Einladung zu zwei INDAC Online Conversations: Sounddesigner Randy Thom & Director Shannon Tindle

[Find the english version here]

Hallo zusammen!

Als Freund, Fan von und Berichterstatter über Animation und VFX finde ich persönlich die Interviews mit den internationalen kreativen Artists, Geschichtenerzählern, Produzenten, Regisseuren am interessantesten, leider erlauben die meisten Gelegenheiten bei Presse-Events und Premieren all zu selten ein tieferes Gespräch und die Limitierungen des Interviewers tun ein übriges. Warum also nicht eine Konversation anstrengen mit bereitwilligen Gesprächspartner und an der Seite eines weit befähigteren Co-Moderatoren, um mehr zu erfahren vom jeweiligen Gegenüber. Aus diesem Grunde habe ich eine Reihe von INDAC-Konversationen angeregt, zu zwei von diesen möchte ich Sie, Euch hiermit herzlich einladen.

Am 16. Juni 2025 unterhält sich der bemerkenswerte Sounddesigner und zweifache Oscar-Preisträger Randy Thom mit mir. Das in der Öffentlichkeit viel zu unbeachtete Arbeits-Feld des Sounddesigns hat sowohl in der Animation wie im Realfilm eine ungeheure Bedeutung für das Storytelling. Randy Thom arbeitet in beiden Medien, er erhielt jüngst seine Oscarnominierung für das Sounddesign von Chris Sanders „Der Wilde Roboter“ und hat soeben das Sounddesign an der „Real“-Verfilmung von „How to Train Your Dragon“ fertiggestellt.

Als Co-Moderator habe ich den Emmy-ausgezeichneten Filmkomponist, und XR Sound Guru Scot Stafford um Hilfe gebeten, er weiß mehr über die komplizierten Beziehungen zwischen Sound und Musik, als ich jemals begreifen werde. Scot hat zuletzt den Soundtrack geschrieben zum Netflix-Animationsspielfilm „Ultraman Rising“, was mir eine elegante Überleitung zur zweiten INDAC Konversation nur einen Tag später erlaubt.

Am 17. Juni unterhalte ich mich mit dem vielfach preisgekrönten Regisseur und Autor Shannon Tindle, der mit Werken wie dem vielgeliebten Laika Stop-Motion-Spielfilm „Kubo, der tapfere Samurai“, der grandiosen Netflix-Serie „Lost Ollie“ und dem bemerkenswerten „Ultraman Rising“ . Obwohl Shannon gerade mit der Preproduction des Anime-Spielfilm-Prequels von „John Wick“ beschäftigt ist, nimmt er sich die Zeit über seine Arbeit und seine Sicht auf Storytelling zu sprechen. Und auch hier stehe ich an der Seite eines großen Co-Moderators: Regisseur und Autor Jorge Gutierrez, das kreative Genie hinter „Manolo und das Buch des Lebens“, „Maya and the Three“, „Son of Jaguar“) war sofort bereit, das Gespräch mit Shannon und mir zu führen.

Beide Konversationen finden online statt, wir werden zu Gast sein im DNEG Zoom-Room in London, ich in Deutschland, meine Gäste in Los Angeles und San Francisco, wir haben uns auf einen für alle Parteien geeigneten Timeslot geeinigt, beide Gespräch finden jeweils um 18 Uhr deutscher Zeit MEZ statt, dass ist 17.00  Uhr London time.

Und ich lade hiermit alle Interessierten weltweit ein, an dem Gespräch teilzunehmen, wir werden im Rahmen der Möglichkeiten auf Fragen aus dem Publikum eingehen.

Beide Gespräche finden in englischer Sprache statt.

Der Eintritt ist frei!

Die zwei Zoomlinks zu den Gesprächen am 16. und 17 Juni findet Ihr weiter unten.

Bitte tun Sie, bitte tut mir einen Gefallen und gebt die Einladung hier an interessierte Dritte weiter.

Ich versuche so viele Kreative anzusprechen wie mir möglich ist, aber in Anlehnung an Tolkien gestehe ich ein: Ich kenne die Hälfte von euch nicht halb so gut, wie ich es gern möchte, und ich kenne weniger als die Hälfte von euch allen, so wie ihr es eigentlich verdient.

Ich würde mich unendlich freuen, wenn Ihr die beiden Gespräche für interessant genug haltet, sie mit Eurem Freundes- und Bekanntenkreis zu teilen.

