curriculum

Company founded in 1982

Parque Európolis, Edificio MILÍMETROS
calle Varsovia, 27
28232 LAS ROZAS - Madrid (SPAIN)
phone 34 91 636 17 02 / fax 34 91 636 16 28
e-mail: info@milimetros.com
web page: www.milimetros.com

Directors: Angel Izquierdo & Antonio Zurera

A little bit of History
At the beginning of the seventies Bill Hanna used to tell with pride that Angel Izquierdo was the younger animator who had ever worked for Hanna-Barbera.
This young man from Madrid with only fifteen years, began to work within the most famous series for on TV, -The Flintstones, Yogui Bear, Top Cat, Scooby Doo, The Jetsons, Tom & Jerry, The Lion, The Witch & the Wardrobe -EMMY AWARD-, Wait Till Your Father Gets Home and so on-.

At the hands of Bill Hanna, he learnt the job and all the specific methods of production as well as the necessary elements to complete a serial, a TV special or a feature film. (You should remember that Hanna-Barbera were those who invented the production method as early as the fifties).

In the eighties he works in the Moro Studios animating and supervising the work of the French animation team for the first feature film “Katy Caterpillar”.

Antonio Zurera and Angel Izquierdo knew each other there.

Antonio Zurera had arrived from Córdoba –Spain- and he was finishing his work within the TV. series called “Don Quijote” by Cruz Delgado. Following this, he was engaged to work at Moro Studios as assistant of José Luis Moro in “Katy Caterpillar”.

There, Antonio coincided with Angel and they worked in really good harmony for a whole year and when they finished the production, they decided that it was a very good moment to establish a new Animation Studio.

With lots of dreams and excitement and no more than 100.000 old pesetas (around $600.- US) each, they rented a small studio in the centre of Madrid…¿Which name should we use? They both asked themselves, “You could name it Milímetros” said Santiago Moro, (since the films were then still made in 35 mm.) and… well, they liked it and it remained like that… from then to nowadays… already twenty five years ago.

Immediately, Bob Balser (director of The Yellow Submarine) entrusts them the animation of a new series by Bill Meléndez “Charlie Brown & Snoopy”. In that period they also produced publicity and they worked for the FROM institutional campaigns, programmes for the TVE, etc.

One day, Philipe Grimmond, director of production of Gaumont -Paris- phoned them. They were just to start a new Astérix feature film, -La Surprise de César-, for that they will create an international team. At that time French animation did not almost exist- and they would like that Angel and Antonio travelled there to work for some months. The offer was really tempting.....

Despite the amount of work they had and the offer that TVE had made them just some days before to work within a serial for two years, they found the opportunity very interesting and finally decided that the international experience was worthwhile.

Without thinking twice, they take their suitcases and they leave their studio to go to Paris as “luxury emigrants”.

There they meet “la crême de la crême” of the animation cinema all around the World. Professionals that would be later the current directors and executive officers of the most important studios of animation of the world -Disney, Don Bluth, ILM, Pixar, etc.-.

There they made not only one but two films of Astérix: “La Surprise de Cesar” and “Astérix et les Brétons”.
During this period and while the script of the third Astérix film is under construction, Angel Izquierdo is engaged by Paul and Gaëtan Brizzi -directors of the first Astérix film-, to head the studios that Disney buy to settle in Paris as Walt Disney Studios Paris.

But tired of the depressive bad weather of Paris, some time later, Antonio and Angel returned to Spain to re-open Milímetros and to fulfil the compromise they had with Gaumont consisting of making the third Astérix -“Le Devin”- in Madrid, not before starting the production of some ”Benjamín Blümchen” TV. Specials and of a Don Martín TV. series pilot called “Don Martín does it Again” for german producer Gerhard Hahn.

