Animation Magazine

Author: Mercedes Milligan

  • People on the Move: VIZ Appoints Sae Whan Song Animation VP, Paula Taborda dos Guaranys Named PGS A&D EVP & More

    Sae Whan Song
    Sae Whan Song

    Leading manga and anime producer VIZ Media (viz.com) announced the appointment of Sae Whan Song to the newly created position Vice President of Content (Animation), who will be lead content acquisition and co-production strategy/execution. Coming from Crunchyroll, Song brings 15+ years’ experience working in animation in both the U.S. and Japan, fostering close relationships with content creators, studios and indie producers around the world.

    “Sae’s expertise has set an unparalleled standard in today’s highly competitive anime acquisition business. As evidenced in his work with Mappa, Crunchyroll, Toei Animation and other prestigious organizations, Sae is an exceptional appointment and I am thrilled to have his talents and leadership join us at VIZ Media,” said Brian Ige, SVP Animation.

    Song began his career in Licensing at Toei Animation before moving to Crunchyroll, where he built a highly successful Rights Management team before transitioning the company from a licensing acquisition model to co-productions & originals. He has also been highly influential in the production of more than 75 projects, including Crunchyroll’s Originals slate: Blade Runner: Black Lotus (with Alcon Ent., WarnerMedia); Tower of God, God of High School and Noblesse (Webtoons); Fena: Pirate Princess and Shenmue the Animation (Adult Swim).

     

     

    Paula
    Paula Taborda dos Guaranys

    The PGS Company (pgsentertainment.com) today announced the appointment of Paula Taborda dos Guaranys  as Executive Vice President – Acquisitions & Development. A veteran with over 25 years of experience in the entertainment industry, Taborda dos Guaranys will work alongside  co-founders Philippe & Guillaume Soutter.

    Taborda dos Guaranys is an award-winning media executive who later served as Original Content, Acquisition & Co-Productions Director for DeA Planeta Entertainment. Before this, she was the creative mind behind Brazilian Globo Group kids’ content hub, where she led originals and international coproductions. In recognition of her prominence in international children’s content, she received the World Screen Kids Trendsetter Award.

    Taborda dos Guaranys will be responsible for providing expert strategic direction in developing Kids & Family content for the global market in her new role. Her goal is to create new opportunities, enhance and expand PGS current offerings through acquisitions and development. “I’m grateful for this opportunity to join PGS and very excited to work with Phillipe and Guillaume to help them craft their content portfolio and crystalize PGS’s continued growth strategy,” she said.

     

     

    Top children’s & youth content festival and professional platform Cinekid (Oct. 15-10, cinekid.nl) is ready for a new phase with the addition of three new team members. “Like many other cultural organizations, Cinekid is back in full swing and is taking the digital developments from the pandemic into the future. This does not alter the fact that the personal meeting is crucial in our function as a place to discover and experience audiovisual media together with children!” said event director Heleen Rouw.

    Sara Juričić
    Sara Juričić

    Sara Juričić graduated from the Production department of the Academy of Dramatic Art in Zagreb just as she was taking her first steps in the film industry working as a junior producer at Nukleus Film. In 2016 she assumed the position of assistant producer at Lemming Film under the mentorship of Leontine Petit. She has been a part of the IFFR Pro team since 2018, at first co-ordinating the CineMart program, selecting projects and organizing events, before shifting to Hubert Bals Fund and Talent Manager duties. As of July 1, she will join Cinekid as Head of Cinekid for Professionals.

    Leonieke Verhoog
    Leonieke Verhoog

    Leonieke Verhoog has been wandering the digital culture landscape for about 15 years and loves to connect technology, creativity and play, especially when it brings people together. She started the global FigureRunning movement (runners draw shapes with GPS location, and others guess the image). She also worked for 3VOOR12 and Dutch Public Broadcaster VPRO as a digital project leader, editor-in-chief and cross-media concept developer. She explored the narrative qualities of various new media tools at VPRO Medialab and as a digital storyteller for Museum De Lakenhal, as well as at NFF and Cinekid. In addition, she is an advisor for the digital culture committee at Stimuleringsfonds Creatieve Industrie and is a member of the Advisory Board of the Institute of Sound and Vision. She will take on the new position of Head of MediaLab at Cinekid in November 2022.

    Richard Soesanna
    Richard Soesanna

    Richard Soesanna has been working in the events and cultural sector for many years. In 2008 he founded the fashion platform MAFB (Music And Fashion Battle), which focuses on fashion shows and art exhibitions with a focus on diversity. As a result, he has had the opportunity to work with many cultural organizations such as the Tropenmuseum and the Nieuwe Kerk on Dam Square. He organized a number of other projects focused on music, video and art at locations such as Soho House and Chicago Social Club. In recent years, Richard has been involved in the construction of the Open Space Contemporary Art Museum in Amsterdam Southeast. Soesanna started at Cinekid in June as Project Leader – Participation and Connection.

     

    Ava DuVernay
    Ava DuVernay

    America’s highest-grossing Black female filmmaker Ava DuVernay (Selma, 13th, A Wrinkle in Time), who is working toward stepping into animation with an adaptation of Wings of Fire (until recentlly, in the works with Netflix) will be adding to her many accolodes with a 2022 International Emmy Founders Award. Already a winner of Emmy, BAFTA and Peabody Awards, DuVernay will accept the honor at the 50th International Emmy Awards Gala on November 21 in New York City.

    “Ava DuVernay is a force of nature, and this is reflected in the remarkable scope and volume of her work,” said Bruce L. Paisner, President & CEO of The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. “She makes significant films and television programs, she uses her platform to reshape our industry and continues to lead a career-long effort to bolster women and people of color in entertainment and ensure inclusivity. We look forward to honoring her extraordinary talent and prolific decade of leadership at ARRAY, with our Founders Award.”

    “This honor from the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is unexpected and wildly appreciated,” said DuVernay. “I thank the organization for recognizing my work and salute their efforts to ensure that storytellers of all backgrounds are amplified and celebrated.”

     

    Joe Quesada
    Joe Quesada

    Marvel’s Chief Creative Officer Joe Quesada is stepping down to pursue “several insanely cool projects of [his] own,” according to a farewell letter posted to Twitter. Quesada has held the keys to the Marvel Unicerse since August of 2022, and says he is ready for an exciting new chapter (while continuing to contribue to Marvel projects periodically). His solo plans include writing and directing a short indie film.

  • Netflix Teases ‘The Sandman’, Mark Hamill Joins Cast

    Netflix Teases ‘The Sandman’, Mark Hamill Joins Cast

    Welcome to the dreaming… 

    Merv
    Mark Hamill will voice Merv Pumpkinhead, janitor of The Dreaming, in ‘The Sandman’ (Image: DC Comics)

    Out of their panel at Netflix Geeked Week, Neil Gaiman, Allan Heinberg and cast revealed the Official Teaser for The Sandman and the news that Mark Hamill will voice beloved character Merv Pumpkinhead.

    Based on the beloved award-winning DC comic series written by Gaiman, The Sandman is an hourlong series described as “a rich, character-driven blend of myth and dark fantasy woven together over the course of 10 epic chapters,” and is set to premiere only on Netflix on August 5.

    When the Sandman, a.k.a. Dream (Tom Sturridge) — the powerful cosmic being who controls all our dreams — is unexpectedly captured and held prisoner for over a century, he must journey across different worlds and timelines to fix the chaos his absence has caused.

    Also starring:

    • Boyd Holbrook as The Corinthian
    • Patton Oswalt as Matthew the Raven (voice)
    • Vivienne Acheampong as Lucienne
    • Gwendoline Christie as Lucifer
    • Charles Dance as Roderick Burgess
    • Jenna Coleman as Johanna Constantine
    • David Thewlis as John Dee / Doctor Destiny
    • Stephen Fry as Gilbert
    • Kirby Howell-Baptiste as Death
    • Mason Alexander Park as Desire
    • Donna Preston as Despair
    • Vanesu Samunyai (formerly known as “Kyo Ra”) as Rose Walker
    • John Cameron Mitchell
    • Asim Chaudhry as Abel
    • Sanjeev Bhaskar as Cain
    • Joely Richardson as Ethel Cripps
    • Niamh Walsh as young Ethel Cripps
    • Sandra James Young as Unity Kinkaid
    • Razane Jammal as Lyta Hall
    The Sandman
    (L-R) Tom Sturridge as Dream, Vivienne Acheampong as Lucienne in episode 101 of ‘The Sandman’. (Courtesy Of Netflix © 2022)

    Developed and executive produced by Gaiman, showrunner Allan Heinberg and David S. Goyer, The Sandman is produced by Warner Bros. Television.

    netflix.com/TheSandman

    The Sandman

  • ‘I Am Groot’ Marvel Shorts Dated for August 10 on Disney+

    ‘I Am Groot’ Marvel Shorts Dated for August 10 on Disney+

    Today, Disney+ announced that the latest Marvel Studios addition to their summer lineup, I Am Groot, will launch on August 10.

    I Am Groot is a collection of five original shorts starring Baby Groot, everyone’s favorite little tree, and will feature several new and unusual characters. All five shorts will be available for viewers to watch upon launch. 

    There’s no guarding the galaxy from this mischievous toddler! So get ready as Baby Groot takes center stage in his very owns series, exploring his glory days growing up — and getting into trouble — among the stars.

    Vin Diesel, who is the voice of Groot in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, voices Baby Groot. The writer/director is Kirsten Lepore (Bottle, Hi Stranger, Adventure Time “Bad Jubies”; animation director, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On) and the executive producers are Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Brad Winderbaum and James Gunn.

