Animation Magazine

Tag: featured

  • Magic Light Brings Beloved ‘Gruffalo’ & ‘Zog’ Characters Back in BBC Idents

    Magic Light Brings Beloved ‘Gruffalo’ & ‘Zog’ Characters Back in BBC Idents

    Magic Light Pictures, the multi-Oscar-nominated production company, has been providing festive family treats to BBC audiences for more than a decade. This year, the production company has brought back a host of author-illustrator team Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s much loved characters to take over BBC One’s Christmas idents, alongside the BBC One premiere of Zog and the Flying Doctors.

    This exclusive festive collaboration will feature idents of Zog, Princess Pearl and Sir Gadabout, the unlikely flying doctor team, enjoying festive adventures. Alongside these, there is a tender moment between The Gruffalo and his daughter, The Gruffalo’s Child, as they go back to the snow covered clearing at the edge of the deep dark wood and dress their magical Christmas tree. The idents will feature day and night segments including a decorated tree, twinkling lights and seasonal charm, to capture the warmth and glow of Christmas time.

    The spots were unveiled live in the U.K. on Sunday, November 29, after Strictly Come Dancing: The Results.

    The Gruffalo BBC Christmas ident (Magic Light Pictures)
    The Gruffalo BBC Christmas ident (Magic Light Pictures)

    “Magic Light Pictures have exclusively created a set of unique animated idents, especially for BBC One this Christmas featuring Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s wonderful characters, that I hope will make everyone smile and bring a big dose of festive cheer and togetherness at the end of a tough year,” said Charlotte Moore, Chief Content Officer, BBC.

    Martin Pope, Co-Founder Magic Light Pictures, added, “We love partnering with BBC One and this project was conceived from a conversation between us last year. An earlier ident Magic Light produced with The Gruffalo’s Child in 2011 had proved a real hit and we were both excited to revisit the opportunity. It’s particularly wonderful to have created these extra animations this Christmas and we’re delighted to share them with BBC audiences.”

    The idents are produced by Barney Goodland with executive producer Martin Pope for Magic Light Pictures, with key creative partners from the animated specials, including animators from previous films and the enchanting musical score from René Aubry. Animation services were provided by London studio Red Knuckles.

    Zog and the Flying Doctors, starring Sir Lenny Henry and Rob Brydon will sit prominently in the BBC and BBC iPlayer schedule alongside other festive favourites and exclusive new offerings.

  • Global TV & Streaming News Bytes

    Global TV & Streaming News Bytes

    India and Singapore-based animation studio Cosmos-Maya has secured three key digital distribution deals which will bring its content to 120 platforms around the world, including Amazon Fire TV, Apple iTunes, Hulu, Roku and Vudu.

    • U.S.-based OTT.Studio has picked up four Cosmos-Maya titles, Vir The Robot Boy, Motu Patlu, Tik Tak Tail and Chacha Bhatija for its own Cartoon Plus channel, which sits on both Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
    • Cosmos-Maya has secured a far-reaching agreement with Binge! Networks which sees the same four original titles air on over 100 platforms across North America and globally (excluding Indian and the Indian subcontinent).
    • In addition, Cosmos-Maya’s own digital channel WowKidz is available on Roku and Amazon Fire TV under the terms of the Binge! Networks agreement. WowKidz airs animated shows from around the world as well as Cosmos-Maya original series, giving children 24/7 streaming access to popular kids’ programs.
    Jujutsu Kaisen
    Jujutsu Kaisen

    Dubbed episodes of anime series Jujutsu Kaisen will be added to the curated Crunchyroll Collection on HBO Max on December 4. Subtitled episodes of the supernatural series will still be available exclusively on Crunchyroll. Jujutsu Kaisen is set in a world where the negative feelings that humans feel become Curses that lurk in our everyday lives. The Curses run rampant throughout the world, capable of leading people to terrible misfortune and even death. What’s more, the Curses can only be exorcised by another Curse.

    Yuji Itadori is a boy with tremendous physical strength, though he lives a completely ordinary high school life. One day, to save a classmate who has been attacked by Curses, he eats the finger of the Double-Faced Specter, taking the Curse into his own soul. From then on, he shares one body with the Double-Faced Specter. Guided by the most powerful of sorcerers, Gojo Satoru, Itadori is admitted to the Tokyo Prefectural Jujutsu High School, an organization that fights the Curses… and thus begins the heroic tale of a boy who became a Curse to exorcise a Curse, a life from which he could never turn back.

    Emmy & Gooroo
    Emmy & Gooroo

    Jetpack Distribution announced a range of deals across Asia for top shows in its catalog. The new agreements will land hit shows on screens across the region this year and beyond, highlighting the growing significance of the region for global distribution.

    • India’s ETV Network has acquired the pay TV rights for seasons two of children’s animated comedy series Kitty Is Not a Cat and The Sisters. (Closed July 2020).
    • Celestial Tiger Entertainment’s Miao Mi has picked up the pay TV & digital rights in various Asian countries for the Chinese preschool animated series Emmy & Gooroo.
    • Malaysia’s Astro have bought the video on demand rights for Emmy & Gooroo (closed May 2020).
    • Indonesia’s Mola TV has taken in the subscription video on demand rights for Emmy & Gooroo, comedy animation Wolf and live-action series The Baby Club (closed June 2020).
    • Vietnamese agent B Company has taken in all the rights for live-action series Katy (closed August 2020).
    • Chinese entertainment and educational content provider Leadjoy have acquired the VOD rights for preschool animated series Boj (closed May 2020).
    Astroboy
    Astroboy

    Indie digital media and entertainment co. DMR has launched three of its digital linear channels — RetroCrush (classic anime), Cocoro (family content) and Midnight Pulp (“all things strange” / genre) on The Roku Channel. These new outlets will bring old school animation and family favorite toons to viewers including launch titles like:

    RetroCrush –

    • The Princess and the Pilot – A pilot, despite being advised not to, bonds with a princess when he is tasked with escorting the royal subject overseas and across enemy territory to reunite her with her future husband.
    • Fuse: Memoirs of the Hunter Girl – In Edo-period Japan, a girl moves from the countryside to the big city to help her brother hunt fuse − human-dog hybrids rumored to kill people and feed on their souls − for a huge bounty. But what happens when she befriends one of her targets?
    • Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie – Bison, the ruthless leader of the international terrorist organization Shadowlaw, has been desperately searching for the greatest fighter on the planet for years. He finds it in Ryu, a young wanderer who never stays in one place long enough for Bison to find him.

    Cocoro –

    • Pororo Cyberspace Adventure – In this Pororo the Little Penguin adventure, Pororo must tap into his video game abilities to save a princess.
    • Kung Food – Animated series of the adventures of martial arts master foods.
    • Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog – Animated series based on the classic video game.
    Leo & Tig
    Leo & Tig

    Two seasons of popular animated series Leo & Tig will become a cornerstone of new Indian kid’s entertainment channel Gubbare. The series is produced by Paravoz Studio for Digital Television Russia. Episodes will air in Hindi on the IN10 Mediat Network channel every day at 9 a.m., noon and 8 p.m.

    The series depicts the adventures of a small, restless leopard named Leo and his best friend Tig the tiger. Every day, they explore their amazing neighborhood in the Far East, learning about the world around them, embracing kindness, friendship and the importance of mutual co-existence in nature. In the second season, Leo and Tig meet Lily the monkey. Together they travel around the world, making new friends along the way learning about new customs and traditions of the world. Along with entertaining the kids, the show gives insight into the rare animal species of the world.

    Indian viewers have already been introduced to Leo and Tig through the Russian Animated Film Festival in Chennai and the International Children and Film Festival in Mumbai, which offered young participants the chance to meet the animated series duo for the first time.

    Om Nom Stories
    Om Nom Stories

    ZeptoLab has secured a partnership with Nine Network to expand the Om Nom brand in Australia. The free-to-air network will offer Om Nom Stories (seasons 1-16) and its TV channel and AVOD platform. Meanwhile, WP Brands (a leading brand licensing agency in Australia) will take care of the merchandising strategy. In Australia, Om Nom Stories has long been available on YouTube, Amazon Prime and Roku. In addition to this, ZeptoLab has far-reaching plans to cover free TV, Cable TV, VOD and licensing in the region.

    Om Nom Stories is an animated series of 3’30” episodes (seven hours to date plus 24 hours of additional content) aimed at young kids and enjoyed by all ages. The entertaining and educational series has garnered worldwide acclaim. The series has accrued 20 billion views across 86 YouTube channels, has been picked up by 12 TV and 40 VOD channels and is distributed on 70 platforms in eight regions.

    Koka Kitoumbou
    Koka Kitoumbou

    Ivorian studio AFRIKATOON announces a new production, quite different from its usual offerings: a new 13-episode series titled Koka Kitoumbou which transports viewers ages 3 and up into a fantastic universe rich in magic (and sweets). The series aims to promote positive values such as love, tolerance, honesty and hard work.

    Koka Kitoumbou follows the adventures of little 10-year-old Malisha and Rikitou, her woollen doll, who both face many trials and tribulations in search of the “Koka Kitoumbou stone,” a magical and powerful stone which gives its possessor the ability to transform everything they touch into confectionery of all kind.

    Team S.T.E.A.M.
    Team S.T.E.A.M.

    Winsing Animation will be highlighting its hit shows and new properties at ATF (Asia Television Forum) from December 1-4. The studio will be promoting established hits GG Bond and GOGOBUS, along with new titles Team S.T.E.A.M.!. Meanwhile, Winsing will introduce next year’s titles to buyers at the online fair, such as GG Bond Series 17, GOGOBUS Seasons 7-10, Metalions and Team S.T.E.A.M.! Seasons 3-4.

