ADULT ANIMATION WHITE PAPER

Edition | March 2021

The “Great Adult Animation

Boom” is in Full Swing

From mind-bending sci- comedies like The Midnight Gospel

to dramatic, action-based mini-series like The Liberator, to

comic book inspired shows like Harley Quinn, adult animation

has entered a period of rapid growth and genre diversication.

The streamers, broadcasters and cablers have caught on —

there are over 100 new adult animated series on order. That’s

a whopping 100% increase from a year ago. The upcoming

series includes a whole new class of video game spinoffs,

TV series reboots, and anime-inspired productions that will

signicantly expand the audience for adult animation. I am

calling this phenomenon ‘The Great Adult Animation Boom.’

ADULT

ANIMATION

WHITE

PAPER

Figure 1: Harley Quinn – DC Comics

Table

of Contents

1. About the Author 4

2. Sources 5

3. What This Report Covers 6

4. Sponsorship 7

5. Summary of the State of the Adult Animation Industry 8

6. Adult Animated Comedy 10

7. Fox’s Animation Domination 12

Fox’s Current Adult Animated Series 15

Fox’s Upcoming Adult Animated Series 16

8. Netix’s Unbridled Ambition for Adult Animation 17

Netix Comedy 20

Netix Anime 21

Netix Video Game Based Animated Series 21

Netix’s Current Adult Animated Series 22

Netix’s Upcoming Adult Animated Series 23

9. Comedy Central Makes a Hard Pivot 25

Viacom’s Current Adult Animation Series 26

Viacom’s Upcoming Adult Animation Series 26

10. WarnerMedia: HBO Max, Adult Swim & DC Comics 27

HBO Max’s Current Adult Animated Series 29

HBO Max’s Upcoming Adult Animated Series 29

Adult Swim’s Current Adult Animated Series 30

Adult Swim’s Upcoming Adult Animated Series 31

11. Sci-Fi Comedy Crossovers 32

Current Sci-Fi Comedy Adult Animated Crossovers 34

Upcoming Sci-Fi Comedy Adult Animated Crossovers 35

12. Syfy’s TZGZ Block and Short Format Pipelines 36

Current Adult Animated TZGZ Block Series 37

Upcoming Adult Animated TZGZ Block Series 37

Table

of Contents

13. Blasts From the Past: Reboots and Spinoffs 38

Current Adult Animated Reboots and Spinoffs 40

Upcoming Adult Animated Reboots and Spinoffs 40

14. Is It Still Anime If It’s Not Produced in Japan? 42

Current Adult Animated Anime-Inspired

or Anime Based on Western IP 46

Upcoming Adult Animated Anime-Inspired

or Anime Based on Western IP 46

15. Drawing from Comics and Graphic Novels 47

Current Comic-Book Inspired Adult Animated Series 48

Upcoming Comic-Book Inspired Adult Animated Series 49

16. Why Video Games are the New IP Gold Rush 50

Current Adult Animated Series Based on Video Games 53

Upcoming Adult Animated Series Based on Video Games 53

17. The Rise of Dramatic “Non-Comedy Genre Shows” 54

Current Adult Animated Non-Comedy Genre Series 56

Upcoming Adult Animated Non-Comedy Genre Series 56

18. Production Technology 59

19. Social and Mobile Streaming 60

20. Notable Upcoming Shows 62

21. Opportunities in an Untapped Global Market 64

22. Critical Role: a Case Study in Crowdfunding Animation 66

23. The Great Adult Animation Boom 70

24. In Summary 74

25. The Adult Animation Database 75

Current Adult Animated Series – Ranked by Popularity 77

Upcoming Series – (Alphabetical Order) 81

26. Index of Images 86

Figure 2: John Evershed, CEO High Concentrate

1. About the Author

John Evershed is the head of High Concentrate LLC, a company specializing in the

research, packaging, development, sale of animated TV series and movies for adult

audiences. Evershed is the founder and former CEO of Mondo Media, producer and

distributorof animation for young adults where he launched and programmed a

Mondo branded OTT channel on WarnerMedia’s VRV platform, and generated over

6billionviews on YouTube.

Evershed executive produced multiple TV series including Gary and His Demons,

currently airing on the Syfy channel, Happy Tree Friends on MTV International

and The Mondo Animation Hour, a mini-block, that aired on the El Rey Network.

Evershed has won multiple awards in his capacity as Executive Producer including

Dick Figures: The Movie,winner of the Berlin Film Festival Best Animated Movie

for Adults and Happy Tree Friends,winner of an Annie for Best Animated TV Series

for Adults.

Evershed serves on the boards and consults with entertainment and technology

companies including Chonky (crowd-based entertainment nancing), Trioscope

(hybrid live action animation studio), ZikVid (digital video platform), Mellow Manor

(animation festival), and Mondo Media (multi-platform animation channel and library).

For consulting on adult animation or help with packaging, development and selling,

please contact us at the email address below. High Concentrate is always looking

for IP (original books, comic books, video games, podcasts, etc.) to develop and take

to market. We are also looking for nished product including English and foreign

language series and movies. Please do not submit treatments, scripts, pitches, etc.

without reaching out rst and signing a submission release.

Contact jevershed@highconcentrate.com

2. Sources

This white paper is not for sale and is intended to be a free snapshot for anyone

with an interest in the adult animation industry. This document is for personal use

and nothing in it should be re-published without permission from the author. All the

information in this white paper was gathered from published material and general

industry knowledge. I have attributed sources wherever possible. The contents of

this report are one person’s analysis of the market for adult animation. I have made

an honest attempt to evaluate the market and back up my positions with as much

data as I can gather. Anyone with different points of view are encouraged to contact

me regarding any position in this paper, because you might be right! My hope is to

keep things interesting and avoid problems that I see with market analysis broadly

– especially in the entertainment eld – where press releases get regurgitated with

statistics that miss important trends due to disruption, shifts in technology, and

evolving consumer tastes.

The Adult Animation Database

The data in this report is a snapshot of the market as of Feb 21, 2021. The numbers,

where not attributed to a source, are derived from The Adult Animation Database.

The database is maintained by High Concentrate on a daily basis and we make it free

for anyone interested in visiting the site.

Figure 3:

Gary and His Demons

– Syfy

3. What This Report Covers

This is the second edition of the Adult Animation White Paper, which covers 2020

and provides an outlook for 2021. The report focuses exclusively on adult animated

TV series — mostly quarter, half and occasionally hour-long series. These shows are

typically written and produced in English. This research is limited to shows that are

currently airing as well as shows that are in development or production. It does not

cover library material except where noted. This document does not cover animated

movies for adults. (It’s a relatively short list.) While the report does cover Japanese

anime treatments of Western IP and Western animation produced in interpretations

of anime styles, it does not cover anime more broadly. This white paper does not

attempt to cover any children’s animation, which is both a distinct and considerably

larger market. The buyers covered in this report are streaming platforms, networks,

cable, and digital distributors. Many series share multiple production partners,

making it difcult to attribute any one show to any one production company. Where

possible, the report attempts to attribute all producing entities to each series.

