Walt Disney Animation Taps Cinesite for ‘Iwájú’ 3DCG Work
Directed by Kugali co-founder Ziki Nelson, the new animated series will feature authentic stories inspired by African culture; show is set to premiere in 2023 on Disney+.
Category: Diversity and Inclusion
Funimation Adding 1,000+ New Spanish Dubbed Anime Episodes
To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, the streamer is releasing a trove of content with Spanish and Portuguese subtitles and dubs; titles include ‘My Hero Academia,’ ‘Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba,’ and ‘Attack on Titan.’
6th Annual Imagine This Women's Film Festival
Begins: September 24, 2021
#ITWIFF21 Film Guide is Live! 160+ films. 30+ countries - Made by Women & Non-Binary Filmmakers, for Everyone; the 6th Annual Imagine This Women’s Film Festival returns this month from Sept 24 - Oct 3rd with both online and in-person programming, featuring 163 films made by women and non-binary filmmakers and 17 screenplays by women storytellers.
ScreenSkills Animation Skills Council Launches Animation Trainee Finder
Program provides production placements for candidates who have up to 12 months paid work experience in animation; program aims to increase the pool of qualified talent by providing a range of training opportunities – application deadline is September 27.
OIAF 2021 Drops Official Trailer and New Program Highlights
Get a glimpse of what’s in store at the upcoming virtual event set for September 22 – October 3; in addition to a host of screenings, sessions will include a discussion about WIA Vancouver’s ACE Program, an introduction to the Black Write Talent Incubator, and a conversation with storyboard artists José Pou and Bradley Cayford.
IBM and Adobe Team up on ‘SkillsBuild for Students’
Free online design courses equip teens with valuable skills to bolster future academic and professional success; coursework includes ‘Adobe Photoshop for Beginners,’ ‘Basic Principles of Design,’ as well as self-assessments to help students discover their creative strengths.
Festival Stop Motion Montréal Returns with Spotlight on Indigenous Artists
The 13th edition runs September 10-19, and features the panel discussion, ‘Indigenous Stop-Motion Productions—Voices and Images,’ and a stop-motion character workshop by Jean-François Lévesque.
ASIFA-Hollywood Announces New AEF Grants
Nine educators from the UK, US, India, Ireland, Brazil and the Netherlands receive faculty grants, awarded annually to individuals or groups, providing support for research, scholarly activity, or creative projects in the field of animation.
In Awards, Business, Diversity and Inclusion, Education and Training, Films, People, Short Films | ANIMATIONWorld, Headline News | Geographic Region: All
Wonder Media Addresses Teen Suicide in ‘My Life is Worth Living’ Animated Series
Produced in partnership with the Cook Center for Human Connections, project provides a safe, nonjudgmental platform using relatable teen stories to teach suicide prevention strategies; episodes available on show’s YouTube channel.
FLAMIN Animations Announces Four Artist Commissions
Sponsored by Film London and Arts Council England, the program aims to support black-identifying animators living in the UK; selected artists will receive £2,500 each along with mentoring opportunities, development support, and advice, to create 1–3-minute animations that will premiere on the Film London website in Winter 2021.
Netflix Launching Animation Foundations Mentorship Program
Kicking off next month, the program will broaden opportunities for underrepresented talent and bring new voices and stories to the animation space; creatives in both the Latinx and neurodiverse communities have been selected by program partners to participate in the inaugural Fall 2021 group.
Steven Clay Hunter Reclaims His Childhood in Pixar’s ‘OUT’
In the studio’s first film featuring an openly gay main character, storyline, and on-screen same-sex kiss, the SparkShorts director tells his highly-personal story of a life spent dealing with the challenges of coming out.
In 3D, CG, Digital Media, Diversity and Inclusion, People, Short Films | ANIMATIONWorld | Geographic Region: All
LightBox Expo Online to Host 3rd Annual Concept Art Awards
The virtual event celebrates visual arts with a focus on animation, illustration, and concept art; this year LBXO expands to six days, running September 7-12.
