Universal Takes ‘Shaun’ for Latin America, Spain (EXCLUSIVE)
Universal has acquired distribution rights to Latin America and Spain on the Studiocanal-sold “Shaun the Sheep,” adding two more major deals to the Aardman production’s already impressive major territory count at Cannes.
On the Croisette, “Shaun” has racked up sales to Japan (Tohokushinsha), CIS (Volga), Scandinavia (Svensk), Switzerland (Impuls), and Poland (Monolith).
Studiocanal is distributing “Shaun” directly in the U.K., France, Germany, and Australia/New Zealand.
Harold Van Lier, exec VP of intl. distribution, said Monday at Cannes that Studiocanal has received several wide-release offers for U.S. distribution. It is in discussions for Asia, Korea, China and Benelux.
Directed and written by Richard Starzak (a.k.a. Golly) and Mark Burton, and fully-financed by Studiocanal, “Shaun” marks the first time that an Aardman production has been put on the open market.
Shooting with Aardman’s stop-frame animation style and described by Studiocanal as an “epic adventure,” “Shaun the Sheep” sees Shaun, Blitzer and the flock going off to the big city to rescue the farmer, who has lost his farm because of Shaun.
“Shaun” reps the latest fruit of Studiocanal’s production drive into family entertainment. Studiocanal is also financing, selling and distributing CGI live action movie “Paddington,” from “Harry Potter” producer David Heyman, plus 3D family adventure “The House of Magic,” the latest animated feature from Ben Stassen’s NWave Pictures, one of Europe’s biggest 3D specialists.
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