The second season of adult animated sketch series Sugar and Toys is ready to fully twist your Saturday Morning toon memories, premiering Sunday, September 20 at 11 p.m. ET/PT on FUSE.
From the producers of The Boondocks and Black Dynamite, Carl Jones and Brian Ash, Sugar and Toys offers a wild new take on the colorful cartoons we all grew up with – but a whole lot less innocent.
Featuring multi-platinum rapper and actor Kyle (The After Party), who returns to the series as an animated version of himself,Sugar and Toys is where adult comedy, social commentary and music culture parody crash the cartoon party. The series speaks directly to the trends and issues most relevant to a young audience.
In the season two premiere episode, Kyle becomes possessed by an attention-hungry demon. On the TV: 100 percent that flutist goes on a positivity rampage, Obama sits out 2020 on Mars, and kids reenact historical figures based on information they found on the internet.
Read more about the making of S2 in Ramin Zahed’s interview with Jones and Ash here and check out the promo below.
AMC has greenlit an innovative new animated dramedy series from writer-director Steve Conrad (Patriot, Perpetual Grace, LTD) and Stoopid Buddy Stoodios (Robot Chicken, Crossing Swords), titled Mega City Smiths. The network ordered an initial season of six 30-minute episodes scheduled for 2021.
The story, which unfolds through stop-motion animation of baby dolls repurposed as a grown-up cast of characters, hinges on an investigation into the mysterious disappearance of fictional metropolis Mega City’s most famous magnate. Two intrepid detectives follow the case, rallying to fight against their city’s dangerous corruption, at a high cost to themselves and their families, all in pursuit of a gentler place to call home.
“Mega City Smiths is a series about our basic desire to be loved and cared for by our mothers, fathers, our few real friends and the setting we call home,” said Conrad. “We’re very pleased to have found partners at AMC whose ambition is the same as ours, which is to try and contribute to our era’s collection of remarkable TV.”
The series is created by Conrad, who will also serve as showrunner, with Jennifer Scher, Jeff Dieter and Tom Glynn as producers. Stoopid Buddy Stoodios’ Seth Green, John Harvatine IV, Matthew Senreich, Eric Towner and Chris Waters will serve as executive producers.
“Brilliant creator. Iconic characters. Human, dramatic, hilarious storytelling. Unique visuals unlike anything seen on television — these are the components of a great AMC series, and they are vitally present here in Steve’s dazzling work,” said Dan McDermott, president of programming for AMC Networks’ Entertainment Group and AMC Studios. “Mega City Smiths will stand out in this crowded environment and engage viewers of all ages. We can’t wait to launch it on AMC and AMC+ next year.”
AMC has continued to experiment with new formats through new series slated for 2021, including the animated drama Pantheon to the innovative dark comedy Kevin Can F Himself and two-year limited series 61st Street and The Walking Dead: World Beyond.
The prestigious Venice Film Festival wrapped up Saturday with an awards ceremony. While live-action films were the stars of the show — including increased Oscar buzz for Chloe Zhao’s Nomadland — animation carved out its own niche on the Lido with a stronger presence in this year’s Venice VR Expanded.
Award-winning spouses Michelle and Uri Kranot (Nothing Happens, Hollow Land) scored their first prize from the festival with the not-quite-monochrome sketched & daubed experience The Hangman at Home, while Kiira Benzing (Loveseat, Runnin’) won over the judges with Finding Pandora X — a modern mythological adventure that transports users to a CG Olympus pulsing with neon vaporwave vibes — after competing last year.
The final VR prize went to Chinese director Fan Fan’s live-action murder mystery Killing a Superstar.
The 2020 Venice VR Expanded program presented 44 VR selections representing 24 countries — including the world premiere of Baobab Studio’s latest project, Baba Yaga — entirely online.
The winners are…
Best VR: The Hangman at Home: An Immersive Single User Experience by Michelle & Uri Kranot (Denmark/France/Canada)
What does the hangman think about when he goes home at night from work? The Hangman at Home is an interactive animated experience exploring themes surrounding acknowledgement and the awkward intimacy of humanness. Told in five interwoven stories; each situation presents a person, or persons in a delicate moment: fragile, playful, terrified, contemplated, confused, curious. We are all very much alike in these moments — alerting us to question our own responsibility and responses. Based on the poem by the iconic Carl Sandburg from Smoke & Steel (1922).
Best VR Experience: Finding Pandora X by Kiira Benzing (U.S.)
With the passing of ages, the Gods of Mount Olympus have faded away until only two remain: Zeus and Hera. Now they are in danger of disappearing if they can’t recover the box of hope that Pandora removed. This modern take on an ancient myth shifts the perspective on a narrative that has long been misinterpreted.
Best VR Story: Killing a Superstarby Fan Fan (China)
Lisa, an actress, has recently been caught in a scandal and even received death threats from some crazy fans. Lisa’s agent Bin invited the well-known host Shan to her villa for a live interview. Before the live show started, various threatening signals appeared, causing Lisa to become more uneasy but Shan insisted on continuing the show, aiming to take the chance of news hype. Unexpectedly, someone died at the scene at the beginning of the show. However, nobody else but Lisa’s colleagues and the show staff stayed in the villa. Was it an accident or a murder? Now it’s up to you to find out the truth.
Cartoon Network commemorates Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 – Oct. 15) with the expansion of Drawn to, an ongoing content series that celebrates equality and individuality.
Narrated by Sean-Ryan Petersen, voice of Valentino in CN’s hit series Victor and Valentino, the fourth installment will feature a variety of powerful youth activists including Crista Ramos and Aria Luna; influencers and everyday kids as they highlight what they love about their diverse cultures across Hispanic and Latin communities.
Joined by their families in three short-form episodes, each participant will showcase their roots through arts, food and language. The vignettes will also serve as a platform for the kids to share their unique perspectives on themes of family and tradition; and speak to their special causes like social activism, community service and environmental protection.
