#D’art Shtajio

[demifiendrsa]

Star Wars: Visions Volume 2 animated shorts posters

[disneytva]

Lucasfilm Unveils Animation Studios And Creatives For Star Wars Visions Season 2, Slated For May The 4th Be With You On Disney+.

May The 4th Be With You as Star Wars Visions expands beyond Japan with multiple animation studios around the world for second season. Today, Disney+ and Lucasfilm announced that the second volume of the animated anthology series Star Wars: Visions will premiere exclusively on Disney+ on May 4, (a.k.a. Star Wars Day).

The studios tapped for Vol. 2, the titles and directors of their shorts were also revealed, with storied European outfits such as Aardman and Cartoon Saloon taking part alongside Oscar-winning Chilean boutique Punkrobot, Korea’s Studio Mir, South Africa’s Triggerfish and more.

Participating studios for Volume 2 include:

El Guiri (Spain)

Cartoon Saloon (Ireland)

Punkrobot (Chile)

Aardman (United Kingdom)

Studio Mir (South Korea)

Studio La Cachette (France)

88 Pictures (India)

D’art Shtajio (Japan), in collaboration with Lucasfilm Ltd. and LucasFilm Animation. (U.S.)

Triggerfish (South Africa)

“Sith” | El Guiri | Writer-director: Rodrigo Blaas

“Screecher’s Reach” | Cartoon Saloon | Director: Paul Young

“I Am Your Mother” | Aardman | Director: Magdalena Osinska

“In the Stars” | Punkrobot | Writer-director: Gabriel Osorio

“Journey to the Dark Head” | Studio Mir | Director: Hyeong Geun Park

“The Spy Dancer” |Studio La Cachette | Writer-director: Julien Chheng 

“The Bandits of Golak” | 88 Pictures | Director: Ishan Shukla 

“Aau’s Song” Studio: Triggerfish | Writer-directors: Nadia Darries and Daniel Clarke

[roguerebels]

Rogue Rebels Podcast 163: Star Wars: Visions Vol. 2 (Part 2)!

#RogueRebelsPodcast 163: Liz, Lizzy, and Sal talk the last four episodes of #StarWarsVisions Vol. 2! #StarWarsPodcast

Sal, Lizzy, and Liz talk the last 4 episodes of Star Wars: Visions Vol. 2! Spy Dancer! The Bandits of Golak! The Pit! Aau’s Song! And the LOST EPISODE!!! We want to hear from you! Check out our questions and polls on Spotify! Click here to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! Check out our pods on Visions Vol. 1 Visions Vol. 1 Part 1 and Visions Vol. 2 Part 2 Follow us…

[meandmyechoes]

Star Wars Visions: Volume 2

“Sith” by El Guiri  (Spain)

A former Sith apprentice, leading a peaceful, but isolated life, is confronted by the past when her old master tracks her down.

“Screecher’s Reach” by Cartoon Saloon (Ireland)

A young girl, seeking reprieve from her days in a rural workhouse, discovers a legendary haunted cave with her friends. The cave’s dark pull will change the trajectory of her life forever.

“In the Stars” by Punkrobot (Chile)

Two sisters, the last of their kind who live in hiding on their ravaged land, squabble about how to survive with the Empire encroaching. On a water run, the sisters must fight back when they are discovered.

“I Am Your Mother” by Aardman (UK)

Young pilot Anni, who is embarrassed by her sweet, but clingy mum, must team with her for a madcap family race at the academy. Along the way, their relationship is tested by the elements, their old ship, other racers...and each other!

“Journey to the Dark Head” by Studio Mir (South Korea)

A hopeful mechanic and disillusioned young Jedi team up for a risky and unlikely quest to turn the tide of the galactic war, but dark forces tail them.

“The Spy Dancer” by Studio La Cachette (France)

The premier dancer at a famous, Imperial-frequented cabaret uses her unique skill-set to spy for the Rebellion, but the presence of a mysterious officer threatens to derail her mission.

“The Bandits of Golak” by 88 Pictures (India)

Fleeing from their village by train and pursued by ferocious Imperial forces, a boy and his force-sensitive younger sister seek refuge in a vibrant and dangerous dhaba.

