Paula Taborda dos Guaranys has joined leading European kids & family entertainment company Planeta Junior (Junior, a Grupo Planeta/De Agostini Group company) as Director of Content. She will lead the creation of a strong content portfolio through coproductions, original productions and acquisition, reporting directly to Diego Ibáñez, International Commercial Director.
Taborda dos Guaranys was the creative and business mind behind the Globo Group children’s channels. She was responsible for putting Brazil on the map of major kid’s players, closing several co-production agreements including Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir, PaperPort, Trulli Tales, Denver the Last Dinosaur, Power Players, Alice & Lewis, Dronix and many others.
“It is an honor to have the opportunity to work at Grupo Planeta, a communication leader in Spain, and to extend my content expertise from Planeta Junior in Spain throughout the group’s offices in Europe,” said Taborda dos Guaranys. “It’s a brand new start full of challenges and joy and I’d like to thank Ignacio Segura and Diego Ibáñez for entrusting me with this opportunity.”
The appointment forms part of Planeta Junior’s strategy for becoming a global children and youth entertainment company. It currently owns over 350 hours’ co-produced content featuring big name series like Gormiti, Power Players and Squish, with further series in development, including That’s Joey!, Milo, Tilly, Superpigs and Pio Rocks!
The official selection of the TAAFI Animation Film Festival, screening this weekend (Feb. 14-16) at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema in Toronto, will present more than 70 compelling, colorful, funny and thought-provoking short films across six themed programs leading up to the TAAFI 2020 Awards at the Closing Ceremony.
Festival passes and individual screening/event tickets are available online.
The Bravest Knight
Saturday Morning Kids Time (Block 1)
Sat., Feb. 15, 10-11:30 a.m. ***Kids 12 and under admitted for free***
The Bravest Knight: Cedric & The Green Leaf Shabnam Rezaei (U.S. | Big Bad Boo) CANADIAN PREMIERE
Dragon Recipes Maria Pavlou (Cyprus | Pixel Giants)
DN Ace (Canada | Nelvana, Wexworks)
Peep & the Big Wide World “An Inconvenient Tooth” Vadim Kapridov (Canada | 9 Story, Brown Bag)
Put the Barbarian Back in the Box Daily Pearson, Scott Vanden Bosch (Australia | Ludo)
The Ribbon (U.S. | StudioX)
Nothing to Say
The Mysteries of Life (Block 2)
Sat., Feb. 15, 3-4:30 p.m.| PG
Chiakan-Mofei Shan-Yi Lin (Taiwan | Chaikan)
Drawn to You Eleanor Davitt (Canada | Seneca College)
Grandad Was a Romantic Maryam Mohajer (U.K.)
Heat Wave Foklon Xenos (U.K.,Greece | NFTS)
Nothing to Say Aubry Mintz (U.S., Canada | Seneca College)
Outside the Box Janet Grainger (Ireland)
Reflection Chelsea Keene (U.S.)
SisterSiqi Song (U.S., China)
The Star of Andra & Tati Alessandro Belli, Rosalba Viellaro (Italy | Federation)
Dream Cream
The Oddball Collection (Block 3)
Sat., Feb. 15, 5:15-6:45 p.m. | 14+
Atomic LoveIan Felipe Cortes Esqueda (Mexico | SAE Institute)
Bun Yum Yum Sade Lahti (Finland | Turku University of Applied Sciences)
Creepy Pasta Salad Lauren Orme (U.K. | Winding Snake Prod.)
Cage Match Bryan Lee (U.S. | USC)
Cold Sore Caitlin McCarthy (U.K. | Strange Beast)
Don’t Feed These Animals Guilherme Afonso, Miguel Madail de Freitas (Portugal | Nebula Studios)
Dead End Nir Berger (Israel | Mind The Gap Animation)
Dream Cream Noam Sussman (Canada)
Exit Luke Ramsay (U.K.)
Lizard Queen Anca Vlasan (U.S. | Some Blonde Girl Prod.)
Dubicel Yashira Jordan & Igor Gopkalo Streiff (Bolivia | Celeste)
Irritable Ball Syndrome Brady Glover (U.S.)
Legend of Ancient Borneo Geoffrey Sinn Chun Hou (Malaysia | All for One Prod.)
Peep – NFB Edition Kaj Pindal (Canada | NFB)
Roxanne Katie Heady (U.S. | Ringling College of Art & Design)
Streets of Fury Aidan McAteer (Ireland)
Santa. (Bone Voyage). Sergey Gordeev (Russia | Agama Film Studio)
The Unusual Suspects Jackie Gorman (U.S. | Chapman University Dodge College)
The Christmas Sneeze Kintan Chauhan (U.S. | Kintan Chauhan)
Teddy Bear Rescue Louis Bodart (Canada | Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema)
o28 Otalia Causse, Geoffroy Collin, Louise Grardel, Antoine Marchand, Robin Merle, Fabien Meyran (France | Supinfocom Rubika)
The Fox and the Pigeon
Sheridan College – Selected Films of 2019 (Block 5)
Sun., Feb. 16, 12:15-1:30 p.m. | PG
Animation History Rebecca Simpson
Beeno Finds a Friend Corina Tu
Francotirador Joseph Bertrand
Golden Ice Cream Chayadol Lomtong
Her Boat Yingzhong Hu
In Passing Esther Cheung
Parkman Turcin Soylu
Pit Stop Raship Trikha
Smite! Tyler Nardone
The Fox and the Pigeon Michelle Chua, Aileen Dewhurts, Sharon Gabriella, Viktor Ivanovsku, Sang Lee, Tyler Pacana, Sikyung Kevin Sung, Morgan Thompson, Matt Walton, Steven Wang, Chelsea van Toi
The feature film lineup include Away by Gints Zilbalodis (Opening Film), Another Day of Life by Raul de la Fuente & Damian Nenow, Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles by Salvador Simó and Okko’s Inn by Kitaro Kosaka.
The TAAFI 2020 Awards will during the Sunday night Closing Ceremonies award prizes for Best Kids Film, Best Canadian Film, Best International Film, Best Student Film, and the Grand Prix of the Festival. This year’s Festival Jury is comprised of Cort Lane (SVP Animation & Family, Marvel Ent.), Dave Gerhard (Creative Director, Atomic Cartoons), M.R. Horhager (director, Dot.), Rick Clodfelter (founder, Garden Place Media), Austen Payne (One Hell of Party) and Katie Wilson (Director of Programming, Corus Ent.).
TAAFI’s Animated Person of the Year award has been redubbed in honor of the late Kaj Pindal (1927-2019), an instrumental force in Canadian animation through his work with the National Film Board. This year’s recipient is Blair Kitchen, whose posthumous honor will be accepted by his wife and fellow animation artist Rochelle Kitchen.
Berlin- and Hamburg-based transmedia production company Telescope Animation has announced its first slate of upcoming projects, with several releases across multiple platforms all centered on an original new IP: The Last Whale Singer. Utilizing cross-platform tools and real-time technology capable of sharing assets across multiple mediums, Telescope Animation’s first offerings will include an animated feature film, a prequel game set in the same universe, an AR/VR project, a series that picks up after the movie and more.
“The tools and methods being used to create films, games and a lot of interactive content are growing closer and closer together, but there aren’t a lot of production companies that are willing or able to take advantage of that,” said Reza Memari, Telescope’s co-founder and co-CEO, and the writer/co-director for the animated film A Stork’s Journey. “Telescope Animation was founded in part to allow us to experiment with what can be done through modern narrative design across mediums. With a close-knit team, our strong focus on storytelling and advanced tools, we can allow ourselves to dream big and take chances.”
