Latest news with #JungleBeat2:ThePast
IOL News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
From coop to cinema: Phil and Jacqui Cunningham's inspiring animation journey with 'Jungle Beat 2: The Past'
The delightful animated characters in the movie, 'Jungle Beat 2: The Past'. Image: Supplied Several years ago, an itch to take kiddies' storytelling further saw Phil Cunningham and his wife Jacqui make an interesting leap into film-making from chicken farming. It was on the back of the release of Phil's children's book, "The Legend of the Sky Kingdom". This endeavour evolved significantly when he and his wife established Sunrise Animation Studios. Their debut project was Africa's inaugural feature-length animated film, rendered in 3D motion style, based on Phil's book. What was remarkable about this undertaking was that it was based on puppets and a set design made out of trash sourced from a scrapyard closeby to their office. In doing so, they pioneered an animation style known as junkmation. The film was screened at festivals all over the world, and it led to the couple embarking on 'Jungle Beat', a 13-episode series created by Brent Dawes. It ended up running for eight seasons and fuelled two other spinoffs, 'Munki and Trunk' and Jungle Beat Explorers'. 'Jungle Beat' found a new home on YouTube when the TV deals ran out, and, based on it exceeding 10 million subscribers, led to the release of 'Jungle Beat: The Movie", which was shown on Netflix when the pandemic struck. Several years later, the husband and wife duo have dropped the sequel, "Jungle Beat 2: The Past", which was released on the big screen on June 27. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Film-maker and passionate storyteller, Phil Cunningham. Image: Supplied In a quick chat with Phil, he unpacked the journey. 'It's such a rewarding and exciting moment for everyone who has been part of this journey. We wrapped production on the first movie just as the pandemic swept across the world, and the cinema release plans in most of the 30 countries where we had signed were scuppered. 'The movie still found an amazing audience on streaming platforms, but it's really special to see 'Jungle Beat 2: The Past' going to the big screen.' On the shift from chicken farming to filmmaking, Phil explained: 'I grew up with a deep love for storytelling from early childhood, and my upbringing in Zimbabwe was filled with larger-than-life characters and incredible stories. 'My first experience of a movie in a cinema was when I was 14 years old, so it was a late introduction, but I was so impacted by the power of film as the most effective story medium of our generation. I initially built a business in the agricultural industry, but was always writing and sketching and had a very clear sense that film-making and storytelling were what I was born for. 'Fortunately, my wife is one of the most courageous, adventurous people I know, and she played a major role in encouraging me that life is too short not to pursue our greatest passions.' Unpacking the key aspects in making an animated feature, he noted: 'Our mission statement is to inspire through story, and I think that a story worth telling is the most important aspect of making any film. 'On that foundation, I think animation production is an incredible, integral team effort, where the collaboration and trust between each artist and department are so important. 'It's been such a joy to work with the extraordinary team we had on 'Jungle Beat 2: The Past'. Our production timeframe was just over two years, which was accelerated through having so many of our character models and other assets already created from the first movie. 'However, my initial idea of a nice, efficient sequel process was disrupted by the imagination of our director and writer, Sam Wilson, whose inspiration brought dinosaurs, time travel and a whole new Jurassic world into play!' He added: 'The film is a joyful, wholesome celebration of loyalty and friendship, and I think these themes are carried by a really exciting, funny story and group of characters. I think families will share a lot of laughs and leave feeling uplifted.' Phil revealed that there are plans to also release the movie worldwide. ∎ 'Jungle Beat 2: The Past' is showing at cinemas nationwide.
TimesLIVE
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
'F1', 'Jungle Beat 2' and the last 'Squid Game' hit screens
Spotlight is our bite-sized entertainment snapshot featuring new releases in South Africa, exclusive film trailers and more. New episodes come out every Thursday on Sunday Times Lifestyle, Sowetan Entertainment and YouTube, plus you can follow Spotlight on Facebook. This week's Spotlight takes a closer look at the Brad Pitt film F1: The Movie, the talent and success behind South Africa's Jungle Beat 2: The Past and the final season of the Squid Game phenomenon. The popular and beloved TV series with Munki and Trunk creates the backdrop for animated cinema sequel Jungle Beat 2: The Past. Trunk gets sucked into a portal and travels back to the dinosaur age. He will need the help of new friends to make it home to Munki. Directed by Sam Wilson, the film features a mix of local and international voice talents including Rob van Vuuren, David Menkin and Ina Marie Smith. Look out for the interview with the creators of the film on their fun-filled journey with this franchise. Now at cinemas. Sonny Hayes (Pitt) is coaxed out of retirement to lead a struggling F1 team, mentoring a young hot-headed driver while chasing one more chance at glory. F1: The Movie is directed by Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick, Oblivion) and stars Damson Idris, Javier Bardem and Lewis Hamilton. Feel the speed and the adrenaline rush at cinemas, IMAX, D-Box and 4DX. Let the final games begin! The third and final season of the record-breaking, award-winning Squid Game has arrived and is streaming on Netflix. Season 3 continues with Seong GI-hun's mission to take down the deadly game from within. Returning with director Hwang Dong-hyuk and cast Lee Jung-jae and Lee Byung-hun. Look out for the interviews Spotlight had with the cast and director. For full interviews, breaking news, trailers and clips visit our Spotlight Facebook page. See you at the movies. Presenter Collette Prince is styled and dressed by Claris by Gerrit Pienaar when attending premieres and special events. Facebook @Claris by Gerrit Pienaar/Instagram: gerritpienaardesigns. Competition and giveaways Win big with Spotlight! Answer a question to win a Jungle Beat 2: The Past movie merchandise hamper. Or win a F1: The Movie merchandise hamper by answering a question. For full competition details and the questions, go to the Spotlight SA Facebook page and DM your answers and contact details by July 4. Terms and conditions apply. Winners will be drawn randomly and notified by SMS after the competition has closed. Entrants' personal details will not be retained for marketing purposes. Winners have to provide proof of age (ID/driving licence) and cover their own travel and accommodation expenses. By entering, participants agree to have their names published on TimesLIVE, SowetanLIVE and Spotlight SA on Facebook. Employees of Arena Holdings and their family members are not eligible to enter.
