Tokyo-based Toei Animation is bringing back its classic anime brand Mazinger Z for a new feature film, 45 years after the original manga by Go Nagai debuted in Weekly Shonen Jump. The early adaption of science fiction storytelling into Japanese animation remains popular with anime fans worldwide, especially in Europe and Latin America.
Mazinger Z follows the adventures of Koji Kabuto in an out-of-this-world series of adventures, full of giant robots, incredible challenges and memorable villains like Dr. Hell. The Toei TV series was immensely popular, and was followed by a second, Great Mazinger, and third, UFO Robot Grendizer. The anime continues to influence filmmakers decades later, with Guillermo del Toro notably citing it as an inspiration for his Pacific Rim films.
The Mazinger Z feature film is produced by Toei Animation and distributed by Toei Company Ltd. Further details are yet to be announced.
A new animation-focused joint venture, AK Holdings Corporation, will be launched by Sony Picture Entertainment (Japan) and local general trading giant Mitsui & Co. as of March 31 in Japan. The company’s priority will be the operation of national anime networks Kid Station and Animax, animated content production and distribution, worldwide live event presentation, and themed restaurants.
As majority owner of AK Holding, SPEJ is appointing Masao Takiyama as Managing Director of SPEJ Television Network and Representative Director of both anime broadcaster brands.
“In addition to a treasured form of Japanese art and culture, Anime has grown to become a major cultural export with massive commercial appeal around the world,” Takiyama commented. “Combining the strengths of Sony’s Animax with Mitsui’s Kids Station will allow us to increase our production capacity and reach fans of all ages in Japan and around the world.”
Nobuaki Kitamori, Executive Managing Officer and COO of Mitsui’s IT & communication unit, said, “Kids Station and Animax have long delivered attractive Anime programs to the fans. We are delighted to form this partnership with SPEJ to further accelerate the growth of the both companies. Leveraging the collective capabilities of SPEJ and Mitsui, we will strive to build and grow new businesses around the globe to make continuous contribution to Japanese creative industry.”
Sony operates Animax in 28 different countries; currently airing in Japan classic franchises like Dragon Ball and Lupin III as well as more recent hits like Hunter X Hunter and The Rose of Versailles. Kids Station’s lineup includes Anpanman, Pokemon, Yo-Kai Watch and Gintama.
Fox animation fans will be licking their musical chops when they find out that Sub Pop is releasing The Bob’s Burgers Music Album on May 12. This massive collection pulls together 107 songs from the first 107 episodes of the Emmy Award-winning comedy toon, performed by cast members H. Jon Benjamin (Bob), John Roberts (Linda), Dan Mintz (Tina), Eugene Mirman (Gene) and Kristen Schaal (Louise).
The songs also feature the voices of recurring and special guest stars from the 20th Century Fox TV series, from comedians like Aziz Ansari, Sarah Silverman, Kevin Kline, Bill Hader, Zach Galifianakis and Fred Armisen, to musicians Cyndi Lauper and Carly Simon. The album also includes five “Bob’s Buskers” cover versions of songs from the show, performed by St. Vincent, The National, Låpsley and Stephin Merritt (The Magnetic Fields).
The album is produced by series creator/EP Loren Bouchard’s Wilo Productions in partnership with Bento Box Entertainment — Sub Pop licensed the rights from Fox.
Available now for pre-order through Sub Pop, The Bob’s Burgers Music Album standard version will be available as two CDs, three LPs plus 7″, and digital.
The deluxe, limited-edition box set version of the album includes the three-LP plus 7″ on “condiment-colored” vinyl (ketchup red, mustard yellow & relish green), plus a hardbound lyrics book with exclusive Bob’s Burgers artwork, a soft cover sheet-music songbook, three original posters, a six-piece sticker pack, and a patch. Both the standard and deluxe LP editions include the five “Bob’s Buskers” tracks on a white 7″ single.
