New Zealand's Kiri and Lou Leaps to Big Screen

Four years of writing, one year of frame-by-frame animation, and countless hours of love have brought New Zealand's treasured children's series Kiri and Lou to the big screen.

Creator Harry Sinclair never planned to make a feature film. After seven seasons and 104 five-minute episodes, the story simply demanded more space to breathe.

Kiri and Lou Go Raaa! takes audiences back to the beginning, revealing how a feisty little dinosaur named Kiri became best friends with Lou, a gentle creature called a "palorchecie." The premise sounds simple, but it's a question that captivated Sinclair: how do two completely different personalities become inseparable?

The answer arrives through the same handcrafted, stop-motion claymation that made the series a global hit. The show earned a BAFTA nomination and found fans across the world after the BBC picked it up. Like Australia's Bluey, it resonated with children and adults alike.

Sinclair thought the BAFTA nomination was a mistake at first. He called producer Fiona Copland to confirm the news was real. The series found particular success in the UK during COVID, when families gathered together for viewing.

The film brings back the voices that fans love. Jemaine Clement from Flight of the Conchords returns as Lou, a role Sinclair wrote specifically for his old friend. Olivia Tennet voices Kiri after winning the part through auditions. Don McGlashan, who formed the musical duo The Front Lawn with Sinclair in 1980s Auckland, provides the music.

Why This Inspires

In a children's entertainment landscape dominated by fast-paced digital content, Kiri and Lou stands as a reminder that slow, careful craftsmanship still connects. Animators moved tiny clay characters frame by frame for an entire year, creating something that celebrates empathy and friendship in prehistoric musical adventures.

Sinclair credits his mother as his biggest filmmaking inspiration, saying her encouragement gave him the confidence to try things he never imagined possible. That spirit of gentle support mirrors the show itself, which offers young viewers an antidote to noise and chaos.

The film premiered at the New Zealand International Film Festival at a family-friendly 8am slot before rolling out to cinemas nationwide. Sinclair has already moved on to his next project, a new children's series called Tralala, bringing more handmade joy to screens everywhere.

Sometimes the best things really do take time.