BBC News | TV AND RADIO | It's time for a movie, says Zebedee

The characters in The Magic Roundabout children's TV series are to travel the world in a full-length adventure movie.

A film deal has been signed by bolexbrothers, a UK animation house, and Paris-based Films Action.

No details are being given about the excitements in store in the film for Florence, Dougal, Zebedee and friends.

But Lucy Thorp, a spokesman for bolexbrothers, said: "It will have the same characters and some new characters.

Heroic quest

"It's going to be international - they leave the garden and go off all over the world."

But she added: "We can't talk about where they go or what they will be doing."

Dougal
Dougal is being groomed for stardom
The movie is described as "an adventure romp around the world as the heroes and heroines accomplish their vital quest."

It is due for release in 2003.

This time, the characters will have voices of their own.

The TV episodes had single narrators - in the 90s, all the voices were supplied by the actor Nigel Planer, famous from the cast of The Young Ones.

3D graphics

The production deal was announced at the Annecy Film Festival in France on Wednesday.

Films Action secured the film rights from the estate of Magic Roundabout creator, Serge Danot.

Florence and Dougal are being re-created in Bristol
Bristol-based bolexbrothers will supply the specialist animation skills needed to complete the film.

The award-winning company was launched in 1991 with the feature film, The Secret Adventures of Tom Thumb.

Managing director Andy Leighton said: "We are really excited about this project.

"It will be made in 3D computer-generated graphics.

"We intend to have a ball with this one."


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