previous page
TOC
ream
Kimberly Dennison
Sebastian Debertin
Animation Execs: Notes from a Crazy Year We caught up with some of the top international animation content execs to find out about what they’re looking for and how they’re faring in 2020.
Sebastian Debertin Head of Intl. Content Acquisitions, KiKA (Children’s Channel of ARD & ZDF) Shows that impressed me in 2020: I guess we rank it down a bit and say “great shows!” Well, what hopefully will end up in a great TV series (for HBO Max) is the Oscar-winning short Hair Love. That was one of the few animated stories that truly touched my heart. Dog Loves Books is a great series, too, which we had the pleasure to co-produce with Komixx U.K., ABC Australia and of course the BBC. Inspiring kids to read a book does not go out of fashion. We also co-produced The Lost Letter, with the talented team at Dream Logic and our friends at Lupus Films. What I look for in an animated property: Quality, on all levels, but most of all, magic! In other words, an animated film or series should make the audience laugh, shiver, cry — make the audience feel like the hero or heroine. Ultimately, it should make the viewer happy. Best advice: Be enthusiastic and show that you love what you are creating, producing and making. Be positive and happy. And try to really listen to the comments of the people you pitch to. And then, perhaps, they will offer you the key to make your property even a bit stronger and come to life. Worst thing you can do during a pitch: Not being enthusiastic, not really listening, but pulling off a loveless pitch in the process. Even www.animationmagazine.net
TOC
worse: Looking at your smartphone or answering a short message or even a phone call while pitching! Best thing I made during the COVID shutdown: Cooking lunch and dinner for the family has been wonderful. What I love about working from home: Seeing a bit more of my fantastic kids growing up. What I hate about it: I miss meeting so many nice people in person. Best way to approach me: A short mail with a five-line pitch, a few scribbles and lots of enthusiasm is the right recipe to approach me. Email Constanze.Spilling@kika.de or Anna-Michelle.Gafron@kika.de. You should prove that you know your project, its unique selling properties as well as its audience and, also, show that you know a bit about KiKA and its programming and philosophy. Plus, you should explain why you feel the project could be a good fit for KiKA! The animated show/movie that changed my life: I really fell in love with animation when I watched Looney Tunes and The Pink Panther cartoons when I was a child. And later, when I produced some animated shows with some of the best people in the business. Some of these shows really made it into my heart and my own Hall of Fame: Guess How Much I Love You? — my friend Suzanne Ryan at SLR Productions, from Sydney, was the one who managed to get the rights. We created a convincing con-
28
cept together and ensured that this outstanding property came to life. Chloe’s Closet is a show that we created with the fantastic Mike Young and his team, a long time ago. And the series still is among the number one shows on KiKA, linear as well as online/VOD! We also celebrated Yakari being the number one hit show for 10 years now! I must say that I feel butterflies in my tummy because of the new Smurfs show we currently co-produce with our friends at IMPS, Peyo Productions, Mediatoon and TF1. Fantastic writing, and a bunch of great new female characters will bring more fun, more diversity and more entertainment than ever! I bet the show will be a new hit on KiKA in 2022 – and worldwide!
Kimberly Dennison, SVP Creative Exec, Animation & Family, Gaumont Animation Years at the Job: Over 15 years as a development/current/creative executive … and quite a few years in production. So, pretty much my whole adult life! Shows that Impressed me in 2020: I found The Midnight Gospel to be fascinating. Outside of animation, there have been a few shows that caught my eye … but I can honestly say I never watched Tiger King! What I look for in an animated property: I love projects that have a unique point of view and interesting, different approaches to storytelling. november 20
previous page
