Animation Magazine

Tag: featured

  • Netflix Bolsters Anime Lineup with Four New Prodco Partnerships

    Netflix Bolsters Anime Lineup with Four New Prodco Partnerships

    Netflix announced it has entered into production line partnerships with four anime production studios — ANIMA & COMPANY-owned NAZ, Science SARU and MAPPA from Japan, as well as Studio Mir based in Korea — to explore new stories and formats to entertain anime fans around the world.

    “In 2020, we’re reimagining the way the world is perceived. Our lives have been transformed. Expectations and values of visual arts and entertainment are also changing. Visual arts is a culture that is a beacon of hope, transcending distance and space, and welcoming its viewers to multiple places all at the same time,” commented Yasuo Suda, CEO of ANIMA & COMPANY. “At NAZ, we look forward to working closely with Netflix, a leader in this field, and ensuring that future generations see the 21st century as a time of noteworthy works in the history of visual arts. This is a wakeup call to a new era of storytelling.”

    Partnerships with best-in-class production houses enable Netflix to work with some of the best creators, promote talent development and provide support in every stage of production to create the best content for the global anime community.

    “Our collaboration with Netflix regarding shows such as DEVILMAN Crybaby and Japan Sinks: 2020 reflects our shared understanding of storytelling and the desire to take on fresh challenges,” said Eunyoung Choi, CEO, Science SARU. “Together with Netflix, Science SARU aims to deliver highly relevant content to fans more directly, by staying true to the world changing around us, and listening closely to our fans.”

    Manabu Otsuka, CEO of MAPPA, noted, “This partnership enables us to deliver on our mission to bring best-in-class content at an accelerated pace to anime fans on Netflix. Together with Netflix, we look forward to discovering what excites animation fans – both in Japan and beyond – with the best experiences, and making every effort to produce great shows in response to that fandom.”

    Netflix has inked non-exclusive production line partnerships with other Japanese production houses including Production I.G and bones in 2018, and Anima, Sublimation and David Production in 2019. With today’s announcement, Netflix’s anime partnership stable is up to nine production houses. And, for the first time, the streamer’s creative home in Tokyo has expanded its partnerships beyond Japan to Studio Mir in Korea.

    ”In celebration of Netflix Anime Festival 2020 (hosted on Oct 27), we are thrilled to establish a solid partnership with Netflix,” said Jae Myung Yoo, CEO, Studio Mir. “Through the production line deal, we look forward to showcasing the vibrant creativity of Korean animation to a worldwide audience.”

    “In just four years, we’ve built a dedicated team based in Tokyo that serves to entertain the global anime community through new and aspirational storytelling. With these additional partnerships with industry trailblazers who do amazing work, often marrying the latest technologies and traditional hand-drawn animation, we’re excited to bring fans a greater variety of even more amazing stories,” said Taiki Sakurai, Anime Chief Producer, Netflix.

    Netflix titles created under Production Line Partnerships:

    Launching 2020
    Altered Carbon: Resleeved (Anima)
    Ghost in the Shell SAC_2045 (Production I.G)
    Dragon’s Dogma (Sublimation)

    Coming 2021 and beyond
    Spriggan (David Production)
    Vampire in the Garden (WIT STUDIO – a group company under Production I.G)
    Super Crooks (Bones)

  • PaleyFest Panel Sheds Light on How ‘Rick and Morty’ Keeps on Rickin’

    PaleyFest Panel Sheds Light on How ‘Rick and Morty’ Keeps on Rickin’

    The Paley Center for Media today kicks off the 8th annual PaleyFest NY. The premier television festival features some of the most acclaimed and hottest television shows and biggest stars, delighting fans with exclusive behind-the-scenes scoops, hilarious anecdotes and breaking news stories. This year’s lineup includes a panel with a few of the brilliant talents behind Adult Swim hit Rick and Morty, which the Paley Center kindly gave Animation Magazine a sneak peek at.

    Citi returns as the official card and an official sponsor of PaleyFest Ny, and Verizon joins as an official sponsor. The cast and creative team conversations will be featured on the Paley channel on Verizon Media’s Yahoo Entertainment, with the initial slate of programming starting on Friday, October 23, at 8:00 pm EST/5:00 pm PST, with additional releases on Monday, October 26 at 8:00 pm EST/5:00 pm PST, and Tuesday, October 27 at 8:00 pm/5:00pm.

    “This fall, we’re thrilled to present PaleyFest NY on the Paley Center’s dedicated channel on Yahoo Entertainment, bringing this incredible lineup to millions of television fans,” said Maureen J. Reidy, the Paley Center’s President & CEO. “We’re grateful for the continued support of our friends at Citi, and welcome Verizon as an official sponsor.”

    Chris Parnell (image courtesy of the Paley Center for Media)
    Chris Parnell (image courtesy of the Paley Center for Media)

    The Rick and Morty discussion, moderated by Variety Senior Editor Mike Schneider, brings co-creator / exec producer Dan Harmon and voice stars Chris Parnell (Jerry Smith), Sarah Chalke (Beth Smith) and Spencer Grammer (Summer Smith) together (virtually) for a comfortable, compelling talk full of behind-the-scenes insights, shared laughs and reflection on the complexities of producing animation in the COVID-19 era.

    In the panel, Harmon takes a pragmatic approach to the pandemic’s impact on the business.

    “In spite of dramatic differences, there’s dramatic improvements to the creative process, through the same things that are making it a dramatic deficit. It’s all about the removal of humanity, the forced compartmentalization. so that’s like a really good thing creatively for writers who are less socialized for loudness and interruption,” he tells Schneider.

    “Not to intersect with hot-button issues, but truly there are even some fellas whose voices maybe don’t get heard in a room when the whole frat-y energy is on full volume. … The writers’ room has definitely become a little bit more like a boardroom, and I think that that is in a lot of ways a huge improvement — and in a lot of ways, it’s just like rolling a boulder up a hill.”

    Clockwise from top left: Dan Harmon, Mike Schneider, Spencer Grammer, Chris Parnell and Sarah Chalke.
    Clockwise from top left: Dan Harmon, Mike Schneider, Spencer Grammer, Chris Parnell and Sarah Chalke.

    When asked about the process, the series co-creator (and, apparently, home carpentry enthusiast) did note that the show is “more on schedule than we’ve ever been.”

    Rick and Morty wrapped up its fourth season in May. The show received a 70-episode renewal order in 2018; 41 episodes have aired to date.

    On top of Harmon’s peeks behind the curtain, the mad genius enthusiastically shares his thoughts on storycraft, and the hilarious voice actors talk about riding the show’s rollercoaster of chaos along with fans, their favorite moments, how their performance approaches have evolved, what it’s like to be part of the pop-culture phenom, and how they’re staying social-distance-sane (while coming up with some creative home recording booth strategies).

    There are plenty of dimensions to explore in the one-hour panel, so be sure to

    catch it when the PaleyFest NY programs go live for the public tonight. The event is also presenting special conversations with the cast and creatives of Supernatural (The CW), The Boys (Amazon Prime Video), Eli Roth’s History of Horror (AMC), Full Frontal with Samantha Bee (TBS), A Million Little Things (ABC), The Undoing (HBO), All American (The CW) and celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Girlfriends (Netflix).

    Watch via the Paley Channel on Yahoo! Entertainment.
    Learn more at paleyfest.org.

