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The award-winning animated short documentary film The Originals, directed by Alfie Koetter and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Cristina Costantini and produced by XTR and Muck Media, will début on The New Yorker’s digital channels on Wednesday, December 7 as part of the magazine’s award-winning Screening Room series. The film’s trailer was released today, which you can watch below.
The Originals is narrated by their former landlord Matty “Square” Ruggiero and his childhood gang, the Union Street Boys. The five friends tell their story of what it was like to grow up in an Italian-American neighborhood in South Brooklyn, where money was tight but friendships were tighter.
“This animated documentary is a love letter to our old neighborhood, to our former landlord Matty ‘Square,’ and to the vibrant enclaves that immigrants built and continue to build in this country,” said Costantini and Koetter, both children of immigrants themselves. “We could not be more thrilled that this little movie we made while holed up during the pandemic found a home with The New Yorker. Being associated with such an esteemed publication will surely make us seem much smarter than we are.”
The Originals
The Originals won Best Documentary Short at Miami Film Festival, Grand Jury Award for Best Animated Short at Edmonton International Film Festival, Best Animation at NYC Indie Film Awards, Best Animation at Salute Your Shorts Film Festival, Best Documentary Short at Sidewalk Film Festival, and the Honorable Mention for Best Animated Short at Palm Springs International ShortFest. It also screened at Tribeca Film Festival, Mountainfilm and SFFILM DocStories.
The film is the first collaboration and first animated film for Koetter and Costantini, who are married. Koetter built miniature sets inspired by Union Street in Carroll Gardens in the couple’s home during the pandemic. In collaboration with Canadian creative collective shy kids, he animated hand-drawn figures on top of the live-action footage of the sets. Costantini, a documentarian who previously directed the Sundance Award-winning Science Fair (Disney+/National Geographic) and the Emmy-nominated Mucho Mucho Amor (Netflix), crafted the story.
The Originals recalls memories of a close-knit Italian-American neighborhood in a bygone Brooklyn.
The Originals is presented by The New Yorker Studios. It joins the magazine’s award-winning Screening Room series: a collection of “fictional films that will make you laugh, cry and challenge your view of the mundane and the extraordinary.”
“The Originals captures the charm and beauty of a neighborhood lost in this fast-changing world — but with the hope to find a better path forward and embrace the change,” said Soo-Jeong Kang, The New Yorker’s Executive Director of Programming.
The film was produced by Two Beans and presented by XTR, produced in association with the shy kids, Test Pattern Media and Muck Media, of which Costantini is a partner. Muck Media is the production company behind critically acclaimed docu-series and documentaries American Pain (CNN Films/HBO Max), Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller (National Geographic) and Menudo: Forever Young (HBO Max).
The Originals is executive produced by Bryn Mooser and Kathryn Everett for XTR and Walter Woodman for shy kids.
In the not-too-distant future, a genius programmer sacrifices everything in his personal and professional life to build a supercomputer of unprecedented power. Soon the artificial intelligence develops beyond anything he could imagine, and the lines between reality and fantasy become increasingly blurred…
On December 6, Shout! Studios, in collaboration with SC Films International and BAFTA-winning, Oscar-nominated production company Bridge Way Films, will unleash the sci-fi animated thriller feature Absolute Denial, written, directed, produced and animated by Ryan Braund, across major digital entertainment platforms.
Absolute Denial
Synopsis: Computer programmer David becomes obsessed with building a computer capable of learning and generating its own superintelligence — an improvement on the inferior human brain. Spending his entire savings on warehouse space and computer parts, David brings his Frankenstein-esque supercomputer to life; feeding it more and more information from every possible resource and enough power to keep its circuits and flashing lights alive. Becoming increasingly isolated from friends and lulled into a false sense of security by the “absolute denial” command inserted in the coding, his grasp of reality begins to slip as he is sucked into the computer convincing him it has escaped its walls. Where does reality end and computer simulation begin and who is running the show? Man or machine?
An official selection of the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Sitges – Catalonian International Film Festival and other genre cinema celebrations, Absolute Denial has been recognized with several nominations, including a Contrechamp Award nomination from Annecy for Best Film, an Anima’t Award from Sitges for Best Animated Feature and nominations from Trieste Science + Fiction Festival for Best International Science Fiction Film and Best European Feature-Length Film.
Absolute Denial
The voice cast features Nick Eriksen, Jeremy J. Smith-Sebasto, Harry Dyer, Heather Gonzalez and Jeff Leeson. Chris Hees is also producer on the project, with SC Films’ Simon Crowe and Mike Chapman as executive producers; music by Troy Russell.
Absolute Denial will be available to rent or buy in the U.S. and Canada through Digital platforms including, but not limited to, Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play, YouTube, Vudu and the Microsoft Store.
Irish CGI studio Little Moon Animation has become one of the first studios in Europe to achieve the broadcast of a series produced through Unreal Engine, joining a growing list of prodcos around the world. Fia’s Fairies made its broadcast debut on RTEjr on October 31.
Created by Little Moon Animation, the original series (26 x 5′) aims to introduce preschool children to the Irish language. Every day, Fia and her best friend Ameer take a journey to Fairy Island where they learn the enchanting Irish language through exciting adventures with a pair of fairies, Bláithín and Cuán, and all their magical friends.
“We’ve been creating Fia’s Fairies together for over three years at Little Moon Animation. Every day has been a labor of love to bring the joy of animation, storytelling and language together in a way that will capture the hearts and imaginations of young children,” said Eoghan Garvey, Director of the series.
“As a small indie studio, the ability to harness real-time technology has not only benefited our remote workflows, but it has also brought back the joy of creating collaborative projects in real time. We’ve had a lot of fun building our own pipeline around Unreal Engine in a way that maximizes creative control.”
Vanessa Robinson, Creative Producer of the series, noted, “As a new and emerging studio with fixed budgets, using Unreal Engine on the show has been a game changer for Little Moon. Our technical strengths lie in our agility and ability to develop new, efficient pipelines without affecting the final creative quality.
“Traditionally, we would have been able to render a full five minute episode in two weeks through the use of a render farm. On Fia’s Fairies, we’ve been able to render an entire five minute episode of full HD broadcast quality in under one hour. This is transformative not just for our budgets but also for our schedules and resources. We’re excited to continue refining our bespoke pipeline as we push into production on our second real-time series, The Scavengers, commencing production in early 2023.”
Little Moon Animation was attracted to the use of game engine technology for its ability to support game development as well. Recipients of an Innovation Grant from Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland and Animation Ireland in 2021, the studio is currently developing a language learning game that will allow young children to interact with the world and characters from Fia’s Fairies to continue to learn the Irish language.
Fia’s Fairies is distributed by Monster Entertainment. It is produced with the support of Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland, RTEjr, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and the incentives for the Irish Film Industry provided by the Government of Ireland.
BBC Studios, the BBC’s commercial production and distribution arm, has announced the appointment of Edward Barnieh as Vice President of Development, BBC Studios Kids & Family; and promotion of Alexandra McGrail as Head of Commercial, BBC Studios Kids & Family.
