It seems that the raunchy grocery romp Sausage Party whetted the animation appetites of Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. According to Variety, the comedy collaborators are teaming up with Sony Pictures Animation to produce an adult animated feature based on the 2018 podcast Bubble, through their Point Grey Pictures banner. Matt Tolmach (Jumanji, Venom, upcoming Morbius) is also producing through his eponymous label.
Bubble is a fictional audio adventure following a group of unlikely friends who come together through a monster hunting gig app, called “Huntr”. Creator Jordan Morris (Unikitty!, @midnight) is writing the script for the feature adaptation.
Welcome to Fairhaven, a literal Bubble of corporate utopia set amid the wild, imp-infested Brush. The first scripted comedy series from Maximum Fun, Bubble tells a tale that is both contemporary and otherworldly, as a small band of monster killers struggles to make ends meet and find love in a nightmarish version of the gig economy.
The podcast is available as part of the Maximum Fun network, listen here.
Attached as executive producers are Kyle Hunter, Ariel Shaffir, James Weaver and David Manpearl, with Maximum Fun and Morris as co-exec producers. Camilla Grove of Matt Tolmach Prod. brought in the idea.
Released by Sony’s Columbia Pictures, Sausage Party (2016) was a breakout for R-rated animated features, bagging more than $140 million in worldwide box-office off a budget of just $19M.
The production sparked controversy however, with animators and other employees at Canada’s Nitrogen Studios successfully suing for unpaid overtime, and British Columbia media union Unifor Local 2000 issuing an official complaint. Founded by Greg Tiernan (director of Sausage Party with Conrad Vernon) and Nicole Stinn in 2003, Nitrogen is now part of U.K.-based Cinesite.
MiMO Studio — launched in February by former president of Nickelodeon, Cyma Zarghami — has acquired Deborah Diesen’s bestelling preschool book franchise The Pout-Pout Fish and award-winning kids’ serialized podcast The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian for development into multiple animated TV specials.
Written by Diesen and illustrated by Dan Hanna, The Pout-Pout Fish (Macmillan) line has expanded to more than 40 titles since its New York Times best-seller debut in 2008, with more than 8.5 million copies sold. The original rhyming story about a frowny fish whose undersea friends try to cheer him up was awarded 2009 Bank Street – Best Children’s Book of the Year. MiMO’s adaptation will follow the scaly protagonist’s first adventure and develop the core characters.
The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian centers on the titular eight-year-old boy who lives on The Famous Marlowe 280 Interplanetary Exploratory Space Station, exploring uncharted planets, helping aliens and working to untangle a mysterious threat to destroy the Marlowe with the help of his friends and fellow Explorers Troop 301 scouts Abigail, Elias and Vale. The podcast is produced by Gen-Z Media, founded by author Jonathan Messinger (Hiding Out).
“As we ramp up our studio, The Pout-Pout Fish and The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian are perfect IP for us to develop as they are based on well-known and beloved properties that align perfectly with MiMO Studio’s objective to deliver content for families to enjoy. The characters in these stories have been loved by kids of all ages through imaginative, adventurous and interactive storytelling while encouraging families to spend time together,” MiMO’s Founder & CEO Zarghami told Deadline. “Even during these trying times, writers, producers and animators are able to continue their work remotely and we are working with an amazing group who will bring these stories to life in a new way for fans who’ve loved them for years and those who are just discovering them.”
MiMO is currently working on its debut project, a live-action movie based on Matt Christopher’s children’s book The Kid Who Only Hit Homers.
Like most companies, Crafty Apes (www.craftyapes.com), a visual effects and production studio with a list of impressive credits that includes Jumanji: The Next Level, Watchmen, Hustlers and Dolemite Is My Name, had to quickly shift all of its artists to working from home in March, with relatively little time to prepare.
“We had to go from an office full of people to everyone working from home, and we had to do it very quickly,” said Tim LeDoux, founder and VFX supervisor for Crafty Apes. “Our artists are all now working from home, editing shots, doing their jobs, and all with a high degree of security, since we’re just streaming the data and not sending any files home.”
The transition of approximately 150 artists, across its five global office locations, took approximately one week, with 60 artists transitioned in a single day. Crafty Apes was able to execute this move with little disruption and keep its artists online and maintain production schedules at a time when many enterprises across a wide range of industries have struggled to support a mass migration of employees from the office to the home.
Aleks Siekiewicz, a comp supervisor at Crafty Apes, keeps an upbeat attitude while working from home.
The transition was supported by RFX Inc., a hardware and software solution provider for the VFX industry, and Teradici, the creator of PC-over-IP (PCoIP) technology. Crafty Apes, a Teradici customer for several years, expanded an existing installation of PCoIP technology it had already been using to support artists in branch offices and other remote locations from centralized data centers.
Crafty Apes artists have full access and functionality of their office workstations from their home offices using 10ZiG zero clients and can work within their regular software applications, including Nuke, Houdini, Autodesk Maya and Adobe Photoshop. PCoIP technology encrypts and sends only pixels to the remote endpoint with high-fidelity color and graphics performance and virtually no latency, while keeping files securely stored in the office location and compliant with Trusted Partner Network (TPN) security requirements.
The studio wasn’t alone in its quick transition. Over the last few weeks, stories have surfaced from others, including Atomic Cartoons, Mainframe and Scanline.
“There are a number of reasons for VFX and animation studios to implement PCoIP technology, including long term security, efficiency, and cost savings to be found in centralizing workstations either in the cloud, in private data centers, or a combination of both,” said Ian Main, technical marketing principal for Teradici. “One of the key advantages is in the agility and resiliency PCoIP solutions can bring to studio workflows, and we believe this can be applied across not only the media and entertainment industry, but more widely across other organizations as well.”
RFX, which specializes in software and professional services for visual effects studios, has seen increased demand for remote work solutions over the last several weeks as production centers like California, New York, Vancouver and India closed offices and shifted employees home to comply with public health recommendations.
“Each company has different permutations and combinations of hardware, software, projects, and locations to support,” said Cliff Edson, general manager for RFX. “Teradici PCoIP technology is tried and tested across the industry and delivers in terms of fidelity, performance, and security requirements, but the specific implementation of it can vary according to each company’s needs. Working closely with Teradici, we have been able to run proofs-of-concept exceptionally quickly and help minimize downtime during a studio’s transition.”
