Entertainment One (eOne) and animation studio Astley Baker Davies announced that a new voice artist has been cast in the role of Peppa Pig in the popular preschool animated TV series. Nine-year-old Amelie Bea Smith will make her debut as the title character in new episodes of Peppa Pig that are due to launch from February 2020 in the U.K., U.S., Australia and international territories that air episodes in English.
Smith will become the fourth British voice artist to take on the role in English-speaking territories. She follows Harley Bird, now 18, who has been the voice of Peppa from the age of five and won a BAFTA award for the role in 2011. Previously, Lily Snowden-Fine and Cecily Bloom provided the voice for the character, whose show made its TV debut on Channel 5 Milkshake (U.K.) in 2004.
“We’re delighted to welcome Amelie to the Peppa Pig voice cast and confident that she will continue the strong legacy of the previous Peppa voice actors,” said co-creators Neville Astley and Mark Baker from Astley Baker Davies. “Lily Snowden-Fine defined the role when she first voiced the character in series one at age five. Lily passed the baton to Cecily Bloom for series two before handing the reins to Harley Bird. As our longest standing Peppa, Harley’s award-winning contribution to the show over the past 13 years has been tremendous, making her a key part of the success of Peppa Pig.”
Harley Bird voiced Peppa Pig 185 episodes, and performed songs for the recent Peppa Pig My First Album music release which has generated over 24 million streams since its release this summer. She also sang on the charity single “Bing Bong Christmas” last Christmas, which had 950k streams. Now 18, Bird is in her final year of A levels. Her acting credits include feature film How I Live Now, alongside Saorise Ronan, Doctor Who, and Disney app series So Sammy, created by Miranda Hart.
Amelie Bea Smith will make her Peppa Pig voice star debut with the episode “Valentine’s Day.” Prior to Peppa, Smith appeared in several episodes of long-running British TV series Eastenders in 2018 and 2019.
Peppa Pig is currently available in more than 180 territories, broadcast in 40-plus languages. The show celebrated its 15th anniversary in the U.K. and Australia in 2019. Following the current production slate, Peppa Pig’s episode total will reach 381 episodes.
As the entertainment industry continues to trudge heavy steps toward inclusion and representation, some big strides are being taken by animated projects which focus on building diverse teams to tell resonant stories.
In this new behind-the-scenes video from Netflix, producers Jinko Gotoh and Marisa Román (SPA Studios) discuss the importance of pushing for gender parity on the production of Klaus, and how an international team of top talent helped bring a distinct perspective to the acclaimed film. We also hear from voice star Rashida Jones about working with director Sergio Pablos to create a worthy, well-rounded character in “Alva.”
“Back in 2015, it became very obvious that more than 60% of the students studying animation were women,” Gotoh points out in the video. “Here are all these women studying animation, why are they not in the workplace? Part of it is attributed to the fact that there was a lot of unconscious bias happening. So, it became very important to become conscious about the fact that there are all this great woman-talent that we’re not bringing in. But, as female producers, Marisa Román and I really want to make sure all voices got heard.”
Mathew A. Cherry’s Oscar-nominated short Hair Love is offering its own kind of love to Texas student Deandre Arnold, who was told he would not be allowed to walk at graduation unless he cut his dreadlocks. Cherry and the producers of the acclaimed short have offered to take Arnold and his mom to the Academy Awards on Sunday Feb. 8th as their official guests.
Arnold and his mom were told the news via video thanks to the team at CBS This Morning show. “We have all been so inspired by your story and this is the very least we can do to thank you for standing up for yourself and your right to wear your natural hair at school,” said the short’s director Matthew A. Cherry,” who told Arnold the good news along with producers Dwayne Wade and Gabrielle Union.
Arnold responded, “I never thought that people like D Wade and Gabrielle Union would be on my side. The film is about hair love, and me and my hair, we kind of grew up together: We’re like best friends. It means the world to us that we get an invite like this!”
Hair Love tells the touching tale of a father who is trying to learn how to fix his daughter’s hair. Cherry says he wants his short to “normalize” natural hair. He was inspired to make the film after seeing viral videos of African American dads combing their daughters’ hair.
Earlier this week, Cherry told CBS This Morning that he had been very excited to meet Kobe Bryant at the Oscars. When Cherry’s nomination was announced, Bryant had tweeted, “Let’s go!!” “It’s just crazy,” said the director. “I just feel that much more like I have to represent. We have to keep his [Kobe’s] memory alive. I was so excited to see what he was going to do with his second act with his career. First project, he gets an Oscar, and I knew he was going to do more projects.”
Arnold has received lots of support from fans all over the country. He was invited to be a guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and told the talk show host that he wants to go to college and become a veterinarian. DeGeneres, who also made a plea for the school to change its policy, brought singer Alicia Keys onstage and presented him with a $20,000 check to be applied to college.
You can read our story about the making of Hair Lovehere.
With Adult Swim’s hit anime sequel series FLCL: Progressive and FLCL: Alternativehitting Blu-ray and DVD on Tuesday, February 4, it’s the perfect time to reacquaint oneself with everything we love about the colorful, crazy adventures originally created by Youji Enokido 20 years ago. Thankfully, our friends at Warner Bros. Home Entertainment are happy to help with a fun clip featuring voice star Kari Wahlgren discussing how she came to be the voice of manic heroine Haruko in the popular Production I.G show.
“Haruko, I think, is so many of the things that we all love about anime. She’s crazy,” Wahlgren says in the BTS interview. “To be able to play this character that has so many different facets was a really great way to be introduced to this world.”
FLCL: Progressive (season 2) tells the story of 14-year-old Hidomi and her classmate, Ide, as the war between Medical Mechanica and Fraternity continues. Now in the form of their teacher, Haruko Haruhara returns alongside another otherworldly being, Jinyu, a gorgeous Chrysler Bel Aire and her yellow Vespa to unleash their hidden potential.
FLCL: Alternative (season 3) centers on the misadventures of 17-year-old Kana and her friends, Mossan, Hijiri and Pets. Living a seemingly normal life, the group’s lives are flipped upside down when Mecha falls from the sky and arrives with the guitar-wielding Haruko Haruhara. Once again determined to take out Medical Mechanica, Haruko works to awaken Kana’s N.O. channel before the relentless iron takes over the world.
The Blu-ray Combo Pack will include a 15-minute never-before-seen documentary that dives into the making of both seasons, featuring interviews with voice talent and crew. Additional special features include a “Meet the Creators” piece focused on the new era of show creators, a segment about “The Pillows” relationship with the series, a glimpse at the English voice actors behind FLCL together, and a look into the production of FLCL: Alternative.
Cartoon Network commemorates Black History Month beginning Saturday, Feb. 1 with the launch ofDrawn To Happiness, a digital interview series honoring Black excellence both past and present. The four-part series, hosted by Craig of the Creek star Philip Solomon (voice of Craig), will highlight young history makers Elijah Precciely, Grace Callwood, Jahkil Jackson and Justin Wilson, and what this month means to them.
