DOSSIER ANIMATION - TRENDS, NEW CHARACTERS AND LOCAL INSIGHTS

DOSSIER ANIMATION TRENDS, NEW CHARACTERS AND LOCAL INSIGHTS

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CURATED BY ROSSELLA ARENA

A MASSIVE EXPANSION

CHARACTER

It is also interesting to observe the latest trends, for example how the animation market is increasingly collaborating and intertwining with other industries, such as toys and gaming.

Furthermore, it is important to expand one’s expertise in the local marketplaces.

According to several research institutes, including Market N Research and Data Bridge Market Research, North America is expected to hold the largest share of the animation market over the forecast period 2022 to 2030, owing to the increased use of animation in a variety of end-use applications, the presence of large corporations, and business plans being implemented by the leading players in the countries.

GLOBAL ANIMATION MARKET, BY REGION

Animation continues to grow in several European countries, such as Germany, with a turnover of 107 million euros outside the country in 2022, and Eastern Europe. Following Covid, another area with increasing attention is Africa, whose talent-rich studios are sought after by giants such as Disney and Netflix.

In conclusion, the animation market is certainly worthy of the greatest attention. Its size was valued globally at USD 391.19 billion in 2022, and is projected to grow to USD 587.1 billion by 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of roughly 5.00% during the forecast period (Precedence Research).

The increase of the media and entertainment sector, the expansion of the communications and technology industries, and the worldwide rising use of the internet are the primary factors driving market growth.

AND ANIMATION BRANDS CONTRIBUTE TO THE ABOUT $130 BILLION CHARACTERS & ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING INDUSTRY. THAT IS WHY IT IS FUNDAMENTAL TO KEEP UP WITH ALL THE NEWS, PRESENTED AT THE MOST PROMINENT EUROPEAN AND INTERNATIONAL EVENTS.

IN LOVE WITH PUBLISHING

THE 2022 EDITION OF THE CARTOON FORUM (TOULOUSE, 19-22 SEPTEMBER), FEATURED SEVERAL PROJECTS CONNECTED TO THE EDITORIAL INDUSTRY.

Some of these projects achieved a high percentage of buyers in the pitching rooms: Tiger and Bear (more than 58%), originated from Janosch’s classic books, focuses on friendship and acceptance; Trotro & Zaza (more than 55%), from the illustrated books by Bénédicte Guettier, sees the famous character Trotro on his surprising role of big brother; Max (more than 52%), a pre-school series based on the NYT bestselling books by Ed Vere.

Among the European co-productions that received the most interest in the pitching rooms Star Stable: Mistfall, the new series from the popular horse-riding simulation video game, Star Stable, a true crossmedia brand, for which many books were also born. The series has enormous commercial potential, given how much teenagers and preteens love the world of horses.

Polka Dot Zebra is based on A Zebra de Bolinhas by Helena Perim & Ana Paula Catarino. Aimed at pre-school children, the 2D series has a strong edutainment component, encouraging them to embrace their uniqueness.

There were many projects on mythology this year at the Forum, but particularly well attended was Next Level: Odissey, taken from Panique dans la Mythologie by Fabien Clavel. Mythology expert Liv Albert worked with TeamTO’s writing team to provide background and accuracy on all Greek historic and literary references.

Several interesting projects were for the age group 4-7

A day with the dogs is dedicated to Les Toutous by Dorothée de Monfreid, a series of books aimed at young children and featuring the daily life of a bunch of dogs (14 albums and 1 game book to date).

CocoBanana is the protagonist of Kokosbananas stories by RolfeMagne Golten Andersen, a little inventor. The stories about CocoBanana quickly became the most popular Norvegian audio books children’s series, then a beloved editorial series, with six volumes already published and another twelve to come.

Jack the Red is taken from Jack il Rosso e il grande guaio a Globulopoli by Chiara Patarino and Chiara Galletti, produced by Cristian Jezdic and his beQ entertainment. The red globule Jack and his friends accompany the spectator to discover the universe of Cosmopolis, a land of many different kingdoms, each representing one or more parts and functions of the human body.

Will Moogley Ghost Agency series, for the 6-9 age group, is based on the books series Will Moogley Agenzia Fantasmi. The invisibility of so many different ghosts is a metaphor for the inner emotional world of kids, difficult to define, but multifaceted, powerful and sometimes frightening.

There were many projects from comics and manga: Mekka Nikki, a new science-fiction series, with a strong heroine, the adaption of the homonymous comic strip by Félix Laurent ed Exaheva; Dreamland, taken from the manga by Reno Lemaire, a 10x24’ 2D animated series that will take the viewer into the world of Terrence, a simple highschool student who in his dreams becomes a traveller to Dreamland; Ki & Hi, being an adaptation of the best selling manga of the same name written by Kevin Tran (one of the five most successful YouTubers in France); from the homonym French fantasy adventure comics, the animated series Frnck, where Frank, an 11-year-old boy, was transported back into prehistory; from the beloved comics Chatons Contre Dinosaures - Chatons Contre Licornes by Davy Mourier and Silas Stan, the animated series Kat & Cats, starring 3 adorable cats and with alien mysteries; from the comic books of the same name, Anuki, the new series about the very eventful forest life of a young American Indian.

Trotro & Zaza © Ellipse Animation

THE NEW ANIMATED SERIES FOR CHILDREN AT MIPCOM 2022

DURING THE LATEST EDITION OF MIPJUNIOR/MIPCOM (CANNES, 1520 OCTOBER 2022), THE WORLD’S GREATEST GATHERING OF TELEVISION ENTERTAINMENT PROFESSIONALS FROM 100 COUNTRIES, MANY WELLKNOWN INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION COMPANIES PRESENTED THEIR NEW ANIMATED SERIES FOR CHILDREN. HERE ARE A FEW.

