AMC Networks is developing and launching a slate of digital original programming to engage with fans and entice advertisers across emerging platforms — including an animated spin-off of Breaking Bad spin-off Better Call Saul, inspired by a ’70s Saturday morning cartoon classic.
Titled Slippin’ Jimmy, the animated series concept follows the adventures of young Jimmy and Chuck McGill and friends back home in Cicero, Illinois. Created in the retro style of Fat Albert, each episode is an ode to everything from spaghetti westerns to Buster Keaton to After Hours.
The throwback toon is written by Better Call Saul alums, Emmy-winning scribe Ariel Levine (Ethics Training with Kim Wexler, Los Pollos Hermanos Employee Training) and Kathleen Williams-Foshee.
The company is speeding up growth of its content slate to include new formats and new talent, as well as expanding content distribution to include AVOD, SVOD, FAST channels, live-streaming platforms such as Twitch, and more. The new digital originals slate is being created through the company’s Content Room original studio arm, AMCN Digital Originals.
“We have a long history of creating award-winning original digital content that engages our passionate audiences. As we develop and curate new, high-quality ad-supported environments, we are marrying our proven creative ability with expanded reach, opening up new distinct destinations for our fans and meaningful opportunities for our advertising partners, all sold through our AMCN Digital offering,” said Kim Kelleher, president of commercial revenue and partnerships for AMC Networks. “Through the expanded distribution of exclusive originals, we are able to delight fans every step of their consumer journey and take our advertisers along for the ride.”
Also in development are a new season of the Better Call Saul Employee Training series, Fear the Walking Dead tie-in Dead in the Water, and comedy Cooper’s Bar, starring Louis Mustillo as a struggling actor who creates his dream tiki bar hideaway in his backyard, which was piloted as a short film last year.
Animawarriors announced plans to launch a new online platform to give learners a fresh approach to 3D animation education. The platform is suitable for anyone, anywhere in the world who wants to learn, or improve their creativity and skills in 3D animation arts in a balanced, learner focused way.
Learners will work with industry professionals — such as Annie Award nominee Andrés Bedate, Jorge Vigara and Scot Write — who are passionate about mentoring and sharing knowledge. Animawarriors’ teaching philosophy understands the need to balance the individual, their creativity and their professional career.
“Be Unique. That’s the point,” asserts Vigara, Animawarriors’ Director & Founder. “We are trying to create a high-quality e-learning user experience that is accessible, flexible to everyone with a wide range of teaching formats.”
Animawarriors online platform is focused on building a healthier culture for both professional and personal artists across the creative landscape to help ideas thrive. The company was founded in June 2019 in Vancouver, BC, and to date has helped start more than 500 students on their animation career journey.
Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway is (hopefully) working out its final pandemic release jitters, afterSony Pictures has pushed and pulled the family hybrid flick around its theatrical calendar again. Just two weeks after bouncing the Beatrix Potter-inspired comedy adventure to May 14 from June 11, Peter is parking his cottontail on Independence Day Weekend with a July 2 date (up against actioner Top Gun: Maverick from Paramount).
Sony had been inspired to move the project up to May given the limited reopening of theaters in New York and Los Angeles and the warm reception for Warner Bros.’ Tom and Jerry. The push back to July could inspire even better turnout for family audiences over a summer break, holiday weekend.
Peter Rabbit 2 was originally slated for February 7, 2020, but was nudged back to April 3 and then August 7 last year, then again shooed off the carrot patch to January 15, 2021, then April 2, then June as the COVID pandemic continued to disrupt exhibition plans around the world.
Once again with writer-director-producer Will Gluck at the helm and Animal Logic tackling the CG characters, Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway picks up with Bea (Rose Byrne), Thomas (Domhnall Gleeson) and the rabbits have created a makeshift family, but despite his best efforts, Peter (voiced by James Corden) can’t seem to shake his mischievous reputation. Adventuring out of the garden, Peter finds himself in a world where his mischief is appreciated, but when his family risks everything to come looking for him, Peter must figure out what kind of bunny he wants to be.
The sequel also stars David Oyelowo as Nigel, with critters voiced by Margot Robbie, Elizabeth Debicki and Aimee Horne (Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail); Colin Moody, Lennie James, Sia, Sam Neill, Rupert Degas, Ewen Leslie, Christian Gazal and Damon Herriman. Byrne and Gleeson also lend their voices to Jemima Puddle-Duck and Mr. Jeremy Fisher, respectively.
Released in 2018, Sony’s Peter Rabbit grossed $350+ million worldwide ($115.3M domestic). With both live-action filming and CGI/VFX production centered in Australia, the pic earned an AACTA Award for Production Design.
Animated Shorts Winner: Nuevo Ricoby Kristian Mercado Figueroa | “Be prepared for this dystopian tragedy to rip your hair out by the roots and pour liquid vaporwave rainbows directly onto your brain’s tongue. A cautionary tale of friendship and fame, Nuevo Rico slaps convention to the ground and stomps on it with steel toed boots of satisfying stylistic innovation. Kristian Mercado Figueroa doesn’t give a f*** — and gives all the f***s at the same time. If you’ve never wrestled a laser snake in a Lambo going two hundred off a cliff into an iridescent volcano, Nuevo Rico will make you feel like you have.”
Special Jury Recognition for Innovation: KKUMby Kang Min Kim
Special Jury Recognition for Storytelling: Your Own Bullshit by Daria Kopiec
Texas Shorts – Special Jury Recognition for Vision:O Black Hole! by Renee Zhan
Virtual Cinema Competition Winner:Samsara by Huang Hsin-Chien
Special Jury Recognition for Immersive Journalism: Reeducated by Sam Wolson
International short film competition (selected from nearly 2,000 film submissions from 80+ countries) includes strong female talent like up-and-comer Liesbet van Loon’s Monachopsis, Sandra Desmazières’ Flowing Home and Joanna Preistley’s Jung & Restless, the German premiere of Joanna Quinn & Les Mills’ Affair of the Art. Plus, Jalal Maghout presents his grad film Have a Nice Dog! and 2018 ITFS Arab Animation Project How My Grandmother Became a Chair (Nicolas Fattough) debuts.
AniMovie feature film presentations include Oscar (et a.) nominated Wolfwalkersby Tomm Moore & Ross Stewart, and German premieres for Josee, the Tiger and the Fish by Koutarou Tamura and Strike by Trevor Hardy.
‘Creating*Diversity’ theme program tackles current social issues, evident in shorts like All Those Sensations in My Belly (Marko Djeska), Anima (Mahboobeh Mohammadzaki) and A Stone in the Shoe (Eric Montchaud).
Further themed short programs include ‘Pandemic Animation,’ ‘Animation of the Extreme’ and ‘XPRMTL Animation.’
Focus on ‘Wonderwomen – Women in Games & Animation’ (on site), three programs curated by Tricky Women festival director Waltraud Grausgruber, two by former HAF director Gerben Schermer and GameZone exhibition by Stephan Schwingeier and Judith Ackerman.
Retrospectives (on site) on Jochen Kuhn, Jena-Charles Mbotti Malolo and Monique Renault.
Country focus on France with ‘Copines!’ program and presentations by Folimage, Sacrebleu Prod. and animation school La Poudriere.
Plus Tricks for Kids children’s film fest, GameZone talks, exhibition and presentations (on site); GameZone Kids workshops for youth (online/on site); Edutain Me 7.0 gamification focus, and more.
Dimensions of Dialog
GLAS 2021 Program Announced
Highlights of the Berkeley, Calif.-based festival’s 6th edition, being held online April 5-11:
Five international short film competition programs
Two family animation competition programs
U.S. short film competition
International Showcase
A conversation with Terry Gilliam
Spotlight on Jan Švankmajer and documentary Athanor – The Alchemical Furnace
Retrospective + Q&As with Dahee Jong, Kathy Smith, Shen Jie and Wendy Tilby & Amanda Forbis, plus Q&As with filmmakers Peter Chung and Nick Cross.