Ich würde mich ebenso freuen, wenn Ihr Euch mit mir auf Facebook, Linkedin oder Instagram verknüpft, um ein Gespräch über die beiden Termine hinaus zu ermöglichen, Links unten in der kurzen Bio. Meine Email für Feedback, Anregungen und Austausch lautet johannes.wolters@indac.org

Ich bin auf Suche nach jedweder Art von Unterstützung bei diesem Projekt, moralisches oder fnanzielles Sponsoring oder einfach nur ein paar aufmunternden Worten oder auch Plussing, wie man solche Events besser gestalten kann.

Ich wäre Euch sehr dankbar, wenn Ihr mir eine kurze Email schicken könntet vorab, ob Ihr gedenkt an den Gesprächen teilzunehmen. damit ich zum einen meinen Email-Verteiler ergänzen kann, zum anderen, damit ich absehen kann, wieviel Kuchen ich kaufen… ah, glücklicherweise ist es online, puuh.

Ich hoffe, ich sehe Sie, Euch online bei diesen beiden Gelegenheiten!

Viele, viele aufgeregte Grüße

Johannes

 

Randy Thom

INDAC Conversation with Randy Thom, Sounddesigner

Co-Moderator: Scot Stafford, Composer

Date: June, 16th 2025

Time: 6.00 p.m. German time / 5.00 p.m. London time / 09.00 a.m. Los Angeles time

Zoomlink: https://dneg.zoom.us/j/93490406127?pwd=P8YVJbXrDn9Bi8HW8zH9WBiVFdbXzy.1&jst=2

Abour Randy Thom:

Randy Thom is Director of Sound Design at Skywalker Sound, but still spends most of his time working on films. His credits include: Apocalypse Now, Return of the Jedi, Never Cry Wolf, Wild at Heart, Forrest Gump, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, The Thin Blue Line, War of the Worlds, Coraline, How To Train Your Dragon, Ghost in the Shell, and Ratatouille. He has worked with a diverse list of directors, including Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Robert Zemeckis, David Lynch, Guillermo del Toro, John Waters, Errol Morris, Henry Selick, Peter Jackson, Brad Bird, and Chris Wedge.  Randy’s essay “Designing A Movie For Sound” is used in many universities.

Randy has been nominated for sixteen Oscars, an Emmy and a Grammy. He has received two Oscars: one for The Right Stuff, and one for The Incredibles. Randy was honored with the C.A.S. Career Achievement Award in 2010 and the MPSE Career Achievement Award in 2014.

About Co-Moderator Scot Stafford (click on the picture)

Scot Stafford

 

INDAC Conversation with Shannon Tindle, Director & Author

Co-Moderator: Jorge Gutierrez. Director, Author, Artist

Date: June, 17th 2025

Time: 6.00 p.m. German time / 5.00 p.m. London time / 09.00 a.m. Los Angeles time

Zoomlink: https://dneg.zoom.us/j/96629368437?pwd=lBy9qabAvXR9efjkbNiSHoZWLu7MuV.1&jst=2

Shannon Tindle

About Shannon Tindle

Shannon Tindle has served as a designer, story artist, writer, director, and executive producer for television and feature films. He has collaborated with DreamWorks, Disney, Cartoon Network, and Universal Studios on a wide range of projects, including Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, The Croods, and Coraline. Shannon was the creator of Kubo and the Two Strings, which was nominated for two Oscars and won the BAFTA for Best Animated Feature.In 2022, Tindle served as the creator, executive producer, and showrunner of his first live-action series, Lost Ollie, which garnered 10 Emmy nominations and 5 wins. Most recently,Tindle co-wrote and directed, the Annie-nominated Ultraman: Rising for Netflix. He is currently attached to direct an animated John Wick Prequel film for Lionsgate. Shannon is also a proud member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

About Co-Moderator Jorge Gutierrez (click on the picture)

Jorge Gutierrez

 

About Johannes Wolters

Johannes Wolters is a Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany based freelance journalist who specializes in Animation and VFX. He has established a platform called INDAC.org for all people in German animation, VFX and games; plus ‚INDAC-Meetings‘ where animators and VFX artists can meet international guests from the industry.

Linked in    — Facebook  —-  Instagram

About INDAC

INDAC started as a group of german artists working in the field of animation and vfx. In the past it was the goal of the group to heighten the visibility of the fields of animation and vfx and their inhabitants to each other and the public. To inspire the members and to raise awareness for the medium, we created the INDAC Events, where Artists and Creatives could meet international Talents for Q&A´s and Screenings. As the german animation & vfx is getting more and more absorbed into the international animation/vfx scene through buyouts of german companies and the international career path of many artits, INDAC is in a phase of transistion to a worldwide group of animation/vfx artists, targeted to everyone who is working in this area and everyone who loves the medium. If you are interested in joining the group and shape its modern form send an email at info@indac.org

Website: https://indac.org/blog/

About DNEG

We are DNEG – delivering award-winning visual effects, animation, and creative technologies for film, TV, and immersive content.

