L.A.-based Brain Zoo Studios has turned its acclaimed 3D-animated short film Pepe & Lucas into an enhanced digital eBook for iPads to help give parents and children a deeper experience with the property.

Created by Brain Zoo founder Mo Davoudian, Pepe & Lucas is a comedic and romantic tale of a hard luck clown named Pepe, who engages in an epic street performance against Lucas the mime. Paying homage to Charlie Chaplin and silent films with themes of friendship and sharing, the story takes a turn when Pepe falls in love with Lucas after it’s revealed that Lucas is actually a woman.

Currently available via the Apple iBookstore for US$1.99, the title features video chapters and still shots from the film with rhyming text and is available in English and French with German and Spanish updates on the way.

Since launching in 1995, Brain Zoo has worked with global brands including Disney, Marvel, Mattel, and Sony, as well as gaming clients such as Activision/Blizzard, Electronic Arts, Lucas Arts and Namco-Bandai.