Retail’s iconic Goth girl may finally be getting the feature animation treatment after years of quiet shuffling. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the character created by Rob Reger* known as Emily the Strange is now being developed as Amazon Studios’ first feature animation project.
The deal is being negotiated by Dark Horse Entertainment, which had previously shepherded the project along from Fox Animation to Illumination Entertainment. Mike Richardson and Keith Goldberg will act as producers for Dark Horse, along with Reger.
Unlike the adaptation formerly underway at Universal-owned Illumination, Amazon’s Emily will be a fully animated movie to preserve the “authenticity and edge” of the property, according to THR.
Emily the Strange made her public debut via skateboard graphics in Santa Cruz in the early 1990s and rapidly took off, spreading her charmingly negative attitude and love for creepy cats across all manner of merchandise, even opening branded boutiques. Dark Horse began publishing Emily comics in 2005.
*There has been some controversy over similarities between Emily and a character created by Marjorie Sharmat and Marc Simont for the 1978 book Nate the Great and the Lost List. Suits between Reger’s Cosmic Debris and Sharmat & Simont were amicably dropped in 2009.
Sci-fi content curator DUST has launched its first animated premiere with the exclusive digital release of Luke Saunders’ The Fisherman — a stylized, dialog-free meditation on scientific ambition, the legacy of dreams and mankind’s relationship with the natural world. Learn more about the filmmaker at lukesaundersdesign.com.
Synopsis:
The Fisherman is set in a neo-Tokyo cityscape where electricity is a source of life for a diverse eco-system of mollusc-like creatures. A late devoted scientist of these life forms has passed his life’s work on to his daughter, along with one part of his most prized catch. The other part, a mystical electric fish, has eluded him his entire life. An opportune discovery of this rare creature by a human inhabitant instigates an unusual mating ceremony, spawning a surge of life that traverses the gap between this life and the next.
DUST, with the aid of film & TV producer Steve Tzirlin (formerly of Lucasfilm), has amassed a curated collection of over 100 of the best sci-fi shorts available across Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and watchdust.com. DUST also debuts exclusive premieres monthly, produces original programming and provides behind-the-scenes looks at never-before-scene content.
Toei Animation and VIZ Media have announced that aspiring Sailor Scouts in the Los Angeles area will have an exclusive opportunity for a unique fan experience: a one-night, Red Carpet US theatrical premiere event for Sailor Moon R: The Movie to be held Friday, January 13 at the legendary Theatre at Ace Hotel (formerly the Historic United Artists Theatre).
A nationwide theatrical rollout for this first feature inspired by Naoko Takeuchi’s smash-hit manga series is planned for January, in partnership with Eleven Arts. More info on the film and upcoming US release here.
General admission tickets priced at $29.99 each go on sale Dec. 8 at 10 a.m., available through the Ace Hotel events calendar webpage. The VIP Red Carpet event starts at 6 p.m., doors open for general admission ticket holders at 7 p.m. and the film screens at 8 p.m. The gala will also feature an exclusive interview with the English-language cast and the North American theatrical debut of the original short film Make Up! Sailor Guardians.
Members of the voice cast and film production team will also be on-hand for a live Q&A. Attendees will receive an exclusive Sailor Moon Character Board as a gift, and will be able to purchase official merchandise including apparel and animation products at the event. Most importantly, a variety of Sailor Moon-themed cocktails will be served at the bar. (May we suggest Sailor Jupiter Juleps?)
“Sailor Moon fans will not want to miss this incredible opportunity to be among the first to catch the theatrical premiere of this monumental film next month,” says Charlene Ingram, Senior Marketing Manager, Animation. “From collectible Sailor Moon premiums and a special live interview session with the voice cast, to creative themed drinks that many fans will recognize from previous Moonlight Party events in the Theatre at Ace Hotel Bar, this will be a fun and truly memorable way to celebrate the continuing legacy and popularity of Sailor Moon. We encourage all who get a ticket to come dressed to impress and enjoy an evening among moonlight royalty!”
GKIDS has picked up North American distribution rights to acclaimed cartoonist Dash Shaw’s feature animation debut, My Entire High School Sinking into the Sea (2016). The American indie comedy will see a theatrical release in late spring 2017, on the heels of strong audience and critic response at TIFF, New York Film Festival, AFI Fest and Fantastic Fest, among others. The deal was negotiated between Linzee Troubh for Cinetic and Eric Beckman for GKIDS.
