The 2022 EE British Academy Film Awards were held Sunday night, presented by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA).
While The Mitchells vs. the Machines was the belle of the Annie Awards ball on Saturday evening, Disney’s Encanto added another Animated Film honor to its long list of accolades. The musical fantasy-adventure was up against Mitchells (Sony/Netflix), Luca (Pixar) and Flee (Final Cut for Real). The latter was also up for the Documentary prize, which went to Summer of Soul.
As noted in our nominations coverage, BAFTA and AMPAS tend to pick the same animated feature winner, having disagreed about the year’s best toon only three times since the U.K. org introduced the category in 2006/2007. However, there will be several strong contenders waiting for the big announcement on Oscar night…
Do Not Feed the Pigeons
In the British Short Animation race, Do Not Feed the Pigeons by National Film & Television School graduate Jordi Morera won out against fellow student Ida Melum’s Night of the Living Dread and multi-award-winning short Affairs of the Art, from celebrated British animator Joanna Quinn and writing partner Les Mills (Beryl Prod.), co-produced by the National Film Board of Canada. The short is in a rundown bus station, where weary travelers in the wee hours are treated to a moment of harmony by the resident pigeons.
Dune
And, though Jane Campion’s The Power of the Dog took both prestigious honors for Best Film and Best Director, Denis Villeneuve’s Dune adaptation (Warner Bros.) was the winningest film of the night, taking five awards including Special Visual Effects — to Brian Connor, Paul Lambert, Tristan Myles and Gerd Nefzer. Also nominated were Free Guy (20th Century), Ghostbusters: Afterlife (Sony), The Matrix: Resurrections (WB) and No Time to Die (MGM).
Dune also took the BAFTA awards for Production Design (Patrice Vermette, Zsuzsanna Sipos), Cinematography (Greig Fraser), Original Score (Hans Zimmer) and Sound (Mac Ruth, Mark Mangini, Doug Hemphill, Theo Green, Ron Bartlett).
The 49th Annie Awards (annieawards.org) were held Saturday evening, with a star-studded virtual ceremony celebrating the year’s best animation across 36 feature film, television, short form and other categories. SpongeBob voice star Tom Kenny opened the night, which featured an international company of presenters including Trollhunters creator Guillermo del Toro and voice star Charlie Saxton, The Bad Guys director Pierre Perifel and actress Lilly Singh, Cartoon Saloon’s Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart, Encanto voice star John Leguizamo and Belle director Mamoru Hosoda.
Blythe Danner presented the Winsor McCay Awards to previously announced honorees Ruben Aquino (legendary Disney animator), Lillian Schwartz (computer animation pioneer) and Toshio Suzuki (prolific Studio Ghibli producer).
Best Feature: The Mitchells vs. the Machines
Pulling ahead in the awards season race, Sony Pictures Animation & Netflix’s visually gripping road trip gone awry The Mitchells vs. the Machines (directed by Mike Rianda, co-directed by Jeff Rowe) drove away with most of the feature prizes (all eight of its nominations), including overtaking major multi-award winner Encanto (Disney) for Best Feature. Luca (Pixar), Raya and the Last Dragon (Disney) and Sing 2 (Illumination/Universal) were also nominated.
Encanto did however pick up three awards out of its nine nominations, for character animation, storyboarding and, of course, music. Surprisingly, the movie with the most nominations going into the Annies, Raya and the Last Dragon (Disney), was left out when it came to the big night.
Best Feature – Independent: Flee
Another darling of the festival and awards circuits, Danish director Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s Flee (NEON/Final Cut for Real) won the Best Indie Feature honor, in a race against European import The Summit of the Gods (Julianne Films/Folivari / Mélusine / Netflix) and three acclaimed Japanese films: Mamoru Hosoda’s Belle (Studio Chizu / GKIDS), Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko (Studio 4°C / GKIDS) and Pompo the Cinephile (CLAP / GKIDS).
The Annie Awards are usually a strong predictor of the Oscar winner for best animated feature. While the split into studio/indie categories muddies the water a bit, it will be interesting to see whether the Academy also falls for The Mitchells, takes a bold step out of Hollywood with Flee (which is also nominated for best international and documentary feature), falls in line with the Golden Globes et al and hands over another statuette to Disney for Encanto — or perhaps surprises us all.
Arcane won the most awards with nine, including for general audience TV.
Still, it was a big night for Netflix, which got to see it’s widely praised League of Legends series Arcane (Riot Games / Fortiche Prod.) steal the show with nine wins — like Mitchells, it won in every category it was nominated, including Best TV/Media – General Audience. Created by Christian Linke and Alex Yee, the adult-targeted series has been widely hailed for its stunning animation, as well as its compelling development of characters from the hit game.
Netflix is also home to the only other title to take multiple awards at the 49th Annies: Jorge Gutierrez and Sandra Equihua’s Mesoamerican mythic quest Maya and the Three, which won Best TV/Media – Children and Best Music – TV/Media. Like Mitchells and Arcane, the event series explores the vast stylistic possibilities of CG animation, creating a world of depth and texture capable of bringing ever more daring designs (and stories) to life.
Find the full list of nominees in all categories here.
Chilean director Hugo Covarrubias’ stop-motion Bestia won for best short.
2022 Annie Award winners:
Best Feature: The Mitchells vs. the Machines – Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix
Best Indie Feature: Flee – NEON, Final Cut For Real, Sun Creature, Vivement Lundi !, MostFilm, Mer Film, VICE, Left HandFilms, Participant
Best Short Subject: Bestia – Trebol 3 Producciones, MALEZA Estudio
Best Sponsored: A Future Begins – Nexus Studios
Best TV/Media – Preschool: Ada Twist, Scientist “Twelve Angry Birds” – Laughing Wild, Higher Ground Productions, Wonder Worldwide, Netflix
Best TV/Media – Children: Maya and the Three “The Sun and the Moon” – A Netflix Series
Best TV/Media – General Audience: Arcane “When These Walls Come Tumbling Down” – A Riot Games and Fortiche Production for Netflix
Ada Twist, Scientist
Best Student Film: Night of the Living Dread – Student director: Ida Melum; Student producer: Danielle Goff; National Film and Television School, U.K.
