Canadian animation legend Marv Newland (Postalolio, Bambi Meets Godzilla) has been charged with curating Vancouver International Film Festival’s second annual “Kooks and Legends” animation showcase. VIFF kicked off Sept. 29 and runs through October 14, with “Kooks and Legends” playing October 11 at 6 p.m. at The Rio Theatre.
Presented by Atomic Cartoons, the showcase will feature a 90-minute program of rare and never-seen short films by both Canadian and international filmmakers, selected by Newland. Films by mostly independent animators representing a range of creative approaches and techniques will be in the mix.
Baobab Studios is at work on Asteroids!, a follow-up to its award-winning animated virtual reality short Invasion! The new project follows aliens Mac and Cheez into an asteroid field, where they find themselves on a dangerous new mission. A teaser trailer just released shows Mac sharing a heartwarming slice-of-life moment with his robot sidekick, Peas, before something unexpected happens.
The 360-degree immersive, three-minute short is being developed for the Samsung Gear VR platform. A first look at Asteroids! is now available in the Oculus store through the Invasion! app, with a completion date set for 2017. The animation is lead Madagascar franchise director Eric Darnell, who is co-founder of Baobab with Maureen Fan.
Inspired by the technologically advanced yet bungling Martian invaders conjured up by H. G. Wells’ classic The War of the Worlds, Invasion! Episode 1 has earned recognition worldwide, including winning VR Selection of the Year 2015 at the Tribeca Film Festival, and was an official selection at the Cannes Marché du Film. Roth Kirschenbaum Films recently announced its intent to develop a feature film based on the short.
As part of its push to expand its original animation development, FX cable network has promoted Kate Lambert to Senior Vice President – Development and Animation. Lambert’s title was previously VP of Series Development.
Lambert’s new role tasks her with overseeing development of animated original series and short-form animation programs for FX Networks, including the flagship channel and FXX. She will also continue to develop live-action shows for both.
“From Archer to Atlanta, Kate has done an extraordinary job of developing some of FX’s signature shows and we are thrilled she will be taking an even greater role in guiding the networks’ programming,” FX original programming presidents Eric Schrier and Nick Grad said. “Kate is among the best in the business at forming relationships with the most sought-after producers, writers and talent, and this will be invaluable as we continue to build on FX Networks’ slate of acclaimed and award-winning live-action and animated series.”
Lambert was responsible for developing and overseeing FX’s hit original animated series Archer, which won this year’s Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program, adding to its collection of Critics’ Choice Awards. She was also involved in developing the pilots for live-action hits The Americans, Sons of Anarchy, The Strain, American Horror Story, Louie and Donald Glover’s Atlanta, among others.
British animation company Woolly Vision will present its online short sensation Nudinits – Tickled Pink as part of the Animated Film Official Selection at this year’s LA Femme International Film Festival. The festival will run Oct. 20-23 at Laemmle’s Music Hall theater in Beverly Hills, with the 22-minute film screening Oct. 21 at 10 a.m.
Tickled Pink is a sort of wink-wink Wallace & Gromit — a stop-motion animation set in Woolly Bush, a cozy and traditional English village that just happens to be inhabited by nudists. Full of well-placed props and ribald word play, the film is a big success online and earned a best comedy award at Portobello.
The project, conceived by writer-designer Sarah Simi and animated by Ed Hartwell, has also inspired a line of greeting cards, calendars and books of knitting patterns available at nudinits.com.
The LA Femme animation screenings will also include Dari by Chelsea Han, Decision by Mary Jo Zefeldt, On Schedule by Elena Manetta, Tre Tosser by Peter Hausner & Snobar Avani, Vam-Pie-Her by Samantha McEachin-Ifill, and Woven Threads by Michi Marosszeky.
In addition to screenings, LA Femme will offer panels and seminars aimed at female directors, writers and producers on pitching and financing films as well as how to sell a series.
If you are a fan of classic toy and toon properties (like, who isn’t?) and you happen to be in the Los Angeles area, be sure to get down to Gallery 1988 (West) between now and October 15 to catch its latest exhibition: The Power of Mattel.
