Animation Magazine

Author: Mercedes Milligan

  • Pearl Studio Announces Trio of Films in Development & Talent Accelerator

    Pearl Studio Announces Trio of Films in Development & Talent Accelerator

    Pearl Studio, a CMC Inc. company and animation film studio, announces upcoming plans and strategies, including three new animated features in development and the “Dream Frame” Program — Pearl Studio’s Animated Feature Talent Accelerator.

    As an animated feature studio with experiences in developing and producing international projects such as Kung Fu Panda 3, Abominable and Over the Moon, Pearl Studio aims to further entrench its international strengths, and at the same time to expand to encompass Chinese language content, promoting Chinese culture and telling genuine stories to the world.

    While original content development remains its core feature, Pearl Studio will also focus on exploring and connecting with new resources and talents both internationally and locally. Three key directions for future strategies are highlighted: First, the expansion of genre exploration will include sci-fi, fantasy and Chinese mythological stories, diving deeper into young adult-oriented content with fresh artistic experimentations. Second, the exploration of new platforms in addition to theatrical release will incorporate upcoming streaming and interactive mediums in local and international markets, scouting new potentials and possibilities. Finally, Pearl will open up diverse forms of collaboration to invite and incentivize animation talents worldwide for different stages and types of sponsorship and cooperation.

    Pearl is proactively developing various original animated feature films, including the three major projects Anitya, Ultraland and In the Stars.

    Anitya
    Anitya

    Anitya is Pearl’s first original project set in ancient China. It centers around the mythological character of Meng Po (the goddess of oblivion) and tells a story of love and memories, life and death. Fresh renditions of classic characters like Meng Po and Yue Lao (the god of karma and matchmaking) will be a key focus of this film. Through this project, Pearl emphasizes the creation of a unique worldview and an innovative perspective on a classic tale while experimenting with new visual styles.

    Ultraland
    Ultraland

    Ultraland is a sci-fi mystery adventure about the self-exploring journeys of teenagers growing up amid virtual worlds and physical reality. In the era of big data, informational overload and technological advancement bring about both convenience and concerns. Ultraland explores the coming-of-age experiences in this special era. Sci-fi is also an important focus of Pearl’s future content development.

    In the Stars
    In the Stars

    In the Stars reveals the world behind our wishes – how does wishing work and how do wishes come true? People wish all the time, from coin throwing to temple visiting, and to the reposting of “lucky” koi fish images on social media. In the Stars explores the fantastical world and creatures behind human wishes.

    The newly announced “Dream Frame” Program is Pearl Studio’s effort to discover and cultivate talents who are passionate about and talented at the animation feature industry and to provide sponsorship and platforms to showcase and groom their creativity and artistry.

    The first phase of the program will be submission-based competitions, including three different competition tracks and one “hidden” track which will be revealed later on. The first track is open to all animated feature projects in any format of submission, including outlines, idea pitches, scripts, storyboards and designs. The second track is for completed animated shorts with no thematic restrictions. The third track is for other animation professionals, with submissions based on a specific prompt.

    Pearl Studio will provide selected projects and talents with high-quality platform resources, financial sponsorship and a wide range of collaboration formats for future development. Dream Frame will cooperate with organizations and institutions in the worldwide animation industry to provide resources and opportunities to participants, aiming to foster future animation directors, writers, and artists for the booming Chinese animation industry.

    “Our goal is to facilitate the creativity and originality of animation filmmakers, uncover ideas with potential for development, and eventually enhance innovation and premium content in this industry,” said Catherina Yang, CEO of Pearl Studio. “Therefore, the most prominent trait of the Dream Frame project is that we don’t have rules — we will provide the largest degree of creative and financial support to any selected talent and content, helping them towards project accomplishment and talent development.”

    Dream Frame
    Dream FramePearl Studio

  • Genius Brands Makes Strategic Investment in Germany’s YFE

    Following the recent acquisition of Canada’s WOW! Unlimited Media Inc., Genius Brands International, Inc. today announced that it has entered into an agreement to initially acquire a 28.6% interest in Your Family Entertainment AG (YFE), to be followed by a mandatory tender offer of the outstanding shares of YFE. YFE is one of Europe’s largest distributors and broadcasters of high-quality programs for children and families, which brings a global award-winning streaming and broadcast footprint on satellite, cable, OTT and terrestrial networks. 

    YFE controls over 4,000 episodes of both animated and live-action productions, including classic European titles such as Fix & Foxi, as well as top American titles acquired for European and/or global broadcast such as The Fairly OddParents, which will significantly enhance Genius Brands’ IP catalog for international distribution. The broadcaster has children’s channels in Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa and Australia. YFE generated revenue of approximately EUR 3 million (+4% versus the prior year), positive net income and net income growth of approximately EUR 2.4 million for the 12 months ended December 31, 2020.

    The YFE transaction, alongside the recent announcement of the acquisition of WOW! Unlimited Media, would significantly expand the Genius Brands catalogue and give the Company a streaming foothold outside the United States in Europe and the rest of the world, from which it expects to fuel growth. The announcement was made today jointly by Andy Heyward, Chairman & CEO of Genius Brands, and Dr. Stefan Piëch, CEO of YFE.

    YFE, subject to YFE shareholder approval, will be renamed Genius Family Entertainment AG, and will operate its children’s networks under the brand Kartoon Channel! Worldwide. YFE will maintain its independent listing on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and will be run by the current Management Board of Dr. Piëch and Bernd Wendeln. Dr. Piëch, who also sits on the Supervisory Board of Porsche Automobil Holding SE, and Siemens Austria AG, will further join Genius Brands’ Board of Directors in the U.S.

    Genius Brands has agreed to acquire 3,000,000 shares of YFE for EUR 6 million to be followed by a mandatory tender offer to acquire additional outstanding shares of YFE at EUR 2.00 per share. Additionally, Genius Brands plans to invest up to EUR 7 million to further capitalize YFE and invest in growing the global digital and linear channel footprint, as well as launch key intellectual property.

    Genius Brands and YFE share the goals of bringing “Content with a Purpose” to children worldwide. Dr. Piëch is a recognized world leader in developing and promoting children’s content that supports environmental causes, sustainability, and is non-violent.

    Concurrently, it was also announced that Paul Robinson, former Managing Director of Disney Television International and Senior Vice President Disney Channel Worldwide, will become Managing Director of Kartoon Channel! Worldwide and oversee the international buildout and growth of Kartoon Channel!

    While at Disney Channel, Robinson was responsible for global programming and production strategy for Disney Channels Worldwide, and founder of Toon Disney and Playhouse Disney Channels internationally. He was also Managing Director of Disney Television U.K., including four television channels, there. Robinson and his team will be based in London.

    “We believe the strategic transaction with Germany’s YFE, added to

    the IP assets and earnings of Canada’s WOW! Unlimited Media, will present us with

    additional growth opportunities in furtherance of our goal of becoming the leading

    provider of quality and responsible children’s entertainment in the world today, and for

    years to come,” said Heyward. “We are excited to be working with Stefan and Bernd on the YFE side to drive and grow the business going forward. With Stefan´s award-winning commitment to family friendly content and Bernd’s experience and network in the European market (e.g., ProSiebenSat.1 Group, Tele München Group), we look forward to jointly delivering content with a purpose to children worldwide.”

    Heyward added, “I have known and worked with Paul Robinson at the Walt Disney Company and saw how he built out the Disney Channel business worldwide. I believe that he can guide Kartoon Channel! Worldwide’s international expansion, as we build the global children’s business of the future.”

    Dr. Piëch said, “We are excited to participate in this transaction with Genius Brands and look forward to creating value for both our shareholders worldwide and for families who watch our award-winning shows. Whether through our classic European titles like Fix & Foxi and Albert, or our U.S. produced titles like Fairly OddParents, we believe deliver powerful content that kids love, which will be highly synergistic as we become part of Genius Brands and the growing global Kartoon Channel! banner. Moreover, with Genius Brands’ development and production expertise, we can reboot YFE’s massive IP and create new franchises.”

    “We are fully committed to ‘content with a purpose’ and scaling positive, pro-environment, non-violent storytelling for children. By working together, we look forward to unlocking the full potential of our portfolio, distribution platforms and retail business worldwide,” Dr. Piëch added. 

    Lou Fazio, former Director of Walt Disney Television Acquisitions and Programming, will oversee the programming of the international channels, supporting Robinson on the development and rollout of the Kartoon Channel! content, as he does in the U.S. The global rollout of consumer products based on the channel content, will be supervised by Kerry Phelan, Genius Brands’ GM & EVP, Global Franchise Management, who previously ran consumer products licensing worldwide for Lucasfilm, Pixar and DreamWorks.

    YFE is expected to facilitate rapid growth in Genius Brands’ market position in the European Union markets, as YFE/Genius Brands co-production will enable Genius Brands to fulfill EU regulatory directives to provide local content quotas for streaming platforms and broadcasters, while qualifying for EU tax credits and broadcast license fees.

  • MARZ Raises $6.5M in Series A Funding to Scale Up for VFX Demand

    MARZ Raises $6.5M in Series A Funding to Scale Up for VFX Demand

    Monsters Aliens Robots Zombies (MARZ), the technology and visual effects startup helping Hollywood studios deliver feature-film quality VFX on television timelines, today announced that it has raised CAD$6.5 million in Series A funding. The investment was led by Round13 Capital with participation from Rhino Ventures and Harlo Equity Partners, digital transformation company Torinit and strategic angel investors John Cassaday, former founding President & CEO of Corus Entertainment, and Jake Cassaday.

    MARZ will use the injection of capital to grow its core VFX services business and to accelerate the research and development of its artificial intelligence for VFX technology solutions, which adds a high level of automation to address the significant and growing VFX capacity shortage that is plaguing the entertainment industry. In beta since Q1 2021, MARZ’s first AI for VFX solution has been used on 17 Hollywood productions to date, with that number expected to double in 2022. The funding will also enable MARZ to hire key personnel across research, engineering and product; and to build out its technology infrastructure to increase production capacity and improve the efficiency of its AI solutions.

    Image courtesy MARZ
    Image courtesy MARZ

    Bootstrapped since its inception in 2018, MARZ is on a rapid growth trajectory. The company completed 13 projects in its first year, 21 in its second year and 54 in its third year for notable clients such as Marvel, HBO, Netflix, and Apple TV. MARZ anticipates this rapid growth to continue after being named a primary vendor on a slate of significant future projects to be released later this year and in 2022; and following the launch of its end-to-end Character & Creature division geared to television timelines and budgets.

    MARZ has grown from 45 people in 2019 to 194 today, with plans to grow the team to 300 over the next year. Of its current employees, more than 25% are focused on R&D, machine learning and AI. While MARZ maintains an office in Toronto, it is a remote-first company with a distributed workforce based in cities around the world, including Vancouver, Winnipeg, Montreal, Madrid, Los Angeles, Melbourne, London, Moscow, Mumbai and Mexico City.

    MARZ received 2021 VFX Emmy nominations for WandaVision (left) and The Umbrella Academy S2
    MARZ received 2021 VFX Emmy nominations for WandaVision (left) and The Umbrella Academy S2

    From Emmy-Nominated Startup VFX Studio to AI Powerhouse 

    MARZ’s traditional VFX work has appeared in 68 TV projects in its first three years since inception – most notably, Marvel’s WandaVision, HBO’s Watchmen, Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy and Apple TV’s Invasion. MARZ received two Emmy nominations in 2021, for WandaVision (Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Season or a Movie); and The Umbrella Academy S2 (Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Single Episode).

    Of the 88 overall projects that MARZ has completed to date, 17 projects for clients ranging from Marvel, Disney, AMC, Peacock and Apple TV have benefited from the beta release of the company’s first AI for VFX technology solution.

