Animation Magazine

Author: Mercedes Milligan

  • Peter Lord Named Prez of European Animation Pride

    Last year, top players in the European animation industry announced the intent to found an annual award event to celebrate the best in the artform from across the continent, the European Animation Pride Awards (EAPA). The honors are meant to fill gaps left by existing film awards for specific countries such as the Cesars, Goyas and BAFTAs and expand on the multiregional reach of the Cartoon d’Or short film award.

    The EAPA is founded by producers Didier Brunner (The Triplets of Belleville, Ernest & Celestine), Olivier Catherin (Kiki of Montparnasse) and Moomins on the Riviera assistant director Denis Walgenwitz. The founders have announced that Aardman Animations co-founder Peter Lord has been appointed as the association’s president.

    “As professionals working in Europe in the great, inclusive and multi-faceted world of animation, we can and should feel pride every day to be involved in such a dynamic industry,” Lord said. “What a wonderful idea it is, then, to make that pride in our profession as public as possible through this new initiative – the European Animation Pride Awards. In all its forms, in all its marketplaces and across all media, European animation leads both technically and artistically and I welcome this opportunity to celebrate its scope and diversity.”

    The EAPA will be modeled on ASIFA Hollywood’s Annie Awards with the scope of its categories, and hopes to adequately consider and recognize the works of over thirty European countries. The organizers plan to include between fifteen and twenty categories in the inaugural ceremony, which they are planning to present in December of 2017.

    In addition to Peter Lord as President, the board includes Jean-Paul Commin (consultant and former producer/distributor) as General Secretary; Cho-Chairs Marie Bro (producer, Dansk Tegnefilm), Didier Brunner (prod., Folivari; VP of SPFA) and Paul Young (prod., Cartoon Saloon); Treasurer Ton Crone (director of the Assoc. of Dutch Animation Producers); and board members Olivier Catherin (dir., Noranim), Doris Cloven (dir., Anima Festival), Juan Carlos Concha (dir./prod., Apeman Studio), Odile Perrin (coordinator, Gobelins), Stephan Roelants (prod., Melusine), Michael Rose (prod., Magic Light Pictures), Luc Toutounghi (prod., Se-Ma-For) and Denis Walgenwitz (dir. & president of AFCA).

    Peter Lord
    Peter Lord
  • First Gulf-Produced CG Feature Premiering at Ajyal

    First Gulf-Produced CG Feature Premiering at Ajyal

    The first CG-animated feature film to be entirely funded and produced in the Middle Eastern Gulf region, Bilal, will have its world premiere as the closing film at the Ajyal Youth Festival. Presented by the Doha Film Institute, the third edition of the Ajyal fest will take place in Qatar’s capital from Nov. 29 to Dec. 5.

    Bilal is co-directed by Khurram H. Alavi and Ayman Jamal and produced by Dubai-based Barajoun Studios, with partial funding from the Doha Film Institute. The film features the voices of Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Game of Thrones) and child actor Andre Robinson (Despicable Me 2) as the adult and young Bilal Ibn Rabah, an African slave who fought for his freedom and became a companion to the Prophet Mohammed whose real-life story has become one of the best known in Islamic history.

    The Ajyal Youth Festival, which asks over 500 children and adolescents to act as jurors for a host of films from around the world, will also see the Middle East premiere of Pixar’s The Good Dinosaur, Studio Ghibli’s When Marnie Was There and a special screening of locally-produced animated short Hero and the Message, about a brother and sister who journey back in time and witness the founding of the State of Qatar in the 19th century, according to Variety.

    Bilal
    Bilal
  • Books We Love – Issue #254

    Books We Love – Issue #254

    Art of Regular Show
    The Art of Regular Show
    By Shannon O’Leary
    [Titan Books, $29.95]

    Just in time to toast the successful seventh season of JG Quintel’s Emmy-winning series, this somewhat slim (at 160 pages) but quite engaging hardcover is a fitting celebration of this Cartoon Network gem. Paging through, readers enter a cartoony world of polar bear portals, demonic hot dogs, and more surreal adventures of Mordecai the bluejay, Rigby the raccoon and their long-suffering coworkers.

