GKIDS has announced a North American theatrical run in select markets — including San Francisco, Chicago, Austin, Dallas, Boston and more — of the animated feature On-Gaku: Our Sound, from director Kenji Iwaisawa, based on the manga by Hiroyuki Ohashi.
In production for over seven years, On-Gaku: Our Sound is composed of over 40,000 hand-drawn frames, created largely by director Iwaisawa. The acclaimed animated comedy won the Nelvana Grand Prize at the 2019 Ottawa International Animation Festival and was selected for the Contrechamp Competition section at the 2020 Annecy International Animation Film Festival.
Synopsis: When you’re a bored teenager looking for thrills, sometimes the only thing you can turn to is rock ‘n roll. Having no skill, money, or even a full set of drums, a feared trio of high school delinquents nevertheless decide they are destined for musical glory in a quest to impress their only friend Aya, avoid a rival gang, and – most importantly – jam out.
Animated almost entirely by director Kenji Iwaisawa, and featuring a lead performance by Japanese alt-rock legend Shintaro Sakamoto, On-Gaku: Our Sound brings its own sound and vision to the Hiroyuki Ohashi manga from which it was adapted. With pitch-perfect deadpan humor, the film presents a highly original take on the beloved slacker comedy: a lo-fi buddy film with a blaring musical finale that will leave you wanting an immediate encore.
The Critics Choice Association (CCA) announced today the nominees for the inaugural Critics Choice Super Awards, a special event honoring the most popular, fan-obsessed genres across both television and movies, including Superhero, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Horror, Action and Animation. The winners will be revealed in a special television presentation, which will be produced remotely following COVID safety protocols, hosted by writer/director/podcaster Kevin Smith and actress/writer Dani Fernandez.
The ceremony will air on The CW Network on Sunday, January 10, 2021 (8-10 p.m. ET/PT) and will stream the next day for free on The CW App and cwtv.com.
The Critics Choice Association will also present the Legacy Award to the Star Trek franchise, recognizing the cultural impact it has had across multiple decades while continuing to appeal to and grow its loyal fanbase with new stories and characters. Star Trek icon Patrick Stewart, and Star Trek: Discovery trailblazer Sonequa Martin-Green will personally accept this special honor, which comes as the franchise celebrates its 55th anniversary.
“What a celebration this is going to be!” said Critics Choice Association CEO Joey Berlin. “We are so pleased to be spotlighting the brilliant work of so many artists who bring to life some of the most engaging and beloved movies and television series! We are certain that Kevin and Dani will serve as tremendous hosts, who, as fans themselves, will bring energy and enthusiasm to the stage, as we honor these genres that so often go overlooked and underappreciated.”
Select nominees listed below; see the full announcement here.
BEST ANIMATED MOVIE Onward (Disney+) Over the Moon (Netflix) A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon (Netflix) Soul (Disney+) The Willoughbys (Netflix) Wolfwalkers (Apple/GKIDS)
BEST VOICE ACTOR IN AN ANIMATED MOVIE
Jamie Foxx – Soul (Disney+)
Will Forte – The Willoughbys (Netflix)
Tom Holland – Onward (Disney+)
John Krasinski – Animal Crackers (Netflix)
Chris Pratt – Onward (Disney+)
Sam Rockwell – The One and Only Ivan (Disney+)
BEST VOICE ACTRESS IN AN ANIMATED MOVIE
Tina Fey – Soul (Disney+)
Honor Kneafsey – Wolfwalkers (Apple/GKIDS)
Maya Rudolph – The Willoughbys (Netflix)
Phillipa Soo – Over the Moon (Netflix)
Octavia Spencer – Onward (Disney+)
Eva Whittaker – Wolfwalkers (Apple/GKIDS)
BEST SUPERHERO MOVIE* Birds of Prey (Warner Bros.) The Old Guard (Netflix) Secret Society of Second-Born Royals (Disney+) Sonic The Hedgehog (Paramount) Superman: Man of Tomorrow (Warner Bros. Animation)
BEST HORROR MOVIE Freaky (Universal) The Invisible Man (Universal) Relic (IFC Films) The Rental (IFC Films) Sputnik (IFC Films)
BEST SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY MOVIE Love and Monsters (Paramount) Palm Springs (Hulu/NEON) Possessor (Neon) Synchronic (Well Go USA) The Vast of Night (Amazon Studios)
BEST ANIMATED SERIES Archer (FXX) BoJack Horseman (Netflix) Big Mouth (Netflix) Central Park (Apple TV+) Harley Quinn (HBO Max) Rick and Morty (Adult Swim) Star Trek: Lower Decks (CBS All Access)
BEST VOICE ACTOR IN AN ANIMATED SERIES
Will Arnett – BoJack Horseman (Netflix)
H. Jon Benjamin – Archer (FXX)
Nick Kroll – Big Mouth (Netflix)
John Mulaney – Big Mouth (Netflix)
Jack Quaid – Star Trek: Lower Decks (CBS All Access)
Justin Roiland – Rick and Morty (Adult Swim)
J.B. Smoove – Harley Quinn (HBO Max)
BEST VOICE ACTRESS IN AN ANIMATED SERIES
Kaley Cuoco – Harley Quinn (HBO Max)
Tawny Newsome – Star Trek: Lower Decks (CBS All Access)
Maya Rudolph – Big Mouth (Netflix)
Amy Sedaris – BoJack Horseman (Netflix)
Aisha Tyler – Archer (FXX)
Jessica Walter – Archer (FXX)
BEST SUPERHERO SERIES* The Boys (Amazon) DC’s Legends of Tomorrow (The CW) Doom Patrol (DC Universe and HBO Max) The Flash (The CW) Lucifer (Netflix) The Umbrella Academy (Netflix)
BEST HORROR SERIES Evil (CBS) The Haunting of Bly Manor (Netflix) Lovecraft Country (HBO) The Outsider (HBO) Supernatural (The CW) The Walking Dead (AMC)
BEST SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY SERIES The Mandalorian (Disney+) Outlander (Starz) Raised By Wolves (HBO Max) Star Trek: Discovery (CBS All Access) Star Trek: Picard (CBS All Access) Upload (Amazon) What We Do in the Shadows (FX)
OnwardWolfwalkersThe WilloughbysA Shaun the Sheep Movie: FarmageddonSoul
Meta Media Entertainment has been appointed as the worldwide distributor for the hit new animation series Hero Circle from Korean producer Studio TNT. The superhero/sci fi/school sitcom series for kids 7+ has had a great response from audiences since its launch this summer on Korean broadcaster EBS, who also co-produced the show. It also aired on the cable channel Tooniverse and others. In its first month’s release on WAVVE, one of Korea’s top streaming services, it continually ranked in the top 3. Meta Media will launch the show at next month’s digital Asia TV Forum & Market.
