Animation Magazine

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  • Trailer: Netflix Sets Key Creatives, July Premiere for ‘Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness’

    Trailer: Netflix Sets Key Creatives, July Premiere for ‘Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness’

    Known as the gold standard of survival horror games with over 100 million units shipped worldwide, Resident Evil is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year with the upcoming original CG anime series, RESIDENT EVIL: Infinite Darkness, launching exclusively on Netflix in July this year, the streamer has revealed.

    Eiichiro Hasumi, the critically-acclaimed director behind some of Japan’s biggest live-action hits including the Umizaru or Mozu action flick series, as well as The Sun Does Not Move, will be directing the upcoming series. He spoke about his excitement about tackling his first anime project in a Q&A posted to the Netflix Newsroom:

    “Being involved in a work with such a long history and so many fans gave me more joy than it did pressure. While this is a full CG anime, I strove to adjust the camerawork and lighting atmosphere to resemble the live-action filming I usually do to instill this work with a sense of realism. I hope that both fans of the Resident Evil series and non-fans alike can enjoy watching the series in one go,” Hasumi shared.

    Yugo Kanno will be responsible for the musical score, breathing life into the epic tale. Kanno is a versatile musician active in a wide range of fields and genres, including documentaries and games, with a particular focus on films, TV dramas and animation.

    “I inherited the spirit of the many people who worked on the previous Resident Evil titles and took on the challenge of creating a new atmosphere through trial-and-error. I was keenly aware that this work would be released on Netflix, so I focused on the scale of a Hollywood film so that overseas viewers could also enjoy this. Since I received the same detailed orders as usual from director Hasumi, I was not particularly conscious of the fact this was an animation during its production,” Kanno explained. He added with a laugh: “In fact, it feels like I am only now realizing that this is an animated series.”

    Eiichiro Hasumi, Yugo Kanno
    Eiichiro Hasumi, Yugo Kanno

    A character trailer focused on Leon S. Kennedy (voiced by Nick Apostolides) and Claire Redfield (Stephanie Panisello) has also been revealed. Leon, who is investigating a hacking incident, and Claire, visiting to petition the government to construct a welfare facility, have a chance reunion at the White House. A strange drawing from a little boy and an unexpected power outage in the White House mark the beginning of the infinite darkness.

    Synopsis: In 2006, there were traces of improper access to secret Presidential files found in the White House’s computer network. American federal agent Leon S. Kennedy is among the group invited to the White House to investigate this incident, but when the lights suddenly go out, Leon and the SWAT team are forced to take down a horde of mysterious zombies. Meanwhile, TerraSave staff member Claire Redfield encounters a mysterious image drawn by a young boy in a country she visited, while providing support to refugees. Haunted by this drawing, which appears to be of a victim of viral infection, Claire starts her own investigation. The next morning, Claire visits the White House to request the construction of a welfare facility. There, she has a chance reunion with Leon and uses the opportunity to show him the boy’s drawing. Leon seems to realize some sort of connection between the zombie outbreak at the White House and the strange drawing, but he tells Claire that there is no relation and leaves. In time, these two zombie outbreaks in distant countries lead to events that shake the nation to its very core.

    RESIDENT EVIL: Infinite Darkness is based on the Resident Evil games franchise created by Capcom Co. Ltd. the new series is produced by TMS Entertainment, with 3D CGI animation production by studio Quebico. Kei Miyamoto is the series CG producer.

    www.netflix.com/residentevil_anime

  • Clip: The Beginnings of a Beautiful Friendship in ‘Arlo the Alligator’

    Clip: The Beginnings of a Beautiful Friendship in ‘Arlo the Alligator’

    The latest addition to Netflix’s growing original animation lineup, Ryan Crego’s tuneful 2D feature Arlo the Alligator Boy, makes its streaming premiere today (Friday, April 16). In case you weren’t already sold on the cinema-quality visuals, pedigree voice cast and heartwarming message about finding one’s family, perhaps this sweet new clip about the budding of Arlo and Bertie’s BFF-ship will do the trick!

    Upon learning that he is from New York City, Arlo, a wide-eyed boy who is half human and half alligator, decides to leave his sheltered life in the swamp and search for his long lost father. The animated musical movie will launch Arlo’s journey as he meets a group of misfits who quickly become his new family. Once Arlo’s adventure lands him in New York City, the upcoming series I Heart Arlo will kick off as he and his newfound crew set up shop in an abandoned seaside neighborhood and help bring it back to life.

    The movie and series feature the voices of Michael J. Woodard (Arlo), Mary Lambert (Bertie), Michael “Flea” Balzary of the Red Hot Chili Peppers (Ruff), Annie Potts (Edmee), Tony Hale (Teeny Tiny Tony), Brett Gelman (Marcellus), Jonathan Van Ness (Furlecia), Haley Tju (Alia), Jennifer Coolidge (Stucky) and Vincent Rodriguez III (Ansel Beauregard).

    Alongside the premiere today, Capitol Records is releasing the original soundtrack Arlo the Alligator Boy: Music from the Netflix Film. The songs are written by Crego and multi-award-winning songwriter/composer Alex Geringas (Fast & Furious Spy Racers, Voltron: Legendary Defender, Home: Adventures with Tip & Oh, All Hail King Julien). Find it on leading music streaming platforms.

    Read all about the making of this quirky musical adventure in Tom McLean’s story for Animation Magazine here!

    www.netflix.com/arlothealligatorboy

  • Pastry Powered Hero ‘Anpanman’ Gets Exclusive Tubi Premiere

    Pastry Powered Hero ‘Anpanman’ Gets Exclusive Tubi Premiere

    Tubi, a division of FOX Entertainment, announced it will exclusively premiere the massively popular Anpanman franchise from TMS Entertainment to English- and Spanish-speaking audiences.

    Starting with 10 movies, the first of which (Apple Boy and Everyone’s Hope) is now available, anime fans in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Mexico will be introduced to the beloved superhero and his world of friends, which holds the Guinness World Record for most characters in an animated franchise. With five dedicated museums, Anpanman is the most popular character among both boys and girls in Japan.

    Anpanman – whose head is an anpan, a popular Japanese pastry – is a champion of justice who flies anywhere to help those in trouble, all the while keeping an eye out for his trusty nemesis, Baikinman (“bacteria man”).

    “Anime fans of all ages can now enjoy the Japanese phenomenon Anpanman in English and Spanish for the first time ever,” said Adam Lewinson, Chief Content Officer, Tubi. “We can’t wait for viewers to meet Anpanman and his lovable enemy Baikinman as they join our iconic roster of characters on Tubi Kids.”

    Anpanman will be voiced by Ghia Burns (Betty en NY, Un Poquito Tuyo, La Doña, Decisiones) in English and Cristina Hernandez (Hello Kitty, Powerpuff Girls Z, Dragon Ball Z, Sailor Moon) in Spanish. Anpanman’s foe Baikinman will be voiced by Jason Michael Kesser (The King’s Avatar: For The Glory, Gintama, A.I.C.O Incarnation) in English and Eduardo Garza (Dragon Ball Z, Naruto, Bleach, Zatch Bell!) in Spanish.

    The Anpanman slate of films coming to Tubi includes:

    • Apple Boy and Everyone’s Hope – Apple Boy longs to be a hero, when a witch turns the fruit in his beautiful village into poison. He must find a magic seed. Anpanman to the rescue!
    • The Adventure of Happie – When Anpanman’s new apprentice Happie is swayed by Baikinman, Happie’s whole village is in danger. Anpanman must set him straight, before all is lost.
    • Star-Spirited Dollie – When Anpanman saves Dollie, she gains life and just wants fun, even if it means bothering others. Meanwhile, Baikinman tries to build the strongest mold robot to defeat Anpanman.
    • Purun, the Soap Bubble – Purun cannot make big bubbles, and skips performing. Anpanman must help her rid the palace of Baikinman and his creepy bubbles.
    • The Secret of Fairy Rin-Rin – When Baikinman tricks the fairy Rin-Rin who protects the flower that gives Anpanman strength, everyone must go on a journey to find more flowers.
    • Blacknose and the Magical Song – An orphan Cana raised in darkness by evil Blacknose tries to destroy the joys of singing, dancing, and yummy food. Can Anpanman make the kid see the light?
    • Revive Banana Island! – Clouds and cold may ruin all the sweet fruit on Banana Island, but queen Banna refuses to ask Anpanman for help, while Baikinman goes to Banana Island in search of the legendary Giant Banana.
    • Nanda and Runda from the Star of Toys – The selfish princess Runda, accompanied by a kind robot Nanda, loses her wand that turns things into toys and needs Anpanman’s help to find it.
    • Shine! Kulun and the Stars of Life – Before the annual Star Festival, the mysterious Kulun pops out of Baikinman’s garbage bin and black stars fall, threatening life on Anpanman’s world.
    • Twinkle! Princess Vanilla of Ice Cream Land – In a land where an ice cream castle rises from snowy mountains, Anpanman must help Princess Vanilla learn an urgent lesson to save her kingdom.

