Charades has closed major sales on Denisa Grimmova and Jan Bubenicek’s stop-motion feature “Even Mice Belong to Heaven” ahead of its world premiere at the Annecy Intl. Animation Festival.
Based on Iva Procházková’s book, the feature was made in stop-motion with more than 100 puppets, 82 characters and 84 animated decors. The adventure-filled movie was sold by Charades to the U.K. (Signature), Austria (Polyfilm / Filmcasino), Spain (PackMagic), Portugal (Lusomundo), Scandinavia (Triart), CIS (Capella), Israel (New Cinema), Turkey (Fabula), Lebanon & Gulf States (Empire), French-speaking Africa (Pathé Africa), Taiwan (AV Jet) and Singapore (Shaw Organisation).
The film follows Whizzy, a young mouse, and Whitebelly, a rather withdrawn fox, who meet in animal heaven after un unfortunate accident. In this new world, they must relinquish their old animal instincts, which leads them to unexpectedly become best friends. Aimed at child audiences, “Even Mice Belong to Heaven” is about hope, a quest for love and courage, and about overcoming prejudices and old pains.
The movie was produced by Vladimír Lhotak at Fresh Films in Czech Republic, Alexandre Charlet at Les Films du Cygne, Grzegorz Waclawek at Poland’s Animoon, and Marek Jenicek at Slovakia’s CinemArt SK.
“Even Mice Belong to Heaven” will be released by Gebeka Films in France, Cinemart in Czech Republic and M2 Films Poland in Poland.
Charades is also handling sales on “Belle,” Mamoru Hosoda’s follow up to the Oscar-nominated “Mirai.” It marks the director’s ninth project and will be released in Japan on July 16 by Toho. The film also commemorates the 10th anniversary of Studio Chizu.