Panel Animation has signed a deal with Turner Asia for airing its 60-minute animation movie – Little Pandavas. The movie will be ready in about six months and telecast on Cartoon Network in 24 countries including India, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Japan.

“Little Pandavas is the first project of Panel E. With this, we are entering the international television market with prime IP content. It is a 52-episode serial, each spanning 22 minutes.” says Rudra Matsa, Managing Director and CEO, Panel E, a newly-formed production company of Panel Animation to focus on entertainment and media segments.

Turner has agreed for a pre-buy deal and will contribute towards production expenses. The movie is expected to cost Rs 1 crore and Turner will share about 25 per cent of the production expenses. In return, it will have the exclusive rights for the movie.

The movie, based on the epic Mahabharat, will have about 200 characters. Panel E is also working on the script for a theatrical release of Little Pandavas, which will have roughly 700,000 sketches made in India and the Philippines.