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Events
Fresh Market Fare MIPCOM 2021 News Bytes
T
he annual content market will be returning to the Palais des Festivals in Cannes this month (Oct. 11-14). If you can’t make it there in person, you can also join digitally to participate online. (Online prices begin at 300 euros and allow participants to enjoy the site’s content through Nov. 31.) Here are some of the latest announcements about new animated shows that will be unveiled at the market at press time:
Clay Cuties
Everyone’s favorite Bristol-based studio Aardman Animations is moving full steam ahead with its new clay-animated preschool show The Very Small Creatures. Aimed at one- to three-year olds, the recently greenlit show follows the adventures of five genderless, toddler-like clay creatures who explore a child’s play area when there’s nobody around. In each episode, Pink, Blue, Orange, Yellow and Green explore their surroundings and learn about the world around them, each other and themselves. As it has become customary in many animated kids’ shows these days, the series emphasizes kindness, empathy and teamwork. Luckily, each episode is also packed with comedic moments. Sky Kids has already commissioned 20 three-minute episodes. The five characters first debuted back in the ’80s when they were introduced in Aardman’s classic show Morph. The new series, which will premiere on Sky Kids in November, marks the series directorial debut of animator/artist Lucy Izzard. “It’s a show driven by five very cute clay creatures that act and behave like toddlers, learning about their physical world, themselves and each other,” she notes. “My two preschoolers have given me plenty of material to work from! I can’t wait to sit down on the sofa and show them the world they’ve inspired.”
They All Live in a Blue Submarine
Canadian animation powerhouse Guru Studio will be introducing a wonderful new animated show called Big Blue at the fall market. The 2D, 52 x 11-minute series, which is set to premiere on CBC Kids in Canada later this year, was created by Animation Magazine’s Rising Star Gyimah Gariba. Here is the official synopsis: “Whenever there’s trouble, Captain Lettie and The Calypso Crew are there to help save the Big Blue and protect its quirky residents. On every mission, there’s always big adventure, plenty of laughs and even an occasional dance party! This fun-loving crew always sticks together, and with the help of a magical ocean fairy named Bacon Berry, they just might unravel the mysterious secrets of their underwater universe!” Guru’s president and creative director Frank Falcone tells us, “Big Blue is a show with an incredibly strong creative vision. It’s really funny and delivers on the promise of a diverse modern family dynamic, with all of SpongeBob’s goofy dysfunctional sensibilities, sitting at the helm of an USS Enterprise-like submarine exploring a vast underwater fantasy universe. That’s what we have on-screen: missions, and a lot of comedy!” www.animationmagazine.net 36
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november 21
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