When you think of your favorite children's books, you might fondly recall getting lost in a Dr. Seuss adventure or your parents reading you "Goodnight, Moon." "Treasure Island" might come to mind, or if you're an Brit like myself, perhaps a delightful bedtime adventure with the "Famous Five." Well, it seems the next generation can look forward to something altogether more unsettling because Ridley Scott's seminal 1979 effort "Alien" is now being made into a children's book.
Yes, as per Entertainment Weekly, Ellen Ripley and her fellow Nostromo crew will be the focus of a Little Golden Book — you know, Penguin Random House's compact hardbacks for kids, which have been running since 1942 and seem to have the license to pretty much every IP under the sun. "A is for Alien: An ABC Book," is the latest edition to the extensive lineup, and will, according to EW, "teach young readers...
Yes, as per Entertainment Weekly, Ellen Ripley and her fellow Nostromo crew will be the focus of a Little Golden Book — you know, Penguin Random House's compact hardbacks for kids, which have been running since 1942 and seem to have the license to pretty much every IP under the sun. "A is for Alien: An ABC Book," is the latest edition to the extensive lineup, and will, according to EW, "teach young readers...
- 1/2/2024
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
British actor Tom Wilkinson, who won a Bafta for his work in The Full Monty and was Oscar-nominated for Michael Clayton and In The Bedroom, has died at 75 on Saturday. No cause was given.
“It is with great sadness that the family of Tom Wilkinson announce that he died suddenly at home on December 30,” said a statement from his agent. “His wife and family were with him. The family asks for privacy at this time.”
He also starred in 1998’s Shakespeare in Love, Christopher Nolan’s 2005 Batman Begins, and 2011 thriller Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol.
He was also in the Disney+ streaming series of The Full Monty, reprising his role as factory foreman Gerald Cooper.
His film resume includes The Grand Budapest Hotel and Girl with a Pearl Earring among more than 130 film and TV credits.
He also won an Emmy for playing Benjamin Franklin in 2008 mini-series John Adams and...
“It is with great sadness that the family of Tom Wilkinson announce that he died suddenly at home on December 30,” said a statement from his agent. “His wife and family were with him. The family asks for privacy at this time.”
He also starred in 1998’s Shakespeare in Love, Christopher Nolan’s 2005 Batman Begins, and 2011 thriller Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol.
He was also in the Disney+ streaming series of The Full Monty, reprising his role as factory foreman Gerald Cooper.
His film resume includes The Grand Budapest Hotel and Girl with a Pearl Earring among more than 130 film and TV credits.
He also won an Emmy for playing Benjamin Franklin in 2008 mini-series John Adams and...
- 12/30/2023
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Aquaman star Jason Momoa swaps a trident for silk pyjamas as he joins the list of celebrities reading a CBeebies Bedtime Story.
Jason Momoa is following in the footsteps of Tom Hardy and joins the growing roster of celebrity readers for CBeebies Bedtime Stories. Momoa will be appearing on TV screens across the UK in black silk pyjamas and reading Tiddler by Julia Donaldson to the kiddos – and probably a few parents, too.
“One of my favourite books that I read to my children as they were growing up was The Gruffalo, so I am very happy to read another amazing story by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler for a CBeebies Bedtime Story,” Momoa said of his stint on the popular children’s programme.
It’s a big week for CBeebies Bedtime Stories with a high profile list of readers. Tom Hardy kicks things off with a reading of Tisha...
Jason Momoa is following in the footsteps of Tom Hardy and joins the growing roster of celebrity readers for CBeebies Bedtime Stories. Momoa will be appearing on TV screens across the UK in black silk pyjamas and reading Tiddler by Julia Donaldson to the kiddos – and probably a few parents, too.
“One of my favourite books that I read to my children as they were growing up was The Gruffalo, so I am very happy to read another amazing story by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler for a CBeebies Bedtime Story,” Momoa said of his stint on the popular children’s programme.
It’s a big week for CBeebies Bedtime Stories with a high profile list of readers. Tom Hardy kicks things off with a reading of Tisha...
- 12/18/2023
- by Maria Lattila
- Film Stories
Leonine Studios, one of Germany’s leading film and TV companies, has set up Leonine Animation Studios together with Hans Ulrich Stoef and Jo Daris, the managing directors of Toon2Tango.
The three partners will each contribute their shares in Toon2Tango to the new division on Jan. 1, 2024, and will channel all their animation output through it going forward. Toon2Tango becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary of Leonine Animation Studios.
Leonine Studios, which has held a 25.1% stake in Toon2Tango since October 2022, holds a 50% stake in Leonine Animation Studios, with Stoef and Daris also jointly holding 50%. Leonine has the option to acquire a controlling majority in Leonine Animation Studios from 2025.
The managing directors of Leonine Animation Studios are Bernhard zu Castell, who as Leonine’s chief distribution officer is responsible for the distribution and licensing division of the company, Stoef and Daris.
Leonine describes Leonine Animation Studios as “a growth and investment platform for the development,...
The three partners will each contribute their shares in Toon2Tango to the new division on Jan. 1, 2024, and will channel all their animation output through it going forward. Toon2Tango becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary of Leonine Animation Studios.
Leonine Studios, which has held a 25.1% stake in Toon2Tango since October 2022, holds a 50% stake in Leonine Animation Studios, with Stoef and Daris also jointly holding 50%. Leonine has the option to acquire a controlling majority in Leonine Animation Studios from 2025.
The managing directors of Leonine Animation Studios are Bernhard zu Castell, who as Leonine’s chief distribution officer is responsible for the distribution and licensing division of the company, Stoef and Daris.
Leonine describes Leonine Animation Studios as “a growth and investment platform for the development,...
- 12/18/2023
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Apple TV+ celebrates the holidays this year with an expansive line-up of programming for the whole family. From the debut of the Apple Original special,“The Velveteen Rabbit,” based on the beloved children’s classic written by Margery Williams, to the brand new holiday-themed film “Hannah Waddingham: Home For Christmas,” which features the Emmy Award-winning “Ted Lasso” actor; along with all-new holiday special episodes from “The Snoopy Show,” “Frog and Toad,” “Sago Mini Friends” and “Shape Island,” Apple TV+ is your home to celebrate the season.
Apple TV+ will also provide special free windows to stream iconic holiday specials from Mendelson/Melendez Productions and Peanuts Worldwide. “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving,” celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, will be available for all to see Saturday, November 18 through Sunday, November 19 and “A Charlie Brown Christmas” will be available Saturday, December 16 through Sunday, December 17. This programming is available to subscribers now and every day.
Apple TV+ will also provide special free windows to stream iconic holiday specials from Mendelson/Melendez Productions and Peanuts Worldwide. “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving,” celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, will be available for all to see Saturday, November 18 through Sunday, November 19 and “A Charlie Brown Christmas” will be available Saturday, December 16 through Sunday, December 17. This programming is available to subscribers now and every day.
- 10/25/2023
- by Kristyn Clarke
- Age of the Nerd
Halloween is spine-chilling in general, but especially so if you’re a parent.
The amount of calories you consume while stealing your children’s hard-won candy? Gasp. Running out of sweets when there’s a minibus worth of spooky kids at your front door? Whimper. The price of Halloween costumes they’ll grow out of by Christmas? Scream.
You’d be better off extinguishing the pumpkin, barricading the door and curling up with one of these family-friendly Halloween movies instead – from animated delights to cult classics – which all fall under the ooky-spooky rather than blood-and-guts end of the scale.
(All streaming info correct as of September 2023)
For Pre-school Kids Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of The Were-Rabbit (2005)
This Oscar-winning stop-motion classic was the fourth film for classic British double-act Wallace and Gromit, a cheese-loving inventor and his silent anthropomorphic dog, and like their previous short films (such as The Wrong...
The amount of calories you consume while stealing your children’s hard-won candy? Gasp. Running out of sweets when there’s a minibus worth of spooky kids at your front door? Whimper. The price of Halloween costumes they’ll grow out of by Christmas? Scream.
You’d be better off extinguishing the pumpkin, barricading the door and curling up with one of these family-friendly Halloween movies instead – from animated delights to cult classics – which all fall under the ooky-spooky rather than blood-and-guts end of the scale.
(All streaming info correct as of September 2023)
For Pre-school Kids Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of The Were-Rabbit (2005)
This Oscar-winning stop-motion classic was the fourth film for classic British double-act Wallace and Gromit, a cheese-loving inventor and his silent anthropomorphic dog, and like their previous short films (such as The Wrong...
- 10/8/2023
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Keep track of when films are coming out in the territory.
