Author: Mercedes Milligan

NYICFF Shorts Program Features 50+ Premieres

The Oscar-qualifying New York International Children’s Film Festival has unveiled its complete short film lineup for its 20th anniversary edition, running February 24-March 19 in cinemas throughout NYC. The fest’s feature film slate and jury members were announced last month.

Offering an international assortment of animated, live-action and documentary films, NYICFF’s short film schedule is curated from thousands of submissions from around the world. Age groups from 3 to 18 will be able to take in a variety of groundbreaking, artistically distinct, fun and thought-provoking films and vote for their favorites to determine the festival’s award winners. 2017 programs include: Shorts for Tots for ages 3-6, Short Films One for ages 5-10, Short Films Two for ages 8-14, and Short Films Three for ages 12 to adult.

In addition to these general interest programs, the festival presents thematically organized shorts programs Girls’ POV (with support from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Bay and Paul Foundations), in which viewpoints from girls and women around the world are front and center; and Heebie Jeebies, with “slightly-spine chilling and quirkily-odd, eye-opening films inspiring audiences to consider things from a whole new perspective.” The 20th anniversary year will be celebrated with a Birthday Shorts special program of new, classic, and favorite shorts from NYICFF’s 20-year history that feature stories of growth, change, transformation…and the occasional party hat! The 2017 festival will also inaugurate a new annual program, Friends and Neighbors, which highlights various countries and international festivals. This year’s showcases Canada and TIFF Kids with a special program celebrating TIFF Kids’ own 20th anniversary as well as the 150th anniversary of Canada.

The NYICFF will culminate with a Closing Night Ceremony, where the 2017 award winners will be revealed and a special Best of the Fest short program will run. Tickets for all programs are available now through nyicff.org.

Animated Shorts at NYICFF 2017

SHORTS FOR TOTS (3-6 y.o.)

1 Minute Nature: Squirrel Netherlands – North American Premiere

Stefanie Visjager & Katinka Baehr, 2016

1 Minute Nature: Hamster

Netherlands – North American Premiere

Stefanie Visjager & Katinka Baehr, 2016

The Birdie

Russia – New York Premiere

Yekaterina Filippova, 2015

Brazey

USA – WORLD PREMIERE

Jared D. Weiss, 2016

Crocodile

Germany – New York Premiere

Julia Ocker, 2016

Eagle Blue

UK

Will Rose, 2016

Head Up!

Germany – New York Premiere

Gottfried Mentor, 2015

A Hole

Mexico – US Premiere

Maribel Suarez, 2016

I Am Not a Mouse

UK

Evgenia Golubeva, 2015

In a Cage

France – New York Premiere

Loic Bruyere, 2016

The Mole and the Earthworm

Germany

Johannes Schiehsl, 2015

The Pocket Man

France/Switzerland/Georgia – WORLD PREMIERE

Ana Chubinidze, 2016

The Sled

Russia – New York Premiere

Olesya Shchukina, 2016

Tiger

Germany – New York Premiere

Kariem Saleh, 2016

SHORT FILMS ONE (5-10)

1 Minute Nature: Blackbird

Netherlands – North American Premiere

Stefanie Visjager & Katinka Baehr, 2016

1 Minute Nature: Queen of the Night

Netherlands – North American Premiere

Stefanie Visjager & Katinka Baehr, 2016

Big Block Singsong: Wizard

Canada – US Premiere

Warren Brown, 2016

Crab Story

Russia/Australia – WORLD PREMIERE

Tatiana Poliektova & Filippo Rivetti, 2017

Konigiri Kun: Shopping

Japan

Mari Miyazawa, 2015

Mr. Night Has a Day Off

Lithuania – New York Premiere

Ignas Meilunas, 2016

Outdoor Cinema

Russia/Australia – New York Premiere

Tatiana Poliektova, 2014

Pawo

Germany

Antje Heyn, 2015

Sausage

Germany – North American Premiere

Josefine Haessler, 2016

Spider Web

Russia – North American Premiere

Natalia Chernysheva, 2016

Spring Jam

New Zealand – New York Premiere

Ned Wenlock, 2016

Stone Soup

France/Belgium

Clementine Robach, 2015

Sweaty Armpits

USA – WORLD PREMIERE

Tony Dusko, 2016

Uka

Spain – New York Premiere

Valle Comba Canales, 2016

Water Path for a Fish

Spain/Colombia/France – New York Premiere

Mercedes Marro, 2016

You Look Scary

USA – New York Premiere

Xiya Lan, 2016

SHORT FILMS TWO (8-14)

1 Minute Nature: Jellyfish Weather

Netherlands – New York Premiere

Stefanie Visjager & Katinka Baehr, 2016

Driven

USA

Julie Zammarchi, 2016

Heads Together

Netherlands – North American Premiere

Job, Joris, & Marieke, 2016

Little Mouse

Hungary – US Premiere

Ervin B. Nagy, 2016

Nino & Felix

Italy – North American Premiere

Marta Palazzo & Lorenzo Latrofa, 2015

The Pits

USA – WORLD PREMIERE

Mike Hayhurst, 2016

A Small Escape

Sweden – North American Premiere

David Sandell, 2016

SHORT FILMS THREE (12+)

1 Minute Nature: May Cat in Me

Netherlands – New York Premiere

Stefanie Visjager & Katinka Baehr, 2016

Analysis Paralysis

Switzerland– East Coast Premiere

Anete Melece, 2016

Cacophony

USA – New York Premiere

Melody Ai-Hsuan Shih, 2016

Dogtor

USA – New York Premiere

Rhea Dadoo, 2016

It Was Mine

Norway – US Premiere

Kajsa Næss, 2015

The Law of the Sea

UK – North American Premiere

Elmaz Ekrem & Dominika Ozynska, 2016

Roger

Spain – New York Premiere

Sonia Cendón, Sara Esteban, Arnau Gòdia, Ingrid Masarnau, & Martí Montañola, 2016

