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Oni Press, the multiple Eisner and Harvey Award-winning publisher of comics and graphic novels since 1997, has unveiled a new look inside The Summoning Volume One: The Art of the Craft, the spooky debut graphic novel from cartoonist Elyse Castro (Go! Cartoons) — materializing in bookshops on October 7!
Expanding on the world first introduced in Castro’s YouTube short, produced by FredFilms (Adventure Time), that has since accrued more than 6 million views worldwide, the full-length first volume of Castro’s graphic novel trilogy weaves a cozy, coming-of-age-tale that follows Claire, a young witch, and her kitty familiar, Edgar, as they seek to hone her magikal abilities.
In The Art of the Craft, Claire specializes in the magik of manifestation, creating art pieces that are capable of coming to life! But she wants to do more — and to be more — so when she learns that a prestigious magikal institution called the Ridgewood Coven is accepting applicants for the first time in years, she’s determined to improve her skills and make her mark.
But first, Claire has to pass the Coven’s rigorous application process. With the help of her best friend Edgar; her curmudgeonly rabbit neighbor Flufftops; her magikal rival Swan; and a host of new friends, Claire is going summon ghosts, battle trolls, and even befriend Death — but will it be enough to impress the Coven and secure a spot within their ranks? Or will Claire’s self-doubt keep her from manifesting magikal art ever again?
Through it all, the sinister secrets of the closed-off Ridgewood Coven slowly come to light. Not everything is as it seems, and difficult decisions lie ahead: Will Claire be up to the task?
Check out the previously released sneak peek here and read on to glimpse more of Castro’s magikal world of Ridgewood.
Oscar-nominated family entertainment company Magic Light Pictures is toasting its live-action/animation hybrid adaptation of The Velveteen Rabbit, which has just won a BAFTA in the brand-new Children’s Craft Team category. The 2025 BAFTA Television Craft Awards were announced April 27 at a ceremony in London, and recognize exceptional creativity, skill and craft behind-the-scenes in television programming.
The Velveteen Rabbit adds this inaugural honor from the BAFTAs to previously awarded prizes from the Children’s & Family Emmy Awards (Best Fiction Special and Best Young Performer for Phoenix Laroche).
The Children’s Craft Team award was accepted by screenplay writer Tom Bidwell, who was one of the named winners alongside Jennifer Perrot, Rick Thiele, Sarah Brewerton, Anna Rackard and James Mather.
“This is an absolute honor and I’d like to thank BAFTA, everyone at Apple TV+, producers Bianca Rodway and Martin Pope and the team at Magic Light Pictures, who only produce quality TV,” said Bidwell. “I’d also like to thank every single person on the animation side and every single person on the live action side who proved with their talent and their kindness that collaboration really is the beating heart of television.”
Launched on Apple TV+ in November 2023, The Velveteen Rabbit is based on the treasured, classic children’s book by Margery Williams, which celebrates the magic of unconditional love when seven-year-old William (Laroche) receives a new favorite toy for Christmas, discovering a lifelong friend and unlocking a world of magic.
The 40-minute special features CG-animated characters voiced by Alex Lawther (the Velveteen Rabbit), Helena Bonham Carter (Wise Horse), Nicola Coughlan (Playroom Fairy), Bethany Antonia (White Rabbit), Lois Chimimba (Mechanical Car), Paterson Joseph (King), Clive Rowe (Lion) and Nathaniel Parker (Brown Rabbit).
The BAFTA Television Craft Awards also present an award for Special, Visual & Graphic Effects, which this year was awarded to Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, to the team of Jason Smith, Richard Bain, Ryan Conder and Chris Rodgers. Learn more about this year’s award winners at bafta.org.
Anime Tokyo Station, an exhibition site focused on Japanese anime content, will be hosting a special exhibition for Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX -Beginning-, which debuted in theaters around the world ahead of its TV broadcast. The show will be on display from May 24 to August 11 at the Ikebukuro event space, which has welcomed 156,458 visitors (as of April 13), children and adults alike, from both Japan and overseas.
The latest installment in the Gundam series, directed by Kazuya Tsurumaki, has generated significant buzz for being the first-ever collaboration between studio khara, known for the Evangelion franchise, and Sunrise, the studio behind Gundam. The pre-broadcast theatrical version using re-edited episodes from GQuuuuuuX has already drawn 2.02 million viewers and earned 3.34 billion yen at the box office, showcasing high anticipation and popularity even before the anime’s official airing (from Jan. 17-March 30, 2025). The theatrical event was released in North America by GKIDS in February.
The special exhibition at Anime Tokyo Station will showcase key cuts from the anime that revisit memorable moments from the theatrical pre-release. Visitors can also enjoy character standees, including the protagonist, Amate Yuzuriha (MACHU) and mobile suits, photo spots that recreate scenes from the anime and valuable production materials such as original scripts. There will also be a special corner where visitors can take AR photos with motifs inspired by characters from the anime — creating a uniquely Anime Tokyo Station experience.
Adult Swim fans can catch a new animated wave in the debut episode of Buzzard’s Bay, a coming-of-age comedy series for the network’s Smalls shorts program from animator Torey Strahl (The Colbert Report, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert) and comedian/writer Elena Ridker (Broad City).
Logline: It’s summer 2003 on Cape Cod and four horny teens are living their beach town dreams: working at a pizza shop by day, swappin’ spit under the docks at night, and getting schooled on life by a talking seagull.
In the first episode, “High Tide, Low Rise,” the gang sneaks out to catch the first sunrise of summer … unfortunately for Buzz, Rainnn is on the forecast.
Ridker wrote the episode and Strahl created the digital 2D animation. The co-creators, both from Massachusetts originally, also voice star alongside James Fasulo and Steven Castillo. Background art is by Dak Stiga.
Episode 2 of Buzzard’s Bay will debut on the Adult Swim Smalls YouTube channel on Friday, May 9.
The Mammoth Lakes Film Festival (MLFF) has announced the program for this year’s 11th edition, taking place in-person from May 21-25 at venues across Mammoth Lakes, California.
“We are excited to present a slate of bold and innovative films for this year’s festival,” said Festival Director Shira Dubrovner. “We thrive on giving filmmakers a platform to present highly personal work in a live theatrical setting, the way films should be experienced, bringing stories to light that open up our awareness — the first step toward positive change within ourselves as well as out in the world.”
