Monster Mia set for UK and Ireland theatrical release
Kazoo Films, the kids and family animated feature distribution company launched by award-winning independent production company Cantilever Media, is further expanding its slate of animated family movies, acquiring UK and Ireland rights to a new seasonal CGI-animated family film from German sales agent Sola Media – spooky-school adventure Monster Mia.
The acquisitions mark Kazoo’s fifth theatrical release, following a strong launch that has established the company as the UK’s leading independent distributor of original animated features. Monster Mia opens in cinemas across the UK on 23 October, ahead of Halloween.
Kazoo Films generated £2.5 million at the UK and Ireland box office across its first four releases between August 2025 and April 2026. It was the highest-grossing distributor of independent animation during this period, releasing three of the top four highest-grossing original independent animated films: Night of the Zoopocalypse, Grand Prix of Europe and Stitch Head.
Monster Mia, produced by ARX Anima, Peng Boom Tschak, Arxlight Pictures and ARX Anima MD, is an 85-minute CGI-animated family film directed by Verena Fels. Adapted from Coolabi Group’s Monstrous Maud book series, it follows a rebellious human girl and her pet rat Quentin who are sent to a secret school attended entirely by monsters.
Mia is a free spirit who feels totally out of place in her picture-perfect hometown of Primrose. When her inquisitive nature causes one too many problems at school, Mia is sent to the mysterious Rotwood Academy. After discovering her new classmates are vampires, mummies, ghosts, werewolves and all other kinds of monsters, Mia starts to feel she’s finally found the place where she fits in. As she realises the monsters are afraid of humans as much as humans are monsters, Mia must find a way to bring the two worlds together before the wicked plans of her new Vice Principle, Van Vlad, cause disaster for all.
“We are delighted that Kazoo will be releasing Monster Mia this Halloween. Following its world premiere at Annecy, Kazoo joins a large group of theatrical distributors around the world that will bring the film to audiences on more than 2,700 screens worldwide. With its outstanding family film slate and its passionate commitment to reaching broad family audiences, Kazoo is the perfect home for our films. We look forward to a successful and long-lasting collaboration.”
Solveig Langeland, Founder and Managing Director of Sola Media
“We’re delighted to be adding Monster Mia to our theatrical slate. Event-driven seasonal family releases continue to perform strongly, and this is a high-quality film with broad audience appeal. Following an outstanding first year for Kazoo, this acquisition build further momentum for the business as we continue to grow our slate of premium animated features for UK and Ireland audiences and we will have more animated family movies that we will be releasing next year.”
Andrew Baker, CEO of Kazoo Films
