41e to Rep CGI HeathCliff Movie

NEW YORK/LONDON/BARCELONA: 41 Entertainment (41e) has taken on the global television and home-video distribution rights for the upcoming CGI animated film HeathCliff: Bad Kitty, based on the classic George Gately comic strip.

The film will feature celebrity voice talents and is budgeted at more than $5 million. The movie will be delivered in October 2011 in English and in December 2011 in Spanish, French, German, Portuguese and Italian.

A new 52×11-minute HeathCliff series is being planned for 2013.

41e, which will present a full CGI animated trailer at MIPTV 2011, has been enlisted to handle global television and home-video distribution of the film and series in all forms and venues outside the U.S. FitzRoy Media retains the U.S. rights. The film will be launched in the U.S. on the McDonald’s TV network, which will reach cover 2,500 U.S. restaurant locations by November 2011.

Hamp Hampton, the CEO of FitzRoy Media, the rights holder for the HeathCliff brand, commented, “HeathCliff is a legacy brand and this is a perfect time for this relaunch. Like the saying goes ‘What’s old is new again’ and we feel bringing back a retro brand like HeathCliff now is the perfect timing. We have the major CGI film, coupled with the upcoming CGI series, a new style guide supporting a revamped licensing program being lead by apparel, plush toys, Wii and DS Nintendo gaming titles launching this Christmas in all major retail outlets with second titles for each format launching in 2011 and 2012. I am extremely pleased to have reached this agreement with Allen Bohbot and his team at 41e who know exactly how to handle such a major global property.”

Allen Bohbot, the CEO of 41e, added, “HeathCliff is a major brand and we welcome him into our growing catalogue. We know that the international television and home video market will love this adorable feline who has a unique, sarcastic take on the world and that this project will appeal to a broad demographic ranging from kids to adults. We envision launching the film, likely in prime time, on major broadcasters worldwide followed by the home video release and then the full series worldwide in multi-languages in the following year.”