Shaw said of the deal: “”I’m so psyched to join the GKIDS slate alongside all the awesome Studio Ghibli movies and forward-thinking animations! Yes!”
Written and directed by Shaw — whose celebrated graphic novels include New School, Bottomless Belly Button and recently released Cosplayers (Fantagraphics) — My Entire High School Sinking into the Sea features the voices of Jason Schwartzman, Lena Dunham, Reggie Watts, Maya Rudolph, Susan Sarandon, Alex Karpovsky and John Cameron Mitchell. The film was produced by Electric Chinoland’s Kyle Martin, Craig Zobel and Dash Shaw, in association with Fat Possum Records’ Matthew Johnson, Low Spark Films and Washington Square Films.
“When we first saw this audacious genre-bending film, we had grins plastered on our face from start to finish,” said David Jesteadt, GKIDS’ SVP of Distribution. “In a time when it seems like we could all use a laugh, we are proud to play a part in bringing such a unique vision and sweetly funny film to audiences nationwide.”
Synopsis:
My Entire High School Sinking into the Sea is equal parts disaster cinema, high school comedy and blockbuster satire, told through a dream-like mixed media animation style that incorporates drawings, paintings and collage. Dash (Jason Schwartzman) and his best friend Assaf (Reggie Watts) are preparing for another year at Tides High School muckraking on behalf of their widely-distributed but little-read school newspaper, edited by their friend Verti (Maya Rudolph). But just when a blossoming relationship between Assaf and Verti threatens to destroy the boys’ friendship, Dash learns of the administration’s cover-up that puts all the students in danger. As disaster erupts and the friends race to escape through the roof of the school, they are joined by a popular know-it-all (Lena Dunham) and a lunch lady (Susan Sarandon) who is much more than meets the eye. But even as the film piles on brilliant details like a post-apocalyptic cult formed by jocks, video game homages, and an infectious synth soundtrack, it never loses sight of the characters at the heart of the story.
Hailed as “the most original animated film of the year” and “John Hughes for the Adult Swim generation” (Indiewire), the film’s everyday concerns of friendships, cliques and young love remind us how the high school experience continues to shape who we become, even in the most unusual of circumstances.
Longtime Cartoon Network development executives Curtis Lelash and Tramm Wigzell have been promoted to Senior Vice President, Original Series, as announced by Chief Content Officer Rob Sorcher. Lelash and Wigzell will co-lead the original series group with the aim of expanding the network’s original video and multiplatform programming portfolio. Both will continue to report to Sorcher; all are based at Cartoon Network Studios in Burbank, Calif.
“Curtis and Tramm are both well respected in the animation industry for their approach to talent and development, and their creative and executive acumen have resulted in some of our biggest hits and franchises,” said Sorcher. “This newly connected structure leverages diverse viewpoints, and reflects overall dynamics in the kids’ media landscape.”
Curtis Lelash joined Cartoon Network in 2005, and quickly rose to the rank of vice president, in which role he was responsible for the development and ongoing supervision of the network’s animated comedy series. These include the Emmy-winning Adventure Time and Regular Show, and the popular and iconic Steven Universe. Lelash and his team also supervise the studio’s shorts development program as a pipeline to discover new content and cultivate fresh talent, like Pat McHale and his Emmy winning miniseries Over the Garden Wall.
Tramm Wigzell previously held the post of Vice President, Multiplatform, and began his Cartoon Network tenure in 2002. He played a key role in the development of the global hit franchise Ben 10, as well as supervising all five Ben 10 series. Most recently, Wigzell developed and supervised the network’s newest multiplatform comedy Mighty Magiswords, and in conjunction with Warner Bros. Animation, serves as Executive in Charge of Production for Cartoon Network on hit shows including Teen Titans Go!
VIDEO: ‘Transformers: The Last Knight’ Teaser Trailer (2017)
Medieval knights! Dragons! Nazis! Mark Wahlberg! And robots from space! Michael Bay’s latest kajillion dollar franchise installment offers something for everyone. In theaters June 23, 2017.
