WNET Group’s Emmy-winning animated series Cyberchase – celebrating its 20th anniversary this year – is ready to multiply the STEM-powered fun when the show returns for a 13th season on PBS KIDS channel this month. Featuring the return of guest star Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future, Over the Garden Wall) as Hacker, the new episodes begin premiering on February 25 with four back-to-back adventures from 7 to 9 p.m. ET.
The 10 new episodes find the intrepid heroes, Jackie, Matt, Inez and Digit, tackling a variety of timely environmental topics – from light and water pollution, invasive species and coral reefs to sustainable design, transportation, biodiversity and trees – using their math and problem-solving skills all along the way to save the day.
Each episode will be accompanied by live-action “Cyberchase: For Real” epilogues that link the math and environmental concepts shown in the animation into the real world. A theme throughout this season is the interconnectedness of the environment, how one part can impact another and how even small actions can lead to big changes.
Christopher Lloyd voices Hacker in S13 of Cyberchase
Season 13 premiere episodes:
“Duck Stop” – Every year, the Northern Frontier ducks migrate to Restoria, returning stronger, refreshed and full of energy. Hacker believes that if he felt as good, he could take over Cyberspace once and for all. Determined to discover where Restoria is, Hacker sends Buzz and Delete to follow the ducks. The CyberSquad tags along during the migration, helping the flock avoid numerous hazards along the way.
Big Idea: Some animals need a ‘summer’ home and a ‘winter’ home to survive, and travel between the two often following the same route each year.
“The Great Outdoors” – A mysterious creature is trampling all over Crestwood Park, and visitors are too scared to enter. Even Digit is frightened of the unknown. The CyberSquad goes to investigate. Along the way they experience the wonders of nature firsthand and discover why they should leave nature the way they found it. Can the kids find out who or what the creature is? Will Digit overcome his fears?
Big Idea: Being out in nature offers many rewards, but it’s important to treat the natural world with respect, in return.
The CyberSquad is on the tails of migratory ducks in Cyberchase S13
“Coral Grief” – In Coralina, the CyberSquad and Digit marvel at the cybersite’s colorful coral reef. Inez hopes to bring back a piece of coral as a gift for her aunt until they learn coral is alive and the reef is under threat! Something is causing the ocean to become hot and murky, and it’s bleaching the coral. With the help of an action hero crab, can the kids find the source of the heat before it’s too late?
Topics: Coral Reefs; Thermal Pollution; Temperature; Mapping; Collecting Data
Big Idea: When you protect the health of coral reefs, you also protect the vast amount of ocean life that depends on the reefs as places to live or find food.
“Sustainable By Design” – The CyberSquad gets fashionable in Factoria! Jackie wins the chance of a lifetime to apprentice with the incomparable fashion designer Fabio DeZine. Jackie quickly learns, it takes more than just a pretty drawing to design something with real, sustaining impact.
Topics: Sustainable Design; Prototyping; Geometry
Big Idea: When you reuse or repurpose materials to make something new, you help make sure Earth’s resources are there for the future.
Return to the colorful singing, dancing world of the trolls when six all-new episodes of DreamWorks’ TrollsTopia arrive on Hulu and Peacock streaming on February 17! The studio let rip a sparkling new Season 6 trailer today:
Synopsis: The trolls are back with an abundance of hugs, fun and cupcakes to share! Poppy accidentally offends a Cloudwhale, R&B’s Funk ship needs fixing, and Branch’s nickname just doesn’t seem to fit. Even a bubble storm pops its way through town! But with a little bit of glitter and a trolls-tastic attitude, any sticky situation can be something to celebrate.
Holly Darlin’, Poppy and Cloud Guy in TrollsTopia S6
Inspired by the beloved DreamWorks Animation films, TrollsTopia is the next chapter in the hair-raising adventures of the trolls. Now that Poppy knows there are other musical trolls scattered throughout the forest, she bottles up her endless positivity and invites delegates from every troll tribe in the forest to live together in harmony in a grand experiment she calls TrollsTopia!
A monster comes to call on Guy Diamond, Holly Darlin’, Tiny Diamond and Poppy in TrollsTopia S6
Executive produced by Matthew Beans (Trolls: The Beat Goes On!), the 2D-animated series features the voices of Skylar Astin as Branch, Amanda Leighton as Poppy, David Fynn as Biggie, Ron Funches as Cooper, Kenan Thompson as Tiny Diamond, Megan Hilty as Holly Darlin’, Jeanine Mason as Minuet, Kevin Michael Richardson as Smidge, Sam Haft as Chaz and Glozell Green as Grandma Rosiepuff.
VIEW Conference, in partnership with Baobab Studios and OGR, will next week present a virtual live screening, presentation and conversation with the filmmakers behind the acclaimed Annie Award-nominated animated short film, Namoo. Speakers will include writer/director Erick Oh, producer and CEO/co-founder of Baobab Studios Maureen Fan, producer and CCO/co-founder of Baobab Studios Eric Darnell, art director Eusong Lee and lead Quill artist Nick Ladd. The session will be moderated by Oscar-winning director Peter Ramsey.
“Erick Oh is a visionary artist and filmmaker,” says Conference Director Dr. Maria Elena Gutierrez, “and Namoo is his most moving work yet. As soon as I heard that Erick would be working with the incredible creative team at Baobab Studios, I knew the results would be spectacular.”
Click here to register for free to attend the virtual screening & conversation on Friday, February 11 at 10 a.m. PST / 6 p.m. GMT / 7 p.m. CET. (You can also check out the full-color The Art of Namoo ebook here for more insight into the highly personal and inventive “narrative poem.”) Having recently won the Gold List Award for Best Animated Short, Namoo is now available to stream on HBO Max.
Celebrated concept artist Iain McCaig (Star Wars franchise, Guardians of the Galaxy, The Jungle Book) returns to The Gnomon Workshop to continue his two-volume CREATIVITY workshop series, chronicling his complete process from creating an original story through to full fleshed-out characters and worlds. These sessions follow as McCaig crafts the elements of a last-man-on-Earth / Frankenstein love story, Pyg.
Following on from CREATIVITY: Story & Character Development, McCaig continues the discussion of how to be creative and develop your own creativity with a look at Creature and World Design. This second volume details the design of not one but two creatures: Pyg’s robot wife creation, and a mysterious alien from outer space. Additionally, Iain delves into the creation of Pyg’s world: a rather strange art studio-laboratory environment. The workshop is available to watch now for Gnomon subscribers here.
Yaya & Lennie – The Walking Liberty
Italian pubcaster-distributor Rai Com unveils the latest titles to be presented during the Berlinale EFM 2022 from February 10-17 (efm-berlinale.de). The line-up includes the latest intriguing and artistic animated tale from award-winning director Alessandro Rak (Cinderella the Cat). Presented in Competition at the 74 Locarno Film Festival, Yaya & Lennie – The Walking Liberty is an animated tale set in a post-apocalyptic world with a stunningly unique visual style, produced by Nexo Digital. Screening Feb. 15 at 11 a.m. in Virtual Cinema 1.