    Paley Fest
    Paley Fest
  • Rankin/Bass ‘Rudolph’ Puppets Fly to Auction

    Rankin/Bass ‘Rudolph’ Puppets Fly to Auction

    Fans of classic holiday animation have a chance to bring home a most wonderful present, as auction house Profiles in History prepares to offer up two of the puppet stars of Rankin/Bass Productions’ beloved ’60s special Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. A six-inch Rudolph and 11-inch Santa will go up on the block as a pair on November 13, and are expected to soar with bids up to $150,000-$250,000.

    The charming pair, made of wood, wire, cloth and leather (Rudolph’s nose still lights up!) were made by Japanese puppet maker Ichiro Komuro and were used in the stop-mo shoots at MOM Productions in Tokyo. Rudolph and Santa come from the collection of New Yorker Peter Lutrario, who told the Associated Press that he “always said I would die with the dolls” but has decided to sell them in order to leave something more liquid to his children and grandchildren. Lutrario bought them about 15 years ago from Arthur Rankin Jr.’s secretary’s nephew after seeing them appraised on Antiques Roadshow.

    Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer premiered on NBC on December 6, 1964. Based on the classic Christmas song from 1939, it follows the little flying reindeer and his fellow outcast — an elf who dreams of being a dentist — as they run away from the North Pole, meet other colorful characters, befriend the folks on the Island of Misfit Toys and eventually find their places in the world … and of course, save Christmas thanks to Rudolph’s bright, shiny nose!

    The special was directed by Larry Roemer and associate director Kizo Nagashima from a teleplay by Romeo Muller, and featured the voices of Burl Ives, Billie Richards, Paul Soles, Larry Mann, Pat Dixon and Stan Francis.

    Check out the auction at ProfilesInHistory.com.

    [Source: https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-4a33e5df81176ce12f93d27cafe76799]

  • Lena Headey & Luke Wilson Join ‘NEW-GEN’ Marvel-Inspired Series

    Lena Headey & Luke Wilson Join ‘NEW-GEN’ Marvel-Inspired Series

    Lena Headey and Luke Wilson have joined the cast of the sci-fi animation series NEW-GEN, currently in pre-production. The show is being produced by J.D. and Chris Matonti and Julia Coppola of APNG Enterprises and is based on the superhero comic book series distributed by Marvel Comics.

    Golden Globe and Emmy nominee Lena Headey will play the beautiful and prophetic “Thea,” the matriarch of the “Association for the Protection of NEW-GEN.” She is internationally known as Cersei Lannister in the series Game of Thrones. Other credits include animated series Infinity Train, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Wizards and Trollhunters, as well as live-action projects Fighting with My Family, The Purge and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.

    Luke Wilson will play the humorous, mischievous “Roboduck,” the comic sidekick who burps fire. His credits include the series Stargirl and Enlightened and the films Concussion, Meadowland and the upcoming 12 Mighty Orphans. He has provided voices for animated indie features Rock Dog and Battle for Terra.

    Headey and Wilson, both represented by CAA, join previously announced cast members Finn Wolfhard, Nick Wolfhard and Anya Chalotra.

    Lena Headey [Photo: Danny Moloshok/Invision/AP] and Luke Wilson [Photo: David Livingston/Getty Images]
    Lena Headey [Photo: Danny Moloshok/Invision/AP] and Luke Wilson [Photo: David Livingston/Getty Images]

    NEW-GEN is about twin brothers (to be voiced by Finn Wolfhard & Nick Wolfhard) who live as ordinary teenagers and nanotech-enhanced superheroes. NEW-GEN is a futuristic utopia where human beings, alien creatures and mechanical lifeforms peacefully coexist. Designed and built with nanotechnology, NEW-GEN balances nature and technology, weaving together an ecologically sustainable paradise. Its existence becomes threatened by a nanotech war and heroes from Earth and NEW-GEN are called to defeat the encroaching evil.

    NEW-GEN is created by APNG’s J.D. Matonti and the showrunner is Brent Friedman, whose credits include the Star Wars franchise, Halo 4, Call of Duty, Resident Evil, Star Trek: Enterprise and Tales from the Borderlands. It is co-written by Eugene Son, who has worked on many of the biggest superhero franchises, including Avengers Assemble, Ultimate Spider-Man, Ben 10, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.

    The series is being produced with Emmy Award-winning animation partner Bardel Entertainment, whose animated series include Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Dragon Prince, Rick and Morty, Angry Birds, Teen Titans GO!, Monsters vs. Aliens and Dinotrux.

    “We’ll take you on an adventure to the futuristic utopia of NEW-GEN where nanotech governs this incredible world and the humans, creatures and AI who dwell in it,” said Matonti, series creator, director and exec producer. “We’re delighted to have Lena Headey and Luke Wilson join our cast as we move from comics to animated series and other multimedia platforms.”

    NEW-GEN plans to offer a multi-platform, multi-tech experience. Viewers will be able to download an augmented reality app enabling players’ use of nanotech powers to battle various creatures from the show. Fans can explore a web-based experience which weaves scientific fact and fiction to depict what nanotech is and where it might be in the future.

    Independent global kids and family TV distributor, Jetpack Distribution is representing the global rights for NEW-GEN.

  • Greenpeace, Cartoon Saloon Confront Meat Biz Impact in ‘There’s a Monster in My Kitchen’

    Greenpeace, Cartoon Saloon Confront Meat Biz Impact in ‘There’s a Monster in My Kitchen’

    Greenpeace U.K. has teamed up again with creative agency Mother to create a moving animated short which shines a light on an important ecological issue. Having previously collaborated on the viral hit palm oil deforestation spot Rang-tan in 2018 (narrated by Emma Thompson and animated by Passion Pictures), the partners have now delivered a striking new piece: There’s a Monster in My Kitchen, beautifully animated by Oscar-nominated Irish studio Cartoon Saloon (Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea, Wolfwalkers).

    There's a Monster in my Kitchen
    There’s a Monster in my Kitchen

    The short was created to draw attention to the devastating impact of industrial meat production on forests like the Amazon, with the support of Paul, Mary & Stella McCartney’s Meat Free Monday campaign. Brazilian actor Wagner Moura, who plays the drug lord Pablo Excobar on Netflix’s popular drama Narcos, was tapped to narrate this sequel.

    “There are few more incredible and precious places on earth than rainforests like the Amazon. Yet many don’t know that the meat and dairy products sitting in our refrigerators could be responsible for the fires and chainsaws devastating the Amazon and other vital forests. Meat companies continue to clear forests at an astonishing rate, all to produce the meat in our kitchens. We need to take action before it’s too late,” Moura commented. “I’m so pleased to be working on this crucially important film with Greenpeace. This fight has never been more urgent. Together we can stand against the industrial meat companies razing our precious forests. I hope this film inspires many more to join our mission to protect forests.”

    There's a Monster in my Kitchen
    There’s a Monster in my Kitchen

    In There’s a Monster in My Kitchen, we see a child sneak downstairs for a late-night snack, only to be confronted by a dark, supernatural-looking creature. Frightened and confused, we hear Moura narrate the boy’s thoughts about the “monster in his kitchen” before the beast steps into the light and is revealed to be a normal jaguar, who explains the devastation wrought by the “monster in his forest” — the meat farming industry. Our young hero resolves to eat more plant-based meals and “assemble all the warriors” to fight deforestation. (There even appears to be a Paul McCartney cameo in a brief protest scene!)

    There's a Monster in my Kitchen
    There’s a Monster in my Kitchen

    In the launch announcement, Greenpeace points out that, as of the end of September, 226,485 sq. km. of land (almost the size of the U.K.) had burned across Brazil. The Amazon has seen the worst fire season in a decade and 2020 has seen record-breaking fires in the Pantanal, the world’s largest wetlands (per INPE). The production of meat and livestock feed is the biggest driver of deforestation worldwide, the org says. This destruction is catastrophic for Indigenous Peoples, who often face violence as ranchers and land-grabbers seek to take their land, and is a threat to the global climate and to wildlife. Out of an estimated population of 2,000 jaguars, approximately 600 have been put in danger due to the fires in the Pantanal.