Among the selected films will be the World Premiere presentation of the indie animated feature Take off the Blindfold, Adjust Your Eyes, Look in the Mirror, See the Face of Your Mother, from Chicago-based auteur Jonni Peppers (jonnipeppers.com), which builds on “The Blindfold” narrative series begun with the shorts anthology known as Wasteland, Secrets and Lies in the Town of Sinners and the 2022 feature Barber Westchester.
The filmmaker describes the project, formerly known as Saliatos Season 2, as “basically about the universe waking up to itself, reckoning with memory, prophetic visions and shedding old systems through force.”
MLFF will also present a diverse lineup of animated shorts from the U.S., Canada and Europe, some of which will be making their national or continental premieres in the scenic California town.
Animation highlights include:
Features:
Take off the Blindfold, Adjust Your Eyes, Look in the Mirror, See the Face of Your Mother (U.S.A.) – A cartoon in a genre of its own, this sequel to Barber Westchester and Secrets and Lies in a Town of Sinners starts with a Der Wienerschnitzel employee getting a hot dog extracted from their eyeball and progresses to the universe is waking up to itself, prophets receiving visions, and God-defying towers formed in hedonistic abundance toppling over. Directed and written by Jonnï Peppers. World Premiere
Shorts:
Anansi the Spider (U.S.A.) – Anansi the Spider must outsmart the jungle’s fiercest predators… Or end up as someone’s lunch! Directed by Jared Hall.
And a Little for Me (U.S.A.) – What begins as a typical, summer beach day: an afternoon of surf, sun and dinner, escalates into a theft and a riot. Why? Directed by Kathryn Roake.
Avant de Rentrer(France) – Lost along the road, someone enters the forest… Directed by Arthur Bonneau. N. American Premiere
Confetti (U.S.A.) – Separation, fever dreaming, and a deflated celebration. Directed by Amanda Bonaiuto.
Doh God (U.S.A.) – A kid named Lily struggles with depression and an existential crisis in a world made entirely out of PlayDoh. Directed by Nathan Siskel.
Gemini (U.S.A.) – Sarah and her two cats go about their separate lives. The cats have strange dreams about their desires, and Sarah develops an unshakable paranoia that something is wrong with them. Sarah’s paranoia bleeds into her social life, and her two cats have their dreams come true. Directed by Jamie Steele Griffiths.
In Dreams (U.S.A.) – Wrapped in bandages, a burn victim is tended to by a futuristic hospice service. Directed by Josh Shaffner.
Les Bêtes (U.S.A.) – A mysterious rabbit with a set of magic keys summons a host of strange creatures to entertain a wicked king and his decadent court in this dark stop-motion animated fantasy inspired by the works of Ladislas Starevich. Directed by Michael Granberry.
Mnemonic (U.S.A.) – House thinks thought, has realization. landscape in translation.. Directed by Raffaele Gans-Pfister.
Organza’s Revenge (Canada) – A broke artist travels across the galaxy to seek revenge on her ex-lover in an attempt to cure her mysterious illness. Directed by Walter Scott. U.S. Premiere
Pubert Jimbob (Belgium) – Pubert Jimbob, a young man, enters a strange reality after getting turned away from his home by an enigmatic figure, who throws him a lighter at his doorstep. A car crash leads to Jimbob meeting Nadine, a lump with a mouth. He brings her to a hospital, where he eats her surgically removed ‘bluehead’. A strange encounter in a toilet finally convinces Pubert Jimbob to return home from his bizarre journey. Directed by Quirjin Dees. U.S. Premiere
Tortured Artist (U.K.) – Some artists never get a break… until they do! An aspiring artist struggles with negative self-talk and unfair comparisons with his peers. Can his only fan save him from himself? Directed by Thomas Laurance. U.S. Premiere
Paris-based “soft-adult” animation shop Bobbypills (Creature Commandos, Vermin, The Wakos) is kicking off production on its first feature film, Jim Queen and the Quest for Chloroqueer. The comedy adventure, described as “a gay film with a straight plot,” is hoped by the producers to provide much-needed, queer-led heroic levity to these trying times.
Bobbypills will crowdsource support with a Kickstarter campaign launching in June, tied to Pride Month. The studio plans to launch a teaser trailer on May 12.
Synopsis: Can you explain the difference between a touchdown and a touchback? Have you ever willingly taken part in a conga line at a wedding? Do you own at least one sleeveless puffer vest? If so, you might be infected with Heterosis — a mysterious new virus turning people into… straights!
But don’t panic! Help is on the way: Jim Perfect, Paris’ biggest gay influencer, is on a quest to find a cure and save the LGBTQIA+ community from extinction in Jim Queen and the Quest for Chloroqueer.
The project is directed by Marco Nguyen & Nicolas Athané, and written by Simon Balteaux, Nguyen, Athané and Brice Chevillard. Produced by Bobbypills, Jim Queen is co-produced with Umedia (Under Paris, How to Make a Killing, The Count of Monte-Cristo), and distributed by The Jokers Films (Parasite, The Book of Solutions, The Handmaiden, The Neon Demon).
The film’s voice cast includes Alex Ramirès (Quotidien, Encore vous?), Jeremy Gillet (Ordinary People, Mytho), Shirley Souagnon (Spiral, Jamel Comedy Club), François Sagat (Man at Bath by Christophe Honoré, 2017 GayVN Award for Best Actor), rising star Harald Marlot, a.k.a. Jerrie FK (Three Nights a Week), and acclaimed voice actress Elisabeth Wiener (French dub voice of Meryl Streep, Glenn Close and Jamie Lee Curtis).
Following an ambitious development phase — supported by grants from CNC, Eurimages and several regional funds — production officially kicked off on April 18 under the benediction of the Paris convent of the gay rights activist group Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, founded in San Francisco in 1979. Bobbypills’ studios in Paris and Angoulême, alongside partners Gao Shan and Waooh!, are working to deliver the film by Spring 2026.
As the studio states in its announcement: “In a time of rising social and political tensions, Bobbypills is proud to champion a bold, inclusive project — one that uses laughter to challenge prejudice and celebrates the diversity of modern society. With its first theatrical feature, the studio reaffirms its commitment to produce daring, high-quality works to empower the voices of tomorrow’s popular culture.”
Learn more about Jim Queen and how to support the project at jimqueen.fr.
The official trailer has arrived for Little Amelie or the Character of Rain (Amélie et la Métaphysique des Tubes), a new French animated feature from Maybe Movies and Ikki Films, which will make its world premiere as a Special Screening at the Cannes Film Festival this month. Rendered in illustrative 2D, the story explores the experiences of a young Belgian girl awakening to childhood in her new home: Japan.