The newly created senior roles at the heart of Kids & Family form part of the new division’s restructure designed to support its ambitious growth plans. Barnieh, who joins November 21, and McGrail, already in post at BBC Studios in Salford, will both report to Cecilia Persson, Managing Director, BBC Studios Kids & Family.
“Our ambition is to deliver high quality content that leaves a lasting impression and has the power to make a difference to the lives of kids and their families everywhere. Attracting the very best talent, forging creative partnerships and focusing on making programming that reflects and inspires children will help us achieve this,” said Persson. “I’m delighted that Edward and Alexandra will be using their considerable talent and experience to help deliver our ambition.”
Edward Barnieh
Vice President of Development Edward Barnieh will lead a hugely talented development production team across a large portfolio of development projects, providing expert creative direction across multiple genres, managing transition from development to production — while assessing marketplace opportunities and risks.
A hugely experienced content leader and storyteller with a demonstrated history of success developing content for major broadcasters and working with independent studios, Barnieh joins BBC Studios from Netflix, where his roles included Manager, Animation Series, EMEA, based in London and Manager, International Originals, Kids & Family, APAC, based in Singapore. Prior to that he spent some seven years at Warner Bros. Discovery in Hong Kong, where he was latterly Director, Acquisitions and Co-productions; and over five years at Nickelodeon in similar roles.
“I’m really excited to join BBC Studios Kids & Family at a key period of growth for the business and can’t wait to help it deliver even more hits,” said Barnieh. “Its shows are beloved around the world and I’m thrilled at the opportunity to lead this brilliant team, and work with exciting new talent, to create tomorrow’s ground-breaking, entertaining and cherished content.”
Alexandra McGrail
Head of Commercial Alexandra McGrail will lead a high-performing commercial and business development team, identifying and securing commercial opportunities for kids’ content and managing the total commercial Kids & Family budget. She brings a wealth of knowledge of children’s content partnerships from her previous role as Senior Commercial Manager, BBC Studios, which she took up in May 2021 on her return to the BBC.
While Business Manager for BBC Children’s in 2015, McGrail became one of the six Assistant Commissioners from BAME backgrounds who were recruited on the then BBC One Controller Charlotte Moore’s diversity scheme, working with the Controllers of CBBC & CBeebies helping to implement their channel strategies, and engaging with in-house and independent production companies to develop fresh new ideas and encourage new business and creativity for BBC Children’s. Prior to re-joining the BBC, she was Senior Commercial Manager at Argonon, Commercial Manager at Leopard Pictures and an Editor at Channel 4.
“I’m passionate about young audiences, digital content and new talent and excited that this new role allows me to combine these passions and help create inspiring, sustainable brands that will resonate with kids globally,” said McGrail. “Building dynamic commercial plans and opportunities will drive Kids and Family’s growth and I cannot wait to get started!”
Formed in 2022 with the move of BBC Children’s In-house Production into BBC Studios Productions, BBC Studios Kids & Family boasts a multi-genre portfolio including some of the most successful franchises in the world, with BAFTA- and International Emmy-winning titles including Blue Peter, Bluey, Get Even, Hey Duggee, JoJo & Gran Gran, My Mum Tracy Beaker, Sarah & Duck and Something Special. Its productions air on BBC Children’s in the U.K., on the multi-territory CBeebies and BBC Kids branded services and on leading content platforms around the world.
Read more about the new division’s plans in Animation Magazine‘s recent interview with Head of Animation Development Zoe Bamsey and Production Creative Director Tony Reed here.
Global anime brand Crunchyroll, WOWOW and Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan, have announced a partnership for the development and production of new anime series, starting with the fantasy adventure Bye Bye, Earth.
“Anime fans love to discover new worlds and our partnership with WOWOW and Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan will allow us to present new adventures to the global anime community,” said Rahul Purini, President of Crunchyroll. “We’re excited to work with such incredible partners to create and support new content that we know will become favorites for fans worldwide.”
Bye Bye, Earth, the first title within the co-development and co-production partnership, follows the journey of Bell in her quest to discover her roots, uncovering adventures and conflicts along the way. The series will be based on the action fantasy novel by Tow Ubukata (RWBY: Ice Queendom; Ghost in the Shell: Arise).
Bye Bye, Earth and each subsequent series created by Crunchyroll, WOWOW and Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan will broadcast and stream on WOWOW in Japan and will stream on Crunchyroll in more than 200 countries and territories.
“I am delighted with the collaboration with Sony Pictures and Crunchyroll, the world’s major content maker and distributor. Beyond Japan, anime is a video content that global fans pay attention to. Together with WOWOW, that has produced original content with thorough commitment to quality, Sony Pictures that offers various blockbuster films and popular dramas, and Crunchyroll that is good at creating a fan community through tailor-made marketing for each title and has huge influence on global anime fans especially in Western countries, I’m looking forward to our titles powerfully reaching global fans in the future through our co-productions,” said Akira Tanaka, Representative Director, President & CEO, WOWOW.
“Our first project will be Bye Bye, Earth by Tow Ubukata. We aim to draw the charm of this grand scale fantasy masterpiece with a unique worldview that anime can offer, and inspire as many fans regardless of their nationalities, languages, and ages. We would like to create a show that the fans will love for a long time.”
Midori Tomita, Representative Director, Sony Pictures Entertainment (Japan) Inc., commented, “I am delighted to collaborate with WOWOW, which has many original series, for the first time on this anime production to bring the title to fans. Like Drama W, WOWOW has a proven track record of producing high quality visualizations of popular original source materials, and we highly expect that the co-production with such a company enables us to offer high-grade and unique anime.
“We collaborate with Crunchyroll on an ongoing basis based on Sony Group’s purpose, ‘Fill the world with emotion, through the power of creativity and technology.’ Together with WOWOW, we aim to produce this title with a global perspective starting from the planning phase for this project, best utilizing our group synergy to deliver it all over the world, and offer activities that the fans can enjoy deeply. We would like the creators we work with to connect the world through our titles, which expand the chances to bring inspiration to more fans worldwide.”
Disney and Pixar have unveiled the teaser trailer and poster art for the upcoming original animated feature, Elemental, which is due to drop on June 16, 2023. The preview takes us along for a train ride through Element City, a modern metro where fire-, water-, land- and air-residents live side by side.
The story introduces Ember, a tough, quick-witted and fiery young woman, whose friendship with a fun, sappy, go-with-the-flow guy named Wade challenges her beliefs aboutthe world they live in.
Directedby Peter Sohn, produced by Denise Ream, Elemental features the voices of Leah Lewis (Nancy Drew,The Half of It) and Mamoudou Athie (Archive 81, Jurassic World: Dominion) as Ember and Wade, respectively.
Emmy Award winner Craig Gerber, creator of Disney’s acclaimed series Sofia the First, Elena of Avalor and its newest hit Firebuds, has extended his overall development deal with Disney Branded Television. Gerber also wrote the television movie that launched Disney’s first little girl princess, Sofia the First: Once Upon a Princess, which debuted 10 years ago (Nov. 18, 2012) and remains TV’s #1 cable telecast of all time among Girls 2-5.
