Animation Magazine

Tag: featured

  • Trailer: SXSW Premiere ‘Nuevo Rico’ Drops a Latinx-Futurist Reggaetón Remix

    Trailer: SXSW Premiere ‘Nuevo Rico’ Drops a Latinx-Futurist Reggaetón Remix

    A graphically bold, distinctly trippy new animated short will debut its unique rhythm to the festival circuit next month as Nuevo Rico makes its World Premiere at SXSW (March 16-20). The latest from four-time SXSW alum and 2019 Jury award-winning Puerto Rican filmmaker Kristian Mercado Figueroa, the film explores Puerto Rican identity through a Latinx-Futurism lens through its strong visuals and immersive world rooted in Taíno mythology.

    “Nuevo Rico is unlike anything the animation world has seen before. It’s a Latinx-Futurism film that expresses something singular about who we are and where we’re going. It is cinema that aims to decolonize and builds a path towards narratives that give nuance and breath to our experiences. It’s also a really rad look into the world of reggaeton that takes all of that texture and wild perreo energy into a narrative space, which is exciting to explore,” Mercado tells us.

    “Premiering this film at SXSW is amazing and means a lot to me. It’s where new stories are being told, discovered and points towards the future of cinema. The Latinx revolution happening in the heart of Texas just feels right. To me it says Nuevo Rico is here and we are the future.”

    Kristian Mercado Figueroa
    Kristian Mercado Figueroa

    Animation Magazine is thrilled to share the trailer premiere for Nuevo Rico and unveil the film’s official poster (below).

    Twin brother and sister Vico and Barbie stumble upon a celestial secret that changes their lives forever and propels them into reggaeton stardom. But they soon discover that their newfound fame comes at a deep price.

    The film stars Jackie Cruz (Orange Is the New Black) as Barbie, Antonio Vizcarrondo (Power) as Vico, Fernando Ramos, Don Victor and Josh Madoff.

    Nuevo Rico‘s production team includes Cruz as executive producer, supervising exec producer Angel Manuel Soto (Charm City Kings), creative director Raymo Ventura and storyboard artist/character designer Angélica Agélviz, with music and sound design by Josh Madoff.

    Learn more about the short at nuevoricofilm.com. Check out the SXSW ’21 lineup at www.sxsw.com.

    Nuevo Rico
    Nuevo Rico
  • DMR Brings 8 Hours of RetroCrush Anime to Pluto TV Block

    DMR Brings 8 Hours of RetroCrush Anime to Pluto TV Block

    DMR, a leading independent digital media and entertainment company, announces a new content agreement with Pluto TV, the leading free streaming television service, resulting in the launch of an eight-hour RetroCrush branded block of anime programming airing on Pluto TV’s “Anime All Day” channel.

    DMR launched RetroCrush, their digital channel devoted to classic anime, in March 2020. Pluto TV audiences will now get to experience anime television series and movies from the RetroCrush lineup, including popular titles from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s ̶ for free.

    Cyborg 009: The Cyborg Soldier
    Cyborg 009: The Cyborg Soldier

    “DMR’s goal for RetroCrush from day one has been to utilize our vast library to provide anime fans with the world’s best series and films,” said DMR Director, Digital Distribution & Content Strategy John Stack, who engineered the Pluto TV deal. “We have done so by launching RetroCrush first as a social media channel, then a standalone OTT service, and then a free ad supported linear channel. Now, and in that same spirit, we’re showing our flexibility as an independent media company to be able to offer Pluto TV an engaging block of classic anime programming to its expanding audience.”

    The RetroCrush programming block will start on Thursday, March 4 and will stream every Thursday and Saturday. Titles include: Cyborg 009: The Cyborg Soldier, GoShogun: The Time Étranger, Saint Seiya: Evil Goddess Eris, Saint Seiya: Legend of Crimson Youth, Saint Seiya: The Heated Battle of the Gods, Saint Seiya: Warriors of the Final Holy Battle, GoShogun, Dragon Half, Yamibo: Darkness, The Hat and the Travelers of the Books, Ramen Fighter Miki, Love Hina Again and Honey and Clover.

    www.digitalmediarights.com

    Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture
    Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture

  • Newly-Launched VIS KIDS Unveils Partnerships & Projects

    VIS KIDS, a division of ViacomCBS International Studios, today announced several high-profile creators and talent partners tied to key projects in development, during the Kidscreen Summit Virtual 2021.

    VIS KIDS is partnering with creative communities around the world to support its mission of being expert hit makers in the kids and family space, developing and producing content for Nickelodeon and the ViacomCBS ecosystem, in addition to third party buyers and partners. VIS KIDS also plans to expand its global footprint with the development and production of new formats across preschool, live action, animation and young adult, in regions such as the U.K., Israel, Asia and Latin America. Additionally, the kids’ content studio, which launched October 2020, revealed its new brand identity.

    “In launching VIS KIDS, we saw a great demand in the industry for creator driven, high quality and platform agnostic kids and family content across a wide genre – from preschool, to animation, to live action,” said Nina Hahn, Head of VIS KIDS. “We’re excited to align with amazing creatives across the globe as we continue to establish VIS KIDS as a leader in the world of kids and family content, while fueling ViacomCBS’s global content pipeline.”

    The launch of VIS KIDS is the foundation for ViacomCBS International Studio’s plan to develop more than 30 new kids shows over the next three years. Projects in development include a variety of genres such as live action, animation, young adult, preschool, and more.

    Deer Squad
    Deer Squad

    Upcoming animation slate:

    • Deer Squad. VIS KIDS is announcing a third season of hit global preschool CG-animated series Deer Squad, the adventure-rescue show on Nickelodeon that follows four, lovable, enthusiastic and heroic deer friends. This series is a result of a partnership between iQIYI, an innovative market-leading online entertainment service in China, Nickelodeon International and VIS KIDS.
    • Ib The Dog (Season 2), a Paramount+ Original animated preschool series, made exclusively for the premium streaming service in the Nordics region.
    • Gloria Wants to Know It All, an animated preschool series created in partnership with superstar Marc Anthony, Academy Award winning writer-director Juan José Campanella, Mundoloco Animation Studios and Lanugo Media.
    Ib the Dog
    Ib the Dog

    Content partnerships for kids’ and preschool animation:

