Animation Magazine

Author: Mercedes Milligan

  • UK’s Blue-Zoo, China’s CU Animation Form Lanzu JV

    UK’s Blue-Zoo, China’s CU Animation Form Lanzu JV

    Award-winning UK-based animation studio Blue-Zoo announced at Annecy a funding deal with China UK Animation Company (a subsidiary of Zhong Ze Culture Investment Group) that will see the investment of £72 million across new and existing IP and projects. The funding injection will facilitate the launch of a new joint venture, Lanzu. China was this year’s country of honor for the Annecy festival and MIFA.

    “Our partnership with CU Animation Investment Holdings Ltd. comes at a time of incredibly exciting growth for Blue-Zoo,” said studio co-founder Oli Hyatt. “Lanzu will enable us to jointly hold and develop our IP whilst generating growth in the Eastern and global markets In partnering with Blue-Zoo, CU Animation has invested in the talented staff we nurture, our growing business and our dreams for the future.”

    Lanzu will initially provide non-exclusive funding for development and production of at least six new projects — including an animated feature — over the next five years. The first production will kick off later this year. The JV will accelerate Blue-Zoo’s production speed as part of its ongoing growth strategy, and support access to the Asian and international market for commercial. CU Animation’s investment in Lanzu will also open up extra co-production funding for Blue-Zoo’s existing IP slate.

    “Blue-Zoo stands out in terms of creativity, company ethos and commercial acumen, we are delighted to partner with them to enable and accelerate IP development and content production, supporting both Lanzu and Blue-Zoo’s international growth,” commented Gina Fegan, Director of Culture, CU Animation and Zhong Ze Culture Investment Holdings.

    Kate O’Connor, Executive Chair for Animation UK, added:

    “This deal is great news for Blue-Zoo, and the UK animation sector. It confirms that UK animation is a global magnet for investment, creativity, skills and talent; known for our storytelling, our iconic characters and successful character development as well as our range of specialisms and supported by specific animation tax breaks.”

    Monkey
    Monkey
  • Animasia Teams with Pilla-Scheetz for ‘Nine Lives of Claw’

    Animasia Teams with Pilla-Scheetz for ‘Nine Lives of Claw’

    Malaysia’s Animasia Studio (Chuck Chicken, Harry & Bunnie) and Pilla-Scheetz Productions in the US announce a co-production agreement to develop the 2D animation concept The Nine Lives of Claw into a multi-platform brand, spanning animated series, mobile games, toys and merchandise. Development is underway, with Emmy-nominated animation vet Jay Lender (SpongeBob SquarePants, Phineas & Ferb) on board.

    “We are extremely proud of the recognition that Malaysian companies, like Animasia, are getting from global partners and how exciting projects are being locked in for our talents to work on, the latest being The Nine Lives of Claw. Our accelerated efforts will continue to create and facilitate similar opportunities on various platforms for our local talent just so they can work on world class content with global partners,” said Hasnul Hadi Samsudin, P of Creative Content & Technologies at Malaysia Digital Economy (MDEC).

    The Nine Lives of Claw follows the hilarious adventures of the sarcastic superhero cat, Claw; his genius (albeit high-strung) mouse sidekick, Edison; and the always ambitious kitty, Purrfessor Purrnelope. Together they battle the sinister MUTT (Malicious Unleashed Thugs and Thieves) and a slew of other villains to keep things in order in the fair city of Anonymous.

    Animasia is already at work alongside PSP to revamp the characters and design concepts. The producers plan to showcase a pilot at MIP Junior 2017 this fall, with production kicking off in July.

    “We needed world-class animation, and an equally creative team we could believe in. As it turns out, we’ve partnered with a studio producing some of the best 2D animation in the world. They’re also experts at multi-channel content development and distribution,” said series co-creator Gary Pilla.

    Animasia Teams with Pilla-Scheetz for Nine Lives of Claw
    Animasia Teams with Pilla-Scheetz for Nine Lives of Claw

  • Q&A: Hilmar Koch Joins Autodesk as Director of R&D

    Hilmar Koch, former tech head of advanced development at ILMxLAB, has joined Autodesk as its first Director of Research & Development, The Future of Storytelling. The newly established team under Koch’s leadership is charged with reimagining Autodesk’s approach to building storytelling tools for film, TV, games and immersive content — and whatever comes next.

