GLASGOW, UK — The Axis group (www.axisanimation.com) of creative companies is branching out beyond animated narrative content for the games into long format television and film. The Axis team is collaborating with co-producers Balloon Entertainment and Kindle Entertainment for E4 and Netflix on their series Kiss Me First. The six-part thriller will combine live action and animated virtual world sequences created by Axis. Kiss Me First is based on a best-selling novel by Lottie Moggach, and is being adapted by
Skins creator Bryan Elsley from Balloon. It will premiere on E4 in the UK, with Netflix streaming the series globally in July 2017.
Flaunt (www.flauntproductions.com), Axis’ sister studio, has created long-format division that will specialize in the production of animated television series, TV specials and feature films. Flaunt has already secured three productions and has added staff to its studio locations in Glasgow and Bristol.
“Flaunt has always been looking at longer format animation production. It is the perfect match for what we represent as a studio, combining great storytelling, charming characters with plenty of humor,” says Flaunt EP Andrew Pearce.
Flaunt’s first long format production was the Lost in Oz pilot for Amazon Studios. Created and produced by Bureau of Magic in Los Angeles,
Lost in Oz was recently green lit to series to debut on Amazon Prime Video. This announcement will see Flaunt continue to provide design development and art direction services throughout 2016, led by Flaunt director and art director Stephen Donnelly. Most recently Flaunt has added to its long format project roster with the production of two
Monster High animated features for Mattel, which will be coming to DVD and Blu-Ray in 2016 and 2017.
Flaunt has created a new story department, added new staff to their roster in art direction, animation, layout and production management, and the Axis group as a whole has increased its file server and render-farm infrastructure by over 100 percent.
“We are incredibly excited about both the creative and business opportunities in the long format market, and believe the group’s reputation for collaborative relationships and high production values mean that this is just the start,” notes Axis managing director, Richard Scott. “With other long-format productions on our horizon, the future is very bright for both the Axis and Flaunt teams.”