    I Am Groot
    I Am Groot, exclusively on Disney+. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.

     

     

  • WIA Sets Program for Women in Animation World Summit at Annecy

    WIA Sets Program for Women in Animation World Summit at Annecy

    Women in Animation (WIA) is pleased to announce the program for the sixth annual Women in Animation World Summit, in conjunction with this year’s Annecy International Animation Festival and Mifa 2022. The theme of this year’s Summit is “Gender Justice: A Global Call for Inclusion in Animation.”

    The Women in Animation World Summit will take place on Monday, June 13 at the Impérial Palace Hotel and will feature a day-long symposium of panels and focused conversations spotlighting key thought leaders, filmmakers and executives from around the world discussing gender justice — a system of equity and fairness for people of all genders and gender identities, including men, women, transgender and nonbinary people.

    As with every summit since the beginning, this year’s event will be livestreamed and available to the general public via the WIA website from 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. CEST / 12:30 a.m.-7:30 a.m. PST, with a lunch break from 12:20 – 2:30 p.m. PST. The Summit will also be recorded and posted subsequently on the WIA website.

    “Over the last six years, WIA has led critical conversations on the global stage surrounding diversity, inclusion, and equity through our Women in Animation World Summits,” said WIA President Marge Dean. “We are extremely proud of the work we’ve put in but we are not done. I’m thrilled that our sixth World Summit theme will look at how gender justice can be a solution to some of the issues plaguing the industry including a very real labor shortage. We want to ensure that people of all gender identities have the power and access to opportunities to improve their lives. I look forward to several thought-provoking and action-inducing conversations at this year’s Summit.”

    “We are at an inflection point in our industry and world where looking more inclusively at the concept of gender, questioning traditional power dynamics, and seeking to build a globally equitable creative community is urgent and necessary. In doing so, we widen the talent pool, create environments where all artists thrive, and tell the best, most exciting stories,” said Julie Ann Crommett, WIA Secretary/DEI Chair, Founder and CEO, Collective Moxie; Equity and Inclusion Strategist. “The theme of the WIA World Summit will reflect on exactly that: what is gender justice, why is it so urgent, and how does creating equity and inclusion across gender identities truly help solve our industry’s global labor needs and push us into the next great creative renaissance.”

    dded Mickaël Marin, CEO of CITIA, on behalf of the Annecy International Animation Festival, “After three long years, we are very happy to once again host an event that has become essential to accompany the changes in our industry. Working with WIA — an organization whose mission is to bring real equity to all people in our industry — is always inspiring. I warmly thank all the associations (including Les Femmes s’Animent, MIA, FIAPF…) that work every day for change and have contributed to the success of this edition. Annecy will always be by your side.”

    Summit Program:

    Welcome from WIA and Annecy Festival
    WIA President Marge Dean, CITIA CEO Mickaël Marin and Head of Mifa, Véronique Encrenaz welcome viewers and attendees.

    Introduction to the theme by Julie Ann Crommett, WIA Secretary/DEI Chair and Founder and CEO, Collective Moxie; Equity and Inclusion Strategist

    PANEL: What Does Gender Justice Look Like Around the Globe?
    There is no “one size fits all” solution for gender justice, and its challenges around the world vary as much as geography does. This discussion features voices from around the globe that express what women, nonbinary, and transgender people face in the international animation industry and what gender equity looks like for them.

    • Moderator: Eleanor Coleman, Vice President, Les Femmes s’Animent
    • Speakers: Mounia Aram – Founder & President, Mounia Aram Company (Morocco), Paula Boffo – Director, Comic Artist, Ojo Raro (Argentina), Maureen Fan – CEO & Co-Founder, Baobab Studios (U.S.)

    PANEL: How Is Gender Justice a Solution for the Labor Shortage?
    The animation industry is experiencing a workforce shortage. This panel talks about the future of animation labor as well as how people from underrepresented genders are uniquely positioned to help provide solutions to this very real problem.

    • Moderator: Jill Hopper – Head of Global Production Planning & Strategy, DreamWorks Animation
    • Speakers: Adrianna “AJ” Cohen – SVP/Global Head of Production for Features & Episodics, Mikros Animation, Ramsey Naito – President, Paramount Animation & Nickelodeon Animation, David Prescott – Senior Vice President, Creative, DNEG Animation

    PANEL: Case Studies: Gender Inclusion Programs
    Several organizations share how their Gender Inclusion programs are increasing access for underrepresented people into the animation workforce around the globe.

    • Moderator: Jena Olson – Head of Operations, WIA
    • Speakers: Deepa Joshi – Co-CEO, Incessant Rains, Delphine Nicolini – Artistic Producer, Les Femmes s’Animent, Sajda Ouachtouki – Senior Manager, Global Public Policy, The Walt Disney Company (FIAPF/WIA Delegate Program), Miles Perkins – UE Business Director, Media & Entertainment, Epic Games, Vanessa Sinden – Producer, Triggerfish

    FIRESIDE CHAT: Inclusive Hiring: Solving the Animation Labor Shortage
    Leaders in global creative talent development, animation, and DEI will recap the day’s learnings and discuss the importance of intentional, inclusive talent development as multi-pronged and critical in addressing the needs for unique storytelling, artistic authenticity, and labor shortage solutions in the animation industry.

    • Moderator: Julie Ann Crommett – WIA Secretary/DEI Chair and Founder and CEO, Collective Moxie; Equity and Inclusion Strategist
    • Speakers: Marya Bangee – VP of RISE – Representation and Inclusion Strategies, The Walt Disney Studios, Chris Mack – Director| Creative Talent Investment & Development IO EMEA, Netflix, Janine Weigold – Manager, Animated Series EMEA, Netflix

    WIA Summit

     

    In addition to the Summit program, WIA and FIAPF (International Federation of Film Producers’ Associations) will be hosting six delegations of filmmakers selected for Stories x Women throughout the week in Annecy by creating connections for these filmmakers with top animation professionals from all over the world. The program is aimed at increasing diversity of voices in animation globally and creating international opportunities for women animators from emerging national film and audio-visual animation communities who want to tell their authentic stories. Filmmakers from Argentina, Colombia, Peru, South Africa and Thailand are represented this year. The program is sponsored by Walt Disney Animation Studios with additional support by Triggerfish Animation. (More info here).

    This year’s World Summit logo was designed by Hyesu Lee. Born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, Lee has always been driven by a curiosity about how people connect. Although very shy, she used her art as a way to observe and learn about the people around them. Art, as she says, has no language barrier. In her mid-twenties Lee went to study abroad in the U.K., where she graduated from the University of Arts London with a BA in Illustration. She then moved to New York City where she earned an MFA from the School of Visual Arts. Now based in Brooklyn, she is an established and sought-out illustrator, artist, muralist, and educator.

    The Women in Animation Virtual World Summit is made possible with the ongoing support of WIA’s Global Fund partners: WIA Leadership Circle donors (in alphabetical order): Animal Logic, Autodesk, Epic Games, NBC Universal/Illumination/DreamWorks Animation, MTV Entertainment Studios, Netflix, Nickelodeon Animation Studio, Paramount, Reel FX Animation Studios, Sony Pictures Animation/Sony Pictures Imageworks/Sony Pictures Entertainment, The Walt Disney Company (including Walt Disney Studios/RISE, Industrial Light & Magic, Lucasfilm and Disney Television Animation Studios); WIA Partners Circle donors (in alphabetical order): Agora Studios, Amazon (AWS), Crunchyroll, DNEG Animation, Nicole Paradis Grindle, LAIKA, Locksmith Animation, Skydance Animation, ToonBoom, Warner Animation Group, Wētā FX, and Virtuos Games; WIA Supporters Circle donors (in alphabetical order): Aardman, Gail Currey, Electronic Arts (EA), GKIDS, Jinko Gotoh, Molly Mason Boule, Nexus Studios, Skybound Entertainment, and The Gotham Group; WIA Friends include Bad Robot, Mark & Kimb Osborne, ShadowMachine, Spire Studios and WildBrain Studios.

    womeninanimation.org

  • Universal Cracks Open a New Trailer for ‘Minions: The Rise of Gru’

    Universal Cracks Open a New Trailer for ‘Minions: The Rise of Gru’

    In the third official trailer for Universal-Illumination’s Minions: The Rise of Gru, the loveable little mischief makers take off to fly unfriendly skies and rev up their supercharged martial arts skills. The latest installment of history’s biggest global animated franchise reveals how the world’s greatest supervillain met his iconic Minions and faced off agaisnt the most unstoppable criminal force ever assembled!

    Minions: The Rise of Gru debuts only in theaters July 1.

    Long before he becomes the master of evil, Gru (Oscar nominee Steve Carell) is just a 12-year-old boy in 1970s suburbia, plotting to take over the world from his basement.  It’s not going particularly well. When Gru crosses paths with the Minions, including Kevin, Stuart, Bob and Otto — a new Minion sporting braces and a desperate need to please — this unexpected family joins forces. Together, they build their first lair, design their first weapons, and strive to execute their first missions.

    When the infamous supervillain supergroup, the Vicious 6, oust their leader — legendary martial arts fighter Wild Knuckles (Oscar winner Alan Arkin) — Gru, their most devoted fanboy, interviews to become their newest member. The Vicious 6 is not impressed by the diminutive, wannabe villain, but then Gru outsmarts (and enrages) them, and he suddenly finds himself the mortal enemy of the apex of evil. With Gru on the run, the Minions attempt to master the art of kung fu to help save him, and Gru discovers that even bad guys need a little help from their friends.

