Sea-Monkeys are being given a new lease of life by Empire Pictures, which plans to produce an animated feature focusing on the long-running brand.

The children's line The Amazing Live Sea-Monkeys, conceived in the 1960s, features tiny water-dwelling creatures which hatch and live in a special tank. Empire Pictures have made a deal with Transcience Corp, the owner of the brand, to bring the creatures to screen.

Writers are currently working on storyline for an animated feature film, with a spin-off TV show also under consideration.

Empire founder Michael Bimbaum told Variety: "I grew up with Sea-Monkeys. The property's instant name recognition on a global basis makes it a platform from which to launch an animated film franchise."