Author: Mercedes Milligan

  • Disney Series Creator Daron Nefcy Coming to KLIK

    Disney Series Creator Daron Nefcy Coming to KLIK

    As early bird ticket sales open for the 10th edition of KLIK Amsterdam Animation Festival — taking place October 17-22 at EYE Filmmuseum (www.klik.amsterdam) — the organizers have announced its first international guest will be Daron Nefcy, creator and executive producer of Disney Television Animation’s Star vs. The Forces of Evil.

    Nefcy will give a presentation at KLIK giving attendees insight into the process of creating an episode of Star vs. The Forces of Evil, from concept, to storyboards, design, editing, music, sound and animation production. The series follows teenage alien princess Star Butterfly through her adventures on Earth, where she navigates human high school and dimension-hopping missions to keep her magic wand out of the wrong hands.

    Star vs. The Forces of Evil received three Annie Award nominations in 2016. Nefcy herself has been named one of Variety’s “10 Animators to Watch” and Forbes’ 30 Under 30.

    KLIK 2017 will present six full days of film screenings in and out of competition, talks, installations, workshops, masterclasses and a can’t-miss closing party — plus a special retrospective on the last decade of festival favorites. The festival will also present a special kid-friendly day of shorts and activities on Oct. 30.

    Once again, KLIK will be anchored by its international animated shorts competition, spanning several categories and showcasing the best films from around the world vying for the KLIK Awards — last year’s competition received over 1,800 entries from 83 countries. (Submissions are now closed for this year’s competition.)

    The 2017 festival will also feature the themed program “Never Grow Up,” spotlighting works that question common conceptions about age and the expectations that go with certain ages and life stages. Alongside feature films, presentations and short film compilations, the experience of time is also expressed through special installations by national and international artists.

    KLIK!
    KLIK!
  • Turner’s Toonami Finds Africa Pay TV Home

    Turner’s Toonami Finds Africa Pay TV Home

    Turner Broadcasting will launch its international superhero-centric animation outlet Toonami in Africa on June 1, with pay TV network Kwesé TV picking it up for English-language markets outside South Africa. The Toonami programming line-up features popular action properties like ThunderCats, DC’s Batman and Superman, and Cartoon Network’s Ben 10. There will also be a branded Toonami movies block.

    Kwesé TV’s parent company Econet Media had signed a multi-territory agreement with Turner, which also included Cartoon Network and other channels.

    “We are pleased with the addition of Toonami to the Kwesé bouquet as it further diversifies our robust entertainment experience and programme offering outside of South Africa,” said Pierre Branco, VP and General Manager for Turner Southern Europe and Africa. “With its clear positioning and strong franchising connections, we are convinced that Toonami will build a strong fan base around the most popular superheroes. Turner will meet the growing demand for premium quality superhero content on the continent.”

    Econet’s President & Group CEO, Joseph Hundah, added: “At Kwesé we pride ourselves in offering exclusive and never-seen-before content for our viewers. The addition of this exciting new channel Toonami to our network brings further diversity, choice and more importantly exclusivity to our premium children’s lineup, building an even more compelling entertainment bouquet for the whole family to enjoy.”

    Toonami
    Toonami
  • ‘Smurfs: The Lost Village’ Home Release Dates Set

    ‘Smurfs: The Lost Village’ Home Release Dates Set

    Sony Pictures Animation’s all-animated update to the magical world of Peyo’s beloved blue heroes is coming home on a variety of formats this summer, with Smurfs: The Lost Village set for a digital debut June 20, followed by 4K Ultrad HD, Blu-ray, and DVD sets on July 11 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

    Directed by Kelly Asbury (Shrek 2), the CG animated feature follows Smurfette (voiced by Demi Lovato) and her friends Brainy (Danny Pudi), Clumsy (Jack McBrayer) and Hefty (Joe Manganiello) on a thrilling quest through the Forbidden Forest to find a legendary lost village before the evil wizard Gargamel (Rainn Wilson) does — and discover the biggest secret in Smurf history.

    The voice cast also features Michelle Rodriguez as SmurfStorm, Ellie Kemper as SmurfBlossom, Ariel Winter as SmurfLily, Mandy Patinkin as Papa Smurf, and Julia Roberts as SmurfWillow. The screenplay was penned by Stacey Harman (The Goldbergs) and Pamela Ribon (Moana). Jordan Kerner and Mary Ellen Bauder Andrews produced; with Raja Gosnell and Ben Waisbren serving as executive producers.