Tom Kenny, the voice of the iconic SpongeBob SquarePants, is teaming up with Tara Strong (The Fairly Odd Parents’ Timmy Turner), Eric Bauza (Woody Woodpecker), Jess Harnell (Transformers’ Ironhide), Jeff Bennett (Johnny Bravo) and other star voice talent of the children’s entertainment world to record a series of kid-focused public service announcements for the podcast, A Moment for Kids.
Produced by Splash Entertainment, the multi-award-winning children’s entertainment studio, in partnership with CurtCo Media — a new podcast network dedicated to creating, distributing and hosting inspirational, authoritative and sometimes humorous content — the 1- to 2-minute messages are designed to help answer children’s questions and allay their concerns during the COVID-19 crisis in an entertaining and informative way.
Six PSAs have been produced to date, each featuring top voice talent, and are now live on Apple, Deezer, Omny, Spotify, Stitcher and TuneIn. Additional PSAs will be released shortly.
“This is a time for giving back, and I’m so thrilled about creating these bite-sized messages to help children understand what’s happening during this challenging time and to do so with incredibly talented people who all stepped forward to make it happen,” said Splash Entertainment Co-CEO Mike Young. “There is a real need for this type of content right now, and I’m so gratified that everyone we contacted to participate donated their time to the project without hesitation.”
The supportive and informative episodes, all set to music, provide empowering messages to listeners with scripted vignettes about washing hands and other ways to stay healthy as well as constructive activities to fill the day like art projects, practicing musical instruments, calling grandparents, and more. The just-released episodes include: “Katie’s Coronavirus Diary” and “Meet the Coronavirus” (both voiced by Tara Strong and written by Tom Mason), “The Smee Shake Boogie Break” (voiced and created by Jeff Bennett), “Starship Corona” (voiced by Jess Harnell and written by Julian Stone), “SuperWally” (voiced by Tom Kenny and written by Julian Stone)” and “Woody Woodpecker” (voiced by Eric Bauza and written by Mike Young).
A Moment for Kids is a sub-series of A Moment of Your Time, presented by CurtCo Media and produced by Jenny Curtis. The series was created during the current quarantine period in response to the global Coronavirus pandemic with the mission of providing a space for expression, collaboration, community, and solidarity.
The BFI has today announced new development projects through its Young Audiences Content Fund (YACF). Designed to boost the strength of U.K. production, the Development Fund backs producers from all corners of the U.K., providing a vital avenue of support for creators of new original content for audiences up to 18 years old. The latest slate demonstrates how the fund is bringing opportunities to new and emerging voices with a diverse range of projects that are intended for broadcast but are not yet in a position to secure a commission.
Five animated or mixed-media projects are included in the list: Animation Garden’s LGBT+ positive sketch show for kids 6-12, Mustard and Ketchup; Rebecca Atkinson’s disability visibility series Mix Mups (Mackinnon and Saunders); LoveLove Films’ MIPTV pitch winner Pop Paper City; The Sound Collector, featuring a main character who wears hearing aids, from Eagle vs. Bat; and Illuminated Films’ storybook adaptation Rocket, about an adventurous girl with an insatiable curiosity.
The industry has been embracing the Fund as a route to develop projects, and the BFI have received 181 applications for development in its first year. The YACF has confirmed they have awarded 63 development applications in their first 12 months, with a committed spend of £1,719,620 on development projects to date. The Fund is supporting a variety of new television projects for all ages up to 18 years which represent young people from across the U.K., and alongside this development slate, details on Production Awards will be announced in due course.
The YACF remains open for business amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, welcoming new funding applications from producers as well as supporting existing development and production activities. Awards are still being made every week and as ever, the team welcomes program ideas that specifically help young people in the U.K. understand the world around them and offer a chance to see their lives, in all their diversity, reflected on screen.
“We’re incredibly proud of the range of projects we’re able to support within our development slate, nurturing stories and concepts we feel will enrich television for young audiences. Throughout the first year, we have been overwhelmed by the quality of the development applications, and I’m hugely excited about the exciting new U.K. talent we have been able to support,” said Jackie Edwards, Head of the YACF at BFI. “We are of course continuing to support and fund applications through lockdown, and as the majority of development activity can be accomplished remotely, we encourage producers with great new ideas to continue submitting applications.”
John Whittingdale, Minister for Media and Data, noted, “It is hugely important that the diverse experiences of young people across the country are represented on screen. This publicly-funded scheme continues to support homegrown talent and original content that not only inspires our younger generation but is also properly representative of the world we live in.”
The latest round of development funding awards, made over the last six months, embraces all techniques, genres and audiences, and includes a mix of programs addressing key social issues such as LGBTIQ+, disability, climate change and racial discrimination.
The development funding slate’s animated projects are:
TWEENS/CHILDREN (6-12)
Animation Garden’s Mustard and Ketchup is an animated comedy sketch show providing positive and age appropriate representation for the LGBT community, with the character’s sexuality incidental to their madcap adventures.
PRESCHOOL (0-5)
Mackinnon and Saunders’ Mix Mups, an animation series created by journalist Rebecca Atkinson, founder of #ToysLikeMe, a not-for-profit organisation which aims to increase the representation of disability in toys. This series seeks to better represent disability in children’s television.
Love Love Films’ mixed-media preschool show Pop Paper City, which incorporates live-action instructional craft sequences into animation with the aim of inspiring children to create their own worlds and stories.
Eagle vs Bat‘s mixed media show The Sound Collector uses stop-motion to share short stories about a little guy and his love for sound. The lead character wears hearing aids and is a rare representation of disability (hearing impairment) on screen.
Illuminated Films’ snappy, thoughtful and rewarding animated preschool adventure Rocket is based on the book Look Up! by Nathan Bryon and Dapo Adeola. Rocket is an inquisitive, excitable young girl with an insatiable thirst for knowledge and understanding. We follow her journey growing up testing, trying, and learning new things (to varying degrees of success) and exploring her identity as a young girl of West Indian heritage, living in a diverse and bustling inner city.
