George A. Romero, ‘Night of the Living Dead’ Creator, Dies at 77
The man who created the zombie zeitgeist which still permeates pop culture today has gone to rest, following a “brief but aggressive battle with lung cancer.” The legendary director and producer touched the animation world with a guest role on Phineas and Ferb a few years back, voicing “Don Adaded” in the episode “Night of the Living Pharmacists.”
Martin Landau, Actor Who Won an Oscar for ‘Ed Wood,’ Dies at 89
The iconic and imposing performer won both Academy Award and Golden Globe best supporting actors for his portrayal of Bela Lugosi in Tim Burton’s ode to B-movie history. The native New Yorker worked as a newspaper cartoonist and illustrator early on, and lent his voice to Burton’s Frankenweenie feature, Shane Acker’s 9, and “The Great Raymondo” on The Simpsons. Landau died Sunday in Los Angeles.
VIDEO: Steamboat Willie as Told by Emoji
Disney toasts World Emoji Day (7/17) by bringing a classic cartoon into the modern age in its latest texting tech-inspired toon. Mickey Mouse debuted in Steamboat Willie 89 years ago.
‘Rick and Morty’ Exquisite Corpse Animation Released
Adult Swim keeps treating us to bonus schwiftyness in advance of the season 3 premiere (July 30, 11:30 p.m. ET). This build-a-short project was overseen by director Matt Taylor of Titmouse and features music by Run The Jewels.
Drawing Their Own Path: 4 Latinos in TV Animation on How They Broke into the Industry Remezcla catches us up on Disney’s Latinos in TV Animation panel at the NALIP media summit, comprised of Francisco Angones (Co-Producer and Story Editor, DuckTales), Pilar Flynn (Producer, Elena of Avalor), Illya Owens (Lead Editor, Mickey Mouse), Jose Zelaya (Character Designer, Mickey and the Roadster Racers and The Lion Guard), and moderator Silvia Olivas (Co-Executive Producer and Story Editor, Elena of Avalor).
The annual Anima Mundi international animation festival has kicked off its 25th edition in Rio de Janeiro, boasting a global guest list, workshops, courses, panels and program — as well as 470 films from 45 countries (70 from Brazil), according to Rio Times. The event runs in Rio through July 23 before relocating to Sao Paulo from July 26-30.
The 2017 theme is the centenary of animation in the country, as the first recorded Brazilian animated film dates to 1917, with cartoonist Alvaro Martins’ O Kaiser. In addition to 182 films screening in competition, the program includes a number of historical pieces honoring both the 100 year mark and the festival’s landmark anniversary. This includes works curated by the Museum of Modern Art in (MAM) Rio and Cinemateca Brasileira in Sao Paulo.
“Animation is a very empathetic thing, right? We see Felix Cat, who was one of the first, still recognized, Betty Boop, Mickey Mouse, Snow White, is a movie that is almost current, you show to a child nowadays and she does not notice the difference in a modern movie,” said festival founder Marcos Magalhaes.
“So, it’s something that is very much in the memory of people, everyone is very fond of animation and since the first festival we felt this, we had touched a very sensitive vein, that people wanted to see animation and, more than that, people wanted to make animation.”
The 25th Anima Mundi received more than 1,200 submissions. You can view the complete 2017 selections list here. Visit www.animamundi.com.br/en for more information.
GKIDS is deepening its relationship with acclaimed Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli with a new partnership that will see the stateside production-distribution co. handle home entertainment for Ghibli’s film catalog in North America. GKIDS has handled theatrical rights for Ghibli films since 2010, and is currently partnering with Fathom Events on the six-part Studio Ghibli Fest.
“GKIDS is absolutely thrilled and honored to be the home of the treasured Studio Ghibli catalog,” says GKIDS CEO Eric Beckman. “These are among my favorite films of all time and we are more than excited to be able to introduce these films to new audiences.”
Beginning October 17, GKIDS will begin reissuing new Blu-ray and DVD editions of Studio Ghibli’s renowned films — kicking off with six titles from Academy Award-winning director Hayao Miyazaki: Howl’s Moving Castle, Kiki’s Delivery Service, My Neighbor Totoro, Ponyo, Princess Mononoke, and Spirited Away, followed by Castle in the Sky and Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind on October 31. The remaining titles (listed below) will follow in the coming months.
Newly Acquired Titles Include: Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, directed by Hayao Miyazaki, 1984 Castle in the Sky, directed by Hayao Miyazaki, 1986 My Neighbor Totoro, directed by Hayao Miyazaki, 1988 Kiki’s Delivery Service, directed by Hayao Miyazaki, 1989 Porco Rosso, directed by Hayao Miyazaki, 1992 Pom Poko, directed by Isao Takahata, 1994 Whisper of the Heart, directed by Yoshifumi Kondo, 1995 Princess Mononoke, directed by Hayao Miyazaki, 1997 My Neighbor the Yamadas, directed by Isao Takahata, 1999 Spirited Away, directed by Hayao Miyazaki, 2001 The Cat Returns, directed by Hiroyuki Morita, 2002 Howl’s Moving Castle, directed by Hayao Miyazaki, 2004 Tales from Earthsea, directed by Goro Miyazaki, 2006 Ponyo, directed by Hayao Miyazaki, 2008 The Secret World of Arrietty, directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, 2010
Studio Ghibli Titles Currently Represented by GKIDS: Only Yesterday, directed by Isao Takahata, 1991 Ocean Waves, directed by Tomomi Mochizuki, 1993 From Up on Poppy Hill, directed by Goro Miyazaki, 2011 The Tale of The Princess Kaguya, directed by Isao Takahata, 2013 When Marnie Was There, directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, 2014
The National Entertainment Collectibles Association (NECA) has signed on to produce a multi-category lineup of merchandise with award-winning animation studio LAIKA. To kick off the partnership, NECA will arrive in San Diego this week with a Comic-Con exclusive “Coraline in a Deluxe Display Box” figure, and will be promoting its high-end replicas of hero puppets from LAIKA’s four Oscar-nominated features: Coraline, ParaNorman, The Boxtrolls and Kubo and the Two Strings.
“We are thrilled to have kicked off our new licensing program with this deal,” says Brad Wald, LAIKA’s CFO and SVP of Business Operations. “There’s a history in working together with NECA on top-selling Coraline replicas (one is back by popular demand and available exclusively at the pop-up store at The LAIKA Experience). NECA is a leader in the industry in providing quality fan-based products and we’re excited to offer a wide portfolio to consumers that reflects LAIKA’s dynamic characters and unique aesthetic. We’re particularly excited by the bespoke puppet reproductions, which answer an ardent fan request that dates back to our first film.”