Synopsis: The world has come to an end. Nature has taken back possession of the planet, covering it in a blanket of jungle. A new society, the “Institution”, is attempting to thrive from the ruins of the old world and strives to reinstate a sense of order. But not everybody accepts to succumb to a process of civilization. The protagonists of the story, Yaya and Lennie, the free spirits of the jungle, are striving to find their place in the world. Yaya is an intelligent 15-year-old girl of mixed ethnicity with an uncouth character who takes care of Lennie, a big and tall man in his 20s with a mental disability.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits
The South by Southwest Gaming Awards (SXSW, sxsw.com) has announced the Final Nominees across 12 categories for its ninth annual edition. The SXSW Gaming Awards will be produced by Georgia-based Peach Maria Productions, executive produced by Laurie Lockliear (upcoming esports reality series GameMaster), and offered digitally as part of SXSW Online on March 12, 2022 at 7 p.m. CT, during the overall March 11-20, 2022 festivities. Public voting is open here until Feb. 8.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits, from developer and publisher Ember Lab, scored four nominations. Five titles – Deathloop, Inscryption, Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker, Forza Horizon 5 and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart – each took three nominations. Twelve titles received two nominations each, including Before Your Eyes, Chicory: A Colorful Tale, Hell Let Loose, It Takes Two, Loop Hero, Lost Words: Beyond the Page, Resident Evil Village, Returnal, The Medium, The Wild At Heart, Unpacking and Valheim.
As part of the org’s ongoing commitment to advocate for and uplift marginalized communities in animation, Women in Animation is honoring the industry’s trailblazing women of color throughout Black History Month. The series launched Tuesday with a spotlight on Brenda Banks, one of the first Black women to work as a professional animator, with credits ranging from Hanna-Barbera’s Heathcliff to Ralph Bakshi’s Wizards, and a 2018 recipient of the WIA Diversity Award. Follow the project at womeninanimation.org and WIA’s social feeds.
More events & updates:
Diamond Comic Distributors celebrates its 40th anniversary this week! On Febr. 1, 1982, President & CEO Steve Geppi transitioned from local retailer to comic-book distributor with one warehouse and 17 customers — now, Diamond is the world’s largest distributor of English-language comics, graphic novels and related merch, in concert with the Geppi Family Enterprises (GFE) array of pop-culture companies and brands. diamondcomics.com
SIGGRAPH 2022 (Aug. 8-11 | Vancouver, BC / Online) is open for submissions to the Art Gallery, Immersive Pavilion, VR Theater, Emerging Technologies (deadline: Feb. 22), Electronic Theater (March 22), Real-Time Live! (April 5) and Posters (April 26). s2022.siggraph.org
CartoonNext (April 12-15 | Marseille, France) has extended the deadline to submit animated transmedia projects. New deadline: Thurs., Feb. 10, 2022.
Brand Licensing Europe and Products of Change are joining forces to present back-to-back events Brand & Licensing Innovation Summit Europe (B&LIS, June 21) and Sustainability in Licensing Conference (SiLC, June 22) in London, U.K. Tickets now available from B&LIS and SiLC.
Thanks to €45K in funds raised (including €10K from Bramberg games studio upjers), Koelnmesse and game’s sustainability project the gamescom forest has grown to over 18,500 sq.m. since 2020. The climate-stable mixed forest near Bayreuth, Germany is being rebuilt in partnership with Treemer.
Benefitting from a worldwide boom in film and series production, Australian effects house Rising Sun Pictures opened a VFX production studio in Brisbane in mid 2021. Visual Effects Supervisor Marc Varisco and Compositing Supervisor Matt Greig are leading the studio’s artist team, while veteran Visual Effects Producer Jayne Herrmann is overseeing production.
The new South Bank production site provides space for 60 artists working to help the studio keep pace with a rising workload, and serve local productions. RSP currently has a full slate of feature film and series projects in-house and expects demand to continue rising throughout the new year. Having a physical presence in Queensland allows RSP to better serve film and series productions shooting in the state.
“There is an abundance of wonderful film and series projects out there at the moment and opportunities to do great work,” says Rising Sun Pictures Managing Director Tony Clark. “To take advantage of those opportunities, we need really good people. We’ve worked with some wonderful artists who are based in Brisbane, so it made good sense to build a facility around those people. It also puts us adjacent to a very popular global filmmaking destination.”
The Brisbane team will move into a larger studio located in South Bank, the city’s arts and entertainment district in the coming months. This new facility, which will be linked to RSP’s head studio in Adelaide via secure technology, has the resources to support 60 artists. In addition to workspace for dozens of artists, the facility features rooms for meetings, review sessions and client use. Plans call for the construction of a 4K screening room later this year. The studio will have direct, high-speed links to RSP’s pipeline in Adelaide and operate in full compliance with TPN protocols.
RSP expects to staff the new studio by hiring experienced local artists and others eager to move to Brisbane as a lifestyle choice.
“There are a lot of very good artists who are originally from Brisbane and want to move back. Other artists want to plant new roots there. Brisbane appeals to people for quality-of-life reasons, especially those with young families,” says Head of Business Development Jennie Zeiher.
Zeiher adds that RSP is focused on hiring artists with exceptional creative and technical skills, who are culturally a good fit. “We’re looking for people whose values reflect ours,” she says. “Marc Varisco, Matt Greig and Jayne Herrmann are very much RSP people, and we want to keep that going. Our commitment to excellence and service is very important to us.”
RSP also plans to provide visual effects training in Brisbane. The studio operates a program of undergraduate and graduate certificate training in partnership with the University of South Australia (UniSA). Its graduates are in high demand as junior artists at studios across Australia and beyond. Many have moved directly into jobs at RSP. It is expected that RSP will commence its educational offerings in the new studio from mid this year. It is an important philosophy that RSP builds capability, particularly in the areas in which it operates.
Both Varisco and Greig have a history of working with RSP in staff and freelance capacities. Varisco recently served as the studio’s VFX supervisor on the Netflix series Cowboy Bebop, performing that work remotely from his home studio in Brisbane. His more than three dozen film and television credits as a supervisor also includes The Mandalorian, Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker¸ Peter Rabbit and Electric Dreams. Greig served as RSP’s compositing supervisor on Jungle Cruise and Ford v Ferrari. His experience as a compositor spans more than 15 years and includes posts with Animal Logic and Fuel VFX.
“When RSP approached me about launching a studio in Brisbane, I couldn’t sign up quick enough,” recalls Varisco. “Supervising the type of quality work that RSP produces from Queensland is a game-changer. Artists can reach our studio by a short commute, spend their days producing great work, and return home to have dinner with their families. It couldn’t be any better.”
Grieg was similarly enthusiastic about establishing an RSP presence in BrisbaneL “I was excited about bringing world-class visual effects to my hometown,” he says. “I now look forward to expanding our existing strong team and contributing to the fantastic productions which have filled our slate.”
New to RSP, Herrmann has been a visual effects professional for 15 years and brings deep ties to the Brisbane production community. She previously served as VFX Producer at Cutting Edge, Brisbane and has held staff posts with Weta Digital, Method Studios, Bazmark Films and Animal Logic. “It’s been my dream to produce for RSP and to do so in Brisbane, is fantastic,” she notes. “Brisbane is the perfect location for a facility like this.”
Herrmann expects the new Brisbane studio to be up and running early this year and fully staffed by mid-year. “It’s going to be a cracking space. We’ll have CG review rooms, comp review rooms and, eventually, a large screening theater,” she says. “It’s located at the hub of the local arts community with theaters, museums and restaurants nearby. It’s also close to the airport and the Gold Coast where the Village Roadshow Studios are located.”
With demand for content at an all-time high, Clark says there couldn’t be a better time or a better place for RSP to expand. “This studio represents a substantial commitment to Queensland and to artists living there,” says Clark. “We look forward to being in Brisbane for a long time and producing lots of great work there.