Big Bad Boo Studios (Canada) had a great response: their preschool series Lili & Lola was among the nominees for the Diversify TV Gala Awards, and the project Ava Undercover, about a very young 6 year old detective, won the Mipjunior Project Pitch Kids. Two new series for 6-9 years old are currently in production. In Galapagos X (26x11’) Oshie, Rae, Zephyr and Orchid (the Galapagos X) come from the future –where the planet is in terrible shape–, to help heal the blue marble that’s home to all of us before it’s too late. In Judge Jodhi (20x11’) Jodhi Mehta, 12, sets up a mock courtroom in her backyard, ruling on neighborhood cases.

For Rai Kids (Italy), Food Wizards (10x11’), in which Ginny, Ham and Pc have the magical power to enter people’s bodies in order to counteract the effects of improper nutrition, fighting against the “bad guys”, that are the Toxins and the Metabolism Monsters. In Incredible! (13x5’) together with Andrea Vico and a young scientist there are Key, Foon and Tuby, three characters in 3D animation with the task of explaining the world of science in a playful, fun and synthetic way.

Mako (Turkey) presented the new preschool IP Papo Hapo (26x11’). Created by Irmak Atabek Ndungu and Mbithi Masya, is about the everyday life of an odd but fun quartet. Nia-an idealist 6-year-old girl, Mbui the naughty billy goat, Kif the nerdy rhino, and Aswa the oxpecker, live in an imaginary town which is built around Mama Baobab, a 1500 year old baobab tree. The show is using African wisdom for solution making and it aims to inspire kids all around the world to get curious about Africa and African cultures, and see African kids as potential friends.

MIAM! animation (France) in 2022 has produced Edmond and Lucy, a preschool series (52 x 12’, real-time CGI), focused on the relationship with nature and full of fun, with Edmond the squirrel, and Lucy the bear cub. Goat Girl (52 x 11’, 2D) is an interesting co-production with Daily Madness and Thuristar, aimed at kids 6-11. It is the story of Gigi, a 13–year-old girl who just happens to have been raised by mountain goats.

The MiniWhats (52 x 7’, 2D) is a project for the age group 4-8 by Doncvoilà Productions and Silex Films, distributed by Miam! animation. It is inspired by the kids’ books Les Quiquoi, about a joyful gang of six friends with unique personalities. They draw using a magic pencil, bringing all their sketches to life!

Blue Spirit (France), after the success of the second season of Arthur and the children of the round table, is at work on three highly anticipated new CG series. Mille Bornes Challenges (52x11’30, 5-8 year olds), is the adaptation of the famous Mille Bornes card game. The 5 biggest junior karting clubs have selected their team, composed of a driver and a co-driver with great talent. The second season of Alice & Lewis (52x11’, 4-7 years old), inspired by Alice in Wonderland, broadcasted on TF1 from November 2022. The Borrowers (52x11’30, 6-10 years old) is in development, born from the universe of Mary Norton’s books, adapted for the first time in an animated series! During a pilfering mission, Arrietty, a thief as tall as an apple, is spotted by Tom, a Zumain! What should have turned out to be a disaster turns out to be an incredible encounter between two worlds.

Zoland Animation (China) has among its recent productions Betsy The Bear Car, a 2D 52x5’ preschool animated series, about funny animal cars. Betsy and her family and friends embark on one exciting adventure after another. They may make mistakes along the way, but together, they always find the solution to their problems at the end of the day. Young children will be fascinated by the imaginative world and characters in this series, and learn through its fun-filled and educational stories. The show is available in English, Bahasa Indonesia, Russian, Chinese.

Food Wizards

Edmond and Lucy The MiniWhats

THE NEW CHARACTERS OF CARTOON NEXT 2023

THE SECOND EDITION OF CARTOON NEXT TOOK PLACE IN MARSEILLE FROM 18 TO 20 APRIL. IN ADDITION TO CONFERENCES BY NUMEROUS EXPERTS ON ANIMATION TOPICS, 8 TRANSMEDIA PROJECTS WERE PRESENTED, FROM 7 EUROPEAN COUNTRIES (LITHUANIA, BULGARIA, GERMANY, FRANCE, SPAIN, BELGIUM, POLAND). LICENSING MAGAZINE DELVED INTO THE PECULIARITIES OF THE DIFFERENT CHARACTERS IN THE PROJECTS, WHICH ARE VERY IMPORTANT FOR BUILDING FUTURE LICENSING PROGRAMS.

Almost all projects were for a kids/family target group, and a couple were designed for young adults. In The ride the protagonists are Totis, very young cosmic Turtles who live in a Hillsome valley, taking care of the farm. Totis enjoy the company of Tobis - three bioelectric robots that can shrink into portable shapes or turn big, strong and fast, getting energy from natural sources such as sunlight, waves, or wind. Totis and Tobis are often surrounded by a company of cheerful animals, and together they are well prepared for all the challenges that nature might throw at them! The project involves a tv series (52x11’), a movie of 75’, a series of books and a game; it is very suitable for licensing development, particularly for collectibles. The protagonists of Babookums are unique creatures and robots that live among us. Micito, a cat-like babookum, is playful and a little naive, but with a heart of gold. Uto, the smartest and most rational babookum, is always there to lend a helping hand. Boiler and Laser, the robot babookums, have an unbreakable bond of friendship that includes a little competition and a lot of support. Each babookum is special in their own way, and they show that diversity is what makes us unique. The project was born as tv series 18x10’ (partners are being sought for season two), where there is strong musical development and potential for gaming. Character features allow licensing developments, including live shows and the creation of toys; a YouTube channel and an online shop are also planned.

In Eli, Bimzal and the Water of Life the characters have been inspired by Bulgarian folk fairy tales. Eli is about 10-11 years old, and she firmly believes that miracles exist. Her best friend is the huge good-natured monster Bimzal, full of greater imagination and resourcefulness. The Troll guards the passage to the water of life spring, where rarely has anyone been able to pass. The thousand-year tree is the millennial guardian of the Tilley forest. It is very wise, but… it also feels old and tired. The project is a Tv special, with a Game app and Board Game developments.

