1 of 4 | Leatherface (Gunnar Hansen) raises his chain saw in “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre,” returning to theaters Aug. 18 via Fathom Entertainment. Photo courtesy of Dark Sky Films
Dark Sky Films and Exurbia Films announced Tuesday they are producing an animated version of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. The film is due in 2027.
The announcement also emphasized that no AI will be used to create the film. The film will employ animators crafting hand-drawn animation.
The technique will utilize rotoscoping, an animation technique where images are drawn over live-action reference footage. It was invented in 1915 by Max Fleischer, used by Walt Disney in Snow White and Cinderella, and recently by Richard Linklater in his animated films Waking Life and A Scanner Darkly.
Dark Sky and Exurbia will premiere the first footage at Texas Chain Saw Day Aug. 18 via Fathom Entertainment.
Tobe Hooper’s 1974 movie starred Marilyn Burns, Allen Danzinger, Paul A. Pertain, Teri McMinn and William Vail as teenagers who pick up a hitchhiker (Edwin Neal) and run afoul of a family of cannibals (Jim Siedow, John Dugan).
Leatherface (Gunnar Hansen) wields the chainsaw. John Larroquette read the narration heard in the Fathom trailer.
Paul Beck serves as animation director and art director. Max Peake and Nate Bayless are lead animators. Jeremy Martinez will be the background artist.