Trial & Error

Germany

Antje Heyn, 2016

We Will Dance, Even if the Band Never Shows Up

Spain – WORLD PREMIERE

Carmen Angelillo, Guido Lambertini & Rodier Kidman, 2016

Welcome to My Life

USA – New York Premiere

Elizabeth Ito, 2015

When I Hear the Birds Sing

Norway – New York Premiere

Trine Habjorg, 2016

HEEBIE JEEBIES SHORTS

Blind Vaysha

Canada – NYC Premiere

Theodore Ushev, 2016

Bøygen

Norway

Kristian Pedersen, 2016

Chateau de Sable

France – New York Premiere

Quentin Deleau, Lucie Foncelle, Maxime Goudal, Julien Paris, & Sylvain Robert, 2015

Glove

USA

Alexa Lim Haas & Bernardo Britto, 2015

Rubik

Germany – New York Premiere

Xenia Smirnov, 2016

The Inksect

Mexico – New York Premiere

Pablo Calvillo, 2016

The Wild Boar

Germany/France/Hungary – New York Premiere

Bella Szederkényi, 2016

Voltaire

Netherlands – New York Premiere

Jan Snoekx, 2015

GIRLS’ POV SHORTS

The Bookmobile

USA

Julie Zammarchi, 2016

G-AAAH

UK – US Premiere

Elizabeth Hobbs, 2016

L’Aviatrice

France – US Premiere

Jacques Leyreloup, Victor Tolila, Perrine Renard, Laura Viver Canal, & Gaël Chauvet, 2016

BIRTHDAY SHORTS

Aston’s Presents

Sweden

Lotta and Uzi Geffenblad, 2012

Big Block Singsong: Cows

Canada – US Premiere

Warren Brown, 2016

Big Block Singsong: Hair

Canada

Warren Brown, 2012

Bottle

USA

Kirsten Lepore, 2010

Game Over

USA

PES, 2006

Junction

Australia/Canada/Lithuania

Nathan Jurevicius, 2016

My Big Brother

USA

Jason Raynor, 2014

On the Wing

Russia

Vera Myakisheva, 2012

What Is Music?

USA

Christian Robinson, 2013

The Law of the Sea

February 7, 2017
Sarah Maizes Named Kids Ent. VP at Jim Henson Co.

The Jim Henson Company has recruited 20-year children’s entertainment and publishing veteran Sarah Maizes into the newly created position of Vice President of Children’s Entertainment. The announcement was made Tuesday by Halle Stanford, EVP of Children’s Entertainment, to whom Maizes will report.

Maizes will focus on the production of all Jim Henson Co.’s preschool and children’s programming for TV, home entertainment and digital media, covering both animation and live-action productions.

An established entertainment development executive, Maizes most recently served as a production executive on Jim Henson Co.’s new preschool series Dot., airing now on Sprout. Maizes has also written several award-winning books for kids and parents, including On My Way to the Bath (Children’s Book Council’s Best Picture Book 2012) and On My Way to Bed (NYT Children’s Book Review Bookshelf “pick”). She has also written several non-fiction humor books, and is a regular parenting and lifestyle contributor to Today.com.

Maizes began her career as a literary agent at William Morris, representing kids’ book authors and illustrators and helping build the agency’s kids’ entertainment division. She move to LA in 1998 and became a development executive at Nelvana, KingWorld Animation and Mattel Entertainment. Maizes also traveled in comedy spheres, performing at Acme Comedy Theatre, Hollywood Improv, The Comedy Store and Stand Up NY.

“Sarah brings her rich entertainment experience and deep understanding of kids and parents to her new role at Henson,” said Stanford. “She has a truly authentic point-of-view as both a parent and a grown-up kid, that will give a hilarious, honest touch to her work here.”

The Jim Henson Company

February 7, 2017
Vishal Dembla Appointed VP & GM for Turner SE Asia

Turner Asia Pacific has appointed Vishal Dembla as Vice President and General Manager of its newly established Southeast Asia division. Based in Singapore, Dembla will be tasked with growing Turner’s commercial and channel operations within Southeast Asia, as well as the day-to-day management of its regional kids’ content and entertainment businesses.

In addition to heading all commercial aspects, including ad and content sales, Dembla will oversee programming, creative services and marketing for all Turner kids brands in SE Asia. The department Dembla heads will also handle regional network distribution and focus on extending the reach of flagship kids’ channels Cartoon Network and Boomerang, plus CNN International, Warner TV and Oh!K.

Turner Asia Pacific as a whole currently runs 61 channels in 40 countries, broadcast in 14 languages.

“For the first time, we have aligned all our Southeast Asia efforts under one executive, and these changes will enable Turner to better develop its growing business in this region,” said Phil Nelson, Turner’s Managing Director of Southeast Asia Pacific and North Asia. “Vishal has been an integral member of our senior management team – forging new initiatives and driving growth – and is well-positioned for this new role.”

Dembla’s appointment to VP and GM of Southeast Asia operations expands his previous responsibilities, heading Turner’s distribution and content sales in Hong Kong, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines (the new position adds Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia to his purview). Prior to being named VP for Hong Kong & Southeast Asia in 2015, Dembla spearheaded for Turner the launch of Toonami, Boomerang and POGO in Thailand, and was part of the team that developed Korean entertainment channel Oh!K. Dembla joined Turner APAC’s business development team in 2010. He is a graduate of Jai Hind College and holds an MBA from INSEAD.

Turner

February 7, 2017
Sprout Grows Original Toon Slate with ‘Remy & Boo,’ Renewals & More

NBCUniversal Cable Ent.’s 24-hour preschool network Sprout is expanding its original programming offerings with a greenlight for a new animated series, Remy and Boo (due in 2018), second season orders for Floogals and Nina’s World, and a rich development slate taking root.

“We know that moms and kids are coming to Sprout in large part for our original programming – and our 21% growth rate in women 18-49 tells us it’s resonating,” said Amy Friedman, SVP, Programming and Development, Sprout. “Our mission is simple: we help kids grow into good people. We focus on compassion, curiosity, courage, and challenge in every bit of content we create – and we feel very lucky that we get to do this every day.”

Set in the near future, Remy and Boo is centered on the friendship between five-year-old human Remy and her newfound companion Boo, a robot who is programmed to learn and feel real emotions. The CG animated series follows the duo on their journey of love, friendship and discovering what it truly means to be human.

Remy and Boo is created by co-Founder Matt Fernandes of Industrial Brothers, which is producing the series with Boat Rocker Studios. Boat Rocker Rights will handle international distribution and manage merchandising and licensing on all platforms.

“We are delighted with Sprout’s incredible commitment to this show and we look forward to beginning production immediately with our partners at Boat Rocker to bring this unique and timely story to life – Remy and Boo reminds us that love is the shining light at the foundation of our shared humanity, no matter our age, gender or background,” said Fernandes and co-Founder Arthur Spanos.

Season 2 of Floogals — Sprout’s highest-rated show with women 18-49 and kids 2-5 for the last quarter — will go into production with Nevision in time for a 2018 launch. Nigel Packard is again executive producing with the same creative team. Season 2 of Nina’s World will comprise 26 episodes produced by Pipeline Studios. Rita Moreno will return to voice the role of Nina’s Abuelita.

Sprout’s original series development slate priorities are currently:

Little Shaq – executive produced by Shaquille O’Neal and inspired by Shaq’s real life childhood, the series follows an outsized boy’s funny and often awkward adventures in his urban American neighborhood. From Universal Cable Productions, the series is also executive produced by Full Fathom Five’s James Frey and Todd Cohen.

Ivy and Bean – Based on the bestselling book series by Annie Barrows and produced by Kindle Entertainment, this animated show features two best friends who never meant to like each other.

Make + Do – Studio-based live action show starring Sunny Side Up’s Carly Ciarrocchi. The show features three teams with the same mission, the same materials… and unlimited possibilities in the world of kid crafting. Produced by Breakthrough Entertainment.

Norm of the Forest – Norman is the superintendent of the forest, fixing the problems of its highly eccentric characters with a touch of magic and can-do attitude in this animated comedy. Written by Alex Rockwell and Judy Rothman.

Powerbirds – Animated comedy created by Pulitzer Prize winning editorial cartoonist Stephen P. Breen. The show features two pet parakeets who live top secret superhero lives, saving the world – and their neighborhood – one kind deed at a time.

Wombat and Rabbit – Twin brothers (not really) who put on the world’s greatest magic show (not really). Although their tricks constantly go haywire, nothing deters these screwball best friends from trying to become the best magicians they can possibly be. Created by Greg Dummett and Steve Westren.

Remy and Boo

February 7, 2017
‘Hanni and the Wild Woods’ Makes Global Debut at Kidscreen Summit

After over a decade in development for the global market and attaining a sizable Korean investment, brand-new CG animated children’s TV and multiplatform series franchise Hanni and the Wild Woods is ready to make its debut at Kidscreen Summit in Miami next week, announces worldwide rights holder Tobeit Global Co.

Created by Tobeit Global’s co-CEO and Founder Minah Eom, the series stars Hanni, a cat bearing a pink heart symbol for love, and her friends: Coo, a dog with a yellow star symbolizing hope; Po, the pig with a blue circle ribbon for bravery; and Ty-Ty, a hamster with a green clover for luck. The adorable animals live together in the Wild Woods, an enchanted forest where animals can talk and wacky monsters Wreck and Tangle create a lot of mischief. The friends’ mission is to protect and preserve nature, the mysteries and beauties of which provide a vivid backdrop for all their adventures.

Eom was inspired to create the charming characters when she wanted to make a gift for her daughter, Erin, when she was a toddler, and her vision grew with the arrival of her second daughter, Alina.

“I am so happy that my daughters could experience nature’s miracles and learn the value of nature through a character and story that I developed for them and could watch with them,” she said. “Hanni grew up together with my two daughters and inspired them to dream of studying art.”

Hanni and the Wild Woods is prepared for the summit with high-quality graphics, story bible and the first six scripts for TV conceived and designed by Eom and written by entertainment, videogame and comics writer Joelle Sellner (Sonic Boom, Ben 10: Omniverse). Prepared assets for cross-platform licensing use include TV series, games, consumer products, publishing, et al. Tobeit has garnered investments of more than $5 million for various concept graphics assets specialized for merchandising, publishing and gaming, and retains the exclusive rights to these.

The property is produced by Tobeit Global and company principals Young Hwa Kim and Eom. Astro-Nomical Entertainment partners Jay Ahn and Chris Henderson will handle US and international sales at the Summit (Feb. 13-16). Tobeit has tapped leading animation company Bardel Entertainment to produce a teaser, which will debut at MIPTV in April.

“We are extremely excited to work on Hanni and the Wild Woods,” said Bardel’s director of development Tina Chow. “Kids are the reason we make cartoons, so telling a Hanni story with heart that promotes a great message about preserving nature is in keeping with Bardel’s values to inspire and educate the next generation.”

Hanni and the Wild Woods

February 7, 2017
New Pre-K Toon ‘Uma and Devan’ Stars Indian-American Siblings

Toonz Media Group and New York-based Sharmaji Productions have partnered on the production of a full season of Uma and Devan Namaste!, a new animated preschool series that is the first to explore the daily lives of Indian-American families. The show follows sister and brother Uma (age 5) and Devan (almost 4) as they balance growing up in the US while staying true to their Indian heritage.

“For Toonz, it is of utmost importance to find creative and philosophical synergies with our partners, and we found it in Sharmaji Productions,” said Toonz Media Group’s CEO, P. Jayakumar. “Uma and Devan Namaste! is an amazing series which will connect well with kids across the world. We have great hopes for the show and this wonderful collaboration.”

“Namaste,” a respectful greeting meaning “I bow to you,” conveys a message that recognizes and emphasizes the good in each individual – a central focus of the series. As the siblings navigate their multicultural world (with the help of family and friends), each episode highlights important, universal lessons while incorporating aspects of Indian culture. Uma and Devan also encounter the unique cultural practices of their friends, learning to respect and celebrate the diversity within modern America.

The series also features Uma and Devan’s loving family members: their grandparents Dadi and Dadu, first-generation immigrants; their US-born parents; and their eccentric uncle, Mamu. Among the sibling’s planned adventures for the series are making Rangoli, playing cricket, practicing yoga, baking roti and celebrating Holi.

Jayakumar and his team will be at Kidscreen next week to present the series to potential partners. More information is available at umadevannamaste.com.

Uma and Devan

February 7, 2017
Switch VFX & Animation Launches Scholarship Awards

Five Canadian colleges with outstanding animation and visual effects programs have been chosen to grant the Switch VFX & Animation Scholarship Awards — $1,000 per annum financial endowments to be administered by each administration based on criteria developed in coordination with the Toronto-based studio and outlined for each program.

The selected schools, all located in the province of Ontario, are Algonquin College (Ottawa), Centennial College (Toronto), Seneca College (Toronto), St. Clair College (Windsor) and Sheridan College (Toronto).

“We encourage each school to reward a current student with a passion for the work, a well-rounded overall talent, who demonstrates initiative with a collaborative attitude,” said Pete Denomme, Sheridan Alumni and CEO/Executive Producer at Switch. “Cultivating this form of digital artistry is critical to growing our Canadian talent pool and keeping this expressive field alive and thriving. I encourage our colleagues to join us in supporting the future of our industry”.

Details of the Scholarship Awards below. Further inquiries should be directed to school program directors.

Algonquin College – The Switch VFX & Animation Award

Awarded to a student in the Animation Program enrolled in the Faculty of Media and Design who is a team player, hard worker and demonstrates initiative.

Centennial College – The Switch Animation Scholarship

Awarded to a student in their final year of the 3D Animation program who shows academic excellence and is nominated by the instructor. (Student must possess a minimum of a 3.0 GPA in order to qualify.)

Seneca College – Switch Scholarship

Awarded to a third-year student in the 2D Animation stream or the Digital Animation stream of the Animation program. The recipient is a team player who is hardworking and shows initiative. The recipient performs well in animation specific courses or projects.

St. Clair College – Switch VFX & Animation Scholarship

Recipient must be enrolled full time in Animation – 2D/3D Program, must be in the second year of the program, must have a GPA Average of at least 2.0, must be a team player who is hardworking and shows initiative, and shows potential in the well-roundedness of their overall talent.

Sheridan College – Switch VFX & Animation Award

Presented to a student in the Visual Effects program who shows the most potential in the well-roundedness of their overall talent. The student will excel in visual effects.

Sheridan College

February 7, 2017
Daily News Bytes

‘Kubo and the Two Strings’: How LAIKA Made the Thrilling Boat Sequence
IndieWire chats with director and studio head Travis Knight about the film’s most ambitious stop-motion stunts, which have helped earn it Oscar noms for Best Animated Feature and Visual Effects. (You can go behind the scenes of the boat sequence with the clip we posted here.)

VIDEO: ‘My Love Affair with Marriage’ Kickstarter Sample Clip
Check out this peek at the singing Mythology Sirens from Signe Baumane’s new feature project, which will include 23 original songs and interludes from Kristian Sensini and feature the voice of Matthew Modine. Become a back through KickstartMarriageFilm.com.

‘Piper’ and the Development of Pixar’s Presto Sculpting Brush
Supervising TD Brett Levin details the innovative tools that helped bring Alan Barillaro’s Oscar-nominated CG short to life, with plenty of breakdown clips and pics!

‘The Last Unicorn’ Explained: From Tough Sell to Cult Animated Film
Matt Baume of the appropriately named Unicorn Booty delves into the iconic Rankin/Bass feature’s history and legacy. (Feel like watching it again? We just checked: It’s still on Netflix US!)

Car Poised to Be CE’s ‘Fifth Screen’
If the recent CES show was any indication, the next big opportunity for content innovators is on the road: “The lines between couch and car are beginning to blur,” says James Manning Smith, Research Analyst at Futuresource Consulting.

Kubo and the Two Strings

February 7, 2017
Mercury & Cartoon Saloon form Lighthouse Studios

Canada’s Mercury Filmworks and Ireland’s Cartoon Saloon have joined forces to create a new, full-service animation venture: Lighthouse Studios. Based in Kilkenny, Ireland, the studio will create 140 jobs over the next three years of buildup and significantly bolster local animation production by developing kids’ and family TV content for global multiplatform distribution, with a focus on 2D animation projects.