Figure 4:

The Midnight Gospel

- Netﬂix

4. Sponsorship

As opposed to charging for this research report, I elected to go the sponsorship

route to make it as widely available as possible. I am grateful to our sponsor,

Toon Boom Animation, for their nancial support in producing the Adult Animation

White Paper. Any opinions expressed in this white paper are strictly those of the

author and do not reect those of the sponsor.

Toon Boom Animation are the developers behind Harmony and Storyboard Pro.

Harmony is the industry's leading 2D animation software, while Storyboard Pro is

ideal for independent creators and production teams to layout stories and hit the

ground running in production. Fully-featured 21-day trials are available to download

at toonboom.com.

5. Summary of the State of

the Adult Animation Industry

1. QUANTITY OF UPCOMING ADULT ANIMATED SERIES DOUBLES.

Over the past year, the total number of upcoming adult animated TV series

grew from 50 to 103.

2. ANIMATED COMEDY HAS UNOFFICIALLY REPLACED LIVE ACTION SITCOMS.

Young adults prefer animated comedy over live action sitcoms.

3. REBOOTS AND SPINOFFs, from Good Times to Masters of the Universe, comprise

a disproportionately large crop of upcoming adult animated reboots and

spinoffs.

4. ANIME is in demand. Sony acquires Crunchyroll from WarnerMedia while

Netix and HBO Max continue to buy new anime at a rapid clip. The line

between the Western and Japanese animation continues to blur.

5. VIDEO GAMES exploded on the scene with 15 new video game IP inspired

series in production, up from 2 last year. Many of these adaptations will be

produced as anime or in an anime style.

Figure 5:

Archer - FX

6. COMIC BOOKS are another fertile source of inspiration for adult animated

series, although proportionately not as dominant a source of IP as it is for

live-action adaptations.

7. SCI-FI COMEDY CROSSOVERS are over-represented in the current and

upcoming crop of adult animated series.

8. THE STREAMERS, especially Netix, are by far and away the most active buyers

of adult animation, accounting for 50% of all new projects in development

or production.

9. NETFLIX is the most aggressive buyer in the adult animation space with 22 new

series on order.

10. FOX is the only major broadcast network actively airing adult animation. The

channel continues to ramp up development and production of new series.

11. CABLER’S APPETITE FOR ADULT ANIMATION CONTINUES TO GROW.

Most cable channels targeting 18-34s with scripted programming have ordered

at least one adult animated series.

12. YOUNG ADULTS watch less traditional TV. In percentage terms, the amount

of time 18-34-year-olds as a whole spent watching traditional TV in Q1 2020

dropped by about 15.3% from the previous year.

13. PACKAGING IS ESSENTIAL. Most buyers are looking for fully-formed packages

with proven writers, artists and voice talent leaving fewer opportunities for

quirky, off-beat series.

14. DIGITAL remains uncertain. Quibi’s quick rise and demise leaves only Facebook

Watch and YouTube Premium as limited active digital buyers of adult animation.

1 Marketing Charts, September 14, 2020

6. Adult Animated Comedy

One could argue that the enduring popularity of the adult animated sitcom is

due in large part to the massive popularity of one show: The Simpsons. The yellow

family from Springeld proved that the time-tested formula works. From Family

Guy to South Park, animated sitcoms are some of the most enduring and valuable

franchises in the history of television. However, consumer acceptance of animation

as a medium is widening to include new genres, including action, horror, and drama.

Adult animated comedy isn’t going away any time soon, but things are about to get

a lot more interesting. Here’s why...

In 2017, Rick and Morty surpassed Modern Family, and The Big Bang Theory to

become the most-watched comedy across all of television.

The adult animated

sitcom has proven to be more durable than the live-action sitcom, which has fallen

out of favor. The three act sitcom structure, with one main plot and two subplots,

is designed to maximize a limited, twenty-two minute, commercial-laden half hour

experience. These restrictions have fallen away with the proliferation of ad-free

subscription services becoming the primary platform of choice for 18-34s.

2 Vulture - Rick and Morty Is Now the No. 1 TV Comedy Among Millennials, Oct 4, 2017

Figure 5:

The Simpsons

- Fox

“Somewhere along the way, animated comedy

replaced live action sitcoms as millennials preferred

medium for consuming comedy.”

Somewhere along the way, animated comedy replaced live action sitcoms as

millennials’ preferred medium for consuming comedy. Live-action comedic

TV series are becoming as rare as live-action comedic movies. Do a Google search

for the most popular live-action comedy TV series. It will call up a list of series

that are no longer in production — shows like Arrested Development, Community

and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Do the same for adult animated series and it’s almost all

current series — shows like South Park, Bob’s Burgers, and Archer. There are a total

of 60 new comedic adult animated series accounting for 60% of upcoming adult

animated series.

Figure 6:

Rick and Morty

- Adult Swim

7. Fox’s Animation Domination

Fox is the only broadcast network committed to adult animated comedy, with two

massive animation franchises — The Simpsons and Family Guy. In 2019, Fox Corp.

purchased Bento Box Entertainment, the studio behind the long-running Bob’s

Burgers, as it sought to strengthen its adult animation brand.

After a ve-year hiatus, Fox’s Sunday night Animation Domination returned in

September 2019. The programming block exclusively features prime-time animated

sitcoms and includes The Simpsons, Family Guy, Bob’s Burgers, Duncanville, Bless

the Harts, and The Great North. Fox is in the midst of a major expansion of its

animation portfolio, with 14 new series in development. Daniel Weidenfeld (The Eric

Andre Show and China, IL) is Fox’s senior VP of animation and oversees all animated

production and development, both for the network and third parties. According

to Weidenfeld, “Animation is a key part of our business; we are really looking to

growing our slate and potentially even adding another hour of animation on our

schedule in a targeted section of the year.”

Fox Entertainment’s President Michael Thorn said earlier this year, “We are

looking to take our legacy and build on it.” He added: “Part of that is tied to

our programming goals and our Fox Entertainment goals in terms of having an

ownership stake in those animated series. When they work, they work extremely

well nancially as well.”

It will be interesting to see which of these upcoming series

stick and whether the Fox expands beyond its Sunday night slot.