Global kids’ & family entertainment leader WildBrain (Snoopy in Space, Carmen Sandiego, Go, Dog. Go!) and historic toon house Jay Ward Productions, Inc., have signed an agreement across distribution, production and licensing for the entire portfolio of classic Ward-owned IP that includes such legendary properties as George of the Jungle, Mr. Peabody & Sherman, Dudley Do-Right, Rocky & Bullwinkle, Super Chicken and more.
Under the agreement, WildBrain will add 788 episodes of Jay Ward Productions’ classic animation to its distribution library, and the two companies will create brand-new content based on the Ward portfolio.
The new partnership reunites WildBrain’s CEO, Eric Ellenbogen, with Tiffany Ward, President of Jay Ward Productions and daughter of the late, acclaimed animation producer Jay Ward, who was the creator of some of the most iconic cartoons of the 1950s and ’60s. Twenty years ago, Ellenbogen and Ward created Bullwinkle Studios through Ellenbogen’s former company, Classic Media, which was sold to DreamWorks in 2012 and ultimately became part of NBCUniversal.
“Everything old is new again,” said Ellenbogen. “I’m delighted to be reunited with Tiffany to bring new audiences the hilarious characters and shows created by her father, which are part of the canon of the world’s greatest animation. Never has there been a better time to refresh classic branded IP like this, just as we are doing with so many of our evergreen WildBrain brands.”
“I’m thrilled to be teaming up with Eric again,” said Ward. “Our past partnership with Bullwinkle Studios was prolific and successful, and now that Eric is at the helm of a creative powerhouse like WildBrain, I’m excited to work with him and his fantastic team to broaden the legacy of my father’s work to new generations of kids and families.”
The prior collaboration between Ellenbogen and Ward resulted in such projects as DreamWorks’ 2014 animated feature film, Mr. Peabody & Sherman; as well as two new series animated by WildBrain (then called DHX Media), including 52 episodes of the Emmy-nominated The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show, commissioned by Netflix from DreamWorks; and 26 episodes of the Emmy-nominated The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle, commissioned by Amazon Studios from DreamWorks. Also, 52 episodes of George of the Jungle were produced by Bullwinkle Studios and a further 52 episodes later produced by August Media.
In addition to various new production, licensing and merchandising rights on Ward’s portfolio of the classic IP, the new venture sees WildBrain grow its distribution library with such beloved classic Jay Ward series as The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle (326 x 3.5’), Peabody’s Improbable History (91 x 5’), Dudley Do-Right (38 x 4.5’), Hoppity Hooper (104 x 4.5’), Fractured Fairy Tales (91 x 5’), Aesop and Son (39 x 5’), Mr. Know-It All (60 x 1.5’) and Bullwinkle’s Corner (39 x 1’).
Jay Ward with Bullwinkle and Rocky
Jay Ward was the visionary American creator and producer of a cartoon universe populated by these iconic characters. His company, Jay Ward Productions on Hollywood’s Sunset Blvd., produced a library of over 865 episodes of witty and sophisticated cartoon content, enjoyed by kids and parents alike through the 1950s and ’60s, and which has continued to delight and entertain audiences around the world for generations. In addition to numerous, beloved cartoon series, four major motion pictures have been released based on Ward characters.
Born in Berkley, CA, in 1920, Ward was a graduate of the University of California and the Harvard Business School. In life, he was an intensely private man but also renowned as an eccentric prankster, who once staged a picnic for colleagues in the Grand Ballroom of New York’s Plaza Hotel – complete with real grass and ants – and who also appeared on Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show dressed as Napoleon and carrying a huge bologna. Ward died in 1989 at his home in California. Matt Groening gave his character Homer Simpson the middle name “Jay” as a tribute to Ward.
Ward’s legacy has been celebrated in numerous retrospectives and gallery shows over the years, including at the Sundance Film Festival, the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills, San Diego Comic-Con and New York’s Museum of Broadcasting. Balloons of Rocky & Bullwinkle have appeared in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and an iconic 14-foot statue of the two characters has stood on Sunset Blvd. since 1961. Ward was honoured in 2000 with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The official EE British Academy Film Awards have narrowed down the long list and announced their nominations for 2022 this morning over @BAFTA on Twitter and YouTube, revealing (among others) the animation and VFX contenders!
Notably, the Animated Film nominees largely match up with the picks we’ve seen from the Producers Guild of America, American Cinema Editors, Art Directors Guild and Motion Picture Sound Editors: Encanto (Disney), Flee (Final Cut for Real), Luca (Pixar) and The Mitchells vs. the Machines(Sony/Netflix). Unlike these other awards, the BAFTAs offered only four slots in this category, omitting the other other common studio contenders Raya and the Last Dragon (Disney) and Sing 2 (Illumination/Universal) in favor of the indie favorite Flee. The Golden Globes also had a similar lineup, including Raya and Flee but giving a nod to Michaela Pavlátová’s My Sunny Maad instead of The Mitchells, before crowning Encanto the winner.
Like the Globes, the BAFTAs have had a strong winner correlation with the Academy Awards over the years:
Year | BAFTA Award | Academy Award
2007 Happy Feet
2008Ratatouille
2009WALL-E
2010Up
2011Toy Story 3
2012Rango
2013Brave
2014Frozen
2015The LEGO Movie | Big Hero 6
2016 Inside Out
2017Kubo and the Two Strings | Zootopia
2018Coco
2019Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
2020Klaus | Toy Story 4
2021Soul
Also on trend for the 2022 awards season, Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s Flee (distributed in the U.S. by NEON) is the animated breakout of the bunch, receiving an additional nomination in the Documentary category.
Select nomination categories follow, visit bafta.org for the complete list.
ANIMATED FILM
Encanto – Jared Bush, Byron Howard, Yvett Merino, Clarke Spencer
Global streaming titan Netflix is penciling in another packed year of animated features which open up new worlds of story, innovation and artistry.
With titles helmed by visionary directors all over the world, the 2022 crop looks to be a fruitful one indeed. The slate includes (in alphabetical order):
Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Childhood
Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Childhood
Studio Partners: Detour FilmProductions, Submarine
Director/writer/producer: Richard Linklater
Producers: Mike Blizzard, Tommy Pallotta, Femke Wolting, Bruno Felix
Executive Producer: John Sloss
Cast: Milo Coy, Lee Eddy, Bill Wise, Natalie L’Amoreaux, Josh Wiggins, Sam Chipman, Jessica Brynn Cohen, Danielle Guilbot with Zachary Levi and Glenn Powell and Jack Black
Synopsis:Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Childhood tells the story of the first moon landing in the summer of 1969 from two interwoven perspectives – the astronaut and mission control view of the triumphant moment, and through the eyes of a kid growing up in Houston, Texas who has intergalactic dreams of his own. Taking inspiration from Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Richard Linklater’s own life, Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Childhood is a snapshot of American life in the 1960s that is part coming of age, part societal commentary, and part out-of-this-world adventure.
