Mammoth venture

“We wanted this to be an all-Indian project from pre to post-production,” explains Avishek Sarkar,one of the series’ writers. With this aim,Alvina Films even turned down opportunities to work with American networks,like Showtime,among others. “The idea is to make a home for Indian artists,where we can continue to make quality animation,” continues Sarkar.

Each episode means a Rs 45 lakh investment in storyboards and layouts on a film-sized scale. “The most challenging aspect so far has been developing the massive storyline of 250 episodes,” says the show’s director Shabuddin Chowdari,who is also an elephant enthusiast.

In the first episode,Bo Mamo’s fantasy homeland,Oregonia,is hit by a crippling frost,sending his parents on a food-seeking mission from which they don’t return. Accompanied by friends Ron and Zamm (an eagle and a squirrel respectively),Bo will traverse various lands,foil dastardly plots,encounter hundreds of characters and discover who he really is as he attempts to find his parents.

Tackling contemporary issues like climate change,Bo Mamo will be released in Hindi,English and all regional dialects. With another six months until the series hits the airwaves,Alvina Films has not yet chosen a network,though the Cartoon Network and Star Plus are the current frontrunners.

As the 200-member team adds the finishing touches,the bar has been set,and it is high. “We wanted to make the most fantastic story with the most amazing characters possible,” concludes Chowdari.