Panels on ‘How to Get a Gig,’ ‘How to Pitch Your Film’ and ‘The New Wave of Latin American Independent Animation’
Demos with Jonathan Djob Nkondo and Ted Wiggin (Lizard Ladder)
Feature film special presentations: Wolfwalkers, Nahuel and the Magic Book (live Q&A with director Germán Acuña), Violence Voyager (Q&A with director Ujicha), Heavy Metal 40th Anniversary (Q&A with director Gerald Potterton), The Croods: A New Age
Short film competition programs themed ‘Mysteries of Life,’ ‘Darkest of Dawns,’ ‘Universally Remote,’ ‘Kids Cartoons,’ ‘Student Shorts,’ ‘The Oddball Collection’ and ‘Cartoon Party’
Rough cut screening of Hullaboo, with director James Lopez and VFX supervisor Jake Akuna.
Panels on ‘Adult Swim’s Doomsday Brothers: From Pitch to Screen’ and ‘The Evolution of Cloudrise Pictures’; plus Gerald Potterton retrospective and remembrance of John Rooney.
Your Own Bullshit
World Festival of Animated Film – Animafest Zagreb Selection
The established Croatian toon celebration announced the films in its Grand Competition short film categories. The 31st Animafest will be held in Zagreb June 7-12. Feature Film, Films for Children, VR and World Panorama selections to be announced.
44 Short Films in competition, from 820+ submissions. Selections include award-winning works and new films from acclaimed artists like Marina Scarpelli’s A Little Too Much, Joanna Quinn’s Affairs of the Art, Alberto Vazquez’s Homeless Home, Joe Hsieh’s Night Bus, Paul Bush’s Orgiastic Hyper-Plastic, Tomasz Popakul’s The Moon, Franck Dion’s Under the Skin, the Bark and Daria Kopiec’s Your Own Bullshit.
45 Student Films in competition, from 840+ submissions. Catch sterling works from up and coming filmmakers at schools across Europe, Asia, the U.S. and beyond — such as Academy of Fine Arts Zagreb, FAMU, The Animation Workshop, RISD, MOPA, Gobelins, CalArts, Taipei Nat’l University of the Arts, Nat’l Film School Lodz, Filmakademie Animationinstitut, SVA and the Royal College of Art.
23 Croatians Films in competition, representing both professional artists and aspiring students across the country.
Thank You by Julian Gallese
59th Ann Arbor Film Festival Begins March 23
The six-day festival features a total of 36 programs of experimental, documentary, narrative, and animated films, consisting of 15 shorts-in-competition programs, 11 feature films, five special programs, three juror presentations, and two winners shows.
Films in Competition 11 – Animation presents 10 recently completed films fro around the world, live streaming on March 26 at 4:30 p.m. PT, available on demand until midnight ET on March 31.
Out of competition special program on BIPOC Experimental Animation, curated by Emmy-nominated filmmaker, designer and artist Carrie Hawks (Jerome @ Carmargo Resident, Leslie Lohman Queer Artist Fellow, and Jerome Foundation Artist Fellow).
Roberto
http://www.drawtastic.org/2021-show.html”>DRAWTASTIC Golden Pencil Awards
Having held its 10th event, the DRAWTASTIC Animation Festival presents its third online award show available to watch through the rest of March. The 2021 edition curated films from 16 countries with a 1 hr. 43 min. show including two Honorable Mention films, 10 Finalists and five Golden Pencil Award winners. This year, the first-ever Junior Golden Pencil Award was offered to 10-year-old Alice Botvinik.
Honorable Mentions: My Happiest Moments in Tokyo (Alice Botvinik), Sky Sun, Tile Sun (Ziba Arzhang
Finalists: 2B1 (Nica Petrova), A Town Where We Live (Nat Yoswatananont), Lost and Found (Éva Adorján), Any Instant Whatever (Michelle Brand), The Bird and the Whale (Carol Freeman), Flap (Jessica Gallaher), The Memory of Li Qingzhao (Shi Wuxuan), Uplifted (Rachel Immel), The Winter (Xin Li), Two Little People (Xin Li)
Winners: Roberto by Carmen Córdoba González (Best All-form Animation), Pray by Joe Chang (Best 2D Animation), Memories for Sale by Manuel Lopez (Best Student Film Animation), Waters of March by Elizabeth Lewis (Best Music-based Animation), My Tagalong by Jerry Wang (Best Student Film Animation)
KingstOOn Animation Festival and Sesame Workshop announce an animated short film pitch competition for the 2021 virtual festival (April 21-25), with the winner to be produced for Sesame Street Season 52.
FMX (May 4-6) adds Open Source track, presentation on Pixar collaborative short Cat and Moth.
Free Comic Book Day 2021 (August 14) announced the full lineup of 50 available titles — 12 Gold Sponsor comics and 38 Silver Sponsor comics. And, Skottie Young was announced as the commemorative artist for FCBD’s 20th anniversary.
gamescom (Aug. 25-29) is being planned as a hybrid event, partly on site in Cologne, Germany.
Montreal-based independent studio Apartment 11 is developing its second animation series, having optioned the rights for the popular children’s book series Olga by local author Elise Gravel. The project brings Olga — a fierce, animal-loving kid scientist — to the screen for the first time, allowing school-aged viewers around the world to follow her wacky adventures.
“The Olga books are loved by kids all over the world, so it’s super exciting to be working with Elise Gravel to bring the observant, independent and very funny Olga to the screen at a time when kids’ content has never been more popular,” said executive producer and Apartment 11 President Jonathan Finkelstein.
The 26 x 11’ animated series follows the action, adventure, suspense, gross stuff and big life changes of a slightly grumpy girl scientist who loves animals more than humans, even the ones who stink and pee on your shoe, until she discovers a unique species that may-or-may-not be an alien. It leads Olga to realize that some humans aren’t so bad, and it takes a village to raise a Meh.
“My fans have been asking for more Olga stories, so I’m thrilled that she’s coming to the screen for the first time and can reach a wider audience through our collaboration with Apartment 11,” said Gravel.
The project is supported by the CMF-SODEC Predevelopment Program for Television Series Based on Literary Adaptations.
Founded in 2000 by Finkelstein, Apartment 11 has produced more than 300 hours of scripted and non-scripted programming, mostly for children’s and youth audiences, including Big Top Academy (Discovery Kids/ TVO/Hulu/Pop U.K.), in collaboration with Cirque du Soleil). Presently in production is Interstellar Ella (SRC/TVOKids/TFO/Knowledge Network/Ketnet), a new CGI animated series about eight-year-old Ella gleefully testing her limits in a star-filled playground called ‘The Milky Way.’ Apartment 11 has won a Peabody Award, multiple Japan Prizes, Youth Media Alliance Awards and Gemini/Canadian Screen Awards, a Viewers’ Choice Kidscreen Award and has also been nominated for two International Emmy Awards.
Clockwork Girl, based on Arcana’s successful graphic novel, will have a theatrical release in North America on June 8, 2021. As previously announced, Vertical Entertainment is handling the CGI feature film’s U.S. distribution.
Set in a world of robots and mutants, Clockwork Girl centers on Tesla and Huxley, the creations of two scientists. Wilhelm the Tinker, a technical scientist building robots and automatons, created Tesla, and his neighbor Dendrus works with biological science creating new forms of life, such as Huxley. While exploring the wonders of an ordinary world, Tesla meets Huxley and they develop a friendship that must overcome their warring families. The film is ultimately a story of two characters who despite being made out of completely different parts, are similar in their passion to save their town and each other.
The voice cast features Alexa PenaVega (Spy Kids, Pixies) as Tesla, Jesse McCartney (Alvin and the Chipmunks) as Huxley, Carrie-Ann Moss (The Matrix) as Admiral Wells, Brad Garrett (Everybody Loves Raymond) as T-Bolt, Adrian Hough (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) as Dendrus and Jeffrey Tambor (Arrested Development) as Wilhelm.
The original graphic novel received numerous accolades, including the Moonbeam Children’s Book Award for ‘Top Graphic Novel’ and the Mom’s Choice Award. The animated adaptation is directed by Kevin Konrad Hanna, produced by Deboragh Gabler and Sean Patrick O’Reilly written by Jennica Harper, with executive producers John Jungho Han and Sangyong Sean Lee.
“The Clockwork Girl has had an unbelievable journey starting with its humble beginnings as a comic book,” said O’Reilly, Arcana’s CEO. “Telling Tesla and Huxley’s story has been a passion project and I’m so excited to show this story to the world.”
Arcana is a Canadian animation studio and intellectual property house focused on producing engaging storytelling with compelling art.The studio owns one of the world’s largest libraries of graphic novels and a separate library of IP. Upcoming animation projects include feature films Heroes of the Golden Mask and Miskatonic, and TV series Go Fish.
