EXCLUSIVE: Paris-based Urban Sales has acquired worldwide rights for Canadian animation Space Cadet by DJ, music producer and visual artist Kid Koala, ahead of its premiere in Berlinale’s Generation Kplus section in February.
The futuristic, dialogue-free CGI work is described as a fable about young astronaut Celeste and her guardian robot, who is left pondering the future as his young charge blasts off on a solo mission of outer-space adventure.
Kid Koala aka Eric San is directing from his 2011 graphic novel of the same name, which Mylène Chollet has adapted for the screen.
Director, film composer and graphic novelist San has released five solo albums, and contributed to several feature film soundtracks including The Great Gatsby, Looper, Baby Driver and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.
As a scratch DJ he has toured with Radiohead, Beastie Boys and The Preservation Hall Jazz Band and collaborated with Gorillaz, Deltron 3030 and Emilìana Torrini. He has written and illustrated the award-winning graphic novels Nufonia Must Fall and Space Cadet, and is known for his imaginative live performances.
”The story of Space Cadet is told through the lens of guardian and child, technology and humankind, past and present. It touches on themes of connectivity and everyone’s innate power to evolve. Space Cadet is a celebration of love and life…the cycles of generations and the bonds that connect us,” said Kid Koala.
Outsiders Films’ Ginette Petit serves as producer and described the project as ”a humanist and luminous ode created by an exceptional Canadian artist”. Michel Pradier and Nathalie Bissonnette serve as executive producer. The feature will be released in Canada by Les Films Opale.
“Wall-E meets Flow in this heart-warming 4 quadrant animation sublimated by a prodigious original score, to unfold the interstellar solo trip of a brave astronaut girl bonded with an adorable Robot,” said Urban’s head of sales Florencia Gil.
Frederic Corvez’s Urban Sales has a strong animation track record, with recent sales titles including handling Fox & Hare Save The Forest, which also premiered at Berlinale Generation and sold to over 50 territories, as well as Cannes Official Selection entries A Boat In The Garden and Into The Wonderwoods which sold to 56 countries.