Best FX – TV/Media: Arcane “Oil and Water” – FX Team: Guillaume Degroote, Aurélien Ressencourt, Martin Touzé, Frédéric Macé, Jérôme Dupré; A Riot Games and Fortiche Production for Netflix
Best FX – Feature: The Mitchells vs. the Machines – FX Team: Christopher Logan, Man-Louk Chin, Devdatta Nerurkar, Pav Grochola, Filippo Maccari; Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix
Best Character Animation – TV/Media: Arcane “The Monster You Created” – Animator: Léa Chervet; A Riot Games and Fortiche Production for Netflix
Best Character Animation – Feature: Encanto – Animator: Dave Hardin; Walt Disney Animation Studios
Best Character Animation – Live Action: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings – Animation Team: Karl Rapley, Sebastian Trujillo, Richard John Moore, Merlin Bela Wassilij Maertz, Pascal Raimbault: Marvel Entertainment, Weta Digital
Best Character Animation – Video Game: Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart– Animation Team: Insomniac Games Animation Team; Insomniac Games
Encanto
Best Character Design – TV/Media: Arcane “Some Mysteries Better Left Unsolved” – Designer: Evan Monteiro; A Riot Games and Fortiche Production for Netflix
Best Character Design – Feature: The Mitchells vs. the Machines – Designer: Lindsey Olivares; Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix
Best Direction – TV/Media: Arcane “The Monster You Created” – Directors: Pascal Charue, Arnaud Delord, Barthelemy Maunoury; A Riot Games and Fortiche Production for Netflix
Best Direction – Feature: The Mitchells vs. the Machines – Directors: Mike Rianda, Jeff Rowe; Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix
Best Music – TV/Media:Maya and the Three“The Sun and the Moon” – Score: Tim Davies, Gustavo Santaolalla; A Netflix Series
Best Music – Feature: Encanto – Score: Germaine Franco, Lin-Manuel Miranda; Walt Disney Animation Studios
Best Production Design – TV/Media: Arcane “Happy Progress Day!” – Design Team: Julien Georgel, Aymeric Kevin, Arnaud Baudry; A Riot Games and Fortiche Production for Netflix
Best Production Design – Feature: The Mitchells vs. the Machines – DesignTeam: Lindsey Olivares, Toby Wilson, Dave Bleich; Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix
Namoo
Best Storyboarding – TV/Media: Arcane “When These Walls Come Tumbling Down” – Storyboard Artist: Simon Andriveau; A Riot Games and Fortiche Production for Netflix
Best Storyboarding – Feature: Encanto – Storyboard Artist: Jason Hand; Walt Disney Animation Studios
Best Voice Acting – TV/Media: Arcane “When These Walls Come Tumbling Down” – As ‘Jinx’: Ella Purnell; A Riot Games and Fortiche Production for Netflix
Best Voice Acting – Feature: The Mitchells vs. the Machines – As ‘Katie Mitchell’: Abbi Jacobson; Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix
Best Writing – TV/Media: Arcane “The Monster You Created” – Writers: Christian Linke, Alex Yee; A Riot Games and Fortiche Production for Netflix
Best Writing – Feature: The Mitchells vs. the Machines – Writers: Mike Rianda, Jeff Rowe; Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix
Best Editorial – TV/Media: What If…? ” What If…Ultron Won?” – Editorial Team: Joel Fisher, Graham Fisher, Sharia Davis, Basuki Juwono, Adam Spieckermann; Marvel Studios
Best Editorial – Feature: The Mitchells vs. the Machines – Editorial Team: Greg Levitan, Collin Wightman, T.J. Young, Tony Ferdinand, Bret Allen; Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix
The winners of the 49th Annie Awards included, clockwise from top left: Mike Rianda and Jeff Rowe (“The Mitchells vs. the Machines”), Christian Linke and Alex Yee (“Arcane”), Chris Nee and Kerri Grant (“Ada Twist”), Erick Oh (“Namoo”), Jorge R. Gutierrez (“Maya and the Three”) and Hugo Covarrubias (“Bestia”). Photos: Screenshots from the Annie Awards produced by ASIFA-Hollywood
Transmedia startup Voltaku announced the acquisition of Vodcasto, an app that will enable anime super fans (otaku) to puppeteer and livestream avatars from their animated cyberpunk series, Killtopia. This brings Voltaku one step closer to their goal of marrying long-form content, interactive avatars, IP-driven NFTs and digital goods into a mix that lets fans take an active role in the studio’s “living stories.”
“The otaku market is not only underserved, it’s highly interactive,” said Charles Borland, CEO and co-founder of Voltaku. “As the metaverse and web3 develop, we can create and monetize experiences that otaku want to engage in, completely outside the Hollywood system. Connecting Vodcasto to our Killtopia community is an important step towards realizing this mission, but it won’t be the last. Other tools are on the way!”
Stilletto is one of the character running amok in Voltaku’s Killtopia
Leading this effort is Vodcasto’s inventor (and new Voltaku CTO), Sally Slade. A proven XR content creator and battle-hardened VFX TD, Slade has been working on immersive spaces for years at Magnopus, where she served as the User Experience Lead behind the award-winning virtual production system used to create Disney’s The Lion King, as well as titles for iOS, Oculus, HoloLens and Magic Leap.
Sally Slade
Through her new interactive division, Slade will head up Voltaku’s web3 efforts and metaverse applications, including the design/implementation of avatar-heavy NFT strategies that will delight otaku and work seamlessly with real-time chat applications, VR platforms and virtual production workflows.
You can read more of Voltaku’s approach to the “New Hollywood” on the company’s blog.
While Voltaku has already optioned/conceptualized multiple IPs, their first major project is Killtopia. Currently in production, Killtopia is based on the award-winning, indie graphic novel series created by Dave Cook and Craig Paton. Described as “Blade Runner meets Battle Royale for the Fortnite generation,” Killtopia follows a bounty hunter and his robot sidekick through a futuristic megacity as they fight brutal thugs, augmented mercenaries and android assassins in a race to save the bounty hunter’s sister — and the world — from a deadly nano plague.
To promote interactivity, Slade’s division is developing a generative NFT tie-in that gives fans access to the “citizens of Killtopia” — character-based NFTs which will actually appear in the show. Once purchased, fans can use their character any way they wish — as a Metaverse-ready avatar, a VTube host or mechanism for personal creativity — giving them a more immersive way to engage with the series. This approach will then expand into Voltaku’s other productions, so that a community of avatars can appear throughout various story worlds and universes.
Fans who acquire “citizens of Killtopia” NFTs can use the characters to create their own content with Vodcasto’s performance puppeteering technology.
You can keep up with Killtopia and Voltaku’s new anime worlds via the Discord.
“This is the future of media,” says Slade. “Soon, you won’t just passively watch your favorite films and TV shows. You’ll interact with them across a variety of mediums and devices, as stories unfurl and adapt with the aid of user engagement. The possibilities are endless, and we mean to explore them in the most interesting way possible.”
Ireland’s Animation Dingle (animationdingle.com) has capped another digital edition with the presentation of its annual awards, celebrating the best animation from around the country and the globe. Students and industry professionals competed across 15 categories with the added industry-focused Murakami Award — which is given each year to a new recipient who has made a significant contribution to Irish animation, named for Jimmy T. Murakami (1933-2014).
Animation Dingle celebrated 10 years this year, and the program was fresher than ever — introducing new elements from VR and gaming and examining the ever blurred lines between. (Perhaps this will be the newest category to join the Animation Dingle Awards in 2023?)
Over 100 films from 20 countries worldwide were under consideration in the film competition this year. The winners were determined by a panel of expert judges: Peter Lord of Aardman Animations, Patricia Hidalgo of BBC, Orion Ross of Disney, Suzanne Kelly of RTÉjr, Lousie Bucknole of Milkshake!, Eimear O’Mahony of RTÉjr, Sarah Muller of BBC, Mandy Kean of Mustard Studio, Kate Morton of BBC, screenwriter Will Collins, Deirdre Barry of Salty Dog Pictures, illustrator Ben Hennessy, Louise Burgess of Milkshake!, Rob Cullen of Boulder Media and Mark Cumberton of Jam Media.
Animation Dingle Awards 2022 winners:
The Seine’s Tears
The powerful protest short The Seine’s Tears from Pôle 3D (France) won over the judges in three categories, taking the prizes for Best International Student (sponsored by CBBC), Best Director (sponsored by Enterprise Ireland) and Best 3D/CGI (sponsored by Boulder Media). The student short was created by Yanis Belaid, Eliott Benard, Nicolas Mayeur, Etienne Moulin, Hadrien Pinot, Lisa Vicente, Philippine Singer and Alice Letailleur.
“Very poignant and emotional story, incredibly well executed, credible and engaging character design, impeccable art direction, animation, music and sound design and ambiance. This film showcases and brilliantly masters a great array of different techniques.” — Patricia Hidalgo, BBC
“Deeply affecting, it is so memorable that this shocking historical event is brought to life in an effective and sympathetic way — bringing the tragic history of 1961 to a new audience.” — Sarah Muller, BBC
“Startling, enthralling and moving film.” — Kate Morton, BBC
“Really moving — Fantastic character design and immersive storytelling.” — Suzanne Kelly, RTÉjr
This Is Why
This Is Why by Sean Roberts from IADT won Best Irish Student (sponsored by RTÉjr) and Best Writer (sponsored by Animation Ireland and the new National Talent Academy for Animation).
“A very relevant and relatable story, well told from both sides.” — Deirdre Barry, Salty Dog / NTAA
The Forty Foot
Another IADT project, Patrick O’Callaghan’s The Forty Foot, snagged a double win for Best Design/Art Direction (sponsored by JAM Media) and Best Animation (sponsored by Milkshake!).
Shelly Banks
Best 2D (sponsored by Cartoon Saloon): Shelly Banks by Alex Hughes from BCFE.
