Sundance Channel has acquired U.S. television rights to the BBC animated series, I AM NOT AN ANIMAL, a satirical, animated comedy that follows the adventures of a group of talking animals suddenly forced to fend for themselves in the outside world. The series will premiere on Oct. 5, 2005, at 11:00 pm and air Wednesday nights at 11:00 pm through November 9. It will also repeat on Thursdays at 6:00 pm, Fridays at 11:00 pm, Saturdays at 8:30 pm and Tuesdays at 8:30 pm.
Produced by Baby Cow Productions for BBC TWO, I AM NOT AN ANIMAL was written and directed by Peter Baynham, and produced by Richard Bennett. Steve Coogan and Henry Normal are exec producers and Tim Searle is animation director. The cast features the voices of Coogan, Julia Davis, Amelia Bulmore, Kevin Eldon, Simon Pegg and Arthur Mathews. More on the animation company is available at www.2dtv.co.uk.
Inside a U.K. laboratory, a scientist is running a secret experiment to create talking animals. Batch 4 is special, elite group, made up of a horse, dog, monkey, mouse, bird and a cat, living together in a stylish waterside apartment, feasting on focaccia bread and excellent wine as they discuss the latest celebrity gossip gleaned from their favorite magazine. The gang in Batch 4 has almost forgotten theyre animals, until they are freed by a group of animal rights activists. After living the high life in their lab, they must contend with the fact that theyre considered to be just animals by the outside world.
This outrageous and hilarious BBC series dovetails perfectly with Sundance Channels recently announced strategy to broaden our offerings, add more series, and bring humor into the mix, said Laura Michalchyshyn, exec director, programming & marketing, Sundance Channel.
The deal was negotiated by Lisa Hofer, director co-production and sales, BBC Worldwide Americas and Christian Vesper, vp, acqusitions, scheduling & program planning, Sundance Channel.
BBC Worldwide Americas (BBCWA) is a wholly owned subsidiary of BBC Worldwide, the commercial consumer arm of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). In 2004/05 BBC Worldwide returned £145 million to the BBC from its six business operations: TV Channels, TV Sales, BBC Magazines, Home Entertainment, Childrens and New Media.
Under the creative direction of Robert Redford, Sundance Channel (www.sundancechannel.com) offers audiences a diverse and engaging selection of films, documentaries and original programs, all uncut and commercial free. Launched in 1996, Sundance Channel is a venture among NBC Universal, Redford and Showtime Networks Inc. Sundance Channel operates independently of the non-profit Sundance Institute and the Sundance Film Festival, but shares the overall Sundance mission of encouraging artistic freedom of expression.
