A multitalented lineup of guests and recurring stars are lending their voices to Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, the highly anticipated series from Disney Branded Television, which centers on 13-year-old super-genius Lunella Lafayette and her 10-ton T-Rex, Devil Dinosaur.
Slated to premiere in 2023 on Disney Channel and Disney+, the stellar guest cast includes Alison Brie (GLOW), Andy Cohen (Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen), Daveed Diggs (Broadway’s Hamilton), Maya Hawke (Stranger Things), Jennifer Hudson (Respect), Cliff “Method Man” Smith (Power Book II: Ghost), Cobie Smulders (How I Met Your Mother) and Wesley Snipes (Blade trilogy).
Recurring stars include Omid Abtahi (The Mandalorian), Utkarsh Ambudkar (Ghosts), Michael Cimino (Love, Victor), Indya Moore (Pose) and Craig Robinson (The Office).
Additional guest cast for the series includes Gideon Adlon (Pacific Rim: The Black), Pamela Adlon (Better Things), Anna Akana (Youth & Consequences), Ian Alexander (The OA), May Calamawy (Moon Knight), Wilson Cruz (Star Trek: Discovery), Asia Kate Dillon (Billions), Luis Guzmán (How to Make It in America), astronaut Dr. Mae Jemison, Josh Keaton (Marvel’s Spider-Man), June Diane Raphael (Grace and Frankie), Paul Scheer (The League) and Tajinae Turner (Meet the Voxels).
The news, a first-look clip and exclusive artwork was revealed today during a Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur panel at San Diego Comic-Con, featuring the series cast and creative team.
As previously announced, Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur stars Diamond White as Lunella (a.k.a. Moon Girl); Alfre Woodard as Lunella’s grandmother, Mimi; Libe Barer as Lunella’s best friend and manager, Casey; Sasheer Zamata as Lunella’s mom, Adria; Jermaine Fowler as Lunella’s dad, James Jr.; Gary Anthony Williams as Lunella’s grandfather, Pops; and series executive producer Laurence Fishburne in the recurring role of The Beyonder, a curious and mischievous trickster.
Produced by Disney Television Animation, the series is executive produced by Fishburne and Helen Sugland’s Cinema Gypsy Productions (black-ish, mixed-ish, grown-ish) and Steve Loter (Kim Possible). Rodney Clouden (Futurama) is supervising producer, Kate Kondell (The Pirate Fairy) and Jeffrey M. Howard (Planes) are co-producers and story editors, and Pilar Flynn (Elena of Avalor) is producer.
Today at Comic-Con International in San Diego, Nickelodeon and Paramount+ revealed a teaser for the second season of the reimagined animated series Rugrats, following the iconic babies as they explore the world and beyond from their pint-sized and wildly imaginative point-of-view. During an exclusive panel, the renewal news for a 13-epiosde season three and pickup for 13 additional season two episodes was also announced. Season 2 is coming in 2023 to Paramount+.
Moderated by Jim Viscardi (Executive Editor, Comicbook.com), the panel brought together the iconic voice talent behind the adventurous babies —EG Daily (Tommy), Cheryl Chase (Angelica), Charlet Chung(Kimi) — and executive producer Eryk Casemiro,andfeatured a discussion on rebooting the iconic series for a modern audience and an exclusive look at behind-the-scenes art from Season 2.
In the second season of Rugrats, the babies are back and ready to take on the world with their pint-sized perspectives and a diapie full of snacks. New episodes follow Tommy, Chuckie, Angelica, Susie, Phil and Lil as they cross the frozen tundra, discover the treasures of ancient babies and journey to the other side of the Moon, while spending more time with friends, including Kimi and her mom Kira, Begley, Boris and Minka, Gabi, Tia Esperanza and more!
https://youtu.be/sVir0Yfyofg
Paramount+’s all-new Rugrats series reimagines the classic ‘90s hit and features rich and colorful CG-animation. From Nickelodeon Animation, the series follows the babies as they explore the world and beyond from their pint-sized and wildly imaginative point-of-view. Season 1 is currently airing on Nickelodeon and is available to stream on Paramount+.
The original Rugrats series launched August 11, 1991, and instantly became a groundbreaking phenomenon, spawning consumer products and three hit theatrical releases, cementing its place in pop culture history through its iconic characters, storytelling, and unique visual style. Rugrats was in production for nine seasons over the course of 13 years. The series earned four Daytime Emmy Awards, six Kids’ Choice Awardsand its own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
All the hot toon premieres coming to Disney’s television and streaming outlets this month…
In addition to the debut of She Hulk: Attorney at Law, Marvel fans will want to click over to Disney+ this month to catch the debut of I Am Groot, starring the voice of Vin Diesel and directed by Marcel the Shell with Shoes On animation director Kristen Lepore. Plus, the Force is strong as we get not only the new Star Wars series Andor, but a sizzlin’ new LEGO Star Wars special for the season! August animation highlights on the streamer include:
New library titles: The Lion King(2019) (Sing-Along Version), The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride (Sing-Along Version)
LEGO Star Wars Summer Vacation — Disney+ Original Premiere — Finn has arranged a surprise vacation for his friends aboard the Galactic Starcruiser, The Halcyon! But Finn’s plan quickly goes awry when he’s separated from the group. Alone on board the Halcyon, Finn encounters three Force Spirits — Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker and Princess Leia, who each share their own unexpected stories of vacations gone wrong.
Wednesday, Aug. 10
New library titles: Bluey (S3, 25 episodes)
I Am Groot— Disney+ Original Premiere; All 5 Shorts Streaming — There’s no guarding the galaxy from this mischievous toddler! So get ready as Baby Groot takes center stage in his very own collection of shorts, exploring his glory days growing up — and getting into trouble — among the stars. I Am Groot, five original shorts featuring several new and unusual characters, stars everyone’s favorite little tree, Baby Groot, voiced by Vin Diesel who voices Groot in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise.
Wednesday, Aug. 17
New library titles: Spidey and His Amazing Friends (S2)
Friday, Aug. 19
New library titles: Beauty and the Beast (1991) (Sing-Along Version), Beauty and the Beast (2017) (Sing-Along Version), Tangled (Sing-Along Version)
Wednesday, Aug. 24
New library titles: Chibi Tiny Tales (Shorts) (S2)
Friday, Aug. 26
New library titles: Doc McStuffins: The Doc Is 10!
Trolls: TrollsTopia (courtesy of DreamWorks)
Meanwhile on Hulu, fans can catch new seasons of their favorite DreamWorks Animation series as well as the streaming launch of FXX’s new original adult animated comedy, Little Demon. Coming to Hulu in August:
Thursday, Aug. 11
Trolls: TrollsTopia —Complete 7th and Final Season Premiere (Hulu Original) — In TrollsTopia anything is possible with a little teamwork, glitter and a lot of FUN! When Val’s vacation doesn’t go to plan and R&B’s pancake breakfast falls flat, Poppy and the Trolls get creative. And when Cloud Guy is accepted to Cloud College he embarks on a hunt to find a replacement to annoy Branch in his absence. But does one even exist?!
Thursday, Aug. 18
Dragons: The Nine Realms— Complete Season 3 (Hulu Original) — The discovery of the Fire Realm poses a challenge as the Dragon Riders struggle to traverse it safely. Meanwhile, the unhinged Buzzsaw is on the lookout for a mysterious “Lightning Bird” making it harder to keep dragons a secret. Tom, Jun, D’Angelo and Alex face off against the most powerful dragon they’ve ever encountered in a high-stakes mission to save the Crystal Realm. And much to everyone’s chagrin, Jun’s pesky, nosey brother is coming uncomfortably close to learning what actually happens in Dragon Club.
Friday, Aug. 26
FX’s Little Demon — Season 1 Premiere — Thirteen years after being impregnated by Satan (Danny DeVito), a reluctant mother, Laura (Aubrey Plaza), and her Antichrist daughter, Chrissy (Lucy DeVito), attempt to live an ordinary life in Delaware, but are constantly thwarted by monstrous forces, including Satan, who yearns for custody of his daughter’s soul.
With Eugene Cordero recurring as Chrissy’s best friend Bennigan, Lennon Parham recurring as Laura’s neighbor Darlene and Michael Shannon recurring as the Unshaven Man. Season one also features the voices of guest stars Mel Brooks, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Will Jackson Harper, Pamela Adlon, Rhea Perlman, Shangela, Patrick Wilson, Dave Bautista, June Diane Raphael, Toks Olagundoye, Lamorne Morris and Sam Richardson.
Wednesday, Aug. 31
The Croods: Family Tree — Complete Season 4 Premiere (Hulu Original) — Excluded from the adults-only cave, the kids create a much cooler kid-cave tempting the adults to switch. A freak lightning storm turns Thunk into a genius while Ugga arranges a “Punch Summit” for peaceful co-existence with the punch monkeys. When a meteor is found to be hurtling towards the farm, The Bettermans and Croods decide how to spend what could possibly be their last day on earth. With endless fun, misadventures and heartwarming moments prehistory’s favorite families return with all new episodes!
This month on Disney TV channels, fans of Phineas and Ferb as well as today’s generation of viewers will get to check out Dan Povenmire’s new series, Hamster & Gretel, premiering Friday, August 12 on Disney Channel. Plus, Eureka! brings more “thinkering” fun to Disney Junior, Spidey and His Amazing Friends swings back into action and Mickey Mouse Funhouse opens the doors to special adventures with guest stars like John Stamos, Amanda Seales and two of the original Hercules muses!