Screen is listing the release dates for films in the UK and Ireland in the calendar below.
For distributors who wish to add/amend a date on the calendar, please get in touch with Screen here.
Screen also has an awards season calendar for 2022, here.
December
December 30
Peter Von Kant (Curzon), Where Are You, Adam? (Primal Screen)
December 31
Berliner Philharmoniker Live: New Year’s Eve Concert 2022 (Trafalgar, event cinema)
Previous releases January
January 1
Licorice Pizza (Universal), The Electrical Life Of Louis Wain (Studiocanal), Cinderella - Met Opera 2022 (Trafalgar, event...
Screen is listing the release dates for films in the UK and Ireland in the calendar below.
For distributors who wish to add/amend a date on the calendar, please get in touch with Screen here.
Screen also has an awards season calendar for 2022, here.
December
December 30
Peter Von Kant (Curzon), Where Are You, Adam? (Primal Screen)
December 31
Berliner Philharmoniker Live: New Year’s Eve Concert 2022 (Trafalgar, event cinema)
Previous releases January
January 1
Licorice Pizza (Universal), The Electrical Life Of Louis Wain (Studiocanal), Cinderella - Met Opera 2022 (Trafalgar, event...
- 12/28/2022
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Set to hit the BBC on Christmas Day in the U.K., “The Smeds and The Smoos” is the tenth in a series of screen adaptations based on books by iconic children’s publishing duo Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Starring the voices of “Bridgerton’s” Adjoa Andoh and comedian Bill Bailey, the film was produced by long-time Donaldson/Scheffler collaborators Magic Light Pictures.
The 30-minute adaptation tells the story of two adorable aliens, Bill and Janet, who come from warring clans. When they fall in love and run away together, their families reluctantly team up to find them and bring them home – unexpectedly becoming friends in the process.
Donaldson writes (usually in rhyming couplets) while Scheffler illustrates (although he has also written his own pictures books too). Together they hit gold over 25 years ago with “The Gruffalo,” spawning an Oscar-nominated film starring Helena Bonham Carter, an array of carefully-curated merchandise,...
The 30-minute adaptation tells the story of two adorable aliens, Bill and Janet, who come from warring clans. When they fall in love and run away together, their families reluctantly team up to find them and bring them home – unexpectedly becoming friends in the process.
Donaldson writes (usually in rhyming couplets) while Scheffler illustrates (although he has also written his own pictures books too). Together they hit gold over 25 years ago with “The Gruffalo,” spawning an Oscar-nominated film starring Helena Bonham Carter, an array of carefully-curated merchandise,...
- 12/13/2022
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Sony Pictures Entertainment has inked a deal with U.K. theme park and resort Chessington World of Adventures Resort to bring “Jumanji” to life.
“World of Jumanji,” a £17 million (20 million) entirely new land, is set to open at Chessington in spring 2023.
It will be the first “Jumanji”-themed land on the planet.
First-look images, showing the proposed designs for the land, give fans a glimpse of a jungle-like entrance portal including a 17-meter high Jaguar Shrine. Details of the rides, attractions and experiences that will populate “World of Jumanji” are set to be unveiled in the coming months.
Earlier this year Merlin Entertainments, which operates Chessington World of Adventures, and Sony’s Columbia Pictures Location Based Entertainment inked an exclusive multi-territory deal.
Sony is reportedly looking for new ways to utilize its stable of globally-known IP while Merlin, which also operates U.K. theme parks including Alton Towers, Thorpe Park and Legoland Windsor,...
“World of Jumanji,” a £17 million (20 million) entirely new land, is set to open at Chessington in spring 2023.
It will be the first “Jumanji”-themed land on the planet.
First-look images, showing the proposed designs for the land, give fans a glimpse of a jungle-like entrance portal including a 17-meter high Jaguar Shrine. Details of the rides, attractions and experiences that will populate “World of Jumanji” are set to be unveiled in the coming months.
Earlier this year Merlin Entertainments, which operates Chessington World of Adventures, and Sony’s Columbia Pictures Location Based Entertainment inked an exclusive multi-territory deal.
Sony is reportedly looking for new ways to utilize its stable of globally-known IP while Merlin, which also operates U.K. theme parks including Alton Towers, Thorpe Park and Legoland Windsor,...
- 8/16/2022
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Julia Donaldson’s “Romeo and Juliet”-inspired story “The Smeds and The Smoos” is set to be adapted for a BBC Christmas special starring Oscar-nominee Sally Hawkins (“The Shape of Water”), “Bridgerton’s” Adjoa Andoh and comedian Bill Bailey.
Oscar-nominated production company, who have previously adapted nine of Donaldson’s children’s books for the BBC, will once again take the helm on the project, which will also be based on Axel Scheffler’s original illustrations, with Blue Zoo Animation Studio providing animation services.
Donaldson and Scheffler are the duo behind iconic children’s stories including “The Gruffalo.”
Daniel Snaddon (“The Snail and the Whale”) and Samantha Cutler will direct based on a screenplay by Julia Smuts Louw. René Aubry is composing the music.
“The Smeds and The Smoos” tells the story of two aliens – Bill and Janet – from warring families who fall in love. Faced with their tribes’ disapprobation,...
Oscar-nominated production company, who have previously adapted nine of Donaldson’s children’s books for the BBC, will once again take the helm on the project, which will also be based on Axel Scheffler’s original illustrations, with Blue Zoo Animation Studio providing animation services.
Donaldson and Scheffler are the duo behind iconic children’s stories including “The Gruffalo.”
Daniel Snaddon (“The Snail and the Whale”) and Samantha Cutler will direct based on a screenplay by Julia Smuts Louw. René Aubry is composing the music.
“The Smeds and The Smoos” tells the story of two aliens – Bill and Janet – from warring families who fall in love. Faced with their tribes’ disapprobation,...
- 5/17/2022
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Romantic comedy ‘Marry Me’ and Oscar-nominated ‘Flee’ among other titles set for release.
All-star murder mystery Death On The Nile leads the new openers at the UK-Ireland box office this weekend, which will also see a wide release for action thriller Uncharted, starring Tom Holland.
Released by the Walt Disney Studios, Death On The Nile opens in a hefty 718 sites – the widest release since October 2020, when James Bond blockbuster No Time To Die opened in a record 772 cinemas.
The Agatha Christie adaptation is a follow-up to Murder On The Orient Express, which opened on 624 sites and took £4.98m across its...
All-star murder mystery Death On The Nile leads the new openers at the UK-Ireland box office this weekend, which will also see a wide release for action thriller Uncharted, starring Tom Holland.
Released by the Walt Disney Studios, Death On The Nile opens in a hefty 718 sites – the widest release since October 2020, when James Bond blockbuster No Time To Die opened in a record 772 cinemas.
The Agatha Christie adaptation is a follow-up to Murder On The Orient Express, which opened on 624 sites and took £4.98m across its...
- 2/11/2022
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler are Britain’s answer to Dr. Seuss.
Ever since publishing “The Gruffalo” — written by Donaldson and illustrated by Scheffler — in 1999, the duo have delighted millions of children with their stories of robber rats, wandering whales and fantastical fish.
In 2009, U.K. production company Magic Light Pictures turned “The Gruffalo,” about a little mouse who ventures into a deep, dark wood, into a 30-minute animated special voiced by James Corden and Helena Bonham Carter. It turned out to be the first of nine animated adaptations of Donaldson and Scheffler’s works.
(Magic Light also manage licensing for the books and films. In Britain alone, the Donaldson/Scheffler empire includes theme park rides, exhibitions, toys and educational materials. “It’s quite frightening,” says Scheffler of what he calls “Gruffalo madness.”)
Their latest holiday special, which airs in the U.K. on Christmas Day and will be rolled...
Ever since publishing “The Gruffalo” — written by Donaldson and illustrated by Scheffler — in 1999, the duo have delighted millions of children with their stories of robber rats, wandering whales and fantastical fish.
In 2009, U.K. production company Magic Light Pictures turned “The Gruffalo,” about a little mouse who ventures into a deep, dark wood, into a 30-minute animated special voiced by James Corden and Helena Bonham Carter. It turned out to be the first of nine animated adaptations of Donaldson and Scheffler’s works.
(Magic Light also manage licensing for the books and films. In Britain alone, the Donaldson/Scheffler empire includes theme park rides, exhibitions, toys and educational materials. “It’s quite frightening,” says Scheffler of what he calls “Gruffalo madness.”)
Their latest holiday special, which airs in the U.K. on Christmas Day and will be rolled...
