Organizers of Brand Licensing Europe have gone over the numbers for the 2015 edition recently held in London and have come out with impressive figures. This year’s BLE had more retailers in attendance than ever before, with a 19% increase over last year. A total of 7,203 visitors (BPA Audited) attended over the three-day event, with one third from overseas.
Held at London’s Olympia, BLE hosted over 300 exhibitors — 90 of them new this year. And this year’s Retail Mentoring Program, which launched six years ago, included over 35 individual buyers from 12 major U.K. retailers. The opening day also saw the largest ever character parade, with 80 characters progressing down the center aisle.
BLE also had more educational sessions this year, offering 25 between the Licensing Academy and the Brands & Lifestyle Theatres.
Brand Licensing Europe 2016 is set for October 11-13 in London. For more information, visit brandlicensing.eu.
Universal has unveiled the first trailer for its upcoming action-packed anti-fairytale The Huntsman: Winter’s War. The clips offer a quick glimpse at some of the visual effects wizardry audiences can expect when the sequel hits theaters April 22, 2016. Sinister ice powers, fantastical beasts and morphing metals are all on display.
Directed by Cedric Nicolas-Troyan and produced by Joe Roth (Maleficent, Alice in Wonderland), Winter’s War reveals how the Huntsman (Chris Hemsworth) was raised up by the powerful ice queen Freya (Emily Blunt) in her remote wintry refuge after she suffers a heartbreaking betrayal and is driven from the kingdom of her sister, Queen Ravenna (Charlize Theron). When Freya learns of her sister’s death at Snow White’s hands, she discovers the Magic Mirror has the power to resurrect Ravenna. It’s up to the banished Huntsman and warrior Sara (Jessica Chastain) to stop the wicked sisters.
Adult Swim has greenlighted a new animated comedy series from director Daniel Stessen, Dream Corp LLC. The series is being executive produced by John Krasinski and Stephen Merchant from The Office along with Krasinski’s Sunday Night shingle producing partner Allyson Seeger.
Leading the voice cast will be Jon Gries (most rapidly recognized as Uncle Rico from Napoleon Dynamite). Dream Corp LLC is being produced at Artbelly Productions, and will be Adult Swim’s first series to use rotoscope animation. Stessen’s animation experience is largely based on his short film The Gold Sparrow, which was nominated for the Animated Short award at SXSW in 2013.
Synopsis:
“DREAM CORP LLC” is an experimental therapy facility that creates a virtual reality for patients to confront issues in their waking life by simulating their wildest dreams. Guided by the eccentric Dr. Roberts (Jon Gries) a team of unique scientists document and conduct their research that hasn’t been funded since 1992. Like a poorly maintained carnival ride, the program has developed some questionable kinks throughout the years. The patients change from week to week, but despite the advice of their loved ones and their own instincts, they keep coming back.
Cartoon Network will be expanding its original animation program line-up in 2016 by producing four new projects in Australia. Set to join the toons produced at the company’s brick-and-mortar studio in Burbank, Calif., the Aussie productions will utilize a virtual studio model to utilize talent from across the country.
Exchange Student Zero, the company’s first series made on the continent, wraps production this week in Victoria where the full team will be physically together for the first time. Created by Melbourne-based Patrick Crawley, Bruce Kane and Maurice Argiro, the 13-part comedy-adventure fuses anime and western animation and ideas. It features multiple voices performed by Rove McManus, and the music of DEVO’s Mark and Bob Mothersbaugh.
Sydney-produced Bill & Tony from Flying Gherkin and The Sketchy Show from Brisbane’s Ludo Studio are short-format comedies commissioned by Cartoon Network. Bill & Tony is a non-dialog claymation series about two “brothers from another mother” with hearts of gold and barely a brain cell to rub together. The Sketchy Show takes real kids’ drawings and turns them into hilarious animated shorts.
Another Australian creation, Lasso & Comet, has been accepted by Cartoon Network Studios’ international shorts program and will go into production soon. From Melbourne’s Rubber House Studios, the action-adventure-comedy centers on a 13-year-old boy with a magic rope and his best friend, a talking comet from outer space, who live in a world filled with giant monsters.
CN Australia has also greenlit a pilot for Monster Beach: The Series, based on the television movie which nabbed an ASTRA award this year. Another Melbourne project, from Bogan Entertainment Solutions, Monster Beach follows Jan and her brother Dean as they are packed off to stay in a seaside paradise — that just happens to be inhabited by scary, surfing monsters.
