Netflix Teases Their Annecy Line-Up

 In a relatively short space of time Netflix has come out of nowhere to become a serious force in the world of animation. Both in in-house productions and in distributing animation produced elsewhere, they are easily now one of the biggest names in animation. Following an unprecedented year for Netflix Animation, where K-Pop Demon Hunters won two Oscars, Netflix won 13 Annie Awards and Ultraman Rising won 2 Children's and Family Emmys, the company has revealed its plans for this year's Annecy International Animation Film Festival.

On Tuesday, 23 June Netflix will present a work-in-progress of their upcoming film Steps. Directors Alyce Tzue and John Ripa, art director Dan Casey, and head of character animation Jason Figliozzi will offer creative insight into this retelling of Cinderella from the perspective of the supposedly evil step-sisters.

Also on Tuesday is Anime Studio Focus titled “Netflix Anime: Bold Stories, Boundless Worlds”. The panel previews the slate of Japanese animated (and Japanese-influenced) shows and movies coming to the platform. Titles include The One Piece, Sparks Of Tomorrow, The Ribbon Hero, Blue Eye Samurai Season 2 and Bass X Machina.

The annual Next On Netflix Animation Panel returns on Wednesday, 24 June. Executive producers Jason Reitman, Gil Kenan, and showrunners/Executive Producers Ben Hibon and Elliott Kalan will unveil a world-exclusive preview of next year's Ghostbusters animated series, produced in association with Sony Pictures Animation. Animation legend Brad Bird will take to the stage to talk about his long-in-gestation new passion project, Ray Gunn, produced at Skydance Animation. The conversation will be moderated by Peter Lord, co-founder and creative director of Aardman Animation, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. The presentation also features sneak peeks at The One Piece, the forthcoming remake of the long-running One Piece anime and Charlie Vs The Chocolate Factory.

On the Thursday, Ricky Gervais hosts a masterclass. Ricky is the creator and director of the forthcoming adult animated comedy Alleycats, coming to Netflix on August 7. Audiences will also get to preview two episodes ahead of release.

Additionally, The Ribbon Hero will screen in the Annecy Presents strand. Sparks Of Tomorrow Episode 1, Long Story Short episode Shira Can't Cook and Love, Death + Robots episode How Zeke Got Religion will compete in the Annecy Official TV Films Competition.

Finally, to celebrate the first anniversary of the release of K-Pop Demon Hunters, an outdoor sing-a-long screening will be held on Wednesday, June 24 by Lake Annecy