Animation Magazine

TIFF: ‘Extinct’ Adds Voice Cast, J.K. Simmons Joins ‘Seal Team’

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September 3, 2019

TIFF: ‘Extinct’ Adds Voice Cast, J.K. Simmons Joins ‘Seal Team’

U.S.-Chinese animated comedy feature Extinct has announced key voice cast members ahead of its sales launch at Toronto Int’l Film Festival. International sales agent Timeless Films revealed that the film will feature Adam Devine (Modern Family), Rachel Bloom (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), Zazie Beetz (Atlanta) and Ken Jeong (The Hangover).

These stars join previously announced voicers Jim Jeffries (The Jim Jeffries), Catherina O’Hara (Schitt’s Creek), Reggie Watts (The Late Late Show with James Corden) and Alex Borstein (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel).

Produced by China Lion, HB Wink, Huayi Tencent Ent. and Tolerable Ent., Extinct follows Op and Ed — two specimens of the donut-shaped animals known as flummels. When the duo accidently time travel from 1835 to modern-day Shanghai and discover a very strange world where flummels have gone extinct, they set out to save themselves, and their species.

Timeless Films will present the first footage from the project at TIFF, where it is also shopping Dragon Rider and Monster Family 2.

Meanwhile, Oscar, Golden Globe and BAFTA-winning actor J.K. Simmons (Whiplash) has joined the voice cast of Seal Team, the new feature from leading South African studio Triggerfish Animation (Khumba, Netflix’s upcoming Mama K’s Team 4).

Also coming on board are British musician Seal and actor John Kani, who voices Rafiki in box-office smash The Lion King). They join previously announced voice stars Jessie T. Usher (Independence Day: Resurgence) and Sharlto Copley (District 9).

Seal Team centers on an orphan seal living off the coast of South Africa, who gets fed up with contending with dangerous great white sharks and decides to assemble a scratch team of like-minded seals to turn the tide. The picture is directed by Greig Cameron (Supa Strikas) from a screenplay co-written with Brian & Jason Cleveland and Wayne Thornley.

Simmons plays the team’s grouchy, military-trained veteran, Claggart. Usher voices the young hero, Quinn. Copley voices Switch, the crew’s master inventor. Patrick Warburton (Ted) plays the vain Geraldo. And Kristen Schaal (Toy Story 4) plays fast and funny Beth.

Cinema Management Group is offering Seal Team to worldwide buyers at TIFF, as well as financing with SA’s Industrial Development Corporation and the Department of Trade and Industry. The company previously represented Triggerfish’s Adventures in Zambezia and Khumba.

[Sources: Variety, ScreenDaily]

Netflix Orders ‘Centaurworld’ from First-Timer Megan Nicole Dong

Mercedes Milligan

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September 3, 2019

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Netflix Orders ‘Centaurworld’ from First-Timer Megan Nicole Dong

A colorful, fantastical land of fanciful creatures, song and adventure is coming to Netflix streaming in Centaurworld — a new animated kids’ series from first-time showrunner Megan Nicole Dong. Netflix has committed to 20 episodes of the series, which will feature a mix of animation styles and original songs in a variety of genres in each episode.

Centaurworld follows a war horse who is transported from her embattled world to a strange land inhabited by silly, singing centaurs of all species, shapes, and sizes. Desperate to return home, she befriends a group of these magical creatures and embarks on a journey that will test her more than any battle she’s ever faced before.

Dong will executive produce the series, with Dominic Bisignano (Star vs, The Forces of Evil) as co-executive producer. Meghan McCarthy (My Little Pony franchise) will serve as story editor. Toby Chu (Bao) will be the series composer.

A 2017 honoree of Variety’s 10 Animators to Watch List, Dong rose through the ranks as a story artist on DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon 2 and Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie before becoming a supervising director on Netflix’s Pinky Malinky.

Centaurworld joins Netflix’s ever expanding slate of original animation in production, which includes upcoming series such as City of Ghosts from Elizabeth Ito, Kid Cosmic from Craig McCracken, Battle Kitty from Matt Layzell, Maya and the Three from Jorge Gutierrez and Trash Truck from Max Keane.

Emmy-Winning ‘Animaniacs’ Writer Gordon Bressack Dies Age 68

Mercedes Milligan

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September 2, 2019

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Emmy-Winning ‘Animaniacs’ Writer Gordon Bressack Dies Age 68

Writer Gordon Bressack, best known for his work on iconic ’90s toons Animaniacs and Pinky and the Brain, died Friday, August 30 in Los Angeles after a long illness. His son, James, shared the news of his passing with Deadline.

Bressack was born in New York and started out working in theater. In the mid 1980s, he began totting up credits on animated series such as The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo, Snorks, Pound Puppies, DuckTales and The Smurfs. At the end of the decade, he shared a Humanitas Prize nomination for The Adventures of Raggedy Ann & Andy.

In the years to come, he received Emmy Award recognition for Animaniacs (one win and one nomination), Pinky and the Brain (one win for Animated Program and one nomination for Original Song) and Pinky, Elmyra & the Brain (two wins) with his series colleagues. Bressack was also the first recipient of the Writers Guild of America’s first Animation Writers Caucus Award in 1998.

