Animal Logic Entertainment & Simon Cowell's Syco Entertainment Announce Film Development Partnership

LOS ANGELES, May 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Animal Logic Entertainment and Syco Entertainment today announced a long term, multi-project partnership focused on the creation and development of music-based animated, and hybrid animation/live action films in addition to other original multimedia IP.

Animal Logic and Syco Entertainment already have a number of innovative, animation and music-based films in advanced development. The partnership plans to leverage their deep relationships in the film and music industries to bring together world-class talent to inspire and create the next generation of family films. Their first hybrid animated music-based film is set for release in 2016.

Animal Logic is the Australian animation and visual effects studio behind such hits as 'The LEGO® Movie' and 'Happy Feet'.

Syco Entertainment (a Music, Film and Television joint venture with Sony Music) is the UK's most successful music label and created the world's biggest selling reality TV format 'Got Talent' and 'The X Factor'. In 2013, Syco produced the 3D concert movie 'One Direction: This Is Us'.

Heading up the partnership will be Animal Logic's, Zareh Nalbandian and Jason Lust and Syco Entertainment's, Adam Milano.

Zareh Nalbandian, CEO of Animal Logic said, "We are thrilled to bring together the amazing talent, global reach and expertise in popular music of SYCO Entertainment alongside Animal Logic's rich history of innovative, cutting edge animation and universal storytelling. I am confident our truly complementary collaboration with Syco will be a very powerful force in family entertainment".

Simon Cowell said, "It is a dream come true to have this opportunity of working with Animal Logic. I think their work is pure genius and I really feel excited about the films we are going to be making together."

Adam Milano, Syco's Head of Film added, "Every movie Animal Logic has touched has moved the dial visually and creatively. Between this and Syco's strong roots in the music business, this feels like an amazing marriage of talents."

Jason Lust from Animal Logic said, "Our partnership aims to create distinctive movies combining great music, groundbreaking visuals and amazing stories. With teams based in the UK, US and Australia, we couldn't be more excited to embark on this new venture together".

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, Leona Lewis, Susan Boyle, Sam Bailey, Little Mix, Il Divo, Fifth Harmony, James Arthur, 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 eighth series of Britain's Got Talent got off to an incredible start, launching with an overnight audience of 11.1 million viewers and 50% share, making the 2014 season the highest rated launch across all eight series to date with the show maintain its position as the UK's top-rated Entertainment series.

Local versions of "The X Factor" are commissioned in 46 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.

In 2013 Syco produced it's 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.  

SOURCE Syco Entertainment / Animal Logic Entertainment