Peppa Pig’s theatrical release in China scheduled for Chinese New Year 2019.

eOne and Alibaba Pictures Group have jointly announced plans for their first co-production, which will mark Peppa Pig’s big screen debut in cinemas throughout China. eOne and Alibaba Pictures will co-produce a full-length feature film which contains live action and brand new animated content. The film, Peppa Celebrates Chinese New Year, is scheduled for release in China on February 5th 2019, coinciding with the 2019 Year of the Pig.

Wei Zhang, president of Alibaba Pictures, commented: “This cooperation is an important opportunity to promote cultural exchange between China and the West. Alibaba Pictures is excited to share China’s traditions and culture with the rest of the world. The Peppa Pig series emphasizes the importance of family values, and that is something which will deeply resonate with Chinese audiences. We hope this family film will pave the way for further development of films for young audiences in China.”

The film’s storyline was developed specifically for young families celebrating Chinese New Year and it incorporates many Chinese New Year traditions, such as dragon dancing, dumpling wrapping and other traditional customs. The film will also introduce brand new characters, including Panda twins. Limited-edition panda-themed merchandise will be released exclusively through Ali Fish, the licensing and entertainment business unit under Alibaba Pictures.

eOne’s Olivier Dumont, president family & brands, commented: “There is a huge fan base for Peppa Pig in China, so we’re thrilled with the prospect of bringing the brand’s first ever theatrical release to cinemas in the region in early 2019. We’ve worked closely with Alibaba Pictures to create content and cinema-themed merchandise with special cultural significance that will resonate with Chinese audiences. We look forward to delighting Chinese families with an unforgettable cinema experience when the film opens next year.”