Sony Pictures Animation’s new CG short film The ChubbChubbs Save X-mas won Best Animation at the Big Apple Film Festival in New York City over the weekend. The film and its 2002 Oscar-winning predecessor, The ChubbChubbs, were recently released as extra features on the Surf’s Up DVD and Blu-ray discs. A feature-length adventure for characters introduced in the shorts is currently in development.
In The ChubbChubbs Save X-mas, Meeper and the ChubbChubbs search for a place to call home and end up visiting Earth, where the strange, but lovable, extra-terrestrial entourage encounters Santa Claus, who is voiced by Jeffrey Tambor (Arrested Development, The Larry Sanders Show). The title fanged fuzzballs inadvertently scare the naughtiness out of a budding delinquent as they pinch hit for Santa, and in the process learn that home is more than just a place to live.
The short is directed by Cody Cameron and produced by Kirk Bodyfelt for Sony Pictures Animation. In addition to Tambor, voice cast includes Brad Simonson returning as Meeper and Jeff Wolverton, who came up with the original ChubbChubbs! story, is back as the ChubbChubbs. Cody Cameron, David Feiss and Jurgen Gross wrote the story and original music was composed by Ramin Djawadi (Prison Break, Open Season).
Sony Pictures Animation is developing a full slate of films, including the upcoming theatrical releases Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and Hotel Transylvania. The studio is also in production on its first direct-to-DVD release, Open Season 2, a sequel to the 2006 theatrical hit.
The Big Apple Film Festival is a presentation of The Big Apple Film Society, which was established as a means of supporting and promoting independent films and filmmakers from the New York City metropolitan area. For a full list of winners, go to www.bigapplefilmfestival.com.
