Animation Magazine

Author: Mercedes Milligan

  • François Lambert Rejoins Hybride as Director of Production, VFX Supe

    Hybride Technologies, a division of Ubisoft, has appointed visual effects veteran François Lambert as Director of Production for the Montreal studio, and VFX Supervisor. Lambert brings over 23 years of experience back to the company where he initially began his career in 1994.

    “We are pleased that François has accepted to take on this challenge with us,” said Pierre Raymond, President and Head of Operations at Hybride. “Over the years, François has carved out an enviable place for himself in the field of visual effects. His know-how will definitely be a valuable asset to our team and it is with great enthusiasm that we foresee his return to Hybride.”

    Lambert, a graduate of Jonquière college’s Arts and Technology of the Media program, started out at Hybride as an assistant, working up to Flame/Inferno Compositor and Compositing Supervisor. He was at Hybride for six years before moving on to Industrial Light & Magic, where he worked for some 14 years and racked up credits as a VFX Compositor and Compositing Supervisor including Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Ant-Man, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Star Trek, Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull, Iron Man, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End and Dead Man’s Chest, for which he won a VES Award for Outstanding Compositing in a Motion Picture.

    “I am extremely excited to rejoin the team I started my career with,” said Lambert. “Hybride is now one of the leading players in the industry and I am proud to join Quebec’s VFX pioneer that has been in the business for over 25 years!”

    François Lambert
    François Lambert
  • CBeebies’ ‘Go Jetters’ Gallops Off to China

    CBeebies’ ‘Go Jetters’ Gallops Off to China

    BBC Worldwide has inked an agreement with state broadcaster CCTV which will send the comedic CBeebies adventure series Go Jetters charging to Chinese screens. The 50-episodes show is set to debut on its kids’ channel CCTV-14 at the end of May, dubbed into Mandarin and subtitled in simplified Chinese.

    CCTV has the world’s largest audience of over 1.1 billion people, nearly 90% of China’s population.

    “We are excited that preschoolers in China will have access to Go Jetters, which has been very well-received and popular with preschoolers internationally.” said Kelvin Yau, General Manager, Greater China, BBCW. “It testifies to the quality of CBeebies programs to be both educational and entertaining, and a reflection of the trust Chinese audience has in our safe content.”

    Go Jetters will also be available via CCTV’s mobile streaming platforms, and feature in a CBeebies content block on BesTV (from IPTV) and the online iQIYI platforms in June, followed by launches on digital platforms Tencent and Youku in August.

    Produced in-house by CBeebies and BBCW, Go Jetters follows the adventures of four plucky heroes, Xuli, Kyan, Lars and Foz, as they travel the world with their teacher, mentor and friend, Ubercorn, a funky disco-grooving unicorn. Aimed at kids 4-6, Go Jetters combines music, cool gadgets and disco-dancing to introduce children to geography and culture.

    Go Jetters
    Go Jetters
  • ToonSeum’s Ka-Blam! 2017 to Honor Ed Piskor & Caitlin Rose Boyle

    ToonSeum’s Ka-Blam! 2017 to Honor Ed Piskor & Caitlin Rose Boyle

    Non-profit comic and cartoon art organization the ToonSeum will hold its annual fundraising event, Ka-Blam!, this Saturday, April 22 at the museum’s permanent site in Pittsburgh’s historic Cultural District. Originally slated for the Teamster Temple, Ka-Blam! has been moved to the ToonSeum to give attendees an opportunity to take in its current, historic exhibits: “From MLK to March: Civil Rights in Comics and Cartoons” and “Hermetically Sealed: The Art of Ed Piskor.”

    The theme for Ka-Blam! 2017 is “Cosmic Cause-Play,” tied in with sci-fi costumes, activities, and a pop-up showcase of the work of Joss Whedon — creator of Firefly and Buffy the Vampire Slayer and director of Avengers. Attendees are encouraged to come as their favorite sci-fi character.