The Power of Mattel is the second annual art show in tribute to the timeless toys created by the company. Curated by Ecuadorian illustrator-designer CHOGRIN, the show features over 50 artists from around the world reinterpreting pop culture sensations like He-Man, She-Ra, M.U.S.C.L.E., Dino-Riders, Mighty Max, Street Sharks and even the Magic 8 Ball.
Participating artists include Rudy Obrero, who was one of the original artists behind the epic toy box art for the Masters of the Universe line; The Book of Life director Jorge R. Gutierrez, crayon sculptor Hoang Tran, CHOGRIN, Tayler Brown, Robot Soda, Jason Brockert, Yeka, Trevor Zammit & David Silva, Cinema Fantasma studio, Zack Wallenfang, Peter Han, Stephen Sandoval, Rafa Toro, Scott Balmer, Pakoto, Maria Björnbom Öberg, Joel Abad, Carly Janine Mazur, Brendon Flynn, Alina Chau, The Beast Brothers, Cameron Garland, and many others.
Visit nineteeneightyeight.com for more information on Gallery 1988 and its current and upcoming shows at both locations.
‘Power of Mattel’ Art Show Celebrates ‘80s Nostalgia in LA
US-based Animation Vertigo — an outsource management company providing high quality motion capture animation to entertainment industry clients — has partnered with Faceware Technologies Inc., a leading innovator and experienced provider of markerless 3D facial motion capture solutions.
“Faceware Tech is one of the most respected firms in the industry that has pioneered markerless facial motion capture for games, films, commercials and movies,” said Marla Rausch, CEO of Animation Vertigo. “Through our strategic alignments, we are continuing to stay cutting edge in the industry and look forward to delivering unparalleled motion capture animation services to our clients with these partners by our side.”
Established in 2012, Faceware Technologies’ flagship product line has been utilized in hundreds of projects, from video game titles to feature films to stage plays, with clients including Double Negative, Digital Domain, Blur Studios, Activision-Blizzard, Electronic Arts, Ubisoft and MPC. The Faceware Facial Motion Capture line includes the Faceware GoPro and Pro HD Headcam and Tripod Capture Systems, Faceware Analyzer, Faceware Retargeter plugin for Autodesk, and real-time capture and animation solution Faceware Live.
“Our decision to work with Marla and her team at Animation Vertigo was a natural fit,” said Peter Busch, VP of business development for Faceware Tech. “We have a number of exciting projects in the pipeline, and Animation Vertigo’s client roster is one of the best in the motion capture world. We look forward to leveraging this partnership and continuing to raise the bar for our clients.”
Le Regard Sonore, a TV animation production studio located in the Ville D’Avray commune of Paris, announces that the first season of its original animated series Story Time! will premiere October 23 on French kids’ channel Piwi+ — part of the Canal+ Group.
The studio is also launching production on a second season of Story Time!, which will bring the series package total up to 26 episodes of 13 minutes’ duration. Superighs is handling worldwide distribution rights for both seasons.
Story Time! allows young viewers to discover countries around the world and their cultures through their folk legends and original stories created for the series. Enriched by thorough historical research, the show introduces the whole family to the language, customs, places and music of far off places through enchanting narrated stories.
Story Time! was produced with the support of the CNC, ANGOA and PROCIREP and the participation of Cofinova 12. The series has been acquired by TV5, VRT, ERR, CEska TV and 2M.
Disney’s Live-Action ‘Mulan’ Gets Winter 2018 Release Date
The film bows in theaters November 2, 2018, and the studio is launching a global casting search for a Chinese actress to play the lead (sorry Emma Stone, no reprise of your Aloha performance).
Q&A: ‘Thunderbirds Are Go!’s Richard Taylor
TV Kids chats with the co-owner of Pukeko Pictures and Weta Workshop about fulfilling his boyhood dream to continue the Tracy family’s adventures.
Technicolor, an underlying rights holder in CG animated series The Deep; DHX Media and A Stark Production have announced that the show has been greenlit for a 13 x half-hour second season by current broadcasting partners ABC (Australia), Super RTL (Germany), Family CHRGD (Canada) and Netflix (US).