But, meanwhile, the president and Michael Webster, former vice-president of The Walt Disney Co. call Angel and come personally to Madrid. Objective: to buy Milímetros Studios… or whatever!… They need the experience and the “know how” of him in order to their new animation Studios in Paris would start to produce again new Disney films…

Despite the marvellous offer, unfortunately Angel can´t come to an agreement because of compromises Milimetros already have. Therefore, Disney should be without the talent of Angel and Antonio for a short period of time, because…

…The fourth film of Astérix is going to be produced in Milímetros: “Astérix in America”. Although this time, without Gaumont: Milímetros will co-produce it together to Hahnfilm for Extrafilm GmbH.

In order to do this, Angel and Antonio establish three centres of production in Spain. Two of them in Pozuelo de Alarcón –Madrid- and a third one in Cordoba with more than 175 people working for them.

And so, Milímetros, get bigger and bigger and bigger...

...Works did not stop: 43 episodes of “The Pink Panther” for MGM, and a big amount of episodes for DIC, another TV. series for DGT –Spanish Road Traffic Institution- called “Las Señales tus Amigas”, etc. etc.

Along all these years, Milimetros has taken charge of the mosk well known productions: “The Pink Panther", "Charlie Brown", "Pippi Longstocking", "Doug", "Sonic", “Babar”, "Sabrina", "Courage, the Cowardly Dog", "All Dogs Go To Heaven", "Super-Duper Sumos", “Madeline” (with four nominations for the EMMY awards, and finally, the EMMY 2002) and some more dozens of series.

But Milimetros is not just a services company.

In 2001 they co-produce with the Spanish TVG their first own series "D.fenders” -13 x 26 min-, plus an 80 min. film and a TV special -45 min.- with characters created by Miguelanxo Prado, a well known comic star that use to work with Steven Spielberg -“Men in Black”, etc.-.

"D.Fenders" reaches in Galicia, Spain, 53% of share among children from 6 to 12 years old, something completely rare in all Spanish TV channels.

In 2002 Milímetros produced the very first own full-length film, "Dragon Hill", theatrically released in Spain on Christmas 2002 with 105 copies. A really luxurious team made up of more than two hundred of the best cartoon artists, backgrounds technicians and the very best experts of the Spanish animation worked during two years in this 2D and 3D feature, which had a budget of almost 3 million euros -small for Europe but very considerable for Spain at that time-. Video and DVD release of “Dragon Hill” in Spain and Portugal, Belgium, Holland and Luxemburg are handled by Universal Pictures with great theatricall success in Netherland -ahead “Spirit” in the “Top Ten” for weeks!- and more than 300.000 DVD copies sold.

International exploitation of this feature is being so successful that Dragon Hill’s rights are licensed to more than 50 countries all around the world at the moment. As a consequence, MILIMETROS made “The Magic Cube”, another 80 min. feature film in coproduction with M5 Audiovisual, Dziki Film and Canal Sur TV., based on Dragon Hill, that is following the same sales success than its predecessor, wich is enough reason to take the decission to develop the third film that will be called “SON OF THE STARS”.

In 2007 Milimetros produced “RH+”, the story of a very funny emigrants family of spanish vampires that after hundred of years, and tired of working in Germany for Count Von Salchichen of Frankfurt, decide to buy a house in Seville through Internet and finally come back home. After a complicated trip they all end in New York discovering that they have been swindle by the Mafia. A new style and very funny “all audiences” comedy adventure, plenty of gags that is having big success among children survey projections. “RH+” will be worlwide released in 2008.

...And right now, Milimetros Studios are in production of “Las Aventuras de D. Quijote”, a feature film of M5 Audioviasual in co-procuction with Canal Sur TV. based on a children adaptation of the universal state-of-art from Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra.

