Indie animation producer and distributor GKIDS and Japanese stop-motion animation studio Dwarf announced that they will jointly develop a new animated film based on the original autobiographical manga “Sunny” by Taiyo Matsumoto (“Tekkonkinkreet,” “Ping Pong”). The project was selected for a session at the Annecy Animation Showcase at Cannes, which is part of upcoming Cannes Animation Day, a joint initiative between the Marché du Film at Cannes and the Annecy Festival.
The Eisner Award-nominated manga “Sunny” depicts an ensemble of children working through various trying circumstances and won the Japan Media Arts Festival Excellence Award and the Shogakukan Manga Award, among others.
Michael Arias will write and direct the movie. He previously helmed 2006’s “Tekkonkinkreet,” based on Matsumoto’s manga of the same name, which played in competition at the Berlin Film Festival and won the Japanese Academy Award for best animated feature. Arias has served as translator for additional Matsumoto works.
Arias describes “Sunny” as a “soulful adventure about kids who face the odds with imagination and innocence — part Dickens, part Fellini and all heart.” He adds, “I’m thrilled to be working with the artists and animators at dwarf to bring this manga masterpiece to the screen.”
Stop-motion studio Dwarf’s credits include Netflix series “Pokémon Concierge” and Oscar-nominated short “Bottle George.” It is currently developing a new feature film, “HIDARI.”
“The story of ‘Sunny’ is both grounded and fantastical, elements that are well-suited to our tactile and expressive stop-motion techniques,” said Noriko Matsumoto of Dwarf Studios. “Our team is deeply committed to preserving the spirit of the original work while imbuing it with a new artistic dimension. We’re honored to continue this legacy with Michael and GKIDS.”
GKIDS — whose films have earned 13 best animated feature Oscar nominations — is the North American distributor of Oscar winner “The Boy and the Heron” and the Studio Ghibli library, as well as the work of directors such as Mamoru Hosoda (“Mirai”), Makoto Shinkai (“Weathering With You”) and Tomm Moore (“Wolfwalkers”). GKIDS is also the founder and producer of Hollywood’s annual Animation Is Film Festival.
“GKIDS is humbled and honored to be part of the team with Michael, Noriko and the artists of Dwarf tasked with bringing Taiyo Matsumoto’s beloved ‘Sunny’ to life on the big screen,” said GKIDS’ director of acquisitions and development Rodney Uhler. “We will work hard to do the material justice and hope to make a film for the ages!”
