Deal includes development and distribution of nWave's films
French production, distribution and sales company Studiocanal will put on its 3D glasses to ride the nWave with a new exclusive, long term partnership with international 3D production and distribution powerhouse nWave Studios, Canal Plus said Monday.
Under the exclusive deal, Studiocanal will join forces with nWave for the development, co-financing and distribution of nWave's films in France, the U.K. and Germany and will have an equity stake in all of nWave's upcoming feature productions.
Studiocanal will release nWave's upcoming animated features in France under its own banner, in Germany under group subsidiary Kinowelt and in the U.K. via Optimum. Studiocanal will also handle international sales for those titles.
Studiocanal bought distribution rights to nWave's "Around the World in 50 Years 3D" last February and the film's sequel, already in the writing stages, will be the first Studiocanal-nWave project under the new partnership. "Around the World," also tentatively titled "Sammy's Adventures," is a 3D-animated story about sea turtles that embark on a voyage around the world.
Studiocanal hopes the new deal will give the company a stronger presence in the 3D-animation sector thanks to nWave's savoir-faire in 3D, Imax and 4D technology.
nWave's first 3D-animated feature "Fly me to the Moon" was released in 2008.
Studiocanal refused to comment on the duration of the deal, officially signed last week after lengthy discussions over the past months, but confirmed that it is "long term."