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Heart-warming good times are in store for anime fans starting this January: AMC Network’s anime platform HIDIVE revealed that the new slice-of-life drama Flower and Asura will stream exclusively in North America, U.K., Ireland, Australia and New Zealand as part of its slate of Winter 2025 simulcasts next year. The series is adapted from the manga by Ayano Takeda, author of Sound! Euphonium.
“We’re excited to add Flower and Asura to our exclusive line-up of Winter 2025 simulcast series,” said John Ledford, President of HIDIVE. “This new slice of life drama based on a work of Ayano Takeda, beloved creator of Sound! Euphonium, will be a heart-warming celebration of friendship and fans will not want to miss a single episode of Flower and Asura!”
Synopsis: On the picturesque island of Tonakijima with a population of only 600, Hana’s favorite pastime is reading literature to the island’s children. Her narration skills are second to none, and Mizuki, the president of the school’s broadcasting club immediately recognizes Hana’s ability to engage with others and draw them into her recitations. Invited by Mizuki to join the club, Hana embarks on a journey to discover her true love of reading — and maybe even change the course of her life along the way.
Flower and Asura stars Minori Fujidera as Hana, Miyuri Shimabukuro as Mizuki, Fuka Izumi as Anne, Shoya Chiba as Shudai, Seiichiro Yamashita as Matsuyuki, Kiyono Yasuno as Ryoko and Taito Ban as Setaro.
Written by Takeda and illustrated by Musshu, Flower and Asura (Hana wa Saku, Shura no Gotoku) launched in 2021 in Shueisha’s Ultra Jump and currently spans seven volumes. The anime adaptation features series composition by well-known writer Kazuyuki Fudeyasu (Monster, NANA, Black Clover, Hajime no Ippo) and is directed by Ayumu Uwano (Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation, Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina, Magical Sempai). The series is produced by Studio Bind.
The Critics Choice Awards announced the nominees for the 30th annual awards, which will be exec produced by Bob Bain Productions and Berlin Entertainment. Wicked and Conclave led the live-action prizes with 11 noms each. The following five movies were nominated for in the Best Animated Feature category:
Flow (directed by Gints Zilbalodis) Sideshow/Janus Films
Inside Out 2 (directed by Kelsey Mann) Disney/Pixar
Memoir of a Snail (directed by Adam Elliot) IFC Films
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (directed by Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham) Aardman Animations/Netflix
The Wild Robot (directed by Chris Sanders) DreamWorks/Universal
Zilbalodis’ Flow was also nominated in the Best Foreign Film category, while The Wild Robot was also nominated for Best Song and Best Music for its memorable score by Kris Boyers and best song — “Kiss the Sky” by Maren Morris.
The Critics Choice awards choices mirrored the animation nominees for the Golden Globes, with the exception of Disney’s Moana 2.
Six movies will be competing In the Visual Effects Category:
Gladiator II. Mark Bakowski, Pietro Ponti, Nikki Penny, Neil Corbould
Wicked.Pablo Helman, Jonathan Fawkner, Paul Corbould, David Shirk
Dune: Part Two. Paul Lambert, Stephen James, Rhys Salcombe, Gerd Nefzer
Better Man. Luke Millar, David Clayton, Keith Herft, Peter Stubbs – Better Man
The Substance. Visual Effects Team (to be determined)
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Erik Winquist, Stephen Unterfranz, Paul Story, Rodney Burke
The nominees for Best Animated Series were previously announced. They are:
Bluey (Disney+, series premiered 2018) — Third consecutive nomination
In the week leading up to Christmas, classic animation fans can tune in to MeTV’s weekday morning show Toon in with Me for a festival of light-hearted fun with their favorite characters: A Very Merry Toon in with Me!
Kicking off with a Holiday Countdown on December 16, the seasonal programming hosted by cartoon curator Bill and his puppet co-host, Toony the Tuna, airs Monday to Friday through to December 25, from 7-8 a.m. ET/PT.
Warming up for the official unwrapping, Animation Magazine has exclusive clips from the festive episodes, which you can watch at the bottom of this post!
Looney Tunes – Snow Business
Monday, December 16
“Holiday Countdown”
Bill & Toony start their countdown to Christmas by knocking things off of Bill’s holiday to-do list. Bill learns gift wrapping tips and tricks from Hillary Vincent, owner of Ribbons and Strings, and Bill & Toony welcome back pastry chef, Casey Doody, who shares an easy no-bake holiday cookie recipe.
Featured cartoons include:
Looney Tunes “Bedtime for Sniffles”
Looney Tunes “Snow Business”
Looney Tunes “A Gander at Mother Goose”
Walter Lantz “Deep Freeze Squeeze”
Looney Tunes “Spaced Out Bunny”
Tuesday, December 17
“Toy Soldiers”
Toony surprises Bill with a nostalgic gift reminiscent of his childhood, and a special performance of selections from The Nutcracker by Ballet Chicago.
Featured cartoons include:
Color Rhapsody “Gifts from the Air”
Looney Tunes “A Street Cat Named Sylvester”
Walter Lantz “I’m Cold”
Looney Tunes “Toytown Hall”
Looney Tunes “Hare Force”
Looney Tunes – Gift Wrapped
Wednesday, December 18
“The Gift of the Toon Guys”
Bill and Toony re-enact a classic Christmas tale.
