Hollywood studio Lionsgate has entered into a strategic distribution partnership with Toei Animation to handle the theatrical release of the veteran Japanese studio's anime productions across the United States. The alliance will inaugurate in 2027 with the release of the upcoming 2D-3D hybrid animated adventure Monkey Quest, with potential for future co-productions on the horizon.
East Meets West
Loosely inspired by the classical Chinese epic Journey to the West, Monkey Quest (originally revealed under the working title Hypergalactic) is currently in post-production. The narrative tracks twelve-year-old Ellie and her infant brother Adam across a futuristic cosmos as they awaken Earth's forgotten guardian, Okon, to confront the intergalactic threat known as Vex.
Star-Studded Cast & High-Profile Staff
The international co-production boasts an impressive lineup across both voice talent and production personnel:
- Adam Devine as Okon
- Elsie Fisher as Ellie
- J.K. Simmons as the villainous Vex
On the creative side, original character designs and concepts stem from Naoto Ohshima (original character designer for Sonic the Hedgehog) alongside producer Joseph Chou (The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim). Screenwriter David N. Weiss (Shrek 2) co-directs the feature alongside Stephanie Ma Stine (Kung Fu Panda 4) and character designer Takao Noguchi. Acclaimed action director Sunghoo Park (Jujutsu Kaisen, The God of High School) provides storyboards and action choreography, with Yoshi Ikezawa producing on behalf of Toei Animation.
While Lionsgate will oversee the North American theatrical rollout, French sales outfit Charades is managing international distribution across all territories outside the U.S.