AMPAS announced that 89th Oscars sponsor Walmart has gifted $250,000 to the Academy Foundation in support of its educational outreach initiatives. The donative will all the Academy to advance its efforts to build a more diverse, inclusive talent pool of participants across Academy programs, and put promising young people on the path to success.
“We would like to thank Walmart for this generous gift, and are grateful for their support of our educational initiatives and shared commitment to mentor the next generation of storytellers,” said Academy CEO, Dawn Hudson.
The Academy Foundation manages two of the top competitions for emerging talent in the industry: the Student Academy Awards and the Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting. Past Student Academy Award winners include acclaimed filmmakers Pete Docter (Inside Out), Cary Fukunaga (Beasts of No Nation), John Lasseter (Toy Story), Spike Lee (Do the Right Thing), Trey Parker (South Park) and Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump).
Altogether, Student Academy Award winners have gone on to receive eight Oscars and 51 Oscar nominations. Past Nicholl Fellows include Destin Cretton (Short Term 12), Jeffrey Eugenides (The Virgin Suicides), Susannah Grant (Erin Brockovich), Ehren Kruger (Transformers: Age of Extinction) and Andrew Marlowe (Air Force One).
This summer, the Academy will also launch a groundbreaking entertainment industry-wide summer intern and mentoring program that will expand opportunities for young professionals from under-represented communities.
“Our Oscars campaign celebrates creativity and storytelling, and we felt it was important to not only support filmmaking on the industry’s biggest night, but to lend support to future filmmakers,” said Tony Rogers, chief marketing officer, Walmart U.S. “Every day our customers are telling stories with their receipts. We are proud to support the Academy’s educational programs to further empower film students from diverse backgrounds to tell their stories.”
As a first-time Proud Sponsor of the 89th Oscars, Walmart will unveil its new campaign, “Behind Every Receipt, There’s a Great Story.” The concept explores how a single six-item receipt—when seen through an artistic lens—can tell an infinite number of stories. Walmart teamed with directors Antoine Fuqua, Marc Forster, and Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg to create three unique short films that will premiere during the telecast’s commercials on Oscars Sunday, Feb. 26, on ABC.
After five years of rapid growth and shifting shareholder ownerships, AwesomenessTV’s co-founder and CEO Brian Robbins has announced he is leaving the multi-channel network, Deadline reports. Robbins launched the brand with Joe Davola as a YouTube Channel in 2012.
AwesomenessTV quickly established itself and drew big business attention, with DreamWorks Animation paying out $33 million in cash to make one of the biggest digital acquisition deals of the day in 2013. In 2015, Hearst took a 25% stake in the company, with Verizon joining in with a 24.5% stake last spring. The company is now under Comcast’s NBCUniversal through its acquisition of DreamWorks Animation last summer.
In a memo addressed to “Team ATV,” Robbins said that it was time for him to “pass the baton and seek new challenges.”
“It’s not a decision I made lightly. I love AwesomenessTV and all of you; I will really miss coming in here every day. I’m enormously proud of what we have been able to build together,” Robbins’ message continues. “We’ve exceeded any expectations I could have set when Joe and I started this journey. What began as a YouTube channel has turned into a global brand and the essential next generation media company for Generation Z.
“AwesomenessTV is built to last and there is so much talent here who will carry this company forward, especially Brett [Bouttier, President] who has been a partner with me nearly the entire time. He will continue to lead the company and, along with me, will find a creative partner to help continue the expansion of this business. I’ll be sticking around through the transition and Joe will be staying on in his role.”
Summer is going to start heating up early as Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has announced that feature-length animated adventure VIXEN: The Movie will arrive on Digital HD on May 8, 2017, and on Blu-ray (SRP $19.98) and DVD ($18.94) on May 23.
From executive producers Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim and Andrew Kreisberg, VIXEN: The Movie combines the first two seasons of the CW Seed digital series (2015/2016) into a single, uniform story and includes 15 minutes of all-new content. Plus, on-disc bonuses include a Vixen: Spirit Animal featurette and two Vixen episodes of Justice League Unlimited (“Hunter’s Moon” & “Grudge Match”) hand-picked by Bruce Timm. The project is produced by Warner Bros.’ digital studio, Blue Ribbon Content, and based on DC characters.
