Despite the COVID complications of attending cinemas, Peruvian-Dutch animated feature Ainbo: Spirit of the Amazon has surpassed $10 million at the global box office, buoyed by strong performances in Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Poland, Mexico and across Latin America. The CGI feature by José Zelada and Richard Claus tells the story of a young indigenous woman who fights to protect her rainforest homeland from the threats of deforestation and illegal mining.
Ainbo has grossed more than $2.25M in France through Le Pacte, around $1.75M in Australia and New Zealand through Rialto Distribution, over $1.5M in The Netherlands via WW Entertainment and more than $500,000 in Poland via Kino Swiat. The film launched with number four debuts in Vietnam (Blue Lantern), Ukraine (Monumental Pictures), Singapore (Shaw Entertainment), Switzerland (Praesens) and Iceland (Sena), and second place across Central America (CDC).
The movie has upcoming releases slated for Italy on November 18 through Bim, in partnership with green orgs Fridays for Future Italy, Laga Ambiente and Green Me to mark National Arbor Day; Spain (Flins y Piniculas), Portugal (Cinemundo), South Korea (First Run), and in Peru in late 2021/early 2022 (New Century Warner Brothers).
While Ainbo continues to spread its ecological message in theaters around the world, Edward Noeltner of Ainbo sales agency CMG has reported a positive reception of producer Tunche Films’, Kayara. Another animated story of female empowerment, the studio will begin production on the follow-up feature in early 2022.
Rights have gone to Le Pacte for French-speaking Europe, Muse for Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia, WW Entertainment for Benelux, Praesens for Switzerland, Films4You in Portugal, Bir Films for Turkey, Bohemia for Czech and Slovak Republics, Five Star Pictures for Israel, Front Row for the Middle East, Falcon for Indonesia, Mongrel Film Distribution for Mongolia and CDC for Latin America.
Kayara follows a pioneering Incan messenger or Chasqui captured by Conquistadors who must decide whether to protect her land or reveal the location of the secret Golden City.