    The event will also honor local cartoonists Ed Piskor and Caitlin Rose Boyle with its NEMO Award, bestowed on individuals for excellence in the cartoon arts. In addition to Piskor’s work being on display at Ka-Blam! with the “Hermetically Sealed” exhibit, attendees can purchase signed panels from the show and copies of his New York Times best-selling graphic novels Hip Hop Family Tree, and receive a free copy of a limited edition Hip Hop Family Tree comic book. Boyle, who is receiving a special Up-and-Coming Artist NEMO Award, is the artist behind popular ongoing comic book series Jonesy, from Boom! Studios.

    Past NEMO recipients include comic-book artists Bill Griffith and Carol Tyler, editorial and comic-strip artist Dick Locher, and comics artist, editorial cartoonist and artists’ rights advocate Jerry Robinson.

    The ToonSeum will also recognize long-time supporter Gregg Behr, Executive Director of The Grable Foundation, with its GERTIE Award for individuals exhibiting “great character.”

    Ka-Blam!’s VIP session will begin at 7 p.m. (tickets $75), with General Admission at 8 p.m. ($45). Group rates for VIP and GA are available. The ToonSeum is located at 945 Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh.

    Ka-Blam! 2017
    Ka-Blam! 2017
    Hip Hop Family Tree and Jonesy
    Hip Hop Family Tree and Jonesy
  • Lionsgate Serenades Home Audiences with ‘Rock Dog’ in May

    Lionsgate Serenades Home Audiences with ‘Rock Dog’ in May

    Viewers are invited to party with a new breed of rock star next month, as Lionsgate releases heartwarming family comedy Rock Dog on Digital HD on May 9, and Blu-ray (MSRP $34.99), DVD ($29.95) and On Demand on May 23. The music-driven adventure is written and directed by Oscar nominee Ash Brannon (Surf’s Up), from the original graphic novel by Zheng Jun.

    Rock Dog‘s rise to stardom begins when a radio falls from the sky and into the hands of a wide-eyed Tibetan Mastiff. Finding a new passion, the pup leaves his rural home to fulfill his dreams of becoming a musician and sets a series of unexpected events into motion. The film’s voice cast features J.K. Simmons, Luke Wilson, Eddie Izzard, Lewis Black and Kenan Thompson.

    The Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD releases include some fun bonus materials, including the music video for “Glorious” and four featurettes: “Finding the Fire: The Making of Rock Dog,” “Mic Check: Casting the Voices,” “A Rockin’ New World: Animating Rock Dog” and “Rock Dog and Roll: Exploring the Music.”

    Rock Dog
    Rock Dog

  • Annecy Sets First-Look at ‘Mazinger Z’ Reboot with Go Nagai

    The Annecy festival will play host to a first look at Toei Animation’s big screen resurrection of popular anime series Mazinger Z, with the original manga creator Go Nagai presenting a “Making of” session on the project on June 14 at 4 p.m. in the Grande Salle of the Bonlieu. The project was announced in February.

    “My beloved Mazinger Z is making a comeback. 45 years after its birth and 50 years since I started my career as a manga artist, this is truly a year to commemorate. I’m very glad that I’m able to bring Mazinger Z back. After all, it is beloved in different places all over the world. It’s my sincere wish to bring this movie to the global audience with gratitude to all the fans who’ve supported Mazinger Z all over the world through the years. Now, onward to the global stage!” said Go Nagai.

    The Mazinger Z manga and TV series began in 1972, weaving the story of a high school boy named Kōji Kabuto and his giant robot, Mazinger Z, as they fight the mad scientist Dr. Hell. The franchise has spawned four television series, at least nine movies, and several OVAs.

    More on the festival at www.annecy.org; check out a teaser for Mazinger Z on the official Japanese website: www.mazinger-z.jp.

    Mazinger Z
    Mazinger Z
    Go Nagai
    Go Nagai
  • ‘Bunnicula’ Takes a Bite out of DVD Shelves in June

    ‘Bunnicula’ Takes a Bite out of DVD Shelves in June

    The cuddly-wuddliest widdle vampire in the world is hopping to home video this summer, as Warner Bros. Home Entertainment prepares to release Bunnicula: Season 1, Part 1 on DVD (MSRP $19.97) and Digital HD on June 27. Based on the best-selling children’s books by James Howe, the Bunnicula animated series is produced by Warner Bros. Animation and currently airs on Cartoon Network.