3 Deadline – Fox’s Michael Thorn On Net’s Animation Expansion & Future

Of The Simpsons, Bob’s Burgers & Family Guy, Jan 7, 2020

4 Comicbook – “Greater Good” Animated Workplace Comedy in the Works at

Fox From American Dad Co,Creator, Nov 10 2020

Figure 7:

Animation Domination

Block - Fox

“Animation is a key part of our business; we are really

looking to growing our slate and potentially even

adding another hour of animation on our schedule

in a targeted section of the year.”

Fox works almost exclusively with experienced writing teams and world-class

voice talent. Their shows, on the whole, are targeted at an older, wider audience

than Netix or Adult Swim. The palette and style of all the family sitcoms are so

similar that, from a distance, it can be difcult to tell them apart visually. (See image

at top of page 12.) The Simpsons characters are arguably the most abstract and

there’s a trend towards realism that makes each subsequent series a little harder to

differentiate from what came previously.

Fox’s Animation Domination block is a little too safe for young adults who tend to

gravitate to the darker cynicism of Rick and Morty and Bojack Horseman. It’s worth

noting that The Simpsons and Family Guy were relatively controversial when they

rst aired on Fox. Most great comedy is at least a little dangerous – especially early

in a show’s incarnation. Bart Simpson seems harmless now but he was considered

a bad boy in the early days of the series, and Seth MacFarlane was pretty notorious

for pushing boundaries. HBO Max’s Harley Quinn is a good example of a comedy

series that is nding new buttons to push. Adult Swim’s comedic series have always

been the most experimental and young adults have rewarded them with ratings.

Fox is still the number one broadcast network with the 18-34 demo, but, like all

broadcasters, they’re ghting an inexorable decline in their 18-34 ratings. Fox has

stated they are committed to nding their next animated franchise, and from the

looks of their upcoming line-up they have made the determination that they need

to diversify the block beyond the family sitcom.

Fox’s last two functional/dysfunctional family sitcoms Bless the Harts and The Great

North haven’t received a lot of attention since their launch and rank 50th and 51st in

the most-popular adult animated series ranking. Fox was able to introduce a third

hit with Bob’s Burgers, but you wonder how far that formula can be pushed.

To Fox’s credit, they stuck with Bob’s Burgers. According to Bouchard, in the early

days of Bob’s Burgers, “[the Fox execs] weren't necessarily seeing it in the numbers,

but they were hearing about it from their friends and from their kids and from social

media.”

It’s not clear if Fox will have the same patience with their new series —

especially with the volume of upcoming projects looking for a home on the block.

“When Loren Bouchard ﬁrst introduced

Bob’s Burgers to Fox, it was a story about

a family of cannibals.”

When Loren Bouchard rst introduced Bob’s Burgers to Fox, it was a story about a

family of cannibals. Coming from the Adult Swim school of irreverence, Bouchard

thought he had to push boundaries to get Fox to buy his show. Fox, however,

convinced him to abandon the humans-eating-other-humans angle and focus on

the family and character dynamics.

The line-up of upcoming shows looks more adventurous: Crag Banyon PI, a series

currently in development, “follows the supernatural adventures of an alcoholic

ex-cop and current private investigator, as he solves cases in an alternate noir,

otherworldly reality.” Housebroken, another upcoming Fox series, is about “an

anthropomorphic therapy dog, who explores human dysfunctions and neurosis

by applying her knowledge of psychiatry through leading a group of other

anthropomorphic neighborhood animals in group therapy sessions.”

These log

lines don’t sound very “Foxy.”

Fox ordered two new series — one from Dan Harmon (Rick and Morty), and an

one-hour animated drama project from Jeff Davis (Criminal Minds) so they’re clearly

in the mood for breaking out of the family sitcom mold. Something tells me that if

Bouchard pitched the cannibal angle for Bob’s Burgers to Fox in early 2021, he might

have ended up making a very different show.

5 The Hollywood Reporter - 'Bob's Burgers' Originally Featured a Family of Cannibals

and Other Secrets Revealed in THR's Oral History, May 19, 2016

6 Deadline - Fox Orders ‘Housebroken’ Animated Comedy Series Starring

Lisa Kudrow From Sharon Horgan, Clea Duvall, Jennifer Crittenden,

Gabrielle Allan & Kapital, Dec 19, 2019

Fox’s Current Adult Animated Series

Show Description

Creator(s)

(and Other Work)

Studio(s)

Bless the Harts

Family Sitcom

Emily Spivey

(Up all Night, SNL)

Titmouse, Inc., Jessebean, Inc.,

Lord Miller Productions,

Fox Entertainment,

20th Television

Bob’s Burger

Family Sitcom

Loren Bouchard

(Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist)

Bento Box Entertainment,

Wilo Productions,

Buck & Millie Productions,

20th Television

Family Guy

Family Sitcom

Seth MacFarlane (American Dad,

The Cleveland Show)

Fuzzy Door Productions

20th Television

The Great

North

Family Sitcom

Wendy Molyneux,

Lizzie Molyneux and Minty

Lewis, Loren Bouchard (Bob’s

Burgers)

Bento Box Entertainment,

Double Molyneux Sister Sheux,

Wilo Productions,

Fox Entertainment,

20th Television

The Simpsons

Family Sitcom

Matt Groening, (Futurama,

Disenchantment)

Gracie Films,

20th Television,

Distributor,

20th Television (1989–2020),

Disney–ABC Domestic Television

(2020–present)

Figure 8:

Bob’s Burgers

Fox’s Upcoming Adult Animated Series

Show Description

Creator(s)

(and Other Work)

Studio(s)

Clue

Spinoff from

boardgame

TBA

Entertainment One,

Bento Box

Cocky

Comedy

Jack Amiel and Michael Begler

(The Knick)

Fox Entertainment,

Bento Box

Crag Banyon PI

Supernatural

Mystery Comedy

Shane Black (Lethal Weapon,

The Predator), David Silverman

(The Simpsons)

Fox Entertainment,

Bento Box

Demi-God

Hybrid Animated

Live Action

Katie Greenway (The Millers,

Bella and the Bulldogs)

Fox Entertainment

The Greater Good

Work place

comedy

Mike Barker (American Dad), Stoney

Sharp (Comedy Bang! Bang!)

Fox Entertainment

Housebroken

Anthropomorphic

therapy dog

Jennifer Crittenden

(The Simpsons, Everybody

Loves Raymond, Seinfeld, Veep,)

Clea DuVall, Gabrielle Allan

Kapital Entertainment,

Merman,

Bento Box Entertainment,

Fox Entertainment

Lil Kev

Story of Kevin Hart

as a young boy

Kevin Hart (comedian),

Michael Price (The Simpsons)

and Matt Claybrooks

(Everybody Hates Chris)

20th Century Fox TV,

Lionsgate

Name TBD

Jermaine Fowler

Project based on

growing up in

Maryland

Jermaine Fowler creator,

writer EP (Superior Donuts)

Fox Entertainment

Name TBD

Dan Harmon

Project

Dan Harmon (Rick and Morty,

Community)

Fox Entertainment,

Bento Box

Name TBD

Jeff Davis One

Hour Drama

Project

Jeff Davis (Criminal Minds)

Fox Entertainment,

Bento Box

Ocean Village

Florida Apartment

Building Comedy

Daniel Katz (Deep Space 69,

Trip Tank, Like Share Die)

Bento Box, Look Mom Prod.