The Last Whale Singer
For its debut, Telescope is developing its original animated feature The Last Whale Singer, coming to theaters in 2023. Selected for Cartoon Movie this year, the film takes audiences to the depths of the oceans with Vincent, a teenage humpback whale whose father possesses the ancestral gift of healing with his mystical song. As Vincent and his companion Percy travel deeper and deeper beneath the sea, fighting off dangers both natural and manmade, the young whale is forced to confront his destiny in order to protect the oceans from an ancient monster.
The animated film will act as a standalone project, although the story will expand through a prequel game currently planned for the Nintendo Switch, as well as the PlayStation and Xbox family of consoles. Both the film and the game are being developed using real-time game engines, allowing for flexibility through real-time editing and the sharing of assets between mediums. The Last Whale Singer will also include an AR/VR project, an interactive storybook and a potential series for web, TV or streaming platforms, all developed by Telescope Animation using many of the same assets across mediums.
The Last Whale Singer is the first animated feature selected for development for the German “Outstanding Films for Children” Initiative. It is partially funded by Creative Europe MEDIA, and includes film subsidies from BKM/Kuratorium Junger Deutscher Film and FFA. Telescope Animation is also working with Whale & Dolphin Conservation (WDC), an international wildlife charity dedicated to the conservation and protection of whales and dolphins around the world.
Two additional, as-yet unannounced projects based on original concepts are also in development, including a feature film with a game tie-in, and a potential episodic series that will also offer a companion game. Each individual release will act as a standalone story, with additional releases on other mediums helping to expand the universe.
“Our team shares a common vision for Telescope Animation as a transmedia hub, and we are telling stories that are important to us and reflect our values,” said co-founder and co-CEO Maite Woköck. “Having that freedom to tell the types of stories we believe in, without limiting ourselves to one platform or medium, has changed how we look at creating content for increasingly sophisticated audiences who demand more.”
Reza Memari and Maite Woköck of Telescope Animation. Photo by Lena Juergensen
Veteran filmmaker and game developer Memari first conceived of Telescope Animation in 2018 as an idea from Memari. Soon after completing the critically and commercially successful A Stork’s Journey, Memari asked Woköck to join him in founding the studio. The duo was soon joined by legal expert Henner Merle, writer & dramaturg Ulla Ziemann and producer Roshanak Behesht-Nedjad to form the core of the company.
From the start, the goal was to embrace a variety of storytelling options while consistently maintaining a socially and environmentally responsible focus. To help achieve that goal, Telescope Animation is aiming to be a zero emissions studio, while working hand-in-hand with environmentally focused organizations like the WDC. Additional partnerships will be announced in the near future.
The first teaser trailer for The Last Whale Singer will be officially unveiled at the 2020 Cannes Film Festival.
Nickelodeon International has acquired pre-buy rights to animated comedy series “Best & Bester,” a new co-production between London-based studio Eye Present and Finnish studio Gigglebug Entertainment. The deal includes creative editorial input and broadcast commitment from Nickelodeon International, as well as YLE, The Finnish Broadcasting Company, and development funding from Creative Europe.
The 52 x 11-minute series focuses on Best & Bester, two best buddies obsessed with comparing the best things of all time while enjoying the power to transform themselves into anything they want, once a day.
“Best & Bester offer both the laughs and the smarts that we think will resonate with our audience,” said Layla Lewis, SVP Global Acquisitions and Content Partnerships, Nickelodeon. “We’re excited to welcome them to the Nick family and bring this comedic duo to our international screens.”
“We love the positive message of this show which is, at its heart, a celebration of diverse opinions and identities. Kids today live in a world that is full of possibilities, when you have a curious mind,” said Teija Rantala, Head of Children’s Programs at YLE.
“This is great news, the Nickelodeon greenlight for the series now leads us to explore gaming and experiential content which is built into the core of the IP,” said Genevieve Dexter, CEO of Eye Present.
Creators Joonas Utti and Anttu Harlin are thrilled to have their latest creation signed with a global kids brand, following their credits on 101 Dalmatian Street and Gigglebug.
“We want to spread joy through animation. To make seriously silly stuff, with a purpose,” said Harlin, executive producer and co-founder of Gigglebug Entertainment.
Netflix and Spin Master Corp. together announce a new train-themed CG animated series: Mighty Express, from the Keith Chapman and Spin Master Entertainment — creator and producers of the award-winning PAW Patrol. Season one will feature 52, 11-minute episodes and debut on Netflix this September. The platform has rights for all territories excluding Canada (broadcaster TBA).
Executive produced by Spin Master Ent.’s Executive Vice President, Jennifer Dodge, and Spin Master’s Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Ronnen Harary, Mighty Express features an ensemble cast of trains and kids in an expansive world with amazing adventures.
“Spin Master Entertainment has deep experience developing compelling stories and endearing characters for preschool audiences worldwide,” said Dodge. “We have the unique ability to take classic, beloved themes for kids, add innovation, combined with amazing storytelling and high-end animation to deliver fresh, new content. We’re thrilled to partner with Netflix, furthering our commitment to multiplatform franchises.”
The company’s tenth series, Mighty Express is Spin Master Ent.’s largest production to date, with the award-winning, Vancouver-based animation company Atomic Cartoons bringing the visuals to life. Preschoolers, (and their families), will love this imaginative world where kids run the rail stations and work together with the Mighty Express on heroic adventures.
The show marks Spin Master’s first show to launch straight to streaming — part of the company’s commitment to a multiplatform content strategy. Spin Master remains focused on developing evergreen, global entertainment properties with compelling storytelling and engaging characters that resonate with audiences worldwide.
The Mighty Express franchise is owned by Spin Master. The company will retain the rights to distribution of the series (outside of SVOD), a toy line to launch in 2021 and a consumer products licensing-out program.
PAW Patrol, now in its seventh season, is the top-rated preschool program on Nickelodeon.
Leading kids’ entertainment specialist CAKE has secured a global deal on behalf of Fresh TV with Cartoon Network and Boomerang for the new long form CGI animated series Lucas the Spider. Based on the worldwide viral YouTube hit, the series is owned and produced by award-winning Canadian producer Fresh TV (who acquired the IP in 2018) in association with Toronto’s WexWorks Media with CAKE handling international distribution.
Lucas the Spider follows the adventures of an adorable little spider named Lucas as he and his friends try to navigate the big and curious human world around them. Retaining ITS authenticity and running alongside Fresh TV’s ongoing production of original YouTube shorts, the new series will focus on Lucas and his innocent and endearing perspective of the world, while introducing longer narratives, new characters and an expanded universe. 78 episodes of 7 minutes are planned.
“A partnership with Cartoon Network is a significant step for Lucas. Strategically, they are the right partner for this project and together, we are looking forward to extending the brand and building Lucas into a global phenomenon,” said Ed Galton, CCO & MD of CAKE. “This latest collaboration is testament to the strength and success of the continuing relationship between CAKE, Fresh TV and Cartoon Network, which has spanned over 12 years.”
Adina Pitt, Vice President, Content Acquisitions & Co-Productions at Cartoon Network, said, “CAKE and Fresh TV are some of the best partners we’ve worked with and co-developing a beloved and viral short to series globally on Cartoon Network and Boomerang is a really exciting partnership to be a part of.”
Lucas the Spider was originally created by accomplished animator Joshua Slice as a series of animated shorts (voiced by his nephew), which premiered on YouTube in November 2017. Today, Lucas has amassed over 300 million views, over 3.3 million subscribers and has launched a successful line of toys and licensed goods.
