Chickenhare and the Secret of the Groundhog

Chickenhare and the Secret of the Groundhog is a 2025 animated adventure film produced by nWave Studios, directed by Benjamin Mousquet, and written by Dave Collard and Chris Grine. It is a sequel to the 2022 film, Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness and the second installment of Chickenhare film series. It is based on the graphic novel Chickenhare by Chris Grine.

Chickenhare and the Secret of the Groundhog
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Benjamin Mousquet
Screenplay by	Dave Collard Chris Grine
Based on	Chickenhare by Chris Grine
Produced by	Matthieu Gondinet Matthieu Zeller
Starring	Jordan Tartakow Laila Berzins
Music by	Puggy
Production companies	nWave Studios Octopolis
Distributed by	SND (France) Sony Pictures (International)
Release dates	12 June 2025 (2025-06-12) (Annecy) 15 October 2025 (2025-10-15) (France)
Running time	88 minutes
Countries	France Belgium United States
Languages	French English
Budget	$23 million[1]
Box office	$6.88 million[2]

Discussions about a sequel to Chickenhare began in December 2023, and the new installment went through three different scripts before the filmmakers settled on the final plot. When the film was officially announced in February 2024,

Chickenhare and the Secret of the Groundhog premiered at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival on June 12, 2025.^[3] and was released in France on October 15 by SND.^[4] and grossed $6 million against a $23 budget.

Story

After the events of the first film, Chickenhare, along with his friends Abe and Meg, decides to become an independent adventurer and travel the world to explore mysteries. However, the group is in for a shock when Chickenhare's long-lost sister, Gina, appears and informs them that the Harechickens are on the verge of extinction due to the death of the Tree of Life. Needing a way to restore the Tree, the group hunts for the legendary Groundhog with the Backwards Facing Face, a creature rumored to have the power to reverse time. However, their task is made even more difficult due to the aspirations of Crolloq, Meg's old partner, who seeks to claim the Groundhog for her purposes.

Voice cast

• Jordan Tartakow as Chickenhare, a hybrid of hare and chicken.
• Joe Ochman as Abe, a sarcastic turtle.
• Laila Berzins as Meg, a martial artist striped skunk.
• TBA as King Peter
• Christopher Bass as The Groundhog with the Backwards-Facing Face.
• Bernardo De Paula as Bravehare Chicken's Son
• TBA as Gina, Chickenhare's long-lost sister.
• TBA as Crolloq, a lynx and Meg's old partner.

Production

Development

In December 2023, nWave, revealed that the studio had begun production. a sequel to Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness.^[5] This is the film nWave's president, Matthieu Zeller, was referring to when he revealed the news.

Writing

That was the first time we had been able to work on a fantasy world and a complete world-building. So that is very exciting, very positive and having a world as original as this is so unique. We wanted to work on these characters, having new characters, new worlds, and new places where they will travel.

Release

Chickenhare and the Secret of the Groundhog premiered at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival on June 12, 2025.^[6][7]