The “Hero Circle” is a school club for kids with superpowers, although our little heroes’ powers aren’t so super yet. These quirky misfits have a lot to learn about being heroes — it’s hard enough just being themselves! Cityside Academy is chock full of rival clubs who are constantly creating challenges for the Hero Circle, from the despotic Garden Club, to the vampire-hunting Manga Club. Extracurricular adventures in the form of aliens, supernatural phenomenon, and the city’s “grown-up” superheroes and villains, means the Hero Circle is always up to something fun.
Nick+
Corus Entertainment announces that Nick+ is now available to customers in Canada through Apple TV channels on the Apple TV app on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, iPod touch, Mac, select Samsung, LG, Sony, and VIZIO smart TVs, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, and PlayStation and Xbox consoles. With thousands of hours of content, Nick+ is the ultimate destination for side-splitting, kid-friendly fun. Customers can sign up for a 30-day free trial and subscribe directly to Nick+ on the Apple TV app for $5.99 per month. Subscribers can watch online or enjoy offline downloads; through Family Sharing, up to six family members can share subscriptions to Apple TV channels using just their Apple ID and password.
Nick+ offers subscribers access to a vast catalog of Nickelodeon’s iconic live-action and animated series along with the best preschooler programming from Nick Jr. With new episodes available on Apple TV channels right after the broadcast premiere in Canada, kids can watch their favourite Nickelodeon shows at any time, including SpongeBob SquarePants, The Legend of Korra, The Loud House, Bubble Guppies, Henry Danger, Blaze and the Monster Machines, The Thundermans, Dora the Explorer, Blue’s Clues & You!, as well as beloved classics and retro programming like iCarly, Rugrats, and so much more.
Funimation
Funimation, the leading global anime content provider, announced its service is now live in Brazil and Mexico. The service is now available online and will roll out on various apps and Smart TV platforms in 2021. Funimation’s Brazil and Mexico service offerings include anime series subtitled in Portuguese and Spanish respectively, with select titles dubbed.
At launch, fans have access to more than 1,500 hours from over 200 series, plus movies, including My Hero Academia, Attack on Titan, Overlord, Sword Art Online, Fruits Basket, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Fan, Cowboy Bebop, Steins; Gate, Love Live! Sunshine!!, Danganronpa, Noragami, Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai, The Promised Neverland and Plunderer. After launch, Funimation will continue to add even more great content, including several Simulcast series from Japan’s Fall and Winter Seasons, as well as some beloved classic catalog titles.
Funimation previously announced its SVOD service (Premium Plus) will be available at 24.90 Reais per month (or 249 Reais annually) in Brazil and 99 Pesos per month (or 990 Pesos annually) in Mexico, each with a two-week free trial. Funimation Brazil will accept PayPal, Visa and Mastercard credit cards at launch with more options available as apps are rolled out. Funimation Mexico will accept PayPal, Visa, Mastercard and American Express credit cards and debit cards at launch with more options available as apps are rolled out.
Chuggington: Tales from the Rails
Herschend Entertainment Studios announced that its highly-anticipated new series, Chuggington: Tales from the Rails, will debut to preschoolers and their families across the U.K., Ireland, France, Germany and Poland, via the series’ original top-tier broadcast partners, CBeebies, RTÉ , TF1, SUPER RTL and TVP ABC, respectively. The European broadcasters will begin debuting the series in early 2021 following the U.S. launch on Disney Junior and DisneyNOW in June.
Chuggington: Tales from the Rails introduces an all-new audience to the three young trainee trains Wilson, Koko and Brewster as they ride the rails on exciting, new adventures of teamwork, friendship, and fun. The new series digs deep into unique locations and character personalities to explore the dynamic world of Chuggington that’s home to a diverse and playful community of trains known as “Chuggers”. The new series is full of humor, adventure, and heart, accompanied by traintastic new songs!
European broadcasters will also be supporting the countrywide premieres of Chuggington: Tales from the Rails with the launch of a series of animated/live-action hybrid shorts, Discover Chuggington: All Aboard, featuring real kids who are transported into the fictional 3D world and interact with the characters through activities, adventure and music. Licensing agents across the regions will be announced shortly, covering key category offerings and product mix, including publishing, secondary toys, puzzles and games, food and drink, sleepwear and apparel, and bedding. The new toy line from Alpha Group, the franchise’s global master toy partner, is set to debut at retail in Autumn 2021.
Dr. Panda
9 Story Distribution International has secured multiple international sales for the first season of the 3D animated preschool series Dr. Panda (39 x 7′), including a license with Russia’s leading children’s channel Carousel, which premiered the series earlier this month. Other new broadcast deals include True Visions (Thailand), Somos TV (multi-territory, Spanish), MOLA TV (Indonesia) and WOW Unlimited (Canada). 9 Story previously announced sales to Cartoonito (Italy), RTL Kids (Netherlands, Luxembourg), YLE (Finland), TVNZ (New Zealand), HITN (Latin America and Spanish-speaking USA), Roku (U.S.) and Azoomee (U.S., U.K., Eire, Sweden, Malta and South Africa).
Developed for children ages 3-6, Dr. Panda is created and produced by Lin Yan with Giggle Garage and Spider Eye, written by Daan Velsink (Panic!, Snapshot, Bingo!) and Chris Parker (Peppa Pig, Shaun the Sheep) and directed by Patrick Chin and Wip Vernooij (Moshi Monsters, Wellie Wishers). The series takes place in the wonderful world of Panda City, where every day Dr. Panda tries out a new job working together with his friends: A mix-up at the post office? A chicken stuck in a tree? Carrots mysteriously disappearing? No problem! With a dash of creativity and a good deal of teamwork, Dr. Panda always saves the day!
9 Story acquired worldwide distribution rights to Dr. Panda, excluding China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and select rights within MENA in September 2018. Based on the worldwide sensation and award-winning app franchise that has over 300 million downloads and 7 million active users per month, the program is Dr. Panda’s first 3D series. A second season (39 x 7′) is now in production, with delivery anticipated in fall 2021.
The Secrets of Honey Hills
Ten major Russian companies will present their new series, films, TV formats and animation at this week’s MIP Cancun Online+ for the Hispanic market. The delegation includes animation studios Soyuzmultfilm, Riki Group and Platoshka Animation Studio.
Soyuzmultfilm will offer Rockoons, its brand-new musical series for the youngest audience; detective comedy series The Secrets of Honey Hill for 4-6 year olds; and Claymotions for early preschoolers, which is created in a rare technique of clay animation. The studio will also show a premiere episode of a 3D reboot of the popular gag-сomedy I’ll Get You! and seek co-production partners for new titles Umka and Frosh.
Key projects by Riki Group which will take part in the co-production forum are the educational comedy series Question Club, therapeutic fantasy comedy The Amazing Spoilers and pre-k series Above the Ceiling. Content from Riki Group is already well-known in Latin America and beyond — in October, Brazilian TV channel Gloobinho, which already broadcast Babyriki, began airing Tina & Tony in four daily slots. The Gloob channel is planning to show full-length animated films The Fixies soon (international sales are handled by Central Partnership, part of Gazprom Media Holding).