Imagine that everywhere on earth, little pixies make our world a bit more beautiful! They paint the autumn leaves, brush the moss and find our lost socks. In Jeppe’s Pixie World Jeppe is the protagonist: he is exactly 12,2 cm tall, loves crafting and is a true DIY-master. Hamster Oswald is a self-satisfied bonvivant and a collector. Runkel is a technically excellent garden pixie with a heart for nature, but a weakness in social interaction. She loves her three mice Tuff, Taff and Knuff. The warm-hearted IP was invented by Dully&Dax from Cologne, is based on a book series and is now to be implemented in a 360° campaign. Plans include a TV-series, DIY tutorials and a game.

Wonder Legends is set in a crazy comedy world where Greek mythology blends with steampunk aesthetics tween adventurers, the introverted engineer Icarus and feisty princess Ariadne, try to reconcile their heroic

Jeppe’s Pixie World

Wonder Legends

duties with the already difficult preteen life. Their main antagonist is the shadowy organisation Omega, which falls into the hands of Eris, an abandoned deity of discord. The turbulent relationship between Icarus and Ariadne is the heart of the story, with a strong theme across the arcs that we all share responsibility for the world and results come through respect and working together. The project includes an all-round development, with animation shorts to be released in Q4 of 2025, while the first season of the TV series is scheduled for release in 2027.

In the movie Sirocco and the Kingdom of the Winds, Agnès, the neighbour of the sisters Juliette (4 years old) and Carmen (8 years old), writes children’s books that take place in a fantastic world, The Kingdom of the Winds. The two sisters discover a passage between their world and this extraordinary universe. Once there, the two girls take the appearance of cats, and discover the existence of Sirocco, this terrifying character able to control the wind. A book is being published with Actes Sud, and a video game, TV series, Music based on wind, and other licensing developments are also planned.

In Spanish Chapbooks, a 3D Tv series for Young adults/Adults, during the civil war in the 19th century, a group of bandoleros escape from jail after being reported by the landlord they served. María (42) is an intellectual leader of the gang and true protagonist, with many traumas to solve. Ramón (47) is the Gang boss, with a complicated relationship with María and his former mentor Don Jacobo. Don Jacobo (65) is a powerful criminal, cunning and lacking scruples. Captain Aguado (33), decorated officer of the Civil Guard, is sent from Madrid to capture the gang. A 360° strategy includes a video game, a board game, comic books, VR and AR experiences, live and cultural initiatives.

Surkotés is set in a modern and exaggerated universe and deals with themes such as student life and responsibilities, thanks to the adventures of different characters. Ben, 18, a curious student who has never once given up to failure. Vago, a sloth whose weed-fueled serenity and patience offer a stable structure to hold on to. Momo, a born-leader, driven by dreams and anger. Bobby, a skillful cook whose muteness never prevented from being the most capable person in the city. Bruce, a boastful and very hungry bear. MTM, a radio with a cute side, a mysterious side and a bouncy backside. The project involves a web series for Young Adult, webtoons, a podcast of 52 episodes, and a book series.

Sirocco and the Kingdom of the Winds

Eli, Bimzal and the Water of Life

CYBERPUNK 2077, FROM GAMING TO TRANSMEDIA STORYTELLING

LM INTERVIEWED BARTOSZ SZTYBOR, COMIC BOOK AND ANIMATION NARRATIVE DIRECTOR, CD PROJEKT RED, TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE NEW SERIES CYBERPUNK: EDGERUNNERS AND THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS FOR THE GAME WHICH INSPIRED IT, CYBERPUNK 2077.

Can you tell us how the anime Cyberpunk: Edgerunners came about?

From the early moment of developing Cyberpunk 2077 we knew our franchise needed an anime, as the cyberpunk genre is so connected with this format. We were lucky enough to make Studio Trigger fall in love with our passion and then we started a 5-year long process of making it a reality. We all wanted to create something unique, that’s why the process of development took us almost 3 years. We had to pick the right story and get to the real essence of the Cyberpunk 2077 world. Later we had to start speaking the same artistic language

with Studio Trigger and finally be in line about the story we want to tell and the impact we want to make. It wasn’t easy and the universe was not helping when the development started, also the Covid pandemic hit Europe and the rest of the world. But we managed to overcome all the problems and create a really unique anime.

The game Cyberpunk 2077 is giving birth to a vast world. After the Netflix show and the comic books, what other declinations would you like to explore?

As you said yourself, it’s a vast world, there are a lot of stories to tell and we would like to narrate the ones that are best and most emotional, engaging. Later this year we are publishing Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, an expansion to the mentioned game. We are also finishing a new comic book mini-series called Cyberpunk 2077: XOXO. We have more plans for the upcoming years but it’s too soon to tell, don’t want to spoil anything. Besides, we are a group of perfectionists so it’s always about the quality of the story, not quantity. We need to be sure the stories we want to tell will move, engage and stay with the audience for a long time. And it takes time to do that.

A TOY ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH

JIELLA ESMAT, CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER OF AMUSE ANIMATION, WAS ONE OF THE EXPERTS AT THE LICENSE TALKS OF SPIELWARENMESSE 2023 (1-5 FEBRUARY). LM INTERVIEWED HER TO EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITIES OF COLLABORATION BETWEEN DIGITALFIRST ANIMATION COMPANIES SUCH AS AMUSE, AND THE TOY INDUSTRY.

How can the animation industry help the sales of toys? Children lean into brands that engage and connect with them in a relatable way. Leading toy properties must provide 360 immersive play experiences to stay relevant and maintain demand. Animated

content can help supercharge toy sales, ensuring longevity and deeper connection.

As the Insights Family suggests “Preschool children are the most likely to own licensed toys related to their favourite characters from films, TV shows and Youtube channels” - content and toys really are the perfect marriage.

Children today expect to see toys integrated into animated content and their favourite characters on retail shelves. Content creates greater excitement for the physical product and multiple touchpoints for engagement.

How does digital content differ from traditional animation, and what is its importance now?

Digital-first content offers a vast number of data points which translate to a richer understanding of the audience. With that data at hand digital-first creators are able to remain in a constant state of development, iterating and tweaking to deliver truly audience centric content. Unique access to the audience via YouTube enables direct communication with and participation from billions of viewers globally.

