It isn’t easy being small, but backyard pals The Mighty Ones — a.k.a. Rocksy, Twig, Leaf and Very Berry — see their tiny world as one huge, never-ending adventure. Created and executive produced by animation veterans Sunil Hall (Pickle and Peanut, The Mighty B!) and Lynne Naylor (Samurai Jack, The Ren & Stimpy Show), the 10-episode first season premieres November 9 on Hulu and Peacock.
Every backyard contains a secret world filled with tiny creatures. The Mighty Ones follows the hilarious adventures of four small-but-mighty best friends: a twig, a pebble, a leaf and a strawberry. The pals live in an unkempt yard belonging to a trio of equally unkempt humans and, despite the obstacles they face, are always up for whatever life throws at them. Whether they’re soaring on soda lids, getting stuck in a ball of sticky goop or worshipping a broken toilet, each day holds the promise of new adventures and surprises.
Read all about this fun new animated adventure in the December issue of Animation Magazine, available soon!
Led by Hall and Naylor, the series’ creative team has worked on some of the most influential animated series of the last two decades (The Ren & Stimpy Show, SpongeBob SquarePants, The Powerpuff Girls, Samurai Jack, South Park and more). The Mighty Ones blends laugh-out-loud storytelling with a distinct visual style — and a whole lot of heart.
DreamWorks The Mighty Ones features the voices of Jessica McKenna (Little Big Awesome) as “Rocksy,” Alex Cazares (The Boss Baby: Back in Business) as “Very Berry,” Jimmy Tatro (Modern Family) as “Leaf,” and Josh Brener (Silicon Valley) as “Twig.”
Netflix announced five new anime projects Tuesday during its livestreamed global fan event Netflix Anime Festival 2020: Rilakkuma’s Theme Park Adventure, Thermae Romae Novae, High-Rise Invasion, Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan and The Way of the Househusband. Each new title adds to the diverse and never-before-seen catalogue of stories straight from the company’s creative home in Japan. The Festival also revealed artwork, first-looks, teasers and updates for 11 highly anticipated projects already in production — including Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness, Godzilla Singular Point, Pacific Rim: The Black and the next chapter of Transformers: War for Cybertron.
The raft of announcement follows last week’s news that the streamer has inked partnerships with four anime specialist studios — three in Japan (NAZ, Science SARU, MAPPA) and, for the first time, one in South Korea (Studio Mir).
Anime has successfully cut through various content categories on Netflix. In the past year, over 100 million households around the world chose to watch at least one anime title on Netflix (Oct. 2019 – Sept. 2020), growing by 50% year-over-year. Anime titles appeared in the Top 10 list in almost 100 countries this year so far.
Additionally, shows such as Seven Deadly Sins and Baki proved great stories resonate with fans globally. Seven Deadly Sins became one of the Top 10 titles among all series and films in over 70 countries since its launch, and Baki in almost 50 countries.
“In just four short years since launching our creative team in Tokyo, Netflix has expanded the reach and overall audience of anime — a category conventionally seen as niche. Given the success of shows such as Seven Deadly Sins and Baki, we are excited now more than ever to challenge ourselves to expand our aspirational anime programming for fans around the world,” said Taiki Sakurai, Chief Producer, Anime, Netflix. “To do so, we will continue to invest in new talent, and promote diversity from within. We’re excited to announce welcoming Anand Varna, our second Gobelins Fellowship student to our Creative team through our successful multi-year program with the French institution.”
The newly announced projects are:
Rilakkuma’s Theme Park Adventure: Following the success of Rilakkuma and Kaoru, this new stop-motion series depicts an active day of incidents and encounters as Rilakkuma, Korilakkuma, Kiiroitori and Kaoru go play in an amusement park that is about to close. Director: Masahito Kobayashi, dwarf. Written by Takashi Sumita & Makoto Ueda, Europe Kikaku. Animation Production: dwarf studios, TYO Inc. Production: San-X Co.,Ltd. Cast: Mikako Tabe (Kaoru).
Rilakkuma’s Theme Park Adventure
Thermae Romae Novae: Mari Yamazaki’s very popular manga has been brought back to life in the present day in a new way (“novae” means “new” in Latin). New episodes invented by Yamazaki will be added to the comical adapted manga story about Lucius, a bath designer in the Roman Empire, who accidentally slips forward in time to present day Japan and learns about Japanese bath culture. Animation Production: NAZ.
Thermae Romae Novae
High-Rise Invasion (2021): Based on the manga by Miura Tsuina (Ajin) and Takahiro Oba (Box!), this is an unpredictable and frightening survival story set in high-rise buildings that don’t touch the ground. The protagonist, Yuri, resolves to survive in order to destroy this illogical world and kill the enemy wearing the “mask”, but what will she do? Director: Masahiro Takata. Series Composition: Toko Machida. Character Designer/Animation Director: Yoichi Ueda. Music: tatsuo, Yoichi Sakai. Animation Production: ZERO-G. Cast: Haruka Shiraishi, Shiki Aoki, Akira Sekine, Junya Enoki, Yuichiro Umehara.
High Rise Invasion
http://www.netflix.com/kishiberohan“>Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan(2021): This series consists of four strange episodes that Kishibe Rohan, the manga artist from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable, saw and heard in a destination he visited to collect material for the manga. Based on a story by Hirohiko Araki, Shueisha Jump Comics. Director: Toshiyuki Kato. Character Designer: Shunichi Ishimoto. Animation Production: david production. Cast: Takahiro Sakurai.
Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan
The Way of the Househusband(2021): The most evil yakuza, Tatsu, is a legend in the underworld. He chose to walk away from the yakuza to become a full-time househusband! Based on a story by Kosuke Oono. Director: Chiaki Kon (Nodame Cantabile, Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal the Movie). Series Composition: Susumu Yamakawa. Production Studio: J.C.STAFF. Cast: Kenjiro Tsuda.
The Way of the Househusband
Updates to previously announced titles:
EDEN Cast Announcement (May 2021): A completely new story from director Irie Yasuhiro and the creators of the world, this sci-fi fantasy follows Sarah, a girl raised by two robots, as she confronts the world. Director: Yasuhiro Irie. Character Design: Toshihiro Kawamoto. Writer: Kimiko Ueno. Concept Design: Christophe Ferreira. Background art director: Clover Xie. Music: Kevin Penkin. Producer: Justin Leach. Animation Production: Qubic Pictures and CGCG. Cast: Marika Kono, Kentaro Ito, Kyoko Hikami, Koichi Yamadera.
Vampire in the GardenFirst Look (2021): Once upon a time, there was a world where vampires and humans lived together in “Paradise”. This is the story of a young girl, Momo, and the vampire queen, Fine, who traveled in search of “Paradise.” This is a completely new work by WIT STUDIO, well-known for Attack on Titan. Director: Ryotaro Makihara. Assistant Director: Hiroyuki Tanaka. Character Design & Animation Director: Tetsuya Nishio. Art director: Shunichiro Yoshihara. Animation Production: WIT STUDIO.
Vampire in the GardenVampire in the Garden
YasukeCharacter Design Debut (2021): In a war-torn feudal Japan filled with mechs and magic, the greatest ronin never known, Yasuke, struggles to maintain a peaceful existence after a past life of violence. But when a local village becomes the center of social upheaval between warring daimyo, Yasuke must take up his sword and transport a mysterious child who is the target of dark forces and bloodthirsty warlords.The story of Yasuke, the first African samurai who actually served the legendary Oda Nobunaga, will be released to the world. Director, Creator, Executive producer: LeSean Thomas. Character Design: Takeshi Koike. Music & Executive producer: Flying Lotus. Animation Production: MAPPA. Cast: Lakieth Stanfield.
Yasuke
Godzilla Singular PointTeaser Art (2021): This series features a brand new staff and original story which depicts the young geniuses Mei Kamino, a female researcher, and Yun Arikawa, a male engineer, as they take on an unprecedented threat with their companions. Director: Atsushi Takahashi. Series composition & writer: Toh Enjoe. Character design: Kazue Kato. Kaiju design: Eiji Yamamori. Music: Kan Sawada. Animation Production: bones, Orange.
Godzilla Singular Point
Pacific Rim: The BlackFirst Look Debut (2021): There was a time when Kaiju rose from the Pacific Rim only to encounter gigantic robots, Jaegers, built to fight them back. That time has passed. Now, Australia has been overrun by Kaiju, forcing the evacuation of an entire continent. Left behind, teenage siblings Taylor and Hayley embark on a desperate search for their missing parents, teaching themselves to pilot a battered, long-abandoned Jaeger to help in their quest and give them even the slightest hope of surviving. Co-showrunners: Craig Kyle and Greg Johnson. Production Company: Legendary Entertainment. Animation Production: Polygon Pictures.
