Spanish animation is experiencing a historic boom. Shorts and features from the country are achieving notable success at festivals and the box office, while Spanish artists are contributing to some of the most influential film and TV productions coming from Hollywood today.
The question now is what steps should be taken to build on recent success.
Spaniard Almu Redondo won an Emmy this year for her work on the Cartoon Saloon-produced “Star Wars: Visions” episode “Screecher’s Reach,” and Pablo Berger’s Spanish feature “Robot Dreams” was nominated for a 2024 animated feature Academy Award. Few artists had as profound an impact on the aesthetic of the “Spider-Verse” films as Alberto Mielgo, who also won the animated short Oscar in 2022 for his film “The Windshield Wiper.”
Spanish artists flourishing abroad is a longstanding tradition, but one that may be waning. Many animation professionals are now staying in Spain, while...
The question now is what steps should be taken to build on recent success.
Spaniard Almu Redondo won an Emmy this year for her work on the Cartoon Saloon-produced “Star Wars: Visions” episode “Screecher’s Reach,” and Pablo Berger’s Spanish feature “Robot Dreams” was nominated for a 2024 animated feature Academy Award. Few artists had as profound an impact on the aesthetic of the “Spider-Verse” films as Alberto Mielgo, who also won the animated short Oscar in 2022 for his film “The Windshield Wiper.”
Spanish artists flourishing abroad is a longstanding tradition, but one that may be waning. Many animation professionals are now staying in Spain, while...
- 5/19/2024
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Once upon a time, Netflix was in the business of auteur-driven animation, allowing filmmakers like Guillermo del Toro work on his dream project "Pinocchio," giving Henry Selick his first movie in 13 years after Disney killed his previous project, letting Charlie Kaufman deliver an existential kids' animated movie in "Orion and the Dark," and rescuing "Nimona" after Disney pulled the plug. The streamer has partnered with the likes of Glen Keane, Sergio Pablos, Richard Linklater, Chris Williams, Craig McCracken, and Jorge R. Gutiérrez, but a name that won't join this list anytime soon is legendary filmmaker David Lynch.
Speaking with Deadline, Lynch offered an update on his long-gestating animated movie "Snootworld," which he's been teasing since at least 2009. Lynch co-wrote the script for his animated feature debut with Caroline Thompson ("The Nightmare Before Christmas"), with Lynch penning the second of the film's three acts.
"I like this story. It's something that...
Speaking with Deadline, Lynch offered an update on his long-gestating animated movie "Snootworld," which he's been teasing since at least 2009. Lynch co-wrote the script for his animated feature debut with Caroline Thompson ("The Nightmare Before Christmas"), with Lynch penning the second of the film's three acts.
"I like this story. It's something that...
- 4/10/2024
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
Illumination Entertainment is an animation studio that sort of came out of nowhere. Led by founder and producer Chris Meledandri, the studio jumped at the scene with "Despicable Me," which remains a rather fun family movie with a cool concept (created by "Klaus" director Sergio Pablos). It also gave the world the phenomenon that is the Minions — whether that's good or bad is up to the reader to decide.
In just 17 years, the studio has found a formula that it's honed to produce some of the highest-grossing animated movies of all time, with quite the high batting average thanks to their focus on hit songs and broad humor. After the enormous success of "The Super Mario Bros. Movie," Illumination took a hard left turn and gave us a movie that's unlike any it had done before — "Migration."
Featuring a script by "The White Lotus" creator Mike White and directed by...
In just 17 years, the studio has found a formula that it's honed to produce some of the highest-grossing animated movies of all time, with quite the high batting average thanks to their focus on hit songs and broad humor. After the enormous success of "The Super Mario Bros. Movie," Illumination took a hard left turn and gave us a movie that's unlike any it had done before — "Migration."
Featuring a script by "The White Lotus" creator Mike White and directed by...
- 1/22/2024
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
Thanksgiving weekend featured an animation face-off between a titan of the industry, the 100-year-old Walt Disney Animation Studios, and a relative upstart, Netflix, which only started releasing its own animated features in 2019.
Disney’s holiday movie, “Wish,” was a musical extravaganza featuring the watercolor backgrounds of the studio’s past combined with cutting-edge CGI, while Netflix’s “Leo” was a more budget-conscious musical set in modern-day Florida.
It was a showdown of theatrical versus streaming, legacy studio versus blustery upstart, fairy tale versus contemporary storytelling. And the results were startling.
While “Wish” came in third at the box office with a disappointing $31.6 million, the Adam Sandler-starring “Leo” debuted to 34.6 million views (which is hours viewed divided by total runtime), according to Netflix, which in box office terms equaled a haul of around $500 million for its opening weekend, one insider with knowledge of the situation told TheWrap. “Leo” has been...
Disney’s holiday movie, “Wish,” was a musical extravaganza featuring the watercolor backgrounds of the studio’s past combined with cutting-edge CGI, while Netflix’s “Leo” was a more budget-conscious musical set in modern-day Florida.
It was a showdown of theatrical versus streaming, legacy studio versus blustery upstart, fairy tale versus contemporary storytelling. And the results were startling.
While “Wish” came in third at the box office with a disappointing $31.6 million, the Adam Sandler-starring “Leo” debuted to 34.6 million views (which is hours viewed divided by total runtime), according to Netflix, which in box office terms equaled a haul of around $500 million for its opening weekend, one insider with knowledge of the situation told TheWrap. “Leo” has been...
- 12/11/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
Spain’s animation services and VFX industry is booming as never before, positioning itself as a leading hub in the global landscape.
With tax rebates firing up Spain’s audiovisual industry, the animation sector has produced 16 feature films, 72 seasons of TV series and 156 short films from 2020-2022, according to toon and VFX federation Diboos.
The 2019 Sergio Pablos-directed Netflix feature “Klaus” snagged seven Annie awards, while Alberto Mielgo’s “The Windshield Wiper” won the 2022 Oscar for animated short film.
Spanish animated features have also connected with international audiences: This year, Juan Jesús García Galocha’s “Mummies,” from 4Cats and Atresmedia Cine, grossed $52 million worldwide, handled by Warner Bros.
Another strategy for international success consists in luring the interest of powerful foreign players to invest in local talent and resources.
Most prominently, Skydance Animation has landed in Madrid, while France’s Fortiche and In Efecto have launched operations in the Canary Islands.
With tax rebates firing up Spain’s audiovisual industry, the animation sector has produced 16 feature films, 72 seasons of TV series and 156 short films from 2020-2022, according to toon and VFX federation Diboos.
The 2019 Sergio Pablos-directed Netflix feature “Klaus” snagged seven Annie awards, while Alberto Mielgo’s “The Windshield Wiper” won the 2022 Oscar for animated short film.
Spanish animated features have also connected with international audiences: This year, Juan Jesús García Galocha’s “Mummies,” from 4Cats and Atresmedia Cine, grossed $52 million worldwide, handled by Warner Bros.
Another strategy for international success consists in luring the interest of powerful foreign players to invest in local talent and resources.
Most prominently, Skydance Animation has landed in Madrid, while France’s Fortiche and In Efecto have launched operations in the Canary Islands.
- 5/10/2023
- by Emiliano De Pablos
- Variety Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
Everyone loves the Hollywood holiday classics — from It’s a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Story to Home Alone and Die Hard (yes, it is a classic, too – don’t get us started).
But after the 100th rerun, one’s holiday spirit can start to sag, and nostalgia for those festive evergreens can turn toxic.
So The Hollywood Reporter‘s international team has come up with this alternative list of holiday favorites from outside the U.S.
Our eclectic dirty dozen, including a French murder mystery, a Canadian horror classic and an anime retelling of the Christmas story, are the perfect counterprogramming for anyone looking for new ideas this festive season.
Merry Christmas
2005
‘Merry Christmas’
Christian Carion’s World War I drama, about the real-life Christmas truce that broke out on the Western Front in 1914 — amid the horrors of the war, a true holiday miracle — features Diane Kruger,...
Everyone loves the Hollywood holiday classics — from It’s a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Story to Home Alone and Die Hard (yes, it is a classic, too – don’t get us started).
But after the 100th rerun, one’s holiday spirit can start to sag, and nostalgia for those festive evergreens can turn toxic.
So The Hollywood Reporter‘s international team has come up with this alternative list of holiday favorites from outside the U.S.
Our eclectic dirty dozen, including a French murder mystery, a Canadian horror classic and an anime retelling of the Christmas story, are the perfect counterprogramming for anyone looking for new ideas this festive season.
