Chris Pine, William Shatner in Quantum Quest
Jupiter 9 Productions, Digimax Animation Produces 45 Minute Film
Jan 16, 2009 Dominic von Riedemann
Chris Pine (Star Trek), Mark Hamill (Avatar: The Last Airbender) and Samuel L. Jackson (Afro Samurai) headline an all-star cast in Jupiter 9's upcoming CGI animated film, Quantum Quest. The film is a joint project between Digimax Animation, Jupiter 9 and NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL).
The film will incorporate actual footage taken from the Cassini-Huygens, SOHO, Mars Odyssey, Mars Express, Venus Express and Mercury Messenger missions, currently taking pictures of our solar system.
Quantum Quest Synopsis
Here's the flick's synopsis, courtesy of the film's website.
"Quantum Quest is a science fiction – science space film that takes you on an atomic adventure in space. This film features an all star cast, and was initiated by JPL/NASA through a grant from Jet Propulsion Lab via the international Cassini Huygens Mission to Saturn. Never before have on-going missions been involved in a film project, and never before has a film been initiated by NASA. The film is tied into 7 on-going space missions. The 3D, large format CGI-animated educational entertaining film Quantum Quest interweaves actual space imagery captured from the seven ongoing NASA space missions with an adventure story set in an imaginary atomic universe to create a captivating family friendly action film experience (you might call it a solar safari!) that entertains while subtly educating and inspiring viewers about our solar system. It includes footage from the Cassini-Huygen, SOHO, Mars Odyssey, Mars Express, Venus Express, and Mercury Messenger space missions.
“Quantum Quest will be released in September of 2009 in both large format and regular theaters worldwide. The film is 45 minutes long and the film integrates with a comprehensive pre and post theater educational program for K – 12 students that exceed all Federal and State educational guidelines. Through these materials we want to educate kids globally about the importance and wonders of science. As part of our educational outreach program, the actors of the film have participated in creating Quantum Quest Edclips. A new clip will be added approximately once a week until the film is released. All classrooms and educational organizations are free to use and distribute these clips for educational purposes. We will also be adding over the next 9 months pre and post educational material which can be freely copied and distributed for educational use.
"Quantum Quest tells the story of Dave (Pine) a photon who refuses to grow up and leave the Sun. Until one day, circumstances force him on a quest to save his fellow photons from being annihilated by THE VOID (Hamill) and his anti-matter forces lead by Admiral Fear (Samuel L. Jackson), General Ignorance (Tom Kenny) and Major Moron (Jason Alexander). THE VOID desires everything that exists to be destroyed, for THE VOID is that which existed before the universe was born. THE CORE (William Shatner) is a being that lives in our Sun, he seeks to stop THE VOID. His children are photons, neutrinos and photons born in the core of the Sun. The best of the best of the “Sun Citzens” are selected to join The Core’s Battle Fleet which fights the anti-matter forces of THE VOID."
Dr. Harry Kloor and Dan St. Pierre are directing Quantum Quest, and Shawn Clement (Open Season) is composing the music. Kloor also penned the script.
Quantum Quest's Voice Cast
In addition to Pine, Hamill, Jackson, Kenny and Alexander, the voice cast also includes Hayden Christensen (Star Wars), Amanda Peet (The Whole Nine Yards), Robert Picardo (Stargate Atlantis), Sandra Oh (Grey's Anatomy), Brent Spiner (Star Trek: The Next Generation), James Earl Jones (Star Wars), William Shatner (Star Trek), Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong, Doug Jones (Hell Boy II: The Golden Army), Abigail Breslin (Kit Kittredge: An American Girl), Spencer Breslin (The Happening), Gary Graham (Enterprise), and Janina Gavankar (The L Word).
Although the voice cast offers some coolness – both Captain Kirks (Pine and Shatner) plus two Darth Vaders (Jones and Christensen), plus Luke Skywalker and Mace Windu, in the same movie – there are some worrying aspects. The art in the site's demo reel looks good, but the dialogue is atrocious.
Quick example: Samuel L. Jackson is in full-on yell mode here: "DAVE MUST BE STOPPED! THE LIFE FORCE MUST NOT REACH CASSINI! DESTROY DAVE!"
The occasional spelling mistake (the dread "its" versus "it's" goof shows up right in one of the major headings . . . not good, people) on the official website doesn't exactly inspire confidence, either.
As an educational project, Quantum Quest appears beyond reproach. As a piece of entertainment . . . the jury's still out but they've already called for a rope and noose-tying lessons.
Quantum Quest comes out sometime in September.
William Shatner as The Core in Quantum Quest
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