Author: Mercedes Milligan

VIZ Announces Anime Expo Plans

VIZ Media will be doing its part to make Anime Expo 2016 a fun-filled fan experience when it takes place at the L.A. Convention Center July 1-4. Based out of Booth #2205, VIZ will present special guest appearances, panel discussions, autograph sessions, promotional giveaways and a variety of exclusive and pre-street items available for purchase.

On Saturday, July 2 from 11 a.m. to noon, Blue Exorcist creator Kazue Kato will make her first-ever North American appearance as VIZ Media’s special guest at Weekly Shonen Jump Presents Kazue Kato (LP2 / LACC 403AB), followed at 3 p.m. by an autograph session in the Autograph Area, where Kato will be signing shikishi for ticket holders.

Kato will return for another autograph session on Sunday at 4 p.m. VIZ has also scheduled an autograph session with the team behind One Punch Man, who will be signing posters in the Autograph Area on Saturday at 10 a.m.

In addition to the VIZ Media Panel — celebrating the company’s 30th anniversary with exciting announcements, exclusive first looks and amazing prizes on Friday from 1:30-2:45 p.m. (Hall B) — attendees can get the inside scoop at panels for Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure (Fri. 6:30-7:45 p.m.; LP1 – Petree Hall) and Weekly Shonen Jump (Mon. 11 a.m.-Noon; LP2 – LACC 403AB).

The annual sparkly spectacular of Sailor Moon Day also returns to the con, kicking off Sunday morning with the Sailor Moon Official Panel (10:30 a.m.-Noon; Hall B), which will be packed with special guests, announcements, famously hard trivia and tons of fun (getting in line early is recommended for this popular event). And at 1:30 p.m. the Sailor Moon English Voice Cast will set up in the Autograph Area to meets fans and hand out signed premium cardstock posters featuring art from Sailor Moon S (tickets required).

And at the VIZ Media booth, be sure to spin the 30th Anniversary Prize Wheel, embark on the Sailor Moon Quest for the Holy Grail and grab free Blue Exorcist or Tokyo Ghoul posters. The retail area is also packed with goodies: One Piece Limited Edition Full-Color Framed Replicas ($230); One-Punch Man 3 Punches for Charity posters ($10 ea.); Sailor Moon S T-shirt with exclusive design ($15); Sailor Moon Crystal Season 1 Set 1 Combo Pack preorder with limited edition Suncatcher and bonsu foil stamped art card ($65); Pre-Street Manga Editions ($10-20); Manga Page Replicas in black and white, straight from Japan ($15); Weekly Shonen Jump Annual Digital Subscription with Utopic ZEXAL Yu-Gi-Oh! Card and exclusive tee ($30); and Yoshitaka Amano Illustrations art book, available ahead of the artist’s Guest of Honor appearance ($30).

Blue Exorcist

One Punch Man

Sailor Moon Crystal Set 1

June 28, 2016
Cyber Group Hosts Semi-Final Judging for International Kids Emmys

On Monday, June 27, Cyber Group Studios for the fifth time played host to the semi-final round of judging for the International Emmy Kids Awards in two categories: Kids Preschool and Kids Animation. The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences recognizes excellence in television produced and aired outside of the U.S. at a ceremony held during the annual MIPTV event in Cannes, France.

The judging event took place in Paris at the Scribe hotel, with a jury composed of more than 20 leading TV executives from some of the biggest broadcasters around the world: Nickelodeon (U.S.), VRT (Belgium), SpaceToon (Dubai), RTP (Portugal), RAI and De Agostini (Italy); ARD/HR, Super RTL and KiKA (Germany); RUV (Iceland); The Walt Disney Company, TF1, France Televisions, M6, Canal+, Turner (France) and TV5 Monde.

The screening and judging process took up the entire day for the prestigious jurors, supervised by Emmy Judging Director Nathaniel Brendel. The programs under Awards consideration included productions from South Korea, Japan, U.K., Canada, Ireland, Argentina, Brazil and Australia.

Tabulations are done by the accounting firm of Ernst & Young LLP. The program with the highest score in each region, in each category, becomes a nominee and proceeds to the final judging round. The winner will be announced at the International Emmy Kids Awards at MIPTV in April 2017.

