Animation studio DIC Entertainment and Thomopoulos Productions are forming Promise Media Productions, a production company that will market and distribute properties for children and families in both the religious and secular markets.

Promise Media will develop original live-action and animated content and will acquire properties for distribution for TV, film, home entertainment, new media and consumer products platforms.

Tony Thomopoulos, president of Thomopoulos Productions, and DIC Chairman and CEO Andy Heyward made the announcement Tuesday.

Promise Media is developing animated films around the book “Black Beauty” and the novel “Ben-Hur, A Tale of the Christ,” as well as the musical children’s program “The Jammies of Harmonyville” and a live-action series for DVD called “Zakland.”