    By bringing together AI, computer graphics and computer vision, MARZ is pioneering a new breed of VFX solutions that add net new capacity to the industry, while significantly increasing the speed and lowering the cost of outputting feature-film level quality VFX. 

    WandaVision
    WandaVision

    According to MARZ co-founders, Jonathan Bronfman (Co-President), Lon Molnar (Co-President) and Matt Panousis (COO), the VFX capacity shortage issue faced by the entertainment industry right now is due to streaming wars, the corresponding explosion of on-demand content, and the ever-increasing importance of VFX in driving subscriber growth.

    They note that, “These problems are exacerbated in the TV segment as consumer expectations regarding TV quality have risen dramatically, far outpacing the timelines and TV production budgets. We are addressing this issue with our next generation AI for VFX solutions that remove traditional capacity restraints, operate at unprecedented speeds, and offer meaningful price reductions. Ultimately, our aim is to democratize VFX and make it far more accessible to creatives around the world.”

    “MARZ is one of the fastest growing VFX studios in the industry with a reputation for leveraging technology to deliver a best-in-class product within record timelines,” said Brahm Klar, partner at Round13 Capital. “By partnering with MARZ, alongside some of Canada’s most successful investors, we can work closely with the team to build on the company’s extraordinary success so far.” Concurrent with the funding, Klar will join the MARZ board of directors.

    monstersaliensrobotszombies.com

  • Cartoon Network Spreads Holiday Cheer All thru December

    Cartoon Network Spreads Holiday Cheer All thru December

    The holidays are lighting up as Cartoon Network kicks off the month of December with festive music, movies, and special themed programming for the whole family starting today (Wednesday, December 1). The celebration begins with the release of Cartoon Network Theme Songs (Holiday Remix), a 13-track album filled with remixes of favorite Cartoon Network catalog series such as Adventure Time, Ben 10, Courage the Cowardly Dog, Craig of the Creek, Dexter’s Laboratory, The Powerpuff Girls, Steven Universe and more. 

    Created by Video Game Remixes artist Nic Gitter, the medley of Cartoon Network songs includes a full eight-minute remix, as well as individual revamped theme songs available on all major streaming music platforms.

    Cartoon Network
    Cartoon Network

    Adding to the winter cheer, music from Cartoon Network’s iconic catalog of hit series will be on display for kids and families as Tom BetGeorge, a lighting programmer and owner of Magical Light Shows, will synchronize the holiday lights on his home in Tracy, CA to the Cartoon Network Theme Songs (Holiday Remix). The light show will be displayed throughout the month and feature characters from favorite series. A music video of the eight-minute remix set to the light display will launch across Cartoon Network social channels on Friday, Dec. 3.

    After decking the halls to festive theme songs, be sure to tune in to Cartoon Network the week of Dec. 6 (7:00 p.m. ET/PT) for all-new holiday themed episodes of hit series Craig of the Creek, Teen Titans Go! and Total Dramarama. CN will also host weekend blocks of holiday-themed current and classic series programming (Dec.18-19), as well as a marathon of additional episodes of fan-favorite series on Friday, Dec. 24. Then, cozy up for an all-day feature film marathon on Saturday, Dec. 25!

    Cartoon Network
    Cartoon Network

    CN December Highlights:

    Monday, Dec. 6 

    7:00 p.m. ET/PT Craig of the Creek “Locked Out Cold” – On the eve of a big holiday party, the Williams kids are locked out of the house, leading to a frantic search all over town for a spare key.

    Wednesday, Dec. 8 

    7:00 p.m. ET/PT Teen Titans Go! “A Holiday Story” – Santa Claus enlists Beast Boy’s help in getting him back into the Holiday Mob, which is run by Baby New Year.

    Cartoon Network
    Cartoon Network

    Thursday, Dec. 9 

    7:00 p.m. ET/PT Total Dramarama “Tree Stooges Save Christmas” – The kids accidentally destroy Chef’s decorated Christmas tree. Scared this means they’ve ruined his Christmas, they go on an epic mission to replace his holiday treasures.

    Saturday, Dec. 18 

    9:00 a.m. – Teen Titans Go! “A Holiday Story / Beast Boy on a Shelf” 

    9:30 a.m. – Steven Universe “Winter Forecast / Three Gems and a Baby” 

    10:00 a.m. – Ben 10 “Merry Christmas” 

    10:30 a.m. – Adventure Time “The More You Moe, The Moe You Know”

    Sunday, Dec. 19 

    8:00 a.m. – Craig of the Creek “Locked Out Cold / Snow Day” 

    8:30 a.m. – Codename: Kids Next Door “Operation N.A.U.G.H.T.Y” 

    9:00 a.m. – Ed, Edd ‘n Eddy “Fa-La-La-La-Ed / Cry Ed” 

    9:30 a.m. – Courage the Cowardly Dog “The Beaver’s Tale / A Nutcracker”

    Cartoon Network
    Cartoon Network

    Friday, Dec. 24 

    2:00 p.m. – Dexter’s Laboratory “Dexter and the Computress Get Mandark! / Pain in the Mouth / Dexter vs. Santa Claws” 

    2:30 p.m. – The Amazing World of Gumball “Christmas / The Lie” 

    3:00 p.m. – Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends “Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends Christmas Special: A Lost Claus” 

    3:30 p.m. – Total Dramarama “The Tree Stooges Save Christmas” 

    4:00 p.m. – Chowder “Hey It’s Knishmas!” 

    4:30 p.m. – Craig of the Creek “Locked Out Cold / Snow Day” 

    5:00 p.m. – Uncle Grandpa “Uncle Grandpa Christmas Special” 

    5:30 p.m. – Teen Titans Go! “Christmas Crusaders / The True Meaning of Christmas” 

    6:00 p.m. – Regular Show “The Christmas Special” 

    6:30 p.m. – Teen Titans Go! “A Holiday Story / Beast Boy on a Shelf”

    Cartoon Network
    Cartoon Network

    Saturday, Dec. 25

    8:00 a.m. – The Wizard of Oz 

    3:00 p.m. – Sherlock Gnomes 

    5:00 p.m. – Smallfoot 

    7:00 p.m. – Detective Pikachu

    Cartoon Network
    Cartoon Network

    Cartoonito on Cartoon Network will also be merry and bright in December. The little ones can tune in the week of Dec. 6 for episodes of acclaimed preschool shows: 

    Monday, Dec. 6 

    7:30 a.m. – Caillou “Caillou Goes Caroling / A Playschool Party / Caillou’s Christmas Eve” 

    8:00 a.m. – Pocoyo “A Very Special Guest / Space Christmas / Christmas Far From Home” 

    Wednesday, Dec. 8 

    7:30 a.m. – Caillou “Snowflakes / Caillou Shoots! He Scores! / Caillou goes Tobogganing” 

    8:00 a.m. – Pocoyo “Christmas Tree” 

    Friday, Dec. 10 

    7:30 a.m. – Caillou “Caillou Plays the Drums / Caillou’s Marching Band / Caillou Sings” 

    8:00 a.m. – Pocoyo “An Alien Christmas Carol” 

    Saturday, Dec. 11 

    7:00 a.m. – Lucas the Spider “House Is Breathing” 

    7:30 a.m. – Esme & Roy “Holiday Spirit / Snow Worries” 

    Sunday, Dec. 12 

    7:00 a.m. – Love Monster “Favorite Library Book Day” 

    7:30 a.m. – Care Bears: Unlock the Magic “Dibble’s Dust-Up / Hide and Sneak”

    Cartoon Network
    Cartoon Network

     

  • People on the Move: Arnold Replaces Iger at Disney, Unity Completes Weta Buy, Saperstein Dissolves Yeti Farm Partnership & More

    Susan E. Arnold
    Susan E. Arnold

    The Walt Disney Company Board of Directors announced that it has elected Susan E. Arnold as Chairman of the Board, effective December 31. Arnold, a 14-year member of the Disney Board who has served as its independent Lead Director since 2018, will succeed Robert A. Iger as Chairman of the Board when he departs the Company at the end of the year. Iger has served as Chairman of the Board since 2012 and as Disney’s Executive Chairman since 2020, following a 15 year term as CEO of the company, presiding over the acquisitions of Pixar (2006), Marvel (2009), Lucasfilm (2012) and Fox (2019); record-setting films including Frozen, Frozen II and Marvel hits Avengers: Endgame and Black Panther; and the launch of Disney+ (2019). 

    “Susan is an incredibly esteemed executive whose wealth of experience, unwavering integrity, and expert judgment have been invaluable to the Company since she first joined the Board in 2007,” said Mr. Iger, Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board. “Having most recently served as independent Lead Director, Susan is the perfect choice for Chairman of the Board, and I am confident the Company is well-positioned for continued success under her guidance and leadership. It has been a distinct honor to work with Susan and our many other talented directors, and I am incredibly grateful for the support and wise counsel they have provided during my tenure.”

    “On behalf of the Board, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Bob Iger for his extraordinary leadership over the past decade-and-a-half,” Arnold said. “Bob has led Disney to amazing heights both creatively and financially, with his clear strategic vision for delivering high-quality branded storytelling, embracing cutting-edge technology, and expanding internationally, and he’s left an indelible mark on The Walt Disney Company that will be felt for generations to come. As I step into this new role as Chairman of the Board, I look forward to continuing to serve the long-term interests of Disney’s shareholders and working closely with CEO Bob Chapek as he builds upon the Company’s century-long legacy of creative excellence and innovation.”

    Arnold brings to her role extensive public-company board experience and in-depth knowledge of brand management and marketing, environmental sustainability, product and business development, international consumer markets, finance and executive and risk management. She was formerly an operating executive of the equity investment firm The Carlyle Group, where she served from 2013 to 2021. Previously, she served as President – Global Business Units of Procter & Gamble from 2007 to 2009, previously serving as Vice Chair – Beauty & Health from 2006, Vice Chair – Beauty from 2004 and President – Global Personal Beauty Care & Global Feminine Care from 2002. She was a Director of McDonald’s Corp. from 2008 to 2016, and a Director of NBTY, Inc. from 2013 to 2017.

    Unity (unity.com) today announced it has completed the acquisition of Weta Digital’s (www.wetafx.co.nz) tools, pipeline, technology and engineering talent for US$1.62 billion (closed Dec. 1). This acquisition is designed to empower the growing number of game developers, artists and potentially millions of consumer creators with highly sophisticated content creation tools used in some of the world’s most iconic movies and shows, such as Avatar, Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings and The Suicide Squad.

    Peter Jackson | Prem Akkaraju
    Peter Jackson | Prem Akkaraju

    In addition to acquiring dozens of industry-leading tools, a foundational data platform for interoperable 3D art creation and a library of thousands of incredible assets that the WetaFX team will continue to evolve, Unity welcomes Weta Digital’s world-class engineering talent of 275 engineers that are known for architecting, building, and maintaining Weta Digital tools and core pipeline. Weta Digital’s Academy Award-Winning VFX teams will continue as a standalone entity known as WetaFX under majority ownership by Sir Peter Jackson and helmed by CEO Prem Akkaraju.

    “We are thrilled to officially welcome Weta Digital’s highly talented engineering team to Unity and to begin the journey of integrating two powerhouse technologies,” said Marc Whitten, SVP & General Manager, Create Solutions at Unity. “By bringing this team and technology to Unity, we can enable more storytellers to reach their creative potential by giving them access to the diamonds of all diamonds of VFX tools, underpinned by the power of real-time 3D.”

    “I know Weta Digital’s journey with Unity has just begun and I’m more confident than ever that Unity is the company to take this technology to a broader market,” said Akkaraju. “The decision to make our tools accessible to the wider market was ultimately driven by our goal of inspiring other creators. WetaFX is Jimi Hendrix, and we know enabling more artists to play, we’ll see the world has many, many more Jimi Hendrixes.”