    Anpanman joins the Tubi Kids library of children’s content – nearly 2,000 age-appropriate movies and TV shows or over 8,000 hours of content – including Barney, Scooby-Doo, VeggieTales, Superman, Batman, LEGO Ninjago, Sonic the Hedgehog, Strawberry Shortcake, Paddington Bear, Casper the Friendly Ghost, Garfield, The Wiggles and many more.

    www.tubi.tv

    Anpanman
    Anpanman
  • News Bytes: New ‘Solar Opposites’ Trailer, ‘Hotel Transylvania’ Checks in to Dream Island & More

    News Bytes: New ‘Solar Opposites’ Trailer, ‘Hotel Transylvania’ Checks in to Dream Island & More

    New ‘Solar Opposites’ S2 Trailer Enters The Wall
    Find out what everyone’s favorite struggling society of shrink-rayed humans is up to in the new spot for Solar Opposites Season 2 — streaming now on Hulu. Enter “the Wall” and explore its weirdness with guest stars Sterling K. Brown (as Halk), Christina Hendricks (Cherie Day) and Andy Daly (Tim). Solar Opposites is created and executive produced by Justin Roiland and Mike McMahan, and exec produced by Josh Bycel. The series is produced by 20th Television. Watch the age-restricted trailer on YouTube.

    Moscow’s Dream Island Theme Park Opens ‘Hotel Transylvania’ Attraction
    In anticipation of the Sony Pictures Animation franchise’s final movie chapter Hotel Transylvania: Transformania, Europe’s largest indoor theme park has launched a fangtastic new attraction: Dracula has opened up his lavish resort to the human world and will allow visitors to tour and meet its unusual guests. Visitors will begin their journey by walking across a bridge over a foggy moat to enter the hotel’s lobby. There, they will meet Dracula, who will guide them through more than 10 locations. In addition to the Hotel Transylvania ride, guests will also find a “Tavern of Fear” snack bar, a “Vampire’s Bite” burger cafe and “Transylvania Treasures,” a gift store filled with themed souvenirs and memorabilia.

    Dream Island Hotel Transylvania
    Dream Island Hotel Transylvania

    Welcome Back to The Walt Disney Family Museum
    The San Francisco destination is reopening its Main Museum galleries on Thursday, April 22. Visitors can experience Walt’s life story showcased in state-of-the-art galleries with hundreds of artifacts, original artworks and a miniature model of Disneyland. Also on view is the special exhibition “The Walt Disney Studios and World War II” and the museum’s fifth Community Access Exhibition, “Veteran’s Voices: Painted Realities,” featuring original artworks by U.S. military veterans. Tickets available online.

    CoSA VFX Expands Leadership, Enhances Crowd Services
    The full-service, award-winning visual effects company with studios in Los Angeles, Vancouver, and Atlanta, has promoted Emmy winner Mark Nazal as the company’s Director of Digital Content and Astrid Eve to Global HR Manager. Nazal joined CoSA VFX in 2013 on the graphics team for Person of Interest, moving into department leadership on projects such as Gotham and Lucifer; he was most recently head of the environments team.

    The studio has also responded to the restrictions of COVID safety guidelines by upping its crowd services. CoSA VFX offers the capacity to create crowds of hundreds or thousands, with customized behaviors powered by enhanced technology, as seen in a number of hit shows and movies on the company’s credit list. Check out their reel here.

    Rik Oostenbroek Unleashes Creative Curiosity in Z by HP Mixed-Media Project
    In The Living System, the graphic design expert collaborated with six artists across the globe to produce a piece that celebrates the power of creative breakthroughs, combining 3D animation, diverse artistic perspectives and cutting edge techniques.

    More headlines:

  • 48th Annie Awards Countdown!

    48th Annie Awards Countdown!

    It’s almost time for ASIFA-Hollywood’s annual animation gala, which will be held as a live streamed ceremony this Friday, April 16, starting at 7 p.m. PST.

    Often a predictor of the annual Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, the Annie Awards honor overall excellence as well as individual achievement in a total of 36 categories ranging from best feature, best feature independent, production design, character animation, and effects animation to storyboarding, writing, music, editing and voice acting. Created in 1972 by veteran voice talent June Foray, the Annies have grown in scope and stature for nearly five decades.

    This year’s VIP guests and presenters include actors Josh Gad (Central Park), Matthew Rhys (The Owl House), Philippa Soo (Hamilton, Over the Moon), Eva Whittaker (Wolfwalkers) and Patrick Warburton (Family Guy); Oscar-winning composer Michael Giacchino; award-winning directors Sergio Pablos (Klaus) and Jill Culton (Abominable); Cartoon Saloon producer/director Nora Twomey (The Breadwinner), producer/director Matthew A. Cherry (Hair Love) and the cast of the web series, Critical Role.

    Read more about what to expect from this year’s virtual ceremony here.

    This year’s juried awards will be presented to Willie Ito, Sue Nichols (posthumously) and Bruce Smith, receiving the Winsor McCay Award; Daisuke “Dice” Tsutsumi, June Foray Award; Epic Games Unreal Engine, Ub Iwerks Award; and documentary Howard, Special Achievement Award.

    As for the nominees across dozens of production and craft categories, feature films Soul and Wolfwalkers are tied for the most nominations with 10 each, while series Hilda and shorts Shooom’s Odyssey, Lamp Life and To: Gerard tie in the TV/Media competition with three nominations apiece. See the full list of nominees here.

    Want to learn more about the year’s animated awards season favorites? Catch up with Animation Magazine‘s coverage of…

    Features:

    Shorts & Specials:

    TV:

    VFX Character Animation:

    Tune in to the Annie Awards Friday night (7 p.m. PST) at annieawards.org/watch-it-live

  • Fauna Launches New Property ‘Brody Luckystar’

    Fauna Launches New Property ‘Brody Luckystar’

    Leading Turkish kids’s content company Fauna Entertainment is ready to introduce youngsters to a new story world with Brody Luckystar, the Record Breaker. The new animated series about a young girl and her attempts to break a world record, while getting along in an already accomplished (yet dysfunctional) family is launching with a book-first strategy.

    The show follows Brody, the only member of the Luckystar family without any world records to her name. But that doesn’t stop her from spending endless hours seeking out and trying new things on the hunt for the activity she can translate into record-breaking success. Through it all, she proves to be a boundless ball of energy who always rallies no matter how much the odds are stacked against her.

    The first book, What Is Brody Luckystar’s Record? launched in Turkey through Eksik Parça this month to a warm reception from young readers. Fauna is now working on the second book.

    For the animated series, Fauna is planning to bring Brody Luckystar’s story to life with a 2D-animated, 52 x 11′ show for kids 8-12. The studio has prepared scripts and an animatic trailer alongside the books and is now looking for co-production partners.

  • Portfolio Appoints Chelsea Reichert as Distribution Manager

    Portfolio Entertainment is further expanding its distribution capabilities, adding Chelsea Reichert to its team of expert distribution executives. Reichert takes the newly created role of Distribution Manager, helping guide the company’s distribution department as it continues to grow and thrive.

    Reporting to Donnie MacIntyre, VP of Sales & Business Development, Reichert will be a global ambassador for Portfolio’s distribution business as it continues its expansion into premium scripted comedy and drama content. Reichert will also utilize her extensive production experience and creative know-how to coordinate marketing and publicity initiatives across the company’s critically acclaimed slate of kids, family, factual and scripted content including hit animated series The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! and Hero Elementary as well as Portfolio’s recent launches, scripted comedy series Decoys and adult animated series Doomsday Brothers.