“Loved this film…I laughed out loud.” — Suzanne Kelly, RTÉjr
An Ostrich Told Me the World Is Fake and I Think I Believe It
Best Stop Motion (sponsored by Aardman Animations): An Ostrich Told Me the World Is Fake and I Think I Believe It by Lachlan Pendragon from Griffith Film School, Australia.
“This is done with immense flair and inventiveness. The voices are great and for me, tonally, it doesn’t put a foot wrong … Just clever and funny.” — Peter Lord, Aardman
The Guitar
Best Music/Sound Design (sponsored by EGG Post Production Studios): The Guitar by Domhnall Cotter from IADT.
“Brilliant storytelling through very intricate and subtle sound design.” — Eimear O’Mahony, RTÉjr
Fall of the Ibis King
Best Irish Professional Short (sponsored by the IDA): Fall of the Ibis King by Josh O’Caoimh and Mikai Geronimo.
“Really strong film, I really enjoyed it.” — Ben Hennessy
“It’s a really intense watch and thoroughly enjoyable.” — Mandy Kean, Mustard Studio
Affairs of the Art
Best International Professional Short (sponsored by Nickelodeon): Affairs of the Art by Joanna Quinn.
“Fantastic! The narration and comedy of the piece is brilliant, with a really unique hand drawn style and design. As an observational comedy, it is really well constructed and the storytelling blends well with the animation. The core character comes across as larger than life and has some funny, yet darker moments to draw on the emotional engagement for the audience watching. This is an outstanding piece of work and I thoroughly enjoyed watching this!” — Louise Bucknole, Milkshake
Best Animated Short Audience Choice Award (sponsored by Lighthouse Studios): Catalyst by Caitlin Gillespie, Patrick Gallagher and Matthew Kernaghan of Ulster University.
Murakami Recipient 2022 (sponsored by Brown Bag Films): Eileen Bell, Senior Business Development adviser with Enterprise Ireland.
The Call
Best Sting presented by JAM Media and Animation Dingle: The Call by Shay Commander from University of Dundee.
Honorable mentions:
The Littlest Biggest Fan by Jack Casserly in TUS Athlone
Magical an Phiast by Nico Rylands from BCFE
Planet Play Pause
Young Animator of the Year (sponsored by the Disney Channel; selected by Orion Ross from Disney): Planet Play Pause by Max Hendrickson from Mount Temple Comprehensive School.
“Even without character animation, it tells a moving, magical, cosmic story and provokes a strong emotional response through its mood, music and beautiful combination of hand-made and electronic design. It starts small and really builds to something powerful.” — Orion Ross, Disney
Bordeaux’s illustrious feature film pitch gathering Cartoon Movie has come to a close, but there’s still time to sample some of the delicacies from this annual animated smorgasbord. Pre-recorded pitch sessions will be available on the event’s digital platform until March 31!
Preview some of the projects with the collections of trailer showcases here and in our Day 1 roundup here. Find more information on the 2022 selections and how to access the Cartoon Movie digital platform at cartoon-media.eu, and read more about some of these promising films in exclusive Animation Magazine articles and interviews linked below.
We’ll see you in Bordeaux next March 7-9 for Cartoon Movie 2023!
March 10 Croissant Show Trailers:
Mary Anning (La Boîte,… Productions / Les Films du Nord / Nadasdy Film; Belgium / Switzerland / France)
At the Ark at 8 (Zooper Film / Now Films / Parka Pictures / Hydralab; Germany / Denmark)
Suzanne (anoki / Vivement Lundi !; France)
Living Large (Barletta / Novanima Productions / NOVINSKI; Czech Rep. / France / Slovakia)
Starseed (Special Touch Studios / Aparte Film; France / Romania)
A World of Their Own (La Fiesta; Spain)
In Waves (Silex Films / Charades; France)
Sultana’s Dream (Sultana Films / Abano Producións / El Gatoverde Producciones / Fabian&Fred / UniKo; Spain / Germany)
Nayola (Praça Filmes / il Luster / JPL Films / Luna Blue Films / S.O.I.L.; Portugal / Netherlands / Belgium / France)
Just Super (Qvisten Animation; Norway)
America (Fumi Studio / Momakin; Poland)
Princess Reinette (Ankama Animation; France)
Magical Friends (Ulvenfilm / Kool Produktion; Norway)
Where Did It Go Wrong? (Hol rontottam el; Hungary)
Forest (Al One; Italy)
Vast Blue Antarctica (Kimonos Animation Studio / IndigoFlicks; Cyprus / Greece)
March 10 Coffee Show Trailers:
Eugène(My Fantasy / 2P2L; France)
Flow (Dream Well / Sacrebleu Productions / CINÉ-LITTÉ Productions; Latvia / France / Germany)
Ellie and the Christmas Creep(Fabrique d’Images; Luxembourg)
Porcelain Birds (Miyu Productions; France)
Niko – Beyond the Northern Lights (Animaker / Anima Vitae / Ulysses Filmproduktion / A. Film Production / Moetion Films; Finland / Germany / Denmark / Ireland)
Crunchyroll unveiled a new trailer and additional images for its upcoming March 18 theatrical release of Jujutsu Kaisen 0. The dark fantasy film from Toho Animation, animated by MAPPA and directed by Sunghoo Park, will be available in both English dub and subtitled and will arrive in more than 1,500 theaters nationwide. The will also be released in select U.S. based IMAX theaters.
Jujutsu Kaisen 0
Tickets for the highly-anticipated film (rated PG-13, RT 105 min.) are on sale in the United States and Canada are currently on sale. For more information, visit crunchyrollmovienight.com.
Jujutsu Kaisen 0
Jujutsu Kaisen 0 follows Yuta Okkotsu, a nervous high school student, who enrolls in the mysterious Tokyo Jujutsu High School under the guidance of Satoru Gojo after being haunted by the curse of his childhood friend. The film is based on the JUMP COMICS / Shueisha prequel manga to the smash hit supernatural adventure series from Gege Akutami.
Synopsis: When they were children, Rika Orimoto was killed in a traffic accident right before the eyes of her close friend, Yuta Okkotsu.
“It’s a promise. When we both grow up, we’ll get married.”
Rika became an apparition, and Yuta longed for his own death after suffering under her curse, but the greatest Jujutsu sorcerer, Satoru Gojo, welcomed him into Jujutsu High. There, Yuta meets his classmates, Maki Zen’in, Toge Inumaki and Panda, and finally finds his own determination.
“I want the confidence to say it’s okay that I’m alive!”
“While I’m at Jujutsu High, I’ll break Rika-chan’s curse.”
Meanwhile, the vile curse user, Suguru Geto, who was expelled from the school for massacring ordinary people, appears before Yuta and the others.
“This coming December 24th, we shall carry out the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons.”
While Geto advocates for creating a paradise for only jujutsu sorcerers, he unleashes a thousand curses upon Shinjuku and Kyoto to exterminate all non-sorcerers.
Will Yuta be able to stop Geto in the end? And what will happen to breaking Rika’s curse…?
Jujutsu Kaisen 0
The anime series Jujutsu Kaisen is based on the best-selling manga of the same title, serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump and has sold over 60 million copies in Japan. In the U.S., the series is published by VIZ Media. The anime series was named Anime of the Year by the Crunchyroll Anime Awards in 2021. Both Crunchyroll and Funimation have the entire series on their platforms, both subbed and dubbed, for fans to catch up on before seeing the theatrical experience.
Leading Latin American animation house Pinguim Content has signed a deal with Los Angeles-based sales agent MultiVisionnaire Pictures to represent its award-winning children’s filme Tarsilinha in all territories outside LatAm. The two companies have collaborated on an international, English-dubbed trailer and new poster ahead of the movie’s Brazil theatrical premiere on March 17.
Tarsilinha is a 90-minute hybrid 2D/3D feature animation set in a whimsical world full of magical creatures inspired by the work of legendary Brazilian artist Tarsila do Amaral, which has been collecting accolades since its world premiere at the 2021 Shanghai International Film Festival (nominated for Best Animation Film). It then won Best Animated Feature Film from Latin America & Spain upon its LatAm premiere at Chilemonos 2021.
