News

After a season of spending, Freevee knows you don't have to break the bank for quality. The free Amazon streamer has already added several titles to its platform to start the month, including theTom Hanks-starred "Captain Phillips"andRyan Coogler's directorial debut "Fruitvale Station,"but more great titles will be coming throughout the rest of the month.

Find out The Streamable's top picks for what's here now and what's coming to the streamer throughout January!

Watch Now Free amazonfreevee.com What are the 5 Best Shows and Movies Coming to Freevee in January 2024? “Baby Driver”| Monday, Jan. 1

Edgar Wrighthelms the action thriller starringAnsel Elgortas Baby, a prodigal heist getaway driver and music-loving orphan in for one last job before riding off into the sunset with his girlfriend Debora (Lily James).Eiza Gonzalez,Jon Hamm,Jamie Foxx,Jon Bernthal,andKevin Spaceymake up the supporting...

Signature Entertainmenthas said that it has acquired the U.K. and Irish rights to animated family adventureThe Inseparables,written byJoel CohenandAlec Sokolow(ToyStory), from nWave Studios. A major theatrical release is planned for Dec. 8.

The feature is produced byMatthieu Zeller(The Queen’s Corgi,Bigfoot Family,Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness) andMatthieu Gondinet(Bigfoot Family,Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness) and directed byJérémie Degruson(The House of Magic,Son of Bigfoot,Bigfoot Family). It was written and based on an original story byCohenand Sokolow and adapted into a screenplay byCal Brunker(Paw Patrol: The Movie) andBob Barlen(Arctic Dogs).

The adventure follows a puppet named Don, tired of always playing the fool, who teams up with rapping teddy bear DJ Doggy Dog to save his friends in a wondrous adventure across Central Park.

The deal was...

Ben Stassen’s nWave Studios is set to produce “The Inseparables,” a 25 million animated feature based on an original idea by Joel Cohen andAlec Sokolow,the Oscar-nominated writers of “Toy Story.”

The feature is being jointly produced by nWave Studios in Belgium, Octopolis in France andA Contracorriente Filmsin Spain.

Cohen and Sokolow penned the feature withCal Brunker,Bob Barlen,Matthieu Zellerand Jérémie Degruson.

Degruson, who previously directed some of nWave Studios’ biggest animated hits “The House of Magic,”“Bigfoot Junior”andBigfoot Family,”is on board to helm “The Inseparables.”

The animated buddy movie follows the misadventures of Don, a runaway puppet with a boundless imagination and, DJ Doggy Dog, an abandoned stuffed animal toy in need of a friend, as they cross paths in Central Park and pair up against all odds for an epic adventure of friendship in New York City.

The movie...

“Mister Crocodile,” “Corgi, A Royal Family” and “Piggy Builders” are among 84 TV series animated projects set to unspool at the 2021 Cartoon Forum which takes place in Toulouse, southern France, over Sept. 20-23 in an entirely in-person format.

21 countries from Europe will introduce animated projects at pitching sessions and industry networking, the backbone of Cartoon Forum’s activities. The 84 projects were selected from 141 submissions.

Targeting children and produced by France’s The Magical Society, “Mister Crocodile” is penned bySimon NicholsonandJoann Sfarand based on Sfar’s graphic novel. The series depicts the friendship between a girl and a crocodile, who asks to be her pet.

One of the most anticipated titles at the Forum, “Corgi, A Royal Family” is produced by France’sStudio Redfrogand Belgium’s nWave Studios, the company behindBen Stassen’s “A Turtle’s Tale: Sammy’s Adventures,”“The House of Magic,”“Fly Me to the Moon...

While U.S. blockbusters deserted screens in 2020, French animated features had 10-year record-breaking performance at the local box office last year, according to a study conducted by theCnc(National Film Board) and unveiled on the opening day of Annecy Film Festival.

As French theaters were shut down for most of the year due to the pandemic, only 25 animated films were released in local cinemas last year. But the few local animated pics that were released, such as “Bigfoot Family,”“Josep”andJoann Sfar’s “Little Vampire,”represented 32.7% of all admissions for animated films in France in 2020, the highest level within the last decade.

“Bigfoot Family”was directed byBen Stassenand Jérémie Degruson. The 3D-animated film is the sequel to “Son of Bigfoot,”and was written byBob BarlenandCal Brunker( “Escape From Planet Earth”). “Josep,” meanwhile, is directed by Aurelien Froment (known as Aurel) and charts the life of Josep Bartolí,...

