At the end of 2019, Red Giant announced a new way to access every one of their VFX, filmmaking and motion graphics software suites: Red Giant Complete. With Red Giant Complete, annual subscribers have the most up-to-date versions of all tools — Trapcode Suite, Magic Bullet Suite, Universe, VFX Suite and Shooter Suite — saving thousands of dollars over traditional perpetual licenses.
Now, Red Giant has announced that it has made Red Giant Complete free for students or faculty members of a university, college or high school. Instead of buying separate suites or choosing which tools best suits one’s educational needs or budget, students and teachers can get every single tool Red Giant makes, completely free of charge, with a simple verification.
Students, teachers or faculty members interested in obtaining a free Red Giant Complete license can use their school/organization ID, or any proof of current employment/enrollment, to submit as academic verification to academic@redgiant.com. After receiving approval via email, applicants will be able to “buy” the free version of Red Giant Complete on the product page.
Free educational subscriptions last 180 days, and can be renewed with re-verification of academic status.
Learn more about the academic verification process at Red Giant’s EDU page.
Over the last decade, Red Giant products (like Magic Bullet, Trapcode, Universe and PluralEyes) have become the standard in film and broadcast post-production, utilized by over 250,000 users. The team’s experiences as artists and filmmakers drives Red Giant to not only provide tools for artists, but inspiration as well — users can watch the company’s in-house films and learn from over 200 free tutorials at www.redgiant.com.
A series of new interstitial messages from kids’ favorite Disney Channel stars, designed to offer reassurance and a sense of community during the present global health crisis, premieres Friday, March 27 on Disney Channel and Disney Channel YouTube. The series includes over 35 Disney Channel stars, who each filmed their message from their homes and around their neighborhoods, sharing how they stay positive, active and, with the help of parents and family members, navigate through this uncertain time.
The series is designed to demonstrate for viewers age 6-14 that they are not alone in this experience, and we are all in this together (#WAITT).
The Disney Channel stars include (in alphabetical order):
Raphael Alejandro (BUNK’D)
Suzi Barrett (Just Roll with It)
Paxton Booth (Coop & Cami Ask the World)
Issac Ryan Brown (Raven’s Home)
Will Buie Jr. (BUNK’D)
Kylie Cantrall (Gabby Duran & the Unsittables)
Coco ChristoGabby Duran & the Unsittables)
Meg Donnelly (American Housewife, ZOMBIES 2)
Maxwell Acee Donovan (Gabby Duran & the Unsittables)
Scarlett Estevez (BUNK’D)
Callan Farris (Gabby Duran & the Unsittables)
Kaylin Hayman (Just Roll with It)
Carla Jeffery (ZOMBIES 2)
Pearce Joza (ZOMBIES 2)
Sky Katz (Raven’s Home)
Chandler Kinney (ZOMBIES 2)
Ava Kolker (Sydney to the Max)
Dakota Lotus (Coop & Cami Ask the World)
Mallory James Mahoney (BUNK’D)
Milo Manheim (ZOMBIES 2)
Ariel Martin (ZOMBIES 2, Disney Fam Jam)
Miranda May (BUNK’D)
Jason Maybaum (Raven’s Home)
Ramon Reed (Just Roll with It)
Ruth Righi (Sydney to the Max)
Navia Robinson (Raven’s Home)
Kylie Russell (ZOMBIES 2)
Olivia Sanabia (Coop & Cami Ask the World)
Shelby Simmons (BUNK’D)
Trevor Tordjman (ZOMBIES 2, Disney Fam Jam)
Albert Tsai (Coop & Cami Ask the World)
Ruby Rose Turner (Coop & Cami Ask the World)
Anneliese van der Pol (Raven’s Home)
Tobie Windham (Just Roll with It)
… along with Izabela Rose, Siena Agudong, Elie Samouhi and Max Torina from the upcoming Disney Channel Original Movie Upside Down Magic.
Disney Channel consulted with media, education and child psychology expert Dr. Arthur Pober Ed.D.to ensure relevant and sensitive messaging to the core Kids 6-14 demographic.
Nickelodeon will present #KidsTogether: The Nickelodeon Town Hall, an exclusive hour-long special offering a kid’s-eye view of life today amid COVID-19, on Monday, March 30 at 7 p.m. (ET/PT). Hosted by actress Kristen Bell (Frozen, The Good Place, Veronica Mars) and featuring a performance by Alicia Keys, the special will directly address kids’ questions and concerns, include tips and insights from medical experts on ways to be healthy, and give first-person accounts from kids and families around the country who are social distancing and making changes to their everyday lives and relationships.
With host Bell and all guests connecting via video from locations across the U.S., the taped special will feature Dr. Nadine Burke Harris (California Surgeon General) and Dr. Vivek H. Murthy (former U.S. Surgeon General), as well as appearances by Charli D’Amelio, Josh Gad, Kel Mitchell, Kenan Thompson, and Russelland Ciara Wilson, among others.
#KidsTogether: The Nickelodeon Town Hall will simulcast across Nickelodeon, TeenNick and Nicktoons, and will be available on Nick On Demand, Nickelodeon YouTube, the Nick App and the Nick Pluto TV channel following the premiere. The special will also appear on Nickelodeon’s international networks.
The Town Hall special is part of Nickelodeon’s overall global, multiplatform prosocial initiative #KidsTogether, launched on March 18, which uses Nick’s most popular characters and talent to engage with kids and families on tips for staying healthy and ideas for activities to do together while in the home. Featuring SpongeBob SquarePants, Blue’s Clues & You!, Henry Danger, Bubble Guppies, The Casagrandes and more, #KidsTogether is intended to serve as an additional resource for parents while providing kid-appropriate, kid-directed information through original short-form videos, interstitials, downloadable activities and social content, with elements aggregated for easy access on a central online destination, NickHelps.com.
