While I continue to wait for Grant Morrison's We3 to come to the big screen, my second favorite comic about hyper-intelligent pets has just taken a big step towards production. A CG-animated film based on the Dark Horse comic, Beasts of Burden, has been in the works for a couple of years over at Reel FX, and now they've just landed Shane Acker to direct it.
Acker is probably best known for the gorgeous animated film, 9, which was based on his far superior short film. Shrek's Andrew Adamson is producing, with Darren Lemke (Jack the Giant Slayer) penning the script. Adamson had been eyed for the directing job, but thankfully he stepped aside. Since 9 bombed, Acker has gone back to doing visual effects work on films like Total Recall and Journey 2: The Mysterious Island. Say what you want about both of those, they at least looked good.
Now might be a good time to go out and pick up the 2009 mini-series, or the excellent Hellboy/Beasts of Burden one-shot. Created by Evan Dorkin with art by Jill Thompson, it follows a team of dogs and one cat who investigate paranormal mysteries in their neighborhood of Burden Hill. It's not all cute and cuddly, either, so hopefully Lemke's script will reflect that.
