Animation Magazine

Author: Mercedes Milligan

  • People on the Move: Bardel’s New Top Execs, Cinesite Appoints London GM & VFX Supe & More

    Italy-based content group Rainbow has announced two key appointments at its Canadian studio Bardel Entertainment — a leading animation services provider in North America. Rainbow acquired the studio in 2015, combining a slate of original IPs and third-party properties under Bardel’s roof. Current projects include four more seasons of Netflix’s Emmy-winning The Dragon Prince and Adult Swim’s Emmy-winning Rick and Morty.

    Longtime EVP of Development & Production Tina Chow has been promoted to CEO. Chow joined Bardel in 2015 to strategize long-term growth for greenlighting new projects and co-development opportunities. In her previous role, she optimized workflow, advanced innovative strategies, and led creative excellence on all productions. With over 20 years of industry experience at established Vancouver animation studios, Chow brings a breadth of knowledge in all aspects of production from early visual development through to final delivery. Counting the production of over 400 episodes of diverse content (The Dragon Prince, winner of a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children’s Animated Series) she will lead Bardel forward pushing the boundaries of its steady growth thanks to her extensive expertise in the field.

    Richard Grieve steps into the role of COO after nearly a decade of continual progress on the team, having joined Bardel as an accomplished media and entertainment executive. As COO, he will oversee the financial and primary business operations, as well as focus on strategic planning. He identifies areas to expand the company’s presence in the marketplace by connecting with prospective partnerships. Richard’s recent credits include Netflix’s The Dragon Prince and Adult Swim’s Primetime Emmy Award-winning Rick and Morty. Going forward, Grieve will continue to manage Bardel’s strategic vision, optimizing studio operations to support the company’s growth initiatives.

    Tina Chow | Richard Grieve
    Tina Chow | Richard Grieve

    Antony Hunt, CEO of independent visual effects and animation studio Cinesite, today announced two new hires at its London headquarters. Established in 1994, the studio’s recent credits include Cyrano (MGM), Black Widow (Marvel Studios), No Time to Die (Eon) and The Addams Family 2 (MGM); the latter two titles are both in cinemas now. Its teams are currently in production on The Witcher S2 (Netflix), Wheel of Time (Amazon Studios) and Matilda (Netflix).

    Joce Capper, newly appointed General Manager, will oversee Cinesite London while working closely with Montreal colleagues and group VFX brands Image Engine and TRIXTER. She has over 25 years of experience managing and growing post-production and VFX companies such as Ascent Media & Deluxe Entertainment, most notably she was the Managing Director of Rushes for 16 years. Capper joins from Cinelab Film & Digital, where she was Creative Director. Her recent credits include Last Night in Soho, No Time to Die, The Electrical Life of Louis Wain, Censor and the multi-award-winning anthology film series Small Axe.

    Rebecca Manning will join the studio HQ as VFX Supervisor. Originally from Dublin with degrees in Biochemistry and Computer Science, Manning’s 18 years of experience covers everything from award-winning feature films such as The Jungle Book, Respect and Avatar to binge-worthy TV like Halston and Walking Dead making her a perfect fit for Cinesite’s varied client base and diverse range of visually distinct projects. During her career, she’s worked all over the globe at Weta, Framestore, MPC, Digital Domain and arrives from FuseFX, where she served as Digital Effects Supervisor & Head of 2D.

    Earlier in her career, Manning served as senior compositor on the films War for the Planet of the Apes and Mortal Engine. She was senior compositor for the team that won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects for The Jungle Book in 2017. (The film also won a VES Award for Compositing.) Additionally, she was part of the team that won the Oscar for Visual Effects for Avatar in 2010. Prior to this, Manning was a lead and look development artist at several companies and served as Head of Department at Framestore in London. Other notable credits include The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I. Manning previously served as Chair of the VES Society in London and remains actively involved with the VFX community.

    Rebecca Manning | Joce Capper
    Rebecca Manning | Joce Capper

    ViacomCBS Networks International (VCNI) has appointed Catherine Park as Senior Vice President, Head of Office & Streaming for Asia. Park will lead the Asian market and focus on accelerating streaming efforts (including Paramount+ and Nick+) in the region, while also working with the team to grow the local consumer products and location-based experiences business. This announcement follows recent news that former SVP & GM for Asia Pierre Cheung was leaving VCNI after six years.

    Park has more than two decades of experience in the entertainment and media industry, with a proven track record of leading businesses and driving growth for large media organisations, as well as successfully launching products with solid go-to-market strategies. She was most recently with Korea’s Coupang Corp. as Head of Content of its streaming service, Coupang Play.

    Catherine Park
    Catherine Park

    Portland, Oregon-based illustrator and animation director Sarah Beth Morgan has joined the director’s roster of multidisciplinary production studio Hornet (N.Y.C.) Her work (thus far) stands out as a blend of textural musings, graphic explorations, whimsical characters and an ability to weave it all together into a strong yet fluid narrative concept. This multilayered depth of visual storytelling can be seen across her work, from her short film Cocoon to commercial pieces which span murals for Chipotle, illustrations for Ecobee and animations for Bath & Body Works.

    Morgan grew up in Saudi Arabia, went to boarding school in Ohio and attended the motion graphics undergraduate program at SCAD. She worked in Los Angeles for two and half years and has been based in Portland for two years. Her commercial animation and illustration clients have also included Capital One and Google. Outside of direction, Morgan is also hugely passionate about her role as an online educator (having taught courses for Skillshare, Adobe and School of Motion) and an advocate for women in the industry.

    Sarah Beth Morgan
    Sarah Beth Morgan
  • ‘Cartoon Saloon’s Irish Folklore Trilogy’ Enchants on Deluxe Collector’s Set

    ‘Cartoon Saloon’s Irish Folklore Trilogy’ Enchants on Deluxe Collector’s Set

    Three treasured and critically-acclaimed animated films, The Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea and Wolfwalkers, will be released in Cartoon Saloon’s Irish Folklore Trilogy, a resplendent four-disc Blu-ray box set to be made available December 14 in North America from GKIDS, with distribution by Shout! Factory.

    Magic, fantasy and Celtic mythology come to life in Cartoon Saloon’s celebrated Irish Folklore Trilogy, featuring three Academy Award-nominated modern animated classics. The studio’s first film, The Secret of Kells, is a beautifully rendered tale of a master illuminator and his young apprentice; followed by the breathtakingly gorgeous Song of the Sea, the adventure of a mythical seal-child and her brother on a quest to save the spirit world and their latest triumph, Wolfwalkers, follows a young huntress and her friendship with a free-spirited wolf-girl.

    These culturally rich films celebrate the Irish heritage of the Kilkenny-based Cartoon Saloon filmmakers by looking at history through the lens of folklore, and the painstaking attention to detail and handcrafted animation utilized to do so are what makes these films so beloved by fans.

    The limited-edition Irish Folklore Trilogy box set features the exclusive Blu-ray presentation of the Wolfwalkers, as well as animatics and bonus features for the three films never released before in North America. This deluxe set is presented in beautiful and environmentally friendly packaging* that reflects each film’s loving depiction of the natural world, and the art includes an original illustration by Cartoon Saloon. Also included is an illuminating 2,000 word essay by film critic Andy Crump about the lauded animation studio Cartoon Saloon, the origins and creation of these incredible films, and their role in the world of animation and the world at large.

    Cartoon Saloon's Irish Folklore Trilogy
    Cartoon Saloon’s Irish Folklore Trilogy

    Special Features:

    The Secret of Kells

    • Audio Commentary with Filmmakers
    • Voices of Ireland
    • Director’s Presentation
    • Pencil-to-Picture
    • Aisling at the Oscars
    • And more

    Song of the Sea

    • Audio Commentary with Filmmakers
    • Behind the Scenes
    • The Art of Song of the Sea
    • Animation Tests
    • And more

    Wolfwalkers

    • Audio Commentary with Filmmakers
    • Voicing Wolfwalkers
    • “How to Draw” Demonstrations
    • The Music of Wolfwalkers
    • Behind “Running with the Wolves”
    • Trailers
    • And more

    Bonus Disc

    • Song of the Sea Animatic with Director’s Commentary
    • The Secret of Kells Animatic with Director’s Commentary
    • Wolfwalkers Animatic with Director’s Commentary
    • Reading of Pangur Bán by Mick Lally
    • And more

    (*Cartoon Saloon’s Irish Folklore Trilogy packaging is made of at least 50% recycled or renewable materials that are safe and sustainable for both individuals and the environment. The soy-based inks are non-toxic and 100% biodegradable.)

    gkids.com | shoutfactory.com

  • DDEG’s Saturday Animation Counts Down to 2nd Kids’ IP ‘Aiko and the Masters of Time’

    DDEG’s Saturday Animation Counts Down to 2nd Kids’ IP ‘Aiko and the Masters of Time’

    Saturday Animation Studio, a subsidiary of Montreal-based Digital Dimension Entertainment Group (DDEG) with a mission to “bring back the magic of Saturday mornings,” announces the development of its second original children’s UHD-CGI animated series, Aiko and the Masters of Time. The project is a 10 x 22′ serialized sci-fi action adventure for ages 7+, produced utilizing DDEG’s proprietary real-time pipeline based on Epic Games’ Unreal Engine.

