FX Sets Premiere Date for ‘Archer’
The network announced dates for Archer season 8 (April 5 at 10 p.m. on FXX), The Americans and Feud: Bette and Joan.
Viacom CEO Bob Bakish Gets $20M Annual Pay Package
The new permanent CEO’s modest compensation was revealed in a regulatory filing Wednesday, which cited a three-year contract period through the end of 2019.
Nickelodeon to Open Undersea Attraction in Asia
VIMN is collaborating with Coral World Park Undersea Resorts for a new resort and attraction in the Philippines, set to trap happy families under the waves in 2020.
BBC Withdrawing Channels in Latin America
Flagship channels BBC Entertainment, CBeebies and BBC Earth will go dark in the market in April, as BBC Worldwide prepares to refocus on OTT and licensing in the region.
Rights owner Coolabi Group is now in production on a second season of its international multi-award-winning preschool series Clangers, set to debut on CBeebies in the UK this year. The new 26 x 11 season will bring the episode total to 78.
“We are over the moon to welcome the Clangers back to CBeebies,” said Jackie Edwards, Head of BBC Children’s acquisitions and independent animation. ”This beautiful program has an enduring magic that enchants today’s audience, and the warmth and kindness of Clangers are both comfort and examples to us all!”
Season 2 of Clangers once again features narration by Monty Python’s Michael Palin and follow the adventures of Major, Mother, Small, Tiny and Granny Clanger as well as their friends the Iron Chicken, Soup Dragon, Sky Moos, the Eggbots and more.
The new season will be made at Factory studio (Scream Street), with original series creator Daniel Firmin and Daniel Postgate (son of co-creator Oliver Postgate) as executive producers — Firmin is contributing to the show’s design, and the recently BAFTA-nominated Postgate is writing scripts and stories. Grammy winner John du Prez (Spamalot) is composing the score.
Since the updated kids’ classic first launched on CBeebies in June 2015, the show has been a hit with parents, youngsters and fans of the original stop-motion series. Among its many accolades are the 2015 BAFTA for Best Pre-School Animation and Broadcast Best Pre-School Programme.
Clangers is co-produced by CBeebies, Coolabi Group and Smallfilms with BBC Worldwide for its international channels. BBCW is also the show’s global distributor.
Pepperidge Farm and the New York International Children’s Film Festival have partnered to present the Goldfish Tales Animation Xperience Contest, encouraging families across the US to create and submit stop-motion animation videos starring the crunchy snack characters. The contest is hosted through goldfishsmiles.com and runs through February 27.
With the help of tutorials created by NYICFF and the Goldfish team (and inspiration from the co-hosted “Get Animated! Workshop” in September), young ones and their caretakers can get creative and enter their 60-second animations for a shot at national recognition and cool prizes.
“This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Festival, which presents the best new films from around the world to kids and teens,” said Nina Guralnick, Executive Director, NYICFF. “We are excited to have Goldfish Colors as a partner this year as we recognize that Goldfish shares our appreciation for celebrating connecting families through creativity and imagination. We are excited to see the films families create through the Goldfish Tales Animation Xperience Contest.”
Goldfish Colors is a first-time lead sponsor of the 2017 NYICFF (Feb. 24-March 19), and will provide on-site activities and free samples during the event.
“The partnership was built on a desire to bring families together through the art of filmmaking, by using the very thing that is often a distraction to family-time: our phones,” said Chris Foley, SVP/CMO, Pepperidge Farm. “By using accessible technology, and a bit of creativity, Goldfish and New York International Children’s Film Festival will provide families all the tools they need to become master animators and create something new, together.”
Submissions will be reviewed by an independent judging committee — including a NYICFF member and a Goldfish brand representative. An online awards show will take place April 21 to announce the four grand prize winners (Best Use of Goldfish, Best Story, Best Film by Up-and-Coming Animators, Best Overall Film), who will each receive $5,000, and 12 nominee prizes: an Animation Xperience cinch bag, Goldfish Colors crackers, an octopus style portable tripod, and a DVD from Stoopid Buddy Stoodios.
Y&R developed the integrated campaign for the Goldfish Tales Animation Xperience Contest, including stop-motion workshops, how-to videos, homemade animation and the film contest.
