Montreal: Cinar Films and Shanghai Animation Film Studio, a subsidiary of Shanghai Television, have signed a coproduction agreement to produce a $10-million animation series.

Rumble & Growl is the first official treaty coproduction for animation struck with China by a Canadian producer.

‘The series is based on a published Chinese comic strip and adapted by the creative team at Shanghai Animation, the oldest and most reputed animation studio in China,’ says Ron Weinberg, Cinar president and co-ceo.

Rumble & Growl will be produced initially in English, French and Mandarin and is a modern-looking story of two young friends who uncover unusual scientific wonders and amazing natural phenomena during their endless search for food. It will be packaged in both 10- minute and 30-minute blocks.

The coproduction agreement was signed at Cinar’s offices Nov. 24 by studio president Jin Guoping, a vp with Shanghai tv.

Weinberg says the deal represents a breakthrough for both the company and the wider Canadian industry. Despite a coproduction treaty signed in 1987, he says activity between the two countries, outside the strictly service domain, remains limited.

‘As far as I’m concerned, Canadians haven’t made the effort to reach out to try to find the creative or production basis to do this,’ says Weinberg. ‘What I have found is that there are a lot of great ideas being developed there and there is a lot of support on the part of the [Chinese] broadcasters to help get these creative ideas produced into programs.

‘China is open for business,’ he says. ‘I’ve found in dealing with these people that they are very direct in terms of saying exactly what the issues are.’

Jin is part of a Chinese delegation, hosted by Telefilm Canada, which traveled to Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver this month. Delegation members include Li Jian, president of Chinese Central News and Documentary Film Studio; Wan Diji, president of the Beijing Science & Educational Film Studio; and Sun Liyan, a production management officer with the Film Bureau.

A major regional service, Shanghai tv is China’s second largest broadcaster with an audience in excess of 150 million.

The deal is a 50/50 split in both financing and distribution terms. Cinar is managing international sales.