The Tales from Sanctuary City

The Tales from Sanctuary City is a media franchise created and managed by Australian children's production company Like a Photon Creative.[1][2] The franchise revolves around the anthropomorphic animals who reside in Sanctuary City, which was inspired by the fauna and landscape of Australia.[3] As of 2021, the franchise consists of three feature films and a mobile app,[4][5] with the possibility of a TV series, toy-line and further apps and spin-off films.[6]

The Tales from Sanctuary City
Directed byRicard Cussó
Written by
  • Ricard Cussó (1)
  • Peter Ivan (1)
  • Matthew James Kinmonth (2)
  • Ryan Greaves (3)
Produced by
  • Kristen Souvlis
  • Nadine Bates
Production
company
Like a Photon Creative
Distributed byOdin's Eye Entertainment
Release date
2019–2021
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish
Box office$1.06 million

All three films were directed by Ricard Cussó (who also wrote the first film), produced by Kristen Souvlis and Nadine Bates (the owners of Like a Photon Creative) and distributed by Odin's Eye Entertainment. The first film received generally negative reviews from critics, and the final two received mixed to positive reviews.

Films
Film Release date (Australia) Director(s) Writer(s) Story by Producer(s)
The Wishmas Tree 27 February 2020 Ricard Cussó Ricard Cussó Peter Ivan Kristen Souvlis and Nadine Bates
Combat Wombat 15 October 2020 Matthew James Kinmonth
Daisy Quokka: World's Scariest Animal January 2021 Ryan Greaves

Like a Photon Creative launched the franchise with a trilogy of animated feature films.[1][7] They were backed and funded by Screen Queensland and Screen Australia, and distributed by Odin Eye's Entertainment.[1][8] The films were directed by Ricard Cussó and produced by Like a Photon's Kristen Souvlis and Nadine Bates.

The Wishmas Tree (2019)
Main article: The Wishmas Tree

A young possum's misguided wish for a white Wishmas unintentionally freezes her entire hometown of Sanctuary City and threatens the lives of all who live there. Before the magical Wishmas Tree dies, she must undertake a journey into The Wild in order to reverse the damage she caused and save the city.[9]

Pre-production started in September 2018 and animation in January 2019.[3] It had its world premiere at the Brisbane International Film Festival on 5 October 2019,[10] and was released in Australian theatres on 27 February 2020.

Combat Wombat (2020)
Main article: Combat Wombat (film)

Lazy wombat Maggie Diggins becomes Combat Wombat, Sanctuary City's new superhero after she begrudgingly saves a citizen from falling to his death. However, her rising stardom displeases local superhero Flightless Feather, who hatches a plan for Maggie's demise. But in the process, Maggie uncovers a conspiracy that could put the city in grave danger, and it is up to her to expose it.[11]

Combat Wombat was released in Australian theatres on 15 October 2020. It had a limited release to 42 screens.[11]

Daisy Quokka: World's Scariest Animal (2020)
Main article: Daisy Quokka: World's Scariest Animal

The unbearably adorable, eternally optimistic Quokka named Daisy has an impossible dream – to win the World's Scariest Animal competition of Sanctuary City.[12]

The film had its world premiere at the Children's International Film Festival (CHIFF) in Australia on 28 November 2020,[13] and opened in theatres with a limited release in Australia in January 2021 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cinemas.[14] The film received generally mixed to positive reviews from critics.[12][15]

Future

Although the trilogy has concluded, Like a Photon has stated there is a possibility for further spin-off films.[16]

Reception

Box office performance
Film release date (Australia) Box office gross
The Wishmas Tree 27 February 2020 $875,867[17]
Combat Wombat 15 October 2020 $183,882[18]
Daisy Quokka: World's Scariest Animal January 2021 $173,264[19]

Critical reception
Film Rotten Tomatoes
The Wishmas Tree 50% (6 reviews)[20]
Combat Wombat
Daisy Quokka: World's Scariest Animal

References
  1. Ritman, Alex (2 November 2018) Odin’s Eye to Build 'Sanctuary City' Animated Franchise. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  2. Macnab, Geoffrey (24 February 2021) Odin’s Eye scores US, UK deals on animation franchise ‘Tales From Sanctuary City’ (exclusive). Screen Daily. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  3. Whyte, Alexandra (16 December 2019) How to create an Australian animal multiverse. Kids Screen. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  4. Sanctuary World Animal Match 3 at the Google Play Store. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  5. Hub. VisitSanctuaryCity.com. Archived from the original on 22 September 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  6. Like a Photon – LikeAPhoton.com. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  7. Croot, James (5 November 2020) Combat Wombat: An entertaining and surprisingly adult animated adventure. Stuff. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  8. Production funding announced for 12 new projects, 19 September 2018. Screen Australia. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  9. Staff (6 December 2019) Trailer arrives for new children’s animated film The Wishmas Tree. Cinema Australia. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  10. The Wishmas Tree. Brisbane International Film Festival – biff.com.au. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  11. Groves, Don (19 October 2020) ‘The Tales From Sanctuary City’ franchise continues with ‘Combat Wombat’. IF Magazine. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  12. Croot, James (10 February 2021) Daisy Quokka: World’s Scariest Animal: Sam Neill's crocodile steals the show. Stuff. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  13. Daisy Quokka. Children's International Film Festival – chiff.com.au. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  14. Dickson, Jeremy (1 April 2020) When the marquee lights go out. Kidscreen. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  15. Felperin, Leslie (29 June 2021) Daisy Quokka: World’s Scariest Animal review – too cute for the competition. The Guardian. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  16. Celebrate World Wombat Day with new ‘Aussie-mation’ COMBAT WOMBAT. Film Ink. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  17. The Wishmas Tree at Box Office Mojo – an IMDb company. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  18. Combat Wombat at Box Office Mojo – an IMDb company. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  19. Daisy Quokka: World’s Scariest Animal at Box Office Mojo – an IMDb company. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  20. The Wishmas Tree at Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
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