Author: Mercedes Milligan

People on the Move: New Leadership at Disney TV Germany, LEGO, Universal CP

Thorsten Braun has been tapped to replace Lars Wagner as Vice President and General Manager for Disney Channel in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Braun will oversee all Disney TV networks in German-speaking territories, including Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD and Disney Cinemagic. He will also continue his existing VP/GM duties for Disneymedia+, handling all ad sales and promotional activities in the region.

Niels Christiansen will succeed Bali Padda as the new Chief Executive Officer of The LEGO Group, effective October 1. Christiansen was most recently CEO of global industrial tech company Danfoss, serving for nine years — he has also been CEO of GN Netcom. Padda will step away from the long-held position to become a special advisor to The LEGO Brand Group.

Universal Brand Development has made some changes to its consumer products team. Joe Lawandus has been named the new Senior Vice President and General Manager of the North American consumer products division. Lawandus was previously SVP & GM of global brand marketing and design for Mattel. Marc Low is taking on additional responsibilities as Senior Vice President and General Manager of international consumer products, building on his post as SVP of the group. The company also announced that Manuel Torres, Executive Vice President – Worldwide Consumer Products, will be departing the company at the end of the month.

Thorsten Braun

Marc Low

Joe Lawandus

Niels Christiansen

August 11, 2017
‘Zak Storm’ Sails into Family CHRGD in Canada

Family CHRGD viewers in Canada will be getting lost in the Bermuda Triangle when CG animated seafaring adventure Zak Storm sails into port on Monday, August 21 at 5 p.m. ET. New episodes will debut every day through to Friday, then the series will drop anchor in its regular timeslot of Tuesdays at 5 p.m., as part of the Turbo CHRGD Tuesday lineup.

Zak Storm tells the tale of a young surfer who is swept into the Seven Seas of the Bermuda Triangle during a surfing competition. Once inside, Zak joins forces with a ragtag crew and a magical sword, Calabrass, which turns him into a pirate-like hero. Each episode follows Zak as he tries to escape from the strange and unpredictable waters, while fighting off gnarly villains. It’s up to Zak to learn how to master the powers of his enchanted sword and figure out how to defeat the fiercest pirate that ever lived, the evil Skullivar.

In the premiere episode, “Origins Part 1,” Zak (voiced by Teen Wolf’s Michael Johnston) is taken into the Triangle where he meets Clovis, Bones and Chaos the ship.

Zak Storm is co-produced by Zagtoon (Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir), Method Animation, SamG and Man of Action Entertainment, in partnership with Gulli and PGS Entertainment.

Zak Storm

Zak Storm

Zak Storm

Zak Storm

August 11, 2017
Animago Conference Dives into CG Shorts, VFX, VR

The 2017 animago Award & Conference — taking place September 7 & 8 in Munich, Germany — has announced its first raft of programming highlights, covering the gamut of digital artistry and entertainment. The 33 awards nominees were announced in July.

Some particular highlights of the lecture program (which is entirely presented in English) are detailed below. Click here for the full lineup so far.

ANIMATION:
Cinematography of Piper: Pixar’s Director of Photography Erik Smitt will discuss his approach to cinematography and lighting through a variety of materials. From Renaissance painters to modern cinema, explore a number of influences on the lighting work at Pixar. After a background in the tonal and compositional motivations for his work, Erik will walk through Piper as a case study in many of these techniques. Focusing on a goal of visual authenticity over reality, discover Piper’s aesthetic goals and the technical challenges.

Making-Of Shine – When Two Monkeys See the Light: The most creative ideas are often a result of coincidence – which was also the case with the animated short “Shine”, which was born in a bier garden. FIlmakademie animation students Johannes Flick and Alexander Dietrich noticed that not all lights in the chain of lights above them were working and they started thinking of creative reasons as to why this was. At the end of the day, the team’s imaginations had found the reason: small monkey-like creatures run along the chain of lights from light to light and tap their energy so they can glow and impress their female counterparts. An original idea for their thesis work was born!

VISUAL EFFECTS:
RISE Power – The Dark Tower: Andreas Giesen, FX Supervisor at RISE, will give an overview of the techniques used to work efficiently with complex fluid simulations in a large number of shots. Oliver Schulz, CG and Environment Supervisor at RISE, explains the design process and creation of the various environments that needed to feel grounded in the real world yet seem strange and unearthly. Benjamin Burr, Compositing Supervisor at RISE, will show the techniques used combining the various FX layers in deep compositing to keep a maximum of flexibility up to the very end.

MPC Presents the Epic Water Effects of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales: FX Artist Igor Jovanovic will give a behind the scenes look at the complex photoreal water simulations the team created for the latest in the franchise. MPC’s team lead by VFX Supervisors Sheldon Stopsack and Patrick Ledda worked with directors Joachim Ronning and Espen Sandberg and Production VFX Supervisor Gary Brozenich to craft effects including epic ship battles, Captain Salazar and his motley crew of sailors, the ghost sharks and various environments. The complexity and variety of work was an exciting challenge for the team, requiring MPC’s RnD team to create new tools for water simulations.