    The 2D cartoon is a paranormal comedy that follows the adventures of Bunnicula, a vampire rabbit with an insatiable appetite for the fresh vegetable juice that boosts his powers. The peculiar pet is discovered and adopted by a 13-year-old girl named Mina when she moves into the mysterious Orlock Apartments in New Orleans. Bunnicula joins Mina’s laid-back dog Harold and paranoid cat Chester as part of the family, and takes it upon himself to protect Mina from all the crazy creatures and monsters drawn to his supernatural mojo.

    “The Bunnicula book series is a classic with a huge fan following. Stories with supernatural themes are now in high demand so it’s the perfect time to bring this wonderful series to television and onto DVD,” said Mary Ellen Thomas, VP Family & Animation Marketing. “Bunnicula blends mystery, comedy, the paranormal and cutting edge animation. It’s a fresh, original new series that’s not to be missed. We’re excited to offer it on DVD.”

    Bunnicula
    Bunnicula
  • Super 78 Appoints Pixar Vet Paul Washburn as Production Head

    Super 78 Appoints Pixar Vet Paul Washburn as Production Head

    Currently celebrating its 20th year, themed entertainment design and media studio Super 78 announces that Paul Washburn has joined up as Head of Production and Producer. In this post, Washburn will help oversee the day-to-day studio operations and interface with clients, vendors and brand partners (as well as artists, animators and technicians), among other duties.

    The hire was announced by CEO & Executive Producer Dina Benadon and President & Creative Director Brent Young. Washburn will be reporting to both execs.

    “As we look to the future and beyond the last 20 years of Super 78, we are thrilled to have Paul Washburn join our team and help expand the company into its next phase of growth,” said Benadon. “His unique creative skillset talent and boundless energy is a great compliment and we’re thrilled to have him onboard!”

    Washburn brings nearly a decade of feature animation experience to his new role, gained at Pixar, Sony and Paramount. Most recently, he partnered with other Pixar alums to work on development for Paramount Pictures’ upcoming animated feature Amusement Park, due out in 2018. Washburn also worked on the development team for Sony’s Smurfs: The Lost Village. Other key credits include Pixar’s Monsters University, The Good Dinosaur and summer release Cars 3.

    The new Head of Production also worked in creative capacities at diverse companies such as 180 Amsterdam, Kelton Global and Complex Media. Washburn hails from the Detroit area and maintains close ties with the creative community in his hometown.

    “Moving into the world of themed entertainment feels like a natural progression for me, especially because so many of Super 78’s attractions are media-based,” said Washburn. “It’s going to be a fantastic ride!”

    Super 78 has offices in Los Angeles and partners worldwide, and provides an expanding array of expertise in creating, producing and owning live-action, animated and graphic content for the global market. The studio has earned plenty of recognition and numerous accolades over the last two decades, including Emmy, THEA, VES, Telly and Create nominations and awards. (super78.com)

    Super 78
    Super 78
  • Daily News Bytes

    Daily News Bytes

    Available Now: Studio Ghibli’s ‘Ocean Waves’ on DVD
    GKIDS has issued the home entertainment release of the acclaimed studio’s “forgotten” film, directed by Tomomi Mochizuki. The poignant story is complemented on disc by a staff reunion featurette. (Trailer)

    Trailer for ‘Hanuman Da Damdaar’ Starring Salman Khan Proves Animation Isn’t Only for Kids
    Ruchi Narain’s mythological family film arrives in theaters in India May 19. The R.A.T. Film production also stars Javed Akhtar, Raveena Tandon, Vinay Pathak and Kunal Kemmu.

    This Beautiful Animation About Cheese Will Melt Your Heart
    LA/NYC studio Gentleman Scholar teamed with DDB and the Dairy Farmers of Canada to craft an artisanal spot about a dedicated cheesemaker and his little family. You won’t be sure whether you’re hungry or just really emotional by the end of it.

    Freeform Sets “Funday” Block with Disney Classics & More
    The weekend-long programming event kicks off Saturday, with toon fare including Gnomeo & Juliet, Pocahontas, Bolt, Mulan and Toy Story 2.

