Tencent Pictures is teaming up with Turner Asia-Pacific to develop a combined 3D animated and live action movie based on WeChat’s Tuzki, a popular cartoon rabbit emoticon.

The Chinese internet giant’s film production arm stated that the production of the animated movie project would commence in 2017. The movie would be released in the mainland by 2018, Animation Magazine reported. The financial terms of the co-production deal and other details on the memorandum of understanding (MOU) were not disclosed. Turner Asia-Pacific is a unit of New York-based media conglomerate Time Warner’s Turner Broadcasting System. 

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This will be the first full-length movie project for Turner-owned Tuzki, which was created by Momo Wang in 2006. Tuzki is a popular emoticon on social media platforms and instant communication apps. It has also appeared in short animated projects. Currently, the character is celebrating his 10th anniversary.

“This announcement is a huge milestone as we look to grow the Tuzki franchise, and reinforces Turner’s commitment to its growing business in China,” Clément Schwebig, Turner Asia-Pacific’s senior vice-president of business development, said in a statement.

Tencent Pictures will be responsible for the production and distribution of the Tuzki movie, while Turner will provide support through its 360-degree licensing efforts with consumer products, live experiences, and family entertainment centers. The Tuzki movie is one of the 21 film and television projects that Tencent Pictures plans to develop this 2016, according to South China Morning Post. 

In September, Tencent Pictures joined Hollywood studio Legendary Pictures to invest in the action-fantasy film Warcraft. According to Box Office Mojo, the film adaptation of well-known online video game had grossed US$433.54 million worldwide as at the end of July.

TagsTencent, Tencent Pictures, Alibaba, Turner Asia-Pacific, Warcraft, animated film, Tuzki 3D Animated Film, Tuzki, WeChat, WeChat Tuzki, WeChat cartooon rabit emoticon, WeChat emoticon