The creative gurus of Blue Sky Studios and 20th Century Fox have traveled from the frozen wastes of the Ice Age and through the sweltering rainforests of Rio to a new colorful locale for the animated feature adaptation Ferdinand. Journey to the adventure’s setting in sunny Spain with the first trailer below, and meet the locals through the official poster and cast-character side-by-sides! Ferdinand charges into theaters on December 15.
Directed by Carlos Saldanha (Rio) and inspired by the beloved book The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson, the CG feature tells the story of Ferdinand, a giant bull with a big heart. After being mistaken for a dangerous beast, he is captured and taken from his home. Determined to return to his family, he assembles a misfit team for the ultimate adventure.
Ferdinand features the voices of John Cena, Kate McKinnon, Gina Rodriguez, Daveed Diggs, Gabriel Iglesias, Bobby Cannavale, David Tennant, Anthony Anderson, Flula Borg, Sally Phillips, Boris Kodjoe, Jerrod Carmichael, Raúl Esparza, Karla Martínez and Miguel Ángel Silvestre.
Following the success of the cinema events for Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke, GKIDS and Fathom Events are teaming up to bring a series of anime classics to US theatergoers throughout 2017 with Studio Ghibli Fest. The six-film monthly series will feature more revered films from Studio Ghibli, as well as a selection of new releases from GKIDS and an ongoing short film mini-festival.
The cartoon celebration kicks off with Miyazaki’s iconic family fantasy My Neighbor Totoro (1988) on Sunday, June 25 and Monday, June 26. This will be followed from other Miyazaki gems: Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989) on July 23 & 24, Castle in the Sky (1986) on August 27 & 28, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984) on September 24 & 25, Howl’s Moving Castle on November 26 & 27 (2004), and a special run of Oscar winner Spirited Away (2001) in time for Halloween, on October 29 & 30.
GKIDS and Fathom are also partnering to present the US premiere release of of Mune: Guardian of the Moon — a delightful children’s fantasy flick from the producers of The Little Prince. The award-winning film from directors Alexandre Heboyan and Benoît Philippon centers on a little faun who is given the weighty responsibility of Guardian of the Moon. Two additional new release titles are being planned for the companies’ 2017 collaboration lineup. All GKIDS events will include the ongoing short animation festival, GKIDS MiniFest.
“We are thrilled to be expanding our successful partnership with Fathom to bring Studio Ghibli and other GKIDS films to movie theaters nationwide,” said GKIDS CEO Eric Beckman. “Together we are creating an exciting and unique cinema event experience for Studio Ghibli fans to come celebrate their favorite films, while introducing wide new audiences to some of the most amazing animated films of all time.”
Sign up for exclusive early ticket access through ghiblifest.com — a complete list of theater locations will be available to the general public on April 28. Information on the event series will also be available on fathomevents.com.
The second edition of the biennial Irish Animation Awards took place in Dingle over the weekend at a ceremony in The Skellig Hotel. The well-attended event included representatives from international companies Amazon Prime, Disney, the BBC and Netflix, and many local animation studios.
“It is fantastic to see so many in attendance at the awards which demonstrates the growth which the Irish animation industry has experienced. We Irish have a passion for storytelling and the arts – a culture which is ideally suited for the creativity of world-class animation studios and the quality of the award nominees shows this,” said Paul Young, Industry Chair for Animation Ireland.
The Best Irish Feature Film or Special prize went to Cartoon Saloon’s Song of the Sea, directed by Tomm Moore. Inspired by the Irish myths of the selkie, the film has previously been honored at the European Film Awards, Irish Film and Television Awards and international festivals as well as being nominated for the Oscar, multiple Annie Awards and the Cesar for best animated feature.
The 2017 Murakami award was presented to Aidan Hickey, one of the first animators to work in Ireland. Hickey graduated from NCAD with a degree in painting in 1966, and worked on an animation contract with RTE into the 1990s before pursuing his career in studios across Europe, the US and Asia. As an animator, scriptwriter, director and teacher, Hickey is one of the country’s most respected industry professionals.
