The film was written by Mehdi Salehi Aghdam and Tanhaee and produced by Tanhaee. Vision Films negotiated the North American deal with global distributor Fantastic Films International (“FFI”). This independently produced animated feature that took over two years to complete blends adventure and emotional storytelling with universal themes of identity, hope, and friendship.
The Secret of Butterflies was originally released in Persian and dubbed into English for the North American release. It was awarded Best Director & Best Children’s Film Nomination at the 30th International Children & Youth Film Festival (Isfahan, Iran) and Best Animated Feature Award by the Ministry of Culture (Tabriz, Iran).
Synopsis: The story’s hero insect dreams of becoming a butterfly and being able to fly. He hears of a powerful white spider that has discovered the secret of making beautiful butterflies. Setting out to find this spider, he befriends several other insects on his journey. But when he learns of the spider’s evil plan, he must face his fears and rely on his new friends and determination to stop it before the spider conquers the insect world. His journey is filled with unexpected challenges, encounters, and tough decisions.
Lise Romanoff, CEO and Managing Director of Vision Films, says “The Secret of Butterflies is a beautifully animated story about the power of identity, perseverance, and friendship. It shares the universal family-friendly lesson about the journey towards believing in oneself.”
Filmmaker Ali Tanhaee shares, “Creating this animation has been one of the most joyful and rewarding experiences of my career. From my perspective, the core message of the film is: A person must first find themselves and believe in who they are. True beauty lies within us not in the superficial sparkle we see in ads and social media. In today’s world, where social media has heavily influenced how beauty is defined, I wanted to explore this concern through the eyes of insects, offering a fresh and different perspective for the audience.”
With the voice talents of Innes Maas, Tara Macpherson (Mini World: Powers Awaken), Jaryd Pilay, David Wilke, Jake Maisel (Black Sails), and Janeke Huisamen.
