Never Not Running — A Game That Won’t Quit!

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Administrator

February, 2012
Strap on your fastest sneakers because Big Jump Interactive is on the run with its latest Game, Never Not Running.

Created by Shawn McMahon, this side scrolling action-adventure game features Tilo, a regular guy who becomes a time traveler. His damaged PortalRunner shoes are to blame, forcing him to sprint through time, without the luxury of stopping! Powered by kinetic batteries, he’s only 2,000 steps away from another shot at getting home… So far for Tilo, that’s two thousand too many!

The game features several richly illustrated, quasi-historical worlds for users to explore, along with a number of humorous obstacles along the way. Using talent and resources from Big Jump’s television services division, Big Jump Productions, the game promises high production values and series potential down the road.

Creator Shawn McMahon, says “Never Not Running is a great concept that promises humor, action and fun gameplay – I’m really excited to have Big Jump Interactive and Big Jump Productions on board!”

Big Jump Interactive is set to release the game for iPad in late spring, with plans to port to additional platforms down the road.

Beats in Bites Digital: Two Beat Box Games for Kids

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Administrator

February, 2012

Big Jump Interactive and Genuine Pictures of Ottawa are pleased to announce that Big Jump Interactive is now in production on the company’s newest interactive project, Beats in Bites Digital. The digital project is based on children’s television series Beats in Bites, which is set for broadcast on TVOntario this fall.

Beats in Bites Digital includes two musical games, Beatbox Mixer, where visitors learn beatbox techniques, create compositions and record their own beats; and Sunny & Pepper’s Beatbox Challenge, a multi-level game in which users play a musical “follow the leader”. Both games are imaginative and entertaining, and allow users to learn the basics of musical rhythm and composition through engaging interactive experiences.

The games are designed to appeal to kids between the ages of 6-9, and will be released for the iPad and the TVOkids.com website. There are plans to port to additional platforms in the future.

Beats in Bites Digital is an immersive environment where kids learn the theory and practice of music while having a fun time with it.

Both games are produced in association with TVOntario, the Shaw Rocket Digital Fund and Genuine Pictures Inc.

About the Series

Beats in Bites is a live action/CG animation series that celebrates the art of beatboxing. It stars Canadian beatbox artists Julia Dales and Ammar Abou-Agena and four young future beatbox talents. In each episode, Julia and Ammar teach the children how to produce sounds using the mouth, lips, tongue and voice. They also mesmerize their young protégés in a music video style performance with a lexicon of sounds ranging from drum sets to tongue clicks, filtering to vocal scratching. Beats in Bites also features two real-life parrots, Sunny & Pepper, who add their own touch of humour to the series.

Creator Donna Leon says, “Beatboxing is a universal art form that requires only one instrument – the mouth. So it’s accessible to any child across the world, which is really exciting. Our animation team has taken this series to a whole new level, and we can’t wait for young viewers to see the results of our efforts.”

The 32 x 7 minute was developed and is produced in association with TVOntario. It is also supported by the Canada Media Fund and the Shaw Rocket Fund. International distribution is being handled by CCI Entertainment of Toronto. Visual Education Centre/Learn 360 will distribute the series educationally.

Genuine Pictures is an award-winning independent production company that has created more than 400 half hours of television in a variety of genres for several Canadian and international broadcasters over the past 15 years.

Allen Gregory

Posted on November 17, 2011 by Rick Morrison

We are proud to be associated with prime time hits such as Ugly Americans. But equally as thrilled to be working with Bento Box revising select scenes for the FOX hit “Allen Gregory”. Big Jump continues to be involved where few Canadian studios get the opportunity, U.S. Prime Time TV. We continue to raise the bar, seamlessly combining traditional with digital techniques….and having a lot of FUN doing it!

Big Jump wraps UA 201

Posted on April 13, 2011 by Rick Morrison

Big Jump wraps the 1st episode of Ugly Americans, season 2 for Comedy Central. The show looks great and is funny as hell. Congrats to the entire Big Jump team on a stellar job and for all the hard, dedicated work that continues to go into the series.

Traditional meets Digital

Posted on January 19, 2011 by Rick Morrison

Big Jump has recently added Toonboom to its pipeline. Although the software is very intuitive, we still amply draw into it. I shudder to think that the classical skill of drawing could disappear from the art form of animation. There has been some talk of less pencil mileage to produce animation and while that is true as digital allows for this, one has to admit there is nothing like the aesthetics, appeal and warmth of hand drawings.

