Animation Magazine

Author: Mercedes Milligan

  • SIGGRAPH ‘16 Previews Tech Papers

    SIGGRAPH ‘16 Previews Tech Papers

    SIGGRAPH 2016, taking place July 24-28 at the Anaheim Convention Center under the tagline “Render the Possibilities,” will once again present its renowned Technical Papers program — an international forum for scholarly work in computer graphics and interactive techniques. The ACM SIGGRAPH YouTube Channel has posted a program trailer as a preview to this year’s conference.

    SIGGRAPH 2016 accepted 119 juried technical papers (162 total, out of 467 international submissions). This includes work in the ares of geometry/modeling (33%), image (19%), animation (14%), rendering (12%), physical simulation (10%), displays/virtual reality (5%), acquisition (5%) and interaction (3%).

    “Among the trends we noticed from this year’s submissions was that research in core topics continues while the field itself broadens and matures. We saw nine papers on fabrication, and more synergy between topics such as machine learning, perception, and high-level interaction,” said SIGGRAPH 2016 Technical Papers Program Chair John Snyder.

    Some of this year’s highlights are:

    SketchiMo: Sketch-Based Motion Editing for Articulated Characters

    Byungkuk Choi, Roger Blanco I. Ribera Korea, Seokpyo Hong, Haegwang Eom, Sunjin Jung, and Junyong Noh, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology; and, J.P. Lewis and Yeongho Seol, Weta Digital Ltd.

    AutoHair: Fully Automatic Hair Modeling From A Single Image

    Menglei Chai, Tianjia Shao, Hongzhi Wu, Yanlin Weng, and Kun Zhou, ZhejiangUniversity

    Shadow Theatre: Discovering Human Motion From a Sequence of Silhouettes

    Jungdam Won and Jehee Lee, Seoul National University

    Mapping Virtual and Physical Reality

    Qi Sun and Arie Kaufman, Stony Brook University; Li-Yi Wei, University of Hong Kong

    Flow-Guided Warping for Image-Based Shape Manipulation

    Romain Vergne and Georges-Pierre Bonneau, Université Grenoble Alpes Centre national de la recherche scientifique, INRIA; Pascal Barla, INRIA; and, Roland W. Fleming, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen

    SIGGRAPH 2016
    SIGGRAPH 2016

  • Skyrocket Taps Jared Wolfson to Lead New Media Division

    L.A.-based Skyrocket Toys, a leading domestic manufacturer of tech toys and consumer products, has appointed kids and family entertainment executive and producer Jared Wolfson to lead the company’s newly formed media division. The new Skyrocket branch will create and produce original content for multiple platforms in conjunction with its merchandise brands.

    Dubbed Senior Vice President of the media division, Wolfson will be responsible for developing, launching and managing Skyrocket’s portfolio of integrated entertainment properties in coordination with the company’s toy and consumer products businesses. Skyrocket will develop original content for digital and broadcast platforms with corresponding toy lines and ancillary products, with a first property launch planned for 2018.

    Wolfson was previously President of Franchise Integration at Zag Animation Studios and Zagtoon, and Executive Producer on globally popular series Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir, Popples, Sammy & Co. and Zak Storm (coming 2017). Wolfson also held various executive, production and marketing positions at JAKKS Pacific and Disney Interactive Studios.

    Skyrocket Toys
    Skyrocket Toys
  • Daily News Bytes

    Daily News Bytes

    Cannes: Animation Is a Rare Bright Spot for Russian Film Industry
    Russki toon franchises Snow Queen, Kikoriki and Masha continue to net strong sales worldwide.

    The Children’s Media Conference Commissioners Announced
    The Sheffield, U.K. event will welcome top execs from CBeebies, Disney, France Television, Nickelodeon, Turner and more.

    Northwest Animation Festival Kicks off Three-Day Run on Friday
    NW Animation Fest heads to Eugene, Oregon with programs featuring experimental, queer culture, family-friendly and the ever popular Strange & Sexy shorts.

    Epic Games Awards $75,000 in Unreal Dev Grants
    Daedelic Ent.’s The Long Journey Home, Right Nice Games’ Skylar & Plux and three outstanding plugins will receive funds this round.

