Triggerfish Animation Studios’ second feature, Khumba, received the royal treatment from one of The Lion King’s screenplay writers, Jonathan Roberts.
Press Release from Triggerfish Animation Studios
Beverly Hills, CA – July18 2011- Triggerfish Animation Studios’ second feature, Khumba, received the royal treatment from one of The Lion King’s screenplay writers, Jonathan Roberts. The charming story of a half-striped zebra who embarks on a quest for his missing stripes was originally penned by South African writers Raffaella Delle Donne and Anthony Silverston. The writing duo was recently in L.A. to record some of the cast and to discuss the script in person with Roberts.
To date, The Lion King is still one of Hollywood's biggest box-office successes and is the 4th-highest grossing animated release ever. The Disney classic is due to be re-released in stereoscopic 3D later this year. Roberts has subsequently worked on a number of other animated features including The Hunchback of Notre Dame; James and the Giant Peach; Monsters, Inc.; and the childhood classic, Homeward Bound.
As Jonathan Roberts explains: “For better or worse, The Lion King has cast a pretty long shadow and with Khumba I learned how tricky it can be try to present a fresh animated fable – set on the African plains, populated by African animals. But by focusing on all the distinct and original elements in the story, we could let Khumba shine in its own, well-earned light.”
Since the early stages of development, Delle Donne and Silverston have been determined to write a unique story that is appealing to international audiences by collaborating with writers outside their borders. "Khumba has always been a bit of a cosmopolitan zebra," says Delle Donne. After winning a major scriptwriting competition funded by the South African National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) and the former UK Film Council, the writers were guided by UK script editor Camilla Bubna-Kasteliz. "She helped us immensely with the foundations of the story, which after many re-writes, still remain largely intact", says Silverston who is also the Director on the film. Last year, the team was joined by Richelle Wilder, who, while head of development at Aardman, was involved from concept to completion of Chicken Run, Flushed Away, and Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the WereRabbit.
The screenplay for Zambezia, Triggerfish's first film due to be released later this year, was also given a final polish by U.S. writers Cory and Todd Edwards, the creators behind Hoodwinked.
Both Zambezia and Khumba are being represented for international sales by LA-based Cinema Management Group (CMG). In May, CMG returned from Cannes with over 30 sales across its line-up, including Khumba and Triggerfish’s first animated film Zambezia, which is set for release later this year. CMG has already pre-sold Khumba to Russia, Poland, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, X Yugoslavia, the Middle East, China, Indonesia, Pan-Latin America, Turkey, Portugal, Azerbaijan, and The Airlines.
CMG is a full service international sales company with over 100 titles in its catalogue. For more information, please consult www.cinemamanagementgroup.com.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