Featured cartoons include:
Looney Tunes “Gift Wrapped”
Looney Tunes “Busy Bakers”
Walter Lantz “Hay Rube”
Walter Lantz “Home Sweet Homewrecker”
Tom & Jerry “Heavenly Puss”
Thursday, December 19
“A Festive Journey”
Bill and Toony set out on a festive journey to experience holiday traditions around the world.
Featured cartoons include:
MGM “The Pups Christmas”
Walter Lantz “Robinson Gruesome”
Popeye “Seasin’s Greetinks”
Looney Tunes “Holiday for Shoestrings”
MGM “One Ham’s Family”
Friday, December 20
“Mr. Quizzer’s Baby Blue Christmas”
Mr. Quizzer hosts his first Christmas special featuring an ice sculpture from Nadeau’s Ice Sculptures.
Featured cartoons include:
Looney Tunes “Daffy Duck Hunt!”
Walter Lantz “Swiss Mis-Fit”
Looney Tunes “Freeze Frame”
Walter Lantz “Seal on the Loose”
Looney Tunes “Kitty Kornered”
A Very Merry Toon in with Me, featuring Tommy the Real Elf
Monday, December 23
“North Pole Pals”
Bill and Toony set out on a magical journey to the North Pole where they meet Santa’s head elf, Tommy the Real Elf (from Shark Tank) and Santa himself.
Featured cartoons include:
Looney Tunes “Snow Excuse”
Walter Lantz “Sleepy Time Bear”
Tom & Jerry “The Peachy Cobbler”
Looney Tunes “Snowtime for Comedy”
Walter Lantz “Ski for Two”
Tuesday, December24
“Toony’s Really Really Late Christmas Eve Show”
Toony hosts his very own Christmas Eve special featuring Mr. and Mrs. Claus and a performance by Northwestern University’s a cappella group, Freshman 15.
Featured cartoons include:
Tom & Jerry “The Night Before Christmas”
Popeye “Mister and Mistletoe”
MGM “Polar Pest”
Looney Tunes “Hopalong Casualty”
Looney Tunes “The Abominable Snow Bunny”
Looney Tunes – Bugs Bunny’s Christmas Carol
Wednesday, December25
“A Merry Christmas to All”
Bill and Toony celebrate Christmas morning with classic cartoons, and Bill shares a warm holiday drink recipe.
Featured cartoons include:
Looney Tunes “Bugs Bunny’s Christmas Carol”
Walter Lantz “Hot and Cold Penguin”
Walter Lantz “Pantry Panic”
Looney Tunes “Strangled Eggs”
Looney Tunes “The Fright Before Christmas”
Exclusive Clips:
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Hulu has debuted the official trailer for Season 2 of its original kids’ animated series The Bravest Knight, which debuts with all six episodes on the streamer this Friday, December 13. The series, which was just honored by the inaugural Velma Awards for LGBTQIA+ representation in kids & family media, is created by Daniel Errico and directed by Shabnam Rezaei, co-founder of producer Big Bad Boo Studios.
Synopsis: Cedric, a pumpkin farmer turned knight, has embarked on many quests — from saving towns to defeating monsters. Now he’s started a new chapter with his prince charming and their daughter Nia, who aspires to become a knight just like him. Cedric has battled trolls, witches, and even dragons … but his greatest challenge yet? Teaching Nia how to navigate the path to knighthood while being true to one’s self.
The streamer recently debuted first-look images for Season 2 and announced new guest stars including Wallace Shawn, Cynthia Nixon and Nina West, who join series regulars T.R. Knight (Sir Cedric), Wilson Cruz (Prince Andrew), Bobby Moynihan (Grunt), Millie Davis (Nia), Christine Baranski (Red Dragon), Margaret Cho, Steven Weber (Head Knight), Alan Cumming (Sheriff Reginald), Tan France, Jane Lynch (Lug Lug), Alyssa Milano, Emily Hampshire and Teri Polo (Saylor).
Santa Claus gets a helping hand from Sonic the Hedgehog, Tails and Knuckles in a new short, A Very Sonic Christmas, released to YouTube by Paramount Pictures today in the lead-up to Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (in theaters December 20).
The stop-motion piece pays homage to the holiday classics crafted by Rankin/Bass, and was animated by Stoopid Buddy Stoodios (Robot Chicken). David H. Brooks (Mickey Saves Christmas, The Predator Holiday Special) directs, and the feature film voice stars reprise their roles: Ben Schwartz as Sonic, Keanu Reeves as Shadow, Idris Elba as Knuckles and Colleen O’Shaughnessey as Tails, with Adam Pally, who plays Wade Whipple in the franchise, as Santa.
Directed once again by Jeff Fowler, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 sees Sonic, Knuckles and Tails reunite against a powerful new adversary, Shadow — a mysterious villain with powers unlike anything they have faced before. With their abilities outmatched in every way, Team Sonic must seek out an unlikely alliance in hopes of stopping Shadow and protecting the planet.
Creator platform Tongal, established with a mission to democratize content creation through its network of 160,000 creators for hire across 175 countries, announces it has surpassed $100 million in earnings for its members. The “studio on demand” was notably tapped to help produce the Pharrell Williams animated biopic Piece By Piece.
