GKIDS announced today it has acquired the North American distribution rights for Summer Ghost, the debut “short feature” from acclaimed Japanese illustrator loundraw. The 45-minute film opened November 2021 in Japan; the stateside release will pair a new English-language dub with a production documentary and additional special content.
“We are very excited to introduce American audiences to a major new talent,” said David Jesteadt, President at GKIDS. “With Summer Ghost, loundraw has transferred his emotive illustration style to a story of human connection that meets our current moment.”
Summer Ghost
Synopsis: A local urban legend claims that lighting fireworks at an abandoned airfield will call the “summer ghost,” a spirit that can answer any question. Three troubled teenagers — Tomoya, Aoi and Ryo — do not know each other yet, but each has their own reasons to show up one day. When a sparkler is lit, a ghost named Ayane appears, and she reveals she is only visible to those “who are about to touch their death.” The three teens return home, but Tomoya soon begins visiting the airfield alone, as he becomes obsessed with the mystery surrounding Ayane and the true purpose of her visits.
Developed from a single illustration by loundraw, the film features original character designs from the artist, and is produced by Flat Studio — the all-new animation/creative services studio he established in 2019 (High Card, Vivy -Fluorite Eye’s Song). Joining him on the project are novelist Hirotaka “Otsuichi” Adachi (Goth, Calling You, Zoo) who wrote the screenplay, and internationally renowned pianist Akira Kosemura for the soundtrack.
Summer Ghost
Celebrated for his detailed spatial designs, use of transparent, airy colors and attention to depth of field, loundraw began his career as an illustrator when he was a teenager, finding early success on online platforms. He also created key visuals for various notable writers, including illustration for Yuro Sumino’s novel I Want to Eat Your Pancreas, which was later adapted to a theatrical film. Loundraw’s debut original animation Until Dreams Awaken was released on YouTube in collaboration with the wildly popular Japanese alt rock band Bump of Chicken, and swiftly hit over 2 million views. He was also concept designer for the recent anime adaptation of Josee, the Tiger and the Fish.
Following its pick-up by Paramount Animation announced in January, the animated reimagining of Mel Brooks classic Blazing Saddles has been redubbed Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank with a fresh poster. A first-look trailer will debut this Saturday, April 9 during the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards (broadcast begins at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT), followed by a full trailer on Monday, April 11.
Paws of Fury will hit theaters on July 15.
Formerly titled Blazing Samurai, the CG-animated family adventures follows Hank (voiced by Michael Cera), a loveable mutt with big dreams of becoming a Samurai. When he becomes the new sheriff of Kakamucho, he finds he may have bitten off more than he can chew: the town is inhabited solely by cats, and the local warlord (Ricky Gervais) who hired him is bent on destroying it for his own gain. Hank’s only shot is to bring the great samurai Jimbo (Samuel L. Jackson) out of retirement as his mentor.
The voice cast also features George Takei, Michelle Yeoh, Djimon Hounsou, Kathy Shim, Kylie Kuioka, Gabriel Iglesias, Aasif Mandvi and Mel Brooks.
Rob Minkoff (The Lion King 1994) and veteran animation artist Mark Koetsier (Rumble, Pocahontas) team up to direct the pic from an original screenplay by Ed Stone and Nate Hopper, revised by Robert Ben Garant and Minkoff. Producers are Minkoff, Adam Nagle and Guy Collins; executive producers are Alex Schwartz, Adrian Politowski and Martin Metz.
Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank is presented by Aniventure and financer Align in association with HB Wink Animation (Extinct) and GFM Animation (Duck Duck Goose), animated by Cinesite Montreal (Riverdance: The Animated Adventure).
Hit puppet series Donkey Hodie has been greenlit for a second season on PBS KIDS, set to premiere in Spring 2023. Inspired by original characters from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, the social-emotional learning series for kids ages 3-5 empowers viewers to dream big and overcome obstacles through practicing skills including resilience, persistence and problem solving.
“Since its premiere last year, Donkey Hodie has brought engaging stories full of fun, humor, and important life lessons to kids across the country, helping them to see a world of possibilities,” said Sara DeWitt, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Children’s Media and Education, PBS. “We couldn’t be happier to bring a second season of adventures from Donkey and her friends to PBS KIDS.”
The series is produced by Fred Rogers Productions, the award-winning children’s educational media organization behind multiple well-loved, Emmy-winning PBS KIDS series, including Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood; and Spiffy Pictures, the award-winning production company behind many acclaimed series for kids and families, including PBS KIDS’ Emmy-nominated animated hit Nature Cat.
“Woven into every light-hearted Donkey Hodie story is the central theme of resilience, which is an essential skill for children — and it’s one that can be learned,” said Ellen Doherty, Chief Creative Officer for Fred Rogers Productions, who developed the show and serves as an executive producer. “Donkey and her pals model positivity and persistence through stories focusing on being flexible and adapting to change, cooperating with your friends, managing big feelings, and more. Giving young children examples of how to overcome obstacles is especially important now given the unique challenges of the last two years.”
Series creators/exec producers Adam Rudman and David Rudman, Co-Founders of Spiffy Pictures, enthused, “We are excited to tell more silly, surprising, and endearing stories as we dive deeper into these beloved characters’ backstories and introduce kids and their families to some new neighbors and locales of the whimsical world of Someplace Else.”
Season 2 of Donkey Hodie will feature 25 half-hour episodes including two specials. This season will introduce viewers to new pals and locations in Someplace Else, a world where everyone is welcome and can pursue their big dreams. They’ll also learn more about the series’ main characters and explore all-new stories, while modeling and practicing key learning goals — including empathy, perspective-taking, understanding and managing feelings, and more.
Inspired by the funny, quirky side of children’s TV pioneer Fred Rogers, Donkey Hodie is set in the whimsical land of Someplace Else. The imaginative puppet series follows the adventures of Donkey Hodie, an enthusiastic and charming go-getter who takes on each day with curiosity and resilience, and her pals: Purple Panda, her loyal and empathetic best friend who wears his big heart on his sleeve; Duck Duck, a practical, quick-witted young mallard who loves to figure things out; and Bob Dog, an energetic and eager canine who is always ready to fetch a ball or boogie to music.
Donkey Hodie
In January 2022, Donkey Hodie was the #2 PBS KIDS series with Kids 2-8 and also reached 2.4 million parents of young children (per Nielsen National Toolbox). The series has earned nominations for a 2021 Television Critics Association Award (Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming) and 2022 Writers Guild of America Award (Children’s Episodic, Long Form & Specials).
