Exclusive: Sky Kids is developing children’s book Uncle Bobby’s Wedding as an animated special, as David Levine’s Lightboat Media supercharges its focus on stories with LGBTQ+ stories at their core.
Sarah S. Brannen’s story, told through the eyes of a young girl, Chloe, who learns her beloved Uncle Bobby is getting married to his boyfriend, Jamie. Initially concerned that she’ll no longer be his favorite, she realizes she’ll actually be gaining another uncle after a fun-filled day out with the couple.
The kids division of UK network Sky is developing it as a 30-minute special for June 2025, in time for Pride, with former Moonbug Entertainment and Disney exec Levine in active development on the project. Michael Vogel is attached as the writer.
Lightboat is eyeing co-production, distributor and pre-buying commissioner partners ahead of the KidScreen Summit in San Diego,...
Sarah S. Brannen’s story, told through the eyes of a young girl, Chloe, who learns her beloved Uncle Bobby is getting married to his boyfriend, Jamie. Initially concerned that she’ll no longer be his favorite, she realizes she’ll actually be gaining another uncle after a fun-filled day out with the couple.
The kids division of UK network Sky is developing it as a 30-minute special for June 2025, in time for Pride, with former Moonbug Entertainment and Disney exec Levine in active development on the project. Michael Vogel is attached as the writer.
Lightboat is eyeing co-production, distributor and pre-buying commissioner partners ahead of the KidScreen Summit in San Diego,...
- 1/30/2024
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Cr. Colleen Hayes/Netflix © 2023.
The holiday season is upon us. That means the release of brand-new Christmas-themed movies, series, and specials. Below, we’ll track everything coming to Netflix over the next several weeks.
If you want help picking out a Christmas movie, series, or special, you can sift through all of Netflix’s Christmas titles here or use category codes to sort through them on Netflix itself.
Please note that this list was originally a coming soon post and has been updated to reflect other licensed new movies that have dropped on Netflix in the US and UK.
Table of Contents New Global Netflix Original and Licensed Christmas Movies in 2023 New Christmas Movies and Specials on Netflix US Motion Picture Corporation of America Collection Added to Netflix Internationally New Christmas Movies Coming Soon - 2024 & Beyond New Global Netflix Original and Licensed Christmas Movies in 2023 Love at First Sight...
The holiday season is upon us. That means the release of brand-new Christmas-themed movies, series, and specials. Below, we’ll track everything coming to Netflix over the next several weeks.
If you want help picking out a Christmas movie, series, or special, you can sift through all of Netflix’s Christmas titles here or use category codes to sort through them on Netflix itself.
Please note that this list was originally a coming soon post and has been updated to reflect other licensed new movies that have dropped on Netflix in the US and UK.
Table of Contents New Global Netflix Original and Licensed Christmas Movies in 2023 New Christmas Movies and Specials on Netflix US Motion Picture Corporation of America Collection Added to Netflix Internationally New Christmas Movies Coming Soon - 2024 & Beyond New Global Netflix Original and Licensed Christmas Movies in 2023 Love at First Sight...
- 12/24/2023
- by Kasey Moore
- Whats-on-Netflix
The latest episode of "Futurama," titled "The Prince and the Product," is the show's seventh anthology episode, and it's the weirdest one to date.
The "Futurama" anthology episodes began back in the series' second season with "Anthology of Interest I", and featured stories that were too outlandish, even for the already-bizarre show. The conceit behind the anthology format, at least at first, was merely to sensationalize the drama in a 1950s style, complete with an over-the-top announcer (Maurice Lamarche) yelling things like "You've seen it! Now you can't unsee it!" As the show progressed, however -- and the showrunners wanted to get even wilder -- the conceit fell away, and anthology shows would be presented just for fun.
The episode "Reincarnation", for instance, merely featured a trio of segments in different animation formats. One was a black-and-white Ub Iwerks-style cartoon, another appeared to have been animated on an Atari...
The "Futurama" anthology episodes began back in the series' second season with "Anthology of Interest I", and featured stories that were too outlandish, even for the already-bizarre show. The conceit behind the anthology format, at least at first, was merely to sensationalize the drama in a 1950s style, complete with an over-the-top announcer (Maurice Lamarche) yelling things like "You've seen it! Now you can't unsee it!" As the show progressed, however -- and the showrunners wanted to get even wilder -- the conceit fell away, and anthology shows would be presented just for fun.