Pacific Rim: The BlackPacific Rim: The Black
Transformers: War for Cybertron – Earthrise Trailer (Coming Soon): The War for Cybertron continues with the second chapter, Earthrise! With the Allspark gone, Megatron is forced to confront the harsh reality that his Decepticons are trapped on a dying Cybertron while also fighting off the persistent threat of Elita-1 and her Autobots. Meanwhile, lost in the darkest reaches of space, Optimus Prime and his team embark on a desperate mission that will push them to the breaking point as they travel to uncharted new worlds to face spacefaring mercenaries, enigmatic figures from long ago and even their own creators…the Quintessons. Creator: F.J. DeSanto, Matt Murray. Production Company: Hasbro, Rooster Teeth. Animation Production: Polygon Pictures.
With the Allspark lost and Decepticons trapped on a dying Cybertron, Optimus Prime pushes the Autobots to the limit in the depths of space. EARTHRISE, the second chapter of the Transformers: War for Cybertron trilogy, is coming soon. @RoosterTeeth@Hasbropic.twitter.com/up6g4Qt3QB
TreseFirst Look (2021): Set in Manila where the mythical creatures of Philippine folklore live in hiding amongst humans, Alexandra Trese finds herself going head to head with a criminal underworld composed of malevolent supernatural beings. Creator: Budjette Tan and KaJO Baldisimo. Executive Producer: Jay Oliva. Producer: Shanty Harmayn, Tanya Yuson. Animation Production: BASE Entertainment.
Trese
B: The Beginning SuccessionFirst Look (2021): After Keith and Koku solved the incidents successfully, the world has regained its composure. In the months since then, Keith returns to the RIS to conduct his own investigation, and Koku is living a peaceful life with Yuna. They are visited by Kirisame, who was once supposed to have broken up with Kurou in death at the Faura Blanca Institute… Original: Kazuto Nakazawa, Production I.G. Supervising Director: Kazuto Nakazawa. Director: Itsuro Kawasaki. Series Composition: Kazuto Nakazawa, Katsunari Ishida. Character Design: Kazuto Nakazawa, Akane Yano, Hideoki Kusama. Animation Production: Production I.G. Cast: Yuki Kaji, Hiroaki Hirata, Asami Seto, Satomi Sato.
B: The Beginning SuccessionB: The Beginning Succession
Baki HanmaSpecial Illustrations by Keisuke Itagaki (2021): The story finally unfolds into a full-blooded clash between Baki Hanma and his father, Yujiro Hanma, who is known as the “strongest creature on Earth.” The climax of the Baki universe, which depicted the “strongest parent-child brawl in history of the world” in the original manga, has been adapted into the long-awaited anime! Original manga: Keisuke Itagaki. Animation Production: TMS Entertainment. Cast: Nobunaga Shimazaki.
Baki
SprigganTeaser (2021): The legendary manga that took the world by storm in the 1990s has been vividly brought to this animated series by utilizing 2D drawings and 3DCG. The legacy of an outstanding civilization that once existed on this planet is said to still be hidden in various parts of the world. The military of major powers has intervened in the excavation and research of this mysterious and powerful heritage, and has begun battling over it. At the same time, an organization called “Spriggan” is working to seal up this ancient civilization. This is a high speed action series featuring battles over ancient relics! Based on a story by Hiroshi Takashige and Ryoji Minagawa, Shogakukan. Director: Hiroshi Kobayashi. Series Composition and writer: Hiroshi Seko. Character Design: Shuhei Handa. Animation Production: david production.
As the armies of man battle over ancient relics, one organization will do all it can to seal them away. Here’s a first look at 2021’s anime series adaptation of legendary action manga Spriggan in action! @DPInc_officialpic.twitter.com/ukTzI0nlMS
On Wednesday, October 28, the National Film Board of Canada will be celebrating International Animation Day with 12 short films streaming free via the Get Animated! online showcase (available in Canada) at NFB.ca. All of the films will subsequently be available permanently in Canada for free viewing on the National Film Board site.
Now in its 14th year, this annual event gives Canadian audiences the opportunity to explore a host of new works by Canadian and European filmmakers working in the NFB’s cutting-edge, internationally renowned studios. The rich 2020 selection puts women in the spotlight — both female directors and strong female characters — and features a wealth of different animation techniques. In addition, exclusive content prepared by the filmmakers specially for Get Animated! will be available on the NFB’s various platforms.
Made by world-renowned animators, the outstanding animated films in this year’s program have won prestigious awards and screened throughout the global festival circuit.
Blind Vaysha
The Physics of Sorrow andBlind Vaysha by Theodore Ushev (Montreal, Quebec). Bulgarian-born director Ushev has found fruitful creative soil at the NFB, where he’s made more than 10 films to date, including Blind Vaysha, narrated by Caroline Dhavernas, nominated for a 2017 Academy Award and the recipient of multiple awards. The Physics of Sorrow, narrated in French by Xavier Dolan and in English by Rossif Sutherland, with a special guest-voice contribution from Donald Sutherland, has thus far earned nearly 35 awards, including the prestigious Cristal Award at Annecy, and been selected for 55 international festivals. Ushev’s films have won more than 150 awards and honors over the years.
Old Dog
Old Dog by Ann Marie Fleming (Vancouver, British Columbia). After losing his best friend, an elderly pug named Henry must depend on his owner for help in this tender ode to aging. This new film by Ann Marie Fleming (Window Horses) has been selected for a number of Canadian festivals, from Halifax to Vancouver.
The Procession
The Procession by Pascal Blanchet and Rodolphe Saint-Gelais (Montreal, Quebec). Selected to screen at festivals around the world, including the landmark We Are One global film festival, this film is the first collaboration between Blanchet, an illustrator who has worked with Wes Anderson and Pierre Lapointe and creator of graphic novels (Rapide-Blanc), and animator and filmmaker Saint-Gelais, whose credits include the opening sequence of the feature film Dédé à travers les brumes. The Procession is narrated by Marie-Thérèse Fortin (French version) and features an original score by Pierre Lapointe and Philippe Brault.
Uncle Thomas
Uncle Thomas: Accounting for the Days by Regina Pessoa (Valbom, Portugal). World-renowned filmmaker Pessoa’s latest film is her most personal project to date. It has been selected for close to 40 festivals and has received 25 awards and mentions, including the Jury Award for a Short Film and the Best Original Music Award for a Short Film (original soundtrack by Normand Roger) at the 2019 Annecy Festival.
No Objects
No Objects by Moïa Jobin-Paré (Montreal, Quebec). Selected for festival screenings in Canada and internationally, this film earned a Special Jury Award at Animafest Zagreb in 2019. Combining hands-on techniques with digital and analog technologies, No Objects transfigures forms of expression, turning photographs into etchings and sound into motion.
The Cannonball Woman
Canadian audiences will also have the chance to explore various animated shorts by European filmmakers, including Embraced by Justine Vuylsteker, The Cannonball Woman by Albertine Zullo and David Toutevoix, The Head Vanishes by Franck Dion (winner of the 2016 Cristal Award at Annecy), and more.
About International Animation Day (October 28): In 2002, the International Animated Film Association (ASIFA) launched International Animation Day to commemorate the first public performance of Émile Reynaud’s Théâtre Optique at the Musée Grévin in Paris on October 28, 1892. This celebration is held in over 40 countries, and the NFB is taking part for the 14th straight year through Get Animated!, held on NFB.ca.
Director and head of TRICK 3D Studio Chad Eikhoff, best known for the holiday special-turned-classic The Elf on the Shelf: An Elf’s Story, is launching a new elf-themed IP and bringing a new holiday short to families this holiday – The Jolliest Elf. The short’s animation was produced by TRICK 3D studio using Epic Games’ Unreal Engine and funded through an Epic Games MegaGrant.
Releasing Thanksgiving Day on YouTube, the short is the pilot to a series that will introduce viewers to The North Pole’s creative inhabitants for a first-of-its-kind animated talent competition titled “The Jolliest Elf.” Viewers will meet the North Pole’s flashy host, Mr. Jingles, and the show’s charismatic judges: Glo, Frosty and Tiny. The star of this first short will be Lil’ Rey, an adorable and hugely talented young reindeer rapper, voiced and performed by Macyn McMillian a.k.a. “Mac Sauce,” an eight-year-old artist from Kansas City. The Lil’ Rey episode short is a mood-lifting clip to be shared with friends and serves as a preview to the full series to come.
Chad Eikhoff
“Christmas specials have always inspired me because they have the power to bring the entire family together to watch and share,” says Eikhoff. “Today, reality competition shows have that same power to engage whole families, while laughing and memory-making. I am excited to be combining the two and bringing the action from ‘The Jolliest Elf’ stage to families everywhere.”