Live-action projects are:
TEENS (13-18)
Elysian Film Group’s teen drama Future Hot, about a group of young climate change activists who decide to take action – only for the corporate world to strike back.
Singer Films’ documentary series Redefining Refugees, following refugee and Olympian Yusra Mardini and aimed at inspiring young Muslim women in the U.K. to compete in professional sport whilst confronting the misrepresentation of refugees.
Duck Soup Films’ teen drama Dance School, about an ethnically and socio-economically diverse group of students aged 16-25 attending a world-renowned dance school in Chapeltown, Leeds.
Empress Films’ documentary series They, chronicling the lives of four extremely contrasting LGBTIQ+ teenagers across the U.K. Shining a light on teenage experience, exploring what unites and divides them and emphasising the positive that comes with being queer, young and proud.
Bryncoed-television’s teen drama As Dead As It Gets is a rites of passage series about a group of 16-year-old school friends from Croydon. On completion of their GCSE exams and energised by their new-found freedom, our teens dive into experience with little regard for the consequences – navigating drugs, sex, trauma, death and redemption.
Shudder Film’s scripted comedy from Gavin Williams and Jack Tarling, Synch Estate takes an urgent social issue – and gives it a satirical, sci-fi twist. Fast-paced, funny, sexy, and rude, it will reflect the spirit of the U.K. blending edgy, bawdy humor with grounded character-driven drama.
Hillbilly Films’ comedy drama Troupes, set in a coastal town in the North West of England, from writer Georgia Christou.
TWEENS/CHILDREN (6-12)
Bowled Over Media’s exclusive film Young Bee Keepers of the World Unite will follow young British bee-keepers at schools and bee clubs as they work towards representing their country at the International Meeting of Young Beekeepers (IMYB). As children all over the world take tackling the climate crisis into their own hands, bee-keeping is a practical response growing in popularity.
Scattered Pictures’ imagination grabbing comedy series Ella and Sir Whoopsalot has been created by Newcastle-based comedy writer Bridget Deane, directed by Emmy Award winner Simon Gibney, and set in a real-life castle. It centers on the friendship and adventures of nine-year-old Ella Chambers and her best friend, Sir Whoopsalot – who just happens to be a six-hundred-year old knight.
Bandit Cornwall’s Alien8ed, a contemporary sci-fi action drama series sees a group of Cornish teens test their friendships, prove their maturity, ingenuity and bravery by working together to smash a growing threat.
New Brazillian animated series Tainá and the Amazon’s Guardians, produced by Hype Animation, Sincrocine and the Viacom group, makes its streaming debut on Netflix across all of Latin America. Aimed at preschool audiences, the 26 x 11′ show follows the adventures of a young Indigenous girl named Tainá and her animal friends: the monkey Catu, the king vulture Pepe and the little hedgehog Suri.
With little heroes who are always ready to take care of the forest and their friends, Tainá and the Amazon’s Guardians brings messages of respect, friendship and care for nature to the streaming platform.
The production received resources from Ancine and the Fundo Setorial do Audiovisual, sponsored by RioFilme and Norsul, and supported by BNDES. Created by Pedro Carlos Rovai and Virginia Limberger, Tainá is directed by André Forni, produced by Carolina Fregatti and executive produced by Marcela Baptista. French animation boutique Dandelooo serves as distributor. Entirely produced in 3D animation, Tainá and the Amazon’s Guardians had its Latin America premiere on Viacom’s Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. channels in 2018.
Aimed at children aged three to six, Tainá and the Amazon’s Guardians uses Brazilian characters to encourage children to respect diversity and cultural differences with themes of friendship and ecology.
“For us at Hype, it was a very rewarding job to work with its very positive message of the importance of helping others,” commented Hype Animation’s CEO, Gabriel Garcia. The series is the animated TV spin-off of the hit trilogy of Brazilian features. “There was always this challenge of how to present Tainá but also the Amazon to a global preschool audience. [To show] all the richness of our fauna and flora — in a playful way — was one of our main goals.”
Cartoon Network celebrates Asian-American Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPIHM) with the second installment of Drawn To, its newest digital series “by kids, for kids” highlighting culture and creativity. Each video will be narrated by Steven Universe star Michaela Dietz (voice of Amethyst) and feature some of CN’s biggest fans, who share stories of their heritage and lineage.
Joined by their families at home, the vignettes spotlight a diverse spectrum of Asian-American and Pacific Islander kids who explore how they are drawn to their respective cultures through family, expression and food.
The month-long campaign begins today with the first episode “Family” followed by the premieres of “Expression” and “Food” rolling out across all platforms including linear, social and the Cartoon Network App. Get a sneak peek of the first episode below!
The latest Disney animation classic getting the reimagination treatment is 1997’s musical, mythological adventure Hercules, according to THR. Set to be produced by Marvel Cinematic Universe alums Joe and Anthony Russo (Captain America: The Winter Soldier & Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War & Endgame) through their AGBO banner, the film now has writer Dave Callaham on board. The scribe’s credits include The Expendables, Zombieland: Double Tap and upcoming Wonder Woman 1984, Marvel project Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse sequel.
Based on Greek mythology, the vintage Hercules was directed by Disney animation legends Ron Clements and John Musker, with music by Alan Menken.
With an array of source materials and legends of the demigod strongman to choose from, the pic started out in developed in 1992 as a pitch based on The Odyssey, later evolving into a 2D musical adventure centered on Hercules (voiced by Tate Donovan): A son of Olympus sent to Earth and nearly denuded of his godly powers — except his incredible strength. With the help of the satyr Phil (Danny DeVito), he trains up from a clumsy teen to a celebrated hero. However, the ruler of the underworld, Hades (James Woods), is bent on destroying him and overthrowing his father Zeus, and has the beautiful, tough and canny object of Herc’s desire, Megara (Susan Egan), under his thumb.
The speaking voice case also boasted Rip Torn and Samantha Eggar (Zeus and Hara), Bobcat Goldthwait and Matt Frewer (Hades’ lackeys Pain and Panic), Paul Shaffer, Jim Cummings, Wayne Knight and Keith David. The singing Muses who narrate the action were Lillias White, Cheryl Freeman, LaChanze, Roz Ryan and Vanéese Y. Thomas. Frank Welker performed as Pegasus.
