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20 Years of Tom & the Slice of Bread with Strawberry Jam & Honey

Studio FILM BILDER and KiKA are celebrating the 20th birthday of the cult character TOM. Many TOM fans are sending their congratulations on social media, including beloved colleagues such as Sandmännchen, Günter Kastenfrosch, the raven Rudi, and “Die Pfefferkörner”. On Saturday, November 15, 2025, KiKA will host a TOM Day featuring 20 episodes of the series, embarking on a journey through the past two decades of “Tom & the Slice of Bread with Strawberry Jam & Honey” („TOM & das Erdbeermarmeladebrot mit Honig“).

Tom’s Special Day, Image: Studio FILM BILDER

In November 2005, KiKA aired the first 13 episodes of the series. Since then, TOM has made many friends, experienced adventures across a total of 52 episodes – and received 52 half slices of strawberry jam bread with honey, each of which tasted as good to him as if it had been a whole one. The lovable hero was created by Stuttgart-based animation artist Andreas Hykade. He designed the characters and the world, developed the scripts, and directed the series. All episodes were produced entirely at Studio FILM BILDER in Stuttgart. The animated series was given a special touch by Dirk Bach, who – as narrator and the voice of all the characters – gave the series its unmistakable tone. “Tom & the Slice of Bread with Strawberry Jam & Honey” has received several awards, including the Grimme Online Award in 2009 and the prize for Best TV Series at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in 2013.

“Tom & the Slice of Bread with Strawberry Jam & Honey” is a co-production of Studio FILM BILDER Stuttgart and SWR, funded by MFG Baden-Württemberg.

TOM on YouTube | TOM on Instagram | TOMportal | Kikaninchen.de

Source: News Studio FILMBILDER

Lena’s Farm wins at Annecy 2025

Picture: Studio Film Bilder
Photo: Studio Film Bilder

Director Elena Walf and Studio Film Bilder are celebrating a successful start to the festival tour of their series LENA’S FARM. After already winning awards in recent days at the Italian festivals Cartoons on the Bay and Periferie Animate, as well as at the festival in Zlín, Czech Republic, the crowning moment came in France: on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at the Festival d’Animation Annecy, Elena Walf was honored on the main stage with the Jury Award for a TV Series.

The series consists of 26 episodes, each 5 minutes and 40 seconds long, which also work as stand-alone short films. It was produced by Studio Film Bilder in co-production with ZDF and Minya Film from Zagreb. Financing was made possible by MFG Baden-Württemberg, Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung, the Croatian Audiovisual Centre, and the Creative Europe MEDIA program. Global distribution is handled by Meta Media, London.

Congratulations to Elena Walf, Studio Film Bilder and everyone else involved!

Source: Studio Film Bilder | Annecy Festival 2025

German Reception at Annecy Festival 2025

A few days ago, the Festival d’Animation Annecy (June 8 to 14, 2025) came to a close, with numerous people and projects from the AMCRS in attendance.

Traditionally, German Films, Animation Germany, AG Kurzfilm – Bundesverband Deutscher Kurzfilm, AG Animationsfilm, Animation Media Creators Region Stuttgart, Animation Production Days, FMX, Animationsinstitut of the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung, MFG Filmförderung Baden-Württemberg and ITFS invited to the German Reception.

What a wonderful afternoon it was! Our heartfelt thanks go to everyone involved and present for the great organization and all the amazing conversations!

Annecy Filmfestival: https://www.annecyfestival.com/en

Impressions Annecy 2025, German Reception, all photos: Louis Nauche

Annecy 2025

From June 8 to 14, 2025, this year’s Annecy Festival will take place. As part of the festival, the MIFA animation film market will be held from June 10 to 13. Numerous projects by filmmakers from our network will be featured.

