Animation Magazine

Author: Mercedes Milligan

  • Autodesk Presents Key VR, 3D Character Updates at GDC

    Autodesk Presents Key VR, 3D Character Updates at GDC

    Autodesk is keeping up with the evolving game development landscape by advancing its toolset for indie game makers with innovative updates to its Stingray game engine and Maya LT 2016 3D animation and modeling software, debuting this week at GDC in San Francisco.

    Stingray v1.2 (available to subscribers now for $30 per month) adds support for new virtual reality platforms and faster turnaround for common tasks within the engine. Maya LT Extension 3 (available April 18), coupled with Stingray v1.2, integrates several modeling, UV creation, rigging and animation improvements, and boasts an updated exporter to simplify 3D character creation.

    Stingray v1.2 Highlights:

    – Expanded VR Support: Compatibility with the HTC Vive VR platform and Oculus Rift SDK v0.8

    – Multi-core Compilation: Faster project and asset import with multi-CPU compiling

    – Workflow Improvements: Entity support in story enables the shading environment to be animated with global illumination, fog, depth of field and more; a unit component editing tool moves, rotates or scales and animates sub-components of units; improved UI flexibility helps snap, move, or maximize/minimize Stingray tools independently of each other and use multiple monitors in development; and rendered outline highlights make it easier to find lost objects within large scenes.

    Stingray v1.2
    Stingray v1.2

    Maya LT 2016 Extension 3 Highlights:

    – Rigging Advances: New quick rig tool allows for the automated creation and placement of bipedal character rigs, while HumanIK support for up to five roll bones per limbs distributes model deformations during an animation.

    – Improved Modeling and UV Toolsets: New shape authoring toolset and shape editor as well as blendshape deformer and sculpting enhancements; a robust mesh mirroring command and expanded tool symmetry; a new brush-based Symmetrize UV Tool, multi-object support for Unfold and improved layout and auto-seam features; and poly modeling enhancements.

    – Updated Game Exporter: Users can now select objects in the viewport, create a named set with a single click and view it in the game exporter as an object to be exported; click-drag workflow facilitates scrolling through key frames in animations to choose the clip’s start and end times.

    Maya LT 2016 Extension 3
    Maya LT 2016 Extension 3

    Throughout GDC, Autodesk will host a series of developer sessions and present Stingray demos. Scheduled are: “Eidos-Montreal’s Narrative Driven Experiences” (March 16, 12:30-1:30 p.m., West Hall Rm. 2014); “Technical Intro to Autodesk’s Stingray Game Engine” (March 16, 3:30-4:30 p.m., West Hall Rm. 3022); “Post Mortem: Warhammer: The End Times – Vermintide” (March 17, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., West Hall Rm. 2014); “Building VR Experiences in the Autodesk Stingray Game Engine” (March 17, 4-5 p.m., West Hall Rm. 3022).

    Visit area.autodesk.com/gdc2016 for more details about Stingray, Maya LT and Autodesk’s GDC plans.

  • Mark Hamill, Kevin Conroy Voicing ‘Batman: The Killing Joke’

    Mark Hamill, Kevin Conroy Voicing ‘Batman: The Killing Joke’

    DC animated universe regulars Mark Hamill and Kevin Conroy will be reprising their roles as the voices of The Joker and Batman for Warner Bros. Animation’s Batman: The Killing Joke. The casting was confirmed by Comic Book Resources, which also reports that Conroy and Hamill will be joined by Tara Strong as Barbara Gordon/Batgirl and Ray Wise as Commissioner Gordon.

    No release date has been given for the comic-book adaptation, but Warner Bros. Home Entertainment will be hosting a world premiere screening of The Killing Joke at Comic-Con International in San Diego this summer.

    Written by Alan Moore (Watchmen, V for Vendetta) and illustrated by Brian Bolland, “The Killing Joke” comic-book story is considered one of the most iconic, acclaimed Joker tales to ever appear on the page. It is also considered one of the most violent due to the brutality inflicted on the character Barbara Gordon, which has lead fandom reporters to speculate that the animation may carry an R rating.

