The end is in sight for the class-action lawsuit that shook up the animation industry. Holdout defendants Disney, Pixar and Lucasfilm (all under The Walt Disney Company umbrella) have reached a $100 million settlement with claimants who say that major animation studios broke antitrust laws by conspiring to set wages for artists and technical employees through non-poaching agreements.
The settlement, which was disclosed in a Tuesday court filing, also covers ImageMovers — now known as Two Pic MC.
Last month, US District Judge Lucy Koh granted preliminary approval for a $50 million settlement proposed by DreamWorks Animation. Previous settlements were reached with Sony Pictures Animation and Imageworks for $13 million, and with Blue Sky for nearly $6 million. All monies will be paid into a settlement fund to be distributed according to a formula available on the suit’s website.
The first suit was filed in 2014 by Robert Nitsch, originating in the discoveries of the 2010 Department of Justice tech industry antitrust action, and later combined with complaints by David Wentworth and Georgia Cano under Judge Koh.
The animators contend that the anti-poaching agreements and resultant wage-fixing originate in the 1980s with an agreement not to court each other’s employees between George Lucas and Ed Catmull, the president of newly formed Pixar. Other influential studios are said to have joined in the conspiracy, which included rules about cold calling, notification of hiring offers and agreements not to increase compensation against counteroffers.
Montreal-based Youth Media Alliance is planning its next big mission to the Kidscreen Summit in Miami, February 13-16, thanks to the renewed support of the Canada Media Fund, Telefilm Canada, SODEC (cultural enterprises development society), Ontario Media Development Corporation, Creative BC, Nova Scotia Business, CMPA’s BC Producers Branch, and the Consulate General of Canada in Miami.
A delegation of more than 350 content creators and Canadian audiovisual industry leaders will be among the 1,700-plus participants expected to attend the teens’ and kids’ on-screen content market from some 50 different countries.
YMA and its partners have organized a networking event for Tuesday, February 14: Canadians can invite their clients to a reception as favorite local hotspot Soya & Pomodoro, conveniently located near the event venue, the InterContinental Hotel.
As part of the ongoing effort to support development and production of Canadian content on a national and international scale, seven roundtable meetings will be open to Summit participants. (Those taking part are also eligible for an accreditation rate discount.)
Also worth noting: the February 16 panel “Encouraging Co-Viewing in the Digital Age” will spotlight Canadian initiatives as producers and broadcasters discuss the best strategies for making kids’ content more appealing to parents as well as children, in a context where viewing time is now divided among different types of screens.
The panel session will be led by John Rooney (consultant, Johnromedia), with Sarah Haasz (director, original production, DHX Media), Michael Hefferon (president and chief creative officer, Rainmaker Entertainment), Tom McGillis (president and executive producer, Fresh TV), and Carlos Soldevila (co-founder, president, and executive producer, Trio Orange).
Host company Unity Technologies has revealed some details for its premiere augment and virtual reality event, Vision VR/AR Summit 2017, set for May 1-2 a the Loews Hollywood. This third edition will again bring together creators, artists, programmers and industry leaders for a two-day conference focused on laying the groundwork and preparing for the future of these fields.
Vision Summit ‘17 will span games, film, art, commercial and interactive experiences, offering attendees focused discussions and sessions looking into the convergence of these mediums, and what these crossovers mean for content creators in this new, evolving space.
“We’re at a crossroads, and the way that we experience entertainment, of all kinds, is going to dramatically change over the next five years,” said Tony Parisi, Head of VR/AR Strategy, Unity Technologies. “Vision Summit is focused on helping VR professionals navigate and define how technology, storytelling and consumer expectations will converge. It’s exciting creating the future, and this is going to be the place to be.”
Early bird passes are now available through visionsummit2017.com; and the Summit is accepting speaker proposals.
Paris-based producer-distributor GO-N Productions has secured a raft of new pickups by international broadcasters for the fourth season of its animated comedy series, Tootuff (75 x 7 + 22-min. special). Now onboard are Clan RTVE (Spain), RTBF (Belgium), Noga (Israel), ITI Neovision (Poland), GUC Digital (Turkey) and TV5 Worldwide.
