For more than 40 years, Aardman Animations has been producing classics like “Wallace & Gromit,” “Chicken Run” and “Shaun the Sheep.” Now, following in the footsteps of pioneers such as Peter Lord, David Sproxton and Nick Park, new recruits have come on board at the company’s headquarters on Spike Island in the port city of Bristol, in the West of England, replenishing its creative treasure chest.
Variety steps along the gangplank to meet some of the more recent additions to the crew: Dan Ojari and Mikey Please, the creators of Oscar-nominated “Robin Robin” (see here); kids’ comedy series “Lloyd of the Flies” creator and director Matthew Walker, and co-director and voice director Jane Davies (see here); and Lucy Izzard, the creator, writer and director of “The Very Small Creatures,” a BAFTA nominated preschool series (see below).
“The Very Small Creatures,” commissioned by U.K. pay-tv operator Sky, is a stop-motion series for one to three-year-olds.
Variety steps along the gangplank to meet some of the more recent additions to the crew: Dan Ojari and Mikey Please, the creators of Oscar-nominated “Robin Robin” (see here); kids’ comedy series “Lloyd of the Flies” creator and director Matthew Walker, and co-director and voice director Jane Davies (see here); and Lucy Izzard, the creator, writer and director of “The Very Small Creatures,” a BAFTA nominated preschool series (see below).
“The Very Small Creatures,” commissioned by U.K. pay-tv operator Sky, is a stop-motion series for one to three-year-olds.
- 1/24/2024
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Picture: Aardman Animations
Wallace and Gromit are returning to the big screen. Almost 20 years after their 2005 feature film Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, Netflix and the BBC will release a brand new entry in 2024.
This will mark Aardman Animation’s seventh major project with Netflix, following Robin Robin and the sequel to Chicken Run. Netflix also distributed the 2019 movie A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon and two Shaun the Sheep series. The studio is also very much involved in the upcoming mobile Netflix game called Chicken Run: Eggstraction.
The project was first announced in January 2022, with the BBC and Netflix boarding the project.
We should note at this point that the movie has yet to get an official name. The majority of places referring to the movie refer to is as “Wallace & Gromit Feature Film” or “Untitled Wallace & Gromit”.
According to several people attached to the project,...
Wallace and Gromit are returning to the big screen. Almost 20 years after their 2005 feature film Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, Netflix and the BBC will release a brand new entry in 2024.
This will mark Aardman Animation’s seventh major project with Netflix, following Robin Robin and the sequel to Chicken Run. Netflix also distributed the 2019 movie A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon and two Shaun the Sheep series. The studio is also very much involved in the upcoming mobile Netflix game called Chicken Run: Eggstraction.
The project was first announced in January 2022, with the BBC and Netflix boarding the project.
We should note at this point that the movie has yet to get an official name. The majority of places referring to the movie refer to is as “Wallace & Gromit Feature Film” or “Untitled Wallace & Gromit”.
According to several people attached to the project,...
- 1/5/2024
- by Kasey Moore
- Whats-on-Netflix
The Oscar race for animated feature is between Pixar’s Black-led “Soul” and Cartoon Saloon’s hand-drawn Irish folktale, “Wolfwalkers” (co-produced by Apple Original Films). Both led Asifa-Hollywood’s prestigious Annie Awards, but the momentum is with “Soul.”
The other nominees include Pixar’s first fantasy, “Onward,” and two entries from Netflix: “Over the Moon,” the gorgeous musical fantasy about the Chinese Moon Goddess from Disney legend Glen Keane (Oscar winner for the “Dear Basketball” short), and Aardman’s “A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon.”
With director/chief creative officer Pete Docter at the helm, Pixar accomplished its most ambitious film yet by contrasting gritty New York City with the ethereal Great Before. That’s the pre-birth training center where aspiring jazz pianist Joe Gardner (Jamie Foxx) finds himself after eluding death in The Great Beyond. He teams up with risk averse new soul, 22 (Tina Fey), on a journey...
The other nominees include Pixar’s first fantasy, “Onward,” and two entries from Netflix: “Over the Moon,” the gorgeous musical fantasy about the Chinese Moon Goddess from Disney legend Glen Keane (Oscar winner for the “Dear Basketball” short), and Aardman’s “A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon.”
With director/chief creative officer Pete Docter at the helm, Pixar accomplished its most ambitious film yet by contrasting gritty New York City with the ethereal Great Before. That’s the pre-birth training center where aspiring jazz pianist Joe Gardner (Jamie Foxx) finds himself after eluding death in The Great Beyond. He teams up with risk averse new soul, 22 (Tina Fey), on a journey...
- 4/19/2021
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Shaun, everyone’s favorite sheep, is back, and this time he’s facing aliens and robots in “A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon.”
Directors Will Becher and Richard Phelan teamed together on this film for their first full-length collaboration. While the two have been working at Aardman Studios, Phelan’s background was as a story artist and Becher’s background was in animation. Producers saw the two as a perfect fit since they both had desires to direct.
“Wallace and Gromit” and “Shaun the Sheep” creator Nick Park sat in on initial meetings and story discussions about alien invasions and suggested the title, “Farmageddon.” As Becher and Phelan worked out the story, the idea started coming together and the “Farmageddon” title stuck.
When it came to brainstorming ideas, Phelan said, “We had fun with all the sci-fi tropes: Robots, secret government organizations and aliens coming to the farm. We looked...
Directors Will Becher and Richard Phelan teamed together on this film for their first full-length collaboration. While the two have been working at Aardman Studios, Phelan’s background was as a story artist and Becher’s background was in animation. Producers saw the two as a perfect fit since they both had desires to direct.
“Wallace and Gromit” and “Shaun the Sheep” creator Nick Park sat in on initial meetings and story discussions about alien invasions and suggested the title, “Farmageddon.” As Becher and Phelan worked out the story, the idea started coming together and the “Farmageddon” title stuck.
