True Heroes

True Heroes

March 14, 2007 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

Caleb and Aaron are trying to escape Alexandria. Meanwhile, after intelligence reports of refugee rebels entering the city by sea, Tiberius orders the famous lighthouse extinguished, threatening the lives of many innocent fishermen, too.

Macky's inspired by the story of Gideon not to feel defeated by the might of the Romans. Portia, Diana and the girls make a desperate, dizzying descent from the top of the lighthouse as they take a stand against Aaron. Together, they must find a way to reilluminate the dangerous shore. Samuel's telling of the well-known Christmas Story- where the Good News was first told to lowly shepherds- turns Caleb and Aaron from criminals into heroes.

Characters

Macky, Portia, Samuel, Toadie, Diana, Rebecca, Leah, Tiberius, Brutacus, Caleb, Aaron, Gideon, Thomas, Judean Rebels

Credits

Producing

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

Writing

Creator
Brian Brown
Original Storytelling Concept
Andrew Melrose

Voices

Voice
Austin Di Iulio (Macky), Sarah Gadon (Portia), Benedict Campbell (Samuel), Tony Daniels (Toadie), Alyson Court (Diana), Bailey Stocker (Rebecca), Emma Pustil (Leah), Cedric Smith (Tiberius), Howard Jerome (Brutacus), Lawrence Bayne (Caleb), Stephen Bogaert (Aaron), Jamie Watson (Gideon), Tony Fleury (Thomas), Martin Roach (1st Judean Rebel), Juan Chioran (2nd Judean Rebel)

Music

Music
Karl Twigg, Mark Topham (Composers)

Art Department

Production Designer
Alan Batson

Editing

Editor
Stan Berkowitz

Music Department

Lead Vocalist (Title Song, "Looking for a Hero")
Lauren Waterworth

Casting

Voice Director
Tony Pastor

Crew

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.