CHESHIRE SMILE ANIMATION AND STUDIO B PRODUCTIONS TEAM UP TO PRODUCE 1 HOUR ANIMATED CHRISTMAS SPECIAL FOR TELETOON.

For Immediate Release

CHESHIRE SMILE ANIMATION AND STUDIO B PRODUCTIONS TEAM UP TO PRODUCE 1 HOUR ANIMATED CHRISTMAS SPECIAL FOR TELETOON.

Television movie’s development, pre-production and post-production at Cheshire Smile Animation’s new Saskatoon Animation Studio, to be animated in British Columbia at Studio B Productions.

24 March 2008 – (Saskatoon, SK) Producers Cheshire Smile Animation and Studio B Productions announce the beginning of production on The Side Show Christmas, an animated Christmas special following The Most Unbelievable Show on Earth, a Side Show facing foreclosure on Christmas Day. Written by Jeff Martel and Directed by Tim Tyler (The writer/director team from A Fairy Tale Christmas, 2005), The Side Show Christmas will be in production from January – September 2008 in Saskatoon and Vancouver. The Side Show Christmas will be broadcast on Teletoon Christmas 2008.

The production is executive produced by Blair Peters and Chris Bartleman of Studio B Production and is produced by Tim Tyler of Cheshire Smile Animation.

“We are thrilled to be producing The Side Show Christmas in Saskatchewan and British Columbia” says producer Tim Tyler of Cheshire Smile Animation, “our partnership with Teletoon, Canada’s Animation Station, and Studio B Productions, a world leader in the production of quality children’s television, represents a significant opportunity for the evolution of the animation industry here in Saskatchewan.”

When Sandwell Shanks, the owner of The Most Unbelievable Show On Earth, hypnotizes Santa, turning him into the star of a wildly popular Side Show attraction to stave off foreclosure by the Bank on Christmas Day, it is up to his son Jason, with a little help from his friends at the Side Show and North Pole, to save Christmas and his fathers beloved Side Show. The Side Show Christmas is a story about family, friendship, and what it really means to give in these modern times

“This is an exciting project for Studio B,” states Blair Peters of Studio B Productions, “The Side Show Christmas promises to be a great success, as already demonstrated by the commitment from TELETOON. We are delighted to add this to our 2008 production slate, alongside Kid vs. Kat and Martha Speaks.”

Established in 2000, Cheshire Smile Animation is an award winning animation and interactive production studio located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Cheshire Smile Animation specializes in animation development, production and management services for the creation Broadcast Television and Interactive Media. The company website is www.cheshiresmile.com.

Colin Murdock and Cathy Weseluck perform during the recording of The Side Show Christmas at Dick and Rogers in Vancouver BC.

The Side Show Christmas is produced in association with Teletoon, with the participation of the Canadian Television Fund License Fee Program, the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit Program, the Saskatchewan Film Employment Tax Credit Program, and the British Columbia Production Service Tax Credit Program. The Side Show Christmas was developed with the assistance of SaskFilm and the CTV Saskatchewan Program Development Fund.

About Studio B Productions Inc.
Headquartered in Vancouver, B.C., Canada, Studio B Productions Inc., a production subsidiary of DHX Media Ltd., is a leader in the field of kids’ entertainment. Studio B is the producer of such popular and award-winning properties as Ricky Sprocket – Showbiz Boy (seen on TELETOON and Nickelodeon worldwide), Being Ian, The Amazing Adrenalini Brothers!, Class of the Titans and George of the Jungle®, a co-production with Classic Media, Inc. on Cartoon Network U.S. In addition, Studio B will launch two new properties in 2008, Kid vs. Kat, an original series with YTV and Jetix Europe and Martha Speaks, a co-production with WGBH Boston. For more information, please visit www.studiobproductions.com

About DHX Media Ltd.
DHX Media Ltd. is a leading international producer and distributor of film and television programming and interactive content with an emphasis on children, family and youth markets. DHX Media Ltd. shares are listed on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange, AIM and the Toronto Stock Exchange, TSX. In addition to Studio B, DHX Media’s other production companies, Decode Entertainment and Halifax Film, are the producers or co-producers of 14 original television series and theatrical releases currently commissioned for production and maintain a growing library of over 1,750 half-hours of mostly children and youth-oriented television productions. DECODE Enterprises is the distribution subsidiary of DHX Media Ltd. It handles programme sales for third party producers and for DHX subsidiaries DECODE Entertainment, Halifax Film and Studio B Productions. www.dhxmedia.com.

For more information about The Side Show Christmas, contact Tim Tyler, Producer, Cheshire Smile Animation Inc., 306-652-2102 or by email tim@cheshiresmile.com

 

The Great Adventure Begins

I am trying to write this post using my iPhone after a couple of crazy days on the road

I got in to Vancouver on Sunday night (10 February) and went down to Studio B first thing Monday morning. It was great to go meet the people who have been doing such a great job working with the crew in Saskatoon to visualize the show. In this modern world you can do a lot with email, FTP, and an iPhone but nothing beats a handshake and a look in the eye.