Combining these factors provides a clear path to engineering scalable success. Mastered, it is a complete game changer for any company looking to build a global property.

Other notable benefits of digital content production are reduced budgets and speed to market, with agile workflows that are disrupting the way things have been done in the past. Animation quality is no longer compromised as the model has seen significant advancements in the past 24 months. These are huge advantages in today’s economic climate.

What services could Amuse Animation offer toy companies?

There are exceptional synergies to be forged between toy companies and digital-first animation studios such as Amuse. We share a vision to create 360° IPs from the ground up, conceiving toy and content concepts from the outset.

We offer 2D and 3D animation servicing for digital-first and premium properties. Partners can access our data-driven conception methodology, agile production workflow, strong experience creating preschool animation, and some of the highest tax incentives globally via The Canary Islands (up to 54%).

We are also developing an IP co-ownership model for toy companies to unify our expertise in a unique way, sharing in equity and global backend revenue. Already incubating properties with strong visibility and demonstrable proof of concept, we’ve begun pitching to strategic toy co-producers. New concepts created from scratch in partnership with toy companies is also a compelling proposition, offering a shared stake in concepts with global potential.

We’re actively engaging with global toy companies looking to build the next generation of animation franchises and are thrilled to be in

production on a digital-first series for Hasbro’s EOne.

Tell us more about Amuse’s IPs.

At Amuse we’ve been focused on building a catalogue that engages children’s imagination, inspires curiosity, and promotes kindness and empathy. We’re responding to industry demand for content that is relatable, addresses diversity and inclusion, and encourages awareness of sustainability and universal positive values.

Our library comprises more than 30 self-financed preschool properties that we’ve conceived with toys in mind from inception. We distribute globally from the US and Europe to China where we have longestablished partnerships with 15 of the top OTT and CTV platforms.

We have content to suit the entire preschool demographic, from music and dance-based shows for the lower end of the age range, to vehiclebased series for boys and fairy tales for girls aged 3-5. Some of our strongest IPs include Super Truck, Robo Fuse, AnimaCars, Increditales and Shark Academy.

We’re currently in the midst of rebooting our shows and developing premium spin-offs that will align with preferred broadcast durations of 7’s and 11’s. Our goal is to generate 360° entertainment touchpoints for children from video and audio distribution to eBooks and gaming apps, leading to full CP programs.

What are the benefits for companies in producing animated content?

A recent conversation at the London Toy Fair demonstrated the clear need to launch toy ranges in tandem with animated content – retail buyers expect it. Brand presence is non-negotiable with L&M licensees requiring broad distribution and mass awareness. Children mirror this expectation as toys and animation are increasingly accessible in the same ecosystems. Within a few clicks they migrate from viewing a show they love to buying the related product and having it delivered to their door a couple of days later.

A toy alone is not enough. Every CP strategy now needs to be supported by a robust content plan. By producing great animation, ideally at low costs, the manufacturers can demonstrate they’re listening to retailers and consumers. Getting the algorithm game right on Youtube and securing linear broadcast distribution guarantees mass global awareness leading to stronger sales.

THE VARIETY OF AMERICAN ANIMATION

BY ALESSANDRA MACCAFERRI

THE CUTTING-EDGE NEWS FROM ANIMATION STUDIOS RUNNING INSIDE THE AMERICAN AND WORLDWIDE MARKETS.

Blanca Pictures is an animation studio that produces original young adult and children’s scripted edutainment content. Their scripts are written in New York, while the characters are created and voiced in Los Angeles by some of the industry’s top artists, actors and directors, many of whom won Annie, Emmy and Oscar awards.

In April 2023 two episodes of the GINJI series won the 56th WorldFest Houston International Film Festival. GINJI is an English original scripted 2D animation series about the adventures of a teenage horse Ginji, who comes to the big city and almost immediately finds herself at the centre of a mystery.

Renowned kids’ veteran Mevelyn J. Noriega announced in May 2023 the official launch of Wonderworld.Fun LLC, a new production and distribution company specialising in premium cutting-edge animation content. Operating out of Los Angeles and established under the direction of Mevelyn Noriega who will serve as CEO, Wonderworld. Fun will work in partnership with Deepak Nayar’s production company Kintop Pictures, VFX and animation studio ReDefine (part of the DNEG Group), and Namit Malhotra’s production company Prime Focus Studios, to create, produce, and distribute innovative, high-quality animated content for a global inclusive audience. Wonderworld.Fun will also seek to produce and distribute third-party developed and owned IPs with strong international appeal. Wonderworld.Fun will unveil three new shows, currently in production, that reflect a fresh and dynamic approach to the art of animation. Targeted at Kids and Family the original comedy, action-adventure series all underpin the company’s vision and commitment to excellence in animation.

Trilogy Animation Group (TAG), the Californian quality animation studio, acquired the complete portfolio of PorchLight Entertainment The company is updating the Emmy®-nominated preschool series Jay Jay The Jet Plane, and Emmy-winning Tutenstein, as well as presenting original series.

The New Adventures of Jay Jay The Jet Plane is the newly-updated CG show that features STEM education and social-emotional learning packed in each 11-min episode. The series follows some of the original show’s favourites, including the playful, energetic jet plane, Jay Jay, and his pals Tracy, Snuffy, and Ricky Rescue, featuring a fresh and vibrant new look, and introducing more characters and fun destinations.

Tutenstein, an adventure series for kids ages 8-12 (22-min episodes), shows what happens when a 12-year-old girl and 4,000-year-oldmummy boy become best friends – and her cat gains the power of speech!

Rubbernecks is an animated 3D stop-motion series for kids and families set in the town of Desperation, where the residents are a quirky, mixed bag that includes a snake, tortoise, roadrunner, and a few lizards. They all prove the well-known hypothesis that overexposure to intense heat can drive you nutty. The series features art by Deane Taylor, award-winning art director from the Oscarnominated feature,Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas.

