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Acclaimed animation studio david production, best known for Fire Force, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Cell’s at Work! and 2022’s Urusei Yatsura, is launching its first original animated series Onmyo Kaiten Re:Birth Verse, which will stream on Crunchyroll day-and-date on July 2 around the world, excluding Asia, as new episodes broadcast weekly in Japan.
Onmyo Kaiten Re:Birth Verse is being directed by Hideya Takahashi (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Golden Wind; 2022’s Urusei Yatsura), who also created the original concept. It is an original story written by Fujiko Sakuno, with an original plot by Akuto Sato. The series composition was written by Hayashi Mori, who previously wrote the screenplay for the animated feature film Drifting Home and the series composition for Cells at Work! Code Black and Sand Land: The Series.
Synopsis: Narihira Takeru is a delinquent who often thinks about Tsukimiya, the girl who appears in his dreams. After an unexpected accident, Takeru finds himself in a parallel universe, and the world that Tsukimiya lives in. When Takeru and Tsukimiya are slain by a monster, he awakens again and realizes he has leapt through time. Now, Takeru must train with Abe Seimei to fight for Tsukimiya’s life!
The new series is brought to life with character design by Kazuaki Morita (Classroom of the Elite, Assassination Classroom) world and setting research by Katsuie Shibata, and music composed by Masahiro Tokuda (You Are Ms. Servant, One Piece Fan Letter).
Japanese voice cast and characters:
Narihira Takeru voiced by Taihi Kimura (Flower and Asura)
Tsukimiya voiced by Maaya Uchida (My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!)
Abeno Seimei voiced by Ryohei Kimura (My Happy Marriage)
Astunaga voiced by Kaito Ishikawa (My Hero Academia)
Yura voiced by Anna Nagase (ZENSHU)
Kazura voiced by Marina Inoue (Attack on Titan)
Shino voiced by Chihaya Yoshitake (Love Live! Superstar!!)
Spin Master Corp. announced today that PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie, the upcoming third feature film in the blockbuster PAW Patrol franchise, has rounded out its cast with a host of fan-favorite stars, including Jameela Jamil, Terry Crewsb Paris Hilton, Emmy winners Snoop Dogg and Bill Nye, Meredith MacNeill, and PAW Patrol veteran Ron Pardo.
Also joining the roster are several young talents, including Henry Bolan as Ryder. Starring as the beloved PAW Patrol pups are Lucien Duncan-Reid and Nylan Parthipan, returning as Rubble and Zuma, respectively, joined by Carter Young as Marshall, Hayden Chemberlen as Rex, Rain Janjua as Chase and William Desrosiers as Rocky. The new additions join a star-studded voice cast that already includes EGOT winner Jennifer Hudson and popular comedian Fortune Feimster, as well as Emmy nominee Mckenna Grace, who reprises her role as Skye.
“This amazing assembly of performers is befitting of the dino-sized franchise that is PAW Patrol,” said Jennifer Dodge, President of Spin Master Entertainment. “Alongside the brilliant talent already involved in the film, these cast additions will make this a must-see adventure, as our beloved team of rescue pups enters its second decade of captivating kids and families worldwide.”
Ramsey Naito, President of Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation, said, “We couldn’t be more excited to bring audiences everywhere this next chapter of PAW Patrol that is bigger, better, and bolder than ever — featuring a standout cast that brings these characters to life in fresh and exciting ways.”
Synopsis: In PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie, after their ship gets caught in a mysterious storm, the PAW Patrol pups crash land on an uncharted tropical island filled with dinosaurs. They meet Rex, a pup who has been stranded on the island for years and has become an expert in all things dino-related. When the PAW Patrol’s archrival, Humdinger, begins recklessly mining in hopes of exploiting the island for its natural resources, he inadvertently causes a huge, dormant volcano to erupt. The PAW Patrol pups are thrown into a series of high-stakes, dino-sized rescues bigger than anything they’ve done before, as they must stop Humdinger before everything on the island goes extinct.
PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie follows the recent 10-year anniversary of the global smash hit franchise and one of the world’s most popular preschool shows. Building on the success of its first two films, which together earned over $350 million at the global box office, the film sees the return of director Cal Brunker, who co-wrote the screenplay alongside Bob Barlen. It is being produced by Spin Master Entertainment’s Jennifer Dodge, Laura Clunie and Toni Stevens with Spin Master Co-Founder Ronnen Harary as executive producer, in association with Nickelodeon Movies.
The film will have an exclusive theatrical release on July 31, 2026, distributed by Paramount Pictures worldwide, excluding Canada where Elevation Pictures distributes.
Jamil is represented by UTA, 3 Arts, and Jackoway Austen. Crews is represented by CAA and Yorn Levine. Snoop Dogg is represented by WME, Yorn Levine, and Death Row Pictures. Nye is represented by UTA and Hamrick & Evans. Hilton is represented by UTA and YMU Entertainment. MacNeill is represented by GGA. Duncan-Reid is represented by AMI. Parthipan is represented by Play Management. Pardo is represented by The Characters. Young is represented by CESD and Luber Roklin. Chemberlen is represented by District Model & Talent. Bolan is represented by OAZ. Janjua is represented by Hero Artists. Desrosiers is represented by Premier Artists Management and AIM Talent.
After eight seasons full of hormone monsters, anthropomorphic sexual organs and more than 689 masturbation jokes, the kids of Big Mouth are saying goodbye as they embark on their next adventure. The official Season 8 trailer debuted today, with the show’s final run of 10 half-hour episodes set to premiere on Netflix on May 23.
Synopsis: In the eighth and final season of Big Mouth, our beloved Bridgeton teens tackle new challenges as high schoolers such as: driving, drugs, sexual inexperience, enthusiastic consent, porn and the teenage mind, cancel culture, their changing bodies and (in the end) fear of the looming future. Through it all, friendship is the cornerstone for surviving this time of life — whether one’s puberty is just beginning, like for Nick who gets his first growth spurt, or near its conclusion, like for a maturing (and prematurely balding) Andrew.
At the height of the season, when many of our characters are in crisis, Compassion (personified as a new creature voiced by Holly Hunter), emerges as a crucial way forward. Ultimately, though, this season is about the importance of sticking by and supporting your friends, especially when life gets overwhelming and messy. In the end, our kids step into the harrowing unknown of the future, made less afraid of what’s to come because they have each other.