    “The chance to work once again with Kevin Conroy, my favorite Batman, in what some consider the definitive origin of this iconic villain is a dream come true for me,” Hamill told CBR. “I am beyond thrilled to return as the Joker in The Killing Joke!”

    Hamill first voiced the Joker in Bruce Timm’s 1990s Batman: The Animated Series and has reprised the character a number of times.

    Conroy also debuted as the Dark Knight in B:TAS and has played the character pretty regularly in home video movies and other DC Universe cartoons and videogames. Tara Strong first voiced Barbara Gordon in The New Adventures of Batman (1997) and has also taken a few turns as the voice of Harley Quinn. Ray Wise is best known for his live-action work in Twin Peaks, Agent Carter and Mad Men — though he did voice Perry White for DC and WBA’s Superman: Doomsday.

    (From left) Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill
    (From left) Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill
  • New Trailer Shows a Slice of ‘The Wild Life’

    New Trailer Shows a Slice of ‘The Wild Life’

    Lionsgate and Summit Entertainment have revealed a new trailer for the upcoming CG animated family feature, The Wild Life, due in theaters September 9. Produced with Europe’s StudioCanal and nWave (The House of Magic, Sammy’s Adventure, Fly Me to the Moon), the film is a talking-animal comedy take on the classic tale of castaway Robinson Crusoe, directed by Victor Kesteloot and Ben Stassen.

    Set on a tropical island that’s a paradise for animals, The Wild Life centers on an unlikely pack of friends: over-exuberant parrot Mak, snack-obsessed tapir Rosie, persnickety echidna Epi, acrobatic pangolin Pango, ditzy goat Scrubby, common-sense kingfisher Kiki and always-cool chameleon Carmello. When the human Robinson Crusoe becomes marooned on the island during a furious storm, the animals must figure out how to get along with the new “creature” in their midst. Things get even hairier when two savage cats Mal and May decide to launch a coup for control of the island.

    The Wild Life
    The Wild Life
    The Wild Life
    The Wild Life
    The Wild Life
    The Wild Life
  • Studio Ghibli Film Adapts 12th Century Manga

    Studio Ghibli Film Adapts 12th Century Manga

    Acclaimed Japanese toon house Studio Ghibli may have slowed down its feature production pace (its last full length film, When Marnie Was There, came out in 2014) — but that doesn’t mean the animators’ desks are gathering cobwebs. While we wait for its European co-production The Red Turtle to arrive in theaters, the Ghibli crew has released a brand new short based on very, very old material.

    Ghibli is known for both original stories and imaginative adaptations of books like Howl’s Moving Castle, Kiki’s Delivery Service and Whisper of the Heart, but it’s history buffs rather than fiction addicts who might recognize the source material of the new short, which draws on the 12th and 13th century Choju Jinbutsu Giga. The “Scrolls of Frolicking Animals” are widely considered to be the earliest artistic ancestor of Japanese manga.

    The animated adaptation, which reflects the original illustration design and coloring, was commissioned by energy company Marubeni Shin Denryoku in order to promote its strategic shift towards green energy production. The company’s Plan G initiative also donates a portion of bill payments to conservation efforts. The “Frolicking Animals” scrolls were chosen to reflect the natural beauty of pre-industrial Japan. Studio co-founder Hayao Miyazaki is well known for exploring humanity’s impact on the natural world in his films and addressing it often in interviews.

    Thanks to Rocket News 24, who picked up the story from Japanese news site IT Media.

    Studio Ghibli Film Adapts 12th Century Manga
    Studio Ghibli Film Adapts 12th Century Manga
  • Animation Dingle Sets Keynotes, Panels

    Animation Dingle Sets Keynotes, Panels

    Taking place March 18-19 in Dingle, Ireland — on the most westerly peninsula of Europe — the fourth Animation Dingle festival will celebrate excellence in local and international animation. Presented by Jam Media and the Dingle International Film Festival, the 2016 event will welcome representatives from Amazon, BBC, Disney, RTE and Nickelodeon who will share industry insights.

