YMA, TAAFI launch John Rooney Creator Fund
Created to commemorate John Rooney, the fund will continue his work advocating for LGBTQ+ inclusion and equity in kids media.
January 7, 2021
Canada’s Youth Media Alliance (YMA) and the Toronto Animation Arts Festival International (TAAFI) have teamed up to establish a fund to support emerging LGBTQ+ and underrepresented talent in the animation industry.
Created to honor Canadian animation industry vet
John Rooney (pictured) who died in December The John Rooney Creator Fund will build on his work advocating for equity and inclusion for LGBTQ+ talent in animation and kids media.
In his time working with TAAFI and YMA, Rooney did a lot to try and improve Canada’s kids industry, and the organizations want to commemorate his legacy, says YMA exec director
Epic Storyworlds Founders Launch New Studio, Loomi Animation, In Québec City
Here are the details:
Loomi will focus on series, working with third parties as well as the founders’ production companies Epic Storyworlds and Epic Story Media.
First up on its slate is the 2d comedy-action series
Dex and the Humanimals (6 x 11 min; image below), produced with Epic Storyworlds, and created by Raymond Boisvert and Paul Stoica. Aimed at ages 6–11, the show “lets audiences join Dex as he frees the people of his world from the villain Kaz and his cybernetic henchman.” It will launch on Radio-Canada’s VOD platform TOU.TV, and co-financed with assistance from the Shaw Rocket Fund, CMF, and Québec City.
Epic Storyworlds duo set up toon studio c21media.net - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from c21media.net Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.