    Unity X Weta (Planet of the Apes)
    Unity X Weta (Planet of the Apes)
    Frank Saperstein
    Frank Saperstein

    Frank Saperstein announced he has completed his commitment with Yeti Farm Creative. His Surprise Bag banner and Yeti Farm formed a strategic partnership in 2018, resulting in Saperstein taking on the roles of Executive Producer and YFC President and Co-Chairman of the Board. During his tenure, the award-winning industry vet led Yeti Farm’s growth by increasing their visibility and access to U.S. and global producers, studios and streamers utilizing his vast network of industry connections and relationships. He will remain as EP on YFC originals which he developed, secured funding and broadcaster partners for: Sweet Tweets and Kick Flip, which he also co-created.

    Prior to joining Yeti Farm, Saperstein served as EVP for Tricon Films and Television and previously as SVP Family Television for Entertainment One. He is known for his early creative work on gender-bending classics including Pee-wee’s Playhouse, Ren & Stimpy and Prince’s studio Paisley Park. Saperstein continues working through Surprise Bag, Inc., collaborating with new and existing partners on a slate of exciting projects that will be announced in the coming months.

    Don Carson | Michèle Martell | David Wyatt
    Don Carson | Michèle Martell | David Wyatt

    Austin-based Mighty Coconut — the entertainment studio that created hit VR title Walkabout Mini Golf as well as animations Kings of Atlantis (YouTube), Oceanmaker  and Pigeon Impossible, upon which Spies in Disguise (Fox/Blue Sky) is based — is boosting its studio leadership team with the hires of three key executives who will report to EP and studio Head, Lucas Martell. 

    • Senior Art Director, Don Carson is a concept illustrator and designer working in the theme park and computer game industries. He has worked as a Senior Show Designer for Walt Disney Imagineering, art directing projects like Splash Mountain, Mickey’s Toontown and Blizzard Beach. His focus is bringing design principles unique to environmental storytelling to projects all over the world. Don has applied designs to computer games, the theater and other media. Carson has a long career in theme park design, and he strives to show the potential of using the principles of environmental storytelling to influence an audience’s experience, whether they are exploring a physical or virtual world.
    • Licensing & Legal Counsel, Michèle Martell is a media & technology attorney who has provided business guidance and legal insight to major brands including the Muppets, the WWE, Crayola, Hasbro, Samsung, Sony and The Saturday Evening Post. From helping the Muppets enter the digital world through their patented Creature Shop technology, to launching the first digital cinema company with Kidtoon Films and Cinedigm, to co-founding the Immersive Media program at the University of Texas at Austin, Martell leverages her expertise at the intersection of media and technology to connect audiences with powerful storytelling. Martell is the Programming Chair for Women in Toys, Entertainment & Licensing, and Co-Chair of the Austin Chapter of the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP).
    • Head of Communications & Business Strategy, David Wyatt is a senior level communications and business strategy expert with over 20 years of experience working with clients in the entertainment, arts and tech industries. His portfolio of work includes national and international audience-building campaigns for Austin FC, IFC Films, Intergalactic Nemesis, Google, film composer Graham Reynolds, Rocksauce Studios, Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group, the City of Marfa, Israel, Japan and UNESCO in partnership with brands such as Alamo Drafthouse and SXSW. He is also a regular speaker at various industry conferences and author for various publications.

     

  • ‘BoxBallet’ Takes Top Award at GIRAF Indie Animation Fest

    ‘BoxBallet’ Takes Top Award at GIRAF Indie Animation Fest

    The Quickdraw Animation Society has announced the winners of the jury and audience prizes at its 17th annual Giant Incandescent Resonating Animation Festival (GIRAF | www.giraffest.ca). The Calgary-based fest took place November 19-28, streaming online across Canada. 

    “GIRAF International Animation Festival wonderfully encapsulates the best of contemporary independent animation, bringing together top Canadian talent, as well as animation innovators from around the world. In 2021, its Indie Mixtape genre served up a little bit of everything, the Canadian Showcase featured some of the most beautifully creative works this country has cooked up over the last couple of years, and Cosmic Trips took us to other worlds and back,” said Canadian animator Greg Doble on behalf of the jury. “All this to say, GIRAF 2021 not only had something for everyone, but the best the world has to offer, perfectly curated on their online platform so that you can choose your own adventure! Entranced, shocked, heartbroken, or in stitches laughing, GIRAF 2021 had it all, and I personally can’t wait to see what GIRAF 2022 brings next.”

    Doble was joined on the jury by Halifax-based curator, presenter and filmmaker Siloën Daley and by the writer-artist collective of Animation Obsessive.

    My Head Aches When I Look Too Long
    My Head Aches When I Look Too Long

    Juried Awards

    Best Canadian Short Film: My Head Aches When I Look Too Long (dir. Callahan Bracken, 2020)

    “A haunting meditation on self-worth, love and loneliness in the world of impersonal online infrastructure. With this painterly film, Bracken expresses mysterious truths about a digital way of life whose implications we’re only just beginning to understand.” – Greg Doble

    Honorable Mention: Petal to the Metal (dir. Emily Pelstring, 2020)

    “I’m not alone in feeling drawn to something tactile and showing life. Literally placing petals and garden found items to the metals in the alchemy found on light sensitive film stock then hand processing, Petal to the Metal allows the artist to work directly with the film, bypassing the camera lens and creating a beautiful play with nature.” – Siloën Daley

    GIRAF Jury Honorable Mentions
    GIRAF Jury Honorable Mentions

    Best International Short Film: BoxBallet (dir. Anton Dyakov, Russia, 2020)

    “The jury’s decision to select this film was swift. Funny and touching, with just-so animation and filmmaking, BoxBallet calls back to the cartoons of the Russian master Eduard Nazarov — while confidently pushing this style forward into the future.” – Animation Obsessive

    Honorable Mention: Fall of the Ibis King (dir. Mikai Geronimo and Josh O’Caoimh, Ireland, 2021)

    “Tensions build at the opera after the unlikely return of its lead actor. Fall of the Ibis King is a tale of love and jealousy which simmers with emotion throughout and boils to a dramatic crescendo. Directors Mikai Geronimo and Josh O’Caoimh masterfully weave together a story which is visually stunning and had the jury deeply invested in each decision its characters made.” – Greg Doble

    GIRAF Jury Special Mentions
    GIRAF Jury Special Mentions

    Jury Special Mentions:

    • A Bite of Bone (dir. Honami Yano, Japan, 2021) | “There’s something for everyone in A Bite of Bone. From the heartfelt story, the creatively drawn ‘camera work’, to the outstanding technique, the film illustrates a man’s passions that will carry on into the next generation. ‘If you bite the bone you can be with your father forever.’” – Siloën Daley
    • And Yet We’re Not Super Heroes (dir. Lia Bertels, Belgium/Portugal/France, 2021) | “At first in darkness, I was drawn into the mystery. I became part of the story and then when the characters were revealed as high-contrast comic-like illustrations I believed them real. I was already drawn in. As the piece played out the honesty and creativity brought joy and captivated me.” – Siloën Daley
    • Camille (dir. Nathanaël Sonn, France, 2020) | “With the short film Camille, Nathanaël Sonn beautifully crafts a piece that is both visually gorgeous and deeply personal. With a runtime just over three and a half minutes, Camille manages to succinctly bring the audience along for a glimpse into one trans woman’s experience of self doubt and struggle with her past. It’s a tale which portrays an experience that may be foreign to some people, but all too familiar to so many within the LGBTQ2+ community. No matter where you may fall as an audience member, its deeply passionate story will have you captivated and emotionally invested.” – Greg Doble
    • Fledge (dir. Hani Dombe and Tom Kouris, Israel/France, 2021) | “An inspired piece of magical realism. Fledge uses its refreshingly specific and unique premise — a Russian family trying to fit into Israel during the 1990s — to tell a story about heritage, identity and individuality that resonates at the universal level.” – Animation Obsessive
    • Sanctuary (dir. Eva Matejovičová, Czech Republic, 2021) | “Sanctuary brought a ray of light. I recalled the power an animated short film has to connect with its audience — unlike any other medium. I felt blessed to take in this film through the GIRAF festival. Thank you, Sanctuary, for inspiring me and spreading love!” – Siloën Daley
    Meneath: The Hidden Island of Ethics
    Meneath: The Hidden Island of Ethics

    Audience Choice Awards

    Chosen by viewer ratings.

    Canadian Short Film: Meneath: The Hidden Island of Ethics (dir. Terril Calder, 2021)

    “Given its heavy subject matter, steeped in religious indoctrination, colonialism and deep inner turmoil, Meneath seemed like a long shot for an audience award — but it was far and away the festival’s highest rated film. Chalk it up to Terril Calder’s skill at balancing the film’s darker elements with moments of strength and triumph. Calder’s film navigates difficult themes and complex concepts with grace, resulting in a film that is both challenging and absolutely vital.”

    Honorable Mention: The Clockwork Elves (dir. Nick Cross, 2020)

    “This year’s festival audience wasn’t afraid to go dark. Nick Cross describes his latest film as either ‘a psychotropic exploration of spirituality and death’ or ‘tale of a little goofball hopped up on goofballs.’ It’s macabre, but darkly beautiful, rich in ambiguous imagery and impossible to look away from.”

    Love Is Just a Death Away
    Love Is Just a Death Away

    International Short Film: Love Is Just a Death Away (dir. Bára Anna Stejskalová, Czech Republic, 2020)

    “It’s surprising but fitting that a film about a worm piloting the body of a dead dog would be so good at pulling our audience’s heartstrings. Bára Anna Stejskalová’s directorial debut is sweet despite its excess of death and decay. Ultimately a story of a longing for love and connection, it finds humour and warmth in the strangest of places, striking a unique tone that resonated with the GIRAF17 crowd.”

    Honorable Mention: Nocturne (dir. Alexander Dupuis, United States, 2020)

    “To call Alexander Dupuis’ music video busy would be a dramatic understatement. The rush of colours, patterns and textures in Nocturne‘s 3D world should be utterly overwhelming, but somehow it all works, creating a transcendental trip through rippling, mind-warping worlds, and finding serenity on the far side of excess.”

    GIRAF Audience Honorable Mentions
    GIRAF Audience Honorable Mentions

     

  • Sinking Ship Teams with Paper Owl for Hybrid ‘Finding Audrey’ Adaptation

    Sinking Ship Teams with Paper Owl for Hybrid ‘Finding Audrey’ Adaptation

    Canada’s Sinking Ship Entertainment (Dino Dana, Odd Squad) and Northern Ireland’s Paper Owl Films (Pablo, Sol) announced today their new partnership on the latter’s movie adaptation of the bestselling Sophie Kinsella novel, Finding Audrey. The award-winning companies are co-developing the project, with Paper Owl Films producing and Sinking Ship Entertainment distributing internationally. The family film is in the advanced stage of development.

    Based on Kinsella’s best-selling novel, Finding Audrey is the heartfelt, meaningful and sometimes hilarious story of a teenage girl suffering from social anxiety disorder. After a triggering bullying incident at school, Audrey is unable to venture out of her house and hides from the world with the help of dark sunglasses.

    “I’m thrilled to have worked with Paper Owl Films on this exciting and imaginative adaptation of Finding Audrey. I can’t wait for fans of my book to see the characters come to life on screen, and also for a wider audience to meet Audrey and her family,” said Kinsella. “I hope viewers will really engage with the storyline and the issues surrounding teenage mental health.”

    Sophie Kinsella | Finding Audrey
    Sophie Kinsella | Finding Audrey

    The movie adaptation tells the story of Audrey’s journey to recovery, with the help of her chaotic but loving family and a boy named Linus. Finding Audrey mixes live action, animation and special effects to create a quirky, comedic and emotive viewing experience that will resonate with today’s families.

