VIDEO: ‘My Little Pony: The Movie’ Trailer
Hasbro’s Allspark Pictures is bringing the color, sparkle, spunk and funk to theaters this fall if the trailer is anything to go by. Meet the star-powered friends and foes introduced in the flick: Zoe Saldana (Capt. Celaeno), Kristin Chenoweth (Princess Skystar), Uzo Aduba (Queen Novo) Liev Schreiber (The Storm King), Michael Peña (Grubber), Taye Diggs (Capper), Sia (Songbird Serenade) and Emily Blunt as the villainous Tempest Shadow. Out Oct. 6.
VIDEO: ‘Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle’ Official Trailer
The game has changed, but the legend continues… The official spot for Sony’s update on the classic has all the rampaging CG rhinos, zippy one-liners and bulging Dwayne Johnson biceps you could ever want. In theaters this Christmas!
VIDEO: ‘Death Note’ Official Trailer
The global hit manga and anime series created by writer Tsugumi Ohba and illustrator Takeshi Obata gets an Americanized, live-action feature translation on Netflix on August 25. Directed by horror helmer Adam Wingard, Death Note stars Nat Wolff as Light, Lakeith Stanfield as L, Margaret Qualley as Mia, and Willem Dafoe as the voice of shinigami Ryuk.
Discover Love with Gobelins School Projects
The internationally renowned Gobelins animation school has posted a 10-part collection of student shorts themed “Love Sequence 2017″ — a delectable sampler of styles, techniques and views on l’amour, brimming over with artistic merit and creativity.
Mario Takes Off with New Travel Merch
LeSportsac X Nintendo is bringing some design POW to a variety of bag styles, plus accessories like a pouches shaped like Game Boys and Piranha Plants, and Super Mario Bros. cosmetic case.
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Warner Bros. Television Group is taking “the dog days of summer” quite literally with its exceedingly charming schedule announcement video for San Diego Comic-Con 2017 (scroll down for your daily dose of Vitamin Pup)! Twenty of the studio’s fan-favorite series will be featured in WBTVG’s con plans, which will include a paw-tograph signing by The Big Bang Theory star Cinnamon (along with human cast and producers), while social media star Doug the Pug will deliver the scoop as WBTVG’s special correspondent.
Good dog news aside, the studio will also be highlighting hit titles from Warner Bros. Animation: Justice League Action, Mike Tyson Mysteries, Teen Titans Go!, Unikitty! and Young Justice. Scroll down for details.
Also on the live-action menu are sneak-peeks at Deception, Krypton and Black Lightning, plus panels & presentations for The Big Bang Theory, iZOMBIE, The 100, People of Earth, Riverdale, The Originals, Lucifer, Gotham, Supergirl, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Westworld, Th Flash, Arrow and Supernatural.
WBTVG animation events for CCI: WEDNESDAY, JULY 19 Special Sneak Peek Screenings: The presentation in Ballroom 20 slated for 6-10 p.m. will include Teen Titans Go! (screening a brand-new, hour-long episode) and Unikitty!
THURSDAY, JULY 20
10-11 a.m. Room 6A Teen Titans Go! Special One-Hour Episode and Q&A — New episode! New episode!! New episode!!! The Titans are back at it again with another fun-filled panel to kick off your Comic-Con weekend. And did we mention that we’ll be screening a brand-new episode? Join producers Michael Jelenic, Aaron Horvath, Pete Michail and members of the voice cast, including Greg Cipes, Tara Strong and Scott Menville, as they answer your questions and premiere a Titan-sized special one-hour episode. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, Teen Titans Go! airs Fridays at 6/5c on Cartoon Network.
11:15 a.m – 12:15 p.m. Room 6A Unikitty! New Episode Premiere and Q&A — Your favorite character from The LEGO Movie now has her own show! Journey to a joyous kingdom full of sparkle matter, happy thoughts and the occasional rage-out in Unikitty!, an all-new animated series. As ruler of the kingdom, Unikitty has busy days full of royal responsibilities. Unikitty is most interested in making sure everyone is happy and ridding the kingdom of negativity, but don’t misunderstand her optimism — she is one kitty not to be crossed. While she may be full of boundless energy and creativity, Unikitty is a force to be reckoned with if anyone gets in the way of spreading her positive vibes, especially if anyone makes her little brother and best friend, Puppycorn, sad. Also living in the castle are Dr. Fox, the resident scientist, and Unikitty’s trusty bodyguard, Hawkodile. Join producers Edward Skudder, Lynn Wang and members of the voice cast, including Eric Bauza, as they give a sneak peek of this new series and explain how Unikitty and her friends will make sure that every day is the happiest and most creative ever! Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, Unikitty! is coming soon to Cartoon Network.
12:30-1:30 p.m. Room 6AJustice League Action Video Presentation and Q&A — Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman lead the DC Super Heroes against their most infamous foes in adventures packed with relentless thrills, fun and action in Justice League Action. Whether defending the Earth, facing invaders from space, or battling the bizarre forces of magic, the always-rotating team of Justice League heroes, are up to any challenge. Producers Jim Krieg and Butch Lukic will be joined by members of the voice cast, including Diedrich Bader, Jason J. Lewis, Rachel Kimsey, and voice director Wes Gleason to screen an all-new episode as well as participate in a Q&A. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, Justice League Action airs Saturdays at 7:30 a.m. ET/PT on Cartoon Network.
FRIDAY, JULY 21
10-11 a.m. Room 6BCF Young Justice Q&A — Young Justice is back! Do not miss the show’s triumphant return to Comic-Con as series producers Greg Weisman, Brandon Vietti and key members of the creative team, including art director Phil Bourassa, will be on hand to answer your burning questions about the first two seasons of this beloved fan-favorite series and, if you’re lucky, you might learn a thing or two about the highly anticipated Young Justice: Outsiders.
