Sunrise Productions

{{Infobox company

| name = Sunrise Productions

| logo =

| type = Private company

| foundation = {{start date and age|df=yes|1998}}

| founder = Phil Cunningham
Jacqui Cunningham

| location_city = Cape Town, South Africa

| location_country =

| key_people = Brent Dawes

| industry = Animation

| area_served = 5

| homepage = {{URL|http://www.sunriseproductions.tv/}}

}}

Sunrise Productions is a South African computer animation studio based in Cape Town. Notable productions include Jungle Beat, a computer-animated series and its spin-off shows Munki and Trunk and The Explorers.

Sunrise is known for producing Africa's first animated feature film, The Legend of the Sky Kingdom.{{Cite book|title=Animation: A World History: Volume III: Contemporary Times.|last=Bendazzi|first=Giannalberto|publisher=FOCUS|year=2016|isbn=978-1138854826|pages=303}} While this debut feature was created using stop-motion, the studio has now moved exclusively into 3D CG and live action production. Sunrise's commercial division combines live action, animation and VFX.

History

Sunrise Productions was founded in 1998 in Zimbabwe by Phil Cunningham and Roger Hawkins.{{Cite web|url=http://zimbabwe.spla.pro/en/file.person.phil-cunningham.29915.html|title=Zimarts, Phil Cunningham.|website=SPLA: South Planet|access-date=26 July 2017}} In 2003, the company released the stop motion feature, Legend of the Sky Kingdom. It was Africa's first animated full-length feature. Produced during a period of political unrest and extreme shortages, The Legend of the Sky Kingdom was produced in a style that the film-makers dubbed "junkmation”, using puppets built from recycled materials and filmed on a motion camera rig improvised out of bicycle parts.{{Cite web|url=https://animationsa.org/spotlight-the-secrets-of-sunrise/|title=Studio Spotlight: The Secret of Sunrise.|date=17 March 2016|website=Animation SA.|access-date=26 July 2017}}

In 2003, Sunrise stepped into the 3D CG space with their flagship series, Jungle Beat, which has run for 3 seasons and given rise to spin-off shows The Explorers and Munki and Trunk. In 2004, the studio consolidated their reputation for upbeat CG content with Once Upon a Stable, an animated television special.{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2279138/?ref_=nv_sr_1|title=Once Upon a Stable|website=IMDB|access-date=26 July 2017}}

Sunrise's live-action division was launched in 2009, with the production of The Lazarus Effect for Bono's (RED) campaign. The HBO documentary, executive produced by Spike Jonze, follows the story of HIV positive people in Africa who undergo a remarkable transformation thanks to antiretroviral treatment.{{cite web|url=https://motionsauce.com/|title=Video Production And Animations|access-date= 15 September 2015}}

Sunrise has also pioneered a 3D animated character branding and marketing model for high-profile sports brands such as the Welsh Rugby Union and Juventus Football Club. In 2016, Sunrise produced a holiday-themed animated short featuring 'Jay', the Juventus club mascot, and an imaginative young boy.{{Cite web|url=http://www.animationmagazine.net/tv/aardman-brings-sunrises-munki-and-trunk-to-mip/|title=Aardman Brings Sunrise's Munki and Trunk to MIP|last=Milligan|first=Mercedes|date=13 October 2016|website=Animation Magazine.|access-date=20 July 2017}}

Television

Sunrise's flagship series, Jungle Beat (2003-){{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3282216/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1|title=Jungle Beat|website=IMDB|access-date=26 July 2017}} is a CG-animated, non-dialogue, slapstick comedy series focusing on different animals and the bizarre situations in which they find themselves.{{Cite web|url=http://tbivision.com/news/2015/04/turner-plays-to-monsters-jungle-beat/416382/|title=Turner Plays to Monster's Jungle Beat|date=11 April 2015|website=TBI Vision|access-date=21 July 2017}} The series is sold by Monster Entertainment, and has been broadcast in more than 180 countries on channels including Cartoon Network, Boomerang, and Nickelodeon.{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/global/turner-forges-partnership-with-south-africas-animation-sa-1201904317/|title=Turner Forges Partnership with South Africa's Animation SA|last=Vourlias|first=Christopher|date=30 October 2016|website=Variety|access-date=26 July 2017}}