Last but not least, Platoshka animation studio will take part in the co-production market with three projects: Beadies, an educational musical for the youngest children; Agatha the Garden Queen and Been-in-Use Cat.
Creative production company Where the Buffalo Roam (WTBR) recently produced an animated docuseries called Being Human Is, presented by Android. Directed by Nico Carbonaro and Tuesday McGowan, the five-episode branded series tells the inspiring true stories of real people from all over the world who have realized their long-held passions in unexpected ways, and how Android has uniquely helped each of them in making their dreams come true.
“This campaign puts an exciting twist on both branded content and documentary storytelling,” remarks Carbonaro. “I like to call them ‘documentary fables,’ as each film has a magical storybook feel yet is rooted in real people and their own words and experiences. For Being Human Is, we weren’t just telling these remarkable stories, we were doing it in a way that could never be done in live action.”
On Silent Ice
Immersing viewers into the sensory experience of a deaf hockey player, “On Silent Ice” tells the story of Anthony Rumolo and his mission to advance the sport for athletes like him through the Ontario Deaf Hockey Association. Animation and illustration by Oddfellows (Portland, OR).
In “Na Cor,” Brazilian art teacher Mariluce Maria Souza inspires local children to paint their experience of home and share them with the throngs of tourists who visit Rio’s largest favela each year. Animation by Giant Ant (Vancouver, BC). Illustration by Tracy J. Lee (San Francisco, CA).
“Ramblin’ Man” profiles Josh Pearson, a blues artist who refuses to let his blindness hold him back from writing music and performing for audiences across the U.S.A. Animation by Meister (Portland, OR). Illustration by Keith Negley (Bellingham, WA).
“The Magic Makers” is a feel-good story about a small-town Nigerian kid turned rising star, Raymond Yusuff – the mastermind behind a crafty smartphone filmmaking collective that took the internet by storm. Animation by Where the Buffalo Roam (Oakland, CA). Illustration by Leonard Dupond (Lille, France).
In “Chez Elyse,” we learn how chef Elyse Bezuidenhout unexpectedly lost most of her eyesight overnight and the five-year journey to regain her sense of self that followed as she mastered her craft and passion in the kitchen on a newfound level. Animation by Oddfellows (Portland, OR). Illustration by Emiliano Ponzi (Milan, Italy).
Na Cor
Combining Carbonaro’s expertise in documentary filmmaking with McGowan’s design and animation prowess, WTBR embarked on the project with a vision to create larger-than-life documentary stories with an animated aesthetic that celebrated the heroes as they see themselves. To achieve this, they turned to an unexpected yet fitting source of inspiration: journalism. With a focus on nuanced human stories, similar to radio shows like This American Life, the team worked with acclaimed radio producers to sculpt each episode in audio format, which informed every creative decision moving forward.
Equally inspired by the classic illustration styles of The New Yorker and the New York Times, WTBR hired renowned editorial illustrators from the world of print journalism to bring each story to life. In the process, they deployed a mash-up of illustration styles and animation techniques – from digital and hand-drawn assets to 2D, 3D and cel animation.
Ramblin’ Man
“These films needed to be rich, evocative and resonate from the heart, so authenticity played a big role in developing the visual style of each film,” says McGowan. “We had to stay mindful that we were dealing with real people and respect the sanctity of who they are. We were fearless in our approach, embracing abstraction, symbolism, metaphor, and non-linear storytelling to create fantastical animations that bridge nonfiction and magic realism.”
WTBR brought on a team of composers and sound designers, led by Space Lute’s JR Narrows, to dimensionalize each story with nuanced soundscapes. This included an original composition performed by a 53-piece orchestra in Budapest.
WTBR also conceived the branding and naming of Being Human Is, including the opening title sequence, which is customized to each title with visual and sonic “Easter eggs” to introduce each participant’s unique story.
The Magic Man
Produced during the pandemic, Being Human Is pooled together hundreds of artists and creative companies across four continents and seven time zones.
“While we had to adapt to a completely new way of creating and collaborating during the pandemic, we shared a lot of love and camaraderie rallying around this project for six months of our lives,” says Carbonaro. “At the same time, the remote nature of this project afforded us to bring together talent from around the world; moreover, being isolated created a sense of autonomy for all of the artists involved, which led to everyone bringing their best work forward. We all fed off of each other’s ideas and instincts as the creative just kept evolving organically and for the better.”
“We’re grateful that the Android team entrusted us to realize the vision for this docuseries and honor these amazing personal stories with a fresh approach to branded content and filmmaking,” concludes Tim Pries, WTBR Co-Founder/Executive Producer. “Thankfully, we had a creative Voltron to pull it off.”
Peanuts fans will have even more ways to watch Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the gang from Charles Schulz’s beloved stories on their holiday adventures as Apple and PBS team up for special, ad free broadcasts of A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and A Charlie Brown Christmas.
To complement their release on Apple TV+ this holiday season, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving will also air on PBS and PBS KIDS on November 22 at 7:30 p.m. local time / 6:30 p.m. CT (check local listings) and A Charlie Brown Christmas will air on PBS and PBS KIDS on December 13 at 7:30 p.m. local time / 6:30 p.m. CT (check local listings).
The classic holiday Peanuts specials will also stream ad free and in HD on Apple TV+. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving will start streaming on Apple TV+ November 18, and the special will be available for free from November 25 through November 27. The Peanuts gang will also deck the halls with the premiere of A Charlie Brown Christmas, streaming on Apple TV+ on December 4. The holiday special will be available to enjoy for free from December 11 through December 13.
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving – In the 1973 special, directed by Bill Melendez and Phil Roman, Charlie Brown wants to do something special for the gang. However, the dinner he arranges is a disaster when the caterers, Snoopy and Woodstock, prepare toast and popcorn as the main dish. Humiliated, it will take all of Marcie’s persuasive powers to salvage the holiday for Charlie Brown.
A Charlie Brown Christmas – Celebrate the joy of the holidays with the Emmy-winning 1965 Christmas-themed special, directed by Bill Melendez. Charlie Brown complains about the overwhelming materialism that he sees everywhere during the Christmas season. Lucy suggests that he become director of the school Christmas pageant, and Charlie Brown accepts, but it proves to be a frustrating struggle. When an attempt to restore the proper spirit with a forlorn little fir Christmas tree fails, Charlie Brown needs Linus’ help to learn what the real meaning of Christmas is.
Former Netflix veep Erick Barmack’s new L.A. outfit Wild Sheep Content is joining the frisky fray of Mirka Andolfo’s Sweet Paprika, an original adult-targeted animated romantic comedy. The studio will serve as creative producer on the project, announced in July, and work with Turin, Italy-based co-producers Arancia Studio and Grey Ladder Productions to bring the intriguing toon to platforms around the world.
“Mirka has the rare ability to enchant readers across the globe, and I couldn’t be more excited to help adapt her vision from page to screen with Sweet Paprika,” Barmack told Variety. “It’s a charming, relevant and hilarious foray into romantic comedy, and a project I couldn’t resist.”