The 2017 Irish Animation Awards were sponsored by RTÉjr, the Irish Film Board, Animation Skillnet and Philip Lee.
Irish Animation Awards winners:
Best Animated Preschool Series Lily’s Driftwood Bay (Sixteen South Production Team)
Kid’s Choice Award for Best Animated Series Roy (JAM Media Production Team)
Best Animated Short Film Second to None (Vincent Gallagher)
Best Writer for Preschool Animation Chris Nee & Kent Redeker, Doc McStuffins “Welcome to McStuffinsville”
Best Writer for an Animated Series Mark Hodkinson, Roy “ROY 2.0”
Best VFX as Part of an Animated TV Series or Film Go Jetters (Rob Fletcher, Mario Bortas & Rodrigo Rocha)
Best Design/Art Direction Puffin Rock (Lily Bernard & Stefano Scapolan)
Best Director of an Animated TV Series Alan Shannon, Little Roy
Best Animation The Day Henry Met a Camera (Gilly, Susan Broe & Andrew Dawson)
Best Music/Sound Design Danger Mouse (Dominic Lawrence, Sol O’Carroll & Andy Kirwan)
Best Irish Feature Film or Special Song of the Sea (Tomm Moore)
Danger MouseGo JettersSecond to NoneSong of the Sea
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has launched the 44th Student Academy Awards competition, the winners of which will be eligible for Oscars consideration. This year’s race features expanded international eligibility. Online submissions via FilmFreeway are open until Thursday, June 1, 2017.
This year’s Student Academy Awards ceremony will take place October 12 at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.
The SAAs now offer two options for students at non-US film schools to participate. In addition to CILECT member schools submitting one student film per international film school category, international students may now enter films that qualify through festivals recognized by the awards’ Executive Committee.
The US competition is open to all full-time undergraduate and graduate students whose films are made within the curricular structure of an eligible accredited institution.
Complete rules, the SAA qualifying film festivals list, and a link to the online submission platform are available at www.oscars.org/saa.
Previous SAA winners have gone on to receive 57 Oscar nominations, and have won or shared 10 awards. This year, 2016 Student Academy Award winner Daphne Matziaraki’s Gold Medal project 4.1 Miles was nominated in the Documentary Short Subject category. Past winners include animation luminaries Pete Docter, John Lasseter and Trey Parker.
AT&T will be giving DIRECTV customers an exclusive early look at Spanish-Canadian CG feature, Ozzy, ahead of its theatrical debut on April 21. The English language voice cast features Jeff Foxworthy (The Smurfs), Rob Schneider (Bedtime Stories), comedian Frankie Quinones and newcomer Lexi Walker.
“Charming and heart-warming, Ozzy is a tale filled with loveable characters and hilarious comedy,” said Hanny Patel, VP, AT&T Video Marketing. “Our customers can tune in to our latest family feature before it hits theaters.”
The film centers on Ozzy, a loveable beagle whose pampered life is turned upside down when his family leaves him in what seems to be an amazing canine spa, Blue Creek, before going on a long vacation. But the spa’s perfect facade hides a bitter reality, and Blue Creek is really a jail for dogs inhabited by tough street mongrels, overseen by the villainous owner Mr. Robbins. With the help of his new friends Chester, Fronky and Doc, Ozzy must find a strength he never knew he had in order to get home.
Ozzy was produced by Spain’s Arcadia Motion Pictures, Capitán Araña, and Pachacamac, and Canada’s Tangent Animation, and was released in Spain and the UK last October. It was directed by Alberto Rodriguez and Nacho La Casa.
The family film is available to watch now on DIRECTV CINEMA with a 72-hour rental in HD ($10.99) or SD ($9.99).
Kyiv-based MK Media Group and its production arm MeetMinds Studio will be presenting two new titles at this year’s MIPTV market: 2D animated edutainment series TerraByte, and puppetry show Mouse Science. MK Media Group has recently completed a rebranding initiative, complete with a fresh website at mkmediagroup.tv. The multi-level company was launched in 2008 and since built a reputation by distributing content in more than 150 countries and creating 15-plus original productions.
