UTV, BKN in $10m animation deal

International toon house BKN New Media’s animation production is to be outsourced to UTV Toonz, a division of India’s UTV Software Communications, in a deal worth $10m.

Under the deal, UTV Toonz will produce (2×26′) 3D series of Kong The Next Generation and another series, yet to be titled. UTV Toonz has also bagged distribution, licensing and merchandising rights to some of BKN’s animation series, such as Legend of the Dragon, Roswell Conspiracies and Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.

Ronnie Screwvala, CEO of UTV, said: “We aim in a year to have the largest order book for an animation company in India and our deal with BKN is one step in that direction. Animation last year represented less than 1% of our revenues and we see that growing to 5% in the future.”