Studio 100 Film is set to present the animated family adventure The Last Dodo to the international stage for the very first time at this year’s American Film Market (AFM), marking its official world market premiere and managing worldwide sales. The colorful CGI-animated feature, co-produced by Cheeky Little Media and Cantilever Media, brings to life the heartwarming and high-spirited story of Dave the Dodo – a tale of friendship, courage and discovering your wings, even when you’re not supposed to fly.
Dave is the last of his kind: a naive, relentlessly optimistic dodo, who faces extinction in the dangerous streets of 1628 London. With the help of the streetwise rat Eggy, he must overcome his fear of flying to survive. The Last Dodo is a vibrant family film filled with laugh-out-loud moments and quirky characters.
The award-winning animation studio Cheeky Little Media, behind shows like Kangaroo Beach, Vegesaurs, and Kazoops, and based in Sydney, Australia, is producing. Cantilever Media, best known for The Amazing Maurice (based on the award-winning book The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents by Sir Terry Pratchett and featuring the voices of Hugh Laurie and Emilia Clarke), brings its expertise to the project. The co-production is led by Patrick Egerton, Andrew Baker, and Carys Rowan bringing together creative talent from Australia, the UK, and India.
Written by Simon and Tristan Dodd and directed by Jun Falkenstein (The Tigger Movie), The Last Dodo follows the action-packed and humorous adventures of Dave and his best friend Eggy being as the encounter a host of colourful characters on the streets of London, where Dave’s unshakable optimism turns danger into friendship, until the taxidermists close in and his friends must come to his rescue. The film also carries a deeper message: with resilience, hope, and self-belief, overcoming even the biggest challenges is possible, and can literally make you fly.
Through magical 17th-century settings, eccentric characters, and a balance of slapstick humor and emotional depth, the film offers a touching story of courage, belonging, and second chances, designed to entertain kids and families alike.
“What excites me most about this project is how it reimagines the dodo – not as a relic of extinction, but as the beating heart of a hilarious buddy story. Unpredictable, funny, and full of character, it carries a message between the laughs. Full of humor, heart, and a duo nobody saw coming, this film will win audiences over,” says Lorena Booth, Senior Manager Sales & Acquisition at Studio 100 Film.
“The dodo is such a talismanic creature in our collective imagination. Whether it’s tragedy, comedy, or a bit of both, the dodo always resonates and makes us feel something. That’s what we’ve distilled into Dave, a lead character you will love spending time with on this super funny and heart-stopping adventure for the whole family,” says Patrick Egerton, Chief Content Officer at Cheeky Little Media.
Andrew Baker, CEO of Cantilever Media adds, “The Last Dodo is a heart-warming film for the whole family, and we are thrilled to be working with Cheeky Little and Studio 100 Film to bring this fabulous story to life.”
The Last Dodo has a planned running time of 85 minutes, is currently in financing and development, and set for delivery in 2027. Studio 100 Film will introduce the film to buyers and industry professionals at AFM 2025.
