Animation Magazine

Author: Mercedes Milligan

  • Trailer: ‘Shenmue the Animation’ Punches Up Crunchyroll & Adult Swim

    Trailer: ‘Shenmue the Animation’ Punches Up Crunchyroll & Adult Swim

    A phoenix will descend from above when Shenmue the Animation premieres Saturday, February 5 at 9:30 p.m.PST on Crunchyroll and Adult Swim. The English dubbed version will air in North America on Toonami, Adult Swim’s signature anime block, and Crunchyroll will stream the subtitled version worldwide outside of Japan and China.

    A story of revenge and self-discovery, Shenmue debuted as a video game by SEGA for the Dreamcast on December 29, 1999. Since then, its captivating characters and riveting storytelling have created a cult following around the globe. Now over 20 years later, the 13-episode anime adaptation aims to capture the same essence of mystery and thrilling martial arts.

    Synopsis: 1986, Yokosuka. Ryo Hazuki has trained to master the Hazuki Style Jujitsu under his strict father in the Hazuki Dojo from his childhood. However, one day a mysterious man named Lan Di murders his father and takes the “mirror” his father was protecting. Ryo is determined to find the truth behind his father’s murder, but soon finds himself getting stuck in a war between the underground organizations…. Traveling from Yokosuka to Hong Kong, Ryo’s long journey begins!

    Characters and voice cast:

    • Ryo Hazuki voiced by Masaya Matsukaze (Japanese) and Austin Tindle (English): A high school boy and heir to the Hazuki style martial arts. When his father is murdered by a mysterious man named Lan Di, Ryo begins a journey to polish his martial arts and uncover the truth behind his father’s death.
    • Lan Di voiced by Takahiro Sakurai (Japanese) and Scott Gibbs (English): A high-ranking member of the underground organization Chi You Men who murders Ryo’s father and steals the Dragon Mirror.
    • Shenhua voiced by Natalie Rial (English): A young girl who lives in a rural village in Guilin under the care of her foster father. Pure and simple, she has vast knowledge of plants, animals, and other natural survival skills.
    • Nozomi Harasaki voiced by Cat Thomas (English): Ryo’s classmate who has secretly admired him ever since he saved her from bullies in middle school. Strong and considerate, she usually spends her time helping in her grandmother’s flower shop.
    • Guizhang Chen voiced by Jeremy Gee (English): Guizhang was born in Yokohama and taught martial arts by his father from a young age. Since Ryo has a similar upbringing, although Guizhang acts cold he feels close to Ryo.
    • Chai voiced by Greg Ayres (English): A member of Chi You Men. He has a unique condition allowing him to do superhuman-like moves. After Lan Di has taken the Dragon mirror, he begins looking for the second mirror.
    • Wong voiced by Bryson Baugus (English): A member of Heavens. He looks up to Ren like a brother and aspires to be like him.
    • Joy voiced by Luci Christian (English): Joy is a young woman who loves motorcycles. Her father runs a trade business and is highly trusted by many. Like Ryo, Joy has also lost her mother at a young age.
    • Xiuying Hong voiced by Christine Auten (English): Her priest name is Lishao Tao. Although she is young, she is known as the grand master of Bajiquan. Her facial expression is always calm, but her clear eyes look like she can see through people’s hearts and intentions.
    • Ren voiced by Cody House (English): The charismatic head of Heavens, a street gang that operates in Beverly Hills Wharf. He is obsessed with money and does not trust anyone other than his friends. Ren is rivals with the Yellow Heads gang and plans to beat them one day.
    • Dou Niu voiced by Joe Daniels (English): While being the boss of Yellow Heads, Dou Niu is also part of Chi You Men. To gain trust from Lan Di, he also begins looking for Yuanda Zhu. Dou Niu has a large bear-like body, which puts Ryo and his friends in a difficult situation when fighting him.

    Additional voice actors will be announced soon.

    Shenmue the Animation is a Crunchyroll and Adult Swim original series directed by Chikara Sakurai (One Punch Man Season 2) with animation production by Telecom Animation Film and production management provided by Sola Entertainment. Original opening music “UNDEAD-NOID” will be performed by Ito Kashitaro. Video game creator Yu Suzuki is credited with the original concept. Kensuke Ishikawa (Tower of God) will serve as chief animation director, with scripts from Kento Shimoyama (We Rent Tsukumogami, BLEACH) and original character design from Udaka.

    Additional Crunchyroll and Adult Swim original series include Blade Runner: Black Lotus and Fena: Pirate Princess.

    Shenmue the Animation
    Shenmue the Animation

     

     

  • ‘Craig of the Creek’ Branches Out with Spinoff, Movie & S5 Renewal

    ‘Craig of the Creek’ Branches Out with Spinoff, Movie & S5 Renewal

    WarnerMedia Kids & Family announced today two new project greenlights and a series renewal that will expand the storytelling universe of the hit Emmy-, GLAAD- and NAACP Image Award-nominated Craig of the Creek. Establishing itself as a premier animated kids franchise, project greenlights include a preschool spinoff series Jessica’s Big Little World, and an original animated movie, Craig of the Creek: The Movie, plus a season five series renewal.

    “In Craig of the Creek, Matt Burnett, Ben Levin, Tiffany Ford and the entire crew created a charming, imaginative, and inclusive world that represents the best in kids animation,” said Sam Register, President, Cartoon Network Studios and Warner Bros. Animation. “We could not ask for a better foundation as we expand the stories of the Creek into preschool and long-form projects ensuring that Craig of the Creek is well on its way to becoming our studio’s next big kids franchise.”

    “Since its debut, Craig of the Creek has been an instant audience favorite, capturing the joy of being a kid along with the humor and heart of family life,” said Amy Friedman, Head of Kids & Family Programming, Warner Bros. “We are so thrilled with how Cartoon Network Studios has opened up Craig’s world and that his hilarious little sister Jessica, a breakout character, will now have her own show!”

    Jessica's Big Little World
    Jessica’s Big Little World

    Jessica’s Big Little World – No task is too big, even when you’re little! Set to debut in 2023, this preschool spinoff centers on the Creek’s favorite resilient little sister, Jessica, as she navigates her way through a world where everything seems much bigger than she is. Although she’s the youngest and still needs help with a lot, Jessica is inspired by the grown-ups and bigger kids around her and is persistent in her quest to conquer monumental kid tasks like creating a bedtime routine or saying hi to a new classmate. With the help of her friends, imaginary and real, Jessica sets off to take on the world, even if she still does suck her thumb … sometimes.

    Following Cartoonito’s framework of Humancentric Learning, Jessica’s Big Little World aims to mirror important moments and milestones in children’s lives to help them recognize and appreciate that difficult experiences and feelings are universal. The preschool series will weave themes of communication, imaginative play, perseverance and embracing age-appropriate strategies for overcoming obstacles throughout.

    Craig of the Creek: The Movie – An origin story of the Creek’s bravest explorer that could only be told through the scope of a movie. Craig Williams is the shy, new kid in town, longing for his old home and life. Little does he know, he’ll soon set off on the biggest adventure he could ever dream of. Treasure maps, pirate ships, and a villain who wants to destroy the Creek are just the beginning in this treasure hunting epic! Craig of the Creek: The Movie is expected to premiere in 2023.

    Craig of the Creek Season Five – Craig of the Creek follows the precocious Craig and his best friends Kelsey and J.P., as they transform everyday afternoons into extraordinary adventures through imaginative play at the neighborhood creek. Season five delves deeper into the endless world of the Creek as Craig embarks on more journeys with friends new and old, finding adventure, mystery and fun around every bend. Season five is scheduled to premiere early next year.

    Craig of the Creek
    Craig of the Creek

    Craig of the Creek, Craig of the Creek: The Movie and Jessica’s Big Little World are executive produced and co-created by Emmy-nominated Steven Universe writers Matt Burnett and Ben Levin. Jessica’s Big Little World is executive produced and co-created by former Craig of the Creek supervising director, Tiffany Ford.

    “Seeing how viewers automatically fell in love with Jessica, the littlest member of the Williams family, and her big belief that she can do what everyone else does, developing Jessica’s Big Little World was a natural next step in the Craig universe,” said Burnett and Levin. “Tiffany has been part of the Craig of the Creek family since the beginning and there isn’t a better voice to bring our pint-sized heroine’s journey to preschoolers.”

    Added Ford, “I’m very much looking forward to the stories we’re going to tell on Jessica’s Big Little World. We hope to bring forth relatable adventures that kids and parents can both connect to. I personally feel close to Jessica — she reminds me of people in my family, experiences that I’ve had, and friends that I’ve known. As we continue to develop this very special show, Jessica’s journey to becoming a big kid has also inspired me to find a more kind and compassionate approach to the even smallest moments in life.”

    Craig of the Creek is consistently recognized for its authentic storytelling and representation of Black family life. Highlighted also by the diverse talent behind the scenes, the show has been praised for its inclusive storylines, relatable characters and accurate portrayal and normalization of Black culture. The series has garnered multiple award nominations since its 2018 premiere and received a Common Sense Seal for diversity in television. The fourth season of Craig of the Creek premiered Monday, Jan. 17 on Cartoon Network and will be followed by Thursday, Feb. 17 on HBO Max.

     

  • Oscar Shortlisted ‘The Windshield Wiper’ Makes Online Debut

    Oscar Shortlisted ‘The Windshield Wiper’ Makes Online Debut

    As Academy Award nominations voting roll on, another of the year’s stand-out animated shorts launches online for a wider audience to enjoy: Alberto Mielgo’s The Windshield Wiper has debuted today (Jan. 19) on YouTube, free to watch via Short Of The Week! The film is also available to stream over the director’s IGTV feed (@albertomielgo). As Mielgo says, “Films are made to be watched.”

    The Windshield Wiper is a meditation on the reality of love in the modern age, told through a series of artful vignettes. “Love is purely abstract and is governed by emotions … I don’t necessarily want the audience to understand or to try to find what’s going on, I want them to feel each scene or vignette, whatever triggers in them,” Mielgo explains.

    The Windshield Wiper
    The Windshield Wiper

    Producer Leo Sanchez describes the project: “More than six years in the making, it is a film created by Leo Sanchez Studio and Pinkman TV. Through the love and dedication and involving some of the best talent in the industry it has been made possible and now has seen the light. It is a labor of love, a passion project. A self-financed film that could only be achieved independently which has required a lot of risk taking.”

    “From a production point of view, and as a co-producer, I’m probably shooting myself on my foot right now,” Mielgo says of the online launch, “but let’s be honest, this is and has always been a passionate project, with no budget whatsoever, done in my spare time with my friend Leo Sanchez and with a big amount of artist and friends that they liked the project or they liked my work or they shared the values or the message of the film and wanted to be part of it no matter what. The team worked generously on weekends, nights and any spare time they had.”