The story follows Mari McCabe, a young woman originally from Africa who grew up as an orphan after her parents were killed by the local forces of greed and corruption. But Mari refuses to succumb to the terrors surrounding her. Using her family’s generations-old Tantu Totem, Mari can access the powers of animals, from the strength of a gorilla to the speed of a cheetah. As the hero Vixen, she fights valiantly to protect the world from threats like those that took her family.
VIXEN: The Movie features Megalyn Echikunwoke (CSI Miami, The 4400, Damien) as the voice of Vixen/Mari McCabe. She is joined by Stephen Amell (Green Arrow), Grant Gustin (The Flash), Emily Bett Rickards (Felicity Smoak), Carlos Valdes (Cisco Ramon), Katie Cassidy (Black Canary), Victor Garber (Martin Stein) & Franz Drahmeh (Jax) collectively as Firestorm, and Brandon Routh (The Atom), reprising their roles from Arrow, The Flash and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow.
EPs Berlanti, Guggenheim and Kreisberg are joined in the key creative team by producer James Tucker (Batman: The Brave and the Bold), who directs with Curt Geda (Beware the Batman). VIXEN: The Movie was written by Wendy Mericle, Keto Shimizu, Brian Ford Sullivan, Lauren Certo, Nolan Dunbar, Sarah Tarkoff and Guggenheim. Guggenheim and Shimizu serve as story editors.
CALL FOR ENTRIES: TOFUZI 2017
Submit your animated films and series by June 30, 2017 for consideration in the 9th annual international festival of animated films, taking place Oct. 2-7 in the Black Sea destination city of Batumi, Georgia.
Disney Renews Film Slate Deal with IMAX Through 2019
Animated and tentpole features arriving on the big, big screen will include The Incredibles 2, Toy Story 4, the Han Solo flick, Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Black Panther, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Beauty and the Beast, Mulan and more.
Hulu Acquires Starz’s ‘Black Sails’
The Emmy and VES Award-winning pirate series’ first three seasons are available to stream now, with the 10-episode fourth season to debut when available.
Sony Pictures Animation has released some smurftastic special art featuring voice cast stars and their characters from its upcoming, fully-animated, Peyo-inspired family adventure Smurfs: the Lost Village — in theaters April 7.
Check out the image gallery below to see the lovely stars and their smurfy alter-egos: Demi Lovato (Smurfette), Danny Pudi (Brainy), Jack McBrayer (Clumsy), Joe Manganiello (Hefty), Ariel Winters (SmurfLily), Ellie Kemper (SmurfBlossom), Michelle Rodriguez (SmurfStorm), Rainn Wilson (Gargamel), and Mandy Patinkin (Papa Smurf).
Smurfs: The Lost Village is directed by Kelly Asbury (Gnomeo & Juliet, Shrek 2, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron), written by Stacey Harman and Pamela Ribon, based on the works of Peyo. Jordan Kerner and Mary Ellen Bauder Andrews produce, with Raja Gosnell and Ben Waisbren as executive producers.
Synopsis: In this fully animated, all-new take on the Smurfs, a mysterious map sets Smurfette and her best friends Brainy, Clumsy and Hefty on an exciting and thrilling race through the Forbidden Forest filled with magical creatures to find a mysterious lost village before the evil wizard Gargamel does. Embarking on a rollercoaster journey full of action and danger, the Smurfs are on a course that leads to the discovery of the biggest secret in Smurf history!
GKIDS has released the official trailer and a poster for My Entire High School Sinking into the Sea — a visually inventive, offbeat animated comedy feature from cartoonist Dash Shaw (New School). Arriving in select theaters April 14, the film’s voice cast is lead by Jason Schwartzman, Lena Dunham, Reggie Watts and Maya Rudolph, with Susan Sarandon as a no-nonsense lunch lady.
