Посты с тэгом: China

ANTON SMETANKIN: WE WANT TO TELL AMAZING STORIES

Anton Smetankin, CEO of Parovoz studio, spoke on specifics of Russian animation market, criteria for preparing of children’s content, and state support for studios in Russia on Culture Radio.

THE AGE OF AUDIENCE

The audience under 3 years old is as undemanding to the quality of content as possible, of course, we mean children. Parents are the main censors on a child’s way to the cartoons. Parovoz studio always searched for something catchy for a child in a cartoon, the reason he would want to see the cartoon again and again. We believe a gentle voiceover, almost mother’s intonations, likeable characters, bright picture and stories without violence and quick action are the key criteria.

As for 10 to 14 years old viewers, we have to talk about love and sometimes show some violence. I guess, we are not yet ready for it and still learning to tell stories to this audience. However, these viewers watch our Heroes of Envell and Fantasy Patrol animated series.

RUSSIAN ANIMATION MARKET

Unfortunately, there is still lack of content on Russian animation market today. Existing major players such as Soyuzmultfilm, Animaccord, Aeroplane, Melnitsa, Petersburg, and certainly our studio can’t provide enough content, because they have to compete not even with each other but with foreign content which comes to Russia with sponsor support and large budgets for broadcasting. Moreover, work experience is not transferred from studio to studio: the key players develop their own expertise without sharing it. That’s why each studio in a way has to reinvent the wheel.

The lack of content is acutely felt on industry events: the same cartoons are nominated for competitions from year to year. As for us, we strive to go beyond Russian festivals and nominate our works for international competitions. For instance, our animated series Fantasy Patrol and Paper Tales have become participants of Annecy International Animated Film Festival in France in 2016-2017.

There are a lot of professionals in the market, however each studio prefers preparing its own specialists «customising» them to its own needs. At they same time, animation and game industries fight for technicians who are few in number in the market. Our studio is only 4 years old but we have gathered more than 300 professionals by the moment. We also try to provide freedom for our creators to enable them to make author animation which is quite interesting for audience.

INTERNATIONAL MARKET

«Ми-ми-мишки» и «Лео и Тиг» захватывают мир • Netflix

Today, animated shows of the studio are watched on all continents where broadcast exists. In the past year, children from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Slovenia, Papua New Guinea, Estonia, China, the Netherlands, Hungary, and Sweden had the opportunity to see the animated series of our studio.

Топовые видеохостинги Китая покажут мультфильмы студии • Паровоз

Our cartoons are very popular in China because their own market doesn’t produce such content: they are still learning and don’t know yet which plots to choose and how to tell an interesting story to audience.

ADAPTATION OF THE ANIMATED SHOWS

Dubbing and revoicing are provided not by the studio but by the right holder or directly by the buyer. This is how it works: colleagues give us the sound (english dubbing) and we adjust the picture to the sound.

STATE SUPPORT

The Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation certainly tries to support animation through its grants as well as Cinema Foundation does, but the bigger issue here is that their patronage doesn’t extend to animated series. Yet there is some good news — the law which implies reducing of tax rates for animation studios is about to come.

PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

Настоящая история Кощея от анимационной студии Паровоз • Концепт города

We are eager to grow into creativity, we want to work with foreign companies and channels. It’s pleasant and interesting to make children’s content, yet we strive to learn how to tell amazing stories for teenagers as well.

ANIMATED SERIES OF PAROVOZ STUDIO ON A WORLD BROADCASTING MAP

Since its foundation, Parovoz studio was engaged with production of animation content for children’s channels of VGTRK holding such as Carousel, Moolt, Tlum HD, Ani, Moolt&Music. Today, animated series of Parovoz studio are presented on all continents where broadcasting exists. Let’s look in retrospect how animated shows of Parovoz studio have entered the world market over past year.

Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Slovenia and Papua New Guinea

United Media • Parovoz Animation

In 2017, channels of the largest media company on the territory of the former Yugoslavia – United Media – have shown Paper Tales and Magic Lantern animated series. It’s important to note that the total audience of company’s channels is 20 million people from European countries.
About this time, our animated shows Be-Be-Bears, Paper Tales, and Magic Lantern have become available for viewers of EMTV network — the leading media holding in Papua New Guinea. This resource has been «window to the world» for the country’s people over two centuries, and about 7 millions of TV viewers trust the information broadcast by the channel today.

Estonia

Eesti Rahvusringhääling • Parovoz Animation

In the same year, little viewers in Estonia could see four animated series: Be-Be-Bears, Rolando Locomotov, Paper Tales, and Magic Lantern.

The animated shows were purchased by national broadcasting company Eesti Rahvusringhääling (EER Estonia) and shown on channels ETV2 that broadcasts programs in Russian and children’s shows and ETV+ devoted to news, analytics, discussion, socio-political, cultural and entertainment programs, TV series, and modern independent films.

Africa and Asia

Rolando Locomotov and Magic Lantern will be shown at Africa and East

In early 2018, MBC Group, the leading company in the field of satellite broadcasting on the territory of Middle East and North Africa, acquired Russian animated series Magic Lantern and Rolando Locomotov produced by Parovoz studio.

The animated shows have become available on the first VOD platform in the region. The agreement on broadcast rights to the cartoons was concluded between MBC Group and Signal Media company.

China

Alibaba Group логотип

In March 2018, subscribers of the largest online cinemas in China ( Tencent Video, iQIYI, and Mango TV) with total monthly audience exceeding 1 billion of viewers saw episodes of Be-Be-Bears, Paper Tales, Leo and Tig, Fantasy Patrol, F.A.S.T., Magic Lantern, Rolando Locomotov, Woodventures, Cutie Cubies, and Heroes of Envell. The sale of media rights for the large pool of animated series with the volume more than 550 series has become the greatest one in history of Russia and China.
«Expansion» of our animated shows continued in May 2018, when little viewers of the biggest in China online cinema YOUKU (monthly audience over than 500 million people) could watch episodes of beloved series.

The Netherlands and Hungary

Мультсериал «Лео и Тиг» увидят зрители Венгрии в сети MTVA

Young audience loves Leo and Tig animated series not only in China but in the Netherlands as well. Nederlandse Publieke Omroep or NPO, state broadcaster and the largest media corporation in the Netherlands, has recently acquired rights for broadcasting of Leo and Tig. NPO manages three generalist channels and six thematic projects. The animated series Leo and Tig will complement the content profile of children’s channel NPO Zapp Xtra.

Already in 2017, the largest national media holding of Hungary MTVA has purchased 250 episodes of cartoons made by Parovoz studio among which were such popular projects as Be-Be-Bears, Paper Tales, and Magic Lantern. And in 2018, media holding has acquired media rights to animated series Leo and Tig. The episodes were intended for Hungarian public TV channel M2 broadcasting for kids and family.

Sweden

Barnkanalen Logo • Parovoz Animation

The animated series Fantasy Patrol was premiered on one of the most popular kid’s channels in Sweden — SVT Barnkanalen in June this year. Little viewers were much delighted from the first episode: the cartoon gathered 49,6% of all channel’s audience. Thus, almost nine from ten young viewers opted for the Russian series.

We fell in love with Fantasy Patrol and adventures of the brave girls, friends helping each other in everything

– Helena Nylander, programme director at SVT Barnkanalen, tells.

Fantasy Patrol has become the most popular show on Swedish kids & family channels such as Disney, Cartoon Network Nordic, Nickelodeon, Disney XD, Nick Jr, NickToons, Cartoon Network Sweden.

Global coverage

Netflix • Parovoz Animation

Animated series Be-Be-Bears and Leo and Tig are now available on Netflix. The company mainly supplies TV series broadcasted through multimedia platform with paid membership. According to the data of January 2018, the number of subscribers has reached 130 million, half of them live in the USA. It means that little viewers from 190 countries covered by Netflix can watch our animated shows. Children’s content is quite universal, there is often no need to adapt it in a special way except translating. The success of our animated series abroad proves it.

This is a remarkable event for the studio confirming the relevance of our concepts in all markets — in Europe, Asia, and in North America now. We will announce about new experiments encouraged by this success in the fall. And thanks to Signal Media for committed work

– Anton Smetankin, CEO of Parovoz studio, says.

 

Карта мирового покрытия Netflix Netflix global coverage on the map

All agreements on broadcasting rights to animated series of Parovoz studio were arranged by Signal Media company.
Thanks to our colleagues we made a breakthrough: the attention of experts purchasing cartoons for their countries was drawn to Russian animated show Heroes of Envell.
The animated show was screened on an exhibition of audiovisual content for children and youth MIP Junior within New Creative Territories section.

Riki Group, Alibaba Group and Russian Export Center sign a trilateral agreement on strategic partnership

Опубликовано: 11.09.2018 в 17:37

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11 September 2018, Vladivostok.  Riki Group, a leading Russian animation holding based in St. Petersburg, Chinese company Alibaba Cultural Media and Entertainment Group, an affiliate of world leading e-commerce holding Alibaba Group, and Russian Export Center JSC have signed an agreement on strategic partnership at Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok on the margins of the meeting of the President of the Russian Federation, Mr. Vladimir Putin and the President of the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Xi Jinping.

The agreement was signed by General Producer of Riki Group, Mr Ilya Popov, General Director of YouKu Animation Center, Alibaba Cultural Media and Entertainment Group, Mr Sun Geng and General Director of Russian Export Center JSC, Mr Andrey Slepnev.

The parties have agreed to cooperate at a strategic level in the spheres of financing, production, promotion and distribution in China and the rest of the world of new animated content produced in Russia and licensed products and merchandise associated with this content.  The main platform for promotion of new media projects in China will be YouKu, the biggest video hosting service in China, which is owned by Alibaba Group.

“We continue our cooperation with the biggest Chinese companies on co-production of new content, which has started a year ago with “Panda and Krash” series.  By signing this extensive agreement with Alibaba Group we increase and strengthen our presence in the Chinese market, – comments VP, International business development and distribution of Riki Group, Mrs Diana Yurinova. – We are launching a pool of several animation projects, which are expected to be equally interesting not only for our two countries, but for the rest of the world too.  Alibaba Group is a strong strategic partner, which will allow to introduce our newly co-produced content with maximum coverage to the Chinese audience, whose requirements for the quality of kids content are growing every year.”

“YouKu pays particular attention to our partnership and collaboration with Riki Group.  We hope that our work together opens new opportunities for efficient cooperation in the sphere of animation industry of China and Russia, – notes General Director of YouKu Animation Center, Albaba Cultural Media and Entertainment Group, Mr Sun Geng.

“International co-production and distribution in the sphere of content production is one of the most important spheres of international business development.  Russian Export Center actively supports export oriented projects, which can strengthen Russia’s positive image abroad.  Partnership of Riki Group and Alibaba Group on development, production and distribution in China and the rest of the world of new animated content created in Russia will reinforce and significantly increase business exchanges of both of our countries,” – says Head of Russian Export Center, Mr Andrey Slepnev.

The Forth Eastern Economic Forum is taking place on the campus of Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU) on Russky Island (Vladivostok, Ajax Bay) on September 11 – 13, 2018 in Vladivostok .

RIKI GROUP is a leading animation holding in Russia specializing in animation production, licensing, distribution, and promotion of animation brands for a family audience.  Established in 2003, Riki Group has been a leader in Russian animation and licensing market for 15 years with 100% brands recognition rate among family audiences. Riki Group is internationally famous for its flagship IP’s: Kikoriki, BabyRiki, and PINCODE.

Alibaba Cultural Media and Entertainment Group is an affiliate of Alibaba Group, which specializes in cultural and entertainment sphere.  As part of the main strategic line of Alibaba Group “Joy + Health”, Alibaba Cultural Media and Entertainment Group is responsible for realization of “Joy” program for the upcoming several decades and also selects and acquires the content for the biggest Chinese video service YouKu.

Russian Export Center JSC is a State-owned development institute established by the Government to support the development of the non-commodity exports industry/sector. REC offers a wide range of financial and non-financial support tools to benefit the Russian exporters explore the foreign markets and build capacity in the global trade. REC also acts as a focal point for interaction with the relevant domestic ministries and agencies and cooperates with key industries and business players in Russia to improve the export conditions in Russia and help bypass trade barriers.

Alibaba Group bought 10 animated series of Parovoz Studio

Опубликовано: 06.05.2018 в 15:47

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Digital Television Company and Alibaba Group have finished the sale of media rights for 10 popular animated series of Parovoz Studio to China. Namely those series are Be–Be–Bears, Paper Tales, Leo and Tig, Fantasy Patrol, F.A.S.T., Magic Lantern, Rolando Locomotov, Woodventures, Cutie Cubies, and Heroes of Envell.

VOD platform YouKu by Alibaba Group

Series adapted for international sales will become available for YOUKU subscribers. It is the largest online cinema in China having monthly attendance more than 500 millions people.

YOUKU platform belongs to ALIBABA Group of companies. It permanently remains a leader in the market of online video in China since 2012.

We reported earlier that the largest pool of animated series — more than 550 episodes — had become available for subscribers of the largest China’s online cinemas such as Tencent video, iQIYI, and Mango TV. Their total audience exceeds 1 billion people a month.

“We welcome partnership with ALIBABA Group that will help millions of Chinese families to discover our best cartoons. High interest of Chinese video resources illustrates the excellent quality and internationality of the modern Russian animation”

— says Dmitriy Mednikov, Deputy Director General of VGTRK.

“Closing the deal with the biggest China’s video platform is the highest possible evaluation of our work! There is a strong demand for children’s cartoons projects in the country and thus, a fierce competition. Our cartoons proved to be in demand in the largest and the fastest growing Asia’s market and were added to content libraries of the most popular video services of the region — this is not only a great success for us but no less serious challenge”

— comments Mikhail Kovalchuk, CEO of Signal Media company. The company supports international transactions as an exclusive content distributor of Digital Television.

Animated series of Parovoz Studio will be broadcasted in the largest online cinemas of China

Опубликовано: 18.03.2018 в 15:41

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On 15 March, Russian media group Digital Television Russia made at once several biggest deals selling media rights for the largest pool of cartoons in history with the volume more than 550 series! The deals were the biggest of a kind in the history of Russia and China. They will be soon available for subscribers of the major online cinemas of China: Tencent video, iQIYI, and Mango TV, the total audience of which exceeds 1 billion of viewers a month.

Chinese VODs will broadcast our animated series

Seven animated series of Parovoz Studio such as Be-be-bears, Leo and Tig, Fantasy Patrol, Magic Lantern, Rolando Locomotov, Woodventures, Cutie Cubies will be placed on the video platform of iQIYI online cinema which audience is more than 500 millions of people per month.

More about Tencent corporation

Tencent corporation, that is among the largest in capitalization world’s media companies, will also place 10 animated series of our studio such as Be-be-bears, Paper Tales, Leo and Tig, Fantasy Patrol, F.A.S.T., Magic Lantern, Rolando Locomotov, Woodventures, Cutie Cubies, and Heroes of Envell on its resources. Tencent actively promotes the QQ network for fast messages, WeChat system for text and voice messages, and one of the largest online cinemas Tencent Video. Monthly audience of the video platform exceeds 450 millions of people.

The same animated series will be available for more than 80 millions of active users of Mango TV internet service created by Hunan Broadcasting System and Hunan Satellite TV.

Serious deal for russian animation industry

Animated series produced by Parovoz Studio were adapted by Digital Television for promotion on China territory. The cartoons were translated and voiced in Chinese, graphics and scenario were changed according to cultural specificities of the country. Negotiating and purchase process were handled by Signal Media, an exclusive distributor of Digital Television content.

«In terms of international strategy of brand promotion, asian countries, where a half of world’s population live, are the priority for us. Undisputably, Chinese market stands alone as the largest market in Asia. We have been preparing our brands for entry to this market thoroughly adapting and dubbing them for national audience for two years. Partnership with the major video platforms of China is the highest evaluation of our work! Selling of the biggest pool of Russian cartoons to Chinese online cinemas with billion viewers makes this event historically significant for the whole domestic industry of animation. It is necessary to point out that video content is a part of promotion strategy for our animation brands. The games for smartphones based on our cartoons are already available and even popular on the territory of China»

Dmitriy Mednikov, chairman of board of directors, Digital Television company, said.

«Closing the deal with such video giants as Tencent video, iQIYI and Mango TV allows 10 animation brands to meet audience more than one billion of people. It is a great success for us, and yet a very serious challenge in content promotion on world’s media market!»

— Mikhail Kovalchuk, CEO of Signal Media, reported.

“Fantasy Patrol” won prestigious international award Cyber Sousa

Опубликовано: 22.11.2017 в 15:20

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Cyber Sousa in China

The winners of the prestigious international animation award Cyber Sousa were announced in China.Our animated series “Fantasy Patrol” got “Silver Award” in the “Best Overseas Animated Series category”. International jury has appreciated originality of the animated series idea about four young enchanters and high quality of 3D animation.

This is a second consecutive year in China that animation projects of “Parovoz Studio” requested by “Digital TV Company” were declared the best. In 2016 cartoon series “Paper Tales” were given the Syber Sousa gold statuette by a competent jury.

Chinese city Xiamen annually hosts Xiamen International Animation Festival. Its basic goals are promotion and progress of animation industry, comics and video games, setting up international communication in this area as well. Best cartoons from different countries are rewarded with Cyber Sousa Prize in the context of the animation festival.