Will Vinton To Direct First Pic in New Gnosis & Toonz Financing Deal

EXCLUSIVE: There’s no name to the project yet but the Claymation kingpin will be helming the first of a slate of films birthed out a new deal between Gnosis Moving Pictures and Toonz Media Group. The co-financing and production agreement will see the India-based latter invest in several CG-animated films over several years such as Moby & Dick, the action-adventure Nicholas and The Life And Adventures of Santa Claus. Last July, Deadline revealed that Gnosis and Will Vinton were working together on the projects. There are other pics, as yet unannounced, in the deal too, sources tell me.

“At Toonz we believe in creating wonderful stories with a soul for kids all over the world. It was a delight to discover that Gnosis has a similar vision and I hope this partnership brings out wonderful visual treats for kids across the globe for a very long time to come,” CEO P. Jayakumar said Wednesday.

The features from the Oscar winner and the 2-year old Darius Kamali run animation and social gaming production company will be produced at Toonz’ India and New Zealand facilities. Formed in 1999 by tech exec G.A. Menon and ex-Disney exec Bill Dennis, Toonz has worked with the BBC, the House of Mouse and Nickelodeon among others as well as the 2010 3D animated pic Gaturro. The company is now part of the widely invested Comcraft Group. The now financed slate will be produced by Toonz in partnership with Kamali and Gnosis’ Kasey Adler, who runs investments and strategic partnerships for the company.