Building the Colosseum was all in a day’s work for visual effects company Qurios Entertainment. The North East animation studio undertook the project of recreating Rome’s famous amphitheatre for a new BBC comedy series.

Iranian comedian Omid Djalili plays the role of Julius Caesar as part of his new sketch show coming soon to BBC1. Qurios Entertainment Managing Director Niel Bushnell explained: “Using our skills here means that TV production companies do not have to build massive sets and bring in hundreds of extras to create a scene.

“Thanks to some clever animation we can create the background on computer around the actors, mixing live shots with animation.” To recreate the Colosseum scene a small section of the set was built in a studio in front of a ‘green screen’ with just a handful of extras.

Niel explained: “We took these shots and from there built a full Colosseum around them. Digital artist Chris Chatterton used a combination of 3D computer geometry and 2D digital matte painting techniques to achieve a believable result. It was a very intricate process and took several weeks but we are really pleased with the results and are looking forward to seeing it broadcast.

“Another scene we produced saw Omid flying on a magic carpet. Again that was done in front of a green screen and digital artist Matt Turner composited the footage onto stock background footage. Matt added in a 3D carpet complete with animated edges and magical stardust trails.

Qurios was heavily involved in the second series of the BBC2 sitcom Hyperdrive which ended earlier this month in the UK but has been sold to TV networks around the world including America, Germany and Australia. The Hartlepool-based company provided 350 shots for the BBC sci-fi spoof which starred Hot Fuzz actor Nick Frost. Both Hyperdrive and The Omid Djalili Show are produced by Alex Walsh-Taylor.

Niel continued: “After building up such a good working relationship with Alex over two series of Hyperdrive he felt more than comfortable bringing us in as part of the team on his new production.“

Currently under development at Qurios is Santa's Hapless Helpers, a second development with Curtis Jobling.

The 30 second short translates one of Curtis’ paintings into 3D and introduces the Hapless Helpers, two very impractical do-gooders.

Our festive short only went online a couple of weeks ago but its already won two awards and been viewed by thousands of people. You can see it too or send it to all your friends including your own festive message.

Simply CLICK HERE and personlize our festive e-card.

Parthenon preschool series brings in Bling

Parthenon Kids has signed on the line with Bada Bling to make a new series created by the designer of Bob The Builder.

Parthenon Entertainment's children's production and distribution arm has optioned the rights to animated preschool series Rescue Rookies (52x5').

The deal gives Parthenon exclusive multimedia rights to develop the series further, as well as taking it out into international waters where it will be pitched to broadcasters.

It is the first option for Parthenon Kids' recently appointed head of children's programming Karina Stanford-Smith.

"It was an easy decision to make as the appeal of the show is instantaneous," said Stanford-Smith. "The concept and character design is perfect for preschoolers and I'm delighted to be working with Curtis Jobling to bring this series to broadcast."

The new series is conceived, written and designed by Bada Bling's Curtis Jobling, best known as the designer of BBC/Nickelodeon series Bob the Builder, as well as new BBC animated series Frankenstein's Cat.

Inspired by Jobling's kids' attraction to flashing lights and sirens, each episode is aimed at teaching its young audience what can be achieved through teamwork and communication. It follows the adventures of an eager-to-please gang of young and enthusiastic emergency vehicles including Bravo the Police Car, Lulu the Ambulance, Flash the Fire Engine, Birdseye the Helicopter and Skipper the Lifeboat.

The show has also been developed with UK studio Qurios Entertainment, whose MD Niel Bushnell comes aboard as the show's development producer.

We have just completed a major architectural visualisation for a new North East Business centre.

When Hartlepool Borough Council decided on a major investment and refurbishment of the Brougham Enterprise Centre they commissioned Qurios to create a dynamic 3D walk-through to help visualise how the final development would look when it was completed.

The project required Qurios to work from architectural plans and create a 3D environment that matched an existing building under refurbishment. Nick Patrick, part of Qurios’ model building team, built a 3D model using the architectural plans as his starting point.

The accurate 3D model included the building’s exterior and surrounding space as well as two floors of interior space. The refurbished building includes conference and meeting rooms as well as multipurpose office space, a gym and bistro. The Centre, now relaunched as the Hartlepool Enterprise Centre, is run by Hartlepool Borough Council and offers start-up units for new businesses.

Following success at the Royal Television Society Awards earlier this year, we gained further glory at a North East business awards ceremony this week.

Qurios won the Business Service Award in recognition of its continual commitment to its clients and was shortlisted for Business of the Year.

We are delighted to be recognised not only within the industry, but for Qurios’ contribution to North East business. Niel said: “In our industry you are expected to be located in London but we are proving that does not need to be the case.

“The fact we are based in the North East means that our overheads are substantially lower and our prices are far more competitive. We also get to pick from a pool of very creative and talented designers up here. “Winning this business award goes to show that as well as gaining a name for ourselves for quality within the industry, our increasing orders, content staff and satisfied clients are helping to make Qurios a great business.”

Sponsor and judge for the Service Award was Tilley Bailey and Irvine, an established firm of North East solicitors. Partner Alison Tate said: “Qurios Entertainment Ltd was chosen as the winner for its determination to make a niche business succeed by employing the highest service levels. “The testimonials provided from existing clients, such as the BBC and Warner Brothers, are evidence that the firm’s commitment to customer service is helping those relationships go from strength to strength.”

Qurios recently completed an animated commercial for Dickens World, a brand new, innovative and exciting indoor visitor complex themed around the life, books and times of one of Britain’s best loved authors, Charles Dickens.

The commercial recreates part of the waterway ride that takes visitors around Dickensian London. The commercial was inspired by cut-out theatre and simplistic animation styles.

It seems like only yesterday (or maybe forever) but Qurios has just celebrated its 5th birthday. We've seen a lot of changes since 2002; we've grown, made some great friends and learnt some valuable lessons.

So where to next? What will the next 5 years hold for us?

We plan to grow our current TV and games base and continue to offer the highest possible standard of service to our clients.

Over the next few years we will continue to develop our own slate of animated projects; we hope that we will soon be seen as one of the premiere places to come for new exciting concepts for TV and new media. Hopefully it won’t be too long before you’ll be able to watch one of our home grown efforts on a TV or computer near you!

So by 2012 Qurios will be a dynamic animation studio with an international reputation for high quality work. Our staff number will have trebled and will include some of the countries most talented artists, animators and compositors.

Most of all we aim to be a fun and exciting place to be, somewhere that can really make a difference. Watch this space…

Qurios Entertainment has developed a series of surreal dream sequences and animations for forthcoming ITV comedy series Bonkers, produced by Lime Pictures.

The work is the third time Qurios has partnered Lime Pictures, following the successful completion of more than 100 special effects and sequences for last year's ITV drama The Outsiders.

Qurios digital artist Chris Chatterton, who worked on the Bonkers project, said the company had an enviable reputation within the industry.

"The work Qurios produces for television is very technical but to an extremely high standard and production companies realise what capabilities we have here," said Chris, 24. "It was exciting to go down to the studios and speak with the directors about how they wanted the shots to look before going back and creating the different effects. "We have completed a lot of television work over the last couple of years, including series for the BBC and it is encouraging that Lime Pictures chose to work with us again."

Bonkers, which starts on February 1st, stars Liza Tarbuck alongside Full Monty actor Mark Addy, playing a husband and wife team whose marriage is falling apart. Tarbuck's character Helen begins to fantasise about an international film star who appears to be trapped in a parallel universe.

It is these fantasy sequences that have been produced by Qurios alongside an animated montage called The Telly Bears. Chris added: "It was great fun working on the dream sequences as they allow you to let your imagine run wild and get really creative. The animations for Telly Bears were hard work and very detailed but the results are superb. I can't wait to see the series in full.

"I went down to the Lime Pictures studios Liverpool for a few days to work alongside the Bonkers production team and we learned a great deal from each other." Jamie Hall, Group Head of Production at Lime Pictures said: "Qurios always become a key member of the production team and their enthusiasm, creative vision and professional attitude are vital to producing the ambitious programmes we strive to make."

Qurios has been celebrating after success at the 20th Royal Television Society Awards.

Qurios scooped the award for Professional Excellence in Animation at the star-studded event at The Sage, Gateshead on Saturday night. (January 20th)

3D artist Matt Turner picked up the honour from Wallace and Gromit producer Claire Jennings for his portfolio of work on ITV drama The Outsiders and BBC sci-fi series Hyperdrive.

Also at the ceremony, which was hosted by ITV news reader Nicolas Owen, were Robson Green, Charlie Hardwick Emmerdale's Val Lambert and former BBC and Tyne Tees broadcaster Mike Neville as well as producers and journalists from across the North East and Border regions.

Delighted Matt, 27, said: "I was shocked to say the least. We put forward some examples of our work a couple of months ago but knew we were going to be up against some well-established digital artists.

"When they announced my name I was flabbergasted. It was a fantastic feeling to win." Matt was competing against two of his Qurios colleagues - Nick Patrick and Ciaran Wright - but did not find out until the ceremony itself as the awards shortlist had been kept a closely guarded secret.

He added: "It was great that all three of us were short-listed as we have worked ever so hard on these projects and I am glad that we have put Qurios Entertainment on the winners list."

Digital artist Chris Chatterton was short-listed in the Best New Media Production category for his work on the Qurios Entertainment website but the award went to video gaming company Eutechnyx for Big Mutha Truckers 2.

Qurios, was also in the running for the Moving Image Company of the Year but was pipped by games producers Mere Mortals. Qurios managing director Niel Bushnell said: "It was a terrific night for us, we are so proud of Matt for winning the award. Everyone did so well to make the shortlist but to actually pick up an award was tremendous and a massive boost to the company.

"We work really hard to compete with the big city firms and always have a great response from the television and film companies we work with. But to be recognised by the industry takes us another step forward."