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flux abuzz with new TV shows

Award-winning Flux Animation Studio is heralding the launch of two major children’s television programmes and, with its recent investment in revolutionary software, the company is poised to make New Zealand animation more competitive on world markets.

The new children’s programmes, Buzzy Bee and Friends and Master Raindrop, will premiere nationally on TV2 on April 27. Though both are 3D computer-animation and more complex projects than any others in the company’s 12-year history, each is unique.

One hundred per cent New Zealand-made, the Buzzy Bee and Friends series is a 23-minute special followed by 13 five-minute episodes. In high definition colour, the programme brings to life the iconic wooden Buzzy Bee toy which has been a favourite of New Zealand children since the 1940s.

The series was produced by Wendie Hall and directed by William McKegg, both of Auckland-based Lion Rock Ventures which is the owner of the Buzzy Bee brand. Flux worked on the project in collaboration with Lion Rock and NZ On Air over a nine-month period.

Master Raindrop, is an international US$5.7million co-production between Flux, Big Communications in Singapore, and production houses in Australia, Germany and China.

With 26 half-hour episodes created over three years, Master Raindrop is one of the largest 3D animated projects to come out of New Zealand. Flux’s founder and Managing Director Brent Chambers says, “The two programmes are set to make a huge impact on young viewers. They have been a significant undertaking for Flux and we are all delighted that they are ready to go to air."