  • Back to the Croodaceous Period with DreamWorks’ ‘The Croods: A New Age’

    Back to the Croodaceous Period with DreamWorks’ ‘The Croods: A New Age’

    ***This article was written for the January ’21 issue of Animation Magazine (No. 306)***

    When DreamWorks Animation’s The Croods was released in spring of 2013, audiences around the world embraced the film’s lovable prehistoric family and their wacky world. Directed by Chris Sanders and Kirk DeMicco, the colorful film went on to make over $587.2 million worldwide and received both Oscar and Golden Globe nominations. This holiday season, audiences can catch up with Grug, Ugga, Eep, Thunk, Guy and Gran in a new sequel, in which the family sets out to find a safer place to live and come face to face with another human family.

    The Croods: A New Age is directed by Joel Crawford, a DreamWorks veteran who worked on Trolls and the Kung Fu Panda franchise, and is produced by Mark Swift (Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie, Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted). During a recent phone interview, Crawford talked about the rewards of helming a new chapter in the lives of characters he fell in love with about seven years ago.

    Joel Crawford
    Joel Crawford

    “I was a huge fan of Chris Sanders and loved the characters and the world that Chris and Kirk DeMicco had created in the first movie,” says Crawford. “When I was given the opportunity to direct the sequel, I felt it was my duty to approach the movie as a fan, knowing which things I wanted to see more of — to treat it as a big celebration that this family is back. Something that was very helpful to me was that Chris Sanders was kind enough to give me notes on the early version of the script. He gave me the handoff, and I was able to retain his sensibility while adding my own take on his vision.”

    Growth Patterns

    Among the many things that excited Crawford about the movie was that it picks up where the audience left the characters at the end of the original outing. “We see how the relationship between Eep and Guy grows from puppy love into a real one,” he notes. “The world around them is changing and the family dynamics is also evolving, and we all know that Grug doesn’t deal with change very easily. It’s hard for him as a father to see his little girl grow up, but he has accepted Guy as part of his pack.”

    The Croods: A New Age
    The Croods: A New Age

    Crawford says in the past few years, many elements of the scripts changed and evolved, but the heart of it all stayed the same. “The fact that the Croods were going to meet another family that was more evolved than they were was part of the script in one of the earlier drafts of the script,” he says. “But the relationship between Eek and Dawn, the daughter of the other family, changed. There was actually jealous and catty, and had a love triangle with Guy — but that seemed very formulaic. And when you come think of it, Eep has this wide-eyed curiosity, so we felt that she wouldn’t be jealous of another girl her age. She would celebrate her and see their differences as a great thing. So, we had a lot of fun emphasizing the girls’ friendship instead of having it be about Guy.”

    The Croods: A New Age
    The Croods: A New Age

    The director mentions that he also loves that the film is set in such a crazy and fantastical era, which is dubbed the Croodaceous period. “The background and the whole set piece which is the Earth during this time between time — is so fantastic and epic,” says Crawford. “This is a period when the world was trying to figure itself out, like an awkward teenager! So we have all these offbeat, hybrid animals to play with once again.”

    Like the first feature, the movie offers a memorable collection of animals that are goofy combinations of familiar creatures, like a wolf-spider that looks a huge, ferocious arachnid but is actually sweet and endearing like a dog. “The theme of the movie is about not passing judgment on people who are different from you, as the Crood family see one thing initially, but soon realize that there is more to it than meets the eye,” explains Crawford. “For example, they come across this beautiful forest that looks like it’s full of trees with the changing colors of the fall, but then it turns out that the colorful leaves are actually a swarm of giant prehistoric butterflies that take flight. There are a lot of fun surprises like that for the audience, and they all echo the message of the movie which is to ‘Look deeper!’”

    The Croods: A New Age
    The Croods: A New Age

    Since it has been seven years since the first movie came out, the visuals for the sequel have also advanced, allowing the animators and the technical team to fine-tune many aspects of the first outing. “Everything looks better across the board, and I was constantly amazed at what our production designer Nate Wragg and visual effect supervisors Betsy Nofsinger were able to achieve,” notes Crawford. “Our animators have so much better control posing the characters and hitting these iconic silhouettes, including the shapes of the mouths, and so many other details. They were able to add so much more subtlety and stylization that made everything much more appealing. The film’s lighting really blew me away as well. It’s incredible how rich their world can look without it being photoreal and overpowering the senses. Betsy and Nate are an amazing creative duo, and were always able to offer solutions that would help us achieve the desired looks. They constantly exceeded my expectations.”

    Nate Wragg
    Nate Wragg

    Wragg, who attended CalArts with Crawford, says he welcomed the chance to work with his old friend from college. “Joel and I had known each other for years, but we’d never worked on a feature together, so this was a fun opportunity,” says Wragg, who has worked on a wide range of movies, including Puss in Boots, Ratatouille, Toy Story 3, Mr. Peabody & Sherman and Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie. “We were able to approach the design in a fresh way and cherry-pick everything that we loved about the first movie. We also wanted to advance the story and build upon the world that was established in the original feature. The goal was to maximize the opportunity to up the appeal and the style of this prehistoric, action-adventure fantasy, and we got to check all those boxes.”

    The Croods: A New Age
    The Croods: A New Age
    The Croods: A New Age
    The Croods: A New Age
    The Croods: A New Age
    The Croods: A New Age
    Production design art by Nate Wragg
    Production design art by Nate Wragg

    Wragg points out that in a sequel, you have to offer something that the audience or the characters haven’t seen before. “That’s why audiences can look forward to unpredictable, surprising animal mash-ups like a cross between a mouse and an elephant, or a chicken and a seal! He adds, “Since the family is living on the road, their mobile unit could go anywhere, so we began to think about some environments that the family had never encountered before, like that butterfly forest that at first glance looks like a New England in the fall, but then it lifts up and flies away. We described their world as National Geographic magazine on steroids. For example, we were inspired by the giant thermal pools in Yellowstone park, which display a wide range of colors. But in the Croods world, we have rivers and canals with the same color palette as we suggest that maybe millions of years ago, there were many more examples of that. We were trying to create a certain amount of natural logic and rules for their world.”

    According to Wragg, DreamWorks’ new, state-of-the-art renderer allowed for the film’s impressive attention to detail in terms of tactile surfacing and rigging. “Animators are able to achieve a lot more and the characters end up being more brilliant and spectacular,” he notes. “We are also able to maintain this high quality of lighting in every shot. For this movie, our goal was never to simply mimic reality. You want the audience to feel the world and these environments were tactile enough that you could just step into the screen. Our biggest challenge was to continue to maximize the appeal of the designs without reinventing the wheel. We wanted to have the best versions of Grug or Eep or Gran, but we didn’t want them to look like new characters.”

    The Croods: A New Age
    The Croods: A New Age

    Hilarious Reaction Shots

    Januel Mercado, the sequel’s head of story, was also a huge fan of the first Croods feature and its directors. “Of course, the fact that the movie is set in a cool prehistoric world was a big draw for me as well,” he notes. “We all love Grug, although he can be quite an idiot sometimes, but he has a big heart, and I also like the great dynamic he has with his daughter.”

    Mercado, who directed the Nickelodeon show Harvey Beaks and was story artist on movies such as The LEGO Movie 2, Trolls, Penguins of Madagascar and Turbo, says he is quite pleased with the way the creative team were able to really push the comedy in the sequel. “We took a page from comedies like Arrested Development, which are quite character-driven,” he says. “You can have a big cast of characters, and you know their points of view, and what they want or are thinking about. Oftentimes, great comedy comes from the characters’ reaction shots to things that happen to them or others. Of course, there are serious dramatic elements woven in as well.”

    [prod art > januel mercado > mothers and daughters > selects:

    The Croods: A New Age
    The Croods: A New Age
    The Croods: A New Age
    The Croods: A New Age
    The Croods: A New Age
    The Croods: A New Age
    "Mothers and Daughters" sequence art by Januel Mercado
    “Mothers and Daughters” sequence art by Januel Mercado

    Mercado says it was really important for him and the rest of the team to make sure the movie was ultimately a really fun ride. “Not only do we want the audience to be emotionally engaged with the characters and their plights and relationships, but we want them to relate to the film on the simplest levels — to just kick back and enjoy the colorful, whimsical prehistoric landscape, all the animals and the fun family adventure.”

    Crawford also credits DreamWorks for being one of the last animation studios that has its whole design and production pipeline in house. “Nothing really compares to having a meeting with the animators and throwing out ideas and acting and joking together,” says Crawford. “I love that collaborative experience. Even when we had to switch to the work-from-home model because of the pandemic, everybody worked through the challenges and we were able to finish the movie and use technology and communicate remotely. It’s really impressive to witness how animation has been less affected than other parts of the entertainment field in terms of production. People can now move and live in other parts of the country or the world and still work remotely on the same project.”

    The Croods: A New Age
    The Croods: A New Age

    The helmer wraps the interview by summarizing the heart of the story: “Our movie is about two different families who realize that their future is brightest when it’s shared together,” Crawford concludes. “I think that’s a very sweet and timely message about embracing each other despite our differences. I also hope everyone laughs a bunch when they watch it with their family and friends. Finding and embracing joy is something that we all definitely need right now.”

    DreamWorks Animation’s The Croods: A New Age opened in select theaters on November 25 and will arrive on PVOD in December. The movie reportedly made over $1.85 million in its first day of release (playing in only 2,211 U.S. theaters due to the COVID-19 pandemic).  The film went on to gross $14.2 million over the five-day Thanksgiving holiday weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday.