The digital 2D series is based on the best-selling comic-books series created by ZEP and published by Editions Glénat, which has sold 27 million copies to-date. Currently on air, Tootuff season 4 is produced by GO-N with the participation of France Televisions, Lagardere Group (France) and RTS (Switzerland).
“The new series Tootuff has been written and produced by the creative team of GO-N, in collaboration with ZEP the original author of the comic books, and with smart and full of heart stories, in keeping with the essential core of the comic books character,” noted Marie Congé, Had of Sales and Business Development at GO-N International. “And we are very pleased that international broadcasters are convinced by this fresh and new adaptation of the cult comic series.”
In the fourth season, Tootuff is the same troublesome 10-year-old boy with an unruly blond quiff and a knack for driving his parents, teachers and friends crazy with his pranks. The new episodes introduce a colorful cast of fresh characters, such as naive Theresa and Romuald “The Mutant.” And Tootuff’s former dream girl, Nadia, has serious competition when the lovely and charming young refugee Ramatou joins their class.
The 6th Annual Made in Hollywood Honors will be bestowed on live-action awards darling La La Land and Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Moana and Zootopia. Sponsored by the Los Angeles City Council and six major entertainment organizations, the MIHH recognize Oscar-nominated films that support production in Hollywood and throughout California.
The honors ceremony will be held February 16 at its permanent venue, the Heart of Hollywood Terrace, which stands on the historic Vine Street site of the Hollywood Brown Derby. Red Carpet arrivals will begin at 8:15 a.m., with the ceremony, hosted by LA City Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell, set for 9 a.m. sharp.
The MIHH program celebrates films nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture or Best Animated Feature produced and filmed in California. Since its inception in 2011, five of the MIHH honoree films have gone on to win in these Oscar categories: animated features Frozen (Disney), Big Hero 6 (Disney) and Inside Out (Pixar); The Artist and Argo.
MIHH also issues an annual Lifetime Contribution to Hollywood Honor, which last year went to five-time Oscar-winning composer/conductor John Williams (Star Wars, Harry Potter & Jurassic Park franchises), in recognition of his lifetime support of Hollywood’s music community and his 50th Oscar nomination. The 2017 recipient will be announced soon.
Joined with the LA City Council in sponsorship of the event are SAG-AFTRA, the California Film Commission, FilmL.A., Teamsters Local 399, the Film Musicians Secondary Markets Fund, and the Producers Guild of America, with partner and co-sponsor 1600 VINE and its managing partner, Klein Financial Corporation.
MIHH also presents a summer ceremony honoring the year’s Emmy-nominated TV programs produced in California.
Award season rolls on, and Animation Magazine is excited to bring you an exclusive announcement of the nominees in all three animation categories for Nickelodeon’s 2017 Kids’ Choice Awards! Voting begins today, with kids invited to cast their ballots across 28 categories (including 9 new ones) on Nickelodeon’s digital platforms, including Nick.com and the Nick app.
This year’s awards show on Saturday, March 11 at 8 p.m. ET/PT will be hosted by a powerful personality, with WWE Superstar John Cena taking the stage and doling out the slime. Fans can check out videos, the KCA Creator game, quizzes, pictures and news at nick.com/kca17, and stay up-to-date by following Nick on Facebook and @Nickelodeon on Twitter and Instagram.
And now, drum-roll please for the animation nominees…
Favorite Cartoon ALVINNN!!! and The Chipmunks SpongeBob SquarePants Teen Titans Go! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles The Amazing World of Gumball The Loud House
Favorite Animated Movie Finding Dory Moana Sing The Secret Life of Pets Trolls Zootopia
Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie Ellen DeGeneres (Dory, Finding Dory) Kevin Hart (Snowball, The Secret Life of Pets) Dwayne Johnson (Maui, Moana) Anna Kendrick (Poppy, Trolls) Justin Timberlake (Branch, Trolls) Reese Witherspoon (Rosita, Sing)
Marking the start of Black History Month in the US, African-American animator Brandon Lake’s new stop-motion short Tin is having its exclusive online premiere February 1, through KQED’s Vimeo channel. Featuring music composed by Justin Bell (Cloud Atlas, Sense 8), the bittersweet film takes viewers into the world of 1950s jazz and one man’s mourning for a lost love.
