Disney, Yash Raj Films sign animation pact

The Walt Disney Co. will be collaborating with top production house Yash Raj Films(YRF) Studio for a series of Indian language animated feature films that will be made in India, a release from Disney said.

"We're thrilled and honoured to be working with Yash Chopra and Aditya Chopra and their talented team at YRF Studio to create exceptional animated films in the Indian language that are culturally relevant for the avid movie-going audiences in India and around the world," Dick Cook, chairman of Walt Disney Studios, said late Tuesday.

"Animation is a new and rapidly expanding area in India, and the collaboration between Disney and YRF Studios will bring the very best in story-telling and cutting edge technology together as we make wonderful films that appeal to the entire family," Cook added.

Yash Chopra's son Aditya Chopra will creatively oversee the operations. The companies will be equal partners in the venture and will contribute creative, technical and financial support to the project.

"When YRF decided to venture into the animation space, we felt that an alliance with Disney Studios, the leader in animation, represented the coming together of not just two organisations, but the teaming up of like-minded individuals committed to creating excellent products," Yash Chopra was quoted as saying in the release.

The first film to be co-produced by this alliance will be "Roadside Romeo", set for release in 2008. Aditya Chopra will produce the film and Jugal Hansraj will be the writer and director.

Disney which has been looking to grab a bigger share of the country's rapidly growing media and entertainment market, bought Hungama, a Hindi-language children's entertainment channel from UTV Software Communications Ltd., last year.