Friday, Aug. 5
7:30-8:00 p.m. EDT (Disney Junior ) Eureka! “The Great Wafflefruit Race” – Eureka and her classmates compete to scale a tree to taste the rare wafflefruit on top. Judah Howery (Uncle Drew) guest stars as twins Spruce and Cypress Stoneland. “Camped Out” – Everyone except Eureka gets homesick on their first overnight camping trip.
Friday, Aug. 12
8:00-8:30 a.m. EDT (Disney Channel) / 12:00-12:30 p.m. EDT (Disney Junior) – Special Premiere – Mickey Mouse Funhouse “Rain, Rain, Go Away” – Mickey, Minnie and friends travel to Cloud Kingdom to see if Willie the Giant knows why it hasn’t rained, only to discover he has been using all the rain for his garden. Amanda Seales (Insecure) guest stars as Annie the Giant. “Donald’s Razzle Dazzle Deal!” – On Razzle Dazzle Day, Donald makes a wish to win all the games and prizes.
7:30-8:00 p.m. EDT (Disney Junior) Eureka! “Project Bog” – Eureka and Bog get paired up for a class project. “Really Giant Slalom” – When Murphy feels left out during a ski day, Eureka figures out a way everyone gets to take part in the fun.
9:35-10:00 p.m. EDT (Disney Channel) / 10:00-10:30 p.m. EDT (Disney XD) – Series Premiere –Hamster & Gretel “Empower Failure” – Hamster and Gretel get superpowers from aliens while Kevin grapples with being “superhero adjacent.” “Oakey Dokey” – Kevin and Gretel disagree over how to stop a meteor.
Saturday, Aug. 13
9:30-10:00 a.m. EDT (Disney Channel) Hamster & Gretel “Recipe for Disaster” – Kevin and Gretel have to rescue Family Dinner Night. “Math Punch” – Gretel faces off against a lightning-powered cowboy as Dave struggles to get Carolina the perfect anniversary gift.
John Stamos voices Cap’n Satly Bones in Mickey Mouse Funhouse (Disney)
Friday, Aug. 19
8:00-8:30 a.m. EDT (Disney Channel/Disney Junior) – Special Premiere – Mickey Mouse Funhouse “Pirate Adventure” – Legendary pirate Captain Salty Bones invites Mickey, Minnie and friends to join the biggest treasure hunt ever to see if they can become true pirates. John Stamos (Big Shot) guest stars as Captain Salty Bones.
8:30-9:00 a.m. EDT (Disney Channel/Disney Junior) Marvel’s Spidey and His Amazing Friends “Electro’s Gotta Glow” – Team Spidey must use their new glow tech to stop Electro from draining all the power in the city. “Black Cat Chaos” – Spidey and Iron Man work together to stop Black Cat from making a mess of things when she steals Iron Man’s Armor. John Stamos (Big Shot) guest stars as Iron Man.
11:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. EDT (Disney Junior) Puppy Dog Pals “Paw-rates of the Caribbean” – When Darius spends the weekend with his parents on their research boat, he discovers a torn treasure map. “Bob’s Book Club” – After Bob finishes a mystery book, he learns that the author is in town.
Saturday, Aug. 20
9:30-10:00 a.m. EDT (Disney Channel) Hamster & Gretel “Superhero Sibling Rivalry” – Gretel battles twin villains on her own. “Close Shave” – Gretel’s “hero hunch” gets her into trouble.
Friday, Aug. 26
8:00-8:30 a.m. EDT (Disney Channel) / 12:00-12:30 p.m. EDT (Disney Junior) Mickey Mouse Funhouse “Daisy and the Muses” – The Muses in the Land of Myth teach Daisy that it’s okay not to be good at everything all the time. Roz Ryan and Lillias White (both from Disney’s Hercules) reprise their original roles as muses Thalia and Calliope, respectively. “Keep on the Ball” – Mickey and the gang must help Cuckoo Loca find her missing referee whistle.
7:30-8:00 p.m. EDT (Disney Junior) Eureka! “Dance Dance Evolution” – The Rocky Falls kids learn a new dance for school, and everyone can master the routine except for Pepper! Misty Copeland and Ryan Michelle Bathé guest star as Rockanne and Sierra, respectively. “Barry On” – Barry wants to be like his dad, the town’s “fix-it man.”
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 “Lights Out” – Team Spidey must stop Electro and Green Goblin’s attempt to keep the citizens of New York City awake all night with a super-charged lighthouse. “Sandman Won’t Share” – Team Spidey’s beach day gets interrupted by Sandman’s need to prove he’s the best at building sandcastles.
NPX Capital (npxcap.com), a global alternative investment firm, announced today that its portfolio company, Terapin Studios, has acquired top Korean webtoon platform, Toomics, for $160 million U.S. Terapin Studios was established to be a global media company that leverages a wide range of intellectual property (IP) to evolve and expand the ways in which the world consumes entertainment content.
Founded in 2015, Toomics is a webtoon platform based in Korea with over 60 million total subscribers, a number which has doubled over the past two years. Currently available in nine languages, Toomics has relied on its high quality webtoon-IP and distribution capacity to evolve into one of the fastest growing global webtoon platforms to date, evidenced by its compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 42% from 2018 to 2021.
Samuel Hwang
“Toomics is a leading player that represents Korea’s growth in digital entertainment. The company is not only a platform that connects with tens of millions of viewers, but also a powerhouse of digital content that leverages its own intellectual property and production capabilities,” said Samuel Hwang, Founder & CEO of NPX Capital. “I’m certain that Terapin Studios’s acquisition of Toomics will expedite our journey to establish and further strengthen the comprehensive content platform Terapin is creating.”
This acquisition follows NPX Capital’s December 2021 acquisition of Korean webtoon and digital content production studio, Copin Communications, which was subsequently flipped to and established as Terapin Studios Inc., a U.S. entity.
With state-of-the-art AI-driven production capabilities in addition to Toomics’s robust platform and distribution capacity, Terapin Studios further strengthens its position at the forefront of delivering Korea’s globally recognized digital and entertainment content to the world through its ‘one source multi use’ (OSMU) model. Through this model, Terapin Studios will continue to expand its IP into multiple content verticals while promoting the global growth of webtoons.
Black Knight (Toomics)
Based off of Toomics’s original webtoon IP Black Knight, Netflix recently announced its 2022 premiere of the sci-fi miniseries starring A-list Hallyu actor Kim Woo Bin, reinforcing Terapin Studios’ vision to expand and evolve these universes through various forms of entertainment content.
“This acquisition is especially meaningful as more Korean IP, which have a proven track record of international success, can now enjoy the infrastructure, funding and support at a global level under the platform of Terapin Studios,” added Terapin Studios COO JH Kah.
With its vision to become one of the leaders of global content, Terapin Studios utilizes its intellectual property to develop all forms of media across animation, films, games and merchandise. Supported by funding from international investors, the company aims to take content production to the next level, creating a metaverse in the form of immersive experiences with avatars, social games and the creation of NFTs.
Crunchyroll Expo, the yearly convention from the world’s best home for anime, revealed today the jam-packed schedule for the upcoming event including the premieres of BLUELOCK, TONIKAWA: Over the Moon For You ~Uniform~ and In/Spectre Season 2 alongside the already-announced world premiere of Mob Psycho 100 III.
In addition to the full slate of panels, premieres, meet and greets and concerts at the event, Crunchyroll Expo also announced a series of sponsors including Bullet Train, the upcoming film from Sony Pictures Entertainment, Sony Interactive Entertainment and Red Bull, who will all join the show for the first time this year.
Newly revealed programming also includes:
Bungo Stray Dogs featuring Masahiko Minami and Chiaki Kurakane – Join the president of famed animation studio BONES Masahiko Minami, along with producer Chiaki Kurakane in discussing the latest season of the supernatural action series, Bungo Stray Dogs, and even revealing some upcoming news, giveaways and more for fans!
Chainsaw Man Panel by MAPPA and Crunchyroll – Don’t miss the latest updates and behind the scenes of Chainsaw Man from the production staff at MAPPA!
The Rising of the Shield Hero Round Table (Virtual Panel) – Join the staff of the hit isekai series as they speak to their experiences continuing on the second season of The Rising of the Shield Hero! Join staff members Keigo Koyonagi, Masahiro Suwa and Takeshi Takakura in a round table with voice actress Sarah Emi Bridcutt (voice of Myne) hosting as the MC.
Do It Yourself!! Premiere – Take an early look at the first episode of the sweet slice-of-life series Do It Yourself!! before it comes to Crunchyroll later this year. Do It Yourself!! follows the lives of a group of friends in a DIY club as they work together to carve out their futures.
Fans can see the full schedule for all three days of the event at Crunchyroll Expo’s Meet & Greet section, in addition to learning more about the meet and greet sweepstakes for a chance to meet fan’s favorite voice actors or talent from hololive.
Crunchyroll Expo takes place August 5-7 live at the San Jose Mcenery Convention Center and online. More info at crunchyrollexpo.com.
“Today is an exciting day for Crunchyroll Expo attendees — not only are we sharing our schedule for the weekend, including set times for the New Crunchy City Music Fest, but we’re revealing Bullet Train, Sony Interactive Entertainment and Red Bull as our partners for this year’s event,” said Terry Li, SVPof Emerging Business, Crunchyroll. “Crunchyroll Expo is an experience tailor-made for anime fans and we’re excited to work with our partners to present a convention like only Crunchyroll could deliver.”