Film still from “Stitch Head”. © Gringo Films

In the competition category “TV Films,” “Lena’s Farm” is represented with the episode “Volles Nest” by Elena Walf, produced by Thomas Meyer-Hermann (Studio Film Bilder). More info

The Animationsinstitut of the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg is also represented: in the “Graduation Films” category, “Detlev” by Ferdinand Ehrhardt (director and producer) and Saskia Stirn (producer), with distribution by Fabian Driehorst, will be screened. More info
Selected for the “VR Works” category is “lichtung” by Aria Wolf and Janina Zlotos (directors), produced by Cyril Fischer and Christoph Mohr. More info

The animated feature film “Stitch Head” by screenwriter and director Steve Hudson will be shown in the “Annecy Presents” section and will celebrate its world premiere! At ITFS 2020, the screenplay received the AMCRS-sponsored award for Best German-language Screenplay for an Animated Feature Film. The film was supported by MFG and involved the studios LAVAlabs Moving Images and PIXOMONDO in its production. More info | News article by MFG

The talent panel “Shape Your Future: Moving European Animation Forward” will present the innovation network PANEURAMA, with Christian Müller from the Animationinstitut joining the discussion. More info

At the German Films booth at MIFA, representatives of our member organizations will be present on site. This year’s German Reception will take place on Tuesday, June 10 (by invitation only) – a joint event organized by German Films, Animation Germany, AG Kurzfilm – Bundesverband Deutscher Kurzfilm, AG Animationsfilm, Animation Media Creators Region Stuttgart, Animation Production Days, FMX, Animationsinstitut of the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung, MFG Filmförderung Baden-Württemberg and ITFS

German Reception at Annecy 2024

The Festival d’Animation Annecy (June 9 to 15, 2024) took place last week. And traditionally, German Films, Animation Germany, AG Kurzfilm – Bundesverband Deutscher Kurzfilm, AG Animationsfilm / ASIFA Germany, Animation Media Creators Region Stuttgart, Animation Production Days, FMX, Animationsinstitut of the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung, MFG Filmförderung Baden-Württemberg and ITFS invited to the German Reception at the Annecy lake.

We thank all participants and attendees for the great afternoon and the many wonderful conversations!

Photo: Louis Nauche
Photo: Louis Nauche
Photo: MFG
Photo: MFG
Photo: MFG

The Animationsinstitut at Annecy 2023

Dodo, image: FABW

The Annecy Festival 2023 (June 11-17, 2023) is currently taking place – and the Animationsinstitut of the Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg is right in the middle of it! A large number of students of the institute is on site, talking to industry professionals and colleagues, and attending screenings.

This year, the short films DODO (Producer: Jiayan Chen, Director: Yi Luo, Animation: Oscar Bittner, Sarah Schulz, Laura Staab, Sabine Volkert) and MAKULATOUR (Director/Score: Tim Markgraf), produced at the Animationsinstitut, are part of the official student competition. Fingers crossed!

Makulatour, image: FABW

The new Head of the Animationsinstitut, Jan Pinkava, is attending Annecy Festival. At this year’s German Reception (Tuesday, June 13, 18:00-20:00 CET, by invitation, organized by AG Animationsfilm, AG Kurzfilm, Animation Germany, AMCRS, Animations Production Days, Animationsinstitut, FMX, German Films, ITFS, Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung, MFG Baden-Wuerttemberg), he will give an introductory speech.

On Wednesday, June 14, starting at 15:00 CET, there will be an Animationsinstitut picnic at Jardins de l’Europe, Annecy. Come around!

GERMANY ANIMATION MEETUP on June 15 in Annecy

For the first time, the GERMANY ANIMATION MEETUP will be taking place in person! And where better than at the International Animated Film Festival in Annecy (June 11-17, 2023)?

The Animation Meetup will take place during the week of the festival on Thursday, June 15, 2023 from 12.00 to 14.00 CET on the beachfront “Plage d’Albigny”.

If you have a picnic blanket, feel free to bring it. Food and drinks can be bought from the nearby Restaurant La Maison du Lac and La Trinquette.

To keep up with potential changes and to share with your friends, try following one of their channels:

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The Meetup is open to all – whether you’re a student, senior artist or trying to break in. Here everyone can chat about the industry, connect with each other and occasionally draw and sketch together. Please share with your friends and colleagues!