Despite a firm grip on copyright ownership wielded by most major film and production companies, the Star Wars fan film universe has managed to slip through the net, continuing to grow in both number and viewership. Their existence is an anomaly when compared to major cinematic brands of equal standing, even next to those which are similarly owned by Disney, like Marvel.
But with such an active fanbase, the continuation of Star Wars fan films has helped invigorate the genre, documenting the countless speculative theories that populate the fandom universe. The release of these films has come with a considerable and steady improvement in production value as filmmakers seek ways to match Hollywood’s photoreal CG. And if recent additions are anything to go by, then this is beginning to become a reality – it’s all driven by the democratization of VFX software and education.
Star Wars Origins
Rising Production
Star Wars fan films go back decades. One of the earliest was a 1976 film called Hardware Wars, a parodic take on the franchise that was well-received by George Lucas himself. The film was overt with its inside jokes and very much built for the fanbase of the time.
But the fan film universe has come a long way since then. We’ve seen animated pictures such as 2015’s Star Wars:TIE Fighter, the action-packed 2017 epic Star Wars: Destroyer, and the hugely popular 2016 short Darth Maul: Apprentice, to name just a few. The latter is a great example filled with VFX work.
Directed by Shawn Bu, Darth Maul: Apprentice utilized tools such as Adobe After Effects to add Lightsaber FX in each and every frame of the fight scenes. 3D modelling was also used at various points in the film, using Blender to create the models of the CG surveillance drones. The short’s behind-the-scenes breakdown really emphasized the degree of work which went into the post, with several other VFX and animation softwares implemented.
Similarly, the fan film K-436: A Stormtrooper Story utilized post work throughout, generating large scale fight scenes with explosion effects and starships. According to the film’s breakdown, Adobe After Effects, Premiere Pro and Audition were all implemented, alongside other software such as MAXON Cinema 4D and Houdini FX. It’s possible to attain some great results from these solutions and they far exceed the capabilities of anything available to indie filmmakers in the past. And it just wouldn’t be Star Wars without epic visuals.
Star Wars Origins
VFX for Everyone
It’s no coincidence that Adobe After Effects comes up frequently during this discussion. While not often used by established VFX studios, it’s a great example of a tool that’s affordable and widely available. The software itself has its origins in 1993 and has played a key part in the expansion of VFX usage. Integrated as part of Adobe’s product suite, familiarity with Photoshop and Premiere Pro make it easy for individuals to enter the world of post-production at an accessible level. And as shown in the examples given, can provide some great results, with simple animations and shot enhancements made with ease. It’s also very affordable and doesn’t need a large render farm to power its processing.
On the topic of affordability, a software solution that must be mentioned is Blender. The open-source, 3D modelling tool has become a mainstay in modern VFX and has transformed itself into a viable tool for large-scale productions. This is all while remaining completely free.
It’s a great example of software that’s begun its transition into the world of mainstream production without cutting ties with its roots. Blender still has an active forum and fanbase of indie creators today. The fact that software like this is available to users for free is a testament to the creativity of individual artists and software developers.
When Flipbook Studio worked on the VFX for Star Wars: Origins, we used a range of professional tools such as Nuke for compositing, 3ds Max 2020 and V-Ray, for example. But we also generated particle effects in a Beta software called tyFlow. The particle system was written from the ground up by just one person, and we achieved fantastic results during the climactic emergence of the Star Destroyer ship. Even at the professional level, there are effective, user-generated solutions available to anyone.
Star Wars OriginsStar Wars Origins
In a University Not So Far Away…
But beyond the widespread availability of VFX tools, a driving factor in modern indie productions is education. Previously pursued by computer-oriented enthusiasts, the VFX industry is now populated by individuals that have studied degrees in the subject. It’s considered to be a serious career by many young amateurs who are inspired by the production techniques used in their favorite Hollywood releases. It’s common to find a course in visual effects at many major universities, with an expansion in small to mid-sized studios providing ample opportunities for graduates.
A once niche and relatively complicated subject has now become both accessible and inspiring. This means more creative individuals with their own creative visions to share. It’s the perfect catalyst for a production leap in indie short films – the imaginative Star Wars universe is now one computer and a few clicks away from reality.
The incredible advancements in technology at a professional level have led to visual effects taking over some of the world’s biggest movies. In turn, this has opened the door out of the post room and into the director’s chair for many VFX artists. Neill Blomkamp (District 9), Gareth Edwards (Godzilla) and Robert Stromberg (Maleficent) are huge examples. For aspiring VFX artists in education, the prospect of making their own production no longer seems far-fetched. In fact, for a CG-driven franchise like Star Wars, it provides some serious advantages.
Star Wars Origins
Going Forward
With a literaluniverse filled with alien planets to expand upon, and with the continuation of the canon series by Disney, there will likely be no drop-off in Star Wars spinoffs. From a VFX perspective, this is a great opportunity for talented VFX artists to stamp their mark on one of the world’s biggest franchises. It’s also likely that the production quality of these fan films will continue to improve, pushing the benchmark closer and closer to the industry standard with each release. It’s an exciting time to be part of the expanding world of VFX and it won’t be long before the fan film universe begins leading the charge.
Andrew Lord is managing director and co-founder of Flipbook Studio. Learn more at www.flipbookstudio.co.uk.
Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the HKTDC Hong Kong International Film and TV Market | Online (FILMART Online) attracted nearly 7,000 industry participants from 81 countries and regions over four days, with the release and promotion of some 2,200 film and television productions. Having become more familiar with doing business through online platforms, exhibitors and buyers used the online meeting function at FILMART Online to participate in more than 2,000 meetings.
Running March 15-18, FILMART Online saw a total of 27 online events staged, including nine conferences.The platform will remain open for industry members to connect with exhibitors and buyers and review the event’s programming until May 18. Animation companies exhibiting include Fantawild Animation, Hangzhou Thunder Animation, Ice Deer Animation, Ningbo Kaku Animation Design & Production, Ningbo Storm Animation, Zhejiang Zhongnan Animation and a delegation from Hunan Animation Games Assoc. (China); E-DEHI Animation Studio and Sidus Animation Studios (S. Korea); Animation Vertigo Asia (Philippines); Cloudrise Pictures (Canada); Horus Movies Animation (Poland); and Xanthus Animation Studio (Taiwan).
On Wednesday, two compelling conferences shed light on the role animation plays in different corners of the global entertainment industry. Co-organized with Annecy Int’l Animated Film Festival / MIFA, the webinar Animation: The Golden Bullet in the Streaming Wars? gathered Mickael Marin (CEO, CITIA), Chenfei Zhu (Producer, iQIYI), Qing Fan (Producer, Content Investment & Co-Production, Tencent Video), Leeger Liu (Producer, Tencent Video) adn Laurent Witz (Producer, Zeilt Prod.) to discuss different steramer’s strategies, how to balance new spins on classic IP with original creations, popular genres/styles and opportunities for producers. Later on, Bigger Pictures: Fresh Animation, TV and Film Project from Finland! shone a spotlight on the latest titles from the country seeking international partners and co-operation in Asia across various platforms.The presentation was presented by Creative Export Innovations.
Leading European producer/distributor/sales outfit StudioCanal has partnered with Shanghai Senyu Media to bring The Adventures of Paddington to China. The animated series is being represented by the leading local distributor — which has previously worked with global properties PJ Masks and PAW Patrol) to broadcasters in Mainland China at the virtual Filmart. “Paddington is a renowned brand in China and we believe it will become another big hit when the new series is launched,” said Chang Fan, VP at SSM.
Following its international roll-out on Nickelodeon, the first season has to every corner of the world, with a second following the same path to success. The Adventures of Paddington is a heart-warming show about being curious, being good to others and being part of a loving family. Each 11-minute episode takes a lead from Michael Bond’s original books and, within the spirit of the highly successful Paddington movies with a third just announced, tells a brand new story. Written by Jon Foster and James Lamont and produced by Heyday Films, StudioCanal, Copyrights Group, with the participation of M6.
Diary of Dinosaurs (Winsing Animation)
Chinese toon powerhouse Winsing Animation entered the 2021 Filmart with its seventh feature film, Diary of Dinosaurs, as well as its established hit TV series. The new movie centers on a futuristic “star agent” named Woody who journeys to a strange dinosaur world in search of his missing senior partner, and gets caught up in a mission to save a species from extinction.