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing is the publishing partner for the series with a wide range of books that began rolling out in December 2021. U.S. agent Licensing Street is developing a full-scale merchandising program for Donkey Hodie. The debut range of toys from Jada Toys (master toy) is set to begin arriving at retail next spring. The show’s first album, Here Comes Donkey Hodie, in partnership with Warner Music Group’s Arts Music division, will debut on April 8. The album will be available on all digital platforms and features 16 tracks from the series, including the theme song as well as three reimagined Fred Rogers songs from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.
Donkey Hodie is exec produced by creators Adam and David Rudman (Spiffy) and Doherty (Fred Rogers Prod.), who developed the series. Supervising producers are Kristin DiQuollo (Fred Rogers Prod.) and Caroline Bandolik (Spiffy).
Animated Women UK, the organization supporting women in the U.K.’s VFX and animation industries, will be hosting its highly acclaimed Helen North Achieve Programme twice in a single year for the first time. The goal of this highly interactive program is to ‘help participants to help themselves’ by developing a greater understanding of how to manage their own careers within a supportive network of like-minded professionals.
This year, the program will be run as a hybrid model with two of the workshops in person and the rest online. Previously in 2020 and 2021, Achieve was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The last two years have been difficult for everyone, which makes the fact that we are able to run The Helen North Programme for the fifth time, all the more special,” said Louise Hussey, Co-Chair, VFX, Animated Women UK.
“At AWUK, we are passionate about our advocacy for women in the VFX and animation industries, and in teaching those women to advocate for themselves. This program is designed to do that by the bucketloads! It is with heartfelt thanks to ScreenSkills, and Escape Studio for their support, and to our truly wonderful training specialists Jan Armstrong and Marianne O’Connor, that we are proud to say Achieve Programme 2022 is go!”
The first program will be held in Spring 2022, aimed at participants in South England and Wales, with in-person workshops in London. The second program will be run in Autumn and aimed at the North of England and Scotland with in-person workshops in Scotland. The deadline for Spring applications is 9 a.m. GMT on Monday, April 11. Autumn applications will open later this year.
“I am so excited that the Achieve Programme will be coming to Scotland this year,” said Sueann Rochester, AWUK’s Regional Working Group Chair & Scotland Representative. “It’s fantastic that Animated Women UK have really championed bringing the program to the nations and regions. The course allows women in animation and VFX to realize their full potential and boosts career development. The network of alumni is also a big plus!“
Now in its fifth year, the Helen North Achieve Programme is an intensive introduction to strategic career management for women in VFX and animation. Funded by the ScreenSkills Animation Skills Fund, with contributions from U.K. animation productions and with additional support from Escape Studios, the program addresses real challenges and barriers in order to help women fulfill their potential.
Over 100 women have already participated in Achieve, which is run by Jan Armstrong and Marianne O’Connor, and informed by in-depth industry research with input from renowned VFX and animation experts including Louise Hussey, Executive VFX Producer at Industrial Light & Magic, and Dara McGarry, Operations Manager at DNEG Animation.
“The ScreenSkills Animation Skills Fund is pleased to continue to support the Achieve program, a brilliant initiative that enables women to develop their careers and their networks in the animation and VFX industries,” commented Abigail Addison, Animation Production Liaison Executive, ScreenSkills.
Genius Brands International today announced it has filed its Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2021, and provided a business update in the form of a letter to shareholders from Chairman & CEO Andy Heyward. The Company reports a 217% increase in revenue ($7.9 million) over 2020 ($2.5M), and a net cash, cash equivalents & marketable securities total of $116M+ as of December 31, 2021.
The letter also anticipated the imminent completion of Genius Brands’ acquisition of WOW! Unlimited Media (wowunlimited.co), which itself took in $64.2M in revenue last year. Just hours later, the purchase was announced. The transaction was completed pursuant to a plan of arrangement under Division 5 of Part 9 of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia), for total consideration comprised of 10,365,823 shares of Genius Brands common stock, 691,262 exchangeable shares in the capital of the purchaser, Wow Exchange Co., and C$47,696,640 in cash (about $38M USD). WOW! is a leading animation-focused entertainment company with two established studios: Frederator Studios (U.S.) and Mainframe Studios, one of Canada’s largest, multi-faceted animation production studios. WOW! also operates Channel Frederator Network on YouTube.
This move builds on the Company’s strategic, controlling investment in European kids’ content/broadcast giant Your Family Entertainment and linking up OG kids’ SVOD Ameba and its 13,000+ episodes into the new Kartoon Channel! Kidaverse, on track to launch April 15.
Now carried on nearly every major VOD platform, Kartoon Channel! had a big year in 2021, showing increases across key metrics. Total application installs went up a whopping 1,381%, with further gains in unique users (+51%), hours watched (+23%), revenue (+282%) and more. The channel continues to grow its catalog offerings, licensing top children’s content including Scooby-Doo!, Peppa Pig, PJ Masks, Transformers, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Minecraftand much more. Meanwhile, the new Kartoon Channel! Worldwide programming block Kartoon Genius has launched across LatAm and MENA, reaching 67 countries, and into APac through Samsung TV Plus in Australia.
Heading into 2022, Genius Brands is planning big things for the 100th Birthday of Stan Lee. Through its controlling interest in Stan Lee Universe, the Company controls the rights to the name, the likeness, the signature and the consumer product licensing to the iconic creator, and a package of up to seven properties each year from his post-Marvel creations.
Stan Lee Universe is expected to roll out in 2022 concurrent with the celebration of Lee’s 100th birthday on December 28, and a broad Stan Lee Centennial licensing program.
The SLU is being developed by Lee’s friend and collaborator, Michael Uslan (Executive Producer of Batman) and with original art from Greg Hildenbrand (creator of the Star Wars and Lord of the Rings posters).
Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten, executive produced by and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, has totted up 11 million hourswatched on Kartoon Channel!, as well as 83.1 million views on YouTube. The series recently launched in China on Alibaba Group’s Youku, the largest kids’ streaming platform in the country. SLSK is currently rolling out to Kartoon Channel! platforms worldwide.
In other Genius Brands originals news, Shaq’s Garage is trucking along to its near debut. The letter included a sneak peek at the animated series, starring and executive produced by Shaquille O’Neal. The show is inspired by the NBA legend’s love of cars and desire to teach kids the values of respecting differences, working together and giving back to their communities.
Plus, Rainbow Rangers, currently in the advanced stages of production for Season 3, has now sold to Netflix, HBO Max, Paramount+, Nickelodeon LatAm and broadcasters around the world, as well as Kartoon Channel! in the U.S. The new season will premiere exclusively on Kartoon Channel! Kidaverse.