’DuckTales’ Sets Summer 2017 Debut, Drops Catchy Teaser
We now have “Summer 2017″ instead of just “2017,” a couple seconds of video proving that someone is recording duck voices, and an image that includes Launchpad McQuack… Disney XD is really putting a capital T on “Teaser” right now!
Rovio’s ToonsTV to Become Available on KIDOZ
Tel Aviv-based kids’ content discovery platform will be the first outside of Rovio’s own multichannel video service to offer Angry Birds Toons and Piggy Tales.
’Titanfall 2’ Trailer Making-Of with Blur Studio
Join Gnomon at its Hollywood campus or via Livestream Dec. 17th for an evening panel and Q&A with production leads and supervisors from the award-winning studio.
Dublin-based Monster Entertainment has flown the coop for Singapore and its first Asia Television Forum, and it brought along some of its most animated friends. The distributer is highlighting Irish productions Brewster the Rooster, The Day Henry Met..? and I’m a Fish, as well as dialog-free Scandinavian toon Pikkuli.
Brewster the Rooster is a new 26 x 7 series from Dublin’s Salty Dog, produced with assistance from the Irish Film Board and commissioned by RTE. Set for delivery in May 2017, the show follows six-year-old Maggie and her best friend Brewster, who just happens to be a rooster, as they explore their island home making discoveries about the animals that inhabit it.
The Day Henry Met..?(26 x 5) from Wigglywoo follows curious four-year-old Henry who is eager to meet new and interesting things every day and find out all he can about them. Nickelodeon currently holds Pay TV rights for season one in Asia, and season two drops this month, with Free TV and SVOD rights available from July 2017. Henry is the No. 1 preschool series in Australia (Nick Junior) and has sold to RTE (Ireland), Canal+ and Piwi+ (French-speaking territories), YLE (Finland), SVT (Sweden), ABC (Australia); TVO, TFO and Knowledge (Canada); Why J (Korea), TV Estonia and HMH (US).
The I’m a series continues with I’m a Fish, coming in 2017. I’m a Creepy Crawly sold to DRTV (Denmark), YLE (Finland), TVO (Canada), ABC (Australia), Discovery Networks (Pan-Asia) and Al Jazeera (Middle East) — it and the other popular previous seasons I’m an Animal, I’m a Dinosaur and I’m a Monster have led the way for I’m a Fish, which dives into the deep blue sea discover all sorts of fun, interesting and scary facts straight from the fish’s mouth!
Last but not least, Pikkuli (26 x 5) is a versatile and educational preschool series from Finland’s Sun in Eye Productions, available both dialog-free and narrated. The adventures of the plucky little bird have won over broadcasters around the globe, including KiKA (Germany), Nordisk (Scandinavia), Hop! (Israel), Why J (S. Korea), Urania (Czech Rep.), Galapagos (Poland) and Hayat TV (Bosnia & Herzegovina).
A brand new seasonal special featuring classic Disney characters is coming to a screen near you this Friday, December 9 at 8:30 ET. Premiering on Disney Channel, the Disney Channel app and Disney Channel VOD, Duck the Halls: A Mickey Mouse Christmas Special unwraps what happens when Donald Duck decides skip his annual migration and experiences his first wintery Christmas.
Following the Dec. 9 premiere, the half-hour special will have a TV encore Monday, December 12 at 8 p.m. ET on Disney XD.
In Duck the Halls, Donald Duck opts to stay put when his flock of family and friends migrate south for the winter, and finally gets to enjoy his first Christmas winter wonderland with the most enthusiastic holiday reveler ever, Mickey Mouse, along with Minnie, Pluto and Goofy. Although he’s out of his element in the freezing cold, Donald is determined to have the full experience, and Mickey obliges with the ultimate to-do list of everything Christmas-y.
Part of the Emmy- and Annie-winning Mickey Mouse cartoon series, Duck the Halls includes cameos by Uncle Scrooge McDuck, nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie, Professor Ludwig Von Drake, Gus Goose and of course, Santa Claus. In addition to a delightful Dickensian flashback to Mickey’s childhood (and Pluto’s puppyhood) where he has a British accent … for reasons … the special also features original songs: the jazzy “Joy, O It’s Christmas Time” and show-stopping spectacular “Jing-a-Ling-a-Ling.”