3:15-4 p.m. Indigo Ballroom [adult swim]: Mike Tyson Mysteries — It was a unanimous victory last time, but Iron Mike Tyson is taking on Comic-Con again and this rematch is sure to live up to all the hype. Currently in its third season of solving mysteries, the Mike Tyson Mystery Team has all-new episodes airing on Adult Swim. Join Mike Tyson, fellow voice cast member Rachel Ramras (The Looney Tunes Show) and producer Hugh Davidson (The Looney Tunes Show) for an exclusive look at upcoming episodes.
Justice League ActionUnikitty!Mike Tyson MysteriesTeen Titans Go!
A new original animated fantasy-adventure is heading to Prime Video, as Amazon Original Kids Series Niko and the Sword of Light is set to premiere on July 21. The show has already scored a first for Amazon Originals by winning an Emmy Award for the pilot (which Prime members can stream now) ahead of the series debut.
“We’re excited for kids and families to enter into Niko’s unique, rich world and meaningfully connect with the series characters as they tag along on epic adventures together,” said Tara Sorensen, Head of Kids Programming at Amazon Studios. “The series pilot was extremely popular among viewers, who were won over by the show’s quirky engaging storylines and humor, and we can’t wait to present them with many more exhilarating escapades in Season 1.”
Featuring the voices of Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants), Andre Robinson (Doc McStuffins), Steve Blum (Star Wars Rebels), Kevin Michael Richardson (The Penguins of Madagascar), Jim Cummings (Shrek) and Kari Wahlgren (Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness), Niko and the Sword of Light follows 10-year-old Niko, the last of his kind in a strange, fantastical world, as he embarks on an epic quest to defeat the darkness and bring the light back to his land. Armed with his magic sword, brave Niko journeys to the Cursed Volcano, making new friends and powerful foes along the way, all while uncovering secrets about his mysterious past.
The series is based on the motion graphic comic by Imaginism Studios — which delivered character and concept designs for Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland and Men in Black 3 — and Studio NX (The Carrot and Rabbit Show, Tree Fu Tom). Animation is provided by Titmouse (Metalocalypse, Turbo FAST). Robe Hoegee (Generator Rex, Teen Titans) serves as executive producer and showrunner.
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Studio 100 Media has inked a deal with National Geographic for the exclusive pay TV rights for CG animated series The Wild Adventures of Blinky Bill (52 x 12 min.) for Latin American territories. The series will air on the brand-new multiplatform channel Nat Geo Kids, launching July 1 across LatAm followed by a debut in Brazil in September. The agreement was arranged by exclusive regional distribution partner Comarex.
”We are delighted about this first agreement with National Geographic in LatAm. Blinky Bill will be one of the first shows airing on this newly created kids brand. We are confident that our cheeky koala bear will entertain kids in Latin America with his hilariously funny adventures,” said Martin Krieger, Head of Global Distribution at Studio 100 Media. “With Comarex we have established a successful collaboration and fruitful partnership over the years and we highly value their experience and expertise in distributing in Latin America.”
Diego Rock, EVP National Geographic Partners in Latin America, added: “At National Geographic we are always looking for the best content to develop the potential of our viewers. The launch of Nat Geo Kids is one of our biggest challenges, with the most demanding public, and we are very excited to share this opportunity with Studio 100. The Wild Adventures of Blinky Bill will contribute to develop the curiosity of the children through both exploration and entertainment.”
Aimed at kids ages 4-7, The Wild Adventures of Blinky Bill is a witty, modern CG version of the iconic Australian character. The show is produced by Flying Bark Productions in association with Telegael Teoranta (Ireland) and Giant Wheel (India).
Entertainment One has signed a new free to air broadcast partner for its popular preschool superhero show PJ Masks in Australia. The series will make a new home on ABC Kids, starting July 3, just in time for a consumer products launch in the country timed for this summer.
PJ Masks originally premiered in Australia in March 2016 on Disney Junior, and is a top-rated show on the channel. It will now broaden its reach with ABC Kids, which also airs eOne’s Peppa Pig and Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom.
“We’re thrilled that the adventures of the PJ Masks will be watched in more homes across Australia when the show launches on ABC Kids,” said Monica Candiani, Head of International Sales for eOne. “Around the world the show’s fan base continues to accelerate at a remarkable pace and we see tremendous potential for the property in Australia. ”
To complement the on-screen success, eOne has lined up a strong team of Aussie licensees, with 15 partners on board for key categories including toys, games, dress up, publishing, apparel, back to school and partyware. Just Play’s master toy line — including action figures, play sets, vehicles, plush, dress up and role-play items will be distributed to retail by The Brand Exchange in August.
Following the toy launch will be lines from Parragon Publishing (story, color and activity books), Amscan (partyware), MJM (puzzles & games), Caprice Australia (apparel; t-shirts and sleepwear at Target and Big W), Rubies’ Deerfield (dress-up; October) and Zak Australia (lunchware; October).
Matt Groening and David X. Cohen’s cult-hit sci-fi cartoon is returning to screens in a brand new way which pays homage to the original show’s charm and wit, thanks to a collaboration between Jam City (through its game shop TinyCo) and FoxNext Games. The mobile mayhem of Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow launches today on the App Store and Google Play — for free!
Created in partnership with Futurama creator & executive producer Groening and his Curiosity Company, along with fellow EP Cohen, plus original series writers and animation house Rough Draft Studios, Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow blends simulation, combat, galactic exploration and choose-your-own-adventure gameplay to bring the voyages of the starship Planet Express and her ignoble crew to life.
