MIKE REISS: “I don´t get where the success of The Simpsons comes from!”
Interview with Mike Reiss, the screenwriter of animated series The Simpsons (1989 – 1993), The Critic (1994-1995), Queer Duck (2002-2004) and the features The Simpsons Movie (2007), Ice Age 3 – Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009) Ice Age 4 – Countries in Movement (2012) and current upcoming sequel Ice Age 5 – Mammoth Jolt (2016). He holds four Emmy awards for outstanding animated program (Primetime Emmy Award in 2001, 1995, 1991, 1990), awards for Lifetime Achievement from the Animation Writers Caucus (2006). As a screenwriter, he participated in more than twenty animated films, including two Ice Age movies, three parts of Despicable Me, The Lorax, Rio, Kung Fu Panda 3 and The Simpsons Movie. He is also an award-winning playwright, author of children’s books and books with mystery themes. He is presently chairing the International jury for feature and animated films Finále Plzeň festival where he has come to be more closely acquainted with several Czech animated films for the first time. How did you like Lethal Stories and Little Man? It was odd, they’re completely different movies than what I’m used to. So far everything I’ve seen has been quite surprising to me. Your work has a completely different character, […] ...
Two animated films with a Czech connection to compete at Cannes
A short animated coproduction with Czech participation by Hungarian director Lucy Tóth has been selected for this year’s 55th film festival in Cannes where it will be presented in the prestigious international Critics’ Week competition. The animated short, Superbia, was produced as a three-way Hungarian-Czech-Slovak coproduction by the companies Fakt Visual Lab, MAUR film and Artichoke. It tells the story of the natives of a surreal country divided by a mythical river into regions of males and females who find themselves in a completely new situation when the first mixed couple appears. Announcing the films selected for the competition, the French critic and director of the Critics’ Week programme said that the film literally “mesmerised with a thrilling orgy of colours”. The film was presented at last year’s international Visegrád Animation Forum during the Anifilm international festival of animated films in Třeboň. It was supported on the Czech side by the State Cinematography Fund. The second film with a Czech connection in Cannes, this time in the Directors’ Fortnight section, is Jan Saska’s animated short Happy End, which was nominated last year for the Magnesia prize for best student film. Audiences had the opportunity to see it at FamuFest 2015 […] ...
Christmas Ballad Receives International Award
A new short film by Michal Žabka, Christmas Ballad, based on a screenplay by Břetislav Pojar, won second place at the international 2016 ANIMFEST festival in Athens. The story of the powerful magic of a children’s game that breaks down walls of hatred and connects seeming enemies charmed the jury in the short film category as the only Czech representative. The Animfest Athens Festival was held this year for the 11th time, you will find an overview of the awards at http://athensanimfest.eu/2016/en/awards/. More about the film and its creators is available here. ...
Film About van Gogh to Premiere This Fall
New trailer for the animated feature film about Vincent van Gogh ...
The Tree By Lucie Sunkova Premieres
Production company MAUR film has new short The Tree ...
Audio-visual act amendment can significantly help development of animated television programmes
One of the fundamental issues included in the amendment passed by the government and currently discussed in the parliament are changes in providing incentives. The State Cinematography Fund turned to The Association of Czech Animation Film (ASAF) to comment on the amendment. ASAF’s observations concern mainly the part relating to the support of television production. Film incentives or, if you will, tax refunds applicable not only for foreign but also for domestic film production have been introduced in the Czech Republic in 2010. The amendment enables the producers to reclaim up to 20 % of their expenses. The Fund can offer a film incentive on the production of an audio-visual work, i.e. not exclusively a film but also a commercial and a television series. Film incentives represent an opportunity for the animation sector to offer its services to foreign production companies as well as fund their own projects. A majority of animated production in the world consists of television series (approximately 80 %) but, according to the still valid Czech legislation, those do not qualify for incentives. The current system requires a minimum episode running time of 40 minutes. This running time is, however, not compatible with current trends. Developed […] ...
Animation Sans Frontières : 8th European Animation Development Lab
Animation Sans Frontières is a 4×2 weeks workshop designed to give junior European animation film and production professionals an understanding of the European and international animation industry and markets, as well the space, time and tools to develop, finance and produce their own projects, careers and eventually production companies. ASF is the chance for emerging animation professionals to: – develop their own projects/companies, work in multidisciplinary & international teams, – learn more about the European animation industry and markets, understand coproduction, – meet a wide variety of recognised animation film, games and new media professionals, – network with other European young talents and initiate future trans-European collaborations, – position themselves in the vast international animation industry, – get guidance in alternative markets and new media solutions. Suppported by the European Community‘s MEDIA Programme of the, Animation Sans Frontières is an 8-week programme run by and held at four prestigious European animation film schools (in the following order): Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg in Germany, Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design (MOME) in Hungary, The Animation Workshop in Denmark and Gobelins L’École de L’Image in France. Between November 30th and December 11th, 2015, MOME welcomed 15 participants from Hungary, France, Germany, Denmark, Belgium and […] ...
DLABAJOVÁ: It is Important to Look for Your Way and Stand up to Challenges
MEP Martina Dlabajová has been focusing on the support of cultural and creative industries and has participated in a number of successful international projects. Last fall, for example, she initiated the conference High Level: The Future of the Cultural and Creative Industries in Europe in Brussels where we met her for the following interview. The conference addressed topics such as the support of SMEs, copyright, creativity and future talents. ...
Czech ANOMALIA One of the TOP 20 Animation Schools in the World
The ANOMALIA education programme systematically focusing on animators and other professions in the field of animation was listed as one of the TOP 20 Animation Schools in the World by the Animation Career Review server. Animation Career Review makes an annual list of the best animation schools in the world, taking into account mainly how provided courses address new trends and market needs and practices. In its commentary on the ANOMALIA programme, the server states: „It is important to recognize that animation education never stops. And it certainly doesn’t end after a 4-year degree. Working in the animation industry means constantly learning; learning new tools, new plugins, new techniques. ANOMALIA, a professional training and 3D animation network, caters to exactly this style of learning. It may be a little strange to add unaccredited ANOMALIA to this list but their summer courses and video teaching sessions are beyond reproach. This isn’t a rinky-dink set of courses though, their guest lecturers and teachers are veterans in the industry who work for institutions and studios like Animation Mentor, Pixar (multiple teachers) and Les Gobelins. Their courses include subjects like Pantomime for Animators, Studio Pipeline and Character Design for 3D. The head of the […] ...
Lucie Sunková a Part of the New Generation of Animators
Video with Lucie Sunkova represents a new generation animators ...