“As a platform built on the principle of meritocracy, hitting the $100M milestone is more than a number — it’s a testament to the incredible talent of our community and the industry’s growing recognition of their power,” Co-Founder & CEO James DeJulio told Deadline. “Tongal has been transforming the who and how of production, giving creators the opportunities, tools and connections to build the future of content and storytelling.”
The exec added that 10 of Tongal’s most successful creators have earned over $1 million each through the platform, while hundreds more have earned over $100,000 through their collaborations with studios, producers and brands.
Piece By Piece was the first major film made with Tongal, enlisting 100 of its creators to work with Pharrell’s I Am Other, Focus Features and director Academy Award-winner Morgan Neville. Tongal talent helped create the film from the initial storyboard and pitch stages through to development and marketing.
Tongal creators have also contributed to notable projects including the LEGO World Builder creation platform (2020), Disney/Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: Go Rogue miniseries (2016) and recreations of iconic Jurassic Park scenes for its 25th anniversary (2018).
The platform was established in 2009, and its first major studio project was Universal’s MacGruber at SXSW in 2010. On the heels of this $100M earnings milestone, the company is poised to enter IP creation next year.
American Cinema Editors (ACE) announced today the nominations for the 75th Annual ACE Eddie Awards, recognizing outstanding editing in 14 categories of film, television and documentaries. The winners will be announced live during the ACE Eddie Awards on Saturday, January 18, 2025 at UCLA’s Royce Hall.
This year, the ACE Eddie Awards have nominated five films in the Animated Feature category as well as three shows for Animated Series.
As previously announced, Jon M. Chu will receive the ACE Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year Award, recognizing a filmmaker who exemplifies distinguished achievement in the art and business of film, while film editors Maysie Hoy, ACE and Paul Hirsch, ACE will receive Career Achievement Awards for their outstanding contributions to film editing.
Note: A previous version of the statement incorrectly stated that the Board voted unanimously to ratify the contract. The below statement has been corrected.
The Animation Guild Executive Board has released the following statement to its members in regard to the tentative agreement between The Animation Guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).
The statement follows reports in entertainment industry trades that three members of the Negotiating Committee — The Mitchells vs. the Machines director Mike Rianda, Spirit Rangers staff writer Joey Clift and Final Space staff writer Kelly Lynne D’Angelo — “posted on social media that they personally will be voting ‘no’ on the tentative contract” due to concerns that the new generative AI provisions did not offer strong enough protection to animation workers.
Statement from TAG Executive Board:
“The Animation Guild Executive Board voted unanimously to recommend ratification of the tentative agreement that you are voting on. We believe this agreement is the strongest contract the Union has negotiated in the last decade with significant craft improvements, substantial wage increases, and critical new protections. The Executive Board supports the agreement because Guild members as a whole stand to greatly benefit from its terms, across all crafts. As elected leaders, the Executive Board acts on behalf of the members we work with day to day, in hopes to secure a robust future for animation workers.
Unfortunately, there is a misleading media story giving a small minority an outsized voice suggesting lack of support for this contract. Out of 29 Negotiations Committee (NC) table team members, an overwhelming majority voted to reach tentative agreement and recommend ratification. More than 90% of the NC table team recognized the strength of this contract, given our leverage.
Generative AI is a complex and deeply concerning issue for our industry, and we recognize the passion and apprehension it has sparked among our members. We are absolutely committed to protecting our industry. It’s also important to understand that union contracts alone cannot solve this challenge, as seen in the recent contracts of other entertainment unions with far larger memberships and leverage than our own. Real long-term change requires broader solutions, alongside the GenAI guardrails we have gained in this contract. Changes include those within the Union — enforcement of existing protections, lobbying through TAG’s AI Watchdog Committee, organizing studios across the U.S. — and beyond, such as robust government regulations, public support for human-made work, and tax incentives that support human creativity.
Our job is to ensure members are protected and have a voice in shaping the future. The current agreement achieves this by incorporating AI safeguards, closing loopholes in New Media rates, and enhancing worker rights. It also secures outsized wage increases, with a retroactive 7% first-year boost across minimum rates and substantial gains for specific crafts, including a 25% increase for writers and wage parity for Color Designers, among other improvements.
This contract balances progress with leverage, addressing challenges and delivering meaningful gains that we have been working on for years during numerous contract cycles. We trust our members will see this as a significant step forward and vote yes to ratify the agreement.
Please reach out to us with any questions at e-board@tag839.org.”
The Animation Guild, Local 839 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), was founded in 1952. The labor union represents more than 5,000 artists, technicians, writers and production workers in the animation industry, advocating for workers to improve wages and conditions.
Kids’ entertainment specialist CAKE has announced a partnership with L.A.-based mental health app Headspace and Unicorn Island Productions on The Mindful Adventures of Unicorn Island. The 10 x 11-minute kids’ & family animated series is aimed at five- to eight-year olds and a co-viewing audience.
Incorporating mindfulness principles and science-backed methods, The Mindful Adventures of Unicorn Island was created so children everywhere could manage stressful situations and gain emotional-regulation skills to make sense of challenges in their lives. A critical part of their mission is to reach underserved communities and make mental health support more accessible to all.
