Studiocanal Adapts 'Rainbow Fish' as Puppet Film
Get the Culture newsletter
Daily culture — film, music, books, the trends and ideas worth your attention. Free.
- Studiocanal Germany is partnering with Claussen + Putz Filmproduktion and Zodiac Pictures on an animated feature adaptation of Marcus Pfister's 1992 children's book The Rainbow Fish, which has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide.
- The source material has drawn recent U.S. criticism for mixed messages about individuality, acceptance, coercion, and boundaries, sparking cancel culture debates, though Pfister maintains the story is ultimately about the beauty of sharing.
- Veteran puppeteer Florian Moch wrote the screenplay and is directing the film using traditional puppetry, partnering with Augsburg's 80-year-old puppet theater and crafting most of the puppets himself.
- The German voice cast includes actors Jannik Schümann, Luna Wedler, Bjarne Mädel, Andrea Sawatzki, Hella von Sinnen, and Mechthild Großmann, alongside TV host Tobi Krell, comedian Oliver Kalkofe, musician Bela B. Felsenheimer, and content creator Tom Böttcher.
- The film's plot sends the Rainbow Fish on an underwater quest with the Little Blue fish after he loses one of his glittering scales, learning that "true friendship is more precious than the most magnificent coat of scales."
- Filming continues in Augsburg until mid-July, with a German theatrical release set for November 19, 2026, and Studiocanal handling worldwide distribution and sales.
Why it matters: Studiocanal is committing major theatrical resources to a 30-million-copy property that is simultaneously a beloved children's staple and a U.S. cancel-culture flashpoint, betting that Augsburg's 80-year-old puppet theater's handcrafted traditional puppetry can differentiate the film from typical CGI family animation when it hits German cinemas November 19, 2026.
Ask SkimNews
