Portugal is going big with animation. Viana: The Legend of the Golden Hearts, the 3D animated family adventure from Watermelon Productions, will have its world premiere on November 14, 2026, in Viana do Castelo, the coastal city in northern Portugal whose traditions, music and artistry inspired the film. It’s being billed as the largest film production ever to come out of Portugal, animated or live action, and it’s officially eligible for Best Animated Feature at the 2027 Academy Awards.
Directed by Rodrigo Carvalho, the film mixes adventure, comedy and romance, with an original songbook and an orchestral score. It’s presented in both English and Portuguese and runs 107 minutes.
The voice cast is led by Daniela Melchior (The Suicide Squad, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Fast X) as Princess Ana and Luke Newton (Bridgerton, The Lodge) as Thomas. Pêpê Rapazote (Narcos, Operation Finale, Turn of the Tide) voices both Don Florentin and the General, Michael McElhatton (Game of Thrones, Chernobyl, The Last Duel) plays the Duke of Aragon, and Joanna Scanlan (Slow Horses, Bridget Jones’s Baby) is Ophelia.
Set in medieval northern Portugal, the story follows Princess Ana, the daughter of Don Florentin, who would rather wander among her people than settle into the marriage expected of her. She falls for Thomas, a humble village artisan known for guitars he signs with a heart. Her father forbids the romance, demanding a jewel from any suitor as proof of nobility, and he favors the powerful and shadowy Duke of Aragon. Ana and Thomas refuse to give up. With help from loyal friends, their generous village and a mysterious fugitive, they learn the art of jewelry-making and set out to expose the Duke’s sinister plans.
An orange-and-white animal stands over a knocked-out rooster soldier in a town square in Viana: The Legend of the Golden Hearts.
“…where family audiences can laugh, sing, and believe that even the most impossible love is possible.”
“Viana: The Legend of the Golden Hearts is a celebration of love, courage, music, and community,” Carvalho said. “We wanted to create a world inspired by the beauty and traditions of Viana do Castelo, where family audiences can laugh, sing, and believe that even the most impossible love is possible.”
Producer Rui Lima Miranda called the film “our love letter to Viana do Castelo and to the timeless idea that love, art, and generosity can overcome anything.”
Carvalho co-wrote the screenplay with João Ramos and Henrique Silva. André Picado and Rick Fernandes are executive producers. The creative team includes art director Gonçalo Jordão, CGI supervisor Igor Lodeiro, production director Ana Fino and art supervisor Pedro Codeço. Composer and music director Simon Wadsworth wrote the score, which features music by Grammy-winning Portuguese-American guitarist Nuno Bettencourt of Extreme.
Watermelon Productions, based in Madeira, is also distributing the film in Europe. The company is best known for the children’s series NutriVentures, which was endorsed by former First Lady Michelle Obama. More information is at watermelon.pt.
