MUNICH: The Pool-European Animation Group may be the final name of a new pan-European studio alliance that will produce high-quality animation, some of which will target kids and family audiences. The final registration for the new Cologne-based company is scheduled for early this month. Two German companies-Munich-based animation studio Trixsters and digital post-production house Das Werk-will each hold 17.5% of the company, with up to four international partners, including U.S. studio Scenaries International, its Paris-based daughter Sceneries Europe and Madrid’s

Tornosor Digital Riyas, sharing the rest. These commitments may flucuate, as negotiations of the final partnership deal had not been completed at press time.

The alliance’s main production site will be established in Munich, where both Trixsters and Das Werk own high-end facilities. Whether studios in Cologne will be set up at a later date depends on access to German and European Union subsidy funds.

The Pool’s goal is to bundle animation talent from all over Europe to produce high-

tech programming. Project budgets will likely run between US$4.5 million to US$5.6 million, and the following concepts are either in discussion and/or stages of rights acquisitions: Elf Quest, a U.S. comic-book property; Mercenaries, based on a French novel; and The Ninja Turtles, a revival of the old series. Preliminary plans depict a release schedule of one project a year for the next five years.