  • First Look at Johnny Depp Character in ‘Puffins’ Takes Wing

    First Look at Johnny Depp Character in ‘Puffins’ Takes Wing

    Iervolino Entertainment has debuted the first images from its new animated series Puffins, revealing the character “Johnny Puff,” who is being voiced by star Johnny Depp. The mobile-first, short-form project was announced in June and is now in production.

    Puffins follows the adventures of a group of cute little birds, who work for the wily walrus Otto. The main characters of the series are five puffins: Johnny Puff, Tic and Tac, Didi and Pie. They live with a tribe of puffins in the vast and technological realm of Tana. The stories in the series will range from the bold missions of Otto, to multiple situations related to the small, fun problems of everyday life, addressing the issues of social impact in a childish way.

    Puffins
    Puffins

    Episodes will cover positive themes in the show; gender and race equality and environmental protection are among the important and universal issues addressed in the puffin community throughout the series. Amidst the absurd situations and hilarious gags, kids will be entertainingly introduced to these important topics resonating in society today.

    The 250 x 5′ series will be produced between Iervolino Entertainment Studios in Rome and Iervolino Studios in Serbia. Andrea Iervolino and Monika Bacardi are producers.

    Puffins
    Puffins
  • Aardman, Cats Protection Unveil Tear-Jerking Christmas Campaign

    Aardman, Cats Protection Unveil Tear-Jerking Christmas Campaign

    Multi award-winning independent studio Aardman has teamed up with the U.K.’s leading feline charity Cats Protection and TV presenter Holly Willoughby for the charity’s Christmas campaign “Casper’s Magical Journey,” inspired by the true story of a young boy and his missing cat. The beautiful three-minute animation launches today (November 25) on social media, with shorter versions airing on TV during December.

    Five-year-old white cat Casper went missing from his home in Plymouth in 2017, much to the distress of owner Anna Day and her 12-year-old son Daniel. Three years later, Casper turned up 55 miles away at Cats Protection’s Cornwall Adoption Centre near Truro and, thanks to his microchip, was able to be reunited with his overjoyed family.

    Casper's Magical Journey
    Casper’s Magical Journey

    “We were all heartbroken when Casper didn’t come back, particularly Daniel. We never expected to see him again after such a long time, so it was miraculous to get him back home,” said Anna Day. “The whole family is so excited that Casper’s story is being immortalized in this way – and hopefully it will encourage more cat owners to consider getting their pets microchipped.”

    Willoughby, who provided the voiceover for Anna in the video, said: “Casper and Daniel’s story is so lovely and, as a cat owner, it really struck a chord with me. It was a pleasure to be involved with such a wonderful project.”

    Aardman were approached by Cat’s Protection to help take their established creative concept to the next level, applying their award-winning production values and storytelling expertise to the charity’s 2020 campaign.

    Casper's Magical Journey
    Casper’s Magical Journey

    Aardman director Lucy Izzard was delighted to help share Casper’s story: “Such an epic true life story — going missing for three years and being found 55 miles from home — gave us so much scope to build an animated story. The hardest part was keeping it short as there was so much we wanted to do with it! It’s not often we get to bring ‘real world’ narratives to life at Aardman, so we really relished this unique opportunity and were particularly excited to add a bit of Christmas magic into the mix!”

    “Our Christmas animation is always a heart warmer, and we felt that Casper and Daniel’s story deserved the extra magical touch that Aardman always bring to their films,” said Cat Protection’s Director of Communication, Judith Barnard. “They’ve tapped into that special bond between a cat and its owner which brings such joy but also heartache when a much-loved cat goes missing. Casper’;s tale will hopefully inspire more owners to microchip their mogs!”

    Casper's Magical Journey
    Casper’s Magical Journey

    According to Cats Protection’s CATS report 2020 (compiled by Basis Research), over a quarter (26%) of owned cats in the U.K. are not chipped. The charity is actively campaigning to change this by making it a legal requirement for cats to be microchipped, as it is for dogs.

    Cats Protection was founded in 1927 and now boasts a national network of about 230 volunteer-run branches and 37 centers, helping approximately 200,000 cats and kittens every year.

    www.cats.org.uk/christmas | www.aardman.com

  • First Look: ‘Clifford The Big Red Dog’ Brings Big Fun to the Big Screen

    First Look: ‘Clifford The Big Red Dog’ Brings Big Fun to the Big Screen

    Paramount Pictures and Scholastic Entertainment have unleashed the first look at the new CG take on beloved children’s classic Clifford The Big Red Dog. To help spread the #LoveBig joy, fans are invited to celebrate their pets by sharing favorite pictures to @CliffordMovie on social media.

    Clifford’s big screen movie adventure will come bounding into theaters on November 5, 2021.

    Synopsis: When middle-schooler Emily Elizabeth (Darby Camp) meets a magical animal rescuer (John Cleese) who gifts her a little, red puppy, she never anticipates waking up to find a giant 10-foot hound in her small New York City apartment. While her single mom (Sienna Guillory) is away for business, Emily and her fun but impulsive uncle Casey (Jack Whitehall) set out on an adventure that will keep you on the edge-of-your-seat as our heroes take a bite out of the Big Apple. Based on the beloved Scholastic book character, Clifford will teach the world how to love big!

    Directed by Walt Becker (Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip), the movie also stars Tony Hale, David Alan Grier and Russell Wong.

    Paramount Pictures presents Clifford The Big Red Dog in association with eOne Films and New Republic Pictures; a Scholastic Entertainment/Kerner Entertainment Company production.

  • Arcana Studio Rounds Out ‘Heroes of the Golden Masks’ Cast

    Intellectual property house Arcana Studio has confirmed that Jayne Eastwood (My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Dawn of the Dead), Natasha Liu Bordizzo (Hotel Mumbai, The Society) and Zeus Mendoza (Passengers, Major Crimes) have joined the cast of their upcoming animated film Heroes of the Golden Masks. The film stars Christopher Plummer, Ron Perlman, Patton Oswalt, Osric Chau and Byron Mann, all of whom were previously announced by the studio <;a href="https://www.dev.animationmagazine.net/wordpress/features/patton-oswalt-joins-cast-of-arcanas-heroes-of-the-golden-masks/">earlier this year.

    Eastwood voices Helen, an avid cook and mother to the heroes; Bordizzo will voice Li, a deadly archer & valiant leader; and Mendoza will voice Zuma, a courageous warrior who vows to protect his friends at all costs.

    Heroes of the Golden Mask
    Heroes of the Golden Mask

    Canadian-born and veteran character actor Eastwood has made an immeasurable mark on Canadian cinema since her appearance in Don Shebib’s Goin’ Down the Road. Other credits include a recurring role as Gloria Verrano in SyFy’s Haven, Norma in Dawn of the Dead and Mrs. White in My Big Fat Greek Wedding. She has voiced several motherly roles in animated projects including Esme & Roy, Scaredy Squirrel and Atomic Betty.

    Heroes of the Golden Mask
    Heroes of the Golden Mask

    Bordizzo made her debut portraying Snow Vase in Netflix’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny. Her other credits include Deng Yan in The Greatest Showman, Bree in Hotel Mumbai, Nova in Guns Akimbo and Helena Wu in Netflix’s The Society. She also voices Li Na in the upcoming animated feature Wish Dragon.

    Heroes of the Golden Mask
    Heroes of the Golden Mask

    In film, Mendoza has appeared in Passengers as Hector the Robot Waiter, in The Fallen Faithful as Santos and in DreamWorks’ Puss in Boots as Rancher. Mendoza is also an accomplished voice over actor, and has lent his voice to countless projects including video games Fallout 76, Red Dead Redemption II and Grand Theft Auto V, and voices the god Quetzalcoatl in new animated series Onyx Equinox.

    “We’re fortunate to have Jayne, Natasha and Zeus attached to this film, and they have made excellent additions to our cast. And, thanks to an incredible team of dedicated animators who are bringing the world of Heroes of the Golden Masks to life, this film will be unlike anything Arcana has previously released,” said studio CEO Sean O’Reilly.

    Heroes of the Golden Masks is an epic fantasy adventure inspired by the ancient masks of Sanxingdui, and tells the story of a contemporary teenager who is magically transported back in time to a mysterious, lost city. O’Reilly is directing, and CG Bros’ Gordon McGhie and Troy Taylor are producing. Heroes of the Golden Masks is slated for international theatrical release in early 2021

  • Producer Aubane Fillon Joins Média-Participations France

    Caroline Duvochel, CEO of the French studios under Groupe Média-Participations (Ellipsanime Productions, Dargaud Media, Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuel, Ellipse Studio) has appointed a new producer to strengthen its creative team. Aubane Fillon joined the Group in early November, and is charged with overseeing development and producing new animated series and feature film projects.

    After graduating from Gobelins, Fillon began her animation career at Irish studio Cartoon Saloon, working on the feature film Santa’s Apprentice. She returned to France in 2010, joining Gaumont Animation as production manager on the series Galactik Football, Pok & Mok and the feature The Magic Snowflake.

    In 2013, Fillon joined Sacrebleu Productions in the development unit, overseeing six shorts and the pre-production of the movie Long Way North. In 2014, she became head of the Artwork unit at Studio 100 Animation, in charge of promotion and communication for the series Vic the Viking and Maya the Bee before managing production of the series K3. She fulfilled the same role at Xilam until 2016, working on Oggy and the Cockroaches season 5. Cottonwood Media recruited her in 2017 to develop the feature Around the World in 80 Days, as well as three animated series.