Merry Christmas
2005
‘Merry Christmas’
Christian Carion’s World War I drama, about the real-life Christmas truce that broke out on the Western Front in 1914 — amid the horrors of the war, a true holiday miracle — features Diane Kruger,...
- 12/22/2022
- by Scott Roxborough, Alex Ritman and Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The hand-drawn animated feature Ember from Klaus filmmaker Sergio Pablos is not moving forward at Netflix, Deadline can confirm.
We hear that the decision had to do with creative rather than financials, and is the sort that is par for the course in animation, where projects come together over a longer timeline. Pablos will now be afforded the opportunity to shop the project elsewhere.
First announced by Netflix back in June, Ember is billed as an epic adventure tale of humankind’s quest for fire told through the eyes of young Dikika, who embarks on an impossible race to a distant volcano to retrieve the precious spark that will save her tribe. The project came to the streamer via Pablos’ company, The Spa Studios, and is one of several animated works to be scrapped at Netflix this year — joining a list that also includes titles like Wings of Fire, Antiracist...
We hear that the decision had to do with creative rather than financials, and is the sort that is par for the course in animation, where projects come together over a longer timeline. Pablos will now be afforded the opportunity to shop the project elsewhere.
First announced by Netflix back in June, Ember is billed as an epic adventure tale of humankind’s quest for fire told through the eyes of young Dikika, who embarks on an impossible race to a distant volcano to retrieve the precious spark that will save her tribe. The project came to the streamer via Pablos’ company, The Spa Studios, and is one of several animated works to be scrapped at Netflix this year — joining a list that also includes titles like Wings of Fire, Antiracist...
- 12/19/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Netflix is not moving forward with “Ember,” a hand-drawn animated film from director Sergio Pablos.
It’s the latest animated title at the streamer to get the axe, following executive producer Ava DuVernay’s “Wings of Fire,” the toddler-friendly “Antiracist Baby” and “With Kind Regards From Kindergarten” earlier this year.
With “Ember,” as well as the previously scrapped animated projects, sources at Netflix say the decision is creatively driven, not cost-related. Animated TV shows and movies take longer to make compared to live-action, and it’s not uncommon to send projects back into development or part ways entirely over the lengthy timeline.
Pablos retains rights to “Ember” and will be able to shop the film elsewhere. An animation veteran, Pablos started the company Spa Studios and developed the concepts for cartoon hits like “Despicable Me” and “Smallfoot.” He wrote and directed the Christmas-themed “Klaus,” which was Netflix’s first original animated feature film.
It’s the latest animated title at the streamer to get the axe, following executive producer Ava DuVernay’s “Wings of Fire,” the toddler-friendly “Antiracist Baby” and “With Kind Regards From Kindergarten” earlier this year.
With “Ember,” as well as the previously scrapped animated projects, sources at Netflix say the decision is creatively driven, not cost-related. Animated TV shows and movies take longer to make compared to live-action, and it’s not uncommon to send projects back into development or part ways entirely over the lengthy timeline.
Pablos retains rights to “Ember” and will be able to shop the film elsewhere. An animation veteran, Pablos started the company Spa Studios and developed the concepts for cartoon hits like “Despicable Me” and “Smallfoot.” He wrote and directed the Christmas-themed “Klaus,” which was Netflix’s first original animated feature film.
- 12/19/2022
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Forget presents and festive cheer -- for many, the real gift of Christmas is that it allows us some precious downtime to revisit a few familiar festive faves. There's just something oddly soothing about knowing that, during the period between Christmas and New Year's when time slows to a crawl and we all collectively lose track of what day it is, the only thing we're actually expected to do is chill out, get comfy, and rewatch seasonal classics that we've all seen countless times before.
That said, what if you're craving something new to add to your annual Christmas rotation? After all, December can't always be about "Home Alone" and "The Muppet Christmas Carol." Sometimes you need to mix it up with something new and unexpected. If this sounds like you, then perhaps it's time you turned your attention to a Christmas movie or special that's gone underappreciated since its debut.
That said, what if you're craving something new to add to your annual Christmas rotation? After all, December can't always be about "Home Alone" and "The Muppet Christmas Carol." Sometimes you need to mix it up with something new and unexpected. If this sounds like you, then perhaps it's time you turned your attention to a Christmas movie or special that's gone underappreciated since its debut.
- 12/12/2022
- by Simon Bland
- Slash Film
Click here to read the full article.
As December approaches, Netflix is giving the well-reviewed Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio a high-profile debut.
Netflix Animation — despite its challenging year on the business side — has a strong and varied slate of animated feature contenders, the most notable being del Toro’s moving stop-motion retelling of Carlo Collodi’s Pinocchio, which is having a limited theatrical rollout ahead of its Dec. 9 streaming debut.
Netflix burst onto the animation scene in 2019, releasing its first original animated feature, the Christmas movie Klaus, directed by Sergio Pablos, as well as French film I Lost My Body, from Jérémy Clapin. Both movies earned Oscar nominations in 2020, and Netflix has had at least one category nomination each year since. It did win an animated short Oscar in 2021, for If Anything Happens I Love You, but the streaming service is still vying for its first animated feature category win.
As December approaches, Netflix is giving the well-reviewed Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio a high-profile debut.
Netflix Animation — despite its challenging year on the business side — has a strong and varied slate of animated feature contenders, the most notable being del Toro’s moving stop-motion retelling of Carlo Collodi’s Pinocchio, which is having a limited theatrical rollout ahead of its Dec. 9 streaming debut.
Netflix burst onto the animation scene in 2019, releasing its first original animated feature, the Christmas movie Klaus, directed by Sergio Pablos, as well as French film I Lost My Body, from Jérémy Clapin. Both movies earned Oscar nominations in 2020, and Netflix has had at least one category nomination each year since. It did win an animated short Oscar in 2021, for If Anything Happens I Love You, but the streaming service is still vying for its first animated feature category win.
- 11/30/2022
- by Carolyn Giardina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The BAFTA has revealed nominations for its Children and Young People Awards, which are returning for the first time in three years.
The BBC’s “Dodger” and “The Snail and the Whale” lead with three nominations each, followed by two nominations for “The Amazing World of Gumball,” “Jamie Johnson,” “JoJo & Gran Gran” and “Silverpoint.”
The ceremony will take place in London on Nov. 27, where 14 categories will be awarded in recognition of craft, performance, and games. All awards are voted on by BAFTA’s membership of children’s industry professionals. The ceremony will be hosted by TV and radio presenter Lindsey Russell.
Faraz Osman, chair of the BAFTA Children and Young People Committee, said: “It is a real joy to bring together the industry and celebrate the creativity and craft behind its recent output, especially after the pandemic, where children’s programming played a monumental role in family support. Through the...
The BBC’s “Dodger” and “The Snail and the Whale” lead with three nominations each, followed by two nominations for “The Amazing World of Gumball,” “Jamie Johnson,” “JoJo & Gran Gran” and “Silverpoint.”
The ceremony will take place in London on Nov. 27, where 14 categories will be awarded in recognition of craft, performance, and games. All awards are voted on by BAFTA’s membership of children’s industry professionals. The ceremony will be hosted by TV and radio presenter Lindsey Russell.
Faraz Osman, chair of the BAFTA Children and Young People Committee, said: “It is a real joy to bring together the industry and celebrate the creativity and craft behind its recent output, especially after the pandemic, where children’s programming played a monumental role in family support. Through the...
- 10/25/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Spain’s Madrid region is riding the crest of a wave towards becoming one of the most important animation/VFX hubs in Europe.
Taking in the country’s capital, the Madrid region hosts more than 32 of Spain’s active audiovisual companies and around 31 of its animation and VFX firms.
Regional animation and VFX players – structured around Pixel Cluster Madrid – scored last year a net revenue of €72.6 million (72.6 million) and generated 1,855 jobs.
“Animation and video games are strategic sectors within the economy of Madrid,” says Ignacio Carballo, head of audiovisual industries in the Madrid region. “They are elements of the future, dynamizers.”
The region is proving the cradle of high-profile toon productions reaping international recognition, an increasing trend in recent years.
Its importance is proved by several standout moves, often related with animated films:
*With its third instalment, “Tad The Lost Explorer. The Emerald Tablet,” currently dominating Spanish box office, the “Tad” saga,...
Taking in the country’s capital, the Madrid region hosts more than 32 of Spain’s active audiovisual companies and around 31 of its animation and VFX firms.
Regional animation and VFX players – structured around Pixel Cluster Madrid – scored last year a net revenue of €72.6 million (72.6 million) and generated 1,855 jobs.