In addition to Hunter, Season 8’s guest stars include Cynthia Erivo, Steve Buscemi, Kristen Wiig, Quinta Brunson, Nathan Fillion, Ali Wong, Richard Kind, Maria Bamford, Keke Palmer, David Thewlis, Thandiwe Newton, Natasha Lyonne, Aidy Bryant, Rosie Perez, Lena Waithe, Billy Porter, Stephanie Beatriz, Whitmer Thomas, Chelsea Peretti, Chloe Fineman, June Diane Raphael, Zach Woods, Craig Robinson and Jack McBrayer.
Big Mouth series regulars include Nick Kroll, John Mulaney, Jessi Klein, Jason Mantzoukas, Ayo Edebiri, Maya Rudolph, Fred Armisen, Andrew Rannells and Jordan Peele. The series is executive produced by Nick Kroll, Andrew Goldberg, Jennifer Flackett and Mark Levin. The animation is produced by Titmouse.
Before fans bid farewell to Nick, Andrew and their lovable, grotesque hormone monsters, creator/star Nick Kroll and the cast of Big Mouth are hitting the road for a grand finale tour, the likes of which have never before been seen by pubescent eyes. Call it the Big Mouth Swallows America Farewell Tour. No, really. That’s what we’re calling it!
As previously announced, Big Mouth‘s devoted followers can look forward to more of Brutus Pink’s trademark raunch in the upcoming animated series Mating Season, coming to Netflix in 2026.
Online movie ticketing service Fandango announced today that Disney’s upcoming live-action reimagining of Lilo & Stitch is its best first-day PG-rated ticket pre-seller of 2025. The film has surpassed all 2025 PG-Rated titles in first-day advance ticket sales at the same point in the sales cycle, including A Minecraft Movie, Snow White, Dog Man and Paddington in Peru.
Lilo & Stitch has also claimed the #2 spot as the best first-day ticket pre-seller for a Disney live-action movie of all time on Fandango at the same point in the sales cycle, only behind the blockbuster hit, The Lion King (2019).
Earlier this year, the film’s official trailer launched as the second-most-watched Disney live-action spot of all time.
“Lilo and Stitch have captured the hearts of families for years, and now audiences can relive the magic of their story with a fresh and new heartwarming take,” said Jerramy Hainline, EVP of Fandango. “It is no surprise that audiences are racing to our platform to secure their tickets for what is set to be a memorable Memorial Day weekend when Stitch makes his triumphant return to the big screen.”
Lilo & Stitch was named one of the top 10 most anticipated summer movies in Fandango’s 2025 Moviegoing Trends and Insights Study, which surveyed more than 5,000 ticket buyers. In honor of the beloved alien’s return to the big screen, Fandango is offering fans an exclusive Popcorn Pin Pack Bundle,including one Lilo & Stitchmovie ticket and an Official Disney Exclusive Collectible Pin for $36.26.
Tickets for Lilo & Stitch are on sale now on Fandango, arriving in theaters Friday, May 23.
Studio 100 Film and Norwegian production company PictoryLand announce that internationally acclaimed actor Mads Mikkelsen has joined the voice cast of the upcoming animated feature North. The Danish actor has recently performed leading roles in blockbuster productions such as Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.
Studio 100 Film will be showcasing the film to buyers and industry professionals during the Cannes Film Market at Résidence Le Gray d’Albion, Apartment 6B2.
Mikkelsen will lend his voice to the character Severin, the father of young Kai, who is abducted by the Snow Queen. The new character was created as an homage to Hans Christian Andersen, whose iconic fairy tale “The Snow Queen” forms the creative foundation of the film. The producers describe Severin as a figure who embodies wisdom, sorrow and the timeless magic of storytelling. As a carpenter, he builds his son a beautiful sled for Christmas — and grieves when both vanish.
Synopsis: Young Gerda sets off into the great unknown in search of her friend Kai, who has mysteriously vanished. On her journey, Gerda makes friends with people, birds, beasts, and a kind witch, unaware that a hostile, unseen enemy — the Snow Queen and her devil apprentice, Louie — is watching her. The evil queen keeps Kai prisoner in her ice palace way up north in Finnmark, Norway. Together, Gerda and Kai escape from her clutches, arriving back home just in time for the happiest winter holiday ever.
North is directed by critically acclaimed fantasy author Bente Lohne and produced by Håkon Gundersen (Flight of the Navigator, Free Jimmy) and his company PictoryLand AS, in collaboration with the award-winning animation studio Anima Vitae. Ralph Guggenheim (Toy Story), co-founder of Pixar Animation Studios, serves as consulting producer.
The producers have also announced that North will feature music by Norwegian composer Rolf Løvland (Secret Garden, You Raise Me Up), who contributes the original song “Finding You” performed by Norwegian pop singer Maria Arredondo. This lyrical ballad reflects the themes of longing and connection at the heart of the film. Raymond Enoksen, one of Scandinavia’s leading film and television composers with over 200 productions to his name, has created the full orchestral score as well as the sweeping original track “True North,” which anchors the film’s sonic identity and amplifies its dramatic narrative.
Shaun the Sheep fans will be flocking back into movie theaters in 2026, as Sky announces their partnership with multi-award-winning studio Aardman to release Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom as a Sky Original feature film. The wonderfully woolly character will once again be brought to life with Aardman’s signature stop motion.
“Shaun is a household name, so it’s huge news for us to be welcoming him and the flock to our 2026 Sky Original film slate,” said Andrew Orr, Executive Producer & Head of Originals for Sky Cinema. “It’s an honor to work with Aardman at such an exciting time for the studio, with a film that we know fans of all ages will love. Expect laughs, spookiness and some brilliantly entertaining new characters.”
Sarah Cox, Chief Creative Director at Aardman, commented, “Shaun the Sheep is an iconic character, beloved by viewers of all ages around the world. In our new animated movie, we bring family-friendly thrills to this light-hearted, spooky Halloween adventure. Expect smashed pumpkins, wayward science and a wild hairy beast on the loose in Mossy Bottom — all delivered with the Flock’s trademark joyous comedy.”