When it came to brainstorming ideas, Phelan said, “We had fun with all the sci-fi tropes: Robots, secret government organizations and aliens coming to the farm. We looked...
- 2/15/2020
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
With “Farmageddon,” the stop-motion sequel to the Oscar-nominated “Shaun the Sheep Movie” (now streaming on Netflix), Aardman couldn’t resist embracing sci-fi for the first time. And for newbie feature directors Will Becher and Richard Phelan, it was a rare opportunity to take a deep dive into the genre, especially the beloved films of Steven Spielberg.
When a cute yet free-spirited alien child, Lu-la, crash-lands near Mossy Bottom farm, Shaun, normally the troublemaker, becomes a responsible buddy on a quest to find Lu-la’s lost spaceship and return home, fighting off a secret government agency bent on capturing the alien. “The idea of Shaun being the rebel and always pushing boundaries changes when he meets this alien who has no limits, who has no boundaries,” said Becher. “And he has to grow up a bit, learning what it’s like to be an older brother. We talked a lot about...
When a cute yet free-spirited alien child, Lu-la, crash-lands near Mossy Bottom farm, Shaun, normally the troublemaker, becomes a responsible buddy on a quest to find Lu-la’s lost spaceship and return home, fighting off a secret government agency bent on capturing the alien. “The idea of Shaun being the rebel and always pushing boundaries changes when he meets this alien who has no limits, who has no boundaries,” said Becher. “And he has to grow up a bit, learning what it’s like to be an older brother. We talked a lot about...
- 2/14/2020
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Woolly hero Shaun the Sheep has bleated through many an adventure over several seasons of his own TV series and an Oscar-nominated film, so finding a new, large-canvas escapade for one of Nick Park’s most cherished creations meant searching beyond the confines of Mossy Bottom Farm, or even the planet, and into outer space.
Hopping back onto the big screen, the ovine movie star has a close encounter of the third kind in “A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon,” a quick-witted and uproarious homage to the sci-fi genre like only the stop-motion geniuses at Aardman Animations could imagine and handcraft.
Everyday sheep-nanigans for Shaun (voiced by bah expert Justin Fletcher) and the flock — including but not limited to pulling wild stunts that upset strict sheep dog Bitzer (John Sparkes provides the barks and grunts) — take a turn for the extraterrestrial when a spaceship lands nearby and a UFO craze possesses locals and tourists.
Hopping back onto the big screen, the ovine movie star has a close encounter of the third kind in “A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon,” a quick-witted and uproarious homage to the sci-fi genre like only the stop-motion geniuses at Aardman Animations could imagine and handcraft.
Everyday sheep-nanigans for Shaun (voiced by bah expert Justin Fletcher) and the flock — including but not limited to pulling wild stunts that upset strict sheep dog Bitzer (John Sparkes provides the barks and grunts) — take a turn for the extraterrestrial when a spaceship lands nearby and a UFO craze possesses locals and tourists.
- 2/14/2020
- by Carlos Aguilar
- The Wrap
In the summer of 2015, Mad Max: Fury Road wasn’t the only nearly dialogue-free cinematic spectacle that showed how a total command of visual language within a fairly straightforward narrative structure could result in one of the best films of the year. There was also Shaun the Sheep Movie, coming from the immensely talented folks at Aardman Animations and arriving in the United States about six months following a debut in their home country of the United Kingdom. Five years later and they’re now back with the sequel, A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon, which once again has a delayed release here, coming four months later and, this time, straight to Netflix. Embracing the sci-fi genre, they take out the world-saving doom and frightful creature effects this breed of films is known for, and instead deliver a light, cuddly adventure that’s a step below its predecessor in shear (sorry!
- 2/12/2020
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
The Oscar-winning animation studio Aardman has joined the Netflix fold. The two companies announced today they will team up for “A Winter’s Tale From Shaun the Sheep,” a half-hour special to air during the 2021 holiday season.
The news arrives just before the Valentine’s Day Netflix release of “A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon.” The sci-fi comedy is the sequel to Aardman’s Oscar-nominated “Shaun the Sheep Movie” (2015), which grossed $106 million at the international box office. Though the holiday special is clearly courting comparisons to William Shakespeare with its sheepish title, the official synopsis doesn’t bear a whole lot of resemblance to the bard’s late-career comedy.
The official synopsis for “A Winter’s Tale From Shaun the Sheep” reads:
“The world’s favorite sheep stars in his very own winter’s tale. Shaun’s seasonal excitement turns to dismay when a farmhouse raid to get bigger stockings...
The news arrives just before the Valentine’s Day Netflix release of “A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon.” The sci-fi comedy is the sequel to Aardman’s Oscar-nominated “Shaun the Sheep Movie” (2015), which grossed $106 million at the international box office. Though the holiday special is clearly courting comparisons to William Shakespeare with its sheepish title, the official synopsis doesn’t bear a whole lot of resemblance to the bard’s late-career comedy.
The official synopsis for “A Winter’s Tale From Shaun the Sheep” reads:
“The world’s favorite sheep stars in his very own winter’s tale. Shaun’s seasonal excitement turns to dismay when a farmhouse raid to get bigger stockings...
- 2/6/2020
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
Sam Mendes’ “1917” came away as the big winner on Sunday at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards (BAFTA). The World War I drama won in seven of the nine categories in which it was nominated, including Best Film and Best Director.
A big night for “1917” has been long expected by awards prognosticators, as the legacy of World War I has an immense cultural footprint in Great Britain. Along with the aforementioned categories, “1917” won Best British Film — the first award handed out of the evening — along with wins for cinematography, sound, production design and visual effects.
With “1917” not nominated in the acting or screenplay categories, those awards went out to heavily favored contenders in the Oscar race. The acting BAFTAs mirrored their counterparts at the SAG Awards, as Joaquin Phoenix (“Joker”) and Renee Zellweger (“Judy”) won for leading roles, while Brad Pitt (“Once Upon a Time…...
