The Tibet Code (2023 film)

The Tibet Code
Directed by	Bret Haaland
Screenplay by	Qui Nguyen Adele Lim
Story by	Qui Nguyen
Based on	The Tibet Code by He Ma
Produced by	John Lasseter Amy Pascal Phil Lord Christopher Miller Christina Steinberg
Starring	Jake Gyllenhaal Tenzing Norgay Trainor Awkwafina Natasha Liu Bordizzo Lucy Liu Anthony Ramos Richard Ayoade
Edited by	Robert Fisher, Jr.
Music by	Henry Jackman
Production company	Columbia Pictures Sony Pictures Animation Movie Land Animation Studios Panko and Panda Studios Lord Miller Productions Pascal Pictures
Distributed by	Sony Pictures Releasing
Release date	February 10, 2023 (2023-02-10) (Regency Village Theatre) March 3, 2023 (2023-03-03) (United States) March 17, 2023 (2023-03-17) (China)
Running time	105 minutes
Language	English China
Country	United States
Budget	$70 million
Box office	$412.4 million

The Tibet Code is a 2023 American computer-animated fantasy adventure film based on the novel series of its same name written by He Ma. Produced by Sony Pictures Animation, Movie Land Animation Studios and Panko and Panda Studios, the film was directed by Bret Haaland, with the screenwriter from Qui Nguyen and Adele Lim and story by Qui Nguyen and stars the voices of Jake Gyllenhaal, Tenzing Norgay Trainor, Awkwafina, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Lucy Liu, Anthony Ramos and Richard Ayoade.

A film adaption, co-produced by the newly formed Oriental DreamWorks and China Film Group, was announced, but was cancelled in June 2015. In May 2019, the film was revived, with Sony Pictures Animation, Movie Land Animation Studios and Panko and Panda Studios acquired their rights to the film.

The Tibet Code premiered on Regency Village Theatre on February 10, 2023, and was released in the United States on March 3, 2023 by Sony Pictures Releasing under its Columbia Pictures label. The film received positive reviews from critics for its animation, voice acting, music score and worldbuilding, but criticized the screenplay and similarities to Disney's Strange World. The film grossed $412.4 million against its $70 million budget.

Plot

TBA

Cast

TBA

Production

Pre-production

In April 2013, DreamWorks Animation announced an adaption of The Tibet Code as the first project of its newly formed Chinese venture, Oriental DreamWorks, in collaboration with China Film Group. DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg described the film as "be[ing] for China, like the Indiana Jones and The Da Vinci Code films" and having "all the makings of a world-class, quality, blockbuster franchise." China Film Group chairman Han Sanping suggested that the film could also "represent traditional Chinese culture and Chinese morality" to the world. In June 2015, Los Angeles Times reported that the film adaptation had been cancelled. According to Katzenberg, his company could not come to terms with the producer who owned the rights to the book.

Criticism

The announcement of DreamWorks' participation in a film about Tibet, a region often associated in the West with accusations of human rights violations and forced cultural assimilation, was greeted by some critics as pandering to the Chinese government for access to the country's lucrative film market. At the announcement press conference, Katzenberg stressed that "the books themselves are not political. The movie shouldn't be assumed to be controversial and political."

Revival and development

On May 23, 2019, it was announced that Movie Land Animation Studios had picked up The Tibet Code earlier in the year, with Sony Pictures acquiring rights to the film. It was produced by Sony Pictures Animation and Panko and Panda Studios. It premiered on Regency Village Theatre on February 10, 2023, and was released on March 3, 2023, by Sony Pictures Releasing. They started working on the film in September 2020. In October 2020, Bret Haaland from Fast & Furious Spy Racers was hired as a film's director, with Qui Nguyen and Adele Lim from Raya and the Last Dragon were hired as a screenwriter.

Animation, design, and influences

While the animation for the film was provided by Movie Land Digital Production Services (MLDPS), Panko and Panda Studios handled the 2D animation services, with a help from Studio Mir, using Pixar RenderMan. A 3D map of China was downloaded and rebuilt in the pipeline. The Tibet Code uses an art style inspired by that of I Lost My Body, Abominable and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. According to Haaland, The Tibet Code is a nod to pulp magazines—popular fiction from the first half of the 20th century that was printed on inexpensive wood pulp paper, including films like Journey to the Center of the Earth, Fantastic Voyage and King Kong. He also said "[he] loved reading the old issues of pulps growing up. They were big adventures in which a group of explorers might discover a hidden world or ancient creatures. They've been a huge inspiration for The Tibet Code.

Music

On November 25, 2022, it was announced that Henry Jackman, Movie Land's infrequent collaborator, would compose the score for The Tibet Code, marking his second collaboration with Bret Haaland, after Tom the Hand 6. Skywalker Sound worked on sound design and temp mixing for the film. The soundtrack album was released on March 2, 2023 by Sony Classical Records.

Release

The Tibet Code premiered on Regency Village Theatre on February 10, 2023, and was released on March 3, 2023 in the United States in IMAX, Dolby Cinema, RealD 3D and 2D theater formats. In China, the film was released on March 17, 2023.

Reception

Box-office

The Tibet Code was projected to gross $26 million on its $70 million budget.

Critical responses

On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 90% of 100 critics gave the film a positive review, with an average rating of 8.83/10. Using a weighted average calculator, Metacritic assigned the film a score of 78 out of 100, based on 90 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.

External links

• Official website
• The Tibet Code at IMDb

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Fox • Andy Samberg • Keegan-Michael Key • Rihanna • John DiMaggio • Tenzing Norgay Trainor • Shameik Moore • Jake Johnson Signature musicians Henry Jackman • James Newton Howard • Lorne Balfe • Rupert Gregson-Williams • Junkie XL • Daniel Pemberton Signature character designer Monty LaBueno • Ronnie del Carmen • Jin Kim • Shiyoon Kim Visual Development & Storyboard Artists Dante Eriksen • Cody Cameron • Andrew Stanton • Shiyoon Kim • Jin Kim • Geoff Johns • Ronnie del Carmen Related topics Related media and projects Panko and Panda Studios • Kumar Coca • Movie Land Animation Studios Canada • La Femme Rouge Entertainment • RedCrackle VFX Defunct Birdy Animation • Touchstone Animation Studios • Sphere Ball Studios • Shank Films • Hands Studio • The Bellas VFX Studios Miscellaneous Warner Bros. films (Unproduced Warner Bros. projects • WAG films • Warner Bros. animated films • Warner Bros. Animation franchises and productions) • Movie Land and LGBT representation in animation • Acquisition of Movie Land by Sony Pictures See also Movie Land • Movie Land Entertainment • Warner Bros. Animation • Warner Animation Group • Sony Pictures Animation • Columbia Pictures