The series is produced by Headspace and actor, television host and New York Times bestselling author Lilly Singh and her production company, Unicorn Island; written and executive produced by Kara Lee Burk.
“This project is so special to me and I’m grateful that we can broaden the audience of this series globally,” said Singh. “The problems our characters tackle in this series are universal and I’m hopeful we can continue to reach young people.”
Synopsis: When 10-year-old Lilly (voiced by Singh) faces adversity in the real world, she is transported to Unicorn Island, her ‘happy place,’ a colorful wonderland where she transforms into a unicorn named “LillyCorn,” learns about growing up, and navigates challenges; from her parents’ divorce to conflicts in her friendships. With the help of her imaginary friends — Velvet the cupcake, Pep the pizza, Poppy the dog, Frank the dinosaur and Dora, the omnipresent voice who guides the friends through their journey — Lilly learns new mindfulness activities to overcome her troubles and brings those skills back to the real world.
Through Lilly’s adventures, kids are encouraged to take time and space for themselves, improving their own well-being with new behaviors that build their confidence and nurture the best parts of themselves.
The Mindful Adventures of Unicorn Island was awarded a Collision Award, a Telly Award and was a Webby Award Honoree in 2024.
“We’re thrilled to partner with CAKE to extend the reach of The Mindful Adventures of Unicorn Island through their global distribution network,” said Sara Cohen, VP of Content Creation at Headspace. “This collaboration brings the transformative power of mindfulness to children and families around the world, helping to address youth mental health on a broader scale. By integrating science-backed techniques with engaging storytelling, our goal is to empower the next generation with tools for emotional resilience throughout their lives.”
Ed Galton, CEO at CAKE, added, “Working with the team at Headspace and Lilly Singh on The Mindful Adventures of Unicorn Island aligns perfectly with our mission to deliver meaningful and entertaining content. We hope this series inspires kids and families to embrace mindfulness and prioritise emotional well-being.”
Season 5 of the Max Original adult animated series Harley Quinn returns with more mayhem next month! The first episode premieres Thursday, January 16, followed by one new episode weekly through March 20 on Max.
Logline: The fifth season of Harley Quinn finds Harley (Kaley Cuoco) and Ivy (Lake Bell) in a new location: Metropolis! — the home of all things Superman, Lois Lane and the Daily Planet.
Harley and Ivy discover that something sinister is at play, and all is not what it seems. Looming threats include Lex Luthor and his sister, Lena Luthor, plus fan-favorite Brainiac. But of course, Harley’s crew of misfits and allies will join her on this irreverent journey that takes no prisoners in having fun in the DC sandbox.
The voice cast also features James Adomian as Bane, Diedrich Bader as Batman/Bruce Wayne, Ron Funches as King Shark, Stephen Fry as Brainiac, Natalie Morales as Lois Lane, JB Smoove as Frank the Plant, Alan Tudyk as Clayface & Joker, and Aisha Tyler as Lena Luthor.
Based on characters from DC, Harley Quinn is produced by Delicious Non-Sequitur Productions, Lorey Stories and Yes, Norman Productions in association with Warner Bros. Animation.
The series was developed by Justin Halpern, Patrick Schumacker and Dean Lorey, who also serves as executive producer and showrunner. Executive producers are Halpern, Schumacker, Cuoco, Sam Register and Katie Rich. Chrissy Romero is co-executive producer; Cecilia Aranovich Hamilton and Ian Hamilton are supervising producers; Susan Ward is producer; Jamiesen Borak and Leslie Schapira are consulting producers; Vidhya Iyer is co-producer.
The Pokémon Company International and multi-award-winning independent studio Aardman (Wallace & Gromit, Chicken Run) have announced a special project coming to audiences in 2027. The collaboration will see Aardman bringing their unique style of storytelling to the Pokémon universe in brand-new adventures.
The presentation format and other details of the project are yet to be revealed.
“This is a dream partnership for Pokémon. Aardman are masters of their craft, and we have been blown away by their talent and creativity,” said Taito Okiura, VP of Marketing and Media at The Pokémon Company International. “What we have been working on together ensures our global Pokémon fans are in for a treat!”
Sean Clarke, Managing Director of Aardman, added, “It’s a huge honor to be working with The Pokémon Company International — we feel sincerely privileged to be trusted with bringing their characters and world to life in a brand-new way. Bringing together Pokémon, the world’s biggest entertainment brand, together with our love of craft, character and comedic storytelling feels incredibly exciting. Aardman and TPCi share an emphasis on heritage and attention to detail as well as putting our fans and audiences at the heart of what we do, which we know will steer us right as we together create charming, original and new stories for audiences around the world”
The announcement of Pokémon’s team-up with the acclaimed Bristol-based Aardman studio comes a year after the debut of Pokémon Concierge, the franchise’s pioneering stop-motion series produced by dwarf for Netflix.
Today, Disney+ revealed the trailer for The Simpsons‘ all-new holiday special “O C’mon All Ye Faithful,” premiering December 17 exclusively on Disney+. The seasonal double episode is launching timed to the 35th anniversary of The Simpsons original Christmas special, which aired on December 17, 1989.
