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

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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In early July The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, (for those that don't know this is the organization who awards the Oscars), invited 842 artists, filmmakers, and executives to join its organization. 

The 2019 list of people invited to join from the Short Films & Feature Animation and Visual Effects branches were recently listed in an article by Cartoon Brew. Pointedly they picked up on over 20% Of New Academy member Invites, going to the Animation and VFX Branches. 

Also highlighted among the 842 total organizational invites, there was a rise to the overall Academy membership in women, now at 32% (up from 25% in 2015). Unfortunately, The Animation, VFX legs still have a way to go to even itself out. (No new women were invited this year into the academy from these areas).

We are very proud to say that our own Co-Ceo Julie Lockhart is amongst the invitees and has been for a few years now. Julie, of course, is highly qualified for the list. Her credits include Producer on Shaun the Sheep Movie and The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists. ​