“We are sure that will surprise everyone at MIPTV this April as our two new projects for kids already have huge amount of positive feedbacks from kids TV channels from everywhere. Broadcasters and distributors from USA, Canada, China and Poland are ready to discuss terms and condition of further cooperation,” said Yana Sereda of MK’s PR & Strategic Communication Department. “Unfortunately we cannot divulge their names as it is commercial information, nevertheless it is expected to sign at least two significant deals on broadcasting and distribution with world well known media players. Furthermore, during MIP Markets on April this year we also hope to expand our commercial and creative ties and find more possible partners for coproduction and distribution.”
TerraByte
TerraByte (13 x 11 min.) brings the familiarity of the digital age into a new light for children as it follows a group of characters who live within a virtual world. Each inhabitant has their own unique talents and specific functions, and the main characters are brave guardians tasked with protecting the global information network from malicious viruses, hackers, and annoying spam.
Mouse Science
Mouse Science (13 x 11 min.) is a madcap interactive puppet show for kids 4-7, which centers on two highly educated and humorous laboratory mice and their dog assistant who endeavor to answer questions young viewers have about the world. In each episode, the puppets (enthusiastic professor Quiz and reckless lab assistant Chasy) together with a live dog (Hertz, who is also a part-time engineer) answer a question sent in by a child through video message or email, while also introducing rules of safety.
VIDEO: ‘Leap!’ – “Chicken Wings” Clip
Check out the latest snapshot of the new ballet-themed adventure, which sees Elle Fanning and Nat Wolff’s characters execute a daring escape from comedy legend Mel Brooks. The Weinstein Co. releases Leap! in theaters nationwide on April 21.
Toei Deals for ‘Dragon Ball,’ ‘Sailor Moon’
The classic anime series continue to go Super Saiyan (and super Senshi?) across Europe with a new raft of merchandise, exhibition and other partners for the hit shows — plus, a new Digimon videogame.
Creative Spotlight: Yoh Yoshinari
Brandon Teteruck takes a hard look at the Little Witch Academia director and veteran animation artist. Includes awesome eye-candy artwork!
A third season of Thunderbirds Are Go! Is rocketing onto Amazon Prime Video on April 21, and if the action-packed, heart-thumping music-infused trailer is anything to go by, fans are in for quite a ride. The reinvention of the classic puppet series follows the Tracy brothers on their near-impossible rescue missions for International Rescue.
Buckle up and check it out below!
Season 3 synopsis: When disaster strikes, International Rescue answers the call – and it’s Thunderbirds Are Go! From their hidden island base in the South Pacific, the five Tracy brothers pilot remarkable, cutting-edge Thunderbird vehicles from the depths of the oceans to the highest reaches of space, all for one purpose: to help others in need. In this upcoming season, International Rescue faces their toughest challenge yet, The Mechanic, who uses his “mecha machines” to create chaos.
Produced by ITV Studios and Pukeko Pictures in collaboration with Weta Workshop, the series features a unique mix of CGI animation combined with live-action model sets.
Viacom has announced that Jim Gianopulos has been appointed the new Chairman and CEO of its Paramount Pictures, effective April 3. The former Fox head is stepping in for Brad Grey, who announced his plans to vacate the positions in February.
“Paramount is one of Hollywood’s truly iconic studios, and the role it has played in shaping the entertainment industry cannot be overstated. Looking ahead, I see a strong opportunity to position the studio for success by creating valuable franchise opportunities, developing fresh creative ventures, and mining Viacom’s deep brand portfolio to bring exciting new narratives to life. I am eager to get to work with Bob [Bakish] and the rest of the Viacom and Paramount teams to ensure Paramount continues to deliver rich, powerful films and television programming for all audiences.”
Gianopulos will oversee Paramount’s worldwide film and TV operations, and is tasked with developing a new strategy for the studio — including development new content, bolstering Paramount’s release slate with titles co-branded with other Viacom brands (like Nickelodeon), and growing the studio’s global footprint. He will report to Bob Bakish, President and CEO of Viacom.