    Co-created and co-developed by Guy Harvey, André Lavoie, Aaron Simpson, Fred Faubert and Louis-Simon Ménard, the series is set in an age after linear time has collapsed, and then reassembled as one combined era resulting in samurai, cowboys, knights, African warriors and Stone Age scavengers now living together in one mega-city. Two star-crossed teens from different factions, Aiko and Wyatt, are caught in a life and death race with powerful forces who are intent on upending this fragile, blended existence for their own dark purposes.

    Cookbook Media, which serves as Saturday Animation Studio’s global franchise management agency, will develop and implement a global distribution strategy for Aiko and the Masters of Time to include content, consumer products, publishing and digital activations. The agency will introduce the series to international buyers at this year’s MIPJunior market, along with Saturday Animation Studio’s first announced IP, Chase and CATCH.

    “Kids around the world will be rooting for our heroes Aiko and Wyatt in this mind-bending, thought-provoking, high-concept series that will deliver on all cylinders: action, adventure and sci-fi,” commented Fred Faubert, DDEG’s CCO and Showrunner. “Our real-time animation pipeline powered by Epic Games’ Unreal Engine, for which we have received prestigious grants, will allow us to bring the entire universe and characters to life across multiple dimensions.”

    Aiko and the Masters of Time
    Aiko and the Masters of Time

    Saturday Animation Studio, which quietly launched last year amid the COVID pandemic, specializes in 2D and 3D real-time animation of kids and family content and has multiple projects currently in various stages of development. Back in 2017, it pioneered the use of this Unreal Engine-based pipeline to produce Zafari for NBCUniversal, the world’s first series ever to be produced with real-time technology. An Epic Games MegaGrant recipient, other series produced by Saturday Animation Studio include The Beachbuds for Disney+ Hotstar, Sadie Sparks for Disney Channel, Helen’s Little School for BBC Kids and Discovery Kids, and Mighty Mike, co-owned and co-produced with TeamTO.

    Headquartered in Montreal, DDEG employs 200 people and has brought creative productions to broadcast around the world for more than 25 years. Its studios include Meduzarts Animation, Saturday Animation and KRAKN Animation, each of which is set to release new series in the upcoming months, including several original brands currently in development.

  • Toei & Fathom Toast ‘One Piece’s 1,000th Episode with ‘Strong World’ Theatrical Event

    Toei & Fathom Toast ‘One Piece’s 1,000th Episode with ‘Strong World’ Theatrical Event

    The Straw Hat Pirates will soon set sail in their 1,000th episode and U.S. fans can be part of a big screen celebration of One Piece with today’s announcement from Toei Animation and Fathom Events.

    To mark this major milestone for the franchise, Toei Animation has partnered with Fathom Events to present One Piece Film: Strong World across the United States as a special two-night theatrical event on November 7 (English Dub) & November 9 (English Sub) in select theaters via Fathom’s Digital Broadcast Network (DBN). This will be the first-ever U.S. theatrical release of the 2009 movie, written by creator Eiichiro Oda and 10th film in the One Piece franchise. As part of this special event, moviegoers will also experience the U.S. premiere of the One Piece: Mugiwara Chase featurette.

    Tickets for One Piece Film: Strong World will be available for purchase starting today at FathomEvents.com/OnePiece as well as at participating theater box offices. For a complete list of theater locations, visit the Fathom Events website (participating theaters are subject to change).

    One Piece Film: Strong World
    One Piece Film: Strong World

    “We are thrilled to bring One Piece Film: Strong World for the first time ever to U.S. theaters in celebration of One Piece‘s 1,000th series episode,” said Masayuki Endo, President & CEO of Toei Animation Inc. “One Piece fans across the United States can now experience this original film by creator Eiichiro Oda as it was meant to be — on the big screen!”

    “The One Piece franchise has been such a staple within the anime community, we can’t think of a better way to celebrate 1,000 episodes than bringing One Piece Film: Strong World to the big screen for the first time,” Fathom Events CEO Ray Nutt said. “We look forward to continuing our long-standing partnership with Toei Animation and to bring unique events to anime fans nationwide.”

    Synopsis: There’s gonna be a rumble in the jungle in One Piece Film: Strong World – an original One Piece movie written by creator Eiichiro Oda! When the Straw Hats catch wind of trouble in the peaceful waters of the East Blue, they quickly set a course for home! But before they reach their destination, fate leads them into the deadly path of Golden Lion Shiki. This gravity-defying madman needs a navigator, and he wants Nami! Shiki scatters the Straw Hats across the far corners of a floating island filled with ferocious, genetically-mutated monsters, and issues Nami and ultimatum: join his crew – or her friends die! BIG mistake. Luffy kicks his attack mode into Third Gear and begins a brutal rampage across the beast-ridden island. It’s all hands on deck – including a new character – for this watershed adventure in the One Piece canon. Monkey vs. Lion. Winner gets the navigator!

    toei-animation-usa.com | www.fathomevents.com

    One Piece Film: Strong World
    One Piece Film: Strong World
  • Exclusive Clip: ‘Rugrats’ Escape from Pre-K in New Ep. Guest Starring Charlet Chung

    Exclusive Clip: ‘Rugrats’ Escape from Pre-K in New Ep. Guest Starring Charlet Chung

    The reimagined Rugrats are getting into more diaper-filling adventures as eight new episodes bring Tommy, Chuckie, Angelica, Susie, Phil & Lil back to Paramount+ beginning Thursday, October 7. Inspired by the ’90s Nickelodeon classic, the CG-animated series was recently renewed for a 13-episode second season.

    In the all-new season one episodes, the babies will continue to find themselves in a variety of situations by using their wild imaginations, including defeating an “outer space villain,” traveling through Chuckie’s dad’s body, embarking upon a daring mission to break Angelica out of preschool and more. The new batch of episodes also includes a half-hour, Halloween-themed special where Tommy needs his friends’ help to save Angelica after she turns into a werewolf at a scary Halloween party as their parents seem to disappear one by one.

    Animation Magazine is happy to introduce fans to one of the luminous guest stars bringing some extra sparkle to the upcoming episodes with an exclusive clip. In the episode “Escape from Preschool,” Craig of the Creek voice star Charlet Chung plays Kimi Watanabe, Angelica’s eternally cheerful adversary at preschool. The character was first introduced in the movie Rugrats in Paris and, as Chuckie’s step sister, became a key character in the original Rugrats and its spin-off series All Grown Up!. She was originally voiced by Dionne Quan.

    Also joining the cast in this newborn batch of adventures are:

    • Raini Rodriguez (Bunk’d) as Gabi, Betty’s niece and the babies’ favorite babysitter ever, in “Great Minds Think Alike” and “Betty and the Beast.”
    • Henry Winkler (Monsters at Work) as Boris, Tommy’s Zayde, in “The Bubbe and Zayde Show.”
    • Swoosie Kurtz (Bless the Harts) as Minka, Tommy’s Bubbe, in “The Bubbe and Zayde Show.”
    • Ben Schwartz (HouseBroken) as Lord Crater, the pompous but truly evil villain of The Final Eclipse movie franchise, in “Final Eclipse.”

    They join series stars EG Daily (Tommy Pickles), Nancy Cartwright (Chuckie Finster), Cheryl Chase (Angelica Pickles), Cree Summer (Susie Carmichael) and Kath Soucie (Phil and Lil DeVille), reprising their roles, and new cast Ashley Rae Spillers and Tommy Dewey (Tommy’s parents, Didi and Stu Pickles); Tony Hale (Chuckie’s father, Chas Finster); Natalie Morales, (Phil and Lil’s mother, Betty DeVille); Anna Chlumsky and Timothy Simons (Angelica’s parents, Charlotte and Drew Pickles); Nicole Byer and Omar Miller (Susie’s parents, Lucy and Randy Carmichael); and Michael McKean (Grandpa Lou Pickles).

    Produced by Nickelodeon Animation Studio, the all-new Rugrats is based on the four-time Daytime Emmy Award, six-time Kids’ Choice Award and Hollywood Walk of Fame honored series created by Arlene Klasky, Gabor Csupo and Paul Germain, which marked its 30th anniversary on August 11. Eryk Casemiro (Rugrats) and Kate Boutilier (Rugrats) are executive producers and Dave Pressler (Robot and Monster) and Casey Leonard (Breadwinners) serve as co-executive producers, with Rachel Lipman (Rugrats) as co-producer and Kellie Smith (The Fairly OddParents) as line producer on season one.

  • Weird Market & 3D Wire Fest Announce 2021 Prize Winners

    Weird Market & 3D Wire Fest Announce 2021 Prize Winners

    The 13th edition of Weird Market, International Animation, Video Games and New Media Market and 3D Wire Fest, International Animation Festival toasts the present and the future of animation with a list of winners highlighting the best participating short films and projects. This year’s session of dual events was held on site at La Cárcel_Segovia Centro de Creación in Segovia, Spain from September 24 to October 2.

    In the 3D Wire Fest short film contest, Alberto Vázquez’s Homeless Home won the Best National Short Film Award. The three-time winner of the Goya Award thus adds a new accolade to his most recent work, which last June became the first Spanish short to win the Jury Award for Best Short Film at the prestigious French festival at Annecy. In this same section, Loop by Pablo Polledri received a special mention.

    Homeless Home
    Homeless Home

    The Best International Short Film Award went to the Souvenir Souvenir by Bastien Dubois (France), a renowned filmmaker whose debut Madagascar, a Journey Diary was nominated for the Oscars. The Croatian-Portuguese co-production All Those Sensations in My Belly by Marko Djeska wins the award for the best European work and A Film About a Pudding by Roel Van Beek (U.K.) received a special mention from the jury.