In anticipation of Bullet Train blasting into theaters on August 5, Sony Pictures Entertainment is offering a contest onsite to win a poster signed by one of the film’s stars in the Central Shopping District. Starring Brad Pitt, the film is a non-stop thrill-ride through modern-day Japan, directed by David Leitch (Deadpool 2).
Sony Interactive Entertainment will feature various onsite contests and giveaways for attendees to celebrate the recent launch of the all-new PlayStation Plus game subscription service. Statues of characters from popular PlayStation titles will also be onsite for photo opportunities.
Red Bull will bring their state of the art gaming hub to Crunchyroll Expo, inviting students from San Jose State University to play various hit gaming titles live for attendees. Attendees can visit this experience in the Super Arcade District.
Limited exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities at Crunchyroll Expo are still available.
Crunchyroll Expo is the yearly celebration of all things anime, featuring unique panels, exclusive merchandise, and world premieres. This year’s show will both be in-person and online, with select panels available on demand August 5–7, with an additional digital replay available until August 9, 2022.
In person, fans will be transported to New Crunchy City, a bustling anime metropolis featuring four distinct districts: the Central Shopping District featuring over 100 exhibitors, the Arts District home to nearly 150 artists, the Theater District showcasing anime premieres and screenings, and the Super Arcade featuring all day gaming. Access to the New Crunchy City Music Fest featuring SiM, ATARASHII GAKKO! and Burnout Syndromes is included free with tickets to Crunchyroll Expo.
Following reputational and company growth success over the course of more than a decade of operation, Territory Studio (Blade Runner 2049, Ex-Machina, Bond: No Time to Die), founders David Sheldon-Hicks and Nick Glover today announce the formation of Territory Group, a global collective of creative businesses.
With profound technological advances reshaping the media landscape, multiple creative disciplines are converging to produce interactive experiences that are increasingly screenless. Territory Group has been built to adapt to this transition, drawing from a global source of artists and studios on the cutting edge of these technological changes. This includes the explosion of interactive experiences, such as AR and holographic technology.
Joining Territory Studio into the newly-formed Territory Group is design and visual effects studio Cantina Creative (Avengers: Endgame, Iron Man 2). The first external group acquisition, Cantina Creative adds Los Angeles and Vancouver bases to existing Territory Group studio locations in San Francisco, Barcelona and the United Kingdom.
“Acquiring studios like Cantina Creative into Territory Group helps unlock the studio’s growth potential. It’s very exciting for Territory Studio and Cantina Creative as they are incorporated into the group, and this is just the start,” notes Sheldon-Hicks. “As a group, we are built for scale and for success, we have an ambitious roadmap laid out for the years ahead. In the real, the virtual and the imagined world, our interactions with content and experiences are rapidly evolving, enabled by advancing technology and the new frontiers of media.”
As part of Territory Group, Cantina Creative will continue to operate autonomously, retaining its established and respected brand, while benefiting from new opportunities, shared business services and other tools that can unlock Cantina Collective’s growth potential.
“Cantina Creative is very excited to be the first external studio to join Territory Group. We have always been interested in expanding our technical and creative abilities and we recognize that the next chapter for us as a business requires scalability and infrastructure that the Group can provide,” says Sean Cushing, Co-Owner and Executive Producer, Cantina Creative.
Following the announcement of Netflix‘s acquisition of Australian animation & VFX house Animal Logicyesterday, the streamer has made moves to streamline the executive structure of its feature animation division, Deadline reports.
Karen Toliver is being promoted to the leader of the Animation Film team. The industry vet joined Netflix as VP of Animation Film from Sony Pictures Animation in February, and previously worked for both Blue Sky and Disney Animation. She is also the producer of the Oscar-winning short Hair Love.
Melissa Cobb
Melissa Cobb is stepping down from her role as VP Animation Film, but will stay with the team as a producer. Tapped to lead the Netflix animation team four years ago, Cobb has built up the studio from the beginning, attracting top filmmaking talent and delivering a diverse slate of pics over the years.
Gregg Taylor
Gregg Taylor, who also joined the studio as VP Animation Film four years ago, is likewise pivoting to a producer role. Taylor’s remit saw him build out the Netflix Animation creative team and oversee its feature slate, most recently The Sea Beast.
“Over four years ago, Melissa joined the company to lead our animation team and since then has built the studio from the ground up. She’s attracted top filmmakers and delivered a diverse slate of award winning animated films. Gregg was vital to building our creative team and he helped oversee and shepherd our incredible film slate to date, including, most recently, The Sea Beast. We are excited to have them both continue to be part of the Netflix family as creative producing partners,” said Scott Stuber, Head of Global Film for Netflix.
“Our commitment is to build a world-class animation studio and Karen is a strong creative leader, with extensive experience to deliver our ambitious slate of animated films. She is beloved in the animation community and has had an immediate impact in her few short months at Netflix and I look forward to seeing her thrive in this elevated position.”
VP Animation Production Operations Bruce Daitch is departing Netflix, but will remain on board to help with the transition and integration of Animal Logic over the next few months.
Traci Balthazor (VP Animation Film Production) and Mike Karafilis (Director of Animation Series Production) will lead their respective teams. The series animation department remains unchanged, headed by VP John Derderian.
Amory Millard
Drew and Jonathan Scott’s Scott Brothers Global (SBG), parent company to Scott Brothers Entertainment (SBE, sbentertainment.com), announced that leading global franchise executive Amory Millard will head up the company’s new Kids division. As Vice President, Kids, Millard will develop exciting, wholesome content for the Scott Brothers’ youngest fans across multiple platforms and categories.
Millard is an executive producer for Builder Brothers Dream Factory – an animated TV series for preschoolers, co-produced by SBE and Sinking Ship Ent. The 40 x 11′ series is SBE’s first kids’ TV project, and also Sinking Ship’s first fully 3D-animated production. It stars eight-year-old versions of Drew and Jonathan as they solve problems around their neighborhood, one big dream at a time. Sinking Ship’s Head of Production, Carla de Jong, will co-produce the series, which is set to premiere in Canada next year on Corus Ent.’s Treehouse channel and streaming platform STACKTV. Nelvana will distribute the series globally and handle merchandise rights.
Millard’s previous experience includes executive leadership roles with several global media companies, where she built consumer product franchises for Peanuts, The Beatles, WWF, The World of Eric Carle and many others. Amory led creative teams to produce multiple award-winning kids digital apps, and produced an Oscar-nominated live-action short film. In addition to overseeing all aspects of the Builder Brothers brand franchise and building the kids’ portfolio, Millard also oversees the hit Property Brothers Home Design mobile game, and is actively seeking new opportunities for brand and content development in the kids, tweens and teen categories.
Lake Buckley
Storytelling production company 1stAveMachine (1stavemachine.com) is expanding its prestigious creative roster with the signing of director Lake Buckley. With over 10 years of experience in the creative industry, Buckley brings a highly developed understanding of branding and communication to her work. She has become a versatile and prolific force in the industry, working seamlessly between various disciplines and mediums. She has helped bring life to narratives for some of the world’s top-tier brands, shaping 1stAveMachine’s campaigns for Google’s “Pixel Buds” and Bumble’s “Women Make the First Move,” as well as clients such as YouTube, WhatsApp, Meta and Instagram.
In addition to directing, Buckley has recently published her first children’s book with Patagonia Publishing, and her workd is on display in the permanent collection at the National Museum of Norway.
Buckley’s award-winning work can be described as highly composed, conceptually sound and delightfully strange. She aims to find clients and collaborators that share similar creative synergies in order to make authentic and differentiated work. “At 1stAveMachine, I’m looking forward to doing work that makes people smile and feel like a part of their creative soul was fed, work that honors the intelligence and creativity of any viewer, and work that brings joy because some aspect of it is free or playful or simply real and meaningful,” she explains.
Nico Van den Bosch | Joshua Baca | Jenny Galante
More moves:
Alkemy X (alkemy-x.com) has brought on industry heavyweight Nico Van den Bosch as Head of Pipeline across all of its offices. With over 20 years of experience in CFX and 3D animation in feature films and commercials, combining an engineering and computer science background with a passion for creative problem solving and developing VFX pipeline strategies that focus on efficient workflows, his broad range of experience spans pipeline optimization for major Hollywood studios and holistic pipeline development from scratch for boutique shops. As an artist and supervisor, notable credits include The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe, Daredevil, Red Riding Hood, Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief and Happy Feet.
ArsenalFX Color (arsenalfxcolor.tv) announces that Joshua Baca, a co-founder and partner in the company, is moving into new role as Chief Technology Officer. A 20-year industry pro, Baca has served ArsenalFX as a finishing editor and technologist since its founding in 2012. He will now focus exclusively on managing technical operations, research and strategy. He will oversee an expansion of remote services and other emerging technologies as well as the company’s plans to establish satellite facilities across the United States and internationally.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has promoted Jenny Galante to Executive Vice President, Revenue and Business Development, reporting directly to CEO Bill Kramer. In this newly created position, Galante will drive global revenue growth for the Academy across platforms, including special events, Academy member initiatives, international programs, digital platforms, the Academy Screening Room, talent development and inclusion programs, and the Academy Museum, Margaret Herrick Library, Sci-Tech Council and Academy Film Archive. In addition, Galante will continue to oversee the Academy’s strategic brand partnerships and lead in the development of integrated marketing opportunities for Oscars sponsors and advertisers.
The closing ceremony of the 13th Anibar International Animation Festival was held Tuesday evening, closing out a week of exquisite film screenings in Peja, Kosovo. Winners of this year’s seven competition categories were announced by the jury at the Lake Cinema.
