Los Angeles-based Animax Ent. is celebrating the opening of its new studio in Toronto with a script-writing contest for Canadians. The Animax Canucks Cartoon Script Contest is open to all Canadian citizens (living in Canada or elsewhere), and is accepting seven-minute cartoon script entries now through Nov. 31. Contestants can enter online at www.animaxinteractive.com/canuck.
Co-founded by former SCTV star Dave Thomas, Animax has expanded its operations into Toronto, where producer Patricia Burns will head production. Thomas recently sold the prime-time animated series Bob & Doug to Canwest Global. The series is based on the Bob and Doug McKenzie characters created by Thomas and Rich Moranis for SCTV and the cult-favorite movie Strange Brew, and will premiere in January of 2009.
‘Some of the best writers in television history have come from Canada,’ says Thomas. ‘So I thought, why not focus on comedy from my home? We want to find the best animation comedians, give them some prize money, an option and a beer!’
Thomas and members of his Animax team will judge entries, along with noted agents, producers, writers and artists from both Canada and the U.S. Prizes will include the ‘Top Banana,’ a development option with Animax Ent. worth $2,500 (Canadian) and a beer. Second- and third-place winners will receive $1,500 and $1,000, respectively.
The script contest is open to all styles of writing, but Animax is particularly looking for concepts that target the tween, preschool and adult demographics. Scripts must be original and no longer than 10 pages in length.