    Fillon most recently served as the production manager of warmly received animated biopic Calamity, a Childhood of Martha Jane Cannary, which she worked on from 2018 through to the film’s French release in October 2020.

    Groupe Média-Participations’ audiovisual division in France comprises some of Europe’s leading animation production houses, which for several decades have produced diverse programs for all audiences across a range of technologies, graphic styles, genres and formats, with a constant drive for story innovation and renewal. Productions include hit series The Fox-Badger Family, Kid Lucky and The Smurfs, as well as feature films Yakari and A Spectacular Journey.

    www.dargaudmedia.com

  • Kidscreen Awards Shortlist Revealed

    Kidscreen Awards Shortlist Revealed

    The Kidscreen Awards has announced the shortlisted entries that are continuing in the competition through a final round of judging. The winners will be revealed on February 9 in an online awards ceremony held during the Kidscreen Summit Virtual 2021.

    Shortlisted entries in the Programming categories will be reviewed and assessed by a panel of judges including Adina Pitt (Cartoon Network), Cheryl Taylor (BBC Children’s), Heather Tilert (Netflix), Layla Lewis (Nickelodeon), Nikki Reed (HBO Max), Linda Simensky (PBS KIDS), Tara Sorensen (Apple), Tiphaine de Raguenel (France Télévisions), Eryk Casemiro (Nickelodeon), Aram Yacoubian (Netflix), Libby Doherty (ABC Australia) and Sarah Muller (BBC Children’s).

    Shortlisted entries in the Digital categories will be judged by Sara DeWitt (PBS KIDS), James Stephenson (Wonderstorm), Dan Efergan (Aardman Animations), Jenny Gioia (Sesame Workshop), Ellen Solberg (Hopster), Justin Hsu (MarcoPolo Learning), Vikrant Mathur (Future Today), Loretta Todd (IM4 VR Lab), Estelle Lloyd (Azoomee) and Matthew Evans (Apple).

    The inaugural Best Inclusivity entries were reviewed and assessed by David Levine (content strategist), Theresa Helmer (Disney Channels), Taylor K. Shaw (Black Women Animate), Shadi Petosky (creator, Danger & Eggs), Matt Kaplowitz (Bridge Multimedia), Kevin Clark (Netflix), Carl Reed (Lion Forge Animation), Shabnam Rezaei (Big Bad Boo Studios) and Kay Benbow (media consultant).

    Categories with animated competitors listed below. For more information and full list of nominees, visit awards.kidscreen.com.

    PROGRAMMING – PRESCHOOL

    Best New Series

    Helpsters (Apple, Sesame Workshop)

    Madagascar: A Little Wild (DreamWorks Animation)

    The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo (Sesame Workshop, HBO Max)

    Best Animated Series

    Bluey (Ludo Studio, BBC Studios, ABC Australia, Screen Queensland, Screen Australia)

    Hey Duggee (Studio AKA, BBC Studios, BBC Children’s)

    Madagascar: A Little Wild (DreamWorks Animation)

    Best Mixed-Media Series

    Blue’s Clues & You (9 Story Media Group, Brown Bag Films)

    Science Saves the Day: PAW Patrol (Nickelodeon, Noggin)

    Stories with Sound Effects (Lapost Estudios, Señal Colombia)

    Best One-Off, Special or TV Movie

    Sesame Street’s 50th Anniversary Celebration (Sesame Workshop, HBO)

    The Sound of Dinosaurs—Dino Dana (Sinking Ship Entertainment, Amazon Prime Video)

    The Tiger Who Came to Tea (Lupus Films, Tiger Tea Productions, HarperCollins Children’s Books, Universal Pictures)

    Best Short Film

    Love Is Love (Hopster Studios, Picnic Animation Studio)

    Monster Measurements (Nickelodeon, Noggin)

    Winner at Dinner (Nickelodeon, Noggin)

    Best Inclusivity

    Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices (Netflix)

    Love Is Love (Hopster Studios, Picnic Animation Studio)

    Pablo (Paper Owl Films)

    PROGRAMMING: KIDS

    Best New Series

    Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts (DreamWorks Animation, Netflix)

    Tales of Arcadia: Wizards (DreamWorks Animation, Netflix)

    The Baby-Sitters Club (Netflix, Walden Media)

    Best Animated Series

    Craig of the Creek (Cartoon Network)

    Forky Asks a Question (Pixar Animation Studios, Disney+)

    Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts (DreamWorks Animation, Netflix)

    Best Mixed-Media Series

    Alien TV (Entertainment One, POP Family Entertainment, Netflix, Nine Network)

    Backyard Beats (Bristow Global Media, TVOKids)

    Mini Yoga Season Two (Groupe Media TFO)

    Best One-Off, Special or TV Movie

    Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth (Apple, Studio AKA)

    The Most Magnificent Thing (Corus Entertainment, Nelvana)

    The Snail and the Whale (Magic Light Pictures)

    Best Short Film

    Hanukkah: The Festival of Lights (Graphilm Entertainment, Rai Ragazzi)

    Lamp Life (Pixar Animation Studios, Disney+)

    Takalani Sesame (Sesame Workshop, Pulp Films)

    Best Inclusivity

    Family Reunion (Netflix)

    First Day (Epic Films, Kojo Entertainment, ABC Australia, Screen Australia, South Australian Film Corporation, Australian Children’s Television Foundation)

    Molly of Denali (WGBH, Atomic Cartoons)

    PROGRAMMING – TWEENS/TEENS

    Best New Series

    Duncanville (20th Century Fox Television, FOX Entertainment, Universal Television, Scullys, Paper Kite Productions)

    Locke & Key (Netflix, Genre Arts, Hard A Productions, Circle of Confusion, IDW Entertainment)

    The Complicated Life of Léa Olivier (Encore Television, Slalom Productions)

    Best Animated Series

    Bob’s Burgers (Bento Box Entertainment, 20th Century Fox)

    Central Park (Apple, 20th Century Fox Television)

    The Strange Chores (Ludo Studio, Media World Pictures, ABC Australia, Boat Rocker Studios, Screen Australia, Film Victoria, Screen Queensland)

    Best Mixed-Media Series

    About Sex (Echo Media, CBC Gem)

    FLIP, l’algorithme (Groupe Média TFO)

    Best One-Off, Special or TV Movie

    Adventure Time: Distant Lands (HBO Max, Cartoon Network Studios)

    FLIPPONS 2019 (Groupe Média TFO)

    Malibu Rescue: The Next Wave (Pacific Bay Entertainment, Entertainment Force, Netflix)

    BROADCASTING

    Channel of the Year

    ABC Kids

    CBeebies

    PBS KIDS

    Best Kids-Only Streaming Service

    Hopster

    Pinna

    YouTube Kids

  • ‘Molly of Denali’ & ‘Pinkalicious’ Bring Winter Wonders to PBS KIDS

    ‘Molly of Denali’ & ‘Pinkalicious’ Bring Winter Wonders to PBS KIDS

    Three new heartwarming winter episodes of Molly of Denali are coming to PBS KIDS December 7-9 (check local listings), helping to make the season brighter for kids and families across the country. The pubcaster will also be making new holiday memories with a two-part Christmas episode of Pinkalicious & Peterrific. And throughout the month, families can revisit festive memories with a slate of returning seasonal specials from fan-favorite series.

    Molly of Denali holiday episodes:

    “Spring Carnival / Tooey’s Hole-i-day Sweater” – Premieres Monday, December 7 on PBS KIDS (check local listings)

    • Spring Carnival – Auntie Midge loves to emcee Spring Carnival, but a hurt hip takes her out of commission. With help from Mr. Patak, Molly and Tooey build a special sled chair for Auntie Midge that will let her move over snow and ice, allowing the elder to participate in her favorite event. Alaska Native Value: Take Care of Others – You Cannot Live without Them.
    • Tooey’s Hole-i-day Sweater – Tooey’s finally outgrown an ugly, hand-me-down Christmas sweater knit by his Grandma Elizabeth. All is well until Luka accidentally takes a bite and leaves a gaping hole in the front. Can Molly and Tooey fix it before Grandma arrives for the holidays? Alaska Native Value: Accept What Life Brings, Honor Your Elders.
    • Interstitial: Land Acknowledgement – Kids visit the Anchorage Museum and learn what a land acknowledgement is. Later, they write a land acknowledgment for their school.
    Molly of Denali: By Sled or Snowshoe
    Molly of Denali: By Sled or Snowshoe

    “By Sled or Snowshoe / The Shortest Birthday” – Premieres Tuesday, December 8 on PBS KIDS (check local listings)

    • By Sled or Snowshoe – Grandpa Nat and Nina are out in the field observing an active volcano when it erupts! When their camera breaks, Molly persuades Tooey and her mom to deliver a new one – and to see a real-life volcano. But getting there won’t be easy. With the help of Tooey, Mr. Patuk, and her parents, Molly works to deliver a replacement video camera to Nina and her grandpa at an active volcano site. She experiences several setbacks during this journey that she cannot control. However, her persistence and quick thinking allow her to keep moving forward. Alaska Native Value: Persistence.
    • The Shortest Birthday – It’s winter solstice and Trini’s birthday. Molly and Tooey have planned the perfect present — a trip to Qyah’s best bird-watching spot. With only a few hours of daylight and after much delay, they reach the special spot at dusk, only to encounter an extra special surprise. Though they keep forgetting pieces of their surprise, they keep moving forward and end up having fun with Trini in the end. Alaska Native Value: Accept What Life Brings – You Cannot Control Many Things.
    • Interstitial: Traditional Ahtna Town Names – Kids sing a song about the Ahtna names of places and use a map key to identify those sites on a map.
    Molly of Denali: The Whole Mitten Kaboodle
    Molly of Denali: The Whole Mitten Kaboodle