His many notable writing credits also included Tiny Toon Adventures, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Darkwing Duck, The Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, Little People: Big Discoveries (for which he won a Writers Guild of Canada Award), Jimmy Neutron, WordGirl, The Octonauts and Captain Simian & The Space Monkeys, which he also executive produced. Returning to his theater roots in later years, Bressack’s most recent animation project was feature-length project CarGo, directed by his son, James Bressack.

Bressack is survived by son James, daughters Jackie and Samantha, grandchild Logan, and siblings Margi, Celia and Roger.

[Source: Deadline]

Animaniacs / Pinky and the Brain — *Animaniacs* / *Pinky and the Brain*

Adult Swim Teams with Production I.G for Junji Ito Adaptation ‘Uzumaki’

Mercedes Milligan

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September 2, 2019

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Adult Swim Teams with Production I.G for Junji Ito Adaptation ‘Uzumaki’

Adult Swim announced a partnership with Production I.G USA to launch an all-new anime series based on the manga by acclaimed horror master Junji Ito: Uzumaki. The original series will air on Toonami in 2020. Production I.G is one of Japan’s top animation studios, working on hit series such as Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Attack on Titan, and FLCL Progressive & FLCL Alternative.

Like the FLCL sequel series, Uzumaki is slated for Adult Swim’s Toonami anime block.

“As a huge fan of Junji Ito, I’m thrilled to be able to tackle one of his signature works, with a team of amazing creators who are all equally devoted to doing justice to this monumental work of horror manga,” said Jason DeMarco, Senior Vice President On-Air for Adult Swim.

Uzumaki is a four episode mini series based on Ito’s Shogakukan manga. The story follows a high-school teenager, Kirie Goshima; her boyfriend, Shuichi Saito; and the citizens of the small, fictional Japanese town of Kurouzu-cho, which is cursed by supernatural events involving spirals.

The series will be produced at music and animation creative collective Drive Inc. in Tokyo (also working on Mamoru Oshii’s upcoming vampire comedy Buradobrabu/Vlad’s Love), and directed by Hiroshi Nagahama (Mushi-shi, Flowers of Evil). The score will be created by Colin Stetson (Hereditary, Red Dead Redemption 2).

Animation at LFF: ‘Abominable’ Set for Gala Screening

Mercedes Milligan

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August 30, 2019

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Animation at LFF: ‘Abominable’ Set for Gala Screening

The 63rd BFI London Film Festival (LFF), in partnership with American Express, has announced its full program of 229 feature films from some of the world’s greatest filmmakers and emerging talent — seven of which are fully animated — as well as 116 shorts. For 12 days from October 2-13, the LFF will celebrate the diverse landscape of international cinema, showcasing films that entertain and inspire, provoke debate and tackle the urgent issues of our time.

The lineup includes 28 World Premieres, 12 International Premieres and 28 European Premieres. The program= presents stories from a broad range of voices, continuing to support both home-grown cinema and international productions. 78 countries are represented across short films and features, with 40% of all films directed or co-directed by women.

“In its 63rd year, BFI London Film Festival is one of the world’s great public film fests. And that greatness comes from the fact that we serve one of the most vibrant and international cities in the world and welcome voracious, adventurous and cineliterate audiences. While there are many talking points emerging from this year’s program, a few really leap out: the strong instinct from filmmakers to explore urgent social and political issues through narrative and often through the use of genre; the striking emergence of a new generation of filmmakers exploding onto the international stage with startlingly bold, original and ambitious debuts; the continuing and welcome trend of increased gender balance in directing talent behind short film, first and second features. And while we’re so delighted to see work from 78 countries in the Festival, we also love welcoming a particularly exceptional new wave of U.K.-based filmmakers with cracking first and second feature films in LFF.”

Animation highlights of the 2019 BFI LFF:

The Family Gala is the U.K. Premiere of Jill Culton and Todd Wilderman’s Abominable. This latest animated tale from DreamWorks is a fun, fast-paced action adventure about a little girl and her yeti companion in a race-against-time trip from China to the Himalayas. Boasting a compelling story and breathtaking visuals, Abominable is as beautiful as it is funny and exciting.

Among the 11 Special Presentations is Bombay Rose, a glorious love letter to life and love in Mumbai from feature debut director and screenwriter Gitanjali Rao. Both epic and personal, Rao’s exquisite animation allows characters to move seamlessly between real and imagined worlds, in this delicate and nuanced collection of stories.

Showcasing films for the young, as well as the young at heart, this year’s Family strand is, as always, an international affair.

Bears and humans just don’t get on! In this adaptation of Dino Buzzati’s classic story The Bears’ Famous Invasion of Sicily we find out why; this children’s classic is joyously depicted by Lorenzo Mattotti, who presents a compelling story that works on different levels depending on the viewer’s age.
In Edmunds Jansons’ Jacob, Mimmi and the Talking Dogs, a sassy group of talking dogs give plenty of attitude to Jacob and his cousin Mimmi, but they also help out when a local park is threatened.
The latest film from Jean-François Laguionie, directed with Xavier Picard, The Prince’s Voyage is a feature-length follow-up to his short A Monkey’s Tale, centers on the friendship between a simian boy and an older simian man claiming to be a prince from across the sea, and the reaction of the insular society around them.
Fresh from its success in China, LFF will be presenting the visually ravishing animation White Snake at the BFI IMAX. Directors Amp Wong and Ji Zhao tells the story of a girl with magical gifts who embodies the Chinese legend of the White Snake in a jaw-dropping landscape of demons, serpents and delight!