The Oscar-qualifying New York International Children’s Film Festival has announced the opening weekend lineup for its 2017 event. The 20th anniversary edition runs February 24 through March 19, presenting the nation’s largest film festival for kids and teens and showcasing animated, live-action, documentary and experimental shorts and features from about 30 countries.
Tickets are on sale Jan. 18 for members and Jan. 24 for the public through nyicff.org.
The festival’s Opening Weekend features a trio of acclaimed animated features: Claude Barras’ My Life as a Zucchini, Jakob Schuh & Jan Lachauer’s Revolting Rhymes and Makoto Shinkai’s Your Name.
February 24:
My Life as a Zucchini, dir. Claude Barras (Switzerland/France)
East Coast premiere, in English. Recommended ages 11+.
“Zucchini” may sound like a weird name, but after the accidental death of his mother, the nickname is all the nine-year-old has left of her. The kids at his new group home seem to understand and, though hesitant at first, Zucchini soon finds himself part of their close-knit, makeshift family. So upon the arrival of latest newcomer Camille, he is quick to offer his own warm welcome. But when Camille’s greedy aunt tries to take her away, Zucchini and his newfound friends must find a way to stay together. With its beautifully expressive stop-motion style, My Life as a Zucchini tackles sometimes heavy subject matter with a light touch, conveying the children’s perseverance through precarious circumstances through the matter-of-fact lens of childhood.
Revolting Rhymes, dir. Jakob Schuh & Jan Lachauer (UK)
North American premiere, in English. Recommended ages 6+.
Forget everything you thought you knew about Little Red Riding Hood. And Cinderella. And the Three Little Pigs… In “Revolting Rhymes,” Roald Dahl reimagined six classic fairy tales with his characteristically sardonic wit. Now his twisted tales come to life in two wondrously animated featurettes. These new stories have slightly rougher edges: a greedy pig banker pilfering Red Riding Hood’s hard-earned savings, a Cinderella less than thrilled with her post-ball prospects, and a Snow White who hightails it into the big city. And yet, compassion somehow miraculously holds on. Gallows humor, guffaws, knowing laughs, and sighs of relief all have their turn in this wicked and visually sumptuous tale, delicious enough to become a classic in its own right.
February 25 (Opening Spotlight):
Your Name., dir. Makoto Shinkai (Japan)
New York premiere, in Japanese with English subtitles. Recommended ages 10+.
The day the stars fell, two lives changed forever. Total strangers Mitsuha and Taki live their teenage lives in separate cities until suddenly, for reasons unknown, they switch bodies. Beyond all of the physical awkwardness of their strange new bodies, they must learn to navigate each other’s social realms and habits as they continue to swap back and forth unexpectedly. Incredibly, they adapt and form an intense bond by leaving each other messages. But can they manipulate fate and the destructive forces of the heavens to meet in person? Written, directed, and animated by anime master Makoto Shinkai (NYICFF 2008’s 5 Centimeters Per Second) in his stunningly detailed signature style and a box office record-breaker in Japan, the film’s world is one where teenagers are full of sensitivity in the best sense: open to every experience and exchange, and eager to truly know one another.
Zodiak Kids has secured a raft of sales for season two of The Ranch (26 x 26), a 2D animated series produced by Zodiak Kids Studios. The new season has been picked up by TFO (Canada), Lagardere for Gulli (Russia and Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Israel), Al Jazeera for its kids & family channels, AMC Networks International for Minimax (Central Europe), TV5 Monde (French-speaking territories) and Kids Zone (Baltics).
The Ranch is the heartfelt, epic adventure of four teens and their horses at the rescue center they build in the heart of the wild French countryside. Continuing the story, season two of The Ranch follows a young girl named Lena and her struggles to hold onto Mistral, the black stallion she saved but doesn’t yet own; a gorgeous horse that she deeply loves but which could be taken from her at any moment.
Season one of The Ranch sold to over 30 territories. Previously announced partners for season two include Neovision (Poland), VRT (Flemish Belgium), TV3 (Spain), SVT (Sweden), YLE (Finland), NRK (Norway), Canal Panda (Portugal) and Just Bridge (DVD in Germany). Zodiak Kids holds worldwide distribution and licensing rights.
Women in Toys, Licensing and Entertainment has revealed the nominees for its 13th Annual Wonder Women Awards, honoring top female executives who have had a positive impact on the business of play. The theme of the 2017 Awards Gala — being held Feb. 19 in New York City — is “WIT Changemakers: Playing it Forward.”
