Here’s some great news for fans of excellent adult animation. Adult Swim has greenlit a 10-episode second season of Lisa Hanawalt’s universally acclaimed series Tuca and Bertie, for option for more. The new season will debut on the cabler in 2021.
“I’ve been a fan of Adult Swim shows since my teens, so I’m thrilled to bring my beloved fowl to the party and be a new voice for a fresh decade of absurd, irreverent, yet heartwarming adult animation,” says Hanawalt, who was also producer and production designer on Netflix’s Emmy-nominated show BoJack Horseman.
The animated series, which has a 100 percent certified fresh review on Rotten Tomatoes, is a comedy about bird besties who live in the same apartment building: Tuca (Tiffany Haddish), a cocky, care-free toucan, Bertie (Ali Wong), an anxious, daydreaming song thrush, and Bertie’s boyfriend, Speckle (Steven Yeun), a jovial, optimistic robin.
Tuca & Bertie is created and executive produced by Hanawalt, with Raphael Bob-Waksberg, Noel Bright, Steven A. Cohen, Haddish, and Wong also serving as executive producers. The series is produced by Michael Eisner’s The Tornante Company and the animation will be done at Shadowmachine. The show originally debuted on Netflix in 2019, but it was unceremoniously and mysteriously canceled by the streamer after one season.
Pop culture star David Dobrik is heading down to Bikini Bottom to host The Stars of SpongeBob Fan Favorites Special, a virtual table read uniting the voices behind the popular characters, premiering Friday, June 5 at 7 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon. The special will bring together voice actors Tom Kenny (SpongeBob), Bill Fagerbakke (Patrick), Rodger Bumpass (Squidward), Carolyn Lawrence (Sandy), Clancy Brown (Mr. Krabs) and Mr. Lawrence (Plankton) in a virtually produced revival of classic SpongeBob SquarePants scenes.
Dobrik helps bring to life the nautical nonsense of SpongeBob SquarePants by guiding the voice cast in recreating the most memorable moments and lines from the show. Dobrik will also lead the cast through a lightning round of the best one-liners and iconic quotes, later joining them for a brand-new rendition of the “F.U.N. Song.”
“I signed onto this project for the obvious reason that SpongeBob is one of the best shows of all time,” said Dobrik. “I feel that I owe a lot to SpongeBob and all Bikini Bottom for helping me figure out what I thought was funny and entertaining. The show shaped so much of my childhood, so being a part of this special with the entire cast feels like a full circle moment.”
The Stars of SpongeBob Fan Favorites Special will feature animation from the original episodes alongside the voice cast’s re-creation of beloved scenes. Fans picked from classic moments, including “Band Rehearsal,” “Alaskan Bull Worm,” “I’m Dirty Dan” and more on Nickplay.com.
SpongeBob SquarePants ranks as television’s number-one animated series with Kids 2-11 and Kids 6-11 year to date. The series was created by Stephen Hillenburg and is produced by Nickelodeon in Burbank, Calif. Marc Ceccarelli and Vincent Waller serve as co-executive producers.
Since its launch July 17, 1999, SpongeBob SquarePants has reigned as the number-one kids’ animated series on TV for the last 17 years, while generating a universe of beloved characters, pop culture catchphrases and memes, theatrical releases, consumer products, a Tony award-winning Broadway musical and a global fan base. It is the most widely distributed property in Viacom International Media Networks history, seen in more than 170 countries, translated in 30+ languages, and averaging more than 100 million total viewers every quarter. The character-driven cartoon chronicles the nautical and sometimes nonsensical adventures of SpongeBob, an incurable optimist and earnest sea sponge, and his undersea friends.
We have all experienced the challenges of being in shutdown over the past few months due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. So, we reached out to some of our favorite animation veterans to see how they’re coping with their new lives in quarantine and which shows and movies they recommend to make the days and nights more enjoyable! Here is what they kindly shared with us:
Sergio Pablos
Sergio Pablos
Writer/Director, Klaus
Fave activities: We had to dig deep to find ways to keep our eight-year old entertained, and my wife Marisa had a stroke of genius and designed a huge race track in the middle of our living room with tape for us to play Chapas on. Basically, you flick bottle caps until you reach the goal. It was intended to be there just for the day, but we kept postponing it and adding new features like LEGO ramps and shortcuts. It is now a mandatory daily family pastime and has completely taken over the living room, even forcing us to move furniture to accommodate it. So much fun.
Binge-watching tips: I’m not sure that I’d recommend what I’m watching to anyone. A good friend and I have this occasional “Bad Horror Movie Night” tradition, and since we’re both stuck at home, we’ve been making it a frequent event. We’ll pick the worst thing we can find, sync up our playtime (he from L.A. and I from Madrid, Spain), and just watch it all fall apart in front of us while we make bad jokes. I was afraid we were going to quickly run out of bad movies at this rate, but if you’re up for a similar experience, there’s no shortage of horrible titles in most streaming services. Embrace the bad!
Jennifer Lee
Jennifer Lee
CCO, Walt Disney Animation Studio, Writer/Director, Frozen, Frozen 2
Fave activities: Making homemade sushi rolls. Had to turn a bamboo placemat into a rolling mat and all our fish comes from the freezer, but the fam keeps asking for more, so I keep going for it.
Binge-watching tips: I’ve officially seen every Steven Universe episode with my daughter — the music is great! I love The Imagineering Story series on Disney+. Currently escaping into Stephen King’s new book of stories: If It Bleeds.
Jorge Gutierrez
Jorge Gutierrez, Director, The Book of Life, Maya and the Three
Fave activities: My favorite part of my quarantine work day is that I get to have lunch with my family. I always felt that in our line of work, with the long hours and endless trips, we all missed out on lots of special family moments, big and small. Not anymore!
Binge-watching tips: Now that I get to make things that are culturally specific but universal for the whole world thanks to Netflix Animation, I’m catching up on series made in other parts of the world like Dark, Narcos Mexico, Casa de Papel and Kingdom. On the animation side, I’m really enjoying The Midnight Gospel, Kengan Ashura and revisiting my old favorites like Ninja Scroll, Pinocchio, Spirited Away and The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Bonnie Arnold
Bonnie Arnold
Producer, How to Train Your Dragon trilogy
Fave activities: I guess my favorite activity right now is some long walks in my neighborhood in Santa Monica.
I love books on tape and I enjoy listening along the way. I’m listening to Angelica Huston’s autobiography, Watch Me. She is the reader and I am enjoying it. I worked with her on The Addams Family.
Binge-watching tips: My guilty pleasure quarantine viewing is vintage Westerns — Errol Flynn & Gary Cooper in particular. Trying to catch up on some Hollywood history. They don’t make ‘em like that anymore!
Chris Nee
Chris Nee
Creator, Doc McStuffins, Vampirina
Fave activity: My favorite pastime during the lockdown is singing. By myself. With myself. For myself. I’m recording lots of tracks and singing harmony to my previous tracks. No, you will never hear them. No one will. And that’s liberating. As a professional maker, it’s lovely to create with no expectation (indeed, horror at the thought) of anyone else seeing/hearing it.
Binge-watching tips: I’ve been watching everything — isn’t everyone? But loving Unorthodox, Mrs. America and Normal People. Thank God this happened during the Golden Age of Television. Imagine if you had to binge watch The Love Boat or Fantasy Island? There have also been some great features like Crip Camp and The Half of It.
Walt Dohrn
Walt Dohrn
Director, Trolls World Tour
Fave activities: I’m going to pick two favorite quarantine activities — both are done with and without the kids, depending on the time of day. The first is drawing, which if everyone’s asleep in the early morning hours, I will work on my daily diary comic in my sketchbook (some of which I post on Instagram ). The kids and I practice our drawing — which these days involves a lot of Garfields! The second favorite activity is playing music—both with and without the kids, again. We have everything from an out-of-tune piano, to ukuleles, to a steel drum! It’s cathartic to pull it all out of the closet and sing and play our hearts out!
