Santiago-based animation studio Punkrobot is ready to pounce on the theatrical feature film market, debuting the teaser for its first-ever full-length movie, Brave Cat. The animal adventure draws inspiration from a dark period of Chile’s history to create a charming, melancholy tale for family audiences rendered in stop-motion-inspired CG animation.
Founded by Antonia Herrera, Gabriel Osorio, Mari Soto-Aguilar and Pato Escala, Punkrobot made history as the producers of the first Chilean film to ever win an Oscar when Bear Story (2015, directed by Osorio) scored the Best Animated Short Film Academy Award. The shop was spotlighted as one of the international studios tapped for Star Wars: Visions Volume 2 for Disney+ (2023). Their episode, “In the Stars” (written and directed by Osorio), was award the commissioned animation prize at the recent Quirino Awards.
Synopsis: What does it mean to be brave? Kona, a teenage forest cat decides to face her fears and search for her missing mother, who was kidnapped by the circus long ago. Along with Colin, an abandoned guard dog pup, and Bernard, a runaway old circus bear, the three unexpected companions will embark on a cross country search for their lost families.
Osorio directs Brave Cat, with Escala, Herrera and Soto-Aguilar producing.
“While Bear Story told a story from the point of view of someone exiled, Brave Cat tells the story of someone searching for their missing loved one,” Osorio told Variety. The story is inspired by the mass disappearances and flight of hundreds of thousands of political refugees during the Pinochet dictatorship in Chile from 1973-1990. “There are still people missing to this day,” the director added. “Ultimately, the film will try to explore forgiveness of the unforgiveable.”
Punkrobot will be attending Annecy Festival / MIFA next week on the hunt for partners for Brave Cat, which is still in early phases. The studio is also showing in competition at the festival with its TV film Wow Lisa (directed by Herrera and Soto-Aguilar).
[Source: Variety]
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