Paramount is getting pumped up for the release of Rumble, a supersized animated family comedy produced by Reel FX / Walden Media and entering the box office ring in association with WWE Studios. In the newly debuted trailer, we get our first look at the larger-than-life world of monster wrestling, meet one of the superstar monsters and are introduced to teenage wannabe trainer Winnie and the loveable underdog monster she wants to transform into a champion.
Rumble opens in theaters January 29, 2021.
Directed by Hamish Grieve, Rumble features the voices of Will Arnett, Terry Crews, Geraldine Viswanathan, Joe “Roman Reigns” Anoa’i, Tony Danza, Becky Lynch, Susan Kelechi Watson, Stephen A. Smith, Jimmy Tatro, Ben Schwartz and Michael Buffer.
Produced by Mark Bakshi and Brad Booker. Executive producers are Jeff Fierson, Susan Levison, Richard Lowell, Steve O’Brien, Chuck Peil, Frank Smith and Naia Cucukov.
A colorful, explosive new poster jumpstarts the run up to Annecy 2020. Revealed Wednesday, the design was created by Jean-Charles Mbotti Malolo and Simon Roussin – director and illustrator, respectively, of the César Award-nominated animated short Make It Soul. Depicting an energetic dance over the city’s iconic lakeside, the poster invites the global animation community to celebrate region of honor Africa and the Annecy Festival’s 60th anniversary this summer (June 15-20).
Artists’ statement:
“After our collaboration on the short film Make It Soul, we wanted to create this poster together, a two-man labor of love.
The challenge was daunting for this Festival’s 60th anniversary: the entire African continent is in the spotlight. The cultures, people and landscapes vary from one country to another, we chose to represent Africa across three generations of moving characters.
And to blow out the sixtieth candle, what could be better than doing it while dancing! Pantsula – a traditional South African dance – captured our attention to symbolize a dynamic, united and strong Africa, so wild and free that it levitates above the lake!
Happy birthday Annecy!”
Born in 1984 in Lyon, Jean-Charles Mbotti Malolo studied arthouse film at the école Émile Cohl and received his diploma in 2007. His graduation film The Heart Is a Metronome won the Debut Prize at the Hiroshima International Animation Festival in 2008.
Drawing is his first love, but dance has always been an integral part of his means of expression. He joined the Stylistik Company in 2008. In June 2012, Jean-Charles learned sign language to write and direct The Sense of Touch, working with acclaimed French actress Emmanuelle Laborit, who was born deaf. This second short film, combining the beauty of dance and sign language, received more than 20 international awards, among more than 60 official festival selections. Les Mots, Jean-Charles’ first choreographed show – a solo for two performers – opened in early 2017. It is a continuation of his work concerning non-verbal communication.
His last film, Make It Soul, whose graphical genius is attributed to Simon Roussin, pays tribute to the essence of black American music, reinjecting life into Solomon Burke and James Brown. Make It Soul is nominated for the César for Best Animation Short Film 2020.
Simon Roussin is a writer-illustrator, a graduate from the Strasbourg École supérieure des arts décoratifs (2011). He is most well-known for writing Lemon Jefferson et la grande aventure, Heartbreak Valley (published by 2024), Le Bandit au colt d’or (Magnani), Barthélemy l’enfant sans âge (Cornélius) and Xibalba (2024). He commands the narrative alternating classic line, felt-tip drawings and serigraphy-inspired solid colors.
Roussin regularly works for the media, publishing companies and cultural institutions. A collection of his drawings for his felt-tip films, Ciné-club, was released in October 2015 by Magnani. He also creates screen-printed books and posters to pay tribute to his cinema heroes. Since 2017, he has regularly exhibited his oil paintings (at Fotokino, Arts Factory, Tator Gallery).
In 2018, Roussin provided the illustration for 2020 César-nominated short animated film Make It Soul by Jean-Charles Mbotti Malolo (Kazak Productions).
Families will soon be able to take home an adventurous ride through a world of fantastical lands with Playmobil The Movie, based on the global, multi-billion-dollar toyline. From the writers of Disney’s The Princess and the Frog and featuring an all-star cast, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment and STX Entertainment will release the ON Animation production in the U.S. on Digital, DVD and On Demand March 3.
In Playmobil The Movie, a top-secret organization has caused citizens from different lands to vanish into thin air. The dashing and charismatic secret agent Rex Dasher (Daniel Radcliffe of Harry Potter) must partner with smooth-talking food truck driver Del (Jim Gaffigan, Hotel Transylvania 3) and Marla (Anya Taylor-Joy, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance), a smart, savvy civilian with her own secret agenda, to rescue them. Against unthinkable odds, the trio go on a fantastic journey across stunning new worlds as they gather clues for their rescue mission. As they venture through the mythical world of Playmobil, their journey leads to unlikely friendships forming, and exhilarating challenges being overcome against all odds. Through their vibrant adventure, the team realizes that no matter how life plays out, you can achieve anything when you believe in yourself.
Alongside Radcliffe, Gaffigan and Taylor-Joy, the movie features the voices of Kenan Thompson (The Grinch, SNL) Grammy Award winner Meghan Trainor and Grammy Award nominee Adam Lambert. The delightful family friendly film includes an upbeat new soundtrack that’s sure to get stuck in your head, including the catchy hit “So Much World.”
Global kids’ entertainment company Moonbug has acquired the hit Korean animated series ARPO, which has over 2 million subscribers and 100 million monthly views on YouTube. Throughout 2020, Moonbug will produce and unveil 26 premium, 3.5-minute episodes of the slapstick animated comedy on global OTT platforms in the U.S., EMEA and APAC. The first 12 new episodes have already launched.
ARPO is a light dialogue, slapstick show that follows the relationship between Arpo, a commando robot-turned-nanny and Baby Daniel, the curious boy that he cares for. In the latest episodes being developed, Moonbug will introduce the show’s global audience to new characters and expanded worlds.
The show helps children aged 3-6 build an understanding of non-verbal communication like body language and facial expressions, and also promotes life skills such as friendship, being considerate of others and cooperation.
“As Moonbug continues to expand globally, ARPO was a program that immediately caught our eye. It is such a unique, fun show and we recognized how well it resonated with the progressive audience in Korea, as well as others around the world,” said John Robson, COO of Moonbug. “We’ve seen a huge demand in new content from these beloved characters and are looking forward to expanding ARPO’s reach to new markets over the coming year.”
ARPO is currently available on popular streaming services including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Kidoodle.TV, Roku, YouTube and more.
The new acquisition joins Moonbug’s catalog of IP, which includes global hits Little Baby Bum, My Magic Pet Morphle, Supa Strikas, Go Buster, Playtime with Twinkle and Gecko’s Garage.
Following a highly competitive negotiation, HBO Max has announced an exclusive, multi-year deal with beloved children’s author Mo Willems, an Emmy Award-winning writer, New York Times best-selling author and illustrator, establishing Willems as HBO Max’s very first artist in residence.
As part of this two-year deal, HBO Max has acquired streaming rights to Willems’ first live-action special Don’t Let the Pigeon Do Storytime! from Greg Silverman’s media company Stampede Ventures, who will produce all additional content under this deal. HBO Max has committed to additional live-action Storytime specials, as well as multiple animated specials based on Willems’ wildly popular children’s books. The first animated special will be based on New York Times Best Seller, Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed.
“Mo is a special talent with a profound ability to connect with children and families alike. We are so happy Mo and Stampede Ventures chose to partner with us at HBO Max,” said Kevin Reilly, Chief Content Officer, HBO Max, President, TNT, TBS, and truTV.
