Sony Announces 2017 & 2018 Animation Slate: Genndy Tartakovsky Isn’t Done With ‘Hotel Transylvania,’ Will Direct Third Film in Franchise

In a move signaling an expansion of its output and increased year-round production across multiple platforms, Sony Pictures Animation has formerly laid out its 2017 project release slate through 2018 – with a lineup that includes five theatrical features, three television series and one direct-to-video movie.
“I could not be more proud of the way Kristine Belson has rebuilt Sony Pictures Animation into the boldest home for animation in the industry,” added Tom Rothman, Chairman of Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group.
Sony Pictures Animation’s slate includes a diverse mixed slate of original stories and popular franchises, some previously announced, each with its own unique style and tone, underscoring the Studio’s pledge to develop projects aimed both inside and outside of the Sony Pictures Animation family brand intended for traditional, as well as online, distribution platforms.
Among the news in today’s announcement: Genndy Tartavakosky will be returning to direct 2018’s Hotel Transylvania 3; Bob Persichetti will make his feature directorial debut on the Phil Lord & Chris Miller animated Spider-Man feature; and Sony Pictures Animation will partner with Ivan Reitman and his production company Ghost Corp on the new 2018 animated television series Ghostbusters: Ecto Force. Also, a Hotel Transylvania: The Television Series will air on Disney Channels worldwide in 2017. Include Emojimovie and faith-based film The Star.
Complete press release with further details follow.
“We are meaningfully stepping up our level of production, while creating an environment that fosters the best talent,” Kristine Belson, President of Sony Pictures Animation, said in a statement. “Our goal is to enlarge our presence in the animation landscape with a uniquely diverse slate, and our strategy to get there is to let artists drive the movies creatively.”

Genndy Tartakovsky

After directing the first two films in the franchise, Sony Pictures Animation announced this afternoon that Genndy Tartakovsky (Dexter's Laboratory, Star Wars: Clone Wars) will return to direct Hotel Transylvania 3.
Many industry observers had expected that Tartakovsky would not return for the third installment, especially after Sony killed Tartakovsky’s pet project, a CGI Popeye reboot. Further, Tartakovsky’s creative instincts on the Hotel Transylvania films sometimes clashed with those of star and executive producer Adam Sandler, a battle that was confirmed in emails that were made public during the Sony leak.
Still, it’s hard to argue with success and it’s in everyone’s best interests to have Tartakovsky involved with the franchise: Hotel Transylvania 2 grossed $473 million globally, making it the second-highest grossing Sony animation film after The Smurfs and the bigget opening ever for a domestic September release.
Acknowledging the surprising turn of events, Tartakovsky said in a statement, “I thought I was done exploring the world of Hotel Transylvania after the first two films, but while I was away from the franchise finishing my TV show Samurai Jack, an idea sparked that I got really excited about and made it irresistible to return and helm myself this third adventure.”
Michelle Murdocca will produce the film again, and Adam Sandler will executive produce and return as the voice of Dracula. Michael McCullers (Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Boss Baby) is writing the screenplay, and Selena Gomez and Andy Samberg will revive their roles as his vampire daughter Mavis and her human husband Johnny, respectively.
Sony has slated the third installment of Hotel Transylvania for September 21, 2018.

THEATRICAL FEATURES

Smurfs: The Lost Village -- a fully-animated comedy that delivers a fresh new take on the famous blue creatures and marks a return to the tone and style of the beloved comic book creations of Peyo—hits theaters April 7, 2017. The feature is directed by Kelly Asbury (Shrek 2, Gnomeo & Juliet), produced by Jordan Kerner (The Smurfs 1 & 2, Charlotte’s Web), co-produced by Mary Ellen Bauder Andrews (HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA) and written by Stacey Harman and Pamela Ribon, based on the characters and works of Peyo. The voice cast includes Demi Lovato as Smurfette, Jack McBrayer as Clumsy, Joe Manganiello as Hefty, Danny Pudi as Brainy, and Rainn Wilson as Gargamel, with Mandy Patinkin as Papa.