Starting Tuesday, Sept. 15, the month-long campaign begins with the first episode “Family,” followed by “Action” and “Storytelling,” rolling out across all platforms including linear and social on Instagram (@cartoonnetworkofficial), Twitter (@cartoonnetwork) and YouTube (/cartoonnetwork).
Plus, fans can stream curated episodic playlists of DC Super Hero Girls, Teen Titans Go!, Victor and Valentino and more in Spanish on the CN App. Download the app via Amazon, Apple App Store and Google Play.
Film Forum has announced three repertory titles in its Virtual Cinema this September: Jan Oxenberg’s Thank You and Good Night (Wednesday, September 16), Jia Zhangke’s Golden Lion winner Still Life (Friday, September 25) and, of special interest to animation lovers and inventive filmmaking fans, Jan Svankmajer’s Faust on Friday, September 18.
Faust
Czech animator extraordinaire Jan Svankmajer reinterprets the Faustian legend using puppets, clay and all kinds of other three-dimensional animation in Faust (a Film Forum premiere in 1994), his acclaimed follow-up to the Lewis Carroll adaptation Alice (1988). Drawing on texts by Goethe, Marlow and Grabbe, as well as popular folk interpretations. Svankmajer’s dark vision begins on the streets of Prague, as an ordinary commuter seals his fate by accepting a handbill as he exits the subway. Huge marionettes, evil chickens, a flaming, riderless cart and a clay fetus grown in a test tube that retains its baby body while its head ages… all figure into Svankmajer’s pact with the devil.
Time Out (London) described the twisted feature-length tale as: “A film which galvanizes the mind and astonishes the eye. In a word, magic. The director grafts a wealth of themes, motifs, allusions and gags, his method an expertly executed, profoundly imaginative combination of live action, claymation, puppet theatre, stop-motion animation and special effects.”
Faust is written & directed by Jan Svankmajer and produced by Jaromír Kallista. Art direction by Svankmajer & Eva Svankmajerová. Cinematography by Svatopluk Malý. Edited by Marie Zemanová. Sound by Ivo Spalj. Presented In Czech with English subtitles. Released by KimStim.
Catch Faust in the Virtual Cinema on Sept. 18 at filmforum.org
Mickey Mouse and friends are heading to Disney+ in the all new-animated shorts series, The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse. From the team behind Disney Channel’s Emmy Award-winning Mickey Mouse cartoon shorts, the new Disney+ original series will debut on Mickey’s birthday – Wednesday, November 18 – with two new shorts rolling out every Friday beginning November 27. Ten shorts will premiere this year, with 10 more set for Summer 2021.
In The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse, it’s nothing but fun and excitement for Mickey and his best pals – Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy and Pluto – as they embark on their greatest adventures yet, navigating the curveballs of a wild and zany world where the magic of Disney makes the impossible possible. Each seven-minute short is filled with laugh-out-loud comedy, modern settings, timeless stories, new music and the unmistakable classic art style of the Mickey Mouse shorts. The series will include stories inspired by various lands at Disney parks and cameos by classic Disney heritage characters.
Marked by a contemporary art style that harkens back to Mickey’s 1928 beginnings, the Mickey Mouse cartoon shorts premiered on Disney Channel in 2013 and ran for five seasons (96 episodes) and garnered seven Primetime Emmy Awards, two Daytime Emmy Awards and 21 Annie Awards. The shorts inspired a global line of consumer products, toys and clothing as well as the new attraction, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, the first ride-through attraction in Disney history starring Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, now open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. All five seasons of the shorts are currently available to stream on Disney+.
The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse is produced by Disney Television Animation with Emmy Award-winning artist and director Paul Rudish serving as executive producer and supervising director. Christopher Willis, the Emmy Award-winning composer of the Mickey Mouse shorts, also provides the music for this series.
Netflix has announced a greenlight to an animated series based on Norman Lear’s iconic ’70s series, Good Times. Created by Carl Jones (The Boondocks), the project is Lear’s first animated series, and follows the Evans family as they navigate today’s world and contemporary social issues.
Just as the original did years ago, Good Times strives to remind us that with the love of our family, we can keep our heads above water.
“We can’t think of anything better, at this time in our culture, than a reimagining of Good Times animated,” commented Lear and producing partner Brent Miller. “In a year filled with darkness, this is one bright light we won’t soon forget. Thank you, Sony. Thank you, Netflix. Bless us all.”
Brent Miller and Norman Lear
Jones will serve as creator, showrunner, and executive producer. Executive producers are Lear and Miller for Act III Productions, Stephen Curry, Erick Peyton and Jeron Smith for Unanimous, Seth MacFarlane and Erica Huggins for Fuzzy Door.
“It’s a dream come true to be working with the legendary talents of Norman Lear, Seth MacFarlane and Stephen Curry,” said Jones. “We are excited to carry on the original legacy of Good Times – but now animated and a little edgier. Let’s just say the struggle has just gotten strugglier.”
Jones is best known for his work as co-executive producer of The Boondocks (Adult Swim) — the first Cartoon Network program to win a Peabody Award and be nominated for a NAACP Image Award — and executive producer and head writer of Black Dynamite (Adult Swim). He also co-created Freaknik the Musical (Adult Swim) and produced and wrote two seasons of Legends of Chamberlain Heights (Comedy Central). Jones wrote for The Jellies! (Adult Swim) starring Tyler The Creator, and recently wrapped The Last OG season 3 (TBS) as showrunner.
Carl Jones
“It’s a thrill to be partnering with Norman Lear and to help bring new life to his groundbreaking show Good Times, through the talent and personal stories of Carl Jones and the team at Unanimous,” commented MacFarlane and Huggins. “Animation is the ideal medium with which to reimagine the original show, and through the lens of Carl’s sharp, biting humor, audiences will grow to love these classic characters all over again.”
Seth MacFarlane and Erica Huggins
“We are so thrilled to be partnering with Netflix on Carl Jones’ hilarious and extremely personal reimagining of the beloved series Good Times. And with the blue chip producing team of Norman Lear, Brent Miller, Seth MacFarlane and Stephen Curry, we know this animated adaptation will live up to the legendary status of the classic original,” said Sony Pictures Television EVP of Comedy Development, Glenn Adilman.