The game takes players through new stories from the minds of Futurama writers full of all the hilarity, hijinks and sci-fi innovation fans love about the show. Keeping up with the universe, Worlds of Tomorrow will also continue to expand with new characters, quests and stories being added every week. But don’t just take our word for it, check out the trailers!
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WOW! Unlimited Media has appointed Greg De Winter as Director of Production & Planning for its Rainmaker Studios — one of the business’ core companies along with Mainframe Studios and Frederator Networks. De Winter’s hiring comes as Rainmaker pursues its vision for the global animation marketplace.
As Director, De Winter will oversee the studio’s new 2D animation projects and bring in 2D talent to fuel a strategic expansion. Reporting directly to SVP Production/Operations Kim Dent Wilder, De Winter will also handle production on work-for-hire projects, bid on CG and 2D projects, and oversee the creation of development materials for original IPs.
“We are happy to have Greg join us as we continue to develop new programming and expand the studio’s production capabilities in 2D animation,” says Michael Hefferon, President of Rainmaker Studios. “Rainmaker/Mainframe Studios is known to have set the bar in producing high quality cost effective CG animation and the company intends to do that with it’s new 2D content development pipeline.”
De Winter joins Rainmaker from Bardel, where he was Director of Production Finance. His credits include hit animated series Puss ‘n Boots, Teen Titans Go!, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Rick and Morty.
“This is an exciting opportunity to be able to build a new 2D division at Rainmaker,” stated De Winter. “I look forward to working with the current team here to help make this a reality.”
Based in Vancouver, Rainmaker has been an industry leading animation producer for over 20 years, and made history with the first CG television series ReBoot in 1994. The studio is currently recreating that world with a live-action/animation hybrid series ReBoot: The Guardian Code in partnership with Nelvana and Corus.
Top entertainment visualization company Halon Entertainment has promoted award-winning producer and designer Chris Ferriter to CEO. The new chief exec will work alongside Head of Studio Patrice Avery and co-Founder & Supervisor Brad Alexander. At the same time, Halon founder Daniel Gregoire will transition to Chairman of the Board.
“When I joined HalonI felt that I had found a home with this group of like-minded filmmakers that were intently focused on the craft of visual storytelling,” said Ferriter. “I feel honored to take on this role where I can help guide the evolution and growth of Halon.”
Ferriter joined Halon in 2016 to head its Game Cinematic department, bringing with him over two decades of entertainment industry experience. Prior to coming on board the company, Ferriter was Managing Director of Divisive Media Australia. His resume also includes stints as Managing Producer for several top game publishers, including THQ, Midway and Ubisoft, and Lead Designer at EA Sports. Ferriter’s commitment to visualization and storytelling make him an ideal choice to usher Halon’s expansion across the film, TV, game and live-event realms.
Founded in 2003, the full-service visualization company has most recently contributed to smash-hit visual showpiece films Logan and Kong: Skull Island, and will return to the big screen in some of summer’s most hotly anticipated releases: War for the Planet of the Apes, Spider-Man: Homecoming and Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets.
Halon has also enjoyed a recent growth spurt in games, directing and producing cinematics for projects including Turtle Rock Studios and 2K’s Evolve and Evolve – “Stalker Trailer” (viewed over 1.5 million times), Firaxis Games and 2K’s XCom 2, the E3 announcement trailer for Tom Clancy’s The Division, Mass Effect: New Earth – A 4D Holographic Journey for California’s Great America park, and the trailer for Paladins – Champions of the Realm.
“Thanks to our exceptional artists and producers, Halon has experienced unprecedented growth,” said founder Gregoire. “Our clients are retaining Halon for the entire visualization process through final VFX and cinematics work. Chris has the creative understanding and business acumen to keep pace with the studio’s expansion, while retaining our core collaborative principles and creative standards.”
Halon is based in Santa Monica, California, with additional operations in London and Vancouver.
Cartoon Network is preparing a mega collection month for fans this July when, for the first time ever, MagiMobile app users can collect Magiswords from beyond the Mighty Magiswords universe. The cross-platform collecting will apply to each episode of fan-favorite CN series, including Adventure Time, Steven Universe, Teen Titans Go!, Ben 10, The Amazing World of Gumball, We Bare Bears and the upcoming OK K.O.! Let’s Be Heroes, premiering in August.
New Mighty Magiswords adventures will premiere weeknights at 4 p.m. ET/PT from Saturday, July 1 through Sunday, July 23. A powerful, one-of-a-kind, totally legendary sword will go up for grabs when fans join Prohyas and Vambre on a mission to rescue their mechanical porcine pal, RoboPiggeh, in the new half-hour special “The Saga of RoboPiggeh” on July 23 at 4 p.m. Plus, a series of 2-minute flashback shorts following the warrior siblings’ time at the Adventure Academy as kids will be available on the Cartoon Network app.
CN will also bring back new episodes of The Powerpuff Girls (Sundays at 5:30 p.m.), Justice League Action (Saturdays at 7:30 a.m.) and a new Transformers: Robots in Disguise this month. Read on for details and to check up clips from the “RoboPiggeh” special and new PPG adventure.
Mighty Magiswords
Wednesday, July 5: “Random Acts of Memory” – The Warriors learn that Nohyas has been using a Selective Memory Magisword to erase select interactions with Prohyas’ bizarre doppelganger their entire lives, so their new mission: take back that sword!
Monday, July 10: “The Cave of Gelatinous Doom!” – The Warriors don’t have a worthy adventure to use their impressive new skull-and-crossbones-emblazoned Bonehead Magisword until they are sent on a quest to battle a mighty slime beast in the Dungeon of Gelatinous Doom!
Wednesday, July 12: “Squideo Games” – When Vambre and Prohyas are hired for separate gigs, they end up having to battle each other to claim a rare Squideo from Lake Sprite in Galacton.