Of course, fans are eagerly playing casting director for the project online. Notably, Ariana Grande’s performance of “I Won’t Say I’m in Love” during The Disney Family Singalong launched a Change.org petition asking for the popular singer to play Megara. Watch it here.
Oscar-qualifying festival Cinanima (November 9-15; Epinho, Portugal) has issued its call for entries, seeking animated films created after Jan. 1, 2019 for its International Competition (Short Film, School Films/Graduation Films, Feature Films) and National Competition (Antonio Gaio Award for Best Film, Best Young Portuguese Director Award). Besides the traditional film programs, masterclasses, workshops and retrospectives, the 44th edition will offer special thematic nights for general audiences, as well as creative and challenging selections for children and youngsters during the day. More information and online submission form here — deadline July 10, 2020.
Festival Stop Motion Montreal (September 14-20; Montreal, QC, Canada) is seeking submissions for its 12th edition: Projects running 30 minutes or less produced after Jan. 1, 2018 using puppet animation, object animation and/or pixillation are accepted, and there is no fee to enter. Selected films will be considered for the prize categories Best Professional Film, Best Independent Film, Best Emerging Talent Film, Best Youth Film, Audience Award, and NAD Special Award (given to a Canadian filmmaker). The event will also feature professional development workshops for stop-motion artists. Rules, regulations and submission forms here — deadline is June 30, 2020.
The biennial Hiroshima international animation festival (August 20-24; Hiroshima, Japan) has joined the ranks of events forced to adjust their 2020 plans in the wake of coronavirus. Festival Director Sayoko Kinoshita shared in an email update that the organizers have opted not to hold a physical event for the 18th edition. However, film selection will begin May 1 and the competition selections will be revealed at the end of the month. International Jury members will be announced in early July, and award winners will be announced at the end of August. Learn more at the Love & Peace fest’s website.
Cartoon Forum (September 14-17; Toulouse, France) is calling for animated TV projects with an extended deadline of May 11, 2020. Organizers have overcome some technical difficulties with the online submission platform, so those with TV Series and Specials seeking co-production partners and industry connections should hop to it! Submit your project here.
Ottawa International Animation Festival (September 23-27; Ottawa, ON, Canada) has revealed the official 2020 poster, created by animator, director, writer, voice-actor and musician Christy Karacas (creator of Superjail! and Ballmastrz: 9009 for Adult Swim). OIAF organizers wish to remind filmmakers that submissions are open until May 29, 2020. If you need an animation fix to hold you over until the next fest, last year’s Grand Prize winner Don’t Know What has debuted on Vimeo as a Staff Pick.
Karacas commented on the poster reveal:
“The Ottawa International Animation Festival will always have a special place in my heart. I was first introduced to the festival in 1996 by Amy Kravitz and Steven Subotnick when they took our RISD senior class to the festival.
That year and every year that I have attended, I make amazing new friends, witness some of the best animation the world has to offer, and participate in some fantastic debauchery. I try to come every year I can and every time I do I am reminded why I love animation and the people who love it, watch it, and create it.
My inspiration for the poster was festival-goers trying to get a front row seat for one of the best animation festivals in the world. Please don’t follow their bad behavior.”
OIAF 2020
Animafest Zagreb — originally scheduled for June in Croatia but still developing as it awaits new dates — has revealed this year’s visual identity, illustrated by Yoriko Mizushiri and designed by kuna zlatica design studio. Mizushiri is one of Japan’s most distinctive younger artists and a world-renowned animator, who has managed. Her films, like Futon (2012), Kamakura (2013) and Veil (2014), are dreamlike and sensual pastel studies of the senses – partly figurative and partly geometrical reminiscences of impressions and touches from small daily pleasures and pains. She has won and been nominated for awards from prestigious festivals including Animafest, Annecy and Berlinale.
The next evolution of Stuttgart’s famous animation confab,OnlineFestival.ITFS.de (May 5-10, streaming) has revealed details of its lineup of Workshops & Master Classes (noon), Kids Stream (2-5 p.m.), Talks & Shorts (6-8 p.m.), Focus On (8 p.m.), Night Talk (10 p.m.) and Night Stream (11 p.m.) programs. (Note: Programs are in German or English, see program for details.)
Master Classes/Workshops:Nicolas Blies & Stéphane Hueber-Blies on Zero Impunity (Wed., May 6). Denis Walgenwitz (Animation Sans Frontières): artistic expectations versus production possibilities – challenges for animation projects (Thurs., May 7). Pedro Rivero (Psychonauts: The Forgotten Children): Writing for animated and live action films (Fri., May 8). John Lee & Lisa Ott (NFTS): Model making on film (Sat., May 9). Tina Brenneisen “Sabotage” narrative disruption workshop (Sun., May 10).
Kids Stream: The family program will offer shorts and series such as Nils Holgersson (Studio 100) as well as workshops, webinars and interviews.
Talks & Shorts: Films for adults accompanied by talks with local players and international names of note, such as Dustin Grella of Queens College (May 9), Uncle Thomas director Regina Pessoa (May 9) and Rocks in My Pockets director Signe Baumane (May 10); and lectures/presentations from artists like Who Framed Roger Rabbit producer Max Howard (May 6) and indie star Bill Plympton (May 8). Plus, the World Premiere of Botschaften and interview with director Daniel Höpfner (May 6)
Focus On: Theme nights include the Oscars (May 6), French animation (May 7), games & eSports (May 8), music & animation (May 9) and the ITFS Awards ceremony (May 10).
Night Talk: Representative from the cultural scene will join ITFS organizers to look behind the scenes. There will also be small cinematic gems from partners like ARTE, and a late night film program.
Night Stream: Cap off each day of the fest with concerts, the ITFS trailer show, the best of the 48H Animation Jam of the last 15 years, and more.
In celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Disney Junior will debut three new episodes and a new short-form interstitial series of its hit animated series, Mira, Royal Detective, about a young girl who is appointed to the role of Royal Detective and travels throughout the magical Indian-inspired kingdom of Jalpur solving mysteries for her friends and family.
