Animation Magazine

Author: Mercedes Milligan

  • Event Updates: Anime NYC Schedule, ABP Halloween Winners, VIEW 2021 Results & More

    Event Updates: Anime NYC Schedule, ABP Halloween Winners, VIEW 2021 Results & More

    Anime NYC powered by Crunchyroll (www.animenyc.com), one of North America’s largest dedicated anime, manga and Japanese pop culture conventions, will present three days of entertaining and educational programming at New York’s Javits Center from November 19-21. Over 50,000 fans are expected to jam-packed event featuring over 200 hours of programming and special guests. Schedule highlights include:

    Friday, Nov. 19

    • hololive English -Council- VTuber panel
    • GET OVER ー JAM Project The Movie documentary screening
    • Funimation Presents Attack on Titan Final Season with Bryce Papenbrook (English voice of Eren Jaeger) and Jason Liebrecht (English voice of Zeke Jaeger)
    • Shinji Aramaki Panel with the mechanical designer and director of Blade Runner: Black Lotus, Appleseed and more

    Saturday, Nov. 20

    • Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Special Event with Zach Aguilar (Tanjiro Kamado), Aleks Le (Zenitsu Agatsuma),and Bryce Papenbrook (Inouske Hashibira)
    • LUPIN THE 3rd: Prison of the Past 50th anniversary trivia contest hosted by the dub cast + a world premiere screening
    • Qubic Pictures: Forging a bridge between anime creators and Hollywood with Justin Leach and Kanako Shirasaki
    • Kentaro Miura Memorial Panel in tribute to the creator of manga epic Berserk, with industry veterans Ed Chavez and Patrick Sutton

    Sunday, Nov. 21

    • Pompo The Cinephile East Coast premiere of the film by Takayuki Hirao
    • Zombie Land Saga LIVE with a special virtual appearance from Kana Hanazawa (Franchouchou Number 7, Maimai Yuzuriha)
    • Belle advance screening of Mamoru Hosoda’s biggest film ever (in theaters January 14)
    Animation Block Halloween Special 2021 winning films.
    Animation Block Halloween Special 2021 winning films.

    The marvelously macabre Animation Block Party Halloween Special held over the weekend in Brooklyn, NYC named four prizewinners:

    • Student Film: Devil’s in the Details by Anne Owenson (Chapman University)
    • Animated Loop: Dice by Spencer Sherk (Brooklyn)
    • Minute Movie: Home Sweet Home by Elliot Lobell (Jersey City)
    • Audience Award: Posted No Hunting by Alisa Stern (Brooklyn
    VIEW Conference
    VIEW Conference

    VIEW Conference (www.viewconference.it), Italy’s premiere animation, VFX and computer graphics conference, toasts its most successful edition yet in the event’s 22-year history. For the first time ever, VIEW Conference staged a hybrid event from Oct. 17-22, with many speakers attending in person at the state-of-the-art OGR venue in Torino and even more participating virtually. In total, 297 speakers delivered 160 talks, panels, workshops, masterclasses and keynote speeches. Some 210,000 visitors attended online – a record number for the annual gathering. About 300 people attended the venue itself, where four rooms were in operation for in-person presentations and workshops. Four live feeds streamed these and other sessions to a global virtual audience.

    “Delivering a hybrid event of this magnitude was unbelievably challenging. I am delighted to say that everything ran like clockwork, and I am incredibly proud of everyone who helped make this year’s event such a record-breaking success. I am truly honored that so many masters of their craft gave up their time to speak at VIEW Conference this year. Between them they have inspired nearly a quarter of a million people around the globe, including large audiences in emerging economies such as Mexico, India and Brazil,” said Conference Director Dr. Maria Elena Gutierrez.

    “My determination to make VIEW Conference 2021 free to attend was borne of a conviction that we all need to support each other, and help each other heal after the suffering we have all endured through the pandemic. I like to think of the conference as a plate piled high with delicious food, which anyone can sample and enjoy. It is a way for some of our greatest creative talents to share their wisdom and experience, and for students to meet their heroes. At VIEW Conference, everyone gets to feel the magic.”

    SCAD Savannah Film Festival animated film winners
    SCAD Savannah Film Festival animated film winners

    The Savannah College of Art and Design (scad.edu) announces the award winners for the 24th annual SCAD Savannah Film Festival, which screened more than 150 films, including 45 narrative films, 15 documentary films and 97 shorts, with 14 world premieres in 2021. Twenty-nine awards were announced from the 104 films chosen to compete. Animated honorees include:

    • Best Animated Short (Professional) – The Mechanical Dancer by Jenna Jaillet
    • Jury Award for Artistic Excellence – Under the Skin, the Bark by Franck Dion
    • Best Student Animation – A Tiny Tale by Sylvain Civillier, Chloé Bourdic Théophile Coursimault, Noémie Halberstam, Maÿlis Mosny and Zijing Ye
    • Best Animation by a SCAD Student – The Ocean Duck by Huda Razzak
    • Student Shorts Jury Award for Artistic Excellence – Migrants by Hugo Caby, Antoine Dupriez, Aubin Kubiak, Lucas Lermytte and Zoé Devise
    Big Cartoon Festival 2021 highlights
    Big Cartoon Festival 2021 highlights

    Russia’s 15th anniversary edition of the Big Cartoon Festival (www.multfest.ru) is underway online (Oct. 28-Nov. 8, vk.com/multfest), beaming more than 20 conferences with both Russian and foreign competition participants hosted by Dina Goder and Maria Tereshchenko, the festival’s program directors, and kicking off in person in Moscow December 1-15, offering full-length premieres from around the world, meetings with animation artists, a talk about puppets by Yuri Norshtein, workshops and other activities.

    The international and national short film competitions will include new works by world-class animation stars, including Joanna Quinn’s Affairs of the Art (U.K.), Koji Yamamura’s Polar Bear Bears Boredom (Japan) and Ivan Maksimov’s Oh, Nooo! (Russia). The screening program will also present 10 award-winning feature-length films, plus special programs for children, documentaries (Personal Stories and What Bothers Us), mental health stories (Behind the Fence), feminist issues (Only for Women) and new animation from Israel, plus a retrospective on pioneering Russian puppet animator Maria Muat (Uncle Au, Shakespeare: The Animated Tales) to mark the 70th anniversary of her birth.

    Young Animator of the Year U.K.
    Young Animator of the Year U.K.

    Following this year’s Young Animator of the Year U.K. (YAY UK, https://younganimator.uk/) program over the summer, the winners of the initiative’s awards were announced by ACCESS:VFX, ScreenSkills Animation Skills Fund and 3Dami. YAY UK aims to provide aspiring animators from a range of backgrounds with access to and advice from professionals and studios in the animation, games and VFX industry. The young animators entered their original work into one of six categories, separated by age range and animation medium. Their work was reviewed by professionals from across the industry and the winners will premiere at a special screening session at the Manchester Animation Festival:

    • Best Stop-Motion Animator Aged 11-14; Rebirth by Finlay, 14 from East Sussex
    • Best 2D Animator Aged 11-14; hand-drawn short film by Freya, 14 from West Midlands
    • Best 3D Animator Aged 11-14; Companions by Noah, 14 from Dorset
    • Best Stop-Motion Animator Aged 15-18; Insomnia by Ben, 16 from Bedford
    • Best 2D Animator Aged 15-18; Future Therapist by Amelie, 17 from Edinburgh
    • Best 3D Animator Aged 15-18; Flight of the Odonates by Luke, 18 from Buckinghamshire

    Oscar-nominated Aardman director Will Becher, who was one of the program’s judges, said, “I was so impressed by the variety and professional quality on display in all of this year’s young entries. The skills they’re learning in this programme and the valuable feedback they’re getting from across the industry is something they can take forward as they learn and grow as creatives. I can see many of them becoming successful professionals in the future.”

    Additional Updates:

    • British Academy Scotland Awards nominees have been announced for 2021. The ceremony will take place November 20. Animated series The Brilliant World of Tom Gates is nominated in the Entertainment category. bafta.org
    • TAAFI Industry Conference (Toronto, Nov. 11-13) has added more speakers to the lineup, including Megan Nicole Dong (Centaurworld), Phil Johnston (Ralph Breaks the Internet) and David Cunningham (SpongeBob SquarePants). taafi.com
    • Anima will be back in person in Brussels for a hybrid edition, Feb. 25-March 6, 2022. Special programs this year include a Queer Stories evening, VR festival, a preview of The Summer Holiday and focuses on Czech animation and French toon schools. animafestival.be
    • GIRAF 17 (Nov. 19-29) unveiled its signal film by Calgary animator Molly Little. giraffest.ca

    GIRAF 17 Festival Trailer by Molly Little from Quickdraw Animation on Vimeo.