    Koch was Technology Director of the Advanced Development Group at ILMxLAB, overseeing tech and creative teams and collaborating with partners on innovative storytelling projects, such as its first VR project, Jurassic World (with Felix & Paul). He was previously Director of Virtual Production at ILM, and his nearly two-decade stint at the company took him through posts as Head of CG, CG Dept. Supervisor, CG supe, TD and various artist roles on such films a Avatar, Star Trek and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Koch was also responsible for developing the Oscar-winning ambient occlusion technology used on Pearl Harbor.

    A graduate of Columbia College Chicago and Technical University in Munich in Arts and Mathematics, respectively, Koch began his career at Blue Sky Studios. During his four years as a digital effects supe there, he guided the VFX team for the Oscar-winning animated short Bunny.

    Below is a Q&A compiled by Autodesk for its In the Fold blog.

    What drew you to Autodesk, Hilmar?

    Hilmar Koch: Innovation and passion run in Autodesk’s DNA. The company’s commitment to continuously refining technology workflows for traditional and emerging storytelling mediums is admirable, and something I’m excited to be a part of. In the last year, Autodesk Media & Entertainment has made so many great choices, and their thirst for innovation is inspiring; I look forward to working with a supportive, passionate team to develop technology that will make a real difference in the years to come.

    What excites you most about your new job?

    Koch: We’re really surrounded by stories — major feature films, innovative architectural designs — but the way these stories are told is about to undergo a major transition thanks to AR and VR. Autodesk is investing heavily in the future of storytelling, with a new group dedicated to developing tools for immersive mediums. With my creative and technical background, and experience in immersive content, I am looking forward to working with this team as we push the limits of technology to break new ground, nurturing team spirit, contributing both creatively and technically.

    Tell us about your design philosophy.

    Koch: I am most satisfied when technology peels away and creatives can collaborate as a team, explore the creative space nimbly and communicate their ideas eloquently.

    Who inspires you?

    Koch: Discoverers and travelers like Ibn Battuta (who travelled the world in the 14th century), James Holman (the blind traveler) and Mau Piailug (the star navigator). They had the courage and curiosity to travel the world for the sheer wonder of it, listening and observing the subtlest of detail. They all emerged with stories of fantastic discoveries, which in turn inspired others. I admire that spirit immensely. Imagine the people they met on the journey!

    Autodesk
    Autodesk
  • Daily News Bytes: Clips for ‘Valerian,’ ‘Ferdinand’ & More

    Daily News Bytes: Clips for ‘Valerian,’ ‘Ferdinand’ & More

    ‘Ferdinand’ Trailer 2
    The new spot for Fox/Blue Sky’s Dec. 15 release gets us better acquainted with the animal compadres helping the misunderstood bull on his homeward journey.

    ‘Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets’ – “See You in Space” Featurette
    Director Luc Besson discusses his childhood enchantment with the comics and details the wondrous film universe crafted for the adaptation. In theaters July 21. (Read all about it in Animation Magazine‘s August issue!)

    ‘Lou’ Clip – Pixar Short Film
    Disney-Pixar offered a sneak peek at its latest short, about a schoolyard Lost and Found box that comes alive at the Annecy confab. In theaters now with Cars 3.

    ‘Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow’ Official Launch Date Trailer with Stephen Hawking
    TinyCo Games reveals a June 29 release for its sci-fi toon title. Spot also features the animated heads of Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Bill Nye and George Takei!

    ‘Legends of Tomorrow’ VFX Breakdown (Ep. 207)
    Deluxe’s Encore VFX brought down the wrath of some super creepy aliens for the Legends to deal with in episode “Invasion!”. The work was supervised by Armen Kevorkian.

    Ferdinand
    Ferdinand
  • Daily News Bytes

    Daily News Bytes

    VIDEO: ‘Cars 3’ “The Limit” Official Trailer
    Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) decides to give his all for one more spin around the track in the new spot, which is slightly more upbeat than the tense “Rivalry” trailer.

    VIDEO: ‘Justice League Action’ “Double Cross” Clip
    Plastic Man makes an unconvincing Two-Face decoy as part of Batman’s plan to bring down Deadshot, but things get even stickier when the real coin-flippin’ crime boss shows up. New episode airs Saturday, June 10 at 7:30 a.m. on Cartoon Network.

    First ‘Black Panther’ Teaser Trailer to Air During NBA Finals Game 4
    Somewhere amidst the large men scoring basket points with their sports ball on Friday night will be the first spot for Marvel’s upcoming feature, starring Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa. Black Panther is due out February 16, 2018.

    VIDEO: Pokémon Direct June 6: New Game Announcement
    CEO & President Ishihara teases the upcoming Pokkén Tournament DX for Nintendo Switch, and the alternate storyline titles Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. Plus, Gold and Silver will be coming to the 3DS Virtual Console system in September.

    Chinese Embarrassment: Government Forces Annecy to Remove ‘Have a Nice Day’ from Competition
    This year’s country of honor put the boot down on Liu Jian’s film, almost guaranteeing it will be more sought-after than ever. The feature was the first Chinese animation to screen at Berlin, ran at the Holland Animation fest and is playing at Animafest this week.

    Cars 3
    Cars 3
    Justice League Action
    Justice League Action
  • TOKU Anime & Asian Cult Classics Now on Amazon Channels

    TOKU Anime & Asian Cult Classics Now on Amazon Channels

    Olympusat’s 24/7 live and on-demand network TOKU is now available to Amazon Prime members, serving up its collection of distinctive anime, live-action titles and cult film and TV classics from Asia dubbed in English on Amazon Channels.

    “TOKU caters to a wide audience of anime, tokusatsu and Asian programming fans, which is why we are thrilled to work with Amazon to bring our cutting-edge content to more viewers on more devices,” said Jesus Piñango, Director of TV Content Strategy at Olympusat. “Amazon Prime and Amazon Channels are a great stride in the distribution of our network, as well as in our commitment to support multicultural content and offer unrivaled content.”

    TOKU’s on-demand content includes fan-favorite anime series such as Ladies Versus Butlers, Juden Chan and Saber Rider & The Star Sheriffs, as well as the first season of live-action Shinobi Girl and cult films like Takashi Miike’s Ichi the Killer.

    Prime members can sign up for a subscription to TOKU now for $3.99 pet month (7-day free trial). Program info can be found at tokuhd.com.

    Juden Chan
    Juden Chan
  • CHF’s ‘Pip Ahoy!’ Makes China Debut

    CHF’s ‘Pip Ahoy!’ Makes China Debut

    CHF Entertainment’s animated kids’ series Pip Ahoy! has set sail across China thanks to a collaboration with Yecheng Shanghai Media, Winds Media (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Shanghai Media Group) and China Telecom that is bringing Pip’s adventures to multiple IPTV, SVOD and satellite channels.

    “We are very excited to be working with Yecheng, Wings Media (SMG) and China Telecom in this fascinating and growing market. We have received some great feedback for the series which has already encouraged licensing and merchandising interest too — a very promising start,” said Jenny Johnstone, Commercial Director at CHF.

    With the first 52 episodes dubbed into Mandarin, the series has launched simultaneously across a number of networks including Shanghai Online, Shanghai IPTV and BesTV — a channel which is available in more than 20 provinces in China and 20 million homes in Shanghai alone. Further IPTV and SVOD platforms will be announced in the coming weeks; the combination of which could see Pip Ahoy! available on-demand in as many as 900 million homes throughout China.

    CHF is also working with Wings Media to produce a third 26 x 11 min. season, to be delivered at the end of the year. The new batch of episodes will see Pip and pals Alba, Alan, Pasty, Hopper and Skipper embark on daring new quests, from mountain top rescue to underwater exploration.

    “Here at Yecheng Media we have been working with CHF Entertainment to secure and manage collaborative partnerships for Pip Ahoy! such as those with China Telecom and Wings Media (SMG). The series has been very well received across many platforms,” added consultant Tong Zhou. “We are very much looking forward to building a pan-Asia presence for Pip Ahoy! and supporting CHF Entertainment across its entire portfolio.”