    The Windshield Wiper
    The Windshield Wiper

    The Windshield Wiper will be available to watch on Short Of The Week through to the Oscar nominations announcement on February 8. Watch it here. Learn more about the 15 shortlisted animated shorts here.

     

  • Ladima Foundation, CDEA & KIAFF Pick 10 Toon Trainees for African Women’s Program

    Ladima Foundation, CDEA & KIAFF Pick 10 Toon Trainees for African Women’s Program

    The Ladima Foundation, in partnership with Culture and Development East Africa (CDEA) and the Kwetu International Animation Film Festival (KIAFF), has announced the 10 selected East African women who will participate in the Let Your Voices Roar animation training, to take place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (dates and venue to be announced).

    Announced last year, Let Your Voices Roar is a 10-day animation workshop developed for women that will explore the theme of home and belonging, and how animation can be used to help one’s voice be heard, within and beyond the borders of their communities.

    Following a call out, applications were received from women across East Africa with the following 10 women being selected to take part in the training:

    • Meek Alex Wanga (Kenya)
    • Doreen Kirumba Mwirigi (Kenya)
    • Nsile James Uiso (Tanzania)
    • Angela Beily (Tanzania)
    • Ruth Nazzinda (Uganda)
    • Adelaide Barnabas Jachi (Tanzania)
    • Lightness Joneal Walter (Tanzania)
    • Gwantwa Lucas Mwakalinga (Tanzania)
    • Marcia Tisa (Kenya)
    • Hortance Umugwaneza Kamikazi (Rwanda)
    Black Barbie
    Black Barbie

    The training will be led by award-winning, British-born Ghanaian animator, illustrator and visual artist, African Animation Network’s Comfort Arthur. Arthur trained at the Royal College of Arts in London before moving to Ghana in 2012 to found The Comfy Studio. Her animated short film Black Barbie is an international hit that has been screened at more than 50 film festivals around the world, earning multiple awards and high critical marks. In 2020 she published her first children’s picture book, based on the short.. Arthur is also Festival Director for FUPiTOONS, the African continent’s first film festival dedicated to short-form animation for kids.

    The training will be co-facilitated by Lydia Mugure Mwangi, a Kenyan animator, game developer and the founder of Naota Studios — a digital arts company focused on developing fun and interactive content featuring the rich history of Africa. Mwangi creates unique art that can cross borders from computer graphics to traditional art: “I build new worlds to share, enchant and inspire by drawing on the old world and relying on my skills in model creation, concept development and animation,” she explains. Mwangi has created many successful projects, including Kawia’s Adventure, Agent 254 and many more.

    Kawia's Aventure
    Kawia’s Aventure

    This training program is the first milestone in the on-going partnership between the Ladima Foundation, CDEA and KIAFF with the aim to empower women animators and ensure that more women enter the animation space in East Africa.

    This training is just one of the initiatives of the Ladima Film Academy, the training and professional development pillar of the Ladima Foundation. The Ladima Film Academy provides women across Africa with access to free online and limited in-person training across seven disciplines: editing, producing, scriptwriting, documentary filmmaking, animation, directing and cinematography. Future online and in-person training opportunities will be announced on all Ladima platforms as they arise.

    www.ladima.africa

     

  • Treasure Trove of Disney Maquettes Hits the Market with Heritage

    Treasure Trove of Disney Maquettes Hits the Market with Heritage

    Aladdin Jafar and Iago limited edition maquette (Heritage Auctions)
    Aladdin Jafar and Iago limited edition maquette (Heritage Auctions)

    Animation lovers and the Disneyana obsessed can experience the studio’s artistry in full 3D at Heritage Auctions’ upcoming Animation Art Signature sale (February 4-7). From Donald Duck to Buzz Lightyear, the largest collection of rare, vintage Disney character model maquettes ever brought to market is one of the spotlight stealing sections of the catalog, packed with familiar faces.

    The maquettes are sculpted models that allow animators to view a character from all angles. These rare works of art never were meant to be anything more than three-dimensional tools used by the Disney animation department, each stamped “Return to Character Model Dept.” Predicted to be cast aside after the completion of each film, maquettes instead became coveted pieces of filmmaking art. Animators sometimes took them home or received them as gifts after films that enjoyed significant success — or, Walt Disney himself sometimes gave some to important guests and friends.

    In their 1981 book Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life, longtime animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, who worked for Disney from the 1930s to the 1970s, also noted how highly coveted the maquettes were back then. Some “became permanent decorations in the offices of top personnel,” they wrote. “The rest had a way of disappearing, especially as we neared the end of a picture.”

    Pinocchio maquette (Heritage Auctions)
    Pinocchio maquette (Heritage Auctions)

    These figures are not just key parts of the filmmaking process; they are also each a work of art in its own right, often sculpted by one or more of the studio’s gifted artists.

    “The Disney Character Model Department was established in 1937, and it added a third dimension to the process of traditional animation,” Heritage Auctions Animation Art Cataloger Christin Muller said. “The department only lasted until 1941, when financial constraints of World War II forced it to shut down, making maquettes some of the rarest studio artifacts in the Disney animation process. Some of those offered in this sale were restored by legendary studio maquette painter Helen Nerbovig McIntosh, who was the lead of the maquette painting team in the Disney Ink and Paint Department, as well as head of Disney’s Courvoisier Art program. Their history makes their importance and significance difficult to overstate.”

    Once a simple reference tool, maquettes now are a must-have among serious Disney collectors. A trove of 53 are featured in the next Animation Art Signature event. This selection spans more than 80 years of treasured Disney characters, and includes some of the rarest artifacts of the studio’s animation process.

    Among the renowned characters offered in figurine form are Pluto, Pinocchio and Pinocchio’s Jiminy Cricket, Peter Pan’s Early Captain Hook, Lady and the Tramp’s Early Development Siamese Cat, Dumbo’s Timothy Q. Mouse with Dumbo and, of course, Mickey Mouse as The Brave Little Tailor.

    Finding Nemo Dory reference maquette signed by Ellen DeGeneres (Heritage Auctions)
    Finding Nemo Dory reference maquette signed by Ellen DeGeneres (Heritage Auctions)

    More recent prizes in the selection include but are not limited to Beauty and the Beast’s Lumière and Gaston, Aladdin’s Jafar with Iago, The Lion King’s Ed the Hyena and Finding Nemo’s Dory, signed by Ellen DeGeneres who lent her voice to the character.

    “With traditional films, fans can collect costumes or props,” Heritage Auctions Vice President and Animation & Anime Art Director Jim Lentz said. “That is not possible, of course, with animated films. But Disney films are beloved in part because of how realistically the characters are drawn, which would have been impossible without maquettes like these. This is a rare opportunity to acquire an important piece of the process of creating some of the most popular films ever made.”

    See more of the February Animation Art Signature sale at https://ha.com/7268.

     

  • PBS KIDS Puzzles Out New Toon ‘Work It Out Wombats!’

    PBS KIDS Puzzles Out New Toon ‘Work It Out Wombats!’

    Today at the Television Critics Association Press Tour, PBS KIDS announced Work It Out Wombats!, a new animated series for kids ages 3-6 from GBH Kids and Pipeline Studios and set to premiere in early 2023.

    The 2D show stars Malik, Zadie and Zeke, three energetic and creative marsupial siblings who live with their grandmother in her treehouse apartment complex. The playful trio will demonstrate computational thinking (CT) for preschoolers, a way of thinking that enables them to solve problems, express themselves and accomplish tasks using the practices, processes and ideas at the core of computer science.

    “Like most preschoolers, Malik, Zadie and Zeke are curious and naturally inclined to explore the world around them,” said Sara DeWitt, Senior Vice President and General Manager, PBS KIDS. “We’re excited to bring the Wombats and all their fun adventures to kids across the country, inspiring them to work with others to solve problems and tackle challenges.”

    Work It Out Wombats! takes place in the Treeborhood, the biggest treehouse in existence complete with secret passageways, gondolas and rope swings. The residents of the Treeborhood — wombats, snakes, moose, kangaroos, iguanas, fish, tarsiers and eagles — bring varied skills and abilities, assorted ways of thinking and different family structures and traditions to this diverse and vibrant community of neighbors, a place where even the adults join in the play.

    In each story, the Wombats demonstrate computational thinking for preschoolers, learning as they go. Their aspirations will sometimes exceed their proficiency. But, eventually they’ll stop, take a breath, put their heads together and figure out a fix — using the design process, sequencing, debugging and other key elements of computational thinking.

    “Preschoolers are passionate about achieving their goals, but they don’t always know the best way to go about meeting them,” said Marcy Gunther and Marisa Wolsky, Executive Producers, GBH Kids. “By using computational thinking, they have a powerful toolkit for self-expression, for building projects, and for getting out of messes.”

    “Our goal with Work It Out Wombats! is to empower our creative talent and artists to seamlessly blend education and entertainment as they bring the adventures, surprises, mysteries, and hilarious mess-ups of the Wombats and their friends and neighbors to life,” said Luis Lopez, Executive Producer, Pipeline Studios.

    Full of boundless energy, Malik, Zadie and Zeke run, bounce, roll and romp, always on the lookout for interesting Treeborhood problems to solve. Malik is thoughtful, considerate, and sometimes set in his ways (which can be a good thing when you’re problem-solving). His speedy, adventurous younger sister, Zadie, is a brainstormer extraordinaire, with ideas that range from silly to very smart. Zeke is the youngest — a funny, curious cuddle-bug who loves to play and explore. Super, their grandmother, is the Superintendent and unofficial “Mayor” of the Treeborhood — the de facto heart and soul of the place.

    With the fantastical animal world of Work It Out Wombats!, the GBH and Pipeline Studios teams have been deliberate in taking an inclusive and authentic approach to telling stories. Leading this effort are Darlene Mortel Edouard, Ph.D. and Kareem Edouard, Ph.D, who serve as the Creative Producers of the series and have expertise in cultural and visual studies, intersectionality and STEM engagement from communities underrepresented in STEM fields.

    “Work It Out Wombats! introduces problem-solving, critical thinking and collaboration to young learners in a fun and age-appropriate way, helping children get excited about learning and laying important groundwork for success in school and life,” said Debra Tica Sanchez, Senior Vice President, Educational Media and Learning Experiences, Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).

    The series is being developed as part of the CPB and PBS Ready To Learn Initiative with funding from the U.S. Department of Education. The Ready To Learn Initiative is a federal program that supports the development of innovative educational television and digital media targeted to preschool and early elementary school children and their families. Games themed to the show will launch in tandem on pbskids.org and the free PBS KIDS Games App, along with at home learning resources at PBS KIDS for Parents and classroom materials at PBS LearningMedia.

