Mercury Filmworks and Goodbye Productions will co-produce the animated feature Once Our Land, a fantasy/sci-fi period piece for family audiences based on the graphic novel by Peter Ricq. The announcement was made today by Chantal Ling, VP Original Series & Co-Productions and Amber Ripley, Founder, Goodbye Productions.

Set in 1830’s Europe, Once Our Land tells the story of 11-year-old Ingrid; a young girl forced to fend for herself in a ravaged city overrun by fearsome beasts from another world. It’s in this cruel “past-apocalyptic” world where trust is in short supply that Ingrid forges an unlikely friendship with Fritz, a grizzled, old, eye-patched warrior with an unexpectedly eccentric personality. Together, Fritz and Ingrid embark on a dangerous journey to rid the city they love of the cruel beasts, and to learn to trust again.

Part light survival horror, part action, with strong heart and a healthy dose of levity-bringing humor, Once Our Land is a touching tale of trust and friendship set against the backdrop of eldritch horror.

The film adaptation reunites artist/director Peter Ricq with screenwriter Phil Ivanusic Vallée. The duo were the creative force behind multiple animated series including The League of Super Evil as well as the live-action feature film Dead Shack.

Once Our Land marks Ricq and Ivanusic-Vallée’s second collaboration with prolific producer Amber Ripley and their first collaboration with Mercury Filmworks. The team recently received Telefilm and Harold Greenberg development funds for the feature adaptation.