17/10/2005 > Crocoloco is officially introduced for the first time.

Crocoloco is a high quality English language TV format, which gives children between the ages of two and six a feeling for natural language learning, and a long-term motivation to learn languages. Crocoloco is a TV series consisting of fifty-two eleven-minute episodes. The series will be produced by 4k in Berlin, babies & more in Munich, and Gifil in Hamburg.

13/10/2005 > Mr. Chaos - out and about again on Halloween.

Mr. Chaos arrives punctually on Halloween with a new TV appearance. What awaits him on his latest adventure? What will he disguise himself as this time?

05/10/2005 > TV commercial “Ligretto”

Games company Schmidt-Spiele works with 4k again after successful collaborations for TV commercials promoting “Kniffel” and “Geistertreppe”. 4k conceived, produced, and set to music the rhythm-driven advert for the card game “Ligretto”.

01/10/2005 > TV Commercial “Geistertreppe”

4k produced a twenty-second TV commercial for “Childrens” Game of the Year 2004 “Geistertreppe” by Schmidt–Spiele. 4k reproduced ghost and action figures from the board game, and brought them to life as 3D figures and sets. In addition, 4k created a version of the commercial for the new game “Geisterwald”.

05/10/2005 > Winter Fun with the Fruit Tiger

Fruit Tiger “Winter Fun” is just right for this time of year, and a TV commercial will follow shortly. 4k produced 3D animation and compositions for little green bag in Hamburg.

01/09/2005 > Production begins on the second season of Marvi Hämmer

Now called “Marvi Hämmer presents National Geographic World” 4K will be producing 26 new episodes until July 2006. Featuring crafty rat Marvi as the familiar 3D animated TV presenter, and world reporters Jaycee, Ming, and Roberto as 2D animated figures. By July 2006, 4K will have produced more than two hours of animation films, exclusively in Berlin. The first new episodes will be screened on 3rd December.

15/08/2005 > New services and bigger workspaces for 4K in Berlin–Mitte

4K expands its operations, and adds 2D animation to its range of services. The company makes an hour-long digital animation film, entirely without the use of paper and pencil, as part of the first phase of a project. 4k also opens new premises. There are now more than 20 people working in the 4k premises in Oranienburger Strasse. Like an increasing number of German animation companies, 4K is making a modest contribution to German animation and trying to produce more work domestically, rather than buying cheaply in the Far East.

01/08/2005 > “Lampi” beholds the light of the moving world

Lampi, a little bat, is the next character, following the fat red devil, which 4k produces for Jamba! The first TV commercial will be broadcast shortly.

15/07/2005 > Mr. Chaos – TV commercial “Evil Sprayer” / UK Version launched

Mr Chaos banned in Britain (again). At the end of June, the third TV adventure of Mr. Chaos is broadcast in the UK, albeit in a highly modified form. The “Evil Sprayer” actually became the “Most Wanted”. The use of spray cans is still forbidden by authorities in the UK. In countries outside the British Isles, the “Evil Sprayer” continues to be highly successful in its original form.

15/07/2005 > Leibnitz (Bahlsen) Löwensnack TV- commercial

4k produced the current TV-commercial for the new “Leibnitz Löwensnack”, a delicious chocolate bar with a milk centre. The advertising agency responsible was the Hamburg based Kolle Rebbe. The animation legend Greg Manwaring was part of the 2D animation team. Images and a “Making Of” will be accessible on the project website shortly.

01/07/2005 > Mr. Chaos – TV commercial “Evil Sprayer” / International Version launched

German daily politics will stop at nothing to get at our red devil. In his third TV adventure, Mr. Chaos gets acquainted with sharp-shooting lawmakers in high-tech helicopters, armed to the teeth and on the hunt for graffiti artists. Our hero manages to cheat his persecutors and escape, in the last seconds, using one of his ingenious methods.

01/06/2005 > Mr. Chaos Merchandising launched

Cuddly devil toys, devils on T-shirts, mugs, posters, etc, etc. What we’ve all been waiting for - now available to buy. In collaboration with AT Merchandise in the UK, we are extending our marketing of red devils beyond mobile phones. More information and details of how to order to follow.

01/06/2005 > Special effects for TV comedy

NFP- Neue Filmproduktion commissioned 4k to create a number of effects and motion graphics for the TV comedy “Ein Kuckuckskind der Liebe”. The effects gave visual support to the narrative.