    • A first-look animation deal with UpperRoom Productions, a production company founded by actor and producer John Boyega, known for starring in Star Wars, Red, White and Blue and Detroit. Through the agreement, UpperRoom will present three to five projects to the studio for consideration to develop into a long form series.
    • A first-look animation deal with Fred Seibert; Founder and CEO of FredFilms and the driving force behind such iconic animation projects as Nickelodeon’s The Fairly OddParents and Cartoon Network’s Adventure Time. Through the agreement, FredFilms will present at least three projects to the studio with the goal of at least one being put into development.
    • Continued collaboration with Israel-based Ananey Studios, a force in the kids content world, best-known for Netflix’s Greenhouse Academy, Rising, The Hood and Sky, with a focus on preschool animation and live-action projects for six- to 10-year olds.
    • A female-led adventure comedy with Wildseed Studios, a multi-award-winning studio producing scripted content for kids and young adults, and Tom Gran & Martin Woolley, BAFTA Award-winning creators and animation duo. Wildseed’s award wins include a British Animation Award, British Writers Guild Award, Australian Writers Guild Award and more.
    • A mixed media comedy show by Joel Mackenzie of Wildseed Studios, an award-winning content creator known for The Becky & Bagel Show.
    • A Korea-originated “fish out of water” comedy by Jiwan Yoon; Founder and Creative Director of ELECTURAL, a creative studio in South Korea.
    • A development deal with Argentine cartoonist and writer Liniers, for an adaptation of an upcoming new book.
    • An animated series about citizenship and community by Daniel Bays, creator and showrunner of the international hit and twice BAFTA-nominated preschool animated series Tree Fu Tom, and creator, developing producer and writer on hit CBeebies / Boat Rocker show Bitz & Bob.
    • A groundbreaking animated preschool series using innovative technology by Gili Dolev, co-creator, showrunner and supervising director of Nickelodeon’s Zack & Quack and Daytime Emmy-nominated series director of Nick Jr.’s Nella the Princess Knight; and Nigel Pickard, former Controller of BBC Children behind CBeebies and CBBC, former Director of Programs for ITV Network and executive producer of Zack & Quack and Floogals.
    • A fun-filled animated quest series by Paul Weston; former CEO / Chairman of Vivid and founding member of Toys ‘R’ Us U.K.

    Learn more about VIS KIDS here.

  • Watch: Sneak Peek at New Short Coming Home with ‘Croods 2’

    Watch: Sneak Peek at New Short Coming Home with ‘Croods 2’

    Follow a shadow-puppet Eep through the jungle to Gran’s cave to deliver a sweet treat in this exclusive clip from Family Movie Night: Little Red Bronana Bread, a new exclusive short included in the home release of DreamWorks Animation’s hit family feature The Croods: A New Age.

    In the short, join the Croods as they settle down for a very prehistoric family movie night experience. With shadowy figures around every corner, Eep must keep Gran and her delicious Bronana Bread safe from punch monkeys. The storytelling animation is reminiscent of the artistic silhouettes meticulously crafted by Lotte Reiniger and Michel Ocelot

    The Croods: A New Age is available now to own on Digital, and on 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD on Tuesday, February 23 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.

    The Croods: A New Age
    The Croods: A New Age
  • Kevin Michael Richardson Replaces Harry Shearer as ‘Simpsons’ Dr. Hibbert

    Kevin Michael Richardson Replaces Harry Shearer as ‘Simpsons’ Dr. Hibbert

    Following the announcement last summer that the record-smashing animated sitcom was enacting new voice casting policies and would no longer have white actors perform as Black characters, The Simpsons has confirmed to Deadline that Kevin Michael Richardson is taking over as Dr. Julius Hibbert for Harry Shearer.

    Sunday night’s “Diary Queen” episode was reportedly the last to feature Shearer in the role, which he has voiced for more than 30 years. The Emmy-winning series regular will continue to play multiple Simpsons characters, including Ned Flanders, Principal Skinner and Monty Burns.

    Winner of several BTVA Awards — including Voice Actor of the Year in 2012 — and a multiple Annie and Emmy nominee, Richardson boasts hundreds of voice credits going back to the early 1990s, when he provided English dub performances for Studio Ghibli’s Porco Rosso and Pom Poko.

    Over the ensuing decades, he has voiced roles for hit series Animaniacs, Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, Dexter’s Laboratory, Spawn, The PJs, Invader Zim, The Powerpuff Girls, Static Shock, Justice League, The Proud Family, Duck Dodgers, Jimmy Neutron, Codename: Kids Next Door, Class of 3000, Kim Possible, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Young Justice, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Penguins of Madagascar, Gravity Falls, The Cleveland Show, Niko and the Sword of Light, Uncle Grandpa, Teen Titans Go!, Apple & Onion, Bless the Harts and F Is for Family … to name a few. He can be heard in the animated features Trolls World Tour, The Secret Life of Pets, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water, The Princess and the Frog, Lilo & Stitch and more.

    Richardson has also contributed dozens of voices to The Simpson since 2009, so he should fit in nicely!

    Hear more about Richardson’s busy career in his interview with Talking Voices here.

  • William Joyce Helming ‘Great Gatsby’ Adaptation from DNEG Feature Animation

    William Joyce Helming ‘Great Gatsby’ Adaptation from DNEG Feature Animation

    Having entered the public domain at the turn of 2021, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby will be getting the animated feature treatment for the very first time. Considered an American classic, the Roaring ’20s tale is being adapted by a team of industry veterans, including Oscar winner William Joyce in the director’s chair, writer Brian Selznick on script and visuals crafted by DNEG Feature Animation.

    “Gatsby continues to cast a powerful spell over readers unlike any other book in American letters,” said Joyce. “Much of the power of Gatsby comes from the enchantment of Fitzgerald’s prose. He created a vivid dreamscape that, to some degree, has eluded filmmakers since the silent era. The previous film versions were constrained by live action, but innovative animation could finally realize the elusive quality of the novel.”

    Joyce — who wrote and directed the Academy Award-winning animated short The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore and created the stories that inspired animated features Meet the Robinsons, Rise of the Guardians and Epic — will direct the pic from a script written by author/screenwriter/illustrator Selznick, creator of The Invention of Hugo Cabret and Wonderstruck, both adapted into film, with 2011’s Hugo winning multiple Oscars.

    “I’ve been friends with William Joyce for nearly my entire career. I’ve always marveled at his ability to invent indelible worlds and unforgettable characters,” said Selznick. “When he told me about his dream of making Gatsby into an animated movie, I immediately understood what a magical synthesis this could be. The rich wonderland of William Joyce’s vision is a brilliant match for the shimmering prose of F. Scott Fitzgerald, and I’m thrilled to help him bring this unique cinematic experience to life.”

    Veteran producer Michael Siegel and DNEG SVP Creative Production David Prescott join Joyce as producers on the animated feature film, and DNEG Feature Animation will provide animation services.

    Prescott commented, “We are in the perfect time for an animated Gatsby. Viewers of all ages are embracing animation as another way to experience different stories. Bill and I have been floating a variety of ideas around over the last few years, discussing ideal stories to bring to the screen, and I really do feel that The Great Gatsby is one such story. The style of animation and imagery we are creating for this project are so beautifully married together.”

    DNEG Feature Animation has been working with Joyce on an original animated short titled Mr. Spam Gets a New Hat. The team, headed by DNEG’s Taylor Moll as VFX supervisor, has been developing the animated project within Unreal Engine, pushing the boundaries of what real-time game engine technology can bring to production feature animation. Commenting on the project, Moll said, “We are incredibly excited about the new methodologies we are employing on this short film with Bill and cannot wait to bring this same workflow to The Great Gatsby.” Mr Spam Gets a New Hat is due to release in summer 2021.