The Mexican Animation Studio Exodo is a renowned animation service provider and content creator for over 16 years. The industry always seeks fresh, exciting, and innovative content, and that’s precisely what they bring to the table: their team of skilled animators and creative minds has produced a wide range of properties perfect for licensing in various markets. From action-packed adventures to heartwarming family stories, their animated properties have something for everyone, across all age groups. Among their projects, Fearnando, a CGI 3D Animated Short. The protagonist is a normal kid, however, there is something about him that brings strange things nearby. This is the first story of a saga to be known as Fearnando: One Thousand and One Creepy Stories, and the first-ever short film completely made in-house at Exodo Animation Studios, from script to concept art to pre and post-production. The Fearnando saga became the winner of the 3d animation category at the Pantalla de Cristal Film Festival and was listed as Official Selection at the Miami International Science Fiction Festival, among others.

The National Film Board of Canada presented a rich film selection at the 2023 Stuttgart Festival of Animated Film (ITFS). In world premiere, Thao Lam and Kjell Boersma’s animated short doc Boat People, a documentary that uses a striking metaphor to trace one family’s flight across the turbulent waters of history. The film speaks across time and culture to anyone who’s ever fought to protect their family or community.

Harvey, a short film produced with Folimage, adapted from the graphic novel of the same name by Hervé Bouchard, illustrated by Montreal filmmaker Janice Nadeau (La Pastèque), depicts a young boy who candidly recalls the spring day when his world turned upside down. Filled with original little touches and told through the eyes of a child with an overflowing imagination, this luminous work by Janice Nadeau, featuring elegant music by Martin Léon, poetically examines bereavement and coping with the loss of a parent. At Annecy 2023 it was among the short films in competition - young audiences.

Fearnando

Boat People

Harvey

SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN MARKET

BY ANDREA DE AMICIS

2023 is a big, shiny year for Africa’s leading animation studio, Triggerfish Kiya & the Kimoja Heroes, an animated action-adventure series for preschoolers, was released by Hasbro/eOne, streamed on Disney Junior and Disney+ and broadcast on France Télévisions. It continues to be released to global audiences. The show is about a trio of friends that combine their everyday passions with extraordinary powers and teamwork, in the fictional Kimoja City, a city inspired by the sights and sounds of Southern Africa.

May 4th saw the release of the studio’s short film, Aau’s Song, as part of the acclaimed Star Wars: Visions 2 anthology series on Disney+

Another highly anticipated release for Triggerfish is Supa Team 4 (previously Mama K’s Team 4) for Netflix, and co-produced with Cake Entertainment Supa Team 4 is set in the neo-futuristic city of Lusaka, Zambia, where four teenage girls join a retired secret agent on a quest to save the world as undercover superheroes.

Legends of Bulan is an epic Afro-fantasy feature film from Magic Carpet Studios, that combines comics, animation, and Afrocentric themes. Set in the mythical land of Bulan, it envisions an Africa untouched by colonisation, filled with powerful warriors, superhuman heroes, and untold legends.

The mini-series showcases the strength and resilience of the African people, with a captivating storyline that takes audiences through great kingdoms and battles.

The stunning 3D animation brings a richly imagined world to life, featuring intricate landscapes and lifelike characters. From the sweeping vistas of the African savannah to the bustling cities of the great kingdoms, every frame of Legends of Bulan is a work of art, thanks also to seamless motion-capture technology that truly brings the characters to life.

Pixcomm animation studio is based in South Africa and focuses on 2D animation and creating brands for African children, such as the biggest children’s show, Jabu’s Jungle, which is broadcast in several languages and across 40 countries on the continent.

Jabu’s Jungle is negotiating with retail stores across Africa to bring local merchandising and licensing opportunities to African children, as an alternative to imported brands. This has not yet been done in Africa, and offers a huge opportunity to create a ‘new’ industry.

AFRICAN ANIMATION IS INCREASINGLY PRESENT AND APPRECIATED ALL OVER THE WORLD, THANKS TO ITS TALENTED STUDIOS AND PROFESSIONALS. HERE ARE THE LATEST PRODUCTIONS AND IPS.

Aau’s Song

Kiya & the Kimoja Heroes

A recently completed new series, Zizi & Hannibal, is another preschool series with a focus on African girls. The series was first broadcast in December 2022, and will be appearing on a range of clothing and accessories, initially in South Africa.

Pixcomm appeared at Animation Production Days (APD), Stuttgart, April 2023, to pitch their ‘coming of age’ animated feature on Nelson Mandela. The rights to produce the animated life story of Nelson Mandela are based on a 200-page graphic novel that was a bestseller internationally and translated into several languages. The opportunity to attend Stuttgart under the banner of APD, ITFS and FMX, allowed the studio to showcase their other animated series in development (Ting Ting, Wildlife Warriors, and The Errors), identifying a number of interested parties.

Since 2017, Johannesburg-based Cabblow Studios has carved out a niche for itself with medical animation. Led by mom & daughter duo –Dr. Tshepo P. Maaka and Kabelo Maaka, the studio specialises in 2D digital animation with a hand-drawn feel and personal stories drive their creativity.

Now that the medical animation machine is well-oiled and running the studio is shifting its focus to entertainment content with their flagship project Rorisang & The Gurlz, a teen/tween series that follows Rorisang, a K-Pop super-fan, on a journey to creating her own AfroPop (African Pop) band with her group of besties at their conservative high school. The Cabblow Studios team has pitched the project at various festivals and markets including the inaugural Stories x Women programme hosted by WIA & FIAPF, MIPJunior 2022 and recently wrapped up Animation Production Days in Stuttgart. With a 360 approach to the Rorisang property, the studio produces a bi-weekly Webtoon and manages Rorisang’s personal Instagram and TikTok accounts - her handle is @rorisaaang. Rorisang’s TikToks have over 7 000 views in just one month of posting. Cabblow Studios is now looking for licensing and merchandising partners for Rorisang & The Gurlz to raise funds for the series.