After Studio B, I went over to Voicebox to meet Lana and Terry to go over voice casting for Side Show Christmas. Wow there is a ton of talent out in Vancouver. It was truly great to start hearing the voices come together. A lot of the voices were very much what I was hoping for but also, some really wonderful surprises.

The big thing we were shooting for was to find actors with range and depth to their voices who can give the animators some real meat to build the performances on. At the same time we need depth and texture to the voices as a cast so that each character can stand out in their own way from the other characters in the cast.

Next step is to see how Teletoon feels about the casting choices we present to them.

We record on the 14th of March. I can’t wait.

 

Exciting times for Cheshire Smile Animation in 2008

Well it is official, Cheshire Smile Animation is on the grow in 2008. After working away slugging, it out in producer / director Tim Tyler’s home office (which remains the official world HQ) for part of 2006 and and all of 2007, Cheshire Smile Animation Inc. has set up a new studio for the production of “Side Show Christmas”.

“Side Show Christmas” is a one hour special that will be broadcast in Canada on Teletoon Christmas 2008. The show is written by Saskatchewan writer Jeff Martel and will be produced in Saskatchewan by Cheshire Smile Animation Inc. and animated in British Columbia by Studio B Productions. Blair Peters and Chris Bartleman are Executive Producing.

Animation design is currently underway and is being split between Studio B and Cheshire Smile. I will direct the production of the boards and animatic here in Saskatchewan. The show will then move out to Studio B for animation production in Flash, and then will return to Saskatchewan for Audio and Video post production.

This production was the result of a pitch that was delivered to Teletoon initially at the Banff World Television Festival in 2006 and has been developed in partnership with Teletoon, SaskFilm, SCN and the CTV program development fund to create an original story with vibrant characters.

 

Watch “A Fairy Tale Christmas” on YTV

Make sure to gather up all your young ones and settle in to watch “A Fairy Tale Christmas” on YTV this Christmas. It’s the perfect distraction after all the gifts have been opened and Dad’s hands are way too numb to assemble any more toys.

A Fairytale Christmas - Dec 22nd @ 2pm EST, Dec 25th @ 1pm EST - Kidnapping the King’s daughter is no way to get onto Santa’s “nice” list.

“A Fairy Tale Christmas” was animated entirely in Saskatchewan in 2004-05 using a combination of classical and Flash animation techniques and has helped to launch to careers of many great Saskatchewan animators.

“A Fairy Tale Christmas” is a Christmas Adventure Musical featuring songs by Jay Semko (The Northern Pikes) and Ross Nykiforiuk (Cosmic Pad Studios)

It is also my broadcast directorial debut and was responsible for a 160% increase in the size of my bald spot. It is rumored to be for sale in Wall Mart but I have not seen it there myself.

 

Cheshire Smile Animation inks development deal with CBC Kids.

Cheshire Smile Animation Announces Development Deal with CBC Kids on the 13 x 3 minute live action animated series Toby’s Canada for CBC Television and SCN.

14 November 2007 - (Saskatoon, SK) Producer Cheshire Smile Animation announce the beginning of development on Toby’s Canada, a television series for 2 – 6 year old children starring Toby, a digi-savy seven year old who makes and stars in his own short docu-videocasts about his experiences discovering the magic and diversity of Canada.

Toby’s Canada is produced by Tim Tyler of Cheshire Smile Animation Inc. and Mike and Mark Birkland. It features the writing talents of Darwin C. Vickers (Ned’s Newt, Jimmy Neutron, Pelswick), and will be developed for production in the summer of 2008.

“We are excited to be working with CBC Kids and SCN in the development of Toby’s Canada” says producer Tim Tyler of Cheshire Smile Animation Inc., “We have been working for a long time on the development of this property, and it is great to see an appetite at the from CBC Kids for original Saskatchewan television content with a National Focus.”

Toby is an inspired, animated (literally and figuratively) child in a live-action world who is passionate about discovering the many facets to life in Canada. As a roving vid-caster, Toby travels the nation finding entertaining educational and cool stories about Canadian geography, locations and life for his friends watching on television and the internet at home. Children love Toby. They look up to him because he is versatile and talented with computers, cameras and technology and he uses those skills, along with his natural curiosity and good humor, to explore the Canadian places and stories that children want to learn more about.

Established in 2000, Cheshire Smile Animation Inc. combines broadcaster focused development and production of animated entertainment properties with service animation and interactive production.

Toby’s Canada is developed in association with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and the Saskatchewan Communications Network, with the participation of the Canadian Television Fund.

 

Side Show Christmas - Animation Designs IV

Here is a concept design for the Santa Show. Only the real Santa can successfully navigate any chimney pipe. Santa slides down this convoluted chimney pipe to the audience’s great amazement.

 

Side Show Christmas - Animation Designs III

Santa Clause’s Office

 

Side Show Christmas - Animation Designs II

Amongst all the other insanity, I have been busy trying to get the designs wrapped up for Side Show Christmas so that we can move the project forward for production this winter. Chris Steininger, has brought his distinct design vision to the universe of this show.

