Lionsgate Partners With Toei Animation for U.S. Distribution of Anime Projects
The deal gives Toei a single U.S. distribution partner for its anime slate and puts Lionsgate in line for future co-productions, starting with the Monkey Quest film.
Reporting from 1 source: Anime News Network.
Lionsgate is partnering with Toei Animation as its new U.S. distribution partner for anime projects, beginning with the Monkey Quest film in 2027. The company will be considered for future co-productions with Toei. The film, a 2D-3D hybrid loosely based on Journey to the West, is in post-production and aiming for a 2027 release. Charades will distribute the film worldwide outside the U.S.
The film follows 12-year-old Ellie and her 1-year-old brother Adam, who liberate the forgotten protector of Earth, Okon, and face off against the villainous Vex in an intergalactic adventure. Adam Devine voices Okon, Elsie Fisher voices Ellie, and J.K. Simmons voices Vex.
Sonic the Hedgehog designer Naoto Oshima co-created the concept and characters with Joseph Chou. David N. Weiss writes the script and co-directs with Stephanie Ma Stine, with character designer Takao Noguchi. Sunghoo Park assists with action sequences and storyboards, and Toei's Yoshi Ikezawa produces.
Toei first announced the project as a CG film titled Hypergalactic in February 2024, then partnered with Spaceport Technologies and Twin Atlas for a Roblox game tied to it in November 2024.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.