Following up the success of what’s hailed as New Zealand’s most internationally profitable animated property, “Kiri and Lou,” the primary function primarily based on the BAFTA-nominated collection, will premiere on Wednesday June 24 within the beating coronary heart of Annecy Pageant, the lakeside Bonlieu.
New Zealand’s first ever stop-motion function, the “Kiri and Lou Go Raaa!” bow can be capped by a Q&A with voice actors Jemaine Clement and Olivia Tennet, alongside animation director Antony Elworthy.
Led by Jemaine Clement (“Flight of the Conchords,” “Moana,” “Rio,” “What We Do In the Shadows”) and Olivia Tennet (“Lord of the Rings,” “Power Rangers RPM”), the function is written and directed by Harry Sinclair with visible improvement by Ant Elworthy (“Pinocchio,” “Isle of Dogs,” “Ma vie de Courgette,” “Coraline”) and music and songs by Don McGlashan in collaboration with Harry Sinclair (“The Front Lawn”).
An award-winning preschool collection produced by Stretchy, “Kiri and Lou” follows the friendship between Kiri, a vigorous little dinosaur, and her finest pal Lou, a delicate and caring creature, as they discover the world of emotions by means of laughter, track and outside journey.
First aired in 2019 on TVNZ in New Zealand and CBC in Canada which commissioned the collection, it noticed a powerful premiere on CBeebies within the U.Ok. and Nick Jr within the U.S. which led each broadcasters to prebuy subsequent collection.
Now in its fourth season, with 104 five-minute episodes accessible, the collection has been translated into a number of languages. Different broadcasters embrace ABC Youngsters in Australia, Sky NZ in New Zealand, YLE in Finland, SVT in Sweden, RTP Portugal, KRO Netherlands, Canal+ Poland, Czech Tv, EVision and BeIN within the Center East, Globosat in Brazil, Canal As soon as in Mexico and Showmax in Africa.
Antony Elworthy, animation director for ‘Kiri and Lou go Raaa!’ Courtesy of Stretchy
“Kiri and Lou” has acquired worldwide essential acclaim, having been chosen in competitors on the Annecy Worldwide Animation Pageant in 2019 and nominated for a BAFTA in 2022. The collection received the Rockie Award in Canada in 2023; twice received Greatest Pre-Faculty Present on the Asian TV Awards; acquired Silver on the Australian Animation and Results Awards and Prix Jeunesse in 2020 and 2022; and acquired nominations on the Chicago Movie Pageant, Cynopsis Better of the Greatest (New York), and the Los Angeles Worldwide Movie Pageant, the place it received Greatest Animated Brief. “Kiri and Lou” has additionally twice received Greatest Youngsters’s Present on the NZTV Awards.
The function, dealt with by the collection Producer Fiona Copland for Stretchy, is made in affiliation with the New Zealand Movie Fee, NZ On Air and Hinterland.
Vendetta Movies will distribute theatrically in New Zealand and Australia, with CAKE dealing with world gross sales. In accordance with Copland, the movie has been crafted with huge care by a devoted workforce of artists, the identical that gave beginning to the beloved characters. “Our artists sculpted its evocative stop-motion world frame by frame”, she added, “and this recognition from Annecy is a proud moment for everyone who has helped bring this world to life.”
“Kiri and Lou has quietly built a global audience”, emphasised Ed Galton, CEO of CAKE, “and the feature is the natural next step for the brand. Annecy is exactly where it belongs, in front of buyers who understand what this property can do theatrically and on platform. We’re looking forward to taking it out from there.”
Backed by the New Zealand Movie Fee (NZFC) who champions New Zealand’s dynamic display screen, animation and VFX trade by supporting native tales and attracting main worldwide productions.
In accordance with Chris Payne, NZFC deputy CEO & head of co-production and incentives, the Annecy Presents part is the right World Premiere for “Kiri and Lou Go Raaa!”. “Both this film and the acclaimed series preceding it have a distinctive voice, a deep sense of care for young audiences and world-class talent behind them. We’re delighted by the film’s selection for the world’s leading animation festival and can’t wait for longtime fans and new viewers to fall in love with this film.”
Six books, 4 albums of songs and a “Grow Your Own Forest” AR app have been launched with additional publishing, music and sustainable shopper merchandise licensed and within the pipeline, because the IP continues to develop.
