It was a special night at Nickelodeon Animation Studios in Burbank, Calif. celebrating the forces behind some of Hollywood’s beloved animated projects for Variety’s 10 Animators to Watch event.
The ceremony and cocktail reception honoring 10 creators in the animation (check out the full list here) field kicked things off with a short welcome from President of Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Ramsey Ann Naito. After an exclusive sneak peak from the soon-to-be-released animated film, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem,” Naito took the stage welcoming the crowd, “I’ve been in animation my entire career and today I can honestly say it’s bigger, it’s brighter and it’s more inclusive than ever.”
Naito then turned her attention to the recipients of the Creative Impact in Animation Directing Award, “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” directors Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers and Justin K. Thompson summoning the writing-producing duo behind “Across...
The ceremony and cocktail reception honoring 10 creators in the animation (check out the full list here) field kicked things off with a short welcome from President of Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Ramsey Ann Naito. After an exclusive sneak peak from the soon-to-be-released animated film, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem,” Naito took the stage welcoming the crowd, “I’ve been in animation my entire career and today I can honestly say it’s bigger, it’s brighter and it’s more inclusive than ever.”
Naito then turned her attention to the recipients of the Creative Impact in Animation Directing Award, “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” directors Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers and Justin K. Thompson summoning the writing-producing duo behind “Across...
- 7/19/2023
- by Sophia Scorziello
- Variety Film + TV
Aardman founder Peter Lord and director Sam Fell took to the stage at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on Wednesday to present first footage for Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget.
The reveal was part of a special Netflix presentation of its upcoming animation productions including Leo, starring Adam Sandler as a 75-year-old lizard; martial arts drama Blue-Eyed Samurai as well as animated comedy series Exploding Kittens.
Launching December 15, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget will arrive 23 years after the cult original Chicken Run.
The Aardman team unveiled footage of the utopian island chicken haven created by heroine Ginger after she led the breakout from the Tweedy farm in late 1940s Britain, described by Fell as a sort of “Chicken Wakanda”.
Its now the early 60s and Ginger is the mother with Rocky of rebellious teenager Molly.
Ginger in the meantime has buried her rebel side, devoting herself instead...
The reveal was part of a special Netflix presentation of its upcoming animation productions including Leo, starring Adam Sandler as a 75-year-old lizard; martial arts drama Blue-Eyed Samurai as well as animated comedy series Exploding Kittens.
Launching December 15, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget will arrive 23 years after the cult original Chicken Run.
The Aardman team unveiled footage of the utopian island chicken haven created by heroine Ginger after she led the breakout from the Tweedy farm in late 1940s Britain, described by Fell as a sort of “Chicken Wakanda”.
Its now the early 60s and Ginger is the mother with Rocky of rebellious teenager Molly.
Ginger in the meantime has buried her rebel side, devoting herself instead...
- 6/14/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
As part of Netflix’s appearance this week at the Annecy International Animation Festival, the streaming service hosted a sneak peek at upcoming work and the world premiere of Nimona, the anticipated adaptation of Nd Stevenson’s graphic novel coming to the platform on June 30. Additionally, the studio announced that Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget — Aardman Animations’ anticipated sequel to 2000’s Chicken Run — will get a Dec. 15 release.
In a new clip from the sequel to Chicken Run — from the Oscar-winning studio behind Wallace and Gromit and Shawn the Sheep — the Annecy audience was introduced to Molly (Bella Ramsey), the daughter of Chicken Run‘s Ginger (Thandiwe Newton) and Rocky (Zachary Levi). Molly is among those captured and placed in a truck carting chickens to a new fortress-like farm. After a classic Aardman chase — with Ginger, Rocky and others in hot pursuit of the truck — they begin to devise a rescue plan.
In a new clip from the sequel to Chicken Run — from the Oscar-winning studio behind Wallace and Gromit and Shawn the Sheep — the Annecy audience was introduced to Molly (Bella Ramsey), the daughter of Chicken Run‘s Ginger (Thandiwe Newton) and Rocky (Zachary Levi). Molly is among those captured and placed in a truck carting chickens to a new fortress-like farm. After a classic Aardman chase — with Ginger, Rocky and others in hot pursuit of the truck — they begin to devise a rescue plan.
