Richard Claus, Chantal Nissen
Joop Geesinkweg 501 | 1114 AB | Amsterdam
rc@coolbeanspix.com, cn@coolbeanspix.com | +31 (0) 650281410
Company website
Cool Beans BV is run by producers Richard Claus and Chantal Nissen - Amsterdam animation outfit Katuni and German Comet Film are its sister companies.
All of Cool Beans’ productions have been international co-productions, including the live action films Black Butterflies, The Price of Sugar, An Act of Defiance and also the recent 3D animated films The Little Vampire 3D (2017) in co-production with A. Film (Denmark) and Comet Film (Germany) and Ainbo - Spirit of the Amazon (2020) in co-production with Tunche Films (Peru).
Panda Bear in Africa is the latest animated film from Cool Beans and Katuni, which was successfully released in 2024/2025 in the countries of the co-producers as well as in many territories worldwide. In addition to A. Film from Denmark and Comet Film from Germany, who already worked together with Cool Beans on The Little Vampire, Le Pacte joined the team as French co-producer.
Cool Beans’ development slate includes films and series, live-action as well as 3D and 2D animated.
CURRENT PROJECTS
LILLY AND THE FLYING DUTCHMAN in development
Directors: Richard Claus, Patrick Chin, Stine Buhl. Screenwriters: Rob Sprackling, Richard Claus, Martijn Smits. Cast: tba. Co-production countries and co-producers: tba. Sort: Feature-length 3D animation, running time: 84 min. Genre: Family Entertainment, Adventure, Comedy. International Sales: GFM Animation
Lilly, a fearless young orphan of mixed-race, pick-pocketing on the streets of 17th century Amsterdam with only her mischievous parrot friend Kiki as her companion, embarks on a perilous journey to uncover her true identity—only to discover that the family she lost, the villains she feared, and the trust she denied all hold the key to her destiny.
Panda Bear in Africa worldwide release in 2024 / 2025
Director: Richard Claus & Karsten Kiilerich. Screenwriters: Robert Sprackling, Richard Claus & Karsten Kiilerich. Cast: Yootha Wong-Loi-Sing, Georgina Verbaan, Maurits Delchot. Co-production countries: NL/DK/DE/FR. Co-producers: A. Film (DK), Comet Film (DE), Le Pacte (FR). Sort: Feature-length 3D animation. Duration: 88 min. Genre: Family Entertainment, Comedy. International Sales: CMG Cinema Management Group
A fun and adventurous young Panda travels from China to Africa to rescue his best friend, Jielong the Dragon, who has been kidnapped. On his journey he discovers a world completely unknown to him and faces frightening hippos, suspicious hyenas and wise gorillas. Relying on his wits (and some new found friends) he makes his way across Africa, before rescuing Jielong and saving his new friends' jungle home. A family entertainment comedy, a fish out of water/coming of age story about diversity, tolerance and toleration.
The GROWcodile in development
Directors: Joost van den Bosch & Erik Verkerk. Screenwriter: Luuk van Bemmelen. Based on the book ‘Weg met die krokodil!’ by Paul van Loon. Cast: tba. Country: NL/FR/LUX. Co-producers: Ka-Ching Cartoons Netherlands, Fantabulous France, Fabrique d’Images Luxembourg. Sort: Feature-length 3D animation, running time: 80 min. Genre: Family Entertainment/Adventure/Comedy. Distribution/Sales: KMBO, Film Constellation
It worked! By using her willpower, Bridget has hatched a little baby crocodile from the egg. Definitely a cooler pet than that stupid goldfish she got for her birthday. But a little crocodile grows bigger and bigger. What to do when your parents don't like pets? And what to do when your father has a shoe store and loves crocodile leather? Thankfully, there's grandmother...