    Pip Ahoy!
    Pip Ahoy!
  • Imira’s ‘Larva’ Wriggles to Disney XD

    Imira’s ‘Larva’ Wriggles to Disney XD

    Madrid-based kids’ content producer Imira Entertainment has secured a key Pay TV deal with Disney XD for all four seasons of its animated comedy Larva across all Latin American territories. Produced by Korean studio Tuba, the show centers on two comical worm-like creatures who get caught up in all sorts of misadventures.

    The sale includes Season 1 (104 x 2 min.), where the duo live in drainpipes; Season 2 (52 x 4), where they venture out of the gutter into an urban house; Season 3 (104 x 2) where they visit New York; and Season 4 (26 x 7) where they find themselves stranded on a tropical island.

    “Imira is proud to distribute Larva, a successful short-format series,” said Imira’s CEO Sergi Reitg. “After many years of representing Larva we have seen it grow and grow and now are delighted for this to be broadcast on Disney XD and are sure it will work very well for them.”

    Larva has been broadcast in more than 150 countries since 2012 while enjoying steady growth on new media platforms worldwide, with over 25 billion views so far. A 90-minute feature, Larva The Movie, is now in production and due out in 2019. The show has also inspired more than 1,000 SKU of consumer products from 100-plus partners, mostly in Asia — Larva goodies will expand to the Americas in 2018.

    Larva
    Larva
    Larva
    Larva
    Larva
    Larva
  • NYICFF Calls for 2018 Entries, Sets Dates

    NYICFF Calls for 2018 Entries, Sets Dates

    The New York International Children’s Film Festival will return to the Big Apple from February 23 to March 18, 2018, at venues throughout the city. Organizers have issued a call for submissions for “innovative, compelling, and visually and thematically original” films aimed at audience groups ages 3-18.

    The 21st NYICFF is accepting short and feature-length animation, live-action and documentary films made for kids or which resonate with young viewers and families. The festival is an Oscar-qualifying competition for the Best Animated Short Film and Live Action Short Film categories. Winners of the 2018 Grand Prize Short Award and the Jury Awards for Animated Short and Live Action Short will receive one free year of VimeoPRO, courtesy of Vimeo.

    Standard deadlines for short film and feature entries are October 9, 2017 and September 11, 2017, respectively. Submissions are being accepted via Withoutabox. Complete information including eligibility, fees, deadlines, rules and regulations is available at www.nyicff.org/submit.

    The NYICFF’s prestigious jury includes filmmakers and producers Sofia Coppola, James Schamus, Gus Van Sant, Christine Vachon, and Taika Waititi; actors Geena Davis, Matthew Modine, and Uma Thurman, and distinguished animator John Canemaker, among others. This year’s program included acclaimed Oscar nominated animations My Life as a Zucchini and Blind Vaysha. The 2017 award winners were posted here.

    NYICFF
    NYICFF
  • Daily News Bytes

    Daily News Bytes

    Irish Animator’s Video Game Is the First to Qualify for an Oscar
    Entertainment becomes increasingly intersectional, as David OReilly has confirmed that his expansive interactive experience Everything has made the cut following a jury prize win at Vienna Shorts Festival. “Cool,” Tweets the creative maverick.

    Gebeka Films’ Marc Bonny Takes Artisanal Approach to Animation
    Bonny is receiving this year’s MIFA & Variety Animation Personality of the Year Award at Annecy, which he is being awarded jointly with GKIDS’ Erik Beckman. Gebeka is aiming for another crossover hit with Zombillenium.

    These ‘Ant-Man’ Animated Shorts Have the Feel of an Old-School Comic
    Paul Rudd had a strong turn as the quirky Marvel hero, but French animators Ugo Bienvenu and Kevin Manach are bringing Ant-Man back to his roots in a series of shorts set for Disney XD.

    AwesomenessTV Founder Brian Robbins Hired by Paramount to Run New Division
    The new venture, Paramount Players, will be dedicated to producing films spurred by Viacom flagship brands including Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, BET and MTV.

    ’Bambi’ Turns 75! Take a Deeper Look at the Film’s Impact on Animation, Risk Taking and the Loss of a Parent
    Disney Animation production designer Paul Felix discussed the film’s legacy at a recent anniversary press day. Bambi has just been re-released as part of the Walt Disney Signature Collection.