    “Using Sophie’s novel as our springboard, we’ve deliberately included a mix of live action, animation and special effects in Finding Audrey to create a highly engaging and emotive viewing experience for our family targeted audience,” commented Grainne McGuinness, Creative Director at Paper Owl Films. “Together with the characters’ mix of perspectives and their evolution within the story, we hope this adaption will continue Sophie’s mission to blow the lid off existing social attitudes to mental health.”

    Kate Sanagan, Head of Sales & Distribution for Sinking Ship Entertainment, added, “We’re excited to be partnering with Paper Owl Films on this important project. We were immediately drawn to Finding Audrey’s perceptive take on mental health and teenagers, and we are confident that the series’ creative and engaging format will resonate with both broadcasters and audiences worldwide.”

    www.sinkingship.ca | paperowlfilms.com

    Finding Audrey

  • SIGGRAPH Asia 2021 Crowns Computer Animation Festival Winners

    SIGGRAPH Asia 2021 Crowns Computer Animation Festival Winners

    The SIGGRAPH Asia 2021 Computer Animation Festival (CAF), Asia’s premier computer-generated animation and visual effects event, will showcase a worldwide collection of the year’s best works. From student films to professional projects, the festival once again showcases and celebrates some of the industry’s newest, most compelling technology-based visual artistry.

    Four award-winning films have been selected by judges from a total of 501 submissions. This was the first year the festival saw a tie in the Best Student Project category, resulting in four honorees for the CAF Winners Screening. The international jury of industry heavyweights also selected the top 16 works for the Electronic Theater screening, and another 19 for the Animation Theater screening.

    “This year saw another fantastic selection of works from artists across Asia and around the world,” said CAF Chair, Dan Sarto. “Our winning CAF films, as well as each selection for the Electronic Theater and Animation Theater screenings, showcase the latest innovative works from an incredibly diverse and talented group of artists. Our jury helped assemble an extraordinary collection of animated projects, including 35 animated shorts, commercials and other works, that conference attendees can watch both in Tokyo and online. Congratulations to all the winners and to everyone who took time to share their work with us.”

    CAF 2021 Award Winners

    Best in Show: Twenty Something

    Dir. Aphton Corbin, prod. Erik Langley | Pixar Animation Studios | U.S.Adulting can be hard. Some days you’re nailing it, while other days, you’re just a stack of kids hiding in a trench coat hoping no one notices. Gia finds herself in this exact scenario the night of her 21st birthday. This is a story about the insecurities of adulting and how we’re all just faking it ’till we make it. Produced as part of Pixar Animation Studios’ SparkShorts Program.

    Best Student Project (Tied): Le Retour des Vagues 

    Dirs. Manon Cansell, Alejandra Guevara Cervera, Edward Kurchevsky, Francisco Moutinho de Magalhães & Hortense Mariano; prod. Moïra Marguin | Gobelins, l’École de l’Image | France | Miyu Distribution

    Coming back to his hometown in hopes of reconnecting with his past, a young man encounters the place completely stopped in time. Moving through the familiar streets, memories disorient him as he faces what he once left behind.

    Best Student Project (Tied): Les larmes de la Seine 

    Dirs. Yanis Belaid, Eliott Benard, Nicolas Mayeur, Etienne Moulin, Hadrien Pinot, Lisa Vicente, Philippine Singer & Alice Letailleur; prod. Carlos De Carvalho | Pôle 3D | France October 17, 1961, “Algerian workers” take to the streets to protest against the mandatory curfew imposed by the Police prefecture.

    Jury Special: Only a Child 

    Dir. Simone Giampaolo, prod. Gabriella de Gara | Amka Films, RSI Radiotelevisione svizzera, SRG SSR | U.K., Switzerland 

    Only a Child is a visual poem created by over 20 animation directors under the artistic supervision of Simone Giampaolo, which gives shape and color to the original words spoken by Severn Cullis-Suzuki at the UN Summit in Rio in 1992, a child’s desperate call to action for the future of our planet. An omnibus film celebrating the environmental youth movement 30 years in the making.

    SIGGRAPH Asia 2021 will take place at the Tokyo International Forum, Japan and online December 14-17. For more information on the program line-up and to find information on the registration tiers, visit https://sa2021.siggraph.org/en.

  • Watch: ‘We Baby Bears’ Embark on a Magical Adventure January 1

    Watch: ‘We Baby Bears’ Embark on a Magical Adventure January 1

    Travel up, up and away to faraway places with the 10-episode premiere of the original animated comedy We Baby Bears on Saturday, January 1 (10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ET/PT; encore 12:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.) on Cartoon Network, followed by two new episodes that will premiere every Saturday throughout the month starting Jan. 8 (9 a.m. ET/PT). Produced by Cartoon Network Studios, We Baby Bears takes fans on magical adventures with the beloved siblings in search of a place they can call home. 

    The series will also roll out globally on Cartoon Network, starting with Latin America on Jan. 2, Asia Pacific beginning Jan. 8 and across Europe, the Middle East and Africa from March 2022.

    The original theme song for the series is performed by up-and-coming Universal Music Korea K-Pop supergroup, TRI.BE. Their first-ever, highly anticipated mini-album, Veni Vidi Vici was recently released in October and they have been steadily growing their fanbase worldwide. Quadrilingual, the group is the first of its kind speaking and singing in Chinese, English, Japanese and Korean. (Watch the opening theme sequence below!)

    TRI.BE
    TRI.BE

    “We Baby Bears is the first original Cartoon Network series to kick off our Redraw Your World campaign, and there isn’t a better, more authentic representation of our new brand promise than these baby bears looking for the place they fit in,” said Amy Friedman, Head of Kids & Family Programming, Warner Bros. “Partnering with TRI.BE on the original theme song, their message, ‘We are perfect as we are,’ doubles down on themes of inclusivity and acceptance which we think kids everywhere will be drawn to.”

    A spin-off of the hit Cartoon Network series We Bare Bears, We Baby Bears follows Grizz (voice by Connor Andrade), Panda (Amari McCoy) and Ice Bear (Max Mitchell) — as their younger baby selves — traveling in a magical box to fantastic new worlds searching for a place to call home. Along the way, they meet new friends, learn a few lessons and discover that “home” can mean wherever they are, as long as they’re together. We Baby Bears will also feature out-of-this-world guest stars including Anjali Bhimani, Rhys Darby, Janeane Garofalo, Young M.A., Jason Mantzoukas, Stephen Oyoung, Willow Smith and Bernardo Velasco. 

    We Baby Bears is executive produced by We Bare Bears creator Daniel Chong and writer/director/storyboard artist Manny Hernandez, one of Animation Magazine‘s Rising Stars of Animation 2021.

    (We should also mention that the series features the voice of newcomer Kaya McLean as the young fox in the episode  “Hashtag Number One Fan.” Kaya is the talented daughter of Animation Magazine’s longtime friend and contributor Tom McLean. Congrats to Kaya and her proud parents! We can’t wait to watch the episode!)

    Jan. 1 10-episode premiere marathon:

    • “The Magical Box” – Three baby bear brothers are granted a magical box that can transport them to any place in the universe. 
    • “Bears and the Beanstalk” – The Bears work as short-order cooks in a giant’s diner. 
    • “Boo-Dunnit” – While visiting a mansion haunted by ghosts, the Bears must play detective to find out which one of them stole their box. 
    • “The Little Mer-Bear” – In order to live under the sea, the Bears must transform into mermaids. 
    • “Modern-ish Stone Age Family” – The Bears are invited to live with a family of cavemen, but things get rocky when the Bears teach the family about television. 
    • “Excalibear” – The Bears visit a medieval vegetable village and Grizz is convinced he’s the rightful king. 
    • “Meat House” – The Bears and their new friend, Squatter Otter, take up residence in a mysterious house made of meat. 
    • “The Pirate Parrot Polly” – The Bears team up with Polly the Parrot Pirate on a quest for hidden treasure. 
    • “Baby Bear Genius” – Baby geniuses want Ice Bear to attend their prestigious school, but without Grizz and Panda. 
    • “Bug City Sleuths” – The Bears become noir-style detectives to live in a city inhabited by bugs.

    New episodes Saturdays at 9 a.m. ET/PT:

    Saturday, Jan. 8 

    • “Hashtag Number One Fan” – Panda gets kidnapped by a pair of deranged French foxes. 
    • “Snow Place Like Home” – When the Bears realize whatever they build with snow comes to life they decide to build the biggest snow party of all time. 

    Saturday, Jan. 15 

    • “Fiesta Day” – The Bears party it up with living piñatas for Fiesta Day. Wanting the festivities to never end, Grizz wishes for it to be Fiesta Day everyday. 
    • “Baby Yaga House” – Squatter Otter tries to win Panda’s trust and convince the Bears to live in a mysterious house. 

    Saturday, Jan. 22 

    • “Bears in the Dark” – The Bears search for their missing box in a dark and scary cave. 
    • “Big Trouble Little Babies” – When they realize they’re too small for the rides at an amusement park, the Bears use a magic potion to get bigger. 

    Saturday, Jan. 29 

    • “Triple T Tigers” – When the Bears meet three cool tiger brothers, Grizz wants to be just like the oldest, TK, but he may not be the best role model. 
    • “Panda’s Family” – While exploring a lantern festival, the Bears encounter Panda’s long-lost family.
    We Baby Bears
    We Baby Bears
  • Global TV & Streaming News Bytes

    Global TV & Streaming News Bytes

    Cyber Group Studios has secured a raft of deals with leading international broadcasters and platforms for its hit animated series, on the heels of this year’s MIPCOM and MIPCancun content markets. “It’s very gratifying and affirming that our signature programs are resonating so strongly with audiences around the globe in such large and important markets as the U.S., Latin America, Asia and EMEA,” said Raphaelle Mathieu, SVP Sales & Acquisitions. “These new partnerships will help Cyber Group Studios further our mission of creating content that entertains and engages children and families worldwide.”

    Droners
    Droners

    The new partnerships include:

    • Gigantosaurus Season 1 (52 x 11’) – NHK (Japan), Plus Plus (Ukraine), RTBF (Belgium), Premier (Russia)
    • Gigantosaurus Season 2 (52 x 11’) – Netflix (worldwide), CCTV (China), POP (U.K.), RAI (Italy), SRC (Canada). The series is also now airing on Disney Junior in the U.S. and EMEA.
    • Droners Season 1 (26 x 22’) – Commissioned by TF1 (France), the series has been picked up by ABC (Australia), SIC (Portugal), RTBF (Belgium) and RTS (Switzerland).
    • Droners Season 2 (26 x 22’) – Following the success of Season 1 on the channel, Season 2 has been picked up by TF1 (France) as well as WDR (Germany) and Disney (France and Benelux).
    50/50 Heroes
    50/50 Heroes

    In addition, Cyber Group Studios has pre-sold its bold and hilarious new CGI 2D series, 50/50 Heroes, commissioned by France Télévisions and The Walt Disney Company in Germany and Eastern Europe, to Discovery in Latin America and Disney Japan. 50/50 Heroes is an original graphic universe that centers on half siblings who work together to make one-half of a superhero. The series is currently in production.

    ©Koyoharu Gotoge / SHUEISHA, Aniplex, ufotable
    ©Koyoharu Gotoge / SHUEISHA, Aniplex, ufotable

    Anime fans must remember to tune in to Funimation and Crunchyroll this weekend for the premiere of the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc, summoned to screens on Saturday, December 5 at 10:45 a.m. EST / 7:45 a.m. PST. Read more about this intense next mission for the Demon Slayer Corps here.

    Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is an action-packed, thrilling tale of a young man in search of a cure for his sister, who has been turned into a demon after their family is viciously slaughtered by demons. Immediately following the Mugen Train Arc, the Entertainment District Arc introduces a new major demon, Daki, who the young adventurers must contend with.

    Vanille, a Caribbean Tale
    Vanille, a Caribbean Tale

    Paris-based distributor Prime Entertainment Group has finalized a major sale in Australia for the acclaimed animated movie Vanille, a Caribbean Tale (29 min.) with SBS (Special Broadcasting Service), a multiplatform media organization with a free-to-air TV portfolio spanning five distinctive channels and an innovative digital offering, including SBS On Demand. 

    Vanille, a Caribbean tale tells the story of Vanille, a nine-year-old Parisian with quite a temper, sent to spend the whole summer in Guadeloupe with her aunt. During these holidays, she dives into an adventure tinged with mysteries, meets charming characters and a magical flower and reconnects with her roots. Produced by Folimage, the movie has been praised at festivals and events around the world, and won the Annecy Cristal for TV Production. Vanille has been acquired by leading broadcasters such as Germany’s KiKa, Italia’s Rai and Hong Kong’s RTHK.

    The Book of Boba Fett character posters
    The Book of Boba Fett character posters

    Disney+ recently released character posters of Boba Fett (played by Temuera Morrison) and Fennec Shand (Ming-Na Wen), and debuted an exciting TV spot for its new, live-action series from Lucasfilm, The Book of Boba Fett. The series will have seven weekly episodes, commencing December 29, exclusively on the streaming channel.

    The Book of Boba Fett finds legendary bounty hunter Boba Fett and mercenary Fennec Shand navigating the galaxy’s underworld when they return to the sands of Tatooine to stake their claim on the territory once ruled by Jabba the Hutt and his crime syndicate. Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, Robert Rodriguez, Kathleen Kennedy and Colin Wilson are the executive producers. Karen Gilchrist and Carrie Beck serve as co-executive producers, with John Bartnicki producing and John Hampian as co-producer.

    On-demand streaming service Vudu is decking the halls with holiday favorites available to rent or buy. Spanning Christmas comedies, family-friendly classics and even seasonal romances, the animated highlights include Arthur Christmas (Bundle), The Nightmare Before Christmas and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. 

    Indian kids’ channel Pogo (WarnerMedia) has launched a new Telugu language service, expanding the country’s premiere brand for home-grown animation throughout the southern states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Families will get to enjoy cartoons such as Chhota Bheem, one of the channel’s most successful comedy series of recent times, Titoo – Har Jawaab Ka Sawal Hu and the Bollywood-inspired original Smashing Simmba. The highly-entertaining adventures of Bandhbudh aur Budbak will also now be available in Telugu, in addition to Tamil and Hindi. 

    Pogo
    Pogo

    ViacomCBS Networks International and Nordic Entertainment Group announced a partnership for a new Pluto TV service across Sweden, Denmark and Norway in 2022. The service combines ViacomCBS’ world-leading free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) service with the biggest pan-Nordic AVOD platform Viafree. NENT Group will serve as the platform’s leading advertising sales partner. Following the launch of Pluto TV, Viafree will be phased out as a stand-alone platform. Pluto TV is available in 26 markets globally, including the U.S., Latin America and Europe.

  • Festival & Event Updates: Award Winners, 2022 Plans & New ITFS Trailer

    Festival & Event Updates: Award Winners, 2022 Plans & New ITFS Trailer

    Festival favorite and indie awards-season contender Flee has added another accolade to its long list, taking the Best Documentary Feature honors at the 31st Annual Gotham Awards, held Monday at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City. Directed by Jonas Poher Rasmussen, the stirring mostly-animated documentary feature recounts the life story of his pseudonymous friend Amin, who as a child fled the Taliban in Afghanistan with his mother and siblings, through Russia and eventually to Denmark — where, despite trauma and a hidden past, Amin has a chance to find a new home and lasting love.

    Flee was released by NEON in the U.S. The film is produced by Monica Hellström, Signe Byrge Sørensen (Final Cut for Real – Denmark) and Charlotte De La Gournerie (Sun Creature Studio – Denmark). The Best Documentary jury for the 2021 Gotham Awards included Bonni Cohen, Ramona Diaz, Kirsten Johnson, Roger Ross Williams and Hao Wu. The Awards are presented by the Gotham Film & Media Institute. 

    PÖFF Shorts winners
    PÖFF Shorts winners

    The 25th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF) four competition programs (and European Film Award shorts nominee reveal) and PÖFF Shorts winners have been announced, celebrating some of this year’s most widely regarded animated works. This year’s Animation Competition was juried by Paul Mas, Sabine Andersone and Helen Unt. The winners are:

    • Nomination for EFA: Steakhouse by  Špela Čadež (Slovenia, 2021)
    • Best Short Animation: Bestia by Hugo Covarrubias (Chile, 2021)
    • Jury Mention: Night Bus by Joe Hsieh (France, 2020)
    • Best Children’s Animation: Vanille by Guillaume Lorin (France/Switzerland, 2020)
    • Children’s Animation Jury Mention: Landing by Kaisa Penttilä (Finland, 2021)
    • New Talents – Animation: Love, Dad by Diana Cam Van Nguyen (Czech Rep./Slovakia, 2020)
    • New Talents – Animation Jury Mention: Coffin by Yuanqing Cai, Nathan Crabot, Houzhi Huang, Mikolaj Janiw, Mandimby Lebon, Théo Tran Ngoc (France, 2020)
    INTERFILM winners
    INTERFILM winners

    The 37th INTERFILM International Short Film Festival of Berlin wrapped up last week (although der Filmliebhaber can still access the competition streaming on Sooner until Dec. 14), bestowing awards and honors on a number of compelling works from around the world, including Ismaël Joffroy Chandoutis’ animated documentary Maalbeek (France, 2020) about Sabine, a survivor of the 2016 terrorist attack in Brussels who struggles with traumatic memory loss. The commemorative project won the Berlin-Brandenburg Short Award for Best Film (a 6,000 euro prize). Animation winners also included:

    • Int’l Competition – Best Animation: Bestia by Hugo Covarrubias (Chile, 2021)
    • Int’l Competition – Special Mention: Have a Nice Dog! by Jalal Maghout (Germany/Syria, 2020)
    • Confrontations – 2nd Prize: Bestia 
    • Confrontations – Special Mention: The Train Station by Lyana Patrick (Canada, 2020)
    • Documentary – Special Mention: Red Gold by Carme Gomila (Spain, 2021)
    • Green Film: Migrants by Hugo Canby, Zoé Devise,Antoine Dupriez & Lucas Lermytte (France, 2020)
    Legend of Sun Walker
    Legend of Sun Walker

    Immediately following AFM 2021 Online, the 17th Chinese American Film Festival kicked off in Los Angeles in a hybrid format. Among the 600 participating works, the Taiwanese 3D animated feature Legend of Sun Walker was the only film granted an in-person private screening, with the film’s director Adam Juang and producer Czarina Liu in attendance to represent production company Digital Frontier Motion Pictures Corp. Also in attendance were Hollywood heavyweights such as producer Andre Morgan (Oscar winner Million Dollar Baby), distributor Omar Kaczmarzyk and Special Achievement Academy Award-winning sound editor Richard L. Anderson. 

    Based on the Chinese classic Journey to the West, The Legend of Sun Walker is Taiwan’s first immersive 3D animated feature film, set for release domestically and internationally in the summer of 2022. The big screen outing is intended to follow an AR mobile game and extend into a video game already in the works with Tempest Digital, unfolding into a full metaverse experience. 

    ITFS - Black Is Back
    ITFS – Black Is Back

    The official trailer of the 29th Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS | May 3-8, 2022 | www.itfs.de/en) is now online, to be admired in full length. Titled Black Is Back, the signal film was created by François Chalet, a Swiss artist who teaches storytelling and expanded animation at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts and works as a visual artist in the fields of illustration, animation, installation and performance as well as on cross-platform projects. Michael Fakesch is responsible for the sound; the music producer, sound designer, DJ, lecturer and film composer was one of the two founders and members of the electro duo Funkstörung and has worked for Björk, Wu-Tang Clan, Jean-Michel Jarre, Notwist and Nicolas Winding Refn.

    “I had revised the 12 principles of animation in preparation for teaching at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts and once more had to realize how little I have actually mastered them,” Chalet noted in an interview with ITFS. “So, I thought it would make sense to focus on the fundamentals of animation once again. The trailer is about the ‘bouncing ball,’ ‘squash and stretch,’ ‘exaggeration,’ ‘expressions,’ failure, reduction and basic shapes, and naturally ‘à la sauce’ Chalet. Also, I really wanted to address for a moment the immersion in another world and the forgetting of our everyday life: The light in the film suddenly goes on and the hall is instantly illuminated by the inversion of the image. We see our neighbour sitting next to us in the cinema and want to immerse ourselves in the magic of animation again as quickly as possible.”

    https://youtube.com/watch?v=kPo1GxehrdM

    The Red Sea Fund announced its final selection, and will support over 90 projects from Saudi Arabia, the Arab World and Africa following over 650 submissions. The winning pitches in various stages of development and production include five animated features and two animated shorts:

    • Allah Is Not Obliged (Feature, Production) dir. Zaven Najjar, prod. Sébastien Onomo (France)
    • Birds Don’t Look Back (Feature, Development) dir. Nadia Nakhle, prod. Sébastien Onomo (France)
    • Juha (Arrival Journey) (Feature, Development) dir. Mahmoud Zaini, prod. Abdullah Bajaber (Saudi Arabia)
    • Land of Glory (Feature, Development) dir. Ahmed Salah El-Din Bilal, prod. Ehab Elkholey (Egypt) 
    • Spiky to the Core (Feature, Development) dir./prod. Nermeen  Salem (Egypt/Qatar)
    • For You (Short, Production) dir. Ethar Baamer, prod. Otbah Rayess (Saudi Arabia)
    • Simsim (Short, Development) dir. Madawi Aldughaither, prod. Nada Alfayez, Raed Alsemari (Saudi Arabia)
    Attack on Titan exhibit at Anime Frontier
    Attack on Titan exhibit at Anime Frontier

    More Dates and Updates!

    • Anime Frontier Powered by Crunchyroll and Kodansha USA will present a collection of Hajime Isayama’s spectacular Attack on Titan manga art during the con. Dec. 3-5 | Fort Worth, TX | animefrontier.com 
    • CARTOON BUSINESS is ready to delve into major trends in European animation with 16 conferences and 30 companies participating. Dec. 8-10 | Gran Canaria, Spain | cartoon-media.eu
    • The 41st Anima festival and Futuranima pro days announced a VR masterclass with Uri Kranot, a making-of session for Where Is Anne Frank and spotlights on French and Czech animation. Feb. 25-Mar. 6, 2022 | Brussels, Belgium | www.animafestival.be 
    • FILMART (Hong Kong Int’l FIlm & TV Market) returns online next year; registration is now open. March 14-17, 2022 | www.hktdc.com/hkfilmart 
    • MIPTV 2022 moves forward with a reshaped in-person event by RX France (formerly Reed MIDEM) which combines multiple specialty markets under one roof. APril 4-6, 2022 | Cannes, France | miptv.com
  • ‘Gintama the Very Final’ Concludes Edo Epic on Blu-ray in February

    ‘Gintama the Very Final’ Concludes Edo Epic on Blu-ray in February

    The third and concluding action-packed film of the popular Gintama anime franchise, Gintama THE VERY FINAL will be released on digital download on January 25, 2022, and on Blu-ray + DVD combo pack on February 8, 2022 from Eleven Arts and Shout! Factory. Based on the manga created by Hideaki Sorachi, the new feature film makes its North American home entertainment debut following a theatrical release late fall this year.

