The inventive Polish animated feature Diplodocus has made some major sales at the Cannes Film Market. The hybrid pic will be distributed by French sales company Gebeka Films. An original Human Film production, the movie is directed by Wojtek Wawszczyk and will be released in 2024. It has already been sold to 40 countries around the globe including the U.K., Spain, Portugal, Benelux and Korea., which is quite a significant achievement for the Polish animation industry.
Diplodocus is an animated comedy with a live-action twist for family audiences. The story centers on a little dinosaur named Diplodocus who is dreaming of an adventure. One day, the parents and the world around him disappear under mysterious circumstances. The story takes a unique twist as Diplodocus finds himself living within the pages of a comic book created by the underrated artist, Ted. To save his loved ones, Diplo and his friends must overcome their own doubts and insecurities, while also inspiring Ted to believe in himself and his creations once again.
“Diplodocus draws plenty of inspiration from the 1980s — mainly from Tadeusz Baranowski’s then-popular comic books, but also from films and music of the time,” director & screenwriter Wawszczyk told Animation Magazine last year. “Our movie is dedicated primarily to children. But the element of nostalgia is obvious for today’s 30- to 40-year olds, who often are also parents, and I care about this intergenerational, shared experience of the film. I’d like adults to have fun watching it and to feel like children again for a while.”
He adds, “The 1980s films were not afraid of innovative narratives and uncompromising play with form, while respecting the craft. I believe the viewers will find it in Diplodocus. We’re making a warm and slightly crazy movie. A kind of movie that we are missing nowadays.”
“We are thrilled to be a part of Diplodocus, contributing to its success and showcasing the uniqueness of the film to audiences worldwide,” says Jason Bressand, Gebeka’s international sales agent.
Written and and directed by Wawszczyk, and produced by Maks Sikora, the film is co-produced by The Czech Republic’s PFX, Polish Public Television, and co-financed by PFI. The film is inspired by the iconic comics of Tadeusz Baranowski which has sold close to 3 million copies in Poland alone and are constantly being reissued.
Here is an early look at the movie:
For more info, visit human.film and diplo.film.