    Founded in 1998, DNEG is one of the world’s leading VFX and animation companies, with studios in London, Vancouver, Montréal, Los Angeles, Mumbai, Chennai, and Chandigarh. The shop has won the Best VFX Oscar five times in the last 10 years, as well as five BAFTAs, two Emmys and 11 VES Awards for projects like Blade Runner 2049, Ex Machina and Inception. DNEG Feature Animation is currently working on Ron’s Gone Wrong (Locksmith/Disney) and Under the Boardwalk (Paramount).

    www.dneg.com

    The Great Gatsby
    The Great Gatsby
  • YouTube Originals Sets Global Slate as Part of $100M Kids’ Content Commitment

    YouTube Originals Sets Global Slate as Part of $100M Kids’ Content Commitment

    YouTube Originals today announced the premiere of a new animated series, Super Sema” the pick-ups of eight new shows including Book Tube Jr., The Eggventurers, The Guava Juice Show, Kid Correspondent, Lottie Dottie Mini, Millie and Lou, Supa Strikas: Rookie Season and The Workout Badges, plus 25 projects in development. This new global slate is part of the previously announced $100 million commitment to invest in the future of quality kids, family and educational programming.

    Reflected in this new line-up, YouTube Originals Kids & Family has developed content goals in collaboration with experts across the globe in areas related to child safety, child development, and digital literacy — focused on producing shows that inspire kids’ learning and discovery of their unique strengths and passions while finding their own voice.

    “Coming from an incredible caliber of creators, our new roster of shows celebrates the diversity of kids and empowers them to pursue their dreams and care for each other and the world around them,” said Nadine Zylstra, Head of Family, Learning & Impact for YouTube Originals. “Each of these projects is in lockstep with the tone of the YouTube Originals Kids & Family brand. In essence, shows that are entertaining, compelling, embrace big ideas, have strong takeaways and ultimately bring the positive spirit of YouTube to life for our youngest audience.”

    Super Sema is an animated series created by Kukua, and the first show of the new slate to launch — premiering March 8, on International Women’s Day. The African series, produced by a female-led team, features a young superhero girl named Sema and follows her world-changing adventures. Fueled by STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) and set in an African-futuristic world, Sema, along with her brother MB, uses her “technovating” powers to save her village from the villainous Tobor and his army of mischievous Bongalala robots. A heartless artificially intelligent ruler, Tobor meets his match in Sema, who knows that with determination, creativity, and a helping hand from the amazing worlds of science and technology, anything is possible.

    Super Sema was written by four-time BAFTA winner Claudia Lloyd (Charlie & Lola, Mr. Bean, Tinga Tinga Tales) and directed by Lynne Southerland, the first female African-American director for Disney (Mulan II). The series will be available on the Super Sema YouTube channel, which has had its WatchTime hours increase by more than 40% year-over-year in 2020 vs. 2019.

    Super Sema (Kukua)
    Super Sema (Kukua)

    Additional animation highlights of the slate include…

    In Production (Premiering Q3/Q4)

    • The Eggventurers | From the producers of the popular GoldieBlox YouTube Channel, this new preschool animated series brings an eggs-citing machine building format featuring a zany cast of thrill-seeking egg characters. A wacky crew of eggventurers will jump into grand engineering adventures, building spectacular Rube Goldberg machines to help them overcome obstacles and achieve their goals. This dialogue-minimal show can be enjoyed by young viewers globally. The Eggventurers is produced by GoldieBlox, the media and entertainment company using storytelling to make STEM fun and empower young girls.
    • The Guava Juice Show | Imagine if YouTube superstar Guava Juice’s Roi Fabito was a cartoon character and he could do all the amazing things he wants and project his positive energy … times a million! In this animated series, Roi is 14 years old and he works with fellow teenager Jenny and a neurotic talking Guava at a curio shop where a magical bathtub transports them to parallel dimensions full of danger and fun. Using his signature enthusiasm, Roi helps everyone find something way more meaningful than the thing they were actually looking for. The Guava Juice Show is produced by Studio71 and Mainframe Studios.
    The Guava Juice Show (Mainframe Studios / Studio71)
    The Guava Juice Show (Mainframe Studios / Studio71)
    • Lottie Dottie Mini | This preschool scripted learning series based on the wildly popular Brazilian kids’ channel Galinha Pintadinha Mini (Lottie Dottie Chicken Mini in English), follows the beloved chicken and a colorful collection of friends as they navigate life lessons, learn fun activities and enjoy beloved kids’ songs together. The series will be released in English, Portuguese and Spanish. Lottie Dottie Mini is from Bromelia Productions.
    • Millie and Lou | Deep in the forest lives Millie, a friendly, fearless young girl and her best friend Lou, a clever cautious little cat. Millie and Lou share the forest with exciting creatures, the Forest Folk, all based on mythical folklore. Together, these BFFs are on a magical mission to meet every single one. This enchanting preschool animated series delights in the magic of making new friends and finding common ground, no matter who you are or where you come from. Millie and Lou is directed by award-winning Evgenia Golubeva and produced by the BAFTA Award-winning Blue Zoo Animation Studio.
    • Supa Strikas: Rookie Season | Go back in time with Shakes to find out how he made the world’s greatest soccer team, the Supa Strikas! This school-age prequel animated series will uncover some earth-shattering revelations for fans of the popular show and the pan-African team, including the mystery of Shakes’ missing father and how his biggest on-field nemesis was once his best friend. Supa Strikas: Rookie Season is produced by Moonbug Entertainment, the global entertainment company behind popular YouTube channels like Moonbug Kids and Little Baby Bum.
    • The Workout Badges | The new series coming out of the U.K. teams up Hey Duggee with Joe Wicks of popular The Body Coach TV YouTube channel, whose at-home kids workout series have become a favorite for millions of families in lockdown. Together, Joe and Duggee encourage their young audience to join them in different exercise routines. Each instructional video is guided by Joe and a group of school kids that “interact” with Hey Duggee animation. The show will feature animation of Hey Duggee characters responding to, and copying the exercise moves. The preschool series is a mix of live-action and animation, and is produced by BBC Studios.

    In Development (featured out of 25):

    • Jam Van | From the Oscar, Emmy, Grammy and Tony Award-winning team of Believe Entertainment Group (Dear Basketball) and composer/producer Bill Sherman (Hamilton, In the Heights, Sesame Street) comes a road-tripping, original music series for kids and families. Each episode, hosted by best friends Lamb and Anne the Alligator, travels to a new location around the country, straight to the homes and cities of some of your favorite musicians, culminating in a new music video with positive messages and lessons.
    • Corpse Talk | A lethally entertaining, animated, comedy-led chat show, hosted by history-loving Adam, who is very much alive, although his famous guests are not! Based around the format of a late-night talk show, Adam will dig the dirt on some of the most famous, infamous and incredible figures in history, unearthing the unknown and surprising stories from these amazing characters. The diverse lineup of guests include Dr. James Barry, Amelia Earhart, Ching Shih, Cleopatra, Frida Kahlo and many more. This school-age series is produced by Tiger Aspect.