Rorisang & The Gurlz isn’t the only property from this innovative studio. The studio has 4 other series in development including the heartfelt, yet whacky superhero series The Mom & Daughter Clean Up Crew about a mom and daughter who don’t save the day, but rather save relationships. These characters were also part of a tourism campaign for Cape Town. Regarding the medical animations, they have developed 3 health mascots also available for licensing – Dr. T - a virtual doctor, Nurse Joy and Lesedi, a teen diabetes advocate.

GERMANY, FROM TOUCHING STORIES TO TRAIL-BLAZING ANIMATION

IN THE 2022 ANIMATION GERMANY REPORT, 462 GERMAN FILMS WERE EVALUATED IN 77 COUNTRIES AND ACHIEVED A TURNOVER OF 107 MILLION EUROS OUTSIDE GERMANY IN 2022, REACHING AUDIENCES OF OVER 14.6 MILLION. LET’S DISCOVER TOGETHER THE LATEST PRODUCTIONS AND PREVIEWS FROM TWO IMPORTANT GERMAN STUDIOS.

Telescope Animation is currently in production (and partially in development) with their multi-platform story universe The Last Whale Singer. The original IP tells the story of a family of humpback whales who can heal the oceans with their magical song. The feature film, an international co-production between Germany, Canada and the Czech Republic, is currently in production with a worldwide theatrical release in 2025/26. The game is the prequel to the feature film: a prototype is currently in production and game development is slated to begin in 2024. The series (in development, the production start is planned for 2025) directly links to the feature film and continues the hero’s adventures.

Telescope is also in production with the debut short film Epifania; it has in addition more original IPs in development, vast story universes to be told as exciting, touching, and meaningful tales on multiple platforms.

Since last year, Ulysses Filmproduktion has been in production with the film Niko3 - Beyond the Northern Lights. In the third film about the flying reindeer, Niko’s long-awaited place in Santa’s flying squad is disputed by the unexpected challenger Stella. The film will be released worldwide in the winter of 2024. Global Screen has world distribution rights to this animated adventure.

Already completed and travelling all over the world, The Amazing Maurice is now in theatres in more than 85 countries, including

successfully in France as well as the U.S., where it opened on more than 2,000 screens. The film was invited to the Sundance Festival and is now nominated for the Golden Sparrow 2023, one of the most relevant Children’s Film Festivals in Germany in the category best feature film Ulysses Films’ new project in financing is also picking up steamthe screenplay for Pirate Mo and the Legend of the Red Ruby won the German Animation Script Award at ITFS 2023 for the greatest international market potential.

The production of this adaptation of Kirsten Boie’s bestselling novel Seeräubermoses will start at the end of 2023. This will be coproduced with Letterbox (GER), Arx Anima (AUT) and ArxLight (ESP). World distribution is handled by The Playmaker Munich and the first territories have been sold. More features and two TV series with global exploitation potential are in the development pipeline for the next three years.

FROM THE PRODUCERS OF

NIKO AND THE WAY TO THE STARS, OOOPS! NOAH IS GONE... and THE AMAZING MAURICE BEYO

EASTERN EUROPE ANIMATION CONTINUES TO ENCHANT

THE LATEST PROJECTS OF QUALITY EASTERN EUROPE ANIMATION STUDIOS.

The Budapest based animation studio Umatik is dedicated to creating unique content and delivering the highest quality in animation. It started to focus on the production of its own IPs in the last few years. Its latest project is Pixie Fix and the lost dewdrops (13x11’) and its 2nd season Pixie Fix and the Amazing Planet (13x11’). Targeting kids from the age of 6, the tv series are aiming not only to entertain the audience by its adventurous story, but the show has strong educational content on environment protection

The series shows what is going to happen to the Earth if we do not take care of it. Through the different locations of the episodes, the story drives us around the continents of the Earth. Among other things, deforestation of the rain forests, overmining, air pollution of the factories will be shown to the audience. In each episode, our heroes will be facing different problems which they can solve with the help of the local wildlife. Friendship, taking care of each other and selfishness will be playing important roles all along the story. The tale will be flavoured with humour, kindness and loveliness to be entertaining.

Pixie Fix’s 1st season is already completed, the 2nd one will be delivered by November 2023.

Since 2003, MAUR film has been one of the biggest animated film producers in the Czech Republic with a wide range of genres, formats and animation techniques.

MAUR film is currently developing three animated features - two of them have already been presented at Cartoon Movie, and Of Unwanted Things and People won the Eurimages Co-production Development Award. This film is directed by four directors from the same four countries as the producers MAUR film (CZ), Vivement lundi! (FR), Artichoke (SK) and ZVVIKS (SI). The film is based on the children‘s book by Czech author Arnošt Goldflam and contains a lot of fantasy, humor and imagination. It is a plea for the art of storytelling as an ideal means of accepting the sometimes difficult sides of life. The project also holds book rights and is currently in production.

Steampunk polar road movie Rosentaal tells the story of 16-yearold orphan Nab, who has lived since birth on a huge ship, which is at the same time a factory, a town and a permanent home to several thousand people. The script was written by the award-winning Czech author Marek Epstein and the art designer Václav Švankmajer created a very unique visual style.

Pixie Fix and the lost dewdrops

© MAUR film

The project The Eleven completes the trinity, a combination of real puppet decorations and 3D/CGI character animations. The film is based on a well-known book about eleven boys who built a football team. But real life is never a clear victory and the players soon understand that “Football comes second...”. The project is in development and the merch concept is being worked on at the same time.

The production company MAUR film also has 13 short films in development or production, which the festival audience will surely hear about soon.

Badi Badi is an animation and post-production studio based in Warsaw, Poland.

Currently, one of Badi Badi’s departments - Badi Originals - focuses on productions for children and family audience.

The company’s portfolio includes both 3D and 2D productions. To date, Badi Badi has produced four seasons of the pre-school series Agi Bagi. This series shows the adventures of the inhabitants of the planet that has two sides: Agi and Bagi. Each episode focuses on an environmental theme where Agingas and Bagingas work together to take care of the planet. This educational series has been translated into 11 languages and sold to over 60 countries. The Your Family Entertainment distributor is responsible for distribution outside Poland. The experience gained in the production of Agi Bagi convinced Badi Badi of how to successfully create more brands.