The third Shaun movie finds the residents of Mossy Bottom Farm looking forward to Halloween — until the clumsy Farmer trashes the Flock’s beloved pumpkin patch! When Shaun turns mad scientist to fix the problem, things rapidly spiral out of control… With The Farmer missing and a wild beast roaming the woods of Mossingham, all the ingredients are in place for a monstrously fun family adventure.
Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom is written by Mark Burton (Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, Paddington in Peru, Shaun the Sheep Movie) and Giles Pilbrow (Horrible Histories, Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas) and will be directed by Steve Cox (Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas) and Matthew Walker (Lloyd of the Flies), with Richard Beek (Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl) as producer, and Nick Park, Peter Lord, Carla Shelley and Sarah Cox as studio executive producers.
Aardman has partnered with Sky as the exclusive U.K. distributor, releasing in cinemas and on Sky Cinema, and StudioCanal as the global partner outside the U.K.
2025 marks 30 years since Shaun’s first appearance in Wallace & Gromit: A Close Shave and the series is one of Aardman’s best-performing properties. It has been broadcast in 170 territories worldwide, with its seventh series airing later this year. The first Shaun the Sheep Movie was nominated for several awards including a BAFTA and an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film and was one of the highest-grossing animated films of 2015. The second feature film, A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon, was also Academy Award and BAFTA nominated and was widely praised by critics. In 2021, Aardman also released a half-hour special, the International Emmy-winning Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas.
The addition of The Beast of Mossy Bottom to its slate continues a longstanding relationship with Aardman, with Morph being the first Sky Kids Original commission in 2016. Sky also has Make Your Own Movies with Merlin and Epic Adventures of Morph airing and are in production of Season 3 of BAFTA nominated hit preschool show The Very Small Creatures.
“We are so delighted to be in development and pre-production on Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom launching worldwide sales at Cannes. We have taken such pride in establishing Shaun the Sheep and the flock as movie stars and in this — our third feature film in the franchise — we have a tantalizing seasonal hook in Halloween with thrills, spills, surprises, a touch of science and characters old and new,” said Anna March, CEO of StudioCanal / Deputy CEO & CCO of Canal+, and Ron Halpern, EVP Global Production at StudioCanal. “We cannot wait to reveal more of this highly anticipated family treat in the coming months. It’s a genuine pleasure to be back in partnership with Aardman for Shaun’s very welcome return and in Sky we have a U.K. partner who share our passion and ambition to bring Shaun the Sheep (and friends) to the biggest possible audience with his timeless appeal and in his home territory.”
This new Aardman feature film follows the recent landmark success of the studio’s Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, which broke viewing records in the Christmas period as it became the most-watched animated film broadcast on British television since modern viewing records began in 2002. The film was awarded two BAFTAs, for Best Animation and Best Children and Family Film, as well as an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature Film, bringing Aardman’s total number of BAFTAs to 17, alongside its four Academy Awards.
N.Y.C.’s ROOF Studio partnered with Le Truc, the creative collective within Publicis Groupe, alongside The Condé Nast Creative Marketing Team and Human, to create an animated film celebrating the 100th anniversary of The New Yorker. Encapsulating the magazine’s unrelenting insights and perspectives on literature, art, culture and current events, the film turns the pages of history, one iconic cover at a time, presenting a sweeping portrait of The New Yorker’s ineffable stamp on the world.
The 60-second film was produced as part of a broader campaign, which includes 30-second and 15-second deliverables and social media cutdowns.
“It was a surreal honor to work on this project,” said Guto Terni, ROOF Studio Co-Founder and the film’s director. “We’re talking about 100 years of a weekly magazine that hasn’t just reported on history — it has helped shape it. Each cover is a time capsule, and watching them in a sequence is like watching history unfold — with art as the lens.”
Ebbing and flowing from one watershed moment to the next, the animations were inspired by a poetic script by The New Yorker and Le Truc, anchored around a “One Hundred Years of…” mnemonic expressing the breadth and universality of The New Yorker stories across every era of the last century. The voiceover carries a tone of intellectual curiosity, subtle irony, and cultural sharpness emblematic of The New Yorker, with each line opening a visual question.
“The script isn’t a single linear story, but a series of reflections on the world from a human lens that make you pause and think, laugh and cry,” explained Terni. “In visually translating these reflections, we chose covers that could echo the tone of each line, adding extra layers of emotion and symbolic stimulus for the viewer.”
To create the film, ROOF sifted through more than 5,000 New Yorker covers, departing from traditional storyboarding techniques with an experimental approach that explored the thematic and tonal connections between each piece of periodical art. The ROOF team played with composition, positioning, scale and transitional devices to imbue the animation with the right dynamism to support the script-based film.
“We had a blast exploring unique ways of pairing the ‘anchor’ covers with the various beats and themes expressed in the script,” added Terni. “With each visual we chose, the emotional match had to be there — and connect to the core of what The New Yorker is.”
ROOF built an internal search tool that tagged each cover with deep metadata — theme, color palette, composition, keywords and historical context. For example, type “triangle” and decades of geometric layouts would appear in seconds. This system enabled the team to organize its findings and match each script beat with the most resonant image.
The project was completed with a whimsically rhythmic arrangement of “Rhapsody in Blue,” produced by music company Human.
“Creating each chapter of this film was a journey in and of itself, and marrying it all together with fluidity and emotional impact was a creatively rewarding process,” said Terni. “The key was staying true to the editorial voice of The New Yorker. It’s a magazine that looks at the world closely, with wit and honesty.”
Educational animated content for kids is among the latest great national threats to be addressed by the Trump administration. The publicly funded non-profit Corporation for Public Broadcasting, established by Congress in 1967 to shepherd federal investment in America’s public broadcasting, revealed Tuesday that it has been informed by the Department of Education that the 2020-2025 Ready to Learn grant is being canceled, and will no longer be available to PBS and 44 public stations.
According to DOE communications officer Madi Biederman, the Ready To Learn grants to PBS “were funding racial justice educational programming for 5-8 year-old children. This is not aligned with Administration priorities.” She added, “The Trump Department of Education will prioritize funding that supports meaningful learning and improving student outcomes, not divisive ideologies and woke propaganda.”
