Author: Mercedes Milligan

Filmlance Developing New ‘Moomin’ Series

Filmlance International, the production house behind the acclaimed Scandinavian thriller Bron (The Bridge), has entered a licensing agreement with Moomin Characters and Bulls Licensing to develop a new animated series based on the popular Moomins created by Tove Jansson.

Filmlance managing director Lars Blomgren will executive produce the series, working closely with Tove’s niece Sophia Jansson. Marika Makaroff will act as creative director, while Oscar winner Steve Box (Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit) is attached to direct. Box will also lead the writing team, joined by Emmy and BAFTA-nominated Mark Huckerby & Nick Ostler (Peter Rabbit, Danger Mouse) and story consultant Laurie Hutzler.

Cate Elliott (Charlie and Lola, Me & My Monsters) and BAFTA winner John Woolley (Shaun the Sheep) will produce. Distribution will be handled by Endemol Shine International.

Created by Tove Jansson in 1945, the Moomins book series has produced 13 titles and 73 comic strips published in over 40 countries. The most recent film adaptation, Moomins on the Riviera (2015) received widespread critical acclaim. The characters have also inspired three TV adaptations, most recently in 1990.

Moomins

February 15, 2016
Global Screen Tags Along on ‘Journey of the Elephant Soliman’

Germany’s Global Screen has picked up worldwide distribution rights to the English-language CG animated feature film The Journey of the Elephant Soliman and will commence presales at this year’s European Film Market. Directed by Sandor Jesse (Little King Macius, Raven the Little Rascal – The Big Race), the historical adventure is set for completion in 2018.

Set in the year 1548, The Journey of the Elephant Soliman is a thrilling adventure in which a shy ship-merchant’s son, a wise Indian elephant and a spunky Austrian princess team up to escape the clutches of a covetous prince. Their amazing journey takes the unlikely trio around the world as they face their fears and become the best of friends.

“International buyers certainly recognize Global Screen’s phenomenal track record when it comes to family entertainment,” says Global Screen head of theatrical sales Julia Weber. “Niko & the Way to the Stars, Niko 2 – Little Brother, Big Trouble and Ooops! Noah Is Gone… have all sold worldwide with resounding success. This newest addition to our animation slate promises to be just as heart-warming, funny, and entertaining as our previous animation titles. We certainly look forward to seeing international buyers in Berlin fall under its wondrous appeal.”

The Journey of the Elephant Soliman is produced by Studio88 Werbe und Trickfilm and FFL Film und Fernseh-Labor Ludwigsburg. Global Screen will be shopping the film during EFM at their office in the Ritz Carlton Hotel, 4t Floor, Suite 439.

Journey of the Elephant Soliman

February 15, 2016
Nottingham Forest Picks Up ‘Sammy & Co.’ Rights

Spain’s Nottingham Forest has acquired licensing, merchandising and promotion rights for animated series Sammy & Co. thanks to an agreement with the property’s master agent, Studio Canal.

Sammy & Co. (52 x 13, kids 4-8) is produced by ZagToon and based on the NWave’s feature films A Turtle’s Tale: Sammy’s Adventures and Sammy 2. The show follows young turtles Ricky and Ella and their friends Annabel the octopus and Pipo the butterfly fish as they encounter innumerable surprises beneath the waves.

The series broadcasts in Portugal on Canal Panda and will arrive on CLAN in Spain this May.

Sammy & Co.

February 15, 2016
New ‘Fireman Sam’ Season Lights Up Cartoonito

Season 10 of hit preschool series Fireman Sam has kicked off in the U.K., with the season premiere launching on Cartoonito on Monday, February 15. New episodes are rolling out every day at 8 a.m., continuing the thrilling CG animated adventures of Fireman Sam and his friends in the Welsh town of Pontypandy.

