| Four Souls of Coyote | |
|---|---|
 Promotional release poster | |
| Hungarian | Kojot négy lelke |
| Directed by | Áron Gauder |
| Written by |
|
| Produced by | Réka Temple |
| Edited by | Áron Gauder |
| Music by | |
| Animation by | Zsolt Baumgartner |
| Color process | Color |
Production company | Cinemon Entertainment |
| Distributed by | Vertigo Media |
Release date |
|
Running time | 100 minutes |
| Country | Hungary |
| Language | Hungarian |
Four Souls of Coyote (Hungarian:Kojot négy lelke) is a 2023 Hungarian animatedadventuredrama film directed byÁron Gauder, who co-wrote the film withGéza Bereményi. Set in the present day, the film showsNative American protesters confronting the crew of an oil pipeline project, just down the hill from the land of their ancestors, and highlights the pressing need to live in harmony with the environment.[1] It was released in Hungarian cinemas on 16 March 2023 by Vertigo Media.[2][3]
Four Souls of Coyote was selected as the Hungarian entry for theBest International Feature Film at the96th Academy Awards.[4] On December 7, it appeared in the eligible list for consideration for the 2024 Oscars,[5] but it did not make it to the shortlist.[6]
Set in the present day, the scenario featuresNative American protesters confronting the crew of an oil pipeline project near their ancestral land. The grandfather shares an ancient tale of their Creation myth, reminding humans that the challenges facing humanity are universal and that they need to find their place in the great circle of creation. The film has tagline: "Nothing is eternal but the Earth and the mountains".
The story highlights that humans are just a small part of creation, and that destroying Earth because we think we are special is self-damaging. The story is a clarion call to act, to correct course before it's too late.
The story filled with adventures featuring animals, magic, hunger, greed, and the sacred circle of all creations, gives us hope that it is not too late to save Earth.
| Role | Hungarian voice[7] | English dub[8] |
|---|---|---|
| Old Creator | János Papp | Lorne Cardinal |
| Grandpa | ||
| Coyote | Péter Bozsó | Diontae Black |
| Man (16–50 years old) | Tamás Széles | Danny Kramer |
| Sanders | ||
| Woman (16–50 years old) | Gerda Pikali | Stephanie Novak |
| Mataoka | Priscilla Landham | |
| Boy (2–9 years old) | Bálint Vida | David Mattle |
| Girl (2–9 years old) | Sára Vida | Lily Rose Silver |
| Duck | Péter Scherer | Bill Farmer |
| Raccoon | Péter Vida | |
| Buffalo | Róbert Bolla | Cle Bennett |
| Commander | ||
| Wolf | Álmos Előd | |
| Eagle | Armand Kautzky | Bob Klein |
| Chancellor | Áron Gauder | |
| CEO | ||
| Lightning | Csaba Debreczeny | John Bentley |
| Mountain lion | Barnabás Szabó Sipos | |
| Grandson | uncredited | |
| Bear | Zoltán Schneider | Fred Tatasciore |
| Captain | András Faragó | |
| Lawyer | ||
| Antelope | uncredited | |
| Opossum | uncredited | |
| Gloria | Luca Kis-Kovács | Karin Anglin |
Áron Gauder began working on the film in 2017 with Cinemon and producer Réka Temple.[9][10] In February 2022, first photos from the animated film showing the creation story of the Native Americans were published.[11] By May 2022, 95% animation was completed.[12] The film was shot in 2D animation with audio in 5.1/stereo format.[1]
The music and songs are composed byJoanne Shenandoah,Mariee Siou, Session Voices,Ulali, andNorthern Cree.[1]
The film was released in Hungary on 16 March 2023.[13] In April, it competed inArizona International Film Festival and was screened on 28 April 2023.[14] It was also selected at theAnnecy International Animation Film Festival in Feature competition, where it won Jury Award[15] and at the 25thShanghai International Film Festival, where it won Golden Goblet for Best Animation Film on 18 June 2023.[16][17] At theKecskemét Animation Film Festival it was screened on 25 June as winner of Grand Prize.[18][19]
It was screened in Anima't section at the56th Sitges Film Festival in October 2023.[20] The film was shown at the Hungarian Film Festival of Los Angeles on October 28, 2023.[21] It opened theRed Nation Film Festival on 3 November 2023.[22]
It was reported on 6 June 2023, that Gebeka International, a France based sales company, has taken the sales rights of the film.[23]
Wendy Ide review forScreenDaily gave positive views and opined, "With its emphasis on mythic storytelling and its elegant, stylised graphic approach, the film could connect with a similar audience to that ofCartoon Saloon’s forays into Irish folkloric fantasy: TheSong of the Sea,The Secret of Kells andWolfwalkers." Ide felt that by framing the beauty of nature in every frame and "using a striking blend of 2D and 3D animation and a strong graphic style pleasingly reminiscent of the work of mid-century artistCharley Harper, the film is a timely reminder of the importance of living harmoniously with the natural world."[24] Fabien Lemercier reviewing forCineuropa highlighted the theme of the film with the quote placed at the beginning of the film, "Only when the last tree has died, the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realise that we can't eat money." Concluding Lemercier wrote, "Four Souls of Coyote is both simple and subtly sophisticated, both narratively and visually," Lemercier added, "[it is] a mystical ode to nature that rightly reminds us that 'man does not weave the web of life. He is only a strand of it'".[25]
In addition to the selection of the film as the Hungarian entry for theBest International Feature Film at the96th Academy Awards, it wonGolden Goblet Award for Best Animation Film at the Shanghai International Film Festival.[26]
| Award | Date | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona International Film Festival | 28 April 2023 | Special Jury Award for Innovative Animation | Four Souls of Coyote | Won | [14] |
| Třeboň Anifilm | 17 May 2023 | The Liberec Region Audience Award | Won | [27] | |
| New Media Film Festival | 5 June 2023 | Grand Prize | Won | [28] | |
| Annecy International Animation Film Festival | 17 June 2023 | Jury Award | Won | [15][29] | |
| Cristal for a Feature Film | Nominated | ||||
| Shanghai International Film Festival | 18 June 2023 | Golden Goblet Award for Best Animation Film | Won | [16] | |
| Kecskemét Animation Film Festival | 25 June 2023 | Grand Prize | Won | [18] | |
| Audience Award | Won | ||||
| Best European Feature Film | Won | ||||
| Annie Awards | February 17, 2024 | Best Animated Feature — Independent | Nominated | [30] |