Speaking on behalf of the CPB, President & CEO Patricia Harrison pointed out: “Nearly every parent has raised their kids on public broadcasting’s children’s content. For the past 30 years, Ready To Learn-funded PBS Kids content has produced measurable, real-world impacts on children’s learning. Ready To Learn has received strong bipartisan support from Congress and every Administration for the last 30 years because of the programs’ proven educational value in advancing early learning skills for all children. We will work with Congress and the Administration to preserve funding for this essential program.”
In fact, the most recent round of Ready To Learn grant funding was awarded to CPB and PBS during Trump’s first term (Betsy DeVos was Secretary of Education at the time). He last week signed an executive order directing CPB to end all federal funding to PBS and National Public Radio (NPR), which is being challenged on the grounds of lack of authority given the private nonprofit corporation status of CPB.
“The decision by the Department of Education to abruptly end the Ready To Learn grant will have an immediate and profound impact on the service PBS provides to families and children across America,” Sara DeWitt, SVP & General Manager of PBS Kids, said in a statement. This decision removes a critical resource public television has used to enable us to create high-quality, educational PBS Kids content while opening up worlds of possibilities for millions of kids across the country. We will continue to fight in order to maintain our essential service.”
In alignment with the administration’s attacks on diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI) initiatives, the reference to “woke propaganda” would appear targeted at shows which feature non-white protagonists and their communities, such as Ready To Learn funding recipients Molly of Denali, an Emmy and Peabody Award-winning animated series centered on Alaska Native characters (whose history predates the United States of America by thousands of years), which debuted in 2019; Lyla in the Loop, whose star character is an African American/Jamaican girl and introduces young viewers to computational thinking and creative problem solving, which premiered last year; or Alma’s Way, about a young Puerto Rican girl living in a Latino neighborhood in The Bronx (2021).
Other PBS KIDS animated series which have been supported by the Ready To Learn grant program include Work It Out, Wombats! (2023), Ready Jet Go! (2016), Elinor Wonders Why (2020), The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot about That! (2010), Super Why! (2007), Peg + Cat (2013) and the upcoming Fall 2025 series Phoebe & Jay.
The Ready To Learn grant was authorized as an amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act in 1992, and funds are distributed to CPB and PBS on a five-yearly cycle. The latest round, expected to allocate $105 million to the media outfits, was due to expire on September 30. Ready To Learn grands are separate from CPB’s congressional appropriation ($535 million).
Animated shows including Carl the Collector (2024), City Island(2022) and Acoustic Rooster (2025) have all received CPB funding contributions, ranging from $1 million to $3 million.
Disney Branded Television has revealed the cast of lead villains for Disney Jr.’s new animated series Marvel’s Iron Man and His Awesome Friends. The series, which features young versions of Tony Stark (Iron Man), Riri Williams (Ironheart) and Amadeus Cho (Iron Hulk), premieres this summer on Disney Jr. and Disney+ and is the first Iron Man preschool series.
Emmy Award winner Tony Hale (Veep, Toy Story 4) voices the comically nefarious android Ultron, while Vanessa Bayer (Saturday Night Live) portrays the mischievous Swarm and Talon Warburton (Megamind vs. the Doom Syndicate) as Absorbing Man.
Ultron
“It’s really fun playing a villain because it gives me permission to yell at people and get paid for it. Yes, please.”
— Tony Hale
Swarm
“It’s an honor to be part of the Marvel Universe and have the opportunity to voice Swarm. Often, I get typecast as a nice person, so it was really fun to get to play a villain.”
— Vanessa Bayer
Absorbing Man
“I’ve been a huge Marvel fan since I was a kid, so being part of this series and getting to share this with my own son fills me with so much gratitude. Now I just have to figure out how to explain to him that his daddy is a bad guy!”
— Talon Warburton
Synopsis: Marvel’s Iron Man and His Awesome Friends follows the adventures (and misadventures) of best friends and super geniuses — Tony Stark, Riri Williams and Amadeus Cho — as they work together to solve problems both big and small and protect their city. In order to help them save the day, the Iron Friends each have their own Iron Suits that allow them to fly and give them enhanced super-strength.
The series stars Mason Blomberg, Kapri Ladd and Aidyn Ahn as the voices of Tony Stark (Iron Man), Riri Williams (Ironheart) and Amadeus Cho (Iron Hulk), respectively.
From Disney Branded Television, the series is executive produced by Sean Coyle (Puppy Dog Pals) and Harrison Wilcox (Marvel’s Spidey and His Amazing Friends). James Eason-Garcia (Pupstruction) is co-executive producer and story editor, Alex Cichon (LEGO Marvel: Spider-Man: Vexed by Venom) is supervising producer; Ashley Rideout (Marvel’s Spidey and His Amazing Friends) is producer, and Michael Dowding (Hello Ninja) is supervising director. The series is produced by Disney Jr. and Marvel Studios in association with Atomic Cartoons.
Two Daughters Entertainment and Nottage Productions are thrilled to announce Sir Tim Rice has signed to write three new songs for their upcoming animated feature film The Land of Sometimes, slated for release at the end of 2025. Two Daughters is partnering with Sony Music Masterworks on the soundtrack album, and Universal Music Publishing Group on the publishing catalog which includes the original audio book.
Rice is one of only 21 artists in history to achieve EGOT status —having won Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards. He has been a standout songwriter since his early collaborations with Andrew Lloyd Webber on the musicals Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita. Newer generations of audiences know his work from Disney animation classics Beauty and the Beast (with Alan Mencken) and Aladdin and The Lion King (with Elton John).
“The timeless quality of the storytelling in The Land of Sometimes reminded me of some of the films I’ve enjoyed working on the most,” said Rice. “So this talented team of producers has lured me back to the silver screen after all these years.”
The Land of Sometimes is a family fantasy adventure, which follows twins Alfie and Elise as they are whisked away to a wondrous island by the Wish Collector. There they go on wonderful adventures, meeting mystical creatures, and ultimately discover that the greatest wish of all is the enduring strength of family.
The cast includes Ewan McGregor (Beauty and the Beast [2017], Obi-Wan Kenobi), Helena Bonham Carter (The King’s Speech, The Crown), Alisha Weir (Matilda: The Musical) and Jessica Henwick (The Matrix Resurrections, Glass Onion) as well as Asa Butterfield (Sex Education) and comedy icon Mel Brooks.