- 12/21/2021
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Filmmakers Max Lang and Daniel Snaddon are no strangers to the world of adapting the vividly illustrated children’s books of Julia Donaldson for animation. They’ve adapted “Room on the Broom,” “The Gruffalo” and “Stick Man,” and this time they’re vying for Oscar short animated film and Annie Awards consideration with another beloved story, “The Snail and the Whale.”
Produced in a stop-motion/CG hybrid style, the story is a simple one — a snail yearns to see the world, so it catches a ride on the back of a whale.
In one sequence, the snail is looking up at the night sky filled with stars. Lang says, “This shot pretty much sums up for me what our film is about: confronting the vastness of the universe and our feelings of insignificance, with a little help from our friends.”
Snaddon adds that the idea behind the shot was to...
Produced in a stop-motion/CG hybrid style, the story is a simple one — a snail yearns to see the world, so it catches a ride on the back of a whale.
In one sequence, the snail is looking up at the night sky filled with stars. Lang says, “This shot pretty much sums up for me what our film is about: confronting the vastness of the universe and our feelings of insignificance, with a little help from our friends.”
Snaddon adds that the idea behind the shot was to...
- 3/8/2021
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
When adapting “The Snail and the Whale” into a short film, Max Lang and Daniel Snaddon had to find ways of stretching out the very short story into a nearly 30 minute short film. Both of them found different ways of bringing more to the story. For Lang, he added a scene where the snail initially tries to hitch a ride with on a boat but nearly gets eaten by seagulls. “What that helped us to establish was that she was trying, she had the drive to go out there. But it’s a dangerous world and this establishes stakes as well. She’s a little snail but she’s also brave,” he tells us in our recent webchat (watch the exclusive video above). Snaddon echoes these thoughts and adds that he wanted to help accentuate the beauty of the story as well as the characters. “It’s not really a comedy.
- 3/5/2021
- by Charles Bright
- Gold Derby
Variety's Awards Circuit is home to the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars from Film Awards Editor Clayton Davis. Following Academy Awards history, buzz, news, reviews and sources, the Oscar predictions are updated regularly with the current year's contenders in all categories. Variety's Awards Circuit Prediction schedule consists of four phases, running all year long: Draft, Pre-Season, Regular Season and Post Season. Eligibility calendar and dates of awards will determine how long each phase lasts and will be displayed next to revision date.
To see all the latest predictions, of all the categories, in one place, visit The Collective
Draft>>>Pre Season>>>Regular Season>>>Post Season
2021 Oscars Predictions:
Best Animated Short Film
Updated: Feb. 25, 2021
Awards Prediction Commentary: The Academy announced the shortlist for the animated short contenders, and they produced an interesting crop of selections. Netflix is placing all their power and influence behind the emotional “If Anything Happens I Love You.
To see all the latest predictions, of all the categories, in one place, visit The Collective
Draft>>>Pre Season>>>Regular Season>>>Post Season
2021 Oscars Predictions:
Best Animated Short Film
Updated: Feb. 25, 2021
Awards Prediction Commentary: The Academy announced the shortlist for the animated short contenders, and they produced an interesting crop of selections. Netflix is placing all their power and influence behind the emotional “If Anything Happens I Love You.
- 2/25/2021
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Two Pixar shorts, including one in which a young man struggles to tell his parents that he is gay, have made the shortlist in the Oscars Best Animated Feature category, the Academy announced on Tuesday.
“Out,” by Steven Clay Hunter, is the first Disney or Pixar movie to feature a gay main character. It made the shortlist along with another film from Pixar, Madeline Sharafian’s “Burrow.” Three other Pixar films — “Float,” “Loop” and “Wind” — were submitted but did not make the list. The company has won two of the last four Oscars in the category.
Other shortlisted films in the animated category include DreamWorks Animation’s “To Gerard”; “The Snail and the Whale,” from the filmmakers behind the 2010 nominee “The Gruffalo”; Netflix’s “If Anything Happens I Love You,” about the aftermath of a school shooting; and a number of films from around the world, including Iceland’s “Yes-People,...
“Out,” by Steven Clay Hunter, is the first Disney or Pixar movie to feature a gay main character. It made the shortlist along with another film from Pixar, Madeline Sharafian’s “Burrow.” Three other Pixar films — “Float,” “Loop” and “Wind” — were submitted but did not make the list. The company has won two of the last four Oscars in the category.
Other shortlisted films in the animated category include DreamWorks Animation’s “To Gerard”; “The Snail and the Whale,” from the filmmakers behind the 2010 nominee “The Gruffalo”; Netflix’s “If Anything Happens I Love You,” about the aftermath of a school shooting; and a number of films from around the world, including Iceland’s “Yes-People,...
- 2/9/2021
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Olivia Colman (“The Crown”), Matt Smith (“Doctor Who”), Patricia Allison (“Sex Education”) and Rob Brydon (“The Trip” franchise) lead the voice cast of BBC animation special “Superworm.”
Based on the book “Superworm,” written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, the half-hour show will air over Christmas on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
The show follows Superworm, who is a hero always on hand to help out all the other animals and insects, whose latest challenge is to fight the wicked Wizard Lizard and his servant Crow.
Colman said: “This is such a lovely project to be involved with. When reading the script, and imagining all those goings on at the end of the garden, I could really get a feel for the pure fun and joy that the film will bring. I’ve always loved these charming productions at Christmas and I’m delighted to be voicing the narrator.
Based on the book “Superworm,” written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, the half-hour show will air over Christmas on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
The show follows Superworm, who is a hero always on hand to help out all the other animals and insects, whose latest challenge is to fight the wicked Wizard Lizard and his servant Crow.
Colman said: “This is such a lovely project to be involved with. When reading the script, and imagining all those goings on at the end of the garden, I could really get a feel for the pure fun and joy that the film will bring. I’ve always loved these charming productions at Christmas and I’m delighted to be voicing the narrator.
- 2/5/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
The BBC is once again turning to Oscar-nominated Magic Light Pictures for its latest animation special. The studio behind The Gruffalo will bring Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s book Superworm to life with a cast including Olivia Colman and Matt Smith.
Colman will narrate, while Smith will feature as hero Superworm. They are joined by Patricia Allison (Sex Education) as Butterfly, and Rob Brydon (Gavin & Stacey) as the Crow.
Super-long and super-strong, Superworm is always on hand to help out other animals and insects, but when he is kidnapped by wicked Wizard Lizard and sidekick The Crow, his friend Butterfly must come to the rescue.
Superworm is directed by Sarah Scrimgeour and Jac Hamman, from a script by Max Lang and Suzanne Lang. The producer is Barney Goodland, with executive producers Martin Pope and Michael Rose for Magic Light. The composer is Rene Aubry, while animation services are provided by Blue Zoo Animation Studio.
Colman will narrate, while Smith will feature as hero Superworm. They are joined by Patricia Allison (Sex Education) as Butterfly, and Rob Brydon (Gavin & Stacey) as the Crow.
Super-long and super-strong, Superworm is always on hand to help out other animals and insects, but when he is kidnapped by wicked Wizard Lizard and sidekick The Crow, his friend Butterfly must come to the rescue.
Superworm is directed by Sarah Scrimgeour and Jac Hamman, from a script by Max Lang and Suzanne Lang. The producer is Barney Goodland, with executive producers Martin Pope and Michael Rose for Magic Light. The composer is Rene Aubry, while animation services are provided by Blue Zoo Animation Studio.
- 2/5/2021
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Game of Thrones star Kit Harington is to lend his voice for a forthcoming adaptation of kids’ book Zog from the team behind The Gruffalo.
The British actor will voice the character of Sir Gadabout in the one-off animated special, which will air on BBC One at Christmas. He is joined by Sir Lenny Henry, who narrates, Tracey Ullman, who voices Madame Dragon, W1A’s Hugh Skinner as Zog and Jamestown’s Patsy Ferran as Princess Pearl.
The special is based on the character written by The Gruffalo creators Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler and will be produced by Magic Light Pictures, which adapted that into a BBC hit.
Zog is a keen but accident-prone dragon who gets himself into mischief whilst learning how to fly, roar, breathe fire and fight knights in his first four years at dragon school. Each year he meets a kindly young girl who...
The British actor will voice the character of Sir Gadabout in the one-off animated special, which will air on BBC One at Christmas. He is joined by Sir Lenny Henry, who narrates, Tracey Ullman, who voices Madame Dragon, W1A’s Hugh Skinner as Zog and Jamestown’s Patsy Ferran as Princess Pearl.
The special is based on the character written by The Gruffalo creators Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler and will be produced by Magic Light Pictures, which adapted that into a BBC hit.
