DQE.L Regulatory News (DQE)

20 Apr 2009 07:52



DQ Entertainment Plc ("DQE" or the "Group") 

Continues to bring International Iconic brands to Life

Total production budget €18M

DQE to receive a direct cash revenue of €7.13M

Production partners include France 3, LLPTV - France, WDR - Germany, SONY BMG, RAI - Italy

DQ Entertainment Plc ("DQE" or the "Group"), the AIM listed, India based animation, gaming and entertainment company, is pleased to announce co-production agreement for a 3D animated TV Series "Little Prince" based on the books by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. 

The Little Prince, 3D Animation production has a global budget of approximately €18M which will see DQE receive direct co-production service cash revenue of €7.13M to deliver specialized CGI work.  Some small part of this scope of work may happen in Europe based on pipe-line necessities. 

DQE will also own additional global Backend Rights to 'The Little Prince' which has estimated substantial global sales over the following five to seven years along with the other European co-producers and is investing in co-production.

Today's announcement is another example of DQE's ongoing strategy to connect and work iconic properties which have mass appeal for young audiences.

This focused initiative by the Group has resulted in other iconic brands being produced at DQE such as - the friendly ghost, 'Casper', The invincible 'Iron Man', The much loved 'Pinky and Perky' (an animated children's television series first broadcast by the BBC in 1957 and revived in 2008 in CGI animation),  Second season of Large Family and 'Little Nick' or 'Le Petit Nicolas'(Written by Asterix creator René Goscinny , the Little Nick cartoons are the nostalgic vision of an ideal 1950s French childhood) and most recently the 100% homegrown reincarnation of 'The Jungle Book' ( based on original writing of Rudyard Kipling) , which has received tremendous response and resulted in pre-sales & distribution contracts for more than 80 countries with a world-wide global budget of €9.2M for the first season. The iconic brands are consequently helping the group overcome any adverse effects of the current economic downtrend affecting several industries worldwide.  Infact the direct service and co-production order book has swelled in recent times.

"Commenting on this landmark deal, Tapaas Chakravarti Chairman & CEO of DQE Group said "this is truly a turning point for DQ Entertainment, with several global iconic brands into production including the 100% home grown CGI series 'The Jungle Book'. We are producing successful brands which have a remarkable track record globally including sales of millions of copies of books and highly successful Licensing. In continuation of this strategy is our deal on 'The Little Prince' - one of the most well known brands world wide - as a coproduction by DQ Entertainment group with Method Animation." Being part of this iconic global service co-production is history in the making for DQ Entertainment group and its stakeholders."

Aton Soumache, CEO of Method Animation Group and Principal co-producers of this series added:

'We are deeply committed to the partnership with DQE and confident that the synergies from our joint efforts will continue to produce such global brands that will entertain children across all boundaries and help us to keep up with healthy growth. This is a special co-production with global majors like France 3, LLPTV, WDR, SONY, RAI. Now DQE formally joins as a top CGI animation company to execute the 3D animation production.'

"The Little Prince" is based on the world famous books of Antoine de Saint-Exupery and has been translated into over 180 languages, selling more than 130 million copies worldwide. In addition, "The Little Prince" has spawned plays and animated pictures including a 1974 Paramount Pictures production and a Nickelodeon US cartoon series aired in 1980's. 

Enquires: 

Sumedha Saraogi, DQ Entertainment Limited

+91 40 2355 3726/27 or sumedha@dqentertainment.com 

Mark Edwards / Jeremy Garcia 

Buchanan Communications

+44 (0)20 7466 5000

Jeremy Ellis / Chris Clarke

Evolution Securities

+44 (0)20 7071 4300

About DQE:

DQE is a leading animation production & entertainment company engaged in the production of traditional / digital animation and game art development, Live Action content development with a workforce of over 3500 and a global client base. 

DQE has successfully started Licensing and Distributing of its formidable library which includes iconic brands such as Casper, Iron Man, Large Family, Mikido, Little Nick, The Jungle Book and many more

DQE produces animation for films, television series and console based games for a number of international production houses. DQE has over 80 clients - partners including Walt Disney Television Animation, Nickelodeon Animation Studios Inc., Electronic Arts, Marvel, American Greetings, NBC-Universal, BBC, M6, France 2, Method Animation, Atlantyca, MoonScoop Group, Gruppo Alcuni etc.

Currently under production and co-production at DQE are iconic international properties such as Iron Man, Casper, Pinky & Perky, Twisted Whiskers, Mikido, Little Nick, Le Petit Prince, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Season 3, Large Family Season 2, Little Leonardo Season 2, And Yet It Moves Season 4and many others. DQE has a library of over 300 hours of international animated programs in its Licensing Division. DQE has expanded its Live Action content development for Bollywood with more on its slate.

DQE's international quality production facilities are based in Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata and Manila and has international sales offices in LA, Paris and Tokyo.

DQE to its credit has large number of International performance awards including direct 7 EMMY nominations and a grand EMMY win in 2007.

About Method Animation:

Method Animation is a leading European and multi award winning animation concept and content creation company, which produces content for a number of international broadcasters including Nickelodeon, BBC, ITV, France 2, France 3, M6, ABC Australia, etc. Method Animation has produced several well known TV series, created in-house and co-produced with DQ Entertainment, including Skyland, Les Gnoufs, Mikido, and has rejuvenated strong international brands such as Iron Man in co-production with Marvel Entertainment & DQ Entertainment.