Exclusive: The Netflix Animation overhaul continues with the exit of 30 employees, Deadline has confirmed. This comes after Netflix set new leadership for the Animation Film team with Karen Toliver (VP Animation Film Content) and Traci Balthazor (VP Animation Film Production). They have been tasked with streamlining the animation team, which explains the attrition.
This does not signal a downturn in animation output for a division that in five years had seven Oscar nominees, with a win for If Anything Happens, I Love You.
Netflix’s original animation productions includes Robin, Robin, Klaus, Kris Pearn’s The Willoughbys, Over the Moon, Back to the Outback, Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Childhood from Richard Linklater, and the recently released The Sea Beast directed by Chris Williams. Upcoming releases including Henry Selick’s Wendell & Wild, Nora Twomey’s My Father’s Dragon, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, Wendy Rogers’ The Magician’s Elephant,...
This does not signal a downturn in animation output for a division that in five years had seven Oscar nominees, with a win for If Anything Happens, I Love You.
Netflix’s original animation productions includes Robin, Robin, Klaus, Kris Pearn’s The Willoughbys, Over the Moon, Back to the Outback, Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Childhood from Richard Linklater, and the recently released The Sea Beast directed by Chris Williams. Upcoming releases including Henry Selick’s Wendell & Wild, Nora Twomey’s My Father’s Dragon, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, Wendy Rogers’ The Magician’s Elephant,...
- 9/14/2022
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: After announcing its acquisition of the Australian animation studio Animal Logic during yesterday’s earnings call, Deadline has learned that Netflix is making internal moves that will streamline its coterie of executives who’ll steer the Film Animation division.
Karen Toliver, VP Animation Film, is being promoted to lead the Animation Film team. With that change, Melissa Cobb will move from her role as VP Animation Film but will stay on with Netflix as a producer. Cobb joined the company four years ago and to led the animation team and since then has built the studio from the ground up, attracting filmmakers and delivering a diverse slate of ani films so far.
Also transitioning is Gregg Taylor, the VP Animation Film who’ll also become a producer. He too has been there four years, helping to build the creative team and oversee and shepherd the film slates, most recently The Sea Beast.
Karen Toliver, VP Animation Film, is being promoted to lead the Animation Film team. With that change, Melissa Cobb will move from her role as VP Animation Film but will stay on with Netflix as a producer. Cobb joined the company four years ago and to led the animation team and since then has built the studio from the ground up, attracting filmmakers and delivering a diverse slate of ani films so far.
Also transitioning is Gregg Taylor, the VP Animation Film who’ll also become a producer. He too has been there four years, helping to build the creative team and oversee and shepherd the film slates, most recently The Sea Beast.
- 7/20/2022
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
The View Conference will host a virtual talk with the filmmakers behind Pixar’s “Lightyear” on Tuesday, June 28, and has announced the first speakers for its largely in-person event in Turin, Italy, from Oct. 16-21.
The free PreVIEW online event features director Angus MacLane, producer Galyn Susman, animation supervisor David DeVan and simulation and tailoring supervisor Fran Kalal. They’ll share a behind-the-scenes look at the animated adventure that follows the Space Ranger character that inspired the Buzz Lightyear action figure from Pixar’s “Toy Story” franchise.
“We are over the moon to join forces with our friends at Pixar for this special PreVIEW panel,” says conference director Maria Elena Gutierrez. “Meeting Angus MacLane and his creative team is a wonderful way to celebrate the launch of this much-anticipated film and also to whet the appetite for our main conference program in October.”
The View Conference highlights the top creative minds in visual effects,...
The free PreVIEW online event features director Angus MacLane, producer Galyn Susman, animation supervisor David DeVan and simulation and tailoring supervisor Fran Kalal. They’ll share a behind-the-scenes look at the animated adventure that follows the Space Ranger character that inspired the Buzz Lightyear action figure from Pixar’s “Toy Story” franchise.
“We are over the moon to join forces with our friends at Pixar for this special PreVIEW panel,” says conference director Maria Elena Gutierrez. “Meeting Angus MacLane and his creative team is a wonderful way to celebrate the launch of this much-anticipated film and also to whet the appetite for our main conference program in October.”
The View Conference highlights the top creative minds in visual effects,...
- 6/17/2022
- by Terry Flores
- Variety Film + TV
Rich Ting (“Warrior”), Darren Barnet (“Never Have I Ever”) and Keiko Agena (“Better Call Saul”) have been tapped to lead the voice cast for the English-language dub of Netflix’s “The Summit of the Gods,” from César award-winning filmmaker Patrick Imbert.
Based on the acclaimed manga by Jirô Taniguchi and the novel by Baku Yumemakura, “The Summit of the Gods” poses the question, “Were George Mallory and his companion Andrew Irvine the first men to scale Everest on June 8th, 1924? Only the little Vestpocket Kodak camera they took with them might reveal the truth.”
“The Summit of the Gods” picks up in Kathmandu, 70 years after Mallory and Irvine’s journey, when a young Japanese reporter named Fukamachi Makoto (Barnet) recognizes the camera in the hands of the mysterious Habu Joji (Ting), an outcast climber believed missing for years. As the plot progresses, Fukamachi enters a world of obsessive mountaineers on...
Based on the acclaimed manga by Jirô Taniguchi and the novel by Baku Yumemakura, “The Summit of the Gods” poses the question, “Were George Mallory and his companion Andrew Irvine the first men to scale Everest on June 8th, 1924? Only the little Vestpocket Kodak camera they took with them might reveal the truth.”
“The Summit of the Gods” picks up in Kathmandu, 70 years after Mallory and Irvine’s journey, when a young Japanese reporter named Fukamachi Makoto (Barnet) recognizes the camera in the hands of the mysterious Habu Joji (Ting), an outcast climber believed missing for years. As the plot progresses, Fukamachi enters a world of obsessive mountaineers on...
- 11/23/2021
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
“The Boss Baby: Family Business” director Tom McGrath will be the keynote speaker at the 22nd View Conference, which will be held from Oct. 17-22 in Turin, Italy.
The DreamWorks Animation feature is the sixth film McGrath has made with the studio. He is the co-writer and co-director of the “Madagascar” movies, and he directed Dwa’s “Megamind” in 2010. He was nominated for an Academy Award in 2017 for “The Boss Baby.” His films have generated nearly $3 billion at the box office worldwide.
The View Conference gathers together some of the top professionals in the areas of animation, visual effects, computer graphics, games, interactive and immersive media, virtual production and more for a week of keynote addresses, talks, presentations and workshops. Early bird ticket prices are available now through Aug. 31 at the View Conference website.
Other speakers from the world of animation include “Wolfwalkers” director Tomm Moore; Kris Pearn, director of...
The DreamWorks Animation feature is the sixth film McGrath has made with the studio. He is the co-writer and co-director of the “Madagascar” movies, and he directed Dwa’s “Megamind” in 2010. He was nominated for an Academy Award in 2017 for “The Boss Baby.” His films have generated nearly $3 billion at the box office worldwide.
The View Conference gathers together some of the top professionals in the areas of animation, visual effects, computer graphics, games, interactive and immersive media, virtual production and more for a week of keynote addresses, talks, presentations and workshops. Early bird ticket prices are available now through Aug. 31 at the View Conference website.
Other speakers from the world of animation include “Wolfwalkers” director Tomm Moore; Kris Pearn, director of...
