FOX Entertainment, Hasbro’s content studio, Entertainment One (eOne), and Bento Box Entertainment (Bob’s Burgers) are jointly developing an animated series based on Hasbro’s iconic mystery board game, Clue. The project was announced Thursday by Michael Thorn, President of Entertainment of FOX Entertainment, with Pancho Mansfield, eOne’s President of Global Scripted Programming.
Encapsulating the thrilling and suspenseful dynamics that have made Clue a global sensation for more than seven decades, the project would be co-produced by FOX Entertainment, eOne and Bento Box Entertainment, which also will serve as the animation studio.
“‘Colonel Mustard…In the Conservatory…With the lead pipe.’ By just hearing these colorful phrases alone, you immediately know what they mean — leaving no mystery as to why Clue is one of the most beloved board games-turned-IP of all time,” said Thron. “We couldn’t be more excited to develop it as an animated series along with eOne and Bento Box.”
“We’re thrilled to team up once again with our great partners at FOX and Bento Box on this exciting new series,” said Mansfield. “Clue is an iconic whodunit property that exudes mystery and intrigue, and has fans all over the world. We can’t wait to share our reimagined animated version with audiences.”
Clue, originally called Murder!, was launched in 1949 and invented by Englishman Anthony E. Pratt, who created the game during WWII to pass the time during lengthy air raid drills. Clue is conceptualized on the murder of Mr. Boddy, the host of the game’s “dinner party,” during which players must untangle various clues to determine who among the party’s six guests – Professor Plum, Colonel Mustard, Miss Scarlett, Mrs. Peacock, Mr. Green and Dr. Orchid – committed the crime.
Since its debut, Clue has been introduced to more than 30 countries, some of which call it Cluedo. The game, which has 324 different plots for players to solve, was adapted into a film in 1985 that featured three alternate versions, each with a different ending, and has since become a cult classic.
The concept was notably turned into the 1985 big-screen black comedy of the same name, directed by Jonathan Lynn and starring Tim Curry, Eileen Brennan, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Michael McKean, Martin Mull, Lesley Ann Warren and Colleen Camp — appropriately produced with multiple possible endings.
Paradise PD returns to Netflix for a third season on March 12… and things are getting weird. The new trailer for the return of the hyper-dysfunctional cop comedy has dropped like an atomic blast of bizarro gags, inopportune nudity and fart jokes. Duck and cover!
Part 3 of the adult animated series, from the strange minds of Roger Black and Waco O’Guin (Brickleberry), finds Karen pregnant, Fitz trying to move on from his criminal past (while married to a dolphin), as Kevin still pines for Gina and Gina still lusts after Dusty.
The voice cast features Sarah Chalke (Gina), David Herman (Kevin), Tom Kenny (Chief Randall), Kyle Kinane (Bullet the police dog), Cedric Yarbrough (Fitz) and Dana Snyder (Dusty).
The Motion Picture Sound Editors (MPSE) will honor Academy Award-winner George Miller with its annual Filmmaker Award. The Australian writer, director and producer is responsible for some of the most successful and beloved films of recent decades including Mad Max, Mad Max 2: Road Warrior, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome and Mad Max: Fury Road. In 2007, he won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature for the smash hit Happy Feet. He also earned Oscar nominations for Babe and Lorenzo’s Oil.
Miller will be presented with the MPSE Filmmaker Award at the 68th MPSE Golden Reel Awards, set for April 16 as an international virtual event.
“George Miller redefined the action genre through his Mad Max films, and he has been just as successful in bringing us such wonderfully different films as The Witches of Eastwick, Lorenzo’s Oil, Babe and Happy Feet,” said MPSE President Mark Lanza. “He represents the art of filmmaking at its best. We are proud to present him with MPSE’s highest honor.”
Miller called the award “a lovely thing,” adding, “It’s a big pat on the back. I was originally drawn to film through the visual sense, but I learned to recognize sound, emphatically, as integral to the apprehension of the story. I’ve become an utter convert to cinema sound. That’s why this award is so significant to me.”
The Brisbane-born director earned a degree in medicine from the University of New South Wales and was working as an emergency room doctor when he took part in a filmmaking workshop where he met his future co-producer, the late Byron Kennedy. They collaborated on a comedy short, Violence in the Cinema—Part 1, and later formed Kennedy Miller Productions, which has gone on to produce more than two dozen films and television mini-series while winning scores of international awards.
Miller made his directorial debut in 1979 with Mad Max, which he also co-wrote. The latest film in the series¸ 2015’s Mad Max: Fury Road, was nominated for 10 Academy Awards, including Best Motion Picture of the Year and Best Achievement in Directing. Its six wins included Best Achievement in Sound Editing.
His other film directing credits include The Witches of Eastwick, starring Jack Nicholson, Cher, Susan Sarandon and Michelle Pfeiffer, and the “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet” segment of Twilight Zone: The Movie. He produced John Duigan’s The Year My Voice Broke and Flirting and Philip Noyce’s Dead Calm. He also wrote, directed, produced and narrated the documentary White Fellas Dreaming, the Australian contribution to the international celebration of the Century of Cinema.
A key figure within the Australian film industry, Miller serves as a Patron of the Sydney Film Festival and the Australian Film Institute (now Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts/AACTA), and has been a Patron of the Brisbane International Film Festival. He has been a member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival twice, in 1988 and 1999. In 1996 he was awarded the Order of Australia for distinguished service to Australian cinema and in 2009 he was honored with the French Order of the Arts and Letters. In 2016, he served as President of the Jury for the Palme d’Or at the 69th Cannes Film Festival.
Multi-BAFTA-winning U.K. animation studio Blue Zoo, in partnership with Oculus, presents Peace of Mind — a new VR short film made completely in Quill. This imaginative, immersive experience can be watched now on the Oculus Quest & Rift.
