Guillermo Del Toro To Produce Animated 'Day Of The Dead'
The fully CG-animated picture has no relation to Romero's Zombie franchise and is instead a Romeo & Juliet style love story set within the Mexican festival of the same name.
As if the guy didn't already have enough on his plate, we can now add one more movie to our favourite Mexican auteur's ever growing pile. Director of the modern fantasy classic Pans Labyrinth and the Hellboy Series: Guillermo Del Toro has recently signed on to produce an upcoming CG-animated feature 'Day Of The Dead'.
At first glance the title may be a bit confusing but let me clarify something: This is not a remake of George Romero's Day Of The Dead and contains no connection to his zombie franchise or zombies at all it seems;
The story is "an action-packed, fully CG-animated picture, with a Romeo and Juliet style love story set against a Mexican Day of the Dead backdrop".Setup at Reel FX, the project will be directed by Emmy Award Winner Jorge R. Gutierrez best known for Nickelodeons El Tigre, The Adventures of Manny Rivera.
Del Toro has not collaborated on a feature project set in Mexico for almost twenty years now and it will be interesting to see what he and Gutierrez can accomplish as they return to their country of heritage.
For those not in the know the celebration of Day Of The Dead has some similarities to our Halloween but far less commercial and is symbolised by the of painting skulls in a colourful fashion. Its focus is far more on the gathering of families and friends to pray for, remember and celebrate the lives of those close to them that have died.
With a backdrop of the colourful and vibrant Day Of The Dead holiday this is sure to be one project to keep an eye on.
For the full press release see below. Day Of The Dead is scheduled to be released in fall 2014.
GUILLERMO DEL TORO JOINS WITH REEL FX TO PRODUCE EPIC ANIMATED ADVENTURE
DAY OF THE DEAD
Jorge R. Gutierrez To Direct Tent-pole Project Set for 2014 Release Los Angeles, February 21, 2012 Reel FX has teamed with Academy Award®-nominated filmmaker Guillermo del Toro (Puss in Boots, Pacific Rim, Pans Labyrinth) to produce a groundbreaking, CG-animated film working title, Day of the Dead. Del Toro will also present the film which is directed by Emmy Award winnerJorge R. Gutierrez (El Tigre, The Adventures of Manny Rivera). The film is being penned by Gutierrez and Emmy Award nominee Doug Langdale. Reel FX will produce alongside Aaron Berger and Carina Schulze of Chatrone, Inc. Day of the Dead is scheduled to be released in fall 2014. The film is an action-packed, fully CG-animated picture, with a Romeo and Juliet style love story set against a Mexican Day of the Dead backdrop. It represents the first time in almost twenty years since 1993s Cronos that del Toro has collaborated on a feature project set in Mexico. Music is also integral to the story; the film will feature an international roster of A-list recording artists performing new songs as well as re-imagined iconic songs. Reel FXs Brad Booker brought Day of the Dead to the studio and is the development executive on the project. Were thrilled to have Guillermo on board for Day of the Dead, said Booker. As individuals, Guillermo and Jorge share a cultural background and love for Mexican folklore, which brings a palpable authenticity to our project; however, as artists, each brings to the picture a vastly different aesthetic sensibility. Working together for the first time, we feel that they bring a truly unique balance to the style and story of the film. Notes del Toro, I have admired Jorges work for a long time. He has a unique aesthetic and sense of humor. Day of the Dead offers a perfect opportunity for his sensibilities to shine. This is a colorful, vibrant, vital fable that utilizes the animation medium in an incredible way. The object of the tale is not only to talk about life but to dazzle us jolt us- into living to the fullest. To join Reel FX, Cary Granat and Jorge in this adventure is a privilege and a joy. In addition to Day of the Dead, Reel FX has secured and is actively developing multiple CG-animated and effects-driven, live-action projects. Projects underway include an animated feature adaptation of the Dark Horse graphic novel, Beasts of Burden, produced by Andrew Adamson (Shrek) and Aron Warner; and Turkeys, the studios CG-animated comedy directed by Jimmy Hayward (Horton Hears a Who!). The studio also recently collaborated on the production of the 3D film Cirque du Soleils Worlds Away, written and directed by Andrew Adamson, and executive produced by Academy Award®-winning filmmaker James Cameron (Avatar). Cary Granat and Ed Jones served as producers on the project for Reel FX. Cirque du Soleils Worlds Away is currently in post-production and set to debut in late 2012 from Paramount Pictures.