Production Begins on Mexican Toon, Maya
This week marks the start of production on the Spanish-language feature MAYA, produced by actor Bruno Bichir and pop singer Emmanuel for Escarabajo Producciones. Ricardo Arnaiz will direct the $3 million budgeted film with animation supervision being handled by Mike Kunkel (TARZAN, HERCULES). Music will be supervised by Antonio Zepeda. Lending voice talent will be actor Andres Bustamante (TV's TELETON). The film is scheduled to be complete by the end of 2005.
"We're going to respect the essence of the Mayan culture, in all aspects, backing up our work with advice from historians, archaeologists and specialists in the culture," said Emmanuel.
The ecological-themed feature is set is the Mayan civilization before Spain's arrival in the New World. Animex 2D and Artem S.V. de C.V. are providing production services on the film.
Mexico City-based Animex 2D is a traditional animation production company in Mexico, which develops new projects for publicity, television and film.