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Global kids and family content distributor Jetpack Distribution has acquired the rights for the new animated series Kung Fu Pork Choppers from global licensing company Centa IP. The deal comprises two seasons of 52 x 11-minute episodes of the CGI animated comedy-action-adventure aimed at four- to eight-year olds.
“This toon is genuinely hilarious! And will have kids across the globe squealing with delight!” Jetpack’s Global Director of Acquisitions & Development, Gillian Calvert-Ridge, enthused. “It’s been a number one hit in China for many years now and has all the attributes kids love, tonnes of humour, adventure and action – all with a strong porcine theme! . We’re very proud to present this at MIPCOM. And we’re certain kids beyond China are going to love it!”
The original series GG Bond (inspired by the Chinese for “Pig Hero”) launched in China in 2005 and has been consistently in the top five rated shows every year since, on average holding five of the top 10 kids’ slots each week.
The first three seasons of Kung Fu Pork Choppers are produced by China-based Winsing with CraneKahn LLC. They are currently airing on more than 100 channels in China, including CCTV and Kaku, where it’s the number one kids show, with an audience of 700 million views across all online platforms.
The series follows a team of five out-of-this-world pigs in space and their super-powered “Splaximal” pets, transformed by the slimy substance “Splaxis” from the cutest creatures to mega-sized fighting machines. In their action-packed quest to right wrongs, the Kung Fu Pork Choppers take off on planet shattering adventures, chock full of the coolest and craziest heroes and villains imaginable — and unimaginable — and much, much more!
“It’s a rarity to discover one show in a lifetime that has the hallmarks of a global hit. I saw it in Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh! And both became a worldwide phenomenon, and are still going gangbusters 25 years later,” noted Al Kahn, CEO of CraneKahn. “When I first saw GG Bond I was in hog heaven and knew lightning had not only struck twice, but a third time as well!”
Winsing Animation Group, the Chinese commissioning platform, has committed to at least 300 episodes, which will see multiple seasons of the hit series produced. Kung Fu Pork Choppers is also building an extensive licensing and merchandising program, with all rights being handled by Centa IP.
“We absolutely love this property — the humor, the adventure, the cast and the storylines,” said Gail Mitchell, CEO of Centa IP. We have no doubt that this series will be a huge success and are very proud to be presenting it to the rest of the world alongside Jetpack Distribution.”
Los Angeles-based virtual art department studio Happy Mushroom is rebranding itself as Narwhal Studios to commemorate the team’s expansion into new creative waters.
Led by CEO and co-founder Felix Jorge, Happy Mushroom has honed its virtual art department and asset development pipeline via cutting-edge virtual productions, including The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Suicide Squad and Black Adam. Narwhal Studios will continue evolving the virtual art department into more than a starting place for production.
“We focus deeply on creating processes to support complex, challenging projects,” says Jorge. “Traditionally, content creators are siloed and unable to share assets across vendors and distribution channels. By leveraging high-quality assets holistically, you can increase the value of your IP, amortize it across different pipelines and reduce creative waste.”
After several successful years as a concierge-level virtual production service provider, Narwhal’s team looks forward to sharing its bespoke toolset and remote-first pipeline with new endeavors, including movies, broadcast, animation, educational initiatives, interactive experiences, world-building, video games and custom IP. The studio will focus on supporting creatives and their storytelling process, building inclusive relationships and delivering the best possible development experience.
A Bespoke Toolset
Narwhal offers an extensive library of collaborative tools developed over six years of working on time-sensitive projects with uncompromising rock star creatives.
“We focus deeply on the creative process and support it by customizing leading off-the-shelf tools and developing our own,” notes Jorge. “We work with key creatives from the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC), the Art Directors Guild (ADG) and others. Their needs dictate how and why we customize the tools to fit their workflow. Our tools empower the talent to complete their projects on time and budget, no matter how complex or challenging the work.”
The team collaborated on several Disney+ Star Wars properties by developing environments for use with LED volume/in-camera VFX for virtual production. Cinematographer Baz Idoine, ASC, worked extensively on those efforts, photographing many episodes of The Mandalorian.
“The team always presented amazing work for me to review, but the working process was also incredibly respectful of my approach to lighting the environments,” says Idoine. “That close collaboration meant they could give me as the director of photography whatever lighting scenario I asked for. That relationship and their strong knowledge of Unreal Engine and other complex tools enabled me to be a better DP.”
The Digital Backlot
Narwhal offers a massive digital backlot of high-quality assets. Key creatives retain complete control over their assets and story. This control leads to more informed decision-making and a great final product. The backlot pipeline helps to leverage efficiencies and jump-start the development process.
“My experience with Narwhal was everything I wanted and more,” says production designer Todd Cherniawsky, ADG (Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Polar Express). “I had an incredible team where nothing had to go through a traditional art department/VAD filter. Instead, it was pure and seamless. They’re also great at creating a transparent remote collaboration workflow with excellent quality control.”
Remote-First Pipeline
Narwhal is a virtual production studio built from the ground up to leverage remote collaboration. A remote-first pipeline emphasizes the quality of the experience in mission-critical meetings and bypasses the limits of geographical location. Remote-first also enables Narwhal to tap into a global talent pool and work with world-class talent from wherever in the world they choose to live.
Cinematographer David Klein, ASC, worked closely with the team on The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett. “To successfully shoot on an LED volume, you need to take a portion of the post-production decision-making and budget and move it up front,” observes Klein. “Happy Mushroom took the concepts from storyboards through mocap and techvis. It’s a wonderful tool to have as part of our process, and we often got incredibly close to the final look of a shot. They always do a hell of a job.”
“The Happy Mushroom team was incredible and nimble,” says Stephen Bowman, producer of the Paramount+ original series Why Women Kill. “They created a wonderful environment for us and worked with our visual effects companies to create life-like set extensions. It was a wonderful experience and saved us so much money.”
A Modern Mix
A convergence of filmmaking, virtual production and video games is transforming all types of entertainment. Creating high-quality assets engineered for repurposing is more critical than ever. Narwhal Studios is well-positioned to empower artists to be more than film or game talents so that each artist can contribute as a pure storyteller.
“The key is leveraging multidisciplinary experience,” says Jorge. “You don’t have to touch a computer to problem-solve and maximize your visual effects. There’s a great tradition of artists like Steven Spielberg, Jon Favreau and James Cameron who make incredible movies because they work closely with a team who makes sure even as they’re writing the movie that it’s attainable.”
Pivoting into its identity as Narwhal Studios is the beginning of a new journey. The long-term goals include a full-fledged multimedia studio that serves productions across multiple industries. Using its expertise in virtual production on original IP is also on Narwhal’s horizon. The proven process of thoughtful design, budget control, and creative vision can apply to every project.
With a slate of fan experiences for new and returning series, Crunchyroll is headed to New York Comic Con at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center from October 6-9. Attendees will get an inside look at the outlet’s fall anime titles with panels as well as exclusive premiere screenings and installations.