    The home video options will come with a Smurfload of extras…

    DVD and Digital Bonuses: Filmmaker commentary, Meghan Trainor “I’m A Lady” music video, The Emoji Movie sneak peek, and featurettes: “Kids at Heart! The Making of Smurfs: The Lost Village,” “Demi Lovato Meets Smurfette,” “Lost Village Dance Along,” “Smurfify Your Nails,” “Baker Smurf’s Mini Kitchen,” “How to Draw Smurfette,” “How to Draw Brainy,” “How to Draw Clumsy,” “Making the Song ‘You Will Always Find Me in Your Heart’,”  and “The Sound of the Smurfs.”

    Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD: All DVD bonuses, plus deleted scenes and “The Lost Auditions” featurette.

    Digital (ITunes, Vudu, Xfinity): All DVD/BD/4K bonuses, plus music video featurette “Girl Power! Making Meghan Trainor’s ‘I’m A Lady’.”

    Smurfs: The Lost Village
    Smurfs: The Lost Village
  • 505 Games & Ovosonico Tease  Emotional RPG ‘Last Day of June’

    505 Games & Ovosonico Tease Emotional RPG ‘Last Day of June’

    Indie Italian studio Ovosonico and publisher 505 Games have revealed their first collaboration, a touching and cinematic interactive adventure through life, love and loss: Last Day of June. The bittersweet game is the work of director Massimo Guarini (Murasaki Baby, Naruto: Rise of a Ninja), award-winning musician and record producer Steven Wilson, and Jess Cope (animator, Frankenweenie; director, Metallica – “Here Comes Revenge”).

    “With Last Day of June, my vision is to create a riveting emotional experience that connects with the broader audience of human beings,” said Guarini, who is also the founder and CEO of Ovosonico. “People feel comfortable broadly saying they don’t like video games without ever really trying them, but never say that about movies or music or art – there’s always something they can identify with. I believe games can be just as universal and relatable, and that’s what we’re attempting to show with this project.”

    The single-player title takes players from an onlooker role during what begins as a magical outing for couple Carl and June to their favorite spot, to an active character deeply intertwined in the narrative, solving puzzles to turn back time and trying to trace a sequence of events that could change the day’s deadly course.

    Last Day of June is being developed for PlayStation 4 and PC, and is due out later this year. More info at lastdayofjunegame.com.

    Last Day of June
    Last Day of June
    Last Day of June
    Last Day of June
    Last Day of June
    Last Day of June
  • ‘Animaniacs’ May Get Reboot from Amblin, WB

    ‘Animaniacs’ May Get Reboot from Amblin, WB

    The irrepressible Warner Brothers Yakko and Wakko and their Warner Sister, Dot, may return to the screen with all-new madcap episodes of Animaniacs, about 20 years after they bid viewers adieu. A reboot of the hit ‘90s toon from Steven Spielberg is reportedly in development between Amblin Television and Warner Bros. Animation, according to IndieWire. Animaniacs has enjoyed a renewed popularity thanks to millennial nostalgia and accessibility through streaming platforms.

    Animaniacs bowed on Fox Kids in 1993, then moved to Kids’ WB! In 1995, and aired for five seasons through to 1998. Animation vet Tom Ruegger, who had at the time had already helped bring hit series including Tiny Toon Adventures and Batman: The Animated Series to air, headed the creation of Animaniacs, with Spielberg as executive producer.

    The show centered on three 1930s cartoon siblings — Yakko (voiced by Rob Paulsen), Wakko (Jess Harnell) and Dot (Tress MacNeille) — who finally escape their confinement in the iconic Warner Bros. water tower to run amok on the lot, causing chaos with their vaudevillian, slapstick-fueled notion of comedy. Animaniacs proved popular with both kids and adults, thanks to a rich vein of wink-wink, nudge-nudge humor running through each episode.

    Recurring segments featured characters like the Goodfeathers, Buttons & Mindy, Slappy Squirrel, and Pinky & The Brain, who got their own show in 1995. Other notable voice actors including Sherri Stoner, Maurice LaMarche, Frank Welker and Jim Cummings featured in the show.

    Among the accolades bestowed on the show are a Peabody Award and numerous Daytime Emmys, including Outstanding Children’s Animated Program (2), Outstanding Achievement in Animation, Outstanding Music Direction & Composition (4) and Original Song for the theme. Animaniacs was also nominated for several Annie Awards through the years.