Bubble
On Netflix April 28 | Anime | Japan
Studio Partner: WIT Studio
Director: Tetsuro Araki
Writer: Gen Urobuchi
Character Designs: Takeshi Obata
Cast (Japanese): Jun Shison, Mamoru Miyano, Yuki Kaji and Tasuku Hatanaka
Synopsis: The story is set in Tokyo, after bubbles that broke the laws of gravity rained down upon the world. Cut off from the outside world, Tokyo has become a playground for a group of young people who have lost their families, acting as a battlefield for parkour team battles as they leap from building to building. Hibiki, a young ace known for his dangerous play style, makes a reckless move one day and plummets into the gravity-bending sea. His life is saved by Uta, a girl with mysterious powers who appears suddenly. The pair then hear a unique sound audible only to them. Why did Uta appear before Hibiki? Their encounter leads to a revelation that will change the world.
Synopsis: Kosuke and Natsume have been friends since childhood, but as time goes on the relationship between the two sixth graders seems strained as they keep avoiding one another. One day during their summer vacation, they go to a housing complex that is scheduled to be demolished. Having grown up there, the place holds a lot of memories. While playing, they suddenly get caught up in a mysterious phenomenon and when they regain consciousness, they see an entire ocean before them as the housing complex has drifted into a mysterious sea along with Kosuke and Natsume with it. Will they be able to return to their previous world? A summer farewell journey begins.
Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio
Coming This December
Studio Partner: ShadowMachine
Directors: Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson
Writers: del Toro and Patrick McHale
Producers: del Toro, Lisa Henson, Alex Bulkley, Corey Campodonico and Gary Ungar
Executive Producer: Jason Lust
Cast: Gregory Mann, Ewan McGregor, David Bradley, Tilda Swinton, Christoph Waltz, Finn Wolfhard, Cate Blanchett, John Turturro, Ron Perlman, Tim Blake Nelson, Burn Gorman
Synopsis: Academy Award-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro reinvents Carlo Collodi’s classic tale of the wooden marionette who is magically brought to life in order to mend the heart of a grieving wood carver named Geppetto. This whimsical, stop-motion musical directed by del Toro and Mark Gustafson follows the mischievous and disobedient adventures of Pinocchio in his pursuit of a place in the world.
My Father’s Dragon
Studio Partner: Cartoon Saloon (Ireland)
Director: Nora Twomey
Writer: Meg LeFauve
Producers: Bonnie Curtis, Julie Lynn, Paul Young
Executive Producers: Meg LeFauve, John Morgan, Tomm Moore, Gerry Shirren, Ruth Coady, Alan Moloney
Synopsis: From five-time Academy Award-nominated animation studio Cartoon Saloon (The Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea, Wolfwalkers) and Academy Award-nominated director Nora Twomey (The Breadwinner) comes an exquisite film inspired by the Newbery-honored children’s book from author Ruth Stiles Gannett. Struggling to cope after a move to the city with his mother, Elmer runs away in search of Wild Island and a young dragon who waits to be rescued. Elmer’s adventures introduce him to ferocious beasts, a mysterious island and the friendship of a lifetime.
The Sea Beast – First Look
The Sea Beast
Director/writer/producer: Chris Williams
Writers: Nell Benjamin
Producer: Jed Schlanger
Synopsis: In an era when terrifying beasts roamed the seas, monster hunters were celebrated heroes — and none were more beloved than the great Jacob Holland. But when young Maisie Brumble stows away on his fabled ship, he’s saddled with an unexpected ally. Together they embark on an epic journey into uncharted waters and make history. From Academy Award-winning filmmaker Chris Williams (Moana, Big Hero Six, Bolt), The Sea Beast takes us to where the map ends, and the true adventure begins.
The Seven Deadly Sins: Grudge of Edinburgh Part 1
Anime | Japan
Studio Partners: Alfred Imageworks (S. Korea), Marvy Jack (Japan)
Director: Bob Shirahata
Writer: Rintaro Ikeda
Synopsis: With over 37 million copies sold and winning in the children’s category of the 39th Kodansha Manga Award, the mega-hit The Seven Deadly Sins by Nakaba Suzuki is receiving a spin-off anime film, with an original story by the creator. Split into two parts, the story will follow Tristan, the son of The Seven Deadly Sins protagonists Meliodas and Elizabeth. Tristan inherits the power of the Goddess Clan and can heal people’s wounds and injuries, but he often ends up hurting others due to his inability to control his Demon Clan power. To protect his family, Tristan heads to Edinburgh Castle and meets a host of new friends along the way.
Wendell and Wild
Studio Partners: Monkeypaw Prod., Gotham Group, Principato-Young Ent.
Director: Henry Selick
Writers: Selick, Jordan Peele
Producers: Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Win Rosenfeld, Peele, Henry Selick
Executive Producers: Lindsay Williams, Eddie Gamarra, Kamil Oshundara, Ian Cooper
Synopsis: From the delightfully wicked minds of Henry Selick and Jordan Peele, comes Wendell and Wild, an animated tale about scheming demon brothers Wendell (Keegan-Michael Key) and Wild (Peele), who enlist the aid of 13-year-old Kat Elliot — a tough teen with a load of guilt — to summon them to the Land of the Living. But what Kat demands in return leads to a brilliantly bizarre and comedic adventure like no other, an animated fantasy that defies the law of life and death, all told through the handmade artistry of stop motion.
Grom Social Enterprises announced its wholly-owned subsidiary, To -Draw Animation (TDA), has executed an agreement with an international programming supplier that will generate an additional $950,000 in business.
The work, announced today by Top Draw’s President, Russell Hicks, will further bolster animation production at TDA’s bustling studio in Manila, the Philippines, where it produces animated series, movies, specials and short-form content on behalf of major international programming suppliers, studios and networks.
Recognized throughout entertainment communities for its premium production services, Top Draw has produced animated content for over 20 years and was acquired by Grom in 2016. Top Draw serves as a centerpiece of Grom’s offerings, which also includes safe social media for kids, web filtering utilized in school districts nationwide and original family entertainment through Curiosity Ink Media.
“More and more, programmers rely on Top Draw to produce their premium animated programming,” explained Hicks. “Our entire team came into 2022 energized to deliver even more one-of-a-kind animation content on behalf of all of our clients, whose success depends upon showcasing entertainment that keeps viewers engaged and coming back for more.”
Grom Social Enterprises, Inc. is a growing social media platform and original entertainment content provider for children under 13 years of age, which provides safe and secure digital environments for kids that can be monitored by their parents or guardians. The Company has several operating subsidiaries, including Grom Social (web portal and app), Curiosity Ink Media (kids & family entertainment), Top Draw Animation (animated content) and Grom Educational Services (web filters).
At long last, Studio Ghibli has announced that its Ghibli Park will welcome fans into the artful, nostalgic and fantastical worlds of its beloved films this year, with Opening Day set for November 1. An official website for the theme park launched with the announcement, revealing the Phase 1 areas and offering sneak peeks through concept art and a new photo.
Initially conceived as a themed nature park by director/co-founder Hayao Miyazaki in 2015, Ghibli Park is a gentler take on the classic amusement park. With no massive rides or overstimulating attractions, visitors are invited to “take a stroll, feel the wind, and discover the wonders.” Its structures and sights are being built to complement the surrounding forest of the Aichi Earth Expo Memorial Park, about 15 miles outside Nagoya, Japan.
Ghibli Park aerial view (photo: Studio Ghibli)
At opening, viewers can explore Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse — an indoor bazaar home to unseen treasures from the studio’s movies as well as artefacts of all sizes from past exhibits. Here, you might encounter a Robot Soldier from Laputa: Castle in the Sky (1986) or the iconic Cat Bus from My Neighbor Totoro (1988), check out kid-sized exhibits or feast your eyes on production materials that reveal the secrets of your favorite movies. The Warehouse is reported to be three times larger than Tokyo’s Ghibli Museum.
Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse concept art (Ghibli Park)Stairway construction in Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse (photo: Studio Ghibli)
Phase 1 also includes the Hill of Youth, where you can look out on the forested slope and feel the breeze from the balcony of the World Emporium antique shop out of Whisper of the Heart (1995), or a 19th-century castle tower reminiscent of Laputa and Howl’s Moving Castle (2004). Perhaps the spot where you can best embrace the Ghibli Park’s motto: “Play along with the wind.”
Hill of Youth concept art (Ghibli Park)
The charming country house where Satsuki, Mei and their father first encounter sprites and creatures of folklore is a focal point of the Dondoko Forest, inspired by My Neighbor Totoro. A life-size model of the home was initially built for the 2005 World Expo held in Aichi park. Behind the building and up the hill, a “Dondoko-do” statue of the lovable forest troll himself waits to greet guests.
The Kusakabe house in Dondoko Forest (Ghibli Park)Dondoko-do statue (Ghibli Park)
With completion dates to be announced, fans can look forward to exploring the enchanting Valley of Witches. The concept artwork shows a street of colorful storefronts and a teacup ride decorated with a Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989) motif, while Howl’s titular Moving Castle looms in the background.
Valley of Witches concept art (Ghibli Park)
Finally, those who fantasize about running barefoot through the wilderness rather than sipping Earl Grey with a talking cat (but honestly, why not both?), the TBA roster also includes Mononoke Village — conceived as a verdant meadow inspire populated by figures of the great boar and the tatarigami, a fortified town hall and watch tower inspired by Ashitaka’s village, bringing the lush world of Princess Mononoke (1997) to life.
Every year since 2017, Cartoon Movie has presented a spotlight on the originality and unique artistry of a specific country or region. For 2022, visitors to the Bordeaux pitch event for animated features will be properly introduced to the Nordic countries, which are backing nine of the 57 projects being presented March 8-10 — a regional record!
“The spotlight on a European country/region attracts both limelight and business cooperation opportunities,” noted Annick Maes, General Director of organizing body Cartoon Movie. “As a thriving and innovative region with many strong storytelling talents, the Nordics will present interesting and unique projects that we are excited to give special attention during this year’s edition.”
Producer Tonje Skar Reiersen commented on behalf of the network Nordic Animation, “The spotlight at Cartoon Movie is a recognition of the fact that the animation industry in the Nordic countries is enjoying a golden age with increased output, greater diversity, more talents and bigger ambitions than at any other point in history. This attention at Cartoon is a great opportunity to show off our talents, strengthen the ties to European colleagues and market both our own films as well as our eagerness to participate on projects from other European countries.”
My True Imaginary Friend – Mr. Clutterbuck (Monkey Business Pictures)
Animation with Meaning
The animation industry in the Nordic countries is vibrant and growing – and inspired by the region’s strong storytelling traditions. From H.C. Andersen’s The Little Mermaid to Astrid Lindgren’s Pippi Longstocking to Tove Jansson’s Moomins and Thorbjørn Egner’s The Forest of HuckyBucky, the Nordic countries have a distinct culture for stories that transcend generations and speak of what it means to be human – stories that show that people are equal, no matter how different.
The Nordics continue to breathe new life into their literary classics, making them relevant for contemporary audiences. But as a truly innovative region, the Nordics also continue to develop new franchises, such as Angry Birds, Ninjago and Captain Sabertooth.
Nordic toons also push boundaries with their content and themes: The massively entertaining Checkered Ninja films use bad language and highlight western exploitation of sweatshop workers. A true and tragic polar adventure is turned into a playful and irreverent film in the upcoming Titina. Kids are daringly served up crazy acid trips in the Two Buddies and a Badger movies. A brutal but empathetic story of four generations of Palestinian refugees is retold in The Tower. And modern, unconventional families are represented, as in the Niko films and The Ape Star.
Titina (Mikrofilm)
Nine projects from Norway, Finland and Iceland will be presented during the 2022 edition of Cartoon Movie (discover the projects here:
In Production:
Just Super – Ovisten Animation (Norway)
Titina – Mikrofilm / Vivi Film (Norway, Belgium)
In Development:
Born Happy – Pikkukala / Atom Art / Letko (Finland, Latvia, Poland)
Niko – Beyond the Northern Lights – Anima Vitae / Ulysses / A. Film / Moetion (Finland, Germany, Denmark, Ireland)
Ploey 2 – GunHil (Iceland)
Valemon: The Polar Bear King – Maipo Film (Norway)
In Concept:
Magical Friends – Ulvenfilm / Kool Produktion (Norway)
My True Imaginary Friend – Mr. Clutterbuck – Monkey Business Pictures / Aurora Pictures (Finland)
Odd Is an Egg – Miso Film (Norway)
Just Super (Qvisten)
In addition, a further 20 producers will be on site, discussing and pitching their upcoming releases off the record. This is by far the largest Nordic delegation at any Cartoon event.
Cartoon Movie is a pitching & co-pro forum for animated feature films. Since the first edition in 1999, 423 films have found financing, representing a total budget of 2.78 billion euros. It is the leading pitching event for animated feature films in Europe and attracts buyers from the U.S. and Asia as well as European sales agents, distributors, streamers and TV channels.
The Nordic Spotlight is sponsored by the Nordic Council of Ministers, Nordisk Kulturfond, Nordisk Film og TV Fond, Norwegian Film Institute, Finnanimation, Icelandic Film Centre, as well as the Finnish and Norwegian Embassies to France.
Read more about this year’s Cartoon Movie in Animation Magazine‘s story here.
Toei Animation — the producer of anime classics such as Mazinger Z, Dragon Ball, Sailor Moon and One Piece — is making a thoroughly modern move, expanding its NFT initiatives by partnering with creators to develop animation franchises based on their tokenized artwork. On Monday, the 60+ year-old Japanese studio announced the development of its first collaborative property, Zombie Zoo. The series is based on an NFT collection by nine-year-old artist Zombie Zoo Keeper, and marks Japan’s first NFT based animation project. A first-look is coming this spring.
In addition to being a unique crossover for NFTs and anime, the project also stands out due to its young creator. As the studio notes in the announcement:
“We have brought many kids’ animations into the world through the hands of adult creators, but the main creator of this project is the children themselves. We started this project because we wanted to support and create animations that reflect children’s creativity as it is … It would be a pleasure if we could share the wonders and joys of the children’s creativity spreading around the world by gaining wings through technology and the internet.”
Zombie Zoo Keeper NFTs
Zombie Zoo Keeper began his NFT project with his mother, multimedia artist and musician Emi Kusano, as a summer school assignment in 2021. Since then, the Zombie Zoo horde has grown to 212 pieces of pixel art created on an iPad and quickly selling out on the OpenSea marketplace. The budding artist gained critical acclaim for his project, becoming an NFT sensation and making the 2021 Forbes JAPAN 100 list.
Zombie Zoo Keeper
“I am so excited that a dream I had been talking about with my mom every day, creating an anime about capturing zombies, came true!” Zombie Zoo Keeper beamed in the announcement. “I am thrilled that as a kid I get to work with adults and creative professionals.”
Today, Prime Video revealed some of the all-star voice talent featured in The Boys Presents: Diabolical, the eight-episode animated anthology series set in the universe of the Emmy-nominated hit The Boys, which will premiere all episodes on March 4 exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.