    Comic-Con Highlights to Air on Syfy
    Live from Comic-Con returns July 20-22 with late-nightly updates on all the happenings at the San Diego pop culture confab.

    Ocean Waves
    Ocean Waves
  • ‘Dream Defenders’ Expands into US with Amazon

    ‘Dream Defenders’ Expands into US with Amazon

    Singapore’s Tiny Island Production announces its award-winning series Dream Defenders has arrived on Amazon Prime Video, continuing its foray in the US market. The show initially debuted on 3Net (a Discover/Sony/IMAX joint venture) before being picked up by Hulu, Discovery Family and, last year, Kabillion.

    Dream Defenders has sold internationally to 80 countries, partnering with major broadcasters including Planeta Junior and Super RTL in Europe, and DreamWorks TV Asia — which covers 19 countries in the region.

    The show’s US expansion will be bolstered on licensing and new platform fronts. Splash Entertainment and Popeye’s restaurants are teaming up to launch a special promotional kids’ meal, which includes a limited edition 3D Viewer with Dream Defenders scenes in stereo 3D, plus a 3D “Make-A-Scene” pack that lets kids play out scenarios with heroes and villains on 3D Lenticular backgrounds. And in collaboration with Presence Pictures, a recently launched Dream Defenders VR app for iPhone brings users right into the action. (App video here.)

    “Imagine, after watching an episode on TV. Once you don your VR set, you can continue to explore the adventure in the show’s Dream Worlds,” said David Kwok, CEO of Tiny Island Prod. “And it’s not just a passive 360 video. You can actually walk, run and even jump during the experience. Now you can fight the nightmare monsters side by side with Zane and Zoey, where dangers could come from any direction; not just from the front but also from the left, right, behind, above or below. You can shoot at enemies by staring at them without pressing any buttons. And you don’t even need any fancy expensive equipment to dive right in. All you need is your smart phone and goggles that cost less than $20, or even the Google cardboard. The iPhone app also has a function that allows you to play without needing goggles.”

    Tiny Island is working no augmenting the VR experience with new features, and is seeking expanded licensing and merchandising opportunities for Dream Defenders. Talks are currently underway with media groups in China to grow the brand and its VR presence there.

    Dream Defenders
    Dream Defenders
    Dream Defenders 3D
    Dream Defenders 3D
  • Trailer: DreamWorks’ ‘Spirit Riding Free’ Races to Netflix

    Trailer: DreamWorks’ ‘Spirit Riding Free’ Races to Netflix

    DreamWorks Animation Television has released the trailer for its new Netflix original series Spirit Riding Free, which makes its streaming debut on May 5. (You can read all about it in the May issue of Animation Magazine!) The brand-new story is inspired by the Oscar-nominated feature Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002), which introduced audiences around the world to a resilient mustang voiced by Matt Damon.

    Spirit Riding Free follows a gutsy 12-year-old girl named Lucky (voiced by Amber Frank) who befirends a wild mustang she names Spirit after moving to “the middle of nowhere” with her parents. With her best friends Pru (Sydney Park) and Abigail (Bailey Gambertoglio) — and their horses — along for the ride, Lucky explores a world of limitless possibilities for adventure. Together they learn to push their limits, harness the power of friendship, and discover what it really means to be free.

    The voice cast also includes Darcy Rose Byrnes as Maricela, Nolan North as Jim, and Kari Wahlgren as Aunt Cora. The series is executive produced by Aury Wallington (Sex and the City, Heroes, Veronica Mars), with co-EP Jim Schumann (Robot & Monster, Monsters vs. Aliens).

    Spirit Riding Free
    Spirit Riding Free
  • Millimages Series Sweep MENA with Bulk Deals

    Millimages Series Sweep MENA with Bulk Deals

    Paris-based animation producer Millimages has sold 400 half-hours of its popular series to major broadcasters and VOD platforms across the Middle East & North Africa.

    Pan-MENA Free TV channel MBC 3 has picked up two seasons of Corneil and Bernie (104 x 33 min.), stop-motion comedy Paper Port (26 x 11) and 3D CG non-dialogue program Bugged (52 x 7). On top of the linear deal, MBC’s VOD service has picked up more than 120 half-hours from the Millimages catalogue.

