Weta Workshop and Chapman enlist Trooper Tom to round up the boys

Award-winning producers Richard Taylor, of New Zealand’s Weta Workshop (left), and Keith Chapman, of Chapman Entertainment, have joined forces on a new kids’ action-adventure series, Trooper Tom (26 x 22 mins), aimed at boys aged six to nine.

“Boys of this age are moving away from television,” Chapman said. “Trooper Tom and his friends – and the Strike Pods that they fly on their missions – will catch their imaginations, just as Thunderbirds caught ours.”

Taylor added: “We’re developing Trooper Tom as a cross-platform property with gaming that incorporates cinematic-quality CGI.” The lead female character – Tom’s sister Rico – is designed to appeal to girls. She will blog in the show, and viewers will be able to interact with her blog online.

Chapman is the creator of Bob The Builder, Fifi And The Flowertots and Roary The Racing Car.

Weta Workshop has traditionally been a high-end service provider, with credits for supplying award-winning physical and digital effects for Lord Of The Rings, King Kong and Narnia.

“Trooper Tom is the third instance of us creating our own intellectual property, after Jane And The Dragon and our other new show, The WotWots,” Taylor said.

Trooper Tom is scheduled to go into production early next year for delivery third quarter 2010.

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