    Calls for Entries:

    • Annecy Festival 2022 Short Films, TV Films, Commissioned Films, Graduation Films deadline: February 15, 2022 | Feature Films deadline: March 15, 2022 | VR deadline: April 6, 2022
    • Animafest Zagreb 2022 Short Film, Student Film, Films for Children, Croatian Film deadline: February 1, 2022 | Feature Film, VR/360/Interactive deadline: March 15, 2022
    • CEE Animation Workshop 2022 for projects in development and companies pursuing animaiton in Central & Easter Europe member states participating in Creative Europe MEDIA. Deadline: November 15, 2021.
    • RTS Student Television Awards animated productions under 30 minutes, deadline: November 8, 2021.
    • 72nd ACE Eddie Awards submissions open November 22, 2021 to January 5, 2022.

  • Alcon’s ‘Garfield’ Flick Gets Purring with Chris Pratt to Star

    Fandom favorite Chris Pratt is taking on another iconic animated character! Just over a month since the Parks and Recreation, Guardians of the Galaxy  and Jurassic World star was announced as the lead for Nintendo and Illumination’s Super Mario movie, Pratt has been tapped to voice Jim Davis’ famous feline Garfield in a new animated feature from Alcon Entertainment (Blade Runner 2049, Blade Runner: Black Lotus, Pete the Cat).

    From The Emperor’s New Groove duo of director Mark Dindal (Chicken Little) and Oscar-nominated screenwriter David Reynolds (Finding Nemo), the latest adaptation of the classic comic strip has been picked up for worldwide release by Sony Pictures (excluding China) and will feature animation produced by DNEG (Ron’s Gone Wrong).

    Alcon acquired the rights to Garfield from Davis, who will executive produce the feature with Bridget McMeel for Amuse and Craig Sost. John Cohen and Steven P. Wegner are producing alongside Alcon’s Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson and DNEG’s CEO Namit Malhotra and President Tom Jacomb.

    Garfield
    Garfield

    Garfield made its funny pages debut in 1978, chronicling the misadventures of the lazy, lasagna-loving orange tabby cat, his hapless human Jon Arbuckle and vacuous doggie housemate Odie — along with many other characters introduced over the years — in 41 newspapers. The comic currently holds the record for the most widely syndicated strip in the world. Davis’ creation previously hit the big screen voiced by Bill Murray in 20th Century’s hybrid flicks Garfield (2004) and Garfield: A Tale of Two Kitties (2006).

    Pratt won the Behind the Voice Actor Award for Best Male Lead Vocal Performance in  Feature Film for his role as Emmet in The LEGO Movie (2014), as well as sharing the People’s Choice award for Best Vocal Ensemble and nomination for the juried Best Vocal Ensemble honor.  He shared both Ensemble wins for reprising the character in the LEGO Dimensions video game the next year. Pratt also provided the voice for Barley Lightfoot in Pixar’s Onward (2020) and Cooper in Ben 10: Ultimate Alien.

    Pratt was most recently seen in the sci-fi drama The Tomorrow War. In addition to the untitled animated Mario movie, his upcoming projects include Jurassic World: Dominion, Thor: Love and Thunder, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Cowboy Ninja Viking.

    [Source: The Hollywood Reporter]

  • Baboon Animation Africa Launches in Partnership with AAN

    Baboon Animation Africa Launches in Partnership with AAN

    Multi-Emmy-winning company Baboon Animation has created a new branch, Baboon Animation Africa (BAA), partnering with the well-established African Animation Network (AAN) to build a new animation business paradigm based in diversity, equity and inclusion. The move is as a step down the path to developing a socially responsible animation industry on the continent.

    “We are building on the success of our new WarnerMedia show, Garbage Boy and Trash Can. Real ownership by African creators is our goal, and we have the relationships to do it. AAN pioneered this approach through their social impact goals, and together we are expanding. We have five more game-changing initiatives to announce in the next six months,” said Mike de Seve, President of Baboon Animation. “We are developing raw talent and shows in an equitable and responsible way that keeps creators in the driver’s seat.”

    Baboon’s leadership in African markets began in 2018. Nick Wilson, Founder and Head of Projects & Content at AAN, invited de Seve to join in a Pan-African talent development partnership with Annecy International Animation Festival/MIFA. This platform identified Ridwan Moshood, who created Garbage Boy and Trash Can, as one of Africa’s leading talents.

    “Baboon is a perfect creative partner for this enterprise,” noted Wilson, who developed and produced Africa’s first half-hour adult animated comedy in 2015 and formed AAN in 2016. “We have relationships with the biggest comedy stars and animation talent in Africa. The word is out that we are the go-to people if you have a show. We are the first ones producing African shows in Africa for a global media company.”

    Baboon Animation and African Animation Network expect to attract top talent through various channels, including AAN’s upcoming competition The Great Big African Animation Pitch (TGBAAP), slated for early 2022. This AAN-Baboon alliance will help underrepresented series creators take their seats at the table in the fast-growing African animation industry.

    “We are changing the way animation development is done, and we challenge everyone to do the same,” added de Seve. “This is what real partnership looks like.”

    www.baboonanimation.com | https://africananimation.net

  • Trailer: ‘The Book of Boba Fett’ Begins a New Chapter December 29

    Trailer: ‘The Book of Boba Fett’ Begins a New Chapter December 29

    The underworld of Tatooine is under new leadership in The Book of Boba Fett, premiering December 29 on Disney+. The streamer has debuted the official trailer for Lucasfilm’s latest serial entry in the Star Wars canon today.

    The Book of Boba Fett
    The Book of Boba Fett

    The Book of Boba Fett, a thrilling Star Wars adventure teased in a surprise end-credit sequence following the Season 2 finale of The Mandalorian, 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.

    The Book of Boba Fett stars Temuera Morrison and Ming-Na Wen. 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.

    The Book of Boba Fett
    The Book of Boba Fett
  • Sky Reveals First Look Image from Pratchett Pic ‘The Amazing Maurice’

    Sky Reveals First Look Image from Pratchett Pic ‘The Amazing Maurice’

    Sky (U.K.) released first-look character images and new teaser poster for The Amazing Maurice, a Sky Original arriving next year to mark the 20th Anniversary of the book by Sir Terry Pratchett (1948-2015).

    This animated family film is based on the wildly popular Discworld novels and will star Hugh Laurie (Avenue 5) as Maurice, Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones) as Malicia, David Thewlis (Wonder Woman) as Boss Man, Himesh Patel (Yesterday) as Keith, Gemma Arterton (The King’s Man) as Peaches, Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey) as The Mayor, David Tennant (Doctor Who) as Dangerous Beans, Ariyon Bakare (His Dark Materials) as Darktan, Rob Brydon (Roald & Beatrix: The Tale of the Curious Mouse) as The Pied Piper, Julie Atherton (Avenue Q) as Nourishing and YouTuber Joe Sugg as Sardines.

    In The Amazing Maurice, Maurice is a streetwise ginger cat who comes up with a money-making scam by befriending a group of self-taught talking rats. When Maurice and the rodents reach the stricken town of Bad Blintz, they meet a bookworm called Malicia and their little con soon goes down the drain.

    The Amazing Maurice
    The Amazing Maurice

    The film is co-produced by Sky, Ulysses Filmproduktion and Cantilever Media in partnership with Global Screen, with animation studios Studio Rakete (Hamburg) and Red Star Animation (Sheffield). The film has the full support of the Terry Pratchett estate and is produced in association with Narrativia. Producers are Julia Stuart (Sky), Emely Christians (Ulysses), Andrew Baker and Robert Chandler (Cantilever Media) and Rob Wilkins (Narrativia). The film is directed by Toby Genkel, co-director is Florian Westermann, from a screenplay by Terry Rossio.

    The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents is a children’s fantasy by Pratchett, published by Doubleday in 2001, and has sold nearly 100 million books worldwide. It was the 28th novel in the Discworld series, but the first written for children. It is a lively and entertaining adventure inspired by the German fairy tale about the Pied Piper of Hamelin and a parody of the folktale genre. Pratchett won the annual Carnegie Medal for the book – children’s literature’s highest award. Despite many other awards, honorary degrees and the knighthood that followed, Pratchett always emphasized that this was the award of which he was most proud.

    The Amazing Maurice, a Sky Original will be released on Sky Cinema in 2022. The film will also be available on streaming service NOW via the Sky Cinema Membership.