Synopsis: Until the age of two and a half years old, Amélie describes herself as a digestive tube, inert and vegetative. Then comes the crucial event that makes her fall into childhood. For six months, she discovers language, parents, brother and sister, a heavenly garden, passions (Japan and water), aversions (to carp), seasons and time. Everything that, from the age of three, constitutes the human person forever. Because at that age, everything is played out, happiness as well as tragedy… This is the message that this mischievous baby sends us, observing the world with acuity.
Also slated to screen in the official competition of Annecy International Animation Film Festival this summer, Little Amelie marks the feature directorial debuts of Maïlys Vallade (The Lighthouse Keeper; layout/storyboard artist on I Lost My Body, Calamity) and Liane-Cho Han (animation director, Calamity, Long Way North). The film is produced by Henri Magalon & Claire La Combe for Maybe Movies, Edwina Liard and Nidia Santiago.
The voice cast features Emmylou Homs, Loïse Charpentier, Laetitia Coryn, Yumi Fujimori and Isaac Schoumsky.
Haut et Court is handling Little Amelie‘s French theatrical release. International sales are by Gebeka International (A Hildegarde x Goodfellas company).
The Cannes official program will also present a special screening of the animated biopic A Magnificent Life (directed by Sylvain Chomet).
Brazen Animation — a Dallas-based studio which has helped bring award-winning content to screen for clients such as DreamWorks, Warner Bros, Amazon MGM, Fox, Riot Games, Epic Games, EA and Blizzard — is officially expanding into the world of interactive entertainment with the launch of its new division, Brazen Games. The new label will focus on creating original IP, collaborating with industry partners and developing gaming experiences that embody the studio’s mission to create bold, innovative and story-first content.
“For years, we’ve been pushing the boundaries of animated storytelling,” said Bryan Engram, CEO and Chief Creative Officer of Brazen Animation. “We have worked with world-class gaming clients over the past decade at Brazen Animation. From there Brazen Games is our next natural chapter, a chance to forge new worlds where players don’t just watch the story unfold … they live it.”
Brazen Games builds on the studio’s decade-long experience collaborating with leading gaming clients, aligning creative exploration with full-scale game development. The leadership team will continue to guide the studio’s overall vision, while its multidisciplinary team of artists, designers and technologists, the same talent behind Brazen Animation’s animated projects, will extend their creative purview to Brazen Games.
Green Ember: Helmer in the Dragon Tomb
Brazen is currently self-developing an unannounced platformer, an original title that blends dynamic animation and gameplay with narrative depth. Additionally, with the establishment of Brazen Games, the studio is actively developing an end-to-end gaming experience designed to bring the bestselling book series, The Green Ember, into new realms of immersive storytelling and gameplay. This title is expected to launch in 2025.
Brazen’s expansion is supported by strategic leadership hires. Ben Sanders, with a background that spans Disney Imagineering, NASA and Amazon AWS, joins as Head of Technology, bringing expertise in cloud infrastructure, software development and AI-driven innovation. Brock Starkweather, formerly with Ubisoft, joined in 2024 as Head of Business Development, leveraging his experience in global partnerships to drive original IP and cross-platform collaborations.
“Our mission has always been to create work that connects deeply with audiences, whether through animation or gaming,” Engram continued. “At Brazen, storytelling has always been our foundation, but our talented tech team ensures we can now build rich, interactive experiences as well. We’re excited to show the full range of what we can deliver to the gaming world.”
Brazen Animation will continue its work across film, television, advertising and mixed media, while Brazen Games embarks on new adventures in the interactive entertainment space.
Sycamore Studios announced today that veteran producer Jeremy Latcham (The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy) will join the company’s upcoming animated feature, Zita the Spacegirl, as an executive producer through his Latcham Pictures banner. The project marks Latcham’s first foray into animation. Additionally, Latcham Pictures’ Andrew Pace (Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves) will serve as a producer on the film.
Based on Ben Hatke’s #1 New York Times bestselling trilogy, Zita the Spacegirl follows an adventurous girl who is propelled into a cosmic adventure when her best friend is abducted by aliens. Zita’s unwavering determination to find her way back home and her courageous sacrifice for others transform her into an intergalactic hero. This children’s graphic novel series, published by Macmillan, has garnered over 20 awards and honors, including the American Library Association Notable Children’s Book, a CYBIL Award and several Books of the Year awards, including Kirkus and School Library Journal.
“At Sycamore, we believe in telling timeless stories that elevate the vision of our audience,” said CEO Christian McGuigan. “Jeremy brings blockbuster experience, in addition to a deep understanding of how story shapes the heart. We’re thrilled to have him help us bring Zita to life.”
The Zita the Spacegirl adaptation, announced in December 2024 by Sycamore Studios CEO Christian McGuigan and CCO Timothy Reckart, joins a growing lineup of IP-based animated feature film projects, including Doctor Dolittle by Bob Barlen and Cal Brunker (PAW Patrol: The Movie, PAS Patrol: The Mighty Movie).
Latcham is the producer of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves and Bad Times at the El Royale. He serves as a senior advisor to the Wonder Project, where he is developing and producing a slate of films with projects in the works at Amazon MGM Studios and Sony Pictures. Latcham has an overall deal with Hasbro Entertainment, where he is developing a D&D sequel and has projects set up at Skydance and Lionsgate. Previously, Latcham served as SVP of Production & Development at Marvel Studios, where he was an executive producer on Spider-Man: Homecoming, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Marvel’s The Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy, associate producer on Iron Man and co-producer on Iron Man 2.
“Animation opens up a whole new storytelling toolkit, and I couldn’t be happier to launch that journey with Zita the Spacegirl,” said Latcham. “Sycamore Studios brings passion and a level of creativity that truly elevates the project, and their thoughtful approach to storytelling makes them a perfect partner to bring Zita from the page to the screen.”
Latcham is represented by Warren Dern and Kiley Wong at Sloane Offer. The deal was negotiated by McGuigan and Barndon Milostan of Greenberg Glusker.
As the animation industry lobbies to be included in proposed updates to California’s motion picture tax credits bills (Assembly Bill 1138 and Senate Bill 630), The Animation Guild (TAG), BRIC Foundation and Titmouse Foundation have partnered with CVL Economics to release Reclaiming California’s Role in Global Animation.
