Sumo Dojo Productions re-launches with a new approach:

July 2007 sees the re-launch of Sumo Dojo Productions, as a one-stop provider of digital media production and animation services across all platforms.

Our directors, internet and game designers, music composers, sound designers and animators have worked on projects throughout Europe.

Sumo Dojo Productions now forms a “hub” for the various talents that are committed to the company and the source of a full range of production facilities, and can now provide commissioning producers with a range of services far beyond that which is normally expected of a typical animation production company:

From TV commercials to game design and production.

From viral advertising to award-winning website design and implementation.

From feature film titles to the combined power of social media and digital asset management systems.

From original music composition to branded content, including multi-episode animation series for distribution on the web or through mobile platforms.

Not to mention the production of festival winning short films.

Associations and Memberships:

Sumo Dojo Productions are members of the Advertising Producers Association (APA) and the Producer's Alliance for Cinema and Television (PACT).

Producer Mick Foley is a member of both the PACT National Council for Animation / Children's Programme and the Training Policy Group. He is a Council member on the Skillset Animation Forum.

Sumo Dojo history:

Sumo Dojo Productions was originally started in 2003, by Animation Director Jonti Picking and Producer Mick Foley, to bring new web based talent to the UK animation market and to help nurture fresh skills to the scene.

Mick Foley was the principal producer and company director of the award winning animation production company Puppetoon Productions. Over a period of fourteen years, Mick was responsible for the production of over three hundred commercials.

Prior to this he spent two years setting up and producing for the commercials arm of the FilmFairgroup. He has also worked for Leo Burnett London as Deputy Head / Head of Admin of the TV department, Head of Television at J Walter Thompson South Africa and as deputy Head of Television / Producer / Head of Admin. at Bates London.

Jonti Picking is developing his own award winning website www.weebls-stuff.com. Weebl is now one of the leading cult websites in the world with over 1.5 million unique users per month.

Talent:

Joining the re-launched Sumo Dojo Productions, in addition to Jonti Picking and Peabo.

Bob Cosford, creator of the Munch Bunch TV commercials with the CharacterShop as well as titles for Meridian TV and Disney Europe.

Denis Russo, stop frame maestro.

Errorware, designers of on-line games; as well as experts on the marketing uses for social networking sites in the youth market.

Jon Turner and Christian Johnson at Kilogramme, who give the Animated Dr Who a new stylish look and feel.

Nigel Plaskitt, puppeteer and animation director.

Spite Your Face, animators of the stop frame and CGI combination Lego online viral mini-features.

The CharacterShop, experienced programme makers of the 39 x 22 min Friends and Heroes animated series for CBBC as well as promos for CITV and TV commercials.

VooDooDog, award winning designers, with idents for Film 4 and MTV and games for Toyota and The Guardian to their name.

Together, they provide a one stop shop for all things creative in animation.

Sumo Dojo Productions showcases new talent:

Daim Dziauddin, who was included in the Best on the Web 2006 Showcase on the AWN website with his short film “Death, Kitty and the Fat Man”.

Laura Nailor, an award winner at Animex 2007, with her film “Flight of the Camel”.

Polish illustration team, Ilustris, with their highly distinctive style and imagination, offer agencies and clients something fresh and new.

Steve Edge with his Stop Frame version of the Robbie Williams track “A Place to Crash” (courtesy of IE Music and The In Good Company Co Ltd 2006).

We also showcase newcomers David Padadac with three short films; Russell Etheridge, whose projects range from Manga-esque 2D through to live action and realistic 3D; Gareth Bell with two short CGI films; and a CGI and a live action film from Martin Ruyant.

The new Sumo Dojo site also offers students the opportunity to showcase some of their latest pieces through the new Sumo site, giving them a window onto the industry for their as yet undiscovered talents, and perhaps the chance to be “discovered”.

New Services:

Original music composition with Al Paxton, guitarist of the Scots indie rockers Stapleton. Jonti and Peabo also provide a range of options for music tracks to be developed alongside and complement the animation.

Informed Sauce specialise in de-mystifying the technologies and workflows used in media production. An area of particular specialism is the combination of media asset management techniques and collaborative social media tools such as wikis and RSS.

Website design and implementation from Evoluted, the creators of the new Sumo site.

The delicacy and fashion sense of Oro, designing websites and printed media.

Stylish design, development and DVD authoring from Petrol Digital Media complete the range of services provided by Sumo Dojo Productions UK ltd..