The film was also selected for a host of other prestigious film festivals in 2021, including the SICAF (Seoul), Florianópolis International Children’s Film Festival, Chicago International Children’s Film Festival, Kino Brasil (Prague) Cartoons on the Bay (L’Áquila, Italy) and the Children’s International Film Festival (Rio de Janeiro). Its success continues into 2022 with participation at the Belmont World Film (Boston) and Children’s International Film Festival (Melbourne & Sidney), with more to follow.
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.
Tarsila do Amaral, one of the most ground-breaking modernists in Latin America, was deeply inspired by vernacular Brazilian folklore, handicrafts and folk art. Her work, in particular the 1924 oil painting A Cuca, provides the inspiration for the fantastical landscapes and characters in Tarsilinha. Zeca Baleiro (Achados Não Procurados) and Zezinho Mutarelli have composed a Brazilian baião-inspired score, influenced by Heitor Villa-Lobos.
Directors Kiko Mistrorigo and Celia Catunda (founders of Pinguim Content) said, “We are thrilled to team up with the experts at MultiVisionnaire who will help us take Tarsilinha on even further journeys out across the world. Tarsia do Amaral’s art represents the idea of taking different cultural influences to produce something new, unique and authentic and that’s what we wanted to do with the film too. The response so far has been amazing and we hope that many more people will now be able to enjoy it.”
Sean Haley, Managing Partner of MultiVisionnaire Pictures, said, “We always look for great storytelling with very unique execution. Tarsilinha is an excellent family film with a distinctive appeal that will win over the hearts of global audiences, for not only the artful animation inspired by Brazilian culture, but also the universal values of courage, friendship and self-discovery. We are delighted to represent the film and look forward to having success with it worldwide.”
Having previously revealed its 2022 official competition selection, Cardiff Animation Festival (CAF) has announced the full program for its return to the Welsh capital from April 7-10. For the first time, CAF will be both online and in person, with online events running from April 7-24.
This year, the festival runners have crammed over 60 events into the in-person programme and 30 online, including feature films, shorts screenings, workshops, industry panels, masterclasses, networking opportunities, parties and more. Stand-out guests include the Oscar-nominated Joanna Quinn, the animation team behind groundbreaking feature Flee and Elizabeth Ito, creator of Netflix’s City of Ghosts.
“I’m so proud of the CAF22 program. We’ve packed it full of so many in-person and online events that we couldn’t be more excited about,” said festival director Lauren Orme. “I can’t wait to share the amazing films, hear from our incredible guests and party with everyone at animated karaoke!”
Affairs of the Art by Joanna Quinn
The Heads of Creature Effects from the BBC and HBO series His Dark Materials will be in attendance to run a puppetry masterclass revealing secrets from the hit television show, whose third season is scheduled for release this year. Other masterclasses include a ride behind the scenes of Nickelodeon’s It’s Pony; a delve into the life of an Aardman animator with Carmen Bromfield Mason; a look (or a listen) into what goes into blending sound with animation with Skillbard; and an exploration of a multi-award-winning career with animation legend Joanna Quinn animating live on stage.
CAF will bring multi-Oscar-nominated feature film Flee to the Cardiff big screen, with a Q&A with art director Jess Nicholls and animation director Kenneth Ladekjær. The festival will screen two Japanese features: innovative hand-drawn indie musical comedy On-Gaku and the Welsh premiere of Summer Ghost, with Q&As with the directors of both films. The video adaptation of Jessica Ashman’s animated musical performance Dawta will also be followed by a Q&A with the artist.
Summer Ghost
The Z to A of Studio Ghibli will be full of insights, trivia titbits, theories and more, presented by the hosts of podcast Ghibliotheque. The festival will also host Scripts Out Loud, a team of professional voice actors who will perform a new animation script live on stage, as well as offering 1-2-1s for new writers. Writers can also hear from the team behind Milkshake!’s Circle Square, who will be running a masterclass on writing for children’s animation.
Joining forces with Clwstwr and AHRC’s Research in Film Awards, CAF will host a full day of events dedicated to the climate emergency and how the animation industry can help fight it. This will include a workshop exploring innovative creative workspaces as part of CAF’s Clwstwr- and Ffilm Cymru-funded Green Cymru project. CAF will also shine a light on neurodivergent animation talent through screenings, Q&As with neurodivergent filmmakers, and a workshop exploring the barriers facing neurodivergent talent within the animation industry.
Dawta by Jessica Ashman
For those attending in person, there will be many other opportunities to meet people, develop skills, and have fun. Social events will include CAF’s Pen/Pals sessions (with free coffee/drinks provided; chatting and doodling encouraged), dog life drawing, an animated music video discotheque and a 360º animated karaoke party at Cultvr Lab.
On the opening night of the festival, the monthly social Cardiff Animation Nights will take over Depot, a huge warehouse in central Cardiff, for a night of short films, street food and fun. And each morning, CAF attendees will be able to join filmmakers from the 102 short films in competition for Q&As, coffee and croissants.
The final night of the in-person festival will bring the prestigious CAF Awards ceremony, closely followed by the closing night party, a chance to bid the festival farewell in style.
It’s Pony
As well as the extensive in-person line-up, several online-exclusive events are also scheduled, including a Q&A with Elizabeth Ito, creator of Netflix’s City of Ghosts; industry panels, international filmmaker Q&As, collaborations with Cape Town International Animation Festival (CTIAF) and a character design workshop for all ages. In addition, online attendees will be able to catch up on in-person events they may have missed.
“I’m delighted that we’re able to support this event and to once again see the return of cultural events and being able to welcome in-person audiences is something we’ve looked forward to for a long time,” said Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, Dawn Bowden. “The festival has an exciting and varied programme of films, including some Welsh premiers and is a real showcase of local and international talent and expertise.”
Circle Square
Festival passes, which give access to all ticketed in-person events at Chapter Arts Centre, are on sale now for £80 (£55 conc). Online passes, which allow access to all online events, are also on sale for £20. Tickets for individual events will be on sale from today, Thursday 10 March.
Grom Social Enterprises, Inc.’s family entertainment shingle Curiosity Ink Media announced a partnership with comedian and Descendents actor Maz Jobrani (Pandemic Warrior, Superior Donuts, Back to School with Maz Jobrani) to develop an original animated sitcom, Laugh on Lorb (working title). The sci-fi sitcom centers on an teenage aspiring comic who is mistakenly abducted by aliens who believe he is Oprah Winfrey — the hero they desperately need to save their planet.
Jobrani, along with co-creator Dustin Ellis, (Mixed Nutz, The Iron Giant) will oversee the writing, story development and overall direction for the series which will be produced by Curiosity Ink Media and Mainstay Entertainment. The series was announced by Russell Hicks, Chief Content Officer of Curiosity Ink Media.
“Only the mind of Maz Jobrani could conceive an Iranian teenage standup mistaken for Oprah and aiming to please an emotionless race of aliens on the verge of extinction… and we love it,” said Hicks. “Maz has an incredible ability to use his comedy to build cultural bridges and we’re thrilled that he’s partnering with Curiosity to bring his humor and endless good energy to this animated sitcom.”
“I’m really excited to be working with Curiosity Ink Media and Dustin Ellis to create a fictional planet where a teenage comedian becomes a savior and his immigrant family pester him to be back home on Earth in time for dinner,” Jobrani commented. “What could go wrong?”
Laugh on Lorb centers on an aspiring teenage stand-up who is selected to introduce superstar Oprah Winfrey’s appearance at his school and is kidnapped from the stage by alien Lorbs, who believe he is Oprah, and taken home to their world to meet the princess. After learning that she is on a mission to bring emotion back to Lorb to save it from disaster, he agrees to channel his inner Oprah to help her. Through the eyes of a teenage Iranian immigrant, he shares his own insight, wit and philosophy of life while learning about comedy — and himself — along the way.