    Minions: The Rise of Gru stars a thrilling new voice cast as the Vicious 6: Taraji P. Henson as cool and confident leader Belle Bottom, whose chain belt doubles as a lethal disco-ball mace; Jean-Claude Van Damme as the nihilistic Jean Clawed, who’s armed (literally) with a giant robotic claw; Lucy Lawless as Nunchuck, whose traditional nun’s habit hides her deadly nun-chucks; Dolph Lundgren as Swedish roller-skate champion Svengeance, who dispenses his enemies with spin kicks from his spiked skates; and Danny Trejo as Stronghold, whose giant iron hands are both a menace to others and a burden to him.

    The film also stars Russell Brand as Young Dr. Nefario, an aspiring mad scientist, Michelle Yeoh as Master Chow, an acupuncturist with mad kung fu skills, Oscar winner Julie Andrews as Gru’s maddeningly self-absorbed mom, and RZA.

    Minions Rise of Gru

    Steered by the franchise’s original creators, Minions: The Rise of Gru is produced by visionary Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri and his longtime collaborators Janet Healy and Chris Renaud. The film is directed by returning franchise filmmaker Kyle Balda (Despicable Me 3, Minions), co-directed by Brad Ableson (The Simpsons) and Jonathan del Val (The Secret Life of Pets films), and features the iconic voice of Pierre Coffin as the Minions and a killer ’70s soundtrack courtesy of legendary Grammy-winning music producer Jack Antonoff.

    minionsmovie.com

  • Disney Teases ‘Strange World’ with New Preview, Poster

    Disney Teases ‘Strange World’ with New Preview, Poster

    Fans got an early look at Walt Disney Animation Studio’s all-new feature film Strange World today, with a newly released teaser trailer and poster paying homage to sci-fi movies of the mid-20th century. Voice starring Jake Gyllenhaal (The Guilty, Spider-Man: Far from Home), the film is due for release on November 23.

    Gyllenhaal lends his voice to Searcher Clade, the son of a steadfast explorer. The original action-adventure journeys deep into an uncharted and treacherous land where fantastical creatures await the legendary Clades, a family of explorers whose differences threaten to topple their latest — and by far— most crucial mission.

    Strange Worlds is helmed by Don Hall (Oscar-winning Big Hero 6, Raya and the Last Dragon) and co-director/writer Qui Nguyen (co-writer Raya and the Last Dragon), and produced by Roy Conli  (Big Hero 6, Tangled).

    Tag along on the movie’s journey to the screen on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

    Strange World

     

     

  • GKIDS’ Studio Ghibli Fest Purrs on with ‘The Cat Returns’; ‘Lady Nikuko’ Snags More Screens

    GKIDS’ Studio Ghibli Fest Purrs on with ‘The Cat Returns’; ‘Lady Nikuko’ Snags More Screens

    Studio Ghibli Fest 2022 keeps the animated classics coming this month, as the lovable “hidden gem” The Cat Returns enjoys a second life on the big screen for its 20th anniversary. The fantatical adventure starring The Baron from Whisper of the Heart will play in select theaters nationwide on June 26 & 27; tickets are available here.

    Directed by Hiroyuki Morita, The Cat Returns (2002) begins when quiet suburban schoolgirl Haru comes to the aid of a curious, talking cat. Her good deed attracts the attentnion of the King of Cats and his retinue, and Haru finds herself whisked away to a magical feline kingdom as the cat prince’s betrothed!

    The Cat Returns
    The Cat Returns

    Upcoming Studio Ghibli Fest engagements presented by GKIDS and Fathom Events also include:

    • Kiki’s Delivery Service – July 31, August 1 & 3
    • Only Yesterday – August 28 & 29
    • Howl’s Moving Castle – September 25, 26 & 28
    • Spirited Away – October 30, November 1 & 2

    Tickets and participating theater info available at ghiblifest.com.

     

    Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko
    Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko

    GKIDS also announced additional theatrical engagements for the U.S. release of Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko, directed by Ayumu Watanabe (Children of the Sea) and produced by STUDIO4°C.  Opening today (Friday, June 3), the heartwarming comedy-drama introduces viewers to an unconventional little family and the bonds they share in a sleepy seaside town.

    Brash single mother Nikuko is well-known for her bold spirit, much to the embarrassment of Kikuko, her pensive yet imaginative daughter. In contrast to her mother, Kikuko wants nothing more than to fit in as she navigates the everyday social dramas of middle school. Life in the harbor is peaceful until a shocking revelation from the past threatens to uproot the pair’s tender relationship.

    In addition to previously announced cinemas in Albuquerque/Santa Fe, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Colorado Springs, Columbus, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Los Angeles, Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, New York City, Orlando, San Angelo, San Diego, the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle/Tacoma, Tulsa and Washington DC, fans in the following newly added venues will have a chance to enjoy this magical-realism romp:

    • Bakersfield, CA – Valley Plaza 16
    • Eugene, OR – Roseburg Cinemas
    • Honolulu, HI – Consolidated Pearlridge West 16
    • Las Vegas, NV – Galaxy Boulevard Mall
    • Los Angeles, CA – NEW – Galaxy Mission Grove, AMC Empire 25 (with IMAX, Dolby, Prime)
    • Phoenix, AZ – Majestic Chandler 9
    • Reno, NV – Galaxy Victorian 12 + DFX

    See the earlier list of theaters here.

    More information at NikukoMovie.com.

     

  • TV & Streaming: ‘Tarsilinha’ Goes Prime in LatAm, Rare Toons from Toho & OVID, Plus Global Series Sales

    TV & Streaming: ‘Tarsilinha’ Goes Prime in LatAm, Rare Toons from Toho & OVID, Plus Global Series Sales

    Leading Latin American animation company Pinguim Content ( Fishtronaut, Earth to Luna!) announced that its award-winning children’s animated film Tarsilinha has been sold to streaming giant Amazon Prime Video. The deal, brokered by Brazilian distributor H2O Films, saw the 90-minute, 2D/3D feature premiere across the LatAm region from Wednesday, June 1.

    A journey of discovery and self-realization, Tarsilinha follows the fantastical adventures of an eight-year-old girl who sets off to save her mother’s memory by recovering the keepsakes from her memory box which were stolen by a mischievous caterpillar from a surreal world full of whimsical creatures. As Tarsilinha makes her way through this parallel reality, full of danger and threats, she overcomes fears and obstacles with the help of the friends she makes along the way.

    The film is directed by Pinguim Content founders Kiko Mistrorigo and Celia Catunda, set in a whimsical world inspired by the works of legendary Brazilian artist Tarsila do Amaral.

     

    Do Not Adjust Your Set

    OVID.tv announced its June slate of 31 streaming releases, including eight exclusive titles. In addition to inspiring LGBTQ+ stories timed to Pride Month, the platform will also feature the wild sketch show Do Not Adjust Your Set (BFI, 13 eps., 1967-1969), written by and starring Monty Python‘s Michael Palin, Eric Idle and Terry Jones.

    Innovative and influential, and originally envisaged as children’s show, Do Not Adjust Your Set was a madcap early-evening comedy sketch show that quickly acquired a cult following with Swinging Sixties adults, who rushed home from work to see it. With great performances and additional material by David Jason and Denise Coffey, it also provided an early showcase for the hilarious animations of Terry Gilliam, and the brilliantly bizarre musical antics of the legendary Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band.

     

    Toho International, Inc. announced the season 2 release of the classic ‘70s animated series Godzilla on Toho’s Official Godzilla YouTube Channel: youtube.com/GodzillaToho. The first part of the series premieres on June 6, and will be joined by more monster-size fun with the ongoing Godziban puppet show and Godzilla Chmop documentary series.

    Never-before-released on home video and rarely seen in over 40 years, this second season of Godzilla is exclusive to the YouTube channel and will bring viewers back to the Saturday morning adventures of Godzilla and the loveable sidekick, Godzooky. The 13 episodes of season two first premiered in 1979 and will join 13 episodes of season one exclusively on the Godzilla YouTube Channel.

     

    Berry in the Big City
    Berry in the Big City

    Global kids & family leader WildBrain revealed a fresh wave of distribution partners for its modern Strawberry Shortcake series Berry in the Big City (80 x 4′ + 4 x 44′ specials), which is serving up a second season this summer. The series launched on Netflix in April, with the seasonal specials coming next year.

    Peacock (U.S.) has signed on for seasons one and two, as has Brazilian broadcaster globoplay. The Roku Channel (U.S.) launched a Strawberry Shortcake channel featuring new and classic content, including S1&2 of Berry in the Big City. Tiny Pop (U.K.) has taken both seasons plus the specials for VOD app POP Player. HOP! (Israel) picked up S1 and the four CG specials. Also, TelevisaUnivision’s free streamer Prende TV launched a Strawberry Shortcake channel featuring both new and classic content in Spanish for the U.S. Other new distribution partners for S1 include Amazon Prime Video (LatAm, France, Germany, Austria, U.K., Ireland, Australia), Crave (Canada), FilmRise (U.S.), Future Today (U.S., U.K., Canada), Kartoon Channel! (U.S., Canada, U.K., Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore), Kids Street (U.S.), Magenta-TV (Germany), Tubi (U.S.), TVNZ (New Zealand) and XUMO (U.S.).

     

    Masha

    Animaccord, creator of the hit animated series Masha and the Bear (which  reached 100 billion views worldwide on YouTube last year) is pursuing its complex global expansion strategy, successfully arranging various licensing and media deals in the Chinese market.

    Summer 2022 will bring the special musical season  Masha’s Songs to screens in China for the first time, in addition to the already available Masha and the Bear core seasons and Masha’s Spooky Stories. The launch will cover Tencent Video, as well as a number of other platforms. In the second half of 2022 Masha’s Songs will be distributed to the major OTT platforms, including Huawei, Xiaomi, VIVO, OPPO, Skyworth and over 30 leading IPTV platforms.