The full competition will go into production in Q2 2021 with the aim of launching during the 2021 holiday season. Eikhoff and team are actively seeking broadcast and streaming partners for 2021. Eikhoff and TRICK 3D studio are developing the full line-up of episodes in partnership with Cookbook Media, the global IP agency led by industry executives Claudia Scott-Hansen and Rob Bencal. Cookbook Media will be working with the team to build The Jolliest Elf into a perennial holiday franchise through brand activation, content strategy, distribution, consumer products and more.
Cookbook Media will be representing the project at upcoming 2021 market events with the goal of establishing strategic production and marketing partnerships.
The production began just as companies, including TRICK 3D Studio, began quarantining due to the pandemic.
“It was a rollercoaster ride of emotions beginning production on The Jolliest Elf due to COVID-19, but the fact that we were able to keep moving forward and create awesome energy and happiness along the way is a testament both to the people on this project and the technologies that are making remote production successful and actually a ton of fun,” remarks Eikhoff.
The Jolliest Elf
Eikhoff’s team is bringing together real-time gaming technology, Apple’s iPhone 3D facial capture, inertial motion capture, key frame animation and NVIDIA’s latest RTX ray tracing for real-time physics, lighting and rendering. The real-time animation production is powered by Epic’s Unreal Engine.
“I’m ecstatic about this approach because I believe in empowering animators,” the director adds. “My approach to updating the animation process focuses on bringing animators’ visions to life faster and with more clarity. It’s my goal to one day have animators’ names be synonymous with their characters and Unreal Engine is key to making that happen.”
“The concept of The Jolliest Elf requires new technology to make it come to life,” says Stacy Shade, head of studio for TRICK 3D. “And, Unreal Engine is the foundational element for the new pipeline Chad is spearheading for this short but also for subsequent projects coming from him and from our studio.”
Eikhoff and team have just released a behind-the-scenes video which showcases the technologies being used – viewers can see the story now on YouTube.
The 22nd Bucheon International Animation Festival (BIAF2020; www.biaf.or.kr) announced its award winners Monday. In the feature film competition, Children of the Sea by Watanabe Ayumu won the Grand Prize, while opening film pick Calamity, a Childhood of Martha Jane Cannary by Rémi Chayé received both the Jury and Music Prizes. In the shorts sections, Adrien Mérigeau’s Genius Loci took the Grand Prize for International Short Film.
The feature film jury included 2020 featured artist Anca Damian (Marona’s Fantastic Tales), who designed BIAF’s poster and signal film this year, as Jury President, and Korean directors Koo Hye Sun and Lee Jeong Hyang.
“Many thanks to the festival for the opportunity to be in the jury at BIAF2020. Even if this year is a difficult one for all of us, the festival efforts to keep supporting the art and the artists, allowed us to give five prizes. In a way we were influenced in our decisions by the moment we live now, and the themes that the artists raised we wanted to empower,” Damian shared in a statement.
“The most difficult decision was to select the Grand Prize and Jury Prize between two films that charmed us. Each one in its way is a remarkable achievement and after a very long debate, we decided to balance the decision of the Grand Prize towards the film that depicts the connections between humanity and nature, with a mesmerizing imagery of aquatic life and cosmic mystery, now that humanity is approaching a dead-end while abusing the nature, so the Grand Prize goes to Children of the Sea. The Special Jury Prize goes to the wonderful Calamity, a film that empowers the woman emancipation in a crafted animated film with a solid construction of the plot and an organic visual concept, a film that enhances the courage of becoming what we want to be.”
Genius Loci
Igor Kovalyov (Before Love), Réka Busci (Solar Walk) and Tomek Popakul (Acid Rain) juried the short films. They gave the Grand Prize to Genius Loci by Adrien Mérigeau. The Jury Prize is given to Salvia at Nine by Jang Nari. The stop-motion project Precious by Paul Mars won both a Special Distinction and the AniB’s Choice Prize. In addition, Polka-dot boy by Nihei Sarina and Just a Guy by Hara Shoko both won Special Distinction Prize.
Busci issued the following statements on the jury’s selections:
Genius Loci: “A beautiful depiction of chaos in the mind, that is reflected in the environment offering the audience a unique personal point of view. The compositions and the animation are effortlessly messy and elegant.”
Salvia at Nine: “Beautifully crafted animation and dynamic compositions. The story is rough and unsettling, while the visuals are soft and comforting. This balance creates a special, avant-garde film experience.”
Precious: “Precious is a new take on the often discussed topic of bullying. This filmmaker proves to have a very strong tool set in storytelling, writing, and editing. An engaging film that is worth watching more than once.
Polka-dot Boy: “An unsettling world, that opens a door to mystery and violence. A horrifying thriller that made me feel both uncomfortable and entertained. I would like to know more!”
Just a Guy: “Why do women feel attracted to the ‘bad guys’ and who can or can’t be loved? This documentary asks very complex questions through telling an absurd ‘love story,’ portraying fascination at its most extreme.
When We Leave
Michelle Tamariz’s When We Leave won the Jury Prize and Sura by Jeong Haeji won a Special Distinction in the International Graduation Films competition. Oscar-nominated filmmaker Siqi Song (Sister) serves on both the Graduation Films jury and the TV & Commissioned jury, which awarded TV specials Shooom’s Odysseyand The Tiger Who Came to Tea. She offered the following statements:
When We Leave: “Through this beautifully illustrated animation, the director uses a unique motif to show us the loss and struggles of immigrant families are experiencing when they leave home and face their uncertain future.”
Sura: “Through an intimate story of two high school girls, the director discussed an issue that was not widely spoken about in our society. Its unique point of view and aesthetics have made it a strong powerful film.”
Shooom’s Odyssey: “This adorable, heartwarming film draws our attention immediately with its beautiful watercolor aesthetics. Follow the adventure of the two newborn owlets, its perfectly balanced narrative and animation along with its unique, humorous and charming performance immerses us into this beautiful world for the whole 26 minutes.
The Tiger Who Came to Tea: “This beautifully animated story of a tiger visiting a family for a tea party is simple, yet charming and heartwarming. It brings the audience 23 minutes of fun, sweetness, adventure and, most importantly, family joy.”
Full list of BIAF2020 winners:
International Competition – Feature Film Grand Prize: Children of the Sea| Ayumu Watanabe (Japan) Jury Prize: Calamity | Rémi Chayé (France, Denmark) Special Distinction Prize: My Favorite War | Ilze Burkovska-Jacobsen (Norway, Latvia) Special Distinction Prize: True North| Han Eijin Shimizu (Japan, Indonesia) Audience Prize: Promare| Hiroyuki Imaishi (Japan)
International Competition – Short Film Grand Prize: Genius Loci | Adrien Mérigeau (France) Jury Prize: Salvia at Nine | Nari Jang (South Korea) Special Distinction Prize: Precious | Paul Mas (France) Special Distinction Prize: Polka-dot Boy | Sarina Nihei (Japan, France, Denmark) Special Distinction Prize: Just A Guy| Shoko Hara (Germany, Japan) Audience Prize: The Fabric of You| Josephine Lohoar Self (U.K., Scotland) AniB’s Choice: Precious| Paul Mas (France)
International Competition – Graduation Film Jury Prize: When We Leave| Mitchelle Tamariz (France, Mexico) Special Distinction Prize: Sura| Haeji Jeong (South Korea)
International Competition – TV & Commissioned Jury Prize: Shooom’s Odyssey| Julien Bisaro (France, Belgium) Special Distinction Prize: The Tiger Who Came to Tea | Robin Shaw (U.K.)
International Competition – VR Jury Prize: Ghost in the Shell: Ghost Chaser| Hiroaki Higashi (Japan)
Korean Short Film Jury Prize: Tiger and Ox| Seunghee Kim (South Korea) Special Distinction Prize: Salvia at Nine| Nari Jang (South Korea)
Special Prize Awards EBS Prize(Short): If Anything Happens I Love You | Will McCormack, Michael Govier (U.S.) Cartoon & Animation Studies President’s Prize – Korean Film (Feature): Climbing | Hyemi Kim (South Korea) Unity Prize – Korean Film (Feature): Climbing | Hyemi Kim (South Korea) Unity Prize – Korean Film (Short): Beyond the Line| Jinuk Choi (South Korea, U.S.) COCOMICS Music Prize: Calamity| Rémi Chayé (France, Denmark) Music Prize – Special Mention: Children of the Sea| Ayumu Watanabe (Japan)
Many preschool kids have a peculiar obsession with giant trucks. So, it’s no big surprise that Netflix’s hot new animated preschool toon features a little boy named Hank and his best buddy, a trash truck simply called Trash Truck. The beautiful CG-animated show also features the central duo’s posse — Hank’s little sister Olive, Miss Mona the mouse, Donny the raccoon and Walter the bear — as they explore the sun-kissed farmland around them and have amazing adventures together.