“We have enormous respect for Cartoon Saloon and could not be happier to announce this collaboration. They are one of today’s most creative and well respected animation companies with goals, perspectives, and philosophies that complement our own,” Mercury Filmworks CEO Clint Eland said during the announcement. “Conceived as a studio with its own unique identity, Lighthouse Studios is neither wholly Mercury Filmworks nor Cartoon Saloon, but rather the best parts of each, transplanted in the rich Irish soil and nurtured by its own talented team of artists into a studio with its own unique and distinct creative perspective.”

Lighthouse Studios plans to announced development and production projects as well as a hiring initiative for production management, design, animation, effects, compositing, technical direction, 3D modeling, rigging, lighting and texturing, and IT administration candidates in the coming weeks.

The newly formed studio will provide high quality children’s and family animated content development and end-to-end production services — from script writing, design, storyboard, animation and compositing to post production. Specializing in 2D animation with some CGI integration and utilizing the latest technologies, the studio’s production pipeline will mirror Mercury Filmworks’ operation. Lighthouse Studios will, however, operate autonomously with its own management team, reporting to a Board of Directors comprised of executives from both Mercury Filmworks and Cartoon Saloon.

“All of us at Cartoon Saloon are delighted to be in partnership with Mercury, as we have long admired their work. And now, together, we plan to make Lighthouse Studios and Kilkenny a center of excellence for animation,” added Cartoon Saloon CEO Paul Young. “Ireland enjoys a number of advantages when it comes to animation. The industry is supported by a growing number of educational programs and draws talent from all over Europe due to the quality of projects being produced here. The Irish talent pool has been spilling over into other parts of Europe and North America for years and we look forward to welcoming a lot of that talent home.”

The joint announcement was made in Kilkenny, where Minister for Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation Mary Mitchell O’Connor; Mercury Filmworks CEO Clint Eland; Cartoon Saloon’s CEO Paul Young, Minister of State for Training, Skills and Innovation John Halligan TD; and IDA Ireland CEO Martin Shanahan were joined by a number of local dignitaries and executives and artists from both companies.

“This is terrific news and I warmly welcome the additional 140 jobs which will be created in Kilkenny. I am always keen to pursue as wide a range of Foreign Investment projects as possible and this launch today shows that we have the creative talent to attract companies like Mercury Filmworks to Ireland,” said Mary Mitchell O’Connor. “Ireland has a strong record in film making, including animation, and I have no doubt that this partnership between Mercury Filmworks and Cartoon Saloon will go from strength to strength.”

John Halligan TD agreed:

“This is a really positive development for the South East region. The Government through the Action Plan for Jobs is very focused on ensuring all of Ireland benefit from job creation. This project today shows that we have the capability to attract big international projects, requiring a diverse range of talents, which bring well paid jobs to this region. I know Kilkenny will be a great home for the new venture.”

Lighthouse Studios

February 6, 2017
‘Samurai Jack’ Season 5 Trailer Is Worth the Wait

Adult Swim has unveiled the official trailer for the upcoming fifth, limited season of Genndy Tartakovsky’s cult-hit action-adventure toon Samurai Jack … and it looks awesome. The culmination of Jack’s journey will premiere Saturday, March 11 at 11 p.m. ET during Adult Swim’s Toonami block — 12 ½ years since the original series came to an open-ended conclusion.

As the trailer relates, the new adventures are set 50 years after the events of the original series — yet Jack does not age. Struggling with is identity and rediscovering his purpose, Jack (voiced again by Phil LaMarr) once again faces the villainous forces lead by the shapeshifting demon Aku on the road to finally completing his journey.

With Tartakovsky steering the project, the conclusive season will form a cohesive story that reveals the answers to some of the show’s mysteries and introduces more mature elements.

Samurai Jack

February 6, 2017
Mike Mitchell Is Directing ‘LEGO Movie’ Sequel

Trolls and Shrek Forever After helmer Mike Mitchell has signed on as Master Builder for Warner Animation Group’s The LEGO Movie sequel, replacing formerly attached director Rob Schrab. The outgoing director, who wrote the 2006 animated feature Monster House, reportedly left due to creative difference.

The sequel is slated for release Feb. 8, 2019 from Warner Bros. Pictures, with animation handled by WAG and Animal Logic.

Mitchell’s feature directing credits also include hybrid flicks Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked and The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water; and live-action films Sky High and Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo. His most recent project, DreamWorks Animation’s Trolls, has taken $338 million at the global box office since it opened in November. The colorful family film received four Annie Award nominations, and is up for an Oscar in the Best Original Song category.

The LEGO Movie sequel received a first-draft script from original film directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller, with a rewrite by BoJack Horseman creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg and a latest draft tackled by Matt Fogel, who assisted Lord and Miller during the production of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Lord and Miller are producing with Dan Lin and Roy Lee; executive producers are Jill Wilfert (LEGO Group), Chris McKay and Jinko Gotoh.

Release in 2014, The LEGO Movie was a major hit with both critics and audiences, raking in almost $470 million globally and delighting theatergoers with its slightly silly humor and innovative approach of paying homage to the look of LEGO stop-motion in CG animation. It was nominated for the Best Animated Feature Oscar and won around 70 awards, including the animated feature BAFTA and a writing achievement Annie Award for Lord and Miller.

The LEGO Movie

February 6, 2017
Goya Awards: Alberto Vàzquez Scores Historic Double Win

The 31st Goya Awards ceremony was held Saturday in Madrid, and resulted in a history-making win for animation director Alberto Vàzquez, who can now add to his prize shelf the Goya awards for both Best Animated Short (for Decorado) and Best Animated Feature (Psychonauts, the Forgotten Children).

