Monthly Archives: November 2013

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Promote Yourself: 24 BRAND-NEW ASIAN PROJECTS TO BE UNVEILED AT 2013 ASIAN ANIMATION SUMMIT NEXT MONTH

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24 BRAND-NEW ASIAN PROJECTS TO BE UNVEILED AT THE 2013 ASIAN ANIMATION SUMMIT NEXT MONTH

 

Best-in-class animated concepts from Australia, Malaysia, Korea and Thailand will be pitched live to Asian and international buyers

TORONTO, CANADA –November 5, 2013: Kidscreen is thrilled to announce the 24 animation concepts that have been selected for the 2013 Asian Animation Summit showcase. Representing the very best kids TV and film development work across Australia, Malaysia, Korea and Thailand, these projects will be presented live at the event to an audience of broadcasters, co-producers, distributors and investors from Asia and the international marketplace.

At the inaugural Asian Animation Summit last year, 80%* of companies that presented projects at the event secured additional financing or partners as a direct result, and these deals have involved high-profile media companies including Disney Channel US, CBC Canada, The Jim Henson Company, Cake Entertainment and Bejuba! Entertainment.

The following 24 projects, carefully selected based on global-market potential and quality, will be looking to achieve the same kind of results this year:

Alien Monkeys

CrazyBird Studio (Korea)

Blink Blink

Big Brain Pictures (Thailand)

Blue Yonder

Anya Animation (Thailand)

Call For ChiChi

Neon Pumpkin (Korea)

Chameleon

Giggle Garage (Malaysia)

Change Zoororing

JM Animation (Korea)

DENO

BYTE In A Cup (Thailand)

Didi and Friends

Digital Durian (Malaysia)

Doodolls

Synergy Media (Korea)

Elwood Pie

Kapow Pictures (Australia)

Fanshaw & Crudnut

Blue Rocket Productions (Australia)

Gunk Aliens

Moody Street Kids (Australia)

Harajuku HJ5

Vision Animation (Malaysia)
Moody Street Kids (Australia)

Hip-Hop Cowboy

Creative Bean Studios (Thailand)

Hogie the Globehopper

Lil Critterworkshop (Malaysia)

Lulu

Flying Bark Productions (Australia)

Magic Adventures: The Crystal of Dark

Hong Dong Moo (Korea)

Nobodies

The R&D Studio (Malaysia)

Soule

Red Soul Studio (Malaysia)

The Adventures of Bani

Studio Gale (Korea)

The Kazoops

Cheeky Little Media (Australia)

The Mole Farmer Rabby

Daejin Animation (Korea)

The Strange Chores

Ludo Studio (Australia)

Warriors in Black

Sean Pictures (Korea)

An initiative of Australia’s ABC TV and Screen Australia, Korea’s KOCCA and Malaysia’s MDeC, the Asian Animation Summit is produced and owned by Kidscreen, with a mandate to facilitate international financing and co-production connections for projects from the Asian region.

This year’s event is set to take place in Phuket, Thailand from December 9 to 11—optimal timing for those who are also attending Asia Television Forum (December 3 to 6) in Singapore.

Over the course of the three-day event, each project will be presented in a moderated live pitch and Q&A format, with plenty of time for follow-up meetings and casual networking built into the schedule.

 

For further details, please contact:
Janet Balmforth/Aimee Norman at DDA Blueprint PR

Tel: +44 (0) 208 868 0511 Email: janet@ddablueprint.com

*based on responses to a survey involving all AAS 2012 presenting companies that was conducted in October 2013

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Promote Yourself:NFB NAMES MICHAEL FUKUSHIMA EP OF ENGLISH PROGRAM ANIMATION STUDIO

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Montreal, November 4, 2013 – Michael Fukushima has been named Executive Producer of the National Film Board of Canada’s acclaimed English Program Animation Studio in Montreal.

Press realese Michael Fukushima's nomation_Page_1
Michael Fukushima has been making films since 1984. He first joined the NFB in 1990, directing the Hot Docs-award-winning animated documentary Minoru: Memory of Exile, and he became an NFB animation producer in 1997. Fukushima led the creation of the NFB’s flagship emerging filmmaker program, Hothouse, and his credits reflect an eclecticism and diversity, particularly evident in the abstract and edgier animation he has produced. Fukushima has worked hard to open up the genre to new creators, new audiences and new technologies, through interactive installations, mobile phones and urban stories.

“I have high regard for Michael’s considerable experience, his expert reflections on our animation history and his thoughtful, progressive ideas for the future,” said NFB English Program Director General Ravida Din, in making the announcement. “I believe his leadership will advance the NFB’s profile as a global leader in animation, and I’ve been especially impressed with Michael’s commitment to finding and encouraging creators and team members with diverse experiences.