    Animaniacs
    Animaniacs
  • Nick to Launch Interactive Videos on Preschool Noggin App

    Nick to Launch Interactive Videos on Preschool Noggin App

    Top kids’ entertainment brand Nickelodeon is introducing a sparkling new collection of interactive, curriculum-driven preschool content to its NOGGIN ad-free subscription service starting June 1, launching on iOS platforms. These play-along videos were created by an in-house team using a proprietary authoring tool which enables simultaneous creation of interactive digital content alongside linear TV production.

    “The introduction of our play-along videos mark the evolution of preschool interactivity that Nickelodeon initiated with Blue’s Clues and Dora the Explorer,” said Matthew Evans, Executive Vice President, Digital and New Business, Nickelodeon Group. “We can now transform our linear production capabilities through an authoring tool of our own design that allows us to create complementary interactive, digital video that truly lets kids participate in, and learn from the story.”

    More than 30 videos will be introduced at launch, giving preschoolers the opportunity to tap, touch, swipe and speak to navigate their way through educational experiences featuring their favorite characters from Blaze and the Monster Machines, Bubble Guppies, Team Umizoomi, and short-form content starring Moose and Zee. Curriculum and research consultants collaborated with Nick to create play-along videos that promote science, technology, engineering, math and social-emotional skills.

    The new authoring tool puts interactive content creation in the hands of Nickelodeon’s show creators, producers and animators. It supports real-time scene editing and a live preview that lets the teams layer in interactive elements to create play-along moments within any episode. Interactive writers and producers can be integrated into a show’s creative team, opening up the production of story-driven interactive video from the start of TV production and allowing simultaneous linear and play-along content delivery for each episode. The play-along video player can also be integrated into Nick’s existing video apps.

    Team Umizoomi
    Team Umizoomi
    Moose and Zee
    Moose and Zee
  • Daily News Bytes

    Daily News Bytes

    Miike Takashi to Present the World Premiere of ‘JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’ at the NIFFF 2017
    Neuchâtel Int’l Fantastic Film Festival attendees will be among the first to see the latest live-action feat from the legendary Japanese director. The 13 Assassins and Ichi the Killer helmer once again flexes his suspense muscles for this adaptation of the fourth part of Araki Hirohiko’s manga, Diamond Is Unbreakable. (Japanese language trailer on page!)

    Co-Founder David Sproxton Shares 40 Years of Aardman’s Animation Excellence and More at FMX 2017
    The brilliant Bristol studio has churned out some of the world’s best-loved characters in shorts, features, ads and digital doo-dads. Check out AWN‘s video interview for more insight into the minds who created Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep, Morph and more.

    CALL FOR ENTRIES: CINANIMA 2017
    You have until July 1 to submit your animated short films (up to 5 min., 5-24 min., or 24-50 min.), commissioned films, documentaries, feature and student/grad works for the international competition. The festival’s 41st edition will take place Nov. 6-12 in Espinho, Portugal.

    CALL FOR ENTRIES: MIA Pitch to the Industry
    This year’s MIA Animation Festival (Miami, FL; October 14) will present a pitching contest for animated TV and web series in two categories: targeting kids (13 years old and under) and targeting adults (14 and up). Submissions are due by August 31, so get cracking.

    Animation Effects Award Festival 2017 Speaker Program
    The lineup for AEAF 2017 (Paddington, Australia; August 15 & 16) includes reps from Weta Digital, Animal Logic, ILM, The Sequence Group and Iloura. The event is still seeking animation and VFX industry experts to speak, so hit ’em up.

    JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable
    JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable
  • VIZ Welcome ‘Food Wars!’ Co-Creator to Anime Expo ’17

    VIZ Welcome ‘Food Wars!’ Co-Creator to Anime Expo ’17

    VIZ Media will be welcoming Yuto Tsukuda — writer and co-creator of the bestselling manga series Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma — to Los Angeles this summer as a Guest of Honor at the 2017 Anime Expo (July 1-4; www.anime-expo.org). The Weekly Shonen Jump title inspired a hit anime series produced by J.C. Staff, which debuted last year.

    Tsukuda is scheduled to participate in two panel discussions and two in-person autograph sessions during Anime Expo (times and locations to be announced). The event marks his first professional appearance in North America.

    Food Wars! has captivated manga fans with a tasty mix of comedy and over-the- top culinary battles, and we are very excited to partner with Anime Expo to welcome Yuto Tsukuda as a Guest of Honor at this year’s show,” says Andy Nakatani, Editor-in- Chief, Weekly Shonen Jump. “We look forward to celebrating the success of Food Wars! and to providing Anime Expo attendees some very special opportunities to meet the writer and catch some of his personal insights on the series!”

