Paris-based CGI animation studio TeamTO has granted Taikong Works the Chinese distribution rights to its feature film Yellowbird.

The deal is the first to come from TeamTO’s Beijing office, which was established in June to create co-development and co-production opportunities between the company’s French studios and Chinese animation companies.

The agreement will see Taikong Works distribute Yellowbird throughout China across cinemas, digital media and traditional broadcast. The film’s theatrical release will coincide with Chinese New Year in January 2017.

Taikong Works will also be working to exploit ancillary rights and create promotions timed with the film’s release.

Yellowbird features vocal talent from Seth Green, Elliott Gould, Christine Baranski and Dakota Fanning. SC Films International’s Simon Crowe placed the film in more than 50 markets and its theatrical release in 2014 covered more than 35 countries.

TeamTO is also the service studio behind several current CGI-animated series, including Skylanders Academy (Activision), PJ Masks (eOne), Elena of Avalor and Sofia the First (both Disney Channels Worldwide).