    Available for the first time in North America, the highly collectible Blu-ray + DVD combo pack boasts an exciting movie presentation (featuring both versions – English voice cast and the original Japanese audio with English subtitles) and an exclusive 16-page booklet packed with character art and storyboards. Gintama THE VERY FINAL is available for pre-order now at ShoutFactory.com and will be available in stores and other fine retailers. Fans who order the Blu-ray+DVD combo pack from Shout! Factory will receive an exclusive poster, while supplies last.

    Gintama THE VERY FINAL (Blu-ray)
    Gintama THE VERY FINAL (Blu-ray)

    Directed by franchise regular Chizuru Miyawaki, Gintama THE VERY FINAL adapts some of the final moments of the original manga with new elements specifically crafted for the film. For the North American audiences and loyal fans, the lead roles of the Odd Jobs members are reprised by the exciting team of voice talent from Gintama Season 3, including Michael Daingerfield (InuYasha: The Final Act, NANA) as Gintoki Sakata, Cole Howard (Cardfight!! Vanguard, Arashi of Zoids Wild) as Shinpachi Shumura and Jocelyne Loewen (The Vision of Escaflowne, Galaxy Angel) as Kagura. Kyle Colby Jones (Dororo, Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma), who voiced the character Shinsuke Takasugi and was ADR writer & director for Gintama: The Movie, reprises his roles.

    Synopsis: Everything I’ve wanted to protect is right here with me in spirit. The countdown to destruction has begun! All will join to reclaim an Edo in grave peril! 

    The Earth is facing its darkest days, and the members of the Odd Jobs must come together to save it from this otherworldly menace. Old allies Gintoki, Takasugi, and Katsura strive their hardest for their own ideals, but standing in their way is someone with whom they share a sad history: Utsuro, an alternate personality of their former teacher and mentor Shoyo. Having been spawned by Altana, the energy that fuels all planets, this immortal fiend has regenerated multiple times until finally becoming Utsuro, the ultimate enemy… And he intends to take down the entire Earth in order to end his own life. 

    Gintoki and the others set out to fulfill the wishes of their teacher Shoyo and thwart Utsuro’s plans. Shinpachi, Kagura, the Shinsengumi, members of the Kabuki District, and even former enemies will join their fight. As Utsuro’s power grows, Takasugi fights for his very life. What does Gintoki, battered and bruised, see at the very end? Will he be able to put an end to all this?!

    The film recently enjoyed a limited North American big-screen release in partnership with Fathom Events, who released the theatrical trailer below:

     

  • YouTube Lights Up a Festive Family Originals Slate

    YouTube Lights Up a Festive Family Originals Slate

    YouTube Lights Up a Festive Family Originals Slate

    YouTube Originals today announced a robust holiday slate of projects, with two new series pick-ups and premieres including the new animated Christmas special, Buster Saves Christmas, from the wildly successful Little Baby Bum in partnership with Moonbug Entertainment. The festive line-up kicks off today on the YouTube Originals for Kids & Family Channel and the YouTube Kids app.

    “We have a variety of new, diverse Originals that are perfect for our kids and family holiday slate,” said Nadine Zylstra, Head of Family, Learning and Impact for YouTube Originals. “With themes such as giving, kindness and friendship, we are excited to wrap up the year and celebrate all holidays with content that continues to inspire our community of young viewers along with their families around the world.”

    YouTube Originals Holiday Animation Highlights:

    Buster Saves Christmas
    Buster Saves Christmas

    November 30: Buster Saves Christmas 

    Special Premiere at 9 a.m. PT / 12 p.m. ET 

    In this exclusive musical holiday special, the beloved Buster the Bus must step in to save Christmas when Santa is injured and his sleigh goes missing. With the help of Wheelieville’s top mechanic (and former North Pole engineer) Jada, Buster perseveres and overcomes big obstacles to make sure all the Christmas presents are delivered around the world. Packed with songs and festive cheer, Buster Saves Christmas is a musical event for the whole family, celebrating the joy of friendship during the upcoming holiday season. Script written by Ann Austen (Emmy winner for The Snowy Day, Barbie Princess Adventure, Molly of Denali, Power Rangers). The series is produced by Moonbug Entertainment, the global entertainment company behind popular YouTube channels like Moonbug Kids and Little Baby Bum.

    Tab Time
    Tab Time

    December 1: Tab Time 

    Series Premiere at 9 a.m. PT / 12 p.m. ET 

    From Kids at Play and Scale Productions comes Tab Time, a hybrid preschool series starring Tabitha Brown, an actress and vegan foodie who has become one of the most visible social media personalities today. Tabitha or “Ms. Tab” as the kids call her, taps into her natural capabilities as a cook, story teller, mom and motivational leader, to teach children how to live their best life. In the series premiere, “How Things Grow,” Ms. Tab and Avi the Avocado (Miles Brown) are curious about how things grow, from the smallest seed to the tallest tree. Farmer Seymour Sprout (Lil Rel Howard) teaches us a special lesson with fruit, plus Ms. Tab is joined by her friends Lenny the Lightning Bug (Anna Camp), Burnie the Oven Mitt (John Michael Higgins), Starla the Spatula (Ashley Nicole Black), DJ Khrafty (Jermaine Fowler) and Lovey as she explores how growing and changing makes us feel. So put on your adventure shoes and join in! (Watch the previously released trailer here.)

    Supa Strikas: Rookie Season
    Supa Strikas: Rookie Season

    December 3: Supa Strikas: Rookie Season 

    Series Premiere at 9 a.m. GMT / 1 a.m. PT

    Go back in time with Shakes to find out how he made the world’s greatest soccer team, the Supa Strikas! This school-age prequel animated series will uncover some earth-shattering revelations for fans of the popular show and the pan-African team. In collaboration with UNICEF, this series aims to teach school kids (ages 6-12) about the importance of perseverance and gender equality. In the premiere episode, “Striking Out,” Shakes and his best friend, Skarra, are the stars of their local club — but when Super League opportunity knocks, Shakes must decide: prepare on his own or with his friend? Meanwhile his other best friend has a plan for him to train like a Supa Strika… What could go wrong? The series is produced by Moonbug Entertainment. (Watch the previously released trailer here.)

    Super Sema
    Super Sema

    December 10: Super Sema 

    New Holiday Special Episode at 9 a.m. PT / 12 p.m. ET The popular STEAM-themed YouTube Originals animated series produced by Kukua with executive producer Lupita Nyong’o is back with a brand new holiday special. As her friends and family prepare for their Day of Dreams celebrations, Sema announces her wish to see snow, something her African-futuristic town of Dunia hasn’t seen in hundreds of years. Will Super Sema be able to “technovate” her dream come true? Or will her nemesis, the artificially intelligent robot tyrant Tobor, be proven right that dreams are just human nonsense? (Read more about the series here.)

    The Guava Juice Show
    The Guava Juice Show

    December 30: The Guava Juice Show 

    Sneak Peek at 7 a.m. PT / 10 a.m. ET Fans of the Guava Juice YouTube channel (16.8 million subscribers) will get a sneak peek at the new upcoming animated comedy series The Guava Juice Show when the first episode drops on the channel on December 30. The show follows the extraordinary adventures of 14-year-old Roi (played by YouTube superstar, Guava Juice’s Roi Fabito) and his best friends, fellow teenager Jenny (Bethany Brown) and the neurotic talking Guava (Adrian Petriw) as they work at a mysterious curio shop and travel to parallel worlds and dimensions throughout the multiverse in a magical bathtub. The Guava Juice Show is produced by Studio71 and Mainframe Studios.

    The YouTube Originals Kids & Family season will also feature special holiday and New  Year’s Eve episodes of SoulPancake’s Kid Correspondent (Dec. 2 & Dec. 16 at 9 a.m. PT) and the premiere of Brave Wilderness’ globetrotting wildlife docuseries Coyote Peterson’s Wild Field Trip (Dec. 8 at 8 a.m. PT). 

    Head of Original Content for YouTube Nadine Zylstra serves as Head of Family, Learning & Impact for YouTube Originals. Craig Hunter oversees Buster Saves Christmas, Tab Time and Supa Strikas: Rookie Season for YouTube Originals. Daniel Haack oversees Kid Correspondent, Coyote Peterson’s Wild Field Trip, Super Sema and The Guava Juice Show for YouTube Originals.

    YouTube Originals’ expanding roster of content focused on kids and family, fueled by a $100 million commitment announced earlier this year, also includes animated favorites Growing with Lottie Dottie, Pinkfong Wonderstar, Sherwood, Fruit Ninja Frenzy Force and Kings of Atlantis. Find all these and more titles on the YouTube Originals for Kids & Family Channel.   

     

     

  • Janet Hubert’s ‘JG and the BC Kids’ Gets a Toe-Tapping Teaser from Toonz

    Janet Hubert’s ‘JG and the BC Kids’ Gets a Toe-Tapping Teaser from Toonz

    Fans got a first look at upcoming 2D animated feature JG and the BC Kids today, with a musical teaser offering a sneak peek at the heartwarming story of a young Black boy and his magical dreadlock-rocking mentor. Actor Will Smith shared the teaser to his social media yesterday, fueling buzz for the new story conceptualized by his former co-star Janet Hubert. The movie is being co-produced by global animation major Toonz Media Group, Ericka Nicole Malone Entertainment and Hubert’s Elijah Rock Productions. 

    You can watch the teaser on Vimeo here.

    Based on Hubert’s book A Sneaker Feature, JG and the BC Kids was born out of the compelling need to create a children’s animation property that broke stereotypes and represented characters from diverse backgrounds and cultures. The story brings street smart and book smart kids together to create ‘life smart’ kids, as superhero JG and her band of darling dinosaurs mentor and encourage children to believe in themselves. The movie features two Black central characters: a school boy and a young science whiz who is trapped inside a fractal world. 

    Herself an African American mom, Daytime Digital Emmy nominee Hubert says when her son was born, she struggled to find toys, accessories and even story narratives that he could relate to. In a world where her son’s identity was starkly under-represented, Hubert wanted to create something to inspire him, and millions of other kids like him.

    “It is time for change and I decided to be and make the change that I seek. I am so proud of this production and our grassroots team who joined me on this journey of creating JG and the BC Kids,” said Hubert. 

    Clockwise from left: Raven Goodwin, Ezra Knight, Jasmine Hanes, Joey Taranto, Ahmad Maksoud.
    Clockwise from left: Raven Goodwin, Ezra Knight, Jasmine Hanes, Joey Taranto, Ahmad Maksoud.

    Written by Hubert and Yvette Kaplan, the movie will complement its vibrant 2D animation with hip, poignant and positive music from Emmy-winning composer Wendell Hanes. Actors Raven Goodwin (voice of JG), Cheryl Alexander, Ezra Knight, Jasmine Hanes, Blaze Berdahl, Ahmad Maksoud and Joey Taranto lend voice to the main characters while Hubert herself voices the narrator and several other characters. Hubert is an established voice actress who has been the voice of many commercials, including for BAYER. The movie is directed by Ron Myrick, Indra Narayan Datta and Antony Leo.

    “What an incredible journey to be an executive producer of this movie, as this story will inspire millions of children around the world that in spite of the challenges they may face, if they believe in themselves and the beauty of their imagination … they can win,” said Malone.

    Targeted at five- to nine-year olds, JG and the BC Kids is slated to be released in March/April of 2022. The pre-production work of the project has been completed at Toonz’s Ireland-based Emmy Award-winning studio Telegael. The movie will be marketed worldwide by Toonz Entertainment, a subsidiary of Toonz Media Group, led by Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Bruno Zarka.

