’Supernatural’ Meets ‘Scooby-Doo’ Episode Gets a Poster and Title
Ruh-roh, Rinresters! The cartoony concept episode first announced at The CW’s upfronts last May will drop bogey-hunting brothers Dean and Sam Winchester (Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki) into the fully-animated world of Mystery, Inc. in “ScoobyNatural.” Release date is TBA, but the ep. Is slated as #16 for the current 13th season.
Conscious Cartoon International Animation Festival
The beautiful Puget Sound destination of Vashon Island, WA will be home this September 14-16 to a first-of-its-kind celebration of short animated works addressing social issues and humanistic themes. Founding Director Bill Jarcho, a 35-year industry vet, hopes to grow the competition to a point where Conscious Cartoons will fund independent animators to create more of these message films for wider distribution. Submissions are now open with the festival offering $20,000 in cash prizes — including a $5,000 Best Children’s Film award sponsored by Committee for Children.
A VR Movie Set in Space Just Landed a 7-Figure Deal at Sundance
In a deal secured by dedicated VR funding platform Kaleidoscope, new VR financing/distribution company CityLights has picked up Spheres, a new frontier in entertainment starring Jessica Chastain, executive produced by Darren Aronofsky, Ari Handel, and René Pinnell, produced by Jess Engel, Arnaud Colinart, and Dylan Golden, and co-produced by Jill Klekas Basmajian.
Channel Frederator Network Hits Record 10 Billion Views in 2017
Frederator, part of WOW! Unlimited Media, announced it hit a new high for view on YouTube last year — it certainly doesn’t hurt that added a whopping 400 channels in the same period!
“This is a huge milestone for us, and we are very proud of all of our network members, and the MCN team. Channel Frederator Network isn’t just a network for animators and cartoonists, but a home for all types of artists or any channel that embodies cartoons and animation. We look forward to the new year, and will be focusing on those types of channels to grow even further,” said recently promoted Director of Networks Kenneth Ash. The growing team also includes Marley Diazdelvalle, upped to Talent Coordinator; and Andrea Metivier, now MCN Operations Coordinator.
TRAILER: ‘Pacific Rim: Uprising’
A complacent Earth is face with a fight for survival when the long-absent Kaiju return in this adrenaline-pumping sci-fi sequel. Directed by Steven S. DeKnight (Netflix’s Daredevil, Starz’ Spartacus), John Boyega stars as a once-promising Jaeger pilot who must get his act together and live up to his monster-bashing father’s legend. Together with his estranged sister (Rinko Kikuchi), a gifted rival (Scott Eastwood) and a teen hacker (Cailee Spaeny), he leads a global uprising against the forces of extinction. Universal Pictures releases Uprising on March 23.
