Annecy, France; Wednesday, June 12, 2023 – Following last week’s Los Angeles Next on Netflix: Animation event, Netflix continued the momentum, revealing more of its new lineup of diverse films and series. Five years after releasing its first animated feature, Netflix has gone on to receive 8 Oscar noms and 1 win for Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio; 4 BAFTA noms and 2 wins for Klaus and Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio; 273 Annie noms and 79 Annie wins across film and series, including this year’s Oscar nomination for Nimona and BAFTA nomination for Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, plus wins at the Annies (Arcane). Today award-winning filmmakers and creators took audiences behind the scenes with world-exclusive clips and sneak peeks from their highly anticipated new projects during the “Next On Netflix Animation: From Wallace & Gromit To Twilight Of The Gods” panel.

Hosted by the multi-talented, producer Anna Higgs, the panel got underway, welcoming Alain Chabat and Fabrice Joubert directors of the French series Asterix & Obelix: The Big Fight, produced by French studio TAT and based on the beloved comic strips created by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo. The directors showcased a world-exclusive clip from the show. Chabat said: “After the extraordinary experience of making the film “Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra” and the audience’s reception, it is an immense pleasure to dive back into the universe and characters created by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo! Animation brings us back to the very essence of the work and offers new creative spaces to have fun in different ways. Revealing the first images (even WIP) at Annecy is a privilege and a great joy shared with the team!”

Up next, esteemed industry experts and Annecy veterans, Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham, from Aardman, took to the stage to discuss the much-buzzed-about Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl and treated audiences to a clip. They shared the sentiment: “Annecy has welcomed Wallace and Gromit warmly and generously for many years, and so there couldn’t be a more perfect festival for us to share a special sneak peek of our latest upcoming Wallace and Gromit extravaganza, ‘Vengeance Most Fowl’. It’s so exciting to return to Annecy again, stepping away from production for a couple of days, to share a special taster of the latest madcap adventure we’ve been cooking up for the duo over the last couple of years and to reveal the return of our most infamous villain, Feathers McGraw!”

Fan favorites and the new animated drama series Twilight of the Gods showrunners, Zack and Deborah Snyder, alongside the art director Slimane Aniss also participated in a Q&A. The Synder’s said of their first experience of Annecy: “We are so excited to make our first voyage to Annecy, such a remarkable showcase for groundbreaking animation, with our series, Twilight Of The Gods, a monumental tale, steeped in the rich lore of Norse Mythology, of mortals and gods facing off in a pitched battle, where the lines between honor and revenge are blurred. It has been an amazing journey creating this epic series in partnership with both Netflix and Xilam. We’re thrilled for audiences to finally see it – on a big screen.”

Other highlights from the presentation included director, Vicky Jenson, talking about Skydance Animation’s Spellbound. She shared a sneak peek from the film on stage and her thoughts in the lead-up to the festival: “I am so looking forward to bringing a preview of Spellbound to Annecy. The audiences there are some of the most enthusiastic in the world and are filled with not only animation fans but also students, professionals and old colleagues! Spellbound is a truly special film, and I could not be more proud of it and every artist who helped to make it happen. It is a new fairytale that, while feeling rooted in classic storytelling, has a twist that is both unexpected and universal at the same time.”

Anna also introduced a clip from The Twits, Netflix’s new animated Roald Dahl project, led by writer/director/producer Phil Johnston.

Netflix’s Annecy activities include:

Ultraman: Rising world premiere tonight at the Theater Bonlieu ahead of its 14 June Netflix debut. Writer and director Shannon Tindle expressed his excitement: “Every frame of this film was crafted by our team to connect with the audience in an emotional, visceral way. Debuting Ultraman: Rising at Annecy, where so many films that have moved and inspired me have premiered, is truly a dream come true.” Plus on 13 June, a Making Of Session will go behind the scenes of the final creative processes, with Shannon Tindle, John Aoshima (co-director), Sunmin Inn (art director), Hayden Jones (VFX supervisor) and Scot Stafford (composer).

Throughout the festival, a Wallace & Gromit Exhibition featuring select puppets from Aardman’s new film will take center stage and celebrate these beloved stop-motion characters. For fans wanting more, Netflix members can also delve deeper into Aardman’s world with the Netflix game Chicken Run: Eggstraction, available later this year.

Yesterday saw a Work-In-Progress session for That Christmas exploring the various stages of production. The session featured award-winning writer Richard Curtis (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, Love Actually, Yesterday), animation veteran and director Simon Otto (Love, Death & Robots, How to Train Your Dragon), Nicole Hearon (producer), and Justin Hutchinson-Chatburn (production designer).