Maz Jobrani, an Iranian-born comedian who emigrated to the United States at the age of six, is an actor, podcaster and comedian whose wry global view has made him a hit with audiences around the world. His new standup comedy special Pandemic Warrior is currently streaming on Peacock TV and he is the host of his own podcast, Back to School with Maz Jobrani on the All Things Comedy Network.
As an actor, he was most recently seen playing the loveable “Fawz” on the CBS comedy Superior Donuts. He has made many appearances on television’s most popular shows, including Grey’s Anatomy, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Last Man Standing and Shameless. He has also been a regular guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and The Late, Late Show with James Corden. Jobrani starred as the title character in the award-winning indie comedy, Jimmy Vestvood: Amerikan Hero, a feature which he co-wrote and co-produced.
Jobrani has co-starred in many additional films, including Sydney Pollack’s The Interpreter, Disney’s Descendants and Ice Cube’s Friday After Next. Jobrani’s other standup comedy specials include Immigrant, which was filmed at the prestigious Kennedy Center and is a Netflix original, as well as solo specials on Showtime: Brown and Friendly, I Come in Peace and I’m Not a Terrorist, But I’ve Played One on TV. He was also a founding member of The Axis of Evil comedy tour, which aired on Comedy Central.
In Spring 2016, Jobrani performed at the White House, where he had the privilege of introducing Michelle Obama and as a UC Berkeley alum, gave the keynote speech to the graduating class of 2017. Jobrani is a regular panelist on NPR’s Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me and has given two TED Talks. His LA Times bestselling book, I’m Not a Terrorist But I’ve Played One on TV, was published by Simon & Schuster. He also executive produced Everything Must Change, a documentary about his sister’s battle with breast cancer, which is currently available on iTunes.
Curiosity Ink Media is a global media company that develops, acquires, builds, grows and maximizes the short, mid & long-term commercial potential of kids & family entertainment properties and associated business opportunities. Its growing, multifaceted IP library includes feature film projects Santa.com and The Pirate Princess, as well as TV series Cats vs. Pickles and Aloha Hoku.
The winners of the biennial British Animation Awards 2022 (britishanimationawards.com) were announced at a ceremony held tonight at London’s BFI Southbank, presented by comedian Miles Jupp and sponsored by Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe. Now in their 26th year, the BAAs recognize the outstanding work of the U.K.’s most successful creative industries.
BAA Director Helen Brunsdon and Producer Kieran Argo said, “We have been amazed at the quality of the entrants for this year’s British Animation Awards and would like to offer our heartfelt congratulations to all the winners and nominees. After a particularly tough couple of years animation continues to be one of the most productive and creative industries in the U.K.”
“The BAAs are the only awards to recognize all forms of animation and reward the work of both new and established animators across all aspects of the U.K. animation scene, from student work to commercials, children’s entertainment, short and experiential films, music videos and new technologies,” noted Julia Lopez, MP, Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport) in a message of support.
Affairs of the Art
Gathering momentum ahead of the Academy Awards later this month, Britain’s two Oscar-nominated short filmsAffairs of the Art and Robin Robin were triumphant in their categories. Affairs of the Art picked up three awards: Best Short Film, Writers Award and Best Voice Performance (for 86-year-old Little Britain star Menna Trussler as Beryl). Created by filmmaking partners Joanna Quinn and Les Mills, the short continues the story of larger-than-life Welsh housewife Beryl who has artistic ambitions on a grand scale. Meanwhile, Aardman Animations’ beautiful Netflix Original film Robin Robin, about an optimistic robin raised by a family of mice, won the award for Best Original Music for its score written by The Bookshop Band (Ben Please and Beth Porter).
London-based animation studio Magic Light Pictures was successful in two categories, with BBC-One Christmas special Zog and the Flying Doctors winning for Best Use of Sound, and delightful Milkshake! and Sky Kids series Pip and Posy picking up the award for Best Children’s Preschool. Meanwhile, the Best Children’s category was won by Fourth Wall’s feline-focused series Milo, also shown on Channel 5’s Milkshake!
One of the closest-fought categories of the night was the prestigious Best Long Form category, which saw victory for Locksmith Animation’s debut feature Ron’s Gone Wrong. Directed by Jean-Phillipe Vine, Sarah Smith and Octavio E. Rodriguez, the film tells the story of a socially awkward middle schooler who befriends a defective robot.
Providing a breath of fresh air in the Best Animation in a Commercial category was Airwick for its “Breath of Nature” campaign, directed by Peter Szewczyk of Nerd Productions. And rocking the Best Music Video Award was animator Ged Haney, with his video for Rocket Freudental’s “Der Stuhlkreis”.
Milo
A hard-hitting film featuring the voices of some of Hollywood’s hottest stars picked up the award for Best Factual. Save Ralph, an animated short film warning about the cruelty of testing on animals, produced for the Humane Society International, was written and directed by Spencer Susser and featured the voices of Taika Waititi, Ricky Gervais, Zac Efron and Oliver Munn. Meanwhile, the Social Good category was won by Typically, a film aiming to remove the taboo surrounding periods, produced for period poverty charity Bloody Good Period and directed by Anna Ginsburg and Caitlin McCarthy.
In two of the new categories for 2022, the Best Immersive Animation award was picked up by Grant Berry and Dane Winn’s The Beast, while the Wildcard category was won by Osbert Parker’s Timeline. Continuing to challenge the status quo, the Cutting-Edge award was won by Jamie Jay Johnson and Asa Movshovitz’s E4 series about a role-playing fantasy game, Dead Pixels. And this year’s Design Award was won by Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey, a Netflix Original directed by Ian Spendloff, with VFX by Lucy Hare.
Some of the leading British animation courses were represented in the Best Undergraduate and Best Postgraduate Student film categories including nominees from Falmouth University School of Film and Television, University of Creative Arts in Farnham, Arts University Bournemouth, Royal College of Arts London and National Film & Television School. The winners were Renee Zhan’s (NFTS) O Black Hotel! for Best Postgraduate Student Film and Miles Jezuita’s (Arts University Bournemouth) Suburb for Best Undergraduate Student Film.
Hodan Abdi [photo: Nick Harvey]Introduced in 2020, The Lamb Award bridges the gap between current categories which recognise student achievements and general best-in-class awards, and is open to any young professionals working in the animation and VFX industry. The winner of the 2022 Lamb Award is Production Coordinator Hodan Abdi, who was nominated by Illuminated Films.
Three awards on the night were decided by members of the public, voting for their favorites in a special online poll. The winners of these audience awards were: Tony Comley’s “Time to Recover” for Best Music Video, Uri Lotan’s Black Slide for Best Short Film and Sky Kids’ hit children’s series The Brilliant World of Tom Gates for the Children’s Choice Award.
The awards themselves (the BAAs) are unique artworks, featuring sheep, created especially for the occasion by a range of leading international and U.K. animation artists — a measure of the worldwide respect felt for British animation. This year’s awards include designs by author/illustrators Liz Pichon and Rachel Bright and legendary film-maker Terry Gilliam.
The Brilliant World of Tom Gates
BAA 2022 Nominees & Winners:
Best Long Form
Sesame Street: The Monster at The End of the Story – Dir: Mark Taylor
Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas – Dir: Steve Cox
WINNER: Ron’s Gone Wrong – Dir: Jean- Philippe Vine, Sarah Smith, Octavio E. Rodriguez (Co-Director)
Best Voice Performance
Taika Waititi and Ricky Gervais – Save Ralph
Ben Whishaw – The Adventures of Paddington
Bella Ramsey – Hilda “The Fifty Year Night”
Bel Powley – Little My in Moominvalley
WINNER: Menna Trussler – Beryl in Affairs of the Art
Best Children’s Series
The Brilliant World of Tom Gates – Dir: George Sawyer
Hilda “The Deerfox” – Dir: Andy Coyle
WINNER: Milo– Dir: Chris Capstick
Best Children’s Preschool
The Adventures of Paddington – Dir: Adam Shaw, Chris Drew
Hey Duggee – Dir: Grant Orchard, Sander Jones
Circle Square – Dir: Greg Mcleod Milo – Dir: Chris Capstick
WINNER: Pip and Posy – Dir: Jeroen Jaspaert, Matt Tea
Pip and Posy
Best Animation in a Commercial
The Girl Who Built a Rocket – Dir: Neeraja Rj
Save Ralph – Dir: Spencer Susser
MotoGP Returns – Dir: Andton Alfimenko
WINNER: Breath of Nature– Dir: Peter Szewczyk
Best Music Video
Mama Jerk and the Ladyfingers “Mountain” – Dir: Harrison Fleming
After two full days of colorful and energetic presentations in Bordeaux, Cartoon Movie is ready to wrap up. The animated feature co-production confab today revealed the winners of the 2022 Cartoon Tributes as well as an overview of the key trends and most attention-grabbing titles. And, it’s not too late to experience the show: Pre-recorded pitches are available on the digital platform until March 31.