A zany and surreal VR film, Peace of Mind is a ‘live dream interpretation experience’ where you see the protagonist’s recurring dream laid out before your eyes, but not exactly as expected. Starting in a virtual waiting room, you hear a hurried voice-over welcoming the protagonist, Mr. Burridge, to aid him in making sense of a nightly dream. But the voice-over seems more bureaucratic than helpful, and what follows is an off-the-wall version of Mr Burridge’s dream.
With distinct environment and character design, Peace of Mind utilizes the VR medium by placing the viewer in first person perspective as they experience the surprising nature of Mr Burridge’s dream interpretation. Director Ben Steer worked with the creative team behind Blue Zoo’s VR short The Beast to capture this unique story which begins absurd and verges into nightmarish.
Peace of Mind – environment artwork by Grant Berry
”As my directorial debut in VR, Peace of Mind presented a truly exciting and unique challenge,” said Steer. “Throughout the production, I was extremely fortunate to be surrounded by an exceptionally talented team, both here at Blue Zoo and at Quill, all of whom helped create this colourful and humourous Quill experience.”
Damian Hook, Creative Director of Blue Zoo, commented, “We’re delighted that Blue Zoo is releasing another film made entirely in Quill. Especially as Peace of Mind showcases how the VR storytelling tools can be applied in such different contexts with comparison to our last film, The Beast. We had a lot of fun making this, and hope everyone gets a chance to view it soon.”
? Excited to announce the release of Peace of Mind ? A #VR experience of one man’s dream… interpreted by another, entirely hand-animated in #Quill
WaterAid brings a new angle to the global conversations around Mars with a thought-provoking animated film looking at the search to find water here on Earth. The release of The Girl Who Built a Rocket coincides with three Mars missions going into orbit, and is the launch film for an ongoing campaign by creative agency Don’t Panic that looks to explore new ways to engage the public in the global water crisis.
To increase consideration for the charity, the advert does not have a donation ask but instead directs viewers to the WaterAid website and other online assets, to find out more about the importance of the charity’s work.
The animated short film was produced by Nexus Studios and directed by BAFTA shortlisted rising star Neeraja Raj, with sound design by String and Tins, and distributed by WaterAid’s media agency The Kite Factory. The film also features a specially composed soundtrack of David Bowie’s iconic “Life on Mars” – which is 50 years old this year – and includes a voiceover by award-winning journalist and newsreader Sir Trevor McDonald.
The Girl Who Built a Rocket
The Girl Who Built a Rocket tells the story of Fara, a little girl from Madagascar who dreams of being an astronaut. She attempts to fly from her home on the ‘Great Red Island’ to the ‘Red Planet’ in a homemade rocket in order to collect water for her family, after hearing a news report saying water has been found there.
“I have reported on some extraordinary feats of human endeavour over my long career as a journalist and newsreader; and yet something as apparently simple as ensuring everyone everywhere has access to clean water, still evades us,” McDonald commented. “I was astounded when I learned that a staggering 785 million people worldwide do not have clean water close to home. It’s something we all take for granted in this country – and is even more important in the middle of a pandemic. So, I am honored to add my voice to this charming animation and support WaterAid in its mission to make clean water, sanitation and good hygiene a part of normal life, wherever you are.”
Raj added, “This is a heartfelt tale based on real-life humans and their very real struggles. We approached it with honesty and humility and chose to tell it through the visual language of traditional 2D animation to achieve an emotional vibrancy that is unique to the medium.”
The Girl Who Built a Rocket
To ensure the authenticity in the portrayal of Madagascar, WaterAid worked closely with one of its Voices from the Field Communications Specialists, Ernest Randriarimalala. Randriarimalala was an integral member of the ad development team and advised on all aspects of the film, from Madagascar’s landscape to details of the characters’ appearances. The animation also provided the opportunity to create innovative storytelling at a time when travel has been restricted due to the pandemic.
“It was amazing to work on this new WaterAid film concept. The characters in the animation are inspired by people I’ve met through my work and I advised on the uniqueness of Madagascar’s landscape and homes,” Randriarimalala explained. “We hope the storytelling captures the imagination of the public.”
One in 10 people globally have no clean water close to home; in Madagascar, almost half the population lacks access to this basic human right. Having clean water close to home can help reduce the spread of disease and enable people to go to school or earn a living. It also helps communities better endure natural disasters.
The Girl Who Built a Rocket
“Fara has big dreams for her future, just like children the world over; yet for some, those ambitions may never be achieved because of the lack of basic necessities like clean water,” said Johnty Gray, Mass Engagement Director, WaterAid. “Unusually there will be no financial ask at all as we want to encourage as many people as possible to visit our website to get the full picture of what we do and why – something we can’t do in a 90 second ad. We believe this will increase consideration for our work, leading to more sustained support.”
The film will be aired on U.K. TV through an exclusive partnership with Channel 4 with peak spots in It’s a Sin, The Great, Secret Safari, The Great Pottery Throwdown and First Dates, as well as delivery across all C4 owned, C4 Partners and All4. The campaign is also supported by social media, YouTube and Teads. The Girl Who Built a Rocket is the first time the international charity has used animation for TV.
See more of Nexus Studios’ work at nexusstudios.com.
From May 4 to 9, the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS), one of the globe’s premiere festivals for animated film, will take place both onsite at various venues around Stuttgart, Germany, and with an extensive program online at OnlineFestival.ITFS.de.
The organizers of ITFS are starting the year 2021 with confidence. When the 2020 edition had to be cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, a quick rethink was called for. Thus, ITFS 2020 was one of the first film festivals to launch as a purely online edition with OnlineFestival.ITFS.de — and reached new target audiences, too. Positive feedback to the new format, both in terms of quality and quantity, has shown that online is an important channel for giving filmmakers a platform and offering fans all over the world the chance to participate in ITFS without the need for travel.
“For ITFS 2021, we hope to return to the actual and important core with personal, direct encounters. However, with the new experience gained in 2020, we have planned an expansion for the 28th ITFS with a first-time hybrid version,” said Dieter Krauß, Commercial Managing Director of ITFS.
