International prodco and rights business Blue Ant Studios and Canadian pre- and post-production services studio Lakeside Animation Studios announced the animated short film The Death of James (13 min.) will premiere at the 43rd Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) this September. The 2D film was created and directed by Toronto-based animator Sam Chou.
Inspired by true events and set in Vancouver’s West End, The Death of James follows the poignant journey of two young friends, Kevin and Ellery, as they face the heart-wrenching decision to euthanize their beloved pet ferret. With a blend of humor and heartbreak, the film delves into themes of death, euthanasia and the uncertainties of the afterlife, all seen through the eyes of characters navigating these challenges for the first time.
Voices are provided by Isaiah Lehtinen (I Like Movies) as Ellery, Kyle Bailey (Heartland) as Kevin and Amanda Brugel (The Handmaid’s Tale) as the empathetic veterinarian. The piece is a collaboration between Chou and award-winning writer Ellery Vandooyeweert.
“The Death of James is a true story, capturing a profound moment between two inseparable friends. The film has been over 10 years in the making, and it’s incredibly special to see it finally come to life in a city that played such a pivotal role in its creation,” said Chou.
The short is a coproduction between the animation teams at Blue Ant Studios (formerly Look Mom! Productions) and Lakeside Animation Studios. Chou is the creator and director. For Blue Ant Studios, Mark J.W. Bishop, Matthew Hornburg and Josh Bowen serve as executive producers; Stephanie Claydon and Stephen Sloan are supervising producers. For Lakeside Animation, Louri Stepanov and Artem Vasilyev are executive producers. Blue Ant Studios oversees all international distribution.