Prior to the annual letter, it was announced that another Genius Brands acquisition, Chizcomm Ltd. and Chizcomm Beacon Media, has been rebranded as Beacon Media Group. Led by Donna MacNeil (President, Beacon Communications) in Toronto and Kathleen Campisano (CMO & GM, Beacon Media) in New York, the rebrand is the next step in the continuing growth of North America’s largest children’s and toy marketing/media agency.
Read the full letter to shareholders on the Genius Brands blog.
On the tailfeathers of the global success of animated series Puffins, a new action-packed family adventure is ready to take flight in Puffins Impossible — starring Johnny Depp as the voice of leading bird, Johnny Puff. Produced by Iervolino & Lady Bacardi Entertainment (ILBE) with Peter Nalli as showrunner, the 18-episode first season launched April 9 to buy or rent on the Apple TV app, Amazon Prime Video and Google Play.
Puffins Impossible follows the adventures of five Arctic avians: Johnny Puff, Didi, Pie, Tic and Tac. Every day was just regular fun for our puffins … until they touched a meteor and unleashed incredible superpowers of speed, strength, intelligence and empathy. With help and guidance from their mentor Johnny Puff, they transform into Tactik, Didi Damage, Megapie and Mystic — a unified superhero team. While they are still just puffins with their own disagreements and issues, when help is needed, they are quick to put their differences aside, suit up and fly out to save the day.
Puffins Impossible
Themes such as gender, racial equality and environmental protection are among the important and universal issues addressed throughout the series. Amidst the absurd situations and hilarious gags, kids are entertainingly introduced to these important themes resonating in society today.
Puffins Impossible is the first animated series produced in the Republic of Serbia in coordination with ILBE’s daughter company, Iervolino Studios, where it was created, and Archangel Digital Studios in Belgrade.
Puffins Impossible
Puffins was born of the popular feature film Arctic Dogs, released theatrically in 2019 and becoming a top-rated animated film on Netflix. ILBE acquired the spin-off rights of the characters from the original film, including all merchandising rights, commercial exploitation, soundtrack and print publishing rights, and created Arctic Friends as a short-form animated series of five-minute episodes. The increased popularity of Arctic Friends led to Puffins.
Puffins Impossible
“The tremendous response we’re seeing to the Puffins franchise is incredibly encouraging and speaks to the global demand for innovative high quality short animated family content adapted to all screen types, including mobile phones for streaming platforms worldwide, which we are dedicated to making in Iervolino Studios in Serbia alongside our partners at Archangel Studios,” said producer Andrea Iervolino. “Puffins Impossible is a fun, engaging spin-off, true to the ethos of the Puffins franchise that has brought enjoyment to kids around the world.”
Screen Australia and Cheeky Little Media have confirmed that a second season of breakout Aussie animated series Kangaroo Beach is hopping along. Planning for the new adventures is underway following a greenlight from broadcast partner ABC Kids.
“Kangaroo Beach has quickly become a beloved ABC Kids Brand thanks to the lovable surf cadets who’ve connected via humor and genuine warmth,” said Libbie Doherty, ABC’s Head of Children’s Production. “The distinctive Australian beach setting is a rich storyworld with plenty of fun and action to explore beach culture that is relatable to kids all over the world in the new episodes for next summer.”
The second season will offer further beach-based fun with the four furry lifeguards-in-training, Pounce, Frizzy, Neville and Gemma, and continue to explore new water safety themes for preschoolers and their families. Australian actor & writer Miranda Tapsell (Back to the Outback, Love Child) will also be joining the cast as a guest character.
Key partners onboard for S2 include the ABC, the Australian Children’s Television Foundation and Surf Life Saving Australia. ACTF will also distribute the series. Cheeky Little Commercial continues as the global brand manager.
“We’re so happy to be heading into Season 2 of Kangaroo Beach. Congratulations to the entire Cheeky Little team for making a wonderful show that resonates so strongly with kids and their families,” said Patrick Egerton, Cheeky Little’s Executive Producer. “After the rapid success here in Australia it’s madly exciting to see the show make a huge splash in the U.K., LatAm and beyond. I think 2022 will be a big year for our little lifeguard cadets!”
Since the series burst onto screens in 2020, it’s quickly become a smash hit with its young audience and their families, amassing an average of 1.6 million views* per episode on broadcast TV and ABC iview and securing a top #3 position of most viewed program of 2021 (within both kids and adults’ series). This was in addition to 14.9 million plays** on ABC iview within the past year. The Summer Special released at the end of 2021 drove further success, bolstered by the launch of consumer products, including a book series, kids’ swimwear and clothing, bedding and toys available at major retailers and select independents.
“We are excited to support the second season of this charming, funny and educational series from Cheeky Little Media that has made waves around the world,” said Grainne Brunsdon, Screen Australia’s Head of Content. “We look forward to this series engaging young viewers on the ABC later in the year.”
Bernadette O’Mahony, ACTF Head of Content, added, “ACTF is pleased to be teaming up with Cheeky Little on Kangaroo Beach and to be able to bring this delightful and positive series to the world.”
Season 1 of KangarooBeach is currently streaming on ABC iview and the ABC Kids app in Australia.
Acclaimed animated preschool series Mira, Royal Detective will culminate with four extended-length specials that celebrate Bollywood music and dancing, while also familiarizing young viewers with different perspectives and critical thinking. The specials will be presented beginning May 2 through June 20 on Disney Junior. The series is also available on Disney+.
Since its premiere in March 2020 and for more than 100 stories, Mira, Royal Detective has highlighted the rich, diverse cultures of India. Each episode centers on the clever heroine Mira and her friends, including her sleuthing mongoose sidekicks Mikku and Chikku, as they help others by solving mysteries in their kingdom community of Jalpur. Among the show’s milestones are holiday episodes centered on Holi and Diwali and an Eid al-Fitr episode.
Mira, Royal Detective also boasts a talented South Asian cast, including Freida Pinto, Kal Penn, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Hannah Simone, Jameela Jamil, Aparna Nancherla, Aasif Mandvi, Sonal Shah, Parvesh Cheena and Leela Ladnier as the voice of Mira, with guest stars Rizwan Manji, Ayana Manji, Zehra Fazal and Kausar Mohammed.
The upcoming Bollywood-themed specials celebrate the iconic genre with higher stakes mystery and adventure, robust musical performances, spectacular costuming and elaborate dance numbers by series’ choreographer/dance consultant Nakul Dev Mahajan. Among the guest stars are Lilly Singh, Nik Dodani, Sendhil Ramamurthy, Punam Patel, Megan Suri, Kapil Talwalkar and ESPN sportscaster Kevin Negandhi.
