Santa Monica, California-based multiplatform entertainment company Shout! Factory has secured an exclusive North American distribution deal with Stuttgart, Germany’s  Sola Media for the new animated family feature Albert – Up, Up and Away.

Produced by indie Danish prodco M&M Productions and adapted from the bestselling Danish children’s book of the same name by author Ole Lund Kirkegaard, Albert – Up, Up and Away follows the adventures of a mischievous, but good-hearted young boy who sets out to conquer his dream of becoming a hot-air balloon captain with his best friend and pirate wannabe Egon.

Shout! Factory’s distribution deal for the film spans digital, broadcast, theatrical and home entertainment rights.

A multiplatform rollout including Blu-ray and DVD for 2016 will be executed by Shout’s kids and family entertainment imprint, Shout! Factory Kids.

The movie, under its original title Albert, has already been a hit in Europe and Asia. Karsten Kiilerich (The Ugly Duckling and Me!) is the writer and director of the adaptation with Tivi Magnusson, Kim Magnusson and Anders Mastrup producing.

Announced at this year’s American Film Market (AFM) in Santa Monica, the deal follows the promotions of four senior Shout! Factory execs—Melissa Boag, David McIntosh, Jordan Fields and Tom Chen—in September.