    “At this critical juncture in the growth of Portfolio’s distribution business, we knew we needed to find a candidate with that perfect mix of creative instinct and business acumen,” said MacIntyre. “Luckily for us, we didn’t have to search very far. After working with Chelsea for the past few years and seeing her thrive in Portfolio’s studio operations, we were confident she’s the perfect choice to fill this challenging and exciting new position.”

    Based in Toronto, Reichert joins the growing distribution team with a vast understanding and experience of Portfolio’s slate of content and the company’s ethos. Joining Portfolio in 2018, as Production Coordinator, she worked across a number of successful titles, including Hero Elementary and Doomsday Brothers.

    “Having been part of Portfolio’s production team for a number of years I understand the hard work, research and attention to detail that goes into the diverse stories we tell,” said Reichert. “I am delighted to now bring this knowledge to the distribution side and to help bring our full slate of fun and innovative shows to more audiences globally, and support the sales team as it continues to expand.”

    Addison
    Addison

    The company has also secured a key deal with leading streaming platform Azoomee for its Azoomee Kids TV platform in multiple territories for hit live-action series Do You Know (100 x 15’) and animated preschool series Addison (50 x 11’). The series will be available on the streamer across Spain, Italy, Germany, Brazil, France, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, the Netherlands, Malta, India, Poland, Russia, Eastern Europe, APAC and MENA later in 2021.

    Addison (50 x 11’) is an animated series for kids aged 4-6 chronicling the comical yet brain-teasing adventures of seven-year-old Addison, a female inventor who loves to solve mysteries! Addison and her friends use imagination, reasoning and their boundless enthusiasm to figure out what’s behind the latest neighborhood conundrum.

  • Cartoon Network Debuts ‘Cartoon Cartoons’ Shorts Program

    Cartoon Network Debuts ‘Cartoon Cartoons’ Shorts Program

    Cartoon Network Studios (CNS) unveiled today Cartoon Cartoons, the next evolution of its prolific animated shorts program, signaling the studio’s largest commitment to animated shorts production to date. Cartoon Cartoons will be the studio’s first dedicated shorts program in over a decade, with a mission to innovate the art of animated storytelling, showcase diverse stories, discover new voices and mentor the next generation of animators. The news was announced today by Sam Register, President of Cartoon Network Studios and Warner Bros. Animation (WBA).

    “Cartoon Network Studios has a proud legacy of animated shorts. We are building on that legacy today with a program that will champion new and diverse voices, energize creativity and provide resources for artists to share their stories with the world,” said Register. “I am so grateful to the producers serving on our Creative Council and our partner organizations for their commitment to make Cartoon Cartoons a successful and creatively rewarding endeavor.”

    The initial CNS shorts program began in 1995 as World Premiere Toons and thrived as a creative incubator for artists to freely develop and create animated content. Shorts have continued to be an important part of CNS’ production pipeline ever since and in many different forms. Through its existence, the program served as a launch pad for a number of innovative artists and highly successful award-winning series such as Dexter’s Laboratory (Genndy Tartakovsky), The Powerpuff Girls (Craig McCracken), Chowder (C.H. Greenblatt), Regular Show (J.G. Quintel) and Steven Universe (Rebecca Sugar).

    Shorts produced through Cartoon Cartoons will vary in length and subject matter, from character driven and comedic narratives to experimental animation, for a variety of audiences spanning preschoolers to adults. As they explore, develop and refine their ideas, artists will receive focused studio support from a dedicated production team and veteran producer mentorship. Finished shorts have the potential to be globally distributed by WarnerMedia across a variety of platforms including linear broadcast through Cartoon Network, streaming through HBO Max, online and much more. The program will be open to artists and producers of all experience levels from both inside and outside Cartoon Network Studios.

    As an artist-driven initiative, Cartoon Cartoons will be led by the program’s Creative Council – an all-star rotating group of experienced, diverse and innovative producers. This group will provide peer to peer mentorship and creative guidance for the participating artists and their projects in the program.

    • Pete Browngardt – An Emmy-nominated producer, Pete currently serves as executive producer and showrunner on the HBO Max series Looney Tunes Cartoons. Prior to that, Browngardt was the creator and executive producer of the Emmy Award-winning series Uncle Grandpa as well as creator of the Annecy and Emmy Award-winning series Secret Mountain Fort Awesome. Both series were developed as part of the previous CNS shorts program, The Cartoonstitute.
    • Manny Hernandez – Director, writer and storyboard artist best known for his work on Cartoon Network’s BAFTA award-winning series We Bare Bears, Hernandez is currently the executive producer of the upcoming spinoff, We Baby Bears. In 2018, he was nominated for an Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement in Storyboarding in a Television Broadcast Production, and was recently named one of Animation Magazine‘s Rising Stars of 2021. Beginning as a caricature artist, Hernandez attended the California Institute of the Arts and later landed a job as a feature storyboard artist at Pixar Animation Studios. He has been credited on several feature films including the Academy Award-winning Inside Out, Monsters University and Coco.
    • Katie Rice – An accomplished artist who has worked professionally in animation since the age of 19, Katie rose through the ranks inside the character design and storyboard departments of multiple series such as The Mighty B!, Pinky Malinky, El Tigre and the Golden Globe-nominated film The Book of Life. She also created the webcomic Camp Weedonwantcha, which was later developed into an animated short for Nickelodeon. Rice currently serves as a series director on Animaniacs, the highly successful reboot of the iconic family series currently airing on Hulu and is also a co-director on a yet to be announced project for Warner Bros. Animation.
    • Aminder Dhaliwal – An animator and cartoonist, Aminder has directed, storyboarded and written on multiple series for Sony Pictures Animation, Disney TV Animation, Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon. She was named one of Variety’s 10 Animators to Watch in 2020 and her first graphic novel, Woman World, was nominated for an Ignatz Award for Outstanding Online Comic. Her second graphic novel, Cyclopedia Exotica, releases in May 2021.

    Equally important to Cartoon Cartoons’ identity as an artist-driven initiative is its mission of cultivating diversity and inclusion in the animation industry. The program aims to elevate and promote diverse voices from within the studio as well as attract diverse artists from outside the studio. To aid in those efforts the studio will partner with industry organizations who have had a proven track record of advancing the cause of diversity, equity and inclusion. Founding partner organizations include:

    • Black Women Animate Studios (BWA Studios) – Founded by visionary creative Taylor K. Shaw in collaboration with Founding & Managing Partner JLove Calderón — Black Women Animate is a mission-driven animation studio that creates original content and offers production services to the industry’s top studios and production companies. The studio produces programming for broadcast, cable, streaming networks, digital platforms, and live events. BWA Studios is powered by Black female talent across the animation pipeline and is committed to supporting pre-professional and professional Black women, women of color and nonbinary creatives of color in honing their craft, building their industry acumen and providing the resources and access needed to get paid work and in turn, elevate storytelling and inclusion in the industry. www.bwastudios.com

    “We are overjoyed to expand our relationship with Cartoon Network Studios to include content creation,” said Shaw, Founder & CEO of BWA. “Together our joint commitment to train, develop and inspire the next generation of animation talent has left a meaningful global impact that we are very proud of. Now, in championing equity and inclusion in the shorts program, we look forward to creating stories and building worlds that are inherently innovative, dynamic and inclusive.”

    • Exceptional Minds – A California non-profit of the year, Exceptional Minds is an academy and studio preparing young adults on the autism spectrum for careers in animation, visual effects, 3D gaming, and other related fields in the entertainment industry. Exceptional Minds provides critical technical and work readiness training customized to help its students achieve their full artistic and professional potential, creating a new pipeline of talented artists and fostering inclusive hiring practices. Exceptional Minds and its partners are building a future where neurodiverse perspectives are vital to the advancement of a more empowered and inclusive society. Follow Exceptional Minds on Facebook (@exceptionalminds1) and Twitter (@EXMinds). exceptional-minds.org

    “Exceptional Minds is all about cultivating diverse and innovative artists who can’t wait to dive into this program with Cartoon Network Studios,” said David Siegel, Executive Director of Exceptional Minds. “This partnership builds on years of collaboration and mentorship between our organizations that will bring new stories and fresh voices to the world.”