This year, 57 projects were presented from 19 European countries, for a total budget of 266,3 Million EUR, representing 77 hours of animation. The countries who brought the most projects were France (15), Spain (eight), Belgium and Norway (five each), Czech Republic (three), Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Poland, Portugal (two each), and Croatia, Cyprus, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Netherlands with one project each. Combined, the CEE Countries presented nine projects.
Cartoon Movie 2022 pulled in 913 participants from 42 countries. Notably, the assembly registered 297 buyers, including 150 distributors and sales agents; 35 of whom (12%) were new to the scene. Assessed by the percentage of buyers attending each pitch session, the most attractive projects in development and in production for 2022 are:
Since its establishment in 1999, Cartoon Movie has helped 426 animated feature films find financing, representing a total budget of 2.8 billion EUR.
Key Trends for 2022
Adult animation. The number of project targeting adults grew yet again to 37% of the projects (27% in 2021; 21% in 2020; 19% in 2019), represented in titles including Vast Blue Antarctica, The Migrant, A World of Their Own, Starseed, Where Did It Go Wrong?, Eugène, Suzanne, Rock Bottom, Juuland Mars Express, among others.
Book & comics adaptations. Nearly a third (31.6%) of the projects were adaptations from comics, graphic novels and novels. It is now an international and European trend: America has been adapted from an unfinished short story from Franz Kafka; In Waves from A.J. Dungo’s comic book; My Father’s Secret from Michel Kichka’s graphic novel; and Melvile from the graphic novel by Romain Renard, for example.
New projects from familiar names. Attendees were excited to see upcoming works by well-known directors, such as Starseed by Anca Damian, Born Happy by Edmunds Jansons, Fleur by Rémi Chayé, You’re Not the One I Expected by Claude Barras, Niko – Beyond the Northern Lights by Jørgen Lerdam, The Amazing Maurice by Toby Genkel, My Grandfather’s Demons by Nuno Beato, Nayola by José Miguel Ribeiro and Fallen by Louis Clichy.
Made in Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region, the Pôle Image Magelis and Bordeaux Métropole identifies and promotes the next generation of animation talents each year. In 2022, nine projects pitched at Cartoon Movie were made in the region: In Waves, Living Large, Marie-Louise, Mars Express, Melvile, My Grandfather’s Demons, Porcelain Birds, Trip to Teulada and Unicorn Wars.
Young talents. A full day of master classes was organized during the Coaching Program, dedicated to young talents from nine French schools. A specific training program was also organized for 20 students coming from three Nordic animation schools. Pitched at Cartoon Springboard 2018 – the dedicated event for young talents and graduates – Tony, Shelly and the Spirit was finally pitched at Cartoon Movie.
Nordic Spotlight. Rich and diverse stories inspired by the Nordic tradition are driving animated features that transcend generations and show how people are equal, no matter how different. Nine projects were pitched at Cartoon Movie: Just Super, Magical Friends, My True Imaginary Friend – Mr. Clutterbuck, Niko – Beyond the Northern Lights, Odd Is an Egg, Ploey 2, Titina and Valemon: the Polar Bear King.
Cartoon Tributes Winners
Laura Irvine (Sun Creature), Jean-François Le Corre (Vivement Lundi !), Mathieu Courtois (Vivement Lundi !), Amy Spalletta (Sun Creature), Pierre Mazars (Charades), Carole Baraton (Charades), Yohann Comte (Charades), Grzegorz Waclawek (Animoon), Alexandre Charlet (Les Films du Cygne)
Capping the event, the European animation industry paid tribute to the year’s major players as a number of companies and individuals from Denmark, Czech Republic, France, Slovakia and Poland were awarded with the Cartoon Tributes, which recognize the outstanding work of European animation professionals over the previous year.
Created in 2001, these awards are presented as part of Cartoon Movie. The winners in the three categories were voted for by the nearly 900 professionals attending the 24th edition. (See the full list of nominees here.)
Recognized as Director of the Year, Jonas Poher Rasmussen with the animated documentary Flee had already made history by scoring three Oscar nominations (Best Animated Feature, International Feature and Documentary Feature). The film is a co-production between Denmark, France, Sweden and Norway.
The Producer of the Year award went to Even Mice Belong in Heaven, directed by Denisa Grimmová & Jan Bubeníček and co-produced by Czech Republic’s Fresh Films, France’s Les Films du Cygne, Slovakia’s Cinemart and Poland’s Animoon.
Finally, Charades was recognized as Distributor of the Year. Based in Paris, this sales and co-production company’s catalog includes animation movies from all over Europe, including Even Mice Belong in Heaven, Marona’s Fantastic Tale, The Queen’s Corgi and I Lost My Body.
Pre-recorded pitches are available to watch on the Cartoon Movie digital platform until March 31. Cartoon Movie 2023 will take place March 7-9.
Indie animation producer-distributor GKIDS has picked up North American distribution rights for four films from acclaimed writer-director Makoto Shinkai. Titles in the collection include the visionary director’s debut feature The Place Promised in Our Early Days, breathtaking romance 5 Centimeters per Second, epic fantasy Children Who Chase Lost Voices and Shinkai’s first short, Voices of a Distant Star.
Shinkai is also known for the smash hit films Your Name. and Weathering With You, which both set box office records in Japan and around the world. GKIDS previously handled North American distribution for Weathering With You, the director’s most recent feature film, which debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2019 before going on to box office and critical success.
“We are thrilled to represent these vital early films from Makoto Shinkai,” said GKIDS President David Jesteadt. “They display the astounding visuals and emotional stories of longing and human connection that have made him one of the most exciting and important directors in animation today, and we look forward to reintroducing them to fans old and new.”
The Place Promised in Our Early Days (2004) | Shinkai’s feature film debut is a haunting and beautiful story of friendship and loss, with stunning visuals and the emotional approach to science-fiction that would become the director’s trademark. In an alternate post-war Japan, three teenagers become obsessed with a mysterious tower across the Union border, which reaches far into the sky. Hiroki and Takuya work on a makeshift airplane, which they promise their friend Sayuri they will use to visit the tower together someday, but she disappears before it is completed. Several years later, the tower suddenly activates, starting a phenomenon that threatens the world. And the young men now discover their long-lost friend Sayuri may hold the key to it all…
5 Centimeters per Second (2007) | Young love, missed connections, and unrequited feelings collide in a romance told in three vignettes, 5 Centimeters per Second: A Chin of Short Stories about Their Distance, explores the joys and heartache of falling in love set against the backdrop of the breathtaking visuals that define Shinkai’s work. Takaki yearns to spill his heart out for childhood crush Akari, but their families move away before any feelings can fully blossom. They stay in touch, but eventually drift apart with school and new friends to distract them. As the seasons pass, Takaki navigates his relationships while haunted by all the things he left unsaid with Akari, his first love.