    “This is a project that really resonates with the times that we live in. For the Toonz team, we feel extremely honored and proud to be part of this path-breaking feature film. I am very happy with how the movie is shaping up. Kudos to Janet and the entire team. I am sure that JG and the BC Kids will create a lot of excitement among the audience as well as in the industry,” said Toonz Media Group CEO P. Jayakumar.

    JG and the BC Kids
    JG and the BC Kids

  • Watch: Guru Debuts ‘Big Blue’ Theme from Timbaland

    To celebrate the world premiere of the new sci-fi/eco-conscious comedy Big Blue on CBC Kids in Canada this Saturday, December 4 (followed by Nickelodeon/Nicktoons U.K. next month), Guru Studio has unveiled the official series theme song sequence. The energetic video brings us into a colorful underwater world as our young heroes bop to an original song created by Grammy-winning music producer Timbaland and his Beatclub team.

    Big Blue follows sibling underwater adventurers Lettie and Lemo, who lead a quirky submarine crew with a magical ocean fairy stowaway named Bacon Berry. Together, they just might unravel the mysterious secrets of their underwater universe! The series drops young viewers deep into a wacky world of comic adventure, while helping to redefine what a family means and how caring for one another is the most important thing of all.

    The series was created by Guru Studio designer Gyimah Gariba, who has built a massive online following for his distinct illustrative style. Gariba was named one of “15 Young African Creatives Rebranding Africa” by Forbes and as one of Animation Magazine‘s “Rising Stars of Animation 2020.”

    Big Blue is produced by Guru Studio, the powerhouse animation studio behind the global phenomenon PAW Patrol, the Netflix Original series True and the Rainbow Kingdom and new series Pikwik Pack on Disney Junior and Hulu.

    The series will premiere in Canada on CBC Kids and will be available to stream on CBC Gem starting Saturday, December 4 at 10:10 a.m. Additional international broadcasters on board include Nickelodeon in the U.K., ABC Me in Australia, CTC Kids in Russia and NRK in Norway.

    Timbaland is currently developing a brand new creative enterprise called Beatclub, a music marketplace and creator club which is a place for A-list producers to sell beats, sound packs, and loops online. The new company aims to be the creative hub of the music industry.

  • Netflix’s ’22 Slate Includes Animated ‘Army of the Dead,’ ‘Magic: The Gathering’ and ‘Cyberpunk: Edgerunners’

    Netflix’s ’22 Slate Includes Animated ‘Army of the Dead,’ ‘Magic: The Gathering’ and ‘Cyberpunk: Edgerunners’

    In a blog post penned by Peter Freidlander, Head of Scripted Series, U.S./Canada, Netflix detailed its plans for new and returning genre series set to bring brain-tickling, VFX-fueled sci-fi, horror and fantasy stories to audiences in 2022. The announcement unveiled select premiere dates and new details for fresh interpretations of fan-favorites like The Sandman, Resident Evil, Vikings and The Witcher as well as animated event series Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, Magic: The Gathering and Army of the Dead: Lost Vegas, and much more. 

    “Brought to life by visionary and iconic creators, as well as the talent you know and love, our slate of genre shows plays across a range of universes and subgenres where one thing is key: variety reigns supreme,” Friedlander wrote. 

    Netflix Genre Series 2022
    Netflix Genre Series 2022

    Netflix genre animation highlights for 2022:

    Army of the Dead: Lost Vegas. The animated series chronicles the origin story of Scott (Dave Bautista) and his rescue crew during the initial fall of Vegas as they confront the mysterious source of the zombie outbreak. The series will be executive produced by Deborah Snyder, Zack Snyder, Wesley Coller from The Stone Quarry alongside Jay Olivia and Shay Hatten. Zack Snyder will direct two episodes. Jay Oliva (Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Trese) will be showrunning as well as directing two episodes of the series. Meduzarts Animation Studio will serve as the animation studio.

    The Cuphead Show!
    The Cuphead Show!

    The Cuphead Show! The character-driven comedy follows the unique misadventures of the impulsive Cuphead and his cautious but easily swayed brother Mugman. Through their many misadventures across their surreal home of the Inkwell Isles, they’ve always got one another’s backs. The new series will expand on the characters and world of Cuphead, with an animation style inspired by the classic Fleischer cartoons from the 1930s. CJ Kettler will serve as the executive producer for King Features, creators Chad and Jared Moldenhauer will serve as executive producers for Studio MDHR. The series will be produced by Netflix Animation and is executive produced by Emmy and Annie Award-winning producer, Dave Wasson (Mickey Mouse Shorts) and Cosmo Segurson (Rocko’s Modern Life: Static Cling) serves as co-executive producer.

    Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
    Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

    Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. A standalone, 10-episode story about a street kid trying to survive in a technology and body modification-obsessed city of the future. Having everything to lose, he chooses to stay alive by becoming an edgerunner — a mercenary outlaw also known as a cyberpunk. CD PROJEKT RED, the company behind the Cyberpunk 2077 video game, is producing the series, with a creative team formed of talent from The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Cyberpunk 2077 working on this new series since 2018. Acclaimed Japan-based animation company Studio Trigger will serve as the animation studio on the series and bring the world of Cyberpunk to life with their signature, vibrant style.

    Gideon Jura character design for Magic: The Gathering (Wizards of the Coast)
    Gideon Jura character design for Magic: The Gathering (Wizards of the Coast)

    Magic: The Gathering. Coming soon, an all-new animated event series from Entertainment One (eOne), Hasbro’s global entertainment studio. During the Magic Showcase 2021 livestream, Wizards of the Coast announced the CGI series is due in the second half of 2022 and will be anchored by the planeswalker character Gideon Jura, to be voiced by Brandon Routh (Superman Returns). Jeff Kline (Transformers animated series, Jackie Chan Adventures, Men in Black: The Series) is showrunner, replacing the Russo Brothers, alongside co-producer Steve Melching (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, The Batman).

    Magic: The Gathering’s compelling characters, fantastic worlds and deep strategic gameplay have entertained and delighted fans for more than 25 years. Fans can currently experience Magic through the tabletop trading card game, Magic: The Gathering Arena on PC and mobile, and published fiction across the web, comics and a New York Times bestselling novel. With over 50 million fans to date, Magic is a worldwide phenomenon published in 11 languages in over 70 countries. Magic is published by Wizards of the Coast, a subsidiary of Hasbro.

    Archive 81
    Archive 81

    New series premiere dates:

    Archive 81 (January 14, 2022). Archive 81 follows archivist Dan Turner (Mamoudou Athie), who takes a job restoring a collection of damaged videotapes from 1994. Reconstructing the work of a documentary filmmaker named Melody Pendras (Dina Shihabi), he is drawn into her investigation of a dangerous cult at the Visser apartment building. As the season unfolds across these two timelines, Dan slowly finds himself obsessed with uncovering what happened to Melody. When the two characters form a mysterious connection, Dan becomes convinced he can save her from the terrifying end she met 25 years ago. 

    Loosely inspired by the popular podcast, the supernatural horror series executive produced by showrunner Rebecca Sonnenshine (The Boys, The Vampire Diaries), James Wan and Michael Clear of Atomic Monster (The Conjuring franchise, Malignant), Rebecca Thomas (Stranger Things, Limetown), Antoine Douaihy (Panic, The Good Cop) and Paul Harris Boardman (Deliver Us from Evil).

    In from the Cold
    In from the Cold

    In from the Cold (January 28, 2022). During a European vacation with her daughter, an American single mom’s life is turned upside down when the CIA forces her to confront her long-buried past as a Russian spy who was also the product of a highly classified KGB experiment granting her special abilities. After a mysterious string of manic and murderous incidents suggests someone with her exact abilities is targeting innocent people, Jenny (Margarita Levieva) is forced out of hiding to stop this villain or risk losing the family and new life she has built. Adam Glass (Supernatural, Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders, The Chi) serves as showrunner and executive producer.

    Vikings: Valhalla
    Vikings: Valhalla

    Vikings: Valhalla (February 25, 2022). Set over a thousand years ago in the early 11th century, Vikings: Valhalla chronicles the heroic adventures of some of the most famous Vikings who ever lived — the legendary explorer Leif Eriksson (Sam Corlett), his fiery and headstrong sister Freydis Eriksdotter (Frida Gustavsson), and the ambitious Nordic prince Harald Sigurdsson (Leo Suter). As tensions between the Vikings and the English royals reach a bloody breaking point and as the Vikings themselves clash over their conflicting Christian and pagan beliefs, these three Vikings begin an epic journey that will take them across oceans and through battlefields, from Kattegat to England and beyond, as they fight for survival and glory. Set over 100 years after the end of the original series, Valhalla is a new adventure that blends historical authenticity and drama with gritty, immersive action. 

    From showrunner and executive producer Jeb Stuart, Valhalla is also executive produced by Morgan O’Sullivan, Michael Hirst, Sheila Hockin, Steve Stark, James Flynn, John Weber, Sherry Marsh and Alan Gasmer, Paul Buccieri, and also stars Bradley Freegard, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, David Oakes, Laura Berlin and Caroline Henderson.

     

    The Sandman
    The Sandman

    Also coming in 2022:

    • Raising Dion Season 2 (Feb. 1)
    • Alice in Borderland Season 2
    • All of Us Are Dead – A group of people are trapped in a high school while a zombie virus spreads. 
    • First Kill – When a teen vampire (Sarah Catherine Hook) must make her coming-of-age kill, she accidentally sets her sights on a young vampire hunter (Imani Lewis). Based on the story by V.E. Schwab.
    • Locke & Key Season 3
    • The Midnight Club – New horror series from Mike Flanagan & Trevor Macy (Midnight Mass), based on the works of Christopher Pike. 
    • Resident Evil – Nearly three decades after the discovery of the T-virus, an outbreak reveals the Umbrella Corporation’s dark secrets. Stars Lance Reddick as Albert Wesker.
    • The Sandman – Follows the people and places affected by Morpheus, the Dream King, as he mends the cosmic — and human — mistakes he’s made during his vast existence. Based on the comic-book series created for DC by Neil Gaiman. Produced by WBTV. (Watch the previously revealed First Look.)
    • Stranger Things 4 (Summer 2022)
    • The Umbrella Academy Season 3
    • The Witcher: Blood Origin – Set in an elven world 1,200 years before the world of The Witcher, Blood Origin will tell a story lost to time: the creation of the first prototype Witcher, and the events that lead to the pivotal “conjunction of the spheres,” when the worlds of monsters, men and elves merged to become one.

    Fans can keep tabs on genre projects by following @NetflixGeeked. 

     

  • People on the Move: Frederator’s New Dev Director, Animafest Honors Dragic & More

    Isabel Bailin
    Isabel Bailin

    Frederator Studios (Bee and Puppycat, Bravest Warriors, Netflix’s Castlevania), part of WOW! Unlimited Media, announced today that Isabel Bailin has joined the studio as Director of Development. Bailin will oversee the expansion of the studio’s popular children’s content as well as build upon the studio’s animated portfolio for adults. With Bailin’s passion for comedy and improv, combined with her experience in adult primetime shows, the studio aims to diversify their content for all ages and increase their audience reach.

    “I am honored to join the outstanding team at Frederator Studios. My mission is to develop character driven kids and adult animation, from ideation to final production”, says Isabel. “I have always admired Frederator’s creator-driven spirit and groundbreaking hits (Adventure Time, The Fairly OddParents, Castlevania). Together, we will produce and deliver the highest quality content for kids and families across multiple platforms.”

    Prior to joining Frederator Studios, Bailin worked at NBCUniversal in Creative Development where she was responsible for acquiring, developing and producing comedic short-form adult animated content for SYFY’s on-air and digital platforms. Before working in Creative Development, Bailin was the Executive Assistant to the President of Strategy and Commercial Growth at NBC. She previously worked at Creative Artists Agency and was a Writer’s Research Intern at Saturday Night Live while she attended Barnard College of Columbia University.