Sony Pictures International Productions(Spip) is joining forces withBen Stassen,a veteran Belgian animation director and producer, and his producing partnerMatthieu Zelleron “Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness,” an ambitious 3D-animated adventure film based on theDark Horsecomics.

Stassen andBenjamin Mousquetwill direct “Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness,” whose screenplay was written by Dave Collard, based on “Chickenhare,” the graphic novels penned and illustrated byChris Grineand published by DarkHorsecomics.

“Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness” is being produced byCaroline van Iseghemand Stassen atnWave Pictures,and Matthieu Zeller atOctopolis,who are rolling off the success of “Bigfoot Family,”one of France’s highest grossing films at home and abroad — across 51 territories — in 2020.

The film is co-produced by Spip. Sony Pictures Entertainment France will distribute the film and have home entertainment and digital rights in France.

The family...

Charades has scored a raft of pre-sales onBen Stassen’s 3D animated feature “Bigfoot Family,” one of the biggest features competing at Annecy’s online film festival.

Directed by Stassen and Jérémie Degruson, “Bigfoot Family” (previously titled “Bigfoot Superstar” ), is the sequel to “Son of Bigfoot”which was released internationally in 2017 and grossed more than $50 million worldwide.

Budgeted at more than $20 million, “Bigfoot Family” will be widely released byFrancois Clerc’sApollo Filmsin France on August 5. The movie was produced by Brussels-basednWave Picturesand starsPappy Faulkner,Lindsay Torrance and Chris Parsons. “Bigfoot Family” is based upon an original story by Stassen, and was written byBob BarlenandCal Brunker( “Escape From Planet Earth”).

Over the last few months, Charades has pre-sold the anticipated film to most territories, including Germany (Splendid), Spain (Tripictures/A Contracorriente), Israel (Forum), Switzerland (Impuls), South Korea (Isu C&e), Greece (Odeon...

One delight every year at Annecy is its showcase of new films by established talent, on-the-rise directors and names near off the radar. France has all three in 2020:

“Bigfoot Family” (Ben Stassen,Jérémie Degruson,nWave Pictures,Octopolis)

Probably the biggest box office bet of any title in main competition at Annecy this year. Sold by Charades, directed by pioneering 3D cineaste Ben Stassen, an Annecy regular, and Jérémie Degruson, and fruit of their one-stop-shop studio in Belgium, a tiny tot skewing comedy marking a follow-up to 2018’s “Son of Bigfoot,”which grossed a significant $50 million worldwide.

“The Blossom Crown” (Raphaël Penasa,U.S., France)

One of the most talked-up of Digital Experience pitches at Mifa this year mixing genre and gender as the viewer is invited to share the memories of central character Nigel, in which he discovers that his sibling is a transgender girl, and explore his ancient family home.

France’s 2020 Annecy festival and accompanying Mifa market won’t be the first such events to go completely online this year, but certainly stand out as one of Europe’s largest to do so. The prestigious animation gathering, which normally draws toon heavyhitters from all over the world, will stream June 15-30.

While platforms and broadcasters fight over available content, with kids and family one of the tentpoles of subscriber retention, the market for animation has never been more demanding — both in quality and audience expectation.

One big challenge in making the transition to online is the inability to stream many of the key titles from Annecy’s Official and Contrechamp competitions in their entirety due to licensing rights and other contractual conditions.

However, several studios and key sales agents have confirmed to Variety that they are planning alternative means of promoting their upcoming content while still entertaining eager Annecy badge-holders.

France’s 2020 Annecy Festival, the highest-profile animation gathering in the world, has unveiled its main Feature Film competition and majorContrechampsidebar.

There are no U.S. titles in either section: America’s presence, both studios and global platforms, will most likely make itself felt when Annecy announces its work in progress and screening events sessions from later this week.

The difficulties of transferring online a lineup with even works from prominent European animation auteurs, plus such Japanese franchise installments such as “Lupin III; the First” was seen Monday when the Annecy Festival confirmed that not all of the films in official competition and Contrechamp may be screened online in their entirety.

“In the event that certain films cannot be offered to all festivalgoers, we have requested the producers provide a minimum 10-minute extract or produce a short documentary presentation,” the festival said in a statement Monday.

Made up in...