    Pay TV pan-regional channel Al Jazeera (for Baraem TV and Jeem TV) has snagged four best-selling titles: Emmy-nominated Molang (104 x 3’30”), the brand-new CG adventure Pirata & Capitano (52 x 11) and the latest seasons of 64 Zoo Lane (52 x 11) and Mouk (42 x 11).

    And SVOD service E-Junior (from Etisalat) rounds out this raft of deals with a seen-program pick-up, totaling some 100 commercial half-hours.

    “MENA is a new Eldorado for the digital market. There is a huge demand for 3D CGI content in this region. Buyers look for high quality programs to fill in their large kids slots,” commented Millimages Regional Sales Manager Lise Cosentino.

    Pirata & Capitano
    Pirata & Capitano

  • ‘Stone Quackers’ Creator Ben Jones Named Bento Box Creative Director

    Bento Box Entertainment (Bob’s Burgers, Legends of Chamberlain Heights) has tapped Ben Jones as its new Creative Director, effective immediately. Based at the company’s LA headquarters, Jones will oversee the newly unified department combining creative development and special projects division, which services networks, studios and brands across platforms.

    “Ben is an amazingly talented artist who has created genre defying art across media platforms. We are very excited to have his creative leadership for our team to bring to our partners and clients,” said Scott Greenberg, CEO and co-founder of Bento Box. “The producing expertise that he has developed, along with his curatorial skills and in depth knowledge of the art world will have an immediate and essential impact on our development of new projects, as well as the creative work we do extending these properties beyond the screen.”

    Jones was most recently creative director, showrunner and producer at FoxADHD, where he created the animated series Stone Quackers for FXX. He also created and executive produced Neon Knome for Adult Swim and Problem Solverz for Cartoon Network. His distinct visual direction has also been called on for music video collaborations with Beck, Katy Perry, Pavement and MIA — he also co-creative directed Miley Cyrus’ “Bangerz” tour.

    In the brand-building sphere, Jones has been commissioned by the likes of Mercedes-Benz, Adidas, Nike, Google and Target for animated video art for a variety of installations and platforms. He was also a founding member of Rhode Island art collective Paper Rad.

    Bento Box Entertainment
    Bento Box Entertainment
  • Sony YAY! Channel to Anchor on Original Indian Toons

    Sony YAY! Channel to Anchor on Original Indian Toons

    In India, regional kids’ channels continue the push to program more homegrown animated series, and this trend continues with the launch of Sony YAY! — live as of April 18. Branded as the “Destination for Unlimited Happiness,” the channel will target young viewers from 2 to 14 years old with a quartet of original animated series from local studios.

    The quartet of 52 x 22 min. series is Guru Aur Bhole, Sab Jholmaal Hai, Prince Jai aur Dumdaar Viru and Paap-O-Meter, which are wholly in-house developed and produced by prominent studios Cosmos-Maya in Mumbai), Toonz Animation (Trivandrum), Phoebus Media (Pune) and Ssoftoons Entertainment (Kolkata).

    Guru Aur Bhole is an animated musical comedy about best friend Guru and Bhole, who ue the former’s magic music and the latter’s dance powers to escape sticky situations. Each episode features an original song performed by Amit kumar and written by Bollywood lyricist Sameer Anjaan.

    Sab Jholmaal Hai is a madcap comedy centered on an odd group of pets — two mischievous cats, a talking parrot and a high-strung watchdog — who get into trouble when their human is away.

    Prince Jai aur Dumdaar Viru is an action-comedy in a timeless setting that blends traditions and modernity. The show follows a Prince and a commoner who are best friends and embark on adventures that pit their strength and smarts against the Prince’s scheming minister.

    Paap-O-Meter is a distinctive comedy about ghosts, and particularly about the Bhoot boss and his two assistants, Thakela and Pakela, who are sent to Planet Earth to stabilize and increasingly chaotic situation with the help of their special “Paap-O-Meter” detector.

    Available in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu, Sony YAY! plans to fill 80% of its programming slate with local productions. YAY! will also become the home of the Animax anime block, as Sony shutters that separate channel.