Tuesday, July 18: “Continue?” – The Mysterious Hooded Woman hires the Warriors to retrieve the Orb of Sphericity from a temple in Galacton. The odd thing is, this temple has save points! When the Warriors are defeated, they respawn, but Vambre remembers what happened and Prohyas does not.
Sunday, July 23: “The Saga of RoboPiggeh” – A botched rescue attempt damages their robot pal, RoboPiggeh, and Vambre and Prohyas must battle the evil cyborg, Tera-Bite, in Galacton, who is determined to dismantle their broken pal for being obsolete.
The Powerpuff Girls
Sunday, July 2: “Buttercup vs. Math” – When Buttercup tests into Honors Math, she tries to avoid being labeled a nerd.
Sunday, July 9: “Home, Sweet Homesick” – When the Girls go to Camp, Blossom has a hard time leaving her schoolwork at home.
Sunday, July 16: “Memory Lane of Pain” – While going through the Professor’s scrapbook, Bubbles starts to question if she’s ever been a hero.
Sunday, July 23: “Spider Sense” – When a monster ruins their relaxing vacation, the Girls run into a familiar face.
Sunday, July 30: “Imagine That” – The Girls have to battle Him after he causes Bubbles’ imagination to run wild.
Transformers: Robots in Disguise
Saturday, July 29, 6:30 a.m.: “Guilty as Charged” – Strongarm worries that her Academy classmate Chicane may still harbor a grudge, but when a powerful foe comes after her old friend, Strongarm and the Bee Team put their sparks on the line to protect her.
Justice League Action
Saturday, July 8: “Time Out” – Batman must team up with Booster Gold when an inter-demoniacal alien creature starts eating up time literally.
Saturday, July 15: “The Fatal Fare” – Space Cabbie inadvertently learns about a great threat to the Justice League when one of his passengers turns out to be Darkseid.
Saturday, July 22: “Mxy’s Mix-Up” – As the Justice League is trying to protect the United Nations from Grodd’s gorilla army, Mr. Mxyptlk pops up from the fifth dimension and thinks it would be great fun to put each of the superheroes’ brains into another hero’s body.
Saturday, July 29: “Supernatural Adventures in Babysitting” – Stargirl has to enlist Constantine’s help when Klarion the Witch Boy takes the place of the boy she’s supposed to be babysitting. Cartoon Network is preparing a mega collection month for fans this July when, for the first time ever, MagiMobile app users can collect Magiswords from beyond the Mighty Magiswords universe. The cross-platform collecting will apply to each episode of fan-favorite CN series, including Adventure Time, Steven Universe, Teen Titans Go!, Ben 10, The Amazing World of Gumball, We Bare Bears and the upcoming OK K.O.! Let’s Be Heroes, premiering in August.
New Mighty Magiswords adventures will premiere weeknights at 4 p.m. ET/PT from Saturday, July 1 through Sunday, July 23. A powerful, one-of-a-kind, totally legendary sword will go up for grabs when fans join Prohyas and Vambre on a mission to rescue their mechanical porcine pal, RoboPiggeh, in the new half-hour special “The Saga of RoboPiggeh” on July 23 at 4 p.m. Plus, a series of 2-minute flashback shorts following the warrior siblings’ time at the Adventure Academy as kids will be available on the Cartoon Network app.
CN will also bring back new episodes of The Powerpuff Girls (Sundays at 5:30 p.m.), Justice League Action (Saturdays at 7:30 a.m.) and a new Transformers: Robots in Disguise this month. Read on for details and to check up clips from the “RoboPiggeh” special and new PPG adventure.
Mighty Magiswords
Wednesday, July 5: “Random Acts of Memory” – The Warriors learn that Nohyas has been using a Selective Memory Magisword to erase select interactions with Prohyas’ bizarre doppelganger their entire lives, so their new mission: take back that sword!
Monday, July 10: “The Cave of Gelatinous Doom!” – The Warriors don’t have a worthy adventure to use their impressive new skull-and-crossbones-emblazoned Bonehead Magisword until they are sent on a quest to battle a mighty slime beast in the Dungeon of Gelatinous Doom!
Wednesday, July 12: “Squideo Games” – When Vambre and Prohyas are hired for separate gigs, they end up having to battle each other to claim a rare Squideo from Lake Sprite in Galacton.
Tuesday, July 18: “Continue?” – The Mysterious Hooded Woman hires the Warriors to retrieve the Orb of Sphericity from a temple in Galacton. The odd thing is, this temple has save points! When the Warriors are defeated, they respawn, but Vambre remembers what happened and Prohyas does not.
Sunday, July 23: “The Saga of RoboPiggeh” – A botched rescue attempt damages their robot pal, RoboPiggeh, and Vambre and Prohyas must battle the evil cyborg, Tera-Bite, in Galacton, who is determined to dismantle their broken pal for being obsolete.
The Powerpuff Girls
Sunday, July 2: “Buttercup vs. Math” – When Buttercup tests into Honors Math, she tries to avoid being labeled a nerd.
Sunday, July 9: “Home, Sweet Homesick” – When the Girls go to Camp, Blossom has a hard time leaving her schoolwork at home.
Sunday, July 16: “Memory Lane of Pain” – While going through the Professor’s scrapbook, Bubbles starts to question if she’s ever been a hero.
Sunday, July 23: “Spider Sense” – When a monster ruins their relaxing vacation, the Girls run into a familiar face.
Sunday, July 30: “Imagine That” – The Girls have to battle Him after he causes Bubbles’ imagination to run wild.
Transformers: Robots in Disguise
Saturday, July 29, 6:30 a.m.: “Guilty as Charged” – Strongarm worries that her Academy classmate Chicane may still harbor a grudge, but when a powerful foe comes after her old friend, Strongarm and the Bee Team put their sparks on the line to protect her.