A big night for “1917” has been long expected by awards prognosticators, as the legacy of World War I has an immense cultural footprint in Great Britain. Along with the aforementioned categories, “1917” won Best British Film — the first award handed out of the evening — along with wins for cinematography, sound, production design and visual effects.
With “1917” not nominated in the acting or screenplay categories, those awards went out to heavily favored contenders in the Oscar race. The acting BAFTAs mirrored their counterparts at the SAG Awards, as Joaquin Phoenix (“Joker”) and Renee Zellweger (“Judy”) won for leading roles, while Brad Pitt (“Once Upon a Time…...
- 2/2/2020
- by Lawrence Yee and Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
The Ee British Academy Film Awards took place in London on Sunday at the Royal Albert Hall. The ceremony was hosted by Graham Norton and will be broadcast exclusively on BBC One and BBC One HD later this evening in the U.S.. The ceremony is also broadcast in all major territories around the world. In this truncated awards season, the BAFTAs this year arrived just two days before Academy ballots are due on February 4. BAFTA has an overlap of several hundred voters, who reside mainly in London, New York, and Los Angeles.
Approximately 6,700 BAFTA members voted for the nominations spanning 39 feature films. British theater director and filmmaker Sam Mendes’ WWI epic “1917,” which landed nine nominations, took home seven wins including Best Film, and Outstanding British Film. The movie has already racked up two Golden Globe wins, the Directors Guild of America Award, and the Producers Guild of America...
Approximately 6,700 BAFTA members voted for the nominations spanning 39 feature films. British theater director and filmmaker Sam Mendes’ WWI epic “1917,” which landed nine nominations, took home seven wins including Best Film, and Outstanding British Film. The movie has already racked up two Golden Globe wins, the Directors Guild of America Award, and the Producers Guild of America...
- 2/2/2020
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
World War I story “1917” dominated the BAFTA film awards, which were awarded Sunday evening at London’s Royal Albert Hall with Graham Norton hosting.
The wins for “1917” included best film, best director for Sam Mendes and outstanding British film.
The awards are broadcast on the BBC in the United Kingdom and at 5 p.m. Pt on BBC America.
“Joker” topped the nominations with 11 nods, while “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” and “The Irishman” snagged 10 nominations apiece and Golden Globes winner “1917” landed nine.
BAFTA voters came under fire this year for nominating an overwhelmingly white set of nominees. “We just have to keep pushing forward on this,” BAFTA chief Amanda Berry said after the nominations.
The films vying for best film are: “The Irishman,” “1917,” “Joker,” “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” and “Parasite.”
No women were nominated in the directing category, which featured Sam Mendes, Martin Scorsese, Todd Phillips, Quentin Tarantino,...
The wins for “1917” included best film, best director for Sam Mendes and outstanding British film.
The awards are broadcast on the BBC in the United Kingdom and at 5 p.m. Pt on BBC America.
“Joker” topped the nominations with 11 nods, while “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” and “The Irishman” snagged 10 nominations apiece and Golden Globes winner “1917” landed nine.
BAFTA voters came under fire this year for nominating an overwhelmingly white set of nominees. “We just have to keep pushing forward on this,” BAFTA chief Amanda Berry said after the nominations.
The films vying for best film are: “The Irishman,” “1917,” “Joker,” “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” and “Parasite.”
No women were nominated in the directing category, which featured Sam Mendes, Martin Scorsese, Todd Phillips, Quentin Tarantino,...
- 2/2/2020
- by Variety Staff
- Variety Film + TV
‘1917’ wins seven prizes including best film; Joaquin Phoenix, Renée Zellweger, ‘Parasite’, ‘Bait’ among other winners.
1917 was the big winner at the 2020 Baftas on Sunday (February 2), winning seven awards including best film.
It also picked up outstanding British film, best director for Sam Mendes, best cinematography for Roger Deakins, as well as Baftas for production design, sound and special visual effects.
Joker won three awards including best actor for Joaquin Phoenix, while Parasite won two including best original screenplay and film not in the English language.
The ceremony took place at the Royal Albert Hall in London and was hosted by...
1917 was the big winner at the 2020 Baftas on Sunday (February 2), winning seven awards including best film.
It also picked up outstanding British film, best director for Sam Mendes, best cinematography for Roger Deakins, as well as Baftas for production design, sound and special visual effects.
Joker won three awards including best actor for Joaquin Phoenix, while Parasite won two including best original screenplay and film not in the English language.
The ceremony took place at the Royal Albert Hall in London and was hosted by...
- 2/2/2020
- by 1101184¦Orlando Parfitt¦38¦
- ScreenDaily
‘1917’ (Photo credit: Universal Pictures).
Sam Mendes’ WW1 epic 1917, which ranks fourth in the betting for the best picture Oscar, opened in top spot in Australia last weekend and was No. 1 in the Us.
The pundits polled by Gold Derby have the Amblin/DreamWorks production at odds of 8/1, behind Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood at 7/1 and Martin Scorcese’s The Irishman and Boon Joon Ho’s Parasite, both at 15/2.
The odds for best film, director and other categories may well change tomorrow when the Academy Awards nominations are announced.
In Oz the new releases including Roadshow’s My Spy, Studiocanal’s A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon and Indian imports Darbar, Sarileru Neekevvaru, Ala Vaikunthapurramloo and Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior kept ticket sales at a healthy level.
The top 20 titles generated $23.8 million, down 10 per cent on the previous frame, according to Numero. Nationwide, the calendar 2019 grosses totaled $1.22 billion,...
Sam Mendes’ WW1 epic 1917, which ranks fourth in the betting for the best picture Oscar, opened in top spot in Australia last weekend and was No. 1 in the Us.
The pundits polled by Gold Derby have the Amblin/DreamWorks production at odds of 8/1, behind Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood at 7/1 and Martin Scorcese’s The Irishman and Boon Joon Ho’s Parasite, both at 15/2.
The odds for best film, director and other categories may well change tomorrow when the Academy Awards nominations are announced.