Each will tell the story of how prominent and historical Black figures such as Barack Obama and Marian Wright Edelman have drawn them to make a difference in their communities through civic engagement, the arts and music. The month-long campaign will go into rotation with weekly episodes on the Cartoon Network App and social.
Grace Callwood
The first installment spotlights Grace E. G. Callwood (age 15), a cancer survivor and founder and chairwoman of We Cancerve Movement, Inc., a nonprofit organization she founded at age 7, in 2012. She started the organization with an all-youth board of advisors to bring happiness to homeless, sick and foster youth.
Upcoming History Makers:
Elijah Precciely
Elijah Precciely, age 12, is a child prodigy, author, entrepreneur, motivational speaker, talk show host, media personality, inventor and full-time college sophomore student at Southern University and Agricultural & Mechanical College, an HBCU (Historically Black College and University) in Baton Rouge, LA. He is studying physics and mechanical engineering at Southern’s honors college.
Jahkil Jackson
Jahkil Jackson, age 12, is the founder of Project I Am, a program that builds awareness around homelessness. He assists those in need all over the world by giving away “Blessing Bags,” filled with food, clothes, hygiene items and more.
Justin “L.J.” Wilson
Justin “L.J.” Wilson, age 5, is a musical prodigy and social media viral sensation. He’s been playing the drums since he was 18 months old and was a special guest on The Ellen Show.
Craig of the Creek is one of CN’s breakout original series, co-created by three-time Emmy-nominated Steven Universe writers Matt Burnett and Ben Levin. It follows a precocious animated character named Craig, as he leads his best friends J.P. and Kelsey on comical journeys at their neighborhood creek, transforming everyday afternoons into thrilling expeditions through imaginative play. The series taps into an emotional sense of nostalgia for audiences and connects with viewers through its relatable characters and universal storylines.
Whatever happened to Bo Peep, the charming porcelain heroine and love of Cowboy Woody’s life, between the events of Toy Story 2 and last year’s Oscar-nominated pic Toy Story 4? That burning question will finally be revealed in Pixar’s new seven-minute short Lamp Life, which premieres on Disney+ on Friday, Jan. 31. We had a chance to talk to the short’s talented writer and director Valerie LaPointe, who was story supervisor on Toy Story 4, to get the scoop on how this new project came about:
It is so great to see Bo Peep (voiced by Annie Potts) star in her own little adventure. Can you tell us how this project came about? When did you start working on it?
It all happened towards the end of Toy Story 4, around the end of 2018, when they asked to develop a short based on the movie. I was very excited because there was no question in my mind that I wanted to make a short about Bo Peep. There were so many interesting ideas that were left on the cutting room floor. There was a lot to work with. We worked on it through the summer, and we were definitely done by October.
I think the biggest looming question was what happened in that space and time because in Toy Story 4 we see Bo being given away and then we pick back up with her, she is a lost toy. There are only a handful of lines in the feature that she even mentions what happened to her, so it was left wide open. We’d come up with a lot of ideas in the meantime: For me, it was a big mystery that we didn’t have the screen time for in the feature, so it was just perfect for a short film.
Did the writers of Toy Story 4 have any ideas what had happened to Bo Peep as they were working on that movie?
We explored a lot of ideas, and it was very tied to Woody’s story because we wanted to know why they re-met and what happened in that time. So, we kept changing her story to come up with the most interesting character for Bo to become and to figure out how that tied into Woody’s story. Also, she’s porcelain, but she’s also part of a baby lamp and not a complete toy. She’s something of a contradictory character in many ways, but once we embraced that, that made her more interesting. There was a lot about her that I especially loved and gravitated to. In the film, we had a flashback scene that was pretty sad. A lot of terrible things happened to her and it was amazing that she survived it, but I felt that we could tell her story with a more uplifting tone to it and with a sense of humor.
Can you walk us through the process of writing Lamp Life?
I basically spent a month writing it, storyboarding it, rewriting it, back and forth. I did a lot of my own pitching to a handful of my friends who had worked on the feature with me, my friend Yohann, who was our story lead on Toy Story 4, helped me a lot. It was when I landed on the idea of jump-cutting through time and being able to show so many smaller moments in her life, that it became interesting and fun to me, and I felt we could really push it. She has that great personality that you can really play with the idea of really pushing it that it’s beyond maybe being believable, but you know, it’s close enough to the truth.
What do you think makes Bo such a memorable and unique character?
I think Bo has a lot of grit and tenacity, and that combined with a sense of humor allows her to move through these extra trials that she went through. She found a new way of being a toy, but she’s able to laugh at it and enjoy life.
What is the toughest part about playing with this well-known character in a short format?
I think development is always hard: The manic highs and lows of creating something where you get so excited and you think you’ve got it. Then, you find a story hole in it and you sink into the bottom, and you think, “Oh no, there’s nothing here. It’s terrible!” So, it’s strange how the development of a story is both wonderful and terrible at the same time. But the wonderful thing about being here at Pixar is that there are so many people around me that I can turn to. I can throw the idea at them, and they’ll come back and tell me, “Oh, actually, it’s working. Maybe if you just did this?” and suddenly the sky is clear again.
How many people worked with you on this short?
I did a lot of the writing and storyboarding myself. It was a handful of people who helped with that as needed. We had our editor, six or seven animators (a lot of them were new and amazing), and a small team that do the creative content here. They are a great team and they work so quickly — a lot of people doing a lot of jobs. It was a big thing to undertake because we had so many shots and so many different set-ups. But that also became a fun challenge, because we had a huge antique store full of cool props and pieces that we just plucked and pulled and made up sets to create all the shots. It was really fun in that sense.
We had about 35 Pixar folk touch the film in some way. There were a few folks from Skywalker Sound (two) and four musicians.
Was the short planned as a DVD bonus feature or did you know that it was going to debut on Disney+?
When they first asked me if I wanted to direct the short, it wasn’t exactly clear whether we were going to use it for the DVD or for Disney+. But it became pretty clear that it was going to be through Disney+. But it actually was a really great opportunity, because the format is not limited to a specific time length, and that’s how it became seven minutes long.
Can you tell us a little bit about your career at Pixar?
I joined Pixar in 2006 as part of the studio’s first story internship program. There were a total of eight of us, and I was in the same group as Adrian Molina (co-director of Coco). After that, I finished my MFA in animation at USC. Since then, I worked on Brave, Inside Out, Mater’s Tall Tales, Toy Story Toons and then, eventually, went on to work on Toy Story 4.
What do you love most about working at Pixar?
It’s pretty great here. I love being in that room and coming up with ideas for our characters. Being part of that story process and that a-ha moment and when you come up with something, that’s always the most fun and satisfying part of it. And the fact that I can do that with drawings in my job. That’s pretty great too!
When was the first time you knew you wanted to get into animation?
When I was eight years old and I saw The Little Mermaid for the first time. I am one of those weird people that are [very] determined and I just knew when I was that young that I was completely fascinated with all of whatever that was on the screen. And as I grew up (in Virginia Beach, VI) I figured out what that meant, and I just pursued animation since I was a kid.
