Copperheart Entertainment is set to initiate financing for the animated adaptation of Fifteen Dogs, a novel by André Alexis, during the inaugural Animation Days at the European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin. This event will occur from February 12 to 14, 2024, and marks a significant addition to the Berlinale’s market, featuring a series of showcases, pitching sessions, and networking opportunities.
The project will be spearheaded by Chris Landreth, an Oscar-winning director, and Steven Hoban, the head of Copperheart Entertainment. The studio recently acquired the rights to Alexis’ acclaimed work, which tells the story of dogs endowed with human-like intelligence and language due to a wager between two Greek gods. This adaptation represents a strategic pivot for Copperheart, shifting towards more sophisticated, dramatic animation aimed at a teen and adult audience.
The narrative of Fifteen Dogs begins with a conversation between the gods Hermes and Apollo in a Toronto bar. They ponder whether animals would experience greater happiness if they possessed human cognitive and communicative abilities. Their decision to grant these powers to a pack of ordinary dogs leads to profound revelations about love, mortality, and the complexities of existence. As the dogs become aware of their emotions and the passage of time, their once-harmonious group disintegrates, each dog navigating their newfound consciousness in different ways.
At the center of the story is Majnoun, a black poodle whose journey encapsulates the central theme: the essence of life is defined not solely by intelligence but by love and the understanding of mortality. Hoban, who co-wrote the successful animated feature Night of the Zoopocalypse, will be crafting the screenplay for this project. Landreth, making his feature-length directorial debut, is known for his unique approach to animation, termed “psychorealism.” This technique utilizes computer-generated imagery to vividly represent the emotional and psychological states of 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,” said Hoban. He expressed excitement about introducing Fifteen Dogs to international partners who share their vision for ambitious animation aimed at mature audiences.
Landreth echoed these sentiments, stating, “This is ultimately a deeply human story about mortality, love, curiosity, and the terror that comes with that curiosity. Animation allows us to fluidly transition between realism and abstraction, making these ideas resonate rather than merely explain.”
The production is set to take place with L’Atelier Animation, a Montreal-based studio known for its work on Night of the Zoopocalypse and other notable projects. Currently, Fifteen Dogs is in the design phase and is supported by Telefilm Canada and Ontario Creates.
This project not only signifies a notable venture for Copperheart Entertainment but also highlights the growing interest in animated films that tackle complex themes and cater to a more mature audience, setting a promising stage for its premiere in the competitive landscape of international cinema.
