Animated Musical 'The Night Before Christmas In Wonderland' Wraps Production
The British animation industry is booming- but features from the UK remain relatively rare. When they are made, they tend to be made in cooperation with studios from other countries. It has been announced that production has just wrapped on a new animated feature from Britain's Lupus Films (Kensuke's Kingdom) and the U.S.'s Universal Pictures Content Group: The Night Before Christmas In Wonderland.
Creating a mash-up of two classic children's stories Alice's Adventures In Wonderland and the poem Twas The Night Before Christmas, the film is an adaptation of the book by Carys Bexington, illustrated by Kate Hindley and published by Macmillan. It is directed by Peter Baynton, co-director of the Oscar-winning The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse. The book was adapted into a screenplay by Saraa Daddy (Puffin Rock and The New Friends)- entirely in rhyming couplets. Original music and songs come from composer and longtime Robbie Williams collaborator Guy Chambers and lyricist Amy Wadge.
The story sees St. Nick sent on an adventure in Wonderland. Along the way he meets The Mad Hatter, reimagined as a high fashion, reindeer loving party host, the forgetful White Rabbit, The Queen Of Hearts, recast as a Scrooge-like Christmas hater and Alice, whose kindness helps St Nick save Christmas.
The production reunites Lupus Films and UPCG, following their successful collaborations on TV specials Mog's Christmas and The Tiger Who Came To Tea. It's produced by Ruth Fielding and Camilla Deakin for Lupus Films and Executive Produced by Helen Parker, EVP, Universal Pictures Content Group, Gerard Butler and Alan Siegel for G-BASE and Emilia Clarke for Magical Thinking Pictures.
Lupus Films’ Joint Managing Director Ruth Fielding said: “It has been a joy to bring together this incredibly creative team and sprinkle some of Lupus Films’ animated magic into the mix. The wonderfully wacky characters, starry voice cast and toe-tapping tunes all come together in a fantastic festive fairy-tale for the whole family to enjoy.”
Universal Pictures Content Group’s Helen Parker said “Bringing this original, festive story to life has been a beautiful journey. From the creation of the worlds of Alice in Wonderland and Twas the Night Before Christmas, to bringing in our fantastic cast to voice these beloved storybook icons, it has been a truly creative and heartwarming experience.”
The Night Before Christmas In Wonderland features the voices of Gerard Butler (300) as St. Nick, Emelia Clarke (Game Of Thrones) as The Queen Of Hearts and Simone Ashley as Alice in Wonderland.
No release date has been announced yet.