Highlighting key cultural themes like the importance of family, food and traditions, the episodes will premiere the next three Fridays (May 1, 8 and 15) at 11 a.m. EDT/PDT on Disney Channel, and will also be available on Disney Junior and DisneyNOW. Kunal Nayyar (The Big Bang Theory) and Rizwan Manji (Schitt’s Creek) guest star in the episode debuting Friday, May 15.
Also premiering in May is a new short-form interstitial series titled We’re on the Case, which follows Mira and her mongoose friends, Mikku and Chikku, as they embark on mystery-solving adventures for young viewers to follow along at home that highlight the vibrant culture and heritage of India. The first short debuts this Friday, May 1 (7:24 a.m. EDT/PDT on Disney Channel and 9:18 a.m. EDT/PDT on Disney Junior) and centers on the peacock, the national bird of India.
In addition, Disney Junior will spotlight series’ choreographer Nakul Dev Mahajan, who will take viewers behind the scenes of the series’ Bollywood music video, and Disney Channel will introduce viewers to Leela Ladnier, the voice of Mira, in on-air interstitials that will air throughout the month.
Since its premiere in March, Mira, Royal Detective has been praised by viewers and critics — especially among the Asian American community — for its depiction of South Asian culture and customs.
“Mira, Royal Detective is a groundbreaking new children’s series set in a fictional kingdom but incorporating authentic Indian customs and culture. It is the rare example of a series that actually stars a South Asian character who gets to tell her own stories, instead of just serving a supporting role.” – Daniel Mayeda, Chair of the Asian Pacific American Media Coalition (APAMC)
“We applaud Disney for the development of [Mira, Royal Detective] and how it introduces and projects the beauty and diversity of South Asian culture, music, attire and religion to its audience. The show allows children of South Asian heritage to see themselves in the show and how their culture also deserves to be celebrated and shared.” – Gujari Singh, Communications Director of the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF)
“Mira, Royal Detective is a welcome addition to animated children’s programming that features a smart and dynamic heroine and captures the customs, colors and music of South Asia. There is a veritable collection of the voice talents of notable actors from the South Asian diaspora. The stories have characters with South Asian names who hold a variety of careers and jobs (from queen to kulfi vendor to dance instructor to inventor) and exhibit traits such as creativity, compassion and competitive-ness that make up a broad and detailed world for Mira and friends to have adventures.” – Shilpa Davé, author of Indian Accents: Brown Voice and Racial Performance in American TV and Film and professor of Media Studies at University of Virginia
New episodes premiering in May (11 a.m. EDT/PDT, Disney Channel) are:
Friday, May 1: “The Mysterious Polo Player/The Case of the Secret Treasure” – In the first story of the episode, Mira is determined to figure out the identity of a mysterious polo player. Then, Mira and her friends find a treasure map that leads to mysterious tunnels under the palace.
Friday, May 8: “The Case of the Chiseling Chiselers/A Patchwork Mystery” – When the royal sword goes missing, Mira agrees to help Veer find it. Then, when a tapestry that Priya created for Jalpur’s anniversary celebration is nowhere to be found, Mira sets out on the case to find it before the party begins.
Friday, May 15: “Mystery at the Marketplace/Mystery in the Sand Dunes” – Meena and Priya want to make special ladoos for their father Naveen’s homecoming party, so Mira must help them track down the spice merchant, Mr. Khan, who has an essential ingredient. Kunal Nayyar (The Big Bang Theory) and Rizwan Manji (Schitt’s Creek) guest star as Naveen and Mr. Khan, respectively. While testing Neel’s new vehicle in the desert, a sandstorm causes it to become lost.
WarnerMedia Entertainment Networks & Sales has appointed Carlene Tan as its new Director of Original Production & Development for its Kids division in Asia Pacific. As departmental lead, she is responsible for identifying new IP and producing original series for Cartoon Network, Boomerang and POGO.
Based in Singapore, Tan will immediately get involved with the current slate of Asia Pacific originals, including the International Emmy-nominated Lamput, the just-launched Monster Beach. She will also help steer the long-running Roll No. 21 series in India, and both Titoo and Lambuji Tinguji, which will launch on POGO later this year.
“Carlene combines strategic business experience with her love of storytelling to connect with audiences. Her relationships with studios and talent in the regional and global animation ecosystem will be instrumental in bringing new stories to life,” says Leslie Lee, Head of Kids for WarnerMedia Entertainment Networks & Sales in Asia Pacific.
Prior to WarnerMedia, Tan developed original animation with The Walt Disney Company (Southeast Asia) and was studio head at One Animation, where she produced Oddbods and Insectibles. Prior to that, with the founder of DreamWorks Animation, she managed the Singapore arm of Cloudpic Global and produced various digital projects for mobile apps launched across Asia. She was also one of the founding members of Singapore’s first animation studio, Peach Blossom Media.
Also in Lee’s team is Hoyoung Jung, who has recently been promoted as Director of Acquisitions and Co-productions, APAC Kids. Based in Japan, Jung is now tasked with the discovery and negotiation of third-party programming for WarnerMedia’s Kids platforms in the region, and will be the face of the networks at key international markets and trade shows.
Jung is a former Mattel employee and worked in the strategic IP partnerships team responsible for APAC content distribution in Hong Kong. He also worked at Daewon Media, which represented iconic Japanese IP in Korea, such as Power Rangers, Doraemon and One Piece.
The Emmy, Critics Choice and GLAAD Media Award-nominated Netflix original series She-Ra and the Princesses of Power returns May 15 with 13 all-new episodes! To send off the series finale of the hit DreamWorks Animation adventure with the full royal treatment, a new trailer has launched featuring an exciting cover of the theme song “Warriors,” performed by AJ Michalka (voice of Catra).
The full series soundtrack, including Michalka’s cover and score from series composer Sunna Wehrmeijer, will be available May 8. (Pre-save to Spotify and Apple Music here.)
In season 5, the ruthless Horde Prime has arrived and without the Sword of Protection and She-Ra, the Rebellion are facing their toughest challenge yet. In this epic conclusion unexpected adversaries are confronted and relationships are tested, broken and changed forever. Will Adora and the Princesses of Power be able to save their planet? Or will the universe succumb to the evil might of Horde Prime before love can conquer hate?