Prince Wawa

Original about

a Merman

Tim Baltz, Lilly Sullivan

(Cobra Kai)

Sony Pictures TV

Shell Beach

Original Comedy

Tyler, The Creator (musician) &

Lionel Boyce & Davon Wilson

(Adult Swim’s Loiter Squad)

Fox Entertainment and

Bento Box

The X-Files:

Albuquerque

X-Files “B-team”

comedy spinoff

Chris Carter (X-Files) Rocky Russo

and Jeremy Sosenko

20th Television,

Fox Entertainment,

Bento Box

Figure 9: BoJack Horseman - Netﬂix

8. Netﬂix’s Unbridled

Ambition for Adult Animation

By 2028, Netix will spend $26 billion per year on content, up from $17 billion in

2020.

Netix has literally said out loud that they want to go head-to-head with

Disney. As a result, they’re making an enormous nancial commitment to animation

to back up their ghting words.

“Netﬂix was born in Silicon Valley. Early on,

BoJack’s numbers signaled to Netﬂix that adult

animation was the perfect “hack” to attract

young adult audiences.”

Netix is home to BoJack Horseman, one of the rst original series to premiere

on the streamer in 2014, one year after House of Cards. Netix aired the last

of 77episodes before it put Bojack out to pasture in the beginning of 2020.

GQ magazine praised the show as one of the best of the decade, and IndieWire

ranked BoJack Horseman as the greatest animated television series of all time.

The show has been praised for its realistic take on depression, trauma, addiction,

self-destructive behavior, racism, sexism, sexuality, and the human condition.

The series received numerous accolades, including four Critics’ Choice Television

Awards for Best Animated Series, three Annie Awards and two Writers Guild of

America Awards. It also received three Primetime Emmy Award nominations,

including two for Outstanding Animated Program. This is a long way of saying that

BoJack Horseman was an important series for Netix.

7 Fortune - Netix will spend over $17 billion on content in 2020: Analyst, Jan. 16, 2020

Figure 10:

Big Mouth - Netﬂix

It’s not unusual for animation to help put channels (or in this case a streamer)

on the map. Fox was on the brink of shuttering when The Simpsons rst started

to gain traction and helped turn Fox into the 4th major network, while Beavis and

Butt-Head was one of the rst non-music, breakout shows for MTV. South Park

has been credited with saving Comedy Central from the brink of oblivion. Netix

was born in Silicon Valley. BoJack Horseman’s numbers signaled to Netix that adult

animation was the perfect “hack” to attract young adult audiences.

Netix has a multi-tiered strategy aimed at locking in Netix as the denitive home

for adult animation:

• Volume — Announced at least 24 new original series in development or production.

• Quality — Sourcing packaged projects from top tier writers, voice talent and

animation studios.

• Production Capacity — Signed a 171,000 square foot lease for an animation

studio in Burbank.

• Titmouse — Signed a rst look with Titmouse, the most prolic adult

animation studio.

• Anime — Signed deals with several key Japanese studios.

• Video Games — Loading up on new animated series based on video games.

• Comedy — Appears to be targeting Adult Swim as the new home for adult

animated comedy.

• Non-Comedy Genre — More adventurous than most of their competition

in their appetite for non-comedy dramatic series.

Netix’s adult animation division is headed up by Mike Moon. Tonally, Netix

animated series are wide ranging. This is unlike Adult Swim, which tends towards

a quirkier, more irreverent-branded house feel. The addition of the video game-

based series and anime will only serve to expand what denes Netix animation.

Streamers are more algorithmically driven than cable channels, so they can

afford to be more eclectic in their choices than a branded block like Adult Swim or

Animation Domination that rely heavily on cross promotions, branding and ratings.

Netix gravitates towards packaged originals from proven teams and studios, and

branded IP with major footprints, like their upcoming video game-based series,

anime series, reboots and spinoffs.

Netix is also home to Love, Death and Robots, the animation showcase anthology

series featuring animation from world-class creators and studios. The show is

presented by Tim Miller and David Fincher. Love, Death and Robots clearly signals

the direction that adult animation is heading – that is more dramatic genre projects.

One has to believe there will be a breakout from this series.

Figure 11:

Love, Death and Robots

- Netﬂix

Figure 13:

Disenchantment

- Netﬂix

Netﬂix Comedy

Netix current originals are primarily comedies, including Nick Kroll’s Big Mouth,

comedian Bill Burr’s F is for Family, Matt Groening’s Disenchantment and The

Midnight Gospel from Duncan Trussell and Pendleton Ward. Netix’s upcoming

comedies include Agent King, featuring Elvis Presley as a spy; Captain Fall, from the

creators of Norsemen; and Human Resources, a spinoff from Big Mouth.

Figure 12:

F is for Family

- Netﬂix

Netﬂix Anime

Netix’s anime effort is headed by John Derderian, director of Japan and Anime.

Derderian has made public statements about Netix’s long-term commitment to

anime: “We’re going to partner with studios for ve years, ten years, so they can

take that money to have certainty of revenue and invest in space and tools and

people,” and, “We’re in an anime boom, but we’re not investing in boom-or-bust

cycle.” According to Derderian, demand for Japanese animation is especially high

in Southeast Asia, Europe and Latin Americas.

Netix now has deals with several

Asian studios including Naz, Science Saru, and Mappa (producing LeSean Thomas’s

upcoming Yasuke series) in Japan and Studio Mir in South Korea. According to

Cartoon Brew, Netix “has pushed hard into the anime space in recent years,

challenging dedicated services like Crunchyroll and Funimation. It has previously

struck non-exclusive partnerships with Japanese studios Production I.G, Bones,

Anima, Sublimation, and David Production. In February, it partnered with six

Japanese creators to develop anime shows.”

Netﬂix Video Game Based Animated Series

Netix is doubling down on video game inspired animated series, including

The Cuphead Show!, Overwatch, Resident Evil: Innite Darkness, Shadowlands:

Afterlives, Splinter Cell and Tomb Raider. Many of these series based on game

franchises will be produced as anime or in an anime style. (See our chapter:

‘Is It Still Anime If It’s Not Produced in Japan?’).

