Dec 21, 2016

Google to premiere animation feature "Bunyan & Babe" for free

Another animated feature is being premiered internet-first on Google's online store, Google Play.

Bunyan & Babe, made by Exodus Film Group (Igor, The Hero of Color City), will be available to watch for free exclusively through Google Play from January 12 to February 16, 2017.

Check out the trailer, below.

Google Play, already visited by many to download and buy apps, songs, and movies, has been expanded by the search engine giant into new areas in recent months. The store was host to another feature animated film, the South Korean production Bling, earlier this year which was also available for free for a limited period.

Bunyan & Babe offers a high-profile voice cast including John Goodman, Kelsey Grammer, Jeff Foxworthy, and Mark Hamill, as well as YouTube star Johnny Orlando. It tells the story about a boy's discovery of a magical portal, where Paul Bunyan and his pet ox, Babe, live.

The 85-minute film, which was announced over a decade ago, was once planned as a live-action/cg hybrid and had Lord of the Rings visual effects supervisor Jim Rygiel attached as director. Mulan co-director Tony Bancroft was involved in the pre-production of the film and was also attached as director at one point. It being distributed by Cinedigm for its exclusive Google Play release. A theatrical release will follow in 12 U.S. markets, including New York and Los Angeles, on February 3, 2017.