“We are so lucky to be able to work with the multi-talented Mo Willems, whose work is authentic, inspiring and truly impactful,” added Jennifer O’Connell, Executive Vice President of Original Non-Fiction and Kids Programming, HBO Max.
“HBO Max is the perfect home for me to work on fun and experimental ways to bring my book characters and theater work to the screen because we share the goal of creating exciting shows and series that bring families together,” said Willems. “My focus is making stuff that amuses, entertains and sparks creative play after the screen is powered down. Having the creative teams of HBO Max and Stampede Ventures with me means that we’ll get to create meaningful work and have fun doing it. We’re so excited we even created a new logo for the occasion. Banana!”
Added Silverman, “Stampede Ventures is honored to be Mo’s partner as he brings his vibrant world to life in media for the first time and we couldn’t ask for a better home than HBO Max. Mo’s characters are already beloved by millions of families — his books are often the first that many children ever read on their own — and we’re excited to help him bring these characters to life on screen.”
Directed by Bobcat Goldthwait, the previously announced Don’t Let the Pigeon Do Storytime! is a premium, live-action family comedy special featuring Willems and the “Story Time All-Stars”, a group of celebrities, comedians and actors performing live readings and sketch comedy inspired by Willems’ work, as well as a few surprise musical guests. Celebrity guests include Anthony Anderson (black-ish), Yvette Nicole Brown (Community), Rachel Dratch (Saturday Night Live), Cameron Esposito (Take My Wife), Tony Hale (Veep), Greta Lee (Russian Doll), Tom Lennon (The Odd Couple), Natalie Morales (Abby’s) and Oscar Nunez (The Office). Produced by Stampede Ventures, with Willems and Silverman, Gideon Yu, Jay Judah and Chris Bosco as executive producers.
Mo Willems began his career as a writer and animator on Sesame Street, where he garnered six Emmy Awards. Willems also created several animated projects for Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon. His New York Times bestselling books have been recognized with many awards around the world, including three Caldecott Honors, two Theodor Geisel Medals and five Geisel Honors. Willems has written four musicals based on his books and is the most produced playwright for Theatre for Young Audiences in America. Willems currently serves as the inaugural Education Artist-in-Residence at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, collaborating with artists in Jazz, Classical, Dance, Theater, Opera and Comedy.
The deal was negotiated by Ellen Goldsmith-Vein of the Gotham Group, Marcia Wernick of Wernick & Pratt and Rick Ross of Eisner, LLP on behalf of Willems; Chris Bosco, Anna Pinar and CAA on behalf of Stampede Ventures; and spearheaded by Jay Judah.
Mo WillemsNaked Mole Rats Get DressedNaked Mole Rats Get Dressed
Netflix has cracked the safe on the next big adventure for award-winning animated update Carmen Sandiego, revealing the trailer for its upcoming 45-minute interactive special, Carmen Sandiego: To Steal or Not to Steal. The heist hits streaming on March 10.
Synopsis: You drive the action in this interactive special. In a branching narrative adventure, Carmen is forced to do V.I.L.E.’s bidding when they capture Zack and Ivy during a heist. If she doesn’t succeed, Zack and Ivy will be mind-wiped and turned into V.I.L.E. Operatives.
To Steal or Not to Steal features the voices of series stars Gina Rodriguez (Carmen Sandiego) and Finn Wolfhard (Player). Executive producers are Caroline Fraser, CJ Kettler, Kirsten Newlands and Anne Loi.
Spring is on the horizon, and a new animated series adding diversity to the preschool landscape is ready to bloom! The previously announced premiere of Mira, Royal Detective on March 20 is one of the animated highlights sprouting on Disney Channel and Disney Junior channels next month, along with new supernatural surprises for Luz in The Owl House, more of Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure, a fresh delivery of T.O.T.S. and bidding bone voyage to an old friend on Vampirina.
Sunday, March 1
7:06-7:25 A.M. EST (Disney Channel) Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure “Plus Est En Vous” Rapunzel and her friends must take Corona back from Cassandra and confront the evil Zhan Tiri.
Friday, March 6
8:49-9:12 P.M. EST (Disney Channel) The Owl House “Once Upon a Swap”
A simple disagreement leads to a complex situation when Eda, King and Luz triple-down on a Wager.
Friday, March 13
10:00-10:30 A.M. EDT (Disney Channel) T.O.T.S. “The Ultimate Easter Egg Hunt/A Chewy Challenge” Pip and Freddy’s next delivery gets mixed up with the other eggs for the Annual Easter Egg Hunt. | Pip and Freddy must deliver a baby beaver, who is chewing and gnawing on everything in sight.
8:47-9:11 P.M. EDT (Disney Channel) The Owl House “Something Ventured, Someone Framed” When Gus sneaks Luz into Hexside School to present at the Human Appreciation Society, Luz sees a side of the school she didn’t expect.
Friday, March 20
11:00-11:25 A.M. EDT (Disney Channel) / 7:00-7:25 P.M. EDT (Disney Junior) SERIES PREMIERE Mira, Royal Detective “The Case of the Royal Scarf/The Case of the Missing Bicycle” When the special scarf Priya designed for the Queen goes missing, it’s up to Mira to help find it. | Mira must juggle babysitting her cousin and searching for a missing bike.
11:25-11:50 A.M. EDT (Disney Channel) / 7:25-7:50 P.M. EDT (Disney Junior) Mira, Royal Detective “Mystery at the Puppet Show/The Mystery of the New Kid” Mikku and Chikku go undercover as puppets so they can help Mira catch a pickpocket. | When a new kid in town is blamed for stealing an earring, Mira must figure out if he’s guilty.
9:11-9:34 P.M. EDT (Disney Channel) The Owl House “Escape of the Palisman” When an adventure with Eda’s staff goes awry, Luz and her friends have to earn the staff back from a mysterious forest creature or lose it forever.
Friday, March 27
11:00-11:30 A.M. EDT (Disney Channel) Mira, Royal Detective “The Case of the Dance Off Disaster/Mystery at the Camel Fair” Mira must figure out who is sabotaging performances at the dance competition. Danny Pudi (DuckTales) guest stars as Sanjeev, the host of the competition. | When decorations for Priya and Meena’s entry into the camel fair go missing, Mira must investigate.
11:30 A.M.-12:00 P.M. EDT (Disney Channel) Vampirina “Au Revoir Remy/The School Scare Fair” Remy says “au revoir” to the Hauntley’s so he can become head chef at the Catacomb Café. Chris Sullivan (This Is Us) guest stars as Grogg, a visiting troll from Transylvania. | Oxana adds a spooky flair to the school fair.
The board of directors of Walt Disney Co. broke the news Tuesday that it has named Bob Chapek as the new Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.
Chapek, who moves into the post after serving as chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. Tales over from longtime chairman and CEO Bob Iger, who will continue to direct the company’s creative endeavors and lead the Board as Executive Chairman through the end of his contract on December 31, 2021.
“With the successful launch of Disney’s direct-to-consumer businesses and the integration of Twenty-First Century Fox well underway, I believe this is the optimal time to transition to a new CEO,” Iger said. “I have the utmost confidence in Bob and look forward to working closely with him over the next 22 months as he assumes this new role and delves deeper into Disney’s multifaceted global businesses and operations, while I continue to focus on the company’s creative endeavors.”
GKIDS has released the official English-language dubbed trailer for the brand-new restoration of Satoshi Kon’s acclaimed feature Tokyo Godfathers (2003). The reinvigorated anime gem opens March 13 at The Metrograph theater in New York City and Laemmle’s Lumiere Music Hall in Los Angeles.
GKIDS and Fathom Events will also present special screenings of Tokyo Godfathers on March 9 (English subtitled) and March 11 (English dubbed) at 7 p.m. local time. Participating theaters and ticket sales available through FathomEvents.com.