As previously announced, the 2017 Changemaker Award honoree is Geena Davis, co-founder and chair of the Bentonville Film Festival and founder of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media; and the 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Jill Barad, a former Chairman and CEO of Mattel, who shattered the glass ceiling when she became one of the most prominent female chief executives in America.
The nominees represent a broad swath of companies, including major industry Jazwares, Moose Toys, Mattel, Hasbro, Nickelodeon and Disney, and firms on the rise like ZAG Animation Studios.
2017 Wonder Women Awards nominees:
Licensing:
Jessica Blue, SVP, Licensing, UBM
Dianne Bellchambers, Business Manager, Australia, Moose Toys
After eight awesome seasons, JG Quintel’s Emmy Award-winning animated comedy series Regular Show is coming to an end. But there’s plenty of out-of-this-world craziness to enjoy in the meantime! Below, you can check out a clip from new episode “Kill ‘Em with Kindness,” which debuts Saturday, January 14 at noon on Cartoon Network.
Regular Show concludes with the ultimate intergalactic battle of good vs. evil in an hour-long finale on Monday, January 16 at 6 p.m. ET/PT.
In “Kill ‘Em with Kindness,” Pops completes his training for his fated showdown with his brother, Anti Pops, and begins to use his newfound strength for good. The episode will be followed by “Meet the Seer” on Saturday, then “Cheer Up Pops” will precede the two-part finale “A Regular Show Epic Final Battle” on Monday.
Regular Show’s series finale features regular series voice stars JG Quintel (creator, voice of Mordecai and High Five Ghost), William Salyers (Rigby), Sam Marin (Muscle Man, Benson and Pops), Mark Hamill (Skips) and guest stars Robert Englund (A Nightmare on Elm Street) as Anti-Pops.
Viacom has promoted UK-based executive David Lynn to the role of President & Chief Executive Officer of Viacom International Media Networks. Lynn takes over management oversight of all Viacom’s media networks and related business outside the US for Bob Bakish, who was promoted from head of VIMN to CEO of Viacom last month. Lynn will report to Bakish in his new post.
“Viacom’s international business has grown strongly over the last decade and our operations managed out of the UK, under David’s leadership, have been integral to that growth,” says Bakish. “David has an outstanding track record at the helm of our UK business, including leading our successful acquisition and integration of Channel 5, and I have great confidence in his ability to conceive and deliver an even more ambitious growth strategy for VIMN in the years ahead.”
Lynn has been serving as President of VIMN operations in the UK and northern and eastern Europe since 2014. Prior, he was EVP and Managing Director since 2007. Under Lynn’s leadership, Viacom has significantly increased its investment in local content in the UK, and grown its TV audience share in the country more than three times.
Lynn’s responsibilities have also included VIMN’s international distribution strategy outside the US, overseeing deals with key international affiliates and securing content distribution across online, VOD and TV Everywhere platforms and services.
Before moving to Viacom, Lynn was SVP and Managing Director at its subsidiary, Nickelodeon UK.
Fans of dreamy sci-fi, comic fantasy, contemporary pop art style and improbably cute characters, take note: Hasbro Studios (My Little Pony) has just launched a brand-new cartoon, Hanazuki: Full of Treasures. The direct-to-digital 27 x 11 series is available through YouTube and the YouTube Kids app.
Hanazuki puts a modern, cross-platform spin on a premise that will be familiar to ‘80s kids who grew up with Rainbow Brite, et al. The series follows Hanazuki, a “Moonflower” or guardian being created to help protect the moons of a distant galaxy from the “Big Bad,” a mysterious, dark force. With the help of a benevolent space-baby known as Little Dreamer, she uses magical treasures to tap into her inner power through her emotions as she helps the spectrum of bunny-like Hemka critters on her moon — and other colorful characters.
As the show continues (to be released in nine-episode patches at each Full Moon), the Big Bad continues to lay waste to moons around the galaxy, driving other Moonflowers to gather around Hanazuki. This bouquet of heroes must learn how to wield the power of their emotions from Hanazuki, and band together to save the universe they were sent to protect.