Taking You Back in Time with Wonder Woman: For the latest hit feature film in the DC Cinematic Universe, Wonder Woman, Pixomondo created extensive set extensions and massive destruction scenes to take the audience back to the World War I period. This presentation will give you an in-depth look into making an iconic female superhero come to live on the big screen, with senior VFX producer Jan Fiedler of Pixomondo Germany.

VIRTUAL REALITY
Simon’s Cat in an Immersive 360 Video – From Sketch to YouTube: This lecture by assistant art director Liza Nechaeva will explore how Simon’s Cat makes its 360 videos, from start to finish, and will show you the techniques you need to make your own 360 video. In addition, you will get an insight into how Simon’s Cat is brought to life and the reasons behind its continued online success.

Piper

The Dark Tower

August 11, 2017
Daily News Bytes: Mad About ‘Sonic Mania,’ ‘Duck Duck Goose’ Teased, New “Be Prepared” MV & More

’Sonic Mania’ Opening Animation
Bestill, my nostalgic heart! The whole internet has fallen in love with this colorful, retro-savvy, whizz-bang of a cartoon opener for the new sidescroller from SEGA and developers Headcannon and PagodaWest (out Aug. 15 for Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One and Windows). The opener is animated and directed by Tyson Hesse, with custom music by chiptune group Hyper Potions, and it is just so super great!!

‘Duck Duck Goose’ Teaser Trailer
Directed by Chris Jenkins, this fully-feathered family comedy has been making ripples in the global animation pond as an indie project uniting Western experience with Eastern talent and energy to create a high-quality, internationally appealing feature. In theaters thru Open Road on April 20, 2018, Duck Duck Goose features the voices of Jim Gaffigan, Zendaya, Lance Lim, Greg Proops, Natasha Leggero, Stephen Fry, Craig Ferguson and Carl Reiner.

VIDEO: Visualizing A Villain | David Garibaldi Paints to the Song “Be Prepared” (‘The Lion King’)
In honor of World Lion Day and the impending release of The Walt Disney Signature Collection: The Lion King (Digital: Aug. 15; Blu-ray: Aug. 29), the Mouse House has conjured up an intense artistic collision in this video. Fun trivia fact: Oscar-winner Jeremy Irons, who voiced Scar in the 1994 animated movie, developed voice problems while recording “Be Prepared” — veteran voice actor Jim Cummings (Ed the hyena) had to step in to complete the song.

DigiCel FlipBook Animation Contest: Enter Now!
DigiCel FlipBook customers can send in their quick and easy animations for consideration by August 18, 2017. The grand prize: A 90-minute private instruction session from animation legend Don Bluth!

NBCUniversal’s Seeso Platform Will Shut Down Before the End of the Year
The fallout from the SVOD service boom begins. (I mean, come on, you shouldn’t need to have some kind of elaborate conspiracy theory wall map in order to remember where all your favorite shows are streaming at any given time.) The good new for fans of animated series HarmonQuest and The Cyanide & Happiness Show are relocating to AT&T/Ellation’s VRV.

Sonic Mania

Be Prepared

Be Prepared

August 11, 2017
2017 Student Academy Awards Finalists Revealed

The finalists for the 2017 Student Academy Awards have been announced, with this year’s awards ceremony set for October 12 at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. The usual domestic animation school suspects are represented, with viral hit short In a Heartbeat included in this category. The international animation section includes entries from Germany, China and the UK.

The animation finalists, contending for the Gold and a shot at inclusion in the 90th Oscars animated short film race, follows. A full list of the 2017 SAA finalists is available here.

ANIMATION (Domestic Film Schools)
Cradle by Devon Manney, USC
E-delivery by Young Gul Cho, School of Visual Arts
Extinguished by Ashley Anderson & Jacob Mann, Ringling College of Art and Design
In a Heartbeat by Beth David & Esteban Bravo, Ringling College of Art and Design
Once a Hero by Xia Li, USC
Pinky Toe by Mathieu Libman, California Institute of the Arts
-Winston by Aram Sarkisian, California Institute of the Arts

ANIMATION (International Film Schools)
Child by Iring Freytag & Viktor Stickel, Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg (Germany)
Life Smartphone by Chenglin Xie, China Central Academy of Fine Arts (China)
Tough by Jennifer Zheng, Kingston University London (UK)

See the 2016 SAA animation medalists here.

In a Heartbeat

Life Smartphone

August 11, 2017
Weekend Releases: ‘Nut Job 2,’ ‘In This Corner,’ ‘Mune’

Looking to beat the heat this weekend? Here’s a rundown of the new and special US theatrical releases you can check out.

New releases join ongoing runs of Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie (DreamWorks), Cars 3 (Disney-Pixar), Despicable Me 3 (Illumination) and Emoji Movie (Sony) for a buffet of animated options.