Artistic Managing Director Prof. Ulrich Wegenast noted, “The surveys on last year’s online edition of ITFS clearly showed that both industry and audience would like to see a continuation of the online section with its media centre and streaming opportunities.”
Whether film fans, families or professionals, ITFS offers both onsite and digital options for every target audience, the choice is up to visitors. This is also reflected in the different types of tickets that will be available at www.itfs.de from mid-February. For the public, there are the festival passes: HYBRID, ONSITE or ONLINE+. For the industry, ITFS offers HYBRID and ONLINE PRO accreditation.
The planned onsite events are dependent on the development of the pandemic. As of now, cinema screenings and events such as workshops and presentations are planned to take place at Innenstadtkinos, on Schlossplatz and at other venues. Part of the GameZone, including the games exhibition “Wonderwomen – Women in Games & Animation” at Kunstmuseum Stuttgart and GameZone Kids at Jugendhaus Mitte are also to take place onsite with supplementary online activities in the free section of OnlineFestival.ITFS.de. In addition, most of the ITFS 2020 competition entries that could only be shown online last year are to be screened in cinemas in 2021.
For all those who cannot be onsite or prefer to access the ITFS program from home: Free live streaming is planned on the already established OnlineFestival.ITFS.de platform, to bring the Festival atmosphere on Schlossplatz to the web. Opportunities for families, children and film enthusiasts complete the OnlineFestival Free program.
With the fee-based ONLINE+ access, live streams or on-demand viewing of current competition films and a supporting program will be available. Personal filmmaker statements provide insights into the ideas and stories behind the films.
ONLINE PRO at OnlineFestival.ITFS.de offers professionals, in addition to onsite school and studio presentations, the opportunity to participate online in live workshops and presentations by renowned studios. The fee-based access includes the entire ONLINE+ film program.
Among the year’s onsite and online programming highlights:
“Creating*Diversity” is the motto for ITFS 2021, underlining that artistic media such as animation and games not only represent aesthetic and social diversity, but create it, too, from conception to production and distribution.
With “Copines!”, ITFS 2021 will also focus on France as a partner country which has developed a diverse and successful animation scene, especially in the last 30 years. Selected filmmakers, studios and universities will present themselves and celebrate rande nation of animated film at ITFS.
“Wonderwomen – Women in Games & Animation” takes up a relevant topic that was already examined 25 years ago at ITFS with a program by curator Jayne Pilling (founder of the British Animation Awards), and thus enables a discourse on how the situation for women in animated film has changed since then, what new artistic positions have emerged and what role women play in the games industry. The 2021 curators are Waltraud Grausgruber, Gerben Schermer, Stephan Schwingeler and Judith Ackermann.
Running concurrently with ITFS, sister event FMX (May 4-6) will present an all-online edition this year. Themed “Reimagine Tomorrow,” organizers have already slated a keynote by Florian Gellinger on the evolution of RISE Visual Effects Studios (Dragon Rider, Stowaway), a special focus on Over the Moon with director Glen Keane, short film spotlight on Mila with Cinzia Agnelini (Head of Story & Director, Cinesite) and an examination of the creature effects in Monster Hunter. Tickets go on sale February 15 at fmx.de.
Paramount+, the highly anticipated streaming service from ViacomCBS, today announced the renewal of its original animated daily news satire series, Tooning Out the News, which is returning for a second season as Stephen Colbert Presents Tooning Out the News on Thursday, March 4 with a half-hour special to celebrate and coincide with the launch of the newly rebranded service. The second season will continue Monday, March 8 with new segments available to stream daily, culminating in a weekly full episode, exclusively on Paramount+.
Recently nominated for a Critics’ Choice Award for Best Short Form Series, Stephen Colbert Presents Tooning Out the News features a cast of animated characters, led by anchor James Smartwood, lampooning top news stories and interviewing real-world guests. The series is executive produced by Colbert and Chris Licht of CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and RJ Fried and Tim Luecke from Showtime’s Our Cartoon President. The series is produced by CBS Studios.
“We are ecstatic to be collaborating again with the talented creative team behind Stephen Colbert Presents Tooning Out the News,” said Julie McNamara, Executive Vice President and Head of Programming, Paramount+. “They overcame every obstacle 2020 threw at them and day after day delivered an extremely smart, inventive and funny program that offered our audience a bit of reprieve from the ‘regular’ news cycle. We’re cautiously optimistic about what’s in store for 2021, but no matter what, we’re eager to know what the series’ mostly informative segments and characters will have to say about it.”
“We are so excited for season two of Tooning Out the News, which will feature even more incisive questions, unrelenting egomania, Freudian projection, shameless brand integration, tasteful nudity, unapologetic slander and flat-out lying,” said Colbert.
The first season covered the many breaking news stories of 2020 and conducted hard-hitting interviews with an array of special guests, including high-ranking politicians, well-known entertainers and esteemed journalists, namely Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Chasten Buttigieg, Rep. Jamaal Bowman, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Alyssa Milano, Charlamagne Tha God, Symone Sanders, Alan Dershowitz, Rep. Ted Lieu and Matt Schlapp among others.
In addition to Big News, Hot Take, Inside the Hill and Virtue Signal, season two welcomes a number of new analysts and two new segments to theTooning Out the News universe:
“The Establishment with Tory Hughes” | Veteran host and self-described “good Republican” Tory Hughes stands up for the center-right value of politely making things worse alongside an elite panel of Washington termites.
“Smart Talk Tonight” In this prestigious newsmagazine series, Tooning Out the News’ stable of highly respected soon-to-be-disgraced animated hosts sit across from real newsmakers in a real studio for intimate one-on-one interviews.
Season 1 of Tooning Out the News is available to stream on CBS All Access, which is rebranding and expanding as Paramount+ on March 4 in the U.S., followed by Australia, Latin America and the Nordics.