- 7/29/2021
- by Terry Flores
- Variety Film + TV
Every kid loves sitting down on the couch with a bucket of popcorn to enjoy a movie for some entertainment. But choosing a film can be stressful for kids because there is so much content currently available. Studies show that kids exposed to violent movies can lead to emotional distress, antisocial behavior, and even mental health issues. While, when kids watch movies according to their age group, they can learn valuable lessons. The G-rated films on Netflix are best for kids, says Tom, a programming expert who provides do my programming homework services. Here are some of the best G-rated movies streaming on Netflix that even parents should watch with their kids.
1. Dragons: Rescue Riders: Hunt for the Golden Dragon (2020)
Dragons: Rescue Riders: Hunt for the Golden Dragon is an animation film directed by Robert Scull. It is the treasure hunt of a lifetime for the Rescue Riders, who must...
1. Dragons: Rescue Riders: Hunt for the Golden Dragon (2020)
Dragons: Rescue Riders: Hunt for the Golden Dragon is an animation film directed by Robert Scull. It is the treasure hunt of a lifetime for the Rescue Riders, who must...
- 7/14/2021
- by Peter Adams
- AsianMoviePulse
Exclusive: Netflix is in development on the new animated musical Steps, with Amy Poehler producing and Alyce Tzue set to make her directing debut.
Poehler will produce through her Paper Kite Productions banner along with her partner Kim Lessing, with The Croods producer Jane Hartwell also producing. Riki Lindhome will pen the script from a story she wrote with Kate Micucci. Lindhome and Micucci also will exec produce and writing all the music in addition to overseeing it.
“We are so excited to be working with Netflix and the great Riki, Kate and Alyce on this joyful and much-needed story,” Poehler said.
The story is a spin on the classic Cinderella story. Two stepsisters are overlooked for marriage by the prince and embark on an epic journey, realizing that their own perfect fairytales might be different from what they originally thought.
“Our step-sisters are a pair of young Asian immigrants to a fairytale world,...
Poehler will produce through her Paper Kite Productions banner along with her partner Kim Lessing, with The Croods producer Jane Hartwell also producing. Riki Lindhome will pen the script from a story she wrote with Kate Micucci. Lindhome and Micucci also will exec produce and writing all the music in addition to overseeing it.
“We are so excited to be working with Netflix and the great Riki, Kate and Alyce on this joyful and much-needed story,” Poehler said.
The story is a spin on the classic Cinderella story. Two stepsisters are overlooked for marriage by the prince and embark on an epic journey, realizing that their own perfect fairytales might be different from what they originally thought.
“Our step-sisters are a pair of young Asian immigrants to a fairytale world,...
- 3/29/2021
- by Justin Kroll
- Deadline Film + TV
The directors of nine of the animated films under consideration for Academy Award nominations will discuss their craft in a free online PreVIEW event Friday, March 5, beginning at 10 a.m. Pt.
“Animated Features Oscar Contenders – A Directors’ Discussion,” presented by the View Conference, features Glen Keane (“Over the Moon”); Pete Docter and Kemp Powers (“Soul”), Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart (“Wolfwalkers”), Joel Crawford (“The Croods: A New Age”), Walt Dohrn (“Trolls World Tour”), Kris Pearn (“The Willoughbys”), Dan Scanlon (“Onward”), Gitanjali Rao (“Bombay Rose”), and Will Becher and Richard Phelan (“A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon”).
“The annual awards season always encourages lively discussion, and this year is no exception,” says View Conference director Dr. Maria Elena Gutierrez. “It is such an honor for View Conference to host this conversation between 12 of our leading filmmakers. Their contribution to the art and craft of animated features is immeasurable, and I cannot...
“Animated Features Oscar Contenders – A Directors’ Discussion,” presented by the View Conference, features Glen Keane (“Over the Moon”); Pete Docter and Kemp Powers (“Soul”), Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart (“Wolfwalkers”), Joel Crawford (“The Croods: A New Age”), Walt Dohrn (“Trolls World Tour”), Kris Pearn (“The Willoughbys”), Dan Scanlon (“Onward”), Gitanjali Rao (“Bombay Rose”), and Will Becher and Richard Phelan (“A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon”).
“The annual awards season always encourages lively discussion, and this year is no exception,” says View Conference director Dr. Maria Elena Gutierrez. “It is such an honor for View Conference to host this conversation between 12 of our leading filmmakers. Their contribution to the art and craft of animated features is immeasurable, and I cannot...
- 3/4/2021
- by Terry Flores
- Variety Film + TV
This marks the fourth year that the entire membership of the academy can take part in the nomination stage of the Animated Feature Oscar race. Previously, only select members of the Short Films and Feature Animation Branch and invited members from the other branches could serve on the committee that decided the nominees. Collectively, the committee tended to favor traditional and stop-motion films over CG fare. (Scroll down for the most up-to-date 2021 Oscars predictions for Best Animated Feature.)
Mandatory attendance at screenings has been dropped and voters who want to be on the nominations committee need only attest to having seen all the contenders at theaters or screenings or by way of the the academy’s streaming site.
And the method of determining the nominees has been changed. Gone is the system where voters scored a film from 6 (poor) to 10 (excellent) with only those movies meriting an average mark of...
Mandatory attendance at screenings has been dropped and voters who want to be on the nominations committee need only attest to having seen all the contenders at theaters or screenings or by way of the the academy’s streaming site.
And the method of determining the nominees has been changed. Gone is the system where voters scored a film from 6 (poor) to 10 (excellent) with only those movies meriting an average mark of...
- 3/3/2021
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
With The Willoughbys, writer/director Kris Pearn adapted a beloved children’s book of the same name by Lois Lowry, looking to be as faithful as possible to the “subversive” nature of her story, while bringing to it his own personal touch.
Pearn’s second feature, following 2013’s Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2, centers on the Willoughby children, who grew up with parents who could not be more disinterested in them. Exploring the sometimes-wide gap between the families we’re born into and those we choose, it watches as the kids send their selfish guardians off on vacation, setting off on a globetrotting adventure and forging new connections.
In conversation with Deadline, Pearn breaks down his narrative and visual approach to the feature—which debuted on Netflix last April—a clever, darkly comedic parable, through which he hoped to say “something real.”
Deadline: How did you come to direct The Willoughbys?...
Pearn’s second feature, following 2013’s Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2, centers on the Willoughby children, who grew up with parents who could not be more disinterested in them. Exploring the sometimes-wide gap between the families we’re born into and those we choose, it watches as the kids send their selfish guardians off on vacation, setting off on a globetrotting adventure and forging new connections.
In conversation with Deadline, Pearn breaks down his narrative and visual approach to the feature—which debuted on Netflix last April—a clever, darkly comedic parable, through which he hoped to say “something real.”
Deadline: How did you come to direct The Willoughbys?...
- 3/2/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Netflix said Thursday that it is turning Sulwe, the bestselling children’s book by Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o, into an animated musical, the latest move by the streamer to bolster its feature animation slate that already includes Richard Linklater’s Apollo 10½: A Space Age Adventure, Henry Selick’s Wendell & Wild, Nora Twomey’s My Father’s Dragon and Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio among others.
Sulwe, written by Nyong’o with illustrations by Vashti Harrison, follows Sulwe, a child who has skin darker than anyone she knows — and all she wants is to be beautiful and bright. One night, she is visited by a shooting star sent by the Night and embarks on a magical journey where she learns the eye-opening story of the sisters Night and Day. The book tells a story about colorism, self-esteem and learning that true beauty comes from within.
Sulwe, written by Nyong’o with illustrations by Vashti Harrison, follows Sulwe, a child who has skin darker than anyone she knows — and all she wants is to be beautiful and bright. One night, she is visited by a shooting star sent by the Night and embarks on a magical journey where she learns the eye-opening story of the sisters Night and Day. The book tells a story about colorism, self-esteem and learning that true beauty comes from within.