Justice League Action
Saturday, July 8: “Time Out” – Batman must team up with Booster Gold when an inter-demoniacal alien creature starts eating up time literally.
Saturday, July 15: “The Fatal Fare” – Space Cabbie inadvertently learns about a great threat to the Justice League when one of his passengers turns out to be Darkseid.
Saturday, July 22: “Mxy’s Mix-Up” – As the Justice League is trying to protect the United Nations from Grodd’s gorilla army, Mr. Mxyptlk pops up from the fifth dimension and thinks it would be great fun to put each of the superheroes’ brains into another hero’s body.
Saturday, July 29: “Supernatural Adventures in Babysitting” – Stargirl has to enlist Constantine’s help when Klarion the Witch Boy takes the place of the boy she’s supposed to be babysitting.
“Duckface” is getting a whole new meaning, thanks to a new avatar creator launched in anticipation of the brand-new DuckTales animated series. Available on the Disney XD app (for iOS and Android) and Disney LOL, DuckTales: All Ducked Out! allows fans to mix and match hairstyles, accessories, colors, backgrounds and more to create your web-footed cartoon alter ego.
And of course, you can share online and via social media to see how your duckface measures up to your friends’!
Set to premiere with an hour-long TV movie on Saturday, August 12,DuckTales brings back the high-flying adventures of Duckburg’s most famous trillionaire Scrooge McDuck, his mischief-making triplet grandnephews – Huey, Dewey and Louie, temperamental nephew Donald Duck and the trusted McDuck Manor team: big-hearted, fearless chauffer/pilot Launchpad McQuack; no-nonsense housekeeper Mrs. Beakley; and Mrs. Beakley’s granddaughter, Webby Vanderquack, resident adventurer and the triplet’s newfound fierce friend.
The voice cast is David Tennant (Doctor Who) as Scrooge McDuck, Danny Pudi (Community) as Huey, Ben Schwartz (Parks and Recreation) as Dewey, Bobby Moynihan (Saturday Night Live) as Louie, Kate Micucci (Garfunkel and Oates) as Webby Vanderquack, Beck Bennett (Saturday Night Live) as Launchpad McQuack, Toks Olagundoye (Castle) as Mrs. Beakley and Tony Anselmo (Mickey Mouse) as Donald Duck.
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VIDEO: ‘Leap!’ New Online Dance Trailer
Are you ready to take the leap? New spot features Carly Rae Jepsen’s hit song “Cut to the Feeling” from the film’s soundtrack. The Weinstein Co. is opening the family comedy feature in theaters nationwide on August 30.
The Best Video Games of 2017 So Far
The Guardian gives top marks to David OReilly’s innovative Everything, the breathtaking The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and brilliant indie Night in the Woods, as well as just plain fun Nintendo titles and addictive RPGs.
VIDEO: Classic ‘Pokémon’ Episodes Are Now Available in HD!
Relive Ash Ketchum’s Indigo League adventures as the original series is now available for purchase in Digital HD through iTunes, Google Play and Amazon! The first season originally aired in Japan in 1997 and in the US in 1998, guaranteeing an entire generation would remember every word to the theme song forever.
CALL FOR ENTRIES: ITV Fest Pilot & Script Competitions
The Vermont festival (Oct. 11-15) is open to animation submissions for its indie TV contests through July 15. Prizes include HBO development meetings, management options and professional consultation from Jacob Krueger.
Boulder Media Animation Studio Relocates to Sandymount
Boulder-Hasbro inks a 20-year lease on a 20k sq. ft. former Revenue Commissioners building in the coastal Dublin suburb. Fun fact: Poet W.B. Yeats was born in the ‘hood!
Turner EMEA has promoted Pierre Bronco to the role of Senior Vice President, Northern Europe, effective immediately. Moving up from his post as GM for France, Portugal, Africa and Israel, Bronco will lead Turner’s business across the UK, Nordics and Baltics. In the coming months, he will relocate from London to Paris, and will report directly to EMEA President Giorgio Stock, joining his executive team.
“At a time when we are developing ambitious new initiatives in the Northern Europe region alongside a relentless focus on our core channels business, this is a particularly important appointment and amongst a high calibre of candidates Pierre stood out for his exceptional track record in building our brands and driving growth,” said Stock. “His combination of industry knowledge, a deep commitment to leveraging the digital trends shaping our business and a passion for putting our fans at the centre of everything we do, will bring vision and momentum to the Northern Europe business to take it to the next level.”
Overseeing a senior management team with a wealth of experience in the Northern European markets, 10-year Turner vet Bronco will be responsible for leading the growth and development of the company’s operations in the region. This includes kids’ and general entertainment brands Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Cartoonito, TCM and TNT, as well as the distribution of CNNI. Bronco is charged with identifying new avenues for revenues and profits, overseeing P&L and ensuring consistency and strategy for the region — all with an eye to delivering branded experiences that drive fan engagement across linear and non-linear ecosystems.
Bronco’s transition follows a transformative approach to his current role, where he has introduced new brands to the marketplace and reinvigorated businesses in highly differentiated markets such as France and Africa — both of which have enjoyed their best commercial and ratings performances under his leadership. In his prior role as VP and GM across these territories, Bronco oversaw a 12-channel portfolio in three different languages, including editorial and creative strategy, programming and acquisitions, marketing, production and digital. The new SVP joined Turner in 2006.
Turner’s Northern European strengths include Cartoon Network maintaining a No. 1 position for boys in the UK and Denmark, established platform partnerships and significant growth in digital engagement across the region.