In This Corner of the World [Aug. 11]
Genco, MAPPA | Shout! Factory, Funimation Films
Director: Sunao Katabuchi
Cast: (English Dub) Laura Post, Todd Haberkorn, Barbara Goodson, Kirk Thornton, Kira Buckland, Ava Pickard, Christine Marie Cabanos, Jason Palmer
Synopsis: Suzu Urano, is a young woman who in 1944 moves to the small town of Kure in Hiroshima to live with her husband’s family. Suzu’s life is thrown into chaos when her town is bombed during World War II. Her perseverance and courage underpin this heart-warming and inspirational tale of the everyday challenges faced by the Japanese in the midst of a violent, war-torn country. Based on the manga by Fumiyo Kouno.

The Nut Job 2: Nutty By Nature [Aug. 11]
ToonBox, Red Rover, Gulfstream | Open Road Films
Director: Cal Brunker
Cast: Will Arnett, Katherine Heigl, Maya Rudolph, Jackie Chan, Isabela Moner, Peter Stormare, Bobby Cannavale, Bobby Moynihan, Jeff Dunham, Gabriel Iglesias, Sebastian Maniscalco, Tom Kenny, Kari Wahlgren, Rob Tinkler, Julie Lemieux
Synopsis: Following the events of the first film, Surly and his friends must stop Oakton City’s mayor from destroying their home to make way for a dysfunctional amusement park. Based on the characters created by Peter Lepeniotis.

Mune: Guardian of the Moon [Aug. 12 at 12:55 p.m., Select Cinemas]
On Animation, Onyx Films, Kinology, Orange Studio | GKIDS, Fathom Events
Directors: Alexandre Heboyan and Benoît Philippon
Cast: Rob Lowe, Christian Slater, Patton Oswalt, Ed Helms, Jeff Dunham
Synopsis: As legend has it, the first Guardian of the Sun threw a harpoon into the cosmos and roped the sun to bring light and warmth to all of humanity. Then the Guardian of the Moon lured the moon to the Land of Darkness to provide a balance to the sun and supply the world with dreams. At a ceremony to appoint the two new guardians, an accident seems to occur: the heir apparent is passed over, and the title of Guardian of the Moon is bestowed on the waif-like creature, Mune, a small forest faun who is unprepared to take on such a weighty responsibility. This news excites Necross, the nefarious ruler of the Underworld, who decides to prey on Mune’s weakness and steal the sun for himself. Now it is up to unlikely hero Mune and his friend Glim to save the sun and restore order to the world.

The Nut Job 2: Nutty By Nature

Mune: Guardian of the Moon

In This Corner of the World

August 11, 2017
VIZ Announcements: Otakon Plans, ‘JoJo’ Home Release, ‘Pokemon’ Art Book

VIZ Media is keeping busy as ever this week. On top of finalizing its event plans and retail exclusives for Otakon 2017 this weekend (Aug. 11-13 in Washington DC), the leading North American purveyor of anime, manga and licensed goodies inspired thereby announced this week a home video release for JoJo’s Bizarre Adventures and a 20th birthday art book for Pokemon Adventures.

VIZ will be on the floor at Otakon 2017 (www.otakon.com) at Booth #1436, where booth activities include the Sailor Moon Crystal Quest for New Power (Help the Sailor Guardians on their quest and win a special prize from Sailor Moon herself!), giveaways and free premium items while supplies last. Retail exclusives at the con include One-Punch Man and One-Piece manga replicas ($15), Sailor Moon Crystal T-shirt ($15), pre-orders for Sailor Moon Crystal Season 3 Combo Pack ($65), and a raft of bundles and gift-with-purchase offers.

Around the convention center, fans can learn more about the company’s plans and meet their idols at the VIZ Media Panel on 8/11 at 5:30 p.m. in Panel Room 1 (exciting announcements, exclusive first looks at new titles, and prizes); Sailor Moon Panel on 8/12 at 2:15 p.m. in Panel Rm. 7 (news and updates on the series, as well as some special guest appearances); and Sailor Moon English Voice Cast Autograph Session on 8/12 at 4:30 p.m. in Autograph Rm. 2, featuring Stephanie Sheh (Sailor Moon) Sandy Fox (Chibi-Usa), Michelle Ruff (Luna), and the recently announced Chris Niosi (Pegasus).

To enable your binge-watching tendencies, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Season 1 is available now as a Limited Edition Blu-ray set, offering the first 26 episodes of the hit series inspired by Hirohiko Araki’s groundbreaking manga (published by VIZ, rated T+). The opening season is set in late 19th century England, where rivals and surrogate brothers Jonathan Joestar and Dio Brando discover a mysterious stone mask. The mask is an artifact of an ancient Central American culture and is capable of granting its wearer eternal life, but only at a heavy price. As the dark powers of the Stone Mask are unleashed, the brothers’ actions will define legacies that span generations.

The Blu-ray release features all-new English subtitles and bonus material such as a 168-page booklet with episodes summaries, director commentary, storyboard art and more; digital character art gallery; and collectible art cards based on art from the original Japanese Blu-ray releases. The set comes in a hinged chipboard collector’s box, decked out with foil highlights.