    Masha and the Bear recently won Best Animation at the Hong Kong World Film Festival 2022. The series is quickly growing within the region, with more than 1.42M followers on DouYin alone (TikTok in China), superseding its rivals on the platform, as well as growing a loyal audience on Weibo and WeChat.

     

    超学先锋2-横版海报21

    More TV & Streaming Updates:

    • Mediacorp is introducing young viewers in Sinapore to Winsing Animation‘s runaway hit STEM series Team S.T.E.A.M.! seasons 1 and 2. The natiohnal media network previously picked up Winsing’s GG Bond: Dino Diary.
    • The latest series of Winsing‘s popular franchise, GG Bond: Kung Fu Pork Choppers season 3 has launched in China across OTT, IPTV and TV, including iQIYI, Youku, Tencent, Mango TV and KAKU.
    • pocketwatch.tv recently added 13 new creators to its portfolio of global YouTube stars, building a library of  70,000 videos (15k+ hours). Newcomers include educational animations from Scratch Garden (13.1 millionv views) and the humorous 3D object animation of Doods (3.3.m views).
    • Omens Studios secured a raft of internatoinal sales for Leo the Wildlife Ranger S2, to Globo Brazil, Czech TV, MTVA (Hungary) and Good TV (Taiwan).
    • Foo Entertainment has launched its music & magic series Miss Bellyfoo on a dedicated YouTube channel.
    • Better Call Saul prequel cartoon Slippin’ Jimmy, produced by Starburns Industries, has debuted on the AMC+ platform.

    https://youtu.be/ZZdM2-_ctuE

  • Hue Dada! Productions Pivots to Original Content as Dada! Animation

    Hue Dada! Productions Pivots to Original Content as Dada! Animation

    In a move that gears Hue Dada! Productions to deliver original content and creative service to clients, the real-time 3D studio has a new name and identity: Dada! Animation. The strategic shift positions the innovatory Paris studio to lead content creators into the future of 3D animation and VR experiences.

    Founded in 2019 by a cross-disciplinary team of  creative professionals from animation, video games and special effects, Hue Dada! Productions has produced a burgeoning slate of original animated works and a wide range of creative 3D animation and VR experience projects. Following its rapid development and the intensification of its production activities for broadcasters, documentaries, communication agencies, CSR services and cultural institutions, the studio is getting a facelift to announce its new creative offering.

    Dada! Animation captures its desire to place avant-garde innovation at the heart of the constantly evolving creative process and thus break down boundaries to create unexpected 3D virtual universes that appeal to a broad target audience of kids, teenagers, young adults and adults alike.

    Jérôme Mouscadet
    Jérôme Mouscadet

    “This new name carries our values centred on audacity, innovation and creativity,” says Jérôme Mouscadet, Director & Co-Executive Producer of Dada! Animation. “Our new graphic identity inspired by the technical-artistic movement and Tinguely’s machines embodies our ability to integrate the latest technological advances such as real-time, AI, style transfer, photogrammetry … to the service of a constantly evolving creative process.”

    At the crossroads between a technological start-up and a cutting-edge studio, Dada! Animation aims to decompartmentalizesand democratize animation using new technologies such as real-time rendering and virtual production.

    Quentin Auger, Head of Innovation of Dada! Animation, explains, “The benefits and advantages of real-time 3D production tools revolutionise the entire entertainment industry, particularly 3D animation. The first gain is an acceleration of production times. Many steps can be drastically accelerated, like rendering and compositing times being divided by 200 to 300. ‘Retakes’ or creative adjustments can be reduced by almost 50% in certain departments, making iterations easier.”

    Quentin Auger
    Quentin Auger

    Auger adds that AI and machine learning tools are also easing low value-added and/or tedious jobs up, as well as surprisingly being of great inspirational help in the most creative tasks.“When 3D animation is ported into game engines as we do, the interactive virtual production necessary for immersive exploitations, the creation of avatars and metaverse environments are also at your fingertips. Consequently, the 360° exploitation of digital assets such as the production of apps and the gamification of content is greatly facilitated. These new technologies are constantly evolving and opening an exciting creative field for the entire industry.”

    From pre-production to post-production, Dada! Animation directs and produces the CGI animated sequences for the interstitial program Les Hoofs de Tfou, currently aired on TFOU (TF1). The studio also collaborates with Seppia on lls étaient des Millions (They Were Millions), a hybrid animated documentary about the great European migrations in the 18thth and 19th centuries. On the VR side, the studio works with Virtual Journey to develop Lady Liberty, a virtual reality experience around Victor Hugo’s visit to Bartholdi’s workshops during the manufacture of the Statue of Liberty.

    Besides its various creative collaborations, Dada! Animation will present five of its eight original projects at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. Visit the team from 14 to 18 June on the MIFA stand of the Ile de France Region (Stand C17) to find out more about its current projects:

    Captain Tone-up
    Captain Tone-up

    Captain Tone-up is currently in development with Disney Television France; this is an edutainment series of 12 x 2’ episodes. It is a 3D animation production for children aged between six and 10.

    The Nebulons
    The Nebulons

    The Nebulons, collaboratively developed with Diabolo Films, is a ‘Poetic Cartoon’ for three- to five-year-old children and consists of 78 x 7’ episodes. It is designed to capture the imagination of children who like to see shapes in the clouds.

     

    Mekka Nikki
    Mekka Nikki

    Mekka Nikki is an initiatic science-fiction 3D/2D animated series, which will comprise 10 x 30’ episodes for Season 1. It is an epic saga of science-fiction for 10- to 14-year olds. It is being developed by Dada! Animation in collaboration with Squarefish.

    Step into My Shoes
    Step into My Shoes

    Step into My Shoes is a citizenship program which develops an understanding of the issues surrounding inclusion in an animation 3D/2D comedy series of 26 x 2’ episodes.

    French Patisserie
    French Pâtisserie

    French Pâtisserie is an animated documentary set to be “a scrumptious series” of 30 x 7’ episodes. Presented by the Chef of the French Prime Minister, Gaël Clavière, it bakes up the history of French pastry specialities.

    Learn more at dada-animation.com.

  • People on the Move: Jetpack Restructure, PBS Kids Content Head, VES Exec Director Retires & More

    Global kids and family content distributor Jetpack Distribution (jetpackdistribution.tv) announces a new team structure to grow its operations across the globe and consolidate the company’s efforts in the sales and acquisitions of stand-out, high quality content.
    “Jetpack has enjoyed exponential growth since launch, momentum we wish to pick up and accelerate even further! We’re blessed to work with 40 plus producers of exceptional quality content and are focused on further expansion,” said CEO Dominic Gardner. “The changes and promotions reflect the hard work and dedication of the team, as well as their brilliant relationships and connections within the kids and family industry.”

    Sophie
    Sophie ‘Kido’ Prigent

    Sophie ‘Kido’ Prigent has been promoted to Global Head of Sales, leading sales in Asia, Canada, France, Latin America, Portugal, Spain and the Nordic countries, and AVOD sales globally. She will drive the sale of all content within Jetpack’s catalogue, working with broadcasters and VOD platforms, to find homes for the company’s diverse range of kids and family series across all genres and formats. Kido will continue to support the global acquisitions team and be the direct contact for producers in her territories.

    Gillian
    Gillian Calvert Ridge

    Gillian Calvert Ridge has been promoted to Global Distribution Director – Acquisitions and Development, leading the company’s acquisition of shows that are produced and in development stages. She will be focused on significantly growing this area, to further build Jetpack’s slate and identify the best content from producers and creators across the world. She will also handle content sales for Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

    Toby
    Toby Jones

    Matt Bowen has been appointed as Acquisitions Co-ordinator and will report directly to Calvert Ridge.

    Sales Executive Toby Jones grows his remit to include selling kids and family content in Benelux, Central Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Italy. Jones will report to Prigent.

    Rhiannon sq
    Rhiannon Lyons

    Rhiannon Lyons has been promoted to Marketing and Operations Manager, working alongside CEO Dominic Gardiner to promote the company — and its slate — across the world.

    Prigent, Calvert Ridge and Lyons will report directly to Gardiner.

     

     

    Adriano Schmid
    Adriano Schmid

    PBS has named Adriano Schmid  as Vice President of PBS KIDS Content (pbskids.org) overseeing the team and the network’s full content library. In addition, he will be responsible for expanding PBS KIDS’ robust multi-platform content strategy to meet the evolving needs of its audience. This will include identifying new industry talent, fostering relationships with current producers and partners, and supporting development of new approaches to content production on emerging platforms. He will join the team on June 13 and will report to Sara DeWitt, SVP and General Manager of PBS KIDS.

    “PBS KIDS brings such a unique proposition: combining the directive to embrace different styles, formats, points of view and voices, together with an unwavering commitment to creating content with a purpose. It’s an honor to join this amazing team and work on this growing family of beloved characters. I am delighted to have the opportunity to continue my work empowering children to connect, learn and have fun,” said Schmid.

    Schmid, a media veteran with more than 20 years’ experience, comes to PBS from Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc., where he most recently focused on multilingual programming in the LatAm and U.S. Hispanic markets. He developed and produced curriculum-based projects for preschool-age audiences in the non-fiction, live-action & animation long-form genres. Schmid also supervised the creation of short and digital kids’ content. His recent projects include Ba Da Bean, a children’s comedy series that explores the connection between art and STEM, and the LatAm hit Mini Beat Power Rockers, a CG show with a strong music appreciation curriculum. In addition, he has led the network’s editorial supervision on popular co-productions Agent Binky and Earth to Luna. Schmid’s contribution to children’s entertainment has been recognized with a Pulcinella Award for the ground-breaking Papernauts (2018) and the Cine Golden Eagle Award (2014) for Doki. He is also a four-time International Emmy Award nominee (2015-2018).