The studio’s latest series, Team S.T.E.A.M.! follows six incredible kids who use different STEAM-based areas of expertise to solve problems; it was one of five animation projects in the MIP Junior 2019 Pitches and the only one from China. GOGOBUS, aimed at children 2-5, is a social and emotional learning series about an AI school bus that transforms into different vehicles to protect children’s safety which has broadcast in several Asian territories to great ratings. Flagship program GG Bond is a comedy-adventure for kids 4-8 about a superhero piglet who fights threats to the world with his friends; a new Undersea theme launched this year.
“Our audience can enjoy GG Bond series in various platforms of China [iQiyi, Youku, Tencent, Mango TV]. At present, we are looking for the distributors around the world. Meanwhile, Winsing has set up a project team which are mainly responsible for international project co-production, investment, etc. We have outstanding TV and film production teams with more than 500 people who can provide quality outsourcing services. We are expanding the company horizontally and geographically, and we’re looking for the partners from all over the world to cater more to huge regional markets.” — Echo Gu, VP, Winsing Animation.
IDW Publishing and SEGA of America, Inc. today announced a special comic-book collaboration celebrating 30 years of the video game sensation turned pop culture icon, Sonic the Hedgehog. Timed to the speedster’s 30th trip around the sun this June, IDW will release the Sonic the Hedgehog 30th Anniversary Special, a super-sized 80-page comic book featuring three tales of colorful heroes and dastardly villains, sure to tug at the heartstrings of fans of all ages!
With the franchise entering a new decade, the anniversary issue will feature the writings of New York Times best-selling authors to bring a fresh spin to the Blue Blur’s next chapter.
“We’re celebrating a major milestone for the world’s coolest hedgehog, so we needed creators who could capture the vibrant comedy and action of Sonic in style,” said IDW editor David Mariotte. “The 30th Anniversary Special features possibly the greatest creative lineup ever assembled on a single issue of Sonic!”
For this spectacular tribute comic, IDW has tapped Gale Galligan, known for her illustration work on The Babysitters Club, along with Justin, Travis and Griffin McElroy, podcasters recognizable from The Adventure Zone and the wildly popular My Brother, My Brother and Me. This group of newcomers will be contributing their first-ever Sonic adventures alongside fan-favorite and longtime scribe Ian Flynn and artists Mauro Fonseca, Reggie Graham, Aaron Hammerstrom and Thomas Rothlisberger.
Sonic the Hedgehog 30th Anniversary
“Seasons of Chaos,” the first of three stories featured in the 30th Anniversary Special, comes courtesy of Flynn, Hammerstrom and Graham, and sends Sonic on a mission from pleasant spring valleys to winter wonderlands in search of Chaos Emeralds alongside his friends Miles “Tails” Prower, Knuckles the Echidna, Amy Rose, Mighty the Armadillo and Ray the Flying Squirrel.
“Sonic has been central to my creative career for 15 years,” said Flynn. “I’ve had the pleasure of writing the little blue hedgehog in a variety of media, and he in turn has introduced me to an army of artists and editors who have helped me grow as a professional (and made me look good). I’ve had a long run with Sonic, and I hope that continues for years to come!”
The vile Dr. Eggman takes center stage in the second story, with the surprisingly poignant “Dr. Eggman’s Birthday” by Galligan and Rothlisberger… because this momentous occasion belongs to the bad doctor, Sonic’s nemesis of 30 years, as much as it does to the Blue Blur.
“When my sister and I were little, we borrowed the Sonic the Hedgehog OVA from our local video library and proceeded to watch it about a billion times,” said Galligan. “I still remember quoting it back and forth with her for weeks after that! Sonic has held a special place in my heart ever since. I’m thrilled to be able to contribute to the 30th Anniversary Special, and I can’t wait to send my sister a copy!”
Finally, in the action-packed and laugh-inducing third story “Sonic Learns to Drive” by the McElroy Brothers and Fonseca, Sonic’s up against a tough challenge: when the fastest thing alive can outrun any car, will Sonic have the patience to learn what to do behind the wheel… or will he finally get left in the dust?
The Sonic the Hedgehog 30th Anniversary Special will be available with multiple cover variants for retailers and fans to enjoy, including Cover A by Sonic Team, Cover B by Christina-Antoinette Neofotistou, and two retailer incentive editions featuring art by Patrick Spaziante and Tyson Hesse, respectively.
Sonic the Hedgehog 30th Anniversary
For ardent Sonic enthusiasts, IDW will also be producing the Sonic the Hedgehog 30th Anniversary Celebration: The Deluxe Edition, a hardcover version with special bonus content and a level of added prestige for $19.99 USD. Hitting stores on October 5, 2021, the Deluxe Edition features an additional story by Galligan, a cover gallery, a “From Script to Comic” feature and much more.
As another way to commemorate 30 years of Sonic, IDW will release Sonic the Hedgehog: The IDW Collection, Vol. 1 for $59.99 USD on June 22, 2021, debuting a new line of oversized Sonic hardcover editions that will encompass the ongoing series, annuals and mini-series in the recommended reading order. Featuring everything a beginner could need and everything a diehard could want, the first volume collects issues #1-12 of IDW’s Sonic the Hedgehog comics, comprising the complete “Fallout,” “The Fate of Dr. Eggman” and “Battle for Angel Island” story arcs.
Fans can find Sonic the Hedgehog comics through their local comic shop — visit www.comicshoplocator.com to find a store near you!
Funimation announces it will soon be the streaming home of the new futuristic anime series Scarlet Nexus, coming this summer. The service will offer up the videogame tie-in title in North America and around the world.
Psychokinetics Yuito and Kasane are ready to defend the world from the Others.
But Kasane’s mysterious dreams are about to drag the pair into an unavoidable fate. ?
Based on the upcoming game, the Scarlet Nexus anime heads to Funimation this summer!
Scarlet Nexus has generated a global gaming interest since the announcement of the game development in May of 2020. Anime and gaming fans worldwide have dived in to cosplay and character reveals over the last year in anticipation for the Bandai Namco Entertainment RPG. Now, they can experience the striking new series animated by Sunrise (Mobile Suit Gundam, Cowboy Bebop).
Funimation will bring this new universe to fans worldwide, making the anime series available in simulcast on its service in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, United Kingdom, and Ireland; on Wakanim in France, Germany, Russia and in the Nordics; and on Animelab in Australia and New Zealand.
Synopsis: Solar calendar year 2020: grotesque organisms called Others have begun eating people. To take down this new enemy, the Other Suppression Force is formed. Saved by this elite team as a child, psychokinetic Yuito withstands the training to enlist. On the other hand, prodigy Kasane was scouted for her abilities. But Kasane’s dreams tell her strange things, dragging the two into an unavoidable fate.
Character details:
Yuito Sumeragi. After the OSF saved Yuito as a child, he began to admire them, dreaming of joining their ranks. For the next few years, he worked hard and eventually voluntarily enlisted, despite not being scouted. Yuito was born into an elite family with direct lineage to the founding father of New Himuka, Yakumo Sumeragi. He’s strong and kind and possesses psychokinesis or the ability to move objects with his mind.
Kasane Randall. Adopted by the prestigious Randall family, Kasane was scouted and joined the Other Suppression Force Training School, graduating top of her class. Though they are not blood-related, she has a very strong love and sense of attachment for her older sister Naomi. Kasane is cool and rational, but sometimes misunderstands things. Her power is psychokinesis.
Oscar-nominated “King of Indie Animation” Bill Plympton is making a repeat performance on The Simpsons, providing a brand-new Couch Gag for the record-setting FOX toon’s landmark 700th episode this Sunday.
Rendered in Plympton’s distinctive hand-drawn colored pencil style, the psychedelic “Homer’s Family” gag sees Marge, Bart, Lisa, Maggie and Homer morph and extrude from Homer’s own devolving head — bringing to mind classic Plympton shorts like Your Face and How to Kiss.
A secret about Flanders’ past is revealed and a never-before-seen room is discovered in the Simpson home in the all-new “Manger Things” episode of The Simpsons, airing Sunday, March 21 (8:00-8:30 p.m. ET/PT) on FOX.