- 2/18/2021
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Since the inception of the Oscars’ Best Animated Feature category in 2001, the race has been utterly dominated by powerhouse American studios—the most notable examples being Walt Disney Studios and its Emeryville subsidiary, Pixar. Having claimed eight Oscars over the last decade, and 13 overall, these studios have become almost insurmountable over time.
This year, they once again pose fierce competition with two titles, the clear frontrunner being Pete Docter and Kemp Powers’ Soul. Meditating on the origins of the human personality, Docter’s follow-up to Oscar winners Up and Inside Out centers on Joe (Jamie Foxx), a frustrated middle-school band teacher, who seeks to return to Earth, after a sudden accident separates him from his body. Striving to return to New York City to realize his dreams of performing as a jazz musician, the character finds that his only way back from the celestial realm known as The Great Before is to mentor a stubborn,...
This year, they once again pose fierce competition with two titles, the clear frontrunner being Pete Docter and Kemp Powers’ Soul. Meditating on the origins of the human personality, Docter’s follow-up to Oscar winners Up and Inside Out centers on Joe (Jamie Foxx), a frustrated middle-school band teacher, who seeks to return to Earth, after a sudden accident separates him from his body. Striving to return to New York City to realize his dreams of performing as a jazz musician, the character finds that his only way back from the celestial realm known as The Great Before is to mentor a stubborn,...
- 2/5/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Set in a world of witches and shapeshifters, Molly Knox Ostertag's graphic novel series The Witch Boy is being adapted by Netflix as an animated musical with Minkyu Lee (Adam and Dog) as the director and the band Haim onboard to write music for the movie.
Below, we have official details from Netflix (a release date has yet to be revealed) as well as visual development art for The Witch Boy movie:
Netflix’s newest animated musical feature, The Witch Boy, will be directed by Oscar-nominated director Minkyu Lee (Adam and Dog)
The film is based on the Nyt best selling graphic novel series of the same title by Molly Knox Ostertag. It will be produced by Vertigo Entertainment and released by Netflix.
Three-time Grammy Award nominated band Haim is attached to write music for the film.
Directed by: Minkyu Lee
Written by: Maria Melnik
Produced by: Roy Lee, Miri Yoon,...
Below, we have official details from Netflix (a release date has yet to be revealed) as well as visual development art for The Witch Boy movie:
Netflix’s newest animated musical feature, The Witch Boy, will be directed by Oscar-nominated director Minkyu Lee (Adam and Dog)
The film is based on the Nyt best selling graphic novel series of the same title by Molly Knox Ostertag. It will be produced by Vertigo Entertainment and released by Netflix.
Three-time Grammy Award nominated band Haim is attached to write music for the film.
Directed by: Minkyu Lee
Written by: Maria Melnik
Produced by: Roy Lee, Miri Yoon,...
- 1/29/2021
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
“The Willoughbys” has been a hit for Netflix ever since it started streaming last spring. This animated film won over both critics and audiences with its wry tale of four children who set out to be orphans because of their neglectful parents. Now we are predicting that “The Willoughbys” could contend for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars.
This screen version of the beloved children’s book by Lois Lowry merits a perfect score of 100% from the top critics polled at Rotten Tomatoes. Their consensus: “An appealing animated adventure whose silliness is anchored in genuine emotion offers fanciful fun the entire family can enjoy.”
Among those praising the picture was Natalia Winkelman of The New York Times who thought the film “thrives when it embraces its grim plot and lets mischief reign.” David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter observed, “it has an oddball charm that works surprisingly well.” And Peter Debruge...
This screen version of the beloved children’s book by Lois Lowry merits a perfect score of 100% from the top critics polled at Rotten Tomatoes. Their consensus: “An appealing animated adventure whose silliness is anchored in genuine emotion offers fanciful fun the entire family can enjoy.”
Among those praising the picture was Natalia Winkelman of The New York Times who thought the film “thrives when it embraces its grim plot and lets mischief reign.” David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter observed, “it has an oddball charm that works surprisingly well.” And Peter Debruge...
- 1/28/2021
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
Animated films are primarily targeted towards kids, so it makes sense that our Meet the Experts: Film Animation panelists — Tomm Moore (“Wolfwalkers”), Dan Scanlon (“Onward”), Kris Pearn (“The Willoughbys”) and Walt Dohrn (“Trolls World Tour”) — were first drawn (no pun intended) to the animation when they were young. Click on each name above to view individual panel interviews with each person.
“Just growing up, drawing all the time, watching ‘The Muppets’ — which aren’t animated, but they’re such great designs — watching Chuck Jones films, Warner Bros. shorts — all of that I think made me think, ‘I want to be someone who can put on a show and yet I never wanna be onstage,’” Scanlon shares. “So how is that possible?”
See 2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Animated Feature
Moore recalls his parents waking him up when he was a kid to watch Don Bluth draw the dogs from “All Dogs Go to Heaven...
“Just growing up, drawing all the time, watching ‘The Muppets’ — which aren’t animated, but they’re such great designs — watching Chuck Jones films, Warner Bros. shorts — all of that I think made me think, ‘I want to be someone who can put on a show and yet I never wanna be onstage,’” Scanlon shares. “So how is that possible?”
See 2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Animated Feature
Moore recalls his parents waking him up when he was a kid to watch Don Bluth draw the dogs from “All Dogs Go to Heaven...
- 12/28/2020
- by Joyce Eng
- Gold Derby
“‘Grey Gardens’ meets ‘Arrested Development'” probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you’re conceiving an animated film for children, but that was exactly Kris Pearn‘s pitch for his adaptation of Lois Lowry‘s book “The Willoughbys.”
“It immediately struck me as that kind of ‘Arrested Development’ dysfunctional family story and yet there was an element of wildness of those kids that I could relate to in terms of being a father to my own children [in the entertainment industry],” Pearn tells Gold Derby at our Meet the Experts: Film Animation panel (watch above). “That idea of these odd children finding their way in our modern world — that was kind of what I pitched back. It’s kind of like a ‘Grey Gardens’ meets ‘Arrested Development’ for kids, and they latched onto that.”
Pearn, who’s helmed “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2” (2013), himself latched onto the “subversive,...
“It immediately struck me as that kind of ‘Arrested Development’ dysfunctional family story and yet there was an element of wildness of those kids that I could relate to in terms of being a father to my own children [in the entertainment industry],” Pearn tells Gold Derby at our Meet the Experts: Film Animation panel (watch above). “That idea of these odd children finding their way in our modern world — that was kind of what I pitched back. It’s kind of like a ‘Grey Gardens’ meets ‘Arrested Development’ for kids, and they latched onto that.”
Pearn, who’s helmed “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2” (2013), himself latched onto the “subversive,...
- 12/28/2020
- by Joyce Eng
- Gold Derby
Netflix has unveiled the animated feature film “The Magician’s Elephant,” with a voice cast including Noah Jupe, Pixie Davies, Sian Clifford, Natasia Demetriou, Dawn French, Brian Tyree Henry and Benedict Wong.
“The Magician’s Elephant” is based on Newbery Award winner Kate Dicamillo’s novel of the same title. The film, currently in production, marks the directorial debut of visual effects veteran Wendy Rogers — whose credits include “Shrek,” “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” and “Puss in Boots” — and is produced by Julia Pistor.
The voice cast also includes Aasif Mandvi, Mandy Patinkin, Miranda Richardson, Cree Summer and Lorraine Toussaint.