Charades, the Paris-based sales company behind the Oscar-nominated “I Lost My Body”and “Mirai,”has closed a raft of deals on high-profile animated features, including “Little Nicholas”and “Marona’s Fantastic Tale.”

Anca Damian’s “Marona’s Fantastic Tale,”which world premiered in competition at last year’s Annecy Film Festival and was nominated at the European Film Awards, portrays a dog who, reflecting back on her life, reminisces about her different homes and owners after being hit by a car.

Set for a North American release later this year with Gkids, “Marona’s Fantastic Tale” has been acquired by Japan (Riskit), Spain (Pack Magic), the Baltics (Scanorama), Taiwan (Sky Digi), China (Legend Film), Poland (New Horizons), South Korea (Challan), Sweden (Triart) and Netherlands (Windmill). Damian’s followup to “Crulic: The Path to Beyond,” “Marona’s Fantastic Tale” is made with a range of styles, from expressionistic sketches to crayon drawings.

“The Queen’s Corgi,” the 3D animated adventure tale directed byBen StassenandVincent Kesteloot,had a banner opening in France on Wednesday, scoring the country’s best first-day haul for an independent European animated film.

Written byRob SpracklingandJohnny Smith,the pair behind “Gnomeo and Juliet,” “The Queen’s Corgi” grossed approximately €304,000 euros from 44,701 tickets on Wednesday in France. It’s this year’s fifth-highest opening day for a non-u.S. film so far in France, after “Serial (Bad) Weddings 2,” “Dragon Ball Super: Broly,”“City Hunter”and “Tanguy 2,” all of which are franchise-based pics.

Charades is representing the film in international markets. Apollo, the company launched by former Gaumont and Studiocanal exec Francois Clerc, is handling French distribution in association withTF1 Studio,and is giving the movie a wide release in France across 511 screens.

“The Queen’s Corgi” follows the adventures of Rex, the British monarch’s most beloved dog,...

"In 2019, you're cordially invited to meet the biggest rascal of theRoyal Family."Oy vey.Lionsgate UKhas released the first teaser trailer for a cute animated comedy titledThe Queen's Corgi,made by Belgian animation studionWave Picturesand the same director who most recently made the animated filmThe Son of Bigfoot.nWave'sThe Queen's Corgiis indeed about (one of) the Queen's (many) corgis, a lovable little puppy named Rex. One day he loses track of his mistress and stumbles across a clan with dogs of all kinds confronting and fighting each other. During his epic journey to return to the queen, Rex falls in love and discovers his true self. The voice cast hasn't been revealed yet, only this teaser trailer and a few posters. As cute as this looks, I have a feeling it's going to be so bad. Most of the films made by nWave turn out terrible.

Matthieu Zeller’s production groupMzmhas acquired a majority stake in nWave Studios, the thriving Brussels-based company behindBen Stassen’s “The Son of Bigfoot”and “Sammy,” among other European animated hits.

Mzm was founded in 2016 by Zeller, a formerStudiocanalexecutive, with the aim to produce and co-produce French and international films and TV series. Mzm, which regroups the production banners Octopolis andBamboo Film,has joined withBelgium’s leading distribution company,Belga Films,as well as its tax-shelter arm, Belga Films Fund Holding, and regional fund Wallimage Entreprises to form a new entity,Next Wave,to complete the acquisition ofnWave.

Since launching Mzm, Zeller has added two new partners: Olivier Sulpice and, most recently, Matthieu Gondinet, who just joined after working atCanal Plusfor 15 years. Zeller and Gondinet had collaborated with nWave and its teams over the past years when nWave was partly owned by Studiocanal.

Lionsgate U.K. has acquired “The Queen’s Corgi,” a 3D animated adventure tale written byRob SpracklingandJohnny Smith,the pair behind “Gnomeo and Juliet.”

“The Queen’s Corgi,” which is budgeted in the $20 million range and was directed by European animation pioneerBen StassenandVincent Kesteloot( “Sammy 2” ), has also sold to Eagle in Italy and TriPictures in Spain.

Produced by Stassen’s Belgian studionWave,“The Queen’s Corgi” follows the adventure of Rex, the British monarch’s most beloved dog, who loses track of his mistress and stumbles across a fight club with dogs of all kinds confronting each other. During his epic journey to find the Queen again, Rex falls in love and discovers his true self.

One of the most ambitious animated features slated for next year from continental Europe, “The Queen’s Corgi” has managed to sell to mainstream distributors in most territories.