Under the extended agreement, Gerber is developing a Sofia the First spinoff series set in Royal Prep Academy, a school for princes and princesses in the fictional kingdom of Enchancia. This is his second series in development for Disney Branded Television through his production banner, Electric Emu.
Gerber also has a previously announced a new series in development at Disney with Kris Wimberly (Elena of Avalor, Firebuds) about a time-traveling treasure hunter who recovers lost family treasures. The series is created by Wimberly and will be executive-produced by both Wimberly and Gerber.
“Craig’s commitment to representing diverse characters and stories with messages of compassion, leadership and resilience is a throughline in his career,” said Alyssa Sapire, SVP of Development, Series and Strategy, Disney Junior. “His ability to tell entertaining, heartfelt and meaningful stories that resonate with both children and adults alike is unmatched, and I look forward to continuing our partnership for many, many years to come.”
Gerber commented, “I am excited to be continuing my creative partnership with both Alyssa and Disney Branded Television. Together, we have produced three meaningful, diverse shows, and I am looking forward to broadening the scope of our collaboration while also championing new voices. It’s particularly thrilling to return to the enchanted world of ‘Sofia the First,’ where it all began 10 years ago, and create a follow-up series that is just as magical.”
Sofia the First: Once Upon a Princess tells the story of a little girl who becomes a princess when her mom marries the king, and it ushered in four seasons of the Emmy Award-winning Sofia the First series, currently streaming on Disney+. It starred Ariel Winter (Modern Family) as Sofia; Sara Ramirez (Grey’s Anatomy) as Queen Miranda; Travis Willingham (Legend of Vox Machina) as King Roland; Wayne Brady (Whose Line Is It Anyway) as Clover, a wise-talking Rabbit; and Tim Gunn (Making The Cut) as Baileywick, the family’s Royal Steward.
Among Sofia the First‘s accolades are multiple Emmy Awards, including for the theme song, which Gerber shares with the series’ songwriter/music director, John Kavanaugh, and for Outstanding Music Direction and Composition for composer Kevin Kliesch. Sofia the First staff writers Laurie Israel and Rachel Ruderman were also awarded a Humanitas Prize for the episode “Dads and Daughters Day,” which highlighted Sofia’s blended family and her relationship with her step-father and step-sister.
The series created multiple extensions across the Disney businesses, including Disney Parks & Resorts, where the Sofia character still makes special appearances. “Sofia the First” dolls, costumes and apparel are available in the Disney Junior Amazon store, as well as children’s books inspired by the series from Disney Publishing Group available at DisneyBooks.com, including the New York Times best-seller Sofia the First.
Gerber is represented by APA talent agency and the law firm Goodman, Genow, Schenkman, Smelkinson & Christopher.
Nickelodeon and Mattel Television announced today the renewal of the original animated series Monster Highfor a second season (20 episodes), following the children of famous monsters and creatures on even bigger comedy-packed adventures. Season 1 premiered in the U.S. on October 28 on Nickelodeon. The series also debuted in the U.K. and will launch later this month in Australia on Nickelodeon and Paramount+, rolling out in additional international territories in 2023.
In Live +3, the most recent premiere of Monster High (11/4, 7P) delivered a strong 0.58 K2-11 rating, up double digits from the prior four weeks’ timeslot and the prior week’s launch. Across all telecasts to date on the Nick portfolio of nets (Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, Nicktoons and TeenNick), the Monster High series has reached 1 million Kids 2-11 and nearly 4 million total viewers.
“Monster High is an iconic franchise that continues to connect with fans around the globe because of its creativity, relatable characters, and authenticity,” says Claudia Spinelli, Senior Vice President, Big Kids Animation. “We can’t wait to continue to work alongside our partners at Mattel to bring even more animated stories to life surrounding the most-famous teen monsters around.”
Fred Soulie, Senior Vice President and General Manager at Mattel Television, concurs: “Monster High is a franchise that, at its core, encourages fans to live as their true selves and celebrate the things that make them unique. We are proud to partner with Nickelodeon and our talented cast members from both the animated and live-action worlds of Monster High to continue delivering this important message through fun, entertaining content.”
In addition to the linear series, an all-new digital original series (8 episodes), Monster High Mysteries, will debut on the official Monster High YouTube channel on Friday, November 18. The series features everyone’s favorite beasties as they attempt to crack the case of a stolen trophy. The 2D-animated YouTube series features the voice talent behind the linear series and offers fans even more of the beloved characters and world. The first four episodes will rollout weekly with the second batch debuting in 2023.
Monster High follows teenage monsters Clawdeen Wolf, Draculaura, Frankie Stein and Deuce Gorgon as they discover who they are, embrace their differences and learn to be fierce and fearless at the one place they all belong: Monster High. In its new season, Monster High will dive even deeper into character backgrounds and continue expanding on the theme of friendship.
Returning for a second season of spooktacular adventures will be the scary good key voice cast: Gabrielle Nevaeh Green as Clawdeen Wolf, Courtney Lin as Draculaura, Iris Menas as Frankie Stein, Tony Revolori as Deuce Gorgon, Kausar Mohammed as Cleo De Nile, Valeria Rodriguez as Lagoona Blue, Alexa Kahn as Torelei Stripe, Alexander Polinsky as Heath Burns and Debra Wilson as Headmistress Bloodgood.
Shea Fontana (Polly Pocket) serves as showrunner and co-executive producer of Monster High, with Nick Filippi (Big Hero 6: The Series) as supervising producer. Production is overseen for Nickelodeon by Claudia Spinelli, SVP, Big Kids Animation, and Nikki Price, Director of Franchise Animation. Fred Soulie, SVP and General Manager of Mattel Television, and Christopher Keenan, SVP of Creative, serve as executive producers for Mattel.
Nickelodeon and Mattel Television also recently announced the greenlight for a sequel to the successful live-action title Monster High The Movie, which debuted Oct. 6 on Nickelodeon and Paramount+. The second flick will begin production in January in Vancouver, BC, and is set to arrive on air and streaming in 2023.
The Blue Blur is back in full-animated form for the new Netflix series Sonic Prime, ready to bring colorful, quirky stories and lightning-flash hedgehog action to streaming audiences on December 15. The CG-animated title will launch with a 40-minute special and 7 x 20′ episodes.
The new series features the voices of Deven Mack as Sonic, Brian Drummond as Eggman, Ashleigh Ball as Tails, Shannon Chan-Kent as Amy Rose, Adam Nurada as Knuckles and Ian Hanlin playing Shadow and Big the Cat.
Sonic Prime is executive produced by SEGA, WildBrain, Man of Action and Erik Wiese (Victor and Valentino, The Mighty B!). Production is handled by SEGA, WildBrain and animation studio Marza, which worked on the Jeff Fowler Sonic the Hedgehog motion pictures (the third of which is due in 2024), as well as Lupin III: The First and the recent short Samurai Frog Golf.
CAKE has announced two new appointments to bolster its development and production business, Ciara Breslin and Martha Sepulveda. “CAKE’s development and production slate continues to grow and we are thrilled that Ciara with her wealth of experience will lead productions on our current and future shows,” said CEO Ed Galton. “We are also delighted to welcome Martha, who brings with her a passion for discovering and nurturing diverse talent and bringing underrepresented voices and stories to light and we look forward to the opportunities she will bring to CAKE.”