“Animation and video games are strategic sectors within the economy of Madrid,” says Ignacio Carballo, head of audiovisual industries in the Madrid region. “They are elements of the future, dynamizers.”
The region is proving the cradle of high-profile toon productions reaping international recognition, an increasing trend in recent years.
Its importance is proved by several standout moves, often related with animated films:
*With its third instalment, “Tad The Lost Explorer. The Emerald Tablet,” currently dominating Spanish box office, the “Tad” saga,...
- 9/21/2022
- by Emiliano De Pablos
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Viva Kids has acquired North American distribution rights to Dragonkeeper, the animated action-adventure film from Spanish firm Guardián de Dragones and China Film Animation. Hulu will release domestically after the film’s theatrical bow, which is slated for August 2023. Based on the first book in Carole Wilkinson’s series of fantasy novels, the film follows Ping, a young orphan who must venture across ancient China to help the last surviving dragons from extinction. Across her wild and dangerous journey Ping finds a way to unlock her power and discover that she is a true dragonkeeper. Visual development on the film comes from animation vet Sergio Pablos (Despicable Me), while English-language voice cast includes Bill Nighy (Love Actually), Bill Bailey (Hot Fuzz), Anthony Howell (Alien: Isolation) and newcomer Mayalinee Griffiths as Ping. Dragonkeeper is directed by Salvador Simó, who also directed the Annecy title Buñuel In The Labyrinth Of The Turtles.
- 9/7/2022
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
The Minions have risen to astonishing heights since Sergio Pablos birthed what would become the franchise some 12 years ago — if you’ve lost count, their progeny includes three feature sequels (one due two years hence), two prequels, more than a dozen shorts, a TV special, video games and the inevitable theme park attraction.
For parents who might have lost track (kids don’t tend to forget such things), Despicable Me gave legitimate birth to its first offspring, Minions, five years ago, and while it’s hard to argue that it was worth the wait (its debut was postponed by two years due to Covid), this set-in-hippie-era San Francisco sequel serves up reasonable amusement for roughly the first hour, only to rather overstay its welcome thereafter. All the same, it will keep kids tolerably amused upon its opening via Universal on Friday.
Among many other factors it has in its favor,...
For parents who might have lost track (kids don’t tend to forget such things), Despicable Me gave legitimate birth to its first offspring, Minions, five years ago, and while it’s hard to argue that it was worth the wait (its debut was postponed by two years due to Covid), this set-in-hippie-era San Francisco sequel serves up reasonable amusement for roughly the first hour, only to rather overstay its welcome thereafter. All the same, it will keep kids tolerably amused upon its opening via Universal on Friday.
Among many other factors it has in its favor,...
- 6/30/2022
- by Todd McCarthy
- Deadline Film + TV
The streaming platform has also picked up ‘Scrooge: A Christmas Carol’.
Locksmith Animation’s adaptation of Richard Curtis’ children’s book That Christmas is among the four animated titles Netflix has unveiled ahead of the 61st Annecy International Film Festival (June 13-18).
That Christmas is directed by Swiss-born filmmaker Simon Otto, best known for his How To Train Your Dragon trilogy, and follows multiple interweaved stories of love, loneliness, family and friends. It is produced by Nicole P. Hearon and Adam Tandy. Curtis is writing the screenplay with Peter Souter.
Another title announced is Scrooge: A Christmas Carol from Timeless Films.
Locksmith Animation’s adaptation of Richard Curtis’ children’s book That Christmas is among the four animated titles Netflix has unveiled ahead of the 61st Annecy International Film Festival (June 13-18).
That Christmas is directed by Swiss-born filmmaker Simon Otto, best known for his How To Train Your Dragon trilogy, and follows multiple interweaved stories of love, loneliness, family and friends. It is produced by Nicole P. Hearon and Adam Tandy. Curtis is writing the screenplay with Peter Souter.
Another title announced is Scrooge: A Christmas Carol from Timeless Films.
- 6/9/2022
- by Ellie Calnan
- ScreenDaily
Click here to read the full article.
Ahead of this month’s Annecy Film Festival, Netflix has unveiled a slate of new animated films and series from creatives across Europe.
The eight-strong list includes Ember, Sergio Pablos’ follow-up to his BAFTA-winning and Oscar-nominated Klaus, Scrooge: A Christmas Carol, featuring songs by Oscar winner Leslie Bricusse, That Christmas, based on the children’s books by Richard Curtis and from Ron’s Gone Wrong studio Locksmith Animation, and an untitled animated feature by Oscar winner Steve Box, who was a key animator on Chicken Run and co-wrote and co-directed Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.
These projects join a growing list of animated titles from Europe, including My Father’s Dragon from Cartoon Saloon and Oscar-nominated director Nora Twomey and will debut on Netflix this fall, as well as Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget and an untitled Wallace & Gromit project from Aardman out of the U.
Ahead of this month’s Annecy Film Festival, Netflix has unveiled a slate of new animated films and series from creatives across Europe.
The eight-strong list includes Ember, Sergio Pablos’ follow-up to his BAFTA-winning and Oscar-nominated Klaus, Scrooge: A Christmas Carol, featuring songs by Oscar winner Leslie Bricusse, That Christmas, based on the children’s books by Richard Curtis and from Ron’s Gone Wrong studio Locksmith Animation, and an untitled animated feature by Oscar winner Steve Box, who was a key animator on Chicken Run and co-wrote and co-directed Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.
These projects join a growing list of animated titles from Europe, including My Father’s Dragon from Cartoon Saloon and Oscar-nominated director Nora Twomey and will debut on Netflix this fall, as well as Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget and an untitled Wallace & Gromit project from Aardman out of the U.
- 6/9/2022
- by Alex Ritman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
An animated Christmas Carol, follow-up to Academy Award-nominee Klaus, adaptation of Richard Curtis’ That Christmas and untitled project from Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were Rabbit’s Steve Box feature on an eight-strong slate of Netflix animated films and TV series.
The streamer is taking the projects from the UK, Spain, Italy and France to Annecy International Animation Film Festival next week as it doubles down on animated projects.
Scroll down for the full list but leading the slate is Ember from Klaus creator Sergio Pablos and The Spa Studios, an epic adventure tale of humankind’s quest for fire told through the eyes of young Dikika, who embarks on an impossible race to a distant volcano to retrieve the precious spark that will save her tribe.
Next comes the latest Scrooge: A Christmas Carol adaptation, directed by Stephen Donnelly, with the ageless classic reborn as a musical adaptation...
The streamer is taking the projects from the UK, Spain, Italy and France to Annecy International Animation Film Festival next week as it doubles down on animated projects.
Scroll down for the full list but leading the slate is Ember from Klaus creator Sergio Pablos and The Spa Studios, an epic adventure tale of humankind’s quest for fire told through the eyes of young Dikika, who embarks on an impossible race to a distant volcano to retrieve the precious spark that will save her tribe.
Next comes the latest Scrooge: A Christmas Carol adaptation, directed by Stephen Donnelly, with the ageless classic reborn as a musical adaptation...
- 6/9/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Soul and Wolfwalkers were the big winners at the 48th annual Annie Awards for animation, which were doled out in a virtual ceremony tonight. The Disney/Pixar juggernaut strutted away with seven trophies, including Best Feature, while the “relatively small European movie” — as the filmmakers described it — snagged five wins, including Indie Feature.
After they battled it out all night, both will square off for the Academy Award next weekend against Onward, Over the Moon and A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon — all three of which went home empty-handed tonight.
On the TV side, big winners included Hilda, which picked up three awards, and Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal, which scooped a pair. Big Mouth took the writing prize, and — from a galaxy far, far away — The Mandalorian and Star Wars: The Clone Wars picked up one prize apiece.
So just how will tonight’s wins for Soul and/or Wolfwalkers...
After they battled it out all night, both will square off for the Academy Award next weekend against Onward, Over the Moon and A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon — all three of which went home empty-handed tonight.
On the TV side, big winners included Hilda, which picked up three awards, and Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal, which scooped a pair. Big Mouth took the writing prize, and — from a galaxy far, far away — The Mandalorian and Star Wars: The Clone Wars picked up one prize apiece.
So just how will tonight’s wins for Soul and/or Wolfwalkers...
- 4/17/2021
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
The 48th annual Annie Awards, celebrating the best in animation, are taking place on Friday, April 16 at 7 p.m. Pst.
The ceremony — often a predictor for which film will win the best animated feature category at the Oscars — honors winners in 36 different animation-related categories, including independent feature, production design, effects animation, character animation, storyboarding, voice acting and more.
