LONDON: HIT Entertainment thinks it’s scored one with Faeries, a new project that dips into a richly unique history of mythical lore to appeal to the untapped market of fantasy-lovers everywhere. HIT is looking to start off the definitive Faeries franchise with an animated feature co-production with Encore Media Group that’s slated for a fourth quarter 1999 debut on STARZ!, EMG’s premium movie service.

To manage its recent US$25.5 million cash injection, HIT Entertainment needed to undergo some executive restructuring. The company lured BBC Worldwide head of investment and operations John Morris to become its director of sales. Sales chief Charles Caminada will concentrate on program-funding activities as managing director of worldwide distribution. Company founder Peter Orton becomes chief executive, and assures that HIT’s commitment to creative collaboration with authors will continue. The revamp of HIT is intended to underline its position as a mini-studio. It has divided the business up into seven operating units: Worldwide Distribution, Productions, Animation, Wildlife, Consumer Products, Publishing and Video.

In another deal, HIT acquired a 13 x five-minute series called Lisa from Magnus Carlsson of Sweden’s Happy Life (Three Friends and Jerry). HIT also picked up rights to a 65 x five-minute cel animation series called The Fly from France’s Futurikon and Cactus Animation.