We have over 25 years of industry experience and relationships, and we are honoured to have won eight Academy Awards® for ‚Best VFX‘ since 2011.

We thrive on the creative energy that true collaboration generates. In all of our most successful partnerships – be it with Christopher Nolan, Denis Villeneuve, Bong Joon-ho, or a host of other visionary directors that we are proud to work with – deep collaboration from the very outset is key.

DNEG

Invitation to two INDAC Online Conversations: Sounddesigner Randy Thom & Director Shannon Tindle

[Find the german version here]

Hello there!

As a friend, fan, and journalist of animation and VFX, I personally find interviews with international creative artists, storytellers, producers, and directors the most interesting. Unfortunately, most opportunities at press events and premieres rarely allow for in-depth conversations, and the interviewer’s limitations do the rest. So why not engage in a conversation with a willing interlocutor and alongside a far more capable co-host to learn more about each other?

For this reason, I’ve initiated a series of INDAC conversations, and in collaboration with DNEG  I would like to cordially invite you to two of them.

On June 16, 2025, the remarkable sound designer and two time Academy Award winner Randy Thom will be talking with me. I’m extremely interested in learning more about this particular field, which is far too overlooked by the public, but which holds tremendous significance for storytelling in both animation and live-action film. Randy Thom works in both media; he recently received an Oscar nomination for the sound design of Chris Sanders‘ „The Savage Robot“ and has just completed the sound design for the live-action adaptation of „How to Train Your Dragon.“

“I’ve enlisted Emmy-winning film composer and XR sound guru Scot Stafford ; he knows more about the complicated relationships between sound and music than I’ll ever comprehend. Scot recently wrote the soundtrack for the Netflix animated feature film „Ultraman Rising,“ which is a great segue to the second INDAC conversation a day later.

On June 17, I’ll be talking with director and writer Shannon Tindle, whose works include the beloved Laika stop-motion feature „Kubo and the two Strings“ the terrific Netflix series „Lost Ollie,“ and the remarkable „Ultraman Rising.“ Although Shannon is currently busy with the pre-production of the anime feature film prequel to „John Wick,“ he takes the time to talk about his work and his perspective on storytelling. And again, I’m joined by a really great co-host: director and writer Jorge Gutierrez, the creative genius behind „The Book of Life,“ „Maya and the Three,“ and „Son of Jaguar.“ He immediately volunteered to chat with Shannon and me.

Both conversations will take place online. We will be, thanks to Andrew Schlussel guests in the DNEG Zoom room in London. I will be in Germany, and my guests will be in Los Angeles and San Francisco. We have agreed on a time slot that suits all parties. Both conversations will take place at 6 p.m. European time, that is 5 p.m. London time and 09 a.m. Los Angeles/San Francisco time.

And I hereby invite all interested parties worldwide to participate. We will address questions from the audience as far as possible.

Both conversations will be held in English.

Admission is free!

Find the  the two Zoom links for the conversations further below.

Please, please do me a favor and forward this invitation to interested third parties.

I try to reach out to as many creatives as I can, but in the spirit of Tolkien, I confess: I don’t know half of you half as well as I’d like to, and I know less than half of all of you as well as you deserve to.and I would be incredibly happy if you find these two conversations interesting enough to share with your friends and acquaintances.

I would also be delighted if you would connect with me on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram to facilitate a conversation beyond the two dates. Please find it in the short bio below left. My email address for feedback, suggestions, and exchange is johannes.wolters@indac.org.

I’m looking for any kind of support for this project, moral or financial sponsorship, or simply a few words of encouragement or even plussing on how to organize such events better.

I would be very grateful if you could send me a short email in advance to let me know if you plan to attend the discussions. This will allow me to add you to my revised email list, and also to estimate how much cake I should buy… ah, luckily it’s online, phew.

I hope to see you online on both of these occasions!