From left to right standing : Frank Dietz – Super RTL (Germany), Marie Congé and Pierre Sissmann – Cyber Group Studios (France), Brenda Maffuchi – De Agostini (Italy), Nathaniel Brendel – Emmy Judging Director (USA), Yann Labasque – TF1 (France), Haitham Karajay – Spacetoon (Dubaï), Luca Milano – RAI Fiction (Italy), Jules Borkent – Nickelodeon (USA), Guðrún Helga Jónasdóttir – RUV (Iceland), Lila Hannou – M6 (France), Telidja Klaï – VRT (Belgium), Claire Heinrich – France Télévisions (France), Patricia Adane – France Télévisions (France), Stéphane Pasquier-Miyazaki – Turner Broadcasting System (France). From left to right sitting: Frédérique Sandot – TF1 (France), Andrea Basílio – RTP (Portugal), Patricia Vasapollo – ARD / HR (Germany), Nathalie Biancolli – TF1 (France), Theresa Plummer-Andrews – Plumtrees (United Kingdom), Laurence Blaevoet – Canal + (France), Virginie Landru – TV5 MONDE, Clément Le Strat – The Walt Disney Company (France), Also attending: Stefan Pfaeffle – ARD / KIKA (Germany) © International Emmy® Kids Awards & Cyber Group Studios

June 28, 2016
Gregorio Escalante Gallery Presents Jorge Gutierrez Exhibit

L.A.’s Gregorio Escalante Gallery will present a collection of new, original works from Book of Life director Jorge Gutierrez: Border Bang. Opening Saturday, July 9 and running through August 14, Border Bang is a “love letter” to the Tijuana and U.S. border, documenting the bootleg artifacts for sale and re-appropriation of the pop culture bombardment which serves as a subversive window on global issues and events.

Celebrated animator, painter, writer and director Jorge Gutierrez was raised in Tijuana, crossing the border into the U.S. to attend elementary and high school. Each day he would encounter the unlicensed goods that created alternative narratives to the cartoon characters and celebrities they portrayed. Border Band is a reflection of Gutierrez’s childhood narrative, using images from Mickey Mouse to Tupac Shakur to convey the reflections of global events as witnessed by the border, and explore his love affair with Mexican pop and folk culture.

Border Bang will open concurrently with fellow Book of Life producer and artist Guillermo del Toro’s exhibition at LACMA, with an opening reception set for July 9 at 7 p.m. at the Gallery.

Gregorio Escalante Gallery Presents Jorge Gutierrez Exhibit

June 28, 2016
Brooklyn’s Rooftop Films Presents ‘Dark Toons’

Next Thursday, July 7, Brooklyn’s Rooftop Films will present its annual Dark Toons program at Industry City in Sunset Park. The opposite of Saturday morning cartoons, the films in this screening use the magic of animation to look at modern life with a refreshingly warped lens. From hedonistic aliens to dealing with toxic masculinity, Dark Toons offers something for everyone … of a certain age and inclination.

For AnimationMagazine.net readers who would like to attend, Rooftop Films is offering a 15% discount on Dark Toons tickets — just use the code ANIMATION@ROOFTOP when your order! Click here to purchase tickets.

Dark Toons 2016 Films:

STEMS (Ainslie Henderson | UK | 3 min.) Making puppet-making make music.

MANOMAN (Simon Cartwright | UK | 11 min.) Glen is barely a man. In a desperate attempt to tap into his masculinity he attends a primal scream therapy session, but even surrounded by wailing men he cannot make a sound. When another member of the class pushes Glen too far he finally lets something out- a miniature version of himself which does whatever it wants, regardless of the consequences.

CHOBAN (Matija Pisačić | Croatia | 18 min.) Laika, a female dog, is kidnapped and then launched into outer space. Choban, her owner, starts to search for her and ends up in an underground city where he accidentally embarks on a singing career. Meanwhile, Laika ends up on a planet inhabited by a mysterious black grandmother called Moira who tailors fate and bends time and space. Moira turns Laika into an anthropomorphic being that yearns to return to her master.

SUNDAY LUNCH (Celine Devaux | France | 14 min.) Sunday. At lunch, James observes his family. They ask him questions and don’t listen to his answers, they give advice but don’t follow it, they stroke him and slap him, but it’s ok, it is the Sunday lunch.

LAZY DAZE (Brian Smee | USA | 4 min.) Dog in the land where the good life takes you.

SPORT IN THE LAND OF PLENTY (Matt Reynolds | USA | 1 min.) The supreme beings of a distant world take an afternoon trip to the outer reaches of their domain to enjoy the wildlife and play a bit of sport. In a landscape so plentiful, everything is for the taking and everything is for their pleasure.

