New Adventures in Streamland
We’re wrapping up this issue just as many of the new streaming services are introducing their 2020 slate to the press at the TV Critics Association winter showcase. HBO Max, Amazon, NBC’s Peacock, CBS All Access, Hulu and many others unveiled some of their upcoming content for the press. Frankly, there is so much new animated and VFX-driven content being produced right now that you’ll need an army of typing elves to keep up with everything that is coming down the pipeline.
One of the upcoming shows that really caught our attention was The House. A Netflix series co-produced by BAFTA-winning Nexus Studios, this dark comedy stop-motion project follows the surreal stories of three generations of families who lived in a house through the years. What makes the show a must-watch is the talent attached to it: Emma de Swaef and Marc James Roels (This Magnificent Cake!, Oh Willy…) are directing one chapter, while Niki Lindroth von Bahr (The Burden) and Paloma Baeza (Poles Apart) are tacking the other two parts. All four directors are well-known for their inventive and acclaimed short-form projects and have dazzled festival audiences for the past few years. “Nexus Studios had a remarkable history of working with the best animators from all over the world, and we’re thrilled to partner with Nexus and their incredible directors to bring The House to life,” commented Netflix adult animation head Mike Moon.
You can read more about Moon and his innovative programming initiatives at Netflix in this month’s special focus on animation and streaming, penned by our excellent contributor K.J. Yossman. It wasn’t easy tracking down the busy animation executives at Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max and other outlets, but she managed to deliver a well-rounded and informative overview of what is happening in the quickly evolving streaming toon landscape.
You also won’t want to miss her excellent behind-the-scenes feature on the making of Aardman Animations’ charming A Shaun
the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon. Although the movie has already screened in most territories, it’s finally getting its U.S. release this month, thanks to the folks at Netflix. The inventive adventure, which has already grossed $37.7 million worldwide, is directed by Aardman’s own Will Becher and Richard Phelan, who also worked on Early Man and directed episodes of the Shaun the Sheep series.
Of course, we also have our popular Annual Education and Career Guide in this special issue. We have packed this report with lots of helpful tips, school profiles and job-finding advice, so if you know a young high school student who is looking to study animation in college or a recent college grad who is looking for a first job in animation, make sure you pass on the issue to them. This year, we also have a very special treat for toon lovers: everyone’s favorite animation historian Jerry Beck has picked his 10 favorite classic cartoons that every student must watch before they graduate from school. Make sure you thank Jerry when you see him at animation events and screenings around town!