It's open season on animated films as yet another studio enters the highly competitive — and potentially lucrative — arena.

Sony's first feature-length animated venture will be "Open Season" in September 2006.

It's a buddy comedy, based on the edgy humor of cartoonist Steve Moore ("In the Bleachers"). "Season" follows the adventures of Elliot, a fast-talking, one-antlered mule deer, voiced by Ashton Kutcher, who pals up with Boog, a rather domesticated grizzly, voiced by Martin Lawrence. The bear lacks basic wilderness skills, having been treated as a surrogate child by forest ranger Beth (Debra Messing).

Their adventures include an escape from an eccentric hunter (Gary Sinise) who strapped Elliot to the hood of his truck. Freed by Boog, the deer decides to return the favor of liberation. The pampered bear has lived in captivity since he was a cub. He still carries a teddy bear.

"He's a grizzly bear stuck between two worlds," co-director Jill Culton says.

"Why would I want to go outside when I got all I need?" Boog asks a befuddled Elliot. And as he learns more about lifestyles of the tamed and furry, Elliot is intrigued.

"He's tasted civilization, and he wants a part of it," co-director Roger Allers says.

But things go awry, and they find themselves in the Northwest woods — just as hunting season is to begin.

So there's an element of "Dude, where's my town?" for both Elliot and Boog.

They marshal the forces of various woodland creatures, including Riley the beaver (Jon Favreau), a squirrel (Billy Connolly), a porcupine, a shell-shocked French-Canadian duck and some attitudinal skunks from Spanish Harlem. They also meet a hapless tourist (Georgia Engel).

Finding voices that not only suited their parts but also worked well with one another was crucial. "Martin is a smaller guy, but he fits into a big bear voice," co-director Anthony Stacchi says. "Ashton is a big guy who fits into this little scrawny character."

Voice recording became a family affair: Lawrence brought his children, and Messing brought her baby, the filmmakers say.

Kutcher showed up solo for sessions, but since his marriage to Demi Moore in September, that could change.

"Ashton can bring Demi's kids, if he wants," Culton says.