The limited edition (3,000 pieces) Coraline in a Deluxe Display Box exclusive action figure will be available at the NECA booth (#3145) at San Diego Comic-Con and at The LAIKA Experience pop-up shop. Bespoke reproduction hero puppets (Coraline, Norman, Eggs and Kubo) will be available for consumer orders by end of 2017 — more characters will follow.
Future products will include: Traditional articulated and/or non-articulated figures and/or dolls, sold with or without scenes/backdrops; resin statues; plush figures; bobble heads; stylized vinyl toys; large-scale foam figures; prop replicas; and board games.
The deal was brokered by licensing agency Striker Entertainment, which represents the rights to the LAIKA library of legacy and future films.
Women in Animation will be presenting an informative and inspiring panel at San Diego Comic-Con this week. Moderated by WIA co-President Marge Dean (GM, Stoopid Buddy Stoodios), Thursday’s “The Future Is Female: Women in Animation” panel will offer input on creating gender equity in the industry from key studio leaders.
The Future Is Female: Women in Animation
Thurs., July 20, 10-11 a.m., Room 7AB
Marge Dean (WIA co-president and General Manager of Stoopid Buddy Stoodios) will lead a conversation featuring top executives from the areas of film, TV, comics, VR, gaming and digital streaming. The panel will discuss female creative talent by format, unconscious bias, and the goal of obtaining 50-50 by 2025, with women sharing equally in the creation, production and rewards of animation.
Panelists: Paige Braddock, Executive Vice President/Creative Director, Charles M Schulz Creative Associates; Kelley Gardner, Sr. Director of Current Animation Series at Nickelodeon; Maggie Malone, VP, Creative Affairs, Walt Disney Animation Studios; Angela Petrella, Producer, Oculus Story Studio; Kristy Scanlan, WIA Co-president and VP, Business Development, Animation & Games, Technicolor; Sarah Malkin, VP, Head of Programming, New Form.
The inventors of Oscar-winning movie technology MOVA Contour Reality Capture have filed suit against Disney, Marvel Studios and ILM, alleging copyright, patent and trademark infringements. The complaint alleges that the defendants knowingly used stolen technology in the production of blockbuster pictures Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) and Beauty and the Beast (2017).
The intellectual property lawsuit was filed July 17 by the law firm Hagens Berman on behalf of MOVA owners Rearden LLC and Rearden Mova LLC. The filing can be read in full here.
“What Rearden created was a combined software and hardware system that revolutionized what was previously possible in motion picture facial motion capture, and after years of using Rearden to provide this very technology, Disney and Marvel suddenly contracted with thieves offering the identical system for Guardians of the Galaxy in 2014 and Beauty and the Beast in 2017 without making a simple phone call to ask Rearden what was going on,” said Steve Berman, managing partner of Hagens Berman.
“Disney has admitted that the MOVA Contour technology was essential to the phenomenal success of its live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast, and the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences cited Disney’s Guardians of the Galaxy in awarding a Sci-Tech Oscar to the MOVA technology. Now millions of moviegoers who filled theater seats across the world will know the truth – that Disney’s box office success was built in part on stolen technology.”
MOVA Contour allows visual effects studios to project live actors’ captured facial performances onto computer generated faces. The tech was used to show Brad Pitt as an 87 year-old man in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, project Mark Ruffalo’s facial performance onto the Hulk’s face in The Avengers, show Jeff Bridges as he had appeared almost 30 years ago for TRON: Legacy, and transform Rupert Grint’s face into Daniel Radcliffe’s in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. These and 10 other films that hired Rearden for facial motion capture have collectively earned $9.5 billion worldwide in box office alone. Disney had also contracted with Rearden to use MOVA Contour in four previous films.
Rearden, founded by Steve Perlman, is the owner of the MOVA Contour copyrights, patents, and other proprietary technology, which includes its patented computer program, arc-shaped Contour camera and lighting rig, synchronized cameras at multiple angles, and specially-mixed phosphor-based makeup used to capture thousands of control points on the actor’s face.
The chain of alleged events goes back to 2012, when Rearden employee Greg LaSalle tried to shop the technology to Digital Domain 3.0 without the company’s knowledge, then made a secret offer to Disney and ILM in 2013. A cease and desist letter issued by Rearden caused a swift halt of negotiations with Disney and ILM. A Chinese company called Shenzhenshi, affiliated with DD3, then claimed to have bought Mova Contour technology and licensed it to DD3.
In 2013, “LaSalle had access to the secure storage facility where the physical MOVA Contour apparatus was kept, and assisted DD3 in taking the patented MOVA Contour physical apparatus and copies of the copyrighted Contour Program,” according to the lawsuit. DD3 then began secretly offering MOVA Contour facial performance capture services to motion picture studios and production companies, including defendants. The complaint insists that stolen MOVA technology was critical to the success of these Disney and Marvel films, especially noting its importance to the live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast.
As has become a proud annual tradition, Disney (and its assorted studio brands) spent the weekend laying down a veritable carpet of official announcements during the D23 Expo. Here are some of the stop-the-presses moments from the last few days:
+ Disney-Pixar Chief Creative Officer John Lasseter hopped on stage Friday to take attendees through the studio’s animated feature slate, joined by key creatives and talent. Along with some musical moments, key tidbits included the reveal of a new character appearing in Ralph Breaks the Internet voiced by Taraji P. Henson, the announcement that Josh Cooley (Riley’s First Date) will direct Toy Story 4, an original project from Disneytoons (directed by Klay Hall and Bobs Gannaway) and an untitled fantasy flick with a personal twist from Dan Scanlon (Monsters University).
+ Sean Bailey, President of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production, presented overviews of the studio’s live-action slate. In brief: A first look at the A Wrinkle in Time remake (March 9, 2018; directed by Ava DuVernay) (teaser here) reveal of The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (Nov. 2, 2018; Lasse Hallstrom); a visit from Mary Poppins Returns star Emily Blunt (Dec. 25, 2018; Rob Marshall); confirmation of Mulan (directed by Whale Rider helmer Niki Caro), Aladdin (dir. by Guy Ritchie, with Mena Massoud as Aladdin, Naomi Scott as Jasmine and Will Smith as the Genie) and Jungle Cruise (Dwayne Johnson is involved).
+ Alan Horn joined Bailey for a surprise special look at Jon Favreau’s The Lion King (July 19, 2019) which promises even more game-changing technology and incredible visuals building on the achievements of The Jungle Book. “This is a story that belongs to everyone who grew up with the original film… I wanted to demonstrate that we could be respectful of the source material while bringing it to life using new techniques and technologies. We wanted to do something special for the D23 Expo audience and give them a first look at what we’re up to,” said Favreau. Film stars Donald Glover as Simba, and James Earl Jones as Mufasa.