Mike Moon, Head of Adult Animation at Netflix, added, “Good Times is an iconic series that has transcended generations. We are delighted to partner with this incredible and inspiring creative team in Norman Lear, Carl Jones, Stephen Curry and Seth MacFarlane to bring this timely reimagining to life.”
3D Wire Fest announced the official selection for its 12th edition, comprising 43 short films in competition. A total of 24 countries from the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania will be represented in its two competitions: the Spanish one with 11 works and the International one with 32 titles. Productions recognized by prestige film events such as the Oscars or Locarno, Annecy or Malaga festivals will vie for jury and audience awards.
3D Wire Fest 2020 will take place in Segovia, Spain between September 28 and October 4 alongside this year’s hybrid WEIRD Market. As a novelty, La Cárcel competition sessions will be replayed on Friday, October 2 and on Saturday, October 3 in an open-air drive-in movie theater.
Whence Comes the Rain
The National competition includes nine Spanish productions and another two co-productions (with France and Brazil). Among the chosen directors are familiar names such as César Díaz Meléndez, who returns with Bellzebub after being selected last year with his Goya-nominated short Muedra; an animator who has worked on major productions such as Tim Burton’s Frankenweenie, Charlie Kaufman’s Anomalisa and Wes Anderson’s Isle of Dogs. Juan Carlos Mostaza also returns to the festival with Reflection, after his participation in 2016 with Down to the Wire.
One of the big names in the contest is renowned Canarian filmmaker Elio Quiroga, who will compete with Whence Comes the Rain. More than a hundred international recognitions (including Goya Award nominations and the Oscar pre-selection for two of his short films) endorse the career of this multifaceted artist who has been praised by esteemed filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino.
Urban Sphinx
Films made by women gain some ground this year, with five female filmmakers represented in this edition. Camila Kater (Brazil) will be one of them, bringing one of the most awarded animation works of the year: Flesh (Carne), recognized by multiple festivals inside and outside of Spain, including Locarno, Annecy, Málaga and Huesca. 2016 Goya nominee María Lorenzo will be present with Urban Sphinx; while Begoña Arostegui will present her second work, Me. Carmen Córdoba competes with her debut film, Roberto, and Carla Pereira completes the quintet with Metamorphosis, a work she directed with Juanfran Jacinto which won the Silver Biznaga at the last Malaga Festival.
Mad in Xpain
Other notable participants are Abel Carbajal and David Orellana. Carbajal has been selected with The Great Corelli, his graduate film from ESCAC which caught the attention of his new employers: Oscar-nominated American studio LAIKA (Coraline, Kubo and the Two Strings). Orellana will put up his second work, The Terrible Girls, a fantastic story that comes after his debut film: Secret Seekers.
The Spanish competition list is completed by Mad in Xpain by Coke Riobóo, a work where the animator returns to the style and technique of his previous work, Made in Spain -2017-, which was nominated for the Goya Award. He won the Goya in 2007 for El viaje de Said.
Why Slug Have No Legs
The International competition will show films from filmmakers in South Korea, Australia, Finland, India or Portugal, among others. A total of 32 works offer a snapshot of the current animation landscape, immersing the viewer in all kinds of narrative techniques and structures. The selection includes multi-award winning productions such as Oscar nominee Daughter by Daria Kashcheeva (Czech Republic), Why Slugs Have No Legs by Aline Höchli (Switzerland) or Apfelmus by Alexander Gratzer (Austria).
Dream Cream
This year’s list of international directors mixes established figures and emerging names. Within the first group are Riho Unt (Estonia), who has been in the sector for more than four decades and will compete with The Wings; the Patrick Smith (U.S.) with Beyond Noh; and Niki Lindroth von Bahr (Sween) with Something to Remember, which has already screened in Berlin, Toronto and SXSW. Among the rising talents is Noam Sussman (Canada), who has worked for Disney TV and Google, with his second short film Dream Cream; and Gísli Darri Halldórsson (Iceland) with his Annecy-selected directorial debut, Yes-People. Halldórsson was part of the team behind Oscar-nominated short Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty.
The competitive section of 3D Wire will be juried by producer Edwina Liard (France), founder of IKKI Films; Melissa Vega (France/Colombia), partner of Dandelooo; Paula Taborda dos Guaranys (Brazil), Director of Contents for Planeta Junior; and Jorge Sanz (Spain), Director of the Aguilar de Campoo International Short Film Festival.
Marc Vandeweyer is retiring at the age of 65 as General Director of the European Association of Animation Film – CARTOON, having created the important European co-production events that are Cartoon Forum (animated series) and Cartoon Movie (animated feature films). At the head of CARTOON since its founding 32 years and with the support of the MEDIA Program of the European Union, he has been at the start of the development and growth of European animation thanks to his commitment, his enthusiasm and his passion for this creative sector.
Vandeweyer will be replaced as General Director by Annick Maes, who has served as the Director of Cartoon Forum and Cartoon Movie for 20 years, and with whom he worked in perfect harmony.
“Even if Annick becomes the head of CARTOON at a very complicated time in the world today, I have no doubt that she has all the capacities to carry out CARTOON’s activities, to make them evolve in the right direction and to extend the spirit of conviviality which has always been CARTOON’s DNA, she has acquired the confidence of professionals and, above all, she is a great organiser!” Vandeweyer commented.
Maes started her career at the Ghent International Film Festival, worked for some time in film production in Antwerp, and finally landed at CARTOON in 1999, where she was quickly appointed manager to organize the co-production forums. She has therefore acquired a great deal of experience in organising events, is fluent in four languages and is endowed with great pugnacity — which is very useful in cultural management.
With 20 years of experience at CARTOON, Maes knows her role and the challenges that lie ahead. President Christian Davin and the entire Cartoon Board of Directors considered that she has all the skills to take up this new challenge in her career entirely devoted to the animated film industry she is so passionate about.