    “The Whole Mitten Kaboodle / Eagle Tale” – Premieres Wednesday, December 9 on PBS KIDS (check local listings)

    • The Whole Mitten Kaboodle – After realizing she’s lost one of her favorite Suki mittens, Molly must retrace her steps around Qyah in order to track it down. Molly uses a flow diagram to connect her various activities throughout the day into a unified series of events in order to track down her lost mitten. Alaska Native Value: Seeing Connections – All Things are Related.
    • Eagle Tale – It’s Father’s Day and Molly has the perfect idea for a gift – a storytelling performance complete with animal masks. Trini, Tooey and Oscar are ready and willing to perform…or they would be if Molly could get them organized! Luckily, Auntie Midge steps in with some tips and tricks for staving off this Father’s Day disaster! Alaska Native Value: Honoring Your Elders – They Show You the Way in Life.
    • Interstitial: Biking on Campbell Creek Trail – A group of kids in Anchorage, Alaska take a bike ride along the Campbell Creek Trail. Before riding, they perform a bike safety check using steps outlined in a flow diagram.
    Pinkalicious & Peterrific: Gingerbread House
    Pinkalicious & Peterrific: Gingerbread House

    Pinkalicious & Peterrific

    “Gingerbread House / Christmas Tree Trouble” – Premieres Monday, December 7 on PBS KIDS (check local listings)

    • Gingerbread House – Pinkalicious and Peter build a pinkamazing gingerbread house that attracts Sarafina, a holiday fairy. But as pieces of the house begin to go missing, it’s up to Pinkalicious to find the sneaky snacker before all that’s left are crumbs.
    • Christmas Tree Trouble – It’s time to decorate the Pinkerton’s Christmas tree! But when the box holding the family’s ornaments breaks hours before the holiday party, it will take some creativity and pinkamagination to bring back the family’s Christmas spirit.
    • Live-Action Interstitial – Kids decorate for the holidays by creating snowpeople made out of socks and other art materials.
    Let's Go Luna!: Luna's Christmas Around the World
    Let’s Go Luna!: Luna’s Christmas Around the World

    Returning holiday specials (Dec. 4-27):

    • Curious George “A Very Monkey Christmas”
    • Wild Kratts “A Creature Christmas”
    • Nature Cat “A Nature Carol”
    • Let’s Go Luna! “Luna’s Christmas Around the World”
    • The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About Christmas!
    • Peg + Cat + Holidays
  • Black Women Animate, Cartoon Network Present 1st Black in Animation Awards

    Black Women Animate, Cartoon Network Present 1st Black in Animation Awards

    Black Women Animate (BWA Studios) and Cartoon Network Studios have partnered to launch the inaugural Black in Animation Awards Show. This new initiative will honor Black people in animation who have and currently are paving the way for this sector of the entertainment industry. This awards show will be the closing event for the third annual BWA Studios Boot Camp training event on December 6 at 5 p.m. PST / 8 p.m. EST.

    Attendees can watch the Black in Animation Awards Show virtually and can register to watch the show and participate in the BWA Studios Boot Camp through www.bwabootcamp.com.

    The theme of this year’s event is “Honoring Our Stories.” The inaugural honorees include Vanessa Morrison, President of Streaming at Walt Disney Studios (Trailblazer Award); Bruce Smith, EP & Director at Disney Television Animation (Narrative Creator Award); Dr. Ayoka Chenzira, TV Director and Experimental Filmmaker (Cultural Innovator Award); Tina Obo, Director (Rising Star Award); Latoya Raveneau, Director at Disney Television Animation (Next Gen Award); and Carole Holliday, Animator and Story Artist (Lifetime Achievement Award).

    Honorees were selected by the Awards Show Nomination Committee inclusive of industry veterans and community leaders: Camille Eden (VP of Recruiting and Talent Development, Nickelodeon), Nicole Rivera (Vice President, Original Series Development, Cartoon Network), Lynne Southerland (Director/Showrunner), Sidney Clifton (EP, Jim Henson & Deluxe Animation, Supervising Producer, BWA Studios), Carl Reed (President, Lion Forge Animation), Jinko Gotoh (Producer, Netflix ), and Marlon West (Head of Effects, Disney).

    The show will be hosted by Grammy Award-winning artist Estelle. In addition, Estelle will perform the fan-favorite song “True Kinda Love” from Cartoon Network’s Steven Universe: The Movie, as sung by her character, Garnet.

    “Three years into our start up, we are continually dismayed at the lack of knowledge people have about Black legends in animation,” reflected BWA Studios Founder and CEO Taylor K. Shaw and Founding and Managing Partner JLove Calderón. “Prior to this show, there was no place to really honor and acknowledge the incredible role that Black folx have had in the animation industry. Keeping to our motto: if you don’t see it, create it! Thus, the first ever Black in Animation Award Show was established.”

    The third annual BWA Studios Boot Camp is a free, two-day virtual event which includes intensive workshops and insightful panels featuring industry experts and animation gurus from Cartoon Network Studios, Warner Bros. Animation, Nickelodeon, Disney, Inspire Justice and 9 Story Media. The Boot Camp is produced by A Wynn Wynn Production. Cartoon Network Studios is a founding partner.

  • HBO Max Gifts ‘Bugs Bunny’s 24-Carrot Holiday Special’ in Festive Lineup

    HBO Max Gifts ‘Bugs Bunny’s 24-Carrot Holiday Special’ in Festive Lineup

    HBO Max is inviting kids and families to cozy up with a special collection of holiday specials from favorite shows in December, including a brand-new slapstick celebration from Looney Tunes Cartoons. Viewers will also be treated to seasonal stories from Esme & Roy and Sesame Street, as well as a magical new season of Summer Camp Island.

    Bugs Bunny's 24-Carrot Holiday Special
    Bugs Bunny’s 24-Carrot Holiday Special

    On Thursday, December 3, the Looney Tunes are here to get you in the holiday spirit with Bugs Bunny’s 24-Carrot Holiday Special. Duck the halls with Porky and Daffy as they travel to the North Pole on a mission to save Christmas. Don’t miss out on all the holiday sales when Granny and Tweety go hunting for deals…and Sylvester goes hunting for a delicious yellow bird. Finally, it’s the ultimate cold war when a snowball fight quickly escalates between feuding neighbors Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd. Along with other favorites like Taz, Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner, let the Looney Tunes jumpstart your holiday season celebration.

    The following week on Thursday, December 10, come along on two festive adventures with Esme & Roy. In “Holiday Spirit,” Simon and Snugs can’t wait for Furry Claws to come to their party. But when he’s unable to make it, they learn the true meaning of the holidays. Then in “Snow Worries,” Fig and the Monstersitters can’t wait to play outside in the snow. But when the snow melts away, they have to come up with a different way to play.

    Esme & Roy: Holiday Spirit
    Esme & Roy: Holiday Spirit
    Esme & Roy: Snow Worries
    Esme & Roy: Snow Worries

    Sesame Street gets into the spirit of the season on Thursday, December 17 with a special new episode: It’s holiday time on Sesame Street! When their parents run late from the holiday concert, Elmo and Baby Bear stay with Alan and Nina at Hooper’s store. But they are disappointed not to celebrate Christmas Eve and Hanukkah as they had planned. Alan wonders how to make Hooper’s feel more festive. What if they make their own holiday decorations? Elmo, Baby Bear, Nina and Alan sing carols, eat latkes, and make lots of decorations. They create a wonderful holiday celebration all by themselves — and Elmo and Baby Bear realize that the best part of holidays is being together with friends and family.

    Sesame Street Holiday Special
    Sesame Street Holiday Special

    Outside the holiday lineup, subscribers can also look forward to a new episode of Sesame Street, “Cardboard Castle,” on Dec. 10 guest starring Issa Rae as a queen who doesn’t have enough bricks to build a play castle for her daughter. Luckily, Elmo, Cookie Monster and Rosita find a creative way to use cardboard instead! The same day will see the launch of the third season of Summer Camp Island, as previously announced.

  • Zodiak Kids Secures Commission for New ‘Mumfie’ Series

    Zodiak Kids Secures Commission for New ‘Mumfie’ Series

    Zodiak Kids, part of Banijay, has secured a commission from France Télévisions and Rai (Italy) to produce a brand-new animated series of the heritage property Mumfie (78 x 7’). The series, directed by the French director Daniel Dubuis, is a co-production between Zodiak Kids Studio France and Italian animation studio Animoka alongside the broadcasters. Production began this year with delivery from Spring 2021.

    “Zodiak Kids and Animoka are very proud and privileged to be able to explore Britt Allcroft’s Mumfie preschool universe; made of friendship, humor and amazing characters!” said Benoit di Sabatino, Producer & CEO, Zodiak Kids. “Mumfie is a very cute and high-quality animated series tailor-made for our two prestigious partners, France Télévisions and RAI, as well as for the international market.”

    Mumfie is a preschool comedy series based on Britt Allcroft’s Magic Adventures of Mumfie (creator of Thomas & Friends and the film Thomas & The Magic Railroad). Told with heart and humor, the brand-new series features the optimistic young elephant Mumfie, who along with his best friends, Pinky the flying pig and Jelly Bean the color-changing jellyfish, are the helpful heroes of this whimsical series. As our trio embark on their daily adventures you’ll get to meet their eclectic bunch of animal friends: a cheeky crocodile who thinks he’s a king and his mischievous cat confidant; there’s a hermit crab mayor and a giraffe who runs a hotel on an iceberg; you’ll see a jolly yellow whale and a skateboarding zebra, as well as some pirate wolves and a Greek chorus of funny frogs. In this world, nothing is quite what it seems and no matter what challenges arise, no flop, failure or fiasco is unfixable for Mumfie and his friends.