“Jim is a remarkably talented executive with all the tools — strategic vision, strong business expertise, deep industry and creative relationships — to bring films to life that resonate throughout culture and deliver commercial results,” said Bakish. “I’m thrilled we will have the benefit of his experience, savvy and global expertise as we lay out a clear path forward and begin the next chapter in Paramount’s storied history.”
Up until last September, Gianopulos had served as Chairman and CEO of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation for 16 years. He had previously served as President of Fox International (1994-2000) and Presented of International and Pay TV for Fox (1992-1994). Gianopulos also sits or holds office on various corporate and charitable organization boards and committees, including News Corp., The Motion Picture and Television Fund, KCRW (National Public Radio), Hulu Japan and the USC Entertainment Technology Committee.
Munich-based distribution and production company Studio 100 Media has inked a deal with AMC Networks International – Central Europe which will bring its CG animated series Nils Holgersson and The Wild Adventures of Blinky Bill to multiple territories across the region. Both series are set to be completed this summer, and will premiere on AMCNI’s Minimax starting in June.
AMCNI-CE picked up exclusive rights to distribute the two shows via cable, satellite, and terrestrial television. The agreement covers territories including Hungary, Romania, Moldova, Czech Republic, Slovakia, ex-Yugoslavia including Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Croatia and Slovenia.
“We are delighted to continue our long-term cooperation with AMC Networks International – Central Europe, which are already home to our CGI shows Vic the Viking and Heidi as well as our live action mystery series Ghost Rockers,” said Martin Krieger, Head of Global Distribution at Studio 100 Media. “Nils Holgersson is a well-known international brand and we are sure that the CGI version will be as successful as the 2D animation. Moreover, Blinky Bill‘s first episodes have already aired in Australia and this makes us very confident for the international roll-out of the series.”
9 Story Distribution International has acquired three children’s series for global distribution, and will present them at MIPTV. This includes animated series Vivi, created by Oscar-winning director Alê Abreu and produced by Mixer Films, and TéléQuébec’s My Friend Bubbles shorts; as well as Emmy-winning live-action show Ruby’s Studio, which featured animated elements and segments and is produced by The Mother Company.
Acquired from Brazil-based Mixer Films, Abreu’s Vivi centers on the titular seven-year-old girl and her friends, Backpack and Flashy, who embark on magical journeys to fantastic new places while learning a about the world — and ultimately, about themselves. 9 Story has picked up all international rights to the 26 x 11-min. series, excluding Latin America, where it will air on Discovery Kids.
Produced by TéléQuébec, My Friend Bubbles is a series of shorts (52 x 1 min.) that promotes the socio-emotional and cognitive development of toddlers. The animated series stars Bubbles, a charming six‐year‐old boy, and his playful kangaroo friend. Each episode brings new discoveries and fun‐filled voyages to worlds where poetry, surprises and make‐believe come alive. 9 Story has acquired worldwide rights to the series, excluding French Canada.
Created and produced by The Mother Company, Ruby’s Studio (4 x 45 min. and 4 x 28 min.) is designed to provide social and emotional tools to preschoolers to help with issues such as big feelings, conflict with friends, sibling rivalry and personal safety. The show has won over 25 parenting and media awards, including an Emmy in 2016, and received 5 out of 5 stars from Common Sense Media. In addition to the full length episodes, there are also over 60 shorts available. Ruby’s Studio is currently streaming on Netflix (SVOD, English territories) and Amazon (TVOD, worldwide), and is available on American Public Television networks. 9 Story has acquired all rights to the series excluding English speaking SVOD and select US rights.
France’s Millimages has picked up worldwide distribution rights to Kemy Expedition, a new 52 x 11-min. series combining 3D CGI and live action for kids 4-9, from G&G Entertainment in Korea. Millimages will be presenting the show at MIPTV.
Kemy Expedition follows the inquisitive Kemy and his friends on their great expedition through a mysterious, hidden cave connected to a secret base where Kemy explores a documentary world with his a magic shuttle. This way, he discovers the lives of wild animals, visits extraordinary places, and learns about the world.