FORGOTTEN REASON (Peter Larsson | Sweden | 14 min.) Forgotten Reason is a stop motion animated film about a group of lost bodies who wander through a forest towards an open field. A gathering with an unclear purpose takes place. The story comes alive through the film’s texture and atmosphere rather than via traditional storytelling.

DOKUMENT (Marcin Podolec | Poland | 7 min.) A portrait of a father whose adult children live their own lives far away from him. The film follows his daily routine at the swimming pool, at work, and at home, as he–for the first time–explores his emotions. It’s a film about complicated relationships.

THE SHINING STAR OF LOSERS EVERYWHERE (Mickey Duzjy | USA / Japan | 18 min.) The strange but true story of how Japanese racehorse Haru Urara became a nationally celebrated symbol of perseverance while enduring a losing streak of epic proportions. Director and artist Mickey Duzyj traveled to Japan to uncover the story behind the horse’s unlikely rise to celebrity, and presents this partly animated short as the answer to how an undersized horse who vowed to “Never Give Up” became known as “The Shining Star of Losers Everywhere.”

ON MELANCHOLY (Hannah Jacobs | UK | 2 min.) The word ‘melancholy’ puts its finger on a particular species of sadness, which isn’t an illness or even a problem: it’s part of being human.

COOKIES (Leah Shore | USA | 1 min.) Made with love.

INSECT BITE (Grace Nayoon Rhee | USA | 2 min.) A tiny bug tries to figure out what he wants to be.

Matt Reynolds’ Sport in the Land of Plenty

June 28, 2016
New Clip & Images for ‘TTG v PPG’

Cartoon Network and Warner Bros. Animation have revealed a closer look at the upcoming epic crossover episode “TTG v PPG” — premiering Thursday, June 30 at 6:00/5:00c as part of CN’s #Yoursday lineup. The superheroic adventure begins when Mojo Jojo shows up in Jump City with the Powerpuff Girls on his heels, ready to team up with the Teen Titans to take him down.

TTG v PPG

June 28, 2016
Daily News Bytes

European Animation Awards to Launch in 2017
Despite that certain international kerfuffle that rhymes with “shmexit,” Europe’s answer to the Annie Awards is a go under EAA president Peter Lord.

Learn How to Rotoscope with Paint of Persia, a New Animation Tool
One of animation’s earliest techniques is within grasp of a new generation thanks to game developer Elonka Dunin’s new pixel art facilitator.

Family Guy, Futurama and More Team Up for Hearthstone-Style Game
Animation Throwdown: The Quest for Cards culls inspiration from five different Fox toons for the new mobile collectible card game from developers Chinzilla and Synapse, published by Kongregate.

Minecraft Movie Dated
The smash hit world-building game will craft a new big screen universe when it hits theaters May 24, 2019 through WB.

North American Studios Look to Israel for Next Animation Hit
Jerusalem Film and Television Fund opens a new avenue for Israeli content creators, connecting them with NorAm studios to create original TV series.

Minecraft

June 28, 2016
WBTV Comic-Con Lineup: ‘Justice League Action,’ ‘TTG’ & Live-Action Archie

Warner Bros. Television Group will have a record-setting lineup at this year’s Comic-Con International in San Diego (July 20-24), with 21 fan-favorite and anticipated series represented at panels and screenings throughout the confab. Of special note to animation fans are the debut of upcoming Cartoon Network series Justice League Action, ever-popular Teen Titans Go!, and a new one-hour drama series inspired by the Archie comics: Riverdale.

WBTVG will be parked in the convention center at a 2,400 square foot, multi-level must-see booth and will be sharing updates in the run-up to CCI and live during the show on Twitter (@warnerbrostv, #WBSDCC) and on a dedicated website (comiccon.thewb.com).

The Group’s Comic-Con programming kicks off with special sneak peek pilot screenings for the 2016-17 TV season on Preview Night, Wednesday, July 20 from 6-10 p.m. (Ballroom 20), with Riverdale, Powerless, People of Earth, Frequency and Time After Time; plus a new episode of Teen Titans Go! and the debut of Justice League Action.

In Justice League Action, the world’s greatest Super Heroes return to television in an all-new quarter-hour animated series. Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman lead the DC Super Heroes against their most infamous foes in adventures packed with relentless thrills, fun and action. Whether defending the Earth, facing invaders from space, or battling the bizarre forces of magic, the always-rotating team of Justice League heroes, are up to any challenge. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation and based on characters from DC, Justice League Action is coming soon to Cartoon Network.

