LionsGate releases information about upcoming animated furry movies
LionsGate Entertainment, best known, at least furry and animation-wise, for Alpha and Omega and its various direct to video sequels, has released a trailer for its January 15, 2016 theatrical movie, Norm of the North, which features a polar bear taking a trip to New York City to save the Arctic ice cap.
At least the scene where titular polar bear Norm meets a man in a polar bear suit is interesting from a furry standpoint.
Perhaps more exciting than the trailer itself is the announcement of the release date, which sees the movie go up directly against The Nut Job 2; it seems release date power plays aren't just for superhero movies, anymore. It may be interesting to see if either movie "flinches" in this cinematic game of chicken.
Update (8/8): A Cartoon Brew commenter has pointed out Nut Job 2 has already apparently flinched; its listed IMDB release date has changed.
January 2016 also sees Kung Fu Panda 3 hit theaters, this time on the 29th. Speaking of moving release dates, Kung Fu Panda 3 has had its own strange trip around the release calendar; it was supposed to be a 2015 release, but flinched in the face of Star Wars and moved to March 2016, before moving again to its current release date; it is unlikely to yield its spot, as it seems to be calculated to take advantage of the Chinese New Year, which makes January a much more important movie month to the box office of China (and Kung Fu Panda 3 is a Chinese co-production) than America, which usually has a reputation as a dump month. Which is not to cast aspersions on Norm of the North or The Nut Job (though Wikipedia's "dump month" article is illustrated with a marquee that advertises movies that include the original Nut Job).
Norm of the North's trailer and release date isn't LionsGate's only animated movie announcement of the day; they announced that they would be distributing the 2017 My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic movie. The press release announced a vague synopsis:
In the movie, a new dark force threatens Ponyville, and the Mane 6 – Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Rarity – embark on an unforgettable journey beyond Equestria where they meet new friends and exciting challenges on a quest to use the magic of friendship and save their home. The My Little Pony film will feature all new music with the Mane Six characters voiced by Tara Strong, Cathy Weseluck, Andrea Libman, Tabitha St. Germain and Ashleigh Ball. Jayson Theissen is directing. Brian Goldner and Stephen Davis are producing the film with Meghan McCarthy and Michael Vogel co-executive producing.
The news release also announced Kristin Chenoweth would be joining the voice cast for the movie.
About the author
crossaffliction (Brendan Kachel) — read stories — contact (login required)a reporter and Red Fox from Hooker, Oklahoma, interested in movies, horror, stand up comedy
Formerly Wichita's only furry comic.
Comments
Do we really need another Alpha and Omega level movie?
"If all mankind minus one, were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind."
~John Stuart Mill~
I'm sure Diamond Man is excited.
If it makes fans happy. Besides, the sequels were pretty "low" compared to the first. But they always have a chance regardless of what people think about it.
I'm just waiting until they clearly show their anthropomorphic selves like the first and on the original characters. And probably less puppies and other pups. If they make that, then I personality feel it should be the "end". Though anyone can continue if they want.
Not sure what you mean by 'level' though.
Account abandoned and probably will make a new anonymous account with no trace of evidence of it being me. I think it's justified.
Just to let you know, I don't think the company is the same company anymore that made A&O.
I been hearing this movie is now from another company?
Correct me if I'm wrong.
Account abandoned and probably will make a new anonymous account with no trace of evidence of it being me. I think it's justified.
You’re right. The “Alpha and Omega” movies are produced by Richard Rich’s Crest Animation Productions studio in Burbank, California. “Norm of the North” is co-produced by Splash Entertainment in Woodland Hills, California, and Telegael in Spidéal, Conamara, Eire.
That is, the animation is produced there. Lionsgate Entertainment, in Santa Monica, California (“Hollywood" is all through greater Los Angeles), is primarily a distributor, although in the case of a movie like “Norm of the North”, Lionsgate probably initiated the project and put up the money, maybe wrote the story, directed the voice actors, and commissioned the music, picked the animation studios, and probably did all the post production (matching the voice track to the finished animation, and adding the sound effects and music). Lionsgate is doing a lot of this. Lionsgate produced/distributed “A Mouse Tale” in February, but the actual animation production was by Red Post Animation Studio in Lima, Peru, and Vista Sur Films in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
It’s no secret today that the big movie companies are dividing up their production and distribution, and subcontracting them all around the world. Disney’s “Planes” and “Planes: Fire & Rescue” was subcontracted to Prana Studios in Mumbai, India for its animation production. Prana has an office in Hollywood to grab animation production. Disney supplied the plot and storyboards, and presumably did the post production after the animation came back from Mumbai. If you have the money and knowhow, you can set up your own studio to write and storyboard your movie; hire and record your voice actors, and hire composers and a music studio; and then subcontract your animation production (cartoon, computer graphics, stop-motion) to a studio anywhere in the world. You don't need to have your own animation studio with all its expensive cameras, computers, and stuff.
Fred Patten
Here are just four animation studio websites (two in India, one in South Korea, and one in Mexico) that will produce your animation project for you. Note that Prana Studios is hiring for both its Hollywood and Mumbai locations.
http://www.pranastudios.com/
http://toonz.co/
http://www.w2studios.com/about.html
https://vimeo.com/avikoo
Fred Patten
Splash Entertainment..
I heard some news that there was going to be three more sequels of the Alpha and Omega series here:
http://kidscreen.com/2015/04/08/splash-lionsgate-team-for-more-alpha-and-omega/
Yes, I am not talking about 'after the first sequel'. It's literally 6, 7, and 8..
'Splash Entertainment' is brought up there.
But I am not sure if Splash Entertainment is only doing the distributing, or they are also animating the so-called movies too?
Funny thought, it would of made more sense if all those "movies" were part of a TV show similar to Lost but not as connected. Considering Lost was actually one full over 5-hour movie.
Account abandoned and probably will make a new anonymous account with no trace of evidence of it being me. I think it's justified.
I am confused. Your KidScreen article clearly says that "Alpha and Omega: Family Vacation" is produced for Lionsgate by Splash Entertainment. But the movie's trailer clearly says it's Crest Animation, not Splash Entertainment.
Also, all of the previous "Alpha and Omega" movies have been by Crest Animation.
Further, this was a direct-to-DVD release on August 4, which is now in the past; it's not "coming early next year".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eo6pH9VPxfY
Fred Patten
The article isn't made by me. I found it by someone else showing it.
And yeah I think you are right. Family Vacation was also made by Splash Entertainment? I guess you got it from this part?:
"Executive producers overseeing the production are Ken Katsumoto, EVP of Lionsgate Family Entertainment, and Liz Young, president of Splash Entertainment."
If so, then I guess I partly mistaken this article and was right on the 3 already released sequels before Family Vacation..
But yeah that's weird. But it's possible Splash was only a distributor and not the making part or the article is not written correctly.
I think they were talking about the 3 sequels after Alpha and Omega: Family Vacation, and the first of them would of been set to early 2016. Aka: "Alpha and Omega 6".
Account abandoned and probably will make a new anonymous account with no trace of evidence of it being me. I think it's justified.
The trailer #2s are coming fast.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5olXXakTOAA
Fred Patten
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