- 6/14/2023
- by Carolyn Giardina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Following the streaming services’ first best animated feature Oscar win for Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, Netflix is heading to the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June to preview a string of upcoming projects and to host an advance screening of summer release Nimona, based on Nd Stevenson’s graphic novel.
Nimona directors Nick Bruno and Troy Quane, Stevenson, producers Karen Ryan and Julie Zackary, and production designer Aidan Sugano will be on hand at the festival. Along with the screening, a making-of session is on the agenda.
Another panel will examine Aardman’s eagerly awaited Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, the sequel to its 2000 stop-motion animated feature Chicken Run, which remains the highest-growled stop motion animated feature of all time. Speaking at Annecy will be director Sam Fell, producer Leyla Hobart, and exec producer and Aardman founder Peter Lord.
The creative team behind Blue Eye Samurai — creators...
Nimona directors Nick Bruno and Troy Quane, Stevenson, producers Karen Ryan and Julie Zackary, and production designer Aidan Sugano will be on hand at the festival. Along with the screening, a making-of session is on the agenda.
Another panel will examine Aardman’s eagerly awaited Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, the sequel to its 2000 stop-motion animated feature Chicken Run, which remains the highest-growled stop motion animated feature of all time. Speaking at Annecy will be director Sam Fell, producer Leyla Hobart, and exec producer and Aardman founder Peter Lord.
The creative team behind Blue Eye Samurai — creators...
- 4/24/2023
- by Carolyn Giardina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
This year Netflix is returning to the Annecy International Animation Film Festival as newly crowned kings, having just secured the Oscar for Best Animated Feature for Guillermo del Toro’s “Pinocchio.” Not that they have any intention of slowing down, as this year they are bringing a slate of potential commercial and artistic triumphs to the rolling hills of the French countryside – from Annapurna’s “Nimona” to Aardman’s highly anticipated “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget” and much, much more.
On Wednesday, June 14, Annecy will present an exclusive screening of their absolutely fabulous new feature film “Nimona” at the Theater Bonlieu at 6 p.m. which will include appearances from directors Nick Bruno and Troy Quane, creator Nd Stevenson (whose graphic novel is the basis for the film), producers Karen Ryan and Julie Zackary and production designer Aidan Sugano. The team will reconvene for a “Making Of” session on Thursday,...
On Wednesday, June 14, Annecy will present an exclusive screening of their absolutely fabulous new feature film “Nimona” at the Theater Bonlieu at 6 p.m. which will include appearances from directors Nick Bruno and Troy Quane, creator Nd Stevenson (whose graphic novel is the basis for the film), producers Karen Ryan and Julie Zackary and production designer Aidan Sugano. The team will reconvene for a “Making Of” session on Thursday,...
- 4/24/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
Netflix has unveiled a packed line-up of animated feature films and series that it will be taking to France’s Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June.
Riding high on the Best Animated Feature Film Oscar win for Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio and the Primetime Emmy for Arcane, the platform is gearing up for one of its biggest outings to the lakeside festival to date.
Topping its Annecy slate is an exclusive screening of Nimona, starring Chloë Grace Moretz, Riz Ahmed and Eugene Lee Yang in the voice cast.
The fantasy tale, set in a techno-medieval world, follows the adventures of a shapeshifting teen, tackling ideas of labels and acceptance at the same time.
It is the first production to come out of Annapurna’s new animation division which was launched at the end of 2022 and helped save the film with Netflix after Disney dropped the project.
Directors Nick Bruno and Troy Quane,...
Riding high on the Best Animated Feature Film Oscar win for Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio and the Primetime Emmy for Arcane, the platform is gearing up for one of its biggest outings to the lakeside festival to date.
