LUSA 10/18/2025

Lusa - Business News - Portugal: Animated feature film 'guaranteed success' - producer

Viana do Castelo, Portugal, Oct. 17, 2025 (Lusa) - The producer of “Viana, A Lenda Dos Corações De Ouro” (Viana, The Legend of the Golden Hearts), co-founder of Watermelon Productions, said on Friday that he was sure of the “success” of the 3D animated feature film, inspired by a legend from Viana do Castelo, in an investment of €15 million.

"I'm sure it's going to be a success, because it was a film made with the necessary ingredients for success. A fantastic story, very well written, very well developed, which is capable of attracting audiences, families and children," said Rui Miranda.

Speaking to Lusa by telephone, as he lives in the USA, Rui Miranda, about the film's presentation next Thursday at the Sá de Miranda Municipal Theatre in Viana do Castelo, explained that "the story has an excellent balance between love story, fun and action", as well as being "a musical".

The film will be completed in March 2026 and the premiere will take place in the summer, also at the Sá de Miranda, but no date has yet been set.

"The story was constructed to have a very strong musical component, which is fundamental for children to adhere to. We added the transformation of this story into a top film product, on a par with Disney. This is done using talent with a proven track record in animation. That's why it's the most expensive production ever in Portugal."

"The investment is €10 million in production alone. Then there will be more investment in communication with distributors, around another €10 million or €5 million. At the outset it will be five million," he said.

According to Rui Miranda, the project has the support of the Viana do Castelo City Council, which "will finance the film's premiere in Viana do Castelo with all the actors present, and the Instituto do Cinema e do Audiovisual [ICA], through a programme run by Turismo Porto e Norte de Portugal".

The adaptation of the legend, to which the origin of the city's name is attributed, into an animated film by Rodrigo Carvalho, director and co-author of the script, with João Ramos and Henrique Silva, began five years ago, and production began in January 2022.

For Rui Miranda, "it's not about telling a local story", but "a universal one that transcends geography and languages".

"It's a love story, inspired by a local legend from which we've drawn all the richness of the traditions, of the people of Viana do Castelo and Minho, and with this to take the good heart of the Portuguese to the whole world. Drawing a small parallel, the film “Frozen” is inspired by a Norwegian tale. It's a local tale that transcends [geography] because it conveys universal messages. That's what we're doing with Viana do Castelo," he emphasised.

Next Thursday, at 5.30 p.m., the Sá de Miranda Municipal Theatre will host "an unveiling event", because the production company decided that the people of Viana do Castelo should be the first to "officially get to know the project".

"We also want to share a lot of live details about the film, from the presence of some actors, artists who will sing the songs, because it's a musical film [with a soundtrack by Simon Wadsworth]. Sharing the inspirations from Viana do Castelo and Minho that served all the animation work we did. How we went from reality to animation. To share how we included traditions, from costume to filigree," he specified.

At the “unveiling event, "the actors Pêpê Rapazote, Mário Redondo, and Diogo Carriço will be present in person and, via video, Melânia Gomes and Daniela Melchior.

In Portugal, "the distribution of the 100-minute musical romance will be the responsibility of NOS Lusomundo", with the production company "finalising distribution with Spain".

"In the USA and the rest of the world, we'll have distribution assured by the company that used to own Paramount."

At the centre of the narrative of Viana A Lenda Dos Corações De Ouro is Ana, a young woman from Viana do Castelo who falls in love with Thomas, a poor craftsman.

"Her father immediately forbids the union, demanding that his daughter's suitors produce a jewel as proof of their nobility. But the young couple refuse to give up. With the courage and generosity of the women of Viana and the art of filigree, the protagonists demonstrate that love is a transformative force capable of overcoming all barriers," explains the press release sent to the Lusa agency.

"Viana, A Lenda dos Corações de Ouro" has its own website at viana-themovie.com.

ABC/ADB // ADB.

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