STINK LAUNCHES SKUNK

LONDON-based production company Stink have launched Skunk, a new animation house producing music videos, commercials and short films.
They hit the ground running with a commission from London creative agency, Abbott Mead Vickers. One of Skunk's Prague-based directors Michal Zabka will direct three scripts for whisky brand Famous Grouse at the end of June which will hit UK screens in September 2001.
Skunk’s main aim is to create a talent pool of develop young animation directors and graphic artistes to develop their talents for various disciplines, primarily commercials and music videos – with a view to expanding into new media.
The majority of Skunk’s animation directors are from East Europe, where there has always been a very strong tradition of animation, producing some of the most innovative and influential work in this field. In addition to this, 4K, a London-based collective of artists who met at London's Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, have just produced their latest animation project through Stink – a music video for the Super Furry Animals ‘Presidential Suite’, which has been playlisted on MTV.
The original concept of Skunk arose from Daniel Bergmann’s discovery of a group of young animators in Prague. He said: “I was very inspired by this new wave of young animation directors and artistes, using traditional techniques yet modern ideas and I wanted to do something with them creatively. With the development of new media and the convergence of the various media industries it seems like an obvious and exciting development for us.”
With lower budgets, especially in music promos, animation is an opportunity to do creative work with a limited budget. With a production base and studio back-up in Prague, Skunk can give their work a very high production value at a reasonable cost and competitive price. (GB)