“Toy Story 4” writer Martin Hynes has written the script. Animal Logic is handling the computer imagery for “The Magician’s Elephant.”
The story centers on Peter (voiced by Jupe), who is searching for his long-lost sister Adel (voiced by Pixie Davies). He crosses paths with a fortune teller...
“The Magician’s Elephant” is based on Newbery Award winner Kate Dicamillo’s novel of the same title. The film, currently in production, marks the directorial debut of visual effects veteran Wendy Rogers — whose credits include “Shrek,” “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” and “Puss in Boots” — and is produced by Julia Pistor.
The voice cast also includes Aasif Mandvi, Mandy Patinkin, Miranda Richardson, Cree Summer and Lorraine Toussaint.
“Toy Story 4” writer Martin Hynes has written the script. Animal Logic is handling the computer imagery for “The Magician’s Elephant.”
The story centers on Peter (voiced by Jupe), who is searching for his long-lost sister Adel (voiced by Pixie Davies). He crosses paths with a fortune teller...
- 12/15/2020
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Netflix has set an all-star voice cast and stellar creative team for new animation The Magician’s Elephant, we can reveal.
Noah Jupe (A Quiet Place), Benedict Wong (Doctor Strange), Sian Clifford (Fleabag), Pixie Davies (Mary Poppins Returns), Natasia Demetriou (What We Do In The Shadows), Dawn French (French & Saunders), Brian Tyree Henry (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse), Aasif Mandvi (Evil), Mandy Patinkin (Homeland), Miranda Richardson (Belle), Cree Summer (Vampirina) and Lorraine Toussaint (Concrete Cowboy) will voice the movie, which is currently in production.
Based on two-time Newbery Award-winner Kate Dicamillo’s novel of the same name, the film marks the directorial debut of veteran visual effects artist Wendy Rogers (Shrek) and is produced by animation vet Julia Pistor (The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie).
Script comes from Martin Hynes (Toy Story 4), production design from Max Boas (Abominable), art direction from Luri Lioi (How to Train Your Dragon trilogy), editing by...
Noah Jupe (A Quiet Place), Benedict Wong (Doctor Strange), Sian Clifford (Fleabag), Pixie Davies (Mary Poppins Returns), Natasia Demetriou (What We Do In The Shadows), Dawn French (French & Saunders), Brian Tyree Henry (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse), Aasif Mandvi (Evil), Mandy Patinkin (Homeland), Miranda Richardson (Belle), Cree Summer (Vampirina) and Lorraine Toussaint (Concrete Cowboy) will voice the movie, which is currently in production.
Based on two-time Newbery Award-winner Kate Dicamillo’s novel of the same name, the film marks the directorial debut of veteran visual effects artist Wendy Rogers (Shrek) and is produced by animation vet Julia Pistor (The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie).
Script comes from Martin Hynes (Toy Story 4), production design from Max Boas (Abominable), art direction from Luri Lioi (How to Train Your Dragon trilogy), editing by...
- 12/15/2020
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Four top film animation directors will reveal the secrets behind their crafts when they join Gold Derby’s special “Meet the Experts” Q&a event with key 2021 guild and Oscar contenders this month. Each person will participate in two video discussions to be published on Thursday, December 17, at 5:00 p.m. Pt; 8:00 p.m. Et. We’ll have a one-on-one with our senior editor Joyce Eng and a group chat with Joyce and all of the animators together.
RSVP today to this specific event by clicking here to book your reservation. Or click here to RSVP for our entire ongoing panel series. We’ll send you a reminder a few minutes before the start of the show.
This “Meet the Experts” panel welcomes the following 2021 guild and Oscar contenders:
“Onward” (Disney Pixar): Dan Scanlon
Scanlon’s career has included such projects as “Monsters University,” “Tracy” and “Mater and...
RSVP today to this specific event by clicking here to book your reservation. Or click here to RSVP for our entire ongoing panel series. We’ll send you a reminder a few minutes before the start of the show.
This “Meet the Experts” panel welcomes the following 2021 guild and Oscar contenders:
“Onward” (Disney Pixar): Dan Scanlon
Scanlon’s career has included such projects as “Monsters University,” “Tracy” and “Mater and...
- 12/10/2020
- by Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
“The Breadwinner” director Nora Twomey will join “The Willoughbys” director Kris Pearn for a free “Meet the Masters” virtual conversation presented by the View Conference on Tuesday, Nov. 24, beginning at 10 a.m. Pt.
Twomey, who is co-founder and creative director of Ireland’s animation studio Cartoon Saloon, produced the studio’s current film, “Wolfwalkers,” was head of story on “Song of the Sea” and co-directed “The Secret of Kells,” which were both nominated for an animated feature Oscar. Her 2017 film, “The Breadwinner,” was also nominated for that award. She was honored with the View Conference’s first-ever Visionary Award in 2018.
Pearn directed the hit animated film “The Willoughbys,” which premiered earlier this year on Netflix. He also directed Sony Pictures Animation’s “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2,” and was a storyboard artist on such animated films as Spa’s “Hotel Transylvania” and the original “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs,...
Twomey, who is co-founder and creative director of Ireland’s animation studio Cartoon Saloon, produced the studio’s current film, “Wolfwalkers,” was head of story on “Song of the Sea” and co-directed “The Secret of Kells,” which were both nominated for an animated feature Oscar. Her 2017 film, “The Breadwinner,” was also nominated for that award. She was honored with the View Conference’s first-ever Visionary Award in 2018.
Pearn directed the hit animated film “The Willoughbys,” which premiered earlier this year on Netflix. He also directed Sony Pictures Animation’s “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2,” and was a storyboard artist on such animated films as Spa’s “Hotel Transylvania” and the original “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs,...
- 11/17/2020
- by Terry Flores
- Variety Film + TV
Industrial Light & Magic’s Dennis Muren will receive the View Conference’s 2020 Visionary Award during this year’s event, which is taking place both in-person in Turin, Italy, and virtually.
The longtime VFX maven is best known for his work on the original “Star Wars,” as well as “The Abyss,” “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” and “Jurassic Park.” Currently he is creative director and senior visual effects supervisor and Ilm, working on the company’s ground-breaking techniques and technologies. He’s won nine Oscars.
“Dennis Muren is a force of nature and a real living legend,” said conference director Maria Elena Gutierrez. “Throughout his career, he has elevated his craft to the highest levels and inspired young artists to follow him into the stratosphere. He is, without question, a worthy recipient of this year’s Visionary Award.”
Muren will give a keynote address on Friday, Oct. 23, the last day of the conference,...
The longtime VFX maven is best known for his work on the original “Star Wars,” as well as “The Abyss,” “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” and “Jurassic Park.” Currently he is creative director and senior visual effects supervisor and Ilm, working on the company’s ground-breaking techniques and technologies. He’s won nine Oscars.
“Dennis Muren is a force of nature and a real living legend,” said conference director Maria Elena Gutierrez. “Throughout his career, he has elevated his craft to the highest levels and inspired young artists to follow him into the stratosphere. He is, without question, a worthy recipient of this year’s Visionary Award.”
Muren will give a keynote address on Friday, Oct. 23, the last day of the conference,...
- 10/19/2020
- by Terry Flores
- 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
Cartoon Saloon co-founder and creative director Tomm Moore will take part in a presentation about his latest film, “Wolfwalkers,” during the 2020 View Conference, along with his co-director, Ross Stewart, and other key artists.