    Maurice and Sardines
    Maurice and Sardines
    Malicia and Keith
    Malicia and Keith
    Dangerous Beans and Peaches
    Dangerous Beans and Peaches
    Darktan and Nourishing
    Darktan and Nourishing
  • Mercury Filmworks Joins Co-Pro Coven for Mukpuddy’s ‘Badjelly the Witch’

    Mercury Filmworks Joins Co-Pro Coven for Mukpuddy’s ‘Badjelly the Witch’

    Canada’s Mercury Filmworks and New Zealand’s Mukpuddy will co-produce a 13 x 22’ 2D animated series for kids 6- to 11-years old, based on the classic 1973 book Badjelly the Witch, an irreverent modern fairy tale authored and illustrated by British comedian, poet, playwright and actor Spike Milligan. The news was announced today by Heath Kenny, Chief Content Officer of Mercury Filmworks, Roger Shakes, Media Tech Productions and Ryan Cooper, Alex Leighton and Tim Evans, co-founders of Mukpuddy.

    As the co-creator of The Goon Show, Milligan’s comedic influence can be felt throughout much of British comedy, including being cited as a major influence on legendary comedy troupe Monty Python. He originally created the short story, Badjelly the Witch, as a fairy-tale for his two young children. Packed full of weird and wonderful surprises about good triumphing over evil, Milligan hand wrote the text and drew the illustrations himself. Badjelly the Witch was later turned into an audio play, starring Milligan; and a few years later retold with a full orchestra, released by Polydor Records.

    Mercury Filmworks’ co-production partner for the series and special is Mukpuddy, a multi-award-winning animation studio based in Auckland, New Zealand, who acquired the rights to the book from Milligan’s children. They are the creators of a number of the country’s top-rated children’s shows, including Quimbo’s Quest and Barefoot Bandits (which was voted best Kiwi show in The Spinoff’s TV awards in 2017).

    “There’s no shortage of fun to be had in this madcap story full of quirky characters and matter-of-fact magic from the wild imagination of Milligan, whose work influenced generations of kids,” commented Kenny. “We are excited to be co-producing the series, and specially with Mukpuddy — their work ethic, culture and creativity, are values that connect our two studios. We look forward to working together to build on the original short story and expand the world Milligan created to bring this classic property to life.”

    “Like many creative Kiwis, we were hugely inspired by Spike Milligan growing up, and Badjelly is a story we are incredibly passionate about,” said Cooper. “We’re honored that the Milligan family are letting us play in Spike’s fantastical world of teeny weeny tree goblins and ‘horridible’ witches, and getting to do it alongside Mercury Filmworks is an absolute dream come true. They are a studio we have admired for a long time and feel that our collaboration is a match made in Milligan madness.”

    The charming fairy tale Badjelly the Witch follows the adventures of Tim and Rose as they search for Lucy, their cow, in the great black forest that lies at the edge of their sleepy village. They soon find that the forest is inhabited by weird and wonderful characters, each struggling with a dark energy that is permeating their lives, convinced that the valley has been overrun by it. They call it Badjelly! As the kids travel from place to place, they assemble a small team of friends including Binklebonk, the timid Tree Goblin and his grasshopper pet, Silly Sausage; Mudwiggle, a worm that claims extraordinary strength; and the Tin Lion, a loyal but sometimes a little moany metal lion. With their friends at their side, Tim and Rose travel the valley, helping people discover the true source of their Badjelly issues and learning more about the magical world they have become part of.

  • Watch: Tracy Morgan Tapped as New Voice of Early in ‘Squidbillies’

    Watch: Tracy Morgan Tapped as New Voice of Early in ‘Squidbillies’

    Adult Swim has announced that Emmy-nominated comedy actor Tracy Morgan (SNL, 30 Rock) will be stepping into the slap-happy tentacles of Early Cuyler in the 13th and final season of Squidbillies, premiering Sunday, November 7 at midnight ET/PT on Adult Swim. To spread the news, the channel has created an animated audition video which sneak peeks some S13 shenanigans and recasts a series of other Adult Swim voices in the role.

    Season 13 of Squidbillies brings back Early, Rusty and Granny Cuyler for 10 brand new episodes of jackwoods backassery. Sorry – backwoods jackassery. The new season features all-new covers of the show’s opening theme song performed by Willie Nelson, Amanda Shires, Sturgill Simpson and more.

    Morgan joins voice stars Daniel McDevitt (Rusty Cuyler), Dana Snyder (Granny Cuyler), Bobby Ellerbee (Sherriff), Patricia French (Lil Cuyler), Todd Hanson (Dan Halen), Mary Kraft (Krystal), Dave Willis (Deputy Denny) and Scott Hilley (Reverend) on the long-running Adult Swim toon, created by Dave Willis, Jim Fortier and Matt Maiellaro.

    Morgan’s voiceover credits include Woof in Where My Dogs At?, Luiz in the Rio movies, Mr. Gristle in The Boxtrolls, Fox in Green Eggs and Ham, Captain Caveman in Scoob! and Spoonie Luv on Crank Yankers.

  • ‘Arcane’ Final Trailer Debuts at ‘League of Legends’ Semi-Finals

    ‘Arcane’ Final Trailer Debuts at ‘League of Legends’ Semi-Finals

    Gamers and noobs alike are treated today to a new perspective on Runeterra as Netflix unveils the final official trailer for Arcane, during the semi-finals for League of Legends Worlds 2021. The preview summons a survey of prosperous Piltover before sinking into its seedy, neon-lit underbelly to introduce the show’s scrappy heroes. Throughout, Arcane‘s distinctive visuals meld painterly CG with electric 2D effects into one coherent, yet divided, sci-fi/fantasy world.

    Arcane will roll out in three acts of three episodes each premiering through the month:

    • Debut / Act One – Saturday, November 6, 7 p.m. PT
    • Act Two – Saturday, November 13, midnight PT
    • Act Three – Saturday, November 20, midnight PT

    Arcane dives into the delicate balance between the rich city of Piltover and the seedy underbelly of Zaun. Tensions between these city-states boil over with the creation of hextech — a way for any person to control magical energy — in Piltover; and in Zaun, a new drug called shimmer transforms humans into monsters. The rivalry between the cities splits families and friends as Arcane brings life to the relationships that shape some of League of Legends‘ famous champions, including Vi, Jinx, Caitlyn, Jayce and Viktor.

    Based on the world behind the game League of Legends, the animated event series features a complex world filled with moral decisions, breathtaking animation and suspenseful storytelling.

    Series voice stars are Ella Purnell (Jinx), Kevin Alejandro (Jayce), Katie Leung (Caitlyn), Jason Spisak (Silco), Harry Lloyd (Viktor), JB Blanc (Vander), Toks Olagundoye (Mel Medarda) and Mia Sinclair Jenness (Powder).

    Created and executive produced by Christian Linke and Alex Yee, the series hails from League of Legends creators Riot Games and Paris-based animation studio Fortiche.

    Arcane
    Arcane
  • Global TV & Streaming News

    Global TV & Streaming News

    The second season of Max Original adult animated series gen:LOCK debuts Thursday, November 4 on HBO Max. Set 50 years in the future where an oppressive authoritarian force threatens to conquer the world, the series is executive produced by Michael B. Jordan, who stars alongside Dakota Fanning, Maisie Williams, Golshifteh Farahani, G.K. Bows, Asia Kate Dillion, Kōichi Yamadera and David Tennant. Alana Mayo is also an executive producer. Jordan’s Outlier Society co-produces the series alongside Ryan P. Hall and Dan Shorr for WarnerMedia’s Rooster Teeth.

    In S2, a war leaves behind only a handful of highly skilled soldiers fighting for the future of humanity as a deteriorating Earth, due to an unstoppable climate collapse, has two distinct visions for the future of the human race: The Polity and the Union. The Polity and the Union remained locked in a brutal and unforgiving war, when, after sustaining devastating injuries, pilot Julian Chase (Jordan) returns from the dead in the form of a Holon warrior, one of a select few whose mind is compatible with the mech-suit gen:LOCK program. As Dr. Weller (Tennant) works to crack the gen:LOCK code, it’s up to Chase, Miranda (Fanning), Cammie (Williams) and their team of intrepid Polity fighters to fend off the authoritarian Union. But as the war rages on, Chase must decide if he’s willing to sacrifice everything – including friends, family and his own humanity – to save an increasingly hostile world.

    Alma's Way
    Alma’s Way

    Fred Rogers Productions has been awarded a $2.7 million multi-year funding grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) for Alma’s Way, which launched October 4 on PBS KIDS. The grant covers a broad range of production, promotional, and educational engagement activities for the show, created by actor/writer Sonia Manzano.