The Prince’s Voyage, the latest award-winning animated feature from French auteur Jean-François Laguionie (The Painting, Palme d’Or short Rowing Across the Atlantic) is finally pointing its compass toward U.S. shores with Shout! Studios, which is planning a multi-platform release strategy (details TBD). The film is conceived as a sort of travel diary set in a world familiar to the viewer (albeit populated by apes), but surprising to its titular prince.
An old Prince fails on an unknown shore. Wounded and lost, he is found by young Tom and collected by his parents – two researchers forced into exile because they dared to believe in the existence of other peoples of apes. The Prince, guided by his young friend, explores this stagnant but fascinating society. Meanwhile, Tom’s parents strive to convince the Academy of their heretical theory.
Directed by Laguionie and Xavier Picard (Moomins on the Riviera), The Prince’s Voyage is produced by France’s Blue Spirit Prod. (My Life as a Zucchini, The Painting) in co-production with Luxembourg’s Melusine Productions (Wolfwalkers, Ethel & Ernest) in a blend of 2D and 3D animation. The French voice cast features Enrico Di Giovanni, Thomas Sagols, Gabriel Le Doze and Marie-Madeleine Burguet.
One of the Top 10 most-viewed in development projects at Cartoon Movie 2017, The Prince’s Voyage was released in French theaters in December 2019 and has screened at prestige festivals including Annecy, Stuttgart Trickfilm, Locarno, Chicago and more.
International sales for the film are handled by Urban Distribution International.
HBO Max announced today series orders for three new adult animated series, including a two-season order for Clone High, a modern refresh of the hit series from Phil Lord, Chris Miller and Bill Lawrence that was set at a high school for clones of historical figures; a 10-episode series order for Warner Bros. Animation’s Velma, a new comedic origin story starring the unsung and underappreciated brains of the Scooby-Doo Mystery Inc. gang, Velma Dinkley, voiced by executive producer Mindy Kaling; Fired on Mars, an existential workplace comedy set five minutes in the future, voiced by Pete Davidson (Saturday Night Live).
The streamer also announced a season two and three pick-up for JG Quintel’s adult-animated comedy Close Enough, from Cartoon Network Studios (Season 2 premieres Thursday, February 25), and confirmed it is producing presentations for a slate of animated originals currently in development.
“It is a tremendous privilege to build on the 100 year plus legacy of ‘cartoons’ at this company. We can draw a straight line from our hundreds of childhood hours spent watching Bugs outwit Elmer to the current slate of adult animated projects we are building here at HBO Max and we think fans will agree,” said Suzanna Makkos, EVP, Original Comedy and Adult Animation, HBO Max. “We are proud to introduce this distinctive group of series from a wide range of diverse creators that will form a first stop destination for animation lovers everywhere.”
These new adult animated series join an impressive slate of current and upcoming adult animated series including Harley Quinn, The Prince, Santa Inc., 10 Year Old Tom and The Boondocks.
Original Series Orders:
Clone High (two season order) | A modern refresh of the Phil Lord, Chris Miller and Bill Lawrence hit series set at a high school for clones of historical figures. Phil Lord and Christopher Miller return as executive producers and writers. Bill Lawrence is also returning as executive producer with Erica Rivinoja, (South Park, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm), who wrote on the original Clone High, returning as showrunner. Clone High is produced by MTV Entertainment Studios.
Velma
Velma (10 episode order) | An adult animated comedy series telling the origin story of Velma Dinkley, the unsung and underappreciated brains of the Scooby-Doo Mystery Inc. gang. An original and humorous spin that unmasks the complex and colorful past of one of America’s most beloved mystery solvers, executive producer Mindy Kaling will voice the titular character. Charlie Grandy, Howard Klein and Sam Register also serve as executive producers. Velma is produced by Warner Bros. Animation.
Fired on Mars
Fired on Mars | From creators Nate Sherman and Nick Vokey, Fired on Mars is an existential workplace comedy set on the Martian campus of a modern tech company. Pete Davidson voices a character and executive produces with Carson Mell (Silicon Valley) and Dave Sirus.
Close Enough
Renewed:
Close Enough (Seasons 2 & 3 ordered) | From Emmy-winning creator JG Quintel (Regular Show) comes season 2 of Close Enough, the animated comedy about a married couple, their five-year-old daughter, and their divorced best friends all living together on the eastside of Los Angeles. S2 has Josh, Emily and the gang continuing to navigate adulthood while contending with haunted couches, bulbous horses, time-travelling whiskeys and a literal houseguest from hell — all in their very own apartment.
Cast includes JG Quintel (Josh), Gabrielle Walsh (Emily), Jason Mantzoukas (Alex), Kimiko Glenn (Bridgette), Jessica DiCicco (Candice), Danielle Brooks (Pearle), James Adomian (Randy). S2 guest stars include Rachel Bloom, Heidi Gardner, Keith David, Cheri Oteri, Kevin Michael Richardson, Kate Micucci, David Koechner, Vanessa Marshall, Wendie Malick, Kate Berlant and Michaela Watkins.
Hello Paul
In Development:
Hello Paul | From creator and musician Sean Solomon, Hello Paul is about a neurotic millennial cat whose intense job and freeloading mouse roommate stress him out.
Obi
Obi | A 30-year-old man-child chases his dream to become an artist while navigating adulthood with his friends. Produced by Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society, Michael Schreiber for Studio71 and David Devries, Obi is an adaptation of Obi Arisukwu’s popular Instagram comic strip. This project is co-created by Obi Arisukwu and Arthur Harris (The Last OG).
Uncanny Valley
Uncanny Valley | Executive producer Ed Helms with creators/executive producers Brendan Walter and Greg Yagolnitzer tell the story of three awkward domestic helper robots who kill their human owners and try to assume their identities. Uncanny Valley is produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, and Helms and Mike Falbo’s Pacific Electric Picture Company. Andrew Guest is also an executive producer/writer.
