Author Archives: Mike

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A conversation with Dan Povenmire and Swampy Marsh

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150609_CBOX_DanSwampyOffice.jpg.CROP.promo-mediumlargeSlate has a great interview up with both Dan and Swampy and if you loved the series like I do, you’ll enjoy this article.

As the final episode of Disney’s Phineas and Ferb airs this weekend I am proud to have been a small part of it and none of it would have been possible without Dan Povenmire and Swampy Marsh who were actually great bosses and did a fantastic job of bring the ‘funny’ out of everyone as we wrote and boarded the shows. I only worked on 7 of the episodes and did some revisions for the Phineas and Ferb Movie (which is how I got to be on the series full time) but everyone still let me feel like a part of the team which was a great feeling considering everyone else had two seasons under their belt. It also points to why it was so successful, because Dan and Swampy really were open to any sort of joke and they say as much in this interview.

 

From the site:

Povenmire: The reason we wanted to do several stories at once is Rocky & Bullwinkle, because that was what we grew up with. But they did it as an anthology, where they’d check in on one story and come back. The formula really came from Snuffleupagus onSesame Street, and how Big Bird had this big, furry, mastodon-type character that only he would see, and then he would, like, go to try to find other people to get them to bring them back and show them the Snuffleupagus, and then the Snuffleupagus would always …

You can read the entire article here.

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The Simpsons opening in pixel art!

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Genius! One of my first professional jobs was animating pixels for a company called Sierra Online working on old school Point and Click games such as Leisure Suit Larry, Space Quest and King’s Quest as well as Keeping up with Jones and it was very hard to do so I take my hats off to these fellas!

Also check out Pat and Ivan as they talk a bit about the ‘making of’ the video’ below.

 

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Sneak peek at Kung Fu Panda 3

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USA Today has an article up giving us a sneak peek in DreamWork’s upcoming Kung Fu Panda 3.

For two Kung Fu Panda animated movies, portly Po has believed all his bear kin were in panda heaven. That he was the lone survivor.

But Kung Fu Panda 3 proves Po wrong. The new film (opening Jan. 29, 2016) is Panda-palooza.

“There is great joy,” says Jack Black, the voice of Po. “Lo and behold, there’s a secret panda village. There’s intense rejoicing as I am reunited with my people.”

Po has a chance run-in with his long-lost panda father Li (Bryan Cranston), who brings Po back to an enclave where the pandas have been living since a fierce panda attack alluded to in DreamWorks Animation’s 2011 hit Kung Fu Panda 2.

You can read the entire article here.

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Help Olivia!

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4874762_1433830546.6728Oh no… Why have I not heard about this before? I worked with Olivia’s father Kyle on Phineas and Ferb… he’s an incredibly talented man, with a love for animating and storyboarding. My heart breaks for him and his family. Give your support if you can. http://www.gofundme.com/pleasehelpolivia

Olivia Esther Menke (18) of Burbank, CA, suffered a traumatic brain injury on June 6th when a Los Angeles County fire truck struck the car she was driving on Pacific Coast Highway, and she remains in the ICU in critical condition at UCLA Medical Center. Just days from graduating as Salutatorian from Providence High School in Burbank, Olivia had volunteered to take her aunt and little cousin who were in town for the graduation sightseeing in Malibu, with her brother Carl also along for the ride. Although the boys escaped serious injury, Olivia’s aunt also suffered injuries and remains hospitalized but in stable condition. As anyone who knows Olivia well could attest, she personifies care and caution, and would be devastated to think that this accident happened on her watch.

Olivia is an extremely rare young woman of character, diligence and compassion. The oldest of four children, Olivia’s innate desire to work hard and excel has been felt not only by her family through her devotion to them, but by everyone who has ever the had chance to get to know her and call her friend. A graduate of St. Finbar School in Burbank, Olivia received Providence’s Pioneer of Excellence Scholarship as an entering freshman. A merit-based award granted only to the smallest percentage of students who maintain high GPAs with test scores to match, Olivia maintained her scholarship through all four years of high school.

Shy by nature, Olivia truly blossomed during her time at Providence and constantly worked to push herself outside her comfort zone and to take advantage of every opportunity she could find to better herself. During her time at Providence High School she maintained straight A’s and was part of the Spanish Honor Society; she was a scholar-athlete, having played girls basketball and volleyball all four years, and serving as captain of the volleyball team her senior year. Olivia was an NSF member and became ASB President, working up the courage to run and becoming a polished public speaker. Desiring a career in business, Olivia was accepted to Bentley University in Waltham, MA, receiving their highest academic award—the Presidents Scholarship. She also received the Women in Leadership Scholarship as well as the Disney Scholarship.