Many, many excited greetings

Johannes

 

Randy Thom

INDAC Conversation with Randy Thom, Sounddesigner

Co-Moderator: Scot Stafford, Composer

Date: June, 16th 2025

Time: 6.00 p.m. German time / 5.00 p.m. London time / 09.00 a.m. Los Angeles time

Zoomlink: https://dneg.zoom.us/j/93490406127?pwd=P8YVJbXrDn9Bi8HW8zH9WBiVFdbXzy.1&jst=2

Abour Randy Thom:

Randy Thom is Director of Sound Design at Skywalker Sound, but still spends most of his time working on films. His credits include: Apocalypse Now, Return of the Jedi, Never Cry Wolf, Wild at Heart, Forrest Gump, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, The Thin Blue Line, War of the Worlds, Coraline, How To Train Your Dragon, Ghost in the Shell, and Ratatouille. He has worked with a diverse list of directors, including Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Robert Zemeckis, David Lynch, Guillermo del Toro, John Waters, Errol Morris, Henry Selick, Peter Jackson, Brad Bird, and Chris Wedge.  Randy’s essay “Designing A Movie For Sound” is used in many universities.

Randy has been nominated for sixteen Oscars, an Emmy and a Grammy. He has received two Oscars: one for The Right Stuff, and one for The Incredibles. Randy was honored with the C.A.S. Career Achievement Award in 2010 and the MPSE Career Achievement Award in 2014.

About Co-Moderator Scot Stafford (click on the picture)

Scot Stafford

 

INDAC Conversation with Shannon Tindle, Director & Author

Co-Moderator: Jorge Gutierrez. Director, Author, Artist

Date: June, 17th 2025

Time: 6.00 p.m. German time / 5.00 p.m. London time / 09.00 a.m. Los Angeles time

Zoomlink: https://dneg.zoom.us/j/96629368437?pwd=lBy9qabAvXR9efjkbNiSHoZWLu7MuV.1&jst=2

Shannon Tindle

About Shannon Tindle

Shannon Tindle has served as a designer, story artist, writer, director, and executive producer for television and feature films. He has collaborated with DreamWorks, Disney, Cartoon Network, and Universal Studios on a wide range of projects, including Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, The Croods, and Coraline. Shannon was the creator of Kubo and the Two Strings, which was nominated for two Oscars and won the BAFTA for Best Animated Feature.In 2022, Tindle served as the creator, executive producer, and showrunner of his first live-action series, Lost Ollie, which garnered 10 Emmy nominations and 5 wins. Most recently,Tindle co-wrote and directed, the Annie-nominated Ultraman: Rising for Netflix. He is currently attached to direct an animated John Wick Prequel film for Lionsgate. Shannon is also a proud member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

About Co-Moderator Jorge Gutierrez (click on the picture)

Jorge Gutierrez

 

About Johannes Wolters

Johannes Wolters is a Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany based freelance journalist who specializes in Animation and VFX. He has established a platform called INDAC.org for all people in German animation, VFX and games; plus ‚INDAC-Meetings‘ where animators and VFX artists can meet international guests from the industry.

Linked in    — Facebook  —-  Instagram

About INDAC

INDAC started as a group of german artists working in the field of animation and vfx. In the past it was the goal of the group to heighten the visibility of the fields of animation and vfx and their inhabitants to each other and the public. To inspire the members and to raise awareness for the medium, we created the INDAC Events, where Artists and Creatives could meet international Talents for Q&A´s and Screenings. As the german animation & vfx is getting more and more absorbed into the international animation/vfx scene through buyouts of german companies and the international career path of many artits, INDAC is in a phase of transistion to a worldwide group of animation/vfx artists, targeted to everyone who is working in this area and everyone who loves the medium. If you are interested in joining the group and shape its modern form send an email at info@indac.org

Website: https://indac.org/blog/

About DNEG

We are DNEG – delivering award-winning visual effects, animation, and creative technologies for film, TV, and immersive content.

We have over 25 years of industry experience and relationships, and we are honoured to have won eight Academy Awards® for ‚Best VFX‘ since 2011.

We thrive on the creative energy that true collaboration generates. In all of our most successful partnerships – be it with Christopher Nolan, Denis Villeneuve, Bong Joon-ho, or a host of other visionary directors that we are proud to work with – deep collaboration from the very outset is key.

DNEG

 

Der Indachs
created by Oliver Stephan based on a Designby Sabine Dully

Grand Prix of Europe | Official Trailer Drop

Viva Kids Presents: GRAND PRIX – Official Trailer 🏁 In Theaters August 22! A high-speed, heart-pounding animated adventure for the whole family!

Meet Edda — a fearless young mouse with one big dream: to race in the world-famous Grand Prix! Disguised as her racing idol “Ed,” Edda hits the track in a fast-paced journey full of twists, turns, and turbo-charged fun. Will she go the distance and prove she’s got what it takes?