  • Trio of ‘Demon Slayer’ Specials Hit Funimation Ahead of Movie Debut

    Trio of ‘Demon Slayer’ Specials Hit Funimation Ahead of Movie Debut

    Ahead of the U.S. theatrical debut of smash-hit Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train on April 23, Funimation marked Anime Day with the launch of three TV specials from the series. Previously available only via Japanese broadcast, these episodes are now available subtitled and dubbed in English through Funimation’s partnership with Aniplex of America.

    Launching today at 1 p.m. PT / 4 p.m. ET, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Sibling’s Bond, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Mt. Natagumo Arc and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba The Hashira Meeting Arc (Special Cut) recap the first 26 episodes of the series — and include some new footage — making them the perfect catch-up watch before diving into Mugen Train for fans of the show, or introduction to the Tanjiro’s story for new viewers.

    The specials can be found on the Funimation platform in the U.S., Canada, U.K. and Ireland and on Animelab in Australia and New Zealand. Upcoming Spanish and Portuguese subtitled versions will also be available in Mexico and Brazil on Funimation.

    The Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba anime series, streaming on Funimation both subtitled and dubbed, premiered in 2019 and is based on Koyoharu Gotoge’s manga (Jump Comics/Shueisha), which boasts over 150 million copies in circulation in Japan. The action-packed, thrilling tale follows a young man living at the turn of the 20th century in Japan as he searches for a cure for his sister, who has been turned into a demon after their family is viciously slaughtered by demons. The series and the new movie are produced by studio ufotable.

    www.funimation.com

  • Edwin Aguilar Dies After Stroke, ‘Simpsons’ Animator Was 46

    Edwin Aguilar Dies After Stroke, ‘Simpsons’ Animator Was 46

    Longtime The Simpsons animator and assistant director Edwin Aguilar has died following his hospitalization due to a massive stroke. The talented cartoonist, martial arts practitioner and father of three “passed peacefully” on Saturday, April 10, according to an update to the GoFundMe campaign set up to help cover his medical costs. He was 46 years old.

    Born in El Salvador, Aguilar immigrated to the U.S. in 1982 with one of his brothers to reunite with family in Los Angeles. He studied illustration at Pasadena’s ArtCenter, and began his career as an assistant animator at Graz Entertainment. He went on to work at Hanna-Barbera, and under Looney Tunes icon Chuck Jones at Warner Bros.

    Aguilar first joined The Simpsons crew in 1999 as a character layout artist, and over the next two decades would also contribute to the fan favorite FOX series as an animator, storyboard artist / revisionist, character designer, animatic layout artist and assistant director. He worked on the 2007 The Simpsons Movie as a character layout artist.

    Outside Springfield, Aguilar’s credits include The WB/Adult Swim series The Oblongs (character layout artist), Comedy Central’s Brickleberry (storyboard artist), the animation used in Kelly Fremon Craig’s Golden Globe nominated dramedy The Edge of Seventeen (animator/layout artist) and Greg Reitman’s documentary Rooted in Peace (animation director).

    Outpourings of remembrance flooded Twitter following the tragic news, from the animation industry, colleagues, friends and the L.A. Salvadoran community. The Simpsons producer Matt Selman wrote: “We @TheSimpsons family are mourning the loss of animator Edwin Aguilar — a talented artist and beloved fountain of love and inspiration to all.”

    Aguilar is survived by his wife, Marike, and his children, Jonathon, Maya and Bodhi. At the time of this writing, the GoFundMe effort begun four days ago has raised nearly $37,000 of its $75,000 goal.

    [H/T The Hollywood Reporter]

    Painting of Edwin Aguilar by his wife, Marike.
    Painting of Edwin Aguilar by his wife, Marike.
  • Noggin Launches ‘Big Heart World’ Social-Emotional Initiative

    Noggin Launches ‘Big Heart World’ Social-Emotional Initiative

    Noggin, Nickelodeon’s interactive learning service for preschoolers, has launched its brand-new initiative “Big Heart World,” a multiplatform campaign rolling out throughout the year which aims to promote children’s healthy social and emotional development. Available now, Noggin’s “Big Heart World” includes an array of content and resources featuring Nickelodeon’s fan-favorite preschool characters, as well as all-new animated characters, designed to help kids build confidence, develop an appreciation for others, navigate relationships and contribute to a kinder world.

    “Social and emotional learning helps children understand themselves, relate to others and stand up for what’s right,” said Kristen Kane, Executive Vice President, Noggin. “It has always been a meaningful part of early childhood development, but after a year of isolation and stress, it’s an especially pressing priority for families. The ‘Big Heart World’ initiative presents new, engaging learning experiences from Noggin and a helpful multimedia destination for every family.”

    Big Heart World
    Big Heart World

    Noggin’s “Big Heart World” initiative focuses on three key learning areas: awareness of self — identity, belonging, feelings and self-regulation; awareness of others — empathy and appreciation of diversity; and relationships with others — interpersonal strategies. As part of the campaign, Noggin will highlight a different focus each month with new content that includes:

    • Original songs and music videos from the brand-new Big Heart Beats album, a collection of 10 catchy and empowering songs to help educate preschoolers through music. The first song and music video, “Like Nobody Else,” focuses on identity and is available now. Following their debut on Noggin, the music videos will air on the Nick Jr. channel and be available on the Nick Jr. YouTube channel.
    • New short-form videos and interactive games.
    • Parent, caregiver and educator resources.
    • Family activity guides.

    Timed to the launch of each month’s theme, songs from Big Heart Beats will be available on multiple digital platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Tidal, Amazon Music, Pandora and more.

    “Big Heart World” content is also available at BigHeartWorld.org, developed by nonprofit organization Sparkler Learning, with the generous support of the Walton Family Foundation. Noggin has partnered with Sparkler Learning to provide additional educational materials to early learning organizations, educators, parents and caregivers.

    In Noggin, learning is led by the Nickelodeon preschool characters kids know and love, and developed by education and child development experts. The interactive service offers an ever-expanding library of books, learning games, activities, exclusive shorts and 1,000+ ad-free episodes of preschool favorites like PAW Patrol, Peppa Pig and Blue’s Clues & You!

    Visit Big Heart World on Noggin!

  • MIPTV: VIS, Magnus Studios Unveil ‘Gloria Wants to Know It All’ Trailer

    MIPTV: VIS, Magnus Studios Unveil ‘Gloria Wants to Know It All’ Trailer

    VIS, a division of ViacomCBS, and March Anthony’s Magnus Studios announced a new live-action co-production, Liked, and revealed the trailer for the highly anticipated animated series Gloria Wants to Know It All during Digital MIPTV.

    Renowned singer, songwriter, TV and music producer Marc Anthony joined JC Acosta, President of ViacomCBS International Studios & Networks Americas, during the keynote conversation, “Behind the Curtain — A Conversation with Marc Anthony,” which went live today. The projects are being developed through a partnership between VIS and Magnus Studios.

    “Our continued partnership with Magnus Studios and a talented artist like Marc is a testament to our studio’s commitment to telling compelling, unique stories that resonate with audiences around the world. We couldn’t be more excited to announce Liked, and give fans a sneak peek of Gloria Wants to Know It All,” said Acosta.

    Anthony added, “We are very excited and it is an honor to have the opportunity to work with ViacomCBS International Studios on these projects that means so much to us and to share with the world stories that bring to light our culture.”

    Gloria Wants to Know It All is an animated series developed and produced by VIS, Magnus Studios, Juan José Campanella’s Mundoloco Animation Studios, and Laguno Media Inc. The show follows an eight-year-old alpaca from the big city, whose adventure begins when she goes to spend time at her grandfather’s house in Pueblo Lanugo. This small town embodies the richness of the Latin American culture where there is very much to learn. Gloria learns about her culture and the different things that make her who she is.

    Created by Carla Curiel, Roberto Castro, Felipe Pimiento and Gaston Gorali and written by Doreen Spicer, Maria Escobedo and Diego Labat, the series will feature the music of Marc Anthony, who will work as both executive producer and executive music producer of the series.

