Latest news with #Gkids
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Gkids Takes North America For Cannes & Annecy Title ‘Little Amélie Or The Character Of Rain'
EXCLUSIVE: Oscar-winning animation producer and distributor Gkids has acquired North American rights for Little Amélie Or The Character Of Rain, following its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May. Titled Amélie et la Métaphysique des tubes in French, the work is the feature directorial debut of French filmmakers Maïlys Vallade and Liane-Cho Han. More from Deadline Nickelodeon Acquires Animated Kids' Show 'Mr. Crocodile' From Joann Sfar's Magical Society & Mediawan 'The Amazing Maurice' Producer Cantilever Media & ReDefine Originals Strike Animated Movie Pact Xilam Group & TF1 Team On Animated Kids' Series 'Turbo Twins' It was unveiled as a Special Screening in Cannes and will be back on the festival circuit next week, playing in competition at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. The feature is adapted from The Character of Rain, the autobiographical novel of award-winning Belgian writer Amélie Nothomb, which is inspired by her own early years in Japan. The young protagonist Amèlie finds the world a perplexing, peaceful mystery until a miraculous encounter with chocolate ignites her wild sense of curiosity. As she develops a deep attachment to her family's housekeeper, Nishio-san, Amélie discovers the wonders of nature as well as the emotional truths hidden beneath the surface of her family's idyllic life as foreigners in post-war Japan. Vallade previously took storyboard artist credits on the Oscar-nominated feature I Lost My Body and Calamity, A Childhood of Martha Jane Cannary, while Han was animation director on the latter film and Long Way North. 'The emotional intelligence and visual creativity of Little Amélie or the Character of Rain stunned us,' said Rodney Uhler, Gkid Director of Acquisitions and Development. 'The film is an engrossing story of how a young person grapples with the confusing reality of the world she's brought into, but her discoveries will resonate with audiences of every age. The film feels like a beautiful gift from Vallade, Han and their team, and we cannot wait for audiences to discover its magic.' The deal was negotiated between Uhler and Jason Bressand of Goodfellas Animation. The feature is produced by Nidia Santiago and Edwina Liard for Ikki Films, and, Claire La Combe and Henri Magalon for Maybe Movies. Screenwriters were Han, Aude Py, Vallade, and Eddine Noël, who is also Art Director, while Ludovic Versace is the editor. The French-language voice cast features Loïse Charpentier, Victoria Grobois, Laetitia Coryn, Yumi Fujimori, Marc Arnaud, and Emmylou Homs. Best of Deadline 'Stick' Soundtrack: All The Songs You'll Hear In The Apple TV+ Golf Series 'Nine Perfect Strangers' Season 2 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Come Out? 'Stick' Release Guide: When Do New Episodes Come Out?
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
A-ha's Morten Harket Reveals Parkinson's Diagnosis: ‘Take On Me' Vocalist Says 'I Don't Feel Like Singing'
Morten Harket, the singer of the Norwegian synth-pop band a-ha who helped define the 1980s MTV sound with its gorgeously sung global hit 'Take On Me,' revealed Wednesday that he has Parkinson's disease. 'I don't feel like singing, and for me that's a sign,' Harket said in an interview on the band's official website. 'I'm broadminded in terms of what I think works; I don't expect to be able to achieve full technical control. The question is whether I can express myself with my voice. As things stand now, that's out of the question. But I don't know whether I'll be able to manage it at some point in the future.' More from Deadline Gkids Takes North America For Cannes & Annecy Title 'Little Amélie Or The Character Of Rain' King Charles III Visits SXSW London Channel 4 Strategy Boss Exiting After Five Years The 65-year-old Harket disclosed his illness in an interview with Jan Omdahl, the band's biographer. He did not indicate how long he's been battling Parkinsons. Using a two-and-a-half of his five octave vocal range and with model good looks, Harket became the voice and face of MTV and pop radio during the mid-1980s as a-ha's infectious hit song (and its inventive music video that made heavy use of rotoscoping) 'Take On Me' became ubiquitous. With a bouncy synth pop introduction, the song was particularly distinguished by Harket's performance of the song's chorus that begins with a low-register 'take on me' and moves skyward to a falsetto 'I'll be gone in a day or two,' the final word sung near at dog-whistle heights. The New Wave song has proven remarkably durable, appearing in such films as Deadpool 2, Despicable Me 3, La La Land and Ready Player One. Most recently, the song and the band became a talking point during a memorable scene in Episode 4 of Netflix's hit series Adolescence. In his interview with band historian Omdahl, Harket said, 'I've got no problem accepting the diagnosis. With time I've taken to heart my 94-year-old father's attitude to the way the organism gradually surrenders: 'I use whatever works.'' Wednesday announcement follows the the 40th anniversary of the song's release. 