🏎️💨 Inspired by Europa-Park in Germany 🇩🇪 — one of Europe’s most beloved theme parks — Grand Prix brings the thrills of the racetrack to life like never before.

🎬 WATCH the official trailer now and experience the ride of the summer!

The Relentless Hunter | Hall of Legends Event Trailer – League of Legends

A new legend claims the throne. Considered one of the most influential marksmen of all time, Uzi inspired generations of players with his mechanical prowess. LoL Esports’ Hall of Legends commemorates the best of the best: players who have forever shaped our game, sport, and community. Inductees are honored with an in-game event and cosmetics reflecting the mark they’ve made on the Rift. Experience the peaks of Uzi’s career with 100 levels of unlockable rewards, including commemorative skins, icons, and an exclusive nod to an iconic Uzi champion. Welcome to the Hall of Legends, Uzi.

Presentiment of Death – Announcement Trailer | PS VR2 Games

Classical music echoes. Time slows. The arrow flies. Presentiment of Death is an upcoming cinematic VR action game where instinct, precision, and time itself shape every moment. Wield your bow, manipulate time, and face relentless machines in a world on the edge of collapse. This is not just survival. This is your symphony of destruction. Coming soon to PlayStation VR2.

How To Train Your Dragon | Taking Flight: The Score – „Test Driving Toothless“ by John Powell from HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON

From three-time Oscar® nominee and Golden Globe winner Dean DeBlois, the creative visionary behind DreamWorks Animation’s acclaimed How to Train Your Dragon trilogy, comes a stunning live-action reimagining of the film that launched the beloved franchise. On the rugged isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been bitter enemies for generations, Hiccup (Mason Thames; The Black Phone, For All Mankind) stands apart. The inventive yet overlooked son of Chief Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler, reprising his voice role from the animated franchise), Hiccup defies centuries of tradition when he befriends Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon. Their unlikely bond reveals the true nature of dragons, challenging the very foundations of Viking society. With the fierce and ambitious Astrid (BAFTA nominee Nico Parker; Dumbo, The Last of Us) and the village’s quirky blacksmith Gobber (Nick Frost; Snow White and the Huntsman, Shaun of the Dead) by his side, Hiccup confronts a world torn by fear and misunderstanding. As an ancient threat emerges, endangering both Vikings and dragons, Hiccup’s friendship with Toothless becomes the key to forging a new future. Together, they must navigate the delicate path toward peace, soaring beyond the boundaries of their worlds and redefining what it means to be a hero and a leader.

The film also stars Julian Dennison (Deadpool 2), Gabriel Howell (Bodies), Bronwyn James (Wicked), Harry Trevaldwyn (Smothered), Ruth Codd (The Midnight Club), BAFTA nominee Peter Serafinowicz (Guardians of the Galaxy) and Murray McArthur (Game of Thrones). How to Train Your Dragon is written, produced and directed by DeBlois. It is also produced by three-time Oscar® nominee Marc Platt (Wicked, La La Land) and Emmy winner Adam Siegel (Drive, 2 Guns). How To Train Your Dragon is part of the Filmed For IMAX® Program, which offers filmmakers IMAX® technology to help them deliver the most immersive movie experience to audiences around the world. Inspired by Cressida Cowell’s New York Times bestselling book series, DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon franchise has captivated global audiences, earning four Academy Award® nominations and grossing more than $1.6 billion at the global box-office. Now, through cutting-edge visual effects, DeBlois transforms his beloved animated saga into a breathtaking live-action spectacle, bringing the epic adventures of Hiccup and Toothless to life with jaw-dropping realism as they discover the true meaning of friendship, courage and destiny

PIXAR: Elio | Final Trailer | In Theaters June 20

https://www.pixar.com/elio

In Theaters June 20, 2025.

This summer, moviegoers will meet Elio, an 11-year-old whose biggest wish is to get abducted by aliens, as well as his Aunt Olga (voiced by recent Academy Award Winner, Zoe Saldaña), and Glordon, Elio’s unexpected first friend who happens to be an alien. In this big-screen adventure, Elio will travel millions of miles across the universe encountering a host of out-of-this world creatures who just might help him figure out exactly where he belongs.