With support from the Entertainment Industry Foundation, Gnomon, Fourthwall Management, Group Effort Initiative, West Studio, the Gotham Group and WIA (Women in Animation), the report details the negative impact on California’s once-dominant animation and VFX industries as work has migrated offshore in part due to production incentives that are now offered in 30 U.S. states and nearly every major global hub.
A recent example of this shift is Disney’s Moana 2. If it had been produced in California like the original film, Moana 2 would have supported 817 jobs and generated more than $87 million in wages within the state.
“Studios aren’t just outsourcing animation work; they’re baking it into the development process. That’s a structural shift, and California’s failure to respond is costing us thousands of jobs,” says Adam J. Fowler, Economist and Founding Partner of CVL Economics.
Key Findings:
California is losing ground. Thirty U.S. states and nearly every major global hub now offer tax credits for animation. California does not — despite being the birthplace of the
industry.
Post-production collapse. Since Canada introduced its film tax credit in 1995, California’s post-production workforce has shrunk by nearly 60%.
High-value work is fleeing. Animation jobs in California have declined 4.7% since 2019, while British Columbia’s have surged +72% due to aggressive incentive policies.
Global market, local losses. Animation is a $400 billion industry powering streaming, gaming, VFX and virtual production. As global demand grows, California’s market share continues to fall.
Why This Matters:
Middle-class jobs at risk. Below-the-line animation workers earn $48.87/hour on average — well above the state average but are often the first to be outsourced when other regions offer better incentives.
Creating a thriving industry across California. Animation can be done remotely, offering economic opportunity across underrepresented regions of California, not just in Los Angeles.
Innovation ecosystem. Animation and VFX are critical training grounds for skills that power virtual production, AR/VR and gaming — industries of the future.
Loss of work due to global tax incentives has dramatically impacted animation creatives in California, forcing them into leaving the state or pursuing jobs outside their careers. “Most of my creatives have been out of work for over a year. Some of my most talented storyboard artists and directors have had to take unrelated jobs at places like Lowe’s just to make ends meet,” says Alison Mann, President of Fourth Wall Animation and Co-Founder of BRIC Foundation. “Meanwhile, my international clients, who benefit from more robust government funding and incentives, continue to successfully launch independent features.”
TAG President Jeanette Moreno King has visited lawmakers in Sacramento over the last few months to lobby for these important tax incentives that can reignite the animation industry in California. “Behind every animated show or movie are thousands of artists, writers, and technicians who make the magic happen — and they’re being left behind,” she says. “Our members are ready to work, but without competitive tax incentives, those jobs are going elsewhere. This report shows just how urgently California needs to act to protect its animation workforce and remain a global leader.”
The authors of the report recognize this is a critical moment for California and recommend several important policy recommendations, including:
Level the playing field: Make animation and VFX fully eligible for tax credits — as done in New York, Georgia, British Columbia, and across Europe.
Keep post-production local: Eliminate per-project caps on in-state VFX spending to protect and grow high-wage jobs.
Carve out space for animation: Create a dedicated allocation within California’s $750M film tax credit so animation isn’t crowded out by live-action productions.
The 20th edition of Animayo Gran Canaria is swiftly approaching, and the organizers have revealed a stellar roster of international talent set to present masterclasses and workshops during the busy event running May 7-10. Spain’s first and only Oscar-qualifying festival for two awards categories will also premiere a new Walt Disney Animation Studios art exhibition, building on the lineup previously announced by festival director/producer Damián Perea.
A total of 14 masterclasses and six workshops will be held at CICCA in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Spain), led by experts among more than 40 guest speakers.
Steamroller Animation’s ‘Spice Frontier’
Masterclasses
The masterclasses and panel content will cover 3D animation, storytelling and game development with computational arts, visual effects, videogames, character design, storytelling, visual development, voice acting (panel), cinematic storyboarding, creative vision and business structure, and animation production. These masterclasses, free for pass holders and available for general public purchase at CICCA’s box office for 15 euros, each have a 90 minutes duration and will be accompanied by Spanish translations, summarized after each exposition phase.
Among the artistic and inspirational focuses of these masterclasses and discussions are the hit Netflix series Arcane, Amazon Studios’ new game-inspired anthology Secret Level, the work of Steamroller Animation and the international premiere of its series Spice Frontier, the character design of Klaus and Robot Dreams, the work and career of iconic Disney artist Lorelay Bové, and much more.
Robot Dreams character design by Daniel Fernández Casas
Leading the sessions:
Sherry Gunther Shugerman (executive producer; Twilight of the Gods, The Simpsons, Family Guy)
Ángela Iturriza (storyboard artist & animator; Batman: The Animated Series, Tarzan, The Hunchback of Notre Dame)
Daniel Fernández Casas (character designer; Robot Dreams, Klaus)
Javier Romero (VFX supervisor; Luck, Planet 51, Mortadelo and Filemon: Mission Implausible)
Raul Rocha (Illusorium Animation Studios; Secret Level, Mega Man: Beginning, Sky: Children of the Light)
Carlos Ysbert (Spanish theater, film, TV & voice actor / voice director; Homer Simpson in The Simpsons, Tony Soprano in The Sopranos, Chef Skinner in Ratatouille)
Sara Vivas (voice actress & director; Bart Simpson in The Simpsons, Kyle Broflovski in South Park, Dexter in Dexter’s Laboratory)
Isatxa Mengíbar (voice actress & director; Lisa Simpson in The Simpsons, Rory Gilmore in Gilmore Girls)
Klaus Scherwinski (storyboard & visual development artist; Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, Horizon Forbidden West, Hitman, Ryse: Son of Rome)
Animayo workshop session
Workshops
The workshops, already available on Animayo’s website with discounts for pass holders, students and unemployed participants, will each last 240 minutes and focus on practical skill development in areas such as storyboarding, concept art, character design, voice acting, video games and acting for animation.
Workshops will be led by:
Raúl García, director, producer & animator (Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King)
Miriam Hidalgo (Perditah), 2D artist, illustrator, educator & visual development artist (Chico & Rita, Nocturna, They Are Unique)
Ayose Lomba, director and educator at UNAM
Javier Belda González, educator and game designer.
Plus masterclass presenters Iturriza, Fernández Casas and Vivas
All workshops are presented with the collaboration of major sponsors and partners such as Walt Disney Animation Studios, Skydance Animation, Platige Images, Steamroller Animation, Rodeo FX, 3Doubles Campus, Fortiche Production, Illusorium Animation Studios, and universities and schools like U-Tad, Movie School by Trazos, UDIT (University of Design, Innovation, and Technology), ECIB (Escola de Cinema de Barcelona), the School of Visual Arts, Universidad del Atlántico Medio (UNAM) and L’Idem Animation School.
