Rob Minkoff Tackles Animated Animal Adventure

Rob Minkoff, renowned co-director of Disney's 'The Lion King,' is in advanced discussions to lead the development and executive production of 'Storm Dogs.' This upcoming family adventure from Particle 6 centers on a group of five dogs tasked with safely returning a lost toddler during a fierce storm in an English village.

The film will uniquely combine live-action performances with photorealistic animated characters. Advanced AI tools will be employed alongside traditional filmmaking techniques to bring the dogs and the child to life, with production slated for 2027. Minkoff will collaborate closely with Particle 6 CEO Eline van der Velden on story and screenplay development.

Particle 6, known for its exploration of AI in filmmaking, aims to use a performance-driven process to imbue animated characters with human-like emotional depth. Van der Velden emphasizes AI's potential to transform filmmaking processes, not replace human creativity. The company previously garnered attention with its AI actor Tilly Norwood at the Zurich Film Festival.