    For the first time, some of YouTube’s recent kids & family Originals will also be available in additional languages in 2021. Award-winning scripted quarantine mystery series Lockdown (Sinking Ship Ent.) will launch Spanish-dubbed versions of its 16 episodes. From SmartStudy, YouTube Originals’ first Korean animated title Pinkfong Wonderstar will also roll out several new language versions throughout the year to join its previously released English and Korean editions, which have together captured more than 30 million views since launching in December 2020. Also coming in 2021 is the previously announced Onyx Family Dinner (pocket.watch / Shine Global), in which the stars of the Onyx Family YouTube channel gather for open discussions about what’s going on in the world over dinner, with weekly guests joining.

    Susanne Daniels is Global Head of Original Content for YouTube and Nadine Zylstra serves as Head of Family, Learning and Impact for YouTube Originals.

  • Trailer: ‘TrollsTopia’ Keeps the Groove Going in S2 March 18

    Trailer: ‘TrollsTopia’ Keeps the Groove Going in S2 March 18

    Your favorite DreamWorks trolls are ready to restart the party next month, as Season 2 of TrollsTopia premieres on Peacock and Hulu with six all-new episodes March 18.

    Executive produced by Emmy-nominated Matthew Beans (Trolls: The Beat Goes On!) and inspired by the beloved DreamWorks Animation films, TrollsTopia is the next chapter in the hair-raising adventures of the trolls. Now that Poppy knows there are other musical trolls scattered throughout the forest, she bottles up her endless positivity and invites delegates from every troll tribe in the forest to live together in harmony in a grand experiment she calls TrollsTopia!

    In the newest season of TrollsTopia, the fun doesn’t stop! Friendships between the tribes are stronger than ever with the arrival of “Pal-entine’s Day” and the help of the new Metroll train station, connecting all of the neighborhoods together. But when Chaz, a smooth jazz troll arrives, Poppy realizes she accidentally excluded an entire tribe from TrollsTopia and must do everything she can to make her new friends feel at home.

    The 22-minute episodes feature the voices of Skylar Astin (​Pitch Perfect)​ as Branch, Amanda Leighton (​The Fosters, This Is Us​) as Poppy, David Fynn (​Undateable​) as Biggie, Ron Funches (​Undateable​) as Cooper, Kenan Thompson (​Saturday Night Live)​ as Tiny Diamond, Megan Hilty (​Smash​) as Holly Darlin’, Jeanine Mason (​Grey’s Anatomy, Roswell)​ as Minuet, Kevin Michael Richardson (​Trolls World Tour, American Dad​!) as Smidge, and Sam Haft (​Younger​) as Chaz.

  • Anna Lord Joins Nexus Originals Team as Senior Development Producer

    Nexus Studios has expanded their Original Content team with the hire of Anna Lord as Senior Development Producer

    Lord brings with her a wealth of production experience and passion for all forms of animation to the new post. Prior to joining Nexus Studios, Lord has held senior production roles at Passion Pictures, has worked on feature films for Warner Brothers and DreamWorks, and more recently, has helped establish Locksmith Animation’s talent relationships across the feature animation world.

    Already a key player in the production of Nexus Studios’ dark comedy animated series The House, in partnership with Netflix, Lord has now joined the team full time. Her role will help to further bolster Nexus Studios’ growth in the entertainment space, seeking out new content opportunities as well as the very best writing and directorial talent to support a number of adult and family projects currently in development

    Lord joins a growing, dedicated team headed up by Charlotte Bavasso (Co-Founder, CEO and Executive Producer) and Christopher O’Reilly (Co-Founder and Executive Creative Director), alongside Diego Rosner (Executive Producer with a portfolio includes Goya-winning feature film Metegol and Emmy-winning TV Series Little Big Awesome) and Shona Collins (Senior Development Producer with previous titles include Oscar-winning Judy and Lenny Abrahamson’s The Little Stranger) as well as Steph Wheeler (Development Coordinator and Executive Assistant) and Jey McKinley (Executive Assistant).

    “We’re delighted Anna has now joined our development team full time,” commented Bavasso. “Her breadth of knowledge and experience is equal to none. Not only does she have a fantastic eye for global talent but impeccable development and production skills. A genuine all rounder. Anna joins the Nexus long form team at a very exciting time.”

    nexusstudios.com

    Nexus Studios
    Nexus Studios
  • Agency Elle Driver Boots Up Pablo Berger’s ‘Robot Dreams’ at EFM

    Agency Elle Driver Boots Up Pablo Berger’s ‘Robot Dreams’ at EFM

    Paris-based Elle Driver will be launching international sales for award-winning Spanish director Pablo Berger’s debut animated feature Robot Dreams at the European Film Market, running online March 1-5 (efm-berlinale.de).

    Based on American comicker Sara Varon’s 2007 graphic novel, Robot Dreams explores the power and fragility of relationships through the story of a robot and a dog living in an imaginary, animal-inhabited 1980s version of New York City. After a trip to the beach leaves his robot friend rusted and immobilized in the sand, the dog must return alone to the life they shared. As seasons pass, the dog tries to fill the emotional void left by this loss with a series of doomed friendships — while the only relief the robot can find is in dreams.

    Berger, who crafted the much-lauded live-action films Blancanieves and Abracadabra, is teaming up with art director José Luis Ágreda (Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles) and character designer Daniel Fernandez Casas (Klaus) to develop the 2D animated film’s look, as well as animation director Elena Pomares (Morning Cowboy, The Henhouse) and award-winning composer Alfonso de Vilallonga (Blancanieves) — whose score work will be punctuated by an ’80s pop soundtrack.

    Slated for release in 2023, the project is a production of Arcadia Motion Pictures, co-produced by Noodles Prod. and Les Films du Worso in association with sales and acquisition co. Elle Driver, which worked with Mamoru Oshii’s The Sky Crawlers, and Wild Bunch Distribution (The Red Turtle, Mirai).

    [Source: ScreenDaily]

  • BRIC Sets 3rd Summit with Inaugural Global Talent + Innovation Day

    BRIC Sets 3rd Summit with Inaugural Global Talent + Innovation Day

    The BRIC Foundation, dedicated to increasing representation in the entertainment industry, today announced its third annual BRIC Summit, to be held March 5-6. For the first time, BRIC will host a virtual Global Talent + Innovation Day on Saturday, March 6, free to the public, and packed with live and on-demand keynotes, panel and salon sessions, case studies, skills training and creator spotlights from the world’s most iconic entertainment brands. Additionally, BRIC is partnering with LA Promise Fund & Get Schooled to provide unique programming for educators and students.