The promising new show is created by Max Keane, production designer of the Oscar-winning short Dear Basketball, who is the son of iconic animation veteran Glen Keane (Over the Moon). Along with Max, Glen Keane and Gennie Rim (Over the Moon) also serve as exec producers. In fact, the production is quite a family affair, as the voice cast includes Glen Keane as Grandpa/Trash Truck, Max Keane as Dad, Henry Keane as Hank, Megan Keane as Mom and Olive Keane as Olive, as well as Brian Baumgartner as Walter, Lucas Neff as Donny and Jackie Loeb as Miss Mona.
The lushly animated series was actually inspired by Max’s son Henry’s love for garbage trucks. “When Henry was about one and a half, he was obsessed with the garbage truck. He would wake up from naps saying the word ‘trash!’ When we walked down the street he would have to close every lid of each garbage can he saw, and when the trash truck came by our house it was a big deal. We would all run to the window or stand outside and wave and watch as the trash truck came and dumped our trash can.”
Exec producer Glen Keane (voice of Trash Truck/Grandpa) and series creator Max Keane (voice of Dad)
Everybody Loves a Good Truck
Max and his wife loved to share Youtube videos of garbage trucks with their son, and that’s when Max realized there were millions of views for some of these clips. “I realized that there were families all over the world rallying around their kids’ love of the garbage truck,” he notes. One morning, he actually understood his little boy’s fascination with the large vehicle. “I stood there and stared at all the interesting shapes, lights, grimy hydraulic hoses and machinery. That’s when I saw it, I realized what Henry was so excited about. This truck was amazing! Then, as the trash truck drove off with a rumble, the driver honked a couple cheerful honks. And as the truck drove down the street Henry leaned out of my arms and said, ‘Bye, bye, truck!’”
Trash Truck
When Max Keane told producer Gennie Rim and his dad about the idea, they encouraged him to develop his show idea further. Around that time, story editor and creative producer Angie Sun also joined Glen Keane Productions and helped shape and form Trash Truck into a kids’ show. Keane also knew that he wanted the show to have a look and feel that was specific to a place he remembered from his own childhood. He contacted Leo Sanchez Studio, and together they created an animation test that sold the idea to Netflix’s Melissa Cobb, VP — Kids & Family, and Dominique Bazay, Director — Original Animation.
The show, which became one of Netflix Animation’s first projects, began production in March of 2018. “It was really exciting and fun being one of the first shows to start in production and watch how fast the studio grew around us,” recalls Max. Dwarf Animation Studio in France is producing the animation for the series. Max notes, “The studio is founded by Olivier Pinol, who has a great team of talented artists that did an amazing job on Trash Truck. We worked closely with Dwarf Studios to push the bar on what is typical in a preschool show. I am really proud of the results we achieved together. Also, Kevin Dart and his team at Chromosphere, which includes Sylvia Liu and Eastwood Wong, did all the production design and gave Trash Truck its appealing style through their unique sense of shape, color and lighting. They also did some really nice 2D animation that we see playing in the movie theater episode.”
Trash Truck
According to Max, the production mainly uses Photoshop, Toon Boom and Flix for storyboarding (“as well as a bunch of Post-its and Sharpies.”) They also use Shotgun for animation reviews and all CG production, Avid for editing and Evercast for final sound mixes. He adds, “For all our virtual meetings we used Zoom and also used Slack throughout the production to stay in contact … and lots and lots of Gifs!”
A Little Help from His Friends
When asked about the specific challenges of the production, Max replies, “Well, I’m a first-time showrunner, and that meant everything was a big challenge. But I was really fortunate to have an amazing production team around me and the support of our executive producer Gennie Rim, who gave me the confidence that we would solve any challenges that arose. More specifically, it was always a challenge trying to balance the time between work and family. Fortunately there was a lot of crossover and I could see my family while I was working, but it was still a challenge.”
Looking back, Max says he never really thought of Trash Truck as specifically a preschool show. “I like to think of the classic Disney animated shorts or films like My Neighbor Totoro, where they weren’t made for a specific demographic and you can enjoy watching it at any age. That to me makes the show feel special.”
Trash Truck
He also hopes that an audience will notice the unique quality of the show. “We worked really hard to push the bar on what is typically seen in preschool. From character designs that Glen and I worked on, to the animation, lighting and rendering from Dwarf Studios, to the impressive music and score that Scot Stafford, Alexis Harte and their team the Pollen Music Group wrote and recorded, to the rich sound design from Jamey Scott, have all pushed Trash Truck to be something truly unique and special.”
Max also praises the show’s relatability and the appeal of its charming characters. “I wanted Hank to sound like a real six-year-old boy and his sister Olive to sound like a real five-year-old girl. So I asked my kids Henry and Olive if they would do the voices of Hank and Olive. That authentic quality to a kid’s voice really grounds the show. I also wanted Hank and Trash Truck to have a genuine connection, I wanted Trash Truck to sound gentle and funny and caring. So, I asked Henry’s grandpa, my dad Glen, if he would do the voice of Trash Truck. Growing up, my dad would tell stories or play with me and he would make lots of sound effects, and I just knew he would be a perfect Trash Truck. Glen did an amazing job at honking and grumbling and creating a voice for Trash Truck!”
Trash Truck
Max says there is one thing he really wants audiences to take away from his show: “I want them to see this show and experience it as a comfortable place that they get to slip into and have a little break or escape from the day. And hopefully they can enjoy watching it while sitting next to a friend or someone they love.”
We had to ask Max if his dad ever gives him advice on animation. He replies, “The answer is yes! Lots of advice and wisdom… I just can’t remember what he said. I am only partly joking, my dad really does offer so many valuable words of advice. I wish I could record them all and listen back to them because they are all inspiring, practical and challenging. I just hope that somewhere that advice is still bouncing around in my subconscious and will surface when I need it most. The one that has resonated with me the most, and isn’t necessarily related to animation … My dad has always encouraged others and myself to ‘be you.’ It’s simple advice but I think it’s one that I will often forget or overlook as important. But it is good advice for anyone and will always keep you honest in what you are making.”
High school archery club anime Tsurune — based on the light novel by Kotoko Ayano — will be getting its first feature-length movie through Japan’s resilient Kyoto Animation (Violet Evergarden and Free! movies; Liz and the Blue Bird, A Silent Voice). The studio punctuated the Twitter announcement by dropping a teaser to YouTube ahead of the weekend.
The Tsurune series, which premiered on NHK in 2018, follows Minato Narumiya as he begins classes at Prefectural Kazemai High School and is quickly invited onto the archery club by its advisor, Tommy-sensei. His childhood friends Seiya and Ryohei quickly agree, but Minato is hesitant … he is one of those rare students with some experience in the sport. When Tommy-sensei orders a demonstration, it is revealed that Minato has developed a terrible archery dysfunction!
The series’ director is Takayuki Yamamura (Violet Evergarden, Sound! Euphonium), with scripts overseen by Michiko Yokote (Shirobako, Children of the Whales), character designs by Miku Kadowaki (Beyond the Boundary, Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid) and music by Harumi Fuuki (Miss Hokusai, Piano Forest).
In North America, Sentai Filmworks handles home video releases and has licensed the series to streaming services Crunchyroll and HIDIVE.
Fans can follow the project at tsurune.com and Twitter @tsurune_anime.
Sanrio, the global lifestyle brand best known for pop icon Hello Kitty, has announced the voiceover actors and writers who helped bring to life their new short-form YouTube animated series, Hello Kitty and Friends Supercute Adventures. The first full episode debuts today (Monday, Oct. 26) at 3 p.m. PST.
Produced by Split Studio with voice casting and direction by Verité Entertainment’s Rene Veilleux, the series introduces new, fresh and authentic voices to Hello Kitty and her five closest friends – My Melody, Keroppi, Badtz-Maru, Pompompurin and Kuromi – as they go on new and exciting adventures in the vast, wonderful world of Sanrio. Fans might recognize a few familiar personalities, as the Hello Kitty and Friends Supercute Adventures lineup includes:
Sarah Williams as Hello Kitty: Sarah Williams is best known for her role of Jinx the Loose Cannon from League of Legends, Lisbeth from Sword Art Online, Sailor Star Healer from Sailor Moon: Sailor Stars, and Echo from Mobius Final Fantasy.
