Indie animation producer and distributor GKIDS and Japanese stop-motion animation studio Dwarf introduced that they may collectively develop a brand new animated movie based mostly on the unique autobiographical manga “Sunny” by Taiyo Matsumoto (“Tekkonkinkreet,” “Ping Pong”). The undertaking was chosen for a session on the Annecy Animation Showcase at Cannes, which is a part of upcoming Cannes Animation Day, a joint initiative between the Marché du Movie at Cannes and the Annecy Pageant.
The Eisner Award-nominated manga “Sunny” depicts an ensemble of youngsters working by numerous making an attempt circumstances and gained the Japan Media Arts Pageant Excellence Award and the Shogakukan Manga Award, amongst others.
Michael Arias will write and direct the film. He beforehand helmed 2006’s “Tekkonkinkreet,” based mostly on Matsumoto’s manga of the identical title, which performed in competitors on the Berlin Movie Pageant and gained the Japanese Academy Award for finest animated characteristic. Arias has served as translator for extra Matsumoto works.
Arias describes “Sunny” as a “soulful journey about youngsters who face the chances with creativeness and innocence — half Dickens, half Fellini and all coronary heart.” He provides, “I’m thrilled to be working with the artists and animators at dwarf to carry this manga masterpiece to the display screen.”
Cease-motion studio Dwarf’s credit embody Netflix sequence “Pokémon Concierge” and brief “Bottle George.” It’s at the moment creating a brand new characteristic movie, “HIDARI.”
“The story of ‘Sunny’ is each grounded and fantastical, parts which might be well-suited to our tactile and expressive stop-motion strategies,” mentioned Noriko Matsumoto of Dwarf Studios. “Our workforce is deeply dedicated to preserving the spirit of the unique work whereas imbuing it with a brand new creative dimension. We’re honored to proceed this legacy with Michael and GKIDS.”
GKIDS — whose movies have earned 13 finest animated characteristic Oscar nominations — is the North American distributor of Oscar winner “The Boy and the Heron” and the Studio Ghibli library, in addition to the work of administrators akin to Mamoru Hosoda (“Mirai”), Makoto Shinkai (“Weathering With You”) and Tomm Moore (“Wolfwalkers”). GKIDS can be the founder and producer of Hollywood’s annual Animation Is Movie Pageant.
“GKIDS is humbled and honored to be a part of the workforce with Michael, Noriko and the artists of Dwarf tasked with bringing Taiyo Matsumoto’s beloved ‘Sunny’ to life on the large display screen,” mentioned GKIDS’ director of acquisitions and improvement Rodney Uhler. “We are going to work arduous to do the fabric justice and hope to make a movie for the ages!”
