Keeping a close eye on the growing adult animation market internationally, Nelvana is expanding its relationship with burgeoning German film producer Trickcompany. No formal announcement from Nelvana so far, but executive vp Clive Smith confirms that two theatrical coproductions are "very likely." Trickcompany is the German portion of the three-way coproduction behind the Pippi Longstocking feature and series.

Babar and Barbarella are the two projects being negotiated. Nelvana has already had international success with a children's tv series based on the Babar books by French writers Jean and Laurent de Brunhoff.

Barbarella, based on a comic strip and the 1968 cult classic with Jane Fonda, would bring Nelvana further into the realm of toons for grownups, especially theatrically. Trickcompany has been burning up the German box office with quasi-vulgar adult animated features such as Werner ­ Eat My Dust!! and The Little Asshole.

"It's a slight change of pace for us," says Smith, "although we are recognizing the shift in the market and the new audience interest in animation. Barbarella is a real classic, and it d'es belong to us in the sense that we're becoming known for translating well-known characters."

Smith also confirmed that budget figures which have been floated ­ $7 million for Barbarella and $4 million for Babar ­ are accurate.

According to Smith, Nelvana hopes the two features will herald a long-term, ongoing relationship with Trickcompany.

"We really enjoy working with them. We're very much on the same level in terms of quality, type of production, type of animation, and in terms of working with new technology." MEA