     

    Eric Roth
    Eric Roth

    The Visual Effects Society (VES; vesglobal.org), the industry’s professional global honorary society, announced the forthcoming retirement of Eric Roth, the Society’s Executive Director for nearly 20 years. Roth will end his tenure as leader of the organization on September 30, 2022, amidst the Society’s milestone 25th anniversary year. The VES Board’s Executive Committee, under the leadership of VES Chair Lisa Cooke, has created a search committee that will soon begin the process to identify the next Executive Director.

    “We have been exceptionally proud and fortunate to have a leader of Eric’s caliber, possessed with such passion, integrity and vision — and the unparalleled skills needed to drive this dynamic organization forward,” said Cooke. “As my colleague and friend, Eric is the kind of collaborator, mentor and cheerleader you always hope to work with. Eric has done transformational work in growing the Society into this rich global community, and he leaves an enormous legacy for us to carry forward.”

    Read Roth’s letter to the Board on the VES news blog here.

     

    Toby Emmerich
    Toby Emmerich [photo courtesy PGA]

    Toby Emmerich has announced his intent to step down as Chairman of the Warner Bros. Pictures Group and establish his own production company at the studio. The outgoing exec has a five-year exclusive deal with Warner Bros. Discobery, which will finance the outfit and hold distribution rights to its films and TV/streaming series.

    Emmerich has led WBPG since 2017, previously serving as President and Chief Content Officer. Prior to joining the studio, he was President and Chief Operating Officer of New Line Cinema. He had earlier signed on with WB in 1992 as a dual development and music executive.

    Industry veterans Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy, formerly film execs at MGM, have been appointed co-chairpersons and CEOs of Warner Bros. Pictures Group, which currently includes Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema, DC-Based Film Production and Warner Bros. Feature Animation.

    “It has been an honor and a pleasure to be part of this storied company these last three decades and to lead the world-class Warner Bros. film studio team, and I am incredibly proud of what we have been able to accomplish together,” said Emmerich. “This seemed like the perfect time to transition to something new, and I am excited to be pursuing my passion for storytelling in a more hands-on way with my own production company.”

  • Trailer: ‘Beavis and Butt-head Do the Universe’ Sets Paramount+ Premiere

    Trailer: ‘Beavis and Butt-head Do the Universe’ Sets Paramount+ Premiere

    Paramount+ today announced that its upcoming original movie Beavis and Butt-head Do the Universe will premiere on the service Thursday, June 23, marking the duo’s first on-screen appearance in more than 10 years. The movie will also be available to stream internationally in all territories where the service is available.

    In addition to the new movie, the full library of over 200 remastered Beavis and Butt-Head episodes will stream exclusively on the service, along with a new series coming later this year.

    A tale that technically spans two centuries, Beavis and Butt-head Do the Universe promises to sit atop all future lists of the Dumbest Science Fiction Movies Ever Made:

    The saga begins when Beavis and Butt-Head wind up at space camp through “creative sentencing” from a juvenile court judge in 1998. Mistaking a docking simulator for something else (huh huh), Beavis and Butt-Head excel at it and are asked to join the space shuttle mission in a PR move. After ruining the mission, they are left for dead in space and end up going through a black hole and reemerging back on Earth in 2022, only to discover a very different world – and find themselves considered Buttholes of Interest by the NSA, the governor of Texas, and a highly intelligent version of themselves from a parallel universe.

    Also they almost lose their virginity, but don’t.

    “Beavis and Butt-Head were defining voices of a generation, and to this day, the show is one of the most well-known and beloved animated IPs of all time,” said Chris McCarthy, President/CEO, Paramount Media Networks and MTV Entertainment Studios. “Mike Judge has reimagined this dynamic duo in a way that is sure to have both old fans and new ones alike laughing out loud — and we couldn’t be more excited to bring them back into our rapidly expanding arsenal of hit adult animation.”

    “Reuniting Beavis and Butt-Head is the smartest dumb move one could make, and we jumped at the opportunity,” said Tanya Giles, Chief Programming Officer of Streaming for Paramount+. “Only a duo this iconic would bring us to space and back and we’re so excited to share their epic, nacho-filled journey with audiences.”

    Beavis and Butt-head Do the Universe features the voices of Mike Judge, Gary Cole, Chris Diamantopoulos, Nat Faxon, Brian Huskey, Chi McBride, Tig Notaro, Stephen Root, Andrea Savage, Martin Starr and Jimmy O. Yang.

    An exclusive look at the new movie will debut during the 2022 MTV Movie & TV Awards, which air live Sunday, June 5, at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

    Beavis and Butt-head Do the Universe
    Beavis and Butt-head Do the Universe

    Created and voiced by writer, producer and director Mike Judge, the characters of Beavis and Butt-Head originated in Judge’s 1992 short film Frog Baseball, which was broadcast by MTV’s animation showcase Liquid Television. After MTV commissioned a full series around the characters, Beavis and Butt-Head ran for seven seasons from March 8, 1993 to Nov. 28, 1997. The series was revived in 2011 with an eighth season airing on MTV.  During its initial run, Beavis and Butt-Head received widespread critical acclaim for its satirical, scathing commentary on society. The show’s popularity spawned various related media, including the theatrical film Beavis and Butt-Head Do America in 1996.

    Beavis and Butt-head Do the Universe is executive-produced by Mike Judge, Lew Morton and Michael Rotenberg, and Chris Prynoski, Shannon Prynoski, Ben Kalina and Antonio Canobbio for Titmouse.

    BEAVIS AND BUTT-HEAD DO THE UNIVERS

  • Animation Domination! Production Workers at ‘The Simpsons,’ ‘Family Guy’ & ‘American Dad!’ File to Unionize

    Animation Domination! Production Workers at ‘The Simpsons,’ ‘Family Guy’ & ‘American Dad!’ File to Unionize

    Production workers at FOX primetime animation mainstays The Simpsons, Family Guy and American Dad! have filed to join The Animation Guild (TAG) and begin collective bargaining for their first Union contract.

    “The many production staff members are also trained artists or hold a BFA. [We] rely on that education and training to do our jobs … It is time we were included in TAG so we can have the same quality health care, pensions and transparency in compensation that our counterparts currently enjoy,” said Ashley Cooper, The Simpsons production manager.

    This move follows a request by a super majority of the workers on May 26, 2022, to be voluntarily recognized. Attorneys representing the three production companies responded to this request by contacting TAG and stating that the productions’ parent studio, 20th Television Animation, was not yet prepared to voluntarily recognize the entire unit as was proposed by The Animation Guild and asked for additional time to review.

    “Those of us who have been working in animation production for many years take pride in knowing that we are an integral part of the longevity and evolution of our shows, right alongside the artists that we work with,” Jason Jones, American Dad! animatic & timing production supervisor, noted. “Even though we meet the same tight deadlines and work the same long hours, we [are aware] that we do not share the same basic protections as the artists we spend those hours with. We deserve the same respect and dignity as our fellow Union-protected workers.”

    TAG SOLIDARITY

    Since voluntary recognition has not yet been reached, the production workers and The Animation Guild moved forward and filed petitions this week  — on June 1 (The Simpsons), June 2 (American Dad!) — and tomorrow, June 3, will file Family Guy for Union elections with the National Labor Review Board (NLRB).

    Family Guy design production assistant Andee Kiraly stated, “I’ve chosen to organize because I truly love my job and want to improve the quality of my team’s working environment. Production roles are often viewed as stepping stone jobs, but I look at our shows (Family Guy, American Dad! and The Simpsons) and I see production crew who have been here for 10+ or 15+ years. These aren’t stepping stone jobs. These are careers and they deserve to be treated as such.”

    Those represented in the unit include production managers, production supervisors, production coordinators, writers assistants, production assistants, associate producers, office assistants, IT supervisors and more.

    These latest actions follow big unionizing moves from studio and show crews such as Titmouse, Rick and Morty and Solar Opposites, and the recent announcement of a tentative agreement with the AMPTP bringing TAG’s #NewDeal4Animation closer within reach.

    The Animation Guild, also known as Local 839 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), was founded in 1952. The labor union represents more than 5,000 artists, technicians and writers in the animation industry, advocating for workers to improve wages and conditions.

    animationguild.org

  • Corus Announces Canadian Adult Swim Original ‘Red Ketchup’ Amid 200 Hours of New Content

    Corus Announces Canadian Adult Swim Original ‘Red Ketchup’ Amid 200 Hours of New Content

    Today, Corus Entertainment (corusent.com) announces its complete lineup of premium original content for 2022/2023 with an incredible 45 total greenlights and renewals, including more than 600 episodes and 24 titles from Corus Studios. This includes a new original animated series for Adult Swim, plus more family toon fare from its powerhouse studio Nelvana.

    “Corus is proud to showcase a standout lineup of Canadian Original content featuring dynamic formats, charismatic personalities, and renewals of fan-favourite series with homegrown talent from Corus Studios, Nelvana, and our valued production partners,” said Colin Bohm, EVP, Content & Corporate Strategies, Corus Entertainment. “Our expanding portfolio of original shows is driving significant growth in the key pillars of lifestyle, factual, kids and scripted series, as we remain dedicated to creating premium content with diverse, engaging narratives and uniquely Canadian voices appealing to audiences across the country and on an international scale.”

