Epsilon Film has boarded 3D CGI animated feature film “Dreamers – The Hunt for Shadowclaw” as both co-producer and worldwide sales agent. Epsilon will launch pre-sales for the family adventure at the Cannes Film Market, presenting an initial first-look scene.
The film follows an unlikely trio. First is a young German shepherd dog called Lenny, who failed the K9 test not because of his wheels but due to his stubborn attitude, and joins the circus. He is joined by an Indian Runner Duck with autism, Fred, who creates beats with his beak, and the brown bear with Down Syndrome, Bearnice, who loves nothing more than dancing for the big crowd at the circus. They must defy the odds to save the mysterious circus panther, Shadowclaw, in the heart of New York City. Together, they must turn their differences into strengths, overcome their fears, and save the panther before the official K9 team captures her and puts her away forever.
The German-Canadian co-production is led by Ulrich Schwarz (“Dragon Rider,” “Nessie Junior,” “Stowaway”), Andreas Schneider’s Parapictures Film Production (“Gold”), Thomas Baumgarten (“Klaus”), and Arno Hazebroek’s Falcon Features (“500 Miles,” “Hope Gap”). Epsilon Film will serve as co-producer and handle international sales.
The animation is being handled by Kickstart Entertainment, a studio with over 25 years of producing 20 feature films and over 750 series episodes, including for “Barbie Mysteries” (Netflix/Mattel) and “The Boys” (Amazon).
Heiko Hentschel (“The Amazing Maurice,” “Ooops! Noah is Gone…,” “The Elfkins,” “Luis and the Aliens”) serves as character designer, while the script is written by Rob Moreland (“Gnome Alone,” “Space Chimps,” “Happily N’Ever After”) and Alison James, an award-winning children’s book author.
With production set to begin soon, “Dreamers – The Hunt for Shadowclaw” is slated for release in time for the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.
Producer Ulrich Schwarz and creator/producer Andreas Schneider said: “ ‘Dreamers’ is about accepting and embracing those who are different from you — and about fully embracing what is different about yourself. Well-told and powerfully animated, we want to plant a seed of acceptance to broaden the range of who children consider normal, skillful, even admirable. Our animals possess remarkable super-abilities that are all the more extraordinary because of their struggles. Quirky, lovable, and deeply relatable, they take us on an inspiring, action-packed adventure.”
“This is a film that encourages audiences of all ages to embrace their unique strengths, overcome challenges, and believe in the impossible,” Julia Weber from Epsilon Film added.
The film’s development is funded by German regional film funder MOIN, national film fund FFA and Creative BC in Canada.
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