Binge-watching tips: We have all been watching a lot of Adventure Time since quarantine: We’ve started at the beginning and hopefully will make it to the last season. It’s my younger kids’ first time experiencing these characters and I still feel like the show is the most innovative, fun thing on TV. Then when everyone’s asleep, I have been watching Pen Ward’s new show on Netflix — The Midnight Gospel. It is mind-bendingly surreal and definitely transports you to a place you have never been. Plus, it’s funny as well!
Aliki Theofilopoulos
Aliki Theofilopoulos
Exec Producer, Harvey Girls Forever!
Fave activity: I finally bought a bike! So, I’ve discovered that taking neighborhood rides after working indoors all day is exhilarating and a fun exercise! It’s been my favorite thing to do either by myself or with my family.
Bing-watching tips: My favorite binge so far has been The Crown on Netflix. I hadn’t seen it but had heard so much about it. All three seasons were a wonderful and welcome distraction during this crazy time. My husband and I also just started watching, What We Do in the Shadows and find it just as funny and delightful as the movie!
Mike Rianda and Jeff Rowe
Mike Rianda
Director/Writer, Connected
Fave activities: It’s a tie between shivering in the corner (weeping of course) and screaming incoherently into the cold icy void. Kidding of course — I consider myself very fortunate, and if you’re like me and things aren’t that bad, give to those in need! A few organizations that come to mind are Heart to Heart International and World Central Kitchen. My wife and I have also been making homemade board games and scavenger hunts, which have been a lot of fun. It’s also great connecting with old friends who live far away. You know — people are more and more Connected these days!
Binge-watching tips: Here are some of my favorite movies, some of which are on the Criterion Channel, which I’ve been loving — watch them all and become empowered with cinematic fury!: The Last Detail, We Are the Best!, Grave of the Fireflies, Whisper of the Heart, Sullivan’s Travels, Paris Texas, Shoplifters, Big Deal on Madonna Street, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Ikiru, Show Me Love, You Can Count On Me, The Heartbreak Kid, Minding the Gap and more! TV Shows: Your Hands Off Eizouken! (an amazing show about animation) on Crunchyroll, Never Have I Ever on Netflix, and Forever on Amazon.
Binge-watching tips: Never Have I Ever is the best! I’ve also been trying to chip away at AFI’s 100 list and failing.
Jinko Gotoh
Jinko Gotoh
Producer, The Little Prince, Klaus, Escape from Hat
Fave activities: Cooking, baking and gardening, when I’m not busy on Google Hangout and Zoom calls.
Binge-watching tips: I’ve been watching Unorthodox, Salt Fat Acid Heat and Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories on Netflix.
Joel Kuwahara
Joel Kuwahara,
Co-Founder/President of Production, Bento Box Entertainment
Fave activity: Changing diapers on my newborn.
Binge-watching tips: What’s TV?
Wendy Rogers
Wendy Rogers
Director, The Extincts; VFX Supervisor, Puss in Boots
Fave activities: Virtual Happy Hour with our crew on Friday evenings is one of my favorite quarantine activities! We have an amazingly talented and passionate crew — it’s a joy to all get together at the end of the week. Also, wine Zoom on the weekend with my friends … wait, do all my favorite activities include wine?
Binge-watching tips: The farewell season of Schitt’s Creek was a real pleasure, and there’s a new season of Money Heist to catch up on! I’ve just started watching Billions, and I’m completely addicted — brilliant characters!
James Baxter
James Baxter
Head of Character Animation, Netflix
Fave activities: Well, I’m enjoying cooking at home, but I think I may be running out of things I know how to cook (which is a pretty short and simple list). Time to break out some cookbooks! I’m also enjoying trying to teach myself a little 3D modeling in Blender. I’m making tons of mistakes, but it’s really fun.
Binge-watching tips: Westworld, The Mandalorian and re-watching The Office. As far as animation goes, I’ve been re-watching some of Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra. That stuff is really cool — well-drawn, well-staged, with awesome characters and a really well-thought-out lore.
Clare Knight
Clare Knight
Editor, The LEGO Movie: The Second Part, Kung Fu Panda trilogy
Fave activities: Before quarantine, I loved indoor cycling or spin. When it all started I knew I would miss it so much, so I made my road bike into an indoor cycling bike using a stand. I placed it in our backyard next to a beautiful rose bed and love it even more than a spin studio.
We also adopted a puppy in February and were worried we would all be at work and not all have the time with him. The quarantine has given us a complete bonding with him, and now as I am on my bike, he runs laps around me.
Binge-watching tips: I am an Irish person living in L.A., so I appreciate that streaming services help me travel home through international shows: I love and recommend Derry Girls, a very funny comedy on Netflix about four schoolgirls living in 1980s Northern Ireland. I’ve just started Caliphate, a Swedish series about the British girls who ran away to Syria. Julian Fellowes’ Belgravia has kept me completely enraptured. Every weekend we introduce a movie to our 10-year-old son. Last week we watched Galaxy Quest, and this week we’ll see Scoob! I love and recommend the smart oddball comedy The Willoughbys and also the Ricky Gervais show Afterlife, which handles loss and grief in such a beautiful way. My son wants us to watch all seasons of The Clone Wars, but I’m not sure if the pandemic will go on that long!
Peter Docter
Pete Docter
Director, Up, Inside Out, Soul
Fave activities: Reading and hiking. I love reading and hiking. When this is all over, I want to look back and say, “Oh yeah, that was the time when I did all that reading and hiking.” How’s that going? Well, right now I’m sitting at the computer.
Binge-watching tips: We streamed through Schitt’s Creek, which was a lot of fun. As soon as that’s done, look out: reading and hiking.
Kristen Laster
Kristen Lester
Director, Purl
Fave activities: I’ve been doing a lot of clothes washing by hand because I live in an apartment that doesn’t have a washer or dryer. It’s weird and it’s a lot of work, but washing things myself and then hanging them out on a line to dry has given me a huge sense of pride and accomplishment. Of course, it’s also frustrating because it takes me two hours to wash a load of laundry the size of a small fist, but it’s reminded me to never forget that there’s a huge sense of accomplishment that comes with achieving a physical goal. Next step? Victory garden! Binge-watching tips: I’ve been very fortunate to have a fiancé who subscribed to the Criterion Channel before all this started and it has been amazing. Watching classic movies, discovering old arthouse films and foreign language films has been so awesome. Recently I’ve watched: Caramel — a touching movie about women running a hair salon in Lebanon (the director was the first woman to be nominated for Best Foreign Language Film this year at the Oscars), The Wonders — a coming of age story set in Italy, Daisies — a weird arthouse movie from the ’60s about best friends that’s just the best visual explosion ever, and Peter Weir’s Picnic at Hanging Rock. All amazing.
Dan Scanlon
Dan Scanlon
Director, Onward, Monsters University
Fave activity: Napping. I’m tired after five years of working on Onward.
Binge-watching tips: I haven’t been watching movies, I’ve mainly been reading comics and graphic novels nonstop. I’ve been ordering five or six books a week since the shelter-in-place, both to support my local comic store, but also to get caught up on everything I’ve been meaning to read for years. That said my wife and I have been loving season two of What We Do in the Shadows! The premise is great, the production design and effects are beautiful and brilliant — which is so wonderful to see in a comedy. And the cast is across the board top talent.
Andrew Stanton
Andrew Stanton
Director, Finding Nemo, WALL·E, Finding Dory
Fave activity: Writing. Turns out a writer’s life was always a quarantined activity. Introverts (remotely) unite!
Binge-watching tips:Ozark, McMillions, Tales from the Loop, Devs, Portrait of a Lady on Fire.
Dana Terrace
Dana Terrace
Creator/Exec Producer, The Owl House
Fave activity: Biking through empty streets just as the sun goes down!
Binge-watching tips: I recently watched all of Pendleton Ward’s The Midnight Gospel and it was one of the most heartfelt, quirky and genuinely emotional shows I’ve ever seen. Work of art! On the live-action side, I’m currently keeping up with What We Do in the Shadows, one of those rare shows that reminds you how joyful entertainment can be.