Synopsis: Famed British mentalist, Derren Brown, comes to Springfield and uses psychological tricks and showmanship to raise the town’s Christmas spirit. When Homer gets hypnotized and mistakenly believes he is Santa Claus, it sets off a cheery chain-reaction and causes everyone to question what they believe and to explore the meaning of “miracle.”
Featuring musical performances by Patti LaBelle and Pentatonix, this special double episode marks the 35th anniversary of the original Christmas special from The Simpsons (“Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire”) and airs exclusively on Disney+ starting December 17.
In addition to 35 seasons of The Simpsons, Disney+ is also home to The Simpsons Movie and more than 10 shorts featuring the Simpsons family. All these and more can be found in The Simpsons collection on the streaming service atdisneyplus.com/franchise/the-simpsons.
Animation fans in India looking for an anytime fix of their favorite Cartoon Network titles are celebrating the launch of CN Rewind, Warner Bros. Discovery’s new digital channel, as an add-on subscription to Prime Video.
CN Rewind is curated exclusively for Prime Video in India, and brings Cartoon Network’s evergreen classics, including The Powerpuff Girls, Tom & Jerry, Scooby-Doo, Johnny Bravo, Looney tunes, Dexter’s Laboratory, Samurai Jack, Ed Edd n Eddy and many more, for fans across the country.
Prime members can enjoy a diverse range of celebrated animated programming, available both in Hindi and English, by purchasing an add-on subscription to CN Rewind at a special introductory offer of INR 199 per year, following which subscription can be renewed at INR 249 per year.
“Animation remains a popular category on Prime Video across demographics, with younger and older audiences alike. With the launch of CN Rewind add-on subscription on Prime Video India, we are excited to take loyal fans on a nostalgic trip as they revisit their favorite Cartoon Network toons, as well as for younger audiences to discover and engage with these beloved stories,” said Gaurav Bhasin, head of marketplace (add-on subscriptions and movie rentals), Prime Video, India.
“Over the years, through add-on subscriptions, Prime Video has served a platform for several streaming services to curate exclusive channels and take their content to audiences deep within India. We are thrilled to be the exclusive home for CN Rewind, and are certain that the diverse and timeless library will find deep emotional resonance with our customers across the country.”
Cartoon Network is a cultural phenomenon that redefined pop culture, and a source of special memories for millennials and generations across decades. CN Rewind will provide fans the chance to relive those memories in a modern, on-demand format, giving them the opportunity to immerse themselves in the same joy and excitement they felt decades ago and to pass those treasured moments to the younger generation.
“There’s a deep emotional connection between Indian audiences and Cartoon Network. CN shows aren’t just cartoons, they’re pieces of our childhood that evoke joy, friendship, and a simpler time,” said Ruchir Jain, Head of Distribution, South Asia, Warner Bros. Discovery. “With CN Rewind, we’re creating a space where nostalgia can thrive while ensuring these beloved characters continue to inspire and entertain today’s kids in a whole new way.”
Benefits of add-on subscriptions on Prime Video for Prime members include:
No hassle login & billing: Customers do not have to juggle between multiple usernames, passwords and billing due dates. With add-on subscriptions, all premium content subscriptions are managed within a single destination – Prime Video apps and website.
More time watching, less time deciding: Customers don’t have to spend time toggling between their favourite services to discover what’s new and popular. With add-on subscriptions they can browse in one place, search across all their premium subscription and get personalized recommendations. All of this without ever having to leave the Prime Video app or website.
Enjoy your favourite features, no matter which service: Customers can enjoy X-Ray feature and a single consolidated watch list and download library for offline viewing. Subscribers can also manage data consumption and much more across all their add-on subscriptions.
More Choice: With add-on subscriptions, Prime members can access thousands of additional titles across 25+ OTT services, including CN Rewind.
The Pinkfong Company, a global entertainment company, announced today its plans to expand consumer experiences across TV broadcasting and offline collaborations as Sealook celebrates its second anniversary. Produced in collaboration with Million Volt, the dialog-free 3D animated series follows the daily adventures of a group of seals at the edge of the Earth.
Since its launch in 2022, the show has achieved remarkable global success, garnering 1.63 billion YouTube views, 60 million TikTok views and 200 million Instagram, Facebook and X views in December 2024. In addition, Sealook is now available on Tencent Video, one of China’s largest online video platforms, and has surpassed 500 million cumulative views. The show has achieved a total of 2.4 billion lifetime views across all platforms, gaining great popularity especially among the MZ generation.
For its second anniversary, The Pinkfong Company is expanding Sealook‘s global footprint through TV channels, OTT platforms, licensing deals and experiences. Sealook Season 1 has officially launched on Prime Video, marking its premiere in both the U.S. and U.K. A licensing partnership with Trevco will introduce print-on-demand apparel and accessories featuring eight adorable Sealook designs, available in the U.S. and Canada from December 2024.
In Korea, KBS 1TV will broadcast Sealook Season 1 Part 2 starting on December 28, featuring new characters Baby Seal and Baby Bear. The company also partnered with Phoenix Snow Park in Pyeongchang, which held the international sporting event, Winter Olympic Games 2018, to create a Sealook-themed snow village with branded content and limited-edition merchandise.
