Senators First

Senators First

March 6, 2009 TV Episode Friends And Heroes

Studio
Friends & Heroes Productions Ltd.
Animation studio
Starburst Animation (2D Animation Studio).
3D Animation Studio: The CharacterShop
Distributor
The Fremantle Corporation

Synopsis

Macky escapes from the warehouse with Portia, but he is badly injured. Trying to keep Macky conscious on the way home, Portia gets him to focus on the story of Joseph and Pharaoh's Dreams. Later, Portia finds she must take the lead in foiling Marcus's plot, while Macky remains on his sickbed and Sophia tells a frightened Felix how Jesus raised Jairus's daughter back to life.

Characters

Macky, Portia, Toadie, Cedric Smith (Tiberius), Brutacus, Pontius, Antonius, Luciana, Dudemus, Marcus, Absolom, Sophia

Credits

Producing

Producer
Gary Kurtz (Supervising Producer)
Senior Line Producer
Naomi Jones
Supervising Director
Dave Osborne
Executive Producers
David Dorricott, Alison Dorricott

Voices

Voice
Austin Di Iulio (Macky), Sarah Gadon (Portia), Tony Daniels (Toadie), Cedric Smith (Tiberius), Howard Jerome (Brutacus), Jamie Watson (Pontius), Robert Bockstael (Antonius), Elizabeth Hanna (Luciana), Scott McCord (Dudemus), Paul O'Sullivan (Marcus), Lyon Smith (Absolom), Jordan Todosey (Sophia)

Music

Music
Karl Twigg, Mark Topham (Composers)
Lead Vocalist (Title Song, "Looking for a Hero")
Lauren Waterworth

Editing

Editor
Stan Berkowitz

Crew

Creator
Brian Brown
Original Storytelling Concept
Andrew Melrose
Production Designer
Alan Batson
Voice Director
Tony Pastor
Senior Biblical Advisor
Stephen Gaukroger
Managing Director, Friends & Heroes Productions Ltd.
David Dorricott
Chairman, Friends & Heroes Productions Ltd.
Alison Dorricott

Production notes

The epic animated tale of two young people in the First Century- Macky and Portia- whose idealism and friendship leads them across the ancient world, from the fabled Egyptian port of Alexandria, to the besieged city of Jerusalem and finally, to the very heart of the Empire: Rome. As they fight for justice and even survival against the might of the Roman Empire, they become friends and then, in turn, heroes.

And what Macky learns is that one person can make a difference- as a friend, or as a hero.

Combined 2D and 3D animation. Cartoon-style 2D animation tells the adventure stories, mixing seamlessly to 3D animation for the Bible stories, two or three of which are interwoven in each episode.

The first series of 13 episodes is set in Alexandria, Egypt in 69 A.D., the second in Jerusalem in 70 A.D., and the third in Rome in 71 A.D.

While each single episode is self-standing and each series of 13 shows has its dramatic conclusion, they are all linked in one seamless story by the journeys of Macky and Portia. In each series, two pairs of two episodes follow one storyline and can be combined to create two longer-form "specials," suitable for broadcast at particular times, such as Christmas.

Produced by Friends & Heroes Productions Ltd., a company operating in the Isle of Man. All pre-production and design work was carried out in the United Kingdom; The CharacterShop, at its studios in Birmingham, England, made the 3D animation. The 2D animation came from Starburst Animation in Seoul. The writing team was based in Los Angeles, and the voice recordings took place in Toronto. Post-production was completed at BBC Wales in Cardiff.