Can you tell us what you’re working on next?
I am actually in development right now, and I’m coming up with my own ideas. All different things!
Any final words of advice for future animators?
Just keep practicing drawing and let your own ideas and imagination go wild. That’s definitely important.
Lamp Life premieres on Disney + on Friday, January 31.
Gallery Nucleus LA Artist Panel & Book Signing for ‘I Lost My Body
The acclaimed Xilam/Netflix film’s director and writer Jérémy Clapin will curate a presentation exclusively for Gallery Nucleus and will be sharing insights from the production and some behind the scenes work on the film. Select production art from the film will also be on display and a limited number of The Art of I Lost My Body book will be available for the event. (Friday, Feb. 7 at 6 p.m.)
Property Brothers Move into Kids’ TV with Animated Series ‘Builder Brothers’ Dream Factory
HGTV twin stars Drew and Jonathan Scott are developing the toon — centered around 10-year-old versions of themselves — with Sinking Ship Entertainment. The show will follow the kid bros as they help solve problems in their neighborhood with their imagination, creativity, grit and heart. With their dog Moose and best friends Mel, Cee-Cee and Aiden, they try to make the world a better place, one big dream at a time.
All-New Puzzle Popping Adventure ‘Disney Getaway Blast’ Now Available
Developer-publisher Gameloft is inviting Disney fans on a casual gaming vacation with the new title, available on the App Store, Google Play and Microsoft Store. Players pop groupings of matched bubbles and use unique, vacation-tailored game mechanics to complete various objectives. They can collect over 30 DIsney/Pixar characters such as Stitch, Belle, Mrs. Incredible, Minnie Mouse, Anna, Buzz Lightyear, Aladdin and many more, each providing special abilities like Elsa’s ice magic to recolor puzzle tiles or the Genie’s power-up generator skill to tackle the trickiest puzzles. In between rounds, players unwind by decorating their islands with themes inspired by unlocked Disney and Pixar characters, and can even pose the busy characters to snap photos for their vacation album collection.
WATCH: ‘Norm of the North: Family Vacation’ New Trailer
Overwhelmed by his Kingly duties, Norm struggles to make time for both his kingdom and his family. But when his crown is mysteriously stolen in the dead of the night, Norm must embark on an epic journey — disguised as a family vacation. Norm sets out to track down the thief and find his crown, and learns the valuable lesson that by working together as a family, nothing is impossible. Out on Digital, DVD and On Demand from Lionsgate on Feb. 25.
WATCH: ‘The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run’ Big Game Spot
Move over halftime, this year it’s all about the pre-game. We’ve got car chases, robots, flashbacks, and…Snoop Dogg! The only thing missing is Gary! Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movie present the first all-CGI SpongeBob movie Sponge on the Run in theaters May 22.
WATCH: ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ Big Game Spot
What do Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas, Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey, Gold Medal sprinter Allyson Felix and champion race car driver Kyle Busch all agree on? When it comes to speed, there’s only one name you need to know. Catch Sonic the Hedgehog in theaters February 14, from Paramount Pictures.
French school ArtFX (one of the 10 best creative schools in the world, according to The Rookies 2019 rankings), and the city of Enghien-les-Bains (in Ile-de-France) announced that a new ArtFX Academy will be opening in the affluent Paris suburb. Offering a higher education program for animation and visual effects, the Academy will open in September 2020.
The news was shared during the Digital Creative Genie Awards ceremony at the Paris Images Digital Summit on Wednesday.
“Animation and VFX are booming sectors, having created many jobs over recent years, and will continue to do so in the future. By cultivating its high standards and independent model, over the past 15 years ArtFX has become a center of excellence, recognized and acclaimed worldwide for its teaching methods and its ability to adapt to the needs of industry,” said Gilbert Kiner, Founder & President of ArtFX.
According to a recent study on employment in the industry from Audiens-SPFA – RAF Magis, in 2018 France’s animation and VFX sector provided 7,500 jobs (with 1,000 created in the last 10 years, per CNC) across 142 studios (three new studios each year).
“The idea behind our move to the Ile-de-France region is to strengthen our relationships with French studios and in particular with studios in Paris,” he continued. “By deepening our work with them on our innovative educational methods and the professional-student relationship, we want to prepare the ‘professions of tomorrow’, linked to the evolution of digital technologies and the new cultural consumption of an international audience.”
For the past 15 years, ArtFX has been training young talents in Montpellier in the fields of 2D and 3D animation, cinematic special effects and video games. It has created a unique teaching system, based around workshops supervised by professionals from all over the world. Combining high-tech and traditional skills, it encourages students to take an active role in their own education.
Students can apply for the ArtFX Academy program through a competitive entrance examination, accessible after three years of higher education or significant professional experience. Using ArtFX’s respected teaching method, the Academy can accommodate 25 students for a 4th and 5th year Master’s program, including:
Intensive refresher courses supported by a professional supervisor
Specific specialisation, notably in animation, VFX, rigging, pipeline technical director, etc.
Registration opens on February 1; the entrance exam will be held during April. ArtFX Academy’s program costs €8,500 per year.
The Academy will be based in the Villa ArtFX. Conceived as a residency, the Villa offers the program’s 25 students with an attractive quality of life, autonomy, and tailor-made technical and human resources, thanks to the infrastructure and network of the Enghien-les-Bains Center for the Arts. The ideally located Villa sits in a park just 100m from the lake, within an easy distance of Paris (14 minutes from Gare du Nord railway station) — the leading employment hub for animation and VFX in France.
Since joining the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the digital arts category, which today has 17 cities — Austin, Toronto, Guadalajara, Cali, Dakar, Tel Aviv, Sapporo, Changsha, Gwangju, Braga, York, Lyon, Viborg, Karlsruhe, Linz and Kosice — in 2013, the innovative city of Enghien-les-Bains has benefitted from a digital ecosystem (embodied particularly by the Centre des Arts, which oversees the Numeric Lab creative and cultural start-ups incubator). The establishment of the ArtFx School is a natural part of this dynamic.
At Paris Images Digital Summit, ArtFX celebrated a Genie nomination for graduate film Coin Coin Final, by Blandine Caravano, Julien Cassisa, Kenza Chehadi-Fonderflick, Gaël Escaravage and Emma Lafond. The school also partnered with PIDS and the Centre des Arts to present an exhibition of behind-the-scenes film and VFX artistry, “Les Artisans du Rêve” (Dream Makers); the show is open through April 11 at the Centre des Arts in Enghien.
A new animated experiment is making cartoons very personal, as Bitmoji TV arrives on Snapchat’s Discover on Saturday, February 1. Building on Bitmoji Stories’ popular customizable character comics, the comedy series will send viewer’s Bitmojis on new adventures inspired by television genres, from talent shows to cop dramas.
Season 1 of Bitmoji TV consists of 10 four-minute episodes, airing weekly on Saturday mornings on Discover. Some episodes will feature the viewer’s own avatar (with dynamic animation updates to keep up with their latest cartoon look) and those of their friends, while others feature celebrity guests like Randy Jackson, Andy Richter, Jon Lovitz and Riki Lindhome. Other characters in the shorts can talk, but viewers’ own characters won’t have their voice (yet).