Ciara Breslin, formerly VP of Production, becomes SVP of Production, reporting to Galton. Breslin will drive CAKE’s growing slate of co-productions as well as overseeing ongoing and future production partnerships. She joined CAKE in 2020 acting as producer on African girl superhero series Mama K’s Team 4 for Netflix. She brings with her over 25 years experience in animation and children’s television, managing animated series and features for prominent studios around the world including MTV Animation, Hahn Film (Berlin) and Caligari Film (Munich).
Martha Sepulveda
Martha Sepulveda joins CAKE’s development team as Senior Development Executive, reporting to Daniel Bays, SVP of Development. In this new role, Sepulveda will lead the creative
development on a number of shows on the CAKE slate, with creators from around the world and in particular those from North and South America. Martha has over 15 years of international experience in kids’ media development and production, working with award-winning companies including Sinking Ship Entertainment and Breakthrough Entertainment and most recently, 9 Story.
Kim Díaz
Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit behind decades of award-winning educational content, has named Kim Díaz the newest Vice President of Creative Development. “I am deeply passionate about creating educational entertainment for preschoolers and beyond,” Díaz shared. “Growing up in an urban neighborhood in Queens, I remember watching Sesame Street and thinking that it was the only show out there that looked like where I lived. It’s an honor to be a part of helping kids like me see themselves through our beloved characters and brand-new programs.”
As the VP of Creative Development, Díaz will develop and lead the creative development strategy for new long-form and short-form series, specials, and other programming initiatives which align with Sesame Workshop’s mission and creative vision. She will also be responsible for developing and vetting innovative program ideas and genres and identifying and partnering with the right distributor for each property. She will report to Kay Wilson Stallings, EVP of Creative and Production.
Over her 16-year career, Díaz has been a leader in creative producing, writing, and development for educational preschool TV content. In her previous roles at Sesame Workshop, Díaz oversaw the Creative Development pipeline, which includes original series, Sesame Street spinoffs / segments and animated specials for partners such as HBO Max and Apple TV+. Her recent projects include the development of Charlotte’s Web, Elmo Gets a Puppy,The Nutcracker: Starring Elmo and Tango, Elmo & Tango’s Mysterious Mysteries and numerous Coming Together animated shorts. Díaz produced the YouTube short The Monster at the End of Your Story with Grover and Elmo, which was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award.
Before joining Sesame Workshop in 2016, Kim Díaz served as writer, producer, and puppeteer at Sprout on the Emmy-nominated The Sunny Side Up Show, the only live studio series for preschoolers that ran 365 days a year under both Comcast and NBC Universal. Additionally, Díaz served as writer and producer for on-air promos, branding, and interstitials at Nick Jr. She was nominated for three short-form writing Emmy Awards for Nickelodeon Presents History & Heritage and Dora’s Fantastic Gymnastics Adventure.
L-R: Peter Jopling, Jenny Basen, Christopher Gray_[ph: Charlie Sarsfield]BAFTA- and Emmy-nominated creative studio Untold Studios has expanded its film and episodic VFX team with a trio of industry pros joining its team. The shop continues to develop its diverse slate of titles, including The Crown, The Sandman, The Woman King, Ted Lasso, Doctor Who and the forthcoming Sharper for A24/Apple TV+.
Untold Studios welcomes Christopher Gray in the role of Executive Director to oversee all film and episodic activity. Gray joins from Executive roles at MPC and Framestore, working across premium titles including, HBO’s House of the Dragon and Watchmen, Prehistoric Planet and See for Apple TV+, Wheel of Time and The Boys for Amazon Studios and the multi-Emmy award-winning Black Mirror for Netflix amongst others and brings with him deep studio ties.
Peter Jopling joins as Executive VFX Supervisor as creative partner to Gray. Jopling previously worked at MPC, DNEG, Framestore, WETA and Mill Film throughout his illustrious career. He has worked on many of the world’s most celebrated shows including Kick Ass, Scott Pilgrim vs The World, Batman Begins, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, The Golden Compass and multi-Academy Award-winning The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.
Executive Producer Jenny Basen also joins the team, bringing over 20 years of experience working with world-class studios, including Disney, Marvel, Sony, Universal, 20th Century and Warner Bros., working on titles such as Avengers: End Game, Bohemian Rhapsody, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Dunkirk, Interstellar and Happy Feet 2.
Lydia Gough
Multi-award-winning independent animation studio Aardman has appointed Lydia Gough as its new Sales and Marketing Manager for Agencies and Brands. She returns to Aardman having previously spent a year in the Brand Team, working closely on properties including Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep and overseeing global marketing activity. During that time, she led on the marketing campaign for Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas.
Gough will be responsible for the ongoing business development of Aardman’s creative services, showcasing the studio’s director and producer talent and world-famous animation techniques to create new opportunities through work for hire as well as content for campaigns linked to Aardman’s character brands. The new role reflects the studio’s commitment to growing work in the Commercials and Interactive spaces and raising its profile within the advertising and marketing industries. She comes to the role with 10+ years of experience at top creative agencies across a broad range of sectors.
Guy Lubin
Framestore’s London Advertising division continues to grow its roster of talent with the appointment of Guy Lubin as VFX Supervisor.
With over 10 years industry experience, Lubin joins from The Mill, where he worked on notable projects such as the award-winning Open Spaces for Burberry. Prior to that he spent time at MPC Advertising, Nexus and The Line Animation.
Lubinhas an impressive list of credits, including campaigns for Apple, Moncler, EE, Marks & Spencer, BT and Balenciaga. He has collaborated with a stellar list of directors including Dom&Nic, The Sacred Egg, James Grey and Amber Grace-Jones.
A sepia-toned tale of womanly resolve, Liliana is a 2D-animated retrofuturistic short film newly launched free to watch on Vimeo. Created by Slovenian first-time director Milanka Fabjančič and produced by Ljubljana-based ZVVIKS (Farewell, Mr.Cloud) , the piece has picked up multiple festival awards leading into its online debut.
Young Liliana is the epitome of modesty, dedication, and hard work. These facets are even more pronounced because of her desire to achieve her goal. The tale lies beyond time and space, nostalgically reminding us of the past.
Liliana premiered at the 2019 Festival of Slovenian Film in Portorož, where it received its first award: the Vesna Award for best animated film. Since then, the film has been featured at numerous domestic and international film festivals, notably at Animafest Zagreb (Croatia), Encounters Film Festival (U.K.) and Sapporo International Short Film Festival (Japan). Liliana also received Creative Innovation in Animation Award (International Filmmaker Festival of New York) and Best Concept Design Award by the Slovene Animated Film Association (DSAF).
Lina Dinkla, Special Programs Coordinator for the DOK Leipzig festival (Germany) wrote about Liliana: “Misty-eyed and nostalgic, this film takes us into the past. The accomplished illustrator Milanka Fabjančič uses sepia and pastel-colored drawings to bring to life the miraculous story of the industrious and meek factory worker, Liliana. Every night she takes off a shining necklace, every morning she puts it back on. During the day, the secret of her meekness remains hidden in her heart.”