Zog is a keen but accident-prone dragon who gets himself into mischief whilst learning how to fly, roar, breathe fire and fight knights in his first four years at dragon school. Each year he meets a kindly young girl who...
- 10/10/2018
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Is it possible to have sympathy for a universally recognized “bad guy” like the Big Bad Wolf? Well, “Revolting Rhymes,” one of this year’s five nominees at the Oscars for Best Animated Short Film, looks to do just that. Based on the stories by Roald Dahl, The British short marks the second bids for both Jakob Schuh and Jan Lachauer. Schuh was nominated in this category in 2010 for “The Gruffalo” and Lachauer was also nominated in this category in 2013 for “Room on the Broom.”
When a woman enters a restaurant, the Big Bad Wolf follows her inside and sits with her in the same booth. She says she is about to babysit the children across from the diner. He sees she has a book of fairy tales and laments how the book doesn’t portray the characters accurately. He also mentions that he used to have two nephews and...
When a woman enters a restaurant, the Big Bad Wolf follows her inside and sits with her in the same booth. She says she is about to babysit the children across from the diner. He sees she has a book of fairy tales and laments how the book doesn’t portray the characters accurately. He also mentions that he used to have two nephews and...
- 3/2/2018
- by Charles Bright
- Gold Derby
Louisa Mellor Dec 13, 2017
We’ve taken a highlighter to this year’s Christmas and New Year TV schedules and circled what we’ll be watching this festive season…
Amid the cosy repeats and cranberry-stuffed cookery shows on TV over the next few weeks are a few gems. There’s no Sherlock or Charlie Brooker’s TV Wipe this year, but there are plenty of treats, not least the return of The League Of Gentlemen for a three-part anniversary series and Peter Capaldi’s last hurrah in the Tardis in the Doctor Who Christmas episode.
See related 26 new TV shows to watch in 2017
Over on Netflix, six new episodes of Black Mirror are coming to usher in the New Year, two days into which we welcome the return of Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton’s genius anthology Inside No. 9.
Not to gloss over a spooky M.R. James night on BBC Four,...
We’ve taken a highlighter to this year’s Christmas and New Year TV schedules and circled what we’ll be watching this festive season…
Amid the cosy repeats and cranberry-stuffed cookery shows on TV over the next few weeks are a few gems. There’s no Sherlock or Charlie Brooker’s TV Wipe this year, but there are plenty of treats, not least the return of The League Of Gentlemen for a three-part anniversary series and Peter Capaldi’s last hurrah in the Tardis in the Doctor Who Christmas episode.
See related 26 new TV shows to watch in 2017
Over on Netflix, six new episodes of Black Mirror are coming to usher in the New Year, two days into which we welcome the return of Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton’s genius anthology Inside No. 9.
Not to gloss over a spooky M.R. James night on BBC Four,...
- 12/12/2017
- Den of Geek
Author: David Sztypuljak
Extremely sad news to report this morning as we learn of the death of acting royalty John Hurt. Hurt was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2015 but was given the all-clear but last year puled out performing in Kenneth Branagh’s production of Billy Rice. Hurt was probably best known as John Merrick in The Elephant Man, Kane in 1979’s Alien and more recently for his role as wand-maker Ollivander in the Harry Potter franchise but just looking at his think to behold but his back-catalogue of films is hugely impressive.
Hurt’s other recent varied work includes roles in Doctor Who as The Doctor in 3 episodes in 2013, as Professor Oxley in Steve Spielberg’s Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull in Hercules alongside Dwayne Johnson (see our interview here) and just last year worked in the Natalie Portman’s Oscar nominated movie Jackie as Father Richard McSorley.
Extremely sad news to report this morning as we learn of the death of acting royalty John Hurt. Hurt was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2015 but was given the all-clear but last year puled out performing in Kenneth Branagh’s production of Billy Rice. Hurt was probably best known as John Merrick in The Elephant Man, Kane in 1979’s Alien and more recently for his role as wand-maker Ollivander in the Harry Potter franchise but just looking at his think to behold but his back-catalogue of films is hugely impressive.
Hurt’s other recent varied work includes roles in Doctor Who as The Doctor in 3 episodes in 2013, as Professor Oxley in Steve Spielberg’s Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull in Hercules alongside Dwayne Johnson (see our interview here) and just last year worked in the Natalie Portman’s Oscar nominated movie Jackie as Father Richard McSorley.
- 1/28/2017
- by David Sztypuljak
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Christmas is only a few short weeks away, but one little animated tree has been celebrating for weeks!
Meet Albert, the tiny and hilarious Douglas-Fir-that-could, who dreams of being the Empire City’s most famous Christmas tree. His journey to big city glory comes to life in Albert, the new Nickelodeon animated holiday TV movie premiering Friday.
The one-hour, heartwarming tale, is packed with celebrity voices — including Saturday Night Live vet Bobby Moynihan as Albert.
“He’s kind of like the kid in the candy story, but it’s his first time there,” Moynihan told People. “He just wakes up every day like,...
Meet Albert, the tiny and hilarious Douglas-Fir-that-could, who dreams of being the Empire City’s most famous Christmas tree. His journey to big city glory comes to life in Albert, the new Nickelodeon animated holiday TV movie premiering Friday.
The one-hour, heartwarming tale, is packed with celebrity voices — including Saturday Night Live vet Bobby Moynihan as Albert.
“He’s kind of like the kid in the candy story, but it’s his first time there,” Moynihan told People. “He just wakes up every day like,...
- 12/9/2016
- by Dave Quinn
- PEOPLE.com
LevelK is teaming with Mondrian Entertainment for world sales on animated series Klump, based on the best-selling books.
The book series is one of Denmark’s top literary exports, with 32 million copies sold. Egmont is now relaunching the book series tied to the animated TV series.
Klump is produced by Carsten Bunte from Studio Soi and Lars Sylvest from Mondrian Entertainment in collaboration with Zdf and Egmont Publishing.
Egmont and Zdf have commissioned 26 episodes of average 12 minutes for two seasons. Seasons three and four are currently in development.
Studio Soi (The Gruffalo, Gumball) handles animation and says it aims to “to develop the high-budget TV-series for a cinematic level of feel and quality, using rendering techniques, which have normally been the reserve of full-length features.”
Directed by Johannes Weiland, Paul Cichon, Michael Bohnenstingl, the series tells the stories of Rasmus Klump and his friends traveling the world on their good ship Mary encountering interesting creatures, fascinating locations...
The book series is one of Denmark’s top literary exports, with 32 million copies sold. Egmont is now relaunching the book series tied to the animated TV series.
Klump is produced by Carsten Bunte from Studio Soi and Lars Sylvest from Mondrian Entertainment in collaboration with Zdf and Egmont Publishing.
Egmont and Zdf have commissioned 26 episodes of average 12 minutes for two seasons. Seasons three and four are currently in development.
Studio Soi (The Gruffalo, Gumball) handles animation and says it aims to “to develop the high-budget TV-series for a cinematic level of feel and quality, using rendering techniques, which have normally been the reserve of full-length features.”
Directed by Johannes Weiland, Paul Cichon, Michael Bohnenstingl, the series tells the stories of Rasmus Klump and his friends traveling the world on their good ship Mary encountering interesting creatures, fascinating locations...
- 5/2/2016
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
Mark Harrison Dec 24, 2016
A Christmas treat from 1995: but does anyone else remember The Forgotten Toys?
Over the years, British animation has given us a few good television specials in the Christmas season, including classic cartoons like The Snowman, stop-motion treats like Wallace & Gromit and more recent CG-animated Julia Donaldson adaptations like The Gruffalo and the upcoming Stick Man.
See related Sherlock: Benedict Cumberbatch plays down talk of show ending Sherlock series 3: 111 things we learned from the special edition DVDs Sherlock: The Abominable Bride review
A lot of these specials enjoy annual exposure in the Christmas telly schedules, winning over different generations of viewers. Ironically, a less remembered special is The Forgotten Toys, which first aired on Children's ITV on Boxing Day in 1995. Directed by Graham Ralph, the original half-hour special is adapted from James Stevenson's The Night After Christmas, starting with two toys waking up...
A Christmas treat from 1995: but does anyone else remember The Forgotten Toys?
Over the years, British animation has given us a few good television specials in the Christmas season, including classic cartoons like The Snowman, stop-motion treats like Wallace & Gromit and more recent CG-animated Julia Donaldson adaptations like The Gruffalo and the upcoming Stick Man.
