Dragonkeeper Animated Feature Film

Dragonkeeper Animated Feature Film

Much-loved author Carole Wilkinson's Dragonkeeper is set to become an international brand and film franchise after it has been announced that the first story of Ping and Danzi will be made into an animated feature film. One of the first and most ambitious China-Spain co-productions to date, the exciting news is officially being announced this week at the Beijing Film Festival. The film is scheduled to be released late 2019, early 2020.

The multi-award winning Dragonkeeper series, published by Black Dog Books, an imprint of Walker Books Australia, has sold millions of copies worldwide. The sixth and latest instalment in the series – Dragonkeeper: Bronze Bird Tower – has just been published in March this year.

Set in ancient China during the Han Dynasty, Dragonkeeper is the story of Ping, a slave girl who saves the life of an ageing dragon and escapes her brutal master. Pursued by a ruthless dragonhunter, the girl and the dragon begin a journey across China. They carry with them a mysterious stone that must be protected.

Dragonkeeper has drawn the adoration of fans worldwide for its story of a girl who believes she is not worthy even of a name, but finds within herself the strength and courage to make this perilous journey, and do what must be done.

Carole Wilkinson says, 'I am thrilled that Dragonkeeper will be a movie and I am especially pleased that there is such strong Chinese collaboration, ensuring the most authentic representation of Ancient China. I can't wait to see Ping and Danzi on the big screen!"

Producer Manuel Cristobal says, 'I have known the book since 2005 and I remember that I had two small babies at the time, of course that meant that you were up very early, and I always would use that time to call Maryann Ballantyne (Publisher, Black Dog Books) in Australia and enquire about the book. However it wasn't till three years ago that with my partners Larry Levene and Pedro Pérez we decided to go for it. I think that it is now the time for Dragonkeeper because of the opening of the Chinese market and we are very happy with the partners that have joined us, having China Film Animation, Movistar+ and Atresmedia Cine is the best we could wish for."

Dragonkeeper is being produced by Dragoia Media, Movistar+, Atresmedia Cine and China Film Animation - a member of China Film Group, the largest and most influential state owned film company in the People's Republic of China.

The script has been written by Ignacio Ferreras, Rosanna Cecchini, Pablo Castrillo, Carole Wilkinson and Xiamping Wang and the film will be directed by Ignacio Ferraras and codirected by Zhang Bo.

Ignacio Ferrara was chosen by Variety as a talent to watch for his first film Wrinkles (2012) which gained critical acclaim and went on to win multiple awards including a Goya for best adapted screenplay – the first time in history this award has been won by an animated film – and was nominated for the Annies and the EFA for best animation film, the Jury Award in Annecy, and the best animation film award in Stuttgart, Animamundi, Ottawa and Brussels. It was distributed in Japan by Ghibli and praised in particular by its co-founder Isao Takahata.

Early visual development was created in SPA Studio directed be Sergio Pablos (creator of Despicable Me) and completed by BASE FX in China. Animation will be carried out in Illion Animation Studios in Spain and in CFA and several studios in China.

Dragonkeeper is being produced by Manuel Cristobal, Larry levene, Jung Huang, Gabriel Arias-Salgado, Axel Kuschevatzky, Mikel Lejarza and Mercedes Gamero.