The magical item collection and power-unlocking elements of the series — as well as its bubblegum bright design — clearly lend themselves to multiplatform expansion, and Hasbro has designed Hanazuki to become a fully connected franchise universe spanning the animated series, a digital app and a robust consumer product and toy line.
(Personally, I can’t wait to get a figure of the jaded Moonflower, Kizuki. Attitude? Fanged sidekick? Imperator Furiosa eyeshadow game? Check, check and check.)
Hanazuki: Full of TreasuresHanazuki: Full of Treasures
’Imaginary Mary’: When TV Network Comedy & Animation Mix
Anthony D’Alessandro breaks down the struggle in creating a lovable cartoon character in a live-action world for the upcoming ABC sitcom, EP’d by David Guarascio and Oscar-winning animator Patrick Osborne (Feast, Google Spotlight’s Pearl).
Special Signing Held for ‘The Walt Disney Film Archives: The Animated Movies 1921-1968’
More animation history was celebrated last week at a special event for the new Taschen treasure, with the cream of Toon Town society in attendance — including Disney animators Floyd Norman, Andreas Deja and Fox Carney, composer Richard M. Sherman and critic/historian Leonard Maltin.
Spain-based Imira Entertainment has closed key deal with leading broadcasters and digital platforms around the world in the run-up to NATPE — taking place Jan. 17-19 in Miami.
Of note is a multi-title agreement with newly launched HBO Spain, which includes animated offerings Bat Pat (52 x 11, spooky comedy adventure), Alisa (24 x 26, sci-fi adventure comedy), Pororo the Little Penguin (156 x 7 / 78 x 13, preschool), Sandra the Fairytale Detective (52 x 13) and Cleo (39 x 6, preschool comedy); as well as live-action adventure series Jamillah & Aladdin (52 x 11).
Elsewhere in Europe, Turner (France) has acquired Marvel hit (Wolverine & The X-Men (26 x 22); Canal Plus is taking more Larva (20 x 8 & 52 x 4); and leading Spanish kids channel Clan TV is adding Mika’s Diary (52 x 7) after recently picking up Bat Pat, which is proving popular for the channel.
In the Americas, TVA Canada has picked up comedy-adventure Lucky Fred (52 x 11, season 2 in production); Canal Once (Mexico) has picked up preschool shows Yoohoo & Friends (104 x 11) and Zack & Quack (52 x 11); National Geographic is taking healthy eating series Vitaminix (104 x 2); Primo TV (Argentina) is getting Lucky Fred, Lola & Virginia (52 x 12) and urban musical adventure Freefonix (40 x 22).
Plus, Discovery Kids MENA has snagged preschool adventure Hogie the Globehopper (52 x 11) and Mika’s Diary.
Imira’s CEO Sergi Reitg and LatAm & US Hispanic Sales Manager Begoña Esteban will be attending NAPE under the Animation from Spain umbrella stand, with a completely renewed market-specific kids & family catalogue.
Highlights include online preschool hit Badanamu (52 x 11); preschool musical series Live Your Planet, produced in association with Sony Pictures and based on Spain’s leading kids musical success Cantajuego; the vivid imaginary world of YoYo (52 x 7); action adventure WatchCar (52 x 11); transmedia edutainment adventure series Creators (26 x 24 & 26 x 12); and the new preschool adventure Hogie the Globehopper, amongst other titles in its 150 title, 3,000 half-hours catalogue with over 25 language versions.
Guardians of the Galaxy and Star Trek and Avatar star Zoe Saldana is officially the latest top talent to join the voice cast of Hasbro’s My Little Pony: The Movie. The Allspark Pictures production is coming to theaters October 6, 2017 through Lionsgate.
Saldana, who made her animation voice acting debut as Maria in The Book of Life, joins previously announced cast members Kristin Chenoweth, Emily Blunt, Taye Diggs, Liev Schreiber, Sia, Uzo Aduba and Michael Peña — as well as the familiar voices of the “Mane 6” from the smash-hit Discovery Family series My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic: Andrea Libman, Tara Strong, Ashleigh Ball, Tabitha St Germain and Cathy Weseluck.
Also revealed today is a new official film logo, which offers fans their first glimpse at the movie versions of the “Mane 6”: (L-R) Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Twilight Sparkle and Spike the dragon, Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Rarity.
DreamWorks Animation’s all-singing, all-dancing, all-hugging feature treatment of Trolls is coming home thanks to 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, available on Digital HD on January 24, and DVD and Blu-ray on February 7.