Synopsis: In modern-day Tokyo, three homeless people’s lives are changed forever when they discover a baby girl at a garbage dump on Christmas Eve. As the New Year fast approaches, these three forgotten members of society band together to solve the mystery of the abandoned child and the fate of her parents. Along the way, encounters with seemingly unrelated events and people force them to confront their own haunted pasts, as they learn to face their future, together.
The new English-language dub produced by GKIDS and NYAV Post features the voices of Jon Avner (Just Cause 3) as Gin, Victoria Grace (Mirai) as Miyuki and Shakina Nayfack (Transparent, Difficult People) as Hana, with Kate Bornstein, Crispin Freeman, David Manis, Jamieson Price and Kirk Thornton.
Produced by the prolific Masao Maruyama (In This Corner of the World, Summer Wars, Perfect Blue) with a screenplay by Kon (Paprika, Millennium Actress) and Keiko Nobuoto (Cowboy Bebop series & movie), Tokyo Godfathers features a whimsical score by Keiichi Suzuki and hails from celebrated studio Madhouse.
The BRIC Foundation, dedicated to increasing representation in the entertainment industry, held its second annual BRIC Talent + Innovation Summit on February 21, bringing together a community of thought provokers and disruptors across tech and entertainment to chart a course for meaningful change. The sold-out Summit was packed with inspiring talks, engaging workshops and actionable insights, bringing the power of perspective to attendees who joined from across government, media, tech, gaming and entertainment.
Among the highlights, Julie Ann Crommett, VP Multicultural Engagement at The Walt Disney Studios, called on attendees from across entertainment, media and tech to commit to action: “Representation matters, and the goal is to make sure that every single kid can see themselves on screen and in the workforce.”
During a panel on holding ourselves and businesses accountable, Darnell Moore, Director of Inclusion Strategy for Content & Marketing at Netflix, proclaimed, “Inclusion work is not just for the ‘other.’”
EVP of Creative at Sony Pictures Animation and Oscar-winning producer Karen Toliver (Hair Love) and Effie T. Brown, Gamechanger CEO and Producer (Dear White People), took the stage to discuss the opportunities and challenges that come with Operating in a Woke Universe. “You can’t make something about us, without us,” Brown asserted, “Until we bet on ourselves, no one’s going to bet on us.”
“We need to encourage each other to do better, to acknowledge both our privileges and the gaps in our knowledge, and make a commitment to justice,” said Alison Mann, BRIC Founder and CEO. “We launched the #BRICPledge as a means to make that commitment: pledge to make a difference, persuade others to care, and persevere when change doesn’t happen fast enough.”
In addition to a full day of engaging talks and conversations, the inaugural BRIC Impact Awards recognized individuals, nonprofits and companies that are innovative game-changers when it comes to leading how we creatively think and support diversity initiatives in the entertainment, media and tech industries, among others. Women in Animation also announced the recipients of their annual WIA Scholarships at the Summit.
2020 BRIC Impact Award winners:
Founders Innovation: King Digital’s Kiki Olofsson and Kristin Adolfsson, who have made it their mission to make significant strides in the area of diversity and inclusion when it comes to games. Together, they created a training program and invented the “Diversity Space Tool” to empower game developers to create more inclusive game characters.
Large Corporation: Netflix believes that it takes diversity of thought, culture, background and perspective to create a truly global storytelling platform. They are an equal opportunity employer who strives to build balanced teams from all walks of life. Inclusion plays just as much of a role in their success as having a diverse team.
Small Corporation: Baobab Studios is the leading VR animation studio with the mission to inspire you to dream by bringing out your sense of wonder. They immerse their audience in fantastical worlds, introduce characters to fall in love with, and are champions of diversity and diverse talent in all of their projects.
Large Non-Profit: The LA Promise Fund’s mission is to prepare Los Angeles students for success in college, career and life. Working through a network of high-performing, community-based schools and a portfolio of programs that reach students throughout LA County, the LA Promise Fund creates vibrant community hubs and partnerships that foster motivated, engaged, and directed students poised for academic, professional and personal success.
Small Non-Profit: Inner-City Arts offers a safe, creative space where students are invited to explore. Widely regarded as one of the nation’s most effective arts education providers, Inner-City Arts is an oasis of learning, achievement, and creativity in the heart of Skid Row, working to create a safer, healthier Los Angeles.
Educator: Kimberly Ponce from Compton Early College is a 12-year veteran social science teacher who began teaching at Compton High School. She teaches AP Human Geography, AP United States History and Leadership and is the proud Girls Build LA advisor who was named the CEC Teacher of the Year in 2019.
Individual: Since 2011, attorney Sandra Cuneo has advised the president and members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association on annual grant-giving of approximately $5 million dollars. She has served as an advocate before local, state and federal entities, and has organized numerous grassroots efforts, public-private partnerships, and other coalitions to advance their interests.
Student: ArtCenter College of Design student Madeleine “Maddie” Wu, who serves as a representative for Student Government and the Diversity Council, working in the Department of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion as the Lead Student Worker, “Creativist.”
“A huge congrats to the many incredible individuals and organizations who are already taking meaningful action and leading the way in diversity initiatives in their respective fields,” added Mann.
BRIC (Break, Reinvent, Impact, Change) was created with the mission of creating new access points for women and members of underrepresented groups to excel at creative leadership and to enable cultural change through engaging and empowering talent. The BRIC Foundation was founded in 2018 by entertainment industry heavyweights Alison Mann, VP Creative/Strategy Sony Pictures Animation, and Producers Jill Gilbert and Nicole Hendrix.
The top-grossing original anime feature of 2019, Promare makes its way to home entertainment this spring following a phenomenally successful North American theatrical run. The hyperkinetic, candy-colored visual masterpiece will be released on digital download and On Demand on May 5 and on Blu-ray + DVD combo pack or standalone DVD on May 19 from GKIDS and Shout! Factory.
Bonus features include an interview with director Hiroyuki Imaishi, a round table with Studio TRIGGER, and Side: Galo and Side: Lio short films with new English dubs featuring the original dub cast.
Fans who pre-order the Blu-ray + DVD combo pack from ShoutFactory.com will receive an exclusive, limited-edition 18” x 24” lithograph, while supplies last. There will also be a SteelBook edition of the Blu-ray available exclusively at Best Buy, to be released on May 19.
The first feature-length film from the acclaimed studio behind KILL la KILL, Little Witch Academia and the upcoming B.N.A., and director Hiroyuki Imaishi (Gurren Lagann), Promare is a blistering action-adventure that will set your soul on fire.
Synopsis: Thirty years has passed since the appearance of the Burnish, a race of flame-wielding mutant beings who destroyed half of the world with fire. When a new group of aggressive mutants calling themselves Mad Burnish appears, the epic battle between Galo Thymos, a new member of the anti-Burnish rescue team Burning Rescue, and Lio Fotia, the leader of Mad Burnish, begins.
Promare’s all-star English dub voice cast includes Billy Kametz (Neon Genesis Evangelion Series), Johnny Yong Bosch (BLEACH, Akira), Crispin Freeman (Mirai) and Alyson Leigh Rosenfeld (Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!).
Crunchyroll, the world’s most popular anime brand, is announcing today the inaugural slate of Crunchyroll Originals, including eight series spanning adventure, fantasy, romance, historical fiction and more. These shows, produced with respected publishers including Kodansha, animation studios such as MAPPA, and from Crunchyroll Studios, represent Crunchyroll’s continued commitment to delight fans and expand the global anime community through fresh stories and unique perspectives from a global slate of creators.
