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Mini-VIP Goes 3D

Deanna Morse traveled to the 45th annual Ann Arbor Film Festival where Michigan celebrated the work of independent animator Helen Hill.

Bruno Bozzetto has adapted Mini-VIP, one of his signature characters from a drawn animation character into 3D. © Bruno Bozzetto.

AWN cornered Bruno Bozzetto and a very emotional Massimo Carrier Ragazzi of Maga Animation Studio to talk about the adaptation of Mini-VIP, one of Bozzetto's signature characters from a drawn animation character into 3D. Mini-VIP, you may recall, was the runt of a family of super-heroes, and the protagonist of one of Bozzetto's classic films, VIP, My Super Hero Brother, with which he collaborated with the cream of Italian animation in the 1960s.

Monza-based Maga Animation Studio won the Pulcinella for Animation Studio of the Year. Long a collaborator of Disney Channel for idents and graphics packages, the Maga has long had a reputation as a studio willing to do research in 3D animation and cross-platform media. They won the Pitch Me! contest at Cartoons on the Bay in 2004, then went on to collaborate with Guido Manuli in his new series, Acqua in Boca, and Robert "Bob" Wilson for a video installation in 2005. Their work with Bozzetto began in his series, I Cosi, when they worked on the animation for Animation Band and Rai Fiction, the producer of the series.

Bozzetto worked with Maga Animation Studio on the animation of Mini VIP to 3D, splitting the development costs between them. Bozzetto found it challenging to render him in 3D, especially the facial control when he speaks.

"I like their studio, and I like how they work, day and night to get it right," said Bozzetto. Maga and Bozzetto began to work together quietly on the adaptation of Mini VIP to 3D, splitting the development costs between them. "Mini VIP has a very complex psychology," Bozzetto explains, "it was a real challenge to render him in 3D, especially the facial control when he speaks." Rai has announced that they are picking up the series, with details to follow.

"We have always been focused on experimenting with style," beams Carrier Ragazzi. "I have to thank Disney, who gave us the chance to experiment, first with something little, then progressively bigger and bigger things." He looks over at Bozzetto and reflects. "We have the great fortune to work with some of the masters of Italian animation. The experiments we have done this year have been the confirmation of our efforts -- especially for the staff of our studio, who have given so much of themselves."

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