“Crunchyroll returns to New York Comic Con with an incredible slate of experiences for both anime fans and the anime curious, immersing them into a dynamic world where everyone belongs,” said Gita Rebbapragada, Chief Marketing Officer, Crunchyroll.
NYCC badge holders will have the chance to be the first to see the U.S. premiere of Chainsaw Man, the highly anticipated series that follows the journey of Denji as he becomes “Chainsaw Man” — a man with a devil’s heart. Crunchyroll will screen the world premiereof the English dub of the series, even before the subtitled episode premieres on Crunchyroll, alongside a Q&A with the English dub cast.
Additionally, Crunchyroll will be hosting panels for the smash-hit superhero series My Hero Academia with the English voice of Deku, Justin Briner as a guest among others joining him, as well as for the highly anticipated One Piece Film Red, the next theatrical adventure from the long-running series, coming to North American cinemas on November 4.
On the show floor, attendees can enjoy two unique Crunchyroll booths. The first booth (#1557), themed “Movies in the City,” will exhibit a Tokyo skyline in addition to a photo opp designed to be a replica of the Forger family’s apartment from the breakout new anime series SPY x FAMILY. The second booth (#1545) will host two photo ops for One Piece and Chainsaw Man where main characters Denji, Makima, Aki, Power and Pochita will be gathered next to a unique chainsaw sculpture art installation. Epic My Hero Academia character monuments depicting fan favorite moments will also be displayed throughout the weekend in various locations.
Crunchyroll Industry Panel Friday, October 7 | 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. ET – Room 405
Be ready to be surprised and delighted as we share all the Ani-mazing news for the fall with exclusives and news where anime is for everyone.
Chainsaw Man Dub Cast Panel & U.S. Premiere Friday, October 7 | 12:45 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. ET – Empire Stage
Calling all Devil Hunters! Join Crunchyroll for a Chainsaw Man panel with the English dub cast that will have you totally revved up and ready for the upcoming hit anime! Featuring a conversation with the voice actors for Denji, Makima, Aki and Power, as well as the exclusive U.S. Premiere of the first episode dubbed!
One Piece Film Red Cast & Crew Panel Saturday, October 8 | 10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. ET – Empire Stage One Piece Film Red is almost here! Join members of the English and Japanese crew as well as some of your favorite voice actors from the English Dub right before the film hits North American theaters on November 4.
Panelists: Shinji Shimizu (executive producer), Goro Taniguchi (director), Colleen Clinkenbeard (English voice of Luffy), Christopher R. Sabat (English voice of Zoro), Luci Christian (English voice of Nami), Sonny Strait (English voice of Usopp) and Ian Sinclair (English voice of Brook). Moderator: Kyle Cardine
My Hero Academia Panel Saturday, October 8 | 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. ET – Empire Stage
Join My Hero Academia cast members to discuss the highly anticipated new season. Featuring Justin Briner, the English voice of Deku and more. Hosted by Lauren Moore, presented by Crunchyroll. Additional panelists TBA.
Schedule subject to change; check for updates on Crunchyroll News and be sure to tune in during the show as Crunchyroll hosts Tim and Lauren share all the latest from New York Comic Con. Follow all of the exciting highlights on Crunchyroll’s Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, as well as Crunchyroll News for all the announcements from each day and more.
Disney Branded Television announced today that its Peabody Award-winning animated series The Owl House will debut the first of its final run of specials on Saturday, October 15(9 p.m. EDT/PDT), with a simulstart on Disney Channel and Disney XD.
Created and executive produced by Dana Terrace (DuckTales), the 44-minute specials follow Luz’s journey to save the Boiling Isles from the evil Emperor Belos and the unpredictable Collector. The following two installments will premiere in 2023.
Picking up immediately following the events of the Season 2 finale, the first special, “Thanks to Them,” finds Luz and her friends stuck in the human realm and willing to go to daring lengths to return to the Boiling Isles.
The Owl House follows Luz, a self-assured teenage girl who stumbles upon a portal to a magical realm where she befriends a rebellious witch, Eda, and a tiny warrior, King. Despite not having magical abilities, Luz pursues her dream of becoming a witch by serving as Eda’s apprentice at the Owl House and ultimately finds a new family in an unlikely setting.
In 2021, the series won the prestigious Peabody Award in the Children & Youth category for “building a wildly inventive other world that makes room for everyone.”
The voice cast includes Sarah-Nicole Robles (Star Darlings) as Luz, Wendie Malick (Just Shoot Me) as Eda, Alex Hirsch (Gravity Falls) as King and Hooty, Matthew Rhys (The Americans) as Emperor Belos, Issac Ryan Brown (Raven’s Home) as Gus, Tati Gabrielle (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) as Willow, Mae Whitman (Good Girls) as Amity, Cissy Jones (Little Big Awesome) as Lilith and Zeno Robinson (Big City Greens) as Hunter.
In addition to Terrace, Wade Wisinski (Be Cool, Scooby-Doo!) is producer, and Andy Garner-Flexner (Adventure Time) is art director. The Owl House is a production of Disney Television Animation and carries a TV-Y7 FV parental guideline.
Extensions for The Owl House include apparel and phone accessories that are available at Amazon.com/DisneyChannel, as well as two children’s books inspired by the series from Disney Publishing Group: The Owl House: Witches Before Wizards and The Owl House: Hex-cellent Tales from The Boiling Isles, both available at DisneyBooks.com.
Reflect, the latest original addition to Season 2 of Short Circuit Experimental Films from Walt Disney Animation Studios, premiered on Disney+ today (Sept. 14). To mark the debut, the studio has dropped a new trailer and image of the short’s star, Bianca.
The film is directed by Hillary Bradfield, a Disney Animation story artist (Frozen 2, Encanto) since 2017, and centers on Bianca, a ballet dancer who battles her own reflection, overcoming doubt and fear by channeling her inner strength, grace and power.
An all-new Short Circuit Experimental Film has arrived! Stream “Reflect” and all the Short Circuit Experimental Films by Walt Disney Animation Studios artists now on @DisneyPlus. 🩰 🎆 pic.twitter.com/c0gw5U4ecc
Reflect features an original score by Jake Monaco (Cars on the Road, Jerry and Marge Go Large). Jennifer Newfield (Ralph Breaks the Internet, Short Circuit) served as production manager and veteran Disney Animation cinematography, lighting and compositing expert Brian Leach (Ralph Breaks the Internet, Zootopia) lent his expertise as project advisor.
Short Circuit offers anyone at Disney Animation the chance to pitch an idea and get selected to create their own short film. The first season launched in 2020 with 14 short films, and Reflect is the sixth title in the second season to appear on Disney+.
Netflix Animation has shown the door to 30 employees as part of the streamlining overseen by incoming heads Karen Toliver (Vice President, Animation Film Content) and Traci Balthazor (Vice President, Animation Film Production). Deadline confirmed the layoffs today with Netflix.