“Since our launch in 2006, Crunchyroll has been at the forefront of anime fandom and a driving force in the popularizing of this beloved genre worldwide,” said Joanne Waage, General Manager of Crunchyroll. “In keeping with this tradition, we are incredibly excited to announce our first slate of Crunchyroll Originals. These stories range from the traditional to the innovative, blending eastern and western ideas within the spectrum of anime. We hope this content will not only delight our current fans but also create a pathway for new fans to fall in love with this amazing art form.”
Crunchyroll Originals will build upon Crunchyroll’s global collection of anime, with more than 1,000 titles and 30,000 episodes currently available for fans. This inaugural slate was curated using more than 10 years of viewership data, paired with Crunchyroll’s deep connection to the anime community. Crunchyroll Originals will be available to fans internationally, with In/Spectre airing now and additional premieres slated throughout the year, to complement Crunchyroll’s robust seasonal anime slate.
Crunchyroll Originals 2020 slate:
In/Spectre – In this Crunchyroll Original, supernatural romance mixes with an enthralling, fantastical mystery, as a duo sets out to solve a series of dark incidents plaguing their world. Airing now on Crunchyroll.
Tower of God – A Crunchyroll and WEBTOON Production, based on the comic series created by SIU and published by WEBTOON, this dark fantasy action series centers on the journey of a young man as he battles his way through the mysterious Tower, building friendships, discovering the rules that govern this tower, and facing unimaginable terrors, as he strives to find the only friend he’s ever known. Animation produced by TELECOM ANIMATION FILM. Production Management provided by SOLA ENTERTAINMENT. Coming to Crunchyroll spring 2020.
Onyx Equinox – In this Crunchyroll Studios Production created by Sofia Alexander, a young Aztec boy is saved from death by the gods and chosen to act as “humanity’s champion,” forced to discard his apathy toward his fellow man and prove humanity’s potential in a fight that spans across fantastical-yet-authentic Mesoamerican cultures. Premieres summer 2020 on Crunchyroll.
The God of High School – A Crunchyroll Original, based on the comic series created by Yongje Park and published by WEBTOON, this action-packed series follows a high schooler and his friends as they compete in an epic tournament, borrowing power directly from the gods and uncovering a mysterious organization along the way… With the promise of their heart’s deepest desires, motivating their tournament victory. Animation produced by MAPPA. Production Management provided by SOLA ENTERTAINMENT. Coming soon on Crunchyroll.
Noblesse – A Crunchyroll and WEBTOON Production, based on the comic series from Jeho Son and Kwangsu Lee and published by WEBTOON, this fantasy follows a powerful vampire noble who is thrown into modern civilization after 820 years of slumber. Dangerous adventures with his new friends await as they combat a secret organization and uncover his past. Animation produced by Production I.G. Coming soon on Crunchyroll.
Meiji Gekken: Sword & Gun (working title) – Japan, 1870. We follow an ensemble of characters — a former samurai, a yakuza bodyguard, a devious spy and a geisha assassin — as they try to find their place in the rapidly evolving Meiji-era while escaping the sins of their pasts… Inspired by historical events. A Crunchyroll Studios Production. Coming soon on Crunchyroll.
FreakAngels – After civilization comes to a sudden and crashing end, twelve 23-year-old psychics living in the rubble of London must check their wild impulses and discover their better angels in order to rebuild society. A Crunchyroll Studios Production based on the graphic novels by Warren Ellis & Paul Duffield. Coming soon on Crunchyroll.
High Guardian Spice – In this Crunchyroll Studios production created by Raye Rodriguez, four fierce girls train to become great heroes at High Guardian Academy, where they form allegiances, uncover betrayals, and discover their true identities, while preparing to protect the world from an ominous unknown threat. Coming soon on Crunchyroll.
Crunchyroll Originals is not the brand’s first foray into original content, as Crunchyroll has co-produced more than 60 series since 2015, working directly with partners in Japan to fund the production and creation of original anime including The Rising of the Shield Hero, A Place Further Than the Universe and The Junji Ito Collection, among many others.
Crunchyroll offers the anime community a full 360-degree experience around the content they love, and fans can expect to see Crunchyroll Originals in upcoming events, both at Crunchyroll Expo, Crunchyroll’s owned anime convention, and at various conventions across the U.S. and abroad, as well as in merchandise, social media and more.
Animac, the International Animation Film Festival of Catalonia, will hold its 24th edition from February 27 to March 1 in Lleida, Spain. As well as the best animation from national and international filmmakers, the event will gather creative luminaries from around the world to share their work as well as offering workshops and networking opportunities.
The theme for 2020 is Time Capsule. As festival director Carolina López points out, animation is “a powerful medium to recover the past, collect and convey memories, the time lived and history, which enables us to talk about what is very difficult to explore using live action.” This will be reflected in a program which explores the issue of memory from diverse perspectives.
The festival will open Thursday night at the Teatre de la Llotja with a selection of shorts addressing the issue of memory from different viewpoints. These are Mémorable directed by Bruno Collet, Dcera (Daughter) directed by Daria Kashcheeva — both nominated for the best animated short Oscars — Barcelona de Foc and The Physics of Sorrow, both directed by special festival guest Theodore Ushev. The Bulgarian filmmaker will lecture on “Animation as a time capsule” on Friday.
Barcelona de Foc, which makes its premiere in Animac’s opening night screening, follows the mobilizations in Catalonia after the controversial court decision surrounding the events of October 1, 2017. Ushev visits Barcelona and reflects, with an experimental film, his impressions and feelings about the street demonstrations. This debut animated testimony once again uses the encaustic painting technique, first used in The Physics of Sorrow.
The 24th Animac will bestow the Honorary Award on William Kentridge (Johannesburg, South Africa; 1955), for being a global artist, an original and committed filmmaker, and an essential benchmark in animated memory and artistry, whose drawings go beyond the walls of the dark room to enliven the best museums of the world. Animac will offer a complete retrospective of Kentridge’s works.
An artist, performer and filmmaker, Kentrige’s “From the Stone Age” charcoals and large format drawings put him on the international art map from the 1990s. He studied Political Sciences and Fine Arts in South Africa, later joining in the world of theater in Paris. As an opera and theater director, he has worked on the characters of Woyzeck, Ubu, Lulu, Ulysses or Faust, re-contextualising them to explore current meanness, tyranny, authoritarianism and corruption. He has directed visually striking productions for the New York Metropolitan Opera and has exhibited his work at the Documenta in Kassel, the Tate Modern in London, the MoMA in New York, the Museo Reina Sofía in Madrid and the Venice Biennale. Some of his works can be seen at the Fundació Sorigué in Lleida. In 2017 Kentridge received the Princess of Asturias Award for the Arts.
Florence Miailhe, the grande dame of French animation, will receive the Animation Master Award for her prolific career. As a director, she has made nine shorts, primarily by painting under the camera lens, for which she has won 80 major awards. These include the 2002 César for the Best Short with Au premier dimanche d’août and Jury Special Mention Award at the Cannes Film Festival 2006 for Conte de quartier. In 2015 she received the Honorary Cristal at Annecy. Miailhe will also hold a masterclass on Saturday.
Miailhe’s impressionist films reflect, from a unique viewpoint, the detail of daily life with a great command of color and line. Mythology is another key influence. Notable among her works is the 23-minute sand animation short Méandres, based on Ovid’s epic poem “Metamorphosis” and made in collaboration with Elodie Bouedec and Mathilde Philippon. In the last 10 years, Miailhe has been working on her first feature film, The Crossing, exploring migration, which she is about to complete.
Animac 2020 will offer a retrospective of Florence Miailhe with the following titles: Hammam (1991), Shéhérazade (1995), Au premier dimanche d’août (2002), Les oiseaux blancs, les oiseaux noirs (2002), Conte de quartier (2006) and Méandres (2013).