Michelle Marie as My Melody: Michelle Marie’s notable roles include Leaf in Pokémon Masters, Millium Orion in Trails of Cold Steel III, Toki in Kemono Friends, and Belle in Vindictus.
Ryan Bartley as Pompompurin: Ryan Bartley’s top performing recent feature films including The Boss Baby, The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part, Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie, and more.
Jenny Yokobori as Kuromi: Jenny Yokobori is best known for her roles as Elice and Eleonora in Fire Emblem Heroes, Terminal in XCOM: Chimera Squad, and as the U.S. voice of Dashi in Octonauts and the Caves of Sac Actun.
Evette Wulk as Badtz-Maru: Evette Wulk is an American voice actress known for Warioware, Zozo Zombie, Dino Girl Gauko and Twin Star Exorcists.
Georgie Kidder as Keroppi: Georgie Kidder is known for Disney Junior’s Goldie & Bear, Nickelodeon’s The Loud House, and many more.
“Sanrio has always taken immense pride in its commitment to friendship, kindness and inclusivity, making the debut of the Hello Kitty and Friends Supercute Adventures animation series remarkably special during our 60th anniversary year,” said Jill Koch, Sr. Vice President of Sales and Business Development at Sanrio, Inc. “Now, our fans and viewers will be able to engage and relate with our characters more closely than ever. We can’t wait to share their sweet stories and see them come to life as never seen before.”
Shaene Siders serves as Head Writer and Story Editor for Hello Kitty and Friends Supercute Adventures. Her credits include Marvel’s Avengers Assemble, DC Super Hero Girls, the Emmy Award winning Niko and the Sword of Light, and Netflix’s Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac.
“As a longtime fan of the brand, it’s an honor to give Hello Kitty a voice,” said Siders. “Each episode will take viewers through fun and magical adventures that are relevant to today’s audience while highlighting Sanrio’s lovable characters and their unique personalities. It’s a series my daughter and I will enjoy watching together.”
The writing team also includes Denise Downer (Puppy Dog Pals, Stillwater), Charlotte Fullerton (My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, Ben 10: Alien Force/Ultimate Alien/Omniverse), Kristen Humphrey and Merrill Hagan (Teen Titans Go!, Magic School Bus Rides Again), Randy Heeren (I Died Today: Touching the Gates), Kirk Kushin (Super Teen*Topia, Valt the Wonder Deer), Mairghread Scott (Star Wars: Resistance, Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors) and Matt Wayne (Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles, Ben 10: Omniverse).
Hello Kitty and Friends Supercute Adventures is the first YouTube animated series developed for the U.S. audience that chronicles the adventures of Hello Kitty and her friends living and interacting in a shared universe. The first episode of the series is set to go live on the Hello Kitty and Friends YouTube channel on Monday, October 26 at 3:00 PM PST. Subscribe to be notified whenever a new episode is posted.
The wait is over! The first Mando Monday is here — and it’s just the beginning. Star Wars fans across the globe tuned into a special Star Wars “Mando Mondays” digital event this morning where talent from The Mandalorian, including Pedro Pascal, Carl Weathers and Giancarlo Esposito, revealed the latest and greatest products and digital content inspired by the Emmy award-winning series.
Mando Mondays is an all-new global consumer products, games and publishing program that will debut new goods inspired by the Disney+ series every Monday from now until December 21.
The global digital launch on Oct. 26 provided fans with a first look at multiple new items set to bring characters and moments from The Mandalorian to life in fresh and creative ways. Some of the items featured will go on sale or pre-order today at 1 p.m. PT / 4 p.m. ET across top retailers globally, including shopDisney.com.
Star Wars Vintage Collection from Hasbro
Products available for pre-order include the Star Wars: The Vintage Collection from Hasbro, the The Child Real Moves Plush from Mattel, a Mandalorian Flying with Blaster bobblehead from Funko and The Art of Star Wars: The Mandalorian from Abrams. Plus, new skateboards, accessories and apparel inspired by The Mandalorian are available now from Element. And starting this week, new themed content is coming to multiple Star Wars games such as the recently launched Star Wars: Squadrons from Motive.
“Today’s global digital event celebrates the first of many Mando Mondays to come,” said Paul Southern, Senior Vice President, Licensing and Franchise, Lucasfilm. “Over the course of the next eight weeks, we look forward to unveiling the widest assortment yet of highly anticipated products and digital content inspired by beloved characters and moments from The Mandalorian.”
LEGO The Child set, The Mandalorian Monopoly from Hasbro
Fans can check out the full list of products revealed on MandoMondays.com (catch new reveals, interviews, videos and more each Monday through Dec. 21) and catch a replay of today’s event on Star Wars YouTube.
The Mandalorian and the Child continue their journey this Friday, October 30 in the highly anticipated second season of The Mandalorian, streaming only on Disney+.
Genius Brands International, a global brand management company that creates and licenses multimedia entertainment content for children; and ABG Entertainment, a division of Authentic Brands Group, a global brand owner, marketing and entertainment company; today announced an all-new animated comedy, action-adventure series for kids, Shaq’s Garage, starring Shaquille O’Neal. The series will be executive produced by Shaquille O’Neal, Genius Brands, PRP and ABG Entertainment. Through the partnership, O’Neal is also becoming a shareholder in Genius Brands.
Shaq’s Garage will depict the secret adventures of Shaquille’s extraordinary collection of animated cars, trucks, and automobiles. All the vehicles in Shaq’s Garage have unique attributes, intellects and skills, ranging from musical stylings, Shaq Fu and their mastery of the ultra-secret language of Shaqanese and the Shaqtionary. Whether in Sheijing on a secret mission or visiting an ancient shrine in the lost city of Shaqmandu, each story will be as special as the vehicles and Shaquille himself.
“We challenged ourselves to come up with the most exciting storylines and vehicle designs inspired by Toy Story, Tony Stark and 007 that could only be imagined by ‘Big Diesel’ himself,” stated Genius Brands Chairman & CEO Andy Heyward. “The lead vehicle is named Big Diesel and will be voiced by Shaq.”
“Ever since I was a kid I have been fascinated by cars,” said O’Neal. “I’m so excited to bring this series to life with Genius Brands. We plan to showcase the most amazing, tricked out assortment of vehicles that can only be found in my garage. They will all have larger than life personalities, larger than life missions and of course, larger than life sound systems. One of our cars is a vehicle missing a wheel, but she is as strong, fast, and smart as any other vehicle. This will be a kid’s show which will highlight inclusivity for all.”
“Through comedy and adventure, we will showcase strong and diverse characters as positive role models with purposeful storytelling. This is going to be a special show that touches every button — music, adventure, humor, and positive prideful messaging for kids,” added Heyward. “I have known and admired Shaq for many years and am thrilled that we can come together to make this important show for all kids around the world, and Shaq will become a part of the Genius Brands family.
Shaq’s Garage is slated to premiere in early 2022 on the new free digital Kartoon Channel!, which launched on June 15, 2020, and is available in over 100 Million U.S. television households across multiple AVOD and OTT platforms. Kartoon Channel! is a COPPA-compliant free children’s programming service focused on positive entertainment.
Ben Tennyson is back on the alien-fighting scene and expanding to take on the universe as Warner Bros. Home Entertainment releases Ben 10 vs. The Universe: The Movie globally on DVD this Tuesday, October 27. Follow the alien-transforming kid hero with all-new powers and settings on this intergalactic adventure, filled with action-packed bonus content including animatics, exclusive to the DVD — one of which Animag is delighted to share with you here thanks to our friends at WBHE!
The action-packed movie, which will air globally first on Cartoon Network, will focus around a blast from Ben’s past returning to do double the damage on Team Tennyson and planet Earth itself, forcing Ben to go interstellar to save the day. Meanwhile, Gwen and Grandpa Max team up to help protect the world in Ben’s absence. But when our boy hero is confused for the villain in space, Ben must figure out a way to get back to Earth to help save it!
In the exclusive animatic, we see Kevin 11 (Greg Cipes) unleash some “Quad Smack action” to defend the Antitrix from tentacle-bearded nemesis Vilgax (Yuri Lowenthal) — and causing a bit of collateral property damage in the process.
“After 15 successful years, the Ben 10 franchise continues to thrive around the world,” said Mary Ellen Thomas, WBHE Senior Vice President, Originals, Animation & Family Marketing. “From its Emmy Award-winning series to its robust toy line from Bandai, merchandise in all forms have all combined to generate more than $4.5 billion in global retail sales to date. We know that fans and newcomers alike will want to own this latest installment in the franchise’s home entertainment catalog to add to their Ben 10 collections.”
Ben 10 is produced by Cartoon Network Studios and created and executive produced by Man of Action Entertainment (Big Hero 6, Generator Rex), with John Fang (Mixels, Generator Rex) as executive producer.