    “We’re chuffed with the quality of the speakers, the large attendance and the quality of the screening and awards,” says event co-founder and Jam Media CEO John Rice. “Animation Dingle has really struck a chord with both students and industry at home and internationally. Of course, it would not be possible without the support of bodies like Enterprise Ireland and the IFB among others.”

    This year’s keynote speeches will be delivered by by Tara Sorensen, Head of Kids Programming for Amazon Studios, USA and David Levine, General Manager of Disney Channels UK & Ireland. On March 18 at the Animation Dingle Conference, Ireland’s top producers — including Alan Shannon (Jam Media), Paul Cummins (Telegael) and Deirdre Barry (Salty Dog) — will chat with Sheila de Courcy of RTÉ about producing in Ireland. Storyboard artist Christian de Vita (Fantastic Mr. Fox) and Cecile Blondel from Gobelins are also participating this year.

    Other notable participants are Oscar winner Patrick Osborne (FEAST), Jackie Edwards and Lucy Pryke of CBBC, Pauline MacNamara of RTE and Alexi Wheeler from Nickelodeon. Animation Dingle will be bringing together industry leaders from home and abroad for events like the speed pitching session and career workshops aimed at animation students. Young animators will also be celebrated with the Animation Dingle Student Awards.

    Masterclass panels will include: Making Movies (animated features), The Green Light Club (development), Producers Pitch (Irish producers), Broadcasters Basics, Colleges Get Creative (Irish and European schools), and creative masterclasses with Osborne and de Vita.

    Animation Dingle
    Animation Dingle
  • Animasia, Zero One Team Up for ‘Chuck Chicken – The Movie’

    Animasia, Zero One Team Up for ‘Chuck Chicken – The Movie’

    Malaysia’s Animasia Studio has signed a deal with China’s Zero One Animation to collaborate on Chuck Chicken – The Movie — a CG-animated feature based on the former’s successful TV series. The announcement was made at Filmart in Hong Kong on Monday. The deal will further strengthen the creative industry relationship between the two countries — animation production services are among the biggest contributors to export revenues in Malaysia’s creative industry, which topped $140 million USD in 2014.

    In story development since last November, the feature will be an action-comedy aimed at family audiences. Starring Chuck and his friends Flick and Wing, who run Golden Egg Securities on the island of Rocky Perch, the film follows Chuck as his desire to be rich changes the business philosophy of Golden Egg Securities. The change in Chuck’s scruples causes the golden egg to start losing its power, leading to conflict between the friends.

    Chuck Chicken – The Movie is budgeted at $8 million USD (RMB 50 million) and planned for theatrical release in early 2017. At Filmart, executive producers Edmund Chan, Raye Lee and Helen Dong announce they will move quickly to gather talent from China, Malaysia and North America for the production while raising funds and securing potential investments in the coming months.

    The story and script are a collaboration between Magnolia Award nominee Chen Xi, Helen Dong (Pet Pals) and director Wong Kuan Loong, also known as Ah Loong (Bola Kampung: The Movie). Pre-production will begin in June, with animation to begin late this year.

    Animasia, Zero One Team Up for Chuck Chicken - The Movie
    Animasia, Zero One Team Up for Chuck Chicken – The Movie
    Chuck Chicken - The Movie
    Chuck Chicken – The Movie
  • Daily News Bytes

    Daily News Bytes

    Spielberg and Ford Reunite as Indiana Jones Returns to Theaters July 19, 2019
    Director Steven Spielberg and star Harrison Ford are on board a fifth film for the adventure franchise.

    New Batman v Superman International Trailer Teases New Footage
    The “greatest gladiator match in the history of the world” is smashing into theaters on March 25.

    Disney’s Young Han Solo Search Narrows to Final Shortlist of Actors After Screen-Tests
    EW scoops the news that director Chris Miller and Phil Lord are close to finding their ideal scruffy-looking nerf herder.

