Paperboat Reveals Animation Slate, Including ‘Kabuliwala’ Adaptation (EXCLUSIVE)

variety.com:

Naman Ramachandran Toronto-headquartered animation outfit Paperboat Animation Studios has revealed a new slate.The slate is led by “Kabuliwala: Man from Kabul,” a 3D animated feature based on the classic short story by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.

The story, which has already been adapted several times as live-action features, tells the story of the bond between a 6-year-old girl from Kolkata, India, and an immigrant hawker from Kabul, Afghanistan.Paperboat co-founder and chief creative director Soumitra Ranade, whose credits include “Bombay Rose” and “The World of Goopy and Bagha,” adapted the story and will direct.

The project won a script development award at the Asia Pacific Screen Academy, Brisbane, and was selected for the MPA-APSA-Busan International Film Festival project pitch.

Paperboat was recently acquired by Singapore-based media content and technology company Vistas Media Capital.“Kabuliwala” is being shepherded by veteran Hollywood producer and financier Benjamin Waisbren (“300,” “22 Jump Street”), who recently joined Vistas to lead the company’s new North America division.Also in the works is 10-part animated streaming series “Itch,” which is aimed at adults and will follow the lives of 10 individuals as they experience challenging urban circumstances.