Lassie co-production agreement signed in Cannes

DQ Entertainment

("DQE" or the "Company")

Lassie co-production agreement signed in Cannes

DQE a leading animation, gaming live action entertainment and distribution company, is pleased to announce a co-production agreement with French production company Super Prod and Story Board Animation (France) in association with major French Broadcaster TF1 and with a global pre-sales budget of Euro 7 million.

The 52 episode animated series of 'Lassie and Friends' is being co-developed by DQE with Classic Media - UK and co-production partners ZDF Group (Germany), who hold the rights to Germany and German-speaking Europe.

Super Prod will hold the rights for French-speaking Europe (France and domestic territories, Monaco, Andorra, French-speaking Switzerland and French-speaking Belgium) and exploitation of the French version of the series worldwide. Tapaas Chakravarti, Chairman & CEO of DQE Group commented: 

"The heart warming response 'Lassie & Friends' has received in Cannes has given us confidence in our endeavor to reincarnate the world's most loved canine. Lassie in her new animated avatar, going into production shortly, will surely be loved by audiences across the world. We are grateful to our long standing partners ZDF, Classic Media and TF1 for their continued support in our initiative to resurrect classical properties and welcome Super Prod on this new journey."

Eric Ellenbogen, Co-CEO of Classic Media added:

"Classic Media is delighted to partner with Tapaas Chakravarti and DQE, as well as the team at ZDF, for Lassie & Friends. With our outstanding partners, we have re-imagined the story of the world's most famous dog in 2D animation and we are excited to introduce Lassie to the next generation of fans around the globe."

Further Information:

About Lassie and Friends:

This animated series, in dazzling animation, is being targeted at girls and boys aged 5 to 10, to be released by the end of 2011. The series is fast-paced, action-packed and loaded with drama, suspense, charm and comedy and has Lassie living in our modern world and involved in new adventures along with her friends. The character of Lassie was created and authored by Eric Knight and first published as a short story in the Saturday Evening Post and later as a full-length novel in 1940. In 1943, the novel was adapted into a feature film, Lassie Come Home, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) that starred Roddy McDowall and Elizabeth Taylor. Between 1954-1973, the television series, Lassie was broadcast in America and was the recipient of two Emmy Awards. In 2005, a remake of the original Lassie Come Home movie was produced in the United Kingdom starring Peter O'Toole and Samantha Morton and released in 2006. Lassie is one of only three animals (apart from Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny) to be awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the show business journal Variety named Lassie one of the "100 Icons of all time" - the only animal star on the list.

The world's favourite dog Lassie is leaping into the 21st century and onto our digital screens in a new series of 52x11' adventures for girls & boys, ages 5 to 9. Animated in dazzling 3D CGI, Lassie is living in our modern world and this is reflected in her new adventures, now faster-paced, action-packed and loaded with drama, suspense, charm and comedy. What remains unchanged is the emotional depth integral to any Lassie story. The special bond between humans and dogs is eternal and continues to be exemplified by this extraordinary, endlessly entertaining collie.

In "Lassie and Friends", we hear Lassie speak for the first time ever, giving us a window into her inner thoughts and feelings and revealing her true personality! We, the audience can hear her, as can her animal friends, but to the humans in the show, Lassie can only communicate as any dog would do - through her body language, her animal bark and her hugely expressive eyes. Zoe, her owner and friend in turn understands Lassie better than any other human would do.