Animated Gallipolli drama underway

Production has begun on 25 April, an animated docu/drama that retells the battle of Gallipolli story - from the landing in 1915, to the evacuation in December.

The story will be told through the eyes of six ANZACs (Australian and New Zealand Army Corp soldiers) who found themselves part of one of the most iconic campaigns of the First World War.  

Written and directed by Leanne Pooley (Beyond the Edge) co-written by Tim Woodhouse, produced by Matthew Metcalfe for New Zealand’s General Film Corporation (Beyond the Edge) in association with Ingenious-backed UK outfit Pitfan Productions, the animation will be created by Auckland-based Flux Animation Studios.  Flux’s founder/creative director Brent Chambers will lead the animation team.  

K5 International is handling international sales.  Transmission Films will release the film in New Zealand and Australia in 2015. 

“Animation gives us the opportunity to bring the men and women who were at Gallipoli back to life,” said Pooley. 

“It allows us to really experience what they went through from an entirely new perspective. There are no limitations to how the story can be illustrated.  We can create a Gallipoli no one has ever seen before, it’s very exciting

Chambers described the animation as “an exciting and innovative approach to storytelling”.

“Overcoming the challenge of creating the epic sense of scale required will involve the team here employing multiple new and varied digital techniques,” added Chambers. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Matthew and Leanne, and to be a part of this historic piece of NZ filmmaking.”

The New Zealand Film Commission is financing with Flux Animation Studio, Images and Sound, General Film Corporation and UK based Pitfan Productions.  The project is being made with the assistance of the New Zealand Government’s Screen Production Incentive Fund.