Leading animation entertainment company Cyber Group Studios, worldwide family entertainment publisher Outright Games and Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe announce the launch of Gigantosaurus: The Game, now available to play on Playstation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and Steam, priced at $39.99
Families can join in on the fun together, side by side, with 1-4 player action across prehistoric, vibrant worlds, epic racing levels, puzzles and challenges all showcased today in a brand-new launch trailer:
Developed by Wildsphere Studios, Gigantosaurus: The Game is an all-new ROARsome adventure based on the world of the hugely popular CGI animated show Gigantosaurus. The series is currently airing its first season on Disney Junior worldwide. Season 2 and 3 have been commissioned by The Walt Disney Company, France Télévisions and Super RTL. The first season will also air on Netflix and on major international networks throughout 2020.
Gigantosaurus: The Game allows players to explore and race across the vast, prehistoric world of Gigantosaurus in a one-of-a-kind dinosaur adventure. Play as your favorite dino buddies from the show – Rocky, Tiny, Mazu and Bill – as they discover secrets, solve puzzles and save the day.
Gigantosaurus the animated series is based on Jonny Duddle’s bestselling book. Directed by award-winning director Olivier Lelardoux, the series takes preschoolers on exciting comedy-filled adventures as our dino heroes leave their nests and explore the big, wide world beyond. Each episode revolves around discovering the mystery of “Gigantosaurus” – the biggest, fiercest dinosaur of all. As the inquisitive Mazu, playful Tiny, timid Bill and courageous Rocky seek to learn more about Gigantosaurus, they face their fears, work together and discover that they each have something to learn from him, too!
“We have always been committed to creating the highest quality video games possible and ensuring they tie-in expertly to the story-world of the source material,” said Terry Malham CEO of Outright Games. “With Gigantosaurus: The Game, this process has been easier than ever, as Cyber Group Studios has been able to create a title that mirrors the world of the books and TV show perfectly.”
“We have had high aspirations for this title from the beginning and wanted to ensure we captured the magic of our premier animated show,” commented Thierry Braille, Vice President Interactive and Videogame Division, and Dominique Bourse, COO Cyber Group Studios. “Working with Outright Games has allowed us to create something truly special that the whole family can enjoy together at home. With the launch of our first ever video game we now have the opportunity for a brand-new audience to experience the world of Gigantosaurus for the first time ever.”
North American kids streaming platform Ameba has welcomed Indian animation studio and production company Toonz Media Group as its newest content partner, adding 300+ episodes to its expanding roster of programs.
Immediately available to Ameba’s young viewing audience are Toonz’s popular series Cat & Keet (92 episodes), Darwin & Newts (40 episodes), 3 Rabbits (26 episodes), Chai Chai (50 episodes), popular YouTube series Gummy Bear (39 episodes) and Emmie (5 episodes).
“We are committed to offering a diversity of entertaining children’s content from around the world,” noted Tony Havelka, CEO of Ameba TV. “There is such an enormous amount of great and entertaining international content available that hasn’t quite touched young North American audiences yet. We are so excited to bring this series of stand-out programming from Toonz Media Group to our own young viewing audience and thrilled that they have selected Ameba as their streaming partner.”
Toonz Media Group CEO Mr. P.Jayakumar added, ”We are truly delighted to be partnering with Ameba and providing some of our most successful series in the digital space for their platform and their North American young audiences to bring them the very best in kids and family entertainment, and very much and look forward to building this partnership even further.”
Ameba is the longest-running streaming service devoted to providing fun and engaging children’s content. Which is currently being offered for free during these difficult times. The platform currently boasts over 8,000 titles in its library, comprising over 1,300 hours of entertaining programs secured from top-tier providers from all over the world.
Available throughout North America, Canada and the U.S.A., young audiences and their families can easily access Ameba on smart TVs, streaming set-top boxes, mobile, tablet, web and game consoles. In 2019, Ameba became the first and only Canadian-owned children’s streaming service to become CAVCO approved.
2020 SXSW Film Festival Announces Jury & Special Awards
Despite cancelling the physical edition, the Austin event still wanted to celebrate an amazing lineup of films. The winners include Animated Shorts Winner Symbiosis (Nadja Andrasev) and Special Jury Recognition films No, I Don’t Want to Dance! (Andrea Vinciguerra) and The Shawl (Sara Kiener). Sal Selvarajan’s Coup d’etat Math, which was to have made its world premiere at the fest, also received a Special Jury Recognition in the Texas Shorts competition.
“When we curated and announced our slate for the 2020 SXSW Film Festival, filled with an array of wonderful films we were excited to share with our unique audience, we had no idea of the unprecedented impact that Coronavirus would have on all our lives. Our hearts were broken for all the filmmakers who invested so much time and talent in their work, hoping for a transformative experience at our event. We’re honored to at least be able to present our juried and special awards. We know that it’s no substitute for the actual festival’s vitality, enthusiasm, and potential for surprising outcomes – and that it is only available to a small fraction of our program – but we hope it will help garner some well-deserved recognition for these wonderful works.” — Janet Pierson, Director of Film, SXSW Film Festival
Coronavirus Delays Disney+ India Launch
The platform was set to debut in the country on March 29 as part of local streaming service Hotstar, coinciding with the beginning of its most-watched event: the Indian Premier League cricket tournament. The sporting event has been postponed to April 15, and Disney is determining a new premiere date.
Disney+ rolled out this week in the U.K., Ireland, Germany, Italy, Spain, Austria and Switzerland with more than 500 library films, hit shows like The Simpsons and the first two episodes of The Mandalorian at launch. The streamer will boot up in France on April 7 in an effort to ease internet congestion, with everyone cooped up at home.
