Besson Has Heart for Animation

Filmmaker Luc Besson, who made a name for himself in action films before venturing into animation with Arthur and the Invisibles, has reportedly acquired another property to be brought to the screen with CG animation. According to Daily Variety, Besson’s EuropaCorp has picked up rights to Mathias Malzieu’s sci-fi novel La Mecanique du Coeur (The Mechanics of the Heart).

La Mecanique du Coeur takes place in 1874 and involves a young man who must avoid strong emotions, especially love, because his heart was replaced by a clock at birth. The author will co-write and co-direct the pic with Stephane Berla and Joann Sfar, who contributed graphic elements for the book and a music album by Dionysos, which was inspired by and released in conjunction with the novel.

EuropaCorp is quickly expanding its slate of animated films. In addition to two sequels to Arthur and the Invisibles, the company is working on a CG flick titled A Monster in Paris, with Shark Tale co-director Eric ‘Bilbo’ Bergeron helming. Stated for release in April of 2010, the film will have a monster attacking the City of Lights in the year 1910.