This year’s show will stream live at the Annie Awards’ website, as well as on Asifa Hollywood’s YouTube channel and Facebook page, as well as Variety‘s YouTube channel, which is embedded at the end of this post. Presenters include Josh Gad, Matthew Rhys, Philippa Soo from “Hamilton,” Eva Whittaker, Patrick Warburton, Oscar-winning composer Michael Giacchino, Sergio Pablos, Jill Culton, Nora Twomey and Matthew A. Cherry.
The Annie Awards will also give out four juried awards during the ceremony. The Winsor McCay Award, which honors career contributions to the field of animation,...
The ceremony — often a predictor for which film will win the best animated feature category at the Oscars — honors winners in 36 different animation-related categories, including independent feature, production design, effects animation, character animation, storyboarding, voice acting and more.
This year’s show will stream live at the Annie Awards’ website, as well as on Asifa Hollywood’s YouTube channel and Facebook page, as well as Variety‘s YouTube channel, which is embedded at the end of this post. Presenters include Josh Gad, Matthew Rhys, Philippa Soo from “Hamilton,” Eva Whittaker, Patrick Warburton, Oscar-winning composer Michael Giacchino, Sergio Pablos, Jill Culton, Nora Twomey and Matthew A. Cherry.
The Annie Awards will also give out four juried awards during the ceremony. The Winsor McCay Award, which honors career contributions to the field of animation,...
- 4/15/2021
- by Ellise Shafer
- Variety Film + TV
The 48th Annie Awards, like almost every other major entertainment event in the last year, is going virtual on April 16, and the show will have a few surprises in store for those tuning in to the free program.
“We’ve got some animation. We’ve done special graphics for the show. And because we won’t have people walking to and from the stage, which always takes some time, the show will probably be a little more streamlined,” Frank Gladstone, executive director of Asifa-Hollywood and the event’s producer, explains.
Among the presenters slated for the Annie Awards are actors Josh Gad, Philippa Soo (who voices the goddess Chang’e in “Over the Moon”) and Eva Whittaker (the voice of Mebh Óg MacTíre in animated feature — independent nominee “Wolfwalkers”). Other presenters include directors Sergio Pablos (“Klaus”) and Jill Culton (“Abominable”), “Wolfwalkers” producer Nora Twomey, composer Michael Giacchino and the cast of web series “Critical Role.
“We’ve got some animation. We’ve done special graphics for the show. And because we won’t have people walking to and from the stage, which always takes some time, the show will probably be a little more streamlined,” Frank Gladstone, executive director of Asifa-Hollywood and the event’s producer, explains.
Among the presenters slated for the Annie Awards are actors Josh Gad, Philippa Soo (who voices the goddess Chang’e in “Over the Moon”) and Eva Whittaker (the voice of Mebh Óg MacTíre in animated feature — independent nominee “Wolfwalkers”). Other presenters include directors Sergio Pablos (“Klaus”) and Jill Culton (“Abominable”), “Wolfwalkers” producer Nora Twomey, composer Michael Giacchino and the cast of web series “Critical Role.
- 4/15/2021
- by Terry Flores
- Variety Film + TV
Josh Gad (Frozen), Matthew Rhys (BoJack Horseman), Phillipa Soo (Over the Moon) and Eva Whittaker (Wolfwalkers) will be presenters for the virtual 48th annul Annie Awards for animation.
Annies organizers Asifa-Hollywood also announced that presenters will include directors Sergio Pablos (Klaus); Jill Colton (Abominable), and Nora Twomey (The Breadwinner), as well as Oscar-winning composer Michael Giacchino (Up).
The cast of web series Critical Role also will present awards during the virtual ceremony, which will be held April 16.
The complete list of nominees can be found here.
Annies organizers Asifa-Hollywood also announced that presenters will include directors Sergio Pablos (Klaus); Jill Colton (Abominable), and Nora Twomey (The Breadwinner), as well as Oscar-winning composer Michael Giacchino (Up).
The cast of web series Critical Role also will present awards during the virtual ceremony, which will be held April 16.
The complete list of nominees can be found here.
- 3/30/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Josh Gad (Frozen), Matthew Rhys (BoJack Horseman), Phillipa Soo (Over the Moon) and Eva Whittaker (Wolfwalkers) will be presenters for the virtual 48th annul Annie Awards for animation.
Annies organizers Asifa-Hollywood also announced that presenters will include directors Sergio Pablos (Klaus); Jill Colton (Abominable), and Nora Twomey (The Breadwinner), as well as Oscar-winning composer Michael Giacchino (Up).
The cast of web series Critical Role also will present awards during the virtual ceremony, which will be held April 16.
The complete list of nominees can be found here.
Annies organizers Asifa-Hollywood also announced that presenters will include directors Sergio Pablos (Klaus); Jill Colton (Abominable), and Nora Twomey (The Breadwinner), as well as Oscar-winning composer Michael Giacchino (Up).
The cast of web series Critical Role also will present awards during the virtual ceremony, which will be held April 16.
The complete list of nominees can be found here.
- 3/30/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Great animators are also actors, comedians, and scientists. They study the way animals move, the flow of long grass, the grace of scudding clouds, the expressions humans make when they are frustrated, hungry, happy, or in love. And Glen Keane is one of its masters.
In the Disney 2D era he was known for drawing fierce creatures like the the terrifying Bear in “The Fox and the Hound,” Willie the Giant in “Mickey’s Christmas,” and Snidely Whiplash villain Rattigan in “The Great Mouse Detective” — and, the fiercely memorable Ariel in “The Little Mermaid.”
“I was supposed to do Ursula,” he said on the phone. “I loved animating power and strength and weight. I was watching Jodi Benson record with Howard Ashman coaching her, trying to get her to sing from a personal, intimate desire of wanting the impossible, to believe the impossible is possible. As I watched that, I felt,...
In the Disney 2D era he was known for drawing fierce creatures like the the terrifying Bear in “The Fox and the Hound,” Willie the Giant in “Mickey’s Christmas,” and Snidely Whiplash villain Rattigan in “The Great Mouse Detective” — and, the fiercely memorable Ariel in “The Little Mermaid.”
“I was supposed to do Ursula,” he said on the phone. “I loved animating power and strength and weight. I was watching Jodi Benson record with Howard Ashman coaching her, trying to get her to sing from a personal, intimate desire of wanting the impossible, to believe the impossible is possible. As I watched that, I felt,...
- 11/30/2020
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Great animators are also actors, comedians, and scientists. They study the way animals move, the flow of long grass, the grace of scudding clouds, the expressions humans make when they are frustrated, hungry, happy, or in love. And Glen Keane is one of its masters.
In the Disney 2D era he was known for drawing fierce creatures like the the terrifying Bear in “The Fox and the Hound,” Willie the Giant in “Mickey’s Christmas,” and Snidely Whiplash villain Rattigan in “The Great Mouse Detective” — and, the fiercely memorable Ariel in “The Little Mermaid.”
“I was supposed to do Ursula,” he said on the phone. “I loved animating power and strength and weight. I was watching Jodi Benson record with Howard Ashman coaching her, trying to get her to sing from a personal, intimate desire of wanting the impossible, to believe the impossible is possible. As I watched that, I felt,...
In the Disney 2D era he was known for drawing fierce creatures like the the terrifying Bear in “The Fox and the Hound,” Willie the Giant in “Mickey’s Christmas,” and Snidely Whiplash villain Rattigan in “The Great Mouse Detective” — and, the fiercely memorable Ariel in “The Little Mermaid.”
“I was supposed to do Ursula,” he said on the phone. “I loved animating power and strength and weight. I was watching Jodi Benson record with Howard Ashman coaching her, trying to get her to sing from a personal, intimate desire of wanting the impossible, to believe the impossible is possible. As I watched that, I felt,...
- 11/30/2020
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
Christmas is a stressful time of year for many people.
There are gifts to buy, family to see, and cars to dig out of the snow. Thankfully, the holiday cheer makes up for a lot of it. And when holiday cheer can’t get you all the way there, there are Christmas movies to make up the rest.
Netflix has the deepest roster of Christmas movies of all the major streaming options. So we’ve compiled a list of the best Christmas movies available on Netflix.
Be sure to point out any we’ve missed!
Black Mirror: White Christmas
Those looking for Christmas cheer won’t find it here. Black Mirror isn’t necessarily known for its happy endings and it’s 2014 Christmas special, “White Christmas” is no different.
Still, there is an audience out there that definitely wants this level of Scroogery. Plus it stars Jon Hamm! “White Christmas” follows three seemingly disparate stories.
