Croak and Dagger

Roger Rabbit, look out! Frederick the frog is on his way.

“F.R.O.7.,” a full-length animated feature that’s just begun production in England, has got an ETA of Easter, 1991. As creator, co-producer, co-director Jon Acevski explained, “325,000 cells don’t just happen.” Pre-production took nine months. Now, a number of animators--including many “Roger Rabbit” vets--are drawing laboriously.

The story finds Frederick (code name: F.R.O.7.)--who’s French, a former prince and half-man--summoned by Prince Charles to help find some historic Brit buildings that have mysteriously disappeared (in real life, Prince Charles is a preservationist). Frederick gets some help in his quest from Nessie, the Loch Ness monster--they met as babies.

Produced by Hollywood Road Prods. Ltd.--England’s only animation studio--”F.R.O.7.” is being shopped to potential distributors. And a sequel, with Freddie headed “to Washington, D.C. to save America” is planned.