    This behind-the-scenes peek offers a healthy mix of show artwork, from Quintel’s earliest concept drawings to storyboards and series art, plus character development sketches, production art and even writers’ room doodles. This visual olio is served with in-depth interviews with Quintel and other key creatives and voice actors, expertly handled by experience animation writer (and occasional cartoonist) O’Leary. So, there’s plenty to tide you over until season eight premieres next year!

    grampa simpson

    Grampa Simpson’s Guide to Aging
    By Matt Groening
    [Insight Editions, $24.99]

    As Insight puts it: They say, “Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it!” Then again, those who have forgotten the past are most likely living in the Springfield Retirement Castle, repeating themselves over and over again. Yes, the latest installment of the “Vault of Simpsonology” collection tackles the mysterious beauty of decrepitude with trademark Groening humor.

    In honor of family patriarch Abe Simpson, this treasure trove of wisdom is packed with mini-comics, gag ads, cantankerous cartoons and miscellaneous treats (see: Things to Do Before I Die – The Bucket List of an Underachieving Geriatric). And with all those Baby Boomers sliding into retirement (if they can afford it), you may want to order this volume in bulk for the holidays.

    animated landscapes

    Animated Landscapes: History, Form and Function
    Edited by Chris Pallant
    [Bloomsbury Academic, $120]

    Film students and cinema aficionados have long seen the value in studying the landscapes of their big screen favorites. For some directors and movements, the landscape informs much of the experience — imagine Woody Allen’s oeuvre without New York. Yet the imaginative landscapes of animated films are often overlooked.

    This collection provides an intriguing counterpoint to this attitude and the dominance of character dissection in animation scholarship. Containing essays from writers around the world, the hefty book addresses everything from the history of the animated landscape, case studies in national contexts, the traversal of animated landscape, the animation of fantastical landscapes and the animation of interactive landscapes. It is an invaluable collection of works on an underrepresented subject — but, if you want to pay less than three figures for it, we recommend going straight to the Bloomsbury website for the best deal.

    secret guide

    A Cartoon Girl’s Secret Guide to Developing Kids’ Comedy Series That Sell
    By Rita Street
    [Radar Cartoons on Gumroad, Free E-Book]

    As industry veteran Rita Street stated regarding the book’s launch, “This is literally everything I’ve learned from buyers over the last decade on how to develop a kids’ comedy show for six- to 11-year olds. It’s casual, dense and full of real exercises that will help you create rockin’ sales materials.” She should know, as founder of Radar Cartoons, a producer, consultant, founder of Women in Animation and — ahem — former publisher of Animation Magazine.

    Available as a free E-Book through radarcartoons.com and gumroad.com, this Secret Guide is your shortcut to knowing the ins-and-outs of selling the next SpongeBob (hint: you have to do more than tell people your show is “the next SpongeBob”). Street has done the hard work for you over the last decade, having landed over 1,200 pitch meetings with key development executives and selling a record 15 shows into development. If you can’t make it to one of Street’s workshops or speaking engagements, this is the next best thing.

  • Filmakademie Project ‘Jazz Orgie’ Is FMX 2016 Trailer

    Filmakademie Project ‘Jazz Orgie’ Is FMX 2016 Trailer

    A student project from the Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg Institute of Animation, Jazz Orgie by third-year student Irina Rubina, has been selected as the new trailer for the FMX 2016 event. The trailer is now live on the event’s website. FMX is set to take place in Stuttgart, Germany from April 26-29, 2016.

    Jazz Orgie is an explosively colorful, musical mixed-media project that began as a piece of music from the band Blofish which was based on dramaturgy sketches by Rubina, which provided the basis for choreography performed by a professional dancer. Rubina then edited the footage and translated them into abstract animations, reminiscent of 20th century modern painting.

    “Jazz Orgie is a visual and musical groove experience in less than one minute,” says Rubina. “I absolutely love the idea that the film’s spirit erupts at FMX. I hope that its colors light up FMX, and that Jazz Orgie shakes up the event, even if only a little.”