    For more information and to register for the March 6 event, click here.

    “This past year has marked an unprecedented time in our history, and we want to continue the dialogue surrounding the industry initiatives that have been launched. The theme for this year’s summit is sustainability — sustainability around activism, and the continued strategy for building and maintaining a healthy employment pipeline and inclusive culture,” said Alison Mann, Founder and CEO of BRIC Foundation and VP Creative/Strategy at Sony Pictures Animation. “I’m thrilled that we are able to open our doors to the public for the first time. It’s important that we have these pivotal conversations at a global scale. We’ll be spotlighting creators and real-life case studies from all around the world including Asia, Europe, Latin America, and South Africa. It will be an inspiring day of empowering perspectives.”

    Industry Day: Friday, March 5 (INVITE ONLY)

    Darnell L. Moore, activist, author (No Ashes in the Fire) and Netflix’s Director of Inclusion Strategy for Content & Marketing. will deliver the opening keynote address. Attendees will hear from UCLA’s Dr. Darnell Hunt and Dr. Ana-Christina Ramon (authors of Black Los Angeles) on the state of our industry. Additional speakers include Ngoc Nguyen from Time’s Up, Arnon Manor (director, Cops & Robbers), and Artivist Nikkolas Smith.

    The day will focus on answering four key questions:

    • Diversity – Beyond the Checkbox: How will the events of 2020 enable us to examine and evolve our diversity strategies and how will intersectionality play a role in the growth of our businesses, in front of and behind every screen?
    • Now What? Hiring diverse talent isn’t enough: How can organizations build systems and practices for talent retention and growth?
    • Sustainable Activism – Activism isn’t a one time action: How do companies and individuals maintain the momentum and continue to innovate to create impactful change?
    • Innovative Talent Pipelines: How can the entertainment and tech industries create new access points to engage and attract emerging diverse talent?

    Global Talent + Innovation Day: Saturday, March 6 (FREE TO THE PUBLIC)

    Hear from speakers across the entertainment and tech industry, including Sony Pictures Animation’s Karen Toliver (producer, Hair Love), Malcolm Spellman (series creator, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier) and Anne Cofell Saunders (writer/co-exec producer, Star Trek: Discovery) as they discuss:

    • Resilience and Recovery: What will the impact be as talent across the globe has been affected by COVID-19, from the classroom to the workforce? How will we bounce back and heal the industry together?
    • Empowering Perspectives: How can we empower diverse perspectives in front of and behind the screen?
    • Globally Minded: How do you reimagine the global workforce and foster successful inclusive workplaces?
    • Inclusive Comedy: Think before you speak! How do we use humor to nurture an inclusive culture?

    “We started BRIC because we realized that if we don’t step up and start engaging individuals early on in their education journey, then there won’t be the evolution equality in entertainment we all are aiming for. We hope our programming for educators and students will become an invaluable asset,” added Nicole Hendrix, Co-Founder & Executive Director of the BRIC Foundation.

    The BRIC Foundation was founded in 2018 by entertainment industry heavyweights Alison Mann, VP Creative/Strategy Sony Pictures Animation, and Producers Jill Gilbert and Nicole Hendrix. In addition to hosting its annual Summit, the Foundation also runs the Creative Academy, partnering with Studios and Companies to give High School students real world experience and educating them on various career tracks in the entertainment and tech space.

    2021 BRIC Summit Sponsors include: Cartoon Network Studios, ArtCenter College of Design, DreamWorks Animation, Netflix, Catalyst, Scholar, Skydance Animation, Sony Pictures Animation, Illumination, Artstation, BRC Imagination Arts, West Studio, Weta Digital, Wildbrain, Supercell, Bento Box Entertainment, Gnomon School of Visual Effects, Hello Sunshine, Bonfire, Stage 32, VES and Women in Animation.

    Learn more at bricfoundation.org or follow @bricfound on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

  • FILMPIXS Platform Launches with Celebrated Animated Shorts

    FILMPIXS Platform Launches with Celebrated Animated Shorts

    HF Productions, the company behind an established series of global, independent film festivals, has launched new streaming service FILMPIXS as of February 17. The platform primarily champions short films, as well as a selection of international documentary features with impactful narratives. Available worldwide with monthly or annual subscription, the FILMPIXS launch lineup includes some internationally acclaimed animated shorts.

    Dcera (Daughter) | Dir. Daria Kascheeva | Czech Republic | 2019 | 14 min. 50 sec.
    In a hospital room, the Daughter recalls a childhood moment, when as a little girl she tried to share her experience with an injured bird with her Father. A moment of misunderstanding and a lost embrace has stretched into many years, all the way to this hospital room, until the moment when a windowpane breaks under the impact of a little bird. A selection for the Annecy Int’l Animation Film Festival, Toronto Int’l Film Festival and Sundance Film Festival, nominated for the Short Film (Animated) Oscar in 2020.

    Available worldwide, exc. Czech Rep. & Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Poland and France.


    Daughter (official trailer) from Daria Kashcheeva on Vimeo.

    Acid Rain | Dir. Tomek Popakul | Poland | 2019 | 26 min.
    Somewhere in Eastern Europe. Young runs away from her depressing hometown. Her early enthusiasm about hitch-hiking fades when she finds herself in the city outskirts in the middle of the night. At the bridge, she meets a figure balancing unsafely on the guardrail. That’s how she meets Skinny – a kind of unstable weirdo. Skinny lives in a camper van, which he uses to run his not-so-legal job errands. Together with him, she sets out on a journey with no destination. As the ride continues, a particular affection grows between the two of them. Selected for Sundance Film Festival, Int’l Film Festival Rotterdam and Dokufest.

    Available worldwide.


    ACID RAIN trailer from Tomek Popakul on Vimeo.

    The FILMPIXS line-up represents content from prestige film festivals such as Cannes, Toronto, Venice and Sundance, international short film festival award winners and, through the long-standing work of the platform’s curators HF Productions and their partnerships with global NGOs and the United Nations, FILMPIXS will spotlight engaging social impact stories and new voices in filmmaking.

    The streaming platform is currently in its soft-launch phase and February’s official launch will be marked by a further 100+ films being made available to subscribers. Fresh from the likes of SXSW, Tribeca, Rotterdam and Sundance, new content will continue to be added to the service weekly. With a small number of exceptions, the majority of FILMPIXS content will be available to viewers worldwide.

    HF Productions’ Henrik Friis and Benn Wiebe are the curators behind FILMPIXS and have established a global network of film festivals, creating educational value for audiences and significant exposure for independent filmmakers and short films.