     

  • TV & Streaming Bytes: ‘Star Trek’ Universe Expands,’ ‘Dragon Riders’ Ride Again, ‘Smiling Friends’ Rolls On & More

    TV & Streaming Bytes: ‘Star Trek’ Universe Expands,’ ‘Dragon Riders’ Ride Again, ‘Smiling Friends’ Rolls On & More

    ViacomCBS’ Paramount+ today announced new season premiere dates and additional season pickup orders across the service’s Star Trek Universe series. Discovery got a fifth season renewal (S4 return Feb. 10), Picard S2 is set to premiere March 3, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has received a S2 re-up ahead of the series premiere on May 5. Plus, more animated fare on the horizon:

    • Star Trek: Lower Decks will return summer 2022 with a 10-episode-long third season. Lower Decks has also been renewed for a 10-episode-long fourth season.
    • Season one of Star Trek: Prodigy returned on Thursday, Jan. 6 with episode six. The remaining four episodes of season one’s first half will be available to stream weekly on Thursdays, with episode 10 available to stream on Thursday, Feb. 3. The additional 10-episode-long second half of season one will be available on Paramount+ later in 2022.

    “Four years ago, we made a promise to grow Star Trek into something it had never been before, and thanks to the incredibly hard work done by our many talented showrunners, writers, and directors, along with the extraordinary support of CBS Studios and Paramount+, we’re keeping our word,” said Alex Kurtzman, architect and executive producer, Star Trek franchise. “Now our current shows are set up for the future as we work to build Trek’s next phase of programming for years to come.”

    DreamWorks Dragons Rescue Riders: Heroes of the Sky
    DreamWorks Dragons Rescue Riders: Heroes of the Sky

    Peacock debuted the official Season 2 trailer for its soaring family adventure DreamWorks Dragons Rescue Riders: Heroes of the Sky, premiering exclusively on the streamer February 3. In the new 6 x 22′ season, Dak, Leyla and the Rescue Riders are ready for all new high-flying adventures as Burple finds his strength and becomes “The Incredible Burple” and Haggis goes missing! But when the gang discovers new dragons — a Relentless Rainbow Horn named Sparkle, a Stinkwing with a powerful smell and fast-flying dragons called Zommerangs — they will have to work together to courageously defend Huttsgalor like never before!

    S2 guest stars include Tara Strong as “Sparkle,” Claire Corlett as “Blazo” and Charlie Saxton “Whiffy,” joining series regulars Nicolas Cantu as “Dak,” Brennley Brown as “Leyla,” Carlos Alazraqui as “Duggard,” Moira Quirk as “Hannahr,” Roshon Fegan as “Elbone,” Brad Grusnick as “Magnus,” Tara Strong as “Vizza,” Zach Callison as “Winger,” Skai Jackson as “Summer,” Noah Bentley as “Burple,” Andre Robinson as “Cutter” and Marsai Martin as “Aggro.” Executive producer Jack Thomas (Regular Show, Dragons: Race to the Edge), co-executive producer Brian Roberts (VeggieTales).

    Smiling Friends
    Smiling Friends

    Following the Adult Swim broadcast premiere, Smiling Friends will be making special deliveries on new outlets. The show about the employees of a small company dedicated to bringing happiness to a bizarre yet colorful world — cynical Charlie, star employee Pim, meticulous Allan, mysterious Glep and their unpredictable billionaire Boss — will launch on the Adult Swim blocks of U.K. channel E4 and its VOD All 4 on January 20, and on streamer HBO Max on February 9. The series is created by Michael Cusack (YOLO: Crystal Fantasy) and Zach Hadel (Hellbenders).

    Seal Team
    Seal Team

    South African studio Triggerfish’s third animated feature, Seal Team, is making a splash on Netflix! The CGI movie hit swam onto the global Top 10 films for the week ending January 9, 2022, with members watching over 10 million hours, making it the ninth most-watched film on Netflix in 27 countries across five continents. The film made its Netflix debut on New Year’s Eve.

    Seal Team top countries on Netflix
    Seal Team top countries on Netflix

    Seal Team is the story of Quinn (Jessie T. Usher), a seal who spends his days relaxing in the sun, splashing in the beautiful waters off the coast of Cape Town, and swimming for his life from Great White Sharks. When he decides it’s time for the food chain to bite back, Quinn recruits a ragtag team of likeminded seals brave, stupid and crazy enough to try and teach those sharks a lesson. The cast also features J.K. Simmons, Matthew Rhys, Kristen Schaal, Patrick Warburton, Sharlto Copley, John Kani, Dolph Lundgren and, of course, Seal.

    “Believe it or not, our underwater military animal team is based on a real unit that trains seals and dolphins to disarm mines. Admittedly, the real-life version probably isn’t armed with exploding sardines and octo-suits made out of octopi that can change color…” said writer-director Greig Cameron (Kane Croudace was co-director). “[Seals are] these weird, flubby, amorphous slabs of butter on land. We went on a research trip diving with them. As we left the harbor in the boat, I was looking at these derpy seals just lying there on the jetty, and I was wondering, ‘Goodness gracious, how are we going to make an action movie with these guys?’ But then as soon as we got in the water, I was like, ‘Yes, this is going to work amazingly.’ When they get in the water, it’s not just that they’re faster: their whole bodies re-form into these darting bullets. They’re pretty much the physical manifestation of ‘squash-and-stretch’ animation.”

    MeteoHeroes
    MeteoHeroes

    Mondo TV Group, one of the largest European producers and distributors of animated content, announced that the popular environmentally-focused children’s series MeteoHeroes, co-produced by Mondo TV and leading Italian weather forecasting center MOPI-Meteo Expert, has been licensed to Amazon Prime Video in Italy. The first 19 episodes launched January 15, the rest will premiere in April and September 2022, complementing the exclusive terrestrial window on Cartoonito (channel 46 DTT).

    The first season has sold to more than 140 countries in 20 languages and has been among the biggest hit shows on Cartoonito in Italy since its launch in 2020. The initial launch on Prime Video, launched in Italy in 2016, will reinforce the show’s timely focus on such important topics as the fight against pollution, the need to protect bees, separate waste collection and many other good practices to safeguard our planet, all highlighted in the context of an exciting and entertaining adventure series.

    RetroCrush
    RetroCrush

    RetroCrush, DMR’s digital channel devoted to classic anime, has launched as a linear channel on LG Smart TVs (2018 models and newer). “Our entire DMR family deserves to be proud of the meteoric rise that RetroCrush has experienced since launching just two years ago as a social video channel,” said John Stack, Director – Digital Distribution, DMR. “The channel is now widely-recognized as the go-to media choice of classic anime fans globally. Today’s deal with LG is yet another benchmark for the RetroCrush brand.”

    RetroCrush launched in April 2019 as a social video channel, growing to more than one million subscribers/followers on YouTube and Facebook today and averaging 38 million monthly video views. On March 30, 2020, RetroCrush launched as a standalone OTT service and app, which today includes more than 100 series and 40 features from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s and is available on iOS, Android, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and smart TVs, and on desktop at www.retrocrush.tv. Four months later, it debuted as a 24/7 free, ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channel.

    Programming streaming on RetroCrush this month includes Lupin the 3rd: Alcatraz Connection, Lupin the 3rd: Operation: Return the Treasure, Lupin the 3rd: Elusiveness of the Fog and Lupin the 3rd: The Last Job, among many more genre diverse titles.

     

  • Vote Now! Crunchyroll Announces 6th Anime Awards Nominees

    Vote Now! Crunchyroll Announces 6th Anime Awards Nominees

    Crunchyroll today announced the nominees for the sixth annual Crunchyroll Anime Awards, honoring fan-favorite and best-in-class anime series, characters and creators across streaming. Voting is open now and nominees include the best and brightest in Japanese anime, representing nearly 40 anime studios across a record-high eight streaming platforms.

    New for 2022, Crunchyroll is honoring voice actors across more regions and languages than ever before! Fans can now vote for their favorite voice actor for series dubbed in English, German, French, Portuguese, Spanish (Spain) and Spanish (Latin America), and Russian.

    Fans are encouraged to vote on the Anime Awards website every day for their favorites starting today, Tuesday, January 18 through Tuesday, January 25 at 5 p.m. PST.  Cast your votes here!

    The winners of the 2022 Anime Awards will be revealed Wednesday, February 9 across the Anime Awards website (www.crunchyroll.com/animeawards) and across Crunchyroll social channels. All winners will be chosen by global anime fans and a committee of international judges, who will cast a deciding vote in the event of a tie in any category.

    Anime Awards 2022 – Voting Is Now Open   from Virtual Crunchyroll Expo on Vimeo.

    Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2022 Nominees:

    Anime of the Year

    • 86 EIGHTY-SIX
    • Attack on Titan Final Season Part 1
    • JUJUTSU KAISEN (cour 2)
    • ODDTAXI
    • Ranking of Kings
    • Sonny Boy

    Best Boy

    • Senku Ishigami – Dr. STONE Season 2
    • Izumi Miyamura – Horimiya
    • Odokawa – ODDTAXI
    • Bojji – Ranking of Kings
    • Ken ‘Draken’ Ryuguji – Tokyo Revengers
    • Manjiro ‘Mikey’ Sano – Tokyo Revengers

    Best Girl

    • Vladilena Milizé – 86 EIGHTY-SIX
    • Tohru Honda – Fruits Basket The Final Season
    • Nobara Kugisaki – JUJUTSU KAISEN (cour 2)
    • Sarasa Watanabe – Kageki Shojo!!
    • Shoko Komi – Komi Can’t Communicate
    • Ai Ohto – WONDER EGG PRIORITY

    Best Protagonist

    • Eren Jaeger – Attack on Titan Final Season Part 1
    • Yuji Itadori – JUJUTSU KAISEN (cour 2)
    • Joe – MEGALOBOX 2: NOMAD
    • Odokawa – ODDTAXI
    • Bojji – Ranking of Kings
    • Ai Ohto – WONDER EGG PRIORITY

    Best Antagonist

    • Eren Jaeger – Attack on Titan Final Season Part 1
    • Tomura Shigaraki – My Hero Academia Season 5
    • Yano – ODDTAXI
    • Echidna – Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Season 2
    • Ainosuke Shindo/”ADAM” – SK8 the Infinity
    • Tetta Kisaki – Tokyo Revengers

    Best Fight Scene

    • Eren Jaeger vs. War Hammer Titan – Attack on Titan Final Season Part 1
    • Naruto Uzumaki vs. Isshiki Otsutsuki – Boruto: Naruto Next Generations
    • Yuji Itadori & Aoi Todo vs. Hanami – JUJUTSU KAISEN (cour 2)
    • Yuji Itadori & Nobara Kugisaki vs. Eso & Kechizu – JUJUTSU KAISEN (cour 2)
    • Elma vs. Tohru – Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid S
    • Vivy vs. Yugo Kakitani – Vivy -Fluorite Eye’s Song-