Directed by Leon Joosen (Saving Santa), The Land of Sometimes is executive produced by Bonnie Arnold (How to Train Your Dragon) and Alan Yentob (Billy Elliot) alongside Two Daughters’ Executive Chairman James Reatchlous and CEO Simon Bobin, as well as Spencer Pollard of Kaleidoscope Film Distribution.
“I am very confident that The Land of Sometimes will stand proudly among the amazing films Sir Tim’s songs have elevated,” said Reatchlous. “We are truly honored to have such a legend involved in our movie, his words and music will further bring our enchanted world to life, and I know these songs will endure for many years into the future.”
International sales for the film are handled by Kaleidoscope Film Distribution, who will be showcasing new clips of the feature at the Marché du Film at Festival de Cannes from May 13-25.
Two Daughters is represented in the U.S. by Zero Gravity Management.
Mark Thornton, a Canadian animator, designer and television director known for co-creating the series Grojband and his work on the long-running hit Total Drama, died April 30, just two months before his 56th birthday. According to his obituary, Thornton passed away following “a short and private battle against cancer.”
Born June 29, 1969, Thornton was raised in Kingston, Ontario in a tight-knit family who shared many memories and supported his creative spark. Gifted in music, handicrafts and performing, Thornton followed his passion for creativity into a career in animation. His early credits as a clean-up artist, in-betweener and assistant animator include the feature films Call of the Wild, All Dogs Go to Heaven 2, Space Jam, Anastasia, Titan AE and Osmosis Jones. He also worked as a designer for animation, props and characters on series such as Jacob Two-Two, 6Teen, Middlemost Post and the original Clone High.
As part of the team behind Fresh TV’s breakout reality TV spoof Total Drama, Thornton directed dozens of episodes as well as serving as a storyboard artist and prop designer. The studio launched Grojband, which Thornton co-created with his longtime friend and business partner Todd Kauffman, in 2013. The music-based coming-of-age series was produced with Thornton and Kauffman’s label, Neptoon Studios, and aired on Teletoon in Canada and Cartoon Network in the U.S.
Thornton’s other credits include Looped, Corner Gas Animated, Arctic Dogs, Stickin’ Around and the more recent Guru Studio preschool successes True and the Rainbow Kingdom and Pikwik Pack, which earned him and Kauffman nominations for the Canadian Screen Award for Best Direction – Animation in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Thornton is survived by Laura Traviss, his wife of 29 years; their two children, Emma and Michael; his parents Maureen and Rick; sister Karen Baird as well as her husband Will and their children; and many more family and friends who mourn him. Visit his memorial page and sign the digital guestbook on the Mount Pleasant Group website, which also has details of a planned celebration of life on August 2. Donations may be made in Thornton’s memory to the Canadian Cancer Society.
France TV Distribution announces the launching of the international distribution for The Violinist, a new international animated feature co-production by filmmakers Ervin Han (A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts) and Raul Garcia (The Missing Lynx). This illustrative 2D animated drama centers on a young Singaporean musician whose art carries her through one of history’s most devastating eras.
Distributed worldwide (excluding Singapore, Malaysia & Spain) by France TV Distribution, The Violinist will be launched at the Festival de Cannes, which will take place from May 13-24.
Synopsis: In 1930s British-colonial Singapore, young Fei and a gifted orphan boy, Kai, dream of becoming world-class violinists. But when war descends upon Southeast Asia in 1941, Kai joins the resistance and disappears after the war. Refusing to accept his loss, Fei devotes herself tirelessly to becoming a soloist, touring across the region in a quiet, determined search for her missing friend. Her music becomes both a beacon of hope and a vessel for grief. As the years pass, Fei must confront the truth: did Kai truly perish in the war — or has time merely buried the truth?
“We are thrilled to present The Violinist, a poetic exploration of resilience, memory, and the enduring power of human connection,” said Alexandre René (VP International Cinema Sales) and Julia Schulte (SVP International Sales) for France TV Distribution. “Set against the backdrop of colonial Singapore and the turmoil of World War II, the film resonates with contemporary audiences, touching on the bittersweet reality that sometimes the dreams we once cherished are lost when war comes knocking. Bringing together some of the finest talents in modern animation, The Violinist offers a lyrical and musical meditation on today’s most pressing existential questions.”
Just announced, the voice cast will be led by Kheng Hua Tan (The Tiger’s Apprentice, Crazy Rich Asians, Kung Fu), Kazuya Tanabe (Tokyo Vice, Kate), Adrian Pang (Spy Game, Panda Bear in Africa), Ayden Sng (All That Glitters, Loving You) and Fang Rong (Parental Guidance, Last Madame: Sisters of the Night).
This film is an official co-production between Han’s Robot Playground Media (Singapore), TV On Producciones (Spain) and Altri Occhi (Italy), with the support of key production and financing partners including Bombillo Amarillo, Mystic House Animation, Throne Inc., Select Entertainment and Little Green White.
The Violinist is directed by Han and Garcia, written by Han and Jordan K. See, and features music by composer and music director Ricky Ho (Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale I, 12 Lotus).
Following the debut of its new Star Trek: Strange New Worlds X SpongeBob SquarePants promo video (which you can watch here), Paramount+ has dropped a behind-the-scenes blooper reel full of illogical, astro-nautical amusement.
Starring Strange New Worlds cast members Ethan Peck (Spock), Anson Mount (Christopher Pike) and Celia Rose-Gooding (Nyota Uhura), the new video pokes fun at the making of the short and features some funny moments where we see the creative stand-in solutions for the animated characters, which include SpongeBob, Sandy and Mr. Krabs.
Paramount+ is a premium streaming destination for fans of SpongeBob and Star Trek with one of the most comprehensive collections, including Paramount+ Originals such as Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Star Trek: Section 31, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run and Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years.
Freeform’s “30 Days of Disney” will make a splash this Summer with themed weeks full of feel-good favorites and nostalgic classics.
Highlights include the world television premieres of Disney-Pixar’s Elemental and Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Strange World and a lineup of must-watch films from the Walt Disney film catalog, including animated classics like Aladdin (1992), One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961) and Disney-Pixar films like Finding Nemo, Brave and A Bug’s Life.
