Archive notice: This article was originally published on October 6, 2008. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
LILLY THE WITCH: THE DRAGON AND THE MAGIC BOOK is based on the popular children’s books by bestselling author KNISTER, whose works have sold more than ten million copies worldwide. Following the animated series, which attracted almost half a million viewers per episode, Lilly is coming to the cinema. Munich-based BLUE EYES produced the film with TRIXTER, whose work included the animated HUI BUH: THE GOOFY GHOST. Austrian filmmaker Stefan Ruzowitzky, director of ANATOMY and Academy Award winner for THE COUNTERFEITERS, directed and co-wrote the screenplay with Ralph Martin and Armin Toerkell.
The family adventure’s central attraction is the small CGI dragon Hector, voiced in German by comedian Michael Mittermeier. The cast includes newcomer Alina Freund as Lilly, Anja Kling as her mother, Ingo Naujoks as the evil magician Hieronymus, Pilar Bardem as the witch Surulunda, and Yvonne Catterfeld in a guest role.
The BLUE EYES and TRIXTER production was produced by Corinna Mehner and Michael Coldewey.
Financing support came from FilmFernsehFonds Bayern, Filmförderungsanstalt Berlin, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, MEDIA, the German Federal Film Fund, Bayerischer Bankenfonds, the Austrian Film Institute, Filmfonds Wien, ORF under the film/television agreement, Catalonia’s ICIC, Spain’s ICAA and the Instituto de la Cinematografía y de las Artes Audiovisuales.
LILLY THE WITCH: THE DRAGON AND THE MAGIC BOOK is the first German production to be released theatrically by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Germany under the Walt Disney label. The tie-in book was due from Arena Verlag in November 2008.