Shaw’s debut feature project premiered at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival, creating buzz for its creative blend of disaster movie, high school comedy and blockbuster satire and its mixed-media animation blending drawings, paintings and collage.
Synopsis:
Dash (Schwartzman) and his best friend Assaf (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 (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 (Dunham) and a lunch lady (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.
Brad Grey is stepping down from his role as Chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures, but will remain for a time to support a transition to new leadership. Viacom President & CEO Bob Bakish will work with Paramount’s executive team until a new CEO is appointed. The news was first reported by Yahoo Finance.
“Brad has overseen the production and distribution of some of Paramount’s most celebrated hits and, more recently, championed the successful relaunch of the studio’s television division. We are grateful for his 12 years of extraordinary service and wish him every continued success,” said Bakish. “Paramount has produced some of the most recognizable and cherished films in Hollywood, making it a key part of Viacom’s history, and our future. As we look ahead, I couldn’t be more excited by our early plans to re-energize the slate, more deeply integrate the studio and networks, and make the most of our incredible assets.”
Steering the ship in the meantime are remaining studio leaders Marc Evans, President of the Motion Picture Group; Andrew Gumper, Chief Operating Officer; Amy Powell, President of TV & Digital Entertainment; Megan Colligan, President of Worldwide Distribution & Marketing; and Mark Badagliacca, CFO.
“It has been my privilege to be a part of Paramount’s storied history, and I am grateful to Sumner Redstone for giving me this opportunity. I want to wish Shari, Bob and their entire team the best as they embark on Viacom’s next chapter. From the moment I came to Paramount in 2005, I saw myself as a steward of an iconic institution. In that time, it has been my great honor to work with a group of wildly talented storytellers. But above all, I am indebted to the wonderful people at this studio, whose creativity, professionalism and integrity are second to none,” Grey commented in the announcement.
Paramount’s upcoming feature film slate includes manga adaptation Ghost in the Shell, Transformers: The Last Knight and the Bumblebee spin-off, and animation titles Gnomeo & Juliet: Sherlock Gnomes (Jan. 12, 2018) and SpongeBob SquarePants 3 (Feb. 8, 2019).
The Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF), North America’s premiere festival for animated works, is now open for competition entries for 2017. This year’s edition will take place September 20-24 in the Canadian capital, celebrating the best the scene has to offer from around the world.
Submissions are due by May 26, and there is no fee to enter. The competition categories are: Animated Feature, Narrative Animated Short, Non-Narrative Animated Short, Student Animation, Commissioned Animation, 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.
This year notably marks a new age group division in the children’s shorts and series categories. In addition to category prizes, submissions will be considered for a variety of craft and other awards — including the inaugural Film Critic’s Prize.
“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.”
OIAF receives more than 2,000 entries each year, which are reviewed by the Festival’s programming team and narrowed to approximately 150 films selected for Official Competition and Out-of-Competition Showcase screenings. The Festival also offers exhibits, workshops and other entertainments to its 28,000-plus visitors from professional, independent, student and fan ranks.
SPYR, Inc. — a holding company with wholly owned subsidiaries in the mobile game and app development/publishing industry (as well as restaurants) has hired on Farshid Almassizadeh as its Chief Strategic Advisor. Almassizadeh is joining the company from EA Interactive, where he was VP and COO, brings over 25 years’ experience in the gaming industry to his new post.
“Everyone at SPYR is very excited to be working with Farshid. His many years of experience and connections in the gaming industry are going to be invaluable to the company and we believe that he will help us cultivate all of the seeds we have planted over the last year to grow our games business and revenue,” said SPYR’s CEO & President James R. Thompson.
Almassizadeh will utilize his knowledge of and contacts in the games industry in his new role to advise and assist the company with all aspects of its games business, including development, user acquisition and monetization strategies, marketing and PR, strategic partnerships, identifying new games for publication, and fundraising.