The Family track also presents an eclectic collection of animated shorts from auteurs, students and major studios around the world: Rémi Durin’s Big Wolf & Little Wolf, Natalie Nourigat’s Exchange Student, Sonja Rohleder’s Nest, Evgeniya Jirkova’s Good Heart, Andy Erekson’s Marooned, Brian Benz’s Just a Thought, Sarah Andrews & Aaron Hopwood’s Jericho, Tom Rourke’s The Penguin Who Couldn’t Swim, Maria Robertson’s Home Sweet Home and Hiromasa Yonebayashi’s Kanini & Kanino.

In-your-face, up-front and arresting films in the Dare strand take you out of your comfort zone. Included in this program is Jérémy Clapin’s I Lost My Body, winner of the Grand Prize at the Cannes Critics’ Week — a striking animation that follows a severed hand searching for its owner.

Learn more at https://whatson.bfi.org.uk/lff.

Brazil’s Gloob Partners with ZAG & Method, Inks Co-Pro for ‘Miraculous Ladybug’

Mercedes Milligan

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August 30, 2019

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Brazil’s Gloob Partners with ZAG & Method, Inks Co-Pro for ‘Miraculous Ladybug’

Brazilian kids’ network Gloob has formed a strategic partnership with ZAG Entertainment and Method Animation. ZAG’s Miraculous Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir has proven a hit worldwide, and helped spur Brazil to be one of the world’s leading animation markets. As a result, national exclusive broadcast distributor Gloob has signed on to co-produce the fourth and fifth seasons of the superhero series, and play a more active role in the show’s artistic development.

Sure to excite Brazilian “miraculers,” as the show’s fans are called, the fifth season will introduce a Brazilian character to the Miraculous team of superheroes, joining Ladybug and Cat Noir in their fight against the evil forces threatening the city of Paris. The new episodes, co-produced by Globo Group’s Children’s Unit, will begin airing in 2020.

“ZAG produces incredible animations that are aligned with the editorial identity of our channels. It has good stories and strong characters that present important values for the healthy development of our public, such as empowering kids, respect for differences and the importance of collaboration and teamwork for solving problems,” said Tatiana Costa, channel director, Gloob and Gloobinho. “Gloob’s joining the coproduction of Miraculous Ladybug represents the consolidation of this strategic partnership with ZAG and Method in Brazil, leading animation producers, which reaffirms the importance of the Children’s Unit of the Globo Group in the market and ensures the development of other attractions that reach Brazil with exclusivity.”

The strategic partnership also ensures for Gloob the co-production of Power Players, a new animation from ZAG and Method, which should premiere in 2020. The deal also includes licensing rights for Power Players products in Brazil.

Gloob already holds the rights to Miraculous Ladybug, which is one of the pillars of the channel’s licensing team. Since 2015, when it debuted in the portfolio, more than 58 million products have been sold nationally under the brand, which is the most preferred of girls from age six to 12 in the country (per the Personagens 2019 Survey conducted by Play).

Man of Action Charges Up Hybrid Series ‘Power Players’ for ZAG, On & CN

Mercedes Milligan

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August 30, 2019

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Man of Action Charges Up Hybrid Series ‘Power Players’ for ZAG, On & CN

A new CGI/live-action hybrid superhero series is heading to screens, as Power Players makes its linear debut on Cartoon Network on Saturday, September 21 at 12:30 p.m. Ahead of the TV launch, the first six episodes will preview across on August 30 across all Cartoon Network platforms, including CN App and On Demand.

Power Players follows an eponymous team of secret toy heroes led by Axel, a kid who discovers the Power Bandz which can transform him into the living, toy-sized action figure: Action Axel. Together with his team of toys brought to life, Axel and the Power Players fight the destructive fun of villainous robot Madcap and his pack of toys gone bad.

Based on an original idea by ZAG Entertainment founder/CEO Jeremy Zag, the series was developed by Man of Action Entertainment (creators of the Ben 10 franchise for Cartoon Network). MoAs Joe Casey, Joe Kelly, Duncan Rouleau and Steven T. Seagle serve as executive producers along with Cedric Pilot, Carine Karsenti and Kevin Marciano. Jeremy Zag and Aton Soumache are producers. story editors are Michael Delachenal, Marcus Rinehart, AJ Marchisello and Man of Action. The shows directors are Tarik Hamdine and Yohan Parents.

“When we saw the incredible vision that Jeremy and Tarik had for Power Players, there was no way Man of Action was going to say anything other than ‘yes’ to coming aboard to shape the world, the characters, and the story,” the creative coalition stated. “It’s a really fun show with a great cast and an eye-popping standard that you usually only see in feature animation.”

Man of Action created the characters and team featured in Big Hero 6, Disney/Marvel’s Academy Award-winning feature, in addition to creating, writing, executive producing Ben 10 and its current iteration, now in season 4 on Cartoon Network. They developed, executive produced, and wrote episodes of Mega Man: Fully Charged for Dentsu and DHX. Man of Action Ent. and ZAG Ent. previously collaborated on the MoA original Zak Storm: Super Pirate for Netflix, and both series are part of the ZAG Heroez brand which also includes Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir.