    Newly announced Liked is a comedy about a millennial obsessed with getting likes to become a social media sensation. She even goes as far as publishing lies about herself to gain fame with her fans, without knowing that her reputation will turn upside down when she tries to come clean to her followers. The series is written and directed by the award-winning director Gabriela Tagliavini (Cómo romper con tu idiota y Ladies Night, The Woman Every Man Wants, Border Run, Sin Hombres).

    Learn more about VIS at www.viacominternationalstudios.com.

    Digital MIPTV runs April 12-16; learn more and register at www.miptv.com.

  • Irish Animation Awards Nominees Announced as Gala Goes Virtual

    Irish Animation Awards Nominees Announced as Gala Goes Virtual

    The nominees for the 2021 Irish Animation Awards have been announced by Animation Ireland, the trade association for Irish animation studios. The biennial awards ceremony will take place virtually for the first time on Friday, May 21, and will once again highlight the brilliance and talent of the Irish animation sector. The 2021 Awards feature four new categories, including Best Storyboarding, Best Editing, Best Student Film and Best New Irish IP.

    Among the nominations in the 20 categories this year is Cartoon Saloon’s Oscar-nominated film Wolfwalkers, which was nominated in all seven available categories. Giant Animation’s Zog and the Flying Doctors, which aired on BBC One on Christmas Day, racked up four nominations. For their preschool series, Chico Bon Bon: Monkey with a Tool Belt, Brown Bag Films picked up three nominations, while Vampirina, Dorg Van Dango, Ballybraddan, Bug Diaries and Pablo also picked up multiple nods.

    According to Animation Ireland’s Chief Executive, Ronan McCabe, the awards this year highlight the continued growth and creativity in the sector: ‘’It has been an unprecedented year for Irish animation, but the quality of the work produced here in Ireland has once again been world class. It’s really heartening to see that the sector has continued to produce outstanding work and that the future remains bright for Irish animation. As with every other year, the 2021 Irish Animation Awards is a time to celebrate the strength and vibrancy of the sector.’’

    McCabe added, “We have four new award categories this year, and one which I am really looking forward to is Best Student Film. Animation Ireland has been working hard over the past five years to develop education opportunities in animation and to encourage more students to get involved in a great career choice. Given the current situation, this year’s event will be virtual, but we’re still going to be putting on a great show. It will be a half-day event, with two industry panels, in partnership with Animation Skillnet, Screen Skills Ireland and Women in Animation, followed by the awards ceremony in the evening.’’

    The Irish Animation Awards are sponsored this year by Screen Ireland, RTÉ, Northern Ireland Screen, BAI, Enterprise Ireland, Gorilla Post, Toon Boom Animation, Philip Lee, Brophy Gillespie and Laztech. Winners of each category will receive a statuette designed by animator, film maker and teacher Eimhin McNamara. The statuette resembles a Phenakistoscope which was an early animation device used to create an illusion of motion.

    Best Animated Preschool Series
    Claude “Twinkle Toes Terry” | Sixteen South
    Pins and Nettie – Season 1 | Daily Madness
    Pablo | Paper Owl Films
    Bug Diaries | Lighthouse Studios
    Hungry Bear Tales | Treehouse Republic

    Best Animated Kids Series 6+
    Boy, Girl, Dog, Cat, Mouse, Cheese | Kavaleer
    Dorg Van Dango | Cartoon Saloon
    Sylvie Bloom “Corona Corona Corona” | Dog Day Media
    Ballybraddan | Treehouse Republic
    Chico Bon Bon: Monkey With a Toolbelt “Gigantic Glue Ball” | Brown Bag Films

    Best Animated Short Film
    Brother Ezekiel | Boulder Media; Leon Elliott
    Her Song | Éabha Bortolozzo, Jack Kirwan
    The Voyage | JAM Media; Jessica Patterson
    The Dead Hands of Dublin | Pink Kong Studios; Leo Crowley
    Greenpeace – There’s a Monster in My Kitchen | Cartoon Saloon; Tomm Moore, Fabian Erlinghauser

    Best International Short Film
    Right Now | Giant Ant
    Santiago | Andrey Koulev
    War Game | Blayne Fitzpatrick
    Broken Candle | Felix Kiner
    Something Borrowed | Micky Wozny

    Best Writer for Preschool Animation
    Pablo | Paper Owl Films
    Jessy and Nessy | JAM Media
    Mya Go “Slimey Zoo” | Piranha Bar
    Vampirina “Vampire Chaperone” | Brown Bag Films
    Doc McStuffins “Bedazzled” | Brown Bag Films

    Best Writer for an Animated Series
    Boy Girl Dog Cat Mouse Cheese “Neighbourhood Watchdog” | Kavaleer
    Dorg Van Dango “Dorg Needs a Shot” | Cartoon Saloon
    Ballybraddan “Affection & Rejection” | Treehouse Republic
    Fantasy Ireland | Igloo Animations
    Dorg Van Dango “Dorg Has a Pimple” | Cartoon Saloon

    Best Animation for Apps, Games and Interactive
    TOT COP | Mooshku
    Empire Of Sin | Romero Games
    Lego, Duplo, World | Touch Press

    Best Art Direction and Design
    Sunburn | Studio Meala
    Chico Bon Bon: Monkey With a Toolbelt “Gigantic Glue Ball” | Brown Bag Films
    Zog & the Flying Doctors | Giant Animation
    GreenPeace – There’s a Monster in My Kitchen | Cartoon Saloon
    Wolfwalkers | Cartoon Saloon

    Best Director of an Animated Series
    Dorg Van Dango | Cartoon Saloon; Fabian Erlinghauser, Matt Ferguson
    My Little Pony: Pony Life | Boulder Media; Adrian Ignat
    Bug Diaries | Lighthouse Studios; Gilly Fogg
    Pins & Nettie – Season 1 | Daily Madness; Lindsey Adams
    Pinkalicious & Peterific | Sixteen South; Jamie Teehan

    Best Animation Sequence
    Wolfwalkers | Cartoon Saloon
    Greenpeace – There’s a Monster in My Kitchen | Cartoon Saloon
    Sunburn | Studio Meala
    Zog and the Flying Doctors | Giant Animation
    Dorg Van Dango | Cartoon Saloon

    Best Music
    Dorg Van Dango | Cartoon Saloon
    Pins & Nettie – Season 1 | Daily Madness
    Claude “Twinkle Toes Terry” | Sixteen South
    Wolfwalkers | Cartoon Saloon
    Boy Girl Dog Cat Mouse Cheese | Kavaleer

    Best Sound Design
    Dead Hands of Dublin | Pink Kong Studios
    Wolfwalkers | Cartoon Saloon
    Angela’s Christmas Wish | Brown Bag Films
    Dorg Van Dango | Cartoon Saloon/Gorilla Post
    Danger Mouse “The Last Giraffe Warrior” | Boulder Media/Windmill Lane

    Best Irish Feature or Special
    Wolfwalkers | Cartoon Saloon; Tomm Moore, Ross Stewart
    Angela’s Christmas Gift | Brown Bag Films; Damien O’ Connor
    Zog and the Flying Doctors | Giant Animation; Sean Mullen
    The Christmas Letter | Dream Logic; Kealan O’ Rourke
    Sol | Paper Owl Films; Gráinne Mc Guinness

    Best Storyboarding
    Zog and the Flying Doctors | Giant Animation
    Greenpeace – There’s a Monster in My Kitchen | Cartoon Saloon
    Sunburn | Studio Meala
    Transformers: Rescue Bots Academy | Boulder Media
    Wolfwalkers | Cartoon Saloon

    Best Editing
    Wolfwalkers | Cartoon Saloon
    Greenpeace – There’s a Monster in My Kitchen | Cartoon Saloon
    Dorg Van Dango | Cartoon Saloon
    Vampirina “Bora and the Banshee/A Tale of Two Hollows” Brown Bag Films
    Chico Bon Bon: Monkey with a Toolbelt “Runaway Robot” | Brown Bag Films

    Best Student Film
    Husky | Darragh Scott
    Tuna | Cliona Noonan
    CTRL + ALT + Z | Holly Keating
    Shergar | Cora McKenna
    Tenant | Sarah Benson

    Best Irish IP
    TOT Cops “The Cake Caper” | Mooshku
    Pins and Nettie – Season 1 | Daily Madness
    Claude “Twinkle Toes Terry” | Sixteen South
    Critters TV – Series 1 | Turnip & Duck
    Jessy and Nessy “Where Else Can We Find Echoes?” | JAM Media

    Best Newcomer
    Studio Meala
    Alt Animation
    Little Moon Animation
    Taunt Studio
    Turnip & Duck

    Kids Choice Awards for Best Preschool Series (up to 6 years old) Will be announced in early May.
    Kids Choice Award for Best Animated Kids Series (over 6 years old) Will be announced in early May.