The sizzling “Vought-A-Burger” spot introduces some of the characters featured in the anthology series. Among the voice cast revealed are Awkwafina, Michael Cera, Don Cheadle, Chace Crawford, Kieran Culkin, Giancarlo Esposito, Eliot Glazer, Jason Isaacs, Kumail Nanjiani, Justin Roiland, Seth Rogen, Andy Samberg, Ben Schwartz, Elisabeth Shue, Christian Slater, Kevin Smith, Antony Starr, Nasim Pedrad, Simon Pegg, Kenan Thompson, Aisha Tyler and Oscar-winner Youn Yuh Jung.
Additional names will be revealed at a later date.
The fun-size episodes, running 12-14 minutes and each with its own animation style, will reveal unseen stories within The Boys universe, dreamt up by some of the most creative and bloody brilliant minds in entertainment today, including Awkwafina, Garth Ennis, Eliot Glazer & Ilana Glazer, Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen, Simon Racioppa, Justin Roiland & Ben Bayouth, Andy Samberg and Aisha Tyler.
The Boys is based on The New York Times best-selling comic by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson and was developed by executive producer and showrunner Eric Kripke.
The Boys Presents: Diabolical is executive produced by Ennis, Robertson, Racioppa, Kripke, Rogen, Goldberg, James Weaver, Neal H. Moritz, Pavun Shetty, Ori Marmur, Ken F. Levin, Jason Netter, Michaela Starr, Loreli Alanís, Chris Prynoski, Shannon Prynoski and Ben Kalina. The series is produced by Amazon Studios and Sony Pictures Television Studios, with Titmouse, Kripke Enterprises, Original Film and Point Grey Pictures.
Want the scoop on Diabolical? Don’t miss the April issue of Animation Magazine — available soon!
HBCU 20×20 and DreamWorks Animation are teaming up for a new talent development initiative kicking off this spring, called LAUNCH: HBCU Fellowship Program.
The professional development program will identify 15 students from HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) to participate in an eight-week curriculum of various workshops, courses and speaker series that aim to open the many paths to a career in animation. Fellows will receive a stipend from the studio, build their professional networks, and have the opportunity to apply and interview for DreamWorks’ Internship Program or open positions within the company.
The program is open to students and recent graduates of HBCUs and the application window opens on Feb 2, 2022 and closes March 1, 2022 (www.hbcu20x20.org/dreamworks).
“DreamWorks strives to introduce and carve a path for Black students and we found the perfect partner to create a meaningful fellowship program with HBCU 20×20,” said Rabia Abedin, DreamWorks Animation’s Manager of Early Career Programs & Diversity Outreach. “LAUNCH will continue DreamWorks ongoing commitment to eliminate barriers in animation for the Black community, and we believe that this program will create impactful opportunities for everyone involved.”
Nicole Tinson, Founder and CEO of HBCU 20×20, stated, “This is a first of its kind partnership, and HBCU 20×20 is excited to embark on this journey with DreamWorks Animation. We’re looking forward to ensuring more people within the HBCU, and ultimately, the Black community, are prepared, ready and connected to career opportunities in animation. We’re grateful to everyone at DreamWorks who continue their ongoing commitment in diversity, equity and inclusion.”
HBCU 20×20 drives change in the HBCU and Black community by increasing economic and social mobility through academic and career resources. Founded in 2017, HBCU 20×20 is the world’s largest network for HBCU and Black jobseekers. The org works to prepare and connect Black college students and professionals to quality job and internship opportunities, while partnering with companies and organizations that share their same commitment to diversity and inclusion.
David Steward II’s Lion Forge Animation studio (Academy Award-winning Hair Love) has made a deal with the Tuff Gong Collective, a joint venture between Universal Music Group (UMG) and New York Times bestselling author Cedella Marley, to develop and produce an animated series based on Marley’s new picture book Marley and the Family Band, with Tracey Baptiste and illustrated by Tiffany Rose, which published February 1 (Random House Children’s Books).
Polygram Entertainment, a film and television production and development division of UMG, is co-producing the series with Lion Forge Animation and Tuff Gong Collective.
“Tuff Gong Collective was formed to be a creative platform to introduce my father’s art and music to new generations and we’re thrilled to work with Lion Forge and Polygram to bring Marley and the Family Band to life through this new animation series,” said Marley. “This series is meant to reach and inspire creativity and community and I couldn’t be more excited to share it with the world.”
Lion Forge Animation Founder Steward said, “It’s a sincere pleasure to work with Cedella and the Polygram team to build off such beautiful storytelling and reimagine it as an animated series. Cedella’s stories speak to everything we strive to bring to life in our productions, and the iconic stature of the Marley name and legacy carries weight that translates into global reach.”
Marley and the Family Band
Marley and the Family Band is a picture book that celebrates music, love and family. A poetic story about a young girl who moves to a new country and learns to make friends — inspired by a childhood growing up with the musician Bob Marley as a father:
When Marley and her family move from Jamaica to Delaware, she knows life is about to change in big ways. And she’s got the perfect plan to help her and her siblings make friends: an outdoor concert for the whole neighborhood! But when weather ruins their plans, she discovers help in the most unlikely places as her new neighbors quickly become the kindest of friends.
In this joyful, vibrant picture book inspired by her childhood and iconic father, Cedella Marley assures children that nothing can stop the music as long as they have community.
The animated series will be directed by Lion Forge Animation Executive Creative Director and two-time Emmy nominee Saxton Moore. David Steward II and Jimmy Thomas are executive producing for the studio.
Lion Forge Animation is a recognized leader in bringing authentic content focusing on underrepresented groups to worldwide audiences. The studio was behind the Academy Award-winning, culturally resonating short Hair Love, directed by Matthew A. Cherry. Lion Forge Animation is one of the only Black-owned animation studios in the world and is unmatched in size and scale. It is the only Black-owned animation studio with an Oscar. The studio is represented by Activist Artist Management.
Swedish game developer Hazelight Studios has partnered with adaptation specialist prodco dj2 Entertainment (Sonic the Hedgehog films, Tomb Raider anime series) to transform the award-winning, cooperative action-adventure game It Takes Two into a film and television property. The buzzy project is the subject of a “multi-party bidding war” with no confirmed studio or network attached as yet.
It is uncertain from the initial Variety report whether the adaptation is intended for animation or live action, although the game’s colorful characters and wild action would imply at least a hybrid take, à la Sonic. The screenwriters behind the Blue Blur’s hit theatrical feature and its upcoming sequel, Pat Casey and Josh Miller, are on board for the It Takes Two adaptation.
Per Hazelight’s website, the critically acclaimed game invites players to “step into the shoes of May and Cody” (check out the gameplay trailer below):
“As the couple is going through a divorce, through unknown means their minds are transported into two dolls which their daughter, Rose, made to represent them. Now, they must reluctantly find a way to get back into their bodies — a quest which takes them through the most wild, unexpected and fantastical journey imaginable.”
Created with Unreal Engine and published by Electronic Arts in March 2021, It Takes Two was helmed by Hazelight Founder & Creative Director, Josef Fares. Its blend of engaging story and unique co-op-only gameplay (either online or with local splitscreen) helped it to 3 million copies sold by October of last year.
It Takes Two won three Game Awards, including Game of the Year, as well as the Golden Joystick for Best Multiplayer. It is currently nominated in multiple categories for the GDC and DICE Awards.