Eric Ellenbogen Named CEO of DHX Media

Mercedes Milligan

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August 30, 2019

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DHX Media has appointed Eric Ellenbogen as Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chair of the Board of Directors. Ellenbogen succeeds Michael Donovan, who has stepped down as CEO and as Executive Chair. Donovan will continue to serve on the Board as Founding Chair. And Donald Wright has been appointed non-executive Chair.

“We are delighted to announce that Eric will lead DHX Media in fully realizing the value of our extraordinary media assets,” said Wright. “Eric brings fresh leadership and a clear vision to our Company, as well as a 30-year track record of creating significant shareholder value in the media space. In the nine months since he has joined our Board, while also serving as a strategic advisor, he has worked closely with our senior leadership team and gained a deep understanding of our Company. Given his broad perspective and decades of relevant industry experience and success, we are confident that Eric will be able to move the Company forward from the get-go as CEO.”

“We thank Michael for his many years of leadership and vision. As founder of DHX Media, Michael has played a significant role in building the Company into the global entertainment force it is today. We are pleased that he will remain on the Board.”

Ellenbogen commented, “DHX Media has an unmatched portfolio of kids’ and family content with high-profile, beloved characters, including Peanuts, Teletubbies, Strawberry Shortcake, Caillou and Inspector Gadget. In addition to its library and leading animation studios, DHX Media has built a truly unique asset in WildBrain – one of the largest kids’ networks on YouTube – with unparalleled reach and engagement. I’m pleased to have the opportunity to work with the management team, employees and our many valued partners and customers to deliver leading content and brands for audiences worldwide.”

Ellenbogen has spent more than 30 years running entertainment businesses, including holding senior management roles as President of Lorne Michaels’ Broadway Video Entertainment; President of Golden Books Family Entertainment; and President & CEO of Marvel Enterprises before its acquisition by Disney.

With the backing of private equity, he co-founded Classic Media in 2000, which became one of the largest private owners of branded kids’ and family entertainment and was acquired by DreamWorks Animation in 2012. Ellenbogen became Co-Head of DreamWorks Classics and DreamWorks International Television, and was largely responsible for the company’s entry into the television business. Following DWA’s sale to NBCUniversal, Ellenbogen became Co-President of Classic Media, which was restarted as a business unit of NBCUniversal.

Ellenbogen was a board director of Golden Books and Marvel, then both public companies, and is a Trustee of the Public Theater in New York City among other civic involvements. He is a graduate of Harvard College and holds an MBA from UCLA.

We Are Royale, Artolution Bring Refugee Kids’ Art to Life in Animated AR Mural

Mercedes Milligan

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August 30, 2019

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We Are Royale, Artolution Bring Refugee Kids’ Art to Life in Animated AR Mural

Creative production studio We Are Royale has partnered with Artolution, an international community-based public art organization, to bring its latest public mural to life with augmented reality. Located in New York City’s East Village, the mural highlights the stories, struggles and dreams of immigrant and refugee youth seeking safety in the United States.

Fifteen teenagers and children from Central America created original artwork for the mural under the mentorship of Artolution artists. The project provided an educational and therapeutic experience for the children, who are clients of KIND (Kids in Need of Defense), a non-profit that provides pro-bono legal services to unaccompanied immigrant and refugee children.

The AR experience launched during a public event on August 28 in front of the mural, located on the Key Food supermarket on Avenue A. Using an iOS and Android compatible app (in English and Spanish), visitors can hold their smartphones up to view the mural, and the characters in the artwork will emerge from the wall, moving and dancing — and learn more about this meaningful initiative.

Artolution tasked We Are Royale with bringing vitality the youths’ art through animation and AR. The project marks the second partnership between Artolution co-founder Joel Bregner and We Are Royale, following the mural-based teaser campaign Amazon Prime Video series Goliath, starring Billy Bob Thornton.

“This project was an incredible experience for all of us who were involved,” said Bergner. “I enjoyed partnering with [We Are Royale ECD and Partner] Brien [Holman] and the whole Royale team as we guided our youth participants in the creation of their own characters, which were manifested through the mural, mask-making, and performance. The animation and augmented reality elements were especially exciting, as this is the first time that an AR mural has been created with youth, so we all had the sense that we were making history.”

For We Are Royale, this project brought together many of the studio’s skill sets and passions: contributing time and resources to social awareness projects, and fluidly designing for various mediums, from character and app design to UX and AR. To create the character animations, We Are Royale took inspiration from the video footage the team shot of the young artists doing their dance choreography at the close of the mural unveiling event last month.

“We wanted to faithfully recreate what the participants created,” said Holman. “While we provided some guidance on how best to design their characters for the animation and AR aspect of the project, the youth actually took the lead in directing us. Ultimately, this was about empowering them through art. It was amazing to see how everyone opened up in the process — and all the credit goes to Joel and his team at Artolution who dedicate their lives to making beautiful initiatives like this happen.”

