London-based computer animation studio Slave Studios Ltd. has opened Bravo Studios, a sister company based in Bucharest. Bravo Studios is headed by Cinesite veteran Bill Scanlon, and opened in summer 2002 with 30 animators. The studio expects to increase its staff to over 50 animators by 2003. Slave and Bravo are currently at work on numerous projects for television and film. Among other projects, the studio recently completed SPHERIKS, a 26 x half-hour TV series in partnership with Passion Pictures for FIFA, featuring the official mascots for the WORLD CUP 2002. Other projects in the works include BACKPACKERS for Agenda TV, which follows the adventures of five dysfunctional teenagers as they backpack around the world. The pilot has been completed and a 13 x 22-minute series is expected to commence early 2003. Finally, FREE JIMMY is a full length CGI animated feature film in production with Animagicnet AS and Free Jimmy Productions Ltd. Described as a road movie, FREE JIMMY features four substance abusing "anti-heroes" and a junkie elephant traveling from the mean streets of the big city to the wilds of nature.