Andolfo, creator of the acclaimed comics Unnatural and Mercy, added: “Erik has been a pioneer in global storytelling, introducing the most vital global voices to the biggest audiences. It’s an honor to have him collaborate on Sweet Paprika.”
From an original idea by Italian artist Andolfo, Sweet Paprika is set in a contemporary world inhabited by angels and devils. Paprika, a New Yorker of Italian origins, is a workaholic princess who lives in a large metropolis instead of an enchanted castle. Her successful career has sucked her in, leaving no room for relationships. To her erotic rescue comes Dill — a naive, pleasant man whose “angelic” behavior could not be further from Paprika.
The series will be directed by Gabriele Pennacchiolo, a 25-year DreamWorks Animation features veteran who shared the 2019 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Short Form Animated Program as supervising director on Netflix’s Love, Death + Robots, “The Witness.”
Andolfo is also writing and illustrating a Sweet Paprika comic-book series to be produced by Arancia and published by Image Comics in July 2021; Edizioni Star Comics and Éditions Glénat are on board to release the comics in Italy and France, respectively.
Barmack and Wild Sheep Content announced in July another excitingly different animation project, teaming up with artist Nicholle Kobi on African women’s history anthology Queens. The partners are also developing La Femme Noir, a Sex in the City-style romance inspired by Kobi’s popular Instagram art series about Black women around the world, at BET (ViacomCBS).
SmartStudy and YouTube Originals today announce Pinkfong Wonderstar, SmartStudy’s popular animated series, will be coming to YouTube Originals in December. The 13-episode series will be sequentially released on Pinkfong’s Korean and English channel and will be available on the YouTube Kids app starting December 3 at 9 a.m. PST.
The 3D computer-animated series follows Pinkfong, an adorable fox from planet Staria, and his best friend Hogi into their fun-filled adventures as they team up to solve their friends’ problems in Wonderville with Pinkfong’s magical powers and Hogi’s great ideas. Pinkfong’s magic, endless enthusiasm and Hogi’s encyclopedic knowledge inspire them to open ‘Wonderstar’, a problem solving service for the townspeople of Wonderville — and beyond.
Pinkfong Wonderstar is the first TV animated series that introduces the original story of Pinkfong. Exclusive to YouTube Originals are special clips at the beginning of every episode featuring Pinkfong and Hogi’s fun explanation of key learning takeaways from each episode’s story.
“We’re excited to partner with YouTube for Pinkfong Wonderstar’s global release on YouTube Originals,” said Min Seok Kim, CEO, SmartStudy. “We hope Pinkfong Wonderstar sparks the imagination of children around the world and helps them learn the importance of teamwork and collaboration.”
“Pinkfong’s universe is loved by millions of children around the world. We’re thrilled to welcome Pinkfong Wonderstar to our YouTube Originals slate, bringing the magic of Wonderville to our global fans and inspiring children to treasure friendship, learning and teamwork,” said Nadine Zylstra, Head of Family Entertainment and Learning, YouTube Originals.
ZDF Enterprises, part of leading German national broadcaster ZDF, announces that it has joined the co-production team of Grisù via an agreement with Toon2Tango (Germany) and Mondo TV Group’s subsidiary Mondo TV France.
Based on the classic property created by Nino and Toni Pagot, Grisù will be a 52 x 11′ 3D CGI series, produced by Mondo TV Group with the advice of partner Toon2Tango.
ZDF Enterprises will be responsible for the worldwide distribution of the audiovisual
exploitation rights, excluding Italy, France, Spain and China. Worldwide L&M rights will be handled by Mondo TV and Toon2Tango via its distribution network. As part of the agreement, ZDF Enterprises will also be actively involved in the artistic and creative activities.
For the first time in Mondo’s history, the production will be largely carried out internally, with the involvement of the new studio in Tenerife which is being set up and is managed by Mondo TV Producciones Canarias. Mondo TV France and Mondo TV S.p.A. will participate as co-producers mainly dealing respectively with pre-production and post-production.
Currently in pre-production, Grisù is scheduled to be coompleted in the second half of 2022.
Framestore has brought even more shapeshifting daemons and otherworldly locales to the screen in His Dark Materials for the show’s epic second season, delivering some 1,400 shots of film-quality VFX and serving as a key creative collaborator.
Season 2, which made its U.S. streaming debut on HBO Max on Monday, sees Lyra Silvertongue (Dafne Keen) and Will Parry (Amir Wilson) leave their familiar worlds behind, encountering new adventures and new dangers in realms that may contain familiar echoes of their own but prove to be very, very different. Along the way they meet new friends, new foes and different iterations of old, familiar faces.
Having won a BAFTA for the first season’s VFX, it’s no surprise that Framestore’s work shines in every episode of S2, bringing the multiple worlds to life with explosive action sequences, note-perfect CG environments and, of course, carefully-crafted creature work that ensures the show’s daemons are as much a part of the cast as their human counterparts.
“For Lyra and Will, the worlds they’ve known have exploded outwards. It was a lot of fun to explore those while retaining the logic, the aesthetics and the ground rules we established in the first season,” explains Russell Dodgson, the show’s overall VFX Supervisor. “In season two we have vast new cities to explore and new enemies to face, but the second season also gave us a chance to build out characters and ideas from the first season.”
When it came to the show’s daemons, Dodgson is keen to explain that it’s character as much as craft that has been developed between the two shows: “It’s almost a given that Framestore’s in-house tech is constantly evolving and developing, but what was really exciting was to see how our artists grew and developed the characters they were working on. Thanks to our riggers, modellers and artists it’s almost like these characters have been off living lives beyond the show — they have more experience, more subtlety of character and emotion. It’s testament to the skill and craft that they bring to their work, and the natural shorthand we’ve developed between ourselves in terms of movement, behavior and nuance, whether we’re talking about hero characters like Pan or those that you might only catch relatively fleeting glimpses of — a skink or a Chinese pond heron, say. Our artists have been able to immerse themselves in the characters, and the deep-level understanding of performance and storytelling that each member of the team brings to the table makes for some emotionally charged sequences — something that’s so important, given how the daemons riff on, augment or work to conceal the feelings of their humans.”
His Dark Materials
From intricate conflicts between daemons to huge aerial bombardments and warring airships, Framestore was responsible for the show’s many edge-of-the seat spectacles. Key, too, was seamless world-building — working hand-in-glove with design studio Painting Practice on the construction of awe-inspiring environments like the iconic Cittàgazze, or working with propmasters and costumiers to get reference materials and scans so that CG and real-life match each other seamlessly.
“Being embedded with the Bad Wolf creative team has played a huge part in the success of the show’s VFX,” says VFX Executive Producer James Whitlam. “It feels like we’re really part of the creative firmament and able to offer advice and expertise every step of the way, whether it’s making a minor tweak to achieve a more nuanced performance or explaining why we need to send Russ off in a helicopter somewhere to capture amazing plate photography. It’s a trusting and truly collaborative experience, and there’s a real feeling that we’re all pulling in the exact same direction to service the needs of the story.”
