Triggerfish announces that Laurence Fishbourne joins their new 3D animated feature “Khumba.”
Beverly Hills, CA -- South Africa based Triggerfish Animation Studios announced that they’ve added the voice talents of Laurence Fishburne to join Liam Neeson, AnnaSophia Robb, Jake T. Austin, Loretta Devine and Richard E. Grant in their new 3D Animated feature Khumba. Fishburne will play opposite Austin in the role of Khumba’s father, Seko. Robb will voice Tombi, Khumba’s female friend and Neeson voices the ferocious leopard Phango.
Khumba tells the story of a half-striped Zebra (Austin) who is blamed for the drought by his superstitious herd. He leaves his home in search of the magic waterhole where legend has it, the first Zebras got their stripes. Teaming up with an overprotective, sassy wildebeest (Devine) and a self-obsessed ostrich (Grant), this plucky young zebra meets an array of wacky characters in an unforgettable adventure through the Great Karoo to earn his stripes.
The original story was penned by Triggerfish writers Raffaella Delle Donne and Anthony Silverston in consultation with Jonathan Roberts, co-writer of The Lion King. Silverston is also the director. Stuart Forrest of Triggerfish Animation Studios (Zambezia) produced the feature. The film is represented internationally by Edward Noeltner’s Cinema Management Group. Millennium Entertainment will be releasing the film in the US later this year.
Noeltner and team have closed over 30 international distribution agreements covering some 50 international territories on the film. While major territories such as the US/Canada, Germany, France, Russia, S. Korea, Eastern Europe and all of Latin America have already been pre-sold, CMG has been holding on to the UK, Australia, Italy, Spain and Scandinavia until the final film screens in 3D in Cannes in May.
The Oscar nominated Fishburne (What’s Love Got to Do with It) has starred in such films as The Matrix and its sequels, Searching for Bobby Fischer, Mystic River, Akeelah and the Bee, Mission: Impossible III, Bobby, 21, and received a Tony award for his acclaimed performance as an ex-con in the play “Two Trains Running”. Fishburne’s deal was negotiated by Voice Producer/Director Ned Lott on behalf of Triggerfish Studios and Paradigm Agent, Jack Kingsrud on behalf of Mr. Fishburne.
AnnaSophia Robb currently stars in The Carrie Diaries and was in last year’s Soul Surfer and Tim Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Liam Neeson (Taken & Taken 2, Batman Begins & the Star Wars trilogies) was recently added to the cast to play Phango, a malevolent leopard who controls the waterholes where Khumba lives.
Edward Noeltner, CMG head stated, “Fishburne’s performance as Seko was terrific. His powerful voice and amazing acting talents really show off in his role as Khumba’s father and we are honored to have him on board as our newest voice cast member. We’ll be adding the final voice cast members before the film screens in Cannes.”
Stuart Forrest, CEO of Triggerfish Animation, adds “It’s great to be able to work with professional actors of this caliber – Fishburne’s acting brought a depth into the animated character and we’re thrilled with the results.”
Source: Triggerfish Animation
Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network, Jennifer Wolfe has worked in the Media & Entertainment industry as a writer and PR professional since 2003.