The episode "Reincarnation", for instance, merely featured a trio of segments in different animation formats. One was a black-and-white Ub Iwerks-style cartoon, another appeared to have been animated on an Atari...
- 9/18/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Like the first day of Lollapalooza 2023, Day Two featured competing headliners that vied for some 100,000+ people’s attention. On one side was the 1975, whose frontman Matty Healy has been making headlines, and on the other was one of the greatest rappers of all time, Kendrick Lamar.
Unlike Thursday, where it felt like every person was there to see Billie Eilish, Friday’s finales were more equally divided. So while Lamar headlined the bigger end of the park, both artists’ sides were comfortably packed at set time.
Of course, there was...
Unlike Thursday, where it felt like every person was there to see Billie Eilish, Friday’s finales were more equally divided. So while Lamar headlined the bigger end of the park, both artists’ sides were comfortably packed at set time.
Of course, there was...
- 8/5/2023
- by Althea Legaspi, Nina Corcoran and Waiss Aramesh
- Rollingstone.com
Chinese video streaming firm iQiyi has teamed with Canada’s Wildbrain to jointly produce kids’ animation series “Jonny Jetboy.” The series was hatched by Keith Chapman, creator of “Paw Patrol” and “Bob The Builder” and will run to an initial forty 11-minute episodes.
The story follows Jonny Jones, the youngest member of a family of heroes as he learns to become a superhero like his JetForce family. They are committed to protecting the high-tech city Calamity Canyon, from its many villains. Jonny wields a JetGlove and is the fastest member of the force, but often he struggles to control his special powers.
The deal marks first global partnership for original China IP struck by WildBrain’s dedicated Shanghai team. Now under way, production is taking place at China’s WingSing Animation Studio with WildBrain acting as supervisor. Delivery is scheduled for 2023.
The Canadian company is also handling global distribution and licensing outside of Greater China.
The story follows Jonny Jones, the youngest member of a family of heroes as he learns to become a superhero like his JetForce family. They are committed to protecting the high-tech city Calamity Canyon, from its many villains. Jonny wields a JetGlove and is the fastest member of the force, but often he struggles to control his special powers.
The deal marks first global partnership for original China IP struck by WildBrain’s dedicated Shanghai team. Now under way, production is taking place at China’s WingSing Animation Studio with WildBrain acting as supervisor. Delivery is scheduled for 2023.
The Canadian company is also handling global distribution and licensing outside of Greater China.
- 1/25/2022
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
The animated series adaptation of “The Supernatural Academy” books by Jaymin Eve has been ordered at Peacock, Variety has learned exclusively.
Variety originally reported the series was in the works from 41 Entertainment back in October 2019. The half-hour series will debut on Peacock on Jan. 20, 2022. The first season will consist of 16 episodes.
Like the books, the show chronicles an otherworldly adventure of sisters marked at birth. One twin sister was raised in the Supernatural world, confident and popular. The other was raised in the human world, an offbeat outsider. Now they’re about to be reunited at the Supernatural Academy, and neither one of them is thrilled about it. These adversarial twins will have to learn to get over their differences and trust each other in order to save themselves and save the world.
“It is so incredible to see my original story come to life in this high-quality animation project,...
Variety originally reported the series was in the works from 41 Entertainment back in October 2019. The half-hour series will debut on Peacock on Jan. 20, 2022. The first season will consist of 16 episodes.
Like the books, the show chronicles an otherworldly adventure of sisters marked at birth. One twin sister was raised in the Supernatural world, confident and popular. The other was raised in the human world, an offbeat outsider. Now they’re about to be reunited at the Supernatural Academy, and neither one of them is thrilled about it. These adversarial twins will have to learn to get over their differences and trust each other in order to save themselves and save the world.
“It is so incredible to see my original story come to life in this high-quality animation project,...
- 12/3/2021
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Univision, fresh off the closing of its sale to new owners and installing a new senior management team, is launching a new foray into the streaming wars.
The Hispanic media company announced plans to launch PrendeTV, which it says will be the only dedicated streaming service aimed at a U.S. Latino audience with free, ad-supported Spanish-language programming. PrendeTV is set to debut later in the first quarter of 2020 with 30-plus channels and 10,000 hours of on-demand programming.