    The director cites artists Ed Lissitzky, Kasimir Malewitsch, Piet Mondrian and Alexander Rodtschenko among her inspirations for the film.

    Jazz Orgie
    Jazz Orgie
  • Patricia Arquette Considering ‘Toy Story 4’ Playdate

    Patricia Arquette Considering ‘Toy Story 4’ Playdate

    The Wrap reports that Oscar-winning actress Patricia Arquette is in talks with Disney-Pixar to voice a new character in Toy Story 4, currently slated for June 15, 2018. Arquette took home the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress earlier this year for her role in Boyhood, and currently stars in CSI: Cyber on CBS. Disney has yet to comment.

    Toy Story 4 is being directed by studio creative head John Lasseter from a script by Rashida Jones and Will McCormack. Lasseter has said the sequel will be a love story centered on Woody (Tom Hanks) and Bo Peep (Annie Potts). According to the story’s source, Arquette would voice a hippie-ish, laid-back mom. Tim Allen is also set to return to voice Buzz.

    Patricia Arquette
    Patricia Arquette
  • Disney Digs Up New ‘Good Dinosaur’ Clips

    Disney Digs Up New ‘Good Dinosaur’ Clips

    Disney-Pixar is getting into a paleontological mood as it preps for the theatrical release of The Good Dinosaur, roaring into theaters on November 25. To celebrate, the studio is kicking off Dino Week on Saturday, Nov. 14. Fans can head over to Disney.com/DinoWeek during the event to enjoy everything dinosaur, check out new clips and featurettes and partake in fun activities inspired by the movie.

    To start things off right, check out these three brand new clips, courtesy of Walt Disney Studios.

    Synopsis:

    Directed by Peter Sohn and produced by Denise Ream, The Good Dinosaur asks the question: What if the asteroid that forever changed life on Earth missed the planet completely and giant dinosaurs never became extinct? Pixar Animation Studios takes you on an epic journey into the world of dinosaurs where an Apatosaurus named Arlo (voice of Raymond Ochoa) makes an unlikely human friend. While traveling through a harsh and mysterious landscape, Arlo learns the power of confronting his fears and discovers what he is truly capable of.

    The Good Dinosaur
    The Good Dinosaur
  • VIZ, Simon & Schuster Renew Partnership

    VIZ, Simon & Schuster Renew Partnership

    VIZ Media and Simon & Schuster have renewed their longstanding sales and distribution partnership in both the U.S. and the U.K. Simon & Schuster has been the exclusive distribution partner for VIZ manga titles for the U.S. and Canada since 2004, providing a range of retail and wholesale distribution services for the publisher’s library of titles under all imprints, including Shonen Jump, Shojo Bat, Perfect Square, Studio Ghibli Library, et al.

    “The massive popularity of manga among a broad cross-section of international readers of all ages speaks to the universal appeal of the genre,” says Michael Selleck, Simon & Schuster Executive Vice President, Sales & Marketing. “We are very happy to deepen our relationship with VIZ Media both domestically and internationally, where we are seeing exciting growth in markets such as the Philippines and Singapore.”

    Since 2007, Simon & Schuster U.K. has served as exclusive distributor of VIZ Media titles across several international territories, including Great Britain, Ireland, South Africa, and the fast-growing Indian market through Simon & Schuster India.

    VIZ Media
    VIZ Media
    Shonen Jump
    Shonen Jump
  • PBS KIDS Plans Animated Holiday Episodes

    PBS KIDS Plans Animated Holiday Episodes

    PBS KIDS will be offering tykes and their guardians a “sled-full” of festive episodes for the winter holiday season, with fresh seasonal tales from three of its popular animated series. An hour-long Peg + Cat special will feature Hanukkah, Christmas and winter-themed stories. Two half-hour Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood episodes will also highlight the season, as will a half-hour Christmas episode of Odd Squad.

    Peg + Cat + Holidays airs December 7 and 24 and features three stories:

    “The Hanukkah Problem” – When Albert Einstein invites Peg and Cat over for Hanukkah, he shows them how to make a 2D piece of paper into a 3D dreidel. Later, they need to use this process to bring peace to Al’s home and save his celebration.

