Company Town

Animation: Turner Pictures signed a two-year production deal with animator Brad Bird, who has worked on “The Simpsons” as a consultant and director and helped write the “Captain EO” 3-D film starring Michael Jackson. Under the non-exclusive agreement, Bird is to produce animated feature films for Turner Pictures working with Turner President Dennis Miller and Amy Pascal, president of production. The move is yet another sign of how much Hollywood has become enamored with animated films, feelings prompted in part by the huge profits Walt Disney has made with them. Bird, a former Disney animator, also wrote, directed and produced the original “Family Dog” for “Amazing Stories,” the Steven Spielberg series that ran on NBC.

* Music: European entertainment conglomerate PolyGram said it has increased its stake in record company Music India to 51% from 40% and renamed the company PolyGram India. Terms were not disclosed. PolyGram is 75%-owned by Dutch electronics giant Philips.