Goodbye, Jerome!
The winner of the Student Competition is GoodbyeJérôme!, directed by Gabrielle Selnet, Adam Sillard and Chloé Farr (Gobelins, France). Having just arrived in paradise, Jerome sets out to find his wife, Maryline. In the course of his search, he sinks into a surreal and colorful world in which no one seems to be able to help him.
The jury noted that this film “dazzled us with its playful mix of surreal humor and visual style. It showcased a strong direction of animation, sound and story, a highly competent accomplishment from the team that invites you to be part of Jerome’s journey again and again.”
The jury also gives a special mention to In the Upper Room, directed by Alexander Gratze (Moholy-Nagy Universitiat, Hungary): “We would like to give a special mention to a film that warmed our hearts with its empathetic depiction of the connecting of two worlds. A charming artistic approach, from which you can revisit your own family memories and contemplate intergenerational exchange.”
My Father’s Damn Camera!
Milos Tomic’s My Father’s Damn Camera! (Slovenia) was named the winner of the Balkan Competition. In the film, a reckless boy in an almost desperate and therefore troublesome way persistently seeks the attention of his father, a photographer. Confronted with his father’s artistic chaos and his obsessive fascination with photography, these elements eventually become essential for strengthening their father-son bond as the boy grows up. In a story that intertwines hand-drawn and stop animation in collage technique, the director takes his audience on a ride through the archive of Slovenian photographer Dragiša Modrinjak, and at the same time draws from his personal experience as a filmmaker and father.
“We would like to give the best Balkan film award to a film that took us on a wild ride of discovery and personal family connections,” said the jury. “This visually vivid film hypnotizes you until the end with its rich use of mixed media techniques.”
The jury also gives a special mention to Shpija, directed by Flaka Kokolli (Kosovo): “We would like to give special mention to a film that utilizes strong use of visual metaphor to depict the concept of home in its widest sense. Its fluid animation style presents the themes of roots and cultural identity in a sensitive and engaging manner.”
Bye-Bye Elida
The winner of the Feature Film Competition, Titouan Bordeau’s Bye-Bye Elida (France) takes place in vast plains. The audience discovers several groups of characters going about their respective activities. Some try to feed themselves to survive, others build, travel or perform inexplicable rituals. The passage of time shows us that the actions of some, however positive or cruel, have an effect on the lives of others.
They decided on this film because “strange creatures and the surreal landscapes they inhabit come to life in this film through idiosyncratic rituals and a minimalistic rendered, graphic style. Moaning trees and crystalized bubble-gum are elements of a unique sound design that complements the humorous and absurd performances imbuing life in these characters.”
The jury also gives a special mention to Bob Spit, directed by Cesar Cabral (Brazil): “Excellent scriptwriting, unique characters, skillful costume creation, and well-researched truthfulness to 1970s punk culture elevated this film on many levels. The ugliness was beautifully crafted, and the deft leaps between documentary and the Brazilian comic art it references combine to create an autonomous work of art.”
Letter to a Pig
The winner of the International Competition is Letter to aPig by Tal Kantor (France). A traumatic memory of a Holocaust survivor sends a young schoolgirl on an inner journey, searching for her own path as the boundary between animal and human nature blurs.
The jury decided on this film because “this is a film that takes an unconventional, personal perspective to a shared historical trauma that has crossed many generational lines. The director skillfully uses an imaginative mixture of animation techniques to renew our discussions of the Holocaust even as our children face contemporary upheavals.”
The jury also gives a special mention to Sierra by Sander Joon (Estonia). The film centers on a father who is obsessed with car racing. In order to win, the son turns himself into a car tire. Loosely inspired by the director’s childhood, Sierra pulls us into the surreal car racing world.
“We loved the punchy sounds and simplified graphic style of this playful and snappy narrative as it serves up a surprisingly emotional performance with chaotic and unpredictable connections,” the jury noted. “The outwardly goofy plot surreptitiously speaks to the expectations between parents and their children and what we want from ourselves.”
Cimpoiasca
Set to the music of Miroslav Kolacia, Irvin Venyš & Epoque Quartet, Barbora Halířová’s “Cimpoiasca” (Czech Republic) won for the Music Video Competition. The animation uses folklore motifs to tell the story of a pure woman’s friendship. With the help of schnapps and wild dances, these women manage to overcome a little nightmare.
“The film uses symbolism to interpret the rhythm of folkloric music in such an alluring approach. The way that this visual dance depicts the feeling of togetherness took us by the hand to join a path to a more joyful world. So let’s dance to the winner, which is ‘Cimpoiasca,’” said the jury.
The jury also gives a special mention to “Los colores del niño dios” by Las monjas en celo, directed by Santiago Pérez Rodríguez: An animated punk journey through the Excel files of baby Jesus, the one in charge of bringing the Christmas gifts in Colombia. December is a frenetic feast consecrated to the hyper stimulation of the senses. The joyfulness and the energy of the animation goes perfectly with the music.
Another special mention goes to SURL’s “Beside.” directed by Yoon-kyeong Yang. This video expressed love for another person as a chair and visualized it as the chair is traveling. The perfect combination of elegant imagery and visual approach takes us in a dreamy world that depicts the longing of love. The film uses a metaphoric language that beautifully mixes the abstract and the narrative successfully using a wide diversity of styles. By each viewing the music video uncovers in front of us, layer by layer.
Night
The winner of the Human Rights Competition is Night, directed by Ahmad Saleh (Germany/Qatar/Jordan/Palestine): The dust of war keeps the eyes sleepless. Night brings peace and sleep to all the people in the broken town. Only the eyes of the mother of the missing child stay resilient. Night has to trick her into sleeping to save her soul.
“It is extremely difficult to depict such hard subjects in a poetic way. We were especially touched by the accomplishments of this film,” commented the jury. “It takes a very different path to portray the tragedy and terrors of war. It uses the night as a strong narrative point to let us feel the nightmarish atmosphere that surrounds the loss of life.”
Lada, Ivan’s sister received the Honorable Mention in the Human Right Competition. Directed by Olesya Shchukina, it is a documentary animation based on the real story of Lada, a transgender woman from Russia. She tells her and her brother Ivan’s secret.
“The film has a strong and joyful visual language and storytelling. It very successfully proves that you can tackle a strong subject in a very heartwarming way,” the jury said. “We were intrigued by this film by its qualities as well as we think that it is important to have movies that depict diversity, especially in the context of Russia today where the rights of LGBTQ+ are under threat every day.”
Old Gramaphone’s Ghostly Tones
The winner of the Best Young Audience Film is Old Gramophone’s Ghostly Tones, directed by Zuzana Čupová, Martina Tomková and Kryštof Ulbert (Tomas Bata University, Czech Republic). This is a film about two burglars who don’t actually want to steal, all they long for is dance! Their mean boss doesn’t approve of this though and they have to break into an abandoned manor.
The first Special Mention in this category goes to The Big Tantrum by directors Celia Tisserant and Arnaud Demuynck. In this film, the main character Robert has not had a good day; he comes back from school in a bad mood and gets sent to his room by his dad.
The second Special Mention goes to Theo the WaterTower by Jaimeen Desai: Every morning, Theo the water tower cries and disturbs the village’s peace. Robert and his dog try to cheer him up by singing songs. But Theo is in no mood to sing and tries to escape, which leads him out of the village and into the city.
Finally, the third Special Mention of this category goes to the film My child, directed by Hyunjoo Kim: Though Mother does her best to bring her child up, her child who never grows up enough to survive will be left alone.
Learn more about the Anibar festival at anibar.org.
In early 2021, an alliance between multi-platform lucha libre entertainment company Masked Republic and Demente Animation Studio (Night of the Animated Dead, Rick and Morty, Hello Kitty and Friends), one of Mexico’s leading animation companies, was formed to co-develop a number of properties based on the former’s original IP. The team’s first collaboration is now officially known as Legend of Luchasatsu.
The series combines elements of both Mexican lucha libre and Japanese tokusatsu — live-action film or television drama that makes heavy use of practical special effects, such as Power Rangers, Ultraman and Kamen Rider — and will create a completely unique style mixing both 2D and 3D animation with influences from both countries.
In Legend of Luchasatsu, after a trio of Mexican kids discover an ancient artifact from mysterious pre-Colombian beings with technology well beyond this Earth, they must unlock its secrets before an evil Spanish billionaire can twist its power to conquer México … and then the world!
Último Dragón
The greatest Japanese luchador of all time, Último Dragón, will serve as one of the series’ executive producers, working to blend the two worlds he knows so very well.
In 1991, as a young Japanese wrestler learning lucha libre in Mexico, he became known as Último Dragón. In 1996, while competing both in Japan and Ted Turner’s World Championship Wrestling, he won and held 10 different world championships at the same time, making him the most decorated wrestler in history— a record which stands to this day. He founded the Último Dragón Gym in Mexico City in 1997, and there trained the next generation of lucha libre-influenced Japenese wrestlers who would go on to redefine the country’s style of pro wrestling in the early 2000s.
To this day, Último Dragón’s influence on blending the styles and cultures of the two countries lives on in his namesake DRAGONGATE promotion and in the hundreds of Japanese and Mexican wrestlers he personally trained or influenced.