In Oz the new releases including Roadshow’s My Spy, Studiocanal’s A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon and Indian imports Darbar, Sarileru Neekevvaru, Ala Vaikunthapurramloo and Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior kept ticket sales at a healthy level.
The top 20 titles generated $23.8 million, down 10 per cent on the previous frame, according to Numero. Nationwide, the calendar 2019 grosses totaled $1.22 billion,...
- 1/12/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Update, writethru: Nominations for the Ee British Academy Film Awards have been announced this morning in London with Warner Bros’ Joker in the lead at 11 mentions. The Todd Phillips-directed $1B+ worldwide grosser that just scooped a Best Actor Golden Globe for Joaquin Phoenix is followed by Martin Scorsese’s Netflix pic The Irishman and Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time In Hollywood from Sony. Focus Features’ Downton Abbey, a big box office hit based on the beloved British TV series, was entirely shut out. (See the full list of nominees below.)
Also figuring heavily in the races unveiled today are Sam Mendes’ Golden Globe Best Picture Drama winner 1917 with nine nods. Including that film and the three leaders above, the Best Picture race is rounded out by Bong Joon-Ho’s Parasite. Bong is also in the Best Director field along with Mendes, Scorsese, Phillips and Tarantino.
In Outstanding British Film,...
Also figuring heavily in the races unveiled today are Sam Mendes’ Golden Globe Best Picture Drama winner 1917 with nine nods. Including that film and the three leaders above, the Best Picture race is rounded out by Bong Joon-Ho’s Parasite. Bong is also in the Best Director field along with Mendes, Scorsese, Phillips and Tarantino.
In Outstanding British Film,...
- 1/7/2020
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Joker leads the way with 11 nominations. The Irishman and Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood follow on 10.
The nominations for the 2020 British Academy Film Awards were revealed today (Jan 7) at 194 Piccadilly, Bafta’s temporary London HQ.
Joker leads the way with 11 nominations. The Irishman and Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood follow on 10, with 1917 earning nine nods.
The titles have all been nominated for best film alongside Parasite, which earned four nods including best director for Bong Joon Ho and best film not in the English language.
The six-strong outstanding British film category includes 1917, Bait, For Sama, Rocketman, Sorry We Missed You...
The nominations for the 2020 British Academy Film Awards were revealed today (Jan 7) at 194 Piccadilly, Bafta’s temporary London HQ.
Joker leads the way with 11 nominations. The Irishman and Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood follow on 10, with 1917 earning nine nods.
The titles have all been nominated for best film alongside Parasite, which earned four nods including best director for Bong Joon Ho and best film not in the English language.
The six-strong outstanding British film category includes 1917, Bait, For Sama, Rocketman, Sorry We Missed You...
- 1/7/2020
- by 1101184¦Orlando Parfitt¦38¦
- ScreenDaily
The Irishman, 1917, Marriage Story also in contention.
Joanna Hogg’s The Souvenir leads the way with seven nominations for the 40th London Critics’ Circle Film Awards, including best film, actor (Tom Burke), supporting actress (Tilda Swinton) and young performer (Honor Swinton Byrne).
Close behind are Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman and Sam Mendes’ 1917 with six nods, while Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story, Pedro Almodóvar’s Pain & Glory and Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite have five.
The winners will be announced on Sunday, 30 January at The May Fair Hotel. Sally Potter and Sandy Powell will both receive the Dilys Powell Award for Excellence in Film,...
Joanna Hogg’s The Souvenir leads the way with seven nominations for the 40th London Critics’ Circle Film Awards, including best film, actor (Tom Burke), supporting actress (Tilda Swinton) and young performer (Honor Swinton Byrne).
Close behind are Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman and Sam Mendes’ 1917 with six nods, while Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story, Pedro Almodóvar’s Pain & Glory and Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite have five.
The winners will be announced on Sunday, 30 January at The May Fair Hotel. Sally Potter and Sandy Powell will both receive the Dilys Powell Award for Excellence in Film,...
- 12/17/2019
- by 1101184¦Orlando Parfitt¦38¦
- ScreenDaily
Nominations for the 40th edition of the London Critics’ Circle Film Awards were announced today, with Joanna Hogg’s The Souvenir out in front on seven nominations including Film, Screenwriter, Actor (Tom Burke), Supporting Actress (Tilda Swinton) and Young Performer (Honor Swinton Byrne).
Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman and Sam Mendes’ 1917 follow close behind with nominations in six categories apiece. On five were Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story, Pedro Almodóvar’s Pain And Glory and Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite.
Lining up alongside the aforementioned in contention for Film Of The Year are Joker, Knives Out, Midsommar and Portrait Of A Lady On Fire.
Florence Pugh received three nominations, lead actress for Midsommar, supporting for Little Women, and British/Irish Actress for her work across the year.
Winners will be announced on January 30. There will also be three special awards presented: animation specialists Aardman (Shaun The Sheep) will receive the 40th Anniversary Award,...
Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman and Sam Mendes’ 1917 follow close behind with nominations in six categories apiece. On five were Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story, Pedro Almodóvar’s Pain And Glory and Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite.
Lining up alongside the aforementioned in contention for Film Of The Year are Joker, Knives Out, Midsommar and Portrait Of A Lady On Fire.
Florence Pugh received three nominations, lead actress for Midsommar, supporting for Little Women, and British/Irish Actress for her work across the year.
Winners will be announced on January 30. There will also be three special awards presented: animation specialists Aardman (Shaun The Sheep) will receive the 40th Anniversary Award,...
- 12/17/2019
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
’The Personal History Of David Copperfield’ finished with five awards, the highest of the night, from 11 nominations.
For Sama and The Personal History Of David Copperfield were the big winners at the 2019 British Independent Film Awards (BIFAs).
The ceremony was hosted by actress and comedian Aisling Bea and held at London’s Old Billingsgate tonight (Dec 1).
