Three popular PBS KIDS animated series are debuting new themed episodes timed to Autism Acceptance Month, including a half-hour special from Hero Elementary (which is airing brand-new episodes all this week), a special episode of Emmy Award winner Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood featuring a bright young guest star, and a new profile in history from Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum, based on the bestselling books by Brad Meltzer.
Viewers in the U.S. should check local listings for air times in their area. Coming up:
Friday, April 2 (World Autism Day)
Hero Elementary “AJ’s Extra-Superpower” – When a little girl’s toys keep disappearing from her backyard, Sparks’ Crew discovers the culprit is a neighbor’s dog. How will they keep it out? AJ’s Extra-Superpower (his autism) is the key. (Half-hour episode.)
Monday, April 5
Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood “Daniel Meets a New Friend” – Daniel meets a new friend named Max, who is autistic, and learns what he can do when Max needs more time to get comfortable and more space to play in his own way.
“A New Friend at the Clock Factory” – Daniel is at Chime Time with his new friend, Max. When Max is overwhelmed by the bright lights and loud sounds, Daniel and his friends learn what they can do to help make a calmer Chime Time so Max can play, too.
New strategy song, “When a friend needs different things than you, there are some things you can do.”
Max (Teacher Harriet’s nephew) is voiced by Israel Thomas-Bruce, who was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at age four and is now 13 and in eighth grade. Active, smart and ambitious, Israel loves to tell jokes, play basketball and video games, and hand out with friends.
Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum “I Am Temple Grandin” – World-renowned scientist, animal behaviorist and autism advocate Dr. Temple Grandin helps Yadina make friends with a new boy at school, by showing her how great it is that people think and do things differently.
Tuesday, April 6
Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood “Jodi’s Asthma” – Daniel is playing Splat Ball with his friends at the Enchanted Garden, but Jodi’s asthma makes it hard for her to run around. When she stops to rest, Daniel comes up with a new sitting-down game so everyone can still play.
“Daniel and Max Play at the Playground” – Daniel feels left out at the playground when there’s no room for him to play with Katerina and Max at the xylophone. Max’s big sister, Amira, helps them find a way for everyone to play.
Cartoon Network has announced a rebrand and complete overhaul of its Kids & Family programming to a solely feline focus. The announcement was made today by the cats of the newly rebranded Cat-toon Network, who have pounced into leadership and taken over from current President of Warner Bros. Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics, Tom Ascheim.
According to the APPA National Pet Owners Survey by the American Pet Products Association, there are approximately 85 million pet owners in the U.S. and a recent survey shows that cats are a preferred pet, with more than 42 million living in U.S. households. Naturally, watching breeds like the laidback American Shorthair to the prissy Siamese is the purr-fect form of entertainment that parents, kids and families alike are shifting their viewing habits toward.
The new Cat-toon Network launches Thursday, April 1 and kicks-off at 6 a.m. ET/PT with reimagined new episodes of favorite series Cats of the Creek and Meow Cats Go! Programming will also be available on Cat-toon Network’s YouTube channel starting at 7 a.m. PT / 10 a.m. ET.
“Though Cartoon Network is the world’s most popular global animated network, in our opinion, it was figuratively ‘going to the dogs’,” meowed Beast Boy (in cat form), Gumball Watterson and Nicole Watterson, the freshly minted co-presidents of Warner Bros. GYAC. “This rebrand will put the focus on what Americans really want to see – cats in all their splendor – starring in comedy, drama, reality and even hard news programs.”
Meow Cats Go!
New Cat-toon Network series in development:
Comedy/Reality
The Big Bang Tabby – A house of nerds gets flustered when a new redhead, way out of their league, moves in.
De-Claws – Set in the nail salon, hardworking manicurists try to balance personal and professional demands.
Felines – A group of lovable, quirky felines figure out how to navigate their way in the big city together, even though they only want to be left alone.
Keeping Up with the Katdashians – An all-access peek into the glamorous lives, loves and feuds of Hollywood’s most famous kitty brood.
Make Room for Felix – A reboot of the early TV classic starring Danny Thomas with Felix as the harried entertainer dad in a 1950s period piece family sitcom.
Search Paw-ty – A dark satirical comedy ensues as a group of NYC hipster cats search for a missing friend.
Tiger King Jr. – A sequel to this early quarantine-era pop phenomenon, where the kittens get their big star turn, and the big cats take a back seat.
Drama
Better Call Tom – What happens when the macho man from America’s favorite cat and mouse duo goes to the dark side.
Bobcat Legal – A feline focused spinoff of the classic David E. Kelley series starring this classic breed. Features James Spader as “The Spay-der.”
Catsession – A rich Sphynx family vies for which one of them will take over the family business.
Game of Paws – Powerful families fight for who will ultimately rule the kingdom and sit atop the Iron Litterbox.
Love-Cat Country – Southern gothic horror, with a supernatural kitty spin.
Meowland – A CIA tabby globe-trots to keep America safe from extremists.
News
Abyssinian Cooper 360 – News and views from one of catdom’s most high- class breeds.