“We are so excited to take the magic of Lucas the Spider to the next level,” said Tom McGillis President & Exec Producer, Fresh TV. “Together, we will deepen the already special relationship Lucas has with his millions of fans around the world.”
Animaccord has been tapped by Spin Master Corp. to manage media and licensing representation for the CG animated series Super Dinosaur (26 eps.) in select regions: Russia & CIS, Eastern Europe, Baltics, MENA, Turkey, Italy and France. Furthermore, Animaccord will produce and distribute apps & games as well as replicate its successful experience in content management to launch official Super Dinosaur YouTube channels worldwide. Aimed at kids 6-11 and based on the comic-book series by Robert Kirkman and Jason Howard, the action-adventure series follows 10-year-old genius Derek Dynamo and his genetically engineered T-Rex best friend as they protect the planet against evil.
Super Dinosaur
APC Kids will be introducing Minimoons to the Kidscreen Summit.
Minimoons (co-pro with Zephyr Animation and Supamonks), aimed at kids 4-8 , is an action-packed, environmentally conscious, 3D CGI (with model backgrounds) adventure-comedy about five little creatures that come from the Moon down to Earth to help animals and plants who are suffering or in trouble. They live action-packed adventures trying to help whoever or whatever is in need, while learning from the behavior of animals and plants (based on actual facts) in order to solve their own emotional issues. Package: 52 x 11’. Delivery: 2023. Seeking commissioning broadcasters.
Minimoons
Meanwhile, Dutch studio Submarine is introducing its hot new animated property Seekers this season.
Seekers, produced by Bruno Felix and Femke Wolting and inspired by the art of Dani Diez, is a story of cosmic hope for kids 6-11. It’s a time when the galaxy totally sucks, and our unlikely hero Milo knows this better than anyone. Everything has been inexplicably carved up by epic, impenetrable forcefields, cutting through the heart of whatever got in their way – whether it’s a planet, moon, city or settlement. When Milo stumbles into his all-time heroes – the SEEKERS! Intergalactic Gladiators, long thought dead – they set out to uncover what’s behind this mind-blowing mystery, break through these barricades, and mush all kinds of bad guys along the way. Package: 26 x 22’. Delivery: Early 2022. Seeking investors, co-producers and distribution partners.
Seekers
BBC Studios announced new distribution deals for its pre-k it Hey Duggee (produced with Studio AKA). Signing on for Season 3 are Canal Panda (Spain), DeAgostini (Italy), ABC Australia and Czech TV, with CCTV14 in China picking up S1-3. The third season launched on CBeebies in the U.K. in 2019, and has been a huge hit with parents and children ever since. From launch in February, the “Toothbrushing Badge” episode held the number one spot across all U.K. preschool viewing until November, when it was overtaken by the “Philosophy Badge.”
Hey Duggee
“We’re thrilled to see the growing global popularity for Hey Duggee. Its warmth, humour and positive approach to learning and trying new things has resonated with audiences everywhere,” said Henrietta Hurford-Jones, Director of Children’s Content Partnerships for BBC Studios. “It stands out for its appeal to both parents and children with its eye-popping colourful creative and nods to popular culture.”
Cyber Group Studios has partnered with Beijing-based Pacific Media Group to manage and distribute the popular Gigantosaurus preschool television franchise and related consumer products and marketing in China. As part of a strategic agreement with Alibaba Group’s Youku, Gigantosaurus premiered in China on December 23, and has since ranked in first place in the Popularity Lists of Youku’s animation from foreign territories. In addition to the success of the animated content, Gigantosaurus took over Youku’s homepage for almost a week with a variety of content ranging from short video clips to downloadable graphics, which was only the second time for an international animated series to have such significant promotion.
Gigantosaurus
Gigantosaurus began airing on CCTV14 on December 26, Monday through Friday with five episodes a day. CCTV is the predominant public television network in Mainland China, with 50 channels accessible to one billion viewers. On January 24, characters Mazu and Tiny appeared on CCTV’s New Year’s Eve Gala,the most-watched entertainment TV program in the world, with an audience of nearly a billion people. Gigantosaurus’ characters are part of a very small group of foreign children’s characters who have been asked to appear on the program, which started in 1983 and features China’s biggest stars.
Consumer products and other entertainment, such as a live tour, are expected to reach Chinese consumers in the coming months. Jakks Pacific, the master toy licensee for the brand, has already begun shipping product in Mainland China.
eOne continues to fuel international hit Ricky Zoom, announced a second season of 52 x 11’ is zooming into production, racing to screens as soon as November 2020. Since its debut at the end of 2019, Ricky Zoom has raced to success achieving outstanding ratings in multiple markets and across several platforms: It is currently a top 5 preschool show with boys on Nickelodeon in the U.S., #1 on Nick Jr. commercial kids’ channel in the U.K., and the #1 show on Clan in Spain. From their weekend line up, it is a top 3 show on Treehouse in Canada and consistently outperforms channel averages on RAI in Italy and across the LatAm region. In China, the series has garnered an impressive 425+ million views on streaming platform, YouKu.
Ricky Zoom
The property’s first app, Welcome to Wheelford, has been downloaded more than 4 million times globally since its release in August 2019. eOne is readying the launch of the first wave of consumer products in key territories, led by global master toy partner TOMY, including six key product skus across a variety of price points focused on core characters, rolling out in multiple territories this spring. The toy launch will be followed by a limited range of secondary category product launches in 2020, including publishing, puzzles and games, arts and crafts, apparel and accessories with additional secondary launches planned throughout 2021.
Becca’s BrunchCritters TV
Leading animation studios of Ireland are lining up to form a delegation of film and TV toon producers at Kidscreen Summit 2020. Led by Animation Ireland, the delegation will showcase the world-class creativity and potential that Ireland has to offer. Animation Ireland will be linking up with the Consulate General of Ireland and Enterprise Ireland at the event to help Irish studios pitch to global names like Disney, Netflix and Amazon. Participating studios include Brown Bag Films, Cartoon Saloon, Daily Madness, elk. Studios, Giant Animation, Ink and Light, JAM Media, Kavaleer, Lighthouse Studios, Moetion Films, Monster Entertainment, Pink Kong Studios, Telegal, Studio Meala and 9 Story Media.
“Ireland has an array of talented animators and producers,” said John Phelan, Animation Ireland’s Independent Chair. “Kidscreen enables us to showcase our talent to others and get a taste of what is being created around the world. Animators can spend time with children’s industry leaders and pitch to top executives.”
Worldwide distributor Monster Entertainment is launching sales of the eighth season of SunriseProductions’ non-dialogue pre-k hit Jungle Beat (91 x 7’) at Kidscreen Summit. Currently in production, S8 (13 x 7’) will be ready for release in late 2020. Monster has distributed previous seasons of the show to broadcasters in over 150 countries, as well as 45 airlines. Key broadcasters included Turner’s Boomerang in GAS and CEE, RTE in Ireland, YLE in Finland, SVT in Sweden, VRT in Belgium, SRC for French-speaking Canada, and Gulli in French-speaking Africa. In addition to the new season, the animated feature film Jungle Beat: The Movie will be released in cinemas globally from this summer. The film is produced by Mauritius-based Sandcastle Studios and Cape Town’s Sunrise Productions, and distributed worldwide by Timeless Films.
Corus Ent.’s Nelvana (Kidscreen Brickell Rm., Ste. 3) is ramping up production on a third season of its original preschool series Ranger Rob. S3 (52 x 11’) will welcome new characters, more imaginative storylines, and thrilling surprises around every corner (and under some leaves!) when it debuts in summer 2020. “Since the series premiere in 2016, we’ve proudly watched Ranger Rob grow into an iconic franchise within Nelvana’s catalogue,” says Pam Westman, President, Nelvana. “We’re looking forward to introduce fresh characters and brand-new adventures that continue to inspire kids to get outside and explore.”
