Cannes, 9 October 2003: Dragon’s Rock will be having its world premiere in Cannes. While television viewers will be forced to wait until 2004 to see the 3D animated sitcom, visitors to the MIPCOM television fair will have the opportunity from 10 to 14 October, 2003, to meet the dragon Stanley and his unusual family. Awaiting the visitors are witty dialogs (written by Magma Films in Ireland), lovable characters – and a groundbreaking technological innovation: Dragon’s Rock is the world’s first production to combine professional puppeteering with high-tech computer animation. For the first time the puppets are recorded in real time on the computer. Actors in data suits and animators with joysticks act out the roles just like in a real sitcom, imbuing the characters with life. The series was produced by GUM Studios in cooperation with TV-Loonland and Super RTL. “By working together with such a prestigious international partner as TV-Loonland, we succeeded in creating a fantastic series that blends in seamlessly with other high-quality Super RTL co-productions,” said Susanne Schosser, Program Director of Super RTL. “Our in-house and co-productions benefit from all the experience that has made us Europe’s leading children’s broadcaster. Dragon’s Rock gets that extra, indispensable touch from TV-Loonland’s skill and talent. Nothing is standing in the way of this series becoming an international success.” „The knowledge of 15 years of professional puppet production comes to its own magnificently in GUMs world-new computer technology” , said Dr. Stefan Lichter, CEO of GUM Studios. „Like puppeteers, also cartoon-animators are now able to improvise with our Dragon's Rock family on screen, live and spontaeously, und to capture the magic of the moment.“ “We’re delighted to have the opportunity to work with Super RTL and such a seasoned, successful team in this exciting project,” said Peter Völkle, CEO at TV-Loonland. “TV-Loonland has always placed great store in setting and actively shaping technological trends. This first fully computer-animated production is about more than a highly promising animation project; it’s also about learning new things that we’ll be able to use in other projects.” The heart of the 26 episodes is Stanley Hopper. As the only dragon around to have been raised among people, he’s considered to be a bit peculiar. He and his aristocratic wife Genevieve have three kids: the seven-year-old twins Julius and Julia as well as their daughter Zoe, who is in the full bloom of teenagehood (which isn’t the easiest age, not even for dragons). Zoe also has a “pet” of sorts – Sir Cyril, a knight who peppers the family’s turbulent life with plenty of sarcastic commentary. And then there’s also the Hopper Castle sentry, who is also Stanley’s best friend and a fount of shrewd advice. There’s just one catch: the sentry’s a hydra. With three heads. And they hardly ever agree on anything… Directors: Greg Manwaring (worked as a character animator at Walt Disney Feature Animation and Don Bluth Studios). Roy Wilson (has many years’ experience from Walt Disney Studios, Hanna Barbera, Film Roman). Jürgen Tombers (was involved in the Jim Henson productions “Secret Life of Toys” and “Muppets Treasure Island” as a puppeteer). The title song was composed and sung by Abi Lin, who made a name for himself writing songs for the Backstreet Boys and N-SYNC and promoting stars such as Ricky Martin and DJ Bobo. All in all, television audiences have a treat in store for them
– an exceptional series from Super RTL, TV-Loonland and GUM
Studios that promises to bring the medieval dragon society to life. © GUM Studios GmbH / TV Loonland AG / Super RTL 2003 |
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