Netflix Kids & Family invites viewers to celebrate Black History Month with an entertaining, joyful selection of titles collected under Black Stories for Families. Highlights include NAACP Image Award-nominated animated series Ada Twist, Scientist (Season 1 & 2 streaming globally) and Karma’s World (S1 available, S2 coming soon), as well as the VFX-powered superkid show Raising Dion (S1 & S2 available). See more of the streamer’s February toon highlights here.
The Disney Bundle of streaming platforms is likewise continuing its promise to amplify Black stories across Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ with extra gusto for Black History Month. Disney+ will unlock content from across The Disney Bundle, offering its U.S. subscribers some of the most popular contemporary series, documentaries and specials in its Celebrate Black Stories collection. Among this month’s Disney animation highlights are:
Rise Up, Sing Out (February 2, also airing on Disney Junior and Disney Channel): A series of animated, music-based shorts geared towards kids, parents and caregivers, designed to be inspiring, empowering and optimistic about race, culture, community and celebrating differences.
The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (February 23, Disney+ Original): Follow the continued adventures and misadventures of newly 14-year-old Penny Proud and her family as they navigate modern life with hilarity and heart. The 2020s bring a new career for mom Trudy, wilder dreams for dad Oscar and new challenges for Penny, including a socially woke neighbor who thinks she has a lot to teach her.
Sneak peek more of the collection in the promo video.
A beacon of Black animation history is also in the spotlight on The Criterion Channel, which will present Floyd Norman: An Animated Life on February 7. The documentary film by Michael Fiore and Erik Sharkey tells the story and celebrates the irrepressible spirit of Disney’s first Black animator. Norman made history when he joined the studio in 1956, and lent his talents to classics like Sleeping Beauty and 101 Dalmatians before being tapped by Walt Disney for the story team on The Jungle Book. The film catches up with Norman at age 80, and includes testimonials from friends and colleagues like Whoopi Goldberg and critic Leonard Maltin.
An Animated Life will be presented alongside a selection of short films and commercials produced by Norman’s indie studio Vignette Films.
WarnerMedia Kids & Family is set to begin its EMEA roll out for preschool brand, Cartoonito today. The brand, which will launch as a dedicated programming block across the region, offers a modern approach to preschool programming and is built to support each child’s unique potential with its educational framework, Humancentric Learning.
The EMEA roll out, starting with the Nordics, follows the launch of the Cartoonito brand in the U.S. in September 2021 on Cartoon Network and HBO Max. Key shows will include Thomas & Friends All Engines Go, Lucas the Spider, Little Ellen and Mush-Mush and the Mushables. These will sit alongside a growing slate of new and library series in a line-up that celebrates individuality and originality, while championing creativity, compassion and inclusion.
Cartoonito already exists as a linear channel in the U.K., building an audience share through 2021, and Italy, and as a programming block in the Middle East and Turkey. The rollout will give the brand a new look in these regions, alongside a growing slate of new and library series and global acquisitions set to launch across EMEA.
Masha and the Bear
Animaccord’s Masha and the Bear has made some brilliant achievements in the past 12 months, most notably reaching 100 billion views on YouTube, which has reasonably increased the demand for the series. According to Parrot Analytics, the toon has been the #1 preschool show worldwide this year, with 36x more demand than the average show, putting it in the top 0.2% of all TV series across all platforms. Masha was again ranked as a Top-5 show among children (0-18) for 2020-2021, being more in-demand with global audiences than PAW Patrol (34.9x) and Peppa Pig (34.1x).
Masha and the Bear has been 101x more popular outside of its home market (Russia) than the average show, and had 32.9 times more longevity, meaning the show is still very relevant in its genre after over a decade. In the U.S. and U.K. markets, Masha falls into the ‘Outstanding bucket’, placing it in the top 3% of all shows and TV series. In addition to conquering the preschool market, the series also stacks up against recent global hits like Squid Game, Marvel Studios’ Hawkeye and Amazon Prime’s Wheel of Time, being ranked as doubly more in-demand.
Channel 4’s Terry Pratchett holiday special The Abominable Snow Baby, produced by Eagle Eye Drama, was one of the many animated projects supported by the YACF.
In response to the decision by U.K. Government not to continue the Young Audiences Content Fund, Animation UK issued an official statement expressing disappointment and calls for a reversal of the decision, as well as an urgent review of children’s content and investment options (read the full statement here). Noting that children and young people are “25% of the audience and 100% of the future,” the org noted:
“The three-year pilot of the Young Audiences Content Fund (YACF) has had a huge impact. The YACF has increased output through the PSBs, and in just a few years delivered quality content for the audience. The process has been responsive and inclusive; the nature & range of content also meets regional and diversity criteria. Furthermore, this funding model is particularly beneficial for the independent sector as it offers access to both production and development funds. We know it succeeded in allowing new British voices across the U.K. to be shown on screen.”
Cleo
More news bytes:
Sandbox & Co, a London-based provider of digital learning products and services, has acquired PlayKids, a leading digital education platform in Brazil, Latin America’s largest economy.
WarnerMedia Kids & Family announced multiple new acquisitions of Moonbug Entertainment‘s digital preschool content to Cartoonito on HBO Max and Cartoon Network, available now. These include animated series Blippi Wonders(premiering in April), CoComelon (the #1 most-watched brand on YouTube), Lellobee City Farmand Mia’s Magic Playground S2.
Mondo TV Studios (Mondo TV Group) has inked a major sales agreement with Edye for Season 1 of the popular preschool animated series Cleo, an innovative production by La Casa Animada (Canary Islands). The 39 x 6′ series will launch in June on HITN TV’s Spanish-language SVOD (U.S./LatAm).
London-based CelAction, developers of professional 2D animation software, today announced their collaboration with industry veteran Cath Lloyd to provide online courses for their CelAction2D software — used to create hit series such as Peppa Pig, Bluey and Mr. Bean.
“There is currently a huge demand for professional-level CelAction2D training,” said Andy Blazdell, CEO of CelAction. “We’re delighted that Cath has stepped up to provide this much-needed service, and we’re proud to support her entrepreneurial efforts.”
Cath Lloyd
Lloyd’s new venture is called CelAction Tutors, which provides online animation courses in CelAction2D software, for professionals and students looking to expand their software knowledge and employability. Courses run over four weeks, and are a combination of pre-recorded lectures, one-to-one tutorials and exercises. Free CelAction2D Studio Edition software is provided for two months, covering the duration of the course plus an extra month for participants to practice. In addition, royalty-free assets will be available for participants to create a showreel of their work.
“Cath’s experience across the gamut of TV production, from preschool shows such as Peppa Pig, to topical comedy such as 2DTV, gives her teaching a relevance that will boost the career of those who take a CelAction Tutors course,” continued Blazdell. “The flexible nature of the teaching allows animators to learn and practice when it suits them, which will hopefully enable a larger talent pool to take advantage of this opportunity.”
“As someone who has learned new animation tools many times over the course of my career, I know how important it is to have affordable and professional training,” shared Lloyd, founder of CelAction Tutors. “I want to provide the kind of learning resource I wish had been available to me when I was starting out.”
Lloyd is an animator with 25 years’ experience in 2D animation, working for companies such as Warner Bros. Feature Animation, Klasky Csupo and Tiger Aspect, on a range of film and TV projects including Balto, Space Jam, Quiff and Boot, Little Princess and School of Roars. She has also run animation software courses for companies such as Cutlass TV and Central St. Martins School of Art.
CelAction Tutors courses will commence in March 2022.
