Anima to co-produce CGI pic 'Gaturro' (Variety)

BUENOS AIRES -- Mexico’s Anima Estudios has inked to co-produce animated feature “Gaturro,” which is lead produced by Argentina’s Illusion Studios and Toonz Animation India.

Anima will take minority equity in “Gaturro,” about a cat TV star, and carry out post-production.

Anima’s boarding of “Gaturro” advances a three CGI pic co-production alliance between Illusion and Anima, Latin America’s foremost film/TV toon producers.

In production, “Gaturro” will bow theatrically in Argentina and India second half 2010. Pic will also have a digital 3-D version.

Anima and Illusion are now studying a second toon feature.

“’Gaturro’ is the first step in a high-potential alliance,” Gaston Cami, Illusion VP international sales and co-productions, said Wednesday during the first day of Buenos Aires’ Expotoons animation fest. Another Illusion toon movie, “Boogie el aceitoso,” a crime drama satire, screens in Competition at Expotoons.

“The Latin American market is highly appealing for potential European partners,” Cami said.

“Our co-production agreement with Illusion Studios reinforces our strategy of an ever-growing production slate based on international world-class quality co-productions as well as the maturity and expansion of the Latin American animation industry,” Anima prexy Fernando De Fuentes said.

At Expotoons, Illusion also announced that it is has inked with BKN Kids to co-produce the 40-seg animated series “Joshua Blake” for the U.K. and Spain.

Illusion will carry out animation on the skein.

Expotoons runs Nov. 25-28.