The film was shot like a live action film and the footage was used as reference for the animators
Modelling was done in Russia, England, Germany and Scotland. Animation was done in Canada, Holland, England. Voices done in LA. All coordinated and managed over the internet.
All the rendering was done on HP Utility Rendering Service - the same used by Dreamworks for Shrek and Flushed Away.
All 3D Animated Characters were rendered out on separate plates and composited individually over modeled backgrounds and 2D Plates.