Tag: Madagascar

  • Turbo to set screens ablaze beginning 19 July

    Turbo to set screens ablaze beginning 19 July

    NEW DELHI: Turbo, a high-velocity 3D animation comedy about an underdog snail from the makers of Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda and The Croods, is being released on 19 July.

    It is about an underdog snail whose dreams kick into overdrive when he miraculously attains the power of super-speed. Turbo‘s single-minded goal is to compete in the greatest race in the world: the Indy 500. He even manages to get power to move at super-speed. But he soon learns that no one succeeds on his own. So he puts his heart and shell on the line to help his pals achieve their dreams, before Turbo-charging his own impossible dream: winning the Indy 500.

    The film is helmed by Paul Soren and stars a strong ensemble cast of Ryan Reynolds, Samuel Jackson, Snoop Dogg, Paul Giamatti and others.
     

    The requisite comedic and dramatic acting chops, and bigger-than-life persona, are embodied by Hollywood Hottie Ryan Reynolds, whom Director Paul Soren describes as “the perfect match” for Turbo.

    “I was pitched the idea about this character who has an impossible dream of winning the Indy 500,” Ryan Reynolds remembers. “I asked, ‘What‘s impossible about that?‘ And he said, ‘Turbo‘s a snail.‘ And I said, ‘That‘s impossible!‘”

    “But it all really sounded amazing, and I fell in love with its classic underdog story, which Turbo takes to a new level,” Reynolds continues. “It takes a unique if not insane perspective to bring a snail to life in this way. What I love most about Turbo is his tenacity and refusal to give up on his dream. In fact, it doesn‘t even occur to him to give up. Talent is a collision between hard work and luck, and that‘s what Turbo is.”

    Turbo‘s other key relationship is with the collective known as the Racing Snails, who ultimately serve as his pit crew at the Indy 500.

    Before Turbo arrived on the scene, the leader and reigning champ of the Racing Snails was Whiplash (Samuel L. Jackson). To be a member of Whiplash‘s crew, you must earn his respect, and until you do, you‘ll never experience the real Whiplash – a warm, jovial guy who treats his crew like family. 

    One of the final stages of the race to finish Turbo was the intricate sound design created by three-time Academy Award-winner Richard King (The Dark Knight, Inception, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World). King worked closely with Soren to further define the film‘s vibrant characters and environments through their sounds. Among their principal challenges was creating Turbo‘s signature powering-up racing sounds, and differentiating them from the terrifying and deafening engines of the thirty-two Indy 500 cars pitted against him. 

    Soren also employed cutting-edge techniques to create the Indy 500 crowd scenes – 300,000 people strong. (It‘s the biggest sporting event in the world.) “There are more crowds in Turbo than any in animated film history,” says the director. To accomplish that, “we devised a system that allowed us to cover huge crowds with relatively low amounts of rendering time, in a way never before possible.”

    This kind of technical wizardry was always in service of Turbo‘s colourful characters and classic-with-a-twist underdog tale. “I think audiences will really get behind Turbo‘s determination and dreams,” says Soren. “There‘s a quality about underdog stories where you just can‘t help but start rooting for the character, get swept up by them, and start rooting for them”.

  • Fox lines up 12 DWA titles till middle 2016

    Fox lines up 12 DWA titles till middle 2016

    MUMBAI: 20th Century Fox and DreamWorks Animation films (DWA) have expressed ambitious intentions to release three movies a year over the next four years so that 12 movies would have released by June 2016.
    The 12 DWA films include The Croods (22 March, 2013), Turbo (19 July 2013), Mr. Peabody & Sherman (1 November 2013), Me and My Shadow (14 March, 2014), How to Train Your Dragon 2 (20 June, 2014), Happy Smekday! (26 November 2014), The Penguins of Madagascar (27 March 2015), Trolls (working title, 5 June 2015), B.O.O: Bureau of Otherwordly Operations (6 November 2015), How to Train Your Dragon 3 (18 June, 2016), Mumbai Musical (working title, 19 December 2015) and Kung Fu Panda 3 (18 March, 2016).
    DWA chief creative officer Bill Damaschke was quoted by the Hollywood Reporter, “This is the moment when we can declare that we will have three films a year going forward on a continuing basis.”
    “Everyone of the movies in our lineup – whether it is an original film or a sequel to one of our beloved franchises – comes from the unique and special vision of our filmmakers, and we look forward to joining together with Fox to make them available to family audiences starting next year,” Damaschke added.
    Fox‘s upcoming in-house animation slate includes Epic (24 May 2013) and Rio 2 (14 April 2014).

  • Madagascar 3 likely to edge out Prometheus

    Madagascar 3 likely to edge out Prometheus

    MUMBAI: Hollywood could be in for a wild ride at the domestic box office with Madagascar 3 likely to beat Prometheus for the top place in the US box office. Elsewhere, MIB 3 is set to surpass its predecessor at the worldwide box office.

    Most box office observers believe Madagascar 3 will come in ahead of 20th Century Fox‘s Prometheus, although opinion is divided as to how close the race will be.

    A wide range of opening numbers are being offered up for both Ridley Scott‘s highly anticipated sci-fi epic Prometheus and animated event pic Madagascar 3: Europe‘s Most Wanted.
    DreamWorks Animation and Paramount have been predicting a $45 million to $50 million launch for Madgascar 3, but others believe it could play in the $55 million range or higher because of the popularity of the successful franchise.

    Madgascar 2: Escape to Africa debuted to $63.1 million in early November 2008, while the first Madagascar scored $61 million over the long Memorial Day weekend in 2005.

  • Dreamworks Animation appoints Dream Theatre and Kwan as representatives in India

    Dreamworks Animation appoints Dream Theatre and Kwan as representatives in India

    MUMBAI: Dreamworks Animation has roped in Kwan and Dream Theatre as its consumer products licensing and promotional representatives in India.


    Cashing in on the iconic characters from Dreamworks, Dream Theatre and Kwan will establish a licensing and merchandising program across the nation developing merchandise based on these characters.


    The main aim of the exercise will be to focus on marketing and promoting the upcoming animated movies from the production house.


    The merchandise includes items like publishing materials, apparel, accessories, stationery, gifts, novelties, as well as branded foods, personal care products and promotional licensing.


    Dreamworks has to its credits films like Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar, Puss in Boots and the soon to be released the Guardian.

  • BBC World re-launches travel programme ‘Fastrack’

    BBC World re-launches travel programme ‘Fastrack’

    MUMBAI: BBC World’s weekly travel programme Fast:track will be re-launched with a new look, title graphics and presenters on 14 January. Fronting the programme will be BBC presenters Thalia Pellegrini and Rajan Datar.

    The new fast:track has been designed to appeal to BBC World’s viewers who travel frequently for both business and leisure. The programme will feature reports from leading industry experts and a variety of new travel segments.

    The show’s producer Mike London says, “Even if you are not a regular flyer, issues like carbon emissions and security affect us all and that’s why the travel industry is under the spotlight like never before. The new look fast:track will put consumers and travellers at the heart of its reporting. We will look at how important issues such as the rise in oil prices and ever-congested air spaces affect our viewers.” Mike added, “Our new presenters Rajan Datar and Thalia Pellegrini have been chosen not just because of their travel backgrounds, but because of their experience in business and consumer journalism, making them the perfect people to host the new look show. “

    New segments in the programme will include:

    The ‘Smart Mind’ strand – This is a series of vignettes featuring mind and body coach, Mark Bailey. With a background in therapy, physical training and kinesiology, he helps executives and performers from around the globe to get more out of their brain and body. On fast:track, he will share some of his most powerful techniques to help viewers stay on top of their game whether they are on the road or in the office.

    ‘Flying Facts’ – This is a series of vignettes that should answer all those perplexing questions about flying. Filmed onboard a transatlantic flight, fast:track enlisted an aviation expert to answer seemingly basic questions that most travellers are afraid to ask. “What does cross check mean?” and “Why do they always switch the lights off when landing at night?” are just two of the common flight terms that travellers hear all the time, but don’t always understand. ‘Flying Facts’ will bring you the answers!

    ’24 Hours In’ This is a segment targetted at the business traveller. This five-minute feature will be a guide for travellers who have a day or two to spend in a town or city. The programme will also feature a ‘what to do’ guide, featuring ideas ranging from watching an eclipse in Madagascar to catching the mid season sales in Manhattan.

    Travel gadget enthusiasts will also be well catered for with BBC travel writer Ben Silburn providing a monthly run down of the latest travel gadgets, including one high-end gizmo, one mid-range and one bargain basement solution for all travellers.

  • Exclusive premiere of ‘Madagascar’ on 5 January at 9 pm only on Star Movies

    MUMBAI: The friendship between a New York City lion and zebra is tested when fate brings them out to the unforgiving wilderness in this computer-animated DreamWorks feature. Chris Rock does the voice of Marty the Zebra, whose longing to explore beyond his cushy Central Park Zoo boundaries is the impetus that ultimately strands him and his pals on the shores of savage Madagascar.

    This Friday night, Star Movies has an entertaining treat in store for its viewers!!! Starring voices of Ben Stiller, The Rock, David Schwimmer, and Jada Pinkett Smith, make sure you tune-in to the exclusive premiere of Madagascar on 5 January at 9 pm only on Star Movies.

    At New York’s Central Park Zoo, a lion (Stiller), a zebra (Rock), a giraffe (Schwimmer), and a hippo (Smith) are best friends and stars of the show. But when one of the animals goes missing from their cage, the other three break free to look for him, only to find themselves reunited … on a ship en route to Africa. When their vessel is hijacked, however, the friends, who have all been raised in captivity, learn first-hand what life can be like in the wild.

    This kid-oriented comedy stays adult-friendly every step of the way thanks to a clever script that mixes New Yorker humor and even some existentialism in with the pratfalls and spit-takes. Jolts of comedic brilliance are supplied by some Arctic-bound escaped con penguins, and a couple of literary apes. It’s not a musical, but classic songs from the likes of Louis Armstrong and Sammy Davis Jr. keep the montages flowing loose and sassy.

    DID YOU KNOW

    – At one point, Madonna, Jennifer Lopez and Gwen Stefani were considered for the voice of Gloria the Hippo before Jada Pinkett Smith signed on.
    – Early on, the plot was based on a group of activists who liberate the animals from their cages.
    – None of the main character animals (lion, zebra, giraffe or hippo) are actually housed at the Central Park Zoo. There are penguins.
    – The look of the jungles in Madagascar is based on the paintings of Henri Rousseau.

  • Dreamworks, Nick announce tie-up to bring big screen properties to TV

    Dreamworks, Nick announce tie-up to bring big screen properties to TV

    MUMBAI: US kids brand Nickelodeon, is working with DeamWorks Animation to make television shows based on the films Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda.

    Media reports state that the Madagascar show will chronicle the adventures of its penguin characters — Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private.

    Nick will handle the day-to-day development of the series, but plans to outsource the actual CG production. DreamWorks’s Jeffrey Katzenberg was quoted in Variety saying that these two projects are likely just the first of what will be future partnerships between Nickelodeon and Dreamworks, which have been in the works since DreamWorks was acquired by Paramount last December