Works

LONG FEATURES (most relevant - not exhaustive)

DRAGON HILL (Milímetros) GOYA AWARD 2003 BEST ANIMATION FEATURE FILM
THE MAGIC CUBE (M5 Audiovisual – Milimetros – Canal Sur TV.) Nomination GOYA 2006 BEST ANIMATION FEATURE FILM.
RH+ ((M5 Audiovisual – Milimetros – Canal Sur TV.)
ASTERIX IN AMERICA (Extrafilm / Hahn Film / Milímetros S.A.)
WERNER BEINHART (Hahn Film / TFC Trickcompany)
ASTERIX ET LA SURPRISE DE CESAR (Gaumont)
ASTERIX EN BRETAGNE (Gaumont)
LE COUP DU MENHIR (Gaumont)
AQUI HUELE A MUERTO (Martes y Trece) -Special Effex-
THE LITTLE PUNK (Hahn Film / TFC Trickcompany)
JUNGLEDYRET HUGO (A-FILM)
PIPPI LONGSTOCKING (TFC Trickcompany)
MADELINE (DIC) EMMY AWARD 2002
ZORRO! (Dic)
LOST WORLD (Dic)
SABRINA (Dic)
DENNIS THE MENACE (Dic)

TV SERIES (most relevant - not exhaustive)

WATCHERS OF THE MILKY WAY (13 x 22’ series) TVG / Milimetros
ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVEN I y II (2 TV. series) MGM Animation.
THE PINK PANTHER SHOW (43 episodios x 11') MGM Animation.
BENJAMIN BLÜMCHEN (9 episodes x 26' + 2 x 45') (Hahn Film)
FANTOMCAT (3 x 22') Cosgrove Hall
PIPPI LONGSTOCKING (13 x 22') TFC Trickcompany
BABAR (6 x 22') Nelvana
STUNT DAWGS (26 x 22') DIC (STORYBOARDS)
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG (26 x 22') DIC (STORYBOARDS)
HAMMERMAN (6 x 11') DIC (STORYBOARDS)
HURRICANES ( 2 seasons 16 x 11') DIC (STORYBOARDS)
DISCWORLD (6 x 26') Cosgrove Hall
LAS SEÑALES (9 x 11') DGT / Continental -Spain-
FANTOMCAT (3 x 22') Cosgrove Hall
BIBI BLOCKSBERG (2 x 26') Hahnfilm
RENAADE (22 x 5') Hahnfilm
URMEL (8 x 22') Hahnfilm / France Animation
MADELINE (13 x 22') DIC / The Walt Disney Co. (STORYBOARDS)
DOUG (13 X 22') Jumbo Pictures / THE Walt Disney Co. (BOARDS)
THE WACKY WORLD OF TEX AVERY (18 X 22') DIC/ Les Studios Tex/ The Walt Disney Co. (whole pre-production)
GÜNTER THE FROG (39x3,30')
SONIC UNDERGROUND (18x26') DIC / The Walt Disney Co.
WATCHERS OF THE MILKY WAY (13x26') TV. de Galicia / Milímetros S.A.
SABRINA (18x26') / DIC / The Walt Disney Company
THE FLINSTONES (Hanna-Barbera)
JETSONS (Hanna-Barbera)
TOP CAT (Hanna-Barbera)
YOGUI BEAR (Hanna-Barbera)
SCOOBY DOO (Hanna-Barbera)
WAIT TILL YOUR FATHER GETS HOME (Hanna-Barbera)
THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE (Bill Meléndez) EMMY AWARD 1979 + 1 nomination

TV. SPECIALS (most relevant - not exhaustive)

INSPECTOR GADGET (TV. Special x 26') DIC (STORYBOARDS)
DON MARTIN DOES IT AGAIN (26 min.) Hahnfilm
UN LADRON EN CASA (2 min.) Milímetros S.A.
MONSTERS EASTER (26 min.) Crazy Cartoon
MONSTERS HOLYDAYS (26 min.) Crazy Cartoon
ALL DOGS TV. CHRISTMAS SPECIAL for 97' / M.G.M.
LIONHEARTS (11 min.) M.G.M. Animation

TV. PILOTS

ELFY 2' 30" (Milímetros / Triangle)
OSCAR LION 2' 30" (Milímetros)
WATCHERS OF THE MILKY WAY 2' 30" (TV. de Galicia / Milímetros)
NORMAN NORMAL (2 min.TV. Pilot) TFC Trickcompany

MAIN TITLES

MINIMAX (1'30" Identificativo de Cadena para CANAL +/ MINIMAX)
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG (2 main titles) DIC
SONIC UNDERGROUND (1 main title) DIC
STUNT DAWGS (DIC)
HAMMERMAN (DIC)
WHAT A MESS (DIC)
WATCHERS OF THE MILKY WAY (TVG/MILIMETROS)

….AND MORE COMING!….

CAPABILITY

The current production capability of Milímetros is a 52 x 26’ TV series a year and one 85’ feature film every two years at the same time.

In addition to this, the production team count with experienced professionals in videogames, who are actually developing video-games for “Dragon Hill” and “Bed & Breakfast”.

This production capability can be increased six months beforehand, thanks to the persons that Milimetros is training in the studios.

…..and “That´s not all Folks!”

INSTALLATIONS & FACILITIES:

- 40 persons currently working inside the studios and from 95 up to 210 collaborators outside, regularly working full time from seven years ago. 51 of them are animators.
- 600 square meters of surface.

- 23 DELL PC computers for scanning, colouring and compositing with AXA, SOFTIMAGE/TOONZ, AFTER EFFECTS, TOON-BOOM STORYBOARD + 23 WACOM TABLETS and we can easily switch to Animo, Toon Boom or any other software for compatibility purposes if necessary.

- 1 HD 1080p (High Definition) REAL TIME UNCOMPRESSED HD EDITING ROOOM based on 2 Apple Mac G5 8 Processors with Max OS X Leopard and FINAL CUT STUDIO PRO Pro HD + 2 Apple Cinema Displays 23” + MULTIBRIDGE EXTREME HD MULTICONVERSION + 7 TB REALTIME HD Raid Server with Fiber Channel.

- 3 TASCAM DA-88 24 Digital Multitrack Recorder + 1 IF_88AE Digital Audio Interface Unit, + 1 TASCAM RC-808 Remote Control Unit + 1 MACKIE CONTROL UNIVERSAL PRO+ 1 MACKIE CONTROL XT PRO + SOUNDTRACK PRO capable for HD and Theatrical Sound Mix. (5.1 & 7.1)
DOLBY Digital Sound cards + Graphic Palette + Paint* + Effect* + Alias Composer + After Effects

- 1 EXABYTE 8505S Digital Tape Recorder ABEKAS CCIR 601-D1 format back-up unit + ABEKAS Driver.

- 1 ABEKAS - A/26 Digital to Analog Converter (PAL/NTSC).

- 1 SONY Betacam DIGITAL DVW-M200P + 1 SONY Betacam SP PVW 2800P Recorder / Player. + 2 Monitor SONY 1440 YUV Super fine pitch PAL/SECAM/NTSC+ 2 SONY components monitors.

1 Monitor HITACHI 29' digital image and color correction 3:4 & 16:9

1 Big Monitor Sony Bravia HD 1080p

- 2 SONY High Resolution Digital Broadcast Video Camera Caption Unit / DXC930P –CCIR-601 + 2 ATVista Board.

- 1 Video Projector SONY – Ultra High Cinema Definition

- 3 Automatic Scanner FUJITSU B&W - Din A3

- 2 AGFA Colour Scanners Din A3 + 2 Canon Scanners

- 1 CANON iR2200-3300 PCL6 Ultra high capacity A3 scanner, printer, mail, fax & photocopy

- MAYA, LIGHTWAVE, 3DSMAX and Animation Master 3D Software.

- 1 35mm. RECORDING CAMERA (NEILSON-HORDELL Animation Stand & ACME SYSTEM) computer controlled + - BI-PACK + rotoscope + automatic lightning + Auto Fade in/dissolve.

- 1 editing table CTM / 35mm (6 plates) Editing table + digital counters.

- 1 synchronizer de four gangs with screen + 3 magnetic heads.

- 3 Amiga 3000 & 4000 line-testers with TAKE 2.

- 2 PCs with SOFTOONS and X-CELL.

- 2 fotocopiers TOSHIBA + 1 Canon Ultra High Capacity

2 ACME Paper punch + 1 ACME Cel Punch.

...and plenty of enthusiam and hard work!