Montreal: Cine-Groupe has launched a new technologies content production unit called Cine-Groupe Media.

The new unit will produce for dvd, cd-rom and Internet platforms and likely in print form as well.

Two weeks ago, Cine-Groupe Media acquired Montreal multimedia company Productions Pandore, which will be known as Cine-Groupe/Pandore and is headed by president Ernest Godin.

Cine-Groupe Media will produce in both the educational and games sectors with a view to exploiting its 20-title animated series and film library, including Princess Sissi, Bad Dog, Ovide and the Gang and The Little Flying Bears.

Cine-Groupe Media’s first project is a dvd collection called L’Aventure de l’Ecriture, originally produced as a series of 300 grammar-learning shorts for Tele-Quebec and TV5.

Pandore has a full-time staff of 10 and produced an Alliance for Children and Television award-winning cd-rom in ’97, La Boite a Musique. The company’s currently working on several preschool Website projects and is active in both the culture and games/educational and training sectors.

The new media unit intends to make a dvd authorizing unit purchase, says Cine-Groupe Media president Pierre Bernatchez, an executive vp with Cine-Groupe.

Other Cine-Groupe units include Cine-Groupe/Toonteck, a post/digital design service with ink and paint, paintbox, and 2D and 3D animation. The 3D service is expected to expand following the recent signing of a deal to produce two 3D feature films with France’s MediaLab.

Animation Cine-Groupe delivered four tv series last year representing over 80 half-hours and is projecting delivery of more than 100 half-hours this year, says Bernatchez.

Current film and tv production includes the 3D Columbia/TriStar feature release Heavy Metal: F.A.K.K 2, Bad Dog 2, Jim Bouton and Kit & Kaboodle, broadcast on Radio Canada/cbc.