Autograph Sessions & Portfolio Reviews
In addition to autograph signing sessions — which will take place during the half-hour following the end of each masterclass and workshop— several guest speakers, studios, universities, and schools (as specified in the program descriptions) will participate in the Portfolio Review sessions at the Gabinete Literario on various dates.
Limited spots are available; prior registration is required by sending an email to natalia@animayo.com by April 30. Full details available on Animayo’s website.
‘Encanto’ artwork by Lorelay Bové [Disney]
World Premiere Exhibition: Whimsy & Wonder
Walt Disney Animation Studios joins as official sponsor of Animayo Gran Canaria 2025, with an unprecedented event: the new exhibition Whimsy & Wonder, presented for the first time ever and exclusively on display in Gran Canaria May 7-10. The show pays tribute to the women artists who have shaped Disney’s visual storytelling for over a century. From the iconic Mary Blair, who revolutionized the use of color in the 1950s, to the contemporary artists behind hits like The Princess and the Frog, Frozen, Encanto and Moana 2.
‘Sleeping Beauty’ art by Mary Blair [Disney]The exhibition features work from six extraordinary artists at Walt Disney Animation Studios:
Lorelay Bové, visual development artist on Big Hero 6, Zootopia, Wreck-It Ralph, The Princess and the Frog, and associate production designer of Oscar winner Encanto. ·
Lisa Keene, production designer & visual development artist on Wish, Frozen and classics such as Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King.
Brittney Lee, production designer & visual development artist who made an early mark with her iconic costume design for Elsa in Frozen and the interior of her ice palace.
Griselda Sastrawinata-Lemay, visual development artist on Encanto, Moana, Raya and the Last Dragon, and associate production designer on Wish.
Josie Trinidad, Emmy-winning director and head of story on Zootopia and Ralph Breaks the Internet.
Fawn Veerasunthorn, director of Wish and head of story on Raya and the Last Dragon.
See You in Las Palmas!
Animayo’s 2025 program also includes 15 educational lectures, six premieres and screenings featuring the official competition sections and the best of Animayo from the last four editions, three author presentations, five school stands, 20 talent stands, 18 hours of recruitment sessions, portfolio reviews and autograph signings, as well as family-oriented activities yet to be announced.
Under the umbrella of cutting-edge art and technology, Animayo aims to empower limitless talent, turning Gran Canaria and its capital, Las Palmas de G.C., into the epicenter of the global animation, VFX and digital creation industry during its celebration, consolidating the island as a strategic hub for creative industries. Gran Canaria offers an unbeatable combination: year-round mild climate, diverse natural landscapes, connectivity with major European airports, a strong cultural commitment, and an increasingly active local audiovisual scene.
With both in-person and online formats, Animayo, based in Gran Canaria (Spain), extends its programming to other cities and countries through its “Animayo Itinerant” version, with events held in Los Angeles, Madrid, Barcelona, Lanzarote, Portugal, Czech Republic, Brussels, Chicago, Mumbai, Prague, Colombia, Belgrade and Korea, among others.
Animayo Gran Canaria is made possible in part by sponsors including the Cabildo de Gran Canaria through its Presidency Service, the Society for the Promotion of the City of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the Department of Tourism, Industry and Commerce of the Government of the Canary Islands through Promotur, Turismo Gran Canaria, the Fundación La Caja de Canarias, the Government of the Canary Islands, as well as production companies, studios, schools, universities and many private companies that firmly support the film industry and efforts to bring audiovisual and technological culture and education to all audiences.
Learn more about Animayo Gran Canaria and this year’s 20th anniversary program at www.animayo.com.
The Pinkfong Company has announced that Moon Shark: From Underwater Princess to Celebrity, a spin-off webtoon series inspired by the company’s Baby Shark universe, is now available in North America, including the U.S., on five major digital platforms, including Manta, Lezhin Comics US, HYPERCOMIC, Dashtoon and Lalatoon.
Moon Shark follows Sid, a shark princess from an underwater kingdom who harbors a crush on a boy band member on land. Her story takes an unexpected turn when she ventures to the human world and becomes an overnight social media star.
Co-produced with M Story Hub (WEBTOON hit The Remarried Empress), Moon Shark first debuted in South Korea on Naver SERIES and has already won over fans across Asia. The series has also launched in Japan through LINE Manga and is now available on 11 platforms in South Korea including Naver SERIES, Kakao Page and Ridi. The webtoon itself has recorded approximately 830,000 views, with 818,000 coming from Kakao Page alone.
“We’re thrilled to bring Moon Shark to North American audiences following its tremendous success in Asia,” said Gemma Joo, Chief Business Officer at The Pinkfong Company. “This expansion represents our commitment to evolving the Baby Shark universe for fans as they grow, while attracting new audiences with compelling storytelling that resonates with today’s digital-first generation.”
The webtoon has expanded beyond the digital pages, with its “Moonlight” music video, released in December 2024, accumulating 630,000 views on YouTube and surpassing 1.67 million and 1.59 million views for teaser clips on Instagram and X respectively. The 2D animated music video was a collaborative project with production company Reticles and director Son Ki, known for creating virtual group PLAVE’s “Sixth Summer” music video.
The Pinkfong Company has revealed exciting plans for the series, including a new music video titled “Under the Spotlight” released on April 26. With distribution handled by YG Plus, the newly released video features Moon Shark characters in an audition setting. “Under the Spotlight” song is also available worldwide on all music streaming platforms, including Apple Music, Amazon Music, Spotify, YouTube Music and more.
The company is also expanding into merchandise, targeting female consumers aged 10-20 with fancy products available through YouTube Shopping and its dedicated online store. Responding to growing global demand for 2D animated music videos, additional animated music videos for online distribution are planned for release throughout the year.
The U.S. launch of Moon Shark follows Pinkfong’s recent announcement of a new strategic business agreement with TBS Television, one of Japan’s five major commercial broadcasters, for joint production and business collaboration. Read more in our previous coverage.
Silicon Valley outfit Morphic, Inc. is producing its first AI-powered episodic anime series, DQN, from Kushagra Kushwaha (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Danmachi), in partnership with Kushwaha’s Tokyo-based studio 4861. Morphic produces AI products and technology as well as films, series and other types of content with the mission of making visual storytelling “accessible, efficient and affordable for everyone.”