Ben 10 vs. The Universe: The Movie is available to purchase on DVD Oct. 27 (SRP $19.99 USD / $24.99 CAD) and globally on Digital ($14.99 USD).
Apple TV+ today released the official trailer for Doug Unplugs, a new animated preschool series from DreamWorks Animation, based on Dan Yaccarino’s popular Doug Unplugged book series. The series will premiere globally with the first seven episodes on Friday, November 13 on Apple TV+.
Doug Unplugs tells the story of a young robot named Doug who senses there’s more to life than just the facts. While other robots plug in for their daily download, Doug unplugs and journeys into the human world with his best friend Emma to experience its wonders firsthand.
The series is executive produced by Jim Nolan (Esme & Roy), Aliki Theofilopoulos (Phineas and Ferb, Hercules) and author Yaccarino, whose numerous credits include the popular series Willa’s Wild Life, Mr. Pig & Mr. Duck and Oswald.
The voice cast includes Brandon James Cienfuegos (Beautiful Boy, Grey’s Anatomy) as Doug, Kyrie McAlpin (Birdie, Star Trek: Short Treks) as Emma, Eric Bauza (The Adventures of Puss in Boots, Looney Tunes Cartoons, The Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) as Bob Bot, and Mae Whitman (The Perks of Being a Wallflower) as Becky Bot.
Apple TV+ is home to new, award-winning originals from some of today’s most trusted franchises in kids and family programming, including Daytime Emmy Award-winning Ghostwriter from Sesame Workshop; exclusive new series from Peanuts like Snoopy in Space; upcoming series Fraggle Rock and Harriet the Spy, based on the beloved classics from The Jim Henson Company; and newly imagined original series that will be based on the stories and illustrations of Maurice Sendak.
ViacomCBS International Studios (VIS), a division of ViacomCBS Networks International (VCNI), today announced the launch of a new kids content division with the appointment of Nina Hahn as Head of VIS Kids, in addition to her role as Senior Vice President of Production & Development at Nickelodeon International. Based in London, Hahn will report to Juan “JC” Acosta, President, ViacomCBS International Studios and ViacomCBS Networks Americas, while continuing to report to Jules Borkent, Executive Vice President, Kids & Family, VCNI.
VIS is a global leader in the development and production of premium content for all platforms, genres and formats. The launch of VIS Kids allows for the expansion of the studio’s global kids content pipeline, broadening its kids content offering to include short and long form content that will be produced and sold to third parties, in addition to ViacomCBS brands and platforms.
As Head of VIS Kids, Hahn will focus on growing VIS’s kids content pipeline and expanding its global footprint. Hahn will lead on sourcing and developing originals within animated, live action and preschool genres by aligning closely with the studio’s production and development teams across Latin America, the U.K., Spain and Israel. Hahn will collaborate closely with domestic and international counterparts, along with an expanded central team that will include international development and production, sales and distribution.
During her tenure at Nickelodeon, Hahn pioneered the organization’s first global hub for content sourcing and creation, and she has initiated first-of-its-kind projects with markets like China with Deer Squad, a co-production with iQiyi; Israel with Spyders, Nickelodeon International’s first original co-production with Ananey Studios; and India with The Twisted Timelines of Sammy & Raj, the brand’s first collaboration with Viacom18. Hahn has brought in over 2,000 hours of original content for the kids brand and led enterprise-wide efforts like Nickelodeon’s first global Writer’s Program, as well as the brand’s first global Shorts Program, which spawned It’s Pony, Nickelodeon International’s first original animated series for the 8-10 kids demographic to be greenlit by the U.S. for a global roll-out, and Shark Dog, VIS’ first internationally originated global animated series for Netflix, premiering worldwide in 2021.
With 30 series in production and 50 more in development, VIS is a key component of ViacomCBS’ content ecosystem. VIS has seen nearly 50 percent average revenue growth since inception, and the launch of VIS Kids will ensure continued revenue growth, while also serving as a foundation for the studio’s plan to develop more than 30 new kids shows over the next three years.
“VIS has an existing footprint in the kids arena with successful series like Club 57 and Noobees, so we felt it’s time to launch our own kids division of ViacomCBS International Studios. Nina has been a driving force behind many of Nickelodeon’s groundbreaking and award-winning series across the globe, and I am confident she will build on VIS’ momentum at the helm of VIS Kids,” said Acosta.
Hahn stated, “I’m honored to be heading up VIS Kids and plan to establish deep, diverse and inclusive roots in kids content. The launch of VIS Kids furthers our studio’s model of creating specialized divisions with central leadership, to ensure we can take full advantage of strategic opportunities that support VIS’ continued advancement.”
Austin-based Faceware (formerly known as Image Metrics) has established itself firmly in the niche market of facial motion capture and is currently being used by over 1,700 studios around the world. The company’s latest product is the Mark IV Wireless Headcam System. While the Faceware software can use different helmet systems, including an Indie version that uses GoPros as well as data from webcams, the Mark IV is designed specifically for the highest fidelity data.This molded helmet (in various sizes) comes with additional padding to make for the tightest, yet most comfortable fit for your talent. An additional chinstrap is there for actions that may be a bit more physical — such as when you are capturing motion-capture data as well as the facial performance. A bar is firmly attached to the helmet, and an HD camera affixes to the bar. All this ensures a locked, and almost distortion-free image of the performer’s face.
The power and signal for the camera travels around the bar, behind the helmet and down the back to a utility belt that keeps the performer untethered to the recording system. A five-hour battery can be quickly swapped in and out, which powers the camera, the face-light on the camera and the Teradek transmitter that sends the camera footage to the accompanying receiver. The signal feeds through an AJA hub, that spits the signal into a USB which feeds the Faceware Studio or Shepherd software, as well as a video signal via BNC that goes to a monitor as well as the AJA Ki Pro Rack, which records all of the data coming in. The data the AJA records isn’t limited to the face and can be compounded with mo-cap systems like Xsens suits, or Vicon and OptiTrack volumes — and let’s not forget the glove systems like Manus. All of that data is captured via the Faceware Shepherd software.
The may sound like a lot of hardware, but the manual, illustrated in a quasi-comic-book style, is clear, specific and spot-on. I had no trouble navigating the setup and I didn’t have to call for support even once.
The second component to the system is the tracking, analyzing and retargeting software — which is found in Faceware Studio (the Mark IV also works with Faceware’s standalone software, Analyzer and Retargeter). The signal comes in from the camera, you run it through calibrations and you are good to go. However, 90% of the time you aren’t driving a 3D model of your talent: Often, they have transformed into a Na’vi warrior, or an elf, or a talking flower or something! Faceware has a slew of sliders to make adjustments for how subtle or exaggerated facial moves will be remapped to the character.
Under the hood, Faceware Studio is using what it has learned through deep learning algorithms to refine the solve — specifically around how the jaw moves. Through data derived from a sample set of 3,000,000 images submitted from participating clients, and another 40,000 hand annotated images, the system was learning how that movement is supposed to work. And now, in real time, it evaluated and initialized the solve for each frame to get the best result. The results are cleaner when used in conjunction with the Mark IV helmet, but it also works to get great solves from a webcam: It just has to work hard since your face isn’t locked.
The system isn’t cheap, as you can imagine. (Quoting the lawyer from Jurassic Park: “Is it heavy? Then it’s probably expensive!”) However, there are plenty of different tiers and points of entry if you want to start playing with the technology and build your way up. This includes using less robust systems than the Mark IV, like the Indie Headcam for GoPro or the webcam. And there are options for renting systems so you aren’t having to buy it outright. But with virtual production becoming more and more of a thing, knowledge and experience in this realm would definitely be considered a plus.
Price: $24,995 for full system; weekly and daily rentals available, prices vary.
Wacom One
Wacom One
Earlier this year, the Wacom One tablet hit the market as an answer to an entry-level, beginner display tablet for those artists who are just getting started or users who don’t need the robust features of the Cintiq line. With each iteration, Wacom refines the look and feel of the tablets to not only provide just what is needed, but wrap it in a container that’s comfortable.
The housing holds a 13.3” screen plus a bezel, both coated with an anti-glare surface which makes the drawing surface feel contiguous, even if you end up drawing beyond the screen. The white casing is one mold, with rubber feet as well as two legs with a rubber coating that pop out to give you a 19° tilt (perhaps a little shallow for some). Extra nibs and the nib removal tool is hidden behind the recess for one of the legs. There is one USB-C input on the device, with all the other cables (AC, USB 3.0,and HDMI) going into a compact breakout box, which reduces the number of individual cables to keep track of and to plug into the tablet.