    “The Christmas Problem” – When Santa Claus is in trouble, Peg and Cat have to solve their biggest problem ever: how to make and wrap presents for all the children of the world, and then deliver them on 100 sleighs.

    “The Penguin Problem” – Peg and Cat coach a team of skiing penguins, who would have a shot at Olympic gold if only they could figure out “over,” “under” and “in between.”

    Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood “Daniel’s Winter Adventure/Neighborhood Nutcracker” airs December 7, 12, 21, 24 and 25. When Daniel, Dad, Prince Wednesday and Prince Tuesday go out sledding and see how tall the hill is, Daniel and Prince Wednesday get scared. Dad shows them that if they try a little at a time they might find out it’s fun. Then, Daniel is excited to see The Nutcracker Ballet, but when he arrives he finds out Prince Wednesday is sick and needs Daniel to fill in for him on stage.

    Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood “Snowflake Day” airs December 8 and 25. The whole neighborhood is celebrating Snowflake Day in this half-hour special, and Daniel officially opens the play as a snowflake and can’t wait to say his lines. The Enchanted Garden is full of excitement, and everyone pitches in to make a true Neighborhood celebration success. Just like snowflakes, Daniel and his friends realize everyone is different and special.

    Odd Squad “Reindeer Games” airs December 7, 21 and 24. In this Christmas-themed episode, Olive and Otto assist Santa in tracking down his missing reindeer. And Oscar helps Ms. O get off Santa’s naughty list! Young viewers will learn about geometry and spatial sense, using coordinates and comparing and ordering with greater than / less than.

    Peg + Cat
    Peg + Cat
  • Nickelodeon Decks Programming for Holidays

    Nickelodeon Decks Programming for Holidays

    Nickelodeon is planning a holly-jolly holiday line-up of hit live-action, animation and preschool series, kicking off Saturday, November 28 for a month-long bonanza of premieres and specials.

    Animated highlights of Nick’s seasonal treats include:

    Friday, Dec. 4
    8 p.m. Sanjay and Craig “Huggle Day” (30-min. special)

    After ruining Lundgren’s Huggle Day celebration, Sanjay and Craig set out to right their wrong with the help of movie hero Dolph Lundgren (voicing himself).  With his help, Sanjay and Craig journey to find Huggle Bunny and discover the true meaning of Huggle Day.

    8:30 p.m.  Pig Goat Banana Cricket “Happy Chalawunga!”

    Pig searches the sewers for Filthy the Foot. Banana is forced to shop for Chalawunga gifts. Goat is determined to sing her song in the Chalawunga Parade and Cricket creates Mecha Foot for Pig.

    Friday, Dec. 11
    12:30 p.m.  Blaze and the Monster Machines “Monster Machine Christmas”

    It’s Christmas Eve, and Blaze and AJ are helping Santa and his elves load his magic bag full of presents to deliver all over the world.  Crusher tries to sneak into the bag, knocking it over and sending all the world’s presents flying away.  Now it’s up to Blaze, AJ, and Crusher to rescue the presents and deliver them before Christmas morning. Guest starring Carl Reiner.

    1:30 p.m. Shimmer & Shine “Santa’s Little Genies”

    It’s Christmas Eve and Leah forgot to mail Zac’s letter to Santa.  When she calls on Shimmer and Shine to help deliver the letter, they transport her to the North Pole where Leah can deliver it to Santa in person.  After she accidentally wishes Santa to a tropical island, it’s up to Shimmer and Shine to deliver the presents and save Christmas genie-style. Carl Reiner guest stars as Santa.

    8 p.m. Breadwinners “A Crustmas Story” (30-min. special)

    SwaySway and Buhdeuce stay up all night waiting for Santa Crust to come while reading each other quazy holiday stories and singing Crustmas Carols.