    YAY! recently announced Leena Lele Dutta as its head of business, and action hero Tiger Shroff as its brand ambassador.

    “When we carried our research in 10 to 15 metro and mini-metro cities, we observed that there was a lack of ‘desi’ content,” Animation Xpress reports Dutta saying. “We also realised that all our shows should have a ‘masti’ quotient in them, should spread happiness and must have a ‘comedy plus’ element. When I say comedy plus, I mean along with comedy, each show should explore a different genre in comedy. It should have elements like action comedy, ghost comedy or pet stories. We also didn’t want it to be just TV. So, we are creating a whole ecosystem where promotional campaigns will be taking place wherever kids are present.”

    (L-R) Sony YAY!’s brand ambassador Tiger Shroff, head of business Leena Lele Dutta, and Sony Pictures Networks CEO N.P. Singh.
    (L-R) Sony YAY!’s brand ambassador Tiger Shroff, head of business Leena Lele Dutta, and Sony Pictures Networks CEO N.P. Singh.
  • Clip: Damian vs. Deathstroke in ‘Teen Titans: The Judas Contract’

    Clip: Damian vs. Deathstroke in ‘Teen Titans: The Judas Contract’

    Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has issued a new clip from the next DC Universe Original Movie, Teen Titans: The Judas Contract. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, the animated feature arrives on Blu-ray Combo pack and DVD tomorrow, April 18.

    The clip teases a high-stakes showdown between young hero Robin and villainous adversary Deathstroke. Stuart Allen reprises his role as Damian Wayne/Robin for the film, and the suave assassin Deathstroke was voiced by the late Miguel Ferrer. More info on The Judas Contract in our previous coverage.

    Teen Titans: The Judas Contract
    Teen Titans: The Judas Contract
    Teen Titans: The Judas Contract
    Teen Titans: The Judas Contract
    Teen Titans: The Judas Contract
    Teen Titans: The Judas Contract
  • PBS KIDS Sets New ‘Daniel Tiger’ Special for May 8

    PBS KIDS Sets New ‘Daniel Tiger’ Special for May 8

    An all-new one-hour special from the Emmy-nominated preschool series Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood is heading for PBS KIDS, with “Tiger Family Trip” set to premiere Monday, May 8. Just in time for the summer vacation season, the adventure follows Daniel on his first big road trip to visit Grandpere. With guidance from Mom Tiger, Daniel experiences new sights and activities and learns about the many exciting things to do on a family trip.

    “We’re thrilled families across the country will be able to join us on ‘Tiger Family Trip’ as Daniel deals with new and exciting experiences,” said Lesli Rotenberg, SVP and General Manager, Children’s Media and Education, PBS. “As research continues to show the positive effects Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood has on children’s social and emotional learning, we hope this one-hour special will offer helpful road trip strategies for families on the go.”

    “Tiger Family Trip” will repeat throughout the week of May 8 on PBS KIDS and the PBS KIDS 24/7 channel and live stream, and will be available on pbskids.org and the PBS KIDS Video App. There will also be new related content in the Daniel Tiger for Parents app, books (Tiger Family Trip and Going to See Grandpere now on Amazon), music collection (Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Travel Album now on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play & Spotify), and DVD featuring the special and other adventures coming May 16 from PBS Distribution.

    Following the special, new episodes will premiere — “The Lemonade Stand / Mad at the Beach” on May 9 (streaming May 12) and “Daniel Feels Two Feelings / The Neighborhood Carnival” on May 11 (streaming May 19).

    Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood is created by Angela Santomero — who is co-Executive Producer for Out of the Blue Enterprises with Kevin Morrison of The Fred Rogers Company, and Vince Commisso of award-winning animation studio 9 Story Media Group.

    Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood
    Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood

  • FuseFX Launches Virtual Reality Outfit with Buzz Aldrin Project

    Award-winning visual effects house FuseFX (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., American Horror Story, Luke Cage) has launched a spinoff virtual reality venture, FuseVR, which will create VFX assets for VR projects, including 3D sets, digital environments and CG characters. The new shop will be headed up by Bud Myrick as VR Supervisor and John Heller as VR Creative Director.