Embrace your inner Disney princess during the first weekend with enchanting films like Princess and the Frog, Tangled, Beauty and the Beast and the Freeform premiere of Disney’s The Little Mermaid (2023).
Gather the family together to celebrate Father’s Day weekend with films such as Onward, The Incredibles and Pinocchio (1940).
Join in on epic adventures as we dive into action-packed titles like The Jungle Book (2016) and the Pirates of the Caribbean” movie marathon, airing June 21.
Finish the month-long celebration with Disney-Pixar pals during a marathon of Toy Story, Soul, Monsters, Inc. and Cars.
Last June’s event reached nearly 29 million viewers, and Freeform ranked as a Top 10 cable entertainment network among Adults 18-34 (No. 7).*
Below is a night-by-night list of the movies airing during “30 Days of Disney”:
7:00 a.m. EDT/PDT – “The Jungle Book” (2016) (Live Action)
9:30 a.m. EDT/PDT – “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl”
12:45 p.m. EDT/PDT – “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”
4:00 p.m. EDT/PDT – “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End”
7:45 p.m. EDT/PDT – “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides”
11:00 p.m. EDT/PDT – “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales”
Sunday, June 22
7:00 a.m. EDT/PDT – “Alice in Wonderland” (2010) (Live Action)
9:30 a.m. EDT/PDT – “Alice Through the Looking Glass”
12:05 p.m. EDT/PDT – “The Princess Diaries”
2:40 p.m. EDT/PDT – “The Princess Diaries: Royal Engagement”
5:15 p.m. EDT/PDT – “Aladdin” (1992) (Disney Animated)
7:20 p.m. EDT/PDT – “Beauty and the Beast” (1991) (Disney Animated)
9:25 p.m. EDT/PDT – “Maleficent”
11:30 p.m. EDT/PDT – “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil”
With the Cannes Film Festival (May 14-23) and Market (13-21) around the corner, two very different but equally intriguing independent animated feature projects have been picked up by international sales agencies to be shopped along the iconic Croisette.
Saurus City [Suspended Animation Studios / 405 Prod. / Bonfire Ent.]One is the star-studded Saurus City, a family-friendly hybrid of 3D printing, hand-crafted artistry and CGI from Suspended Animation Studios, 405 Productions Inc. and Bonfire Entertainment. Archstone Entertainment has acquired worldwide rights, and will have a market screening for international buyers at Cannes this month.
Written and directed by Suspended Animation co-founder Nathan Smith (Davie & Golimyr, The Light Before Christmas), the film is set in a world where entire villages ride on the backs of dinosaurs. When a grizzled knight (voiced by Ron Perlman) is called upon to help a young lady in distress (Emma Roberts), and discovers the fate of the entire kingdom rests in his hands. The two fated companions are dogged on their quest by the revenge-hungry Shrouded Knight (Dennis Quaid), who schemes to use his wicked creations to conquer the kingdom.
The voice cast also features Tim Meadows, Aimee Garcia and Julia Ormand. Producers are Ron Brough, Cynthia Lagow, Brad Johnson, Joel Michaely and Smith. Executive producers include Deena Dill, Richard Joel, Lauren Magura, Gregori J. Martin, Precious V. Mayes, Kristos Andrew, Lisa Whelan and Simon Swart. Scott Martin, Jack Sheehan and Michael Slifkin executive produce for Archstone.
Nimuendajú [Apus Animation / Anaya Prod. / Cinzezebra]Aimed at older global audiences, the 2D animated biopic Nimuendajú explores the life and achievements of Curt Unckel, a German social scientist who relocated to Brazil as a young man in 1903, living with the Guarani and becoming a pioneering defender of indigenous communities in the country. Unckel was murdered for reasons that “remain unknown” in an Amazonian village in 1945.
Selected for Annecy Festival’s Contrechamp competition, Nimuendajú is produced by Anaya Produçoes Culturais (Brazil), Apus Animation Studio (Peru) and Cinezebra (Germany), and directed by Tanya Anaya, who has worked as an arts teacher and champion of Brazil’s Indigenous communities, including the Maxakali, one of the peoples studied by Unckel. German actor Peter Ketnath (Passport to Freedom) voices Unckel/Nimuendajú and serves as co-producer for his label, Cinezebra.
Brazilian distributor O2 Play has acquired worldwide rights to the film, and will present it to buyers at Cannes as well as handling the Brazil theatrical release. The official trailer was shared by O2 Play via Variety:
Cartuna and Irony Point have teamed up to acquire the North American distribution rights to Julian Glander’s feature debut, Boys Go to Jupiter, following its year-long festival run after premiering at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival. The companies plan to release the film theatrically this August, beginning with a launch at the IFC Center in New York on August 8 and followed by the Laemmle Glendale in Los Angeles on August 15 and rollout nationally.
Glander is best known for his cult video game ART SQOOL and animation work with Adult Swim, Disney, HBO Max and Cartoon Network. Billed as a surreal coming-of-age story set in suburban Florida, the Boys Go to Jupiter follows Billy 5000, a teenage delivery driver who stumbles into a cosmic mystery after a routine gig leaves him caretaker of a mysterious alien egg.
“People in ’the industry’ keep telling me we’ve got a box office bonanza on our hands,” said Glander. “That Boys Go to Jupiter is a blockbuster goldmine with huge four-quadrant potential. Again, these are their words, not mine. I don’t really keep up with that stuff, but I’m very excited to be working with Cartuna and Irony Point.”
The ensemble voice cast led by Janeane Garofalo (Reality Bites), Julio Torres (Fantasmas), Sarah Sherman (SNL), Cole Escola (Oh, Mary!), Eva Victor (Sorry, Baby), Elsie Fisher (Eighth Grade), Tavi Gevinson (Gossip Girl), Grace Kuhlenschmidt (The Daily Show), Jack Corbett (NPR’s Planet Money) and Joe Pera (Joe Pera Talks with You). Rounding out the cast are Miya Folick, Chris Fleming, River L. Ramirez, Max Wittert and Demi Adejuyigbe.
The stylized 3D CG film was produced by Glander under his Pittsburgh-based studio, Glanderco, with Peisin Yang Lazo serving as executive producer.
