New Animation Studio Born: DQ Entertainment Plans 'The Jungle Book' in 3D
DQ Entertainment, an India-based gaming and animation company, has launched a feature film division that will release animated films, starting with a new version of Rudyard Kipling's "The Jungle Book."
DQE is making "The Jungle Book," which has already started pre-production, in collaboration with Rollman Entertainment. Eric S. Rollman, CEO of that company, is the former President of Marvel Animation and Saban/Fox Family Productions.
Jun Falkenstein ("The Tigger Movie") will co-direct the $45 million stereoscopic 3D animated feature with Kevin Johnson. Falkenstein was a storyboard artist on "Despicable Me" and "9" while Johnson helped bring "The Iron Giant" to life. Billy Frolick, who wrote "Madagascar" will adapt Kipling's iconic tale, which has been adapted for stage and screen -- both live-action and animated.
"We have assembled a truly world-class team with a remarkable résumé of animation accomplishments," Rollman said in a statement."The net result will be a distinctive and captivating presentation for families the world over to enjoy, and one more illustration of the unique acumen of DQ Entertainment, an unstoppable creative force in our industry."
Tapaas Chakravarti, Chairman and Founder of DQE, will produce this first project, set for a 2014 theatrical release. Pre and post-production will be based in Los Angeles while animation production will take place at DQE's headquarters in Hyderabad, India.
Also read: 'Madagascar 3' Review: Third Time Really is the Charm for These Animated Animals
DQ Entertainment promises a "steady slate of motion pictures in the coming years based on iconic, universally beloved characters and stories." Two projects are already in development.
DQE's first theatrical feature was "The Prodigies," an animated French science fiction film it made in collaboration with Onyx Films and Fidelite Films among others companies. Warner Bros. handled the property in France.
"Our commitment to animated features marks another major milestone for DQ Entertainment," Chakravarti said in a statement. "By leading off our slate with 'The Jungle Book,' a classic and universally beloved story based in India, our home country, we're making a bold statement to the industry – that DQE is committed to put the creative, technical and financial resources together to produce compelling, high quality animation for all distribution channels."
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