    There's a Monster in my Kitchen
    There’s a Monster in my Kitchen

    “Meat is the biggest driver of deforestation in the world. It is vital for people across the world to know what’s at stake along with the future of our forests. In less than 20 years, the Amazon may collapse and this is being driven by the lack of action by global companies to prevent the meat they are selling from coming from deforested and burned areas,” said Rômulo Batista, from Greenpeace Brazil. “The effects of the Bolsonaro government’s anti-environmental agenda are confirmed by the increase in deforestation, forest fires and violence in the countryside, which has also been having a negative impact in the country’s economy.”

  • Tencent Inks Trio of Co-Pro Deals with Top European Studios

    Tencent Inks Trio of Co-Pro Deals with Top European Studios

    Tencent Video, the leading online video streaming platform in China, today announced that it has agreed co-production deals with leading European studios Zeilt Productions, Sixteen South, and Silvergate Media to develop and produce innovative and exciting new kids properties with global appeal. The three deals mark the start of Tencent Video’s multi-year strategy to partner with major international studios across Europe in mutually beneficial co-production agreements that will see the children’s shows air as originals on Tencent Video’s hugely popular kids’ platform, Tencent Kids, in China.

    The first series to make a splash will be Deep in the Bowl (52 x 5’), a hilarious new series aimed at kids aged 8-12 and inspired by the popular French comic books Le Fond du Bocal by Nicolas Poupon. Integrating 3D animation with live action, the show depicts amazing aquariums with a fantastic fishy cast whose experiences mirror those of children’s daily lives. Tencent Video is teaming up with Oscar-winning, Luxembourg-based animation studio Zeilt Productions to co-produce the show, which is fully funded (including funding from Film Fund Luxembourg) and already in production. With broadcast expected in 2022, Zeilt and Tencent Video are currently looking for distribution partners for the series.

    “Zeilt Productions’ is honored and proud to co-produce the series Deep in the Bowl with Tencent Video,” said producer Laurent Witz, creator of the Oscar-winning animated short Mr. Hublot. “We are convinced that this first collaboration will be the beginning of a long adventure between our two companies. The combination of our respective strengths will allow us to create an international series of high artistic and technical quality.”

    BAFTA-winning studio Sixteen South, one of the U.K. and Ireland’s leading creators of original animated content, is passionate about creating quality television for children across the globe. Its success includes: Wildwoods, the #1 watched kids show in Australia, which is also popular in China on digital platforms; ground-breaking mixed media animated series Lily’s Driftwood Bay, which currently airs in 125 territories across the world; and 2D animation Claude, which airs in every country across Europe, Middle East, Africa and Australia. Sixteen South is working with Tencent Video on a soon-to-be-announced, original new 3D comedy series.

    “We are delighted to be collaborating with Tencent Video,” said Colin Williams, Founder & Creative Director, Sixteen South. “Their huge popularity in China gives us an exciting opportunity to increase our reach and to create a truly international show that audiences in China and across the globe will take to their hearts.”

    Creative content and licensing company Silvergate Media has already enjoyed success in China giving it the expert knowledge and understanding to create appealing shows for the market. Its hit shows include Peter Rabbit and Hilda, plus the huge global success Octonauts, which is one of the leading children’s IPs in Asia. Silvergate is working on an animated CGI comedy series that will air on Tencent Kids and in the rest of the world on a major SVOD platform in 2022.

    “To partner with such a prestigious media giant as Tencent Video is a fantastic opportunity for us to build on our current success in the Chinese market and develop even more wonderful content for audiences there and worldwide,” said Ron Allen, EVP Commercial, Silvergate Media. “We look forward to creating some very special shows together.”

    Selina She, Editor in Chief, Tencent Video Kids Channel, commented, “International co-production is an important part of Tencent Kids’ strategy. We are delighted to have formed these exciting partnerships with Zeilt Productions, Sixteen South and Silvergate Media and look forward to working with these prestigious companies. We are actively looking for new opportunities to acquire outstanding content and to form partnerships to develop and create high-quality content for both domestic and global audiences. With our deep understanding of the local market and our streaming expertise, we look forward to forming more in-depth partnerships with leading studios, platforms and talent in the future.”

  • PBS, Disney Illuminate Voting for Kids with New Shorts

    PBS, Disney Illuminate Voting for Kids with New Shorts

    Beloved preschool toons are turning out for democracy, as both PBS KIDS and Disney Junior announced new shorts about the importance of voting on Thursday.

    Arthur, the most popular weekday series on PBS KIDS, launched Arthur: Get Out the Vote! The three-minute video features Buster and Binky, who share ways kids can help the grown-ups in their lives make a plan to vote. Families can watch the short on Facebook, pbskids.org and on YouTube as part of PBS KIDS’ ‘Election Collection.’ (Or, watch it below!)

    Arthur: Get Out the Vote is the show’s fifth short since March 2020, preceded by Wash Your Hands, 2020 Commencement Address, Arthur on Racism: Talk, Listen and Act and Wearing a Mask!

    Disney Junior announced its new 2D-animated musical short Everybody Gets a Vote, which is rolling out on the channel’s YouTube and DisneyNOW ahead of its on-air premiere November 1. Part of the channel’s popular ‘Ready for Preschool’ series (nearly 23 million views on YouTube), it is designed to encourage kids ages 2-7 to develop positive attitudes about themselves and as a member of a community.

    “Our series reinforces lessons for preschoolers, through song,” said Lori Mozilo, Executive Director, Original Programming, Disney Junior. “With this new short, we share why, for the greater good, every vote matters.”

    In Everybody Gets a Vote, beloved Disney Junior characters — including Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Mira, Vampirina and baby Kermit — determine that a vote is the best and most fair way to choose a playtime game. Viral sensation Rob Cantor, vocalist/guitarist for indie band Tally Hall and creator of the infamous “Shia LeBeouf” music video, is singer and songwriter for the short.

    Arthur: Get Out the Vote!
    Arthur: Get Out the Vote!
  • TeamTO Snags Rights to Fantasy Graphic Novel ‘NINN’

    TeamTO Snags Rights to Fantasy Graphic Novel ‘NINN’

    In another ground-breaking move, Europe’s creative leader in kids entertainment TeamTO has announced the acquisition of NINN, a series of graphic novels by Jean-Michel Darlot and Johan Pilet. For the first time, the maverick content producer will create an ambitious animated limited series for the 7+ audience, starring Ninn — an 11-year-old girl with a mysterious connection to the Paris Metro.

    “I have definitely been influenced by Miyazaki in finding the magical in the ordinary, and I have always been inspired by the Paris Metro,” Darlot shared. “This is where the story comes from, the Metro is not just a means of transportation. It has its own personality and we portray it as a character in our story — a character with some secrets of its own.”

    Ninn is a young Parisian with an unusual passion for the city’s underground world. She knows every nook and cranny of the Metro and skateboarding through its convoluted tunnels is definitely her favorite hobby. But Ninn has a million questions: What do the distant and incomprehensible memories that haunt her mean? Why are there swarms of butterflies fluttering underground, visible only to her? And how did an origami tiger turn into her protector and guide in the search for the secrets of her past? Despite her dads’ annoying concerns, Ninn and the tiger explore every dark tunnel and abandoned station, eager to uncover the clues and connections she has been searching for her whole life.

    “As soon as I saw the first album I immediately felt attracted by its graphic design style, which is both classic and fantastical,” explained Corinne Kouper, Executive Producer, TeamTO. “I fell in love with the independent and free-thinking spirit of this little urban girl on the platform of the Paris Metro, visibly protected by her large and warm white tiger. I also liked the idea of Ninn roaming freely through the underground tunnels on her skateboard as if it were her bedroom, and her unique and touching relationship with her two dads.”

    Mary Bredin, TeamTO Creative Development Executive, added, “Stories that are grounded in locations are really appealing to me and this one is set in the Paris Metro — how surprising and intriguing is that?! Our hero’s story is at once unbelievable and yet so relatable. Adapting graphic novels is a bit of a trend right now but I think it is because they play in a darker, more dramatic space which provides a depth that isn’t normally present in a lot of animated series.”

    Published by boutique Belgian publisher Kennes Éditions,NINN was written by Darlot and illustrated by Belgian artist Pilet. To date, four graphic novels have been distributed in France, Belgium and Canada, with over 100,000 copies sold in France; a fifth and sixth novel of the series are in production.

    NINN
    NINN
  • Netflix’s ‘The Liberator’ Trailer Lands

    Netflix’s ‘The Liberator’ Trailer Lands

    A+E Studios and Trioscope Studios’ distinctively animated World War II epic is ready to make its big push on Netflix November 11 (Veteran’s Day). Following last week’s teaser debut, the official trailer has landed for The Liberator — a 4 x 45′ wartime drama based on a true story from creator, writer, showrunner & executive producer Jeb Stuart (Vikings: Valhalla, The Fugitive, Die Hard).

    The spot is narrated by one of the soldiers reading a letter home — a captain forcing his discharge from hospital in order to return to his men and continue the fight. The spot takes us from wide open fields to fire-shelled trenches, from quiet interpersonal moments to the chaos of battle. The trailer also includes dialog that spotlights the diversity of the soldiers (in the vocabulary of the time):

    “Those men, they’re the descendents of the powerful Mexican army that defeated the French on Cinco de Mayo. They are sons of Texas Rangers who brought the rule of law. And they’re the grandsons of the greatest Indian warriors to roam the American plains. They’re my men.”

    Synopsis: On September 9th, 1943, over three thousand naval vessels and 150,000 troops began Operation Avalanche, the Allied invasion of Italy… In an attempt to achieve tactical surprise, the allies forgo naval and air bombardment. But the invasion surprised no one and was met by fierce German resistance. By the second day the Allies had committed all of their reinforcements and by the end of the fourth day the operation teetered on the brink of failure.

    The German Army, sensing an American defeat, rushed over 40,000 reinforcements to Salerno to drive the allies into the sea. Faced with potential annihilation the Allied high command considered the unthinkable. Evacuation. In the midst of this debate a commander of a National Guard regiment from Oklahoma made this announcement: “Now’s not the time to leave. Now’s the time for some hard fighting.” This is the story of those men. Men known as the Thunderbirds.

    The series is directed by accomplished animator and VFX artist Grzegorz Jonkajtys (Sin City, Pan’s Labyrinth, The Revenant), co-produced by Alex Kershaw. Executive producers are Bob Shaye, Michael Lynne (Lord of the Rings) and Sarah Victor for Unique Features; L.C. Crowley, Grzegorz Jonkajtys, Brandon Barr and Mark Apen for Trioscope; and Barry Jossen for A+E Studios.

    The Liberator
    The Liberator
    The Liberator
    The Liberator
    The Liberator
    The Liberator
    The Liberator
    The Liberator
  • WIA Announces 2021 Scholarship Program Partners

    WIA Announces 2021 Scholarship Program Partners

    Women in Animation is continuing to expand its ongoing WIA Scholarship Program with workshops and software packages for recipients of the 2021 cycle from industry partners Animation Mentor, Autodesk, Toon Boom and Unity.

    The WIA Scholarship Program is an annual award devoted to furthering the academic efforts of deserving animation college students who demonstrate artistic talent, a passion for animation, a financial need and a promising future in the industry. Applicants who have identified themselves as female or non-binary, and who are enrolled in schools all over the world to pursue various aspects of animation production, are encouraged to apply.

    “WIA is thrilled to have leading 3D software developer Autodesk and Unity, the world’s leading platform for creating and operating interactive, real-time 3D (RT3D) content, join returning partners Animation Mentor and Toon Boom for the 2021 Scholarship Program,” said Marge Dean, WIA President. “We’ve been extremely fortunate to have ongoing support from Animation Mentor, the premium mentoring program for our industry, as well as Toon Boom, the leader in storyboard and 2D animation software, which — in addition to providing access to their innovative software and training — has very generously supported WIA’s scholarship fund, further enabling the next generation of diverse talents. We are grateful to all of this year’s industry partners for their commitment to furthering educational opportunities and resources for scholarship recipients.”

    Animation Mentor (www.animationmentor.com) will offer one WIA Animation Scholarship winner a six-week workshop and will allow that awardee the choice of several courses. With their choice of 13 different classes, including Maya Workshop: Animation Basics, Cartoony Animation for 3D Animators and Animation Mentor’s brand new workshop 2D Animation: Walk Cycles & Character Movement, the student winner will have many options to best personalize this educational opportunity.

    “Animation Mentor is so excited to continue our partnership with Women in Animation!” commented Animation Mentor co-founder Bobby Beck. “WIA’s many great resources and worthy mission benefit not only our students but the animation industry as a whole.”

    Autodesk (www.autodesk.com) is supporting this year’s recipients with licenses of their 3D modeling and animation software. Winners will have the choice between one-year subscriptions of Autodesk Maya or Autodesk 3ds Max.

    “At Autodesk, we are excited to be partnering with WIA to support incredible women pursuing careers in animation,” said Jocelyn Moffatt, Industry Marketing Manager, Entertainment at Autodesk. “It’s inspiring to be part of a project like the WIA Scholarship Program which provides rising talent with the resources to take their careers to the next level, and paves the way for more diverse storytellers and leaders in our industry.”

    For yet another year, Toon Boom (www.toonboom.com) will be supporting the WIA Scholarship Program with both software and scholarship funds. One-year bundled licenses of Storyboard Pro and Harmony Premium will be awarded to each finalists as well as virtual training and contribution to the WIA scholarship fund to be split among the three winners.

    “Toon Boom Animation is focused on strengthening its partnership with WIA by working together on projects that encourage diversity and female leadership in animation arts and business,” stated Stephanie Quinn, Director Marketing, Toon Boom Animation. “By providing women animators the best software and training, we look to support their creative journeys from inspiration to big screen.”

    To further support the participants, Unity (unity.com) will be providing 15 Annual Unity Pro licenses and 15 Annual ArtEngine licenses to help female animators gain employable skills and practice of real-time 3D tools and technologies used in the animation industry.

    The deadline to submit applications for the WIA Animation Scholarship is December 1, 2020. Scholarship winners will be announced in February 2021.

    Visit womeninanimation.org/scholarship for more information.

  • Aniventure Details ‘HITPIG!’ with Cast and Concept Art Reveals

    Aniventure Details ‘HITPIG!’ with Cast and Concept Art Reveals

    Aniventure has revealed the voice cast for its new animated feature, HITPIG!, along with a first look at the Berkeley Breathed project’s concept art and details of the porky plot.

