NEW DELHI: Hyderabad-based animation studio Color Chips has announced a series of new projects, a mix of service-oriented work and co-production deals with clients from Europe.
The studio has entered into an agreement with France's Fenix Animation for production of three 2D animation series based on popular European properties. The three projects - Froggies, popular amongst kids and young adults in Europe, le Cid based on history and the popular Spanish folk hero immortalised by French drama author Corneille, and Red Baron and the Black Knight, are expected to get over by end of the next year.
In addition to this, Color Chips and Fenix will also work on three other 2D animation series on popular characters/content owned by Color Chips. In all the projects with Fenix, Color Chips is working on animation production and the two companies would be jointly marketing the series.
Color Chips has also signed a co-production deal with Benj Productions, France. The agreement, for 13-episode 2D animation TV series - Mon Chi Chi, is a cash-cum-revenue sharing deal. Mon Chi Chi will be distributed by Warner Brothers in Europe and will be telecast by the French TV Channel Teletoon. The work from Color Chips is expected to get over by the first quarter of fiscal year 2004.
The studio has also bagged a service contract deal with Norway's leading 3D studio AnimagicNet AS for animation production and some special effects in 72-minute feature film Free Jimmy.
"The computer animated feature film Free Jimmy has been in production since late year 2000. The task for Color Chips will be to do lighting, and compositing and some special effects. The post production will take place in London and the film will be screened in the theatres from September 2004," said Lars Tommerbakke, managing director of AnimagicNet AS.
According to Tommerbakke, Color Chips was chosen due to financial compatibility, quality of work and studio's assurance to finish the work as per the time schedule. Apart from this, Color Chips, which had earlier produced four animation characters used during live cricket coverage on ESPN Star Sports network, seems to be ready with some interesting improvisations for the Indian tour of Australia to be aired from December onwards.
There might be introduction of Australian flavour or a new character to add more excitement in coverage. The channel has already started promotions for the Australian tour, featuring Sunil Gavaskar, who is interacting with an animation character.