To take your troll-stravaganza to the next level, opt for the Trolls Party Edition Blu-ray (Feb. 7), which offers four exclusive Party Mode features wherein you use your remote to engage with the fun on screen – shower the screen with glitter during party scenes, drop cupcakes when things get scary, high-five Cloud Guy, join Mr. Dinkles for “Oh snap!” moments, and more.
Directed by Shrek franchise vets Mike Mitchell and Walt Dohrn, the movie starts out in the colorful Troll Village — home to a society of optimistic Trolls who love to sing, dance and party. When the comically pessimistic Bergens invade, Poppy (Anna Kendrick), the happiest Troll ever born, and the overly-cautious, curmudgeonly Branch (Justin Timberlake) set off on an epic journey to rescue her friends. Their mission is full of adventure and mishaps, as this mismatched duo try to tolerate each other long enough to get the job done.
Trolls also features the voices of Zooey Deschanel, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Christine Baranski, Russell Brand, Gwen Stefani, John Cleese, James Corden, Jeffrey Tambor and Ron Funches.
Blu-ray, Digital HD and DVD special features include:
+ Party Mode – Sing, dance and laugh along with the Trolls in this engaging, interactive feature.*
+ Travel Through Troll Village – Cloud Guy narrates a fun exploration of Troll Village.
+ The Potion for Stop-Motion – Part behind-the-scenes, part stop-motion tutorial, this featurette explores the process of creating Poppy’s visually stunning scrapbook.
+ Creating Troll Magic – Trolls Production Designer Kendal Cronkhite-Shaindlin leads a kid-friendly exploration of her role as production designer on the film before highlighting four key stages of creating the animation with detailed visuals of each stage.
+ Troll 2 Troll – Poppy and Branch have a friendly debate on important topics such as “Cat vs. Dog.”*
+ Inside the Bunker – An in-depth exploration of Branch’s “special” place, narrated by Cloud Guy.*
+ Deleted Scenes with intros by director Mike Mitchell and co-director, Walt Dohrn.
The first two episodes of Pendleton Ward’s fan favorite Frederator cartoon Bravest Warriors season 3 have launched on US streaming service https://vrv.co/getcartoonhangover. The episodes are available without ads to Cartoon Hangover Select channel subscribers ($2.99/month).
And! Episode 1, “Dan of Future Past,” is available now (with ads) to anyone who downloads the VRV app. The episode follows Chris as he travels back in time and visits Young Danny. While the Concierge attempts to explain the situation, Chris encounters a much … bigger problem. Oh, and keep your ears open for a guest performance by Michael Dorn!
The long-awaited third season of Bravest Warriors is written by Breehn Burns and Jason Johnson (the duo behind Dr. Tran) and directed by Tom King (Fanboy & Chum Chum; storyboard artist Sanjay and Craig). All six 11-minute episodes form a cohesive story arc. Following “Dan of Future Past” and “Himmel Mancheese,” VRV Cartoon Hangover Select will launch “Ghosts of the See Through Zone” Jan. 24, “Fast Times at Saturn Oaks” Feb. 7, “Everything Is OK” Feb. 21, and “Emotion Fjord” on March 7 — episodes will become available to watch with ads one month later, except for “Himmel Mancheese” which will make the jump on Jan. 24.
And beyond the third season, Frederator, VRV and Nelvana, have joined forces to produce an additional 52 x 11 episode package — three times as many hours of amazing adventures than the first three seasons combined!
Tokyo production company Ichigo Ichie Films LLC has released two first-look development images for CG animated feature project, Lobo — based on the Chris Kurtz’s children’s book The Pup Who Cried Wolf (Bloomsbury).
The first-look artwork features character design and illustration by emerging artist Zi Chen, and reveals that the film will be an Asian-centered story set in New York City, with one image showing a young woman standing with the titular canine hero under a banner which reads “Welcome to Chinatown.”
“I believe that films would really benefit from having more unique Asian characters, and hopefully this story will be one of them,” said Ichigo Ichie Films’ President and Producer, Hiro Masuda. Lobo is targeting a release in 2019.
