Aardman Animations has signed an exclusive three-year, first-look deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment.

The company said it plans to have a wider range of projects ready to be green-lighted at any one time; Aardman is developing three stop-motion projects as well as two CG projects. The Hollywood Reporter says one of the projects pitched to Sony was a resurrection of The Tortoise and the Hare; another is another Wallace and Gromit film.

The new deal starts immediately; it replaces the relationship Aardman originally had with DreamWorks.