Amidst all the pre-Summer Solstice hype that emanates from Summer movie blockbuster buzz in 2012, a revitalized story emerges from the creative assistance of Agni Interactive on the upcoming-animated film, “Kaptara” by Mind’s Eye Studios.
“Kaptara” is a unique take on a classic Greek myth, the story of Theseus, prince of Athens, and his epic battle with the Minotaur, a flesh-eating monster with the head of a bull and the body of a man. It is a unique blend of history, horror, and Bronze Age science fiction. With a vivid screenplay and a talented cast of voice actors, “Kaptara” uses motion capture technology and intricately-produced, computer-generated animation.
Agni Interactive provided storyboards, 3D assets and matte paintings during the film’s pre-production and production stages. Agni Interactive developed key matte paintings that were the result of a unique look crafted during film conceptualization and storyboarding, and this art inspired the overall grand cinematic feel for the forthcoming film. Agni Interactive also worked with Mind’s Eye Studios to create a teaser – a transmedia prologue graphic novel to complement “Kaptara.”
Crushed by the armies of “Kaptara,” the city of Athens is forced to hand over its children in sacrifice to a bloodthirsty god. Only the crown prince Theseus, the founder-king of Athens who is credited with the unification of Attica and the invention of democracy, dares to stand against the empire to do battle with the Minotaur. Of material note, Theseus is also said to have created wrestling — the art of hand-to-hand combat in which an opponent’s strength and aggression can be used against him.
Mind’s Eye Studios‘ Co-Founder Patrick Canning has worked in the film and animation industry for over a decade for major studios and boutique production companies. On the verge of his own company’s first CG-animated feature film, Canning states: “With ‘Kaptara,’ our team at Mind’s Eye was committed to producing an animated feature of the highest possible quality, comparable to that of a major movie studio – but with the incredible cost efficiency of various tools unused by the big guys. We were able to leverage powerful design tools and techniques used in the video game industry and outsource our work all over the world. Like most production perfectionists, we take pride in our work and are even more proud of our communication with vendors like Agni Interactive. Through a proprietary process called “Outsourcing Plus,” Agni’s talented team of artists in Hyderabad, India (who I believe to be some of the best in the industry) were managed by a creative team here in California, so there were none of the usual outsourcing hang-ups like communication errors or cultural misinterpretations.”
Canning continued: “Agni Interactive was involved in almost every step of the process, developing the original storyboards and then creating digital assets and matte paintings throughout production. Furthermore, they put together a beautiful prequel comic for us, thereby expanding the brand into other artistic mediums. From the onset, Agni understood the vision, and helped bring to life a dark, lurid world permeated with an ever-present force of malevolent evil. From an art standpoint, their artists helped us blend the historical Bronze Age with the steam-powered science fiction elements integral to our story.”
Discussions are in the works for “Kaptara” to be screened in San Francisco at the Transmedia Film Festival this October 12-13 in San Francisco.
About AGNI INTERACTIVE
Agni Interactive is a global creative content development and transmedia company focused on stories, ideas, and experiences. Delivering passion, creativity and within budget parameters, Agni Interactive is a commercial arthouse studio for video games, film and TV animation, graphic novels and motion comics, as well as a transmedia boutique and interactive entertainment design shop with operational offices in California (San Francisco and Los Angeles) and India (Hyderabad).
Agni Interactive partners with other dynamic content creators and storytellers and also produces its own digital comics, interactive storybooks on traditional web and mobile platforms (iPad, iPhone and Android). Agni’s professional team of game industry veterans, producers, creative directors, illustrators, as well as 2D and 3D animators develop high-resolution, uniquely textured, and optimally-layered commercial art. Agni crafts sale-able original content and further enhances interactivity in storytelling, gameplay, and for online / mobile / social arenas to augment engaging learning and entertainment experiences.
Using a proprietary delivery methodology, OUTSOURCING PLUS ™, that focuses on the overall management and delivery of client’s creative initiatives, Agni Interactive brings proven quality, level-up gameplay design and understanding, affordable creative content development, artwork creation (from concept stage to completion), and outsourcing solutions for developers, clients, filmmakers, and partners. Combining a collaborative project management process with an admirable work ethic, Agni Interactive personifies the next level of creative partnership for the transmedia entertainment industry. To learn more about Agni Interactive services, skill, and expertise, visit: www.agniinteractive.com