Cyber Group Studios, a leading producer and distributor of animated series for children and families worldwide, best known for its award-winning preschool show Gigantosaurus, has partnered with YouTube to launch Giganto Club. The studio’s first fully digital-native and 100% real-time animation series will be available globally on YouTube Kids and on all devices starting this Thursday, February 3, in English, French, Italian, German and Spanish.
Expanding on the success of Gigantosaurus, launched worldwide in 2019, Giganto Club is hosted by real-time animated dinos that engage viewers with awesome games, songs, and themed segments such as “Dino-news” and “Dino-guests.” The 26 x 11′ series presents fascinating facts about the Cretaceous period and provides interesting comparisons with today’s world and features breathtaking landscapes and locations.
“This is the beginning of a wonderful relationship, and we are pleased to be adding Giganto Club, our very first digital native series, into the YouTube Kids Safe Streaming service. Cyber Group Studios continues to rapidly expand and diversify our digital presence with exciting new distribution partnerships. We’ve created exceptional and immersive content and we are thrilled to bring it to children and families around the world,” said Pierre Sissmann, Chairman & CEO of Cyber Group Studios.
Cyber Group Studios developed and produced Giganto Club in its high-tech studio in Roubaix, France, with motion-capture driven by XSENS technology and powered by Unreal Engine provided by Epic Games. Cyber Group Studios received the Epic MegaGrant from Epic Games in 2021 with the goal of helping the company accelerate its ability to create immersive entertainment experiences and further its mission of delivering film-quality content and interactive games to homes via all devices.
Giganto Club is directed by Olivier Lelardoux (Gigantosaurus), written by Mickael Frison and Jacqueline Moody (Gigantosaurus) and technically supervised by Andreas J. Carlen, a veteran lead software engineer and technical director with 25 years of experience in real-time production. The virtual production and real-time animation initiatives are being led by Cyber Labs, the brainstorming and experimentation division of Cyber Group Studios.
Twenty-eight years after the original series was produced, cult classic animation SWAT-KATS is all set to make a thrilling comeback. Show creators Christian and Yvon Tremblay have teamed up with global animation major Toonz Media Group to produce a brand-new series of the popular show about high-flying anthropomorphic feline fighters.
The new series, SWAT-KATS Revolution, to be co-produced by Tremblay Bros. and Toonz Media Group, will be targeted at five- to 11-year olds and will include a slew of new characters alongside the classic protagonists and villains. The new series will also feature a full futuristic arsenal, including a new jet fighter plane for the heroes, along with other cutting edge vehicles and gadgets. The action-adventure series aims to bring together top talents from across the world, led by the creative vision of the Tremblay brothers.
“While SWAT-KATS Revolution is a new series, the DNA of what made it successful will remain,” said Christian Tremblay. “The character relationships, the smart and witty writing, the action, the imaginative stories, and the bigger than life villains will evermore be present. The new series will be contemporary and explore themes that the new audience will identify with.”
Toonz Media Group CEO P. Jayakumar noted, “SWAT-KATS is easily one of the all-time classics in animation. It is a privilege for Toonz to revive this iconic show after all these years. We see tremendous potential for the property in the new context and among new audiences. We cannot wait to bring life to the new series under the supervision of Christian and Yvon.”
SWAT-KATS Revolution is also set in the fictional mega metropolis of Megakat City, where the two vigilante heroes fight off evil powers to keep their city from becoming a dystopian world. The series will be distributed worldwide by Toonz.
“We are thrilled to enter in a strategic collaboration with Tremblay Bros for SWAT-KATS Revolution new franchise to bring the two iconic heroes into new contemporary stories and conflicts toward their nemesis. The new series will aim to revive the SWAT-KATS core values to the fans and engage new audiences,” said Bruno Zarka, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at Toonz.
SWAT-KATS Revolution
SWAT-KATS first aired in September 1993. The original series SWAT-KATS: The Radical Squadron produced by Hanna-Barbera became the number one syndicated animated show of 1994. The show was admired by viewers for its bold and eye-catching animation style, power-packed action and energetic rock ‘n’ roll background score besides its iconic theme music.
The show, which gained cult status in the ‘90s, enjoys immense fan following across the world. SK Fandom, as the fan community of the series is popularly known, has kept the show alive amongst the community over the years through discussions, fan fiction, artwork, and a variety of fan projects and games over online groups and forums. The fan community had also raised substantial sums to revive the show through a Kickstarter fundraising campaign a few years ago.
Toonz is a 360-degree media powerhouse with over two decades of experience, and one of Asia’s most active animation production studios (over 10,000 minutes of 2D and CGI kids’ and family content per year). Its credits include Wolverine and the X-Men (Marvel), Speed Racer: The Next Generation (Lionsgate), Mostly Ghostly (Universal), Playmobil (Sony), Dragonlance (Paramount), Freefonix (BBC), Gummybear and Friends and Fruit Ninja (Google). The studio is currently in production on Paddypawsin partnership with Keith Chapman, JG and the BC Kids with Janet Hubert, Sunnyside Billy from Olivier Jean-Marie andPierre the Pigeon Hawk, featuring a star voice cast of Whoopi Goldberg, Will.i.am, Jennifer Hudson and Snoop Dogg.
Russian animation powerhouse Wizart Animation has revealed the first teaser for the latest installment in The Snow Queen universe, The Snow Queen & The Princess, the animated feature opens in theaters in Russia and CIS on May 26, followed by a global rollout.
The hugely successful franchise about the adventures of Gerda, Kai and The Snow Queen was first brought to the screen in December 2012 and has now been released in more than 150 countries worldwide. Since their debut, the characters have changed visually following, latest trends and changes in animation, but the main principles of storytelling have been kept: stories based on universal values, full of magic, humor and adventure.
The Snow Queen & The Princess
The Snow Queen & The Princess, the fifth movie in the series, will introduce a new charismatic character: the misbehaving little wizardess Ila, The Snow Queen’s daughter, who lives in the Mirrorlands and accidentally frees the dangerous Icy Spirits from their centuries-long imprisonment in Lake Gao. The Icy Spirits break free into the Mirrorlands and enter Gerda and Kai’s peaceful, quiet town, intending to freeze all its inhabitants. Having realized her mistake, Ila ventures to the outer world to ask Kai and Gerda for help. Together, the heroes set off on an exciting adventure to save both the human world and the Mirrorlands. In this journey the little wizardess will learn to master her magic and overcome her childish whims, selfishness and fears.
The film is produced by Vladimir Nikolaev, whose credits include the four previous Snow Queen features, the Sheep and Wolves movies and last year’s Secret Magic Control Agency. The directors are Aleksey Tsitsilin, known for helming Secret Magic Control Agency, the first Russian animated feature to premiere on Netflix, and The Snow Queen: Mirrorlands; and Andrey Korenkov, who also directed the Snow Queen spin-off series, The Tales of Wonder Keepers, which was successfully released worldwide as an iQIYI Original Series on the leading Chinese streamer to become #1 in iQIYI Kids Programs and hit the Top 15 in the platform’s overall Hot List. iQIYI boasts over 500 million monthly active users, who consume 6 billion hours of content each month.
The Snow Queen & The Princess
Wizart Animation is handling international sales for The Snow Queen & The Princess which has already been picked up by KLB SAS (France and French-speaking territories in Europe and Africa), First Run (South Korea) and BG Film (Turkey). Read more about the movie in the March ’22 issue of Animation Magazine EFM coverage.
