NZ-China Co-Production for 3D Animation Film
The film’s New Zealand co-producers Michael Bennett, whose work includes TV3 drama Outrageous Fortune and feature film Matariki, and Maile Daugherty signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop the 3D animated film project with Beijing based Xing Xing Digital Corporation.
The project, which has an estimated production cost of around NZ$18 million, qualifies for regional Chinese government funding alongside funding from the New Zealand Film Commission, which has already guaranteed NZD$30,000 towards the project.
Xing Xing Digital Corporation became involved after the project pitched for partners at the Shanghai International Film Festival last month. The digital animation company has previously worked on teen vampire hit Twilight and Ben Stiller comedy Tropic Thunder.
Academy Award winning Weta Workshop will also be involved in the collaboration having already provided some of the initial concept art.
A family action adventure set in Shanghai, Downside Story tells the story of teenage sewer rat Frankie Feng as he and his friends work to save a lost kitten which has fallen into Downside through a stormwater drain.
Aimed to work across different language platforms for both Chinese and international audiences, the film will be released in both English and Mandarin.
Although no date has been confirmed the film is expected for release sometime in 2013.
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