Led by executive producer Noelle Stevenson (Eisner Award-winning and New York Times bestselling writer and cartoonist), She-Ra and the Princesses of Power has put women unabashedly at the forefront on and off screen, with empowered characters brought to life by a diverse voice cast, an all-female writers room and a majority female crew. Stevenson and her team have created emotionally complex and diverse heroes depicted through race, gender, body type and sexuality, that have expanded what sci-fi-fantasy can be and who can see themselves represented.
The series features the voice talents of Aimee Carrero (Young and Hungry) as Adora/She-Ra, Karen Fukuhara (The Boys) as Glimmer, AJ Michalka (The Goldbergs) as Catra, Marcus Scribner (black-ish) as Bow, Lauren Ash (Superstore) as Scorpia, Reshma Shetty (Royal Pains) as Angella, Lorraine Toussaint (Orange Is the New Black) as Shadow Weaver, Keston John (The Good Place) as Hordak, Christine Woods (Hello Ladies) as Entrapta, Genesis Rodriguez (Time After Time) as Perfuma, Jordan Fisher (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before 2) as Seahawk, Vella Lovell (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) as Mermista, Merit Leighton (Alexa and Katie) as Frosta, Sandra Oh (Killing Eve) as Castaspella, Krystal Joy Brown (Motown: The Musical) as Netossa, Jacob Tobia as Double Trouble and Oscar winner Geena Davis as Huntara.
Follow @DreamWorksSheRa across social media for the latest updates.
Adult Swim has released the all-new official trailer for the highly-anticipated second season of The Shivering Truth. The compelling yet discomforting stop-motion animated series continues with even more terrifying stories to keep you awake at night. Season 2 premieres on Sunday, May 10 at midnight (Sunday night leading into Monday), right after Rick and Morty.
Synopsis:The Shivering Truth is a delicately crafted, darkly surreal anthology comedy. Each episode is a miniature propulsive omnibus cluster bomb of painfully riotous daymares all dripping with the orange goo of dream logic. A series of loosely linked emotional parables about stories within tales that crawled out of the deepest caverns of your unconscious mind and became lovingly animated in breath-slapping stop motion — in other words, it is the TRUTH (squared).
This season features the voices of Kate Berlant, Mike Birbiglia, Wyatt Cenac, Julia Davis, Chris Elliott, Will Forte, Josh Gad, Miranda July, Jason Mantzoukas, Kyle Mooney, Griffin Newman, Ego Nwodim, Alia Shawkat and Tierra Whack, along with show creator and writer, Vernon Chatman.
The quarter-hour animated series is directed by Chatman and Cat Solen, executive produced by PFFR (Chatman, Alyson Levy and John Lee) with Solen, and co-executive produced by Lisa M. Thomas. The animation studio is HouseSpecial.
Rock stars: They’re getting just as stir-crazy as the rest of us. With fans and creators alike stuck at home, Joe Trohman — lead guitarist and back-up vocalist for Grammy-nominated band Fall Out Boy — is offering up something a bit different from the steady run of livestreams and TikTok clips with a new online animated series: Mondo Trasho 3042.
Trohman created and wrote the 10-episode, 2D cartoon with his friends Wade Randolph and Spencer Berman. The score was created by Trohman and Fall Out Boy vocalist Patrick Stump, with bassist Pete Wentz is an executive producer alongside Trohman, Randolph, Berman and Sevan Najarian, founder of Midnight Kids Studios, who provided the animation.
“Joe got together with some friends to work on a cartoon. They considered pitching it around to different places, but decided to release it during these crazy times for your enjoyment,” explains the description for the premiere episode. These friends appear to include a pro voice cast, featuring Brendon Small, Brian Posehn, Ryan Ridley and Kelsy Abbott. The first episode guest stars Lindsay Ames.
Set in the strange but familiar distant future, Mondo Trasho 3042 follows a band (two humans, an aquatic humanoid and a drumming robot) slumming and strumming around the year 3042. The debut episode, “Not A Yoko” the band watches an alien autopsy where Jimmy meets Mooranda, the girl of his dreams, causing trouble in the tour van.
Oscar-winning director Josh Cooley (Toy Story 4) has reportedly been hired on for a major, fully-animated theatrical prequel for Transformers in the works with Hasbro’s Entertainment One and Paramount. The story will take place on the Autobots and Decepticons’ homeworld of Cybertron, and reveal the past shared by Optimus Prime and Megatron.
The pic is scripted by Andrew Barrer & Gabriel Ferrari (Ant-Man and the Wasp). Producers are expected to be Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Mark Vahradian and Hasbro/eOne, according to Deadline.
The prequel is a separate effort from the blockbuster live-action film series and Bumblebee spinoff, but with filming shut down around the world, it seems the perfect time for the saga of the “robots in disguise” to return to its animated roots on the big screen.
Beverly Hills-based Cinema Management Group has played an important role in bringing internationally produced animated features to fans around the world since it was founded by Edward Noeltner in 2003. Noeltner, who previously served as president of Senator Films Intl. in Berlin, head of TV at Pandora Cinema in Paris, senior VP of intl. distribution at AB Svensk Filmindustri and senior VP of sales and distribution at Miramax, has overseen the distribution of animated pics such as Adventures in Zambezia, Hoodwinked!, Khumba, The Legend of Sarila, Ratchet & Clank, Loving Vincent and Saving Santa over the past two decades. CMG’s current slate includes intl. titles such as Kayara, Panda Bear in Africa, Ainbo, Seal Team, Canterville Ghost, Noak’s Ark, Salma’s Big Wish and Away.
“I think it’s safe to say that the current crisis is like none other faced by any of us in the recent past,” says Noeltner. “But at CMG, we’ve had to keep the wheels moving with productions underway on all seven of our animated theatricals in many different continents, and it has certainly been daunting trying to tackle all the unique issues while keeping our doors ‘virtually’ open for our staff and clients. Our strategy has been to ‘mitigate risk, protect employees, support our clients: our producers and distributors.’ We pulled together as a team and here’s how:
Obsessive About Hygiene – Even before implementing the WFH, we were on board about maintaining a respectful social distance in the office – no handshakes, hand-sanitizers everywhere, we disinfected our door knobs, computer keyboards, desks, and wash, wash, wash!
Remote Work Option – For many years at CMG now, we have had a software in place that we all use year-round while we are away at markets and/or festivals that allows anyone on our team, including CMG Europe SAS in Paris, the ability to work hand in hand with our headquarters office in Beverly Hills. With this immediate access, we can continue to work at our desks remotely from home and anywhere in the world.
Markets, Festivals and Conferences – HK Filmart, MIPTV, SXSW, Tribeca, Marché du Film / Cannes Film Festival, MIFA-Annecy – CMG had already locked down our annual attendance at all these markets/festivals with deposits for exhibitor booths, festival accreditations, flights and housing for our team’s 2020 attendance. As the lock-down has been extended, we’ve managed to cancel, regrettably, our attendance, flights and accommodations and are in the process of obtaining all the refunds possible. So far, with little exception, organizers, airlines and hotels have been very understanding and accommodating. We will greatly miss meeting with our clients during the coming months but are positioning ourselves to taking full advantage of the Virtual Market in Cannes for both acquisitions and sales.
Shifted Sales Strategy – In light of the canceled markets/festivals, and our personal meetings, our marketing team has been rethinking strategies and using new online tools to reach out in this altered landscape. We’ve been using all of the latest communication tools for checking in with our clients irrespective of business. It’s good to know that at the end of the day, it’s not always about commercial considerations, but fellow humans and humanity at large. Relationships matter and business can follow later.
Mitigating Income Reduction – Our team is working diligently to avoid economic distress in the short term. We are continuing to make sales, applying for government loans and making new relationships with financial institutions who are actively supporting our industry. All employees have found comfort in the fact that their jobs, and the company, are not going anywhere any time soon. Our banking partners have been extremely supportive and have taken the big picture view that we will come out of this if everyone helps each other.
Daily Huddle – The CMG team meets every morning on Zoom video calls while we circulate an agenda, brainstorm and strategize our daily and weekly goals. It has been great and reassuring to have the ability to see the team every morning, and yes, we have definitely contributed to the rising share price of Zoom! ?
Agility with Production:Pipeline and Workflow – Our production partners around the globe have done an amazing job in working remotely as well as reassigning aspects of production to different partners to enhance bandwidth. Some work splits have been changed and producers have been very proactive to make these changes.
Noeltner adds that he and his team spend something like 18 hours a day going from time-zone to time-zone catching up with their producers around the world, and he provided us with some photos of his team hard at work online!
This Friday, May 1, Netflix will premiere a new animated preschool special Go! Go! Cory Carson: The Chrissy for audiences around the world. The 44-minute special is perfect for families looking for safe, quality content to keep their little ones entertained.
Once families are done watching, parents can keep them busy with these lesson plans and activity guides available for download through Scholastic and Young Minds Inspired.
In Go! Go! Cory Carson: The Chrissy, the Carson kids win a talent show with a dance that Cory created. But, when “The Chrissy” catches on, his sister gets all of the attention!
The special comes from Pixar alumni Alex Woo and Stanley Moore and is an extension of their popular preschool series Go! Go! Cory Carson, based on the popular VTech toys, currently streaming on Netflix.
Cory is a little kid car with an engine that runs on fun. His eager playful spirit can often get him into challenging and entertaining forks in the road. Cory and his family live in the town of Bumperton Hills, where there is always someone interesting to talk to and another adventure is just down the road. Go! Go! Cory Carson: The Chrissy[/caption]
Cartoon Network and its older sister Adult Swim have lined up some fun, fresh surprises for stuck-at-home animation fans this month.
Younger viewers (and others) can soar into Memorial Day with a special half-hour episode of Teen Titans Go!, premiering Monday, May 25 at 6 p.m ET/PT. In “Justice League’s Next Top Talent Idol Star: Justice League Edition,” the Justice League holds yet another talent competition, only this time they’re facing off against the Titans. In order to be the most talented superhero team in the DC universe, Robin and Beast Boy must work together … on a jazz performance.
CN is also delivering new episodes of hit series Craig of the Creek, Victor and Valentino (including a half-hour special May 23), ThunderCats Roar! and more throughout the month of May. Scroll down for details on these premieres.
Big kids will be strapping into their Clockwork Orange screen-watching restraints to not miss a second of the Rick and Morty Season 4, Part 2 premiere this Sunday, May 3 at 11:30 p.m. ET/PT. The Emmy-winning half-hour animated hit comedy series on Adult Swim follows a sociopathic genius scientist who drags his inherently timid grandson on insanely dangerous adventures across the universe. Rick Sanchez is living with his daughter Beth’s family and constantly bringing her, his son-in-law Jerry, granddaughter Summer, and grandson Morty into intergalactic escapades.
In case you missed the trailer, catch it here.; You can also preview what’s in store in Adult Swim’s behind-the-scenes featurette on this season’s ambitious animation.
Craig of the Creek
Cartoon Network May episode premieres:
Saturday, May 9
9 a.m. ET/PT Craig of the Creek“Mortimor to the Rescue” – When Craig, Kelsey and JP get stranded in murky water, it’s up to Mortimor to save the day! “Secret in a Bottle” – Craig needs to get a secret off his chest, so he pays a visit to the Keeper of Secrets in the Creek.
9:30 a.m. ET/PT Victor and Valentino “I….. am Vampier” – When Vic enters the Monte Macabre film festival, he gets insecure about his artistic vision and decides to copy the work of others, but ultimately learns that staying true to yourself is what’s most important. “Victor the Predictor” – When Victor becomes convinced he has a special talent as a psychic, he decides to use his new mental abilities to counsel those around him – until one piece of advice goes too far
10 a.m. ET/PT Total DramaRama “A Dame-gerous Game”/”Royal Flush”
10:30 a.m. ET/PT ThunderCats Roar “Ratar-O”/”Prince Starling’s Quest”
Saturday, May 16
9 a.m. ET/PT Craig of the Creek“Trading Day” – After Craig accidentally destroys a shipment of rare Chocorolls at the Trading Tree, Kit makes him work off his debt by running her trades throughout the Creek! “Crisis at Elder Rock” – Tragedy strikes the Creek when the Elders get trapped under Elder Rock, and it’s up to Craig, Kelsey and JP to rescue them.