Available now, The Art of Pokemon Adventures marks the 20th anniversary of the popular manga title, written by Hidenori Kusaka. The vibrant volume brings the fantastic characters and settings of the Pokemon world to life with beautiful full-color pieces by longtime Pokemon illustrator Satoshi Yamamoto. The book includes exclusive sketches and storyboards, four pull-out posters and a brand-new manga side story published in English for the first time. Yamamoto began working on Pokemon Adventures in 2001 with Vol. 10, and is currently working on its 12th and 13th story arcs as well as Pokemon X-Y, Pokemon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, in collaboration with Kusaka. (MSRP $24.99 US / $33.99 CAN)

The Art of Pokemon Adventures

Sailor Moon Crystal

Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure

Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure season 1

August 10, 2017
Clip: Little Octopus Starts an Ocean of Trouble in ‘Deep’

On August 25, Lionsgate will be releasing a fresh European animation catch to US theaters and On Demand: Deep, directed by award-winning documentary filmmaker Julio Soto Gúrpide (Radiophobia). The CG family adventure combines a coming-of-age story with ecological themes set in a colorful world beneath the waves.

In the clip below, the little yellow octopus hero of our tale, Deep (voiced by Justin Felbinger) breaks out of his community’s safe zone and discovers some leftover human “treasures.” But, hastily trying to cover up his playing hookie from an important chore has unintended consequences! The Deep voice cast also features Stephen Ezra Hughes (Evo), Lindsey Alena (Alice), Elisabeth Catherine Gray (Maura), Anna Vocino (Norma) and Dwight Schultz (Kraken).

Synopsis: When a playful octopus named Deep gets his undersea fish colony in trouble, the tribe’s stern leader Kraken orders Deep to go find help. Joined by his splashy BFFs—a sassy shrimp and a silly anglerfish—Deep takes an epic, colorful journey through submerged cities and sunken ships, where they meet outrageous creatures that help the trio on its way. Throughout the adventure, Deep and his buddies laugh, sing, and bond with one another, proving that friendship can be a very “deep” subject.

Deep is a production of The Thinklab Media, UFUND, The Kraken Films, Grid Animation and Silver Reel.

Deep

Deep

August 10, 2017
TIFF Shorts Program Features 3 NFB Animations
The National Film Board of Canada will have its animation studio projects well represented at the Toronto International Film Festival (taking place Sept. 7-17), with three films selected for the Short Cuts program: Dominic Etienne Simard’s Charles, Torill Kove’s Threads and Matthew Rankin’s The Tesla World Light. Another NFB production, the feature documentary Our People Will Be Healed by legendary filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin, will premiere in the Masters program.

Charles (Premiere) is the second installment in Montreal animator Dominic Etienne Simard’s emotionally charged trilogy, which began with his Canadian Screen Award-winning 2011 NFB animated short Paula. The title character in Charles is a little boy who knows he’s not like other kids. At school, his classmates regularly remind him of just how different he is. At home, he doesn’t receive the care and attention that other children in his neighborhood seem to get from their parents. To weather the daily ridicule and injustices, Charles invents a fantasy world inhabited by good-hearted little frogs. Simard won the Cours écrire ton court competition from Quebec’s Société de développement des entreprises culturelles for the script for Charles, which is a Canada/France co-production of DES animations, Les Films de l’Arlequin and the NFB, and is produced by Simard (DES animations), Dora Benousilio (Les Films de l’Arlequin) and Julie Roy (NFB).

Charles (Clip/Extrait No.1) from NFB/marketing on Vimeo.

Threads (North American Premiere) is the latest from Norwegian-born Montreal animator Torill Kove. The film explores the beauty and complexity of parental love, the bonds that we form over time, and the ways in which they stretch and shape us. The non-dialog short uses Kove’s signature style of minimalistic characters and simple line drawings to take viewers on a journey that is both intimate and expansive in scope. It’s the fourth NFB-co-produced animated short for Kove, winner of the Academy Award for The Danish Poet (2006) and an Oscar nominee for My Grandmother Ironed the King’s Shirts (1999) and Me and My Moulton (2014). Threads is produced by Lise Fearnley and Tonje Skar Reiersen for Mikrofilm AS and Michael Fukushima for the NFB’s English Animation Studio.

Threads (Trailer) from NFB/marketing on Vimeo.

The Tesla World Light (North American Premiere) by Winnipeg-born Montreal filmmaker Matthew Rankin is a visually stunning, tragic fantasy about the father of alternating current, inspired by real events. This electrifying short draws as much from the tradition of avant-garde cinema as it does from animated documentary. Tesla premiered at the 56th International Critics’ Week during Cannes and screened in the official competition at Annecy. Rankin received Annecy’s “Off-Limits” Award for his 2014 short Mynarski Death Plummet. The Tesla World Light is produced and executive produced by Julie Roy for the NFB’s French Animation Studio.