    David OReilly's Everything
    David OReilly’s Everything
  • BBC Directors to Keynote Children’s Media Conference

    BBC Directors to Keynote Children’s Media Conference

    Organizers of the 2017 Children’s Media Conference (July 4-6 in Sheffield, UK) announce that two senior BBC brass will deliver this year’s Opening Keynote. On day one, Director of BBC Children’s & BBC North Alice Webb and Director of BBC Radio & Education James Purnell — former Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport — will take the stage at the Crucible Theatre to discuss the national broadcaster’s strategy and their perspective on the future of the kids’ media industry.

    “In the current world climate our theme that looks at how we can remain ‘open’ is even more urgent – Britain open for business, the industry open to new ways of working and reaching the kids’ audience, and the audience being encouraged to maintain an open-hearted and open-eyed perspective by the content we create and distribute,” said CMC Editorial Director Greg Childs. “At CMC we have the best and brightest of the UK and international children’s media industry to discuss how we can best serve young audiences in this rapidly shifting landscape.”

    Other high-profile speakers on the docket are Baroness Kidron, Founder of the 5Rights online security campaign; writer/showrunners Foz Allan and Phil Ford; Kay Benbow and Cheryl Taylor from the BBC; Sarah Muller in her new role as Head of Children’s at Channel 5; Lucy Murphy, Head of Kids Content at Sky; Paul Mortimer, Head of Digital Channels & Acquisitions at ITV, discussing their commissioning plans, And on the performance side there will be appearances from Pui Fan Lee, Sid Sloane, Cel Spellman and, a veritable mega-star, Zippy from Rainbow.

    The 2017 CMC will also focus on the UK’s opportunities in the global kids’ media market at the CMC International Exchange on July 4. Over 60 commissioners, buyers and co-producers — including senior execs such as Julien Borde, Terry Kalagian, Natalie Osborne and Christopher Keenan — will meet with UK delegates to hear pitches, along with a number of key Chinese animation producers seeking IP and talent.

    Learn more at www.thechildrensmediaconference.com.

    James Purnell and Alice Webb
    James Purnell and Alice Webb
  • Shudder Pics Up Hybrid Sundance Hit ‘Kuso’ by Flying Lotus

    Shudder Pics Up Hybrid Sundance Hit ‘Kuso’ by Flying Lotus

    AMC Networks’ premium thriller, suspense and horror streaming service Shudder has snapped up rights to Kuso, the directorial debut of hip-hop artist Flying Lotus, for North America and UK/Ireland. The trippy hybrid feature generated plenty of buzz when it debuted at Sundance earlier this year, and now will be available on streaming and enjoy a New York and LA theatrical run starting July 21.

    “Shudder felt like the perfect home for Kuso,” said Flying Lotus. “I’m excited for my fans, Shudder fans and just people who still have fun watching movies, to have the opportunity to see Kuso this summer.”

    Directed by “Steve,” the filmmaker alter-ego of Steve Ellison/Flying Lotus, Kuso depicts the aftermath of Los Angeles’ worst earthquake nightmare, broadcasted through a network of discarded televisions. Viewers jump from on-screen reports to the aftershocks experienced by the accursed survivors in a hallucinatory, dystopian nightmare. Using music, special effects and animation to take a unique look at the dark history of America, featuring Hannibal Buress, Anders Holm, Tim Heidecker and iconic funk musician George Clinton.

    Kuso is produced by Eddie Alcazar, and boasts an original score and musical collaborations with Aphex Twin and Akira Yamaoka. The mind behind five stand-out albums and a range of audiovisual projects, Steve’s debut film has been favorably compared to the work of David Lynch and Matthew Barney.

    “Kuso pushes the boundaries of filmmaking and we’re delighted to be working with Steve on this highly unique film, as Shudder continues it’s commitment to bringing new and innovative programming to its community,” said GM Linda Pan.

    Kuso
    Kuso
    Kuso
    Kuso
    Kuso
    Kuso

  • Sue Vessella Named Dean of Woodbury’s School of Media, Culture and Design

    Woodbury University in Los Angeles has named Sue Vessella its new Dean of the School of Media, Culture & Design, which houses eight educational programs including animation and game design. Vessella, a distinguished educator, administrator and award-winning designer, has been part of the university for more than 25 years.