His Dark Materials
Beyond bringing Philip Pullman’s much-loved epic so wonderfully to life, the Framestore team faced very real logistical concerns. The coronavirus pandemic had — and continues to have — a huge impact on global film and TV production, and limitations to travel and access to certain locations threw up unforeseen hurdles that required creative fixes.
“As you’d expect we found ourselves having conversations about how VFX might be used to augment or propel the story,” explains Whitlam. “This occasionally meant extra screen time for some of our CG characters, but more often than not we brought ‘invisible’ FX and our deep understanding of the production process to bear — we found ourselves asking our second unit DoP to shoot pick-ups with props in his garage, or helping coach our daemon voice cast over Zoom, and there was at least one occasion where Russ was quite literally wearing different hats so we could get the framing right when picking up additional VFX plate footage. I think that’s a real benefit of being embedded with the Bad Wolf team — we’re at the table and part of the conversation, and that means we can offer fast, smart, seamless fixes that work for the producers and work for the audience.”
The result is a sumptuous, spellbinding world fit for a story beloved by readers around the world. “I think one of our biggest successes in the first season was making the daemons such a matter-of-fact part of Lyra’s world,” says Dodgson. “The challenge for season two was to maintain this immersive sense of wonder as we add layer upon layer, expanding on the show’s CG cast, pushing forward into new realms and helping Jane Tranter, Jack Thorne and the Bad Wolf team as we develop a visual language for these exciting new changes and developments.”
“This is a real achievement for everyone involved,” concludes Fiona Walkinshaw, Framestore’s Global Managing Director, Film. “Our teams in London, Montreal and New York have been living and breathing this show and I think the results speak for themselves. Our artists raised the bar for episodic VFX with the first season, and it seems like their BAFTA win has spurred them on to even greater creative heights.”
To celebrate the season launch, Framestore also collaborated with HBO on the AR iOS app His Dark Materials: My Daemon, which lets users discover their very own soul companion! You can read more about the project here.
His Dark Materials Season 2 is streaming now on HBO Max.
Animation fans have already fallen in love with Netflix Original movie Over the Moon, which premiered on streaming last month. Now, explore the behind-the-scenes artistic adventure which brought Fei Fei’s flight to screens in the stunning new official art book Over The Moon: Illuminating the Journey, released Nov. 10 from Titan Books.
Written by renowned film critic Leonard Maltin, this hardcover coffee table tome explores the full process behind Oscar-winning animator Glen Keane’s exhilarating musical adventure (and feature directorial debut!). Featuring exclusive interviews with the crew, plus concept art, character sketches, storyboards and final artwork, the book explores the unforgettable characters and stunning moonscapes from the film.
This must-have title was already one of our top new release picks for November, and now Animation Magazine is delighted to share a sampling of the beautiful artwork waiting to be discovered in its pages. Feast your eyes!
‘Tis the season for jolly, jingling animated gifts that warm the heart on cold winter nights. Of course, a stocking’s worth of new holiday-themed episodes of favorite series are heading to Disney Channel, Disney Junior and Disney XD next month. Fans and families can tune into new adventures of Mira, Royal Detective (featuring guest stars Madhur Jaffrey and Sakina Jaffrey), Puppy Dog Pals (with Henry Winkler as Santa), Fancy Nancy (with Kal Penn, Aparna Nancherla and George Wendt), Vampirina, Miraculous and Oddbods.
There are also plenty of new live-action and unscripted holiday TV specials on offer, including the celebrity Magic Kingdom challenge Disney Holiday Magic Quest and Disney Fam Jam “Jolly Holidance” (both Dec. 4 on Disney Channel), Challenge Accepted! Disney Channel’s Epic Holiday Showdown (Dec. 6), Disney Channel Holiday House Party and seasonal episodes of Just Roll with It and Raven’s Home.
Disney+ is also getting into the #SeasonsStreamings spirit! The service is spreading cheer with a heartwarming collection of some of the most festive family viewing of all time. The “Happy Holidays Collection” has something for everyone from adored classics to highly anticipated Disney+ Originals like LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special, which premiered today; Godmothered, premiering December 4; High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special, premiering December 11; and On Pointe, premiering on December 18. The collection also includes The Simpsons Christmas episodes from all 31 seasons streaming on Disney+ as well as more seasonal episodes and nostalgic classics.
While the weather outside is frightful, the movies premiering on Disney+ this season are delightful, bringing families together with heartwarming new films including Black Beauty on November 27, Safety on December 11, and Soul on December 25.
Miraculous
Disney TV animation premieres:
Friday, Dec. 4
8:30-9:00 a.m. EST (Disney Channel) Mira, Royal Detective “The Case of the Mysterious Girl/Mystery on the Waterfront” – When a mysterious girl proves to be an excellent taste taster, Kamla enlists Mira to help find her. / Mira must crack the case when Auntie Pushpa’s gold purse and other valuables go missing. Madhur Jaffrey (I Feel Bad) and Sakina Jaffrey (House of Cards) guest star as Mrs. Chopra and Mrs. Kapadia, respectively.
9:00-9:30 a.m. EST (Disney Channel) Puppy Dog Pals “A Christmas Mission in Toyland/Nine Lights Tonight” – Auggie and Mo help recite their naptime Christmas story when the pages of their book go missing. / 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.
Saturday, Dec. 5
8:00-8:30 p.m. EST (Disney Channel) – Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and 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, Dec. 7
7:00-7:30 p.m. EST (Disney XD) Oddbods “The Festive Menace” – ‘Twas the night before Christmas and trouble is brewing, Santa’s gone bad and it’s the Oddbods doing.
Monday, Dec. 14
11:00-11:30 a.m. EST (Disney Junior) Vampirina “New Century’s Eve/Bridget the Brave” –Vampirina and her family celebrate New Century’s Eve and learn that following their resolutions is harder than they thought. / Bridget finds a spellbook in the attic and accidentally casts a spell that makes her fearsome instead of fearless.
Sunday, Dec. 27
12:00-12:30 p.m. EST (Disney Junior) Fancy Nancy “New Year’s Nancy/Nancy’s Gift to Grandpa” – Nancy wants to stay up until midnight on New Year’s Eve but finds that staying awake is harder than she thought. / 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.
Disney+ animation highlights:
Originals LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special – Now streaming Once Upon a Snowman – Now streaming Arendelle Castle Yule Log – December 18
Holiday movies Frozen Frozen 2 The Muppet Christmas Carol Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas Mickey’s A Christmas Carol Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas Winnie the Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas Olaf’s Frozen Adventure Pluto’s Christmas Tree
The Simpsons Christmas episodes
“Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire” (S1E1)
“Marge Be Not Proud” (S7E11)
“Miracle on Evergreen Terrace” (S9E10)
“Grift of the Magi” (S11E9)
“Skinner’s Sense of Snow” (S12E8)
“She of Little Faith” (S13E6)
“Tis The Fifteenth Season” (S15E7)
“Simpsons Christmas Stories” (S17E9)
“Kill Gil, Volumes I & II” (S18E9)
“The Burns and the Bees” (S20E9)
“The Fight Before Christmas” (S22E8)
“Holidays of Future Passed” (S23E9)
“White Christmas Blues” (S25E8)
“I Won’t Be Home for Christmas” (S26E9)
“The Nightmare After Krustmas” (S28E10)
“Tis the 30th Season” (S30E10)
“Bobby, It’s Cold Outside”(S31E10)
Holiday episodes Kim Possible – “A Very Possible Christmas” (S2 E13) The Proud Family – “Seven Days of Kwanzaa” (S1 E11)
Newly launched L.A.-based distribution label LAAF (an off-shoot of the Los Angeles Animation Festival and FilmFest Distribution) is delivering festival feature film favorites The Last Fiction and SHe worldwide, just in time for the holidays.