It was not detailed in the report which positions were eliminated, however the dismissals “do not signal a downturn in animation output” for the Oscar-winning division.
Netflix’s slate of original animated features and shorts has delivered Academy Award-nominated Robin Robin, Kris Pearn’s The Willoughbys, Clare Knight and Harry Cripps’s Back to the Outback and Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Childhood from Richard Linklater. Recent acquisitions include the Academy Award-nominated The Mitchells vs. The Machines, Vivo!, SpongeBob: Sponge on the Run (ex North America) and Wish Dragon.
Upcoming feature releases including Henry Selick’s Wendell & Wild, Nora Twomey’s My Father’s Dragon, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio and an Aardman sequel Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget. The streamer’s other eagerly anticipated animated series and specials include Entergalactic, Spirit Rangers, ONI: Thunder God’s Tale, Sonic Prime and My Dad the Bounty Hunter.
This year’s Brand Licensing Europe kicks off in just six days, running from Tuesday to Thursday, September 20-22 at ExCeL London. Attendees can register for a free ticket at brandlicensing.eu and immediately start requesting meetings with over 220 exhibiting companies and planning their diary so they don’t miss out.
“BLE is packed with content this year, so here’s my list of 22 things to see and do for BLE ’22, which includes everything from our Fashion Theme to our Sustainability & DEI day on Thursday, 220+ brands, thousands of IPs ready for license, a spotlight on France, daily keynotes, networking drinks and much, much more,” said Anna Knight, SVP Licensing, Informa Markets. “We can’t wait to see everyone at the show next week — please do stop and say hello!”
1. NEW! Culture & Unity Catwalk – Thursday 10:00, Catwalk
BLE’s Culture & Unity catwalk show is an unmissable showstopper with Black and LGBT+ designers, fashion, models and crew — some fresh from London Fashion Week to inspire your new product range to be more inclusive. Don’t miss DJ Longers — DJ to Cardi B and Idris Elba — playing Afro beat and hip hop.
2. NEW! Are you a Barbie girl? – Tuesday 13:00, License Global Theatre
A very special opening day keynote — Barbie x Fashion — delivered by Richard Dickson, President and COO at Mattel.
3. Get in character – Tuesday 15:30 & Wednesday 11:30
The character parade, featuring the likes of The Snowman, Smurfs, Batman, Peter Rabbit, Pip & Posy and The Gruffalo, will hop, skip and plod through the hall for their annual photo opp. Make sure to get a selfie with your favorite characters and tag #BLE2022!
4. NEW! It’s easy going green – all three days
The BLE & POC Sustainability Café will recycle materials from last year’s Sustainability Activation and showcase sustainable consumer products and fashion lines from 12 brands, including Primark, The Eden Project, WasteBuster, Smiley, Wow! Stuff & RSPB, Hasbro & Asda, The Smurfs & Pure Top Table, and Discovery.
5. NEW! Time to be SustainaBLE – Thursday 12:30, Catwalk
Products of Change, with United Nations and Junk Kouture, present an educational and inspiring catwalk show with presentations and performances centered on the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals. Junk Couture will host an exclusive catwalk presenting recycled fashion designed and modelled by 13- to 18-year-old students.
6. NEW! Daily keynotes – 13:00 every day, License Global Theatre
For the first time ever, there’s a BLE keynote on every day!
Tuesday: Barbie x Fashion: Richard Dickson, President and COO at Mattel
Wednesday: Leaders Panel: Building a Post-Pandemic Retail & Licensing Strategy
Thursday: Panel Discussion: The Good Fight: How Purpose Breeds Success
7. Celebrate the licensing rising stars – finale at 10:30-12:00 Thursday, License Global Theatre
8. NEW! Free orientation sessions and show tours – 12:00 Tuesday and 09:30 Wednesday, License Global Theatre
New to BLE and/or licensing? Join the BLE team for free orientation sessions and show tours to help get the most from your visit.
Licensed fashion at BLE
9. NEW! Strike a Pose! – Tuesday 17:30 Mattel / Wednesday 12:30 SEGA
Don’t miss spectacular dedicated catwalk shows, hosted by Mattel and SEGA, showcasing how Barbie and Sonic the Hedgehog have come to life through fashion collaborations.
10. Exclusive retailer competition to win £500 of spa vouchers in the Retail Lounge
An exclusive lounge for retailers to meet, relax and recharge as well as talk to the BLE team about taking part in next year’s popular Retail Mentoring Program. Also — NEW for 2022 — take part in our competition to create a brand licensing program for Carte Blanche’s Tatty Teddy and you could win £500 of Champneys Spa vouchers.
11. Character & entertainment brands and IP
Thousands of brands specializing in character and entertainment IP will be on the show floor, from Warner Bros. with The Batman and Hasbro with Peppa Pig to WildBrain CPLG and Peanuts, Banijay Brands with Peaky Blinders, BBC Studios and Bluey, Aardman Animations’ Shaun the Sheep, IMPS with The Smurfs, Crunchyroll with Dragon Ball Z and many more.
The Gruffalo merchandise at BLE
12. NEW! Know it all? – all three days License Global Theatre
This year’s educational program goes way beyond our daily keynotes to touch on topics including creative design, supply chain challenges, the impact of consumer trends on the future of retail, Location Based Experiences, new age consumer spending, sports licensing and a sustainability case study with Hasbro. Arrive early to claim a seat — access is first-come-first-serve and free to attend.
13. Product showcases – every day
Don’t miss the inspiring branded fashion products in showcases next to the BLE Catwalk as well as dressing up this year’s BLE entrances.
14. Free advice from Products of Change – every day in the PoC Lounge
Meet the entire PoC team — Helena, Rob and PoC ambassadors — who will run free drop-in sustainability clinics and member meetups. Stand #F211.
Learn all you need to take your IP to the next level at informative BLE sessions.
15. Brands & lifestyle – brands and IP
The FA, Transport for London, Tour de France, RSPB, Van Gogh Museum, UEFA Champions League, Marie-Antoinette, The Beatles, Absolut, Billie Eilish, Heinz Beanz, Pringles, Peperami, Federation Francaise de Football and Elton John are just some of the amazing brands to discover in our Brands & Lifestyle zone.
16. NEW! Vive La France! – 2022 country spotlight
BLE is introducing an annual Country Spotlight starting in 2022 with France, where the licensing market is valued at $6.7 billion. Don’t miss the French-themed Opening Night Party and the chance to meet with many exhibiting French brands and agents including Asterix, Tour de France, & Dakar, ChefClub, Ubisoft, Crunchyroll, Sophie La Girafe, Cyber Group Studios, Bandai Namco Europe, Le Petit Prince and many more. And be sure to check out French Community Drinks from 17:30-18:00 on the BLE bar.
17. Art, design and image Licensing Zone brands and IP
Meet the winners of last year’s Kelvyn Gardner License This! competition — Joel Mercer and Sophie Jonas-Hill — plus exciting artists and illustrators including V&A Photography, Frida Kahlo and more.