Cover
Cover | Brian Michael Bendis and David Mack are adapting their acclaimed DC comic-book series Cover, an animated espionage thriller and conspiratorial love letter to the comic-book industry that was nominated for multiple Eisner Awards. Bendis will write the series and Mack has signed on to direct. Cover is produced by Rooster Teeth Studios.
Red Monk Studio, a young Italian creative studio founded in 2017 by Corrado Diodà and Lucia Geraldine Scott, officially unites with majority stakeholder Superprod Group — the leading European production and distribution company of feature films and TV series. Pedro Citaristi, former International Sales Manager of Superights, joins Red Monk’s team as CEO and Producer.
“I look forward to the success of this joint operation. We have a very ambitious and challenging growth plan, but I am confident that thanks to our constant efforts and the full support of Superprod, Red Monk can quickly become a key player in the Italian animation market,” said Citaristi.
The goal of this merger is to create a new Milan-based animation studio of Italian and international artists capable of managing all development and production phases of TV series and feature films. To meet the technological needs of these ambitious aims, the studio will have access to the reliable pipeline and infrastructure established by Superprod.
“We are honored to support the Italian animation industry, which has grown into a leading player in the global creative community,” commented Clement Calvet, President, and Jérémie Fajner, Managing Director of Superprod. “We trust Pedro, Lucia, and Corrado will combine their impressive talent and long experience to evolve Red Monk into a fantastic animation studio.”
Superprod’s Jérémie Fajner & Clément Calvet
Red Monk will maintain editorial independence and the option to develop original concepts. In addition, the studio may still work with foreign producers as a co-production partner or service studio, with the capacity of triggering the tax credit for international productions available in Italy.
Among Red Monk’s many promising series currently in development is Osmond and Scout (26 x 22′), aimed at a 6+ target audience, which follows the extraordinary friendship between a little girl named Scout and a large forest-dwelling monster named Osmond. Additional projects in finalization will be revealed in the coming weeks.
Along with the Superprod Group merger, Red Monk announces an active search for new employees to fill multiple creative positions. Available artist roles include Animators, Concept Artists, Character Designers, Background Designers, and Storyboard Artists. Technical roles are open as well, such as CG Supervisor and TD Pipeline.
“This partnership means a lot to us: it’s great to be involved with this amazing team. We are also thrilled to have the opportunity to create new jobs in the lively Italian animation industry, which is quickly expanding and full of amazing talent,” commented Red Monk founders Lucia Scott and Corrado Diodà, who will continue to serve as Producer and Head of Studio, respectively.
Today, the Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma announced the 107 nominations for the 2021 César Awards — celebrating the best in French cinema. While Emmanuel Mouret’s Love Affairs made the biggest impact with 13 nominations, the trio of animated feature films and quartet of stylish animated shorts are nothing to turn up one’s nez at.
The 46th César Awards ceremony will be held March 12 at the Olympia in Paris, broadcast live exclusively on Canal+.
Best Animated Feature
Calamity, a Childhood of Martha Jane Cannary | dir. Rémi Chayé; prod. Henri Magalon, Claire La Combe [Read more]
Japanese animation shop Flying Ship Studio (Flying Ship Studio)announces the joint production of its first original series, Chiruta, with U.K. animation studio Cloth Cat Animation (Luo Bao Bei, The Rubbish World of Dave Spud).
Chiruta is an animation series for preschoolers aged 2 to 4, set in a mossy, ethereal village deep in a forest that remains invisible to the human eye. We follow Chiruta, a young, mischievous woodland gnome as she goes about her peaceful, idyllic life with her family and friends, helping to protect her forest home. Of course, life doesn’t always go as planned! When a challenge arises, together with her lovely companions, Chiruta finds ways to overcome it. Through these experiences, she learns and grows each day.
Flying Ship is presenting the project to buyers at Kidscreen Summit Virtual, participating as part of the Japan Delegation organized by the Visual Industry Promotion Organization (VIPO), with support from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).
Chiruta was first exhibited at the Tokyo Animation Pitch Grand Prix held in February 2019 and was chosen as a Top Prize Winner. With the support of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Flying Ship participated in the 2019 MIFA (Marché international du film d’animation) at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France, where the studio was introduced to their soon-to-be colleagues at Cloth Cat Animation.
“The idea for Chiruta started when I fell in love with my friend Yuichiro Matsunaga’s sculptured doll, and I knew I wanted to make an animation with these characters I remember how strongly I was touched by his kindness and his love for nature and people when I saw his work for the first time,” said Flying Ship Studio’s Director, Mr. Masa Numaguchi. “Jon [Rennie], who is the Managing Director of Cloth Cat Animation, has had an affection for Chiruta since he read the project, and has given us great support so far. This will be the first time that we work with an overseas company. I am very pleased to be able to work with Cloth Cat Animation to create an animation with these characters that I myself have fallen in love with.”
Jon Rennie, Managing Director of Cloth Cat Animation, commented, “I’m really looking forward to collaborating with Masa and Flying Ship to bring Chiruta to life as an animation series. Not only do the characters have a wonderful joy and energy, but they also represent a unique culture from Japan that mirrors the Celtic mythology of Wales. There are lots of folk tales about protectors of the forest, and Chiruta is an original spin on that magic and mystery.”
Actress and singer Diamond White (The Bold and the Beautiful, The Lion Guard) will star as Lunella Lafayette (a.k.a. Moon Girl) in Disney Channel’s highly anticipated animated series Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, slated to premiere in 2022.
Also joining the lead cast are Alfre Woodard (Marvel’s Luke Cage) as Lunella’s grandmother, Mimi; Libe Barer (Sneaky Pete) as Lunella’s best friend and manager, Casey; Sasheer Zamata (Saturday Night Live) as Lunella’s mom, Adria; Jermaine Fowler (Superior Donuts) as Lunella’s dad, James Jr.; Fred Tatasciore (Marvel’s Avengers Assemble) as the one-and-only Devil Dinosaur; and Gary Anthony Williams (Doc McStuffins) as Lunella’s grandfather, Pops. Series executive producer Laurence Fishburne will voice the recurring role of The Beyonder, a curious and mischievous trickster.
Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur
Based on Marvel’s hit comic books, Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur follows the adventures of 13-year-old super-genius Lunella Lafayette and her 10-ton T-Rex, Devil Dinosaur. After Lunella accidentally brings Devil Dinosaur into present-day New York City via a time vortex, the duo works together to protect the city’s Lower East Side from danger.
From Disney Television Animation, the series is executive produced by Fishburne and Helen Sugland’s Cinema Gypsy Productions (black-ish, mixed-ish, grown-ish) and Emmy Award-winner Steve Loter (Kim Possible). Emmy Award-winner Rodney Clouden (Futurama) is supervising producer, Jeffrey M. Howard (Planes) and Emmy Award winner Kate Kondell (The Pirate Fairy) are co-producers and story editors, and Pilar Flynn (Elena of Avalor) is producer.
On February 16, The Animation Guild is hosting a virtual conversation that will explore the contributions of Black animation pioneers in celebration of Black History Month. Featuring four esteemed panelists, the discussion will focus on celebrating each of the panelist’s personal journeys and will be moderated by Animation Guild member and supervising animation director Kimson Albert and “BlkWmnAnimator” Deborah Anderson.
The virtual webinar will be accessible via Zoom and Facebook.
According to TAG, after the murder of George Floyd last year, many Animation Guild members recognized that the union needed to better engage Black artists and offer productive opportunities for dialogue. TAG also vowed to create an environment where Black artists and writers feel welcome to participate in union activities as well as lead them. Paving the way, TAG Facilities Manager Jupey Krusho along with several engaged union members initiated the Black Artists Group.
“The effects of racism do not stop at the animation studio door, and we need to forge pathways into leadership positions for Black artists and writers in order to truly see change in our industry,” says TAG Business Representative Steve Kaplan. “We hope this event will spotlight and raise the voices of several pioneering Black animation artists as they share their experiences.”
Carole Holliday, Ron Myrick, Everett Downing Jr., Sidney Clifton
Drawing Ourselves: Being Black in Animation
Tuesday, February 16, 7 p.m. PST
Speakers:
Carole Holliday, BWA Lifetime Achievement Award winner and a multi-hyphenated artist whose creative contributions span from Oliver & Company to most recently Marvel’s Spider-Man and Friends.
Ron Myrick, a longtime veteran in the field of animation working as a director and producer, who says the industry has been a source of many joys, much passion, and at times pain.
Everett Downing Jr., an Academy Award-winning director with nearly 20 years of experience in feature film animation who is now co-producing an animated series called My Dad the Bounty Hunter at Netflix.
Sidney Clifton, an Emmy nominee with over 20 years of experience as an executive and producer in the animation industry and founder of The Clifton House, a writer’s and artist’s retreat space.
The Animation Guild, also known as Local 839 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), was founded in 1952. As a labor union, we represent more than 5,000 artists, technicians and writers in the animation industry, advocating for workers to improve wages and conditions.
Brian Jacques’ Redwall fantasy book series will be reimagined in animation thanks to a rights deal between Penguin Random House Children’s U.K. and Netflix: A feature film based on Jacques’ first book in the series, Redwall, is currently in development with writer Patrick McHale (Over the Garden Wall, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio), as well as an event series based on the character of Martin the Warrior.
The deal marks the first time that the film rights to the entire book series have been held by the same company and the first time a feature film of any of Jacques’ works will be made.
“We couldn’t be more delighted to announce this deal,” says Ben Horslen, Fiction Publisher, Penguin Random House Children’s. “These perennially popular stories have been etched onto the hearts of millions of readers, and we are thrilled to partner with Netflix to bring those beloved characters on screen for families worldwide to enjoy.”
“Brian often travelled the globe to tell his Redwall stories to young audiences, more often than not at their schools,” says Alan Ingram, representative of The Redwall Abbey Company (owner of Jacques’ intellectual property), “Brian would have been very happy to see that Netflix shares his joy and desire to bring his stories to life as a new universe of films, series and potentially much more for audiences of all ages to enjoy. We are very excited to embark on this new endeavour with Netflix and Penguin Random House U.K.”
Chronicling the adventures of the heroic animals that inhabit the forest haven of Redwall Abbey, the Redwall books have sold in excess of 30 million copies and been translated into more than 20 languages.
Redwall joins Netflix’s fast growing original slate of animated features, which includes Academy Award nominated Klaus, Kris Pearn’s The Willoughbys, Oscar winner Glen Keane’s Over the Moon; as well as the Fall 2021 comedy Back to the Outback, Richard Linklater’s Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Adventure, Chris Williams’ The Sea Beast, Henry Selick’s Wendell & Wild, Nora Twomey’s My Father’s Dragon, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, Wendy Rogers’ The Magician’s Elephant, Minkyu Lee’s The Witch Boy, and an Aardman sequel to Chicken Run.
Aardman, the award-winning independent studio behind Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep, has joined forces with leading researchers and mental health charities on a campaign developed to encourage young people to become more aware of the factors that may be having a negative impact on their mental wellbeing.
Called ‘What’s Up With Everyone?’, the campaign sees the launch of a series of short films aimed at young people aged 17-24, and has been uniquely co-created with the young audience it sets out to support, ensuring it has an authentic voice and is genuinely representative of the challenges to mental wellbeing faced by the demographic.
The films, which launch across social media this week alongside a supporting website, introduce five characters, each of whom is contending with an issue related to loneliness, perfectionism, competitiveness, independence and social media — five of the most common issues negatively impacting young people, according to the campaign’s research.
“We set out to produce short films which young people could relate to, something that felt genuine and honest,” explained Daniel Binns, Animation Director at Aardman Animations. “We wanted to create content that could come up on someone’s social media and elicit the response ‘I know that feeling’. We want people watching them to see a little of themselves in the characters and their stories and that be the start of thinking about how they feel, or cope and how it could be better.”