Syrian civil war documentary For Sama scooped the night’s top prize, best British independent film, as well as best director for Waad al-Kateab and Edward Watts, best documentary, and best editing at the previously announced craft awards last month.
The Personal History Of David Copperfield...
For Sama and The Personal History Of David Copperfield were the big winners at the 2019 British Independent Film Awards (BIFAs).
The ceremony was hosted by actress and comedian Aisling Bea and held at London’s Old Billingsgate tonight (Dec 1).
Syrian civil war documentary For Sama scooped the night’s top prize, best British independent film, as well as best director for Waad al-Kateab and Edward Watts, best documentary, and best editing at the previously announced craft awards last month.
The Personal History Of David Copperfield...
- 12/1/2019
- by 1101184¦Orlando Parfitt¦38¦
- ScreenDaily
Netflix has picked up U.S., Canadian, and Latin American rights to Aardman’s latest stop-motion feature, “A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon,” the sci-fi/comedy sequel to the Oscar-nominated “Shaun the Sheep Movie.” Co-directed by Aardman animators Richard Phelan and Will Becher, and revolving around a martian toddler, “Farmageddon” will stream in early 2020; Netflix will support an Oscar-qualifying theatrical run next season.
This bolsters Netflix’s ambitious slate of nearly a dozen animated features, coming on the heels of this month’s initial two, Oscar-buzzy, releases: “Klaus,” the charming Santa origin story with innovative 2D, and “I Lost My Body,” the acclaimed French existential mystery about a severed hand that’s the most original animated feature of the season. After only two years, Netflix has quickly established itself as a viable alternative to the Hollywood studios and a direct competitor to indies GKids and Sony Pictures Classics.
Led by Melissa Cobb,...
This bolsters Netflix’s ambitious slate of nearly a dozen animated features, coming on the heels of this month’s initial two, Oscar-buzzy, releases: “Klaus,” the charming Santa origin story with innovative 2D, and “I Lost My Body,” the acclaimed French existential mystery about a severed hand that’s the most original animated feature of the season. After only two years, Netflix has quickly established itself as a viable alternative to the Hollywood studios and a direct competitor to indies GKids and Sony Pictures Classics.
Led by Melissa Cobb,...
- 11/22/2019
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
The nominations for the 2019 British Independent Film Awards have been revealed, and it was a huge morning for Armando Iannucci’s Charles Dickens adaptation “The Personal History of David Copperfield” and Tom Harper’s musical drama “Wild Rose.” “Copperfield” led all movies with 11 nominations, including Best British Indie Film, Best Actor for Dev Patel, and Best Screenplay for Iannucci and co-writer Simon Blackwell. Fox Searchlight has U.S. distribution rights to the movie and has announced a 2020 theatrical release.
“Wild Rose,” which earned a second-best 10 nominations, will also compete for Best British Indie Film against “Bait,” “For Sama,” and “The Souvenir.” “Wild Rose” breakout Jessie Buckley landed a Best Actress nomination opposite Renee Zellweger for “Judy,” which Buckley just so happens to have a supporting role in.
While Zellweger landed in the Best Actress field (which she is widely expected to do all awards season thanks to her acclaimed leading...
“Wild Rose,” which earned a second-best 10 nominations, will also compete for Best British Indie Film against “Bait,” “For Sama,” and “The Souvenir.” “Wild Rose” breakout Jessie Buckley landed a Best Actress nomination opposite Renee Zellweger for “Judy,” which Buckley just so happens to have a supporting role in.
While Zellweger landed in the Best Actress field (which she is widely expected to do all awards season thanks to her acclaimed leading...
- 10/30/2019
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Armando Iannucci’s take on the Charles Dickens classic “David Copperfield” is a strong front-runner in the British Independent Film Awards, scoring 11 nominations.
Dev Patel is up for best actor for his starring role in “The Personal History of David Copperfield,” and his co-stars, Tilda Swinton and Hugh Laurie, compete in their respective supporting categories.
“Wild Rose,” featuring Jessie Buckley as a rising singer, is also a major contender, with 10 nominations. Horror thriller “In Fabric” follows with nine, and Joanna Hogg’s “The Souvenir” with eight. Dance music feature “Beats,” biopic “Judy,” and documentaries “For Sama” and “Diego Maradona” landed five nods apiece.
British actors Naomi Ackie and Joe Cole unveiled the 2019 nominations in London on Wednesday.
Renee Zellweger gets a best actress nom for her turn as late-career Judy Garland. She will vie with Buckley, Holliday Grainger, Sally Hawkins and Vicky Knight for the award.
For the best actor prize,...
Dev Patel is up for best actor for his starring role in “The Personal History of David Copperfield,” and his co-stars, Tilda Swinton and Hugh Laurie, compete in their respective supporting categories.
“Wild Rose,” featuring Jessie Buckley as a rising singer, is also a major contender, with 10 nominations. Horror thriller “In Fabric” follows with nine, and Joanna Hogg’s “The Souvenir” with eight. Dance music feature “Beats,” biopic “Judy,” and documentaries “For Sama” and “Diego Maradona” landed five nods apiece.
British actors Naomi Ackie and Joe Cole unveiled the 2019 nominations in London on Wednesday.
Renee Zellweger gets a best actress nom for her turn as late-career Judy Garland. She will vie with Buckley, Holliday Grainger, Sally Hawkins and Vicky Knight for the award.
For the best actor prize,...
- 10/30/2019
- by Stewart Clarke
- Variety Film + TV
Armando Iannucci’s The Personal History Of David Copperfield and Tom Harper’s Wild Rose lead the nominees pool for the 2019 British Independent Film Awards (BIFAs), which were unveiled in London this morning. Scroll down for the full list.
Copperfield has 11 nods including best film and director as well as actor for star Dev Patel. Wild Rose has 10 including best film and director, and actress for Jessie Buckley.
Peter Strickland’s In Fabric has nine and Joanna Hogg’s The Souvenir, which is up for best film, has eight.
