China’s Fantawild Animation has closed multiple theatrical deals on its hit Chinese New Year release Boonie Bears: Guardian Code, including for the UK and France.
The feature has sold to UK (Movie Pioneers/Factoris), France (Factoris), Canada (Cinemaguzzo), CIS (Prime Time Media), Spain (Melies), Turkey (Bir Film), Middle East (Phoenicia), Sub-Saharan Africa (Redhead Global), and Singapore and Malaysia (mm2).
This latest nineth instalment in the animated family franchise is China’s third highest grossing film this year to date, having grossed over $210m (RMB1.46bn) at the local box office.
“Distributors have closed with us much earlier than expected with this film,” said Daniel Bort, Fantawild’s head of international. “We were able to presell at AFM with only a poster, not even images.”
He added that deals are still being closed, even ahead of the release of an English-language version.
Since 2014, Fantawild has made more than $670m at the Chinese box office through the nine Boonie Bears films, which are usually released at Chinese New Year. The franchise has also spawned a TV series and merchandise.
The previous instalment, Boonie Bears: Back To Earth, is still being rolled out as theatrical slots have been scare for animated features since the pandemic. It was released in Benelux and the Baltics last month and will receive a theatrical release day and date with Hulu in the US in May, following an exclusive deal with the streamer for the territory. Spain will follow later this summer.
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