+ Tim Burton phoned in to the live-action panel from across the pond despite his busy schedule directing Dumbo (March 29, 2019): “Dumbo was always one of my favorite Disney films … We’re trying to give it the same heart, feeling and emotion that we all loved about the original.” Film stars Colin Farrell as Holt Farrier, a former circus star and war-veteran charged with the care of a newborn elephant whose oversized ears make him a laughingstock of an already struggling circus. Nico Parker and Finley Hobbins were cast as Holt’s children, who discover that Dumbo can fly. Danny DeVito portrays circus owner Max Medici who tries to capitalize on the novelty. And Michael Keaton is persuasive entrepreneur V.A. Vandevere who swoops in with aerial artist Colette Marchant, portrayed by Eva Green, to make Dumbo a star.
+ Alan Horn welcomed Rian Johnson to introduce the stars of Star Wars: The Last Jedi (Dec. 15, 2017) — Mark Hamill, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Gwendoline Christie, Kelly Marie Tran, Laura Dern and Benicio Del Toro — to offer a sneak peek at behind-the-scenes footage from the next installment in the Skywalker saga. Horn also brought Marvel’s Kevin Feige up to talk the studio’s 10th anniversary plans, offer an early look at Avengers: Infinity War (May 4, 2018) with director Joe Russo, and drive the crowd wild with the surprise appearance of stars Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Mackie, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Holland, Chadwick Boseman, Josh Brolin, Don Cheadle, Sebastian Stan, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan and Pom Klementieff.
+ Friday sparkled with star power at the Special 30th Anniversary Disney Legends AwardsCeremony, hosted by Disney Chairman & CEO Bob Iger. This year’s honorees: Carrie Fisher (Film), Clyde “Gerry” Geronimi (Animation), Whoopi Goldberg (Film & Television), Manuel Gonzales (Publishing), Mark Hamill (Film), Wayne Jackson (Imagineering), Jack Kirby (Publishing), Stan Lee (Film & Publishing), Garry Marshall (Film & Television), Julie Taymor (Theatrical) and Oprah Winfrey (Film & Television).
+ Double Oscar-winning animated feature The Lion King (1994) will be joining the Walt Disney Signature Collection on Digital (Aug. 15), DVD and Blu-ray (Aug. 29) — with more than three hours of bonus material and brand-new special features like sing alongs and an extended conversation with voice stars Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick on the film’s legacy. The announcement panel was full of veryspecialmoments caught on video.
+ Disney is keeping on the cutting edge of immersive storytelling with the first-ever Mickey-themed ride-through attraction, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. With a new original story and lovable attraction theme song, this new state-of-the-art ride will take guests on a journey inside the wacky and unpredictable world of Disney Channel’s Emmy Award-winning Mickey Mouse cartoon shorts using new technologies that transform the flat cartoon world into an incredible dimensional experience.
+ Last but not least, Disney TV revealed the opening credits sequence to Big Hero 6 The Series, coming this fall and already renewed for a second season. The highly-anticipated series based on Disney’s Academy Award-winning feature film and inspired by the Marvel comics of the same name, reunites many of the original voice cast including: Marvel Comics legend Stan Lee as Fred’s dad, Maya Rudolph as Aunt Cass, Jamie Chung as Go Go and Scott Adsit as Baymax.
2017 Disney Legends Oprah Winfrey & Mark HamillMickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway – Disney’s Hollywood StudiosMickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway – Disney’s Hollywood StudiosRalph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 – first lookBig Hero 6 The SeriesDisney-Pixar’s John Lasseter presents the upcoming feature animation slate
Filmmakers from Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios convened at D23 Expo 2017 on Friday, revealing new details about their upcoming movie slates and introducing key voice talent. John Lasseter teamed up with the stars and filmmakers from both studios to present new details, footage, behind-the-scenes looks and images from a host of upcoming films.
“I’m so excited about our upcoming movies; they are all hilarious, emotional, beautiful and make you think,” said Lasseter, who serves as executive producer on all animated titles. “It’s a great mix of incredibly creative and surprising new worlds and characters and stories we love returning to. Our filmmakers are putting so much heart into these films – I can’t wait for people to see them.”
Per the Mouseketeers:
COCO [Nov. 22, 2017]
Guests were treated to the first-ever public performance of “Remember Me” from Pixar’s upcoming feature film. Anthony Gonzalez, who provides the voice of Miguel in the film, and Benjamin Bratt, who lends his voice to Ernesto de la Cruz, teamed up to perform the song written by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez.
Director Lee Unkrich, co-director and screenwriter Adrian Molina and producer Darla K. Anderson shared details about the original story with the crowd: Coco introduces Miguel, an aspiring musician whose family long ago banned music. Desperate to prove his talent and follow in the footsteps of his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz, Miguel makes a fateful decision and finds himself in the Land of the Dead, where he meets his extended family and charming trickster Hector (voice of Gael García Bernal). Together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel’s family history.
Coco features an original score from Oscar-winning composer Michael Giacchino (Up, Rogue One) and additional songs co-written by Germaine Franco and Molina. Also part of the team is musical consultant Camilo Lara of the music project Mexican Institute of Sound.
Fans in attendance all received an exclusive poster.
Kristen Bell, the voice of Anna, introduced fans to the new Frozen holiday featurette. Josh Gad, the voice of Olaf, surprised the crowd with a live performance of the all-new original song “That Time of Year,” written by Elyssa Samsel and Kate Anderson.
Joining Bell and Gad in the featurette are Idina Menzel as Elsa, and Jonathan Groff as Kristoff. Olaf’s Frozen Adventure is directed by the Emmy-winning team Kevin Deters and Stevie Wermers-Skelton (Prep & Landing) and produced by Oscar winner Roy Conli (Big Hero 6).
INCREDIBLES 2 [June 15, 2018]
Lasseter was excited to share with fans a look at what the fashion world thinks of super-suit stylist Edna Mode—introduced in Pixar’s 2004 Oscar-winning Incredibles. Showcasing fashion phenoms from Heidi Klum and Kendall Jenner to Zac Posen and Rachel Zoe, the video can be viewed here.
Incredibles 2 director Brad Bird—who voices Edna—joined Lasseter on stage to welcome the voices of Mr. and Mrs. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson and Holly Hunter), Violet (Sarah Vowell), Dash (newcomer Huck Milner) and Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson). Bird revealed details of the upcoming caper, which puts the family into an expanded universe that includes new allies and a brand-new villain.
RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET: WRECK-IT RALPH 2 [Nov. 21, 2018]
Directors Rich Moore and Phil Johnston introduced Emmy-winning actress and comedian Sarah Silverman, who returns as the voice of Vanellope von Schweetz. Fans were the first to see the global debut of a scene from the film that pays hilarious homage to the Disney Princesses. Lasseter revealed that filmmakers had asked the original voice actresses behind the Princesses featured to reprise their roles for the sequence, and in a moment no Disney fan will forget, Auli‘i Cravalho (Moana), Kristen Bell (Anna in Frozen), Kelly MacDonald (Merida in Brave), Mandy Moore (Rapunzel in Tangled), Anika Noni Rose (Tiana in The Princess and the Frog), Irene Bedard (Pocahontas), Linda Larkin (Jasmine in Aladdin), Paige O’Hara (Belle in Beauty and the Beast) and Jodi Benson (Ariel in The Little Mermaid) were welcomed on stage for the largest gathering of Disney Princesses in history.