Cats & Friends – The cable news morning show with all of the top stories of the day that will be the talk of the litter box … for America’s oldest cat demo. And, something for the kids!
Catnip’d – In the tradition of prank shows like Punk’d, what happens when A-list feline stars get secretly spiced with some ‘nip. Hilarity and hallucinations ensue.
Meowalorian – Feline bounty hunters at the edge of the galaxy.
PUSS15 – The heart and hilarity and indignities of awkward adolescence, as seen through the lives of two high school kittens.
Portland-based Laika Studio, best known for Oscar-nominated features such as Coraline, ParaNorman, The Boxtrolls, Kubo and the Two Strings and Missing Link, is expanding into live action. The studio has optioned Seventeen, the upcoming first novel by acclaimed screenwriter John Brownlow (The Miniaturist, Sylvia). Currently in production on its sixth animated feature film, Laika secured the rights after a bidding war and plans to adapt it as a live-action project.
“For the past 15 years, Laika has been committed to making movies that matter,” says the studio’s president and CEO Travis Knight. “Across mediums and genres, our studio has fused art, craft, and technology in service of bold, distinctive, and enduring stories. With Seventeen, LAIKA is taking that philosophy in an exciting new direction.”
“Seventeen is a stiff cocktail of wicked wit, exhilarating action, and raw emotion,” Knight added. “John has such a wonderfully unique voice. He’s crafted a brilliant universe with its own powerful identity. Seventeen is a thriller with soul, a sinuous adrenaline-fueled actioner with a sincere heart beating underneath its rippling pectorals.”
Knight, who directed Kubo and the Two Strings and has also worked as lead animator on most of Laika’s movies, ventured into the world of live-action himself with the 2018 hit Paramount feature Bumblebee. He is also directing the upcoming feature version of the hit TV series The Six Million Dollar Man, starring Mark Wahlberg.
Author and screenwriter John Brownlow is well known for his film and television credits. He is the screenwriter of the feature film Sylvia starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Daniel Craig and wrote and executive produced the three-part BBC limited series The Miniaturist, which starred Anya Taylor-Joy (The Queen’s Gambit). He also wrote the four-episode limited series Fleming, which starred Dominic Cooper as James Bond author Ian Fleming.
Laika was founded in 2005 in Oregon by President & CEO Travis Knight. The studio’s five films, Coraline (2009), ParaNorman (2012), The Boxtrolls (2014), Kubo and the Two Strings (2016) and Missing Link (2019) have all been nominated for the Oscar for Outstanding Animated Feature. Laika has also been awarded a Scientific and Technology Oscar plaque in 2016 for its innovation in 3D printing.
Netflix has released the latest trailer for director Mike Rianda’s eagerly anticipated feature The Mitchells vs the Machines, which is slated to premiere on April 30th. Exec produced by Oscar-winners Chris Miller and Phil Lord and co-directed by Jeff Rowe, the Sony Pictures Animation movie (which was renamed Connected for several months) had to sit on the shelves for a while because of theater closures due to the pandemic. Kurt Albrecht produced the film; Will Allegra, Louis Koo Tin Lok executive produced. The screenplay was penned by Rianda and co-director Jeff Rowe.
The high-energy and visually arresting pic features a fun voice cast that includes Danny McBride, Abbi Jacobson, Maya Rudolph, Olivia Colman, Eric Andre, Doug the Pug and Rianda. Fred Armisen, Chrissy Teigen, John Legend, Charlyne Yi, Conan O’Brien, Sasheer Zamata, Elle Mills, Jay Pharaoh, Alex Hirsch and Griffin McElroy round up the supporting players.
Here’s the official synopsis: “From the humans who brought you the Academy Award-winning Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse and The LEGO Movie comes The Mitchells vs. The Machines, an animated action-comedy about an ordinary family who find themselves in the middle of their biggest family challenge yet…saving the world from the robot apocalypse. No big deal, right? It all starts when creative outsider Katie Mitchell is accepted into the film school of her dreams and is eager to leave home and find “her people,” when her nature-loving dad insists on having the whole family drive her to school and bond during one last totally-not-awkward-or-forced road trip. But just when the trip can’t get any worse, the family suddenly finds itself in the middle of the robot uprising! Everything from smart phones, to roombas, to evil Furbys are employed to capture every human on the planet. Now it’s up to the Mitchells, including upbeat mom Linda, quirky little brother Aaron, their squishy pug, Monchi, and two friendly, but simple-minded robots to save humanity.”
You can read all about the making of this innovative feature in the next issue of Animation Magazine, which arrives on April 5th.
Watch the trailer here:
The Mitchells vs the MachinesThe Mitchells vs the MachinesThe Mitchells vs the Machines
Eat, or be eaten! Kill, or be killed! Get into survival mode with Adult Swim’s #1 prehistoric animated series with the release of Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal: The Complete First Season on Blu-ray (SRP $29.98 USD / $39.99 CAD) and DVD ($24.98 USD / $30.99 CAD) from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on June 1. The critically acclaimed series displays a perfect 100% rating by critics & 99% by audience on Rotten Tomatoes, and recently won three Juried Emmy Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Animation.