A young woman of health, promise, ambition and excitement for her bright future, Olivia now faces the greatest challenge of her young but very accomplished life—a six-month to two-year-long recovery process to regain her brain function and physical strength. But if anyone can do it, Olivia Menke can.

http://www.gofundme.com/pleasehelpolivia

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Multiple Emmy® Award-Winning Preschool Hit PEG + CAT Expands Licensing Activity in Germany

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PEG + CAT1 (1)Multiple Emmy® Award-Winning Preschool Hit PEG + CAT

Expands Licensing Activity in Germany

Toronto, Canada – June 10, 2015 – 9 Story Media Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Germany’s Super RTL to represent merchandising across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland for Peg + Cat, the four-time Emmy®-winning animated series for preschoolers co-produced by The Fred Rogers Company and 9 Story Media Group.

Super RTL, which has been airing the popular series since August 2014, is planning a full range of hard and soft lines for the brand and has already signed its first home entertainment deal. Sony Music Entertainment Germany is slated to launch Peg +Cat on DVD in the territory later this fall.

HiHat Media was recently appointed as the U.S. agent for the property, while 9 Story manages licensing for the brand internationally. A book series from Candlewick Press is on its way in the U.S. market this fall, with the debut title, “Peg + Cat, The Race Car Problem.” PBS Distribution launched a line of DVDs in the U.S. in 2014 with three new releases planned for this year. Internationally, home entertainment partners include eOne in Canada and ABC Commercial in Australia. More Peg + Cat licensees will be announced soon.

In addition to its most recent Emmy Award this year for “Outstanding Writing in a Preschool Animated Program,” the series has been honored with Emmys for “Outstanding Pre-School Children’s Animated Program,” “Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program” and “Outstanding Individual Achievement in Production Design.” Peg + Cat has also earned four Kidscreen awards as well as a Parents’ Choice Gold Award, and the Peg + Cat Big Gig App has earned a Parents’ Choice Silver Honor.

With relatable and funny adventures filled with upbeat music, the series has garnered a large and growing audience across broadcast and digital platforms. One of the top five kids shows across all major kids networks for the 2-5-year-old set* and in the top 10 among moms with kids under 3*, Peg + Cat attracts more than 7 million viewers each month. The series, which has proven to be a solid performer across all platforms where it is available, also draws upwards of 20 million video streams per month.*

*Kidranker, February 2015

The series is performing equally well beyond the TV screen. Peg + Cat’s “Really Big Album” ranked in the top 10 among children’s music on iTunes in its debut week, and the brand’s “Big Gig App” was #1 in education apps for kids in its first week.

The series follows the adorable spirited, Peg, and her sidekick, Cat, as they encounter unexpected problems that require fun and creative solutions. In order to solve the problems, Peg and Cat must add, subtract and apply basic arithmetic. Their adventures take them to historical far-away lands, art centers in bustling metropolises and the colorful cosmos, all the while demonstrating that it’s never too early to start learning the magic of numbers.

Peg + Cat is co-created and executive produced by Jennifer Oxley (Little Bill, The Wonder Pets!) and Billy Aronson (Rent, Postcards from Buster) and co-produced by The Fred Rogers Company and 9 Story Media Group for PBS KIDS. Kevin Morrison of The Fred Rogers Company and Vince Commisso of 9 Story also serve as executive producers. 9 Story, which also handles international distribution, has secured distribution in 180 countries.

About 9 Story Media Group

9 Story Media Group is a leading content creator, marketer and distributor of kids & family focused intellectual property. Recognized around the world for best-in-class brands such as Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Wild Kratts, Numb Chucks, Arthur and Peg + Cat, 9 Story represents over 1800 half hours of animated and live action programming, seen on some of the most respected international channels and platforms.  With one of North America’s largest animation studios, 9 Story employs over 250 creative and production staff and has produced over 900 half hours of award-winning children’s content. 9 Story is owned by senior management, ZM Capital and media entrepreneur Neil Court. www.9story.com

About The Fred Rogers Company

The company was founded by Fred Rogers in 1971 as the non-profit producer of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood for PBS. In the years that followed, it not only created hundreds of episodes of this much-loved program, but also extended Fred’s values and approach to other efforts in promoting children’s social, emotional and behavioral health and supporting parents, caregivers, teachers and other professionals in their work with children. The Fred Rogers Company continues to build on Fred’s legacy in innovative ways through a wide variety of media, and engaging new generations of children and families with his timeless wisdom. The company’s highly-rated, award-winning children’s series includeDaniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Peg + Cat and Odd Squad. For more information, visit www.fredrogers.org.