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GKIDS Licenses 'Ronja, The Robber's Daughter' for U.S. (Updated)

posted on by Karen Ressler
Worldwide rights holder Serious Lunch signs deals for U.S., China, other territories

International media news website World Screen reported on Monday that GKIDS has acquired the rights to Goro Miyazaki and POLYGON PICTURES' Ronja the Robber's Daughter television anime in the United States.

United Kingdom-based distributor Serious Lunch previously acquired the worldwide rights to the series. World Screen also reported that Serious Lunch has licensed the anime to UYoung Media in China and PTS in Taiwan. The company also signed deals with TF1 Max in France, RTBF in French Belgium, and RTS in French Switzerland to begin production of a French version.

The anime adapts a children's book of the same name by Swedish author Astrid Lindgren (Pippi Longstocking). Amazon describes the story:

The daughter of a professional robber, Ronja realizes the complicated nature of her father's profession when she befriends Birk, the child of a rival tribe. Ronja struggles to balance the relationship with her family and the bond with her self-proclaimed brother Birk as she comes to understand the intricate issues of family and friendship and how differences can be overcome with the help of love and understanding.

Goro Miyazaki (Tales from Earthsea, From Up On Poppy Hill) directed the Ronja the Robber's Daughter television anime series, titled Sanzoku no Musume Ronia in Japan. POLYGON PICTURES (Knights of Sidonia, The Sky Crawlers) animated the 3D CG series in collaboration with Studio Ghibli. Hiroyuki Kawasaki (The Irresponsible Captain Tylor, Sorcerer Hunters, Ryoko's Case File, Psychic Detective Yakumo) handled the series composition. NHK Enterprise produced the series, and NHK and Dwango handled production and writing.

The series premiered in Japan in October 2014 and ran for 26 episodes. Amazon began streaming the series internationally in January 2017. David Freedman adapted and directed the English version, and actress Gillian Anderson (The X-Files) narrated the series.

The anime won the Animation category at the International Emmy Kids Awards in April 2016.

Thanks to I Miss Bionix for the news tip.

Source: World Screen (Kristin Brzoznowski)

Update: (6/5) Serious Lunch confirmed the report with ANN.


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