“It is an honor to be able to work with Masked Republic and Demente Animation on such an inspiring project,” Dragón said, “All of my career I have worked hard to blend pieces of Japanese and Mexican culture inside the ring and in the performances of the students I have trained. To be able to do the same in another medium and to be able to pay homage to both lucha libre and tokusatsu at the same time, it is wonderful. I hope that together we can open the eyes of children and families across the world to some of the beauty and unique cultural aspects of my two home countries.”
Urban Aztec
Artist Urban Aztec (Jesse Hernandez) is boarding the series as a producer and will be blending Mexican and Japanese art styles to design the ancient mechas central to the series’ plot.
A visual artist born and raised in the San Francisco bay area, Hernandez is most widely recognized for his street art murals, vinyl toys and diverse illustration work. His style is a combination of graffiti and ancient indigenous culture. His artwork has been featured by Marvel, Star Wars, Warner Bros., DC Comics, WWE and every major Bay Area sports team along with dozens of music and corporate clients.
Hernandez has painted murals in Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose, Richmond, Los Angeles, Mexico City and Amsterdam, and his art has been shown in galleries and museums around the world.
“Much respect to Demente, Masked Republic and Último Dragón!” Hernandez said. “It’s been an honor collaborating with this super talented team. I’m very excited for this project to drop.”
Urban Aztec ‘Legend of Luchasatsu’ design
Demente Animation CEO Carlos Gaxiola commented, “I was always a fan of lucha libre, from the stars of the 1950s-1970s like El Santo and Mil Mascaras, to 1990s superstars like Konnan, Vampiro Canadiense and Último Dragón. For us, it is a dream come true to be part of an animated series with one of our great idols, Masked Republic and Urban Aztec. This is going to be awesome!”
“We knew we had an exceptional series in development with Demente and adding Último Dragón Dragon and Urban Aztec to the team assures that we are going to bring the world a series that is both wildly unique and genuinely authentic at the same time,” Masked Republic COO and Executive Producer Kevin Kleinrock said. “The animation we have seen from Demente thus far, rich with signature Urban Aztec elements, give the series a look and feel like no other and Último’s contributions to the story world and tone will help the series resonate globally.”
The 13th Annual Kidscreen Awards were presented in Miani on Tuesday night, hosted by actor/comedian Grey Griffin and sponsored by the Canada Media Fund. Celebrating the year’s best work in children’s television and digial media, the ceremony bestowed awards on winners determined by two panels of industry judges across Programming and Creative Talent categories.
It was a great night for Netflix, as Max Keane’s Trash Truck swept the event with four wins, followed by Megan Nicole Dong’s Centaurworld and the live-action/puppet/animation Michelle Obama series Waffles + Mochiwith three each. Repping older audiences, FOX comedy toon HouseBrokenalso fetched three awards.
Animation/mixed media winners for 2022 are:
Trash Truck
Programming – Preschool
Best New Series: Trash Truck – Glen Keane Productions for Netflix Best Animated Series: Trash Truck -Glen Keane Productions for Netflix Best Mixed-Media Series: JoJo and Gran Gran – BBC Children’s In-House Productions for CBeebies, in collaboration with A Productions Best One-Off, Special or TV Movie: Zog and the Flying Doctors – Magic Light Pictures Best Holiday or Special Episode: A Trash Truck Christmas – Glen Keane Productions for Netflix Best Inclusivity: Waffles + Mochi – Higher Ground Productions for Netflix Best in Class: Trash Truck – Glen Keane Productions for Netflix
Centaur World
Programming – Kids
Best New Series: Centaurworld -A Netflix Original Series/Sketchshark Productions Best Animated Series: Centaurworld– A Netflix Original Series/Sketchshark Productions Best Mixed-Media Series: Sisimpur – Sesame Workshop Bangladesh, Ddhoni Chitra Best One-Off, Special or TV Movie: Arlo the Alligator Boy – Netflix Presents A Ryan Crego Film Best Short Film: Coffee Run — It’s Pony – Nickelodeon Best Holiday or Special Episode: “Winter Break” Craig of the Creek – Cartoon Network Studios Best Inclusivity: 16 Hudson – Big Bad Boo Studios Best in Class: Centaurworld – A Netflix Original Series/Sketchshark Productions
HouseBroken
Programming – Tweens/Teens
Best New Series: HouseBroken – Fox Media/Kapital Entertainment/Bento Box Animation Best Animated Series: Bob’s Burgers– 20th Television/Bento Box Entertainment AND Central Park – 20th Television Best Mixed-Media Series: The First Years – Zone3 Best Holiday or Special Episode: “Who’s Afraid of Boomsday?” HouseBroken – Fox Media/Kapital Entertainment/Bento Box Animation Best Inclusivity: We the People – A Netflix Original Series/Higher Ground Productions Best in Class: HouseBroken – Fox Media/Kapital Entertainment/Bento Box Entertainment
Ridley Jones
Creative Talent
Best Animation: Ridley Jones – A Netflix Original Series/Laughing Wild/Brown Bag Films Best Design: Stillwater – Scholastic Entertainment/Gaumont/Polygon Pictures/Apple TV+ Best Directing: Sesame Street—season 51 – Sesame Workshop for HBO AND Waffles + Mochi – Higher Ground Productions for Netflix Best Music: Magic Hands Black History Songs – Flashing Lights Media for CBeebies Best Voice Talent: Ridley Jones– A Netflix Original Series/Laughing Wild/Brown Bag Films Best Writing: Waffles + Mochi – Higher Ground Productions for Netflix
There is also a set of Kidscreen Awards designed to spotlight the best efforts made by broadcasters to build stronger connections with kids and family audiences around the world. These winners were decided through online voting by Kidscreen readers in December. The winners are as follows:
Channel of the Year: PBS KIDS Best On-Air Host or Hosting Team: Trevor Noah — TIME Kid of the Year – Nickelodeon Best Kids-Only Streaming Service: Hellosaurus
Scribbles and Ink: Far and Away
And rounding out the Kidscreen Awards program is a set of digital categories for preschool (zero to five) and kids (six and up). Here are the winners:
Best Learning App — Branded: BYJU’S Magic Work Books featuring Disney BYJU’S Best Learning App — Original: Lingokids – Lingokids Best Game App — Branded: PBS KIDS Games – PBS KIDS Best Game App—Original: OK Play – OK Play Best Alternative Game: Scribbles and Ink: Far and Away– GBH Kids, Global Mechanic Best YouTube Channel: Sesame Street – Sesame Workshop Best Web/App Series—Branded: Molly of Denali — Awesome Alaskan Kids – GBH Kids, PBS KIDS Best Web/App Series—Original: Maria Mini Explorer – Turtlebox Productions Best Website: Donkey Hodie – Fred Rogers Productions, Curious Media, PBS KIDS
Best Learning App—Branded: BYJU’s Learning App featuring Disney BYJU’S Best Learning App — Original: DIY — The Learning Community – Kyt Technologies Best Game App — Branded: Hot Wheels Unlimited – Budge Studios, Mattel Best Game App — Original: Toca Life World – Toca Boca Best Alternative Game: Miraculous RP: Quests of Ladybug & Cat Noir – ZAG Games, Toya Best YouTube Channel: Maddie Moate: Let’s Go Live with Maddie & Greg – Maddie Moate & Greg Foot Best Web/App Series—Branded: Barbie Vlog – Mattel TV Best Web/App Series—Original: The Solutioneers – Shaftesbury Best Website: DIY– Kyt Technologies
MaNaBu Movement foundation announced this week it has signed a collaborative agreement with Chicago-based Have Dreams, a leading worldwide resource center for programs and education for children, teens and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
MaNaBu Movement plans to develop animated and ancillary content with Have Dreams and combine their knowledge, experience and resources to improve children’s wellbeing by creating fun, evidence-based and emotionally-grounded content that any child can follow along and enjoy.
MaNaBu (which means “to learn” in Japanese) empowers children to reach their full potential and become advocates for a kinder, more inclusive and sustainable future.
“We are beyond excited to collaborate with Have Dreams, as we believe this unique collaboration can genuinely enrich the edutainment space,” said MaNaBu’s Executive Director Tihana Smitran. “Our purpose is timeless and aims to empower children from all walks of life, bring more equality and encourage collaboration and understanding among children.”
Resources for educators, care providers and families is another major priority for MaNaBu Movement and will be working closely with Have Dreams to ensure that their IP has the greatest impact for children on the spectrum.
“MaNaBu Movement opens an untapped avenue for children with ASD to join their peers in learning through edutainment,” said Kris Johnsen, Executive Director of Have Dreams. “We are proud to collaborate on this creative venture and extend Have Dreams’ mission.”
Among its first priorities for MaNaBu Movement is to enhance and expand Have Dreams’s ASD & the Library program, which uses their structured teaching methodology to aid librarians in improving literacy for children with Autism.
MaNaBu Movement seeks to make additional partnerships with NGOs, organizations and brands committed to impactful children’s programming. In addition to executives in Switzerland, Germany and Los Angeles, MaNaBu Movement has a close working relationship with 3D animation shop Amulet Studios in Zagreb, Croatia, which developed the MaNaBu characters.
MaNaBu Movement is a U.S. 501 (c)(3) founded in 2020 which aims to educate children through play via a variety of digital and real-world channels about the many challenges facing the world today, with a view to empower them to become lifelong agents for positive change.
For 25 years, Have Dreams has been a leader in resources for individuals and their families living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), understanding the complexities and uniqueness of each person with ASD and focusing it’s programming and services on the core deficits of social skills, communication and independence for children, teens and adults.
Leading animation & VFX indie Cinesite is adding to its roster of top-notch international studios by acquiring Montreal-based animation outfit L’Atelier Animation, the companies announced today.
