Panacea Entertainment and Project 51 Productions have hired Warren Ellis (Transmetropolitan, Planetary) to script a direct-to-DVD animated feature film based on the Castlevania video game produced by Konami.  Panacea has also hired noted illustrator James Jean, whose work as a cover artist for DC Comics has earned him three consecutive Eisners and a Harvey, as the film's art director. 

Panacea's CEO Eric Gardner is obviously looking at the success of Marvel's direct-to-DVD animated features (see 'Ultimate Avengers 2 Debuts at #5') and attempting to distance the property from its Japanese anime-influenced video game roots, stating: 'I think there will be anime elements of it, but it's going to be more hints of anime as opposed to traditional, full-blown anime.'

Panacea and Project 51 are also producing a Castlevania animated TV series for younger viewers, but the direct-to-DVD feature (again mirroring the development of similar projects for both Marvel and DC, see 'DC's Direct-to-Video DVDs') will be targeted at more mature viewers and will not be subject to the constraints on language and violence that apply to TV series intended for kids.