Young Justice fans who can’t wait for season four were more than just “whelmed” at DC FanDome: Explore the Multiverse on Saturday, September 12, by not only the show’s panel with the cast and producers, but also a special table read of a brand-new Young Justice episode performed by the series voice cast — and the reveal of the title to the new season.
Executive producers Greg Weisman and Brandon Vietti exclusively confirmed the official title for the highly anticipated fourth season as Young Justice: Phantoms.
Prior to this announcement, select members of the voice cast — including Jason Spisak (Kid Flash / Forager), Khary Payton (Aqualad), Stephanie Lemelin (Tigress), Nolan North (Superman / Superboy), Denise Boutte (Rocket), Danica McKellar (Miss Martian) and Crispin Freeman (Red Arrow / Arsenal) — teamed up for a virtual table read of a special original episode, titled Young Justice: FanDome Season 3.9, Episode 1 “The Prize.” Written by Weisman, the script provided an early glimpse into the new season by setting up events that eventually play out further in Young Justice: Phantoms.
Based on characters from DC, Young Justice: Phantoms is executive produced by Weisman and Vietti along with Sam Register (Teen Titans GO!). Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, the first three seasons of Young Justice are available on DC UNIVERSE (www.dcuniverse.com).
Apple/Cartoon Saloon and Melusine Productions’ much-anticipated new feature Wolfwalkers made its big-screen debut at the Toronto International Film Festival this past Saturday. The third animated feature from two-time Academy Award-nominee Tomm Moore (The Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea) and Ross Stewart, tells the magical story of a young apprentice hunter who journeys to Ireland with her father to wipe out the last wolf pack. While exploring the forbidden lands outside the city walls, Robyn befriends a free-spirited member of a mysterious tribe rumored to have the ability to transform into wolves by night.
The Apple Original film is directed by Moore and Stewart and written by Will Collins (Song of the Sea). Paul Young, Nora Twomey, Moore and Stéphan Roelants serve as producers. Moore previously directed the Oscar-nominated animated features The Secret of Kells and Song of the Sea, and Cartoon Saloon’s credits include the Oscar-nominated The Breadwinner — the latter two films also made their world premieres at the TIFF. Wolfwalkers will stream around the world on Apple TV+ following its theatrical run. GKIDS will serve as the theatrical distribution partner in North America.
Just like the other three previous Cartoon Saloon movies to date, the movie was met with hugely enthusiastic raves by critics. Here is a sampling of the early reviews:
“Of the various toon heroes Moore has imagined, Mebh feels the most vivacious. From her mischievous expressions, which reveal sharp canine teeth when she smiles, to an unruly mane littered with twigs and leaves, Mebh represents so many of the characteristics Pixar was going for with Princess Merida in ‘Brave’ embodied in a far more appealing design. The relatively lo-fi Wolfwalkers isn’t necessarily better than that film, but its female empowerment feels less forced. In the decade since Kells it’s not just the technological advances that make Moore’s latest so impressive, but the rapidly changing cultural conversations as well. He brings everything together by borrowing from timeless visual influences, leaving audiences with another stunning artwork for the ages.”
– Peter Debrudge, Variety
“The final film in Moore and Stewart’s ‘ Irish folklore trilogy’ is a rumbustious, fast-paced and highly commercial affair full of derring do, revelations, narrow escapes and dark life or death confrontations… A film that never dawdles when it can race, Wolfwalkers feels very cinematic. The directors make use of split screen, montages and sharp editing to sustain a lively pace. It almost goes without saying that it looks gorgeous, rich in depth of color and detail.
This lovely, satisfying saga, Wolfwalkers has the feel of an instant classic and even the seemingly obligatory inclusion of two sweeping, spirited songs does nothing to spoil the enjoyment.”
– Allan Hunter, Screen Daily
“There’s wit and adventure, and a pair of delightful young friends whose determination saves the day, but there’s also stunning art and cogent observations about colonization, stewarding the environment, ruling through fear and misinformation, the perils of over-protective parenting, and England’s centuries-long effort to control the Irish, both materially and spiritually… This is an eco-fable to show to young viewers who might not yet be ready for Princess Mononoke, but their parents should stick around as well. The many lessons that Wolfwalkers has to share, whether they’re about the relationships between children and parents or between people and nature, are ones you can never be too old to learn.”
– Alonso Duralde, The Wrap
Here is the latest trailer for the movie:
Wolfwalkers will stream around the world on Apple TV+ following its theatrical run. GKIDS will serve as the theatrical distribution partner in North America.
An upcoming horror comic book described as “Silence of the Lambs meets Lady and the Tramp” has been picked up for development by family flick powerhouse Paramount Animation.
Titled Stray Dogs and due out from Image Comics next year, the story is being adapted by screenwriter Mark Perez (Game Night) and produced by scary movie scribe Gary Dauberman (Annabelle films, IT) under his Coin Operated banner.
“For me, the project combines a lot of my passions: animation, horror and, well, dogs,” Dauberman told The Hollywood Reporter. The scaremonger is also onboard an upcoming adaptation of Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot and a remake of Korean zombie thriller Train to Busan.
Stray Dogs is an original creation from comics writer Tony Fleecs (In My Lifetime, Jeff Steinberg: Champion of Earth) and illustrator Trish Forstner, who met while working on IDW’s My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic comics series.
Paramount Animation’s upcoming feature slate includes monster wrestling original Rumble (Jan. 29; with Reel FX) and Luck, the debut original feature from Skydance Animation (2022). The studio is also working on big screen outings for major kids’ brands PAW Patrol (Aug. 2021), My Little Pony (Sept. 2021) and Clifford the Big Red Dog (Nov. 2021). A sequel to hybrid hit Sonic the Hedgehog is due in 2022, and the studio recently set the voice leadThe Tiger’s Apprentice (2023).
Don Bluth — the animation maestro behind beloved 2D features like The Secret of NIMH, An American Tail, The Land Before Time, All Dogs Go to Heaven, Anastasia and hand-drawn video game sensation Dragon’s Lair — has formed a new traditional toon venture with animator and hand-drawn animation proponent Lavalle Lee (TraditionalAnimation.com), Don Bluth Studios.