    KinsgtOOn Animation Festival Draws Big Crowd
    The second annual animation event, held in the Jamaican capital, proves a major success.

    How Asia Is Making Waves in Animation
    Video report: The BBC’s Russell Trott visits one of Singapore’s top studios to find out why South East Asia is key to the industry’s success.

    Indiana Jones
    Indiana Jones
  • First Teaser Offers a Taste of ‘Sausage Party’

    First Teaser Offers a Taste of ‘Sausage Party’

    Voice star Seth Rogen served up a teaser for the adult animated comedy Sausage Party on Twitter on Sunday. The 33-year-old comic actor from The Interview, This Is the End and Knocked Up is also producing the film and conceived the original story with his partner in comedy crime, Evan Goldberg. Sausage Party premieres March 14 at the South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas.

    Sausage Party is a CG parody of big studio family animation fare, which follows a pack of wieners picked up for a Fourth of July BBQ. When one unlucky wurst drops from the shopping cart, he embarks on “a perilous journey through the supermarket.”

    Directed by Greg Tiernan — a long-time Thomas and Friends director who is finally getting a chance to age-up his act — and Conrad Vernon (Monsters vs. Aliens, Madagascar 3), the voice cast features Rogen as Frank the sausage, joined by fellow meat tubes Jonah Hill (Carl), Michael Cera (Barry) and Anders Holm (Troy); Kristen Wiig as a hot dog bun, Edward Norton as Sammy Bagel, Jr., David Krumholtz as Vash the lavash, Nick Kroll as the villainous Douche, Salma Hayek as Theresa the taco, James Franco, Bill Hader, Craig Robinson, Paul Rudd and Danny McBride.

    Columbia Pictures is set to release the film in theaters August 12. Sausage Party is produced by Annapurna Pictures with animation by Nitrogen Studios.

    Sausage Party
    Sausage Party
  • WB Hatches New ‘Storks’ Sneak Peek

    WB Hatches New ‘Storks’ Sneak Peek

    Warner Bros. celebrated the Kids Choice Awards with a new sneak peek video that sheds some more light on its upcoming original CG animated feature Storks (Sept. 23). The footage gives viewers a look at the film’s take on the human world, the storks’ very modern shipping warehouse, and the “happy accident” that causes all the chaos.

    Storks takes place in a world where the birds in question have long ago given up delivering babies, and instead taken up delivering packages for an internet retailer. When a stork named Junior, set to take over the shipping operation, accidentally winds up with an “unauthorized” baby, he frantically tries to fix the situation before anyone finds out.

    Produced by Warner Animation Group, Storks is directed by Nicholas Stoller (Neighbors, The Five-Year Engagement) and animation vet Doug Sweetland (Disney’s Presto short). Stoller also penned the film and is producing with Brad Lewis. The voice cast stars Andy Samberg as Junior, Kelsey Grammer, Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele.

    Storks
    Storks
  • Huayi Bros. Partner with Hollywood Vets for Animation Venture

    Huayi Bros. Partner with Hollywood Vets for Animation Venture

    Chinese film production company Huayi Brothers has announced plans to expand its international presence by setting up an animation outfit with the help of some Stateside industry veterans, including Joe Aguilar. The former DreamWorks Animation and 20th Century Fox producer will serve as chief executive of the new unit, according to Huayi Bros.’ statement to the Shenzhen stock exchange.

    The Huayi Brothers company carries a market value of about $5.2 billion, backed by major Chinese players like Alibaba Group Holdings, Tencent Holdings and government financial organizations Ping An and CITIC. Specific investors for the animation venture were not named in the announcement.

    In addition to studio head Aguilar, who helped DWA set up its division in India, the new animation studio’s art director will be Markus Manninen, who was VFX supervisor for The Croods and Kung Fu Panda.

