William Joyce's Blog
April 13, 2017
MOONBOT STUDIOS RETURNING TO ITS ROOTS
MOONBOT STUDIOS RETURNING TO ITS ROOTSCompany Re-Forms in Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport, LA - After months of speculation and rumors of a possible purchase, the founder of Moonbot Studios William Joyce has announced the re-establishment of the Academy Award-winning company in Shreveport, Louisiana. Chris Meledandri, founder and CEO of Illumination Entertainment and producer of the Despicable Me franchise, said “I love Bill Joyce’s imagination. He is a storyteller who taps into universal truths and his designs have irresistible charm and distinction. I am looking forward to the creative output of Bill’s reconstituted Moonbot Studios.”Kristine Belson, President of Sony Animation, said "Bill Joyce is a creator with true vision, and the relentless energy and passion to turn his vision into reality." Joyce has written and illustrated 50 bestselling and classic children's books and written, produced or designed a number of major feature films for 20th Century Fox, Dreamworks and Disney. Joyce began his film career doing design and story work on Pixar's "Toy Story" and "A Bug’s Life" and according to Blue Sky Animation Studios co-founder Chris Wedge has been busy pushing the boundaries of animation and storytelling ever since. In 2012 Joyce founded Moonbot Studios in his hometown of Shreveport, a move that Joyce admits seemed at odds with Hollywood norms. Joyce explained "John Lasseter (Chief Creative Officer of Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios) had told me many times ' Bill, you get a great deal of your strength and inspiration from Shreveport ' and Chris Wedge said to me that the future of animation is in being smaller. When you get advice from Mt. Rushmore you'd be a dope not to listen." The dream of starting a world class creative company in the country's 106th largest city worked, according to Joyce. "We were able to recruit some of the best young talent in America. They liked our spirit, our bare-knuckled gumption, but more than anything they liked the stories we wanted to tell" said Joyce. "Good storytelling is the heart of everything I've ever done. And I wanted it to be the DNA of Moonbot.” The local community embraced the company and its employees and soon dubbed them The Moonbots. When the “little-studio-that-could” proved its mettle by winning the best animated short film Oscar for its maiden effort "The Fantastic Flying Books Of Mr Morris Lessmore," the mayor proclaimed a city holiday and a ticker tape parade ensued, the first such celebration in downtown Shreveport since the end of World War Two. "It was like something out of a Frank Capra movie," remembers Joyce. ”Real life very seldom gives you moments like that." Soon Moonbot Studios earned international acclaim for its work. The Morris Lessmore book became a #1 New York Times bestseller and has been translated into 35 languages. The studio’s follow-up short film "The Numberlys" was short-listed for the Academy Award and its book and app versions won numerous awards. The Numberlys was followed by the Cannes Lion and CLIO winning work for Chipotle's “Scarecrow” and a lengthy list of critically successful projects. "I don't think there's been a creative company this small that has achieved so much in so many venues in such a short period of time" said Christina Steinberg, former Dreamworks producer. Joyce added, "Our young crew were like creative samurai. They never flinched. They never faltered. If I asked the impossible they stayed chill and fearless and did what had to be done. Directing them has been the highlight of my career." But the company hit trying times when Joyce's teenage daughter and then his wife were each confronted with terminal illnesses. With Bill’s time divided the company turned more to work for hire commercials and gaming initiatives. The ambitions to generate sustaining revenue were not realized, and the company eventually dissolved after exploring some alternatives that would have moved the company away from Shreveport. Joyce was able to retain all his intellectual properties and after a year of recovering from his family's tragic losses he was ready to rebuild. “I intend to bring Moonbot back to its original purpose,” Joyce said, "Original books, feature animation and television that can delight a worldwide audience. Shreveport is my hometown. The idea of home and family is a part of all my work. So keeping Moonbot here makes every kind of sense “ Moonbot will continue its highly successful publishing imprint with Simon and Schuster and is exploring collaborations with television and feature companies that will be formalized soon. Moonbot’s first animated feature will be announced in early summer, with Joyce directing. “I’ve been fortunate to have been mentored by directors like Lasseter, Wedge, Francis Ford Coppola, and Guillermo del Toro,” Joyce said. He will be teaming with del Toro on an upcoming project.Joyce indicated he will also be exploring more investment opportunities for local investors within the coming months. “I have learned a lot about what helps create a winning company. This community has always been so supportive of Moonbot and me, we want very much to bring jobs and be nurtured by this wonderful community as we imagine and create original entertainment in the years ahead.” In addition to an Academy Award, Moonbot Studios and William Joyce have won 4 Emmy Awards, 14 Cannes Lions Awards, 17 Clio Awards and were recently nominated for 3 more Emmys. Mr. Joyce will be named Humanist of the Year by the Louisiana Endowment to the Humanities this week in Baton Rouge.