    Aimed at viewers ages 4-6, Alma’s Way (40 x half-hour) follows six-year-old Alma Rivera, a proud, confident Puerto Rican girl, who lives in the Bronx with her parents, Abuelo, and younger brother, Junior, as well as a diverse group of close-knit and loving friends, family, and community members. Each episode models self-awareness, responsible decision-making, and empathy, while encouraging kids to generate and value their own ideas and questions. The episodes showcase different aspects of Latino culture through music, food, language, and more.

    Roger and His Humans
    Roger and His Humans

    Roger and His Humans from Dupuis Edition et Audiovisuel is returning to YouTube for a second season (36 x 2′), having enjoyed a successful launch in July 2020 which has totted up 45.9 million views, 585,000 followers and a Silver Trophy from YouTube. Adapted from the comic book by Cyprien & Paka and aimed at teens and young adults, the digital 2D series is directed by Alexandre Coste and produced by Arthur Colignon; Caroline Audebert and Caroline Duvochel are associate producers. Mediatoon handles international distribution.

    Delivered with caustic YouTuber humor, geek references and snappy punchlines, the cartoons centers on a robot named Roger who takes up residence with a human couple, and persistently deconstructs their habits and social norms as he seeks to understand how the human world works. In the next season, Roger will continue to venture into the world to ask acerbic questions about death, escape rooms, night clubs and even dating.

    Silly Animals
    Silly Animals

    Jetpack Distribution has picked up international rights (outside the U.K.) for live-action/animated comedy Silly Animals, commissioned by Sky Kids and co-produced by Rebel Television and Media and Silver Star Productions. The 20 x 6′ series for kids 5-12 stars Alan Carr as Gary the vlogging dog.

    In the show, Gary sneaks into an underground vault on a mission to show the world what animals are really like, broadcasting nature’s greatest fails, fumbles and feral tomfoolery to prove that wild animals are not as clever and graceful as boring humans would have you believe. Using state of the art VFX “muzzle replacement,” Gary introduces and narrates the clips, while a team of impressionists voice a wealth of comic characters.

    Olaf's Frozen Adventure
    Olaf’s Frozen Adventure

    ABC (U.S.) has slated its holiday programming lineup, including the return of festive animated favorites. These include:

    • Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town (Nov. 26 & Dec. 23, 8 p.m.)
    • Olaf’s Frozen Adventure (Dec. 2 & Dec. 24, 8 p.m.)
    • Toy Story That Time Forgot (Dec. 2, 8:30 p.m.)
    • Shrek the Halls (Dec. 24, 8:30 p.m.)
    • Prep & Landing and Prep & Landing 2: Naughty vs. Nice (Dec. 24, 9 & 9:30 p.m.)
    Mumfie
    Mumfie

    Acquisition and Expansion Updates:

    • Malaysia’s Astro has picked up multiple hits from Animasia Studio, bringing Dragon Force: Monsters Rise, Beyblade Burst, Harry & Bunnie and Chuck Chicken to its TA-DAA! channel and On Demand platform Astro GO in the coming months, continuing on to VOD platforms Astro B.yond and Astro IPTV.
    • Zodiak Kids, part of Banijay, has secured a pre-sale to KiKA (Germany) for upcoming heritage-property series Mumfie (78 x 7′, preschool), directed by Daniel Dubuis and co-produced by Zodiak Kids Studio (France), Animoka (Italy), France Televisions and Rai.
    • Monster Entertainment is enjoying a successful year with Irish animation, building The Day Henry Met into a worldwide hit (4 seasons, airing in 192 countries) and developing international audiences for Pins and Nettie (Kids Street U.S., YLE Finland, DR Denmark, ABC Australia, TVO Canada, Showmax Africa, Hopster, Minno), Peek Zoo (KiKA Germany, SRF Switzerland, MG Alba U.K., Ninova Turkey, Al Jazeera Middle East, SVT Sweden, DR, YLE) and Urban Tails (Kid Street, TVO, Showmax, Epic, Azoomee, Kidoodle).
    • Global gaming company ZeptoLab has inked a deal with Tencent for the exclusive Chinese broadcast of Om Nom Stories latest seasons (17-19), following its prior exclusive for S8-10.
    • India’s largest kids’ platform Voot Kids now offers more Pokémon content than any other digital destination in the country, with 21 movies and over 10,000 minutes of the anime series.
    • APC Kids secured a wave of international sales for 2D preschool series DinoCity, produced by Riki Group in partnership with Animax Production. New partners include Piwi+ (France), YLE (Finland), ERT (Greece), Ketnet (Flemish Belgium), MBC (MENA) and Menart (Balkans), following the series debut on DeA Junior (Italy) and Tiny Pop (U.K.)
    • One Animation announced new deals across the short-form, long-form and seasonal specials of its hit CG series Oddbods and Insectibles (52 x 11′). Peacock (U.S.) will debut 20 half-hour compilations of the short form and Insectibles S1 in July. Further Oddbods deals include Ketchup TV (S1 long form + themed compilations) for U.S., U.K. and Australia; Discover (S2 short form, S1 renewal) for U.K. VOD; WarnerMedia (S3 long form + The Festive Menace) for LatAm; Prime Video (S1&2 long form) for LatAm, France, Japan and more; and Migo (short for compilations) for Indonesia SVOD.
    • Global syndication aggregator BINGE Networks has inked a deal with Plane Characters Productions to distribute and create a new on-demand pipeline for travel-inspired kids’ series Let’s Go See from Little Dot Studios.
    • ViacomCBS Networks International launched 40 original channels with Pluto TV‘s arrival in Italy, including kids & family collections Super! Heroes and Super! SpongeBob, and series/movie offerings including SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Kung Fu Panda, Penguins of Madagascar and adult comedy South Park.
  • WIA Vancouver’s ACE Short ‘Pivot’ Premieres at Spark Festival

    WIA Vancouver’s ACE Short ‘Pivot’ Premieres at Spark Festival

    Round Two of Women in Animation Vancouver’s Animation Career EXCELerator Program (ACE) will have their short film Pivot premiere at Spark Animation Festival, starting October 28 and streaming throughout the festival.

    Growing up isn’t easy, and it’s no exception for 12-year-old Ashley, whose well-meaning Mom has her own ideas about who Ashley should be. Finding herself in an impossible situation, Ashley must decide whether to wear a gaudy dress she hates or find the courage to stand up for herself and fight the inner monster that is holding her back. Pivot is a defining moment in Ashley’s quest to be herself at the risk of disappointing the person she loves the most, her Mom.

    Pivot
    Pivot

    The filmmaking team will also be presenting a panel as part of the D&I Summit, a series of presentations focused on diversity and inclusion: Advancing Women in Key Creative Roles, A Focused Discussion. The case study features ACE 2 participants as they discuss the program, Director Ana Gusson, art director Cindey Chiang, animation director Erica Miles, composer Eva Pekárová, screenwriter Robyn Campbell and producer Tini Wider. (Live Oct. 29 at noon PT, free to view.)

    ACE Executive Producers Rose-Ann Tisserand and Tracey Mack will also outline plans for ACE 3, which expands nationally across Canada with the generous support of Netflix Canada. ACE 3 opens for applications on October 29, 2021.

    There will also be a Meet the Filmmakers discussion titled Women Behind the Scenes: Meet the Pivot Team with Big Bad Boo Studios and Oznoz Co-Founder & President, Shabnam Rezaei. (Available to watch online now.)

    Pivot
    Pivot

    WIA Vancouver’s ACE Program is supported by current sponsors including Creative BC, Telefilm, Toon Boom, Atomic Cartoons, Autodesk Foundation, Canadian Media Producers Association – BC Producer’s Branch, Spark CG Society,  Boughton Law, National Film Board, Flying Kraken Creative Studios, Urban Safari Entertainment, Koko Productions and  Sound Studios, Lindsay Productions, The Research House Clearance Services, Producer Essentials and Pender PR.

    Watch Pivot online now as part of the Spark Animation Festival. Ticketed access available here.

    Pivot
    Pivot
  • Funimation Slates LA Release for Coming-of-Age Romance ‘Josee, the Tiger and the Fish’

    Funimation Slates LA Release for Coming-of-Age Romance ‘Josee, the Tiger and the Fish’

    Funimation, the market leader in anime serving fans worldwide, announced they are opening the heart-warming animated film Josee, the Tiger and the Fish in Los Angeles on November 5. The film, which is in Japanese with English subtitles and dubbed, will play at the Laemmle Monica Film Center (1332 2nd Street, Santa Monica). Tickets are on sale now.