The series is created entirely in-house by the Toronto-based Bitmoji team, with dedicated artists, animators, storyboarders, engineers, etc.
The crew built a new, proprietary production framework developed specifically for Bitmoji TV, and invested in a system that dynamically renders and streams every episode on-demand, so that each viewer has a unique experience featuring their own troupe of avatars. This animation tech takes into account a variety of factors for these unique viewing experiences, including the size and shape of each viewer’s particular Bitmoji and how they fit into each scene, incorporating friends’ Bitmojis into scenes, and so on.
Since the debut of the personalized comic strips in 2018, more than 130 million Snapchatters have watched Bitmoji Stories.
One of the most popular videogame franchises in history comes to animated life in Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion’s Revenge, an all-new, feature-length film produced by Warner Bros. Animation in coordination with NetherRealm Studios and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. The film arrives from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on Digital starting April 12, and on 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack (SRP $39.99 US / $44.98 CA), Blu-ray Combo Pack ($24.98 US / $29.98 CA) and DVD ($19.98 US / $24.98 CA) on April 28.
“Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion’s Revenge is a riveting, no-holds-barred action-fest that delivers all the authentic combat, drama and humor fans expect coupled with edgy animation and an outstanding voice cast,” said Mary Ellen Thomas, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Senior Vice President, Originals, Animation and Family Marketing. “This film is unlike anything Warner Bros. has produced before, and fans should be prepared for the thrill ride of their lives.”
Based on the worldwide hit game created by Ed Boon & John Tobias, Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion’s Revenge spotlights the once-in-a-generation tournament between the champions of Outworld and Earthrealm – a competition that will ultimately determine the fate of Earth and all its citizens. Lord Raiden, protector of Earthrealm, must gather the greatest fighters of his realm to defend it from the evil Shang Tsung in the battle to end all battles: Mortal Kombat!
Joel McHale (Community, The CW’s upcoming Stargirl) and Jennifer Carpenter (Dexter, Batman: Gotham by Gaslight) lead a stellar cast as the voices of Hollywood star-turned-fighter Johnny Cage and all-business warrior Sonya Blade, respectively. The voice cast also includes Jordan Rodrigues (Lady Bird, The Fosters) as Liu Kang, Patrick Seitz (Mortal Kombat X, Aggretsuko, Naruto: Shippuden) as Scorpion & Hanzo Hasashi, Steve Blum (Cowboy Bebop, Star Wars Rebels) as Sub-Zero, Artt Butler (Her, Star Wars: The Clone Wars) as Shang Tsung, Darin De Paul (Overwatch, Fortnite) as Quan Chi, Robin Atkin Downes (The Strain, Batman: The Killing Joke) as Kano, David B. Mitchell (Mortal Kombat 11, World of Warcraft franchise) as Raiden, Ike Amadi (Mass Effect 3, Mortal Kombat 11) as Jax Briggs, Kevin Michael Richardson (Family Guy, The Simpsons) as Goro, Grey Griffin (The Loud House, Young Justice, Scooby-Doo franchise) as Kitana & Satoshi Hasashi, and Fred Tatasciore (Robot Chicken, Family Guy) as Demon Torturer.
Ethan Spaulding (Batman: Assault on Arkham, Justice League: Throne of Atlantis) directs from a script by Jeremy Adams (Supernatural, Teen Titans Go! Vs. Teen Titans) based on the videogame created by Boon & Tobias in 1992. Rick Morales (Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders, Batman vs. Two-Face) is producer, and Jim Krieg (Batman: Gotham by Gaslight) is co-producer. Executive producer is Sam Register. Ed Boon (NetherRealm Studios) is Creative Consultant.
Special features (4K UHD, Blu-ray & Digital):
>From Epic Game to Extreme Animation – Mortal Kombat co-creator Ed Boon and the filmmakers reveal the creative process behind adapting the best-selling game to an all-new animated film.
>The Weapons, Wardrobe and World of Mortal Kombat Legends – The artists reveal the design challenges of animating the world of Mortal Kombat, from authentic armor to wildly imaginative weapons and fantasy settings.
>The Savage Sound Design of Mortal Kombat Legends– This hard-hitting audio exploration reveals the art of designing the sonic language of the fight scenes.
>Mortal Kombatants – Dive deep inside the cast of characters to reveal their unique abilities, signature moves and backstories.
>Filmmaker Commentary – Producer Rick Morales and screenwriter Jeremy Adams sit down for an insightful audio commentary that reveals the process of creating a compelling animated film based on one of today’s most popular fighting games.
Multiple-award-winning children’s entertainment studio Splash Entertainment has named Pete Young as Director of Development. In his new role, Young will oversee the company’s growing slate of entertainment offerings to appeal to an even wider audience and further position the company for long-term growth. Young will report to Co-CEOs Mike Young and Steve Rosen.
“Pete is a true creative force and we’re very excited he will be expanding his position at Splash and helping to set the stage for the company’s continued success for years to come,” said Rosen. “He’s very much in-tune with young audiences and the content that best resonates with them, while also having a firm grip on the types of offerings that are most sought-after by studios and broadcasters around the world today.”
“I’m thrilled about taking on a broader role at Splash to develop and produce innovative and outstanding content for audiences everywhere,” said Young. “I’m extremely proud of our current development slate and look forward to sharing these projects with viewers globally.”
Among the productions Young is now overseeing are Woody Woodpecker, a reimagining of the beloved classic cartoon, as well as R. L. Stine’s The Little Shop of Monsters and R. L. Stine’s Rotten School, inspired by the author’s popular and award-winning book series. In addition, Young is now guiding the development of upcoming animated series, including NitWitz and The Legend of Hairy Butter andThe Tremendous Tales of Talking Trash, Liberandum 7 and Ballerz Bunch, along with feature film Littlest Robot.
Prior to this promotion, Young served for three years as Director of Performance Capture for Splash Entertainment, working on a range of noteworthy content, including Norm of the North, Rock Dog and All I Want for Christmas Is You.
Before joining Splash, Young co-founded Joovie Entertainment, where he oversaw the company’s production slate, including as Executive Producer of Oh Yuck, an original series available in the U.S. and Australia, where it was nominated for Most Outstanding Children’s Series by the Screen Producers Association in 2017. He has also served as Lead Photographer for Mayweather Productions, documenting the life and career of World Champion Boxer Floyd Mayweather.
Studio 100 Media announced new licensees for its spanking-new property 100% Wolf, just in time for the International Toy Fair in Nuremberg, Germany.
Joy Toy will present a collection of plush figures (25 cm and 30 cm) of the animal characters at the Toy Fair (Hall 4 A-80). The product range also includes lamps and lights from torches to night lights as well as ceramic products. SkyBrands will create various textile products such as bed linen, pillows and sleeping bags as well as clothing for children with the new brand as a licensee in the home & living segment. As an apparel partner, Spreadshirt will focus on T-shirts, hoodies, long sleeves and bags. All three agreements valid for several years will cover the German-speaking territories.