    Friis (CEO of HF Productions and FILMPIXS), sits on the jury panel for the United Nations’ SDGs In Action Film Festival, is a former TEDx speaker and director of Arctic Film Festival, Oslo Film Festival and Santorini Film Festival amongst others. He consulted as a producer on the 2020 SXSW- winning documentary feature, Beautiful Something Left Behind and co-executive produced Women of the Gulag, which was shortlisted for an Academy Award at the 91st Oscars.

    Wiebe (Executive Producer of HF Productions and FILMPIXS) is a global social impact specialist based out of London; he co-executive produced Women of the Gulag, and procures partnerships including with the United Nations, organizing the SDGs in Action Film Festival and working with Sony Pictures for their Picture This Festival for the Planet. Wiebe also serves as a Board Advisor for Global Environment Media, Climate Crisis Hub, SIE Society and Yea! Impact.

    “Having worked with film festivals and partners in 20+ countries to date, HF Productions’ mission is clear: to support filmmakers and to get their stories seen and heard. FILMPIXS is the continuation of this idea — to provide a platform for short films in particular, which so often get lost after their initial run on the film festival circuit. FILMPIXS will ensure that there is life after the festivals for these true gems. And of course, in the current climate, we’re also keenly aware of the potential to bring these important narratives to a much wider global audience, within their own homes,” commented the curators.

    FILMPIXS will also be a platform for festivals showcasing virtual public screenings, as the global pandemic continues to threaten ‘physical’ events into 2021. FILMPIXS will debut its first virtual screenings in March, as online partner to the Dublin Independent Film Festival (an HF Productions- run festival).

    FILMPIXS is available via filmpixs.com as well as an app for iOS, Android and other formats. Subscriptions are priced at $5.99 monthly or $49.99 yearly; a seven-day free trial is also available.

  • Watch: AFI Movie Club Celebrates Honoree ‘Soul’ with Tina Fey & Pete Docter

    Watch: AFI Movie Club Celebrates Honoree ‘Soul’ with Tina Fey & Pete Docter

    AFI Awards celebrates Disney-Pixar’s Soul today (Sunday, Feb. 21) with brand-new content featuring actress Tina Fey and director Pete Docter. Fey accepts the AFI Awards honor on behalf of the creative ensemble and introduces the film to the AFI Movie Club audience, while Docter takes the audience “Behind the Scene” and talks about the influence of jazz and appreciating both music teachers and performers in the film.

    “Soul is a modern movie miracle. This ambitiously imaginative burst of life finds the spark of spirituality in American cinema – and delivers it to audiences of all ages in equal parts entertainment and enlightenment. Pete Docter and his talented team at Pixar tackle issues of the highest plane – death, regret, acceptance – and place their answers in the talented voices of Jamie Foxx and Tina Fey. The alchemy that results invites audiences to look to the future without fear – and to find the joy in their soul.” – The American Film Institute

    AFI Movie Club‘s (www.afi.com/movieclub) film selection of the day for February 21, Soul was selected by the American Film Institute to receive an AFI Award as one of its AFI Movies of the Year — the only animated title of 2020 to be included in the list of honorees, which also includes Da 5 Bloods, Judas and the Black Messiah, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Mank, Minari, Nomadland, One Night in Miami…, Sound of Metal and The Trial of the Chicago 7. AFI Movie Club is toasting each of these films as well as its tops 2020 TV program picks in a series of showcases with special guests and “Behind the Scene” conversations with the filmmakers and performers who brought them to life.

    With her trademark self-effacing humor, Fey introduces the movie with the inside scoop on how she voiced 22 — “Like most people at work in 2020, I was wearing board shorts and shower shoes.” — before offering heartfelt thanks to AFI for the honor.

    Going “Behind the Scene,” Docter notes that Soul was a deeply personal film to make, focusing on the film’s “anchor” scene, when Joe reflects on the comedown from his big musical break and the little moments he enjoyed with 22. Docter also delves into the effect of the film’s score (by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross) and jazz compositions (by Jon Batiste), Soul‘s message of connection and the experimental nature of animation.

    “I think when you’re in it and you’re writing, and you’re like, ‘I don’t know what this is, this whole movie is a big fog!’ … it’s struggle and pain and demoralizing,” the two-time Oscar-winning director of Up and Inside Out admits. “… But, when the film’s done and you look back — those are my favorite moments.”

    The AFI Awards celebration is sponsored by Audi, a supporter of AFI programs for the past 17 years. To commemorate each of the AFI AWARDS recipients, Audi has created the AFI Awards Audi Scholarships initiative providing scholarships in the name of the honorees to women and BIPOC Fellows at the AFI Conservatory – for a total contribution of $250,000. Congratulations to Bailey Salwey, Cinematography Fellow, recipient of the AFI AWARDS Audi Scholarship in the name of AFI Awards Honoree Soul.

    Available to stream on Disney+, Soul will be released on Digital and disc March 23.

    Read more about the film in Animation Magazine‘s feature story here.

  • Crunchyroll Announces 5th Anime Awards Winners!

    Crunchyroll Announces 5th Anime Awards Winners!

    Leading global anime brand Crunchyroll revealed Friday night the winners of its fifth annual Anime Awards, a celebration of the best and brightest in Japanese animation from last year. Crunchyroll recently announced that it has surpassed four million subscribers and 100 million registered users, just six months after breaking the three million subscriber mark.

    This year, 15 million global votes for the Anime Awards were cast across 18 categories from fans celebrating their favorite characters, series and creators, eclipsing the 11 million votes cast in 2020. The top three countries that voted this year (out of over 200 countries and territories!) were the United States, Brazil and Mexico. Winners were announced during a virtual event hosted by Tim Lyu and Crunchyroll’s beloved princess, Crunchyroll-Hime! The show will also be available to watch on Crunchyroll on-demand.

    And the winners are…

    JUJUTSU KAISEN
    JUJUTSU KAISEN

    Anime of the Year – JUJUTSU KAISEN

    Best Animation – Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!

    Best Fantasy – Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- (Season 2)

    Best Drama – Fruits Basket (Season 2)

    Best Comedy – Kaguya-sama: Love Is War?

    Kaguya-sama: Love Is War?
    Kaguya-sama: Love Is War?

    Best Girl – Kaguya Shinomiya, Kaguya-sama: Love Is War?

    Best Boy – Shoyo Hinata, HAIKYU!! TO THE TOP

    Best Protagonist – Catarina Claes, My Next Life As a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!

    Best Antagonist – Ryomen Sukuna, JUJUTSU KAISEN

    Best Fight Scene – Deku Vs. Overhaul, My Hero Academia Season 4

    Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!
    Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!

    Best Score – Kevin Penkin, Tower of God

    Best Director – Masaaki Yuasa, Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!