    Peter Dinklage, the Golden Globe and four-time Primetime Emmy winner of Game of Thrones, and Lilly Singh, host of NBC late-night series A Little Late with Lilly Singh, will lead the cast in the roles of Hitpig and Pickles. Rainn Wilson, best known for his role as Dwight Schrute on the NBC sitcom The Office, for which he earned three consecutive Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, will voice the villain.

    Other cast members include RuPaul, the producer and host of reality competition series RuPaul’s Drag Race, for which he has received eight Primetime Emmy Awards; Hannah Gadsby, the Australian comedian and writer who won an Emmy for her stand up sensation Nanette and was nominated for her most recent special Douglas; and Dany Boon, the French comedian, actor and director who scored a 2018 César award for his comedy action film Raid: Special Unit.

    Directed in her feature debut by animator and storyboard artist Cinzia Angelini (Minions, Despicable Me 3, Open Season) and Maurizio Parimbelli (animation director, Peter Rabbit TV series; co-director, The Stinky & Dirty Show) and produced by Adam Nagle (Riverdance: The Animated Adventure) and Dave Rosenbaum (The Secret Life of Pets), the film is currently in production at Cinesite, delivering early 2022.

    Set in a futuristic cyberpunk world, HITPIG! is a riotous journey that proves sometimes what we want isn’t what we need. Hitpig (Dinklage) is a grizzled porcine bounty hunter who accepts his next hit: Pickles (Singh), a naive, ebullient elephant who has escaped the clutches of an evil trillionaire. Though Hitpig initially sets out to capture the perky pachyderm, the unlikely pair find themselves on an unexpected adventure criss-crossing the globe that brings out the best in both of them.

    “Peter will bring equal parts a huge heart and fantastic humour to his character,” said Angelini.

    Parimbelli added, “There is no one funnier than Lilly, but she’ll also bring a warmth and loving side to Pickles.”

    Also unveiled today is some of Berkeley Breathed’s concept art for HITPIG! Breathed, who co-wrote the screenplay and is also serving as character designer for the film, is an American cartoonist, children’s book creator, director and screenwriter, best known for creating the classic Bloom County, a 1980s cartoon-comic strip featuring Opus the Penguin. At the height of its popularity, the comic strip was followed by more than 40 million readers in 1,200 newspapers. The characters Hitpig & Pickles are rooted in Berkeley’s New York Times bestselling picture book Pete & Pickles.

    “When Peter and Lilly agreed to voice our lead characters, it was one of those deliciously rare voilå moments for a writer and artist when the final perfect ingredients are added to one’s cooked-up soufflé of imagination,” said Breathed. “They’ll bring heartfelt, hilarious performances to our lead characters and deliver the message and theme I had intended when I conceived the story, the hope that unexpected connection can deliver in our disconnected lives. I’m in humbled awe of our entire crew and the endless reserves of ingenuity that they’re bringing to this movie.”

    HITPIG! is one of three previously announced feature films in the Aniventure slate. The London-based animation production studio has unveiled Riverdance: The Animated Adventure (produced by Aniventure and River Productions) based on the stage show phenomenon of the same name and Blazing Samurai (Aniventure and Blazing Productions), based on Mel Brooks’ classic Blazing Saddles and directed by Mark Koetsier (story artist, The Grinch) and overseen and produced by Rob Minkoff (director, The Lion King). Riverdance: The Animated Adventure, Blazing Samurai and HITPIG! will be delivered in 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively.

  • Mobile-First Streamer Quibi Shutting Down, Leaving Toons in the Lurch

    Mobile-First Streamer Quibi Shutting Down, Leaving Toons in the Lurch

    Jeffrey Katzenberg and Meg Whitman’s $2 billion short-form mobile content streaming experiment Quibi will be closing out after running for a little over six months. According to Deadline, the principals were set to have a call with investors Wednesday afternoon to explain the decision and the options they are exploring — which include selling off content or possibly the entire service — as well as a staff meeting.

    Launched in April with backing from major media companies and blue-chip investors, Quibi currently employs about 200 people. The shutdown is expected to take several months.

    Industry watchers point to a variety of factors in Quibi’s floundering, from the impact of COVID-19 to the growth in streaming competitors. The neonate company has also raised eyebrows with its executive turnover and patent infringement filings crossfire between Quibi and interactive video company Eko.

    Despite this, Quibi was on-trend as far as announcing a flurry of new adult animation projects as the pandemic continued to keep audiences at home and live-action production risky. Set to join celeb slice-of-life comedy The Andy Cohen Diaries and zodiac-inspired office sitcom Your Daily Horoscope, which launched in July, were a number of interesting pitches that could wind up at another platform. Such as:

    • Doomlands (Blue Ant Media’s Look Mom! Prod.), an “Ozploitation” spoof set in a mobile subterranean pub from Josh O’Keefe (Gary and His Demons). (Read more.)
    • Filthy Animals (Stoopid Buddy Stoodios), a 2D sci-fi comedy about a suburban middle schooler (Rashida Jones) who befriends a renegade cat, from Nikolai & Simon Haas and Johnny Smith. (Read more.)
    • Futha Mucka (Anonymous Content / Maximum Effort / Titmouse, Inc.), in which actual Ryan Reynolds becomes primary caregiver for his idol, actual Samuel L. Jackson; created by Jim & Brian Kehoe. (Read more.)
    • Gloop World (Stoopid Buddy Stoodios), an absurd claymation series from Justin Roiland (Rick and Morty) about the lives of two roommate blobs. (Read more.)
    • Micro Mayhem (Stoopid Buddy Stoodios / eOne), a series of over-the-top stop-motion shorts where the cars are the characters, created by Eric Towner (Robot Chicken). Read more.)
    • Trill League (Lionsgate TV / G-Unit Film & TV / 3 Arts), anadaptation of exec producer Anthony Piper’s black superhero graphic novel, with Curtis Jackson, Jameel Saleem (Disenchantment) and Jermaine Johnson also attached as EPs. (Read more.)

    [Source: Deadline]

  • Cosmos-Maya, Dear Will & Piranha Bar Rev Up ‘Incredible Monsta Trucks’

    Cosmos-Maya, Dear Will & Piranha Bar Rev Up ‘Incredible Monsta Trucks’

    Leading India- and Singapore-based animation studio Cosmos-Maya has partnered with Irish animation studios Dear Will and Piranha Bar to co-produce a new 3D animated series The Incredible Monsta Trucks. Piranha Bar is developing the 52 x 11’ series using the Unreal Engine technology by Epic Games, which is used in best-selling games such as Fortnite and Borderlands.

    “The Incredible Monsta Trucks, conceptualised in conjunction with Piranha Bar’s design abilities, will help us reach kids with a fun, responsible core message while allowing us to cement our place in the buoyant licensing and merchandising sector,” said Anish Mehta, CEO of Cosmos-Maya. “It is the next initiative in our current growth trajectory.”

    The Incredible Monsta Trucks is a fun, adventure show which will engage young audiences around the world with its energetic storylines revolving around a motley and loveable cast of anthropomorphic trucks. This toy-based content lends itself perfectly to potential licensing and merchandising opportunities as the brand grows.

    “Over the years I have been driven by the thrill of creating original content,” noted Alan Foley, founder of Dear Will studio and series creator, “and when I presented the concept to Cosmos-Maya and Piranha Bar it was clear that both could clearly see the show as part of their portfolio, bringing an energy, zeal and experience to take The Incredible Monsta Trucks to market and on the road to reaching an international audience.”

    The series is the latest international co-production for Cosmos-Maya, which is rapidly establishing itself as a key player in the global animation industry. Other recent international projects include Putra for the local Indonesian market; a partnership with WildBrain Spark for the third season of Cosmos-Maya’s original show Eena Meena Deeka; and the ongoing production of Dogtanian and The Three Muskehounds.