    The jury was made up of Polish producer Katarzyna Gromadzka, Head of the Children’s and Youth Department of the Portuguese public broadcaster (RTP) Andrea Basílio, French creator and producer Alex Laffaille, and Spanish director and screenwriter José Luis Ucha.

    Souvenir Souvenir
    Souvenir Souvenir

    For the Audience Award categories, Only a Child by Simone Giampaolo (Switzerland) won the international competition, while the Spanish-Argentine co-production Loop by Pablo Polledri won in the national section.

    This year, the Weird Market call for projects resulted in a 200-title selection across feature films, shorts, animated series, videogames, web series, transmedia projects, comics and board games.

    All Those Sensations in My Belly
    All Those Sensations in My Belly

    Roped by Carmen Córdoba won the Movistar+ Short Film Project Award. The award is endowed with the acquisition of the broadcasting rights of the short film by Movistar+ and an amount of 9,000 euros for a period of two years (unlimited number of passes), being the first year exclusively for the aforementioned channel. In addition, the work will be officially released in the 2022 or 2023 edition of Weird Market. Roped is the second short film by the Andalusian filmmaker, a rising star of the scene after accumulating more than a hundred awards with her debut film, Roberto.

    Only A Child
    Only A Child

    In the new talent section, the Best Young Creator Series project is Titan Tofu, by María Luquero (Spain). With this prize, she receives a free MIFA professional accreditation for the next edition of Annecy.

    Loop
    Loop

    Finally, RTVE has awarded three distinctions: Best Video Game Project was awarded to Call of the Sea by Out of the Blue Games, a work set in the confines of the South Pacific during 1934 and that was nominated for the BAFTA Games Awards. The Most Innovative Video Game Project is the horror title Desolatium: Prologue by Superlumen; and the RTVE Weird Plus Video Game Award, for the video game that breaks the mold, “the weird one,” has been for Dr. Kucha Games’ Moons of Darsalon, a retro-style adventure with influences from Abe Odyssey and Lemmings. All of these prizewinners have the chance to pitch to the Directorate of Interactives of RTVE.

    weirdmarket.es/en | 3dwire.es

    A Film about Pudding
    A Film about Pudding
  • ‘A Bite of Bone,’ ‘Bob Spit,’ ‘Night Bus’ & ‘Shaman’s Apprentice’ Win Big at Ottawa

    ‘A Bite of Bone,’ ‘Bob Spit,’ ‘Night Bus’ & ‘Shaman’s Apprentice’ Win Big at Ottawa

    North America’s largest event of its kind, the Ottawa International Animation Festival announced the winners of the 45th Anniversary of the Festival on Friday, with Honekami (A Bite of Bone), Bob Spit-We Do Not Like People and Night Bus taking top Prizes, while Canada’s Angakusajaujuq: The Shaman’s Apprentice walked away with two awards. Hosted online, this year’s festival received 2528 entries from 38 different countries from around the world. Winners were chosen from the 107 animated works selected for official competition.

    This year’s Competition Short Jury was guided by the expertise of Jodie Mack (United States), Anne Koizumi (Canada), the OIAF ‘20 winner for Best Narrative and Canadian Animation, and Kang Min Kim (United States), the OIAF ‘20 Grand Prize and Public Prize winner. The Competition Feature Jury was formed by Winnipeg animator Mike Maryniuk, Nadja Andrasev (Hungary) and Polish animator Mariusz Wilczyński, who took home the Animated Feature Grand Prize at OIAF ‘20. The Kids Jury included children from across North America between the ages of 8-12. The winners of the Young Audiences Preschool and Ages 6-12 Competitions were selected through the Kids Jury’s careful consideration.

    Angakusajaujuq: The Shaman's Apprentice
    Angakusajaujuq: The Shaman’s Apprentice

    As per tradition, the OIAF ‘21 award statues were designed by Ottawa-based, scrap metal artist Tick Tock Tom. The statues are working phénakisticopes featuring an animation by New York artist George Griffin.

    OIAF ‘21 continues online and in-person until Sunday, October 3. Throughout the weekend, audiences have the opportunity to watch the Official Competition screenings via VOD (OIAF Virtual Cinema), as well as behind-the-scenes talks and the retrospectives and special screenings. For those looking to attend in-person screenings in Ottawa, Archipelago (Félix Dufour-Laperrière) and The Best of Ottawa: Canadian Edition are screening at the recently reopened ByTowne Cinema on October 3 (COVID safety measures apply).

    And the winners are…

    Bob Spit - We Do Not Like People
    Bob Spit – We Do Not Like People

    Grand Prize for Short Animation: Honekami (A Bite of Bone) | Honami Yano | Japan

    Jury Comment: This film was made on top of traditional techniques. But it has the power to lead us in a new direction. In an image composed of dots, we freely cross places and memories as if we are all small dots. After looking at the work, we can see why the director used these techniques. And it leaves a long lingering impression.

    Grand Prize for Animated Feature: Bob Spit – We Do Not Like People | Cesar Cabral | Brazil

    Jury Comment: For its melange of mainstream and DIY, documentary and fiction, ingenious and visually attractive story of an artist and his universe, the Grand Prize goes to Bob Spit – We Do Not Like People by Cesar Cabral, Brazil.

    Special Mention: Elulu | Gabriel Verdugo Soto | Chile

    Night Bus
    Night Bus

    Public Prize: Night Bus | Joe Hsieh | Taiwan

    Canadian Film Institute Award for Best Canadian Animation: The Shaman’s Apprentice | Zacharias Kunuk | Canada

    Special Mention: Meneath: The Island of Hidden Ethics | Terril Calder | Canada

    Vimeo Staff Pick Award: Un kilomètre à pied (Ten, Twenty, Thirty, Forty, Fifty Miles a Day) | Mathieu Georis | Belgium

    Best Non-Narrative Short: Anxious Body | Yoriko Mizushiri | France and Japan

    Jury Comment: Without visual texture, the film touches our bodies through its visceral fusion of the subconscious, unconscious, and conscious states of the mind and body.

    Anxious Body
    Anxious Body

    Best Narrative Short: Angakusajaujuq: The Shaman’s Apprentice | Zacharias Kunuk | Canada

    Jury Comment: The Shaman’s Apprentice is a masterful work of storytelling and the sharing of traditional Inuit knowledge utilizing impeccably detailed sets, costumes, props and puppets and told beautifully with precision and care. Using the Arctic landscape as a metaphor to the spiritual world, Zacharias Kunuk invites us to learn about Inuit shamanism and spirituality, a part of Inuit culture that was hidden for so long by colonialism. Like the Shaman, Kunuk transmits his knowledge and teachings through this film, and it is as if he is turning to us at the end and asking, “What have we learned?”

    Bento Box Award for Best Student Animation: Space | Zhong Xian | United Kingdom

    Jury Comment: Space moves us through the cyclical nature of falling in and out of love with swooping shots, original and playful transitions, a simple yet bold and expressive style, and shows us that love, like animation, can be a cycle that repeats itself.

    You Sold My Rollerskates?
    You Sold My Rollerskates?

    Animation for Young Audiences (Preschool) Competition: Bémol | Oana Lacroix | Switzerland

    Special Mention 1: Konigiri-Kun Concert | Mari Miyazawa | Japan

    Special Mention 2: S Is for Spiders | Warren Brown | Canada

    Special Mention 3: Ink | Erik Verkerk & Joost van den Bosch | The Netherlands

    Animation for Young Audiences (Ages 6-12) Competition: T’as vendu mes rollers (You Sold My Rollerskates?) | Margaux Cazal, Jeanne Hammel, Louis Holmes, Sandy Lachkar, Agathe Leroux & Léa Rey-Mauzaize | France

    Special Mention: Only a Child | Simones Giampaolo | Switzerland

    Animated Series Competition: One Day at a Time “The Politics Episode” | M.R. Horhager & Phill Lewis | United States and Canada

    One Day at a Time "The Politics Episode"
    One Day at a Time “The Politics Episode”

    Virtual Reality Competition: Strands of Mind | Adrian Meyer | Germany

    Commissioned: Johnny Flynn and Robert Macfarlane “Ten Degrees of Strange” | Lynn Tomlinson | United States and United Kingdom

    Canadian Student Competition: Don’t Think about Her | Liza Desya | Sheridan College

    Special Mention 1: Fleeting: Here and There | Gilnaz Arzpeyma | Concordia University

    Special Mention 2: The GOAT | Alexandra Ouchev | Dawson College

    Best Script: All Those Sensations in My Belly | Marko Djeska | Croatia and Portugal

    Best Design: Abandoned Village | Mariam Kapanadze | Georgia

    Best Animation Technique: Steakhouse | Špela Čadež | Slovenia, Germany, and France

    Best Sound Design: A Family That Steals Dogs | John C. Kelley | United States

    Jury Comment: A Family That Steals Dogs uses sound to enhance an already visually compelling portrayal of the loneliness of grief and the consequential chaos in the mind. The comforting sounds of fire crackling and rain falling make us feel more isolated while the otherworldly tones are hauntingly soothing, reinforcing the tension between the protagonist’s conflicting thoughts and emotions as we become familiar with the unfamiliar and vice versa.

    www.animationfestival.ca

    Strands of Mind (VR)
    Strands of Mind (VR)
  • New Euro Toon Talents Rise to the Challenge at Cartoon Springboard

    New Euro Toon Talents Rise to the Challenge at Cartoon Springboard

    For the third year in a row, Valencia will host the Cartoon Springboard pitching event for new animation talents, to be held October 26-28 in this Spanish Mediterranean city. A total of 24 projects involving 39 young directors graduated from 22 animation schools across Europe within the last five years will be pitched to a panel of experts and professionals from the sector.

