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Tag: P Jayakumar

  • Toonz inks co-finance & animation deal with Gnosis Moving Pictures

    Toonz inks co-finance & animation deal with Gnosis Moving Pictures

    MUMBAI: Indian animation company Toonz Media Group and Los Angeles-based Gnosis Moving Pictures have inked a long-term co-financing and animation deal for a slate of CG-animated films that will be rolled out over the years. The first movie under this partnership will be directed by Academy Award-winning claymation pioneer Will Vinton.

     

    Toonz CEO P. Jayakumar said, “At Toonz we believe in creating wonderful stories with a soul for kids all over the world. It was a delight to discover that Gnosis has a similar vision and I hope this partnership brings out wonderful visual treats for kids across the globe for a very long time to come.”

     

    Toonz will contribute substantial equity to the projects and will produce the movies at its India and New Zealand facilities. On the other hand, Gnosis Moving Pictures will team help develop and distribute the movies.

     

    “This long term partnership furthers our mission to bring animated projects that both entertain and encourage children across the world. Toonz shares our vision and we look forward to embarking on this journey with them to enrich the lives of children through a slate of animated film properties,” said Gnosis Moving Pictures CEO Darius Kamali.

     

    Toonz will produce the films with Kamali and Gnosis’ Kasey Adler, who oversees the company’s investments and strategic partnerships.

  • Toonz Entertainment acquires Imira entertainment

    Toonz Entertainment acquires Imira entertainment

    CANNES: Toonz Entertainment, a preeminent content and animation company which incorporates flagship division Toonz Animation in India, has entered into an agreement to acquire 100 per cent of Imira Entertainment, one of Spain’s leading production and distribution company specialising in youth programming.

     

    At the on-going global market for entertainment content across all platforms held in Cannes, MIPCOM 2014, Toonz Animation CEO P Jayakumar and Imira Entertainment CEO Sergi Reitg today announced the development. The transaction is set to be finalised on completion of due diligence.

    The far-reaching agreement will see Imira continue to operate as a separate production and distribution entity with its existing management structure, but the companies will jointly exploit the opportunities and synergies created by the acquisition to offer combined content creation strength and global distribution.

     

    Imira will handle television and licensing rights for Toonz Animation-produced content in regions where is has an established foothold including Europe, US, Latin America and Africa with Toonz utlilsing its relationships in Asia and Pacific territories on behalf of Imira.  Imira will also benefit from investment and production partnership potential from its parent company.
     

    Jayakumar said: “Adding Imira Entertainment to the Toonz Group brings significant complementary services and areas of expertise to our offering. Sergi and his team have a tremendous track record and we look forward to working with them to leverage our combined strengths.”

     

    Reitg adds: “Toonz Animation has a world-class pedigree in television and film. It is an exciting home for Imira Entertainment and a natural fit, and we are looking forward to working with our new colleagues to maximise the potential of our partnership.”

     

  • MIPCOM 2014: Toonz Animation looks at international co-productions

    MIPCOM 2014: Toonz Animation looks at international co-productions

    MUMBAI: From the creation of India’s first 2D animated TV series and 2D feature film, to India’s first 3D stereoscopic theatrical- Toonz Animation has indeed emerged as one of the biggest and the most admired animation production houses in South Asia.

     

    With an established clientele of the likes of Walt Disney, Turner, Nickelodeon, Sony, Universal, BBC, Paramount, Marvel and Hallmark, Toonz Animation, which is celebrating 15 years of animation journey, has emerged the preferred destination for major European and North American media conglomerates.

     

    Providing an integrated value chain in conceptualisation, production and distribution of content and services across diverse media platforms, the company is all set to attend MIPCOM, the largest conglomeration of the entertainment industry, to showcase its new products and library.

     

    Participating for over a decade now, it tags itself as the flag-bearer of the Indian animation industry at MIPCOM. Toonz Animation CEO P. Jayakumar believes that MIPCOM is a platform that serves an opportunity to meet all such stakeholders who can make a difference to selling of the content produced by Toonz. “MIPCOM provides the platform to meet the producers, financers, distributors and important stakeholders, who can buy our content or collaborate with Toonz to produce content.”

     

    This year, Toonz is specifically looking at buying content in the action comedy adventure genre which Jayakumar feels has a huge demand in the Indian market. “But we are also looking at expanding in the Asia Pacific region and hence, will look at content that will work in general with such regions as well,” he adds.