The South African
04-06-2025
- Business
- The South African
Sunrise Animation Studio is rolling out its latest Jungle Beat film
Have you heard or seen Jungle Beat , the animation produced by Sunrise Animation Studios in Cape Town? Locally produced animations very seldom get their time in the sun. Not only is this series and film one widely enjoyed, but it is also receiving a sequel, and this second instalment will be shown in cinemas. Jungle Beat 2: The Past is an animated odyssey that sees Munki and Trunk on a time-travelling journey. An eccentric stegosaurus appears in their jungle home. They come to learn that their at times ditsy alien compadre, Fneep, accidentally opened up a time portal. The two principal characters then try to return the dinosaur to its rightful place in time. Trunk mistakenly slips into the portal and finds himself trapped in the Jurassic era. Phil Cunningham, the founder of Sunrise Animations, revealed what the journey of getting this project to this point has been like. 'What started as an animation test grew into a TV series with eight seasons (so far), and a YouTube audience of over 100 million views per month. The series has always been non-dialogue and is built around the incredible friendship between Munki and Trunk (a monkey and elephant character, respectively). 'We wanted to showcase values like loyalty, kindness and putting the needs of others above your own,' Cunningham explained. Jungle Beat: The Movie (2021) was produced by Sandcastle Studios in Mauritius through a licensing partnership with Sunrise Animation. It began with the idea of a little alien character, Fneep, who crash-lands his spacecraft in the Jungle. He has fantastic alien tech (a speech pod). It allows us to hear Munki, Trunk, and their friends speak for the first time. 'Introducing dialogue and new characters allowed us to continue to explore the same themes that the series elevates. We could do this, but in a richer, deeper sense, and to a broader audience,' Cunningham elaborated. The movie was completed in early 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic hit, which harmed cinema attendance. ' Jungle Beat had been licensed by distributors in over 30 countries, including theatrical rights in many of those territories. Fortunately, we were approached by Netflix to acquire the movie as a Netflix original. We were able to negotiate with the licensees that were already in place to allow that to happen.' When the movie came out in 2021, Netflix's audience data was somewhat scarce. Cunningham and his team couldn't track their performance as it moved into the Top 10 carousel in most major territories worldwide. In 2023, Netflix began to share audience numbers. We learned that in the first six months of the year, two full years after release, Jungle Beat was in the top seven per cent of all titles on the platform. That was exciting,' Cunningham bragged. Following the popularity of the first movie, their writer and director, Sam Wilson, had an idea about Fneep bringing time-warping portal technology to the jungle. This results in a whole new ensemble of dinosaur characters for Munki and Trunk to engage with. 'Without giving too much of the story away, Jungle Beat 2: The Past is about friendship that spans both time and space. It is also packed with fun and adventure.' Jungle Beat has grown from a series to a Netflix hit feature film and now a sequel. For Cunningham, the beauty of animated films lies in their ability to entertain audiences of various ages in different ways. ' Jungle Beat 2: The Past has a slightly higher level of tension and adventure than the first movie. We have some adventurous scenes, and our goal was to delight our core audience of young children, while also being enjoyable for parents and older siblings.' He believes they were able to strike a balance between providing young audience members with their dose of entertainment while also making the offering engaging for parents and older siblings. 'The dinosaur characters add scope for a lot of laughter. Trey (the King of the Dinosaurs) is brilliantly voiced by Rob Van Vuuren. He brings incredible comedic value to the movie.' The growth of their YouTube audience was explosive, reaching 40 million views per month by 2019. They averaged well over 100 million views monthly since 2020. 'I think the key is to bring exceptional people together behind a clear vision, and with enough room for each of them to have authentic input without being micromanaged or dictating the creative process too much.' We do tend to prioritise international productions across the board in South Africa. This has resulted in some challenges for Cunningham and his stable of talents. 'Living through an extended period of disruption in the way content is sold and consumed worldwide has created a lot of uncertainty in terms of the business model for animation producers (and other genres too).' Previously, a successful film would benefit from a profitable cinema release, before earning good fees from the TV broadcast, and then enjoying revenue from DVD/home video sales. 'All of those windows have been eroded for most films over the last decade or so. Netflix and the other major streamers have re-trained audiences to expect unlimited content to be available on demand in the comfort of their homes.' He said that the business model for filmmakers is still in flux, as the big streamers were spending huge amounts of money to acquire content and subscribers for several years. In the last five years, however, that has started to recede. 'This is an ongoing challenge. Ultimately, I believe that the market will find a way to meet the global audience's desire for fresh, excellent film content. We as filmmakers need to be adaptable and optimistic.' 'On a local level, I think South African animators and studios are increasingly being recognised on the international stage. I think we're in an exciting moment of stepping up to the challenge of creating content for a global audience. We are sharing this space with the biggest international players.' The creative mind who was born in Zimbabwe believes there are many interesting and disruptive trends happening right now. 'The way social media is leading young audiences to consume very short-form content and the implications of A.I.'s growing capacity.' What is being touted as Africa's first film animation franchise will be in cinemas on June 27. Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 11. 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