Aardman Features allies with Sony Pictures

After splitting up with DreamWorks Animation in January (just two movies into a five-picture deal), UK-based Aardman Features has decided to release future films through Sony Pictures. Aardman's most recent movie for DreamWorks, 'Flushed Away,' cost $130 million to make, and grossed $176 million worldwide. 'Flushed' was Aardman's first CG-animated pic, after years of work in claymation. From the Variety piece:

In future, Aardman will be working in a range of animation styles, including both CGI and the stop-motion claymation projects for which it is best known. It also expects to produce pics at different budget levels, and plans to increase its rate of output to release a movie every 18 months.