Telescope Animation’s Co-CEO and Co-Founder Reza Memari’s first solo feature, The Last Whale Singer (Der Letzten Walsänger), premiered its first scene at Berlin’s European Film Market (EFM) on 13 February. Co-produced by Canada’s La Boîte à Fanny and Czech studio PFX, the 3D, English-language animated film is currently in production, with a planned runtime of 85 minutes.
Previously, the project won the German Animation Screenplay Award at ITFS Stuttgart in 2020. The film is also being showcased at this year’s edition of Cartoon Movie. Memari, who also penned the script, commented on the film’s presence at EFM:
This project represents both a deeply personal journey and a chance to inspire real change in marine conservation, while taking families on an exhilarating underwater adventure. I couldn’t be prouder to present our work at EFM.
His debut animated feature, Richard the Stork, which he co-wrote and co-directed with Toby Genkel, premiered at the Berlinale in 2017 and became a worldwide critical and commercial success, followed by a sequel in 2023, Richard the Stork and the Mystery of the Great Jewel.
The protagonist of The Last Whale Singer is Vincent, a teenage orphaned humpback whale who begins doubting his abilities after losing his parents, particularly his father—the last Whale Singer. When the monstrous Leviathan escapes from a melting iceberg, threatening marine life, Vincent embarks on a perilous journey into the deep sea, hoping to bring his father back from the mythical Star Pool to stop the creature. With the help of Walter, a cleaner fish, and Darya, a deaf orca, Vincent must overcome his fears and find his own song to save the seas.
According to the creative team, the story promises to be “a visually stunning underwater epic that blends the emotional depth of a coming-of-age story with timely environmental themes.”
Munich-based outfit Global Screen is handling the film’s world sales, with pre-sales already secured in major territories, including France and French-speaking regions (via KMBO), Australia (via Icon Film Distribution), Portugal (via PRIS Audiovisuais), Greece (via Rosebud21), and Germany (via Little Dream Pictures).
Martin Schneider, International Acquisition Manager at Global Screen, commented:
We are thrilled to see this film building strong momentum in pre-sales, ensuring its powerful and timely message will reach audiences worldwide.
Moreover, the animated feature will be accompanied by The Last Whale Singer: Rise of the Leviathan, a 3D rhythm-action game set for release in 2026 on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. The game is being developed by the newly established Telescope Game Studios. That same year, a related animated series featuring the same characters will debut in a 26 x 11’ format. The series will be co-produced by Big Bad Boo, with backing from Medienboard Berlin- Brandenburg and the Canada Media Fund.
Read the article online on the #1/2025 issue of The European Animation Journal