Burnaby Animation School Offers Free Help to Schools Scrambling to Get Online Amid COVID-19
Vancouver Animation School has instructors and students all over the world, and is sharing its experience by offering its self-developed online learning platform FAME as a free trial for schools. The trial period has been extended from 14 to 90 days, and may go longer if classrooms stay shuttered during the global health emergency.
San Francisco’s Top Art School Plans Closing after Almost 150 Years
The San Francisco Art Institute, alma mater of famous artists Annie Liebovitz, Kehinde Wiley and Catherine Opie, will not be accepting students for the fall semester. The combination of mounting debt, coronavirus restrictions and financial hardships affecting many art schools across the U.S. contributed to the decision.
‘Family Guy’ Stewie & Brian’s Quarantine Podcast
It’s not just regular humans suffering restless brain syndrome during COVID-19 shutdowns. Animation’s indefatigable renaissance man Seth MacFarlane has even had to create an outlet for the tot and Toto stars of his hit Fox toon, who are launching their podcast on IGTV. MacFarlane, who voices both characters, posted a five-minute intro episode to his Instagram (@macfarlaneseth) on Wednesday.
Animated Series Adapt to Keep Produciton Going Amid Industry-Wide Shutdown
Thanks to quick transitions to remote work set-ups, popular animated series including the full Disney-own 20th Century Fox TV lineup (The Simpsons, Family, Duncanville, etc.), Netflix’s Big Mouth, Hoops and Green Eggs & Ham — along with over a dozen Warner Bros. Animation series like Hulu’s Animaniacs and HBO Max’s Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai — are chugging along with virtual table reads, vidchat sessions and WFH voice recordings. In fact, Deadline reports that Bento Box Entertainment (Bob’s Burgers, Paradise PD, Alien News Desk) is hiring 20 freelancers for its productions — more info on the studio’s job board here.
As part of Women’s History Month, American Masters has been illuminating the inspiring stories of little-known American heroines from the early years of feminism and the women who now follow in their footsteps with Unladylike2020, an innovative multimedia series produced in honor of the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage.
Narrated by Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife, ER, Billions) and Lorraine Toussaint (Selma, Orange Is the New Black, The Glorias), American Masters – Unladylike2020 spotlights 26 diverse change-makers in 26 documentary shorts, premiering through August 26 — Women’s Equality Day — on the American Masters YouTube channel. In addition, an hour-long American Masters – Unladylike2020 special will premiere as part of PBS’ summer-long celebration of female trailblazers.
Only a century ago, women in the United States did not have the right to vote, and had only recently won the right to own property or get divorced. They faced limited career and educational choices, it was illegal for married women to work in some places, and women could even be arrested for wearing pants in public. Women who worked outside of the home were usually single, widowed, divorced, poor or women of color who had to contend not only with sexism, but also severe racial discrimination. Despite that, intrepid women managed to break into new professions, step into leadership roles, and fight for suffrage and an end to discrimination – challenging expected behavior for “a lady.”
Presenting history in a bold new way, American Masters — Unladylike2020, produced and directed by Charlotte Mangin, brings the incredible stories of these pioneering women to life through rare archival footage and interviews with descendants, historians and accomplished modern women who reflect upon their influence. Original artwork and animation created by visual artist Amelie Chabannes adds visual texture, infusing black and white images with captivating color and action. The focus on modern-day trailblazers also enriches the content with dynamic juxtapositions of past and present.
Some of the women featured include Bessie Coleman, the first African American to earn an international pilot’s license; Susan La Flesche Picotte, the first Native American physician, who also founded a hospital on the Omaha Reservation; Jeannette Rankin, the first woman elected to the U.S. Congress; Gertrude Ederle, the first woman to swim across the English Channel; Sissieretta Jones, the first African American to sing opera on the main stage at Carnegie Hall; and Lois Weber, the first woman to direct a feature-length film, among many others.
To learn more about all the women featured in the series, visit pbs.org/unladylike2020.
U.S. history curriculum materials for grades 6-12, produced by WNET Kids’ Media and Education, will be available via PBS LearningMedia beginning in March. Unladylike Productions, LLC will also launch a nationwide community engagement and screening initiative in partnership with public television stations and community organizations.
American Masters – Unladylike2020 is a production of Unladylike Productions, LLC in association with THIRTEEN’s American Masters. Executive producers for Unladylike2020 are Charlotte Mangin and Sandra Rattley. Executive producer for American Masters is Michael Kantor.
Major funding for American Masters — Unladylike2020 is provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the human endeavor, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people. Support is also provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Wyncote Foundation, California Humanities, HumanitiesDC, Rhode Island Council for the Humanities, Made in New York: Women Film, TV, & Theater Fund, the Harnisch Foundation, Humanities Nebraska, Nebraska Cultural Endowment, Humanities Montana, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with New York State Council on the Arts, South Dakota Humanities, Virginia Humanities, the Economic Hardship Reporting Project, Utah Humanities, Ohio Humanities, South Carolina Humanities, Humanities New York, JetBlue Foundation, Awesome Without Borders, and IFP. Any views expressed in this series do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities or other supporters.
Major support for American Masters is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Rosalind P. Walter, Judith and Burton Resnick, Lillian Goldman Programming Endowment, Seton J. Melvin, Cheryl and Philip Milstein Family, Vital Projects Fund, The Blanche & Irving Laurie Foundation, The Philip and Janice Levin Foundation, Ellen and James S. Marcus, and The André and Elizabeth Kertész Foundation.
