Animation industry seeks IP fund

With signs of revival in the industry, animation companies are making a beeline to create IP for the graphics of the animated characters and it is felt as the need of the hour. The Indian animation industry is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 22 percent and gaming industry is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 49 percent by 2012.

According to available statistics, there are copyrights to over 1,000 characters in India which include animated mythology characters such as Krishna, Chhota Bheem, Moghli, Lava Kusha, Bal Ganesh and Balram. So is the case with Tenali Raman Harishchandra Birbal tales. On an average globally, countries like Japan and China file more copyrights compared to the Indian creators. Despite having a cultural heritage, fund constraints continue to reflect on lesser IP creation among the domestic players.

According to Nasscom-E&Y ,there is a shift from mythological route to contemporary themes like Roadside Romeo, Toonpur ka Superhero and Sultan the Warrior.

The global animation market was Rs. 3,26,400 crore in 2008 and may touch Rs. 4,80,000 crore by 2012, according to Nasscom. In India, it was Rs. 2,371 crore in 2008 and is expected to touch Rs. 4,800 crore by 2012. Analysts feel that majority of the animated content in television is adapted from foreign animation. The companies are rather bullish on the IPR cover. Though the industry is still nascent, the demand for animated characters is opening up from many cross-sectors. While IP can also increase the business revenues, it facilitates to work more on local animated content as well.

Dream Theatre bags rights for iconic brands

Dream Theatre Pvt Ltd, a start-up by Jiggy Gorge has bagged the exclusive licensing rights for Warner Brothers, Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, and Chorion's super entertainment brands.

Dream Theatre is looking to extend the Discovery Channel and Animal Planet merchandise for kids in the age bracket 4-14 years. The range will be a blend of fun and educational products. Besides, the company is also looking to expand upon Discovery's lines of merchandise that include apparel, bags, accessories, footwear, home furnishing, eye wear and travel accessories.

DQ Entertainment inks broadcast deal with Turner

DQ Entertainment has signed an agreement with Turner International 
India for broadcasting the first and the second sequel of animated feature 'Balkand'.

The series would be aired on kids channels Cartoon Network and POGO, which are part of the Turner network. The exclusive agreement takes the tally to more than 40 local titles, which have been acquired and produced by Turner in India. 'Balkand', sequel 1 and 2, follows the debut of 'Balkand' and the series has been created and produced by DQE. The sequels comprise of 70 minute animated features, split into 3 episodes of 22 minutes.

Panchajanya Technologies working on 3D animation film Joo-Joo

Panchajanya Technologies (P) Limited, Chennai is working on their IP, a 3D animated film titled Joo-Joo. The 90 minute animation feature is scheduled for a theatrical release in May 2011. A team of 50 artists have been working in its production under the aegis of "ITC Pantech" in almost all global languages, targeting both ankle-biters and adults around the world.

The story in a nut-shell is that the false accusation over the parentless Joo-Joo, by his living village Panchayat, necessitates him to look for close relationship or connection thereby. The migration to the neighbor city with this view makes Joo-Joo accomplish through smart experiences with people from various walks of life.

'Allen, the Little Prince,' 'Giraffe a tall friend', 'Cockroach' 'The Mischievous Crow‚' etc. are some of their upcoming animation products aligned with Joo-Joo. 'Allen, the Little Prince' is a 60 min DVD movie set to release in December 2011. 'The Mischievous Crow' is unique by its nature and very mischievous by birth. It takes a ride on whatever it comes across and it is taken for a ride in the end. It falls prey for whatever mischievous activities it indulg. 'Giraffe a tall friend' is based on a Giraffe that escaped from the zoo and its friendship with village children.

Toonz starts its US distribution arm

Toonz Animation India Pvt. Ltd has opened its new distribution division based in Los Angeles. Toonz Entertainment will specialize in the world-wide sales and distribution of, animated feature films, direct to video content and television series. The establishment of a new distribution arm is in pursuance of the company's vision to grow as a full fledged media house. The company has acquired the rights to highly branded properties and will be aggressive in adding more titles in the future.

Minveli Media Works working on IP 'Mahabharata - The real epic story'

Minveli Media Works is working on its maiden animation feature titled‚ 'Mahabharata - The real epic story‚' The 120 minutes traditional 2D animation feature produced will hit screens in 2011. This full length animation feature explores all possibilities to tell this great epic in visual form with ever long standing traditional values of Indian culture.

Minveli Media Works have recently completed a 2- minute trailer for the film. The core story of the work is that of a dynastic struggle for the throne of Hastinapura, the kingdom ruled by the Kuruclan. The two collateral branches of the family that participate in the struggle are the Kaurava and the Pandava. Although the Kaurava is the senior branch of the family,Duryodhana, the eldest Kaurava, is younger than Yudhisthira, the eldest Pandava. Both Duryodhana and Yudhisthira claim to the first in line to inherit the throne. The struggle culminates in the great battle of Kurukshetra, in which the Pandavas are ultimately victorious. The battle produces complex conflicts of kinship and friendship, instances of family loyalty and duty taking precedence over what is right, as well as the converse.

Animator focused real-time character animation SDK released

MysticGD has introduced the first beta version of their new product named EMotion FX Extended, which is a full character animation and general model export solution.

The new feature of EMotion FX Extended compared to standard EMotion FX is the addition of a parameter driven hierarchical blend tree and state machine editor with support for live testing using the game controller. MysticGD has welcomed interested companies and animators to test this beta version and provide the product team with their feedback.

The goal is to improve animation quality in games and to deliver a complete character solution that takes care of advanced LOD, motion compression, retargeting, mirroring, skinning, geometry export, morphing, inverse kinematics, jiggle physics, lipsync and now, also parameter driven complex animation blending and transitioning. EMotion FX Extended achieves all the set goals, on PC and consoles as well as phones.

DQE and Neo Network to co-produce 2D series

DQE, has announced the signing of a co-production agreement with Neo Network to produce a high definition 2D digital animated television series titled "The Qpiz". The Qpiz series comprises 52, two-and-a-half minute interstitials regarding a group of self-styled super heroines of love, who valiantly and humorously but not always successfully, try to smooth out the love troubles of others. The interstitials are aimed at girls aged 6-12 years.

This high definition 2-D animated television series will be produced at a multi-million Euro global budget by Neo Network and DQE. The multi-platform TV series is an original idea created by Neo Network that mixes slapstick humour with romance.

The pre-production of the Qpiz series will be performed by Neo Network with the animation undertaken by DQE. Italian pubcaster Rai's satellite pay-TV offering RaiSat is already on board the project and Zodiak Entertainment will undertake the distribution of the series.

Portfolio International signs multi-territory acquisition agreement

Portfolio International and Disney have completed an extensive multi-territory acquisition agreement that will bring The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!' into 40 territories on Playhouse Disney channels.

Season one of the 40-episode, half-hour series will be seen on Playhouse Disney channels in Australia and New Zealand, India and neighboring countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Seychelles and Sri Lanka), Italy (Capodistria, Malta, Monte Carlo, San Marino, Vatican City, and Italian-speaking Switzerland), South East Asia (Brunei, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Palau, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam).