Calling All Robots

[mechakira]

an article from BloodyDisgusting.com


"Now that it looks like Trey Parker and Matt Stone won't be doing their "Godzilla" throwback pic, Giant Monsters Attack Japan, someone else might as well capitalize on the untapped marketplace. Today it was announced that Michael Dougherty (Trick 'R Treat) has teamed with Walt Disney Pictures and Robert Zemeckis' ImageMovers on Calling All Robots, an animated sci-fi adventure the scribe plans to direct using the same type of performance capture technology recently deployed to produce "Beowulf." Read on for the massive story.

Michael Dougherty has teamed with Walt Disney Pictures and Robert Zemeckis' ImageMovers on "Calling All Robots," an animated sci-fi adventure the scribe plans to direct using the same type of performance capture technology recently deployed to produce "Beowulf."

Dougherty will pen the project with Breehn Burns and Simeon Wilkins, who will serve as artists and visual designers on the project. The trio conceived the idea together.

Details of the project are being kept under wraps, but it uses performance capture to "tell a story that's a throwback to old Godzilla movies," Dougherty said. "I grew up watching Godzilla movies. This film is very much rooted in those movies."

ImageMovers' Zemeckis, Jack Rapke and Steve Starkey will produce.

The producers are readying "A Christmas Carol," their follow up to "Beowulf" and "The Polar Express," which will use the performance capture process and Disney will distrib in 2009.

Idea for "Calling All Robots" was hatched in part because of the capabilities of the technology, which combines the filming of actors and combines their moves using computers to create digital characters and sets.

"It's a film we just could not make in live action or traditional animation," said Dougherty, who began his career as an animator.

Dougherty recently helmed "Trick 'r Treat," a Halloween-themed horror pic that Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures were going to release last October but bumped to this year in order to move pic away from an onslaught of slashers at the multiplex.

He had worked with Burns and Wilkins on "Trick 'r Treat," with the two serving as storyboard and concept artists on the project.

No release date has yet been set for "Trick 'r Treat," Dougherty's first foray in the director's chair.

He previously penned "X2: X-Men United" for 20th Century Fox and "Superman Returns," both of which Bryan Singer helmed."


http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/11746

[MouthForWar]

I'd like to know more about this one plot-wise...

But yeah, its a damn shame about Giant Monsters Attack Japan... I posted about its future in movie limbo in the GMAJ topic... sad.

[mr.negativity]

[gfan1984]

[kiryugoji04]

[MouthForWar]

MERGE

[mrbluehair]

I like the idea, I think using that type of technology to make the movie should translate better than it did with Beowulf in regards to robot characters vs human.

I also like his love for Godzilla movies which I hope translates into a cool look, feel and story.

One would imagine that if Disney and Zemekis' company is on board there is a good chance it will come out.

We'll have to just wait and see.

[Robert Saint John]

[mr.negativity]

[Henry88]

if it is a throwback to the old Godzilla movies it going to be interesting to say the least

[mr.negativity]

From Deadline:

[mr.negativity]

From Moviehole:

[quote]
Moviehole spoke to “Superman Returnsâ€

[jellydonut25]

It's been a while since Zemeckis has done anything particularly good...

[MouthForWar]

[jellydonut25]