Sir Ben Kingsley, Jim Broadbent, Rupert Everett, John Hurt, Hugh Laurie, and 
       Ricky Gervais Will Lend Their Voice Artistry to Animated Comedy 

LOS ANGELES, December 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Ewan McGregor, star of Moulin Rouge and Star Wars, will voice the title character in Vanguard Animation's CG animated feature film VALIANT. The animated comedy tells the story of a lowly wood pigeon named Valiant, who overcomes his small size to become a hero in Great Britain's Royal Air Force Homing Pigeon Service during World War II. The RHPS advanced the Allied cause by flying vital messages about enemy movements across the English Channel, while evading brutal attacks by the enemy's Falcon brigade.

Sexy Beast star, Academy Award-winner Sir Ben Kingsley, will voice General Keyserlingk, the feared German falcon leader. Other actors lending their voices include Academy Award-winner Jim Broadbent (Moulin Rouge, Bridget Jones's Diary), Rupert Everett (An Ideal Husband, My Best Friend's Wedding), Hugh Laurie (Stuart Little), John Hurt (Harry Potter, Elephant Man), and Ricky Gervais, star of the BBC comedy hit series The Office.

VALIANT, which will be completed in December 2004, is currently in production, with a staff of 95, at Vanguard Animation's recently completed CG studio built at Ealing Studios in London, as well as continuing at its Los Angeles and New York offices. Disney is distributing the picture in North America, and Odyssey Entertainment in the UK is handling international distribution. Disney holds worldwide merchandising, soundtrack, and video game rights as well. Vanguard Animation is a division of Vanguard Films. IDT Corporation, a subsidiary of IDT Entertainment, Inc., a multinational carrier, telephone, and technology company, has a significant investment in Vanguard Animation.

The producer is John H. Williams (Shrek 1 & 2) for Vanguard Animation. Executive Producers are Barnaby Thompson for Ealing Studios, Ralph Kamp for Odyssey Entertainment, Robert Jones for the UK Film Council, and Keith Evans for Baker Street Media Finance. Co-Producers are Eric M. Bennett, Curtis Augspurger and Buckley Collum for Vanguard Animation The picture is being directed by British character designer Gary Chapman.

Valiant is a Vanguard Animation, Ealing Studios, and UK Film Council Presentation in association with Odyssey Entertainment and Take Five Film Partnerships of a Vanguard Animation Production.

SOURCE PR Newswire (New York)