Frederator Studios Presentation - Feb. 2010

[DeanBurrito25]

Frederator posted a slideshow this month their future projects, specifically under their recently founded Frederator Films studio. (http://www.scribd.com/doc/25534636/Frederator-Presentation-February-2010) Here's a recap of feature films they plan to make.

Tenative Frederator Films Project List
-Fanboy and Chum Chum (slide 20. Based on the CGI Nickelodeon show)
-Untitled Craig McCracken project (see slide 41, I think there was supposed to be an image there, but I guess it won't load..?)
-Samurai Jack (slide 43. Based on the Cartoon Network show)
-Super Santa (slide 44. An indie production)
-Super F*kers (slide 45. Another indie production)
-Castlevania: Dracula's Curse (slide 46. Based on the Konami video game)
-Annie (slide 47. Based on the comic strip)
-Babes in Toyland (slide 50. Animated remake)
-My Life as a Teenage Robot (slide 51. Based on the Nickelodeon show)
-Mina and the Count (slide 52.)
-The Infinite Goliath (slide 53.)
-Kyle and Rosemary (slide 54.)
-Krunch and the Kid (slide 55.)

They also have some additional info about past/recent television series they're working on.

So what do you think of the films Frederator Films has in store? Personally, I've always dreamed of a Teenage Robot movie, so I'm psyched to see how that turns out. Wonder what that Craig McCraken project is about, perhaps that Wander Over Yander (http://craigmccracken.net/) thing he's been working on as of late? And of course, we already know about the Samurai Jack movie. I think if these films are executed properly, Frederator Films has extreme potential for indie animators out there and for the animation industry overall.

[SpongeJosh]

Cool. I'm certainly looking forward to the Teenage Robot and Samurai Jack movies most and whatever Craig McCracken is planning has peaked my interest as well. While it seems a little odd to me to see a studio do films based on a CN show and 2 Nick shows, it's great nonetheless. With Frederator Films this is looking to be a good decade.

[John Pannozzi]

-Super F*kers (slide 45. Another indie production)


It's based on an independent comic book.
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=12&title=653

[jph139]

Aww, man, they're making a Castlevania movie? Sweet. I'm hyped for that.

And of course Samurai Jack. How can you go wrong?

[soundmonkey44]

Frederator.....You Guys are AWSOME! Bringing back Samuri Jack & My life as a Teenage Robot! Thumbs UP! (now lets see if you can convince a certain somebody to team up with you to make that Invader Zim movie that got canned a few years back.)


also Looking Foward to watching Adventure Time on CN in april....P.S. would love to see you guys & Nick release Season sets of OddParents....

:anime:

[PC!]

Samurai Jack = Set up in active development.

What exactly does that mean?

And a Teenage Robot revival? Where did that come from? I can see the fan art of that image now...

[CartoonOverlord]

So the Samurai Jack finale movie and the Castlevania 3 movie aren't dead yet? That's good to hear.

[J!!!]

Fanboy and Chum Chum movie?

Smells very....box office failury around here.

[ToonFaithful]

Saw this on Twitter awhile ago. I'm excited for the Samurai Jack movie.

[Karl Olson]

Frederator posted a slideshow this month their future projects, specifically under their recently founded Frederator Films studio. (http://www.scribd.com/doc/25534636/Frederator-Presentation-February-2010) Here's a recap of feature films they plan to make.

Tenative Frederator Films Project List
-Fanboy and Chum Chum (slide 20. Based on the CGI Nickelodeon show)
-Untitled Craig McCracken project (see slide 41, I think there was supposed to be an image there, but I guess it won't load..?)
-Samurai Jack (slide 43. Based on the Cartoon Network show)
-Super Santa (slide 44. An indie production)
-Super F*kers (slide 45. Another indie production)
-Castlevania: Dracula's Curse (slide 46. Based on the Konami video game)
-Annie (slide 47. Based on the comic strip)
-Babes in Toyland (slide 50. Animated remake)
-My Life as a Teenage Robot (slide 51. Based on the Nickelodeon show)
-Mina and the Count (slide 52.)
-The Infinite Goliath (slide 53.)
-Kyle and Rosemary (slide 54.)
-Krunch and the Kid (slide 55.)

They also have some additional info about past/recent television series they're working on.

So what do you think of the films Frederator Films has in store? Personally, I've always dreamed of a Teenage Robot movie, so I'm psyched to see how that turns out. Wonder what that Craig McCraken project is about, perhaps that Wander Over Yander (http://craigmccracken.net/) thing he's been working on as of late? And of course, we already know about the Samurai Jack movie. I think if these films are executed properly, Frederator Films has extreme potential for indie animators out there and for the animation industry overall.

It's nice to see them develop some of the gems from their pilot programs in addition to working with the bigger names. Frederator, slowly but surely, seems dead set on picking up the slack where networks fall off, and Sony could be fabulously wealthy because of it (especially since they know how to promote a movie.) Seibert has the long-term mind set animation needs to keep it lively, and it's reflected in his studio's actions. He should be running one of these networks, not just providing content, but maybe this exactly the perfect place for him - you can't be fired from your own private company.

Also, with people like JJ Abrams lining themselves up with the studio, it really speaks to what they are doing. Frederator may make itself the next Pixar if Seibert runs it right, and well, you can't get the talent they have unless they're running right.

[Mandouga]

"Super Santa" isn't that new. It was a recurring short on "Oh Yeah! Cartoons". Also, if I understand correctly, there have been plans for a Super Santa movie for some time.

As for the other project with "Super" in the name. The name is going to have to be changed if it's going to have any hope for mainstream exposure...

[radioflyer]

Fanboy and Chum Chum movie?

Smells very....box office failury around here.