Lake, an animator at acclaimed stop-motion house Stoopid Buddy Stoodios working on Robot Chicken (Adult Swim) and SuperMansion (Crackle), was raised in LA in a lively Anguillian household. As a child, he listened to the wild adventures of Anansi the spider and other Caribbean folktales, which fed his lifelong interest in storytelling and inspired him to create worlds of his own. The USC graduate strives to bring his personal experiences and unique voice to the diverse field of animation.
You can see more of Lake’s work on his website, brandonlake.com.
Tin is being showcased through KQED’s national public TV series Film School Shorts, which broadcasts a wide variety of short films from vibrant young filmmakers to 88% of the US.
Warner Bros. Animation is whetting fan appetites for the next exciting installment of Justice League Action with a new clip and stills from new episode “Zombie King.” Written by Paul Dini, the latest Justice League adventure premieres Saturday, February 4 at 7:30 a.m. on Cartoon Network.
Synopsis: When Grundy escapes his Louisiana prison, intent on using a magical crystal to raise an army of the dead from their graves, only Batman and Swamp Thing (voiced by Mark Hamill) stand in the way of his growing zombie army.
Original Force Animation co-Presidents Sandra Rabins and Penney Finkelman Cox, and CEO/Founder Harley Zhao, have appointed GFM Animation and GFM Films to handle international sales and distribution for their first wholly owned animated feature, Duck Duck Goose.
Currently in production, the project will be presented to distributors at the European Film Market in Berlin next month, where Finkelman Cox and Rabins will screen extended footage.
“We first met Sandra and Penney in 2013 on another project and were impressed by their calm and focused professionalism and extensive knowledge of every facet of the animation industry — not surprising when you look at their extraordinary careers and previous slate of ultra successful movies!” said GFM partners Michael Ryan and Guy Collins. “We are truly thrilled to be re-united and work with Harley and the team at Original Force Animation on Duck Duck Goose and were, with the rest of our marketing and sales colleagues, blown away by the footage shown to us in November [at AFM]. This is exactly what GFM Animation was created for, to work with seasoned, successful producers to bring studio quality animation to the independent marketplace.”
Duck Duck Goose is a heartfelt, humorous family adventure co-written and directed by Christopher Jenkins (producer, Home and Surf’s Up; animator, The Lion King, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast) and features a celebrity voice cast including Jim Gaffigan, Zendaya, Lance Lim, Greg Proops, Reggie Watts, Carl Reiner, Jennifer Grey, Stephen Fry, Natasha Leggero, Diedrich Bader, Rick Overton and Craig Ferguson. Rob Muir (Trouble) is co-writer with Jenkins.
The film was developed at Original Force Animation’s Culver City Studios and is the first of a slate of animated features produced by Rabins and Finkelman Cox for the company. Rabins and Finkelman Cox, who formerly oversaw DreamWorks Animation and Sony Pictures Animation, have previously produced/executive produced The Prince of Egypt, Antz and Shrek, and were responsible for the development of SPA’s Surf’s Up, Open Season, Hotel Transylvania and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.
“We are enormously proud of Duck Duck Goose. The movie has been so beautifully brought to life by an extraordinary cast and talented crew,” said the producers. “We know when audiences in Berlin begin to see the footage, they will connect with the story and the emotionally compelling and beautifully rendered characters that we can laugh with, worry about and truly care for.”
Founded by Zhao in 1999, Original Force currently has 1,300 employees at its head office in Nanjing and has established itself as a top CG studio in China. The company launched its feature division in 2015.
Synopsis: Duck Duck Goose is a comedic story of the most unlikely family ever. High-flying bachelor Peng (Gaffigan) rejects the community of his tight-knit flock of geese in an attempt to live life on his own terms. But after he narrowly rescues two young ducklings, Chi and Chao (Zendaya and Lim), from an eccentric but deadly cat named Banzou (Proops), the two latch onto the goose like a parent. Injured and unable to fly, with a severe winter and the departure of both their flocks on the way, Peng agrees to look after the ducklings. The makeshift trio embarks on a beautiful and dangerous journey through mountains and lakes, bamboo forests, marble caves and deep river valleys to reach their respective flocks. Along the way, Peng must learn to care for the two ducklings despite his independent and carefree attitude, all the while evading the hungry and relentless cat.
