Four Souls of Coyote


Four Souls of Coyote is a 2023 Hungarian animated adventure drama film directed by Áron Gauder, who co-wrote the film with Géza Bereményi. Set in the present day, the film shows Native 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. It was released in Hungarian cinemas on 16 March 2023 by Vertigo Media.
Four Souls of Coyote was selected as the Hungarian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards. On December 7, it appeared in the eligible list for consideration for the 2024 Oscars, but it did not make it to the shortlist.
WWW 4soulsofcoyote.com

Story outline

Set in the present day, the scenario features Native 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.

Voice cast

RoleHungarian voiceEnglish dub
Old CreatorJános PappLorne Cardinal
GrandpaJános PappLorne Cardinal
CoyotePéter BozsóDiontae Black
Man Tamás SzélesDanny Kramer
SandersTamás SzélesDanny Kramer
Woman Gerda PikaliStephanie Novak
MataokaGerda PikaliPriscilla Landham
Boy Bálint VidaDavid Mattle
Girl Sára VidaLily Rose Silver
DuckPéter SchererBill Farmer
RaccoonPéter VidaBill Farmer
BuffaloRóbert BollaCle Bennett
CommanderRóbert BollaCle Bennett
WolfÁlmos Előd Cle Bennett
EagleArmand KautzkyBob Klein
ChancellorÁron GauderBob Klein
CEOÁron GauderBob Klein
LightningCsaba DebreczenyJohn Bentley
Mountain lionBarnabás Szabó SiposJohn Bentley
Grandson uncreditedJohn Bentley
BearZoltán SchneiderFred Tatasciore
CaptainAndrás FaragóFred Tatasciore
LawyerAndrás FaragóFred Tatasciore
Antelope uncreditedFred Tatasciore
Opossum uncreditedFred Tatasciore
GloriaLuca Kis-KovácsKarin Anglin

Production

Áron Gauder began working on the film in 2017 with Cinemon and producer Réka Temple. In February 2022, first photos from the animated film showing the creation story of the Native Americans were published. By May 2022, 95% animation was completed. The film was shot in 2D animation with audio in 5.1/stereo format.

Music

The music and songs are composed by Joanne Shenandoah, Mariee Siou, Session Voices, Ulali, and Northern Cree.

Release

The film was released in Hungary on 16 March 2023. In April, it competed in Arizona International Film Festival and was screened on 28 April 2023. It was also selected at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in Feature competition, where it won Jury Award and at the 25th Shanghai International Film Festival, where it won Golden Goblet for Best Animation Film on 18 June 2023. At the Kecskemét Animation Film Festival it was screened on 25 June as winner of Grand Prize.
It was screened in Anima't section at the 56th Sitges Film Festival in October 2023. The film was shown at the Hungarian Film Festival of Los Angeles on October 28, 2023. It opened the Red Nation Film Festival on 3 November 2023.
It was reported on 6 June 2023, that Gebeka International, a France based sales company, has taken the sales rights of the film.

Reception

Wendy Ide review for ScreenDaily 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 of Cartoon Saloon’s forays into Irish folkloric fantasy: The Song of the Sea, The Secret of Kells and Wolfwalkers." 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 artist Charley Harper, the film is a timely reminder of the importance of living harmoniously with the natural world." Fabien Lemercier reviewing for Cineuropa 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, " 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'".

Accolades

In addition to the selection of the film as the Hungarian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards, it won Golden Goblet Award for Best Animation Film at the Shanghai International Film Festival.
AwardDateCategoryRecipientResult
Arizona International Film Festival28 April 2023Special Jury Award for Innovative AnimationFour Souls of CoyoteWon
Třeboň Anifilm17 May 2023The Liberec Region Audience AwardFour Souls of CoyoteWon
New Media Film Festival5 June 2023Grand PrizeFour Souls of CoyoteWon
Annecy International Animation Film Festival17 June 2023Jury AwardFour Souls of CoyoteWon
Annecy International Animation Film Festival17 June 2023Cristal for a Feature FilmFour Souls of CoyoteNomitated
Shanghai International Film Festival18 June 2023Golden Goblet Award for Best Animation FilmFour Souls of CoyoteWon
Kecskemét Animation Film Festival25 June 2023Grand PrizeFour Souls of CoyoteWon
Kecskemét Animation Film Festival25 June 2023Audience AwardFour Souls of CoyoteWon
Kecskemét Animation Film Festival25 June 2023Best European Feature FilmFour Souls of CoyoteWon
Annie AwardsFebruary 17, 2024Best Animated Feature — IndependentFour Souls of CoyoteNomitated
Annie AwardsFebruary 17, 2024---
Annie AwardsFebruary 17, 2024---