    “Piranha Bar’s technology focused approach to cutting-edge kids animation makes them an ideal partner for an entity such as Cosmos-Maya,” said Joris Eckelkamp, Business Development Consultant for Cosmos-Maya. “We have undertaken a slew of projects this year and getting this partnership the requisite financing is the next step in Cosmos-Maya’s development strategy.”

    Piranha Bar Executive Producer & Head of Development Nicky Gogan stated, “We are delighted to once again partner with Cosmos- Maya. Their reliability and quality of animation talent in the studio makes this a really exciting prospect for us. Considering the market we’re targeting and our mutual conviction to latest tech- driven animation, I’m confident this is perfect timing for The Incredible Monsta Trucks.”

  • They’re Ba-ack! Hulu Trailers All-New ‘Animaniacs’

    They’re Ba-ack! Hulu Trailers All-New ‘Animaniacs’

    Yakko, Wakko and Dot are ready to rise from the retro television graveyard (with Pinky and Brain in tow) for more “animany, totally insany” misadventures! New home Hulu has debuted the official trailer for Animaniacs, rebooting for fans of the ’90s toon classic and a new generation of impressionable minds with 13 episodes on Friday, November 20.

    Flex your brain cells with this off-the-walls trailer, and see how many call-backs, hidden jokes and current events jabs you can spot! (And watch out for our feature story on this energetic toon revival in the December issue of Animation Magazine, available soon.)

    Synopsis: The Warner brothers, Yakko and Wakko, and the Warner sister, Dot, have a great time wreaking havoc and mayhem in the lives of everyone they meet. After returning to their beloved home, the Warner Bros. water tower, the siblings waste no time in causing chaos and comic confusion as they run loose through the studio, turning the world into their personal playground. Joining Yakko, Wakko and Dot, fan-favorite characters Pinky and the Brain also return to continue their quest for world domination.

    Original series voice stars Rob Paulsen (“Yakko Warner” & “Pinky”), Tress MacNeille (“Dot Warner”), Jess Harnell (“Wakko Warner”) and Maurice LaMarche (“The Brain”) reprise their roles in the new series.

    Steven Spielberg also returns as executive producer, with Sam Register, President, Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios, and Amblin Television Co-Presidents Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank also serving as executive producers. Animaniacs is produced by Amblin Entertainment in association with Warner Bros. Animation. Wellesley Wild serves as showrunner and executive producer, and Gabe Swarr serves as co-executive producer.

  • Disney Unlocks First Trailer for ‘Raya and the Last Dragon’

    Disney Unlocks First Trailer for ‘Raya and the Last Dragon’

    The first teaser for Disney Animation’s big spring movie has finally arrived, and it’s come in with a blur of action, tempered by enchanting mystery and, of course, an introduction to the next big thing in animal sidekicks! The new Raya and the Last Dragon spot introduces us to young heroine Raya, who we see gearing up for a mission and working through an ancient booby-trapped tunnel with the help of Tuk Tuk (described by the studio as “part pill bug and part pug”) to unlock a mysterious chamber and face its masked guardian.

    As the footage rolls on, we see glimpses of Raya’s journey, the places and people audiences will watch her encounter. (You’ll also see the best possible eco-friendly transportation option.)

    “My whole life, I trained to become a Guardian of the Dragon Gem… But this world has changed, and its people are divided. Now, to restore peace, I must find the last dragon.

    “My name is Raya.”

    Synopsis: Long ago, in the fantasy world of Kumandra, humans and dragons lived together in harmony. But when an evil force threatened the land, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity. Now, 500 years later, that same evil has returned and it’s up to a lone warrior, Raya, to track down the legendary last dragon to restore the fractured land and its divided people. However, along her journey, she’ll learn that it’ll take more than a dragon to save the world — it’s going to take trust and teamwork as well.

    From directors Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada, co-directors Paul Briggs and John Ripa, producers Osnat Shurer and Peter Del Vecho, and featuring the voices of Kelly Marie Tran as Raya and Awkwafina as the last dragon Sisu, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Raya and the Last Dragon opens in U.S. theaters on March 12, 2021.

    Raya and the Last Dragon
    Raya and the Last Dragon
    Raya and the Last Dragon
    Raya and the Last Dragon
    Raya and the Last Dragon
    Raya and the Last Dragon
  • Manchester Animation Fest Sets UK Premiere of ‘Calamity’, Industry Excellence Nominees

    Manchester Animation Fest Sets UK Premiere of ‘Calamity’, Industry Excellence Nominees

    Manchester Animation Festival (MAF), the U.K.’s largest animation festival, has revealed the features and further events in their upcoming program, which includes the U.K. premiere of the hugely alluring hand-drawn biopic film Calamity, A Childhood of Martha Jane Cannary, followed by an exclusive Q&A with French animated filmmaker Rémi Chayé.

    The festival runs November 15-30 as a digital format and tickets are available here.

    Highlights in the newly announced schedule also include a Q&A with French artist and director Aurel (a.k.a. Aurélien Froment) on his award-winning directorial debut Josep, as well as Mock-Tales, comedy storytelling silliness with comedians Hal Branson and Matt Reed, where teams will be charged with writing and scribbling hilarious one-minute trailers for a fictitious feature in a fast paced and funny story jam.

    BBC Children’s are also presenting a “blam-tastic” box set of family favorites from CBeebies and CBBC, featuring Dennis and Gnasher Unleashed, Shaun the Sheep, Boy Girl Dog Cat Mouse Cheese, Scream Street, Teddles, Love Monster, Pablo, JoJo & Gran Gran and more.

    Headline events already announced include an exclusive work-in-progress look at the forthcoming stop-motion animation film The Inventor, starring Stephen Fry and Daisy Ridley, with a Q&A from writer and director Jim Capobianco, the Academy Award nominated writer of Pixar hit Ratatouille. The live Passion Pictures Director Roundtable Q&A will allow viewers to get a glimpse at how the talent in this iconic studio creates its characters and engaging stories.

    See the full schedule here.

    The MAF Industry Excellence Award nominations have also been announced and winners will be declared during the MAF 2020 Awards Ceremony on Thursday, November 26 at 20:00. MAF believes animation is for all and celebrates the people who work in animation behind the scenes, scriptwriting, storyboarding, designing and animating some of our favourite television programmes and commercial work.

    The nominees are:

    Storyboarding

    • Phillip Warner for Hey Duggee
    • Catherine Salkeld for Dennis & Gnasher Unleashed!
    • Estrela Lourenco for My Little Pony “Pony Life”
    • Mick Harrison for Daisy & Ollie
    • Giulia Caruso & Francesco Cipolla for Rescue Bots Academy “Power Up and Energize”

    Scriptwriting

    • Alex Collier for Dennis & Gnasher Unleashed! “Pranksy”
    • Evgenia Golubeva & Myles McLeod for Kit’n’Kate “The Tallest Tower”
    • Sophie Dutton for Hey Duggee “The Puzzle Badge”
    • Sam Morrison for Hey Duggee “The Tooth Brushing Badge”
    • Adam Redfern, Jon Foster and James Lamont for Paddington Christmas Special: The Lost Letter

    Character Design

    • Ross Phillips for Hey Duggee
    • Golden Wolf for KFC: Good Luck on the 25th
    • Evgenia Golubeva for Mia’s Magic Playground
    • Neev Brennan for Pins and Nettie
    • Jardine Sage for Dog Loves Books

    Character Animation

    • Federico Bernasconi for Dennis & Gnasher: Unleashed!
    • Golden Wolf for Overwatch League Grand Finals
    • Delwyn Jude Remedios for Save Our Species
    • Quentin Haberham for The Clangers
    • Arianna Gheller for Every Time I Run

  • Nelvana Partners with Duncan Studio for Original Animated Movie Slate

    Corus Entertainment has signed a development agreement with Duncan Studio, an L.A. based award-winning independent animation company, to produce original high-quality animated feature films for the global market.