    “Sue has overseen the growth of MCD since her interim appointment in July 2015, with three of its undergraduate programs now ranked in the top 25 colleges and universities nationwide,” said Randy Stauffer, SVP of Academic Affairs. “She’s been an energetic, inspirational leader of the School, and has the vision to cultivate innovative learning opportunities in an interdisciplinary environment.”

    Vessella previous served as Associate Dean of MCD, Chair of the Graphic Design department, and Director of Educational Effectiveness and Assessment for the university. A published author in the area of design education, she has lectured at both international and national design, educational and administrative conferences, and leveraged her education and information design backgrounds to develop the AssessAbility system. She has taught courses as a professor of Graphic Design ranging from Typography and Color Theory, to Package Design and Professional Practice.

    Specializing in corporate identity systems and information design, Vessella also has a background in advertising, identity design, and environmental graphics, and has designed promotional material for numerous companies including NBC Sports, The Los Angeles Zoo, Orion Pictures, Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games, The City of Beverly Hills, Caesar’s Palace and Casino, and multiple entertainment companies. She has been a Creative Director for national companies, working in the area of identity design and restaurant merchandising.

    “I am truly honored by this appointment and look forward to working with my distinguished colleagues in advancing the University’s mission, creating enriching opportunities for the School of Media, Culture & Design, and supporting our students in reaching their full potential in the global community,” Vessella said.

    Learn more about the school at https://woodbury.edu/program/school-of-media-culture-design.

    Sue Vessella
    Sue Vessella
  • Adult Swim Throws Down ‘Apollo Gauntlet’ July 9

    Adult Swim Throws Down ‘Apollo Gauntlet’ July 9

    A different sort of knight in shining armor will make his small screen debut next month as Adult Swim premieres animated adventure comedy Apollo Gauntlet on Sunday, July 9 at 12:15 a.m. ET/PT. (Viewers can also pre-binge the entire series in advance on AdultSwim.com starting July 7.)

    Set in a futuristic medieval society, the 2D-animated quarter-hour series centers on Paul Cassidy, an ordinary cop here on our Earth. But when the evil Dr. Benign transports him to another world, he becomes a new kind of hero. With the help of a magical suit and a set of talking gauntlets, he’s able to fight crime exactly the way he wants…and he’ll do it as Apollo Gauntlet!

    Apollo Gauntlet is created by self-taught Canadian animator Myles Langlois, inspired by a mix of He-Man, Mystery Science Theater 3000 and the oeuvre of David Lynch. MONDO’s Six Point Harness studio is producing.

    Apollo Gauntlet
    Apollo Gauntlet
  • Netflix’s ‘Castlevania’ to Screen at Rooster Teeth Fest

    Netflix’s ‘Castlevania’ to Screen at Rooster Teeth Fest

    The dead will rise in Austin, Texas when Rooster Teeth Animation Festival presents an exclusive theatrical screening of the new Netflix Original Series Castlevania. Set for July 7 at 4:20 p.m. at the Paramount Theater, the screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Sam Deats and executive producers Fred Seibert and Kevin Kolde of Frederator.

    Seibert will also lead a “Fred and Friends” panel on July 8, giving fans exclusive news and updates on Frederator properties Bravest Warriors, Bee and Puppycat and more. The festival will feature plenty such panels and exclusive screenings from the internet’s favorite animators, including: Powerhouse Animation, Mighty Coconut, How It Should Have Ended, TheOdd1sOut, Super Planet Dolan, Flashgitz, Neebs Gaming, Black Plasma Studios, Hyun’s Dojo, OneyNG, OnlyLeigh, El Cid, AnimationEpic, BrewStew, Grickle, Starship Goldfish, Howard Wimhurst, FERG!, Andrew Colunga, Monster Laboratory, Gamma Girls, Seth Brady and TheSmashToons.

    “The pace at which the Rooster Teeth Animation Festival is growing blows our minds,” said Gray G. Haddock, Head of Rooster Teeth Animation. “We’re thrilled to have this chance to bring fans and creators together to celebrate all that is cool about animation.”