The studio’s first project has been announced as Bluth Fables, which will see Bluth writing, narrating and drawing out short nursery rhymes in a storybook style. This concept is being created purely for the fans while the new company develops and pitches larger productions, and will be available for free. Bluth Fables is a production of Don Bluth Studios in association with Lee’s Traditional Animation.
A statement from the studio’s official Facebook page promises a new kind of animation venture which is open and interactive with fans, driven by a love for 2D artistry and the dream of of another hand-drawn animation “renaissance”:
“Don Bluth is teaming up with Lavalle Lee from TraditionalAnimation.com to create brand new content from the newly formed Don Bluth Studios, LLC. This new company is going to be establishing NEW characters, NEW ideas and NEW cartoons. We believe the public is craving another renaissance of hand drawn animation. Our goal is to make that dream become a reality.”
“Our company will be VERY transparent, showcasing and updating the public with concept art, pencil tests, model sheets, animatics, and much much more. We are excited to show everyone what we have been working on. Please join us in our new adventure!”
Clip Studio Paint
One aspect of this transparency is a series of progress videos that studio Vice President Lee has been live-streaming via his YouTube page every week. Interested animation aficionados can subscribe to catch the next installment. Lee has been a student of Bluth’s since 2009, and was his partner in launching the crowdfunding campaign for a fully-animated feature adaptation of in 2016.
The hand-drawn knight’s quest franchise has also inspired a live-action adaptation currently in the works at Netflix.
With the online OIAF 2020 less than two weeks away, the festival team is busy putting the finishing touches in place for a full lineup of on-demand and live streaming events —— including screenings, job fair, workshops and networking in the OIAF Virtual Experience.
On Friday, a great first raft of Industry Talks were announced, featuring talented artists and filmmakers who have worked on some of the biggest hits and most anticipated upcoming projects.
“Ottawa’s been a pretty wild ride this year. We had to reimagine the whole tradition of the festival experience and learn how to do it all pretty quickly. Luckily, our medium is web friendly and with the support and solidarity of a lot of our partners and other media arts organizations, we’re making something fun happen,” Azarin Sohrabkhani, OIAF’s director of industry programming, told Animation Magazine. “We knew we had to go on for our community and all the folks who’ve dedicated so much energy and time into the event, and I think we found some engaging and truly ‘Ottawa’ ways to do it. It’s kind of been a blast!”
Azarin Sohrabkhani
OIAF’s industry programs for TAC (The Animation Conference) feature a combination of creator talks, case studies, live pitching and reflections on the current state of affairs. Studios will chat all things COVID and where it’s all going. Industry pros will share insights into having longevity in the industry. A case study with key players discusses a series that is setting high standards for representation in kids TV. Finally, OIAF’s signature live pitching contest will go virtual this year with all the excitement and energy of the live event in the comfort of your home.
“One of the best things to come out of this is that we have access to filmmakers and other industry folks who sometimes can’t travel to Ottawa,” Sohrabkhani noted. “The lineup of speakers really reflects this reach, with a wide variety of unique content for emerging talent and students, to critical industry conversations and artist talks.”
The Casagrandes
Nickelodeon’s Art+Biz is back with a four-part series including a creator talk with Niki López (Santiago of the Seas), an Ask Me Anything with Nickelodeon Animation Studio VP of Development, Original Series, Kari Kim, plus masterclasses “Coffee with The Casagrandes” and “Stand Up & Stand Out: Strategies for Bringing Your Best Self” with artists Marisa Torres (Middlemost Post) and Maaike Scherff (The Casagrandes).
Presented by ASIFA-Hollywood, Academy Award winner Peter Ramsey, co-director of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, will be discussing his personal journey through a career in animation and his approach to storytelling, as well as his thoughts on diversity in the animation industry.
Animaniacs
Animaniacs executive producer Wellesley Wild, co-executive producer Gabe Swarr, supervising character designer Genevieve Tsai and art director Roman Laney are going to take audiences on a deep dive into the development and production of the series. The Warner Brothers and sister Dot are coming back with all-new episodes on Hulu, premiering on Friday, November 20. Animaniacs is produced by Amblin Television in association with Warner Bros. Animation. (This panel is moderated by Animation Magazine’s Ramin Zahed.)
Presenting a discussion about the hit Netflix comedy Big Mouth are executive producers Mark Levin, Jennifer Flackett, Andrew Goldberg, Mark Rivers, Victor Quinaz and Anthony Loi. These producers will be joined by the OIAF’s own Chris Robinson for a comfortably uncomfortable talk about the puberty-driven show’s critically acclaimed third season.
Molly of Denali
Producers, writers, advisors, director and talent from PBS KIDS’ Peabody Award-winning series Molly of Denaliwill conduct a case study exploring how the series carefully crafts its representation of Indigenous characters and incorporates Alaska Native and First Nations voices at every phase of production.
The Animation Guild will present Animation Through the Ages — a guide to longevity in the industry and how to thrive at every stage of your animation career. Panelists will explore the challenges each age group faces — from 20-somethings to 60-somethings (and beyond!) — and the secrets to success at any age. TAG President Jeanette Moreno-King moderates.
“We’ve aimed to create that feeling of ‘attending’ by developing a lot of live and interactive programs for all of our different audiences as well, with much of the familiar streams and offerings. Witnessing a paradigm shift in film festival traditions that date back to the early part of the last century is really special. I’m stoked to be a part of it,” Sohrabkhani summed up.
Organizers also announced the Fast Track option for TAC passholders. Presented by Tonic DNA, Fast Track gives creatives with pitches for short film, feature or series one shot to meet with each of their target production companies for a 12-minute “speed pitching” meeting. The Fast Track lineup consists of more than 50 producers, platforms and distributors from around the world. Registration opens September 14.
Fans of Supercell’s beloved brawling characters in the hit Clash of Clans and Clash Royale games can experience a new side of their world in Lost & Crowned — the franchise’s first official animated short. The action-packed caper premieres on YouTube Friday night / Saturday morning.