Travel back in time and binge on all 10 fascinating episodes from the first season and go behind the scenes with interviews from the incredible talent from this wordless series. As well as DVD and Blu-ray (with Digital copy in the U.S.), Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal: The Complete First also available to own on Digital.
Coming off an award-winning final season of Samurai Jack, Adult Swim reunited with creator Genndy Tartakovsky on Primal — the story of a caveman at the dawn of evolution, and a dinosaur on the brink of extinction. Bonded by tragedy, this unlikely friendship becomes the only hope of survival in a violent, primordial world.
Two problematic episodes of perennial Nicktoon favorite SpongeBob SquarePants have been disappeared: IGN reports that as well as ‘panty raid’ episode “Mid-Life Crustacean” being unavailable from ViacomCBS’s new streamer Paramount+ and digital retailers like Amazon, “Kwarantined Krab” has been pulled from the broadcast schedules due to its viral outbreak plot.
“Kwarantined Krab” was set to air in the 12th season, which is still rolling out, and has been pulled from the lineup due to its unfortunate similarity to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and was not included in the Complete Twelfth Season DVD set (Jan. 2021). In it, the Krusty Krab goes into emergency quarantine when a health inspector discovers a case of “Clam Flu” — but neither the staff nor the patrons know who is carrying the mysterious illness, leading to zombie movie levels of distrust.
In a statement, a representative from Nickelodeon said, “The ‘Kwarantined Crab’ [sic] centers on a virus storyline, so we have decided to not air it due to sensitivities surrounding the global, real-world pandemic.” According to IGN, the episode can still be found in corners of the internet, and a clip in Spanish has been posted to YouTube.
The Nick rep. also pointed out that the season 3 episode “Mid-Life Crustacean” (2003) “has been out of rotation since 2018, following a standards review in which we determined some story elements were not kid-appropriate.” While the network did not explicitly state which elements were in question, the plot revolves around Mr. Krabs’ midlife crisis, and sees SpongeBob and Patrick trying to lift his spirits by bringing him on a “panty raid.” They mistakenly break into the house of Mr. Krabs’ mother, who promptly sends the hard-shelled restaurateur to his old room.
The episode had been available on Amazon Prime Video prior to IGN’s article, but was then removed (along with its accompanying ep. “The Great Snail Race”). “Mid-Life Crustacean” can reportedly be found lurking in an iTunes season collection and on The First 100 Episodes DVD collection.
Transmedia startup Voltaku today announced its first animated series project: Killtopia, a new cyberpunk saga that pits two siblings against yakuza, plagues and mechs in a futuristic megacity. Aimed at otaku (anime/manga/gaming super fans), the graphic novel adaptation is also the launching pad for Voltaku’s hybrid studio, which has already optioned two other sci-fi/fantasy projects for cross-platform development.
“Game engines are giving studios a flexibility we’ve never seen before,” said Charles Borland, Voltaku CEO and co-founder. “When we option a project, it doesn’t have to stop with a movie or a TV series anymore. We can take our 3D production assets and build a game, VR/AR experiences, marketing materials, digital goods, basically anything we want, at Lion King or Avatar-like production levels. And that’s exactly what ‘otaku’ are looking for — more ways to engage with the worlds they love.”
Killtopia is based on the award-winning, indie graphic novel series created by Dave Cook and Craig Paton, published by BHP Comics. Described as “Blade Runner meets Battle Royale for the Fortnite generation,” Killtopia follows a bounty hunter and his robot sidekick through a futuristic megacity as they fight brutal thugs, augmented mercenaries and android assassins in a race to save the bounty hunter’s sister — and the world — from a deadly nano plague.
Killotopia
The animated series will consist of eight 20-minute episodes, completely developed using Unreal Engine and virtual production techniques. The show will be written by TV, film and game veteran Phil Gelatt (Love Death + Robots, Europa Report, Rise of the Tomb Raider), with concept art provided by David Levy & Pitch Dev Studios (Avatar sequels, Tron: Legacy, Prometheus). It will be helmed by Oscar-nominated director Ruairi Robinson (Fifty Percent Grey, The Leviathan, The Last Days on Mars).
To get the project off the ground, Voltaku received an Epic MegaGrant from Epic Games, which will be used to develop their completely Unreal-powered pipeline. Voltaku joins nearly 1,000 talented teams and individuals as part of the $100 million Epic MegaGrants program, which is designed to support game developers, enterprise professionals, media and entertainment creators, students, educators and tool developers working with Unreal Engine or enhancing open-source capabilities.
Voltaku is also currently developing four additional projects for cross-platform releases, including two licensed properties and two original IPs. Details will be released in the near future.
“When Killtopia launches, it’s going to look like nothing that’s been seen on TV before,” said Cook. “Our world is garish and vibrant, where hype, fandom and pop culture rule the day, which is the perfect launching pad for big stories. I’ve always wanted to see something so colorful and abstract depicted in a 3D world. With Voltaku’s help, I think we’re going to blow people away.”
Disney Television Studios has announced a new production unit dedicated to adult-targeted toons, dubbed 20th Television Animation. Longtime 20th/Fox TV executive Marci Proietto is splitting off to head the new division as Executive Vice President, reporting to Craig Hunegs, President of Entertainment, Walt Disney Television.