“100% Wolf as a film and as a series is a unique action-adventure comedy format which takes up the trend theme ‘mystical creatures’ in a very funny way. It presents original, lovable and cool characters — and at the same time conveys a socially important message: Heroes come in many forms!” commented Gerd Russwurm, Head of Licensing, Studio 100 Media GmbH. “That’s why we are especially pleased to have gained further strong partners like SkyBrands, Spreadshirt and Joy Toy, who have joined our other partners from the outset such as Blue Ocean Entertainment and Ravensburger Verlag.”
100% Wolf tells the story of Freddy Lupin. He is the heir of a family of noble werewolves and can’t wait to be a werewolf himself! When the time finally comes, Freddy’s first transformation doesn’t go according to plan… Instead of an impressive werewolf he turns into a little yapping pink… poodle!
The animation is based on the successful Australian children’s novel of the same name by Jayne Lyons. Currently in production the TV series 100% Wolf – Legend of the Moonstone (OT, 26 x 22′ episodes) is commissioned by ABC (Australia) and Super RTL (Germany). The 100% Wolf feature film has just been completed. Australian animation studio Flying Bark Productions, part of the Studio 100 Group, is the producer of both formats. Constantin Film has acquired the rights to the theatrical film for the German-speaking countries.
The 18th Annual VES Awards brought a capacity crowd of more than 1000 guests at the Beverly Hilton last night. Hosted by comedian Patton Oswalt for the ninth year, the awards were presented in 25 categories. The Lion King was named the photoreal feature winner, garnering three awards. Missing Link was named top animated film, winning two awards. The Mandalorian was named best photoreal episode and garnered two awards, with Game of Thrones and Stranger Things 3 also winning two awards each. Hennessy: The Seven Worlds topped the commercial field with two wins.
Andy Serkis presented the VES Award for Creative Excellence to acclaimed visual effects supervisor Sheena Duggal. Joey King presented the VES Visionary Award to acclaimed director-producer-screenwriter Roland Emmerich, while VFX Supervisor Pablo Helmanpresented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Academy, DGA and Emmy Award winning director-producer-screenwriter Martin Scorsese, accepting via video from New York. Scorsese’s The Irishman also picked up two awards, including Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature. Presenters also included: helmers J.J. Abrams, Jon Favreau, Rian Johnson and Josh Cooley, actors Storm Reid, Madeline Brewer, Janina Gavankar, Sophie Skelton and Maxwell Jenkins. Lisa Campbell, Autodesk’s Chief Marketing Office and SVP, presented the Autodesk Student Award.
Winners of the 18th Annual VES Awards are as follows:
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature
The Lion King
Robert Legato
Tom Peitzman
Adam Valdez
Andrew R. Jones
Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature
The Irishman
Pablo Helman
Mitchell Ferm
Jill Brooks
Leandro Estebecorena
Jeff Brink
Outstanding Visual Effects in an Animated Feature
Missing Link
Brad Schiff
Travis Knight
Steve Emerson
Benoit Dubuc
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Episode
The Mandolarian; The Child
Richard Bluff
Abbigail Keller
Jason Porter
Hayden Jones
Roy K. Cancino
Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Episode
Chernobyl; 1:23:45
Max Dennison
Lindsay McFarlane
Clare Cheetham
Paul Jones
Claudius Christian Rauch
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Real-Time Project
Control
Janne Pulkkinen
Elmeri Raitanen
Matti Hämäläinen
James Tottman
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Commercial
Hennessy: The Seven Worlds
Carsten Keller
Selçuk Ergen
Kiril Mirkov
William Laban
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Special Venue Project
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
Jason Bayever
Patrick Kearney
Carol Norton
Bill George
Outstanding Animated Character in a Photoreal Feature
Alita Battle Angel; Alita
Michael Cozens
Mark Haenga
Olivier Lesaint
Dejan Momcilovic
Outstanding Animated Character in an Animated Feature
Missing Link; Susan
Rachelle Lambden
Brenda Baumgarten
Morgan Hay
Benoit Dubuc
Outstanding Animated Character in an Episode or Real-Time Project
Stranger Things 3; Tom/Bruce Monster
Joseph Dubé-Arsenault
Antoine Barthod
Frederick Gagnon
Xavier Lafarge
Outstanding Animated Character in a Commercial
Cyberpunk 2077; Dex
Jonas Ekman
Jonas Skoog
Marek Madej
Grzegorz Chojnacki
Outstanding Created Environment in a Photoreal Feature
The Lion King; The Pridelands
Marco Rolandi
Luca Bonatti
Jules Bodenstein
Filippo Preti
Outstanding Created Environment in an Animated Feature
Toy Story 4; Antiques Mall
Hosuk Chang
Andrew Finley
Alison Leaf
Philip Shoebottom
Outstanding Created Environment in an Episode, Commercial, or Real-Time Project
Game of Thrones; The Iron Throne; Red Keep Plaza
Carlos Patrick DeLeon
Alonso Bocanegra Martinez
Marcela Silva
Benjamin Ross
Outstanding Virtual Cinematography in a CG Project
The Lion King
Robert Legato
Caleb Deschanel
Ben Grossmann
AJ Sciutto
Outstanding Model in a Photoreal or Animated Project
THE Mandolarian; The Sin; The Razorcrest
Doug Chiang
Jay Machado
John Goodson
Landis Fields IV
Outstanding Effects Simulations in a Photoreal Feature
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Don Wong
Thibault Gauriau
Goncalo Cababca
François-Maxence Desplanques
Outstanding Effects Simulations in an Animated Feature
Frozen 2
Erin V. Ramos
Scott Townsend
Thomas Wickes
Rattanin Sirinaruemarn
Outstanding Effects Simulations in an Episode, Commercial, or Real-Time Project
Stranger Things 3; Melting Tom/Bruce
Nathan Arbuckle
Christian Gaumond
James Dong
Aleksandr Starkov
Outstanding Compositing in a Feature
The Irishman
Nelson Sepulveda
Vincent Papaix
Benjamin O’Brien
Christopher Doerhoff
Outstanding Compositing in an Episode
Game of Thrones; The Long Night; Dragon Ground Battle
Mark Richardson
Darren Christie
Nathan Abbott
Owen Longstaff
Outstanding Compositing in a Commercial
Hennessy: The Seven Worlds
Rod Norman
Guillaume Weiss
Alexander Kulikov
Alessandro Granella
Outstanding Special (Practical) Effects in a Photoreal or Animated Project
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance; She Knows All the Secrets
Sean Mathiesen
Jon Savage
Toby Froud
Phil Harvey
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Student Project
The Beauty
Marc Angele
Aleksandra Todorovic
Pascal Schelbli
Noel Winzen
GKIDS has announced that Ride Your Wave, the deeply emotional new animated feature from visionary director Masaaki Yuasa (Night Is Short, Walk on Girl, Devilman Crybaby, Keep Your Hands off of Eizouken), will get a Los Angeles theatrical release on February 21. The LA engagement will follow a nationwide, one-night-only premiere event presented with Fathom Events on February 19.
