UK prodco Axis Studios (Scrooge: A Christmas Carol) and Budapest-based DIGIC (Love Death + Robots) are teaming up on a new theatrical family feature called Worlds Apart.

The companies signed a deal at Annecy last week to co-develop and co-produce two feature films, and the CG-animated Worlds Apart (pictured, concept art) is their first project. They are aiming for theatrical releases for both features.

The movie centers around two feuding brothers whose opposing beliefs have led them to split the world in two. One half is defined by order and discipline, while the other is filled with excessive lightheartedness.

While Axis has experience in the kids’ space—with credits on projects like the Netflix series LEGO: City Adventures—Worlds Apart signals a first move into family-friendly content for DIGIC, which has provided animation/VFX work for adult-skewing video game IPs like Assassin’s Creed and The Witcher.

DIGIC has been planning its push into original IPs for the past two and a half years, says CEO Alex Rabb, eyeing potential to become a leading studio in the animated film business. 

“So this co-production, which is based on an IP that has so far been developed by DIGIC, fits perfectly in our long-term strategy to develop, produce, and co-produce long-form [CG-animated] content at the highest level,” Rabb tells Kidscreen.