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Animation Magazine is a monthly publication covering the animation industry, including aspects of fil

11/08/2024

The highly-anticipated second (and final) season of Netflix's adult animated series Arcane kicks off this Saturday, November 9 with Act 1. Ahead of the launch, the streamer announced the episode count and titles for this first batch drop, which will plunge viewers back into the hard-brawling world of League of Legends.
The aftermath of Jinx’s attack on the Council sets the stage for new leaders to emerge, new alliances to form, and a dire escalation of the conflict between Piltover and Zaun.
Debuting this weekend will be three episodes:

- Ep. 1 "Heavy Is the Crown"
- Ep. 2 "Watch It All Burn"
- Ep. 3 "Finally Got the Name Right"

Act 2 will drop on November 16, with the final cluster of episodes arriving in Act 3 on November 23.

From Riot Games, Arcane is one of Netflix’s most successful animated series ever. The show is created by Christian Linke and Alex Yee; executive producers include Linke, Marc Merrill and Brandon Beck.

The highly-anticipated second (and final) season of Netflix's adult animated series Arcane kicks off this Saturday, November 9 with Act 1. Ahead of the launch

11/08/2024

From Disney's D23 Brazil event, the studio has announced that Ice Age 6 is on the way, from 20th Century Animation. Original voice stars Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Queen Latifah, Denis Leary and Simon Pegg are all confirmed to return, with production underway.

The animated film franchise, which grossed $3.2 billion in global box office across five movies, has been largely on ice since Disney shuttered its origin studio Blue Sky in 2021, following its acquisition of 20th Century Fox in 2019, although a Scrat-less spinoff movie titled The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild was released as a Disney+ original in 2022.

Kicking off the successful prehistoric CG adventures, Ice Age was released in 2002, earning $383.3 million worldwide and an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature. The pic was directed by Blue Sky Studios co-founder Chris Wedge (Oscar-winning short Bunny; Robots, Epic) and Brazilian-American animator Carlos Saldanha, who worked with the studio until its closure.

From Disney's D23 Brazil event, the studio has announced that Ice Age 6 is on the way, from 20th Century Animation. Original voice stars Ray Romano, John Leg

11/08/2024

Independent publishing house Faber announces the launch of the Action! Prize, in direct response to research from the National Literacy Trust that reveals children’s reading enjoyment is at its lowest level in almost two decades, and that the problem is most acute for boys.

‘We are all alarmed at the falling number of children reading for pleasure, especially when it comes to boys; it is clear they are not finding enough of what they need on the shelve," said Leah Thaxon, Publisher at Faber. "I’m keen we offer a much wider range of instantly appealing, action-packed stories that will compete with the adrenaline rush of gaming and screens.

Independent publishing house Faber announces the launch of the Action! Prize, in direct response to research from the National Literacy Trust that reveals child

11/08/2024

Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King director Barry Jenkins shared an exciting new trailer with fans attending the studio showcase tonight at D23 Brazil — a Disney Experience. The trailer takes viewers back in time with a host of fan-favorite characters like Mufasa, Scar, Sarabi, Rafiki and Zazu before they called Pride Rock home.

Mufasa: The Lion King releases only in theaters December 20.

Synopsis: Exploring the unlikely rise of the beloved king of the Pride Lands, Mufasa: The Lion King enlists Rafiki to relay the legend of Mufasa to young lion cub Kiara, daughter of Simba and Nala, with Timon and Pumbaa lending their signature schtick.
Told in flashbacks, the story introduces Mufasa as an orphaned cub, lost and alone until he meets a sympathetic lion named Taka — the heir to a royal bloodline.

Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King director Barry Jenkins shared an exciting new trailer with fans attending the studio showcase tonight at D23 Brazil — a Disn

11/08/2024

As Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment prepare to unleash an epic fantasy battle on the big screen, a new clip for Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom is on the march! The new anime feature film arrives in U.S. & Canadian theaters today (Friday, November 8).

Synopsis: After 12 years of playing his favorite MMORPG game, Momonga logs in for the last time only to find himself transported into its world playing it indefinitely. Throughout his adventures, his avatar ascends to the title of Sorcerer King Ains Ooal Gown.
Once prosperous but now on the brink of ruin, The Sacred Kingdom enjoyed years of peace after construction of an enormous wall protecting them from neighboring invasions. But, one day this comes to an end when the Demon Emperor Jaldabaoth arrives with an army of villainous demi-humans.
Fearing invasion of their own lands, the neighboring territory of the Slane Theocracy is forced to beg their enemies at the Sorcerer Kingdom for help.

As Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment prepare to unleash an epic fantasy battle on the big screen, a new clip for Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom is on th

11/08/2024

LAIKA, the Visit Downtown Campaign, Wild in Art and OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital announced Friday that the auction of the Coraline Cat Statues that have drawn crowds to downtown Portland, Oregon since August of this year has raised $324,500 for the hospital.

Based on preliminary economic data, it is estimated that over 135,000 people visited Coraline’s Curious Cat Trail from August through October 2024, with an economic impact of $4 million to the Downtown area. The trail featured 31 nearly six-foot tall ‘Cat’ sculptures stationed throughout Downtown Portland, creating a free art trail for visitors complete with maps, a dedicated website and social media. The Farewell Weekend drew 10,000 visitors to Director Park to say goodbye to these locally crafted art pieces.
“What a truly incredible project!
’sCuriousCatTrail ’sHospital

LAIKA, the Visit Downtown Campaign, Wild in Art and OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital announced Friday that the auction of the Coraline Cat Statues that ha

11/08/2024

BlueDream Studios (U.S.), based Melies Producciones and Plano Sujetivo (Spain), have greenlighted the production of Animal Crackers 2 for a Q4 2026 Release. The sequel to the successful Animal Crackers, which featured a star-studded voice over cast including John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Danny De Vito, Ian Mckellen and Silvester Stallone, is set to start production in Q1 2025 at B Water Studios (Spain).

Helmed by returning Animal Craackers directors Scott Christian Sava and Jaime Maestro, Animal Crackers 2 will focus on Owen and Zoe, the circus owners, who leave their daughter Mackenzie and their circus in the hands of Chesterfield the Clown to secure a global cookie distribution deal — and chaos ensues. Mackenzie turns into a monkey during her high-wire act, losing her human form and her magic cookie.

BlueDream Studios (U.S.), based Melies Producciones and Plano Sujetivo (Spain), have greenlighted the production of Animal Crackers 2 for a Q4 2026 Release. The

11/08/2024

“Beyond,” the end credit track from the highly anticipated Walt Disney Animation Studios’ film and Disney Music Group Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, Moana 2, is available today. Written by Grammy Award-winning songwriters Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear (Barlow & Bear), “Beyond” encapsulates Moana’s fearless sense of adventure and connecting her island beyond its shores. “Beyond” is now available on all streaming platforms. Listen on Amazon Music, Apple Music and Spotify.

“During the process of writing this, we spoke to a lot of people who come from Oceania and the Polynesian Islands, and what rings true to all of them is their deep connection to their heritage and how they honor their ancestors," Barlow & Bear commented. "No matter how daunting this journey is to Moana, she can’t refuse it. It scares her but also exhilarates her because it’s a call from the ancestors.
’iCravalho &Bear

“Beyond,” the end credit track from the highly anticipated Walt Disney Animation Studios’ film and Disney Music Group Original Motion Picture Soundtrack,

11/08/2024

Toei Animation, in collaboration with Spaceport and Twin Atlas, has announced Hypergalactic: Monkey Quest, a Roblox game launched in support of the upcoming feature film, Hypergalactic.

Developed by 2023 Roblox Studio of the Year Twin Atlas, the game serves as the central player hub for a connected universe of interconnected games and experiences on Roblox beginning with an additional seven games, all licensed through Spaceport Technologies. Studios developing the soon to be released games and experiences include Banana Studios, Boss Studio, Brave Turtle, Fire Games, Intention Entertainment, Method Men Studios and Misfits Gaming.

Monkey Quest, the core game at the center of the Hypergalactic Universe, offers fans a first glimpse into the vibrant and action-packed world of Hypergalactic, featuring immersive gameplay, stunning visuals and engaging storylines.

Toei Animation, in collaboration with Spaceport and Twin Atlas, has announced Hypergalactic: Monkey Quest, a Roblox game launched in support of the upcoming fea

11/07/2024

The Ventana Sur (ventana-sur.com) film and television market has finalized the lineup for its Animation! sidebar, presenting animated features and series from both established and up-and-coming Latin American talents. This year's event takes place in Montevideo, Uruguay from December 2-6.

The market established Animation! as an opportunity for producers from Latin America and professionals from other parts of the world to connect. The program presents pitches for projects seeking strategic alliances, networking activities, round tables, workgroups with international specialists and pitching training sessions.

This year's animation pitching sessions includes feature animation debut projects from Chilean stop-motion animator Hugo Covarrubias, who was nominated at the 2022 Oscars for his short, Beast, and award-winning Argentinian-Spanish director Pablo Agüero (Eva Doesn't Sleep, Primera Nieves).