    Animation Ireland is the trade association for Ireland’s animation studios, representing 32 member studios, who employ more than 2,000 people nationwide. The sector has seen meteoric growth in recent years, with the sector now generating almost €200 million for the economy annually, as Irish animation projects are viewed in over 120 countries worldwide.

    www.irishanimationawards.ie | www.animationireland.com

  • GKIDS, Fathom Events Bring Quartet of Anime Hits Back to Theaters

    GKIDS, Fathom Events Bring Quartet of Anime Hits Back to Theaters

    Calling “do-overs” on a year of cinema restrictions, GKIDS has again partnered with Fathom Events to bring a series of fan-favorite animated features from Japan back to U.S. theaters: Children of the Sea, Weathering With You, Lupin III: The First and Promare.

    Each event will be shown in both original Japanese and English dubbed versions, and will include exclusive bonus content. Promare, Weathering With You and Lupin III: The First events will additionally be available in 4DX, the immersive multi-sensory cinematic experience, at select locations across the country.

    “We’ve listened to fans, and are excited to be partnering once again with GKIDS to bring these iconic titles back to theaters,” said Ray Nutt, CEO at Fathom Events.

    “We are so excited for this opportunity for fans both new and returning to see these modern animated masterpieces on the big screen,” said GKIDS’ President, David Jesteadt.

    Kicking off the series is the 2020 animated tour-de-force from Studio 4°C (Tekkonkinkreet, MFKZ, Mind Game), Children of the Sea. Directed by Ayumu Watanabe, with a score by award-winning composer and longtime Studio Ghibli collaborator Joe Hisaishi (Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, My Neighbor Totoro), the film is adapted from the manga of the same name by author Daisuke Igarashi.

    • Synopsis: When Ruka was younger, she saw a ghost in the water at the aquarium where her dad works. Now she feels drawn toward the aquarium and the two mysterious boys she meets there, Umi and Sora. They were raised by dugongs and hear the same strange calls from the sea as she does. Ruka’s dad and the other adults who work at the aquarium are only distantly aware of what the children are experiencing as they get caught up in the mystery of the worldwide disappearance of the oceans’ fish.
    • Sunday, June 13, 3 p.m. (English Dub)
    • Tuesday, June 15, 7 p.m. (Japanese with subtitles)

    Up next in the series is the critically acclaimed Weathering With You, from director Makoto Shinkai and producer Genki Kawamura, creators of the global smash hit Your Name. Featuring music from the hit band RADWIMPS, and backed by an all-star voice cast including Lee Pace (Guardians of the Galaxy, The Hobbit Trilogy), Alison Brie (GLOW, The LEGO Movie franchise) and Riz Ahmed (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Venom), Shinkai has once again brought incredible beauty and a powerful story to the screen.

    • Synopsis: The summer of his high school freshman year, Hodaka runs away from his remote island home to Tokyo, and quickly finds himself pushed to his financial and personal limits. The weather is unusually gloomy and rainy every day, as if to suggest his future. He lives his days in isolation, but finally finds work as a writer for a mysterious occult magazine. Then one day, Hodaka meets Hina on a busy street corner. This bright and strong-willed girl possesses a strange and wonderful ability: the power to stop the rain and clear the sky…
    • Sunday, July 25, 3 p.m. English Dub and 4DX)
    • Tuesday, July 27, 7 p.m. (Japanese with subtitles)

    Following Weathering With You, one of the most influential characters in anime returns to the big screen with Lupin III: The First. The “Lupin the 3rd” franchise, from original creator Monkey Punch, began in 1967 and has spanned a variety of manga, TV, game, theme park ride, and musical adaptations, including The Castle of Cagliostro (1979), the feature film debut from the acclaimed director Hayao Miyazaki. Directed by Takashi Yamazaki, Lupin III: The First marks the storied character’s first adventure in CG.

    • Synopsis: The iconic “gentleman thief” Lupin III returns in an action-packed, continent-spanning adventure, as Lupin III and his colorful underworld companions race to uncover the secrets of the mysterious Bresson Diary, before it falls into the hands of a dark cabal that will stop at nothing to resurrect the Third Reich. The gang undertakes trap-filled tombs, aerial escapades and daring prison escapes with the trademark wit and visual finesse that have made Lupin the 3rd one of the most storied animation franchises in the world, in a thrilling new caper that is sure to delight fans old and new.
    • Sunday, August 29, 3 p.m. (English Dub and 4DX)
    • Tuesday, August 31, 7 p.m. (Japanese with subtitles)

    Closing out the series is the hyperkinetic, candy-colored visual masterpiece, Promare. The first feature film from fan favorite Studio TRIGGER, creators of the series KILL la KILL, Little Witch Academia and B.N.A., the film is directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi (GURREN LAGANN), and features a blistering score from Hiroyuki Sawano (Attack on Titan).

    • Synopsis: Thirty years has passed since the appearance of the Burnish, a race of flame-wielding mutant beings, who destroyed half of the world with fire. When a new group of aggressive mutants calling themselves Mad Burnish appears, the epic battle between Galo Thymos, a new member of the anti-Burnish rescue team Burning Rescue, and Lio Fotia, the leader of Mad Burnish begins.
    • Thursday, September 16, 7 p.m. (English Dub and 4DX)
    • Sunday, September 19, 3 p.m. (Japanese with subtitles)

    Tickets for all events can be purchased online beginning Friday, May 14 by visiting gkids.com/events, or at participating theater box offices. The ticket on-sale date may vary based on local cinema re-openings, so please check back often. (Theaters and participants are subject to change).

  • Apple & Skydance Partner on Debut Animated Short ‘Blush’

    Apple & Skydance Partner on Debut Animated Short ‘Blush’

    Apple Original Films and Skydance Animation have come together to create Blush, a CG-animated spacefaring tale based on a heartfelt personal story. This first short film debuts as part of an expansive, multi-year animated content partnership between the companies to deliver premium films and theatrical-quality TV series to viewers in over 100 countries through Apple TV+.

    Blush follows the journey of a stranded horticulturist-astronaut’s chances for survival after he crash lands on a desolate dwarf planet. When an ethereal visitor arrives, the once-lone traveler discovers the joy in building a new life and realizes the universe has delivered astonishing salvation. The inaugural Apple/Skydance short film is written and directed by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Joe Mateo (Prep & Landing, Big Hero 6), and shares the storyteller’s deeply personal journey of healing, hope and the undeniably human moments of being rescued by love.

    Mateo developed Blush alongside the Skydance Animation team and the film is produced by Heather Schmidt Feng Yanu (Toy Story, Cars trilogy) and executive produced by Oscar winner John Lasseter (Toy Story, Monsters, Inc., Cars). Blush joins highly anticipated Apple/Skydance features Luck and Spellbound, and the animated series The Search for Wondla, with several more feature films and television series to be announced over the term of the pact.

    The new short announcement follows Apple’s recent Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature for Wolfwalkers, the latest film from two-time Academy Award-nominated director Tomm Moore and director Ross Stewart.

    After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV+ became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and Apple Originals have been honored with 345 awards nominations and 93 wins in just over a year — including an Academy Award nomination for Greyhound, Critics Choice Awards, Critics Choice Documentary Awards, Daytime and Primetime Emmy Awards, an NAACP Image Award, Writers Guild of America Awards, a Peabody Award and more.

    Skydance Animation, a division of David Ellison’s Skydance Media, is run by Lasseter (Head of Animation) and Holly Edwards (President of Skydance Animation).

  • News Bytes: Azaria’s Apology, New SPA VP, Charlie Brown Vinyl & More

    News Bytes: Azaria’s Apology, New SPA VP, Charlie Brown Vinyl & More

    Hank Azaria Apologizes for Apu
    In Monday’s episode of the podcast Armchair Expert, hosted by Dax Shephard and Monica Padman, the veteran Simpsons voice actor and Emmy awardee apologized for his portrayal of Apu Nahasapeemapetilon in the long-running FOX toon, which he modeled off Peter Sellers’ brownface turn in The Party (1968). Azaria announced he would no longer be voicing the character in January 2020.   

    “I’ve had a date with destiny with this thing for about 31 years. Part of me feels like I need to go around to every single Indian person in this country and personally apologize, and sometimes I do when it comes up,” Azaria said, taking the opportunity to do so with Padman, who is Indian-American. He added: “We tried to do a funny, thoughtful character — just because there were good intentions doesn’t mean there weren’t real, negative consequences that I am accountable for.”

    Sony Pictures Animation Names Justinian Huang VP Creative
    The new veep joins SPA from Pearl Studio in Shanghai, where as head of development he oversaw co-production on Abominable (with DreamWorks Animation) and Oscar-nominated Netflix original Over the Moon, and built up the studio’s slate with a focus on creative partnerships with Asian and Asian-American talent. Huang was also the executive in charge of Stephen Chow’s Monkey King and was a development exec on Kung Fu Panda 3. He reports to SPA President Kristine Belson. 

    'A Boy Named Charlie Brown' by Vince Guaraldi Trio
    ‘A Boy Named Charlie Brown’ by Vince Guaraldi Trio

    Vince Guaraldi Trio’s ‘A Boy Named Charlie Brown’ Set for Vinyl Release
    Craft Recordings announces a vinyl reissue of the Peanuts classic, featuring nine evocative cues from the Trio and newly remastered from the original analog tapes by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio. In stores July 16 and available for pre-order today, the LP also includes a special bonus: eight collectible baseball cards that showcase Snoopy, Woodstock, Peppermint Patty, Linus and Lucy Van Pelt, Franklin Armstrong, Schroeder and, of course, manager and pitcher, Charlie Brown. On the back of the cards are key stats for each player, including their field position and favorite sandwich.

    A Boy Named Charlie Brown will be offered in three colorful variants, including a green-grass pressing at Target, a sky-blue version for Vinyl Me Please, plus a special baseball mitt-brown edition at the Craft Recordings Store, limited to 350 units. Additionally, one of the most memorable tracks off the album, the up-tempo “Baseball Theme,” will be available for the very first time as a standalone, 7″ single — exclusively for Record Store Day 2021. Offering the original, 1964 soundtrack version of the song, plus an alternative studio take, the limited-edition release is pressed on white vinyl and housed in a colorful jacket, featuring whimsical, baseball-themed images of Charlie Brown and Snoopy. Find a participating retailer on RecordStoreDay.com.

    TXT to Host a Live Premiere for Their Animation Film ‘The Doom’s Night’
    K-pop group Tomorrow X Together announced via Twitter that the film — named after the first section of their music video for “Eternally” — will debut April 18 at 3:30 p.m. KST (2:30 a.m. EST) with a limited attendance in-person launch and an online premiere on the band’s YouTube channel. 

    Opinion: Disney’s Growing Monopoly Breeds Uniformity in Animation
    Joice He laments the multibillion-dollar company’s recent shuttering of Ice Age studio Blue Sky, the homogenization of mainstream CGI animated features and the Mouse’s LGBTQ+ representation record in this view of the scene for UCLA’s Daily Bruin. 

    More headlines to check out…

  • Spin Master Puts New Spins on ‘Bakugan’ & ‘Mighty Express’ as 3rd Seasons Launch on Netflix

    Spin Master Puts New Spins on ‘Bakugan’ & ‘Mighty Express’ as 3rd Seasons Launch on Netflix

    Leading global children’s entertainment co. Spin Master is unleashing third seasons of two of its hit properties on Netflix this week. The launches of more Mighty Express and Bakugan are accompanied by further distribution partnerships, licensing deals and multiplatform expansions.

    The first half of Bakugan: Geogan Rising – S3 of the popular anime series and global franchise (www.bakugan.com) — debuts on Netflix Thursday, April 15. The new episodes introduce the “Geogan,” an ancient species that come in new, non-spherical shapes and explode into super powerful monsters. Inspired by the on screen action, fans can answer the call to brawl with Spin Master’s integrated toy line, collecting and battling mysterious Geogan characters.

    Spin Master continues to expand Bakugan’s audience base by leveraging the power of the platforms where kids are spending time. Complementing the now three seasons available on Netflix, select full episodes are available on the Bakugan YouTube Channel.

    In addition to Spin Master’s toy line, the company continues to roll out it’s Bakugan licensing program that leverages the key attributes of the brand – battling, gaming and collectability – with a style guide based on anime-styled art. Partners include Isaac Morris Ltd. (children’s apparel), Ripple Junction (unisex adult and junior apparel), Funko (stylized vinyls and accessories), Franco Manufacturing Corp. (home goods) and Exclusive Candy and Novelty Distribution (confectionary), Scholastic (publishing) as well as international licenses Hachette (publishing, France) and Bensons Trading (Showbags, Australia and New Zealand) to name a few.

    “With a strong foundation across entertainment, toy and digital, Bakugan is delivering action packed adventure to fans on multiple platforms and at multiple touchpoints,” says Jennifer Dodge, President of Spin Master Entertainment. “The core elements of transformation, battling and pop-open action come to life through the incredible Japanese-anime and innovative toy line bringing non-stop battling excitement to fans.”

    Mighty Express
    Mighty Express

    Mighty Express is also laying fresh tracks as S3 of the CG-animated preschool series debuts on Netflix. The show, which takes a contemporary approach to the timeless train genre with action-packed missions featuring trains and their kid pals, has debuted as a top 10 series with kids 2-5 for each Netflix drop since it launched in September 2020 (per Nielsen SVOD data). Mighty Express is Spin Master Entertainment’s first series launching straight to a streaming platform and the franchise is wholly-owned by Spin Master.

    The show is chugging along with a complementary broadcast and streaming partnership with CBC Kids in Canada, following its national TV premiere earlier this month. New episodes will be available weekday mornings for free on the CBC Gem streaming service. Canadian families will be the first to snap up the toy line launching later this year, with other markets to follow.

    The Mighty Express franchise is part of the company’s commitment to a multiplatform content strategy boasting discoverability for both kids and their parents. Its ecosystem includes a YouTube destination that has amassed over 80 million views, translating to more than 3.2 million watch time hours in eight short months.

    Licensing partnerships are further enriching the franchise: Deals have been inked in the U.S. with Penguin Random House (publishing), Bentex Group Inc. (apparel), Franco Manufacturing Co., Inc. (home goods), Baby Boom Consumer Products (toddler bedding), DecoPac Inc (food & beverage), Leese Enterprises International Inc. (confectionary) as well as Canadian licensees, Mad Engine (apparel), Heys International (back-to-school) and Leese Enterprises International Inc. (confectionary).

    “At Spin Master Entertainment, our first priority is to develop compelling stories and engaging characters that resonate with kids,” said Dodge. “Appealing to both preschoolers and their parents through stories that promote teamwork, encourage problem-solving and celebrate accomplishments, Mighty Express is a fun place for children to laugh and learn alongside the characters in the show.”

  • Heritage Toasts $1.8M Success of First All-Disney Auction

    Heritage Toasts $1.8M Success of First All-Disney Auction

    Dallas-based Heritage Auctions saw a world of interest in its first sale devoted solely to the wonderful world of Disney. The three-day auction, featuring The Art of the Disney Theme Park and the Disney Storybook Art Collection, realized nearly $1.8 million – almost twice the pre-sale estimate. It was also a complete sell-out, thanks to the more than 2,800 bidders around the globe who lined up for a thrill-ride auction that coincided with both the reopening of Disneyland and the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World.

    “This was Heritage’s first Disney-centric auction, but certainly not our last,” said Jim Lentz, Director of Animation Art. “Already consignors and clients are asking: ‘When is the next one?’ We have sold Disney storybook art before, but never with the singular focus of this event. And after Heritage’s success with our Knott’s Berry Farm event in 2017, and now the success of the Art of the Disney Theme Park auction, it’s clear there’s a great love and a significant demand for this segment of collecting.”