04/05/2005 > Clever rat meets “Goldener Spatz”

“Marvi Hämmer presents NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC WORLD” has been awarded the “Goldener Spatz”, the coveted children's program award. The prize was awarded on Wednesday evening within the framework of the closing event of the Children's Film and TV Festival “Goldener Spatz” for the category “Information/Documentation”. The six main prizes are awarded by the “Goldener Spatz” Foundation for high quality productions in the field of children's films and TV contributions. The reasons given by jury of children were: “(...) this contribution was very informative and entertaining. In addition the children found the videos and photographic material that Marvi the rat humourously presented to be most convincing. The short English sketches were very descriptive and diverse and extremely helpful for younger children to gain access to the English language. The basic idea of the program is highly imaginative and the rat is very well animated. The topics were well chosen and explained in an understandable fashion.”

03/05/2005 > First place for “The Maid of Hilltop Manor” at the Animago Festival 2005

The short film “The Maid of Hilltop Manor” by S. Andreas Dahn and co-produced by 4k took first place at the Animago Festival for visual effects in the category professional/compositing/short film. The Animago Festival is the most significant competition for digital content creation in Germany. The jury chose the best productions from the categories Style, Animation, Compositing, Interactivity and Games from 1.300 submissions from more than 1.000 participants from 50 countries including China, South Africa, and even Further information is available at: www.blackford.de

02/05/2005 > First place at the Independent Days Film Festival for “The Maid of Hilltop Manor”

“The Maid of Hilltop Manor” took first place at the Independent Days Film Festival in Karlsruhe, Germany. 29 short films were submitted to the competition. The festival management gave the following reasons for their choice: “[...] by choosing “The Maid of Hilltop Manor” as the winner, the audience have given the award to a film that was produced without the aid of subsidies. This low-budget film evolved solely from the makers desire to be creative. The largeness and opulence of the production also reflects an amazing effort on their part and they should also be given credit for the technical perfection of the film.”

02/05/2005 > “Kuckuckskind” goes on air.

The TV movie “Ein Kuckuckskind der Liebe” goes on air in Germany on Monday the 2nd May at 20:15 on the ZDF. 4K produced the visual effects for this NFP production that will be shown for the first time within the framework of the successful ZDF series “TV Film of the Week”.

05/04/2005 > “Marvi Hämmer” now on air on WDR Fernsehen

“Marvi Hämmer presents the National Geographic World” is now being broadcast on WDR on Tuesdays at 2 pm. On air dates for the next episodes are:

FOLGE 1: Dienstag, 5. April 2005, 14 - 14.25 Uhr, WDR
Vulkan-Fotograf, Delfine, Dokumentarfilmer, Ausgrabungen;

FOLGE 2: Dienstag, 12. April 2005, 14 - 14.25 Uhr, WDR
Giraffen, Tornados, Hornissen;

FOLGE 3: Dienstag, 19. April 2005, 14 - 14.25 Uhr, WDR
Dinosaurier, Elefant Motala, Bären als Filmstars;

FOLGE 4: Dienstag, 26. April 2005, 14 - 14.25 Uhr, WDR
Freche Affen, Lawinenhunde, Zoo-Dentist;

FOLGE 5: Dienstag, 3. Mai 2005, 14 - 14.25 Uhr, WDR
Blauwale, Löwen, Lachse;

FOLGE 6: Dienstag, 10. Mai 2005, 14- 14.25 Uhr, WDR
Riesenkängurus, Unterwasserflugzeug, Lemuren.

Further episodes will follow.

04/04/2005 >Mr.Chaos Reloaded

As a result of the sensational success of Mr.Chaos first TV appearance, a second TV commercial is now in production. The title is “Surfin' the Rail” and is another action packed adventure starring Mr.Chaos. The spot is scheduled to go on air at the end of April. A third spot is also being planned at present.

01/04/2005 > 4K launches a new illustration service.

Due to an increasing demand for classical illustrations, 4K is now adding this service to the other services offered. The first projects are guides, icons, illustrations, teasers, poses and backgrounds for the next 10 issues of the “National Geographic World” magazine. The first issue will be available from May 2005.

17/03/2005 > Cinema trailer for computer game “Genius”.

The publishing company, Cornelsen Verlag has just commissioned 4K with the production of the cinema trailer for their new Radon Labs game “Genius”. Information about the game can be found under www.radonlabs.de.

14/03/2005 > Mr. Chaos goes international

After his amazing start in Germany Mr.Chaos is starting his first international tour with his first hit “Figaro-King”. The tour will go to United Kingdom, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia, China, The Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Finland etc.

10/03/2005 > The cheeky devil has now gone completely nuts!

4k's head of Technological Catastrophes (HTC) not only secretly took part in Jamsters ringtone casting competition but also won outright. He immediately left the company without giving notice and as “Mr Chaos” has now started a career as a tabledancer promoting ringtones. The management at 4K will not accept any responsibility for any chaos that ensues as a result. However, the spokesman for the company said the management wished the cheeky devil all he best for the future.