Poster by Paul Mason. Web page background features storyboard thumbnails by Rye Elms.
Kid Phantom: Homework at the Melbourne International Animation Festival (MIAF) 2018:
Ozanimate! Article re: End of year coverage and awards received for Kid Phantom: https://www.ozanimate.com/uncategorized/wrap-animation-graduate-showcases-across-brisbane/
KID PHANTOM: Homework
Animated GFS Project 2017
(Supervising Director)
The Kid Phantom film project was a short animated film idea co-created in partnership between the Animation department of the Griffith Film School (Griffith University, Southbank, QLD) and Frew Publications (the long-running Australian publishers of The Phantom and Kid Phantom). The concept was brought to GFS by Paul, with the approval of Frew co-director Glenn Ford, and Dr. Peter Moyes (Head of Animation at GFS). The aim was to allow graduating 3rd year GFS Animation students (and assisting 2nd years) the access and opportunity to work on an industry-connected property and group-based production, to add this material to their experience, demo reels and CVs.
With a script written by Kid Phantom creative team Andrew Constant (writer) and Paul Mason (illustrator), and the overall production supervised by Paul, the talented students who worked together on the project from pre-production to the final film, drove the animated creation of this short adventure starring Kid Phantom, and bringing to the table their own sensibilities and abilities while interpreting the style and art direction of the nationally-distributed Kid Phantom comic books.
Not since Phantom 2040 and Defenders of the Earth has The Phantom been a part of an animated adventure, and the team of the "GFS Jungle Patrol" have done an amazing job in a short amount of time to bring professional-level animation back to the jungles of Bangalla.
The film was awarded Overall Highest Achievement in Animation to producers Rye Elms, Jacob Mackay and Karis Spencer, and Best Backgrounds to Rye Elms at the Griffith Film School Awards 2017.
The film also was part of the Kid Phantom interactive exhibition at The Phantom: Off the Drawing Board exhibition at Bundaberg Regional Galleries,November 2023 to February 2024.
Premiered at the GFS Animation showcase, Nov 2017
Now available- Playing on Virgin Australia Inflight Entertainment 2020.
Duration: 2:30 sec
2D Animation 1920 x 1080 Widescreen
Rated G, English.
Synopsis:
Homework on a bright, sunny day can be tough to focus on at the best of times; it’s even worse when you live in the jungles of Bangalla, and you’re the heir to the legacy of The Phantom! Young Kit Walker, destined to be the 21st Phantom, finds himself in this very predicament. Until that is, the call to adventure beckons Kid Phantom to action...whether his Mum and Dad approve or not!
Adapted for animation by Griffith Film School graduating animation class of 2017, based on the Kid Phantom comic book series by Frew Publications, Australia.
<---Click image for Trailer
Director's Statement:
"Kid Phantom: Homework is an animated adaption based on the Kid Phantom comic book series by Frew Publications, the longest conceutive publisher of The Phantom comic books in the world (since 1948), and Australia’s longest-running comic book publisher. This opportunity to work on a licensed property and with its comic book artist Dr Paul Mason has been a wonderful experience. We all had a “phantasic” time bringing Kid Phantom to life with animation; The Phantom is such an established and beloved character, going way back to the 1930s. There was a lot of pressure to do good by this timeless character, but the “GFS Jungle Patrol” team really came together and made something we are all immensely proud of." - Jacob Mackay.
The film was directed and produced by Jacob Mackay, Rye Elms, co-producer by Karis Spencer, and created by 2nd and 3rd year GFS animation students.
Film Credits:
KID PHANTOM
“Homework”
Written by Andrew Constant and Paul Mason
A film by the GFS Jungle Patrol
Directed by:
Rye Elms
Jacob Mackay
Produced by:
Rye Elms
Jacob Mackay
Karis Spencer
Executive Producers:
Glenn Ford
Rene White
Supervising Director:
Paul Mason
Preproduction:
Storyboard Artists:
Rye Elms
Michel Gerencir
Yael Gilbert
Animatic:
Yael Gilbert
Background concepts
Rye Elms
Character designers:
Kid Phantom, The Phantom, Young Kit, Bandar Child
Jacob Mackay
Other Kid Phantom concepts: Yael Gilbert
Maude, Chessel the Cockatiel, original Leopard
Gabby Hanrahan
Final Panther designs
Michel Gerencir
Art Direction:
Backgrounds: Rye Elms
Characters and treatment: Jacob Mackay
Production:
Animators:
Juné Du Plessis
Rye Elms
Yael Gilbert
Eric H Lin
Jacob Mackay
Ryan O’Dwyer
Alex Pracas
Karis Spencer
Clean up artists:
Juné Du Plessis
Yael Gilbert
Jacob Mackay
Eric H Lin
Colourists:
Yael Gilbert
Jacob Mackay
Karis Spencer
Background artists:
Exteriors: Rye Elms
Interiors: Jacob Mackay
Action sequences: Karis Spencer
Background colourist: Juné Du Plessis
Post-Production:
Editors/Compositing:
Rye Elms
Jacob Mackay
Music:
"Gnaoua Project" By Olive Musique
"Tribes in the Jungle" By Junhak Lee
Sound Design:
Michel Gerencir
Jacob Mackay
Based on the KID PHANTOM Comic Book Series
Written by Andrew Constant
Illustrated by Paul Mason
Published by Frew Publications Pty Ltd.
Frew Directors: Glenn Ford, Rene White
Publisher: Dudley Hogarth
The Phantom created by Lee Falk and Ray Moore.
The Phantom, Kid Phantom © copyright 2017 King Features Syndicate Inc. ™ Hearst Holdings, Inc. World Rights Reserved.
Special thanks:
Peter Moyes
Glenn Ford
Rene White
Andrew Constant
Dudley Hogarth
“The Frew Crew”
Ian Henricus
King Features Syndicate
GFS Animation graduating class of 2017
Griffith Film School
Louise Harvey
Leila Honari
Bree Kettley
James Stafford
Adam Wolter
Brett Wiltshire
Chronicle Chamber.com
Our families, friends and loved ones
Background by Rye Elms