MUMBAI: Pritish Nandy Communications has signed a five film deal with Florida-based Motion Pixel Corporation’s animation studio Estudio Flex. The exclusive deal between the two companies includes five 3D animated full-length Bollywood feature films with a total budget outlay of $25 million.

Three of PNC’s films will be re-created in its animated version, the first of which is Ek Khiladi Ek Hasseena, already under production. The animated version is expected to be ready for release in the first half of 2008.

“Since it is an action flick, the film has a lot of potential for conversion to animation. The voice overs will be done by Feroze Khan, Fardeen Khan and Koena Mitra for their respective characters,” informs PNC head Pritish Nandy. The other films that will also be converted into animated versions include Pyar Ke Side Effects and Kaante. The work on character development for both films is underway, says Nandy. 

Apart from these three films, the deal between the two companies also includes two 3D animated full-length films with an entirely new script. PNC will handle the creative aspects of these animated films from the development of scripts, movie soundtracks, including contracting top Bollywood and international stars to do voice-overs for the animated characters. MPC will handle all components of the animation through Estudio Flex.

“The average cost per animated film will be around $ 4 – 6 million,” divulges Nandy, who is also keen to create international language versions of these Bollywood movies. These five movies will, for instance, be put out in global languages like Spanish, Italian and German, as well as in several Indian languages.

Says MPC chairaman Manny Bains, “We believe that taking both the multi-billion dollar animation sector and the ever growing global Bollywood market ahead in tandem could well surpass all industry expectations.”