Emojimovie: Express Yourself will offer a surprising and comic take on the secret world of our phones and the beloved characters that have become daily necessities in global interpersonal communication. The feature, targeting an August 2017 theatrical release, is directed by Anthony Leondis, produced by Michelle Raimo Kouyate, and written by Anthony Leondis & Eric Siegel.

The Star (working title, and formerly The Lamb) is scheduled for a December 8, 2017 theatrical release. The computer-animated feature is directed by Oscar nominee Timothy Reckart (Head Over Heels); executive produced by DeVon Franklin, Lisa Henson, and Brian Henson; co-produced by Jenni Magee Cook; and written by Carlos Kotkin and Simon Moore. In The Star, a small but brave donkey and his animal friends become the unsung heroes of the greatest story ever told, the first Christmas. Sony Pictures Animation produces in association with The Jim Henson Company. This is Sony’s first foray into faith-based animation (the studio has an established reputation for producing successful faith-based live-action films).

Spider-Man (untitled) -- From Phil Lord & Christopher Miller, the geniuses behind The Lego Movie and 21 Jump Street, comes an animated Spider-Man feature slated for theatrical release December 21, 2018. The film is being written by Phil Lord. Avi Arad, Amy Pascal, Phil Lord & Christopher Miller are producing; Craig Sost is co-producing. Bob Persichetti (head of story on Puss in Boots and The Little Prince and the original director on the upcoming Playmobil movie) is directing.

ANIMATED SERIES

Ghostbusters: Ecto Force -- A brand-new animated television series that will further expand the Ghostbusters cinematic universe and focus on a new generation of Ghostbusters in the year 2050 who capture ghosts around the world with help from local teams -- and some very cool gear! The younger-skewing Sony Pictures Animation series project is being creatively spearheaded by Ivan Reitman and his production company Ghost Corps. Ghostbusters: Ecto Force is eyeing an early 2018 debut.

Hotel Transylvania: The Television Series is targeted for a 2017 airdate. The animated television series, produced in partnership with Corus Entertainment’s Nelvana, will focus on the teenage years of Mavis, Dracula’s daughter, and her friends. It will be airing on the Disney Channel worldwide.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is slated for its television series incarnation airdate in 2017. The 2D animated small-screen series, produced in partnership with DHX Media and commissioned by TELETOON in Canada, will expand on the adventures of the computer-animated feature films and will air on Cartoon Network in the U.S. and Turner channels across EMEA, APAC and Latin American markets.

DIRECT-TO-VIDEO

Surf’s Up 2: Wavemania will debut on home entertainment in the Spring of 2017. Directed by Henry Yu and produced by Michelle Wong, the follow-up to the 2007 Oscar nominee will hit the shores in time for the 10-year anniversary of the franchise. The project is in partnership with WWE Studios and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The voice cast includes WWE Superstars John Cena, The Undertaker, Triple H, Diva Paige and Mr. McMahon as an infamous big wave riding crew of penguins known as The Hang 5 which Cody Maverick convinces to let him join on their journey to a mysterious surf spot where legend has it they’ll find the biggest waves in the world.

Senior Vice Presidents of Development Michael Lachance (Emojimovie: Express Yourself, Ghostbusters: Ecto Force), Jenny Marchick (The Star, Hotel Transylvania 3) and Mike Moon (untitled animated Spider-Man) are in charge of creatively spearheading the Sony Pictures Animation slate.