Shreveport, LA - After months of speculation and rumors of a possible purchase, the founder of Moonbot Studios William Joyce has announced the re-establishment of the Academy Award-winning company in Shreveport, Louisiana. Chris Meledandri, founder and CEO of Illumination Entertainment and producer of the Despicable Me franchise, said “I love Bill Joyce’s imagination. He is a storyteller who taps into universal truths and his designs have irresistible charm and distinction. I am looking forward to the creative output of Bill’s reconstituted Moonbot Studios.”Kristine Belson, President of Sony Animation, said "Bill Joyce is a creator with true vision, and the relentless energy and passion to turn his vision into reality." Joyce has written and illustrated 50 bestselling and classic children's books and written, produced or designed a number of major feature films for 20th Century Fox, Dreamworks and Disney. Joyce began his film career doing design and story work on Pixar's "Toy Story" and "A Bug’s Life" and according to Blue Sky Animation Studios co-founder Chris Wedge has been busy pushing the boundaries of animation and storytelling ever since. In 2012 Joyce founded Moonbot Studios in his hometown of Shreveport, a move that Joyce admits seemed at odds with Hollywood norms. Joyce explained "John Lasseter (Chief Creative Officer of Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios) had told me many times ' Bill, you get a great deal of your strength and inspiration from Shreveport ' and Chris Wedge said to me that the future of animation is in being smaller. When you get advice from Mt. Rushmore you'd be a dope not to listen." The dream of starting a world class creative company in the country's 106th largest city worked, according to Joyce. "We were able to recruit some of the best young talent in America. They liked our spirit, our bare-knuckled gumption, but more than anything they liked the stories we wanted to tell" said Joyce. "Good storytelling is the heart of everything I've ever done. And I wanted it to be the DNA of Moonbot.” The local community embraced the company and its employees and soon dubbed them The Moonbots. When the “little-studio-that-could” proved its mettle by winning the best animated short film Oscar for its maiden effort "The Fantastic Flying Books Of Mr Morris Lessmore," the mayor proclaimed a city holiday and a ticker tape parade ensued, the first such celebration in downtown Shreveport since the end of World War Two. "It was like something out of a Frank Capra movie," remembers Joyce. ”Real life very seldom gives you moments like that." Soon Moonbot Studios earned international acclaim for its work. The Morris Lessmore book became a #1 New York Times bestseller and has been translated into 35 languages. The studio’s follow-up short film "The Numberlys" was short-listed for the Academy Award and its book and app versions won numerous awards. The Numberlys was followed by the Cannes Lion and CLIO winning work for Chipotle's “Scarecrow” and a lengthy list of critically successful projects. "I don't think there's been a creative company this small that has achieved so much in so many venues in such a short period of time" said Christina Steinberg, former Dreamworks producer. Joyce added, "Our young crew were like creative samurai. They never flinched. They never faltered. If I asked the impossible they stayed chill and fearless and did what had to be done. Directing them has been the highlight of my career." But the company hit trying times when Joyce's teenage daughter and then his wife were each confronted with terminal illnesses. With Bill’s time divided the company turned more to work for hire commercials and gaming initiatives. The ambitions to generate sustaining revenue were not realized, and the company eventually dissolved after exploring some alternatives that would have moved the company away from Shreveport. Joyce was able to retain all his intellectual properties and after a year of recovering from his family's tragic losses he was ready to rebuild. “I intend to bring Moonbot back to its original purpose,” Joyce said, "Original books, feature animation and television that can delight a worldwide audience. Shreveport is my hometown. The idea of home and family is a part of all my work. So keeping Moonbot here makes every kind of sense “ Moonbot will continue its highly successful publishing imprint with Simon and Schuster and is exploring collaborations with television and feature companies that will be formalized soon. Moonbot’s first animated feature will be announced in early summer, with Joyce directing. “I’ve been fortunate to have been mentored by directors like Lasseter, Wedge, Francis Ford Coppola, and Guillermo del Toro,” Joyce said. He will be teaming with del Toro on an upcoming project.Joyce indicated he will also be exploring more investment opportunities for local investors within the coming months. “I have learned a lot about what helps create a winning company. This community has always been so supportive of Moonbot and me, we want very much to bring jobs and be nurtured by this wonderful community as we imagine and create original entertainment in the years ahead.” In addition to an Academy Award, Moonbot Studios and William Joyce have won 4 Emmy Awards, 14 Cannes Lions Awards, 17 Clio Awards and were recently nominated for 3 more Emmys. Mr. Joyce will be named Humanist of the Year by the Louisiana Endowment to the Humanities this week in Baton Rouge.
