Female-owned and operated New York prodco MIMO Studios and Like a Photon Creative, in partnership with Macmillan Publishers, announced today that production has begun in Australia on the animated feature film Pout-Pout Fish: The Movie. The film is based on the New York Times best-selling picture book franchise written by Deborah Diesen and illustrated by Dan Hanna.
The film will be produced by MIMO Studios, founded by Cyma Zarghami, and Like A Photon Creative, founded by Nadine Bates and Kristen Souvlis. Macmillan Publishers will serve as executive producer and financier.
“At a time when the demand for kids’ and family content is at an all-time high, as evidenced by the runaway success of films like Super Mario Brothers, we are so thrilled and honored to be able to partner with the incredibly talented Like a Photon Creative to bring the wonderful book series The Pout-Pout Fish to life,” said Zarghami. “With a slew of wonderful adventures and incredible brand awareness, this is the exact type of project I envisioned when I began MIMO and is something that certainly could become a major franchise for us.”
“Like a Photon Creative are incredibly excited to have the opportunity to bring the beloved Pout-Pout Fish story world to life,” said Bates and Souvlis. “Not only is this film a unique and fresh take on underwater living, but the underlying concepts of self-acceptance and found-family are very close to our hearts. We can’t wait to share this gorgeous story with young audiences around the world.”
Pout-Pout Fish: The Movie will follow the original adventure of the Pout-Pout Fish and his friends in their undersea world. Released in 2008, the book series spans more than 40 titles with more than 10 million copies in print. The Pout-Pout Fish was named a top 10 children’s book by TIME Magazine.
“Macmillan is thrilled to be working with the brilliant teams at Like a Photon and MIMO Studios to bring our beloved picture book franchise to life on the screen,” said Jen Besser, President of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group. “Over the past 15 years, The Pout-Pout Fish has become a favorite of children and parents alike and this is the perfect next chapter.”