18. A sporting life!
Don’t miss the huge array of sport brands in our Brands & Lifestyle Zone, including AC Milan, Admiral Sportswear, Chelsea FC, DFB German Football Association, Dorna Sports (Moto GP), FC Barcelona, FC Internazionale Milano, FC Porto, Federacao Portuguesa de Futebol, Formula E, Manchester City FC, McLaren, Rugby World Cup 2023, Sport Lisboa e Benfica, The FA, Tour de France, UEFA Club Competitions and WWE.
Moomin drinkwere
19. Cheers!
Mix and mingle for a celebratory drink at one of our networking events:
France Licensing Day Launch: Tuesday, September 20, 17:30, BLE Bar
Opening Night Drinks: Tuesday, September 20, 18:00-20:00, BLE Bar & Motul Bar
Exhibitor [only] Drinks: Wednesday, September 21, 18:00-20:00, Novotel
20. Aaaand relax…
The Wellness Lounge returns for attendees to enjoy some quiet space to work or take a break from the show floor. Water refill stations available.
21. The queen of arrivals…
Don’t forget that the Elizabeth line has now opened, making it quicker and easier than ever to get to ExCeL from east, west and central London. For information on travelling to ExCeL, click here.
22. NEW! Reimagined Licensing U program
Brilliant online and in-person content for BLE attendees from Licensing International, plus speed networking and mentoring (note there’s a cap of just 250 tickets for in-person content).
Please note: new show opening hours – 12-6 p.m. Tuesday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday. Find out more and register for a free ticket today at brandlicensing.eu.
Having just made its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sunday, Wendell & Wild is ready to cast a deviously delightful spell over theatergoers and streaming viewers this Halloween season.
While the stop-motion feature is carrying its 100% Fresh Rotten Tomatoes rating on the backs of just a handful of reviews (MetaCritic score TBD), the critical consensus is that of a modern horror tale with a complicated teen heroine that, while sometimes over-busy, is a welcome conjuring of Henry Selick (The Nightmare Before Christmas, Coraline) back to the director’s chair, augmented by co-writer/producer Jordan Peele’s (Nope, GetOut) gift for poignant social observation, and showcasing both filmmakers’ gifts for creepiness and comedy.
Wendell & Wild tells the story of Kat (voiced by Lyric Ross), a troubled teen haunted by her past, who must confront her personal demons, Wendell (Keegan-Michael Key) and Wild (Peele) to start a new life in her old hometown. The voice cast also features Angela Bassett, James Hong, Tantoo Cardinal and Ving Rhames. The movie will open in select theaters on October 21 before making its Netflix debut October 28.
You can read more about the making of Wendell & Wild in the November ’22 issue of Animation Magazine, available Oct. 5.
Here’s what critics are saying:
Wendell & Wild
“While not nearly as frightening as Coraline, it still is overflowing with ghosts and ghouls galore that are all beautifully realized. There are even some magnificent musical sequences that prove to be standouts …
Where this story goes is best experienced for yourself, though it is clear that Peele’s fingerprints are all over the production, and it is all the better for it. Wendell & Wild packs a healthy dose of skepticism for institutional corruption that routinely decimates lives from prisons to the corporations that run them. This makes a clear parallel between the ghoulishness of these systems and the demonic forces that live underneath them.”
— Chase Hutchinson, Collider
“… The gorgeously intricate, wondrous stop-motion landscape is ultimately pure Selick, imbued with a fitting color scheme of swirling, eerily glowing greens and purples choreographed against a mischievous score by Bruno Coulais that effectively sets the mood for the film’s pre-Halloween arrival.
And while there are admittedly a few laggy patches that could benefit from a little tightening, the production takes a refreshingly unorthodox path to the obligatory animated movie themes of family and friendship.”
— Michael Rechtshaffen, The Hollywood Reporter
“At the film’s center, Lyric Ross gives a snarling performance that brings to vivid life the pain Kat has suffered. Haunted by her past, she puts on a gruff front to keep others away, because her broken heart cannot endure any more grief. Selick illustrates her alienation with a goth-punk aesthetic … she stands out like a sore middle finger … Wendell & Wild is a heady trip through a spooky and suspenseful terrain, dotted with big emotions and big ideas. Some are more smoothly woven in than others, but all contribute to a tapestry that is boldly macabre, earnestly heartfelt, and visually astonishing.”
— Kristy Puchko, Mashable
Wendell & Wild
“Wendell & Wild struggles to find the balance between urgent reflections and childish antics, with its wide cast of characters … But the more characters Selick has to work with, the more room there is for his deliciously strange and comic visual craft. That’s what we’re here for, ain’t it? … And because he’s now working with Black characters, Selick and company also meet the opportunity to celebrate Black hair and its diverse styles and textures, including braids, bantu knots, those puffs and more. That’s perhaps the most beautiful thing about it.”
— Radheyan Simonpillai, The Guardian
“This is exactly the kind of family-friendly film that entertains grown-ups just as much as the younger viewers; Selick has infused a lot of personality into the visuals, which are captivating to watch from start to finish. The animation itself is, of course, gorgeous. We’ve never really had a Selick film that wasn’t stylish and expansive, but the 2022 Netflix film manages to top even 2009’s Coraline.”
— Sarah Milner, Slash Film
“Stop-motion animator Henry Selick has offered up a new goth heroine for three successive generations now: Gen X had Sally from The Nightmare Before Christmas, millennials got the titular Coraline of Coraline, and now Gen Z has Kat from Wendell & Wild … a 13-year-old Black girl with trauma in her past, green hair, and a pair of kick-ass combat boots.
… Even if Wendell & Wild, based on an unpublished novel Selick co-wrote, packs a little too much in, you can just sit back and enjoy the magic of Selick and his puppeteers’ visuals. It’s a good reminder of Selick’s visionary talent, and some of the creatures he has cooked up defy easy description.”
The English dub release of RWBY: Ice Queendom, the Japanese anime inspired by Rooster Teeth’s global hit animated series RWBY, will premiere on September 25 for U.S. audiences on Rooster Teeth FIRST and Crunchyroll, with new episodes premiering weekly.
Members of the original RWBY voice cast will reprise their characters in the RWBY: Ice Queendom English dub: Lindsay Jones as Ruby Rose, Kara Eberle as Weiss Schnee, Arryn Zech as Blake Belladonna, Barbara Dunkelman as Yang Xiao Long, Miles Luna as Jaune Arc, Samantha Ireland as Nora Valkyrie, Jen Brown as Pyrrha Nikos and Neath Oum as Lie Ren.
RWBY: Ice Queendom presents a new, 2D-animated story from RWBY: A series set in a world filled with horrific monsters bent on death and destruction, where humanity’s only hope rests on powerful Huntsmen and Huntresses. Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna and Yang Xiao Long are four such Huntresses-in-training whose journeys will take them far past the grounds of their school, Beacon Academy. Though each may be powerful on their own, these four girls must overcome dark forces and work as a team if they truly hope to become the next generation of Remnant’s protectors.