The animated offerings will be the focus on Thursday, July 21. The Teen Titans Go! Video Presentation and Q&A (10:15-11:15 a.m., Rm. 6DE) will collect producers Aaron Horvath, Pete Michail and voice cast members Greg Cipes, Scott Menville, Khary Payton and Tara Strong for a screening and Q&A on the WB Animation series. Then from noon to 1 p.m., the Justice League Action Video Presentation and Q&A (Rm. 25ABC) introduces the upcoming toon with producers Butch Lukic (Justice League), Alan Burnett (Batman: The Animated Series) and voice cast members Kevin Conrow (B:TAS) and Diedrich Bader (Batman: The Brave and the Bold) presenting a Q&A and exclusive sneak peek.

The rest of the weekend is packed with more WBTVG panels. On Friday, July 22: The Big Bang Theory (10-11 a.m., Ballroom 20), The 100 (12:30-1:30 p.m., Br. 20), People of Earth (2-2:30 p.m., Rm. 6BCF), Powerless (2:30-3 p.m., Rm. 6BCF), iZombie (5:30-6:30 p.m., Br. 20). Saturday, July 23: The Vampire Diaries (11-11:45 p.m., Br. 20), Blindspot (12-12:45 p.m., Indigo Ballroom), The Originals (12:50-1:25 p.m., Indigo), Lucifer (1:30-2:05 p.m., Indigo), Gotham (2:10-3:00 p.m., Indigo), Supergirl (3:30-4:15 p.m., Br. 20), DC’s Legends of Tomorrow (4:15-5:00 p.m., Br. 20), The Flash (5-5:45 p.m., Br. 20), Arrow (5:45-6:30 p.m., Br. 20), Riverdale (6:30-7:20 p.m., Rm. 6BCF), Frequency (7:25-8:15 p.m., Rm. 6BCF), Time After Time (8:20-9:15 p.m., Rm. 6BCF). Sunday, July 24: Supernatural (11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m., Hall H).

And capping it all off will be Animaniacs Live! On Sunday from 3 to 4:15, join Rob Paulsen, Tress MacNeille and Jess Harnell — along with series songwriter Randy Rogel — for a totally insane-y afternoon as they perform songs from the beloved cartoon. Animaniacs Live! will be going on tour, so if you miss the SDCC gig, visit animiacslive.com for info.

Justice League Action

Teen Titans Go!

Animaniacs Live!

June 27, 2016
BBC Three Picks Up Two Wildseed Studios Series

U.K. online channel BBC Three has commissioned two new animated short-form series from Wildseed Studios — the Bristol-based IP incubator founded by ex-BBC creative exec Jesse Cleverly and former Aardman head Miles Bullough. Aimed at adult viewers, Wolf Jenkins: Vietnam Vet and Tales of the Serengeti were commissioned by BBC Three controller Damian Kavanagh and Tilusha Ghelani of BBC Comedy. Cleverly and Bullough serve as exec producers for both series.

Created by comic actor Andy Needle, Wolf Jenkins: Vietnam Vet; follows the heroic “Vietname veterinarian” as he attempts to rescue helpless animals that have been victimized, tortured — or even made to wear a silly hat — by a progression of supervillains. Five four-minute episodes will arrive this fall.

And coming this summer from underground comicker Ralph Kidson is lo-fi animated animal soap opera Tales of the Serengeti — but the sketchy critters in these 10 three-minute short episodes are as far from David Attenborough as you can get, fighting, fornicating, gorging and swearing their way through life on the African plain.

Launched in 2013 with the intent to make up to 50 investments of up to 10,000 BPS in projects across the entertainment spectrum — from apps, books and games to web series, live shows and movies. It has since incubated 30 new comedy and genre fiction projects, including alien invasion series Hungerford and comedy-horror vlogger series Philip Human, both licensed for Fullscreen Media’s U.S. SVOD service.

BBC Three programming is available through The Best of Three and BBC Three on iPlayer. The channel features original British comedies, dramas, documentaries and current affairs shows aimed at viewers ages 16-34.

Wolf Jenkins: Vietnam Vet

June 27, 2016
‘Nuts!’ Opens in LA & SF July 8

Sundance Film Festival award-winner Nuts! — an irreverent, inventive animated documentary by Penny Lane — is heading to multiple cities in the next couple weeks as it continues its limited release at select theaters nationwide.

This Friday, July 1, Nuts! opens in Kansas City, MO (Tivoli Cinemas); Washington, DC (AFI Silver Theatre); and Portland, OR (Cinema 21). And on July 8 it heads to Los Angeles (CineFamily), Pasadena (Pasadena Playhouse), San Francisco (Alamo Drafthouse Cinema – New Mission), Berkeley (Rialto Elmwood 3) and Independence, KS (Independence Cinemas). See the website for complete theater engagement listings.

Synopsis:

Nuts! recounts the unbelievable true story of John Romulus Brinkley, a Kansas doctor who in 1917 discovered that he could cure impotence by transplanting goat testicles into men. From there, the story only gets more bizarre. Mixing hand-drawn animated reenactments, interviews, archival footage, and a very unreliable narrator, Nuts! traces Brinkley’s rise from poverty and obscurity to the heights of celebrity, wealth, and influence. Along the way, he transplants thousands of goat testicles, amasses an enormous fortune, is (sort of) elected Governor of Kansas, invents junk mail and the infomercial, builds the world’s most powerful radio station, and generally annoys the heck out of the establishment.

Nuts!

June 27, 2016
Shout! Snags NorAm Rights for ‘Blinky Bill: The Movie’

Shout! Factory and Studio 100 Film have struck a deal for the North American distribution of new animated feature, Blinky Bill: The Movie. Shout! has secured exclusive rights for the territory, including theatrical, broadcast, video-on-demand, digital and home entertainment rights for cross-platform releases. A strategic launch across multiple platforms will be pushed through the Shout! Factory Kids imprint.

Produced by Studio 100’s Sydney-based animation studio Flying Bark Productions, Blinky Bill: The Movie features an all-star voice cast of Ryan Kwanten (True Blood), Rufus Sewell (The Man in High Castle), Toni Collette (Little Miss Sunshine), David Wenham (Lord of the Rings), Richard Roxburgh (Moulin Rouge, Maya the Bee Movie), Robin McLeavy (Hell on Wheels), Barry Otto (The Great Gatsby) and Barry Humphries (Finding Nemo).

Synopsis:

Blinky Bill (voiced by Ryan Kwanten) is a little koala with a big imagination. An adventurer at heart, he dreams of leaving the little town of Green Patch and following in his missing father’s footsteps. Mr. Bill went missing in the Outback some time ago and Blinky is the only one who believes his father is still alive. When Blinky discovers a mysterious marker that hints at his dad’s whereabouts, he embarks on a journey that takes him beyond the boundary of Green Patch and into the wild and dangerous Outback. He quickly makes friends with Nutsy, a zoo koala, and Jacko, a nervous frill-necked lizard. Pursued relentlessly by a vengeful cat who has a personal score to settle with Blinky, the trio must learn to work together if they ever want to survive the rugged Australian landscape and find Blinky’s father!

Blinky Bill: The Movie

June 27, 2016
Japan Media Arts Residency Open for Entries

The Japanese Government’s Agency for Cultural Affairs and the Computer Graphics Art Society (CG-ARTS) are now accepting applications for the first-ever Residency Program for Overseas Media Arts Creators. Young artists working in mediums including media art, video, games, animation, graphic novels, etc. are invited to apply for one of the three slots by August 19, 2016.

The Residency Program will offer selectees a chance to live and work in Tokyo, with the aim of creating and presenting a new piece while there (or part of a new work-in-progress). Participants will receive training and guidance from local media arts experts and be invited to visit with creators and studios and participate in exchange events with working artists and arts program students.

Prospects can apply for either a 100-day (Dec. 1, 2016 – March 10, 2017) or 50-day (Jan. 20 – March 10, 201) residency period. The program provides travel expenses, a living allowance, travel insurance and rental accommodation (including workspace) in Tokyo. The Residency is open to applicants who live outside of Japan and are not Japanese citizens.

Guidelines and application are available here.

Japan Media Arts Residency

June 27, 2016
OhMyDisney Offers ‘Hercules’ Side-by-Side Clip

Disney is cracking open the vault doors and revealing never-before-seen behind-the-scenes footage from the making of its 1997 animated feature Hercules, just in time for the anniversary of its wide release in theaters.