8 Bloomberg - Netix bets on animation to battle Disney, Apple in streaming wars,

Nov 6, 2020

9 Cartoon Brew - Netix Strikes Partnerships With Four Animation Studios

From Japan And Korea, Oct 24, 2020

Netﬂix’s Current Adult Animated Series

Show Description

Creator(s)

(and Other Work)

Studio(s)

Big Mouth

Coming of Age Sitcom

Nick Kroll (Kroll Show, The Oh,

Hello Show, The League)

Danger Goldberg Productions,

Good at Bizness, Inc., Fathouse

Industries Titmouse, Inc.

Blood of Zeus

(formerly Gods

and Heroes)

Action Anime

Charley Parlapanides, Vlas

Parlapanides (Death Note,

Immortals)

Powerhouse Animation Studios

Bojack Horseman

(last season)

Sitcom, Tragicomedy,

Black comedy,

Surreal humor,

Comedy-drama, Satire

Raphael Bob-Waksberg (Undone)

Tornante Television, Boxer vs.

Raptor, ShadowMachine

Castlevania

Drama, Dark fantasy

Action, Adventure

Horror, Anime

Warren Ellis, (Transmetropolitan,

Global Frequency)

Frederator Studios, Powerhouse

Animation Studios, Shankar

Animation, Project 51 Productions

Mua Film,

Disenchantment

Sitcom Black Comedy

Medieval Fantasy

Matt Groening (The Simpsons)

Josh Weinstein (The Simpsons)

The ULULU Company Rough

Draft Studios

F is for Family

Sitcom Comedy Satire

Bill Burr (comedian actor) and

Michael Price (The Simpsons)

Wild West Television, Loner

Productions, Big Jump Productions,

King of France Productions, Oasis

Animation, Gaumont Animation

The Liberator

War Drama – mini-

series

Jeb Stuart (Die Hard, Fugitive)

A&E Studios, Unique Features

Trioscope Studios

Love Death +

Robots

Anthology, Science

ction

Tim Miller (Deadpool)

Blur Studio, Netix Studios

The Midnight

Gospel

Science fantasy,

Surrealism Dark,

Comedy Adventure,

Psychedelic

Pendleton Ward, Adventure Time

and comedian Duncan Trussell

Oatmeal Maiden Titmouse, Inc.

Paradise PD

Crime, Action, Black

Comedy, Surrealism

Animated Sitcom

Waco O’Guin (Brickleberry)

Roger Black (Yucko the Clown)

Damn! Show Productions, Bento

Box Entertainment, Odenkirk

Provissiero Entertainment

Seis Manos

Martial arts

Supernatural Action,

Anime

Brad Graeber, Álvaro Rodríguez

Powerhouse Animation Studios,

Viz Productions

Trailer Park Boys:

The Animated

Series

Mockumentary

Sitcom Black comedy

Crime comedy

John Paul Tremblay, Robb Wells,

and Mike Smith.

Sunnyvale Productions, Swearnet

Pictures, Entertainment One

Television

Tuca and Bertie

Note: heading to

Adult Swim

Sitcom, Surreal humor

Slice of Life

Lisa Hanawalt (Bojack Horseman)

The Tornante Company, Brave

Dummy, Boxer vs. Raptor,

ShadowMachine

Netﬂix’s Upcoming Adult Animated Series

Show Description

Creator(s)

(and Other Work)

Studio(s)

Agent King

Comedy

Priscilla Presley, John Eddie,

Mike Arnold (Archer)

Sony Pictures Animation

Blue Eye Samurai

Action Adventure

Michael Green and Amber

Noizumi

Captain Fall Comedy

Jon Iver Helgaker and Jonas

Torgersen (Norsemen)

The Cuphead Show!

Comedy based on video game Chad and Jared Moldenhauer

StudioMDHR and King

Features Syndicate

Cyberpunk:

Edgerunners

Action – Anime based on

Cyberpunk 2077 video game

Hiroyuki Imaishi (Kill la Kill,

Promare, and Gurren Lagann)

Studio Trigger

Diablo

Fantasy Horror – Anime based

on video game

Andrew Cosby (Hellboy, Eureka)

Blizzard

DOTA: Dragons Blood

Fantasy – Based on

video game - anime

NA Studio Mir

Entergalactic

Musical Kid Cudi (recording artist) Khalabo Ink Society

Farzar

Sci-Fi Comedy

Roger Black & Waco O’Guin

(Paradise PD)

Odenkirk Provissiero

Entertainment, Bento

Box Entertainment

Godzilla: Singular

Point

Action Atsushi Takahashi Bones and Orange

Good Times

Comedy – Sitcom

Carl Jones, (The Last O.G., The

Boondocks, and Black Dynamite)

Fuzzy Door

Heaven’s Forest

Fantasy – Epic

Warren Ellis (Castlevania)

Powerhouse Animation

The House

Comedy – Dark

Emma de Swaef and Marc James

Roels (This Magnicent Cake,

Oh Willy)

Nexus Studios

Human Resources

Comedy - (spinoff from Big

Mouth)

Nick Kroll (Big Mouth), Andrew

Goldberg, Mark Levin, Jennifer

Flackett, and Kelly Galuska

Brutus Pink

Inside Job

Comedy

Shion Takeuchi (Gravity Falls)

Netix Animation

Kong: Skull Island

Action – Anime based on movie

Brian Dufeld (Underwater,

Spontaneous, Love and

Monsters) is writing and

exec producing.

Powerhouse Animation

Magic: The Gathering

Fantasy based on card game NA NA

Masters of the

Universe: Revelation

Fantasy – Based on TV Series

Kevin Smith (Clerks, Jay and

Silent Bob)

Jetlag Productions,

Mattel, Powerhouse

Animation

Mulligan

Comedy

Tina Fey (SNL, 30 Rock) and

Robert Carlock (30 Rock)

3 Arts Entertainment,

Bento Box Entertainment

and Universal Television

Netﬂix’s Upcoming Adult Animated Series [con’t]

Show Description

Creator(s)

(and Other Work)

Studio(s)

Overwatch

Fantasy – Anime based

on video game

Nick van Dyk Blizzard

Q-Force

Comedy

Sean Hayes and Todd Milliner,

Mike Schur, (Parks and

Recreation) Gabe Liedman

(Brooklyn Nine-Nine, PEN15)

Fremulon, Universal TV,

3 Arts

Resident Evil: Innite

Darkness

Fantasy - based on World of

Warcraft video game

NA TMS Entertainment

Splinter Cell

Spy Thriller – Anime based on

video game

Derek Kolstad (John Wick) Ubisoft

Tomb Raider

Action – anime based

on video game

Tasha Huo, (The Witcher: Blood

Orange)

Legendary

Figure 14: Beavis and Butt-Head - Viacom

9. Comedy Central

Makes a Hard Pivot

Comedy Central is shifting their original programming focus from live-action to

animation. As part of this effort, ViacomCBS announced that they are rebooting

Beavis and Butt-Head, Ren and Stimpy, and Jodie, a Daria spinoff, while at the

same time closing down many of their live-action series. Upon the news of Comedy

Central cancelling Tosh.0, Daniel Tosh quipped, “I look forward to doing an animated

reboot of my show on MTV in 25 years.”

