A New Home for Animated Storytelling

We catch up with Sefi Carmel, the CEO of U.K.-based Creation Entertainment Media, to find out more about the studio’s hot animation slate.

Can you tell us a little bit about Creation Entertainment Media?

Sefi Carmel: Creation Entertainment Media is a production company which specializes in storytelling through film, television and immersive technologies. Our mission is to create global high-end content through collaborating with filmmakers from around the globe and facilitating international co-productions. Its credits include Legacy of Lies (Netflix) and Albion Tales (Prime Video) and animation titles including Secret Magic Control Agency (Netflix). Our partner Magic Frame Animation is an animation studio based in the United Kingdom and Cyprus which produces visually stunning stories across film, television and digital platforms. It is a full-service international animation studio made up of a team of creatives from all around the world with a passion for animation. Together we build the highest quality animated worlds that kids and families worldwide enjoy.

What types of animation projects do you specialize in?

The stories we create are based around fantasy adventures, science fiction and action-based narratives that have universal appeal. Our projects feature educational content, as well as creativity and strong, diverse characters. It’s important to us that each project reflects a completely original, imaginative and immersive fantasy world. Each story features emotional moments and characters that resonate with kids and encourages learning and emotional development, self-confidence and kindness, inclusion and acceptance.

What are some of the big titles that you are working on right now?

We have just announced the upcoming feature film Aliens FC, which is currently in development. Oscar-nominated writer Sam Morrison, as well as writing and directing duo Tim Clague and Danny Stack are attached. The film centers on a regular family who are mistaken for a famous soccer team by a pair of friendly but bumbling aliens. The film is a totally unique visual experience, the animators of the film will use AI to help create unique and spectacular imagery. The film is set across an array of incredible fantasy locations that will transport audiences to the aliens’ eccentric planet, taking them as guests on an other-worldly adventure to their exceptional universe.

We also have a new Christmas animated feature, Paul Martin and the Magic Magnifying Glass, in development. It’s based on a hugely popular Christmas book series from Georges Alexander Vagan. The films will be the start of an international IP franchise, turning the literary Christmas universe into a series of films for family audiences. The story will take the audience across many beautiful wintery locations with highly detailed animated environments, and follow compelling and diverse characters. Both films will be ready in 2025.

What are your goals for the big markets this year?

We’re really looking forward to presenting these projects at this year’s markets and meeting potential partners for upcoming projects. We’ll be bringing Aliens FC and Paul Martin and the Magic Magnifying Glass to Cannes this year. At Annecy, we’ll be presenting these as well as animated series BuddyBots. The show follows a group of robots and two teen protagonists chronicling their adventures in a sci-fi animated world, where learning, family and inclusion are some of the most important values. The narrative encourages emotional development in its young audience, with lessons for parents and children on how to treat peers, overcome challenges by seeking support from others, and to believe in yourself. The episodes cover topics of equipment, tech and the environment.

What would you like the animation community to know about your company and upcoming movies?

We want to be recognized for our high-quality and visually unique projects. Our priorities are creating a unique visual experience with each project, and uniting talented animators and creatives from anywhere in the world to continue to build our slate of widely appealing content. Alongside this, it’s integral that each project reflect the key values that our company is centred around. This is creating entertainment that is both enthralling and imaginative, as well as thought-provoking, educational and encourages emotional learning and co-viewing. ◆

For more info, visit creationentertainment.media and magicframeanimation.com.