10/10/2008

Today, the Danish 3D animation film Sunshine Barry & the Disco Worms [+see also:
trailer
film profile], directed by Thomas Borch Nielsen, and the Finnish Niko & the Way to the Stars [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Kari Juusonen and Michael Hegner – both produced with European partners – are opening wide (82 and 65 screens respectively) in their domestic territories.

SF in Denmark and Nordisk Film in Finland have put together P&A campaigns of the likes of Disney movies, although the characters for both films are unknown to Nordic kids.

“Danish kids are used to being fed sequels so this film is the first in a long time that is not based on a known brand,” said Sune L. Thomsen of SF Denmark.

Still, Sunshine Barry, can count on some of the world's most celebrated disco songs with famous local actors and singers lending their voices to the characters. An EMI soundtrack is available, along with consumer goods specifically created for the film. Danish public broadcaster DR was actively involved in the campaign.

Sunshine Barry was produced by Denmark’s Nina Crone, in co-production with Radar Films, and Sola Media (Germany), who also handles sales and licensed it to over 40 territories.

Based on an original story, Niko tomorrow opens the Finnish pre-Christmas season, after almost two years of marketing planning and preparation. The €6.1m film had 200 teaser trailers out last Christmas. The website (www.nikomovie.com) was launched on December 14. Finland’s national public broadcaster YLE created six 5-minute TV programmes on how to make animation films, as well as a making of.

The release date was chosen because “historically, October is good for animation films,” said producer Petteri Pasanen (Anima), initiator of the project, “plus no major competitor is opening head on”. The film was produced by Animaker Oy (Finland) in co-production with A Film (Denmark) Ulysses (Germany) and Magma Films (Ireland). Telepool pre-sold the film to some 100 territories.