be a hero through its “Hero” curriculum, which aligns with Cartoonito’s Humancentric Learning framework that encourages kids to become the best version of themselves. Every Batwheels episode will demonstrate a different character strength — self-awareness, concern for others, perseverance and courage, among others — in overcoming personal and interpersonal challenges and will model how heroes contribute to the greater good.
Batwheels will also showcase the value of friendship and teamwork and illuminate the rewards of these skillsets. Moreover, the series will teach children that while each vehicle has super abilities, the more important capacities that fuel their heroism are rooted in their intrinsic character strengths, knowing how to be a good friend and ability to work as a team.
Parents can learn more about the Batwheels hero curriculum and access resources to help extend the learning offscreen by visiting the Cartoonito Parent website.
As previously announced, the voice cast includes Ethan Hawke (Bruce Wayne/Batman), AJ Hudson (Duke Thomas/Robin), Leah Lewis (Cassandra Cain/Batgirl), Jacob Bertrand (Bam), Jordan Reed (Redbird), Madigan Kacmar (Bibi), Noah Bentley (Buff), Lilimar (Batwing), Kimberly D. Brooks (The Batcomputer), Mick Wingert (Moe), Xolo Maridueña (Snowy), Griffin Burns (Prank), Alexandra Novelle (Jetstah), Josey Montana McCoy (Quizz), Ariyan Kassam (Ducky), SungWon Cho (Badcomputer), Tom Kenny (Crash), Gina Rodriguez (Catwoman), SungWon Cho (The Riddler), Mick Wingert (The Joker), Chandni Parekh (Harley Quinn), Jess Harnell (The Penguin), Regi Davis (Mr. Freeze) and James Arnold Taylor (Toyman).
Sam Register (Looney Tunes Cartoons) serves as executive producer. Michael G. Stern (Doc McStuffins) serves as co-executive producer, Simon J. Smith (Penguins of Madagascar) is supervising producer and Steven Fink of Bang Zoom Ltd. is the producer. Based on characters from DC, Batwheels is produced by Warner Bros. Animation. Animation services provided by Superprod Studio.
You can read more about Batwheels in the November ’22 issue of Animation Magazine (No. 324), available soon.
Following recently announced acquisitions of sci-fi rom-com Love Flops and isekai adaptation The Eminence in Shadow, AMC Network’s anime outlet HIDIVE, has announced three additional titles that will be available to fans soon: Management of a Novice Alchemist, My Master Has No Tail and Encouragement of Climb: Next Summit.
Premiering this fall, HIDIVE picked up exclusive rights to Management of a Novice Alchemist, the heartfelt fantasy anime series based on the light novel of the same name by Mizuho Itsuki.
Management of a Novice Alchemist
Synopsis: Orphaned Sarasa just graduated from the Royal Alchemist Academy, and that means her longed-for life of elegance and riches is close at hand! As a graduation gift, her teacher gifts her a house to set up shop — but Sarasa’s dilapidated new digs are beyond far-flung. What’s a novice alchemist to do when they’re stuck in the middle of nowhere with a business to run and supplies to gather from a very dangerous natural world?
Whether it’s facing down frightening fantasy creatures or finding creative ways to attract customers, Sarasa has her work cut out for her as she achieves her dream of becoming the greatest alchemist around!
The series stars Kanon Takao (Yuri in Encouragement of Climb Season 3) as Sarasa Feed, Hina Kino (Kaede Kurushima in Steins;Gate 0) as Lorea, Saori Ōnishi (Aiz Wallenstein inIs It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?) as Iris Lotze and Nanaka Suwa (Yui in BOFURI: I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, so I’ll Max Out My Defense.) as Kate Starven.
Animated by Studio ENGI (A Certain Scientific Railgun T), the series is directed Hiroshi Ikehata (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood) with composition by Shigeru Murakoshi (I’m Quitting Heroing, Zombie Land Saga). Yosuke Ito (The Detective Is Already Dead; key animation, Pokémon XY) provides character design and serves as chief animation director.
HIDIVE also acquired exclusive rights to My Master Has No Tail, the anime adaptation of the manga serialized in Kodansha’s good! Afternoon magazine, for a fall premiere.
Synopsis: Throughout time, supernatural, shapeshifting tanuki loved playing tricks on humankind. One plucky tanuki, Mameda, is no different. But there’s one big problem. She wasn’t born in the days of yore — she was born in modern, more cynical times! How can she fulfill her mischievous tanuki destiny when supernatural hijinks are a thing of the past?
She finds an angle when she meets Bunko, a master of the Japanese art of rakugo, which uses storytelling to beguile its audience. Mameda is determined to use rakugo to cast a spell on humanity, but first this tanuki trickster must convince the no-nonsense Bunko to take her on as an apprentice.
