MUMBAI: Hrithik Roshan?s sci-fi superhero action film is to be spun-off into a series of four animated films following a licensing deal between Turner International India, Toonz Animation India and Film Kraft Productions.

As per the deal, Turner International India will have television rights for the animated film, the first installment of which will be aired on 14 July on Cartoon Network, Turner?s flagship kid?s channel.

Film Kraft retains the IP rights for the animated films with television rights being given to Turner for Asia Pacific region.

The films are to be produced by Trivandrum-based Toonz Animation India. The first two films will hit the floors this year with the remaining two slated to be produced in 2014.

The hour-long films would follow the childhood adventures of Krishna (from the movie Krrish) who discovers that he can help people and save the world with the special powers bestowed upon him by Jadoo (from the movie Koi Mil Gaya).

Turner International India MD Siddharth Jain says that creating locally relevant content which resonated with consumers is part of the company?s philosophy.

"Local programming is something that works very well and we have demonstrated that with Chhota Bheem on Pogo. So here we see an opportunity wherein you have a successful theatrical release and the character which was loved by the kids and their parents. We thought we could adapt it to animation and expand it into television that was the basic concept behind it," says Jain.

Film Kraft Productions India director Rakesh Roshan adds, "Since Krrish 3 will be ready for release this Diwali, I wanted to revive the memory of Krrish with children and the newer generation who may have not seen Koi Mil Gaya or Krrish."

Toonz Animation India CEO P Jayakumar believes Krrish being a super hero film makes for compelling content for kids that can be adapted to animation and television.

"We were looking at various properties so we thought that this property has a lot of synergies. It is a fantasy film and the genre is action adventure which will resonate with boys so we took the idea to Turner and Film Kraft who readily accepted it. Krrish already has a huge fan following," says Jayakumar.