MUMBAI: Indian animation company Toonz Media Group and Los Angeles-based Gnosis Moving Pictures have inked a long-term co-financing and animation deal for a slate of CG-animated films that will be rolled out over the years. The first movie under this partnership will be directed by Academy Award-winning claymation pioneer Will Vinton.

Toonz CEO P. Jayakumar said, “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.”

Toonz will contribute substantial equity to the projects and will produce the movies at its India and New Zealand facilities. On the other hand, Gnosis Moving Pictures will team help develop and distribute the movies.

“This long term partnership furthers our mission to bring animated projects that both entertain and encourage children across the world. Toonz shares our vision and we look forward to embarking on this journey with them to enrich the lives of children through a slate of animated film properties,” said Gnosis Moving Pictures CEO Darius Kamali.

Toonz will produce the films with Kamali and Gnosis’ Kasey Adler, who oversees the company’s investments and strategic partnerships.