Additionally, CPLG (a DHX Media company) has been appointed multi-territory licensing agent for the brand, including in North America, EMEA (excluding Germany) and Latin America).
According to BARB ratings, The Deep on CBBC was the UK’s #3 ranked children’s television series across all channels for the week ending September 7; and was the top-viewed animated series targeted to kids in the 6- to 11-year-old age range for the weeks ending March 20, March 27, July 17 and September 4. The Deep is currently airing on ABC ME in Australia; on Finland’s YLE; Sweden’s SVT; Norway’s NRK; Singapore’s Okto; and Portugal’s Panda; with upcoming launches on Ketnet in Belgium and Minika in Turkey.
“We are delighted that The Deep has resonated so strongly with the audiences of each of our broadcast partners since its rollout last November,” said Alison Warner, VP of IP Sales, Acquisitions and Co-Productions at Technicolor. “The impressive performance of this imaginative adventure series and its ability to engage viewers of all ages is driving a plethora of opportunities for licensing, merchandise and retail partners and we are thrilled to have CPLG on board to strategize, facilitate and maximize the property’s potentially extensive licensing program.”
The Deep follows the underwater adventures of the Nekton family as they explore the ocean equipped with state-of-the-art technology and an unquenchable thirst for discovery. The series is based on the Aurealis Award-winning graphic novel series created by writer Tom Taylor (Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight, Star Wars: Blood Ties) and artist James Brouwer (Justice League Beyond). Taylor and Brouwer serve as lead writer and art director on the series, respectively.
Technicolor, as the underlying rights holder to The Deep, has oversight of the brand’s licensing extensions. The co-production partners are Australia-based A Stark Production (scripts, design and music) and Canada-based DHX Media (animation, voices and post-production), with distribution handled by DHX Media.
Spain’s Imira Entertainment is heading to MIP Junior and MIPCOM with a newly acquired slate of over 300 half-hours of kids’ content under its distribution belt. The company is one of the world leaders in children’s and family entertainment distribution.
“For MIP Junior & MIPCOM 2016, Imira has wanted to present a whole new slate of series, hence completely renovating our catalogue,” said CEO Sergi Reitg. “Our goal is to meet the needs of our customers who increasingly demand premium content as well as multi-territory rights. We are very pleased to offer a whole new catalogue consisting of 10 new series for various targets and genres, all with multi-territory rights. We have pushed to invest in series with immediate availability, so this will surely delight our international customers.
From Korean studio Tuba, Imira has secured distribution rights in Europe and Latin America for DinoCore (39 x 15), a new, dynamic boys’ action series for ages 6-10; and for season three of slapstick comedy Larva, Larva in New York (104 x 2). Imira also holds Europe and LatAm rights for Larva series 1 and 2.
Imira snagged worldwide distribution rights for preschool adventure-comedy Hogie the Globetrotter (52 x 11) from Malaysia’s Lil Critter Workshop. The story of a curious tree frog and his friends will make it industry debut at MIPJunior.
And Imira has acquired distribution rights in Europe, LatAm, US and US Hispanic markets for Korean producer SAMG’s preschool edutainment series Vroomiz (52 x 13), featuring a lovable crew of talking animal-shaped vehicles which has already sold to several key broadcasters. Imira also represents SAMG’s MiniForce (52 x 13), a 360 action-comedy property for kids 4-9 that follows a commando force that protects helpless animals with many broadcast and VOD partners.
Hogie the GlobehopperLarva in New YorkVroomizDinocore
The New Zealand Herald has reported that comics and animation creator Brent Chambers died suddenly at age 54 on Saturday, October 1. Chambers was the founder and creative director of Auckland-based Flux Animation, an award-winning commercials and television production studio which he started in 1997.
Chambers started out making comics with his school friend Stephen Maire, with whom he would later write the preschool animated series Wiki the Kiwi. He studied Graphic Design at AUT before training as an animator under Disney veteran John Ewing.
As creative director at Flux, Chambers directed and oversaw award-winning campaigns for NZ Dairy, Westpac, Tip Top and “Lotto Cog” for NZ Lotteries (through Saatchi & Saatchi). He created and often directed over a dozen series for TVNZ, including Tamatoa the Brave Warrior, The Adventures of Massey Ferguson and Tiki Tour. He also co-created international co-productions including Staines Down Drains and Master Raindrop.
