L.A.-based Radar Pictures has teamed with the C.O.R.E. family of companies in Toronto, picking up a minority interest in the visual effects group and announcing plans to coproduce a slate of CG-animated kids features.

The deal was announced last month during the Toronto International Film Festival, although new partners William Shatner of C.O.R.E. and Ted Field of Radar were coy on the details, saying only that they are looking at a number of possible projects, including one penned by Shatner, that might go into production within a year or two. The value of the deal was not disclosed.

Field says he is coming north in search of lower production costs, while C.O.R.E. is eager to develop original material.

‘One of the great things about joining forces is we’re not limited in terms of what we can do,’ says Field, a 20-year vet who has produced films including The Last Samurai, The Chronicles of Riddick and Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. He has The Amityville Horror remake and Son of the Mask due in theaters for 2005.

‘With these features now costing up to $100 million and beyond to produce, the venture will let us continue to build an organization with the capacity to attract the very best talent, capitalizing on Toronto’s infrastructure and economic advantages,’ adds C.O.R.E. president and cofounder Bob Munroe.

C.O.R.E. has been in business since 1994 and has excelled as a provider of service animation and FX, but has never developed in-house material. It is reportedly halfway through a major but unnamed feature for a Hollywood studio and has also worked on recent films such as X-Men and Resident Evil: Apocalypse. The group includes C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures, C.O.R.E. Feature Animation and C.O.R.E. Toons.

-www.coredp.com