“This studio is literally the only place I’ve ever worked, and I’ve been fortunate to have a front row seat to the creativity and genius of artists like Matt Groening, Seth MacFarlane, Loren Bouchard and Justin Roiland,” said Proietto. “I love what we get to do and I am grateful to Craig and Dana Walden for this vote of confidence. This is truly a boom time in adult animation and I’m excited to continue to build on the leadership of this studio with this new production unit laser-focused on growing our roster of successful animated series.”
20th Television Animation currently has 11 series in production, and will continue to manage and produce long-running shows such as The Simpsons, Bob’s Burgers, Family Guy (Fox) and American Dad! (TBS), as well as newer productions Central Park (Apple TV+), Solar Opposites (Hulu) and recently ordered new Hulu original Koala Man, created by Michael Cusack and exec produced by Justin Roiland.
Proietto, who joined 20th Century Fox Television as assistant to the head of production straight out of college some 29 years ago, also oversees Fox network series Bless the Harts, Duncanville, The Great North and HBO Max Windsor family sitcom The Prince. The new unit EVP has worked on an estimated 2,440 episodes over 22 animated series in her career with the studio.
“Many of the greatest family sitcoms on television – The Simpsons, Family Guy, Bob’s Burgers, Solar Opposites, Central Park, The Great North, and the list goes on – come from the genius creators 20th Television Animation has assembled and nurtured over the past two decades,” said Hunegs. “Marci has been a part of all of these phenomenal successes. She is an extraordinary executive who is much beloved and respected by our creators and her studio team. And knowing Marci’s relentless passion, we’re just getting started.”
ASIFA-Hollywood announced its first batch of presenters today for the 48th Virtual Annie Awards, which will stream live courtesy of Variety on Friday, April 16 at 7 p.m. PST.
Actors Josh Gad (Central Park, Frozen), Matthew Rhys (Perry Mason, The Owl House), Philippa Soo (Over the Moon, Hamilton) and Eva Whittaker (Wolfwalkers); Oscar-winning composer Michael Giacchino (Up, Coco), last year’s Annie-winning director Sergio Pablos (Klaus), DreamWorks director Jill Culton (Abominable, Open Season), producer/director Nora Twomey (Wolfwalkers, The Breadwinner) and the cast of the web series Critical Role. Additional presenters to be confirmed shortly.
The Annie Awards honor overall excellence as well as individual achievement in a total of 36 categories including Best Animated Feature, Best Animated Special Production, Commercials, Short Subjects and Outstanding Individual Achievements.
This year’s event is sponsored by: Platinum Level – Walt Disney Animation Studios/Pixar, DreamWorks Animation, Netflix, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network/Warner Bros. Animation, and Variety; Gold Level – Disney TV Animation; Silver Level – Apple and Pixar Animation Studios; Bronze Level – Epic Games, Skydance Animation and Sony Pictures Animation; and Education/Nonprofit Level – Animation Guild and Sheridan College.
The latest animated entry into the Star Wars saga, Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: The Bad Batch has dropped its official trailer today! The new series launches exclusively on Disney+ on Tuesday, May 4, with a special 70-minute premiere. New episodes roll out Fridays starting May 7.
Star Wars: The Bad Batch follows the elite and experimental clones of the Bad Batch (first introduced in The Clone Wars) as they find their way in a rapidly changing galaxy in the immediate aftermath of the Clone War. Members of the Bad Batch — a unique squad of clones who vary genetically from their brothers in the Clone Army — each possess a singular exceptional skill that makes them extraordinarily effective soldiers and a formidable crew.
The series is executive produced by Dave Filoni (The Mandalorian, Star Wars: The Clone Wars), Athena Portillo (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels), Brad Rau (Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars Resistance) and Jennifer Corbett (Star Wars Resistance, NCIS) with Carrie Beck (The Mandalorian, Star Wars Rebels) as co-executive producer and Josh Rimes as producer (Star Wars Resistance). Rau is also serving as supervising director with Corbett as head writer.
Keep up with the Lucasfilm galaxy at StarWars.com.
Director Adam Wingard, whose latest big screen feat Godzilla vs. Kong just scored a pandemic-era global box office record, will be tackling another major entertainment franchise in a big ThunderCats blockbuster. The Death Note director reconnects with producers Dan Lin (Rideback) and Roy Lee (Vertigo), who developed the project, and will rewrite a script with frequent collaborator Simon Barrett, with whom Wingard summoned horror flicks Blair Witch, The Guest, You’re Next, etc.
“ThunderCats is a dream project for me. When I was in high school, I was obsessed with it. You’d think at that point, I was a little too old, that my years of obsession with ThunderCats would be when I was six years old. My real obsession with ThunderCats came in high school, the pinnacle of me deciding I wanted to be a filmmaker, and pushing in that direction … I actually spent most of my 10th grade year, I completely blew it. I didn’t pay attention in school, made terrible grades. And the reason? I was writing my ThunderCats screenplay through my entire 10th grade year,” Wingard told Deadline in a new interview.
