SHORT SYNOPSIS

A mysterious stranger leaves his isolated Mexican village to seek help from an impending attack by an equally mysterious horde. He finds a gifted young Mexican wrestler – or luchador – DRAGON ROJO JR., who sees a chance to live up to the legacy of his famous father. Inspired by the golden age of Lucha Libre, he gathers a team of his own — MR. PROFESIONAL (‘The Muscle’), RAYO X (‘The Ace’), TSETSE FLY (‘The Brawler’), and SORPRESA(‘The Surprise’). But as they learn to work together, a surprise lies in store — the village they have been asked to defend is not exactly what it seems…

THE FILM

Formats: 35mm print, Region 1 DVD
Running Time: 72 minutes
Completed: May 2008
Language: English and Spanish (two versions)
Official Theatrical Release: October 17, 2008 – Mexico (Spanish version)

MAIN CREW

Director: Eddie Mort
Story & Screenplay: Keith J. Rainville
Art Direction: Lili Chin, Eddie Mort
Music Direction and Score: Phofo (feat. Mariachi Los Toros)
Editor: Roger Injarusorn
Post Production Producer: Loren Smith
Executive Producers: Enrique Altamirano, Lili Chin, Eddie Mort, Ernesto Paralta
Production: FWAK! Animation
Distribution: Mexico - Azteca Cine, US & Canada - Porchlight Entertainment

MAIN CAST (Original English version):
Armando Valdes-Kennedy ………. Dragon Rojo Jr
Richard Green …………………………. Mr Profesional
Candi Milo …………………………….. Tsetse Fly
Ruth Livier …………………………….. Sorpresa
Lux Interior …………………………….. Rayo X
Matt Danner ……………………………. The Stranger
Eduardo Antonio Garcia …………… Dragon Rojo Sr
Eric Bauza ……………………………… Rey Extremo
Mauricio Svanstrom …………………. Dr. Blanco


PRODUCTION NOTES

The creators of Los Campeones De La Lucha Libre - Eddie Mort and Lili Chin - are longtime aficionados of Lucha Libre (Mexican Wrestling) and may be best known for bringing the world of Lucha Libre to mainstream consciousness with their hit cartoon TV series ¡Mucha Lucha! (2001-2003), produced by Warner Bros Animation and currently showing on Cartoon Network.

Los Campeones de La Lucha Libre the movie, was born out of the desire to produce the very first animated feature that would do Lucha Libre justice, by showing the masks, the moves, the atmosphere of the matches, the continuing fight between good and evil (tecnicos contra rudos!), the tradition of a luchador carrying on in his father’s mask, and the spirit of the old 1960’s Lucha Libre movies starring wrestling legends El Santo & Blue Demon, and their monstrous adversaries.

While ¡Mucha Lucha! introduced kids to the colorful phenomenon of Masked Wrestling in a fantastical and playful style, Los Campeones targets an older and wider audience and proudly showcases authentic wrestling moves that were not permissable on children’s television.

In 2003, Fwak! Animation pitched the concept of a Lucha Libre movie to BouncyNet Inc (USA & Mexico). BouncyNet partnered with TV Azteca Network (Mexico) to raise the funds, and on a very modest budget of $870,442, Los Campeones De La Lucha Libre was produced over a period of 2 years, with creative crew members located in the USA, Canada, Australia, The Philippines and Mexico. The result is a visually-satisfying film that belies its budget and resources, and stays true to its subject matter.

Like ¡Mucha Lucha! Los Campeones is a 2D animated production using Macromedia Flash as the primary animation software. It was edited with Adobe After Effects and Final Cut Pro before transfer to 35mm film.

There are two versions of Los Campeones. The original film was made in the English language with a US cast, and premiered at the Egyptian Theater, Los Angeles.
The second version is a Spanish language dub for theatrical distribution in Mexico by Azteca Cine.

The Los Campeones soundtrack includes an original score by Phofo and music by Mariachi Los Toros, Los Straitjackets, The Ghastly Ones, Ollin, Mezklah, Las Membranas, Senor Coconut, Neal Hefti, Mexicali Brass, The Vanishing, and Moderatto. Listen at www.myspace.com/loscampeones

- Distribution Inquiries -
Enrique Altamirano: harry@bouncynet.net

- Contact Us -
loscampeonesmovie at gmail dot com

Created by Eddie Mort & Lili Chin, FWAK!Animation
Copyright 2008 BOUNCYNET INC. and AZTECA CINE