Granada (Spain), Apr 6 (IANS/EFE): Spanish actor Antonio Banderas has lent his voice to one of the main characters in "Justin and the Knights of Valour", a feature-length 3D animated film scheduled for release next year.

The English-language movie is the latest project of Kandor Graphics, a Spanish animation studio in which Banderas is a partner and which received an Oscar nomination for best animated short film in 2009 for "The Lady and the Reaper".

Banderas told EFE during a visit to the studio's headquarters in the southern city of Granada, that the film - about a boy on a quest to become a knight against his father's wishes - "is a homage to the values that unfortunately no longer prevail as much, such as love, loyalty and bravery".

Although the film will not hit theaters until 2013, Kandor's latest production has already been sold to 123 countries.

Banderas, who voices the character of Sir Clorex, a phoney and vain "Latin lover", said the role forced him to use a "completely different" register to that of his acclaimed "Puss in Boots" character in the "Shrek" franchise.

"Puss in Boots is a small character to which I gave a big voice and this is a big and muscular character to which I gave a very tiny voice," Banderas said.