RWBY: Ice Queendom will establish the world of RWBY before taking viewers on a brand new adventure that RWBY fans have never seen.
Created by the late Monty Oum (Red vs. Blue), RWBY is one of Rooster Teeth’s most viewed and shared series. As the first Western-produced anime series to be distributed in Japan, RWBY episodes have accumulated more than 300 million views since the series premiered in 2013. The series has a global audience, and has been licensed for adaptation to video games, comic books, manga, young adult novels, collectible figures and more.
The core creative team behind RWBY: Ice Queendom is led by Gen Urobuchi (Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Fate/Zero), Tow Ubukata (Mardock Scramble, Tenchi: The Samurai Astronomer, Fafner in the Azure), huke (Black Rock Shooter, chitocerium, Steins;Gate) and Toshimasa Suzuki (Lagrange: The Flower of Rin-ne, Fafner in the Azure: Heaven and Earth), with additional collaboration from Rooster Teeth’s Kerry Shawcross, Eddy Rivas, and Erin Winn.
The new series is produced by Bandai Namco Filmworks Inc., Good Smile Company, SHAFT, Warner Bros. Japan, KLab Inc. and Rooster Teeth, animated by Studio SHAFT (Monogatari Series, Puella Magi Madoka Magica).
London-based kids’ entertainment outfit CAKE has teamed up with Canadian animation house Arcana Studios (Kagagi, Howard Lovecraft trilogy) on its comedy series My Brother the Monster, and is ready to unleash the family-friendly beast on buyers at MIPCOM in Cannes (Oct. 17-20).
Produced by Arcana Studios and Mexican production company Gasolina Studios, the 26 x 11′ series is aimed at viewers ages six to eight. CAKE comes on board as international distributor for My Brother the Monster.
“My Brother the Monster is a tale of friendship and inclusion,” says CAKE CEO Ed Galton. “We are excited to be working with Arcana Studios and Gasolina and are looking forward to introducing our partners and broadcasters to Petunia, Mombou and all their friends!”
Synopsis: Petunia’s ordinary summer becomes extraordinary when a cute ball-sized furry monster rockets down to Earth from outer space! As it turns out, Mombou, our cute furball is actually a nine-foot-tall monster who quickly becomes part of the family. Petunia and her ‘little big brother’ make the perfect team, however, when Mombou becomes worried, anxious or overwhelmed (which happens a lot, especially at school), he reverts back to his original small size. But Petunia and her classmates help Mombou feel secure, keeping him out of trouble as well as learning a lot from him, too!
“We’re excited about partnering with CAKE on this beautifully animated series. Arcana met with Gasolina just before everything shut down in 2020,” Arcana CEO Sean Patrick O’Reilly notes, “and I’m so very proud of what we accomplished as My Brother the Monster is a testament to everyone’s passion and talents as we adjusted and worked remotely from home.”
Gasolina’s CEO and series executive producer Joe Alanís adds, “The passion we have for this show has helped it be the first ever animated series in co-production between Mexico and Canada. Having the support from CAKE validates the effort of our amazing team.”
The character-driven series demonstrates values of acceptance and resilience. Mombou’s ability to grow and shrink depending on his emotions visually represents the challenges some children face and encourages them to support a sibling or friend who might be slightly different to themselves.
“I believe our main responsibility is to create safe and happy spaces for kids to engage with fantastic stories. My Brother The Monster is the type of content we want to create that is meaningful, emotional and human,” says series creator and showrunner Ernesto Molina.
Disney Branded Television, Disney Television Studios, Disney+, FX and Hulu are planning to take New York Comic Con by storm with 10 panels featuring stars and creators from upcoming and returning series at the Javits Center October 6-9.
Thursday, Oct. 6
1:30-2:30 p.m. – Big City Greens – We’re headed to the City! Join the cast and creators of the Disney Channel animated series Big City Greens. Get an opportunity to learn more about the show as they discuss their influences, answer fan questions and reveal an exclusive sneak peek! Room 405
3:00-4:00 p.m. – The Owl House – Hoot hoot! Join The Owl House creator/executive producer Dana Terrace and select cast members as they discuss the Peabody Award-winning animated series, the epic adventures that fans can expect ahead of its Season 3 premiere on Disney Channel and answer your burning questions. Room 405
4:30-5:30 p.m. – Koala Man – Head down under for Koala Man, a brand-new animated comedy from the creators of Rick and Morty and Pokémon Detective Pikachu coming to Hulu! Join creator, executive producer and the Koala himself, Michael Cusack, and executive producers Justin Roiland, Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit for the world premiere screening, followed by a Q&A to learn everything about what the suburban Aussie superhero is all about! Room 405
5:30-6:15 p.m. – The Paloni Show! Halloween Special! – Ghastly greetings! Join executive producers Justin Roiland and Ben Bayouth and star Zach Hadel to discuss their upcoming project on Hulu, The Paloni Show! Halloween Special!, while treating fans to an exclusive look at the Paloni family hosts and their favorite spooky shorts! Room 405
6:15-7:00 p.m. – Solar Opposites – Join our panel for an out-of-this-world conversation with co-creators and executive producers Justin Roiland and Mike McMahan, and executive producers Josh Bycel and Danielle Uhlarik, who will discuss Season 3 and the newly release Halloween special on Hulu, as well as what the Solars have to come, including an exclusive look at Season 4 and exciting news. Room 405
Saturday, Oct. 8
5:30-6:30 p.m. – Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur – Moon Girl Magic! Join the cast and creative team behind Disney Branded Television’s highly anticipated animated series Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, ahead of its 2023 premiere on Disney Channel and Disney+, for a conversation about this innovative action-comedy series centered on African American teen girl super hero, Lunella Lafayette (a.k.a. Moon Girl), and her 10-ton T-Rex, Devil Dinosaur. Room 405
Sunday, Oct. 9
11:00-12:00 p.m. – The Muppets Mayhem – It’s time to play the music! Coming to Disney+ in 2023, The Muppets Mayhem is a brand-new series that, for the first time in the Muppets’ over 65-year history, focuses on the legendary Electric Mayhem band as they maneuver their way through the music world of Los Angeles with one goal — to finally record their first album. Join the “human” stars of the series — Lilly Singh, Tahj Mowry and Saara Chaudry — as well as co-creators and executive producers Adam F. Goldberg, Jeff Yorkes and Bill Barretta for exciting news, exclusive footage and more! Main Stage
AMC Network’s Houston-based anime and Japanese film/TV streamer HIDIVE announced today that it has acquired exclusive rights to The Eminence in Shadow, the anime adaptation of Daisuke Aizawa’s hilarious isekai light novel series of the same name (published in English by Yen Press), which has sold over 1.5 million copies since its publication. The series will premiere on HIDIVE this fall.
