VFX Fortitude partners with MEL for projects -

Fortitude partners with MEL for projects

LA based Fortitude Entertainment has announced its collaboration with Mumbai based Maya Entertainment Ltd. The collaboration will be called Fortitude Maya.

Speaking to Animation ‘xpress, Fortitude Films Richard Lewis said that”Part of our deal is that we are investing to build a number of properties and will be jointly doing projects.The fortitiude animation facilities in Burbank will be used for pre and post while a majority of the CG will be done in India. We are also looking to build a 2D and Flash team”

“We are well connected in Hollywood and will be getting in a lot of work to the collaboration. Sherry Gunther (ex Hanna Barbera) will be supervising some of the projects in India”

MEL CEO Turakhia added, “The collaboration brings to the table things that MEL needed in terms of scalability and original properties. We plan to not only do animation but a number of music videos as well as VFX for Live Action movies”

More on MEL: The Tale of Jack Frost nominated for a children’s BAFTA
MEL has reason to be proud. Co- produced by Zoo Films and Jack Frost Productions Ltd (UK), ‘The Tale of Jack Frost’ the Christmas special for which MEL did the CG animation production in India has been nominated for a children’s BAFTA.

The show aired five times over Christmas 2004 on BBC 1 and the CBBC channel, and was the highest rated animation of the Christmas period, as well as being the highest rated children’s TV show in the week of its New Year’s Day showing.

‘The Tale of Jack Frost’ is based on the best-selling Hodder Headline children’s book written and illustrated by David Melling, and featured narration by Hugh Laurie, and two songs by Mercury-nominated singer-songwriter Kate Rusby.

The show was produced and directed by Zoo Films’ Neil Graham, and Alastair Swinnerton of Jack Frost Productions, who also wrote the script, while the CG animation was produced by India’s Maya Entertainment Ltd under the direction of Zoo’s CGI Director Nic Camecho.

A special extended 38 minute version of the show will be released on DVD and Video on November 21st 2005 by BBC Worldwide, while the two songs from the show appear on Kate Rusby’s new album, “The Girl Who Couldn’t Fly” (Pure Records).

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