Synopsis:
Lobo is a tiny Chihuahua with a big dream—to join a wolf pack. When Lobo’s owner Zi takes her niece Mei and pets on vacation to a national park, Lobo thinks he’ll finally have the opportunity to find his wolf-brothers. But he doesn’t count on a strict park rule that will keep him on a leash! With the help of his endearingly quirky family—a smart Spanish-speaking parrot named Glory and a wisecracking white rat named Heckles—Lobo finally slips his leash and gets a chance to run with the wolves. But is the wild really where a feisty little five-pound pup belongs?
A quintet of new character posters have been released for the upcoming CG-animated musical adventure Rock Dog, coming to theaters February 24.
The images give a closer look at protagonist Bodi (voiced by Luke Wilson); his father and leader of the mountain Mastiffs, Khampa (J.K. Simmons); wily wolf Linnux (Lewis Black); reclusive musician Angus (Eddie Izzard); and vixen Darma (Mae Whitman).
The film also stars Kenan Thompson and Jorge Garcia, with Matt Dillon and Sam Elliot (as Fleetwood Yak).
Rock Dog is directed by Ash Brannon (Surf’s Up, Toy Story 2), adapted by Brannon and Kurt Voelker from Zheng Jun’s graphic novel Tibetan Rock Dog.
The film is presented by Summit Premiere and is a production of Huayi Brothers Media Corp. and Mandoo Pictures, in association with Huayi Tencent Entertainment Company, Eracme Entertainment and Dream Factory Group.
The post-acquisition restructuring of DreamWorks Animation continues, with the news breaking Tuesday via Deadline that Warner Bros. animation exec Chris deFaria is stepping in as Chief Executive Officer, replacing founder Jeffrey Katzenberg.
The news comes just weeks after it was announced that co-President Mireille Soria was vacating her position after a matter of months. Soria is remaining at the studio to produce on the Madagascar franchise, and Bonnie Arnold remains as sole President. The duo had taken the helm in place of Ann Daly shortly after NBCUniversal took over the studio in a $3.8 billion buy by parent company Comcast in August 2016.
Katzenberg, who founded DWA in 1994 with Steven Spielberg and David Geffen, will now serve as Chairman of DreamWorks’ New Media division, which will oversee NBCU’s stakes in AwesomenessTV and NOVA.
Chris deFaria comes aboard after serving as President, Digital Production, Animation and Visual Effects at Warner Bros., where he jointly oversaw Warner Animation Group (The LEGO Movie, Storks; 2017’s LEGO Batman and Ninjago). His credits at WB include VFX spectaculars Man of Steel, Pacific Rim and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Pt. 2. His executive producer credits include animated features Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole and Happy Feet Two, as well as Gravity and Mad Max: Fury Road.
Courtenay Valenti, who co-ran WAG with deFaria and Greg Silverman (who stepped back from his executive duties last month to form a new studio backed by WB), remains in charge of the Group while WB hunts for a new executive.
Amazon Prime Video will be launching its original kids’ series Ronja, the Robber’s Daughter on January 27 for subscribers in the US and UK. The new animated adventure from Oscar-winning Studio Ghibli and Saltkråkan (the Astrid Lindgren Company) is narrated by Golden Globe winner Gillian Anderson, directed by Gorō Miyazaki (From Up on Poppy Hill, Tales from Earthsea).
“We’re thrilled to be collaborating with Studio Ghibli on their first television series, excited to have the talented Gillian Anderson narrate, and proud to bring Astrid Lindgren’s well-loved novel to life,” said Tara Sorensen, Head of Kids Programming at Amazon Studios. “We look forward to sharing this incredible story of love, family and friendship with our customers.”
Based on the children’s fantasy book by Swedish author Astrid Lindgren (Pippi Longstocking), Ronja, the Robber’s Daughter is already a hit series in Japan, and winner of the International Emmy Award for Best Kids Animation.
The 26-part epic follows 10-year-old Ronja (voiced by Teresa Gallagher), who is born on a stormy night in a mountain fort, surrounded by her father (Rufus Hound), mother (Morwenna Banks) and a loving band of robbers. She grows to be a strong girl, and discovers that the forest is both a beautiful and frightening place inhabited by strange creatures. She befriends Birk (Kelly Adams), the son of her father’s rival, and so begins the drama of her friendship and family loyalties.
“With Ronja, the Robber’s Daughter, Astrid Lindgren seems to be telling children to believe in their own power to grow, whilst telling adults to learn more from children,” said director Gorō Miyazaki. “Mutual respect will attain freedom in the true sense of the word.”