Nickelodeon and national non-profit Get Schooled — co-founded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Viacom — have named DePaul University student Dawn Adepoju as the winner of the inaugural What’s Your Nickfluence? Animation Challenge for a $25,000 scholarship.
The global short film competition is meant to elevate and support up-and-coming animators by encouraging them to submit original works that share their Nick-inspired stories. The judges’ panel of Nickelodeon executives and animation professionals selected Adepoju’s My Nickfluence as the winner for her narration of how the network influenced her art and childhood.
According to the announcement: Adepoju enjoyed drawing at a young age, and what started as a hobby developed into a lifelong passion for creating stories through drawing, animating and writing. Growing up in a suburb of Illinois, she enjoyed watching Nickelodeon’s Dora the Explorer, The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra.Currently, Adepoju is studying animation and hopes to pursue a career in the industry.
Five winners in the high school age group (13-17) were also each awarded a Wacom Cintiq 13HD Creative Pen Display, along with a one-year subscription for Adobe Creative Cloud services, courtesy of the companies. The winning and finalist films can be viewed at https://www.nickfluence.com/gallery.html.
Mumbai-based 3D animation studio Assemblage Entertainment has made three key additions to its leadership team. PMV Ramana has been appointed Art Director, while Rahul Nair and Vaibhav Shah will head up the Lighting and Modeling teams, respectively.
Assemblage has grown rapidly since opening in 2014, and now employs about 250 people. The studio has delivered two 3D features: Blinky Bill the Movie and Norm of the North.
Art Director PMV Ramana brings over two decades of experience in art direction, visual development and story. He has worked with major studios such as DreamWorks, Qyuki and Prana with credits including Puss in Boots, Madagascar, Elizabeth2 and 3, and Prince of Persia.
Lighting Supervisor Rahul Nair has 15 years of experience in creative and technical roles for TV and film production. He is also a DreamWorks veteran and also worked at Prime Focus, with credits including Puss in Boots, Madagascar and Tinker Bell.
Modeling Supervisor Vaibhav Shah has 10 years of experience and was previously a senior character modeler, proficient in concept art, texturing and modeling lead characters. He has worked with DreamWorks and UTV Toons on movies including Puss in Boots, How to Train Your Dragon 2 and Rise of the Guardians.
Canada’s DHX Media released its numbers for the three months up to September 2015, which show revenues up 48% to $63.9 million CAD ($48 million USD) and a net profit of $7.5 million CAD ($5.6 million USD). DHX posted a loss in the year-ago period.
CEO Dana Landry noted in the Q1 announcement that the company continued to generate double- and triple-digit growth in the quarter, adding: “The streaming market is expanding globally into new territories such as China, and our scale and integrated platform of production, distribution, broadcast and licensing allows us to leverage key opportunities across this evolving media landscape. As our business units rise to meet the growing demand for DHX’s brands, this has translated into solid results.”
DHX this week announced two new non-exclusive SVOD deals with Chinese companies iQiyi and LeTV. iQiyi, the country’s leading streaming entertainment platform, acquired AVOD and SVOD rights for over 400 half-hours, including kids’ animation titles Paddington and Caillou and Teletubbies, which was the first Western-produced preschool show to air in China. LeTV picked up OTT TV and web broadcast rights for 313 half-hours of Teletubbies in English and Mandarin.
Proprietary production revenues decreased 26 percent to $4.1 million CAD. Distribution revenues gained 40% at $14.03 million CAD. TV revenues were $18.82 million CAD. Licensing and merchandising revenues from owned properties gained 55% at $4.7 million CAD, and represented properties were also up at $6.7 million CAD. Producer and service fee revenues account for $14.3 million CAD. And new media revenues hit $1.23 million CAD.
Monster Entertainment continues to enjoy a strong relationship with Al Jazeera Children’s Channel (AJC), which has just picked up five new animated series from the company’s catalog. These include:
Pip Ahoy! (25 x 11) The number one series in the U.K. for kids 4-9 follows the adventures of a happy-go-lucky pup called Pip and his best friend Alba the kitten who live in the colorful seaside resort town of Salty Cove. Created and produced by CHF Entertainment — the new incarnation of Cosgrove Hall Films.