Bregner concluded, “This creative platform that the project has given these young people is especially important given the challenges that they’ve faced fleeing from violence and conflict, and starting over in a new country. It’s critical that we create these opportunities for displaced children to build community, shape their own narratives, and begin the healing process after the trauma they’ve experienced. The arts and technology are powerful tools to achieve this.”

Artolution is an international, community-based public art organization based in New York City which seeks to ignite social change through collaborative art-making, bringing together diverse communities in the face of conflict and social exclusion in order to address the trauma and challenges that they face. www.artolution.org

We Are Royale is an award-winning creative production studio with offices in L.A. and Seattle. Founded in 2007, the company is known for its end-to-end creative solutions, diverse capabilities and fluency across platforms. www.weareroyale.com

Academy Plans ‘Princess and the Frog’ 10th Anniversary Screening

Mercedes Milligan

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August 30, 2019

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Academy Plans ‘Princess and the Frog’ 10th Anniversary Screening

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced its fall programming lineup this week for both Los Angeles and New York. Kicking off the season will be a special 10th anniversary presentation of Walt Disney Animation Studio’s The Princess and the Frog in Beverly Hills — with stellar voice talent and creative leads from the film joining the celebration — on September 5. Of course, the Student Academy Awards ceremony will reveal the medal placements on October 17 .

The fall slate will highlight two new programming series. The Academy’s Margaret Herrick Library created a new speaker series, Words on Film, that invites writers and filmmakers to discuss their work and their creative and research processes with the public in a casual, dynamic way. Animation admirers should check out the Nov. 14 tribute to graphic designer Saul Bass. In addition, the Academy presents the inaugural Robert Osborne Celebration of Classic Film, a new series funded by the Robert Osborne Estate designed to return classic films to the big screen for new audiences.

A full schedule and tickets for the screenings can be found here: oscars.org/events.

’The Princess and the Frog’ 10th Anniversary | September 5, 7:30 p.m. PT

Samuel Goldwyn Theater, Beverly Hills

Hosted by Quvenzhané Wallis. Featuring a live performance by Anika Noni Rose (voice of Tiana) and musicians Kenny Sara & the Sounds of New Orleans. With director Ron Clements, producer Peter Del Vecho, screenwriter Rob Edwards, voice actors Keith David, Michael-Leon Wooley and Jenifer Lewis, composer Randy Newman, effects animation supervisor Marlon West and character animator Bruce W. Smith.

46th Student Academy Awards | October 17 – 7:30 p.m. PT

Samuel Goldwyn Theater, Beverly Hills

The winning student filmmakers will receive their medal placements – gold, silver, bronze – in seven award categories. Gold medal-winning films will be screened after the ceremony.

2019 SAA finalists: Animation (Domestic Film Schools) Aviv Mano, Game Changer (Ringling College of Art and Design); Kalee McCollaum, Grendell (Brigham Young University); Emre Okten, Two (University of Southern California); Liukaidi Peng, CRUNCH (School of Visual Arts); Sanghyun Kim, Misguided (Ringling College of Art and Design); Trilina Mai, Push (California State University – Long Beach); Asher Horowitz, why z? (School of Visual Arts). Animation (International Film Schools) Veronica Solomon, Love Me, Fear Me (Film University Babelsberg, Germany); Mohamad Houhou, The Ostrich Politic (Gobelins, l’école de l’image, France); Daria Kashcheeva, Daughter (FAMU – Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, Czech Republic)

Words on Film: A Tribute to Saul Bass | November 14 – 7:30 p.m. PT

Margaret Herrick Library, Beverly Hills

A discussion with individuals who worked with the late graphic designer and filmmaker Saul Bass, designer of iconic film title sequences including Vertigo, North by Northwest, Psycho, Spartacus and Casino. Featuring a display of original materials from the Saul Bass papers preserved at the Margaret Herrick Library.

Tickets for Los Angeles-based events are $5 for the general public and $3 for Academy members and students with a valid I.D. and will be available online at Oscars.org.

News Bytes: ShaqToons Ups Animator Compensation, ‘Bombay Rose’ Trailer, Anime Against Climate Crisis & More

Mercedes Milligan

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August 29, 2019

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News Bytes: ShaqToons Ups Animator Compensation, ‘Bombay Rose’ Trailer, Anime Against Climate Crisis & More

‘Oxenfree’ Now Available for $9.99
Just in time for Halloween, Night School Studio’s acclaimed game gets a permanent price drop across Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Steam and the Epic Games Store.

Oxenfree is a single player game that’s equal parts coming-of-age tale and supernatural thriller. You play as Alex, a bright, rebellious teenage girl who brings her new stepbrother Jonas to an overnight party on a decommissioned military island. The festivities are framed by a dangerous sneak to a forbidden beach, celebrating with friends and navigating prickly situations with enemies. But the night takes a horrifying turn when you unwittingly open a ghostly rift spawned from the island’s cryptic past. How you deal with these events, your peers, and the ominous creatures you’ve unleashed is up to you.

Night School is also gearing up to release its next title, Afterparty, on Xbox One, PC and Mac (via Epic Games Store), PS4 and Switch this year. In the new title, players will take on the role of Milo and Lola, recently deceased best buds who suddenly find themselves staring down an eternity in Hell. But there’s a loophole: outdrink Satan and he’ll grant re-entry to Earth.

