EuropaCorp ticks with HP for Boy With Cuckoo-Clock Heart

EuropaCorp and HP are joining forces to develop the animated feature The Boy With The Cuckoo-Clock Heart. The partners, made the announcement on Saturday in Cannes, will collaborate on the technology for the film.

Based on the novel of the same name written by Mathias Malzieu, the story is of a boy who is born on the coldest day in history – and with a frozen heart. His mother visits the village recluse who is said to have special powers. She gives the boy a cuckoo-clock in place of his heart and says he’ll be fine as long as he follows three rules: He must not touch the clock’s hands, he must not lose his temper and he must not fall in love.

Europa bought the rights to the novel in 2008. Malzieu, who is also the frontman of French rock group Dionysos, will co-direct with Stephane Berla. Europa’s Virginie Besson-Silla is producing in association with France’s digital animation studio Duran Duboi. It will be releasedi in autumn 2011.