Global Screen has picked up worldwide distribution rights to English-language 3D animated feature Capt’n Sharky, based on the popular book series by German author Jutta Langreuter and illustrated by Silvio Neuendorf. The little pirate’s adventures have been published in several countries and become one of Germany’s most successful kids’ brands, with hundreds of licensed products.
This first Capt’n Sharky feature film is a daring adventure from family entertainment specialist Caligari Film, full of humor, magic, friendship, and carrying a message about what it means to be a hero. Due for delivery this fall, Global Screen will begin pre-selling the film at EFM next month.
Synopsis: Pint-sized swashbuckler Capt’n Sharky thinks he’s the most dangerous pirate on the Seven Seas. To prove his bravery, he sets sail with Mikey, a well-behaved boy whose life Sharky has turned upside down, and Bonnie, a troubleshooting girl who tends to assume command in every situation. Together, this motley crew sails for big adventures as they thwart the plans of The Admiral and Old Bill the Pirate…
Corus Entertainment’s Teletoon will debut Radical Sheep Productions’ brand-new animated comedy series The Bagel and Becky Show on Monday, February 6, with the toon set to air daily at 4:30 p.m. ET/PT. The show is based on the book Bagel’s Lucky Hat from PigGoatBananaCricket creator Dave Cooper.
The Bagel and Becky Show is a bugged-out, offbeat comedy for kids 6-11 that follows mismatched siblings Bagel, voiced by Kevin McDonald (Kids in the Hall, Phineas and Ferb), and his sister Becky, voiced by Nikki Payne (Last Comic Standing, Satisfaction), as they explore their neighborhood of Awkward Hills and stumble into whack-loads of outlandish situations.
“The Bagel and Becky Show is a super charged, full of energy show. We have had a blast making it.” says Michelle Melanson Cuperus, President, Radical Sheep. “And we are thrilled to be supported on this creative journey by Teletoon and BBC Worldwide. We know we have something really funny and very special.”
The series is produced by Radical Sheep Prod. with Melanson Cuperus and John Leitch serving as executive producers, Doug Hadders and Adam Rotstein (Inspector Gadget, Camp Lakebottom) as co-executive producers, and Heather Wilson and Nadine Henry as producers. Animation services are provided by Jam Filled Entertainment — which alongside Radical Sheep is a division of Boat Rocker Media. BBC Worldwide has picked up worldwide rights in all media.
Beijing- and Hollywood-based film and TV animation studio DreamEast Pictures has secured a global distribution deal with Jetpack Distribution for 2D adventure-comedy series, Valt the Wonder Deer, which reimagines the ancient Chinese myth of the nine-colored deer for a global audience.
The agreement includes the completed 52-episode first season for distribution in both English and Mandarin in all Jetpack’s territories excluding China, where it recently debuted on BTV Kaku Kids Channel and streaming service TenCent, garnering over 9 million views in its first two weeks.
“We specifically created Valt the Wonder Deer with an international audience in mind, blending the best of Hollywood and Chinese storytelling to tell a story with universal appeal,” said Yuan “Phabey” Wang, CEO, DreamEast Pictures USA. “Partnering with Jetpack will bring Valt and its adventurous stories of courage, friendship and love to kids everywhere.”
Valt the Wonder Deer follows Valt and his friends as they encounter funny moments, scary trials and plenty of adventure on their journey to obtain the power of the Five Magic Elements and rescue his trapped parents, the Deer King and Queen, from the comically evil overlords of the Land of Metal. The show uses the group’s journey and experiences to demonstrate themes of love, courage, friendship and responsibility to its young viewers.
Work on the series began in 2015 under executive producer John Andrews (Beavis & Butt-head, Daria, Aeon Flux), creative director Ron Myrick (Skylanders, Ben 10, Incredible Hulk), character designer Buck Lewis (Gnomeo & Juliet, Alvin & The Chipmunks, Kung Fu Panda), head writer Ann Austen (Power Rangers, NFL Rush Zone, Lalaloopsy), art director Michael Rose (Ice Age, Dragons: Riders of Berk, Beavis & Butt-head Do America) and musician/composer Scott Healey.