Channel 5 (U.K.) announced Thursday that it is ramping up the amount of free kids’ content available on its multiplatform preschool brand Milkshake!, in a bid to help keep kids occupied at home. The additional content across VOD, social and on-air comes at a time of nationwide school and nursery closures in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Across the week, 250 additional episodes of Milkshake! content will be uploaded onto Channel 5’s VOD service My5, joining the 500 episodes already on the platform. These will include additional series of Mr Men, Mofy, Meet the Hedgehogs, Secret Life of Puppies, Secret Life of Kittens and Angelina Ballerina. Series one to four of Milkshake! Monkey will also be added, making all five series available on My5 for kids to enjoy. All of the content will be made available on the Amazon Firestick via the My5 App.
Mofy
On social platforms, an additional two hours of content will be uploaded to the Milkshake! YouTube and/or Instagram page each week. New uploads will take place every morning, following the linear transmission of the block, extending the fun for kids at home after Milkshake! comes off air. Brand new content will include Milkshake! Activities and Milkshake! Move & Shake shorts led by Milkshake! presenters, as well as new fact and mindfulness posts. The content will supplement the 22 hours of shorts and posts already made available on Milkshake!’s social platforms, covering birthdays, craft, dance, music, story time, keeping fit, food, celebrations and learning about new things.
On-air, there will be a brand new episode scheduled everyday between March and August, including the launch of Daisy & Ollie and Ricky Zoom, in addition to new episodes of Abby Hatcher, Floogals, Little Princess, Sunny Bunnies, Butterbean’s Café, PAW Patrol, Noddy, Shimmer & Shine, Becca’s Bunch, Mya Go, The Day Henry Met, Wissper, Thomas & Friends, Top Wing and Nella the Princess Knight. As well as long-form content, 21 brand-new Daisy & Ollie Nursery Rhymes will be made available on air from April 4, as well as new YouTube craft shorts Milkshake! Makes, which will be edited for broadcast from April 11 onwards.
Ricky Zoom
“The Milkshake! team is working around the clock to deliver a broad range of additional free content across our platforms, helping kids and families to stay entertained as they navigate through these unchartered waters,” Louise Bucknole, VP Programming Kids, ViacomCBS Networks UK, said. “We know how hard it is for parents and carers stuck at home indoors with their children. All of our content is designed to help keep young kids occupied in a fun, safe and learning environment, providing the adults with a much needed break or co-viewing option with their little ones!”
Adventures of Paddington
Meanwhile, over on Nickelodeon, stacks of top-rating shows including Henry Danger, The Thundermans and Horrid Henry will now play out during the week, with extra specials and films made available at the weekends. Favorites including Peppa Pig and Paddington will be ramped up on Nick Jr. with the brand’s ‘Make It & Bake It’ stunt making a return, alongside a daily tune in singalong slot and Ready Set Dance shorts. On digital, 450 interactive and educational games will be made freely available across Nickelodeon’s sites and apps to super serve families stuck inside, whilst social platforms will be used to encourage laughter and light heartedness, tapping into trending conversations and encouraging fans to keep active along the way.
The extra activity forms part of the wider international Nickelodeon campaign launched last week titled #KidsTogether. The global prosocial initiative is using Nickelodeon’s most popular characters and talent to provide tips for staying healthy and fun ideas for families at home during the COVID-19 outbreak.
On Friday, it was announced that Apple TV will host Nick Jr.’s learning subscription service Noggin in the U.K., alongside 24 other territories. The Apple TV app will host Nick Jr. preschool shows such as PAW Patrol and Shimmer and Shine, with characters from these shows also set to appear on the service’s educational content.
GKIDS has acquired the North American distribution rights to new animated feature Lupin the 3rd: The First, from director/screenwriter Takashi Yamazaki (Stand By Me Doraemon, Dragon Quest: Your Story). The film marks the first CG adventure for the iconic “gentleman thief” originally created by Monkey Punch — the Lupin the 3rd franchise began in 1967 and has spanned a variety of manga, TV, game, theme park ride and musical adaptations, including The Castle of Cagliostro (1979), the feature film debut of acclaimed director Hayao Miyazaki.
GKIDS will release Lupin the 3rd: The First theatrically in 2020 in both Japanese and an all-new English language dub. The deal for North American rights was negotiated by GKIDS President David Jesteadt and Sam Maseba, Director of Licensing for TMS Entertainment.
“As someone who has been a fan of Lupin III since The Castle of Cagliostro, I was blown away by the quality of animation and storytelling in Lupin the 3rd: The First,” said Jesteadt. “Director Takashi Yamazaki has taken such incredible care and detail in creating Lupin’s first adventure in CG, and I am hopeful that audiences fall in love with the film as much as I have.”
“Lupin III has been stealing hearts of audiences of all ages for over 50 years, and we’re proud to be able to present the latest evolution of the world’s greatest thief,” said TMS Entertainment, Vice President Masami Tokunaga. “We are truly excited to be collaborating with GKIDS to bring this amazing film to our fans in North America.”
Synopsis:The iconic “gentleman thief” returns in an action-packed, continent-spanning adventure, as Lupin III and his colorful underworld companions race to uncover the secrets of the mysterious Bresson Diary, before it falls into the hands of a dark cabal that will stop at nothing to resurrect the Third Reich. The gang undertakes trap-filled tombs, aerial escapades and daring prison escapes with the trademark wit and visual finesse that have made Lupin the 3rd one of the most storied animation franchises in the world, in a thrilling new caper that is sure to delight fans old and new.
While the coronavirus emergency is putting new focus on kids’ content offerings, animation production in Italy goes on, with even more determination to create compelling new stories for young viewers. Rai Ragazzi, the kids division of the Italian public broadcaster, and Sergio Bonelli Editore, the leading comic publishing house in Italy, have announced the first Bonelli cartoon production based on the highly successful comic Dragonero, created by Luca Enoch and Stefano Vietti.
