Will 2024 be Animation’s Big Year?

 While, historically, animations have tended to play a lesser role than live productions in the Hollywood ecosystem, we’ve seen some startling (and well-deserved) successes from the animated film market in recent years, including Sony’s Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and Studio Ghibli’s The Boy and the Heron. With some fantastic releases on the cards for animated productions, will 2024 see this sometimes-neglected niche get the love it deserves? Our local expert, Blake & Wang P.A. entertainment attorney Brandon Blake, looks at what is coming for animation lovers this year.

Brandon Blake

A Lot to Live Up To

From the bittersweet swansong of what will likely be legendary animator Hayao Miyazaki’s last Studio Ghibli project, through to the unexpected (and massive) commercial success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which powered over the $1B international mark, 2023 brought some fantastic animated success stories to the table. While it is a lot for any following year to live up to, 2024 does have a surprisingly robust animation slate. Perhaps more importantly, it also covers everything from big studio franchises and child-orientated fare right through to ‘animation for grown-ups’. That level of diverse audience and film size has been critical in the successes we’ve seen in the post-pandemic period and is a great marker for the box office overall.

Releases to Watch

There are over 20 animated releases scheduled for 2024, including Kung Fu Panda 4, which has already proven to be something of a runaway success. Great Pretender Razbliuto builds on the unexpected success of Great Pretender in the difficult 2020 year, while Netflix’s Orion and the Dark offers some kid-friendly fare with an adult twist that looks like a strong performer.

 

2024 will also bring us the long-awaited release of The Tiger’s Apprentice from Paramount, while The Garfield Movie may well turn into one of the biggest box office hits for the year. Chicken for Linda has already received much love from critics and the festival circuit. Robot Dreams, a silent animation, secured itself an Oscar and now has a full theatrical release to look forward to.

 

With more ‘expected’ hits like Despicable Me 4, Inside Out 2, Transformers One, and Moana 2 also set for release this year, alongside another take on the Lion King story from Disney and the much-anticipated Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim on the cards, 2024 is looking like a year in which animation will sparkle at the box office. Let’s hope to see some fantastic results ahead!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ad-Supported Tiers Are Winning, But Why Are Streamers So Keen?

Image
 As a spate of price increases touch all but the ad-supported tiers of most of the major streaming players, it’s clear the streaming world has thoroughly embraced the ad-tier model as a key driver of future streaming growth. But with so many streamers actively pushing new subscribers to their cheaper plans, what’s the secret? And how will this help them achieve that coveted profitability?One of the best entertainment lawyers Los Angeles Brandon Blake, from Blake & Wang P.A, takes a closer look. Brandon Blake Broader Audiences It’s no news that the wider market- Wall Street in particular- has finally realized that the pandemic-spurred boom in subscription numbers is unsustainable. Premium tiers may deliver premium features, but at a time when most households are looking for ways to cut costs, they’re less attractive than they once were. For many, this means a cheaper offering with only a little less convenience looks a whole lot more attractive. What is quite interesting is tha
Read more

Fall Film Festival Acquisitions to Know

Image
 With the traditional red carpet promenade severely limited by strike action, the fall film festival circuit gave indie movies a near-unprecedented chance to shine to buyers. While some jitteriness around the SAG-AFTRA waiver system caused slower-than-normal sales and some of the larger AMPTP distributors to opt for a ‘wait and see’ policy, there have been some strong acquisitions to keep on your radar. Entertainment lawyer Brandon Blake, of Blake & Wang P.A., highlights just a few to watch. Brandon Blake Festival and Post-Festival Sales Of the titles acquired during the festival itself, we see Sing Sing (to A24) headed to 2024 theatrical release in a seven-figure deal. Sorry/Not Sorry (Greenwich Entertainment) and Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World (Wavelengths)also attracted considerable festival attention. Despite the quiet market overall for documentaries, Netflix took home Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa alongside Women of the Hour as the fi
Read more

The Sticky Question of Residuals: Could Netflix Have the Answer?

Image
 Has there been any more contentious issue in the entertainment industry this year than that of residuals? One potential solution to this thorny issue lies in the success-based residual metrics already employed in parts of Europe- ironically, and most notably, by Netflix themselves. Brandon Blake, entertainment lawyer Los Angeles from Blake & Wang P.A, takes a look at this most unusual development. Brandon Blake The European Model Where European copyright legislation and Netflix meet, there could be middle ground. Netflix has already established several collective streamer residual agreements in European countries, from France to Germany, and Scandinavia. These agreements offer additional compensation to creators for well-performing content. However, the level of transparency regarding compensation details remains a concern for both unions and streamers.   It’s no secret that European entertainment markets are more heavily regulated than others, with EU law mandating regi
Read more