Judy missed out on best film but did take a nom for star Renee Zellweger and has five in total.
The best film category is completed by Waad al-Kateab and Edward Watts’ Syria doc For Sama, and Mark Jenkin’s micro-budget Bait, which has been a surprise box office hit in the UK, grossing $520k.
Other notable nominees include Chiwetel Ejiofor,...
Copperfield has 11 nods including best film and director as well as actor for star Dev Patel. Wild Rose has 10 including best film and director, and actress for Jessie Buckley.
Peter Strickland’s In Fabric has nine and Joanna Hogg’s The Souvenir, which is up for best film, has eight.
Judy missed out on best film but did take a nom for star Renee Zellweger and has five in total.
The best film category is completed by Waad al-Kateab and Edward Watts’ Syria doc For Sama, and Mark Jenkin’s micro-budget Bait, which has been a surprise box office hit in the UK, grossing $520k.
Other notable nominees include Chiwetel Ejiofor,...
- 10/30/2019
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
No asteroids are hurtling toward Earth in “A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon,” though a flying frozen pizza does softly slice the top off an elderly shopper’s hairdo: That’s roughly the level of quirky peril we’re talking about in the latest outing from Aardman Animations, and as usual, the British stop-motion masters cheerfully prove that benign needn’t mean bland. Arriving nearly five years after the Oscar-nominated “Shaun the Sheep Movie” successfully expanded the bucolic “Wallace and Gromit” spinoff to feature length, this baa-lated but baa-guiling sequel — if such puns make you wince, perhaps give the film a wide berth — returns Aardman to winningly offbeat form after last year’s adept but oddly anemic prehistoric adventure “Early Man.”
“Farmageddon” is the first feature-length sequel from an outfit that has experienced steadily diminishing commercial returns since “Chicken Run” raked in $225 million worldwide at the turn of the century.
“Farmageddon” is the first feature-length sequel from an outfit that has experienced steadily diminishing commercial returns since “Chicken Run” raked in $225 million worldwide at the turn of the century.
- 10/18/2019
- by Guy Lodge
- Variety Film + TV
2000’s Chicken Run was a global smash for British stop motion geniuses Aardman Animations. The tale of a cocky, uh, cock and a flock of freedom hungry hens proved to be box office gold, grossing $225 million. Nearly two decades have passed since its release but in April 2018, Aardman announced that they were planning on making a Chicken Run 2.
This made sense, as their next film, Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon hits cinemas this week and the studio has to be banking on it being a success. After all, 2018’s Early Man was positively received by critics yet inexplicably failed to make an impact with audiences, earning a paltry $54 million on a $50 million budget. Surely going back to their biggest hit and making a sequel is the kind of safe move the studio needs now, right?
Apparently so, as Will Becher, co-director at Aardman, has confirmed that Chicken Run 2 is now in production,...
This made sense, as their next film, Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon hits cinemas this week and the studio has to be banking on it being a success. After all, 2018’s Early Man was positively received by critics yet inexplicably failed to make an impact with audiences, earning a paltry $54 million on a $50 million budget. Surely going back to their biggest hit and making a sequel is the kind of safe move the studio needs now, right?
Apparently so, as Will Becher, co-director at Aardman, has confirmed that Chicken Run 2 is now in production,...
- 10/16/2019
- by David James
- We Got This Covered
The heavyweight speakers included Rena Ronson, Carole Scotia and Rose Garnett.
The one-day Zurich Summit gathered top executives from the Us and Europe and Asia to discuss industry changes including the rise of the platforms, and the growth in popularity of local-language content at the Dolder Grand on Saturday, September 28.
New this year was a series of intimate roundtables which enabled rising talents to meet established international executives including UTA’s Alex Brunner, CAA’s Roeg Sutherland, Rocket Science’s Thorsten Schumacher, and producer Kim Magnusson, in a private setting.
A creative highlight was a preview clip of Farmageddon, also screening at Zurich Film Festival.
The one-day Zurich Summit gathered top executives from the Us and Europe and Asia to discuss industry changes including the rise of the platforms, and the growth in popularity of local-language content at the Dolder Grand on Saturday, September 28.
New this year was a series of intimate roundtables which enabled rising talents to meet established international executives including UTA’s Alex Brunner, CAA’s Roeg Sutherland, Rocket Science’s Thorsten Schumacher, and producer Kim Magnusson, in a private setting.
A creative highlight was a preview clip of Farmageddon, also screening at Zurich Film Festival.
- 9/30/2019
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
The Zurich Summit has, over the years, become a major industry gathering at the film festival, attracting Hollywood players and entertainment business reps from both sides of the Atlantic.
Running Sept. 28-29 at the palatial Dolder Grand Hotel, the summit focuses on current business trends and the pertinent issues and challenges facing the industry. This year’s hot topics include the streaming war, the growing demand for local-language films and the global prospects of family entertainment.
Launched in 2014, the Zurich Summit grew out of the fest’s Film Finance Forum with an expanded scope that covered technological developments including augmented and virtual reality and business areas such as marketing and distribution.
“For us, it’s a great thing because we always get great speakers,” says Zurich Film Festival co-director Karl Spoerri While Zurich can’t compete with Cannes or Toronto, the festival and summit nevertheless offer a high level of...
Running Sept. 28-29 at the palatial Dolder Grand Hotel, the summit focuses on current business trends and the pertinent issues and challenges facing the industry. This year’s hot topics include the streaming war, the growing demand for local-language films and the global prospects of family entertainment.
Launched in 2014, the Zurich Summit grew out of the fest’s Film Finance Forum with an expanded scope that covered technological developments including augmented and virtual reality and business areas such as marketing and distribution.
“For us, it’s a great thing because we always get great speakers,” says Zurich Film Festival co-director Karl Spoerri While Zurich can’t compete with Cannes or Toronto, the festival and summit nevertheless offer a high level of...