Newly minted LA-based distributor Smith Global Media is continuing its aggressive release slate build-up by picking up animated family features Gnome Alone and Charming. Featuring star-studded voice casts, both films are financed and produced by 3QU Media in association with CF Films International, and made in Montreal by Cinesite. The pics are both produced by John H. Williams (Shrek) and executive produced by 3QU’s Henry Skelsey, Jon Christianson and Jeremy Ross.
The rights acquisitions were announced Wednesday by Harry Smith, Founder & CEO of Smith Global Media.
“It is a huge coup for Smith Global Media to acquire two highly commercial films of this caliber. Charming features an all-star cast who will also lend their musical talent to this reimagined tale of three familiar fairy tale princesses. Gnome Alone has an amazing mix of humor and excitement that will appeal to a wide family audience,” Smith commented. “This dual acquisition enhances our company’s position in the marketplace and illustrates our desire to be the home for the most acclaimed independent films worldwide. Charming and Gnome Alone are both terrific family comedies that will appeal to the masses and be supported with a significant level of marketing and advertising. This acquisition further exemplifies our commitment to aggressively growing our theatrical release slate for 2017 and 2018.”
Slated for worldwide release in Q2 of 2018, Charming is an irreverent, music-filled comedy about a young Prince (Wilmer Valderrama) with an irresistible appeal and one kick-ass maiden who wants him only for his money. Cursed as a child, every woman Prince Felipe Charming meets falls in love with him, leaving a trail of lovesick ladies and scorned lovers to wreak vengeful havoc on the Kingdom. In order to beat the curse before his 21st birthday, Prince Charming will embark on an epic journey. Accompanied by a strong-willed thief named Lenore (Demi Lovato), the prince must achieve three feats of heroism that will reveal which princess is his one true love.
The voice cast also features pop princesses Ashley Tisdale as Cinderella, Avril Lavigne as Snow White, and G.E.M. as Sleeping Beauty, Sia, Nia Vardalos and John Cleese. Charming is written and directed by Ross Venokur. Valderrama’s WV Enterprises also produced, with Lovato as executive music producer. The film features two original songs written by Sia, and score by Tom Howe (produced by Harry Gregson-Williams).
Gnome Alone, due out in Q4 2017, is an adventure-comedy directed by Peter Lepeniotis (The Nut Job), which centers on a girl named Chloe (voiced by Becky G of Power Rangers) who must make a major decision when she discovers the garden gnomes at her new home are more than they seem: focus on creating her best possible high school experience, or band with the gnomes in a fight against the menacing Trogg monsters who have invaded the house through an interdimensional portal?
Also starring Josh Peck, Olivia Holt and George Lopez, Gnome Alone was written by Michael Schwartz and Zina Zaflow, based on a screen story by Rob Moreland and story by Micah Herman & Kyle Newman. Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy performed multiple voice roles, composed the score and wrote an original song for the film (performed by Becky G). 3QU’s head creative, Danielle Sterling, guided production.
The acquisition was negotiated by Hillary Arlene Jones, Smith Global Media’s Head of Legal and Business Affairs, on behalf of the distributor, and by UTA on behalf of 3QU.
Smith Global Media also recently closed a multi-year home entertainment agreement for its titles with Sony Pictures Home Ent., including digital and physical distribution worldwide. SPHE will also handle SVOD and TV distribution.
Cartoon Network will be kicking off its latest animated series OK K.O.! Let’s Be Heroes with an energetic, hour-long series premiere on Tuesday, August 1 at 6:30 p.m. (ET/PT). Earlier this month, audiences got a sneak peek at this gaming-meets-animation mash-up with episodes available on the Cartoon Network app and On Demand, which will be viewable through to the broadcast premiere.
OK K.O.! Let’s Be Heroes follows K.O., an endlessly optimistic kid attempting to be the greatest hero he can be in a video game inspired world set in Lakewood Plaza. With an abundance of support from his cool friends and co-workers Enid and Rad at Gar’s Bodega, a one-stop shop for every hero’s needs, his boss Mr. Gar, and his super-powered mom, Carol, K.O. is on a journey to level up and defeat villainous foes like Lord Boxman.
The series is created by Ian Jones-Quartey — one of Variety’s “10 Animators to Watch” 2016, and previously co-EP for Steven Universe. Jones-Quartey also voices Rad, and the featured voice cast includes Courtenay Taylor (Regular Show in Space) as K.O., Kate Flannery (The Office) as Carol, Ashly Burch (Adventure Time) as Enid and David Herman (MADtv) as Mr. Gar. OK K.O.! Let’s Be Heroes is produced by Cartoon Network Studios.
As previously announced, these colorful characters will appear in a new console game, OK K.O.! Let’s play Heroes — an integrated action-brawler with RPG elements, coming this fall through a partnership with Capy Games. The whole connected OK K.O. universe has been developed to span all screens for an engaging storytelling experience.
English author Michael Bond, creator of the globally beloved series of Paddington Bear adventures, died June 27 at his home in London not far from Paddington Station. His passing was announced by Bond’s publisher, HarperCollins, which stated he had suffered a short, unspecified illness. He was 91 years old.
Inspired by a “forlorn” looking toy bear Bond spotted through a shop window and decided to take home, A Bear Called Paddington was published in 1958. The tale of a small brown bear from “darkest Peru” wearing a distinctive blue duffel coat who is taken in by a kindly family grew over the decades to over two dozen books, selling 35 million copies and translated into at least 40 languages. Bond’s last book, Paddington’s Finest Hour, was released earlier this month.
In 1975, the little bear made his first animated appearance as a stop-motion puppet in BBC’s Paddington, produced by Bond and FilmFair — the series reran in the US on several networks from the ‘70s to ‘90s. In 1989, Hanna-Barbera and Central Independent Television released Paddington Bear as part of The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera — the 13-episode series featured the voices of Charlie Adler and Tim Curry. Cinar Films later produced The Adventures of Paddington Bear, a traditionally animated series which ran from 1997 to 2000.
