LONDON -- Independent production company Glasgow Animation has joined forces with Oscar winner Sean Connery to form start-up banner Billi Prods. to produce an animated short film that will feature Connery's first-ever voice-over role.

The 3D CG-animated short, titled "Sir Billi the Vet," is due for completion early next summer and will star Connery as an eccentric veterinarian working in a remote Scottish village.

Already signed up for the voice cast alongside Connery is Tony Award-winning actor Alan Cumming, Miriam Margolyes, Richard Briers, Ruby Wax, Barbara Rafferty, Alex Norton, Gail Porter and Scottish comedian Ford Kiernan, the producers said Monday. The score is being written by composer Patrick Doyle.

The story centers on the adventures of Sir Billi and a goat that thinks it's a dog -- played by Cumming -- who set out on a highland adventure to rescue a rambunctious rabbit.

Glasgow Animation founders and Billi Prods. co-creators Sascha and Tessa Hartmann have been working on bringing the idea to life for years.

Said Sascha: "Whilst we appreciate that we cannot compete on a monetary level with the majors, we can deliver innovative technology, an original idea and an Oscar-winning cast."

The company plans to introduce the initial 30-minute animation property at film festivals next year with an eye toward turning it into a television series or a movie property.

"From the casting of such wonderful voice over talent, to the incredible amount of preproduction work, which included months of research, to finally raising the finance and seeing a full team of animators in our offices in Glasgow, is like a dream come true," Tessa said.

The short will be directed by Sascha and produced by Tessa and Connery, with John F. Fraser taking an executive producer credit.

Source: backstage.com