Spotlighting a New Generation of HK Animation Filmmakers, Feature Film Makes its World Premiere at the 2025 Annecy International Animation Film Festival
GKIDS, the acclaimed distributor of award-winning animation, announced today it acquired North American distribution rights to ANOTHER WORLD, the directorial debut of Tommy Ng Kai Chung, written and produced by Polly Yeung Po Man, and produced by veteran film producer Chan Gin Kai. The feature animated film is adapted from the popular Japanese novel SENNENKI (千年鬼) by Naka Saijo and published by Tokuma Shoten Publishing Co., Ltd. This month, the fantasy drama will make its world premiere at the prestigious 2025 Annecy International Animation Film Festival as an Official Selection in the Midnight Specials section, marking the first time in over two decades that a Hong Kong animated feature has been invited to Annecy—the last being My Life as McDull in 2003.
A dark fairytale spanning a thousand years, across earth and a spiritual realm, ANOTHER WORLD tells the story of Gudo, a spirit who guides transient souls on their journey to reincarnation. He encounters a young girl named Yuri, and embarks on a dangerous journey to prevent her unresolved rage from unleashing a hidden curse that could destroy the world. The film stands out for its strong message and its diversity of tonalities – between benevolence and horror, serenity and nightmare, grief and acceptance.
© Point Five Creations / the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region 2025 All Rights Reserved
“Another World is a captivating and moving exploration of life and death with awe-inspiring visuals that showcases the incredible young talent coming out of Hong Kong,” said GKIDS’ Director of Content, Erica Chon. “With mind-blowing action sequences deftly grounded by heartfelt emotional storytelling, we are so thrilled to introduce Director Ng’s stunning directorial debut to North America.”
“To me, the characters in this story feel profoundly real,” said director Ng. “When faced with truths too heavy to bear, they falter. They grieve, they rage—and they cling to the unresolved questions in their hearts. That stubbornness, that unwillingness to let go, has the power to destroy them… but it also fuels their strength. It becomes the fire that lights their path forward, even in darkness.”
Said screenwriter/producer Yeung, “In a world that is so full of anger and despair, worsened by the divisive opinions and hateful comments that we are relentlessly exposed to on social media, rage spreads more virally than all other emotions. As storytellers, we strive to use the animation medium to help relieve the angst that audiences feel within, and hopefully turn their anger into change.”
Said producer Chan, “I was drawn as much by the story as by the incredible talents of Tommy and Polly. Another World is a global collaboration that brings together artists from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, France, and the Philippines. With an average team age of just 28, it’s inspiring to see such young creators craft a story this emotionally layered and visually compelling. I’m honored to be part of a project that showcases a new generation of storytellers for a global audience.”
A global collaboration spanning artists from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, France and the Philippines, ANOTHER WORLD continues GKIDS’ tradition of bringing visionary animated storytelling to U.S. audiences. Release plans, including a theatrical run and home entertainment rollout, will be announced at a later date. The feature film is financed through equity investments from the Film Development Fund of Hong Kong and Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) (Hong Kong), AnimeKey (Saudi Arabia), Full Colour Limited (Hong Kong), TMZ Media (China), and Digital Hollywood University (Japan), as well as a production grant from the Film Development Council of the Philippines.
The deal was negotiated between Rodney Uhler of GKIDS, and Chan Gin Kai of Silver Media and Polly Yeung of Point Five Creations.
| ANOTHER WORLD NORTH AMERICAN DISTRIBUTOR: GKIDS PRODUCTION COMPANIES: Point Five Creations, Silver Media Group DIRECTOR: Tommy Ng Kai Chung WRITER: Polly Yeung Po Man PRODUCER: Polly Yeung Po Man, Chan Gin Kai COUNTRY: Hong Kong LANGUAGE: Cantonese (Original) RUNNING TIME: 112 minutes |