Telegael’s feature film co-production Blinky Bill: The Movie is set to hit cinema screens in Ireland and UK from 19 August. The film is already a hit with audiences in Australia, New Zealand, Poland, South Korea and Turkey. International sales company Studio 100 Film of Munich has also secured releases in US, Canada, Germany and many other territories.
Produced by Telegael (Ireland), Flying Bark Productions (Australia) and Assemblage Studios (India) in association with Screen Australia and Screen New South Wales, Blinky Bill: The Movie boasts an all-star cast including Ryan Kwanten (HBO’s “True Blood”) as the voice of Blinky Bill, Robin McLeavy (TV’s “Hell On Wheels”) as Blinky’s best friend Nutsy and Rufus Sewell (A Knights Tale) as the treacherous feral cat Sir Claude. Starring alongside them are Toni Collette (Little Miss Sunshine) as two charming yet gossipy emus Sheryl and Beryl, Barry Humphries (Dame Edna Everage) as the wildly eccentric Wombo and David Wenham (The Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King) as the manic but loveable frill-necked lizard Jacko.
Blinky Bill: The Movie is based on the 1930’s Australian book series by Dorothy Wall and is considered an iconic children’s classic. A small koala with a big imagination, Blinky is an adventurer at heart who dreams of leaving the little town of Greenpatch and following his explorer father’s footsteps. Blinky embarks on a journey that takes him into the wild and dangerous Australian landscape in his quest to find his missing father.
Telegael CEO Paul Cummins said: “We are delighted that Blinky Bill: The Movie is now going on release in Ireland and UK. Blinky Bill is a terrific story played out with amazing characters and stunning visuals. The action-packed movie is already engaging, inspiring and entertaining audiences around the world and is bursting with fun, comedy and adventure.”
Following hot on the heels of the release of Blinky Bill: The Movie, Telegael and Australia’s Flying Bark are currently in production on Blinky Bill the TV series which comprises 52 x quarter hours of television. The series has already been pre-sold to a host of international broadcasters and Richard Simmons (noted for layout design on Norm of the North and pre-vis on Octonauts and Peter Rabbit) is animation director on behalf of Telegael.
Blinky Bill is one of a large slate of feature films and television series recently produced at Telegael’s Galway-based animation and live action film studios. These productions include the animated feature film Norm of the North which is currently on release worldwide and whose international cast includes Irish actors Colm Meaney and Michael McElhatton. Telegael has also recently completed production on the feature film Out of Innocence which is inspired by the events surrounding the Kerry Babies story. The studio is also in the final stages of post production on three films in the Jack Taylor franchise based on the books by Galway author Ken Bruen. Jack Taylor stars Iain Glen (Game of Thrones, Downton Abbey, Cleverman, Resident Evil) and has ZDF Germany as the host broadcaster. International distribution rights have been acquired by Content Media International. Telegael is also currently in production on several animated projects including the stop motion feature film Morten starring Brendan Gleeson, Tommy Tiernan, Pauline McLynn, Ciaran Hinds and Jason Byrne. Morten is the first stop motion animated feature film to be produced in Ireland.