Funko Gets Wicked with Disney Villains Cosmetics Line
Inspired by Ursula, Maleficent, Cruella De Vil and the Evil Queen, the collection includes bronzers, lip glosses, highlighters, eye shadows, eyeliners, blushes and makeup brushes in cute packaging with Funko flair, manufactured by Taste Beauty — which boasts across-the-board gluten free products never tested on animals — and set to retail exclusively at Ulta.

CALL FOR PROJECTS: Luxembourg-Ireland Co-Development Fund for Female Filmmakers
Film Fund Luxembourg and Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland are seeking new co-development feature-length (min. 70’) fiction, documentary, animation or TV projects (dramatic series, animated series or animated movie) which are written and/or directed by women. Deadline: September 10, 2019.

Artist Jahan Loh Addresses Global Warming Crisis with Japanese Animation
The National Museum of Singapore has launched a new series of works by local contemporary artist Loh, titled “Intergalactic Dreams.” The three-part presentation combines a large-scale installation with anime to encourage conversations about global warming, as it envisions a possible future for mankind in a world of rising temperatures and sea levels.

WATCH: Bombay Rose Official Trailer
Official selection of the Venice Int’l Film Critics’ Week and Toronto Int’l Film Festival 2019, Bombay Rose is an animated romance hanging precariously between living on the streets and loving on the screen, Bollywood style. Amidst the struggle for survival in a big city, a red rose brings together three tales of impossible loves. The film is the long-awaited feature debut of India’s leading animator Gitanjali Rao (Printed Rainbow). Produced by Cinestaan Film Co. (India), Les Films d’Ici (France) and Goldfinch (U.K.) Full review from Variety.

Shaq Offers to Pay $500 for Original Animations, Updates to $10,000 After Backlash
Shaquille O’Neal ruffled creatives’ feathers with the launch of his ShaqToons contest, seeking original animations set to stories from his life for his TNT docuseries Shaq Life. After artists balked at the $500 reward (which, admittedly, is better than work “for exposure”), the basketball legend cranked up the compensation, Tweeting: “To all my animators out there, I heart you. I love your work and want you to feel the love.”

To all my animators out there, I heard you. I love your work and want you to feel the love. If your cartoon is selected, you’ll be awarded $10,000 and your animation will be shown on my new show, Shaq Life. Can’t wait to see what you got! https://t.co/TKzJu2kWWm pic.twitter.com/BZEaaoSB8S

— SHAQ (@SHAQ) August 29, 2019

Michel Ocelot’s ‘Dilili in Paris’ Bows in Select Theaters, VOD

Mercedes Milligan

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August 29, 2019

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Michel Ocelot’s ‘Dilili in Paris’ Bows in Select Theaters, VOD

Samuel Goldwyn Films is bringing the latest transportive film by BAFTA Award-winning director Michel Ocelot, Dilili in Paris, to select U.S. theaters and video on demand this fall. Winner of the 2019 César Award for Best Animated Feature and selected as the opening film for Annecy 2018, the jewel-hued visit to turn of the century France will debut stateside on October 4.

Synopsis: Travel to the upper reaches and lower depths of Paris in the Belle Epoque with Dilili, a graceful young girl with eagle-eyed smarts as she investigates the mysterious plot of the Master Men. Together with Orel, a delivery boy who ferries her around the sweeping photorealistic and jewel-toned landscape as only expert animator Michel Ocelot could conceive, Dilili will stop at nothing until justice is restored. Our super sleuths journey through a turn-of-the-century world so evocative, you just might spot Picasso, Proust, or Marie Curie.

The film is directed and written by Ocelot (Kirikou and the Sorceress, Azur & Asmar), produced by Christophe Rossignon and features the voices of Prunelle Charles-Ambron, Enzo Ratsito and Natalie Dessay.

Frederator Gets into the Spooky Spirit with New ‘Costume Quest’ & Holiday Special

Mercedes Milligan

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August 29, 2019

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Frederator Gets into the Spooky Spirit with New ‘Costume Quest’ & Holiday Special

Wow! Unlimited Media’s Frederator Studios is getting into the pre-Halloween swing with the news that brand-new episodes of its hit animated series Costume Quest are premiering October 11. Additionally, a 35-minute holiday special, Heroes on Holiday, will premiere on November 22. Coming off the heels of the series’ highly anticipated release earlier this year, seven half-hour episodes will debut as a continuation of season one on Amazon Prime Video this fall.

Part one of the series received immense critical praise, with Robert Lloyd of the Los Angeles Times saying that the program “starts well and gets better, growing looser and more poetic,” while noting the detailed animation and “fresh” writing.

Based on the eponymous video game series by Double Fine Productions (Psychonauts, Broken Age) and the world originally created by Tasha Sounart, Costume Quest is a comedic cartoon mystery tracking a team of four kids as they use their imaginations and a whole series of magical, transformative costumes to battle the sinister monster Bob Dickerson (voiced by Christopher McDonald) as he launches his diabolical plan to take over the sleepy town of Auburn Hollow.

Heroes on Holiday will kick-off the festive season when it premieres on November 22. Audiences will find out how Wren, Reynold, Everett and Lucy put Christmas in jeopardy trying to balance the desire to experience their favorite Auburn Hollow holiday traditions with their responsibilities as heroes.