In addition to his EA Interactive post, Almassizadeh has acted as Senior Director of Product Development for The Simpsons and The Sims console franchises at Electronic Arts, as an executive at GlobalWide Media, and is presently an executive at Age of Learning. He has also served as an advisory board member to companies in the app and entertainment spheres, including Realtionup, Halon Entertainment, 2Mundos and MATTERvr.
“I am looking forward to working with such a seasoned and talented team at SPYR. With Jim’s leadership and the publishing teams’ experience, titles such as Pocket Starships by Spectacle Games that has been recognized by Apple as a ‘best new game,’ are only the beginning of SPYR’s publishing lineup,” asid Almassizadeh.
TinyCo, a Jam City Company, and Fox Interactive have announced the development of a new mobile game inspired by the hit animated series, Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow. The game features original content from Futurama creator and executive producer Matt Groening, executive producer David X. Cohen, and much of the show’s creative team.
“I love this game because it feels just like Futurama,” said Groening. “Except now you get to jab the characters in the face.”
TinyCo is also collaborating with original series animation house Rough Draft Studios to help faithfully bring Futurama’s trademark humor and signature style to the new mobile comedic adventure.
“Futurama is back, bigger and better than ever! Or possibly smaller and equally good. But either way, it’s back!” added Cohen. “We’ve got completely new stories from the original writers, cast, and animators. This is the real Futurama deal.”
The game is being produced in partnership with Fox Interactive (a division of Twentieth Century Fox) and Groening’s Curiosity Company. Fox and TinyCo previously collaborated on the mobile game Family Guy: The Quest for Stuff, which has attracted tens of millions of players and won multiple awards.
Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow is coming soon to the App Store, Google Play and Amazon Appstore; more information will be revealed soon, and you can sign up for alerts at youwillplayfuturama.com or by following playfuturama on FB and Twitter.
Leading online kids’ network and AVOD expert WildBrain has appointed senior executive Will Mahmood to the newly created position of Head of Strategy. Mahmood will focus on helping the company’s content partners exploit its wealth of viewing data, and will work on key projects supporting department heads with strategy development across the company.
Mahmood’s appointment comes as the company positions itself for future growth, and will help increase WildBrain’s focus on using the data and scale of its digital network to offer clients a unique competitive advantage.
“Will is a highly experienced and respected addition to our team and his appointment underscores our growing capabilities in the kids’ digital space,” said WildBrain Managing Director John Robson. “His expertise, contacts and strategic understanding of the business give us a real edge as we look to implement our ambitious plans.”
Mahmood brings a wealth of experience to the business. He has previously established the insight team at Little Dot Studios (All3Media), and developed digital insights for major production companies, properties and broadcasters including Peppa Pig (eOne Family), Octonauts (Silvergate Media), Warner Brothers Kids, Turner, Channel 4 and ITV. Prior to Little Dot Studios, Will worked at TV startup Beamly (formerly zeebox), which was backed by NBC Comcast, Viacom and Sky, and recently acquired by Coty.
“WildBrain is in a unique position in the kids’ space. The breadth of brands and partners it works with gives it a privileged view of the YouTube ecosystem and other AVOD platforms. Harnessing the data at our disposal gives the business a unique competitive advantage. We now have the first generation of children who have grown up watching most of their content on demand via mobile/tablet and connected TV devices and I’m thrilled to be joining such a great team at the cutting edge of these exciting trends,” said Mahmood.
The worlds and characters created by animation hitmaker Butch Hartman collide in the new, original animated short The Fairly Odd Phantom. The Nickelodeon presentation features an ensemble cast from The Fairly OddParents, Danny Phantom, T.U.F.F. Puppy and the brand-new Bunsen Is a Beast (premiere Feb. 21 at 5:30 p.m.). The short is available now across nick.com, Facebook and the Nickelodeon YouTube page.
In The Fairly Odd Phantom, Danny Phantom and friends capture escaped ghosts in their lab, Fenton Works, but their mission quickly goes awry when secret agent Dudley Puppy messes with the control panel. Soon after, Wanda, Cosmo and Timmy end up in the lab instead of Fairy World, where they are all met by a very different newcomer, Bunsen.
