‘God of War’ creative director wants a Netflix Series based on the game

Many fans are excited with this idea and started speculating as to who could play the role of Kratos. Considering the complex and engaging story of the God of War franchise, it seems like a great idea to develop a TV show adaptation.

Barlog has previously revealed some details about the much-awaited God of War sequel. The sequel is expected to lay emphasis on the relationship of Faye and Kratos and explore Faye’s backstory even further.

The post ‘God of War’ creative director wants a Netflix Series based on the game appeared first on AnimationXpress.

Once Upon Another

The Blank Page

Splash Entertainment’s VOD platform, Kabillion names Stevan Levy as president of programming and operations

Splash Entertainment-owned VOD platform Kabillion has promoted its VP of programming Stevan Levy as the president of programming and operations. 

In his new role that started this month, Levy will acquire new programming and partner with broadcasters to grow the service’s reach. He’s now leading the company’s new distribution and content efforts, and managing its content strategy. Levy will report to Kabillion co-CEOs Mike Young and Steve Rosen.

Stevan Levy

Levy is responsible for growing the company’s offerings across its two VOD platforms Kabillion (which primarily broadcasts animated action shows) and the girl-skewing platform Kabillion Girls Rule!. 

The primary target audience for both platforms is six to 12, but both also feature content for preschoolers. Between 30 to 40 per cent of both channels’ content comes from Splash Entertainment, such as mixed-media series Oh Yuck! and educational preschool show Chloe’s Closet (104 x 13 minutes), but the rest comes from third parties, including popular brands such as Transformers and Pokemon. Kabillion Girls Rule! has also licensed the animated Sabrina the Teenage Witch and the original 52 x 11-minute My Little Pony.

“Almost around 95 per cent of the VODs’ content is animated, but the platform is looking to expand with some live-action. It’s also looking to develop its own content by the end of the year,” Levy said.

In his 12 years at the company, Levy most recently focused on acquiring content for the platform. Previously, he served as Kabillion VP of global operations and production. Prior to joining Kabillion as the VP of global operations and production at its inception in 2007, he was a producer of development production at Disney Television Animation. While at Disney he produced more than 80 pilots, including Phineas & Ferb, Kim Possible and I Got A Rocket! (for which he won a children’s daytime Emmy award in 2008 for outstanding new approaches).

Kabillion is available in the US on cable and through Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and Vudu. The VOD service has more than 60 million viewers across OTT platforms and its YouTube channel (226,000 subscribers).

The post Splash Entertainment’s VOD platform, Kabillion names Stevan Levy as president of programming and operations appeared first on AnimationXpress.

Comedy Central animated series’ 2016 episode showing Kobe Bryant drying in helicopter crash taken down

Comedy Central has removed a 2016 episode of the animated sitcom Legends of Chamberlain Heights that depicted NBA legend Kobe Bryant dying in a helicopter crash after he and his daughter suffered a similar fate Sunday.

The episode, titled End of Days, showed Kobe in a helicopter crash and then exploding soon after.  The episode is no longer available on Comedy Central’s website or the network’s Facebook page. The official Twitter account of Legends of Chamberlain Heights tweeted, “Out of respect for Kobe and his family we have removed the clip of him and ask that you please don’t share it. RIP Kobe and Gigi Bryant and everyone else who died in the helicopter crash today.” The show only ran for 20 episodes and concluded on 20 August 2017.

Bryant was killed on Sunday when a helicopter he was traveling in crashed in Calabasas, California. His 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, was also killed in the accident, along with seven other people as the plane headed to the teen’s basketball game. The crash is under investigation, but the early indications state that the weather conditions might have played a role in it.

The post Comedy Central animated series’ 2016 episode showing Kobe Bryant drying in helicopter crash taken down appeared first on AnimationXpress.

Netflix signs a multi-year deal with animation house Titmouse Studio

Netflix has signed a multi-year production overall deal with Titmouse studio, the animation house behind Big Mouth. Under the agreement, Titmouse will produce multiple original adult-animated series, and the deal gives Netflix a first-look at adult-animated projects developed and created by the studio.

The two companies have previously partnered on several adult animated series, including Big Mouth from Brutus Pink and upcoming series The Midnight Gospel from Pendleton Ward and Duncan Trussell.

