Locksmith Animation have announced they’re in development on an animated feature, The Empty Stocking, specifically for digital platforms, based on a series of Christmas children’s books by writer/director Richard Curtis (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Love Actually, Yesterday). Veteran producer Bonnie Arnold, (How to Train Your Dragon, Toy Story, Tarzan) will join Locksmith heads Sarah Smith and Julie Lockhart to oversee the project. The company is partnering creatively on the feature with Curtis and his team, which includes illustrator Rebecca Cobb, executive Colin Hopkins and writer Peter Souter. Curtis and Souter will write the screenplay. Sarah added,
“We are thrilled to be working with iconic British talent like Richard, of whom we are perennial fans, and delighted to be partnering on this utterly charming and unique material. It is a perfect opportunity to expand Locksmith’s stories into new formats, and forge new relationships with digital platforms.” Time to get a move on: Is British film animation set for a rapid revival?Food for thought from Sam Briggs - Of The Guardian this month. Could British animation be on the verge of a new golden age? Warner Bros. appears to think so: it has announced a multi-picture deal with Locksmith Animation, co-founded by Elisabeth Murdoch with Arthur Christmas director Sarah Smith and Shaun the Sheep Movie producer Julie Lockhart. Locksmith is a sought-after outfit: its first film, Ron’s Gone Wrong, is in production under a previous deal with 20th Century Fox; however, the takeover of the latter by Disney appears to have prompted the switch to Warner Bros. The reality is, though, that British feature-length animated releases are rarities. Bristol-based Aardman Animations has long been the dominant – indeed, only – creative force. Its most recent offering, A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon, was released two weeks ago. Otherwise, the landscape looks pretty bleak. The British Council’s animation catalogue for 2018 has 32 pages dedicated to short films, born in part out of the success of outlets such as Channel 4’s Random Acts series. Animated features run to a meagre two and a half pages. Aardman’s Early Man is the only out-and-out British feature; Wes Anderson’s Isle of Dogs is included, and while it showcases the talent of UK animators, it doesn’t possess the same homegrown feel. Read Full article here Author: Sam Briggs Full Article -https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/nov/01/british-film-animation-aardman-early-man-stop-motion-hollywood-studio
Fri 1 Nov 2019 18.06 GMT Last modified on Thu 7 Nov 2019 12.56 GMT LSA become part of the Warner Bros. FamilyLSA are pleased to announce, Warner Bros. Pictures has signed a multi-film deal with Locksmith Animation, the UK CG feature studio, to co-develop and distribute its slate of pictures. WB said: “In recent years, animation has become a tremendously important part of our slate, and this deal with Locksmith dovetails perfectly with our forward-going plans,” said Toby Emmerich, Chairman, Warner Bros. Pictures Group, and Courtenay Valenti, President, Production and Development, Warner Bros. “We love Sarah and Julie’s sensibilities and work, and look forward to working with them to create titles that will enchant today’s audiences and become classics for future generations of animation lovers.”
The deal covers the development and production of family animated features that Warner Bros. Pictures will distribute in theatres worldwide. Locksmith will collaborate closely with Allison Abbate, Executive Vice President, Warner Animation Group, to add a “fresh voice” to complement the Studio’s current animation activities. Locksmith’s first feature, “Ron’s Gone Wrong,” is currently in production in London and will be released by Walt Disney Studios. Locksmith Animation was founded in 2014 by BAFTA® Award-winning director, writer and producer Sarah Smith (“Arthur Christmas”) and acclaimed producer Julie Lockhart (Academy Award®-nominated “Shaun the Sheep Movie,” “Pirates! Band of Misfits”) together with Elisabeth Murdoch. Articles:
https://www.animationmagazine.net/features/locksmith-animation-inks-multi-film-wb-deal/ https://www.awn.com/news/locksmith-animation-signs-multi-picture-deal-warner-bros-pictures https://variety.com/2019/film/news/warner-bros-pact-elisabeth-murdoch-locksmith-animation-1203389453/ https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/warner-bros-signs-multi-film-production-deal-locksmith-animation-1251449 https://deadline.com/2019/10/warner-bros-slate-deal-elisabeth-murdoch-backed-uk-studio-locksmith-animation-1202773640/ |
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November 2019
CategoriesAll Animation Magazine Annecy 2018 Annecy 2019 AWN Cartoon Brew Deadline Double Negative Elisabeth Murdoch Film Disruptors Film Festivals Fox Guardian Julie Lockhart Co-CEO Lissa Evans Locksmith Animation Locksmith-team Oscars Playgrounds 2018 Press Richard Curtis Ron’s Gone Wrong Sarah Smith Co-CEO Screen Daily Student Academy Awards The Empty Stocking The Hollywood Reporter Twentieth Century Fox Variety Warner Bros 'Wed Wabbit' |
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