Singapore based animation studio and brand consultancy firm Cubix International recently entered into a S$30 million deal with the Media Development Authority of Singapore. The MOU for the deal which involves co-production of five 3D animated feature film projects was signed by MDA director of industry development Seto Lok Yin and Cubix Intl executive director Benjamin Toh with MDA CEO Dr Christopher Chia as witness to the agreement.

Speaking to Animation 'xpress, MDA CEO Dr Christopher Chia said,"The MDA is delighted to have forged this partnership with Cubix International in a joint effort to grow the Singapore animation industry with the aim to produce animated feature films with an international appeal. Through this MOU a strong pipeline of quality projects will help propel Cubix into the league of internationally renowned animation studios and create new job opportunities for our animators."

The deal followed Cubix International's succesful pre launch of Singapore's first 3D animated feature Zodiac..The Race. It is also the world's first animated feature with the chinese zodiac as the subject. The animated feature which garnered quite a good response at the Cannes film festival 05 has already been pre sold to over 22 countries (Including Brunei, France, China, Taiwan and Eastern Europe) and is slated to have a world premiere on 26 January 2006.

The 90 minute 3D animated feature entirely made in Singapore cost US$2 million with over 35 artists working on the movie.

The feature is accompanied by a complete plan to tap related revenue streams and in store are products like PC games, comics, collectibles, toys, and TShirts. Also licensing programs in place with some of leading Singapore consumer product companies and F&B brands.

Another striking feature is the voice cast comprising of popular Asian actress Fann Wong from Mediacorp Studios and Dennis Chew of Mediacorp Radio. The sound design and recording for the feature was done at Singapore based Red Light Studios.

Christopher Chia added,"With Zodiac..., Cubix International has made history with a landmark achievement in local animation. The level of success and interest it has garnered from the international marketplace is testament to Cubix's abilities to not only create and produce but to also succesfully market an eastern themed animation film to a global audience."

Cubix Intl's Benjamin Toh said," With the wrap of Zodiac... and the encouraging international sales, we hope to set a new milestone for for the local animation productions and contribute to the growth of the industry. The MOU signifies the beginning of another chapter of Cubix International and MDA's determined support of the local animation industry."

On being asked as to how did the Brand consultancy firm think about making an animated feature, Benjamin replied,"We have always been involved with design and animation for the brands that we provide consultancy for and we wanted to create a product that would showcase Asian culture globally and decided to do it in animation."