“I’m excited to work with a DreamEast, a company using an innovative way to globally scale by building a project from the ground up that appeals to kids across all cultures,” said Jetpack Distribution founder Dominic Gardiner.
Jetpack is a UK-based independent kids and family content distributor with a catalog including Outfit7’s Talking Tom and Friends, BES Animation’s Kitty Is Not a Cat! and Samka’s The Sisters.
Silvergate Media has appointed Lisa Macdonald as its Vice President of Europe, the Middle East and Africa. In this role, she will manage the company’s business across the region, including broadcast sales, secondary licensing and brand partnerships.
“We’re thrilled Lisa will spearhead our business across EMEA as we enter a new growth phase,” said Ron Allen, SVP of Commercial at Silvergate Media. “Lisa’s reputation in the industry is second-to-none, and we’re excited to have one of the most creative, strategic and results-driven people in the industry on board.”
Macdonald joins Silvergate from Sanrio, where she was key to growing the Mister Men property within and beyond the EMEA region. She previously worked at Chorion, charged with expanding its brands in key European territories.
Silvergate, which produces the globally popular preschool series Octonauts, has also recently hired a new Chief Financial Officer: film and animation industry veteran Jeff Farnath. Most recently CFO of Thrillist Media Group, Farnath also held this title at Walt Disney Studios Latin America, Classic Media and LAIKA (formerly Vinton Studios), where he was also CEO.
According to Silvergate CEO Waheed Alli, Farnath will play a key role in the company’s investment and growth of the international reach of its properties and building on its production capabilities, tapping his experience in production, international distribution, licensing, digital publishing and e-commerce.
National cinema advertising leader Screenvision Media, in association with event cinema creators KAOS Connect, have formed an exclusive alliance with Crunchyroll to bring fans quarterly anime event theatrical programs in 2017. “Anime Movie Night,” presented by Crunchyroll, with feature top new and classic TV and film titles.
The first Anime Movie Night slated for April, with at least three to follow throughout the year. Each screening extravaganza will feature a selection of episodes or full-length features for a larger-than-life anime fan experience. Attendees will also be treated to behind-the-scenes content about the featured titles.
“As demand for anime continues to grow in the US and around the world, it’s a thrill to have the opportunity to bring the latest hits, as well as the anime that fans know and love, into theaters – often for the very first time. We want to create new ways for fans to come together and share the experience of the content they love, and cinema is the perfect medium,” said Kun Gao, General Manager of Crunchyroll. “Screenvision Media and KAOS Connect have been the perfect partners for the debut of ‘Anime Movie Night’ based on their respective strongholds in the impactful arena of cinema.”
Crunchyroll currently offers viewers over 25,000 episodes and 15,000 hours of officially licensed content from leading Japanese producers. With professional translations in multiple languages available, content arrives on Crunchyroll within minutes of Japanese TV broadcast, ready to watch via mobile, connected TV and game console apps as well as online.
‘Rick and Morty’-esque Animation Will Make You Appreciate Your Morning Routine
Joseph Bennett and Charles Huettner’s bizarre and beautiful sci-fi short Scavengers centers on two interstellar colonists as they complete a series of truly strange rituals with alien flora and fauna in an animated world with echos of Miyazaki, Moebius, Wizards and Aeon Flux.
Animation Dingle: Official Selection 2017
Home turf toons by Irish animators are joined by entries from the UK, US, Canada, Taiwan, Bulgaria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Sweden and Poland for this year’s festival — taking place March 24 & 25.
Funko Buys Underground Toys Limited
As part of the deal, Underground Toys MD Andy Oddie will now manage Funko’s EMEA business. Based in London, UT’s licensed brands include Star Wars, Marvel, WWE and DC Comics.
Local Unions to Rally in Support of SAG-AFTRA Video Game Strike
Over 100 days into the strike, the action’s biggest rally to-date is materializing for Thursday in LA as members of the Writers Guild, Teamsters Local 399, the American Federation of Musicians and reps from LA County Federation of Labor plan to join.