Synopsis:
Hinako is a surf-loving college student who has just moved to a small seaside town. When a sudden fire breaks out at her apartment building, she is rescued by Minato, a handsome firefighter, and the two soon fall in love. Just as they become inseparable, Minato loses his life in an accident at sea. Hinako is so distraught that she can no longer even look at the ocean, but one day she sings a song that reminds her of their time together, and Minato appears in the water. From then on, she can summon him in any watery surface as soon as she sings their song, but can the two really remain together forever? And what is the real reason for Minato’s sudden reappearance?
Theatrically, the film will be presented in both its original Japanese and new English dub versions.
Audiences at the English subtitled Fathom Events screening (Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. in more than 500 theaters) will also be treated to an exclusive interview with Ride Your Wave producer and Science SARU animation studio co-founder Eunyoung Choi (Night Is Short, Walk On Girl, Devilman Crybaby, Keep Your Hands off of Eizouken).
“We are thrilled to bring fans this joyous and touching feature from Masaaki Yuasa,” said GKIDS President David Jesteadt, “In this heartfelt tale of romance, loss, and self-discovery, Yuasa continues to expand on his distinctive artistic vision.”
“We are proud to once again join with GKIDS to bring a high-anticipated Masaaki Yuasa film to American audiences,” said Fathom Events CEO Ray Nutt. “Anime fans have enjoyed the GKIDS/Fathom partnership with such celebrated events as the annual Studio Ghibli Fest series, Promare, Weathering With You, and more.”
A new multiplatform animated PBS KIDS series, Hero Elementary (co-produced by Twin Cities PBS and Portfolio Entertainment), will help spark a love of science among kids nationwide and prove “science is powerful” when it premieres June 1 on PBS stations.
Hero Elementary is a school for budding superheroes, where kids learn to master their innate powers, like flying and teleportation, while exploring science along the way. The launching series will give children ages 4 to 7 important tools to help them solve problems by encouraging them to think and act like scientists, igniting their natural curiosity. Hero Elementary also showcases character and social-emotional concepts such as kindness, empathy, and commitment to working together to solve problems.
“With its unique, fun and informative STEM, literacy and social-emotional learning curriculum, Hero Elementary is sure to be a heroic hit with kids, parents and teachers alike,” said Linda Simensky, Head of PBS KIDS Content.
The show revolves around a diverse group of super students, led by their quirky and enthusiastic teacher, Mr. Sparks. The team works together to help people, solve problems, and try to make the world a better place. When their imperfect powers aren’t up to the task, they look to their other powers – the superpowers of science – to help them investigate, observe, make predictions, and figure out a solution.
The “Sparks’ Crew” includes Lucita Sky, an empathetic natural leader with the power to fly – and a fear of heights; AJ Gadgets, a superhero who is passionate about all things “super” and has the ability of thought projection and making super gadgets – and who also happens to be on the Autism spectrum; Sara Snap, who’s tiny, but mighty, with super strength and the power to teleport; and Benny Bubbles, a loyal and protective animal lover with a heart of gold, who can create amazing bubbles that double as forcefields and more. Both Mr. Sparks and Lucita are bilingual Spanish/English speakers. Rounding out the Crew is Fur Blur, the class hamster with an epic appetite and super speed.
“Hero Elementary has the right formula to help empower kids to make a difference in their own backyards and beyond by actively doing science,” said series co-creator Carol-Lynn Parente, former executive producer on Sesame Street, where she met Hero Elementary co-creator Christine Ferraro. “The series combines the excitement of superheroes and the power of science to help show kids that they can be superheroes and save the day, too.”
The science curriculum in Hero Elementary addresses crucial components of children’s learning – the ability to develop and test ideas, ask questions, predict, and observe – skills known to contribute to learning in other content areas, such as literacy, language development and critical thinking. Each episode will include two animated 11-minute stories with accompanying interstitial content. The series is currently in production for 40 half-hour episodes, which will premiere on PBS stations, the PBS KIDS 24/7 channel and PBS KIDS digital platforms.
The Hero Elementary universe will include a collection of interactive digital components: games will be available on pbskids.org and the free PBS KIDS Games App, along with clips and full episodes streaming across PBS KIDS’ video platforms, including the free PBS KIDS Video App. Parent and educator resources will be available on PBS KIDS for Parents and PBS LearningMedia, respectively.
Hero Elementary is funded by a Ready To Learn grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The Ready To Learn Initiative is a federal program that supports the development of innovative educational television and digital media targeted to preschool and early elementary school children and their families.
***This article originally appeared in the March 2020 issue of Animation Magazine (No. 298)***
We know the first few months of the year are brutal times for movie lovers. After all, that’s when studios unload all their post-Oscar season duds. If you need to see the light at the end of the tunnel, we suggest a visit to the annual Cartoon Movie event, which is held in Bordeaux, France, March 3-5. This year, the show will spotlight 66 excellent animated projects in different stages of development and production to over 900 participants from 40 countries. We caught up with program director Annick Maes to find out the scoop on this year’s high-profile program.
“The movies are always the stars of the event,” says Maes. “It’s quite a great display of creativity, as European producers dare to innovate in terms of modern and unusual graphic styles, and targeting new audiences such as young adults. This year we noticed that 14 projects out of the 66 are aimed at adults, but of course, we still have a wide range of family entertainment.”
According to Maes, one of the most obvious trends is the rapid growth of animation throughout Europe, beyond France. “Spain doubled the number of projects selected, Denmark remains dynamic (Nordic countries together [are presenting] seven projects) and Germany’s presence is strong with projects from well-known studios such as Ulysses Filmproduktion,” she notes. “For the past four years, we have also put the spotlight on one country for each edition, and this year we are focusing on animation produced in Luxembourg.”
Cartoon Movie 2020
Bridging Publishing, Gaming and Transmedia
At press time, Cartoon Movie was also planning two major keynotes: “Producing Animated Films with Games’ Technology,” presented by Unity Technologies’ Mathieu Miller and “Hilda: From Comic Book to Animated Series to Video Game: A Transmedia Success Story,” presented by Sam Arthur of Nobrow.
The organizers also point out that there is a large diversity of visual styles and content this year. “We also noticed that producers are experimenting with new distribution strategies as well,” says Maes. “Not only via YouTube, but also Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram (see Copenhagen Bombay’s upcoming feature I’m Helena, for example).” She also mentions the abundance of book and graphic novel adaptations in the mix in 2020: The Unspeakable: A Lovecraftian Fragment, The Hermit and the Bear, The Character of Rain, Tafiti, The Shrew of Destiny, Molesworth and The Legendaries are some of this year’s prominent adaptations.
“The European studios are working a lot,” concludes Maes. “They are even experiencing a shortage of animators. The sector has great potential: The producers co-produce easily with other countries, they can adapt quickly to new technological developments, and they sell their feature films all over the world. The animation industry is undergoing a disruptive transformation, but this development is also providing a great opportunity for new formats and content from new players and streaming platforms.”
