Animal Logic CEO Zareh Nalbandian.
Imagine Entertainment and Animal Logic Entertainment have formed a joint venture to 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 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.”
Grazer’s partner at Imagine is director Ron Howard (Cinderella Man, Apollo 13), who called Animal Logic’s animation work “ground-breaking.”
“Our partnership expands our mutually shared vision to create visually stunning, inventive, and heart-warming stories that appeal to families,” Howard said. “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 previously produced the likes of How The Grinch Stole Christmas, while Animal Logic is currently in production on Peter Rabbit for Columbia Pictures.
Equity financing is currently being raised to fund 50 per cent of the production and development during the five-year term. Target production budgets are between $75 and $85 million