“These specials bring Bollywood dance, a genre that I love deeply, front and center for kids and their entire families, too,” said Mahajan. “This show gave me the chance to proudly showcase so many styles of dance, including Kathak, which I never thought I would see on American TV, and it’s icing on the cake to now focus entirely on Bollywood dance.”
Mira, Royal Detective is executive produced by Sascha Paladino (Miles from Tomorrowland), developed by story editor and co-producer Becca Topol (Elena of Avalor), with IW Group’s Shagorika Ghosh Perkins serving as cultural consultant and consulting producer. It is a production of Wild Canary in association with Disney Junior, with animation by Technicolor India.
“I speak for everyone who made this show when I say it’s been a joyful and rewarding experience to be part of a series that highlights South Asian culture in such a bold and beautiful way,” Ghosh commented. “We’re so proud of its contribution to the cultural landscape and what it offers a generation of young children.”
The schedule for the four specials is:
Monday, May 2
“The Mystery of the Legendary Sword” – Mira and her friends embark on an epic quest to find a legendary sword said to belong to the rightful ruler of Jalpur.
Monday, May 16
“Mikku and Chikku’s Hometown Mystery” – Mira is thrilled to accompany Mikku and Chikku to their hometown, a mongoose-filled village where she meets their parents, joins a local festival and helps solve a surprising mystery.
Monday, May 30
“The Mystery of the Royal Flight” – When Neel’s new flying invention gets a mysterious hole during a big royal event, Mira must figure out what happened before it’s too late.
Monday, June 20
“The Big Jalpur Wedding Mystery” – It’s the day of a huge, joyful wedding in Jalpur, and Mira and her friends must track down the missing groom so the wedding can go on as planned.
Mira, Royal Detective was recently nominated for a National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC) Vision Award that recognizes diverse, inclusive programming in all its forms. It was also nominated for Annie Awards, recognizing its original music written by songwriters Matthew Tishler and Jeannie Lurie and composer Amritha Vaz. Vaz was also nominated for an ASCAP Film and Television Music Award for the series’ score.
The Mira character debuted at Disney Parks in October 2020 and, in May 2021, led the Disney Junior Stars Motorcade at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida. Mira will also make a special appearance during the upcoming Disney Junior Fun Fest taking place at Disney California Adventure Park on April 29. Extensions of Mira, Royal Detective include storybooks, picture books and early reader books from Disney Press; soundtracks from Walt Disney Records; a DVD from Walt Disney Studios; apparel and accessories from shopDisney.com; and a licensed product line from Just Play, including dolls, plush and role-play toys available at major retailers.
The BBC has ordered a series of six animated specials based on the work of beloved English author-illustrator Quentin Blake from Eagle Eye Drama. Announced at MIPTV, Quentin Blake’s Box of Treasures will adapt the bestselling books Zagazoo, Loveykins, Jack and Nancy, Snuff, Angel Pavement and Mrs. Armitage on Wheels with traditional, hand-drawn animation inspired by the artist’s distinct illustrative style.
“Sir Quentin Blake is one of the world’s most iconic and best-loved authors for readers of all ages and we are honored to be working with him to bring this landmark box set of animations to life for BBC, and to be adding such a prestigious modern classic to our growing animation slate,” Eagle Eye Drama Executive Producer Tess Cuming said the announcement. “Blake’s quirky, original and funny stories have been enjoyed by children and their families for decades and we’re delighted Eagle Eye along with our partners have this unique opportunity to bring them to the screen for the first-time capturing Blake’s iconic, inimitable style.”
The prodco previously created Quentin Blake’s Clown for Channel 4, debuting Christmas 2020.
Quentin Blake’s Box of Treasures was commissioned by BBC’s Head of Commission (7+) Sarah Muller, and will be produced by Eagle Eye Drama in co-production with Creative Conspiracy in association with animation studios Spicy Acorn (Ghent, Belgium), Tchack (Lille, France) and Kong (London).
The series will be directed by Gerrit Bekers and produced by BBC’s Cuming and Eagle Eye’s Creative Director for Animation Massimo Fenati, along with Creative Conspiracy’s Luc Van Driessche, with Eagle Eye’s Jo McGrath and Walter Iuzzolino overseeing the project.
Aardman is handling international distribution for the specials.
Quentin Blake [photo: David Levene/The Guardian]
“I am tremendously pleased to be working with Eagle Eye, who I’ve successfully teamed up with before, along with the BBC, on what will be the first ever series based on my work,” 89-year-old Blake added. “It will be most enjoyable to see characters from some of my books jumping off the pages and onto the television screen.”
Sir Quentin Blake has illustrated over 300 books since the 1960s, and served as Britain’s inaugural Children’s Laureate. He has received honors including the Hans Christian Andersen Award, France’s Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur, and was appointed CBE in 2005. Blake is represented by United Artists.
Pixar Animation Studios announced the promotion of the producer and director of its latest animated feature hit, Turning Red, to the studio’s development and creative leadership teams. The appointments were announced Tuesday by Variety.
Domee Shi
Director Domee Shi has been named Vice President of Creative, on an executive level par with Dan Scanlon (Onward), Peter Sohn (The Good Dinosaur) and Andrew Stanton (WALL-E). Reporting to Pixar President Jim Morris and Chief Creative Officer Peter Docter, Shi will help guide filmmakers at the studio through their production journeys as part of the renowned “Braintrust.”
A graduate of Sheridan College, Shi got her start at Pixar as an intern and was hired on as a story artist for Inside Out (2015), going on to work on The Good Dinosaur, Incredible 2 and Toy Story 4. She won the studio another Oscar with her 2018 short Bao, and with the release of Turning Red has taken her place as the first woman to solo direct a Pixar feature. The coming of age tale inspired by her own adolescence in early 2000s Toronto was the No. 1 film premiere on Disney+, according to the streamer.
Lindsey Collins
Producer Lindsey Collins has been promoted to the new position of Senior Vice President of Development, in charge of the development group shaping Pixar features and streaming originals for production. As part of the team charting the studio’s creative direction in support of Docter, and reports to Morris.
A nearly 25-year Pixar veteran, Collins’ credits include co-producer on WALL-E, producer on Finding Dory. As VP of Development, she helped spearhead the studio’s acclaimed SparkShorts program. “Pixar has always been a place that seeks to delight and surprise audiences and I am thrilled to be able to expand on that legacy and help shape what comes next, surrounded by some of the most diverse, unique and inspiring filmmakers and voices working today,” Collins stated.