    Tsukuda won the 34th Jump Juniketsu Newcomers’ Manga Award for his one-shot story Kiba ni Naru, and made his Weekly Shonen Jump debut in 2010 with the Shonen Shikku series. Food Wars! is Tsukuda’s first work to be released in English, and is published digitally and in print by VIZ Media (rated T+). The series follows a young man named Soma Yukihira whose small restaurateur father enrolls him in a highly competitive, slightly bizarre culinary school, where he must prove his worth to the school snobs and strive to make the extremely narrow graduation cut.

    Anime Expo attendees can stop by the VIZ Media booth (#2206) for special Food Wars! premium giveaways. The manga will also be available for purchase on-site, including exclusive advance copies of Volume 19.

    Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma
    Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma
  • Comet, Illuminated Film Team for ‘Buddy & Elvis’

    Comet, Illuminated Film Team for ‘Buddy & Elvis’

    Toronto-based production and distribution company Comet Entertainment has allied with The Illuminated Film Company in the UK to produce Buddy & Elvis, a 2D animated comedy series for kids ages 5-11. Based on the children’s books Have You Seen Elvis? and It’s Showtime Elvis! by author Andrew Murray and illustrator Nicola Slater, the show follows two tentacle-waving, fun-loving aliens who travel to Earth and disguise themselves as a family’s cat and dog.

    “Kids need engaging content that is also creative and funny, and I’m excited to be working with Illuminated to bring Buddy & Elvis to life,” said Comet’s founder and CEO, Raquel Benitez. “As soon as we saw the initial concept we knew audiences would love the colourful style and laid-back but wacky humour, and we’re looking forward to sharing more about Buddy & Elvis in the upcoming months.”

    Iain Harvey, founder and CEO of The Illuminated Film Co., commented: “I am delighted to be teaming up with Raquel and Comet Entertainment. We have long thought this series is ideal for a UK-Canadian co-production, and Comet have shown the enthusiasm and commitment that will help ensure a world-wide comedy success.”

    Founded in 2001, Comet Ent. specializes in animated and live-action content, and has produced both features and series such as Santa vs. Claus, Around the World for Free! and MTV Latin America’s Wrappy Sex Police. The Illuminated Film Co., based in London, has delivered several successful series, including four-time BAFTA nominee Little Princess and The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Other Stories.

    Buddy & Elvis
    Buddy & Elvis
  • Three ‘Equestria Girls’ Specials Set for Discovery Family Summer Splash

    Three ‘Equestria Girls’ Specials Set for Discovery Family Summer Splash

    The unbridled teen spirit of My Little Pony: Equestria Girls will get free rein on Discovery Family in the next months, with three brand-new half-hour specials planned for the network’s “Summer Splash” programming event.

    Produced by Hasbro Studios, the seasonal adventures of the full-time students and part-time magical pony-girls will kick off Saturday, June 24 at 11:30 a.m. (10:30C) with Equestria Girls: Dance Magic; the specials will also stream live and on-demand on Discovery Family GO.

    Dance Magic – Saturday, June 24 at 11:30a/10:30c

    With the Camp Everfree fundraising deadline looming, the Equestria girls realize they need a new plan to raise more money and are ready to try new things. Rarity finds out about a music video competition with a huge cash prize, and she’s eager to convince her friends at Canterlot High to enter the contest. However, the girls soon learn that the students at rival Crystal Prep Academy are also entering the contest. The girls learn that sometimes coming together instead of competing is the best plan of all!

    Movie Magic – Saturday, July 1 at 11:30a/10:30c

    The overjoyed Equestria Girls have been specially invited by A.K. Yearling to visit the set of the upcoming “Daring Do” movie! For super-fan Rainbow Dash, watching behind the scenes as her favorite heroine comes to life is a dream come true. However, when a rare prop from the set goes missing and puts the entire movie on hold, Rainbow Dash’s dream becomes a nightmare. The Equestria Girls take it upon themselves to track down the missing prop and end up trotting into a real-life Daring Do adventure!

    Mirror Magic – Saturday, July 8 at 11:30a/10:30c

    When Sunset Shimmer returns to Equestria as a pony, she meets new pony Starlight Glimmer and agrees to bring her back through the mirror portal to experience life as a human girl at Canterlot High. However, while Sunset Shimmer is away, a revenge‐seeking Juniper Montage finds a beautiful hand mirror enchanted with Equestrian magic, and it’s powerful enough to make things disappear into limbo, trapping them between two realms. Sunset Shimmer and Starlight Glimmer return to find the Mane 6 missing and Juniper Montage acting extremely suspicious. Will Sunset Shimmer and Starlight Glimmer save the girls, or are the Mane 6 lost in limbo for good?