The pen runs along the same principles as other Wacom pens: wireless, battery-less and 8,196 levels of pressure. But the primary difference being that it only has two clicks: the tip and the side button. There is no rocker button on the side, which will be a problem if you are running anything that requires a three-button mouse (ZBrush, Maya, Mari, etc.) And the tablet doesn’t appear to be compatible with the Wacom Pro Pen 2, although there are other manufactures that make compatible pens (Staedtler, Mitsubishi, Samsung, to name a few). That said, the pen (which has a 4096 resolution) should be fine for most applications.
The resolution is 1920 x 1080 and the color reaches 72% of NTSC. So, in comparison to the Cintiqs, you will be sacrificing some resolution and some color fidelity. However, if you are just looking for something to get into the digital art game, you probably won’t be delivering color-sensitive projects.
What is really fascinating about the Wacom One is that it works with Galaxy and Huawei Android devices. With a little converter box (sold separately), you can use your tablet to interface with the Android, removing the need to haul around a laptop with you as well as the Wacom. You really have a chance to, literally, go mobile. This is a great feature for students taking notes in class, or even wandering about making quick life drawing studies.
At $399.95, you are flying pretty far below even the next level up on the Cintiqs. The fabrication isn’t quite as robust, and the tech specs aren’t as high. But it’s lightweight, responsive, and will do the job.
Todd Sheridan Perry is an award-winning VFX supervisor and digital artist whose credits include Black Panther, Avengers: Age of Ultron and The Christmas Chronicles. You can reach him at todd@teaspoonvfx.com.
The 20th edition of Norway’s Fredrikstad Animation Festival wrapped up its first hybrid event on Sunday, which this year added a digital extension reaching out to animation lovers around the world unable to attend the physical event. The event offered talks and workshops from top animation talent in addition to its cornerstone short film competition which awards the “Golden Gunnar.” Five feature films were also in official competition this year, highlighting the continued growth in the Nordic-Baltic animation industry.
This year’s short film jury was Robin Jensen, Janne K. Hansen and Ieva Viese-Vigula. The feature film jury was Vassilis Kroustallis, Truls Foss and Kristin Günther. Commissioned animation jurors were Line Lockert, Will Ashurst and Inga Sætre. The children’s film jury was made up of three local children ages 8-10.
To learn more about the festival, visit animationfestival.no.
Fredrikstad Animation Fest
The winners are…
Nordic-Baltic Grand Prix: Freeze Frame(Soetkin Verstegen) | Freeze Frame takes the viewer on a journey through the deepest layers of arctic ice showing gradually more complex beings getting excavated from dark waters. The animals trapped in ice cubes while in motion, show the history of all living things. The animation technique and the storyline perfectly match the contrast between persistence and fragility. The jury viewed this film as a dystopian metaphor of human greed and thoughtlessness.
Best Nordic-Baltic Short Film: Yes-People (Gísli Darri Halldórsson) | Yes-People is a tightly knit story of diverse human characters that are bound together by the restrictions of time and space. The efficient usage of pace and visual information makes it a rediscovery with every rewatch. The film is unusually light hearted for the Nordic-Baltic animation scene, capturing the jury’s benevolence with much of the same humor and unpretentiousness that the characters share between themselves.
Yes-People
Best Nordic-Baltic Student Film: Pearl Diver (Margrethe Danielsen) | This beautiful and skilfully structured story explores the impossibilities and contradictions between the desires of its characters and their opportunities. The vividly crafted stop-motion film illuminates a paradox because of each pair’s incompatible nature. The jury acknowledges the precision and clarity of the film’s message combined with the rich symbolic value that its elements carry.
Special Mention – Nordic-Baltic Student Film: Room with a Sea View (Leonid Shmelkov) | Room with a Sea View is a nightmare in black, white and green. And sometimes red. The film uses surreal imagery to tell a story that is immediately relatable and connects to the pitfalls of a mundane life where one avoids taking chances. The jury viewed this film as a sober questioning of man’s inner feelings of inadequacy that is well combined with absurdist humor.
Two Buddies and a Badger 2 – The Great Big Beast
Best Nordic-Baltic Feature Film: Two Buddies and a Badger 2 – The Great Big Beast (Rune Spaans & Gunhild Enger) | The jury noted it was a difficult task to decide on this year’s award winner for Nordic-Baltic Animated Feature Film. The selection consisted of five very different films, exploring everything from classic storytelling to surreal acid trips, unpleasant and ambitious satire, to personal hybrid film and more. The decision landed on something familiar and strange, old school, but yet fresh and playful.
The winning film celebrates the richness of ideas and in a way the joy of finding meaning in something meaningless in a time where we strive to find meaning in absolutely everything. The film is playful in its references, both universal and local. The animation is well crafted and mirrors the story in an elegant way, making the whole a joyful and colourful trip for all ages. It’s like a piece of magic-lakrisbåt… not a Christmas gift from Steinerskolen, and in 10–15 years it will surely become a cult classic screening frequently at Samfundet in Trondheim.
Special Mention Nordic-Baltic Feature Film: The Old Man Movie (Mikk Mägi & Oskar Lehemaa) | For its jaw-dropping quality to create a country environment ruled by bad taste and milk-starved residents, and armed with sterling production values and a bouncy tempo that leads you to a really bumpy ride into vulgarity, the jury decided to award the Special Mention for Feature Film to The Old Man Movie by Mikk Mägi and Oskar Lehemaa (Estonia).
The Tomten and the Fox
Best Nordic-Baltic Children’s Film: The Tomten and the Fox (Yaprak Morali & Are Austnes) | The jury of kids commented: It is a good story. A really great film that shows that you can trust Santa. The music is very good and it is nicely animated.
Best Nordic-Baltic Commissioned Film: FOR (Kim Holm) | An appealing design ascetic where every frame is a piece of art with strong technical skill which complements the narration without detouring from its striking design choice.
Special Mention Nordic-Baltic Commissioned Film: Basic Self Disturbances (Julian Nazario Vargas) | A film that felt very personal and the distinct choice of styles are melted together with ease, it shows filmmakers extremely confident with the medium.
Nordic-Baltic Audience Award: Tales from the Multiverse (Magnus Igland Møller, Mette Tange, Peter Smith)
The MeTV Network, America’s #1 classic television network, announces the launch of the new original morning show Toon In With Me. The weekday one-hour hosted series will feature original comedy sketches, special guests, interviews, games and more, produced to lead into many of the greatest classic cartoon shorts ever made. Also announced is the launch of Saturday Morning Cartoons, a three-hour cartoon block of animated favorites.
Designed to appeal to viewers of all ages, Toon In With Me is scheduled to debut on MeTV in January 2021 with the show host and character cast performing in segments produced around timeless and beloved cartoons, starring Warner Bros. superstars Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Tweety, Road Runner and the many other fan favorites from the Merrie Melodies and Looney Tunes shorts. In addition, the theatrical cartoon library of MGM shorts that includes Tom & Jerry, Droopy Dog and the Tex Avery catalog will be part of the show. Also included are the original Popeye cartoons from Max Fleischer. In all, the library includes more than 1000 cartoons that will be seen on MeTV.
“Toon In With Me will evoke the hosted children’s shows of decades past, blending nostalgia, fun, charm, comedy and cartoons, reimagined with new, original, live-action characters,” said Neal Sabin, Vice Chairman of Weigel Broadcasting Co. “It all adds up to a new program for viewers of all ages, ready to share the fun and positive energy together weekday mornings.”
Bill Leff
Chicago-born actor, writer, comic and personality Bill Leff has been named the host of Toon In With Me. Leff is a pop-culture and classic TV fanatic who studied improvisation at Chicago’s Second City Theater, performed stand-up comedy nationwide in clubs and on national TV, hosted several successful radio shows, appeared in films including Major League and Major League 2 and has interviewed some of the biggest names in Hollywood film and television.
Kevin Fleming and Leila Gorstein
Also joining the Toon In With Me cast are performers Kevin Fleming and Leila Gorstein. Fleming is a writer, actor and improviser whose comedy writing credits include the Warner Bros. Animation series The New Looney Tunes, airing on Boomerang. Other animated writing credits include The Tom & Jerry Show, Be Cool Scooby-Doo!, LEGO City Adventures and Woody Woodpecker. Gorstein is an actor, writer and comedian who has performed as part of The Second City Touring Company. She recently co-wrote and starred in the romantic parody film Love Dump and has hosted the streaming game show Role Models.
Saturday Morning Cartoons is a three-hour “all cartoons, all the time” block reminiscent of the Saturday morning broadcasts of the past. Each hour will present a collection of cartoons featuring Popeye and Friends, Tom & Jerry, Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies. Saturday Morning Cartoons is also scheduled to debut in early 2021.
