Disneys DINOSAUR director Ralph Zondag has been hired by Regency Enterprises to direct its first CG feature, OLLIE THE OTTER. Regency, which is based out of 20th Century Fox, is co-financing the film with CritterPix, a San Rafael, California-based animation studio. Gary Goldman is producing with Regency's Alexa Amin shepherding for the studio.
Based on the children's book by Kelly Alan Williamson, the story centers on a circus sea otter named Ollie who tires of doing the same old stunts at the request of his demanding father. So Ollie ventures out into the cruel, harsh world to discovery what life is like on the other side of the tracks. Billy Frolick (MADAGASCAR) is writing the screenplay.
"Ralph brings an epic visual style to OLLIE,'" said Williamson, who also is ceo of CritterPix and exec producer of the film. "His ability to ground our story and inspire the CG team is fantastic. He knows storyboarding, and he can animate. He is so talented in so many areas that the artists really respond to his direction."
Fox plans to release the film in 2008.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
