Manga Entertainment, the Japaneseanimation specialist, has signed a home entertainment distribution dealthroughout many of the world's French-speaking territories withPathé Distribution of Paris.

Under the deal, Pathéwill dub Manga's anime DVD and VHStitles into French and distribute in France and territories such as Belgium, Luxembourg and French-speaking Africa.

Manga, no relation to the Spanish distribution operation, is a Chicago, London and Tokyo-based film and home video company which produces, distributes and markets Japanese anime, as well international animation, independent films,DVDs and home videos.

Manga's Chicago office also overseestheatrical distribution, television licensing and merchandising, and is now the worldwide headquarters for international operations.

In addition to video distribution, the century-old Pathé manages a library of movie rights and produce films for its theatrical and television divisions. It runs its own television network and operates more than 280 movie theatres in Europe.

<>"Pathé is the best run entertainment company in Europe and we are extremely pleased that Manga is in such great hands," enthused Manga president Marvin Gleicher. "[Distribution director] Abel Nahmais' and Pathé's understanding and enthusiasm of our genre' will propel Japanese animation to new levels."