The Enchanting First 'Abominable' Trailer Arrives

Typical! You wait forever for a Yeti/Big Foot movie then three come along at once. Yep, in one of those strange coincidences that comes along once in a while - much like we saw two animated ant movies in development in the late '90s- big hairy primates seem to be the in thing in animation right now. Warner Animation Group's Smallfoot was first out of the gate, followed by LAIKA's Missing Link earlier this year. This September, DreamWorks Animation will join in the monster mash when their long-gestating Abominable hits screens around the world.

The film is the first collaboration between DWA and China-based Pearl Studio (formerly Oriental DreamWorks) since the latter became independent from DreamWorks. This has perhaps contributed to its troubled path to the screen. In development since at least 2010, it was originally titled Everest and due to be written and directed by Jill Culton. Back in 2016, Culton left the project but she is still credited as both writer and director, with Todd Wilderman credited as co-director.

If the film's production woes do not inspire confidence, then the debut trailer may be a pleasant surprise. It serves as a neat introduction to both the film's basic concept of a girl befriending a homesick Yeti (named Everest) and to its visual style. Its character designs look both distinct from any past DreamWorks film while at the same time not a million miles away. It's also making the most of its Chinese setting, with beautiful awe-inspiring landscapes and bustling cities.

A key difference between this film and the previously released yeti movies is that Everest can't talk, and is portrayed as much more of an animal. Tonally, it seems closest in tone to the How To Train Your Dragon films and there's more than a hint of Hiccup and Toothless in the relationship between Everest and protagonist Yi. With his giant fuzzy belly and childlike spirit, Everest has a lot in common with Totoro, too.

Everest opens in the US on September 27 and October 11 in the UK. It features the voices of Chloe Bennet, Albert Tsai, Sarah Paulson, Eddie Izzard and Michelle Wong. Check out the trailer for yourself, below.