Shout! Studios has secured North American rights to the animated feature “Panda Bear in Africa” from Cinema Management Group (CMG).
“Panda Bear in Africa” tells the story of Pang, a young panda who travels from China to Africa to rescue his kidnapped friend, Jielong the dragon. Along the way, Pang encounters various African animals and relies on his wits and new friendships to complete his mission and save his friends’ jungle home.
Richard Claus and Karsten Kiilerich, known for “The Little Vampire” and “Ruby and Raggie,” direct and write the film based on their own story. Robert Spackling, whose credits include “Gnomeo & Juliet” and “The Queen’s Corgi,” co-writes.
“Panda Bear in Africa” is an international co-production involving Cool Beans and Katuni from Amsterdam, A. Film Production from Denmark, Comet Film from Germany and Le Pacte from France. The film screened in the official selection at the 2024 Annecy International Film Festival. The title had a raft of sales across Europe and the Middle East in June.
This acquisition marks the fourth collaboration between Shout! Studios and CMG, following “The Canterville Ghost,” “Ainbo: Spirit of the Amazon,” and “The Little Vampire 3D.” The multi-year deal grants Shout! Studios all North American distribution rights in the U.S. and Canada, encompassing theatrical, home entertainment, and various media platforms.
The deal was negotiated by Jordan Fields, senior VP of acquisitions and originals at Shout! Studios, and Edward Noeltner for CMG and the producers.
Melissa Boag, Shout! Studios executive VP of family entertainment, said: “We are excited about this new opportunity to partner with Cinema Management Group again for this incredibly entertaining family movie. ‘Panda Bear in Africa’ has a captivating storyline and memorable characters and conveys positive messages that will resonate with both movie audiences and parents.”
Noeltner, president of CMG, added: “We are truly delighted to be working again with Melissa, Jordan and the whole fabulous team at Shout! Studios on ‘Panda Bear in Africa’ for North America. The Shout! Studios team have done amazing work releasing our previous titles and have generated not only good coverage on each of our films but also great economic returns.”