“We can’t think of a more perfect fit for Irony Point’s first foray into distribution than Julian Glander’s wonderful film, whose voice cast is filled with some of our favorite collaborators. The world needs to see this beautiful little masterpiece as soon as possible, so that we can start plotting out the next 15 installments of the expanded ‘Glanderverse’.”
Irony Point, based in N.Y. and L.A., is run by Daniel Powell and Alex Bach. The company’s TV and streaming credits include the Emmy-winning I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson (Netflix), Fantasmas (HBO), the Emmy and Peabody-winning Inside Amy Schumer (Comedy Central), the Tony-nominated, record-breaking Broadway comedy Oh, Mary! and the animated cult favorite Ugly Americans (Comedy Central). Select feature credits include the Sundance Selections Scare Me and Clara’s Ghost.
“Julian is operating on another frequency,” said James Belfer, Founder and CEO of Cartuna. “Boys Go to Jupiter explodes with color, heart and musical absurdity. It’s like if a Saturday morning cartoon was beamed in from the future. We’re beyond thrilled to help bring it to the world.”
Boys Go to Jupiter marks Cartuna’s second acquisition this year, following their earlier pickup of the Sundance midnight oddity Dead Lover under the Cartuna x Dweck banner. Cartuna has quietly been assembling a slate of films for distribution with forthcoming titles to be announced later this year.
Founded by James Belfer and Adam Belfer, Cartuna is a Brooklyn-based distribution and production company focused on animation, DIY and cult films. Cartuna will theatrically release Dead Lover and produced the Blu-ray releases of Hundreds of Beavers, Adam Green’s Aladdin, Nova Seed and Sundance Special Jury Prize winner Nuts!. Upcoming projects by Cartuna and the Belfers include recent Sundance premieres Obex and By Design, AJ Goes o the Dog Park, The Johnny Ryan Movie and Silence Sometimes. Past producing credits include Strawberry Mansion, Sylvio, Berlinale Silver Bear winner Prince Avalanche, Compliance and Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner Like Crazy. They also made their Broadway debut investing in the Tony-nominated, record-breaking Broadway comedy Oh, Mary!.
Martian Blueberry, the award-winning animation studio co-founded by Carl Jones and Love Jones, has officially joined L.A.-based Partizan’s roster of animation directors.
Carl Jones is best known for co-executive producing the Peabody Award-winning The Boondocks, lauded as one of the most influential animated series in television history. His body of work, also includes Black Dynamite (Adult Swim) and Young Love (Max), based on the Oscar-winning short Hair Love. Joining forces with Love Jones — who has honed her creative instincts through her work in entertainment, music and startups — the duo launched Martian Blueberry with the aim of prioritizing voice and vision in creating complex character and telling underrepresented stories, while building a production model designed for flexibility and creative control.
“Love had a background in entertainment and music, and her experience with startups made her the perfect partner to launch an animation studio with,” Carl Jones explains. “We formed our partnership at the start of COVID — partially due to the increased demand for animation, but also because Love inspired me to turn a longtime dream into reality.”
Megan Thee Stallion “Neva Play”
Since inception, Martian Blueberry has garnered industry acclaim, winning two Clio Awards for co-directing Megan Thee Stallion’s “Neva Play” music video alongside Warren Fu. Their MLB animated series Undeniable, spotlighting the true stories of Negro League heroes, earned three Clio Awards and a Webby for Best Animation. The studio’s work spans multiple platforms, from branded content for MTV, HBO, Amazon and Meta to the gamified spatial mini-series Unlimited for Walmart.
Among the studio’s most ambitious undertakings is Bubblegoose Ballers, an original Web3-born IP that has evolved into a multi-platform universe. Known for its irreverent humor and cultural bite, the property has sparked everything from digital collectibles and a hit mixtape to sold-out retail collaborations with Pacsun and licensing deals spanning fashion, comics and entertainment. From its sellout launch to over 30 million GIPHY views and a devoted global fanbase, Bubblegoose Ballers reflects Martian Blueberry’s talent for creating characters and worlds that thrive across culture, content and commerce.
Undeniable
Lazor Wulf promo
The Boondocks title sequence
“[Martian Blueberry] build worlds that are completely unreal but still totally relatable. We’re huge fans of The Boondocks, but even with their commercial projects, they approach every project holistically and story-first, with an eye toward cultural impact,” says Angela Foster, Partizan’s Executive Producer of Animation. “Also, Carl’s a brilliant writer and director with razor-sharp instincts, so their comedy work hits that rare sweet spot — smart, fearless, and genuinely funny. I couldn’t be more honored to have them on the roster.”
Love Jones adds, “We love the creative culture that Partizan has fostered. It’s a collaborative team of cool people who truly share a passion for storytelling and film and are extremely supportive. Not to mention, they have great taste in tastemakers and an outstanding roster of talent. We’re honored to join their family, and they’ve welcomed us with open arms.”
Michael Hirsh, renowned Canadian producer of children’s programming and author of the recently published memoir Animation Nation: How We Built a Cartoon Empire, will reflect on his four decades in the animation industry at this year’s MIFA — the industry and education-dedicated market program of the Annecy International Animation Film Festival.
Celebrating its 40th anniversary, MIFA will welcome Hirsh as a Keynote Speaker, looking back on his years in the animation industry while tracing a parallel path with the Market’s journey since its founding in 1985. Hirsh’s Keynote takes place on June 10, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., at the Impérial Palace – Étage 1 – Salle de l’Europe. Hirsh will offer insights into 40 years of Canadian animation, exploring its evolution, current challenges and outlook.
“I have attended the Annecy Festival since its inception,” said Hirsh. “It is a great honor to be the Keynote Speaker at this momentous occasion. I look forward to sharing my insights and meeting with old and new colleagues.”
Joined by Christian Davin, President of Cartoon, the conversation will delve into the founding of Nelvana in 1971, its major impact on the growth of the Canadian — and more expansive, worldwide — animation sector, the creation of Studio Ellipse in partnership with Nelvana, the company’s transformation over the years, and the broader consolidation of the industry. Hirsh will also share with Davin his perspective on the future of streaming and the opportunities it presents for non-U.S. players.
Prior to the Keynote, Hirsh will be signing copies of his debut book, Animation Nation: How We Built a Cartoon Empireon Monday, June 9, 4:30 p.m. at Bonlieu, the Palais des Festivals.
