Variety | 2017Annecy Festival & MIFA

TOP STORIES: "Octonauts" Studio Making Animated Adaptation of Frank McCourt Kids Story (EXCLUSIVE)…

Annecy Festival & MIFA

eSHOW daily

NUMBER TWO 06.13.17

TOP STORIES
"Octonauts" Studio Making Animated Adaptation of Frank McCourt Kids Story (EXCLUSIVE) By Stewart Clarke Irish studio Brown Bag Films is making an animated special based on a story from "Angela's Ashes" author Frank McCourt. "Angela's Christmas" is an adaptation of McCourt's only children's book and Oscar nominated Ruth Negga ("Loving") w Read Full Story at Variety.com →

France's Ankama Sells 'Mutafukaz,' Sets Digital Series 'Eros,' 'Doggybags' (EXCLUSIVE) By John Hopewell ANNECY, France -- France's Ankama, whose "Mutafukaz," world premieres at Annecy on June 13, has licensed Japanese rights to the sci-fi action movie to Parco, an upmarket Japanese department store which operates a genre movie dist Read Full Story at Variety.com →

'Loving Vincent' Adds Major Territory Pre-Sales in Run-Up to Annecy World Premiere (EXCLUSIVE) By John Hopewell ANNECY, France -- Edward Noeltner's L.A. and Paris-based based Cinema Management Group (CMG) has added more key territories to the already fulsomely-sold "Loving Vincent," a portrait of Vincent Van Gogh, in the run-up to the high-profi Read Full Story at Variety.com →

Turner Ups European Investment, Reveals 'Gumball' Puppets at Annecy (EXCLUSIVE) By Stewart Clarke Turner said it has ramped up investment in European production by 30% in the past year and has also taken its biggest international original, "The Amazing World of Gumball," in a new direction, with a puppet-based episode of the show t Read Full Story at Variety.com →

Annecy: Jordi Gasull on 'Tadeo Jones 2,' One of Spain's Biggest New Animation Bets By John Hopewell ANNECY, France -- "Tad the Lost Explorer" marked a milestone in Spain's animation industry, which is long on talent, short on governmental support, consolidating the backing of Spain's powerful private broadcasters - here, via Me Read Full Story at Variety.com →

UDI Follows Jean-François Laguionie on 'The Prince's Voyage' (EXCLUSIVE) By Elsa Keslassy Urban Distribution International (UDI) ("Zombillenium") has boarded the animated project "The Prince's Voyage," Jean-François Laguionie's follow-up to "Louise by the Shore" and "The Painting." Featuring hand-drawn animation, "Th Read Full Story at Variety.com →

Annecy: Director Gustavo Steinberg on Brazil's 'Tito and the Birds' By Jamie Lang ANNECY, France -- Brazilian animated feature "Tito and the Birds" has recently reached its initial financing goal after winning one of two prizes for animation from the Brazilian National Bank of Development (BNDES), with the other goi Read Full Story at Variety.com →

REVIEWS
Film Review: 'The Peanuts Movie' By Peter Debruge You’re in love, Charlie Brown (and wouldn’t you know it, so is Snoopy). That’s the simple, slender premise behind Blue Sky’s gorgeous fan’s-best-friend adaptation. Read Full Story at Variety.com →

Film Review: 'Minions' By Peter Debruge A “Despicable Me” prequel that traces Gru’s comic-relief henchmen all the way back to the time when they were single-celled organisms, “Minions” hilariously imagines centuries in which the little guys have Read Full Story at Variety.com →

Film Review: 'Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie' By Owen Gleiberman The world of mainstream animated comedy, in case you hadn't noticed, has been regressing to infantile states of being. Last year we had "Storks," a light kiddie fantasy about how newborns get delivered; earlier this year, there was "Th Read Full Story at Variety.com →

Annecy: European Animation Awards Bow Dec. 8 in Lille, France, Set 16 Categories

By John Hopewell and Jamie Lang

ANNECY, France -- Deeply inspired by the Annie Awards, the first-ever European Animation Awards will take place on Friday, Dec. 8 at Le Nouveau Siècle congress center and theater in central Lille, northern France. The