See related Sherlock: Benedict Cumberbatch plays down talk of show ending Sherlock series 3: 111 things we learned from the special edition DVDs Sherlock: The Abominable Bride review
A lot of these specials enjoy annual exposure in the Christmas telly schedules, winning over different generations of viewers. Ironically, a less remembered special is The Forgotten Toys, which first aired on Children's ITV on Boxing Day in 1995. Directed by Graham Ralph, the original half-hour special is adapted from James Stevenson's The Night After Christmas, starting with two toys waking up...
- 12/9/2015
- Den of Geek
Martin Freeman will lead an all-star cast in BBC One's Christmas animation Stick Man.
The Fargo actor will join Hugh Bonneville in the adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's 2008 children's book.
Jennifer Saunders, Russell Tovey, Rob Brydon and Sally Hawkins will also lend their voice talents to the programme.
Stick Man follows the father of a family of sticks, who crosses great distances to try and get home in time for Christmas.
Freeman said "What a treat to have voiced the hero in this beautifully animated film. We enjoyed reading Stick Man as a family for a number of years and my children always loved the scale of his epic journey.
"Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's books are simply wonderful and the film adaptations bring their own extra magic. This one is going to be really special though, filled with festive charm and a delight for viewers of all ages!
The Fargo actor will join Hugh Bonneville in the adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's 2008 children's book.
Jennifer Saunders, Russell Tovey, Rob Brydon and Sally Hawkins will also lend their voice talents to the programme.
Stick Man follows the father of a family of sticks, who crosses great distances to try and get home in time for Christmas.
Freeman said "What a treat to have voiced the hero in this beautifully animated film. We enjoyed reading Stick Man as a family for a number of years and my children always loved the scale of his epic journey.
"Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's books are simply wonderful and the film adaptations bring their own extra magic. This one is going to be really special though, filled with festive charm and a delight for viewers of all ages!
- 10/6/2015
- Digital Spy
The BBC has announced its upcoming new drama series for 2015.
Head of Drama Ben Stephenson revealed at an event last night (November 19) that several new dramas will be shown next year, along with the previously announced SS-gb, The Dresser, Undercover, and the return of Top of the Lake and a new Luther miniseries.
One of Us will be a modern thriller set in the Scottish Highlands and Edinburgh, and is written by The Missing's Harry and Jack Williams.
The four-part series revolves around a double murder which shatters two families living next to each other, and focuses on the relatives as they grieve their losses and deal with the consequences.
The writers said: "We're excited to be telling a modern-day parable that explores big themes and ideas through the lens of a very personal, character-driven story".
Cuffs will be an eight-part cop drama from Julie Gearey (Prisoners' Wives), airing on BBC One.
Head of Drama Ben Stephenson revealed at an event last night (November 19) that several new dramas will be shown next year, along with the previously announced SS-gb, The Dresser, Undercover, and the return of Top of the Lake and a new Luther miniseries.
One of Us will be a modern thriller set in the Scottish Highlands and Edinburgh, and is written by The Missing's Harry and Jack Williams.
The four-part series revolves around a double murder which shatters two families living next to each other, and focuses on the relatives as they grieve their losses and deal with the consequences.
The writers said: "We're excited to be telling a modern-day parable that explores big themes and ideas through the lens of a very personal, character-driven story".
Cuffs will be an eight-part cop drama from Julie Gearey (Prisoners' Wives), airing on BBC One.
- 11/20/2014
- Digital Spy
A hugely satisfying ode to entrepreneurial creativity, and a glorious love letter to New York City and the art it inspires. I love this movie so much. I’m “biast” (pro): love the cast
I’m “biast” (con): nothing
(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)
I love this movie so much. Partly for how it demonstrates how little a movie has to deviate from an oh-so-repetitive format to come up with something fresh and exciting but also still comfortable and comforting. And partly for being so radical in a few attitudes while it’s being comfortable and comforting.
I mean, writer-director John Carney — who got famous with Once, and this is even better — only has to switch things up a little bit to upend our expectations about a movie. Like how he first introduces us to English songwriter Gretta (Keira Knightley [Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, Anna Karenina], doing her own very...
I’m “biast” (con): nothing
(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)
I love this movie so much. Partly for how it demonstrates how little a movie has to deviate from an oh-so-repetitive format to come up with something fresh and exciting but also still comfortable and comforting. And partly for being so radical in a few attitudes while it’s being comfortable and comforting.
I mean, writer-director John Carney — who got famous with Once, and this is even better — only has to switch things up a little bit to upend our expectations about a movie. Like how he first introduces us to English songwriter Gretta (Keira Knightley [Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, Anna Karenina], doing her own very...
- 7/24/2014
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
The Academy has announced the new class of invited members for 2014 and, as is typical, many of which are among last year's nominees, which includes Barkhad Abdi, Michael Fassbender, Sally Hawkins, Mads Mikkelsen, Lupita Nyong'o and June Squibb in the Actors branch not to mention curious additions such as Josh Hutcherson, Rob Riggle and Jason Statham, but, okay. The Directors branch adds Jay and Mark Duplass along with Jean-Marc Vallee, Denis Villeneuve and Thomas Vinterberg. I didn't do an immediate tally of male to female additions or other demographics, but at first glance it seems to be a wide spread batch of new additions on all fronts. The Academy is also clearly attempting to aggressively bump up the demographics as this is the second year in a row where they have added a large number of new members, well over the average of 133 new members from 2004 to 2012. As far as...
- 6/26/2014
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is extending invitations to join the organization to 271 artists and executives who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures.
Those who accept the invitations will be the only additions to the Academy’s membership in 2014.
“This year’s class of invitees represents some of the most talented, creative and passionate filmmakers working in our industry today,” said Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs. “Their contributions to film have entertained audiences around the world, and we are proud to welcome them to the Academy.”
The 2014 invitees are:
Actors
Barkhad Abdi – “Captain Phillips”
Clancy Brown – “The Hurricane,” “The Shawshank Redeption”
Paul Dano – “12 Years a Slave,” “Prisoners”
Michael Fassbender – “12 Years a Slave,” “Shame”
Ben Foster – “Lone Survivor,” “Ain’t Them Bodies Saints”
Beth Grant – “The Artist,” “No Country for Old Men”
Clark Gregg – “Much Ado about Nothing,” “Marvel’s The Avengers”
Sally Hawkins – “Blue Jasmine,...
Those who accept the invitations will be the only additions to the Academy’s membership in 2014.
“This year’s class of invitees represents some of the most talented, creative and passionate filmmakers working in our industry today,” said Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs. “Their contributions to film have entertained audiences around the world, and we are proud to welcome them to the Academy.”
The 2014 invitees are:
Actors
Barkhad Abdi – “Captain Phillips”
Clancy Brown – “The Hurricane,” “The Shawshank Redeption”
Paul Dano – “12 Years a Slave,” “Prisoners”
Michael Fassbender – “12 Years a Slave,” “Shame”
Ben Foster – “Lone Survivor,” “Ain’t Them Bodies Saints”
Beth Grant – “The Artist,” “No Country for Old Men”
Clark Gregg – “Much Ado about Nothing,” “Marvel’s The Avengers”
Sally Hawkins – “Blue Jasmine,...
- 6/26/2014
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Michael Fassbender and Lupita Nyong’o of 12 Years a Slave were two of the 271 artists and industry leaders invited to become members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which determines nominations and winners at the annual Oscars. The entire list of Academy membership—which numbers about 6,000—isn’t public information so the annual invitation list is often the best indication of the artists involved in the prestigious awards process. It’s worth noting that invitations need to be accepted in order for artists to become members; some artists, like two-time Best Actor winner Sean Penn, have declined membership over the years.
- 6/26/2014
- by Jeff Labrecque
- EW - Inside Movies
Pop quiz: What do Chris Rock, Claire Denis, Eddie Vedder and Josh Hutcherson all have in common? Answer: They could all be Oscar voters very soon. The annual Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences invitation list always makes for interesting reading, shedding light on just how large and far-reaching the group's membership is -- or could be, depending on who accepts their invitations. This year, 271 individuals have been asked to join AMPAS, meaning every one of them could contribute to next year's Academy Awards balloting -- and it's as diverse a list as they've ever assembled. Think the Academy consists entirely of fusty retired white dudes? Not if recent Best Original Song nominee Pharrell Williams takes them up on their offer. Think it's all just a Hollywood insiders' game? Not if French arthouse titans Chantal Akerman and Olivier Assayas join the party. It's a list that subverts expectation at every turn.
- 6/26/2014
- by Guy Lodge
- Hitfix
Mark Harrison Sep 13, 2016
From James Bond to Willy Wonka, Matilda to The Witches, we chart the big screen work of Roald Dahl...
Roald Dahl has often been referred to as one of the greatest storytellers for children in the 20th century. His books have delighted children for generations, with their dark and inventive sense of humour and their eccentric, dastardly adult characters.
Likewise, his written work for adults has just as much wit and creativity, and over the years, he also worked as a screenwriter on a number of projects, including TV work on Alfred Hitchcock Presents and his own anthology series, Roald Dahl's Tales Of The Unexpected.
Given how it doesn't even take the likes of J.K. Rowling and Stephanie Meyer five years to have their popular works adapted by Hollywood, there has inevitably been an extensive crossover between Dahl's written work and the big screen. His work...
From James Bond to Willy Wonka, Matilda to The Witches, we chart the big screen work of Roald Dahl...
Roald Dahl has often been referred to as one of the greatest storytellers for children in the 20th century. His books have delighted children for generations, with their dark and inventive sense of humour and their eccentric, dastardly adult characters.
Likewise, his written work for adults has just as much wit and creativity, and over the years, he also worked as a screenwriter on a number of projects, including TV work on Alfred Hitchcock Presents and his own anthology series, Roald Dahl's Tales Of The Unexpected.
Given how it doesn't even take the likes of J.K. Rowling and Stephanie Meyer five years to have their popular works adapted by Hollywood, there has inevitably been an extensive crossover between Dahl's written work and the big screen. His work...
- 3/1/2014
- Den of Geek
Feature Mark Harrison 3 Mar 2014 - 07:02
From James Bond to Willy Wonka, Matilda to The Witches, we chart the big screen work of Roald Dahl...
Roald Dahl has often been referred to as one of the greatest storytellers for children in the 20th century. His books have delighted children for generations, with their dark and inventive sense of humour and their eccentric, dastardly adult characters.
Likewise, his written work for adults has just as much wit and creativity, and over the years, he also worked as a screenwriter on a number of projects, including TV work on Alfred Hitchcock Presents and his own anthology series, Roald Dahl's Tales Of The Unexpected.
Given how it doesn't even take the likes of J.K. Rowling and Stephanie Meyer five years to have their popular works adapted by Hollywood, there has inevitably been an extensive crossover between Dahl's written work and the big screen.
From James Bond to Willy Wonka, Matilda to The Witches, we chart the big screen work of Roald Dahl...
Roald Dahl has often been referred to as one of the greatest storytellers for children in the 20th century. His books have delighted children for generations, with their dark and inventive sense of humour and their eccentric, dastardly adult characters.
Likewise, his written work for adults has just as much wit and creativity, and over the years, he also worked as a screenwriter on a number of projects, including TV work on Alfred Hitchcock Presents and his own anthology series, Roald Dahl's Tales Of The Unexpected.
Given how it doesn't even take the likes of J.K. Rowling and Stephanie Meyer five years to have their popular works adapted by Hollywood, there has inevitably been an extensive crossover between Dahl's written work and the big screen.
- 3/1/2014
- by sarahd
- Den of Geek
Room on the Broom earned an animated short Oscar nomination by combining clever characters and an inventive look with a story based on the popular children's book of the same name, written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler. It also brought together a voice cast including Gillian Anderson, Rob Brydon, Martin Clunes, Simon Pegg, Timothy Spall, David Walliams and Oscar nominee Sally Hawkins (Blue Jasmine). Photos: 2014 Oscar Nominees Directed by Max Lang (who previously earned an Oscar nomination for 2009 animated short The Gruffalo) and Jan Lachauer, the film has already been honored with a Cristal award
read more...
read more...
- 1/22/2014
- by Carolyn Giardina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Shorts are in the air. Sundance has a Shorts Competition and Lucy Walker’s 15 minute doc is in it, The Lions Mouth Opens. She did that great Brazilian doc Wasteland about the artist whose community organizing in the city dump created the greatest works of art coming out of Brazil and maybe the world, today.
Also worth mentioning at Sundance is Love, Love, Love by Indian film student, Sandhya Daisy Sundaram. A part of an omnibus for the upcoming feature Cinetrain, a Chris Marker inspired series of shorts (in this one she is exploring Russian female stereotypes) in which selected filmmakers go in winter on a train from Moscow to the Far, Far East and get off at the towns between to pursue their theme, reboarding the train where they must edit the film in one month's time. Love, Love, Love's director Sandhya and I discussed women in Russia, in India and in the world at length and I highly recommend watching her film. Here is the entire Shorts Film Program of Sundance 2014.
Withoutabox just mentioned the Zero Film Festival for shorts, including student shorts. And it’s local, that is, it’s in L.A. I’d advise all my students at Woodbury and any other ones reading this, to submit and hang out and begin networking there as Ground Zero.
I am amazed at the numbers of shorts…it is a trend worth watching because frankly, the American indies are getting pretty boring. And we Americans have Really Short Attention Spans, so I think shorts is what we need. Thank you YouTube, on which btw, I saw the sweetest video this morning at the gym about cows who were released from bondage and go bounding in happiness, like little lambs or happy dogs, they go Bounding through the Green Fields of Freedom and you know how good they feel!
Here follows an article about the two German shorts which have received an Oscar Nomination:
Max Lang and Jan Lachauer have been nominated for an Oscar® in the category of Best Animated Short. They received the nomination for the British short film production Room On The Broom. This was announced today by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Max Lang and Jan Lachauer are both graduates of the German Film Academy Baden-Württemberg. Max Lang had previously been nominated along with Jakob Schuh in 2011 for an Oscar® in the category of Best Animated Short for the British-German co-production The Gruffalo . Room On The Broom, produced by the UK-based Magic Light Pictures, was shot in the workshops of Studio Soi in Ludwigsburg, Germany. In 2013, the film won a BAFTA in the Children’s Animation category.
The 86th Oscar® awards ceremony takes place on the 2nd of March 2014 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
On German Films:
German Films Service + Marketing is the national information and advisory centre for the international distribution of German films. The aim of German Films' activities is to raise the level of awareness for German cinema abroad via information services, lobbying, PR and marketing measures and to make it visible in the international media arena
Website: www.german-films.de
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/German-Films
Twitter: https://twitter.com/German_Films...
Also worth mentioning at Sundance is Love, Love, Love by Indian film student, Sandhya Daisy Sundaram. A part of an omnibus for the upcoming feature Cinetrain, a Chris Marker inspired series of shorts (in this one she is exploring Russian female stereotypes) in which selected filmmakers go in winter on a train from Moscow to the Far, Far East and get off at the towns between to pursue their theme, reboarding the train where they must edit the film in one month's time. Love, Love, Love's director Sandhya and I discussed women in Russia, in India and in the world at length and I highly recommend watching her film. Here is the entire Shorts Film Program of Sundance 2014.
Withoutabox just mentioned the Zero Film Festival for shorts, including student shorts. And it’s local, that is, it’s in L.A. I’d advise all my students at Woodbury and any other ones reading this, to submit and hang out and begin networking there as Ground Zero.
I am amazed at the numbers of shorts…it is a trend worth watching because frankly, the American indies are getting pretty boring. And we Americans have Really Short Attention Spans, so I think shorts is what we need. Thank you YouTube, on which btw, I saw the sweetest video this morning at the gym about cows who were released from bondage and go bounding in happiness, like little lambs or happy dogs, they go Bounding through the Green Fields of Freedom and you know how good they feel!
Here follows an article about the two German shorts which have received an Oscar Nomination:
Max Lang and Jan Lachauer have been nominated for an Oscar® in the category of Best Animated Short. They received the nomination for the British short film production Room On The Broom. This was announced today by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Max Lang and Jan Lachauer are both graduates of the German Film Academy Baden-Württemberg. Max Lang had previously been nominated along with Jakob Schuh in 2011 for an Oscar® in the category of Best Animated Short for the British-German co-production The Gruffalo . Room On The Broom, produced by the UK-based Magic Light Pictures, was shot in the workshops of Studio Soi in Ludwigsburg, Germany. In 2013, the film won a BAFTA in the Children’s Animation category.
The 86th Oscar® awards ceremony takes place on the 2nd of March 2014 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
On German Films:
German Films Service + Marketing is the national information and advisory centre for the international distribution of German films. The aim of German Films' activities is to raise the level of awareness for German cinema abroad via information services, lobbying, PR and marketing measures and to make it visible in the international media arena
Website: www.german-films.de
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/German-Films
Twitter: https://twitter.com/German_Films...
- 1/20/2014
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Hi everyone, Tim here. Those who know me in my other life at Antagony & Ecstasy are well aware of my affection for animation in its many forms, and starting this week, that’s going to be carried over here to the Film Experience. Officially, as of now, this space will be home to a weekly column about the current world of animation with, I suspect, regular guest appearances from classics of both American and international animated cinema.
And there's some pretty exciting news to kick things off. Right on the heels of the announcement of the 19 films submitted for consideration this year in the feature category, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced the ten-film list of titles that will be competing for the Best Animated Short Oscar. It feels a little bit like a course correction after last year, which saw two major studio releases hit...
And there's some pretty exciting news to kick things off. Right on the heels of the announcement of the 19 films submitted for consideration this year in the feature category, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced the ten-film list of titles that will be competing for the Best Animated Short Oscar. It feels a little bit like a course correction after last year, which saw two major studio releases hit...
- 11/8/2013
- by Tim Brayton
- FilmExperience
A scene from Room on the BroomPhoto: Magic Light Pictures Ltd. Today the Academy announced the shortlist of ten animated short films that will be competing for nominations at the 2014 Oscars and I have gone ahead and found trailers/previews for seven of them, the complete short film for one of them and pictures for the two that didn't seem to have any video preview online as of yet. The Academy's Short Films and Feature Animation Branch Reviewing Committee viewed all 56 eligible entries for the preliminary round of voting at screenings held in New York and Los Angeles and now the Short Films and Feature Animation Branch members will select three to five nominees from among the 10 titles previewed below. The 86th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on Thursday, January 16, 2014, at 5:30 a.m. Pt. Check out the titles contending for this year's race over the next couple of pages.
- 11/7/2013
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Infinity Blade III, Toca Cars, Hamlet: Explore Shakespeare, Grand Theft Auto V: iFruit, Angry Birds Star Wars II, Google Wallet, Axel Scheffler's Flip Flap Farm and more
It's time for our weekly roundup of brand new and notable apps for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices.
It covers apps and games, with the prices referring to the initial download: so (Free) may mean (Freemium) in some cases. There's a separate roundup for Android apps, which was published earlier in the day.
For now, read on for this week's iOS selection (and when you've finished, check out previous Best iPhone and iPad apps posts).
Infinity Blade III (£4.99)
ChAIR Entertainment's epic trilogy reaches its conclusion, with more eye-popping scenery, more characters (two) and many more enormous monsters to stick a sword through. There's the usual levelling up, "massively social" clashmob challenges to co-operate with players around the world, and even a...
It's time for our weekly roundup of brand new and notable apps for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices.
It covers apps and games, with the prices referring to the initial download: so (Free) may mean (Freemium) in some cases. There's a separate roundup for Android apps, which was published earlier in the day.
For now, read on for this week's iOS selection (and when you've finished, check out previous Best iPhone and iPad apps posts).
Infinity Blade III (£4.99)
ChAIR Entertainment's epic trilogy reaches its conclusion, with more eye-popping scenery, more characters (two) and many more enormous monsters to stick a sword through. There's the usual levelling up, "massively social" clashmob challenges to co-operate with players around the world, and even a...
- 9/20/2013
- by Stuart Dredge
- The Guardian - Film News
Marks the first time a Latin American film has taken the top prize at the animation festival, which has also set the dates for its next edition.Scroll down for full list of winners
Brazilian director Luiz Bolognesi’s Rio 2096: A Story of Love and Fury has won the top Crystal prize for best feature-length animation at the 37th Annecy International Animation Film Festival.
The film, produced by Buriti Filmes and Gullane, captures four distinct periods in Brazilian history through a central protagonist who lives for 600 years.
Rio 2096 is the first Latin American film to win the top prize at the lakeside festival at the foot of the French Alps.
Also in the feature-length category, French Marc Boréal and Thibaut Chatel’s My Mommy is in America and She Met Buffalo Bill was granted a special mention.
Spanish Fernando Cortizo Rodriguez’s stop motion film The Apostle won the Audience Award.
Shorts
The Crystal...
Brazilian director Luiz Bolognesi’s Rio 2096: A Story of Love and Fury has won the top Crystal prize for best feature-length animation at the 37th Annecy International Animation Film Festival.
The film, produced by Buriti Filmes and Gullane, captures four distinct periods in Brazilian history through a central protagonist who lives for 600 years.
Rio 2096 is the first Latin American film to win the top prize at the lakeside festival at the foot of the French Alps.
Also in the feature-length category, French Marc Boréal and Thibaut Chatel’s My Mommy is in America and She Met Buffalo Bill was granted a special mention.
Spanish Fernando Cortizo Rodriguez’s stop motion film The Apostle won the Audience Award.
Shorts
The Crystal...
- 6/16/2013
- ScreenDaily
Room on the Broom is destined to become a children’s classic. The magical feature you and your kids return to time and again. The one they remember when they are grown and enjoy sharing with children of their own.
The beloved book, by author and Children’s Laureate Julia Donaldson and her longtime collaborator illustrator Axel Scheffler, has sold over two and a half million copies since 2001 and has already spawned a stage show and shelves of toys, puzzles and activity books. A favourite in households up and down the land, anticipation for the animation’s debut was high when it aired on the BBC this Christmas. It did not disappoint.
Simon Pegg narrates the witty tale of a generous Witch and her antisocial suspicious cat, accumulating passengers and misplacing possessions as they whoosh through stormy skies and blue. Clever interpretation of the original drawings breathes back-story and charming...
The beloved book, by author and Children’s Laureate Julia Donaldson and her longtime collaborator illustrator Axel Scheffler, has sold over two and a half million copies since 2001 and has already spawned a stage show and shelves of toys, puzzles and activity books. A favourite in households up and down the land, anticipation for the animation’s debut was high when it aired on the BBC this Christmas. It did not disappoint.
Simon Pegg narrates the witty tale of a generous Witch and her antisocial suspicious cat, accumulating passengers and misplacing possessions as they whoosh through stormy skies and blue. Clever interpretation of the original drawings breathes back-story and charming...
- 3/18/2013
- by Emily Breen
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
From the creators of The Gruffalo, the charming and magical tale of Room On The Broom whooshes onto DVD and digital download on 18 March 2013 from Entertainment One – just in time for Easter!
Based on the bestselling book from author and Children’s Laureate Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler, this timeless story about friendship and family is narrated by Simon Pegg (Ice Age: Continental Drift). The all-star voice cast features Gillian Anderson (Johnny English Reborn) as the kind-hearted Witch and Rob Brydon (The Gruffalo) as her loyal companion Cat. Cat is joined by Bird (Sally Hawkins; Great Expectations), along with the very enthusiastic Dog (Martin Clunes; Doc Martin) and Frog (David Walliams (Little Britain) to help scare away a large, hungry Dragon (Timothy Spall; Harry Potter).
Bring home Les MISÉRABLES, the unmissable film adaptation of the beloved global musical sensation, when it comes to DVD, Blu-ray on 13th May. Pre-order your copy now: http://j.
Based on the bestselling book from author and Children’s Laureate Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler, this timeless story about friendship and family is narrated by Simon Pegg (Ice Age: Continental Drift). The all-star voice cast features Gillian Anderson (Johnny English Reborn) as the kind-hearted Witch and Rob Brydon (The Gruffalo) as her loyal companion Cat. Cat is joined by Bird (Sally Hawkins; Great Expectations), along with the very enthusiastic Dog (Martin Clunes; Doc Martin) and Frog (David Walliams (Little Britain) to help scare away a large, hungry Dragon (Timothy Spall; Harry Potter).
Bring home Les MISÉRABLES, the unmissable film adaptation of the beloved global musical sensation, when it comes to DVD, Blu-ray on 13th May. Pre-order your copy now: http://j.
- 3/8/2013
- by Competitions
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The BBC One Christmas animation is quickly becoming something of a festive tradition, and the works of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler are rich pickings for Magic Light Pictures who have delivered us the well known children’s stories The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child.
This December the 25th we welcome another of their tales into our home with the story of a Witch, and her cat, and her very tall hat and the various creatures she meets who seek a handy seat on her broomstick. It’s charming, more than a little silly and with the voices of Gillian Anderson, Rob Brydon, Sally Hawkins, Timothy Spall and David Walliams joining Simon Pegg as the narrator we’re in for a treat.
We have a handful of exclusive images from the animation below and don’t forget that Room On The Broom is on BBC1 at 4.35Pm, Christmas Day.
This December the 25th we welcome another of their tales into our home with the story of a Witch, and her cat, and her very tall hat and the various creatures she meets who seek a handy seat on her broomstick. It’s charming, more than a little silly and with the voices of Gillian Anderson, Rob Brydon, Sally Hawkins, Timothy Spall and David Walliams joining Simon Pegg as the narrator we’re in for a treat.
We have a handful of exclusive images from the animation below and don’t forget that Room On The Broom is on BBC1 at 4.35Pm, Christmas Day.
- 12/21/2012
- by Jon Lyus
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Children's laureate Julia Donaldson happy with BBC version of her book, which largely eschews tricks that have made Peter Jackson's Hobbit film controversial
When your leading characters are a witch, a broomstick and a jealous cat, it might seem odd to be worried about "keeping it real", but children's laureate Julia Donaldson and the creators of Room on the Broom, the BBC's specially commissioned Christmas Day film, were determined to do just that.
The half-hour animation of Donaldson's beloved picture book has now earned her the coveted after-lunch slot on BBC1 for the third time, making The Gruffalo author a seasonal institution. But whatever the age of her intended audience, or the improbability of the plot, the need to conjure up a convincing fantasy world was paramount, she said, in an age when Hobbit-style technical innovation can overwhelm the viewer.
"What is so lovely about the film is the...
When your leading characters are a witch, a broomstick and a jealous cat, it might seem odd to be worried about "keeping it real", but children's laureate Julia Donaldson and the creators of Room on the Broom, the BBC's specially commissioned Christmas Day film, were determined to do just that.
The half-hour animation of Donaldson's beloved picture book has now earned her the coveted after-lunch slot on BBC1 for the third time, making The Gruffalo author a seasonal institution. But whatever the age of her intended audience, or the improbability of the plot, the need to conjure up a convincing fantasy world was paramount, she said, in an age when Hobbit-style technical innovation can overwhelm the viewer.
"What is so lovely about the film is the...
- 12/16/2012
- by Vanessa Thorpe
- The Guardian - Film News
Simon Pegg, Rob Brydon, Martin Clunes, David Walliams and Gillian Anderson are among the star names providing the voices for BBC One's new Christmas Day animation Room on the Broom. From the team behind The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo's Child, the 30-minute broadcast is among the BBC's festive highlights. Watch the first clip of Room on the Broom:
Based on the award-winning (more)...
Based on the award-winning (more)...
- 12/11/2012
- by By Alex Fletcher
- Digital Spy
X Files star Gillian Anderson is to play a witch as she leads the cast in a BBC adaptation of hit children's book Room On The Broom to be screened at Christmas.
The actress - who won acclaim for her portrayal of Miss Havisham in a TV version of Great Expectations - will voice the character in the animated version of Julia Donaldson's book.
Also in the cast are Rob Brydon playing a cat, while David Walliams is to appear as a frog in the half-hour film, to be screened on BBC1.
It is being made by the team behind The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo's Child, also written by Children's Laureate Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler.
Room On The Broom is to be narrated by comic actor Simon Pegg and features Martin Clunes as a dog and Sally Hawkins as a bird.
In the story, a kind witch invites...
The actress - who won acclaim for her portrayal of Miss Havisham in a TV version of Great Expectations - will voice the character in the animated version of Julia Donaldson's book.
Also in the cast are Rob Brydon playing a cat, while David Walliams is to appear as a frog in the half-hour film, to be screened on BBC1.
It is being made by the team behind The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo's Child, also written by Children's Laureate Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler.
Room On The Broom is to be narrated by comic actor Simon Pegg and features Martin Clunes as a dog and Sally Hawkins as a bird.
In the story, a kind witch invites...
- 10/24/2012
- by David Bentley
- The Geek Files
One of the most lovable and popular children characters currently shown on television, Little Charley Bear was only released last year and yet it has already enjoyed success with the new series airing on the CBeebies channel and toys selling at shops.
The popular teddy bear has also enjoyed some DVD releases and with this week’s release being part of a big collection of merchandising, these six new episodes will appeal to children while also having some great appeal for grown-ups to enjoy watching with them.
Each of the six episodes included start with a white, blank screen with only a toy box sitting in the middle, with the narrator (voiced by James Corden) asking if Charley Bear is there and the teddy bear pops up from behind the box or playing with his toys in different scenarios that he is imagining.
We then enter his imagination to see...
The popular teddy bear has also enjoyed some DVD releases and with this week’s release being part of a big collection of merchandising, these six new episodes will appeal to children while also having some great appeal for grown-ups to enjoy watching with them.
Each of the six episodes included start with a white, blank screen with only a toy box sitting in the middle, with the narrator (voiced by James Corden) asking if Charley Bear is there and the teddy bear pops up from behind the box or playing with his toys in different scenarios that he is imagining.
We then enter his imagination to see...
- 2/7/2012
- by Martyn Warren
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The Gruffalo's Child
B Van Heusen
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Julia Donaldson’s popular book The Gruffalo’s Child comes to life on Christmas day on BBC One. The half-hour animated story will air at 6.30 p.m. and is the sequel to The Gruffalo which aired in 2009. Helena Bonham-Carter, Rob Brydon, Robbie Coltrane, James Corden and Tom Wilkinson are among the star names whose voices will add a new dimension to Axel Scheffler’s distinctive drawings.
Fans of children’s fiction will be in for another treat on Boxing day as Christopher Eccleston and Victoria Wood star in a new adaptation of The Borrowers. The one-off special airs at 7.30 p.m. and the BBC will be hoping it gets a similarly good reaction to ITV’s recent adaptation of Michelle Magorian’s children’s story Just Henry.
B Van Heusen
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Julia Donaldson’s popular book The Gruffalo’s Child comes to life on Christmas day on BBC One. The half-hour animated story will air at 6.30 p.m. and is the sequel to The Gruffalo which aired in 2009. Helena Bonham-Carter, Rob Brydon, Robbie Coltrane, James Corden and Tom Wilkinson are among the star names whose voices will add a new dimension to Axel Scheffler’s distinctive drawings.
Fans of children’s fiction will be in for another treat on Boxing day as Christopher Eccleston and Victoria Wood star in a new adaptation of The Borrowers. The one-off special airs at 7.30 p.m. and the BBC will be hoping it gets a similarly good reaction to ITV’s recent adaptation of Michelle Magorian’s children’s story Just Henry.
- 12/23/2011
- by admin
Based on the book written by Julia Donaldson, this Pixar-style animation is atmospheric and gorgeous to look at
Two Christmases ago, my toddler son Charlie and I sat down together to watch The Gruffalo. Being a soppy fool unfamiliar with the concept of age-appropriate viewing, I'd hoped this would be a magical moment of festive father-son bonding. It didn't go entirely according to plan. A few minutes in, he got a bit spooked by the snake, exclaimed "Don't like it!" and wandered off to ignore his new toys in favour of the boxes they came in.
In the intervening two years, however. Charlie's grown twice the size and Gruffalo mad. He's got the well-thumbed books, well-worn pyjamas, even the ride-along wheeled suitcase in the shape of our terribly-tusked, terribly-clawed friend. So come Christmas Day, we'll be snuggling up on the sofa again to watch the new sequel, The Gruffalo's Child.
Two Christmases ago, my toddler son Charlie and I sat down together to watch The Gruffalo. Being a soppy fool unfamiliar with the concept of age-appropriate viewing, I'd hoped this would be a magical moment of festive father-son bonding. It didn't go entirely according to plan. A few minutes in, he got a bit spooked by the snake, exclaimed "Don't like it!" and wandered off to ignore his new toys in favour of the boxes they came in.
In the intervening two years, however. Charlie's grown twice the size and Gruffalo mad. He's got the well-thumbed books, well-worn pyjamas, even the ride-along wheeled suitcase in the shape of our terribly-tusked, terribly-clawed friend. So come Christmas Day, we'll be snuggling up on the sofa again to watch the new sequel, The Gruffalo's Child.
- 12/15/2011
- by Michael Hogan
- The Guardian - Film News
While it is still not a proper trailer or promo for the BBC's upcoming animated Christmas special The Gruffalo's Child, the network aired a new station identification spot yesterday built entirely on footage from the stop motion animated affair.One wild and windy night, the Gruffalo's child ignores her father's warnings and bravely tiptoes out into the snow in search of the Big Bad Mouse. She meets Snake, Owl and Fox, but there's no sign of the fabled Mouse. He doesn't really exist ... or does he? Helena Bonham Carter, Rob Brydon, Robbie Coltrane, James Corden, Shirley Henderson, John Hurt and Tom Wilkinson all supply voices to the follow up to the stellar 2009 effort and you can see the ID spot below....
- 12/12/2011
- Screen Anarchy
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