    Painting Robots Surprise Judges by Using Creativity in International Art Contest
    Teams from around the world programmed robots for “artificial creativity” — is this how The Singularity begins?

    Kikoriki
    Kikoriki

  • GBI’s Stone Newman Takes on Global Marketing

    Genius Brands International has promoted industry vet Stone Newman from President of Global Consumer Products to President of Global Consumer Products & Marketing, per an announcement from Chairman & CEO Andy Heyward. Newman has been overseeing the company’s worldwide consumer products programs since joining GBI in 2014.

    Now, in addition to handling consumer products business for GBI and its subsidiary A Squared Entertainment, Newman will also spearhead traditional and digital marketing efforts for all brands — including music and fashion-driven tween property SpacePOP, Llama Llama, Baby Genius, Warren Buffett’s Secret Millionaires Club, Stan Lee’s Mighty 7 and Thomas Edison’s Secret Lab. VP of Consumer Products Lloyd Mintz and VP of Digital Jason Brumbaugh will report into Newman.

    Newman joined GBI two years ago from Art + Science International, a boutique licensing agency he founded. Representing numerous brands, including Psycho Bunny, From Frank and Celessence Technologies, Puff the Magic Dragon and ElectroKidz, Newman provided guidance and facilitation of business planning, equity raising, licensing, marketing and product development, as well as retail initiatives. Among the firm’s achievements was the branded licensing program for Celessence Technologies, which Newman led from obscurity to more than $50 million in retail sales through 20 licensees in just three years.

    Newman, an accomplished entrepreneur, also founded and built Sababa Toys from a start-up into a $30 million toy and game manufacturer with product presence in more than 50,000 retail stores. He also worked in marketing and licensing at Hasbro Toys.

    Genius Brands International
    Genius Brands International
  • Animasia’s ‘Harry & Bunnie’ Hits Disney in Asia

    Animasia’s ‘Harry & Bunnie’ Hits Disney in Asia

    Kuala Lumpur-based Animasia Studio’s original animated series Harry & Bunnie arrives on Disney Channel in Southeast Asia on May 20, with new episodes to air every Friday. The series will also launch on Disney Channels in Japan, Australia, New Zealand and India.

    Aimed at kids 7-11, Harry & Bunnie is a fast-paced, non-dialog 2D animated slapstick comedy. The 78 x 7 series centers on Harry, a young wannabe magician who invents magic tricks to impress his friends — although he often fails to do so. Meanwhile, his mischievous stage rabbit Bunnie seems to always steal the limelight with his perpetual plots to steal Harry’s magic wand.

    Animasia Studio produces the series, which is executive produced by Edmund Chan and Raye Lee, and executive directed by Ah Loong. Animasia, the largest animation service provider in Malaysia, is also behind Chuck Chicken and Supa Strikas.

    Harry and Bunnie
    Harry and Bunnie
  • Sprout Picks Up ‘Magic Hockey Skates’ Special from eOne

    Sprout Picks Up ‘Magic Hockey Skates’ Special from eOne

    Entertainment One has inked a broadcast agreement in the U.S. with NBCUniversal’s Sprout preschool network for the animated TV special, The Magic Hockey Skates. The half-hour mini movie will premiere in December 2016 as part of Sprout’s holiday line-up, featuring seasonal movies and specials every weekend throughout the month.

    Produced by Amberwood Entertainment, The Magic Hockey Skates is a 2D animated tale about a young boy’s inspirational journey as he gains confidence and self-respect with a little help from a pair of magic skates. eOne holds international broadcast rights for the special, which has sold to international broadcasters including Disney Channel (Latin America, Brazil), SRC (Canada), France Televisions, KiKA (Germany), SVT (Sweden), DR Danish Broadcasting Corporation and MBC (Middle East).

    Magic Hockey Skates
    Magic Hockey Skates
  • Cosmos-Maya Leads Regional Animation Production

    Cosmos-Maya Leads Regional Animation Production

    Asian studio Cosmos-Maya, based in Singapore and Mumbai, marks four years as the largest producer of original Indian animated content consistently over the past four years. The milestone is reached as the company boasts five TV shows currently on air, with three more in production and set to launch later in the year.

    Cosmos-Maya’s flagship series, Motu Patlu, launched in 2012 on Nickelodeon and is one of the most popular kids’ shows in India, as well as boasting a very large content bank accumulated in a short time.

