Toonbox

  • Pavel Muntyan (CEO)
  • Vladimir Ponomarev (CCO)
Websitewww.toonbox.studio

Toonbox is a Cyprus animation studio located in Paphos.

History

The studio was founded in 2008, by Pavel Muntyan (CEO) and Vladimir Ponomarev (CCO).

Starting from 2011, Toonbox representatives got actively involved in the development of animated cinematograph, including the niche of attracting investments to the industry.[1][2][3][4]

In 2012, Toonbox has openly claimed its involvement in the production of Mr. Freeman animated series on a TV-channel [5] belonging to Sergey Minaev.

Starting from 2013, the studio has been focusing mainly on animated series for kids.[6]

Since 2014, Toonbox leaders have been urging against anti-advertisement policy in animated cinematograph and television for the sake of industry development.[7]

In 2014, a new episode of Mr. Freeman dedicated to a truly acute topic in Russia — bitcoin, has been shown in 130 cities worldwide at a time.[8][9]

In 2014, the headquarters of the company has moved to Cyprus. The move turned out to be in the spotlight of mass media both in Russia and abroad.[10][11][12][13]

In 2015, the number one street artist Banksy played Mr. Freeman's episode Walking On By [14] at the opening of his weirdo entertainment park Dismaland.[15]

On October 12, 2016 Rovio Entertainment (creator of Angry Birds) has become an official licensing partner of the brand Kit^n^Kate created by Toonbox.[16][17][18][19][20][21][22]

Up to the present moment (late 2019), Toonbox has produced 357 animated movies with a total time-keeping of 18.5 hours. Toonbox produces English, Russian, and non-dialogue content in Full HD in 2D, CGI, and 360 VR formats. Its flagship series include Kit^n^Kate, Qumi-Qumi, Qumi-Qumi 360 VR, and Mr. Freeman.

Toonbox films and series have dubbings into 27 languages and are being broadcast in 130 countries on both TV-channels and VOD platforms.[23] Toonbox YouTube channels can boast 1,9 billion of views. Its international agents include such major companies as Riki Group, Planet Nemo Animation, Maurizio Distefano Licensing, Dadi Media and Ferly.

Animated Shows

Production year Title Episodes Seasons Director Scriptwriter
2008-2009 The Real Adventures of Belka and Strelka 6 1 Владимир Пономарёв Comedy Club
2009-2012 Russian Short Fairy-Tales 36 2 Andrey Bakhurin Andrey Bakhurin, Valentin Vinogradov, Inga Kirkizh
2009-2019 Mr. Freeman 32 2 Vladimir Ponomarev Pavel Muntyan, Anatoly Dobrozhan, Vadim Demchog, Ivan Trofimov
2010 The Bump 3 1 Arthur Merkulov Anatoly Dobrozhan
2011-2018 Qumi-Qumi 15 1 Владимир Пономарёв Владимир Пономарёв, Павел Мунтян, Станислав Михайлов, Артур Меркулов, Дмитрий Горбунов, Алексей Минченок, Владимир Афанасьев, Алексей Котёночкин, Олег Ужинов, Наталья Румянцева
2017 Qumi-Qumi 360 VR 4 1 Vladimir Ponomarev Vladimir Ponomarev, Pavel Muntyan
2010-2013 Shaman's Quest (1st season) 12 1 Arthur Merkulov Arthur Merkulov
2011-2012 The Fixies (partly in 2D) 7 1 Vladimir Ponomarev Aeroplan studio
2011-2014 Om Nom Stories 28 3 Arthur Merkulov, Dmitry Gorbunov Stanislav Mikhailov
2014-2015, 2017-2019 Kit^n^Kate 104 2 Vladimir Ponomarev Michael Mennies,[24] Mike de Seve,[25] Jymn Magon,[26] Susan Kim,[27] Anne D. Bernstein [28]
since 2020 Bobby and the Bubble Bunch TBA TBA Vladimir Ponomarev Michael Mennies [24]
since April 19, 2021 Take My Muffin 30 3 Basil Tailor Stas Mikhailov-Norden, Vladimir Ponomarev, Pavel Muntyan

Animated short films

  • The Hero as the Rock, 2010, directed by Alexandr Svirsky
  • Word and Words, 2010, directed by Alexandr Svirsky
  • The Magic Pot, 2010, directed by Andrey Bahurin
  • Onotole, 2010, directed by Dmitry Gorbunov, Artur Merkulov
  • Chepurnas, 2012, directed by Alexandr Svirsky

Awards

  • Vinnician Festival, 2008, for the animated movie The Real Adventures of Belka and Strelka [29]
  • Russian Flash Awards', 2009, for the animated movie Three Acrobat Brothers (Best Animation) [30]
  • Open Russian Festival of Animated Film, 2010, for the animated movie The History Could Have Gone Differently (Best Applied Animation) [31]
  • On April 15, 2010 Mr. Freeman was awarded as the best video blog at the international Weblog competition The Best of Blogs in Berlin[32]
  • VI Multimatograph, 2010, for the series Shaman's Quest (Grand Prix of the festival) [33]
  • Open Russian Festival of Animated Film, 2012, for the animated movie The Berry Pie (Best Kids' Movie) [34]
  • X Moscow Festival of Native Movies, 2012, for the movie The Berry Pie (Audience Award) [35]
  • XXIV Animation Festival in Suzdal, 2019, for Qumi-Qumi series in an updated format (2D and 3D)

Links

  • Toonbox Studio, official site
  • Mr. Freeman, official site
  • Qumi-Qumi, official site
  • Shaman's Quest, official site
  • Kit^n^Kate, official site

References

  1. ^ "Развитие рынка анимации тормозит нехватка кадров и инвестиций".
  2. ^ "YouTube".
  3. ^ Телеканал Дождь (16 August 2011). "Павел Мунтян - Анимация это сложно" – via YouTube.
  4. ^ Oboz. TV (6 July 2016). "Феномен персонажа "Mr.Freeman"" – via YouTube.
  5. ^ KontrTelevision (12 March 2013). "Newsroom - Mr. Freeman 21/02/12" – via YouTube.
  6. ^ Гладильщикова, Анастасия. "Все любят котиков".
  7. ^ "Эксперты: реклама во время мультиков развивает анимационный жанр". 22 April 2014.
  8. ^ "Mr. Freeman возвращается".
  9. ^ "Карта презентаций Mr. Freeman 31 мая 2014 - VK".
  10. ^ "Russia Brain Drain Saps Talent as Sanctions Hit Financing". 27 October 2014 – via www.bloomberg.com.
  11. ^ ""Здесь всё проще": Павел Мунтян — о переезде на Кипр всей компанией".
  12. ^ "Bloomberg: санкции привели к утечке мозгов из России".
  13. ^ "Работа за границей. Часть 5: Азия".
  14. ^ "MF-walking on by".
  15. ^ "Watch: Banksy Dismaland Preview & Short Film Program". 26 August 2015.
  16. ^ "Rovio takes on first new IP for CP business".
  17. ^ "BLE: Rovio to Create 'Kit^n^Kate' Program - License! Global".
  18. ^ "Rovio to create licensing program for Toonbox Animation's Kit^n^Kate". 12 October 2016. Archived from the original on 14 October 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
  19. ^ "Rovio Entertainment: Rovio to Create Licensing Program for Toonbox Animation's Kit^n^Kate - Business Wire". 13 October 2016.
  20. ^ "Rovio teams with Toonbox Animation to launch consumer products push for Kit^n^Kate". Archived from the original on 2016-10-13. Retrieved 2016-12-30.
  21. ^ Rovio Entertainment: Rovio to Create Licensing Program for Toonbox Animation’s Kit^n^Kate
  22. ^ "Rovio to create licensing program for Toon box Animation's Kit^n^Kate".
  23. ^ "Павел Мунтян, Toonbox: "Сейчас в России нет сериалов, которые "порвут" мировой рынок"".
  24. ^ a b "Michael Mennies".
  25. ^ "Mike de Seve".
  26. ^ "Jymn Magon".
  27. ^ "Susan Kim".
  28. ^ "Anne D. Bernstein".
  29. ^ "IІ Между Народный ВИННИЦианский фестиваль комедийного и пародийного кино. - Ха-Ха-Ха".
  30. ^ Team, RFA. "RFA Crisis: Russian Flash Awards".
  31. ^ "Открытый Российский фестиваль анимационного кино - Архив - Архивный фестиваль - Итоги". Archived from the original on 2016-04-11.
  32. ^ "В число лучших блогов в мире вошли три русскоязычных дневника".
  33. ^ "Мультиматограф VI: Победители и призы".
  34. ^ "Открытый Российский фестиваль анимационного кино - Архив - Архивный фестиваль - Итоги". Archived from the original on 2016-04-12. Retrieved 2016-12-30.
  35. ^ "Московская премьера". 8 February 2013. Archived from the original on 8 February 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)