30th Mar 2009 07:00
|
For Immediate Release |
30 March 2009 |
DQ Entertainment plc
("DQE")
Mowgli Comes Home
DQE to produce and own majority rights of its International TV series and home video of The Jungle Book in 3D - HD
DQE (London AIM:DQE) the Indian animation, gaming and entertainment company is pleased to announce that it will produce and own the majority worldwide rights for a TV series and TV feature of one of the worlds best loved cartoon properties - The Jungle Book.
This project of approximately €9m is funded through pre-sales and co-production deals across the globe.
Key Points:
52 X 11 minute animated first season series together with a 60 minute TV feature
To be delivered by mid 2010
Produced at DQE studios in Hyderabad, India in 3D, HD
Lead partners include:
ZDF and ZDF-Enterprises: Germany's national broadcaster and its distribution and licensing arm ZDF Enterprises
Television Francaise 1 (TF1) TV, TF1 Enterprises and TF1 Video: France's most popular domestic TV network and its licensing and distribution arm
NBC Universal, London: for distribution of home video in UK, France, French speaking Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan
DQE own majority global rights including TV, home video, video on demand, publishing, merchandising and all forms of licensing
Discussions continuing with major broadcasters in many territories worldwide
Series to be written by a team of British writers led by DQE non-exec director Theresa Plummer-Andrews, ex head of BBC Children's International Programming
Voices to be employed and recorded in relevant broadcast territories
High resolution image of series characters available at:
http://www.citycomments.co.uk/JB_Small.tif
For further information, contact:
Mark Edwards / Jeremy Garcia / Miranda Higham
Buchanan Communications
+44 (0)20 7466 5000
Tom Price / Jeremy Ellis / Chris Clarke
Evolution Securities
+44 (0)20 7071 4300
Press & Media: Sumedha Saraogi
DQ Entertainment Limited
+91 40 2355 3726/27 or [email protected]
The Jungle Book will once again come to life for the first time in a High Definition Television series and Television Feature format. This global co-production is led by DQ Entertainment with majority global rights including Television at all platforms of distribution, Home Video, VOD, Publishing, Merchandising and all form of Licensing.
DQE will also create a TV Special of 60 minutes based on the TV Series along with the first season of 52x11 minutes to be delivered by 2010.
With a €9m budget the series will be co-produced with Germany's largest Broadcaster ZDF and the global distribution & licensing arm ZDF Enterprises. ZDF/ ZDF-E will be full co-producers on the project, with the right to appoint executive producers with full editorial rights and distribution rights for Europe (excluding French, English and Irish territories), Middle East and Latin America.
TF-1 Broadcasting and TF-1 Enterprises, the distribution & licensing arm of TF-1, France, one of the largest European TV distribution, broadcasting and licensing groups are the French partner.
NBC Universal, London has taken responsibility for distribution of Home video in very important home video territories such as UK, France, Australia, New Zealand and Japan while it is in advance negotiations for other territories also.
Other large European and worldwide networks and international distributors have expressed keen interest to partner on this production as DQE ties up more co-productions and acquisition deals for the forthcoming series.
Aimed at 6 to 9 year olds the series will be an adventure comedy based on Rudyard Kipling's classic novel The Jungle Book. The TV series will explore the adventures of Mowgli and his jungle companions Baloo, the Bear, Bagheera, a young Panther and Kaa the Python. The series will see Mowgli, The Man Cub, raised by a pack of wolves in the jungle of Seeonee, develop as he learns to survive in the jungle. The series will also portray Mowgli's journey to the village where he originally came from and will feature encounters with fellow humans all to be brought to life by world class British animation script writers and multi talented voice artists.
Commenting, Tapaas Chakravarti Chairman & CEO of DQE Group said,
"This is a major milestone for the growth of DQE's home grown IP initiatives, and represents a bold step forward in terms of international production, licensing and distribution for our company. Joining hands with ZDF Group, Germany, TF-1 Group, France and NBC Universal, London has added tremendous strength to the production of this iconic brand 'JUNGLE BOOK', and has almost guaranteed very strong distribution for all platform of Television, Video, VOD and Merchandising in Europe, Middle East and Latin America. In addition, we look forward to announcing distribution across Asia and North America ."
Theresa Plummer Andrews, Associate Producer of the show and non-executive Director of DQE added,
"It is very exciting to be involved with DQ Entertainment, ZDF and TF1 on this wonderful production of The Jungle Book. We are confident that, based on the classic book by Rudyard Kipling, we will produce excellent stories to stimulate and entertain children throughout the world."