    Organized by CARTOON, Cartoon Springboard aims to help future European animation professionals to break into the market and enhance their projects, including series, films and TV specials. Since its creation in 2015, it has turned into a must-attend event for producers looking for new projects or interested in discovering new talents. Over the past few years, 25 projects were selected for Cartoon Forum and Cartoon Movie following their participation in Cartoon Springboard, confirming the value of this successful initiative. The program is supported by the Creative Europe MEDIA program, the Generalitat Valenciana, the Institut Valencià de Cultura and the Universitat Politècnica de València.

    Cartoon Springboard 2021
    Cartoon Springboard 2021

    TV series are the dominant format at Cartoon Springboard 2021, accounting for 70% of the projects, but the selection also includes three feature films, one TV special and one project designed for new media platforms. Most of the directors are making their debut behind the camera, while half of the works are directed by two directors. Women make up 65% of the 39 directors.

    France leads the selection with six projects by graduates from Gobelins – L’Ecole de l’Image, École de la Cité, ECV Bordeaux, Emile Cohl Atelier and EMCA – École des Métiers du Cinéma d’Animation. Italy and Germany ranks second with four projects each; the former’s by alumni from NAS – New Animation in Sardegna, Nemo Academy, Civica scuola di cinema Luchino Visconti and Scuola Romana dei fumetti; the latter’s hailing from Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, ifs internationale filmschule köln and Hochschule Darmstadt – University of Applied Sciences. Hungary participates with three projects by former students of Moholy-Nagy University of Art & Design and Budapest’s University of Theatre and Film Arts.

    The selection also includes projects by graduates from the LUCA School of Arts and ENSAV – La Cambre (Belgium), Faculty of Political Science of Zagreb University (Croatia), The Animation Workshop/VIA University College (Denmark), Animation Dingle The Big Pitcher (presented by Jam Media) and Athlone Institute of Technology (Ireland), and Barcelona’s La Salle-URL and L’idem (Spain). One project is presented by students in their final year of graduation.

    France dominates participation, with projects including (Top L-R)  Am'Rote (Gobelins), And the Sea Will Burn (École de la Cité), Just Like a Last Summer Day (EMCA); (Bottom L-R) The Tales of Provence (Emile Cohl), The Sleeping Beauty Chronicles (Centro de Capacitación Cinematográfica; Mexico/France), Atlas and the Hidden Doors (ECV Bordeaux).
    France dominates participation, with projects including (Top L-R)  Am’Rote (Gobelins), And the Sea Will Burn (École de la Cité), Just Like a Last Summer Day (EMCA); (Bottom L-R) The Tales of Provence (Emile Cohl), The Sleeping Beauty Chronicles (Centro de Capacitación Cinematográfica; Mexico/France), Atlas and the Hidden Doors (ECV Bordeaux).

    Once again, Cartoon Springboard’s selection stands out for its diversity of genres, including comedy, drama, adventure, fantasy and animated documentaries, among others. This rich variety is also reflected in the themes addressed by the works, which range across female empowerment, migration, environmental issues, mental disorders, patchwork families or stories that seek to inspire social change, to name but a few. The stories are set in a wide array of settings, from the Amazon and other actual spots on our planet, to fantasy worlds, distant universes, extinct civilisations, micro-worlds and beyond.

    Building on a trend detected last year, animation aimed at young-adult audiences rises to the top with seven works, followed by projects for family audiences with six works. The selection also includes four works each aimed at preschoolers and children, and three for teenagers. Most of the projects are created in 2D animation except for two in 3D, one in stop-motion and three using hybrid animation.

    Projects aimed at YA audiences include (Top L-R) Carmilla (Germany), Trixie the Pixie (Hungary), Part of You (Spain); (Bottom L-R) Riots (Denmark), Chakra Warriors (Italy), Kira & Prokki (Germany). 
    Projects aimed at YA audiences include (Top L-R) Carmilla (Germany), Trixie the Pixie (Hungary), Part of You (Spain); (Bottom L-R) Riots (Denmark), Chakra Warriors (Italy), Kira & Prokki (Germany).

    Confirming the sector’s interest in discovering and supporting new talents, half of the projects have already secured a producer partner, including Story House (Belgium), TETRABOT (Croatia), Icare Entertainment and Yabunousagi (France), Blaue Pampelmuse and TWENTYTWO Film (Germany), CUB Animation and ULab (Hungary), JAM Media (Ireland), and Foore animation, Flora’s Room and Lumiar (Italy).

    Some of the experts offering their advice to the young talents are broadcasters, producers and distributors including Lucie Canault (France Télévisions), Telidja Klaï (Ketnet-VRT), Sarah Muller (BBC), Paula Taborda dos Guaranys (Planeta Junior) and Eleanor Coleman (Blue Spirit Productions/Indie Sales), among others. The complete list of experts participating in the event is available here.

    Participants will also have the opportunity to attend a number of keynotes, including “Understanding Your Audience” by Telidja Klaï (Ketnet-VRT, Belgium), “Shooom and Picolo Pictures: What an Odyssey!” by Claire Paoletti (Picolo Pictures, France), “Evolution of Animation in Filmin” by Elodie Mellado de la Cruz (Filmin, Spain), and “Animation and Publishing” by Julien Papelier (Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuel, France).

    View all of the projects selected for Cartoon Springboard 2021 here. More information at www.cartoon-media.eu.

    Top L-R: Stories of Glas (Germany), The Mission (Belgium), The Cat Hotel (Spain); Bottom L-R: The World of Las (Italy), Fishing Stars (Italy), Pandy Show (Croatia).
    Top L-R: Stories of Glas (Germany), The Mission (Belgium), The Cat Hotel (Spain); Bottom L-R: The World of Las (Italy), Fishing Stars (Italy), Pandy Show (Croatia).
  • Moonbug Launches 3D Animated ‘Blippi Wonders’ Cartoon

    Moonbug Launches 3D Animated ‘Blippi Wonders’ Cartoon

    Moonbug Entertainment Ltd. has created and is releasing a new 3D animated program starring the contagiously curious character, Blippi. Blippi Wonders follows Blippi as his curiosity leads him on adventures that inspire learning through discovery and play. The new program launched Sept. 29 on YouTube, with a new three-minute episode airing each Tuesday and you can find the first episode here.

    “Blippi Wonders captures the spirit of our live-action program while allowing Blippi to take adventures he could never go on before,” said Katelynn Heil, General Manager of Blippi at Moonbug Entertainment. “This program promotes the themes important to early child development: curiosity, adventure, friendship, inclusion and independence. We cannot wait for families to watch Blippi in this new format.”

    This will be the first time Blippi will be available as a CG cartoon. In this new animated show, the ever curious Blippi sets off on comedic and fun adventures in his BlippiMobile along with his new, faithful sidekicks Tabbs and Fetch, who help him find the answers to his questions about the world, while making new friends along the way.

    Blippi started as an online live-action, educational children’s show for kids ages 2-5 years old. In the few years since the show was first created, Blippi has become one of the world’s most popular preschool entertainers, with more than one billion views per month on YouTube and over 30 million dedicated followers. Blippi content is available in eight different languages and on a range of streaming platforms, including HBO Max LatAm, Spacetoons, Hulu, Amazon Kids Plus, Peacock, Virgin Media, Roku, FutureToday, Kidoodle and Sky Kids.

    moonbug.com/shows

  • Funimation Slates ‘Sword Art Online the Movie’; Tix on Sale for ‘My Hero Academia: World Heroes’ Mission’

    Funimation Slates ‘Sword Art Online the Movie’; Tix on Sale for ‘My Hero Academia: World Heroes’ Mission’

    Funimation, the market leader in anime globally, along with partner Aniplex of America, will be releasing a brand new theatrical adventure Sword Art Online the Movie -Progressive- Aria of a Starless Night, part of the official canon of the long-running anime series.

    The film will be released in theaters and on IMAX screens on December 3 in the United States and Canada (with tickets on sale November 5); December 9 in Australia and New Zealand (with tickets on sale November 9); and coming soon to the United Kingdom, Ireland and Latin America. The film will be released both in Japanese with English subtitles as well as dubbed in English.

    Based on the original story from Reki Kawahara (Dengeki Bunko), Sword Art Online the Movie -Progressive- Aria of a Starless Night travels back to the beginning of the saga where players find themselves trapped inside the world’s first VRMMORPG, Sword Art Online, with no way out. The film introduces the story through Asuna’s perspective as she struggles to cope with the realities of her new world and her fateful encounter with Kirito. The film also introduces a new mysterious character, Mito, but not much is known about her.

    The film is directed by Ayako Kono with animation production from A-1 Pictures. The cast features Yoshitsugu Matsuoka (Japanese voice) / Bryce Papenbrook (English voice) as Kirito, Haruka Tomatsu (Japanese voice) / Cherami Leigh (English voice) as Asuan, and Inori Minase (Japanese voice) as Mito.

    Meanwhile, fans of Deku and co. are preparing for the theatrical arrival of My Hero Academia: World Heroes’ Mission this month. Tickets are on sale starting today in the United States and Canada at Fandango.com; starting October 5 in Australia and New Zealand; and from October 8 for the U.K. and Ireland.

    The film, shown in both English subtitles and dub, arrives in more than 1,500 theaters in the United States and Canada on October 29; in the United Kingdom and Ireland (October 29); Australia, New Zealand and South Africa (October 28), and coming soon to Latin America (in Spanish and Portuguese). The film opens on November 11 in Denmark, Norway and Iceland. with tickets on sale October 8; opens in Sweden on October 29 and coming soon to Finland through Funimation Global Group’s Wakanim, all with subtitles in English as well as in each country’s corresponding language (except Iceland).

    Not only will fans get to see the anime blockbuster first on opening weekend, Funimation is also giving away a My Hero Academia: World Heroes’ Mission Vol. W Specialty Manga Booklet to ticket holders in the U.S. and Canada on opening weekend. The 76-page collectible book gives an unprecedented look inside the making of the movie, including original drawings of characters by manga creator Kohei Horikoshi along with a Q&A. It also includes a specialty manga. Limit one book per ticket holder, while supplies last.

    In My Hero Academia: World Heroes’ Mission, U.A. High School students Izuku Midoriya, Shoto Todoroki, and Katsuki Bakugo face the greatest crisis in My Hero Academia history, with only two hours to save the world! During their internship with the number one Pro Hero Endeavor Agency, Deku and his new friend Rody find themselves wanted nationwide for a crime they didn’t commit. Can Deku and his friends stop Humarise’s global plans of eliminating all Quirks? This film is not yet rated.

    My Hero Academia: World Heroes’ Mission is the third My Hero Academia film and comes on the heels of the launch of the fifth season of the My Hero Academia series currently streaming on Funimation. The previous two films are My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising (2020) and My Hero Academia: Two Heroes (2018).

  • Mondo TV’s Iberoamérica and Producciones Canarias Unite as Mondo TV Studios S.A.

    Mondo TV’s Iberoamérica and Producciones Canarias Unite as Mondo TV Studios S.A.

    Two Mondo TV divisions – Mondo TV Iberoamérica and Mondo TV Producciones Canarias – are now operating together under the Mondo TV Studios S.A. name.

    Prior to the merger, Mondo TV Iberoamérica S.A. focused on the production of both animated and live-action content for Spain, Portugal, Latin America and the Spanish-speaking U.S., as well as distribution of the Mondo TV portfolio and third-party content in those regions. More recently, Mondo TV Iberoamérica successfully expanded into the development of TV fiction for adult audiences.

    From its inception, Mondo TV Producciones Canarias specialized in pre-production and 2D production. After the opening and upgrade of its facilities in 2020, its portfolio grew to include 3D CGI production as well as animation services for any third-party project. The company was also active as co-producer on a number of successful animated kids’ shows – including Bat Pat 2 and Nina & Olga, to name only two – and had begun to enter into new business areas such as video games.

    Mondo TV Studios S.A will bring together all these skills, offering a wide range of animation services as well as production, co-production and distribution, aiming to be an international point of reference for high-quality content productions.

    The merger is part of a process of restructuring and reorganization of the two groups’ activities that will allow the integrated company to organize its output more efficiently, to consolidate its services and to streamline its procedures.

    The integration of the two businesses is based on a reverse merger through which subsidiary Mondo TV Producciones Canarias has absorbed Mondo TV Iberoamérica. Mondo TV Studios’ headquarters will be in strategically located new offices in Tenerife, Canary Islands, the opening of which was announced in 2020.

    This change comes after months of intense activity, during which both companies have added more services and expanded. With two former divisions now operating under one brand, Mondo TV Studios is expected not only to be stronger, but to be more flexible, agile and competitive.

    “The audiovisual industry has been experiencing a wave of accelerated innovation, one that has inspired us to strengthen our business model and boost our production capacities,” said Maria Bonaria Fols, CEO of Mondo TV Studios. “This is, we believe, an ideal time to unite what were two business brands, merging them to create one company, a company with the same values but much better positioned for the challenges and opportunities of the future.”

    The legal aspects of the merger were handled by law firm Andersen.

  • Trailer: ‘Chuck Steel: Night of the Trampires’ Blasts into Cinemas

    Trailer: ‘Chuck Steel: Night of the Trampires’ Blasts into Cinemas

    Animortal Studios announces that its British-made stop-motion animated feature Chuck Steel: Night of the Trampires will bring its outrageous, horror-tinged, action-comedy mayhem into U.K. cinemas on Friday October 29, just in time for Halloween.

    It’s not 1985 anymore … it’s 1986, and Chuck Steel is ‘the best God damn cop on the force.’ But even this maverick, renegade, loose-cannon, lone wolf, cop on the edge, who doesn’t play by the rules, has his work cut out when he discovers an evil is about to descend on the city of Los Angeles: the scourge of the “trampires” – mutant hybrids of vampire and tramp!

    From the fevered imagination of two-time BAFTA-winning writer/director, Mike Mort (Gogs), and featuring the voices of U.K. comedy legends Jennifer Saunders (Absolutely Fabulous) and Paul Whitehouse (The Fast Show) alongside Mort’s, this homage to ’80s B-movie excess has won over critics and took home the Gold Audience Award at the Fantasia fest for genre films.

    Chuck Steel: Night of the Trampires
    Chuck Steel: Night of the Trampires

    Ever since Mort’s short film Raging Balls of Steel Justice exploded onto the scene back in 2013, Chuck Steel has been kicking ass, including multiple transmissions on Film4, wowing audiences at Frightfest, and building up a core fan base desperate to see more. Now, blasting exclusively onto the big screen in Chuck Steel: Night of the Trampires, his first full-length feature film, and a wholly British independent production made in Wales, Chuck is bigger, bolder and … ballsier!

    www.animortalstudio.com

    Chuck Steel: Night of the Trampires poster
    Chuck Steel: Night of the Trampires poster
  • Blue Zoo Secures B Corp Certification for Positive Impact

    Blue Zoo Secures B Corp Certification for Positive Impact

    Blue Zoo Animation Studio (U.K.) is the first major animation studio in the world to receive B Corporation certification, and is challenging the animation and VFX industry to join and evolve to use the power of animation for good.

    The studio has been independently certified by B Lab, a non-profit organization who awards the B Corp certification. With the catastrophic impact that businesses are having upon people and the planet, the B Corp certification verifies companies who are working to improve the lives of staff as well as industries as a whole. The exhaustive certification process involves over 170 rigorous metrics to improve the lives of its workers, customers, suppliers and the local community, ensuring the company is not just saying they are ethical, but evidencing it.

    Working towards B Corp has helped Blue Zoo with its mission to build an animation studio with heart, putting people and teams first. Blue Zoo strives to foster a culture where talented, happy and diverse teams are nurtured in a positive environment, creating animations that they are utterly proud to have made together. On top of this, the animations made by the studio primarily focus on joyful, comedic and educational content, using the power of animation to have a positive impact on people’s lives.

    An example of this is the BAFTA-winning show Numberblocks, animated by Blue Zoo, which helps teach children tricky mathematical subjects. The show has been so popular that the U.K. school curriculum has been brought forward to accommodate children’s improved understanding of maths. During the pandemic, Numberblocks saw a huge rise in views on BBC iPlayer as well over a hundred million views on YouTube.

    As part of B Corp’s focus on environmental impact, the studio has pledged to reduce its total emissions by 21% for 2023 and by 42% for 2028 in order to meet the goals set by the Paris Agreement. Blue Zoo’s roadmap to this objective includes continuous measurement and reduction of electricity usage, business travel, non-ethical purchasing, water usage and waste disposal.

    Furthermore, the studio is actively involved in supporting diversity and inclusion programs to build a more welcoming industry from the inside out, with staff leading and volunteering in many organizations, including working with ACCESS:VFX, ScreenSkills, and NextGen Skills Academy; and running initiatives such as the Young Animator of the Year competition, which works to discover and champion new animation talent from all backgrounds.

    “We’re hugely proud to be the world’s first major animation studio to be B Corp Certified! We see this as a pioneering move and a step in the right direction to building a better industry,” said studio Co-Founder Tom Box. “We want to ensure our animations are impacting audiences in positive ways, but also make sure we’re helping shape their future world too. Just saying it on a mission statement or website is not enough. B Corp holds us to account in a transparent way, to make sure we’re actually doing it.”

    Chris Turner, Executive Director of B Lab UK, commented, “We are delighted to welcome Blue Zoo to the B Corp community. This is a movement of companies who are committed to changing how business operates and believe business really can be a force for good. Welcoming Blue Zoo is an exciting moment because they have an opportunity to lead the way within the animation industry. We and the rest of the B Corp community are really pleased to support Blue Zoo in paving the way for a new way of doing things.”

  • Trailer: The Hunt for Fun Is on in ‘Monster Family 2: Nobody’s Perfect’

    Trailer: The Hunt for Fun Is on in ‘Monster Family 2: Nobody’s Perfect’

    VivaKids is gearing up for its biggest theatrical engagement yet with the animated comedy-adventure Monster Family 2: Nobody’s Perfect — a CG creature feature coming to over 100 screens nationwide on October 15. The sequel to 2017’s Monster Family (a.k.a. Happy Family) from Ambient Ent., Rothkirch Cartoon Film and Timeless Films has dropped a new preview of the Wishbone family’s latest creepy quest.