There are gifts to buy, family to see, and cars to dig out of the snow. Thankfully, the holiday cheer makes up for a lot of it. And when holiday cheer can’t get you all the way there, there are Christmas movies to make up the rest.
Netflix has the deepest roster of Christmas movies of all the major streaming options. So we’ve compiled a list of the best Christmas movies available on Netflix.
Be sure to point out any we’ve missed!
Black Mirror: White Christmas
Those looking for Christmas cheer won’t find it here. Black Mirror isn’t necessarily known for its happy endings and it’s 2014 Christmas special, “White Christmas” is no different.
Still, there is an audience out there that definitely wants this level of Scroogery. Plus it stars Jon Hamm! “White Christmas” follows three seemingly disparate stories.
- 11/27/2020
- by jbindeck2015
- Den of Geek
Nominations for feature film and documentary up from five to six.
The nominations for the 2020 European Film Awards have been unveiled, with the size of two key categories extended as a result of the virus crisis.
The categories for best feature and best documentary have each been increased from five to six to offer more exposure to titles and artists impacted by cinema closures and release delays during the pandemic.
Scroll down for full list of nominees
The films nominated in the best European Film category are Thomas Vinterberg’s Another Round, Berhan Qurbani’s Berlin Alexanderplatz, Jan Komasa’s Corpus Christi,...
The nominations for the 2020 European Film Awards have been unveiled, with the size of two key categories extended as a result of the virus crisis.
The categories for best feature and best documentary have each been increased from five to six to offer more exposure to titles and artists impacted by cinema closures and release delays during the pandemic.
Scroll down for full list of nominees
The films nominated in the best European Film category are Thomas Vinterberg’s Another Round, Berhan Qurbani’s Berlin Alexanderplatz, Jan Komasa’s Corpus Christi,...
- 11/10/2020
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Animated features from Spain to Russia, France to Catalan have made this year’s nominations list for the 2020 European Film Awards (Efa) in the animated feature category.
Klaus, a holiday fairytale from Spanish directors Sergio Pablos and Carlos Martínez López, is the clear frontrunner in what is always a hotly contested award. The film, Netflix’s first original animated feature, picked up an Oscar nomination earlier this year.
Other 2020 Efa animated contenders include Rémy Chayé’s Calamity, a family-friendly tale set in the American West in 1863, and Josep, from director Aurel, a biographical piece about a dying gendarme who recalls a ...
Klaus, a holiday fairytale from Spanish directors Sergio Pablos and Carlos Martínez López, is the clear frontrunner in what is always a hotly contested award. The film, Netflix’s first original animated feature, picked up an Oscar nomination earlier this year.
Other 2020 Efa animated contenders include Rémy Chayé’s Calamity, a family-friendly tale set in the American West in 1863, and Josep, from director Aurel, a biographical piece about a dying gendarme who recalls a ...
- 10/20/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Animated features from Spain to Russia, France to Catalan have made this year’s nominations list for the 2020 European Film Awards (Efa) in the animated feature category.
Klaus, a holiday fairytale from Spanish directors Sergio Pablos and Carlos Martínez López, is the clear frontrunner in what is always a hotly contested award. The film, Netflix’s first original animated feature, picked up an Oscar nomination earlier this year.
Other 2020 Efa animated contenders include Rémy Chayé’s Calamity, a family-friendly tale set in the American West in 1863, and Josep, from director Aurel, a biographical piece about a dying gendarme who recalls a ...
Klaus, a holiday fairytale from Spanish directors Sergio Pablos and Carlos Martínez López, is the clear frontrunner in what is always a hotly contested award. The film, Netflix’s first original animated feature, picked up an Oscar nomination earlier this year.
Other 2020 Efa animated contenders include Rémy Chayé’s Calamity, a family-friendly tale set in the American West in 1863, and Josep, from director Aurel, a biographical piece about a dying gendarme who recalls a ...
- 10/20/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Josep, Calamity, a Childhood of Martha Jane Cannary, Klaus and The Nose or the Conspiracy of Mavericks are vying for the European Animated Feature Film award. The European Film Awards have announced the nominations for the award category European Animated Feature Film 2020. The nominations were determined by a committee comprised of Efa Board Member Béatrice Thiriet (France), director Anca Damian (Romania), producer Antonio Saura (Spain) and, representing Cartoon, the European Association of Animation Film, producer Diogo Carvalho (Portugal), producer Camilla Deakin (UK) and institutional representative Norbert Laporte (Luxembourg). The nominees are: European Animated Feature FilmJosep - Aurel (France/Belgium/Spain)Calamity: A Childhood of Martha Jane Cannary - Rémi Chayé (France/Denmark)The Nose or the Conspiracy of Mavericks - Andrey Khrzhanovsky (Russia)Klaus - Sergio Pablos (Spain) The nominated films will soon be submitted to the more than 3,800 Efa Members to elect the winner. The European Animated Feature Film 2020 will then be.
- 10/20/2020
- Cineuropa - The Best of European Cinema
Over the past 16 years View conference director Maria Elena Gutierrez has been steadily growing the event held in Turin – historically the first Italian city to develop a film industry — into one of Europe’s top international symposiums on computer graphics, animation, and visual effects. It’s regularly attended by top creatives and execs coming to Italy to hobnob and take the pulse of the latest digital developments in film, 2D/3D animation, VR and Ar, gaming, and VFX.
This year of course the effects of Covid-19 posed a major challenge. One that Gutierrez, who was born in Mexico, raised in central California – she has a PhD from Stanford – and has long been living in Turin, managed to turn into an advantage of sorts for the event’s upcoming 21st edition that will be held virtually Oct. 18-23.
Gutierrez spoke to Variety about how she navigated the coronavirus crisis and turned...
This year of course the effects of Covid-19 posed a major challenge. One that Gutierrez, who was born in Mexico, raised in central California – she has a PhD from Stanford – and has long been living in Turin, managed to turn into an advantage of sorts for the event’s upcoming 21st edition that will be held virtually Oct. 18-23.
Gutierrez spoke to Variety about how she navigated the coronavirus crisis and turned...
- 10/13/2020
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Italy’s View Conference, the week-long confab featuring top creatives from around the world in film, television, games, virtual reality, and more is going entirely digital this year with all live sessions being made available for free to a global audience.
Usually the high-caliber event, now in its 21st edition, which spotlights the latest in computer graphics, animation, and visual effects of various types, is held in Turin against an Alpine backdrop. Over the years it has evolved into a Davos-like conference where the digital creative community’s top execs fly in to hear each other’s talks and hobnob, perhaps over a nice bottle of Barolo. That aspect due to Covid-19 is being scrapped this year though “virtual rooms” following presentations are being set up.
Of course it won’t be the same thing. But conference director Maria Gutierrez says there are also some advantages to being online only.
Usually the high-caliber event, now in its 21st edition, which spotlights the latest in computer graphics, animation, and visual effects of various types, is held in Turin against an Alpine backdrop. Over the years it has evolved into a Davos-like conference where the digital creative community’s top execs fly in to hear each other’s talks and hobnob, perhaps over a nice bottle of Barolo. That aspect due to Covid-19 is being scrapped this year though “virtual rooms” following presentations are being set up.
Of course it won’t be the same thing. But conference director Maria Gutierrez says there are also some advantages to being online only.
- 10/13/2020
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
The View Conference is offering free streaming access to its 2020 program, which runs from Oct. 18-23 in Turin, Italy.
“There has been so much bad news in 2020, so I’m thrilled to be able to share some great news for a change,” said conference director Maria Elena Gutierrez. “Everyone could use some extra light and joy in their lives, so we have made the unprecedented decision to make this year’s conference completely free.” Those who register will have streaming access to the conference’s 125 online and on-site talks, workshops, master classes and panels.
“Every session will be available online, allowing anyone to attend anywhere in the world,” said Gutierrez. “This is a fantastic chance to grow the View community and to welcome into our family participants who are unable to travel to Torino or buy a full access pass.”
Keynote speakers include Pixar co-founder Ed Catmull, Industrial Light & Magic’s Dennis Muren,...
“There has been so much bad news in 2020, so I’m thrilled to be able to share some great news for a change,” said conference director Maria Elena Gutierrez. “Everyone could use some extra light and joy in their lives, so we have made the unprecedented decision to make this year’s conference completely free.” Those who register will have streaming access to the conference’s 125 online and on-site talks, workshops, master classes and panels.
“Every session will be available online, allowing anyone to attend anywhere in the world,” said Gutierrez. “This is a fantastic chance to grow the View community and to welcome into our family participants who are unable to travel to Torino or buy a full access pass.”
