GKIDS Picks Up North American Rights To ‘White Snake’ – Annecy

GKIDS’ 2019 theatrical slate keeps growing. The company has acquired North American rights for Chinese cg feature White Snake, which is currently screening in competition at this year’s Annecy festival.

GKIDS plans to release the film theatrically in the fall in both the original Chinese and a new English-language dubbed version.

White Snake marks the the first-ever Chinese pickup for GKIDS. Co-produced by Beijing-based studio Light Chaser Animation and Warner Bros., it was co-directed by Amp Wong and Zhao Ji, both making their feature directorial debuts. Inspired by the popular Chinese folktale “Legend of the White Snake,” the film opened in Chinese cinemas last January, grossing around $67 million USD.

GKIDS’ CEO and Founder Eric Beckman and Light Chaser Animation’s Yu Zhou negotiated the all-rights deal. All Rights Entertainment is handling international sales outside of North America, China, and Japan.

Here is the synopsis:

A young woman called Blanca, who’d lost her memory was saved by a snake catcher, Xuan. But, she is far from being out of danger. They go in search of clues to her identity. Along the way they encounter one dangerous obstacle after another, and gradually develop feelings for one another. Just as they are close to working out who she really is, disaster looms. Conceived as a prequel to one of the most ancient and enduring stories in Chinese history, White Snake presents a sumptuous tale of trickster demons, deadly mythical beasts, assassins, wuxia action, and the promise of eternal love.

On June 7, GKIDS released Denis Do’s Funan in New York, with the Los Angeles release coming this Friday, June 14. Up next is the August 16 opening of Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles. Also coming later this year from GKIDS are Children of the Sea, Another Day of Life, and Makoto Shinkai’s Weathering With You.