The hardcore fan added that Warner Bros. “gave [him] the reins” and that he wants to find a hybrid CGI look that bridges the gap between hyperrealism and the original show’s colorful ’80s cartoon aesthetic. Wingard hopes to bring the retro classic to the big screen in a “fantasy sci-fi spectacle” that dives into the property’s rich mythology.
Created by Ted Wolf, the cat-like humanoid heroes first appeared in Rankin/Bass’s 1985-89 animated series, which begins as the ThunderCats are forced to flee their dying planet of Thundera and end up on Third Earth, where they must fight old enemies and new to protect a powerful relic. ThunderCats has since spawned several comic-book series, a video game, innumerable licensed products and two additional animated series: 2011’s ThunderCats ( animated by Warner Bros. Animation and Studio 4°C) and 2020’s ThunderCats Roar (WBA), both for Cartoon Network.
New episodes of Rick and Morty are on the event horizon! Adult Swim has announced its Emmy Award-winning hit series will be bending space and time for the season five premiere, rolling out across the globe starting on Sunday, June 20 at 11 p.m. ET/PT — and are officially declaring it Rick and Morty Day.
Fans from around the world can get a megadose of access and content of all things Rick and Morty during Rick and Morty Day, an out of this world celebration with sneak peeks, behind the scenes footage and special surprises across TV, digital and social, kicking off the global premieres of the new season. For the full schedule of premiere dates spanning across the multiverse, check out the new trailer.
Adult Swim’s award-winning half-hour animated hit comedy series Rick and Morty follows a sociopathic genius scientist who drags his inherently timid grandson on insanely dangerous adventures across the universe. Rick Sanchez is living with his daughter Beth’s family and constantly bringing her, his son-in-law Jerry, granddaughter Summer and grandson Morty into intergalactic escapades.
Rick and Morty stars Justin Roiland (Solar Opposites), Sarah Chalke (Firefly Lane), Chris Parnell (Saturday Night Live) and Spencer Grammer (Greek). The series is created by Dan Harmon (Community) and Roiland, who also serve as executive producers.
Buoyed by a boom in motion picture and series production, Rising Sun Pictures (RSP) quickly reached maximum staff capacity at its current location and the visual effects company has pulled off a swift expansion. Taking charge of the building next to its main studio located in Pulteney Street in Adelaide, RSP took only months to renovate the new section.
Neighboring walls were removed so staff could move freely from the existing studio to the renovated building. The new 480 sq m (5167sq ft) space, which was acquired to house additional staff, includes a cinema-style screening room, soundproofed meeting and review facilities, and a workspace for up to 80 artists. With commitments from multiple international film productions and streaming series, the completion date couldn’t have come at a better time: RSP expects its Adelaide team to soon top 225.
RSP is benefitting from Australia’s strong response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has allowed film and television production to resume in near normal conditions far ahead of other parts of the world. International production and post-production work are also being drawn to the country by generous government incentives, which were expanded last year. Australia’s PDV offset currently provides a 30% rebate for post, digital and visual effects production (PDV), and is enhanced by an additional 10% incentive on South Australian PDV work. Those factors, combined with a favorable exchange rate, make Australia an attractive destination.
“Life is relatively normal here and that has enhanced Australia’s standing as a premium destination for filmmakers,” says RSP Managing Director Tony Clark. “We are seeing an incredible uptick in filming activity, accompanied by increased demand for visual effects. With great projects booked for the year ahead, we are adding capacity and talent, while ensuring we adhere to safety protocols.”
RSP’s new space is designed to allow artists and others to work productively in a socially distanced environment. The expansion includes the very latest LG air conditioner and increased fresh air circulation to maintain a healthy workplace. While the lighting has been designed for zero glare and with hot spot reduction to reduce eye fatigue and improve clarity for artists.
Rising Sun Pictures, new Adelaide facility
Last year, when the pandemic first appeared, the company made modifications to its main production studio to facilitate social distancing. It also upgraded its infrastructure to allow artists to work remotely when necessary and in compliance with industry-mandated security guidelines. As a result, the studio experienced only minor disruption during the initial lockdown. Since then, it has delivered several large-scale projects, including more than 500 visual effects shots for the New Line Cinema feature Mortal Kombat, which will be released on HBO Max and in cinemas in April.
RSP has come through the pandemic stronger, notes Head of Business Development, Jennie Zeiher. “We are typically involved in productions based in America, the U.K. and New Zealand, so working remotely across multiple time zones is nothing new for us,” she says. “Our long-term forecasting indicates a huge rebound in production as countries reopen and people return to theatres. We are excited about the future and ready to take advantage of new opportunities.”
RSP also has a unique advantage for hiring artists, bringing in new junior talent through the visual effects training program it runs in partnership with the University of South Australia. Earlier this year, it hired five young artists who had just completed its Graduate Certificate courses. “Our educational program has become an incredibly valuable asset in developing production-ready talent,” says Clark. “Artists who’ve gone through the program in past years are now working their way up the ranks.”