    “Motu Patlu is very unique as a show. In the last four years, we have completed almost 500 episodes and almost 10 TV special features all of which have received a lot of love from the Indian kids,” said Cosmos-Maya CEO Anish Mehta, who produces the series. “We intend to produce a theatrical feature film based on Motu Patlu soon. While it is a record of sorts in terms of the production, the high ratings that we have got, both for Motu Patlu and Shiva are highly encouraging. This wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our broadcast partner Nickelodeon; whether it was the support to produce so much content or the mounting of the show.”

    Shiva, another collaboration between Cosmos-Maya and Viacom18, launched during Diwali last year and is proving a success in the region. Other Cosmos-Maya series are the slapstick comedy Eena Meena Deeka, airing its second season on Disney’s Hungama channel and sold to France, Germany and North America; ViR – The Robot Boy, airing on Hungama, currently in its third season with plans for TV movies; and Kisna, airing on Discovery Kids.

    ViR: The Robot Boy
    ViR: The Robot Boy
  • PBS KIDS Dates Premiere for Henson’s ‘Splash and Bubbles’

    PBS KIDS Dates Premiere for Henson’s ‘Splash and Bubbles’

    Even though Sesame Street has shuffled off to HBO, the relationship between PBS KIDS and The Jim Henson Company is still going swimmingly. At its annual member station meeting, the pubcaster dated the premiere of its newest show Splash and Bubbles — a CG animated series from JHC and Herschend Enterprises (Dollywood, Harlem Globetrotters).

    Splash and Bubbles will premiere Wednesday, November 23, 2016 on PBS stations nationwide. Digital content related to the show — including games, apps and parent and educator resources — will be available beginning this fall.

    Created by John Tartaglia (ImaginOcean, Johnny and the Sprites), Splash and Bubbles uses groundbreaking digital puppetry animation and encourages kids ages 4-7 to explore the natural undersea world along with the titular fish characters. Developed with an advisory panel of top marine biologists, digital innovators and educators, the adventures are grounded in a marine biology curriculum focused on diversity, individuality, interconnectedness and the joy of discovery. Splash and Bubbles also introduces young viewers to the concepts of ecological balance and ocean conservancy.

    The series follows Splash, a yellow fusilier fish who has migrated all over the ocean before settling in Reeftown, where he befriends Bubbles, a Mandarin dragonet whose vivid markings match her colorful personality. Until Splash came along, Bubbles and the denizens of Reeftown had no idea what lay beyond their coral home, but all that changes as the duo explores the sea to make new friends and learn about the many forms of life inhabiting the ocean.

    Splash and Bubbles is partly funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and is executive produced by Lisa Henson and Halle Stanford of The Jim Henson Company, Julie Phillips and Merrill Puckett-Miller of Herschend Enterprises, as well as John Tartaglia, Michael Shawn Lewis and Jill Shinderman. Tom Keniston is producer and David Skelly is supervising director. The Jim Henson Company oversees all distribution and merchandising for the property and Herschend Enterprises administers all themed entertainment rights.

    Splash and Bubbles
    Splash and Bubbles
  • International Co-Pro ‘The Breadwinner’ Enters Production

    International Co-Pro ‘The Breadwinner’ Enters Production

    Canada’s Aircraft Pictures, Ireland’s Cartoon Saloon and Luxembourg’s Melusine Productions in association with Angelina Jolie Pitt’s Jolie Pas Productions have begun key animation on 2D animated feature The Breadwinner. Based on the internationally acclaimed young adult novel by Canadian author Deborah Ellis, the film is due to be completed in Summer 2017.

    Directed by Nora Twomey (co-director of Oscar nominee The Secret of Kells) with screen story by Ellis and screenplay by Anita Doron, The Breadwinner is the story of a young girl named Parvana living under the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, who must disguise herself as a boy in order to work and support her family when her father is unfairly imprisoned. A story of self-empowerment and imagination in the face of oppression, the film also celebrates the culture, history and beauty of Afghanistan.