In Lost and Crowned, when a serious, hardworking Skeleton Guard named Peter and his relentlessly curious and mischievous younger brother Larry are tasked with guarding the Red King’s crown, delightful chaos ensues.
Developed in partnership with and directed by bicoastal U.S. studio Psyop (www.psyop.com), Lost & Crowned invites players deeper into the Clash world to see what its lovably dysfunctional cast of characters get up to when they’re off the battlefield. The story takes viewers from the villages of Clash of Clans to the kingdoms of Clash Royale, allowing fans to clearly see them as part of the same world for the first time.
To celebrate the big debut, the shorts’ producers have released several lush full-color renderings of this animated Clash adventure, as well as black-and-white beatboards which give a sneak peek at some of Lost & Crowned‘s chaotic action and the endearing personalities of the skeleton bros.
Lost & CrownedLost & CrownedLost & CrownedLost & Crowned
In the below beatboard sequence, li’l brother Larry has snagged the Red King’s crown and scored a suit of magic armor, and is on the hunt for more treasure. When Peter comes to check on him, our boney heros are surprised by an unwelcome third wheel and have to make an explosive escape!
Lost & Crowned
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The Clash games have been downloaded over 3 billion times, and their large and dedicated community has enjoyed seeing Clash characters brought to life in animation. Supercell’s longtime partner Psyop was the first to take Clash’s quirky misfits from pixels on phone screens to delightfully rendered 3D characters, ultimately creating dozens of animations over the last eight years.
With Lost & Crowned, Supercell and Psyop are finally delivering what fans have clamored for: a longer, richer story set in the core Clash world.
Lost & Crowned goes live on Friday, Sept. 11 at 8:45 p.m. PT / 11:45 p.m. ET.
Adult animated comedy American Dad! will debut its 300th episode on TBS on Monday, September 14 at 10 p.m. ET/PT — becoming the 25 scripted primetime series in TV history to reach the milestone. The show is now in its 17th season.
Reflecting on the show’s success, co-creator Matt Weitzman wrote in a commemorative brochure prepared for the crew:
“Seth [MacFarlane]’s initial desire to develop a television show to express his frustration with the state of our government, and the world at large, is no less valid today than it was 17 years ago. Our world is super-crazy, and we continue to be its funhouse mirror. In those early years, we had the gift of living in the shadow of Family Guy, where we could figure out what kind of show we wanted to be. The term ‘darkly optimistic’ was floated around back then. That has always seemed right to me.
“And while the focus of American Dad! has veered away from presidential politics and onto how a talking goldfish finds a hot girlfriend, the underlying power of family and the love the Smiths have for each other, despite their differences — or because of them — have been the backbone that has allowed them to thrive and grow. All of them are flawed and they all yearn to be better than they are. What’s not to love?”
L-R: American Dad! creators Mike Barker, Matt Weitzman and Seth MacFarlane at SDCC 2011 [Photo: Gage Skidmore]
Leading up to the big 3-0-0, viewers can get reacquainted with the best aliases inhabited by the Smith family’s resident alien in The Many Faces of Roger Marathon. The five episodes which received the most fan votes will air from 7:30 p.m. ET/PT. Langley Falls lovers can also test their American Dad! knowledge with th American Dad! 300 Episodes: Trivia Head to Head game hosted at www.tbs.com/americandadtrivia# and win shareable character collector cards.
Monday’s linear AD! schedule is:
7:30 p.m. ET/PT – “Joint Custody” | Stan tries to get an unsuspecting Jeff Fischer out of his life for good by taking him on a road trip to Florida, where there is a warrant out for Jeff’s arrest.
8:00 p.m. ET/PT – “Jenny Fromdabloc” | After Snot professes his love for Hayley and gets shot down, Steve and Roger devise a plan to cheer him up. Roger dresses up as Steve’s cousin from New Jersey, Jenny Fromdabloc, and Snot falls hard for her.
8:30 p.m. ET/PT – “Wife Insurance” | Stan reveals to Francine that, in the case she should die, he has a backup wife. Enraged with Stan, Francine takes Jim, one of Stan’s CIA buddies, as her backup husband.
9:00 p.m. ET/PT – “Shallow Vows” | Upset that Francine has let herself go, Stan takes drastic measures when she asks him to renew their wedding vows.
9:30 p.m. ET/PT – “Ricky Spanish” | Roger makes amends for the trouble he caused after he adopted a sociopathic persona; Stan and Fran get an unexpected visit from a Nigerian man whom they aided through a relief organization.
10:00pm ET/PT – “300” | American Dad! becomes the 25th scripted primetime show in the History of Television to reach 300 episodes, and Roger’s past comes back to haunt him.
“Jenny Fromdabloc” (2011
American Dad! centers on super-patriotic CIA agent Stan Smith (voiced by series co-creator Seth MacFarlane) and the misadventures of his unconventional family in Langley Falls, Virginia. Stan applies the same drastic measures used in his job at the CIA to his home life: Stan’s blissfully unaware wife, Francine (Wendy Schaal), has an unfaltering loyalty that makes her blind to his unabashed arrogance. His left-wing activist daughter, Hayler (Rachael MacFarlane), doesn’t let him off so easily — and knows just how to push her father’s buttons. Son Steve (Scott Grimes) is a geeky-yet-confident kid who spends his time playing video games and obsessing about the opposite sex. The Smith clan is rounded out by two unconventional members: Roger (Seth MacFarlane), a sassy, sarcastic and routinely inappropriate space alien; and Klaus (Dee Bradley Baker), an attention-starved goldfish with the brain of a German Olympic star.
“After 15 years of playing Stan, I’m happy to say he’s still pretty much the same lovable jerk that he’s always been — arrogant, self-righteous, impatient and misguided, while still loyal, adventurous and determined. He may have become a bit more insane over time, but who can really blame him, given all that he’s been through? … The fact that people still come up to me and tell me how much they adore Stan makes me proud of what the show has accomplished, while at the same time terrifies me for the future of humanity.”