The fantasy universe of Dragonero, born in 2007 as the first of the publisher’s stand-alone graphic novels and then a regular monthly series in 2013, is a brand-new “Made in Italy” cross-media project that will expand beyond the confines of the printed page.
The Dragonero animated series, produced by Rai Ragazzi and Sergio Bonelli Editore and designed by some of the most respected artists in Italy, is set in Erondár: a fantasy world dominated by magic, where humans live together with elves, dwarves and ogres. The show follows the adventures of two teenage brothers, Ian and Myrva, and their ogre best friend Gmor, who are called by the mighty dragon Crackly to fight the power of the Arcana Queen — an evil sorceress who wants to precipitate Erondár in a dark age.
Made with 3D CGI cel-shaded animation and 2D, the 26 x 26′ series is aimed at an audience between the ages of 7 and 12.
The pantheon of Bonelli heroes includes characters and stories set in the most diverse worlds of fantasy. From the western prairies with Tex, the incorruptible ranger born 70 years ago from the pen of Gian Luigi Bonelli; to the mysterious Darkwood inhabited by Zagor, the Spirit with the Ax; to the most contemporary, realistic or fantastic settings with Dylan Dog, Martin Mystère, Nathan Never, Mister No and Julia.
American voice actor William Dufris, who voiced iconic kids’ character Bob the Builder in the U.S. and Canadian versions of the hit series for its first nine seasons, has died of cancer at age 62. His passing was confirmed on social media Tuesday by Pocket Universe Productions, the immersive audio storytelling studio Dufris co-founded.
We are heartbroken to announce that the co-founder of @pocketplot and the director of “EC Comics Presents… The Vault of Horror”, William Dufris, has died from cancer.
There is a hole in a lot of people’s hearts right now. We will have more to say later.
Bless you, Bill.
— Pocket Universe Productions (@PocketPlot) March 24, 2020
Dufris was born in Houlton, Maine, but began his voice acting career in London as an early-20-something with audiobooks, language tapes and acting gigs in star-powered BBC Radio plays.
Bob was his biggest role, with Dufris voice giving life to the plucky carpenter and his classic catchline “Can we build it?” on Bob the Builder for North American audiences while the show aired, from 2001-2004 on Nick Jr. and 2005-2018 on PBS KIDS. He also reprised the role for direct-to-video releases in the U.S. and Canada.
Outside the fix-it adventures of Bob and his friends, Dufris lent his voice to the late ’90s Cosgrove Hall stop-motion series Rocky and the Dodos in the U.K. and many English dub casts for anime favorites — including Lupin the 3rd and Patlabor movies, Appleseed, Odin, Venus Wars and Rintaro’s X — as well as several videogames.
Dufris continued to flex his vocal talents as well as turn his hand to directing the “audio movies” produced by Pocket Universe, most recently taking on multiple roles and helming the Earphones Award-winning AudioComics title EC Comics Presents … The Vault of Horror, adapted from the 1950s anthology series.
80 Level, a leading source of information for the latest innovations in digital art and video game development, today announced the launch of 80 Level RFP, a subscription-based service designed to connect companies, studios and agencies with the crème de la crème of artistic talent, with a few clicks of the mouse.
80 Level RFP is a new recruiting platform that gives creative teams access to a continuously growing pool of employment-ready artists, animators, designers and other industry professionals worldwide. Designed to streamline the typically arduous hiring process, 80 Level RFP curates the talent and invites qualified candidates to join the database, which currently features hundreds of seasoned professionals, with more added every day. Recruiters can search the database of artists and easily submit RFPs to desired candidates.
“Companies are always on the hunt for the best creative talent for their next big ad, trailer, movie, game … anything, but there weren’t any services to cater to these needs.” said Kirill Tokarev, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of 80 Level. “So to help the community fill this gap, we developed 80 Level RFP to ease the challenges of finding and hiring rock star artists for any company that wants AAA staffing.”
Artists are invited to apply and have their profiles featured for free in the 80 Level RFP database. Recruiters can access the service to preview work samples, request pertinent hiring information and explore in-depth portfolios via the RFP, for their select candidates — for a subscription fee of $999 a month or $9,990 annually.
Leading mobile games developer-publisher Glu Mobile Inc. announces the worldwide availability of Disney Sorcerer’s Arena on the App Store and Google Play — free! In close collaboration with Disney and Pixar, the colorful RPG challenge conjures up a bold and competitive world where every choice determines a player’s legacy.
Featuring over 100 characters from across Disney and Pixar franchises, Disney Sorcerer’s Arena offers players the chance to team up with Ariel, Sulley, Captain Hook, Darkwing Duck, Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey and more to defeat their opponents in an action-packed PvP arena, regular events and single-player campaign mode.
“I am inspired by the enthusiasm, creativity and passion of this team, who are driven by working on a game they deeply believe in. Together with our friends at Disney, we have been dedicated to creating a game that is both authentic and recognizable to Disney and Pixar fans, as well as unique within the RPG genre,” said Mike Olsen, Glu Senior Vice President and General Manager. “We developed the art style, gameplay mechanics and character abilities to support our vision for the strategic and competitive experience of Disney Sorcerer’s Arena. We can’t wait to see all the epic battles go down in the arena.”
“I am thrilled for Glu and Disney to be releasing such an uniquely engaging and deep mobile gaming experience into the market,” said Nick Earl, Glu President and CEO. “This milestone could not have been achieved without extremely strong collaboration. I look forward to the longevity of our relationship with Disney and the future success of Disney Sorcerer’s Arena.”
“Throughout development, the team at Glu has proven their tremendous talent and passion for the Disney and Pixar universe and this game really showcases their strong expertise in the RPG genre as well,” said Sean Shoptaw, SVP, Games and Interactive Experiences for Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. “We are thrilled to offer players around the world the chance to interact with our great characters in new and unique ways to create their dream teams of legendary Disney and Pixar characters and compete for the title of Master Sorcerer.”
In Disney Sorcerer’s Arena, players will unlock a bold and competitive world where characters from iconic Disney and Pixar franchises collide. Players collect an arsenal of champions and villains to take on opponents in Single-Player, PvP, Club and Tournament modes. They will choose from a deep vault of battle-ready characters – each with their own unique abilities and powerful spells to unleash – to train to their full potential. Players will compete to become a Master Sorcerer in a highly challenging landscape, completing daily quests and events to earn rewards and upgrades, and collect talismans in their unending quest to be legendary.
Features include:
Battle in real-time PvP
Control strategic gameplay
Collect battle-ready Disney and Pixar legends
Unleash your strategy with authentic character abilities
Join Club Conquests for epic team battles and daily events
Korean animation director Kim Sang-joon’s The Wheel Turns is available today to view online. The short, which won the Best Short Film prize at the Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival a few years ago, finds soulless city dwellers turning into frogs and longing to transform back to human beings.
Sang-joon was kind enough to answer a few questions about his project for us:
Can you tell us how long it took you to make the short?
I started making this short film in 2015. It almost took 3.5 years to finish it. I was working full-time at visual effects studio Framestore. I worked in CG at daytime and traditional 2D animation at night. That is why it took so long.
What was your inspiration for The Wheel Turns?
After several over-nights in a row at work, I was in a subway car looking out the window. Seeing the reflection of myself, I realized that I looked so much older compared to the day before. Contemplating while looking at the reflection changing in every split second, I saw something moving from behind the lights. It could have been a homeless person or a supernatural creature. Seeing the unknown in the dark was striking. I immediately realized it was a reflection of my desire to find something new to explore. My life was repetitive with a bunch of ‘same-old, same-old’s. Little bits of my thoughts started to float. That night, as I was lying on my bed, the floating pieces of my thoughts gathered into my notes.
The Wheel Turns
How much was your budget and what tools did you use to make the short?
Budget was around $30,000 including labor cost and excluding my own labor cost. We used TVPaint for animation, Photoshop for the background and Nuke for the compositing
What do you love about working in animation?
You can start with animating/previs by yourself and there is always a save/undo function in every stroke. We can manage every stroke, and it also means there is no happy accident.
The Wheel Turns rough concept
When did you know you wanted to work in animation?
As a digital compositor, I had worked with tons of 3D images and pushed myself to make CG look real. It was a moment that I could develop my eyes and vision but I always had this feeling that I was missing something — freedom. Once the idea came through during my commute, I sat down and thought about how I could make it. I had no resources. No big crews for the camera team or anything. Eventually and fortunately, I started animating without knowing anything about animation because I thought I wouldn’t need many people to make a short. (But I was wrong.)
The Wheel Turns character sketches.
What are you working on today?
I’m currently working on another 2D animated short film based on my childhood. I grew up in South Korea during a huge redevelopment boom and I wanted to show a few things that we might have lost during those times. I wanted to present the audience an opportunity to reminisce about their own experiences.
TurboSquid introduces Kraken Pro, a turnkey version of its 3D asset manager designed to help content teams organize thousands of models in the cloud. With quick searches and a highly visual interface, Kraken brings order to the creation process, so teams always have a clear view of what they have and where to find it.
“The same tech we use to organize 800,000 models in our stock 3D marketplace is now available to anyone working with 3D,” said Matt Wisdom, CEO of TurboSquid. “2D asset managers are prevalent, but they struggle with the needs of 3D. Kraken gives teams working in fields like advertising, archviz, VFX, retail and broadcast access to something specifically designed for the 3D workflow.”
To make the transition process less intimidating, Kraken Pro launches with an AI sorting tool that can automatically organize and tag large model libraries (up to over 50,000 models) for teams that don’t know where to begin. Users simply provide access to their models via hard drive or cloud, and the AI tool will generate categories, keywords, tags and preview renders during importation. 3D’s biggest applications are currently supported (3ds Max and Maya), with support for Cinema 4D and additional formats coming soon.
Kraken was originally developed as a custom platform for big-box brands and other major retailers. After launch, studios approached TurboSquid for a turnkey version to replace the stop-gap proprietary systems that take up time or cause delays. Now, studios can find assets easily, reducing the need to rebuild or hunt for lost models.
“We handed them terabytes of models and they came back to us magically tagged, organized and categorized, with metadata and clean thumbnails,” said Carlos Cristerna, Neoscape principal and RadLab director. “Our 3D artists don’t have time to worry about being librarians; they need to find content quickly. Kraken will help us do that.”
Kraken is backed by AWS protection, keeping content secure as it’s shared among internal and remote team members. When new assets are developed, they can be uploaded into the system and sorted through tagging. Kraken’s filtering tools become more nuanced as tags are assigned, helping users hone in on search parameters with a couple of clicks.
Kraken is available now; prices start at $599 for up to 10,000 models and 50 users. Volume discounts available (more pricing info here). Visit kraken3d.com to set up a demo.
Kraken is TurboSquid’s fourth major service aimed at simplifying the 3D experience for brands and artists, following their online marketplace, PixelSquid and StemCell, a breakthrough 3D conversion tool released in 2017. Learn more at turbosquid.com.
Autodesk unveiled 3ds Max 2021 on Wednesday, debuting a new version of its 3D modeling, animation and rendering software. The latest release brings 3D artists new tools to meet evolving content creation demands across design visualization and media and entertainment with a fully scriptable baking experience, simpler install process, viewport and rendering improvements, and integrated Python 3 support, among other enhancements.