    Best Character Design – Mayuka Ito, Original Designs by Aidairo, Toilet-bound Hanako-kun

    Best Couple – Nasa Yuzaki & Tsukasa Yuzaki, TONIKAWA: Over the Moon for You

    Fruits Basket
    Fruits Basket

    Best VA Performance (JP) – Yusuke Kobayashi as Natsuki Subaru, Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- (Season 2)

    Best VA Performance (EN) – Zeno Robinson as Hawks, My Hero Academia Season 4

    Best Opening Sequence (OP) – “Wild Side” (ALI), BEASTARS

    Best Ending Sequence (ED) – “LOST IN PARADISE” (ALI feat. AKLO), JUJUTSU KAISEN

    Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-
    Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-

    In addition to the night’s big winners, Crunchyroll revealed five new titles coming to the platform:

    • Tokyo Revengers | This action-packed series follows young Takemichi Hanagaki after a tragic event sends him back in time and provides him with an opportunity to change the fate of his loved ones and to build a new future. (Trailer)
    • ZOMBIE LAND SAGA REVENGE | This second season of the cutting-edge zombie idol anime follows the undead idol group Franchouchou as they embark on their latest adventures towards legendary fame. (Trailer)
    • I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years | This comedic series follows a powerful witch who would rather not work too hard, but somehow finds herself in a variety of curious adventures.
    • JORAN THE PRINCESS OF SNOW AND BLOOD | This anime, set in 1931, follows Sawa Yukimura, a member of the secret organization Nue, who has dedicated her life to avenging the death of her family.
    • ODDTAXI | An original anime series focused on a solitary taxi driver.

    The 2021 Crunchyroll Anime Awards was sponsored by Princess Connect! Re: Dive, the latest addition to the Crunchyroll Games portfolio. (Check it out here.)

  • Platoshka Animation Studio Launches Four New Kids Shows

    Platoshka Animation Studio Launches Four New Kids Shows

    Young Moscow-based animation studio Platoshka has announced the launch of Beadies, a cartoon musical series for kids three years of age and under focused on early childhood development, and plans to release three more new IP series for various age groups.

    Platoshka’s flagship project, Beadies is a show for the youngest of kids (up to three years old), who are especially conscious about the world around them. Created by a team of animators, children’s psychologists and educators, Beadies focuses on early childhood development — but doesn’t forget to entertain.

    “We’ve put together a structured, vibrantly colored, and all-encompassing set of ideals to drive our young viewers’ growth. Everything about Beadies — from the colorful design, location and main characters to the stimulating orchestra music and direction of the show — was concocted with an emphasis on the specific needs of a child’s cognitive capabilities,” said Platoshka co-founder & CEO Anna Shelegina.

    Platoshka is already independently producing the first season (55 x 5′) of Beadies after having finished the pilot, with episodes in animation headed off to post-production. The show’s premiere is set for this summer. An accompanying mirror app will be launched to act simultaneously as a child-development instructor and social networking platform for parents.

    Alongside Beadies, Platoshka is presenting three more new IP series ready for co-production: Agatha: Queen of the Garden (target audience: 3- to 5-year olds), Cat Been-In-Use (5- to 8-year olds) and Antron (8- to 10-year olds). The company is debuting all four series at Kidscreen Summit Virtual, running through March 5 online.

    http://platoshka.studio

    Beadies
    Beadies
  • Watch Animation Magazine’s Exclusive Award Season Shorts Panel

    Watch Animation Magazine’s Exclusive Award Season Shorts Panel

    If you would like to find out about the process, inspiration and challenges of making some of the year’s most acclaimed shorts and hear first-hand tips from the filmmakers themselves, you need to check out Animation Magazine’s exclusive 2021 Award Season Shorts panel.

    We were thrilled that eight of the directors of this year’s short-listed Oscar shorts were able to join us for a free-wheeling conversation about their craft and experiences. The panel features:

    • Madeline Sharafian (Burrow)
    • Adrien Merigeau (Genius Loci)
    • Michael Govier (If Anything Happens I Love You)
    • Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu (Kapaemahu)
    • Erick Oh (Opera)
    • Steven Clay Hunter (Out)
    • Max Lang (The Snail and the Whale)
    • Taylor Meacham (To: Gerard)

    The Academy Award nominations will be announced on Monday, March 15. The Annie Award nominations will be revealed on Wednesday, March 3. If you work in animation, you can watch all the projects shortlisted for the Academy Awards at www.animationshowcase.com. To get access to the streaming site, click here.

    [A huge thanks to all our talented panelists, event director Kim Derevlany and webmaster Steve Dietrich for making this happen.]

  • Zoic Expands Vancouver Studio with Trio of Hires

    Emmy Award-winning visual effects company Zoic Studios is expanding its Vancouver studio, bringing on Craig Wentworth as VFX Supervisor, Patricia Binga as Animation Supervisor and Adam Harrison as VFX Producer.

    The hires come on the heels of a year of significant advancements at the intersection of creativity and technology for the company, despite the challenges amidst pandemic-spurred production shutdowns. In 2020, Zoic was awarded a coveted Epic MegaGrant to continue in-house virtual production R&D, furthering the company’s 20 year legacy in the space that originated with their proprietary ZEUS pipeline in 2009. Their innovations in LED technology for virtual filmmaking is already being leveraged on top series including the latest DC superhero drama for the CW, Superman & Lois, and the upcoming fantasy drama Sweet Tooth, coming to Netflix.

    Wentworth joins Zoic from Method Studios, bringing over 25 years of experience in visual effects production for feature films, television dramas, commercials, and documentaries, spanning work on top projects including the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and episodic hits like The Boys and For All Mankind. Binga boasts a diverse background in animation, coming to Zoic from Ziva Dynamics and Pixomondo where she led projects such as Midway, Goosebumps and A Dog’s Way Home. Harrison comes to Zoic after several years at Pixomondo, where he worked on HBOMax’s Raised by Wolves and the Apple TV+ series SEE, among other projects.

    “We are incredibly proud of our team continuing to make significant creative and technical achievements despite the challenges of the pandemic to the production industry,” noted Zoic Studios Co-Founder, Executive Creative Director Andrew Orloff. “I’m excited to expand that team with an amazing lineup of talent who will continue Zoic’s advancements in real time content and film quality visual effects for television.”

    Australian native Craig Wentworth brings an extensive history in visual effects to his new post as Zoic VFX Supervisor, with experience working alongside pioneers in the industry including Peter Jackson and Sam Raimi. He served as a Lighting TD and Sequence Lead on the last two films of the Lord of the Rings trilogy before joining the innovative group on the “Battle of Helm’s Deep” sequence in The Two Towers. Eventually, Wentworth led the team behind the “Battle of Pelennor Fields” sequence in Return of the King, which, at the time, featured the largest number of digital creatures ever put on screen. Wentworth made his way to North America, where he worked at Sony Pictures Imageworks as a Digital FX Supervisor on numerous feature film projects with the award-winning Image-works Leadership, earning a personal VES nomination for Outstanding Compositing in the Tom Cruise sleeper hit Edge of Tomorrow. Most recently, he served as a VFX supervisor at Method Studios on popular features like Aquaman and Extraction. He graduated from Queensland University of Technology with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and Film and Television Production and began his career as a CG Generalist in Australia.

