EXCLUSIVE: HarperCollins Productions is teaming with the L.A.-based Viva Pictures Distribution and the UK-based Cantilever Media to develop and produce three animated features under a co-production deal.
Under the agreement, the companies will focus on adapting HarperCollins IP into comedy-driven stories for a four-quadrant global audience. Viva Pictures will distribute the films in North America while Cantilever’s distribution arm Kazoo Films will take all the films for release in the UK and Ireland.
The first title in development is Mischief and Mayhem, an adaptation of the graphic novel series from author-illustrator Ken Lamug. Described as Dog Man meets Despicable Me, the series follows the dynamic duo Mischief and Mayhem, two unlikely heroes who tumble into supervillainy after being kicked out of superhero camp.
The precursor to the co-production deal is Viva Pictures’ ongoing co-production slate of four original animated features for theatrical release in 2027, which includes The Amazing Maurice 2 (in partnership with Cantilever Media), On the Edge, Flamingo Flamenco, and Unstable. In addition, Viva Pictures is set to distribute 10 animated films nationally through the end of 2027 including the recent release of Pets on a Train and Grand Prix of Europe, Charlie the Wonderdog starring Owen Wilson on January 16, Buffalo Kids on February 6, and The Pout-Pout Fish on March 20.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with Viva Pictures and Cantilever Media on a dynamic slate of animated movies that will bring some of our most hilarious and original stories to the screen,” said Head of HarperCollins Productions Caroline Fraser. “By combining HarperCollins’s unmatched library of storytelling with their expertise in animation and distribution, we are creating a powerful path for our authors and their incredible stories to reach even broader audiences around the world — whether in theaters, on streaming platforms, or in new international markets. Together, we look forward to building an enduring pipeline of animated movies.”
Victor Elizalde, President of Viva Pictures, commented, “HarperCollins has one of the most treasured catalogs in children’s publishing, with stories that have shaped imaginations for generations. This partnership allows us to bring that storytelling legacy to life on screen in a way that’s both creatively ambitious and globally scalable. With our animation studio in Spain and Cantilever’s world-class production expertise, we’re building a slate of high-quality, emotionally rich films that can travel across markets and generations — strengthening Viva’s long-term strategy to grow our portfolio of original, globally marketable IP.”
Added Andrew Baker, Founder and CEO of Cantilever Media and Kazoo Films, “Cantilever’s mission has always been to champion storytelling that connects emotionally while standing up commercially on the global stage. By joining forces with Viva Pictures and HarperCollins, we’re combining creative excellence with strategic ambition — turning celebrated literary properties into cinematic worlds that can inspire, entertain, and endure. This collaboration brings together the best of British creativity and international reach, paving the way for stories with true cultural and commercial longevity.”
The house production company of HarperCollins, the second-largest consumer book publisher in the world, HarperCollins Productions has previously produced adaptations of titles like Carmen Sandiego, Miss Nelson Is Missing, Mouse and the Motorcycle, Danny and the Dinosaur, and The Oregon Trail, among others.
English (US) ·