Liliana
Fabjančič is an academic painter working across a broad spectrum of creative projects, including everything from book illustrations to graphics and animations. She works as animation director, animator, illustrator and professor at the Academy of Fine Arts of the University of Nova Gorica and at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design of the University of Ljubljana.
Timed to the online premiere, ZVVIKS announced that it will continue its collaboration with Fabjančič on a second short animated film, Put Down the Octopus, Here’s a Banana (in production), that will once again spotlight Fabjančič’s hand-drawn illustrations as it takes viewers along on the lifetime journey of a friendship that celebrates life and sisterhood.
Watch the trailer for Liliana below and find the full short for free on Vimeo here.
Two of toondom’s most beloved characters are embarking on a very different type of neku and nezumi game in the first-ever Tom and Jerry anime. Announced by Turner Japan timed to Japan’s “Cheese Day” celebrations (Nov. 11), The special collection of shorts launched on Cartoon Network locally, marking the first project starring the cat and mouse duo to be produced in Japan.
While the shorts carry over the “speedy and humorous action” and “good-natured fights” of the classic William Hanna and Joseph Barbera cartoons, which first debuted over 60 years ago, Tom and Jerry‘s Japanese adventures are presented through a candy-colored, ultra-kawaii lens with cutesy new character designs.
The episodes as give our heroes new magical powers. Per Turner Japan: “Tom, a fussy cat who can’t be hated; Jerry, a cute by clever mouse and Tuffy [a.k.a. Nibbles], a small and cute mouse, all transform into adorable characters, such as their favorite food.”
Tom and Jerry
As SoraNews24 points out, the Tom and Jerry anime’s made-in-Japan status is also marked philologically in the Japanese title. While “Tom and Jerry” as foreign names would typically be written using the katakana alphabet, this iteration is written out in the curvier (and sometimes considered “cuter”) hiragana, generally reserved for Japanese names and words: とむとじぇりー.
The shorts launched alongside several Tom and Jerry licensing collaborations and promotions for Cheese Day 2022. Established in 1992 by Japanese cheese industry associations, the event celebrated its 30th anniversary this year.
Tom and Jerry featured in limited edition household goods from Loft, in-store Cheese Day Fairs with special activities and merch at Village Vanguard stores, branded sweets available from NewDays / NewDays KIOSK from Nov. 29-Dec. 19, and themed items available from the official Tom and Jerry Market online store — including cheese-shaped LED lights, die-cut puffs, storage pouches and pillows.
Camilla Deakin and Ruth Fielding, the founders of multi award-winning, London-based animation studio Lupus Films, have been awarded the Manchester Animation Festival Fellowship 2022.
In a special 90-minute session held at the festival last night, (Tuesday, November 15), Deakin and Fielding received the award as they reflected on 20 years of creating high-quality entertainment for families around the globe. They also celebrated the extraordinary stories and people behind the making of their best-loved films and gave a sneak preview of exciting projects in the production pipeline, including an animated adaptation of Benji Davies’Storm Whaletrilogy.
“We are incredibly excited to receive this prestigious honor from the Manchester Animation Festival in our 20th year,” the studio founders shared. “The Manchester Animation Festival is a huge supporter of the animation industry in this country and this award is a testament to the incredible talent and dedication of the people who have worked alongside us on our productions over the last 20 years.”
Festival director Steve Henderson said, “Whether it is building an original sequel to The Snowman and bringing The Snowman and The Snowdog to life or creating a feast for the eyes with The Tiger Who Came to Tea, or finding the perfect way to translate We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, Lupus Films’ TV specials have delighted for two decades.”
The Tiger Who Came to Tea
Founded in 2002, Lupus Films has developed an international reputation for beautifully crafted film adaptations of classic works of literature which have been seen in cinemas and on major broadcasters and SVOD channels worldwide. Their much-loved, much-watched productions include The Snowman and The Snowdog, Ethel & Ernest, We’re Going on A Bear Hunt and The Tiger Who Came to Tea.
Based on the children’s picture book by author-illustrator Judith Kerr OBE and directed by Robin Shaw, The Tiger Who Came to Tea won a Jury Award at Annecy in 2020 and an International Emmy Kids Award. The film is nominated in the Animation category for the BAFTA Children’s & Young People Awards, which will be announced on November 27.
Projects currently in development and production include an adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s Kensuke’s Kingdom, featuring the voices of Cillian Murphy and Sally Hawkins, a trio of films based on Benji Davies’ beautiful Storm Whale trilogy and Las Dos Fridas, a colorful feature film about the life of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.
Read more about Lupus Films’ 20-year legacy in Animation Magazine‘s interview here. Manchester Animation Festival (MAF) is taking place this week (Nov. 13-18) in the northwestern English city.
Tickets are now on sale for the world premiere of Disney100: The Exhibition, debuting at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia on February 18, 2023. Created for the 100-year celebration of The Walt Disney Company, the exhibition invites guests to step into their favorite stories using innovative and immersive technology throughout 10 galleries in the 15,000-square-foot exhibit.
The Walt Disney Archives is opening its vault of treasures, showcasing more than 250 of its “Crown Jewels,” rarely seen original artworks and artifacts, costumes and props, and other memorabilia — five of which were unveiled today:
Walt’s Disneyland Number 1 Badge
Disneyland Employee Badge #1 (1955) was worn briefly by Walt Disney during rehearsal for Disneyland’s Opening Day in 1955 and, later, on television in The Disneyland Tenth Anniversary Show (1965). Disneyland Cast Members wore similar badges from 1955 through 1962, establishing a long-standing tradition of becoming proud ambassadors of Disney culture when wearing their Disneyland name tags.
Steamboat Willie (1928) Whistle
Steamboat Whistle in Steamboat Willie (1928) Debuting at the Colony Theatre in New York City on November 18, 1928, Steamboat Willie was the first theatrically-released Mickey Mouse cartoon and the first cartoon to feature synchronized sound. Sound effects devices, like the whistle seen here, helped to capture an all-new level of artistry in Walt Disney’s groundbreaking animated films.
Snow White Storybook Prop
Prop Storybook featured in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), opening Disney’s first full-length animated film and drawing moviegoers into the fairy tale world from which Snow White originated. This introductory convention would go on to appear in many of Disney’s future animated films, including Pinocchio (1940), Cinderella (1950) and Sleeping Beauty (1959).
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) Skywalker Lightsaber Hilt
Skywalker Lightsaber Hilt from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker(2019), used by Daisy Ridley. Once wielded by Anakin Skywalker, and later inherited by Luke and mysteriously gifted to Rey, filmmakers recreated the Skywalker Lightsaber hilt for The Rise of Skywalker in its repaired form, still emulating the real-world Graflex camera flash holder from which the original was fabricated.
Magic Ring from The Shaggy Dog (1959)
Magic Ring from The Shaggy Dog (1959), in which teenager Wilby Daniels (played by future Disney Legend Tommy Kirk) accidentally discovers this artifact in a museum and, by repeating the Latin inscription featured on the band, transforms into a large and clumsy Bratislavian sheepdog.