No emergency is too big for the Pontypandy Fire Service, so whether it’s a sheep stranded on a rooftop or Norman Price racing off on a runaway horse, Sam, Penny, Elvis and Steele — with new recruits Arnold and Ellie — are always ready to save the day. Season 10 introduces a new high-tech fire station and a new animal rescue vehicle, Phoenix, which allows Sam and the team to jump into their animal rescue uniforms in order to aid the larger and furrier inhabitants of Pontypandy.

Fireman Sam

February 15, 2016
Fisher Price Inks Three-Year ‘Octonauts’ Renewal

TV production and licensing company Silvergate Media has signed a three-year master toy renewal deal for undersea preschool adventure toon Octonauts with Fisher-Price, Inc. The companies have partnered on the property since 2011, and have seen success with the show’s lines in the U.S., U.K., Europe, Australia and Korea. A successful toy launch is underway in China, with a Russian roll-out set for fall.

Fisher-Price plans to launch over 20 new Octonauts toys in 2016, based around the “Year of Slime” play pattern. The renewed master toy deal gives Fisher-Price rights to develop preschool playsets, vehicles, figures, plush and electronic learning aids.

Octonauts, now in its fourth season, currently airs in over 100 countries worldwide, including on Disney Channel (U.S.), ABC (Australia), TF1 (France) and Super RTL (Germany) as well as on China Central TV.

Octonauts

February 15, 2016
Daily News Bytes

Brazil Animation Takes International Hue
Boy and the World director Ale Abreu and Luiz Bolognesi team up for Voyagers of the Enchanted Forest and Immortals.

Wizart Sells 3D Animation Urfin
Shooting Stars picks up the feature for the Middle East, while BestFilm picks up Baltic states rights.

Beijing’s Support Boosts Chinese Cartoons
Government policies and new media distribution help maintain the local industry’s momentum.

Bekraf to Presen Indonesian Folklore to Pixar Animation Studios
National Creative Economy Agency chief to meet with John Lasseter and discuss the country’s rich storytelling tradition.

LA Duo’s Animation Wins Tropfest
Stop-motion cloth animation Shiny takes the prize at Sydney event.

Boy and the World

February 15, 2016
Daily News Bytes

’Peanuts Movie’ Out on Digital HD Today
Cartoon Brew offers and exclusive documentary clip ahead; DVD and Blu-ray release slated for March 8.

Public Media Distribution Launches Kids’ Label
SkipRope will release kids’ titles on DVD and digital, starting with Mia and Me and Kate & Mim-Mim.

2018 Transformers Movie is a Bumblebee Spin-Off Film
Paramount has set release dates for three more movies in the blockbuster franchise.

Streaming Start-Up We Are Colony Begins £500,000 Crowdfunding Campaign
BAFTA-winning filmmaker Sarah Tierney believes her venture could be UK’s answer to Netflix.

New Write Your Screenplay Podcast: How to Write a TV Bible
Award-winning screenwriter Jacob Krueger talks you through creating an important pitching asset.

The Peanuts Movie

February 12, 2016
Superhero Centric Toonami Launches in France

Turner France has launched a new animation channel, Toonami, which is branded as the “Home of the Superheroes.” The dedicated super toons channel will deliver action-driven shows and movies aimed at kids aged 8-12.

Favorites from the DC Comics universe including Batman, Superman, the Justice League and Green Lantern will feature prominently in the programming, along with other animated superheroes like Ben 10 and the ThunderCats. Additionally, the Toonami Movies block will bring animated features to the small screen for even more family friendly superhero action.

Toonami in France will benefit from an upgraded replay service called “Toonami Max”. Available on ADSL and on cable in HD, the channel and its associated service will be accessible on multiple devices including TV, tablet, mobile and PC.

Ben 10

February 12, 2016
Mattel’s ‘Little People’ Show Set for Sprout

Mattel Inc. and HIT Entertainment announce that NBCUniversal’s Sprout preschool channel will launch season one of a new animated series based on the iconic Little People brand from Fisher Price. Aimed at kids 2-5, the 52 x 11 series will premiere March 7 and run Monday through Friday at 7 a.m. ET.

