IDT brings Hellboy to DVD premiere

FROM VARIETY: Licenses animation rights for feature and series

By Ben Fritz -- Video Business, 11/9/2005

NOV. 9 | Upstart toon company IDT Entertainment has licensed animation rights to demonic superhero Hellboy from Revolution Studios and is starting production on a DVD premiere feature and series.

IDT, a telecom giant that has moved into digital animation in recent years mainly via acquisitions, is in talks with a cable network to debut the series in late 2006 or early 2007. The feature, which will be distributed on DVD by IDT-owned Anchor Bay, will likely see release in 2007.

Both projects will be animated in a traditional 2D style, not CGI.

Talent from the 2004 hit movie Hellboy from Revolution, including Ron Perlman and Selma Blair, will do voice work for the animated feature and series. Film helmer Guillermo del Toro and comic book creator Mike Mignola will consult as creative producers.

The deal also gives IDT an opportunity to create animated Web content and license the property for a videogame.

The projects are being produced in Los Angeles by animation house Film Roman, which IDT bought in 2003. Disney Animation vet Tad Stones will be supervising director.

Revolution is developing a live-action sequel, and IDT will likely attempt to tie some of its properties into the unscheduled release to take advantage of the marketing push.

Lawrence Gordon and Lloyd Levin of Lawrence Gordon Prods. and Mike Richardson of Hellboy publisher Dark Horse comics serve as exec producers.

IDT began selling overseas rights to the toon Hellboy at AFM, where it also is selling rights to in-production feature Yankee Irving. The company recently signed a two-year domestic distribution deal for its features with 20th Century Fox.