It will be a challenge for ViacomCBS to reboot series like Beavis and Butt-Head.

Most comedy does not age particularly well. For those old enough to remember, try

re-watching the last episode of M.A.S.H. A staggering 106 million people watched

that episode, which was the most ever in the history of television.

It may trigger an

out-of-body response — as in, was I the same person who actually liked that show?

“Upon the news of Comedy Central cancelling

Tosh.0, Daniel Tosh quipped, “I look forward

to doing an animated reboot of my show on

MTV in 25 years.”

For the record, Viacom had already tried rebooting both Beavis and Butt-Head

and Ren and Stimpy. Neither of these reboots were well received and, if anything,

attracted generally negative reviews from die-hard fans. One assumes ViacomCBS

will start to develop new original series to build up around these reboots. Will they

keep enough powder dry to invest in new content and give themselves enough

10 HITC – Is TOSH.O Cancelled? Fate of the Comedy Central Series Explained, Sep. 16, 2020

11 Washington Post – 106 million People Watched M.A.S.H.’’ nale 35 years ago.

No Scripted Show Since Has Come Close, Feb. 28, 2018

runway to make it all work? Personally, I hope I am proven wrong and this approach

works. It would be wonderful to have another serious adult animation buyer in the

market. Viacom is also looking for homes for other animated projects based on IP

from the Viacom vault. Its Clone High series, for example, is heading for HBO Max.

Figure 15:

Ren & Stimpy

- Viacom

Viacom’s Current Adult Animation Series

Show Description Creator(s) (Other Work) Studio(s)

South Park

Comedy

Matt Stone, Trey Parker (Team

America, World Police, Book of

Mormon)

Celluloid Studios (1997) Braniff

Productions (1997–2006)

Parker-Stone Productions

(2006–07) South Park Studios

(2007–) Comedy Partners

Viacom’s Upcoming Adult Animation Series

Show Description Creator(s) (Other Work) Studio(s)

Beavis and

Butt-Head

Comedy Reboot

Mike Judge (Silicon Valley,

King of the Hill)

TBD

Clone High

Comedy Reboot

Phil Lord, Christopher Miller

(Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs,

The Lego Movie) and Bill Lawrence

(Scrubs)

For HBO Max

Jodie

Comedy (Daria Spinoff)

Grace Edwards (Insecure,

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt)

TBD

Ren & Stimpy

Comedy Reboot John Krisfalusi TBD

Figure 16: Rick and Morty - Adult Swim

10. WarnerMedia:

HBO Max, Adult Swim & DC Comics

HBO Max, Adult Swim, and DC Comics are the three key components to

WarnerMedia’s adult animation strategy. HBO Max now has a landing page to

help viewers nd their favorite adult animation more easily. The hub includes

Crunchyroll, Studio Ghibli, Looney Tunes, Cartoon Network and Adult Swim.

Suzanna Makkos is HBO Max's EVP of Original Comedy and Adult Animation.

Michael Ouweleen is the President ofAdult Swim. Adult Swim, Cartoon Network’s

adult animation block, is home to Rick and Morty, the most-watched comedy series

for 18-34s on television. DC Comics is home to some of the world’s most-valuable

superhero characters, including Batman and Superman. HBO Max paid $500M

for the streaming rights to Viacom’s South Park franchise that will serve as the

cornerstone of their adult animation strategy. HBO Max also invested an estimated

$1billion (phew) for the animation rights to Roald Dahl's books.

Warner Brothers has a sizable world-class animation production capacity between

Warner Brothers Animation, Cartoon Network Studios, and Williams Street.

Sam Register is the president of Warner Bros. Animation, Warner Digital Series

and Cartoon Network Studios. This scale will be important because all the third

party studio’s capacity will be stretched thin with the surge in demand for adult

animation. HBO Max will continue to mine the DC vaults for IP that translates

into adult animated series. HBO Max has a bona de hit with critics and fans in

Harley Quinn, a DC Universe character. The SVOD is expanding to 18 new upcoming

adult animated series from its 3 current series (Close Enough, Harley Quinn and

Young Justice).

I have to believe that in the long run, WarnerMedia will abandon Adult Swim as a

cable channel to focus on becoming the adult animation producer and programmer

for HBO Max. I can’t see how any young adult-facing cable channel can survive

cord-cutting: This is the case across all the major entertainment companies that are

increasingly structuring their businesses around their streaming platforms.

For reasons I don’t understand, WarnerMedia sold Crunchyroll to Sony. Crunchyroll

is a successful standalone SVOD with 3 million paying subscribers and arguably

would have been a reliable anime feeder into HBO Max. I am not sure what anime

will be left for HBO Max or Adult Swim if Sony (Crunchyroll) and Netix continue

to aggressively lock up anime output from Japan. As I mentioned elsewhere in this

white paper, I fully anticipate doing a comprehensive analysis of anime next year

and by that time some of these open questions will become clearer.

Figure 17:

Close Enough

- HBO Max

HBO Max’s Current Adult Animated Series

Show Description Creator(s) Studio(s)

Close Enough

Surreal Comedy

J. G. Quintel, Sean Szeles,

Matt Price, Calvin Wong

Cartoon Network Studios

Harley Quinn

Black comedy Surreal comedy

Superhero Crime

Justin Halpern, Patrick

Schumacker, Dean Lorey

Warner Bros. Animation DC Entertainment Yes,

Norman Productions, Ehsugadee Productions

Young Justice

Action Adventure Science ction

Superhero Teen drama

Brandon Vietti Greg Weisman DC Entertainment Warner Bros. Animation

HBO Max’s Upcoming Adult Animated Series

Show Description Creator(s) Studio(s)

10-Year Old Tom

Comedy

Steve Dildarian (The Life and Times of

Tim)

Tomorrow Studios,

ITV Studios

Aquaman: King of

Atlantis

Superhero Mini-Series

James Wan (Saw, Insidious)

Warner Bros. Animation

Batman: The Animated

Series (rumored reboot)

Superhero TBD TBD

The Boondocks

(Reboot)

Comedy Sitcom Aaron McGruder Sony Pictures Animation

Chinos

Original Comedy

Sitcom

Eddie Huang Color Correct

Clone High

Comedy Reboot

Phil Lord, Christopher Miller (Cloudy

with a Chance of Meatballs, The Lego

Movie) and Bill Lawrence (Scrubs)