“Wolfwalkers,” which generated lots of buzz during the Toronto Film Festival, where it had its world premiere, is the latest film from Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon. The studio’s “The Secret of Kells” and “Song of the Sea,” both directed by Moore, were nominated for Academy Awards for animated feature. “Wolfwalkers” will stream worldwide on Apple TV Plus later this year.
Joining Moore and Stewart for the 90-minute online talk will be assistant director Mark Mullery, character designer Sandra Andersen, art director Maria Pareja and animation supervisor Svend Rothmann Bonde.
“We are lucky to be able to enjoy the work of such wonderful storytellers as Cartoon Saloon,” said conference director Maria Elena Gutierrez. “Their exquisite films...
“Wolfwalkers,” which generated lots of buzz during the Toronto Film Festival, where it had its world premiere, is the latest film from Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon. The studio’s “The Secret of Kells” and “Song of the Sea,” both directed by Moore, were nominated for Academy Awards for animated feature. “Wolfwalkers” will stream worldwide on Apple TV Plus later this year.
Joining Moore and Stewart for the 90-minute online talk will be assistant director Mark Mullery, character designer Sandra Andersen, art director Maria Pareja and animation supervisor Svend Rothmann Bonde.
“We are lucky to be able to enjoy the work of such wonderful storytellers as Cartoon Saloon,” said conference director Maria Elena Gutierrez. “Their exquisite films...
- 9/23/2020
- by Terry Flores
- Variety Film + TV
Osnat Shurer, producer of Disney’s upcoming animated feature “Raya and the Last Dragon,” will give a virtual talk at the 2020 View Conference, based in Turin, Italy. Her session will be live-streamed to a global audience on Tuesday, Oct. 20, beginning at 10 a.m. Pt.
Shurer, who joined Disney Animation in 2012 as vice president of development, also produced “Moana,” which was nominated for an Oscar for best animated feature in 2017. During her virtual talk, she’ll discuss the cultural consultancy work she undertook with the Oceanic Story Trust for “Moana” as well as her work on “Raya,” set to be released in March of 2021, and other topics.
“It will be fascinating to hear Osnat speak about gender representation,” said View Conference director Maria Elena Gutierrez. “She has produced films featuring strong female characters with her team at Disney, depicting women as warriors. This is true of ‘Moana,’ and I have an...
Shurer, who joined Disney Animation in 2012 as vice president of development, also produced “Moana,” which was nominated for an Oscar for best animated feature in 2017. During her virtual talk, she’ll discuss the cultural consultancy work she undertook with the Oceanic Story Trust for “Moana” as well as her work on “Raya,” set to be released in March of 2021, and other topics.
“It will be fascinating to hear Osnat speak about gender representation,” said View Conference director Maria Elena Gutierrez. “She has produced films featuring strong female characters with her team at Disney, depicting women as warriors. This is true of ‘Moana,’ and I have an...
- 9/3/2020
- by Terry Flores
- Variety Film + TV
Peter Ramsey, co-director of Oscar-winning “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” will be the next speaker in the View Conference’s free PreVIEW series of virtual conversations ahead of the October gathering.
Ramsey will speaking with Escape Studios’ deputy dean and director Saint John Walker on Saturday, Aug. 29, beginning at 10 a.m. Pt. He’ll be discussing the his work on the acclaimed film as well as other aspects of his long showbiz career.
In addition to Sony Pictures Animation’s “Spider-Verse,” Ramsey directed DreamWorks Animation’s “Rise of the Guardians” and the Halloween TV special “Monsters vs. Aliens: Pumpkins From Outer Space,” and was a story artist on a number of other Dwa projects. His experience also includes work as a storyboard artist on a number of live-action features, including “Independence Day,” “Fight Club,” “Being John Malkovich,” “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” and “Minority Report.”
“Peter is a master storyteller,” says View Conference director Maria Elena Gutierrez.
Ramsey will speaking with Escape Studios’ deputy dean and director Saint John Walker on Saturday, Aug. 29, beginning at 10 a.m. Pt. He’ll be discussing the his work on the acclaimed film as well as other aspects of his long showbiz career.
In addition to Sony Pictures Animation’s “Spider-Verse,” Ramsey directed DreamWorks Animation’s “Rise of the Guardians” and the Halloween TV special “Monsters vs. Aliens: Pumpkins From Outer Space,” and was a story artist on a number of other Dwa projects. His experience also includes work as a storyboard artist on a number of live-action features, including “Independence Day,” “Fight Club,” “Being John Malkovich,” “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” and “Minority Report.”
“Peter is a master storyteller,” says View Conference director Maria Elena Gutierrez.
- 8/24/2020
- by Terry Flores
- Variety Film + TV
Pixar co-founder Ed Catmull will give a keynote address at the 2020 View Conference in October and Tomm Moore, co-director of the upcoming Apple TV Plus animated feature “Wolfwalkers,” will also be speaking at the event, which will be a mix of virtual and in-person talks and masterclasses this year, due to the ongoing global Covid-19 pandemic.
Catmull will be giving a keynote address that will touch on many aspects of his 33 years with Pixar and the ever-evolving world of computer graphics. Catmull is also the author of “Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration.”
Moore, who co-directs “Wolfwalkers” with Ross Stewart, is a co-founder of Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon. His films “The Secret of Kells” and “Song of the Sea” were nominated for Oscars. His latest film will be the first animated feature to premiere on Apple TV Plus. It will stream later this year.
Catmull will be giving a keynote address that will touch on many aspects of his 33 years with Pixar and the ever-evolving world of computer graphics. Catmull is also the author of “Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration.”
Moore, who co-directs “Wolfwalkers” with Ross Stewart, is a co-founder of Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon. His films “The Secret of Kells” and “Song of the Sea” were nominated for Oscars. His latest film will be the first animated feature to premiere on Apple TV Plus. It will stream later this year.
- 7/31/2020
- by Terry Flores
- Variety Film + TV
Pixar technical artist Dylan Sisson will discuss the studio’s RenderMan technology and the art of movie magic during the View Conference’s latest free PreVIEW event Friday, July 24, beginning at 2:30 p.m. Pt.
Sisson will talk about the ever-evolving RenderMan software, created by Pixar and used by visual effects and animations studios worldwide. The surfaces of every character and object in Pixar’s films from Woody’s jeans in the “Toy Story” movies to the pink unicorn in “Onward” have been created using the technology. In conversation with Ian Failes, Sisson will discuss RenderMan’s latest advances as well as other non-photorealistic rendering tools currently in development at Pixar that will stretch RenderMan’s abilities, allowing it to turn into a tool that can be used for nearly any type of look from photorealism to painterly.
Sisson has been in the VFX and animation biz for more than 25 years,...
Sisson will talk about the ever-evolving RenderMan software, created by Pixar and used by visual effects and animations studios worldwide. The surfaces of every character and object in Pixar’s films from Woody’s jeans in the “Toy Story” movies to the pink unicorn in “Onward” have been created using the technology. In conversation with Ian Failes, Sisson will discuss RenderMan’s latest advances as well as other non-photorealistic rendering tools currently in development at Pixar that will stretch RenderMan’s abilities, allowing it to turn into a tool that can be used for nearly any type of look from photorealism to painterly.
Sisson has been in the VFX and animation biz for more than 25 years,...
- 7/20/2020
- by Terry Flores
- Variety Film + TV
Animation directors Jorge R. Gutierrez (“The Book of Life”) and Kris Pearn (“The Willoughbys”) will discuss their craft in the View Conference’s second free PreVIEW online event Saturday, July 11, at 10 a.m. Pt.
Gutierrez, who is currently working on the Netflix animated series “Maya and the Three,” and Pearn, whose hit animated feature “The Willoughbys” premiered on Netflix earlier this year, will talk about the way each of them approaches developing and directing an animated film.