    Inspired by the classic Konami game, Castlevania will launch on Netflix on July 7 with four half-hour episodes. The series is produced by Frederator (The Fairly OddParents, Adventure Time) with production services by Austin-based Powerhouse Animation.

    The Rooster Teeth Animation Festival runs as part of the RTX gaming and entertainment event, taking place July 7-9 at the Austin Convention Center. Tickets are available now at www.rtxaustin.com.

    Castlevania
    Castlevania
  • World Premieres for ‘Cardcaptor Sakura’ OVA, ‘Tokyo Ghoul’ Set for AX 2017

    World Premieres for ‘Cardcaptor Sakura’ OVA, ‘Tokyo Ghoul’ Set for AX 2017

    Anime Expo has announced two world premiere film events for the 2017 edition, taking place July 1-4 at the Los Angeles Convention Center — and a slew of other newly revealed special guests and events. Making their debuts will be the new OVA Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card Prologue, and the live-action adaptation of hit manga Tokyo Ghoul.

    Presented by Kodansha Comics, the Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card Prologue World Premiere is set for July 1 at 4 p.m., with special giveaways and a Q&A with producer Chiyo Kawazoe. More information here.

    AX’s first live-action film premiere, Tokyo Ghoul World Premiere is scheduled for July 3 at 7:#0 p.m. at the Marriott. The screening is for ages 18+ (wristband required). Presented by Funimation Films, the premiere will also welcome special guests yet to be announced. More info here.

    Attendees can also catch a can’t-miss screening of In This Corner of the World with director Sunao Katabuchi, presented by Shout! Factory Films and Funimation Films in association with Animatsu. Plus, panels with the Dragon Ball English voice cast, Fullmetal Alchemist movie director Fumihiko Sori, and more.

    Card Captor Sakura
    Card Captor Sakura
  • Playmates ‘Ben 10’ Line Launches at Toys “R” Us

    Playmates ‘Ben 10’ Line Launches at Toys “R” Us

    Playmates Toys’ new Ben 10 toy line has launched as a limited exclusive at Toys “R” Us stores across the US, and online at toysrus.com. Inspired by Cartoon Network’s fresh take on the hit Man of Action property, the assorted action figures, vehicles, playsets and role play items will roll out to other major retailers beginning in August.

    “Fans of Cartoon Network’s new Ben 10 series will now be able to bring home the action-packed adventures seen in the show,” said Karl Aaronian, SVP of Marketing, Playmates Toys. “The expansive toy line that we developed includes unique transformations, special features and technology to provide kids with an imaginative play experience where their favorite characters are brought to life.”

    Highlights of the toy line include:

    + Basic Action Figure assortment – A variety of 5-inch, highly detailed and articulated figures based on the show, including Ben Tennyson, the 10 different heroic aliens that he transforms into and key villains from Season 1. Other figure assortments include Deluxe Power Up figures, with lights and sounds, and Giant 10-inch figures.

    + Rustbucket Vehicle & Playset – Vehicle, transforms into a 3-level playset that stands over 2 feet tall and is packed with action features including an alien transformation chamber, plasma blaster, alien lab and more.

    + Role play collection – Includes both a Basic and Deluxe Omnitrix, allowing kids to transform into any one of Ben’s 10 aliens, and Transform-N-Battle gauntlets and masks.

    Ben 10
    Ben 10
    Ben 10
    Ben 10
    Ben 10
    Ben 10
  • Daily News Bytes

    Daily News Bytes

    VIDEO: ‘Coco’ Official Trailer
    Disney-Pixar strikes a chord with a brand-new spot for its Day of the Dead-inspired tale, featuring an all-Latinx voice cast and debuting in theaters Nov. 22.

    VIDEO: ‘Captain Underpants’ vs Inflatable Ape
    A brooding artistic reflection on the futility of wrestling with projections of our own inner demons.

    Ann Telnaes Is First Woman to Win Reuban Award and Pulitzer Prize
    Animation and Disney Imagineering alum makes cartooning history with an esteemed double win, making her one of an elite group of 10. You can find her editorial animations on the Washington Post website, print work at The Cartoonist Group, and more info at www.anntelnaes.com.