Keynote speakers include Pixar co-founder Ed Catmull, Industrial Light & Magic’s Dennis Muren,...
- 10/7/2020
- by Terry Flores
- Variety Film + TV
The Atresmedia Group, the original producer of Netflix global hit “La casa de papel” and one of Spain’s leading media conglomerations, has built a brand as a powerhouse in the country’s blooming scripted TV industry.
As other big international broadcasters, such as ITV in the U.K. and Rtl in Germany, Atresmedia, now 30, is looking to depend as little as possible on a increasingly declining ad market, priming content creation and pay TV opportunities, extending the economic life of its prolific production factory.
Its series’ reach exploded a decade ago, driven by successful international sales on primetime hits such as Bambú-produced “Gran Hotel” and Boomerang TV’s “The Time in Between,” underscoring a never-seen-before foreign appetite for Spanish originals.
A more dramatic shift started six years ago, boosted by Spanish TV series’ growing impact, when its management team kicked off the task of gradually consolidating Atresmedia as a digital company,...
As other big international broadcasters, such as ITV in the U.K. and Rtl in Germany, Atresmedia, now 30, is looking to depend as little as possible on a increasingly declining ad market, priming content creation and pay TV opportunities, extending the economic life of its prolific production factory.
Its series’ reach exploded a decade ago, driven by successful international sales on primetime hits such as Bambú-produced “Gran Hotel” and Boomerang TV’s “The Time in Between,” underscoring a never-seen-before foreign appetite for Spanish originals.
A more dramatic shift started six years ago, boosted by Spanish TV series’ growing impact, when its management team kicked off the task of gradually consolidating Atresmedia as a digital company,...
- 9/2/2020
- by Emiliano De Pablos
- Variety Film + TV
Sergio Pablos’ “Klaus,” Netflix’s first foray into original animated feature production, walked off with best feature at Saturday’s 3rd Quirino Awards, which celebrate outstanding animation in Latin America, Spain and Portugal.
The first feature as a director of Sergio Pablos, a co-creator of “Despicable Me,” “Klaus” has already scored an Oscar nomination as well as proving the big winner at this year’s Annie Awards.
Produced by Netflix with Pablos’ Madrid-based Spa Studios and Atresmedia Cine, ”Klaus” also snagged best animation design prize at the Quirinos – recognition of a daring production which was made in traditional 2D, but allows characters to move through backgrounds, using light as part of storytelling while drawing on 19th century photos and painting for a visual language.
The Quirino Awards’ best TV series plaudit went to a far less-known title, Brazilian CG-preschool hit “Tainá and the Amazon’s Guardians,” co-produced by Sincrocine, Hype...
The first feature as a director of Sergio Pablos, a co-creator of “Despicable Me,” “Klaus” has already scored an Oscar nomination as well as proving the big winner at this year’s Annie Awards.
Produced by Netflix with Pablos’ Madrid-based Spa Studios and Atresmedia Cine, ”Klaus” also snagged best animation design prize at the Quirinos – recognition of a daring production which was made in traditional 2D, but allows characters to move through backgrounds, using light as part of storytelling while drawing on 19th century photos and painting for a visual language.
The Quirino Awards’ best TV series plaudit went to a far less-known title, Brazilian CG-preschool hit “Tainá and the Amazon’s Guardians,” co-produced by Sincrocine, Hype...
- 6/27/2020
- by Emilio Mayorga
- Variety Film + TV
The Quirino Awards, a prize ceremony and industry forum for animation titles from Latin America, Spain and Portugal, will hold its third edition online with the support of Retina Latina and Filmin platforms. Event runs May 25 through June 27, when the awards ceremony takes place.
Unspooling during its first two editions on Tenerife, a Canary Island and building animation hub, the Awards were scheduled to take place on site over April 16-18 and but postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Works accessible online will include nominees for best student short film and film school winners from the previous editions, “one of the categories that best represents the future of Ibero-American animation,” said Quirino Awards promoter José Luis Farias.
“Ibero-American animation is right now at a kind of hatching stage. It’s a privilege to know that the Quirino Awards are an active part of that ecosystem,” he added. “The animation industry...
Unspooling during its first two editions on Tenerife, a Canary Island and building animation hub, the Awards were scheduled to take place on site over April 16-18 and but postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Works accessible online will include nominees for best student short film and film school winners from the previous editions, “one of the categories that best represents the future of Ibero-American animation,” said Quirino Awards promoter José Luis Farias.
“Ibero-American animation is right now at a kind of hatching stage. It’s a privilege to know that the Quirino Awards are an active part of that ecosystem,” he added. “The animation industry...
- 5/21/2020
- by Emilio Mayorga
- Variety Film + TV
Barcelona — “Klaus,” “Tainá and the Amazon’s Guardians” and “Uncle Thomas Accounting for the Days” are among the finalists at the 3rd Ibero-American Animation Quirino Awards, to be held in the Spanish Canary Islands city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife on April 18.
Produced by Spain’s Spa Studios and Atresmedia Cine for Netflix, “Klaus” delivers a singular Santa Claus origin story written by first-timer director Sergio Pablos, as well as Zach Lewis and Jim Mahoney. Carlos Martínez López co-directs this high-profile title, the first 2D movie by a major U.S. studio in many years, which snagged an Academy Award nomination and prizes at the Bafta and and Annie Awards.
Brazilian CG-animated hit “Tainá and the Amazon’s Guardians” is lead-produced by Marcela Baptista at Sincrocine in co-production with Hype Animation and Nickelodeon and directed by Andrè Forni (“Dino Aventuras”). A spin-off from a feature film trilogy, the ecology-themed 52-part...
Produced by Spain’s Spa Studios and Atresmedia Cine for Netflix, “Klaus” delivers a singular Santa Claus origin story written by first-timer director Sergio Pablos, as well as Zach Lewis and Jim Mahoney. Carlos Martínez López co-directs this high-profile title, the first 2D movie by a major U.S. studio in many years, which snagged an Academy Award nomination and prizes at the Bafta and and Annie Awards.
Brazilian CG-animated hit “Tainá and the Amazon’s Guardians” is lead-produced by Marcela Baptista at Sincrocine in co-production with Hype Animation and Nickelodeon and directed by Andrè Forni (“Dino Aventuras”). A spin-off from a feature film trilogy, the ecology-themed 52-part...
- 3/10/2020
- by Emilio Mayorga
- Variety Film + TV
Bordeaux, France — French directors Zabou Breitman and Éléa Gobbé-Mévellec, Belgian distributor Lumière and French production outfit Xilam won Tributes Awards at this year’s Cartoon Movie, Europe’s biggest animated feature co-production and sales forum which closed today in the French port city of Bordeaux.
Breitman and Gobbé-Mévellec’s “The Swallows Of Kabul,” which world premiered at the Cannes Festival’s Un Certain Regard last year, is produced by Les Armateurs in co-production with Melusine Prods. and Close Up Films. The 2D watercolor-style animation adapts the bestselling book from Yasmina Khadra offering a touching “fresco” of life under Taliban rule in the Afghan capital through the intertwined stories of two couples. It marks the fifth feature of actress-director Breitman and the her first animated title and for animator Gobbé-Mévellec her debut feature. “Kabul” is sold by Paris’ Celluloid Dreams.
Nominees for the Direction Tribute Award also included Spain’s Sergio Pablos...
Breitman and Gobbé-Mévellec’s “The Swallows Of Kabul,” which world premiered at the Cannes Festival’s Un Certain Regard last year, is produced by Les Armateurs in co-production with Melusine Prods. and Close Up Films. The 2D watercolor-style animation adapts the bestselling book from Yasmina Khadra offering a touching “fresco” of life under Taliban rule in the Afghan capital through the intertwined stories of two couples. It marks the fifth feature of actress-director Breitman and the her first animated title and for animator Gobbé-Mévellec her debut feature. “Kabul” is sold by Paris’ Celluloid Dreams.
Nominees for the Direction Tribute Award also included Spain’s Sergio Pablos...
- 3/5/2020
- by Emilio Mayorga
- Variety Film + TV
Taika Waititi is partnering with Netflix on a pair of animated series — one based on the world of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and another based on the Oompa-Loompa characters.
Waititi, who won an Academy Award for the “Jojo Rabbit” adapted screenplay, will write, direct, and executive produce both projects. The two “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” movies were based on the 1964 children’s novel by Roald Dahl about the adventures of young Charlie Bucket inside the chocolate factory of Willy Wonka.