PrendeTV (prende.tv) will comprise Spanish-language movies and TV series, including novelas, comedies, classic sports, documentaries, lifestyle shows and children’s programming. The service will be the exclusive streaming home for a range of programming drawn from Univision and Televisa’s libraries.
While Univision’s PrendeTV may represent the first free U.S. streaming service fully dedicated to Spanish-language programming, other AVOD providers feature Hispanic content as part of their offerings. Those include NBCUniversal’s Peacock Latino,...
The Hispanic media company announced plans to launch PrendeTV, which it says will be the only dedicated streaming service aimed at a U.S. Latino audience with free, ad-supported Spanish-language programming. PrendeTV is set to debut later in the first quarter of 2020 with 30-plus channels and 10,000 hours of on-demand programming.
PrendeTV (prende.tv) will comprise Spanish-language movies and TV series, including novelas, comedies, classic sports, documentaries, lifestyle shows and children’s programming. The service will be the exclusive streaming home for a range of programming drawn from Univision and Televisa’s libraries.
While Univision’s PrendeTV may represent the first free U.S. streaming service fully dedicated to Spanish-language programming, other AVOD providers feature Hispanic content as part of their offerings. Those include NBCUniversal’s Peacock Latino,...
- 1/12/2021
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
Long ago, during a brief “ecstasy phase,” Eddie Vedder tried to write some techno music. “I was listening to all this stuff on ecstasy,” he told me in 2006, during an all-night chat in a Cleveland hotel room. “But I was wondering, ‘Are they writing it on ecstasy?’ I decided that the pure way to do it is to actually take ecstasy, and then write ecstasy music. That didn’t work out. But I enjoyed the ecstasy.” Around the same time, guitarist Stone Gossard revealed a desire to experiment with Pearl...
- 1/22/2020
- by Brian Hiatt
- Rollingstone.com
Melanie Martinez is taking her fans on a fantastical trip. In her directorial debut, the singer presented “K-12” in Los Angeles Tuesday (Sept. 3), ahead of the film’s worldwide one-night-only release on Sept. 5. The colorful feature-length production was financed by Martinez’s label, Atlantic Records, totaling an investment of $5 million to $6 million, she estimates.
A coming-of-age fantasy tale, “K-12” follows the character Cry Baby, played by Martinez, to a boarding school whose student body includes kids with magical powers, evil adults and angels who descend from above. As the story unfolds against a kaleidoscopic backdrop (Fernanda Guerrero served as production designer), real issues are tackled, including bullying, transphobia and gender inequality.
“Showing societal conditioning was a big goal of mine,” Martinez told Variety at the “K-12” L.A. premiere. “I thought it was the perfect metaphor. School being like this thing that we have to go through and learn from...
A coming-of-age fantasy tale, “K-12” follows the character Cry Baby, played by Martinez, to a boarding school whose student body includes kids with magical powers, evil adults and angels who descend from above. As the story unfolds against a kaleidoscopic backdrop (Fernanda Guerrero served as production designer), real issues are tackled, including bullying, transphobia and gender inequality.
“Showing societal conditioning was a big goal of mine,” Martinez told Variety at the “K-12” L.A. premiere. “I thought it was the perfect metaphor. School being like this thing that we have to go through and learn from...
- 9/6/2019
- by BreAnna Bell
- Variety Film + TV
Garfield, the lasagna-loving comic-strip feline, has a new owner.
The lazy cat has for more than 40 years been the property of owner Jon Arbuckle, a socially awkward fellow who must indulge his pet’s debilitating laziness and constant sarcasm. But in weeks to come, the character will become one more element in Viacom’s vast Nickelodeon portfolio of intellectual property, taking his place alongside SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora The Explorer and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Viacom has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Paws, Inc., the entity that holds all global intellectual property rights to both “Garfield” as well as “U.S. Acres,” another Davis creation, including corresponding rights related to content, consumer products, and location-based experiences. The acquisition is expected to close in the upcoming weeks. Financial terms were not disclosed, but the character is said to generate millions of dollars a year in merchandise alone.
“I’m...
The lazy cat has for more than 40 years been the property of owner Jon Arbuckle, a socially awkward fellow who must indulge his pet’s debilitating laziness and constant sarcasm. But in weeks to come, the character will become one more element in Viacom’s vast Nickelodeon portfolio of intellectual property, taking his place alongside SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora The Explorer and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Viacom has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Paws, Inc., the entity that holds all global intellectual property rights to both “Garfield” as well as “U.S. Acres,” another Davis creation, including corresponding rights related to content, consumer products, and location-based experiences. The acquisition is expected to close in the upcoming weeks. Financial terms were not disclosed, but the character is said to generate millions of dollars a year in merchandise alone.