The Hothouse program—now in its ninth edition—is an NFB success story and a testament to his dedication to emerging creators.” Fukushima’s notable films as NFB producer include Patrick Doyon’s Jutra Award-winning, Oscar-nominated Sunday/Dimanche (2011), Oscar-nominated filmmaker Koji Yamamura’s Muybridge’s Strings/Les cordes de Muybridge (2011), recipient of a Special Prize at the Hiroshima International Animation Festival and the Best Canadian Film or Video Award at Reel Asian; Ann Marie Fleming’s adaptation of Bernice Eisenstein’s acclaimed illustrated memoir, I Was a Child of Holocaust Survivors (2010);Shira Avni’s animated documentary Tying Your Own Shoes (2009), winner of the Golden Dove at Dok Leipzig and the prestigious NHK Japan Prize; Iriz Pääbo’s HA’Aki (2008), recipient of the Prix Ars Electronica Golden Nica 2009; as well as Chris Hinton’s Genie Award-winning visual-music short, cNote (2004).

About the NFB
The NFB produces groundbreaking animation at its studios in Montreal and at NFB centres across Canada, as well as via international co-productions with many of the world’s leading auteur animators. The NFB is a leader in developing new approaches to stereoscopic 3D animation and animated content for new platforms. The NFB has created over 13,000 productions and won over 5,000 awards, including 4 Canadian Screen Awards, 7 Webbys, 12 Oscars and more than 90 Genies. To access acclaimed NFB content, visit NFB.ca or download its apps for smartphones, tablets and connected TV.

 

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Exclusive Audio Interview with Chris DiGiovanni; Assistant Director on Freebirds

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FREE BIRDS

In our third installment of audio interviews with the team who made Reel FX’s newly released film Free Birds a reality, we have ex-Pixar animator Chris DiGiovanni who was the assistant director Listen to Chris talk about the process, his career, and the software used in the film.

Enjoy!

 

 

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More about the film:

Directed by Jimmy Hayward (Horton Hears a Who!), this new animated buddy comedy features a hilarious all-star cast lead by Owen Wilson, Woody Harrelson and Amy Poehler. Wilson and Harrelson play two turkeys from opposite sides of the tracks who must put aside their differences and team up to travel back in time to change the course of history— and get turkey off the Thanksgiving menu for good. Freebirds is currently playing in theaters nationwide. More about the movie can be found via the Free Birds site.

More about Tony Copolillo: Tony is a Los Angeles-based artist / photographer / illustrator working in digital and traditional formats with over 20 years experience in motion picture advertising as a photo illustrator and compositor. You can head on over to siopio.com to check out some of his 3D training tutorials and other fun projects, and you can also hear him do a semi-weekly podcast atthenowwhatshow.com

 

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Exclusive Audio Interview with Rich McKain; Supervising Animator for Free Birds!

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FREE BIRDS

 

Up today is the second in our series of three interviews with animators and artists from Reel Fx/ Relativity Media’s animated feature Free Birds! This time around we’re speaking with Rich McKain who was the supervising animator on the film. Enjoy!

 

 

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More about the film:

Directed by Jimmy Hayward (Horton Hears a Who!), this new animated buddy comedy features a hilarious all-star cast lead by Owen Wilson, Woody Harrelson and Amy Poehler. Wilson and Harrelson play two turkeys from opposite sides of the tracks who must put aside their differences and team up to travel back in time to change the course of history— and get turkey off the Thanksgiving menu for good. Freebirds is currently playing in theaters nationwide. More about the movie can be found via the Free Birds site.

More about Tony Copolillo: Tony is a Los Angeles-based artist / photographer / illustrator working in digital and traditional formats with over 20 years experience in motion picture advertising as a photo illustrator and compositor. You can head on over to siopio.com to check out some of his 3D training tutorials and other fun projects, and you can also hear him do a semi-weekly podcast atthenowwhatshow.com

 

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Exclusive Audio Interview with Jeff Biancalana; Head of Story for Free Birds!

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FREE BIRDS After many requests, Animation Insider is proud to begin a new feature on our site in the form of audio interviews for artists! In collaboration with Reel FX, we are very pleased to roll out the first of three exclusive interviews with animators from the new Relativity Media/Reel FX film Free Birds which opens nationwide in theatres today! First up, our own Tony Copolillo interviews Jeff Biancalana; Head of Story on the film. Enjoy!

 

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More about Relativity Media/ Reel FX’s  Free Birds:

[video src="http://www.animationinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/FB_MeetTheFlock_OwenWoody_101-Broadband-High.mp4" /] Relativity Media and Reel FX Animation Studios, are pleased to announce that FREE BIRDS is now playing in theaters nationwide! Directed by Jimmy Hayward (Horton Hears a Who!), this new animated buddy comedy features a hilarious all-star cast lead by Owen Wilson, Woody Harrelson and Amy Poehler. Wilson and Harrelson play two turkeys from opposite sides of the tracks who must put aside their differences and team up to travel back in time to change the course of history— and get turkey off the Thanksgiving menu for good.

More about Tony Copolillo: Tony is a Los Angeles-based artist / photographer / illustrator working in digital and traditional formats with over 20 years experience in motion picture advertising as a photo illustrator and compositor. You can head on over to siopio.com to check out some of his 3D training tutorials and other fun projects, and you can also hear him do a semi-weekly podcast at thenowwhatshow.com