Twelve Movies to Track at Cartoon Movie 2020
If you want to get a special sneak peek of what the European feature animation community is working on, you won’t get a better opportunity than Cartoon Movie. Here are 12 of the more intriguing titles that caught our attention this year.
Adam And The Magic Cloud
Adam and the Magic Cloud
A handicapped young boy discovers that his differences can be his greatest strengths when he’s magically swept into a mysterious vortex by small creatures called Dreamos, who are fighting the evil forces of Darkos. Produced by Aissam Bourak and Florent Mounier (Iqbal, Tale of a Fearless Child, 1884: Yesterday’s Future) and produced by 2d3D Animations (France).
The Amazing Maurice
The Amazing Maurice
Ulysses Filmproduktion (German) and Cantilever Media (Ireland) are producing this CG-animated feature based on Sir Terry Pratchett’s popular Discworld novels. A streetwise cat named Maurice finds a a stupid-looking kid who plays a pipe, and has his very own horde of rats – rats who are strangely educated and literate, so Maurice can no longer think of them as “lunch.” But things take a sinister turn when someone begins to play a sinister tune. Directed by Toby Genkel (Yakari, A Stork’s Journey) and Florian Westermann, written by Terry Rossio (Shrek, Aladdin, Pirates of the Caribbean), with character designs by Carter Goodrich (Ratatouille, The Croods, Brave).
Even Mice Belong In Heaven
Even Mice Belong in Heaven
Whizzy the Mouse and Whitebelly the Fox become good friends after they die and meet in animal heaven. The plot thickens when they return to Earth and are reborn into opposite roles in this charming pic, which combines stop-motion and CG animation. Directed by Jan Bubeníček (The Pirate, The Nutcracker in 3D) & Denisa Grimmová (Fimfarum: The Third Time Lucky). Produced by Fresh Films (Czech Republic), Cinemart (Slovakia), Les Films du Cygne (France), Animoon (Poland).
Fleak
Fleak
This CG-animated fantasy adventure centers on Lauri, a 12-year-old boy who loses his ability to walk, but gains a friendly creature from another dimension – and together they have to save both their worlds from a shadow monster. Produced by Finland’s Anima Vitae (Niko and the Way to the Stars), Anima Vitae Point (Malaysia), Poland’s Animoon (Acid Rain) and Godo Films (France).
Girl and Wolf
Girl and Wolf
A brave young girl will have to face dark childhood traumas, soulless hunters, magical wild spirits and an ancient pack of wolves in a medieval village in this adaptation of Spanish artist and animator Roc Espinet’s popular graphic novel. Produced by Spain’s Hampa Studio (Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles, The Shadownsters).
The Inventor
The Inventor
Directed by Pixar veteran Jim Capobianco, this mixed-media project centers on a chapter in Leonardo da Vinci’s life where he seeks to find the meaning of life while he flees Italy to work in the court of Francis I and build the “ideal city.” Produced by Folioscope (France) and Leo and the King (U.S.)
The Island
The Island
This imaginative, surreal new take on the classic Robinson Crusoe story centers on a doctor whose solitude on an island in the Mediterranean is voluntary, while Friday is the only survivor of a lost boat from Africa. According to the film’s synopsis, the island becomes a surreal augmented reality reflection of our modern existence. The 2D/CG/cut-out musical comedy is directed by Anca Damian (Marona’s Fantastic Tale). Produced by Aparte Film (Romania), Take Five (Belgium).
The Last Whale Singer
The Last Whale Singer
Directed by Reza Memari (A Stork’s Journey), this 3D stereoscopic movie centers on Vincent, the timid son of the last whale singer, who will have to save the oceans after he accidentally frees a deep sea monster from its ice prison. Produced by Telescope Animation (Germany), PFX (Czech Republic) and Big Bad Boo (Canada).
I Am Helena
I Am Helena
Karla Von Bengtson (Next Door Spy) directs this highly original 2D-animated movie which centers on a 13-year-old girl’s difficulties as she transitions from being a child to a young teen. During a school trip, she is dared to climb the local volcano. It’s either that or admit to having feelings for her best friend, Andy. Produced by Denmark’s Copenhagen Bombay (The Great Bear, Beyond Beyond).
Molesworth
Molesworth
A young, resourceful student at St. Custard’s School for Boys suspects that one of the staff has been stealing school funds to pay off shady gangsters in this hilarious homage to 1950s London bank heist movies. Directed by veteran 2D animator and character designer Uli Meyer (Space Jam, Pocahontas, Dolittle). Produced by Lupus Films (U.K.), Uli Meyer Studios (U.K.), Melusine Productions (Luxembourg).
Panda Bear in Africa
Panda Bear in Africa
Karsten Kiilerich (Raggie, Terkel in Trouble) and Richard Claus (The Little Vampire) direct this charming CG-animated adventure which follows a young Panda as he travels from China to Africa to rescue his kidnapped friend, Jielong the Dragon. Produced by Cool Beans (Netherlands) and A.Film Productions (Denmark).
They Shot The Piano Player
They Shot the Piano Player
Chico & Rita helmers Fernando Trueba and Javier Marsical are directing this musical journey into the origins of the world-renowned Bossa Nova musical movement. The story finds a New York music journalist (voiced by Jeff Goldblum) embarking on a quest to uncover the truth behind the tragic disappearance of a young Brazilian piano virtuoso, Tenoria Jr. Featuring the music of João Gilberto, Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil and Vinicius de Moraes. Produced by They Shot the Piano Player (Spain), Film Constellation (U.K.), Fernando Trueba Producciones (Spain) and Prima Linea Productions (France).
Amazon Prime Video made a couple exciting adult animated series announcements today, with the news that Titmouse (Big Mouth, Metalocalypse, The Legend of Vox Machina) / Serious Business (@midnight) / Amazon Studios’ L.A. comedy Fairfax has received a two-season order; while the darkly comic debut of Natasha Lyonne and Maya Rudolph’s Animal Pictures, The Hospital, is under development as part of the studio’s first-look deal with the streamer.
Creators Matt Hausfater (writer, Undateable), Aaron Buchsbaum and Teddy Riley (upcoming Jackie Chan movie Shanghai Dawn) describe Fairfax as “a love letter to kids today — the generation that will most definitely save the world from global warming, if they don’t die from eating Tide Pods first. It’s a modern look at the timeless struggle to be cooler than you are, to fit in while standing out, and what it feels like to wait in line for a pair of sneakers you’re never going to cop.”
The series will feature characters designed by artist Somehoodlum (animator of Lil Uzi Vert’s “You Was Right” MV), also a consulting producer along with merch outlet Pizzaslime, which will “oversee the show’s connection to hype culture in the real world” according to Hollywood Reporter. Hausfater, Buchsbaum and Riley exec produce with Peter A. Knight (BoJack Horseman), Jon Zimelis and Peter U. Nadler of Serious Business, and Chris Prynoski, Shannon Prynoski and Ben Kalina of Titmouse.