Synopsis: Some people just aren’t suited to playing the part of the flashy, in-your-face hero or the dastardly, mustache-twirling villain with larger-than-life panache. Instead, they operate in the shadows and pull the strings of society through wit and cleverness. That’s the role Cid wants to play when he’s transported to another world. Cid spins a yarn or three and becomes the unlikely leader of the underground Shadow Garden organization that fights against a menacing cult (which he totally made up). However, there’s a catch even his wild imagination didn’t see coming: the cult he concocted actually exists, and they’re beyond displeased that his power fantasy just got in the way of their evil plans!
The series is produced by studio Nexus (Granbelm, Chivalry of a Failed Knight) with Kazuya Nakanishi (animation director of Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World) serving as series director. Makoto Iino (Suppose a Kid from the Last Dungeon Boonies Moved to a Starter Town) handles character design while Kanichi Kato (Black Clover) provides series composition.
The series stars Seiichiro Yamashita (Gatsby Colbert in How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom) as Cid Kagenou/Shadow, Kana Hanazawa (Seiryu Ubiquitous in Akame ga Kill!) as Alexia Midgar, Yoko Hikasa (Farnese in Berserk) as Iris Midgar, Asami Seto (Nobara Kugisaki in Jujutsu Kaisen) as Alpha, Inori Minase (Jeanne in The Case Study of Vanitas) as Beta, Suzuko Mimori (Hikari Kagura in Revue Starlight) as Gamma, Fairouz Ai (Jolyne Kujo in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean) as Delta, Hisako Kanemoto (Hinano Kurahashi in Assassination Classroom) as Epsilon, Ayaka Asai (Lisa Isaribi in Fire Force) as Zeta and Reina Kondo (Ronie Arabel in Sword Art Online: Alicization) as Eta.
HIDIVE (Facebook / Twitter) offers an extensive library of movies and series as well as brand new titles from Japan in simulcast and exclusive DUBCAST versions, available on a range of platforms including web browsers, smartphones, TVs, streaming devises and gaming consoles. Find more info or sign up for a free seven-day trial at hidive.com.
Studio 100 Media, one of the leading independent studios for kids & family entertainment, has signed an agreement with the BBC for the CGI comedy-adventure series Vegesaurs (20 x 5’).
Produced by independent Australian producer Cheeky Little Media in association with the Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC), France TV and Studio 100, the mighty ‘Vegesaurs’ will make their debut on CBeebies and BBC iPlayer later this year.
Based on a concept created by Gary Eck and Nick O’Sullivan and targeted at upper preschoolers, the series is a snackable take on the dinosaur genre with unique vegetable and fruit-shaped characters.
Vegesaurs are the juiciest and crunchiest creatures ever to rule the planet in a colorful prehistoric era. The young Tricarrotops Ginger lives in Vegesaur Valley, a little garden of Eden bathed in sunlight with nutrient-rich soil, lush vegetation and even temperatures… A perfect patch that a rich ecosystem of the Vegesaurs call home.
Each episode is a standalone mini adventure driven by Ginger and her friends, the baby Pea-Rexes. The stories lean into relatable themes for upper preschoolers like, sharing, friendships and play.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with CBeebies for this amazing series and that they share our enthusiasm for these outstanding and fun characters,” said Martin Krieger, CEO at Studio 100 Media. “This collaboration underlines the quality of the show, and the BBC is the perfect partner to deliver Vegesaurs to kids in the U.K. We are also excited to announce a number of additional partners very soon.”
Netflix has revealed the official trailer, key art and premiere date for its upcoming sci-fi/horror original anime exception, baed on an original story by Hirotaka Adachi (Zoo,Goth, Kids, Calling You), a.k.a. Otsuichi, and featuring characters designs by Final Fantasy illustrator Yoshitaka Amano (Gatchaman, Casshan, Vampire Hunter D). This tale of terror set in space, ‘…where there is no escape,’ premieres October 13.
exception [Netflix]
exception [Netflix]
exception [Netflix]
exception [Netflix]
The streamer also announced that exception will feature music composed by Oscar and Grammy winner Ryuichi Sakamoto. “I’ve always liked science fiction and when I read the script, it made me want to see it visualized so I decided to participate,” said the world-renowned musician.
“We live in a time when cloning and other gene manipulation technology is advanced but the questions that arise here are, ‘What is life?’ or ‘What is humanity?’ This [series] deals with these kinds of questions head on,” Sakamoto explained. “I wanted to make the main theme song be a symphonic piece — the kind that has become a staple for sci-fi since Star Wars. I made the soundtrack as a whole be darkly ambient and worked towards making the entire soundtrack feel like one piece of music rather than separate by scene. That said, I did include a degree of harsh sounds in the fighting scenes. I was able to make a soundtrack that I like very much.”
“What is a human?”
Every life is precious – there are no exceptions.
Synopsis: In the far future, humanity has been driven from Earth and forced to move its population to another galaxy. Members of a scouting team are sent to search for a planet suitable for terraforming. The crew was created through a biological 3D printer, but a system malfunction causes one of the crew members, Lewis, to emerge in a deformed state. As Lewis turns on his fellow crew members Nina, Mack, Patty and Oscar, a countdown to the end of the mission begins in the frightening darkness of the ship.
English/Japanese voice cast:
Lewis: Nolan North / Chikahiro Kobayashi
Mack: Robbie Daymond / Takahiro Sakurai
Nina: Ali Hillis / Yuko Kaida
Oscar: Eugene Byrd / Takanori Hoshino
Patty: Nadine Nicole / Atsumi Tanezaki
Produced by Tatsunoko Production’s Bakken Record and Studio 5, exception is directed by Yuzo Sato (Sakura Wars,Naruto: The Cross Roads,Marvel Future Avengers).
Good news, Rickstronauts: The Season 6 premiere episode of Rick and Morty, “Solaricks,” is launching for free streaming on Adult Swim’s YouTube channel in the U.S. and select global territories, available until September 27. S6 continues to unleash Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland’s particular brand of animated multiverse madness around the world (read about the creators’ takes on the new season here).
Viewership for the Emmy-winning show continues to grow in the U.S. since its premiere early this month. After only three days post-premiere, the first episode of Season 6 of Rick and Morty saw +57% growth in delivery with delayed viewing three days after its September 4 launch, bringing its overall delivery to 1,033,000 viewers (Persons 2+).
The premiere episode saw similar gains across key adult viewers, with Adults 18-24 up +55% (90K), 18-34 +60% (335K), 18-49 up +65% (713K) and 25-54 +65% (731K). These delayed viewing gains skewed slightly higher with males, but even female audience grew by almost +50%.