This has been brought to life by animation studio LIDENFILMS (Call of the Night). It is directed by Hideyo Yamamoto (Cells at Work Code Black) with series composition from Touko Machida (Lucky Star). The series stars Hibiku Yamamura (Nanami Kuon in Ya Boy Kongming!) as Bunko and M.A.O (Yukari in Teasing Master Takagi-san) as Mameda.
And last but not least, HIDIVE’s exclusive rights acquisitions for fall announced today are rounded out by Encouragement of Climb: Next Summit, a new adaptation of the mountaineering manga of the same name in Comic Earth Star magazine.
Synopsis: Aoi Yukimura’s fear of heights won’t hold her back in the next adaptation of Encouragement of Climb! Joined by fellow mountaineering enthusiasts, including the spirited Hinata Kuraue and the other climbers they’ve met on their journey to great heights, Aoi and friends tackle tough challenges and conquer new summits while they embark on adventures throughout the mountain ranges of Japan.
Fans new to the franchise will get to know the world of Encouragement of Climb via a selection of compilation episodes that reintroduce fan-favorite characters and beloved moments from the series. Later episodes contain all-new stories that continue the tale of Aoi and her ambition to overcome her fears and achieve her dreams.
Staff and cast from past adaptations of this charming series have reprised their roles, including studio 8bit (That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime) and diretor Yusuke Yamamoto (Welcome to the N.H.K.). Yusuke Matsuo (The IDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls) provides character design.
The series stars Yuka Iguchi (Mako Reizei in Girls und Panzer) as Aoi Yukimura, Kana Asumi (Komari Koshigaya in Non Non Biyori) as Hinata Karaue, Yoko Hikasa (Mio Akiyama in K-ON!) as Kaede Saito, Yui Ogura (Kokoro in The Great Jahy Will Not Be Defeated!) as Kokona Aoba, Nao Toyama (Rin Shima in Laid-Back Camp) as Honoka Kurosaki and Emiri Iwai (Mei-Mei Xiang in Sword Art Online: Alicization – War of Underworld Part 2) as Koharu.
Future home releases of all three series will be distributed by and available from Sentai.
Canadian children’s entertainment outfit Guru Studio has acquired global distribution rights for seasons 1 and 2 of 123 Number Squad!, the animated adventure series from Omens Studios.
The 104 x 11′ CG preschool series was commissioned by Singapore’s Mediacorp and both seasons were prebought by Sky Kids and NOW in the U.K. for launch early 2023.
123 Number Squad!follows Paula, Billy and Tim, a fast response rescue team that uses numbers, counting and shapes to help the citizens of 123 Numberville. Aimed at children 3-6 years old, the series also explores key social and emotional development themes like sharing, resilience, teamwork and friendship.
The series is executive produced by Sally Merchant (Peppa Pig, Thomas and Friends) with Sacha Goedegebure as showrunner.
“123 Number Squad! is a perfect addition to our preschool slate,” said Corey Caplan, Senior Director of International Sales at Guru Studio. “The team at Omens have done a masterful job creating a world that both entertains and educates kids, and we’re excited to bring these fun adventures to even more families around the world.”
Chi Sim Tang, CEO of Omens Studios, adds, “Guru is the ideal distribution partner for 123 Number Squad!. Their track record in building preschool brands speaks for itself and we are excited to see the roll out of our show globally following its launch on Mediacorp in Singapore and Sky TV and NOW in the U.K.”
In addition to worldwide broadcast rights, Guru Studio is also representing 123 Number Squad! across all global licensing and merchandising.
Along with 123 Number Squad!, Guru Studio is bringing a growing roster of its own originals to MIPCOM, including Scoops, a new educational comedy in development with the support of TIME Studios’ Kids & Family division, as well as Big Blue, Pikwik Pack and the preschool hit True and the Rainbow Kingdom.
FOX and Blockchain Creative Labs announced today that the polls will officially open for Krapopolis NFT holders to vote on episodic elements within the highly-anticipated animated series from Emmy Award-winner Dan Harmon (co-creator Rick and Morty).
Holders of the Krap Chicken NFTs (described as “the ultimate Krapopolis fan pass”) will vote to decide which sailor succumbs to the wrath of a kraken in a special Thanksgiving weekend sneak peek of the comedy on November 27 on FOX.
The 24-hour voting period opens at 9 a.m. PT tomorrow (Thursday, September 22) at krapopolis.com.
Set in mythical ancient Greece, Krapopolis centers on a flawed family of humans, gods and monsters that tries to run one of the world’s first cities without killing each other. The series features voice actors Richard Ayoade (The IT Crowd), Emmy-winner Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso), Matt Berry (What We Do in the Shadows), Pam Murphy (Get Shorty) and Duncan Trussell (The Midnight Gospel).