Hartman began his Toon Town career as an assistant animator on An American Tail, going on to create shorts for What a Cartoon!, and also write and direct episodes of Dexter’s Laboratory, Cow & Chicken and Johnny Bravo. Bunsen is a Beast marks Hartman’s fourth animated series for Nickelodeon. His first series, The Fairly OddParents, grew of a short he created for Oh Yeah! Cartoons and has run for 10 seasons since debuting in 2001, and has inspired several TV movies. Danny Phantom (3 seasons) premiered in 2004, and T.U.F.F. Puppy (3 seasons) debuted in 2010. Hartman joined Nickelodeon in 1998.
Punch TV Studios is expanding its media endeavors by unveiling its latest division: Punch Animation, Inc. The studio will focus on developing animated series and movies for syndication through Punch TV Studios. Previously known as the Urban Television Network, the first African American-owned network in the US, Punch Animation has hired on legendary animators Floyd Norman and Leo Sullivan to key roles.
President of Creative Development for the new Punch Animation, Floyd Norman is a legendary American producer, animator, writer and comic-book artist (and the subject of last year’s documentary Floyd Norman: An Animated Life). Norman is best-known for his work on movies Sleeping Beauty, Jungle Book, Toy Story, 101 Dalmatians and Monsters, Inc. and brings decades of experience in animation and production — including working with Walt Disney himself — to his post.
Emmy Award-winning animator and filmmaker Leo Sullivan is assuming the role of Chief Operating Officer. With over 50 years of experience in the field, Sullivan is most recognized for his work on Flash Gordon, Pac-Man, Iron Man, Tiny Toon Adventures, Scooby-Doo and The Flintstones. Sullivan is also a credentialed teacher for the State of California in Vocational Education Teaching, and has taught at The Art Institute of California-Orange County, guest lectured at UCLA and Compton College’s animation departments, and worked with numerous organizations to teach and mentor youths who have gone on to work at major studios.
Learn more about Punch TV Studios (founded by Joseph Collins, CEO) at punchtvstudios.com.
Rovio Entertainment, creator of the hit Angry Birds mobile game, entertainment and licensing franchise, may eliminate up to 35 jobs or nearly 10% of total employees as it restructures its animation business. The reductions will be part of operational changes being made to its serial cartoons production team, reports The Financial Express.
“We’re working very closely with our employees to see how to organize our animation unit, support functions and management,” said Rovio Ent. Oy spokesperson Kaisu Karvala.
The cuts would not affect the company’s feature film or games divisions.
The Finnish company has already seen hundreds of layoffs in recent years as it adjusts to waning interest in its (still very popular) games and a lack of repeat success on the level of the Angry Birds phenom. In the plus column, last year’s The Angry Birds Movie opened at No. 1 in markets including the US and China and went on to gross nearly $350 million at the global box office.
Rovio recently stated that its game business also had its most profitable year in 2016, though it has not yet released a detailed annual report. The company is planning to open a new game studio in London.
Rovio Animation is the producer of several animated series titles inspired by its flagship franchise, viewable on its multiplatform channel ToonsTV: Angry Birds Toons, Piggy Tales, Angry Birds Stella and Piggy Tales: Pigs at Work.
Montreal-based Cinesite Studios has partnered with the Harold Lloyd Estate and Comic Animations to adapt the early Hollywood legends’ films into a series of animated features. Cinesite’s Chief Creative Officer Dave Rosenbaum and Executive Animation Director Eamonn Butler will collaborate with Suzanne Lloyd, granddaughter of Harold Lloyd and the owner of his film library, on the adaptations.
“Today’s films and filmmakers stand on the shoulders of Harold Lloyd with his innovations and unparalleled sense of story, camera and comedy,” said Rosenbaum. “It is an honor to work with Suzanne and the Harold Lloyd Estate.”
One of the most influential and successful filmmakers of early cinema, Harold Lloyd (1893-1971) was an American comedy legend who got his early start acting in theater before shifting into motion pictures. As an actor, stuntman, writer, director and producer, Lloyd made close to 200 films between 1914 and 1947 — including silent classics Safety Last!, Girl Shy and The Freshman. He made an indelible mark on Hollywood with pioneering thrill sequences, daring physical stunts, innovative camera angles, color and 3D photography.
“By donning unassuming glasses, Harold Lloyd became the boy next door everyone could relate to and he shot to stardom to enchant and entertain generations of film fans,” says Suzanne Lloyd. “I appreciate the opportunity to work with Dave Rosenbaum, Eamonn Butler and all the talented people at Cinesite to bring Harold’s comedy genius to the world in a new and innovative way. We need laughter now more than ever.”
Prior to his death in 1971, Harold Lloyd reflected, “It’s amazing me to me that these comedies can still strike a responsive note of laughter with audiences of all ages and in all parts of the world. Laughter is the universal language. It establishes a common identity among people—regardless of other differences. It is the sweetest sound in the whole world.”
Harold Lloyd in SAFETY LAST! (Courtesy of the Harold Lloyd Estate)
Scotland-based animation and VFX studio DI4D has secured £900,000 (about $1.1 million USD) in investment funds from Percipient Capital and its shareholders, which will go towards strengthening the shop’s Hollywood presence. Established in 2003, DI4D is a leading provider of facial performance capture for movie VFX, videogames, VR, and for advanced clinical and scientific research applications.
“DI4D is delighted to have secured the backing from such a well-regarded investor as Percipient Capital. This will give us the financial strength and confidence to scale up significantly, invest further in the development of our already highly-advanced facial capture technology and to expand our operations, particularly in North America,” said DI4D’s Chairman, Tim Christian. “This is an exceptional time of opportunity in the facial animation market, and we expect that this investment will ensure that DI4D is well placed to seize this and other opportunities.”
Recent credits for DI4D’s facial performance capture portfolio include feature films Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Christophe Gans’ Beauty and the Beast; TV projects Houdini and Merlin; and videogames including Halo Wars 2, Quantum Break and the “Rise of Iron” reveal trailer for Destiny.
Percipient Capital Director Jason Gould commented:
“Percipient Capital is delighted to have made its first investment into DI4D. We have been very impressed by the excellent progress made by DI4D, and in particular its recent work on several high profile movies, visual effects and video game projects, and we are pleased to be able to assist the company as it enters a new phase of accelerated growth. We look forward to working closely with Tim and the DI4D team and to providing further assistance in future as required.”
AmebaTV has teamed up with The Think Tank Emporium to bring tyke-targeted series Super Geek Heroes to its kids’ entertainment streaming platform. Seven episodes launch this month, with an additional 21 to roll out later in the year.
Super Geek Heroes, a presentation of UK-based Yellow Spot Productions, is a 3D CG series educational entertainment series aimed at children ages 2-5. The show follows a team of unique super learning heroes and offers episodes focused on curricular areas such as health, literacy, numeracy and social-emotional development. The adventures are narrated by children, encouraging viewer interaction.
“I am so pleased to bring Super Geek Heroes‘ to the Ameba family of content,” said David Wollos, Partner at The Think Tank Emporium. “This is a perfect platform for this growing global brand and we are excited to introduce these amazing characters to a whole new line-up of young audiences. Kids are going to love Vicky Voice, Ant Active, Peter Planet, Millie Maths, Suzi Smiles and Ronnie Rock, and will certainly become quickly immersed in the fun of the adventures that evolve into amazing learning experiences.”
AmebaTV is a dedicated kids’ entertainment streaming service with a focus on educational shows, cartoons and music videos. It is currently available via the web and over 300 consumer devices, including smart TV, connected TV, tablets and smartphones. Current partners are XBox 360, Roku, LG Smart TV, Sony, Amazon Fire, TiVO, Opera and Amazon Channels.
