Animal Logic and Simon Cowell Woo Betty Boop™

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Betty Boop™, international animation icon and leading lady, together with Animal Logic Entertainment and Simon Cowell's Syco Entertainment today announced their plan to develop and produce Betty Boop's first feature-length film. 

Partnering with Fleischer Studios, Animal Logic and Syco Entertainment will produce a music-driven hybrid animated comedy featuring universally adored screen starlet Betty Boop. 

Queen of the animation world, Betty Boop is one of the most loved and sought-after animated characters of the past and present centuries with accolades spanning film and television, fashion and music. Having first hit screens in 1930 with numerous appearances in Max Fleischer's Talkartoons and her own "Betty Boop" cartoon series, her popularity has continued to grow through the decades. Most recently, she has taken her career to new heights, starring in a Lancôme® campaign and featuring in collaborations with Coca-Cola®, NASCAR®, UNIQLO and Chupa Chups®. Betty also has countless other global commercial and mass merchandising deals through her exclusive worldwide licensing agency, King Features.

Betty's last movie appearance was a cameo in the blockbuster movie "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" (1988). Her millions of fans spanning generations have made her one of the most recognizable characters in the world and are eagerly awaiting her return to the silver screen.

The film, which will be produced by Zareh Nalbandian and Jason Lust from Animal Logic and Simon Cowell and Adam Milano from Syco, promises to be an exciting addition to the Animal Logic and Syco Entertainment growing development slate with broad audience appeal.

Of today's announcement, Betty Boop said, "I'm so excited to return to the big screen – and I only work with the best! Let's have some fun, Simon. Boop-Oop-a-Doop!"

Simon Cowell said, "Betty is an icon, and one of the biggest stars in the world – I'm thrilled to be working with her. Betty, I've worked with some serious divas but I think you could be the biggest of them all!"

Zareh Nalbandian, Animal Logic's CEO said, "I'm thrilled that Animal Logic is part of this exciting new collaboration with Betty.  She's an amazing, iconic and loved character, and we're going to have so much fun producing her 21^st century big screen debut."

"I am delighted to partner with Syco Entertainment and Animal Logic," said Mark Fleischer, Chairman and CEO of Fleischer Studios. "Their energy, creativity and playfulness make them a perfect fit for Betty Boop."

Jason Lust from Animal Logic said, "I've been trying to get Betty to the dance for years now.  Can't believe she's finally said 'Yes.'"

Adam Milano, Syco's Head of Film said "Betty is the original funny girl and to be able to create a music-driven comedy with her at the center is an amazing opportunity."

Creative Artists Agency (CAA), representing Syco Entertainment and Animal Logic, brokered the deal with King Features Syndicate representing Fleischer Studios.

About Betty Boop and Fleischer Studios:
First introduced in 1930, Betty Boop was created by Max Fleischer for his "Talkartoons" series, the first "talkies" of animation, which Max's company, Fleischer Studios, produced for Paramount. Mae Questel provided Betty's distinctive voice. By 1932 Betty, considered to be the first and only female animated screen star, had taken the country by storm. Betty starred in more than 100 cartoons, 90 of which are included in the official "Betty Boop" series, which ended in 1939. Since then, Betty has appeared in dozens of hit movies, television specials and commercials. She was the first cartoon character to be profiled by A&E's "Biography" series.

As the worldwide exclusive licensing agent for Betty Boop, King Features works closely with Fleischer Studios to keep Betty entertaining millions of fans and collectors worldwide. Betty Boop's popularity today shines through her prevalence in pop culture. She is one of the most popular and successful licensed characters in entertainment history, with nearly 200 licensees in the United States and nearly twice as many internationally that produce quality products bearing Betty's likeness in virtually every category. The official Betty Boop Web site is www.bettyboop.com. 