“The debut of Costume Quest earlier this year thrilled fans of the cult hit video game as well as younger viewers just discovering the characters and story, and we are looking forward to continuing the adventure with these additional episodes, just in time for Halloween, followed by our festive holiday special” said Fred Seibert, CEO, Frederator and Chief Creative Officer, WOW!. “Our talented team has done a great job of bringing the charm of the beloved video game to life through the series and we are sure fans will be excited to see what comes next.”

Wow! Unlimited Media was established by Frederator founder and producer Seibert (Adventure Time, The Fairly OddParents) and Michael Hirsch, founder of Nelvana and Cookie jar, combining the animation studio power of Frederator Studios and Rainmaker/Mainframe. Wow! has since built a strong portfolio of top properties including Netflix hit Castlevania, ReBoot: The Guardian Code (Netflix), Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures (with Mattel for Netflix), Bee and PuppyCat (Cartoon Hangover) and Spy Kids Mission Control (Netflix).

GKIDS Uncoils Chinese Epic ‘White Snake’ in LA Nov. 15

Mercedes Milligan

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August 29, 2019

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GKIDS Uncoils Chinese Epic ‘White Snake’ in LA Nov. 15

After its warm reception in Annecy earlier this summer, Light Chaser Animation’s White Snake is slithering further westward for an awards season qualifying release in Los Angeles. GKIDS will bring the visually striking Chinese fantasy adventure to Landmark’s NuArt Theater on November 15.

Synopsis: One day, a young woman named Blanca is saved by Xuan, a snake catcher from a nearby village. She has lost her memory, and together they go on a journey to discover her real identity, developing deeper feelings for one another along the way. But as they learn more about her past, they uncover a darker plot of supernatural forces vying for power, with the fate of the world hanging in the balance. Conceived as a prequel to one of the most ancient and enduring stories in Chinese history, White Snake presents a sumptuous tale of trickster demons, deadly mythical beasts, assassins, wuxia action, and the promise of eternal love.

Directed by Amp Wong and Zhao Ji, produced by Di Cui and written by Da Mao.

Chinese Phenom ‘Ne Zha’ Gets Exclusive NorAm IMAX Release

Mercedes Milligan

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August 29, 2019

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After smashing box office records in its home country, Chinese animated feature Ne Zha is arriving in North America today (August 29), screening exclusively at IMAX 3D theaters for a limited time. Check local listings online to find a participating theater near you!

The folklore-inspired adventure centers on a young boy named Ne Zha, born from a heavenly pearl by the Primeval Lord of Heaven, Yuanshi Tianzun. Born with unique powers, he finds himself as an outcast who is hated and feared. Destined by prophecy to bring destruction to the world, the young boy must choose between good and evil in order to break the shackles of fate and become the hero.

Released by Well Go USA Entertainment in North America, produced by Beijing Enlight Pictures and written and directed by first time director Yang Yu (a.k.a. Jiao Zi), Ne Zha is currently the highest-grossing animated feature in China’s film history with box-office gross presently at over $660 million. Ne Zha is also the highest-grossing animated IMAX feature in China’s film history, and the second highest-grossing local language IMAX feature of all time in the market.

The North American IMAX release of Ne Zha will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience with proprietary IMAX DMR (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The crystal-clear images, coupled with IMAX’s customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio, create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.

Teaser: Hark! A Familiar Voice Beckons in ‘Disenchantment’ S2

Mercedes Milligan

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August 29, 2019

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Teaser: Hark! A Familiar Voice Beckons in ‘Disenchantment’ S2

Princess Bean reconnects (sort of) with a lost friend in Netflix’s new teaser for Disenchantment Part Two — a full trailer is expected next week, with the season’s global streaming debut set for Friday, September 20. A fresh batch of character art has also been revealed!

Disenchantment launched last year and instantly whisked audiences away to the crumbling medieval kingdom of Dreamland. There, they followed the misadventures of hard-drinking young princess Bean (voiced by Abbi Jacobson), her feisty elf companion Elfo (Nat Faxon) and her personal demon, Luci (Eric Andre). Along the way, the oddball trio encountered ogres, sprites, harpies, imps, trolls, walruses and lots of human fools.

Picking up where we left off, Disenchantment Part Two delves deeper into the un-fairytale’s mythology and explores faraway worlds well beyond Dreamland. But one question remains: Have we really seen the last of the beloved Elfo?

The series is executive produced by creator Matt Groening and Josh Weinstein. The voice cast also features John DiMaggio, Billy West, Maurice LaMarche, Tress MacNeille, David Herman, Matt Berry, Jeny Batten, Rich Fulcher, Noel Fielding and Lucy Montgomery.

TNT Launches ‘Shaqtoon’ Fanimation Contest for New Series

Mercedes Milligan

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August 29, 2019

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TNT Launches ‘Shaqtoon’ Fanimation Contest for New Series

A new docuseries about basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal has opened a public call for animated shorts! The contest invites fans to flex their creativity by downloading one of Shaq’s craziest stories from his life on and off the court, and set the narration to original animation. These “ShaqToons” will then have a chance to air on television as part of TNT’s upcoming series, Shaq Life.

The deadline to submit ShaqToons is Friday, September 20. More information available online.