Hailing from Portland, Oregon (like Simpsons creator Matt Groening), Plympton made his way to New York in 1968 to study at SVA and work as an illustrator and cartoonist before setting up his Plymptoons studio in 1987 to produce Your Face. The film was nominated for Best Animated Short Oscar, as was Plympton’s 2004 work Guard Dog, which spawned a series. In addition to dozens of short films, music videos and commercials, Plympton has created seven indie animated features, most recently Revengeance, and is currently working on his next: Slide.
Follow The Simpsons on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @TheSimpsons.
Today’s immersive co-viewing event The Nickelodeon Virtual Upfront Show: Bring Your Kids! took attendees on an eye-opening tour across the Nickiverse, outlining what the future holds for the leading kids’ brand — which includes a strategic expansion across its own and third-party platforms, growing its global franchises and launching a massive content pipeline — including the largest animation slate in its 41-year history — for the 2021-22 season. Also providing a host of information and extended plans for each of its franchises, the Upfront featured full-episode sneak peeks of new series, and activities and prizes for adults and kids.
“We’re applying our commitment to creating relatable characters and content to our upfront presentation so our partners can experience Nickelodeon exactly the way kids do, with surprise, humor and relevance,” said Brian Robbins, President, ViacomCBS Kids & Family. “The fragmentation across linear only accelerated these past 12 months, so this year’s format literally illustrates our strategy to marshal our global franchises, co-viewing strengths and our new content slate across all available platforms.”
The Nickelodeon Virtual Upfront Show: Bring Your Kids! outlines Nickelodeon’s commitment to expand its reach through investment in and production of content for every key platform that is important to kids, including: linear, where Nick dominates the top 10 across every kids’ demo; Paramount+, which houses 7,000+ episodes of Nick’s library and a growing slate of all-new original shows; Pluto TV, which programs Nick content across its kids’ channels; YouTube, with five new Nick channels launched this year; and SVOD, where viewers can sample key content offerings.
“While linear is still the largest reach vehicle for kids and our ubiquity there remains strong, our strategy to have Nick content across platforms outside of our own allows us to meet kids wherever they are, fill their increasing demand for more content, and ultimately bring them back to our brand for more,” Robbins added.
Nickelodeon has doubled down on original animation, with its Burbank-based Animation Studio helmed by Animation President Ramsey Naito hiring over 500 people in the last year alone, and putting over 50 projects in development across series, Studio business and theatricals. Nick’s new content slate teed up for this season includes 15 new preschool and kids’ series.
The animation slate includes two new, creator-driven, 2D-animated series greenlit with Nelvana, ZJ Sparkleton (working title) for kids 6-11 and The Hamster Show (WT) for preschoolers. “Nelvana is excited to build upon our partnership with Nickelodeon and contribute to their massive animation pipeline with new IP for a global audience,” said Pam Westman, President, Nelvana. “With lovable characters and hilarious storylines, ZJ Sparkleton and The Hamster Show are two titles that we look forward to adding to our production slate.”
In ZJ Sparkleton (26 x half-hours), quirky 10-year-old vlogger Ruby discovers her only video channel follower is a tail-zapping space alien from the planet Pudge named ZJ Sparkleton, and they quickly become best friends. Along with their friend Earl, a talking con-man squirrel, Ruby teaches ZJ about her version of Earth, while ZJ learns to control his unpredictable powers.
Created by Brian Morante (Penguins of Madagascar, Breadwinners, SpongeBob SquarePants). Mike Geiger (3 Amigonauts, Winston Steinburger and Sir Dudley Ding Dong) is the director and Lynne Warner (Corn & Peg, The Most Magnificent Thing) is the supervising producer for Nelvana. Kari Kim, VP, Animation Development; Claudia Spinelli, SVP, Animation Development; and Conrad Montgomery, VP, Current Series Animation, are overseeing production of the series for Nickelodeon.
In The Hamster Show(26 x half-hours), eight-year-old Harry is the proud owner of a crew of hamsters and the builder of their detailed and expansive tubed home. Little does Harry know that his furry friends are constantly watching him, believing that Harry is their King and they are his heroic protectors. Together, the hamsters explore their kingdom, comedically misunderstanding the human world and braving “royal missions,” such as saving King Harry from daily doom, granting his wishes and keeping his life running smoothly.
Created by Zach Smith (Baby Shark’s Big Show!). Jason Groh (Go Away, Unicorn!, Wishfart) is the director and Lynne Warner (Corn & Peg, The Most Magnificent Thing) is the supervising producer for Nelvana. Eryk Casemiro, SVP, Nickelodeon Preschool, is overseeing production of the series for Nickelodeon
“ZJ Sparkleton and The Hamster Show are great additions to Nickelodeon’s growing slate of new content because friendship, humor and relatable characters are at the core,” said Naito. “The series creators, Brian Morante and Zach Smith, have a history of bringing unique stories to life at Nickelodeon and we can’t wait to dive in with our production partners at Nelvana on these originals.”
Rugrats (2021)
The Upfront also announced an all-star roster of voice talent rounding out the cast of the reimagined Rugrats. Joining the original voices of the adventurous toddlers are:
Ashley Rae Spillers (Vice Principals) and Tommy Dewey (The Mindy Project), as Tommy’s parents: Didi, a passionate artisan and blogger, and Stu, an optimistic inventor.
Tony Hale (Arrested Development), as Chuckie’s father, Chas, a neurotic musician.
Natalie Morales (Dead to Me), as Phil and Lil’s mother, Betty, Didi’s best friend and coffeehouse owner.
Anna Chlumsky (Veep) and Timothy Simons (Veep), as Angelica’s parents: Charlotte, a busy city councilperson, and Drew, a successful pharmaceutical representative.
Nicole Byer (Nailed It!) and Omar Miller (Ballers), as Susie’s parents Lucy, a fun and generous physician, and Randy, an affable and good-natured science teacher.
Michael McKean (Better Call Saul) as Grandpa Lou Pickles.
“This incredibly talented group of actors provides a fresh and very funny take on these iconic roles, combining humor with heart to bring the characters to life in a whole new way,” said Liz Paulson, Senior Vice President, Talent and Casting, Nickelodeon. The new voice actors join previously announced cast members E.G. Daily (Tommy), Nancy Cartwright (Chuckie), Cheryl Chase (Angelica), Cree Summer (Susie) and Kath Soucie (Phil and Lil), who are all reprising their iconic roles
Produced by Nickelodeon Animation Studio, Rugrats, a Paramount+ Original Series, is set to debut on the streaming service this spring. “The all-new Rugrats is packed with comedy, music and adventures that only babies can embark upon, and the role of the grown-ups is an essential piece of the series,” added Naito.
Based on the series created by Arlene Klasky, Gabor Csupo and Paul Germain, Rugrats is again being exec produced by Eryk Casemiro and Kate Boutilier; Dave Pressler (Robot and Monster) and Casey Leonard (Breadwinners) serve as co-executive producers, with Rachel Lipman (Rugrats) as co-producer and Kellie Smith (The Fairly OddParents) as line producer. Production is overseen by Mollie Freilich, Senior Manager, Current Series Animation, Nickelodeon. Casting is overseen by Paulson.
Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years
Animation:
Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years (available now on Paramount+; premieres September 2021 on Nickelodeon) – This CG-animated prequel marks the first-ever SpongeBob SquarePants spinoff and follows 10-year-old SpongeBob SquarePants and his pals during summer sleepaway camp where they spend their time building underwater campfires, catching wild jellyfish and swimming in Lake Yuckymuck at the craziest camp in the kelp forest. Nick has picked up an additional 13 episodes of the series, bring the total season one order to 26.
Rugrats (premieres spring 2021 on Paramount+, followed by a later premiere on Nickelodeon) – This reimagining of Nick’s iconic ‘90s hit will reunite members of the original voice cast and follow the iconic crew of toddlers — Tommy Pickles, Chuckie Finster, Angelica Pickles, Susie Carmichael, and twins Phil and Lil DeVille — throughout their day-to-day lives that become adventures in their minds.
The Patrick Star Show (premieres July 2021 on Nickelodeon) – The second spinoff of the number-one animated series SpongeBob SquarePants is a family sitcom starring Patrick (Bill Fagerbakke) and the rest of his family, as they are constantly disrupted by Patrick’s wild whims and surreal imagination.
