The alliance, which will likely be redubbed before the end of the year, is looking to produce a minimum of one toon feature or series per year, with the first pic, the $15 million "Elfquest," set for delivery in 2001.

Discussions between the various partners have been under way for the better part of a year, but the parties agreed to a final five-year production schedule at the Mipcom television market last week.

Seven partners

EAG brings together seven companies, with an animation studio in each country. From France, the partners are GTC, one of the leading European labs and a specialist in digital technology; multimedia production company Project Images Films, which has already produced toon feature "Aaron's Magic Village"; and film producer Sceneries Europe.

German input comes from Das Werk of Munich, which has an established reputation for high-end commercial and film post-production and which recently diversified into film and television production; and Trixter Film, founded by animation director Michael Coldewey.

Trixter's studio produced the 3D effects for the recently delivered $15 million feature "Heavy Metal F.A.K.K.2" (Sony has U.S. rights), which is being sold internationally by Los Angeles-based Sceneries Intl.

The Spanish partners are multimedia specialists Indice Multimedia and Storyboard, which has experience in TV production and 3D computer graphics.

EAG will be headquartered in Dusseldorf, with the company jointly headed and managed by Philippe Lenglet (Sceneries), Joachim Sturmes (Das Werk) and Jorge M. Reverte (Storyboard).

12 projects in the works

Lenglet told Daily Variety that EAG is currently developing some 12 projects. "The idea is that all the partners are in agreement before we greenlight," he noted.

Half of the production financing will be raised in Europe, with the rest coming from the U.S. and international sales. Sceneries Intl. has been mandated to sell the films and series internationally, with the various partners responsible for raising investment and handling rights in their own territories.

Lenglet said that production work will be split among the three countries. The first project, "Elfquest," is based on the graphic novels of Wendy and Richard Pini.