Many wonderful international animated features still find it hard to acquire U.S. distribution — and that’s where the newly launched LAAF label comes in, curating some of the best of world animation.
The Last Fiction
After a decade in production, the 2D animated feature The Last Fiction is finally being released in the U.S. The debut feature from the Tehran-based Hoorakhsh Studios and 7 Sky Animation Ltd., it is also the first Iranian animated feature to qualify for the Oscars.
Written and directed by Ashkan Rahgozar, The Last Fiction is a game-changer, being the most sophisticated and technologically advanced feature to emerge from the Iranian animation industry to date.
Based on the classic Iranian tale “The Shahnameh” (“The Book of Kings”) by Ferdowsi, the film is an epic, action-packed tale of Persian mythology, adventure and intrigue in the vein of The Lord of the Rings, and is geared at a teen and adult market. Critically lauded worldwide, The L.A.Times’ Carlos Aguilar described The Last Fiction as an “epically exhilarating saga.”
The Last Fiction is also available on DVD as of November 17; a Special Edition Blu-ray packed with special features is due to follow in the New Year. Find the film on Amazon Prime Video (worldwide), Slingbox, Redbox, Directv, Roku, Vudu, iTunes, Dish and FandangoNow.
SHe
Shengwei Zhou’s critically celebrated debut feature SHe is also released this week on Amazon Prime Video worldwide. This powerful, stop-motion feature is a David Lynchian, technicolor dreamscape of anthropomorphized shoes and household objects. In this tale a high heel shoe turns herself into a man’s shoe in order to work and feed her daughter in an authoritarian world.
SHe features a stunning, wall-to-wall music score from acclaimed composer Sihan Yuan — one that replaces the need for words during the entire production. Variety‘s Dennis Harvey describes the film as both “a major event” and “as accomplished and inventive as it is conceptually bizarre.”
The classic cat-and-mouse games of cartoon icons Tom and Jerry are hitting the big screen in Warner Bros.’ new hybrid feature, which inserts the beloved animated stars into a live-action comedy adventure (as well as a few other tooned-up critters).
The new trailer reveals an utterly madcap rivalry is ready to unfold, as Jerry takes up residence in a swanky hotel and determined employee Kayla (Chloë Grace Moretz) enlists Tom’s help to evict the big-eared trouble maker before he can ruin “the wedding of the century.” The preview also features Michael Peña as Kayla’s high-strung boss, Terrance.
Tom and Jerry is slated to be released on March 5, 2021, after being pushed back from its original December debut. The new movie marks the Hanna-Barbera favorites’ first big screen outing since the fully-animated Tom and Jerry: The Movie almost 30 years ago.
Tim Story (Barbershop, Fantastic Four, Ride Along) directs from a script by Kevin Costello. The cast also features Colin Jost, Ken Jeong, Rob Delaney, Pallavi Shara, and archival voice effects by William Hanna for Tom and Jerry. Chris DeFaria (The LEGO Movie 2, Looney Tunes: Back in Action) is producer.
Tom and Jerry is a production of Warner Animation Group and Hanna-Barbera Productions.
ViacomCBS International Studios (VIS) has signed a first-look deal with Marc Anthony’s production company, Magnus Studios, to strengthen its global strategy of establishing alliances with best talents in the entertainment industry, to create and produce entertainment content for global audiences.
Anthony is a global superstar who has been recognized with several awards from the music industry including: American Music Awards; multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards; Premios Lo Nuestro; Premios Juventud; 10 Billboard Latin Music Awards; and three Billboard Awards for his album Marc Anthony 3.0. In addition, he won the 2020 Grammy for Best Tropical Album with his most recent production, Opus; earned a #1 at Billboard’s Tropical Airplay list with “Parecen Viernes”; and most recently became the first salsa music artist in the U.S. to achieve Diamond status certification.
In addition, VIS has recently confirmed a new development deal for the animated children’s series Gloria Wants to Know It All, alongside Anthony’s Magnus Studios, Juan José Campanella’s Mundoloco Animation Studios and Lanugo Media Inc.. Empowering diversity, the animated series for preschool children that tells the story of Gloria, an eight-year-old alpaca from the big city, which is a vibrant example of the richness of Latin American culture.
Anthony and Felipe Pimiento, Magnus COO, will both act as executive producers in the slate of projects to be produced by the venture. Pimiento will also oversee the operations of the venture day-to-day for Magnus Studios.
“I am very excited to join ViacomCBS in this new venture. They are one of the world’s leading producers of premium entertainment content reaching billions of people around the world. Their diversified portfolio of Global brands checks every box for us, and it provides us with the opportunity to continue to create content that has an appeal for audiences’ everywhere,” said Anthony. “JC has a vision that is aligned with what I, through Magnus Studios, want to share with the world.”
“At the core of our studio are content creators, that can bring voices, cultures, and stories that resonate with global audiences,” said JC Acosta, President ViacomCBS International Studios & Networks Americas. “We are excited to work with Marc and the entire Magnus team to bring these stories to life.”
As the 2020 digital edition of Manchester Animation Festival (MAF) opens, figures from across the industry have congratulated Oscar-winning Canadian animation duo Alison Snowden and David Fine of Snowden Fine Films (Bob’s Birthday, Animal Behaviour), who have been officially honored by the festival with this year’s Fellowship Award, which celebrates their tremendous contributions to the animation industry.
Bob’s Birthday (NFB, 1993)
Animation luminaries have come out to send their congratulations to the pair, with Peppa Pig writer Neville Astley creating a bespoke animation video to say “well done David and Alison,” while animation Commissioning Editor Clare Kitson also commented that this achievement was “richly deserved.”
Wallace & Gromit creator Nick Park added: “Congratulations to my old film school chums. It’s so great to see you get this wonderful fellowship award from the very prestigious Manchester Animation Festival and to be recognized in this way for your amazingly funny and original and inspired body of work. I’ve always looked forward to seeing your next thing and always felt so inspired by you. It’s wonderful to be able to sit here and say congratulations on yet another recognition, and a very important one — so well deserved.”
Alison Snowden & David Fine, the film school days (Photo by Nick Park)
The films of Alison Snowden and David Fine examine the human condition through their distinct cartoon style and razor-sharp humor. After meeting at art school in the 1980s Snowden and Fine have shared a creative journey and life together that has seen them creating Oscar winning short films, well-loved TV series as well as classic TV adverts.