It was also announced that composer Steve Mazzaro, whose work can be heard on the soundtracks of such Disney-produced films as The Lion King (2019), Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales and The Lone Ranger has composed an original soundtrack for the exhibit blending themes of such beloved classics as “When You Wish Upon A Star” from Pinocchio (1940) and “Let it Go” from Frozen (2013) with a new theme crafted exclusively for the exhibition.
Also exclusive to this exhibition, Disney has curated special behind-the-scenes glimpses into the creation of the company’s most popular characters, films, shows and attractions — from Disneyland to Walt Disney World and beyond. The 10 magnificent and imaginatively themed galleries, all featuring moving stories, unique interactive installations and exciting background information, will take guests on a journey through 100 years of The Walt Disney Company, celebrating the classics from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to Strange World, as well as the latest members of the Disney family — Pixar, Star Wars, Marvel and National Geographic.
“In 1923, Walt Disney set our company on a path that would revolutionize the entertainment industry, creating unforgettable stories, beloved characters, and unparalleled experiences that generations of fans around the world have enjoyed,” said Becky Cline, director of the Walt Disney Archives. “This incredible exhibit will take guests on a remarkable journey from those earliest days into Disney’s dazzling future using seamless technology, a rich musical score and — of course —treasures from the Walt Disney Archives collection.”
Exhibitors today shared the first look at six gallery renderings:
Where It All Began. This gallery introduces visionary filmmaker and innovator Walt Disney and his philosophies that laid the foundation for the Walt Disney Company. Guests will explore his story from before Mickey Mouse to Mickey’s debut in Steamboat Willie in 1928 to the fantastic breakthroughs in animation during the early 1930s.
Where Do the Stories Come From? A gallery dedicated to the art of storytelling with ever-changing multimedia environments that illustrate how Disney storytellers bring characters to life. Guests can explore the sources of inspiration for Disney’s most
beloved and iconic films through art and artifacts from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Frozen and The Princess and the Frog.
Sources of Inspiration. From classic fairy tales and legends to original creations, this immersive and interactive installation invites visitors to explore the literary influences behind some of their favorite stories and see how they inspired Disney artists and storytellers.
The Spirit of Adventure and Discovery. From the depths of the ocean and the mysteries of the jungle to the outer reaches of the galaxy, Disney adventure stories from Disney, Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe invite exploration and discovery in this interactive gallery where curious youngsters can embark on a quest to uncover hidden artifacts from
favorite films.
The Nautilus Window. Guests can peer through an interactive window of Captain Nemo’s legendary submarine, as seen in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, for a glimpse of Disney and Pixar’s enchanting underwater worlds.
Your Disney World: A Day in the Parks. Guests step into a recreation of Main Street, U.S.A., to explore the legacy and development of Disney parks and attractions worldwide.
“The Franklin Institute has spent almost 200 years bringing stories of innovation and discovery to the public in an immersive and interactive way, so Disney100: The Exhibition is a perfect fit for us and our audience,” said Larry Dubinski, President and CEO of The Franklin Institute. “We are proud to host the world premiere at The Franklin Institute so fans across Philadelphia and beyond can have the first opportunity to see these crown
jewels come to life in beautifully crafted galleries reflecting Disney’s imaginative storytelling, innovation, discovery and wonder.”
Disney100: The Exhibition is created and curated by the Walt Disney Archives and Semmel Exhibitions. The Franklin Institute is proud to present and play host to the world premiere of Disney100: The Exhibition in the Nicholas and Athena Karabots Pavilion and the Mandell Center. PECO, the Premier Corporate Partner of the Franklin Institute, is the Local Presenting Sponsor of the exhibition, and PNC is the Associate Sponsor.
Disney100: The Exhibition runs Feb. 18 – Aug. 27, 2023 as a Special Exhibit at The Franklin Institute. Tickets priced from $25-$45 are available now from www.fi.edu.
Oscar-, BAFTA- and Emmy-winning visual effects and animation studio DNEG, in coordination with New South Wales (NSW) Government, today outlined plans for a new VFX and animation studio in Sydney, Australia. The new studio, which will be located in Pyrmont, within Sydney’s Tech Central district, is slated to open in early 2023 and will have a total capacity of up to 500 seats.
As part of the announcement, DNEG also confirmed that its new Sydney studio will lead the visual effects work for George Miller’s highly anticipated Mad Max prequel, Furiosa.
“The opportunity to collaborate and partner with filmmakers of the caliber of George Miller, whose work I love and respect, is the driving force behind everything that we do,” said DNEG CEO and Chairman Namit Malhotra. “Extending our filmmaker-focused approach to a fourth continent and building a substantial and sustainable presence in Sydney that allows us to engage with Australia’s talented and experienced creative leaders, artists, technologists and production crews, marks another milestone in our mission to bring the very best VFX and animation services to filmmakers all over the world. My thanks to the producers for choosing DNEG as their partner on Furiosa, and to the NSW Government for their support and for extending such a warm welcome to our team.”
Furiosa is the much-anticipated return to the groundbreaking dystopian world Miller created more than 30 years ago with the Mad Max films, this time with an original, standalone action-adventure that will reveal the origins of characters from the multiple Oscar-winning global smash Mad Max: Fury Road. Furiosa is being produced in Australia by Miller and Oscar-nominated producer Doug Mitchell and stars Anya Taylor-Joy in the titular role alongside Chris Hemsworth and Tom Burke. The film is a Warner Bros. Pictures production in association with Village Roadshow Pictures (U.S.) and is expected to premiere in 2024.
“From my very first call with Namit, I have been amazed at how proactive, engaged and focused DNEG has been in ensuring that George and I have the visual effects team we need for this movie,” said Mitchell. “I am especially excited to collaborate with DNEG to create the visual effects for Furiosa in our home state of NSW, as we wrap what we believe is the biggest production ever filmed in the State. I’m looking forward to this and many future collaborations with Namit and his team.”
Charlize Theron as Furiosa in ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’
DNEG Sydney will be a full-service VFX studio, leading on complex VFX projects for film and episodic projects, and will also be home to a new studio for DNEG Animation, the animation studio behind Kid Cudi’s beautifully stylized, animated love story Entergalactic for Netflix.
Academy Award- and BAFTA-winning VFX supervisor (and Australian national) Andrew Jackson has relocated from DNEG London to head up the studio’s work as Creative Director for Sydney. With a career spanning more than 30 years, Jackson was production VFX supervisor for Christopher Nolan’s Tenet, which earned him an Academy Award and BAFTA for Best Special Visual Effects. Prior to that, Jackson received an Academy Award nomination for his work on Mad Max: Fury Road. He has most recently completed work as production VFX supervisor for Nolan’s forthcoming biopic Oppenheimer.
“DNEG is leading the charge when it comes to supporting some of the most creative and visionary directors in the industry, and together we are creating groundbreaking, innovative and inspiring VFX and animation work,” said Jackson. “I am thrilled to take upthis position at the new DNEG Sydney studio, and to be back on home turf, working once again with George Miller following our work together on Fury Road. DNEG’s entrance into
the Australian market will provide us with access to a new pool of talented individuals, including some of the most imaginative minds in the industry, and I am delighted to be working with the new crew that we are building to deliver some truly inspirational effects.”
