Jane Startz and Rainmaker Team Up For Two Animated Kids Book Adaptations

TORONTO - Oscar nominated screenwriter David Magee (Finding Neverland, The Life of Pi) has scripted a feature adaptation of the Tiger's Apprentice novel for Canadian cartoon producer Rainmaker Entertainment and family filmmaker Jane Startz Productions.

our editor recommends

Cooksey joins Rainmaker for 'ReBoot'

Rainmaker hires new prez from Lucasfilm

Tiger’s Apprentice, based on Laurence Yep’s young adult novel of the same title, is one of two family fantasy animation movies that Rainmaker and Jane Startz are pacting on.

The other is Far Flung Adventures: Fergus Crane, based on the kid’s fantasy tale written by Paul Stewart and illustrated by Chris Riddell.

David Berenbaum (Elf, The Spiderwick Chronicles) penned the screenplay for Fergus Crane, about a poor 10-year old boy whose explorer father has mysteriously disappeared, and who must leave the safety of his home on a fantastical voyage to save those he cares about.

Startz, whose credits include family films like Ella Enchanted, Indian in the Cupboard and The Mighty, and Rainmaker president and executive producer Catherine Winder, will produce the two kids book adaptations.

Tiger's Apprentice, the first book in a trilogy, portrays Asian-American teen Tom Lee who is orphaned when his grandmother is killed, and who then is protected by a mystical tiger and three other creatures from the Chinese Zodiac.