Middlemost Post (premieres July 2021 on Nickelodeon) – Combining quirky characters with hilarious adventures and unwavering friendship, this 2D-animated series follows Parker, a former rain cloud; Angus, a brawny mailman; and Russell, their magical pet walrus, as they deliver packages to the unusual inhabitants of Mount Middlemost.
Big Nate (premieres September 2021 on Nickelodeon) – Based on the best-selling children’s books, written and drawn by acclaimed author and cartoonist Lincoln Peirce, this new TV series will feature brand-new original storylines centered on Nate, a precocious 11-year-old boy, and his mischievous shenanigans that usually result in disaster, detention or both.
The Smurfs TV series (premieres October 2021 on Nickelodeon) – Based on the iconic property and in partnership with LAFIG Belgium and IMPS, The Smurfs is a brand-new original CG-animated TV series following Papa Smurf, Smurfette, Brainy, Hefty, Clumsy and others, on all-new adventures, packed with humor, heart and high-stakes action.
Star Trek: Prodigy – character lineup
Star Trek: Prodigy (premieres 2021 on Paramount+) – An expansion of the Star Trek Universe, the new CG-animated series follows a motley crew of young aliens who must figure out how to work together while navigating a greater galaxy, in search for a better future. Star Trek: Prodigy is from CBS’ Eye Animation Productions, CBS Studios’ new animation arm; Nickelodeon Animation Studio; Secret Hideout; and Roddenberry Entertainment.
Monster High TV series (premieres 2022 on Nickelodeon) – Mattel, Inc. and Nickelodeon are producing a brand-new animated series based on Monster High, the iconic franchise about the children of famous monsters and creatures. The series, which will be available globally across Nickelodeon platforms, follows fan-favorite characters Clawdeen Wolf, Draculaura, and Frankie Stein as they navigate the hilarity of high school in the hallowed halls of Monster High.
Transformers (premieres 2022 on Nickelodeon) – Based on Hasbro’s iconic global property, the original animated series co-produced by Nickelodeon and Hasbro’s entertainment studio eOne will follow a new species of Transformers who must find their place and purpose among Autobots, Decepticons, and the human family that adopts them.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (theatrical release in 2023) – Nickelodeon and award-winning Point Grey Pictures’ (Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg and James Weaver) are in production on an all-new CG-animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles theatrical motion picture, distributed by Paramount Pictures.
Avatar Studios – Nickelodeon Animation Studios’ new division, helmed by original creators and co-chief creative officers Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, will create original content spanning animated series and movies based on the beloved world of Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra. The Studio’s output will bow on platforms including Paramount+, ViacomCBS’ subscription video on-demand service; on Nickelodeon’s own linear and digital platforms; as well as on third-party platforms and in theaters. The first project, an animated theatrical film, is set to begin production later this year.
The Tiny Chef Show [Photo: Miss Penny]
Preschool Animation:
Baby Shark’s Big Show! (premieres March 26, 2021 on Nickelodeon) – Based on the world-famous pop culture phenomenon, this brand-new series centers on Baby Shark and his best friend William as they journey on fun-filled comedic adventures in their community of Carnivore Cove, make new friends and sing original catchy tunes along the way. Baby Shark’s Big Show! is co-produced by Nickelodeon Animation Studio and SmartStudy, the global entertainment company behind the beloved children’s brand Pinkfong.
PAW Patrol: The Movie (premieres August 20, 2021 in theaters) – A Spin Master Entertainment production in association with Nickelodeon Movies, this major motion picture animated feature film is based on the award-winning preschool series PAW Patrol and will be distributed by Paramount Pictures.
The Tiny Chef Show (working title; premieres 2022 on Nickelodeon) – Herbivore social media sensation The Tiny Chef is bringing his culinary adventures to Nickelodeon in a brand-new series, produced in association with Imagine Kids+Family, Tiny Chef Productions, and Nickelodeon Animation Studio, that will follow the talented chef as he whips up tasty ‘weshipees’ and the world’s tiniest plant-based dishes from his tree-stump home.
Additionally, the brand has announced plans for a new live-action TV movie inspired by one of its hit animated series: The Loud House: A Very Loud Christmas! (WT; premieres November 2021 on Nickelodeon). Production is set to begin in April and casting is currently underway, with Wolfgang Schaeffer (Criminal Minds) tapped to play 11-year-old Lincoln Loud and Jahzir Bruno (The Witches) as Clyde McBride, Lincoln’s best friend.
And puppetry fans can look forward to The Barbarian and the Troll, premiering April 2 on Nickelodeon. This fantasy-comedy series follows Evan, a bridge troll in search of adventure, and Brendar, a fierce female warrior on a quest to defeat the evil demon who has imprisoned her brother. The series is co-created and executive produced by Mike Mitchell (Trolls, The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part) and Drew Massey, who co-stars with Spencer Grammer. Mitchell also serves as the show’s primary director. Production for Nickelodeon is overseen by Zack Olin, SVP of Live Action; and Shauna Phelan, SVP of Live-Action Scripted Content.
Nickelodeon stars and execs check in during The Nickelodeon Virtual Upfront Show: Bring Your Kids!
High-speed adventure and high-stakes espionage continue with eight all-new 22 min. episodes April 16. From Universal and DreamWorks Animation, the season four trailer for the hit Netflix original series Fast & Furious: Spy Racers follows the crew on a mission to Mexico City.
Inspired by Universal’s blockbuster Fast & Furious franchise, teenager Tony Toretto follows in the footsteps of his cousin Dom when he and his friends are recruited by a secret government agency to take down nefarious crime organizations across the globe. Tim Hedrick and Bret Haaland serve as executive producers and showrunners. The series is also executive produced by Vin Diesel, Chris Morgan and Neal H. Moritz, who also serve as producers on the live-action Fast & Furious franchise.
In S4, framed for a crime they didn’t commit, the Spy Racers and Ms. Nowhere embark on a perilous mission to Mexico City to prove their innocence and bring the real culprit to justice. As the team works to uncover the identity of the real villain, they find themselves hunted by the agency’s most unstoppable super-agent who’s hot on their trail.
The series features the voices of Tyler Posey as Tony Toretto, Charlet Chung as Echo, Luke Youngblood as Frostee Benson, Jorge Diaz as Cisco Renaldo, and Hamilton‘s Renée Elise Goldsberry as Ms. Nowhere. Guest stars include Danny Trejo as Tuco, Paul “Big Show” Wight as Palindrome, Jason Rodriguez Hightower as Moray, Similce Diesel as Sissy and Avrielle Corti as Rafaela Moreno.
Portfolio Entertainment continues to expand its senior creative team with Irene Weibel, Emmy Award-winning executive producer. In her consulting role, Weibel will be responsible for further accelerating the company’s presence in the U.S., by using her vast strategic business and creative experience to represent and build the company’s robust slate and thriving Toronto animation studio.
Reporting to Lisa Olfman, CEO and Co-Founder, Weibel will work closely with the senior creative team at Portfolio’s headquarters in Toronto across the company’s extensive development slate of both animated and live-action properties for kids and family audiences. Weibel will also assist in supporting Portfolio’s newest endeavors in primetime and adult animation production and service animation for the Toronto based studio.
Weibel will also further drive the company’s already successful initiatives in supporting and curating new talent and diverse storytelling. She will serve as an executive producer on a new slate of projects that will be announced soon.
“I am excited to be in business with Portfolio. Lisa and Joy and the team at the Studio are continually innovating and their recent move into live action and primetime animation is a prime example.” said Weibel. “I know that delivering compelling content to the marketplace will be at the heart of our partnership.”
Weibel began working with Portfolio in January 2021. Prior to joining Portfolio Entertainment, Weibel was a successful independent producer and entrepreneur, co-founding acclaimed kids’ entertainment company Sutikki in 2016, and during that time, financed and produced preschool series Moon and Me for the BBC. Weibel has also held senior positions in the industry as VP, Head of Nelvana Studios, as well as Head of International Co-Production and Development for Corus Entertainment. Weibel served as an executive producer on projects including Nelvana and Sony Pictures Animation’s Hotel Transylvania: The Series.
“Irene’s vast experience, wealth of contacts and success in developing and producing content for the global market will be a tremendous asset to Portfolio as we continue focusing on cultivating new creative voices, and diversifying our slate of high-quality brands and premium content,” said Lisa Olfman, Co-Founder and CEO at Portfolio Entertainment. “We are thrilled to have someone of Irene’s calibre join our team.