Kris Pearn
Kris Pearn
Writer/Director, The Willoughbys
Fave activity: I play Dominion with my daughters over the phone, and chess and scrabble with my girlfriend. Cooking, which is a completely new skill. And I’m drawing more for myself, which is really great and passing the time. Uhhh … lots of random phone calls to friends, which is super weird for me. I’m talking the “Hi … how ya’ doin’” sort of calls with no real point other than contact with another living soul!
Binge-watching tips: I recently loved Unorthodox. I’ve also been catching up on old movies like Tootsie, Planes Trains and Automobiles, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, M.A.S.H. I loved Knives Out, Ford Vs Ferrari and Parasite. I also binged three seasons of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. John Oliver keeps me sane. And have filled out the mandatory Tiger King time card … aaaaaand … one more season of Ozark left. Also … wrestling documentaries. The Behind the Ring about Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka was pretty great.
Glen Keane
Glen Keane
Director, Over the Moon
Fave activity: Writing handwritten letters to my family and drawing jigsaw puzzles I send in the mail to my grandkids. There’s something so personal about opening a handwritten letter as compared to an email … I want to make this a regular part of my life.
Binge-watching tip:Tangled … The themes of what we are all living through are symbolized in the movie. Being trapped inside a tower afraid of the kingdom of Corona are just the obvious ones!
Krista Tucker
Krista Tucker
Co-Producer/Story Editor, Fancy Nancy
Fave activity: Sitting in my backyard and observing nature.
Binge-watching tips: I’ve started re-watching The Sopranos, which I loved years ago. Even though I’m not a fan of violence, I love the writing and characters.
Alec Sulkin
Alec Sulkin
Showrunner/Executive Producer, Family Guy
Fave activity: Well, it’s not an activity, but my wife has been making eye-rolls. She gives them to me all the time, so I’ve gained a little weight (yet somehow I feel smaller). Binge-watching tip: I’ve been watching Downton Abbey again so I can feel like I’m quarantining in a nice house.
Rich Appel
Rich Appel
Showrunner/Executive Producer, Family Guy
Fave activity: Texting friends that I’m going to use this time to learn how to bake bread, speak a second language and finish those three pilots I started writing in the ‘90s. Then I put the phone down and watch six more episodes of Below Deck.
Binge-watching tips: Since I want sincere recommendations, I’m only going to offer sincere recommendations: Call My Agent on Netflix, a really well-acted comedy that’s also at times touching and poignant, about a talent agency that’s every bit as petty and underhanded as you’d expect, but it’s set in Paris so it seems kinda classy; Line of Duty on Hulu, the single best police procedural I’ve ever seen, engrossing and engaging, layered stories filled with huge turns that are always earned and justified; and Morning Joe. I like Morning Joe. I watch it because that still gives me the rest of the day to try to forget the colossal incompetence that’s no doubt keeping us holed up at home in the first place.
Marge Dean
Marge Dean
Head of Studio, Crunchyroll; President, Women in Animation
Fave activity: Growing veggies and then photographing them.
Binge-watching tips: To get away from it all, I recommend Rockford Files with a little Golden Girls on the side.
Fave activities: Taking the dog for a walk last thing at night – the clear skies, clean air and complete lack of people and noise in a usually bustling city is a glorious treat to be savoured.
Binge-watching tips: My teenage boys and I quickly devoured Ricky Gervais’s After Life for the fantastic larger-than-life and eminently animatable character … and Sally Rooney’s Normal People for its poignant, nostalgic look at the joy, pain and heartache of first love (although the intense intimate scenes did make mother and sons slightly uncomfortable … perhaps best viewed without the teenagers!).
JP Vine [Photo by Jeni Nott]JP Vine
Director, Ron’s Gone Wrong
Fave activities: Lately my favorite quarantine activities have nearly all involved gin, but as the spring gets warmer and animation dailies get more intense, my new habit is the lunchtime power snooze in the backyard. Difficult to do at work without feeling weird, but no-one knows what I’m up to when I’m not on Zoom — oh wait!
Binge-watching tips: I’ve been trying to get away from screens and do some painting, but my wife and I loved Unorthodox on Netflix. Compelling viewing.
CBS All Access — the subscription video service that is home to topical variety series Tooning Out the News, live-action/animation anthology Star Trek: Short Treks, upcoming adult animations The Harper House and Star Trek: Lower Decks, and other Trekkie extensions such as Discovery and this year’s Picard — will be rebranding as part of an expansion to incorporate more of the cable brands and library programming under the ViacomCBS umbrella.
This means the platform will be bulking up with current and catalog shows from Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, Paramount, MTV and more — as well as pick up original content from these brands in the future.
The plan was shared by ViacomCBS CEO Bob Bakish during a quarterly investors’ call Thursday; the exec added that his company plans to launch a “broad pay streaming product” in multiple international markets over the coming 12 months. CBS All Access will be getting a UI overhaul soon, with Bakish promising “major changes coming this summer as we track toward the rebrand and relaunch of a transformed product.”
According to ViacomCBS CFO Christina Spade, CBS All Access and Showtime standalone service currently have 13.5 million subscribers total, and should reach 16 million by the end of 2020. CBS All Access rolled out on the homepage of Comcast’s Xfinity on Thursday, which could be a big boost. ViacomCBS’ AVOD platform Pluto TV is also being eyed as a gateway to its sister SVOD; the fast-growing (24 million active monthly users), free service can be used to attract paying subscribers to CBS All access and Showtime content.
Other recent deals bolstering ViacomCBS in the eyes of investors include a pact with Google’s YouTube TV to distribute 14 of its channels, and a renewal of the company’s Verizon Fios carriage partnership.
Outside TV and streaming, Viacom’s Paramount Pictures is keeping fingers crossed to keep its rescheduled August 7 theatrical release date for The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run. Other highly anticipated releases — A Quiet Place 2 and Top Gun: Maverick — are being held for theaters, with releases TBD as the global situation improves.
The nominees for this year’s Daytime Emmy Awards have been announced, having been whittled down by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences from more than 2,700 submissions across 100 categories. The presentation of major category honors will be telecast on June 26, with recipients and special guests making video appearances from home due to pandemic precautions. Some additional categories will be announced via Twitter (@DaytimeEmmys) at the same time, while others will be awarded at a separate ceremony in July.
While the evergreen Sesame Street (HBO) and Ghostwriter (Apple TV+) lead with the most overall kids nominees with eight each (plus seven more for Sesame Street’s 50th Anniversary Celebration), Disney Channel’s Elena of Avalor and Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventuretake the crown for most-nominated animated series, both scoring seven (although neither are nominated in the overall children’s/preschool series categories).
Other multi-nominated animated projects include The Rocketeer (5), Ask the StoryBots, Carmen Sandiego, DuckTales, Tumble Leaf (4), Big City Greens, Green Eggs & Ham, Muppet Babies, Puppy Dog Pals (3), The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle, Archibald’s Next Big Thing, Batman: Hush, Big Hero 6: The Series, Blue’s Clues & You!, Disney Mickey Mouse, The Dragon Prince, Dragons Rescue Riders, Mao Mao: Heroes of Pure Heart, Norman Picklestripes, Reign of the Supermen, SpongeBob SquarePants and Vampirina (2).