Following the arrival last September of Lila Hannou as Director of Development and Strategy, the Audiovisual France Division of Média-Particiations, headed up by Caroline Audebert, is strengthening its team with the appointment of three producers:
Gaëlle Guiny
Gaëlle Guiny, a business school graduate and former music correspondent and documentary producer, began her animation career producing series for Films de la Perrine, then for Alphanim, which became Gaumont Animation. There, she worked as production manager, executive producer and finally development manager for France on 2D and 3D productions. She has worked with the major French and foreign animation companies, and helped launch the first French 52 x 11′ series produced in real time 3D at Miam! Animation.
Pierre Reyssat
Pierre Reyssat started his career in live-action film with Claude and Annie Miller before joining Onyx Films/On Entertainment’s production/post-production teams on projects including the animated films Renaissance and The Prodigies. He also contributed to the development of animated features The Little Prince, Mune: Guardian of the Moon and Tall Tales. At Method Animation, he worked on the series Seven & Me,Denver and Popples. He went on to develop several other features in the financing phase.
Audrey Serre
Audrey Serre graduated in editing & post production before deciding in 2010 to continue her training at the ARTFX school. She then joined the Cube Creative team as a production assistant. Working alongside Cécile Hergaux-Essame on projects such as Rovio’s Piggy Tales and Stella, she quickly progressed and in 2016 became production manager for commissioned projects for Futuroscope, including a film directed by Nicolas Deveaux, and in-house productions such as Kaeloo Seasons 3 & 4. She transitioned into development, working alongside Lionel Fages by the summer 2018 on Tangranimo, Pfffirates, Athleticus S3 & 4 and Chicky S2. Serre then worked on Cube Creative’s first adaptation, a 2D miniseries of Jean-Yves Ferri’s comic De Gaulle at the Beach for Arte, directed by Philippe Rolland.
Steve Totzke
Mattel, Inc. has promoted Steve Totzke to President and Chief Commercial Officer of the Company, it was announced today by Mattel Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ynon Kreiz, to whom Totzke reports. Since being named EVP & CCO in 2018, Totzke has been responsible for driving Mattel’s growth in markets worldwide and overseeing a unified global commercial organization. With the effectiveness of its transformation strategy and its turnaround now complete, the Company has evolved its strategy to grow Mattel’s IP-driven toy business and expand its entertainment offering.
Under Totzke’s leadership, Mattel has developed its e-commerce capabilities, evolved a “digital first” demand creation approach and expanded its reach to more than 488,000 brick and mortar stores in over 150 countries. In 2021, Mattel grew net sales 19% versus prior year and, per The NPD Group, the Company outpaced the industry in every measured market in 2021 and increased share for the second consecutive year.
Totzke has been with Mattel for nearly 25 years, taking on roles spanning several senior GM positions including sales, marketing and business operations. Prior to his previous promotion in 2018, he served as EVP Commercial for North America as well as several international leadership positions. Totzke serves on the Board of Directors of the Toy Association, the Mattel Children’s Foundation, and the Advisory Board for the Women in Toys Association. He received an MBA from Pepperdine University Graziadio School of Business and Management and was recently named a Notable Alumni by the university.
L-R: Brian McCauley, Brad Backofen, Colby Capes, Mack Neaton
Creative production studio Flavor (flavor.tv) and Cutters Studios have promoted several long-standing team members, announced by Flavor’s Executive Producer Neal Cohen and effective immediately.
Brian McCauley rises to Executive Creative Director. First connecting with Flavor as a freelancer in 2012, McCauley is a talented designer and animator whose credits include numerous top-rated Super Bowl spots and a growing list of creative-industry speaking engagements.
Brad Backofen ascends as Associate Creative Director. Since joining in 2011, he has championed the studio’s creative vision and worked to expand its talent roster, while helping create eye-popping campaigns for Nike, McDonald’s, Nissan and more.
Colby Capes, promoted to Associate Creative Director, also boarded in 2011. He has lent his distinct touch to high-profile campaigns for AICP, Coca-Cola and Getty Images, designed key art for films and created volumes of artwork beyond advertising.
Mack Neaton becomes Senior Art Director, having just graduated from Columbia College Chicago. Her growing list of accomplishments includes Design Grand Prizes from AICE’s Camp Kuleshov Chicago Awards; art director/featured artist cred for The Ocean Agency’s “Glowing Glowing Gone” Adobe & Pantone campaign; and director on the festival-touring indie MV for Carlile’s “Spare Me.”
Top L-R: Danny Casale [ph: Alex Stone], Kami Garcia, Marisela Escobedo. Bottom L-R: Tatenda Mbudzi, Michel Ledoux, Francis Pappilon.More moves:
Digital artist Danny Casale (a.k.a. Coolman Coffeedan) has signed with CAA for representation.
Marisela Escobedo has been appointed Senior Territory Manager, Latin America at Moonbug, managing all business for properties like CoComelon and Little Baby Bum across the region.
Novelist and comic-book writer Kami Garcia has teamed up with Tapas Media to resume her popular series, The Legion. The supernatural thriller will get a third installment exclusive to the tapas.io platform this year, preceded by new, updated versions of the first two books and webcomic adaptations of all three volumes.
Tatenda Mbudzi, a writer/actor/director/comedian/visual artist who has consulted for Triggerfish Animation and Disney, has been chosen as one of seven stellar African talents chosen for the VIS Social Impact writers’ room ‘Beyond the Binary: Fluid Voices’, let by Thishiwe Ziqubu.
Canada’s Youth Media Alliance announced this year’s Outstanding Achievement Award will go to puppeteer Michel Ledoux, a 42-year industry veteran. Director, animator & illustrator Francis Papillon will receive the Emerging Talent Award. The YMA’s Awards of Excellence gala will honor Canada’s best French-language youth programming on May 24.
A fresh, frenetic and fun new web series joins the MLP herd this week as My Little Pony: Tell Your Tale debuts on the brand’s official YouTube channel this Thursday, April 7. Free to watch and dropping new five-minute episodes each week, the series introduces My Little Pony‘s beloved next-generation characters in a sprightly 2D animation style and features upbeat, comedic stories that kids of all ages can enjoy.
The slice-of-life comedy-adventure will showcase new sides of the Mane 5 and expand their universe in exciting new directions. Maitreyi Ramakrishnan (Never Have I Ever, Turning Red) voice stars as fan favorite Zip Starr, alongside Jenna Warren (Kody Kapow!), JJ Gerber (Monster Pack), Ana Sani (The Boys), AJ Bridel (Odd Squad) and Bahia Watson (The Handmaid’s Tale).
