Netflix in Annecy: ‘Nimona’ debuts; ‘Chicken Run 2’ gets release date

As part of Netflix’s appearance this week at the Annecy International Animation Festival, the streaming service hosted a preview of upcoming work and the world premiere of Nimonathe advance adaptation of the graphic novel by ND Stevenson arriving on the platform on June 30th. Also, the studio announced that Chicken Run: Nugget Dawn — The long-awaited sequel to 2000 from Aardman Animations Chicken run – will get a December 15 release.

In a new clip from the sequel to Chicken run – from the Oscar-winning studio behind Wallace and Gromit AND Shawn the sheep – Annecy audiences were introduced to Molly (Bella Ramsey), the daughter of Chicken runGinger (Thandiwe Newton) and Rocky (Zachary Levi). Molly is among those captured and placed on a truck carrying chickens to a new fortress-like farm. After a classic Aardman chase – with Ginger, Rocky and others chasing the truck – they begin to hatch a rescue plan. Director Sam Fell (Washed away), producer Leyla Hobart and executive producer and Aardman co-founder Peter Lord led the presentation.

Netflix’s slew of upcoming projects includes fall release Leo, described as an animated coming-of-age musical comedy about the last year of elementary school through the eyes of Leo, a 74-year-old lizard (and class pet) voiced by Adam Sandler. In the clip, a surprised girl hears about her pet Leo for the first time. The story was written by Robert Smigel (who directed with Robert Marianetti and David Wachtenheim), Adam Sandler and Paul Sado.

Not yet dated is the next series Blue Eye Samurai. In Annecy, director/supervising producer Jane Wu introduced a clip of the titular mixed-race sword master in battle on a cliff in Edo period Japan. It’s also not dated yet Exploding kittensan animated comedy series for adults starring Tom Ellis and Lucy Liu. In the story, both God and the Devil are sent to Earth, in the bodies of large house cats.

Netflix’s presentation also teased The Monkey King, a family comedy that follows a monkey with his magical fighting staff on an epic quest. It is directed by Anthony Stacchi (The Boxtrolls) and will premiere on August 18 on Netflix.

Available in Annecy for NimonaThe first and one Thursday sessions are graphic novel creator Stevenson, directors Nick Bruno and Troy Quane, producers Karen Ryan and Julie Zachary, and production designer Aidan Sugano.

In the story, Ballister Boldheart (Riz Ahmed), a knight in a futuristic medieval world, is framed for a crime he didn’t commit, and the only one who can help him prove his innocence is Nimona (Chloë Grace Moretz), a teenage girl mischievous and shapeshifting creature Ballister has been trained to destroy.