    Papergirl Press Launches The Pushpin, Offering Prints by Top Indie Comickers
    Boutique Toronto publisher presents a curated webstore selling collectible, high-quality prints by popular artists, including Kate Beaton (Hark! A Vagrant), Valentine De Landro (Bitch Planet) and Michael Cho (Shoplifter)– plus originals by Kagan McLeod, Ryan North and Chip Zdarsky.

    Rare Celluloid Sells High in Animation Art Auction
    Pinocchio cel goes for $31K at Monday’s big “Property of a Gentleman” auction at Bonhams.

    Coco
    Coco
  • Hijinx Accepts Master Toy Mission for ‘Zafari’

    Hijinx Accepts Master Toy Mission for ‘Zafari’

    INK Global announces that appointment of Hijinx as master toy licensee for new animated kids’ series Zafari. A wild array of plush, figurines, collectibles, creative and role play items are being planned, with Hijinx acting as exclusive global manufacturer (excluding China, MENA and Japan) and distributing the line across North America, Australia, New Zealand and UK.

    The CG-animated series is created by VFX veteran David Dozoretz, and centers on a group of friends inhabiting a unique land where all the animals are magically born with a variety of skins, patterns and characteristics, making each individual truly unique.

    Zafari has pre-sold to a number of broadcasters, including France TV, Lagardere TIJI, SRC Radio Canada and SpaceToon. NBCUniversal has acquired global distribution rights, and the first season is set to premiere across France and MENA in November.

    “Zafari speaks to the hearts and imagination of the whole industry, who have embraced the vision the project is built on– it has such an incredible pedigree through David Dozoretz and the underlying theme of celebrating differences has never been more relevant,”said INK Global Director Claus Tømming. “There will be huge demand for toys when it hits the screen and we’re confident Hijinx will do a fantastic job in bringing the essence of the story to life with an innovative and unique range of Zafari toys that children will adore.”

    Zafari
    Zafari
  • Jellyfish Pictures Opens Europe’s First Virtual VFX Studios

    Jellyfish Pictures Opens Europe’s First Virtual VFX Studios

    Emmy, VES and BAFTA Award-winning production house Jellyfish Pictures is breaking new ground by opening two new, virtual visual effects facilities in the Oval area of London — the first such studios in Europe. The new sites represent a capacity increase for a further 70 artists, adding to Jellyfish’s studios in Brixton and Fitzrovia for a total of nearly 200 employees.

    Both Oval studios house animation teams, which are tackling the new CBeebies/FremantleMedia preschool series Bitz and Bob (designed and directed by Jellyfish), and the second season of hit kids’ show The Floogals. The existing animation operations at Jellyfish’s Brixton studio are currently at work on the Dennis the Menace reboot, Dennis and Gnasher.

    With no hardware housed onsite, the Oval studios operate in a completely PC over IP environment and are powered by the Brixton facility, which accommodates the new studios’ servers. Exponential-e provided a 10 Gig Ethernet network, enabling Jellyfish Pictures to virtualise distributed Strongbox Technology workstations through Teradici’s remote visualisation solution and connect all four of its offices onto the same circuit. All sites sit on the same logical WAN, which provides access to Software Defined Storage (SDS) from Pixit Media and enables remote collaboration and support for flexible working practices.

    “Within three years our workforce has expanded to 170 and now beyond. After running out of floor space at our first two offices in Fitzrovia and Brixton, we wanted to open a third and fourth office near The Oval. By underpinning different cloud technologies with Exponential-e’s network, we had the building blocks for a new virtual office, allowing us to simply extend the workloads that we already had to set-up our new premises,” said CTO Jeremy Smith, who spearheaded the technical side of the virtual studio project.

    “The two new Oval offices are testament to how technology and creativity work hand-in-hand. The combined technology solution provided by Exponential-e gives the studio the ability to respond quickly to spikes in demand and treat resources as if they are all centralised, regardless of whether they are based on private or public cloud storage,” added CEO Phil Dobree. “With Jellyfish’s accelerated business growth, we now have the capacity to scale computing power and deploy virtual workstations in an instant, to execute even the most demanding of projects.”

    Jellyfish Studios
    Jellyfish Studios
    Jellyfish Studios
    Jellyfish Studios
    Jellyfish Studios
    Jellyfish Studios