Neon Acquires U.S. Distribution Rights To Pablo Berger’s Cannes, Annecy Player ‘Robot Dreams’

Neon’s first acquisition at this year’s Cannes Film Festival is Spanish director Pablo Berger’s animated feature Robot Dreams, which will world premiere at the French festival on Saturday.

Robot Dreams is Berger’s animation debut, although he is an accomplished director whose 2012 film Blancanieves (Snow White) is considered a modern Spanish classic. It won dozens of awards at home and abroad, including ten Spanish Academy Goyas.

Robot Dreams is adapted from Sara Varon’s eponymous graphic novel. The film’s official synopsis reads: “Dog and Robot are the best friends in the world. One beautiful day they decide to go to the beach, but at the end of the day, Robot is all rusty and completely paralyzed! His friend, not knowing what to do, leaves him behind. As the seasons pass, Dog tries to find new friends with some success, while Robot has no choice but to dream of more ideal situations.”

Berger produced the 2d animated feature alongside Ibon Cormenzana, Ignasi Estapé, Sandra Tapia Diaz, and Ángel Durández, with Jérôme Vidal, Sylvie Pialat, and Benoit Quainon co-producing.

Neon has proved to be one of the shrewdest buyers at Cannes over the past several years. The company acquired the last three Palme d’Or winners, Triangle of Sadness, Titane, and Parasite.

Cartoon Brew’s View: The Robot Dreams acquisition stands out not only because it’s one of Neon’s few animation pickups, but because it’s a kids and family title. We’ll be closely monitoring how the company handles its distribution. Of course, Robot Dreams is in good company. In 2020 Neon handled U.S. distribution for Flee, which was eventually nominated for three Oscars.