“What really sets this project apart is that it’s been co-created with young people at every step. Their input alongside those of our experts, has been invaluable and enlightening, enabling us to craft authentic and effective resources that can make a genuinely positive impact.”
The campaign was led by Professor of Health Humanities Paul Crawford at the University of Nottingham, with research teams at The University of Nottingham, Loughborough University, the London School of Economics and Politics; the Mental Health Foundation and mental wellbeing charity, Happy Space; and with young people’s mental health expert, Dr. Dominique Thompson.
Professor Crawford said, “These wonderful short animated stories should help all our young people to think about and explore solutions to the kind of mental health challenges that come with difficult life transitions such as heading off to university or college or starting in training or employment. The films and supporting online resources will be very welcome at this time, with all the disruption and anxieties in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
“As well as providing a much needed mental health resource, this campaign forms part of a wider research project that will also evaluate how effective these creative platforms are as a way of reaching the young people who need it, and ensuring help and guidance is easily accessible.”
The partnership comes at a time when the pandemic has increased the focus on youth mental wellbeing, with reports that two thirds of young people have experienced worse mental health during the period of lockdown restrictions (Mind).
A recent NHS survey also showed that one in six children and young people had a probable mental health disorder in July 2020, compared to one in nine in 2017, whilst the Office for National Statistics (ONS) discovered that more than half of all students at University (57%) reported a worsening in their mental health and well-being since the beginning of the autumn term in September 2020.
The collaborative project – informed by research commissioned and funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) that involved Loughborough University’s Storytelling Academy – will develop and evaluate the impact of a series of animated stories aiming to increase young people’s mental health literacy.
“I have dedicated a lot of my life to working with young people and understanding their mental wellness in particular, which is why I’m delighted to be working closely with Aardman on this unique campaign,” said Dr. Thompson. “Through creating another avenue to help support the next generation of society, we hope that this campaign will really encourage young people to think about the world they live in and reflect on how they respond to it, so that they stay happy and healthy.”
Dr. David Crepaz-Keay, Head of Applied Learning at the Mental Health Foundation, added, “It has never been more important to encourage people to understand what they can do to support their own and each other’s mental health. These resources will enable students to be at the heart of conversations about mental health and how we protect and improve it for generations to come.”
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced shortlists in nine categories for the 93rd Academy Awards, including Animated Short Film, Visual Effects, Music (Original Score) and Music (Original Score), which you can find below. You can access the other lists — Documentary Feature, Documentary Short Subject, International Feature Film, Makeup and Hairstyling, and Live Action Short Film — here.
ANIMATED SHORT FILM
Ten films will advance in the Animated Short Film category for the 93rd Academy Awards. Ninety-six films qualified in the category. Members of the Short Films and Feature Animation Branch vote to determine the shortlist and the nominees.
Ten films remain in the running in the Visual Effects category for the 93rd Academy Awards. The Visual Effects Branch Executive Committee determined the shortlist. All members of the Visual Effects Branch will be invited virtually to view 10-minute excerpts from each of the shortlisted films on Saturday, March 6, 2021. Following the screenings, members will vote to nominate five films for final Oscar consideration.
Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn
Fifteen scores will advance in the Original Score category for the 93rd Academy Awards. One hundred thirty-six scores were eligible in the category. Members of the Music Branch vote to determine the shortlist and the nominees.
Ammonite
Blizzard of Souls
Da 5 Bloods
The Invisible Man
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
The Life Ahead (La Vita Davanti a Se)
The Little Things
Mank
The Midnight Sky
Minari
Mulan
News of the World
Soul
Tenet
The Trial of the Chicago 7
MUSIC (ORIGINAL SONG)
Fifteen songs will advance in the Original Song category for the 93rd Academy Awards. One hundred five songs were eligible in the category. Members of the Music Branch vote to determine the shortlist and the nominees.
Turntables from All In: The Fight for Democracy
See What You’ve Done from Belly of the Beast
Wuhan Flu from Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
Husavik from Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga
Never Break from Giving Voice
Make It Work from Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey”
Fight For You from Judas and the Black Messiah
lo Sì (Seen) from The Life Ahead (La Vita Davanti a Se)
Rain Song from Minari
Show Me Your Soul from Mr. Soul!
Loyal Brave True from Mulan
Free from The One and Only Ivan
Speak Now from One Night in Miami…
Green from Sound of Metal
Hear My Voice from The Trial of the Chicago 7
Nominations voting begins on Friday, March 5, 2021, and concludes on Wednesday, March 10, 2021. Nominations for the 93rd Academy Awards will be announced on Monday, March 15, 2021. The 93rd Oscars will be held on Sunday, April 25, 2021, and will be televised live on ABC and in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.
The annual Kidscreen Awards ceremony was held virtually on Tuesday, hosted by actor/comedian Emma Hunter and exclusively sponsored by the Canada Media Fund. The year’s best work in children’s television and digital media was singled out and celebrated by the global kids entertainment community as awards in the Programming and Creative Talent categories were announced, determined by two panels of industry judges.