Portfolio Entertainment is a leading media company specializing in the production, distribution and animation of kids, family and primetime entertainment for television and digital media content providers worldwide. Portfolio’s current production slate includes Hero Elementary (PBS Kids) and the primetime animated comedy series Doomsday Brothers (Corus Entertainment). The company’s Toronto headquarters houses Portfolio Animation, a creator-driven 2D Harmony animation studio. Portfolio’s distribution division represents over 1,500 half-hours of programming, including the multi-award winning The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That! (PBS Kids/Treehouse), seen on broadcasting and streaming platforms in over 170 markets worldwide.
The Ibero-American Animation Quirino Awards announced the 2021 finalists Wednesday at an event held at Casa de América in Madrid. A total of 24 works will compete in nine categories.
Spain tops the list of finalists with 11 titles nominated, followed by Mexico and Argentina with six, Chile and Brazil with four, Colombia and Portugal with three and Costa Rica with one. Filmmaker debuts occupy a prominent place in the selection, reflecting the dynamism and commitment to new talents in animation from the 23 countries that make up the Ibero-American region.
The Spanish short film Wayback is the work with the most nominations (3); followed by the Chilean-Brazilian feature film Nahuel and the Magic Book; the Portuguese short film Tie and the Spanish short film Homeless Home, both co-produced with France; and the Chilean series Petit Season 2, co-production with Argentina and Colombia, with two nominations each.
The winners will be announced on May 29 at a ceremony in the city of La Laguna, Tenerife, the new venue sponsored by the Cabildo de Tenerife through the Tenerife Film Commission. The ceremony will also pay tribute to the Cuban cartoonist and animation film director Juan Padrón, creator of Ibero-American animation classics such as Elpidio Valdés and Vampires in Havana.
The finalists will again be narrowed down to the winning projects by jurists Jean François Tosti (TAT productions; France), Joana Toste (animator and director; Portugal), Paula Taborda (Planeta Junior; Brazil) and Sergio Jiménez (Pinkman.TV; Spain). You can see the full list of semi-finalists here.
2021 Quirino Awards Finalists:
Feature Film
Xico’s Journey, directed by Eric Cabello Díaz. Produced by Cristina Pineda Antúnez (Mexico)
A Costume for Nicholas, directed by Eduardo Rivero. Produced by Fotosíntesis Media, co-production with Péek Paax (Mexico)
Cranston Academy: Monster Zone, directed by Leopoldo Aguilar. Produced by Ánima (Mexico, co-production with United Kingdom)
Nahuel And the Magic Book, directed by Germán Acuña Delgadillo. Produced by Carburadores, co-production with Levante Films and Punkrobot Animation Studio (Chile, co-production with Brazil)
Series
Count On Me, directed by Andrés Lieban & Alessandro Monnerat. Produced by 2DLab (Brazil)
Petit Season 2, directed by Bernardita Ojeda. Produced by Pájaro, co-production with Pakapaka, Señal Colombia and Non Stop (Chile, co-production with Argentina and Colombia)
I, Elvis Riboldi, directed by Javier Galán & Raphaël Lamarque. Produced by Peekaboo Animation, co-production with Watch Next Media, Wuji House, Insomne Animation Studio and Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals (Spain, co-production with France).
The Zurfs, directed by Alex Cervantes. Produced by Hampa Studio and Gallego Bros, co-production with À Punt Mèdia (Spain)
Short Film
Tie, directed by Alexandra Ramires. Produced by Bando à Parte and Bap Animation Studios, co-production with Providences (Portugal, co-production with France)
Homeless Home, directed by Alberto Vázquez. Produced by Uniko and Autour de Minuit (Spain, co-production with France)
Roberto, directed by Carmen Córdoba González. Produced by Carmen Córdoba González (Spain)
School Short Film
La Bestia, directed by Ram Tamez (Mexico), Alfredo Gerard Kuttikatt & Marlijn Van Nuenen. Gobelins l’Ecole de l’Image (France)
Memories for Sale, directed by Manuel Lopez. Universidad Veritas (Costa Rica)
The Return of the Waves, directed by Alejandra Guevara Cervera (Mexico), Manon Cansell, Edward Kurchevsky, Francisco Moutinho de Magalhães (Portugal) & Hortense Mariano. Gobelins l’Ecole de l’Image (France)
Commissioned Film
Pixelatl 2020, directed by Francisco Zamudio. Produced by Exodo Animation Studios (Mexico)
Routes, directed by Alejandro Imondi. Produced by Osa Estudio (Argentina)
Stormzy – Superheroes, directed by Taz Tron Delix. Produced by 2 Veinte (Argentina, co-production with United Kingdom)
Video Game
Adore. Developed by Cadabra Games (Brazil)
GYLT. Developed by Tequila Works (Spain)
The Antimatter Kid. Developed by Cosmic Brew Studios (Argentina)
Visual Development
Tie. Produced by Bando à Parte and Bap Animation Studios, co-production with Providences (Portugal, co-production with France)
Petit Season 2. Produced by Pájaro, co-production with Pakapaka, Señal Colombia and Non Stop (Chile, co-production with Argentina and Colombia)
Wayback. Produced by User T38 (Spain)
Animation Design
Homeless Home. Produced by Uniko and Autour de Minuit (Spain, co-production with France)
Nahuel and the Magic Book. Produced by Carburadores, co-production with Levante Films and Punkrobot Animation Studio (Chile, co-production with Brazil) Umbrellas. Produced by Bígaro Films and Moukda Production (Spain, co-production with France)
Wayback. Produced by User T38 (Spain)
Sound Design & Original Music
Alebrijes. Produced by María Posada Mylott, Luis Salas, Purapost and Guateque Cine (Colombia)
Loop. Produced by Uniko (Spain, co-production with Argentina)
An epic new CG-animated family adventure is ready to embark on multiple platforms across the U.S. in the coming months, as Felix and the Hidden Treasure debuts exclusively on DIRECTV on May 28, followed by a select theatrical and VOD/On Demand release on June 29 through Viva Pictures.
The movie follows 12-year-old Felix (voiced by young Fuller House star Elias Harger) as he sets out to sea to find his missing father. With the help of a retired sailor, a one-legged parrot, and a cat who thinks he’s a dog, Felix will discover an unimaginable new world.
Previously titled Felix and the Treasure of Morgaa, the film is the latest from Quebec studio 10th Ave Productions (Mission Kathmandu: The Adventures of Nelly and Simon, Rooster Doodle Doo, The Legend of Sarila). The new pic was chosen to open the Montreal International Children’s Film Festival last week.
Nicola Lemay makes his feature directorial debut with Felix and the Hidden Treasure. Lemay directed the Annecy FIPRESCI Prize-winning short No Fish Where to Go, stereoscopic short Private Eyes and NFB-produced special Noël Noël. He has also worked as a story artist on Charming and Gnome Alone, and was animation supervisor for April and the Extraordinary World.
With a reboot of Beavis and Butt-head in the works along with a spin-off of its spin-off Daria starring Tracee Ellis Ross, Jodie, creator Mike Judge may have another animated resurrection on his hands soon.
Tech Radar reported that, during a Reddit AMA, series writer Brent Forrester revealed that an aged-up revamp of Emmy and Annie Award-winning animated sitcom King of the Hill could soon be heading to screens. When asked if he had any updates about a potential revival, Forrester responded:
“I am sure [co-creators] Greg Daniels and Mike Judge will murder me for sharing this but… HELL YES. They are in hot negotiations to bring back King of the Hill. The Trump administration made it suddenly very relevant again. The characters have all aged 15 years. The project is sooooo good. Okay I’ve said too much :).”
Daniels revealed last year that original network FOX had rejected a reboot a couple years earlier, telling ComicBook.com, “…We do have a plan for it and it’s pretty funny. So maybe one day … Yeah, that would be a super fun reboot. I feel like [King of the Hill] is easier to reboot because you can get all the characters and they all look the same.”
Forrester is an Emmy-winning writer and producer who has also worked on The Simpsons, The Office, Final Space and Space Force. He served as co-exec producer on King of the Hill‘s earliest seasons, and returned as a consulting producer in 2003-04. He also wrote the episode “Peggy’s Turtle Song,” in which the Hill matriarch quits her job to look after Bobby when he gets misdiagnosed with ADD, and ends up questioning her place in life thanks to a feminist guitar teacher (voiced by Ani DiFranco).