More recently, Paddington got a 21st century makeover as the CG star of StudioCanal’s box-office hit Paddington (2007), directed by Paul King. Paddington 2 is being released in the UK this November, and a third film has been confirmed.
Born Thomas Michael Bond in Newbury, Berkshire, on January 13, 1926, Bond’s family later moved to Reading where the young Michael attended Presentation College until he dropped out at age 14. Bond served in both the Royal Air Force and the British Army during World War II.
Memories of the child evacuees coming through Reading from Blitz-torn London during the war also partly inspired Paddington Bear’s character, as Bond told The Guardian in 2014: “They all had a label round their neck with their name and address on and a little case or package containing all their treasured possessions … So Paddington, in a sense, was a refugee, and I do think there’s no sadder sight than refugees.”
Bond sold his first short story in 1945, and made a very modest living off stories and radio plays for the next decade. After the war, he began working for the BBC, and stayed on until 1965, by which point six Paddington books had been published.
In 1968, Bond created the stop-motion TV series The Herbs (also with FilmFair), featuring Dill the Dog, Sage the Owl and Parsley the Lion, who got his own spinoff. He also wrote the children’s book series Olga da Polga — about a guinea pig and her mouse friend Thursday — and a series of books for adults following a culinary detective named Monsieur Pamplemousse and his dog, Pommes Frites.
Bond was made an officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1997 and then a commander of the Order in 2015, for services to children’s literature. He was married to Brenda Mary Johnson from 1950 to 1981, though they separated in the 1970s. After his divorce, Bond married Susan Marfrey Rogers. The author is survived by Susan, his daughter Karen Jankel, son Anthony and three grandchildren.
Michael Bond, photo credit: Sang Tan / Associated Press
Warner Bros. HomeEntertainment and DC Entertainment are toasting a decade of superheroic animation with the DC Universe Original Movies: 10th Anniversary Collection — a comprehensive box set of all 30 features, 5 animated shorts, new special features and exclusive collectibles. The box set hits shelves November 7 on Blu-ray, with all 30 films coming to Digital starting August 15.
“It’s been an amazing journey from the initial concept of bringing comic book pages to screen to the completion of 30 animated films spotlighting the mesmerizing characters and stories of the DC library,” said Mary Ellen Thomas, WBHE Vice President, Family & Animation Marketing. “We are proud to celebrate this first decade of filmmaking with an impressive box set filled with exciting extras beyond these stunning films themselves.”
Launched in 2007 with Superman Doomsday, the DCU Original Movies are produced by DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation, with plots pulls from iconic DC Super Hero stories (Superman Doomsday, Justice League: The New Frontier, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Batman: The Killing Joke) or inspired by themes from within DC history (Batman vs. Robin was inspired by “The Court of Owls,” Superman vs. The Elite by “What’s so Funny About Truth, Justice and the American Way?”) to original stories (Justice League: Gods and Monsters, latest release Batman and Harley Quinn).
The 32-disc box set will also include all 5 “DC Showcase” shorts: The Spectre, Green Arrow, Jonah Hex, Catwoman and Superman/Shazam: The Return of Black Adam. Bonus features will be announced later this summer.
The 30 films are: Superman: Doomsday, Justice League: The New Frontier, Batman: Gotham Knight, Wonder Woman Commemorative Edition,Green Lantern: First Flight, Supreman/Batman: Public Enemies, Jutsice League: Crisis on Two Earths, Batman: Under the Red Hood, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse, All-Star Superman, Green Lantern: Emerald Knights, Batman: Year One, Justice League: Doom, Superman vs. The Elite, The Dark Knight Returns Pt. 1 and Pt. 2, Superman: Unbound, Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, Justice League: War, Son of Batman, Batman: Assault on Arkham,Justice League: Throne of Atlantis, Batman vs. Robin, Justice League: Gods and Monsters,Batman: Bad Blood,Justice League vs. Teen Titans,Batman: The Killing Joke,Justice League Dark, Teen Titans: The Judas Contract, and Batman and Harley Quinn.
DC Universe Original Movies: 10th Anniversary Collection
Streaming destination Crunchyroll is gearing up for its biggest ever Anime Expo, with exclusive perks, events and screenings planned for the holiday weekend event running July 1-4 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
One of the top highlights will be a world premiere screening of the highly anticipated series The Ancient Magus’ Bride (from the Wit Studio, the shop behind smash-hit Attack on Titan). Attendees can check out the how months before its debut in Japan and its launch on the Crunchyroll platform. There will also be an intimate Q&A session with series director Norihiro Naganuma and Wit Studio’s head George Wada following the screening.
Also on the AX ’17 menu:
+ Early access to summer’s hottest simulcast premieres, including The Ancient Magus’ Bride and Classroom of the Elite.
+ Fan activations, including The Ancient Magus’ Bride chalk art drawing, Yuri!!! On ICE photo opportunities, a cosplay gallery featuring costumes from Adam Savage, game room and more.
+ Booth store with brand-new merchandise and con exclusives.
+ Exclusive Saturday night party for Crunchyroll premium subscribers at Lounge 21 in the Convention Center, presented in partnership with VRV.
+ Talent panels and signings with Yuri!!! On ICE manga creator Kubo Mitsurou and series director Yamamoto Sayo, and Classroom of the Elite directors Kishi Seiji and Hashimoto Hiroyuki.
If you can’t make AX this weekend, you can also catch the first three episodes of The Ancient Magus’ Bride at nearly 300 theaters across the US in Crunchyroll’s second Anime Movie Night, The July 26 big-screen event will also include exclusive extras, like the premiere of and behind-the-scenes look at Crunchyroll’s first original short, Children of Ether. (Ticketing opens June 28 through animemovienight.com.)