    The Wishbones are a happy family – but not all is perfect. Max and Fay are struggling with the pressures of growing up, while Mom and Dad have the demands of work and parenting; but their hum-drum life is about to change. Mila Starr, a monster hunter, has made it her mission to capture all spooky creatures including the Wishbone’s friends King Conga, The Loch Ness Monster, and The Yeti. In order to save their friends, the Wishbone’s must transform into monsters themselves. Together as a Vampire, Mummy, Werewolf, and Frankenstein, the family take off on the most monst-umental adventure of their lives.

    Monster Family 2 features the voices of Emily Watson, Jason Isaacs, Nick Frost, Jessica Brown Findlay, Catherine Tate, Ethan Rouse and Emily Carey. The PG-rated film is directed by Holger Tappe and written by David Safier.

    VivaKids will also be releasing this title to Digital and On Demand outlets on January 4, 2022.

    Monster Family 2: Nobody's Perfect poster
    Monster Family 2: Nobody’s Perfect poster
  • ‘Star Trek: Prodigy’ to Premiere at MIP; Project Pitches & Diversify Nominees Announced

    ‘Star Trek: Prodigy’ to Premiere at MIP; Project Pitches & Diversify Nominees Announced

    Global entertainment content market MIPCOM (October 11-14, Cannes) has added the International Premiere Screening of new animated kids’ series Star Trek: Prodigy to its line up of market screenings and content showcases. The International Premiere will take place on Tuesday, October 12 from 15:15 to 16:15 in the Grand Auditorium of the Palais des Festivals.

    Developed by Emmy Award winners Kevin and Dan Hageman (Trollhunters, Ninjago), the CG-animated series Star Trek: Prodigy is the first Star Trek series aimed at younger audiences, and will follow a motley crew of young aliens who must figure out how to work together while navigating a greater galaxy, in search of a better future. These six young outcasts know nothing about the ship they have commandeered – a first in the history of the Star Trek franchise – but over the course of their adventures together, they will each be introduced to Starfleet and the ideals it represents.

    Star Trek: Prodigy is from CBS’ Eye Animation Productions, Nickelodeon Animation Studio, Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment. Alex Kurtzman, Heather Kadin, Katie Krentz, Rod Roddenberry and Trevor Roth serve as executive producers alongside co-showrunners Kevin and Dan Hageman. Ben Hibon directs, co-executive produces and serves as the creative lead of the all-new animated series. Aaron Baiers also serves as co-executive producer. Distributed by ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group. Series debuts on Paramount+ in the U.S. on October 28 with a one-hour premiere episode, and will also be available to stream on Paramount+ in international territories including Latin America, the Nordics and Australia.

    Read more about the series in the November ’21 issue of Animation Magazine.

    MIPJunior Project Pitch 2021 finalists.
    MIPJunior Project Pitch 2021 finalists.

    Part of the simultaneous MIPJunior programming, the MIPJunior Project Pitch is a unique pitching competition highlighting new Kids TV projects with the greatest potential for commissioning and multiplatform extension. Dedicated to all creators and producers seeking financing for projects in development. This year, four out of five of the finalists are animated projects:

    • Florida (Paper Owl Films, U.K.) Preschool, 52 x 11′, in development (25-75% financed): Florida is nothing if not a wholehearted embracer of change. An eternal optimist, she sees opportunities for fun and funny wherever she goes. Some might call this mischief … she prefers “experiment.” With the help of her new friends RP, Birdee & Lil’ Bulb, Florida helps the characters she meets in Ms. G’s G.E.M. shop find a new purpose in the world.
    • LoodleVille (SMF Studio, Russia) Kids, 52 x 7′, in production (more than 75% financed): Hidden on top of a snow capped mountain stands the quaint and quirky town of Loodleville, home of the Loodles — an unusual group of cute little Yeti, including Anne, her brother Boo, Mom and Dad, and their dog, Garbanzo. Life for the Loodles may seem just like our own, except it’s quite a bit smaller and a whole lot sillier! Luckily, Anne has her one and only Loodle Doodle Book. When she needs to, Anne can swipe one of her doodles into reality to get her out of a tricky situation, but if she’s not careful, she might make it even worse … Welcome to Loodleville!
    • Princess Arabella (Phanta Animation, Netherlands) Preschool, 26 x 7′, early stage (0-25% financed): In the series, we follow the humoristic, creative and emotional adventures of a brown-skinned princess and her friends and family. Living in a street where everybody is royal, and all the houses are castles and palaces, there are always things to do and discover. Each episode covers one day in Arabella’s life with a new adventure. And although all the characters are kings, queens, princes and princesses, nothing human is strange to them. The same goes for Arabella.
    • ForkFish (Anthem Studios, U.K.) Kids, 13 x 22′, early stage (0-25% financed): A super fun, mockumentary-style show that follows the antics of Forkfish and his friends as he itches to experience all that living on land can be. Forkfish arrived in the coastal town of Forkville one morning when a boardwalk fork statue was accidentally knocked into the water, giving him the ability to walk and talk. With its history as the birthplace of the fork, most of the town embrace Forkfish as a hero, as he navigates living on land and avoiding the fisherman.
    • Ssopa (Northern Fable, Sweden) Live action, tweens & teens, 15 x 10′, early stage (0-25% financed): A series that brings life to dreams and drama, friendship and romance. We explore the challenges of moving to a new city through the eyes of Emma who has just been accepted to the most prestigious dance, music and art school in Sweden, SSOPA.

    The finalist pitch session will be held Monday, October 11 from 14.45-15.30 in the Esterel (Palais 5). Jury members for 2021 are Nicole Keeb, Head of International co-productions and acquisitions for children and youth, ZDF (Germany); Stephen Hodge, CEO, OTTera (U.S.A.); and Irene Potecary Huse, Acquisitions Executive, NRK (Norway).

    MIPCOM Diversify TV Excellence Awards, preschool nominees.
    MIPCOM Diversify TV Excellence Awards, preschool nominees.

    This year’s confab will also see the fifth edition of the MIPCOM Diversify TV Excellence Awards, with the winners to be announced in a ceremony Wednesday, October 13 from 16-17.00 in the Grand Auditorium at the Palais des Festivals which will be livestreamed worldwide via MIPCOM Digital and affiliated platforms. Rising star Salif Cissé (Mental, Couronnes, upcoming Endless Night) will preside as Master of Ceremonies. This year’s Variety Creative Change Award will be bestowed on Oscar-nominated actor, writer, producer and musician Riz Ahmed.

    Dedicated to championing and promoting diversity and inclusion in all its forms across the international television industry, MIPCOM Diversify TV Excellence Awards recognize standout programming that challenges stereotypes, provides fair and balanced representation and exemplifies originality and excellence in storytelling, casting and production values. The 24 finalists were chosen from a record number of submissions by the Pre-Selection Jury made up of the MIP Markets Diversity Advisory Board and  a panel of industry experts. The winning programmes will be chosen by charitable organisations that campaign for equality and inclusion, including Fondation Mozaïk, GLAAD, GADIM, Mencap, Minority Rights Group, SCOPE, Show Racism the Red Card, Stonewall. Animation reigns supreme in the pre-k finalists; find the full list of nominees here.

    MIPCOM Diversify TV Excellence Award for Representation of Diversity in Kids’ Programming – Preschool:

    • 16 Hudson – Production company: Big Bad Boo Studios. Distributor: Big Bad Boo Studios. Original Broadcaster: TVO. (Canada)
    • JoJo & Gran Gran – Production company: BBC Children’s In-House Productions for CBeebies in collaboration with A Productions. Distributor: CBeebies. Original Broadcaster: CBeebies and BBC iPlayer. (United Kingdom)
    • Mira, Royal Detective – Production company: Wild Canary Animation / Technicolor India. Distributor: Disney. Original Broadcaster: Disney Junior. (United States)

    Much more compelling content, networking opportunities and informative sessions await at the streamlined 2021 MIPCOM and MIPJunior exhibitions. Visit mipcom.com to register and learn more about how to make the most of the event in person and online.

  • People on the Move: Ramsey Naito Takes on Paramount Animation Leadership, WarnerMedia Kids & Music Appointments & More

    Paramount Pictures today announced that Ramsey Naito will be leading its animation division as President, Animation & Development, Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation. Mireille Soria, President of Paramount Animation, is leaving the organization. Naito joined Nickelodeon Animation in 2018 as EVP of Animation Production & Development, and assumed the role of President in 2020.

    Under Naito’s leadership, Nickelodeon Animation launched its largest animation slate in the network’s 40+ year history. Naito has been a driving force in bringing over 70 projects to the Nickelodeon Animation Studio, inked deals with top talent and creators, and forged key partnerships to further bolster Nick’s content across preschool, kids, theatrical and its studio business. In 2021 alone, Naito has overseen the launches of some of the biggest global TV and film franchises in any genre, including: PAW Patrol: The Movie; the expansion of the SpongeBob SquarePants universe with The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run and two original spinoffs, Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years and The Patrick Star Show; Baby Shark; Blue’s Clues & You!; Santiago of the Seas; The Loud House Movie; and Rugrats, which was recently greenlit for a second season.

