Universal's Magic Roundabout To Bow on July 29th

ANIMATION WORLD NETWORK

By Bill Desowitz | Tuesday, April 5, 2005 at 12:00am

In the latest jostling for prime release dates, Universal has pushed back Pathé/Action Synthese's SPRUNG: THE MAGIC-ROUNDABOUT, France's 3D CG-animated feature, from July 15th to July 29, 2005. Universal had acquired the worldwide distribution rights (except the U.K. and France) from Pathé back in early February for $10 million.

The French-British CG-animated film is based on THE MAGIC ROUNDABOUT, a British cult TV series, which in turn, was based on a 60s French series called LE MANEGE ENCHANTE, animated by British stop-motion legend Ivor Wood.

Legend tells of three magic diamonds that, if in the wrong hands, can be united to create a force powerful enough to freeze the sun. When the evil wizard, Zeebad (Tom Baker), escapes from his ancient prison, he vows to exact revenge by deep-freezing the Earth forever. Determined to save the world, a fellowship of four unlikely heroes band together to stop Zeebad. Led by the candy-loving mutt Dougal (Robbie Williams), friends Dylan (Bill Nighy), Brian (Jim Broadbent) and Ermintrude (Joanna Lumley), they embark on an epic adventure to save the world. In their diamond quest, they must climb icy mountains, navigate fiery pits of molten lava, sail across vast oceans and pass through a booby-trapped temple guarded by an army of ninja-skeleton warriors. Along the way they learn that the most powerful weapon is their friendship the ultimate weapon to combat Zeebad's evil magic. The voice cast also includes Ian McKellen, Kylie Minogue, Lee Evans, and Ray Winstone