MTV Entertainment

Studios

Cover

(in development)

Espionage thriller Brian Michael Bendis and David Mack Rooster Teeth Studios

Fired on Mars

Workplace Comedy

starring Pete Davidson

Nate Sherman and Nick Vokey Warner Bros. Animation

Game of Thrones

(anime rumor)

Fantasy based on the

TV series

TBD TBD

Gremlins: Secrets

of the Mogwai

Fantasy spinoff

from a movie

Tze Chun Warner Bros Animation

Hello Paul

(In development)

Comedy about a

neurotic cat Pete

Davidson to voice

Sean Solomon (AOK,Lucas Bros

Moving Co.,Animation) Domination

High-Def

Keeping Up With the

Jones’s

Sitcom

Hugh Davidson (Mike Tyson

Mysteries)

WB Animation

HBO Max’s Upcoming Adult Animated Series [cont’d]

Show Description Creator(s) Studio(s)

Obi

(in development)

Comedy

Obi Arisukwu and Arthur Harris (The

Last OG).

Studio 71

The Prince

Royal Family

Political Satire

Gary Janetti (Family Guy, Will and

Grace)

Bento Box Entertainment,

20th Television

Santa Inc.

Seasonal Comedy

starring Seth Rogen

and Sarah Silverman

Alexandra Rusheld (Shrill, Parks and

Rec)

Point Grey Pictures

Uncanny Valley

(in development)

Sci-Fi Comedy

Ed Helms (The Ofce, The Daily Show)

with creators/executive producers

Brendan Walter and Greg Yagolnitzer

Universal Television,

Electric Picture

Velma

Scooby-Doo Spinoff

starring Mindy Kaling

(The Ofce)

Charlie Grandy, (The Daily Show, SNL,

The Ofce) Howard Klein, (Carnivàle),

Sam Register

Warner Bros. Animation

Young Love

Drama based on the

Oscar winning short

Matthew A. Cherry (Hair Love) and

Carl Jones (Boondocks)

Sony Pictures Animation

Adult Swim’s Current Adult Animated Series

Show Description Creator(s) (other work) Studio(s)

12 Oz Mouse

Surreal

Comedy

Matt Maiellaro (Aqua Teen

Hunger Force)

Williams Street, Radical Axis (series),

Awesome, Inc. (special)

Ballmastrz: 9009

Sci-Fi Comedy

Christy Karacas (Superjail)

Titmouse, Inc., C.C.K. Rad (Season 2),

Williams Street

JJ Villards

Fairytales

Horror

Comedy

J.J. Villard (King Star King,

Chestnuts Icelolly, Monsters

Vs. Aliens)

Villard Film, Cartoon Network Studios,

Williams Street

The Jellies

Sitcom

Tyler, The Creator

(musician)

Bald Fade Productions, Augenblick Studios,

Whalerock Industries, Williams Street

Lazor Wulf

Comedy

Henry Bonsu, with Daniel

Weidenfeld

Titmouse, Inc. (Pilot), Bento Box Entertainment

(season 1), 6 Point Harness (season 2),

Williams Street

Momma Named

Me Sheriff

(Mr. Pickles)

Animated

sitcom Dark

comedy

Will Carsola and Dave

Stewart

HotHouse Productions, Day by Day Productions,

Williams Street

Primal

Fantasy,

Horror, Action

Genndy Tartakovsky

(Dexter's Lab, Samurai Jack,

Star Wars: Clone Wars)

Cartoon Network Studios, Williams Street,

Studio La Cachette

Rick and Morty

Sci- Comedy

Justin Roiland (Solar

Opposites), Dan Harmon

(Community)

Williams Street, Harmonious Claptrap, Starburns

Industries (seasons 1–2), Justin Roiland's Solo

Vanity Card Productions!, Rick and Morty, LLC.

(season 2–3), Green Portal Productions (season 4)

Adult Swim’s Current Adult Animated Series [cont’d]

Show Description Creator(s) (other work) Studio(s)

Robot Chicken

Sketch

Comedy

Seth Green and Matthew

Senreich along with co-

head writers Douglas

Goldstein and Tom Root

ShadowMachine Films (2005–2012) (seasons 1–5),

Stoopid Monkey, Stoopid Buddy Stoodios (2012

present), (season 6–present) Sony Pictures Digital

(2005–2012) (seasons 1–5) Sony Pictures Television

(2012–present) (season 6–present), Williams Street

Tigtone

Fantasy

Comedy

Andrew Koehler and

Benjamin Martian

Titmouse, Inc., Babyhemyth Productions,

Williams Street

The Shivering

Truth

Comedy,

Surreal, Sketch

Created by Vernon

Chatman (Wonder Showzen)

and directed by Chatman

and Cat Solen

ShadowMachine (season one), HouseSpecial

(season two), PFFR, Williams Street

Squidbillies

Black Comedy

Jim Fortier and Dave Willis

(Aqua Teen Hunger Force)

Williams Street

Tender Touches

Soap Opera

Parody

David Bonawits, (Fish

Center Live) Lauren Payne,

and Maxime Simonet

Six Point Harness (season 2), Awesome, Inc.

(season 3), Williams Street

The Venture

Bros. (last season)

Comedy

Christopher McCulloch

(Tick)

Astro Base GO!, NoodleSoup Productions

(2003–04), World Leaders Entertainment

(2006–10), Titmouse, Inc. (2011–2018),

Williams Street

Yolo: Crystal

Fantasy

Comedy Michael Cusack Princess Pictures, Williams Street

Adult Swim’s Upcoming Adult Animated Series

Show Description Creator(s) (Other Works) Studio(s)

Birdgirl

Comedy spinoff

from Harvey

Birdman

Produced by Susan Shipsky and directed

by Rich Ferguson-Hull (Harvey Birdman,

Ugly Americans)

ME Productions, Awesome Inc.

Blade Runner:

Black Lotus

Anime series

based on movie

Shinji Aramaki, Kenji Kamiyama

(Ultraman, Ghost in the Shell)

Sola Digital Arts

Teenage

Euthanasia

Dystopic

coming-of-all-

ages comedy

Alissa Nutting (Made for Love) and

Emmy-Nominated Producer Alyson Levy

(Shivering Truth)

Augenblick

Tuca and

Bertie

Comedy (formerly

Netix)

Lisa Hanawalt (BoJack Horseman)

The Tornante Company,

Brave Dummy, Boxer vs.

Raptor, ShadowMachine

Figure 18: Futurama - Fox

11. Sci-Fi Comedy

Crossovers

There is a rich animated sci- comedy tradition that includes some of the all-time

most popular adult animated series — shows like Futurama, Gravity Falls and

Invader Zim. Creators have gravitated towards these sci- comedy hybrids because

they are an easy way to present more complex themes and, by their nature, push

the boundaries of the imagination. My prediction is that sci- comedy crossovers

are transitional and will be a gateway to more ambitious dramatic adult animation.