Cinesite, which has operations in London, Montreal and Vancouver as well as VFX partner studios Trixter in Germany and Image Engine in Vancouver, said the deal will expand its creative and production capacity to meet demand in Quebec and elsewhere.
The acquisition of L’Atelier Animation will give Cinesite further access to Montreal’s highly skilled talent pool with additional employees dedicated to making animation content under the two brands, plus further access to favorable exchange rates and attractive tax credits.
The L’Atelier Animation management team, led by General Manager Benoit Blouin, will be working with Cinesite Animation COO Brad Wald to integrate the two companies and expand their Montreal footprint to meet the growing demand for animated content.
This latest acquisition announcement further strengthens Cinesite’s position as a major force in animation and cements the company as the largest independently owned digital entertainment group delivering animation & VFX services.
L’Atelier Animation specializes in feature-length 3D animation and series. Established in downtown Montreal since 2012 it’s best known for Leap! (Caramel Films/Quads), which generated over $110 million in international box-office revenues. Its most recent production to reach audiences is Fireheart (Entertainment One), produced by Les Films Seville, Anton, Main Journey, Caramel Films and M6 Films SND. The cast is led by Olivia Cooke, Kenneth Branagh and William Shatner. The studio has also worked on the series Robozuna (Kidscave Entertainment / ITV Studios) and is currently in production on the feature 10 Lives (GFM Animation), which is being directed by Chris Jenkins (Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King).
“As one of the largest independent studios producing animation we are always looking to grow our team with talented artists, and the L’Atelier team has a strong track record of producing outstanding work while taking great care of their clients,” says Cinesite Animation’s Wald. “Bringing our two teams together will allow us to serve our clients even better and on a greater scale in both feature films and episodic television. I know we will have great success working together and continuing to meet the growing demand for animated content.”
L’Atelier’s Blouin comments, “I am so proud of where our team’s incredible talent has brought L’Atelier. We have been admirers of Cinesite for years, so joining the Cinesite family will allow us to reach new heights together. We believe this deal will have a significant, positive impact on the animation industry in Quebec.”
Today’s announcement comes at a time when there’s increasing demand for animation content globally, across Asia, the U.S. and Europe. To date Cinesite has delivered 10 feature films, recent credits include Paramount Pictures’ Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank and MGM’s The Addams Family franchise. The studio is in production on Aniventure’s upcoming films Hitpig and Animal Farm as well as the six-part Disney+ series Iwájú and other projects in development.
Established in 1991, Cinesite is one of the world’s most highly respected independent digital entertainment studios, producing award-winning animation and visual effects for film, broadcast and streaming media platforms. Alongside global VFX services, its animation business works with IP creators and filmmakers to create high-end animated features and series. Explore more of Cinesite’s work over the last three decades at cinesite.com/30th-anniversary and learn more about the studio’s remote work policy here.
The holiday season is nearer than you think! Netflix has unveiled the cast and some brand new images from Timeless Films (Monster Family, Rock Dog, Extinct) and director Stephen Donnelly’s (Prime Video’s Emmy-winning Lost in Oz) upcoming animated feature Scrooge: A Christmas Carol, due to premiere on the streamer in December.
The new reinterpretation of the yuletide classice stars Luke Evans (voice of Scrooge), Olivia Colman (Past), Jessie Buckley (Isabel Fezziwig), Johnny Flynn (Bob Cratchit), Fra Fee (Harry Huffam), Giles Terera (Tom Jenkins), Trevor Dion Nicholas (Present), James Cosmo (Mr. Fezziwig) and Jonathan Pryce (Jacob Marley).
Charles Dickens’ ageless legend is reborn in this supernatural, time-travelling, musical adaptation of the definitive Christmas story: With his very soul on the line, Scrooge has but one Christmas Eve left to face his past and build a better future.
Produced by Timeless Films in association with Axis Studios, and released by Netflix, the CG animated spectacular features re-imagined songs from the legendary and two-time Academy Award and Grammy Award-winner Leslie Bricusse OBE (Doctor Dolittle, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Superman, Home Alone).
“It’s been a fascinating challenge to adapt such a beloved and often-told story,” said Donnelly. “I think this version will give those who know A Christmas Carol all the things they expect, but not as they’ve experienced them before. There are more than enough psychedelic, time-travelling and musical surprises to keep those familiar with the story on the edge of their seats, while the authentic essence of Dickens has been retained for those coming completely fresh to the classic tale. I can’t wait to share this new version of A Christmas Carol with the world and sincerely hope audiences embrace it this year and for many to come.”
Donnelly is an award-winning Scottish director, screenwriter, producer and lyricist with over 20 years experience in animation. Over his career, he has directed, developed, produced or written for Cartoon Network, Amazon Studios, The Bureau of Magic, Mattel, Microsoft Studios, Timeless Films and Netflix.
Scrooge: A Christmas Carol is part of Netflix’s wide variety of original animated feature films which includes Academy Award nominated The Mitchell’s vs. the Machines, Aardman’s Robin Robin, Sergio Pablos’ Klaus, Oscar winner Glen Keane’s Over the Moon; as well as Richard Linklater’s Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Childhood, Chris Williams’ The Sea Beast; and soon, Henry Selick’s Wendell & Wild, Nora Twomey’s My Father’s Dragon, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, Wendy Rogers’ The Magician’s Elephant, Nick Bruno and Troy Quane’s Nimona, Jared and Jerusha Hess’ Thelma the Unicorn, Shannon Tindle and John Aoshima’s Ultraman and Aardman sequel Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget.
Netflix and Animal Logic announced today that Netflix plans to acquire the Australian animation studio. This acquisition will support Netflix’s ambitious animated film slate, building on films like Academy Award-nominated Over the Moon, Academy Award-nominated Klaus and the recently released The Sea Beast, which has topped the streamer’s English-language movie charts for two weeks straight according to Netflix Top 10.
Completion of this transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions; the deal is expected to close later this year.
Animal Logic has been producing award-winning design, visual effects and animation for over 30 years. Headquartered in Sydney, Animal Logic set up a second studio in Vancouver, Canada in 2015 and has worked on Hollywood blockbusters including Happy Feet, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole, the LEGO movies and Peter Rabbit 1 & 2, alongside a catalog of amazing VFX work including The Matrix, Moulin Rouge!, 300 and The Great Gatsby.
The announcement builds on an already strong partnership between the two companies, with a full slate of films across Animal Logic’s Sydney and Vancouver studios including The Magician’s Elephant, directed by Wendy Rogers, and the recently announced The Shrinking of Treehorn, directed by Ron Howard, for Netflix.
“Netflix has been investing in animation over the past few years and this furthers our commitment to building a world-class animation studio,” said Amy Reinhard, Netflix Vice President of Studio Operations. “Animal Logic is a leading animation studio with innovative technology that will strengthen our existing business and increase our long-term capacity in the animation space, so that we can better entertain our members around the world.”
Working with Animal Logic will accelerate the buildout of Netflix’s end-to-end animation production capabilities. The Animal Logic and Netflix Animation teams together will create a global creative production team and an animation studio that will produce some of Netflix’s largest animated film titles. Netflix will continue to work with many other studios around the world for animated series and film needs.
Zareh Nalbandian [photo: James Horan]Led by CEO and co-founder Zareh Nalbandian, the Animal Logic teams and leadership will remain operating under the Animal Logic brand and will fulfil production of existing and ongoing commitments and continue to collaborate and work with longstanding studio partners.
“After 30 years of producing great work with great people, this is the perfect next chapter for Animal Logic,” said Nalbandian. “Our values and aspirations could not be more aligned with Netflix, in working with diverse content makers, producing innovative and engaging stories for audiences around the world. Our collective experience and talent will open new doors for all our teams and will empower a new level of creativity in animation.”
“The strength of our partnership across a number of projects is testament to our shared creative vision,” said Animal Logic’s COO Sharon Taylor. “Solidifying our future together felt like a mutually beneficial, natural progression and I am so excited to continue to build on our success together.”
Sharon Taylor
Animal Logic Entertainment will remain independent and continue to
collaborate with iconic filmmakers and major studio partners to develop and produce elevated family entertainment with universal appeal.
Netflix’s fast-growing original slate of animated features and shorts also includes Academy Award-nominated Robin, Robin, Kris Pearn’s The Willoughbys, Clare Knight and Harry Cripps’s Back to the Outback and Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Childhood from Richard Linklater, as well as upcoming releases including Henry Selick’s Wendell & Wild, Nora Twomey’s My Father’s Dragon, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio and an Aardman sequel Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget. Recent acquisitions include the Academy Award-nominated The Mitchells vs. The Machines, Vivo!, Spongebob: Sponge on the Run (ex North America) and Wish Dragon.
Apple TV+ has announced that Central Park, the critically acclaimed, hit animated musical comedy series, will return for its third season on Friday, September 9. From creator, writer and executive producer Loren Bouchard, Josh Gad and Nora Smith, the 13-episode third season will premiere globally on Apple TV+ with three episodes, followed by one episode weekly every Friday thereafter through November 18.
In the third season of Central Park, as Bitsy (voiced by Stanley Tucci) continues her relentless pursuit to buy the park, Owen (Leslie Odom Jr.) embarks on a new promotional campaign to make more people fall in love with it, and Paige (Kathryn Hahn) finds herself busier than ever when she lands her first book deal.
