Bryan Adams in South Africa’s First 3D Animated Movie

Published on: 2010/11/12 - in Entertainment Featured

Singer/song writer Bryan Adams recently announced that he is providing the voice of the lead character in “Jock of the Bushveld”, promoted as being South Africa’s first 3D animated feature film.

The Kingston born singer-songwriter joins other celebrities from the Kingston area who have voiced characters in animated films, including Napanee raised Avril Lavigne – who was the voice of Heather in 2006’s “Over the Hedge” – and sometimes area resident, Dan Aykroyd, who provided the voice for Chip in “Antz” back in 1998 as well as in two upcoming animated flicks: the scarecrow in “Dorothy of Oz” and the title character in “Yogi Bear”.

Other voice actors in Adams’ new movie include South African celebrities like soap opera actor Terence Bridge (“Isidingo”) and comedian Nik Rabinowitz.  Archbishop Desmond Tutu also does a cameo as the voice of a spiritual leader in the movie, and Grammy Award-winner Tim Rice, the lyricist for the award-winning musical film The Lion King, and South African music legend Johnny Clegg are contributing to the soundtrack.

“Jock of the Bushveld” is a true story by South African author Sir Percy Fitzpatrick that recounts his adventures in the 1880s with his dog, Jock, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier as he traveled and worked in the Bushveld region of South Africa.

Fitzpatrick initially used these tales as bedtime stories for his four children, sometimes with his good friend Rudyard Kipling taking part. Kipling, the most famous poet and writer, eventually convinced his friend to publish the adventures in a book.

“Jock of the Bushveld” was soon published in 1907, became an instant hit with four reprints that same year, and has never been out of print since.  There is a bronze statue dedicated to Jock – Fitzpatrick’s faithful companion – in front of the Barberton Town Hall in Mpumalang (pictures), and his adventures were turned into a live action movie in 1986. The script for the 1986 film was written by Duncan McNeillie, who is also involved with this new animated version.

Investors have reported spent almost $50 million South Africa Rand (about $7 million USD) on the movie which is due for a South African release in December 2010. If it is a success there, then international distribution of the film should soon follow where investors hope to profit from both the box office  as well as from character licensing.

Teaser Trailer for “Jock of the Bushveld”:

More information and images from “Jock of the Bushveld” at Jock-Animation.

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Bryan Adams was born in Kingston, Ontario in November, 1959

Resources: “Jock of the Bushveld” image: Bryan Adams TwitPic. Photo of Jock statue: Wikipedia