OUTSTANDING PRESCHOOL CHILDREN’S SERIES Blue’s Clues & You! Nickelodeon Dino Dana Amazon Prime Video Helpsters Apple TV+ Ryan’s Mystery Playdate Nickelodeon Sesame Street HBO
OUTSTANDING SHORT FORMAT CHILDREN’S PROGRAM Muppet Babies: Play Date Disney Junior Mushroom and the Forest of the World Cartoon Network Sesame Street in Communities: A Place for You YouTube.com Sesame Street in Communities: Meet Salia YouTube.com Snoopy in Space Apple TV+
OUTSTANDING PRESCHOOL CHILDREN’S ANIMATED SERIES Bubble Guppies Nickelodeon Doc McStuffins Disney Junior Floogals Universal Kids Norman Picklestripes Universal Kids Vampirina Disney Junior
OUTSTANDING CHILDREN’S ANIMATED SERIES Arthur PBS Craig of the Creek Cartoon Network The Dragon Prince Netflix The Loud House Nickelodeon Niko and the Sword of Light Amazon Prime Video Trolls: The Beat Goes On! Netflix
OUTSTANDING SPECIAL CLASS ANIMATED PROGRAM Big City Greens: Green Christmas Disney Channel Carmen Sandiego Netflix Elena of Avalor: The Magic Within Disney Junior The Last Kids on Earth Netflix Milo Murphy’s Law Disney Channel
OUTSTANDING PERFORMER IN AN ANIMATED PROGRAM Paget Brewster as Della Duck, Duck Tales Disney Channel Marieve Herington as Tilly Green, Big City Greens Disney Channel Chris Houghton as Cricket Green, Big City GreensDisney Channel Tom Kenny as SpongeBob SquarePants, SpongeBob SquarePants Nickelodeon Parker Simmons as Mao Mao, Mao Mao: Heroes of Pure Heart Cartoon Network
OUTSTANDING PERFORMER IN A PRESCHOOL ANIMATED PROGRAM Eric Bauza as Fozzie, Bunsen, Robin, Mr. Statler; Muppet BabiesDisney Junior Matt Danner as Kermit, Rowlf, Mr. Waldorf, Beaker, Chef; Muppet BabiesDisney Junior Maurice LaMarche as Sylvester Slapdash, The Rocketeer Disney Junior Kevin Michael Richardson as King Topher, Puppy Dog Pals Disney Junior Christian Simon as Freddy, T.O.T.S. Disney Junior
OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A PRESCHOOL ANIMATED PROGRAM Ask the StoryBots Netflix Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood PBS Elena of Avalor Disney Junior Nature Cat PBS The Rocketeer Disney Junior Tumble Leaf Amazon Prime Video
OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR AN ANIMATED PROGRAM Big City Greens Disney Channel Big Hero 6: The Series Disney Channel DuckTales Disney Channel Green Eggs and Ham Netflix Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure Disney Channel
OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A PRESCHOOL ANIMATED PROGRAM Ask the StoryBots Netflix Elena of Avalor Disney Junior Muppet Babies Disney Junior Norman Picklestripes Universal Kids True and the Rainbow Kingdom Netflix Tumble Leaf Amazon Prime Video Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum PBS
OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR AN ANIMATED PROGRAM The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle Amazon Prime Video Carmen Sandiego Netflix Disney Mickey Mouse Disney Channel Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny Amazon Prime Video Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure Disney Channel
OUTSTANDING MUSIC DIRECTION AND COMPOSITION The Dragon Prince Netflix Elena of Avalor Disney Junior Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu Netflix Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure Disney Channel The Tom & Jerry Show Boomerang
OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL SONG IN A CHILDREN’S, YOUNG ADULT OR ANIMATED PROGRAM “Gonna Go Good” Big Hero 6: The SeriesDisney Channel “Never Leave” Elena of AvalorDisney Junior “As You Move Forward” The Lion GuardDisney Junior “Waiting in the Wings” Rapunzel’s Tangled AdventureDisney Channel “The Vamp Opera” Vampirina Disney Junior
OUTSTANDING CASTING FOR AN ANIMATED SERIES OR SPECIAL Archibald’s Next Big Thing Netflix Carmen Sandiego Netflix Elena of Avalor Disney Junior Green Eggs and Ham Netflix Puppy Dog Pals Disney Junior Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure Disney Channel
OUTSTANDING MAIN TITLE FOR AN ANIMATED PROGRAM The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle Amazon Prime Video The Casagrandes Nickelodeon Green Eggs and Ham Netflix Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure Disney Channel The Rocketeer Disney Junior
OUTSTANDING EDITING FOR AN ANIMATED PROGRAM Disney Mickey Mouse Disney Channel DuckTales Disney Channel Mao Mao: Heroes of Pure Heart Cartoon Network Pinky Malinky Netflix Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure Disney Channel
OUTSTANDING SOUND MIXING FOR AN ANIMATED PROGRAM Batman: Hush Amazon Prime Video DC Showcase: Death WarnerBrothers.com LEGO DC Batman: Family Matters Amazon Prime Video Reign of the Supermen Amazon Prime Video SpongeBob SquarePants Nickelodeon
OUTSTANDING SOUND MIXING FOR A PRESCHOOL ANIMATED PROGRAM Dragons Rescue Riders Netflix Elena of Avalor Disney Junior Let’s Go Luna! PBS Kids The Rocketeer Disney Junior Tumble Leaf Amazon Prime Video
OUTSTANDING SOUND EDITING FOR AN ANIMATED PROGRAM Batman: Hush Amazon Prime Video Carmen Sandiego Netflix DuckTales Disney Channel Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus Netflix Reign of the Supermen Amazon Prime Video Tales of Arcadia: 3Below Netflix
OUTSTANDING SOUND EDITING FOR A PRESCHOOL ANIMATED PROGRAM Ask the StoryBots Netflix Dragons Rescue Riders Netflix Elena of Avalor Disney Junior Puppy Dog Pals Disney Junior The Rocketeer Disney Junior
Baby Kermit illustration courtesy of Mr. Tom Warburton, exec producer of Muppet Babies.
Learn what it takes to bring incredible anime action heroes to life in a new featurette from GKIDS with the English-language voice cast of Promare — the top-grossing original anime of 2019, produced by Japan’s Studio TRIGGER. The video featuring Billy Kametz, Erica Lindbeck, Neil Kaplan, Johnny Yong Bosch, Yuri Lowenthal and Matt Mercer drops as Promare launches on Blu-ray and DVD in partnership with Shout! Factory.
In addition to the standard on-disc and digital release, GKIDS is prepping a Promare Collector’s Edition, featuring new special packaging, as well as added bonus features exclusive to the Collector’s Edition. The Collector’s Edition is being produced in partnership with Anime Limited, the film’s U.K. distributor, and will be available at a suggested retail price of $64.99 on August 4.
The first feature-length film from the acclaimed Studio TRIGGER, creators of the hit series KILL la KILL and Little Witch Academia, and director Hiroyuki Imaishi (GURREN LAGANN, KILL la KILL), Promare uses a bold cel-shaded visual style to tell a blistering action-adventure story, and is the spiritual successor to many of director Imaishi’s former works.
Synopsis: Thirty years has passed since the appearance of Burnish, a race of flame-wielding mutant beings, who destroyed half of the world with fire. When a new group of aggressive mutants calling themselves “Mad Burnish” appears, the epic battle between Galo Thymos, a new member of the anti-Burnish rescue team “Burning Rescue” and Lio Fotia, the leader of “Mad Burnish” begins.
Funimation is celebrating Summer with One Piece! Starting May 22, for a limited time, the top anime brand’s streaming service is airing the cinematic wonder of Toei Animation’s One Piece: Stampede for the first time. Plus, new English-dubbed episodes of the One Piece TV series will be available to stream starting June 2.
A stand-alone adventure set outside the One Piece series canon, One Piece: Stampede follows Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat pirate crew along to a massive Pirate Festival that brings many of the most iconic characters from throughout the franchise to participate in competition with the Straw Hats to find Roger’s treasure. It also pits the Straw Hats against a new enemy named Bullet, a former member of Roger’s crew. The movie is directed by Takashi Otsuka under the creative supervision of original creator Eiichiro Oda.
The English dub for Stampede features the stars of the hit series: Colleen Clinkenbeard (Luffy), Christopher R. Sabat (Zoro), Luci Christian (Nami), Eric Vale (Sanji), Sonny Strait (Usopp), Brina Palencia (Chopper), Stephanie Young (Robin), Patrick Seitz (Franky) and Ian Sinclair (Brook). Co-stars also reprising their roles from the series include Mike McFarland (Buggy), Kyle Hebert (Bege), Matthew Mercer (Law), T. Axelrod (Hawkins), Jonathan Brooks (Foxy), Felecia Angelle (Perona), Brad Venable (Apoo) and DC Douglas (Drake).