    The Breadwinner’s voice cast includes many performers of Afghan descent. The roster is lead by Saara Chaudry (Max & Shred) as Parvana, Soma Bhatia (Degrassi: Next Class) as Shauzia, Laara Sadiq (Remedy) as Parvana’s mother, Fattema; Ali Badshah (The Cat in the Hat) as Parvana’s father, Nurullah; Shaista Latif (This Is the Life) as her sister Soraya; and Kawa Ada (Jihad Gigolo) as Razaq.

    The Breadwinner will be produced with the financial participation of Telefilm Canada and the Talent Fund, the Irish Film Board, Film Fund Luxembourg, Mimi Gitlin Productions, The Shaw Rocket Fund, Artemis Rising Foundation, The Broadcast Authority of Ireland, The Ontario Media Development Corporation, The Harold Greenberg Fund, RTE, Movie Central, The Movie Network (a division of Bell Media), the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit and the Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit. Financiers Mimi Polk Gitlin and Regina K. Scully (Artemis Rising) join as executive producers.

    Confirmed distribution partners include Elevation Pictures (Canada) and StudioCanal (Ireland/U.K.). Cartoon Saloon, Aircraft Pictures and Melusine Prod. are represented by CAA for The Breadwinner.

    The Breadwinner
    The Breadwinner
  • GKIDS Takes Hold of ‘Girl without Hands’

    GKIDS Takes Hold of ‘Girl without Hands’

    GKIDS has entered a distribution agreement for all North American rights to the upcoming animated feature The Girl without Hands, following the film’s premiere screening at Cannes. Written and directed by French auteur Sebastien Laudenbach, the adult fairytale will screen in competition at Annecy in June.

    GKIDS’ President & CEO Eric Beckman and SVP Distribution David Jesteadt negoatiated the deal with Pyramide International’s head of international sales Agathe Valentin.

    “Dave and I were both blown away,” said Beckman. “The film has an utterly transporting beauty and poetry, while the story unfolds with the powerful dream logic of a fairytale, taking you into the darker, deeper, primal origins and emotional core of the Grimm’s tales. With magic and cruelty, sublime beauty and tenderness, The Girl without Hands is at once timeless and unlike anything you have seen before, a stunning example of the potential of the medium of animation as a powerful cinematic art form for adult moviegoers.”

    Produced by Les Film Sauvages, The Girl without Hands is based on an infrequently adapted Brothers Grimm fairytale. The film centers on a girl, the daughter of a miller who in hard times sells her to the Devil. Protected by her purity from the archfiend, she escapes, but the Devil in revenge deprives her of her hands.

    The Girl Without Hands
    The Girl Without Hands
  • Second ‘BFG’ Trailer Glimpses More Giant World

    Second ‘BFG’ Trailer Glimpses More Giant World

    Having premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, Walt Disney Pictures has unveiled a second trailer for Steven Spielberg’s The BFG, adapted from the classic tale by Roald Dahl. Trailer number two gives us a better look at the much bigger and unfriendlier giants that populate the film’s world of magic. The CG-laced live-action feature arrives in theaters July 1, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of Dahl’s birth.

    The film follows a 10-year-old London girl named Sophie, who one night is taken on an alarming journey to Giant Country by one of its denizens: a 24-foot tall, big-eared and dim-witted brute. But this creature is not like his countrymen, as Sophie discovers he is actually a Big Friendly Giant (voiced by Mark Rylance). But the girl’s arrival in this world has attracted the attention of the sinister giants Bloodbottler (Bill Hader) and Fleshlumpeater (Jermaine Clement), who are twice as tall and many times meaner than the BFG. The unlikely friends head back to London to see the Queen (Penelope Wilton) and warn her about the giants — if they can first convince her and her maid Mary (Rebecca Hall) that the beasts exist.

    Directed by Spielberg from a screenplay by Melissa Mathison (E.T., The Black Stallion) based on Dahl’s 1982 novel, The BFG is also produced by Spielberg along with Frank Marshall and Sam Mercer, with Kathleen Kennedy, John Madden, Kristie Macosko Krieger, Michael Siegel, Frank Smith and Naia Cucukov as executive producers.

    The BFG
    The BFG
  • Nick Launches ‘Shimmer and Shine’ Season 2 June 15

    Nick Launches ‘Shimmer and Shine’ Season 2 June 15

    Preschoolers are in for a magical summer with brand-new Shimmer and Shine content launching on every Nickelodeon platform. This includes the back-to-back episodes season two launch on air Wednesday, June 15 at noon (ET/PT); a new companion game on NickJr.com; and Shimmer and Shine app update.