    Red Ketchup
    Red Ketchup

    Corus revealed its second Canadian original series for Adult Swim, the popular network that offers an unexpected blend of authenticity, originality and cleverness: Red Ketchup (20 × 30′), commissioned and greenlit by Corus’ French channel Télétoon la nuit, is based on the cult Quebec comic-book series from the ‘80s of the same name. Featuring  crazed rogue FBI agent, Steve “Red” Ketchup, the series is produced by Sphere Animation and will premiere in Canada on both Télétoon la nuit and in English on Adult Swim in 2023.

    Synopsis: The series is set in the mid-1980s, at the end of the Cold War. Red Ketchup is assigned the most perilous missions by the FBI, and he pulls them off every time. The sight of his hulking frame, red eyes and orange hair is enough to make enemies quake. He breezily and brazenly takes every risk to achieve his ends, usually causing heavy collateral damage along the way. The FBI regards him as a liability and sends him to distant lands hoping he will never return. But Red Ketchup always makes it back!

    Psi Cops
    Psi Cops

    Plus, the previously announced first Canadian original series for Adult Swim, Psi Cops (24 x 11′), is set to premiere Winter 2023. The adult animated series follows “top” detectives at a secret agency investigating the unexplained. The series is produced by Wind Sun Sky Entertainment and Oddfellows Labs. 

    Synopsis: The crucial task of investigating spiritual phenomena, extraterrestrial life, and paranormal activity is in the hands of unjustifiably bold and unnecessarily creative investigators Agent Kydd and Agent Felixx. Operating as part of the secret agency, Psi Cops, helmed by true believer, Chief Beef, we follow Kydd and Felixx as they investigate alleged sightings of aliens, ghosts, demons and other hocus-pocus bullsh*t.

    Best & Bester
    Best & Bester

    Celebrating its 50-year milestone, Nelvana maintains its position as a world-renowned international producer and distributor of children’s animated and live action content, with content seen in over 180 countries around the world. This year is no exception, with new series, seasons and episodes coming soon to Corus’ leading kids’ networks, YTV, Treehouse and TELETOON.

    The previously announced Best & Bester (52 × 11′) is set to premiere this fall on YTV. A co-production between Nelvana, Eye Present and Gigglebug Entertainment, the series follows two siblings and best friends obsessed with comparing the best things of all time while enjoying the power to transform themselves into anything they want, once a day — if only they can figure out what the best thing to be actually is!

    Super Wish
    Super Wish

    More fresh content from Nelvana landing on Corus’ kids networks this fall includes:

    • New episodes of Super Wish (52 x 11′) on YTV, produced by Nelvana and Discovery’s joint venture, redknot, and created by Nelvana’s own Vanessa Esteves and Daytime Emmy Award-winning art director, Adrian Thatcher.
    • New episodes of Bakugan: Evolutions (26 x 22′) will bring epic action to TELETOON.
    • Everyone’s favourite P.U.R.S.T. agents continue the adventure on Treehouse with new episodes of the second season of Agent Binky: Pets of the Universe (52 × 11′). Produced by redknot, the series is based on the best-selling books by Ashley Spires, published by Corus Entertainment’s Kids Can Press.
    • A new season of Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go! (52 x 11′), accompanied by a brand new special with the beloved engines Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go! Mystery at Lookout Mountain (60′), is also chugging along to Treehouse.
    Agent Binky Pets of the Universe
    Agent Binky: Pets of the Universe S2
  • Annecy-Selected ‘Yukon’ Taps Meta Media for International Distribution

    Annecy-Selected ‘Yukon’ Taps Meta Media for International Distribution

    Norwegian production companies Imaginær Film and Animasjonsdepartementet are celebrating the selection of their animated series Yukon – Space Botanist by the Annecy Festival as one of the carefully chosen Mifa Pitch projects competing for a prize at this year.

    Heading into the festival (June 13-18), Meta Media Entertainment has been appointed as international distributor for the series, which has the support of the Norwegian public broadcaster NRK. Screenwriter Sara Daddy has also signed on as head writer on the project, bringing her experience on Emmy and Annie Award-nominated shows such as Puffin Rock, Claude and more to the show.

    Yukon is a sci-fi adventure for upper preschool children, but can be enjoyed by anyone. Our hero is sent on a mission to collect seeds and plants for future generations. In short stand-alone episodes, Yukon travels to the furthest regions of space where every day is a new adventure. The series aims to inspire kids’ interest in creating and exploring through surprising and vivid visuals.

    The creators of Yukon are Martin Engh and Jakob Thommessen, whose company Animasjonsdepartementet has been producing animated commercials in Norway since 2009, winning awards both nationally and internationally.

    Imaginær Film is run by producers Eirik Smidesang Slåen and Elisabeth Opdal. They have produced or co-produced a number of award-winning animated box-office successes such as In the Forest of Huckybucky, Captain Sabertooth and the Magic Diamond, Louis and Luca – Mission to the Moon and more.

    “As producers, this is one of those projects that you dream of having in your slate — wildly creative with strong and resonating characters set against a backdrop which allows it to expand and expand,” commented Smidesang Slåen and Opdal.

    Sarah Cooper, Founder of Meta Media Entertainment, added, “Yukon is a captivating and original project with a look which really stands out. I am sure that the lovable characters and the timely theme of wonder at the diversity of nature will resonate with children around the world.“

    Meta Media Entertainment is a London-based specialist distributor of childrens’ animation established in 2016, representing a growing catalogue of high-quality content from around the world which it licenses to broadcasters and platforms worldwide.

    dept.no | imaginarfilm.no | meta-media.co.uk

  • Netflix Unveils ‘ONI: Thunder God’s Tale’ Cast & Teaser from Tonko House

    Netflix Unveils ‘ONI: Thunder God’s Tale’ Cast & Teaser from Tonko House

    This morning, fans of Netflix’s artisinal animated projects were treated to the teaser trailer debut for ONI: Thunder God’s Tale as well as the reveal of the Tonko House project’s stellar voice cast. Crafted in stop-motion-styled CGI, the four-episode event series comes from creator & showrunner Dice Tsutsumi (The Dam Keeper).

    “The story of a brave girl caught between two worlds divided is, at its core, not only a very personal story for me, but one that’s become personal for everyone involved including our absolute dream cast,” Tsutsumi shared. “Every one of these incredible talents from our dream list accepted with such passion and empathy for the story, and collaborating with them has been equally humbling and inspiring. They’ve given souls to our characters and unparalleled performances for our animators.”

    The just-announced cast features Momona Tamada (The Baby-Sitters Club), Archie Yates (Jojo Rabbit), Craig Robinson (The Office, The Cleveland Show), Order of Canada honoree Tantoo Cardinal (Blackstone, Wendell and Wild), Brittany Ishibashi (Runaways, Over the Moon), Omar Miller (Ballers, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Anna Akana (Jupiter’s Legacy, Amphibia), Charlet Takahashi Chung (Fast & Furious Spy Racers, Rugrats), Miyuki Sawashiro (Demon Slayer, Fruits Basket), Yuki Matsuzaki (Othello-san, Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles), Seth Carr (The Mysteriouos Benedict Society), Robert Kondo and George Takei.

    Tsutsumi serves as executive producer alongside Robert Kondo (The Dam Keeper) and Kane Lee, and co-exec producers Megan Bartel and Sara K. Sampson. Sampson also serves as producer. Mari Okada is the series writer.

    Synopsis: In a world filled with the oddball gods and monsters of Japanese mythology, one of the creature’s free-spirited daughters, Onari, is determined to follow in the footsteps of the mighty heroes of lore, but her unique powers are yet to be revealed. Does she have what it takes to fight to protect her peaceful village from the encroaching threat of the gods’ mysterious enemies, the “Oni”?

    A release date for ONI is to be announced, so stay tuned!

    netflix.com/onithundergodstale

  • Global Event Updates: 50th Annies Set Date, PS ShortFest Selection, Award Winners & More

    Global Event Updates: 50th Annies Set Date, PS ShortFest Selection, Award Winners & More

    The Board of Directors for ASIFA-Hollywood announced today that its 50th Annual Annie Awards, recognizing the year’s best in the field of animation. will return to a live ceremony on Saturday, February 25, 2023 at UCLA’s Royce Hall (Los Angeles, Calif.). A list of ceremony Deadlines, Rules & Categories, and the ‘Call for Entries’ will be announced and available on the Annies website (annieawards.org) on Monday, September 12, 2022.

    The Annie Awards covers 37 categories and include Best Animated Feature, Best Animated Feature-Independent, Special Productions, Sponsored Films, Short Subjects, Student Films and Outstanding Individual Achievements, as well as the honorary Juried Awards. See the winners of this year’s awards here!

     

    Aline - "The French Dispatch"
    Aline – “The French Dispatch”

    The Telly Awards, the world’s largest honor for video and television content across all screens, announced this year’s winners, including a variety of top-tier brands and organizations as well as smaller media companies such as ViacomCBS, Warner Bros. Worldwide TV Marketing, Sony Music Entertainment, PBS Digital Studios, Nice Shoes, and Crunchyroll. This year’s edition received over 11,000 entries and saw an increase in global submissions from Australia, Mexico, across Europe (Germany, Spain, France) and Asia (Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan).

    This year’s Gold animated winners include The Walt Disney Company, Europe & Africa, for the Disney Junior Xmas Multiproperty Spot, WeTransfor for Aline – “The French Dispatch, Ingenuity Studios for Dolly Parton – “Blue Bonnet Breeze”, Gladius Studios for Slimies ep. 1 “Bloo” and Aflac – “The Park Bench.” Find the complete database of winners at tellyawards.com.

