Cirrina Studios, the recently launched entertainment finance, development and production company has announced its first animated feature film, The Extincts. Based on British writer Veronica Cossanteli’s popular middle grade novel of the same name, and adapted by David Lipman (producer, “Shrek 2”), the film will be directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker and celebrated author/illustrator William “Bill” Joyce.

David Lipman will also produce the film with Michael Siegel (executive producer, “The BFG”, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “Rise of the Guardians”). Jane Startz and Barry Cunningham will executive produce alongside Jim Pesoli and Karine Martin of Cirrina Studios.

Pre-production starts in June, with an eye towards a 2019 release, The Extincts, will be the first Cirrina Studios feature to start production at Dwarf Animation Studio in Montpellier, France, which was founded by CEO, Olivier Pinol.

The Extincts follows the madcap adventures of George Drake, a boy who goes to work on a farm hidden deep in the woods where he discovers a hidden cache of extinct and mythological creatures, one of which escapes and terrorizes the town in which he lives. The novel is published by Chicken House/Scholastic in the UK and in the United States by Henry Holt and worldwide in translation.

“Feature animation is one of the cornerstones of Cirrina Studios’ broad ambitions,” said David Lipman, also president of production at Cirrina Studios. “I’m thrilled to partner with Olivier and Dwarf, we’ve assembled an unbelievably talented group of artists and technicians to make a ‘studio quality’ film with a unique look and global appeal.”