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RAINMAKER/NEW SITE ReBootS CLASSIC SERIES
ReBoot is being redeveloped as a trilogy of feature-length films by Vancouver-based Rainmaker Animation with the help of new media applications announced Rainmaker Entertainment CEO Warren Franklin. Originally produced in 1994, it was the first animated CGI show on television. It aired for several seasons on ABC, YTV and Cartoon Network.
"ReBoot was groundbreaking in its first incarnation, but what's really exciting is producing these films for the new generation of cross-platform content distribution," explains Franklin. "Everyone remembers the television series, but I can imagine how ReBoot could live as a film, as a game or as mobile content. It's important for us to engage all of those audiences at this early stage."
Although it was initially created for children, ReBoot attracted many older fans when it became thematically darker and made countless references to computer terms and pop culture. The success of this series helped establish Mainframe Entertainment (now Rainmaker Animation) as one of the world's pre-eminent computer animation studios.
"ReBoot 's legions of fans have been incredibly loyal and continue to keep the property alive on dozens of fan sites," added Rainmaker Animation executive vice-president Paul Gertz. "We're very enthusiastic about how we're reconceiving this classic series by creating an innovative way for those fans, who were kids when the series started, to use new technology to help guide us."
Rainmaker and Zeros 2 Heroes, a newly launched social network for fans of comics, have entered into a strategic alliance to further the redevelopment effort of ReBoot. Five undiscovered writers have been selected to work with the professionals at Rainmaker to develop their individual and separate pitches for the series' new storyline. Each writer will collaborate with a Rainmaker production team to prepare a presentation pitch which will be posted to the Zeros 2 Heroes (www.zeros2heroes.com) beginning on Thursday, the opening of Comic-Con International.
For the next month, those visiting the Web site will be able to work with each production team to help refine the ideas for the return of ReBoot. At the end of the month, the fans will vote and select the winning pitch. Later this year, a Web version of the comic based on the winning idea will be published. At that time, production of a planned trilogy of feature-length ReBoot films will begin.
"We want to get rid of the gatekeepers and help forge a genuine dialogue between producers and fans. When it comes to longstanding genre entertainment properties, the fans are the real experts and their goodwill shouldn't be taken for granted," says Zeroes 2 Heroes founder Matt Toner. "If you want them to show up on opening weekend, why not build an authentic relationship from day one? Rainmaker is a forward-looking company and they really get this. We're thrilled to be using our tools to help drive the next generation of ReBoot."
ReBoot is being redeveloped as a trilogy of feature-length films by Vancouver-based Rainmaker Animation with the help of new media applications announced Rainmaker Entertainment CEO Warren Franklin. Originally produced in 1994, it was the first animated CGI show on television. It aired for several seasons on ABC, YTV and Cartoon Network.
"ReBoot was groundbreaking in its first incarnation, but what's really exciting is producing these films for the new generation of cross-platform content distribution," explains Franklin. "Everyone remembers the television series, but I can imagine how ReBoot could live as a film, as a game or as mobile content. It's important for us to engage all of those audiences at this early stage."
Although it was initially created for children, ReBoot attracted many older fans when it became thematically darker and made countless references to computer terms and pop culture. The success of this series helped establish Mainframe Entertainment (now Rainmaker Animation) as one of the world's pre-eminent computer animation studios.
"ReBoot 's legions of fans have been incredibly loyal and continue to keep the property alive on dozens of fan sites," added Rainmaker Animation executive vice-president Paul Gertz. "We're very enthusiastic about how we're reconceiving this classic series by creating an innovative way for those fans, who were kids when the series started, to use new technology to help guide us."
Rainmaker and Zeros 2 Heroes, a newly launched social network for fans of comics, have entered into a strategic alliance to further the redevelopment effort of ReBoot. Five undiscovered writers have been selected to work with the professionals at Rainmaker to develop their individual and separate pitches for the series' new storyline. Each writer will collaborate with a Rainmaker production team to prepare a presentation pitch which will be posted to the Zeros 2 Heroes (www.zeros2heroes.com) beginning on Thursday, the opening of Comic-Con International.
For the next month, those visiting the Web site will be able to work with each production team to help refine the ideas for the return of ReBoot. At the end of the month, the fans will vote and select the winning pitch. Later this year, a Web version of the comic based on the winning idea will be published. At that time, production of a planned trilogy of feature-length ReBoot films will begin.
"We want to get rid of the gatekeepers and help forge a genuine dialogue between producers and fans. When it comes to longstanding genre entertainment properties, the fans are the real experts and their goodwill shouldn't be taken for granted," says Zeroes 2 Heroes founder Matt Toner. "If you want them to show up on opening weekend, why not build an authentic relationship from day one? Rainmaker is a forward-looking company and they really get this. We're thrilled to be using our tools to help drive the next generation of ReBoot."