     

    Paper Owl Films accepts the RTS NI Programme Award for Animation
    Paper Owl Films accepts the RTS NI Programme Award for Animation

    The winners of the Royal Television Society Northern Ireland (RTS NI) 7th Programme Awards were announced at a glittering awards ceremony in City Hall, Belfast hosted by actress and TV presenter Denise Van Outen and sponsored by Ka-Boom. Paper Owl Films was awarded the Children’s and/or Animation prize (sponsored by Millar McCall Wylie) for its emotional TV movie Sol, for TG4, S4C and BBC Alba. Finalists in the category were Tyrone Productions’ My Life: Made to Measure and Zodiak Kids Studios’ Secret Life of Boys.

     

    ldr sesh

    If you missed the recent live-streamed Clubhouse watch-along for Love, Death + Robots Vol. 3 with directors David Fincher, Tim Miller, Jennifer Yuh Nelson and Alberto Mielgo, don’t worry: A full replay of the virtual event is now available. Check it out at clubhouse.com.

     

    The Cave
    The Cave

    The 28th annual Palm Springs International ShortFest returns to hold all of its screenings in-theater at the Camelot in Palm Springs Cultural Center from June 21-27. The festival will screen 51 curated programs showcasing 300 films including 38 World Premieres, 17 International Premieres, 35 North American Premieres and 18 U.S. Premieres. More than 5,800 short films from 134 countries were submitted. The festival has several Oscar-qualifying competitions, including Best Animated Short (selected films below). The complete line-up and schedule is available at psfilmfest.org.

    Animation

    • Anxious Body (France/Japan) by Yoriko Mizushiri
    • Bestia (Chile) by Hugo Covarrubias
    • Boobs (Canada) by Marie Valade
    • Cat and Moth (Canada/U.K.) by India Barnardo
    • The Cave (South Korea) by Kim Jinman, Chon Jiyoung (World Premiere)
    • Cradle (Romania) by Paul Mureşan
    • Do Not Feed the Pigeons (U.K.) by Antonin Niclass (U.S. Premiere)
    • The Fall (Canada) by Desirae Witte
    • Fall of the Ibis King (Ireland) by Mikai Geronimo, Josh O’Caoimh
    • Five Cents (U.S.) by Aaron Hughes
    • The Fourth Wall (Iran) by Mahboobeh Kalaee
    • Girl in the Water (Taiwan) by Shi-Rou Huang
    • Homebird (U.K.) by Ewa Smyk
    • In His Mercy (Germany) by Christoph Büttner (North American Premiere)
    • Laika & Nemo (Germany) by Jan Gadermann, Sebastian Gadow
    • Life Is a Particle Time Is a Wave (U.S.) by Daniel Zvereff
    • Lost Brain (Switzerland) by Isabelle Favez (U.S. Premiere)
    Lost Brain
    Lost Brain
    • Louis I. King of the Sheep (Germany/U.S.) by Markus Wulf (North American Premiere)
    • The Most Boring Granny in the Whole World (Germany) by Damaris Zielke (North American Premiere)
    • Night (Germany/Qatar/Palestine/Jordan) by Ahmad Saleh
    • Night of the Living Dread (U.K.) by Ida Melum
    • The Ocean Duck (U.S.) by Huda Razzak
    • On The Surface (Iceland/U.S.) by Fan Sissoko
    • Rest in Piece (Germany/France) by Antoine Antabi (North American Premiere)
    • The Seine’s Tears (France) by Yanis Belaid, Eliott Benard, Nicolas Mayeur, Etienne Moulin, Hadrien Pinot, Lisa Vicente, Philippine Singer, Alice Letailleur
    • Sierra (Estonia) by Sander Joon
    • Somebody Take the Wheel (U.S.) by Kenzie Sutton
    • Something in the Garden (Chile) by Marcos Sánchez
    • Sprite Fright (Netherlands) by Matthew Luhn, Hjalti Hjalmarsson
    • The Spyglass (Sweden) by Malin Erixon (International Premiere)
    • Steakhouse (Slovenia/Germany/France) by Špela Čadež
    • Swallow the Universe (France) by Nieto
    • Sweet Nothing (Switzerland) by Joana Fischer, Marie-Christine Kenov
    • Theorie und Praxis (Germany) by Leonie Minor
    • What I Had to Leave Behind (U.S.) by Sean David Christensen
    • Wolf and Cub (U.S.) by Marvin Bynoe
    • Your Mountain Is Waiting (U.K.) by Hannah Jacobs (North American Premiere)
    • Zoon (Germany) by Jonatan Schwenk

     

    OIAF

    More dates, updates and deadlines:

    • It’s the final week to register for Toon Boom‘s inaugural Animation Trends Event (ATE 2022), bringing together industry professionals, artists and animators from around the world who work with Harmony and Storyboard Pro. June 6-8. Register now (free).
    • NYICFF is presenting its third annual Industry Forum on June 14, 21 & 28. The online panels, presentations and conversations will focus on inclusive kids’ media, and are open to all industry pros (and hopefuls). Register here,
    • Max the Mutt College of Animation will be holding its 2022 Graduation Showcase both online (1-3 p.m. EST, June 22) and in-person in Toronto (6-8 p.m. EST, June 23) — a double opportunity to check out work by MTM’s Concept Art, Animation and Illustration grads and meet the next generation of toon talent. Registration by invitation, inquire with outreach@maxthemutt.com.
    • OIAF confirms the return of an in-person Pitch THIS! competition for Canadian animated series creators, presented with Mercury Filmworks as part of The Animation Conference. Submission deadline: June 30, 2022.
    Spark Animation
    Spark Animation poster designed by Dio Ostuni
    • THU kicks off the 8th Golden Ticket challenge. 2D/3D artists will create submissions that capture the sustainability theme “Agents of Change” fo a chance to win a full-ride ticket to the THU Main Event (Sept. 19-24, Tróia, Portugal), become a speaker, and more. Deadline: July 17, 2022.
    • SIGGRAPH Asia has opened submissions for its 2022 Computer Animation Festival, which will be held as part of the conference in Daegu, South Korea (Dec. 6-9). The competition is open to computer-animated shorts, feature films, music videos, commercials, visualizations, simulations, VFX, real-time animation and more. Deadline: July 31, 2022.
    • Spark CG announced its hybrid Oscar-accredited festival SPARK ANIMATION 2022 will be held Oct. 27 to Nov. 30. The 14th edition will offer online programming available to stream worldwide for the duration (powered by Eventive) as well as in-person programming in Vancouver, Canada. Submission deadline: Sept. 16, 2022.

     

     

  • ‘Belle Collector’s Edition’ Presents Acclaimed Hosoda Masterpiece in 4K Set

    ‘Belle Collector’s Edition’ Presents Acclaimed Hosoda Masterpiece in 4K Set

    Belle, the fantastical, heartfelt story of growing up in the age of social media from the acclaimed Academy Award-nominated director Mamoru Hosoda and Studio Chizu (Mirai, Wolf Children, Summer Wars), will be celebrated with a deluxe 4K release, coming August 30 from GKIDS with distribution by Shout! Factory.

    A three-disc set, Belle Collector’s Edition will include the film in UHD + Blu-ray, available both in the original Japanese and with an English dub, with a bonus disc of exciting new special features — all wrapped up in beautiful deluxe packaging.

    The extensive bonus features on Belle Collector’s Edition include those from the Blu-ray release, as well as several new captivating offerings, such as new special dialogues with cast, a new interview with Takeru Satoh, a new Eric Wong interview, and more.

    The release is available to pre-order now at ShoutFactory.com and GKIDS.com/store.

    Belle Collector's Edition
    Belle Collector’s Edition

    On Belle, the Japanese creative team worked in collaboration with a roster of international talents. Character designer Jin Kim (Moana, Tangled, Frozen) designed the titular Belle. Cartoon Saloon’s Oscar-nominated Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart (Wolfwalkers, Song of the Sea, The Secret of Kells) contributed artwork for the various virtual fantasy worlds within the film. And up-and-coming British architect and designer Eric Wong designed the virtual world of “U.”

    Taisei Iwasaki (Blood Blockade Battlefront., Studio Ghibli’s Giant God Warrior Appears in Tokyo) along with composing original songs and score, led multiple composers and produced the film’s music entirely. Other composers include the critically acclaimed Yuta Bandoh (Yuri on Ice) and BAFTA nominee Ludvig Forrsell (Kojima Productions’ Death Stranding). The film’s main theme “U” was performed by groundbreaking Japanese act millennium parade, led by the composer of the song, Daiki Tsuneta.

    Belle Collector's Edition
    Belle Collector’s Edition

    Synopsis: Suzu is a shy, everyday high school student living in a rural village. For years, she has only been a shadow of herself. But when she enters “U,” a massive virtual world, she escapes into the online persona of Belle, a gorgeous and globally-beloved singer. One day, her concert is interrupted by a monstrous creature chased by vigilantes. As their hunt escalates, Suzu embarks on an emotional and epic quest to uncover the identity of this mysterious “beast” and to discover her true self in a world where you can be anyone.

    Belle boasts a star-studded English voice cast including Chace Crawford, Manny Jacinto, Kylie McNeill and Hunter Schafer.

    Lauded by critics around the globe following its world premiere at the 74th Annual Cannes Film Festival, and North American premiere at the 59th Annual New York Film Festival, this stunningly animated film is a breathtaking adaptation of a tale as old as time that was nominated for five Annie Awards including Best Independent Feature.

