Nordisk Film and director Anders Ronnow-Klarlund's Revival ApS have started production on Strings, an animated feature using marionettes.

While, in the era of 3D digital effects and synthespians, puppets on strings may seem old-fashioned Klarlund argues that it is perfect for his story. "I'm fascinated by the idea that our lives are controlled and that we have all been given set parts to play in life," he said, comparing Strings more to Star Wars than Pinocchio.

The story is that of a man who set out to avenge his father's murder, but end up falling for the female general heading his enemies. It is conceived as a triptych, although each of the feature-length episodes is intended as a stand-alone film.

Writer-director Klarlund co-wrote the scripts with author and poet Naja Marie Aidt, and will co-produce the films with Nordisk Film's head of production Rumle Hammerich. Each instalment is budgeted around DKR10m with additional finance coming from broadcaster TV2/Denmark and Nordic Film & TV Fund.

The puppets are presently being built in Prague by Sarka Vachova, who previously collaborated with Jim Henson's Creature Shop. Denmark's Charlotte Justesen is the production designer. The cinematographer is Eigil Bryld (Possessed, Before The Storm), who recently won a BAFTA TV award for Wisconsin Death Trip.

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