The Ventana Sur (ventana-sur.com) film and television market has finalized the lineup for its Animation! sidebar, presenting animated features and series from b

11/07/2024

Having successfully patched up The Farmer’s waxed jacket last year, Shaun the Sheep and his flock are back for more adventures with Barbour, as part of their 2024 Christmas campaign. This time, Barbour focuses on its popular accessories, with a message of giving the gift of warmth this Winter. Alongside this year’s animated ad, Barbour has created 30 limited edition Re-loved Shaun the Sheep inspired wax jackets, with all proceeds going to Oxfam.

Created by the talented team at Aardman (Wallace & Gromit, Chicken Run), this year’s seasonal stop-motion film was carefully crafted in their Bristol studio, bringing cozy Barbour goods to Mossy Bottom Farm once again. The film sees Bitzer, The Farmer’s devoted dog and Shaun’s best friend, attempting to conduct a very cold choir of sheep through some Christmas carols. As their ‘baas’ begin to freeze, Bitzer has an idea — rushing off on his bike and returning with gifts of hats and scarves from Barbour.

Having successfully patched up The Farmer’s waxed jacket last year, Shaun the Sheep and his flock are back for more adventures with Barbour, as part of their

11/07/2024

Acclaimed animator, illustrator and director Jorge R. Gutiérrez (Maya and the Three, The Book of Life, El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera) has shared his character designs for the many monsterfied Springfield citizens seen in his Día de los Mu***os / arcade fighting game-inspired "Los Simpsons" intro for the recent "Treehouse of Horror ###V" episode of The Simpsons, which premiered on FOX Sunday (Nov. 3).

The characters spotlighted include the Simpsons family, Krusty the Clown, Mr. Burns & Smithers, Bumblebee Man, Otto, Snake, Sideshow Bob, Itchy & Scratchy and more Matt Groening creations, re-imagined with Gutiérrez's signature Mexican folk art-fueled flare. The intro also includes cameos by La Mu**ta and Xibalba from his animated feature film, The Book of Life (2014).

Gus Cosío (The Casagrandes Movie, My Dad the Bounty Hunter, The Great Wolf Pack, Kid Cosmic, Maya and the Three), who was the intro's storyboard artist, also shared an animatic.

Acclaimed animator, illustrator and director Jorge R. Gutiérrez (Maya and the Three, The Book of Life, El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera) has shared his

11/07/2024

Today, Apple TV+ unveiled a sneak peek for season three of the adorable preschool animated series Sago Mini Friends, premiering globally on Friday, November 22. Produced by Daytime Emmy Award-nominated Spin Master Entertainment and animated by 9 Story Media Group’s Emmy Award-winning studio Brown Bag Films Toronto, the series is based on the award-winning Sago Mini World app, developed by Sago Mini.

The five episode series is a delightful nod to gratitude, featuring Harvey the floppy-eared dog and his best friends, Jinja the cat, Jack the rabbit and Robin the bird. Along with a unique cast of residents as colorful as their own whimsical world, the four friends play, explore, imagine and celebrate daily in their joyful town of Sagoville. In each episode, Harvey and all his friends express their true thankfulness for all things big and small, through optimism, kindness, preschool-friendly humor and unforgettable original songs!

Today, Apple TV+ unveiled a sneak peek for season three of the adorable preschool animated series Sago Mini Friends, premiering globally on Friday, November 22.

11/07/2024

A charming, spirited robot has to face new challenges when he starts to malfunction and is diagnosed with ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, in director Toby Cochran’s lovely short LUKi & the Lights. The project is inspired by the true story of Sascha Groen and her husband, Anjo Snijders, who was diagnosed with ALS about seven years ago. When the couple realized there were very few educational tools available to help explain the disease to their kids, Sascha started to draw a robot to help illustrate the disease’s progression, allowing their children to follow along by filling in the light bulbs as it advanced

“After Sascha created the robot, they had the wild idea of turning it into an animated short to explain ALS to families,” recalls Cochran. “LUKi found his way to our company, Big Grin Productions, in early 2021 through a referral. Since we focus on stories that make a positive impact, Sascha and Anjo’s mission aligned perfectly with ours.
/MND &theLights

A charming, spirited robot has to face new challenges when he starts to malfunction and is diagnosed with ALS, or amyotrophic

11/07/2024

Among the many animated gems unspooling at festivals such as Tribeca and Ottawa this year was artist Julian Glander’s self-produced feature, Boys Go to Jupiter. Animated entirely in Blender, the surreal coming-of-age story follows the adventures of a teenager (voiced by Jack Corbett) who hustles his way to making $5,000 by delivering food via the app Grubster! Oh, and he also makes friends with a blue, donut-shaped alien who’s being hunted by juice mogul Dr. Dolphin (voiced by Janeane Garofalo).