Ranger Rob
Broadcasters include Treehouse (CAnada), Universal Kids, Hulu (U.S.), TF1 (France), Tiny Pop (U.K.) and Super RTL (Germany). Licensing partners include Imports Dragon (master toy), Chouette Publishing, Jcorp (apparel), Jellifish (sleepwear), Black & White (footwear) and Braum’s U.S. (recent QSR program).
Rainbow (Italy) recently launched its animated hit 44 Cats on CCTV 14 China, and ratings have already established it as a leading show on the channel. Starting from February 4, 44 Cats has been airing daily on China’s major kids content channel. The 52 x 13’ preschool show follows the daily adventures of four adorable, music-loving kittens who solve problems in their neighborhood and encourage positive values. On the licensing and CP side, the brand is gaining rising popularity across the world. Guangzhou Art-land Holding Co. Ltd. is consumer product agent for the brand in Mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
The Visual Effects Society has issued a statement responding to the riff on one of the year’s most notorious movies conducted by Academy Awards presenters James Corden and Rebel Wilson. The duo took the Oscars stage Sunday night dressed as their characters from the film Cats, sinking their fangs into the pic’s VFX work before announcing this year’s Best Visual Effects winners (Guillaume Rocheron, Greg Butler and Dominic Tuohy for 1917).
“As cast members of the motion picture Cats …” Wilson began.
Corden continued, “…nobody more than us understands the importance of …”
“Good visual effects,” they concluded in unison.
While the Academy Awards audience appeared to enjoy the joke for the most part, the VES — “a professional global honorary society dedicated to advancing the arts, sciences and applications of visual effects and to upholding the highest standards and procedures for the visual effects profession” — was as keen on the intro. The org issued the following statement on Monday:
“The Visual Effects Society is focused on recognizing, advancing and honoring visual effects as an art form – and ensuring that the men and women working in VFX are properly valued.
Last night, in presenting the Academy Award for Outstanding Visual Effects, the producers chose to make visual effects the punchline, and suggested that bad VFX were to blame for the poor performance of the movie CATS. The best visual effects in the world will not compensate for a story told badly.
On a night that is all about honoring the work of talented artists, it is immensely disappointing that The Academy made visual effects the butt of a joke. It demeaned the global community of expert VFX practitioners doing outstanding, challenging and visually stunning work to achieve the filmmakers’ vision.
Our artists, technicians and innovators deserve respect for their remarkable contributions to filmed entertainment, and should not be presented as the all-too-convenient scapegoat in service for a laugh.
Moving forward, we hope that The Academy will properly honor the craft of visual effects – and all of the crafts, including cinematography and film editing – because we all deserve it.”
Deadline pointed out in their coverage of the backlash that longtime VES Awards host Patton Oswalt also took a dig at Tim Hooper’s adaptation of the hit Andrew Lloyd Webber musical at the org’s own 2020 ceremony less than two weeks ago. (One could argue, a less delicate one.)
“The Star Wars franchise ended after 50 years, and after one screening, so did the Cats franchise,” Oswalt jibed. “Isn’t that amazing? Were you guys on strike when they made that one? What was going on there? That movie was a screensaver designed to not give me a boner.”
Working in an office can bring with it a series of challenges, and sometimes the only thing that makes the day marginally more bearable is a nice cup of coffee. So when it comes to office politics, there’s one element that takes precedence above all else; the hot drinks round.
Coffee Run
Newly launched online, Coffee Run is a CGI animated short about a hard-pressed protagonist struggling to fix up an elaborate round of coffee requests for his colleagues. The relatable disaster-comedy is produced by Bomper Studio (Wales), as part of an in-house competition to create the studio’s first stand-alone short, using one character and environment.
“Our credo is to embrace our natural curiosity and challenge our ambitions,” said Emlyn Davies, Executive Creative Director at Bomper. This philosophy paved the way for film which had three aims: to learn new skills outside of the constraints of a client project, to expand the studio pipeline, and to have a ton of fun in doing so.
“For us, the best way to test anything new is to invest our own time and money and do it in-house,” Davies continued. “We get total creative freedom, and our artists can explore the areas of production where they don’t often get to ply their skills – all with less risk than if it were a live job.”
Coffee RunCoffee Run
Made in varying – often unpredictable – gaps between client projects, Coffee Run served as an excellent testbed for a new production pipeline. Bomper was able to further explore the talents of the team in highly specialist programs, including character animation in Cinema 4D, ZBrush, Substance Designer and Houdini for hair simulations.
Coffee Run
Conceptually, the team took influences from the physical and wide-reaching slapstick comedy of Buster Keaton and Jackie Chan, with the animators pushing for a fun, cartoon-style within a realistically lit scene. Influences for the animation include Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Hotel Transylvania, Inner Workings and Looney Tunes. To achieve 2D cartoon-style smears, Bomper created a robust rig, which allowed them to deform the character in novel ways. “We learned so much about the dark art of rigging,” said Davies.
The film also gave artists the opportunity to take on several roles within an animated film: from assisting with the creation of the script, rigging and animating to even having input on the creative design and style of characters and animation.
Coffee Run
“Coffee Run was our first chance to really work on a short film as a studio,” noted Josh Hicks, Art Director at Bomper. “It’s rare that we have every member of the studio working on the same project, so getting to put everyone’s talents to use in order to realize and elevate the film has been amazing. There’s also something good about putting hours and hours of work and creative energy into a shot of a man banging his head on a mop.”
Bomper is excited to work on further 3D character animated films and commercials in the future, as part of the studios long-term strategy to diversify and broaden the studio’s content.
Coffee Run has been released online, across Bomper’s website (bomperstudio.com) and social media platforms (@bomperstudio).
Marc Anthony’s Magnus Studios, a division of his entertainment media company Magnus Media; and award-winning director Juan Jose Campanella’s animation studio MundoLoco CGI (Underdogs, Mini Beat Power Rockers), announce a co-production alliance with Lanugo Media Inc. to develop and produce the animated children’s series Gloria (doesn’t) Know It All.
Aimed at children ages 4-8, Gloria (doesn’t) Know It All shows the world the richness of the Latino culture through its most universal cultural manifestations: magical realism and music. Co-created by Carla Curiel, Roberto Castro, Felipe Pimiento and Gaston Gorali, the series follows the journey of a determined little 7-year-old alpaca, who is sent to visit her grandparents in a magical town, where she discovers her amazing heritage.
Marc Anthony and Felipe Pimiento will act as executive producers for Magnus Studios. Anthony will also act as the series’ music executive producer, supervising the creation of all original songs and music for the show.
“I am thrilled to start the new year with the announcement of a project that will highlight the splendor and diversity of our Latino culture for children everywhere, and I am looking forward to [inspiring] families and young generations with this story,” Anthony commented.
MundoLoco CGI co-founders Juan Jose Campanella and Gaston Gorali will act as executive producer and showrunner, respectively.
“We are delighted to bring pride to all those who feel different, no matter where they come from. We want to celebrate diversity and our rich culture, from Latin America to the world,” said Campanella.
Gorali added, “We have assembled a true power team creating unique stories that will resonate with audiences worldwide, with original songs curated by one of the most relevant performing artists of our times.”
Carla Curiel and Roberto Castro, co-executive producers for Lanugo Media, shared that Gloria’s journey was inspired by their twin daughters, Adriana and Emilia, who are experiencing their own journey of self-discovery and belonging.