Set in the fictional city of Arlen, Texas, King of the Hill followed the daily triumphs and challenges of the Hill family — everyman propane salesman Hank (voiced by Judge); his wife, overly self-assured substitute teacher Peggy (Kathy Najimy); and soft-natured tweenage son Bobby (Pamela Adlon), an aspiring comedian — as well as their eccentric neighbors, family and friends.
The main cast also featured Johnny Hardwick as Dale, Stephen Root as Bill and Brittany Murphy as Luanne. Recurring and guest stars included Lauren Tom, Breckin Meyer, Toby Huss, Tammy Wynette, Tom Petty, Paget Brewster, Johnny Knoxville, David Carradine, David Herman, Meryl Streep, Brad Pitt, Lucy Liu, Chris Rock, Kathleen Turner, Reese Witherspoon, Ed Asner, ZZ Top’s Dusty Hill and many more.
The series ran for 13 seasons from 1997 to 2010, winning two Primetime Emmy Awards (Outstanding Animated Program in 1999 and Outstanding Voice-Over for Adlon in 2002) and many other accolades. Originally aired on Fox, the series streams on Hulu — both companies are now owned by Disney. King of the Hill was produced by 20th Century Fox Television (now 20th Television), 3 Arts, Daniels’ Deedle-Dee Prod., Judge’s Judgmental Films and animation studio Film Roman.
Universal Pictures has set release dates for two DreamWorks Animation features, scratching a couple UNTITLED DREAMWORKS ANIMATION FILM spaces off its release calendar. Kids’ book adaptation The Bad Guys is slated for Friday, April 15, 2022, and franchise flick Puss in Boots: The Last Wish will arrive on Friday, September 23, 2022.
The Bad Guys | April 15, 2022
After a lifetime of pulling legendary heists, five notorious bad guys — Mr. Wolf, Mr. Snake, Mr. Piranha, Mr. Shark and Ms. Tarantula — attempt their most challenging job yet…going good. Nobody has ever failed so hard at trying to be good as The Bad Guys.
Optioned in 2018, the movie is based on the bestselling Scholastic book series by Aaron Blabey, which has more than 8.2 million copies in print worldwide, The Bad Guys is directed by Pierre Perifel (director, DWA award-winning short Bilby; animator, the Kung Fu Panda films), making his feature-directing debut. The film is produced by Damon Ross (co-producer, Nacho Libre) and Rebecca Huntley (co-producer Abominable; associate producer, The Boss Baby). The executive producers are Blabey, Etan Cohen and Patrick Hughes.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish | Sept. 23, 2022
Puss in Boots is back in action! The sequel to DreamWorks Animation’s 2011 Oscar-nominated blockbuster, which earned more than $550 million worldwide, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish will be directed by Joel Crawford and produced by Mark Swift, the creative team behind DWA’s 2020 smash, The Croods: A New Age, which earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Picture – Animated.
Academy Award nominee Antonio Banderas will again voice the suave feline outlaw, as Puss in Boots discovers that his passion for adventure has taken its toll: He has burned through eight of his nine lives, leaving him with only one life left. Puss sets out on an epic journey to find the mythical Last Wish and restore his nine lives.
The character of Puss in Boots first appeared in 2004’s Oscar-nominated Shrek 2 and instantly became a global, scene-stealing sensation. Puss then co-starred in two other Shrek sequels before landing his first solo film. The character has also appeared in DWA videos and TV series, including DreamWorks Shrek’s Swamp Stories. The Shrek and Puss in Boots films have collectively earned more than $3.5 billion worldwide.
ShortsTV, the first and only global channel and network dedicated to short films, announced today the 16th annual Oscar Nominated Short Films theatrical releases. Spanning the categories of Live Action, Animation and Documentary, the short films will be available globally starting April 2.
The program will run on more than 200 screens across 50+ theatrical markets including New York and Los Angeles — and, due to theaters being directly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, through virtual cinematic releases with a portion of proceeds benefiting the local theaters that are unable to be open during the release. Participating theaters and ticketing info available at tickets.oscar-shorts.com. This is the only opportunity for audiences to watch the short film nominees in theaters before the Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday, April 25.
“Last year’s Oscar Nominated Short Films were some of the last great movies many of our audiences saw in theatres before the pandemic. Now, as we emerge from this challenging time, we are thrilled to bring the joy of great cinema to our global audiences through the beloved Oscar Nominated Short Films releases, which will be available to audiences everywhere in a few short weeks,” said ShortsTV CEO and Founder Carter Pilcher. “This year’s films are breathtaking and compelling – our audiences are gonna love ‘em!”
The program will also be available on VOD via iTunes, Amazon, Verizon, Google Play beginning April 20.
Coinciding with the theatrical and virtual releases, ShortsTV also launched “The ShortsTV Podcast – Award Season” and is releasing episodes weekly leading up to the awards ceremony. Guests include Academy members, industry insiders, this year’s nominees, previous winners and more. The podcast is currently available to stream on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Soundcloud.
Burrowdir. Madeline Sharafian (U.S.; Pixar) | A young rabbit embarks on a journey to dig the burrow of her dreams, despite not having a clue what she’s doing. Rather than reveal to her neighbors her imperfections, she digs herself deeper and deeper into trouble.
Genius Loci dir. Adrien Merigeau (France; Kazak Prod.) | One night, Reine, a young loner, sees among the urban chaos a moving oneness that seems alive, like some sort of guide.
If Anything Happens I Love You dir. Michael Govier, Will McCormack (U.S.; Netflix) | In the aftermath of tragedy, two grieving parents journey through an emotional void as they mourn the loss of a child.
Opera dir. Erick Oh (U.S./South Korea; Beasts and Natives Alike) | Opera is a massive 8K size animation installation project which portrays our society and history, which is filled with beauty and absurdity. Oh enables viewers to experience the range of in-depth emotions through this epic reflection of human life.
Yes-People dir. Gísli Darri Halldórsson (Iceland) | One morning, an eclectic mix of people face the everyday battle – such as work, school and dish-washing. As the day progresses, their relationships are tested and ultimately their capacity to cope.
The Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma has celebrated the 46th César Awards in a socially distanced night full of piquant moments and political critiques from the crème of French cinema. While the six-award sweep of Albert Dupontel’s Bye Bye Morons (Adieu les Cons) — including Best Film — and the strip-down demonstration in support of film industry freelancers by actress Corinne Masiero generated much of the night’s buzz, animation enthusiasts toasted yet another successful night for festival darlings And Then the Bear (L’Heure de l’Ours), named best animated short, and Josep, which won for best animated feature.
The directorial debut of French comic-book artist Aurel, Josep is set in 1939, when the French government built concentration camps which held Spanish refugees fleeing Franco’s dictatorship in squalid conditions. The movie relates the true story of an unlikely friendship that springs up on either side of a barbed wire fence, between a French guard and the Spanish illustrator Josep Bartoli. Produced by Les Films d’Ici Méditerranée, the film has also won prizes at the Tokyo Anime Awards, Anima and the European Film Awards, and was a Cannes official selection. (Read more.)
Agnès Patron’s And Then the Bear (Sacrebleu Productions) melds a sense of childhood wildness and snatches of memory with sketchy pastels on a black background. The short unfolds at night as houses burn, adults tremble and hordes of children come together to dance in the ashes like cavorting bears. Shortlisted for the Cannes Palme d’Or, the film has screened at major festivals all over the world, winning prizes from Flickerfest, Tampere Film Festival, Aspen Shortsfest, Leeds Int’l Film Festival, Animatou and Anim’Est. (Watch online.)
And Then the Bear
Best Animated Feature
WINNER: Josep | dir. Aurel; prod. Serge Lalou
Calamity, a Childhood of Martha Jane Cannary | dir. Rémi Chayé; prod. Henri Magalon, Claire La Combe
The Little Vampire | dir. Joann Sfar; prod. Antoine Delesvaux, Aton Soumache
Best Animated Short
WINNER: And Then the Bear | dir. Agnès Patron; prod. Ron Dyens
Bach-Hông | dir. Elsa Duhamel; prod. Sophie Fallot
Shooom’s Odyssey | dir. Julien Bisaro; prod. Claire Paoletti
Nettle Head | dir. Paul Cabon; prod. Jean-François Le Corre, Mathieu Courtois
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