    The Huayi Bros. move is on-trend with the rising influence of the Chinese film industry, which is seeing growing box office numbers as the No. 1 North American market’s begin to stall. Oriental DreamWorks — set up by DreamWorks Animation, China Media Capital, Shanghai Media Group and Shanghai Alliance Investment — co-produced Kung Fu Panda 3, which topped ticket sales in the U.S. earlier this year and broke animated feature release records in China upon release.

    Huayi Brothers president Wang Zhonglei
    Huayi Brothers president Wang Zhonglei
  • CCI, Lionsgate Unveil ‘Comic-Con HQ’

    CCI, Lionsgate Unveil ‘Comic-Con HQ’

    Comic-Con International and Lionsgate have launched plans for “Comic-Con HQ,” a subscription video-on-demand platform which will debut shortly before San Diego Comic-Con (July 21-24). The SVOD will launch with free beta access on May 7 and will officially premiere in June.

    Comic-Con HQ will feature an evolving (ad-free) slate of programming, including original scripted and unscripted series, recurring daily and weekly entertainment commentary, plus unique access to a growing library of live and archival programming from Comic-Con events, a curated selection of film and TV titles and behind-the-scenes access and bonus features from genre titles.

    Fans can look forward to checking out programs on comics, science and gaming executive produced by G4 alum Adam Sessler (X-Play), who will also host a one-on-one interview series. Fellow G4 star Kevin Pereira (Attack of the Show) and his company Attack Media will executive produce an entertainment pop culture news show and late night talk show. CCHQ is also planning two roundtable discussion shows — a weekly movie talk with Collider, and an all-female pop culture panel.

    Original series debuting on the platform include scripted comedy Kings of Con from Supernatural‘s Richard Speight and Rob Benedict, inspired by their real life experiences at conventions; Impossible Science with illusionist Jason Latimer; and Her Universe, an unscripted “geek couture” fashion design challenge show hosted by Ashley Eckstein which will culminate in a live fashion show at SDCC.

    Pre-registration for the beta is open now at www.comic-conhq.com.

    Comic-Con HQ
    Comic-Con HQ

  • Edwin Koh Appointed COO of MyChinaChannel

    Singapore-based TV content syndicator and aggregator MyChinaChannel Pte. Ltd. announces the appointment of Edwin Koh as its Chief Operating Officer. The executive appointment comes as MCC is expanding its network of media partners in China, opening up new avenues for top Chinese content for audiences in Singapore and the rest of the world.

    As COO, Koh will be responsible for building MCC’s strategic business goals and managing business operations to deliver a robust, go-to-market competitive strategy and operational excellence. Koh will manage sales and marketing, customer experience, business development and public affairs. He will be working closely with CEO Patrick Yong to develop new business and manage the growth of MCC network channels CBN and MaxToon.

    Koh is a sales and marketing veteran with more than 25 years of experience across different industries, including media, consumer electronics, telecommunications, real estate and FMCG business. He has filled senior corporate roles at SingTel, Samsung, MediaCorp and Far East Organization.

    MyChinaChannel
    MyChinaChannel
  • GDC News Bytes

    GDC News Bytes

    + OptiTrack will show off the large scale, high precision capabilities of its mocap system with a wide area, interactive VR basketball experience. Participants will don head-mounted displays and be able to dribble and pass a basketball seamlessly in the VR environment and the physical world. The OptiTrack system can track more than 75 rigid bodies simultaneously with under 5ms of tracking latency and a wide-angle camera view. The company will also showcase real-time full-body animation from OptiTrack into Unreal Engine 4 with retargeting via IKinema Action v2. Booth #2116.

    + Epic Games has released their Unreal Engine GDC 2016 Sizzle Reel, compiling outstanding gameplay footage as well as cinematic VR and high-end visualization for your viewing pleasure. The company has also launched the Unreal Engine 4 plugin for Google’s Project Tango. And at the show, attendees can play Unreal Tournament and check out the new “Chill” map firsthand. Booth Moscone South 1024.

