William Joyce, whose film ‘The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore’ won the Oscar for Best Animated Short in 2012, will direct the film, which is recently-formed Cirrina Studios’ first animated feature and first collaboration with French production comphany Dwarf Animation Studio.
SANTA MONICA, CA -- Recently launched finance, development and production company Cirrina Studios has announced that Oscar-winning filmmaker and celebrated author/illustrator William “Bill” Joyce will direct its first animated feature film, The Extincts. The film is based on British writer Veronica Cossanteli’s popular middle grade novel of the same name. The film is being adapted by President of Production David Lipman (Shrek 2) who will produce with Michael Siegel (The BFG, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory). Jane Startz and Barry Cunningham will executive produce alongside Jim Pesoli and Karine Martin of Cirrina Studios.
Pre-production begins in June, with an anticipated 2019 release, The Extincts, will be the first Cirrina Studios feature to start production at Dwarf Animation Studio founded by CEO Olivier Pinol in Montpellier, France.
The Extincts follows the madcap adventures of George Drake, a boy who goes to work on a farm hidden deep in the woods where he discovers a hidden cache of mythological creatures, one of which escapes and terrorizes the town where he lives. The novel is published by Chicken House/Scholastic in the UK and by Henry Holt in the United States and international markets.
“Feature animation is one of the cornerstones of Cirrina Studios’ broad ambitions,” said Lipman. “I’m thrilled to partner with Olivier and Dwarf; we’ve assembled an unbelievably talented group of artists and technicians to make a studio-quality film with a unique look and global appeal.”
Source: Cirrina Studios
