Lookbook Entertainment is producing a new animated musical film called “Brave Knight” with famed composers/lyricists Sharon Kenny and Kirsten Guenther. Recently announced at the Cannes Film Festival, the film already has an impressive cast and crew.
Keep reading to learn more about the film, along with Kenny’s and Guenther’s involvement.
Brave Knight’s Secret Weapon: Composers Sharon Kenny & Kirsten Guenther Are About to Make Animation Sing
According to early details, Brave Knight is an animated musical that’s set in the medieval kingdom of Northumbria. It follows three unlikely heroes as they try to stop a royal conspiracy.
When a mysterious illness strikes the king, Prince Tristan finds himself on a dangerous quest while his younger brother William—described as neurodivergent and non-verbal—pieces together the plot back home, aided by a magical stable girl named Alora and her ally Constance. It’s a story about how compassion, not force, is true strength.
Why the “Brave Knight” Score Is the Detail to Watch
In animated musicals, music isn’t just decoration. It’s the engine that defines characters before they even finish a sentence. The best ones use songs to turn exposition into emotion, and the underscore to make every glance, gag, and “oh no” plot twist land with maximum impact.
As a result, the most exciting news around Brave Knight might be the film’s original soundtrack. That’s because composers/lyricists Sharon Kenny and Kirsten Guenther are writing songs and the score for the project. Moreover, they’re serving as producers, hinting that their music will be more than just accompaniment.
Meet Sharon Kenny: Pop Instinct + Theater Craft
If Sharon Kenny’s name rings a bell, it’s because her music has traveled widely across the screen and stage. For instance, you can hear her music on Lifetime’s “Dance Moms,” and her song “Hotel Heart”, which charted on iTunes’ Singer/Songwriter list. Those credentials scream “melody-forward hooks,” not background mood.
She also has a history in theater, with regular performances as a Broadway pianist. Additionally, her music is regularly performed at New York Theatre Workshop, Manhattan Theatre Club, 92Y, and Joe’s Pub. As a result, she understands the pop immediacy and musical precision timing animation requires.
Meet Kirsten Guenther: Big-Concept Storytelling and a Writer’s Ear
Meanwhile, Kirsten Guenther often uses a “book-and-lyrics” approach to musical world-building. In other words, she knows how to keep animated musicals from feeling like random bops.
Furthermore, she has major theatrical writing accolades under her belt for theatrical hits such as Roman Holiday and Benny & Joon, including:
- A Richard Rodgers Award
- A Dramatists Guild Fellowship
- A Johnny Mercer Writers Fellowship
- A Lincoln Center honorarium.
She even has experience with animation and family-friendly entertainment through her involvement with the ASCAP/Disney workshop.
In other words, she knows exactly what contemporary classic adventure films like Brave Knight need. That is to describe interior experiences through music to the audience without “explaining” them. Thus, making those big moments feel personal.
What Might the “Brave Knight” Soundtrack Feel Like?
We don’t have track titles yet, so consider this an educated fan speculation based on the creators’ backgrounds and what they have already revealed.
Brave Knight has a medieval setting, a conspiracy plot, and a core theme of compassion as strength. Those ingredients often invite sweeping and intimate scores. Beyond that, we should also expect a few songs that pivot between funny and heartfelt on a dime.
Some of the other soundtrack features may also include:
- Leitmotifs for the brothers: Prince Tristan out on a quest vs. William investigating at home.
- A sound for Northumbria: think folk-adjacent textures (fiddles, hand drums, flutes) blended with modern pop percussion.
- Character-focused comedy songs: animated musicals love “this is my job” or “rules of the kingdom” numbers.
- Emotion without exposition: for a non-verbal character, orchestration choices (harmony shifts, instrument color, rhythmic breath)
- Reprises with meaning: themes that return changed—same melody, new emotional truth.
Quick “Brave Knight” Music Facts (For Your Group Chat)
- Brave Knight is positioned as an animated musical with original songs and score.
- Sharon Kenny and Kirsten Guenther are credited as the project’s composers/lyricists.
- Both are also attached as producers on the film.
- The film is being bought for buyers at the Cannes market by Lookbook Entertainment.
- The story follows three heroes in Northumbria and centers on themes of empathy, including a character described as neurodivergent and non-verbal.
Final Thoughts: When the Score Does the Speaking
While pop culture often focuses (rightly) on casting and character design, music is one of the most powerful tools for point of view, especially in animation. Therefore, if Brave Knight truly commits to showing that compassion is strength, then the music must also show it.
For instance, the music can function as William’s inner monologue. Thereby giving us a way to understand and relate to him and his struggles. Fortunately, Kenny and Guenther already know how to use music as a language, and not just as a shortcut.
However, until we get a teaser, song clip, or even a single, we can only speculate on what they will do. But for now, all we can do is wait.
In the meantime, post your thoughts on the film in the comments below. You can then read about other animated musical films, such as Boys Go to Jupiter.
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