    Nedeljko Dragić | Tup-Tup (top), Pictures from Memory
    Nedeljko Dragić | Tup-Tup (top), Pictures from Memory

    The World Festival of Animated Film – Animafest Zagreb has named Croatian animation director/writer/cartoonist Nedeljko Dragić as the recipient of its 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award. Initially an illustrator and creator of the globally acclaimed comic (Tupko), as well as a contributor to other “Zagreb School” animation greats, Dragić began pursuing animation in the mid-1960s with Elegy, developing a particular style based on, as critics observed, “lavish drawings imbued with a linear, caricaturist method.” 

    Dragić’s noteworthy films such as Tamer of Wild Horses (1966), Diogenes Perhaps (1967), Passing Days (1969), Per Aspera ad Astra (1969), Tup-Tup (1972, Oscar nominated), The Diary (1974), Way to Your Neighbour (1981), The Day I Quit Smoking (1982) or Pictures from Memory (1989) won many awards worldwide – in Zagreb, Annecy, New York, Oberhausen, Belgrade etc. In addition to their striking visuals, these films attracted attention for their philosophical observations about the human experience and imagery. Dragić’s best works often ponder his own art and position in the world.

    The 32nd Animafest will be held June 6-11, 2022. Film submissions are open until February 1, 2022. 

    Christina Augustinos
    Christina Augustinos

    Emmy-nominated studio Hero4Hire Creative announced today that Christina Augustinos has been named Head of Content Production. Augustinos is a production and creative operations leader for creative marketing, brand and content initiatives. Her experience with Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network yielded accolades including Promax, Annie, Webby and BDA awards as well as an Emmy nomination for Blue’s Clues & You interactive episodes.

    Augustinos spent five years at Cartoon Network, where she fell in love with production, animation and design. This paved the way for her career at Nickelodeon, where she climbed the ranks to VP of Production for the Brand Creative team to oversee production of brand and promotional marketing campaigns for some of the most iconic properties, including SpongeBob SquarePants, iCarly and Big Time Rush. She eventually segued to VP of Creative Operations for the Noggin video streaming service where she oversaw workflow for interactive content production and the Noggin Marketing team.

    Satoru Masagaki (NHK)
    Satoru Masagaki (NHK)

    NHK Executive Vice President Satoru Masagaki was elected to serve as the new President of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) during its annual General Assembly. His term began as of November 25 and will last until the end of 2024. The theme for this year’s General Assembly is “Media Reset: Serving the People, Planet and Peace.” Active discussions are being held online to explore the new missions of media organizations, sharing experiences of members to solve the challenges that the world will confront in the post-COVID era.

    “Over the last decade, with expanded digitalization and use of the internet, the broadcast industry was forced to confront major upheavals. When we move into the post-COVID era, I promise to listen to the voices of all members, encourage more cooperation and build the value of the Union. In doing so, I hope that the ABU will once again find itself back on a solid footing and moving full speed ahead. And to help our members remain competitive in this digital age and continue making contributions to society, I will do my utmost to make the Union a useful place to exchange knowledge and wisdom,” Masagaki commented. 

  • ‘Encanto’ Tops Thanksgiving Box Office Charts at Home

    ‘Encanto’ Tops Thanksgiving Box Office Charts at Home

    Disney’s 60th animated feature, Encanto, has planted a flag on top of the Thanksgiving weekend box-office charts in North America, following in the Turkey Day tradition of hot tickets Frozen II (2019), Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018) and Coco (2017). The original story about a Colombian family tackling shifts in their magical traditions, directed by Zootopia‘s Bryon Howard and Jared Bush with co-director Charise Castro Smith, premiered with the best opening weekend for an animated pic during the pandemic with $40.3 million from 3,980 NorAm theaters — a feat when many families have been unwilling or unable to return to cinemas. 

    Internationally, Encanto bowed in 47 international markets to the tune of $29.3 million. The film’s global box office total from Wednesday is pegged at $70 million. The movie reportedly cost over $120 million to produce, not including the robust marketing budget. 

    In other notable NorAm BO news, Denis Villeneuve’s Dune surpassed the $100 million mark, and has now totted up $102 million domestically for Warner Bros. 

    Domestic Top 5 (Wed. 11/24-Sun. 11/28):

    • Encanto – $40.3M | Week 1 | Disney
    • Ghostbusters: Afterlife – $35M | Week 2 | Sony
    • House of Gucci – $21.8M | Week 1 | United Artists
    • Eternals – $11.4M  | Week 4 | Disney/Marvel
    • Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City – $8.8M | Week 1 | Screen Gems

    [Sources: Variety, BoxOfficeMojo]

     

  • YMA & TAAFI Open Entries for John Rooney Creator Fund for LGBT+ Canadian Talent

    YMA & TAAFI Open Entries for John Rooney Creator Fund for LGBT+ Canadian Talent

    In memory of Canadian animation stalwart John Rooney, who passed away nearly a year ago at age 50, the Youth Media Alliance and TAAFI have established the John Rooney Creator Fund to honor his ardent support of LGBTQ2S+ talent in children’s, youth and family animation. Announced in January, the Fund is opening up to its first round of applicants this week. 

    The YMA TAAFI John Rooney Creator Fund will launch two streams of professional development: Content Development and Scriptwriting. One outstanding Canadian candidate will be selected for the content development stream, while up to four candidates will be selected for the scriptwriting stream. The Fund enables scriptwriting stream recipients to participate in a writers’ summit for a television series, and for the content development winner to pitch their content at conferences of their choosing throughout the year.

    Each stream has a budget of $10,000 CAD and will be broken down as follows:

    Content Development Stream (1 Creator): The winner will receive mentorship from industry professionals and up to $5,000 CAD for creative development, which can be spent on contracting professional resources for the creation of their concept. The remaining $5,000 CAD will be reserved for travel and registration costs, which will allow the winner to network at conferences that align with their career goals. The objective of this stream is to expedite the winner’s journey to becoming an established content creator.

    Scriptwriting stream (4 Writers): Each successful candidate will be placed in a writing room for a show in production. The purpose of this placement is for the candidate to gain an understanding of the script writing process, how stories are developed for series, and if possible, contribute to the room creatively. The Fund will cover a maximum of 10 working days, at $250 per day, for a total allocation of $2,500 per writer. The objective of this stream is to expose a writer to a professional writer’s room to experience the dynamic between writers, story editors, commissioning broadcasters and other participants in the scripting process.

    At the completion of each project, all grant recipients may be asked to write a brief overview of their experience, for use in reporting or as a YMA blog post.

    The application form will be available on the YMA’s website www.ymamj.org starting on December 1, 2021 . The deadline to submit applications is January 14, 2022.

  • Trailer: Peanuts ‘For Auld Lang Syne’ Rings in Season of Specials on Apple TV+

    Trailer: Peanuts ‘For Auld Lang Syne’ Rings in Season of Specials on Apple TV+

    Apple TV+ is helping kids and families get into the holiday spirit this year with a lineup of new specials and episodes of award-winning Apple Original series from the Peanuts gang, as well as Peabody Award-winning series Stillwater and a special episode of Get Rolling with Otis, all premiering on Apple TV+ beginning Friday, December 3, just in time for the holidays.

    Ahead of the global premiere of For Auld Lang Syne on December 10, Apple TV+ today revealed the trailer for the much anticipated first new original holiday special from its partnership with Peanuts and WildBrain. In addition to For Auld Lang Syne, this holiday season Apple TV+ brings together iconic holiday specials from WildBrain, along with Peanuts Worldwide and Lee Mendelson Film Productions, serving as the home for all things Peanuts for fans around the world.

    For Auld Lang Syne is the first new original holiday special to come from Apple’s expanded partnership with WildBrain. In the special, after Lucy experiences a disappointing Christmas because her Grandma couldn’t visit, she resolves to throw the best New Year’s Eve party ever for the entire Peanuts gang, while Charlie Brown struggles to accomplish just one of his resolutions before the clock strikes 12. Available globally on Friday, December 10.

    For Auld Lang Syne is based on the Peanuts comic strip by Charles M. Schulz and is produced by WildBrain Studios. The new special is from a story by Alex Galatis and Scott Montgomery, and written by Galatis, Montgomery and Clay Kaytis who also directed. Craig Schulz, Bryan Schulz, Cornelius Uliano serve as executive producers alongside Paige Braddock for Charles M. Schulz Creative Associates, and Josh Scherba, Stephanie Betts, Amir Nasrabadi and Anne Loi for WildBrain Studios.

    (Read more about the new special in the January ’22 issue of Animation Magazine!)

    It's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown
    It’s Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown

    Additionally, beginning Friday, December 3, fans can revisit It’s Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown, a collection of Christmas-themed vignettes, including: Charlie Brown tries to sell wreaths; Peppermint Patty worries about her Christmas book report; Charlie Brown tries to buy gloves for Peggy Jean; and the gang is in a Christmas play, where Sally worries about her single line and Peppermint Patty plays a sheep. 

    A Charlie Brown Christmas
    A Charlie Brown Christmas

    It’s Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown is created and written by Charles M. Schulz, executive produced by Lee Mendelson, directed and produced by Bill Melendez.  It joins beloved classic A Charlie Brown Christmas, which is available to stream now. Feeling down about the commercialism of Christmas, Charlie Brown becomes the director of the gang’s holiday play. Can he overcome his friend’s preference for dancing over acting, find the “perfect” tree, and discover the true meaning of Christmas?

    Get Rolling with Otis - A Winter's Cow Tale
    Get Rolling with Otis – A Winter’s Cow Tale

    In the special episode Get Rolling with Otis – “A Winter’s Cow Tale,” premiering on Friday, December 3, it’s Christmas Day and Rosalie is due to have her baby. Daisy can’t wait to be a big sister, but she’s disappointed when she can’t decorate the tree with her mama. Otis rolls into action to help Daisy decorate the tree and when the snow builds up too high, he plows his way through the snow, so Daisy can meet her new baby sister. 

    Based on the popular books by New York Times best-selling author-illustrator Loren Long, this animated adventure series from 9 Story Media Group and Brown Bag Films welcomes young viewers to Long Hill Dairy Farm, home to Otis the Tractor (voiced by Griffin Robert Faulkner) and all his friends. Otis may be little, but he has a big heart. Whenever he sees a friend in need, he hits the brakes, asks how they’re feeling, and rolls into action to help!  The series is executive produced by Vince Commisso, Wendy Harris, author Loren Long, Darragh O’Connell, Angela C. Santomero and Jane Startz.

    Stillwater - The Way Home
    Stillwater – The Way Home

    Also available on Friday, December 3, in Stillwater – “The Way Home,” while helping Stillwater make treats to celebrate the winter solstice festival, the kids learn he plans to share some with a neighbor they’re wary of. The series centers on siblings Karl, Addy and Michael, who encounter everyday challenges — big and small — which sometimes feel insurmountable. Fortunately for these three, they have Stillwater, a wise panda, as their next-door neighbor. Through his example, stories and gentle humor, Stillwater gives the children a deeper understanding of their feelings as well as tools that help them face their own day-to-day challenges. 

    Recognized with a Peabody Award for excellence in storytelling and for work that encourages empathy, Stillwater is a beautiful and engaging series for kids and families. It highlights mindfulness and has charmed young viewers with its tales of friendship while providing kids with a new perspective on the world around them. Stillwater is based on the Scholastic book series Zen Shorts by Jon J Muth and is produced by Gaumont and Scholastic Entertainment. The series is executive produced by Sidonie Dumas, Christophe Riandee, Nicolas Atlan, Terry Kalagian, Iole Lucchese, Caitlin Friedman, Jef Kaminsky and Rob Hoegee and features the voice talents of James Sie, Eva Ariel Binder, Tucker Chandler and Judah Mackey.