Sony Pictures Animation Scraps Thai-Inspired Animated Film After Two Years in Development; The Director Shares Art and Details
Sometimes the projects that mean the most are the ones that never make it to the screen. That’s the case with a Thai-inspired animated feature that had been quietly in development for over two years before being shut down by Sony Pictures Animation.
Animator and filmmaker Matt Braly recently shared the news in a long and emotional Instagram post, explaining that the studio ultimately decided the movie wasn’t commercially viable.
While Braly didn’t name the studio outright, Sony Pictures Animation announced back in 2023 that it was developing a feature from Braly and writer Rebecca Sugar, making the connection pretty clear.
“At the very start of 2025 I received the unfortunate news that the movie I had been working on for 2+ years at a major animation studio would not be moving forward,” Braly wrote on Instagram.
“I’m super proud of the lovely script that Rebecca Sugar and I wrote together and am disappointed that you will all likely never get to see the film. I had a really supportive development team, but the film was ultimately judged as not commercial enough to produce.
“I understand these decisions are not made lightly and have nothing but respect for the studio, which continues to put out amazing films.”
The film was described as an adventure following “a teen boy traveling to the world of Thai spirits in order to cure himself just before undergoing a very scary & life altering operation necessary to live.” Braly emphasized that the story wasn’t really about fixing what’s broken.
He explained that it was “not a story about finding a cure so much as it was about learning to accept one’s unchangeable circumstances with grace, and realizing that a different life than expected can still be a wonderful one.”
That perspective came directly from Braly’s own life experiences. He continued: “It was a deeply personal story for me as I was diagnosed with an incurable chronic illness at a very young age that brought permanent changes to my lifestyle. Not only that but it would have been an honor to bring more Thai culture to the big screen, a torch I hope someone else picks up.
Braly is no stranger to heartfelt storytelling. He previously worked as a writer on Steven Universe and served as a storyboard artist on The Mitchells vs the Machines. This canceled project, though, sounds like it was especially close to his heart.
Along with the announcement, Braly shared pieces of development artwork that hint at what could’ve been. Spirits, mythic imagery, and a rich cultural backdrop all point to a film that would’ve looked and felt very different from the usual animated fare.
“Hopefully you can close your eyes and imagine how cool the film would have been if completed. I won’t lie – this decision really knocked the wind out of me for a few months and I struggled to find enthusiasm to be creative again,” he concluded.
“With some space though I think the experience has strengthened my resolve about what I’d like to pursue next and how I’d like to go about doing it.”
It’s a frustrating reminder that even powerful, personal stories can hit a wall in the studio system. Still, if there’s any silver lining here, it’s that Braly isn’t done creating, and his passion for telling meaningful stories hasn’t gone anywhere.
Here’s hoping that torch he mentioned gets picked up, whether by him or someone inspired by what this film was trying to be.