New cast members include Daman Mills (Bullet) and Mick Wingert (Buena Festa), with Chris Rager as Teach, Anthony Bowling as Donald and Macy Anne Johnson as Ann.
Funimation announced the return of English-dubbed One Piece episodes in Season 10, Voyage 1 in digital storefronts earlier this month; the home video DVD release is due June 9. The dub picks up with episode 575, beginning the “Punk Hazard” story arc. Producer Toei announced last month that broadcast of new episodes of One Piece as well as Digimon Adventure would be suspended due to production delays caused by coronavirus studio shutdowns.
GKIDS has announced the North American virtual theatrical release of the emotional, mesmerizing animated feature Marona’s Fantastic Tale. Starting June 12, the film — which played in competition at the Annecy International Film Festival and won the Animation Is Film Special Jury Prize last year — will be made available at MaronaMovie.com through virtual cinema partner links. In addition to the film, exclusive to the virtual release includes additional interview content with the director Anca Damian.
Initial virtual cinema partners include the Laemmle Theaters in Los Angeles and The Museum of the Moving Image in New York City, with additional partner theaters and organizations to be added. A percentage of the net proceeds of every “ticket” sold will go to listed partner theaters and related organizations. Through these virtual cinema affiliate links, audiences can enjoy this exciting new release from the comfort of their homes, while supporting their local art house cinema and other local partners.
The complete listing of affiliate theater and organization links and how to purchase a virtual ticket will be available at MaronaMovie.com.
“While GKIDS and our exhibition partners’ original intention was for audiences to enjoy Marona’s Fantastic Tale as an in-theater experience, we are elated to bring this beautiful, touching film to home viewers through virtual cinema. During this time when many of us are socially isolated, we are hopeful that this film will serve as a reminder to cherish even the smallest moments with our friends and companions,” said Chance Huskey, GKIDS’ Director of Distribution.
“We are elated to bring this beautiful, touching film to home viewers in partnership with our friends in exhibition,” Huskey continued. “During this time when many of us are socially isolated, we are hopeful that Marona’s Fantastic Tale will serve as a reminder to cherish even the smallest moments with our friends and companions.”
Synopsis: The poetic and touching film from director Anca Damian (Crulic – The Path to Beyond, The Call) follows an optimistic stray dog named Marona as she looks back on the human companions she has loved throughout her life. Delivered alongside dazzlingly colorful, sweeping designs produced in part by acclaimed artist Brecht Evens, Marona’s Fantastic Tale is a life-affirming tale told with the patient, boundless love of a dog, and reminds us that happiness is a small thing.
Read more about Marona in Ramin Zahed’s feature story from the October issue of Animation Magazine here.
War Remains, the immersive experience from MWM Interactive (MWMi) and podcast legend Dan Carlin (Hardcore History) is now available to experience at home on VR platforms. The experience takes audiences to the Western Front of the First World War in full color and sound, all from the comfort of home.
In this short-form VR experience, Carlin leads audiences into the trenches as an active battle scene rages on. Through stunning visual effects, powerfully designed sound and the guidance of Carlin’s iconic voice, audiences get the opportunity to experience a moment in history unlike ever before. Previously available as a location-based installation, the home version of War Remains includes new audio and visual elements for people to experience from their homes around the world.
“We set out to create an immersive memory of the First World War that would not only educate audiences about a pivotal event in history, but reach them on a deep emotional level,” said Ethan Stearns, MWMi EVP of Content. “We’re proud to make War Remains available as an experience that transports people to another place and time, without needing to step outside their front door.”
War Remains premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2019 and later opened for a limited run in Austin, Texas. It went on to win the “Out-of-home VR Entertainment of the Year” award at the VR Awards. War Remains is produced by MWMi, directed by Brandon Oldenburg and developed by Flight School Studio, with audio designed by Skywalker Sound.
Nickelodeon is combining some of its most flavorful characters for a delectable new crossover episode which reflects young viewers’ experiences during the COVID-19 lockdown. Premiering this Saturday, May 23 at 8 p.m. (ET/PT), The Loud House & The Casagrandes Hangin’ At Home special is part of Nick’s #KidsTogether initiative.
The programming event sees toon stars and long-distance friends Lincoln Loud and Ronnie Anne Santiago host a half-hour special over video chat, reminiscing on classic moments from The Loud House and The Casagrandes. The pair will share helpful tips and funny anecdotes about what their families are all doing while staying home, while flashing back to previous episodes featuring their big and fun-loving families.
Check out an especially scrumptious sneak peek:
Following the special, fans can compete in The Loud House SmartyPants Challenge, featuring trivia questions about the series. Players will test their knowledge with over 100 questions, earn badges and get an automatically generated nickname. The challenge will air over The Loud House episodes starting Mon., May 25, through Fri., May 29, from 4:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. (ET/PT) and syncs with Nickelodeon’s Screens Up! companion app.
Much like these characters and their young fans, the Nickelodeon Animation crew are also “hangin’ at home” due to pandemic precautions. But, the studio continues to create opportunities to explore the intersection between content and technology. This special was created virtually and features original animation of Lincoln and Ronnie Anne, created using Adobe Character Animator in nearly a week. Using the software, work-from-home artists were able to listen to voice over and, using keyboard shortcuts, trigger specific animations on the characters. The voice actors behind these characters recorded their lines from home, which were then matched with the animation.
Nick previously employed Character Animator for The Loud House Facebook LIVE event, The Loud House NYE special and the Rise of the TMNT virtual press junket.
The Loud House & The Casagrandes Hangin’ At Home special is part of Nickelodeon’s #KidsTogether, a global, multiplatform prosocial initiative using its most popular characters and talent to engage with kids and families on tips for staying healthy and also ideas for activities to do together while in the home during COVID-19.
Cartoon Network’s beloved bears make a big comeback this summer with their first TV movie, We Bare Bears The Movie, available for purchase exclusively on digital platforms beginning Monday, June 8. Created by Annie Award-winner Daniel Chong and produced by Cartoon Network Studios, the movie follows Grizz, Panda, and Ice Bear on their greatest adventure yet.
Eric Edelstein, Demetri Martin and Bobby Moynihan return to star as the lovable bears Grizz, Ice and Panda, with recurring guest stars Cameron Esposito, Ellie Kemper, Jason Lee, Patton Oswalt, Mel Rodriguez and Charlyne Yi. The movie will also feature special guest stars such as Marc Evan Jackson and K-pop star Amber Liu.
“We hope that by accelerating the release of this wonderful, feel-good family TV movie, we can bring a little joy into homes sooner than originally planned,” Rob Sorcher, Chief Content Officer, Cartoon Network.
Check out the movie trailer with a special introduction from Edelstein, Martin and Moynihan, as well as the Bears themselves!
In We Bare Bears The Movie, when the bears’ love of food trucks and viral videos gets out of hand, it catches the attention of the menacing Agent Trout from the National Wildlife Control, who pledges to restore the “natural order” by separating them forever. Chased from their home, Grizz decides there’s only one thing they can do to find refuge — move to Canada! The Bears embark on an epic road trip filled with new friends, dangerous obstacles, and massive parties. But most importantly, the perilous journey will force the Bears to face how they first met and became brothers, in order to keep their family bond from splitting apart.
Distributed by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, the movie will be available for purchase in the U.S. and Canada on participating platforms including iTunes, Google Play and Amazon, for $14.99.
Since its debut in 2015, the Emmy-nominated series We Bare Bears has earned numerous awards including a BAFTA Children’s Award, a Jury Award for Best TV Series at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival and several Annie Awards. Fans around the world, most notably in the APAC region, have embraced the show for its portrayal of Asian pop culture. Just last year, the episode entitled “Panda’s Birthday” featured the global sensation K-pop band, Monsta X.