    My Little Pony: Equestria Girls
    My Little Pony: Equestria Girls
    My Little Pony: Equestria Girls
    My Little Pony: Equestria Girls
  • ‘Star vs. The Forces of Evil’ TV Movie Coming to XD in July

    ‘Star vs. The Forces of Evil’ TV Movie Coming to XD in July

    Everyone’s favorite dimension-hopping princess will star in an all-new two-hour TV movie special, as Star vs. The Forces of Evil: The Battle for Mewni premieres on Saturday, July 15 at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. EDT on Disney XD. The special will also be available to verified users on the Disney XD app and VOD platforms. A third season of the Annie Award-nominated series, created and executive produced by Daron Nefcy, is slated to debut this fall.

    The Battle for Mewni follows fiercely awesome teen princess Star (voiced by Eden Sher) as she returns to her home dimension of Mewni only to discover that magic is disappearing throughout the kingdom. In order to save her family and their realm, Star must find the inner strength to challenger her archnemesis Ludo (Alan Tudyk).

    Star vs. The Forces of Evil is a production of Disney Television Animation, and follows the adventures of fiercely awesome teenage princess Star Butterfly, sent to Earth by her Royal Parents to live with teenage Earthling Marco Diaz (Adam McArthur) and his parents (Nia Vardalos, Artt Butler). Together, the unlikely friends navigate high school and embark on interdimensional adventures — keeping Star’s powerful magic wand out of evil clutches all the while.

    The voice cast also features Jeffrey Tambor as Glossaryck, and Jenny Slate as Pony Head. Tudyk voices King Butterfly as well as the malevolent Ludo.

    Star vs. The Forces of Evil
    Star vs. The Forces of Evil
  • ‘Batman and Harley Quinn’ Full Details Unmasked

    ‘Batman and Harley Quinn’ Full Details Unmasked

    An all-new tale of the Caped Crusader from animation icon Bruce Timm is coming home as Batman and Harley Quinn, the latest DC Universe Original Movie from Warner Bros. Animation and DC Ent., arrives on Digital on August 15, and on August 29 on a variety of disc options from Ultra HD to Blu-ray and standard DVD and more.

    The latest challenge to the Dark Knight’s skills emerges as Poison Ivy (voiced by Paget Brewster) and Jason Woodrue, a.k.a. The Floronic Man (Kevin Michael Richardson) hatch a plan to save the planet — which necessitates the elimination of much of humanity. To save the species, Batman (reprised by Kevin Conroy) and Nightwing (Loren Lester) enlist Ivy’s BFF and frequent partner-in-crime, Harley Quinn (Melissa Rauch). Batman’s patience is put to the test by unpredictable, untrustworthy Harley along the winding route of their road trip to save the human race.

    Batman and Harley Quinn is directed by Sam Liu (Batman: The Killing Joke) from an original story by Bruce Timm (Batman: The Dark Knight Returns) with teleplay by Timm and Jim Krieg (Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox). Alan Burnett co-produces, with Sam Register, Timm, Benjamin Melniker and Michael Uslan as executive producers.

    The movie will be available as the first Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack ($44.98 SRP) release of a DC Universe Original Movie; as well as Blu-ray Deluxe Giftset ($39.99), featuring an exclusive Harley Quinn figurine; Blu-ray Combo Pack ($24.98); DVD ($19.98); and Digital ($19.99 HD, $14.99 SD).

    Ultra HD, BD Giftset, BD and Digital bonus features include:

    The Harley Effect (Featurette): Harley Quinn, has a deep history with the fans of the DC Universe. This featurette traces her humble roots from her creators, to those that portray her at Comic book conventions. She is a symbol of strength and beloved by many.

    Loren Lester: In His Own Voice (Featurette): This documentary examines actor Loren Lester’s legacy within Batman: The Animated Series, Dick Grayson’s character, and the popularity that surrounds Lester’s interpretation of the Boy Wonder.

    From the DC VaultBatman: The Animated Series – “Harley and Ivy” and “Harley’s Holiday”

    A Sneak Peek at the next DC Universe Original Movie: A behind-the- scenes look at the next entry in the popular series of DC Universe Original Movies, featuring thoughts from the talented filmmakers and voice cast. (Also on DVD release.)