    The emotional and cinematic coming-of-age love story is directed by Kotaro Tamura and produced by studio Bones (Fullmetal Alchemist, My Hero Academia). The film follows an unlikely pair, Josee, a gifted artist and disabled woman struggling to find purpose, and Tsuneo Suzukawa, a passionate scuba diver. The duo come together out of necessity and find they have a shared passion. (98 minutes, unrated.)

    Based on a 1985 short story written by Akutagawa Prize-winning author Seiko Tanabe, Josee, the Tiger and the Fish was released in Japan in 2020 and nominated for Best Animation by the 75th Mainichi Film Awards and Animation of the Year for the 44th Japan Academy Film Prize.

    Josee, the Tiger and the Fish
    Josee, the Tiger and the Fish

    Synopsis: Tsuneo, an ordinary college student and avid diver, unexpectedly becomes the caretaker of a wheelchair-bound young woman in order to raise money for this dream to go diving in Mexico. This young woman, who calls herself Josee after her favorite book character, is sullen and demanding, but as Tsuneo helps Josee interact with the outside world and learns more about Josee’s unique perspective, their feelings grow into love. The two begin to support each other in ways beyond just romance.

    The original and dubbed versions of the film feature the voices of Taishi Nakagawa (Japanese) / Howard Wang (English) as Tsuneo, Kaya Kiyohara/Suzie Yeung as Kumiko (Josee), Yume Miyamoto/Dani Chambers as Mai and Kazuyuki Okitsu/Zeno Robinson as Hayato. Jerry Jewell was ADR director. Music by Evan Call (Violet Evergarden).

  • 5th Annual WIA Diversity Awards Announced at Spark

    5th Annual WIA Diversity Awards Announced at Spark

    Women in Animation (WIA) announced the fifth annual WIA Diversity Award recipients, presented in partnership with the Spark Computer Graphics Society (Spark CG). The recipients of this year’s awards are: Steven Universe creator Rebecca Sugar, All Those Sensations in My Belly by Marko Dješka and the University of Southern California Annenberg Inclusion Initiative.

    The awards are being presented by WIA President Marge Dean with a taped presentation made available online from the first day of Spark Animation 2021, which runs virtually from October 28 – November 7 out of Vancouver, Canada.

    The WIA Diversity Awards were established to recognize and honor individuals, films and organizations that have made a significant impact in expanding the diversity of voices in the art and industry of animation, either through their own creative work, by fostering the work of others, or by leading diversity initiatives that enrich our industry and society.

    “WIA Diversity Awards highlight some of the success stories on the journey to creating more balanced representation in the animation industry, in hopes that such courageous and important work inspires others to open doors to more diversity among filmmakers and more authentic story-telling,” said Dean.

    The 2021 WIA Diversity Award for Individual Achievement is being presented to Rebecca Sugar. A ground-breaking animation creator for years now, Sugar helmed Steven Universe as the first non-male solo showrunner at Cartoon Network after several years writing, storyboarding and songwriting for Adventure Time. Sugar has been fighting for LGBTQIA+ content in children’s media since 2010, and for a more inclusive environment both on screen and behind the scenes in the animation industry.

    “Rebecca Sugar was a champion for gender justice long before that term even existed.  She has challenged the binary assumptions of gender in her work, in her communication with the world, and in how she lives her life. She is a uniquely amazing person who moves through the world as a living example of the very best of being human,” said Dean.

    Sugar commented, “I’m moved and honored to be recognized by Women in Animation as a non-binary artist. I’m so grateful to everyone working to amplify marginalized voices within the animation industry. Thank you so much for your support.”

    Rebecca Sugar, creator of Steven Universe
    Rebecca Sugar, creator of Steven Universe

    A juried award given by the Spark Computer Graphics Society, the 2021 WIA Diversity Award for Short Film is being presented to Marko Dješka’s All Those Sensations in My Belly. Dješka’s animated documentary film portrays the story of a real trans girl, Matia, who is transitioning from male gender to female, struggling with finding a sincere intimate relationship.

    “The Spark Animation Festival Jury selected Marko Dješka’s All Those Sensations in my Belly for its powerful visualization of the struggles of self-discovery and finding one’s place in the world,” explained Festival Director Marina Antunes.

    (See the previously announced Spark Animation Festival winners here.)

    Sve te senzacije u mom trbuhu / All Those Sensations in my Belly – Trailer from Adriatic Animation on Vimeo.

    In alignment with the adage “what gets measured gets done,” The USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative (AII) has been at the forefront of academic study and research around representation, characterization and inclusion in the entertainment industry for over a decade. The Initiative is globally recognized for its valuable and sought-after research solutions to advance equality as it examines gender, race/ethnicity, LGBT status, disability and age on screen and gender and race/ethnicity behind the camera in cinematic and television content, as well as barriers and opportunities facing women and people of color in the entertainment industry. In recent years, Dr. Stacy L. Smith, Dr. Katherine Pieper and their team have collaborated with WIA on two ground-breaking and informative studies on the US animation industry and global VFX industry.

    “After years of great partnership, WIA could not be more thrilled to present the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative with the 2021 WIA Diversity Award for Organizational Achievement for their important work in advancing diversity, equity and inclusion and creating accountability measures not only in animation, but for the entertainment industry as a whole,” said WIA Secretary Julie Ann Crommett.

    “We are grateful to Women in Animation for this award,” said Smith, AII Founder. “Animation has a very important place in the Initiative’s history from our early work on films, and we have found it important to continue that work with Women in Animation through our groundbreaking studies both in 2019 and our upcoming report on VFX. WIA has impacted the industry not only through their advocacy, but because the creative talent of women throughout the animation industry has impacted the lives of so many viewers — including those on our team. We’re honored to be recognized and eager to continue our work together.”

    Dr. Stacy L. Smith presenting findings of USC's Annenberg Inclusion Institute
    Dr. Stacy L. Smith presenting findings of USC’s Annenberg Inclusion Institute
  • ‘Fairfax’ Creators Ink First-Look Deals with Amazon Studios

    ‘Fairfax’ Creators Ink First-Look Deals with Amazon Studios

    Amazon Studios announced today it has signed first-look deals with producers Matt Hausfater, Teddy Riley and Aaron Buchsbaum, on the eve of the premiere of their Amazon Original animated comedy Fairfax. The creative triad recently formed the production banner The Adorable Trio. They will create and produce projects to premiere exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

    “We are incredibly excited to expand our working relationship with Amazon. They have been amazing creative partners on Fairfax and we look forward to collaborating with them for the rest of time… or until the deal expires,” said Hausfater, Riley and Buchsbaum.

    “We love what Matt, Teddy and Aaron did with Fairfax — create a great animated comedy with distinctive, culturally relevant characters,” said Vernon Sanders, Head of Television, Amazon Studios. “From hypebeast humor to wise-cracking pigeons, we love the way they collaborate to make smart and hysterical projects and look forward to what they do next, which is sure to have our audiences doubled over in hysterical laughter.”

    Riley and Buchsbaum met in college at the University of Southern California, studying business and film. Together, they wrote a feature comedy spec, El Tigre, which made The Black List and was sold to Sony (with Mosaic Entertainment producing) in a competitive bidding war. Since then, they have written and sold projects to Sony, CBS, MGM, Paramount, Universal, Comedy Central, Roku and Prime Video.

    Hausfater graduated from Boston University’s College of Communications in 2007. After moving to Los Angeles, his first feature, Ex-Boyfriend of the Bride, landed on The Black List in 2012. Since then, Hausfater has been a staff writer on Undateable for NBC and a co-producer on Club de Cuervos for Netflix. Additionally, he has developed and created original series for Phil Lord and Christopher Miller at FOX and Bill Lawrence at NBC.

    Riley and Buchsbaum are both represented by Michael Lasker at Mosaic, Ryan Draizin at WME and Jeffrey Frankel at McKuin Frankel & Whitehead.

    Hausfater is represented by Lindsay Perraud at Kaplan/Perrone, Allan Haldeman/Matt Baldovsky/Jordan Lonner at UTA, and Robby Koch at Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush, Kaller & Gellman, LLP.

    Riley, Buchsbaum and Hausfater are all represented by Kovert Creative.

  • Jon Hamm to Headline & Exec Produce ‘Grimsburg’ FOX Animated Comedy

    Jon Hamm to Headline & Exec Produce ‘Grimsburg’ FOX Animated Comedy

    FOX has ordered the all-new animated sleuth comedy Grimsburg, starring and executive produced by Emmy Award winner Jon Hamm (Mad Men, Top Gun: Maverick), it was announced today by Michael Thorn, President of Entertainment, FOX Entertainment.

    Fully owned by FOX Entertainment and created by Catlan McClelland and Matthew Schlissel, Grimsburg will premiere in 2023 and be produced by FOX’s Emmy-winning animation studio, Bento Box Entertainment (Bob’s Burgers, The Great North).

    “I am very excited to be involved in the FOX animation universe. A universe I have been actively watching since the early nineties,” said Hamm. “The opportunity to get to bring a project like Grimsburg to life, that is so particular and unique, and to work with its incredibly imaginative and hilarious creators is one I can’t wait to get started with.”

    “As we continue to expand our animation brand beyond family comedies, Grimsburg‘s wildly funny, bizarre and inventive take on the crime genre makes it the perfect next generation FOX comedy,” added Thorn. “And with Jon Hamm front and center as Marvin Flute, the deeply troubled detective with very eclectic taste and opinions, we believe this may finally be Hamm’s breakout role as a leading man.”

    Hamm will voice Marvin Flute — perhaps the greatest detective ever to catch a cannibal clown or correctly identify a mid-century modern armoire. But there’s one mystery he still can’t crack: his family. Now that he’s back in Grimsburg, a town where everyone has a secret or three, Flute will follow every lead he’s got to redeem himself with the ex-wife he never stopped loving, even if it means hanging out with the son he never bothered to get to know.

    “The mystery is solved: Grimsburg is a thoroughly original and comedic take on the small-town crime show trope with a mix of the insatiable Jon Hamm and head-spinning plot twists and turns,” added Gail Berman, Executive Producer and Chairman and CEO of The Jackal Group. “FOX, Bento Box and Grimsburg‘s genius creators, Catlan and Matthew, are taking the animation genre to new heights under the wise leadership of our brilliant showrunner Chadd Gindin in this eccentric comedy with a broad appeal. We are thrilled to be a part of this great team.”

    In addition to Hamm, Grimsburg executive producers include Gail Berman (FOX’s upcoming drama Monarch, The Addams Family, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and Hend Baghdady (Monarch, Golan the Insatiable) of The Jackal Group, Connie Tavel (Judging Amy) and showrunner Chadd Gindin (The Cleveland Show, Santa Clarita Diet), while McClelland and Schlissel will co-executive produce.

    Known for his nuance portrayal of Don Draper in Mad Men (AMC), Hamm has earned numerous accolades, including an Emmy Award in 2015 for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series, Golden Globe Awards in 2016 and 2008, Television Critics Association Awards in 2011 and 2015, a Critics’ Choice Television Award in 2011, as well as multiple Screen Actors Guild nominations.

    Hamm’s animation voiceover credits include Tony Stark in Marvel’s M.O.D.O.K., Mayor Webb in Bless the Harts and Captain Murphy in Archer; recurring and guest roles for TV’s TripTank, Big Mouth, SpongeBob SquarePants, Wander Over Yonder, Family Guy and Robot Chicken; and animated features Minions, Shrek Forever After and Ari Folman’s hybrid adaptation The Congress. On the live-action side, Hamm is currently in production on John Slattery’s Maggie Moore(s), in which he will star opposite Tina Fey. Earlier this year he completed production on Fletch. Next year, he will be seen in Top Gun: Maverick. Award-winning and notable appearances include 30 Rock, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Good Omens and Baby Driver.  

    McClelland studied film and animation at Rhode Island School of Design, and then did some contractor work for the U.S. Department of Defense in Baghdad. He received his MFA in Screenwriting from LMU, where he has taught Screenwriting since 2015.

    Schlissel escaped Boca Raton, Florida, to study screenwriting in L.A. He has a BFA in Film Studies, an MFA in Screenwriting from LMU and a deep fondness for improv and sketch comedy. Schlissel also teaches screenwriting at LMU.

    Grimsburg marks the first pilot sale, pilot pick-up and series order for McClelland and Schlissel.

    Grimsburg joins FOX Entertainment’s growing portfolio of owned scripted content that includes Krapopolis, the animated comedy set in mythical ancient Greece from Emmy Award-winning creator Dan Harmon (Rick and Morty, Community) and featuring the voices of Hannah Waddingham, Richard Ayoade, Matt Berry, Pam Murphy and Duncan Trussell, set to debut next year.

  • Disney Junior Greenlights ‘Firebuds’ from Craig Gerber

    Disney Junior Greenlights ‘Firebuds’ from Craig Gerber

    Disney Junior has ordered the new animated comedy-adventure Firebuds, from Emmy Award-winning creator and executive producer Craig Gerber (Disney’s Elena of Avalor and Sofia the First). Slated to premiere on Disney Junior and Disney+ in 2022, the music-filled series follows a team of young kids who are the children of first responders, and their talking vehicle sidekicks, as they embark on adventures together and learn what it truly means to be a hero.

    This is Gerber’s first series to debut under his Disney Branded Television overall development deal with his new production banner, Electric Emu. Gerber also has a second project in development with Kris Wimberly, who worked with him on Elena of Avalor and is also a director on Firebuds. Created by Wimberly, the series follows a time-traveling treasure hunter and will be executive-produced by both Wimberly and Gerber.

    Set in a fantastical world where talking vehicles live, work and play with the humans who drive them, Firebuds follows a boy and his firetruck as they team up with their first responder friends to help others in their community with problems, both big and small. Whether rescuing a young car that’s stuck in a tree, tracking down lost Dalmatian puppies or helping their neighbors stock up on emergency supplies during a blackout, the Firebuds highlight the importance of teamwork and helping your fellow citizens. Each episode comprises two 11-minute stories and features at least one new original song.

    Craig Gerber
    Craig Gerber

    “Firebuds is about the spirit of community service and thinking about others before yourself,” said Gerber. “Just like our young heroes are trying to follow in their parents’ ‘tire treads,’ we are hoping to inspire children to embrace volunteerism and helping others. It is personally a very meaningful show for me and the perfect way to launch this next chapter of my career with Disney.”

    The Firebuds team consists of the following:

    • Bo, the optimistic and brave leader, voiced by Declan Whaley (Criminal Minds)
    • Flash, a young fire engine and Bo’s best friend, voiced by Terrence Little Gardenhigh (Danger Force)
    • Violet, a fearless and confident young girl who is always cool under pressure, voiced by Vivian Vencer (Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure)
    • Axl, Violet’s funny and outgoing ambulance friend, voiced by Lily Sanfelippo (Marvel’s Spidey and His Amazing Friends)
    • Jayden, Bo’s imaginative and inventive neighbor, voiced by JeCobi Swain (Home Economics)
    • Piston, Jayden’s safety-conscious police car sidekick, voiced by Caleb Paddock (Adult Beginners)

    In addition to Gerber, Humanitas Prize and Emmy Award winner Matt Hoverman (Fancy Nancy) is story editor and Krystal Banzon (I Feel Bad), Leanna Dindal (The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse), Jeremy Shipp (Tangled: The Series) and Norma Sepulveda (Elena of Avalor) make up the writing team. Annie Award-nominated Francis Giglio (DC Super Hero Girls) is art director and Emmy Award-nominated Rob Pratt and Craig Simpson (both from Elena of Avalor) are supervising director and producer, respectively. The episodic directors are Kris Wimberly (Elena of Avalor) and Julius Aguimatang (Mulan). The music team consists of Emmy Award-nominated Beau Black (The Lion Guard) as the series songwriter and Emmy Award winner Frederik Wiedmann (All Hail King Julien) as composer.

    Firebuds is a production of Disney Television Animation.

    Firebuds
    Firebuds
  • Netflix Tunes the Dial to Demonic with ‘Wendell & Wild’ Teaser

    Netflix Tunes the Dial to Demonic with ‘Wendell & Wild’ Teaser

    Henry Selick’s (Coraline, The Nightmare Before Christmas) long-awaited return to the director’s chair is starting to pick up steam, with Netflix summoning a quirky, punky teaser that gives us our first look at the titular stars of Wendell & Wild — voiced by Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele.

    From the mad geniuses that brought us Coraline and Get Out … meet Wendell & Wild, the hellishly funny personal demons of a teen named Kat.

    Directed by Selick, co-written by Selick and Peele, the stop-motion movie is due in 2022.

    In addition to the Twitter tease, fans can keep their eye on Kat’s spooky boombox with the livestream “Kat’s Punk Playlist – Free Radio Beats to Chill/Summon Demons To” featuring fire Afro punk tracks by the likes of SATE, Big Joanie, Nafets, Bad Brains and Death. Tune in at katsboombox.com.

  • Parker & Stone Clarify Paramount+ Plans for ‘South Park’ Movies

    Parker & Stone Clarify Paramount+ Plans for ‘South Park’ Movies

    Following up on the $900 million content deal ViacomCBS’ MTV Entertainment Studio secured with the creators in August, Trey Parker and Matt Stone are getting into gear for their massive South Park franchise expansion. The first stage will see two movies drop on Paramount+ before the end of this year, ahead of the show’s return to Comedy Central in early 2022 (which also marks the 25th anniversary of cable’s longest-running scripted series).

    In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, it was revealed that the first movie will be titled South Park: Post Covid and is set to premiere exclusively on the Paramount+ platform on November 25. Parker vaguely sketches out the plot as “the boys dealing with a post-COVID world. They’re just trying to get back to normal.” (Much like the production team on their show, which has yet to return to their studio in Marina del Rey, the co-creator notes.)

    The second film under the deal is slated to arrive in December. Parker and Stone told THR that while the initial announcement about the deal said that Paramount+ will get 14 original South Park “movies,” the productions will not be feature-film length. “[ViacomCBS] are the ones who said we are giving them 14 movies in seven years,” Parker noted. “All I can say is for me, personally, I am 52 years old, I have made three movies in my life. So you do the math.”

    Stone added, “We’re trying to make what’s on Paramount+ different from anywhere else, so hourlong made-for-TV movies is where our head is at … They will be big, but they are not quite movie scale.” The producers plan to deliver two movies a year under the deal, which also extended the South Park series through to 2027 for Comedy Central.

    The South ParQ Vaccination Special ranked as the #1 cable telecast of 2021 with nearly 3.5 million total viewers across the night, and The Pandemic Special was cable’s #1 scripted telecast of 2020. The latter also earned South Park its 19th Emmy nomination (Outstanding Animated Program). The series has earned five Emmy Awards to date and a George Foster Peabody Award.

    South Park launched on August 13, 1997. The series is created by Parker and Stone, who also executive produce alongside Anne Garefino and Frank C. Agnone II. Eric Stough, Adrien Beard, Bruce Howell and Vernon Chatman are producers. Chris Brion is the creative director of South Park Digital Studios.

  • Trailer: The Fight Against Chaos Continues in ‘Masters of the Universe: Revelation Pt. 2’

    Trailer: The Fight Against Chaos Continues in ‘Masters of the Universe: Revelation Pt. 2’

    Netflix unleashed the power-packed trailer for Masters of the Universe: Revelation Part Two, the thrilling conclusion to the epic animated Mattel series. The war for Eternia picks up where Part 1 left off: With Skeletor now wielding the Sword of Power, the weary heroes of Eternia must band together to fight back against the forces of evil. The final five half-hour episodes debut November 23.

    In addition to the trailer, Netflix is powering up anticipation for Part Two by revealing three new guest stars for the season: Method Man as the voice of Clamp Champ, Dee Bradley Baker as Savage He-Man and Danny Trejo as Ramm Man.

    Masters of the Universe: Revelation Pt. 2
    Masters of the Universe: Revelation Pt. 2

    Produced by Mattel Television with animation by Powerhouse Animation (Castlevania), Masters of the Universe: Revelation is led by showrunner/executive producer Kevin Smith (Clerks) and features the voice talents of Mark Hamill (Skeletor), Lena Headey (Evil-Lyn), Chris Wood (Prince Adam), Sarah Michelle Gellar (Teela), Liam Cunningham (Man-At-Arms), Tiffany Smith (Andra), Alicia Silverstone (Queen Marlena), Steven Root (Cringer), Diedrich Bader (King Randor) and Tony Todd (Scare Glow).

    Masters of the Universe: Revelation Pt. 2
    Masters of the Universe: Revelation Pt. 2

    Executive producers are Frederic Soulie (He-Man and the Masters of the Universe), Adam Bonnett (Descendants), Christopher Keenan (Justice League, Batman Beyond) and Rob David (He-Man and the Masters of the Universe). Susan Corbin (He-Man and the Masters of the Universe) is producer.

    Masters of the Universe: Revelation Pt. 2
    Masters of the Universe: Revelation Pt. 2

    Writers are Marc Bernardin (Castle Rock, Alphas), Eric Carrasco (Supergirl), Diya Mishra (Magic the Gathering) and Tim Sheridan (Reign of the Supermen). Series composer is Bear McCreary (The Walking Dead, Battlestar Galactica, Outlander).

    Masters of the Universe: Revelation Pt. 2
    Masters of the Universe: Revelation Pt. 2
  • New Speakers Announced: Win Tickets to the World Animation & VFX Summit!

    New Speakers Announced: Win Tickets to the World Animation & VFX Summit!

    Animation Magazine is gearing up for the returning live edition of our World Animation and VFX Summit, which opens Sunday, November 7 with the sold-out Hall of Fame Awards gala honoring eight game-changing industry luminaries, and continues with three days of informative panels, creative insights and inclusive networking breakfasts, lunches and evening parties hosted on the grounds of North Hollywood’s historic Garland hotel.

    “The 2021 Summit will be a timely, optimistic snapshot of our healthy, growing and thriving industry,” says Jean Thoren, Publisher of Animation Magazine and founder of the World Animation and VFX Summit. “Over the past year, animation leaders around the world have shown us that they are ready and more than able to navigate change while protecting their talented employees. Many of those top-level leaders will be sharing their astute visions for their companies during this award-winning, four-day event.”

    With even more sessions and guest speakers ready to be announced, Animag is offering a chance for L.A. locals to win free, all-inclusive tickets to attend the Summit (Mon.-Wed., Nov. 8-10). These passes grant access to all panels, speeches, networking meals and parties during the three-day conference (Awards Gala not included). Entrants must reside in the Los Angeles, Calif. area or be able to travel to N. Hollywood and provide own accommodation during the event. Winners must comply with the Summit’s Health & Safety Policy to attend. Enter to win a pair of tickets to the 2021 World Animation and VFX Summit by emailing your name and contact information to ramin@www.animationmagazine.net.

    Panels and talks:
    Mon., Nov. 8

    • 10 a.m. Opening Keynote: Jorge R. Gutierrez (Director/Creator, Maya and the Three)
    • 11 a.m.  Leading the Industry. With Kristine Belson (President, Sony Pictures Animation), Margie Cohn (President, DreamWorks Animation), Melissa Cobb (VP Kids & Family, Netflix), Ramsey Naito (President, Nickelodeon/Paramount Animation)
    • 12 pm.  Superstar Showrunners. With Megan Nicole Dong (Creator & EP, Centaurworld), John Harvatine IV (Robot Chicken, Crossing Swords, Marvel’s M.O.D.O.K.; Co-Founder, Stoopid Buddy Stoodios), Steve Loter (EP, The Ghost and Molly McGee), Aliki Theofilopoulos (EP, Doug Unplugs), Teddy Riley (EP/Co-Creator, Fairfax); Moderated by Brooke Keesling (Bento Box)
    • 2:30 p.m.  Award Season Feature Contenders, Part 1. Flee, Raya and the Last Dragon, Spirit Untamed, Vivo, Wish Dragon
    • 3:30 p.m.  Feature Contenders, Part 2. The Mitchells vs. the Machines, Encanto, Luca, The Boss Baby: Family Business, Ron’s Gone Wrong
    • 4:30 p.m.  L.A. Indie Animation Studio Panel. With BUCK, OddBot, Stoopid Buddy Stoodios, Titmouse.
    • 5:30 p.m.  L.A  Animation Studio Party. With a special spotlight on OddBot Animation’s 15th Anniversary.