    On Nick Jr., young viewers can catch holiday episodes of Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom (“Snow/THe North Pole” on Dec. 10 at 6 p.m.; “Ben and Holly’s Christmas” Dec. 16 at 6 p.m. ), Little Charmers (“Santa Sparkle” Dec. 15 at 6 p.m.) and Peter Rabbit (“The Christmas Star/Sleepy Hedgehog” Dec. 17 at 6 p.m.)

    Through the month of December, TeenNick will air holiday movies each Saturday at 2 and 8; and Nicktoons will also run seasonal flicks Fridays at 9 p.m. Also, from Dec. 12 through 27, Nicktoons will gift viewers with marathons of old favorites Catscratch, The Mighty B!, The X’s, El Tigre, Barnyard, Danny Phantom, My Life as a Teenage Robot, Jimmy Neutron and Invader Zim.

    Shimmer & Shine “Santa’s Little Genies”
    Shimmer & Shine “Santa’s Little Genies”
    Sanjay and Craig "Huggle Day"
    Sanjay and Craig “Huggle Day”
    Blaze and the Monster Machines
    Blaze and the Monster Machines
  • Manimation Line-Up Announced

    Manimation Line-Up Announced

    MIDAS and the Children’s Media Conference have released the full line-up for Manimation 2015 — an animation industry conference taking place in Manchester, U.K. on November 19. This year’s programming highlights include looks at the latest in videogame, TV and performance capture animation. The conference coincides with the inaugural Manchester Animation Festival (MAF), which will also host a “Making it in Manchester” session on November 18, free for Manimation Delegates.

    Alice Webb, Director of BBC Children’s, will be the keynote speaker at Manimation. Webb will talk about the future of children’s and young people’s programming at the BBC as well as the recently announced on-demand iPlay service for kids and how it may impact animation content providers.

    The speaker line-up includes:

    • David Brown (Traveller’s Tales) on how two local studios, Studio Liddell and Traveller’s Tales, animated one of the year’s biggest video games: LEGO Jurassic World.
    • Jonathan Ashworth (Mighty Giant & Motion North) presenting the ‘Manimation Showreel’ – the very best of Manchester animation and motion design.
    • Jane McConnell (Pixelbomb Games) on creating Beyond Flesh and Blood, a PC, VR and Console game set entirely in Manchester, 200 years in the future.
    • Belinda Peach (Peachy Media) leading a panel looking at access to skills in the animation industry.
    • Giles Ridge (ITV Studios) on the current remake of Thunderbirds and the process of updating one of the most iconic British shows for a modern audience.
    • Professor Jackie Marsh (University of Sheffield) presenting up-to-date academic research on the viewing habits of young people.
    • Neil Court, Executive Chairman of Canadian company 9 Story Media Group, which recently acquired Brown Bag Films. At last year’s Manimation Brown Bag films announced the opening of a Manchester-based 2D studio.
    • David Barton (Cubic Motion) on working with Cloud Imperium Games and 3lateral to create the Admiral Bishop character, played by Gary Oldman, for the PC game Star Citizen: Squadron 42.
    • Mole Hill, director of the Clangers, the cult classic recently brought back to UK TV by Manchester animation company Factory.
    • Mike Robinson, head of studio at CHF Entertainment, founded on the legacy of Cosgrove Hall which produced such British classics as Danger Mouse, Count Duckula, The Wind in the Willows, and The BFG.
    Manimation 2015
    Manimation 2015
  • Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson Sign to ‘Sing’

    Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson Sign to ‘Sing’

    Hollywood stars Reese Witherspoon and Scarlett Johansson and jack-of-all-trades Seth MacFarlane will be joining previously announced headliner Matthew McConaughey in the voice cast for Sing, an animated musical comedy coming next year from Illumination Entertainment.

    Directed by Garth Jennings (The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy), Sing centers on a dapper koala named Buster Moon (McConaughey), the manager of a theater that has fallen from its former glory. Buster gets the inspired idea to stage a singing competition in hopes of saving the theater.

    The contest’s five top contenders turn out to be a crooning mouse (MacFarlane), a teen elephant with stage fright (singer-songwriter Tori Kelly), an overwhelmed sow with too many piglets (Witherspoon), an intimidating gorilla (young British actor Taron Egerton) and a punk-rock loving porcupine (Johansson) who is trying to ditch her arrogant boyfriend. John C. Reilly voices Buster’s best friend, a black sheep named Eddie.

