Sony Announces Sly Cooper Animated Film

He’s one of the most respected and beloved of Sony’s mascots. Maybe it makes perfect sense to give him his own movie.

Sony has announced an animated feature film based on their long-running Sly Cooper franchise. Due out in 2016, it’s described as a “kinetic and comedic heist” movie that tells the story of an orphaned racoon (Sly) and his childhood friends, Bentley Turtle and Murray Hippo. TMNT director Kevin Munroe wrote the screenplay, and he’ll also handle the directing duties.

Here’s the story outline:

“Sly learns of his birth family’s secret legacy; that he comes from a long line of talented and international thieves. Endowed with this knowledge, Sly and his friends are catapulted into a global adventure as they race to reassemble pieces of an ancient book holding The Cooper Clan’s family secrets before it can fall into the hands of Clockwerk – an evil Russian metallic owl bent on ending the Cooper family line. From romantic Parisian backdrops to the lush mountains of China, gritty film noir meets bright, colorful graphic novels in this origin story of the world’s greatest thief-turned-hero.”

Rainmaker Entertainment and Blockade Entertainment are working on this project. They’re also cranking away on the new Ratchet & Clank movie, so these studios have their hands full right now.

Everyone loves animated films these days. If they do it right, Sly Cooper should be a big hit among the youngsters. If you’re interested, check out the first official trailer.