Animated feature Beast of Burden — a China-New Zealand co-production — begins production this month.
Producing the film are China Film Animation, part of state-owned China Film Group, and New Zealand’s Huhu Studios. According to a report on Variety.com, financial backing comes from Qi Tai Culture Development Group, a company that spans film investment, production and marketing.
Written and directed by Kirby Atkins (Nickelodeon’s The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron), the movie is about a species of now-extinct creatures called Thoriphants who rebel against their life of servitude to mankind and embark on a treacherous journey.
Trevor Yaxley, CEO of Huhu Studios, and Jun Huang of China Film Animation are producing. William Morris Endeavor and Canada’s Strategem Entertainment handling international sales.
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