“The Pit” by D’Art Shtajio and Lucasfilm Ltd. (Japan + U.S.)

A fearless young prisoner, forced to dig for kyber by the Empire, plans a risky escape for he and his people.

“Aau’s Song” by Trigger Fish (South Africa)

An alien child who longs to sing is raised by her loving, but stern father to stay quiet because of the calamitous effect her voice has on the crystals in the nearby mines.

[legok9]

“Sith” by El Guiri

A former Sith apprentice, leading a peaceful, but isolated life, is confronted by the past when her old master tracks her down.

“Screecher’s Reach” by Cartoon Saloon

A young girl, seeking reprieve from her days in a rural workhouse, discovers a legendary haunted cave with her friends. The cave’s dark pull will change the trajectory of her life forever.

“In the Stars” by Punkrobot

Two sisters, the last of their kind who live in hiding on their ravaged land, squabble about how to survive with the Empire encroaching. On a water run, the sisters must fight back when they are discovered.

“I Am Your Mother” by Aardman

Young pilot Anni, who is embarrassed by her sweet, but clingy mum, must team with her for a madcap family race at the academy. Along the way, their relationship is tested by the elements, their old ship, other racers...and each other!

“Journey to the Dark Head” by Studio Mir

A hopeful mechanic and disillusioned young Jedi team up for a risky and unlikely quest to turn the tide of the galactic war, but dark forces tail them.

“The Spy Dancer” by Studio La Cachette

The premier dancer at a famous, Imperial-frequented cabaret uses her unique skill-set to spy for the Rebellion, but the presence of a mysterious officer threatens to derail her mission.

“The Bandits of Golak” by 88 Pictures

Fleeing from their village by train and pursued by ferocious Imperial forces, a boy and his force-sensitive younger sister seek refuge in a vibrant and dangerous dhaba.

“The Pit” by D’Art Shtajio and Lucasfilm Ltd.

A fearless young prisoner, forced to dig for kyber by the Empire, plans a risky escape for he and his people.

“Aau’s Song” by Trigger Fish

An alien child who longs to sing is raised by her loving, but stern father to stay quiet because of the calamitous effect her voice has on the crystals in the nearby mines.

[a-corndog-named-schibbs]

Star Wars: Visions season 2

Sith: I spent the first five minutes thinking “what the fuck am I looking at” which is exactly what I both expected and wanted from this season

Screecher’s Reach: Not satisfied with making the greatest piece of werewolf media ever, Cartoon Saloon has branched out and made the greatest piece of Star Wars media ever

In the Stars: Kubo and the Two Strings, but with more imperialism

I Am Your Mother: Every other studio: Here’s some trauma!  Aardman: Here’s a cute silly story about a baby lesbian and her mum!

Journey to the Dark Head: Wow okay this sure is the studio that animated Voltron- EUGENE LEE YANG!?!!

The Spy Dancer: Yes, Star Wars is at its best when it says “fuck imperialism” but it’s also at its best when it says “man is this family fucked up or what”

The Bandits of Golak: Sandpiercer

The Pit: Someone at D’Art Shtajio watched Holes and went “Nice, but you know what would be even more fucked up?”

Aau's Song: Autism be damned this teddy bear is Force-sensitive!

[space-blue]

Visions II — “The Spy Dancer” by Studio La Cachette — “The Pit” by D’Art Shtajio — “Journey to the Dark Head” by Studio Mir — “Aau’s Song” by Trigger Fish

[raybizzle]

Arthell Isom, CEO and art director of D’Art Shtajio Thank me later

[animepopheart]

Charles, what do you think of D'Art Shtajio? It's currently the only animation studio in Japan founded and owned by Americans. They mostly work on adaptations of American comics I believe. Do you think anime that has more involvement with Western/gaijin artists is the industry's future?

Thanks for the question, Greg, and for pointing me toward D’Art Shtajio—I honestly hadn’t heard about them before.