The Oompa-Loompas are small humans who were preyed upon in Loompaland before Wonka invited them to work at his factory. They are paid in cocoa beans and are also mischievous, loving practical jokes and singing songs.
“The shows will retain the quintessential spirit and tone of the original story while building out the world and characters far beyond the pages of the Dahl book for the very first time,...
Waititi, who won an Academy Award for the “Jojo Rabbit” adapted screenplay, will write, direct, and executive produce both projects. The two “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” movies were based on the 1964 children’s novel by Roald Dahl about the adventures of young Charlie Bucket inside the chocolate factory of Willy Wonka.
The Oompa-Loompas are small humans who were preyed upon in Loompaland before Wonka invited them to work at his factory. They are paid in cocoa beans and are also mischievous, loving practical jokes and singing songs.
“The shows will retain the quintessential spirit and tone of the original story while building out the world and characters far beyond the pages of the Dahl book for the very first time,...
- 3/5/2020
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
In the wake of winning the best adapated screenplay Oscar for Jojo Rabbit, Taika Waititi is attached to write, direct, and executive produce two original animated series for Netflix based off Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The first will be based on that book’s characters, and the second is a wholly original take on the Oompa-Loompas. While capturing the spirit of Dahl’s book, both series will build out the world beyond the author’s pages.
Waititi’s boarding these two series reps the start of an extensive partnership between Netflix and The Roald Dahl Story Company, which plans to reimagine many of his beloved stories including Matilda, The Bfg, The Twits, and others. They will join a growing slate of Netflix animated family pics including Oscar nominated Klaus from Sergio Pablos, The Willoughbys from Kris Pearn and Over The Moon from Glen Keane in 2020.
“I...
Waititi’s boarding these two series reps the start of an extensive partnership between Netflix and The Roald Dahl Story Company, which plans to reimagine many of his beloved stories including Matilda, The Bfg, The Twits, and others. They will join a growing slate of Netflix animated family pics including Oscar nominated Klaus from Sergio Pablos, The Willoughbys from Kris Pearn and Over The Moon from Glen Keane in 2020.
“I...
- 3/5/2020
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Awards season officially comes to a close on Oscar Sunday.
The 92nd Academy Awards will be held at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre on Feb. 9 and air live on ABC at 5 p.m. Pt/8 p.m. Et. Red carpet coverage will begin at 3:30 p.m. Pt/6:30 p.m. Et. Viewers will be able to live-stream the awards show on abc.com or on the ABC app via DirecTV Now, Hulu, PlayStation Vue and YouTube TV.
The ceremony, which is going hostless again, will include appearances from this year’s nominees, as well as presenters Salma Hayek, Brie Larson, James Corden, Regina King, Lin-Manuel Miranda and more. Additionally, the show will feature performances from Cynthia Erivo, Idina Menzel, Elton John, Chrissy Metz, Randy Newman and five-time Grammy winner Billie Eilish.
A special tribute for Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna is scheduled to take place during the ceremony. The pair,...
The 92nd Academy Awards will be held at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre on Feb. 9 and air live on ABC at 5 p.m. Pt/8 p.m. Et. Red carpet coverage will begin at 3:30 p.m. Pt/6:30 p.m. Et. Viewers will be able to live-stream the awards show on abc.com or on the ABC app via DirecTV Now, Hulu, PlayStation Vue and YouTube TV.
The ceremony, which is going hostless again, will include appearances from this year’s nominees, as well as presenters Salma Hayek, Brie Larson, James Corden, Regina King, Lin-Manuel Miranda and more. Additionally, the show will feature performances from Cynthia Erivo, Idina Menzel, Elton John, Chrissy Metz, Randy Newman and five-time Grammy winner Billie Eilish.
A special tribute for Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna is scheduled to take place during the ceremony. The pair,...
- 2/9/2020
- by BreAnna Bell
- Variety Film + TV
One of the more difficult Oscar categories to predict this awards season has been Best Animated Feature. With blockbuster “Frozen II” out of the running, we are left with two other sequels, “Toy Story 4” and “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World,” along with the stop-motion “Missing Link,” the French computer-animated “I Lost My Body” and the hand-drawn “Klaus,” an origin story about Santa Claus and his postman pal who befriends the reclusive toymaker.
Currently, the yuletide-themed Netflix release sits at second place in Gold Derby’s combined Oscar odds with 1,792 users picking it to win on Sunday night at the 92nd annual Academy Awards. What might seem a safer bet is on top, “Toy Story 4,” is on top with 3,567 users choosing it to win. But “Klaus” has gained momentum ever since taking home seven trophies at last month’s Annie Awards, including Best Animated Feature and...
Currently, the yuletide-themed Netflix release sits at second place in Gold Derby’s combined Oscar odds with 1,792 users picking it to win on Sunday night at the 92nd annual Academy Awards. What might seem a safer bet is on top, “Toy Story 4,” is on top with 3,567 users choosing it to win. But “Klaus” has gained momentum ever since taking home seven trophies at last month’s Annie Awards, including Best Animated Feature and...
- 2/7/2020
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
‘The Irishman’ and ‘The Two Popes’ walk away empty-handed.
Sam Mendes’ war epic 1917 swept the board at the 73rd BAFTA Film Awards, winning seven of its nine nominations including best film.
The First World War thriller gave Mendes his first ever Bafta for directing while Roger Deakins secured his fifth for cinematography, having previously won in 2018 for his work on Blade Runner 2049.
1917 also won outstanding British film of the year (the first award handed out on the night) as well as Baftas for production design, sound, and special visual effects.
It seems to pave the way for the Oscars on February 9. However,...
Sam Mendes’ war epic 1917 swept the board at the 73rd BAFTA Film Awards, winning seven of its nine nominations including best film.
The First World War thriller gave Mendes his first ever Bafta for directing while Roger Deakins secured his fifth for cinematography, having previously won in 2018 for his work on Blade Runner 2049.
1917 also won outstanding British film of the year (the first award handed out on the night) as well as Baftas for production design, sound, and special visual effects.
It seems to pave the way for the Oscars on February 9. However,...
- 2/2/2020
- by 1100453¦Michael Rosser¦9¦
- ScreenDaily
Updated with full winners list: The BAFTA Film Awards have named Sam Mendes’ 1917 Best Film at its annual ceremony Sunday in London, exactly one week before this compressed film awards season concludes with the 92nd Oscars.
Mendes’ World War I epic from Universal and Amblin/DreamWorks picked up a leading seven awards, including Mendes for Best Director. The film repeated its Best Picture wins at the DGA and PGA as well as the Golden Globes. Mendes, a UK native, previously won Director honors at the Globes and Critics’ Choice.
Tonight, 1917 also won for Best British Film, Roger Deakins’ Cinematography, Production Design, VFX and Sound. It has been ramping up its momentum after being one of the last of the season’s awards contenders to hit theaters. It had nine BAFTA noms coming in, behind Warner Bros’ Joker which had 11. Also like the Oscars, Netflix’s The Irishman and Sony’s...
Mendes’ World War I epic from Universal and Amblin/DreamWorks picked up a leading seven awards, including Mendes for Best Director. The film repeated its Best Picture wins at the DGA and PGA as well as the Golden Globes. Mendes, a UK native, previously won Director honors at the Globes and Critics’ Choice.
Tonight, 1917 also won for Best British Film, Roger Deakins’ Cinematography, Production Design, VFX and Sound. It has been ramping up its momentum after being one of the last of the season’s awards contenders to hit theaters. It had nine BAFTA noms coming in, behind Warner Bros’ Joker which had 11. Also like the Oscars, Netflix’s The Irishman and Sony’s...
- 2/2/2020
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Sam Mendes’ “1917” came away as the big winner on Sunday at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards (BAFTA). The World War I drama won in seven of the nine categories in which it was nominated, including Best Film and Best Director.
A big night for “1917” has been long expected by awards prognosticators, as the legacy of World War I has an immense cultural footprint in Great Britain. Along with the aforementioned categories, “1917” won Best British Film — the first award handed out of the evening — along with wins for cinematography, sound, production design and visual effects.
With “1917” not nominated in the acting or screenplay categories, those awards went out to heavily favored contenders in the Oscar race. The acting BAFTAs mirrored their counterparts at the SAG Awards, as Joaquin Phoenix (“Joker”) and Renee Zellweger (“Judy”) won for leading roles, while Brad Pitt (“Once Upon a Time…...
A big night for “1917” has been long expected by awards prognosticators, as the legacy of World War I has an immense cultural footprint in Great Britain. Along with the aforementioned categories, “1917” won Best British Film — the first award handed out of the evening — along with wins for cinematography, sound, production design and visual effects.