“I’m...
- 8/6/2019
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
“Toyland, Toyland…”I know, Christmas was seven weeks ago, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t have some fun at the multiplex with some of our favorite playtime pals. The studios have been raiding the toy chest in search of film franchises for decades, from Raggedy Ann and Andy (originally a cartoon short from the Fleischers) to the cult favorite Clue in the 1980s (trivia question staple: it had three endings). Now with longtime movie series based on GI Joe and Transformers, toys have become as much a source material as comic books and TV shows. But could these product-spawned flicks actually be witty and (gasp) satirical, even entertaining to adults? Pixar certainly tested the waters with their first hit feature back in 1995 Toy Story (which included kid superstars like Mr. Potato Head and Barbie alongside original characters). Jump ahead 20 years and some great comedy talents garnered big...
- 2/7/2019
- by Jim Batts
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
In a highly competitive situation, Apple has made a deal with Dhx Media to produce new “Peanuts” content for the tech giant’s upcoming streaming service, Variety has learned.
Dhx and its subsidiary, Peanuts Worldwide, will develop and produce original series, specials and shorts based on the iconic gang of characters created by Charles M. Schulz.
As part of the partnership, Dhx will produce original short-form Stem content that will be exclusive to Apple featuring astronaut Snoopy. Peanuts Worldwide and Nasa recently signed a Space Act Agreement, designed to inspire a passion for space exploration and the Stem fields among the next generation of students.
Dhx acquired a large stake in the “Peanuts” gang in May 2017. The $345 million deal also gave Dhx control of the “Strawberry Shortcake” franchise, adding to a children’s programming portfolio that also includes “Teletubbies,” “Caillou,” “Inspector Gadget,” and the “Degrassi” franchise.
Schulz debuted the characters...
Dhx and its subsidiary, Peanuts Worldwide, will develop and produce original series, specials and shorts based on the iconic gang of characters created by Charles M. Schulz.
As part of the partnership, Dhx will produce original short-form Stem content that will be exclusive to Apple featuring astronaut Snoopy. Peanuts Worldwide and Nasa recently signed a Space Act Agreement, designed to inspire a passion for space exploration and the Stem fields among the next generation of students.
Dhx acquired a large stake in the “Peanuts” gang in May 2017. The $345 million deal also gave Dhx control of the “Strawberry Shortcake” franchise, adding to a children’s programming portfolio that also includes “Teletubbies,” “Caillou,” “Inspector Gadget,” and the “Degrassi” franchise.
Schulz debuted the characters...
- 12/14/2018
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Popeye, the 89-year-old spinach-powered mariner, will be launching his first new adventures in more than a decade in new animated originals slated to debut on the brand’s YouTube channel.
The new material will come under a pact between WildBrain, a digital kids’ network and studio, and Hearst’s King Features Syndicate, which handles licensing for the Popeye franchise. WildBrain will create new animated content in the “squash-and-stretch” animation style of Popeye, in collaboration with King Features.
Also under the agreement, WildBrain will take over management of the “Popeye and Friends Official” channel on YouTube, launched in January 2017, with an eye toward boosting its audience. Initially, WildBrain plans to produce new compilations of Popeye classic cartoons, drawing from shows including “Popeye,” “Popeye and Son,” and “The Continuing Adventures of Popeye.”
It’s worth noting that King Features is focusing on YouTube and digital platforms to serve as Popeye’s anchor — not TV.
The new material will come under a pact between WildBrain, a digital kids’ network and studio, and Hearst’s King Features Syndicate, which handles licensing for the Popeye franchise. WildBrain will create new animated content in the “squash-and-stretch” animation style of Popeye, in collaboration with King Features.
Also under the agreement, WildBrain will take over management of the “Popeye and Friends Official” channel on YouTube, launched in January 2017, with an eye toward boosting its audience. Initially, WildBrain plans to produce new compilations of Popeye classic cartoons, drawing from shows including “Popeye,” “Popeye and Son,” and “The Continuing Adventures of Popeye.”
It’s worth noting that King Features is focusing on YouTube and digital platforms to serve as Popeye’s anchor — not TV.
- 5/22/2018
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
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