The Iranian Center for Development of Documentary and Experimental Cinema is set to produce short and feature animation in an effort to revitalize the industry in Iran, reports IRAN DAILY.

Shahram Safajou, director of the public relations office of the center, said, that under the new policies, the projects will maintain an independent identity and embrace the rich cultural-artistic background of the Iranian animators.

The center has undertaken the production of 14 animated films in the past three months, focusing on various religious, social and literary issues such as the Iraqi imposed war of 1980-88 and Iran's nuclear activities.

The Center for Development of Documentary and Experimental Cinema is affiliated with the cinema department of the Culture Ministry.

Additionally, IRAN DAILY reports that an animated film titled, IN STEP WITH SUNLIGHT, which is an adaptation of the political and social aspects of the childhood of the late founder of the Islamic Revolution Imam Khomeini, is presently in production.

The animation was written and directed by Rasoul Baba Reza and produced by the Saba Center, which is affiliated with the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting.

The 2D/3D film depicts the chaotic conditions during the late Imam's childhood in which villagers and citizens were fighting against plunderers and bandits.

The 84-minute film was animated by Mehdi Masoum, Mostafa Memarzadeh, Reza Sadeqi, Hossein Nazari, Khalil Gorji and Mohsen Molavi. The staff that cooperated in the 2D design includes Reshad Mirshojaei, Farshid Rajabali, Saeed Jalalieh, Zohreh Feizi, Behnam Berenji and Nazeli Maleki.