Commenting, Nicole Keeb, Head of International Co-production &Acquisitions for Children's & Youth Programming of ZDF said,
"We, as lead broadcaster, are extremely pleased to be part of the team working on this fantastic project. "Jungle Book" is a classical property and with its modern 3D adaptation perfectly fits into ZDF's programming. We particularly like the idea that Mowgli and his friends will come to life in their homeland: India."
Commenting, Arne Lohmann, Director Co-production Children and Youth of ZDF Enterprises' said,
"We are proud to partner up with DQ Entertainment on this fantastic project. With its outstanding production technique and with its universal appeal we believe it will be a huge success."
Commenting, Dominique Poussier, Director of Children's Television of TF1 said,
"TF1 is very proud to be part of this big creative challenge and we're convinced that the new "Jungle book" will be a hit!"
Commenting Hubert Taieb, Deputy General Manager of TF1 Entreprises and Daphné de Beauffort, Sales and Kids Properties Acquisition Manager of TF1 Licences said,
"We are pleased to announce our new collaboration with DQ Entertainment, for the development of Jungle Book merchandising products in French Speaking European Countries & Benelux. We believe this collaboration will be a long lasting and profitable relation, and we are happy to develop such a strong brand, with a great new graphic design.
The revival of this notorious story in a new animated 3D series, entirely based in India and developed by a company who is well known for its very good quality productions, will be one of the major brand in the coming years, surfing on the attraction of western countries for far east culture.
TF1 Licences, one of the Leading Merchandising Company in France, will be dedicated to develop great products and promotions for kids and their nostalgic parent."
Commenting, Aurelie De Troyer, Director of International Acquisition of NBC Universal said,
"We are delighted to distribute such an exciting and highly anticipated title as Jungle Book in some of our key markets. Universal has a keen and continuing interest in acquiring high quality children's content and this latest acquisition reflects that high standard of quality."
ENDS
Notes:
About DQE:
DQE is a leading animation production company engaged in the production of traditional / digital animation and game art development with a workforce of over 3500 and a global client base.
DQE produces animation for films, television series and console based games for a number of international production houses. DQE has over 80 clients including Walt Disney Television Animation, Nickelodeon Animation Studios Inc., Electronic Arts, Marvel, American Greetings, NBC-Universal, BBC, M6, France 2, Method Animation, Atlantyca.
Currently under production at DQE are iconic international properties such as Iron Man, Casper, Pinky & Perky, Twisted Whiskers, Mikido, Little Nick, Le Petit Prince and many others. DQE has a library of over 300 hours of international animated programs in its Licensing Division.
DQE's international quality production facilities are based in Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata and Manila and has international sales offices in LA, Paris and Tokyo.
About ZDF Enterprises:
Founded in 1993, ZDF Enterprises GmbH is the wholly-owned subsidiary and commercial arm of ZDF German Television Network, one of Europe's largest and most respected broadcasters. Headquartered in Mainz, Germany, ZDF Enterprises is responsible for the development, production and global distribution of quality original programming. The company is also responsible for all program acquisitions and international co-productions on behalf of the network, and acquires programming for world-wide distribution. Its vast program library ranks as the largest in the German language. The extensive catalogue includes television movies and mini-series, drama series and comedies, documentaries, family entertainment and children's programming. ZDF Enterprises also oversees all licensing and merchandising activities based on its high-profile programs, including book and music publishing and the licensing of its program properties in all key product categories. Committed to the future, ZDF Enterprises has embarked on numerous New Media initiatives, ranging from opportunities within the burgeoning e-commerce industry to the creation of themed edutainment dimensions featuring the recognized program brands with which ZDF has become synonymous.
For further information, contact:
Co-Production & Production: Rouhini Jaswal, DQ Entertainment Limited
+91 40 2355 3726/27 or [email protected]
Executive Producer: Tapaas Chakravarti, DQ Entertainment Limited
World TV Sales Merchandising & Licensing: Manoj Mishra, DQ Entertainment Limited
Christine Denilauler, (Director of Marketing and Corporate Communications), ZDF Enterprises GmbH, Lise-Meitner-Str. 9, D-55129 Mainz/Germany, tel. 0049 6131-991228, fax 0049 6131-991229, e-mail: [email protected], www.zdf-enterprises.de.
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