Decode makes first leap into features

MIP NEWS – Canada's Decode Entertainment is to make its first children's feature in an attempt to move into new projects outside the crowded live-action series marketplace.

The Church Mice is to be shot like the Hollywood feature film Babe, combining cgi and live-action. Decode is currently looking for a UK coproducer with a similar project portfolio.

Funded by the Canadian government, the feature is expected to go into production in around 18 months. It will be 90 minutes long.

The film is based on a series of books by Graham Oakley, which tell of the adventures of a church cat and a group of mice. Decode has just closed a deal with Macmillan Publishing in the UK to use the stories.

Partner Beth Stevenson says: {As soon as companies stampede a market, we try to go the other way. We love the idea of The Church Mice as it conjures up the feel of rural England and the books are very beautiful.

{As a smaller company, the partners at Decode used to a lot of the producing but now we have 45 people onboard we are a good size to take on new projects.{

Decode has also just closed a deal for Save 'Ums with Discovery Kids for the US, with the show set to be delivered in September.