    Season two of Shimmer and Shine features an all-new, vibrant look in CG, and takes place entirely in the exciting genie world of Zahramay Falls. Shimmer and Shine will be accompanied on their adventures by their best human friend Leah, and meet new characters including the power-hungry sorceress Zeta (voiced by Lacey Chabert) and her pet dragon, Nazboo; kind genie princess Samira and her peacock Roya; and Zac’s new genie Kaz.

    In the second season premiere episode “Welcome to Zahramay Falls,” Shimmer and Shine receive a Green Burst Gem from Princess Samira and take it to the human world, where the evil Zeta uses magic to steal it. But her spell goes awry, and pulls Leah and Zac into Zahramay Falls. In “All Bottled Up / Zoom Zahramay,” which follows, Shimmer and Shine are trapped in a genie bottle and need Leah’s help to escape, then are challenged to a magic carpet race with Zeta to win the magical Racing Gem.

    The premiere will pre-release on NickJr.com, the Nick Jr. App, VOD and select digital platforms. On May 30, NickJr.com will launch the “Genie-rific Creations” game, which allows users to customize their own genies. And the Shimmer and Shine Enchanted Carpet Ride will be updated to incorporate the magic of the genie gems into the magic carpet ride experience.

    Off-screen, the first consumer products line inspired by the series will debut nationwide in July. Nickelodeon teamed up with Mattel’s Fisher-Price brand for an assortment of basic and deluxe dolls and accessories and feature dolls such as “Shimmer and Shine Wish & Spin” and “Shimmer and Shine Magic Flying Carpet,” plus apparel, publishing items, home decor, accessories and more.

    Shimmer and Shine
    Shimmer and Shine

  • Gwen Hughes Upped to COO at Zodiak Kids Studios

    Zodiak Kids has announced key staffing changes to its production entity, Zodiak Kids Studios — which encompasses all production across the U.K. and France. These transitions include the promotion of Gwen Hughes to the new role of Chief Operating Officer, Zodiak Kids Studios.

    Hughes previously held the post of Managing Director for the studio, based in the U.K. Effective later this year, she will oversee all production and operational matters across the U.K. and France. Hughes will report to Jean-Philippe Randisi, CEO of Zodiak Kids, who is stepping in to oversee Zodiak Kids Studios as current CEO Michael Carrington departs for ABC Children’s. In her new position, Hughes will work alongside the studio’s Chief Creative Officer Eryk Casemiro, who heads up development teams in both territories, as well as MD Benoit Runel in France.

    Zodiak Kids Studios has had several series enter production and launch on air, such as kids interactive drama The Secret Life of Boys (CBBC/ABC), Floogals (Sprout) which has become the #1 show on the US network, Mister Maker’s Arty Party (CBeebies), second series of animated equestrian adventure The Ranch (TF1/Kika) and tween drama The Lodge (Disney EMEA). Recent major series include Magiki, the new commission for Lagardère’s Gulli in France and DeAgostini’s Super in Italy, and Lilybuds a new CGI animation for FTV.

    Zodiak Kids
    Zodiak Kids
  • eigoMANGA’s ‘Padak’ to Debut on Steam

    eigoMANGA’s ‘Padak’ to Debut on Steam

    San Francisco-based digital media publisher eigoMANGA reveals that its animated feature film Padak will be launching as a streaming title on Valve Corporation’s Steam platform, beginning June 6, 2016. A special promotional price will be offered for a limited time.

    Padak is a CG-animated feature film from independent South Korean studio E-DEHI, written and directed by Lee Dae Hee. The story revolves around the lives of fish in captivity at a seafood restaurant, as some try to swim against the current of their fate, while others go with the flow. Padak has picked up awards from international film festivals in Vladivostok, Jeonju and the Seoul International Cartoon & Animation Festival.

    Steam is a leading content platform offering thousands of titles from both Valve and other indie producers to its millions of members, currently available in 237 countries and in 21 different languages.