Deutsche Website: https://www.disney.de/filme/elio

Die INDAC Kritik von Dominick Reinicke zu Disneys Remake von „Lilo & Stitch“

Hey Johannes,
Hier kommt meine Review zu Stich:

In der Neuverfilmung von Lilo & Stitch begleiten wir erneut das junge hawaiianische Mädchen Lilo (Maia Kealoha), das gemeinsam mit ihrer älteren Schwester Nani (Sydney Agudong) versucht, den Alltag nach dem Tod ihrer Eltern zu meistern. Als Lilo eines Tages im Tierheim den seltsamen „Hund“ Stitch (Stimme: Chris Sanders) adoptiert, beginnt ein chaotisches Abenteuer, denn Stitch ist in Wahrheit ein außerirdisches Experiment, das auf der Flucht vor galaktischen Behörden auf der Erde gestrandet ist.

Der Impuls, sofort „Mhm, schon wieder ein Live-Action-Remake“ zu sagen, war bei mir sehr groß, als der erste Teaser erschien. Ein wenig Hoffnung war aber auch dabei, dass es Disney diesmal schaffen würde, diesen wichtigen Charakter einer neuen Zielgruppe zugänglich zu machen. Jetzt so im Nachhinein kann ich sagen: Das gelingt. Wenn auch mit Abstrichen. Auch in der Live-Action-Variante fiebert man mit der zerrütteten Familie mit, die durch einen Außenseiter auf die Probe gestellt wird, der selbst erst lernen muss, was Empathie bedeutet. Die emotionalen Momente, die im Original funktioniert haben, treffen auch hier ins Schwarze.
Man merkt allerdings, dass der Film 2025 entstanden ist. Viele Szenen werden mit flotten Gags aufgelöst (mal gelungen, mal weniger), wodurch oft die Spannung gebrochen wird, um die Stimmung aufzulockern. Das kennt man ja bereits zu Genüge von Marvel-Filmen. Besonders in der Eröffnungssequenz erinnern plötzliche „Cut-Away-Gags“ beinahe an Family Guy. Der Erzählrhythmus ist schnell, die Schnitte zackig. Das passt gut zu den heutigen Sehgewohnheiten, lässt aber manchmal kaum Raum zum Durchatmen.

Die Änderungen im Vergleich zum Original waren zum Teil nachvollziehbar. So wurde etwa Bösewicht Gantu gestrichen, und seine Rolle geht nun an den verrückten Wissenschaftler Jumba (Zach Galifianakis) über. Das macht Jumba im Remake jedoch deutlich unsympathischer und nimmt der Beziehung zu seinem Begleiter Pleakley (Billy Magnussen) einiges an Charme. Die Buddy-Komik kommt dadurch kaum zum Tragen. Zudem verzichten die beiden größtenteils auf ihre ikonischen Verkleidungen, sondern sind fast nur in menschlicher Form unterwegs, was laut Regisseur Dean Fleischer auf Budgetgründe zurückzuführen ist. Schade ist auch, dass Pleakleys spielerischer Umgang mit Geschlechterrollen (im Original trug er immer wieder Frauenkleider) komplett gestrichen wurde. 2002 war das ein progressives Detail, das hier leider fehlt.

Neu hinzugekommen sind hingegen Nebenfiguren wie Tūtū (Amy Hill), die hilfsbereite Nachbarin, und Mrs. Kekoa (Tia Carrere), eine warmherzige Jugendamtsmitarbeiterin. Sie erweitern das Unterstützungsnetz rund um Lilo und Nani, was im Kontrast zur mitunter hoffnungslosen Ausgangslage des Originals steht. Dort fühlten sich die Situationen rund um die kleine Familie oft einsamer und bedrohlicher an.
Was die Hauptfiguren angeht, glänzen vor allem Lilo und Stitch. Maia Kealoha macht als Lilo einen fantastischen Job und man schließt sie sofort ins Herz. Die Chemie zwischen ihr und Stitch ist glaubhaft und unterhaltsam, was auch der gelungenen CGI-Arbeit und seinem Design zu verdanken ist. Stichwort: Design: Stitch sieht in dieser Version großartig aus. Der Look wirkt durchdacht, realistisch und bleibt dennoch charmant. Meiner Meinung nach eine gelungene Übersetzung ins Live-Action-Format.

Ein persönlicher Schwachpunkt ist allerdings das Finale. Die spannende Luftverfolgungsjagd des Originals wurde gestrichen und durch ein vergleichsweise unspektakuläres Finale ersetzt, das ich jetzt nicht spoilern will, von dem ich aber auch glaube, dass es da nicht viel zu spoilern gibt. Statt eines packenden Showdowns wirkt das Ende eher behäbig. Um dann doch noch emotionale Dramatik zu erzeugen, greift man auf einen Fake-Out-Tod zurück, den es genau so in Lilo & Stitch 2 schon gibt und der hier nicht besonders passt. Trotzdem verlässt man das Kino aber mit einem guten Gefühl.

