The MEDIA Programme-supported initiative Cartoon signed an agreement with a group of animation schools at this year's Cartoon Movie financing market in Babelsberg to create a European training network .

Announcing the new venture, Cartoon's Corinne Jenart explained that the network initially consists of eight schools of animation which will collaborate on the exchange of information and teachers throughout Europe as well as mediate internships for their students to gain practical experience from working in an animation studio for 1-3 months.

Four animation schools have joined the network from France - Paris' Gobelins - L'Ecole de l'Image, Valence's L'Ecole de la Poudriere, Angouleme's Ecole des metiers du cinema d'animation and the Institute of Animation on the Island of Reunion - while the UK is represented by the University of West England and the BAT Scheme, Denmark by The Animation Workshop in Viborg,and Spain by Barcelona-based Fakd'art.

"This is just the beginning", Jenart declared "because we are looking to extend the network to include schools in Germany and Italy".