Jungle Beat (39 x 5 or 13 x 7) A fun, family-friendly series that follows a team of adventurers and the different animals they encounter in nature. Aimed at children ages 4-8, the show has proven a ratings success for a much wider audience.
Rocka-Bye Island (26 x 11) Children learn about their world and how it works with imagination, adventure and teamwork — and the support of their many animal friends on enchanting Rocka-Bye Island. Produced by Magpie 6 Media and Monster Ent.
AJC has also picked up non-dialogue comedy series Luchien (26 x 1, Truffle Productions) and FlipFlap (30 x 4, Mikairu).
ZDF Enterprises has upped the broadcast game for Mondo TV’s Marcus Level, inking new deals with TVE and Turner International that will bring the 52 x 13 animated series to Spain’s Clan TV and Boomerang in Latin America. The show will be complemented by an online game featuring four distinct worlds and 20 levels.
Aimed at kids 6-12 and produced by Mondo TV and co-developed with TF1, Marcus Level centers on a young gaming fanatic who is accidentally zapped inside his favorite videogame. The show is an original concept from animator Ahmed Guerrouache.
“This unique video-game-themed series uses all the references kids know from their favorite video games, and transposes them into the animated world in a very clever way,” says ZDFE executive VP and COO Fred Burcksen. “Clues are given throughout the series which help kids complete levels of the game, ensuring a perfect complementarity between the linear and interactive components of the property.”
Animation Block Party will present its 13th annual edition July 28 to 31, 2016, with screenings and events at Brooklyn’s Rooftop Films and BAMcinematek. Submissions for next year’s festival open on Friday, December 4.
The 2015 Animation Block Party tallied over 5,000 attendees for its second year in a row, and organizers are hoping to expand ABP’s offerings with a variety of programs including retrospectives, rarely seen works, studio sneak peeks and, of course, top-notch animated shorts from around the world. ABP 2016 is again lead by creative director Casey Safron, who is joined by newly appointed festival manager Taylor Armstrong.
Visit animationblock.com for ongoing updates and to submit your work for consideration.
Vancouver Film School signed two novel partnership agreements with Chinese educational institutions earlier this month. President James Griffin and other VFS representatives signed a memorandum of understanding with Beijing Film Academy on Nov. 2, and with Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts on Nov. 5. Canada’s Ambassador of China Guy Saint-Jacques and British Columbia Premier Christy Clark were also present at the signings, which were part of the Premier’s trade mission to China.
“British Columbia’s flourishing creative industries are a key component of our growing relationship with China,” said Premier Clark. “Vancouver Film School’s collaborations in China demonstrate how forward-thinking B.C. organizations can play a leadership role in the world economy, and provide a compelling example of how B.C.’s and China’s creative industries can continue to support one another in innovative ways.”
“China’s dedication to excellence, commitment to technology, and passion for ideas, make it a remarkable place for the film and entertainment industry to thrive. We see this not only in the growth of the market in China – which this year surpassed the US as the world’s largest domestic box office – but in the knowledge and talent of students in our partner institutions,” explained VFS president Griffin.
Arabian Licensing Company (ALC) has been appointed by Bidaya Media as the master licensing representative for Iftah Ya Simsim, the Arabic Sesame Street, for the United Arab Emirates, Gulf Cooperation Council and the Middle East. ALC has also entered a partnership with Headline Communications to handle licensing in Saudi Arabia.
Iftah Ya Simsim (“Open Sesame”) returned to television in September on nine channels in the region, after being off the air for 25 years. The renewed series is a production of the Abu Dhabi Education Council, twofour54, the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States and Bidaya Media. The revival show is complemented by live events and social media accounts on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.
Presenting regional traditions, culture and customs for young Arabic-speaking viewers, the modern Iftah Ya Simsim welcomes back much characters from the ’70s original like No’man the camel and Melsoon the bird, who are joined by newcomers that include a quick-witted 6-year-old girl named Shams, and the zany but cute Gargur.
ALC will develop a full-scale licensing program, with plans for a large variety of merchandise lines and regional retail promotions.
Netflix has released the official trailer for its upcoming original animated series F Is for Family, a retro period-comedy created by comedian Bill Burr and Emmy-winning writer/producer Michael Price (The Simpsons). Burr recently released a teaser for the 2D show via Twitter, sharing that episodes will arrive for streaming on December 18.
