Vancouver-based Perfect Circle Productions has completedfinancing on Jesse Rosensweet's $5m stop-action animated feature Newton AndLeo. Rosensweet's The Stone Follywon the Jury Prize for best animated shortat Cannes in 2002.

Described as a 'fairytale-gone-wrong', the story follows Thomas Galileo Newton, an inventor struggling to invent a cure for his son, Leo, whose body hosts an electric current that makes him literally untouchable. The story is by George Toles, a collaborator with Guy Maddin, and Daegan Fryklund.

The producer is Perfect Circle's Dean English - bestknown as producer of Lynne Stopkewich's Kissed and Lilith On Top -- andKaren Powell is executive producing. Voice talent for the key characters is notin place, although Molly Parker has signed to voice the role of Zella.Pre-production begins in December with a delivery date of January 2008.Principal photography will be in Canada with background animation out of SouthKorea. Speaking to Screendaily, English said the project is the firstof a slate of animated titles aimed at the 15-plus market that he has in theworks.

Backers include Telefilm Canada and Canadian and BritishColumbia tax credits. TVA has distribution in Canada while Seoul-basedMirovision is handling foreign sales and holds rights in South Korea. PerfectCircle holds US rights.