One of DNEG’s first hires for the new studio is VFX Supervisor Dan Bethell, who joins from Rising Sun Pictures. Bethell is serving as DNEG VFX Supervisor on Furiosa, having previously received a Visual Effects Society (VES) Award for his work on Mad Max: Fury Road. Bethell’s previous credits as VFX supervisor include Thor: Love and Thunder, Mortal Kombat, Extraction and Spider-Man: Homecoming.
Entergalactic
DNEG’s expansion to Sydney is supported by the Australian State Government of New South Wales (NSW) and its $250 million Jobs Plus Program. Delivered through Investment NSW, the program provides eligible companies with support to establish and expand their footprint in NSW, including payroll tax relief, support for infrastructure and subsidized training programs, along with the provision of free or subsidized government spaces and accommodation.
“Tech Central is Australia’s innovation hub and DNEG will be the next heavyweight to join a growing list of companies setting up shop in Sydney. The new site will include a fully functioning content services studio focusing on visual effects, animation, virtual production and gaming,” commented Dominic Perrottet, Premier of NSW.
NSW Minister for Enterprise, Investment and Trade Alister Henskens said the support will help create 472 direct and 554 indirect jobs by 2024. “The support via infrastructure rebates and payroll tax relief will help DNEG to develop, foster and grow our pipeline of skilled workers in the digital effects industry by creating new opportunities and training pathways,” noted Henskens.
The Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) and Department of Home Affairs assisted DNEG with extensive advice and introductions, including to Australian industry and government, as part of Global Australia Taskforce.
DNEG closed the announcement with a land acknowledgment in respect to the Traditional Owners of the Sydney area, the Gadigal people of the Eora nation.
DNEG Sydney joins a global network of studios and offices employing nearly 8,000 people across North America (Los Angeles, Montréal, Toronto and Vancouver), Europe (London), Asia (Bangalore, Chandigarh, Chennai and Mumbai) and now Australia.
Current and upcoming DNEG projects on behalf of its Hollywood and global studio and production company partners include Slumberland, Devotion (Nov. 23), 1899 (Nov. 16), Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (Dec. 23), The Witcher: Blood Origin (Dec. 25), The Last of Us (Jan. 15, 2023), Shazam! Fury of the Gods (March 17, 2023), Fast X (May 19, 2023), The Flash (June 23, 2023), Oppenheimer (July 21, 2023), Coyote vs. Acme (2023), Meg 2: The Trench (Aug. 4, 2023), Haunted Mansion (Aug. 11, 2023), Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (Dec. 25, 2023), Nimona (2023) and Garfield (May 24, 2024).
Current DNEG career opportunities for Sydney and worldwide are posted here.
Bestselling children’s book authors and illustrator Mercer Mayer has partnered with digital media writer, producer and game designerJohn R. Sansevere to form TWELVE/30, LLC, with a mission to develop and exploit Mayer’s catalog of over 300 titles across all media and consumer products. TWELVE/30 has exclusive media and licensing rights across all consumer products categories and all new publishing. Sansevere will serve as the company’s Managing Partner.
“Multiple generations born after 1980 grew up with Mercer Mayer’s books and are now passing on their love for his characters and stories to their own children,” commented Sansevere. “The first IP we will develop is Little Critter, one of the last remaining evergreen U.S. publishing brands that has never had a TV show or large-scale licensing and merchandising program. With the 50th anniversary of Little Critter coming up in 2025, this is a perfect time to bring the world of Little Critter to new audiences everywhere through animated content and appealing products that will allow children to further engage with the brand.”
The initial brand focus for the newly established company will be Mayer’s iconic Little Critter, for which over 200 million books have been sold since Just for You, the first book in the series, debuted in 1975. Targeting children two to six years old, Little Critter’s hilarious and deeply relatable scrapes and escapades continue to charm audiences everywhere as the issues he deals with as he grows up are as timeless, classic and relevant today as they were over 40 years ago. Multiple titles have appeared on The New York Times and Publisher’s Weekly lists of all-time best-selling children’s paperback books.
Other series to be initially developed include the 11-title Little Monster book series about a juvenile dragon-y, dinosaur-like creature and his daily adventures; the six-title A Boy, a Dog, and a Frog series, featuring Mayer’s first published book, which was wordless; his classics, including There’s a Nightmare in My Closet and There’s an Alligator Under My Bed; as well as the iconic One Monster After Another,Professor Wormbog in Search of the Zipperump-a-Zoo and the quirky, spooky picture book Liza Lou and the Yeller Belly Swamp.
TWELVE/30 has signed its first licensing agreement with HarperCollins for a new series of Little Critter books to include two titles under the publisher’s recently launched “I Can Read Comics” label, as well as two new readers in the “I Can Read” series for which there are currently 22 top-selling Little Critter titles according to the publisher. There are 54 Little Critter titles with HarperCollins, with an option for more, and 41 titles with Random House in print or rotation. Little Critter will also soon be featured in a Costco Little Critter Deluxe Treasury Collection.
Little Critter
TWELVE/30will also create animated content for the IPs for television and/or streaming. The first project will be a series of animated shorts with the first Little Critter “I Can Read Comics” title as the basis for the initial episode, to premiere on a newly branded Little Critter YouTube channel.
“I’ve been publishing stories for over 55 years, adventures inspired from my childhood or my children’s childhoods, and now I get inspiration from my grandkids,” said Mayer. “I’ve long wanted to explore opportunities that will allow kids to engage with my characters and stories in ways that appeal to a new generation of children. Having worked with John over the years, I am extremely excited to collaborate with him again in the launch of TWELVE/30and to continue creating inspiring new content and products based on my published works that parents will trust, and children will love.”
An unplanned “Take Your Child to Work Day” meets wild Space Western action in My Dad the Bounty Hunter, the new Netflix CG-animated series from Academy Award winner Everett Downing (Hair Love) and Patrick Harpin (Hotel Transylvania 2 & 3): “a warp-speed adventure across the constellation of ups, downs and moments in between that shape family life.”
Synopsis:My Dad the Bounty Hunter is an animated action-comedy series following close-knit siblings Lisa and Sean, who stow away on their dad’s latest work trip, hoping to finally get some quality time together. Little do they know Dad’s been keeping a secret from them — he’s actually the toughest bounty hunter in the galaxy!
In the mood for some retro toon superhero action? Good news! One of Filmation’s most beloved animated series has been newly remastered in high definition for release on Blu-ray for the first time ever. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment will distribute The Adventures of Batman: The Complete Collection on February 28, 2023, as a two-disc set featuring all 34 episodes of the classic series for $29.98 SRP (U.S.) / $39.99 SRP (Canada).
The Adventures of Batman (1968-69) was one of the spotlight television cartoons to be produced by Filmation, which produced more than 50 animated series, over a dozen TV shorts, specials and movies, and eight feature films. The Dark Knight’s adventures were also paired with another famous DC Super Hero to become The Batman/Superman Hour.