    + Xsens is teaming up with IKinema and Epic Games to showcase a new technology alliance that integrates Xsens motion capture technology MVN into Unreal Engine 4 using IKinema’s LiveAction. The tech will be demonstrated at Xsens’ boot as well as being highlighted in Epic’s keynote address on March 16 (Moscone West Rm. 3001-3003). Also at the booth, The Virtual Dutch Men will demonstrate a full-body immersive VR experience using the Oculus Rift, Unity game engine, Manus VR gloves and Xsens mocap suit. Additional presentations will cover facial capture (with Faceware), hand and finger capture (with Manus) and pipeline integration (with Autodesk). Booth #631.

    + Nova Scotia, Canada’s gaming and interactive media sector is sending six companies to San Francisco this year to help boost the regional industry’s profile. NS offers the most competitive digital media and animation tax credit in Canada, and is home to more than 20 interactive media studios. This year’s participants include Alpha Dog Games (MonstroCity: Build and Destroy), Fourth Monkey Media (25+ games shipped to-date), Punk Science Studios (unveiling a prototype for Occupy Human), REDSpace (app content for Cartoon Network Anything and Nickelodeon’s Noggin), River Studios (VR experiences for HTC Vive Oculus Rift and Gear VR) and Vesuvius Media (mobile games).

    + Faceware Technologies will be presenting major upgrades across its facial motion capture product line, which technology can be seen in recent and upcoming games like XCOM 2, Dying Light: The Following, Hitman and EA Sports UFC 2. In addition to the new, free Personal Learning Edition and rental license options, Faceware is promoting improvements to its Analyzer 3.0 and Retargeter 5.0 software, Pro HD Tripod Camera System and GoPro Desktop System. Booth #1244.

    OptiTrack
    OptiTrack
  • ‘SpongeBob,’ ‘Hotel Transylvania 2’ Triumph at Kids Choice Awards

    ‘SpongeBob,’ ‘Hotel Transylvania 2’ Triumph at Kids Choice Awards

    The 2016 Kids’ Choice Awards came around Saturday night, broadcast live from L.A. on Nickelodeon. Hosted by country music star and TV personality Blake Shelton, the show featured performances by DNCE, Silento, Charlie Puth and Wiz Khalifa as well as special appearances by Anthony Anderson, Will Arnett, Rowan Blanchard, Dove Cameron, Sabrina Carpenter, Cameron Dallas, Ellen DeGeneres, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Megan Fox, Sarah Hyland, Laura Marano, Amy Poehler, Debby Ryan, Adam Sandler, Meghan Trainer and Zendaya — to name a few.

    (And if you need to look up some highlight clips, the traditional slime shower befell pop group Fifth Harmony, Josh Gad, John Stamos and Jason Sudeikis.)

    The big feature win of the night went to Disney’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens, for Favorite Movie. Taking the top animation prizes were homegrown Nickelodeon series SpongeBob SquarePants, now in its ninth season, which took the Favorite Cartoon prize, and Genndy Tartakovsky’s Hotel Transylvania 2 from Sony Pictures Animation, named Favorite Animated Movie. Amy Poehler nabbed an orange blimp for Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie for her performance as Joy in Pixar’s Inside Out, and ABC’s The Muppets picked up the Favorite Family TV Show award.

    Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards 2016 Winners:

    Favorite TV Show: The Thundermans

    Favorite Family TV Show: The Muppets

    Favorite Male TV Star – Kids’ Show: Ross Lynch, Austin & Ally

    Favorite Male TV Star – Family Show: Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory

    Favorite Female TV Star – Kids’ Show: Zendaya, K.C. Undercover

    Favorite Female TV Star – Family Show: Sofia Vergara, Modern Family

    Favorite Talent Competition Show: The Voice

    Favorite Cooking Show: Cake Boss

    Favorite Cartoon: SpongeBob SquarePants

    Favorite Movie: Star Wars: The Force Awakens

    Favorite Movie Actor: Will Ferrell, Daddy’s Home

    Favorite Movie Actress: Jennifer Lawrence, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2