Topping its Annecy slate is an exclusive screening of Nimona, starring Chloë Grace Moretz, Riz Ahmed and Eugene Lee Yang in the voice cast.
The fantasy tale, set in a techno-medieval world, follows the adventures of a shapeshifting teen, tackling ideas of labels and acceptance at the same time.
It is the first production to come out of Annapurna’s new animation division which was launched at the end of 2022 and helped save the film with Netflix after Disney dropped the project.
Directors Nick Bruno and Troy Quane,...
- 4/24/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
“Hunger Games” franchise director Francis Lawrence will direct “BioShock,” Netflix’s feature film adaptation of the beloved video game series.
Michael Green, whose credits include “Logan,” “Blade Runner 2049,” and “Death on the Nile” will pen the screenplay.
Netflix will produce the live-action film with the game’s publishers, 2K and Take-Two Interactive. Comprised of “BioShock,” “BioShock 2” and “BioShock Infinite,” the franchise is situated within a number of different dystopian landscapes. According to the official description, “BioShock” “blends sci-fi and horror to pose unique existential and societal questions that reshaped how game stories could be told – all amidst pulse-pounding action gameplay that rewards sharp shooting, clever planning, and lethal improvisation.”
Also Read:
Taron Egerton to Star in ‘Carry On’ Thriller for Netflix and Amblin
Along with 2K, a subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc., Roy Lee will produce for Vertigo Entertainment, while Francis Lawrence will produce for about:blank. Executive producers...
Michael Green, whose credits include “Logan,” “Blade Runner 2049,” and “Death on the Nile” will pen the screenplay.
Netflix will produce the live-action film with the game’s publishers, 2K and Take-Two Interactive. Comprised of “BioShock,” “BioShock 2” and “BioShock Infinite,” the franchise is situated within a number of different dystopian landscapes. According to the official description, “BioShock” “blends sci-fi and horror to pose unique existential and societal questions that reshaped how game stories could be told – all amidst pulse-pounding action gameplay that rewards sharp shooting, clever planning, and lethal improvisation.”
Also Read:
Taron Egerton to Star in ‘Carry On’ Thriller for Netflix and Amblin
Along with 2K, a subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc., Roy Lee will produce for Vertigo Entertainment, while Francis Lawrence will produce for about:blank. Executive producers...
- 8/25/2022
- by Harper Lambert
- The Wrap
Spoiler Warning: This story discusses a major sequence in “The Many Saints of Newark,” currently playing in theaters and streaming on HBO Max.
Part of the enduring appeal of “The Sopranos” was how the HBO series operated in counterpoint to decades of organized crime myth-making by Hollywood, from Warner Bros. gangster pictures of the 1930s up through “The Godfather” and “GoodFellas.” The show’s psychologically complex central anti-hero, Tony Soprano (the late James Gandolfini), wasn’t glamorous or flashy or cool, and the many acts of violence on the show, generally, weren’t either.
So when regular “Sopranos” director Alan Taylor and series creator David Chase agreed to make the prequel feature film “The Many Saints of Newark” — which follows Tony’s formative years as a teenager (played by Gandolfini’s son Michael Gandolfini) with his uncle Dickie Moltisanti (Alessandro Nivola) — they had to figure out how to embrace the...
Part of the enduring appeal of “The Sopranos” was how the HBO series operated in counterpoint to decades of organized crime myth-making by Hollywood, from Warner Bros. gangster pictures of the 1930s up through “The Godfather” and “GoodFellas.” The show’s psychologically complex central anti-hero, Tony Soprano (the late James Gandolfini), wasn’t glamorous or flashy or cool, and the many acts of violence on the show, generally, weren’t either.
So when regular “Sopranos” director Alan Taylor and series creator David Chase agreed to make the prequel feature film “The Many Saints of Newark” — which follows Tony’s formative years as a teenager (played by Gandolfini’s son Michael Gandolfini) with his uncle Dickie Moltisanti (Alessandro Nivola) — they had to figure out how to embrace the...
