MANILA, Philippines - Ten months in the making, with the efforts of stars in Asia and North America, a 50-strong production team, as well as on-and off-air creative, marketing and promotional efforts of a regional TV network, comes LaMB, the first original multiplatform multimedia animation project undertaken by Animax Asia.
A universe built by a range of TV, on-line and mobile content rolled out since last year, LaMB will culminate today in the debut of the original, LaMB high definition (HD) animation TV feature based on a truly compelling story. LaMB premieres tonight at 7 across Asia and on March 31, before the special on April 7.
Based on the script submitted by Filipino viewer Carmelo Juinio, winner of the Animax Awards 2007 regional script competition, LaMB was developed as Animax Asia’s first original animation production. Set in the year A.D. 2472, LaMB unfolds in Cerra, a barren desert planet 25 light-years away from Earth where humans are seeking redemption for their wastage that has destroyed their own world. In Cerra, not even the creativity and labor of prisoners are left untapped as criminals are “Laminated” in special suits as virtual slaves called “LaMBs” to remain productive, but no free members of society. Jack Griswold, a visiting eco-scientist is about to embark on a journey to change the fate of a “LaMB,” Eve, his life, and the future of Cerra.
“Carmelo’s story was so compelling that we would not bear to let it go to waste, and Animax is pleased to have turned his dream into reality with LaMB. With it, we are proud to have made Animax’s first-ever original animation production,” said Gregory Ho, VP and GM of Animax Asia.
In voice-overs, Van Ness Wu, Taiwanese actor, star of Ken Yip’s Kung Fu Chefs (2009), and singer of Mando-pop group F4 fame, takes on the English and Mandarin voices of Jack. The character faces off against scheming villain Keiko Suzuki brought to life in Mandarin by Taiwanese actress and star of Wei Te-Sheng’s Cape No. 7 (2008) Tanaka Chie, as well as in English and Cantonese by Josie Ho, Hong Kong-based rocket-actress and star of Kenneth Bi’s The Crummer (2007).
LaMB sneak previews are being held in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Van Ness Wu and Tanaka Chie will grace the Taiwan event, while Josie Ho will be at the Hong Kong launch.