Wie so oft stellt sich bei solchen Remakes die Frage nach ihrer Notwendigkeit. Und ähnlich wie bei König der Löwen, Die Schöne und das Biest oder Mulan (besonders bei Mulan) würde ich auch hier sagen: Das Original bleibt die bessere Wahl. Doch Lilo & Stitch (2025) gehört definitiv zu den gelungensten Realverfilmungen von Disney. Die universelle Geschichte über Familie, Verlust und Zugehörigkeit wurde respektvoll modernisiert. Die emotionale Tiefe des Films ist spürbar vorhanden, auch wenn sie andere Wege geht als das Original. Songs wie „Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride“ oder Elvis‘ „Devil in Disguise“ zaubern mir direkt ein Lächeln ins Gesicht. Ich hab gelacht, war ergriffen, hatte Gänsehaut und war fast 2 Stunden lang gut unterhalten.

Dominick Reinicke

Die INDAC Kritik von Michaela Müller zu Disneys Remake von „Lilo & Stitch“

Hallo Johannes,
hier also die Kurzkritik:
Ein sehr gelungener Spaß! Realfilm und Cartoonwelt sind actiongeladen, wie von Stich zu erwarten, bis zum Schluß.
Abgesehen von dem wasserdichten Sandwich und einem Schauspielkind das anscheinend richtig weint (Schauspieltechniken die man nicht an einem Kind praktiziert sehen will)
…….und ist es wirklich schon soweit, daß Markenplazierung notwendig ist?
Manche Stitch-Szenen lassen erahnen, woher (Baby Herman aus Roger Rabbit) man sich inspirieren ließ.
Bis dann, VG, Michaela

Die INDAC Kritik von Gerhard Brammer zu Disneys Remake von „Lilo & Stitch“

Sehr geehrter Herr Wolters,
Vielen Dank noch einmal für die Platzreservierung für die Pressevorstellung von Lilo & Stitch.
Hier nun meine Kritik:
Den Original Zeichentrick Film habe ich das letzte Mal vor 10 Jahren gesehen. Mir ist aber als erstes aufgefallen daß der Film ein 1:1 Live Action/3d Remake ist, was ich davor nicht wusste und ich andere Live-Action Remakes bekannter Disney Filme nie gesehen hatte.
Die Übersetzung eines beliebten Disney Zeichentrickfilms in einen Realfilm mit 3D Effekten fand ich grundsätzlich sehr gelungen.
Schade fande ich daß der Character des Captain Gantu aus dem Script gestrichen wurde. Was ich als sehr nervig empfand war das durchgängige und  überdrehte Kauderwelsch von Stitch. Die aggressive, unkontrollierbare Natur des Characters hatte sich bereits in seinen Handlungen manifestiert. Ansonsten waren die Gags etwas dürftig. Dafür waren die beiden Hauptdarsteller der Charactäre Lilo und Nani sehr sympathisch. Alles in allem ein unterhaltsamer Film.
Ich wünsche Ihnen eine schöne Woche.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen

Award for Best Immersive Work of the 78th Festival de Cannes

The Jury of the Immersive Competition of the 78th Festival de Cannes presented today the Best Immersive Work Award to From Dust, created by Michel van der Aa, recognizing a creation that pushed the boundaries of storytelling, art space, and audience engagement.

The Jury, chaired by French director Luc Jacquet included American musician, director and writer Laurie Anderson, French author and performer Tania de Montaigne, British director, screenwriter, and artist Martha Fiennes and Japanese video game creator Tetsuya Mizuguchi. Together, they explored a selection that invited viewers into immersive worlds where technology and feelings intersect.

 

Returning for its second edition, the Immersive Competition was hosted at the iconic Carlton Hotel, transformed into a showcase of the future of entertainment that accommodated over 5,000 bookings made this year — a strong sign of the growing interest in immersive experiences as a new artistic form.

This year’s official selectionfeatured 16 works from 9 countries: 9 in competition, 2 non-competitive, and 5 in a special Focus on Luxembourg.

„We are witnessing the emergence of a new narrative form — still imprecisely called ‘immersive art,’ a term too broad to capture the richness and diversity of the languages now unfolding through technology. As a jury, we were asked to engage with these bold, forward-looking voices and select one among them — never an easy task. We approached the works with the breadth of our varied perspectives and the shared sense of being part of a field that is still taking shape, but full of promise.“

Luc Jacquet, Immersive Competition Jury President

„The Immersive Competition is about creating space for new ways of storytelling — where the relationship between audience, narrative, and space can be reimagined. These works explore how immersion can shape perception and open up different kinds of artistic engagement. We see this as a step forward in recognising immersive creation as a distinct and evolving art form.