    Best Director

    • Yuichiro Hayashi – Attack on Titan Final Season Part 1
    • Sunghoo Park – JUJUTSU KAISEN (cour 2)
    • Yo Moriyama – MEGALOBOX 2: NOMAD
    • Baku Kinoshita – ODDTAXI
    • Shingo Natsume – Sonny Boy
    • Shin Wakabayashi – WONDER EGG PRIORITY

    Best Animation

    • Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Mugen Train Arc
    • JUJUTSU KAISEN (cour 2)
    • Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid S
    • Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Cour 1
    • Vivy -Fluorite Eye’s Song-
    • WONDER EGG PRIORITY

    Best Character Design

    • Tadashi Hiramatsu – JUJUTSU KAISEN (cour 2)
    • Baku Kinoshita and Hiromi Nakayama – ODDTAXI
    • Atsuko Nozaki – Ranking of Kings
    • Michinori Chiba – SK8 the Infinity
    • loundraw (FLAT STUDIO) and Yuichi Takahashi –Vivy -Fluorite Eye’s Song-
    • Saki Takahashi – WONDER EGG PRIORITY

    Best Score

    • Hiroyuki Sawano and Kohta Yamamoto – 86 EIGHTY-SIX
    • Yuki Kajiura and ‎Go Shiina – Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Mugen Train Arc
    • Mabanua – MEGALOBOX 2: NOMAD
    • PUNPEE, VaVa, and OMSB – ODDTAXI
    • Satoru Kosaki – Vivy -Fluorite Eye’s Song-
    • DÉ DÉ MOUSE and Mito – WONDER EGG PRIORITY

    Best VA Performance (Japanese)

    • Ayane Sakura – Gabi Braun – Attack on Titan Final Season Part 1
    • Yuki Kaji – Eren Jaeger – Attack on Titan Final Season Part 1
    • Kiyoshi Kobayashi – Daisuke Jigen (Ep. 0) – LUPIN THE 3rd PART 6
    • Natsuki Hanae – Odokawa – ODDTAXI
    • Aoi Yuki – Kumoko – So I’m a Spider, So What?
    • Kanata Aikawa – Ai Ohto – WONDER EGG PRIORITY

    Best VA Performance (English)

    • Brittany Cox – Fena – Fena: Pirate Princess
    • Laura Bailey – Tohru Honda – Fruits Basket The Final Season
    • Adam McArthur – Yuji Itadori – JUJUTSU KAISEN (cour 2)
    • David Wald – Ainosuke Shindo / “ADAM” – SK8 the Infinity
    • Matt Shipman – Reki Kyan – SK8 the Infinity
    • Anairis Quiñones – Rika Kawai – WONDER EGG PRIORITY

    Best Opening Sequence

    • Boku no sensou – Shinsei Kamattechan – Attack on Titan Final Season Part 1
    • Kaibutsu – YOASOBI – BEASTARS
    • VIVID VICE – Who-ya Extended – JUJUTSU KAISEN (cour 2)
    • Ai no Supreme! – Fhana – Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid S
    • ODDTAXI – Skirt and PUNPEE – ODDTAXI
    • Cry Baby – Official HIGE DANdism – Tokyo Revengers

    Best Ending Sequence

    • Shogeki – Yuko Ando – Attack on Titan Final Season Part 1
    • Yasashii Suisei – YOASOBI – BEASTARS
    • Shirogane – LiSA – Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Mugen Train Arc
    • Nai Nai – ReoNA – SHADOWS HOUSE
    • Infinity – YUURI – SK8 the Infinity
    • Ganbare! Kumoko-san no Theme – “Watashi” (VA: Aoi Yuki) – So I’m a Spider, So What?

    Best Action

    • Attack on Titan Final Season Part 1
    • Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Mugen Train Arc
    • JUJUTSU KAISEN (cour 2)
    • SSSS.DYNAZENON
    • Vivy -Fluorite Eye’s Song-
    • WONDER EGG PRIORITY

    Best Comedy

    • Don’t Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro
    • Heaven’s Design Team
    • Komi Can’t Communicate
    • Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan
    • Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid S
    • ODDTAXI

    Best Drama

    • 86 EIGHTY-SIX
    • Fruits Basket The Final Season
    • Kageki Shojo!!
    • ODDTAXI
    • To Your Eternity
    • WONDER EGG PRIORITY

    Best Romance

    • BEASTARS
    • Fruits Basket The Final Season
    • Don’t Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro
    • Horimiya
    • Komi Can’t Communicate
    • The Duke of Death and His Maid

    Best Fantasy

    • Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation (Cour 1)
    • Ranking of Kings
    • That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime (Season 2)
    • The Case Study of Vanitas
    • To Your Eternity
    • WONDER EGG PRIORITY

    Best Film

    • BELLE
    • Evangelion 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time
    • Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train
    • Josee, the Tiger and the Fish
    • Shirobako the Movie
    • Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop

    International Voice Actors

    Best VA Performance (Spanish)

    • José Vilchis – Spike Spiegel – Cowboy Bebop
    • Irwin Daayán – Rengoku – Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Mugen Train Arc
    • Victor Ugarte – Shinji Ikari – Evangelion 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time
    • José Gilberto Vilchis – Satoru Gojo – JUJUTSU KAISEN (cour 2)
    • Jessica Ángeles – Kaguya Shinomiya – Kaguya-sama: Love Is War
    • Romina Marroquín – Kumoko – So I’m a Spider, So What?

    Best VA Performance (German)

    • Torsten Münchow – The Count of Monte Chirsto – The Count of Monte Chirsto
    • Florian Knorn – Tai Yagami – Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna
    • Rieke Werner – Sakura Matou – Fate/stay night [Heaven’s Feel] THE MOVIE III. spring song
    • Marios Gavrilis – Dio Brando – Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood
    • René Dawn-Claude – Satoru Gojo – JUJUTSU KAISEN (cour 2)
    • Tommy Morgenstern – Galo – Promare

    Best VA Performance (French)

    • Enzo Ratsito – Tanjiro Kamado – Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Mugen Train Arc
    • Mark Lesser – Satoru Gojo – JUJUTSU KAISEN (cour 2)
    • Brieuc Lemaire – Vanitas – The Case Study of Vanitas
    • Alexis Thomassian – Ombre – Ranking of Kings
    • Nancy Philippot – Raphtalia – The Rising of the Shield Hero
    • Olivier Premel – Takemichi Hanagaki – Tokyo Revengers

    Best VA Performance (Portuguese)

    • Hannah Buttel – Vladilena Milizé – 86 EIGHTY-SIX
    • Amanda Brigido – Nobara Kugisaki – JUJUTSU KAISEN (cour 2)
    • Leo Rabelo – Satoru Gojo – JUJUTSU KAISEN (cour 2)
    • Carol Valença – Monkey D. Luffy – One Piece
    • Luísa Viotti – Echidna – Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Season 2
    • Luiz Sergio Vieira – Takemichi Hanagaki – Tokyo Revengers

    Best VA Performance (Castilian)

    • Marcel Navarro – Tanjiro Kamado – Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train
    • Bianca Rada – Tai Yagami – Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna
    • Albert Trifol Segarra – Shinji Ikari – Evangelion 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time
    • Adelaida López – Usagi Tsukino – Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal: The Movie
    • Blanca Hualde (Neri) – Brunhilde – Record of Ragnarok
    • Marc Zanni – Tatsu – The Way of the Househusband

    Best VA Performance (Russian)

    • Vlad Tokarev (Влад Токарев) – Eren Jaeger – Attack on Titan Final Season Part 1
    • Islam Gandzhaev (Ислам Ганджаев) – Tanjiro Kamado – Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train
    • Olga Matskevich (Ольга Мацкевич) – Mire Yoshizuki – Looking for Magical DoReMi
    • Polina Rtischeva (Полина Ртищева) – Monkey D. Luffy – One Piece
    • Elizaveta Sheikh (Елизавета Шейх) – Kumoko – So I’m a Spider, So What?
    • Tatyana Shamarina (Татьяна Шамарина) – Vivy – Vivy -Fluorite Eye’s Song-

     

  • Major Studio Toons Vie for NAACP Image Award; ‘Flee’ Up for International Pic

    Major Studio Toons Vie for NAACP Image Award; ‘Flee’ Up for International Pic

    Nominees were announced for the 53rd NAACP Image Awards over the org’s Instagram, presented by Kyla Pratt, who returns as the voice of Penny in Disney+’s reboot series The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (Feb. 23), Marcus Scribner (black-ish) and singer-songwriter Tinashe. The Harder They Fall and Insecure lead the film and TV categories with the most nominations, and the 2022 Entertainer of the Year Prize contenders are Jennifer Hudson, Lil Nas X, Megan Thee Stallion, Regina King and Tuca & Bertie V.O. star Tiffany Haddish.

    The Outstanding Animated Motion Picture category is a refreshing reflection of this year’s on-screen diversity push from the major studios. The feature nominees are Golden Globe winner Encanto (Walt Disney Animation Studios), Luca (Pixar Animation Studios/Disney), Raya and the Last Dragon (Disney), Sing 2 (Illumination Ent./Universal) and Vivo (Sony Pictures Animation/Netflix).

    Continuing the trend from the BAFTA and Oscar first round lists, indie awards season frontrunner Flee (Neon/Participant) is nominated in the International Motion Picture race, running against 7 Prisoners, African America (both Netflix), This Is My Desire (Janus Films) and The Gravedigger’s Wife (Orange Studio).

    In the Animated Series category, spanning both adult and kid-targeted toons, the nominees are Big Mouth (Netflix), Peanut Headz: Black HIstory Toonz (Kweli TV), Super Sema (YouTube Originals), We the People (Netflix) and Yasuke (Netflix).

    Karma’s World (Netflix) head writer Halcyon Person is also representing animation in the Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Television) category.

    Additional animation category nominees follow; visit naacpimageawards.net/nominees for the complete list. Online voting is now open to the public; the 53rd NAACP Image Awards Show will be broadcast on BET on Saturday, Feb. 26 at 8 p.m.

    Outstanding Short-Form (Animated)

    Outstanding Children’s Program

    Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Motion Picture)

    • Andre Braugher (Al Granger, Spirit Untamed, DreamWorks/Universal)
    • Awkwafina (Sisu, Raya and the Last Dragon)
    • Brian Tyree Henry (Dancarino, Vivo)
    • Eric André (Darius, Sing 2)
    • Letitia Wright (Nooshy, Sing 2)

    Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television)

    • Angela Bassett (Narrator, Malika: The Lion Queen, FOX)
    • Billy Porter (Hiroki Hassan, Fairfax, Amazon Studios)
    • Chris “Ludacris” Bridges (Conrad Grant, Karma’s World, Netflix)
    • Cree Summer (Susie Carmicheal, Rugrats, Paramount+)
    • Keke Palmer (Rochelle, Big Mouth, Netflix)

     

  • ‘Encanto,’ ‘Dune’ Lead VES Nominations Pack for 20th Awards

    ‘Encanto,’ ‘Dune’ Lead VES Nominations Pack for 20th Awards

    Today, the Visual Effects Society (VES), the industry’s professional global honorary society, announced the nominees for the 20th Annual VES Awards, the prestigious yearly celebration that recognizes outstanding visual effects artistry and innovation in film, animation, television, commercials and video games and the VFX supervisors, VFX producers and hands-on artists who bring this work to life. This marks the Society’s 20th VES Awards program, and is being celebrated during the organization’s milestone 25th Anniversary.

