The animation industry has been expanding and reaching new horizons more and more. This time, Naoto Ohshima, responsible for creating the design of Sonic, is becoming involved in a new project, a CGI film called The Monkey Prince.
Japanese companies Toei Animation, Sammy, Sola Entertainment, and Marza Animation Planet, in collaboration with China's Bona Film Group, will produce a CGI animated film aimed at Western audiences. The film's story is based on the classic Chinese tale Journey to the West, with Naoto Ohshima, responsible for Sonic the Hedgehog's iconic design, handling the character designs. The companies said their strengths would be combined to create a film embracing anime style, an excellent Chinese legend, and the universal appeal of stories from Hollywood.
Official art.
Chuck Williams, known for his involvement with Disney and Pixar films such as Beauty and the Beast, Brother Bear, and The Little Mermaid, will produce the film. John A. Davis, known for Jimmy Neutron and Lucas: An Ant's Life, will direct it, with the screenplay written by Oscar-nominated writers J. David Stem and David N. Weiss, known for writing the screenplay for Shrek 2.
The release date for The Monkey Prince is still unknown, but with so many major names involved, we will certainly keep an eye out for any possible new details.
