Ariel Veneziano, President of Toonz Feature Film Division and Allen Tsang, Head of International at Gold Valley Films today announced that Toonz & Gold Valley have struck a co-production and co-financing deal for six animated pictures over the course of the next three years. Additionally the two companies will join forces across their entire slate for sales and distribution of their pictures starting at the upcoming Cannes Market.
- Currently in Production, PIERRE THE PIGEON-HAWK stars acclaimed singer, songwriter and rapper will.i.am playing the titular character, Golden Globe Recipient, Primetime Emmy Award, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards recipient, Jennifer Coolidge, Luis Guzmán of Oz, Narcos, Carlito’s Way fame, Academy Award recipient for Best Supporting Actor for Dreamgirls, Jennifer Hudson, Rapper and Actor Snoop Dogg, along with Whoopi Goldberg and Howie Mandel, both comedians, television personality, actor and producer.
To find out where he belongs, a mixed-breed Pigeon-Hawk sets out on a quest of self-discovery. While embracing the things that make him different, he finds the courage to change the world he lives in. Set for a 2024 delivery, the film is directed by John D. Eraklis, Tara Whitaker, written by Ciaran Crampton and Jay Dowski, produced by Toonz Media Group and Telegael.
- Little Emma, a co-production between Toonz and Gold Valley Films China, currently in post-production. The film is directed by Leo (Lewis) Liao (Ella and the Little Sorcerer, Mulan: Princess Warrior) and written by Alyce Tzue (Soar, Steps). The movie is voiced by Natalie Grace (T-Rex Ranch) as Emma, Broadway artist, recording artist and entertainer Travis Cloer as Edward, Bar Topaz as Newton, Niko Gerentes (Death by Dying) as Sancho, Mr. White, and Bear and Amy Margolis (Law and Order and House) as Mrs. Whit.
Emma, a miniature human girl adopted by animal parents, yearns to find the truth about her human roots. But when she discovers a hidden island full of tiny humans, it’s not the fairy tale she hoped for. Will she risk all she’s ever known to uncover secrets from her past?
The other three projects will be announced shortly.
- Toonz is already involved in animated feature film productions including THE CANTERVILLE GHOST, which is the animated adaptation of the Oscar Wilde classic of the same name. The animated theatrical feature is being co-produced by Toonz along with Robert Chandler’s Space Age Films (whose The Amazing Maurice was just selected at the Sundance Film Festival) and Los Angeles-based Align Pictures US Inc. The feature will be distributed globally by the American film distributors Cinema Management Group (CMG).
- Gold Valley Films, established in 2013 by Roger (Qing) Chen and Adam (Hao Qiang) Qiu, has produced 8 independent animated features; such as Ella and the Little Sorcerer, Mulan: Princess Warrior, Cinderella and the Secret Prince, and The Academy of Magic.
Ariel Veneziano, President of Toonz Feature Film Division stated, “This is a terrific match between two prolific animation studios. The joined expertise and resources will result in ideal flow of films, in terms of quality and volume for our distribution arm.”
Gold Valley Films CEO Roger (Qing) Chen said: “We are excited to launch our new partnership at the 2023 Cannes Market. I strongly believe that both companies, with their international perspectives, complement each other’s strengths, and will be delivering more exciting animated films to a global audience in the future.”
“We are delighted with the way Toonz Feature Film Division is evolving since its launch in Belin in 2023. I am glad to see such wonderful partnership between Toonz and Gold Valley Films and how much progress we have made together in a short period of time,” P Jayakumar, Chief Executive Officer of Toonz Media Group commented.
About Gold Valley Films
Gold Valley Films is a unique animation company dedicated to world-class family 3D animated feature films and series. With a creative center in Los Angeles and a full-facility production house of around 200 artists in China, has completed and released five feature films around the world, released in more than 80 countries. Our contents are also on Sky, Netflix among others. For more information please consult http://www.goldvalleyfilms.com
About Toonz Media Group
Toonz is a 360-degree media powerhouse with over two decades of unparalleled experience and one of the world’s most active animation production studios (over 10,000 minutes of 2D and CGI kids and family content per year). Toonz has to its credit several animations and live-action series, as well as feature films including Wolverine and The X-men with Marvel, Speedracer Next Generation with Lionsgate, Mostly Ghostly with Universal, Gummy Bear and Friends, and more. Toonz has also ventured into the NFT space by launching a first-of-its-kind NFT design lab – Toonz NFTLabs – in association with blockchain R&D company GuardianLink. www.toonz.co
