Korean hit Leafie sells English-language rights

Korean feature animation Leafie: A Hen Into The Wild has sold to Toronto-based 108 Media Group for all English-language rights.

Produced by leading Korean production house Myung Films and animation studio Odoltogi, the film became South Korea’s highest grossing local animation this past summer with 2.2 million admissions. (Lotte Entertainment distributed the film locally.)

Based on a best-selling novel, Leafie tells the story of a unique hen’s adventure, love and sacrifice.

Finance, production and distribution company 108 Media Group will dub the animation in English and will directly release the film in North American theaters. Further details on the release are to be announced.

Myung Films’ international advisor Paul Yi negotiated the deal with Abhi Rastori, CEO of 108 Media. 108 Media Group will also be Myung’s exclusive agents in finding partners to exploit the merchandising and game rights in North America.

Seoul-based sales company Finecut is handling sales for the rest of the world. Leafie: A Hen Into The Wild has sold to 46 countries so far including German-speaking territories (Ascot Elite), Brazil (Conquest Filmes), and ex-USSR excluding Baltic States (CP Digital).

Distributed by Dadi in mainland China, Leafie opened there recently on 1,000 screens and took in $618,300 (CNY3.93 million) in its first week.