The Irish leg of production has begun on Irish/Finnish co-production ‘Niko II: A Family Affair’. Work on the animation will continue for another eight months.
Irish animator’s Tidal Films Ltd. are co-producing the animated feature sequel alongside Finland’s Animaker Oy, Denmark’s A-Film and Germany Ulysses Films. Tidal Films will be working on animation, casting, voice recording, post-sound and original score for the project.
Written by Hannu Tuomainen (One Way Ticket to Mombasa) and Marteinn Thorisson (Summer of the Flying Saucer), ‘Niko II: A Family Affair’ follows a young reindeer boy called Niko. Set the night before Christmas, Niko the reindeer must deal with his mom getting re-married and his being tasked with looking after his little stepbrother.
The project is to be directed by Kari Juusonen (The Flight Before Christmas) and Joergen Lerdam (Olsen Gang Gets Polished). Irish producer on the project is Moe Honan (Ooops Noah is Gone!).
‘Niko II: A Family Affair’ is a follow up feature to the IFTA nominated ‘Niko and the Way to the Stars’. The feature’s budget is €7,361,000 and it has received funding from the Finnish Film Foundation, the Irish Film Board, YLE and TV2 Denmark. It will be distribute in Finland by Nordisk Film in late 2012. Irish distribution deals are TBC.