    Dune leads the feature film field with six nominations, while Disney’s Encanto is the top animated contender, also with six nominations. Loki leads the broadcast field with four nominations. Encanto is up against Luca (Pixar/Disney), Raya and the Last Dragon (Disney), Sing 2 (Illumination/Universal) and The Mitchells vs. the Machines (Sony Picture Animation/Netflix) in the main Animated Feature category.

    “As we celebrate the Society’s 25th Anniversary and 20th Annual VES Awards, we’re honored to keep shining a light on remarkable visual effects artistry and innovation,” said Lisa Cooke, VES Chair. “In all of our nominees, we see best-in-class work that elevates the art of storytelling and exemplifies the spirit of adaptation and ingenuity — talents that have kept audiences engaged and uplifted, now, more than ever. The VES Awards is the only venue that showcases and honors these outstanding global artists across a wide range of disciplines, and we are extremely proud of all our nominees!”

    “Autodesk is proud to sponsor the Visual Effects Society Student Award again this year, celebrating the next generation of groundbreaking filmmakers and artists,” said Jocelyn Moffatt, Industry Marketing Manager, Media & Entertainment, Autodesk. “Each year, I’m excited to see how young creatives are pushing the envelope. The level of creativity, imagination and technical skill shown by all of this year’s submissions is truly remarkable. Autodesk extends a big congratulations to this year’s student nominees.”

    Nominees in 25 categories were selected by VES members at 27 virtual nomination events conducted across the globe. Awards will be presented at the 20th Annual VES Awards (format/timing TBD). Visit www.visualeffectssociety.com for more information.

    The nominees for the 20th Annual VES Awards are:

    Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature

    Dune | Paul Lambert, Brice Parker, Tristan Myles, Brian Connor, Gerd Nefzer

    Godzilla vs. Kong | John “D.J.” Des Jardin, Tamara Kent, Bryan Hirota, Kevin Smith, Mike Meinardus

    The Matrix Resurrections | Dan Glass, Nina Fallon, Tom Debenham, Huw J Evans, James Schwalm

    No Time to Die | Charlie Noble, Mara Bryan, Joel Green, Jonathan Fawkner, Chris Corbould

    Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings | Christopher Townsend, Damien Carr, Joe Farrell, Sean Walker, Dan Oliver

    Spider-Man: No Way Home |Kelly Port, Julia Neighly, Chris Waegner, Scott Edelstein, Dan Sudick

    Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature

    Candyman | Andrew Zink, James McQuaide, Josh Simmonds, Drew Dir, Ryan Evans

    Last Night in Soho | Tom Proctor, Gavin Gregory, Julian Gnass, Fabricio Baessa

    Nightmare Alley | Dennis Berardi, Ryan MacDuff, Mark Hammond, David Roby, Geoff Hill

    The Last Duel | Gary Brozenich, Helen Judd, Jessica Norman, Yann Blondel, Stefano Pepin

    The Tragedy of MacBeth | Alex Lemke, Michael Huber, Michael Ralla, Benedikt Laubenthal

    Outstanding Visual Effects in an Animated Feature

    Encanto | Scott Kersavage, Bradford Simonsen, Thaddeus P. Miller, Ian Gooding

    Luca | Enrico Casarosa, Andrea Warren, David Ryu, Jon Reisch

    Raya and the Last Dragon | Kyle Odermatt, Osnat Shurer, Kelsey Hurley, Paul Felix

    Sing 2 |Patrick Delage, Nathalie Vancauwenberghe, Christophe Lourdelet, Boris Jacq

    The Mitchells vs. the Machines | Alan Hawkins, Carey A. Smith, Mike Lasker, Nicola Lavender

    Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Episode

    Foundation; The Emperor’s Peace | Chris MacLean, Addie Manis, Mike Enriquez, Chris Keller, Paul Byrne

    Loki; Journey Into Mystery | Dan DeLeeuw, Allison Paul, Sandra Balej, David Seager

    Lost in Space; Trust | Jabbar Raisani, Terron Pratt, Juri Stanossek, Niklas Jacobson, Paul Benjamin

    The Nevers; Ignition | Johnny Han, Jack Geist, Justin Mitchell, Emanuel Fuchs, Michael Dawson

    The Stand |Jake Braver, Phillip Hoffman, Laurent Hugueniot, Vincent Papaix

    Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Episode

    9-1-1 Lone Star; Hold the Line | Brigitte Bourque, Tyler Deck, Jason Gottlieb, Josephine Noh, Elia Popov

    See; Rock-A-Bye | Chris Wright, Parker Chehak, Javier Roca, Tristan Zerafa, Tony Kenny

    Squid Game; VIPs | Jaihoon Jung, Hyejin Kim, Hyungrok Kim, Sungman Jun

    Sweet Tooth; Sorry About All the Dead People | Rob Price, Danica Tsang, Matt Bramante, Jayme Vandusen

    The Handmaid’s Tale; Chicago | Brendan Taylor, Stephen Lebed, Kayla Cabral, Brannek Gaudet

    The Mysterious Benedict Society; A Bunch of Smart Orphans | Philippe Thibault, Marie-Pierre Boucher, Alexis Belanger, Gabriel Beauvais

    Outstanding Visual Effects in a Real-Time Project

    Battlefield 2042 | Anders Egleus, Jeremy Chubb, Gray Horsfield, Sean Ellis

    Call of Duty: Vanguard | Sandy Lin-Chiang, Joseph Knox, Gareth Richards, Shane Daley

    Forza Horizon 5 | Don Arceta, Valentyn Minytskyi, Conar Cross, George Ilenei

    Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart | Grant Hollis, Yancy Young, Steven Russell, Sean Applegate

    Returnal; Playstation 5 | Harry Krueger, Tony Salkovuo, Risto Jankkila, Sharman Jagadeesan

    Outstanding Visual Effects in a Commercial

    Far Cry 6; Chicharrón Run | Niklas Ström, Kajsa Kurtén, Nicklas Andersson, Adrian Tsang

    LEGO; Rebuild the World: Fabian Frank, Anandi Peiris, Kiril Mirkov, Platon Filimonov

    Lexus; Parking Spot | Alex Thomas, Andrew McLintock, JD Yepes, Clement Renaudin

    Sheba; Hope Reef | Grant Walker, Sophie Harrison, Hernan Llano, Michael Baker

    Zillow; The Journey | Ben Kwok, Ashley Goodwin, Oliver Varteressian, Yebin Ahn, Tom Bussell

    Outstanding Visual Effects in a Special Venue Project

    Hôtel de la Marine | Franck Lambertz, Hugues Allart, Olivier Jarry, Pierre Jury

    Jurassic World Adventure | Eugénie von Tunzelmann, Maximilian McNair MacEwan, Stephen Goalby, Brad Silby

    Outstanding Animated Character in a Photoreal Feature

    Finch; Jeff | Harinarayan Rajeev, Matthias Schoenegger, Simon Allen, Paul Nelson

    Flora & Ulysses; Ulysses | Pierre-Loïc Hamon, Sachin Tyagi, Nandini Nambiar, Loïc Mireault

    Jungle Cruise; Aguirre | Alexander Lee, Claus Pedersen, Rasely Ma, Gary Wu

    Venom: Let There Be Carnage; Carnage | Richard Spriggs, Ricardo Silva, Lucas Cuenca, Federico Frassinelli

    Outstanding Animated Character in an Animated Feature

    Encanto; Mirabel Madrigal | Kelly McClanahan, Sergi Caballer, Mary Twohig, Jose Luis “Weecho” Velasquez

    Luca; Luca | Gwendelyn Enderoglu, Laurie Nguyen Kim, Tanja Krampfert, Maria Lee

    Raya and the Last Dragon; Tuk Tuk | Brian Menz, Punn Wiantrakoon, Erik Hansen, Vicky YuTzu Lin

    The Mitchells vs. the Machines; Katie Mitchell | Lindsey Olivares, Kurt Judson, Soh-I Jeong, Rohini Kumar

    Outstanding Animated Character in an Episode or Real-Time Project

    Lisey’s Story; The Long Boy | Mohsen Mousavi, Salauddin “Sallu” Kazi, Mattias Brunosson, Pablovsky Ramos-Nieves

    Love, Death + Robots; Snow in the Desert – Hirald | Maxime Luere, Zoé Pelegrin-Bomel, Laura Guerreiro, Florent Duport

    The Witcher; Leshy Eskel – Tree Branch Creature | Hannes Faupel, Stéphane Paccolat, Ivan Cadena Ayala, Laurent Fortin

    The Witcher; Nivellen the Cursed Man | Marko Chulev, Rasely Ma, Mike Beaulieu, Robin Witzsche

    Y: The Last Man; Ampersand | Mike Beaulieu, Michael Dharney, Peter Pi, Aidana Sakhvaliyeva

    Outstanding Animated Character in a Commercial

    Avanti West Coast; Feel Good Travel – Terri | Tom Raynor, Chloe Dawe, Suvi Jokiniemi, Alex Doyle

    Far Cry 6; Chicharrón | Elin Laven, Gustav Ahren, Anton Stattin, Simon Decombel

    France Télévision; Sumo | Geoffroy Barbet-Massin, Vincent Venchiarutti, Antoine Antin, Mathias Lachal

    ING; Do Your Thing – Roary the Lion | Chris Welsby, Clementine Supiot, Kiril Mirkov, Arnau Gilabert

    Smart Energy; Einstein Knows Best – Einstein | Alex Hammond, Harsh Borah, Clare Williams, Andreas Graichen

    Outstanding Created Environment in a Photoreal Feature

    Dune; Arrakeen City | Rhys Salcombe, Seungjin Woo, Jeremie Touzery, Marc Austin

    Jungle Cruise; Waterfall Canyon | Mark McNicholl, Frédéric Valleur, Hamish Beachman, Mark Wainwright

    Spider-Man: No Way Home; The Mirror Dimension | Eric Le Dieu de Ville, Thomas Dotheij, Ryan Olliffe, Claire Le Teuff

    The Suicide Squad; Valle Del Marre | Nick Cattell, Jason Desjarlais, Matt Fitzgerald, Jerome Moo

    Outstanding Created Environment in an Animated Feature

    Encanto; Antonio’s Room | Camille Andre, Andrew Finley, Chris Patrick O’Connell, Amol Sathe

    Luca; Portorosso Piazza | Airton Dittz, Jr., Jack Hattori, Michael Rutter, Joshua West