In Taiwan, Sealook Season 1 will air on YoYo TV, the leading family entertainment channel in Taiwan,, alongside a collaboration with TP TEA, the flagship brand of Taiwan’s largest milk tea company Chun Shui Tang, featuring six adorable Sealook character-themed cups and exclusive merchandise to be released in December 20. The special merchandise will include Sealook-themed keychain, plush doll, ice tray, and mouse pad, and will be available at 40 offline stores.
To celebrate the anniversary, the official Sealook Shop is offering a month-long “HAPPY SEALOOK DAY” promotion in December, with discounts up to 50% and special gifts with purchases.
“Sealook has demonstrated universal appeal that transcends language barriers, successfully captivating Gen Z audiences worldwide and experiencing remarkable growth,” said Bitna Kwon, Chief Strategy Officer at The Pinkfong Company. “We will continue to expand both our digital and physical presence while creating content that resonates with audiences of all ages to cultivate our growing fan community.”
Sealook‘s 90-second episodes have gained popularity worldwide, including in the United States, Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam, with dialog-free humor that swims over language barriers. The growth of Sealook’s business in China, driven by its partnership with IPX (formerly LINE FRIENDS) has been remarkable: The “Sealook Day” offline marketing promotion, held for two weeks in March in Shanghai, generated over 1.2 million in traffic with photo zones installed at major Shanghai subway stations.
Carlos Saldanha — the Brazilian director, writer and animator known for bringing Blue Sky’s blockbuster Ice Age films to the big screen as well as Rio, Rio 2, Robots, Oscar nominee Ferdinand and this year’s hybrid pic Harold and the Purple Crayon — has signed on as an executive producer to the Oscar-qualified Colombian animated short La Perra (The Bitch), directed by Carla Melo Gampert.
A hand-illustrated exploration of womanhood, the short screened in competition at Cannes, Annecy, TIFF, SXSW, AFI Fest and more, winning Academy Awards-qualifying honors at San Francisco international Film Festival, Chilemonos and Bogoshorts, as well as the Macondo Award for best animated short from the Colombian film academy.
La Perra takes inspiration from the director’s own life experiences coming of age in a culture which expects women to transition from the innocence of childhood to the approved life of a mother, and labels those who seek out their own paths as “perras.” As the director told Animation Magazine soon after the short’s premiere:
“La Perra is a story about a mother who brings a female dog into the house to take care of her young daughter while she goes out to meet men. When the mother returns the daughter is already a teenager and now she wants to discover the outside world. When the daughter returns, the mother is getting old and the dog is about to die.
“When I was 11 years old, my parents separated and I went to live with my mother in a new house. They told me it was temporary and to fill the void and their instability, my mother gave me a puppy — Conga. She grew up with me, she was an accomplice of the transition from my childhood to adolescence, of the transformations of my body, of my first boyfriends, of my insecurities, of guilt. Conga died when I was 25 years old, at that time I stayed a lot at my boyfriend’s house and I felt that I had missed the last months of her life, it still gives me a little guilt.
“Conga’s death also made me think about my mother’s approaching old age and my grandmother, about time passing and my ties with the women in the family. Conga marked a stage, she was very important to everyone in the family and it was she who brought us a lot of love in the midst of sad times.
“The death of my dog was recent when I started writing this short film, I guess something in me needed to bring out everything that Conga symbolized and I ended up approaching motherhood, guilt, and how female sexuality is looked at. Everything was very spontaneous at the moment of writing La Perra because her absence made me reflect a lot on the passage of time and what it means to be a mother and a bitch: the animal and the woman.”
La Perra is produced by Franco Lolli and Capucine Mahé at Evidencia Films (Colombia) and Naomi Denamur and Julie Billy at June Films (France). In addition to Saldanha, the executive producers roster welcomes Claudia Chakmati and Gabriela Matarazzo, founders of Rhiza Films in Brazil.
“There’s something invigorating about witnessing a new wave of talent emerging with such force and vitality. Our continent is brimming with untold, singular stories, and La Perra embodies this in every frame,” Saldanha told Variety. “Carla Melo has crafted a visually striking narrative infused with an erotic sensibility that is as visceral as it is delicate. It’s both raw and refined, a perfect balance of harshness and sensitivity. It’s been a long time since a short film has moved me so deeply, and La Perra does so in ways I won’t soon forget.”
Melo reflected in her interview with Animation Magazine, “I think there is something very powerful happening today with animation, lately it is taking the importance it deserves and opening an important space in cinemas and as a way of expression. I feel that the world is becoming more and more interested in seeing that animation is not only for children or commercial … Latin American animation is also becoming more visible, it is a tool to think about the body, the image, cinema, whatever comes to mind. There are more and more short films that explore intimacy and femininity. With my colleagues in Colombia we are curating Latin American animation where we find impressive works, which reveal not only the inside of people but also touch on political and historical issues from deep places to reveal new layers without falling into stereotypes. That is why we celebrate that Latin American animation, sincere and human, is increasingly seen in big festivals.”
Read more about La Perra in Animation Magazine‘s Annecy Festival 2023 short film highlights here.
Last Sunday, December 8, the Los Angeles Animation Festival (LAAF) presented its Awards Night celebration to a packed hall at the Eastwood Performing Arts Center in Hollywood.
