Animated feature Two by Two Overboard!, produced in Galway by Moetion Films and backed by the Western Region Audiovisual Producers Fund (WRAP) was the highest grossing film at the UK box office for the second week in a row, following in the footsteps of its successful German release last month.
In challenging circumstances, the film knocked other blockbusters including Tenet off the top spot in UK cinemas to sit at number one for two weeks running. Distributed by eOne Entertainment, the film opened in multiple locations across the UK with the Irish release delayed due to Covid19 restrictions.
This charming, animated movie is the sequel to the universally loved 2015 Two by Two: Ooops! Noah Is Gone (also known as All Creatures Great and Small in the United States). Made in beautiful 3D animation, the film tells the story of young Nestrian Finny and his best mate Leah, a Grymp, who accidently fall off Noah’s ark and are swept out to sea. Adrift on a flood, the two misfit castaways struggle to reunite an unorthodox family, out-run a volcano, and negotiate a peace deal on a creaking Ark. With the help of some new friends and some surprising allies, they manage to conquer hearts, reunite with their family and save a whole colony from destruction.
The Irish/German/Luxembourg co-production was animated in Moetion’s studio at the Centre for Creative Arts and Media, in the campus of GMIT with the support of Screen Ireland, RTÉ, WRAP Fund, BAI, Telepool, Creative Europe, FFA, Filmfund Hamburg, DFFF, Film Fund Luxembourg and Eurimages. It is being sold worldwide by Global Screen and will be released in France in February 2021.
The film is produced by Moe Honan, directed by Toby Genkel and Irish director Sean McCormack, with script by Richie Conroy and Mark Hodkinson. The score is by Galway’s own Eimear Noone, the first woman to conduct the orchestra at this year’s Oscars’ ceremony. Cast includes the voice talent of Irish actors such as Tara Flynn, Dermot Magennis, Alan Stanford, Mary Murray and Paul Tylak.
For producer Moe Honan, “it’s another success story for Irish animation, and it’s an excellent boost for the creative media talent here in the Western region. This success underlines the importance of the supports available to creative talent in the Irish film and television industry such as our S.481 Tax Credit. We would particularly like to thank Screen Ireland, the Wrap Fund, BAI, RTÉ and Creative Europe”.
Sarah Dillon, Development Manager of WRAP would like to congratulate Moe, Anne and all the team behind Two By Two Overboard!, “we are delighted to be part of this story by supporting this world class animation originated and lead by WRAP talent and to see audiences across the world enjoy it’s positive message and fun at a time when it is much needed”.