Animator and filmmaker Alexs Stadermann will direct 3D Australian-German film Maya the Bee.
He will work with producer Barbara Stephen and line producer Alexia Gates-Foale, reforming the core team which worked on The Woodlies television series and The Woodlies Movie special feature-length episode.
“Alexs Stadermann, Barbara Stephen and Alexia Gates-Foale have an enviable work chemistry and energy," Flying Bark Productions managing director Jim Ballantine said in a statement announcing the appointments. "Their collaboration on The Woodlies is testament to their creativity. In addition to their powerhouse dynamic, they will bring their own individual career experience and passion to Maya the Bee ensuring this movie will be a local and global success.”
Stadermann has previously worked as unit director on Disney's Bambi II and Tarzan II and supervising animator on Lion King 1½ (also known as The Lion King 3: Hakuna Matata). He also directed two seasons of Aardman Animation's Planet Sketch, and was part of the director’ unit on Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole.
Stephen produced children's series Erky Perky and line produced pre-school show Magical Tales. She also worked on ABC series The Adventures of Figaro Pho before joining Flying Bark Productions as a creative producer. Gates-Foale was the production supervisor on The Adventures of Figaro Pho and production manager on several Flying Bark Productions projects including The Woodlies.
The animated film Maya the Bee will follow the lovable character’s desire to escape her heavily regimented existence in the hive and experience freedom to explore at her own will.