Apple taking on Disney by signing 2 family-friendly films

“Wolfwalkers”
is an upcoming animated film from Cartoon
Saloon.
Cartoon
Saloon/YouTube

• Apple has acquired two family-friendly feature films in its
  recent push into video content, “Wolfwalkers” and “The Elephant
  Queen.”
• “Wolfwalkers” is an upcoming film from Irish animation studio
  Cartoon Saloon.
• “The Elephant Queen” is a nature documentary narrated by
  Oscar nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor.

Apple has bought the rights to its first films animated film and
a nature documentary, both targeted at families.

Bloomberg reported in June that
Apple was in talks to buy a film from Irish animation studio
Cartoon Saloon, known for “The Breadwinner.” On Monday
Cartoon Saloon’s cofounder Tomm Moore confirmed the deal on
Twitter.

“Wolfwalkers” is still in development, and Cartoon Saloon is still
listing jobs for the project. A conceptual trailer shows the
story of a young girl whose father is a wolf hunter, and who
comes to Ireland and makes friends with a wild girl and is
“transformed into the very thing her father is tasked to
destroy.”

“The Elephant Queen” is already complete, and premiered in
Toronto on Saturday. It followes the story of an elephant
matriarch named Athena, who has to fend for her herd when they
are forced to leave their waterhole, and is narrated by Chiwetel
Ejiofor of “12 Years a Slave” fame.

Previously Apple’s move into video seemed more focussed on
television, as it brought on former
“Breaking Bad” executives Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg
to head up the project. With these acquisitions announced,
Apple’s video ambitions are clearly broader.