Skydance Animation announced Wednesday that legendary composer Alan Menken, known for his award-winning work on animated favorites The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules, Enchanted and Tangled, will compose original music and score for the upcoming musical fantasy Spellbound (working title). Menken is joined by celebrated lyricist and frequent collaborator Glenn Slater (Tangled) and lauded music producer Chris Montan (The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Frozen).
Menken, Slater and Montan are the latest award-winning talent to join the studio’s expanding creative roster as it continues to build its ambitious production slate. Skydance Animation recently announced a global expansion with the formation of Skydance Animation Madrid.
The animated feature is led by acclaimed director Vicky Jenson (Shrek, Shark Tale) and written by Lauren Hynek & Elizabeth Martin (Mulan) and Linda Woolverton (Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King). Spellbound is set in a world of magic where a young girl must break the spell that has split her kingdom in two.
“Alan Menken’s music defines a generation and is loved by audiences around the world,” said Jenson. “From day one, we knew this magical world would be full of music, and we knew only Alan could bring it to life. With Glenn and Chris onboard, their combined creativity adds so much depth and complexity to the emotions of our characters and this very unique story. It is a true honor to collaborate with this team.”
“I’m thrilled to be united with so many talented collaborators and very much look forward to working with Vicky Jenson, Lauren Hynek and Elizabeth Martin,” said Menken. “Spellbound promises to be quite unique and inspiring.”
Menken’s career has spanned over four decades and has earned him eight Academy Awards — more than any living person — as well as numerous other awards including Golden Globes, Grammys, Drama Desk Awards and a Tony. He is best known for composing the score and writing songs for a number of Disney animated films including The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules and Tangled. His work also includes the onstage musicals Little Shop of Horrors, A Christmas Carol, A Bronx Tale and Sister Act as well as adaptations of his film work such as Newsies.
Slater is a Grammy-winning lyricist best known for his work in musicals for both the stage and screen. He has collaborated with Menken on a number of projects including the animated films Tangled and Home on the Range; Broadway’s Sister Act, The Little Mermaid and A Bronx Tale; as well as songs for the television series Galavant. He has also partnered with Andrew Lloyd Webber on Love Never Dies and School of Rock. In addition to his Grammy, Slater has also been nominated for three Tony Awards, two Emmys, an Oscar and a Golden Globe.
Montan is a Grammy-winning music producer with over 30 years in the business. He is best known for his time as President of Walt Disney Music where he was responsible for all Disney and Pixar animated features, all Disney Theatrical stage productions and music for the Walt Disney Theme Parks and Resorts worldwide. In 1997, Variety named him “musical supervisor of the decade.” Under his supervision, soundtracks for ten of the studio’s theatrical releases have been certified multi-platinum and he garnered the studio 42 Academy Award nominations for music with 16 wins.
With more than 350 creatives across two continents, Skydance Animation’s upcoming feature slate also includes Luck, directed by Peggy Holmes (The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning), about the unluckiest girl alive who stumbles upon the never-before-seen world of good and bad luck and must join together with magical creatures to uncover a force more powerful than even luck itself; and Pookoo (working title), written and directed by Nathan Greno (Tangled). In addition, Skydance Animation has a slate of soon-to-be-announced high-end television series in various stages of development.
Kids Entertainment Professionals for Young Refugees (KEPYR), the grassroots, all-volunteer organization comprised of kids and family entertainment professionals, has announced the launch of their annual Kindred Spirits online fundraising event, this year’s event will support UNICEF’s $651 million COVID-19 emergency preparedness and relief campaign.
Kindred Spirits 2020 commences May 20, and will run through World Refugee Day, June 20.
Proceeds will help provide soap, masks, gloves, hygiene kits, protective equipment, life-saving information and other support to healthcare systems.
“Kids media people are a special breed,” said KEPYR founder Grant Moran. “No matter what we do, whether we’re artists or writers or actors, working in editing bays or executive offices, we’re united by a shared concern for the welfare of all children everywhere. COVID-19 is a real-life monster or supervillain stalking the world’s most vulnerable children and their families. Through Kindred Spirits 2020 we’ll be helping UNICEF’s frontline heroes write a positive, inspiring resolution to this story.”
According to UNICEF, refugee and migrant populations are at particularly high risk from the virus due to a variety of factors, including immense barriers to accessing healthcare and preventative services like proper handwashing and sanitation facilities. And UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore stresses that “[c]hildren and young people are among the most severely impacted by the knock-on effects of COVID-19.” A study in the most recent issue of the Lancet Global Health Journal projects that as many as 6,000 children around the world could die every day from preventable causes over the next six months due to the impact of coronavirus.
Since its inception in 2017, KEPYR has worked to build awareness in the global children’s media industry about the current child refugee crisis – the worst since WWII. The organization has raised over $100,000 for UNICEF’s refugee relief work through its online Kindred Spirits campaign and live events like 2019’s “Stand Up for Children” comedy show featuring Patton Oswalt and Al Madrigal, hosted by voice acting star Grey Griffin.
The organization spans five continents and includes artists, writers, actors, producers, game designers, content developers, authors, composers, agents, network and studio executives and others working independently and at companies and organizations like Mattel, Marvel, Disney, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, DreamWorks, Netflix, Amazon, Warner Bros., Hasbro, Blizzard Entertainment, Cyber Group, Scholastic, King Features, Little Airplane, Silvergate Media, WGBH, WNET, Gaumont, Pukeko Pictures, Mechanic Animation, CrunchyRoll, Aniplex USA, DR Movie Animation, D-Rights, Panaderia Licensing & Marketing, Ripple Effect Consultancy, Animation Magazine, Women in Animation, The Children’s Media Conference and The Australian Children’s Television Foundation.
For more information about KEPYR go to www.kepyr.org
Funko, a leading pop culture consumer products company, brings new innovation and play to kids and families with Marvel Battleworld: Mystery of the Thanostones, a micro collectible, tabletop gaming system — augmented by multiplatform short-form animated storytelling that brings the big action on a tiny scale to life.
The new adventure game, based on the Marvel Universe, combines micro collectible characters, cards and gaming, allowing kids to battle against Thanos in gameplay unleashed through a Battle Ball. Each Battle Ball contains a surprise of two Marvel collectable characters, Hero Cards, Battle Cards and pair of dice, all for a highly accessible price point. Players can collect Marvel micro heroes ranging from icons like Iron Man, Captain Marvel and Groot, as well as characters like Valkyrie, Gamora and Throg.
“We are thrilled that Marvel has chosen to expand the Funko collaboration to engage their younger fans with a new category of products and animation collaboration,” said Brian Mariotti, Chief Executive Officer of Funko. “Funko enters the toy aisle for the first time with a product offering of tremendous value. In addition to two micro-collectible characters inside the Battle Ball, the child can battle independently or team up with friends to defeat Thanos through game play. This kind of product assortment is both what kids want and what retailers are keen to offer parents.”
New Marvel Battleworld short-form animated content will be available across multiple platforms, including Disney XD, Marvel HQ, YouTube and more. Created by Funko Animation Studios, in collaboration with Marvel, this series will introduce children to a new plan by villain Thanos to trap Marvel heroes in Battleworld.
“Battleworld offers kids a completely new way to play and interact with the Marvel brand and universe of characters they know and love.” said Paul Gitter, SVP, Marvel Licensing. “The innovative tabletop gaming plus action-packed storytelling gives kids an immersive experience that’s fresh for the Marvel brand.”
The line will be first to market at Target stores nationwide this June.
Marvel Battleworld: Mystery of the ThanostonesMarvel Battleworld: Mystery of the Thanostones
Claude Joli-Coeur, Government Film Commissioner and Chairperson of the National Film Board of Canada, announced Wednesday that Julie Roy has been named the new Director General, Creation and Innovation, at the NFB. Roy will take up her duties as of May 20, 2020.
