Teddy Bears Battle Unicorns In Alberto Vázquez’s ‘Unicorn Wars’ (Exclusive Trailer Premiere)
Apocalypse Now meets Bambi.
That’s how the creators of Unicorn Wars describe it. Those familiar with Alberto Vázquez’s distinctive cinematic universe will nod in recognition: the Spanish artist tends to populate his films — and comics — with cutesy critters undergoing spiritual crises and violent confrontations. Unicorn Wars is no different. Watch the new trailer, which Cartoon Brew is exclusively launching, and read the official synopsis below:
Teddy bears and unicorns have been at war for as long as anyone can remember. Private Bluet craves unicorn blood because, according to the prophecy, it confers eternal beauty. A teddy bear regiment leaves the training camp for a mission that will end in a brutal and disastrous final battle.
Unicorn Wars is Vázquez’s second feature (following 2017’s Birdboy: The Forgotten Children). As is his habit, he is basing the film on a previous work — in this case, the 2013 short Unicorn Blood. For all its gonzo humor, Unicorn Wars is conceived as a more accessible, action-driven film than anything the director has done before. He sees it as “both a genre film and an auteur film.”
The feature is due to start production in January 2021, and to be released in 2022. The production is led by Autour de Minuit in France, in co-production with Schmuby (France), Uniko (Spain), and Abano (Spain) — the same line-up that produced Vázquez’s award-winning short Decorado. Charades, something of a specialist in adult-leaning animation, will handle international sales.
Autour de Minuit is one of the most prominent producers on Europe’s indie animation scene. Its slate of forthcoming features includes The Midnight King, a family fantasy musical by Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski (Madame Tutli-Putli); Stupor Mundi, a medieval epic set in the Arab world; and Spitsbergen, a stop-motion adventure film by Suzie Templeton (director of the Oscar-winning Peter and the Wolf). See below for images from these three films, and an exclusive poster from Unicorn Wars.
