Frostbound

## Plot

The story centers around Flip, a spirited and adventurous 14-year-old penguin who idolizes the "Frostopolis Fury," the local turtle hockey team. With a passion for Bubblegum Blast ice cream and dreams of becoming a great hockey player, Flip's overprotective parents cast a shadow over his ambitions. However, his supportive and wise uncle, Flippert, becomes his mentor and encourages Flip to follow his dreams. At Frostopolis High School, Flip encounters a colorful group of friends, including Bernard the polar bear, Frostine the snow owl, Pufbit the puffin, LongNose the arctic fox, Jackle the snow monkey, and Poo the red panda. Together, they navigate the halls of the school, forming a tight-knit group bonded by their shared experiences and aspirations. However, their lives take an unexpected turn when Viktor Frostwing, an Arctic vulture, assumes the role of the new principal. Frostwing, an imposing and selfish antagonist, enforces strict rules and threatens to devour any student who dares to break them. As Frostopolis High School faces its darkest hour, Flip and his friends must find the courage to challenge Frostwing's tyranny and restore harmony to their beloved school.

## Development

The production history of "Frostbound" spans several years, starting with initial announcements and subsequent challenges before finally finding its footing under a new title. The film's development can be traced back to October 2018 when BB8 confirmed the existence of a penguin movie titled "A Hardknock Life of Baby Penguins." Originally slated for a January 2019 release, the film encountered development problems, leading to delays. Due to these challenges, the release of "A Hardknock Life of Baby Penguins" was pushed to December 6th, 2019. However, in January 2020, the film faced story issues, prompting its cancellation. Yet, it was not the end for the project, as it was revived later that year, demonstrating BB8's commitment to bringing the penguin story to life. The film's release date was initially announced for July 2021, but further delays resulted in a new date of September 22nd, 2021. Despite wrapping up production on August 26th, 2021, the film encountered file corruption issues, leading to another delay. Eventually, the decision was made to release the film on December 24th, 2021, aligning with a Christmas Eve release, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of "Parker: Heroine of Tokneo" released on Christmas Day in 2020. Notably, unlike the shadow drop strategy employed for the latter film, "A Hardknock Life of Baby Penguins" would not follow the same release approach. In 2022, due to difficulties in brainstorming a cohesive plot alongside the development of "Undead Apples of Tokneo," an anti-hero spin-off for the "Parker: Heroine of Tokneo" franchise, BB8 made the decision to cancel "A Hardknock Life of Baby Penguins." The negative impression BB8 had during a test screening of "Undead Apples of Tokneo" led to the realization that the film was not up to the desired standard. Consequently, cancelling the project was considered the best course of action rather than releasing a subpar final product. During the "BB8's Cinema NOW" presentation in October 2023, BB8 announced a new film titled "Frostbound" to replace the troubled "A Hardknock Life of Baby Penguins." The plot for "Frostbound" has already been written, representing a fresh direction for the project. BB8 confirmed that the film would retain the names of the characters initially introduced in "A Hardknock Life of Baby Penguins" but would undergo aesthetic changes from the original concept. With a release date set for September 19th, 2025, "Frostbound" promises to deliver a coming-of-age story, exploring themes of growth and self-discovery. Further details about the plot will be revealed during the "BB8's Cinema NOW" presentation scheduled for July 2024, building anticipation for this long-awaited project.