Children Who Chase Lost Voices (2011) | An epic fantasy adventure in a world of ancient gods. Asuna is an introvert who prefers spending her time listening to a radio left by her deceased father. One day, she hears an odd song that resonates in her heart unlike anything else. It leads to a chance encounter with a mysterious boy, who transports Asuna to Agarthaa land of legend where the dead can be brought back to life. Compelled by the song and the boy, Asuna journeys through the mythical lands, but hostile warriors and ghastly creatures will stop at nothing to prevent Asuna from uncovering the secrets of their world.
Voices of a Distant Star (2002) | Several years into the future, alien invaders threaten the safety of Earth. Mikako joins the global forces to defend the planet, but leaves behind her middle school crush, Noboru. They stay connected through emails even while their lives diverge. The galactic war soon sends Mikako further out into space where the time it takes to send and receive messages grows longer. As years start to pass between emails, Mikako and Noboru each grapple with unspoken feelings while hoping for the next message. Voices of a Distant Star is an emotionally-gripping sci-fi tale from Shinkai that offers an early look into his directorial vision.
Framed for corporate crimes, Boss Baby is forced to revert back to his baby self and climb back up the ladder in the new DreamWorks Animation series The Boss Baby: Back in the Crib. The CG-animated kids’ comedy based on the hit movies is slated to premiere May 19 on Netflix.
The Boss Baby: Back in the Crib
Following the events of The Boss Baby: Family Business, Theodore Templeton is framed for embezzlement and forced to revert back to his old Boss Baby self and crash with his brother Tim and his two nieces, brainy big kid Tabitha and fellow Baby Corp employee Tina. Together, Boss Baby and Tina co-lead a new Field Team fighting to increase Baby Love while keeping a new group of arch-nemeses — The Uncuddleables — from destroying Baby Corp itself.
The Boss Baby: Back in the Crib
The new series is executive produced by Daytime Emmy-winning writer Brandon Sawyer (The Penguins of Madagascar, Monsters vs. Aliens series, El Tigre) with Matt Engstrom (director, All Hail King Julien, King of the Hill, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy) serving as supervising producer — both reprising their roles from The Boss Baby: Back in Business.
Emmy Award-nominated studio Gutsy Animations is developing a new 2D animated series titled Monstrous! (52 x 11’) aimed at kids aged 7-9 and is looking for co-production partners. This laugh-out-loud comedy is about a group of tweens trying to fit into a world where monsters and humans live side by side. The show celebrates difference and diversity, and aims to prove that you can never judge a book by its cover.
Read on to see the full size first-look image revealed today!
Monstrous! follows the hilarious and heart-warming adventures of quirky tweenager Nelly, who has the even quirkier job of caring for junior monsters while their parents are hitting the town. Yep, Nelly’s in charge of corralling creatures with multiple tentacles, off-center eyeballs and a huge and sometimes uncontrollable capacity for slime. What could possibly go wrong…right?
Underpinning the gross-out laughs, comedic scares and slapstick adventures will be warm, relatable and emotional stories that resonate with tweenagers who are starting to understand the challenges of self-identity and belonging — stories that both deal with and celebrate the complexities of difference and community, by exploding stereotypes and assumptions.
“The heartbeat of Monstrous! is an appealing, empowered female character who embodies a powerful message of acceptance,” said studio Founder & Chief Creative Officer Marika Makaroff. “Given this, and our own ethos at Gutsy of tolerance and bravery and commitment to stories that celebrate young women who make a difference, we’re thrilled to be working on a show which celebrates the fun, life affirming fantasy world.”
Founded by award-winning creator Makaroff in 2016, Gutsy Animations is a Finnish/U.K. production house that creates high quality content for the international market. The company’s flagship production, multi award-winning Moominvalley, has a record high of 18 million starts on Yle’s streaming platform in Finland. The third season of Moominvalley has recently received the Albert certification, a mark of sustainability demonstrating how Gutsy Animations managed and reduced its environmental impact during production. The studio also placed fifth on Deloitte’s Technology Fast 50 in 2021, which recognises the fastest growing technology companies in Finland.
KEPYR (Kids Entertainment Professionals for Young Refugees) is calling on the kids’ media industry to help bring urgent aid to over 1.5 million children and their families displaced by the humanitarian crisis currently unfolding in the Ukraine.
Donations to KEPYR’s Emergency Ukraine Refugee Relief Drive can be made at kepyr.org.
UNICEF has launched an emergency appeal [NMC2] to raise the $276 million to sufficiently scale up relief efforts across the Ukraine. In addition, UNICEF is also appealing for another $73 million to assist those fleeing to Poland, Romania, Moldova, Slovakia, Hungary and elsewhere. UNICEF and partners are working to meet rapidly escalating humanitarian needs, including emergency medical services, critical medicines, health supplies and equipment, safe water for drinking and hygiene, and shelter and protection for children and families displaced from their homes.
“The situation is dire, the humanitarian need growing daily. The suffering, shock and trauma is almost unimaginable,” noted Grant Moran, President & Founder of KEPYR. “Luckily, thanks to organizations like UNICEF USA, we can take action. Acting together, we can make an immediate, concrete difference and be a force of light against the terrible darkness these vulnerable children and their families are living through right now. We encourage everyone in the children’s media community to give generously.”
Honored by the White House in 2021 with a President’s Volunteer Service Award for “dedicated service to children around the world,” KEPYR was founded by industry professionals in 2017 to spread awareness in the children’s media community about the global child refugee crisis, the worst since WWII, and to rally support for UNICEF’s heroic work serving displaced children everywhere.
The organization’s Board of Directors is composed of Grant Moran, Yang Chang, Chara Campanella, Aurora Simcovich, Johnny Hartmann, Scott Gray and Monica Dollive. Serving on KEPYR’s Advisory Board are Christopher Keenan, Jean Thoren, Greg Payne, Jo Kavanagh-Payne, Maca Rotter, Danielle Gillis, Ryan Gagerman, Martin Baynton, Gushi Sethi, Sabrina Propper, Dave Palmer, and Sebastian Rich.
Leading lights of the European animation community have convened on Bordeaux this week to connect and consider the artistic, entertaining animated feature gems being polished by studios across the continent during Cartoon Movie. For those unable to make it in person, we will be sharing (most of) the trailers being presented at the event’s morning “Croissant” and afternoon “Coffee” showcases.
You can find more information on all the projects at cartoon-media.eu, and by reading the exclusive Animation Magazine articles and interviews available through the linked titles below. Bon spectacle!
March 9 Croissant Show Trailers:
Mars Express (Everybody on Deck / EV.L Prod / France 3 Cinéma / Plume Finance / Je Suis Bien Content / Gebeka Films; France)
My True Imaginary Friend – Mr. Clutterbuck (Monkey Business Pictures / Aurora Pictures; Finland)
Moonbeam (White Leaf Productions; Spain)
March 9 Coffee Show Trailers:
Trip to Teulada (Isla Productions / 2d3D Animations / Mommotty; France / Italy)
Valemon: The Polar Bear King (Maipo Film; Norway)
Young Vincent (Submarine / Tchack; Netherlands / France)
Born Happy (Atom Art / Letko / Pikkukala; Latvia / Poland / Finland)
Titina (Mikrofilm / Vivi Film; Norway / Belgium)
My Father’s Secrets (Je Suis Bien Content / Left Field Ventures / PM; France / Belgium)
Rock Bottom (Alba Sottora / Phanta Animation; Spain)
Yuku and the Flower of the Himalayas (La Boîte,… Productions / Artemis Productions / Les Films du Nord / Nadasdy Film / Vivement Lundi !; Belgium / France / Switzerland)
Warner Animation Group has tapped Will Forte (MacGruber, The Great North) and Lana Condor (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, Rilakkuma & Kaoru) to star alongside John Cena in the upcoming live-action/animation hybrid flickCoyote vs. Acme, based on the classic Looney Tunes cartoons.
Forte will play the lawyer who represents Wile E. Coyote in his suit against the ACME Corporation, after one too many mail-order devices fail him in his unending quest for a morsel of Roadrunner. The case pits the cartoon carnivore and Forte against his intimidating boss (Cena), but a growing friendship stokes their determination to win.