The exclusive clip from fan-targeted site OhMyDisney sheds a fresh light on the film’s iconic “Zero to Hero” song and dance sequence by placing original storyboards and live-action reference performance side-by-side. Check it out below!

Hercules

Hercules

June 27, 2016
Daily News Bytes

Video: Adult Swim Launches First Ever Full Episode on Vine
Brad Neely’s Harg Nallin’ Sclopio Peepio takes new media laurels ahead of its TV premiere this Sunday, July 1 at 11:45 p.m. (And look out for the August issue of Animation Magazine to read more about the show!)

Uncertain Times for UK Animation After Brexit
“It is hard to process at the moment how it will affect business across the UK, but if there are detrimental effects, we need to do everything we can to support the industry,” says CMF‘s Greg Childs.

Life, Animated Opens in New York and Los Angeles This Friday
Roger Ross Williams’ moving documentary about a young man who learned to understand and communicate with the world around him through the magic of animation comes to theaters July 1.

A Quintet of Animation Releases for July and August
A bouquet of clips for a diverse range of animated projects: Big Fish and Begonia, Little Prince, Pete’s Dragon, Sausage Party and Kubo and the Two Strings.

Aboriginal Children Learning About Culture Through Animation Techniques
A grassroots community program in Perth, Australia uses animation craft and technology to get kids excited about their history.

Brad Neely’s Harg Nallin’ Sclopio Peepio

June 27, 2016
Quay Bros. to Attend Fest Anca ’16

Fest Anča — the International Animation Festival of Žilina, Slovakia — will be rolling out the red carpet for animation auteurs Stephen and Timothy Quay when the ninth edition takes place June 29 through July 3. The twin London-based filmmakers were born in Pennsylvania and have enjoyed a much celebrated 30-year career, becoming widely recognized for their distinct, haunting style. The Quays were recently the subject of a documentary by Christopher Nolan, The Quay Brothers – On 35mm. The festival will present a selection of their work, including The Cabinet of Jan Švankmajer, Street of Crocodiles, Mask, In Absentia, and others.

“The Quay thumbprint is unmistakable, whether in their own work or in commissioned projects, such as their short animated sequence in the feature film Frida, which, instead of doctors, features stylized skeletons,” says Maroš Brojo, the festival’s program director. “The unique flair for animation also comes through in their book illustrations, music video production and dance movies, as well as set designs for opera, theatre performances and concerts. Stephen and Timothy Quay will join Fest Anča and share stories from the beginnings of a career that has been so notably distinct from other artists’ as well as the trends of contemporary animation.”

Fest Anča will also welcome Canadian filmmaker Steven Woloshen, a master of the direct drawn-on-film animation technique. Attendees will be able to watch him at work — and try out his methods for themselves — during his “Scratchatopia” workshop. Woloshen will also delve into many more aspects of cameraless animation during his masterclass.

This year’s festival also offers a focus on Balkan animation, screening the latest films from regional creators as well as several pieces that have great historical resonance for animation in Balkan countries. Among the esteemed guests will be Vanja Andrijevic from Croatia’s most successful studio, Bonobostudio. Audiences can enjoy the best work by Serbian, Slovenian, Croatian, Romanian and even Greek producers — and pay a visit to the year 3084 in the first Romanian sci-fi feature, Delta Space Mission, directed by Mircea Toia and Călin Cazan.

In addition to the competition tracks, the festival has planned thematic sections such as World Panorama, Entities and Webseries. A popular item on the agenda is Midnight Screenings, featuring horror and extremely bizarre X-rated flicks. The late night program will also include screenings from the Extremely Short Section of Extremely Short Films, Contemporary Abstract Animation, as well as films for “truly resilient viewers” in the Anča in Mordor section. The midnight screenings will also feature surreal films and gifs by British artist Cyriak Harris.

Young viewers can also enjoy a dedicated program. They can even vote for their favorites in the International Competition of Films for Children, and watch kid-friendly selections from TV and film archives. Kids can also enjoy a workshop and use their practical skills by crafting pinhole cameras out of everyday objects. One of Fest Anča’s partners, TV in the City, will screen several feature animated family films open-air at Andrej Hlinka Square in Žilina.

And finally, Fest Anča Game Days at the New Synagogue is welcoming guests like the producers of the Serious Sam series, creators of the highly acclaimed puzzle game Talos Principle, Amanita Design developers and their latest adventure game Samorost 3, as well as representatives of the successful Platige Image animation studio. Gamers can also try the newest virtual reality gadgets such as Oculus Rift and HTC Vive headsets.