March 27, 2017
Bently & Egg, A Day With Wilbur Robinson and Dinosaur Bob Return to Book Stores!
Have you ever wanted a freshly-minted copy of Bently & Egg, A Day With Wilbur Robinson or Dinosaur Bob and His Adventures With The Family Lazardo? Now's your chance! All three books will be re-released during the month of April, with a book tour to boot. Here's all the dates and details:
April 4th – Bently & Egg released! (Pre-order options available)
Monday, April 3 6:30 PM
Author Talk and Signing at Woodneath Library
8900 NE Flintlock Rd
Kansas City, MO 64157
Tuesday April 4 6:30 PM
Author Talk and Signing at The Novel Neighbor
7905 Big Bend Blvd
St. Louis, MO 63119
Wednesday, April 5 7:00 PM
Author Talk and Signing at Anderson's Bookshop
Followed by a screening of The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore
123 W. Jefferson Ave.
Naperville, IL 60540
Monday, April 24 7:00 PM
Author Talk and Signing at Takoma Park Library
101 Philadelphia Avenue
Takoma Park, MD 20912
April 25 – A Day With Wilbur Robinson (Pre-order) and Dinosaur Bob (Pre-order) released!
Tuesday, April 25, 4:30 p.m.
Author Talk and Signing at Ludington Library
5 S Bryn Mawr Ave
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
April 26 7:00 PM
Author Talk and Signing at The Mercer Museum
Tickets required.
84 S Pine St
Doylestown, PA 18901
February 25, 2016
The Mischievians Among 2016 Louisiana Young Readers’ Choice Award Winners
23,000 students throughout the state of Louisiana voted to choose the winners of the 2016 Louisiana Young Readers’ Choice Awards. The Mischievians by William Joyce was the top choice among third through fifth graders. Other winners were announced by the State Library of Louisiana on their website: http://www.state.lib.la.us.
“A stupendous number of kids participate in giving this award,” said William Joyce. "That means a lot of kids read The Mischievians and liked it a lot. For a children's book author, it doesn't get better than that. Makes me want to finish the sequel pronto!”
The Mischievians is a picture book partnership between William Joyce and Dr. Maximilian Fortisque Robinson Zooper, published by Simon & Schuster. The book details highly scientific research on an ancient race of global mischief-makers called the Mischievians. Working closely with Dr. Zooper, Joyce and Moonbot's artists ensure an accurate and scientific visual representation of each Mischievian, including the elusive Endroller, the villainous creature who uses up all the toilet paper and the illustrious Homework Eater, responsible for consuming over a trillion pounds of missing homework.
July 15, 2015
William Joyce at International Literary Association 2015!
Are you joining in the fun at ILA 2015 this weekend? Say hello to William Joyce at one of the following events:
Saturday, July 18th
12:00 – 1:30 PM - Primary Literature Luncheon “It All Starts With Books Darn it”
As an award-winning author/illustrator, filmmaker and story pioneer William Joyce has put books at the center of his career, writing/illustrating nearly 50 books. Despite working in animated films, interactive apps and games, at the end of the day, Joyce is adamant that books are a quintessential part of great storytelling. He'll share some of the key moments and lessons from his journey into the future of storytelling with his team at Moonbot Studios, the minds behind multi-platform stories such as The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore and The Numberlys.
2:30 - 3:30 PM Simon & Schuster Book Signing
America’s Center, Simon & Schuster Booth #1417
Copies of Billy’s Booger, The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, Numberlys, and The Sandman and the War of Dreams available for signing.
Sunday, July 19th
1:00 PM Left Bank Books In-store Presentation & Signing
Join William Joyce at 399 N. Euclid, St. Louis, MO 63108 to learn more about the making of Billy's Booger, his latest picture book and storybook app. More details on the signing at the Left Bank Books website.
March 25, 2015
William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg at the TCM Classic Film Festival
Join William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg at the TCM Classic Film Festival this week in Hollywood, CA. They’ll introduce one of their favorite animated films, Pinnocchio, on 3/27 at 3PM PST!