'It was easy to fall back into the mindset of a 16-year-old. The core ideas of the movie kind of emerged from that mindset.

Among the many animated gems unspooling at festivals such as Tribeca and Ottawa this year was artist Julian Glander’s self-produ

11/07/2024

Banijay Kids & Family, the global children’s entertainment outfit behind hit shows such as Totally Spies! and Mr. Bean: The Animated Series, has secured a host of new deals for its toon catalog this market season, negotiated by its dedicated commercial and sales division, Banijay Kids & Family Distribution.

“We have an incredibly strong slate of shows heading into MIPCOM, and as you can see, these titles are proving extremely popular with buyers all around the world," said Cecile Cau, SVP Co-Productions, Sales & Acquisitions for Banijay Kids & Family Distribution. "From our fantastic in-house productions to premium third-party titles, we have something for every buyer
and platform.”

Miniheroes of the Forest Season 1 has been picked up for Hong Kong by HK Television Entertainment Company Limited, and by Vme Media Inc. across the U.S. The series is produced by Movimenti Production and MoBo, and co-produced by Zodiak Kids & Family France (all part of Banijay Kids & Family).
&Family

Banijay Kids & Family, the global children’s entertainment outfit behind hit shows such as Totally Spies! and Mr. Bean: The Animated Series, has secured a

11/06/2024

Having made a delightful impression on the film festival circuit last year, A Greyhound of a Girl — a 2D animated feature based on the book by award-winning Irish novelist/screenwriter Roddy Doyle, has arrived to buy or rent on digital platforms for home audiences to enjoy. From celebrated animation filmmaker Enzo D'Alò (Pinocchio, Lucky & Zorba), the film launched Nov. 1 on Prime Video, YouTube, Apple TV, Google Play and Vudu.
Synopsis: Eleven-year-old Mary has an insatiable passion for cooking, and dreams of become a great chef. Her grandmother Emer, with whom she has a very special relationship, encourages her to make this dream come true. But every path has its obstacles, and facing them turns into quite an adventure.
In this delicate coming-of-age story, filled with joy & laughter, we join four generations of women as they head off on a glorious journey together. One that takes them down memory lane and gives them the opportunity to learn about each other, truly & deeply.
’Alo

Having made a delightful impression on the film festival circuit last year, A Greyhound of a Girl — a 2D animated feature based on the book by award-winning

11/06/2024

Cinekid Festival (cinekid.nl) recently wrapped it 2024 edition, announcing 10 winners of the Cinekid Lion awards for the best youth films, series and game of 2024 and four Cinekid for Professionals Awards. The winners included several promising animated projects:

The Council of Europe Series Co-production Development Award was presented for the first time this year, awarded to the Swedish animated series Puck, directed by Anna-Karin Garhamn and is produced by Caroline Drab. The new prize worth €50,000 supports independent producers in accessing development funding and fostering creative partnerships across Eurimages member states.

The jury of industry experts for the Council of Europe Series Co-Production Development Award included Alessia Sonaglioni (Program Manager, Council of Europe), Judit Foz Povill (Head of Media Sales, DeAPlaneta) and Laury van Lieshout (Television Editor, KRO-NCRV).

Cinekid Festival (cinekid.nl) recently wrapped it 2024 edition, announcing 10 winners of the Cinekid Lion awards for the best youth films, series and game of 20

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Happy Canada Day!

Happy Father's Day (from Riley and her dad!)

Pablo Berger's wonderful, Oscar-nominated movie "Robot Dreams" opens in select theaters in the U.S. today!

Are you ready for #MIPTV 2024?

[PAID CONTENT] Are you ready for #MIPTV 2024? Take a sneak peek at what the Spring International Television Market has in store for you. From conferences to screenings, keynotes to parties, not to mention competitions, awards and of course numerous networking opportunities, we have a full programme waiting for you come April! Register now: https://www.miptv.com/en-gb/visit.html MIPTV will be held 8-10 April 2024 in Cannes, France - preceded by the Pre-MIPTV Biggest Weekend in Unscripted on 6-7 April. See you there!

Happy Pie Day (3/14)!

Iryna Kostyuk and Tetiyana Ruban accept Cartoon Movie's Producer of the Year award for Kyiv-based Animagrad and parent company Film.UA's acclaimed feature "Mavka" at Cartoon Movie in Bordeaux, France, today. Eurozoom (France) was the winner of the European Distributor of the Year and Jérémie Périn was the winner of the European Director of the year for “Mars Express” (France).