The Hong Kong-based Imagi Animation Studio has announced that Warner Bros. Pictures and The Weinstein Company will be handling worldwide distribution of Imagi's next two CGI features, Gatchaman and Astro Boy, both of which are based on anime classics and both of which are slated to debut in 2009.  Warners and The Weinstein Company handled distribution Imagi's previous effort, the TMNT film, which was directed by Kevin Munroe, who is directing Imagi's Gatchaman feature (Paul Dini is co-writing the script, see 'Paul Dini Collaborating on Gatchaman' ).  Ex-Pixar animator Colin Brady is directing the Astro Boy film and Robert Mark Kamen (The Fifth Element) is writing the screenplay.

 

The Imagi Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film (TMNT) was budgeted a $35 million and earned $54 million in the U.S. and nearly $40 million overseas.  The Astro Boy and Gatchaman (Battle of the Planets) features are budgeted at $40 million each.