Little People is an animated musical-comedy series that celebrates the power of collaborative play. Young viewers are invited to join the five lovable “little people” key characters as they embark on imaginative adventures inspired by their playful antics in their suburban backyard. Whether learning to juggle in the jungle or skywrite in outer space, Little People know that building on one another’s ideas is the best way to have fun.

The show is designed to model rich imagination and pro-social collaboration skills. Music, comedy and make-believe are woven together into a sketch show format to deliver these messages, which have been crafted with the help of Ron Slaby, PhD, of the Centre on Media and Child Health, Children’s Hospital Boston/Harvard Medical School.

Little People has also sold to Cartoonito (UK), RTL (Netherlands), Discovery Kids (LatAm), E-TV (South Africa), TV Cultura (Brazil) and Televisa (Mexico). The show will also be available on Sprout’s TV Anywhere on March 7 and across Sprout VOD and digital platforms beginning March 20.

Little People

February 12, 2016
‘LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures’ Coming This Summer

In more LEGO Star Wars news, Disney XD will be debuting a fresh animated comedy series which will introduce all-new heroes and villains to the adventures of many familiar characters in the exciting sci-fi galaxy. LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures wil launch this summer and will be the first series launched between LEGO and Disney XD.

Laced with characteristic LEGO Star Wars whimsy, the series follows the Freemakers, a family of scavengers who build and sell starships cobbled from the debris of space battles strewn throughout the galaxy. When their youngest discovers a natural connection with the Force through an ancient artifact — the Kyber Saber – his world is turned upside down, and he and his family are thrown into an epic struggle against the Empire to restore peace and freedom to the galaxy. Throughout their adventures, the Freemakers explore new worlds, meet new and familiar characters, and learn the true value of what it means to be a family.

“We are very excited to launch for the first time a TV series with Disney XD,” said Jill Wilfert, vice president, licensing & entertainment at the LEGO Group. “The show masterfully combines the rich heritage of storytelling, great characters, action and adventure in a galaxy far, far away with the creativity, imagination and humor that only LEGO Star Wars can deliver. We are sure fans young and old are going to love the show.”

LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures is a production of Wil Film, the LEGO Group and Lucasfilm. Developed for television by Bill Motz and Bob Roth (Penguins of Madagascar), they join Torsten Jacobson (LEGO Star Wars: Droid Tales) and Jill Wilfert (The LEGO Movie) as executive producers alongside producers Carrie Beck (Star Wars Rebels), Jason Cosler (LEGO Marvel Super Heroes: Avengers Reassembled!), Jake Blais and John McCormack.

LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures

February 12, 2016
New ‘Smurfs: The Lost Village’ Cast Revealed

Sony Pictures Animation has announced three new voice cast members (and released a jolly new still) for the next Smurfy feature adventure, Smurfs: The Lost Village, hitting theaters March 31, 2017.

Joining the talent roster for the fully CG-animated picture are three-time Emmy nominee Jack McBrayer (30 Rock, Wreck-It Ralph) as sweet, awkward and honest-to-a-fault Clumsy — who tries his best but always misses the mark; Danny Pudi (Community) as book-smart and proudly geeky Brainy, who’s long on knowledge but short on inter-Smurf-onal skills; and Joe Manganiello (True Blood, Magic Mike) as strong, super-positive Hefty — a loyal dynamo struggling with his hero complex.

The newly revealed names join previously announced voice stars Demi Lovato (Smurfette), Rainn Wilson (Gargamel) and Mandy Patinkin (Papa Smurf). Based on the characters and world created by Peyo, The Lost Village is being directed by Kelly Asbury (Shrek 2, Gnomeo & Juliet), produced by Jordan Kerner (Charlotte’s Web, The Smurfs), co-produced by Mary Ellen Bauder (Hotel Transylvania) and executive produced by Raja Gosnell and Ben Waisbren.