My Little Pony: Tell Your Tale is produced by Lil Critter Workshop, with Gretchen Mallorie serving as head writer/story editor and David Flack as creative producer.
My Little Pony has an extensive presence on YouTube, with 35 channels in 33 different languages and over 5.9 million subscribers across all channels.
Following the new YouTube series, My Little Pony: Make Your Mark will premiere May 26 on Netflix with a bonus 44-minute animated special teasing the “mane” series, set to debut in September. The series will consist of eight 22-minute episodes, and will “follow the Mane 5 on a journey of self-discovery told through action-packed, hilarious, and heartfelt stories.” The second special, My Little Pony: Winter Wishday, is set to debut on Netflix on November 21.
As part of the anime powerhouses’ unification, it was announced today that Funimation’s longrunning YouTube channel is turning into the Crunchyroll Dubs. The channel, which has drawn in 3.7 million subscribers since launching in 2006, will offer fans all the same content they crave from the outlet, and more of it.
Crunchyroll Dubs will continue providing clips, trailers and full episodes of popular English-dubbed anime titles. Plus, the rebranded channel will now release weekly dubbed Episode 1 drops every Saturday at noon PST, starting April 9 with Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-.
Synopsis: Natsuki Subaru, an ordinary high school student, is on his way home from the convenience store when he finds himself transported to another world. As he’s lost and confused in a new world where he doesn’t even know left from right, the only person to reach out to him was a beautiful girl with silver hair. Determined to repay her somehow for saving him from his own despair, Subaru agrees to help the girl find something she’s looking for..
Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-
Based on the light novel series written by Tappei Nagatsuki and illustrated by Shin’ichirō Ōtsuka, the anime series produced by studio Whitie Fox (Steins;Gate, Goblin Slayer) launched in 2016 on TV Tokyo’s TXN and Japanese anime channel AT-X. Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World is directed by Masaharu Watanabe (Granbelm, Naruto SD: Rock Lee & His Ninja Pals) and written by Masahiro Yokotani (Sgt. Frog, Free!). Season 2, after a release delay, became the most-watched anime series on Netflix Japan in 2020.
For aficionados who prefer the original Japanese dialog, English-subtitled anime content can be found at the Crunchyroll Collection, where 4 million subscribers are regularly treated to subbed clips, trailers and full episodes.
Building upon the success of last year’s animated movie musical event Barbie: Big City, Big Dreams, Netflix is launching the new Mattel animated series Barbie: It Takes Two this week. The first installment of 13 episodes will debut Friday, April 8, with additional bites of the Big Apple due in the fall.
Barbie’s first full-length series since Dreamhouse Adventures follows best friends Barbie “Malibu” Roberts and Barbie “Brooklyn” Roberts as they strive for musical stardom at the prestigious Handler School of Performing Arts in New York City. Caught up in the hustle and bustle of the city that never sleeps, Malibu and Brooklyn soon find that they’ll need to lean on each other, friends old and new, as well as their families if they’re ever going to make their dreams become a reality. Watch as the pair heads to school, record a music demo and embark on new adventures — including camping!
As Brooklyn and Malibu showcase the franchise’s core purpose of self discovery, Barbie: It Takes Two explores themes including the value of friendship, self-worth, the sisterhood and family, and the importance of balancing working hard and having fun.
“We look forward to broadening the scope of Barbie content with our return to the series format. What lies ahead for both Malibu and Brooklyn reinvigorates the brand with a whole new perspective that heightens the sense of adventure, fun and friendships,” said Frederic Soulie, SVP and General Manager, Mattel Television.
Christopher Keenan, SVP Global Content & Executive Producer, commented, “Barbie has been inspiring, empowering, and entertaining kids for decades. With our Barbie content spanning across TV, movies, YouTube and more, we’ve steadily been expanding the Barbie universe that now contains not one but two shining stars, both by the name of Barbie Roberts! With all new music and more exciting adventures, the series follows the girls’ hilarious and empowering adventures in friendship, sisterhood and family, all while discovering their limitless potential.”
Barbie: It Takes Two is directed by Scott Pleydell-Pearce, with Marsha Griffin as creative producer, Diane A. Crea as senior producer and Kendall Michele Haney as story editor. Exec producers are Soulie and Keenan (Barbie & Chelsea: The Lost Birthday; Barbie: Big City, Big Dreams; He-Man and the Masters of the Universe). The new series is animated by Mainframe Studios (a division of WOW! Unlimited Media) and featured original songs by Matthew Tishler & Andrew Underberg.
Barbie: It Takes Two
Of course, fans can expand their experience with a new line of Mattel dolls and playsets inspired by the series and digital OST Barbie: It Takes Two Soundtrack, available to stream and download on April 8. You can also catch up with Brooklyn in the Barbie Dreamhouse Adventuresgame’s new Easter Dreamhouse update, featuring an egg hunt, spring decor and new friends from It Takes Two (available on the App Store or Google Play). For even more Barbie, visit the official YouTube channel for exclusive content, featurettes, music videos and more in the web-exclusive Barbie Vlogger series.
“Barbie: It Takes Two showcases Mattel’s commitment to engaging storytelling that reflects the world around us by expanding our Barbie content to represent our audiences, both kids and parents, across the globe,” added Soulie. “Whether we are developing an episodic series, television movie or vlog, we make sure every piece of Barbie content ladders up to the brand purpose of inspiring the limitless potential in all children.”
Today, Nexus Studios, the BAFTA-winning studio behind the animated genre-bending horror-comedy The House and Grammy-nominated music feature Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles starring Billie Eilish, revealed the teaser for their new animated production in development: This Tape Deck Is a Time Machine, from Oscar- and Emmy-winning director Patrick Osborne. The teaser showcases a distinctive graphic 2D style created entirely with real-time technology.
Conceived and directed by Osborne and produced at Nexus Studios using Unreal Engine, this coming-of-age adventure follows a time-jumping teen who is transported into moments of other people’s lives by songs played on an old tape deck. At its heart, This Tape Deck is a Time Machine is an impossible tale of friendship and love centered around soulmates born generations apart. The cast are a diverse group of misfits, inspired by Patrick’s band of friends through his adolescent years.
https://vimeo.com/686323406
Osborne led a team of expert real-time artists and creators at Nexus Studios, who embraced the unique challenge of crafting the Tape Deck world with a refined 2D aesthetic, created entirely in the Unreal Engine with no compositing. The team developed bespoke shading techniques to achieve the painterly and naturalistic quality, leveraging the visual potential of the engine to make high quality stylized animation.
