Toonz Media Group and Vaibhav Studios are set to bring the animated feature film “Return of the Jungle” to the international stage at the Cannes Film Festival. Based on the timeless and popular ancient Indian fables of the Panchatantra, the film is a captivating tale of friendship, diversity, and bonding across generations, retold with a contemporary flavor.
“Return of the Jungle” is set in modern-day India and follows a group of junior school classmates who must outwit the biggest bully in school. With the support of their cool and lovable grandpa, Thatha, who inspires them with stories from the jungle, the children face their challenges head-on. The 105-minute, multi-genre animated feature interweaves two plots: the “real world” of the children and a “jungle world” where animals encounter similar adversities. These parallel worlds converge to provide mutual inspiration.
The film is produced by Vaibhav Studios, India’s only Emmy-nominated animation studio, and directed by internationally acclaimed animation director Vaibhav Kumaresh. It will be showcased at the Marche du Film at the Cannes Film Festival, thanks to the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) of India. Toonz Media Group, a global leader in kids and family entertainment, has joined as the sales agent for worldwide territories excluding India, giving the film a significant boost in reaching international audiences.
Vaibhav Kumaresh, the creator of the globally successful series “LAMPUT,” which earned an International Emmy nomination and is now in its fourth season on Cartoon Network, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration. “I am extremely thankful to my dear friends from Toonz Media Group for their support. With their experience and expertise in global sales and distribution, I am looking forward to the promotion of ‘Return of the Jungle’ 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 marketplace,” said Kumaresh.
P. Jayakumar, Chief Executive Officer of Toonz Media Group, shared his excitement about the partnership. “We are thrilled to join hands with Vaibhav Studios to present ‘Return of the Jungle’ to a worldwide audience. The animated feature film, with its universal themes of friendship, courage, and timeless ancient wisdom, provides wholesome family entertainment. I am confident that the movie will grab attention at the Cannes Film Festival, marking its foray into the international market.”
In addition to “Return of the Jungle,” Toonz Media Group will present its feature film slate at Cannes, which includes several exciting new projects in development. These projects include “GOAT (Greatest Of All Time),” an animated feature where football legends Pele and Maradona return to earth to play the game of the millennium, and “Santa On A Panda,” based on a children’s book and song, where Santa teams up with an unusual ally to save Christmas after all of Santa’s reindeer go missing. Other animated feature films in the slate include “Pierre the Pigeon-Hawk,” “Zombie Town,” and “Emma’s Big Adventure.”
Visitors to Cannes can learn more about these projects and the innovative storytelling and animation techniques that Toonz Media Group and Vaibhav Studios bring to the global entertainment landscape.
