Toonz Media Group has joined forces with Vaibhaz Studios, India’s only Emmy-nominated animation house, to bring its new CG-animated feature Return of the Jungle to audiences worldwide. The pic will be presented at the Cannes Film Market, courtesy of National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), India. Toonz is on board as worldwide sales agent (excluding India).
Inspired by the ancient Panchantantra fables, the quirky comedy-adventure set in modern India centers on a group of classmates who must outwit the biggest, meanest bully in the school. With grandpa Thatha to inspire the fourth graders with stories from the jungle, can they stand up to the challenge?
The 105-minute film comprises two interwoven plots: the ‘real world’ of the children and their challenges, and the ‘jungle world’ of animals facing similar adversities. Throughout the movie, these worlds magically intersect to inspire each other.
Return of the Jungle is produced Vaibhav Studios and directed by Vaibhav Kumaresh, creator of the global hit Lamput (now in its fourth season on Cartoon Network and recipient of an International Emmy nomination) and Simpoo (Channel [V] mascot). Kumaresh is the Founder & Creative Director of Vaibhav Studios.
“I am extremely thankful to my dear friends from Toonz Media Group for their support,” said Kumaresh. “With their experience and expertise in global sales and distribution, their international goodwill and network, I am looking forward to the promotion of ROTJ at Cannes. I am happy that they are wholeheartedly supporting an indie studio with a truly ‘Made in India’ product that will surely find favor in the global market place.”
P Jayakumar, CEO of Toonz Media Group, said, “We are thrilled to join hands with Vaibhav Studios to present Return of the Jungle to worldwide audience. The animated feature film with the universal theme of friendship, courage and timeless ancient wisdom provides a wholesome family entertainment and I am confident that the movie will grab the attention at Cannes Film Festival, which will mark its foray into international market.”
Toonz will present a numbers feature films at Cannes, including in-development projects GOAT (Greatest of All Time), an animated feature in which football legends Pele and Maradona come back to Earth to play the game of the millennium; and Santa on a Panda, based on the children’s book and song, where Santa must team up with a most unusual ally to save Christmas as all of Santa’s reindeer goes missing. The studio’s feature film slate also includes Pierre the Pigeon-Hawk, Zombie Town and Emma’s Big Adventure.