Today, Arcane’s Making Of Session featured Showrunner Christian Linke (Riot), Scriptwriter Amanda Overton (Riot), Senior Concept Artist Arnaud Baudry (Riot), Director Bart Maunoury (Fortiche), and Producer Christine Ponzevera (Fortiche).

On 13 June, a Big Mouth Making Of Session will celebrate the final series of this comedic hit with Andrew Goldberg (co-creator, EP), Jennifer Flackett (co-creator, EP) and Mark Levin (co-creator, EP).

The Imaginary will receive its English-language world premiere on 14 June, ahead of its Netflix debut on 5 July. It will also be in official competition at Annecy.

In addition, Blue Eye Samurai and Pokemon Concierge will be in official competition.

Notes to Editors

FILM:

ULTRAMAN: RISING

Launch date: June 14, 2024
With Tokyo under siege from rising monster attacks, baseball star Ken Sato reluctantly returns home to take on the mantle of Ultraman. But the titanic superhero meets his match when he reluctantly adopts a 35-foot-tall, fire-breathing baby kaiju. Sato must rise above his ego to balance work and parenthood while protecting the baby from forces bent on exploiting her for their own dark plans. In partnership with Netflix, Tsuburaya Productions, and Industrial Light & Magic, Ultraman: Rising is written by Shannon Tindle & Marc Haimes, directed by Shannon Tindle, and co-directed by John Aoshima.
Director: Shannon Tindle
Co-director: ​​John Aoshima
Written by: Shannon Tindle, Marc Haimes
Produced by: Tom Knott, p.g.a. and Lisa M. Poole, p.g.a.
Executive Producers: Takayuki Tsukagoshi, Masahiro Onda, Kei Minamitani
Cast: Christopher Sean (You, Hawaii Five-O), Gedde Watanabe (Sixteen Candles), Tamlyn Tomita (Avatar: The Last Airbender) Keone Young (Men in Black 3, Star Wars Rebels), Julia Harriman (Camp Rock)

SPELLBOUND

Launch date: November 22, 2024
Spellbound follows the adventures of Ellian, the tenacious young daughter of the rulers of Lumbria who must go on a daring quest to save her family and kingdom after a mysterious spell transforms her parents into monsters. Spellbound is directed by Vicky Jenson (Shrek) with original score from EGOT-winning composer Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast) and lyrics by Glenn Slater (Tangled). A Netflix Film from Skydance Animation, Spellbound boasts an all-star voice cast led by Rachel Zegler, Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem, John Lithgow, Jenifer Lewis, Nathan Lane, and Tituss Burgess. Spellbound is written by Lauren Hynek & Elizabeth Martin and Julia Miranda and produced by John Lasseter, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Bruce Anderson and Linda Woolverton for Skydance Animation.
Directed by: Vicky Jenson
Written by: Lauren Hynek & Elizabeth Martin and Julia Miranda
Story by: Vicky Jenson and Lauren Hynek & Elizabeth Martin
Produced by: John Lasseter, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Bruce Anderson and Linda Woolverton for Skydance Animation
Score by: Alan Menken
Songs by: Alan Menken and Glenn Slater
Cast: Rachel Zegler, John Lithgow, Jenifer Lewis, Tituss Burgess, Nathan Lane with Javier Bardem and Nicole Kidman

THAT CHRISTMAS

Launch date: Coming December 2024
Synopsis: Based on the charming trilogy of children’s books by beloved multi award-winning writer/director Richard Curtis (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, Love Actually, Yesterday), That Christmas follows a series of entwined tales about family and friends, love and loneliness, and Santa Claus making a big mistake, not to mention an enormous number of turkeys! This heartwarming comedy from Locksmith Animation marks Curtis’ first foray into animation, serving as the film’s writer and executive producer, and also the feature directorial debut of renowned animation veteran Simon Otto (Love, Death & Robots, How to Train Your Dragon films). Nicole P. Hearon (Moana, Frozen) and Adam Tandy (The Thick of It, Detectorists) are producers.
Directors: Simon Otto
Writers: Richard Curtis & Peter Souter
Produced by: Nicole P. Hearon p.g.a, Adam Tandy p.g.a
Executive Producers: Mary Coleman, Natalie Fischer, Julie Lockhart, Elisabeth Murdoch, Bonnie Arnold, Lara Breay, Sarah Smith, Rebecca Cobb, Richard Curtis, Colin Hopkins
Music by: John Powell
Cast: Brian Cox, Fiona Shaw, Jodie Whittaker, Lolly Adefope, Alex Macqueen, Katherine Parkinson, Sindhu Vee, India Brown, Zazie Hayhurst, Sienna Sayer, Jack Wisniewski, Rosie Cavaliero, Paul Kaye, Guz Khan, Andy Nyman, Kuhu Agarwal, Bronte Smith, Freddie Spry, Ava Talbot, with Bill Nighy and Rhys Darby.