Animation and related category winners are:
Bluey
PROGRAMMING — PRESCHOOL Best New Series – Madagascar: A Little Wild | DreamWorks Animation Best Animated Series – Bluey | Ludo Studio, BBC Studios, ABC Australia, Screen Queensland, Screen Australia Best Mixed-Media Series – Stories with Sound Effects| Lapost Estudios, Señal Colombia Best Short Film – Love Is Love | Hopster Studios, Picnic Animation Studio
Forky Asks a Question
PROGRAMMING — KIDS Best New Series – Tales of Arcadia: Wizards | DreamWorks Animation, Netflix Best Animated Series – Forky Asks a Question | Pixar Animation Studios, Disney+ Best Mixed-Media Series – Backyard Beats | BGM Sphere, TVOKids Best One-Off, Special or TV Movie – Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth | Apple, Studio AKA Best Short Film – Lamp Life | Pixar Animation Studios, Disney+ Best Inclusivity – Molly of Denali | WGBH, Atomic Cartoons, PBS KIDS Best in Class – Lamp Life | Pixar Animation Studios, Disney+
Central Park
PROGRAMMING — TWEENS/TEENS Best Animated Series – Central Park | Apple, 20th Century Fox Television Best Mixed-Media Series – About Sex | Echo Media, CBC Gem Best One-Off, Special or TV Movie – Adventure Time: Distant Lands | HBO Max, Cartoon Network Studios Best in Class – Central Park | Apple, 20th Century Fox Television
Lamp Life
CREATIVE TALENT Best Directing –Bluey | Ludo Studio, BBC Studios, ABC Australia, Screen Queensland, Screen Australia Best Writing–Bluey | Ludo Studio, BBC Studios, ABC Australia, Screen Queensland, Screen Australia Best Music –Bluey | Ludo Studio, BBC Studios, ABC Australia, Screen Queensland, Screen Australia Best Animation – Lamp Life | Pixar Animation Studios, Disney+ Best Voice Talent – Lamp Life | Pixar Animation Studios, Disney+ Best Design – Adventure Time: Distant Lands | HBO Max, Cartoon Network Studios
BROADCASTING Channel of the Year – PBS KIDS Best Programming Block – CBC Kids Morning Block Best Kids-Only Streaming Service – YouTube Kids
Scribbles and Ink
DIGITAL — PRESCHOOL Best Learning App—Branded – LEGO DUPLO World | The LEGO Group, StoryToys, Touch Press Best Learning App—Original – Duolingo ABC | Duolingo Best Game App—Branded – PBS KIDS Games | PBS KIDS Best Game App—Original – Bookful — Bringing Books to Life | Inception XR Best Alternative Game – Scribbles and Ink| WGBH, Global Mechanic Media, PBS KIDS Best YouTube Channel – PBS KIDS Best Web/App Series—Branded – Sesame Street Monster Meditations with Headspace | Sesame Workshop Best Website – PBS KIDS
Baba Yaga
DIGITAL — KIDS Best Learning App—Original – Square Panda Best Game App—Branded – GoNoodle Games | GoNoodle Best Game App—Original – Baba Yaga | Baobab Studios Best Alternative Game – Baba Yaga | Baobab Studios
Pioneering New Zealand-China animated feature co-pro Mosley has been picked up for North American distribution by Grindstone Entertainment, which plans to release the CG-animated family adventure later this year. A labor of love project written and directed by Kirby Atkins, the film had its official world premiere at Annecy 2020.
“This film’s journey has been a labor of love over two decades and I’m thrilled to share this with a wider audience,” said Atkins. “I’m immensely grateful to Lotus Entertainment and Grindstone for believing in it enough to bring it to the U.S. market.”
Mosley follows a family of four-legged creatures known as “thoriphants,” who work as beasts of burden for a bitter farmer named Simon on an isolated plot of land. One night, Mosley and his young son, Rue, discover a cave with ancient drawings of creatures just like themselves — except these have hands and walk upright. The discovery sets Mosley on a dangerous quest to find out what happened to his ancestors, and perhaps realize his own true nature.
The voice cast features Lucy Lawless (Xena, Ash vs. Evil Dead, Minions: Rise of Gru), John Rhys-Davies (The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Wizards: Tales of Arcadia), Temuera Morrison (The Mandalorian, Moana) and Rhys Darby (Flight of the Conchords, Voltron: Legendary Defender), as well as Atkins and his daughter, Leah, Curt Cloninger (Polycarp) and country singer John Phillips.
The deal was brokered by Stan Wertlieb and Ryan Black for Grindstone with Huhu Studios, Jack Sheehan, and Jeremie Guiraud at Lotus Entertainment. The film has sold to a multitude of international territories, including Australia, Bulgaria, Ex-Yugoslavia, China, C.I.S., Czech Republic, Slovakia, Italy, Middle East, New Zealand, Portugal, Romania and South Africa.
Atkins is represented by Aaron Kaplan at Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment.
Vincent “Vinnie” Bell, an animator whose 50-year career spanned everything from golden age Terrytoons shorts, to ’80s kid favorites The Berenstain Bears to 21st century adult comedy Harvey Birdman, has died at age 89. The gifted artist passed away at home in his lifelong hometown of Port Chester, New York on February 1.
Born October 27, 1931 to Vincenzo and Mariee Iacobelli, Vinnie Bell graduated from the local Port Chester school system and served with U.S. armed forces during the Korean War before starting his animation career at the famed Terrytoons studio, just down the road in New Rochelle. He started as an ink & paint artist before becoming a trusted animator, bringing to life cartoon shorts starring Clint Clobber, Sidney the Elephant, Dinky Duck and Gaston Le Crayon. In the following years, he worked on Terrytoons TV series such as The Deputy Dawg Show and Mighty Mouse.
Over the coming decades, Bell contributed his talents to diverse projects, such as Ernest Pintoff’s Oscar shortlisted The Old Man and the Flower, John Hubley’s geological trip Dig, The MAD Magazine TV Special, several Berenstain Bears TV movies, Michael Sporn’s Nightingale, The Lizzie McGuire Movie and Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law, to which he lent his valuable experience of ’60s and ’70s cartooning to the retro-inspired animation and background art. Bell closed out five decades in the industry by contributing to Saturday Night Live and The Best of TV Funhouse in 2006/7.
Bell is survived by his children Scott, Stephen (Lisa) and Leslie, three grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by brothers Michael, Anthony and John.
A mass will be celebrated February 10 at St. Paul’s in Greenwich, Connecticut, followed by Bell’s interment at Greenwood Union Cemetery in Rye, New York.
The Berenstain BearsHarvey BirdmanThe Old Man and the FlowerThe Deputy Dawg Show
