Kate Winslet, Willem Dafoe lead voice cast of 'Manou the Swift'

Actors Kate Winslet and Willem Dafoe have joined the voice cast of the animated film "Manou the Swift".

Winslet, 42, and Dafoe, 62, will voice seagull parents of an adopted swift called Manou in the film, which will be directed by Christian Haas and Andrea Block, reported Variety.

The story follows Manou, who tries to emulate his seagull parents by diving into the sea and trying to catch fish, but he fails. But when the seagulls and the swifts get into trouble, Manou fights like a hero.

German effects company LUXX Studios, the VFX house behind Roland Emmerich's "White House Down" and Wes Anderson's "Grand Budapest Hotel", is providing animation for the film.

The film is expected to release later this year.