At the closing ceremony on March 1, the Trajectory Prize will be presented
to Jordi Artigas, for his valuable contribution to the study and dissemination of independent animation films in Catalonia and for its connection with the beginning of Animac, because in 1996 Artigas was the first director of Cinemagic, the precursor sample of what Animac is today.
The closing ceremony will feature the films Mind My Mind, directed by Floor Adams, and The One-Minute Memoir, directed by Joan C. Gratz, who will be present at Animac 2020.
This year’s festival competition received 943 projects from 61 countries. The 187 selected films together with the retrospectives and the official sections, amount to over 250 films (including shorts, feature films and series) over the four day fest at La Llotja and the CaixaForum. In total, there will be seven world premieres, five international premieres and around 40 national premieres. Notable among the shorts to be screened are Esfinge humana by Maria Lorenzo and Crazy by Inari Sirola, which will have their world premiere at Animac, as well as Carne by Kamila Kater and Purpleboy by Alexandre Siqueira.
Animac 2020 will present seven feature films, including the animated documentary Zero Impunity, part of a global transmedia project that brings together activism and investigative journalism; Marona’s Fantastic Tale by Romanian director Anca Damian, a moving story of canine innocence with playful, expressive and ground-breaking animation; and The Swallows of Kabul, a story set in Kabul in summer 1998, with a city in ruins occupied by the Taliban. There will also be three medium-length films, the premieres of The Snail and the Whale and Zog, and Strike (with director Trevor Hardy in attendance) in the youth and family section Little Animac.
And to celebrate creative talent from Mexico in attendance, the “Mexican Animation” special program will screen the shorts Jacinta and La Noria by Karla Castañeda; Viva el Rey by Luis Téllez; El octavo día, la creación by Juan José Medina and Rita Basulto; Hasta los Huesos by René Castillo; Los Aeronautas by León Fernández; and Cerulia by Sofía Carrillo.
Lectures and masterclasses include highly original Estonian filmmaker and academic Ülo Pikkov on “Memory in stop motion” (Sunday), plus a retrospective; French cartoonist & filmmaker Aurel who will give a WIP on his film Josep, a bio of anti-Franco Catalan combatant turned émigré artist Josep Bartoli (Saturday); stop-motion animators Karla Castañeda and Luis Téllez (mentees of Guillermo del Toro) on the state of animation in Jalisco, Mexico (Saturday); Klaus animator Fernando Moro on his laudable 30-year career (Friday), plus workshop “Classical, not old, animation”; official Animac Campus patroness Nuria G. Blanco on her experience as a producer at prestigious Irish studio Cartoon Saloon (Thursday); and Barcelona-based producers Javier Galán (Peekaboo Animation) and Pedro Alpera (Pikkukala) on building international co-productions for quality 2D children’s series (Thursday).
Animac 2020 will welcome the Portuguese duo of director Regina Pessoa and director/producer Abi Feijó to screen their latest film, Uncle Thomas: Accounting for the Days, which won the 2020 Annie Award for best animation short and the Special Jury Award at Annecy 2019. Pessoa’s award-winning short features the music of Canadian composer Normand Roger, Animac 2018 Honorary Award. Moreover, Pessoa and Feijó will lead the animation workshop for animation students of the Leandre Cristòfol Municipal Art School in Lleida, in the framework of the 24th Animac.
The Networking and Pitch section continues to be a benchmark for emerging professionals thanks to activities that build bridges between emerging talent and
established professionals. This year 39 projects at gestation stage have been received to participate in the Incubator, 22 Portfolios to be reviewed by experienced mentors, and 10 companies will take part in the Market Pitch to offer and showcase their services. This year stands out for the extraordinary quality of the national and international projects received for the Incubator, notably the one presented by the Goya best animation short 2019 winner Manuel Sirgo, or this year’s nominee, the Galicia-born David Fidalgo. This section will even spotlight the new feature film project by Little Animac special guest Trevor Hardy.
As in previous years, the educational and leisure side of Animac has its epicentre in Animacrea, where the professional stands will be combined with more playful and experimental activities for families and visitors. There will be animation workshops organized in collaboration with the best animation schools in Catalonia so that audiences of all ages can try their hand at animation using all techniques, manual and digital. Moreover, there is also the Open Screen and Kids Space for the youngest guests. In the educational framework of Animac 2020, workshops for young people of the city and for teachers will be held, along with those of Animacrea.
And, as ever, Animac brings animated cinema to children and young people through the School Sessions, to be held from February 24 to February 28, with a total of 10,500 students registered.
Zoonicorn (zoonicorn.com), the multiplatform animated preschool brand featuring a Zooniverse of enchanting characters kids love, has teamed up with Toonz Media Group, a global leader in family entertainment, for a development, co-production and distribution partnership that will launch 52 seven minute episodes in 2021. The new 3D CGI content will be distributed for the worldwide TV and digital marketplace by Toonz.
A magical mix of zebra and unicorn, the Zoonicorns inhabit the dreams of young animals, taking them on amazing adventures to help learn important social-emotional skills. When the dream is over, the young animal wakes up feeling self-confident and with decision-making skills necessary to overcome whatever challenges they are facing.
“It has been so important for us to find the right partner for Zoonicorn – a wonderfully creative team of unparalleled animators and writers that truly gets the fun and adventure of our brand as well as the underlying social-emotional modeling that is essential to the Zoonicorn experience,” said Mark Lubratt, creator of Zoonicorn. “We are thrilled to have found that partner with Toonz. With this collaboration, we are able to tell more in-depth stories, dive deeper into the development of our beloved characters and expand the Zooniverse to reach new audiences around the world.”
Mr P.Jayakumar, CEO of Toonz Media Group, commented, “We are delighted to be partnering on the wonderful Zoonicorn property to develop, co-produce and distribute the CGI TV series. I have no doubt that it will both entertain and empower kids during their all-important social-emotional skills learning stages, helping them on their journey through life.”
The growing line of Zoonicorn products have continued to expand since the launch of the brand in 2015. In 2018, Zoonicorn and Jay@Play introduced a new interactive Zoonicorn plush as part of Jay@Play’s ‘Wish Me’ brand. Other products include a picture book, three interactive story apps and four games available for download and on the Zoonicorn website and available on bothiTunes and Google Play. Zoonicorn debuted a new limited edition apparel line in Fall, 2019.
The 11 Zoonicorn music videos have been a hit on You Tube with additional Sing Along videos offered exclusively on Kidoodle.TV, Kid Genius Cartoons, Happy Kids TV, Toon Goggles Jr and Kabillion. Under the terms of the agreement with Toonz, Zoonicorn retains all licensing rights. Brand development and licensing for the property is headed by J’net Smith of All Art Licensing.
Each Zoonicorn has their own special talents and skills. Purple Promi’s the master leader and organizer who can always cut to the core of a problem with her laser focus. Green Ene is a technology maestro, who amps up the crazy-cool with never-before-seen technologies. Blue Valeo’s super strength always helps him power through challenges, and Pink Aliel’s special ability to create anything she thinks of is matched only by her power to communicate… nonstop!
The Zoonicorns cleverly guide each dreamer through a whirlwind of fun-loving adventures, tackling obstacles, balancing emotions and discovering important life lessons along the way. At the heart of every solution is the one important truth — the power to solve any problem is inside of them. When the animal wakes up back in their own world, they are empowered and their heart remembers the lesson from their dream.
Paris-based film sales company Charades, which helped bring Jeremy Clapin’s Oscar-nominated I Lost My Body and Mamoru Hosoda’s acclaimed Mirai to audiences around the world, has announced a raft of deals for its new high-profile animated offerings at the European Film Market.
