"The Legend of Buddha" is the Indian entry in the animated film category for the 2005 Oscar awards.

The 90-minute film by director S.S. Phalke uses the latest animation technology to take the story of Buddha to the world stage.

Four hundred artists at Kingdom Animasia, Penatmedia's subsidiary in Manila, made 200,000 sketches for the film at a cost of about $1.5 million. The sketches were supported by 1,000 3D animated backgrounds created by artists in Chennai.

The $6 million film, made by Pentamedia Graphics, has music by Bharadwaj. The art is by T. Thirugnayanam, Pentamedia's art technologist.

It was produced at Pentamedia's studios in India, Singapore and the Philippines, in association with the Singapore government and its Economic Development Board.

Eleven films have qualified for this year's award.

In competition are three films from Walt Disney, including one Pixar production, three films from DreamWorks, two from Warner Bros, one from Paramount Pictures, and one from Maxmedia of South Korea.

"The Legend of Buddha" faces a formidable pack that includes "Polar Express", "Shrek 2", "Shark Tale", "The Incredibles" and "Teacher's Pet".

The film, expected to gross at least $12 million, has been released selectively in theatres in some Indian metros since September.

Blazeway Communications has been given charge of the marketing and advertising in the US, tells Sumathi Sridharan, Pentamedia's vice-president.

"We're happy that we have reached a level where we are competing with Disney. We are looking to improve our standards and the nomination for an award like the Oscar gives us an opportunity," she said.

Pentamedia has done work for Warner Bros' "King and I". It has also produced 3D films like "Sinbad - Beyond the Veil of Mist", "Pandavas - The Five Warriors", "Alibaba" and "Son of Alladin".

Over the next few months, Pentamedia plans to release "Gulliver's Travels", "Sindbad - The Secret of Colonies" and "Tarzan and the Aliens". These 3D animation films are in various stages of production.

The "Legend of the Buddha" will enter the US DVD market by January 2005, Sridharan said.