Street of Crocodiles

Tomm Moore, Liselott Olofsson, Mari-Liis Rebane © Fest Anca Juraj Starovecky 2015

June 26, 2016
Daily News Bytes

Kevin Hart Talks ‘Putting a Small Black Guy in a Small White Rabbit’s Body’ at The Secret Life of Pets Premiere
Comedian dishes on his method for getting into character for his first animation voice role in Universal-Illumination’s fuzzy summer comedy.

Phantom Boy Tickets Now On Sale – Opens July 15 in NYC
GKIDS’ new English language version of the French animated adventure runs at New York’s IFC theater, with giveaways and Q&As with co-director Alain Gagnol at select shows.

Media Sector Sees Brexit-Fuelled Stock Carnage
In the global chaos instigated by the vote, no industry is safe and every major player has been shaken by the shockwaves emanating from Ol’ Blighty.

SuperAwesome Asia Gets into Short-Form Content
Singapore-based digital kids network moves into development under the guidance of SuperAwesome founder (and SA Asia chairman) Dylan Collins and chief commercial officer Paul Nunn.

Spin Master Preps Premiere of Rusty Rivets
Toy giant will launch its first line for the new Nick series (coming Aug. 22) in fall 2017.

Kevin Hart Talks ‘Putting a Small Black Guy in a Small White Rabbit’s Body’ at The Secret Life of Pets Premiere

June 26, 2016
Daily News Bytes

Industry Organizations React to Brexit
IFTA calls the EU referendum results “a major blow” to the U.K. film and TV industry, while Pact promises to work with the government and EU institutes to preserve commercial advantages.

Rough Draft Studios Inks Union Contract with Animation Guild
Employees at the Glendale studio known for its Futurama and The Simpsons Movie work have a collective bargaining agreement for the first time in almost 10 years.

Your Pet Deserves an Emoji! New PetMOJI creator for The Secret Life of Pets
Emoji-fy your furbaby into an adorable avatar and sticker-filled custom keyboard thanks to the new iOS app from Universal-Illumination, TVGla and Mattson Creative.

Billion Dollar Location: Czech Republic – Animation and Visual Effects Take Root and Grow
Journalist Ed Meza explores the scope of the local industry from hand-crafted artistry to high-tech industries.

Disney Files Copyright Infringement Case Against Chinese Animation Companies Over Alleged ‘Cars’ Copycat
The Mouse House is taking legal action against all three companies behind The Autobots, while director Zuo Jianlong maintains the films “are completely different.”

petMOJI

June 24, 2016
Clips: ‘Dragons: Race to the Edge’ Season 3 Now on Netflix

Season 3 of DreamWorks Animation’s Dragons: Race to the Edge has launched exclusively on Netflix today. To celebrate, DWA has shared a couple intriguing clips — including a look at all-new dragon, Cavern Crusher — and a couple fresh stills to get you fired up.

Synopsis:

Hiccup and Toothless are back along with your favorite Dragon Riders in an all-new action-packed Season 3 of Dragons: Race to the Edge. The high-stakes continue as the Riders advance in their hunt for Viggo, Ryker and their expanded Dragon Hunter army. Tune in as the Riders encounter new dragons, a seemingly reformed Dagur, an underground Dragon Fighting arena, and learn along the way that Viggo has a Dragon Eye and dragon fortress!

Clip: “Cavern Crusher”

Clip: “Salty Surprise”

Dragons: Race to the Edge

June 24, 2016
Animation Block Party Unveils 2016 Program

The 13th annual Animation Block Party is returning to Brooklyn July 28-31, and organizers have revealed the full programming lineup for this year’s celebration of animated artistry. (And details of the can’t-miss after-parties Friday and Saturday night!)

The event kicks off Thursday evening at Brookfield Place, with doors opening at 6:30. Following some live music, the free outdoor Opening Night screening begins at 8:45 and offers a diverse compilation of extraordinary shorts from around the world. APB Opening Night at Rooftop Films is presented by Arts Brookfield.

Friday, BAMcinématek (located in the Peter Sharp Building) hosts four programs: The 2pm slot offers a screening of NY Animated Ads, a selection of rare cartoon commercials from 1929 to the present day produced by the likes of Hubley, Terrytoons, Jack Zanders and Fleischer, curated by J.J. Sedelmaier. At 4:30, there will be a screening of Narrative Works, Studio Shorts and Local Films. 7pm show features Student Films and Independent Animators. And at 9pm, there will be a 30th Anniversary screening of Transformers: The Movie in 35mm.