Thousands Demand Disney CEO Bob Iger Speak Out Against Trump Travel Ban
Over 90k concerned persons have signed the SumOfUs petition which declares Iger and other presidential advisors who have failed to speak out against the Executive Order are “complicit in the violence his administration is creating.”
Multiplatform media company Shout! Factory has struck a deal with London-based producer/licensor/distributor Animatsu Entertainment to distribute animated feature In This Corner of the World in North America. Shout! has secured all rights to the film, including theatrical, VOD, digital, broadcast and home entertainment for cross-platform releases in the US and Canada.
“Shout! Factory is a fantastic partner for this film. We were incredibly impressed by their work on Long Way North, and have been fans of their commitment to content curation and serious film and television fans in North America for a long time,” said Jerome Mazandarani, COO of Animatsu Ent. “It’s been clear throughout our discussions with the team that we couldn’t find a more committed and passionate company to handle this beautifully delicate film.”
Animatsu’s Head of Acquisitions & Marketing, Andrew Hewson, commented:
“This truly is a unique and exquisite film, one which only comes around once every few decades, and we are incredibly proud to be involved with it. Unique films deserve unique partners and Shout! Factory are an absolute perfect match given their passion, expertise and back catalogue of releases.”
Based on the award-winning manga by Fumiyo Kouno, In This Corner of the World is written and directed by Sunao Katabuchi, who began his career working with Hayao Miyazaki before directing his own films, including Mai Mai Miracle and Princess Arete. Produced by GENCO and Japanese studio MAPPA, the coming-of-age tale carries messages of resilience and the triumph of the human spirit, wrought with hand-drawn animation. Masao Maruyama (MAPPA) and Taro Maki (GENCO) produced the film, which features original music by Kotringo.
“We couldn’t be more excited and honored about this new opportunity with Animatsu, Sunao, GENCO and MAPPA animation studio. Beautiful and deeply moving, In This Corner of the World is a captivating, socially relevant film that will impact everyone who sees it,” said Melissa Boag, SVP of Kids & Family Entertainment at Shout! Factory. “We look forward to presenting this remarkable hand-drawn animated film to animation enthusiasts and North American movie audiences this year.”
“Here is a film to celebrate. At once heartbreaking and inspiring, light and melancholy, it’s a profoundly intimate work with dimensional characters persevering and finding their humanity in the most challenging of circumstances,” said Shout!’s VP of Acquisitions, Jordan Fields. “Sunao Katabuchi has created an instant classic.”
The film has previously secured distribution in other key territories following successful presentations at Annecy and AFM.
Synopsis: In This Corner of the World follows a young lady named Suzu Urano, who in 1944 moves to the small town of Kure in Hiroshima to live with her husband’s family. Suzu’s life is thrown into chaos when her town is bombed during World War II. Her perseverance and courage underpin this heart-warming and inspirational tale of the everyday challenges faced by the Japanese in the midst of a violent, war-torn country. This beautiful yet poignant tale shows that even in the face of adversity and loss, people can come together and rebuild their lives.
Disney Channel has dated the small-screen debut of the all-new animated movie and TV series set in the world of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Tangled. Taking place between the story events of the original feature and the short Tangled Ever After, the Disney Channel Original Movie Tangled Before Ever After debuts Friday, March 10 at 8 p.m. ET, leading into the premiere of Tangled: The Series on Friday, March 24 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
The new Tangled tales feature stars Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi reprising their roles as Rapunzel and Eugene — the charmer formerly known as Flynn Rider. Both the movie and series will have same-day launches on Disney Channel VOD platforms, and will roll out worldwide in 162 countries following their US debut.
Rapunzel & Co. will also appear in new print and e-book titles (including original middle grade series by Leila Howland) from Disney Publishing; Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media will debut new playsets, dolls, role-play, apparel and accessories later this Fall at Disney Store and all other retailers; the singles “Wind in My Hair” performed by Mandy Moore and “Life After Happily Ever After” performed by Moore, Zachary Levi and Clancy Brown releasing on February 10 and March 10, respectively, from Walt Disney Records, and a DVD of the TV movie and four animated shorts releasing April 11 by Disney Studios.
