New partnership aims to develop, produce, and finance six feature-length animation and hybrid animation projects over the next five years.
LOS ANGELES -- Imagine Entertainment and Animal Logic have formed a new joint venture to produce a slate of animated and hybrid family films. The partnership will develop, produce, and finance six feature length animation and hybrid animation projects over the next five years.
“The animation space consistently outperforms other genres and we wanted to enter into that space by partnering with a company that is at the forefront of creative and technical achievement,” said Imagine Entertainment chairman Brian Grazer. “Animal Logic is one of the industry’s most highly regarded digital production studios and I am excited for what we can create by combining our resources and talent in storytelling.”
“Animal Logic’s work in the animation space is ground breaking. Our partnership expands our mutually shared vision to create visually stunning, inventive, and heart-warming stories that appeal to families,” added Imagine chairman Ron Howard. “Their technical capabilities for animation are impressive and distinctive, and the possibilities for new material are limitless in this highly coveted space.”
“We could not have hoped for a more perfect collaboration than with Ron, Brian and the Imagine team to bring a slate of engaging and inventive stories to family audiences around the world,” said Animal Logic CEO Zareh Nalbandian. “We are inspired by the potential of our combined slate of projects and the strong relationships and material we will bring to our partnership. We have a tremendous opportunity to inspire the next generation of family audiences with ground breaking and captivating content driven by our common passion for great storytelling.”
Imagine has long been recognized as one of the most successful independent storytellers in the entertainment industry. The studio’s previous forays into family entertainment include How The Grinch Stole Christmas and the Emmy Award-winning series Curious George. Animal Logic’s successes include Best Animated Feature Oscar winner Happy Feet, and the hugely successful The LEGO Movie franchise. The company is currently producing Peter Rabbit for Columbia Pictures for a 2018 release.
“Launching this animation partnership with Animal Logic is an exciting example of how the Imagine brand thrives in new content genres,” said Imagine CEO Charlie Corwin.
“Partnering with Imagine will provide an incredible creative platform for the next evolution of our company,” said Animal Logic Chief Business Officer Robert Norton, “it will also offer amazing business opportunities for our companies and investors.”
Equity financing is currently being raised to fund 50% of the production and development during the five-year term. Target production budgets are between $75 and $85 million.
Source: Animal Logic
Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network, Jennifer Wolfe has worked in the Media & Entertainment industry as a writer and PR professional since 2003.