The Spanish animation prodigy previously won the animated short Goya for Birdboy, whose little protagonist returns in Psychonauts (or Psiconautas locally). Decorado has previously been honored at the Cannes, Annecy and Toronto festivals, and is currently running in competition at Clermont-Ferrand. The short is co-produced by Autour de Minuit (France) and Uniko (Spain).

Adapted from the graphic novel of the same name, Psychonauts has had a successful run around the festival circuit, winning awards at Fantasia and Cinanima and playing in competition at Annecy, BFI, San Sebastian, Ottawa, Zagreb and EFM. The film is written & directed by Vázquez and Pedro Rivera and will be released in France through Eurozoom in May. Psychonauts is produced by Zircozine Animation and Basque Films, co-produced by Abrakam Estudio and La Competencia. Autour de Minuit hold rights for France and Belgium.

Vázquez is currently working on a new feature animation project aimed at teens and adults, Unicorn Wars, which will be pitched at Cartoon Movie in Bordeau next month. The film is a co-production of Uniko, Abano (Spain), Autour de Minuit and Schmuby, a Bordeaux-based company founded by Nicolas Schmerkin and Thibaut Ruby.

Goya Awards: Alberto Vàzquez Scores Historic Double Win

February 6, 2017
9 Story Secures Raft of Sales for ‘Sweet Tweets’ Shorts

9 Story Media Group has inked several agreements to bring animated shorts series Sweet Tweets (32 x 2) to digital platforms around the world. Produced by YetiLABS, a division of Kelowna, BC-based toon studio Yeti Farm Creative, the series engages babies, toddlers and preschoolers with nursery rhymes and original songs.

The series has been picked up by Toon Goggles (US), Curious World (worldwide), Homer (worldwide) and Future Today (worldwide), which join previous licensees Knowledge Network (Canada) and BBC Canada. Sweet Tweets originally premiered on YouTube as a digital-first property.

Sweet Tweets invites young viewers to take flight with a family of adorable birds and their backyard friends, with Momma Tweet, Poppa Sweet and their family of Tweetle Bums always ready to share wonderful stories and catchy songs with the world.

Yeti Farm Creative (www.yetifarmcreative.com) and its digital-first animation production and distribution company YetiLABS are co-founded and run by husband and wife team, Todd (creative) and Ashley (business) Ramsay. The studio operates from a new, 7,000 sq. ft., open concept, state-of- the-art, dark fibre, geothermal studio space in the burgeoning tech district of Kelowna.

Sweet Tweets

February 6, 2017
NFB Closes Its First Cuban TV Deal

The National Film Board of Canada has secured its first television license deal in Cuba, which will see a slate of nine Canadian films air in Spanish-language versions on state TV. Negotiations for the selection of animated shorts, documentaries and one drama were carried out in collaboration with Global Affairs Canada.

“Canada is taking a big role in every way as a welcoming society open to other cultures,” said NFB sales agent Oscar Rangel. “With this agreement, Canada is once again affirming its long-time influence and collaboration in Cuba.”

Included in the agreement are animated shorts Molly in Springtime (directed by Pierre-Luc Granjon, 2009), Poppety in the Fall (Pierre-Luc Granjon and Antoine Lanciaux, 2012) and Rose & Violet (Claude Grosch and Luc Otter, 2011); hybrid Maurice Sendak adaptation Higglety Pigglety Pop! Or There Must Be More to Life (Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski, 2010); documentaries Bone Wind Fire (Jill Sharpe, 2011), Flamenco at 5:15 (Cynthia Scott, 1983), My Village in Nunavik (Bobby Kenuajuak, 1999) and River of Life (Werner Walcher, 2007) and classic feature Mon Oncle Antoine (Claude Jutra, 1971).

The broadcast will coincide with Canada’s participation in the Havana International Book Fair, which is honoring the northerly nation as its official guest country as part of Canada’s 150th Anniversary of Confederation. The fair is a premier cultural event early in the Cuban calendar year, and is expecting more than 600,000 attendees this February 9-19. The NFB will participate in the fair by showcasing 20 films on site.

Molly in Springtime

February 6, 2017
Director Andy Baker Signs on with Friends Electric

Just a fortnight after officially opening its doors in London and LA, Friends Electric announces that experimental animation director Andy Baker has joined its artists’ roster for UK and European representation.

Known for his distinctive, playful 2D animation style, Baker most recently created a funky, tooned-up trip of a spot for Microsoft which harkens back to Max Fleischer’s “Out of the Inkwell” shorts. (You can watch it here.) He has also collaborated with brands such as Vice, Adidas, Vans, Warner Bros. and Marmite, as well as other artists and illustrators.

As part of the Friends Electric cohort, Baker is broadening his creative horizons, working with new technologies to create work for a range of platforms and long-form narratives while continuing to emphasize 2D design and character-driven commercial animation. He is currently working on a “first of its kind” VR promo for a prominent music artist, to be announced.

More at friendselectric.tv/andy-baker.

Andy Baker

February 6, 2017
Daily News Bytes

VIDEO: ‘Psychonauts 2’ Quarry Art Test and Publisher Announcement
Double Fine Prod. celebrates its newly announced partnership with publisher Starbreeze Studios for the next installment of Raz’s videogame adventures with a cool new behind the scenes peek. Starbreeze is providing some funding too, along with Fig backers/investors and Double Fine.

VIDEO: LEGO Batman Has the Most Extravagant Mansion | MTV Cribs: Gotham Edition
Go on a siiiiick animated tour of Wayne Manor with the Dark Minifig and his “roommate,” B-Money. The LEGO Batman Movie arrives in theaters Feb. 10.

7th Magritte Awards Winners [French]
For the second year in a row at the Belgian cinema celebration, an animated film took the Best Foreign Film prize (Michael Dudok de Wit’s The Red Turtle), while Eric Ledune won the Best Animated Short category with Pornography.

Why the Future Is Bright for Anime
Ryan Lamble of Den of Geek UK dives into the vibrant, diverse animation renaissance unfolding in Japan (in spite of some challenges), the worldwide influence of its Old Masters, and the fresh voices coming into their own.

‘Moana’ Animator Says Technology and His Craft Have “Blown Up Like Crazy”
One of this year’s Winsor McCay Award winners, Dale Baer looks back on decades at Disney and ahead to animation’s bright, groundbreaking future.

Psychonauts 2

February 6, 2017
Shout! and DHX Strike Home Deal for ‘Kuu Kuu Harajuku’

Shout! Factory and DHX Media have teamed up to bring Grammy winner Gwen Stefani’s music-driven, street fashion-inspired animated series Kuu Kuu Harajuku to the North American home entertainment market. The deal was announced by Shout! Factory founders Richard Foos, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos; and Mark Shoeman, Territory Manager at DHX Media.

The multi-year agreement grants Shout! exclusive home entertainment distribution rights (DVD and Blu-ray) in the US and Canada to all 26 episodes of the series. A strategic rollout is planned for 2017 through kids & family imprint, Shout! Factory Kids.

“The US market is a huge territory for us and one where Kuu Kuu Harajuku is proving to be widely popular with its audience on Nickelodeon, so it was crucial for us to appoint a strong home entertainment company in the region,” said Shoeman. “Shout! Factory understands the market, and importantly for us, the kids’ sector, and we feel they are the ideal company to take this highly original series beyond broadcast into DVD.”

Kuu Kuu Harajuku follows the fun-loving bandmates of HJ5 — Love, Angel, Music, Baby and G — as they encounter magical adventures in a super cute world full of music, fashion and style. The concept was born out of Stefani’s desire to create an animated series for girls that encourages creative self-expression, imagination and individuality, and is inspired by the street fashion and creative youth culture of Tokyo’s Harajuku district.

Airing on Nickelodeon in the US and Family Channel in Canada, the series is co-created and produced by Moody Street Kids (Australia), Vision Animation (Malaysia) and Gwen Stefani; and commissioned by Network Ten with investment funding from Film Victoria (Australia) and MyCreative Ventures (Malaysia). DHX Media handles international distribution.

Kuu Kuu Harajuku

February 6, 2017
2017 Annie Awards: ‘Zootopia’ Sweeps Top Honors
The 44th Annie Awards were held Saturday night at UCLA’s Royce Hall, toasting the best in animation with a gala ceremony complete with Red Carpet arrivals and presenters with star power.

This year’s biggest winner was Disney’s Zootopia with six awards, including Best Animated Feature and Best Directing in an Animated Feature; with LAIKA’s Kubo and the Two Strings, DreamWorks Trollhunters and Google Spotlight Stories short Pearl each scoring three.

Animation Magazine Editor-in-Chief Tom McLean live blogged the action (including appearances by Winsor McCay recipients Mamoru Oshii, Caroline Leaf and Dale Baer) on our social media feeds, so we’ll just run down the winners for you here.

Congratulations to all this year’s award recipients and their worthy competition!

PRODUCTION CATEGORIES

Best Animated Feature
- Zootopia – Walt Disney Animation Studios
Best Animated Feature – Independent
- The Red Turtle – Studio Ghibli, Wild Bunch, Why Not Productions
Best Animated Special Production
- Pear Cider and Cigarettes – Massive Swerve Studios and Passion Pictures Animation
Best Animated Short Subject
- Piper – Pixar Animation Studios
Best Animated Television/Broadcast Commercial
- Loteria ‘Night Shift’ – Passion Pictures Ltd
Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production For Preschool Children
- Tumble Leaf “Mighty Mud Movers / Having a Ball” – Amazon Studios and Bix Pix Entertainment
Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production For Children
- Adventure Time “Bad Jubies” – Bix Pix Entertainment Cartoon Network Frederator Studios
Best General Audience Animated Television/Broadcast Production
- Bob’s Burgers “Glued, Where’s My Bob?” – Bento Box Entertainment
Best Student Film
- Citipati – Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg
INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT CATEGORIES

Animated Effects in an Animated Production
- Moana – Walt Disney Animation Studios
Head of Effects Animation: Marlon West, Effects Lead: Erin V. Ramos, Effects Lead: Blair Pierpont, Foundation Effects Lead: Ian J. Coony, Effects Lead: John M. Kosnik

Animated Effects in a Live Action Production
- Doctor Strange “Mirror Dimension” – Marvel Studios
FX Supervisor: Georg Kaltenbrunner, Digital Artist: Michael Marcuzzi, Digital Artist: Thomas Bevan, Digital Artist: Andrew Graham, Digital Artist: Jihyun Yoon

Character Animation in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
- DreamWorks Trollhunters “Becoming, Part 1” – DreamWorks Animation Television
Character Animator: Mike Chaffe Characters: Blinky, Aaarrrgghh!!