Super star John Legend has teamed up with Facebook for a new animated series timed to the most romantic day of the year. Titled Dear John: Legendary Love Letters, the eight-episode series premiered Sunday on Legends Facebook Page, with new installments dropping daily until Valentine’s Day.
In Dear John: Legendary Love Letters, John Legend celebrates Valentine’s Day with real stories sent in from fans around the globe via Facebook. Each episode features love letters, true tales of romance, friendship and compassion, blind dates and long-distance relationships — exploring all the beautiful ways we love one another.
“Love is universal, love is ever evolving, but it’s also a constant. It’s the thread that weaves through the world and connects us all,” said Legend. “To celebrate this Valentine’s day, we reached out [and] asked for stories of love and family and friendship, and we got letters from all around the globe. Telling tales full of heart, and hope and inspiration and hilarity, and we wanted to spread all that love to you. Thank you for your stories, thank you for sharing with us, I’m going to read a few to the world.”
Cardiff Animation Festival (CAF) is back for its second year, announcing its official selection of 118 animated short films from around the world in competition. The lineup features unique voices and a diverse range of stories told by animated filmmakers from different backgrounds around the world. CAF reports over a quarter of the films selected were made by animators of color, and over half were directed by women.
CAF 2020 will be held Thursday, April 2 to Sunday, April 5 at indie arts hub and cinema space Chapter. Tickets will be on sale soon.
“We’re so excited to be back and bringing another jam-packed lineup of animation to Cardiff this April. Animation is an artform that doesn’t always get the recognition it deserves, and we’re really proud to celebrate it,” said Lauren Orme, Festival Director. “We had so many amazing animated short films to choose from this year that we decided to add an extra programme. We’ve got a brilliant and diverse selection of shorts that we’re really excited to share. There’s a huge audience for animation in Cardiff and beyond – the inaugural Cardiff Animation Festival in 2018 was really well received, with sell-out audiences and a huge buzz. We can’t wait to do it all again this year.”
Coyote directed by Lorenz Wunderle
Themed shorts screenings for adult audiences will include ‘Truth’, showcasing animated documentaries like Bloomers (Samantha Moore), a moving glimpse into British manufacturing; ‘Dare’, a late night screening of dark and strange shorts including gory and psychedelic revenge story Coyote (Lorenz Wunderle); and ‘Speechless’, films with no spoken or written language, like the hilarious Hors Piste (Léo Brunel, Loris Cavalier, Camille Jalabert, Oscar Malet).
The Bear Hunter Directed by Sayaka Hara
Films about the environment and our place in the world, like sublime and transporting In Passing (Esther Cheung) and The Bear Hunter (Sayaka Hara), are brought together in a program called ‘Cynefin’, a Welsh word with no direct translation to English, but which roughly translates as “habitat”.
Tamou Directed by Tom Prezman, Tzor Edery
‘Heart’ features films about love and friendship, such as breathtaking adolescent adventure Nettle Head (Paul E. Cabon). Tamou (Tom Prezman, Tzor Edery), the story of a trans man in 20th century Morocco, and Technology for Talking (Jemima Hughes), celebrating the voices of people with hearing loss, are part of the ‘Body’ program. ‘Mind’, spotlighting films exploring neurodiversity and mental health, includes Daughter (Daria Kashcheeva) an Oscar-nominated film that uses groundbreaking animation techniques to explore a father-daughter relationship.
The Witch and the Baby Directed by Evgenia Golubeva
Cardiff animation studio Cloth Cat Animation has selected two programs of animated short films for children aged 3+ and 7+, including Cats Can’t Swim (HaiLing Morgan) and The Witch and the Baby (Evgenia Golubeva).
CAF18 Bring Your Own Animation
CAF will include something for everyone, with short film programs, feature films, masterclasses, workshops, filmmaker Q+As, industry events, panels, networking events and parties. Previous Festival events have included masterclasses and Q&As with key talent behind Wes Anderson’s Isle of Dogs, Aardman’s Early Man, hit preschool show Hey Duggee and Cartoon Saloon’s The Breadwinner; workshops in animation and life drawing, industry panels with TV commissioners, screenwriters, distributors and festivals; and an exhibition of sets and puppets from animated Welsh feature film Chuck Steel: Night of the Trampires.
Cardiff Animation Festival 2020 is funded by Ffilm Cymru Wales and Film Hub Wales, as part of the BFI Film Audience Network (FAN) and sponsored by Cloth Cat Animation, Picl Animation and by the ScreenSkills Animation Skills Fund with contributions from U.K. animation productions.
Beach House Pictures, a Blue Ant Studios company, and JumpStart Games, Inc., a NetDragon company, announced an exclusive deal to develop the first-ever Neopets animated TV series. The series will be based on the hugely successful virtual pet universe that is a global sensation beloved by generations of kids the world over.
As part of the agreement, Beach House Pictures is developing new characters and stories, tapping into the Blue Ant Studios animation team in Canada, to expand the storytelling and bring added dimension to the Neopets kid- and family-friendly brand. Beach House Pictures and Blue Ant Studios will be looking for co-production and platform partners over the coming months.
This agreement is the latest development for Neopets as the brand expands on multiple platforms and increases its reach in the global kids and family market. In 2020, JumpStart Games is unveiling the reimagined Neopets website, releasing an all-new mobile game for smartphones and tablets, and providing fans opportunities to bring the brand home through a curated line of licensed merchandise. First launched in 1999, Neopets has delighted millions of kids with game play centered around expressing themselves through the care of their virtual pets and being part of a global community in the digital world of Neopia.
“Bringing a new Neopets series to the market has been a passion of mine for many years and seeing it come to life is a dream come true,” said Donovan Chan, Creative Director, Beach House Pictures. “We’re looking forward to collaborating with the Blue Ant Studios team in Canada and JumpStart Games to create stories and characters for devoted, long-time fans, while introducing Neopets to a new generation of kids.”
“Extending Neopets into an animated series is the perfect way to give our millions of fans another new platform to discover and enjoy the brand,” said Jim Czulewicz, CEO of JumpStart Games. “Beach House Pictures’ passion for the Neopets brand, and its track record of producing premium content for international audiences, makes them a great partner to build on a new wave of Neopet products and storytelling we are launching in 2020.”
This news follows Beach House Pictures’ recent announcement of four new appointments to its senior management team — Suzy Huonslow, Executive-in-Charge of Production; Rob Sixsmith, Head of Factual; Geraldine Orrock, Head of Unscripted and Susan Zhao, Business Director, China — as part of its expansion into global markets and commitment to meeting the demands of streamers and cable networks for premium content.
Neopets is a virtual world where players can be their real selves and make friends while they explore stories, play games and care for their virtual pets like family. Players personalize their pets as they collect, purchase, and trade highly valuable items – all while engaging with a global community.
Launched in 1999, Neopets became part of the JumpStart Games family in April 2014, where the brand continues to amass loyal fans globally. Available in multiple languages, Neopets regularly adds new content and activities to its collection of hundreds of games and puzzles, including annual events, tournaments, and narratives. As with all JumpStart products, Neopets is a completely safe and secure online community.
For the fourth consecutive year, the celebrated feature animation production and distribution forum Cartoon Movie will shine a spotlight on a particular geographic corner of the European animation industry. For the 2020 edition, taking place in Bordeaux from March 3-5, the focus will fall on the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, with the support of Film Fund Luxembourg.