Romanian director Anca Damian’s colorful, emotional exploration of the human-dog bond Marona’s Fantastic Tale has been picked up by Challan (South Korea), Legend Film (China), New Horizons (Poland), Pack Magic (Spain), Riskit (Japan), Scanorama (Baltics), Sky Digi (Taiwan), Triart (Sweden) and Windmill (Netherlands). The European Film Award-nominated feature premiered at Annecy 2019 and will receive a North American release through GKIDS later this year. Damian’s follow up to award-winning animated biography Crulic – The Path to Beyond, Marona is produced by Aparte Films, Sacrebleu Productions and Minds Meet.
Expected to debut this spring, children’s book series adaptation Little Nicholas, directed by Gilles de Maistre (Mia and the White Lion) and Amandine Fredon, has sold to A-One (South Korea), Aero & Mozinet (Czech Rep. & Slovakia), Empire (Middle East), Feelgood (Greece), Impuls (Switzerland), Lusomundo (Portugal), Monolith (Poland), Proview (Taiwan), Volga (Russia), Yeni Films (Turkey) and 2i (former Yugoslavia). The hand-drawn feature is produced by ON Entertainment (The Little Prince) in co-production with Foliascope (The Tower), Bibidul (A Cat in Paris) and Kaibou.
Charades has also found many ports of call for 3D CG family feature Bigfoot Superstar, the forthcoming sequel to Son of Bigfoot, directed by Ben Stassen (The Queen’s Corgi, A Turtle’s Tale, Fly Me to the Moon) and Jérémie Degruson (Thunder and the House of Magic). Pre-sales include Avjet (Taiwan), CDC (Latin America), Films 26 (Francophone Africa), Koch Media (Italy), Metropolis (Malaysia), Ozen (Turkey), Scanbox (Scandinavia) and Wing Sight (China). The pic is written by Bob Barlen & Cal Brunker (Escape from Planet Earth, The Nut Job 2) based on Stassen’s original concept. Son of Bigfoot (2017), produced by nWave Pictures, StudioCanal, Belga Prod., Illuminata Pictures and Waterman Ent., grossed over $50M in worldwide box office.
The 2020 TAAFI has come to a close after another edition took over Toronto with animation screenings, panels and special guests, enjoyed by 1,500 attendees.
This year, Siqi Song’s Oscar-nominated short about the impact on families of China’s one-child policy, Sister, was awarded both the Grand Prix and the Best International Short awards in the TAAFI Animation Festival’s juried competition, while Valerie Barnhart’s haunting piece about a regretful witness in a child disappearance, Girl in the Hallway, captured both the jury and audience awards for Best Canadian Short.
The winners are:
Grand Prix – Sister (U.S./China) Siqi Song
Best Student Film – The Fox & The Pigeon (Sheridan College, Canada) OOV Studios
Best Canadian Short Film – Girl in the Hallway Valerie Barnhart
Best International Short Film – Sister Siqi Song
Best Kids Short Film – The Strange Chores “Put the Barbarians Back in the Box” (Australia) Ludo Studios
Audience Choice Award for Best Canadian Short Film – Girl in the Hallway Valerie Barnhart
Animation artists and fans in the Toronto area can still enjoy the special exhibition Animation Begins Where Live Action Gives Up: The Art of Kaj Pindal until February 27. Presented by Skyship Entertainment and curated by Ellen Besen, the art represented covers lesser-known facets of Pindal’s career such as political cartooning, along with developmental artwork from his better-known films and visual explorations of an astonishing range of ideas, reflecting a mental well of inspiration that never ran dry. (M-F 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Liberty Arts at 25 Atlantic Ave.)
And the 2020 TAAFI Job Fair is scheduled for Saturday, April 25 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at George Brown College’s Waterfront Campus, 51 Dockside Drive. Presented in partnership with CASO, this one-of-a-kind recruitment fair connects top studios with animation, visual effects and gaming students, grads and professionals from around the GTA and across Ontario, in a turn-key, highly promoted event that is known to draw huge crowds.
Girl in the HallwayThe Strange ChoresThe Fox and the Pigeon
Friday at the 2020 BRIC Talent and Innovation Summit, Women in Animation President Marge Dean proudly announced the recipients of this year’s WIA Scholarships. The WIA Scholarship is an annual award committed to furthering deserving animation students who demonstrate artistic talent, a passion for animation, a financial need and a promising future in the field of animation. Student members of WIA are encouraged to apply, no matter in what region of the world they are academically pursuing their animation career interests.
Out of 83 applicants from 44 schools across 17 U.S. states as well as Canada, Cyprus and the U.K. this year, the WIA scholarship committee selected eight students as most deserving of scholarships:
Daria Burkut from Cyprus Academy of Art in partnership with the University for the Creative Arts. Born in a small town in Siberia, Burkut loves to pursue traditional animation as well as explore other techniques. (Website)
Clarisse Chua from California Institute of the Arts. Originally from Singapore, Chua previously attended Tama Art University (Tokyo). In addition to creating animated films inspired by both Eastern and Western myths and legends, she also enjoys making miniatures out of felt. (Website)
Elizabeth Dettmann from Rochester Institute of Technology. Born and raised in New York City and currently living in Maryland, Dettmann hopes to enter the animation industry as a storyboard artist or character designer. Her dream is to tell empathetic, impactful stories that bring joy and change perceptions of animation. (Website)
Jenny Duong from California State University Fullerton. Duong has been inspired by animation since childhood, which has fueled her passion to one day work as an art director for animated TV series. (Website)
Tabitha Kitchen from Ringling College of Art and Design. Kitchen is currently finishing her thesis film, Granny’s Gamble, about a feisty grandma pulling off a casino heist. Her animation internship at Blue Sky this past summer has strengthened Kitchen’s lifelong love of art and its power to bring people together. (Vimeo)
Minh-Chau Nguyen from Santa Monica College. Nguyen previously studied design and worked in fashion production before redirecting her career into animation. She is looking forward to sharing her own unique narrative as a story artist someday. (Website)
Marion Parajes from California Institute of the Arts. Parajes is a story artist with an emphasis on visual development. They seek to create films that voice underrepresented experiences in order to bring animation to a broader range of audiences. (Website)
Kaylan Peattie from School of Visual Arts. Peattie is a character animator and artist whose passion lies in achieving new ways to express life through animation and filmmaking. (Website)
“It is my greatest honor to lead this amazing program and to work with the committee in offering opportunities to rising talent. The quality of our application pool was outstanding, and I am incredibly inspired by every one of the applicants. I sincerely hope this scholarship motivates them to move forward with their careers and helps our industry to reach our WIA goal of 50/50 gender balance in creative leadership roles by 2025,” said Hsiang Chin Moe, WIA’s Chair of Education.
Winner Minh-Chau Nguyen said, “I am so thrilled and grateful to be a recipient of a 2019-2020 Women in Animation scholarship. Two years ago, I moved to L.A. to return to school to change my career from fashion to animation. I hardly knew anyone, but once I joined Women in Animation, I found my community and sense of belonging. Thank you, Women in Animation, for your continuous support of higher education and empowerment of women in the field of animation.”
The scholarship pool totals $15,000 and also features one program award from Animation Mentor and three from Toon Boom.
Animation Mentor offers one WIA Animation Scholarship winner a six-week workshop (a $699-$899 value) and allows that awardee the choice of several courses. Considering an array of classes such as Maya Workshop/Animation Basics for Beginners to Game Animation Fundamentals to Intermediate Storyboarding to Pre-Viz Basics for Animators as just a few examples, the student winner will have options to best personalize this educational opportunity.