    Under the terms of the agreement, Corus’ Nelvana, a world-leading international producer and distributor of children’s animated and live action content, will invest in the development of new content created by Duncan’s in-house production division Duncan Originals as well as from Nelvana’s rich library of award-winning children’s IP, and from select third party properties. The collaboration represents an opportunity for the two companies to capitalize on growing global demand for long-form animation and for Nelvana to move more broadly into high-quality animated feature films.

    The first title to be developed is Mother Nature, a character-driven, action-adventure feature film created by Duncan Studio founder Ken Duncan. The CG-animated film is a richly layered sci-fi fantasy set in a futuristic society and explores its relationship to the natural world.

    “Our passion for bringing great stories to life is shared equally with our long-standing goal of expanding into animated feature films,” said Doug Murphy, President and CEO, Corus Entertainment. “We are excited to embark upon this new agreement and to leverage the acclaimed creative talents of Duncan Studio together with Nelvana’s robust portfolio of timeless, world-renowned animated characters and stories. Fully maximizing this caliber of premium animation expertise and our well-known IP advances our own more content strategy and provides us yet another path to reach audiences in new ways.”

    “We are in a golden age for inventive, boundary pushing animated stories and visual concepts,” said Ken Duncan, Founder of Duncan Studio. “As Duncan Studio continues to imagine and develop new and exciting ideas and projects, our new relationship with Corus Entertainment provides the resources, scope and scale to make our creative vision a reality. As a Canadian myself, this deal is especially significant, having begun my career as an animator at Nelvana. We are thrilled to work together as we develop this slate of original films.”

    Pasadena-based Duncan Studio has established itself as an award-winning powerhouse of creativity, creating animation for some of the biggest entertainment brands on the planet under the knowledgeable, artistic leadership of 30-year animation veteran Ken Duncan. In 2019, Duncan Studio announced the launch of Duncan Originals, its new in-house development and production division.

    Since opening in 2007, Duncan Studio has worked with talented filmmakers including Rob Marshall (creating the 2D animation for his Mary Poppins Returns), Brad Bird, Tom Hanks and Katherina Bigelow, and with top studios like Illumination, Disney, Warner Bros. and Universal.

    Entertaining kids for nearly 50 years, Nelvana is a world-leading international producer and distributor of children’s content whose content airs on Corus Entertainment’s kids channels in Canada and in over 160 countries around the world. The Nelvana library has well over 4,400 episodes of programming and has received over 70 major international program awards, including Emmys and Canadian Screen Awards. nelvana.com

    Duncan Studio, Nelvana
    Duncan Studio, Nelvana
  • Titmouse Canada Becomes Country’s First TAG Union Toon Shop

    Titmouse Canada Becomes Country’s First TAG Union Toon Shop

    The animators of Titmouse Inc.’s Vancouver, BC studio have voted 98% to 2% to join The Animation Guild (IATSE Local 938), with TAG saying Titmouse Canada is the first animation studio in the country to unionize.

    “Today, workers at Titmouse Vancouver sent a clear message; there is strength in the union,” Matt Loeb, IATSE International President, said. “Animation workers in Los Angeles have benefited from representation by the IATSE for years and we look forward to representing animation workers in Canada.”

    Founded 20 years ago by Chris and Shannon Prynoski, Titmouse, Inc. produces animation for a range of projects and audiences, with recent series work including the second season of Tigtone (Adult Swim), Star Trek: Lower Decks (CBS All Access), The Midnight Gospel (Netflix) and Star Wars: Galaxy of Adventure (Disney XD / Star Wars Kids); the studio is also working on RPG adaptation Indivisible (Peacock) and Critical Role’s The Legend of Vox Machina (Amazon).

    The award-winning indie studio currently employs more than 700 in-house talents across its three studios in Los Angeles, New York and Vancouver. Titmouse Canada is headed by VP & Head of Production Jennier Ray, who joined the company from Cartoon Network in 2010.

    “There has been enthusiasm in Vancouver to form an animation union for years,” Local 938 spokesperson Vanessa Kelly noted. “This overwhelming mandate from Titmouse workers is part of a groundswell across our industry. This vote is the first step in acknowledging animation workers as vital members of our industry, deserving a voice in shaping and improving it. The courage of Titmouse workers made this first step possible.”

    titmouse.net | animationguild.org

    [Source: Deadline]

  • Clips: Beware Funimation’s Frightening Halloween Lineup!

    Clips: Beware Funimation’s Frightening Halloween Lineup!

    This Halloween season, tune-into Funimation to watch some of the most popular horror anime including Tokyo Ghoul, Higurashi: When They Cry – GOU, Hellsing Ultimate, Deadman Wonderland, Danganronpa: The Animation, Paranoia Agent and Junji Ito Collection. Funimation has a diabolical line-up of anime featuring ghosts, ghouls, demons and maniacal characters that will make you glad you’re safely inside your home.

    Tokyo Ghoul | Don’t miss this twisted horror anime that has become a hit with fans. Ken Kaneki is a loner. In a world where ghouls — human-like creatures who survive on human flesh — and people are at war, his biggest concern is which novel to pick up next. But when a date with the mysterious Rize turns deadly, a life-saving operation horrifyingly transforms him into a human-ghoul hybrid. Can he find his place in a society where it’s hunt or be hunted? [TV-MA] funimation.com/tokyoghoul

    Higurashi: When They Cry – GOU | One of the most anticipated new series this fall, a reimagining of one of the most famous cult-classic horror anime and Japanese horror video games with modernized animation for 2020! New kid Keiichi Maebara is settling into his new home of peaceful Hinamizawa village. Making quick friends with the girls from his school, he’s arrived in time for the big festival of the year. But something about this isolated town seems “off,” and his feelings of dread continue to grow. With a gnawing fear that he’s right, what dark secrets could this small community be hiding? [TV-MA] funimation.com/higurashi

    HELLSING ULTIMATE | The series, based on the popular manga, features Arucard, a true anti-hero character who taunts his enemies before destroying them. The rogue vampire Arucard is the Hellsing Organization’s deadliest instrument in its mission to protect the British Empire from satanic ghouls and Nazi freaks. With recently-turned policewoman Seras Victoria as his servant, Arucard haunts the shadows as a sinister force of good — and tonight the foggy streets of England shall flow with blood. [TV-MA] funimation.com/hellsingultimate

    DEADMAN WONDERLAND | “Gory, explicitly violent, frequently over-the-top, and viscerally cruel” is how Anime News Network describes this series. Ganta is convicted of slaughtering his classmates — a crime he didn’t commit. The authorities lock him up in a brutal, privately owned prison: Deadman Wonderland, where the incarcerated are forced to fight gladiatorial battles for tourists. [TV-MA] funimation.com/deadmanwonderland

    Danganronpa: The Animation | Hope’s Peak Academy is an elite private school that only accepts the very best. The hallowed halls are ruled by the sadistic administrator Monokuma, who declares that the only way to pass the class is by sending a fellow student home in a body bag. [TV-MA]

    Paranoia Agent | From Satoshi Kon — the legendary director of Perfect Blue, Millennium Actress and Paprika — comes a dark and mysterious, thought-provoking psychological thriller. Citizens across Musashino City are being attacked and terrorized. Two detectives are put on the case, but will they be able to solve the mystery before there’s another wave of victims? [TV-MA] funimation.com/paranoiaagent

    Junji Ito Collection | Enter the twisted world of Junji Ito’s works of horror! Witness the most hair-raising stories from Junji Ito Masterpiece Collection and Fragments of Horror like you’ve never seen them before. For any fans who seek the thrill of shocking imagery and ill-fated characters, this whole show is made for you. [TV-MA] funimation.com/junji-ito-collection

    Tokyo Ghoul
    Tokyo Ghoul
    Danganronpa: The Animation
    Danganronpa: The Animation
    Deadman Wonderland
    Deadman Wonderland
  • Thankful for the Toons: Disney TV Highlights for November

    Thankful for the Toons: Disney TV Highlights for November

    The year may be winding down, but nothing is slowing down the arrival of new episodes from animated kids and preschool series across Disney Channel, Disney Junior and Disney XD!