Throughout the event, attendees can get acquainted with Luxembourg-based producers and studios who have helped create beautiful films and win the country international recognition for animated artistry, such as Barababor, Bayala – A Magical Adventure, Fritzi – A Miraculous Revolutionary Tale, Funan, Pachamama, The Breadwinner, The Prince’s Journey, The Swallows of Kabul, White Fang, Zero Impunity, and many others.
The event organizers at Cartoon love to showcase countries which may not take up a lot of space on a map, but make up for what they lack in size with ambition, enthusiasm, and in ability to adapt very quickly to new industry trends and demand. Like this year’s nation of tribute, these countries have innovation in their DNA.
After establishing itself as an industrial hub as well as a major financial center, Luxembourg now aims to diversify its economy by putting a great emphasis on new technologies. This also applies to the country’s animation industry. The sector has made a name for itself in Europe’s animation ecosystem through a pragmatic, flexible approach and thanks to the skills of its professionals. This is also the reason why the country is currently at the forefront of industry developments in terms of virtual, mixed and augmented reality.
The Luxembourg Spotlight is supported by Film Fund Luxembourg, which has played a major role in promoting the growth and development of the audiovisual and cinematographic industry in Luxembourg, and the animation industry in particular over the past 30 years. Thanks to the Fund’s unwavering support, animation “Made in Luxembourg” has garnered international acclaim and keeps going from strength to strength.
This year’s Cartoon Movie selection features two feature films by Luxembourger producers:
Molesworth (co-produced by Melusine Productions – project in development)
Ooops! The Adventure Continues… (co-produced by La Fabrique d’images – project in production), the sequel of the successful Two by Two – Ooops… the Ark has Gone!, released in 2015.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences held the 92nd Oscars ceremony Sunday night in Hollywood, with the animation winners striking a balance between old favorites and powerful new voices.
Pixar sequel Toy Story 4 snagged the Best Animated Feature honors, while Kickstarter phenom turned Sony-backed short Hair Love marked down a win for diverse storytelling. Continuing its award season momentum, World War I epic 1917 took the visual effects prize, as well as the awards for cinematography (Roger Deakins) and sound mixing (Mark Taylor & Stuart Wilson).
Hair Love director Matthew A. Cherry and producer Karen Toliver created heartwarming buzz by bringing DeAndre Arnold — the black Texas high school senior who made headlines when his school told him to cut his dreadlocks or be denied his graduation walk — as their Oscars guest. Cherry is the second black filmmaker to win the animated short Oscar, following Kobe Bryant (Dear Basketball).
The big win for Toy Story 4 tallies up the 10th Best Animated Feature Oscar for Pixar Animation Studios. It is also the second win for the popular franchise, making Toy Story the first animated film series to score multiple wins in the category, and a remarkable first for Josh Cooley, who made his feature directorial debut on the film after working on multiple Pixar movies and shorts since 2004’s The Incredibles.
The win for 1917 is the second for Guillaume Rocheron, who previously won for Life of Pi (2012), and the first for co-nominees Greg Butler and Dominic Tuohy, who had both been nominated before.
Going hostless for 2020, the lineup of presenters included Mahershala Ali, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Zazie Beetz, Timothée Chalamet, Olivia Colman, James Corden, Penélope Cruz, Beanie Feldstein, Will Ferrell, Jane Fonda, Josh Gad, Gal Gadot, Zack Gottsagen, Tom Hanks, Salma Hayek, Oscar Isaac, Mindy Kaling, Diane Keaton, Regina King, Shia LaBeouf, Brie Larson, Spike Lee, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, George MacKay, Rami Malek, Steve Martin, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Sandra Oh, Natalie Portman, Anthony Ramos, Keanu Reeves, Chris Rock, Ray Romano, Maya Rudolph, Mark Ruffalo, Kelly Marie Tran, Taika Waititi, Sigourney Weaver, Kristen Wiig and Rebel Wilson.
Delivering top cinema musical moments from the past year were performers Idina Menzel and AURORA with “Into The Unknown” from Frozen II (music & lyric by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez), Elton John with “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” from Rocketman (music by Elton John, lyric by Bernie Taupin), Chrissy Metz with “I’m Standing with You” from Breakthrough (music & lyric by Diane Warren) and Cynthia Erivo with “Stand Up” from Harriet (music & lyric by Joshuah Brian Campbell and Cynthia Erivo) — with a surprise appearance by Eminem, who took the stage to perform “Lose Yourself” 17 years after it won best original song (8 Mile). Janelle Monae kicked off the event with an enlivening rendition of beloved Mister Rogers theme “Won’t You Be My Neighbor.”
During the ceremony, Tom Hanks announced that the new Academy Museum of Motion Pictures will open to the public on Monday, December 14, 2020. Major construction has been completed on the building, designed by world-renowned architect Renzo Piano and located on Los Angeles’s Miracle Mile. The Academy Museum recently announced that it has reached the 95% mark in its $388 million pre-opening campaign, and installation of four floors of immersive, innovative exhibitions is now beginning. Among the highly anticipated opening exhibitions will be a focus on iconic Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki.
Best Animated Feature:
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World | Dean DeBlois, Bradfor Lewis and Bonnie Arnold (DreamWorks/Universal) I Lost My Body | Jérémy Clapin and Marc du Pontavice (Xilam/Netflix) Klaus | Sergio Pablos, Jinko Gotoh and Marisa Román (SPA Studios, Netflix) Missing Link | Chris Butler, Arianne Sutner and Travis Knight (LAIKA/United Artists) WINNER: Toy Story 4 | Josh Cooley, Mark Nielsen and Jonas Rivera (Pixar/Disney)
Best Animated Short: Dcera (Daughter) | Daria Kashcheeva (Czech Republic) WINNER: Hair Love | Matthew A. Cherry and Karen Rupert Toliver (U.S.A.) Kitbull | Rosana Sullivan and Kathryn Hendrickson (U.S.A.) Memorable | Bruno Collet and Jean-François Le Corre (France) Sister | Siqi Song (U.S.A.)
Best Visual Effects: Avengers: Endgame | Dan DeLeeuw, Russell Earl, Matt Aitken and Dan Sudick The Irishman | Pablo Helman, Leandro Estebecorena, Nelson Sepulveda-Fauser and Stephane Grabli The Lion King | Robert Legato, Adam Valdez, Andrew R. Jones and Elliot Newman WINNER: 1917 | Guillaume Rocheron, Greg Butler and Dominic Tuohy Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker | Roger Guyett, Neal Scanlan, Patrick Tubach and Dominic Tuohy
Music (Original Song):
“I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away” from Toy Story 4 | Music and Lyric by Randy Newman WINNER: “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” from Rocketman | Music by Elton John; Lyric by Bernie Taupin
“I’m Standing with You” from Breakthrough | Music and Lyric by Diane Warren
“Into The Unknown” from Frozen II | Music and Lyric by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez
“Stand Up” from Harriet | Music and Lyric by Joshuah Brian Campbell and Cynthia Erivo
9 Story Brands has secured a raft of new Australian licensees for Sutikki and Foundling Bird’s preschool series Moon and Me (50 x 22’), created by Andrew Davenport (Teletubbies, In the Night Garden). Following the successful June 2019 launch on ABC Australia, Scholastic Australia released two books in November 2019 (The Little Seed and Moon Baby Sticker Book), with five more titles planned for 2020. Additional partners include Hunter Products (toys, puzzles and wood), Kinnerton (confectionary), Redan Publishing (magazines) and Minor Entertainment (live shows). 9 Story has appointed Merchantwise as the licensing and marketing agency for the territory. The show made its global TV premiere on BBC’s CBeebies in the U.K. in February 2019 and more than 40 consumer product licensees have already been secured by Sutikki, including Hasbro (global master toy) and Scholastic (global master publishing). 9 Story Distribution International oversees global distribution of the series (excluding the U.S., U.K. and China), while 9 Story Brands manages global merchandising rights (excluding the U.K. and China).