DQN is set in a cyberpunk world ruled by decentralized networks and AI intelligence, and tells the story of 12 strangers locked in a race to uncover the secrets of a hidden vault that could rewrite the rules of power. (Watch the trailer below.)
Kushwaha is a rising anime creator originally from India, and now based in Tokyo, who’s worked on a number of globally acclaimed anime series and films such as JoJo’s Stone Ocean (Netflix), Vinland Saga (Netflix), Lycoris Recoil (Amazon, Crunchyroll) and Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest (Amazon, Apple, Roku, Crunchyroll).
“Kush is an exceptionally gifted filmmaker with an incredibly deep understanding of anime as an art form and I couldn’t be more proud to make DQN our first anime series,” said Morphic founder Jaynti Kanani (former CEO/Founder of blockchain company Polygon). “Morphic is committed to putting state-of-the-art tech in the hands of the world’s most talented filmmakers and we’re excited to launch our first Creator’s Fund to invite even more talented storytellers onto our platform.”
Kushwaha commented, “As an anime artist from India now working in the heart of the anime industry in Tokyo, I’m passionate about using cutting-edge tech to bring this form of storytelling to the widest possible global audience. I’m thrilled to be working with JD and the Morphic team, who are using AI to democratize this genre, accelerate its speed to market and help a new generation of artists fulfill their most ambitious creative ideas.”
Morphic is also committing $1 million to a Creators Fund that will back animators, filmmakers, game developers, designers and other creators bringing original stories to life across full-length features, animated films, games, short films, motion comics, comics and manga. The Morphic Creators Fund will support bold ideas, give space to unheard voices, and fuel the stories that shape culture and move the world.
Morphic says it already has tens of thousands of users and dozens of enterprise companies using its platform, from studios to indie filmmakers, gamers and content creators. The company spans offices in San Jose, New York, Dubai and Bangalore, employing developers and engineers from all over the world.
A new living situation spells laughs, adventure and growth in Nickelodeon’s original series Wylde Pak, premiering on Friday, June 6 at 7:30 p.m. (ET/PT) in the U.S. and later this year internationally. Produced by Nickelodeon Animation, the 2D-animated series explores the dynamics of a multigenerational and multicultural blended family as half siblings Lily and Jack learn to navigate new family dynamics under one roof for the first time.
Synopsis:Wylde Pak follows half-siblings Jack and Lily as they are pushed outside their comfort zones and learn to coexist while navigating new family dynamics, friends, and endless hijinks, all while helping run the family’s pet grooming and boarding business. With guidance from their parents and grandmother, the two will learn about each other’s previously separate lives, blended identity, vibrant culture, and the importance of family.
In the half-hour premiere episode, “Best Summer Ever?,” Jack and Lily are half-siblings living on opposite ends of the world — until Jack shows up on Lily’s doorstep for the summer. Their arguing sends the family’s new grooming trailer careening through town and they must save their family’s livelihood and Halmoni, who is stuck inside.
The series is co-created by Paul Watling (The Tiger’s Apprentice) and Kyle Marshall (The Loud House), who both serve as executive producers alongside Seonna Hong (The Wild Robot) and Conrad Vernon (Shrek). Development and production are overseen by Claudia Spinelli, Senior Vice President, TV Series Animation, Nickelodeon, and Daniel Wineman, Vice President of Original Animation Development. The series is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.
Nickelodeon today revealed the trailer, key art and additional voice cast members, including Gillian Jacobs (The Bear) as Alice Kelly, Jack’s biological mom and a world-renowned documentarian taking on adventures abroad, and Jon Glaser (Running Point) as Chuck, the family’s happy-go-lucky and eccentric neighbor who always seems to “know a guy.”
Wylde Pak stars previously announced Nikki Castillo (K.C. Undercover) as the voice of Lily Pak, a competitive and fun-loving 11-year-old, and Benjamin Plessala (SpongeBob: Sponge on the Run) as Jack Wylde, Lily’s 13-year-old adventurous half-brother who just came into town for the summer. Additional voices include Ben Pronsky (The Loud House) as William Wylde, Jack and Lily’s fun-loving dad; Jee Young Han (Unprisoned) as Min-Ju Pak, Lily’s energetic mom and Jack’s stepmom; and Jean Yoon (Kim’s Convenience) as Halmoni, Min’s unpredictable mom, and Lily and Jack’s caring yet stubborn grandma.
For early looks at Wylde Pak, check out the Nicktoons and The Loud House YouTube channels for more shorts and clips. Fans can also check out a full sneak peek of the premiere episode “Best Summer Ever?” beginning today.
The Sony Future Filmmaker Awards have announced the shortlists for the 2025 edition. Selected for their outstanding originality, the 30 shortlisted filmmakers across four categories — Fiction, Non-Fiction, Animation and Student — are awarded the unique opportunity to attend a four-day immersive program behind-the-scenes at the Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City from June 2-5, 2025, and culminating in the Awards ceremony on June 5, 2025 at Sony Pictures’ historic Scenic Arts Building, hosted by Emmy winner Denny Directo.
Now in their third year, the Awards were established by Creo in partnership with Sony to nurture the filmmaking talent of tomorrow and to provide a portal into the industry for filmmakers from across the globe. Each year the shortlisted filmmakers are flown to Los Angeles for an extensive program of workshops, screenings and events, fostering talent through opportunities to expand filmmakers’ networks and giving them direct experiences right in the heart of Hollywood.
The 2025 shortlist was chosen from over 11,750 films submitted by more than 7,500 filmmakers across 158 countries and territories. The shortlist features entries from Australia, Burundi, Chile, Colombia, Germany, India, Indonesia, Lebanon, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the United States. The selected works span a diverse array of stories, including a tense drama about an inmate firefighter battling parole denial amidst a historic blaze, a poignant tale of Chilean shellfish divers searching for answers about a missing relative under Pinochet’s regime, an animated fable of a piglet and a wolf forging an unlikely friendship, an elderly fieldworker outshining her AI substitute, and a stirring exploration of Australia’s First Nations using fire to renew the land.
This year’s shortlisted Animation filmmakers and projects are:
Rich Farris (U.K.),From The Top
Robin grapples with letting go of her drum kit and her passion.
Case Jernigan (U.S.A.), Noggin
Through a deeply personal narrative, the filmmaker builds ‘a memory palace of love and ink’ exploring life with multiple sclerosis.
Santiago O’Ryan & José Navarro (Chile), Hermanos Casablanca (Casablanca Brothers)
At the height of the Pinochet dictatorship, two divers agree to help an army official in the hope of receiving information on their missing sister in return.