The Tesla World Light clip

You can find the complete TIFF 2017 film selections hereTIFF will be screening Nora Twomey’s feature adaptation The Breadwinner as a Special Presentation. Other animated & hybrid titles in the Short Cuts program include:
- Airport, by Michaela Muller
- An Imagined Conversation: Kanye West & Stephen Hawking, by Sol Friedman
- Catastrophe, by Jamille van Wijngaarden
- Drop by Drop, by Xá and Laura Gonçalves
- Grandmother, by Trevor Mack
- Long Distance Relationship, by Carolina Markowicz
- The Burden, by Niki Lindroth van Bahr
- The Death, Dad & Son, by Denis Walgenwitz and Winshluss
- Wicked Girl, by Ayce Kartal
Threads

The Tesla World of Light

Charles
August 10, 2017
GKIDS Picks Up Charming Comedy ‘The Big Bad Fox & Other Tales’

GKIDS has acquired North American distribution rights to French animated feature The Big Bad Fox & Other Tales, co-directed by Oscar nominee Benjamin Renner and Patrick Imbert (director and animation director of Ernest & Celestine). The film is based on Renner’s original graphic novel, The Big Bad Fox, which was recently released in the region by First Second Publishing. GKIDS is planning a winter release now that a deal has been struck by Founder/CEO Eric Beckman and President David Jesteadt with Studiocanal’s SVP of International Sales Aska Yamaguchi.

“The first time I saw The Big Bad Fox & Other Tales, I left the theater grinning from ear-to-ear,” said Jesteadt, President of GKIDS. “I’m thrilled to be able to share that experience with audiences across North America.”

Comprised of three outlandish farmyard tales, The Big Bad Fox & Other Tales is adapted for the big screen by Renner and Jean Regnaud (My Mummy Is in America and She Met Buffalo Bill) and produced by Didier Brunner’s Folivari. The film premiered at the Annecy Animation Film Festival in June.

Synopsis: The countryside isn’t always as calm and peaceful as it’s made out to be, and the animals on this farm are particularly agitated: a fox who mothers a family of chicks, a rabbit who plays the stork, and a duck who wants to be Santa Claus. If you think life in the country is a walk in the park, think again!

The Big Bad Fox and Other Tales

The Big Bad Fox and Other Tales

The Big Bad Fox and Other Tales

August 10, 2017
1st European Animation “Emile” Awards Calls for Entries
A call for entries has been issued for the inaugural edition of the European Animation Awards — also known as the Emile Awards in honor of animation pioneers Emile Cohl and Charles-Emile Reynaud. Celebrating the excellence and diversity of the European animation film industry, the first ceremony will take place in Lille, France on December 8, 2017.

All details, rules and regulations for submissions by category are available online. The entry deadline is September 15, 2017. Awards will be presented in 16 categories:
- Best Student Film
- Best Commissioned Film
- Best Animated Short Film
- Best Background and Character Design in a Short Film Production
- Best TV/Broadcast Production (Best Director)
- Best Background and Character Design in a TV/Broadcast Production
- Best Character Animation in a TV/Broadcast Production
- Best Writing in a TV/Broadcast Production
- Best Storyboard in a TV/Broadcast Production
- Best Soundtrack in a TV/Broadcast Production
- Best Feature Film (Best Director)
- Best Background and Character Design in a Feature Film
- Best Character Animation in a Feature Film
- Best Writing in a Feature Film
- Best Storyboard in a Feature Film
- Best Soundtrack in a Feature Film
Three nominees in each category will be selected by a jury of animation professionals, with the semi-finalists to be announced by the end of October. All members of the EAA association will be able to vote online for their favorite contender in each category — applications for EAA membership can be done via www.animationawards.eu.

The Emile Awards, conceived by producer and Folivari studio founder Didier Brunner and EAA President and Aardman Animations co-founder Peter Lord, are presented in partnership with the Région Hauts de France and Pictanovo.

Emile Awards
August 10, 2017
45th Annie Awards Submissions Open Aug. 14

ASIFA-Hollywood has given the heads-up that the call for entries for its 45th Annual Annie Awards will open on Monday, August 14. Honoring excellence in the field of animation, Annie Awards will be presented in nine Production categories and 22 Achievement categories. The event also bestows up to five honorary awards for lifetime accomplishments, philanthropy, technical advances, special achievement and meritorious service. The ceremony will be held on Saturday, February 3, 2018 at UCLA’s Royce Hall.

Entries must be from animated productions released in the US between Jan., 2017 and Dec. 31, 2017 — exceptions are made for commercials, shorts, special projects and student films, which can qualify with or without US release. Submissions close Fri., Oct. 20 at 5 p.m. PST.

Complete rules and submission portal are available at submissions.annieawards.org.

ASIFA-Hollywood will also be running its call for nominating committee judges from Aug. 18 to Sept. 18. Candidates do not need to be ASIFA-Hollywood members (though, the annual membership drive also starts 8/18!) but must have an established career in animation and exemplary professional credentials in at least one of the Annie Award categories. All potential judges, including past applicants, must submit a new application via members.asifa-hollywood.org/judge-application.