A celebrated professional whose recognition extends far beyond Canada (Cannes, Berlin, Annecy, Los Angeles), Julie Roy has 25 years of experience in film, including six as executive producer of the NFB’s French Animation Studio and more than 13 as a producer. She has more than 50 productions to her credit.
With her background as a producer who’s always encouraged experimentation and risk-taking while emphasizing the importance of social relevance, Roy’s chief mandate will be to strengthen the NFB’s creative leadership and establish an integrated programming vision in line with the organization’s strategic plan. This programming framework will serve as a springboard for producers and executive producers in the English and French Programs to launch their documentary, animation and interactive projects, while remaining true to the unique character of each studio and complementing the creativity of Canadian artists. The principles of inclusion and diversity, gender parity and representation of Indigenous people will continue to be an integral part of this programming vision.
“Creating at the NFB should be a unique experience — unlike any other in the industry,” said Roy. “To create a project here is to work with a spirit of collaboration, in an environment where the range of talent and artistic approaches motivates us to always do better. For creators, the NFB experience brings the artistic and intellectual stimulation that comes with the institution, enriched by the diverse experiences that our employees have to offer. To create at the NFB is to benefit from a platform like no other for having one’s voice heard by Canadians.”
Joli-Coeur added, “Julie has the leadership and determination to inspire a vision of programming that encourages team synergy and the production of unique and innovative projects. She is a woman of action and conviction. Julie takes the interests of all her teams and collaborators to heart, including the creators with whom she’s developed such honest and open working relationships over time. In addition, her years in marketing throughout the early 2000s have contributed to her keen audience awareness.”
Roy is well-known in the production and programming worlds, regularly serving as a speaker, panelist and programmer for events and festivals in Canada and around the world (in countries including Morocco, Austria, Italy and South Korea). She has collaborated with many publications, with recent contributions including pieces on the NFB and women filmmakers. She was vice president of Femmes du cinéma, de la télévision et des médias numériques (FCTMN) from 2012 to 2014 and is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She holds a master’s degree in film studies from Université de Montréal, a certificate in marketing from HEC Montréal and a bachelor’s degree in education from the Université du Québec à Montréal.
Her best-known productions include Here and the Great Elsewhere by Michèle Lemieux (2012), Carface by Claude Cloutier (2015) and The Head Vanishes by Franck Dion (Annecy Cristal Award for a short film in 2016). Roy was also executive producer of Theodore Ushev’s Blind Vaysha, which was nominated for the Best Animated Short Film Oscar in 2017.
Roy’s broad production experience ranges from animated documentary Quiet Zone by Karl Lemieux and David Bryant (2015) and the upcoming web series Caresses magiques by Lori Malépart-Traversy (2021), to the interactive project Burquette by Francis Desharnais (2014) and the technical and formal experimentation of Matthew Rankin’s The Tesla World Light, a 2017 Cannes Critics’ Week selection, and Patrick Bouchard’s The Subject, an official selection at the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight in 2018.
As Roy assumes her new role at the NFB, producer Marc Bertrand (Hollow Land, Blind Vaysha) will step in as interim Executive Producer for the French Animation Studio
The Head VanishesBlind VayshaCarfaceJulie Roy [Photo: Yannick Grandmont / NFB]
As part of Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+’s celebration of National #StreamingDay on Wednesday, Disney+ announced the new original series Muppets Now will premiere July 31 on the service. Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and the gang joined in the fun on Twitter, sharing their own unique spin on the series’ original key art:
Muppets Now is The Muppets Studio’s first original series for Disney+. In the six-episode season, Scooter rushes to make his delivery deadlines and upload the brand-new Muppet series for streaming. They are due now, and he’ll need to navigate whatever obstacles, distractions and complications the rest of the Muppet gang throws at him.
Overflowing with spontaneous lunacy, surprising guest stars and more frogs, pigs, bears (and whatevers) than legally allowed, the Muppets cut loose in Muppets Now with the kind of startling silliness and heartfelt fun that first made them famous.
This year’s online Annecy Festival and MIFA (June 15-30) is aiming to deliver all the fascinating, diverse programming that attendees are accustomed to at the physical editions. To prime animation palates for the future of the artform, the confab is once again gathering celebrated masters and up-and-coming creators to discuss their works in progress, preview exclusive images and materials of their upcoming films, and recap the secrets to their successes with “making of” and masterclass sessions.
The Work in Progress(WIP) section will spotlight projects from around the world. All of these works are different and unique, using diverse techniques such as cut-out elements for The Island, puppets, live-action shots and photos for No Dogs or Italians Allowed, 2D for The Summit of the Gods and The Cuphead Show! and drawings on paper for Mum Is Pouring Rain.
My Love Affair with Marriage
WIP Features
No Dogs or Italians Allowed by Alain Ughetto | Production: Alexandre Cornu, Enrica Capra, Nicolas Burlet, Ilan Urroz, Jean-François Le Corre, Manuel Poutte | Distibution: Gebeka Films (France, Italy, Belgium)
The Summit of the Gods by Patrick Imbert | Production: Jean-Charles Ostorero, Damien Brunner, Stéphan Roelants | Distribution: Diaphana Distribution (France, Luxembourg)
My Love Affair with Marriage by Signe Baumane | Production: Roberts Vinovskis, Sturgis Warner (Latvia, U.S.)
Inu-Oh by Masaaki Yuasa | Production: Fumie Takeuchi, Eunyoung Choi, Yuhai Cheng | Distribution: Asmik-Ace, Inc. (Japan, China)
The Island by Anca Damian | Production: Anca Damian, Gregory Zalcman, Augusto Zanovello, Mathieu Rolin, Gina Thorstensen (Romania, France, Belgium)
Len and the Song of the Whales by Joan Manuel Millán and Manuel Alejandro Victoria | Production: Julián Danilo Londoño Navarro, Marcial Quinones | Distribution: Latido Films (Colombia, Argentina)
Lamya’s Poem by Alexander Kronemer | Production: Unity Productions Foundation (U.S., Canada)
New Gods: Nezha Reborn by Ji Zhao | Production: Xi Lu | Distribution: Alibaba Pictures Group Limited (China)
Sirocco and the Kingdom of the Winds by Benoît Chieu | Production: Ron Dyens | Distribution: Haut et Court (France)
The Cuphead Show
WIP Series
The Cuphead Show! by Dave Wasson and Cosmo Segurson | Production and Distribution: Netflix (U.S., Canada, Ireland)
WIP TV Specials
Mum Is Pouring Rain by Hugo de Faucompret | Production: Antoine Lietout, Ivan Zuber, Emmanuèle Petry Sirvin, Jean-Baptiste Wery | Distribution: Dandelooo (France)
The Hangman at Home
WIP XR
The Hangman at Home by Michelle and Uri Kranot | Production: Lana Tankosa Nikolic, Katayoun Dibamehr, Avi Amar, Emmanuel-Alain Raynal, Marc Bertrand | Distribution: ONF, Miya Distribution (Denmark, France, Canada)
New immersive projects by Baobab Studios
Previously Recorded WIP Sessions
2018: The Swallows of Kabul by Zabou Breitman and Eléa Gobbé-Mevellec | Production: Les Armateurs | Distribution: Memento Films International (France, Luxembourg)
2019: Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal by Genndy Tartakovsky | Production: Adult Swim, La Cachette | Distribution: Adult Swim (U.S., France)
Even Mice Belong in Heaven
Animation lovers can catch up on the evolution of intriguing new projects from across Europe in the Preview sessions, covering:
Even Mice Belong in Heaven by Denisa Grimmová and Jan Bubeníček | Production: Vladimír Lhotak, Alexandre Charlet, Grzegorz Wacławek, Marek Jenicek | Distribution: Charades, Gebeka Films, Cinemart, M2 Films Poland (Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, France)
Dislocation by Veljko and Milivoj Popovic | Production: Veljko Popovic, Milivoj Popovic, Veronique Siegel | Distribution: BonoboStudio (Croatia, France)
Vanille by Guillaume Lorin | Production: Folimage, Reginald De Guillebon, Nadasdy Film, Nicolas Burlet | Distribution: Folimage (France)
In the Making Of program, directors Tony Brancroft and Scott Christian Sava will discuss the Animal Crackers adventure (distribution: Netflix; U.S.), its production, premiere at Annecy in 2017, and the obstacles that followed meeting its audience.