Shaq Life will offer viewers unprecedented access to the day-to-day of what goes into the business of being Shaquille O’Neal. Fans can come along for the ride as the literal entertainment giant zips from a DJ gig in Las Vegas to the NBA Awards Show, from Big Chicken Shaq to a TV commercial shoot, and even amid the waves as he dons is “Chief Fun Officer” cap for Carnival Cruise Ship.

‘Triviatopia’ Toon Inspired by Trivia Crack Game Coming Soon to YouTube

Mercedes Milligan

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August 29, 2019

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‘Triviatopia’ Toon Inspired by Trivia Crack Game Coming Soon to YouTube

Leading social game developer Etermax is launching a new animated series inspired by its global phenomenon Trivia Crack: Triviatopia. Based on the beloved characters from the hit mobile game, the show will launch for free across YouTube and YouTube Kids on September 12.

Triviatopia, comprised of 20 bite-sized episodes, will take families around the world on a journey through time and space to teach messages of acceptance and inclusion. It will also incorporate some of the most popular facts from the mobile game, inviting grownups and children alike to learn the most interesting facts about our planet, ourselves and the universe.

The show’s opening song — which you can hear in the trailer below — is created and performed by multi-Grammy winning and Emmy-nominated songwriter, composer, producer and musician Jared Faber

Academy Investigating 9 Sci-Tech Areas for 2019

Mercedes Milligan

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August 28, 2019

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Academy Investigating 9 Sci-Tech Areas for 2019

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced today that nine distinct scientific and technical investigations have been launched for 2019. These investigations are made public so that individuals and companies with devices or claims of innovation within these areas will have the opportunity to submit achievements for review in consideration for the Scientific and Technical Awards.

The Academy’s Scientific and Technical Awards Committee has started investigations into the following areas:

Professional desktop monitors with self-calibration
Head-mounted facial acquisition systems
Wireless video transmission systems used in motion-picture production
Frameworks enabling high-performance ray-geometry intersections
Hair simulation toolsets
Audio repair and restoration software for motion pictures
Automatic dialog post-synchronization systems
Costume, prop, hair and makeup tracking and inventory communication tools for physical production
Post-production tracking and scheduling systems

“The science and technology of filmmaking is constantly evolving and advancing. Each year, the Academy researches technology that has had a significant impact on the motion picture arts. This year, we are examining a distinct group of technologies, which includes hair simulation, facial capture and audio repair,” said Doug Roble, chair of the Scientific and Technical Awards Committee. “The current awards cycle will commence with a series of exhaustive investigations, conducted by a committee made up of industry experts with a diversity of expertise, and culminate with the Scientific and Technical Awards ceremony in June.”

The deadline to submit additional entries is Tuesday, September 17, at 5 p.m. PT. For more information on the Scientific and Technical Awards or to submit a similar technology, click here.

After thorough investigations are conducted in each of the technology categories, the committee will meet in the spring to vote on recommendations to the Academy’s Board of Governors, which will make the final awards decisions.

The Scientific and Technical Awards Presentation will be held on Saturday, June 20, 2020.

Survey Shows Disney+ Subscriptions May Double Company Forecast

Mercedes Milligan

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August 28, 2019

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Survey Shows Disney+ Subscriptions May Double Company Forecast

New research by consumer habits watchdog UBS Evidence Lab has found that 43% of 1,000 U.S. consumers surveyed this month plan to subscribe to Disney+. The streaming service, which will be home to fan-favorite movies and series from Walt Disney Motion Pictures, Disney Animation, Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm as well as highly anticipated originals, is set to launch in the U.S. on November 12 for $6.99/mo.

Walt Disney Co. had previously revealed internal forecasts that Disney+ would have 20 million to 30 million U.S. subscribers by 2024 — 20%-30% of U.S. broadband households — and 60 million to 90 million worldwide. Netflix currently boasts 152 million global subscribers, and the Mouse’s new platform will also contend with streamers launching from Apple, WarnerMedia and NBCUniversal soon.

The survey found:

79% of respondents have heard of Disney+
67% of respondents would likely subscribe to Disney+ without getting rid of another video service
43% of respondents say they will subscribe to Disney+
Of intended subscribers, 57% say they would cancel at least one other service (Pay-TV: 37%; VOD: 33%; premium broadcast network: 19%)

The poll was taken ahead of the D23 Expo, which spotlighted further programming announcements for Disney+ and allowed attendees to sign up early at a discount via on-site kiosks, as the kick-off to a major pre-launch marketing campaign.

[Source: UBS via Deadline]

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Michel Ocelot’s ‘Dilili in Paris’ Bows in Select Theaters, VOD

GKIDS Uncoils Chinese Epic ‘White Snake’ in LA Nov. 15

Chinese Phenom ‘Ne Zha’ Gets Exclusive NorAm IMAX Release

Teaser: Hark! A Familiar Voice Beckons in ‘Disenchantment’ S2

TNT Launches ‘Shaqtoon’ Fanimation Contest for New Series

‘Triviatopia’ Toon Inspired by Trivia Crack Game Coming Soon to YouTube

Academy Investigating 9 Sci-Tech Areas for 2019

Survey Shows Disney+ Subscriptions May Double Company Forecast

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