Other useful dates: The deadline to be an Annie Awards Corporate Sponsor is midnight Nov. 3, 2017. Final deadline to join ASIFA-Hollywood or renew membership to register for awards voting is midnight, Dec. 18 — receive of screeners is not guaranteed, however, unless memberships are current as of Nov. 20.

The Annie Awards were established in 1972 by legendary voice actress and industry champion June Foray, who recently died at age 99.

45th Annie Awards

August 10, 2017
Trailer: ‘Adventure Time’ Game ‘Champions & Challengers’ Announced

The newest mobile game inspired by Cartoon Network’s hit animated series Adventure Time has been revealed as Champions & Challengers — a real-time tactical strategy game available worldwide this fall. Featuring collectible characters, real-time battles and turn-based combat, the title will play on Apple, Android and Amazon Fire devices. (Android users can pre-register today!)

Developed by Texas- and India-based YesGnome (Star Trek Trexels), Champions & Challengers is set in a Land of Ooo where the evil Dice Lord has kidnapped beloved Adventure Time characters — and it’s up to you to help them. Players must fight strategic battles against Dice Lord to recapture the show’s colorful heroes and baddies, then rank them up to unlock cool new abilities. Players can discover and upgrade character synergies to build a perfect team to take on the Dice Lord’s deadly challenges.

Gamers can collect more than 90 Champions — including Finn, Jake, Princess Bubblegum, BMO, Fionna, Cake and even villains like Ice King. Assembled into teams, these popular characters can be used in epic real-time battles utilizing turn-based RPG combat as players perfect their strategy and bust out special Tricks and Artifacts for bonus damage. Plus, players can challenge other real live humans and rise up the leaderboard in the PvP Arena, and participate in live events.

Champions and Challengers

August 10, 2017
Exclusive Clip: ‘Home: Adventures of Tip & Oh’ Ups the “Auntie” in S3

Anyone who grew up in a multiple-kid household knows that sibling rivalry takes a l-o-o-o-o-o-ng time to vanish, even for adults. Enter this ridiculous yet relatable clip from Home: The Adventures of Tip & Oh, in which Tip’s normally calm and collected mom Lucy (voiced by Anna Ortiz) loses her cool while reuniting with her sister/rival, Linda (Cristela Alonzo). The messy meltdown can be seen in Season 3 of the Netflix Original Series, launching August 11.

Season 3 synopsis: The intergalactic escapades of dynamic duo Tip (Rachel Crow) and Oh (Mark Whitten) reach new heights as these best friends head off on new adventures that push the residents of Earth and Boovsworld to their limits in all-new music-filled episodes of DreamWorks’ Home: Adventures with Tip & Oh. There is no part of the galaxy that is out of reach as the pair find themselves on a mission to save Pig from a far off cat-planet, attending a wild alien prom, on safari on the plains of Boovsland and in a deep sea battle in the depths of Lake Michigan.

Produced by DreamWorks Animation Television, Season 3 will also feature a special guest star appearance by pop icon Cher.

Home: Adventures of Tip & Oh

Home: Adventures of Tip & Oh

Home: Adventures of Tip & Oh

August 10, 2017
Behind the Scenes of ‘Tumble Leaf’ S3, Premiering Aug. 15

The award-winning Amazon Original Series Tumble Leaf will soon debut its third season with 12 new episodes, launching Tuesday, August 15 on Prime Video in the US and UK. To celebrate, Amazon went behind the scenes with the crew of acclaimed stop-motion studio Bix Pix Entertainment to show how passion, creativity and a touch of magic go into creating this utterly endearing preschool series.

“We’re delighted to offer a third season of Amazon’s beloved kids series and continue our mission of offering high-quality children’s programming that helps our audiences learn and grow,” said Tara Sorensen, Head of Kids Programming at Amazon Studios. “We are honored that this unique series has received so many awards, and with all-new adventures, irresistible characters and stunning animation, the latest season of Tumble Leaf is sure to win over viewers everywhere, too.”

Tumble Leaf follows the adventures of curious, creative Fig the fox (voiced by Christopher Downs), who lives in a wrecked schooner ship by the sea where every day Gingko the crab (Alex Trugman) shows him a new item of interest that sends him on a fun, nature-centered expedition. He’s joined in discoveries by Stick the caterpillar, Maple the polar bear (Brooke Wolloff), Hedge the hedgehog (Zac McDowell) and Pine the porcupine (Addie Zintel).

In Season 3, Fig’s universe expands with new places and special friends, including Pebble the spider, Bonsai the whale and Bird of Paradise. The latest episodes help teach young viewers gentle life lessons through topics that are universally relatable for preschoolers, such as a friend moving away and dealing with disappointment. (Trailer here.)

Featured in the video, in order of appearance: Creator & director Drew Hodges, motion control operator & lighting technician Ian Barrett, property master Victoria Prow, script supervisor & writer Shane Portman, costume design & fabrication crew Carol Binion, assistant animator Cami Kwan, costume design & fabrication crew Robyn Simms, executive producer Kelli Bixler (owner, Bix Pix), director of photography Jeff Gardner, lead VFX artist Amanda Goad, production designer Jason Kolowski, VFX supervisor Brian Kokoszka, head of character fabrication Barney Marquez, supervising animator Dan Mackenzie, lighting & camera lead Charles Corbin, head of armature fabrication Christian Norris, animation director Michael Granberry, lead rigger Nick Blake, gaffer Anthony Doublin, producer Jodi Downs, assistant animator Scarlett Nelson, storyboard director Villamor M. Cruz Jr., head of paint Robyn Yannoukos.