The premiere episode saw similar gains across key adult viewers, with Adults 18-24 up +55% (90K), 18-34 +60% (335K), 18-49 up +65% (713K), and 25-54 +65% (731K). These delayed viewing gains skewed slightly higher with males, but even female audience grew by almost +50%.*
Debuting in 112 countries in 38 languages, Rick and Morty also captured substantial international viewership. It is the best performing animated show on HBO Max in Europe since the platform launched and in the top 10 best performing series overall of the shows that launched in Europe this year. HBO Max in Latin America reported a Rick and Mortyviewership growth of over 500% in the week following the debut of the season six premiere episode on the service.
Yesterday marked the official conclusion of the global Rick and Morty#WORMAGEDDON immersive fan experience which galvanized fans both online and in-person to partake in a special “living episode” of their favorite show. Since the first build was revealed in Mexico City on August 20, over 100,000 fans showed up in-person to one or more of the 14 unique scenes that were spotted on six continents.
Additionally, fans at home were also able to follow along with the global adventure via a series of custom animated shorts about the origins of #WORMAGEDDON including [A Citadel Secret], [A Journey to Earth], [Threat Level: Wormageddon] and [Wormageddon: Final Showdown] alongside original videos featuring each build. As of today, the original #WORMAGEDDON video content has received a combined total of over 75 million global views and counting.
“It’s so satisfying to see people around the world showing up, literally in-person this time, for this new season of Rick and Morty,” said Michael Ouweleen, President of Adult Swim and Cartoon Network. “It speaks volumes about the talent and care that go into making this amazing series.”
With some fans traveling to multiple countries to visit different unique builds, and nine lucky fans winning the treasure hunt to receive a coveted life size, golden “Rick” head, #WORMAGEDDON reached Rick and Morty fans in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands, the Philippines, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom and several cities in the United States.
“It’s absolutely electrifying to the witness the Rick and Morty fan community from different countries around the world coming together to celebrate this series” said Tricia Melton, Chief Marketing Officer for Warner Bros. Discovery Kids, Young Adults and Classics group. “We knew the power of the Rick and Morty fandom, but it’s still nothing short of astounding to find how many fans took the time to visit one of our 14 custom builds in person, or to follow the adventure online.”
New episodes of Rick and Morty debut in the U.S. on Sundays at 11 p.m. ET/PT on Adult Swim. Season 6 premieres continue throughout September in the U.K. (E4, All 4), Germany (Warner TV Comedy, Vodafone Giga TV), France (Adult Swim) and in all markets where HBO Max is available in Europe.
#WORMAGEDDON in The Netherlands
*Source: Nielsen NNTV, Live+3 vs L+SD, Sunday 9/4/22, Total Day (6a-6a), Based on Delivery, Individual Telecasts across all Cable
Italian animation, VFX, games and CG gathering VIEW Conference is ready to launch its 2022 edition, taking place from October 16-21 in the baroque city of Torino as well as online.
The full 2022 program is now online, available to browse by topic or by speaker. The organizers note they are especially pleased to welcome a majority of these esteemed creatives and technical experts to the live in-person event this year.
A new session with director Robert Zemeckis has also been added. The Oscar-winning helmer will join VFX supervisor Kevin Baillie in a virtual conversation about the making of his latest film, Pinocchio, for Walt Disney Studios (now streaming on Disney+).
Additional highlights of this year’s speakers and presentations lineup include:
Ramsey Naito, President of Nickelodeon/Paramount
Kristine Belson, President of Sony Pictures Animation
Peter Ramsey, director at Netflix Animation (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse / Lost Ollie)
Steve May, Chief Technology Officer at Pixar
Rob Bredow, CCO at Industrial Light & Magic
Love, Death + Robots – Night of the Mini Dead – BUCK creative directors Robert Bisi & Andy Lyon
The Sandman – with Raphaël Letertre, Rodeo FX CG supervisor
Entergalactic – DNEG’s David Prescott, Archie Donato & Kapil Sharma
PLUS Jurassic World Dominion, Thor: Love and Thunder, Westworld, Lightyear, Turning Red, The Sea Beast, My Father’s Dragon and much more.
See the full list of speakers for VIEW Conference 2022 here.
Students and professionals will be able to participate in VIEW Conference’s recruitment fair, an opportunity to pitch their talents to major game and movie studios, show their reels and meet their mentors. Recruiters include Industrial Light & Magic, Framestore, Alps Studios, Trixter, Axis Studios, El Ranchito, Rotomaker and others.
Tickets are now available for VIEW Conference 2022; register at viewconference.it.
Emmy Award-winning French animation production and distribution company Dandelooo will be unveiling its new 2D animated TV project A Day with the Dogs to potential industry partners at this year’s Cartoon Forum in Toulouse (September 19-22).
Adapted from the book series Les Toutous by Dorothée de Monfreid — published by l’école des loisirs and printed in numerous countries and languages including English, Italian, Spanish, German, Chinese and Japanese, to name a few — A Day with the Dogs (78 x 7’) is a character-driven comedy series aimed at four- to seven-year-old viewers.
Directed by Cédric Guarneri and co-produced by Dandelooo and Barcelona-based audiovisual production company Teidees, the series follows the doggy adventures of a good natured Saint Bernard named Popov, who does his best to take care of his younger doggy cousins during their visits … little does he know how much trouble they’re going to get him into!
Popov lives on his own in a big house by the sea. His idea of a perfect life? Enjoying the peace and quiet of the countryside, tending his vegetable patch and listening to music. Except that whenever the holidays come around, Popov becomes a nanny to his young cousins — eight ebullient pups, bursting with energy — and it’s goodbye to his quiet life!
Despite being very different in appearance and nature, this explosive pack of pooches are united by their youthful insouciance and considerable naivety. The pups have always got an idea in mind, a surprise in store and a wish to fulfil. But the consequences of their adventures are inevitably borne … by Popov! Probably due to the fact that he never gets angry, the pups love to drive their big cousin crazy. Their desire to play always prevails over his instructions and advice. And as for Popov, he only wants one thing: for his cousins to be happy.
“We are very proud that the talented and successful creator, Dorothée de Monfreid, has chosen Dandelooo as the producer for her first adaptation to an animated series,” said Dandelooo co-Founder Emmanuèle Pétry. “A Day with the Dogs (Les Toutous), rooted in the Normandy countryside, has a worldwide appeal thanks to the character driven stories about a bunch of cousins on holiday. They are such lucky kids to enjoy this perfect vacation … well, almost perfect!”
Today, ASIFA-Hollywood announced its Call for Entries for the 50th Annie Awards. Honoring excellence in the field of animation, the Annies will return in-person to UCLA’s Royce Hall on Saturday, February 25, 2023.
The 50th Annie Awards covers 37 categories including a new one — Best TV/Media – Limited Series — as well as Animated Feature, Animated Feature – Independent, TV/Media Production, Sponsored Production, Short Subject and Student Films, along with Achievement and Honorary awards.
To review this year’s rules and submit your projects, visit my.asifa-hollywood.org. Entries submitted for consideration will be from animated productions that were released in the United States between January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022. Exceptions, which can submit with or without U.S. releases, are short subjects, special projects, sponsored productions, student films and grand prize winners from Annie Award-qualifying festivals.
