CANNES: Italy based kids books publisher EdizPiemme plans to create a 3D feature around its popular character Geronimo Stilton and is here at Mipcom Junior looking for European co-production partners. Interestingly the publisher plans to outsource a part of its animation production work to India.

Geronimo Stilton - created by a "secret" author working with EdizPiemme five years ago - has featured in more than 100 titles (128 pages each) which have sold more than 10 million copies in Italy alone. The titles have been translated into 33 languages the world over.

Geronimo is an academic-looking mouse, who, like a kind teacher guides and tutors children through the illustrated book, teaching them everything from how diamonds are created to how a rainbow is formed.

Says International Characters (a company which is helping EdizPiemme's in its international expansion) Pietro Marietti, "We are looking to produce an animated feature around Geronimo for a global audience, because we believe that the character lends itself very well to animation too."

He adds, "We plan to co-produce Geronimo with European partners and will outsource part of the work to Asia and probably India if they can give us outstanding 3D quality. India is on our radar because we are aware that a lot of animation production work from Italy and France is already being done there."

Marietti says the company would like to publish Geronimo in Hindi and is looking to tie up with Indian book distributors for the same. "We are looking to attend the biggest book fair in India," he says.

With Disney's Mickey Mouse increasingly scurrying around in India thanks to the launch of the Disney Channel, will we see another mouse also looking for the Indian cheese? Who knows? If Marietti could have his way and he finds the right connection, Geronimo might actually enjoy a lot more than that.