Emmy Award winner Paul Rudish is the executive producer and supervising director; Todd Popp is the line producer; Alonso Ramirez Ramos and Dave Wasson are the directors. The music is by Christopher Willis. Jenny Gase-Baker and Joseph Holt are the art directors and Illya Owens is the editor. The story was written by Darrick Bachman.
Duck the Halls: A Mickey Mouse Christmas SpecialDuck the Halls: A Mickey Mouse Christmas SpecialDuck the Halls: A Mickey Mouse Christmas Special
It’s that time of year again — the time of year when you look over your long neglected box of holiday themed CDs (or for some of us fossils, tapes) desperately trying to pick one you haven’t memorized over the last decade. Well! Hasbro and Sony Music/Legacy Recordings has a tooned up new offering that might be just the seasonal refreshment you need: the My Little Pony Holiday Album A Pony Kind of Christmas.
This expanded “re-edition” of last year’s hit mix is the first time MLP fans can purchase a Pony songs collection on CD. The album features seasonal classics and original carols performed by the “Mane 6” and other characters from My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, as well as five brand-new tracks from the 2016 holiday episode “A Hearth’s Warming Tail.”
A Pony Kind of Christmas CD includes a reversible booklet with lyrics on one side and a MLP: FIM Christmas poster on the other — the release is available now at Walmart and Target stores and online.
Central & Eastern Europe’s leading pitch event for animation, the Visegrad Animation Forum (VAF), is now open for submissions for its 5th annual edition. Projects can be entered for consideration until January 29, 2017. The Forum is being held May 2-4 in Trebon, Czech Republic, in conjunction with the Anifilm International Festival of Animated Films (May 2-7).
VAF features two competition categories for animated projects in development: Short Films (individual films less than 20 minutes long) and Series / TV Specials (web and TV series of any format and individual films over 20 minutes’ duration). For the first time, both category winners will receive 2,000 EUR in financial support for further development. Additionally, the winning TV Series project gets direct entry to Cartoon Forum.
There’s been a toon takeover in the digital sphere: the “Recipe for Disaster” Russian-language episode of international hit animated series Masha and the Bear has surpassed 1.8 billion views on YouTube, beating out the video for Adele’s smash single “Hello” at 1.799B to take 6th place in the most-viewed videos of all time list.
The episode, in which Masha perseveres in cooking up some porridge by herself, is the first non-music video in Russian to reach the top of the charts.
“Recipe for Disaster” in the original Russian can be viewed on the Mashamedvedtv YouTube channel, and has been translated into English, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese and Ukrainian for regional broadcast. Masha and the Bear from Animaccord studio launched in 2009, quickly becoming an international phenomenon. The show is distributed in nearly every country with key partners including Netflix, Turner (UK & LatAm), KiKA (Germany), France TV, Sony Music, NBCUniversal, Televisa, et al.
Kids content distributor Federation Kids & Family and its sister production company Cottonwood Media have secured a raft of new presales for animated preschool series The Ollie & Moon Show (52 x 11), pushing its global span to over 150 countries. The latest key broadcast partners on board include D-Kids (Middle East), IETV (Israel), VRT (Belgium) and Knowledge (Canada).
The series will premiere in 2017 through top kids’ broadcasters including France Television, NBC Sprout (US), Discovery Kids (Latin America), TVO (Canada) and premium global SVOD platforms.
“We are extremely proud to have achieved so many, and such significant, presales for a previously unknown TV property,” said David Michel, Producer & Co-Founder of Federation and Cottonwood. “Our ambition has been to create exclusively premium content; we hope that the scale of Ollie & Moon’s presales is an indication that we have accomplished this goal.”
Sales were closed by Monica Levy, SVP Co-Production and Sales for Federation, who added, “It has been extraordinary to see such universal, cross-cultural interest in a series. From France to the US, Latin America to the Middle East, Ollie & Moon’s curiosity, humor and sweetness clearly appeals to all kids, no matter where they come from.”
Based on the best-selling book series by author-illustrator and animation veteran Diane Kredensor, The Ollie & Moon Show features a couple of curious, globe-trotting animated cats who drag their upper-preschool audience with them on their travels around the live-action world, introducing them to serendipity, the joys of unlikely friendships, and global citizenship. Kids are immersed in vivid learning adventures with all the fun that comes from discovering new food, language, cities, customs, and friends.