With “1917” not nominated in the acting or screenplay categories, those awards went out to heavily favored contenders in the Oscar race. The acting BAFTAs mirrored their counterparts at the SAG Awards, as Joaquin Phoenix (“Joker”) and Renee Zellweger (“Judy”) won for leading roles, while Brad Pitt (“Once Upon a Time…...
- 2/2/2020
- by Lawrence Yee and Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
The Ee British Academy Film Awards took place in London on Sunday at the Royal Albert Hall. The ceremony was hosted by Graham Norton and will be broadcast exclusively on BBC One and BBC One HD later this evening in the U.S.. The ceremony is also broadcast in all major territories around the world. In this truncated awards season, the BAFTAs this year arrived just two days before Academy ballots are due on February 4. BAFTA has an overlap of several hundred voters, who reside mainly in London, New York, and Los Angeles.
Approximately 6,700 BAFTA members voted for the nominations spanning 39 feature films. British theater director and filmmaker Sam Mendes’ WWI epic “1917,” which landed nine nominations, took home seven wins including Best Film, and Outstanding British Film. The movie has already racked up two Golden Globe wins, the Directors Guild of America Award, and the Producers Guild of America...
Approximately 6,700 BAFTA members voted for the nominations spanning 39 feature films. British theater director and filmmaker Sam Mendes’ WWI epic “1917,” which landed nine nominations, took home seven wins including Best Film, and Outstanding British Film. The movie has already racked up two Golden Globe wins, the Directors Guild of America Award, and the Producers Guild of America...
- 2/2/2020
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
World War I story “1917” dominated the BAFTA film awards, which were awarded Sunday evening at London’s Royal Albert Hall with Graham Norton hosting.
The wins for “1917” included best film, best director for Sam Mendes and outstanding British film.
The awards are broadcast on the BBC in the United Kingdom and at 5 p.m. Pt on BBC America.
“Joker” topped the nominations with 11 nods, while “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” and “The Irishman” snagged 10 nominations apiece and Golden Globes winner “1917” landed nine.
BAFTA voters came under fire this year for nominating an overwhelmingly white set of nominees. “We just have to keep pushing forward on this,” BAFTA chief Amanda Berry said after the nominations.
The films vying for best film are: “The Irishman,” “1917,” “Joker,” “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” and “Parasite.”
No women were nominated in the directing category, which featured Sam Mendes, Martin Scorsese, Todd Phillips, Quentin Tarantino,...
The wins for “1917” included best film, best director for Sam Mendes and outstanding British film.
The awards are broadcast on the BBC in the United Kingdom and at 5 p.m. Pt on BBC America.
“Joker” topped the nominations with 11 nods, while “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” and “The Irishman” snagged 10 nominations apiece and Golden Globes winner “1917” landed nine.
BAFTA voters came under fire this year for nominating an overwhelmingly white set of nominees. “We just have to keep pushing forward on this,” BAFTA chief Amanda Berry said after the nominations.
The films vying for best film are: “The Irishman,” “1917,” “Joker,” “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” and “Parasite.”
No women were nominated in the directing category, which featured Sam Mendes, Martin Scorsese, Todd Phillips, Quentin Tarantino,...
- 2/2/2020
- by Variety Staff
- Variety Film + TV
‘1917’ wins seven prizes including best film; Joaquin Phoenix, Renée Zellweger, ‘Parasite’, ‘Bait’ among other winners.
1917 was the big winner at the 2020 Baftas on Sunday (February 2), winning seven awards including best film.
It also picked up outstanding British film, best director for Sam Mendes, best cinematography for Roger Deakins, as well as Baftas for production design, sound and special visual effects.
Joker won three awards including best actor for Joaquin Phoenix, while Parasite won two including best original screenplay and film not in the English language.
The ceremony took place at the Royal Albert Hall in London and was hosted by...
1917 was the big winner at the 2020 Baftas on Sunday (February 2), winning seven awards including best film.
It also picked up outstanding British film, best director for Sam Mendes, best cinematography for Roger Deakins, as well as Baftas for production design, sound and special visual effects.
Joker won three awards including best actor for Joaquin Phoenix, while Parasite won two including best original screenplay and film not in the English language.
The ceremony took place at the Royal Albert Hall in London and was hosted by...
- 2/2/2020
- by 1101184¦Orlando Parfitt¦38¦
- ScreenDaily
By any measure, it’s been a great year for animation. From “Frozen 2” and “Toy Story 4” bringing in huge box-office numbers in the U.S. to “Ne Zha” becoming the top-grossing Chinese animated film with more than $700 million gross to 32 official entries in the best animated feature category for the 2020 Oscars, animated stories flexed their muscles.
But those animated films are also vehicles for filmmakers to tell diverse, challenging and unexpected stories of all kinds throughout the world. Whether their films are fantasy or even historical fiction, the storytellers are drawn to the medium.
“Animation makes it easier for the audience to believe in the world we created, they might think was a fantasy world but we show them that it is not,” writes Salvador Simo in an email with Variety about his film “Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles.”
The animated feature takes us through the...
But those animated films are also vehicles for filmmakers to tell diverse, challenging and unexpected stories of all kinds throughout the world. Whether their films are fantasy or even historical fiction, the storytellers are drawn to the medium.
“Animation makes it easier for the audience to believe in the world we created, they might think was a fantasy world but we show them that it is not,” writes Salvador Simo in an email with Variety about his film “Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles.”
The animated feature takes us through the...
- 2/1/2020
- by Karen Idelson
- Variety Film + TV
The Netflix film “Klaus” dominated the film categories at Saturday night’s Annie Awards, the main awards show devoted strictly to animation. The film, made by Spanish animator Sergio Pablos, was a surprise winner of seven awards in the 13 feature-film categories, including Best Animated Feature, along with prizes for directing, character animation, character design, production design, storyboarding and editorial.
While Disney’s “Frozen II” and Laika’s “Missing Link” led all films with eight nominations each, “Frozen” had to settle for wins in the animated effects and voice acting categories (for Josh Gad), while “Missing Link” was shut out completely.
Other top nominees that went unrewarded included DreamWorks Animation’s “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” and Pixar’s “Toy Story 4.”
Also Read: 'Klaus' Film Review: Animated Santa Claus Origin Story Nails the Magic Better than the Comedy
The animated feature that finished with the second most wins was another Netflix film,...
While Disney’s “Frozen II” and Laika’s “Missing Link” led all films with eight nominations each, “Frozen” had to settle for wins in the animated effects and voice acting categories (for Josh Gad), while “Missing Link” was shut out completely.
Other top nominees that went unrewarded included DreamWorks Animation’s “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” and Pixar’s “Toy Story 4.”
Also Read: 'Klaus' Film Review: Animated Santa Claus Origin Story Nails the Magic Better than the Comedy
The animated feature that finished with the second most wins was another Netflix film,...
- 1/26/2020
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Netflix dominated the 47th Annie Awards on Saturday, Jan. 25, picking up 19 trophies, including the top prizes of best feature (“Klaus”), best feature-independent (“I Lost My Body”), best TV/media production for preschool children (“Ask the Storybots”) and best general audience TV/media production (“BoJack Horseman”). Disney TV Animation’s “Disney Mickey Mouse” won best TV/media production for children.
The traditionally animated “Klaus” won seven Annies, the most overall, winning in every category in which it was nominated, with Sergio Pablos winning for both his direction and for storyboarding. “Klaus” also won for character animation (Sergio Martins), character design (Torsten Schrank), production design (Szymon Biernaki and Marcin Jakubowski) and editorial (Pablo Garcia Revert).
In addition to winning best feature-independent, “I Lost My Body” picked up trophies for composer Dan Levy and writing for director Jérémy Clapin and Guillaume Laurant, who together adapted the screenplay from Laurant’s novel “Happy Hand.
The traditionally animated “Klaus” won seven Annies, the most overall, winning in every category in which it was nominated, with Sergio Pablos winning for both his direction and for storyboarding. “Klaus” also won for character animation (Sergio Martins), character design (Torsten Schrank), production design (Szymon Biernaki and Marcin Jakubowski) and editorial (Pablo Garcia Revert).
In addition to winning best feature-independent, “I Lost My Body” picked up trophies for composer Dan Levy and writing for director Jérémy Clapin and Guillaume Laurant, who together adapted the screenplay from Laurant’s novel “Happy Hand.
- 1/26/2020
- by Terry Flores
- Variety Film + TV
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