A further contributor to the company’s success is its location in Adelaide. The city’s moderate climate and active lifestyle make it appealing, especially to artists with young families. The new space has been designed with enhanced end-of-trip facilities. “We have many avid cyclists who enjoy their ride to and from work; the new space has been designed with that in mind – park your bike in the expanded bike room, freshen up, grab yourself a coffee all before you start your workday,” says Zeiher. “We also decided to use our own artwork for the new space paying homage to decades of crew gear art.”
Although Australia’s rapid recovery from the pandemic is helping to fuel the current spike in production, Clark expects RSP’s fortunes to continue rising long after the crisis has passed. “RSP has an excellent reputation,” he says. “We continue to provide excellent service and exceptional work. Our recent experience has only underscored those basic values.”
For over 25 years, award-winning studio Rising Sun Pictures has delivered memorable onscreen moments for over 150 movies, including recent visual feats Jungle Cruise, Black Widow, The Boys season 2, Ford v Ferrari, Captain Marvel, Spider-Man: Far From Home, Dumbo, Predator, Tomb Raider, Peter Rabbit, Animal World, Thor: Ragnarok, Logan, Pan, the X-Men franchise and Game of Thrones.
In honor of Women’s History Month, Academy of Art University’s School of Animation & Visual Effects is presenting Women in VFX, an exclusive online panel discussion with talented female artists in the visual effects industry, on March 31 at 7 p.m. (PDT). The career stories they will be sharing can hopefully inspire future generation artists to shatter the traditional expectations of women and reach higher for their dreams.
As a global VFX higher education leader, the Academy’s School of Animation & Visual Effects has been advocating for gender equality in the industry and supporting its students to build a successful VFX career.
The panelists — alumni from its programs now working in VFX at different stages of their careers — include Emmy winner Ryan Bauer, compositing supervisor at CoSA VFX; Lauren Ellis, executive producer at Zoic; Jumanah Shaheen, VFX producer at Ingenuity; Melina Cuffaro, production assistant at LucasFilm; and Chaiwon Kim, look development artist at Walt Disney Animation Studios.
The discussion will be centered on getting started in the VFX industry for entry-level artists, professional advice on advancing careers as senior artists, and building leadership as a female artist in the VFX industry. School director Catherine Tate and Head of Production for StudioX Sasha Korellis will be moderating the panel.
“The gender balance in the VFX industry has been improving over the years but still has a long way to go. The absence of women’s voices in this industry has made the outcome less effective, powerful, and successful. We want to educate and inspire the younger generation VFX artists, especially female artists, to keep their eyes on the ball, and don’t let anyone tell them that they are not good enough,” Tate said.
StudioX is a student-run, faculty-mentored experience that emulates a real-world animation and visual effects production environment. Students work with real clients, produce real films and games, meet real deadlines and solve real problems. The “X” in StudioX stands for the valuable experience students gain as they prepare for animation and VFX careers. Many students start collecting IMDb credits through StudioX even before graduating, such as the Oscar-nominated films Theeb and Beasts of the Southern Wild, Fruitvale Station and many more.
Women in VFX is free and open to the public as a part of the ongoing 2021 School of Animation and Visual Effects virtual webinar and workshop series. To join the virtual panel, register here.
Another star-powered animated feature project has joined the Netflix Originals slate, as the streamer announced today it is in development on Steps, a musical produced by Amy Poehler and directed by animator Alyce Tzue — creator of the 2015 Student Academy Award Gold Medal winner Soar — in her feature debut.
Steps is a spin on the classic Cinderella story, in which the two overlooked stepsisters set out on an epic journey after being rejected by the prince and realize that their own happily ever afters might be much different from what they thought.
Tzue told Deadline: “Our step-sisters are a pair of young Asian immigrants to a fairytale world, and their journey navigating the pressures of their kingdom to ultimately arrive at their true dream is a story that resonates deep inside my heart. Especially in light of the terrible acts of erasure against the Asian community, I am grateful to be working with this incredible team on a project where I feel so seen. We can’t wait to bring Steps to the world.”
Poehler and her prodco partner Kim Lessing are producing through Paper Kite Productions, alongside Jane Hardwell (The Croods). Riki Lindhome is writing the script from a story she created with Kate Micucci; the Garfunkel and Oates duo will also executive produce and write and oversee all music.
Steps joins an upcoming animated original features slate at Netflix which includes Arlo the Alligator Boy (April 16), Clare Knight and Harry Cripps’ Back to the Outback (Fall 2021), Richard Linklater’s Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Adventure, Chris Williams’ The Sea Beast, Henry Selick’s Wendell & Wild, Nora Twomey’s My Father’s Dragon, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, Wendy Rogers’ The Magician’s Elephant, Minkyu Lee’s The Witch Boy, a Chicken Run sequel (Aardman), Redwall film & event series, and musical adaptation of Lupita Nyong’o’s Sulwe.
You can watch Tzue’s award-winning student short Soaron Vimeo.
France’s prestigious animation event, Annecy Festival, announced today the first batch of official competition selections for 2021. More than 2,700 submissions were registered in the Short Film, Graduation Film and TV/Commissioned Film categories, sent in from more than 100 countries.