    Animation Supervisor Patricia Binga brings a vibrant passion for the animation industry that has continued to flourish over two decades. From hand-animated cartoons to visual effects animation for feature films and television, she has done it all. Approaching her work with integrity and creativity, her genuine desire to continue to push her craft — and her team — has allowed her to continue to evolve as an artist. Entering the world of animation in a less than traditional manner, Binga pivoted her studies in architecture to entertainment, applying her drafting skills to bringing images to life through animation. She boasts 16 years of experience working on a wide range of projects including films such as Jurassic Park 4, Star Trek Beyond and Chappie, and top series such as For All Mankind, Legion and The Magicians.

    VFX Producer Adam Harrison has over 12 years of experience managing projects for feature films, episodic and games. He has worked with companies such as Marvel, Disney, Microsoft, Warner Bros. and EA Sports to create award-winning projects involving CG animation, motion capture, live action, visual effects and motion graphics. As a VFX producer at Pixomondo, he received a VES nomination for Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in 2019 for a sequence he produced for SEE. Prior to Pixomondo, Harrison was the Senior Producer at Goldtooth Creative, a boutique digital agency specializing in video game trailers and cinematics. He received his Diploma in Entertainment Business Management from Vancouver Film School and a BFA with a major in Writing from the University of Victoria.

    Zoic Studios is an entertainment company based in Culver City, Calif., New York and Vancouver, BC, which creates computer-generated visual effects for film, television, commercials and video games. Recent credits include WandaVision, The Haunting of Bly Manor and Judas and the Black Messiah.

    zoicstudios.com

  • Anima 2021 Winners: ‘On-Gaku,’ ‘Empty Places’ Take Top Prizes

    Anima 2021 Winners: ‘On-Gaku,’ ‘Empty Places’ Take Top Prizes

    Anima, the Brussels International Animation Film Festival, announced the big winners of its 40th edition. The festival has been offering a delightful selection of shorts and features to the viewing public, with unlimited online access since February 12, racking up more than 5,500 users and 90,000-plus streams in just eight days.

    The prizewinning films, listed below, will be available among the programming selections on the Anima Online platform until the end of the Festival (midnight CEST on Sunday, February 21) — a great opportunity for animation fans around the world to discover animated gems throughout the weekend.

    And the winners are…

    Int’l Feature Film Competition

    Jury: Amandine Fredon (France), Claude Barras (Switzerland) and Guillaume Malandrin (France)

    Award for Best Animated Feature: On-Gaku: Our Sound by Kenji Iwaisawa (Trailer)

    Empty Places
    Empty Places

    Int’l Short Film Competition

    Jury: Marcel Jean (Canada), Agné Adoméné (Lithuania) and Maria Anestopoulou (Greece)

    Grand Prix for Best Int’l Short Film (Provided by Brussels-Capital Region; 2,500€): Empty Places by Geoffroy de Crécy (Read more)

    Creative Revelation Award for Best Student Short Film (Korean Cultural Center; 2,500€): Eyes Wide Open by Laura Passalacqua (Trailer)

    Special Jury Award: Tie by Alexandra Ramires (Trailer)

    Special Jury Mention: To the Dusty Sea by Héloïse Ferlay (Trailer)

    The Tiger Who Came to Tea
    The Tiger Who Came to Tea

    Int’l Short Film for Children Competition

    Jury: Telidja Klaï (Belgium), Séverine Konder (Belgium) and Arnaud Demyunck (Belgium)

    Award for Best Short Film for Children: The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Robin Shaw (Read more)

    Animated Night Competition

    Animated Night Award: Rebooted by Michael Shanks (Watch online)

    Easter Eggs
    Easter Eggs

    Nat’l Short Film Competition

    Jury: Arba Hatashi (Kosovo), Dick Tomasovic (Belgium) and Pieter De Poortere (Belgium)

    Award for Best Belgian Short Film (Sabam for Culture; 2,500€): Easter Eggs by Nicolas Keppens (Trailer)

    Grand Prix for Best Short Film of the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles (provided by the Fédération; 2,500€): Polyamory by Emily Worms (Watch online)

    Author Award (SACD; 2,500€): Hold Me Tight by Mélanie Robert-Tourneur (Trailer)

    Special Jury Mention: Woods by Nicolas Gemoets, Carla Coder & Kelly Morival

    See all the films and watch the program online until Feb. 21 at www.animafestival.be / Anima Online.

  • Amazon’s ‘Invincible’ Official Trailer Lands with a Punch

    Amazon’s ‘Invincible’ Official Trailer Lands with a Punch

    Amazon Prime Video has dropped a 2.5 minute trailer for upcoming adult animated original series Invincible, packed with blood-spattering, super-powered action. The first three episodes will debut on the platform March 26, with new one-hour episodes arriving weekly through April 30.

    Based on the groundbreaking comic book from Robert Kirkman (creator of The Walking Dead), the story of Invincible revolves around 17-year-old Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun), who’s just like every other guy his age — except his father is the most powerful superhero on the planet, Omni-Man (J.K. Simmons). The 2D-animated series, produced by Skybound, also stars Sandra Oh, Zazie Beetz, Gillian Jacobs, Zachary Quinto, Jason Mantzoukas, Melise, Mark Hamill, Mahershala Ali, Seth Rogen and more.

    You can read more about this exciting new superhero drama in the April ’21 issue of Animation Magazine, available soon.

  • Comedy Central Announces ‘South ParQ VAccination Special’

    Comedy Central Announces ‘South ParQ VAccination Special’

    Comedy Central is returning to cut-out animation Colorado with a new one-hour special event of the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning series “South ParQ.” The supersized episode titled “South ParQ Vaccination Special” premieres on Wednesday, March 10 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Comedy Central with two encore airings at 9 p.m. ET/PT and 10 p.m. ET/PT. The premiere will simulcast on MTV2.

    The new episode follows cable’s #1 scripted telecast of 2020, South ParQ’s “The Pandemic Special,” which will be re-broadcasted at 7 p.m. ET/PT. Premiering on September 30, 2020, “The Pandemic Special” was the highest rated episode in seven years with 4.4 million total viewers for the night.

    In “South ParQ Vaccination Special,” the citizens of South ParQ are clamoring for the COVID-19 vaccine, and a hilarious new militant group tries to stop the boys from getting their teacher vaccinated.

    All-new episodes will be available to stream in HD exclusively on South ParQ Studios, CC.com and the Comedy Central App immediately following the west coast airing.

    Comedy Central’s South ParQ launched on August 13, 1997. The series is co-created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, who executive produce the Emmy and Peabody-winning show with Anne Garefino and Frank C. Agnone II. Eric Stough, Adrien Beard, Bruce Howell and Vernon Chatman are producers. Chris Brion is the Creative Director of South ParQ Digital Studios.

    Watch episodes and learn more of South ParQ‘s secrets at SouthParQ.com.