Lionsgate to Handle U.S. Distribution for Toei Anime, Starting With Monkey Quest

Lionsgate is joining Toei Animation as its new U.S. distribution partner for anime projects, Deadline reported Tuesday. Their partnership will start with the upcoming Monkey Quest film in 2027.

Lionsgate will also reportedly be considered for future co-productions with Toei. Monkey Quest is in post-production and targeting a 2027 release, with Charades distributing it worldwide outside the U.S.

The Japan-U.S. joint production combines 2D and 3D animation and brings together an international animation crew. It draws loosely from the Chinese literary classic Journey to the West.

Set in the not-so-distant future, the story follows 12-year-old Ellie and her 1-year-old brother, Adam. After freeing Okon, Earth’s forgotten protector, they confront the villainous Vex on an intergalactic adventure.

The cast includes:

• Adam Devine as Okon
• Elsie Fisher as Ellie
• J.K. Simmons as Vex

The film’s creative team includes:

• Sonic the Hedgehog designer Naoto Oshima, who co-created the concept and characters with Joseph Chou (The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim).
• David N. Weiss (Shrek 2), who is writing the screenplay and co-directing.
• Stephanie Ma Stine (Kung-Fu Panda 4), who is co-directing.
• Character designer Takao Noguchi, who is also co-directing.
• Sunghoo Park, director of Jujutsu Kaisen and The God of High School, who is helping with action sequences and supplying storyboards.
• Toei Animation’s Yoshi Ikezawa, who is producing.

Toei first announced the film in February 2024 as a CG project called Hypergalactic.

In November 2024, Toei teamed with Spaceport Technologies and Twin Atlas on Hypergalactic: Monkey Quest, a Roblox game tied to the project. The game serves as a hub for an interconnected universe of games.

Toei Animation had also previously announced a partnership with Spaceport Technologies for Fortnite.