Date:03/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/03/stories/2008120350490200.htm

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Toonz to produce second edition of Wolverine and the X-men

Special Correspondent

Thiruvananthapuram: Toonz Animation studio in the Technopark campus here is gearing up for the production of the second edition of the popular animated television series, Wolverine and the X-men.

The production will be taken up under an agreement between Marvel Animation and the Singapore-based Toonz Entertainment Pvt Ltd, the parent company of the Technopark-based Toonz Animation India Pvt Ltd.

The first season of the popular comic book has already been launched in Latin America, Canada, and Italy and is awaiting release in the U.K. on BBC and the U.S. in January 2009 through the Nicktoons Network.

As many as 26 half-hour episodes of the second edition are in the preproduction stage.

P. Jayakumar, Toonz Group’s CEO said, “We are thrilled to extend our relationship with Marvel and continue showcasing one of the most sought-after, iconic characters of all time. The second season will bring fans even more fresh and exciting stories and take us deeper into the X-Men universe.”

The first season was produced by Toonz in association with First Serve International.

Eric Rollman, Marvel’s President of Animation commented, “The response to this series has been outstanding. We are bringing together the same team that produced the first season.”

The sprawling, 18,000 sq ft state-of-the-art multimedia studio in the Technopark campus has over 500 artists from across the world, including Philippines, Singapore, Canada, USA and India.