MUMBAI: Hyderabad-based DQE has, in association with French Broadcaster TFI, signed a co-production deal with French production company Super Prod and France-based Story Board Animation with a global pre-sales budget of Euro 7 million.
Super Prod will hold the rights of the French version of the 52-episode animated series Lassie and Friends, being co-developed by DQE with Classic Media - UK for worldwide distribution, particularly for the French-speaking Europe (France and domestic territories like Monaco, Andorra, French-speaking Switzerland and Belgium).

Lassie and Friends is a fast-paced, action-packed drama, loaded with suspense, charm and comedy. It has Lassie living in our modern world and involved in new adventures along with her friends.
 
Comments DQE Group Chairman and CEO Tapas Chakravarti, "The heart-warming response Lassie and Friends has received at Cannes has given us confidence in our endeavour to reincarnate the world‘s most loved canine. Lassie, in her new animated avatar, going into production shortly, will surely be loved by audiences across the world. We are grateful to our long-standing partners ZDF, Classic Media and TF1 for their continued support in our initiative to resurrect classical properties and welcome Super Prod on this new journey."

The series, in dazzling animation, is targeted at children between 5 to 10 years.