4K animation

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The 4K Animation GmbH was an animation studio based in Berlin . The company developed and produced digital special effects as 2D - and 3D - animation for film and television. 2D productions concern two-dimensional surfaces that are traditionally drawn with pen and paper and 3D animations are physically produced in three dimensions with the aid of the computer and are referred to as Computer Generated Imagery (CGI).

history

The company was founded in September 2000 by Stephan Lethaus, Bernd Mittelhockamp, ​​Daniel Binder, Robert Zwirner and Jan Schmidtgen in Berlin-Mitte. The company name 4K was based on the resolution of 4096 lines per image (4K) used in the production of cinema films at the time the company was founded and thus symbolized the highest possible quality.

The company focused on the development and production of innovative digital special effects and 3D character animations for film and television productions. The implementation was carried out by animation specialists who have many years of experience and extensive technical know-how in the field of computer graphics and programming for film, television and advertising. The technical language refers to this as 2D, 3D, animation, VFX , Flash, compositing, editing and storyboard.

Industry-specific services were offered in the pre-production phase of films, such as scripting, conception and storyboards . Additional services included supervision on the set of film production, 3D character animation, digital special effects and compositing for classic post-production . 4K looked after customers both nationally and internationally.

In 2008, 4K Animation GmbH was Germany's largest animation manufacturer in terms of volume and was one of the top-selling companies in its industry. At times, up to 200 employees worked in Berlin , London and Chennai (India).

The company oversaw major film, television and TV productions such as Das Traumschiff (TV series), SOKO Leipzig (TV series), Team Germany (TV series), FruchtTiger (TV commercial), Bibi Blocksberg (TV -Commercial), Benjamin Blümchen (TV commercial), Marvi Hämmer presents National Geographic World (TV series), Berlin, Berlin (TV series) or Lexx - The Dark Zone (TV series).

In 2009, Bernd Mittelhockamp, ​​Daniel Binder and Robert Zwirner sold their shares to Stephan Lethaus and Jan Schmidtgen, who continued to run the company. The company gave up the company premises at Oranienburger Straße 38 in Berlin-Mitte and moved to the southern side of the Spree directly on the Köllnischer Park . The former company premises in Oranienburger Strasse were converted and now house the Hotel am Scheunenviertel. In 2012 Stephan Lethaus also withdrew from the management to concentrate on his Melmao project, an internet portal for children. Since then, Jan Schmidtgen has been the sole managing director of the company. Next to him was Frank Govaere, who is in charge of the productions as animation director and supervisor.

Jan Schmidtgen closed the company in September 2016 and canceled it so that he could devote himself to new tasks.

Filmography

TV series (selection)

TV films (selection)

Cinema (selection)

Advertising (selection)

Print

  • National Geographic World

Web links