    Favorite Animated Movie: Hotel Transylvania 2

    Favorite Voice From an Animated Movie: Amy Poehler, Inside Out

    Favorite Music Group: Fifth Harmony

    Favorite Male Singer: Justin Bieber

    Favorite Female Singer: Ariana Grande

    Favorite Song of the Year: “Hello,” Adele

    Favorite New Artist: Shawn Mendes

    Favorite Collaboration: “See You Again,” Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth

    Favorite Book: Diary of a Wimpy Kid series

    Favorite Video Game: Just Dance 2016

    Amy Poehler at the 2016 Kids' Choice Awards (Photo Credit: Frazer Harrison/KCA2016/Getty Images for Nickelodeon)
    Amy Poehler at the 2016 Kids’ Choice Awards (Photo Credit: Frazer Harrison/KCA2016/Getty Images for Nickelodeon)
  • Paramount Scraps ‘Little Prince’ U.S. Release

    Paramount Scraps ‘Little Prince’ U.S. Release

    Strange news emerged just before the weekend as it was revealed that Paramount Pictures had dropped the international critics’ hit The Little Prince like a hot pomme de terre a week before its scheduled U.S. release of March 18. Director Mark Osborne, who co-directed the Oscar nominated Kung Fu Panda for DreamWorks, confirmed the last minute distributor departure on Twitter Saturday.

    Osborne (@happyproduct) tweeted: “Many thanks to everyone for the outpouring of love and support in these strange times. As it turns out, the much anticipated U.S. release of this special and unique film will have to be anticipated just a little bit more. All I can say is #thelittleprince will in fact be released by another distributor later this year. Until then, head to Canada! The film opens there in wide release this weekend!”

    Adapted from the classic midcentury novel by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, The Little Prince debuted last year at Cannes and has proven a hit with critics and audiences. Paramount handled the theatrical release in France last summer, and the film went on to earn $88.4 million — becoming the all-time most successful French animated feature abroad. The Little Prince was recently awarded the Cesar for Best Animated Film in France.

    The feature reintroduces viewers to the world of The Little Prince by framing his adventures inside a CG animated story about a little girl whose eccentric neighbor, the Aviator, tells her fantastic tales — those directly pulled from the book are rendered in dreamy, stylized stop-motion. The voice cast features Jeff Bridges, Rachel McAdams, Paul Rudd, Marion Cotillard, James Franco, Benicio Del Toro, Ricky Gervais, Bud Cort, Paul Giamatti, Albert Brooks, Mackenzie Foy and Riley Osborne as The Little Prince.

    Read more about The Little Prince in Tom McLean’s feature story from the March issue of Animation Magazine (#258).

    The Little Prince
    The Little Prince
  • ‘Zootopia’ Hops Over $100m Hurdle in China

    ‘Zootopia’ Hops Over $100m Hurdle in China

    Disney’s latest feature Zootopia is proving a huge, hairy success in China, crossing the $100 million box office mark this weekend after 10 days in theaters. The film, directed by Byron Howard and Rich Moore, is set to become the Mouse House’s biggest ever success in the country — a record previously held by Big Hero 6 at $83.5 million. On Saturday, the urbanite animal adventure earned $25 million, breaking the record for single-day gross for an animated film in China.

    At this rate, say market watchers, Zootopia even has a chance at powering past DreamWorks Animation / Oriental DreamWorks’ Kung Fu Panda 3 (boasting about $152 million so far) to be the best performing animated film of all time.

    Zootopia is also performing well in France, Russia, Korea and other international markets.

    “People are responding to the world, the great story and memorable characters,” Disney’s Dave Hollis told Nancy Tartaglione of Deadline. “There is something timeless and timely in all three that make this movie work for audiences of all ages and all geographies.”

    Domestically, Zootopia has topped $100 million, with overseas totals crossing the $300 million mark on Friday, March 11.

    Zootopia
    Zootopia
  • Daily News Bytes

    Daily News Bytes

    Dam Big Animation Project
    South African crowdfunded project Kariba is a beacon of the growing Cape Town toon scene.

    Where Does the Time Go? The New Alice Through the Looking Glass Spot Is Here!
    Director James Bobin has blended his own vision with the trippy Tim Burton world adapted from Lewis Carroll’s works.

    FilMart: Asian Distributors Nibble on LeveK’s Giant Pear
    Nordisk Film/A Film’s kiddie flick The Incredible Story of the Giant Pear is set for a 2017 debut.

    Kidoodle.TV Goes Global, Announces New Partnerships
    After expanding to 32 countries, SVOD platform goes fully global through App Store and Google Play.

    Vimeo Boosts Original Content Slate
    Video platform is nipping at YouTube’s heels in the race to offer original, professional grade entertainment.

    Kariba
    Kariba
  • Daily News Bytes

    Daily News Bytes

    Paramount Drops The Little Prince a Week Before Release
    IGN confirms the surprising news, which leaves Mark Osborne’s internationally acclaimed adaptation out to dry ahead of its planned March 18 release.

    105-Year-Old Lead Artist for Bambi Honored at SF Museum
    Disney Legend Tyrus Wong was celebrated by the Asian Art Museum on Wednesday.

    In Kids’ App Market, Toca Boca Plays the Long Game
    CEO Bjorn Jeffery discusses the “perfect storm” that sets the app maker apart.

    Cyber Group Breaks Down Animation Boundaries, International Borders
    Chairman and CEO Pierre Sissmann talks about the studio’s 11-year evolution.

    The Playboy Revamp Continues: How the Magazine Is Redrawing Its Cartoon Lines, Too
    First no nudity, now no comics? Iconic mag drops its cartoonists to “be more contemporary.”

    The Little Prince
    The Little Prince
  • ‘Star Wars’ Doc and First Order Landing at SXSW

    ‘Star Wars’ Doc and First Order Landing at SXSW

    To celebrate the premiere of the new Star Wars documentary Secrets of The Force Awakens: A Cinematic Journey at the South by Southwest Film Festival, a First Order TIE Fighter and accompanying stormtroopers landed in Austin on Friday.

    Secrets of the Force Awakens will debut at the Paramount Theatre in Austin on March 14. The TIE Fighter will be parked at South Bites at SXSW throughout the weekend for festival goers to enjoy.

    The feature-length documentary is an in-depth bonus feature on the upcoming Digital HD and Blu-ray Combo Pack home releases of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which arrive on April 1 and April 5, respectively.

    Star Wars: The Force Awakens - The First Order
    Star Wars: The Force Awakens – The First Order
  • Patrick Osborne’s ‘Pearl’ for Spotlight Debuting at TFF

    Patrick Osborne’s ‘Pearl’ for Spotlight Debuting at TFF

    Oscar-winning Feast director Patrick Osborne’s latest project, a 360-degree animated experience for Google Spotlight Stories titled Pearl, will have its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival. The 15th annual edition of TFF, presented by AT&T, will take place in New York April 13-24 (tribecafilm.com).

    Pearl is written and directed by Osborne, and follows a father and daughter on the road together — tracing his struggles to make it as a musician and as a parent, and her coming-of-age and musical journey to fulfillment. The project will bow as part of TFF’s “Rock and a Hard Place” music-driven shorts program.

    TFF is also presenting an animated shorts program curated by longtime friend of the festival Whoopi Goldberg. The lineup includes Mikey Hill’s The Orchestra (Australia), Bill Plympton’s The Loneliest Stoplight (USA), Marcel Barelli’s Lucens (Switzerland), Dawn Dreyer & Andrea Love’s Fear (USA, world premiere), Maurice Joyce’s Violet (Ireland), Joe D’Arcy’s I Am a Pencil (Australia, France, Denmark), Daniel Cloud Campos & Spencer Susser’s Shiny (USA), and The Short Story of a Fox and a Mouse from ESMA students Camille Chaix, Hugo Jean, Juliette Jourdan, Marie Pillier & Kevin Roger (France).

    Complete festival lineup available here.

    Pearl
    Pearl