Fadi Syriani & Jana Wehbe (Lebanon), The Day Vladimir Died
In Beirut, the day-to-day life of an elderly man is punctuated by grief and mourning both for lost friends and for a city undergoing rapid change.
Leo Wright (U.K.),The Big Bad Wolf
Set in an industrial pig society, a wolf and a pig form an unlikely friendship, defying prejudices and the cautionary words of the age-old parable.
The 30 shortlisted filmmakers proceed to the next stage of judging from which the four category winners will be chosen by a panel of industry leaders which includes filmmaker and writer Minhal Baig (We Grown Now, Hala, BoJack Horseman); President of 3000 Pictures Elizabeth Gabler (Where the Crawdads Sing, upcoming Klara and the Sun, Life of Pi); Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Jason Reitman (Saturday Night, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Juno); and award-winning theater, television and film director and Chair of the Jury Justin Chadwick (Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, The Other Boleyn Girl, Shardlake). The four category winners who are awarded with cash prizes and Sony Digital Imaging equipment.
The extensive four-day program for the shortlisted 30 filmmakers at the Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City offers an exclusive opportunity to learn from and connect with both their peers and industry leaders. Through sessions led by Sony Pictures executives the filmmakers dive into everything from cinematography masterclasses, to navigating talent deals, demonstrations of cutting-edge tech and learning about the art of soundtracking a story.
Learn more about the Sony Future Filmmaker Awards and see the full list of shortlisted entries at sonyfuturefilmmakerawards.com.
Crunchyroll is kicking off the third annual Ani-May celebration with global retail, digital and streaming activations. New and exclusive products and promotions will be available at Hot Topic and Uniqlo in the United States, Liverpool and Suburbia in Mexico, JB Hi-Fi and EB Games & Zing Pop Culture in Australia and at several retail locations across Europe and the Middle East, including HMV in the U.K. and Virgin Megastore Dubai, among many others. New and exclusive product launches and exciting promotional deals will also be available on the Crunchyroll Store all month.
“Anime isn’t just an entertainment medium; it’s a lifestyle. To celebrate anime’s explosive growth, we’re giving fans a variety of ways to express their anime passion during Ani-May – from all-new products across apparel, collectibles, global activations, game collaborations, and new series streaming for free on Crunchyroll,” said Anna Songco Adamian, Vice President, Global Consumer Products. “Whether it’s through wearing their fandom on their sleeves or streaming their favorite series, Crunchyroll will have fans covered this Ani-May.”
Throughout May, fans can expect a wide array of new, officially licensed merchandise from internationally beloved series. Solo Leveling, which was the top series streaming on Crunchyroll in 2024 will be back, alongside sci-fi monster series Kaiju No. 8; the adorable series featuring kittens living in bananas, Bananya; and supernatural comedy Toilet-bound Hanako-kun. Merchandise will also feature smash-hit shonen series My Hero Academia, video game fantasy Overlord and The Apothecary Diaries, a historical romance mystery set in a fictional country based on the Tang dynasty of Imperial China. These are just a few of the multitude of shows available — fans can expect more across many global retailers.
Ani-May 2025 partnerships and activations in the United States include:
Throughout May, UNIQLO will be distributing Crunchyroll codes to customers, with eligible online UT purchases, that can be redeemed for a 30-day free trial of Crunchyroll. UNIQLO has also partnered with manga artist Remi Yamamoto to create UTme! Collection designs, available exclusively at their N.Y.C. flagship locations: UNIQLO Soho and UNIQLO 5th Avenue. New York City-based fans are invited to stop by UNIQLO’s 5th Avenue flagship location for a special activation on May 18 from 1-5 p.m. with Remi, who will be providing complimentary live manga portraits.
Specialty retailer Hot Topic will celebrate Ani-May across its United States and Canada locations, and online at hottopic.com. Activations and special promotions, including exclusive anime merchandise, will be available all month.
Electronics retailer Best Buy will be joining in on the Ani-May festivities with select products available both online and in-store, with an exclusive SPY x FAMILY pin included with eligible purchases at select stores.
Planet Hollywood, themed restaurant and resort chain, is partnering with Crunchyroll to offer exclusive experiences, cocktails, dishes and merchandise inspired by Ani-May’s select IPs.
In celebration of a new JUJUTSU KAISEN x Funko Pop collection, Funko Pop will be hosting an autograph signing with the English voice cast of JUJUTSU KAISEN on May 3. Special Funko Hollywood Event Bundles will also be available! Event details can be found at @originalfunko and @funko_funime on Instagram.
Back to celebrate Ani-May, Bananyais once again partnering with Fall Guys on a collection of skins, which will be available from May 1 to May 8. Featured characters include Bananya and Droopy Eared Bananya!
Demon Slayerfans can gear up for the first film of the highly-anticipated Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle trilogy coming to theaters this September with a special Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train re-release in theaters this May.
The Crunchyroll Store will also dive into the Ani-May fun with new and exclusive product launches, unbeatable deals, and an exciting gift-with-purchase offer: a new Crunchyroll-exclusive Ani-May pin. Each week in the month of May will highlight a different genre of product – fans can look forward to deals on popular products for collectors, action/adventure titles, shonen shows and fantasy fan-faves. Additionally, those tuning into the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards celebration on May 25t might also want to take a peek at the Crunchyroll Store the next day to celebrate this year’s nominees for Anime of the Year.
In the world of home entertainment, Crunchyroll will be releasing Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Season 1 Part 2 in a Limited Edition Blu-ray box set with preorders beginning on May 15. Crunchyroll will also be rereleasing Perfect Blue and Paprika director Satoshi Kon’s psychological thriller series Paranoia Agent and the dark action fantasy GOBLIN SLAYER Season 1, both on Blu-ray in SteelBook cases, available exclusively for purchase in the Crunchyroll Store on April 30. And to help organize these new SteelBooks at home, the Crunchyroll Store has exclusively debuted the SteelNook, an open display case made from premium SteelBook metal designed to fit four standard SteelBooks from anime series to movies. The SteelNook will be available for purchase on the Crunchyroll Store starting tomorrow.
Crunchyroll Game Vault, a library of premium games available to Mega and Ultimate Fan members globally, also joins the Ani-May celebration with the launch of Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth, available on April 30 today. The tactical role-playing game is just one of several titles dropping each week throughout May — from acclaimed visual novels like Grisaia Phantom Trigger to cult horror classics such as Corpse Party — all tailored for anime fans.