Produced by Chris DeFaria and James Gunn, the new take on Wile E. Coyote’s many malfunctions is due in theaters July 21, 2023.
DC League of Super-Pets
On the subject of release dates, Warner Bros. Pictures made a flurry of changes to its theatrical schedule, starting with the animated DC League of Super-Pets. Krypto and co. will have to wait until July 29 for their big screen debut, pushed back from the previous date of May 20. The plucky pet caper is written/directed by Jared Stern (The LEGO Batman Movie) and produced by Dwayne Johnson, who also voice stars as Krypto the Super-Dog alongside Kevin Hart, Vanessa Bayer, Natasha Lyonne and Diego Luna.
Additional 2022-2023 date changes include:
Black Adam: October 21 (from July 29)
Shazam! Fury of the Gods: December 16 (from June 2, 2023)
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom: March 17, 2023 (from Dec. 16)
The brand new National Talent Academy for Animation (NTAA) has opened for registration and aims to increase the number of skilled staff in the sector. An initiative of Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland, the Academy is a major development for the Irish animation industry that seeks to further enhance the country’s reputation as a global hub for animation production. Led by Animation Ireland, the Academy will be providing mentorship programs, workshops, masterclasses, placements, networking opportunities, support and advice to the animation community.
‘’I am looking forward to working with the industry and stakeholders to help drive the future of Irish animation. We will be encouraging people from all backgrounds, regions and walks of life to consider animation as a career, with a particular focus on diversity and inclusion. As long as you have the talent and the work ethic, there should be an opportunity out there for you,” said producer Deirdre Barry, who has been appointed Program Director.
‘’There has never been a better time to work in the animation industry. Ireland has developed an international reputation over the years for developing high quality programming, and some of the world’s greatest animation studios are based here, with creative talent that can rival any country in the world. With the number of projects currently in production and in development, there is an unprecedented demand for Irish-based talent and we will showcase animation as a viable and highly rewarding career path.”
The first programs are scheduled to begin in the coming months with the launch of the NTAA Mentorship Program, featuring Mentors from eight key areas of production: Intellectual Property Development, Scriptwriting, Storyboarding, Design, Editing, Music Composition, VFX and Studio Set-up. The NTAA Mentors are all experts in their field and a callout will be going out shortly for potential Mentees who wish to progress further in these areas under the guidance of an industry expert.
Cartoon Saloon was one of the international creative collaborators on Mamoru Hosoda’s Belle, produced by Studio Chizu in Japan.
The Academy’s launch comes at a promising time for Ireland’s content economy. The industry is buzzing with well received hits and highly anticipated projects. Oscar-nominated studio Cartoon Saloon is notably on a roll with its critically acclaimed Apple TV+ movie Wolfwalkers, Greenpeace short There’s a Monster in My Kitchen and contributions to Studio Chizu’s celebrated feature Belle.
The Kilkenny studio previously delivered The Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea and The Breadwinner, and is currently working on Nora Twomey’s adaptation of My Father’s Dragon for Netflix.
“Content production is experiencing a new era of creativity and ambition, and Ireland is contributing in its own, unique way,” said Jack Callaghan, SVP Digital Technologies, Enterprise Ireland. “By virtue of scale, Irish production firms are preconditioned to partnerships; our education and investment infrastructures are geared for creativity; entrepreneurship and artistic independence are incubated at a national level; and, of course, we’re a nation of storytellers with ancient and vibrant traditions.”
Enterprise Ireland is Ireland’s innovation agency and the venture capital arm of the Irish government. It is one of the world’s largest seed-stage VCs by deal flow and is dedicated to supporting Irish start-ups in their global ambitions. Through a network of more than 40 international offices, Enterprise Ireland supports a portfolio of 1,300 startups, including 60 cyber companies, with over $260M in annual revenue.
In a statement issued by The Animation Guild’s QueerTAG Committee, the org expressed acute disappointment in The Walt Disney Company and CEO Bob Chapek for what it calls “a momentous misstep” in response to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill. The company declined to make an official statement condemning HB 1557 / SB 1834, which forbids public schools from educating kindergarten through third grade students on sexual orientation and gender identity, and opens the doors for parents to sue school districts over violations. Republican Governor Ron DeSantis is expected to sign the passed bill into law.
“As one of the world’s most successful brands and a family company that claims to care about its employees and customers, it’s disheartening to see Disney’s failure to take any action to help prevent passage of the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill in Florida. Moreover, Disney CEO Bob Chapek did not unilaterally condemn this homophobic bill, but instead defended the company’s contributions to legislators who supported it,” the Guild wrote.
“The Walt Disney Company has the opportunity to be a leader in service to the LGBTQ+ community in a way that few other brands can match. The reach and scope of Disney’s operations mean that there are few avenues of everyday life where Disney does not reach. To quote one of Disney’s newly acquired properties, ‘With great power comes great responsibility.’”
Chapek had released a staff memo on Monday citing the company’s support of its LGBTQ+ employees, writing: “As we have seen time and again, corporate statements do very little to change outcomes or minds. Instead, they are often weaponized by one side or the other to further divide and inflame. Simply put, they can be counterproductive and undermine more effective ways to achieve change.”
“While we have not given money to any politician based on this issue, we have contributed to both Republican and Democrat legislators [in Florida] who have subsequently taken positions on both sides of the legislation,” Chapek added. “Geoff Morrell, our new Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, will be reassessing our advocacy strategies around the world — including political giving.” You can read Chapek’s memo in full at The Hollywood Reporter.
On Wednesday, the CEO told shareholders his intent to meet with Gov. DeSantis to discuss the bill which he says the company opposed from the outset. Disney also intends to donate $5 million to organizations working to protect LGBTQ+ rights, including the Human Rights Campaign.
Actress Miranda Cosgrove (iCarly) and NFL superstar Rob Gronkowski will take on the slimiest roles of their lives as co-hosts of Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards 2022, airing live on Saturday, April 9 at 7:30 p.m. (ET/PT) from Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California. The KCAs will simulcast across Nickelodeon, TeenNick, Nicktoons and the Nick Jr. channel.
The full list of nominees across animation,film, TV, music and more was also unveiled today. Leading the pack with four nods each are Taylor Swift, Adele, Danger Force, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, iCarly, Cobra Kai and The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run.
Miranda Cosgrove and Rob Gronkowski host Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards 2022 (courtesy Nickelodeon)
“The Kids’ Choice Awards is such a unique show with tons of energy, superstars and of course, lots of slime. Nickelodeon has always been my family and to co-host this iconic show alongside Gronk will be a blast!” said Gosgrove.
“Gronk” Gronkowski added, “I’ve always been a kid at heart so co-hosting the slimiest award show of the year will be an extraordinary time for me. I’m looking forward to bringing the fun that I have on and off the field to kids at home!”
Slimings will be front and center throughout the KCA, dousing celebrity correspondents, landmarks, schools across the U.S. and more, with an on-screen running tally for kids at home. This year’s show will also feature: Nickelodeon’s signature blimp as it ventures into the metaverse with celebrity avatars; second screen content; live voting where fans stay in control; and the ability to stream the show live across all platforms. Musical performances will be announced at a later date.
Voting is now open at KidsChoiceAwards.com and through the Screens Up app on supported iPad, iPhone and Android devices in the U.S. Starting next week, International fans can cast votes via the web.
KCA 2022 animation nominees are:
FAVORITE CARTOON
Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous
Looney Tunes Cartoons
SpongeBob SquarePants
Teen Titans Go!
The Loud House
The Smurfs
FAVORITE ANIMATED MOVIE
Disney and Pixar’s Luca
Disney’s Encanto
PAW Patrol: The Movie
Sing 2
The Boss Baby: Family Business
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run
FAVORITE VOICE FROM AN ANIMATED MOVIE
Awkwafina (Otto, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run | Sisu, Raya and the Last Dragon)
Charlize Theron (Morticia Addams, The Addams Family 2)
Keanu Reeves (Sage, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run)
Reese Witherspoon (Rosita, Sing 2)
Scarlett Johansson (Ash, Sing 2)
Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run)