    Belle Collector’s Edition bonus features:

    • NEW Behind the Japanese Dub
    • NEW Promo Events with Hosoda and Cast
    • NEW Special Dialogues with Cast (Kaho Nakamura, Takeru Satoh, Lilas Ikuta)
    • NEW Interview with Takeru Satoh
    • NEW Eric Wong Interview
    • The Making of Belle
    • A Conversation with Director Mamoru Hosoda
    • The Music of Belle
    • Hosoda Draws Belle
    • Finding the Voice of Belle
    • Scene Breakdowns
    • Mamoru Hosoda at Animation Is Film
    • Design Gallery
    • Kylie McNeill Performs “Gales of Song”
    • Trailers

    Belle was released on all major digital platforms on May 3,  and as a Blu-ray + DVD combo pack and in a Target-exclusive Steelbook edition May 17. (More info here.)

  • ‘Pip and Posy’ Enjoy More Playtime with Season 2

    ‘Pip and Posy’ Enjoy More Playtime with Season 2

    Pip and Posy, the hit preschool series from multiple Oscar-nominated Magic Light Pictures, has been recommissioned for a second 52  x 7’ season to debut in early 2023 on Milkshake! on Channel 5 and Sky Kids and NOW in the U.K. and ROI.

    Pip and Posy is the first joint co-production between Paramount and Sky and the show launched to acclaim in March 2021.

    “We’re delighted that Pip and Posy has been such a hit with the audience,” said Louise Bucknole, VP Programming – Kids, Paramount. “We are very happy to commission a second series of this endearing show which has quickly found its way into the hearts of our young viewers, where they can relate to the stories of friendship, creative play and being a preschooler.”

    The show centers on two best friends whose lives revolve around a wonderful world of play. Packed with warmth and humor, the series is a joyful celebration of their great friendship with all its ups and downs, laughter and games.

    Season 2 will build on the success of the first series which is one of the top rated shows on Milkshake! (3 million viewers since launch). Pip and Posy has also seen significant growth across its own social media platforms on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.

    “We aim to bring our youngest audience the very best entertainment and Pip and Posy has proved to be a show preschoolers and their families love,” said Lucy Murphy, Director of Kids at Sky U.K. & Ireland. “We’re hugely looking forward to seeing what further fun and games the lovable pair will be getting up to in series two!”

    Magic Light has sold the show worldwide, securing major international broadcast partners including ZDF (Germany), FTV (France), RAI Yoyo (Italy), ABC (Australia), SVT (Sweden), Hop! Channel (Israel), NPO Zapp (Netherlands), CTV (Czech Republic), Asiana (South Korea), PTS (Taiwan), DR (Denmark), YLE (Finland), SYN (Iceland), NRK (Norway), RTV (Slovenia) and TVO (Canada). It will also air on Nick Junior U.K. from this spring.

    Michael Rose, Co-Founder of Magic Light, commented, “Pip and Posy is Magic Light’s first animated series and we’re thrilled that it’s got off to such a successful start. We’re delighted that Milkshake!, Sky and ZDF share our passion for the show, and we’re looking forward to bringing more episodes to our young audience.”

    Pip and Posy has been jointly commissioned by Louise Bucknole for Milkshake! on Channel 5 and Lucy Murphy for Sky Kids with the participation of ZDF, Germany. The series is executive produced by Michael Rose and produced by Vici King for Magic Light Pictures. The showrunner at Magic Light is Jeroen Jaspaert (Stick Man, The Highway Rat). Animation services are provided by Blue Zoo, where the director is Sean McCormack.

    Magic Light Pictures holds the global distribution and merchandising rights to Pip and Posy (excluding publishing) and is planning a full consumer products programme to complement the property with the first products due at retail this year whilst the online shop went live at the end of 2021. The Pip and Posy characters are also appearing in Milkshake! Live and will be touring nationwide from February 2022 through to 2023.

  • Trailer: ‘Akissi’ Special Brings Kid Comics Hero to Boomerang Africa

    Trailer: ‘Akissi’ Special Brings Kid Comics Hero to Boomerang Africa

    Tag along for a laugh-out-loud African adventure with Akissi: A Funny Little Brother,  premiering on Boomerang Africa on Thursday, June 16 at 8:45 CAT.

    The half-hour special follows a fearless little girl, Akissi, and her monkey friend, Boubou, as they set out on hilarious adventures in their modern-day African city. The show is based on the best-selling comic book series by critically acclaimed Ivorian writer Marguerite Abouet and French author/illustrator Mathieu Sapin.

    Akissi: A Funny Little Brother combines humor, energy and a universal style to tell the stories of this small but fierce little girl and her monkey best friend. It also paints a portrait of a lively, vibrant and expressive Africa, far from the usual clichés, which will become as familiar to the viewers as it is to Akissi and her friends.

    “We are delighted to present the world of Marguerite Abouet to our sub-Saharan African audiences,” said Ariane Suveg, VP Head of Kids Channels, Warner Bros. Discovery, France, Africa & Israel. “Akissi is a free, curious, mischievous and caring heroine in contemporary Africa’s energetic and vibrant environment. Through this special, we are increasing our animation offering aimed at young African audiences and working towards a diversity of characters in unique stories.”

    With sales of more than 115 000 copies and translated into nine languages, the Akissi book series, like the animated special, is inspired by Marguerite Abouet’s childhood in Abidjan.

    “Akissi invites children to go off into a warm and chaotic unknown world, an uninhibited and relaxed roam through an Africa that is so near and yet so far away,” says the writer. “It’s like an open-air theatre where these young characters and their sense of hospitality unceremoniously grab your attention. Even though they have some flaws, they are always happy and active, and children from all over Africa will be able to identify with them.”

    Akissi: A Funny Little Brother is produced by Ellipsanime and was co-financed by France Télévisions for France and Warner Bros. Discovery for Africa. The English-speaking version was dubbed using local South African talents through The African Animation Network.  Many of the young voice artists reign from the National School of the Arts in Johannesburg, including 16-year-old Phophi Muleya in the titular role.

    Other African creative talents include Central African-born French singer and musician Bibi Tanga, who composed Akissi‘s jazz, funk and afrobeat-influenced music, and Ivorian line producer Angelin Paul from French studio GHWA Productions.

  • New on Netflix: June’s Animation Highlights

    New on Netflix: June’s Animation Highlights

    Netflix has unveiled its lineup of new series, season and movie premieres throughout June, and despite the gloomy reports of canceled projects, there are still some promising animated titles suitable to a variety of audiences coming down the pipe this month.

    Of course, the month kicks off with the second annual Geeked Week virtual genre fan event (June 6-10), jam-packed with teasers, first-looks and even more announcements of what’s to come. (Read more here.)

    The streamer is also getting into the spirit of LGBTQIA+ visibility with its special “Shine with Pride” collection, launching May 31 for Pride Month. Queer stories are in the spotlight, with documentaries, dramas, comedies, including The Mitchells vs. the Machines, Big Mouth, The Legend of Korra, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, The Dragon Prince and Dean DeBlois’s How to Train Your Dragon in the “LGBTQ Directors” section.

    June Animation Highlights:

    June 6

    • Action Pack Season 2 (Netflix Family) – Superheroes Clay, Wren, Treena and Watts are back to make new friends, set things right and get any villain to play nice in their town of Hope Springs!
    Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness.
    Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness

    June 10

    • Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness (Netflix Family) – >A brave young animal explorer teams up with two trusty friends to find a powerful artifact before his greedy uncle can get his paws on it.

    June 13

    • Charlie’s Colorforms City: Mighty Movie Adventures (Netflix Family) – Charlie creates fun stories using different shapes, and he needs your help! Come along for kid-friendly adventures here, there — and everywhere.
    • Charlie’s Colorforms City: Miss Weather and Friends (Netflix Family) – Charlie creates fun stories using different shapes, and he needs your help! Come along for kid-friendly adventures here, there — and everywhere.
    Dead End: Paranormal Park
    Dead End: Paranormal Park

    June 16

    • Dead End: Paranormal Park (Netflix Family) – Teens Barney and Norma become fast friends and help each other through tough times — while having tons of spooky fun working at a haunted theme park!
    • Karma’s World Music Videos Season 2 (Netflix Family) – From a best friend anthem to a brainy bop, this collection of tunes from Karma shows her singing, shining and freestyling alongside friends and family.
    Spriggan
    Spriggan

    June 18

    • SPRIGGAN (Netflix Anime; Japan) – An ancient alien civilization’s relics on Earth hold dangerous powers. The ARCAM corporation’s Spriggan agents must keep them out of the wrong hands.

    June 22

    • One Piece New Episodes
    • Sing 2

    June 24

    • Angry Birds: Summer Madness Season 2 (Netflix Family) – Sparks and feathers fly when a teenage Red, Chuck, Bomb and Stella spend a wild summer together with other Angry Birds at Camp Splinterwood!
    Chip and Potato: Chip’s Holiday
    Chip and Potato: Chip’s Holiday

    June 27

    • Chip and Potato: Chip’s Holiday(Netflix Family; Canada) – Falling coconuts are putting a damper on Chip and Potato’s pugtastic vacation! With the help of a friendly tamarin and a new friend, they hatch a plan to get a puggy good sleep.

    June 30

    • BASTARD‼ -Heavy Metal, Dark Fantasy– (Netflix Anime; Japan) – Dark Schneider, a powerful wizard sealed in the body of a boy, embarks on a quest to conquer the world, accompanied by new friends and old enemies.
    • Sharkdog Season 2 (Netflix Family) – Sharkdog and his human pals return for a new season filled with adventures.

    LAST CALL – Leaving June 30

    • Corpse Bride
    • How to Train Your Dragon
    • Shrek Forever After
    BASTARD
    BASTARD‼ -Heavy Metal, Dark Fantasy-