US film giant Miramax is to join forces with toy company Lego to make a film based on its best-selling line of Bionicle action figures.

The project, which will be the Denmark-based company's first foray on to the big screen, will use computer animation, the format made popular by such hits as Shrek, Monsters Inc and the Toy Story films.

We want to bring those characters to life

Matthew Hiltzik, Miramax

According to Miramax, the format has been chosen over traditional animation because of its more realistic, three-dimensional qualities.

"Overall, we really want to capture the characters," said spokesman Matthew Hiltzik.

The Bionicle toy range, aimed at an audience of 8-12-year-old boys, were first introduced in 2000. They feature a core cast of six crime-fighting characters who embody environmental elements including fire, water and air.

"We want to bring those characters to life. This will be a great technology to do that," said Mr Hiltzik.

The toys also have their own history, loosely based around Polynesian legend and lore.

"We have been developing the property with a motion picture adaptation in mind from day one, so it's very rewarding to see our vision realized so quickly," says Conny Kalcher, global vice president of TV and film for Lego Media.

Lego is one of the world's most popular toys

The Bionicle project, slated for release in 2004, will be the latest in an increasing line of family films to be produced by Miramax.

The studio, which was purchased by the Walt Disney Company nine years ago, are known for championing offbeat, quirky projects, as well as producing Oscar winners such as The English Patient and Shakespeare In Love.

Their new-found interest in family orientated films has been spurred on by the success of 2001's Spy Kids, which was a huge hit both in the US and the UK. A follow-up, Spy Kids 2: Island Of Lost Dreams is released in both countries next month.

The company are developing a number of other projects aimed at younger audiences, including the film version of Eoin Colfer's best-seller Artemis Fowl.