- 10/5/2021
- by Adam B. Vary
- Variety Film + TV
It’s been a busy month for animated television at Netflix. The streaming service has greenlit “Blue Eye Samurai,” a new animated action series from Michael Green and Amber Noizumi.
The upcoming series focuses on a mixed-race master of the sword who lives a life in disguise while questing for revenge in Edo-period Japan.
The voice cast for Netflix’s upcoming animated series includes Maya Erskine, George Takei, Masi Oka, Randall Park, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Brenda Song, and Darren Barnet.
A release date for the project is under wraps.
Green and Noizumi serve as creators, showrunners, writers, and executive producers for the project. “Blue Eye Samurai” will be produced by Jane Wu, who will also serve as supervising director. Erwin Stoff will executive produce.
“Our story is a larger-than-life action-adventure that takes place 400 years ago, yet ‘Blue Eye Samurai’s’ themes are of the moment and the inspiration is deeply personal.
The upcoming series focuses on a mixed-race master of the sword who lives a life in disguise while questing for revenge in Edo-period Japan.
The voice cast for Netflix’s upcoming animated series includes Maya Erskine, George Takei, Masi Oka, Randall Park, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Brenda Song, and Darren Barnet.
A release date for the project is under wraps.
Green and Noizumi serve as creators, showrunners, writers, and executive producers for the project. “Blue Eye Samurai” will be produced by Jane Wu, who will also serve as supervising director. Erwin Stoff will executive produce.
“Our story is a larger-than-life action-adventure that takes place 400 years ago, yet ‘Blue Eye Samurai’s’ themes are of the moment and the inspiration is deeply personal.
- 10/10/2020
- by Tyler Hersko
- Indiewire
Netflix has signed an overall deal with writer and producer Michael Green.
The first project under that deal will be the animated series “Blue Eye Samurai,” which has been ordered to series at the streamer. Geeen co-created the series along with Amber Noizumi. They will serve as executive producers and co-showrunners on the show, which follows a mixed-race master of the sword who lives a life in disguise while seeking revenge in Edo-period Japan. Jane Wu will serve as supervising director and a producer. Erwin Stoff will also executive produce.
The voice cast for the series will include Maya Erskine, George Takei, Masi Oka, Randall Park, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Brenda Song, and Darren Barnet.
“Our story is a larger-than-life action-adventure that takes place 400 years ago, yet ‘Blue Eye Samurai’s’ themes are of the moment and the inspiration is deeply personal,” Green and Noizumi said. “We are grateful for Netflix’s...
The first project under that deal will be the animated series “Blue Eye Samurai,” which has been ordered to series at the streamer. Geeen co-created the series along with Amber Noizumi. They will serve as executive producers and co-showrunners on the show, which follows a mixed-race master of the sword who lives a life in disguise while seeking revenge in Edo-period Japan. Jane Wu will serve as supervising director and a producer. Erwin Stoff will also executive produce.
The voice cast for the series will include Maya Erskine, George Takei, Masi Oka, Randall Park, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Brenda Song, and Darren Barnet.
“Our story is a larger-than-life action-adventure that takes place 400 years ago, yet ‘Blue Eye Samurai’s’ themes are of the moment and the inspiration is deeply personal,” Green and Noizumi said. “We are grateful for Netflix’s...
- 10/9/2020
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix has given a formal green light to Blue Eye Samurai, an animated action series from Michael Green and Amber Noizumi.
Maya Erskine (Pen15) leads a voice cast that also includes George Takei (Star Trek), Masi Oka (Heroes), Randall Park (Fresh Off the Boat), Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (Man in the High Castle), Brenda Song (Dollface) and Darren Barnet (Never Have I Ever) as series regulars.
Blue Eye Samurai centers on a mixed-race master of the sword (Erskine) who lives a life in disguise while seeking revenge in Edo-period Japan.
Green and Noizumi are the creators and will serve as writers and executive producers. They will showrun the series together.
2020 Netflix Pilots & Series Orders
The series falls under Green’s overall TV deal with Netflix.