WALLACE & GROMIT: VENGEANCE MOST FOWL

Launch date: Coming this Winter. The film will premiere exclusively on Netflix around the world except in the UK, where it will debut on the BBC before also coming to Netflix.
Synopsis: Aardman’s four-time Academy Award®-winning director Nick Park and Emmy Award-nominated Merlin Crossingham return with a brand new epic adventure, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl. In this next installment, Gromit’s concern that Wallace is becoming too dependent on his inventions proves justified, when Wallace invents a “smart” gnome that seems to develop a mind of its own. When it emerges that a vengeful figure from the past might be masterminding things, it falls to Gromit to battle sinister forces and save his master… or Wallace may never be able to invent again!
Creator of Wallace & Gromit: Nick Park
Director: Nick Park & Merlin Crossingham
Story: Nick Park
Screenplay: Mark Burton
Producer: Richard Beek
Voice cast: Ben Whitehead, Peter Kay, Lauren Patel, Reece Shearsmith, Diane Morgan, Adjoa Andoh, Muzz

THE TWITS

Launch date: Coming 2025
Synopsis: Mr. and Mrs. Twit are the meanest, smelliest, nastiest people in the world who also happen to own and operate the most disgusting, most dangerous, most idiotic amusement park in the world, Twitlandia. But when the Twits rise to power in their town, two brave orphans and a family of magical animals are forced to become as tricky as the Twits in order to save the city. A hysterically funny, wild ride of a film (chock-full of the Twits’ beloved tricks–from the Wormy Spaghetti to the Dreaded Shrinks), The Twits is also a story for our times, about the never-ending battle between cruelty and empathy.
Director: Phil Johnston
Co-Directors: Katie Shanahan, Todd Kunjan Demong
Writers: Phil Johnston (Zootopia, Wreck-It Ralph), Meg Favreau
Produced by: Phil Johnston, Maggie Malone, Daisy May West
Voice cast: Margo Martindale, Johnny Vegas, with Natalie Portman and Emilia Clarke

SERIES

TWILIGHT OF THE GODS

Launch date: 19 September, 2024
Synopsis: The animated series brings Zack Snyder’s daring and spectacular vision of ancient Norse mythology to life, and features the voices of Sylvia Hoeks, Stuart Martin, Pilou Asbaek, John Noble, Paterson Joseph, Rahul Kohli, Jamie Clayton, Kristopher Hivju, Peter Stormare, Jamie Chung, Lauren Cohan, and Corey Stoll, among others.
Created By: Zack Snyder, Jay Olivia, Eric Carrasco
Executive Producers: Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder, Wesley Coller, Jay Oliva
Directors: Zack Snyder (101 & 108); Jay Oliva (102 & 107); Tim Divar/Andrew Tamadl (103 & 105); Dave Hartman/Andrew Tamadl (104 & 106)
Animation Studio: Xilam Animation
Production Company: Stone Quarry Animation

ARCANE

Launch date: Coming this November
Studio: Riot Games
Animation: Fortiche Productions
Created by: Christian Linke, Alex Yee
Executive Producers: Christian Linke, Marc Merrill, Brandon Beck
Announced Voices: Hailee Steinfeld (Vi), Ella Purnell (Jinx) and Katie Leung (Caitlyn Kiramman), among others to be announced

BIG MOUTH (S8)

Launch date: Coming 2025
Synopsis: Big Mouth is the critically-acclaimed and Emmy-winning adult animated comedy about the glorious nightmare that is puberty. Inspired by Kroll and Goldberg’s childhood, it follows a group of friends and their hormone monsters as they navigate adolescence, human sexuality, and coming of age. The final season, which will air in 2025, will make Big Mouth the longest running series in Netflix history, outside of Kids & Family programming.
Executive Producers/ Co-Creators: Nick Kroll, Andrew Goldberg, Jennifer Flackett and Mark Levin.
Cast: Nick Kroll, John Mulaney, Jessi Klein, Jason Mantzoukas, Ayo Edebiri, Maya Rudolph, Fred Armisen, Andrew Rannells, and Jordan Peele
Animation Studio: Titmouse

ASTERIX & OBELIX : THE BIG FIGHT

Launch date: Coming 2025
Synopsis: Rome is desperate to conquer the last independent village in Gaul and the home of Asterix and Obelix. The secret to the Gauls’ battle superiority is a magic potion, but when the potion master loses his memory, the villagers are left to their own devices against the might of Rome.
Created by: Alain Chabat
Based on the original work: by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo
Directors: Alain Chabat and Fabrice Joubert
Adaptation rights: Les Editions Albert René
Adaptation and Dialogues: Alain Chabat, Benoît Oullion and Piano
Produced by: Alain Goldman
Animation studios: TAT Productions