Molly (voiced by Emmy Raver-Lampman) and Cole (Tituss Burgess) in ‘Central Park’ [Apple TV+]After stepping down from the role of Molly in 2020, Kristen Bell again stars in S3 in the new role of Abby, Paige’s little sister, rejoining the rest of the core cast — Josh Gad (Birdie), Tituss Burgess (Cole), Daveed Diggs (Helen) and Emmy Raver-Lampman (Molly).
Guest stars lending their voice talents to this season include The Afterparty stars Sam Richardson, Ike Barinholtz, Ben Schwartz and Zoë Chao; Loot star Ron Funches; Hello, Jack star Jack McBrayer; as well as Amber Ruffin, Yvette Nicole Brown, Craig Robinson, Tim Meadows, David Alan Grier and more. The new season will also add over 40 new original songs to the celebrated catalog.
Bitsy (Stanley Tucci) in ‘Central Park’ S3 [Apple TV+]The first two seasons of Central Park are now streaming on Apple TV+. Since its global debut, the series has been recognized with Emmy Award nominations for stars Odom Jr., Burgess and Tucci, and an NAACP Image Award nomination in the Outstanding Animated Series category.
Central Park is written and executive produced by Bouchard, alongside Gad and Smith. Steven Davis and Kelvin Yu serve as showrunners and also executive produce. The series is produced for Apple by 20th Television Animation, a part of Disney Television Studios.
Paige (Kathryn Hahn) and Owen (Leslie Odom Jr.) in ‘Central Park’ S3 [Apple TV+]
Helen (Daveed Diggs) in ‘Central Park’ S3 [Apple TV+]
Birdie (Josh Gad) in ‘Central Park’ S3 [Apple TV+]
Accomplished Dublin-based animation studio Kavaleer Productions is pitching itself to U.S. content production, distribution and streaming communities as an ideal partner to better represent people with disabilities on-screen. Through the development of pioneering content, they are enabling these communities to educate, expand and engage their audiences while growing their businesses.
With more than 15% of the United States population counting themselves as part of the disabled community, the leaders at Kavaleer Productions consider this to be an issue of relatability as much as representation.
Led by CEO Andrew Kavanagh and Managing Director Gary Timpson, Kavaleer has a successful track record of partnering with U.S. businesses, including work with Nick Jr. on Kiva Can Do! and with Watch Next Media and Cloudco Entertainment on Boy Girl Dog Cat Mouse Cheese. The studio prides itself on delivering innovative animations such as the pioneering media literacy show Alva’s World and Paper Owl Films’ Pablo, which broke considerable new ground by having a main character on the autism spectrum.
Kavaleer is backed in the U.S. by Enterprise Ireland, the Irish government agency for developing Irish businesses in International markets.
The studio’s new show, Adam Loves Adventure!, is in pre-production and stars Adam King, an inspiring and charming seven-year-old boy, his trusted wheelchair, Speedy, and Bubby, the rabbit! Adam King is widely considered a national treasure ever since an appearance on the national broadcaster’s annual festive Late Late Toy Show won him a broad and warm following that extended to the Irish diaspora and beyond — he counts U.S. President Joe Biden and retired astronaut, Chris Hadfield, among his well-wishers and followers!
“The disabled community is the largest minority with the least on-screen representation. To achieve broader awareness and greater empathy for people with disabilities, the stories need to be told to larger audiences, and we’ve demonstrated there is interest and appetite for this content,” Kavanagh explained. “Now with Adam Loves Adventure!, we have the opportunity to create great content with an exceptional young man and share his warmth and example with global audiences!”
Echoing this sentiment, Niamh O’Donnell, Enterprise Ireland Trade Development Executive, noted, “Adam Loves Adventure! is an exceptional coupling of character, creativity, and commercial opportunity. I am confident Adam Loves Adventure! will be another successful episode in Ireland’s burgeoning animation storyline.”
Kavanagh and his team are working with Enterprise Ireland in the U.S. to build partnerships with finance and distribution entities in this market. Interest is strong, and the group expects strategic additions to backers that include Screen Ireland, RTÉ, Ireland’s national television and radio broadcaster, and The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. Kavaleer Productions will attend the upcoming Kidscreen Summit in Miami (July 18) to meet with potential partners for Adam Loves Adventure!
Enterprise Ireland is Ireland’s innovation agency and the venture capital arm of the Irish government. It is one of the world’s largest seed-stage VCs by deal flow and is dedicated to supporting Irish start-ups in their global ambitions. Through a network of more than 40 international offices, Enterprise Ireland supports a portfolio of 1300 startups with over $260M in annual revenue.
Now in their 20th year of business, Kavaleer believes in creating animation that is as brilliant, diverse and unique as every child who watches it. The decorated animation studio’s recent work includes the development of CBBC/Gulli ratings-topper Boy Girl Dog Cat Mouse Cheese (with Watch Next Media and Cloudco Ent.), the 2019 Broadcast Award-winng Pablo (with Paper Owl) and Kiva Can Do!, which aired globally on Nick Jr. Based in the heart of Dublin, Kavaleer’s 70-strong animation crew are currently at work on Boy Girl Dog Cat Mouse Cheese Season 2 and Circle Square (with Wyndley Animation and the Brothers MacLeod).
Today, Disney+ revealed plans to stream Disney and Pixar’s Lightyear, beginning August 3. The news dropped with a new spot launched across the film’s social channels.
“Lightyear looks amazing on the big screen, of course, but we are so excited to bring it to Disney+,” said director Angus MacLane. “We devoted years of our lives to this film and we are so proud of it. We want to share it with as many people as possible. Disney+ not only gives more fans an opportunity to see Lightyear, it gives us all the means to see it again and again.”
— Pixar’s Lightyear (@PixarsLightyear) July 19, 2022
A sci-fi action adventure and the definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear, the hero who inspired the toy, Lightyear follows the legendary Space Ranger after he’s marooned on a hostile planet 4.2 million light-years from Earth alongside his commander and their crew. As Buzz tries to find a way back home through space and time, he’s joined by a group of ambitious recruits and his charming robot companion cat, Sox. Complicating matters and threatening the mission is the arrival of Zurg, an imposing presence with an army of ruthless robots and a mysterious agenda.
The film features the voices of Chris Evans as Buzz Lightyear, Uzo Aduba as his commander and best friend Alisha Hawthorne and Peter Sohn as Sox. Keke Palmer, Taika Waititi and Dale Soules lend their voices to the Junior Zap Patrol’s Izzy Hawthorne, Mo Morrison and Darby Steel, respectively, and James Brolin can be heard as the enigmatic Zurg. The voice cast also includes Mary McDonald-Lewis as onboard computer I.V.A.N., Isiah Whitlock Jr. as Commander Burnside, Efren Ramirez as Airman Díaz, Keira Hairston as Young Izzy and Tim Peake as Tim/Mission Control (in the U.K. release).
Directed by Angus MacLane (co-director, Finding Dory), produced by Galyn Susman (Toy Story That Time Forgot) and featuring a score by award-winning composer Michael Giacchino (The Batman, Up), Disney and Pixar’s Lightyear is in theaters now, streaming on Disney+ on Aug. 3.
Dan Harmon (Rick and Morty, Community) and FOX Entertainment’s Web3 media and creative technology company, Blockchain Creative Labs, have unveiled krapopolis.com, featuring utility-focused, chicken-inspired NFTs, ahead of the debut of FOX’s new animated comedy, Krapopolis.
The inaugural collection of “ Krap Chickens ,” a series of limited-edition NFTs, will drop for purchase on Thursday, August 11.
Billed as the first animated comedy to be curated on the blockchain, Krapopolis is set in mythical ancient Greece and tells the story of a dysfunctional family of humans, gods and monsters that try their hand at running the world’s first cities — without trying to kill each other, that is.
Krap Chickens
Fans will have the opportunity to purchase and collect NFT “Krap Chickens” that unlock exclusive utility and social media clout, including digital and real-life experiences within the Krapopolis universe. In addition to being one of history’s earliest forms of currency, the “Krap Chickens” NFTs will give collectors access to Krapopolis’ burgeoning digital ancient civilization, such as token-gated access to content and private screening rooms, entry to Discord channels, invitations to meet-and-greets with cast and producers, Krapopolis merchandise, series voting rights and first-look exclusivity to forthcoming NFT drops.
Krapopolis.com will drop 10,420 “Krap Chickens” in total. Why 10,420? Because that’s about how many seconds it would take a chicken to run a marathon, obviously. Each minted NFT will be unique, produced and illustrated by Krapopolis animators and generated from a wide range of attributes with varying degrees of rarity. All NFT artwork will originate directly from content that appears in the program.
“In addition to being one of the most groundbreaking storytellers in the business, Dan is a master at cultivating fan engagement and building community among viewers,” said Scott Greenberg, CEO of Blockchain Creative Labs and Co-Founder and CEO of Bento Box Entertainment. “This first collection of Krapopolis NFTs, and the utility they will provide, represent the early beginnings of how Dan and other creators can harness Web3 to open the door and bring audiences closer to their content than ever before.”
Set to premiere on FOX in 2023 and created by Harmon, Krapopolis features the voices of Emmy Award winner Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso), Richard Ayoade (The IT Crowd), Matt Berry (What We Do in the Shadows), Pam Murphy (Mapleworth Murders) and Duncan Trussell (The Midnight Gospel). Krapopolis is produced by FOX Entertainment’s Emmy-winning animation studio, Bento Box Entertainment. The program is fully owned by FOX Entertainment. Jordan Young is executive producer/showrunner, working under Harmon’s supervision and handling the series’ day-to-day activities.