Triple winner The Mayfly, directed by Sue Perrotto, won awards for Character-based 2D, Best Director and Best of the Fest. First Place for Student Dramatic Short and Best Student Director went to USC filmmaker Ziyan Zhou’s 2D short Choice. Hunter Frye and Claudia Celio, of Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, won Best First-Time Directors and Silver Student Dramatic Short for Forgive and Regret. All three were awarded software prizes from festival sponsor Toon Boom.
Jasmine
Haunted Cupcake
Other key prizes went to Brock Gallagher’s Haunted Cupcake, winner of Character-based CGI; Jasmine, Irish director Tom Caulfield’s timely Humanitarian Award-winning film about the Syrian Civil War as seen through the eyes of a child; and Best Comedy Short The Loving Couple from Canadian director Mhairi Kerr.
“Every year the standard of animation, both technically and artistically, gets better and better. But this year it was exceptionally high. It’s an honor to showcase such inspiring work,” states festival co-director Miles Flanagan.
Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur – “The Gatekeeper” [Marvel/Disney]The recently launched Velma Awards, presented by The Rainbow Project (co-founded by Doc McStuffins creator Chris Nee) to recognize outstanding queer storytelling in children’s and youth media, announced their inaugural class of honorees. Notably, the pulled episode of Marvel animated series Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur was recognized alongside other standout animated projects.
“Statistically, the number of characters who are LGBTQIA+ is incredibly small, but the feeling of it for people who are often, even in theory, allies is that there’s been so much material out there. It’s this world where a little bit more representation starts to feel like it’s everywhere — like there’s a lot — to people. But the dangers of losing this inclusive content are so clear,” Nee told The Hollywood Reporter. “LGBTQIA+ youth are not going away — they’re here as they’ve always been — and continuing to build shows where people who live in our world are baked into these universes is a deeply important part of continuing to make sure people are safe and welcome in this world.”
Animated winners include:
Legacy Award – Steven Universe (Cartoon Network)
Best Episode (Period!) That Also Never Saw the Light of Day – Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, “The Gatekeeper” (Disney Channel)
Best Episode for Storytime with Drag Queens – The Bravest Knight, “Cedric & the Three Ogres” (Hulu)
Best New Nonbinary Cast Member – The Fairly OddParents: A New Wish, “The Wellsington Hotellsington” (Nickelodeon) – Winn Harper (voiced by Iris Menas)
Best Guest Star Extravaganza – Monster High, “Monster Fest” Halloween Special (Nickelodeon)
Best Celebration of the Complex Queer Family Tree – Firebuds, “Balancing Act” (Disney Junior)
Best Requited Queer Crush – Primos, “Summer of Heart Eyes” (Disney Channel)
Best Queer Relationship That’s Just a Plain Ol’ Relationship – Jurassic World: Chaos Theory Season 2 (Netflix)
Best Wedding Before You and Your New Wife Go Fight Insurgents – The Dragon Prince: Mystery of Aaravos, “The Red Wedding” (Netflix)
Best Helping My Dad Propose to My Other Dad – Let’s Go, Bananas!, “The Big Pop / A Very Bananas Wedding” (Cartoon Network)
Ahead of the nationwide release of The Colors Within, GKIDS is bringing director Naoko Yamada’s previous acclaimed animated feature A Silent Voice back to theaters across more than 60 U.S. cities on December 15. The distributor announced in November it had acquired rights to this film as well as Liz and the Blue Bird; both films are directed by Yamada and produced by Kyoto Animation.
Based on the manga created by Yoshitoki Oima, A Silent Voice was originally released in 2016 and earned top awards from the Japanese Movie Critics, Japan Academy, Tokyo Anime Award Festival and Japan Media Arts Festival.
Synopsis: After transferring into a new school, a deaf girl, Shoko Nishimiya, is bullied by the popular Shoya Ishida. As Shoya continues to bully Shoko, the class turns its back on him. Shoko transfers and Shoya grows up as an outcast. Alone and depressed, the regretful Shoya finds Shoko to make amends.
A Silent Voice is a moving coming-of-age drama that depicts the struggles of adolescence through its memorable characters and beautiful animation.
Directed by Yamada from a script adapted by Reiko Yoshida (The Colors Within, Blue Period, The Heike Story), A Silent Voice is produced by Kyoto Animation, Pony Canyon, ABC Animation, Quaras, Shochiku and Kodansha, with animation production by Kyoto Animation.
The film’s creative team also included character designer Futoshi Nishiya, art director Mutsuo Shinohara, color key artist Naomi Ishida, settings by Seiichi Akitake, director of photography Kazuya Takao, sound direction by Yota Tsuruoka and music by Kensuke Ushio. The theme song “Koi wo Shita no ha” was performed by aiko; music production by Pony Canyon.
Independent Spanish animation producers Ánima Kitchent and Able & Baker have teamed up to establishMonkeys & Dinos, a cutting-edge animation service studio based in the Canary Islands.
Building on a history of successful collaborations, Ánima Kitchent and Able & Baker are combining their decades of industry experience to establish a studio focused on delivering world-class animation. The decision to join forces in forming Monkeys & Dinos reflects their shared vision and commitment to creating and delivering premium animated content and developing original IPs that will resonate with global audiences.