     

    He further reveals that this year it is planning to tap into the Indian and Asian markets with focus on broadcast, VOD and digital platforms.

     

    Moreover, it is launching a new show called ‘HTDT’, a 52 x 11 minutes series. The show which is created by live shots and produced and distributed by Toonz, is currently in pre-sale.

     

    So what does the company expect from MIPCOM this year? “We’re hoping to have maximum exposure and opportunities to meet with those interested in our library of content, which has, Wolverine, Magic beyond Words and FreeFonix series.”

     

    Jayakumar hopes to get a few international co-productions kick started and meet with international producers interested in producing content, for which the company can get Indian rights. 

  • Toonz Animation inks MoU with Kinfra to acquire 6 acres

    Toonz Animation inks MoU with Kinfra to acquire 6 acres

    MUMBAI: Animation studio, Toonz Animation India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Kinfra to acquire 6 acres of land.

    The MoU was signed between, Toonz Animation CEO P. Jayakumar and Kinfra managing director A.S. Suresh Babu, at a function organised in connection with the Ficci seminar on animation, gaming and visual effects.

    The Kinfra Film and Video Park, which expands to 75 acres, will accommodate the animation and gaming SEZ, which will spread out to 25 acres, informs an official release.

    Minister of Industries, Elamaram Kareem, who was present at the venue, remarked that the best motivation for potential investors is to witness success stories. “Let me take one such case – Toonz Animation India is an achievement that Kerala is proud to showcase. It is indeed surprising that one of India’s leading animation studios is based out of the south-western corner of the country and not in any of the big metro cities”, he added.

    While signing the MoU, Jayakumar expressed his excitement at moving into the company’s own campus at Kinfra said that they would completely relocate themselves with in a year. “We are indeed happy at the prospect of expanding ourselves and moving into a new campus. The new campus would house both the Animation studio and the Academy Division of Toonz. The added attraction would be the new Gaming division of the company which is slated to hit the scene soon.”

    Ficci Kerala State Council chairman and The Muthoot Group chairman MG George Muthoot and Ficci adviser Krishnan Kalra were also present at the occasion

  • Toonz joins forces with Paramount Home Entertainment and Commotion Pictures to produce Dragonlance

    Toonz joins forces with Paramount Home Entertainment and Commotion Pictures to produce Dragonlance

    MUMBAI: Toonz Animation India, India’s animation studio, has signed a contract with Paramount Home Entertainment (PHE) and Commotion Pictures to produce an animated feature film titled Dragonlance.

    The animated feature film to be produced by Toonz, PHE and Commotion pictures is based on Hasbro’s Dungeons and Dragons property. The film will be distributed theatrically in India by Toonz, and on DVD in the U.S. and internationally (except for Asia) by Paramount Home Entertainment. Commotion Pictures’ producer Steve Stabler and Paramount Pictures former marketing president Arthur Cohen will produce the film, asserts an official release.

    Commenting on the deal, Toonz Animation India CEO P. Jayakumar said, “We are thrilled to have entered into an agreement with accomplished producers like Steve Stabler and Arthur Cohen. This is an incredible opportunity to create an exciting film with global appeal and iconic characters.”

    Dragonlance will feature the voice of Keifer Sutherland (24), Lucy Lawless (Xena: Warrior Princess), Michael Rosenbaum (Smallville) and Michelle Trachtenberg (Ice Princess, Buffy the Vampire Slayer).

    Paramount Home Entertainment senior vice president worldwide acquisitions and DVD premieres Ellen Pittleman added, “We’re very excited to bring the wildly popular world of Dungeons and Dragons to the screen. We are confident that Commotion Pictures and Toonz will do the property justice to the delight of fans around the world.”

    Dragonlance is based on Dragons of Autumn Twilight, the first novel in the bestselling Dragonlance fantasy franchise, published by Wizards of the Coast. Though the gods have long battled for control of this beautiful sword-and sorcery world, it has always been the heroic deeds of mortals that decide its fate.

    The story begins as Tanis Half-Elven meets up with his old friends Flint Gireforge (a grumpy dwarven warrior), Tasslehoff Burrfoot (a tiny and inquisitive rogue), Raislin Majere (the dark, mysterious human wizard) and Sturm Brightblad (valiant human knight). Reunited after an unsuccessful five-year journey to seek out signs of the old gods, these companions are thrown into a conflict over a legendary blue crystal staff, wielded by the barbarian princess Goldmoon.