Saturday’s BAMcinématek schedule begins at 2pm with Animation for Kids, a fresh family-friendly collection of student and indie shorts (plus some Sesame Street pieces) — this program repeats Sunday at 2. At 4:30, join cartoon historians Jerry Beck and Tommy Stathes for a look at the film preservation process, screenings of new digital restorations of films from Max Fleischer and Bray Studios, and a Q&A. 7pm’s International Shorts Program is the first installment of unique, top-quality films from across the globe. Saturday’s 9pm feature screening marks the 15th anniversary of Hajime Yatate’s space Western, Cowboy Bebop: The Movie.

And on Sunday, BAMcinématek repeats the Animation for Kids matinee at 2pm, followed by The Pink Panther Collection at 4:30 — a selection of classic shorts spanning two decades of the kitty’s adventures from Friz Freleng and Hawley Pratt, introduced by Jerry Beck. At 7pm, the global contemporary animation tour continues with International Shorts Program Two. And the festival wraps up Sunday night at 9 with Experimental Films, Graphic Design and Music Videos.

Toy Ride

June 24, 2016
Girl Effect Confronts ‘Invisible Barriers’ in Animated Short

Girl Effect, the empowerment organization born out of NIKE Foundation and multiple partners, has launched a new animated short film: Invisible Barriers. The piece dramatizes the cultural and social norms that hold many girls back from reaching their full potential, and challenges the world to create a “new normal” for girls through access to education, health care, choice in marriage, community support and visibility.

Invisible Barriers combines distinct mixed-technique animation from Mustashrik Mahbub — a filmmaker and illustrator who has created spots for high profile brands like Louis Vuitton and Michael Kors and music videos for artists including Ladyhawke (“Anxiety”) and Ed Sheeran (“One”) — with an original poem by Nigerian-born performance poet Bassey Ikpi. The film illustrates the complexities of a girl’s life in poverty, showing how while the world makes great strides in health, education, safety and financial services, social norms still stand in the way of access for girls.

“I have witnessed first hand the devastating effect on a community that does little to encourage young women to take the lead. A country, a community, a society can not grow if more than half of their populations aren’t encouraged to be active and productive members of society,” said Ikpi. “With this poem, I wanted to speak directly to both the girls who need the encouragement and those who may question their importance. I know the importance of words and the power that they have to motivate change — I hope the words that I put together are able to do that in some way.”

Mahbub’s animation process for the short began with traditional 2D and rotoscope techniques using pen and ink. This was then combined with frame-by-frame Photoshop animation, with rotoscoped references, and elements built in 3D and then rotoscoped with custom inks and brushes. A library of hand-painted wet and dry textures, colors and brush strokes were then built up to create style frames. These textures and layers were applied in 3D space to give the scenes perspective and depth. Characters were also colored using background textures, to ensure all ink work was kept abstract and elegant. To give the film the final look, pre-filmed ink in water were used to create subtle ink explosions.

Invisible Barriers

June 24, 2016
3QU Kicks Off Production on ‘Gnome Alone’

L.A.’s 3QU Media is now in production on its second feature, Gnome Alone, a CG-animated comedy starring singer and actor Becky G (Power Rangers 2017) and Josh Peck (Grandfathered). Directed by Peter Lepeniotis (The Nut Job) and produced by 3QU co-founder John H. Williams (Shrek) Gnome Alone is being animated at Cinesite and is due for completion next spring.

Written by Kyle Newman (Barely Lethal) and Micah Herman (Washed Up) with revisions by Rob Moreland and Zina Zaflow, Gnome Alone imagines a centuries-old war waged between the grizzled Gnomes who protect earth and the wacky and hungry Troggs determined to consume everything in sight. When Chloe, the reluctant protagonist, discovers that her new home’s garden gnomes are not what they seem, she must decide between the pursuit of a desired high school life and taking up the fight against the ever-multiplying Troggs in a final last stand.

Gnome Alone is the second of four feature-length animated films slated for production and financing by 3QU Media. The first, Charming, is a musical fairytale send-up currently in production that features the voices of Demi Lovato, Wilmer Valderrama, Sia, GEM, Ashley Tisdale, Steve Aoki, John Cleese, Nia Vardalos and Avril Lavigne.

Gnome Alone

June 24, 2016