Shudder released Friday the trailer, key art and images for A Creepshow Animated Special, premiering exclusively on the horror streaming service in all its territories, as well as via the Shudder offering within the AMC+ bundle, on a new date of Thursday, October 29 shortly after 12:01 am ET/9:01 pm PT.
A Creepshow Animated Special
A Creepshow Animated Special features two stories directed by Creepshow showrunner Greg Nicotero, with animation by Octopie animation studio (SYFY’s Wild Life, Explosm’s The Stockholms):
“Survivor Type,” based on the short story by Stephen King and adapted by Nicotero, stars Kiefer Sutherland (24, Designated Survivor) as a man determined to stay alive alone on a deserted island no matter what the cost.
Survivor Type
“Twittering from the Circus of the Dead,” based on the short story by Joe Hill and adapted by Melanie Dale, stars Joey King (The Kissing Booth, The Act) as a teen whose family road trip includes a visit to the gravest show on Earth.
Circus of the Dead
A Creepshow Animated Special is produced by The Cartel with Monster Agency Productions, Octopie, Taurus Entertainment and Striker Entertainment.
Fall festival season swings on despite the continued confusion of the pandemic, with events attracting even more guests thanks to the global reach of online platforms. And, as we’ve been seeing for years, animation continues to make more of an impact outside dedicated categories and festivals.
The Los Angeles-based AFI FEST2020 presented by Audi wrapped up Thursday night, announcing the winners of its Jury and Audience awards. The festival attracted its largest national audience in its 34-year history, with attendees from all over the United States tuning in.
“With an audience of more than double from last year, we welcomed over 200 filmmakers and guests from around the world for Q&As and panels,” said Michael Lumpkin, Director AFI Festivals. “This year’s festival was truly a celebration of film across the country with festival goers joining us online from all 50 states.”
Tiger and Ox
The Oscar-qualifying Grand Jury Prize – Animation was awarded to director Seunghee Kim’s Tiger and Ox, which explores that status of divorced women in Korean patriarchal society. The Jury (film critic Carlos Aguilar, filmmaker Sophia Nahli Allison and Film Festival Alliance Executive Director Lela Meadow-Conner) commented, “With its economical, yet powerful use of the animated medium, this film tells a tender intergenerational story of the layered relationship between a mother and a daughter and invites us to engage in necessary conversations around gender and trauma.”
Umbilical
The Jury also saw fit to award Danski Tang’s animated documentary about the legacy of abusive familial relationships, Umbilical, with one of three Special Mention nods. “Poignant and eye-popping, this animated vision speaks to the importance of understanding one’s family history and the inextricable connection between a mother and a daughter,” reads the Jury statement. “Through beautifully abstract animation, the filmmaker expresses these complex themes in an affecting manner.”
Wolfwalkers
And AFI’s attendees howled for Cartoon Saloon/Melusine’s latest folkloric adventure, bestowing the Audience Award – Narrative Feature on Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart’s Wolfwalkers. This year’s program included 55 feature films. (Read all about it in the December ’20 issue of Animation Magazine, available soon!)
fest.afi.com
Calamity, a Childhood of Martha Jane Cannary
Across the pond, Amsterdam’s Cinekid Festival — the world’s largest children’s film festival — was offered for the first time in its 34th edition both live and over its new, year-round online platform Cinekid Play with films, games, workshops and filmmaker interviews. (Its professionals’ program, the Junior Co-Production Market, was online only.)
French-Danish animated feature Calamity, a Childhood of Martha Jane Cannary by auteur director Rémi Chayé (Long Way North) took the top honors: the Cinekid Lion for Best Children’s Film — and the 7,500 euro prize. The digital 2D/3D production reveals the origins of the Wild West icon, when the young girl must take charge of her family’s care and literally, scandalously “wear the pants” while on convoy in 1863.
Matilda and the Spare Head
The Cinekid Lion for Best International Animated Short (2,500 euro prize) was awarded to Lithuanian stop-motion piece Matilda and the Spare Head, by Ignas Meilūnas and produced by M-Films. The curious comedy centers on a girl who wants to be the smartest person in the world, but can’t fit all that she’s learned into just one head.
Human Nature
Best Dutch Animation Short (2,500 euro prize) went to Sverre Fredriksen and Zaou Vaughan’s stop-motion reality flip Human Nature (Family Affair Films), about “the love animals have for people, and the harm they consciously or unconsciously cause to us.” An the National Audience Award, Age 4-6 was given to Joost van den Bosch and Erik Verkerk’s charming aquarium comedy about a neat-freak octopus, INK (Ka-Ching Cartoons).
Everyone knows that he likes warm hugs, but few know the whole story about Olaf’s first moments — until now! Beginning today, the charming CG short Once Upon a Snowman is available to stream exclusively on Disney+.
The film follows Olaf’s first steps as he comes to life and searches for his identity in the snowy mountains outside Arendelle. The previously untold origins of the innocent and insightful, summer-loving snowman who melted hearts in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ 2013 Academy Award-winning Frozen and its acclaimed 2019 follow-up, Frozen II, are revealed in the all-new animated short.
To celebrate the launch, Disney+ revealed a brand new clip featuring our super-cool little hero and everyone’s favorite ice queen, Elsa.
Once Upon a Snowman is directed by Trent Correy (animation supervisor, “Olaf” in Frozen II) and Dan Abraham (veteran story artist who boarded Olaf’s “When I Am Older” musical sequence in Frozen II) and produced by Nicole Hearon (associate producer Frozen II and Moana) with Peter Del Vecho (producer, Frozen II, Frozen and the upcoming Raya and the Last Dragon). Olaf is voiced by award-winning actor Josh Gad.
Filmmaker Abraham López Guerrero has signed on with production company Guardián de Dragones as Animation Director of Dragonkeeper, the Spanish-Chinese feature film production directed by Goya award winner Salvador Simó (Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles) that will hit theaters in 2021.
Leading a team of more than 30 people in both countries, López Guerrero will work side by side with Simó to tell the story of Ping, a slave girl turned who becomes a young heroine when she discovers that she possesses the powers of a Dragonkeeper and ends up being the guardian of an ancient dragon.
López Guerrero is known as the creator of Blue & Malone, the only Spanish short that mixes real image and 2D and 3D animation. As animation director of Dragonkeeper, he will lead the artists bringing to life the fantastic beings and settings of the film — as he has done in his latest project, Blue & Malone: Impossible Cases, where he led the team that gave life to his two protagonists, a giant blue cat (named Big Blue Cat) and a muppet dog (Mortando Malone), in addition to other characters such as mutant fluff, the villainous Borran or Ossianne, the rebel fairy.
Bringing more than 20 years of experience in 3D animation to the project, López Guerrero trained at the San Antonio de Baños Film School (Cuba) in directing and screenwriting. He was nominated for the Best Animated Short Film Goya Award in 2014 for Blue & Malone: Imaginary Detectives and is an animation branch member of Spain’s Academia de Cine.
His filmography as a director, animator and animation supervisor includes the RTVE series Clanners, the Thinklab Media feature film Deep and the short films Blue & Malone: Imaginary Detectives and Just The Beginning, with more than 200 festival selections and 30 awards. He is Creative Director at prodco ESDIP Animation Studio and a teacher at ESDIP School of Art and at ECAM (Madrid Community Film School). His latest short, Blue & Malone: Impossible Cases, has won nine awards and 50 nominations at film festivals around the world in just five months and is being developed as a feature film and animated series.
Based on the fantasy novel by Australian author Carole Wilkinson, Dragonkeeper takes place in a magical and epic China during the Han dynasty. The story follows the adventures of Ping, a slave girl who becomes a true dragon guardian helping the last imperial dragon on his journey through China to guarantee the continuity of the lineage. Dragonkeeper is also the story of a girl who believes that she is not worthy of even a name, but who finds within herself the strength and courage to make this dangerous journey and do what she must.
Announced in September 2019, the lead voice cast is Naomi Yang (Lilting) as Ping, Golden Globe and BAFTA winner Bill Nighy (Love Actually, Castlevania) as Danzi and Bill Bailey (Hot Fuzz, The Big Bad Fox and Other Tales) as Wang Chao.
Dragonkeeper is being co-directed by Jian-Ping Li. Producers in Spain are Manuel Cristóbal (Wrinkles) and Larry Levene at Dragoia Media, Domingo Corral and Gabriel Arias Salgado of Movistar+ and Mercedes Gamero from Atresmedia Cine. Song Weiwei produces for China Film Animation. Serigo Pablos (Klaus) created early visual development at his SPA Animation, which was completed by China Film Animation. The film is currently in production at Ilion Animation Studios (Madrid) and China Film Animation (Beijing).