The vibrant, energetic new adventure-comedy animation projects unfold as Rapunzel gets to know her parents, kingdom, and the people of Corona. With her irrepressible spirit and natural curiosity, she realizes there is a lot to learn about the world and herself before she can assume her role as Princess. Along for the ride are beloved Tangled characters including loyal chameleon Pascal, no-nonsense horse Maximus, and the Snuggly Duckling Pub Thugs.
In Tangled Before Ever After, Rapunzel grapples with the responsibilities of being a princess and the overprotective ways of her father. While she wholeheartedly loves Eugene, Rapunzel does not share his immediate desire to get married and settle down within the castle walls. Determined to live life on her own terms, she and her tough-as-nails Lady-in-Waiting Cassandra (voiced by Broadway’s Eden Espinosa) embark on a secret adventure where they encounter mystical rocks that magically cause Rapunzel’s long blonde hair to grow back. Impossible to break and difficult to hide, Rapunzel must learn to embrace her hair and all that it represents.
Starring alongside Moore, Levi and Espinosa are Julie Bowen (Modern Family) as Rapunzel’s mother, Queen Arianna, and Clancy Brown (Shawshank Redemption) as her father, King Frederic.
The recurring guest voice cast includes: Jeffrey Tambor as Big Nose, Sean Hayes as Pete the Guard, Jeremy Jordan as teen alchemist Varian, comedian Jeff Ross as Hook Hand’s brother Hook Foot, Richard Kind as Uncle Monty, Paul F. Tompkins as Shorty; Jonathan Banks as Varian’s father, Quirin; Peter MacNicol as Nigel the Advisor; Diedrich Bader as Stan the Guard; M.C. Gainey as Captain of the Guards; Laura Benanti as Lady Caine; Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as blacksmith Xavier; Pat Carroll as Old Lady Crowley; Charles Halford as Vladimir; Steve Blum as Attila Buckethead; and James Monroe Iglehart as Eugene’s friend Lance Strongbow.
Produced by Disney Television Animation, Tangled: The Series was developed by animation veterans Chris Sonnenburg (Enchanted) and Shane Prigmore (The LEGO Movie). Sonnenburg serves as executive producer and supervising director; Benjamin Balistreri (How to Train Your Dragon) is supervising producer; Jase Ricci (Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero) is story editor; and Alan Bodner (The Iron Giant) is art director. Celebrated artist Claire Keane (Frozen, Tangled), who painted Rapunzel’s tower murals in the feature film, is the series’ Visual Development Artist.
The series features songs by Academy Award-winning Disney Legend Alan Menken and lyricist Glenn Slater. Emmy Award-winning Kevin Kliesch (Tangled Ever After) serves as score composer.
Tangled Before Ever After (Photo credit: Disney Channel 2017)
CarpeDiem Film & TV announces that its 3D, stereoscopic animated feature Snowtime! will receive a theatrical release in China on April 1, following its premiere last week in Shanghai. The debut event was attended by producer Marie-Claude Beauchamp, Telefilm Canada General Director Carolle Brabant, and the Honorable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage.
The premiere was preceded by a press conference where top members of the Chinese cinema industry confirmed their support and dedication to making the film a success. An audience of 400 attended the screening, 250 of them local children. The event also featured an organized snowball fight and mascot meet-and-greet with “Cleo.”
Snowtime! received a localized dub featuring some of China’s most-recognized Chinese voice actors, and the film’s songs were reinterpreted by local music stars such as TF Boys and Lu Han. For the national release, the film was imported by China Film Group Corporation and distributed by China Film Co. Ltd. in collaboration with Renart Pictures International.
“Congratulations to CarpeDiem Film & TV for this Snowtime! premiere in China,” said Brabant. “Given the importance of exporting our Canadian content to reach international audiences, this campaign is excellent news for our industry.”
“As the Minister responsible for Canadian Heritage and as a fan of this wonderful local story, I was delighted to have the opportunity to attend this preview in China,” said Joly. “I am always pleased and proud when Canadian productions capture the hearts of movie lovers around the world—it’s a reflection of the excellence of Canada’s creative sector.”