In 2016, Sunrise expanded the Jungle Beat universe to include The Jungle Beat Explorers, which follows four clumsy, curious safari adventurers as they document the wild animals of the world. The 3D 13-episode series is broadcast exclusively on the Jungle Beat YouTube channel.{{Cite web|url=https://animationsa.org/explorers-sunrise-joins-jungle-beat-stable/|title=Youtube-exclusive series EXPLORERS from Sunrise joins the JUNGLE BEAT stable|date=14 July 2016|website=Animation SA|access-date=22 July 2016}}

The Jungle Beat franchise was further expanded with the development of Munki and Trunk, a 52 x 7 minute series aimed at kids aged 4–7. The “tree-crashing, rock smashing, water-splashing, fruit-mashing, knock-about comedy adventure” centres on two unlikely best friends: crafty Munki and caring Trunk. In 2017, Aardman’s Rights and Brand Development division partnered with Sunrise to represent global television distribution rights for the animated series.{{Cite web|url=https://www.awn.com/news/aardman-partners-sunrise-munki-and-trunk|title=Aardman Partners with Sunrise on 'Munki and Trunk'|last=AWN Staff Editor|date=5 October 2016|website=Animation World Network.|access-date=22 July 2017}}

In 2013, Sunrise Productions’ live action department partnered with Okuhle Media to co-produce the 13-part cooking/lifestyle series Bitten Sarah Graham Cooks Cape Town{{Cite web|url=http://dcdrights.com/catalogue/programme/bitten-sarah-graham-cooks-cape-town/|title=Bitten: Sarah Graham Cooks Cape Town|website=DCD Rights|access-date=26 July 2017}}

Commercials

Sunrise Productions has produced commercials combining live action, animation and VFX elements for a number of clients.

The Springboks – South Africa's National Rugby Team{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCwWDmUkG38|title=Give the Springboks #HomeGroundAdvantage. SA Celebrities get behind the Bokke|website=YouTube |access-date=27 July 2017}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tf77JL3tlDk|title=#HomeGroundAdvantage Launch Video 2015: HD Full version|website=YouTube |access-date=27 July 2017}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwqI8ZGli9g|title=Green and Gold - 2015 Launch of #BokFriday #HomeGroundAdvantage|website=YouTube |access-date=26 July 2017}}
Samsung{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKc4M4JXPNM|title=2013 CES Keynote Cat Video - Data Explosion|website=YouTube }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zwbeb08W27U|title=Samsung Exynos OCTA-pella: Performance + Efficiency in Perfect Harmony|website=YouTube |access-date=26 July 2017}}

Awards

Sunrise Productions has won the following awards:{{Cite web|title=Jungle Beat|url=http://sunriseproductions.tv/junglebeat/|access-date=2 August 2017|website=Sunrise Productions}}

Best Animation at the African Eye Animation Festival (2003)
Marble Z award for Best Film from the Children's Jury at the Zagreb Animation Festival (2003)
Audience Award in São Paulo and 2nd place in Rio de Janeiro's Anima Mundi International Animation Festival (2003)
Main prize at [http://ydme.ca/sprockets-toronto-international-film-festival-for-children/index.html Sprockets Toronto International Film Festival for Children] (2006)
Camerio Audience Award at Carrousel International du Film de Rimouski in Canada (2006)
Award for Best Series for children at the South African Film and Television Awards (2007)
National Film Board Of Canada Award for Best Animated Short at [http://www.freezeframeonline.org/ Freeze Frame Festival] 2007
Jica Enfants Award at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival (2008)
Best Animation at the LG “Life’s Good” Film Festival in Toronto (2008)
Two Platinum awards from the [http://www.americanpixelacademy.org/Home.html American Pixel Academy] (2011)