Tumble Leaf season 3

Tumble Leaf season 3

Tumble Leaf season 3

Tumble Leaf season 3

Tumble Leaf season 3

August 10, 2017
Daily News Byte: ‘Curious George’ Doc, ‘Starship Troopers 2’, Blinkink’s ‘Salvation’ & More

‘Monkey Business: The Adventures of Curious George’s Creators’ Official Trailer
Following a successful Kickstarter campaign, The Orchard is releasing this fascinating (part-animated) look at the international journey of Hans and Margret Rey — including a narrow bicycle escape from the Nazis — for Digital and On Demand Aug. 15. The film is directed by Ema Ryan Yamazaki and narrated by Sam Waterston.

“Everybody thinks Curious George is such an American icon. But, he was created by German Jews, who lived in Paris, took him through Brazil, and then brought him to the United States. So, he’s as much of an immigrant as anyone.”

‘Starship Troopers: Traitor of Mars’ Hits Theaters August 21
Sony Pics and Fathom Events are presenting the highly anticipated CG animated sci-fi sequel for one night only in theaters across the US. The screening event includes a cast intro and behind-the-scenes content fans won’t want to miss. Tix available now through fathomevents.com.

Blinkink Repurposes Flea Market Finds for ‘Salvation’
Part of Channel 4 UK’s Random Acts, the Salvation series is a collaboration of creative studio Blinkink and record label Village Green. Directors spent four months trawling boot sales for eye-catching objects that suited their animated evolution concept. You can find a making-of via the link.

SALVATION from Blink on Vimeo.

Inside Animation: A Studio Tour of Polygon Pictures in Japan
Digit visits the CG specialists behind game, TV and film hits like Dead or Alive, Resident Evil, Blame!, Transformers Prime and the upcoming Netflix original Godzilla: Monster Planet.

Read ‘Time’s Original Review of “Grade-A” ‘Bambi’ from 1942
Step back in history and celebrate the classic Disney masterpiece’s 75th birthday with this historic piece of film criticism. The heart-wrenching tale joined the Walt Disney Signature Collection in May.

Starship Troopers: Traitor of Mars

Salvation

Monkey Business: The Adventures of Curious George’s Creators

August 9, 2017
Wow Unlimited’s Frederator Gets Canadian AV Certification

Frederator Network (part of Wow! Unlimited Media) is ready to offer more Canadian-grown content to its audiences via its online services, as its YouTube channel is now one of only six online destinations sanctioned by the Canadian Audio-Visual Certification Office.

“Wow Unlimited has been working with a broad range of the world class talent pool in Canada for 20 years. Frederator Networks is thrilled to have one of our channels be approved by CAVCO to be able to help even more get their original voices out to the world,” said Fred Seibert, Chief Creative Officer of WOW! Unlimited and CEO of Frederator Networks.

Frederator channels feature hit series including Pendleton Ward’s Bravest Warriors and Natasha Allegri’s Bee and PuppyCat (the second-most funded animation project on Kickstarter), factual series 107 Facts, and an ever-expanding universe of new shorts from rising animation stars the world over.

“Adding Wow’s Channel Frederator as an online content destination supports creators of original Canadian programs, by providing those programs with direct access to a broader Canadian and global audience, and Canadian producers access to Canadian tax credits that support those programs. Wow and Frederator Networks will not only produce more premium Canadian animated content for Canadian and global audiences, but we believe that this will also drive growth and success for Canadian made programs on the web,” said Michael Hirsh, CEO of WOW! Unlimited Media.

The Channel Frederator Network is the world’s largest animation-only multi-channel network on YouTube and programs online channels such as Channel Frederator and Cartoon Hangover. Between January and April 2017, the network has added 270 channels to its offerings and racked up 2.4 billion views. As of April 30, it had 43 million subscribers.

The outfit also operates Frederator Studios, which produces animation for TV, movies and online. More than 250 short films have resulted in 16 hit series including Butch Hartman’s The Fairly OddParents on Nickelodeon and Pendleton Ward’s Adventure Time on Cartoon Network.

Bravest Warriors

Bee and Puppycat

August 9, 2017
Green Gold US Taps Pamela Hickey & Dennys McCoy to Head Story Dept.

Indian animation leader Green Gold has brought on board veteran kids’ toon writers Pamela Hickey and Dennys McCoy to run the story department of its US outpost. The dual appointments were announced Wednesday by Marc Lumer, VP and Head of US Operations.

Hickey and McCoy will oversee writing and story duties for every aspect of the company’s production business, and will review current and future projects by and for the company. “We will be looking for, creating, and co-creating projects that both represent and enhance the global success and image of Green Gold,” summarized Hickey.

