Square Zero toon gets 3D treatment
UK animation studio Square Zero is developing its latest project, Dustbunnies, in stereoscopic 3D.
Development producer Alexi Wheeler (Peppa Pig) told C21 that the studio was carrying out 3D tests on the property ahead of going into production and was looking for a UK broadcaster to get involved.
Dustbunnies animation series about a family of rabbits made from the fluff that falls on the floor from granny's knitting and sewing. It was one of the best-received projects at Cartoon Forum in September.
Wheeler - who recently joined Square Zero from E1 Entertainment - said: "For this show it makes sense that we offer it in 3D. One of the challenges at the moment is that there isn't a proper platform for it. It remains a problem until a commissioner gets very excited about the whole thing."
Square Zero is one of the latest kids animation studios trying to stay ahead of the curve and cashing in on the success of the 3D movie Avatar, ahead of worldwide networks rolling out 3D-specific channels.
Jules Grant
4 May 2010
© C21 Media 2010
Official Cartoon Forum Press Release
Fjord fiesta
Cartoon Forum's 20th birthday event this year welcomed 725 participants from 28 countries, making it one of the busiest years for the European coproduction gathering. Jules Grant reports.
Despite the economic slump, organisers had chosen one of the most expensive countries in the world to stage this year's Forum. The €10 (US$14.70) price tag for a beer in many bars left delegates aghast and thankful for expenses claims. Still, a good time was had by all. Despite the constant rain, one of the highlights was a networking cruise on one of the most distinctive fjords in Norway, to see the 604m Pulpit Rock.
Marc Vandeweyer, director-general of event organiser Cartoon, told C21 on Wednesday that since the first Cartoon Forum in 1990, 429 projects have been financed, representing a combined total budget of €1.5bn. On average, a project pitched at Cartoon Forum has a one-in-three chance of being produced.
Most buzz this year seemed to be around Brown Bag Films' Granny O'Grimm, Square Zero's Dust Bunnies and Hahn Film's Boo Boo Dolls. Germany-based Irish filmmaker David O'Reilly won the 2009 Cartoon d'Or Award last night for his contemporary short film Please Say Something, while NRK, Cake Entertainment and Brown Bag Films were all successful in the Cartoon Tributes awards.
The 2010 event will take place in Sopron, Hungary. Until next year!
Click on the links below or visit C21Media.net to see all of C21's Cartoon Forum coverage this year, and watch out online next week for the C21 Kids Preview Show, filmed at Cartoon Forum.
25 Sep 2009
© C21 Media 2009
Square Zero dusts off new toon
UK animation studio Square Zero, which was behind the initial designs for CBeebies' Kerwhizz is developing a new preschool TV series about a family of cute rabbits who live under the sofa.
Dustbunnies (26x10', left) is a 2D stop-frame animation about a family of cute fluff-wool rabbits made from the fluff that has fallen on the floor from Granny's knitting and sewing.
Head of animation Olly Tyler told C21 that the toon was in the vein of Bagpuss or The Wombles, where the Dustbunnies collect all sorts of strange objects such as coins, crayons, beads, matchboxes, toy cars and a magnifying glass misplaced by Granny and her grandchildren. Each object they encounter or collect becomes the trigger for a new adventure.
Square Zero is looking for broadcasters, a distributor and coproducers for the series.
Tyler set up Square Zero with Dmitry Lavrov in 2003 after working for animation house Liquid TV for 11 years. His animation and composing credits include As If for Channel 4, Nicktoons TV for Nickelodeon and The Tweenies for the BBC.
Jules Grant
21 Jul 2009
© C21 Media 2009