Nelvana And Kodansha Partner

Corus Entertainment’s Nelvana and Japanese publisher Kodansha Ltd. have entered into a partnership to jointly develop new children’s properties. The agreement expands on their existing relationship that has produced BABAR’S ADVENTURES, and seen the acquisition of CARDCAPTORS and the Fox Kids program MEDABOTS. Under the terms of the three-year partnership agreement, Nelvana will be given first look on all Kodansha projects for possible co-production or acquisition of distribution rights for non-Asian countries. Nelvana will also co-produce at least one Kodansha property during the term of the agreement. In addition, the partnership grants Nelvana the rights to handle the distribution of Kodansha’s popular series of interstitials NAUGHTY MONTY, in the English language territories. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed. The Kodansha agreement comes on the heels of Nelvana’s deal earlier this month with Mitsubishi Corp. to acquire North American rights to BEYBLADE.