The series was developed in collaboration with Kredensor — an Emmy-winning artist, director and producer whose credits include Pinky and the Brain, Clifford the Big Red Dog and Word World — by Robert Vargas (Word World, WonderPets, Zack & Quack, Henry Hugglemonster) and David Michel (Totally Spies!, Get Blake, Rekkit Rabbit). Kredensor also serves as creative producer.
The document trademarking Walt Disney’s name, production art from How the Grinch Stole Christmas (just in time for its 50th anniversary), original set pieces from Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, never-before-seen production art from the original Transformers TV series, plus works by Eyvind Earle, Mary Blair, Charles Schulz, Chuck Jones and more — if you are looking for a holiday gift that will really wow the animation lover in your life (even if that person is you — no judgment here, treat yourself), Profiles in History’s Animation and Disneyana auction has you covered.
The bidding war will be waged this Friday, December 9 at 11 a.m. PT — click over to www.profilesinhistory.com fora PDF catalog and information on how to participate in person, by phone, fax and absentee ballot, or online in real time.
“This sale represents a rare opportunity for collectors on so many fronts,” said Joe Maddalena, owner of Profiles in History. “In addition to Walt Disney’s last will and testament and signed document trademarking his legendary name, we have an extensive selection of illustration art, including Charles Schulz, Dr. Seuss, Chuck Jones, Gary Larson, E.H. Shepard and Robert Crumb. I am especially excited to have a wide array of Bob Olszewski’s extraordinary sculptures in this sale, highlighted by the Disneyland Main Street diorama. There’s literally something here for everyone!”
Select auction highlights include:
Disneyana
– Walt Disney Signed Last Will and Testament (est. $40k-$60k)
– Walt Disney Signed Legal License for Use of His Name by Walt Disney Inc. ($60k-$80k)
– 65 lots from the Carol and Larry Mills Collection of Bob Olszewski works including Walt Disney World Main Street complete model set no longer available at retail ($1,500-$2,500) and a range of Gallery of Light pieces; many signed by artist.
– Nightmare Before Christmas “Jack Skellington” Reference Maquette and Coffin Sleigh and Trash Can Prop ($15k-$20k)
– Pinocchio “Jiminy Cricket as the Tramp” Production Cel on Background ($20k-$25k)
– Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs “Wicked Queen” Prod. Cel ($12k-$15k)
– Peter Pan Art Props Christmas Presentation Art ($8k-$12k)
– Disneyland Adventure Thru Inner Space Original “Atom Mobile” Prop ($5k-$7k)
– Walt Disney World Pirates of the Caribbean Prop Pistol ($1k-$2k)
Animation Art
– Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas “Grinch” and “Max” with Sleigh Prod. Cels on Background Signed by Chuck Jones ($8k-$12k)
– Chuck Jones Baby Bugs Bunny Painting ($15k-$20k)
– Bewitched Opening Title “Samantha” Prod. Cel with Effects Cel From season 7 opening animated by Hanna-Barbera ($4k-$6k)
– I Dream of Jeannie Opening Credits “Jeannie” Prod. Cel Produced by DePatie-Freleng, directed by Friz Freleng ($3k-$5k)
The second Irish Animation Awards — celebrating outstanding talent in Ireland’s animation, VFX and gaming industries — will take place Saturday, March 25, 2017 at the Dingle Skelligs Hotel in Dingle, Co. Kerry. Sponsored by RTÉ and Irish Film Board, the biennial awards ceremony is presented by Animation Ireland. The Atlantic coastal town is also home to the internationally renowned Dingle Film Festival and Animation Dingle event.
In addition to recognizing the best in national animation, VFX and gaming production, the IAAs support the next generation of animators with the Best Student Film and Best International Student Film categories. The second edition also introduces the new Best Animated Commercial award, bringing the total to 15 categories.
“Irish animation is recognised as the best in the world with numerous international awards,” says Paul Young, Chair of Animation Ireland. “In March 2017, we’ll have our own event to celebrate the talent in studios across the country. Our inaugural event was such a special night, with all Irish studios and talent celebrating together, I have been looking forward to this second event for a long time! See you all in beautiful Dingle!”
Winners of each category receive an IAA statuette designed by animator, filmmaker and teacher Eimhin McNamara (Paper Panther Productions) and resembling a Phenakistoscope. Visit irishanimationawards.ie to see more information on the categories and keep up with the event.
The inaugural Irish Animation Awards held in 2015 were dominated by Brown Bag Films, which received three awards for its series Henry Hugglemonster (Best Preschool Series) and Bing (Best Design/Art Direction and Best Director – TV Series). Other local studios snagging honors at the first IAAs included Kavaleer, Geronimo, Jam Media and Sixteen South; Tomm Moore (The Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea) of Cartoon Saloon was presented with the Jimmy Murakami Award memorial honor.
Mattel Inc.’s entertainment content division Mattel Creations has secured its first Latin American broadcast partner for WellieWishers (26 x 11). Aimed at girls 5-7, the new 2D animated series from top brand American Girl has been picked up by Mexico’s Televisa.
WellieWishers will launch on Televisa in mid-December, dubbed for Latin Spanish-speaking audiences. The new series, which premiered on Amazon Prime Video in the US earlier this year, will join other Mattel properties already airing on the network: Barbie, Monster High, Max Steel, Thomas & Friends, and others.
“We are pleased to be launching WellieWishers with our esteemed partners, Televisa in Mexico,” said Justin Richardson, VP Global Content Distribution & Strategy at Mattel Creations. “The broadcaster has exactly the right platform and audience for this compelling new series and with its timeless, illustration-inspired design and contemporary storytelling, we believe the show will resonate with young girls in Mexico and the rest of Latin- America.”
The series introduces five smart and lively “WellieWishers” — Jillian, Kendall, Emerson and Camille. When the WellieWishers step into their colorful rain boots, they are ready for anything in their aunt’s whimsical backyard garden. Young viewers are entertained through stories, humor, and catchy songs as the WellieWishers work, dream, and play together—feeding birds, making mud pies, creating art, and putting on shows—all while imparting valuable lessons in friendship.
The series is bolstered by a line of dolls, accessories, early chapter books and digital games from American Girl, which is already available at select retailers across Mexico.
The Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA) announced Sunday that Japanese entry Your Name. was selected as Best Animated Film for 2016. The critically acclaimed work of director Makoto Shinkai and producers CoMix Wave Films and Toho Co. Ltd. is the third-ever feature anime to win this award, beating out runner-up The Red Turtle from Michael Dudok de Wit and Studio Ghibli.
The winning film has been holding sold-out screenings all week at Laemmle Music Hall in Beverly Hills for its Oscar qualifying run, presented by Funimation Films. The limited engagement ends Dec. 8. A nationwide release is planned for early 2017, following box office triumphs in Japan — where it is the highest grossing film of the year and second-highest grossing anime ever with ~$175 million — and China, where it just opened at No. 1 with $41 million.
“We consider Makoto Shinkai’s Your Name. a true masterpiece and its selection for the prestigious Best Animated Film from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association only cements that fact,” said Gen Fukunaga, CEO and Founder of Funimation. “Funimation has been fortunate to work with Makoto Shinkai on this film and we are confident that U.S audiences will agree that it is one of the finest animated films of the decade.”
“Your Name is the epitome of excellence in animation and I have no doubt Makoto Shinkai’s name will be widely recognized across North America within the next few years,” added Mike DuBoise, EVP and COO of Funimation. “Congratulations to everyone at Toho and CoMix Wave Films for such a prestigious honor!”
The LAFCA, comprised of LA-based professional film critics working in print and electronic media, has been holding annual awards recognizing “outstanding cinematic achievement” since 1975. Your Name. and the other winners will be presented with their awards at the annual dinner on January 17 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Century City.
This year’s Christmas TV ad from UK supermarket giant Sainsbury’s is a colorful, musical message about what is truly important at this special time of year. And it was all made possible by Stratasys Ltd., the 3D printing and additive manufacturing company, which played a key role in getting the heartwarming spot onto screens on time.
Directed by Sam Fell and sung by James Corden, the 3’30” mini-film centers around family dad, Dave, who invents a way to spend more time with his family at Christmas. Titled “The Greatest Gift of All,” the fully stop-frame animated spot features a number of different characters, whose faces were all produced in full-color on the Stratasys 3D Printer by 3D Print Bureau and Tri-Tech 3D.
“A total of over 1,400 3D printed faces were required for this production, including 800 separate models depicting different expressions for the main character alone,” explains Richard Pickersgill, workshops supervisor at puppet makers Mackinnon & Saunders.
“We therefore needed a solution that guaranteed precise repeatability with extremely accurate full color detail, while also delivering cost and time savings. As it turns out, without the use of 3D printing and the capabilities of the Stratasys J750 3D Printer, we simply could not have completed the build in time.”
According to Pickersgill, the project demanded a print solution that could deliver detail accurately matched to the digital sculpts and high-quality color using print materials that could withstand handling, with minimal shrinkage. The sheer quantity of faces the spot called for also necessitated a solution that required limited post-processing work such as support structure removal and clean-up, and painting.
According to Gary Miller from 3D Print Bureau – the service shop tasked with printing the faces – the enormity of the project’s need for more than 1,400 pieces required that Stratasys reseller Tri-Tech 3D also be enlisted to support the 3D printing effort.
“We were printing almost non-stop for several weeks, but managed to complete the project within deadline,” said Miller. “The results look spectacular and underscore the unique capabilities of this particular 3D printing system.”
“The Greatest Gift” Sainsbury’s ad is currently being broadcast on UK TV, and was produced in collaboration by animation studio Passion Pictures, Mackinnon & Saunders, technical CG modeler Glen Southern (Sotherngfx), 3D Print Bureau and Tri-Tech 3D.
“Faces” – The 3D printed faces for each character expression had finished full-color capabilities, ready to be assembled with hairpieces and accessories (Photo: Business Wire)“Expressions” – For “Dave,” the main character, over 800 different facial expressions were 3D printed with the Stratasys J750 3D Printer (Photo: Business Wire)“Characters” – All figures featuring in the three-minute advertisement film have 3D printed facial expressions (Photo: Business Wire)
Filmmaker & animator Rémi Chayé’s widely acclaimed feature Long Way North will be coming home in the new year through Shout! Factory Kids, which will release the captivating, awe-inspiring animated journey January 17, 2017 on DVD, Blu-ray Combo Pack, Digital HD and iTunes.
DVD and Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack versions of Long Way North from Shout! Factory Kids feature both English and French audio tracks, English subtitles, and insightful bonus content: the conceptual pilot, behind-the-scenes featurette, interview with Rémi Chayé and producer Henri Magalon, galleries of character design and concept art, and animatics.
Produced by Sacrebleu Productions (Madagascar, Carnet de Voyage), Maybe Movies (Ernest & Celestine) and Nørlum Studios (Song of the Sea), the film took the coveted Audience Award at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and the Grand Prize as Tokyo Animation Festival, and is currently a nominee in the Best Animated Feature – Independent category for the Annie Awards.
Set in the late 19th century, Long Way North follows Sacha — a young girl born into the Russian aristocracy — as she rebuffs her parents’ plans to marry her off, leaves her home and sets out on a thrilling quest to the North Pole in search of her lost explorer grandfather and his ship. The English-language voice cast features Chloé Dunn, Vivienne Vermes, Peter Hudson, Antony Hickling, Tom Perkins, Geoffrey Greenhill, Claire Harrison-Bullett, Bibi Jacob, Martin Lewis, Tom Morton, Leslie Clack, Kester Lovelace and Damian Corcoran.
French voice cast includes Christa Théret, Feodor Atkine, Thomas Sagols, Rémi Caillebot, Audrey Sablé, Fabirn Briche, Gabriel Le Doze and Boris Rehlinger.
That all-anime spotlight program “Spirited Away: The Films of Studio Ghibli” will return for a third time to TIFF Bell Lightbox as a delightful audience treat for the holiday season. Showcasing 22 feature films from one of the world’s most iconic studios, the near-exhaustive retrospective will screen subtitled and dubbed films from Studio Ghibli and legendary director Hayao Miyazaki in Toronto from December 24, 2016 through January 10, 2017.
This year’s edition welcomes two new titles to the line-up: Gorō Miyazaki’s directorial debut Tales from Earthsea (2006) and the North American premiere of the very rare short, Ghiblies: Episode 2 (2002) — a cartoon caricature of life inside the studio which puts the artists in the spotlight. Other highlights include the first Ghibli film Castle in the Sky (1986), beloved forest sprite adventure My Neighbor Totoro (1988), hit sequel The Cat Returns (2002) and Oscar nominee Howl’s Moving Castle (2004) — one of the financially successful Japanese films of all time.