    Ahead, Ramsey will lead animation production on the highly-anticipated Star Trek: Prodigy from Nickelodeon Animation and CBS Studios; Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles theatrical motion picture, in partnership with Point Grey Pictures’ Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg and James Weaver, and helmed by Jeff Rowe; original content stemming from the newly formed Avatar Studios, best-selling book adaptations Real Pigeons Fight Crime, produced by James Corden and Ben Winston, and the critically acclaimed Big Nate; Tiny Chef, in partnership with Imagine Kids+Family; an animated series based on Monster High in partnership with Mattel; and an original animated Transformers series with Hasbro’s Entertainment One (eOne).

    Before joining Nickelodeon, Naito produced the Academy Award-nominated feature The Boss Baby for DreamWorks Animation, earning her a PGA nomination for Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Picture. Prior to DreamWorks Animation, Naito worked for Blue Sky Studios, Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon Animation. Her vast list of executive and producer credits includes Barnyard (2006), The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004), Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins (2009), The Wild Thornberrys Movie (2002), Hey Arnold! The Movie (2002), Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (2001), Rugrats in Paris: The Movie (2000) and South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999). Naito is a member of Women in Animation, the Producers Guild of America and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Maryland Institute College of Art and her Master of Fine Arts from the California Institute of the Arts.

    Soria assumed her role as head of Paramount Animation in 2017. During her time at the studio, she oversaw an ambitious slate of animated films for the studio. Soria was instrumental in the development and production of The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run, and shepherded the upcoming films Rumble­, a sports comedy about monster wrestling based on a graphic novel; musical adventure Under the Boardwalk; and The Tiger’s Apprentice, based on the best-selling book series, among others. Soria also orchestrated a first-look deal with joint venture Animal Logic (Happy Feet) and Imagine Entertainment, with Imagine’s Ron Howard set to direct The Shrinking of Treehorn, currently in development under the deal.

    Ramsey Naito
    Ramsey Naito

    WarnerMedia has upped Brian Robillard to Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Business Operations for its Kids & Family and Adult Swim properties. In his expanded position Robillard will now oversee business management and the business operations of Cartoon Network and Adult Swim content activity as well as lead a newly created music strategy arm for the Kids, Young Adults, and Classics group. Tapped to run the new unit, Michael “Kiko” Akiko has joined as Executive Director, Music for Kids, Young Adults and Classics, reporting into Robillard. Robillard and Akiko will collaborate closely with WaterTower Music, third party labels and publishing groups to identify and curate music strategies and opportunities for Cartoon Network and Adult Swim. Both will be based out of Burbank.

    Robillard will continue to oversee the operational integration across all content distribution globally; build and optimize content strategy and budget across the various Cartoon Network and Adult Swim platforms; and maintain the rights and deal terms for both groups’ vast library and portfolio. He joined Cartoon Network in 2014 where he was instrumental in driving the network’s portfolio strategy and business operations for Cartoon Network Studios, and in 2020, added Warner Bros. Animation to his scope. Robillard, who reports into Amy Friedman (Head of Kids & Family Programming, Warner Bros.) and Michael Ouweleen (President, Adult Swim), has also held digital and marketing posts at Universal Music Group, Disney Music Group, and Disney ABC Television Group. He attended Eastern Michigan University.

    Akiko will partner with multiple production units within Warner Bros. to create and support music initiatives – including the networks, studios and WaterTower Music – both domestically and internationally. He will also be responsible for growing and retaining musical talent within the GKYAC group, while leveraging the broader WarnerMedia ecosystem, including developing performers, and supporting songwriters and composers attached to television series and live events. A priority project will be the Adult Swim Festival, known for featuring both top and emerging performers and whose 2020 virtual edition was watched by millions of fans around the world.

    Prior to coming to Warner Bros., Akiko has held executive roles across the music industry in A&R, publishing and global strategy and development for more than a decade. Recent roles include head of A&R for Universal Music Group Africa where he led efforts on the continent, and secured artist placements on Beyoncé’s The Lion King: The Gift album. He also served in Artist Relations capacity for YouTube Music in both the U.S. and Africa. Akiko is also co-founder of The 99 Problems, a political action committee aimed at empowering GenZ to vote in swing states during the presidential election and Georgia run-off in 2020. Akiko received a Bachelor of Business Administration and marketing from Morehouse College.

    L-R: Brian Robillar, Michael Akiko
    L-R: Brian Robillar, Michael Akiko

    Caroline Audebert, Managing Director of the France audiovisual production division of Média-Participations (Ellipsanime Productions, Dargaud Media, Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuel and Ellipse Studio) has continued strengthening her team. Following the arrival of Lila Hannou at the beginning of the month as Director of Development and Strategy, she is now welcoming Laurent Panissier as 3D General Supervisor and Xavier Morelli as 2D Executive Producer.

    A graduate of the Arts Décoratifs in multimedia and CGI in 2001, Panissier joined BUF the same year. For 10 years, alongside Pierre Buffin and his teams, he cut his teeth in special effects production working on several features, firstly as a graphic artist (Oliver Stone’s Alexander the Great, the Wachowskis’ The Matrix, Chris Nolan’s The Prestige), then supervisor (Luc Bessons’ Arthur and the Invisibles 2 & 3, Frédéric Forestier’s Astérix at the Olympic Games). In 2011, he joined Mac Guff Ligne, another historic visual effects studio in France, as supervisor. While there he took part in the complete overhaul of the production pipeline. In 2018, he supervised the animated feature Samsam, which was an opportunity to finalize the Full CG version of this pipeline.

    Morelli has 25 years’ experience in animation production. He began his career as a production assistant in 1996, and joined Ellipse in 1998 as assistant director and production manager on the feature and series adapted from the Corto Maltèse comic books. In 2004, he joined Xilam Animation as assistant director on series such as Shuriken School and Rahan. In 2012, he directed the 3D production of the feature The Prince and the 108 Demons for Same Player Productions before joining Futurikon in 2015, where he handled series production. After a period at Bayard Animation, where he set up the 3D production of Benny Beer, he joined Cyber Group Studios as production manager on the series Sadie Sparks for Disney Europe. In 2019, he was production manager at Ankama Animations on the feature Princess Dragon.

    L-R: Laurent Panissier, Xavier Morelli
    L-R: Laurent Panissier, Xavier Morelli

    Stop-motion directorial duo Andy & Adeena are the latest animation stars to join the Blinkink roster. Having worked together on various projects with Blinkink in the last few years, their budding friendship blossomed in March 2020 as the U.K. went into its first lockdown. All their jobs were cancelled and eager to keep their creative juices flowing, they joined forces to create a film for Easter. Adeena began the process by making the models in her bedroom before sending them to Andy to animate in his bedroom. The film, Little Hoppy Horror, was released remotely to great reception.

    Andy Biddle carries the distinction of being “Wes Anderson’s favorite animator” and works frequently with award-winning film studios such as Aardman and LAIKA. He has also served as the lead character animator on nearly every Blinkink stop-motion film since 2010.

    Adeena Grubb has been creating hand-crafted works and hilarious films brought to life with a variety of textures and materials. Her talents make her one of the most sought-after miniature model and puppet makers in London.

    L-R: Andy Biddle, Adeena Grubb
    L-R: Andy Biddle, Adeena Grubb
  • Netflix Expands Pre-K Animation with Renewals, New Series

    Netflix Expands Pre-K Animation with Renewals, New Series

    The wonders of science, incredible adventure, music and magic await in Netflix’s expanding preschool programming lineup, with the streamer announcing two renewals and four brand-new series in the works. The streamer is teaming with world-class creators to entertain and enrich its youngest viewers and their families in over 190 countries.

    Chris Nee’s Ridley Jones and Ada Twist, Scientist have been renewed for second seasons, while superhero show Action Pack, comical Big Tree City, animal mystery series The Creature Cases and BFF adventure Deepa and Anoop join Netflix’s existing offerings for kids aged 2-6, including Ask the StoryBots, Mighty Little Bheem, Go! Go! Cory Carson, Gabby’s Dollhouse, CoCoMelon and Go, Dog. Go!

    Action Pack
    Action Pack

    Action Pack (January 2022) is a preschool superhero adventure series from OddBot Inc. The Action Pack is a group of heroic kids — Treena, Watts, Wren and Clay — who use their incredible super powers as they take on the biggest threats in Hope Springs, implement the lessons taught by Mr. Ernesto at the Action Academy, and fulfill their ultimate mission of bringing out the good in everything, even in villains! The series is animated by ICON Creative Studios. Created by Bill Harper. Chris Hamilton (Muppet Babies, Corn & Peg) is executive producer and showrunner. Shea Fontana (DC Super Hero Girls, Wonder Woman) is story editor.

    The Creature Cases
    The Creature Cases

    The Creature Cases (Spring 2022) is an animated action-comedy series that follows the adventures of Sam Snow and Kit Casey, agents of CLADE: the Covert League of Animal Detective Experts. In a world populated exclusively by animals, these brilliant sleuths travel the globe solving mind-boggling mysteries that mix real zoological facts with wild detective action! The series is produced by Silvergate Media and animated by TeamTO. Created by Gabe Pulliam, who serves as head writer for the series. Executive producers are Kurt Mueller and Adam Idelson.

    Big Tree City
    Big Tree City

    Big Tree City (Spring 2022) is an all action, all comedy series from Emmy Award-winning Blue Zoo Animation. Hot sauce volcanoes, biscuit dinosaur mysteries and exploding soda pop factories — Join the wild rescues of Major Prickles and his overzealous team, as they try to save the animal citizens of Big Tree City. Sam Morrison is head writer. Executive producers are Adam Shaw and Oli Hyatt.