Alpha Group UK returned to London Toy Fair to showcase a host of new master toy licenses, along with new additions to top-selling in-house properties.
New products are being launched to support the extensive 2020 content slate for flagship preschool animation property Super Wings (airing through Cartoonito and Tiny Pop in the U.K.) Season 4 launches in Spring, with a new SuperCharged theme introducing new characters and storylines through 40 brand new 11-minute episodes, including 2 x 20-minute specials. The range impressed retailers with refreshed best-selling lines, keen price points and a host of new play patterns.
Recently appointed as global master toy partner for gaming giant SYBO’s Subway Surfers, Alpha unveiled the hotly anticipated lifestyle and fashion-led toy collector range at the show. Announced this month as the most downloaded game of the last decade (2.7+ billion downloads worldwide), Subway Surfers has a huge global fan base. The collector range brings together street style and pop culture themes, including some exclusive digital interactivity integrated within key lines.
Alpha UK introduced their SpongeBob SquarePants master toy license ahead of the hotly anticipated movie release in May, with a selection of new products including plush. With the iconic brand talked about every 4 seconds globally on social media, Alpha’s humorous line, uniting kids, teens and millennials is set to grow during SpongeBob’s 21 st anniversary year.
Alpha Group have also been appointed as master toy partner for Chuggington,under new ownership through Herschend Entertainment Studios. As the much-loved preschool property anticipates the launch of its sixth TV series, the long-term franchise will be launching new content on both digital and linear platforms, along with an extensive licensing program including a new toy line in 2021.
Gearing up for a powerful launch in S/S 2020 are the new high-octane U-ZoomRacers! These must have preschool vehicles power up effortlessly and can travel over 20 meters. Delivering loads of play value for an impulse pocket money price point, the U-Zoom Racers are expected to rev up preschool play.
Alpha are also enhancing their in house offering with the new TerraTrax RC drift cycle which is new for A/W 2020 and will be TV supported.
Following the success of Kukuli and Briko (with Toonz Media) Turkey’s biggest kids’ entertainment company Fauna is betting on a new brand aimed at older audiences, Paper Poo! Paper Poo is a roll of toilet paper who doesn’t sugarcoat how he feels about living a life no one wants, who endures mood swings and a roller coaster life with his best friend, Pompous the plunger. The brand follows a non-usual expansion strategy based on viral marketing; first launched on Instagram in January 2019, Paper Poo attracted fans from East Asia, Latin America and the U.S. with its artsy, relatable yet kawaii daily posts. The L&M program kicked off with RedBubble for mugs, tote bags and t-shirts; Stickerfly (stickers); its first e-book (launched on Amazon in December); and now a capsule collection with Dutch sustainable/ecological toilet paper manufacturer The Good Roll — the initiative uses 50% of net profits to support the building and improvement of sanitary facilities in Africa. Developer Madde22 has signed on to develop mobile games for iOS and Android, due in May.
Ghost Corps, Sony Pictures Consumer Products, Printed In Blood and Insight Editions have teamed up to deliver Slimer fans an original, fully illustrated celebration of their favorite spectacularly spooky and delightfully comic film franchise with Ghostbusters: Artbook (May 5, SRP $39.99) ahead of the highly anticipated summer release of Ghostbusters: Afterlife. This deluxe, 208-page hardcover features a treasure trove of original artwork inspired by the ever-popular films. Bringing together brilliant artists from the worlds of animation, comics, fine art, graphic design and other disciplines, Ghostbusters: Artbook spotlights over 170 illustrators from around the world, all contributing previously unseen art to this comprehensive and unique collection.
WildBrain CPLG has inked a deal with indie British jewellery brand Tatty Devine for a collection inspired by Charles M. Schulz’s beloved Peanutscomic strip. The collection features necklaces and brooches with a spotlight on the brand’s inimitable take on love, just in time for Valentine’s Day. Following the success of Tatty Devine’s first Peanuts capsule, created exclusively for Somerset House’s 2018-19 exhibition Good Grief, Charlie Brown!, the new 15-piece range features the whole gang, including sweethearts Schroeder and Lucy at the little red piano, Peppermint Patty with a bouquet, and Snoopy waving a flag for “peach + love”.
WildBrain CPLG has also announced a deal with creator and influencer Alessandro Enriquez to launch designer capsule collections with big names in Italian fashion to celebrate fast-growing global character brand Line Friends. The loveable characters were originally created as stickers for mobile messenger app LINE and its 200 million active users worldwide. The collection is the latest installment of Enriquez’s annual Fashion Comics project for Pitti Bimbo and debuted at the event’s 90th edition in Florence last month. The project saw designers including Monnalisa, Mc2 Saint Barth, Diadora, Pinko Up, Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini Kids, 2Star and Akep launch exciting new capsule collections.
Zinkia Entertainment has reached an agreement with toy company Bandai to develop and launch a new Pocoyo toy line, to be initially marketed in Spain, Portugal and Mexico starting Christmas 2020. The companies have previously collaborated to achieve millions in sales in key territories. This alliance signifies an important boost in the worldwide relaunch of the Pocoyo brand. And in this context, Zinkia is currently producing a new season of the series that will be available in September; as well as special episodes and music videos that have already been released on YouTube (where Pocoyo has racked up 18 billion views and 19 million subscribers) and digital platforms. Recent broadcast agreements include Clan (Spain), TV Azteca (Mexico, Guatemala, Hondura), TFO Canada, RAI (Italy), CCTV (China), all local Asian regional channels and ABC Australia.
Snoopy and Woodstock Forever NecklaceGhostbustersSuper WingsPaper PooMoon and MeLine Friends
Fred Rogers Productions is again expanding its “Neighborhood” of creative talent, naming Kristin DiQuollo as Supervising Producer for the highly-anticipated upcoming imaginative puppet series, Donkey Hodie, debuting winter 2021 on PBS KIDS. DiQuollo, who joins the company with more than 15 years of experience in children’s media, reports to Chief Creative Officer Ellen Doherty.
As Supervising Producer, DiQuollo will oversee all phases of scripting and production while bringing her leadership and creative vision to Fred Rogers Productions’ newest preschool series. In her new role, DiQuollo will also serve as a liaison with the company’s co-production partners and broadcasters as well as oversee its educational advisors, among other responsibilities.
“Kristin is very passionate about her work and brings great creativity and thoughtfulness to everything she does, whether it’s finessing a story plot or troubleshooting a production issue,” said Doherty. “She also has a great talent for envisioning how to translate a property so that it best resonates with kids and families across multiple platforms.”
Donkey Hodie is a new multiplatform, social-emotional series for children ages 3-5 created by Fred Rogers Productions and Spiffy Pictures. Currently in production at WTTW, the flagship PBS station in Chicago, the series centers on the character Donkey Hodie, the granddaughter of the original Donkey Hodie (now known as “Grampy Hodie”), a puppet from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. The character appeared in 59 episodes of the beloved classic children’s show from 1968-1993.
Prior to joining Fred Rogers Productions, DiQuollo was Executive Producer and Story Editor of Cyberchase, the hit Emmy-winning animated PBS KIDS series from WNET New York. DiQuollo led production on broadcast and digital content, helping to spearhead Cyberchase’s expansion on digital platforms, including strategies for accessibility, as well as the show’s evolution as a series focusing on math and environmental themes for kids ages 6-8. She also oversaw national family and educator engagement efforts to broaden the series’ reach to new audiences.