The long-time colleagues and spouses have written over 500 produced scripts for every demographic across animation and live-action, series and features. They won a Daytime Emmy Award for Jakers! The Adventure of Piggley Winks in 2006, and have received an additional four nominations. Hickey and McCoy, who have written for projects on every continent (excluding Antarctica, so far!) have also received two BAFTAs and two Pulcinella Awards. Hickey and McCoy’s YouTube animated series, The Adventures of Annie and Ben (HooplaKidz), has racked up more than 70 million views.

New projects under the duo’s purview include animated feature American Golem, adapted from Marc Lumer’s picture book of the same name (out Fall 2018 from Behrman House); anime-influenced sci-fi, kung fu comedy Six Cylinder Samurai; young adult/adult series The Duchess; and TV/streaming toon series I Am #1, Jungle Trouble, Kalari Kids and Little Heroes.

Green Gold, headed by “The Walt Disney of India” Rajiv Chilaka, is one of the country’s largest animation companies, and has offices in Hyderabad, Mumbai and Chennai, as well as international branches in Los Angeles, Shanghai and the Philippines. The studio produces hit Indian toons Chhota Bheem, Mighty Raju, Arjun Prince of Bali and Super Bheem, with broadcast partners including Disney Channels, Cartoon Network, Amazon Prime Video and Discovery Kids.

Dennys McCoy and Pamela Hickey

August 9, 2017
‘Stretch Armstrong and the Flex Fighters,’ Flo Rida & More Guests Set for HASCON

Hasbro has added even more special guests and performers to its lineup for the first-ever HASCON “fan-mily” event, set for September 8-10 at the Rhode Island Convention Center adn the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence. An exciting development is the news that Grammy-nominated hip-hop artist, singer and songwriter Flo Rida will be performing a full set Saturday evening.

Newly added to the list of reps for Hasbro brand animated properties will be the voice talent and show creators behind the recently announced Netflix original series Stretch Armstrong and the Flex Fighters. Ogie Banks (Ultimate Spider-Man), Walter Koenig (Star Trek, Babylon 5), Scott Menville (Teen Titans Go!, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), executive producer/writer Kevin Burke (Ultimate Spider-Man, Avengers Assemble), executive producer/writer Chris “Doc” Wyatt (Ultimate Spider-Man, Napoleon Dynamite) and series executive producer and supervising director Victor Cook (The Spectacular Spider-Man, Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated) will feature in a panel and an autograph session on Sunday, Sept. 10.

Other fresh additions taking part in meet-and-greets at HASCON are young actor/singers Maddie Ziegler (Leap!) and Isabela Moner (Transformers: The Last Knight), veteran voice actor Susan Blu (The Transformers: The Movie, Jem), internet personalities the Eh Bee Family, award-winning storyteller Len Cabral, and sports stars David “Big Papi” Ortiz, Jackie Bradley Jr. and James White.

Previously announced programming highlights include first-look panels for Transformers: Rescue Bots, Littlest Pet Shop and My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic; discussions with Marvel Comics legend Stan Lee, James Gunn (writer & director, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1 and 2) and Lorenzo di Bonaventura (producer, Transformers films, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra and G.I. Joe Retaliation); and live performance and meet-and-greet with Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Daya.

On top of celebrating Hasbro’s iconic brands — Transformers, My Little Pony, G.I. Joe, etc. — and partner brands such as Beyblade, DreamWorks Trolls and Sesame Street, HASCON will offer activities inspired by Disney-family properties including Disney Princess, Frozen, Elena of Avalor, Moana and Descendants 2, as well as Star Wars and Marvel’s Avengers, Spider-Man and Guardians of the Galaxy. Attendees can check out movie props and costumes on display, hands-on fun art tutorials and more during the show.

Ticket information and purchase available via the HASCON website.

Stretch Armstrong and the Flex Fighters

August 9, 2017
Special Giveaway: Win ‘Mune’ Tickets for Sat. Aug. 12!

We have a marvelous treat for a lucky Animag reader this week: Two tickets to the one-day US theatrical engagement of Mune: Guardian of the Moon on Saturday, August 12.

Presented by GKIDS, Mune is a fantastical animated feature adventure featuring the voices of Rob Lowe, Christian Slater, Patton Oswalt, Ed Helms and Jeff Dunham. Tickets are now on sale at FathomEvents.com.

To win two-tickets to this special matinee movie event, answer the following question correctly and email your name and address to webmaster@www.animationmagazine.net, with the subject line “Mune Giveaway.”

Question: When Mune and Sohone team up to retrieve the sun, they meet a girl named Glim who is made of an unusual substance … what is it?

A. Starlight
B. Dew drops
C. Glass
D. Wax

Mune: Guardian of the Moon

Mune: Guardian of the Moon

Mune: Guardian of the Moon

Mune: Guardian of the Moon

Mune: Guardian of the Moon

Mune: Guardian of the Moon

Mune: Guardian of the Moon

Mune: Guardian of the Moon

August 9, 2017