You can find a complete screening schedule at tiff.net.
“The Films of Studio Ghibli” will include: Castle in the Sky (Hayao Miyazaki), The Cat Returns (Hiroyuki Morita), From Up on Poppy Hill (Gorō Miyazaki), Ghiblies: Episode 2 (Yoshiyuki Momose), Grave of the Fireflies (Isao Takahata), Howl’s Moving Castle(Miyazaki),Kiki’s Delivery Service (Miyazaki), My Neighbor Totoro (Miyazaki), My Neighbors the Yamadas (Takahata), Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (Miyazaki), The Ocean Waves (Tomomi Mochizuki), Only Yesterday (Takahata), Pom Poko (Takahata), Ponyo (Miyazaki), Porco Rosso (Miyazaki), Princess Mononoke (Miyazaki), The Secret World of Arrietty (Hiromasa Yonebayashi), Spirited Away (Miyazaki), The Tale of Princess Kaguya (Takahata), Tales from Earthsea (Gorō Miyazaki), When Marnie Was There (Yonebayashi), Whisper of the Heart (Yoshifumi Kondō), The Wind Rises (Miyazaki).
Organizers of Slamdance have revealed the Special Screenings, Beyond and Shorts programs for the 23rd film festival, which includes 35 world, 9 North American and 10 US premieres. Taking place January 20-26, 2017, the Slamdance short film competition is an Oscar Qualifying contest, which this edition will showcase 51 national and 20 international works under Narrative, Documentary, Animation, Anarchy and Experimental sections.
Animated short offerings at the 2017 festival will include 13 films screening in competition. Additional animated pieces will screen out of competition, including Michael Edwards’ animated “three-act assault on the conceit of the traditional narrative,” A Narrative Film, will run in front of the US premiere Special Screening of You Never Had It: An Evening with Bukowski. Visit slamdance.com for more information.
Slamdance 2017 Animation Shorts Program:
Auto (USA) US Premiere
Director: Conner Griffith Cars dance on highways, crowds of people wash across sidewalk shores.
Batfish Soup (USA)
Director: Amanda Bonaiuto Wacky relatives give way to mounting tensions with broken dolls, boiling stew and a bang.
Chella Drive (USA) US Premiere
Director: Adele Han Li A disembodied memory of adolescence in a Southern Californian suburb. The stuck-stillness of endless summer is disrupted only by a passing El Niño.
Hold Me (Ca Caw Ca Caw) (USA)
Director: Renee Zhan Flap flapflapflapflap flap. A large bird and a small boy cohabit in an unhappy relationship, trapped by four walls and a mutual codependency. The fragile balance of their existence is cracked by an un-eggs-pected arrival.
Insect Bite (USA)
Director: Grace Nayoon Rhee A tiny bug tries to figure out what it wants to become.
It Is My Fault (China) North American Premiere
Director: Liu Sha This work utilizes the own approach of the digital medium itself to deconstruct, to form the subliminal synesthesia visually and to create a fictional experience for the mind.
Monkey (China) US Premiere
Director & Screenwriter: Shen Jie One of the three monkeys died.
My Father’s Room (South Korea) North American Premiere
Director & Screenwriter: Nari Jang Sometimes, family members can be worse than strangers.
The Noise of Licking (Hungary)
Director & Screenwriter: Nadja Andrasev; Short story by: Ádám Bodor A woman is being watched every day by the neighbor’s cat, as she takes care of her exotic plants. Their perverted ritual comes to an end when the cat disappears. Next spring a peculiar man pays her a visit.
Plena Stellarum (USA)
Director & Screenwriter: Matthew Wade Neon ghosts dreaming in dead landscapes.
Q (USA) US Premiere
Director: James Bascara A bashful encounter.
Remember (Japan)
Director & Screenwriter: Shunsaku Hayashi “Leaving home, ‘I’ got a phone call. As ‘I’ answered it, the house exploded. ‘I’ went to work and continued as normal…”
Serpentine (USA) North American Premiere
Director & Screenwriter: Bronwyn Maloney A young woman’s reflective fantasy arouses a surreal exploration of sensuality, self-esteem, and deeply rooted fears.