About Animal Logic:
One of the world's most highly respected digital production studios, Animal Logic produces and develops award-winning design, animation and visual effects for the film and television industries. Credits include The LEGO® Movie, Happy Feet, The Great Gatsby, Hunger Games: Catching Fire, 300, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole, House of Flying Daggers, Moulin Rouge, Matrix and Iron Man 3. 
As part of the Animal Logic Group of companies, Animal Logic Entertainment is developing a strong slate of innovative, commercially minded, story driven projects stamped with the visual and technical innovation that has become the hallmark of the studio's work. The development slate, while eclectic and diverse, has a core focus on tent pole, 4-quadrant feature animation projects as well as filmmaker driven and visually arresting live action films.

With studios in both Sydney and Los Angeles, and represented by CAA, Animal Logic Entertainment continues to forge new partnerships and collaborations with leading studios and filmmakers to develop and produce stories that resonate with a global audience.
Information is available at www.animallogic.com

About Syco Entertainment:
Syco Entertainment is one of the world's leading music, film and television production companies. Responsible for the most successful global TV and music franchises in the world, Syco is the most successful producer of international talent with Syco Music being the UK's number 1 music label for sales and A&R. Syco is label-home for such diverse international recording artists as Labrinth, One Direction, Susan Boyle, Sam Bailey, Little Mix, Il Divo, Fifth Harmony, Ella Henderson and Alex & Sierra. Syco's Television assets include the global hit franchises "The X Factor" and "Got Talent."

The Got Talent format is now officially the world's most successful reality TV format, breaking the Guinness World Records title for the highest number of adaptations, having been commissioned in an impressive 58 territories worldwide, which has now already risen to 63. America's Got Talent airs in 193 countries worldwide and was the #1 summer reality series of 2013, maintaining the leadership position it has held with NBC for the last four seasons. The finale of the eighth series of Britain's Got Talent in 2014 had a peak audience of 12.7 million and a 50% audience share with the show maintaining its position as the UK's top-rated Entertainment series.  Local versions of "The X Factor" are commissioned in 49 countries and around the world "The X Factor" is now watched by more than a half billion people. Artists discovered by the "X Factor" worldwide have sold more than 160 million records with The X Factor format creating more international stars than any other TV competition singing format  - including the world's biggest selling artists One Direction who were put together by mentor Simon Cowell on The X Factor (UK) in 2010.

In 2013 Syco produced its first movie (directed by Morgan Spurlock) the global box office hit "One Direction: This Is Us with Sony Pictures; an international all access look at life on the road with music phenomenon One Direction. Syco Entertainment have recently announced a development partnership Animal Logic (Lego, Great Gatsby, Happy Feet) to create music-based animated and hybrid animation-live action films with their first project, set for release in 2016, being developed by Sony Pictures Entertainment.

A groundbreaking new music show "Ultimate DJ" was announced by SFX, T-Mobile and Syco in April of 2014. The Syco-created competition series revolves around the booming electronic music culture, showcasing and cultivating fresh new EMC DJ/producer talent and creative event production skills.

About King Features Syndicate:
King Features Syndicate is a member of Hearst Entertainment and Syndication Group, which combines Hearst Corporation's cable network partnerships, TV programming activities, newspaper syndication and merchandise licensing operations. King Features is the world's premier distributor of syndicated features to newspapers, magazines, web portals, mobile outlets and news organizations worldwide. It is one of the largest and most experienced organizations in merchandise licensing and entertainment. In addition to Betty Boop, it represents some of the most recognizable global brands, including Popeye the Sailor Man, Flash Gordon, The Phantom and Hägar the Horrible. For more information, please visit www.kingfeatures.com. Follow us on Twitter @KingFeatures. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/KingFeatures.

Betty Boop © 2014 King Features Syndicate, Inc./Fleischer Studios, Inc.
™ Hearst Holdings, Inc./Fleischer Studios, Inc.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140811/135232

SOURCE Animal Logic Entertainment; Syco Entertainment