Metrafilms Studio is opening their new company in Chișinău. Metrafilms Studio, Moldova will develop animation projects aimed at a broad viewership around the world. Karina Kabanova, creative producer of a number of well-known projects like Kid-E-Cats and Lex and Plu: Space Taxi Drivers, will serve as CEO.
“Moldova has always been a multiethnic territory with active cooperation across Europe and North America, so we’ve long been planning to establish a company here, and we’re glad we’ve finally managed to do so. We’ve successfully launched production of several projects at once in collaboration with several local studios. When I was a child, Chișinău was famous for its Floricica Animation Studio. It nurtured a whole generation of famous animators that I’m happy to call my friends,” said CEO Kabanova.
“Over the past few years, we’ve been actively developing co-production of animation projects. The shows that we are launching with Metrafilms Studio, Moldova involve co-production with various countries. We’ve been working together with Canada, France, England, Ukraine, Armenia, and Romania, and we plan to expand that list. The Canadian company Lakeside Animation Studio serves as our company’s strategic partner,” said Metrafilms Studio Moldova general producer Artem Vasilyev.
The new company’s first release will be the animated series, The Sheep’s Hotel. Dmitry Vysotsky, author of the highly successful Kid-E-Cats series, will direct the show once again. The project also involves Ceri Barnes (United Kingdom), Aron Dunn (Canada), and others.
The series follows a close-knit family of sheep who’ve converted an old mansion into a hotel for families with kids. The animated series is aimed at preschoolers. The first season has 52 episodes.
Production has wrapped on the six-episode horror anthology Red Iron Road. This is a series of short animated horror short films created by directors from all over the world. Each episode uses its own unique animation style.
Also in production, Beastly Crimes, a detective show for nine to 12 year-olds, based on the book series of the same name. The Sheep’s Hotel, Red Iron Road, and Beastly Crimes are all co-productions of Metrafilms Studio, Moldova and Canada’s Lakeside Animation Studio.