    “France Televisions is proud to welcome Mumfie in its preschool family. Mumfie will join the Okoo community, France Télévisions’ youth offer, alongside with our great heroes such as Simon, PJ Masks, Peppa Pig and many others,” said Pierre Siracusa, Head of Animation for France Télévisions. “With their positive attitude, mischievousness and altruism, there is no doubt Mumfie and his friends will enhance our children’s curiosity!”

    RAI Ragazzi Head Luca Milano commented, “We are confident that the new series, for the kindness of its main character Mumfie and for the brilliant and imaginative universe created around it, will become a pivotal property for Rai Yoyo, the leading Italian children’s TV channel. We are happy to support the project since the beginning together with quality-oriented companies like Zodiak Kids and Animoka.”

    Allcroft’s Mumfie was a beloved and classically animated children’s musical series, first shown in the U.K. in the 1990s on CiTV, Fox Kids in the U.S.A., and many other international channels. The series was lauded for its gentle storytelling and earned top ratings.

    “I’m delighted to be working with Benoit di Sabatino, Gary Milne, and all the talented team members at Zodiak Kids and Animoka,” said Allcroft. “It’s an honor to know that France Télévisions and Rai are committed to bringing this renaissance of Mumfie to a whole new generation of children around the world.”

    Zodiak Kids own international distribution rights to the series.

  • Annecy Festival Residency Projects Revealed

    Annecy Festival Residency Projects Revealed

    Last June, CITIA, the organizers of the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, announced the creation of the arts residency “Graphic development for animation feature film” with backing from the Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Département de la Haute-Savoie, the CNC and France Télévisions – a new milestone in the shared history between the Annecy region and animated film.

    During the summer, 32 projects were submitted, from 17 countries: France, Italy, Spain, Ireland, Georgia, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Hungary, India, Dominican Republic, Serbia, China, Turkey, Mexico and the Philippines. Because the three-month residency for graphic treatment is intended to enrich the narrative, the maturity of the script was one of the criteria for the selection process.

    A wide range of genres were represented, from mainstream projects to projects from more independent authors. An eclecticism that drew passionate discussions between the Selection Committee members: Sara Wikler (Artistic Film Producer, Blue Spirit, Script Consultant), Damien Brunner (Producer, Folivari), Éléa Gobbé-Mévellec (Director), Marc Bonny (Distributor) and Pierre Siracusa (Director of the Animation and Young Audiences’ Unit, France Télévisions).

    “This selection commission at the Annecy Festival residency is a major first. It was difficult for us to choose those who will be the pioneers,” the committee shared in the selection announcement. “Among the diverse range of projects submitted by these passionate and creative artists, we had to identify who would put this experience to good use. Our three winners have profiles that are as unique as they are promising. The qualities of their projects guarantee very original first films and are a testament to how animation film is conducive to communicating our times. Let’s hope that this residency’s cocoon enables them to blossom fully.” 

    The Advisory Committee brought together Catherine Puthod (Head of Film, Audiovisual and New Media, Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes), Aurore Fossard De Almeida (Visual Arts Project Manager, Département de la Haute-Savoie) as well as Marie Le Gac (Head of Development, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Cinéma).

    The three projects selected are:

    Piece
    Piece

    Piece by Alan Holly (Ireland), a modern animated drama about societal pressures and anxieties and their impact on young people. The project follows seven adolescents who question themselves and the world around them.

    Heirloom
    Heirloom

    Heirloom by Upamanyu Bhattacharyya (India), a family tale that follows the life and rise of the young Solal over almost fifty years and pays tribute to centuries of textile traditions in India.

    Le Cœur à danser
    Le Cœur à danser

    Le Cœur à danser by Pierre Le Couviour and Amine El Ouarti (France), a fictional story set in Brittany, about a young girl who takes it upon herself to organise a big party to celebrate the village’s men returning from the war. But, there’s no way of knowing if her father is among them. Her encounter with the legend of the City of Ys will guide her.

    CITIA will invite a member of the team from each of these projects to Annecy, from April 5 to June 27, 2021.

  • Trailer: Return of the Mini-Mack in ‘The Boss Baby: Family Business’

    Trailer: Return of the Mini-Mack in ‘The Boss Baby: Family Business’

    DreamWorks has unveiled the official trailer to The Boss Baby: Family Business, the follow-up to 2017’s Oscar-nominated CG comedy. The preview finds brothers Tim and Ted (a.k.a. the Boss Baby) grown up and estranged, but thanks to Tim’s no-nonsense talking baby daughter and a proprietary re-babyfication formula, the family is quickly toddling off on another madcap corporate espionage adventure!

    The Boss Baby: Family Business is slated for a theatrical release on March 26 through Universal.

    Synopsis: The Templeton brothers — Tim (James Marsden, X-Men franchise) and his Boss Baby little bro Ted (Alec Baldwin) — have become adults and drifted away from each other. Tim is now a married stay-at-home dad. Ted is a hedge fund CEO. But a new boss baby with a cutting-edge approach and a can-do attitude is about to bring them together again … and inspire a new family business.

    Tim and his wife, Carol (Eva Longoria), the breadwinner of the family, live in the suburbs with their super-smart seven-year-old daughter Tabitha (Ariana Greenblatt, Avengers: Infinity War) and adorable new infant Tina (Amy Sedaris, Netflix’s BoJack Horseman). Tabitha, who’s at the top of her class at the prestigious Acorn Center for Advanced Childhood, idolizes her Uncle Ted and wants to become like him, but Tim, still in touch with his overactive youthful imagination, worries that she’s working too hard and is missing out on a normal childhood.

    When baby Tina reveals that she’s — ta-da! — a top secret agent for BabyCorp on a mission to uncover the dark secrets behind Tabitha’s school and its mysterious founder, Dr. Edwin Armstrong (Jeff Goldblum), it will reunite the Templeton brothers in unexpected ways, lead them to re-evaluate the meaning of family and discover what truly matters.

    Lisa Kudrow and Jimmy Kimmel also reprise their roles as Ted and Tim’s parents.

    Building on the success of the first film, which earned more than $500 million worldwide, The Boss Baby: Family Business is directed by returning filmmaker Tom McGrath and is produced by Jeff Hermann (Kung Fu Panda 3).

    www.dreamworks.com/movies/the-boss-baby-2

  • WB Names Amy Friedman Head of Kids & Family, Sundance Feniger Head of GKYAC Digital

    Warner Bros. has made too key executive appointments to its kids’ and animation divisions, naming Amy Friedman as Head of Kids & Family Programming, and elevating Sundance Feniger to the role of Head of Digital Enterprises, Warner Bros. Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics. The announcements were made by Tom Ascheim, President, Warner Bros. Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics (GKYAC).

    In her newly created role as Head of Kids & Family Programming, Amy Friedman will oversee the creative and strategic guidance on kids and family programming for Cartoon Network and Boomerang, as well as develop and produce kids and family content for HBO Max.

    Previously appointed as Senior Advisor by Ascheim to assume programming and creative responsibilities for Cartoon Network, Friedman will add content portfolio plans to her role. This includes strategy for new and current series, acquisitions, and co-productions globally for kids and family across the WarnerMedia portfolio of kids brands while working in close collaboration with the animation studios, Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios. Her executive content team is led by Vishnu Athreya, leading Program Planning and Current Series, and Adina Pitt, who has a newly expanded role leading Content Acquisitions, Partnerships and Co-Productions for the Americas. Both will report directly into Friedman, who will also be building a small creative team in Los Angeles and New York.

    “For all the years I have known Amy, she has always exemplified what it means to be a successful and respected leader in the kids’ sphere. Her wit and humor rival her sharp creative, business and brand acumen, and she knows what kids of all ages and parents want,” said Ascheim. “In today’s immensely cluttered entertainment space, Amy’s commitment to deeply original, inclusive programming will grow our preschool, kids and family offering across our portfolio of brands.”

    Friedman is an accomplished veteran of the kids and family business. Prior to being appointed Head of Kids & Family Programming for Warner Bros., she served in senior creative management roles at Nickelodeon, Noggin, TeenNick, Scratch (Viacom’s in-house Millennial innovation lab), Sprout and Universal Kids. Friedman is the Founder and President of Redhead Consulting, a brand creation and content development company focused on kids, teens and families. Her work in branding, inclusive storytelling and pro-social content has earned multiple Peabody, Beacon, Cable Ace and Creativity Awards.

    Formerly Vice President and General Manager of Boomerang, as Head of Digital Enterprises, GKYAC, Sundance Feniger will lead the group’s overall vision, operations, and development of its branded digital offerings in this expanded role. He is based in Atlanta and will report into Ascheim.

    “Sundance has had great success in growing Boomerang’s streaming service since its launch. His proven track record of driving growth and engagement in a range of direct-to-consumer product offerings will be essential as we tap into our larger digital enterprises banner,” said Ascheim.

    “There are incredible opportunities ahead for us to unlock in the interactive and digital space. I’m looking forward to working with the world’s greatest storytellers across our kids, young adults and classics brands to bring those experiences to life,” Feniger added.

