CARTOON NETWORK TO CELEBRATE THE POWER OF LOCAL PRODUCTION AT ANNECY ANIMATION FESTIVAL
Skwigly
Turner’s Cartoon Network heads to Annecy Animation Festival and MIFA this week riding high on a wave of newly announced content, including a host of internationally-produced series and local development projects. In Europe alone, Turner has increased its content investment for Cartoon Network and second flagship kids’ channel, Boomerang by around 30% from 2016-2017 – complementing the amazing pipeline of US content from Cartoon Network Studios and sister-company Warner Bros., whilst ensuring the channels deliver strong local relevance.
Spearheading this year’s activities is a Studio Panel celebrating Cartoon Network’s European-produced, award-winning, global hit The Amazing World of Gumball, which is now in production on season six. Taking place on Thursday 15th June at Salle Pierre Lamy (4-5.15pm), the panel will feature Ben Bocquelet (Series Creator) and Mic Graves (Series Director) on a special journey behind-the-scenes of this extraordinary animated series, accompanied by creatives and guest studios involved in some of its most unique episodes.
Among the panel guests is new UK-based kids’ production company Blink Industries who have recently completed work on Gumball’s season five episode entitled “The Puppets,” directed by Becky & Joe, creators of internet sensation Don’t Hug Me, I’m Scared. A mini-series inspired by the episode named “Waiting For Gumball” has also been commissioned and is directed by BAFTA-nominated Simon Cartwright (Manoman) and Baker Terry (Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared) – fresh and exciting creative talent managed by Blink Industries.
Also joining the line-up are Gumball’s music composer, Ben Locket, who will talk about his process and the use of some complex and unusual musical techniques, and acclaimed French director and illustrator, Simon Landrein, who created a special skateboarding sequence for the season five episode “The Ollie”.
Patricia Hidalgo, Chief Content Officer, Turner EMEA Kids & International Kids Strategy commented: “As we dial up our local production investments internationally, this couldn’t feel like a more fitting time to celebrate our first major hit to come out of Europe and some of the amazing talent involved in the show. We’re continuing to look for great animation talent to work on Gumball season six, as well as our many different productions across the globe, and we’re excited to once again host our highly anticipated Picnic by the Lake, which is a fantastic opportunity for students to network and connect with key people from our studios.”
Brian Miller, SVP & General Manager, Cartoon Network Studios added: “Coming to Annecy always furthers the opportunity for Cartoon Network to explore and collaborate with various global production partners, and this year, we are especially keen to learn about some of the new production technologies being presented at the festival.”
Mark Eyers, SVP & Chief Content Officer – Kids Networks, Turner Asia Pacific said: “We’re attending Annecy again this year in the hope of discovering more fun and engaging ideas to become part of our successful original development programme in APAC. It’s also exciting that just one of the many highlights to have come out of that programme already – a series of shorts entitled Bill and Tony – has been selected to screen in competition at the festival, which is an amazing endorsement of the comedy animation we’re producing in the region right now.”
Known for its creator-driven and holistic approach to developing content across multiple platforms, representatives from Cartoon Network will also be on the lookout for new creative talent to join its teams in the US, Europe Middle East & Africa (EMEA) and Asia-Pacific (APAC). Meetings will be held at the Cartoon Network booth (Stand 4.A08) and Cartoon Network will also host its hugely popular Picnic By the Lake on Thursday 15th June.
In the past few months’ alone, Turner has announced a number of new internationally-produced series and local development projects, including: Taffy and a second season of The Happos Family, both created for Boomerang in partnership with Cyber Group Studios; The Heroic Quest of the Valiant Prince Ivandoe, a Danish-produced series for Cartoon Network, created by two animators who previously worked on Gumball; and Ben 10 Challenge, a live-action gameshow based on the Cartoon Network franchise, which will be produced in Spain in eight languages.