Disney’s follow-up to 2012’s Wreck-It Ralph leaves the arcade behind, venturing into the expansive universe of the internet—which may or may not survive Ralph’s not-so-light touch. Outcasts-turned-BFFs Ralph (voice of John C. Reilly) and Vanellope von Schweetz are reuniting with Fix-It Felix (Jack McBrayer) and Sergeant Calhoun (Jane Lynch). Produced by Oscar-winner Clark Spencer.
Filmmakers revealed a new character, Yesss, an algorithm who plays an important role in Ralph and Vanellope’s journey within the internet, played by Golden Globe-winning actress Taraji P. Henson (Empire). “Yesss is a new character who owns the website Buzzaholic,” said Henson. “Yesss knows about everything cool and on trend. And she does spell her name with a triple ‘s.’ Yesss is very savvy, smart and sexy.”
UNTITLED DISNEYTOON STUDIOS FILM [April 12, 2019]
Lasseter kicked off the presentation by announcing Disneytoon Studios’ original new animated movie, “Untitled DTS Film.” Directed by Klay Hall and Bobs Gannaway, and produced by Ferrell Barron, the theatrical feature film explores the future of aviation—taking moviegoers to the edge of discovery in the air—and beyond.
TOY STORY 4 [June 21, 2019]
Lasseter invited Pixar’s Josh Cooley (Riley’s First Date? short) to the stage, revealing that Cooley has assumed full director responsibilities for Toy Story 4. The pair brought with them a behind-the-scenes look at a day in the director’s life at the Northern California studio. Produced by Jonas Rivera (Inside Out).
FROZEN 2 (TITLE TBA) [ Nov. 27, 2019]
Directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, and produced by Peter Del Vecho, Disney’s feature-length follow-up to 2013’s Oscar-winning film Frozen will see Bell, Gad, Menzel and Groff reprising their roles in an all-new story. Lasseter, Bell and Gad shared with fans a behind-the-scenes video showcasing the filmmakers’ recent research trip to Norway, Finland and Iceland.
UNTITLED DAN SCANLON MOVIE [TBA]
Director Dan Scanlon, (Monsters University} joined Lasseter to share a few details about an all-new original feature film currently in production at Pixar. According to Scanlon, who lost his father at a very young age, the film is inspired by the question he’s always asked: who was my father? The story is set in a world with no humans—only elves, trolls and sprites—“anything that would be on the side of a van in the ’70s,” said the director. “In the film, we’re going to tell the story of two teenage elf brothers whose father died when they were too young to remember him. But thanks to the little magic still left in the world, the boys embark on a quest that will allow them a chance to spend one last magical day with their father.” Kori Rae (Monsters University) will produce.
San Diego Comic-Con is almost upon us! For those who need a little Japanese flavor in their pop culture olio — especially hit franchises Boruto and Sailor Moon — VIZ Media has you covered at their booth (#2813) and beyond, from July 19-23. No time to lose, let’s get down to it:
PANELS & SIGNINGS Thurs. July 20
4:00-5:00 p.m. Rm. 7AB VIZ Media Official Panel – Join VIZ for exciting announcements, exclusive first looks at new titles, and prizes!
Fri. July 21
3:30-4:30 p.m. Rm. 5AB Shonen Jump Panel with Special Guests! – Come hang with your Shonen Jump pals and select English Boruto voice actors! VIZ’ll be making announcements, discussing SJmanga, and giving you the chance to answer ridiculously easy trivia for prizes! Scheduled to appear will be: Amanda Celine Miller (Boruto), Cherami Leigh (Sarada) and Robbie Daymond (Mitsuki).
5:30 p.m. VIZ Booth Boruto English Voice Cast Autograph Session – Stop by the VIZ Media booth after the panel for a special Boruto: Naruto Next Generations voice cast signing. See the booth’s front desk for full details.
Sat. July 22
1:30-2:30 p.m. Rm. 5AB Official Sailor Moon Panel – Everyone’s favorite Guardian of Love and Justice is back and better than ever! Join the Sailor Moonteam for all the can’t-miss news and updates on the legendary anime series, as well as some special guest appearances! Scheduled to appear will be: Amanda Celine Miller (Sailor Jupiter), Cherami Leigh (Sailor Venus) and Robbie Daymond (Tuxedo Mask).
3:30 p.m. VIZ Booth Sailor Moon Voice Cast Autograph Session – Catch the voice cast after the panel for a special signing session at the VIZ Media booth! Stop by the booth’s front desk for full details.
BOOTH ACTIVITIES In-Booth Signing Sessions The Art of Magic: The Gathering – Meet writer James Wyatt and artist Tyler Jacobson and get a free signed art card – Thursday, July 20 at 2:30 p.m. and Friday, July 21 at 11:00 a.m. The Art of My LIttle Pony: The Movie – Meet My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic head writer Meghan McCarthy and get a free signed sneak peak of the upcoming art book and movie – Thursday, July 20 at 11:00 a.m. and Friday, July 21 at 1:00 p.m. (with series songwriter Daniel Ingram) BORUTO – THE NEXT GENERATION – The race to become the next Hokage starts at Comic-Con! Get a premium poster tube and three exclusive Boruto posters. ONE-PUNCH MAN – What Hero Rank Are You? – Find out your Hero Association Rank! Manga sampler, poster and postcard giveaways
BOOTH RETAIL Exclusive Items:
ONE-PUNCH MAN and ONE PIECE Manga Replicas – $15 each
ONE-PUNCH MAN OPPAI T-Shirt – $20
SAILOR MOON CRYSTAL T-Shirt – $15
Pre-Street & Pre-Order Items:
DEATH NOTE: ALL-IN- ONE EDITION – $40
THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: TWILIGHT PRINCESSS Vol. 2 – $10
JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE SEASON 1 Blu-ray Set (includes an exclusive bandana with purchase) – $65
POKEMON ADVENTURES 20th ANNIVERSARY ILLUSTRATION BOOK – $25
SAILOR MOON CRYSTAL Set 3 Combo Pack Preorder (includes an exclusive suncatcher with purchase) – $65
VAMPIRE KNIGHT: MEMORIES Vol. 1 – $10
Special Bundles & Gifts With Purchase:
ONE-PUNCH MAN Special Bundle: includes ONE-PUNCH MAN Limited Edition Blu-ray Set and Vol. 1 manga; also receive an exclusive Hero Association silvertone metal pin – $60
BORUTO Manga and Movie Bundle: includes BORUTO: NARUTO THE MOVIE Combo Pack and BORUTO: NARUTO NEXT GENERATIONS Vol. 1 manga; also receive an exclusive BORUTO postcard set – $32
THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: TWILIGHT PRINCESS Vols. 1-2 – $15
THE ART OF MAGIC: THE GATHERING – AMONKHET: includes an exclusive poster as gift with purchase – $30
Premium WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP Annual Subscription: includes exclusive WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP hat and two Yu-Gi- Oh! Cards – $30
Eisner-Nominated Titles (Available at Discount Price):
BLANC ET NOIR: Takeshi Obata Illustrations – $75
GOODNIGHT PUNPUN Vol. 1 – $20
Sailor Moon Crystal tshirtBoruto: Naruto the Movie
Marvel Animation took the stage at D23 Expo on Friday to make key announcements two super-powered series, revealing the premiere date and voice cast for Marvel’s Spider-Man, announcing a third season for Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout, and naming the next LEGO Marvel Super Heroes special.