    Batman and Harley Quinn
    Batman and Harley Quinn
    Batman and Harley Quinn
    Batman and Harley Quinn
    Batman and Harley Quinn
    Batman and Harley Quinn
  • ‘Adult Swim on the Green Tour’ Brings Frolics to Fans Nationwide

    ‘Adult Swim on the Green Tour’ Brings Frolics to Fans Nationwide

    Fans of late night animation won’t just be busy following the Rickmobile on the road this summer. They can also set aside one of their balmy summer nights for the Adult Swim on the Green touring event — an outdoor evening fun fair for adults 18+ featuring games, food and exclusive prizes, courtesy of GEICO.

    Each event will feature a free screening of “Things You’ve Never Seen,” featuring specials, pilots and episodes of new Adult Swim shows presented on a massive, custom LED wall under the stars. Plus, the GEICO Prize Eye (a giant spin-to-win) will be on site at each stop to reward fans with access to exclusive Adult Swim freebies, including music, online streaming, games and apps.

    The first batch of stops confirmed for the tour (more 2017 locations to be announced later) are Phoenix, AZ (Fort McDowell, June 13); Spokane, WA (Riverfront Park, June 17); Portland, OR (Sellwood Riverfront Park, June 19); Park City, UT (Snow Park Amphitheater, June 23); Boise, ID (Outlaw Field/Idaho Botanical Gardens, June 26); and Santa Barbara, CA (Chase Palm Park, June 30).

    Adult Swim on the Green is free with the purchase of a $5 food & beverage voucher, redeemable for 1 free popcorn and other morsels (excluding food trucks) on site. Attendees are also welcome and encouraged to bring their own picnic. Vouchers are on sale now; a limited number of standby guests will be admitted at each stop on a first come, first-served basis, space permitting.

    Adult Swim on the Green Tour
    Adult Swim on the Green Tour
  • 1st Cardiff Animation Festival Launching April 2018

    1st Cardiff Animation Festival Launching April 2018

    A new, dedicated animation festival is coming to the Welsh capital of Cardiff next year, with the inaugural Cardiff Animation Festival officially slated for April 20-22, 2018. The event will be held at arts and culture center Chapter and other venues across the city.

    The Cardiff Animation Festival is organized by the team at Cardiff Animation Nights, who have been presenting screenings and events locally since 2014 and this month wrapped a second successful animation strand in partnership with the Cardiff Independent Film Festival. CAN recently relocated its bimonthly event to Kongs to accommodate a growing audience.

    For a taste of what the 2018 Festival will offer, CAN are bringing two extra-special events to Chapter this summer:

    Lotte Reiniger Special (Sat., June 24): This celebration of the work of Lotte Reiniger will include three stand-alone events: an enchanting selection of Reiniger’s short films reimagining classic fairytales in mesmerizing silhouette animation; a free interactive shadow puppetry workshop run by Small World Theatre; and a screening of the oldest surviving animated feature film, Lotte Reiniger’s Prince Achmed, with a new original live score by musician Chris Davies. Tickets are available now online or via Chapter’s box office, +44 (0)29 2030 4400.

    Late Night Work Club Special (Sat., July 22): International independent animation collective Late Night Work Club released their second collaborative anthology of animated short films, Strangers, late last year. Contributions include Nicolas Menard’s SXSW award-winning Wednesday with Goddard and Kirsten Lepore’s viral hit Hi Stranger. The event will give audiences the chance to see the animated anthologies on the big screen, and will include a masterclass with Late Night Work Club members about online collaboration and how to survive and thrive as an independent animator. The event will celebrate collaboration, with attendees invited to bring along their own personal projects, and get involved in a collaborative animation produced on the day.

    Follow @animationnights on Twitter and Instagram,/CardiffAnimation on Facebook or cardiffanimation.com for updates on these and other events.

    Cardiff Animation Festival
    Cardiff Animation Festival
  • Animation Stars Set to Orbit Annecy Sessions

    Animation Stars Set to Orbit Annecy Sessions

    Among the many intriguing screenings and informational sessions planned for this year’s Annecy animation festival and MIFA market (June 12-17; annecy.org), some of the most respected names in the game as well as rising animation stars will be there in the flesh to share their insights and discuss their latest projects. The confab will offer an array of masterclasses, Work In Progress raps, conferences, keynote speeches and studio focus sessions.