“We are very happy to add this series to our catalogue which already has great edutainment value. Kemy Expedition will provide children with a lot of answers to their questions about animals and nature while having fun,” said Millimages Commercial Director Grace Lee. “Which animal can see the best at night? Which animal has the best sense of smell? Which tree is the tallest? Where is the most amazing place in the world? How can we explain (the Aurora borealis)? Etc. I am sure it will be a great program for co-viewing too. Especially for parents who don’t have all the answers.”
Online anime and manga destination Crunchyroll has announced the opening of ticket sales for the inaugural Anime Movie Night, taking place April 26 in more than 200 theaters across the US, through animemovienight.com. The quarterly anime-in-theaters programs are the result of a partnership announced in January between Crunchyroll and cinema advertising company Screenvision Media, in association with cinema events creator KAOS Connect.
The first event screening will take place April 26 and will include a double feature of Light That Gathers and Life That Burns, which consolidates content from the hit post-apocalyptic series Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress. The series premiered in spring 2016 on Fuji TV and is produced by WIT STUDIO, which is also behind the anime adaptation of Attack on Titan. The features include additional scenes and enhanced footage that differ from the TV offerings, and will be preceded by special introductions at the event.
“Crunchyroll is always looking for ways to take anime to new heights and to better serve its passionate community. With Anime Movie Night, Crunchyroll can now take anime out of the living room and onto the big screen to reach more viewers with a heightened experience. What’s more, the theatrical release of Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress gives fans an opportunity to come together to celebrate a favorite title at theaters across the country,” said Kun Gao, General Manager of Crunchyroll.
Each quarterly Anime Movie Night screening will showcase popular titles with select episodes or feature-length movies, both classic and new.
Bento Box Entertainment and Loren Bouchard’s Wilo Productions are bringing Bob’s Burgers Live! back to Los Angeles for a special event following last year’s sold-out pair of shows. The encore, teased on stage at the PaleyFest LA: Bob’s Burgers event, is set for June 17 at 8 p.m. at the historic Orpheum Theater.
Tickets go on sale March 31 at 10 a.m. PST at bobsburgerslive.com and ticketmaster.com.
The “Bob’s Burgers Live Music and Comedy and Musical Comedy Revue” will bring together the cast and creator of the Emmy-winning FOX TV series (currently in its seventh season) for a night of stand-up comedy, clips from upcoming episodes and fan-favorite songs performed by the cast, show composers, special guest vocalists, guest musicians, and super-special guest house band EL VY, featuring Matt Berninger of The National.
Bob’s Burgers cast members scheduled to perform include H. Jon Benjamin (Bob Belcher), Kristen Schaal (Louise Belcher), Eugene Mirman (Gene Belcher), Dan Mintz (Tina Belcher), John Roberts (Linda Belcher), and Larry Murphy (Uncle Teddy). Joining them will be show creator and Bob’s Burgers Live! executive producer Loren Bouchard, series composers John Dylan Keith and Tim Dacey — plus surprise celebrity guests.
Bob’s Burgers Live! is produced by Bento Box Ent. and Wilo Prod. in association with 20th Century Fox Location Based Entertainment, and is represented by WME and promoted by Live Nation. Be sure to order tickets quickly as every event has been sold out since the touring show’s 2013 inception.
If you can’t make it to the Orpheum, consider picking up Sub Pop’s recently announced The Bob’s Burgers Music Album, available now for pre-order.
Bob’s Burgers is created by Loren Bouchard (Home Movies), who serves as writer and exec producer with Jim Dauterive (King of the Hill). The series is produced by 20th Century Fox Television with animation by Bento Box.
Annecy 2017: TV and Commissioned Films Official Selection
After reviewing over 2,800 films (a 5% increase over last year) from 95 countries, Artistic Director Marcel Jean and program team Laurent Million, Yves Nougarède and Sébastien Sperer have selected 31 TV series & specials and 40 commissioned films (many focused on environmental and cultural issues), largely hailing from France, the US and the UK. Competing shorts were previously announced. Feature films will be announced at the end of April.