Snowtime! is an animated reinterpretation of Quebecois classic La Guerre des Tuques, written by Normand Canac-Marquis & Paul Risacher, with CarpeDiem President Beauchamp as producer and Rock Demers as associate producer.
Snowtime! Sets Chinese Theatrical ReleaseSnowtime! Sets Chinese Theatrical ReleaseSnowtime! Sets Chinese Theatrical Release
Indie kids’ production and rights company Hoho Entertainment has commenced production on brand new animated preschool series Shane the Chef (52 x 11) for Channel 5’s Milkshake! Produced entirely in the UK, the foody adventures are being animated by Cloth Cat Animation in Cardiff.
“We’ve very excited to be collaborating with Hoho Entertainment on Shane the Chef,” said Jon Rennie, Managing Director at Cloth Cat. “The fact that Hoho have decided to place all the animation work in Cardiff is a resounding vote of confidence in Cloth Cat and the talent and skills available in Wales.”
Shane the Chef has received production funding from Creative Europe, and is supported by the Children’s Food Trust. Already attracting attention from international broadcasters, the series’ first episodes will be delivered this fall.
Created by Andrew Wildman and Simon Jowett, Shane the Chef will feature the epicurean exploits of ambitious chef Shane and daughter Izzy, who run a restaurant in the town of Munchington. Every day is a recipe for adventure for Shane and Izzy — whether it’s trying to build the biggest baguette for a world record, finding wild herbs in the woods or growing large vegetables for the village county fair, Shane’s firm belief is that, when it comes to food, “fresh is best.”
“We can’t wait to put on our aprons, roll up our sleeves and start mixing the ingredients to make Shane the Chef a great success,” said Oliver Ellis, Joint Managing Director at Hoho. “It’s the perfect recipe for children to explore fresh food and healthy eating.”
Sarah Muller, Head of Children’s for Channel 5, added:
“It is really exciting to be supporting such an ambitious UK animated series which so directly engages our audience with food.”
The 44th Annual Annie Awards will kick off on Saturday, February 4 with a ceremony honoring the year’s best in animation. ASIFA-Hollywood has announced that this year’s presenters will include a mix of glittering names from within and without the animation community.
The lineup includes former L.A. Lakers basketball legend Kobe Bryant, actress Jenna Elfman, animator-director Patrick Osborne, Moana voice star Auli’i Cravalho, animator-author-illustrator Glen Keane, actor and comedian Tom Kenny, nominated directors Travis Knight (Kubo and the Two Strings) and Michael Dudok de Wit (The Red Turtle), comedian Stephen Kramer Glickman, and actress Chelsea Kane.
“The run up to the Annie Awards is always exciting,” said ASIFA-Hollywood Executive Director, Frank Gladstone. “As the voting process concludes and ceremony preparations go into the final stage, the anticipation really builds for the big reveals. 2016 saw a wide variety and sheer number of projects. It was a banner year for animation, and it looks like it will be a banner year for the Annies as well.”
This year’s event will present awards in 36 categories, including Best Animated Feature (Finding Dory, Kubo, Kung Fu Panda 3, Moana and Zootopia) and Best Animated Feature – Independent (Long Way North, Miss Hokusai, My Life as a Zucchini, The Red Turtle and Your Name.) See the full list of nominees announced in November here.
The 44th Annie Awards will also present Juried Awards honoring career achievement and exceptional contributions to animation. All three 2017 Winsor McCay career contributions award recipients will be attending the ceremony: animator Dale Baer, indie animation champion Caroline Leaf, and influential anime director Mamoru Oshii. The Ub Iwerks Award for technical advancement will go to Google Spotlight’s Virtual Reality Platform, and the Special Achievement Award will go to the documentary Life, Animated. The June Foray Award for community contribution will be presented to Bill & Sue Kroyer. And Certificate of Merit awards will be given to ASIFA-Hollywood volunteer coordinator Leslie Ezeh, and ASIFA-Hollywood office manager Gary Perkovac.
The black-tie event will begin at 5 with Red Carpet arrivals and a VIP champagne reception, and the Annie Awards ceremony will stream live beginning at 7 p.m. PT on Feb. 4 via annieawards.org/watch-it-live. Complete event details available here.
