Latest news with #AnnecyInternationalAnimationFilmFestival
West Australian
a day ago
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Coming to ABC: Comedy Legend Dawn French to star in Sean Tan's animated series about growing up in Perth
Comedy legend Dawn French is set to star in the animated series based on Sean Tan's best-selling illustrated anthology, Tales From Outer Suburbia. The celebrated comedian and actress, best known for her starring role in classic 90s sitcom The Vicar of Dibley and for being one half of the iconic 'French and Saunders' comedy duo, will join the voice cast for the 10 x 22-minute series, currently in development and coming soon to ABC. Described as 'a uniquely Western Australian take on growing up in Perth', the 10-episode series will make its world premiere this week at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France. Created by Highly Spirited and Flying Bark Productions, the series was produced out of both Flying Bark in NSW and WA-based Siamese, with Tan, an Academy Award-winning writer/artist/filmmaker, overseeing the series as Creative Director. Based on Tan's memories of growing up in the northern suburbs of Perth, the story centres around 'almost 13 year-old' Klara and her six year-old brother Pim, who move to Outer Suburbia with their newly single mother, Lucy. 'The siblings' summer holiday turns into a series of unexpected and surreal adventures, with the family encountering weird and miraculous phenomena as they adapt to their new reality,' the release reads. Dawn French voices Klara and Pim's Grandma. 'Grandma is amazing. She's courageous and adventurous, she's quite chaotic, she's a bit bonkers,' French said. 'What drew me to the character, and the whole project, is it's quite possibly the strangest thing I've ever read! 'It's very surreal — you understand it on a visceral level but you also don't understand it, so you're drawn in to try and make sense of slightly surreal things. 'This is a series about big, big themes: themes of rejection, forgiveness, absence, loss, grief, judgment, friendships. 'I think it's absolutely crucial that we make good quality shows for children and for families because it's a shared experience when you watch something together.' 'Dawn brings a unique warmth, confidence and levity to a character that audiences really needed to trust during difficult moments, and I can't imagine a better performance,' Creative Director Shaun Tan said. 'She is the anchor of reassurance in a sea of animated weirdness, the hand you want to hold tight as the tide fills the room.' Alongside French, the series also stars Geraldine Hakewell (Lucy) and newcomers Brooklyn Davies (Klara) and Felix Oliver Vergés (Pim) as the family at the centre of the story — Austin and Love on the Spectrum's Michael Theo also lends his voice. Sreenwest Chief Executive Officer Rikki Lea Bestall said: 'Screenwest is beyond proud to support this quintessentially Western Australian take on growing up in the 'burbs of Perth — and what a coup to have Dawn French amongst the cast. 'Shaun Tan is an incredibly talented creative whose works resonate with young and old. 'We cannot wait to see this series on screen, and congratulate everyone involved for Tales From Outer Suburbia being selected to make its world premiere at Annecy.'
Perth Now
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Dawn French to star in animated series about Perth's ‘burbs'
Comedy legend Dawn French is set to star in the animated series based on Sean Tan's best-selling illustrated anthology, Tales From Outer Suburbia. The celebrated comedian and actress, best known for her starring role in classic 90s sitcom The Vicar of Dibley and for being one half of the iconic 'French and Saunders' comedy duo, will join the voice cast for the 10 x 22-minute series, currently in development and coming soon to ABC. Described as 'a uniquely Western Australian take on growing up in Perth', the 10-episode series will make its world premiere this week at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France. Created by Highly Spirited and Flying Bark Productions, the series was produced out of both Flying Bark in NSW and WA-based Siamese, with Tan, an Academy Award-winning writer/artist/filmmaker, overseeing the series as Creative Director. Based on Tan's memories of growing up in the northern suburbs of Perth, the story centres around 'almost 13 year-old' Klara and her six year-old brother Pim, who move to Outer Suburbia with their newly single mother, Lucy. Tales From Outer Suburbia is coming soon to ABC. Credit: Supplied 'The siblings' summer holiday turns into a series of unexpected and surreal adventures, with the family encountering weird and miraculous phenomena as they adapt to their new reality,' the release reads. Dawn French voices Klara and Pim's Grandma. 'Grandma is amazing. She's courageous and adventurous, she's quite chaotic, she's a bit bonkers,' French said. Dawn French stars as Grandma. Credit: Supplied 'What drew me to the character, and the whole project, is it's quite possibly the strangest thing I've ever read! 'It's very surreal — you understand it on a visceral level but you also don't understand it, so you're drawn in to try and make sense of slightly surreal things. 'This is a series about big, big themes: themes of rejection, forgiveness, absence, loss, grief, judgment, friendships. 'I think it's absolutely crucial that we make good quality shows for children and for families because it's a shared experience when you watch something together.' Tales From Outer Suburbia will debut at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France this week. Credit: Supplied 'Dawn brings a unique warmth, confidence and levity to a character that audiences really needed to trust during difficult moments, and I can't imagine a better performance,' Creative Director Shaun Tan said. 'She is the anchor of reassurance in a sea of animated weirdness, the hand you want to hold tight as the tide fills the room.' Alongside French, the series also stars Geraldine Hakewell (Lucy) and newcomers Brooklyn Davies (Klara) and Felix Oliver Vergés (Pim) as the family at the centre of the story — Austin and Love on the Spectrum's Michael Theo also lends his voice. Newcomers Brooklyn Davies and Felix Oliver Vergés star as the kids at the centre of the story. Credit: Supplied Sreenwest Chief Executive Officer Rikki Lea Bestall said: 'Screenwest is beyond proud to support this quintessentially Western Australian take on growing up in the 'burbs of Perth — and what a coup to have Dawn French amongst the cast. 'Shaun Tan is an incredibly talented creative whose works resonate with young and old. 'We cannot wait to see this series on screen, and congratulate everyone involved for Tales From Outer Suburbia being selected to make its world premiere at Annecy.'