Synopsis:

It seems to Smurfette that everyone else in the Village has a purpose – Papa Smurf (leading), Baker Smurf (baking), even Grouchy Smurf (grouching) – except for her. So what’s the only girl in the village to do? Go in search of hers, of course! When she accidentally crosses paths with a mysterious creature that takes off into the Enchanted Forest, she follows, and sets off into the uncharted and strictly forbidden woods. Joined by her brothers Brainy, Hefty and Clumsy – and with the evil wizard Gargamel shadowing their every step – Team Smurf undertakes a wild journey full of action, danger and discovery, setting them on a course that leads to the biggest mystery in Smurf history!

Smurfs: The Lost Village

February 12, 2016
LEGO Star Wars’ Featuring Rey, Finn, Poe & Co. Debuts Monday

An all-new animated short will bring minifig version of Force Awakens characters to the small screen on Monday, February 15 at 8 p.m. EST as Disney XD premieres LEGO Star Wars: The Resistance Rises – Poe to the Rescue.

“Poe to the Rescue” is the first episode in the Resistance Rises series of animated shorts that take place prior to the First Order’s attack on Jakku and tell never-before-told stories featuring Kylo Ren, Han `Solo, Finn, Rey, BB-8, Maz Kanata and more.

Premiering immediately after the highly anticipated Gravity Falls finale, the short will follow Resistance pilot Poe Dameron as he comes to the aid of Admiral Ackbar, who is being held captive by Captain Phasma. Kylo Ren, C-3PO and BB-8 will also appear.

LEGO Star Wars: The Resistance Rises – Poe to the Rescue

LEGO Star Wars: The Resistance Rises – Poe to the Rescue

February 12, 2016
Daily News Bytes

WGA Girds for Contract Talks Amidst Award Celebrations
Eight years after a contentious strike over new media rights, the Writers Guild quietly prepares to renew negotiations.

USIU-Africa to Offer Animation Course
Kenyan students will have a chance to study animation through French partnership.

’Doc McStuffins’ to Add Adopted Sibling in March
A multi-episode story arc starting March 4 introduces the newest member of the McStuffins clan.

Neil Gaiman’s ‘Likely Stories’ Adapted for Sky Arts
Coraline author’s collection of tales to get four-part miniseries treatment, directed by Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard.

VIMN Continues International Roll-Out of Nick Play
Emmy Award-winning app will launch in four additional European markets this spring.

Likely Stories

February 11, 2016
‘Shimmer and Shine’ to Debut at Toy Fair, Season 2 Greenlit

Nickelodeon has greenlit a second 20-episode season of its hit animated preschool series Shimmer and Shine. New season one episodes will continue to air on Nick throughout February and March. The show is currently ranked #1 in its timeslot, and airs regularly weekdays at 11 a.m. ET/PT.

The second season of Shimmer and Shine will follow the titular twin genies-in-training as they explore new vibrant locales in the land of Zahramey Falls with their human best friend Leah and encounter new characters — including power-hungry sorceress Zeta (Lacey Chabert) and her pet dragon Nazboo; the kind genie princess Samira and her beautiful peacock Roya; and Kaz, Zac’s new genie and friend.

Further, the first ever Shimmer and Shine line from Fisher-Price (a subsidiary of Mattel) will debut at this year’s New York Toy Fair. The collection includes basic and deluxe doll assortment and accessories; and feature dolls such as Shimmer and Shine “Wish & Spin” and Shimmer and Shine “Magic Flying Carpet.” The line will rollout to retailers nationwide in July.

