Animated feature “Wicked Flying Monkeys 3D” has clinched major territory sales in the U.K. (eOne), Germany, Austria, Switzerland (Universum), Australia/New Zealand (Rialto) and Mexico (Televisa-Videocine).
Toon was directed by Albert Mar, helmer of breakout Mexican animated hit “Top Cat,” and produced by Anima Studios. Released in 2011, “Top Cat” grossed $8.2 million in Mexico on its way to a $14.7 million global gross.
“Wicked Flying Monkeys”(aka “Save Oz!”) is Anima’s first CGI movie as a lead producer, its biggest production to date, the first to be synched in English and the largest animated feature ever to come out of Mexico. It bowed in third place at the Mexican box office on April 10.
U.K. buyer eOne plans a theatrical release over the winter school break.
Guido Rud’s FilmSharks closed all deals. A “Wizard of Oz” spinoff, “Wicked Flying Monkeys” has also sold to IPA Pacific for Thailand, Andes Films for Chile, Ecuador and Peru, Colombia’s Cinecolombia and Venezuela’s Blancica.
The U.S. is under negotiation with two studios and a mini-major, said Rud. Already announced, Top Film has rights to CIS states and Eastern Europe.
With character design and story by Jorge Gutierrez (“The Book of Life”), “Wicked Flying Monkeys” draws on some characters and locations from L. Frank Baum’s celebrated “Oz,” book series.
But “Flying Monkeys” has an entirely original story and original main characters.
