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The four members of the Imagination Movers, the New Orleans-based kids music quartet that enjoys a global audience, have always been animated. Their concerts and live-action Disney Junior show are high-energy affairs filled with music and movement.
But soon, the Movers will be literally animated. They have entered into a development deal with Toronto-based 9 Story Entertainment to create "Super Movers," a hybrid live action / animated series. The plan is to produce 52 11-minute episodes in which each of the Movers possesses a "hilariously over-the-top" super-power. The goal of the show, 9 Story said in a press release, is to "enforce the message that every child has their own inner superpower just waiting to be discovered."
"We are thrilled to be partnering with Imagination Movers," said Natalie Dumoulin, 9 Storys vice-president for creative affairs. "They are tremendously talented and have a truly global fan base. We cant wait to share Super Movers with children around the world, and teach them how to unlock their own superpowers."
With its creative and production staff of more than 220 employees, 9 Story operates one of North Americas largest animation studios. The company has produced over 900 half hours of childrens and family programming for childrens channels around the world, across multiple platforms.
The Movers Scott Durbin and Dave Poche led the effort to align the Movers with 9 Story; the deal was signed on the day the band performed at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival this spring. "The idea of helping young kids discover their own special abilities in a way thats high-energy and filled with music is right up our alley," Poche said. "9 Story shares our creative vision, and we are so excited to be working with them to bring Super Movers to life."
The Imagination Movers are in the midst of a three-week, 17-city coast-to-coast tour of Canada, the result of a partnership with Disney Junior Canada. On Sunday, Nov. 2, theyll play a rare hometown concert at the Civic Theatre in downtown New Orleans. The show will be filmed for an upcoming CD/DVD.
The Movers recently recorded new songs at Studio in the Country in Bogalusa. The new project is being funded by a PledgeMusic campaign, in which the Movers raised 138 percent of their target amount. They have sold more than 500,000 copies of their previous CDs and DVDs, including independent releases and releases through Disney.
The self-titled Disney Junior live-action series "Imagination Movers" the band shot a total of 75 half-hour episodes over three seasons in a Harahan production studio -- has aired in more than 55 countries worldwide. In the United States, the series ranked among TVs top five programs with preschoolers ages 2-5. In Australia, "Imagination Movers" was the most-viewed original Playhouse Disney series launch ever among kids and total viewers. It ranked as the No. 1 series on Playhouse Disney in the United Kingdom, Denmark and Sweden, and was in the Top 5 in Italy and India.