As announced by SVP of Animation & Family Entertainment Cort Lane and Chief Creative Officer Joe Quesada at the packed panel, Marvel’s Spider-Man will make its highly anticipated debut on Saturday, August 19 at 7 a.m. ET on Disney XD, the Disney XD app and its VOD.
The Spider-Man voice cast includes Robbie Daymond (Bread Winners, Get Blake) as Spider-Man, Max Mittleman (One-Punch Man) as Harry Osborn, Nadji Jeter (Jessie) as Miles Morales, Melanie Minichino (Blaze and the Monster Machine) as Anya Corazon, Fred Tatasciore (Marvel’s Avengers Assemble) as Max Modell, Laura Bailey (DragonBall Z) as Gwen Stacy, Nancy Linari (The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest) as Aunt May, Patton Oswalt (Ratatouille) as Uncle Ben, Scott Menville (Teen Titans) as Doc Ock, John DiMaggio (Clarence) as The Jackal, Alastair Duncan (The Batman) as Vulture, and executive producer Quesada as the coffee shop owner, Joe.
In this fresh take on Spider-Man, Peter Parker is learning the responsibility that comes along with being a new, super-powered hero in New York City, just as he’s being accepted into Horizon High, a high school for brilliant young scientific minds. He struggles with the duality of his social life at school and hiding his secret identity from everyone including his best friend Harry Osborn, who attends the competing Osborn Academy for geniuses. As Peter embraces his alter-ego and takes on super villains such as Vulture, Lizard, Doctor Octopus and Sandman, he watches his hero lifestyle come between his personal relationships and struggles to keep Harry from landing on the wrong side of the law.
The creative team includes executive producers Alan Fine, Dan Buckley, Joe Quesada, Jeph Loeb, Cort Lane, and Eric Radomski; co-executive producers Stan Lee and Stephen Wacker; supervising producers Kevin Shinick and Marsha Griffin; consulting producers Dan Slott, Kevin Burke and Chris “Doc” Wyatt; and supervising director Philip Pignotti (Marvel’s Avengers Assemble).
Representing Star Lord and Co., series voice stars Will Friedle (Boy Meets World), Trevor Devall (Johnny Test), Vanessa Marshall (Star Wars Rebels), David Sobolov (Transformers: Prime) and Kevin Michael Richardson (The Cleveland Show) joined Lane and Quesada to announce the new third season adventure Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout, coming to Disney XD.
Mission Breakout will find the Guardians gaining fame and fortune, but quickly knocked back on their heels after being framed by the Collector. The Guardians will travel to new universes, stage a massive sting operation inside the Nova Corps, and expose a Secret Invasion years in the making. A little bad and a little good – all in a day’s work.
Finally, The LEGO Group and Marvel will team-up once again for an all-new 22-minute animated special LEGO Marvel Super Heroes – Guardians of the Galaxy: The Thanos Threat. When Thanos, Ronan, Nebula and the Ravagers seek to possess the Build Stone – a powerful and creative relic – the fate of the universe depends on the Guardians of the Galaxy to protect it. The platform and release timing details are forthcoming.
On Saturday, July 29, the Toronto Animated Images Society will present two 60-minute short film programs representing the best in independent Canadian and international animation in its 11th Annual TAIS Animation Showcase. The evening will also feature the results of TAIS’ latest Anijam competition, and a new VR piece from Zeesy Powers.
Tackling diverse themes with a range of stylistic approaches, the 20 selected narrative and experimental short films (listed below) hail from nine different countries: Canada, China, Costa Rica, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, the UK and the US. Award winners will be chosen by a guest jury of Canadian animation luminaries: Michael Fukushima, head of the NFB Animation Studio; artist, educator & curator Adrienne Crossman; and digital artist Nicolas Sassoon — co-founder of WALLPAPERS and SIGNALS.
TAIS’ BIG EYES Sharp Teeth Anijam generated 20 entries this year, with each 10-second mini-film making a mega-impact. And from TAIS 2017 Canadian Artist in Residence Zeesy Powers comes the interactive VR experience This Could Be You. Produced in TAIS studios, eh projects puts participants in the body of a 90-year-old woman in the middle of a techno-dystopic environment — on track with Toronto-based Powers’ artistic explorations of technology’s impact on our lived experience.
Tickets are $10 in advance, or $12 at the door ($8 for TAIS members), and are available online.
TAIS Animation Showcase 2017 films: Au revoir Balthazar Rafael Sommerhalder; Switzerland, 9:30, 2016, stop motion, narrative Birdlime Evan DeRushie; Toronto, Canada, 10:51, 2017, stop motion, narrative *not in juried competition Bone Guitar Julianna Cox and Payton Curtis; Elora, Canada, 1:22, 2016, stop motion, music video Casino Steven Woloshen; Montreal, Canada, 3:58, 2016, experimental scratch on film Cococo Julian Gallese; Costa Rica, 7:06, 2017, hand drawn, narrative Conditioner Shane Beam; United States, 4:46, 2017, hand-drawn, narrative Death Van Michael Enzbrunner; Toronto, Canada, 5:32, 2017, 3D animation, narrative *not in juried competition Hi, It’s Your Mother Daniel Sterlin-Altman; Toronto, Canada, 4:53, 2016, stop motion, narrative Hypertrain Etienne Kompis and Fela Bellotto; Switzerland, 3:35, 2016, 2D drawn and 3D animation, narrative In a Heartbeat Beth David and Esteban Bravo; United States, 4:05, 2017, 3D animation, narrative Jenny in the Self-Checkout Line Nick Fox-Gieg; Toronto, Canada, 2:10, 2017, drawn frame-by-frame with a Vive controller, narrative Lo Ted Wiggin; United States, 3:10, 2017, experimental Lotus Lantern Xingpei Shen; China, 6:30, 2017, hand-drawn, non-narrative Nailbiter Laura Hodkin; Scotland and the United Kingdom, 3:26, 2017, 2D drawn, non-narrative Nutag-Homeland Alisi Telengut; Montreal, Canada, 6:00, hand-painted, non-narrative Popsicle Tzu-Hsin Yang; Taiwan, 5:22, 2017, hand-drawn, hand-painted, narrative Quarters FIG House; Oakville, Canada, 5:00, 2017, stop motion narrative Sister Narcissa Dylan Glynn; Toronto, Canada, 2:20, 2016, 2D drawn, narrative The Pear Wang Yihao and Tong Reko; China, 6:25, 2016, hand-drawn, watercolor painted narrative The Stunt Manual Ben Fernández; Spain, 9:37, 2016, stop motion
Global producer-distributor Portfolio Entertainment has inked a raft of new deals taking a medley of its animated and live-action series to new broadcast and on-demand platforms in the Ukraine, Middle East & North Africa, and the US.
