First CURIOUS GEORGE and now the upcoming DVD premiere movies for VAN HELSING and THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK. Just proves that 2D animation is alive and well at Universal.
With two major tent pole releases coming this summer, the studio is extending the marketing reach with two animated prequels produced exclusively for DVD with the participation of stars Hugh Jackman and Vin Diesel and directors Stephen Sommers and David Twohy: VAN HELSING: THE LONDON ASSIGNMENT (May 11) and THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK: DARK FURY (June 15).
Both are produced by Universal Cartoon Studios (the blockbuster LAND BEFORE TIME home video franchise), but are anything but kid's fare, according to Louis Feola, president of Universal Home Ent. Prods. "These are mature styles of animation," he told AWN. Both are unrated and would probably be PG-13 because of their subject matter. Board artist Sharon Bridgeman makes her directorial debut with LONDON ASSIGNMENT, which stars the voice of Jackman as the monster slayer sent to capture Mr. Hyde (he goes after Dracula, Frankenstein and the Wolf Man in the live-action feature). And the acclaimed Peter Chung directs the anime-styled DARK FURY, in which Diesel lends his voice as the PITCH BLACK antihero.
"It's been rewarding to see the amount of attention from the animation community we have been getting," Feola added.
Both DVDs will be released through Universal Home Video (www.homevideo.universalstudios.com) and priced at $14.98.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
