Nerd Corps Entertainment’s popular boy-skewing action property Slugterra will be launched in China for the first time thanks to a new deal between the Vancouver animation studio and Beijing, China-based Ciwen Media Group.

Ciwen has purchased all rights to manage the IP in China including merchandising, consumer products, TV, and non-exclusive digital media.

The Chinese producer/distributor has also agreed to a co-development partnership under the deal with Nerd Corps that will produce new content for the brand in 2014.

First up is a brand-new 90-minute feature film slated for a summer 2014 theatrical release in China with negotiations planned for North American and other international releases.

The yet-to-be-named film, the second for the property after the recently announced TV movie Ghoul From Beyond (spring 2014), will introduce a new Asian hero into the Slugterra universe who will team up with Eli and the Shane Gang.

Slugterra currently airs on Disney XD and free-to-air TV channels in more than 170 territories including Taiwan and Hong Kong.

The IP’s licensing and merchandising programs covering toys, mobile and online content also continue to expand globally with new licensing deals recently secured for Italy, Latin America, Russia, Turkey, Israel and South Africa.