The Irish author’s trilogy of children’s books began with ‘Darkmouth: The Legends Begin’ in 2015 followed by ‘Worlds Explode’ and ‘Chaos Descends’. David Pimental (How to Train Your Dragon) and Doug Sweetland (Finding Nemo) will direct the project, which his adapted by Lloyd Taylor (Pigeon Impossible).
‘Darkmouth’ follows the over eager Finn, a twelve year-old Legend Hunter who enters into the family business of hunting monsters.
Pimental and Sweetland have combined experience across an impressive belt of animated projects for Walt Disney Studios, DreamWorks Animation and Fox Animation.
Pimental has most recently head of story for ‘Moana’ (Ron Clements & John Musker, Disney), a position he also held on ‘How to Drain Your Dragon (Dean DeBlois & Chris Sanders , DreamWorks). Other credits include his role as story artist on ‘Big Hero 6’ (Don Hall & Chris Williams, DreamWorks) and ‘Mr. Peabody & Sherman’(Rob Minkoff, Bullwinkle Studios).
Sweetland received an Oscar nomination in 2008 for his animated short film ‘Presto’ and has since gone on to ‘co-direct ‘Storks’ in 2016 with Nicholas Stoller and ‘Pigeon Toady's Guide to Your New Baby’ with Matt Flynn. He is also credited as an animator on ‘Toy Story’, ‘Finding Nemo’, ‘Monsters Inc’, ‘Cars’ and more.
‘Darkmouth’ is set to be produced by Craig Peck, Andrew A. Kosove, Broderick Johnson, Kira David and Simon Brooks.
Shane Hegarty, Author:
“This is the kind of news a writer dreams of, to be honest. I love movies, and with four kids we see every animated film that comes into town. The directors Doug and Dave have worked on some of the very best ever made, so Darkmouth is in extraordinary hands. I’ve seen a little of the early work on it and know it’s going to be very special.
Hegarty’s series is published by Harper Collins Children’s Books.