    The voice cast also includes Nick Kroll, Jennifer Saunders, Peter Serafinowicz, Leslie Jones, Jay Pharoah, Nick Offerman and Beck Bennett. Universal will release the film December 21, 2016, and promises there will be more than 85 songs packed in.

    Reese Witherspoon and Scarlett Johansson
    Reese Witherspoon and Scarlett Johansson
  • ‘LEGO: Avengers Reassembled’ Premieres Monday

    ‘LEGO: Avengers Reassembled’ Premieres Monday

    Disney XD will debut a new 22-minute compilation special with the whopping title LEGO Marvel Super Heroes: Avengers Reassembled! on Monday, November 16 at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT, following a brand new Pickle and Peanut episode.

    In Avengers Reassembled!, the Avengers are setting up for a party at Stark Tower when they notice that Iron Man is acting oddly. After some investigation, they discover that the evil Ultron has taken control of Iron Man and his armor as part of a scheme to take over the world. It’s up to Captain America, The Hulk, Thor, Vision, Black Widow, Hawkeye and their friends Spider-Man, Iron Spider and special guest Ant-Man to rescue their teammate from Ultron’s clutches and take him down.

    Produced by ARC Productions, the special was written by Mark Hoffmeier (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Spider-Man animated series). Jill Wilfert and Jason Cosler serve as executive producers. Cort Land is co-executive producer.

    LEGO Marvel Super Heroes: Avengers Reassembled!
    LEGO Marvel Super Heroes: Avengers Reassembled!
  • ‘Feliz Cumpleanos’ Debuts for Mickey Mouse’s Birthday

    ‘Feliz Cumpleanos’ Debuts for Mickey Mouse’s Birthday

    Disney Channel is debuting a new episode of its Emmy-winning Mickey Mouse shorts in honor of Mickey’s birthday, Wednesday November 18 at 8:00 p.m., ET/PT. The short, “¡Feliz Cumpleaños!” is entirely in Spanish, and features Danny Trejo (Machete) as the voice of Piñata Boss who, along with his piñata crew, is determined to ruin Mickey’s birthday party. Mickey, his señorita Minnie and their friends must find a way to stop the piñatas from ruining the celebration.

    “¡Feliz Cumpleaños!” was directed and storyboarded by Mexico City native and multiple Emmy Award-winner Alonso Ramirez Ramos. In addition to winning an individual achievement Emmy Award for storyboarding on Disney’s Gravity Falls, Ramirez Ramos storyboarded the 2014 Emmy Award-winning Mickey Mouse short “O Sole Minnie.”

    Emmy Award-winning artist and director Paul Rudish (Star Wars: Clone Wars) is executive producer and supervising director of Mickey Mouse, which is a production of Disney Television Animation.

    ¡Feliz Cumpleaños!
    ¡Feliz Cumpleaños!
  • Waterman Ent. Acquires Film Roman

    Waterman Ent. Acquires Film Roman

    Animation and live-action production company Waterman Entertainment — founded by Stuart Little and Alvin & The Chipmunks executive producer Steve Waterman — has acquired the Burbank-based Film Roman studio.

    Under the new structure, Film Roman’s Dana Booton has been promoted from General Manager to President of Production, and she will continue to oversee day-to-day business in addition to new co-production and development management duties. Studio founder Phil Roman is returning as Chairman Emeritus, serving in an advisory capacity and working closely with Booton, Waterman and the development team on the company’s creative vision and subsequent projects.

    “Film Roman is one of the defining names in animated content,” said Waterman.  “Their track record is unparalleled and their team’s passion for executing top-shelf animation is evident in every frame they’ve created.  Once it became clear how thoroughly our companies’ assets complemented each other, this deal was almost a foregone conclusion.”

