Sony Pictures Animation has purchased a treatment from cartoonist Steve Moore and producer John Carls, tentatively titled OPEN SEASON. It tells the story of what happens in the wild when the tables are turned and the hunters become the hunted. Moore and Carls will work closely with Sony Animation executive vice presidents Penney Finkelman Cox and Sandra Rabins and creative VP Nate Hopper in developing the project. "I love imagining life from the animals point of view especially animals who are hunted. Its a great way to have some twisted fun at the expense of humans," said Moore. "I was excited to discover that Penney and Sandy share the same quirky sensibility, and Im fortunate to have the opportunity to work with such an accomplished team of storytellers." While working as an editor at The Maui News in Hawaii, Moore created the cartoon IN THE BLEACHERS, which is currently distributed by Universal Press Syndicate to more than 200 newspapers across the country. Recently, Moore and Carls signed with Disney TV Animation to produce 15-second animated shorts based on the strip for ESPN. The team also recently sold the feature treatment CITY SEWER to DreamWorks. Producer John Carls is currently in development on the feature films THE LIGHT PRINCESS with Gore Verbinksi (THE RING, MOUSETRAP) attached to direct, FLAT STANLEY at Working Title Films and the film adaptation of WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE. In 1992, Carls formed Wild Things Productions (WTP) with author and illustrator Maurice Sendak. WTP has launched three successful animated TV programs MAURICE SENDAKS LITTLE BEAR, PBSS SEVEN LITTLE MONSTERS and GEORGE AND MARTHA for HBO. Formed in May 2002, Sony Pictures Animation, working in close concert with visual effects division Sony Pictures Imageworks, is responsible for the development and production of CG features for Sony Pictures Entertainment.
