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Is it possible to spin a classic tale into a new magical adventure that is still reminiscent of the venerable Don Quixote? The creative teams at Studio 100 Media, M.A.R.K.13 (Germany) and GGVFX (Argentina) certainly believe so, as they prepare their innovative animated feature Giants of La Mancha for the Cannes market this month.
“This movie has been a true adventure, given that this is not a remake of the world-renowned Don Quixote saga, but rather a spin-off with a new character,” says director Gonzalo Gutierrez (Aurora). “We wanted to tell stories to children that contain a message beyond humor or attractive images. I believe there’s something in the classic stories we read as children, where they taught us about values while we enjoyed the story. Here we have characters with as much sense of justice, honesty and ideals as Don Quixote. Those who dare to look at reality in a different way are the ones who ultimately have the ability to modify it.”
The Spirit of Cervantes
Producer Thorsten Wegener (Vic and the Magic Sword) points out that while the movie has the same heart and spirit of the classic tale, it’s also quite different from the original book. “While we kept ‘Quixotes’ as the working title throughout the production, this is a movie about the giant spirit and will of the main characters, consequently settling on the new and final title Giants of La Mancha,” he says. “This is a movie for the whole family, where humor, adventure and entertainment are the basis of the story. It’s important to understand what children enjoy and want to see, while also being able to convey something from a classic book that might be impossible for a child to understand due to its old language or length.”
Gutierrez adds that the movie does include several instances where the original Don Quixote is referenced. “We hope that it will help awaken children’s interest in knowing who he was,” he says. “Someday, if they come across the book again, they may feel tempted to read it because they once saw a movie about this character. If a child asks their parents who Don Quixote was after leaving the theater, I think we have accomplished our mission.”
The director mentions that the movie was originally conceived as a way of showcasing Latin American talent to the world. “We have been working in the animation and visual effects industry for over 20 years and felt it was time to showcase the potential of the artists we work with and the possibility of creating unprecedented products in our region,” says Gutierrez. “Although this project was born in Latin America, given that the story of Don Quixote is a European topic with global recognition, it was exciting to see Studio 100 Media and M.A.R.K.13 come on board as additional producers. With Hollywood writer Carlos Kotkin (Rio 2, The Star) attached to the script, Studio 100 Media was committed to make sure the financing and setup of the production allowed the movie to reach high standards seldom seen in independent animated films.”
The film’s art, storyboards, animatics, editing, sound and music were all done in Argentina. The animation was produced in the Canary Islands by 3 Doubles Producciones, while the modeling, texturing, lighting, rendering and compositing were done in Germany, by M.A.R.K.13 Studios and Studio Isar Animation.
Embracing Unique CG Visuals
According to Gutierrez, the visual style of the CG-animated movie is quite unique. “We sought out the best artists in Argentina and Germany to get involved in the development,” he says. “For four years, we developed the visuals of the environments and characters, making sure each space was special, and that the aesthetics were something we hadn’t seen before, with a mix of miniature style within 3D animation. We are also proud of the cartoony look added to all characters to make them more humorous, satirical and dramatic. The look of the landscape and the lighting in this film are inspired by the visuals of Patagonia, where the light is soft, and it always looks like the sun is either raising or setting.”
The director adds, “Giants of La Mancha boasts an impressive visual quality thanks to the use of the RenderMan, Pixar’s rendering engine. Every detail has been meticulously designed to create an unprecedented and visually stunning experience.”
Finally, Gutierrez and Wegener hope the audience will be inspired by their labor of love. “We hope they leave with many emotions, laughs and even tears,” says the director. “In a world where human ambition threatens our natural resources, this is a movie about a young child who manages to unite families, friends, and neighbors to defend their city and their heritage and to ensure justice. This is a story that tells us that there’s finally hope.”
For more information, visit studio100group.com.
