It seems like we have been waiting to hear about a feature animated film from Moonbot Studios ever since they won an Academy Award for The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morriss Lessmore back in 2012, and even more so when they released that amazing Chipotle ad last year, The Scarecrow.
Now we finally have news on what may be their first ventures into the world of feature animation…or at least somewhat. Moonbot Studios has recently acquired the rights to a young adult book series called Olivia Kidney by Ellen Potter, as well as the singular book The Extincts written by Veronica Cossanteli.
Olivia Kidney
Olivia Kidney’s new apartment building is crazy Talking lizards crawling everywhere. A tropical rainforest growing in 7B. Even an apartment made entirely of glass Maybe her father will get fired from his job as the building super, and they can leave. But Olivia is tired of moving from place to place, from school to school. What she wouldn’t give for a little slice of sanity. And maybe a friend to share it with. (GoodReads)
Moonbot Studios’ approach to Olivia Kidney is somewhat surprising as they will use the Alice In Wonderland-like qualities of the book to enhance the live action. That’s to say that the film won’t be an entirely animated film. Instead, It will be a live-action film with significant animation sequences.
The Extincts
George loves to help out at hidden Wormestall Farm, even though it’s full of extinctly scary creatures, like the dodo in the dog bed and the dinosaurs in the duck pond. When Mortifer the giant basilisk goes missing, it’s up to George to find him before wicked taxidermist Diamond Pye can add to her stuffed animal collection …(GoodReads)
As it is still very early in the process for both of these films to have concept art let alone release dates, we at least have time to take a look at the source material to do what we do best: speculate about possible plot points, theorize about potential direction in art work and day dream about the possibilities.
Now that we know what Moonbot is doing next, what do we think of this up and coming studio? Have you read the source material? Will you be reading the source material? Sound off below!