“Animation Mentor is excited and honored to be partnering with Women in Animation to bring our two great communities together,” said Bobby Beck, Co-founder of Animation Mentor. “We share so many of the same values, and the talent of our global student base reminds us how important it is to have diverse storytellers in our industry. Because WIA has so many great resources, and such a worthy mission, we see this partnership as an opportunity for our amazing students to connect and grow in different ways, adding to the solid foundation they receive from us. Any chance to bring artists together to imagine and create, we’re all in!”
Toon Boom supported this year’s winners with giveaways and scholarship funds totaling over $16,000: one-year bundled licenses of Storyboard Pro and Harmony Premium were awarded to each of the finalists, and Toon Boom award winners received the base licenses package as well as one-on-one remote training.
“Toon Boom Animation is excited to be working with WIA on yet another project to further promote and support a female presence in animation arts, science and business. Projects such as WIA Vancouver’s B.C.’s Five in Focus: Animation and now this WIA scholarship are truly helping to shape the future of animation, and continues our focus on the creative community worldwide,” said Stephanie Quinn, Director Marketing, Toon Boom.
Leading Russian animation company Riki Group (Kikoriki) has acquired a controlling interest and consolidation of 100% of the shares of Aeroplane Productions (The Fixies). Ilya Popov, General Producer of Riki Group, will become the General Producer of the consolidated company. Georgiy Vasilyev, founder of Aeroplane Productions, will continue collaboration as a creative producer of major animation projects for Aeroplane.
This deal enables Riki Group to expand its portfolio of children’s media brands, already one of the largest in Russia. Moreover, by consolidating its assets in Moscow, Riki Group will strengthen its presence at the national level as well as will enhance its status as an animation leader internationally.
The acquisition marks another milestone in Riki Group’s growth strategy. Recently, the outfit acquired the Tina & Tony brand assets through an equity share purchase in Digital Television Company (owner of TV channels Mult, Mama and others), as well
as the assets of the Riki Development Fund (more than 10 animation projects) with an equity share purchase from the Inter-State Development Corporation.
“This deal means that we are consolidating the brand portfolios of the two leading national animation studios. Since 2011, Riki Group’s assistance helped to establish and monetize The Fixies brand. At the start of the project our company invested $3 million into production of the series and the brand. In a considerably short time the series has been a huge success both in Russia and internationally, making a significant contribution to the creative industry,” said Riki Group’s Popov. “It was made possible because of our strong team of professionals, who are still developing and implementing new and successful projects. We are very excited about joining our efforts in order to produce world-class animation products.”
“By assignment of the controlling interest in Aeroplane Group, I do hope that [Riki Group] will be able to further promote my dear Fixies, which I have worked on for over a decade of my life,” commented Vasilyev. “For my part I will be pleased to participate in new large-scale animation projects of Aeroplane Productions not as the company owner and chief executive but as a creative producer.”
Mark Zavadskiy, Head of Riki Group’s Steering Committee, noted, “The consolidation of such a large scale of assets as those from Aeroplane Productions marks an important achievement in the transformation of the Riki Group animation holding business structure. In fact we have put together the expertise of two unique production and business teams – in St. Petersburg and Moscow – to solve the most challenging tasks facing the development of the animation industry in Russia.”
Directors, producers and distributors from 11 countries have been nominated for the 2020 Cartoon Tributes, the awards that recognize the work of European animation professionals. Created in 2001, these honors are granted annually by Cartoon Movie, the pitching and co-production event for European animated films. Most of the nominated films have gone through Cartoon Movie in their development or production stage, confirming the importance of the event to the continent’s animation industry.
Among the nominees are some of the most relevant and award-winning films and companies that have substantially contributed to the development of the European animation industry over the past year. Chosen through an e-voting platform by the roughly 900 Cartoon Movie participants, the Director, Distributor and Producer of the Year will be announced on March 5 at the Palais des Congrès in Bordeaux.
Cartoon Movie 2020 will be held in Bordeaux, France from March 3-5.
The nominees are:
EUROPEAN DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Zabou Breitman & Éléa Gobbé-Mévellec for The Swallows of Kabul(France) Produced by Les Armateurs, this film is an adaptation of Yasmina Khadra’s literary fiction set in a Taliban-occupied Kabul. Actor and director Breitman first animated feature and Gobbé-Mévellec’s first feature film as a director premiered in Cannes in 2019.
Frank Mosvold & Atle Blakseth for Ella Bella Bingo (Norway) Produced by Kool Produktion, this story about friendship is based on the popular TV series by the same name. The film was released January 24 in Norway, Denmark and Finland, and has already sold to nearly 30 territories.
Sergio Pablos for Klaus (Spain) Written and directed by Pablos in his directorial debut, this Christmas comedy film is produced by SPA Studios and distributed by Netflix. The film won seven Annie Awards, and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Animated Feature in 2020.
EUROPEAN DISTRIBUTOR OF THE YEAR
Filmin (Spain) One of the first European VoD platforms, Filmin works in Spain and Portugal, and it’s focused on independent and European cinema. In 2013, it launched FilminKIDS, an exclusive channel for children between 3 and 12 years old with an extensive catalogue of over 320 films and series, 88% of which are European productions.
Les Films du Préau (France) A distribution company aimed at the younger viewer that has been working with animation from all over Europe for the last two decades. Shooom’s Odyssey, Zébulon le Dragon, Gruffalo, Solan & Ludvig and Jacob, Mimmi and the Talking Dogs are some of the titles the company has recently released.
Lumière (Belgium) Lumière Group started its activities in 1996 in Bruges as an exhibitor. In 2003 they got into the distribution business in Benelux with a wide catalogue of European films such as I Lost My Body, Funan and Phantom Boy.
Outsider Films (Portugal) A Portuguese distributor specializing in independent films. Created in 2012, the company releases 16 films per year with a special focus on animation, with movies such as Ozzy and the Cockroaches, My Life as a Courgette, Loving Vincent and The Breadwinner distributed in Portugal in the last three years.
EUROPEAN PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Atom Art (Latvia) / Letko (Poland) for Jacob, Mimmi and the Talking Dogs, Edmunds Jansons’ first feature film.
Prima Linea Productions (France) / France 3 Cinéma (France) / Indigo Film (Italy) for The Bears’ Famous Invasion of Sicily, directed by Lorenzo Mattotti.
Trickstudio Lutterbeck (Germany) / Balance Film (Germany) / Doghouse Films (Luxembourg) / Artémis Productions (Belgium) / MAUR film (Czech Republic) for Fritzi – A Revolutionary Tale, a four-country co-production directed by Ralf Kukula & Matthias Bruhn.
Xilam Animation (France) / Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Cinéma (France) for I Lost My Body, film directed by Jérémy Clapin, nominated for an Oscar for Best Animated Feature in 2020.
Register and view this year’s selected Cartoon Movie projects at cartoon-media.eu.
The New York Toy Fair has returned to the Jacob K. Javits Center to dazzle fans, collectors and kids-at-heart with a tidal wave of new goodies inspired by favorite franchises. The show runs February 22-25.
eOne announced a major expansion for its preschool hit PJ Masks (season 4 premieres on Disney Junior this spring), with top-notch new consumer products partners across the U.S. and Canada and more than two dozen renewals across a range of categories. The property boasts more than 90 licenses in the U.S. and 50 in Canada, plus 13 million app downloads in NorAm. Big additions include:
Procter & Gamble (Pampers Easy Ups training underwear) – U.S. and Canada
Just Play (master toy, including the PJ Masks 2-in-1 Mobile HQ, the PJ Masks Air Jet, and Romeo’s Flying Factory.) U.S. and Canada
Simon & Schuster (master publishing) – U.S. and Canada
VTech/Leapfrog (LeapStart™ and electronic learning aids, including the PJ Masks flashlight) – U.S. and Canada
Disguise, Inc. (Halloween costumes) – U.S. and Canada
Epic Story Media has been tapped by Outfit7 Limited as the U.S. & Canadian licensing agent for its award-winning flagship family brand Talking Tom and Friends. ESM will assemble a consumer products program with key categories including toys, plush, publishing, party/novelty, experiential/events and promotions.