    Raya and the Last Dragon; Talon | Mingjue Helen Chen, Chaiwon Kim, Virgilio John Aquino, Diana Jiang LeVangie

    Sing 2; Crystal Theater | Ludovic Ramière, Théo Rivoalen, Henri Deruer, Frédéric Mainil

    Vivo; Mambo Cabana | Bertrand Bry-Marfaing, Josef “Dylan” Swift, Geeta Basantani, Jeremy Kim

    Outstanding Created Environment in an Episode, Commercial, or Real-Time Project

    Foundation; Trantor Cityscape | Samuel Simanjuntak, Melaina Mace, Benjamin Ruiz, Alessandro Vastalegna

    Hawkeye; Echoes – Manhattan Bridge | Nicholas Hodgson, David Abbott, Nick Cattell, Jin Choi

    Hawkeye; Season 1, Episode 6 – Rockefeller Center | John O’Connell, Tiffany Yung, Orion Terry, Ho Kyung Ahn

    Sheba; Hope Reef | Henrique Campanha, Baptiste Roy, Luca Veronese, Timothee Maron

    Outstanding Virtual Cinematography in a CG Project

    Encanto; We Don’t Talk about Bruno | Nathan Detroit Warner, Dorian Bustamante, Tyler Kupferer, Michael Woodside

    Godzilla vs. Kong; Ocean Battle | Shawn Hull, Robert Wiese, Steven Tom, Eric Petey

    Loki; Lamentis – Race to the Ark | Jesse Lewis-Evans, Luke Avery, Autumn Durald Arkapaw, Scott Inkster

    Raya and the Last Dragon | Rob Dressel, Adolph Lusinsky, Paul Felix

    Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings | Sebastian Trujillo, Louis-Daniel Poulin, Nathan Abbot, Shannon Justison

    Outstanding Model in a Photoreal or Animated Project

    Black Widow; The Red Room | Tristan John Connors, Bo Kwon, James Stuart, Ryan Duhaime

    Dune; Royal Ornithopter | Marc Austin, Anna Yamazoe, Michael Chang, Rachael Dunk

    Encanto; Casita Madrigal | Jonathan Lin, Chris Patrick O’Connell, Christoffer Pedersen, Alberto Abril

    The Suicide Squad; Jotunheim | Simon Dean Morley, Cedric Enriquez Canlas, Layne Howe, Alberto R. S. Hernandez

    Outstanding Effects Simulations in a Photoreal Feature

    Dune; Dunes of Arrakis | Gero Grimm, Ivan Larinin, Hideki Okano, Zuny An

    Godzilla vs. Kong; Ocean Water & Battle Destruction | Jonathan Freisler, Nahuel Alberto Letizia, Eloi Andaluz Fullà, Saysana Rintharamy

    Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings; Water, Bubbles & Magic | Simone Riginelli, Claude Schitter, Teck Chee Koi, Arthur Graff

    The Suicide Squad; Corto Maltese City Destruction | David R. Davies, Rogier Fransen, Sandy Sutherland, Brandon James Fleet

    Outstanding Effects Simulations in an Animated Feature

    Encanto | Francisco Rodriguez, Christopher Hendryx, Brent Burley, David Hutchins

    Luca | Amit Baadkar, Greg Gladstone, Emron Grover, Tim Speltz

    Raya and the Last Dragon | Le Joyce Tong, Henrik Fält, Rattanin Sirinaruemarn, Jacob Rice

    Sing 2 | Richard Adenot, Guillaume Gay, Frédéric Valz-Gris, Antoine Brémont

    Outstanding Effects Simulations in an Episode, Commercial, or Real-Time Project

    Foundation; Collapse of the Galactic Empire | Giovanni Casadei, Mikel Zuloaga, Steven Moor, Louis Manjarres

    Loki; Journey into Mystery – Alioth Cloud | George Kuruvilla, Menno Dijkstra, Matthew Hanger, Jiyong Shin

    The Nevers | David Stopford, Michele Stocco, Mike Hsu, Justin Mitchell

    WandaVision; Vision’s Destruction | Sylvain Nouveau, Hakim Harrouche, Omar Meradi, Laurent Meste

    Outstanding Compositing & Lighting In a Feature

    Black Widow; Red Room Crashing Back to Earth| Michael Melchiorre, Simon Twine, Daniel Harkness, Tim Crowson

    Dune; Attack on Arrakeen | Gregory Haas, Francesco Dell’Anna, Abhishek Chaturvedi, Cleve Zhu

    Dune; Hologram & Hunter Seeker | Patrick Heinen, Jacob Maymudes, TJ Burke, James Jooyoung Lee

    Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings; Macau City | Jeremie Maheu, Mathieu Dupuis, Karthic Ramesh, Jiri Kilevnik

    Spider-Man: No Way Home; Liberty Island Battle & Christmas Swing Finale | Zac Campbell, Frida Nerdal, Louis Corr, Kelvin Yee

    Outstanding Compositing & Lighting in an Episode

    Loki; Lamentis – Shuroo City Destruction | Paul Chapman, Tom Truscott, Biagio Figliuzzi, Attila Szalma

    The Falcon and the Winter Soldier; New World Order | Nathan Abbot, Beck Veitch, Markus Reithoffer, James Aldous

    WandaVision; Goodbye, Vision | David Zaretti, Bimpe Alliu, Michael Duong, Mark Pascoe

    WandaVision; The Hex | Charles Labbé, Xavier Fourmond, Reuben Barkataki, Vanessa Delarosbil

    Outstanding Compositing & Lighting in a Commercial

    Toyota – Never Stop| Michael Ralla, Alejandro Villabon, Alexander Osvaldsson, Paul Krist

    Toyota – Upstream | JD Yepes, Paul Krist, Carlos Adarraga Gomez, Minsang Lee

    Verizon; The Reset | David Piombino, Rajesh Kaushik, Manideep Sanisetty, Tim Crean

    Zillow; The Journey |Ben Kwok, Yebin Ahn, Robert Bruce, Tuna Unalan

    Outstanding Special (Practical) Effects in a Photoreal Project

    Eternals | Neil Corbould, Keith Corbould, Ray Ferguson, Chris Motjuoadi

    Jungle Cruise | JD Schwalm, Nick Rand, Robert Spurlock, Nick Byrd

    The Matrix Resurrections | JD Schwalm, Brendon O’Dell, Michael Kay, Pau Costa Moeller

    The Tomorrow War | JD Schwalm, Wayne Rowe, Jim Schwalm, Haukur Karlsson

    Outstanding Visual Effects in a Student Project

    Green | Camille Poiriez, Arielle Cohen, Eloise Thibaut, Louis Florean

    Le Souffleur de Rêves | Lea Desrozier, Paul Denis, Gregoire Hoarau, Lisa Ripper

    Neoshin Episode 01: Cold Blood | Sebastian Selg, Ramon Schauer, Jiayan Chen, Bea Hoeller

    Relativity | Hugo Astesano, Loïc Ciaux, Guillaume Hulot, Loïc Remy

     

  • Trailer: ‘The Wonderful Winter of Mickey Mouse’ Brings More Silly, Chilly Fun to Disney+

    Trailer: ‘The Wonderful Winter of Mickey Mouse’ Brings More Silly, Chilly Fun to Disney+

    Today, Disney+ announced the premiere date and released the trailer and key art for “The Wonderful Winter of Mickey Mouse,” launching the second season of The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse. The second installment consists of four extended-length specials that are themed to each season — winter, spring, summer and autumn. The new special premieres February 18.

    The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse spotlights the endearing, adventurous and comedic antics of Mickey Mouse, Disney’s #1 star, and is geared towards kids, families, and fans of all ages. The series is produced by Disney Television Animation with Emmy Award-winning artist and director Paul Rudish serving as executive producer and supervising director. Christopher Willis, the Emmy Award-nominated composer of the Mickey Mouse shorts, also provides the music for this series. Philip Cohen is the series producer.

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  • First Look: ‘The Boys Presents: Diabolical’ Embraces Cartoon Hyperviolence

    First Look: ‘The Boys Presents: Diabolical’ Embraces Cartoon Hyperviolence

    Today, Prime Video announced that the eight-episode animated anthology series The Boys Presents: Diabolical, set in the universe of the Emmy-nominated hit The Boys, will premiere all episodes on March 4 exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

    The fun-size episodes, running 12-14 minutes and each with its own animation style, will reveal unseen stories within The Boys universe, brought to life by some of the most creative and bloody brilliant minds in entertainment today, including Awkwafina, Garth Ennis, Eliot Glazer and Ilana Glazer, Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen, Simon Racioppa, Justin Roiland and 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 Simon Racioppa, Eric Kripke, Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, James Weaver, Neal H. Moritz, Pavun Shetty, Ori Marmur, Ken F. Levin, Jason Netter, Garth Ennis, Darick Robertson, Michaela Starr, Loreli Alanís, Chris Prynoski, Shannon Prynoski, and Ben Kalina. The Boys Presents: Diabolical is produced by Amazon Studios and Sony Pictures Television Studios, with Titmouse, Kripke Enterprises, Original Film, and Point Grey Pictures.

  • Netflix Commits to Nicole Silverberg’s ‘Bad Crimes’; Greg Daniels & Mike Judge Produce

    Netflix Commits to Nicole Silverberg’s ‘Bad Crimes’; Greg Daniels & Mike Judge Produce

    Netflix today ordered a 10 episode season of Bad Crimes, an adult animation dark comedy procedural. The series stars Nicole Byer and Lauren Lapkus as “Kara” and “Jennie,” two FBI agents who travel across the country to solve grisly crimes while juggling their friendship, career ambitions, and as many men as possible.

    Created and executive produced by award-winning writer Nicole Silverberg, Bad Crimes is executive produced by legendary creators Greg Daniels and Mike Judge through their new animation production company, Bandera Entertainment.

    “This is a dream project! Greg and Mike are the visionaries behind some of the smartest and funniest comedies of all time, including one of the most-beloved animated shows ever,” said Mike Moon, Head of Adult Animation for Netflix. “Combined with the brilliant mind of Nicole Silverberg and the immense voice talents of Nicole Byer and Lauren Lapkus, we know Bad Crimes will be set up for great success.”

    Silverberg commented, “Making Bad Crimes with Greg and Mike and Bandera, who are the whole reason I dreamed of one day getting to write TV, has been such a surreal and incredible experience. We all feel that working with Netflix — which not only permits, but encourages my grossest, most violent comedy fantasies — is a dream come true. Plus, I am partnering with Erica Hayes and a genius team of writers who are building this show into something unique and special.”

    Nicole Byer, Lauren Lapkus (photo: Robyn Von Swank]
    Nicole Byer, Lauren Lapkus (photo: Robyn Von Swank)

    Byer and Lapkus are also executive producing along with Dustin Davis for Bandera and animation pro Erica Hayes. After graduating with a BFA in Sequential Art from SCAD, Hayes got her start as a storyboard revisionist on Rick and Morty Season 1, climbing the ranks to director by Season 4. She also worked in various capacities on series such as Fairfax, BoJack Horseman, Big Mouth and Solar Opposites.