    Through November, uncover new mysteries in DuckTales — including a flashback to Donald and Della’s first adventure! Power up with Big Hero 6: The Series for the ultimate boy band battle. Or learn how to deck the halls for a good ol’ fashioned Transylvanian Christmas on Vampirina. Plus, Mira, Royal Detective is onto new cases around Jaipur, the Puppy Dog Pals save the big Fall Parade, and Mickey’s Mixed Up Adventures is back with more gentle life lessons, laughter and music.

    Keep your ears open for guest stars like Tress MacNeille, Jae Park & Nichkhun Horvejkul, Flula Borg, Giancarlo Esposito and more!

    Monday, Nov. 2

    7:00-7:30 P.M. EDT (Disney XD) DuckTales “The Split Sword of Swanstantine!” The kids pair off to find the missing pieces of a mystical sword hidden throughout a marketplace unless F.O.W.L. gets to them first. Flula Borg (Pitch Perfect 2) guest stars as Spice Baron. John Hodgman (The Tick) and Jason Mantzoukas (The League) return as John Rockerduck and Steelbeak, respectively.

    7:30-8:00 P.M. EDT (Disney XD) Big Hero 6 The Series “Big Hero Battle/Go Go the Wooweroo”

    • 4 2 Sing, a famous boy band, decides to be crime fighters and challenge Big Hero 6 to a superhero-off. Guest starring are K-pop stars Nichkhun Horvejkul (2PM) as twins Dae and Hyun-Ki, one-half of boy band 4 2 Sing, and Jae Park (Day6) as twins Kwang-Sun and Ye Joon, the other half of boy band 4 2 Sing.
    • Go Go reluctantly goes undercover as the co-host of Wendy Wower’s television show.
    The Big Hero 6 team previewed "Big Hero Battle" guest starring K-pop stars Nichkhun Horvejkul and Jae Park during NYCC Metaverse
    The Big Hero 6 team previewed “Big Hero Battle” guest starring K-pop stars Nichkhun Horvejkul and Jae Park during NYCC Metaverse

    Friday, Nov. 6

    8:30-9:00 A.M. EDT (Disney Channel) Mira, Royal Detective “The Great Diwali Mystery/The Case of the Curious Creature”

    • Mira must track down the missing oil used to light traditional lamps throughout the town in order to save the Diwali celebration.
    • Mira investigates sightings of a legendary creature who is known to be a mischievous shoe thief.

    9:00-9:30 a.m. EDT (Disney Channel) Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures “Duck, Duck…Geese!/Shhhhh…!”

    • Goofy’s bird call works a little too well when dozens of geese descend upon Hot Dog Hills.
    • Billy Beagle struggles with the difference between inside and outside voices.

    Monday, Nov. 9

    7:00-7:30 P.M. EDT (Disney XD) DuckTales “New Gods on the Block!” The kids try to prove themselves by auditioning to take Zeus’ place amongst the Greek gods, while Storkules interferes with Donald and Daisy’s date. Tress MacNeille (The Simpsons), Michael Chiklis (The Shield) and Chris Diamantopoulos (Silicon Valley) return as Daisy, Zeus and Storkules, respectively.

    7:30-8:00 P.M. EDT (Disney XD) Big Hero 6 The Series “The New Nega-Globby/De-Based”

    • Globby and Honey Lemon feel guilty about trapping Nega-Globby in the Glop-Vac.
    • When Basemax opens a spam email, she gets infected with a virus.

    Friday, Nov. 13

    8:30-9:00 a.m. EDT (Disney Channel) Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures “Wheelchair Pals/Super-Duper-Stitious Day!”

    • When Goofy has to use a wheelchair before his dance competition, his pal Chester teaches him a wheelchair dance.
    • Preparations for the Harvest Festival go sideways when Daisy discovers it’s Friday the 13th.

    9:00-9:30 a.m. EDT (Disney Channel) Puppy Dog Pals “Pups on Parade/Pop’s Promise”

    • When a balloon on Bob’s Playcare Parade float goes missing just before the annual Fall Parade starts, Bingo and Rolly go on a mission to find it.
    • While stuck in St. Louis, Bingo and Rolly make it their mission to get Bulworth home in time for the annual Friendship Feast.

    Monday, Nov. 16

    7:00-7:30 P.M. EDT (Disney XD) DuckTales “The First Adventure!” Scrooge is forced to babysit young Donald and Della as they go on their first adventure to find a powerful artifact, unaware that Bradford is taking on this mission personally.

    Friday, Nov. 20

    8:30-9:00 A.M. EDT (Disney Channel) Mira, Royal Detective “The Mikku Mystery/The Case of the Getaway Goats”

    • Mira and Chikku are on the case to find out what is scaring Mikku.
    • Mira investigates why the goats go missing in Jalpur. Danny Pudi (Disney’s DuckTales) recurs as Sanjeev Joshi.
    Danny Pudi will return as Sanjeev Joshi in Mira, Royal Detective
    Danny Pudi will return as Sanjeev Joshi in Mira, Royal Detective

    9:00-9:30 a.m. EDT (Disney Channel) Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures “Goofy and Pete’s Wild Ride/The Happiest Day of All!”

    • Goofy and Pete accidentally launch Billy’s airship, resulting in a runaway blimp.
    • The Happy Helpers pause their celebration for “What Makes You Happy Day” so they can help Clarabelle.

    Monday, Nov. 23

    7:00-7:30 P.M. EDT (Disney XD) DuckTales “The Fight for Castle McDuck!” A bitter feud between Scrooge and his sister, Matilda, spreads to the rest of the family as Phantom Blot attempts to steal a priceless artifact and destroy Castle McDuck once and for all. Michelle Gomez (Doctor Who) guest stars as Matilda McDuck and Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad) returns as Phantom Blot.

    Monday, Nov. 30

    11:00-11:30 A.M. EDT (Disney Junior) Vampirina “The Fright Before Christmas/Scared Snowman”

    • Vampirina plans a spooky scare in the hopes of attracting Spooky Claus so that her family can enjoy a festive Transylvanian Christmas.
    • When the Abominable Snowman arrives at the Scare B&B after a big snowstorm, Vee and her friends help him overcome some of his fears and discover that he’s much braver than he imagined. Chris Sullivan (This Is Us) guest stars as Steve, the Abominable Snowman.

    7:00-7:30 P.M. EDT (Disney XD) DuckTales “How Santa Stole Christmas!” Scrooge teams up with his archrival, Santa Claus, to save Christmas, while Webby discovers the true history behind their infamous feud. Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey) guest stars as Santa Claus.

    Vampirina
    Vampirina