 

A Pitch for the Ottawa Television Animation Conference

I am off to the Ottawa Television Animation conference tomorrow. I am quite excited about it this year, last year was my first time so it took a bit to figure out what was going on and then it was over. This year I am ready.

So far my meetings include Teletoon, CBC Kids, YTV, Cartoon Network, and Jetix Europe as well as other animation producers & executive producers. I had a lot of luck with the FastTrack, and have been able to get meetings with everyone who I would like to speak to.

My meetings are primarily focused around moving Side Show Christmas and Toby’s Canada forward, however I have been developing a new TV show for this conference that I am really excited to pitch to broadcasters for the first time.

Boxed Out is an adult, animated Situation Comedy, that Jeff Martel (A Fairy Tale Christmas, Side Show Christmas) and I have been developing / designing for the Detour Pilot Project or the Adult Swim on Cartoon Network. Our focus has been on story, the creation of an original, unexpected, situation, universe and characters + a couple of juicy ideas for episodes.

Ideally we will get enough interest in this project to move forward in development, however it has been fun developing this idea as it is.

 

 

Boxed Out

Climbing back to the top of the heap has never been harder… or funnier

13 x 22 Animated Adult Situation Comedy

It’s like: Fat Actress meets Entourage set in an animated world where Cereal Box stars reign as the ultimate glitterati.

Logline: For ten years Donnie Delight was the biggest and brightest star in the world of Cereal Box Celebrities, until his career mysteriously landed in the toilet; now he’ll do anything to get back on top in the land of the rich, famous… and sleazy.

The community of Highland Falls lays claim to one thing: Breakfast Cereal… where it is the fuel of life. It’s a cereal town… manufacturing, marketing and the stars that hawk their cereals’ parade as the undisputed kings and queens.

Donnie Delight (a.k.a Donald Francis Kowalsky) was the toast of the town and the cream of the crop of all Cereal Box stars. Starting out as a rosy-cheekd kid, Donnie enjoyed the height of fame for ten years: his face plastered on his cereal box… Crunchy Sugar O Delights… bill boards, personal appearances, elaborate commercials that featured his multi-talented performances. He shone as the undisputed star, until one day… it ended: contract terminated; calls to the head of Nero Brand Cereals, Mr. Arnold Nero went unreturned; even his agent, tough as nails, Angela Demotrakas doesn’t have the time of day for her former favorite client. Broke, instant has-been, Donnie loses his mansion and all the trappings of fame (well… except his cell phone and its list of important people).

On his quest for a soft place to land, Donnie turns to him mom and dad: Marjorie and Frank Kowalsky but he discovers that they don’t have room in their empty nest and they’ve blown all the money he earned while he was a child star. Obsessed by her on-line shopping habit, Marjorie surfaces just long enough to tell her son to settle down and start a family. Meanwhile, Frank has become a Cereal Box Celebrity manager, with a stable of young impressionable clients ready and willing to do anything to break into the business.

Donnie ends on the doorstep of General Munch, a self-made Rastafarian pirate and long running cereal box celebrity. Munch lets Donnie string up a hammock in his house boat/party palace where Donnie begins his quest: restore his career while negotiating the twists, turns and outrageous characters like Snack, Crack and Crunch (long time, surly, unreasonable stars of their own cereal), Larry the Leapord (Donnie’s fitness guru and self-appointed life coach) and Cassandra Nero (the famous for being the famous daughter of rich and famous Arnold Nero and Donnie’s girlfriend for one night… before he fell from grace!).

Donnie remains fixed on getting back into the business and he’ll do anything to succeed: there is no one he won’t hustle for work, no public appearance too small, no dinner theater too shabby, no publicity stunt too outrageous, no angle too thin to be worked in Donnie Delight’s desperate climb back to the top of the Cereal Box world.

For more information about this show please contact Tim Tyler, Producer.
tel: 306.652.2102 email:tim@cheshiresmile.com http://www.cheshiresmile.com
2007 Cheshire Smile Animation Inc.
All Rights Reserved

 

Ottawa Television Animation Conference 07

I just bought my pass for the Ottawa Television Animation Conference in, you guessed it, Ottawa from the 19th to 20th of September.

I personally think that this event is probably one of the best events you can go to if you are interested in pitching shows to the major Canadian and US commissioning animation broadcasters. Last year Teletoon, CBC Kids, YTV, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, and others were all in attendance and relatively accessible for meetings.

In addition to being significantly cheaper than Banff, Kids Screen, or markets like MIP, it is intimate setting with a very small group of animation focused broadcasters, producers and creators. There are many great panel discussions that allow you to see what trends are developing in the animation industry at a very high level. If, like myself, you are from somewhere out in woods like Saskatchewan, this information is absolutely invaluable.

I personally am on the lookout for new projects that I can get behind and help develop, so if you are going to be at the event, make sure to drop me a line.