F Is for Family follows the Murphy family in 1970s America — a time when you could smack your kid, smoke inside and bring a gun to the airport. Burr voices Frank Murphy, the family’s extreme patriarch. Laura Dern voices his wife, Sue, and Justin Long voices oldest son Kevin. The series is executive produced by Burr, Vince Vaughn (Art of Conflict, The Break Up), Peter Billingsley (Dinner for Five, Couples Retreat) and showrunner Michael Price. Wilt West Television’s Michael Lagnese and Victoria Vaughn are co-executive producers.
Magic Light Pictures has announced its next project will be animating the modern classic picture book Stick Man for a Christmas season special on BBC One in the U.K. Based on the 2008 book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, the half-hour Stick Man project marks Magic Light’s fourth collaboration with the author/illustrator team, preceded by the Oscar nominated Room on the Broom and multi-award winning The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child.
The A-list voice cast features Martin Freeman as Stick Man, Hugh Bonneville as Santa and Jennifer Saunders narrating, with Russell Tovey, Rob Brydon and Sally Hawkins. The special will take Stick Man on an epic adventure across the seasons as he is taken further and further from the home he shares in the family tree with his Stick Lady Love and their Stick Children. As he runs from a playful dog, gets thrown in a river, escapes from a swan’s nest and even end up on top of a fire, it’ll take all his effort to get back to his family in time for Christmas.
“What a treat to have voiced the hero in this beautifully animated film,” said Freeman. “We enjoyed reading Stick Man as a family for a number of years and my children always loved the scale of his epic journey. Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s books are simply wonderful and the film adaptations bring their own extra magic. This one is going to be really special though, filled with festive charm and a delight for viewers of all ages!”
Stick Man is a Magic Light Pictures production acquired for BBC One by Polly Hill, Controller of Drama. Directed by Jeroen Jaspaert, co-directed by Daniel Snaddon and produced by Michael Rose and Martin Pope. Triggerfish Animation Studios provides the animation.
Accomplished children’s television producer and writer Jocelyn Stevenson will be honored with a BAFTA Special Award at the British Academy Children’s Awards ceremony taking place in London on November 22. The award is bestowed in recognition of an individual’s outstanding contribution to the children’s media and entertainment industry. BAFTA Children’s Committee chair Helen Blakeman pointed out in the announcement Stevenson’s work in television, film and games.
Stevenson began her career with The Jim Henson Company, penning several Muppet-inspired children’s books before becoming one of the co-creators and writers for Fraggle Rock. At Henson she would also develop the script for Tale of the Bunny Picnic and work on the U.K.-produced Mopatop Shop and The Hoobs. Stevenson also served as Chief Creative Officer at HIT Entertainment, producing for top properties Angelina Ballerina and Bob the Builder; as creative director at TT Animation and executive creative producer for film and TV at Mind Candy, where she co-wrote and co-produced Moshi Monsters: The Movie.
Stevenson also served as a council member and chair for BAFTA’s Children’s Committee from 2001 to 2009. She is currently working with Katie Bell at their new company, developing a multi-platform, global initiative aimed at kids seven to eleven.
The 20th annual British Academy Children’s Awards will be hosted by Doc Brown at the Roundhouse in Camden, London on November 22.
Fans of element-bending animated action can relive the full saga up until the epic finale as the full series of The Legend of Korra arrives on Nick.com and the Emmy-winning Nick App, available until November 30. The series, from creators and executive producers Bryan Konietzko and Michael DiMartino, is set 70 years after the events of Avatar: The Last Airbender and follow Aang’s successor, a girl named Korra from the Southern Water Tribe.
Additionally, fans can enjoy three new videos: “Legend of Korra: Every Bend Ever” Book 1, Book 2 and 12 Best Moments. Beginning Nov. 20, a new “The Legend of Korra: Epic Trivia Quest” will be available to test how well fans know the series. Starting by revealing what type of bender the player is, the quest then places them in the middle of the world of the Avatar where they must use their personalized character to travel the expansive lands and battle opponents with trivia questions.
The series cast features Janet Varney as Korra, David Faustino as Mako, P.J. Byrne as Bolin, J.K. Simmons as Tenzin, Mindy Sterling as Chief Lin Beifong, Seychelle Gabrial as Asami Sato, Kiernan Shipka as Jinora and Eva Marie Saint as Katara.
Nickelodeon series overview:
Book 1: Air, Korra struggles to fight an anti-bender movement led by the mysterious masked leader, Amon.
Book 2: Spirits, Korra and Team Avatar embark on a new journey deep into the mythology of the mystical Spirit World to defeat a dark spirit once and for all.
Book 3: Change, the world enters a new age when Airbenders begin to reappear and Korra finds herself pitted against a group of dangerous criminals seeking to overthrow not only governments, but the Avatar herself.
Book 4: Balance, Avatar Korra is now broken and bruised and begins a journey of self-discovery and survival in a new world where the strong prey upon the weak. When an aggressive military force rises up led by the power hungry Kuvira, the fate of the Earth Kingdom hangs in the balance and only the Avatar can set things right.
Award-winning composer Michael Giacchino is embarking on his first-ever collaboration with Walt Disney Animation Studios to produce the score for the upcoming CG feature Zootopia, out March 4, 2016. Recording kicks off this week with an 80-piece orchestra conducted by Tim Simonec.
“In a world as vast as Zootopia, we needed someone who could deliver a score that can feel exotic and powerful, but also provide that same emotional intimacy,” said director Byron Howard. “We tell stories with images, Michael tells stories with music. Zootopia is a massive film with deep emotional themes running throughout the story, and Michael was the perfect choice to bring the music of this extraordinary animal world to life.”
Added director Rich Moore, “Zootopia is a thriving metropolis inhabited by animals from around globe, and Michael’s music has captured a wonderful international spirit that marries perfectly with the visuals. I’m very excited for audiences to experience this incredible new world we’ve created together.”
Giacchino’s credits include acclaimed feature animation and live-action projects including Disney-Pixar’s Inside Out, The Incredibles and Ratatouille as well as Jurassic World, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol and The Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. His score for Disney-Pixar’s Up earned him honors from the Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTAs, Broadcast Film Critics and two Grammys.
“I am really proud to be a part of this film,” said Giacchino. “It’s one of those films with a huge heart and wonderfully realized characters set within a story that’s not only incredibly fun and entertaining but takes an honest look at our own world and the important issues we deal with living in such a diverse society. That’s what really attracted me to the film—the chance to write music that reflects these kind of challenges.”
German brand management and media company m4e AG has finalized a broadcasting agreement for its preschool series Tip the Mouse (52 x 7) with Buena Vista Int’l for all Latin American territories, including Brazil. The deal was hammered out at MIPCOM and gives Disney Junior Latin America exclusive Pay TV and basic subscription TV rights, with launch dates for the various regional markets to be announced.
The series has already seen broadcast success in Europe and other territories, and the Latin America deal marks an important step for the preschool brand. Tip the Mouse is produced by m4e, Studio Bozzetto & Co., Giunti Editore, Studio Campadelli and Rai Fiction. The series is based on the globally popular children’s books by Italian author Andrea Dami, which have sold over 11 million books worldwide, including in Latin America.
VIZ Media is launching an official Naruto online store for the U.S. and Canada in partnership with digital marketing and eCommerce solutions provider Generator (a division of Sony DADC). The new e-tailer at shop.naruto.com is a comprehensive one-stop-shop for an extensive, unique collection of official Naruto merchandise.
The shop will offer up anime and manga products, apparel, games and other licensed products and collectibles based by the smash hit ninja anime, for which VIZ is the master global licensor. At launch, featured Naruto Shippuden products include apparel from Ripple Junction, collectible Japanese figures from Banpresto, belts and accessories from Great Eastern, posters from Scorpio, shower curtains from Just Funky and deck building game from Cryptozoic.
New merchandise and collectibles will be added regularly — all inspired by the character and story created by manga-ka Masashi Kishimoto.
Nexus announces that Emma De Swaef and Marc James Roels, the directors of the multi-award-winning stop-motion short Oh Willy…, have signed on to the company’s roster for exclusive representation in the UK and USA. The announcement comes just as the Cartoon d’Or honored short is released online.
Under the moniker Marc & Emma, the duo have directed together since 2007. Emma began her career in documentary film, but her childhood on a sheep farm inspires her work today as from a young age she would use wool to craft puppets. Marc’s career began producing animated music videos. The team now uses a range of handcrafted techniques from stop-motion to puppetry mixed with live action to deliver their distinctive style.
“We knew that Nexus fostered an environment where creative and technical talent thrives, and since joining we have really seen this to be true,” say the directors. “In short we are having a great time. Amongst other projects, we are working on a short film to be released next year, and are also in the process of creating a two minute animated pitch for a TV series.”