“We’re thrilled to continue growing the success of our tentpole series while bringing fresh, diverse titles to new and existing global partners and audiences,” said Jonathan Abraham, Director of International Sales and Acquisitions, Portfolio Entertainment.
Niki Kids in the Ukraine has picked up hit kids’ comedy Freaktown (52 x 11′ or 26 x 30′). Nearby Ultra Kids snagged the first two seasons of animated expedition-adventure preschool series, DOKI (52 x 30′ or 104 x 11′) for Ex-Yugoslavia.
In MENA, both Discovery Kids and E Junior have acquired Mack & Moxy (12 x 13′), which introduces kids to important causes with a blend of 3D CG, live-action puppetry, and engaging celebrity guests like Hank Azaria, Keegan-Michael Key, Kal Penn, Josh Duhamel and Rachel Ray.
On the live-action side, Starz has picked up US on-demand and online platform rights for both seasons of docu-series Do You Know?, hosted by tech vlogger Maddie Moate.
North America’s leading dedicated animation fest, Ottawa International Animation Festival, has revealed the Official Competition selections for 2017. From September 20-24, 105 short films and 5 features, culled from 1,992 entries from 85 different countries, will vie for attention and awards honors.
“What an extraordinary group of films we have this year,” says Chris Robinson, OIAF Artistic Director. “There is a definite air of defiance, not just in terms of content, but also through stylistic choices and a rejection of conventional narrative storytelling. All in all, a refreshing, timely and much needed blast of fresh air from the international animation community.”
Four out of five of the competing feature films were previously announced, and now we find out that the fifth entry is Yongsun Lee’s digital 2D I’ll Just Live in Bando (South Korea). The tale of a man torn between his dream of being an actor and the need to support his family joins a predominantly Asian lineup, which for the first time in OIAF history includes two films by the same director: Masaaki Yuasa.
The current political and social temperature can be felt throughout the OIAF 2017 selections. Highlights picked out by the programmers include The Story of O.J., a beautifully animated and brutally honest music video about race relations in America co-directed by Mark Romanek and JAY-Z, designed and animated by The Mill and Titmouse. Clyde Petersen’s feature Torrey Pines — a queer, raw coming of age story. Sexual diversity is further examined in Fish Curry by Abhishek Verma (India) and Manivald by Chintis Lundgren (Canada).
The short film selections highlight a variety of pressing issues: political violence in Riot (Frank Ternier, France) and Nos Faltan (Emilio Ramos, Mexico). domestic abuse in My Father’s Room (Nari Jang, South Korea), the fragility of economic systems in Cloacinae (Serge Onnen and Sverre Fredriksen, Netherlands & China), the critical notion of home in Hedgehog’s Home (Eva Cvijanovic, Canada) and societal apathy in Life Cycles (Ross Hogg, UK). The NFB also delves into social commentary with Naked Island, a series of short protest films from several animators who examine the dark side of their cities.
OIAF has also chosen 45 panorama films to represent the efforts of Canadian, International and Student animators.
The nominees for the 2017 animago AWARDS have been announced, with nearly a thousand submissions from 58 countries narrowed down to 33 contenders in 11 categories. The awards will be announced at a ceremony September 7 during the animago CONFERENCE in Munich, Germany — set for Sept. 7-8 at the Gasteig Cultural Centre.
JURY’S PRIZE In a Heartbeat Beth David & Esteban Bravo, Ringling College of Art and Design, USA Overrun Pierre Ropars, Antonin Derory, Diane Thirault, Jérémie Cottard, Matthieu Druaud & Adrien Zumbihl; Supinfocom Rubika, France The Passenger Orlane Brouillet, Claire d’Intorni, Antoine Mariez, Lucie Martinetto, Réda Mehleb, Eva Seyeux; ESMA, France
BEST SHORT FILM Afterwork Matte CG, Uson Studios, Apus Estudios, Ecuador Darrel Daniel Martínez, Marc Briones & Alan Carabantes, Spain Revelation – The City of Haze Magic Animation Studio, Mao Qichao, China
BEST YOUNG PRODUCTION Asteria Alexandre Arpentinier, Mathieu Blanchys, Lola Grand, Tristan Lamarca, Thomas Lemaille, Jean-Charles Lusseau; ESMA, France Less Than Human Steffen Bang Lindholm, The Animation Workshop, Denmark The D in David Michelle Yi, Yaron Farkash, Ringling College of Art and Design, USA
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them VFX by Rodeo FX Canada for Warner Bros. Game of Thrones Season 6 VFX by Rodeo FX Canada for HBO Unleashing the Dragons – Game of Thrones Season 6 VFX by Pixomondo Germany for HBO
BEST CHARACTER Ein Krötenlied (Song of a Toad) Kariem Saleh & Robert Martin, Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, Germany Poilus Guillaume Auberval, Léa Dozoul, Simon Gomez, Timothé Hek, Hugo Lagrange, Antoine Laroye & David Lashcari; Isart Digital, France Shine Alexander Dietrich & Johannes Flick, Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, Germany
BEST GAME CINEMATIC Beyond Good and Evil 2 Cinematic Trailer Ubisoft Montpellier, Unit Image, France Skull and Bones Cinematic Trailer Ubisoft, Platige Image, Poland The Crew 2 Cinematic Trailer Ubisoft Annecy, Unit Image, France
BEST MOTION DESIGN Citigold: “Adele” Joe Ball, Psyop, USA Dust My Shoulders Off Grass Jelly Studio, Taiwan Pause 2017 Opening Titles Xiaolin Zeng, XZSM, China
BEST ADVERTISING PRODUCTION Canal Kitchen Unit Image, France Die Oster-Überraschung – #DerWahreOsterhase (Rabbit School – Guardians of the Golden Egg) Netto Marken-Discount, Jung von Matt, Germany Lube-x Noah Demirci, Hochschule Luzern, Switzerland
BEST VISUALIZATION Antlion Audio / ModMic 5 DW Studio (UK) for Antlion Audio Huawei Watch Glassworks (The Netherlands) for Huawei Nanos Daniel Eisenschink, Simone Kellner & Simon Völkl, Technische Hochschule Degendorf (Germany) Bachelor Thesis
BEST ARCHITECTURAL VISUALIZATION Displacity Frank ter Horst, The Netherlands Madinat Al Irfan HHVISION, Germany Maisons Oxygène Valentinstudio, France
BEST STILL Her Eventual Hesitation Marek Denko, Czech Republic Superman Decline Dan Roarty, USA Timothy the autumn mouse Jesus Fernandez Calderon, Costa Rica
Hamburg-based graphic designer and freelance editor Günter Hagedorn, who has managed the animago competition since it was founded 21 years ago, heads a jury comprised of character animator and filmmaker Melanie Beissswenger (Happy Feet 1 & 2, Iron Man 3), Alexander Bouquet, Head of Postproduction at JUNG VON MATT; Maggy Fischer, Head of Postproduction at Neverest; Digital Production Editor Mirja Fürst; Milkroom Studios’ MD Robert Hoffmeister (Pirates of the Caribbean 2,3 & 4, Star Wars Episodes 2 & 3); graphic & motion designer Elisa Krenz; Rolf Mütze, co-founder and MD of studio LAVAlabs; Juri Stanossek, VFX Supervisor at Mackevision Medien Design; and Dominik Zimmerle, VFX Supervisor at TRIXTER Munich.