    “We expect VR to become a major component of our media experience and we want to be a part of it,” commented FuseFX President David Altenau. “Our workflow adapts readily to VR and we have a skilled team that is enthusiastic about taking on the challenge. There is a big need in VR production for digital assets and environments, and no one does that better than we do.”

    FuseVR’s first mission is providing VFX services for Buzz Aldrin: Cycling Pathways to Mars, which recently debuted to wide acclaim at SXSW. The project features the legendary astronaut of the Gemini 12 and Apollo 11 missions presenting his vision for sending humans to the Red Planet. FuseVR artists created a number of digital sets and environments, including Aldrin’s proposed spacecraft, a moon base for “vapor mining” and a 360° view of the Milky Way.

    FuseVR was contracted for the Buzz Aldrin project by VR production company 8i. The studio developed the lunar mining base from concepts suggested by Dr. Andrew Aldrin, Buzz Aldrin’s son. The Martian surface was created from photogrammetry data captured in Morocco, where NASA conducts Martian surface simulations.The most challenging effect, appearing at the climax of the piece, places the viewer in the center of a rapidly expanding Milky Way galaxy.

    “The visuals were designed with VR in mind,” explained Myrick. “They include environments that can only be adequately experienced in virtual reality. It’s a moment of wonder … People are wowed by this piece. It’s an outstanding project, particularly for our first foray in VR.”

    Bud Myrick is a 25-year VFX vetaran whose VR experience includes Escape the Living Dead, notable for its groundbreaking use of moving cameras and feature-quality effects. He previously worked for 15 years at Rhythm & Hues, contributing to VFX work on Serenity, Men in Black II, X-Men 2 and Around the World in 80 Days.

    John Heller is also a Rhythm & Hues alum — his credits while a VFX Supervisor at the studio include Big Miracle, Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief and The Bourne Legacy. As an independent, he worked on films such as A Walk in the Woods and Secret in Their Eyes.

    Bud Myrick / John Heller
    Bud Myrick / John Heller
    Buzz Aldrin: Cycling Pathways to Mars
    Buzz Aldrin: Cycling Pathways to Mars
    Buzz Aldrin: Cycling Pathways to Mars
    Buzz Aldrin: Cycling Pathways to Mars
  • Daily News Bytes

    Daily News Bytes

    Disney Tweets ‘Pokemon Sun and Moon’ Premiere Date
    The latest series in the smash-hit pocket monster franchise will bow on Disney XD in the US on Saturday, May 13 at 9 a.m.

    Animated Gorillaz TV Series in Development
    Band founders Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett let it drop in a Q Magazine interview that they are working on a 10-episode package. Hopefully they’re not just tilting at windmills.

    Living Their Dream
    The Star profiles rising stars Malaysian animation stars Usamah Zaid Yasin, co-founder and MD of Wau Animation (Ejen Ali), and Goh Chee Seng, co-founder of Illusionist Animation Studio (Kingsglaive).

    Joyce to Revive Moonbot Studios, Stay in Shreveport
    As key creatives depart to head a new venture, founder William Joyce is determined to hold down the fort: “I intend to bring Moonbot back to its original purpose. Original books, feature animation and television that can delight a worldwide audience.” (Video starts at page launch.)

    New Disney Animation Part of Magic Kindgom “Happyily Ever After” Fireworks Show
    Walt Disney World is debuting a brand new evening extravaganza no May 12, which will feature a series of animated sequences projected on Cinderella Castle. (Video starts at page launch.)

    Pokemon Sun and Moon
    Pokemon Sun and Moon
  • ‘Oddbods’ Season 1 Launches on Netflix

    ‘Oddbods’ Season 1 Launches on Netflix

    International hit CG comedy series Oddbods has arrived on Netflix, with season one of the long-form version of the series available for streaming in a worldwide rollout. The show is produced by One Animation in Singapore, and recently won the Pulcinella Award for Best Kids Series at Cartoons on the Bay.

    Oddbods follows the antics of seven colorful characters — Zee, Fuse, Bubbles, Slick, Pogo, Jeff and Newt, each with its own specific personality trait, such as Fuse’s legendary bad temper and Jeff’s meticulous attention to detail. Despite their differences, they all love to play pranks and drive each other crazy.