Current hits on Netflix’s adult-animation slate include BoJack Horseman, F is for Family, Big Mouth, Castlevania, and Disenchantment. The upcoming Netflix schedule includes Next in Fashion on 29 January, Taylor Swift’s Miss Americana, Uncut Gems, and Ragnarok on 31 January, Locke & Key and Horse Girl on 7 February, To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You on 12 February, Love is Blind and Narcos: Mexico on 13 February, Shaun the Sheep: Farmageddon on 14 February, Gentefied on 21 February, I am not OK with This on 26 February, Altered Carbon on 27 February, and All the Bright Places on 28 February.

The post Netflix signs a multi-year deal with animation house Titmouse Studio appeared first on AnimationXpress.

Disney+ unveils trailer of ‘Short Circuit’, series of 14 animated shorts

Disney+ has lately launched the official trailer for their newest animated property, Short Circuit, featuring clips of the 14 short films from Walt Disney Animation Studios. All animated shorts of Short Circuit are now available for streaming on Disney+.

Short Circuit is Disney Animation’s experimental short film collection created by the studios’ filmmakers and artists. It is the result of an experimental programme that began in 2016 which aims to take risks in both visual style and narrative of the story, and giving new voices at the studio a chance to showcase their incredible talents while also experimenting with new techniques in the filmmaking process.

So far, 20 Disney Animation Artists have worked on this the programme — including Jeff Gipson, who created the award-winning VR short Cycles as part of Short Circuit. Other notable directors include talented artists who have worked on Disney hits including Frozen, Frozen II, Zootopia, Moana, Big Hero 6 and Wreck-It Ralph.

14 animated shorts are directed by John Aquino, Trent Correy, Mitch Counsell, Brian Estrada, Jeff Gipson, Jerry Huynh, Brian Menz, Terry Moews, Nikki Mull, Natalie Nourigat, Zach Parrish, Brian Scott, Jennifer Stratton, and Kendra Vander Vliet.

Here’s a list of the animated shorts and their synopses :

Puddles: 

An adventurous young boy discovers that puddles can be portals to a fantastical world, but struggles to get his sister’s attention away from her phone to see the magic in the world around her.

Exchange Student: 

Life is hard enough for an exchange student at a new school, but as the only earthling at a school for aliens, the central character in this fanciful story is the ultimate outsider and must prove her worth to be accepted by her unusual new classmates.

Lucky Toupee: 

This clever bit of balderdash lifts the lid on an original tale about a hijacked hairpiece, a gang of larcenous leprechauns, and a budding romance.

Just a Thought:

An awkward 12-year-old boy named Ollie experiences “bubble trouble” when his true feelings for a girl are embarrassingly revealed in the form of a physical thought bubble.

Cycles: 

A story centered around the true meaning of creating a home and the life that it holds inside its walls.

Lightning in a Bottle: 

During a thunderstorm, a young boy’s effort to capture lightning in a glass bottle as part of a science fair project succeeds beyond his wildest expectations, but is shocked when he discovers the consequences of this unnatural feat.

The Race: 

Grim desperately needs one more soul to win his work competition, but his last scheduled collection at a rigorous bike race turns his world upside-down. At the finish line, he learns that life is not always about the trophy at the end of the race.

Hair-Jitsu: 

A young girl faces off against an evil hairdresser as she goes through imaginative lengths to avoid her first haircut.

Downtown: 

A commuter’s disappointment in missing the bus turns into a colorful and unexpected joyride when the surrounding street art bursts to life, revealing the heart of the city from an entirely new perspective.

Jing Hua: 

A grieving martial artist pays tribute to her recently departed teacher by creating a painted world using a magical form of kung fu.

Drop: 

A newly-formed raindrop falls to earth for the first time and has an unlikely and heartfelt encounter with a young girl that proves to be uplifting for both.

Zenith: 

A luminous, ethereal stag bounds effortlessly through a dark expanse of the universe, leaving a galaxy of stars in its wake. When it accidentally creates a black hole that threatens to devour everything in sight, the stag is forced to make a decision that will leave a lasting impression.

Elephant in the Room: 

A lost baby elephant is taken in by a boy and his father to work on their banana plantation. As the two quickly bond, the boy discovers that his new best friend yearns for her family and home in the wild.

Fetch: 

A child wants to play fetch with her pet. Unfortunately he’s wandered deep into an imposing forest.

The post Disney+ unveils trailer of ‘Short Circuit’, series of 14 animated shorts appeared first on AnimationXpress.