    “What really drew me to this project in the beginning was the fact that it was female-created and female-led, with a creator who was very passionate about diversity, inclusion, and worker’s rights. These are values that are very in line with my own, so I was thrilled at the prospect of partnering with someone with a similar mindset,” said Hayes. “Then after reading Nicole’s script, I was so impressed with not only how hilarious it was, but that the female leads were allowed to be morally gray and flawed in ways that we have rarely seen in adult animation. Nicole was really interested in hiring a partner who could help build the visual side of the show from top to bottom, which was incredibly appealing, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.”

    Nicole Silverberg is an Emmy-nominated and WGA Award-winning TV writer originally from Tucson, AZ. She was a supervising writer at Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, where she won a GLAAD Award, and was a longtime editor at Reductress, the online satirical women’s magazine. Silverberg was named one of Brooklyn Magazine’s 50 Funniest People in Brooklyn.

    Greg Daniels & Mike Judge’s partnership first began on the long-running, critically-acclaimed animated show King of the Hill. Following that success, they spent the next years working on projects independently, but their shared sensibilities and love of animation led to the foundation of Bandera Entertainment, where the goal is to curate a relevant, diverse slate of animated programming. Their aim is to expand the animation genre into as many modern types of story-telling as live action, guided by an excitement for artists and writers and ideas.

     

  • Trailer: Netflix Pours Out ‘The Cuphead Show!’ Feb. 18

    Trailer: Netflix Pours Out ‘The Cuphead Show!’ Feb. 18

    It’s time for a double-down on gorgeously retro-inspired animation as The Cuphead Show! prepares to serve up a steaming mug of slapstick mayhem February 18 on Netflix. In the newly released official trailer, the influences of early 20th toon icons is everywhere, from the lushly painted backgrounds to anthropomorphic vegetables to a spankin’ new skeleton dance, the devil is in the details (and, actually, in the show)!

    Based on the award-winning run ‘n’ gun video game, The Cuphead Show! is a character-driven comedy series following the unique misadventures of loveable, impulsive scamp Cuphead and his cautious but easily swayed brother Mugman. As the two scour their surreal homeworld of the Inkwell Isles in search of fun and adventure, they always have each other’s back. Unless there’s only one cookie left, in which case it’s every cup for himself. The show combines nostalgic delights, side-splitting gags and a healthy dose of the heebie jeebies — especially when a ridiculously weird nemesis, The Devil himself, arrives on the scene to toy with our heroes.

    The Cuphead Show! is brought to life by voice stars Tru Valentino (Cuphead), Frank Todaro (Mugman), Joe Hanna (Elder Kettle), Luke Millington-Drake (Devil), Grey Griffin (Ms. Chalice) and Wayne Brady (King Dice).

    C.J. Kettler is the executive producer for King Features, and Cuphead creators Chad and Jared Moldenhauer are executive producers for Studio MDHR. The series is produced by Netflix Animation, executive produced by Emmy and Annie Award-winning producer Dave Wasson (Mickey Mouse Shorts) and co-executive produced by Cosmo Segurson (Rocko’s Modern Life: Static Cling).

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    Directing duties on the 12 x 12′ season are split by Adam Paloian (SpongeBob SquarePants) and Emmy winner Clay Morrow (Mickey Mouse shorts, Kick Buttowski), who also serve as writers alongside Deeki Deke, Wesson and Segurson. Andrea Fernández (Unikitty!) is series art director. Ego Plum (Jellystone!, Harvey Beaks) is series composer.

    Log on to www.CupheadCountdown.com to see more exclusive content, and read all about The Cuphead Show! in the March ’22 issue of Animation Magazine (available soon)!

  • Twin Pines Recreates a Spectacular Naval Battle for ‘La Fortuna’

    Twin Pines Recreates a Spectacular Naval Battle for ‘La Fortuna’

    Twin Pines, the Madrid-based digital post-production company, looked after the visual effects for La Fortuna, the new Movistar+ series directed by Alejandro Amenábar. This international production was an exciting challenge for the studio: Overall, the series contains around 1,000 digitally retouched shots, which called for a year’s work to recreate underwater scenes, an epic naval battle and a U.S. road trip, among many other sequences.

    1804 sea sequence, before (Twin Pines)
    1804 sea sequence, before (Twin Pines)

    Produced in association with AMC Studios and in collaboration with Mod Pictures (Spain), the drama unfolds as American treasure hunter Frank Wild (Stanley Tucci) locates the wreck of La Fortuna, a frigate sunk of the Atlantic coast of Spain in 1804 — the resting site of the the biggest sunken treasure trove in history. When Wild ships the booty back to Atlanta, young diplomat Alex Ventura (Álvaro Mel) is enlisted to fight an international legal battle for Spain to win back the historic hoard, with the help of seasoned maritime lawyer Jonas Pierce (Clarke Peters).

    Having previously worked with Amenábar on the movie While At War, for which Twin Pines were nominated for a Goya Award for Best Special Effects, the director and studio teamed up again to adapt the graphic novel The Treasure of the Black Swan by Paco Roca and Guillermo Corral for television. The story of this passionate journey in time and its many different scenarios presented a number of unique challenges.

    CGI ROV underwater in La Fortuna
    CGI ROV underwater in La Fortuna

    “Without a doubt, the underwater sequences were the most complex, as we had to create them completely by computer or what we call full CG,” Twin Pines principals Juanma Nogales and Ana Rubio assert. “We would normally integrate our effects into the look designed during shooting, but in these sequences there was no existing footage, so we had to create everything from scratch: art, environment, lighting and physical simulations, basing it all on the storyboard and the director’s instructions.”

    As one of the main narrative elements in La Fortuna, the underwater world had to be both realistic and cinematographic. To this end, Twin Pines created a series of 3D elements including sand, plants, coral, rocks, vessels and cannons, which were then aged by computer to convey a convincing effect. In addition, they also had to create two looks: one for the shots from outside a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) and other from inside the ROV, which would be seen on the screens of the American and Spanish ships.

    ROV underwater sequence, before (Twin Pines)
    ROV underwater sequence, before (Twin Pines)

    Likewise, the impressive naval battle that took place during the series posed one of the biggest technical challenges for Twin Pines. In this key sequence during the series, the VFX were absolutely crucial: explosions, cannon fire, gun shots, sinking ships and a combination of real and 3D-generated ships were all part of the meticulous and painstaking FX work.

    “We approached all the 3D elements based on the previews we did with Alejandro and we worked until the last second on improving these shots, creating dozens of versions of each part and working on different phases. It involved the greatest deployment of resources we had ever undertaken so far,” Nogales and Rubio explained.

    La Fortuna, 1804 ships at sea.
    La Fortuna, 1804 ships at sea.

    This particular sequence required countless hours of simulations, rendering machines, motion capture technology, scanning of ships, places and characters, as well as animatics and chromas. “The naval battle was the first thing we started on and the last thing we finished, but it was also the most satisfying sequence for Twin Pines as a VFX studio,” they added.

    The simulation of a complete sequence of an automobile journey on U.S. roads was another of the big challenges in La Fortuna. Footage of Spanish roads was used for the exteriors and a recording with chroma on the film set for the interiors. The 3D composition included creating the road signage and the various elements of the landscape like bridges, buildings, speed barriers and the cars driving in both directions.

    1804 ships at sea, before (Twin Pines)
    1804 ships at sea, before (Twin Pines)

    Owing to the complexity of the project, especially in the historical period scenes, the plan was to begin in summer 2019 with the prior scanning of the real ships that were to be used in filming. Afterwards came the preview of the sequences with the scanned material and a study of possible camera angles together with Amenábar.

    The end result was about 1,000 VFX shots throughout the whole series for which the most advanced industry software was used: Nuke for the composition, Houdini for simulations, Maya and Clarisse for 3D scenes and Arnold for rendering. In addition, Twin Pines’ working method always involves the development of specific tools by its engineering team with the goal of optimizing results and adapting to the needs and requirements of the individual client.

    LA FORTUNA_REEL_TWINPINES from Twin Pines VFX on Vimeo.

    This project came at one of the best moments for Twin Pines, following the expansion of its headquarters with a major overhaul of its technological infrastructure and recruiting new creative talent, not to mention having recently won a Goya Award for Best Special Effects for its work in Akelarre by Pablo Agüero.

    “From the VFX viewpoint, being able to bring to life the complicated scenes called for by La Fortuna was an incredible experience. We successfully met challenges that were at the level of the biggest studios in the world in a project with a high international profile,” concluded Rubio and Nogales.

    La Fortuna premiered as the only drama series selected for the San Sebastian Film Festival in September before airing on Movistar+ (Spain) and Sky (Germany). The series will arrive on AMC+ in the U.S. on January 20, having rolled out in Latin America and the U.K.

    https://youtube.com/watch?v=Ac3tzWhwxFc

     

  • Heritage Uncovers Mickey Mouse ‘Holy Grail’ Cel in Animation Auction

    Heritage Uncovers Mickey Mouse ‘Holy Grail’ Cel in Animation Auction

    Disney’s most iconic character, Mickey Mouse has appeared in films, shorts, TV series, comic-books, video games and every conceivable piece of merchandise for more than seven decades.

    Now, Heritage Auctions is offering a chance to own an extraordinarily rare piece of Mickey’s early history by offering an extraordinarily rare black-and-white, hand-inked nitrate production cel setup from Shanghaied, featuring a swashbuckling Mickey Mouse on a hand-painted key master background. The piece is one of the many gems hitting the block in the February 4-7 Animation Art Signature Auction.

    “This is an incredible piece that rarely becomes available to the public,” Heritage Auctions Vice President and Animation & Anime Art Director Jim Lentz said. “Mickey Mouse is the most iconic cartoon character of all time, and has been for years. Black-and-white Mickey Mouse production cels with their key master backgrounds rarely survive this long, and certainly not in this condition. This is an exceptional piece of animated film history from one of the greatest characters in animated films.”

    The setup (estimate: $25,000+), which can be seen at the 3:16 mark of the seven-minute short, is believed to be one of fewer than 25 black-and-white Mickey Mouse key master setups remaining in private hands. During the film, a swordfish-wielding Mickey Mouse makes a raspberry noise with a deck of cards to antagonize the villainous pirate captain Peg-Leg Pete; it was the first theatrical short featuring Billy Bletcher as the voice of Pete.

    It is notable that this black-and-white nitrate production cel includes its original hand-painted key master production background. This is a classic, incredibly rare piece of animation film history — this specific piece was in one of the early Animation Art Museum Shows for a company called Museum Graphics in California in the late 1970s.