Guest jurors include Daniel Curio, Head of Film Policy and Audiovisual Media at Bavaria’s State Ministry for Economics and Media, Energy and Technology; Jürgen Korbinian Enninger, Head of Munich’s Expert Team on Culture and the Creative Industries; and Marc Gegenfurtner, Head of Department I for the Fine Arts, Performing Arts, Film, Literature, Music, City History & Science in Munich’s Cultural Division. The jury for the Special Architecture Prize is made up of the architect, editor, graphic designer and concept designer Pedro Ferreira alongside Editor-in-Chief of DETAIL magazine, Dr. Sandra Hofmeister; Ralf Peter Knobloch, owner and interior architect/designer at Plan2Plus; and DETAIL editor Peter Popp.
The animago AWARD is an international competition to honor creatives from across the globe working in 3D animation and still image rendering, visual effects, visualization and design.
This year’s animago sponsors are Autodesk, Avid, Chaos Group, Dell EMC, Esri, Maxon, NEC Display Solutions Europe, PNY Technologies, Vogelsanger and Wacom; support provided by the Bavarian State Ministry for Economics and Media, Energy and Technology and by the Team of Excellence Culture Creative Industries City of Munich.
The month of June ended on an animated note in northern Italy thanks to the inaugural edition of the BergamoTOONS Festival, which became “the world capital of cartoons” from June 22-24. A packed program of 39 events conceived by festival director Federico Fiecconi spread across the historic Lombardi town, offering free symposiums, screenings, events and exhibitions dedicated to animation. The event’s homebase at the University of Bergamo anchored the festival with introductory sessions, workshops and masterclasses for aspiring animators.
Animation Magazine’s publisher Jean Thoren was in attendance as a Special Guest and opening speaker at the BergamoTOONS conference. The magazine’s 30th anniversary was marked with a celebratory cocktail party.
Delivering the keynote address was Guest of Honor David Silverman, who directed the very first episodes of Matt Groening’s The Simpsons on The Tracey Ullman Show (1987). “We could not hope for a better guest of honor for the kick-off edition of BergamoTOONS.“David Silverman embodies, like no other, the key aspects of animation that we want to celebrate at the BergamoTOONS: an unbridled charge of irreverent and transgressive spectacularity,” said Fiecconi.
In addition to his animation career — in which he continues to direct for Simpsons having helmed The Simpsons Movie and co-directed Monsters, Inc. — Silverman is an accomplished musician who delighted attendees with an opening concert “Jammin’ The Simpson Way,” joining the Vent Symphony Orchestra to play scores from famous animated films. Silverman’s famous tuba reappeared for the closing Cartoon Party, where he played with the Claudio Angeleri Jazz Quartet.
Simpsons-mania was all over Bergamo, from a free outdoor screening of The Simpsons Movie (2007), projected onto the UNESCO World Heritage Site listed Venetian walls; to Friday’s “The Simpsons Day” festivities — “The Phenomenon of The Simpsons” panel with Silverman and Bolognese animator Silvia Pompei, “The Art Behind the Scenes of The Simpsons” exhibition, and The Simpsons: Silverman’s Marathon hand-picked screening in honor of the show’s 30th anniversary.
A common thematic thread of “humor” ran through the festival — a trait shared with acclaimed director and cartoonist Bruno Bozzetto, who serves as Honorary Chairman of the BergamoToons association. The Italian toon legend was celebrated with a gala presentation of his newly restored feature masterpiece, Allegro non troppo (1976) in the Donizetti Theater (where the original live-action scenes were filmed) which packed the house with a 500-person, sold-out audience. The modern art gallery GAMeC, meanwhile, hosted an original concept and production art exhibit, “Allegro, it’s animated art!,” followed by a screening of Marco Bonfanti’s documentary, Bozzetto non troppo (2016).
The Donizetti Theatre was also the venue for an artistic mash-up which highlighted the works of Italian-Bavarian cartoonist Joshua Held, featuring original animations created for the comic opera The Barber of Seville and The Journey to Reims.
In addition to The Simpsons and Animation Magazine’s milestones, the first BergamoTOONS toasted the 70th anniversary of Warner Brothers’ Daffy Duck, and the 50th anniversary of clever Croatian character, Professor Balthazar. Luckily, the evening TOONS Pub gatherings offered glasses to clink in their honor, as well as food and live cartooning and animation demonstrations for late night entertainment.
The festival was capped by the presentation of awards to Special Guests Joshua Held, Silvia Pompei and Jean Thoren, Guest of Honor 2017 David Silverman, and Paolo Franco, President of Uniacque, who received the festival board’s prize for a company able to communicate effectively through the “language of animation.”
Watch a 20-Minute Animated Pilot about the Doom of Valyria
With Game of Thrones season 7 premiering Sunday night on HBO (Slay, Queens~), it’s the perfect time to check out this labor-of-love take on one of the many backstories of Planetos: Daenys the Dreamer and the Targaryens’ fateful flight from their volcanic homeland. Surprisingly, this isn’t one of the multiple spin-off pilots being pursued. But it should be.
VIDEO: ‘The Emoji Movie’ Clip – We’re Number 2
There is absolutely no role that Sir Patrick Stewart can’t make classy. In this new clip, a Meh family pow-wow is interrupted by the venerable Shakespearean and starship captain extraordinaire, voicing Poop. (Psst, read all about the movie in Animation Magazine’s August/September issue!) In theaters July 28.