Gutierrez won a character design Annie Award for 2014’s “Book of Life,” which was also nominated for a Golden Globe. He’s won Annie and Emmy awards for the Nickelodeon series “El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera,” which he created with his wife, Sandra Equihua. In addition to “Maya and the Three,” Gutierrez is developing a number of other projects for Netflix Animation.
In addition to writing and directing “The Willoughbys,” Pearn...
Gutierrez, who is currently working on the Netflix animated series “Maya and the Three,” and Pearn, whose hit animated feature “The Willoughbys” premiered on Netflix earlier this year, will talk about the way each of them approaches developing and directing an animated film.
Gutierrez won a character design Annie Award for 2014’s “Book of Life,” which was also nominated for a Golden Globe. He’s won Annie and Emmy awards for the Nickelodeon series “El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera,” which he created with his wife, Sandra Equihua. In addition to “Maya and the Three,” Gutierrez is developing a number of other projects for Netflix Animation.
In addition to writing and directing “The Willoughbys,” Pearn...
- 7/7/2020
- by Terry Flores
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix’s animated movie “The Willoughbys” was watched by 37.6 million households in its first month on the platform, the company said Friday.
Directed by Kris Pearn, it’s the second original film from the streamer’s animation division that aims to provide the kind of family content it has been offering from competitors for years.
While Netflix is traditionally tight-lipped about viewer data, the metric for “The Willoughbys'” is a bit firmer than its usual equation for viewing. Netflix logged nearly 38 million individual accounts to watched at least two minutes of the film, which does not account for the number of Netflix accounts and profiles in a single home, a source familiar with the data said.
Netflix also only registers each viewing once, said the insider, and does not account for repeat viewing — which is the norm for emphatic kids rewatching this type of content.
“The Willoughbys” tells of a...
Directed by Kris Pearn, it’s the second original film from the streamer’s animation division that aims to provide the kind of family content it has been offering from competitors for years.
While Netflix is traditionally tight-lipped about viewer data, the metric for “The Willoughbys'” is a bit firmer than its usual equation for viewing. Netflix logged nearly 38 million individual accounts to watched at least two minutes of the film, which does not account for the number of Netflix accounts and profiles in a single home, a source familiar with the data said.
Netflix also only registers each viewing once, said the insider, and does not account for repeat viewing — which is the norm for emphatic kids rewatching this type of content.
“The Willoughbys” tells of a...
- 5/22/2020
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
The Willoughbys, executive produced and narrated by Ricky Gervais, has been watched by 37.6 million households since bowing April 22 on Netflix.
Netflix on Friday also touted the sizeable first-month audience for the animated film version of Lois Lowry's story on its Twitter account.
In The Willoughbys, Will Forte and Alessia Cara voice siblings who devise a scheme to get rid of their parents, voiced by Martin Short and Jane Krakowski. Maya Rudolph, Terry Crews and Ricky Gervais also star in the voice cast of the film, which was directed by Kris Pearn (Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs ...
Netflix on Friday also touted the sizeable first-month audience for the animated film version of Lois Lowry's story on its Twitter account.
In The Willoughbys, Will Forte and Alessia Cara voice siblings who devise a scheme to get rid of their parents, voiced by Martin Short and Jane Krakowski. Maya Rudolph, Terry Crews and Ricky Gervais also star in the voice cast of the film, which was directed by Kris Pearn (Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs ...
- 5/22/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
The Willoughbys, executive produced and narrated by Ricky Gervais, has been watched by 37.6 million households since bowing April 22 on Netflix.
Netflix on Friday also touted the sizeable first-month audience for the animated film version of Lois Lowry's story on its Twitter account.
In The Willoughbys, Will Forte and Alessia Cara voice siblings who devise a scheme to get rid of their parents, voiced by Martin Short and Jane Krakowski. Maya Rudolph, Terry Crews and Ricky Gervais also star in the voice cast of the film, which was directed by Kris Pearn (Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs ...
Netflix on Friday also touted the sizeable first-month audience for the animated film version of Lois Lowry's story on its Twitter account.
In The Willoughbys, Will Forte and Alessia Cara voice siblings who devise a scheme to get rid of their parents, voiced by Martin Short and Jane Krakowski. Maya Rudolph, Terry Crews and Ricky Gervais also star in the voice cast of the film, which was directed by Kris Pearn (Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs ...
- 5/22/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
2020 has proven to be an interesting time for animation. Ever since the Coronavirus pandemic closed down movie theaters, the entire film industry has had to recalibrate. Right now, animated fare is thriving, thanks to families being desperate for new things to watch at home. Trolls World Tour had a VOD debut, Onward has been a bigger hit on Digital and Disney+ than it was in theaters, and so on. This week, Netflix joins in with one of their big animated pushes for 2020 in The Willoughbys. A bright and manic flick, it has moments of lively fun and will enthrall younger audience members. As for adults? Well, it won’t be a chore to sit through, at least. The movie is an animated adventure, centering on the title family, and in particular, the children. Narrated by The Cat (voice of Ricky Gervais), we learn of the plight of the youngest Willoughbys.
- 4/23/2020
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
Imagine a Roald Dahl-type story of clever children circumventing monstrous adults, wrapped in a gothic tone of morbid absurdism not unlike Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. Now add a visual sensibility that lands somewhere between Edward Gorey and Wes Anderson, air-drop the result into the "Sugar Rush" videogame from Wreck-It Ralph and press play. There's a lot going on in The Willoughbys, yet if you can get on board with its manic energy and accelerated plotting, the Netflix animated family comedy-adventure has an oddball charm that works surprisingly well.
Directed by Kris Pearn (Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs ...
Directed by Kris Pearn (Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs ...
- 4/23/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Imagine a Roald Dahl-type story of clever children circumventing monstrous adults, wrapped in a gothic tone of morbid absurdism not unlike Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. Now add a visual sensibility that lands somewhere between Edward Gorey and Wes Anderson, air-drop the result into the "Sugar Rush" videogame from Wreck-It Ralph and press play. There's a lot going on in The Willoughbys, yet if you can get on board with its manic energy and accelerated plotting, the Netflix animated family comedy-adventure has an oddball charm that works surprisingly well.
Directed by Kris Pearn (Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs ...
Directed by Kris Pearn (Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs ...
- 4/23/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
“The Willoughbys,” Netflix’s whimsical animated feature about four unloved siblings breaking free from their toxic home (based on the children’s book by Lois Lowry), couldn’t arrive at a more opportune time during the global pandemic. And the irony isn’t lost on director Kris Pearn (“Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2”), who infused his aesthetic with a hand-made, retro quality filled with tactile textures and bright colors.
“The world we’re living in is really hard to imagine,” said Pearn, who made his movie at Vancouver-based Bron Animation while partnering with Netflix, which provided crucial financing and creative support as part of its new auteur-based culture for indie animation. “But the theme of Lois’ book — you can’t build a wall to keep ideas out — is timely for wanting to bust out right now.”
More from IndieWire'The Willoughbys' Review: Netflix's Animated Charmer Spoofs Kids-in-Peril Stories with...
“The world we’re living in is really hard to imagine,” said Pearn, who made his movie at Vancouver-based Bron Animation while partnering with Netflix, which provided crucial financing and creative support as part of its new auteur-based culture for indie animation. “But the theme of Lois’ book — you can’t build a wall to keep ideas out — is timely for wanting to bust out right now.”
More from IndieWire'The Willoughbys' Review: Netflix's Animated Charmer Spoofs Kids-in-Peril Stories with...
