The two companies will co-rep sales slate of animated feature films starting with launch of Bird Brain at EFM 2026
UK Independent production company Cantilever Media, producer of animated franchise The Amazing Maurice, and global sales and financing outfit Architect have entered into an exclusive joint venture which will see the two companies sell and finance two high quality animated family feature films to the global market each year.
This deal builds on the launch of Cantilever Media’s own distribution company Kazoo Films in 2025 which distributes animated family features in the UK and Ireland, which it will continue to do with Architect handling rest of world sales.
In Kazoo’s first year, it has successfully launched Grand Prix of Europe, Night of the Zoopocalypse, and on 13 February they are set to release Stitch Head across the UK and Ireland – a feature which has already grossed over $4.5m in the US.
The launch of the joint venture also follows the announcement of a co-production agreement between Cantilever Media and ReDefine Originals (Bollywoof, 100% Wolf, Talking Tom Heroes: Suddenly Super) to produce two features per year over an initial period of three years. ReDefine Originals will be the animation studio for films produced by Cantilever Media with Cantilever’s distribution company, Kazoo Films, taking UK rights. The joint venture with Architect will manage these films for rest of world sales.
The first film from the joint venture, which launches ahead of the EFM, is Bird Brain, adapted from the hilarious novel by Guy Kennaway. The film follows Basil “Banger” Peyton-Crumb, a crusty British aristocrat obsessed with game hunting, who gets more than he bargained for following a hunting accident, when he awakes to find himself transformed into a pheasant. Banding together with his previous prey to survive the impending shooting season, Banger soon learns the value of friendship, family…and learning to fly. Multi BAFTA award-winner Dana Dorian, who co-founded Axis Animation in Glasgow, is directing. Architect will introduce the script, together with early designs to buyers at the EFM.
This is the first film co-produced between Cantilever Media, ReDefine Originals, Kazoo Films and Architect.
“This is an exciting, and logical, next step for Cantilever Media as we continue to build our studio model. We are now able to work on our own projects from development though to production and release globally, working alongside our own UK/Ireland distribution company Kazoo Films. Bird Brain is a fun animated film for the whole family and we are looking forward to unveiling it at Berlinale.”
Andrew Baker, CEO of Cantilever Media
“Andrew and the Cantilever Team are some of the very best practitioners of animation outside the US studio system. Their understanding of the market and track record of delivering high quality, commercial family films speak for themselves. Crucially, this new partnership allows us to pool intelligence gleaned from the international territories and the UK distribution business to feed into story design and optimisation from inception. Technical quality, marketing materials and delivery will be first class and these packages will be truly tailored for modern global audiences. It’s an exciting new chapter for us as we continue to evolve and grow, one that reinforces our commitment to delivering audience facing, commercial movies for today’s audiences.”
Calum Gray, Co-founder and Partner at Architect
