Classic Media / August Media Reinventing the Classics

More classic cartoon properties will get an upgrade to the twenty-first century in the coming months and years thanks to August Media Holdings, a Singapore-based co-production and media distribution outfit. August Media, citing the lucrative nature of decades-old cartoon brands that manage to reinvent themselves over the years and across new platforms, has recently come into an extensive co-development and production agreement with Classic Media (London, UK), to exercise this popular possibility. August Media Holdings recently made headlines for their acquisition of an experienced Edinburgh, Scotland, animation studio a few months ago [recent A.I. news: "Animation Studio Acquisition: Red Kite" (09/2010)].

According to Classic Media, selected media properties will be "reinvented, ranging from live-action to animation," offering new audiences an opportunity to devour memorable or influential characters or brands from decades ago. The co-development agreement will make use of the production efforts of August Media and the family entertainment library of Classic Media. No titles have been mentioned, officially, as part of this new deal; however, the agreement stipulates that as many as ten television series may result, five of which are currently in the pitch stage with assorted, potential co-production or broadcast partners.

is a new FELIX THE CAT animation on the way

Classic Media is the home to old school animation such as Rocky and Bullwinkle (1961) and Roger Ramjet (1965), and properties/characters like Felix the Cat (1919), Little Lulu (1935), Baby Huey (1949), Richie Rich (1953), and forgotten coming book superhero Dr. Solar (1962).

"This collaboration is an exciting step for August Media and we really look forward to working with Classic Media and its fantastic portfolio of renowned properties," Jyotirmoy Saha, CEO of August Media, commented.

"It is important for us to develop indigenous talent and studios and we aim to position ourselves as the main point of entry for Singaporean companies looking to break into international territories."

Ken Anderson, founder of Red Kite Animations, who has since become the Executive Director some of August Media's new international business interests, will be the one to lead the creative teams assigned these title reinvention projects. Anderson will coordinate between the Classic Media units (New York and London), and the August Media units (Edinburgh and Singapore). August Media has noted quite emphatically that the group plans to engage the local (Singapore) animation industry on cartoon productions stemming from this new agreement.

"[This deal] is a positive development for the country's animation industry, allowing Singapore companies working on these projects with August Media to deepen their capability to produce quality animation content for global audiences," Christopher Chia, CEO of Singapore's Media Development Authority, said of the agreement soon after MIPCOM 2010.