“From architecture to design, game development, filmmaking and beyond, the complexity of projects continues to grow, while delivery timelines shrink, so having tools in your arsenal that let you create and iterate without bottlenecks is key,” explains Chip Weatherman, chief product owner, Autodesk, Media and Entertainment. “With this in mind, we’ve introduced new features for 3ds Max 2021 and supercharged existing ones to give users an improved experience, and one that’s faster from installation to rendering.”
3ds Max 2021 highlights include:
New Texture Baking experience supports physically-based rendering (PBR), Overrides, and OSL workflows and provides an intuitive new toolset.
Updated installer allows users to get up and running quickly and easily.
Integrated support for Python 3 and an improved pymxs API ensures developers and technical artists are able to better customize pipelines.
Native integration with the Arnold Renderer v6.0 offers a high-end rendering experience out-of-the-box, while included scripts efficiently convert V-Ray and Corona files to the Physical Material for added flexibility.
Performance enhancements simplify the use of PBR workflows across renderers, including with real-time game engines; provide direct access to high-fidelity viewports; improve the OSL user experience; significantly accelerate file I/O; and enhance control over modeling with a new weighted normals modifier.
Toolset advancements to SketchUp import, Substance, ProSound and FBX streamline the creation and movement of high-quality 3D assets.
New plug-in interop and improvements – from support for AMG and OSL shaders to scene converter extensions – allow for a broader range of plug-ins to easily hook into 3ds Max while also simplifying plug-in development and installation.
Early 3ds Max 2021 adopter Eloi Andaluz Fullà, a freelance VFX artist on beta, shared how the latest updates have accelerated his day-to-day: “3ds Max 2021 includes so many great new additions across the board that have made it easier to get work out the door on or ahead of deadline. The revamped viewport, IBL controls and persistent Ambient Occlusion speed up the client review process, because I can easily share high quality viewport images without having to wait for renders. The new bake to texture update is also a huge time saver, because we can easily modify multiple parameters at once, while other updates simplify day to day tasks from dynamic UI to Python 3 support, plug-in compatibility, the new scripted materials that accelerate PBR material creation, chamfer updates and more.”
3ds Max 2021 is now available as a standalone subscription or with the Autodesk Media & Entertainment Collection.
ViacomCBS Networks Americas announced its global channels MTV, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Comedy Central and Paramount Channel are available on the DIRECTV GO Over-The-Top (OTT) service, a streaming platform that combines live and linear television with the best content on-demand, including premieres, series, documentaries, movies, sports and an extensive Premium offering, starting on March 24 when the service arrives in Mexico.
This announcement was made by Rita Herring, Senior Vice President of Content Distribution for ViacomCBS Networks Americas, who assured that “with the launch of our signals on the DIRECTV GO platform, our audiences will be able to see their preferred content anywhere.” She added that “this, together with the content that will be available on-demand, will allow us to increase the reach of our brands throughout the region.”
Additionally, DIRECTV GO users in Mexico will be able to access ViacomCBS Networks Americas entertainment channels wherever and whenever they want. They will also have a robust VOD content package featuring some of the channel’s favorite shows like Nick Jr.’s PAW Patrol and Blaze and the Monster Machines; Comedy Central Stand Up (Comedy Central), Acapulco Shore (MTV), and the critically acclaimed series The Handmaid’s Tale and Killing Eve from the Paramount Channel.
The service — currently available in Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Uruguay in OTT mode — will offer Mexican users access to their favorite programming through various digital devices compatible with Internet connection such as smartphones and tablets (Android, iOS), laptops and computers (Windows, Apple, Chrome), as well as Apple TV, Samsung TV, Amazon Fire, Chromecast, Android TV and Roku (versions 2017 onwards).
DIRECTV GO may be contracted with a charge to bank cards or through an AT&T invoice. More information about channels, programming and packages available at www.directvgo.com.
An exciting animated eco-adventure will begin with a special sneak-preview next month, as Mondo TV’s highly original MeteoHeroes makes its world premiere in Italy — accompanied by a major marketing campaign and a fast-growing list of licensees. The new children’s series from one of Europe’s leading animation companies follows six kids who use their superpowers to protect the planet from extreme weather events and pollution, and will launch with four early episodes on April 22 on Boing SpA’s free-to-air channel, Cartoonito.
The premiere date was carefully chosen to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Four episodes will be specially premiered at evening prime time (beginning between 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.) during the celebration. Viewers will be able to hear the MeteoHeroes theme song for the very first time, which is performed by Italian celebrity Francesco Facchinetti, former DJ, producer, singer, musician, TV presenter, radio host, actor and businessman.
“The arrival of MeteoHeroes on Cartoonito is a major statement about the quality, originality and potential of this new series,” said Matteo Corradi, Mondo TV CEO. “We think the time is right for a show that addresses important issues in an engaging, exciting way that boys and girls everywhere will love – and this is it. There really isn’t anything like MeteoHeroes on TV anywhere.”
The premiere will be accompanied by a major media campaign during which the stars of MeteoHeroes will play their roles as ambassadors in the fight to protect our planet.
The series will have a full launch in June, when the four opening episodes will air again, followed by 14 brand-new episodes, further building brand momentum ahead of the launch of new episodes in October, when previous episodes will begin a second run.
MeteoHeroes, a Mondo TV co-production with Meteo Expert Center, a leading Italian weather forecasting group with a strong international reputation, addresses issues like climate change, ecology and respect for nature through the amazing adventures of six superpowered children. It’s an important message, but it’s delivered in a fun, engaging way in a series full of action and comedy that helps young viewers understand the issues and how they can help the planet through the adventures of six extraordinary kids.