    While Boomerang will remain within his purview, Feniger will add to his charter direct business strategy, customer acquisition & retention, and operational & financial planning functions for a digital portfolio spanning Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Adult Swim, TCM, and the division’s two studios, Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios. This includes the transformation of the group’s current model into a future-state and digital-centric enterprise with a concentrated focus on optimizing the current portfolio of digital products & games; enhancing the user experience of the Kids & Family destination on HBO Max; and finding unique digital opportunities for each brand.

    In 2017, Feniger was tasked with the launch of Boomerang’s subscription video streaming service, which shares the same name as the global linear network. He led the streamer’s business across functions, including subscription strategies, operations, application development, and a partnership with technology company, Warner Bros. Digital Labs. Boomerang features a content slate of over 5,000 titles, including the massive Hanna-Barbera, Looney Tunes and MGM animation libraries with timeless franchises such as Scooby-Doo, Tom and Jerry, Bugs Bunny, The Jetsons and The Flintstones, plus Boomerang original exclusives such as Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz and Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?

    Before joining Boomerang, Feniger served as Senior Director of Product Strategy and Development at Nickelodeon, where he managed premium product for Viacom’s first mobile subscription video-on-demand service, Noggin, and was responsible for other key products, including Play-Along interactive videos for preschoolers. Prior, he held multiple leadership positions with the Nickelodeon Games Group across monetization operations, product management, and partnerships for all virtual world and MMO games. Feniger holds a degree in Economics from Cornell University.

  • Sutikki, Digital Dream Labs Ink Cozmo Content Deal

    Sutikki, Digital Dream Labs Ink Cozmo Content Deal

    Sutikki, the children’s entertainment company behind the popular U.K. series Moon & Me, has forged a new pact with U.S.-based educational technology company Digital Dream Labs (DDL), to create, develop and distribute an animated series and live-action content based on the company’s ground-breaking robot duo Cozmo and Vector.

    The journey from best-selling toy brand to entertainment franchise starts today with the premiere of the first animated featurette which debuts on the newly launched Cozmo & Friends YouTube channel. The hub will host a steady flow of innovative and creative content that will further explore Digital Dream Labs’ revolutionary robot creations.

    Sutikki’s initial focus will be on Cozmo, an expressive little robot with a mind of its own. Endowed with a one-of-a-kind personality that evolves and learns over time, one look at its big blue eyes reveals Cozmo’s star potential. Cozmo blazed a trail when it launched in 2017 earning the top spot for the best-selling toy on Amazon U.S. two years in a row and the best-selling toy on Amazon in the U.K. and France in 2017, according to One Click Retail.

    Sutikki plans a comprehensive content campaign, initially on its dedicated YouTube channel, leveraging its experience and expertise in building highly engaging brand franchises that speak to the discerning, tech savvy kids of today. The short-form videos will tap into the production company’s ability to engage consumers through compelling storytelling and to showcase IP on a global scale.

    Beyond plans for new video content, Sutikki is planning to launch a global consumer products program. Digital Dream Labs’ pre-order for updated versions of both of their popular consumer robots opens on November 20 ahead of the holiday season, with the new robots hitting retail in Spring 2021.

    Cozmo
    Cozmo

    “We’re looking forward to introducing Cozmo and friends to the world,” says Hannah Mungo, CEO, Sutikki. “Cozmo is an extraordinary character who is not only an educational asset and friend for children, but also full of play and exploration. We are extremely excited to tap into the unique characteristics of DDL’s amazing robot line through creative content and bold new consumer products that will form the blueprint for what is certain to be one of entertainment’s most exciting future franchises.”

    Digital Dream Labs is a global leader of creating hands-on educational technology for children of all ages. The high-tech firm specializes in creating engaging, language and system-agnostic products that connect with kids of all ages. Imbued with personality and spirit, the line of robots are more than simple educational tools and have already gained an online following that sets the stage for a successful evolution into the entertainment realm.

    “It’s been a real pleasure for our team to watch the animators capture Cozmo’s unique personality,” says co-founder and CEO of Digital Dream Labs, Dr. Jacob Hanchar. “We’re really excited to see this partnership grow and know that families around the world will welcome Cozmo into homes across many different interactive touchpoints.”

    www.sutikki.com | www.digitaldreamlabs.com

  • ‘Holy Grail’ Original Peanuts Art Heads to Heritage Auction

    ‘Holy Grail’ Original Peanuts Art Heads to Heritage Auction

    At this late date one would think there’s little left to surprise about the work of Charles Schulz. His illustrated offspring have been ubiquitous in our hearts and minds almost since the first Peanuts strip appeared in newspapers in October 1950 and spread quickly from a handful of papers to 350 million readers worldwide. Thanks to museums and merchandising, animation specials and auction events, hardback celebrations and paperback collections, one just assumes we’ve seen all that The Man Called Sparky created 70 years after A Boy Named Charlie Brown weathered his first indignity.

    But in its Dec. 11-13 Animation Art event, Dallas-based Heritage has one of the earliest-known Peanuts pieces drawn by Schulz: the artwork made in 1953 for a promotional giveaway almost entirely lost to history.

    These gorgeous drawings of Lucy, Linus, Snoopy, Schroeder, Patty, Violet, Shermy and Good Ol’ Charlie Brown were made for a newspaper freebie titled “The Peanuts Album,” and have never been seen in public or available at auction. Instead, they have resided with a longtime collector, who wishes to remain anonymous but is now ready to let someone else cherish these lovingly rendered portraits of eight comic-strip characters who feel like family.

    “When I first saw it, I almost fell down,” says Jim Lentz, Heritage Auctions’ Director of Animation Art.

    Peanuts
    Peanuts

    In the portraits, Charlie Brown wears his baseball cap and sports his oversized baseball glove. Lucy skips rope. Linus, without his blanket, stacks blocks. Schroeder plays his piano adorned with a bust of his beloved Beethoven. Violet stands ready to sell her Ready-Mix Mud Pies, while Patty, chewing on her tongue, shoots marbles. Shermy stands with hands in pockets, smiling. And Snoopy rests beside his doghouse to which he has affixed a television antenna.

    Schulz’s “drawings were but scribbles, a few lines scarcely more elaborated than children’s stick figures,” newsman Walter Cronkite wrote in his introduction to The Complete Peanuts: 1953 to 1954, “but his genius was such that with those short few lines he created a panorama of life’s experiences suffered, or enjoyed, or tolerated by the inhabitants of a cartoon village.”

    These eight portraits are quintessential Charles Schluz – “a kind of Holy Grail of his artwork,” Lentz says. “I knew instantly it was one of the most important pieces of Schulz art to surface.”

    Peanuts
    Peanuts

    “The Peanuts Album” itself is remarkably scarce. For those wishing to lay eyes on a copy, it surfaces in the pages of Chip Kidd and Geoff Spear’s 2015 hardback collection Only What’s Necessary: Charles M. Schulz and The Art of Peanuts, which is full of rare illustrations from the Schulz Museum and Research Center in Santa Rosa, Calif.

    Sandwiched between unpublished artwork and promotional pieces, “The Peanuts Album” receives a two-page spread in the book and a caption noting that “this promotional foldout booklet features early versions of the characters and a photo of Schulz and his family.” It says, too, that fans who wrote to United Feature Syndicate “would receive the two-sides mini-album, which was advertised in newspapers.”

    The giveaway foldout contains more than just the eight drawings: There’s also a miniature biography of Schulz, detailing his hobbies (golf and bridge), his service in World War II (“as a machine gunner in Europe”) and his place of residence (Minneapolis, where “he gets to his studio at 6:30 A.M. to work on his daily strip and Sunday page”). There’s also a photo of Schulz and wife Jean and their three children Meredith, Craig and Charles Jr. At the time, the cartoonist was only 31 years old.

    Peanuts
    Peanuts

    “When we found the giveaway album to go along with the artwork, it was a real eureka moment,” Lentz says. “There was no reason to believe this artwork existed. But here it is.”

    And at just the right time!

    On Nov. 20, during Heritage’s four-day Comics & Comic Art event, a Nov. 17, 1950, Peanuts daily strip sold for $192,000 – a new world record for Schulz original art. It was the earliest piece of his original art Heritage ever had the privilege of offering at auction.

    The original artwork for “The Peanuts Album” is hardly the sole Charlie Brown piece in Heritage’s Dec. 11-13 Animation Art event. All told, there are more than 40 lots ranging from original animated drawings to cels to books signed by Schulz.

    From the iconic A Charlie Brown Christmas, the most heartbreaking and heartwarming animation special ever created for prime-time TV, comes one remarkable original animation drawing. It features no less than Charlie Brown and his unloved tree perched upon Schroeder’s piano, adorned with the signature of the special’s director Bill Melendez.

    From that same immortal Christmas special comes a remarkable two-fer: a Melendez-signed animation drawing and its accompanying color model cel in which Charlie Brown ill-advisedly seeks psychiatric help from Lucy at her booth. There, the doctor is “real in” at five cents a pop (psychiatry).

    No less beloved is 1966’s It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, from which there is a rare production cel featuring Lucy as a witch (because “a person should always choose a costume which is in direct contrast to her own personality,” she would insist) and Pig-Pen as a ghost surrounded by his ubiquitous cloud of dust. Charlie Brown is also featured in a production cel from the 1985 CBS special You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown.

    All that and much, much more joins the event’s centerpiece item: that original artwork for “The Peanuts Album,” which may never again come to market.

    “I can’t stop looking at it,” Lentz says of the framed collection of portraits. “You can see the care he took in each portrait – the details, the shading, the sentiment. You can just see how much Schulz loved those characters. It’s just a magical piece.”