VIDEO: Aardman Short ‘Visualise This’
Director/designer Danny Capozzi perfectly captures those circuitous client conference calls about creative branding with a fun, visually eclectic new short: “I really wanted to create a piece that captured the humour and absurdity in some of those creative briefing calls and could showcase the different disciplines I’ve learnt during my time at Aardman, as well as my passions and influences in street culture.”
The Ottawa International Animation Festival is gearing up for its 2017 edition, taking place September 20-24. In addition to opening film submissions for its Official Competition, the fest has revealed a new tone-setting poster designed by Elise Simard, and a great way to get in the mood: the OIAF’s 40th anniversary e-book.
This year’s film competition will again seek films in the categories of Animated Feature, Narrative Animated Short, Non-Narrative Animated Short, Student Animation and Commissioned Animation. One tweak for 2017 is that the children’s categories have been divided into age groups: Short Preschool Animation Made for Children 0-5, Short Animation Made for Children 6-12, Preschool Animation Series Made for Children 0-5, and Animation Series Made for Children 6-12.
In addition to the category prizes, selected films will also be considered for a variety of craft and special awards, including the inaugural Film Critic’s Prize. Entries are due by May 26. See the website for information on how to submit your project.
“With our first 40 years behind us, we’re getting started on year 41,” says Chris Robinson, OIAF Artistic Director, “We’ve made a few tweaks. The ‘Experimental/Abstract’ category is now simply ‘Non-Narrative’, student films have been rolled into a single category, and we have some additions: new category divisions for kids, and a brand spanking new Film Critic’s prize that will be awarded by accredited members of the Canadian and International media. Beyond that, we expect another year of groundbreaking and eclectic animation that you simply cannot see on television.”
The official poster for OIAF 2017 was created by Montreal-based animator/director Elise Simard. In addition to delivering visual signatures and handcrafted special effects for documentary features and animated shorts, for the past decade Simard has been expanding into experimental and exploratory filmmaking.
The artist said about her poster design: “I wanted to create an image about the ecstasy of watching a film you are falling for — the feeling you get the moment you realize you are in for a treat, as you sit back and let your guard down. I wanted to create an image to honor the inspiring weird and beautiful films I see every year at the Ottawa International Animation Festival.”
Finally, make sure to get a copy of the e-book 40 Years of Ottawa: Collected Essays on Award-Winning Animation — a wonderful anthology of pieces by animation curators, artists and historians on the festival’s Grand Prize winners, edited by Chris Robinson and Brittany Mumford (and just $5 through www.aniboutique.ca). The title includes “An Oral History of the Ottawa International Animation Festival” and lots of links to clips and commentaries on these iconic films.
Annapurna TV has announced it is developing a new adult-targeted, CG-animated series titled Amberville at Amazon Studios, for Amazon Prime Video. Created by Chris McCoy and Conrad Vernon (Sausage Party), the dark comedy series is based on the “Mollisan Town” book series by Tim Davys, published by HarperCollins.
The rights sale was negotiated by Chris Corabi on behalf of Annapurna.
Amberville is set in a city populated by living, breathing stuffed animals — including a reformed Teddy Bear who is pulled back into the criminal underworld when his former boss recruits him for an impossible new job.
The pilot was written by McCoy and Vernon, with Vernon also serving as director. Annapurna’s Megan Ellison, Sue Naegle and David Distenfeld will executive produce along with the creators. Naegle joined Annapurna last fall as President of Television, tasked with expanding the company’s TV slate.
Vernon previously worked with Annapurna on the R-rated adult animated movie Sausage Party, which he co-directed with Greg Tiernan. He previously helmed the more family-friendly films Madagascar 3, Monsters vs. Aliens and Shrek 2. Vernon is represented by UTA and Mosaic.
McCoy made his feature film debut writing and directing the 2016 comedy Good Kids. He has also penned two novels, The Prom-Goer’s Interstellar Excursion and Scurvy Goonda (Knopf), and has had three scripts on The Black List (Get Back, Good Looking, Good Kids). McCoy is repped by Gotham Group and UTA.