Monkeys & Dinos will capitalize on the Canary Islands’ highly competitive tax incentives on offer, the most notable being rebates of up to 50% on animation production. This financial incentive, combined with the region’s dynamic creatives and production infrastructure makes the Canary Islands a prime destination for high-quality animation production.
The new studio is already gearing up for several projects set to begin production in 2025. With a focus on innovation, creativity and global storytelling, the studio aims to position itself as a strategic player in the international animation landscape.
“We are thrilled and excited about this new venture,” shared Carlos Tschuschke, Founder & CEO of Able & Baker. “We have been actively exploring opportunities to establish our presence and start our activities in the Canary Islands and landing this agreement to join forces with Ánima is fantastic news for us.”
Angel Molinero, CEO of Ánima Kitchent added, “Monkeys & Dinos is the culmination of many years of working with Able & Baker on a variety of animation projects. Now is the perfect time to collaborate bringing the best of each company to the table and offering the market a high-quality service coupled with the tax advantages of the Canary Islands.”
Established in 2014, Ánima Kitchent is a 3D and 2D animation company based in the Canary Islands
and Madrid. One of its most prominent brands is Cuquin (formerly known as Familia Telerin and Cleo & Cuquin). The studio is also known for Lea & Pop, Titto Lizzardo and PINY Institute of New York.
Able & Baker is a Madrid-based animation studio founded in 2014. The studio gained recognition for its participation in Love, Death + Robots (Netflix), particularly with the episode “The Dump.” It has also contributed in the production of the feature film Dragon Rider and the Netflix original Bad Dinosaurs, which was released earlier this year.
An iconic animated duo is prepping for an action-packed big screen adventure in the new year, when Ketchup Entertainment brings the Warner Bros. Animation feature The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie to theaters nationwide on February 28, 2025. To help fans prepare for the big day, a new batch of movie stills and posters dropped today!
Synopsis: Porky Pig and Daffy Duck venture to the big screen as unlikely heroes and Earth’s only hope when their antics at the local bubble gum factory uncover a secret alien mind control plot. Faced with cosmic odds, the two are determined to save their town (and the world!) … that is if they don’t drive each other totally looney in the process.
Featuring the voices of acclaimed actors Eric Bauza, Candi Milo, Peter MacNicol, Wayne Knight and Laraine Newman, the hand-drawn 2D adventure marks the first fully-animated feature-length film in Looney Tunes history.
The Day the Earth Blew Up is directed by Pete Browngardt, and reunites many talents from his Annie Award and Children’s & Family Emmy-winning Looney Tunes Cartoons series. Browngardt also served as executive producer alongside Warner Bros. Animation head Sam Register, and on the writing team with Darrick Bachman, Kevin Costello, Andrew Dickman, David Gemmill, Alex Kirwan, Ryan Kramer, Jason Reicher, Michael Ruocco, Johnny Ryan and Eddie Trigueros.
The film’s creative team also included line producer Michael Baum, supervising producer Alex Kirwan, composer Joshua Moshier, editor Nick Simotas, art director Nick Cross and production designer Aaron Spurgeon.
Read more about the making of this highly anticipated return of the Looney Tunes duo in Animation Magazine‘s interview with Browngardt here.
A whimsical new animated adventure is ready to whisk kids away when Isadora Moon makes its Max U.S. streaming debut on January 2. Based on the globally best-selling book series by Harriet Muncaster, the 2D seriesfollows the adventures of a half-vampire, half-fairy girl, her friends at human school, and her wider magical family.
Logline: Isadora Moon is not your typical child; she embodies the magic of both worlds — embracing the enchantment of fairies and sparkles, as well as the powers of her gothic vampire side. This charming series appeals to children and families alike, showcasing themes of self-acceptance, creativity and the beauty of being true to oneself.
Muncaster is the creator, author and illustrator of the Isadora Moon book series, which has sold more than 5 million copies worldwide since launch in 2016 and is available in 42 languages.
“Isadora Moon reminds us that feeling different is not just okay — it’s what makes us truly special. She may not fly as fast as other vampire children, or do magic as well as the fairy kids, but her unique blend of qualities is what sets her apart,” said Muncaster. “Just like Isadora, we all have our own special magic within us. Embrace your individuality, for there is one thing you can do better than anyone else in the world: be yourself!”
“Isadora Moon is more than just a story about a half-vampire, half-fairy girl; it’s a celebration of individuality and self-acceptance that resonates profoundly with children today,” adds Deborah Thorpe, showrunner of the animated series, which is created and produced by her company Kelebek Media. “This series will transport audiences to fantastical new places. Like Harriet, we hope to inspire children everywhere to feel comfortable and proud of being their authentic selves.”
Isadora Moon will premiere with 12 episodes (one 22 minutes long, the rest 11 minutes). Aimed at children four to seven years old, each episode takes viewers on a journey filled with fun, friendship and a sprinkle of magic, perfect for sparking the imaginations of young viewers.
Max is the first U.S. streamer to premiere the series, which is currently Sky Kids’ top rating show in the U.K. The series is also on air in Italy, Sweden, Norway, Israel and Canada.
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