Shout! Factory has acquired a package of rights to the Australian animated feature and plans a multi-platform release.

Shout! Factory has picked up Australian animated feature Blinky Bill: The Movie for North America from Munich-based sales agency Studio 100 Film.

With a package of exclusive rights including theatrical, broadcast, video-on-demand, digital and home entertainment, Shout! Factory plans a strategic launch of the film across multiple platforms through its Shout! Factory Kids imprint.

Produced by Studio 100’s Sydney-based animation studio Flying Bark Productions, Blinky Bill: The Movie has a voice cast headed by Ryan Kwanten, Rufus Sewell, Toni Collette and David Wenham. It tells the story of mischievous koala Bill’s search for his dad in the outback, in the company of a zoo koala and a frill-necked lizard. Deane Taylor directed and Alexs Stadermann co-directed.

Introduced in a 1933 book series, the character has appeared in 1992 film Blinky Bill, The Mischievous Koala andseveral other TV series and movies.

Patrick Elmendorff, CEO of Studio 100 Media, which previously did a deal with Shout! Factory on Maya the Bee – Movie, said: “With the multi-picture deal for our upcoming Maya the Bee feature film series already in place, we are delighted to announce the distribution agreement for the North American market for Blinky Bill – The Movie.”

Melissa Boag, Senior Vice President ofkids andfamily entertainment at Shout! Factory, added: “Blinky Bill is a well-known children’s brand and continues to grow in popularity around the world. This new animated feature is an exciting addition to our library of new family movies.”