Month: January 2024 (Page 2 of 3)

‘The Tiger’s Apprentice’ Official Trailer: Henry Golding, Sandra Oh and Michelle Yeoh Lead Magical Adventure

The Tiger’s Apprentice premieres February 2, 2024 on Paramount+.

Starring Henry Golding, Brandon Soo Hoo, Lucy Liu, Sandra Oh and Michelle Yeoh. Co-starring Bowen Yang, Leah Lewis, Kheng Hua Tan, Sherry Cola, Deborah S. Craig, Jo Koy, Greta Lee, Diana Lee Inosanto, Patrick Gallagher and Poppy Liu.

Directed by Raman Hui. Co-directed by Paul Watling and Yong Duk Jhun. Written by David Magee and Christopher Yost.

Synopsis: Based on the children’s book series by Laurence Yep. The life of Chinese-American teenager Tom Lee changes forever when he discovers he is part of a long lineage of magical protectors known as the Guardians. With guidance from a mythical tiger named Hu, Tom trains up to take on Loo, a force that is as powerful as a Guardian but with evil intentions to use magic to destroy humanity. To have a fighting chance against Loo, Tom must reunite all twelve Zodiac animal warriors and master his own newly discovered powers.

Short Film Spotlight: Slower Animals

Slower Animals is an award-winning short film by John Christopher Kelley, an assistant professor at University of Tennessee.

The filmmaker describes Slower Animals as a short film that “explores the ways we are shaped; both by what we remember and what we forget.”

It’s a story about a professor who decides to follow a winter goose migration and in the process triggers memories of repressed childhood trauma.

‘Orion and the Dark’ Official Trailer #2: Charlie Kaufman Adapts Children’s Book for Netflix

Orion and the Dark premieres February 2, 2024 on Netflix. Directed by Sean Charmatz and written by Charlie Kaufman, based on the book by Emma Yarlett.

Synopsis: Orion seems a lot like your average elementary school kid – shy, unassuming, harboring a secret crush. But underneath his seemingly normal exterior, Orion is a ball of adolescent anxiety, completely consumed by irrational fears of bees, dogs, the ocean, cell phone waves, murderous gutter clowns, and even falling off of a cliff. But of all his fears, the thing he’s the most afraid of is what he confronts on a nightly basis: the Dark. So when the literal embodiment of his worst fear pays a visit, the Dark whisks Orion away on a roller coaster ride around the world to prove there is nothing to be afraid of in the night. As the unlikely pair grows closer, Orion must decide if he can learn to accept the unknown – to stop letting fear control his life and finally embrace the joy of living.

‘Combat Wombat: Back 2 Back’ Official Trailer and Release Date

Combat Wombat: Back 2 Back, the sequel to Combat Wombat (2020), which you can watch for free on Tubi, releases in theaters in Australia on February 29, 2024 and in New Zealand on March 7, 2024.

The animated sequel was produced by Like A Photon Creative and is written by Dominic Morris, co-directed by Tania Vincent and directed by Ricard Cussó.

The cast includes David Wenham, Elizabeth Cullen, Mark Coles Smith, Deborah Mailman and Ed Oxenbould.

Synopsis: Life has become a little too demanding for Maggie Diggins aka Combat Wombat. Whilst the Sanctuary City crime rate is at an all-time low, she’s now expected to spend her days helping unclog drains instead of saving the world! But when evil tech genius Lenny Glick threatens to trap the whole city in a ‘perfect’ metaverse simulation, Combat Wombat and her sidekick Sweetie must work together to save the day.

Mixed Media Spotlight: The Discarded

Written and directed by veteran animator Uli Meyer, whose credits include the classics Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Space Jam and An American Tail: Fievel Goes West.

Synopsis: A character designer struggles with the design of a cartoon cat and ends up on a short trip through the looking glass.

Meyer shared some behind the scenes information about his hybrid short film:

These are the 10 stages I may go through when designing a character. Followed by a trip through the looking glass. Maybe my fellow character designers can relate?

Last year I thought it might be fun to make a short piece that can be filmed with little expense and includes a bit of Roger Rabbit style animation. Something my kids can remember me by.

We shot the live action at my building over a weekend with a small talented crew. But then it took me forever to add the animation due to ongoing daytime commitments. With the help of some of my animation friends it is now finally finished, phew!

Marvel’s ‘Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur’ Season 2 Official Trailer and Release Date

The second season of Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur premieres February 2, 2024 on Disney Channel and next day on Disney+.

Synopsis: In the new season, Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur are in their element as Super Heroes; however, as Moon Girl’s Super Hero-ing intertwines more with her personal life, she must decide if the cost of keeping her identity a secret is worth the toll it takes on her family.

‘The Peasants’ Official Trailer: Hand-Painted Film from ‘Loving Vincent’ Duo

Written and directed by Oscar-nominated filmmakers DK Welchman and Hugh Welchman. Starring Kamila Urzedowska, Robert Gulaczyk and Miroslaw Baka.

Release date: January 26, 2024 (New York) and February 2, 2024 (Los Angeles), with other cities to follow.

Synopsis: The Peasants tells the story of Jagna, a young woman determined to forge her own path within the confines of a late 19th century Polish village — a hotbed of gossip and on-going feuds, held together, rich and poor, by pride in their land, adherence to colorful traditions and deep-rooted patriarchy. When Jagna finds herself caught between the conflicting desires of the village’s richest farmer, his eldest son, and other leading men of the community, her resistance puts her on a tragic collision course with the community around her.

Short Film Spotlight: The Brave Locomotive

Directed by Oscar-nominated Andrew Chesworth (One Small Step), The Brave Locomotive is described by the filmmaker as an “Old West musical tale with 1940s flair, [in which] a fearless little train and his engineer confront obsolescence as bigger, faster, and more automated machines take center stage.”

Chesworth’s credits include Frozen, Zootopia, Moana, Big Hero 6 and Wreck-It Ralph.

Follow @andrew_chesworth for exclusive behind-the-scenes artwork.

‘In the Know’ Trailer: Peacock’s adult stop-motion animated series from Mike Judge and Zach Woods

In the Know premieres January 25, 2024 on Peacock. The series was co-created by Mike Judge (Beavis and Butt-Head), Zach Woods (The Office) and Brandon Gardner.

Judge and Woods also co-star in the series alongside Charlie Bushnell (Percy Jackson and the Olympians), Caitlin Reilly (High School Musical series), J. Smith-Cameron (Succession) and Carl Tart (Grand Crew).

In the Know follows public radio host Lauren Caspian (Woods) and his co-workers as they produce episodes of Lauren’s show, in which he interviews real world human guests such as Hugh Laurie, Finn Wolfhard and Ken Burns.

Disney’s Mickey Mouse Debut ‘Steamboat Willie’ Now Public Domain

Disney’s Steamboat Willie, released in 1928, introduced the world to Minnie and Mickey Mouse. And now, as of January 1, 2024, that short film is public domain.

When books, movies, music, artwork, and photographs enter the public domain, it means that their copyrights have expired. This allows anyone to access, use, modify, or build upon that work without needing permission or paying fees.

Artists and filmmakers should note that only the 1928 version of Steamboat Willie has entered the public domain. If you’re working on a commercial project, it’s best to consult with a copyright lawyer to avoid legal issues such as cease and desist letters or copyright infringement lawsuits.

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