(holds nose) I know what you mean! :eek:

[Dudley]

Wow. I'm surprised these are the movies they are making, I was hoping they'd produce something brand new, instead of all these franchises and pilots.

Fanboy is an even bigger shock, especially if they'll release it in theaters. Ah well, I heard the movies are being done a cheap budget. So if the film's not a box office smash, it won't be such a big deal.

[Michael JJ]

Samurai Jack = win!

My Life as a Teenage Robot = win!

Mina and the Count = win!

I was suprised to see that last one. I loved the shorts on Oh Yeah! Cartoons. I look forward to it, and everything else.

[CaptainHero]

Why are they producing sure fire box office bombs?

My Life as a Teenage Robot will be a colossal bomb, it was never that popular when it was on and it's been off the air for a few years now.

Samurai Jack, while adored by animation geeks on TZ, isn't really loved by the mainstream.

Fanboy and Chum-Chum? Really?

I'm more shocked by a Teenage Robot movie, that will for sure be a flop.

[SpongeJosh]

Why are they producing sure fire box office bombs?

My Life as a Teenage Robot will be a colossal bomb, it was never that popular when it was on and it's been off the air for a few years now.

Samurai Jack, while adored by animation geeks on TZ, isn't really loved by the mainstream.

Fanboy and Chum-Chum? Really?

I'm more shocked by a Teenage Robot movie, that will for sure be a flop.
They may not break any records, but with $20 million budgets, they should at least make back their budgets and make some profit. But as far as FB&CC goes, that show hasn't even been on that long, and successful or not that movie shouldn't be me made until after the second season at least.

[creativerealms]

Well think of them as just a little above "independent films" and no where near even trying to be big name blockbusters. So really they won't try to be hits.

[Triant]

There's a few of these I don't know, but hey, I'm happy for fans of those shows/comics/ect. Teenage Robot flew under my radar, but good for the show and its' fans.

Samurai Jack: Closure. Closure at last!

Kyle + Rosemary: I loved this short, and think it's very charming. I wonder what they'll do with it as a movie.

[Andrew T. Hingson]

Yeah... I don't think much if any of these will even get a widespread release. It could be the case that many if not all of them will be DTV and the ones that aren't will have a very limited run. That would be if they're trying to keep this in the safe zone but who knows? Their ambitions may be far greater than that.

[DarthGonzo]

None of this makes sense. It's like they just pulled a bunch of stuff out of a hat and decided to make features out of them. How could any of this stuff possibly make any money in theaters?

[Rho]

Fanboy and Chum Chum movie?

Smells very....box office failury around here.

Dunno about that - It's getting pretty good ratings on Nick.

I'm disappointed they mentioned Sym-Bionic Titan at the start, but showed nothing else on it. :shrug:

[chdr]

I like the ambition, but I really can't see these movies being successful financially.

[Karl Olson]

How they will make money on these:

One: very low budget relative to typical theatrical works. These aren't going to run 100 million dollars, they are going to run a 10th of that at most. The stuff based off pilots might not even crack a million.

Two: they've already secured distribution through Sony Pictures, and Sony probably isn't going to spend to heavily on advertising them and they'll likely schedule them such they are hitting dead spots in theatrical season. For the very niche titles, they'll probably do effectively no TV advertising and run it in the art house circuit.

Three: DVD, Blu-Ray and Television replay. It's where most films make the real money anyway, and it's proven exceedingly lucrative for animation. Your niche series/film can be a massive hit on DVD if the audience is the right kind of obsessive.

The other way to look at it is Fred Seibert knows what he's doing. He made Mtv the network it was in the 1980s, he put together both the Cartoon Cartoon and Oh Yeah Cartoon pilot initiatives, both of which cranked out profitable hits and long term for their respective benefactors, and he's been out ahead of the curve on online distribution, which is part of what drew talent like Penn Ward into Frederator. Underestimating Seibert would be folly I think. He seems to be a magnet for creative animators, and in the long term, creative animation pays, because you can sell it as easily 20 years from now as you do today.

[Tech]

Looks like they have lots of optimism, but I can't see half of these films getting done. They should at least start writing the scripts for these before announcing them...

[Marvin Tikvah]

-Castlevania: Dracula's Curse (slide 46. Based on the Konami video game)

Let's hope this one doesn't get stuck in development hell like the live-action movie did.

[Leviathan]

I suspect at least half of these will get caught in development hell anyway. Of the ones that are left (if any), Karl's analysis sounds right on.

[Karl Olson]

I suspect at least half of these will get caught in development hell anyway. Of the ones that are left (if any), Karl's analysis sounds right on.

In a bigger studio, I'd worry more about development hell, but I think Siebert's whole plan here is lean, mean and creator-controlled with as few notes and accountants as possible. I mean, when your budget is a 10th the size, there aren't enough people in the process and there isn't enough money riding on it for anything to get bogged down in notes and revisions - who ever is directing will probably only have to report to Fred, and beyond making sure people hold to a given rating (something most of the staff already has plenty of experience with by this point,) he's probably going to let them do as they please.

I mean, this isn't like writing Shrek where you're going to have a table full of expensive writers who do countless revisions, then have stand up comics do punch-up, then finally get to maybe some storyboarding, then animation, then even more punch up and so on. This is probably going to be treated exactly like 90's TV animation, which means something of an outline gets done, then storyboarding is where most of the scripting will happen, it might get a punch-up done internally by having some of the other animation folks in the studio throw some ideas out and point out missed opportunities, then that's that - you record vocals and do your animation and clean up. It's going to be a much tighter process than I think a lot of people realize. It might not have the polish of a Ghibli film or Pixar film, but it'll also be way less expensive, and it may have a certain rawness or creative stamp that's much distinct as well.