9:30 a.m. ET/PT Victor and Valentino “Kindred Spirits” – When Val becomes friends with the ghost of a silent film star, their friendship turns out to have dire consequences. “Decoding Valentino” – When Val goes on an adventure with Isabella to decode an ancient language, he has to come to terms with the fact that Isabella is smarter in order to save himself.
10 a.m. ET/PT Total DramaRama “Total Eclipse of the Fart”
10:30 a.m. ET/PT ThunderCats Roar “Lion-S”/”Snarf’s Day Off”
Sunday, May 17
6:30 a.m. ET/PT Bakugan Battle Planet “Magnus P.I., Part 1 & 2”
7 a.m. ET/PT Transformers Cyberverse “Thunderhowl”/”Wild Wild Wheel”
7:30 a.m. ET/PT Power Players “Stuck on You”/”Opposites Attract”
Saturday, May 23
9 a.m. ET/PT Craig of the Creek“Kelsey the Worthy” – When Kelsey demolishes a wall at Craig’s house, her father takes away her sword. So she enlists Craig and JP to help prove to her father that she’s still worthy. “The End Was Here” – Craig tries to figure out how an ancient war that decimated the Creek began in hopes of stopping history from repeating itself.
9:30 a.m. ET/PT Victor and Valentino“Journey to Maiz Mountain” (half-hour special) – When Victor and Valentino destroy Monte Macabre’s corn supply, they journey to Maíz Mountain with Sal to replace it. But in order to get the corn, they must shrink down to the size of ants and embark on a mythical adventure that they’ll never forget!
10 a.m. ET/PT Total DramaRama “Dissing Cousins” (half-hour special)
10:30 a.m. ET/PT ThunderCats Roar “Mumm-Ra of Plun-darr” (half-hour special)
Sunday, May 24
6:30 a.m. ET/PT Bakugan Battle Planet “Awesome Brawlers Training Camp, Part 1 & 2”
7 a.m. ET/PT Transformers Cyberverse “Alien Hunt! With Meteofire and Cosmos”/”Journey to the Valley of Repugnus”
7:30 a.m. ET/PT Power Players “The Thing in the Wall”/”Madtrap”
Sunday, May 31
6:30 a.m. ET/PT Bakugan Battle Planet “The Bakugan Battle League Begins”/”Riot vs. Ajit”
7 a.m. ET/PT Transformers Cyberverse “Rack N’ Ruin N’ Ratchet”/”Dweller in the Depths”
7:30 a.m. ET/PT Power Players “To Tame the Perilous Skies!”/”Four Color Fallout”
Michael Ouweleen, who is currently serving as the interim head of the Warner Bros. Kids, Young Adults and Classics Division, has been named President, Adult Swim, it was announced Wednesday by Ann Sarnoff, Chair and CEO, Warner Bros., to whom Ouweleen reports in the dual role. This summer, Ouweleen will move full time into his newly created role at Adult Swim and report to Tom Ascheim who is joining Warner Bros. as President, Kids, Young Adults and Classics (as previously announced).
At Adult Swim, Ouweleen will be responsible for all aspects of content planning, development, windowing, marketing and creative for Adult Swim and its properties globally across all company-owned platforms and third-party partners. He’ll also have oversight of linear programming, streaming, digital products, live events and mobile games related to Adult Swim shows, characters and other IP. Additionally, he’ll work collaboratively across Warner Bros. and the entire WarnerMedia organization to further Adult Swim’s overall operations, including global distribution and internal production capabilities. Ouweleen will continue to serve as executive producer on the Adult Swim series Birdgirl.
“It’s fitting that Michael has been named head of Adult Swim as he was one of the platform’s founders,” said Sarnoff. “He’s got animated blood running through his veins, and his humor and comedic sensibilities are a big part of Adult Swim’s success. This promotion is most deserved and will help us strategically grow this crucial part of our young adult business.”
In his current interim role, Ouweleen is responsible for leading all aspects of the business including content, digital, programming, marketing, events and more for Warner Bros.’ Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Adult Swim and Turner Classic Movies (TCM). Most recently, Ouweleen was Chief Marketing Officer for Cartoon Network, Boomerang and Adult Swim, where he led an in-house staff of writers, producers, designers, marketers and analysts who create all marketing, branding, promotion, sponsored promotion, event and social creative.
A Turner networks veteran, Ouweleen has been a primary driver of Cartoon Network’s global brand and a principal force behind its strategy and creative for more than 20 years. During his tenure, he has held both senior content and brand positions at Cartoon Network, and helped frame and launch Adult Swim and Boomerang (linear and OTT).
While serving as creative director for the Adult Swim block, Ouweleen also co-created, co-executive produced and co-wrote one of its first shows, Harvey Birdman, Attorney-at-Law, starring Gary Cole and Stephen Colbert.
Prior to joining Cartoon Network, Ouweleen worked for seven years in advertising in New York.
Japanese actress, voice actress and TV presenter Kumiko Okae (Kumiko Owada) died Thursday at a Tokyo hospital from pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus, after being rushed to hospital with a fever on April 3. She was 63 years old.
According to her management office, Okae’s condition is believed to have deteriorated due to her immune system being weakened by radiation therapy she received in January to treat early-stage breast cancer, following surgery.
Okae is known to Pokémon fans for voicing “Jenny” in the 2005 feature film Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew. She also contributed her voice-over talents to the Nippon Animation’s 1997 movie adaptation The Dog of Flanders as Elina, Studio Ghibli’s The Cat Returns (2002) as Haru’s mother, Naoko. She also played Ryouko in the 2005 live-action series adaptation of Chikako Urano’s Attack No. 1 volleyball manga.
Born in Setagaya, Tokyo, Okae made her acting debut in the titular role of Tokyo Broadcasting System Television’s Omitsu in 1975, and appeared in numerous live-action series like family dramedy Ten Made Todoke, as well as entertainment and variety shows such as Japan Broadcasting Corporation’s Renso Game. She was also a host for Hanamaru Market morning show from 1996 to 2014.
Her recent credits include the 2017 mini-series My Lover’s Secret for NTV, and the Fuji TV detective drama Lucky Seven (2012-).
Okae was married to actor Baku Ohwada, with whom she had a daughter, Miho, also an actress.
Go! Go! Cory Carson: The Chrissy[/caption]