Guru Studios Joins Production, GKIDS Heads to Exec Produce and Distribute Cartoon Saloon's "The Breadwinner"

Toronto’s Guru Studio and GKIDS, the well-known New York-based distributor of international animated features, have come onboard the production of two-time Academy Award nominated animation studio Cartoon Saloon’s The Breadwinner, which moved into animation production last month.
Guru, which produces TV series like Netflix’s Justin Time and the Nick Jr. series Paw Patrol, will contribute to the production of the film. Additionally, two artists from Guru will take on major roles: Stuart Shankly (Ever After High, Song of the Sea) will serve as assistant director, spending several months in Ireland at the start of production, and Sanatan Suryavanshi will work as production art supervisor, alongside Cartoon Saloon’s sequence director and art directors, to develop the look of some of the film’s key sequences.
“Guru was the clear choice when considering Canadian animation studios to work with,” said producer Anthony Leo, of Aircraft Pictures, an existing Canadian partner on the film. “They will bring another level of creativity and artistic vision to this picture.”
Guru’s president and creative director Frank Falcone and EVP content and strategy Mary Bredin will serve as executive producers on the film.
Established in 2000, Guru's mission is to entertain children around the world with innovative storytelling. Guru specializes in the visual and conceptual development of story and character driven projects using industry-leading digital production techniques to tell traditional and non-traditional stories. The Breadwinner is the studio’s first feature film.
"We are thrilled to be collaborating on this important story to ensure it reaches children and parents around the world," said Guru's Frank Falcone.
“Engaging an audience through the power of storytelling in a full length feature is an exciting challenge and we have an amazing opportunity here to work with such a talented creative team,” added Guru's Mary Bredin.

Also announced this week, GKIDS, which distributed Cartoon Saloon’s previous Oscar-nominated features The Secret of Kells and Song of the Sea, has increased its involvement in the film. The company’s two figureheads, CEO/founder Eric Beckman and SVP of distribution David Jesteadt, will come onboard as executive producers.
For GKIDS, it is the first time they are serving in a producing and financing capacity, in addition to distribution. They’ve slated The Breadwinner for a fall 2017 theatrical release in North America.
“We’ve been long-standing friends with everyone at Cartoon Saloon since those heady days when we celebrated our first Oscar nomination together for The Secret of Kells, and again five years later for Song of the Sea,” Beckman and Jesteadt said in a statement. “We knew we needed to be involved with The Breadwinner once we learned Nora [Twomey] would be bringing Deborah Ellis’ beautiful and compelling story to the big screen. We’re thrilled that this film marks our first foray into the creative process and we look forward to supporting Nora and the team in bringing their vision to audiences everywhere.”
The Breadwinner is based on the award-winning, best-selling young adult novel of the same name by Deborah Ellis, telling the story of Parvana, a brave young girl living under the Taliban regime in Afghanistan who, after her father’s unjust and unfair imprisonment, cuts her hair and disguises herself as a boy in order to provide for her family and become the breadwinner. Ellis wrote the screen story, and Anita Doron contributed the screenplay. The film, according to its producers, “celebrates the culture, history and beauty of Afghanistan with a cast that includes many performers of Afghan descent.”
The Breadwinner is directed by Cartoon Saloon’s Nora Twomey, who co-directed The Secret of Kells alongside Tomm Moore. A powerful and riveting story of self-empowerment and imagination in the face of oppression, The Breadwinner boasts the breathtaking hand-drawn animation that has made Cartoon Saloon one of the world’s most well-loved and respected animation studios.
The Breadwinner is produced by Aircraft Pictures’ Anthony Leo and Andrew Rosen, Cartoon Saloon’s Tomm Moore and Paul Young, and Melusine Productions’ Stephan Roelants. It also has involvement from Canada’s Aircraft Pictures and Luxembourg’s Melusine Productions (Song of the Sea, Ernest & Celestine), and is being executive produced in association with Angelina Jolie Pitt’s Jolie Pas Productions.
An official Ireland-Canada-Luxembourg co-production, The Breadwinner will be produced with the participation of Telefilm Canada, the Irish Film Board, Film Fund Luxembourg, the Harold Greenberg Fund, Shaw Rocket Fund, the OMDC and the BAI along with Gaia Entertainment and the Artemis Rising Foundation. Published by Groundwood Books, The Breadwinner novel has been in print for over 15 years and is recommended reading in numerous middle schools throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe.