New original series from Daniel Chong -- the latest to come out of Cartoon Network’s short form animation program -- to receive exclusive screening at Annecy; Network returns to festival to seek next generation of talent.
ANNECY, FRANCE -- Cartoon Network is returning to Annecy for the 2015 Animation Festival and MIFA, where it will celebrate the latest success to emerge from its prestigious short form Artists’ Program and continue the search for emerging talent to take part in the program.
On Thursday, June 18, Cartoon Network representatives will host a series of face-to-face interviews with artists, in a bid to source promising new talent to work with the studio. Cartoon Network will also run two special panel events: “Cartoon Network: From Short to Series” and “The Making of Cartoon Network’s Adventure Time,”on Thursday, June 18th and Friday June 19th, respectively.
Taking place in Salle Pierre Lamy (4 – 5.15pm), “Cartoon Network: From Short to Series” will offer attendees a peek inside the Studios’ award-winning Artists’ Program, as well as an exclusive first look at We Bare Bears, created by Daniel Chong. Coming to Cartoon Network US in July 2015, followed by EMEA from September 2015, We Bare Bears is the latest series to be developed as part of the program.
Moderated by Cartoon Network Studios Chief Content Officer Rob Sorcher, the panel will feature Elizabeth Ito, director and storyboard artist on the network’s global phenomenon Adventure Time and creator of the brand new short Welcome to My Life; George Gendi storyboard artist on The Amazing World of Gumball from Cartoon Network Studios Europe and creator of the brand new pilot Apple & Onion; and Daniel Chong, creator of We Bare Bears. The panel will be preceded by Cartoon Network’s renowned Picnic by the Lake, at the Plage de L’Imperial from 12.30 – 2.30pm, where festival-goers will have the opportunity to meet creators and programming executives and take home some specially-created We Bare Bears-inspired treats.
The following day, “The Making of Cartoon Network’s Adventure Time” will take place from 2 – 3.15pm in Salle Pierre Lamy. Now in its sixth season, the blockbuster franchise has built a broad-ranging, worldwide fan base of adults and children alike since it premiered in 2010. This panel presents an opportunity to hear from the key creative and production team behind the show, taking us through the making of this much-loved animated phenomenon. Focal points will include recent guest-directed shorts, including the Annecy-nominated Food Chain, and an exclusive sneak-peek of an upcoming episode by guest director Kirsten Lepore rendered solely using stop motion animation -- a significant first for the series.
“Annecy attracts some of the world’s most talented and innovative creatives and we’re excited to return and discover new emerging talent as they develop the next generation of animation,” Sorcher said. “We’re proud of what’s been achieved to date through our Artists’ Programme and we are looking forward to sharing an exclusive first look at We Bare Bears.”
“Cartoon Network is a global leader in the creation of kids’ animation and we’re committed to continuing to entertain and surprise our audiences with engaging, high quality and laugh-out-loud storytelling,” added Patricia Hidalgo, SVP & Chief Content and Creative Officer, EMEA. “Our presence at Annecy and the success of the shows to come out of the Artists’ Program so far is evidence of just how important the search for new talent, from right across the world, is for a global brand like Cartoon Network.”
“We’re seeing a wealth of fun, innovative and highly-engaging concepts coming from right across our diverse region,” commented Mark Eyers, Chief Content Officer – Kids, Asia Pacific. “We have currently identified three creators in Korea, India and Australia that could be a perfect fit for the Artists’ Program -- and it will be exciting to turn these locally-produced ideas into content that can reach audiences across the world. Annecy really is a global get-together of top animation talent and we’re looking forward to seeing what it has to offer this year.”
Source: Cartoon Network
Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network, Jennifer Wolfe has worked in the Media & Entertainment industry as a writer and PR professional since 2003.
