Canadian company's unique storytelling expertise helps bring film to the big screen

TORONTO, Oct. 22, 2014 /CNW/ - House of Cool Inc. is ready to celebrate the successful release of 20th Century Fox's and Reel FX Animation Studios' The Book of Life on Friday, October 17, 2014.

The Toronto based production company was tapped by Reel FX to storyboard the film alongside Reel FX's story team, and was excited to contribute its world-renowned creative expertise to the project, joining forces with producers Guillermo del Toro (Puss in Boots, Pan's Labyrinth) and Brad Booker, director Jorge R. Gutierrez (El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera) and Reel FX (Free Birds).

"Having known Ricardo for years, I knew House of Cool would be a great partner to work with on The Book of Life," said producer Booker. "They were the perfect extension of our great in house story team. We look forward to working with them again."

"Our role in this project was to work with Reel FX to help execute Jorge's vision for his story," said House of Cool co-founder, Ricardo Curtis, who served as Head of Story on the film. "From there, we worked with the talented artists at Reel FX, so they could bring it to life in CG."

Distance was no object for the Toronto-based firm. House of Cool's Canadian team storyboarded the film in-house while working collaboratively with the story and animation teams at Reel FX in Dallas, TX. In order to facilitate this international effort, the House of Cool and Reel FX artists evolved their traditional process to a fully digital approach – making communication seamless between writers Gutierrez and Doug Langdale (based in Dallas and California) and the Reel FX crew in Texas.

About The Book of Life
The Book of Life, a vibrant animated fantasy-adventure, tells the legend of Manolo, a conflicted hero and dreamer who sets off on an epic quest through magical, mythical and wondrous worlds in order to reunite with his one true love and defend his village. But Manolo and his equally courageous best friend Joaquin are not your typical Prince Charmings; the object of their affections is far from being your average princess; and The Book of Life is a fairy tale that doesn't go by the book.

Presenting a grand mythology set in visually spectacular worlds never seen before, the film brings together director Jorge R. Gutierrez's unique visual style and a crowd-pleasing mix of adventure, action, comedy, romance and music.

About House of Cool
House of Cool is an international leader in storytelling and animation. Established in 2004, the Canadian firm has contributed its award-winning creative expertise to leading studios and brands around the world, including storyboard work on beloved films such as Rio 2 (2014), Epic (2013), Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012), Despicable Me (2010) and Horton Hears A Who (2008). For more information, please visit http://houseofcool.com

SOURCE House of Cool Inc.