In 2D, 3D, Art, Awards, Business, CG, Digital Media, Diversity and Inclusion, Event, Films, People | ANIMATIONWorld, Headline News, VFXWorld | Special Events: Lightbox Expo | Geographic Region: All
Netflix Reveals ‘Ada Twist, Scientist,’ First Look Episodes, Trailer and Images
Two full episodes of the brand-new CG animated series from Chris Nee and Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground Productions now available on the Netflix Jr. YouTube Channel; first season kicks off with a boom on September 28.
BIEN Animates the Excitement Paralympians Bring to Sports
New spot from inclusive motion design studio highlights both the athletic prowess of Paralympic athletes and the thrill of watching their performances.
NYC's 10th Annual Winter Film Awards International Film Festival Returns September 23 - October 2
Begins: September 23, 2021
Winter Film Awards showcases the best in indie films from emerging filmmakers from around the world in all genres, with a special emphasis on highlighting the work of women and under-represented filmmakers.
In 2D, 3D, Acting, Anime, Awards, Cartoons, Digital Media, Diversity and Inclusion, Education and Training, Event, Festival, Films, Music Videos, Short Films, Transmedia | Event Types: Documentaries, Features, New Media, Screenings, Seminars / Workshops, Short Films, Transmedia
Cartoon Network Debuts ‘Circle Time with Miss Ruby & Jessica’ Interstitial
The short features an animated Jessica from ‘Craig of the Creek’ talking to Ruby Bridges, civil rights icon and activist, about her experience as the first Black child integrated into an all-white school, and asking what kids can do to be peace makers.
New ‘Bridges’ Initiative Introduces African Talent to Global Animation Markets
Creative initiative mentors immerging African talent in the production of original animated shorts; ‘Red Ants,’ the first of 10 shorts to be produced within the program, premiered at the 2021 Annecy International Animation Festival.
Disney’s Experimental Shorts Return in ‘Short Circuit’ Season 2
The studio’s innovative program is back on Disney+ with five new animated films from five first-time directors, expertly guided from pitch to post by production manager Jennifer Newfield.
In 2D, 3D, CG, Digital Media, Diversity and Inclusion, People, Short Films, Technology | ANIMATIONWorld | Geographic Region: All
Activision Blizzard Employees Gather to Protest ‘Frat Boy’ Culture
Walkout protest follows a lawsuit filed against the gaming giant claiming a deeply abusive culture that ‘fostered sexual harassment and discrimination.’
Netflix Drops ‘Ada Twist, Scientist’ Teaser Trailer
Chris Nee’s brand-new CG animated series about an eight-year-old scientist, produced with Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground Productions, kicks off with a boom on September 28.
In 3D, CG, Digital Media, Diversity and Inclusion, People, Television | ANIMATIONWorld, Headline News | Geographic Region: All
‘Guiding Light’ PSA Raises Awareness for 211.org Community Support Network
Bent Image Lab and Chel White, working with the Ad Council and United Way, produce 2D spot that highlights resources available for people in at-risk situations.
‘Universal Animation Writers Program’ 2021 Selections Revealed
5 participants chosen for first-of-its-kind paid one-year program, in partnership with DreamWorks and Illumination, to develop underrepresented voices in film and TV animation through workshops, seminars, sponsorship, and roundtable discussions.
Development Begins on Matthew A. Cherry’s ‘Battu’
The Oscar winning ‘Hair Love’ director, Cartoon Network Studios, and award-winning director Chaz Bottoms start work on a 2D animated musical comedy series celebrating the creative arts culture of Chicago.
In 2D, Business, CG, Digital Media, Diversity and Inclusion, Films, Music and Sound, People, Short Films, Television | ANIMATIONWorld, Headline News | Geographic Region: All
A Young Girl’s Hero’s Journey Begins in Chris Nee’s ‘Ridley Jones’
Netflix’s new animated musical preschool series from the prolific Peabody, Humanitas, NAACP, and Emmy Award-winning ‘Doc McStuffins’ creator brings diversity, inclusivity, and representation to the adventures of a courageous and curious kid living inside a natural history museum.
