Footrot Flats is heading back to the big screen 40 years after becoming a Kiwi Classic

Long before streaming services and, one homegrown animated film captured the hearts of New Zealanders and became a cultural phenomenon.

Now, Footrot Flats: The Dog's Tale, is set to return to cinemas as part of a 40th anniversary celebration, giving fans the chance to revisit one of the country's most beloved films on the big screen.

Based on the iconic comic strip that entertained generations of readers, the movie introduced audiences to sheep farmer Wal Footrot, his loyal canine sidekick Dog, and a cast of quintessentially Kiwi characters. Packed with rural humour, adventure and heart, it became a defining piece of New Zealand entertainment in the 1980s.

The timing couldn't be more fitting. The film's enduring popularity remains closely linked to Slice of Heaven, the classic Sir Dave Dobbyn and Herbs hit that became one of New Zealand's most recognisable songs. For many Kiwis, the film and the song are forever intertwined.

When Footrot Flats: The Dog's Tale first hit cinemas, it drew huge audiences and proved that a distinctly New Zealand story could compete with overseas productions. Decades later, it still holds a special place in the memories of those who grew up quoting Dog's one-liners and following the adventures of Wal and the gang. The newly restored version will give audiences the chance to experience the film with refreshed visuals while retaining everything that made it a classic in the first place. It's also an opportunity for younger generations to discover why the characters became such a big part of New Zealand popular culture.

For those who remember reading the comics over breakfast, hearing Slice of Heaven on the radio, or heading to the cinema to see Dog's adventures for the very first time, the film's return is more than a movie screening ... it's a trip back to a uniquely Kiwi moment in time.