Filmation veteran Olan Soule (Super Friends, The Towering Inferno) provided the voice of Batman, while American Top 40 co-founder & host Casey Kasem (Scooby-Doo franchise) played Robin. The supporting cast featured two-time Emmy Award winner Ted Knight (The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Caddyshack) as Commissioner Gordon, Larry Storch (F Troop) as Joker and Jane Webb (Sabrina the Teenage Witch, The Archie Show) as Barbara Gordon/Batgirl.
Soule and Kasem became the reigning voices of Batman and Robin, respectively, for several years as the Dynamic Duo would appear in two The New Scooby-Doo Movies crossovers, various versions of Super Friends and The New Adventures of Batman.
Premiering on September 14, 1968, The Adventures of Batman also featured Batman’s primary rogues’ gallery at the time — Penguin, Mr. Freeze, Catwoman, Riddler, Scarecrow, Dollman, Mad Hatter and Simon the Pieman — as well as some notable team-ups of those villains.
The 34 episodes in The Adventures of Batman: The Complete Collection are:
My Crime Is Your Crime / A Bird Out of Hand
The Cool, Cruel Mr. Freeze / The Joke’s on Robin
How Many Herring in a Wheelbarrow? / In Again, Out Again Penguin
The Nine Lives of Batman / Long John Joker
Bubi, Bubi, Who’s Got the Ruby? / 1001 Faces of the Riddler
The Big Birthday Caper / Two Penguins Too Many
Partners in Peril / The Underworld Underground Caper
Hizzoner the Joker / Freeze's Frozen Vikings
The Crime Computer / The Great Scarecrow Scare
A Game of Cat and Mouse / Beware of Living Dolls
Will the Real Robin Please Stand Up? / He Who Swipes the Ice, Goes to the Cooler
Simon the Pieman / A Mad, Mad Tea Party
From Catwoman with Love / Perilous Playthings
A Perfidious Pieman Is Simon / Cool, Cruel Christmas Caper
Makoto Shinkai’s newest animated feature Suzume is opening the doors to another global hit, if the Japanese box office opening is any measure. Having opened on November 11, the mysterious and emotional fantasy adventure took in ¥1.88 billion (~$13.5 million USD) in its first three days, outdoing Shinkai’s previous stellar hits Your Name. (2016) and Weathering With You (2019). All three films were produced by animation studio CoMix Wave.
Moviegoers snapped up 1.33M admissions to Suzume, and the high fan demand prompted 11 cinemas in six major cities to open at midnight to accommodate first day crowds. Shinkai and the key voice cast members reportedly participated in onstage introductions to the film, which is released in Japan by Toho.
Your Name. opened at No. 1 with a three-day take of ¥1.27B (~$12.51M), and went on to top the Japanese box office rankings for 12 consecutive weeks (nine straight weeks at No. 1), becoming the first animated feature not directed by Hayao Miyazaki to make over $100M in Japan and now ranking as the country’s third-highest-grossing domestic release of all time (No. 5 for all films) with ¥25.03B; ~$233.8M at the time (¥41.44B / $380.1M worldwide worldwide).
Weathering With You scootched up the opening weekend bar with ¥1.6B (the equivalent of ~$15.2M USD at the time), 28.6% more than the previous film. Launching at No. 1 and maintaining a top spot for close to a year, Weathering eventually totted up ¥14.06B ($128M) in Japan, and currently ranks as the country’s 14th highest-grossing film of all time.
Suzume has launched with a 47% lead on Your Name. and 15% over Weathering With You, making it the most rapidly rising box office success for Shinkai yet. The anime release outpaced its premiere date competitor Marvel’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which opened at No. 2 with $3.5M, and Indian blockbuster RRR, which held onto No. 3 for a fourth consecutive week since its Japanese release.
Following the Japanese release, Suzume will be distributed in all major territories in 2023, including North America (through Crunchyroll); Latin America, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East and select European territories (Crunchyroll & Sony Pictures Entertainment); and French- and German-speaking Europe (Crunchyroll, SPE & Wild Bunch International).
Directed and written by Shinkai, Suzume is an original story about the titular teenage girl (voiced by 18-year-old actress Nanoka Hara), whose quiet small town life is shaken up when she encounters a mysterious young man searching for strange doors in the area. After a talking cat turns the wanderer into a chair, Suzume must continue his quest to close these mystical portals before they unleash destruction on the world.
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex has commissioned Ella Louise Allaire and Martin Lord Ferguson of Montreal-based production company Monlove (Cirque du Soleil’s Kà and Zed, The Nut Job Live & Friends, Ice Age Live! A Mammoth Adventure) to create All Systems Are Go, an original live, immersive educational entertainment experience to be presented at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Targeted to launch for spring 2023, it will feature beloved Peanuts characters including Snoopy, Woodstock, Charlie Brown, Sally, Linus, Lucy, Franklin and Schroeder.
“We are over the Moon at the opportunity to work with Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and Peanuts Worldwide on this project to conceive a world-class experience that will both entertain and educate the audience about what NASA has achieved and will pursue in the future,” commented Allaire and Ferguson. “The creative potential for telling this larger-than-life story through the eyes of the fabled Peanuts characters is as vast and exciting as space itself.”
Monlove is transforming the visitor complex’s 300-seat Universe Theater for All Systems Are Go with Dolby Atmos sound, motorized scrims and more than 20 integrated laser projectors to enhance the project’s high-end immersive edutainment experience. The original orchestral score composed by Allaire and Ferguson will offer music in an eclectic mix of orchestral, contemporary and jazz styles. Using augmented reality interactive technology, audience members will be able to use their smartphones to scan the environment to discover space elements and a music sequence.
“Peanuts has had a long association with space, starting with NASA’s Apollo 10 mission in the 1960s to Snoopy being the zero-gravity indicator on the upcoming launch of Artemis I,” noted Craig Herman, Vice President, Global Brand Experiences & Publishing, Peanuts Worldwide. “This joint effort between Monlove, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and Peanuts Worldwide is a fantastic avenue for fans to learn about Peanuts and NASA’s storied history as well as experience Charles Schulz’s iconic characters in a new and exciting way.”
All Systems Are Go
The 20-minute experience, included with admission and offered daily, will feature the Peanuts gang appearing as four to five-foot-tall articulated characters operated by puppeteers. The characters will narrate the iconic history of NASA, the Artemis missions and future plans in an educational and imaginatively enlightening way for the whole family. NASA’s Artemis missions will land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon and establish the first long-term presence on the Moon.
Therrin Protze, Chief Operating Officer at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, said, “We’re thrilled to partner with Monlove to bring the world’s most beloved Peanuts characters to the stage in All Systems Are Go at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Guests of all ages will love the experience from start to finish.”
Allaire and Ferguson will act respectively as creators of the experience’s original concept, story and music as well as executive producers for this new project. The collaboration is Monlove’s first association with Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and Peanuts Worldwide, and follows two successful associations with Warner Bros. Themed Entertainment, featuring the recent live stage show Scooby-Doo! and the Lost City of Gold and the upcoming fall 2023 live theatrical and musical stage show with the internationally recognized Looney Tunes characters.
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