“This is a project that breaks new ground both creatively and technically. It’s an animated production with music at its core, told with a strong graphic sensibility, pushing animation to new audiences while simultaneously innovating the very way it’s made,” said Chris O’Reilly, Co-Founder & Executive Creative Director, Nexus Studios.
This Tape Deck Is a Time Machine
Harnessing the benefits of Epic Games’ Unreal Engine in this way provides a multitude of advantages, including the ability to render images almost instantly and enables multiple inputs into one scene simultaneously. This allows for more creative freedom and iterative autonomy for Directors who will be able to manipulate animated scenes in a similar style to shooting live action.
As a recipient of an Epic MegaGrant, Nexus Studios was able to continue its long-standing collaboration with Epic Games. Innovating and building on top of the existing capabilities of the Unreal Engines’ strengths, the real-time division at Nexus Studios were able to adopt an agile and more iterative approach to linear animated filmmaking at the highest quality.
This Tape Deck Is a Time Machine
“Unreal Engine puts artists in control and gives them unprecedented creative freedom. By supporting filmmakers through our various programs and initiatives, including Epic MegaGrants, we’re able to accelerate their efforts and gain invaluable feedback, opening the door for invention and discovery,” noted Karen Dufilho, Executive Producer, Content Partnerships, Epic Games. “What Patrick and Nexus Studios have achieved exemplifies the way modern storytellers want to work — collaboratively, spontaneously, and quickly — combining their existing expertise in animation with the real-time power of Unreal to craft new worlds and stories that will engage audiences for years to come.”
Netflix’s spring programming crop continues to sprout exciting new animated delights! Today, the streamer unveiled the trailer for its interactive CGI-series Battle Kitty, premiering April 19. The spot gives us a glimpse at the energetic videogame world waiting for home audiences, where our heroes must take down various strange foes to unlock their destiny.
Battle Kitty
Synopsis: In a futuristic-medieval world, warriors must find and defeat all the monsters on Battle Island, collecting their coveted keys in order to become ‘Champion’. Cut to Kitty and Orc, two best friends on a mission- to help Kitty become Champion their way — through cuteness and friendship! The two embark on the journey to Championhood, facing many obstacles and naysayers only to discover a surprise waiting for them at the Ancient Ruins…
The series is created by Matt Layzell with Paul Layzell as supervising producer; Matt also provides the voices for both Battle Kitty and Orc. The Layzell Bros. are known for their chaotic, darkly humorous and outlandishly colorful animated idents for E4 (U.K.), titles for Skins and Slacker’s Club, the music video for “Most Days” by Mazes and the FOX ADHD short Future Travel.
Read all about the making of Battle Kitty in the May ’22 issue of Animation Magazine, available soon!
A googly-eyed hero is ready to win over theatrical audiences this summer, when A24 brings the utterly charming adventures of Marcel the Shell with Shoes On to theaters on June 24. Based on the viral short of the same name, the feature premiered at the 2021 Telluride Film Festival and was picked up by A24 in November. The film recently screened at SXSW.
In the heartwarming preview, we get to meet little Marcel — “the shell that shook the world” — as he embarks on an ambitious quest through the live-action world to find his family, with the help of a documentary team, some celebrity allies and the sheer determination to take one tiny step at time.
Synopsis: Marcel is an adorable one-inch-tall shell who ekes out a colorful existence with his grandmother Connie and their pet lint, Alan. Once part of a sprawling community of shells, they now live alone as the sole survivors of a mysterious tragedy. But when a documentary filmmaker discovers them amongst the clutter of his Airbnb, the short film he posts online brings Marcel millions of passionate fans, as well as unprecedented dangers and a new hope at finding his long-lost family. A beloved character gets his big-screen debut in this hilarious and heartwarming story about finding connection in the smallest corners.
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
Director Dean Fleischer Camp is joined once again by co-writer and voice star Jenny Slate to bring this live-action/stop-motion hybrid story to life. Camp and Slate penned the screenplay with Nick Paley from a story by themselves and Elisabeth Holm. Camp and Slate created the characters for the original 2010 short. The animation team was made up of stop-motion DOP Eric Adkins, animation director Kristen Lepore, supervising animation director Stephen Chiodo and animation producer Edward Chiodo.
The feature stars Slate as Marcel, Rosa Salazar, Thomas Mann and Isabella Rosselini.
Based in New York, A24 (a24films.com) is the distributor behind indie hits including Uncut Gems, Midsommar, Lady Bird and Moonlight. Marcel the Shell with Shoes On marks the shingle’s first foray into feature animation.
The innovative, critically acclaimed live stage production of Spirited Away — inspired by the Oscar-winning Studio Ghibli feature from animation legend Hayao Miyazaki — is coming to a screen near you, beamed straight from Japan. Hulu has picked up rights to globally live stream two performances of the tour finale at Nagoya’s Misonoza Theater this July.
The complexly crafted show, which features fantastical puppet constructions brought to life by teams of performers, stars a doubled cast — each roster will be presented in the two live streams:
July 3 cast:
Chihiro: Kanna Hashimoto
Haku: Kotaro Daigo
No Face: Koharu Sugawara
Lin/Chihiro’s Mother: Miyu Sakihi
Kamaji: Tomorowo Taguchi
Yubaba/Zeniba: Mari Natsuki
July 4 cast:
Chihiro: Mone Kamishiraishi
Haku: Hiroki Miura
No Face: Tomohiko Tsujimoto
Lin/Chihiro’s Mother: Fu Hinami
Kamaji: Satoshi Hashimoto
Yubaba/Zeniba: Romi Park
The story begins as Chihiro, a girl who is heading to her family’s new home, goes into a tunnel to find herself lost in the world of gods and supernatural beings. She encounters many spirits, but courageously overcomes their challenges on her way back to the human world. The theater is transformed into a supernatural bathhouse, inviting the audience into the enchanted world of spirits…
Honorary Associate Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, John Caird (Les Misérables) directs the stage ensemble of 32 performers and over 50 puppets, designed by Toby Olié (The Little Mermaid 2012 for Walt Disney Theatrical, Pinocchio 2017 for the National Theatre, Animal Farm 2022 U.K. Tour).
Spirited Away recently closed its Tokyo run and is on its way to Osaka (April 13-14), followed by engagements in Fukuoka, Sapporo and finally Nagoya. The stage show is part of Toho Co., Ltd.’s 90th anniversary celebrations this year.
