Miramax Films as announced its first CGI animated feature for children, entitled BIONICLE: MASK OF LIGHT. Targeted for a 2004 theatrical release, the film is being aimed at 8-12-year old boys in Miramax's first real push to develop children's content.
The deal for Bionicle toys, which are rooted in a single, multi-cultural storyline created by Lego and involve six heroes known as the Toa who join forces to collect legendary artifacts and defeat an evil ruler, is part of a broad partnership between Miramax and Lego.
The product began as a story concept and appeared on the Web and as a comic book before coming to life as a toy. "We have been developing the property with a motion picture adaptation in mind from day one," Lego Media global vice-president of TV and film Conny Kalcher told Daily Variety. "We've done a lot of groundwork already. All the characters are established. We've tied down the look."
Miramax has one other animated feature in development - SUMMERLAND, based on the Michael Chabon book published by Talk Miramax. SUMMERLAND is expected to follow the Bionicle movie into production.
SHOOT-BACK HERE!