    The acquisition positions Film Roman to expand their business model to acquire, develop and produce original properties for TV, film and digital media, while taking on Waterman’s development slate which includes classic titles like Brave Little Toaster, Heathcliff and Mr. Ed. FIlm Roman will continue to operate its core business as a service animation studio for major properties like Fox’s The Simpsons and Marvel’s Ultimate Spider-Man.

    Waterman Ent. Acquires Film Roman
    Waterman Ent. Acquires Film Roman
  • Guadalajara Opens First Moomin Shop in Americas

    Guadalajara Opens First Moomin Shop in Americas

    The first ever Moomin Shop on the American continent has opened in Guadalajara, Mexico. The location at the Mall Galerias Guadalajara was selected by Moomin’s rights holders because of its status as an important cultural center in the region, as the city annually hosts the International Book Fair which attracts over 760,000 visitors.

    Gabriela Ramcke Lancaster, General Director of El Sombrero del Mago, the company with the license of the Moomin Shop in Mexico, explains: “I believe that Mexico needs characters such as the Moomins, which fill the minds and hearts of children and adults with positive messages such as friendship and care for nature. Bringing the Moomins to Mexico is a dream come true”.

    Based on the characters which first appeared in Finnish author Tove Jansson’s 1945 book The Moomins and the Great Flood, a wide range of merchandise including books, bags, t-shirts, enamel cups and plates, plush toys, keychains, postcards, cards and toys designed in Scandinavia are now arriving in Mexico for sale. Future production of Moomin products in Mexico is under consideration.

    Moomin Shop
    Moomin Shop
  • William Shatner to Receive Voice Arts Icon Award

    William Shatner to Receive Voice Arts Icon Award

    The Society of Voice Arts and Sciences will present the second annual Voice Arts Awards this Sunday, November 15 at L.A.’s Pacific Design Center. The international competition aims to showcase the best work in professional voiceover acting, creative direction and communications for advertising, audiobook narration, movie trailers, videogames, animation, television, radio and casting.

    This year, the legendary William Shatner will be on hand to receive a special honor from the Voice Arts jury: the Icon Award for lifetime achievement. Also receiving special acknowledgement are Pixar Animation casting masters Kevin Reher and Natalie Lyon, who will receive the Backstage Vanguard Award for Outstanding Casting, presented in partnership with Backstage Magazine, on Saturday night during the That’s Voiceover! Conference.

    Nominees for the 2015 Outstanding TV Animation – Best Voiceover category are:

    Debbe Hirata – “Chumash Casino Resort Animation”

    Steph Lynn Robinson – Julius Jr.

    Sunday Muse – Total Drama Island

    Jessica McDonald – The Amazing World of Gumball

    William Shatner
    William Shatner
  • Discovery Kids Picks Up ‘Wissper’ for LatAm

    Discovery Kids Picks Up ‘Wissper’ for LatAm

    German brand management company m4e has inked a deal with Discovery Networks Latin America/US Hispanic that will bring the new CG-animated preschool series Wissper to television audiences in Latin America. The deal grants the broadcaster exclusive Pay-TV and basic subscription TV rights for the territories, where Wissper will launch on the 24-hour Discovery Kids channel in 2016.

    Wissper is a 52-episode series (26 due by the end of 2015, the rest by next spring( which follows the adventures of the titular young girl who has a special knack for communicating with animals, allowing her to understand and help solve their problems. The series is created by London’s Absolutely Cuckoo (Waybuloo) in co-production with m4e AG, Telegael (Ireland), Discreet Art Productions (India) and BASTEI Media GmbH (Germany). Worldwide distribution is handled by m4e.

    Wissper
    Wissper
    Wissper
    Wissper
  • ‘The Day Henry Met..?’ & ‘Hippothesis’ Coming to Curious World

    ‘The Day Henry Met..?’ & ‘Hippothesis’ Coming to Curious World

    Monster Entertainment announces that Pulcinella Award-winning animated series The Day Henry Met..? from Irish studio Wiggleywoo will launch in the U.S. through interactive content service Curious World. The agreement marks Monster’s first deal with the service’s owner, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Curious World has also picked up Yowza Animation’s Hippothesis.

