After $54 Million Success With ‘Mummies,’ WBD Has Picked Up Spanish Animated Feature ‘Buffalo Kids’ for U.K., Ireland Theatrical Release (EXCLUSIVE)

Warner Bros. Discovery U.K. has confirmed a wide theatrical release plan in the U.K. and Ireland for the Spanish animated feature “Buffalo Kids” from producers 4 Cats Pictures (“Mummies,” “Tad the Lost Explorer”). Warner Bros. also previously acquired the film for Italy as a pre-buy.

Since the film’s Aug. 14 release in Spain, J.J. Garcia Galocha and Pedro Solís’ “Buffalo Kids” has surpassed $5 million at the Spanish domestic box office, making it the highest-grossing independent animated film in the country this year and the second-highest-grossing Spanish film overall. It has sold more than 740,000 admissions in the country.

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“Buffalo Kids'” Spanish launch was supported by co-producers Atresmedia Cine and A3 Media, who, alongside WBD Spain, led an ambitious promotional campaign across traditional and digital media platforms. More than a month after its release, “Buffalo Kids” posters can be seen in metro stations and on the sides of newspaper stands in Madrid.

WBD and 4 Cats will be hoping “Buffalo Kids” can emulate the success of last year’s “Mummies,” which made $54 million worldwide, the second-highest gross for a Spanish feature outside of Spain. 4 Cats is proving to be one of Spain’s most bankable production houses, having grossed over $110 million from a trio of features in “Capture the Flag” and two films from the popular “Tad: The Lost Explorer” franchise.

Set in a rapidly changing United States in 1886, “Buffalo Kids” follows Irish immigrant siblings and orphans Mary and Tom as they arrive in New York to meet up with their American-based extended family. Things immediately go off the rails, however, when their Uncle Niall fails to show up for the reunion to bring the kids to California, where an inheritance awaits them.

Undeterred, the children set out on a cross-country adventure on the Transcontinental Railway to find their missing uncle. Along the way, they receive help from a resourceful disabled boy and his governess to overcome all kinds of challenges.

The English-language version of “Buffalo Kids” features performances by Gemma Arterton, Alisha Weir, Stephen Graham and Sean Bean, among others. It’s produced by Jordi Gasull, who also co-wrote with Javier Lopez Barreira (“Mummies”).

Animation was handled by Core Animation and 4 Cats Pictures in Spain. Other production partners include Atresmedia Cine, Anangu Group and Mogambo Entertainment. International sales are handled by Beverly Hills-based Cinema Management Group, which negotiated the deals with WBD in the U.K., Ireland and Italy.

CMG president Edward Noeltner said of the U.K. agreement, “We are thrilled to see this heartfelt film make waves at the box office in Spain and find a good home with WBD UK. The results are close to the success of ‘Mummies’, and we’re ecstatic for the filmmakers, our distributors who have bought the film and everyone who worked so hard on it.”

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