'FIREMAN SAM' GOES HD & CG

LONDON - HIT Entertainment (www.hitentertainment.com), the producer and rights holder of numerous popular children's programs, has contracted HRTv (www.hra-online.com), here, to create 52 ten-minute episodes of Fireman Sam. The deal marks the first time the show will use CGI and be broadcast in high definition.

The new CGI series will expand the existing world of Fireman Sam and will include new characters, such as Neptune the lifeboat, as well as new storylines. HRTv will employ Autodesk Maya and its own proprietary software to help speed up the production process. Beijing's Xing Xing will be subcontracted for animation work and Fitzrovia Post will handle the audio. Delivery is anticipated for late 2009.