Another series produced by the studio is called The Flying Bear. It is an action-packed animated adventure series for children over the age of six. The series features the adventures of a pair of siblings: 7-yearold Jake and 11-year-old Madeline. Madeline and Jake, together with the magical Bear defend mythical characters against a computer virus called Cyber. This antagonist tries to kidnap the heroes of folk tales and legends to create an army to conquer the world. The second season was produced in 2022 and will be released the following year. International distribution is handled by Sola Media

Badi Badi is also developing four other TV series for children: Crazy Inventions, a series that tells the stories of modern inventions in a funny way; Giggle Wiggle, a story about the friendship between a big green gnome, Giggle Wiggle, and a little girl, Blabberina; Witty Kitty, a series for young children, that tells the story of a resourceful black and white cat and his friends; Robot and the Martians, a science fiction series, full of slightly abstract, ironic and situational humour. For all these series, Badi Badi is looking for funding opportunities and partners.

The studio also produces feature-length animated films for family audiences. Currently, three films are in the development phase: Agi Bagi. The Universe Is Not Enough, Cyber versus the Guardians of Legends and Zu

The director and scriptwriter of most of the studio’s productions is Tomek Niedźwiedź, who is also one of the founders of Badi Badi together with Tomasz Paziewski and Arkadiusz Paziewski

At the same time, the studio also works with other directors and screenwriters on selected productions and is open to collaborations.

All the animations created in the Badi Originals department are non-violent, educational and entertaining for the youngest and their parents. This year the company celebrates its 20th anniversary on the market!

Letko is a 2D animation studio from Warsaw, Poland, that in the last few years specialized in developing high-quality TV series for kids. They’re currently working on the development of Happy not lucky, a series for 6-9 years old. It’s a detective comedy about black cat Teo and black sheep Lu solving mysteries and fighting crime in their home – a calm and peaceful Happy Fields farm. This series explores in a light and funny way the stereotypes held against different animals in order to show that it doesn’t make sense to judge the book by its cover (or a sheep by its fur). If our two heroes dealing with bad luck and constant troubles can embrace who they are, so can we.

Their most recent production is a series for preschoolers called Odo (52x7’) which they created and co-produced together with Sixteen South Originals. Letko was responsible for the visual development of the series as well as all visual aspects of the production. Odo teaches young children self-efficacy and to believe in themselves to help combat the troubling rise in anxiety and depression levels in today’s children. Comedic and warm, with a genuine hero – a little owl called Odo, the stories also deal with important themes such as immigration, racism and respect for others. Odo and his bird friends are building their nests thanks to the best broadcasters all over the world, such as KIKA, Milkshake or Canal+. It has been sold to more than 150 countries. In addition to working on their own IPs, Letko also performs service work for renowned Animation Producers all around the world.

MAVKA, A 100% UKRAINIAN PROPERTY

BY TETIANA RUBAN, CEO OF NERD AGENCY, 2022 LICENSING INTERNATIONAL RISING STAR

Mavka — a Soul of the Forest and its Warden — faces an impossible choice between love and her duty as guardian to the Heart of the Forest, when she falls in love with a human — the talented young musician Lukas. It’s a fantasy, love story, and comedy.

The film is based on the classic Ukrainian poem THE FOREST SONG by Lesya Ukrainka and Ukrainian mythology about forest creatures and magical runes.

The property is 100% Ukrainian. Nerd agency (FILM.UA Group) represents the brand licensing rights globally. The core target audience of MAVKA. THE FOREST SONG is for kids 4-14 years old. Nevertheless, there is an additional audience of women as the brand has a unique lifestyle visual identity.

The brand has two strong missions. First, the ecological mission is to raise awareness of the problem of deforestation and the extinction of animals and plants registered in the Red List. Second, the cultural mission is to present the authenticity and beauty of Ukrainian culture to the world.

Since the plot and characters were well known in Ukraine, the brand started getting popular after the very first teaser of the movie, which generated 54M views on YouTube.

The first collaborations were with fashion designers that were engaged in the development of characters and props, a premium clothes designer Navro and a jewelry brand Oberig. Then the agency licensed books based on the original poem with initial artworks from the movie. Also, premium handmade toys and home textiles were launched. To celebrate the 100th anniversary of Lesya Ukrainka, they launched a postal collection with the national post Ukrposhta

The brand was getting more and more popular. The artworks were really appealing. Among the several initiatives, they’ve got a request from Silpo, one of the biggest retailers in Ukraine, to decorate their new flagship store with Mavka Universe: a 6000 sq meters supermarket in Kyiv was fully branded with the artworks from the movie.

After a successful branding of the retail space, they continued the partnership with Silpo and launched a loyalty campaign. There were random collectible figurines of MAVKA characters and licensed goodies. The plush toys and the activity book with AR were sold during the first 2 weeks of the campaign (the book’s print run was 2.5 times as big as the average in Ukraine). The program itself was supposed to last for 2 months but has been extended to 3 months due to huge demand. They’ve reached over 25M contacts through ads during the loyalty campaign and achieved high engagement of the audience thanks to the collectible mechanics, AR and BTL.

Food producers became interested in the brand, and they made limited editions of licensed confectionery, cereals, and yogurts. As well the agency got a partner with paper tableware for parties. The movie has been so anticipated that one of their licensees produced MAVKA calendars for 2022 and 2023.

They partnered with Ranok, the biggest publishing house in Ukraine, and developed a wide range of products, such as a book based on the film’s script, the original book, coloring and activity books, sticker packs, etc.

Several companies will produce different kinds of toys. Kiddisvit launched soap bubbles with MAVKA right before the première. They’ve got a stationery partner Vivat (Kite), a DTR partner in back-to-school products.

MAVKA. THE FOREST SONG works excellently for a women’s audience. They’ve inked an outstanding partnership with SOVA golden jewelry producer and retailer, which used floral elements and runes from the MAVKA Universe.