    Padak
    Padak
    Padak
    Padak
    Padak
    Padak
    Padak
    Padak
  • ‘Transformers 5’ Gets Title: ‘The Last Knight’

    ‘Transformers 5’ Gets Title: ‘The Last Knight’

    Paramount Pictures has officially dubbed the fifth installment of its box-office obliterating giant robot film series, announcing Transformers: The Last Knight. Production will kick off June 6 for the film, which will be helmed by returning director Michael Bay and is slated for release on June 23, 2017. The studio has also launched the film’s official Instagram account.

    Transformers: Age of Extinction star Mark Wahlberg is confirmed to return as Cade Yeager, and will be joined by Isabela Moner (100 Things to Do Before High School) as female lead Izabella and Jerrod Carmichael (The Carmichael Show) in an unspecified lead role. Iron Man writers Art Marcum & Matt Holloway are penning the script with Ken Nolan (Black Hawk Down). Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Don Murphy and Tom DeSanto will produce.

    The four prior Transformers films have raked in over $3.7 billion at the box office worldwide, and The Last Knight will hardly be the last word — Paramount currently has plans for a Bumblebee spin-off in 2018 and a sixth Transformers title in 2019.

    Transformers: The Last Knight
    Transformers: The Last Knight
  • 9 Story’s ‘Top Wing’ Takes Flight Worldwide on Nick

    9 Story’s ‘Top Wing’ Takes Flight Worldwide on Nick

    9 Story Media Group’s new CG action-adventure preschool series Top Wing (52 x 11) has been picked up by Nickelodeon, which has secured exclusive rights for its channels worldwide, excluding Canada. Top Wing is one of four new preschool series recently confirmed for this summer by Nick.

    Conceived by Matthew Fernandes of The Industrial Brothers (Yup Yups, Gummandos), Top Wing follows a team of eager young birds as they flock together to help their community and earn their wings as full-feathered rescue birds. The show is designed to teach its young viewers the importance of teamwork, and to model successful problem solving.

    9 Story Media Group
    9 Story Media Group

  • Karen Fowler Tapped as Showrunner on ‘Flora of the Forest’

    Koko Rose Media, King Rollo Films and Bejuba! have signed on three-time Emmy-winning creative executive Karen Fowler as Showrunner for Flora of the Forest (52 x 11), the preschool property formerly known as Deer Little Forest and created by Jo Rose. King Rollo Films is currently developing the series, with first episodes set for delivery in 2017. Bejuba! will present new material at Annecy in June.

    “As soon as I laid eyes on Jo’s original art, I fell in love with the project,” commented Fowler. “Breathing life into this 7-year old animal loving, tree hugging, universe exploring adventurer girl and reimagining her world is just so satisfying.”

    Fowler has been widely recognized for her work on the reinvention of The Electric Company, which earned her Outstanding Children’s Series Emmy Awards three years in a row (2010-12) as well as three Parent’s Choice Gold Awards. The series, under her guidance, garnered an impressive 10 Emmy Awards and 20 nominations. Fowler’s credits also include Dot for Jim Henson Co. and staff positions at Nickelodeon, CBC and Sesame Workshop.

    Flora of the Forest is created and developed by Henries-nominated illustrator Jo Rose and centers on a seven-year-old girl who lives with her research scientist mom in an enchanting treehouse in the forest, surrounded by her furry friends. Together, they embark on daily explorations driven by Flora’s passionate curiosity. U.K. preschool TV veterans Chris Parker (Peppa Pig, Bob the Builder) and Sam Dransfield (Poppy Cat, Octonauts) are writing the series.

    Flora of the Forest
    Flora of the Forest
  • Daily News Bytes

    Daily News Bytes

    Watch: Incredible Animation Breaking Down The Hobbit Trilogy in Less Than 3 Minutes
    Mashable‘s “Too Long; Didn’t Watch” tackles the eight-hour Tolkien adaptation, scripted and voiced by Max Knoblauch and Bob Al-Greene with illustrations by Nick Sirotich and animation by Therese McPherson, Loris Ravera & Alisa Stern.

    Craft: A New Subscription-Based Platform for Animation Artwork
    Go beyond the “Art of” book genre with this newly launched service, which debuts with works from Secret of Kells, and Ernest & Celestine.