    Tues., Nov. 9

    • 10 a.m. Guide to Selling Your Toon in 2021. With Kelli Bixler (Owner, Bix Pix), Gregory Little (SVP Content, Mainframe Studio), Vladimir Nikolaev (Co-Founder, Wizart) and Sander Schwartz (EP, Skylander Academy, Alien Xmas)
    • 11 a.m. Spotlight on Apple TV+’s New Animation Slate
    • 12 p.m. Animation Execs’ Recipe for Success. With Beth Cannon (VP TV, DreamWorks Animation), Emily Hart (SVP Development, Disney TV Animation), Kari Kim (VP Development, Nickelodeon Animation), Khoby Rowe (Exec Director of Animation, Fox Ent.)
    • 2:30 p.m. Spotlight on Nickelodeon’s Spectacular SpongeBob Multiverse. With exec producers and show runners Marc Ceccarelli and Vincent Waller.
    • 3:30 p.m. Toys, Parks and Toons: A Primer on Updating Popular Brands for New Audiences. With Liz Bartels (Manager, Global Content Planning, LEGO Group), Eric Calderon (EVP, Falcon’s Beyond Global), Christopher Keenan (SVP, Mattel), Brooke Patterson (SVP, Great Wolf Resorts)
    •  4:30 p.m. Animated Shorts Screening and Panel. Blush, Demi’s Panic, Far from the Tree, Namoo, Nona, Robin Robin, Steakhouse, Twenty Something, Us Again
    • 7:00 p.m.: Animated Shorts Cocktail Party

    Wed., Nov. 10

    • 10 a.m. How to Find the Right Global Partners. With David Michel (Founder/President, Cottonwood Media), Chris Henderson (Founder, AstroNomical), Dan Clark (Dan Clark Company), Frank Saperstein (Owner/CEO/EP, Surprise Bag). Moderated by Jan Nagel.
    • 11 a.m. The Business of Show Business. With Hillary Levi (Literary Manager, The Gotham Group), Anna Berthold (Agent, UTA), Mark Zavadskiy (CEO, Riki Group), Carol Contes, Jody Simon, Troy Underwood.
    • 12 p.m. Drawing on Diversity and Representation: The Next Steps. With Camille Eden (VP, Animation Recruitment, Nickelodeon), Jinko Gotoh (Producer, Klaus, Escape from Hat), Cort Lane (EP, My Little Pony: A New Generation), Silvia Olivas (Writer/EP, Maya and the Three), Michelle Wong (Producer, Vivo)
    • 2:30 p.m. Blending VR Tech and Animation. With Kim Adams (Nexus Studios), Jonathan Hagard (Director, Replacements), Shyam Kannapurakkaran (VR Production Tech Artist, Stargate Studios), Paul Mezier (EP, NoveLab), Erick Oh (Director, Namoo)
    • 3:30 p.m. The Quiet Revolution: Unleashing the Promise of Real Time. With The Third Floor’s Joshua Wassung (Founder), Dane Smith (VP), Connor Murphy (Virtual Production Manager), Motoki Nishii (Environmental Art Director)
    • 4:30 p.m.  Closing Keynote: A Fireside Chat with Clark Spencer (President, Walt Disney Animation Studios)
    • 5:30  p.m.  Closing Night Festivities

    Joining a roster of dozens of talented directors, producers and creatives as well as savvy executives previously announced, recently added panelists and speakers include:

    • Anne Berthold, Agent, UTA
    • Enrico Casarosa, Director, Luca
    • Marc Ceccarelli, Co-Exec Producer, The Patrick Star Show
    • Aphton Corbin, Director, Twenty Something
    • John Derevlany, Writer/Producer, Squish, The Muscleteers
    • Michael Favelle, CEO/Founder, Odin’s Eye Entertainment
    • Kelley Gardner, VP of Current Series Animation, Nickelodeon
    • Louis Gonzales, Director, Nona
    • Ben Kalina, COO, Titmouse
    • Brooke Keesling, Head of Animation Talent Development, Bento Box
    • Heather Kenyon, Head of Production & Development – Citizen Kids, Citizen Skull
    • Kari Kim, VP of Animation Development, Nickelodeon
    • Joe Mateo, Director, Blush
    • Dan Ojari, Director, Robin Robin
    • Brooke Patterson, Senior VP Brand Experiences, Great Wolf Resorts
    • Mikey Please, Director, Robin Robin
    • Frank Saperstein, Owner/CEO/Exec Producer, Surprise Bag
    • Clark Spencer, President, Walt Disney Animation Studios
    • Troy Underwood, Content Exec and Producer
    • Vincent Waller, Co-Exec Producer, The Patrick Star Show

    Health and Safety Policy: To ensure the safety of staff and guests, the World Animation & VFX Summit will require proof of approved vaccine administered at least two weeks prior to the Summit or a negative COVID test within 72 hours of attending the Summit. The event will also require a valid ID. Temperature checks will be conducted on all attendees upon arrival and masks are required to be worn at all times in accordance with L.A. County requirements.

    A huge thanks to our generous industry sponsors: Apple TV+, British Film Commission, CelAction, CNC (Centre National du Cinema et de l’Image Anime), Cottonwood Media, DreamWorks Animation, Film France, Fox Rothschild Attorneys at Law, The Gotham Group, Illumination, Mainframe Studios, Mattel TV, Netflix Animation, Nickelodeon, OddBot Animation, Pixar Animation Studios, Riki Group, Sony Pictures Animation, Walt Disney Animation Studio and Wizart Animation.

    Learn more and register to attend at www.animationmagazine.net/summit.

  • Lion Forge Animation Inks First-Look Deal with Alumni Pros Global Sports

    Lion Forge Animation Inks First-Look Deal with Alumni Pros Global Sports

    Alumni Pros Global Sports (APGS) has set an exclusive partnership with David Steward II’s Lion Forge Animation (Academy Award-winning short Hair Love), making the studio the official partner and producer of all animated content conceived by the hundreds of professional athletes within the APGS network. APGS advisors and investors include NBA Hall of Famers Julius “Dr. J” Erving, George Gervin, Spencer Haywood, Allen Iverson, Dikembe Mutombo and Mitch Richmond, NFL Hall of Famer Ray Lewis, and current NFL players Brandon Copeland and Tahir Whitehead.

    The partnership constructed by APGS co-founder Robert Smith and LFA producer Jimmy Thomas, both longtime mentees of the “Black God Father” Clarence Avant, will span long and short form episodic series as well as feature films, short films, and hybrid content creations from athletes globally. The two companies will unite as a powerhouse in creating animated content produced, written and distributed by current and retired professional athletes and for the first time in history give pro athletes the opportunity to pull their resources together to finance, produce, distribute and most of all participate in the IP ownership that they create.

    Lion Forge Animation is a recognized leader in bringing authentic content focusing on underrepresented groups to worldwide audiences and has a history of working with pro athletes. The studio was behind the Academy Award-winning, culturally resonating short Hair Love, directed by former pro athlete Matthew A. Cherry, and also behind the Andre the Giant graphic novel, as well as MMA Fighter Rampage Jackson’s comic book. Lion Forge Animation is one of the only Black-owned animation studios in the world and is unmatched in size and scale. It is the only Black-owned animation studio with an Oscar.

    APGS is an entertainment collective for professional athletes as well as retired pro athletes and those just starting their professional careers. By helping athletes manage their “Player Intellectual Property” (PIP), the company gives them better control over their own value, their brand, their business and their legacy.

    APGS gives sports fans unprecedented access into the interesting lives of professional athletes, both in and outside of their sport. With a reach of 285 million households globally through its network that includes PlayersTV (www.playerstv.com), the first ever athlete owned media network and content provider dedicated to showcasing sports lifestyle and entertainment, APGS stands behind its conviction that it is never too early or too late for an athlete to take control over their PIP.

    L-R: Carl Reed, Saxton Moore, Robert Smith, Jimmy Thomas, Jerome Williams, David Steward II, Matt Heath
    L-R: Carl Reed, Saxton Moore, Robert Smith, Jimmy Thomas, Jerome Williams, David Steward II, Matt Heath

    “The impact, influence and star power of athletes is accelerating rapidly and will continue on this trajectory as NIL rules, NFTs and new entertainment platforms expand creator economies fueled by content.,” said Steward, Founder of Lion Forge Animation. “APGS has been ahead of the curve in recognizing the value of athletes’ individual brands, their creations, and the connectivity to their fans. Couple this with the increased popularity and demand for animation content globally and we have an exciting journey ahead bringing athletes’ stories to life in uber creative ways that fans will love. The possibilities are endless.”

    “With Dear Basketball, Kobe Bryant demonstrated the power of animation and how a player’s legacy can live on beyond their playing days through their digital likeness,” said Jerome Williams, founder of APGS and retired NBA power forward. “Today, athletes and brands around the world recognize animation as the next frontier of name, image and likeness. Our partnership with Lion Forge gives athletes, particularly minority athletes, the unlimited potential to explore new avenues of storytelling and expand their creative horizons through animation.”

    Robert Smith, Co-Founder of APGS and IECP Fund Management said “When Clarence introduced us to the Steward Family, we immediately recognized the opportunity to take the torch and build upon the success of Lion Forge, by providing a platform that empowers athletes and influencers as storytellers. We are creating the Motown of Animation.”

    Lion Forge Animation is represented by Activist Artists Management.

    www.lionforgeanimation.com | www.alumniprosglobalsports.com