Oscar-winning director Chris Landreth and Steven Hoban, the founding head of Copperheart Entertainment, are set to initiate financing for an animated adaptation of André Alexis’s acclaimed novel, Fifteen Dogs. This launch will take place during the inaugural Animation Days at the European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin, scheduled from February 12 to 14, 2024.
This project marks one of the first entries in the EFM’s new animation strand, which aims to showcase innovative works in the animated film sector. The event will feature project showcases, pitching sessions, and various networking opportunities, all within the framework of the renowned Berlinale festival.
Copperheart Entertainment has recently acquired the rights to Alexis’ award-winning narrative, which follows a group of dogs who, as a result of a wager between two Greek gods, are bestowed with human intelligence and language. As they grapple with newfound awareness of time, love, power, and mortality, their previously cohesive pack begins to splinter into divergent paths of existence, exploring themes of dominance, art, faith, manipulation, and love.
At the center of this animated tale is Majnoun, a black poodle whose emotional journey encapsulates the novel’s poignant message: the essence of life is not solely rooted in intelligence, but rather in love, belonging, and the inevitability of death.
Hoban, who co-wrote the successful animated feature Night of the Zoopocalypse, is currently penning the screenplay for Fifteen Dogs. Landreth is set to make his feature-length directorial debut with this project, having previously gained recognition for his Academy Award-winning short film Ryan and the Oscar-nominated short, The End. He plans to employ his signature animation style, described as “psychorealism,” to visually convey the inner emotional and psychological states of the characters.
“From the moment we read André Alexis’s masterpiece, we felt it demanded a cinematic treatment that was as bold, strange, and emotionally truthful as the book itself,” stated Hoban. He expressed enthusiasm about introducing Fifteen Dogs to international partners during the financing stage, emphasizing the importance of ambitious, adult-oriented animation.
Landreth echoed this sentiment, stating, “Fifteen Dogs is ultimately a deeply human story, about mortality, love, curiosity, and the terror that comes with that curiosity.” He highlighted animation’s unique capacity to oscillate between realism and abstraction, allowing complex ideas to be felt rather than merely explained. “This project challenges me creatively in the best possible way, and I believe it has the potential to resonate powerfully with audiences around the world,” he added.
Production for Fifteen Dogs will be led by Hoban alongside Mark Smith, who collaborated on Night of the Zoopocalypse, In the Tall Grass, and A Christmas Horror Story. Animation work is set to be conducted by L’Atelier Animation, based in Montreal, which is also known for its contributions to Night of the Zoopocalypse and 10 Lives. The project is currently in the design phase and is being developed with support from Telefilm Canada and Ontario Creates.
With this ambitious new venture, Copperheart Entertainment aims to shift into a creative space that prioritizes dramatic storytelling in animation, targeting both teen and adult audiences. The financing launch at the EFM represents a significant step towards realizing this vision.