Beginning on May 1 and continuing through the end of the month, 20 hit series will be available to stream on Crunchyroll for free with ads. These series include Cowboy Bebop, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Haikyu!!, Jujutsu Kaisen, Shangri-La Frontier, the first seasons of Solo Levelingand The Apothecary Diaries, and many more. (Movies and OVAs are excluded from the promotion and regional restrictions may apply.)
Singapore-based Mokster Films has picked up worldwide distribution rights to Welcome to Dolly’s House, the first major rotoscoped 2D animated feature production in Taiwan. Presenting a modern twist on a classic Song Dynasty story from the Taiping Guangji, the film from multimedia promotion and IP development shop Deep Sky Object Co. Ltd. will launch sales at the Cannes Film Market.
According to Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA), Welcome to Dolly’s House is:
[The] first uncanny and trendy Taiwanese animation, combining elements of invocation, friendship and dolls, with brain-twisting and fast-paced storytelling, as well as profound character-building, bringing to the audience a brand new oriental fantasy feature film.
Inspired by a novel written one thousand years ago, the story is about an awakening doll seeking for her beautiful nature. A young YouTuber, Princess Maria, is determined to reveal the enigmatic secrets of Madame Dolly, a sorceress who can turn lifeless dolls into human beings. But as Princess Maria delves deeper, suppressed and painful memories resurface within her…
Welcome to Dolly’s House is directed by Rady Fu and Liu Yu-shu (a.k.a. Tree Muta), created/executive produced by Deep Sky Object’s Seven Ych and produced by Dennis Wu. The rotoscoped performance and voice cast features Ai-ning “Pipi” Yao (Because of You), Teresa Daley (Days We Stared at the Sun) and Yi-tai Chiu (We Are Champions).
Director Yu-shu previously helmed the animated features Shiro — Hero of Heroes and The Mice War. Fu wrote and directed the live-action drama See You Again.
The film is slated for release in 2026 after four years of production.
Heading into the Cannes Film Market, Epsilon Film has signed on with the family 3D CG-animated features Dreamers – The Hunt for Shadowclaw as co-producer and worldwide sales agent. Global pre-sales for the pic, which centers on an unlikely trio of animals with disabilities, will launch at Cannes this month with a first-look scene available for buyers.
Production is set to being soon, with a target release date timed to the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.
Dreamers stars Lenny, a young German shepherd who joined a circus after he failed the police canine test — not because of his mobility wheels, but because of his stubborn attitude; Fred, an Indian Runner duck with autism who creates musical beats with his beak; and Bearnice, a brown bear with Down syndrome who loves dancing for the crowds at her circus. Together, they must turn their differences into strengths and overcome their fears to rescue Shadowclaw, the mysterious circus panther, from the middle of New York City.
The project is created by Andreas Schneider of Parapictures Film Production, who also produces alongside German animation veteran Ulrich Schwarz (Dragon Rider, Nessie Junior), Thomas Baumgarten (Klaus) and Falcon Features. Dreamers is being animated by Kickstart Entertainment in Vancouver, Canada (Barbie Mysteries, Deepa & Anoop).
The creative team includes character designer Heiko Hentschel (The Amazing Maurice, Luis and the Aliens). The scrip was written by Rob Moreland (Gnome Alone, Happily N’Ever After) and award-winning children’s book author Alison James.
Dreamers – The Hunt for Shadowclaw received development funding from MOIN and FFA in Germany and Creative BC in Canada.
On April 30, as part of the 30th anniversary celebration ofA Goofy Movie, Disney will release an all-new virtual reality version of the film’s iconic concert scene, featuring the hit song “I2I” from the fictional pop superstar, Powerline.
Utilizing innovative digital technology combined with the timeless artistry of classic animation, the VR concert will give fans the chance to fully experience the electrifying thrill of a Powerline performance like never before, as if they were on stage in front of the sold-out audience.
Exclusive features of the video include:
Immersive VR Experience: Explore the Powerline “I2I” performance in its entirety from a never-before-seen panoramic perspective.
Iconic Characters & Moments: Featuring some fan-favorites, including Goofy, Max Goof, Powerline, Bigfoot and more.
Technical Innovation: Reimagining classic animation for immersive VR, creating a “theatre in the round” experience.
Easter Eggs: Discover hidden details and surprises with every viewing.
360 Audio: A dynamic soundscape that reacts to the viewer’s head movements, enhancing the immersive feel.
If you are watching the film through a virtual reality headset, move your head in different directions to watch the scene unfold around you.
If you are watching on a mobile device, move the phone in different directions to see the full 360-degree coverage.
If you are watching the film on a desktop computer, use your mouse to click and drag the screen to move the scene in different directions. Or, use the control panel in the top left corner of the video.
It’s time to save the world … Canadian style! Fans can follow the wild adventures of Super Team Canadanext month with the new Saturday morning-flavored adult animated super hero comedy premieres on the Crave platform on Friday, May 16.
Super Team Canada is Crave’s first-ever original animated series and is created by Emmy-winning brothers Robert Cohen (The Simpsons, The Big Bang Theory, Somebody Somewhere) and Joel H. Cohen (The Simpsons). The 10 x 30′ show is produced by Thunderbird Entertainment’s Atomic Cartoons and Will Arnett’s Electric Avenue, in association with Crave.
Synopsis: Super Team Canada focuses on the exploits of six, little-known Canadian superheroes trying to save the world from evil giant robots, an unemployed octopus, and needy hardware store clerks. The stakes are high for these stereotypically underdog Canadian super-unknowns, who are called in as Earth’s last resort when all the other superheroes have been destroyed.
The series features an all-star, all-Canadian cast that includes Will Arnett (BoJack Horseman, Arrested Development), Cobie Smulders (How I Met Your Mother, MCU’s Maria Hill), Kevin McDonald (Invader ZIM: Enter the Florpus, Kids in the Hall), Charles Demers (The Last Kids on Earth, Beat Bugs), Brian Drummond (Ninjago, Sonic Prime), Ceara Morgana (Starship Troopers: Extermination), Veena Sood (Deepa & Anoop, Corner Gas Animated), and guest star Jay Baruchel (How to Train Your Dragon, This Is the End). The show’s theme song was written by Canadian music legend Bryan Adams.
Super Team Canada premieres May 16 with two episodes, kicking off a 10-part episodic story about drowning the pancakes of evil in the maple syrup of justice!
Read more about the show’s creation in Animation Magazine‘s interview with the Cohen Brothers here.
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