- 9/26/2019
- by Ed Meza
- Variety Film + TV
For Nick Park, it always begins with a drawing. On “Chicken Run” (2000), it was a chicken digging its way out of a coop with a shovel, which became a riff on “The Great Escape,” and on his latest, “Early Man,” it was cavemen kicking what would eventually become a soccer ball.
Thus began Aardman’s first prehistoric underdog sports movie in stop-motion, and Park’s first feature since the Oscar-winning “Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit” (2005). Only this time, he decided to direct solo without partner Peter Lord or animator Steve Box.
“Cavemen are well covered now with ‘The Croods’ [which began at Aardman before DreamWorks took it over] and ‘The Flintstones,’ but I was looking for a quirky Aardman angle, and soccer became the hook,” said Park, who pitched “Early Man” as “Gladiator” meets “Dodgeball.”
“This could have legs: a group of idiotic, lovable cavemen who only know how to fight and use weapons,...
Thus began Aardman’s first prehistoric underdog sports movie in stop-motion, and Park’s first feature since the Oscar-winning “Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit” (2005). Only this time, he decided to direct solo without partner Peter Lord or animator Steve Box.
“Cavemen are well covered now with ‘The Croods’ [which began at Aardman before DreamWorks took it over] and ‘The Flintstones,’ but I was looking for a quirky Aardman angle, and soccer became the hook,” said Park, who pitched “Early Man” as “Gladiator” meets “Dodgeball.”
“This could have legs: a group of idiotic, lovable cavemen who only know how to fight and use weapons,...
- 2/16/2018
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
I really don't put much stock in the International Animated Film Society's 2013 Annie Awards, which is why I didn't rush to report on their results on Saturday. One year Disney and Pixar boycott the event, feeling there was an unfair advantage paid to larger contributing sponsors, DreamWorks being the primary example. So with such a nasty stench over the event what good does it do to pay it much mind? That said, I'll be brief in mentioning Wreck-It Ralph topped Saturday night's winners with five awards, including Best Animated Picture. The awards have something like a 75% streak when it comes to helping predict the eventual Oscar winner for Best Animated Feature and as the days have gone on, it's looking more and more like Ralph will be this year's winner (see my predictions here). Pixar's Brave, Laika's ParaNorman and DreamWorks' Rise of the Guardians each took home two awards in lesser,...
- 2/4/2013
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Disney's "Wreck-It-Ralph" was the big winner at the 40th Annie Awards held Saturday taking home the Best Animated Feature award. It is now officially the Oscar frontrunner in the Best Animated Film category.
Here's the complete list of winners/nominees; for winners/nominees of other award-giving bodies this season, click here:
Animated Feature
"Brave" . Pixar Animation Studios
"Frankenweenie" . Walt Disney Studios
"Hotel Transylvania" . Sony Pictures Animation
"ParaNorman" . Focus Features
"Rise of the Guardians" . DreamWorks Animation
"The Pirates! Band of Misfits" . Aardman Animations
"The Rabbi.s Cat ". Gkids
Winner "Wreck-It Ralph" . Walt Disney Animation Studios
Animated Special Production
"Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1" . Warner Bros. Animation
"Before Orel" . Trust . Starburns Industries, Inc.
Winner "Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem" . Illumination Entertainment
"Disney Tron: Uprising . Beck.s Beginning" . Disney TV Animation
"Dragons: Gift of the Night Fury" . DreamWorks Animation
"Justice League: Doom" . Warner Bros. Animation
Animated Short Subject
"Brad and Gary" . Illumination...
Here's the complete list of winners/nominees; for winners/nominees of other award-giving bodies this season, click here:
Animated Feature
"Brave" . Pixar Animation Studios
"Frankenweenie" . Walt Disney Studios
"Hotel Transylvania" . Sony Pictures Animation
"ParaNorman" . Focus Features
"Rise of the Guardians" . DreamWorks Animation
"The Pirates! Band of Misfits" . Aardman Animations
"The Rabbi.s Cat ". Gkids
Winner "Wreck-It Ralph" . Walt Disney Animation Studios
Animated Special Production
"Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1" . Warner Bros. Animation
"Before Orel" . Trust . Starburns Industries, Inc.
Winner "Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem" . Illumination Entertainment
"Disney Tron: Uprising . Beck.s Beginning" . Disney TV Animation
"Dragons: Gift of the Night Fury" . DreamWorks Animation
"Justice League: Doom" . Warner Bros. Animation
Animated Short Subject
"Brad and Gary" . Illumination...
- 2/3/2013
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
The Visual Effects Society has announced the nominees for their 11th Annual Ves Awards. From film to animation to television to commercials and video games, the Ves Awards honor the outstanding visual effects artistry.
"Life of Pi's" Ang Lee will be honored with the Visionary Award. Winners will be announced on Tuesday, February 5, at the Beverly Hilton.
Here's the complete list of nominees; for winners/nominees of other award-giving bodies, click here:
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects-Driven Feature Motion Picture
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Joe Letteri
Eileen Moran
Eric Saindon
Kevin L. Sherwood
Prometheus
Paul Butterworth
Charley Henley
Allen Maris
Richard Stammers
Life of Pi
Thomas Fisher
Susan Macleod
Guillaume Rocheron
Bill Westenhofer
The Avengers
Susan Pickett
Janek Sirrs
Jeff White
Guy Williams
Battleship
Grady Cofer
Pablo Helman
Jeanie King
Glen Mcintosh
Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Feature Motion Picture
Rust and Bone
Béatrice Bauwens...
"Life of Pi's" Ang Lee will be honored with the Visionary Award. Winners will be announced on Tuesday, February 5, at the Beverly Hilton.
Here's the complete list of nominees; for winners/nominees of other award-giving bodies, click here:
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects-Driven Feature Motion Picture
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Joe Letteri
Eileen Moran
Eric Saindon
Kevin L. Sherwood
Prometheus
Paul Butterworth
Charley Henley
Allen Maris
Richard Stammers
Life of Pi
Thomas Fisher
Susan Macleod
Guillaume Rocheron
Bill Westenhofer
The Avengers
Susan Pickett
Janek Sirrs
Jeff White
Guy Williams
Battleship
Grady Cofer
Pablo Helman
Jeanie King
Glen Mcintosh
Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Feature Motion Picture
Rust and Bone
Béatrice Bauwens...