“Our story is a larger-than-life action-adventure that takes place 400 years ago, yet Blue Eye Samurai’s themes are of the moment and the inspiration is deeply personal.
Maya Erskine (Pen15) leads a voice cast that also includes George Takei (Star Trek), Masi Oka (Heroes), Randall Park (Fresh Off the Boat), Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (Man in the High Castle), Brenda Song (Dollface) and Darren Barnet (Never Have I Ever) as series regulars.
Blue Eye Samurai centers on a mixed-race master of the sword (Erskine) who lives a life in disguise while seeking revenge in Edo-period Japan.
Green and Noizumi are the creators and will serve as writers and executive producers. They will showrun the series together.
2020 Netflix Pilots & Series Orders
The series falls under Green’s overall TV deal with Netflix.
“Our story is a larger-than-life action-adventure that takes place 400 years ago, yet Blue Eye Samurai’s themes are of the moment and the inspiration is deeply personal.
- 10/9/2020
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
“If no one is dying, nothing is exploding and no one is trying to kill each other, you shouldn’t be calling me,” says Jane Wu, a storyboard artist with credits including “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” “Thor: Ragnarok” and Disney’s upcoming live-action remake of “Mulan.”
Wu is one of the few women who work in this segment of the business, where artists sketch out the action sequences that the rest of a movie’s crew will spend months realizing for the big screen.
Wu says she used the more generic name J. Wu in the early part of her career. With her talents now in high demand, she doesn’t need the abbreviation. “By the time I got a shot at ‘The Avengers,’ they already knew my name,” she says. “[Director] Joss [Whedon] was looking for more action people and asked, ‘Who is this person that I keep hearing about?’ That...
Wu is one of the few women who work in this segment of the business, where artists sketch out the action sequences that the rest of a movie’s crew will spend months realizing for the big screen.
Wu says she used the more generic name J. Wu in the early part of her career. With her talents now in high demand, she doesn’t need the abbreviation. “By the time I got a shot at ‘The Avengers,’ they already knew my name,” she says. “[Director] Joss [Whedon] was looking for more action people and asked, ‘Who is this person that I keep hearing about?’ That...
- 8/29/2019
- by S.D. Katz
- Variety Film + TV
Prolific film and television director Alan Taylor has signed on to helm Gold Mountain, a period adventure film set in 1850s San Francisco during the booming, violent times of the Gold Rush.
Planned as a U.S.-China co-production, the film tells the story of a canny widow and the girl she transports from China, who together overcome innate distrust to form a bond while running a marriage con on unsuspecting men.
Michelle Yeoh is in talks to star and produce, alongside Taylor, Jane Wu and Brandan Dennehy. Taylor first mentioned the project publicly during a panel discussion held at the ...
Planned as a U.S.-China co-production, the film tells the story of a canny widow and the girl she transports from China, who together overcome innate distrust to form a bond while running a marriage con on unsuspecting men.
Michelle Yeoh is in talks to star and produce, alongside Taylor, Jane Wu and Brandan Dennehy. Taylor first mentioned the project publicly during a panel discussion held at the ...
- 6/24/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Prolific film and television director Alan Taylor has signed on to helm Gold Mountain, a period adventure film set in 1850s San Francisco during the booming, violent times of the Gold Rush.
Planned as a U.S.-China co-production, the film tells the story of a canny widow and the girl she transports from China, who together overcome innate distrust to form a bond while running a marriage con on unsuspecting men.
Michelle Yeoh is in talks to star and produce, alongside Taylor, Jane Wu and Brandan Dennehy. Taylor first mentioned the project publicly during a panel discussion held at the ...
Planned as a U.S.-China co-production, the film tells the story of a canny widow and the girl she transports from China, who together overcome innate distrust to form a bond while running a marriage con on unsuspecting men.
Michelle Yeoh is in talks to star and produce, alongside Taylor, Jane Wu and Brandan Dennehy. Taylor first mentioned the project publicly during a panel discussion held at the ...
- 6/24/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.