Bubblegum Crisis Movie :o

[Ksandra]

So I was looking for a new/sig avatar and I came across this:

http://www.thebusinessoffilmdaily.co...09/D20_S1.html

The signing of the Production agreement at the start of the Cannes Film Festival between six companies and countries – Singapore based production firm Axxis International, Tokyo based Anime International Company (AIC), Australia’s Arclight Films, Canada’s Wizzfilms Inc., China’s Infotainment China Media Company, and the United Kingdom’s Latec International – to produce a live-action version of the Japanese anime series Bubblegum Crisis, a popular cyberpunk, sci-fi-style anime set in the distant future, is an historical moment in the co-producing of films worldwide. Two factors make the agreement so significant: the partners are largely independent film companies involved in all aspects of filmmaking and the emerging importance of financing sources from the Far East.

The second factor is perhaps more significant than the first. The wealth of countries in the Far East is built on a strong work ethic and the foundations of a money-saving culture, the basis of capitalism. The emerging countries have adhered to basic principles that the West has forgone, which in part caused the financial crisis the world is currently experiencing. The overall significance is that for the past several years the Far East countries attending the Cannes Film Festival have been making great strides in producing films at reasonable budgets, and the flight of productions and co-productions is testament. A proportion of the underlying budget support will take advantage of the various government treaties between the countries. The Bubble Gum Crisis could not be made in the West for the budget of 30million, which is the top end of the scale for the Far East. Singapore’s ambitions to strengthen the country as the Media hub of the East, together with the audience potential of the already popular Bubblegum Crisis concept, in not only the Far East but the West, makes this co-production a unique milestone. Added to the mix is the involvement of Latec International, a worldwide commodity firm, making their first foray into the film business based on “making the investment purely from a business view point.”

As the first Singapore-Japan-Australia-Canada-China-United Kingdom co-production, Bubblegum Crisis (poster pictured left) will also be the first feature film made under the Singapore-Australia, Australia-Canada, Canada-Singapore, China-Australia and China-Canada co-production treaties. Axxis Group’s CEO, Mr. Benjamin Toh says: “Bubblegum Crisis paves the way for Axxis International’s business specialization – to concentrate on live-action feature films with intense CGI and special effects. We anticipate doing more live-action remakes of hugely popular game, anime or manga series.” Looking forward to the partnership, Mr. Toru Miura, President of AIC, said: “I am pleased to be working with Axxis International to create one of our better known properties and bring it to the live action genre from the anime domain. I cannot be more excited to see the start of the production, working with so many experienced partners around the globe. It will be a truly international collaboration!”

Gary Hamilton, Managing Director of Arclight Films, the Australian partner, and also the appointed International Sales Agent, said, “We’re thrilled to be representing this visionary project and we’re confident of its global appeal. It’s a truly international production, not just because it’s a co-production between six countries, but because the material itself transcends cultural barriers.”

Bubblegum Crisis is budgeted at USD 30 million, with an intended worldwide release by early 2012. Principle photography will begin in Australia, with the post-production to be completed in Canada by Mokko Studio – a partnering studio of Wizzfilms Inc. Anthony LaMolinara from Mokko Studio, who won an Academy Award for Spider-Man 2 in 2005, and was nominated for Spider-Man as well as nominations for the British Academy, will be involved in the film. LaMolinara was previously an animation director at VIFX (Twentieth Century Fox Digital Effects) where he worked on Planet Ice, Blade and T-Rex, and at Walt Disney he was animation director on Toy Story 3. Danny Bergeron, President of Wizzfilms Inc., commented: “Look at all the major blockbusters that are coming out now - the X-men series, Iron Man, 300 – they have all been taken from comic books. Bubblegum Crisis fits into the trend and yet, as one of the first animations to have crossed overseas years ago, it has an edge. I believe it will make for a riveting live-action film.”

The participation of Infotainment China Media Company secures the way for Bubblegum Crisis’ entry into the coveted Chinese film market. Infotainment China will be responsible for distribution in greater China (mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong) and selected Asia countries. Cindy Mi Lin, Managing Director of Infotainment China, commented: “I am pleased to be working with so many experienced international producers on this film. My objective is to ensure that foreign producers enjoy strong market growth in the China Box Office, which has been increasing with a more than 20% annual rate in the last 6 years.”

According to research, China's film industry is forecasted to grow from generating $250 million in box office profits in 2005 to reach close to $900 million by 2010 and almost $2 billion by 2015. China’s growth will follow a steep upward trend to overtake the U.S. film industry, currently the dominant global market leader, by sometime in 2050. Now is the right time for foreign entertainment and media companies to initiate entry strategies and develop long-term plans in order to fully capitalize on this eventuality.

Mr. Ravi Wethasinghe, Managing Partner of Latec International, added: “It is our privilege to work with Axxis International on this production. Looking at the pool of talents and well-known co-production partners, I have no doubt that Bubblegum Crisis will be a prime movie title to look out for.”

(Pictured Mrs. Wethasinghe & Elspeth Tavares)

Mr. Kenneth Tan, Chief Operating Officer of the Media Development Authority (MDA) of Singapore, who witnessed the Production Agreement Signing Ceremony, concluded: "The Media Development Authority of Singapore is delighted that a home-grown production company is undertaking a project of this magnitude and involving renowned international media companies as partners. I have full confidence that this property, besides its vast appeal amongst anime fans, will also draw new audiences to watch the live action film because of its intriguing storyline, high quality special effects and international cast. I wish the Axxis Group and its partners every success in the production of Bubblegum Crisis."