    The series has won over an international audience that spans age groups. A collection of Oddbods shorts has already racked up nearly 2 billion views on social media in addition to broadcasting in over 100 countries.

    Oddbods season one is available now on Netflix in North America, Latin America, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Season two will begin streaming in all territories later this summer.

    Oddbods
    Oddbods

  • Zoic Ups VFX Supe Jeffrey Baksinski to Creative Director

    Visual effects house Zoic Studios has promoted Emmy-nominated VFX supervisor Jeffrey Baksinski to Creative Director. With continued series growth across all three of the company’s offices (Culver City, CA, New York City & Vancouver, BC), the new post gives Baksinski greater creative oversight alongside partners Chris Jones and Andrew Orloff.

    Baksinski’s 30-plus years of post-production experience includes film and video editing, set supervision and visual effects. His resume includes high-profile feature projects such as The Fifth Element, Titanic, X-Men 2 and virtual production design on Avatar. Baksinski joined Zoic in 2011, where his recent VFX Supervisor credits include The Get Down, Hand of God, Timeless, Blindspot, The Exorcist, Blacklist, Castle and Six, as well as DFX roles on The Grey, Killing Kennedy, Gangster Squad and Lawless. He earned a 2016 Emmy nomination for his work on the pilot of Amazon’s original series The Man in the High Castle.

    “Jeff is one of those rare few that can be counted on in every way a company like ours might require, be it creative leadership, project strategy or business acumen,” said Executive Creative Director and Co-Founder Chris Jones. “I’d go into battle with him any day, and Zoic is lucky to have him as part of our creative leadership team.”

    “The modern audience has developed a pretty good eye, demanding higher quality, unique visual effects from their television shows. I’m extremely lucky to be working with Chris and Andrew through this transition in our industry as they’ve built a long-standing reputation for high volume, high quality work,” added Baksinski. “With our top notch supervisors and crew, we’re going to continue to push the boundaries of television effects, and I am grateful to be a part of it.”

    Based in Los Angeles, Baksinski started out in VFX at Digital Domain, later moving on to help build Cinesite Hollywood. He then launched his own company, Furious FX. After contributing to the world’s-first virtual production technology used on Avatar, he returned to Digital Domain as Director of Digital Studio, running the features department and overseeing artists. Baksinski was most recently a technical designer and implemented the stereo conversion pipeline at Prime Focus before joining Zoic.

    Zoic Studios
    Zoic Studios
  • Tubi TV to Stream New Anime Slate from VIZ, Including Complete ‘Bleach’

    Tubi TV to Stream New Anime Slate from VIZ, Including Complete ‘Bleach’

    Tubi TV, the largest free Internet TV network with no subscription fee requirement, is growing its anime library with a slate of new titles thanks to a partnership with VIZ Media. Fresh offerings will include all 366 episodes of Bleach as well as fan favorites Hunter X Hunter, Death Note, Bakuman and Naruto, available to viewers in the US and Canada in the original Japanese with English subtitles.

    The agreement helps build further momentum for Tubi TV and bulk up its library, which already includes Oscar-winning movies and Emmy-winning TV series that span genres from comedy, drama, kids’ fare, classics and horror, to niche categories like Korean, Chinese and British TV shows.

    “Our partnership with VIZ Media to stream all 366 episodes of Bleach helps solidify our reputation as a top destination for anime fans,” said Thomas Ahn-Hicks, Tubi TV Co-founder and Head of Strategy and Business Development. “As we continue to snowball our content—in not only anime, but also across a wide spectrum of genres—we’re seeing consumers increasingly flock to Tubi TV as they cut the cord, find content not available on their subscription VOD services, and engage with our unsurpassed collection of free, premium streaming TV and movies.”

    Bleach, based on the globally popular manga created by Tite Kubo, is a supernatural adventure series about a young man named Ichigo Kurosaki who was born with the ability to see ghosts. When his family is attacked by a malevolent lost soul called a Hollow, he takes up the mantle of a Soul Reaper and dedicates his life to protecting the innocent and helping tortured spirits find peace.

    Bleach
    Bleach