"There's one more thing... you can talk to animals."Viva Pictureshas debuted a new full-length official Us trailer for an animated film titledThe Son of Bigfoot,produced byStudioCanalin France, and animated bynWave Picturesin Belgium. The film is aimed towards younger kids and families, and is about a boy who goes "on an epic and daring quest to uncover the mystery behind his long-lost dad, only to find out that he is none other than the legendary Bigfoot." Surprise! Don't confuse this with the other animated bigfoot movie coming out this year - Smallfoot - which is made byWarner Bros.The voice cast for Son of Bigfoot includesCinda Adams,Mari Devon,andKirk Thornton.This really looks really bad, and I always wonder how animation this awful still gets made, because it seems like no one even tried to make a good movie.

"Way to scar 'em for life..." Warner Bros has debuted the first teaser trailer for an animated comedy titledSmallfoot,which will hit theaters starting next September. So this is now the second, official animated "Bigfoot" movie coming out in 2018, the other one beingThe Son of Bigfoot(funny enough, both of them involve the mythical wilderness monster(s) meeting a human).Smallfootis actually about the abominable snowman instead of a bigfoot in the forest. The story follows a Yeti whose life changes when he discovers something that shouldn't exist—a human.Channing Tatumstars as the voice of Migo; the cast includesZendaya,Gina Rodriguez,Danny DeVito,Yara Shahidi,Jimmy Tatro,Ely Henry,andLeBron James.This is a bit odd, it reminds me of Monsters Inc, but with the yetis instead - almost like a spin-off. Here's the first teaser trailer (+ poster) forKarey Kirkpatrick'sSmallfoot,...

Companies part ways after seven-year partnership.

Belgian 3D animation studio nWave Pictures has ended its seven-year relationship with Studiocanal.

It was announced during the Cannes Film Festival that nWave would buy back Studiocanal’s shares in the company. This agreement is now complete, nWave has confirmed.

The transaction was jointly negotiated between Studiocanal and nWave, ending the partnership formed in 2010 for the development, co-financing and distribution of nWave Studios’ feature films.

These included A Turtle’s Tale: Sammy’s Adventures (2010),The House Of Magic(2013) andThe Wild Life(2016).

The statement adds that nWave Studios will explore new long-term partnership opportunities to expand its development, production and distribution efforts.

A source told Screen in May that Studiocanal has been slow to give the go-ahead to nWave’s projects.

“It just became impossible to work together and so we decided to part ways,” nWave CEOBen Stassentold Screen

The final collaboration between nWave and Studiocanal is the upcoming...

Animation outfit to buy back its shares from Studiocanal.

Belgian 3D animation specialist nWave Pictures is set to end its longstanding relationship with Studiocanal.

The news was confirmed this week by company CEOBen Stassen.The Son Of Bigfoot(aka Bigfoot Junior) is the final film that nWave is partnering on with Studiocanal. It will be released in August across Europe, including in Studiocanal’s direct-distribution territories, France, UK and Germany.

Over the last seven years, nWave and Studiocanal have partnered on projects such as A Turtle’s Tale: Sammy’s Adventures (2010) andThe House Of Magic(2013) – European-originated animated features with budgets in excess of $20m that have sold around the world. However, nWave’s next feature, The Queen’s Corgi, will be made without Studiocanal support.

nWave’s model relies on greenlighting one film every year in order to keep the pipeline running and ensuring continuing work for the company’s 120 staff. The hitch, according...

Belga Films Fund (Bff) has raised more than $5.6m (€5m) forBen Stassen’s new animated feature,The Son Of Bigfoot.

The Belgian tax credit company was launched last year by production and distribution outfitBelga Films,which will releaseThe Son Of Bigfootin Benelux late summer 2017. The total budget is undersood to be $26m (€23m).

Studiocanal will release in France, UK, Germany and Australia/New Zealand.

Produced by Studiocanal’s nWave Pictures and Waterman Ent. (Alvin and the Chipmunks), the film centres on a teenage outsider who uncovers the truth that he is the son of the mysterious Bigfoot and as such has super powers, which he needs to save his family.

Belga fund boost

Bff founder and general manager Fabrice Delville revealed in Cannes that the fund raised a record $6.7m (€6m) in tax shelter financing during 2015 and expects to double that amount this year.

As the tax credit company expands, Belga has now...