, the comic book and media company founded by co-creator Robert Kirkman, is on the lookout for the next Hayao Miyazaki. Sources tell that the company is developing a reality competition series that will focus on the search for the next animation visionary. Think or but for animation geeks and masters.
The venture will be a co-production with DIGA Studios, the banner behind unscripted shows such as , , the magic-oriented and The company also produced the TV series, which ran on MTV from 2015-19. The series is one of the first projects by Skybound’s recently launched unscripted division, which is headed by Brent Jacoby under head of TV Glenn Geller. And it comes after last fall’s acquisition of Spike & Mike’s Festival of Animation, the long-running cult shorts festival.
Skybound plans to relaunch the festival, which in a virtual iteration showcased early work from then-budding animators such as Andrew Stanton, Mike Judge and Tim Burton. According to sources, the festival is being eyed for a relaunch in early 2025 and already has upwards of a 1,000 submissions. And one of the hopes on Skybound’s side is to try to cast some of the contestants from this first round of festival applicants.
The new series also hopes to capitalize on the exploding influence and popularity of animation worldwide, from the current box office domination of and to the that stream on Netflix. Skybound itself has found success in the medium with its Amazon animated series , based on Kirkman’s comic, which has won both critics and audiences. The show is now in production on its third season.
Spike & Mike’s is returning to this year’s San Diego Comic-Con with two screenings of classic animated shorts from the Spike & Mike’s Vault. THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day More from The Hollywood Reporter.
