Category Archives: News

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Phree device on Kickstarter seeks to let you write on anything

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Here’s an interesting device that seeks to allow you to write on anything and have it instantly transfer to your phone. It’s more or less like a Wacom pen but there’s no tablet. Anything you draw anywhere transfers in real time to your phone. Kinda cool but I wonder if that means you can draw on the screen itself and it will still work. After all you can draw on anything so…

Apparently the pen will also let you talk on it like a phone should you so desire to look that silly.

If you’re interested in backing them, drive your browser over here.

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9 Story Media Group Licenses GET ACE and NERDS AND MONSTERS to Gloob Brazil

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9 Story Media Group Licenses GET ACE and NERDS AND MONSTERS to Gloob Brazil

Toronto, Canada – May 19, 2015 – 9 Story Media Group is pleased to announce that it has licensed the animated children’s comedies Get Ace (52 x 11’) and Nerds and Monsters (40 x 11’)  to Gloob, Globosat’s Brazilian children’s TV  channel. The announcement comes shortly after LA Screenings last week. Both series will air in Brazilian Portuguese and are expected to premiere in January 2016.

Get Ace is produced by Galaxy Pop and premiered on Network TEN’s ELEVEN in Australia. In addition to Gloob, the series has also been licensed to Boing (France), ABC TV Australia, TVNZ (New Zealand), TVE (Spain), E Junior (UAE) and Zoom (Israel). The series follows the adventures of hapless, geek Ace McDougal who, after being accidentally fitted with a pair of hi-tech super-spy braces, finds himself thrown into a world of espionage and adventure.

Nerds and Monsters is produced by Slap Happy Cartoons for YTV (Canada), and is currently in production on a second season. The series has previously been licensed to CiTV (UK), ABC TV Australia, TVE (Spain), Canal+ Family (France and Africa), E-Junior (UAE), Noga(Israel) and MBC Kids (Middle East). The series tosses 3 nerdy kids and a thick-headed football star on a fantastic uncharted island. The tween castaways must use nothing but their smarts to survive the relentless attacks by the island’s inhabitants – a tribe of hideous but hilarious monsters. And lucky for the Nerds, these dim-witted monsters don’t have any smarts!

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 Neighbourhood, 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

For further information: 

Jennifer Ansley, Vice President, Marketing & Communications, 9 Story Media Group

+1 416 530-9900 ext 230, jennifera@9story.com

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The 15 Best Freelance Websites to Find Jobs

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freelance-470x314Entrepreneur.com has a valuable article listing the best freelance website to find work. Check it out below.

From the site:
Whether you’re looking for another way to pay the bills, seeking more professional development opportunities or just love the freedom that freelancing offers, there’s no question that millions of people have discovered the benefits of professional freelancing. As trends like the digital nomad lifestyle grow in popularity, the number of freelance resources out there has increased as well.

You can read the entire article here.

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2d Wednesday- “Havana Heat” The Mill/ String Theory

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For today’s 2D Wednesday, check out this really cool spot called ‘Havana Heat’ which is a “steamy love letter” to a  used book selling site called Good Books in the cleavage-heaving language made famous by Mills & Boon.

Books are available through the online store at usegoodbooks.com.

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9 Story Media Group Options Bestselling Children Series OTIS THE TRACTOR

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otis-up

9 Story Media Group Options Bestselling Children Series

OTIS THE TRACTOR

Toronto, Canada –May 12, 2015 – 9 Story Media Group is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Penguin Young Readers for the option to produce an animated television series based on the #1 New York Times bestselling children’s book series, Otis the Tractor. Written and illustrated by Loren Long, the series is published by Philomel Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers. The Otis book series debuted in 2009, selling over 1.5 million copies to date across 9 titles. Under the terms of the deal, 9 Story has also optioned merchandising and licensing rights for the property.

“We are thrilled to bring Loren Long’s beloved characters into the 9 Story family,” said Natalie Dumoulin, Vice President of Creative Affairs for 9 Story. “Otis the Tractor is a character kids connect with universally – he may be small in stature, but he has a heart of gold and teaches his audience the values of loyalty, courage and friendship.”

“Otis is the person, or in this case, tractor, that we all want to be—brave, loyal, patient, determined, and a true friend to the end,” said Michael Green, President & Publisher, Philomel Books. “I can’t think of a better role model or companion for kids. And I’m so grateful that Otis has found a quality partner in 9 Story.”

“I’m excited to team up with 9 Story, and for Otis to putt-puff his way into even more homes, and make even more friends!” said Loren Long, author and illustrator of the Otis series.

#1 New York Times bestselling picture book Otis spent almost 20 weeks on the New York Times bestsellers list in 2009. Loren Long’s “majestic, whimsical, and rousing” (Publishers Weekly) artwork and comforting, satisfying story immediately turned Otis into a beloved picture book character. Otis has continued to putt-puff-puttedy-chuff all over the bestseller list in titles such as Otis and the Puppy, Otis and the Tornado, an Otis Christmas, and Otis and the Scarecrow. In addition to the Otis series, Loren also illustrated such acclaimed books as Watty Piper’s The Little Engine That Could, Madonna’s Mr. Peabody’s Apples, and President Barack Obama’s book, Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters. He lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with his wife and two sons.

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 Neighbourhood, 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

Penguin Young Readers is one of the leading children’s book publishers in the United States. The company owns a wide range of imprints and trademarksincluding Dial Books, Dutton, Grosset & Dunlap, Philomel, Puffin, Speak, Firebird, G. P. Putnam’s Sons, Viking, Razorbill, and Frederick Warne. These imprints are home to such award-winning, New York Times- bestselling authors as Laurie Halse Anderson, Jay Asher, Judy Blume, Jan Brett, Eric Carle, Ally Condie, Roald Dahl, Tomie dePaola, Sarah Dessen, Anna Dewdney, John Flanagan, Gayle Forman John Green, Oliver Jeffers, Mike Lupica, Richelle Mead, B.J. Novak, Richard Peck, Judy Schachner, Jacqueline Woodson and dozens of other popular authors. Penguin Young Readers Group is also the proud publisher of perennial brand franchises such as The Little Engine That Could, the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series, Peter Rabbit, Spot, the Classic Winnie the Pooh, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Strega Nona, Madeline, Mad Libs, Alex Rider, the Rangers Apprentice, Skippyjon Jones, Flower Fairies, and Pippi Longstocking, among many others. Penguin Young Readers Group is a division of Penguin Group LLC, a Penguin Random House company.

For further information: 

Jennifer Ansley, Vice President, Marketing & Communications, 9 Story Media Group

+1 416 530-9900 ext 230, jennifera@9story.com

 

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Robb Pratt does it again with 2D Flash Gordon tribute

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Robb Pratt who animated the two beautifully animated Superman tribute shorts Superman Classic and Bizarro has done it again with a brand new piece starring Flash Gordon ! All animated in 2d! Traditionally on PAPER no less!

Someone give this guy a feature deal already!

Incidentally we interviewed Robb a while back and he told me about the process on Bizarro:

 …the animation is traditional on paper, then scanned into the computer. No clean up, just tied the drawings down very tight. From there I scanned them into the computer and painted them in Photoshop. The BGs are pure digital – all drawn and painted in the computer. I used Final Cut Pro to composite everything together. At the end, I exported sequence images from Final Cut into AfterEffects to apply the anaglyph 3D effect. I think  that covers everything!

Also here’s a little bit of pencil test from the film as well for you to drool over.