And Gutsy Animations will draw virtual attendees into Tove Jansson’s Moomin world, created for the first time in the 1940s and given a contemporary flavor in their creative new series, Moominvalley by Steve Box. (Distribution: PGS Entertainment; Finland, U.K.)
Plus, there will be live Q&A sessions throughout the two-week festival. All videos will be presented either in English or with English and/or French subtitles.
Sanrio and WildBrain CPLG announced Tuesday that the licensing agency is to represent the portfolio of popular Sanrio character brands including Hello Kitty, My Melody, Aggretsuko, Gudetama and Little Twin Stars across Iberia (Spain and Portugal) and Germany.
WildBrain CPLG, one of the world’s leading entertainment, sport and brand licensing agencies, will expand on Sanrio’s existing consumer products programs and take its brands into new categories in Iberia, with a focus on fashion accessories, homewares and collaborations with local brands. For Germany, WildBrain CPLG will handle all categories including apparel to bolster the ranges currently available at leading retailers including C&A, Zalando, Otto, Ernsting’s family, Lidl and myToys.
Sanrio is a global lifestyle brand best known for the pop icon Hello Kitty. Last year saw the company mark 45 years of Hello Kitty with a host of worldwide initiatives, including global fashion collaborations with some of the world’s best known brands including Levi’s, Puma, Furla and Converse; tie-ups with high-end fashion designers to create limited edition products, such as Balenciaga and GCDS; campaigns with social media influencers; and exhibitions and experiences to immerse fans in Hello Kitty’s world of happiness, friendship and fun.
The Hello Kitty brand has also seen extensive growth with fast-fashion retailers around the world, including Zara, H&M, Primark and Desigual, amongst others. Additionally, Sanrio recently announced a global master toy partnership with Mattel to develop toys and games inspired by a range of characters from its portfolio, which will roll out from Autumn 2020.
This year, Sanrio is celebrating its 60th anniversary with new initiatives, turning the spotlight onto more of its beloved characters: Fans will be invited to join digital campaigns, with more social media fun, exciting influencer tie-ups and competitions. In addition, new collaborations with fashion and other partners are launching with limited-edition collections.
“After working with Sanrio to celebrate Hello Kitty’s 35th anniversary in 2009, we’re excited to be teaming up with them once again,” said Maarten Weck, Executive Vice President & Managing Director at WildBrain CPLG. “Sanrio’s diverse and charming portfolio of characters is known and loved across Europe, and we’re looking forward to forging new licensing partnerships to bring them to life for fans across Iberia and Germany during Sanrio’s landmark 60th anniversary year and beyond.”
Silvia Figini, Chief Operating Officer Sanrio – EMEA, India and Oceania and Mr Men – Worldwide, commented, “We are happy to collaborate with a global agency such as WildBrain CPLG in two of our main markets. Their international expertise and our strong heritage will create a successful partnership, and we are confident that together we will boost our amazing portfolio of characters in all the product categories.”
Over the course of a decade, independent design and motion graphics-focused creative studio PlusOne has developed their own distinctive character and vision. The Amsterdam-based studio celebrates its tenth anniversary this year with a mind-warping one-minute manifesto — A mesmerizing wash of quirky vignettes that blend seamlessly into one witty and trippy whole.
The anniversary is a milestone marking 10 years of hard work, creative high points and great memories. And the perfect moment to get the company’s core values and aspirations down on paper. Over the years, PlusOne continued to champion traditional techniques throughout their work. This helps create an instantly recognizable signature that’s also clear to see in the Manifesto.
“From the outset, we’ve tried to create work that’s inspiring, exceptional and true to our values. Visuals never seen before that speak to the viewer aesthetically, emotionally and intellectually,” the studio explained.
“As with every project, for the Manifesto we did lots of research, drawing inspiration from a wide range of sources. Like Rembrandt’s ‘The Syndics of the Draper’s Guild’, in which the figures are looking up from their work, as though disturbed by the viewer’s arrival. We use this artistic device at the start of the film to immediately engage the viewer: a sleeping crash test dummy appears to be woken and stares directly at the viewer. The dummy has no facial features, yet the insinuative power of animation tells you they’re looking at you in surprise.
“The internet is also a font of inspiration for us. For one scene, for example, we endlessly watched and analyzed in granular detail super-slow-motion footage of popping popcorn. In fact, pretty well every scene has its little backstory. Some people will spot that the marching two-legged elephants are a tribute to the legendary elephant parade scene in Disney’s classic, Dumbo, which made a lasting impression on some of us.
“It was a really enjoyable collaborative process. The script was written collectively, with everyone pitching ideas for scenes and only the strongest ones surviving through to the final cut.
“Once we had a first draft of the animation, we asked our friends at Six Feet High to join in on the sound department. As always, the guys took it to the next level, which in turn was inspiring for the designers and animators. We’re confident that the final piece, including the tailor-made sound, resonates with the handmade, unpolished, human feel that we’re after.”
Niche Media has announced the 2020 Nichee Award winners, presented in a virtual ceremony to celebrate the year’s best in the world of niche magazines. This year’s online edition was expanded to include 26 categories and received over 140 entries from publishers across the U.S. and around the globe — four times the Awards’ yearly average. Winners were judged by a panel formed in partnership with Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of journalism and communication.
Animation Magazine is proud to share that our very own Sheri Shelton, who has built relationships with so many of you across all facets of the animation and VFX industry in her 25 years with us, has been awarded the Best Sales Executive honors this year!
“Sheri Shelton has been a gift to me, her colleagues, and the world of animation since she started at Animation Magazine in the ’90s,” said Jean Thoren, President & Publisher of Animation Magazine. “She is a dear friend, and the honorary ‘Mom’ of our Animag family. She has raised four fantastic kids, has been married for more than 40 years and spoils her grandkids whenever she can. The heart and effort she puts into everything she does and everyone she knows makes her a delight to all who have had the pleasure of knowing her. Congratulations Sheri, no one deserves this award more!”
Sheri Shelton and Jean Thoren taking a well-earned break with producer John Andrews at Annecy.
Since joining the Animag family in 1995, Sheri has consistently put her work, her clients all over the globe and her performance at the fore of her efforts — she literally sleeps with her computer, as one might guess from some of her email timestamps! — while never neglecting to take time to be a loving wife, mother, grandmother and thoughtful friend.
Sheri started out as a sales assistant to three sales people, and as the print industry struggled has kept Animag on course as our sole sales executive. Since the economic crash of 2008, she has consistently delivered increasing ad sales for both the 10X per year print/digital editions, email newsletter and website. Sheri has grown with the changes in our industry and delivered and understood the new algorithms and data that ad agencies require. She has a creative and very personal style that appeals to both smaller production companies and the big-time players — who choose to advertise with us based on her RFP’s and her ability to deliver. Clients trust Sheri to make them look good, and she takes this trust seriously.
Sheri Shelton holding down the Animag booth at SIGGRAPH
Over the years, Sheri has spearheaded innovative sales stunts such as Animag‘s highly successful 30th Anniversary issue double-spread spotlights on studios, companies and creatives, which drove the perfect-bound issue to become our highest-grossing ever (still in demand for back issue orders).
On top of the magazine and its online extensions, Sheri helps ensure that Animag‘s popular supplementary materials such as the annual Education & Careers Guide, Trade Show Calendar and more keep our readers informed and our industry partners well-represented.
You can get in touch with Sheri to say congratulations or inquire about the latest advertising opportunities with Animation Magazine at sales@www.animationmagazine.net.
The “Animag Family” annual holiday reunion (2018)Sheri Shelton and groupSheri Shelton and groupSheri Shelton and Jean Thoren
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