Warner Bros Pictures Germany has entered into a long-term, multi-picture deal with Target Media Entertainment covering the production and distribution of German- and English-language films to be released in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Target Media is a recently established, Berlin-based joint venture betweeen Cartoon Film, Comet Film, Cometstone International and others; Thilo Graf Rotkirch's Cartoon Film recently co-produced The Little Polar Bear with Warner Bros Pictures Germany. It is a huge local hit at the moment.

The agreement was announced by Willi Geike, vice president and managing director for Warner Bros Pictures and Warner Home Video, Germany & Austria, and Gerhard von Halem, CEO of Target Media.

Under the terms of the agreement, Warner Bros. Pictures Germany has the option to market and distribute up to 15 Target-financed features, both live-action and animated, for theatrical release, video distribution and sub-licensing of television and Internet rights. Warner Bros. Pictures Germany also has the option to co-finance and co-produce films, on a project-by-project basis.

Comet Film is run by Richard Claus and produced The Little Vampire which was a Warner Bros Pictures in Germany last year. Comestone International sold it in other territories including to New Line for a multi-territory deal including the US.

Among the first projects to be produced under the agreement are a sequel to The Little Polar Bear, Laura's Star and WannaBee - all animated films produced in Germany.

"By establishing relationships with leading local talent and production companies like Target, we're creating films that are culturally authentic to their locale and speak to the local audience," said Lorenzo di Bonaventura, president worldwide production, Warner Bros. Pictures, in a statement. "Also, since these are high-quality projects, being produced by top talent, there's a great potential for these films to play beyond their country of origin."