Looney Tunes Feature ‘The Day The Earth Blew Up’ Headlines AFM’s Animation Lineup
The American Film Market (AFM) kicks off in Santa Monica, California today, so we’re taking a look at animated features available at this year’s event.
AFM is a film acquisition, development, and networking event where more than $1 billion in distribution and film financing deals are closed each year. Thousands of professionals from around the world attend to develop, showcase, discover, finance, and license thousands of independent film projects.
The Day the Earth Blew Up
Sure to be one of the highest-profile animated titles at this year’s AFM, this Looney Tunes feature is directed by Pete Browngardt. U.K. distribution company GFM Animation handles sales on the Warner Bros. Animation-produced film.
In the film, Porky Pig and Daffy Duck are Earth’s only hope against the threat of alien invasion. Sam Register, president, Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios, told Variety: “Our artists have created an incredible Looney Tunes film that follows in the cinematic tradition of when audiences first fell in love with these characters.”
High in the Clouds
Gaumont is launching presales on the next animated feature from The Amazing Maurice director Toby Genkel. The film is loosely based on Paul McCartney, Geoff Dunbar, and Philip Ardagh’s book of the same name and produced by McCartney for MPL Communications, Robert Shaye for Unique Features, and Sidonie Dumas, Christophe Riandee, Nicolas Atlan, and Terry Kalagian for Gaumont. McCartney is working with Oscar-winning composer Michael Giacchino (Up) on the film’s score.
The film’s logline reads: “After he accidentally sparked a revolution against Gretsch, the bossy diva-owl who has banned all music from his town, a teenage squirrel named Wirral embarks on an extraordinary journey to set music free.”
Night of the Zoopocalypse
France’s Mac Guff and Canada’s L’Atelier Animation are animating this feature from co-directors and industry vets Ricardo Curtis and Rodrigo Perez-Castro. It’s produced by Copperheart Entertainment and co-produced by Charades Productions, U Media, and Mipa. Production is underway, and the film will be released in late 2024.
The comedy feature turns on a group of zoo animals that change into zombies after a meteor lands nearby.
The Sloth Lane
Embracer Group-owned Sola Media will introduce buyers to its latest project, The Sloth Lane, produced by Australia’s Like a Photon Creative. The film is directed by Scarygirl duo Tania Vincent and Ricard Cussó and produced by Kristen Souvlis, Nadine Bates, and Ryan Greaves.
The film tells the story of a sloth family recovering from a devastating storm that destroyed their family restaurant and home.
Miss Moxy
Produced by Phanta Animation, BosBros, and Eyeworks Film & TV Drama, this family feature will be brought to AFM by Germany’s Studio 100 Film. Vincent Bal and Wip Vernooij direct from a screenplay by Maureen Versprille.
The film will track the adventures of a domesticated cat who is lost during a summer holiday in the south of France. It’s based on the true story of a tabby that was lost for 13 years before finding its way home.
Tafiti – Across the Desert
Sola Media will present the German animated feature Tafiti, produced by Tradewind Pictures and Little Dream Entertainment. Production is underway, with Nina Wels (Latte and the Magic Waterstone) directing.
In the film, a young meerkat and a bush pig become unlikely friends. Their relationship is unpopular among the insular meerkat community, and the two must embark on an epic journey to prove that cross-species friendships can work.
Gracie and Pedro’s (Not So) Awesome Adventure
Hungary’s Luminescence will launch sales on this family adventure comedy directed by co-directed by Kevin Donovan and Gottfried Roodt and produced by Amy Katherine Taylor (Second Chance Productions), Jeff Geoffray (Storywarrior Media Capital), and Peter Wetherell (Magus Entertainment). The voice cast includes Bill Nighy, Alicia Silverstone, Brooke Shields, Danny Trejo, and Susan Sarandon. The film is slated for release in 2024.
After getting separated from their families at the airport, Gracie the dog and Pedro the cat must learn to get along in a dangerous and scary world.
On the Edge: Donnie Dares!
On the Edge Productions and Studio 100 Media are collaborating on the upcoming feature On the Edge: Donnie Dares!, with Viva Kids co-producing. Pre-production is underway, and release is planned for late 2026. Michael Ryan (Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?) is attached as head writer and Archie Donato (Nimona) is doing visual development. Executive producers are Beth Blood and Karen Vermeulen (On the Edge Productions), along with Martin Krieger (Studio 100 Media), and Victor Elizalde (Viva Kids). The production team also includes producers Thorsten Wegener (Studio 100 Media), Laura Prieto, and Mayank Jhalani (Viva Kids).
The film’s synopsis reads: “Lots of people have never heard of these six endangered animals: The Solenodon, the Kakapo, the Pangolin, the Aye-Aye, the Greater Funnel-eared Bat, and the Purple Frog. But soon everyone is going to know everything about them. This team of weird and wonderful animals takes fate into their own hands/paws to fight against extinction – so that one day their descendants will not have to live their lives forever on the edge.”
Rebellious
Magic Frame Animation and Creation Entertainment Media are co-producing this cg feature, which will hit the market at AFM. The film is directed by Alex Tsitsilin (Secret Magic Control Agency).
A modern-day fairy tale, Rebellious tells the story of a headstrong princess who, after being kidnapped by an evil sorcerer, refuses to wait for rescue and plots a daring escape.
