Slated for a September 1st release at the Village East in New York, as well as at L.A.’s Laemmle Santa Monica and Laemmle Glendale and additional markets nationwide (view the full list here), the film based on the children’s books by Gabrielle Vincent has Andrew Kishino playing Ernest the bear, with Ashley Boettcher as his unlikely mouse friend Celestine. Others in this cast of the film, which is also coming to U.S. theaters in its original French-language form, include David Lodge, Anne Yatco, Lena Josephine Marano, Bill Lobley and Daniel Hagan. Check out its trailer above.
The new Ernest & Celestine flick nabbed a nomination for Best Animated Feature at the 48th César Awards after opening in France in December. It watches as Celestine accidentally breaks Ernest’s beloved violin, with the pair then taking a long voyage to Ernest’s country of Gibbertia, in order to track down the only artist who can repair it. When they arrive, they are shocked to discover that all forms of music have been banned in Gibbertia for many years, and a land once known across the world for its incredible musicians has fallen silent. It is then up to Ernest, Celestine and their new friends, including a mysterious masked outlaw, to bring music and happiness back to the land of bears.