    This year’s Keynote Speakers include Walt Disney Television Animation’s Eric Coleman, Sony Pictures Animation’s Kristine Belson, and living legend Glen Keane, who will devote his talk to “Thinking Like a Child: Embracing Change in an Ever-Evolving Art From.” In his address, Keane will share his experiences in merging art and technology throughout his career — which has spanned 38 years in Disney’s feature animation studio and, since 2012, his own Glen Keane Productions. He will close with a screening of his latest film, Dear Basketball, a collaboration with basketball star Kobe Bryant and Oscar-winning composer John Williams. [June 13, 7 p.m., Bonlieu Petite Salle.]

    Two can’t-miss projects to be highlighted in the Work in Progress program are the first-ever Godzilla animated feature from Toho Co. (Japan), and local French production The Little Vampire from Autochenille Prod. Directors Kobun Shizuno and Hiroyuki Seshita will present a sneak peek at Godzilla, which follows the events after the titular monster deals a crushing defeat to the human race and nigh on destroys Earth in 2054 — 20 years later, the drifting space-bound survivors start reconsidering a return to their abandoned planet. [June 14, 9:30 a.m., Salle Pierre Lamy.] Little Vampire — about a precocious, immortal 10-year-old who befriends a human orphan and brings him into a world of fantasy and danger — will be introduced to attendees by director Joann Sfar and producer Antoine Delesvaux. [June 14, 11:15 a.m., Salle Pierre Lamy.]

    Also on the WIP docket: The Breadwinner, Wish Dragon, Zero Impunity and more.

    Robert Valley, director of the Oscar-nominated labor of love Pear Cider and Cigarettes, will present a Masterclass titled “From Graphic Novels to Animated Music Videos and Short Films.” The in-demand artist, designer, filmmaker and animator will pull from his array of ever-evolving works to demonstrate some of the key steps in moving from the graphic novel page to the animated screen. Examples will include Pear Cider as well as Gorillaz music video material created in collaboration with Jamie Hewlett. More insight on moving between media can be found at “The Art of Storytelling, from Comics to Animation” with Lewis Trondheim, Guy Delisle and Arthur de Pins.

    And aspiring series creators should not miss “A Conversation with Nickelodeon Creatos Joe Murray and Robert Scull,” which will place the minds behind Rocko’s Modern Life and Bubble Guppies in the same room to discuss bringing their visions to life and the trajectory of their prolific careers in animation from the 1990s to the present — plus an exclusive sneak peek Nick’s upcoming Rocko’s Modern Life TV movie. [June 16, 4:30-5:45 p.m., Bonlieu Petite Salle.]

    Godzilla
    Godzilla
    The Breadwinner
    The Breadwinner
  • Daily News Bytes

    Daily News Bytes

    VIDEO: ‘Game of Thrones’ Season 7 Official Trailer
    While noble houses play the game of thrones, only chaos truly reigns in the Seven Kingdoms! (Although a dragon or three certainly may help). The new season arrives on HBO July 16. Also, check out EW’s on-set exclusives.

    VIDEO: ‘Okja’ Teaser
    A global adventure about a young girl who risks everything to keep her curious (CG) animal friend out of the clutches of a multinational company, directed by Bong Joon Ho (Snowpiercer, The Host). Okja just screened in Cannes and will arrive exclusively on Netflix June 28.

    VIDEO: ‘LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2’ Official Full-Length Trailer
    An all-new, epic adventure is coming to a console near you on November 14. The sequel to the smash-hit carries an original storyline from comic-book vet Kurt Busiek, in which players must battle across locations ripped from time and pace into Chronopolis to fight Kang the Conqueror.

    In-Depth Look at ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ Ride
    Speaking of the Marvelverse, take a peek inside the first US Disney park attraction based on Marvel Comics characters. Yup, that’s the refitted Twilight Zone Tower of Terror in Disney’s California Adventure!

    Elton John “Rocket Man” Official Music Video from Blink Ink
    The hit song came out in 1972, but it’s finally got a video thanks to a winning concept from Majid Adin and Stephen McNally — an animated tale of urgent humanity and personal longing inspired by Adin’s personal experience as a refugee.

    Game of Thrones
    Game of Thrones Season 7
  • Rooster Teeth Trailers ‘Camp Camp’ Season 2

    Rooster Teeth Trailers ‘Camp Camp’ Season 2

    Rooster Teeth has pitched its trailer tent for season two of animated digital series Camp Camp. The new season launches as part of the quirky media co’s “Summer of Animation,” four months of new episodes and premieres from popular shows such as its flagship Red vs Blue, RWBY, RTAA (Rooster Teeth Animated Adventures) and super cute RWBY Chibi.

