Nickandmore!

via DQ Entertainment press release:

Casper The Friendly Ghost Goes Into Season 2

HYDERABAD, India, October 12, 2010 — DQ Entertainment , a global animation, gaming and live action entertainment production and distribution company, is pleased to announce the signing of a co-production agreement for the second season of ‘Casper’s Scare School’ in high-end 3D animated CGI format at MIPCOM 2010, Cannes.

The co-production between DQE, MoonScoop group, France and Classic Media, USA will have a global budget of approximately Euro 7 million. Production of the second series is scheduled to start later this month.

Casper has become one of the most famous properties with global recognition for DQE. Season one, which premiered in Canada on YTV in January 2009, was a huge success and has since been broadcast on Viacom18’s kids channel, Nick, and also across the entire South Asia and Sun TV networks kids channel, Chutti TV in November 2009. TF1 the leading French broadcaster and Cartoon Network, US are already committed to broadcasting the second season and Cartoon Network US is expected to launch the second season by Halloween 2011.

Tapaas Chakravarti, Chairman & CEO of DQE Group, commented:

“We are extremely happy to collaborate again with Moonscoop, for the co-production of this iconic property, Casper Scare School. The first season was a huge success and we expect to carry this momentum into the second season.”

Christophe Bourdil, CEO Moonscoop, commented:

“After the successful first season of Casper, associating ourselves with our long standing partner DQ Entertainment on the second season of Casper Scare School is logical for us. We are extremely pleased with the partnership and hope to produce a great second season together featuring the friendly ghost to delight children the world over”

About DQE:

DQE is one of the leading producers of animation, visual effects, game art and live action entertainment content for the global media and entertainment industry. DQE has produced/co-produced and distributed iconic brands such as Iron Man – the first 3D animated TV series, Twisted Whiskers, Mikido, Casper, Pinky & Perky, second season of Large Family, third season of Mickey Mouse Club House, First and Second Season of Madagascar TV Series and Fanboy & Chum-chum for Nickelodeon, USA and is now co-producing properties like The Little Prince and Little Nick with major international broadcasters and producers. DQE has a library of over 400 hours of international programs for distribution and licensing globally for TV, home entertainment, merchandising and publishing.

DQE’s home grown production in Hi-end 3D, ‘The Jungle Book’ is in production as a 52 episode animated series and a 60 minute TV feature in co-production with international majors including TF1 and Moonscoop , France, ZDF Group, Germany and is to be released world-wide in 2010. Toomai-The Elephant Boy which is a live action TV series is in development in co-operation with international broadcasters, while several Indian IPs like Mysteries & Feluda, Omkar, Balkand I, II and III with International Broadcasters have had a successful run.

DQE is also developing a series of animated short films for television in collaboration with French production companies Method Animation and MK2. DQE, Method Animation and MK2 announced the production and worldwide distribution and exploitation of an animated version of 104 six-minute episodes inspired by the legendary film icon Charlie Chaplin’s Hollywood films.

DQE has received several international awards including an EMMY for Tutenstein TV series, 11 Emmy nominations, The UK Broadcast Awards 2010, Sichuan TV Festival International “Gold Panda” Awards, Cartoons on the Bay awards, The E & Y Entrepreneur of the Year – 2009 India Award and many others.

DQE’s production facilities are based in Hyderabad and Kolkata and it has international sales representatives in Los Angeles, Paris and Tokyo. With a workforce of approx 3500 permanent employees DQE has a global client – partner base of over 90 producers, distributors, broadcasters and licensors including Walt Disney Group, Universal Pictures, Nickelodeon Animation Studios Inc., Electronic Arts, Marvel Comics, American Greetings, , BBC Group, M6/ France TV Group / TF-1 – leading broadcasting and Distribution groups from France, ZDF TV and ZDF Enterprises – leading Distributors/ broadcaster and global distributor from Germany, ABC Australia, Al Jazeera – Arabic nations, Disney Channels – Asia, Cartoon Network Group and many more world-wide.