9 Story Brands secures ‘Moon and Me’ licensees

9 Story Brands has announced a slate of new Australian licensees for Sutikki and Foundling Bird’s preschool series Moon and Me.

The new deals for Australia follow the successful debut of the series Moon and Me from Teletubbies creator Andrew Davenport on ABC Australia last June. The series combines the latest in visual and technical innovations to create a colorful world that explores themes such as kindness, empathy, consideration and friendship.

Additional partners include Hunter Products (toys, puzzles and wood), Kinnerton (confectionary), Redan Publishing (magazines) and Minor Entertainment (live shows).

Merchantwise will handling licensing and marketing for Moon and Me in Australia on behalf of 9 Story and 9 Story Distribution International will oversee the global distribution of the series excluding the U.S., the UK, and China, with 9 Story Brands managing global merchandising rights excluding the UK and China.

The post 9 Story Brands secures ‘Moon and Me’ licensees appeared first on AnimationXpress.

CAKE’s ‘Kiri and Lou’ to launch in the UK

CAKE has announced the UK premiere of award-winning stop motion preschool series Kiri and Lou.

Kiri and Lou will air in the UK on CBeebies following a strong performance last year on TVNZ in New Zealand and CBC Canada, who commissioned the series. CBeebies joins broadcasters including ABC Kids in Australia, YLE in Finland, SVT in Sweden, Czech Television, EVision and BeIN in the Middle East and Showmax in Africa. 

CAKE CCO and MD Ed Galton said, “Kiri and Lou has already won the hearts of audiences in Australia, New Zealand and Canada; receiving a tremendous response from viewers both young and old.  We are thrilled to be partnering with CBeebies and introducing this much-loved series in the UK.”

Kiri and Lou features the friendship between Kiri, a feisty little dinosaur and Lou, a gentle and thoughtful creature, as they explore the world of feelings through laughter, song and outdoor adventure. Original and imaginative, Kiri and Lou invites children to learn about empathy and how to get along, through warm-hearted and gently humorous storylines which are resonating with audiences of all ages.

Hand-crafted in paper and clay and created using traditional stop motion animation from Antony Elworthy (Coraline, Corpse Bride and Isle of Dogs), this 52 x 5 minute series, currently in production, is voiced by Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords, Moana, Rio) and Olivia Tennet (Lord of the Rings) and is written and directed by feature film director Harry Sinclair. 

Kiri and Lou is produced by Fiona Copland for Stretchy and Heather Walker of Yowza Animation (Curious George, Welcome To the Wayne) with international sales handled by CAKE.

“It has been wonderful to see the rest of the world connecting with these idiosyncratic, original characters.  As concern for our planet increases, people are looking for natural values, which are reflected in the simplicity of Kiri and Lou’s world.  We love that families are watching Kiri and Lou together and adults and siblings are enjoying it too,” added Copland.

In 2019, Kiri and Lou was selected for screening at Annecy in the TV Films in Competition category and has been, most recently, nominated as a finalist at the Cynopsis Best of the Best Awards. 

TVNZ general manager of Commissioning and Production Andrew Shaw noted, “Kiri and Lou is what happens when extraordinary creative individuals  deliver an exceptional piece of media to entertain and enrich the lives of children. We are delighted with the production and it has been a real pleasure to be involved with this wonderful series.”

The post CAKE’s ‘Kiri and Lou’ to launch in the UK appeared first on AnimationXpress.

Tanmay Bhatt & co. collects over $5,000 donations through game streaming for a cause

Tanmay Bhatt, has announced that the All India Bakchod founder was teaming up with popular Youtuber Saiman Says and bring in several popular personalities CarryMinati, Abish Mathew, Sorabh Pant and more from the platform together on a single TreeMathon 2020 stream.


The stream presented jointly by Streamathon and Treesena was set to be an eight-hour live session with personalities taking turns to try their hand at the game Getting Over It.

The main goal of the  stream was for a cause Mission Green Mumbai and the raised funds will be utilized to plant as many trees as possible.

The stream was a huge success by the looks of it, with Tanmay Bhatt & co. managing to rake in over $5,000 in overall donations.The exact figure stood at $5163.46 as the stream ended. The highest donor of the stream was Cosmic YT, who put in a total of Rs 30,000  to support the cause. The top five donators of the stream will each have their name etched in trees.

The post Tanmay Bhatt & co. collects over $5,000 donations through game streaming for a cause appeared first on AnimationXpress.