The book details how a fortuitous meeting with George Lucas led to the genesis of a major children’s animation studio and countless hours of enjoyment for children worldwide. Co-founding Nelvana not only positioned Canada as a premier creator of children’s programming, but also made a significant international impact, establishing a new and successful model for producing children’s cartoons.
Animation Nation: How We Built A Cartoon Empire is not just a memoir; it is a celebration of the power of creativity and perseverance. Packed with humor and hard-won wisdom, Hirsh’s narrative is a testament to how passion and entrepreneurial zeal can build a global empire from humble beginnings.
Published by Sutherland House Books, Animation Nation is available from major retailers as a hardcover or ebook.
MIFA will be held June 10-13, during the 2025 Annecy Festival (June 8-14). Find more information at annecyfestival.com.
Audiences can catch an exclusive teaser sneak peek of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle when Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Trainreturns to theaters in 4K on May 14, distributed by Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle, the latest film in the franchise, will come to theaters in the United States and Canada on September 12, distributed by Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment. The first film of the three-part cinematic trilogy represents the final arc and culmination of the hugely popular award-winning anime shonen series.
Synopsis: Tanjiro Kamado — a boy who joined an organization dedicated to hunting down demons called the Demon Slayer Corps after his younger sister Nezuko was turned into a demon.
While growing stronger and deepening his friendships and bonds with fellow corps members, Tanjiro has battled many demons with his comrades — Zenitsu Agatsuma and Inosuke Hashibira. Along the way, his journey has led him to fight alongside the Demon Slayer Corps’ highest-ranking swordsmen, the Hashira, including Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku aboard the Mugen Train, Sound Hashira Tengen Uzui within the Entertainment District, as well as Mist Hashira Muichiro Tokito and Love Hashira Mitsuri Kanroji at the Swordsmith Village.
As the Demon Slayer Corps members and Hashira engaged in a group strength training program, the Hashira Training, in preparation for the forthcoming battle against the demons, Muzan Kibutsuji appears at the Ubuyashiki Mansion. With the head of the Demon Corps in danger, Tanjiro and the Hashira rush to the headquarters but are plunged into a deep descent to a mysterious space by the hands of Muzan Kibutsuji.
The destination of where Tanjiro and Demon Slayer Corps have fallen is the demons’ stronghold — the Infinity Castle. And so, the battleground is set as the final battle between the Demon Slayer Corps and the demons ignites.
Based on the manga by Koyoharu Gotoge, Infinity Castle is directed by Haruo Sotozaki, who helmed the anime series as well as the smash-hit movie Mugen Train, from a screenplay by producers ufotable.
For its part, Mugen Train is set after the events of the first season of the television series, and sees Tanjiro, Nezuko, Zenitsu and Inosuke embark on a new mission. Together with one of the most powerful swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps, Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku, they investigate the mysterious disappearance of over 40 people aboard the Mugen Train.
Synopsis: In a world riddled with demons, a young man, Tanjiro Kamado, and his comrades investigate the disappearance of passengers aboard a mysterious train as members of the Demon Slayer Corps, an organization dedicated to protecting humanity. With the help of a powerful ally, these Demon Slayers must confront evil in a heroic battle to bring an end to the nightmare!
Mugen Train holds the record as the highest-grossing Japanese anime movie of all time and the highest-grossing Japanese film at the global box office, garnering over 500 million USD to date. The film had the highest opening weekend in domestic box office history for any foreign language film, and went on to become the second-highest grossing Japanese anime film in North America. It also garnered a 98% critic score and 99% audience score (with 10,000+ verified ratings) on Rotten Tomatoes.
Gaumont, the world’s ‘first film company,’ has revealed the star-studded voice cast for Paul McCartney’s High in the Clouds, a 3D CG-animated film inspired by the children’s adventure book by McCartney, Geoff Dunbar and Philip Ardagh. The roster of top-tier acting and musical talent includes:
Himesh Patel (Yesterday) as the main character, Wirral
Céline Dion (Academy Award winner for Best Song) as Sugartail
Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso) as Gretsch
Paul McCartney as McKenzie
Idris Elba (Luther) as Barrel
Lionel Richie as Gladstone
Ringo Starr as Roy
Jimmy Fallon (The Tonight Show) as Froggo
Clémence Poésy (Harry Potter) as Doris
Pom Klementieff (Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning) as Mina
Alain Chabat (Night at the Museum) as Bigsby
Directed by celebrated independent animation filmmaker Toby Genkel (The Amazing Maurice), written by Academy Award winner Jon Crocker (Paddington 2) and featuring production design by Patrick Hanenberger (Rise of the Guardians, The LEGO Movie 2), High in the Clouds is a story about the power of family and freedom of expression through music.
The film will feature original songs written and composed by Academy Award winner Paul McCartney; Academy Award winner Michael Giacchino (Ratatouille, Up, Inside Out, Coco) will score the feature. The original soundtrack is set to be released by Universal Music Group.
Synopsis: After he accidentally sparked a revolution against Gretsch, the bossy diva-owl who has banned all music from his town, a teenage squirrel named Wirral embarks on an extraordinary journey to set music free.
The film is produced by McCartney (MPL Communications), Robert Shaye and Michael Lynne (Unique Features) and by Sidonie Dumas, Nicolas Atlan, and Terry Kalagian for Gaumont, in association with MPL Communications, Michele Anthony and David Blackman for Polygram Entertainment, Lemoko Investments, Sky and James L Nederlander Productions.
Award-winning Gaumont Animation is producing the feature and partnering with 88 Pictures (The Bad Guys: A Very Bad Holiday, Spirit Untamed), which is in charge of key animation elements of the film. Gaumont co-produced and distributed Ballerina (a.k.a. Leap!), which was a major hit in France and overseas in 2017.
High in the Clouds has already been sold in major territories , including the U.K. (Sky UK Ltd.), German-speaking territories (Constantin Film), Eastern Europe (Vertical/Monolith/AQS), Latin America (Imagem), CIS (Mint Films), Middle East (Four Star), South-East Asia/Taiwan/HK (A Really Good Film), Greece (Tanweer), Portugal (Cinemundo), Israel (Lev) and Baltics (Acme).
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