Japanese animation studio J.C. Staff is collaborating with the French studio Pollux Animation to create the animated series Asterion . Additionally, Hiroshi Shimizu, character designer and chief animation director for Michiko and Hatchin, is designing the characters for the series. Additional Japanese staff include Shichiro Kobayashi (art director for Berserk, Lupin III: THE Castle of Cagliostro, Nodame Cantabile, Revolutionary Girl Utena), Hiromasa Ogura (art director for XXXHOLiC, Jin-Roh, Ghost in the Shell), and Kazuo Terada (Ulysses 31, Flag director).

Pollux Animation is currently using the crowd-funding website Ulule to raise funds for a pilot for the series. Pollux is looking to raise 16,000 euros or US$21,053 to create a 90-second pilot episode. Stretch goals include 35,000 euros (about US$46,347) for a 150-second pilot; 60,000 euros (US$79,452) for a three-minute pilot that will also have an English version that Pollux can use to attend events like MIPTV and Comic Con; 80,000 euros (US$105,936) for a short film version; and 120,000 euros (US$158,904) for a full 26-minute episode. The project has currently raised US$1,270 and has 46 days left in the crowd-funding campaign.

The science-fiction story of Asterion takes place in the year 2172, and follows a former galactic "boxball" star named Fishmann, who launches a quest with a young boy named Kameo to find the legendary fish Asterion. Fishmann, Kameo, and others board the prototype vessel Eratos to search for the mythical creature, which can grant wishes.

[Via Catsuka, link 2]