    Tetris Movie Will Shoot in China in 2017
    What is this? An “epic sci-fi thriller.” Who’s doing this? Bruno Wu and Larry Kasanoff’s Threshold Global Studios. How? With $80 million smackers. Why? … Well, we’ll see.

    Animation Nights New York Presents June Flix
    An evening of wonderfully curated animated shorts is presented in NYC June 8, and will head to Inverness, Scotland for XPO North.

    Layoffs at Corus as Merger Takes Effect
    Multiple departments are affected by the integration of Corus Ent. with Shaw Media begun April 1.

    The Hobbit animation
    The Hobbit animation
  • Nickelodeon Ramps Up Preschool Offerings

    Nickelodeon Ramps Up Preschool Offerings

    Nickelodeon is doubling its preschool-targeted programming with its latest series and specials slate, which will begin to debut on-air this summer, as part of the network’s multiyear plan to build its pre-k credentials (Nick is currently No. 1 for Kids 2-5 in Q1 2016 and year-to-date in full-day).

    Nickelodeon currently has 15 preschool properties in development, including 10 shows in production and six set for premieres in 2018. According to Hollywood Reporter, Nick has ordered four new series, now in production: Nella the Princess Knight, Top Wing, Abby Hatcher and Butterbean’s Cafe.

    Nella the Princess Knight, Nick’s first co-production with U.K.’s Channel 5, follows an unconventional heroine who goes on incredible quests and redefines traditional roles. The show is created by Blaze and the Monster Machines and Team Umizoomi curriculum consultant Christine Ricci, and features a social-emotional curriculum highlighting relationship development and positive messaging.

    Top Wing, co-produced with 9 Story, is about a team of young birds who flock together to help their community and strive to become fully-fledged rescuers. The action-adventure series teaches teamwork and models problem solving skills, and is created by Matthew Fernandes and exec produced by Scott Kraft (PAW Patrol).

    Abby Hatcher, from Spin Master Entertainment, is about a top-notch monster-catcher who helps friends and monsters solve their problems.

    Butterbean’s Cafe takes place in a neighborhood eatery run by a fairy and her friends. The series incorporates creative cooking, farm-to-table philosophy and social-emotional curriculum focused on leadership skills. Produced by Brown Bag Films, the show is created by Bubble Guppies duo Jonny Belt and Robert Scull.

    This summer, Nick Jr. will launch two previously announced new series (Rusty Rivets on August 22, Sunny Day TBA) and the new version of Teletubbies (May 30). Audiences can also expect two new Blaze and the Monster Machines specials and a PAW Patrol special this summer. The Blaze adventures sees the monster machine transform into a race car and visiting VelocityVille, and guest stars NASCAR drivers Danica Patrick, Jimmie Johnson, Chase Elliott and Kasey Kahne (May 30 & June 2). The two-part PAW Patrol: All Star Pups/Pups Save a Sports Day special premieres August 22 on Nickelodeon.

    Blaze and the Monster Machines
    Blaze and the Monster Machines

  • Clip: Alberto Vazquez’s ‘Decorado’ to Screens at Cannes

    Decorado, the latest short film from Goya Award-winning director Alberto Vazquez (Birdboy, Unicorn Blood), will screen as part of the Cannes Film Festival’s Directors Fortnight program on May 20 at the Croisette theater. A co-production of UniKo in Bilbao, Spain and French studio Autour de Minuit (which also handles international distribution), the moody black-and-white animation is built on the premise: the world is a marvelous theatre, but the casting is deplorable.

    This year’s Directors Fortnight animated offerings also include the shorts Happy End by Jan Saska (Czech Rep.), a hand-drawn graduation film that is “a dark comedy about death with a happy ending” that unfolds through a chain of chance encounters; and Listening to Beethoven by Stayer studio founder Garri Bardin (Russia), which uses an allegory of the natural versus the industrial to celebrate the undeniable triumph of freedom over suppression.

    In addition to Decorado‘s bow at Cannes, Alberto Vazquez will have his first ever animated feature project Psychonauts (Psiconautas) running in the official selection for Annecy this summer, continuing the strange adventures of Birdboy. The feature is based on Vazquez’s original graphic novel and produced by Zircozine and Basque Films, with Autour de Minuit handling distribution.

    Decorado
    Decorado