    Haunted Mansion original stretching portrait gallery painting, by Clem Hall.
    Haunted Mansion original stretching portrait gallery painting, by Clem Hall.

    Cult favorite attraction the Haunted Mansion inspired the top lot of the event: an original painting from the stretching portrait gallery. The canvas features a portrait of three men in quicksand whose precarious position is revealed as the room and its portraits stretch, and brought $108,000 during Day Two of the auction. Created by celebrated Imagineer Marc Davis, this visual gag was painted by well-known Disney scenic artist Clem Hall – renowned for his work on The Wizard of Oz, Rosemary’s Baby and Singin’ in the Rain – and was sold in a remarkable state of preservation.

    A hand-pulled silkscreen Haunted Mansion poster likewise realized a fantastic sum: $19,200. It was one of numerous attraction posters available in the auction, and among myriad to sell for five figures, befitting their condition, rarity and beauty.

    This Dollar Saved My Life at Whitehorse' bronze sculpture of Scrooge McDuck.
    This Dollar Saved My Life at Whitehorse’ bronze sculpture of Scrooge McDuck.

    Two Scrooge McDuck sculptures also realized high prices in the auction, appropriately! The extraordinarily rare and exceptionally large hand-painted “Trail of the Unicorn” limousine sculpture, featuring Carl Barks’ creation, brought $81,000. Not far behind was “This Dollar Saved My Life at Whitehorse” bronze statue featuring, what else, but Scrooge McDuck atop a pile of coins and gems. Last seen and sold in the official 1994 Disneyana Convention Auction held in Disneyland, the statute sold for $60,000, three times its estimate.

    It comes as no surprise that another of the top lots comes from the hand of Mary Blair, said to be Disney’s favorite artist. And her personally owned serigraph proof copy of the 90-foot mural at the Contemporary Resort Hotel at Walt Disney World is exceptional on countless fronts, among them: This is a rare piece of Blair hand-pulled serigraph artwork inspired from this mural, which was her final work for Disney. It sold for $25,200, more than 10 times its pre-auction estimate

    One of the most historic lots in the auction was also one of its biggest hits: the complete archive of plans and blueprints for Walt Disney’s Carolwood Pacific Railroad, built in his backyard well before Disneyland was a glint in Mickey Mouse’s eye. The sprawling collection of documents, some bearing Disney’s signatures and sign-offs and all having never before been available to the public, realized $43,200.

    Another big hit in the auction was this childhood memory: Mel Crawford’s original artwork featured on the cover of 1955’s storybook Davy Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier. This museum-worthy painting of Fess Parker as the folk hero, frontiersman and Texas revolutionary was a Golden Book keepsake that realized a platinum price of $19,200.

    Original storybook illustration for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, by Campbell Grant.
    Original storybook illustration for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, by Campbell Grant.

    The artwork was uniformly exceptional, according to the Heritage experts, which is why every single piece was snapped up by collectors – from Campbell Grant’s original Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs storybook illustrations, which realized $10,200, to a Disneyland Magazine wraparound cover illustration for Jungle Book that sold for $8,400.

    “This collection of the best of the best of Disney storybook art from the hands of some of the greatest artists to ever work at Walt Disney Studios surpassed our wildest dreams,” said Lentz. “And more important, it showcases this art form as one to be reckoned with.”

    Most of the lots offered in the auction sold for well above estimate, and not merely the larger or more iconic lots. That includes a Disneyland Star Tours attraction entrance sign, which sold for $12,000; and a Walt Disney World Contemporary Resort room display map that realized $10,200.

    “In short, everyone was a winner,” Lentz added, “from the consignors who brought these materials to market for the first time to the collectors who seized this rare opportunity to snap up so many historic items from the Magic Kingdom. We can’t wait to do this again.”

    See current and upcoming auctions in Heritage’s Comics, Comic Art & Animation Art department at HA.com.

  • Children’s Voices and Animated Doodles Bring Safe Driving PSAs to Life

    Children’s Voices and Animated Doodles Bring Safe Driving PSAs to Life

    Multidisciplinary design studio Brigade recently produced a new animated PSA campaign for agency RK Venture and the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) to raise awareness of the dangers of distracted driving and drunk driving. Directed by Sean Broughton, the campaign was inspired by a true story in which a six-year old helped police in the German city of Hamm track down a rogue driver by sketching the assailant he witnessed.

    “When I learned of the news report about this boy, I could instantly visualize a PSA around the narrative point-of-view of a child,” says Broughton. “Not only would it drive home our message with honesty and authenticity, but it also felt similar in tone to the campaigns we’ve done for the NMDOT in the past.”

    "JUST DRIVE" - endwi New Mexico
    “JUST DRIVE” – endwi New Mexico

    Narrated by children, each spot tells a different story with animations of childlike crayon drawings that show the graphic consequences of bad driving decisions and how they affect others.

    • “ENDWI” involves a girl’s family who fell victim to a hit-and-run by a drunk driver who will spend a long time in jail as a result of his actions.
    • “JUST DRIVE” recounts a little girl’s story as she witnesses her mother striking a family at a crosswalk. She thought her mom saw them, but she didn’t because she was driving and looking at her phone.
    • “SLODWN / BKLUP” is a cautionary tale for parents who make sure their children fasten their seatbelts, but sometimes don’t lead by example.

    Working closely with RK Venture Principal/Executive Creative Director Richard Kuhn and Broadcast Creative Director Nick Tauro Jr., Broughton commenced on the campaign in the scripting phase, focusing on the three main hazardous driving issues New Mexico is currently facing. They next moved on to articulating the visual language of the campaign with a style bible. The illustrations had to not only convey the emotion of each story — from a child’s POV — but also translate well to animation.

    "SLODWN / BKLUP" - endwi New Mexico
    “SLODWN / BKLUP” – endwi New Mexico

    Brigade, led by Creative Managing Director David Dimeola, first created storyboards for each spot by sitting down with Broughton to interpret the scripts. “Sean is an ideal director with his exceptional ability to describe in great detail how every aspect of a scene should perform and look,” said Dimeola. “It just gets the entire team to the heart of the story by providing our motivation, which is what you need in a fast-paced production line.”

    Brigade’s art director then illustrated the entire cast and supporting artwork, which included iconography such as flowers, trees, clouds, insects, vehicles, people and buildings with a child-like aesthetic. “We arrived at a very specific look for all three films,” explained Broughton. “The illustration elements had to be drawn in a style that remained childlike, yet legible, relatable and animated.”

    Tasked with binding each unique story with a cohesive motion language, Brigade employed a combination of CGI and 2D cel animation, which enabled them to light the scenes in three dimensional space, complete with depth of field, shadows and parallax.

    In order to bring the characters to life with a sense of spirit, Brigade tapped Lead 2D Animator Masa Nakamura for his expertise in traditional animation techniques. Leading the CG team was Leomar Esteves, who developed a flexible workflow to combine 2D cel animation and light for the final look all within Maxon C4D. HalfLife digital handled the edit, foley bed, sound design, VO, music and mastering to finish the spots.

    "ENDWI" animation process (courtesy Brigade)
    “ENDWI” animation process (courtesy Brigade)

    “We had to produce three fully animated films in a little over a month, and Brigade brought an engine of top talent to pull it off,” Broughton pointed out. “We worked with Brigade remotely by leveraging a variety of collaboration tools like Frame IO to review and refine daily animation work to finally achieve the look we envisioned.”

    With COVID-19 restrictions cutting down production, the director and his team knew a live-action production as with past NMDOT PSAs would not be possible, and pivoted to animation. “I knew this campaign would be in the right hands with Brigade,” he added. “Dave and I have been friends, collaborators and business partners going on 10 years, so I knew what he and his team could bring to the party. It was truly a dream job — and I don’t say that lightly. I never thought I’d be able to say that of a project executed during these trying times, but we pulled it off without any hiccups. Here’s to the next one – and please, don’t drink and drive.”

    “This pandemic has certainly tested our ability to collaborate on all aspects of making commercials,” concluded Dimeola. “While it’s essential to equip a studio with proper pipeline tools to organize data and render imagery seamlessly, it’s pivotal to have team chemistry. Brigade has developed relationships that bring artists together in a unique way that keeps the creative process exciting, productive and fair to all who participate.”

    Learn more about the studio at http://brigade.tv.