Ahead of Toy Fair, Nickelodeon has named additional key partners for Shimmer and Shine products due out later this year. Apparel, accessories, costumes and dress-up partners are Justy Play, Party City, Spirit Halloween, Global Brands Group, Freeze, Children’s Apparel Network, Bentex, C-Life, Handcraft, High Point, F.A.B. Starpoint, Accessory Innovations, Global Design Concepts, ACI and Berkshire. Also on board are Alex Brands (arts & crafts); Cardinal and University Games (games & puzzles); Baby Boom, Franco, ZAK and Thermos (home goods); Bullseye Playground, DecoPac, Party City and MediBadge (party/stationery); Random House Children’s Books, Bendon Inc., Studio Fun, Phoenix International and Paramount Home Entertainment (publishing and home video).

Shimmer and Shine

February 11, 2016
Bento Box Launches Digital Studio

Emmy winning animation studio Bento Box Entertainment announced today at the Digital Entertainment World conference that it is launching Bento Box Digital Studios with the aim of creating digital and mobile format content for the elusive 18-34 demographic. Bento Box is the indie toon house behind primetime series Bob’s Burgers, Bordertown and Legends of Chamberlain Heights.

During the announcement, studio co-founders Scott Greenberg, CEO, and Joel Kuwahara, EP and head of technology, disclosed that Bento Box Digital Studios is also entering an exclusive partnership with leading virtual reality company Littlestar to produce, curate and distribute immersive animated VR content. The companies will launch a branded animation channel, powered by Littlestar’s technology with content from Bento Box, which will also be available as a stand-alone app, on Littlestar’s network and Bento Box platforms.

Bento’s ambitious new digital content slate — to be distributed on a wide variety of digital, mobile, social and other third party platforms — includes:

The Pandas, an animated comedy series (13×22 minute episodes). From the Denmark creators Mikael Wulff and Anders Morgenthaler (WUMO), this irreverent, animated family comedy is full of hard jokes, whimsical wonder, biting satire and just the right amount of heart, with a cast of today’s top social influencers and voiceover actors.

The Damn Show, the revival of the cult sensation from the creators of Brickleberry, Waco O’Guin and Roger Black. This in-your-face sketch comedy weekly series will bring you a mash-up of original live action/animated hybrid content, as well as distribution of the original Damn Show episodes currently available for purchase at damnshow.com.

Glove & Boots, from creators Damien Eckhardt-Jacobi and Vincent Bova, this zany but kid-friendly weekly puppet series with more than 52 million+ views on YouTube will feature weekly original and library content.

The Pandas

February 11, 2016
AMBI, Barajoun Join Forces for 5 Film Venture

Andrea Iervolino and Monika Bacardi’s AMBI Group has formed a joint venture partnership with Ayman Jamal’s Dubai-based animation and vfx house Barajoun Entertainment to co-finance and co-produce a slate of CG animated family films as well as live-action features.

The pact is a commitment to producing five films, each budgeted at around $50 million, over the next five years. The projects will be financed by AMBI and Barajoun, with the animation and production work co-developed and produced between Barajoun’s Dubai studios and AMBI’s AIC Studios in Toronto. AMBI Distribution will handle worldwide sales for the new slate of pictures.

AMBI Distribution has also picked up Barajoun’s recently completed CG feature Bilal. The historical epic premiered at the Dubai Film Festival and will be presented to global distributors at the European Film Market in Berlin this week.

AIC Studios is currently producing two CG features for AMBI: Arctic Justice: Thunder Squad — featuring Alec Baldwin, John Cleese, James Franco, Anjelica Huston, Heidi Klum and Omar Sy — and Groove Tails, starring Jamie Foxx.

Arctic Justice: Thunder Squad

February 11, 2016
Cartoon Network Gives First Look at New Powerpuff Girls

Cartoon Network has unveiled a first look at the highly anticipated reboot of classic girl power toon The Powerpuff Girls. Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup will return to the small screen this spring in the “reimagined” take on Craig McCracken’s original series about three little girls with very special powers juggling school and saving the world — before bedtime.

