SINGAPORE : The company of legendary US director George Lucas,
creator of the "Star Wars" saga, on Thursday launched an animation
studio in Singapore to produce television shows and feature films
for the global market.
Lucasfilm Animation Singapore, financially backed by the Singapore
government to boost the island's multimedia industry, will take
part in the development of a TV spin-off from Star Wars.
"We're very excited about the opening of the new studio," Lucas
said in a press statement issued at the launch of the high-tech
studio in a business park near Singapore's Changi airport.
"Our first series - a TV adventure titled Clone Wars, based on the
time between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith - is
already in active development and we hope to see it on the air in
2007."
The Singapore studio will also be involved in an upcoming feature
film but company officials declined to give any hint of what it
will be about.
"The possibilities are endless," the studio's general manager
Christian Kubsch told journalists.
The Singapore operation is 75 percent owned by Lucasfilm Ltd, with
the rest of the equity held by two Singapore partners - digital
entertainment products maker Creative Technology Ltd. and EDB
Investments.
The latter is an arm of the Economic Development Board (EDB),
Singapore's foreign investment promotion agency.
Company officials said Singapore was chosen because of its strong
protection of intellectual property rights, attractive lifestyle
and potential for drawing digital animation talent from all over
the world.
Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports and Second
Minister for Trade and Industry, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan said at the
launch that the studio "is a huge boost for our growing digital
animation industry."
"I am honoured that Lucasfilm's first overseas venture is taking
place on our home turf," he said, adding that Singapore will seek
to attract specialised schools for digital arts and animation to
support the industry. - AFP /ch