Anime Movie Night is presented in partnership with Screenvision Media and KAOS Connect.
An all-new seasons of colorful, creative adventures is heading to streaming as season three of Amazon Original Series Tumble Leaf takes flight on Tuesday, August 15. A fresh batch of 12 stop-motion animation episodes will launch on Prime Video for viewers in the US and UK, and we’re delighted to present a first look this morning at the official trailer!
“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.”
Created by Drew Hodges (Community, SNL) and executive produced by Hodges and Kelli Bixler (The Roadents, SNL) of award-winning studio Bix Pix Entertainment, Tumble Leaf invites youngsters into a wonder-filled world just waiting to be explored! Each episode centers on thoughtful, creative and curious Fig the fox and his friends. Each day, Fig finds a new interesting object in his home in a wrecked schooner by the sea, which sends him off on a nature-centered expedition of discovery.
Season 3 expands Fig’s universe 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.
Tumble Leaf features the voice talent of Christopher Downs as Fig, Brooke Wolloff as Maple, Zac McDowell as Hedge, Addie Zintel as Pine, and Alex Trugman as Ginkgo. The show’s numerous awards include nine Daytime Emmys (including Oustanding Preschool Children’s Animated Program and Directing in a Preschool Animated Program, 2015 & 2016), Annecy’s Jury Award for a TV series (2014), three Annie Awards for Best Animated TV/Broadcast Production for Preschool Children, and three Parents’ Choice Gold Awards. Tumble Leaf was also nominated for a Peabody Award.
Paris-based sales company Memento Film International has secured a raft of deals that will bring Chinese filmmaker Liu Jian’s animated crimeland dramedy Have A Nice Day to multiple western territories, ScreenDaily reports. Jian’s second animated feature — following the Asia Pacific Screen Award-winning Piercing 1 — has been warmly received since premiering in competition at the Berlin film fest a few months ago.
The film has now sold to La Aventura for Spain, Fu Works for Benelux, Outside the Box for Switzerland, Seven Films for Greece, Bir Film for Turkey, Megacom for Former Yugoslavia, Cirko for Hungary, and for in-flight distribution via Encore.
These pan-European deals follow the recent acquisition of all US rights by Strand Releasing, which is planning a stateside bow for this fall, and a pick-up for theatrical and VOD release by MUBI for the UK and Ireland. MFI is sharing sales duties with Hong Kong’s Edko Films, which is covering Asia.
Set in a city in southern China, Have a Nice Day is a dark comedy that unfolds when a driver lifts a bag containing 1 million yuan from a local criminal hotshot, hoping to use it to pay for his girlfriend’s corrective surgery. When word gets out that the money is missing, several people from diverse backgrounds and with different motives converge in one bloody conflict.
In addition to being the first Chinese animated feature to compete in the Berlinale, Have a Nice Day has screened at the Holland Animation Film Festival, Animafest Zagreb, Neuchatel and Seattle film fests. It was originally slated for this year’s Annecy competition, but was dropped due to pressure from the 2017 Country of Honor.
The full film lineup for Brooklyn’s Animation Block Party festival — which will take over the borough for its 14th edition July 27-30 — is now live, and as ever there’s plenty to look forward to thanks to fest creator Casey Safron and co. Screenings will take place at Rooftop Films and BAMcinématek.
Highlights of the East Coast’s largest dedicated animation event include:
+ Strangers from Late Night Work Club NYC Premiere (July 28, 7 p.m., BAMcinématek) – The creative collective’s second anthology includes new films by Loup Blaster, Jeanette Bonds, Sean Buckelew, Alex Grigg, Kirsten Lepore, Nicolas Ménard & Caleb Wood with interstitial animation by Charles Huettner and original music by Skillbard, David Kamp, SCNTFC & more.
+ An Evening with BoJack (July 28, 9 p.m., BAMcinématek) – Select new highlights and classic clips from Netflix’s hit program, BoJack Horseman, plus Q&A with BoJack production designer and producer Lisa Hanawalt and supervising director Mike Hollingsworth.
+ Raggedy Ann and Andy: A Musical Adventure in 35mm (July 29, 4:30 p.m. BAMcinématek) – Relive Richard Williams’ family adventure with a restored 35mm print in time for its 40th anniversary! Screening followed by Q&A with film restorer Steve Stanchfield and animators Dan Haskett and Doug Crane, hosted by historian Jerry Beck.
+ Birdboy: The Forgotten Children NYC Premiere (July 29, 9 p.m., BAMcinématek) – Directed by Alberto Vázquez and Pedro Rivero, based on the graphic novel and short film by Vázquez. “An ecological event has devastated an island. Dinky has decided that escape is her only option. Her animal friends join her in a journey across the island to find Birdboy and make their escape.”
+ Cartoon Network Shorts (July 30, 4:30 p.m., BAMcinématek) – A taste of Cartoon Network’s prolific shorts program in a special screening of recently completed films: Legendary Place, Infinity Train, Victor & Valentino and the award-winning Welcome to My Life, plus the NYC premiere of The Fancies by ABP 2009 Audience Award winner Stephen Neary.
ABP will also feature a weekend panel discussion series at the Holiday Inn Brooklyn Downtown, featuring festival filmmaker Q&As, a software demo with Jamie Caliri from Dragonframe, a talk on East Coast animation history with Tommy Stathes and friends, and focus on NYC commercial studios with Joe Burrascano of Aardman Nathan Love, Tom Brown of Psyop and a ket animation team from Hornet.
… And of course, the can’t-miss 10th anniversary screening of Jerry Seinfeld’s most buzzworthy big screen adventure, Bee Movie, on Sunday at 2 p.m.