    Curious World is an iOS compatible app offering curated collections of games, videos and ebooks for children aged three to seven. The subscription-based service featuring “engaging playful learning content selected by early childhood experts and aligned with eight key learning areas.”

    The Day Henry Met (26 x 5) launched at MIP Junior this year and is currently the top-rated preschool series in Australia, where it airs on Nick Junior. The show follows charming, inquisitive Henry as in each episode he meets something new, be it a whale, a knight or the moon. International broadcasters include RTE Junior (Ireland), Nick Junior (UK), SVT (Sweden), YLE (Finland), TVO and Knowledge Network (Canada), Nickelodeon and ABC (Australia) and Eesti (Estonia).

    Wiggleywoo will kick off production on a second season in January, 2016.

    The Day Henry Met...?
    The Day Henry Met…?
  • Turner: Boomerang in Korea, Toonami Asia Nabs ‘Dragon Ball Super’

    Turner: Boomerang in Korea, Toonami Asia Nabs ‘Dragon Ball Super’

    Turner Broadcasting is keeping busy in the ever expanding Asian market. The company announced that its second flagship kids’ brand Boomerang will arrive in Korea on November 14, becoming available to 15 million households on major cable and IPTV platforms. Boomerang is already widely available in Southeast Asia and Australia, and this expansion into North Asia marks a significant milestone for the brand.

    Available in Korean, Boomerang will cater to kids 4-9 with exclusive content including new episodes of Warner Bros. favorites like The Tom and Jerry Show, Looney Tunes and Scooby-Doo. Audiences can look forward to upcoming shows Wabbit and Bunnicula as well, plus substantial amounts of Korean content, and Turner intends to seek out animation co-production opportunities like the recently announced Beat Monsters with Synergy Media and Studio Goindol.

    International offerings for Boomerang Asia Pacific include The Garfield Show, Pink Panther and Pals, Strawberry Shortcake, Mr. Bean: The Animated Series, Inspector Gadget, Turbo: FAST, Dragons: Defenders of Berk and Riders of Berk. Broadcast content will be complemented by a Korean-language microsite, and plans are in place to localize the Boomerang Watch and Play app.

    Turner also announces that its action and anime channel Toonami has snapped up the latest installment of Toei Animation’s smash hit Dragon Ball franchise, Dragon Ball Super, which it will premiere in South and Southeast Asia in mid-2016. Dragon Ball Super (52 x 30) marks the first all-new Dragon Ball series to be produced in almost two decades.

    According to the Toonami announcement: “Reuniting the franchise’s iconic characters, Dragon Ball Super follows the aftermath of Goku’s fierce battle with Majin Buu, as he attempts to maintain earth’s fragile peace. Overseen by Dragon Ball’s original creator, Akira Toriyama and produced with Fuji Television, Dragon Ball Super will draw on its historic past to create a bold, new universe welcoming to fans and endearing to new viewers”.

    Dragon Ball Super
    Dragon Ball Super
    Boomerang
    Boomerang
  • ‘Boy and the World’ Gets US Trailer

    ‘Boy and the World’ Gets US Trailer

    GKIDS has released a fresh trailer for the internationally acclaimed animation feature Boy and the World from Brazilian director Ale Abreu. The multi-award winning film, which was honored with the Annecy Cristal for best feature this summer, will have an Oscar qualifying run in New York and Los Angeles starting December 11.

    Synopsis:

    Cuca’s cozy rural life is shattered when his father leaves for the city, prompting him to embark on a quest to reunite his family. The young boy’s journey unfolds like a tapestry, the animation taking on greater complexity as his small world expands. Entering civilization, industrial landscapes are inhabited by animal-machines, with barrios of decoupage streets and shop windows, and flashing neon advertisements that illuminate the night. The story depicts a clash between village and city, hand crafted and mechanized, rich and poor – and throughout the tumult, the heart and soul of the people beats on as a song. The film’s music is on equal footing with the stunning visuals, a soundscape of pan-flute, samba, and Brazilian hip-hop mixing with the whirling carnival colors and exploding fireworks.

    Boy and the World
    Boy and the World