The Tales from Sanctuary City

The Tales from Sanctuary City
Created byKristen Souvlis
Nadine Bates
Original workThe Wishmas Tree (2020)
OwnerLike a Photon Creative
Years2020–present
Films and television
Film(s)
Games
Video game(s)Sanctuary World (2020)

The Tales from Sanctuary City is a media franchise created and managed by Australian children's production company Like a Photon Creative co-founders Kristen Souvlis and Nadine Bates.[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 2024, the franchise consists of five overall feature films; a mobile app, titled Sanctuary World, was discontinued in 2020 shortly after its release.[4]

The first three films were directed by Ricard Cussó, with the fourth by Cussó and Tania Vincent. The fifth film was written and directed by Tania Vincent making her the first woman in Australia to write and direct an animated feature. The first film was distributed by R & R Films, and the next two were distributed by Odin's Eye Entertainment; however, as of 2024, the company's films were distributed by Maslow Entertainment. The first film received generally negative reviews from critics, and the following three 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 Peter Ivan & Ryan Greaves Peter Ivan Nadine Bates and Kristen Souvlis
Combat Wombat 15 October 2020 Matthew James Kinmonth
Daisy Quokka: World's Scariest Animal 4 February 2021 Ryan Greaves
Combat Wombat: Back 2 Back 29 February 2024 Ricard Cussó and Tania Vincent Dominic Morris
The Sloth Lane 25 July 2024 Tania Vincent Tania Vincent, Ryan Greaves Nadine Bates, Ryan Greaves, and Kristen Souvlis
The Lost Tiger TBA Chantelle Murray Chantelle Murray and Philip Denson

Like a Photon Creative launched the franchise with feature films, starting with The Wishmas Tree in 2020.[1][5] They were backed and funded by Screen Queensland and Screen Australia.[1][6]

The Wishmas Tree (2020)

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.[7]

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,[8] 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, but her rising stardom displeases local superhero Flightless Feather, who hatches a plan for Maggie's demise. Maggie uncovers a conspiracy that could put the city in grave danger, and it is up to her to expose it.[9]

Combat Wombat was released in Australian theatres on 15 October 2020. It had a limited release to 42 screens.[9]

Daisy Quokka: World's Scariest Animal (2021)

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.[10]

The film had its world premiere at the Children's International Film Festival (CHIFF) in Australia on 28 November 2020,[11] and opened in theatres with a limited release in Australia on 4 February 2021 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cinemas.[12] The film received generally mixed to positive reviews from critics.[10][13]

Combat Wombat: Back 2 Back (2024)

Main article: Combat Wombat: Back 2 Back

A sequel to the 2020 original, titled Combat Wombat: Back 2 Back, was released in Australian theatres on 29 February 2024.

The Sloth Lane (2024)

Main article: The Sloth Lane

The film had its world premiere at the Annecy Animation Film Festival in France on 10 June 2024, and opened in theatres in Australia on 25 July.[14]

Reception

Box office performance

Film Release date (Australia) Box office gross
The Wishmas Tree 27 February 2020 $1,793,562[15]
Combat Wombat 15 October 2020 $612,666[16]
Daisy Quokka: World's Scariest Animal 4 February 2021 $384,753[17]
Combat Wombat: Back 2 Back 29 February 2024 $848,745[18]
The Sloth Lane 25 July 2024 $350,302[19]

Critical reception

Film Rotten Tomatoes
The Wishmas Tree 50% (6 reviews)[20]

References

  1. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b Whyte, Alexandra (16 December 2019) How to create an Australian animal multiverse. Kids Screen. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  4. ^ Hub. VisitSanctuaryCity.com. Archived from the original on 22 September 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  5. ^ Croot, James (5 November 2020) Combat Wombat: An entertaining and surprisingly adult animated adventure. Stuff. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  6. ^ Production funding announced for 12 new projects, 19 September 2018. Screen Australia. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  7. ^ Staff (6 December 2019) Trailer arrives for new children's animated film The Wishmas Tree. Cinema Australia. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  8. ^ The Wishmas Tree. Brisbane International Film Festival – biff.com.au. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  9. ^ a b Groves, Don (19 October 2020) 'The Tales From Sanctuary City' franchise continues with 'Combat Wombat'. IF Magazine. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  10. ^ a b Croot, James (10 February 2021) Daisy Quokka: World's Scariest Animal: Sam Neill's crocodile steals the show. Stuff. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  11. ^ Daisy Quokka. Children's International Film Festival – chiff.com.au. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  12. ^ "Daisy Quokka: World's Scariest Animal". The Vore. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  13. ^ Felperin, Leslie (29 June 2021) Daisy Quokka: World's Scariest Animal review – too cute for the competition. The Guardian. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  14. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (28 May 2024). "Australian Animated Adventure 'The Sloth Lane' Drops Official Trailer". Animation Magazine. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  15. ^ The Wishmas Tree at Box Office Mojo – an IMDb company. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  16. ^ Combat Wombat at Box Office Mojo – an IMDb company. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  17. ^ Daisy Quokka: World's Scariest Animal at Box Office Mojo – an IMDb company. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  18. ^ Combat Wombat: Back 2 Back at Box Office Mojo – an IMDb company. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  19. ^ The Sloth Lane at Box Office Mojo – an IMDb company. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  20. ^ The Wishmas Tree at Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 18 May 2021.