The producers are currently in talks to firm up the script, director and cast, and audiences can expect to see some fresh faces alongside A-list names.

About Bubblegum Crisis
AIC first produced Bubblegum Crisis in 1987 as an eight-part series for the straight-to-video market. Its popularity inspired a prequel, AD Police Files, and follow-up Bubblegum Crash series, as well as TV cartoons, games and various spin-offs. Total video and laser disc sales amounted to more than 600,000 units. It was also widely exported abroad, becoming a key player in the worldwide anime boom. A digitally remastered compilation of the original series' episodes, featuring bi-lingual tracks and production extras, was released on DVD in 2004 by AnimEigo Inc.

About Axxis International
Axxis International is involved in film financing, filmmaking, animation production, CGI and special effects, as well as co-production. Axxis draws from a vast global network of stakeholders, including distributors, content owners and financiers, to provide end-to-end media services.

About Anime International Company
Anime International Company (AIC) is a Japanese anime studio based in Tokyo and founded on 15 July 1982. In addition to producing anime for domestic consumption in Japan, AIC has provided animation assistance on other animated series such as Inspector Gadget. AIC has produced many direct-to-video and TV cartoons, including the international hits Tenchi Muyo and Oh My Goddess.

About Arclight Films
Arclight Films is a full service international sales, production and distribution company. Founded in Australia in 2002 by Gary Hamilton and Victor Syrmis, the company currently has offices in Los Angeles, New York, London, Sydney, Melbourne, Toronto and Tokyo, and works with many of the creative and successful professionals in the entertainment industry. Arclight Films encompasses two subsidiary releasing labels, Darclight Films and Easternlight Films. The labels catering respectively to genre films and Asian films are the product of Arclight's unique understanding of the global marketplace and its experience and expertise at effectively positioning films within it.

About Wizzfilms Inc.
Wizzfilms is a Canadian production company specializing in international co-productions as well as in acquiring and developing original creative properties. The company has concentrated its efforts on numerous projects, most notably for the following features: Guy X (a UK-Iceland-Canada co-production directed by Saul Metzstein and starring Jason Biggs, Natascha McElhone and Jeremy Northam) and Les temps changent (a France-Canada co-production starring Nancy Tate, Vernon Doptcheff, Tantoo Cardinal and David La Haye).

About Mokko Studio
Established in early 2003, Mokko Studio is the brainchild of Danny Bergeron and Alain Lachance, both of whom have long been a part of the digital visual effects and animation industries in Canada. The variety of artists give Mokko Studio the opportunity to offer a wide range of services that consist of VFX design, storyboards, on-set supervision, animation, compositing, matte painting and miniatures. Most notable projects include CGI animation and visual effects for Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008), Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (2007), and Silent Hill (2006).

About Infotainment China Media Company
Infotainment China Media was founded by Ms. Cindy Mi Lin who has over 20 years of experience in the China’s entertainment industry and worked previously in Universal Studio, Disney, Kodak, and Virgin Radio. As the first private international sales agent from China, it carves out an international distribution channel for China art house feature films and was named the path breaker with “Independent Spirit” by Variety. The brainchild of China Film Pitch and Catch Forum in Shanghai’s International Film Festival, Infotainment China Media formed the first international co-production market in China as the matchmaker for Creative and Capital. Infotainment China has a multilingual production management team specializing in Production Service Vending for foreign producers in China with strong fund raising capability.

About Latec International
Latec International was started in 1985 by a consortium of companies from the United Kingdom and Sri Lanka. Since then, the company has expanded in many international markets and has dealt with a wide variety of services and participated in many government and private projects. The company portfolio includes real estate development, manufacturing of buses, and commodity trading.

I hope this doesn't fall off. BGC has been one of my all-time favorite animes and one of the few I actually enjoy rewatching now and then.


note: I didn't see it posted in that article but wiki states this film is set to be released in 2012.

[Zilong]

it's really too bad the world ends at 2012 :/

[Not Kuno]

The original or 2040? The original wasn't so great... :/ Every episode was just a random thing. I liked 2040 much better because it picked up on something from the original and just made it the whole arc. \

And yeah this was one of my favorites too.

[Ksandra]

The original or 2040? The original wasn't so great... :/ Every episode was just a random thing. I liked 2040 much better because it picked up on something from the original and just made it the whole arc. \

And yeah this was one of my favorites too.

I would imagine 2040. I agree, the original was a lot of fun but Priss was the only character that was well-rounded out, 2040 actually gave all the knight sabers their own story. Only downside was Sylia didn't fight!!!

[Kirin]

My first thought when I heard this was "Yay! a BGC 2040 Live Action movie!"

My second, and prolly more important thought was "Awesome! Studio's can stop bickering and get the Evangelion live action movie done now!"

[Vail]

that's pretty cool, I loved this show years ago. hard to go wrong with chicks in power suits

[Rulke]

Wow, BGC is so old skool for me. Cool to hear they are doing a movie for it, there is a lot of older anime that is really good and its nice to see its not forgotten about

[Zilong]

My first thought when I heard this was "Yay! a BGC 2040 Live Action movie!"

My second, and prolly more important thought was "Awesome! Studio's can stop bickering and get the Evangelion live action movie done now!"

I thought evangelion live action is already on production.

[Merovingian]

I love this series hope the movie gets an awesome treatment and I hope they add Largo in the movie he was my favorite character in Crisis and Crash