You can watch Alison and David receive this award, as well as a retrospective screening of their work, on the MAF digital platform by purchasing a ticket. Ticket buyers will automatically receive free access to the Snowden Fine live Q&A taking place on Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. GMT.
Animal Behaviour (NFB, 2018)
MAF also confirmed that Aardman co-founder Peter Lord, alongside The Simpsons showrunner and Disenchantment co-creator Josh Weinstein and Oscar-nominated director Barry Purves will make special guest appearances in the festival’s Skwigly Animation Quiz, available on Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 9 p.m.
As Festival Director Steve Henderson officially launched the festival, he commented: “It’s been a difficult year and the festival team have worked hard to bring the scale and ambition of the usual festival to your homes. We are passionate about animation but the festival just wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of the funders and partners who have helped make MAF a reality.”
Jen Hall, festival producer and programmer, added: “We’d like to thank our audience who inspire us to face the challenges that come our way; we are not only here for you, but we are here because of you. Thank you all for joining us as we deliver new ways to inspire and celebrate the animated form.”
Manchester Animation Festival comprises film premieres, exclusive screenings, workshops, panels and so much more. It runs until November 30 and tickets are available here.
Grab your comfiest talking pajamas and coziest sleeping bag for the third season premiere of the exclusive HBO Max series Summer Camp Island,beginning Thursday, December 10.
The season will roll out over three weeks with new episodes as featured arcs that focus on the Witches (Dec. 10), Aliens (Dec. 17) and Yetis (Dec. 24). Returning guest stars this season include Whoopi Goldberg, Bobby Moynihan, Fortune Feimster, Stephen Root and Elijah Wood, with new characters voiced by Frances Conroy, Keith David, Jo Firestone, Aparna Nancherla and Melissa Villasenor.
Season three follows best friends Oscar and Hedgehog as they have strange encounters with mystical creatures, discovering their own magical potential along the way. As Oscar and Hedgehog dive deeper into the magical community, they hear fables of friendships and discover how Susie and the witches first came to the island. They also travel far beyond their cabins for a sacred ceremony at the yeti meadow and some house sitting for Puddle and the King. From midsummer snow days to sleepovers in the witch school, the unpredictable magical world continues to keep campers and creatures alike on the edge of their brooms!
Summer Camp Island is created by Julia Pott and produced by Cartoon Network Studios.
Catch up on the first two seasons of Summer Camp Island available now on HBO Max.
Nickelodeon has announced the voice cast for its highly anticipated new preschool series Baby Shark’s Big Show!, which will premiere with an original holiday special on Friday, Dec. 11 at 12:30 p.m. (ET/PT).
Based on the world-famous pop culture phenomenon, the 2D-animated series will feature a swim-sational lineup of actors: Kimiko Glenn (Orange Is the New Black), Luke Youngblood (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone), Natasha Rothwell (Insecure), Eric Edelstein (We Bare Bears), Debra Wilson (MADtv) and Patrick Warburton (Family Guy).
Co-produced by Nickelodeon Animation Studio and SmartStudy, the global entertainment company behind the beloved children’s brand Pinkfong, Baby Shark’s Big Show! (26 half-hour episodes), will follow Baby Shark and his best friend William as they journey on fun-filled comedic adventures in their community of Carnivore Cove, make new friends and sing original catchy tunes along the way.
Kimiko Glen, Luke Youngblood, Natasha Rothwell, Eric Edelstein, Debra Wilson, Patrick Warburton
Meet the inhabitants of Carnivore Cove:
Baby (Glenn) – A sweet, bubbly, and abso-toothly fearless little shark who has a habit of biting off more than he can chew.
William (Youngblood) – A quick-witted pilot fish with a flair for the funny, William is always down for jaw-some adventures with his best bud Baby.
Mommy (Rothwell) – Fun-loving with a fierce streak, Mommy Shark works for the Mayor of Carnivore Cove.
Daddy (Edelstein) – A worrier who can’t help his loud and goofy nature, Daddy Shark is a dentist who flosses when he’s nervous.
Grandma (Wilson) – A new-agey prankster who’s all about good vibes and bubbleberry pies.
Grandpa (Warburton) – A charismatic shark who loves to tell stories about the glory days.
In “Baby Shark’s Big Fishmas Special,” the season’s hottest toy — Burpin’ Bubbz — is at the top of Baby and William’s Fishmas wish lists, and when Santa Jaws goes missing, it’s up to them to save the holiday. Following the premiere, the special will be available on Nick Jr. On Demand and Download-To-Own services, as well as NickJr.com and the Nick Jr. App, which will also feature short-form content.
Baby Shark’s Big Show!
“Baby Shark’s Big Fishmas Special” is part of Nickelodeon’s “Nickmas” holiday-themed lineup which features joyous premieres and specials from the network’s live-action, animation and preschool series, including the season two premiere of original festive competition series, Top Elf; the brand-new star-studded special The All-Star Nickmas Spectacular; and all-new episodes of hit series Blue’s Clues & You!, The Casagrandes, Danger Force, All That and more, plus classic fan-favorite holiday episodes of Rugrats, PAW Patrol, SpongeBob SquarePants and The Loud House.
New episodes of Baby Shark’s Big Show! will roll out across Nickelodeon’s preschool platforms in the U.S. beginning spring 2021, followed by Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. channels internationally. In addition to Nickelodeon and SmartStudy’s partnership to produce Baby Shark’s Big Show!, ViacomCBS Consumer Products (VCP) is managing consumer products licensing worldwide, excluding China, Korea and Southeast Asia, for the Baby Shark property.
Baby Shark launched on YouTube in November 2015 and took the world by storm, amassing 7.1 billion views and becoming the most-watched video in the platform’s history. With music, characters, story and dance all combined together, the song recorded a 20-week-streak on the Billboard Hot 100 and spawned a viral phenomenon #BabySharkChallenge, generating over one million cover videos around the globe.
Baby Shark’s Big Show! is executive produced by Gary “Doodles” DiRaffaele (Breadwinners) and Tommy Sica (Breadwinners), with Whitney Ralls (My Little Pony: Equestria Girls) serving as co-executive producer. The series is produced by Nickelodeon Animation Studio in Burbank, Calif., with production overseen by Eryk Casemiro, Senior Vice President, Nickelodeon Preschool.
Children’s entertainment company Sutikki (www.sutikki.com) today announced new partnerships with Kids Industries, the only full-service marketing agency that specializes in the family market, next-generation brand licensing agency The Point.1888, and media strategists and curators Rock Hill Media Ventures.
“We’re thrilled to have this global network of industry visionaries as partners in Sutikki’s new phase of growth and innovation,” said Sutikki’s recently appointed CEO, Hannah Mungo. “Each agency has experience in building, innovating and executing new tactics for brand connectivity and engagement.”
