Annecy Animation Showcase at Cannes: GKIDS and Dwarf to Produce Taiyo Matsumoto’s Manga ‘Sunny’ (EXCLUSIVE)

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Collaborative partners GKIDS and Dwarf Studio have decided to team up in creating a new animated movie adaptation from Taiyo Matsumoto’s original autobiographical manga “Sunny”. This project has been chosen for presentation during the Annecy Animation Showcase at Cannes, an upcoming event that is part of Cannes Animation Day – a joint venture between Cannes Film Market and the Annecy Festival.

The award-winning manga “Sunny” portrays a group of kids navigating challenging situations. It was recognized with the Japan Media Arts Festival’s Excellence Award, as well as the Shogakukan Manga Prize, among other accolades.

Michael Arias will be responsible for both writing and directing the upcoming movie. Previously, he was the director of the 2006 film “Tekkonkinkreet,” an adaptation of Matsumoto’s manga with the same title. This film was screened in competition at the Berlin International Film Festival and received the Japanese Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Additionally, Arias has worked as a translator for other works by Matsumoto.

Arias refers to “Sunny” as a “heartfelt journey that follows children who bravely overcome adversity through their vivid imaginations and pure innocence. It’s a blend of Dickensian charm and Fellini-esque whimsy.” He expresses his excitement about collaborating with the artists and animators at dwarf to transform this manga classic into a screen adaptation.

The stop-motion studio where little people work has been recognized for its contributions to shows such as the Netflix series “Pokémon Concierge,” which was also an Academy Award nominee for “Bottle George.” At present, they are busy working on a new feature film titled “HIDARI.

Noriko Matsumoto from Dwarf Studios commented that ‘Sunny’s story is both realistic yet imaginative, making it perfect for our hands-on and creative stop-motion animation methods.’ The team at Dwarf Studios is dedicated to keeping the essence of the original piece alive while adding a fresh artistic layer. They are proud to carry on this legacy in collaboration with Michael and GKIDS.

GKIDS, known for distributing films that have garnered 13 Oscar nominations in the Best Animated Feature category, is the North American distributor for Oscar-winning film “The Boy and the Heron” and a variety of works from Studio Ghibli. They also handle movies by renowned directors like Mamoru Hosoda (“Mirai”), Makoto Shinkai (“Weathering With You”) and Tomm Moore (“Wolfwalkers”). Additionally, GKIDS organizes and produces Hollywood’s annual Animation Is Film Festival.

GKIDS feels privileged to collaborate with Michael, Noriko, and the dwarf team in adapting Taiyo Matsumoto’s cherished ‘Sunny’ into a feature film. Our director of acquisitions and development, Rodney Uhler, expressed that we will put forth our best efforts to do the source material proud, aiming to create a timeless cinematic experience.

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2025-04-18 17:16