The Walt Disney Co. today revealed The Magic Gourd, its first feature made for the Chinese Market. According to Daily Variety, a total of 300 prints of the live-action/CG movie will be distributed to theaters across the mainland by China Film Group in time to catch kids on school holidays.
Based on author Zhang Tianyi’s bestselling book from the 1950s, The Magic Gourd is a morality tale about a lazy boy who finds a magic gourd that grants all his wishes, but at the expense of someone else. Blending live-action photography with CG-animated characters and digital effects, the pic was conceived by Hong Kong’s Centro Digital Pictures and is co-produced by Buena Vista Intl., Walt Disney Studios and China Film Group.
Stanley Cheung, exec VP and managing director of the Walt Disney Co., Greater China, told Variety that localized productions are key to establishing the entity as the Chinese Walt Disney Co., rather than just Disney operating in China with dubbed versions of U.S.-made product. Disney first began distributing its titles in China in 1995, starting with The Lion King, but will focus more attention on telling Chinese stories with Chinese actors and production talent. The company has reportedly devoted $100 million to its localization efforts and is co-producing films and TV series in India as well.
The Magic Gourd is expected to gross between $3.95 million and $6.6 million theatrically. Disney will support the release with a line of consumer goods, six published books, ringtones and a music video for the theme song, sung by Chinese pop star Baby Zhang. The Walt Disney Internet Group will also put out a video game in time for the film’s debut.
