disguise Virtual Production Accelerator Training Program Launches in NYC
Along with program partners 4Wall and ZeroSpace, the company aims to provide trainees with the tools and knowledge to create cinematic content on a large scale; the immersive learning experience is open to all skill levels.
Animation in Europe Federation Expands to 20 Countries
Estonia, Greece, and Portugal join member countries collectively calling on streamers to invest more heavily in European animation; new board members/advocates elected at a general meeting last week in Annecy.
‘Netflix Family Summer’ Animation Highlights
The streamer shares a recap of upcoming movies and series, including the 3DCG animated feature, Nimona, premiering June 30, and new seasons of Sonic Prime and The Dragon Prince arriving next month.
Disney Shares ‘Haunted Mansion’ Featurette
Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, and Rosario Dawson star in the creepy comic adventure that promises fans an ‘E ticket’ ride through the classic theme park attraction; in theaters next month.
MPC Shares VFX and Animation From ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’
Studio created multiple large-scale full CG and digital set extensions, including one that transported the present-day New York skyline back to 1994; a team of 1,000+ artists across London, Montreal, Bangalore, LA, Toronto, and Adelaide delivered 896 shots, including 18 of the movie’s characters.
Crunchyroll Powers Up for Anime Expo 2023
The company will host over 20 panels, activations, and premieres including for ‘JUJUTSU KAISEN,’ ‘Horimiya: The Missing Pieces,’ and ‘Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation.’
New E.D. Films Short ‘Three Trees’ Done All in Unreal
Built entirely within Unreal Engine, the film is written and directed by M.R. Horhager, illustrated by Aaron Hong, and narrated by Whoopi Goldberg.
Joel Crawford Receives Honorary Degree from SCAD
The ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ director was awarded along with the graduating class of 2023.
Sony’s ‘El Muerto’ Scrubbed from Theatrical Release Calendar
The ‘Spider-Man’ spinoff starring Bad Bunny as the son of a luchador set to inherit the ancestral superpowers of his bloodline was originally set to release theatrically on January 12, 2024.
AGBO’s Visual Creatures Taps Digital Domain Alum to Lead Virtual Production Studio
Scott Meadows has been named Senior Visualization Supervisor, responsible for the studio’s new motion-capture enabled sound stage and real-time pipelines.
Travis Knight Elected to Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Board of Trustees
The LAIKA president and CEO joins the museum’s governing body; Effie T. Brown appointed honorary trustee of the Academy Museum Inclusion Advisory Committee.
Cartoon Network and Max Reveal ‘Tiny Toons Looniversity’ Voice Cast
The animated reboot of Emmy Award-winning ‘Tiny Toon Adventures’ welcomes back ‘Toon’ alumni, including Jeff Bergman, Bob Bergen and Candi Milo; freshman talent joining the ‘Looney’ crew includes Emmy Award-Winner Eric Bauza and Ashleigh Hairston – coming Fall 2023.
‘Metalocalypse: The Complete Series’ Comes to Digital and DVD August 22
Adult Swim brings together all 62 episodes of the four-season run of the heaviest metal band ever assembled – Dethklok; group’s ‘Dethalbum IV’ album featuring new original songs is now available for preorder.
Dandelooo and Canal+ Partner on ‘Gaston Gets It!’
The two companies are developing a new animated comedy series based on the children’s book series ‘Gaston’s Emotions.’
DIGIC and Axis Studios Partner on ‘Words Apart’ Animated Fantasy Adventure
The studios’ co-development projects kick off with the 4-quadrant film set in a world split by two powerful feuding brothers with clashing convictions.
Bloodstained Red Band Trailer Drops for ‘Kraven the Hunter’
The very R-rated film, starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson in the titular role, tells the visceral origin story of the villain before his notorious vendetta with Spider-Man, in theaters October 6, 2023.
New Featurette Drops for ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’
Watch adrenaline junkie Tom Cruise drive and drift one-handed through the streets of Rome, then catch the film during the Early Access Fan Event July 10 at 7:00 PM at participating theaters, or the nationwide debut on July 12.
Frederator and BuzzFeed Team Up on ‘Chikn Nuggit’
The new animated series based on the online gender-inclusive comedy series about a weird, long-eared dog named Chikn Nuggit and his fast-food-named friends is the second property under development as part of Genius Brand’s first-look deal with Frederator.
Epic Games’ Free ‘RealityScan’ App Now on Android
Photogrammetry app uses pictures taken with Android or iOS device to create high-fidelity 3D models; export to Sketchfab or download to use in other apps such as UE or Twinmotion.
Netflix Drops Trailer and Cast for ‘Captain Fall’ from ‘Norsemen’ Creators
Jason Ritter, Christopher Meloni, and Lesley-Ann Brandt lead the voice cast on the all-new 2D animated adult comedy from Jon Iver Helgaker and Jonas Torgersen that follows a naïve, good-hearted ship captain unknowingly at the helm of a smuggling ship for an international cartel; show streams this July.
Prime Video Drops Trailer for ‘The Horror of Dolores Roach’ Series
The darkly comedic drama from Aaron Mark, based on the hit Spotify podcast of the same name, is a contemporary Sweeney Todd-inspired urban legend of love, betrayal, weed, cannibalism, and survival of the fittest, premiering July 7 on the streamer.
‘Meneath: The Mirrors of Ethics’ Wins ‘New Voices Award’ at Tribeca
Based on Terril Calder’s award-winning 2021 animated short, the installation received an honor presented to XR creators who bring new perspectives and artistic languages to immersive storytelling; the interactive stop-motion exhibit reflects Indigenous teachings from the earth fused into the story, creating a unique viewing experience
Epic Games Releases ‘Electric Dreams’ Unreal Engine Sample Project
The UE demo, unveiled at this year’s ‘State of Unreal’ at GDC, showcases experimental Procedural Content Generation – tech allows users to build scalable, virtual worlds fast with an iterative design pipeline.
Genius Brands Moves to NYSE, Renames as Kartoon Studios
An animated ‘Stan Lee’ will ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange June 26 – exemplifying continued expansion of the IP under the new corporate name; the event will stream live on Kartoon Channel!
IBERMEDIA NEXT Announces Grants, Committee Members
The initiative, backed by IBERMEDIA Programme, announces a new line of grants as well as a new five-member Assessment Committee and Consultancy.