First Look at Batman and Harley Quinn Animated Movie
A Toonzone internet detective found the first image from the WB Animation project hiding in plain site on iTunes. The pic is from a first-look featurette included in the Teen Titans: The Judas Contract home release, and shows Batman, Harley and Nightwing.
Kris Jenner Pitching Animated Series on Kardashian Family
Celeb empire matriarch reportedly had a meeting at Harvey Weinstein’s company earlier this month to pitch a primetime toon project. I’m secretly hoping that it’s a Bruce Timm-esque neo-noir superhero show where they fight evil villains off with their Louboutins.
New Website Documents 100 Years of Japanese Animation
Created by the National Film Center of Japan, the online archive runs the gamut from wartime propaganda to experimental shorts, with highlights including a digital restoration of The Dull Sword — the oldest surviving Japanese animated short.
Sugar Rush Creative to Open New Dedicated Animation Studios in Belfast
Animate Studios will offer “moving illustration” advertising production under the leadership of Sugar Rush MD Alistair MacFarlane. Even if you’re not looking for a job in Northern Ireland, there is a really cute bulldog puppy in the pic for this article, so click the link already.
Visual effects creative studio JAMM has added CG Supervisor Brian Burke to its Santa Monica studio roster.
“I worked with Brian for many years before opening JAMM. The combination of Brian’s unbelievable eye for detail and an amazing technical knowledge makes him one of the best 3D artists in the industry today,” said VFX Supervisor and co-founder Andy Boyd.
Burke brings a literal lifetime of experience to his new post. He began creating computer graphics in grade school, discovering a passion for solving creative and technical challenges in the medium. Burke spent several years honing his skills at Method Studios, where he tackled CG for commercials and feature films, for which he earned a number of VES Award nominations and HPA Awards.
A standout of Burke’s skillset is his ability to integrate effects across a range of styles, and create fantastical creatures or real-world environments with equal prowess. This breadth can be seen across his short form work like GE commercial “Childlike Imagination” (director Dante Ariola), Gary Shore’s Game of War comm, and “The Hunt Begins” trailer for Halo 5: Guardians (Henry Hobson).
Burke’s feature credits include lead CG artist and CG supervisor roles. Mainly working in FX, work development, lighting and compositing at Method LA, he and his team delivered VFX sequences for Marvel’s The Avengers, The Avengers: Age of Ultron and Iron Man 3.
On his new studio home, Burke said: “I heard plenty about the cool CG-centric projects they had going on and was super inspired by the independent vibe that JAMM has cultivated. The on-the-box mentality that Jake and Andy bring to the table as VFX Supervisors is the foundation of an incredibly creative crew and work environment that I’m excited to be a part of.”
JAMM was formed in 2014 by Boyd, VFX Supervisor Jake Montgomery, and Executive Producer Asher Edwards. More on the studio at jammvisual.com.
GKIDS will present a bi-coastal opening for Dash Shaw’s inventive animated indie My Entire High School Sinking into the Sea on April 14. The disaster blockbuster send-up meets high school comedy, which premiered at Toronto film fest last year, will screen at New York City’s Metrograph Theatre and at the Landmark Nuart in Los Angeles.
The film has been rated PG-13.
Synopsis:
From acclaimed cartoonist Dash Shaw (New School) comes an audacious debut that is equal parts disaster cinema, high school comedy and blockbuster satire, told through a dream-like mixed media animation style that incorporates drawings, paintings and collage.
Dash (Jason Schwartzman) and his best friend Assaf (Reggie Watts) are preparing for another year at Tides High School muckraking on behalf of their widely-distributed but little-read school newspaper, edited by their friend Verti (Maya Rudolph). But just when a blossoming relationship between Assaf and Verti threatens to destroy the boys’ friendship, Dash learns of the administration’s cover-up that puts all the students in danger. As disaster erupts and the friends race to escape through the roof of the school, they are joined by a popular know-it- all (Lena Dunham) and a lunch lady (Susan Sarandon) who is much more than meets the eye.
But even as the film piles on brilliant details like a post-apocalyptic cult formed by jocks, video game homages, and an infectious synth soundtrack, it never loses sight of the characters at the heart of the story.