Submissions close on Tuesday, December 13, 2022, at 5 p.m. PST.
“This is our 50th Annie Awards, our golden anniversary and the first time in nearly three years that we will once again be live, in person. We are planning to pull out all the stops!” says Frank Gladstone, ASIFA’s executive director and the Annie Awards executive producer. “It is amazing to think back to the first Annies, when our beloved June Foray was assured that ‘no one would show up’ … and 600 people did.
“Since then, ASIFA-Hollywood and the Annie Awards have grown in stature and influence, fulfilling our mission to celebrate animation and the people who create it, not only for one brilliant night a year at Royce Hall, but throughout the year for the growing animation community, locally and worldwide.”
Important deadline for the 50th Annie Awards:
The deadline to become an Annie Awards Sponsor is Saturday, January
28, 2023.
The deadline to reserve advertising space in the program book is Monday, January 30, 2023.
The deadline to join ASIFA-Hollywood or to renew membership, and to submit voting applications to participate in voting is Saturday, December 31, 2022, 11:59 p.m., PST.
Now through October 18, 2022, ASIFA-Hollywood is also conducting its Call for Judges. All judges, whether they have applied in the past or are enrolling for the first time, will need to submit a new application. To be considered for a nominating committee, judges do not need to be a member of ASIFA-Hollywood but must have an established career in animation and exemplary professional credentials in at least one of the Annie Award categories.
September 12 also kicks off ASIFA-Hollywood’s Call for the honorary Juried Award Nominations, now through November 14, 2022, and its Annual Membership Drive which will continue through December 31, 2022.
Created in 1972 by veteran voice talent June Foray, and in whose name the philanthropic June Foray Award was established, the Annie Awards have grown in scope and stature for the past five decades. ASIFA-Hollywood is the world’s first and foremost professional organization dedicated to promoting the Art of Animation and celebrating the people who create it.
Today, ASIFA-Hollywood, the largest chapter of the Association Internationale du Film d’Animation (International Animated Film Association), supports a range of animation activities and preservation efforts through its membership. Current initiatives include the Animation Archive, Animation Aid Foundation, Animation Educators Forum, animated film preservation, special events, scholarships and screenings.
The Mane Five are hoofing it back to Netflix to make more ponyriffic magic in My Little Pony: Make Your Mark, Chapter 2. A New trailer and key art for this next installment of the CG animated Hasbro series dropped today, with new episodes launching September 26.
Synopsis: Magic has finally returned to Equestria thanks to Sunny Starscout and her new friends! The Pegasi can fly and the Unicorns can use levitation again… and the Earth Ponies have activated their own special magic for the very first time in history. It’s a whole new world! Which is exhilarating… but, well, also a little scary and strange. And now that Sunny is an Alicorn with powers, there’s a lot to figure out.
My Little Pony: Make Your Mark will explore the rules of this growing magic while the Mane 5 get to know themselves on their own journeys of self-discovery. Living together for the first time, the ponies must navigate a new normal living in a society that has recently undergone a massive, life-changing shift. The relatability of this new reality is the perfect springboard to tell relatable, fresh stories that will appeal to this generation of emotionally tuned-in viewers and all of the things they are going through in a world that has been forever changed.
And as the Mane 5 explore the rules of magic and discover about themselves in the process, the series will focus in on the existing lands of Maretime Bay, Bridlewood, and Zephyr Heights. It will delve deeper into their individual backstories, their hobbies and jobs (whether it be sheriff, smoothie-cart owner, or detective princess), familial relationships (Pipp & Zipp’s sisterhood), and journeys to find exactly what makes each of them “sparkle.”
A diverse and adorable supporting bunch of Unicorns, Pegasi, and Earth Ponies who are all adjusting to life with magic in their own ways make up a colorful cast. But a typical episode might center around the Mane 5 helping one another with a magical mystery, juggling responsibilities and friendships, or learning more about each other’s different species’ cultural customs. All while resisting the plan of an evil villain who hopes to steal it all away from them.
My Little Pony: Make Your Mark features the voices of Maitreyi Ramakrishnan as Zipp, Jenna Warren as Sunny, JJ Gerber as Hitch, Ana Sani as Izzy, AJ Bridel as Pipp and Bahia Watson as Misty.
The series was developed by Gillian Berrow. Cort Lane is executive producer and Tristan Homer is co-exec producer. William Lau (The Last Kids on Earth; Monster High and Barbie animated movie franchises) is supervising director.
Crunchyroll has announced it will release the highly-anticipated One Piece Film Red in theaters in Australia and New Zealand on November 3 and in the United States and Canada on November 4, which will follow on the heels of the movie’s October 13 release in Austria and Germany.
Produced by Toei Animation and One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda, One Piece Film Red is the 15th film from the hit global franchise and now its highest grossing theatrical release, earning over $93 million (as of September 8) at the box office in Japan since premiering there on August 6.
Tickets for Australia and New Zealand are scheduled to go on sale on October 5, with North American tickets available starting October 6. The movie will be presented in both subtitled and dubbed versions in theaters. For more information, visit onepiece-filmred.com.
Ahead of the film’s theatrical opening, Crunchyroll and Toei Animation will host separate subtitled and dub premieres in Australia and the U.S. In Australia, a limited number of lucky fans will be able to experience the subtitled premiere as part of Crunchyroll Expo Australia on Friday, September 16 (crunchyrollexpo.com.au). In the U.S., the North American premiere will be held on Thursday, October 6 in New York, to coincide with New York Comic Con.
One Piece Film Red
One Piece Film Red
One Piece Film Red
One Piece Film Red
One Piece Film Red
One Piece Film Red
Executive produced by franchise creator Oda, One Piece Film Red is directed by Goro Taniguchi (One Piece Defeat Him! The Pirate Ganzack! OVA) and written by Tsutomu Kuroiwa (One Piece Film: Gold).
Produced by Toei Animation and based on the top-selling manga title of all time, One Piece features an epic quest to find “One Piece,” the legendary treasure of the former King of the Pirates, Gol D. Roger. One Piece’s global pop culture status is the crowning achievement for this anime franchise, which encompasses theatrical films, home videos, video games and an ever-expanding catalog of licensed merchandise that includes accessories, toys, novelties, furniture, housewares and apparel.
One Piece Film Red
One Piece Film Red
One Piece Film Red
One Piece Film Red
One Piece Film Red
One Piece Film Red
Synopsis: Uta — the most beloved singer in the world whose voice has been described as “otherworldly” — is renowned for concealing her own identity when performing. Now, for the first time ever, she will reveal herself to the world at a live concert.
With the Navy watching closely, the venue fills with Uta’s fans — including excited pirates and the Straw Hats led by Luffy, who simply came to enjoy her sonorous performance — all eagerly awaiting the voice that the whole world has been waiting for to resound. The story begins with the shocking revelation that she is the enigmatic Shanks’ daughter.
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