    [Deepa and Anoop]

    Deepa & Anoop
    Deepa & Anoop

    (2022) is an all-new, animated preschool series from Mattel Television that follows the adventures of fun-loving seven-year-old Deepa and her best friend, Anoop, a color-changing elephant, at Deepa’s family’s bed and breakfast, Mango Manor. Deepa and Anoop are the unofficial “ambassadors of fun” and make sure every guest has the best time possible, often solving the simplest of problems with the most imaginative (and complicated!) solutions that frequently involve large-scale musical numbers. Created by Munjal Shroff, Lisa Goldman and Heather Kenyon (Gnomeo & Juliet). Executive producers are Fred Soulie, SVP & General Manager, Mattel Television (He-Man and Masters of the Universe, Masters of the Universe: Revelation) and Christopher Keenan, SVP, Creative & Executive Producer, Mattel Television (Thomas & Friends, Barbie: Big City, Big Dreams).

    Ada Twist, Scientist
    Ada Twist, Scientist

    Ada Twist, Scientist (Season 2: 2022) follows a pint-sized scientist with a giant-sized curiosity, who aspires to discover the answer to absolutely everything. Ada, along with her best friends Iggy Peck and Rosie Revere will be back to explore more ways science is a part of everyday life. Kerri Grant is showrunner and executive producer. Developed for TV by Chris Nee. Executive produced by Nee (Laughing Wild), Mark Burton (Wonder Worldwide), Tonia Davis and Priya Swaminathan (Higher Ground), Andrea Beaty (author, Ada Twist, Scientist) and David Roberts (illustrator, Ada Twist, Scientist).

    Ridley Jones
    Ridley Jones

    Ridley Jones (November 2021) returns for a second season this November. Ridley and her friends, Peaches, Fred, Ismat, Dudley and Dante continue their nightly adventures when the lights go out, the doors lock shut, and all the exhibits come to life at The Museum of Natural History. Created and executive produced by Chris Nee.

  • Cloth Cat Secures Epic MegaGrant for Animated Series & Game ‘Tamara’s Family Tree’

    Cloth Cat Secures Epic MegaGrant for Animated Series & Game ‘Tamara’s Family Tree’

    Continuing Cloth Cat’s research and development into the next generation of game engine rendering, the Cardiff-based company has received an Epic MegaGrant from Epic Games. This follows the successful completion of Cloth Cat’s project with local media production support organization Clwstwr, which looked into the challenges and solutions for using Epic’s Unreal Engine for real-time rendering and animation production. The MegaGrant will be used to develop a new project, Tamara’s Family Tree, which will be both a video game and animation series.

    Epic Games, creators of Unreal Engine and the phenomenally popular Fortnite, committed $100 million through Epic MegaGrants in support of game developers, enterprise professionals, media and entertainment creators, students, educators, and tool developers doing amazing things with Unreal Engine or enhancing open-source capabilities for the 3D graphics community. (Learn more about the program here.)

    Cloth Cat plans to utilize the latest versions of Epic’s technology, including the recently announced Unreal Engine 5, alongside the upcoming Blender 3 to create a pipeline that will enable real-time ray tracing, smooth remote working and instant feedback for producers and directors. Assets will be built natively in Unreal so that both interactive and narrative platforms will work together. This forms part of Cloth Cat’s new focus on developing cross- platform brands.

    “It’s so exciting to have the support of Epic Games through Epic MegaGrants to bring the games and animation sides of our company together on a single project, boosted by our Clwstwr research last year,” said Jon Rennie, Managing Director of Cloth Cat. “As part of our push towards greater home working, game engines provide the ideal platform to give animators more feedback and control while they’re in production. Also, we can develop games and interactive projects alongside the narrative episodes, and give fans a new way of meeting the characters and being a part of Tamara’s world.”

    “Cloth Cat is a talented team who are advantageously positioned at the intersection of animation and games,” said Ben Lumsden: Business Development Manager, Unreal Engine, Epic Games. “Through Epic MegaGrants, we’re thrilled to support them as they delight and engage audiences with their transmedia approach to storytelling.”

    Cloth Cat was established in 2012 and is now the largest animation and games company in Wales. Experienced in 2D and 3D animation development and production, and with a dedicated games team, the company has capacity for a wide range of projects from its base in Cardiff. Recent projects include The World of Lemon Ribbon (games and animation for the popular licencing brand), 78 x 11′ animated episodes of The Rubbish World of Dave Spud (Illuminated for CITV), games and animation for S4C’s Cyw (Boom Kids and S4C), 104 x 11′ of Luo Bao Bei (Magic Mall; available on Netflix), 52 x 11′ of Shane the Chef (Hoho Entertainment for Channel 5’s Milkshake!), a new game world for Kay Thompson’s Eloise (Handmade Films), and 78 x 5′ of Olobob Top (Beakus for CBeebies).

    clothcatanimation.com

  • Clip: Wolf & Honeybee Get Their Big Break in ‘The Great North’

    Clip: Wolf & Honeybee Get Their Big Break in ‘The Great North’

    Season 2 of FOX primetime animated comedy The Great North rolls on this week with a brand-new episode, airing Sunday, October 3 at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT. In “The Great Punkin’ Adventure,” a punk band invites the Tobin family’s middle brother Ham (voiced by Paul Rust) to audition after hearing him scream, while eldest brother Wolf (Will Forte) and his wife Honeybee (Dulcé Sloan) get a shot at their first directing gig.

    In this exclusive clip provided to Animag, we get a sneak peek at the table meeting where Honeybee and Wolf announce their big news, and we hear about some of the unique landmarks of Lone Moose, Alaska.

    The Great North follows the Alaskan adventures of the Tobin family, as a single dad, Beef (Nick Offerman), does his best to keep his bunch of kids close – especially his only daughter, Judy (Jenny Slate), whose artistic dreams lead her away from the family fishing boat and into the glamorous world of the local mall. Rounding out the family are Judy’s older brother, Wolf (Forte) and his new wife, Honeybee (Sloan), middle brother Ham (Rust) and 10-year-old-going-on-50 little brother Moon (Aparna Nancherla). While their mother is not in the picture, Judy seeks guidance from her new boss, Alyson (Megan Mullally) and her imaginary friend, Alanis Morissette (as herself), who appears to her in the Northern Lights.

    Season 2 kicked off with a big musical episode, in which Judy reached the monumental milestone of getting her braces removed, and will feature special holiday-themed episodes celebrating Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas, Tobin-style.

    The series, which already has been renewed and is currently in production on its third season, was created and written by Bob’s Burgers writers and executive producers Wendy Molyneux and Lizzie Molyneux-Logelin, as well as writer Minty Lewis (Regular Show). The Molyneux sisters serve as executive producers and showrunners. Bob’s Burgers creator Loren Bouchard also is an executive producer. Produced by 20th Television Animation, animation produced by Bento Box Entertainment.

  • The Princess and the Prophecy: ‘Maya and the Three’ Official Trailer Arrives

    The Princess and the Prophecy: ‘Maya and the Three’ Official Trailer Arrives

    Netflix this morning debuted the official trailer and key art for upcoming animated event series Maya and the Three, from creator, director & executive producer Jorge R. Gutiérrez and creative consultant Sandra Equihua. The nine-chapter fantasy adventure inspired by Aztez, Maya and Inca mythology, as well as modern-day Caribbean culture, unfolds October 22.

    In a fantastical world, where magic turns the world and four kingdoms rule the lands, a brave and rebellious warrior princess named Maya (voiced by Zoe Saldaña) is about to celebrate her 15th birthday and coronation. But everything changes when the gods of the underworld arrive and announce that Maya’s life is forfeit to the God of War (Alfred Molina) — a price she must pay for her family’s secret past. If Maya refuses, the whole world will suffer the gods’ vengeance. To save her beloved family, her friends, and her own life, Maya embarks on a thrilling quest to fulfill an ancient prophecy that foretells the coming of three great warriors who will help her defeat the gods and save humankind.

    The all-star voice cast also features Gabriel Iglesias as Picchu, Allen Maldonado as Rico, Stephanie Beatriz as Chimi, Diego Luna as Zatz, Gael García Bernal as The Jaguar Triplets, Kate del Castillo as the Goddess of Death, Danny Trejo as the God of Earthquakes, Cheech Marin as the Gods of Wind & Storm, Rosie Perez as the Goddess of Gators, Queen Latifah as Gran Bruja, Wyclef Jean as Gran Brujo, Jorge R. Gutiérrez as King Teca, Sandra Equihua as Queen Teca, Isabela Merced as the Widow Queen, Chelsea Rendon as the Goddess of Tattoos, Joaquín Cosío as the God of Bats, Carlos Alazraqui as the God of Dark Magic, Eric Bauza as the God of Jungle Animals and Rita Moreno as Ah Puch.

    Maya and the Three
    Maya and the Three

    Maya and the Three features an original score composed by the duo of Oscar- and Grammy-winning composer Gustavo Santaolalla and Grammy-nominated composer Tim Davies. The cinematic score will be available on October 22 from Milan Records.

    The series is co-executive produced by Silvia Olivas and head of story Jeff Ranjo, produced by Tim Yoon and line produced by Lilly Sechrist. Consulting producers are Candie Kelty Langdale and Doug Langdale, who also serve as writers alongside Gutiérrez and Olivas.

    Maya and the Three premieres October 22: www.netflix.com/mayaandthethree.

    Maya and the Three poster
    Maya and the Three poster