Disney boost for Chinese cartoon company
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A boy poses with Pleasant Goat characters at an animation exhibition in Dongguan, Guangdong province. [China Daily] |
Creative Power Entertaining Co (CPE), a Chinese animation firm, announced on Monday a television broadcast license agreement with Buena Vista to air its cartoon series on Disney channels in 52 countries and regions in the Asia-Pacific.
The three-year deal covers the broadcasting of the latest 100 episodes of the hit cartoon series Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf - Joys of Seasons, in countries such as Australia, India, Singapore and South Korea in more than 10 languages and dialects.
In India alone, versions in four local dialects will be available, said Liu Manyi, general manager of CPE.
"The cooperation with Disney marks a huge step for us in our bid to showcase our work to a truly global audience. We will continue to work to bring our productions to more people in all corners of the world," Liu said, declining to give the cost of the deal.
CPE is also in talks with television networks in Thailand and the Philippines about airing its cartoon productions, Liu said.
Launching its first cartoon series in 2004, CPE has rolled out nearly 700 episodes of its most popular Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf series since 2005, recording an average TV rating of 13.1 in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hangzhou, Liu said.
The series is also available on some channels in Hong Kong and Taiwan, and the Nick channel of MTV.
Two film sequels launched last year and this year each raked in more than 1 billion yuan ($150.49 million) at the box office.
Other products include onstage musical sequels, and a fortnightly magazine for children with a circulation of 400,000 copies per issue, Liu said.
The company has more than 300 agents selling its products, with Walt Disney as its main agent.
Liu did not provide CPE's financial figures, except to say that it is making a profit and that its revenues grew 30 percent year-on-year.
To fuel the expansion, CPE is planning to seek a public listing in the coming few years, she said, without giving any details.