Character Animation in a Feature Production
- Kubo and the Two Strings – LAIKA
Animator: Jan Maas

Character Animation in a Live Action Production
- The Jungle Book – Walt Disney Pictures
Animation Supervisor: Andrew R. Jones, Animation Supervisor: Peta Bayley, Animation Supervisor: Gabriele Zucchelli, Character Supervisor: Benjamin Jones

Character Animation in a Video Game
- Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End – Naughty Dog
Lead Animators: Jeremy Yates, Almudena Soria, Eric Baldwin, Paul Davies, Tom Bland

Character Design in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
- DreamWorks Trollhunters “Win, Lose or Draal” – DreamWorks Animation Television
Character Designers: Victor Maldonado, Alfredo Torres, Jules Rigolle

Character Design in an Animated Feature Production
- Zootopia – Walt Disney Animation Studios
Character Designer: Cory Loftis

Directing in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
- Pearl – Google Spotlight Stories/Evil Eye Pictures
Director: Patrick Osborne

Outstanding Achievement, Directing in an Animated Feature Production
- Zootopia – Walt Disney Animation Studios
Directors: Byron Howard, Rich Moore

Music in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
- Pearl – Google Spotlight Stories/Evil Eye Pictures
Composer: Scot Stafford, Composer/Lyricist: Alexis Harte, Composer/Lyricist: JJ Wiesler

Music in an Animated Feature Production
- The Little Prince – Netflix and On Animation Studios
Composer: Hans Zimmer, Composer: Richard Harvey, Composer/Lyricist: Camille

Production Design in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
- Pearl – Google Spotlight Stories/Evil Eye Pictures
Production Design: Tuna Bora

Production Design in an Animated Feature Production
- Kubo and the Two Strings – LAIKA
Production Designers: Nelson Lowry, Trevor Dalmer, August Hall, Ean McNamara

Storyboarding in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
- DreamWorks Trollhunters “Win, Lose or Draal” – DreamWorks Animation Television
Storyboard Artist: Hyunjoo Song

Storyboarding in an Animated Feature Production
- Zootopia – Walt Disney Animation Studios
Storyboard Artist: Dean Wellins

Voice Acting in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
- The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show “Ponce de León” – DreamWorks Animation Television
Cast: Carlos Alazraqui as Ponce de León

Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production [TIE]
- Moana – Walt Disney Animation Studios
Voice Actress: Auli’i Cravalho as Moana
- Zootopia – Walt Disney Animation Studios
Voice Actor: Jason Bateman as Nick Wilde

Writing in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
- Bob’s Burgers “The Hormone-iums” – Bento Box Entertainment
Writers: Lizzie Molyneux, Wendy Molyneux

Writing in an Animated Feature Production
- Zootopia – Walt Disney Animation Studios
Writers: Jared Bush, Phil Johnston

Editorial in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
- Disney Mickey Mouse “Sock Burglar” – Disney Television Animation
Lead Editor: Illya Owens

Editorial in an Animated Feature Production
- Kubo and the Two Strings – LAIKA
Edited By: Christopher Murrie

JURIED AWARDS

Winsor McCay Award – for their career contributions to the art of animation
- Dale Baer
- Caroline Leaf
- Mamoru Oshii
Ub Iwerks Award – for technical advancement in the art of animation
- Google Spotlight’s Virtual Reality Platform
Special Achievement Award
- Life, Animated
June Foray Award – for their significant and benevolent or charitable impact on the art and industry of animation
- Bill & Sue Kroyer
Certificate of Merit
- Leslie Ezeh
- Gary Perkovac
Zootopia
February 5, 2017
Backup Films Joins Ari Folman’s ‘Anne Frank’ Film

Paris-based financier/co-production company Backup Films has taken on historical-fiction animated feature Where Is Anne Frank from award-winning director of The Congress and Waltz with Bashir, Ari Folman, Variety reports. Announced in 2013, the 17.5 million euro ($18.8 million USD) project is set to go into production this month.

Where Is Anne Frank is the first movie to be supported by The Anne Frank Fonds Basel, which is allowing Folman exceptional access to the girl’s famous diary, as well as other texts and family archives. As with his animated documentary Waltz with Bashir, which was nominated for the Best Animated Feature Oscar and received the Best Foreign Feature Cesar Award, Folman is crafting a narrative that will provoke audiences to consider the parallels between historic and current events.

The feature is aimed at children and families as well as adults, and follows “Kitty” — the imaginary teenage friend to whom Anne dedicated her diary. Awakening in the near future in the Frank house in Amsterdam, a determined Kitty sets out to find Anne, believing he to still be alive. In her quest she faces the startling world of modern Europe, and discovers Anne’s important legacy.

Where Is Anne Frank is being co-produced by Walking the Dog (Belgium), Submarine (Netherlands) and Prima Linea (France) with Folman’s Bridgit Folman Film Gang (Israel), Entre Chien et Loup (Belgium) and Samsa Films (Luxembourg).

Producer Diana Elbaum and Backup Films founding partner Jean-Baptiste Babin will court buyers at the European Film Market in Berlin; the film is set for delivery in 2019.

Where Is Anne Frank

February 5, 2017
Daily News Bytes

John Cho and Leslie Mann to Host Academy’s Sci-Tech Awards
Stars of Star Trek Beyond and The Comedian will take the stage Feb. 11 to present this year’s 18 awards to 34 individuals and five organizations.

Jennifer Yuh Nelson Made Animation History and Pushed Authenticity in ‘Kung Fu Panda’
In a new video feature “Women in Animation,” The Mary Sue profiles the box office record-breaking director and award-winning animator.

Twitter News: William Shatner MLP Cameo Confirmed
The actor and pop-culture icon has tweeted that he has, in fact, recorded voiceover for a guest appearance in season 7 of My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. Official info on his episode will arrive soon!

“Father of Pac-Man” Japanese Arcade Pioneer Masaya Nakamura Dies at 91
The founder of Namco, now part of Bandai Namco, created the global game sensation released in 1980 and was instrumental in building the company’s global growth.

USP Plans Nigeria’s First Animation Festival
Local company will support and present the first Lagos Int’l Festival of Animation in the city’s iconic Freedom Park venue this June 30 through July 1.

John Cho

February 4, 2017