Green Gold and Red Kite Unite for Animated Feature The Assassin

Hyderabad-based studio Green Gold Animation has announced a new international co-production with U.K.-based Red Kite Animation to produce an adult animated feature film, The Assassin. The companies announced the project at the Goa Film Festival and Co-Production Market (WAVES Film Bazaar) on Nov. 22, marking Red Kite’s first major production partnership with an Indian studio.

The Assassin will narrate the story of a young man living in a “near-future metropolis.” The movie is said to explore mature themes, such as rebellion, vengeance, justice, and survival, in the wreck of corporate greed. “‘The Assassin’ is an ultra-cinematic action film that uses bold 21c century visuals to give the audience a visceral experience of the hero’s physical and psychological journey,” emphasized director Martyn Pick about the plot.

Along with contemporary themes, the project will also bring together 2D/3D animation styles with guerrilla live-action elements, and is reported to have a graphic-novel aesthetic. 

The film is being developed under the India-U.K. Audio-Visual Co-Production Treaty, giving the project access to shared financing structures, production incentives, and dual-market distribution. According to the news, both studios are working as creative partners for an agile 15-18 month production cycle without compromising the animation quality and visual style. However, neither studio has yet commented on the release date for the movie. 

Production Details of The Assassin

The Assassin is written and directed by Ultramarines-fame Martyn Pick, known for his distinct stylized animation. According to early production notes, Martha MacDiarmid serves as script editor for the movie. 

The studios describe the film as a hybrid animated feature, blending rotoscoping, live-action reference, and 2D-3D compositing. Under this hybrid approach, Red Kite is probably leading the creative development, while Green Gold is producing the key animation. The collaboration offers cost-efficient production capacity and access for both studios by leveraging the best of each. 

The project underscores a shift for Green Gold, mostly recognized for children’s animation like Chhota Bheem. With The Assassin, the studio takes a step towards world-class animation, intending to “stand shoulder to shoulder with the world’s best,” as emphasized by Green Gold founder and CEO, Rajiv Chilaka. 

Red Kite’s CEO and founder, Ken Anderson, stated, “this is not just a co-production. It is a shared artistic endeavor shaped by the strengths of both nations’ storytellers and creative communities,” while sharing his vision about the project. 

The partnership arrives as adult animation gains traction in India, driven by the theatrical success of Japanese anime releases and increased OTT demand for mature animated films. That momentum has opened space for Indian studios to compete in international feature production rather than remain confined to domestic children’s IP.