More than 22 Talking Tom and Friends mobile games have received over 10 billion downloads globally to date. In 2019, the innovative virtual pet game My Talking Tom 2 ranked as the sixth most-played mobile game in the world. The brand is also one of the top 20 favorite game brands in the U.S. and has amassed over 325 million local views across its YouTube content. Talking Tom and Friends content boasts over 40 billion total views to date. Fans spend around 1.6 million hours watching shows like the award-winning CGI animated Talking Tom and Friends (the seventh most-viewed brand on YouTube in 2018 — over 23 billion views worldwide), Talking Tom Shorts, Talking Tom and Friends Minis or the new Talking Tom Heroes series every day.
Funko of course pulled back the curtain on a wide variety of new licensed collections. New POP! Figures, keychains, minis, plushes, etc. cute-ify characters from Marvel, DC, The Boys, Sanrio, Pokemon and anime favorites like Inu-Yasha, Dragon Ball and Yu-Gi-Oh!, classic cartoon and comics brands Looney Tunes, The Flintstones, Arthur, Archie and Disney Villains, as well as upcoming Pixar original Soul. You can shop the whole Funko Toy Fair collection here.
The company also unveiled a patent-pending machine for in-store that will dispense a new line of collectibles called Snapsies. The characters include a rock-star unicorn named Jett, an athletic mountain goat named Billie and a hedgehog baker named Boe. After purchase, the $9.99 capsule toys can be customized.
Hasbro once again had plenty to reveal at NYTF, spotlighting new goodies for Transformers, Ghostbusters, G.I. Joe and Power Rangers, coming to retailers nationwide. Highlights of the colorful DreamWorks Trolls World Tour collection include:
Tour Balloon (Ages 4+, SRP $19.99, Fall) This playset opens up to reveal everything Poppy needs to travel in style, including a fold-down bed, shower with curtain, attachable slide, moveable flowers to customize, and an included Poppy figure (and room for her friends). Packed playset includes a handle to take the fun on the go.
Blooming Pod Stage (Ages 4+, $29.99, Fall) Put Poppy in the Pop World pod on top and push a button to open it for a grand entrance, then take her down the elevator to the Hard Rock stage, DJ booth or Lonesome Flats. Push-button effects and three songs from the film: “Trolls Just Want to Have Fun,” “Rock You Like a Hurricane” and “One More Time.”
Rappin’ Tiny Diamond (Ages 4+, $14.99, Fall) 8″ tall figure with scepter and hip sunglasses sings his signature rap from the movie at the push of a button, batteries included!
Dancing Hair Poppy (Ages 4+, $49.99, Fall) This interactive character toy features a wild hairdo that moves in different directions as you play with her, sings two songs from the movie (“Just Sing,” “Good Times”) and encourages kids to dance along with phrases like “Come on, let’s do the Hair Dance!” Eyes and head also move, and Poppy features a light-up headband. She reacts to having her hair brushed, and comes with skates to go “trollerskating.”
Poppy’s Rock Guitar (Ages 4+, $24.99, Fall) Covered in wild pink plush, the guitar has Pop Mode to play “Trolls Just Want to Have Fun” or Rock Mode for a supercharged version. Kids can rock out like the movie characters by moving the “strum” to play and hitting the button to add fun riffs.
Kidrobot is ramping up its vinyl offerings with limited-edition 4″ Bhunny figures inspired by six iconic characters and designed by world-renowned artist and Kidrobot Chief Creative Officer, Frank Kozik. The first, inspired by Godzilla, will be available exclusively to Loot Crate (www.lootcrate.com) subscribers with the March 2020 box. The remaining five will be released simultaneously priced at $11.99 for each numbered figure: Hello Kitty, SpongeBob SquarePants, TMNT Donatello, Beetlejuice and Bob Ross. Hundreds of new, licensed Bhunnies are expected to launch throughout 2020, available at select retailers including Target, Walmart and specialty stores, as well as www.kidrobot.com.
MasterPieces unleashed a line of games and puzzles for Clifford The Big Red Dog as part of a new licensing agreement with Scholastic Entertainment. Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, the company’s product launches for Spring 2020 include:
Clifford’s journeys and adventures come alive as children create their own stories with Clifford’s Story Cards ($9.99), in this imaginative-play card game.
The Clifford The Big Red Dog Matching Game ($9.99) is a fun memory game for preschoolers and children.
The Clifford The Big Red Dog Sing-A-Long 24-piece sound puzzle ($14.99) has a self-contained push-button sound chip, with an on-off switch, that fits into the puzzle. The sound chip plays a 30-second Clifford The Big Red Dog song while the 24 extra-large pieces of the puzzle are assembled. The puzzle completes to an 18″ x 24″ size. The thick recycled puzzle board and random cut pieces ensure a tight interlocking fit and create a fun activity that can be built repeatedly.
The Clifford The Big Red Dog Giant Floor Puzzle ($15.99) is shaped to match Clifford’s loveable form, and is over 3 feet wide. MasterPieces created this extra big puzzle featuring the extra big dog with three special custom-shaped pieces for kids to discover.
Australia-based Moose Toys (Booth #2535) introduced its first collection of toys based on the smash-hit series Bluey from Ludo Studio (ABC KIDS / BBC Studios). Having made its U.S. premiere on Disney Junior in Fall 2019, the charming pup’s toy collection will arrive at retail beginning August 1. The debut line was a sellout success last year in Australia: a collection of play sets, figures, plush characters, and accessories featuring Bluey, Chilli (Mum), Bandit (Dad) and Bingo (Sister) designed to inspire kids and families to recreate their favorite moments from the popular show at home.
The Force is stronger than ever with fans of all things Star Wars. The Disney brand made a big splash with reveals of products inspired by The Mandalorian and the Emmy-winning animated series The Clone Wars — the final, 12-episode season of which will join Mando on Disney+ starting Feb. 21. Additional products tied to milestones such as the home video release of The Rise of Skywalker and the 40th anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back.
With fans champing at the bit, a number of all-new The Mandalorian items were announced across multiple categories. Highlights include:
The Child Animatronic Edition figure (pre-orders open)
New Mando editions of Star Wars Trouble and Star Wars Operation (Hasbro)
LEGOconstruction sets featuring the Razor Crest ship; BrickHeadz The Mandalorian & The Child kit
Sought-after items featuring The Child from Hasbro,Funko, Mattel, Build-A-Bear, shopDisney.com | Disney store and more are expected to start hitting shelves next month.
Plus com | Disney store and Disney Park exclusives.
Newly revealed items inspired by Star Wars: The Clone Wars include:
Mandalorian Darksaber Lightsaber
All-new Mission Fleet line of vehicles and figures, including Anakin Skywalker Jedi Starfighter set, Ahsoka Tano Aquatic Attack micro vehicle & figure, and Captain Rex Clone Combat set
Disney Parks exclusives including Clone Trooper pins, apparel and Ahsoka Tano Mickey Ears designed by voice actress and Her Universe founder Ashley Eckstein
Bluey Family Home – Moose ToysClifford The Big Red Dog Sing-A-Long 24-piece sound puzzleFunko SnapsiesKidrobotThe Mandalorian and Star Wars: The Clone Wars at Dream Hotel on February 20, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Disney)PJ Masks Seeker Tower PlaysetTalking Tom and FriendsTrolls Dancing Hair Poppy