Furthermore, they’ve signed new licensees in home textile, arts & crafts, fashion retail, and souvenirs.

The international releases will take place till the end of the year. Following the theatrical premières, there will be VOD and TV releases, so they expect the brand’s life cycle will last at least 2 years from its official launch.

MAVKA. THE FOREST SONG IS AN ANIMATED MOVIE THAT PREMIERED INTERNATIONALLY IN SPRING 2023.

ANNECY FESTIVAL 2023, GROWTH AND INCLUSION

THE ANNECY INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION FILM FESTIVAL (11-17

JUNE) AND MARKET (MIFA, 13-16

JUNE) THIS YEAR WELCOMED 15,820

ACCREDITED ATTENDEES FROM 102 COUNTRIES, WITH A 19% INCREASE COMPARED TO 2022, SCREENING 468 FILMS IN THE OFFICIAL SELECTION.

Great releases and personalities

Among the most awaited new releases, there are Netflix’s Nimona (30 June), starring an impetuous teenage shape-shifter, and Blue Eye Samurai (2023), the new upcoming series about a mixed-race master of the sword who lives a life in disguise while seeking revenge in Edoperiod Japan; Warner Bros’ Animation’s Lord of the Rings: War of Rohirrims, the original anime set in the world of J.R. Tolkien’s fantasy series; Banijay’s Shasha & Milo, the new series where protagonists with magical powers will face all the complexities of teenage life.

Great Personalities have reached as usual the charming city, like Chris Meledandri, Producer and Founder of Illumination Entertainment (Despicable Me), who presented the studio’s new upcoming feature film Migration, and received the Annecy’s Golden Ticket Lifetime Award.

Barry JC Purves, English stop-motion animator and director, was awarded with an Honorary Crystal for his outstanding career and commitment to LGBTQ+ animation. The director also held the Masterclass The Revealing Mask, aimed to represent the identity theme on animation. Furthermore, at Le Campus, the brand-new Mifa’s area for emerging talent, the encounter LGBTQ+ Challenges in Animation Today and Tomorrow explored the dynamic world of animation through the lens of LGBTQ+ students and professionals. Plus, many movies on the identity genre were screened, including the US short movie Pete, which won CANAL+ Junior Jury Award.

The featured country for this edition was Mexico, with 7 films in different categories, 88 short movies, and a Mifa’s stand with many Mexican studios and schools. The Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro declared at Annecy that he’s working on his stop-motion project with Netflix, The Buried Giant, and that he’s co-writing a Mexican stop-motion feature for director Karla Castañeda. The animator Jorge R. Gutiérrez also announced his new Netflix limited series on the Meso-American culture, Maya and the Three

Nimona © 2023 Netflix

The Mifa space surpassed last year’s record, reaching an area of 10.000 square meters, to exhibit all the most important news from the biggest animation companies.

Disney is celebrating their 100 anniversary with exciting novelties!

One of the most anticipated events was the preview of Kizaki Moto: Generation Fire (from July 5 on Disney+), the animated sci-fi anthology inspired by Africa’s diverse cultures. Walt Disney Animation Studios Chief Creative Officer Jennifer Lee returned to Annecy to share exclusive details about the musical-comedy Wish, the upcoming Disney Christmas film, on which she is both Executive Producer and Scriptwriter. The movie has the protagonist Asha, a young sharpwitted idealist who lives in Rosas, known as the kingdom of wishes. The new Disney Junior preschool musical series based on The Little Mermaid, Ariel (2024) was also presented.

The Mediawan Kids&Family division, after one year of its foundation, houses eight production labels, including the recent acquisitions Wildseed Studios and Submarine Animation. Furthermore, it is partnering with DeAPlaneta Entertainment for licensing and merchandising of IPs such as Karters, Witch Detectives and The Three

Musketeers. Over 30 TV series developments and 10 productions are currently underway, as well as several feature films, numerous preschool projects such as Taïtikis, the new series from the creator of PJ Masks, and the animated adaptation for tweens and adults of Michael Salanville’s comic book, Banana Sioule. With ZAG, they just released the Miraculous movie on July 5th in France and on Netflix worldwide starting July 28th, while a sixth season of the popular franchise is in production for TF1, Disney, and Gloob.

Movies that audiences loved and from all over the world

Two very different films, but both focused on the theme of loss, met with great public acclaim. In Chicken for Linda! (Dolce Vita Films & Miyu Productions) Linda’s dad died when she was very young. The mom Paulette, after an unfair punishment, will do anything to make it up to her daughter – even if that means making chicken with peppers, the dish that Linda’s father always prepared. But on a day of general strike, it could become a difficult enterprise. The characters are rendered as black line drawings identified by single colors, a nice way of addressing diversity. The story is really moving, generating very long-standing ovations during the screenings, and conquering the Cristal for a feature film. Sirocco and the Kingdom of Air Streams (Sacrebleu), sees two intrepid sisters, Juliette (4) and Carmen (8), which discover a passage to the extraordinary world of their favorite book. Intended for a kids/ family target, it won the Audience Award.

Not only from Mexico, films from different parts of the world continue to grow at Annecy. Hungary registered a large presence of titles and awards: 4 Souls of Coyote walked off with Annecy’s Jury Prize; 27 won its best short Cristal, and in all, the country had four titles in the official competition or Contrechamp, more than the U.S. or Japan.

Tokyo Animation Business Accelerator, the animation program supported by The Tokyo Metropolitan Government, attended phisically Mifa after 3 years. Numerous professionals presented their projects, as Chat food (90’, 9-11), a comedy movie that illustrates how a cat and a human rebuild their friendship and grow as a human (cat) being. Japanese animation was in general very present at the festival with several films, like The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes, which won the Paul Grimault Award.

For the 2024 edition, which will take place between June 9 and 15, the featured country will be Portugal

Karters © 2023 METHOD ANIMATION

Chicken for Linda! © Dolce Vita Films & Miyu Productions