The Sun
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Digital Ministry to organise animation film festival
KUCHING: The Digital Ministry will host an international animated film festival early next year in Sarawak as a platform to highlight local talent and make Malaysia as an investment destination in the creative industry. The minister, Gobind Singh Deo, said the festival's organisation also ensured the success of local talent not only in Malaysia, but also in the region and became a global leader. 'The aspect we have to focus on is how we can bring the country's existing talents globally. 'I went to the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France last year which was a platform to attract overseas investors in animation, so I wonder why we are not organising such a global programme,' he said. Speaking at the Digital Malaysia Tour Programme (JMD) here today, he said Sarawak has the potential to be a Malaysian digital content hub that links the state's heritage and cultural sector to the world. Meanwhile, Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said in his speech that the state government was ready to provide full support to the international festival. 'We could share the allocation (for the programme), and invite all the major players (in creative industry) of the world to come here and give input so that we can upgrade the content creativity and at the same time establish global network,' he said. The JMD initiative driven by the Malaysian Digital Economic Corporation (MDEC) is a government's ongoing effort to boost the digital ecosystem throughout the country. The event also presented MDEC creative content grants to two local companies, Betapuru Digital Sdn Bhd and Metadise Sdn Bhd.
The Sun
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Digital Ministry to organise international animation film festival in Sarawak
KUCHING: The Digital Ministry will host an international animated film festival early next year in Sarawak as a platform to highlight local talent and make Malaysia as an investment destination in the creative industry. The minister, Gobind Singh Deo, said the festival's organisation also ensured the success of local talent not only in Malaysia, but also in the region and became a global leader. 'The aspect we have to focus on is how we can bring the country's existing talents globally. 'I went to the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France last year which was a platform to attract overseas investors in animation, so I wonder why we are not organising such a global programme,' he said. Speaking at the Digital Malaysia Tour Programme (JMD) here today, he said Sarawak has the potential to be a Malaysian digital content hub that links the state's heritage and cultural sector to the world. Meanwhile, Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said in his speech that the state government was ready to provide full support to the international festival. 'We could share the allocation (for the programme), and invite all the major players (in creative industry) of the world to come here and give input so that we can upgrade the content creativity and at the same time establish global network,' he said. The JMD initiative driven by the Malaysian Digital Economic Corporation (MDEC) is a government's ongoing effort to boost the digital ecosystem throughout the country. The event also presented MDEC creative content grants to two local companies, Betapuru Digital Sdn Bhd and Metadise Sdn Bhd.
The Star
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Digital Ministry to organise international animation film festival in Sarawak, says Gobind
KUCHING: The Digital Ministry will host an international animated film festival early next year in Sarawak to highlight local talent and pull investment into Malaysia's creative industry. Minister Gobind Singh Deo said they want the festival to help local talent succeed not only in Malaysia, but also in the region and become global leaders in the field. "The aspect we have to focus on is how we can globalise the country's existing talents. "I went to the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France last year, which was a platform to attract overseas investors in animation, so I wonder why we are not organising such a global programme," he said. Speaking at the Digital Malaysia Tour Programme (JMD) here on Friday (May 16), he said Sarawak has the potential to be a Malaysian digital content hub that links the state's heritage and cultural sector to the world. Meanwhile, Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said in his speech that the state government was ready to provide full support to the international festival. "We could share the allocation (for the programme), and invite all the major players (in the creative industry) of the world to come here and give input so that we can upgrade the content creativity and at the same time establish a global network," he said. The JMD initiative, driven by the Malaysian Digital Economic Corporation (MDEC), is an ongoing government effort to boost the digital ecosystem throughout the country. The event also presented MDEC creative content grants to two local companies, Betapuru Digital Sdn Bhd and Metadise Sdn Bhd. - Bernama
