Oct 20, 2023

"Canterville Ghost" will hit theaters today, just in time for Halloween.

A new animation feature based on Oscar Wilde's "Canterville Ghost" is getting limited US theatrical runs from Blue Fox Entertainment and Shout. Studio. The film will begin screening in some theaters today.

The Canterville Ghost is directed by Kim Burdon and co-directed by Robert Chandler from the screenplay by Keiron Self and Giles New. It is produced by Space Age films, Sprout Pictures, Toons Animation and the Allied Group.

The official synopsis of the film is:

The Nineteenth century gives way to the twentieth century, and scientific inventions give rise to new ways of seeing across the world, so modern American families move only to find it haunted by ghosts in their recently purchased country house, Canterville Chase, England. Sir Simon de Canterville has successfully plagued the Canterville Chase grounds for over 300 years, but when he tries to scare the new arrivals, he meets his match.

According to the director, Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland was their northern star through development and production. They were also influenced by stories and subjects from family fare like Nanny McPhee, Peter Pan, and the Princess Bride who infused the mess of Tom and Jerry.

In terms of aesthetics, Burdon and Chandler wanted to do something unique in the animation of the film. They said:

Our style of animation using cgi will be very distinctive. The color palette reflects the season in which the story moves: a warm golden phase for the summer...Autumn russet tones...Bright white and light blue for winter...Dedicated green and spring...These exterior tones contrast dramatically with the creaking colours of the Canterville Chase interior and the off-kilter, amusement park colours of the walled garden.

Discussing the film's character development process, Burdon and Chandler said it was important to feel like a "real person" rather than a cartoon character. They explained:

The characters and worlds they inhabit are bigger than life, but they are never caricatures. Our movies have a textured, sensual feel. We juxtapose Sir Simon's world corruption Tudor splendor with an explosion of new world design from the early 20th century, achieving a wonderful timeless feel for the entire film.

The goal was to create something visually new and fresh, but Chandler said it was important to show proper respect for the source material:

Adapting Oscar Wilde's timeless story to animated features would attract audiences of all ages with a deep appreciation for the original material. It was a labor of love driven by the desire to fascinate. Our animation team painstakingly created a visually stunning world in which the scientific and electric grandeur of Canterville Manor juxtaposes with the ethereal presence of ghostly inhabitants, placing them both in a stunning British landscape.

Canterville Ghost will hit theaters today. Check out the Blue Fox Entertainment website to find out where your local screenings are.