- 1/8/2013
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
Fuel VFX has received two award nominations from the Visual Effects Society.
The.peer-voted accolade for the company's work on Ridley Scott.s Prometheus follows the near-collapse of the VFX house, which was saved in October 2012 when Animal Logic acquired its assets.
Fuel co-founder Paul Butterworth was nominated for .Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects-Driven Feature Motion Picture. for Prometheus (alongside non-Fuel nominations Charley Henley, Allen Maris and Richard Stammers).
The Fuel team of Xavier Bourque, Sam Cole, Simone Riginell and Denis Scolan - representing the hard work of all 16 compositors who worked on the film at the company - were nominated for Prometheus (Engineers & the Orrery) in the "Outstanding Compositing in a Feature Motion Picture" category.
Fuel has also provided effects on a number of Marvel films including Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger. Fuel continues to run from its Newtown, Sydney-based offices where Animal Logic...
The.peer-voted accolade for the company's work on Ridley Scott.s Prometheus follows the near-collapse of the VFX house, which was saved in October 2012 when Animal Logic acquired its assets.
Fuel co-founder Paul Butterworth was nominated for .Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects-Driven Feature Motion Picture. for Prometheus (alongside non-Fuel nominations Charley Henley, Allen Maris and Richard Stammers).
The Fuel team of Xavier Bourque, Sam Cole, Simone Riginell and Denis Scolan - representing the hard work of all 16 compositors who worked on the film at the company - were nominated for Prometheus (Engineers & the Orrery) in the "Outstanding Compositing in a Feature Motion Picture" category.
Fuel has also provided effects on a number of Marvel films including Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger. Fuel continues to run from its Newtown, Sydney-based offices where Animal Logic...
- 1/8/2013
- by Brendan Swift
- IF.com.au
I love the art of animation, and it's amazing to see how far things have come and advanced over the years. The industry is changing in terms of technology, but what it all really comes down to is telling good stories. There's been a lot of great animated movies this year, and many of them are up for several awards at the 40th Annual Annie Awards.
Some of the movies nomainated include Brave, Frankenweenie, Hotel Transylvania, ParaNorman, Rise of the Guardians, The Pirates! Band of Misfits, and Wreck-It Ralph. Out of those films my favorite is a toss up between Wreck-It Ralph and ParaNorman, those were two pretty incredible films. I think ParaNorman has the edge though.
Some of the other animated properties nominated are Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1, Disney Tron: Uprising, Justice League: Doom, Robot Chicken ‘DC Comics Special', South Park ‘Raising the Bar’, and several others.
Some of the movies nomainated include Brave, Frankenweenie, Hotel Transylvania, ParaNorman, Rise of the Guardians, The Pirates! Band of Misfits, and Wreck-It Ralph. Out of those films my favorite is a toss up between Wreck-It Ralph and ParaNorman, those were two pretty incredible films. I think ParaNorman has the edge though.
Some of the other animated properties nominated are Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1, Disney Tron: Uprising, Justice League: Doom, Robot Chicken ‘DC Comics Special', South Park ‘Raising the Bar’, and several others.
- 12/4/2012
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
The International Animated Film Society (Asifa-Hollywood) has announced the nominees for the 40th Annie Awards also known as Animation's Highest Honor. Disney/Pixar led the nominees with "Brave," "Frankenweenie," and "Wreck-It-Ralph" getting Best Picture nods. The 40th Annual Annie Awards will take place on February 2, 2013 at UCLA.s Royce Hall, in Los Angeles, California.
And the nominees for the 40th Annual Annie Awards are:
Best Picture nominees:
Brave - Disney/Pixar)
Frankenweenie -The Walt Disney Studios
Hotel Transylvania - Sony Pictures Animation
ParaNorman - Focus Features
Rise of the Guardians - DreamWorks Animation
The Pirates! Band of Misfits - Aardman Animations
The Rabbi.s Cat - Gkids
Wreck-It Ralph - Walt Disney Animation Studios
Annie Award for Best Animated Special Production
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 . Warner Bros. Animation
Best General Audience Animated Television Production
Archer .Space Race, Part 1. . Weissman Markovitz Communications for FX
Bob.S Burgers .Earsy Rider...
And the nominees for the 40th Annual Annie Awards are:
Best Picture nominees:
Brave - Disney/Pixar)
Frankenweenie -The Walt Disney Studios
Hotel Transylvania - Sony Pictures Animation
ParaNorman - Focus Features
Rise of the Guardians - DreamWorks Animation
The Pirates! Band of Misfits - Aardman Animations
The Rabbi.s Cat - Gkids
Wreck-It Ralph - Walt Disney Animation Studios
Annie Award for Best Animated Special Production
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 . Warner Bros. Animation
Best General Audience Animated Television Production
Archer .Space Race, Part 1. . Weissman Markovitz Communications for FX
Bob.S Burgers .Earsy Rider...
- 12/3/2012
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
Disney withdrew from the International Animated Film Society, Asifa-Hollywood back in 2010 and even before then it was hard to put much stock in the Annie Awards. Now it's just sort of a blip on the overall award season radar that manages headlines twice a year, once for their nominees and again for their winners, which this year will be announced on Saturday, February 2, 2013. That said, the org announced their 2013 nominees this morning and their Best Feature Film list was made up of eight nominees (a large list considering the lack of quality animated films I've seen this year) including Brave, Frankenweenie, Hotel Transylvania, ParaNorman, Rise of the Guardians, The Pirates! Band of Misfits, The Rabbi's Cat and Wreck-It Ralph. It is nice not to see something like The Lorax among that list, but I still think this was a year in which the field could have easily been limited to five nominees.
- 12/3/2012
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.