Finnish company Rovio, creator of the popular Angry Birds game, has partnered with the upcoming animated film Rio to create an app, available March 22, marrying the exotic tropical birds of the film with the game's wildly popular red, blue and black catapulting birds.
In the Rio version of the game, the slingshot birds go after smugglers instead of the green pigs' castle, and Rio's blue macaws, cockatoos, toucans, and monkeys are featured.
Rio follows the story of a domesticated macaw from Minnesota who takes off on an adventure to Rio de Janeiro with the bird of his dreams, Jewel. The film features the voices of Anne Hathaway ( Alice in Wonderland) and Jesse Eisenberg ( The Social Network).
The film studio, which also created the Ice Age films, approached Rovio in hopes of marrying the flocks and luring gamers to the movie screen to see Rio, as reported by National Public Radio in the US.
Enjoyed by both kids and adults, Angry Birds games have been downloaded more than 100 million times in 15 months, and the film company could benefit from the games' social media marketing. In turn, Angry Birds will be featured on billboards, posters, and ads.
Directed by Carlos Sandano, the family animated comedy in 3D also features the voices of the Black Eyed Peas' Will.i.am, singer/actor Jamie Foxx, Rodrigo Santoro ( Che, 300), and Jermaine Clement ( Despicable Me).
Rio releases April 8 in South America, Australia, the UK, Singapore, Hong Kong, Russia, and Spain, and on April 13 in France and 15 in North America.
Game trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzSNaUvmaOc
Angry Birds/ Rio music video: http://www.rio-themovie.com/angrybirdsrio/
RC
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