Lindgren’s original novel has sold roughly 10 million copies worldwide since its initial publication in 1981, and has been translated into 41 languages and adapted for film and television internationally.
A new, extended look at Disney-Pixar’s Cars 3 debuted Monday night during the College Football Playoff National Championship game, and it looks like fans of the franchise are in for a white-knuckle ride. The film arrives at the theatrical finish line June 16, 2017.
The spot puts a dramatic-thriller spin on the CG animated property, complete with suspenseful music. On-the-track shots bring you right into the action from the get-go, and Pixar’s technical mastery of animation is on display with slow-mo crash effects, spouting flame, sweeping vistas and a vision of what the “next generation of racers” would look like in an all-car world.
Cars 3 is directed by Brian Fee (storyboard artist, Cars, Cars 2) and produced by Kevin Reher. Owen Wilson reprises his role as Lightning McQueen, joined by Cristela Alonzo and Armie Hammer as new characters Cruz Ramirez and Jackson Storm.
Synopsis:
Blindsided by a new generation of blazing-fast racers, the legendary Lightning McQueen is suddenly pushed out of the sport he loves. To get back in the game, he will need the help of an eager young race technician, Cruz Ramirez, with her own plan to win, plus inspiration from the late Fabulous Hudson Hornet and a few unexpected turns. Proving that #95 isn’t through yet will test the heart of a champion on Piston Cup Racing’s biggest stage!
The Producers Guild of America has announced the live-action and animated motion picture nominations for the 28th Annual Producers Guild Awards, taking place Saturday, January 28 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. Duking it out for the top toon title will be Disney-Pixar’s Finding Dory, LAIKA’s Kubo and the Two Strings, Disney’s Moana, Illumination’s The Secret Life of Pets and Disney’s Zootopia.
Also of note: VFX showpieces Arrival and Deadpool are nominated in the live-action film category. And, as previously announced, animated recreation Tower and the inspirational Life, Animated received nods in the documentary section.
Special honors will be presented this year to Tom Rothman (Milestone Award), Simpsons producer James L. Brooks (Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television), Irwin Winkler (David O. Selznick Achievement Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures), the feature film Loving (Stanley Kramer Award) and Megan Ellison (Sausage Party, Wes Anderson’s upcoming Isle of Dogs) will receive the Visionary Award.
The 2017 Producers Guild Awards are chaired by Donald De Line and Amy Pascal.
2017 Producers Guild Award feature nominees:
Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures: Finding Dory | Producer: Lindsey Collins Kubo and the Two Strings | Producers: Arianne Sutner, Travis Knight Moana | Producer: Osnat Shurer The Secret Life of Pets | Producers: Chris Meledandri, Janet Healy Zootopia | Producer: Clark Spencer
Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures: Arrival | Producers: Dan Levine, Shawn Levy, Aaron Ryder, David Linde Deadpool | Producers: Simon Kinberg, Ryan Reynolds, Lauren Shuler Donner Fences | Producers: Scott Rudin, Denzel Washington, Todd Black Hacksaw Ridge | Producers: Bill Mechanic, David Permut Hell or High Water | Producers: Carla Hacken, Julie Yorn Hidden Figures | Producers: Donna Gigliotti, Peter Chernin & Jenno Topping, Pharrell Williams, Theodore Melfi La La Land | Producers: Fred Berger, Jordan Horowitz, Marc Platt Lion | Producers: Emile Sherman & Iain Canning, Angie Fielder Manchester by the Sea | Producers: Matt Damon, Kimberly Steward, Chris Moore, Lauren Beck, Kevin Walsh Moonlight | Producers: Adele Romanski, Dede Gardner & Jeremy Kleiner
Outstanding Producer of Documentary Theatrical Motion Pictures: *The PGA previously announced the nominations in this category on November 22, 2016. The list below has been updated to include eligible producers. Dancer | Producer: Gabrielle Tana The Eagle Huntress | Producers: Stacey Reiss, Otto Bell Life, Animated | Producers: Julie Goldman, Roger Ross Williams O.J.: Made in America | Producers: Ezra Edelman, Caroline Waterlow Tower | Producers: Keith Maitland, Susan Thomson, Megan Gilbride