- 4/23/2020
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
There’s something about The Willoughbys, Netflix’s new CG-animated family film based on the Lois Lowry children’s book, that looks a little old-fashioned. But director Kris Pearn doesn’t mind. In fact, that was his intention. Down to the yarn-like bright red hair that covers the heads of the Willoughby children, the intrepid protagonists of the family adventure, to […]
The post ‘The Willoughbys’ Director Kris Pearn is Blending 2D and Stop-Motion Animation Styles for a New Take on an Old Story [Interview] appeared first on /Film.
The post ‘The Willoughbys’ Director Kris Pearn is Blending 2D and Stop-Motion Animation Styles for a New Take on an Old Story [Interview] appeared first on /Film.
- 4/22/2020
- by Hoai-Tran Bui
- Slash Film
From the outset, Kris Pearn’s charming and off-kilter “The Willoughbys” makes its wacky worldview clear: The is not your average fluffy and fuzzy kids’ story, and don’t let any of the genre’s usual trappings make you think otherwise. Sure, there’s a sarcastic cat narrator (amusingly voiced by Ricky Gervais), a pack of cute kids, a rickety old house, a whimsical nanny, and an adorable baby orphan. There’s even Terry Crews voicing a bizarre candy magnate. But “The Willoughbys” is different — or, perhaps, just different enough to stand out,
The movie is based on Lois Lowry’s novel of the same name, which also set out to upend tired expectations about kid-centric entertainment and the iffy parental figures that often populate them. Pearn’s animated Netflix version can’t help but embrace the kind of lessons endemic to entertainment aimed at little ones. The trick, however,...
The movie is based on Lois Lowry’s novel of the same name, which also set out to upend tired expectations about kid-centric entertainment and the iffy parental figures that often populate them. Pearn’s animated Netflix version can’t help but embrace the kind of lessons endemic to entertainment aimed at little ones. The trick, however,...
- 4/21/2020
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
“The Willoughbys” hits Netflix this Wednesday, the latest in the streaming platform’s slate of animated, family-friendly features.
Based on the Lois Lowry books, the film follows the four Willoughby children, who live in a house where their self-centered parents neglect them, depriving them of love. The children devise a plan to send their parents on a long vacation and, in the process, end up finding out the true meaning of family when they meet Nanny, voiced by Maya Rudolph.
“Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs” director Kris Pearn had read the books and responded to the “idea of subverting children’s literature on its head,” he says. “It was obvious [Lowry] was making fun of Roald Dahl.”
Pearn’s idea in adapting the books was to play with the tropes of animated family films.
“What if we did ‘Grey Gardens’ meets ‘Arrested Development’ for kids?” he says.
He knew he...
Based on the Lois Lowry books, the film follows the four Willoughby children, who live in a house where their self-centered parents neglect them, depriving them of love. The children devise a plan to send their parents on a long vacation and, in the process, end up finding out the true meaning of family when they meet Nanny, voiced by Maya Rudolph.
“Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs” director Kris Pearn had read the books and responded to the “idea of subverting children’s literature on its head,” he says. “It was obvious [Lowry] was making fun of Roald Dahl.”
Pearn’s idea in adapting the books was to play with the tropes of animated family films.
“What if we did ‘Grey Gardens’ meets ‘Arrested Development’ for kids?” he says.
He knew he...
- 4/21/2020
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
“If you’re interested in stories with happy endings, you would be better off reading some other book. In this book, not only is there no happy ending, there is no happy beginning and very few happy things happen in the middle.”
So opens the first volume of Lemony Snicket’s “A Series of Unfortunate Events.” As practically any young reader will attest, such an admonition is no deterrent at all, but more of an enticement to forge on in a book that amplifies for comic effect the tropes of “old-fashioned” children’s stories — of the sort that Charles Dickens once wrote, about orphans and adversity, poverty and porridge.
Lois Lowry’s “The Willoughbys” was hatched in this same ruthful tradition. The children are neglected, the circumstances are miserable and there is much eating of oatmeal, which, as far as the four Willoughby children are concerned, is only a slight...
So opens the first volume of Lemony Snicket’s “A Series of Unfortunate Events.” As practically any young reader will attest, such an admonition is no deterrent at all, but more of an enticement to forge on in a book that amplifies for comic effect the tropes of “old-fashioned” children’s stories — of the sort that Charles Dickens once wrote, about orphans and adversity, poverty and porridge.
Lois Lowry’s “The Willoughbys” was hatched in this same ruthful tradition. The children are neglected, the circumstances are miserable and there is much eating of oatmeal, which, as far as the four Willoughby children are concerned, is only a slight...
- 4/20/2020
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
The official trailer for the upcoming Netflix animated film, The Willoughbys, starring Will Forte, Maya Rudolph, Alessia Cara, Terry Crews, Martin Short, Jane Krakowski, Sean Cullen, and Ricky Gervais has finally been released and you can see it right here on CinemaNerdz!
Convinced they’d be better off raising themselves, the Willoughby children hatch a sneaky plan to send their selfish parents on vacation. The siblings then embark on their own high-flying adventure to find the true meaning of family.
About The Film
Director/Writer: Kris Pearn Writers: Kris Pearn & Mark Stanleigh Based On: “The Willoughbys” by Lois Lowry Cast: Will Forte, Maya Rudolph, Alessia Cara, Terry Crews, Martin Short, Jane Krakowski, Séan Cullen, Ricky Gervais
The Willoughbys
will be released by Netflix on April 22, 2020!
For More Information, visit the film on:
Official Site
#TheWilloughbys / @NetflixFilm...
Convinced they’d be better off raising themselves, the Willoughby children hatch a sneaky plan to send their selfish parents on vacation. The siblings then embark on their own high-flying adventure to find the true meaning of family.
About The Film
Director/Writer: Kris Pearn Writers: Kris Pearn & Mark Stanleigh Based On: “The Willoughbys” by Lois Lowry Cast: Will Forte, Maya Rudolph, Alessia Cara, Terry Crews, Martin Short, Jane Krakowski, Séan Cullen, Ricky Gervais
The Willoughbys
will be released by Netflix on April 22, 2020!
For More Information, visit the film on:
Official Site
#TheWilloughbys / @NetflixFilm...
- 3/23/2020
- by Mike Tyrkus
- CinemaNerdz
Two siblings set out on an adventure to find a better family in the trailer for Netflix's The Willoughbys.
The animated film follows the Willoughby children as they come up with a sneaky plan to send their selfish parents on vacation. The kids, who believe they'd be better off raising themselves, then set off on their own adventure to find out what it really means to be a family.
Will Forte, Maya Rudolph, Alessia Cara, Terry Crews, Martin Short, Jane Krakowski and Ricky Gervais make up the voice cast of the Kris Pearn- and Cory Evans-directed pic. The movie ...
The animated film follows the Willoughby children as they come up with a sneaky plan to send their selfish parents on vacation. The kids, who believe they'd be better off raising themselves, then set off on their own adventure to find out what it really means to be a family.
Will Forte, Maya Rudolph, Alessia Cara, Terry Crews, Martin Short, Jane Krakowski and Ricky Gervais make up the voice cast of the Kris Pearn- and Cory Evans-directed pic. The movie ...
- 3/23/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Two siblings set out on an adventure to find a better family in the trailer for Netflix's The Willoughbys.
The animated film follows the Willoughby children as they come up with a sneaky plan to send their selfish parents on vacation. The kids, who believe they'd be better off raising themselves, then set off on their own adventure to find out what it really means to be a family.
