Warner Sets ‘Buffalo Kids’ U.K. Release Following Record-Breaking Spanish Run

Warner Bros. Discovery has confirmed a wide theatrical release for Buffalo Kids in the United Kingdom and Ireland starting October 11, with previews the weekend of October 5 & 6. From Barcelona/Madrid-based 4 Cats Pictures (Mummies, Capture the Flag, Tad the Lost Explorer), the film has now surpassed a record-breaking US$ 5.5 million at the box office in Spain since its premiere August 14 through WBD. The results make Buffalo Kids the second highest grossing Spanish film of 2024 with over 775,000 admissions.

WBD also acquired the film for release in Italy as a pre-buy, and is releasing October 31. The latest collaboration with WBD U.K. joins the dozen blue chip independent distributors who acquired Buffalo Kids since production was announced during the European Film Market 2023. The film’s successful launch in Spain was supported by co-producers Atresmedia Cine and A3 Media, who effectively managed promotional efforts across all media platforms alongside WBD Spain.

Buffalo Kids is a CG-animated action-adventure for family audiences set against the backdrop of 1886 America. The film follows Irish siblings Mary (age nine) and Tom (12) as they arrive on an ocean liner into the vibrant chaos of New York City. Their journey is intended to reunite them with their Uncle Niall to claim their inheritance, but when Uncle Niall, who resides in California, fails to appear, the two orphans embark an ambitious quest on the Transcontinental Railway to go find him. Along the way, they form an unlikely alliance with a resourceful young boy with a disability and his dedicated governess, Eleanor. Together, they face challenges, forge friendships and discover the true meaning of family and perseverance.

Inspired by the animated short film Cuerdas (Strings), which has won more than 387 awards including the Goya Award (known as the “Spanish Oscar”) for Best Animated Short, Buffalo Kids is inspired by director Pedro Solis’ son, who was born with Cerebral Palsy, and his daughter, who used to tie strings to his hands and ankles so he could play with her.

The movie’s English-language voice cast includes Gemma Arterton (Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time) as Governess Eleanor; Mathilda: The Musical star Alisha Weir as the adorable, talkative, and fearless Mary; Stephen Graham (Pirates of the Caribbean, Snatch, The Irishman) as her reserved and handsome Uncle Niall; and Sean Bean (Game of Thrones, The Lord of the Rings) as the dapper yet mischievous and smug outlaw, Wilson.

Buffalo Kids is co-directed by award-winning filmmakers J.J. Garcia Galocha “Galo” (Mummies) and Pedro Solís (Strings) and produced by Jordi Gasull, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Javier Lopez Barreira (Mummies). Alongside animation studio Core Animation and 4 Cats Pictures, production partners include Atresmedia Cine, Anangu Group and Mogambo Entertainment. The film had its world premiere this June as part of the Official Selection of the 2024 Annecy International Animation Film Festival.

Beverly Hills based Cinema Management Group (CMG) is handling international sales and closed the deals with WBD in the U.K. and Italy with the support of Gasull.

“Together with Carlos Prada from Warner Bros. Discovery, Spain, and Jaime Ortiz de Artiñano from Atresmedia Cine, we always felt that Buffalo Kids would connect on an emotional level with audiences, attesting to the film’s fabulously positive word-of-mouth,” said Gasull.

Edward Noeltner, President of CMG, commented, “We are thrilled to see this heart-felt film make waves at the Box Office in Spain and find a good home with WBD U.K.! The results are close to the success of Mummies and we’re ecstatic for the filmmakers, our distributors who have bought the film and everyone who worked so hard on this film!”

Buffalo Kids is the second most successful domestic release for 4 Cats Pictures, after releasing Mummies in Spain and worldwide as the second highest grossing Spanish feature outside of Spain with its worldwide gross of over US$54 million. 4 Cats Pictures’ previous animated features such as Capture the Flag, Tad: The Lost Explorer and Tad: The Lost Explorer and The Secret of King Midas have cumulatively grossed over US$110 million worldwide.