News

Exclusive: Animation outfit Toonz Media Group has acquired rights to make a feature adaptation of the children’s book Santa on a Panda written by Parker Jacobs (Yo Gabba Gabba) of the Dumb Idea Group with Multi-Emmy Award-Winner Brian A. Miller signed on to produce.

Based on the children’s book and song, Santa on a Panda will be produced by Toonz Media Group. The synopsis reads: With all of Santa’s reindeer missing and Mrs Claus on a one-woman mission to find them before Christmas Eve, Santa must work against all odds and join up with his most extraordinary friend, a flying Panda. Will they make it in time to save Christmas?

“We are thrilled to join hands with multi-Emmy Award-Winning Brian A. Miller and “Yo Gabba Gabba” fame Parker Jacobs on this exciting project,” said P Jayakumar, Chief Executive Officer of Toonz Media Group.

Makeup and special effects artist Cleve Hall, whose work included Ghoulises, Twisted Nightmare and Book of Fire, has died. Hall’s publicist, Mike Arnold confirmed the artist’s death to Deadline. He died Wednesday from a heart attack at St. Joseph’s Hospital. He was 61.

His daughter, Constance Hall, announced his death and launched a Go Fund Me to raise funds for burial costs.

“To all family, friends, fans and loved ones, we deeply regret to inform you of the passing of Cleve Hall or as he was lovingly known to many of his fans Monster Man. Cleve spent many many years as a Special makeup FX artist, foam fabricator, and horror movie actor. He was a family man, an adored father proud, grandpa and a beloved mentor,” she wrote on Thursday.

Hall’s industry work varied greatly from visual effects to costume design to special effects and makeup. Throughout...