Lionsgate is expanding its animation portfolio through a new distribution partnership with Toei Animation. The agreement establishes Lionsgate as the U.S. home for upcoming projects, with the 2027 release of Monkey Quest serving as the inaugural title under this collaboration. While Lionsgate manages the domestic market, Charades will oversee international distribution for the film outside of the United States.
Monkey Quest is a 2D-3D hybrid production inspired by the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West. The narrative centers on a young girl named Ellie and her brother Adam, who team up with an ancient protector named Okon to battle a villain known as Vex. The production boasts a high-profile creative team, including character designer Naoto Oshima, known for his work on Sonic the Hedgehog, and screenwriter David N. Weiss, who previously worked on Shrek 2.
The film’s production also features significant industry talent behind the scenes, with Stephanie Ma Stine and Takao Noguchi co-directing alongside Weiss. Notably, Sunghoo Park—the director behind the hit series Jujutsu Kaisen—is providing storyboards and overseeing the project's action sequences. This collaboration marks a shift for the project, which was originally announced in early 2024 under the working title Hypergalactic.
Beyond the film itself, Toei Animation has been building a broader ecosystem for the property, including a Roblox hub titled Hypergalactic: Monkey Quest and planned integrations for Fortnite. With the film currently in post-production, the partnership signals a strategic move by Toei to leverage Lionsgate's distribution network for its future co-productions.