Hannah Mungo
Sutikki has enlisted U.K.-based Kids Industries (www.kidsindustries.com), who will partner with them in developing a global brand strategy for their IP. Kids Industries’ clients include BBC Worldwide, ViacomCBS, Universal Studios, McDonald’s, Kellogg’s and The Walt Disney Company. It recently executed campaigns for Marvel, Star Wars, SpongeBob SquarePants, PAW Patrol and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
“We’re the only full-service agency on the planet specialising in the family space, where we’ve been connecting human emotions with market intelligence to make brands stronger for over 20 years,” said Kids Industries co-founder and CEO, Gary Pope. “We can’t wait to bring our expertise and insights to the table to facilitate brand strategies, which will be designed to ensure maximum exposure and a 360 approach to the brand build.”
The Point.1888 (thepoint1888.com) will also work with Sutikki in the U.K. market. Its team of professionals bring extensive industry experience and have previously worked with major household brands such as The Gruffalo, Star Wars, L.O.L. Surprise!, Marvel, Clangers, Mr Men, Noddy and Sesame Street, and currently manage CoComelon, Blippi, My Magic Pet Morphle, Tom Gates and Percy the Park Keeper, and so have a wealth of knowledge within the preschool space.
“We’re excited to join Sutikki in this pivotal moment of transformation and provide insight and guidance on its consumer products programmes,” stated Will Stewart, founder and managing director at The Point.1888. “Sutikki’s IP connects with children by capturing their attention and developing their imagination and it’s our job to turn that creativity into lucrative licensing opportunities. We’re really looking forward to partnering with Sutikki to ensure commercial success across the U.K.”
Keith Dawkins, Rock Hill Media Ventures (www.rockhillmediaventures.com) founder and former Nickelodeon executive, has been appointed as a strategic consultant for the U.S. market. He brings his expertise of content strategy, distribution and development within the kids space. Rock Hill has strategic partnerships with the National Basketball Players Association, Oscar and Emmy Award-winning media company Believe Entertainment, and Los Angeles-based content accelerator, Sameer Gardezi’s Break the Room.
“I am excited to have Rock Hill Media Ventures partner with Sutikki in expanding its global kids’ footprint,” said Dawkins. “I look forward to bringing my expertise in the kids’ market to best support in road mapping the US expansion for Sutikki.”
To follow the development of these partnerships visit www.sutikki.com.
Multi-award-winning animation and visual effects company Axis Studios has revealed the collaborative workflow behind the in-game cinematics for Sony Interactive Entertainment & Sumo Digital’s new Playstation 5 launch title, Sackboy: A Big Adventure.
Working in close partnership with publishers Sony and developers Sumo, Glasgow, U.K.-based Axis delivered 23 minutes of the seamless in-game cinematics in 4K. Headed up by director Olly Reid, Axis partnered with the team to define the cinematic style and develop the storytelling language from Sony’s original script.
Sackboy: A Big Adventure
One of 19 launch titles for Sony’s long-awaited next-generation Playstation 5 console, Sackboy: A Big Adventure is Sackboy’s first stand-alone game for a new generation of players. The new adventure introduces a whole host of new characters including Vex, voiced by Richard E. Grant, and Scarlet, voiced by Dawn French.
Re-inventing the Little Big Planet franchise as a 3D platformer, the cinematics played an important role in pulling players through the entire experience. Axis pushed themselves to take every aspect to another level, bringing their experience of creating real-time cinematics to make the player feel the story moments.
Sackboy: A Big Adventure
“The script was great, so we used every cinematic trick we could employ to increase the drama, action or humor of every moment, and really engage the audience,” said Reid.
Working directly with the game development team early in the cinematic process, Axis was involved in every stage of production from script to editing, final build and performance testing. Syncing the Axis real-time pipeline with Sumo’s build allowed for an efficient shared workflow.
Sackboy: A Big Adventure
Traci Tufte, Executive Producer for Real Time at the studio, commented, “We were thrilled when Sony asked Axis to be involved in the project. Real time is a key area of focus for Axis, and the project allowed us to expand on our existing real-time skill set and previous real-time projects. We are always excited about opportunities that enable growth, and allow us to work more dynamically with the client.”
Sackboy: A Big Adventure is available now on both PS4 and PS5.
Sackboy: A Big Adventure
Founded in Glasgow in 2000 by CEO Richard Scott, in partnership with Dana Dorian, Stuart Aitken and Graham McKenna, Axis is the largest animation studio in Scotland, and has one of the largest CGI teams in the U.K. Axis started as a gaming animation company, producing many award-winning trailers such as Dead Island, which won BAFTAs, Cannes Lions, The International Andy Award and many more. Its recent awards include: Three Daytime Emms and an Annie Award for Lost in Oz, a BAFTA Scotland award for Netflix’s Love, Death + Robots, an AEAF award for Throne of Eldraine, a Cannes Lions nomination for War of the Spark and an RTS craft award for Kiss Me First.
For its premiere Meet the Masters online session, VIEW Conference 2020 will present Academy Award nominee Nora Twomey, partner and creative director of Cartoon Saloon, in conversation with award-winning animated feature film director Kris Pearn, whose latest film is this year’s highly acclaimed The Willoughbys for Netflix.
Scheduled for Tuesday, November 23 at 10 a.m. PST / 6 p.m. GMT / 8 p.m. CET, this virtual session is slated for one hour.
Twomey directed The Breadwinner, co-directed The Secret of Kells and was head of story for Song of the Sea, all of which received Best Animated Feature Film Oscar nominations and many international awards. She produced Cartoon Saloon’s most recent featureWolfwalkers for Apple and is directing a new feature titled My Father’s Dragon for Netflix.
Pearn previously directed Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2, and has been a storyboard artist on many animated features including Home, Hotel Transylvania and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, all for Sony Pictures Animation.
“Kris and Nora both direct animated features, but Kris’s delightful CG films and Nora’s beautiful hand-drawn animated films are so different,” says VIEW Conference director Dr. Maria Elena Gutierrez. “I’m eager to hear Kris engage Nora in conversation about her approach to developing and directing an animated feature.”
Nora Twomey co-founded Cartoon Saloon in Kilkenny, Ireland with Tomm Moore, Paul Young, and Ross Murray in 1999. She directed and animated her first short film there in 2002, went on to direct several award-winning short films, and now has 11 short and animated film credits as animator, director, head of story, producer and/or voice actor. In addition, she guided the development processes on the television series Puffin Rock and is co-creator of new seriesDorg Van Dango. In addition to the Academy Award nomination for The Breadwinner, the film received the audience and jury awards at Annecy and was nominated for a Cristal, as was The Secret of Kells, which also received the audience award at Annecy. In 2018, the VIEW Conference honored Twomey with its Visionary Award.
Kris Pearn is a director, executive producer, writer, storyboard artist and actor. He was nominated for a BAFTA Children’s Award for directing the animated feature Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 and received two Annie Award nominations for storyboarding the feature films Arthur Christmas and Open Season. He has also been a storyboard artist for Shaun the Sheep Movie, Solo: A Star Wars Story and Surf’s Up among other films.
