Nexus Produce Series Of Short Films For Animal Planet Channel

Nexus Productions have completed a series of animated short films for children’s TV channel, Animal Planet, Italy.
The films, written and directed by Bessy & Combe, Carolina Melis and Celyn, range from 60 seconds to 3 minutes long and feature, amongst other fantastic things, a break-dancing cat, a snake-impersonating giraffe and some stampeding mammoths. Taking the initial brief of illustrating the relationship between children and animals and working to tight budgets, each director has created stunning and beautifully realised films.
Chris O’Reilly, Executive Producer of Nexus commented: “These projects were a bit of a departure for Nexus as we rarely have produced animation so focused on a children’s audience. Everyone involved really enjoyed the process and we’re very proud of how all the films came out.”
The three episodes of ‘Magic Cat’, directed by Celyn, each tell a tale of a little boy, Paulo, and his sometimes surreal adventures with a mysteriously appearing cat who seems to be able to bend space and time at will.
French directing duo Bessy & Combe created a TV talent show for their film ‘Amico’, where three animals compete to be a little boy’s best friend by dancing, singing, and, in the case of Nicolo the octopus, playing every single instrument in a rock band simultaneously. Hosted by an incredibly enthusiastic presenter but also featuring a canine Elvis impersonator, the film manages to conform to the talent show template whilst still existing in a world of its own.
In her three films, each under the title of ‘Walk This Way’, Carolina Melis playfully explores movement with especially composed music accompanying her beautiful and colourful designs.
In each film the different animals all walk along in a line taking turns to copy each other’s movements.
Copying is one of the first games children understand as it’s fun and clever and, in the case of the films, is the way these animals become friends."
(SP)