Headquartered in Malaysia and having branches in US, India and Indonesia, Tarantella Pictures Private Limited has announced a 3D animated feature Om Ganesha. The production is going to involve a lot of International talent and the latest production technology.

Speaking to Animation Xpress.com, Tarantella Pictures head Sharad Sharan who is an acclaimed International Film producer and director shared, "This is going to be the world's first 3D film on Lord Ganesha. Ganesha is a wonder god and very animated friendly. His form is very divine and at the same time loving. We will not be focusing too much on the religious aspect but are making it as a film for kids. There's many characters like Ganesha, his mouse Mooshak, the demon Tarkasura who wreaks havoc in the celestial regions. We will have many interesting fights between Ganesha and the demons"

According to the producers the theatrical feature will be produced in two languages Hindi and English and is budgeted at approximately four to five Million US dollars. 60% of the movie will be done in a brand new Phoenix laser based 52 camera motion capture facility in Chennai and 40% will be key frame animated. "The advanced mo cap technology will allow us to capture the motion of eight characters at one go within a stage of 40 by 40 feet" shared Sharan.

"The key frame animation will be farmed out to studios in Germany and the UK. Reputed, Award Winning International talent, the likes of which that have worked on projects like Harry Potter, Vertical Limits and King Kong are going to be involved. The sound engineer and mixing talent will come in from Japan" he added.

Trageted for a Summer 2008 release, the The 3D animated feature is being produced by the Husband Wife duo of Renu and Sharad Sharan and will be directed by Sharad. Tarantella Pictures will present the film. "The primary target audience for the Hindi version is India and the Indian diaspora, while the English version is targeted at the International audience"

"In animation the best thing is that we don't have to run around for the stars dates and any thing imaginable can be translated into reel" concluded Sharan.

The scene is really heating up in the Indian animated feature film space. Post Hanuman, hardly a fortnight goes by without a new animated feature being announced either by Bollywood producers or animation studios or software firms.