In other exciting executive news, Fred Rogers Productions has promoted Micah Southwood to Director of Licensing. Southwood, who joined the company in 2016 as Licensing Manager, has worked with 9 Story Brands to manage the highly-successful consumer products program for Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood across multiple categories, while also working with licensing agency Brand Central to reinvigorate the Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood licensing and merchandising portfolio, including publishing, toys, games, and apparel. The successful consumer products program earned a nomination for a Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association (LIMA) International Licensing Award in 2019. In addition, the picture book, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, held a spot on the New York Times middle-grade bestseller list for more than 30 weeks.
Southwood is now working with licensing agency Licensing Street to kick-start a licensing and merchandising program for the company’s newest preschool property, Donkey Hodie, which is currently available for partnerships in multiple categories, including toys, apparel, live show, party goods and more.
Three of the most successful studios in Latin America announce a coalition based on a shared production pipeline, to be dubbed “Los Amigos.” Brazil’s Hype (Tainá and the Guardians of the Amazon), Chile’s Academy Award-winning PunkRobot (Bear Story) and Peru’s Red Animation Studios (A Mouse Tale), have been working together since 2017 on a friendly, “let’s do this thing” type of alliance.
In the past two years, the members of Los Amigos have combined their production pipelines in 2D and CGI, so that all work has become seamless in real time between the three territories. Their ability to provide quality work on time and at affordable prices has been tested and proved on the Disney LatAm’s series Guitar & Drum, and a yet-to-be-revealed major game studio shorts series. Now, the trio are formally taking their friendship to the next level.
“Los Amigos began in a shared love of animation and a lot of good times hanging out at animation festivals and markets around the world,” said Milton Guerrero, Head of Red Animation Studios. “Seriously, we’ve been amigos for so long that it came as a brilliant surprise to the three of us that working together would strengthen all of our businesses.”
In fact, this announcement, which brings together some 280 collaborators, officially makes Los Amigos the largest “collective” studio in the entire LatAm territory.
“We believe that unity is strength and working together makes us stronger. Over the past two years, we have standardized all our processes and nomenclatures, as well as defining the best procedures for each studio within the overall group in order to succeed and grow together,” said Pato Escala of PunkRobot.
“Plus,” added Gabriel Garcia of Hype, “We share cultural identities and passion for animation. We totally ‘get’ each other, which makes work fun and gives us a shorthand for creating great and compelling properties for ourselves and for our clients.”
Los Amigos has ambitious plans for the future, including several new productions lined up for greenlight. The friends are actively looking for service work offerings as well as co-production partnerships.
Hype works for great stories to happen, always looking for the difference we can make. Our team works from sketch to post production with professionalism and creativity, giving life to great ideas. Hype offers full services for animation on TV series and film production, as well as specific parts of the animation pipeline for games. With partners like Disney, and Nickelodeon, our portfolio ranges from work for hire to original content for all kinds of audiences. The combination between people, technology and creativity makes us unique, it is the fuel that moves us towards the best technical performance, to seek perfection on each detail and that inspires us to find the perfect balance between form and content, stirring emotions through incredible stories and memorable characters.
PunkRobot is an animation studio based in Santiago, Chile, created by Antonia Herrera, Gabriel Osorio, María Elisa Soto-Aguilar and Pato Escala. Since 2008, thanks to a great multidisciplinary team, we have developed projects for television, advertising and cinema with high visual impact, among which the preschool series Flipos (2010), The Adventures of Muelín and Perlita (2013) and the short film stand-out Bear Story (2014), the first Latin American winner of the animated short film Oscar. Our goal is to create, produce and internationalize unique animated content that contributes to society, with themes such as friendship, respect, tolerance and diversity.
Red Animation is a 15-year-old studio boasting a 82 member staff. Since the founding of the company, Red has produced more than 1,000 minutes of CG and 2D animation, screening on Nickelodeon, Disney and Netflix. The ongoing YouTube channel series Little Angel boasts 10 million subscribers. Red’s animation work on Siesta 7 — a preschool co-pro — earned an International Emmy nod in 2017. CGI feature A Mouse Tale has been released in 70 countries. Although the bulk of Red’s work is in CG, they have recently completed digital hand-drawn animation for an upcoming feature film. In addition to animation services, Red offers a robust and experienced concept design staff, many of whom are busy contributing to the look of the company’s second CG feature film, Kai.
Over a year since rumors first surfaced of a live-action remake of Disney’s 2002 animated hit Lilo & Stitch, TheDisInsider.com reports that production on the hybrid flick is slated to begin filming in Hawai’i this fall and will be produced as a Disney+ original movie.
As with the 2D original, the family adventure centers on a troubled human girl named Lilo and a dog-like alien named Stitch, who crash lands near her home in Hawai’i. Despite his cuddly appearance, Stitch has been engineered as a living weapon and is now on the lam as one of the galaxy’s most wanted. But with love, faith and the power of ohana — the Hawai’ian concept of “family” — Lilo and Stitch form a powerful, transformative bond.
Chris Sanders, who co-wrote and directed the original film with Dean DeBlois, is expected to return to voice Stitch — the studio is still on the hunt for a director for the remake. Mike Van Waes wrote the script, and Aladdin remake producers Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich of Rideback are producing (they are also on board the Disney+ Inspector Gadget movie). Zoe Kent and Louie Provost are overseeing the production for Disney.
The original 2002 Lilo & Stitch grossed $273.1 million worldwide and spawned multiple home video sequels as well as a Disney Channel original series, which ran for two seasons (2003-2006); an anime aimed at the Japanese market, Stitch!, which aired three seasons and two post-series specials from 2011 to 2015; and Stitch & Ai for China in 2017. The popular franchise also inspired several video game titles and character appearances.
DreamWorks Animation has announced the streamlining of executive leadership within its TV division under Teri Weiss, Executive Vice President of Development, and Kelly Kulchak, Executive Vice President of Current Programming. The announcement was made by Peter Gal, Chief Creative Officer, TV.
“As we continue to push boundaries in animation and challenge ourselves to pursue innovative ideas and find new audiences, I am excited to align our development and current programming teams under the expertise and guidance of Teri and Kelly,” said Gal. “These two are tremendous storytellers and I look forward to seeing them lead our talented team into new territory for DreamWorks Animation Television.”
Prior to these appointments, preschool series and kids and family programming were divided as separate development and current departments, with Weiss previously serving as EVP of Preschool Development and Current Series and Kulchak was EVP of Current Programming for kids series. With these new appointments, the television studio has now streamlined its development and current series oversight, with all development being led by Weiss and all current series being run by Kulchak, reporting into Gal.
Additional news in the division includes Ben Cawood’s promotion to SVP, TV Development, David Wiebe to SVP, Current Programming, Ania O’Hare to SVP, TV Casting and Talent Relations, and Alexandra Nickson to SVP, TV Music.
DreamWorks Animation is one of the world’s leading producers of high-quality, animated family programming, with multi-series deals with Netflix, Peacock, Hulu, Amazon, CBS All Access, Universal Kids and other leading broadcasters around the world. Since inception in 2013, the studio has garnered 25 Emmy® Awards and is home to such beloved series as the recently released Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts, Dragons Rescue Riders and Fast & Furious: Spy Racers, as well as Guillermo del Toro’s Tales of Arcadia trilogy, Spirit Riding Free, The Boss Baby: Back in Business and She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. Upcoming new series include Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous, Gabby’s Dollhouse, Rhyme Time Town and more.