    Camp Camp centers on Max, a jaded 10-year old who finds himself stuck at the most dysfunctional camp known to man. The young cynic must survive the annoying cheerfulness of counselor David, as well a lava pits, abandoned mine shafts, a vengeful squirrel and his weird fellow campers before he can make a break for home.

    The new season premieres on June 9 on FIRST, Rooster Teeth’s streaming service (available at roosterteeth.com) and on Xbox One, Apple TV, iOS and Android.

    Camp Camp
    Camp Camp
  • DWA Vet Launches ‘Disrupted’ Micro-Series Via Nimble

    DWA Vet Launches ‘Disrupted’ Micro-Series Via Nimble

    In the wake of DreamWorks Animation’s acquisition by Comcast/NBCUniversal, a lot has changed. Capturing this shake-up is a new animated micro-series, Disrupted, created by director Brian Newlin and inspired by his own experiences, launched in collaboration with Nimble Collective’s Virtual Studio Service Platform.

    Disrupted is set in a real-life coffee shop (Backyard Coffee in Redwood City, California), depicting the events in the life of an animated avatar of Newlin: “Ben,” a 40-ish, unexpectedly out of work animator on a disillusioned and absurd path back to the work force.

    The episodes are posted in a blog format — you can follow the series at www.disruptedliving.com — and take advantage of the subtle dischord of 3D characters on live-action background plates to drive home the disoriented hero’s narrative. From the Day 1 post: “… I’m suddenly unemployed as the entire northern California studio location was nuked from orbit. At first I was in shock, and felt a void in my life where my office and coworkers once were. Luckily, I was accepted at a new office, The Coffee Shop!”

    Nimble Collective, a Silicon Valley startup with the first cloud native animation platform, seeks to shake up the industry by giving creators the tools they need to produce animated projects without requiring the backing of a multi-million dollar studio setting. Disrupted is one of several animated films created as part of Nimble Collective’s Pilot Program incubator for first-time directors.

    Learn more about the series on its project page.

    Disrupted
    Disrupted
    Disrupted
    Disrupted
    Disrupted
    Disrupted
  • Netflix ‘Castlevania’ Teaser Has Risen…

    Netflix ‘Castlevania’ Teaser Has Risen…

    The first look at the eagerly awaited Castlevania animated series has finally arrived, and it seems like a safe bet to say that there will be blood when the show hits streaming on Netflix July 7. The first season will be comprised of four 30-minute episodes, packed with vampire-busting vengeance. A second season is already slated for 2018.

    Synopsis: Inspired by the classic video game series, Castlevania is a dark medieval fantasy following the last surviving member of the disgraced Belmont clan, trying to save Eastern Europe from extinction at the hand of Vlad Dracula Tepe himself. The animated series is written by best-selling author and comic book icon Warren Ellis and executive produced by Warren Ellis, Kevin Kolde, Fred Seibert and Adi Shankar.

    Castlevania
    Castlevania
  • ‘Ranger Rob’ Gets Season 2 Greenlight

    ‘Ranger Rob’ Gets Season 2 Greenlight

    Corus Entertainment’s Nelvana is celebrating a successful first season of original animated series Ranger Rob with a greenlight for season two, comprising 14 new episodes. Over the Fall 2016 season, the show ranked No. 1 on Treehouse in Canada with boys 2-11, and has also received top ratings on TF1 (France), Super RTL (Germany), Disney Channel (Australia), Nickelodeon (Italy), Canal Panda (Portugal), YLE/TV2 (Finland) and Hop! (Israel).

    Ranger Rob ignites a sense of adventure and discovery in kids, and we have been overwhelmed with how kids and families have embraced the series and joined in on the fun with us,” said Pam Westman, Head of Nelvana Enterprises. “The journey has only just begun and fans should get ‘Ranger Ready’ for lots of new and exciting outdoor adventures to come in season two.”

    The series follows 10-year-old ranger-in-training Rob around the Big Sky Park as he ziplines, swings, and snowboards, discovering and exploring all that the natural adventure park has to offer. Big Sky Park is a one-of-a kind place with every kind of outdoor environment within its borders and each episode of the series takes viewers on a new adventure, cultivating the spirit of exploration and curiosity, and inspiring kids to get outside to play and discover.

    Another exciting development will come in Spring 2018 when master toy licensee Imports Dragon launches a line of Ranger Rob toys. Developed for preschoolers, the line will reflect the adventure and outdoor action of the show with vehicles, plush and small figures. The range will launch in Canada and key European territories, followed by a broader roll-out in the Fall.

    Ranger Rob
    Ranger Rob