Check out more photos from the Tokyo performances here.
Visit tohostage.com to learn more about the production.
Sergio Bonelli Editore S.p.A. (“SBE”), Italy’s leading comics publisher, which included the dedicated Bonelli Entertainment division, and children’s animation company Powerkids Entertainment Private Limited, are partnering to jointly unlock the expandable SBE comics universe for a wide range of kids’ animated adaptations.
The partnership kicks off with one of SBE’s best-selling title Dragonero, created by Luca Enoch and Stefano Vietti. SBE, Powerkids, Rai S.p.A. through Rai Ragazzi (rai.it) and Nexus TV (nexustv.it) are currently co-producing the first season of the animated Dragonero series. Powerkids will be responsible for global distribution, licensing and merchandising.
“Togetherness, for me, means teamwork,” said Vincenzo Sarno, Head of Property Business Development, SBE, and Executive Producer, Bonelli Ent. “We are very proud of our vast slate of comic books that have entertained generations and are distributed across the globe. Now, we want to bring our legends to life through animation to entertain both existing and a new generation of viewers. We want to more broadly share the wonderful universe of SBE.
“Dragonero is just the beginning, and there is so much more to come in this fantasy universe, but for this legendary first project thanks to Rai, co-producer and Italian broadcaster, and Powerkids. We are very excited to partner with Powerkids, to develop and bring these characters, comic books and stories to life. We are confident that our partnership will be an incredible success given the experience and long track record of Powerkids’ management team.”
Powerkids’ recently appointed CEO, Manoj Mishra, said, “We are thrilled to initiate this partnership with Bonelli Entertainment. We are humbled and excited that they have trusted us to bring these amazing stories, iconic characters to life through animation. These amazing adventures combined with our years of experience in co-production, global distribution will bring pleasure to audiences around the world. We have very exciting plans for our partnership and it has been a real pleasure working with the dynamic and dedicated team of Bonelli Entertainment.”
Powerkids champions the exciting portfolio of intellectual property owned and managed by animation company Powerkids Entertainment (Singapore) Pte Limited. Powerkids Singapore is sponsored and managed by established investment manager OCP Asia (Singapore) Pte. Limited . With over US$3 billion of funds under management, OCP Asia is a leading alternative manager in private markets, providing customized secured lending solutions across the Asia-Pacific region.
Sergio Bonelli Editore S.p.A. is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a library of more than 10 thousand stories featured in a variety of comic books over 80 years. SBE’s catalog includes popular heroes such as Tex Willer, Dylan Dog, Zagor, Mister No, Martin Mystère, Dragonero, Nathan Never and Julia. Its film and TV production unit, Bonelli Entertainment, develops projects based on SBE’s original stories and characters. The comic books have been distributed in 30 countries, and are currently sold in 20 territories.
Sphere, the Canada-based content production and distribution specialist, has unveiled its new corporate brand during the MIPTV market. The move is designed to enhance and support the creation, production and distribution of content, both domestically and internationally, in a fast-growing global market.
In practical terms, the brand rationalization will see all the group’s specialist units rebranded under the Sphere banner. Sienna Films, led by Jennifer Kawaja, BGM, headed by Marlo Miazga, and GO Films, led by Josée Vallée, will all become Sphere Media, which will oversee the creation, production and distribution of all television content.
Oasis Animation (F Is for Family, Martha Speaks, Lucky Fred, 6Teen), headed by Jacques Bilodeau, and Sardine Productions (Chop Chop Ninja, Manon, ToonMarty, My Goldfish Is Evil) , led by Ghislain Cyr, will become Sphere Animation, while feature film distributor WaZabi Films, led by Anick Poirier and Lorne Price, will become Sphere Films.
The new branding serves to highlight not only Sphere’s multidisciplinary talent but also the scope of its content and activities. In recent years, Sphere has acquired several companies with world-class creative teams and strong brands. The architecture is designed to simplify Sphere’s communications with both its clients and industry but more importantly to accelerate collaboration and synergies between its teams and thereby enable the delivery of a greater number of projects.
Bruno Dubé
“This new brand identity strengthens our ability, both locally and internationally, to create, produce and distribute content that touches people’s minds and hearts and reflects the world in which we live,” said Bruno Dubé, Sphere’s President & CEO. “Identifying the right story and delivering it in the right way is our promise. Whether we are working with our in-house creators or collaborating with partners, what drives us at Sphere is getting ideas off the ground, telling stories and finding the right audiences to tell them to. They say the whole is greater than the sum of its parts — Sphere is looking forward to showing the world how true that is.”
Sphere’s premium content output includes documentaries, feature films, drama series, game shows, magazine programs, variety shows, major television events, 2D animation and digital projects. In children’s animation, its stand-out titles include recent TVOKids commission Riley Rocket.
20th Century Studios has released a new trailer for The Bob’s Burgers Movie, which will make its eagerly awaited U.S. theatrical debut on May 27. The new trailer launched at WonderCon in Anaheim, California on Sunday, where it was screened for enthusiastic fans along with other footage from the film at a lively panel presentation with the filmmakers and cast. The new preview teases a summer of mystery, meat and mayhem…
Synopsis:The Bob’s Burgers Movie is an animated, big-screen, musical comedy-mystery-adventure based on the long-running Emmy-winning series. The story begins when a ruptured water main creates an enormous sinkhole right in front of Bob’s Burgers, blocking the entrance indefinitely and ruining the Belchers’ plans for a successful summer. While Bob and Linda struggle to keep the business afloat, the kids try to solve a mystery that could save their family’s restaurant. As the dangers mount, these underdogs help each other find hope and fight to get back behind the counter, where they belong.
L-R: Voice stars Larry Murphy, H. Jon Benjamin, Dan Mintz, Eugene Mirman, Kristen Schaal and John Roberts attended the packed Bob’s Burgers panel at WonderCon 2022. [photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for 20th Century Studios]
The movie features the voice talents of series stars Kristen Schaal (Louise Belcher), H. Jon Benjamin (Bob Belcher, John Roberts (Linda Belcher), Dan Mintz (Tina Belcher), Eugene Mirman (Gene Belcher), Larry Murphy (Teddy), Zach Galifianakis (Felix Fischoeder) and Kevin Kline (Calvin Fischoeder).
The Bob’s Burgers Movie
The film was directed by show creator Loren Bouchard and producer Bernard Derriman, from a screenplay written by Bouchard and series exec producer Nora Smith. The producers are Bouchard, Smith and Janelle Momary. Bento Box Entertainment provided the animation.
