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You may not know this, but apparently, soccer fever has taken over the whole universe! In Magic Frame Animation and Creation Entertainment Media’s upcoming animated movie Aliens FC, an ordinary family from Earth are mistaken for a famous soccer team and whisked away across the galaxy to help the charming ETs win their local football league!
Sefi Carmel, CEO of London-based Creation Entertainment Media (BuddyBots, Secret Magic Control Agency), says the origins of the movie go back a few years, when he and his team decided it would be great idea to launch a project that reflects the huge popularity of football (or if you prefer, soccer!) around the world.
“Football now has a diverse and widespread fanbase, with people passionate about both playing and watching the sport, from all age groups,” says Carmel. “There’s also plenty of non-kids facing content on football — Ted Lasso, the Lioness documentaries, you name it. We knew that there was a story about this phenomenon to tell through animation for a family audience. Combined with an imaginative alien universe, it’s a film that definitely brings a lot of humor, joy, and uniqueness to the game! Aliens FC offers a unique story that will stand out in the market.”
The team at Creation began work on the movie in the summer of 2022. “We work in partnership with Magic Frame Animation and its international team of experienced artists and a carefully curated team of experienced writers based all over the world,” says Carmel. “Our ballpark budget is about $20 million.”
Carmel says his team used AI technology in pre-production to create some of the alien imagery. “The process is very original, as we’re creating both terrestrial and alien worlds for the film,” he notes.
The original idea for the movie came from writer Sam Morrison (Shaun the Sheep, Peppa Pig, Robin Robin), Tim Clague (Eight) and Danny Stack (Dog Years, Hey Duggee). “We had been working with Tim and Danny producing the BuddyBots series,” says the CEO/producer. “In a meeting they shared another idea they were working on about some kids who are mistakenly kidnapped by aliens to save an alien soccer team from relegation. We knew we definitely wanted to hear how this could come into fruition, and that we wanted to be involved in telling this story.”
Animated Team of Champions
Carmel mentions that every character in the movie has unique traits, but in particular, the entire family who are mistakenly seen by the aliens as famous footballers have really individual personalities that drive the story on an emotional level. “Their relationship with the aliens develops as they realize there’s much more at stake than football,” he notes.
The producer mentions that the movie has some similarities to the Space Jam movies as it centers on a popular sport through the lens of animation. “Our movie is unique in its imagery, with incredible fantasy locations and eccentric characters. Tim, Danny and Sam are soccer experts — something which will help us portray the world of this brilliant game on the animation screen. We plan to attach some soccer stars to the cast that will be announced later.”
When asked about his biggest challenges in realizing his movie, Carmel responds, “We work with some incredible animators who bring their vision to life through our projects. They all have their own style. This project has so much potential creativity as this it’s all about an extraterrestrial adventure in an alien universe. We are thrilled to have talented animators and technology to bring this to life. Certain things that could be perceived as challenges we decide to think of as positives – like competing football content, a sudden influx of it – but really that shows demand and the need for something new that can stand out within that category.”
Carmel has high hopes for the movie when it arrives on the big screen in the next couple of years. “We hope audiences will enjoy this unique alien universe, especially the football matches held between humans and aliens!” he says. “While playing for victory they will discover what is really means to be a family.”
‘Our movie is unique in its imagery, with incredible fantasy locations and eccentric characters. Our writers are soccer experts, and we plan to attach some soccer stars to the cast that will be announced later.’
— Creation Entertainment Media CEO Sefi Carmel
To learn more, visit creationentertainment.media.
