Simon Cowell: Life after X Factor

 

 There is $$$ in Music-based Animated Films and Simon Cowell Wants in on the Action

by M. Quintero Moore, BACKLINE MAGAZINE

 

Attention songwriters, producers and musicians. If you haven't already, it's time to rethink your business model and consider adding animated films to your list. That's what Simon Cowell is doing. His company, Syco Entertainment has formed a partnership with Australia -based Logic Entertainment ("The Lego Movie," "Happy Feet") to create and develop music-based animated films and animation/live-action movies. Sony Pictures have already purchased their first film installment which has a 2016 release date.

Banking on their first project to become a franchise, the two CEOs, Cowell and Zerah Nalbandian, are looking at  movies that bring together live action and animated sequences, straight musicals like "Frozen," and song-driven films such as "Despicable Me 2", from which Pharrell Williams' No. 1 single "Happy" became a hit long after the movie had completed its theatrical life-cycle.

 

This venture is Simon's first real project into visual media since Fox canceled 'The X Factor' canceled after three short seasons.