Will Forte, Maya Rudolph, Alessia Cara, Terry Crews, Martin Short, Jane Krakowski and Ricky Gervais make up the voice cast of the Kris Pearn- and Cory Evans-directed pic. The movie ...
The animated film follows the Willoughby children as they come up with a sneaky plan to send their selfish parents on vacation. The kids, who believe they'd be better off raising themselves, then set off on their own adventure to find out what it really means to be a family.
Will Forte, Maya Rudolph, Alessia Cara, Terry Crews, Martin Short, Jane Krakowski and Ricky Gervais make up the voice cast of the Kris Pearn- and Cory Evans-directed pic. The movie ...
- 3/23/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
If your kids are stuck inside and wishing their parents would just go away, the first trailer for the Netflix animated family film “The Willoughbys” might give them a few ideas.
“The Willoughbys” is about a family of four mop-top, redhead kids stuck with parents who don’t love them anymore. They devise a plan to send their parents on a dangerous vacation from which they’ll never return. It’s an adaptation of Newbery Award-winning author Lois Lowry’s 2008 book from the director of “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2,” Kris Pearn.
Ricky Gervais plays a talking cat who narrates the film, and he lends a fiendish tone to this colorful adventure and caper.
Also Read: Netflix in April: Here's Everything Coming and Going
“All the Willoughby children ever wanted was to have a normal family. But their loving parents had no love left over for them,” he says in the trailer.
“The Willoughbys” is about a family of four mop-top, redhead kids stuck with parents who don’t love them anymore. They devise a plan to send their parents on a dangerous vacation from which they’ll never return. It’s an adaptation of Newbery Award-winning author Lois Lowry’s 2008 book from the director of “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2,” Kris Pearn.
Ricky Gervais plays a talking cat who narrates the film, and he lends a fiendish tone to this colorful adventure and caper.
Also Read: Netflix in April: Here's Everything Coming and Going
“All the Willoughby children ever wanted was to have a normal family. But their loving parents had no love left over for them,” he says in the trailer.
- 3/23/2020
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
This year, Pixar and Disney get back to originals with greater inclusion and diversity, Sony returns with another stylistic experiment from Oscar-winning producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller (“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”), and two-time Oscar nominee Tomm Moore of Cartoon Saloon tackles an Irish adventure about the secret of wolves.
In addition, Netflix has three new releases, Warner Bros. launches a Hanna-Barbera Cinematic Universe, SpongeBob, The Trolls, and Gru and the Minions are all back, and “Bob’s Burgers” makes its big-screen debut.
More from IndieWireThe Most Shocking Discoveries About 'Slumlord' Jared Kushner in Netflix's 'Dirty Money''Soul' Trailer: Jamie Foxx Jazzes Up Pixar's Feel-Good Summer Comedy
Note: All release dates were accurate at this writing, but could change in response to the coronavirus.
Pixar and Disney started the year with “Onward” (March 6) the studio’s first magical fantasy. Director Dan Scanlon got semi-autobiographical about losing his father when he...
In addition, Netflix has three new releases, Warner Bros. launches a Hanna-Barbera Cinematic Universe, SpongeBob, The Trolls, and Gru and the Minions are all back, and “Bob’s Burgers” makes its big-screen debut.
More from IndieWireThe Most Shocking Discoveries About 'Slumlord' Jared Kushner in Netflix's 'Dirty Money''Soul' Trailer: Jamie Foxx Jazzes Up Pixar's Feel-Good Summer Comedy
Note: All release dates were accurate at this writing, but could change in response to the coronavirus.
Pixar and Disney started the year with “Onward” (March 6) the studio’s first magical fantasy. Director Dan Scanlon got semi-autobiographical about losing his father when he...
- 3/12/2020
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
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
Netflix will release the animated short Sitara: Let Girls Dream from two-time Oscar-winning and three-time Emmy-winning director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy.
The short tells the story of Pari, a 14-year-old girl who dreams of becoming a pilot while growing up in a society that doesn’t allow her to dream.
“Young girls everywhere still face considerable hurdles in achieving their dreams,” Obaid-Chinoy said Friday. Sitara embodies that struggle; it is the story of Pari, a young girl who dreams of becoming a pilot and is robbed of it. For me, Sitara is more than a film; it is a movement that we want to start across the world, that encourages parents to invest in their girls’ dreams, freeing their daughters from the burdens of early marriage.”
Vice Studios financed and produced Sitara. Imke Fehrmann serves as producer on the film. Women’s rights activist Gloria Steinem and Darla Anderson — the Academy Award-winning...
The short tells the story of Pari, a 14-year-old girl who dreams of becoming a pilot while growing up in a society that doesn’t allow her to dream.
“Young girls everywhere still face considerable hurdles in achieving their dreams,” Obaid-Chinoy said Friday. Sitara embodies that struggle; it is the story of Pari, a young girl who dreams of becoming a pilot and is robbed of it. For me, Sitara is more than a film; it is a movement that we want to start across the world, that encourages parents to invest in their girls’ dreams, freeing their daughters from the burdens of early marriage.”
Vice Studios financed and produced Sitara. Imke Fehrmann serves as producer on the film. Women’s rights activist Gloria Steinem and Darla Anderson — the Academy Award-winning...
- 10/25/2019
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Netflix’s first animation productions, an increasing number of attendees and the imminent Disney+ were all under discussion.
The Annecy International Animated Film Festival celebrated its 43rd edition (June 10-15), with filmmakers and industry professionals arriving at the French lakeside town for the latest content across features, shorts, videogames and Vr. Screen reports on the key talking points for the film industry from the week.
Newcomers debut original feature animations
As part of Mifa, the festival’s market event, Netflix presented several scenes from Sergio Pablos’ Santa Claus origin story Klaus, the streamer’s first in-house feature-length animated production. Melissa Cobb,...
The Annecy International Animated Film Festival celebrated its 43rd edition (June 10-15), with filmmakers and industry professionals arriving at the French lakeside town for the latest content across features, shorts, videogames and Vr. Screen reports on the key talking points for the film industry from the week.
Newcomers debut original feature animations
As part of Mifa, the festival’s market event, Netflix presented several scenes from Sergio Pablos’ Santa Claus origin story Klaus, the streamer’s first in-house feature-length animated production. Melissa Cobb,...
- 6/17/2019
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Annecy — Netflix Animation: A Studio Without Borders” ran the title of the hugely anticipated Netflix lineup presentation at Annecy this year, only the second in the U.S. streaming giant’s history at the French festival, the largest animation gathering in the world.
Melissa Cobb, vice president of Kids & Family, who hosted the session, did drill down briefly on the panel’s title. Netflix’s aim is to break down any border, be it geographic, or of animation formats, gender, ethnicity or representation.
Netflix has a studio and production hub in Hollywood today, but its ambition is to create “a support structure” for best-in-class creators from all over the world, she added.
What is Netflix looking for, Variety asked her in a Q & A after the panel presentation.
“Great creators, who can execute their vision, but we don’t have any guidelines,” she replied.
Netflix will produce animated shows in CG,...
Melissa Cobb, vice president of Kids & Family, who hosted the session, did drill down briefly on the panel’s title. Netflix’s aim is to break down any border, be it geographic, or of animation formats, gender, ethnicity or representation.
Netflix has a studio and production hub in Hollywood today, but its ambition is to create “a support structure” for best-in-class creators from all over the world, she added.
What is Netflix looking for, Variety asked her in a Q & A after the panel presentation.
“Great creators, who can execute their vision, but we don’t have any guidelines,” she replied.
Netflix will produce animated shows in CG,...
- 6/12/2019
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
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