Writer, producer, creator and actor Dan Harmon is the Emmy-winning creator/executive producer of the comedy series Community, co-creator/EP of Adult Swim’s Rick and Morty and creator/EP of FOX’s Krapopolis. Rick and Morty premiered in December of 2013 and quickly became a ratings hit, breaking records as the #1 comedy in key demos and garnering consecutive Emmy wins for Outstanding Animated Program. In 2018, Adult Swim renewed the series for 70 new episodes. In 2015, he executive produced the Oscar-nominated animated feature film Anomalisa. Harmon’s projects currently in various stages of production include Little Demon (FX), Strange Planet (Apple TV+) and the latest season of Rick and Morty.
Vancouver Institute of Media Arts (VanArts) awarded 25 full tuition scholarships in April 2022 to Ukrainian refugees fleeing from the Russian invasion. These students are now three months into their studies, and most have arrived safely in Vancouver. To build on their effort, VanArts is launching a new 50% tuition scholarship drive to Ukrainian refugees for full-time programs starting September 6, 2022.
“We were overwhelmed by the response to our first scholarship offer in April, and we wanted to do something more,” said Ken Priebe, VanArts’ Communications & Student Services Manager. “The Ukrainian students we’ve already welcomed to VanArts have been a great addition to our student body.”
Ukrainian refugees can apply for admission into the following 12-month diploma programs: 2D Character Animation, 3D Character Animation, Game Art & Design, Visual Effects for Film & Television, Acting for Film & Television, Professional Photography, or Web Development & Digital Design. Limited seats are available, so applications must be received by July 31, 2022.
These scholars will be joining the first group of students to begin in VanArts’ brand-new purpose-built campus space on the 7th floor of 333 Terminal Avenue in Vancouver. Other advantages include financial assistance from the Canadian government, granting of work permits under the CUEAT program, and a booming demand for jobs in the industries VanArts trains for.
“We are honoured to give this opportunity to Ukrainian refugees, and to provide training that will help them launch a creative and rewarding career in Canada,” said VanArts President Alan Phillips.
More details on the VanArts scholarship program for Ukrainian refugees are available here.
Established in 1995, Vancouver Institute of Media Arts (VanArts) is ranked at #2 worldwide by Animation Career Review, Rookies-certified and located in Vancouver, the #1 Hub for film, digital entertainment and tech industries. The school’s mission is to unlock the creative and career potential within each student. With the help of specialized instruction, small class sizes, industry- experienced faculty and connections to the creative industries in Vancouver, VanArts graduates have gone on to work for major studios, see their names in the credits of major feature films, and start their own companies.
Today, the Visual Effects Society (VES), the industry’s global professional honorary society, announced the Society’s newest Lifetime and Honorary members and this year’s recipient of the VES Founders Award. The honorees will be celebrated at a special event in October.
Venerated educator and industry leader Pam Hogarth was named recipient of the 2022 VES Founders Awards, as well as a Lifetime VES membership recipient alongside Jeff Barnes, Patricia “Rose” Duignan, Toni Pace Carstensen and David Tanaka. The Society also designated Pixar director Pete Docter with an Honorary VES Memberships.
“Our VES honorees represent a group of exceptional artists, innovators and professionals who have had a profound impact on the field of visual effects,” VES Board Chair said Lisa Cooke. “We are proud to recognize those who helped shape our shared legacy and continue to inspire future generations of VFX practitioners.”
Pam Hogarth
Founders Award recipient and Lifetime VES Member: PamHogarth, for hersustained contributions to the art, science or business of visual effects and meritorious service to the Society. During her more than 35 years in visual effects and high-end computer graphics, Hogarth fulfilled many roles, from marketing to industry relations. The majority of her career was dedicated to incubating and growing educational programs geared towards training people for careers in entertainment production. Hogarth also consulted for organizations and schools, coached entertainment professionals on career management and taught.
Before co-founding Eido, a training company that facilitated training for IATSE creative guilds, which was successfully sold in 2017, Hogarth was publicist for VFX house LOOK Effects. As Industry Liaison she helped build Gnomon School of Visual Effects into the premiere school for careers in digital production. She ran Digital Media Institute (DMI) in Hollywood and helped grow the digital program at The American Film Institute (AFI). Teaching experience includes Art Directors Guild, Otis College of Art and Design, cgsociety.org, Gnomon, DMI and AFI.
Hogarth has been extremely active in the Visual Effects Society, including serving eight terms on the Board of Directors, twice elected as the first female Vice Chair and Chair of the Education Committee. She also served as Secretary of the Los Angeles Section of VES. Now retired, she is Board President for the Elite Theatre Company in Oxnard, Calif. and is Secretary of the Greater Los Angeles Spinning Guild.
Jeff Barnes
Lifetime VES Member: Jeff Barnes, for meritorious service to the Society and the global industry. Barnes is an entertainment and technology creative executive who continues to make marked impacts across Silicon Valley and Hollywood. As the Executive Vice President of Creative Development at Light Field Lab, he drives cross-channel marketing initiatives and content creation for the company’s groundbreaking SolidLight™ holographic display platform. Prior to Light Field Lab, Barnes produced the world’s first high-resolution light field short with hand cast academy award-winning team as Executive Director of Studio Productions at Lytro.
Named one of the top 200 creative people in the world by Entertainment Weekly, Barnes previously co-founded and led powerhouse entertainment and visual effects companies, including CaféFX, The Syndicate and Sententia Entertainment. Barnes has been a longtime leader of the Visual Effects Society, serving as Chair and Vice Chair of the global Board of Directors and Co-Chair of the VES Summit.
Patricia Rose Duignan
Lifetime VES Member: Patricia “Rose” Duignan, for meritorious service to the Society and the global industry. Duignan started working in visual effects on Star Wars. She worked her way up the production ladder from Production Assistant to Production Supervisor on Return of the Jedi. Duignan was the first Marketing Director at ILM, where she served for more than a dozen years. In addition to ILM, Duignan has contributed her marketing, sales and executive producing roles at Tippett Studio, ABC TV, Rhythm & Hues and Kerner Optical (a spinoff from ILM’s practical effects departments). She is also the Co-Author of Ballantine’s coffee table book entitled ILM: Into the Digital Realm.
Duignan’s greatest claim to fame is her commitment to families, illustrated by the fact that she started the ILM Daycare Center in 1990, which is still operating (with a wait list) today. She continues to play a role to uplift women, people of color and veterans in the visual effects world through her strong service on the Visual Effects Society’s Education Committee.
Toni Pace Carstensen
Lifetime VES Member: Toni Pace Carstensen for meritorious service to the Society and the global industry. Recipient of the 2017 VES Founders Award, Carstensen is a founding member of the Visual Effects Society — joining the organization as member 0004 and serving as the Society’s first Treasurer. She was a founding member of the Executive Committee and served on the global Board of Directors for many years, as well as Co-Chair of the Global Education Committee, co-editor of the first edition of the VES Handbook of Visual Effects and with the Education Committee, generated the concept for VESAGE — a book showcasing the personal art of VES members.
Carstensen serves as longtime Chair of the Vision Committee, which continues to engage with frontiers including VR/AR and holograms, and Treasurer of the Los Angeles Section. Her feature credits include VFX producer/digital production manager on Avatar, Minority Report and Fantasia 2000.
David Tanaka
Lifetime VES Member: David Tanaka, for meritorious service to the Society and the global industry. Tanaka is an editor, producer and creative director with experience ranging from visual effects and animation, to documentary and live action feature films, with over 25 years of contributions to the entertainment industry. For 15 years, he served at Industrial Light & Magic in VFX Production and VFX Editorial on films including Jurassic Park, Forrest Gump and Star Wars. He then went onto Pixar Animation Studios as a Special Projects Editor for 10 years.
Tanaka currently holds a staff VFX Editor position with Tippett Studio and serves as an Adjunct Professor for the Academy of Art University, San Francisco. Tanaka has served three terms of Chair of the VES Bay Area Section, as well as 2nd Vice Chair on the global Board of Directors. He is also a major contributor to the VES Archives, Awards, Outreach and Work From Home Committees.
Pete Docter [photo: Deborah Coleman / Pixar]Honorary Member: Pete Docter. Docter is the Oscar-winning director of Monsters, Inc., Up, Inside Out and Soul and Chief Creative Officer at Pixar Animation Studios. Starting at Pixar in 1990 as the studio’s third animator, Docter collaborated with John Lasseter and Andrew Stanton in developing the story and characters for Toy Story, Pixar’s first full-length animated feature film, for which he also was supervising animator. He served as a storyboard artist on A Bug’s Life, and wrote initial story treatments for both Toy Story 2 and WALL•E. Aside from directing his three films, Docter also executive produced Monsters University and Academy Award-winning Brave.
Docter has been nominated for nine Academy Awards and won three, including Best Animated Feature-winners Up, Inside Out and Soul, and Best Original Screenplay nominations for Up, Inside Out and WALL•E. He has garnered two VES Awards — for Outstanding Animation in an Animated Picture for Up and for Outstanding Visual Effects in an Animated Feature for Soul.
The Visual Effects Society is a professional global honorary society dedicated to advancing the arts, sciences and applications of visual effects and to upholding the highest standards and procedures for the visual effects profession. It is the entertainment industry’s only official organization representing the extended global community of visual effects practitioners, including supervisors, artists, producers, technology developers, educators and studio executives. VES’ nearly 4,500 members in 45 countries worldwide contribute to all areas of entertainment — film, television, commercials, animation, music videos, games and new media.
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