“MeteoHeroes perfectly balances action, humour and superb design with some genuinely fascinating insights into the weather, how it works, and how our actions can affect it. It’s great entertainment that has something really important to say about climate change and about the global issue of pollution and we’re very proud to have helped to bring it to the screen. I am sure that children everywhere will love it – and so will parents!” said Luigi Latini, CEO, Meteo Expert Center – IconaMeteo, creator and executive producer of MeteoHeroes.
The values of sustainability and respect for the environment will be reflected in the show’s carefully devised licensing program, which has attracted a number of major partners — along with all the excitement, fun and great characters central to the show’s appeal. The first licensed products will debut on shelves by October 2020.
Giunti has been licensed to produce books and activity books, while Playpress plans a magic book and coloring and activity books for the newsstand channel. Mondadori is on board for a monthly magazine – featuring MeteoHeroes-inspired gadgets. Eu.Promotions will be handling the loyalty promotion category. Ravensburger will be producing puzzles and memory games. Among other categories, home video will be handled by Koch Media, and Kimbe will organize shopping mall events as the licensee of costume characters for meet-and-greet activities. Many other negotiations are ongoing or completed, including a range of Easter eggs for 2021.
Products inspired by the show will reflect its positive message. They will be designed and developed in compliance with sustainable best practices using recyclable materials. The licensing program will also commit to a reduced carbon footprint with tangible zero-impact campaigns.
Supporting marketing activities will include a starring role for the MeteoHeroes in Globo WePlanet, an initiative organized by the Mondadori group and Mediamond with the support of a number of local authorities including the Municipality of Milan. It’s an open-air, interactive exhibition of contemporary art and design focusing on sustainable development, with the aim of raising awareness among people and businesses of sustainability issues across the world. The six MeteoHeroes will even feature in a dedicated human-sized globe installed in downtown Milan from June to September, accompanied by an augmented reality element. If you point your smartphone at the globe, you will be taken to a page that offers information on the project and the artist who made it.
Many more digital initiatives are planned, leveraging the multi-tasking skills of the tech-savvy and environmentally aware kids that are MeteoHeroes’ main target audience.
The official trailer for upcoming Hulu adult animated series Solar Opposites has officially crash-landed on our unprepared planet, ready to laser blast your eyeballs with all the sci-fi mayhem, edgy humor and squishy cartoon violence you could hope for from Rick and Morty‘s co-creator Justin Roiland and ex-writing assistant Mike McMahan. The first eight-episode season (featuring tons of talented guest stars) is set to debut on the streamer May 8 — get ready.
“Solar Opposites is coming! We can only show you the teaser right now, but the whole season will be out in a matter of weeks! Stay inside and stay healthy so you can watch and love this show and call us geniuses and all that shit.” – Justin Roiland and Mike McMahan
Synopsis:Solar Opposites centers on a team of four aliens who escape their exploding homeworld only to crash land into a move-in ready home in suburban America. They are evenly split on whether Earth is awful or awesome. Korvo (voiced by Justin Roiland) and Yumyulack (Sean Giambroni) only see the pollution, crass consumerism and human frailty, while Terry (Thomas Middleditch) and Jesse (Mary Mack) love humans and all their TV, junk food and fun stuff. Their mission: protect the Pupa, a living super computer that will one day evolve into its true form, consume them and terraform the Earth.
Season 1 guest voices include Alan Tudyk, Alfred Molina, Amanda Leighton, Andrew Matarazzo, Andy Daly, Calum Worthy, Chris Cox, Christina Hendricks, Echo Kellum, Eric Bauza, Gary Anthony Williams, Gideon Adlon, Jacob Vargus, Jason Mantzoukas, Jeannie Elias, Jesse Mendel, Jon Barinholtz, Karan Brar, Kari Wahlgren, Ken Marino, Liam Cunningham, Maurice LaMarche, Miguel Sandoval, Nat Faxon, Natalie Morales, Neil Flynn, Phil LaMarr, Rainn Wilson, Rob Schrab, Ryan Ridley, Sagan McMahan, Thomas Barbusca, Tiffany Haddish, Tom Kenny, Vargus Mason and Wendi McLendon-Covey.
Solar Opposites is co-created by Roiland and McMahan, who serve as executive producers with Josh Bycel. The series is produced by 20th Century Fox Television.
Netflix and CAKE, in partnership with Rovio Entertainment, announced the new animated series Angry Birds: Summer Madness, based on the iconic world of the Angry Birds. The 40 x 11-minute episode series will debut globally starting in 2021, taking its cue from the humor and tone of The Angry Birds Movie franchise while revealing a fresh new look.
“Angry Birds have been a true phenomenon for kids around the world,” commented Curtis Lelash, Netflix Director of Original Series, “and we’re excited to bring them home to the nest at Netflix, where they will be angrier and bird-ier than ever.”
Angry Birds: Summer Madness sees much-loved birds Red, Bomb and Chuck, as well as a cast of brand new feathered friends, as tween birds at summer camp under the questionable guidance of their counselor Mighty Eagle. Explosive antics, improbable pranks and crazy summertime adventures see the birds pushing boundaries and breaking all the rules while fending off the brash and obnoxious Pigs on the other side of the lake, who seem hell-bent on causing as much mayhem as possible!
This is the latest collaboration in a long-term partnership between CAKE and Rovio, which includes international distribution rights to Rovio’s expanding library of non-dialogue shorts.
“Angry Birds are about to smash the small screen and we are thrilled to be making the journey with Netflix as our global partner,” said Ed Galton, CCO & Managing Director, CAKE.
Rovio CMO Ville Heijari added, “Angry Birds animated content plays a key role in our long-term franchise strategy. After more than a decade in hit games, blockbuster movies and licensed products, this is the Angry Birds’ first foray into a long-form series. We’re delighted to continue our partnership with CAKE and can’t wait to unveil the world of Angry Birds: Summer Madness to viewers on Netflix.”