Elie Levasseur, Head of Immersive

„It’s a great honor for me to be nominated for this prestigious Festival and even greater honor to win. It’s truly out of this world !“

Michel van der Aa, Director of From Dust

By inviting the audience to step into new dimensions of narrative experience, the Immersive Competition continues the Festival’s commitment to explore art — honoring creators who are not only redefining the future of storytelling, but shaping the way we experience art itself.

The 2025 Selection includes:

  • Beyond The Vivid Unknown
  • Fillos do Vento: A RAPA
  • From Dust
  • In the Current of Being
  • LACUNA
  • LILI
  • tAxI
  • The Dollhouse
  • The Exploding Girl VR

OUT OF COMPETITION

  • Chez Moi
  • Trailblazer

FOCUS:

  • Battlefield
  • Ceci Est Mon Coeur
  • Floating with spirits
  • Ito Meikyu
  • Oto’s Planet

Dive into the future of storytelling at the prestigious Carlton Hotel Cannes from 14 to 23 May 2025. Learn more about the Compétition Immersive:

Accueil video

Remote or UK based: Character Designers wanted!

Robert Chandler wrote on LinkedIn:

I am hiring CHARACTER DESIGNERS to work on a new 3D-CG animated series.
Must be experienced at designing distinctive characters for Feature Films or High End TV and you must show examples of your work in these areas.

Narrative Tone is YA, real world, urban, character-based drama with explosive, kinetic action sequences.
Wardrobe – our characters globe-trot and may need to be dressed for environments that range from desert to tundra to historic European city to inner city urban wasteland to the snowy Antarctic.
Animation Style is part of the development and we are still working on it, but the series expects to sit alongside Love Death Robots, Arcane and the Spider-Verse movies. These are easy titles to throw around, but this is a seriously exciting project with a major backer.

Initial design work is expected to run from June to Sept this year.
You can work remotely, you do not need to be based in the UK.
Competitive fees paid.

Please apply to spaceagefilms@gmail.com and mark your email CHARACTER DESIGNER.
State where you are based, add a CV, and please provide a link to your work and/or attach a couple of samples.
I’m very sorry, but if you do not meet the criteria, we will not be able to reply. I am not replying to DMs on here about the positions, either – please email as requested – thanks!

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Zootopia 2 | Teaser Trailer

Ssssmash that play button for the new #Zootopia2 trailer 🐍 See it only in theaters November 26. In Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Zootopia 2,” detectives Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (voiced by Jason Bateman) find themselves on the twisting trail of a mysterious reptile who arrives in Zootopia and turns the mammal metropolis upside down. To crack the case, Judy and Nick must go undercover to unexpected new parts of town, where their growing partnership is tested like never before. Oscar® winners Jared Bush (co-director/co-writer “Zootopia,” director/co-writer “Encanto”) and Byron Howard (director “Zootopia,” director “Encanto”) are directing; Bush is writing the script; Yvett Merino (Oscar-winning producer “Encanto”) produces. “Zootopia 2” hits theaters in Nov. 26, 2025.

Festival de Cannes 2025 | Compétition Immersive

Introducing the 2025 #CompetitionImmersive at the ‪@TVFestivaldeCannes‬! For its 78th edition, the Festival will present 16 groundbreaking projects in the 2nd edition of the Immersive Competition: 9 daring works will compete for the prestigious title of Best Immersive Work 2025; 2 exceptional experiences will be showcased Out of Competition; and 5 standout projects from Luxembourg will be featured in a brand-new Focus selection! The 2025 Selection includes: COMPETITION IMMERSIVE

  • Beyond The Vivid Unknown
  • Fillos do Vento: A RAPA
  • From Dust
  • In the Current of Being
  • LACUNA
  • LILI
  • tAxI
  • The Dollhouse
  • The Exploding Girl VR

OUT OF COMPETITION

  • Chez Moi
  • Trailblazer

FOCUS:

  • Battlefield
  • Ceci Est Mon Coeur
  • Floating with spirits
  • Ito Meikyu
  • Oto’s Planet

Dive into the future of storytelling at the prestigious Carlton Hotel Cannes from 14 to 23 May 2025. Learn more about the Compétition Immersive:

Accueil video

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