Other notably directing projects were sequences for An Inconvenient Truth and projects for Saturday Night Live, Cartoon Network and Mattel as part of US-based Famous Group. As a producer, Chambers’ credits include award-winning shorts Grass and It Was A Dark and Silly Night.
In the last two years, Chambers lead the animation team at Flux in its production work for Leanne Pooley’s animated documentary about the WWI Gallipoli Campaign, 25 April — the first animated feature to be produced in New Zealand.
A notice posted in the Herald reads: “Brent will be forever remembered as a generous, kind, talented and devoted family man. We have been robbed of him far too soon but his memory will live on through all those that knew him … His significant contribution to New Zealand’s animation and advertising community pale in comparison to the impact he had on the lives of those who loved him.”
Chambers is survived by his wife, producer Sue Chambers; mother, Gillian; and children Tom, Jess and Max. A funeral is scheduled for Friday at 2 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Northcote, according to M+AD.
Montreal studio Cinesite has wrapped production on its original, music-infused fairytale project Charming — its first collaboration with 3QU Media — as revealed to Twitter by director Ross Venokur. The company is not winding down, however. With further projects in the pipeline including Gnome Alone (with 3QU) and Klaus (with Sergio Pablos’ SPA Studios and Atresmedia), Cinesite is kicking off an international roadshow, seeking new talent to join the team.
The studio recently welcome former Illumination Entertainment VP of talent Dave Rosenbaum as its Chief Creative Officer. Rosenbaum will be focused on making Cinesite a premiere movie animation studio in North America, and said in the announcement, “What an extraordinary opportunity to bring the best artists and filmmakers in the world to a city as rich in culture as Montreal, to collaborate on the next generation of classic animated movies, and to build together one magnificent studio.”
In addition to participating in hiring events at Spark Animation in Vancouver (Oct. 22-23), CTN eXpo in Los Angeles (Nov. 18-20) and Journee Quebec in Paris (Nov. 18-20), Cinesite’s recruitment team will be taking meetings in several major cities across the globe in the next couple months: Toronto (Oct. 13-15), Vancouver (21-24), San Francisco (Nov. 2-4), L.A. (Nov. 7-8) and Madrid (Nov. 14-15).
Those interested in meeting with Cinesite recruiters can register using the online form.
Women in Animation (WIA) has awarded the 2016 Phyllis Craig Scholarship to CalArts student Tracey LaGuerre. The scholarship is awarded annually to “one deserving animation student who demonstrates artistic talent, a passion for animation, and promise for the future.”
LaGuerre is currently a CalArts Character Animation sophomore, and stood out to the scholarship committee for her passion for storytelling and community service. She attended the most recent Gobelins Summer Animation Residency and uses her YouTube channel to deliver arts education to viewers worldwide.
Strongly influenced by her Haitian heritage and art history, LaGuerre has seen her films screen in several festivals already. films. “My passion as a filmmaker grows every time I create a film. The visual language created with animation shapes lives all around the world and connects to us to our humanity,” she says. Her CalArts faculty mentor notes that her “ideas and intuitions are strong, and her desire to grow them is commendable. Tracey is not afraid of hard work and has a more mature attitude than many student artists.”
The scholarship honors Phyllis Craig, a founding member of WIA known for her commitment to helping young animators. Craig spearheaded an internship program for many years before her death in 1997, when WIA created the scholarship fund.
“Phyllis was an inspiration to so many, and helping support women like Tracey LaGuerre is exactly what her legacy strives to do,” says WIA Head of Scholarship Committee Barb Cimity.
“I appreciate the opportunities Women in Animation is giving to young ambitious creators like myself, to influence the industry and increase diversity. I am honored to be the recipient of this year’s Phyllis Craig Scholarship and to represent the future of this organization,” says LaGuerre.
The Academie des Arts et Techniques du Cinema have announced 12 films will be competing for nomination in the 2017 Cesar Awards race for best animated short. Members of the Academie will review and vote on these contenders by January 24, with the four nominees to be revealed at the Cesar Awards nominations press conference scheduled for January 25.
Aardman Animations and StudioCanal have announced the start of production on four-time-Oscar-winner Nick Park’s latest stop frame feature, Early Man, with a delightful “short and snappy” promo clip that introduces the film’s prehistoric hero.
Early Man is directed by Park from a script by Mark Burton (Shaun the Sheep: The Movie, Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit) and John O’Farrell. Eddie Redmayne is voicing the lead character, Dug, a plucky caveman who with his sidekick Hognob unites his tribe in a battle for survival against the Bronze Age. This project marks the first time Park has directed a feature since Were-Rabbit in 2005.
Aardman and StudioCanal previously teamed for the release of the critical lauded Shaun the Sheep The Movie. Early Man will be released in UK cinemas on January 26, 2018, with a US release set for March 30, 2018.
Meg LeFauve — the multi-award-winning writer of Inside Out — will make her directorial debut with Disney Animation’s Jack and the Beanstalk update Gigantic. LeFauve, who also wrote The Good Dinosaur and the upcoming Captain Marvel, is joining Nathan Greno at the helm. Gigantic is set to be released in 2018.
LeFauve will be the first female director on a Disney animated feature since Jennifer Lee co-directed Frozen with Chris Buck in 2013 … and also the second-ever female director of a Disney animated feature.
Gigantic was officially announced at D23 in 2015, with Tangled co-director Greno saying, “We hope this will be the definitive version of Jack and the Beanstalk…with comedy and deep emotion.” It was also announced at that time that Frozen‘s Oscar winning musical duo Robert Lopez and Kirsten Anderson-Lopez will be penning songs for the project.
The film is reportedly set in Spain during the Age of Exploration (1400s-1700s CE) and will center on a young boy named Jack who discovers a hidden realm of Giants in the clouds and befriends a Giantess.
FremantleMedia Kids & Family (FMK) has announced the first project in its co-production deal with leading Thai production company Shellhut Entertainment to be Tasty Tales of the Food Truckers — a 52 x 11 animated comedy series aimed at kids ages 6-9.
Food Truckers is about eating, travel, creativity, friendship, cooking, fun and food. The series follows the culinary adventures of a trio of food-mad animal friends – Sonny, Tong, and Andi, a sun bear, monkey and a red panda – who travel the world in Julia, their state-of-the-art food truck, seeking out exotic ingredients and new food concepts. Sonny likes to combine his love of martial arts with his passion for food, creating dishes in ever more inventive ways; Andi is a girl of action with a practical solution to every problem; and Tong is the digital media supremo who chronicles their adventures and shares them online with vlogs.
The series is being developed by showrunner Dan Clark (Team Smithereen, Brats of the Lost Nebula) with Bill Kop as director (Eek the Cat!, Tom & Jerry: The Fast and the Furry), and FMK’s EVP Bob Higgins as executive producer. FMK holds distribution and licensing rights for the show in all territories, excluding Thailand.
FMK will introduce Food Truckers to buyers during MIPJunior and MIPCOM at stand C11.
London-based CAKE has signed on as distributor for new animated preschool series Tolibob, produced by Beakus in association with Cloth Cat for CBeebies (UK) and ABC (Australia). CAKE will handle rights for the 52 x 5 series worldwide, excluding Japan.
The series follows a group of creative creatures called Tolibobs — Tib, Lalloo and Bobble live in a big forest where they play, explore and solve everyday problems. In each episode, they work together combining shapes, colors and patterns to create a new character to join in their fun.
Tolibob is created and developed by director-producer Steve Smith of Beakus and author-illustrator Leigh Hodgkinson.
“Tolibob is a fun, unique concept that shows children how to create characters using shapes, patterns and their imagination,” said Ed Galton, Chief Commercial Officer and MD at CAKE. “With a terrific award-winning team behind it, we are sure it will be warmly received at MIPCOM.”