Your question is a good one—I think you will see a western presence increase because the industry itself is growing. I don’t have any special insight here, but I assume that there’s going to be more room for partnerships and more ways to make money. And despite a nationalist sentimentality that would want to keep anime Japanese, the appreciation for the form from artists in the west and the finances that will be flowing in should open more doors.

[henrythurlow]

I drew Key animation for One Piece episode 972 at our studio D’Art Shtajio. It was a pleasure getting to draw Kaido in his dragon form again. I hope fans enjoyed all the shadow layers! They took forever to draw! haha.

ワンピース９７２話、原画で参加しました！宜しくお願いします！

[onepiecepodcast]

Episode 969, "Wano Night Fever"

Episode 969, “Wano Night Fever”

On this week’s episode of The One Piece Podcast we have hosts Ed and Steve with special guests Jill Knight (Podcast Contributor), Anime Recap host Sam Leach, Bryan Newton (Rugrats, Teen Titans Go and Rick and Morty), and Henry Thurlow (One Piece animator, D’Art Shtajio). Join us! This week we have a panel discussion covering the life and times of Kozuki Oden as well as a triple Anime Recap for…

[demifiendrsa]

Star Wars: Visions volume 2 will stream on Disney+ on May 4, 2023.

Volume 2 shorts:

Title: “Sith”

Studio: El Guiri

Writer-director: Rodrigo Blaas

Rodrigo Blaas is an Emmy Award®-winning director who has spent more than 20 years in animation. After co-founding Stromboli Animation in 1997, Blaas joined Blue Sky Studios in 2000, working on the feature film Ice Age, before transitioning to Pixar Animation Studios. There, he worked on such projects as Finding Nemo (2003), The Incredibles (2004), Ratatouille (2007), and Wall-E (2008) and on the Oscar®-nominated short film La Luna (2011). More recently, Blaas partnered with Guillermo del Toro to develop the award-winning series Trollhunters, served as creative director for Mikros Animation Paris and, in 2021, created El Guiri Studios in Madrid with his partner, Cecile Hokes. He also wrote and directed 2009’s award-winning short film Alma.

Title: “Screecher’s Reach”

Studio: Cartoon Saloon

Director: Paul Young

Paul Young is a co-founder of Cartoon Saloon, an IFTA winner and Oscar®, Emmy® and BAFTA nominee. He produced the animated features My Father’s Dragon, WolfWalkers, The Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea, and The Breadwinner as well as award-winning TV series including Puffin Rock, Dorg Van Dango, and Viking Skool.

Title: “In the Stars”

Studio: Punkrobot

Writer-director: Gabriel Osorio

Gabriel Osorio majored in Fine Arts at Universidad de Chile, later specializing in 3D animation. After working in commercials, movies and television series, he founded Punkrobot Studio. Since 2008, he has directed projects for children’s television including Flipos, Muelin y Perlita, Soccer Girls, and television spots. In 2016, his short film Bear Story became the first Latin American project to win an Oscar® in the animated short category.

Title: “I Am Your Mother”

Studio: Aardman

Director: Magdalena Osinska

Magdalena Osinska is an award-winning director who has been with Aardman for eight years. She has directed stop-motion, CGI, 2D and live-action commercials including Wallace & Gromit’s “The Great Sofa Caper” and “Share the Orange.” Osinska directed development of the children’s series Joyets and has also directed films including Spirits of the Piano and Zbigniev’s Cupboard. A graduate of the National Film and Television School in Beaconsfield, UK, as well as the Polish Film School in Lodz and Art College in Warsaw, Osinska is currently developing the feature film Jasia, based on her grandmother’s memories of WWII Poland.

Title: “Journey to the Dark Head”

Studio: Studio Mir

Director: Hyeong Geun Park

Rising star Hyeong Geun Park had already made a name for himself when he entered the Korean animation industry in 2017, thanks to his strong drawing and animation sensibilities. He has directed animation for dozens of cinematic game trailers and has since expanded into animated series, working on projects including Dota: Dragon’s Blood: Book 3 (2022) and Lookism (2022). Journey to the Dark Head is the first title he has executive produced from start to finish.

