Take an odd couple premise, turn the central characters into wild animals, draw out a simple story about survival and you get this rip-roaring family fare.

Sony Pictures Animation, a new arm of Sony Pictures, has jumped into its first venture, Open Season, in the lucrative animation market with guns blazing.

Its first production is based on syndicated cartoonist Steve Moore's basic premise of the story. "I got the idea for Open Season from stories I'd read about these wild animals that would become somewhat domesticated by living in the outskirts of mountain resort towns like Ketchum, Idaho or Mammoth in California," said Moore who's known for his wry comic strip In the Bleachers.

"One day, the animals would invariably do something to seriously annoy the townspeople and they would be tranquilised and moved to the wilderness.

"I always wondered what happened once they were dropped off in the wild, having lived on leftovers most of their lives - how did they survive in the woods?"

The idea evolved into a treatment written by Moore and his producing partner John Carls before they pitched it to the folks at the newly-formed Sony Pictures Animation.

The treatment was sent to director Jill Culton (whose credits include A Bug's Life and Toy Story) who began developing it into a strong narrative.

She was soon joined by co-director Anthony Stacchi (Curious George, Antz and James and the Giant Peach) and Roger Allers (The Lion King). They reworked the story a bit, introducing an over-the-top villain and empowering the animals further.

They also roped in a top cast of voice talent including Martin Lawrence, Ashton Kutcher, Gary Sinise, Debra Messing, Billy Connolly, Jon Favreau, Patrick Warburton, Gordon Tootoosis, Jane Krakowski and Georgia Engel.

The story is set in a small town near the woods called Timberline where Boog the bear (Lawrence) enjoys the good life being pampered by his owner park ranger Beth (Messing) who found him as a cub.

Boog's perfect world is turned upside down when he saves Elliot (Kutcher), a scrawny, fast-talking mule deer, from becoming a hood ornament.

When Elliot convinces Boog to leave his cosy home, Beth is prompted to release Boog out into the wild. Desperate to return home, Boog has only Elliot to rely on.

With the hunting season about to open, the two race to rally the other woodland creatures to fight back.

They also have to contend with Shaw (Sinise), a crack-pot hunter, who thinks the animals are conspiring to take over the world.

The whole story took four years of work and over 200 artists and animators, who executed 1,223 shots, using more than, 7,200ft of film, from the more than 3,400 storyboard drawings produced.

Open Season is also the only 3D movie made this year and the attention to details such as the way Boog's fur moves as he ambles along is sure poetry in motion.

Open Season is showing in cinemas now. The 3D version can be seen at the IMAX theatre, located on the 10th floor of Berjaya Times Square.