  • Craig Miller Named WGAW’s 2020 AWC Animation Writing Award Honoree

    TV animation writer and WGAW Animation Writers Caucus Chair Craig Miller (The Smurfs, Curious George, Pocket Dragon Adventures) will receive the Writers Guild of America West’s 2020 Animation Writers Caucus Animation Writing Award at November 24’s virtual AWC awards ceremony.

    Comic-book writer and Miller collaborator Marv Wolfman will present the Guild’s AWC career achievement award to Miller in recognition of his distinguished career and contributions to the animation field.

    “In his long distinguished career, Craig has been a tireless advocate for the writers of animation, working diligently to get writers like himself covered under a WGA contract. The WGAW Board of Directors is proud and honored to give him this well-deserved award.”

    Los Angeles native Craig Miller achieved degrees in Child Development and Social Psychology from Santa Monica College and UCLA before launching a career that hits every corner of the pop culture landscape.

    Miller started his career in Hollywood as a publicity executive, working as a consultant to Lucasfilm, Warner Bros., Disney, Universal and a host of other studios. Miller quickly found himself working alongside George Lucas, Jim Henson and a number of creative powerhouses on a long list of projects including The Empire Strikes Back, The Dark Crystal and The Muppets Take Manhattan.

    For the past 30 years, however, Miller has been writing, developing and producing television with well over 300 credits to his name, including Showtime anthology series The Hunger, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero and Beast Wars: Transformers (which won a Daytime Emmy in 1997). Having contributed to classic animated series such as The Real Ghostbusters, The Smurfs and Emmy-winning PBS series Curious George, the impact and influence of Miller’s work stretches through generations of artists and creators who grew up watching his material.

    Pocket Dragon Adventures
    Pocket Dragon Adventures

    In 1998, along with Wolfman, Miller co-created, produced and was a story editor on Pocket Dragon Adventures, a 104-episode series that happened to be the first animated series to go into production under the WGA contract. The syndicated show aired from the late 1990s into the early 2000s in over 50 countries and was nominated for the Humanitas Prize — awarded for film and television writing intended to promote human dignity, meaning and freedom — in 2000.

    A regular speaker on writing for animation, Miller has spoken and taken part in animation events all over the world, including the Annecy Animation Festival in France, Cartoons on the Bay/The International Conference on Television Animation in Italy, and the San Diego Comic-Con, just to name a few.

    These days, Miller spends much of his time developing projects for companies around the globe, working on shows for audiences in China, Australia, France, Italy and Dubai. His book about his time at Lucasfilm, Star Wars Memories, was released in December 2019.

    A WGAW member since 1988, Miller has served the Guild extensively over the years, and is currently the Chair of WGAW’s Animation Writers Caucus.

    The WGAW’s AWC Animation Writing Award is given to members of the Animation Writers Caucus or Writers Guild who have advanced the literature of animation in film and television throughout the years and made outstanding contributions to the profession of the animation writer. Founded in 1994, the WGAW’s Animation Writers Caucus represents over 600 animation writers and works to advance economic and creative conditions in the field. Through organizing efforts, educational events and networking opportunities, the Guild’s AWC is a leading proponent for animation writers.

    Previous AWC Animation Writing Award honorees include David N. Weiss, Nicole Dubuc, Len Wein, Mike Judge, Seth MacFarlane, Sam Simon, Linda Woolverton, Len Uhley, Brad Bird, Matt Groening, Al Jean & Mike Reiss, Dwayne McDuffie & Earl Kress, Mike Scully, Patric M. Verrone and Stan Berkowitz.

    www.wga.org

  • Disney Channels Add Animated Ornaments to Holiday Lineup

    Disney Channels Add Animated Ornaments to Holiday Lineup

    Disney Channel, Disney Junior and Disney XD are spreading holiday cheer with new themed programming, including festive episodes of DuckTales, Disney Fam Jam, Puppy Dog Pals and a one-hour special episode of Raven’s Home, beginning Saturday, Nov. 28 and airing throughout the month of December.

    In addition to previously announced tinseled toons debuting in December, animation fans can look forward to the animated special The Snowy Day, based on the beloved children’s book by Ezra Jack Keats, and two Random Rings animated shorts featuring Zombies 2 stars Chandler Kinney and Trevor Tordjman.

    Further celebrating the season, DisneyNOW will present a collection of new and existing holiday-themed episodes, movies and short-form content beginning Friday, November 27. Also included in DisneyNOW are holiday-themed levels of favorite games launching Tuesday, December 1 and a new Mickey’s Holiday Party mini-game debuting each day throughout the month of December.

    Snowy Day
    Snowy Day

    Saturday, November 28

    8:55 a.m. ET/PT (Disney Junior) Snowsnaps – “Gone to the Dogs” (Short-form) Violet and Tomas challenge Kiki and Sami to a dogsled.

    Monday, November 30

    8:15 a.m. ET/PT (Disney Junior / DisneyNOW) Chuggington: Tales from the Rails – “Chugging Home for the Holidays” Wilson, Koko, and Brewster visit San Locomota to experience Rosa’s holiday traditions.

    11:00 a.m. ET/PT (Disney Junior / DisneyNOW) Vampirina – “The Fright Before Christmas” / “Scared Snowman” In the first story of the episode, Vampirina plans a spooky scare in the hopes of attracting Spooky Claus so that her family can enjoy a festive Transylvanian Christmas. Then, when the Abominable Snowman arrives at the Scare B&B after a big snowstorm, Vee and her friends help him overcome his fears. Chris Sullivan (This Is Us) guest stars as Steve, the Abominable Snowman.

    7:00 p.m. ET/PT (Disney XD / DisneyNOW) DuckTales – “How Santa Stole Christmas!” Scrooge teams up with his archrival, Santa Claus, to save Christmas, while Webby discovers the true history behind their infamous feud. Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey) guest stars as Santa Claus.

    Puppy Dog Pals
    Puppy Dog Pals

    Friday, December 4

    9:00 a.m. ET/PT (Disney Channel / DisneyNOW) Puppy Dog Pals – “A Christmas Mission in Toyland” / “Nine Lights Tonight!” In the first story, Auggie and Mo help recite their nap time Christmas story when the pages of their book go missing. In the second story, Bingo and Rolly go on a mission to help Santa and Mrs. Claus replace the lights on their friend’s Hanukkiah. Henry Winkler (Happy Days) returns as Santa.

    11:00 a.m. ET/PT (Disney Channel) The Snowy Day Based on the award-winning book by Ezra Jack Keats. Peter goes on a magical, snowy walk to his Nana’s house to bring home their Christmas Eve dinner.

    7:00 p.m. ET/PT (Disney Junior / DisneyNOW) Piney: The Lonesome Pine A cheerful girl grows a talking pine to be her Christmas tree, but when he’s accidentally removed from her grandfather’s Christmas tree farm, the family dog leads him on a journey across the countryside while the girl and her grandpa search to get them home before Christmas.

    Saturday, December 5

    8:00 p.m. ET/PT (Disney Channel / DisneyNOW) Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir – “Chris Master” Nino’s little brother transforms into Chris Master and sends giant toys out to wreak havoc throughout Paris, looking for Santa Claus.

    Monday, December 7

    7:00 p.m. ET/PT (Disney XD / DisneyNOW) Oddbods – “The Festive Menace” ‘Twas the night before Christmas and trouble is brewing, Santa’s gone bad and it’s the Oddbods doing.

    Tuesday, December 8

    (Disney Channel / Disney Channel YouTube) Random Rings “Cricket Pranks Chandler” (Short-form) Cricket pretends to be Santa Claus and tells Chandler Kinney (Zombies 2) she’s on Santa’s naughty list, unless she mails Cricket a bunch of money.

    Bluey
    Bluey

    Friday, December 11

    10:30 a.m. ET/PT (Disney Channel / DisneyNOW) Bluey – “Christmas Swim” Bluey gets a new teddy for Christmas and introduces him to the whole family. But the family play too rough with him and now he wants to go home. Until Frisky convinces him to stay. The new story will be accompanied in this compilation special by:

    • “Verandah Santa” – It’s Christmas and Bluey is very focused on being good to get more presents. But when a game of Verandah Santa leaves cousin Socks upset, Bluey must learn the virtue of kindness.
    • “Sleepytime” – Bingo and Floppy have an intergalactic adventure in Bingo’s dream, while the rest of her sleep-deprived family try to navigate her non-stop night-time bed hopping.

    Monday, December 14

    11:00 a.m. ET/PT (Disney Junior / DisneyNOW) Vampirina – “New Century’s Eve” / “Bridget to the Brave” In the first story of the episode, Vampirina and her family celebrate New Century’s Eve and learn that following their resolutions is harder than they thought. Then, Bridget finds a spell book in the attic and accidently casts a spell that makes her fearsome instead of fearless.

    Tuesday, December 15

    (Disney Channel / Disney Channel YouTube) Random Rings “Tilly Tests Trevor” (Short-form) Tilly is making her very own Christmas movie and wants to cast Trevor Tordjman (Zombies 2) as Santa Claus, but Gramma Alice challenges Trevor to prove he’s worthy of the role.

    Sunday, December 27

    12:00 p.m. ET/PT (Disney Junior / DisneyNOW) Fancy Nancy – “New Year’s Nancy” / “Nancy’s Gift to Grandpa” In the first story of the episode, Nancy wants to stay up until midnight on New Year’s Eve, but finds that staying awake is harder than she thought. Then, to cheer up Grandpa on a wintry day, Nancy draws a masterpiece in chalk on the driveway. Kal Penn and Aparna Nancherla (both from Disney’s Mira, Royal Detective) return as Mr. and Mrs. Singh. George Wendt (Cheers) returns as Nancy’s Grandpa.