THE GRUFFALO’S CHILD WINS EMIL AWARD

Picture by Malte Christians

After having its German TV premiere at Christmas 2012, our movie ”The Gruffalo’s Child’, directed by Johannes Weiland and Uwe Heidschötter, was awarded with the EMIL award on 21st March.

Here is an extract from the jury decision: ‘The Gruffalo’s Child is one of the rare sequels exceeding the prequel. Softly and lyrically the film describes a journey through a snowy and nightly forest. Rhymed commentaries and dialogues humorously question the prequel’s story.’

For all German speakers, here is the complete jury statement:

Kinder müssen Fehler machen dürfen, um zu lernen. Manchmal müssen sie sogar die Fehler ihrer Eltern wiederholen, um selbst Erfahrungen zu sammeln. Genau darum geht es im Kurzfilm „Das Grüffelokind“.

Wie schon im Vorgänger „Der Grüffelo“ haben die Animatoren die Illustrationen des Kinderbuchs liebevoll in dreidimensionale Figuren übertragen. Der Grüffelo ist inzwischen Vater geworden. Mit Unbehagen erinnert sich das Waldmonster an seine Begegnung mit der „großen bösen Maus“. Doch der Nachwuchs zweifelt: Gibt es im Wald wirklich ein mächtigeres Ungeheuer als den wuchtigen Papa? Das Grüffelchen büxt aus, um es herauszufinden.

Das Grüffelokind“ zählt zu jenen raren Fortsetzungen, die den ersten Teil übertreffen. Leise und lyrisch schildert der Film die Reise durch den verschneiten, nächtlichen Wald. Gereimte Kommentare und Dialoge hinterfragen gewitzt die Geschichte des Vorgängers.

Doch vor allem das ambivalente Finale hat die EMIL-Jury beeindruckt. Natürlich atmet man auf, wenn die Maus das Grüffelokind ebenso austrickst, erschreckt und verjagt wie einst dessen Vater. Aber: Insgeheim tut einem das tapfere, wissbegierige Grüffelchen auch ein bisschen leid.

‘NEAREST AND DEAREST’ TV PREMIERE

This Sunday, the 17th of February, our latest shortfilm ‘Schrecken ohne Ende’, also known as ‘Nearest and Dearest’, celebrates its TV premiere as part of the TV kids show ‘Siebenstein’.

The directors Max Stöhr and Michael Sieber tell a story about a little boy who tries to work out a good plan to prevent his big sister from moving away.

To find out whether this plan is successful or not, turn on the TV this Sunday 10:35 on ZDF.

IT’S A SOI CHRISTMAS ON GERMAN TV

On Sunday as part of the children’s show Siebenstein our very first shortfilm “Torvald und der Tannenbaum” will be shown at 10:35 am on KiKa in HD.

In the morning of the 24th the ZDF will show our half-hour-special “Der Güffelo” at 10:10 am
followed at 10:40 by “Das Grüffelokind” which airs for the first time on German television.

Have a HAPPY CHRISTMAS everyone!

GUMBALL WINS BAFTA N° 3 AND N°4!


After winning two Children’s Baftas in 2011,  last night Ben Bocquelet and “The amazingly goodlooking Team of Gumball” graciously accepted yet another two golden masks  for their genius and hard work, again in both nominated categories, “Writing” and “Animation”. We congratulate Ben, Mic, Aurelie, Joanna, Daniel and their whole amazing crew, well deserved everyone, we raise our glasses!

DEPT. OF KNIGHTS & DAMSELS

Hey, following the slightly medieval theme we’ve had with some films in the recent past, this summer Johannes Weiland teamed up with Jakob Schuh for six weeks and the two made two quick little films explaining the courtly life of knights and noble damsels for German children’s show “Löwenzahn”. You can watch the result coming Sunday 08.15 am on ZDF or 11.05 am on Kika.

A SHINY LOLA “PRINCESS & DRAGON”!

Our shortfilm “Die Prinzessin, der Prinz und der Drache mit den grünen Augen” was a awarded with the 2012 “Deutscher Kurzfilmpreis” (~best german short 2012). The film was directed by Jakob Schuh and Bin Han-To and produced at our Berlin studio. We’d like to thank the jury for their kind words, we’re very honored, and we’d once more like to thank the film’s lovely team for their commitment and hard work! Thanks so much.

GUMBALL AND GRUFFALO’S CHILD NOMINATED FOR CHILDREN’S BAFTA

Both “The Gruffalo’s Child” and Cartoon Network’s “The Amazing Adventures of Gumball” are nominated in the animation category of the 2012 Children’s Baftas. Gumball-creator Ben Bocquelet together with his colleagues James Lamont and Jon Foster are also nominated for their writing work on “Gumball”. We congratulate all the teams and wish the very best for Sunday, Nov 25th!
(colour studies above by Aurélien Predal)

“PRINCESS & DRAGON” NOMINATED FOR DEUTSCHER KURZFILMPREIS 2012

Our shortfilm “Princess & Dragon”, directed by Jakob Schuh and Bin-Han To is currently nominated for the “Deutscher Kurzfilmpreis” (~best German short 2012).  We’re very happy and would like to use the opportunity to once again thank the wonderful french/bavarian team on this one: Best of luck at the awards next monday.
(above: modelsheet “prince” j.schuh)

NICE PACKAGE!

Oh, the joys of the internet, look what we found on amazon UK:  Starting Oct. 1st you can apparently order both “The Gruffalo” and “The Gruffalo’s Child” in one sweet looking tin suitcase, just big enough for a Mouse-sandwich and a piece of Gruffalo-crumble, once you’ve removed the DVD’s. Nice!

GUMMBALL ARRIVES IN GERMANY!


Good News: Starting Sept. 1st,  “The Amazing World of Gumball” will finally wreak its special brand of havoc on german television. After winning awards in Annecy, at the B.A.A’s., the PRIX JEUNESSE, the BAFTAS and the ANNIES, the adventures of everyone’s favourite blue cat, walking goldfish, horned peanut, bully T-Rex, furry slug etc. etc. will be airing on German broadcaster KIKA every saturday at 12.10 noon. We’re huge fanboys and proud to see some of our efforts come home! If you haven’t seen it yet, sit down!