The Hospital is created by Cirocco Dunlap, who is a supervising producer on Lyonne’s acclaimed Netflix series Russian Doll and consulting producer on Big Mouth. The concept centers on two brilliant, female, alien doctors who specialize in rare sci-fi illnesses. When Sleech ignores protocol and contracts a disease from another dimension, she and her colleague Klak must race to find a cure before the universe is destroyed.
Dunlap is exec producing with Lyonne, Rudolph and Danielle Renfrew Behrens, President of Animal Pictures, which launched in 2018. The studio team commented, “Cirocco is an incredibly gifted and hilarious talent and we can’t wait to share her irreverent and existential point of view: a sci-fi world so deep and so strange and so animated!”
Continuing the “years of cooperation” between Russia and China’s digital/media industry (2019-2020), St. Petersburg-based Melnitsa Animation Studio’s series Moonzy and His Friends premiered January 1 on CCTV Children’s Channel — the kids’ outlet of mainland China public broadcaster CCTV. The series, produced with pubcaster Russia 1, arrives in China in a deal supported by SPB TV.
“SPB TV has been working with Chinese media with great success starting from 2013. We are constantly participating in Russian-Chinese business missions and joined structures growing our portfolio of contacts and strengthening our relationships with Chinese partners,” said Kirill Filippov, CEO of SPB TV. “We are very happy that our expertise and contacts help the unique Russian animation series enter the Chinese market and we strongly believe in further successful development of the project in China.”
Moonzy held the No. 1 morning kids’ program ranking in its first two weeks of broadcast, according to data from TV and OTT monitoring system Kyun EYE. CCTV is committed to air 513 episodes of the series, including nine daily installments through the winter holidays in China.
“This is a great achievement. Our animation series are aired on Chinese public television with high ratings,” commented producer Sergei Selyanov. “Our animation is sold to many countries now, however, I will point out that Russian studios make only the first move here and we must take hold of the international markets next. It is an absolutely favorable moment as the quality of Russian movies and animation has been growing rapidly, and foreign TV channels and digital platforms are getting much more commercially interested in Russian projects than previously. China is one of the most strategic partners for us and we are looking forward to successful development of that cooperation.”
“We are very happy to continue the traditions of Russian animation. Created by talented professionals on the highest level of quality, our animation has become our love and honor at home, so we would love to share our positive and kind cartoons with the whole world,” said producer Anton Zlatopolsky. “China is not only our most important partner, but a state with a unique rich history of visual culture. And we are especially pleased that in China, the country with subtle art cultural traditions, kids will watch and love Moonzy as much as children in Russia.”
Melnitsa is Russia’s larges independent animation studio. It was founded by Sergei Selyanov, producer and CEO of CTB Film Company, and Alexander Boyarsky in St. Petersburg in 1999. Melnitsa’s Art Director, Konstantin Bronzit, has been twice nominated for an Oscar in animation. Within 20 years, the studio created 16 feature films — including major Russia/CIS box office hits Prince Ivand the Grey Wolf and Three Heroes — and 731 animated series, and received more than 60 international awards.
Melnitsa has been producing the highly popular series Moonzy and His Friends since 2006, launching a new season almost each year. In 2020 the studio will release the next season with a new character, Moona, in a 3D format, with the participation of a U.S. scriptwriter.
“Moonzy’s launch is the first step in Russian-Chinese media communication development,” commented Alexey Volin, Deputy Minister of Communication of the Russian Federation. “More than 10 Russian series have been launched in China recently, and it is an absolute breakthrough in movies. We release from five to seven Russian films annually. Now it is the turn of animation. The Ministry of Communication considers Russian animation as a very prospective product for export.”
Studio 100 Media announced the appointment of Vanessa Windhager as Sales Executive Global Distribution. Joining the international sales department with immediate effect, Windhager will be responsible for all global distribution activities for the company in Asia, Africa and the Middle East, reporting to Dorian Bühr, Head of Global Distribution.
With extensive experience in the TV industry and content sales, Windhager has over the past seven years worked for NBC Universal International Television Distribution, most recently as Sales Manager Liaison, where she was in charge of distribution in Switzerland, as well as managing various product categories in Germany and Austria. Prior to this, she helped open and establish CBS Studios International’s first office in Germany.
“We are delighted to have Vanessa on board,” said Bühr. “With her long-term experience in the industry, she is a great addition to our team for the important markets in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.”
Studio 100 Media, a subsidiary of Belgian firm Studio 100, is an international production and distribution company within the children’s and family entertainment sector. Based in Munich, Germany, the company develops and acquires new content, engages in co-production and co-financing activities and is also responsible for the international distribution of its own and third party rights. Studio 100 Media’s international activities range from content distribution, ;licensing and home entertainment through to theatrical movies, stage shows and theme parks.
CAKE has announced the U.K. premiere of award-winning stop-motion preschool series Kiri and Lou. The 52 x 5’ show will air on CBeebies following a strong performance last year on TVNZ in New Zealand and CBC Canada, who commissioned the series.
“Kiri and Lou has already won the hearts of audiences in Australia, New Zealand and Canada; receiving a tremendous response from viewers both young and old,” said Ed Galton, CCO & Managing Director, CAKE. “We are thrilled to be partnering with CBeebies and introducing this much-loved series in the U.K.”
CBeebies joins broadcasters including ABC Kids in Australia, YLE in Finland, SVT in Sweden, Czech Television, EVision and BeIN in the Middle East and Showmax in Africa.
Kiri and Lou centers on the friendship between Kiri, a feisty little dinosaur, and Lou, a gentle and thoughtful creature, as they explore the world of feelings through laughter, song and outdoor adventure. Original and imaginative, Kiri and Lou invites children to learn about empathy and how to get along, through warm-hearted and gently humorous storylines which are resonating with audiences of all ages.
Hand-crafted in paper and clay and created using traditional stop-motion animation from Antony Elworthy (Coraline, Corpse Bride, Isle of Dogs), the series is voiced by Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords, Moana, Rio) and Olivia Tennet (Lord of the Rings) and is written and directed by feature film director Harry Sinclair. Kiri and Lou is produced by Fiona Copland for Stretchy and Heather Walker of Yowza Animation (Curious George, Welcome to the Wayne) with international sales handled by CAKE.
“It has been wonderful to see the rest of the world connecting with these idiosyncratic, original characters,” said Copeland. “As concern for our planet increases, people are looking for natural values, which are reflected in the simplicity of Kiri and Lou’s world. We love that families are watching Kiri and Lou together and adults and siblings are enjoying it too.”
In 2019, Kiri and Lou was selected for screening at Annecy in the TV Films in Competition category and has been, most recently, nominated as a finalist at the Cynopsis Best of the Best Awards.
“Kiri and Lou is what happens when extraordinary creative individuals deliver an exceptional piece of media to entertain and enrich the lives of children. We are delighted with the production and it has been a real pleasure to be involved with this wonderful series.” Andrew Shaw, General Manager of Commissioning and Production, TVNZ.
