According to an item on Bloomberg.com, Walt Disney has just signed a partnership deal with Tencent Holdings, China’s largest Internet company, and a Chinese state group to develop original animated content for TV, features and digital platforms.

Andy Bird, chairman of Walt Disney International, was quoted as saying, “As founding partner we look forward to working with this new creative partnership in creating content for the Chinese and international marketplace.”  Translated, the partnership is named “The National Animation Creative Research and Development Corporation.  Disney will work with the Chinese animation group by providing training and expertise in story development, concept creation and market research.  While it is unclear what Tencent will gain in the short term, it stands to gain in the long term through better leveraging of potential IP ownership and digital distribution of content to China’s growing online population.