Stray Adaptation in the Works, Including Other Annapurna Animated Films

updated_at: September 07, 2023 03:46

published_at: September 06, 2023 08:10

Stray, the popular indie cat game, will be receiving and adaptation, with other animated films from Annapurna Animation reportedly in development after the success of Nimona. Learn more about the creative minds involved, movies in the works, and more.

Annapurna Animation Brings Intriguing Projects in Animated Cinema

Creative Positions Include Nimona Co-Director Nick Bruno and Ice Age Director Chris Wedge

Following the success of Nimona, Annapurna Animation is preparing for an exciting new era in animated cinema. The team is ready to push the limits of the animation narrative with many new exciting projects, including one directed by Ice Age director Chris Wedge and another by Nimona co-director Nick Bruno.

With the crucial creative positions secured, Annapurna Animation is prepared to take on various challenges. Among the more intriguing initiatives is the adaptation of video games made by Annapurna Interactive, the indie studio's gaming wing. At the forefront of this endeavor is an animated film adaptation based on the award-winning adventure game Stray, created by the outstanding creators at BlueTwelve Studio.

Stray: An Unconventional Tale

Stray is a buddy comedy starring a cat and a robot, with a story that explores what it means to be human in a world without humans. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Robert Baird, who leads Annapurna Animation with Andrew Millestein, shed light on the challenges and exciting prospects of adapting Stray. To highlight the core of the game's appeal, Baird stressed the necessity to bring out the inherent comedy in this unusual duo, as well as the need to deal with the lack of human characters in the narrative.

Baird emphasized the team's dedication to bringing Stray to the big screen while maintaining its emotional essence. The developers found great resonance in BlueTwelve Studio's description of the game as having a hopepunk vibe, where optimism acts as a form of resistance. Baird is committed to the project's success. He believes that Stray has the potential to be the first, and the best, hopepunk film ever produced.

Nick Bruno's Untitled Project and Chris Wedge’s FOO

In addition to the Stray adaptation, Nick Bruno, co-director of Nimona, has been brought in to Annapurna Animation as an in-house filmmaker. Baird noted Bruno's strong resume, which includes work on Nimona, Spies in Disguise, and The Peanuts Movie. Bruno is working on an untitled original animated feature that supposedly emanates a Spielbergian sense.

The animation studio also talked about the soon-to-be-released movie FOO, from director Chris Wedge The film will follow the fascinating adventure of the first fish to leave the water and set foot on land. As seen by his directing responsibilities in Ice Age and Robots, Wedge's animation ability is sure to offer an innovative and visually breathtaking cinematic experience.

Building on Relationships

Annapurna Animation is forging its own path while building upon the relationships and expertise they nurtured during the era of Blue Sky Studios. The division seeks to create innovative animated films that will capture the hearts and imaginations of audiences.