For the first time a full set of one of Nickelodeon’s most ambitious and acclaimed animated series will be available for fans to own as The Legend of Korra: The Complete Series arrives on DVD and Limited Edition Blu-ray on December 13, 2016. Produced by Nickelodeon Home Entertainment and distributed by Paramount Home Media Distribution, the set contains all four “books” of the series in an 8-disc collection, with an SRP of $42.99 (DVD) and $47.99 (BD).
Created by Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino as a follow-up to Avatar: The Last Airbender, Korra follows its titular heroine as the teenage Avatar from the Southern Water Tribe embarks on an incredible journey to discover her true self and bring balance to the world. In addition of 52 episodes of water, fire, air and earth-bending action, both versions come with special features. And the Limited Edition BD set includes selections of The Legend of Korra: The Art of the Animated Series as a special gift (while supplies last).
DVD special features
Book 1: Air – The Legend of Puppetbender Presents “The Making of a Legend: The Untold Story – Part I”
Book 2:Spirits – Audio Commentary (episodes 113, 114, 125, 126), Scene Bending: Rebel Spirit Scene 1, Scene Bending: Rebel Spirit Scene 2, Feuding Spirits: Korra’s Family
Book 3:Change – Audio Commentary (eps. 201, 202, 212, 213), The Spirit of an Episode: A Breath of Fresh Air, The Spirit of an Episode: Rebirth, The Spirit of an Episode: The Terror Within, The Spirit of an Episode: The Stakeout
Book 4: Balance – Audio Commentary (eps. 214, 215, 225, 226), Kuvira vs. Prince Wu, Republic City Hustle: Part 1
Limited Edition Blu-ray features
(All DVD features, plus…)
Book 1: Air – Audio Commentary (all eps.), Creators’ Favorite Scenes: Animatics (Welcome to Republic City, The Revelation, The Voice in the Night, The Spirit of Competition, And the Winner Is…, When Extremes Meet, Turning the Tides, Endgame)
Book 2: Spirits – Audio Commentary (all eps.), Scene Bending (Rebel Spirit Scene 1, Rebel Spirit Scene 2, The Southern Lights Scene 1, The Southern Lights Scene 2, Civil Wars Pt. 1, Civil Wars Pt. 2, Peacekeepers, Beginnings: Part 1, Beginnings: Part 2, The Guide, A New Spiritual Age, Night of a Thousand Stars, Harmonic Convergence, Darkness Falls, Light in the Dark), Kindred Spirits: Tenzin’s Family, Inside the Book of Spirits, The Re-telling of Korra’s Journey
Book 3: Change – Audio Commentary (all eps.), The Spirit of an Episode (A Breath of Fresh Ai, Rebirth, The Earth Queen, In Harm’s Way, The Metal Clan, Old Wounds, Original Airbenders, The Terror Within, The Stakeout, Long Live the Queen, The Ultimatum, Enter the Void, Venom of the Red Lotus)
Book 4: Balance – Audio Commentary (all eps.), Republic City Hustle (parts 1, 2, 3), The Legend of Puppetbender Presents “The Making of a Legend: The Untold Story – Part II”, Legend of Korra: New York Comic-Con Panel Featurette
German brand management and media company m4e AG has appointed Umbrella – The Latin America Licensing Group, as the agent for preschool properties Wissper and Tip the Mouse in Latin America. Umbrella is a strategic alliance of The Brand Licensing Entertainment Company (Mexico), Smilehood (Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay), Agosin Licensing (Chile, Peru, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia), Mon Licensing (Panama, Central America, Venezuela, Caribbean) and Ecu Licensing (Ecuador).
Following successful broadcast debuts of both series in LatAm markets — Wissper on Discovery Kids and Tip the Mouse on Disney Channel — Umbrella will develop a comprehensive licensing and merchandising program across major categories, including apparel, accessories, back-to-school, electronics, collectibles, novelties and toys & games. The first step will be negotiations with potential distribution partners for the toy line by EMEA master toy partner, Simba Dickie Group.
“Latin America really is a very important market for our branding and licensing efforts,” said Peter Kleinschmidt, m4e’s Commercial Director for LatAm. “We are happy to work with this region’s top licensing agents under the roof of Umbrella, establishing licensing programs and brands that children love and parents trust!”
