Oct 31, 2023

Looney Tunes Feature Film "The Day The Earth Blew Up" Graces AFM's Animation Lineup

The American Film Market (AFM) kicks off today in Santa Monica, CA.

AFM is a film acquisition, development, and networking event where more than $1 billion in distribution and film financing deals are closed each year. Thousands of professionals from around the world attend to develop, showcase, discover, finance, and license thousands of independent film projects.

Certain to be one of the most watched animated films at this year's AFM, this Looney Tunes feature will be directed by Pete Braungart. U.K. distributor GFM Animation is handling sales for the Warner Bros. Animation production.

In this film, Porky the Pig and Daffy Duck are Earth's only hope against the threat of alien invasion. Sam Register, president of Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios, told Variety: "Our artists followed the tradition of the film when audiences first fell in love with these characters and created an incredible Looney Tunes movie was created."

The film is a "true story about the love and love of the Looney Tunes.

Gaumont is launching a presale of the next animated feature from Amazing Maurice director Toby Genkel. The film is based largely on the book of the same name by Paul McCartney, Jeff Dunbar, and Philip Ardagh, McCartney of MPL Communications, Robert Shay of Unique Features, Sydni Dumas of Gaumont, Christophe Liandi, Nicolas Atlan, and Terry Karagian will produce. McCartney will compose the film's music along with Oscar-winning composer Michael Giacchino ("Up").

The tagline for the film is: "After accidentally sparking a revolution against the bossy diva Gretsch, who has banned all music from her town, Wirral, a teenage squirrel, embarks on an extraordinary journey to music freedom."

French film.

France's Mac Guff and Canada's L'Atelier Animation are producing this animated feature by co-directors and industry veterans Ricardo Curtis and Rodrigo Perez-Castro. Copperheart Entertainment is producing and Charades Productions, U Media, and Mipa are co-producing. The film is currently in production and is scheduled for release in late 2024.

The comedy film focuses on zoo animals who are transformed into zombies after a meteorite falls nearby.

Sola Media, part of the Embracer Group, will introduce buyers to its latest project, The Sloth Lane, produced by Like a Photon Creative of Australia. The film is directed by Scarygirl duo Tania Vincent and Ricard Cussó and produced by Kristen Souvlis, Nadine Bates, and Ryan Greaves.

The film tells the story of a sloth family recovering from a devastating storm that destroyed their family restaurant and home.

Produced by Phanta Animation, BosBros, and Eyeworks Film & TV Drama, the family film was submitted to AFM by Germany's Studio 100 Film, with a script by Maureen Versprille directed by Vincent Bal and Wip Vernooij.

The film follows the adventures of a pet cat who gets lost during a summer vacation in the south of France. The film is based on the true story of Tabby, who was lost for 13 years.

Sola Media will present Tafiti, a German animated feature produced by Tradewind Pictures and Little Dream Entertainment. Production is underway and will be directed by Nina Wels (Latte and the Magic Water Stone).

In the film, a young meerkat and a bush pig become unlikely friends; their relationship is unpopular in the insular meerkat community, and the two must embark on an epic journey to prove that cross-species friendship can work. [Kevin Donovan and Gottfried Rood co-direct, with Amy Catherine Taylor (Second Chance Productions), Jeff Jeffrey (Story Warrior Media Capital) and Peter Wetherell (Mags Entertainment) The family adventure comedy is produced and will be marketed by Luminescence in Hungary. It features the voices of Bill Nighy, Alicia Silverstone, Brooke Shields, Danny Trejo, and Susan Sarandon. The film is scheduled for release in 2024.

Gracie the dog and Pedro the cat must learn to get along in a dangerous and frightening world after being separated from their family at an airport.

On the Edge Productions and Studio 100 Media are collaborating on the feature film On the Edge: Donnie Dares. Pre-production is underway and the film is scheduled for release in late 2026. Michael Ryan ("Scooby-Doo" and "Guess Who") is on board as screenwriter, and Archie Donato ("Nimona") is in charge of visual development. Executive producers are Beth Blood and Karen Vermeulen (On the Edge Productions), plus Martin Krieger (Studio 100 Media) and Victor Elizalde (Viva Kids). The production team also includes producers Torsten Wegener (Studio 100 Media), Laura Prieto and Mayank Jalani (Viva Kids).

The synopsis of the film is as follows: "Most people have never heard of six animals that are endangered: the solenodon, the kakapo, the sesamoa, the aye-aye, the greater one-horned bat, and the purple toad. Soon, however, everyone will know all about them. This team of strange and wonderful animals takes their destiny into their own hands to fight extinction.

Magic Frame Animation and Creation Entertainment Media are co-producing this CG feature, which will premiere at AFM. Directed by Alex Tsitsilin of Secret Magic Control Agency.

A modern-day fairy tale, "Rebellious" tells the story of a headstrong princess who, after being kidnapped by an evil sorcerer, refuses to wait for rescue and plots a daring escape.