Title: “The Spy Dancer”

Studio: Studio La Cachette

Writer-director: Julien Chheng

Julien Chheng is CEO of Studio La Cachette, an Emmy Award®-winning French animation studio he co-founded in 2014 with fellow Gobelins school’s alumni Oussama Bouacheria and Ulysse Malassagne. Chheng was trained in visual development at Disney and has worked as a character animator on acclaimed 2D animated features The Rabbi’s Cat, Mune, and the Academy Award®-nominated Ernest and Celestine. In 2021, he won an Emmy Award® as animation executive producer of Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal, for which he also served as animation supervisor. In 2022, Chheng directed with Jean-Christophe Roger the Cesar-nominated feature Ernest and Celestine: A Trip to Gibberitia.

Title: “The Bandits of Golak”

Studio: 88 Pictures

Director: Ishan Shukla

Ishan Shukla started his career as a CG artist in Singapore. For more than a decade, he spearheaded projects ranging from TV commercials to series and music videos. His 2016 animated short, "Schirkoa," was long listed for the Academy Awards® after receiving dozens of awards and playing at 120 international festivals, including SIGGRAPH Asia where it was named Best in Show. He then set up his own animation studio to work on adult-oriented animated feature films including a feature-length version of Schirkoa, set to hit festivals in summer 2023.

Title: “The Pit”

Studios: D’art Shtajio and Lucasfilm Ltd.

Writer-director-executive producer: LeAndre Thomas

Co-director: Justin Ridge

LeAndre Thomas is an award-winning writer and director from Oakland, Calif., whose most recent film won Best Director at the Pasadena International Film Festival. In addition to his independent films, Thomas is a part of the franchise studio team at Lucasfilm Ltd. where he has worked for more than 11 years being credited on recent titles such as Light & Magic, The Mandalorian, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi, and many more.

Justin Ridge executive produced the Emmy®-nominated series Star Wars Resistance. His credits also include Star Wars Rebels, Storks, The Cleveland Show, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Title: “Aau’s Song”

Studio: Triggerfish

Writer-directors: Nadia Darries and Daniel Clarke

Nadia Darries is a director, animator and co-founder of Goon Valley Animation, with an avocation for songwriting. Born in the Cape Flats in South Africa, Darries has worked on high-end animated film and motion design as an animator, project manager, creative director and director since 2015. Her experience includes animating at Triggerfish Animation Studios on the award-winning BBC films Stick Man, Revolting Rhymes, and Highway Rat.

Daniel Clarke is a Cape Town-based director and artist working in animation, film and illustration. He started his career in animation in 2008 at Triggerfish Animation Studios, where he has served as production designer, art director and director on projects such as the feature film Khumba, BBC’s Stick Man, and The Snail and the Whale. In 2018, along with James Clarke and Daniel Snaddon, he completed the graphic novel Kariba.

[disneytva]

Lucasfilm Spotlights Animation for Star Wars Celebration with Star Wars Visions Vol 2 Trailer.

Star Wars Celebration in London offered up a hefty bounty for fans on the hunt for exciting new animated content set in the Lucasfilm universe. Panels featuring filmmakers and cast from Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Star Wars: Visions Volume 2, Star Wars: The Clone Wars and more offered updates, including a new trailer and full cast list for Visions

To close out Star Wars Celebration’s animation panels, on Monday afternoon there was a Star Wars: Visions panel. The panel was filled with an abundance of reveals ahead of the series’ May 4, release — including first story details for all nine shorts, the full cast list, the trailer and key art.

The second anthology will continue to push the boundaries of Star Wars storytelling, with nine new shorts from nine studios from around the globe. Employing an array of animation styles from a variety of countries and cultures, the Volume 2 offers a dynamic new perspective on the storied mythos of Star Wars.

To kick off the panel, host Amy Ratcliffe introduced executive producers of the Emmy-nominated series, Josh Rimes, James Waugh and Jacqui Lopez, who discussed the success of the show’s first season and its unique concept featuring a collection of animated shorts that stretches beyond any one form of animation and serves as a broader framework for Star Wars storytelling.

The Vol. 2 cast list includes:

“Screecher’s Reach”: Eva Whittaker

“I Am Your Mother”: Maxine Peake, Charithra Chandran

“Journey to the Dark Head” (English Dub): Ashley Park, Eugene Lee Yang

“The Bandits of Golak”: Suraj Sharma

“The Pit”: Daveed Diggs

“Aau’s Song”: Cynthia Erivo

After revealing the cast, Ratcliffe introduced the series’ filmmakers, who took to the stage in groups of three to reveal the first details about each of their shorts:

Rodrigo Blaas, writer/director of El Guiri’s “Sith” from Spain

Paul Young, director of Cartoon’s Saloon’s “Screecher’s Reach” from Ireland

Gabriel Osorio, writer/director of Punkrobot’s “In the Stars” from Chile

Magdalena Osinska, director of Aardman’s “I Am Your Mother” from the United Kingdom

Hyeong-Geun Park, director of Studio Mir’s “Journey to the Dark Head” from South Korea

Julien Chheng, director of Studio La Cachette’s “The Spy Dancer” from France

Milind Shinde, founder of India’s 88 Pictures and executive producer of “The Bandits of Golak”

LeAndre Thomas, writer/director/executive producer of “The Pit”

Arthell Isom, founder of D’ART Shtajio and executive producer of “The Pit”

Nadia Darries and Daniel Clarke, co-directors of Triggerfish’s “Aau’s Song” from South Africa

[recentanimenews]

FEATURE: D'ART Shtajio's Arthell Isom On Making The Weeknd's Snowchild Video

    Anime and music videos have long had a close relationship. While anime lovers could always turn to fan-made MVs, we now have massively successful musicians adding anime stylings to their work. When The Weeknd was looking to include an anime feel to his “Snowchild” music video, he turned to D’ART Shtajio.

  According to CEO and art director, Arthell Isom, the two teams worked closely to bring the video to life. The Weeknd’s team providing insight into the musician’s upbringing and personal style, the studio working hard to create 110 backgrounds with a vibe to match some of The Weeknd’s previous works. 

  Check out the video below for more:

    What are your favorite anime music videos? Let us know in the comments!  

  Do you love writing? Do you love anime? If you have an idea for a features story, pitch it to Crunchyroll Features!

By: Guest Author

[batmanbeyondrocks]

Black entrepreneurs do some of everything, including run anime studios. D’ART Shtajio @dartshtajio is recognized as the first Black owned anime studio and now their work is getting serious recognition. To accompany his recent single, ‘Snowchild,’ recording artist The Weeknd tapped D’ART Shtajio to make a music video. With close to 6 million views on YouTube to date, the work of this Black owned company is getting plenty of shine. According to the company’s website, D’ART Shtajio was founded in 2016 by brothers, Arthell and Darnell Isom. From the outset, the brothers “sought to revolutionize the Japanese anime industry by introducing Westernized elements of art and storytelling to the Japanese standard of animation.” The word Shtajio is a play on words in both English and Japanese to reflect the company’s commitment to building a strong foundation centered on their artists and clients. The firm’s existence is unique in the anime space. Indeed, not only do they do great work but their Instagram page also has content celebrating Juneteenth and affirming the value of Black lives. D’ART Shtajiio’s partnership with The Weeknd is a major step in differentiating them in the industry and providing a larger platform for their work to be seen. Black entrepreneurs can move and thrive in any space, this much is sure. 

Source: @webuyblack

[lunapaper]

So The Weeknd just pretty much created an anime AMV for his new ‘Snowchild’ video...

Directed by the D’ART Shtajio studio – Japan’s first Black-owned animation studio – the clip recounts the Canadian singer’s rise to fame with surreal, neon-laden imagery, from hustling on the ‘dead streets’ of Toronto to wandering through a house of balloons to his Starboy phase, and now as the red velvet-clad psychopath of After Hours. He even goes Super Saiyan on a couple of cougars! 

And the cartoon’s good and all... but it’ll never top this (◕‿-)

Read the review for The Weeknd’s After Hours here.

- Bianca B.