“There’s no surprise to find that the 2021 selection of short films is marked by themes and questions linked to the pandemic,” noted Marcel Jean, Annecy’s Artistic Director. “Festival regulars will be pleased to find several familiar names competing: Franck Dion, Joanna Quinn, Jalal Maghout, Joan Gratz and Georges Schwizgebel… Some may also be surprised to see the Inuit filmmaker Zacharias Kunuk, winner of the Caméra d’or at Cannes in 2001 for Atanarjuat, among the directors in the selection at Annecy. Here he directs his first animation short film, Angakuksajaujuq (The Shaman’s Apprentice).
“Ultimately, it’s a diverse selection that confirms the growing presence of a new generation of female French directors (Marine Blin, Kajika Aki Ferrazzini, Jeanne Apergis, Claire Sichez) and where formal exploration opens the doors to experimentation (works by Paul Wenninger and Erick Oh), as well as off-the-wall humor (films by Luis Nieto and Daniel Moshel).”
Darwin’s Notebook – Georges Schwizgebel (Short Films Official)
Short Films in competition, section breakdown:
44 Official selections
Eight in Off-Limits
22 in Perspectives
12 in Young Audiences
43% of films directed by women
Graduation Films:
47 in Official competition
60% directed by female students
TV & Commissioned Films:
26 TV projects (27% directed by women)
32 commissioned films (38% directed by women)
Kai “A Little Too Much” – Martina Scarpelli (TV & Commissioned Films)
Jean points out a trend in this year’s student film crop of reflecting on modern times, exploring concerns about new technologies, artificial intelligence and humanity’s place in the world — tackled with an appropriately cutting-edge array of techniques, including digital 3D and video game engines. He adds that the commissioned film selection highlights the high creative bar of recent music videos, where familiar names in animated filmmaking like Nina Paley, Mirai Mizue and Martina Scarpelli appear.
“Lastly, the 2021 selection gives pride of place to African animation with works from South Africa, Ghana, Egypt and Kenya, and it once again testifies to the immense diversity from this continent. While, on all the sections so far, we have selected films from 53 countries, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Macedonia and Pakistan,” he concluded.
$75,000 – Moïse Togo (Graduation Films)
The Short Film Competition notably includes a four-title contingent from the National Film Board of Canada, including Andrea Dorfman and poet Tany Davis’s slice-of-pandemic-life piece How to Be at Home and Mike Maryniuk’s June Night (both part of NFB’s ‘The Curve’ collection), Joanna Quinn and Les Mills’ latest Beryl saga Affairs of the Art and Bad Seeds, the latest from repeat Annecy selectee Claude Cloutier (Carface, The Trenches).
The Annecy 2021 Official Selection committee is headed by Jean, the Films & Program Planning team Laurent Million, Yves Nougarède and Sébastien Sperer,as well as:
Cécile Giraud (Short Films): Project Manager for Nouvelle-Aquitaine Independent Cinemas, where she supports animation films, documentaries and films for young audiences. She is currently writing her first animation series.
Marie-Pauline Mollaret (Graduation Films): Journalist and film critic. She writes for various specialist film magazines, including L’Avant-scène Cinéma and Bref, as well as for the website EcranNoir.fr, where she is Chief Editor. Since 2016, she is also a member of the short films’ selection committee for Critics’ Week at the Cannes Film Festival.
Clémence Bragard (TV & Commissioned Films): Specialised in film animation project development, she is currently programmer of the National Animation Film Festival for the AFCA and presenter for the Annecy Festival.
See the official selection in announced categories here. Feature Films and VR Works selections will be revealed at a later date.
Bad Seeds – Claude Cloutier (Short Films Official)
Currently celebrating its 19th year in business as the leading animation studio in Latin America, Mexico City-based Ánima has announced that its animated feature Cranston Academy: Monster Zone will open in Australia and New Zealand.
CEO Fernando De Fuentes Sainz and COO José C. Garcia de Letona made the announcement on behalf of the global kids’ programming player, which has previously secured a raft of international sales to Mexico, Germany, Austria, Portugal, Italy, CIS & Baltics, Vietnam, Middle East, U.K. and South Africa for theatrical release by Double Dutch International (DDI), a globally recognized sales and production company.
“The timing of this announcement could not be better as Cranston Academy: Monster Zone was just recently nominated for a Quirino Award as one of the Best Ibero-American Animation Feature Films. I am confident this animated adventure will be loved in Australia and New Zealand, as it has around the world,” commented Garcia de Letona.
Cranston Academy: Monster Zone
Cranston Academy: Monster Zone, is the story of Danny, a 15-year-old genius bullied for his intelligence and struggling to fit in at school and Liz, the daughter of a famous scientist whose legacy she strives to overcome and be considered a genius in her own right. When Danny is unexpectedly offered a scholarship to the secret, prestigious boarding school Cranston Academy, where Liz is the number one student, a rivalry sparks. In his quest to prove his intelligence, Danny inadvertently opens a portal to another dimension and unleashes a slew of monsters on the school. Liz must put their rivalry aside and help Danny together with a half-moth, half-man professor aptly nicknamed Mothman, to overcome the creatures of the 5th dimension and save the school.