    Now the face of the Walt Disney Company, Mickey first appeared in 1928, six years before Disney produced Shanghaied, as a replacement for another character, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. Key master setups featuring Mickey Mouse from black-and-white theatrical shorts are considered the rarest of all Disney animation setups.

    Its rarity is hardly the cel’s only allure: The names “Fergy” and “Spencer” are hand-written at the bottom edge, likely a nod to two great animators: Norman Ferguson, best known for his contribution to the creation of Disney’s Pluto character, Peg-Leg Pete and the Big Bad Wolf, and Fred Spencer, long revered as an expert on Donald Duck. The background is rendered masterfully in black-and-white gouache and graphite, and the 12-field, two-peghole nitrate cels show astonishingly minor handling and edge wear compared to most nitrate cels of this era. Most impressively, the paint on the cels remains fully intact, making this one of the most well-preserved black-and-white Mickey Mouse setups Heritage Auctions experts have seen.

    The lot includes a portfolio containing a rare set of six studio-printed publicity images for Shanghaied on 10-by-8-inch photographic paper.

    View all lots from the auction at https://ha.com/7268.

     

  • Cut-Out Puppet Doc ‘Stranger Than Rotterdam’ Sets Sundance World Premiere

    Cut-Out Puppet Doc ‘Stranger Than Rotterdam’ Sets Sundance World Premiere

    The incredible true story behind one of the seminal films of the American indie film movement comes alive in Stranger Than Rotterdam with Sara Driver — a cut-out puppet animated documentary short set to make its world premiere during the esteemed Sundance Film Festival 2022 (online, January 20-30). The film relates how one fearless producer went above and beyond the call of duty to help turn Jim Jarmusch’s absurdist short Stranger Than Paradise into a break-out feature film.

    The first in a planned series of films about filmmakers’ early career struggles, the piece is directed and produced by Lewie Kloster & Noah Kloster, brothers and founders of Brooklyn animation outfit Tall Glass with Ice (Legal Smuggling with Christine Choy, Slinging Hash with Laurie Lindeen); written, narrated and lived by filmmaker/actress Sara Driver (Boom for Real, When Pigs Fly).

    In the animated retelling, Driver explains how when Jarmusch’s 1983 short was selected for the famed Rotterdam Film Festival, it was the perfect opportunity to secure funding for the feature. The only problem: The festival only had the money to fly the director out. Jarmusch being more of an “ideas guy” than a planner, Driver needed to be there to talk to financiers. The then director of the Rotterdam Festival, Huub Bals, schemed up a plan to have Sara accompany Jim on his trip: If she hand carries Robert Frank’s personal print of C***sucker Blues, the only one in existence.

    Stranger Than Rotterdam
    Stranger Than Rotterdam

    Since its release, the vulgarity of the 1972 Rolling Stones U.S. Tour film, directed by Robert Frank and Danny Seymour, has prompted outrage and legal woes — Mick Jagger personally wanted the film destroyed. Above all else, though, it was illegal to transport pornographic material internationally. So, with a title like that, Driver was sure to be stopped by someone…

    Stranger Than Rotterdam with Sara Driver will have its Sundance World Premiere screening as part of the U.S. Nonfiction Shorts section this Thursday, January 20 at 11 a.m. EST.

    TRAILER | Stranger Than Rotterdam with Sara Driver from Tall Glass with Ice on Vimeo.

    Sundance’s U.S. Animation Short Films selection will present the World Premieres of Nicole Stafford’s the HORK and We Are Here, a reflection on the young American immigrant experience from Doménica Castro and Constanza Castro; as well as Chenglin Xie’s Meal on the Plate (North American premiere) and Renee Zhan’s Soft Animals.

    The International Animation lineup features the World Premiere of Zoon by Jonatan Schwenk (Germany), U.S./North American/International premieres of buzzy titles The Fourth Wall by Mahboobeh Kalaee (Iran), Goodbye Jerome! by Gobelins students Gabrielle Selnet, Adam Sillard & Chloé Farr, Socrates’ Adventure in the Under Ground by Aria Covamonas (Mexico), Sweet Nothing by Joana Fischer & Marie-Christine Kenov (Switzerland) and Oscar shortlisted Bestia Hugo Covarrubias (Chile), plus Joe Hsieh’s Night Bus (Taiwan) and Rendang of Death from Percolate Galactic & Yujin Sick (Indonesia).

    Stranger Than Rotterdam
    Stranger Than Rotterdam

     

     

  • ‘Belle’ Bests Hosoda’s US Opening Box Office Record

    ‘Belle’ Bests Hosoda’s US Opening Box Office Record

    Mamoru Hosoda’s latest acclaimed animated feature Belle continues to win over audiences, with North American distributor GKIDS reporting a $2 million four day total for its opening weekend. The Saturday climbed over $1.2M, taking the crown as Hosoda’s highest-grossing U.S. theatrical release from 2018’s Oscar-nominated and Annie-winning Mirai ($812K).

    Chance Huskey, Director of Distribution for GKIDS, told Deadline that Belle is also the top-grossing original anime feature note based on a TV franchise since 2020’s Weathering With You ($8M). All three films have been brought stateside by the shingle.

    The exec added that music-filled modernization of Beauty and the Beast is proving a popular topic on TikTok and Twitter, and GKIDS anticipates repeat viewing, especially for the new English-dubbed version. All theaters are screening both subtitled Japanese and dubbed versions. And in spite of the Omicron surge amid teens and young adults, the film is performing especially well with Gen Z audiences between 13 and 24.

    The projected $2.04M for Monday (Martin Luther King Jr. Day) puts Belle at No. 6 at the North American box office. The film has a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes across both critics’ reviews and audiences

    An original story written and directed by Hosoda (Summer Wars, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time) and produced by his Studio Chizu, Belle centers on a shy high school girl living in a rural village who escapes to U, a massive virtual world where she exists as the gorgeous diva Belle. When she encounters a monstrous avatar, it sets her on a quest to uncover the true identity of the “beast” — and her own.

    Hosoda’s first IMAX release, Belle was a hit in Japan ($57M to date, released July 16, 2021), topping the box office chart for three consecutive weeks despite seating caps and curfews and becoming the director’s highest-grossing film ever, beating The Boy and the Beast‘s lifetime gross.

    The pic made its world premiere at Cannes, receiving a 14-minute standing ovation, and debuted in the U.S. at New York Film Festival. Belle is nominated for five Annie Awards, including Best Animated Feature – Independent, and is one of 26 animated features eligible for the Oscars.

    [Sources: GKIDS, Deadline, BoxOfficeMojo]

     

  • ‘Across the Spider-Verse’ Renders New Dimensions in Multiple Styles, Says Chris Miller

    ‘Across the Spider-Verse’ Renders New Dimensions in Multiple Styles, Says Chris Miller

    When you have already created one of the most artistically innovative (not to mention critically acclaimed and fan-sational) animated movies ever to grace the big screen, how do you top it in a feverishly anticipated sequel? According to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller, you give your artists whole new worlds to play in.

    Per the official synopsis, the first of two planned sequels will “transport Brooklyn’s full-time, friendly neighborhood Spider-Man across the Multiverse to join forces with Gwen Stacy and a new team of Spider-People to face off with a villain more powerful than anything they have encountered.”

    The Academy Award-winning Lord and Miller, whose credits also cover The Mitchells vs. the Machines and The LEGO Movie, told Collider‘s Steven Weintraub in a recent interview that the “ambitious” second outing for Miles Morales (voiced again by Shameik Moore) will expand the aesthetic concept of the “Spider-verse,” giving each facet of the multiverse its own unique style.

    Audiences got a taste of this in the first Sony PIctures Animation/Marvel movie, which saw a slew of Spideys from different dimensions drop in on Morales, each rendered with a distinct style: from the classically cartoony anthropomorphism of Peter Porker/Spider-Ham (John Mulaney) to the anime inspired look of Peni Parker/SP//der (Kimiko Glenn) to the monochromatic 1930s cast of Spider-Man Noir (Nicolas Cage).

    “… We didn’t want to just sort of do the same thing again. And so the idea that we’d be going to different dimensions really opened up an opportunity artistically to have each world have its own art style, and to be able to push the folks at ImageWorks to develop a way to have each dimension feel like it was drawn by a different artist’s hand,” Miller said. “Seeing the development of that stuff is breathtaking, and really, it’s the reason we keep doing it, because it’s so hard to get it right.”

    Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Part One) is being directed by Kemp Powers (Soul), Joaquim Dos Santos (The Legend of Korra) and Justin K. Thompson (production designers, Into the Spider-Verse), written by Lord & Miller with Dave Callaham (Wonder Woman 1984). Issa Rae (Insecure, Hair Love) is joining the cast as 1977 Spider-Woman, Jessica Drew.

    In a first-look clip released last month, we are reintroduced to Miles Morales as Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld) pops in through a dimensional portal, then taken along as Spider-Man swings on through, catching a tussle with futuristic version Spider-Man 2099 (Oscar Isaac), who was teased at the end of Into the Spider-Verse.

    Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Part On) is slated for release October 7.

    [Source: Collider]

     

  • ‘South Park’ Returns for 25th Season on Comedy Central Feb. 2

    ‘South Park’ Returns for 25th Season on Comedy Central Feb. 2

    Comedy Central has slated the 25th Season debut of the renowned franchise South Park for Wednesday, February 2. The celebration of an historic 25 seasons kicks off with six brand new episodes.

    Named “One of the All-Time Greatest TV Shows” by Entertainment Weekly, the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning animated series returns to Comedy Central, where it has aired on Wednesday nights for the past 25 years. Since the August 1997 launch there have been more than 523 billion minutes of South Park consumed on Comedy Central alone.

    “To be halfway done with South Park is a great accomplishment — we can’t lie,” joked co-creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker.

    “For the past 25 years, multiple generations of fans have grown up enchanted by the outlandishly funny and subversive world that Matt and Trey have created with South Park,” said Chris McCarthy, President and CEO of ViacomCBS Media Networks and MTV Entertainment Studios. “As part of our expansive new deal, we are thrilled to continue our partnership with them for many more seasons of South Park on Comedy Central and many more made-for-streaming South Park exclusive events on Paramount+.”

    All-new episodes will be available to stream in HD on SouthPark.CC.com, CC.com and the Comedy Central App post-premiere.

    South Park the series launched 25 years ago on August 13, 1997 and Comedy Central is ready to toast the show that put them on the map in a year filled with surprises and events that will thrill the show’s millions of fans. Based on the animated short entitled The Spirit of Christmas, the series features the breathtakingly irreverent and ruthlessly funny misadventures of four foul-mouthed, troublemaking young boys in a small town nestled in the Colorado Rockies.

    Co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone are executive producers, along with Anne Garefino and Frank C. Agnone II. Eric Stough, Adrien Beard, Bruce Howell and Vernon Chatman are producers. Christopher Brion is the creative director of South Park Digital Studios. “South Park’s” website is SouthPark.CC.com.