News
BBC POST LONDON
CREATES CHARACTERS FOR NEW CBBC DRAMA - SHOEBOX ZOO
6 September 2004: Paul Kavanagh from BBC Post Production’s
3D animation and digital team has designed CGI animated characters
for the new CBBC Scotland family drama series airing on BBC One
on Sunday 26 September - Shoebox Zoo. A UK - Canada Co-Production
between CBBC Scotland and LA based Canadian company, Blueprint Entertainment,
Shoebox Zoo is executive produced by Claire Mundell, written by
Brian Ward and directed by Justin Molotnikov and James Henry. The
13 part series was shot on location in Scotland during summer 2003
and is a mix of live action, cg effects and character animation.
Newcomer Vivien Endicott-Douglas stars as Marnie McBride, an American
teenager displaced to Edinburgh, where she discovers four ancient
celtic animal carvings (Edwin the Eagle, Bruno the Bear, Wolfgang
the Wolf and Ailsa the Adder) in an old Shoebox… When the
animals spring magically to life, they enlist Marnie on an epic
quest to find Legendary Alchemist Michael Scot's lost Book of Forbidden
Knowledge. The series also features Peter Mullan, Rik Mayall, Simon
Callow, Siobhan Redmond and Alan Cumming.
Paul Kavangh from BBC Post Production’s 3D animation and
digital effects team was the Design and Animation consultant for
the project and was closely involved from the beginning. Paul was
responsible for character design and graphics, working in collaboration
with production designer Tom Sayer and costume designer Ali Mitchell
to create a coherent visual style for the show. Paul designed three
cg characters for series one - Bruno, Hunter and Ailsa and adjusted
Calibre's design for Edwin so that it worked in harmony with the
others. The characters and graphics needed to combine celtic authenticity
with visual appeal. Paul says: “The animals had to possess
a certain darkness to be believable, but they also needed to be
likeable as characters. I had to maintain the right balance for
the characters and graphics and keep faithful to the story in Brian’s
head.”
Paul's job involved working closely with Toronto animation house
Calibre Digital
to develop his designs into the animated characters in the show.
He also oversaw creation of identical SL prop versions of the characters.
Graphic design for the show involved titles, credits and emblems
and illustrations of the animals used within the production design.
Work on the show involved liaising with an international team, spread
across Scotland, England, Canada and the US.
Series Two, shot on location in Alberta Canada has begun post production
and is scheduled to hit UK screens in Autumn 2005. Paul has designed
a fresh character - Hunter the Horse - which will feature throughout
the second series, and has also created designs for merchandising
and the forthcoming Shoebox Zoo Dvd release from BBC Worldwide.
Shoebox Zoo transmits from the 20th of September on the CBBC Digial
Channel, from the 21st of September on CBBC One at 4.35pm and on
BBC One on Sundays at 4.30pm from the 26th of September.
-ENDS-
Credits
Executive Producer : Claire Mundell, CBBC Scotland
Head Writer : Brain Ward
Series Director : Justin Molotnikov
Animation Design Consultant : Paul Kavanagh, BBC Post Production
3D FX
Director of Photography : Jan Pester
Production Designer : Tom Sayer
Costume Designer : Ali Mitchell
Composer : Lorne Balfe
Editors : Gary Scott, Mark Jenkins, Ian Stroud
The series was co-created by CBBC Scotland, Brian Ward, Justin
Molotnikov and Claire Mundell.
About BBC Post Production
BBC Post Production, a division of BBC Resources, offers award-winning
creative solutions using the latest graphics technology. BBC Post
Production facilities are the largest of their kind in the UK. Located
in London, Bristol and Birmingham its extensive range of services
include 3D animation and digital effects through to editing, audio
and telecine. Using the most up-to-date technology in comfortable
and inspiring surroundings the team bring talent and experience
to a range of productions, trails and promos. Further information
can be found at: www.bbcresources.com/postproduction
For further information, please contact:
Georgie Hollett, PR & Comms Exec, BBC Resources
Tel: +44 (0)20 8576 2350
Mobile: +44 (0)7834 845612 (Mobile)
Email: georgie.hollett@bbc.co.uk
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