Indian Animation ‘Neelu’ Sets Spain-France-Belgium Co-Production Deal

Producers Xavier Yamamoto and Simon Barrionuevo have come aboard the animated feature “Neelu,” marking a significant milestone for director Saraswathi’s four-year passion project through an international co-production deal spanning Spain, France and Belgium.

“Thrilled to sign the contract and hire Saraswathi as the director of the film,” said Barrionuevo, who is joining Yamamoto to formally announce their collaboration on the animation feature.

The deal brings together producers from three European countries to support the India-set story, which follows a 19-year-old tribal girl from south India who moves to the city to pursue her dreams. After marrying the man she loves, she uncovers a female foeticide plot threatening her friend and must choose between her marriage and saving an unborn child when her husband accepts a bribe to silence the illegal gender-based pregnancy scheme.

Saraswathi, known professionally as Vani, first pitched “Neelu” at the Film Bazaar’s Co-Production Market in 2023, where it gained early support from industry figures including Anu Singh, Vivek Mirchandani, Dora Babu and Mike Yattam. The director is a celebrated leader in the animation and VFX space who was instrumental in setting up the Academy Award-winning studio Rhythm & Hues in India, Malaysia and Taiwan. Her credits include visual effects work on “The Hunger Games,” “The Incredible Hulk,” “R.I.P.D.” and “Snow White and the Huntsman.”

Her production company Dancing Atoms raised approximately $225,000 in angel investment from Los Angeles to help finance the project.

Yamamoto is CEO of Cinema Libre and Sunyata Films, French and Belgian production companies, respectively. His credits as producer include “The Dance of Reality,” “Il padrone delle note: Josquin Desprez” and “Waorani Omede Beye Ante Nee Adani.”

Barrionuevo has worked on several productions as an animator and producer.

With the international producers now attached, the French and Belgian teams are preparing to expand the property beyond the feature film. They are gearing up to transform “Neelu” into a graphic novel and webtoon series in 2026 to build out the universe for the characters. The film’s script is currently being translated into French as part of the strategy to secure additional funding.

Saraswathi participated in the 2025 WAVES Film Bazaar, as the International Film Festival of India’s (IFFI) market component is now known. She credits her success to the strong support system provided by fellow filmmakers who “support her and cheer for her and her projects.”

Pavan Balagam serves as executive producer and VFX director on the project. His extensive visual effects credits include “The Rundown,” “Assassin’s Creed,” “Superman Returns,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” and “Robin Hood.”