From Bento Box Entertainment, Krapopolis is billed as network television’s first animated series to be curated on the blockchain. The series will premiere in May 2023 on FOX.
The inaugural Krapopolis NFT collection features 10,420 Krap Chickens — uniquely generated pieces of art, produced and illustrated by the artists who created the show. As the series unfolds, Krap Chicken collectors will see elements of their NFT on television and use it to access token-gated content, exclusive show voting rights, private discord channels and meet-and-greets with the cast and crew.
GKIDS announced today it will bring the highly anticipated fourth and final installment of the new theatrical “Rebuild” editions of the Evangelion franchise, to theaters nationwide. GKIDS, in partnership with Fathom Events, will hold event screenings of the highly anticipated finale on December 6, 8 and 11 only.
Synopsis: From legendary director Hideaki Anno, Evangelion:3.0+1.01 Thrice Upon a Time is the fourth and final installment of the “Rebuild of Evangelion” films, bringing an epic conclusion to the story of Shinji and his fellow Eva pilots, with the stunning visuals and thought-provoking storytelling that has made Evangelion a global pop culture phenomenon
Misato and her anti-NERV group Wille arrive at Paris, a city now red from core-ization. Crew from the flagship Wunder land on a containment tower. They only have 720 seconds to restore the city. When a horde of NERV Evas appear, Mari’s improved Eva Unit 8 must intercept. Meanwhile, Shinji, Asuka, and Rei (Provisional Name) wander about Japan.
Evangelion:3.0+1.01 Thrice Upon a Time was released in Japanese theaters in 2021, where it was a critical and box office success, becoming the highest-grossing film of the year with ¥10.28 billion (~$85 million) in local box office. The release marks the first time the film will be available in theaters in North America since its domestic release in Japan.
Created by Hideaki Anno, the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise is considered one of the most influential animated sagas of all time. Since the 1995 premiere of the original television series, the story of teenager Shinji Ikari has remained one of the most iconic titles in animation history, and a global pop culture phenomenon.
Following the conclusion of the beloved 1995 television show, the legendary project received new life as the Evangelion movie series. The theatrical film series began with Evangelion:1.11 You Are (Not) Alone (2007), followed by Evangelion:2.22 You Can (Not) Advance (2009), Evangelion:3.33 You Can (Not) Redo(2012), and culminating in the finale Evangelion:3.0+1.01 Thrice Upon a Time.
Last year, GKIDS released the original 26-episode television series, Neon Genesis Evangelion, as well as the films Evangelion:Death (True)2and The End of Evangelion on Blu-ray and digital download-to-own for the first time in North America. GKIDS also handles North American distribution for Anno’s prior series, NADIA: The Secret of Blue Water.
Apple TV+ today released the trailer for the second season of animated epic Wolfboy and the Everything Factory,premiering globally on Friday, September 30.
Season 2 takes Wolfboy (voiced by Kassian Akhtar) to a new realm underneath the Everything Factory, where Nyx attempts to lure him to the dark side. With his Spryte friends and new allies, Wolfboy engages in a quest to unite the forces of creation and destruction, and realizes that being different is what makes him special — and ultimately, it’s the oddballs and dreamers who change the world.
In addition to Akhtar as Wolfboy, the series is voiced by Critics’ Choice Award nominee Archie Yates (Jojo Rabbit), who portrays Sprout, Lilly Williams as Xandra, Cristina Milizia (DC Super Hero Girls) as Floof, Abigail Estrella (Alice’s Wonderland Bakery) as Seth and Emmy Award winner Joseph Gordon-Levitt voicing Professor Luxcraft. The series is peppered with a number of special performances, including Juno Temple (Ted Lasso) as Nyx.
Wolfboy and the Everything Factory is inspired by the work of visual artist Toff Mazery, co-created with Emmy Award winner Edward Jesse (HITRECORD’s Create Together), developed by Emmy winner Michael Ryan (All Hail King Julien, Kung Fu Panda), and executive produced by Gordon-Levitt (Mr. Corman), HITRECORD and FOX Entertainment’s Bento Box Entertainment.
The award-winning slate of original animated series and film for kids and families on Apple TV+ includes El Deafo, Duck & Goose. All-ages offerings also include Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock and Harriet the Spy from The Jim Henson Company, the Peabody Award-winning series Stillwater, Helpsters from Sesame Workshop, Academy Award-nominated animated film Wolfwalkers, new series and specials from Peanuts and WildBrain including The Snoopy Show, Daytime Emmy Award-winning television event Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth and the upcoming mission-driven hybrid series Jane, from J.J. Johnson, Sinking Ship Entertainment and the Jane Goodall Institute.