Take Disney’s Tangled for example, most of the animation was keyed traditionally before it was passed into digital, and it definitely shows. To date, it’s the ultimate example of Traditional married seamlessly with Digital, cleverly implementing the best of both mediums… now that’s exciting!

BIG JUMP Needs a Few Good Animators

Posted on January 14, 2011 by bigjump

Big Jump Productions is looking for a few good animators to start February 1st on a high profile, primetime series.

We require strong, classically trained animators with at least 2 years experience and proficiency with Toon Boom and/or Flash. This is NOT a symbol based show; it is completely classical. Interested candidates should send resumes and demo reel links to careers@bigjumpproductions.com.

Although we require most of our animation team to work in house at our Ottawa studio, we are also accepting submissions for a limited number of out of house positions.

All applicants must be Canadian citizens and Ontario residents as of December 2010.

A look at 2010…

Posted on January 14, 2011 by Rick Morrison

The last few seconds ticked away on the game clock, the Saints threw their helmets in the air and began their Super Bowl victory celebrations. Buzzzzz… my cell phone vibrated on the coffee table beside me. Low and behold my worst nightmare came true… “Your building had a fire”. A giant pit formed in my stomach as I envisioned our studio… gone.

The Secret World of Benjamin Bear was almost delivered with 2 episodes to go. Thanks to our virtual server, it was no more than a slight blip. After relocating our talent to a temporary location, we were back to business as usual.

I figured Big Jump was just handed one of its biggest challenges… rising from the ashes, we delivered on time, on budget, without a hitch

Of course, Big Jump was forced to relocate… however, as the saying goes, ‘every cloud has a sliver lining’. We added 1500 square feet and 20 additional seats to our pipeline. During this time we also acquired some new intellectual properties and Big Jump Interactive excelled.

Our efforts in 2010 laid the groundwork for a prosperous 2011, and Big Jump is well on track to capitalize on that growth.

STAY TUNED!

BIG JUMP has moved to a larger, upgraded facility.

Posted on May 7, 2010 by bigjump

Housing both Big Jump Productions and Big Jump Interactive, Our new facility, equipped with the latest technology, will better serve our partners and clients. Big Jump continues to produce and deliver television and multiplatform content at the highest level.

Same Quality, Reliability and Cost Effectiveness…new address!

Big Jump Productions Inc.
Unit 15-22 Gurdwara Rd.
Nepean, Ontario
K2E 8A2

We look forward to working with you.

Great Minds Think Alike – James Cameron’s Avatar & Adobe CS4 Production Premium

Posted on February 15, 2010 by Administrator

James Cameron made extensive use of Adobe’s Creative Suite 4 Production Premium software suite on his latest blockbuster film, Avatar. With programs like After Effects, Premiere Pro, Photoshop, Illustrator, Soundbooth, Flash, Dynamic Link, OnLocation and Bridge, he and his crew were able to take things from concept to the final cut of the film with never-seen-before efficiency.

Imagine being able to see your mocap actors controlling their 3D rigs during filming in the view monitors on set. These were some of the reasons it took him almost a decade and a half to complete Avatar. He had to wait for this technology to finally mature.

“I think one of the great things about what adobe does with their suite of products is that they give you everything you need to complete your whole process, from concept to finish”

- Jon Landau, Producer, “Avatar”

Big Jump also uses many of the same programs from the Production Premium suite and in much the same way as was used for Avatar. The streamlined process is becoming revolutionary in the industry, be it animation or live-action. I know I am excited to be working with an outfit that is as forward thinking as to be on the same page as one of my favourite Sci-Fi writer/directors.

“We never leave the Production Bundle at any time. The Adobe Production Bundle allows us to produce great quality animation in a very seamless environment and using Dynamic Link we can makes changes to any scene in seconds rather than have to wait hours for the footage to be re-generated through the pipeline. It’s a very exciting time!”

– Rod Amador, Vice President, Big Jump Productions.

BIG JUMP Productions launches new website and blog

Posted on February 15, 2010 by bigjump

Our Parent company, BIG JUMP Productions, commissioned an image update and a re-vamp of their online presence; including a robust content management and client care system with the ability to control ample assets and numerous stages of approval processes.

Our own website quickly became the best way to show potential clients all the exciting possibilities that we can incorporate into their multi-platform needs.