Fox Animation, the studio behind the Ice Age and Rio franchises, has secured the motion pictures rights to the iconic Mr. Men Little Miss characters.

Sanrio Entertainment Division handles Mr. Men Little Miss brand extensions and experiential initiatives for U.S. and global distribution.  

“Sanrio Entertainment Division aims to connect fans with our properties beyond the standard retail license model,” says Janet Hsu, president and chief operating officer, Sanrio. “Partnering with Fox Animation will bring the Mr. Men Little Miss characters to life and evolve the storytelling for their multi-generational global fan base.”

Shawn Levy, the producer and director of the Night at the Museum franchise, will produce the upcoming film through his Fox-based production company 21 Laps Entertainment, although no writer or director has yet been announced.

“The Mr. Men and Little Miss characters have delighted readers from around the world for decades," says Vanessa Morrison, president, Fox Animation. “We are thrilled to work with Sanrio and 21 Laps on this beloved property.”

The Mr. Men Little Miss series of characters originated in books created by Roger Hargreaves in 1971 in the U.K. Each of the 85 characters is named after his or her unique personality traits.

“In addition to Sanrio’s Kawaii character family, the Mr. Men Little Miss characters are the perfect blend of self-expression, humor and nostalgia in a classic, contemporary brand," says Ray Hatoyama, chief executive officer, Mister Men, and managing director, Sanrio. "We are excited to take Roger Hargreaves’ creations to a new level for their loyal fans from around the world and continue to expand our global business with this portfolio.”