Character Matters Animation Studios has started production on a 60-minute animated film, Zambezia, the first in a series of films intended to culminate in a full-length feature for theatrical release. According to the Cape Town-based company, the long format film will be the most ambitious animation project ever completed in South Africa, where animation lengths usually range between 30-seconds and five minutes.
Zambezia is a quirky mystery-adventure for kids that explores the themes of rebellion, repentance and reconciliation. The characters and environments are closely based on the rich fauna and flora that characterise the Zambezi river valley, bringing a distinctive African feel to the production design.
Says Chris Schoultz, director of Character Matters, "We wanted to create a movie that is directly aimed at a US audience, but which portrays some of the beauty and peculiarity of Africa. While the film draws on tried and tested story techniques, we're going to give the audience a visual feast that they've never seen before."
Set on a small island on a river in tropical Africa, a variety of highly intelligent birds have taken over the ruins of an ancient human city and built it into the Manhattan island of the bird kingdom. When a young eagle comes to the city to make a name for himself, he becomes involved in a mystery and a quest to find a missing egg, which leads him to meet hilarious and intriguing characters, and unexpected danger.
Full development and production funding is being provided by American investors, who are looking at DVD distribution in the US as their primary market. Additional crew for the film are being brought in from America, Canada and Zimbabwe, as there is a shortage of experienced animation crew in South Africa. "It was a concern that we couldn't find enough local animators, so we've implemented an internship program which will help train up animators for the next film," says animation director Mike Buckland.
The script is being written and developed by writer Michael Joens in Los Angeles, a seasoned animation scriptwriter, director and producer who has written several novels. He has worked on shows such as Focus on the Family's Adventures in Odyssey series, and Tyndale's McGee and Me, as well as for studios such as Hanna Barbara, Marvel and Warner Brothers. The film is co-directed by Stuart Forrest, who has previously directed kid's animation for US education giant Sesame Street with Triggerfish Animation, among other award-winning commercial work.
Character Matters is a formerly Zimbabwean company which set a new standard for African long-form computer-generated animation in 2004, when it produced a 25-minute Christmas story in collaboration with Sunrise Productions.
Zambezia will be available on DVD from mid 2007.
