Kinology, Gregoire Melin’s indie sales outfit which has four films competing at Cannes, has boarded “Argonuts,” a Pixar/Dreamworks-style family animated feature made by TAT, the team behind “The Jungle Bunch.”
Budgeted north of 10 million euros ($12 million), “Argonuts” is set in a magical yet hostile world of Greek mythology and follows the action-packed journey of Pathie, a young super smart and adventurous mouse, and her mate Sam who set off to fight the most bizarre and dangerous creatures in Ancient Greece, including Poseidon himself.
The comedy adventure reunites “The Jungle Bunch” director, David Alaux, and producer, Jean-François Tosti at TAT Productions. It will be distributed by Apollo Films in France with an expected release in late 2022.
Based in France, TAT has become a key animation banner in the last 10 years with a track record in high-concept animated with a global appeal. “The Jungle Bunch” was one of the highest grossing French productions worldwide in 2017 and “Terra Willy,” which traveled to 80 countries, was one of the biggest French titles at the international box office in 2019.
“It’s a truly ambitious film — it will boast a beautiful Pixar-style animation, and a great original story with endearing characters and an Ancient Greek backdrop that will appeal to both children and their parents,” said Melin, who is an animation expert, having previously sold Luc Besson’s “Arthur and the Invisibles,” “Mune,” as well as “A Monster in Paris.” “I’m truly thrilled to team up with TAT whom I admire the work,” added Melin.
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Kinology will be showing a demoreel of “Argonuts” at Cannes, where it will have a large presence in competition with “Annette,” Leos Carax’s musical romance set to unspool on opening night; Nadav Lapid’s “Ahed’s Knee;” Mia Hansen-Love’s “Bergman Island”; and Catherine Corsini’s “The Divide.” The company will also host the online market premieres of “Mass,” Fran Kranz’s searing chamber drama which earned unanimous praise at the Sundance Film Festival; and “Paul W.R.’s Last Journey,” Romain Quirot’s science-fiction film.
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