TICKETS: GLAS Los Angeles Screening Series: Sensual Animation
LA will be extra hot and sticky (…in a good way?) as an orgiastic celebration of erotic animation takes over the Downtown Independent on July 27. Drinks, debauchery, and discounts for ASIFA Members and students are there for the taking.
Streaming service Crunchyroll has announced a new partnership with NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan to co-develop new anime properties, building on their existing distribution relationship. No specific projects have been revealed, but the announcement mentions titles based on existing content as well as all-new stories with an eye to global audience appeal.
“Crunchyroll and NUEJ share a passion for producing anime that has widespread appeal around the globe,” said Kun Gao, Founder and GM of Crunchyroll. “The partnership made sense as an exciting opportunity to bring more high-quality content to the anime community. We are excited to build off our relationship with NUEJ to collaborate on green-lighting new titles that anime fans will love.”
“Crunchyroll has always been a trusted partner in bringing the series we produce to screens everywhere internationally,” said James Takagi, Managing Director, NUEJ. “With Crunchyroll, we will make the newest and best anime titles accessible to audiences outside of Japan. Together, we look forward to working with fresh and exciting talent to bring anime fans around the world more of what they love — premium anime content.”
NBCUEJ series including Berserk and Drifters are currently available on Crunchyroll.
NBCUEJ was formerly Pioneer LDC, and then Geneon, before merging with Universal Pictures Japan in 2009; the company produces anime and distributes home media. Crunchyroll previously formed a co-production joint venture with Sumitomo Corp. in 2015, as reported by Anime News Network, and has since invested in more than two dozen productions.
Spark Compute Graphics Society and Women in Animation have teamed up to present the inaugural WIA Diversity Awards during this year’s Spark Animation conference & festival, taking place October 26-29 in Vancouver, Canada. The Awards have been established to celebrate outstanding contributions to diversity and inclusion in the animation industry.
“WIA’s commitment to bringing balance to creative leadership in the animation industry is built upon a foundation of inclusivity, and we aspire to create a working culture in which diverse talent can thrive and share their stories. We advocate for an inclusive rather than exclusive community of artists and filmmakers,” said WIA Co-President Marge Dean.
“We are thrilled to inaugurate the WIA Diversity Awards at Spark Festival 2017 with like minds. Sly Provencher and the team at Spark are such great supporters of diversity and inclusion. The power of animation is more than just making audiences laugh. It’s about having filmmakers of all kinds share stories to make a better and safer world,” added Jinko Gotoh, Secretary of WIA.
In its first year, the WIA Diversity Awards will be bestowed in three categories: organization, individual, and film. The WIA Board will select the winning organization and individual, while the winning film will be selected from Spark Animation festival submissions by the festival jury — to be announced soon. Submissions for the film festival are open now through an extended deadline of September 11 — click here for more information and to submit your film.
“Spark CG has always been a supporter of diversity,” commented Marina Antunes, Festival Director for Spark Animation, “and we are pleased to support WIA on their ‘50-50 by 2025’ initiative by presenting the WIA Diversity Awards at this year’s festival.”
2017 marks the 9th year of Spark Animation, the largest animation confab in Western Canada, put on by Vancouver ACM SIGGRAPH and Spark CG. The festival is supported by sponsors Creative BC, Bardel Entertainment, Bron Animation, Capilano University, Vancouver Film School, DLA Piper, DHX Media, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Campbell River Creative Industries, CMPA, Scalar Decisions and MetaPipe, with community support from ACM SIGGRAPH. More info at sparkanimation.ca.
A quarter century after first invading American homes, Nickelodeon’s The Ren & Stimpy Show remains a game-changing icon of TV animation. And now, a new feature-length documentary project seeks to reflect the creative brilliance sometimes lost behind the controversial show’s black comedy, toilet humor and sexual innuendo.
From production industry veterans Ron Cicero and Kimo Easterwood, Happy Happy, Joy Joy – The Ren & Stimpy Story will delve deep into the world of Ren the rage-fueled chihuahua and Stimpy the simpleton cat. The filmmakers;’ goal is to show that the cartoon bears the same marks of artistic merit as controversial/coveted works by Warhol or Banksy.
Happy Happy, Joy Joy – The Ren & Stimpy Story, now in postproduction, seeks to restart the conversation about a cartoon cut down in its prime. How John Kricfalusi’s wild departure from TV norms upended the animation biz, impacted a generation of viewers, and became a multi-billion property is explored with insights and archived art from more than 45 artists, directors and network executives connected to the show — plus art historians and a range of fans, from a self-described “Hillbilly Bartender from Myrtle Beach” to celebrities like Jack Black, Billy Gibbons, and Iliza Shlesinger. The film also features original shorts from Ren & Stimpy cartoonists.
The filmmakers are seeking funds to finish the project through Kickstarter. Backing money will be used to create original hand-drawn animations based on tales from the show veterans, produce and license the music (with help from composer Shawn Patterson), get some cool titles and interstitials from Simon Clowes (X-Men: First Class, Superman Returns), get the sound down, and of course cover the extremely cool Pledge rewards — many created by Ren & Stimpy artists.
One of the most recognizable animation series in Japanese history is heading to US theaters this fall, as Fathom Events presents 1979’s Lupin the 3rd: The Castle of Cagliostro for two nights only in September. The film’s first-ever nationwide release in the States coincides with Lupin’s 50th anniversary.
Lupin the 3rd: The Castle of Cagliostro — co-written and directed by anime legend Hayao Miyazaki in his feature film debut — will play Thursday, Sept. 14 (English dubbed) and Tuesday, Sept. 19 (English subtitled) at 7 p.m. local time. The screenings are a partnership between Fathom Events, ELEVEN ARTS Anime Studio, and TMS Entertainment. Tickets go onsale August 18 through FathomEvents.com.
“Anime events continually prove to be a wildly popular genre for our audiences,” Fathom Events CEO John Rubey said. “We are thrilled to debut Hayao Miyazaki’s first masterpiece on big screens nationwide and to partner with ELEVEN ARTS and TMS Entertainment to make this possible.”
Inspired by the manga by Monkey Punch (Kazuhiko Katou), Lupin the 3rd: The Castle of Cagliostro follows the great thief Arsène Lupin III, who successfully robs a casino – only to discover the money is counterfeit. He heads to the tiny country of Cagliostro, the rumored source of the bills, and attempts to save the runaway Clarisse from Count Cagliostro’s men. Lupin enlists his associates, Jigen and Goemon, and sends his calling to the Count to get Inspector Zenigata, his longtime nemesis, to the castle. After becoming trapped in the dungeon under the castle, Lupin and Zenigata form a pact to escape and foil the Count’s counterfeit operation and save Clarisse from her forced marriage to the Count.