Check out the preview clip:

Powerpuff Girls

February 11, 2016
TAAFI ‘16 Provides Studio Recruitment Opportunity

The Toronto Animation Arts Festival International (TAAFI) has announced that it will hold the Animation Arts Maarket (no, that’s not a typo, just clever branding) as part of its 2015 programming. This year’s event, being held April 23 and 24, is expected to bring over 1,000 animation professionals, students and job seekers to Toronto’s George Brown College Waterfront Campus.

The Animation Arts Maarket will provide both recent grads and veteran animators face-to-face with recruiting studios from across North America. It will also serve as the industry floor for companies and studios promoting films, series and other animation projects. The deadline to register (taafi.com/maarket) is March 25.

TAAFI has also this week revealed the 2016 poster, created by local concept artist Nneka Myers, and announced additional special guests: writer and creative director Michael Rianda (Gravity Falls) and award-winning animator Michel Gagne (The Iron Giant, Ratatouille) will join previously announced guests Eric Goldberg (Aladdin, Pocahontas), Audu Paden (Animaniacs, Pinky and The Brain), Kevin Gillis (The Raccoons) and Hanna-Barbera’s “Three Tooners” (Tony Benedict, Willie Ito and Jerry Eisenberg).

And of course, TAAFI 2016 will include screenings, workshops, studio sessions, speaking events and Toronto’s biggest animation networking event: the Nelvana Bouncing Ball held at Corus Quay on April 23. Festival passes go on sale February 22.

TAAFI

February 11, 2016
Shout!, Studio 100 Ink Multi-Picture Pact for ‘Maya the Bee’

Shout! Factory and Studio 100 Media are expanding their distribution alliance with a new multi-picture deal for Studio 100’s upcoming Maya the Bee feature film series. The announcement was made by Shout! Factory Founders Richard Foos, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos; and Studio 100 CEO Patrick Elmendorff.

Per the deal, Shout! has secured exclusive North American distribution rights to Maya the Bee movie sequels — including theatrical, VOD, digital, broadcast and home entertainment for cross-platform releases. A strategic rollout of the new films will begin with Maya the Bee 2 – The Honey Games in 2017 through Shout! Factory Kids. Production details will be announced in the coming months.

“We are delighted to add this new chapter to Maya the Bee’s success story,” says Elmendorff. “We gladly renew our successful collaboration with our previous partner Shout! Factory for the next movies and hope that Maya’s brand-new adventures will entertain children and families in North America just like the first movie already did and still does.”

The CG animated Maya the Bee TV series and 2014 movie have been globally successful for Studio 100, building on the recognition of the popular children’s novel it is inspired by. The first film was directed by Alexs Stadermann and produced by Studio 100 Media and Buzz Studios in association with Flying Bark Productions.

Maya the Bee 2

February 11, 2016
Betty Boop Returns in New TV Series

Max Fleischer’s iconic cartoon flapper Betty Boop will be returning to animation nearly 90 years after her debut in Dizzy Dishes. Betty will be starring, for the first time in 30 years, in an all-new animated television series being developed by Normaal Animation — the French studio behind the most recent Peanuts series.

Slated for 2018, the 26 x 26 series will be aimed at tweens and teens, recounting the daily struggles, joys and victories of young aspiring starlet Betty Boop. Normaal is partnering with Fleischer Studios and King Features, the New York-based unit of Hearst and exclusive worldwide licensing agent for Betty Boop.

“We are delighted to be partnering with an innovative production company such as Normaal Animation,” said Mark Fleischer, President and CEO of Los Angeles-based Fleischer Studios. “My grandfather, Max Fleischer, created Betty Boop as a fun, feisty and fashionable female – and she has proven to be a character for all time. It is extremely gratifying to know that this new television series will introduce Max’s beloved icon to new generations of fans in an engaging, relatable way.”

Normaal will handle worldwide financing and all future global distribution. The series launch will be supported by a fresh licensing and merchandising program designed by King Features to introduce Betty Boop to a new generation of fans.

Betty Boop

February 11, 2016