The family adventure stars the voices of Jamie Bell (Fantastic Four, Snowpiercer) and Ruby Rose (Batwoman, Orange Is the New Black). De Fuentes Sainz and Garcia de Letona are the film’s producers.
Following confirmation earlier this month that its usual summer mega-gathering was once again off the table, San Diego Comic Convention today announced dates for their November convention. Comic-Con Special Edition will be held as a three-day event over Thanksgiving weekend — Friday, Saturday and Sunday, November 26-28 — at the San Diego Convention Center. Organizers hope that by Fall conditions will permit larger public gatherings.
Dubbed Comic-Con Special Edition, the event will be the first in-person convention produced by the organization since Comic-Con 2019, and the first since the onset of the global pandemic COVID-19. Organizers say the event will highlight all the great elements that make San Diego Comic-Con such a popular event each year, as well as generate much needed revenue not only for the organization but also for local businesses and the community.
“While we have been able to pivot from in-person gatherings to limited online events, the loss of revenue has had an acute impact on the organization as it has with many small businesses, necessitating reduced work schedules and reduction in pay for employees, among other issues,” said David Glanzer, spokesperson for the nonprofit organization. “Hopefully this event will shore up our financial reserves and mark a slow return to larger in-person gatherings in 2022.”
As details are still being finalized, badge cost, attendance capacity and related information will be forthcoming.
As previously announced, the virtual Comic-Con@Home Beyond will take place July 23-25.
New toon town player Spire Animation Studios today announced its next animated feature: Trouble. The film is an original story co-created by writer, actor and director Danny McBride and Spire Animation Studios CCO Brad Lewis (Ratatouille, How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, The LEGO Batman Movie), executive produced by Spire’s P.J. Gunsagar along with Rough House Pictures Brandon James and written by duo Kevin Barnett and Chris Pappas (The Wrong Missy, The Do-Over and Booze Buddies).
Trouble tells the story of Jax, a 13-year-old who gets into trouble because of his bad behavior towards his family, and then literally ends up in the World of Trouble, a parallel reality. Once he’s transported to this bizarre and fantastic world of chaotic adolescence, he has to figure out how to get out of trouble and get back home. Jax and the friends he meets in the World of Trouble discover their true character, and through a whimsical adventure, learn the value of self-forgiveness and empathy to earn their shot at redemption, all the while trying to escape the scariest place of all, Big Trouble.
“The idea of being in trouble is a universal fear we’ve all experienced growing up,” said McBride. “Being able to build out what that world could look like and exploring how we can make this an animated adventure with Brad and the team at Spire has been awesome.”
“Danny has such a unique sensibility and grasp of wonderfully irreverent characters, creating a story together is a dream come true,” said Lewis. “I’m definitely looking forward to getting into Trouble together, and bringing to life the three words kids all over the world fear… you’re in trouble.”
McBride is known for creating and starring in several popular HBO television series, including Eastbound & Down, Vice Principals and The Righteous Gemstones. He also has appeared in films such as Pineapple Express, Tropic Thunder, Up in the Air, Your Highness, This Is the End and Alien: Covenant. McBride has done voice acting for numerous animated movies, including Despicable Me,Kung Fu Panda 2, The Angry Birds Movie and The Angry Birds Movie 2.
Trouble will mark the second animated feature that Spire will produce following last year’s announcement of Century Goddess, an animated film about a powerful young woman who is revealed to be a once in a century goddess and unleashes her generational power of song and spoken word to ignite a revolution. The project is creatively led by Lewis, award-winning stage director Diane Paulus (Jagged Little Pill, Waitress), chart-topping songwriter Starrah (Maroon 5’s “Girls Like You,” Rihanna’s “Needed Me,” Camila Cabello’s breakout hit “Havana,” Megan Thee Stallion’s “Savage Remix” featuring Beyoncé) and internationally acclaimed screenwriter and producer Bisha K. Ali (showrunner and head writer of Marvel Studios & Disney+’s Ms. Marvel series).
Fans of Minnie Mouse will go absolutely dottie for her new CG-animated Disney Junior shorts series, Minnie’s Bow-Toons: Party Palace Pals! Premiering Saturday, April 3 on YouTube, the new show picks up where the original Emmy Award-winning short-form series left off as Minnie and her best friend Daisy Duck take on their newest venture: running a party planning business called the Polka Dot Party Palace.
Minnie’s Bow-Toons: Party Palace Pals
Season one will include a musical chapter “Happy Birthday, Minnie Mouse – The Musical,” a tap-dancing episode and a birthday celebration for Mickey, plus guest stars including Emmy winner Leslie Uggams (Roots), Amaric McCoy (T.O.T.S.) and Jecobi Swain (Troop Zero). New episodes will begin rolling out on Disney Channel on Monday, April 5. Robert Ramirez is executive producer/writer, Cassandra Brower is co-exec producer/writer.
To get the party started, here’s the premiere short “Moving Day,” Minnie, Daisy and Cuckoo Loca must find a clever way to get their favorite sofa up to their fifth floor apartment.