— Seth MacFarlane
Created by Seth MacFarlane and Family Guy writer-producers Mike Barker and Matt Weitzman, American Dad! premiered February 6, 3005 on Fox, moving to TBS in 2014 for its 12th season. The series is produced by Fuzzy Door Productions and 20th television. American Dad! has been nominated for numerous awards, including Primetime Emmy Awards, Annie AWards, Teen Choice Awards and the GLAAD Media Award. Known for its original and homage musical numbers, it was named one of the Top Television Series by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers in 2013.
***This article originally appeared in the Sept./Oct. ’20 issue of Animation Magazine (No. 303)***
This month at the online Cartoon Forum event, Cyber Group Studios will be presenting its new take on the popular ’90s franchise Monster in My Pocket. Studio co-founder and CEO Pierre Sissmann gave us the early buzz on this great-looking new show:
The new 52 x 11′ series is a reboot of the franchise first introduced as a toy by Matchbox in 1990 and targets kids 6-10.
Co-produced by MEG (Morrison Entertainment Group), this contemporary CG-animated take on the show centers on a team of 12-year olds (Dash, Zandra and Cole), whose lives are turned upside down when they find themselves in charge of wrangling the most ferocious and mischievous monsters imaginable. The good news is that the monsters are so small they can fit inside their pockets!
The kids have to fight alongside these pocket monsters to help save the world from an ancient evil force. However, they also have to confront something scarier than all the supernatural creatures — middle school!
Pierre Sissmann tells us, “The show has excellent entertainment value definitely for a boys/girls audience. It’s an action-comedy show based on a very famous property with not only great storytelling but also state-of-the art CGI animation and special effects. The series has a huge global potential because you can create endless adventures in creating endless armies of good and bad monsters.”
How is it different from the previous animated versions? The concept has been revisited to create a pure action-comedy show and set in today’s high-tech environment.
In the new series, the kids will deal with a hyperactive werewolf with questionable hygiene, break curfew with a rebellious vampire and play videogames with the Algonquin Wendigo.
According to Sissmann, Cartoon Forum is a great showcase for new projects as people from all over the world attend the event, and you can meet with buyers and executives from networks, cablers, streaming platforms and find possible co-production partners for your projects. Over the years, Cyber Group Studios has pitched many shows, and most of them have been produced.
The animation will be produced in France and the ballpark budget is 8 million euros ($9.5 million USD).
Cool trivia: In 1992, ABC aired an animated special based on the property, produced by Hanna-Barbera and directed by Don Lusk with a script by Glenn Leopold. In this project, Vampire (voiced by Rob Paulsen) became the leader of the villains, and Invisible Man (Paxton Whitehead) was in charge of the heroes. Monsters included Swamp Beast (Frank Welker), Wolf-Man (Stuart Robinson), Big Ed (also Welker), Mummy (Marvin Kaplan) and Medusa (B.J. Ward).
Funimation announced today it is co-producing the original anime film Sing a Bit of Harmony, from award-winning filmmaker Yasuhiro Yoshiura. The movie tells the story of an intriguing new transfer student and a song that brings happiness to her classmates. The film will be released in Japan in 2021, and coming soon to the U.S. and Canada.
Yoshiura will write and direct the film. Yoshiura’s previous work has won numerous awards, including the Best Film Award at the Japan Media Arts Festival’s animation division for his work on Patema Inverted: Beginning of the Day and Best Anime Award at the Tokyo International Anime Fair’s OVA division for Time of Eve.
The film’s crew includes Ichiro Ohkouchi (Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion, Lupin the Third Part 5) as co-screenwriter, Kanna Kii (The Stranger by the Beach) is the original character designer, with studio J.C.STAFF (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma, Is it Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?, The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.) handling animation production, and Hidekazu Shimamura (Trigun: Badlands Rumble, Code: Geass: Akito the Exiled) as animation director.
The Sing a Bit of Harmony news follows the recent announcement of a new partnership between Funimation and publisher-distributor VIZ Media to bring an expansive catalog of popular and iconic titles to the Funimation platform.
VIZ Media’s Naruto (original series/220 episodes), Hunter x Hunter (75 episodes), Sailor Moon R: The Movie, Berserk: The Golden Age Arc II – The Battle for Doldrey and Berserk: The Golden Age Arc III – The Advent are currently available on Funimation’s streaming service. These will soon be joined by Terra Formars, Terra Formars Revenge, Coppelion, Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet and Megalobox, with even more anime coming to the service in the coming months.
“We’re incredibly excited to partner with VIZ Media in bringing even more great anime to Funimation,” said Colin Decker, CEO of Funimation Global Group. “Bringing this catalog to our subscribers is a win for anime fans everywhere!”
The above announced new VIZ Media titles will be available to stream on Funimation on September 22.
New episodes of the 23rd season of the Pokémon animated series will premiere tomorrow exclusively on Netflix in the U.S. In the next 12 episodes of Pokémon Journeys: The Series, Ash, his partner Pikachu and their new friend Goh continue their adventures across multiple regions in the Pokémon world.
Synopsis: Pokémon Trainer Ash Ketchum has a new plan: see the world! But first, he and his partner Pikachu are headed to the opening of the Cerise Laboratory, a research facility dedicated to uncovering the mysteries of Pokémon in every region. Ash meets Goh, another boy with boundless curiosity about Pokémon, and both are overjoyed when Professor Cerise asks them to become official research fellows. With Ash as determined as ever to become a Pokémon Master, and Goh aiming to catch one of every Pokémon (including the Mythical Mew), our heroes are in for adventure and excitement as they explore the wide world of Pokémon!
Pokémon Journeys: The Series features a new theme song, “The Journey Starts Today,” written and performed by the Juno award-winning band, Walk off the Earth.
Fans can also enjoy a wide selection of past seasons of Pokémon on Netflix, as well as many full-length animated movies like Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution and Pokémon the Movie: The Power of Us.
Responding to the rapid growth of Kartoon Channel! and the rise in learning from home spurred by the coronavirus crisis, Genius Brands International announces the launch of the new, educational stand-alone segment Kartoon Classroom! Kartoon Channel! launched in June, and is available to stream free to virtually every household in the U.S. via connected TV, handheld devices and at KartoonChannel.com, and is rapidly growing into a premiere entertainment destination for children and families.
Kartoon Classroom! will feature relevant and impactful STEAM-based content, including programming from Genius Brands’ “content with a purpose” library such as Baby Genius (Early Development), Thomas Edison’s Secret Lab (STEM) and Warren Buffett’s Secret Millionaires Club (Financial Literacy). Additionally, Kartoon Classroom! will showcase content from third party creators worldwide, such as Baby Einstein (Early Development), Little Smart Planet (Early Learning), I’m A Dinosaur (Paleontology), Super Geek Heroes (Early Learning), Counting with Earl (Math), Giligilis (Musical Learning) and Out of this Word (English Language).
Genius Brands will also develop new original content for the platform, and announces the first Kartoon Classroom! original series in development: KC! Pop Quiz, under the supervision of former President of Walt Disney Television and Kartoon Channel!’s Chief Content Officer, David Neuman.
“At Kartoon Channel!, our calling is to entertain and inform. Kartoon Classroom! is the next natural step in that growth, offering unique value for parents and kids,” said Margaret Loesch, Executive Chairman of Kartoon Channel! “We are also thrilled to announce our first original production, KC! Pop Quiz, which will be a highly entertaining, informative and interactive pop quiz format program for kids and families in the tradition of HQ Trivia and other shows.”
Jon Ollwerther has been appointed to oversee the operations of Kartoon Channel! and Kartoon Classroom! as General Manager & EVP of Global Business Development. Genius Brands has also brought onboard Disney veteran content and programming strategist Lou Fazio as a Senior Advisor, collaborating with Ollwerther on the launch of Kartoon Classroom!
“Jon is an energetic visionary and talented executive who brings invaluable expertise, particularly in marrying technology and entertainment, which is vital now in building a children’s media company in the 21st century and our new Kartoon Channel!,” commented Genius Brands Chairman & CEO Andy Heyward. “I can think of no better executive to lead our Kartoon Channel! and Kartoon Classroom! efforts and grow revenues as we look for exciting and fresh opportunities to deliver unique entertainment experiences to kids and their families in the coming years.”
In his new role, Ollwerther will oversee the day-to-day operations of Kartoon Channel! and Kartoon Classroom!, in collaboration with Loesch, Neuman and Fazio, to bring more quality ‘content with a purpose’ and entertainment experiences to the channel’s growing fan base. The Kartoon Channel! team also includes Mark Shoeman, Director of Operations at Kartoon Channel!, who reports to Ollwerther. Ollwerther will also continue to drive value across all areas of Genius Brands’ business.
“I am thrilled to take the reins of the Kartoon Channel!, which has seen incredible growth since the June 2020 launch, and work with a management team, including Margaret, David and Lou, that has unmatched experience in the kid’s and family media space to create the premiere entertainment destination offering free best-in-class content, including the upcoming 2021 premiere of our new series, Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten with Arnold Schwarzenegger and other to-be-announced original content,” stated Ollwerther. “Our announcement of Kartoon Classroom! is an example of the customer-centric thinking at Genius Brands. Today, parents, educators, and kids alike are rethinking the future of learning and development. With Kartoon Classroom!, we are providing an answer to busy parents and curious kids. With more and more kids engaging in at-home learning, we believe it is essential to offer shows that have educational content to enrich the viewing experience for our audience.”
“Having worked at Disney Channel and subsequently with Margaret to help drive the growth of The Hub, I am excited to once again collaborate with her, Jon, David and the Genius Brands’ team to build Kartoon Channel! and Kartoon Classroom! into a top streaming platform for kids,” commented Fazio. “Moreover, Professor Emeritus Don Roberts, former Chairman of the Stanford University School of Communications, and recognized expert on children and media, is serving as an advisor to guide the educational content in each show, which is a real benefit to the audience we serve. This is an ideal opportunity for me to utilize my years in programming and acquisitions strategy to deliver a smart, entertaining and safe viewing experience.”
Ollwerther joined Genius Brands as VP of Business Development in January 2019 and has quickly risen up the ranks, most recently serving as EVP of Global Brand & Business Development. Prior to joining Genius Brands, he served as Vice President of Media at Measure, the nation’s leading “Drone as a Service” company, where he was responsible for growing the Arts & Entertainment division from its inception, working with leading media companies and advertisers such as ABC, NBC, CBS, ESPN, Red Bull Media House, BMW, Nissan, Cartier, Coach, Prada, Maker’s Mark and Tom Ford. As a leading player in the emerging industry, his work focused on leveraging technology for entertainment, including major franchise films, live events and large-scale art installations. Prior to joining Measure, Ollwerther was the COO of a national drone service company based in NYC, formerly called Aerobo.
An experienced Content Strategy & Programming Acquisition executive, Fazio has built a reputation for commitment and performance in programming, acquisitions, co-productions, distribution, team leadership and launching new platforms. Since late 2018, Fazio Media Consulting has been working with production, broadcast, and digital clients to advise and collaborate on distribution, format sales, acquisition negotiation, and content strategy. Fazio began his career at USA Network and SYFY channel. In addition to being a key task force member for the launch of SYFY domestically, Fazio worked with Universal Television’s senior management team to launch SYFY Europe. Fazio has also held senior programming roles at Disney/ABC, Game Show Network, The Hub Network, and the KCET-Link TV Media Group. During Fazio’s tenure at KCET, the station enjoyed a 25% increase in total day and prime time viewership.
![L-R: American Dad! creators Mike Barker, Matt Weitzman and Seth MacFarlane at SDCC 2011 [Photo: Gage Skidmore]](https://www.dev.animationmagazine.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/Mike_Barker-Matt-Weitzman-Seth-MacFarlane.jpg)