'Take On Me' was the first single of the group's first album Hunting High and Low. Omdahl reports that Harket has to date shared his diagnosis with few people in his immediate circle. 'Part of me wanted to reveal it,' Harket says. 'Like I said, acknowledging the diagnosis wasn't a problem for me; it's my need for peace and quiet to work that has been stopping me. I'm trying the best I can to prevent my entire system from going into decline. It's a difficult balancing act between taking the medication and managing its side effects. There's so much to weigh up when you're emulating the masterful way the body handles every complex movement, or social matters and invitations, or day-to-day life in general.' In the interview, Harket said he took medicine to manage his symptoms. Last June, he traveled to the United States, where surgeons at the Mayo Clinic implanted, inside the left side of his brain, electrodes that receive electrical impulses from a small pacemaker-like device in his upper chest. He underwent the same procedure in December for the right side of his brain. The treatment, known as deep brain simulation, is an established treatment for Parkinson's. Omdahl writes that the treatment has helped keep Harket's symptoms in check. Still, problems with his voice 'are one of many grounds for uncertainty about my creative future,' he said. The dopamine supplements that he takes affect his voice, but his underlying symptoms become more pronounced if he doesn't take them, he said. Parkinson's is a progressive and incurable disease that affects the central nervous system and causes tremors, muscle stiffness, impaired balance and other symptoms. More than 10 million people worldwide are estimated to be living with Parkinson's, according to the Parkinson's Foundation. Harket, who maintained a steady solo and band career since his 1980s heyday, says he visited the Mayo Clinic last June and again in December to have electrodes implanted in his brain to treat the symptoms of Parkinson's. He also takes dopamine supplements that help with his muscle movements but seem to have little effect on his weakening voice, a situation he says is 'one of many grounds for uncertainty about my creative future.' Parkinson's is a progressive and incurable disease that affects the central nervous system and causes tremors, muscle stiffness, impaired balance and other symptoms. See a-ha's classic video for 'Take On Me' below. Best of Deadline 'Stick' Soundtrack: All The Songs You'll Hear In The Apple TV+ Golf Series 'Nine Perfect Strangers' Season 2 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Come Out? 'Stick' Release Guide: When Do New Episodes Come Out?
Hypebeast
6 days ago
- Business
- Hypebeast
'Shin Godzilla' Is Receiving a North American 4K Remastered Theatrical Re-Release
Summary Shin Godzillais returning to North American theaters for a 4K remastered re-release. Varietyreports that Gkids acquired the North American distribution rights to Hideaki Anno's 2016 Godzillais now slated to hit the big screen in its 4K glory, complete with its original Japanese language, subtitles and restored text cards. This will mark the first release of aGodzillatitle since Toho acquired Gkids last year. Gkids President David Jesteadt said, 'With an incredibly timely story of people struggling to work together to stop imminent destruction, backed by some of the most explosive action scenes the franchise has ever seen, 'Shin Godzilla' is a modern masterpiece. We are honored to play a part in bringing the film back for American fans, better than ever.' ''Shin Godzilla' marked the first Japanese-produced Godzilla film since the release of 'Godzilla Final Wars' in 2004,' Keiji Ota, Toho's chief Godzilla officer, added. 'Upon its release, it became a social phenomenon in Japan, playing a pivotal role in reviving the Godzilla franchise after a 12-year hiatus, and we're thrilled to bring this landmark film back to the big screen in North America.' Ota continued, 'For some, this will be their first time experiencing it — and there's no better way to feel the overwhelming presence, power, and terror of Godzilla than in a theater. Enjoy the film!' Shin Godzillagrossed $79 million USD worldwide. It was once the highest-grossing Japanese-producedGodzillatitle, but was overthrown byGodzilla Minus Onein 2023. Shin Godzillahits North American theaters on August 14.