Held over four days (March 26-29, 2015) in the heart of Hollywood, the TCM Classic Film Festival is a place where movie lovers from around the world can gather to experience classic movies as they were meant to be experienced: on the big screen, in some of the world’s most iconic venues, with the people who made them. Moreover, the TCM Classic Film Festival strives to be a place where a community of movie fans of all ages can share their love of classic movies with each other, make new friends and see films as they are seldom seen today. For more information, visit the fest website: http://filmfestival.tcm.com
March 24, 2015
A new Jack Frost Sketch for #SketchTuesday
A new Jack Frost sketch by William Joyce
William JoyceJanuary 27, 2015
October 13, 2014
Numberlys Screenings at the MoMA and Book Signings this weekend in NYC
Hey New York City! Give William Joyce an epic high five this weekend at one of these special events:
Friday, October 17 at 10am – Barnes and Noble Upper East Side (86th & Lexington Ave) will host a presentation from Joyce and Q&A with local school groups. This event is also open to the public. For more information, visit the B&N event listing.
Saturday, October 18 at 12pm – The Museum of Modern Art will screen The Numberlys, the latest short film by Moonbot Studios . Following the screening and a Q&A, Joyce will sign copies of The Numberlys picture book and A Bean A Stalk and a Boy Named Jack. The Numberlys short film has won several festival awards including a Kids Audience Award at the Toronto International Film Fest Kids and Best Animated Short at the Cleveland International Film Festival where it qualified for Academy Award consideration. For more information on tickets or about the Family Programs at the MoMA, see the event listing on their website.
Sunday, October 19th from 12-2 pm – Books of Wonder (18 West 18th St.) will host a spectacular book signing for William Joyce's latest book,
Friday, October 17 at 10am – Barnes and Noble Upper East Side (86th & Lexington Ave) will host a presentation from Joyce and Q&A with local school groups. This event is also open to the public. For more information, visit the B&N event listing.
Saturday, October 18 at 12pm – The Museum of Modern Art will screen The Numberlys, the latest short film by Moonbot Studios . Following the screening and a Q&A, Joyce will sign copies of The Numberlys picture book and A Bean A Stalk and a Boy Named Jack. The Numberlys short film has won several festival awards including a Kids Audience Award at the Toronto International Film Fest Kids and Best Animated Short at the Cleveland International Film Festival where it qualified for Academy Award consideration. For more information on tickets or about the Family Programs at the MoMA, see the event listing on their website.
Sunday, October 19th from 12-2 pm – Books of Wonder (18 West 18th St.) will host a spectacular book signing for William Joyce's latest book,
August 13, 2014
Shreveport Book Signing at Barnes & Noble 8/16
Barnes & Noble will be hosting a book signing for William Joyce's latest picture book, The Numberlys on Saturday, August 16. Joyce co-illustrated the book with Christina Ellis, an artist at Moonbot Studios. From 3-5 PM, attendees can meet Joyce and Ellis and get their books signed.
Looking to complete your Moonbot Books collection? For a limited time, you can pick up The Numberlys picture book from Barnes & Noble for only $8.99 with the purchase of any children's book. Look for it at a B&N near you or order online!
Looking to complete your Moonbot Books collection? For a limited time, you can pick up The Numberlys picture book from Barnes & Noble for only $8.99 with the purchase of any children's book. Look for it at a B&N near you or order online!
August 1, 2014
The Latest From William Joyce: A Bean, a Stalk and a Boy Named Jack
When a king’s pinky grows stinky, it is up to a smallish boy and a smallish pea to come up with a GIANT plan to save the kingdom— a fractured fairy tale from William Joyce and Moonbot artist, Kenny Callicutt. It's the latest book from Moonbot Books, an imprint of Atheneum Books for Young Readers and Simon & Schuster.
You might think you know the story of Jack and the Beanstalk, but you might want to think again. In this fairy tale with a twist, it hasn’t rained in days and the king has dictated that something must be done—his royal pinky is getting stinky! With a little magic from a wizard, young Jack, paired with his pea pod pal, will find a GIANT reason as to why there’s no water left in the kingdom...and prove that size doesn’t prevent anyone from doing something BIG.
A Bean, a Stalk and a Boy Named Jack arrives in October 2014. Pre-order your book from an online retailer or your favorite independent book store near you:
Amazon
IndieBound - Indie Bookstores Listings