Comedic sci- is a exible platform for storytellers to tell funny, complex stories

packaged in a way that is relatively easy for audiences to enjoy and for buyers

to greenlight.

“Sci-ﬁ comedy crossovers

are transitional and a gateway

to more ambitious dramatic

adult animation.”

The stories are about almost anything and can take place almost anywhere in the

universe. They explore the human condition and the more ambitious ones (like

Rick and Morty and The Midnight Gospel) pose existential questions about our

existence from a unique point of view, with all the strengths inherent to classic

science ction. Although comedy plays less of a role in most science ction

literature, sci- premises are a reoccurring platform for animated comedy series.

My expectation is that this will change as Western audiences (and the rest of the

world) increasingly accept animation as a vehicle for any kind of story. Japanese

audiences have already made this transition. Japanese anime can cover anything

from ghting robots to romance to a retired yakuza boss adjusting to life as a

stay-at-home dad. There’s no reason why the rest of the world will not get to the

same place.

Current animated sci- comedy series include Rick and Morty, Solar Opposites,

Final Space, Star Trek: Lower Decks, Close Enough and The Midnight Gospel. These

series consistently command some of the largest audiences for adult animation

— especially Rick and Morty. There’s a lot of shared genes amongst these series —

many of them have hired current and former Rick and Morty writers. Upcoming

sci- comedies include the spinoff X-Files: Albuquerque, and Chronicles of Frank.

Figure 20:

Final Space - TBS

Figure 19:

Solar Opposites

- Hulu

Current Sci-Fi Comedy Adult Animated Crossovers

Show Description

Creator(s)

(Other Work)

Buyer Studio(s)

Close Enough

Sci-Fi Comedy

J. G. Quintel (Regular

Show)

HBO Max Cartoon Network Studios

Devil May Care

Comedy

Douglas Goldstein (Robot

Chicken)

Syfy Psyop, Titmouse

Final Space

Space Opera

Comedy Drama

Olan Rogers (comedian) TBS

ShadowMachine, Jam Filled

Entertainment, Star Cadet New

Form Digital Conaco (S1–2) Studio

T (S1)

Magical Girl

Friendship

Squad: Origins

Sci-Fi Comedy Kelsey Stephanides Syfy Cartuna

The Midnight

Gospel

Sci-Fi Comedy

Pendleton Ward

(Adventure Time)

and Duncan Trussell,

comedian

Netix Oatmeal Maiden Titmouse, Inc.

Rick and Morty

Sci-Fi Comedy

Justin Roiland (Solar

Opposites), Dan Harmon

(Community)

Adult Swim

Williams Street Harmonious

Claptrap Starburns Industries

(seasons 1–2) Justin Roiland’s Solo

Vanity Card Productions! Rick and

Morty, LLC. (season 2–3) Green

Portal Productions (season 4)

Solar

Opposites

Sci-Fi Comedy

Justin Roiland (Rick

and Morty) and Mike

McMahan (Star Trek:

Lower Decks)

Hulu

Solo Vanity Card Productions!,

Important Science, 20th Television

Star Trek:

Lower Decks

Sci-Fi Comedy

Mike McMahan (Solar

Opposites)

CBS All Access

CBS Eye, Animation Productions,

Secret Hideout, Important Science,

Roddenberry Entertainment,

Titmouse, Inc.

Wild Life

Comedy

Adam Davies Dylan

Dawson Alex Plapinger

Syfy

Nice Try, Octopie, Network

Valparaiso Pictures, TZGZ

Productions

Upcoming Sci-Fi Comedy Adult Animated Crossovers

Show Description

Creator(s)

(Other Work)

Buyer Studio(s)

2051

Sci-Fi Comedy –

Animated Workplace

Comedy

Mo Mandel (Comedy Knockout),

Jason Fuchs (Wonder Woman)

Amazon

3 Arts

Entertainment

The Black Hole

Sci-Fi Comedy

Dino Stamatopoulos (Creator,

Moral Orel) and Michael Waldron

(Producer, Rick and Morty)

Syfy

Starburn

Industries

The Chronicles of

Frank

Sci-Fi Comedy

Chris Osbrink (Writer/Director,

Trip Tank)

Syfy ShadowMachine

Farzar

Sci-Fi Comedy

Roger Black & Waco O’Guin

(Paradise PD)

Netix

Odenkirk

Provissiero

Entertainment

and Bento Box

Entertainment

Fired on Mars

Sci-Fi Comedy

starring Pete

Davidson

Carson Mell and Dave Sirus

(King of Staten Island)

based on a short by Nate

ShermanandNick Vokey

HBO Max TBA

The Hospital

Sci-Fi Comedy –

Dark

Natasha Lyonne, (Orange is

the New Black) Maya Rudolph

(SNL, Idiocracy)

Amazon Animal Pictures

The Pole

Comedy

Matthew Bass (Future Man)

and Theodore Bressman

(Future Man). Mark Gordon

(Producer, Ray Donovan)

Syfy Yeti Farm Creative

Psycho Psalms

Stop Motion Dark

Comedy Sci-Fi

David Braun and Nicholas

D’Agostino

Syfy

Open The Portal,

Tractor Pants

Uncanny Valley

(in development)

Sci-Fi Comedy

Ed Helms (The Ofce, The Daily

Show) with creators/executive

producers Brendan Walter and

Greg Yagolnitzer

Universal

Television,

Electric Picture

Uncanny Valley

(in development)

X-Files:

Albuquerque

Sci-Fi Comedy

Chris Carter (X:Files), Rocky

Russo, Jeremy Sosenko,

(Paradise PD)

Fox Bento Box

Figure 21:

Magical Girl Friendship

Squad - Syfy

12. Syfy’s TZGZ Block and

Short Format Pipelines

TZGZ is a late night programming block that rst premiered in April 2019 on Syfy.

Expanding Syfy’s programming into original adult animation has been a priority for

NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment according to President Chris McCumber, who

oversees USA Network and Syfy. The block features animated series aimed at adult

audiences with a focus on “animated comedy, which has to have some tie to science

ction, horror, and fantasy.”

The block's name is derived from the letters of the

alphabet that come after those in Syfy's name.

The TZGZ block very neatly ts into my thesis about the importance and popularity

of sci- comedy crossovers. There are currently four original series in production

(Magical Girl Friendship Squad, Wild Life, Hell Den and Devil May Care) and six

series in various stages of development. They also license Futurama and Mondo/

Blue Ant’s Gary and His Demons.

I am a proponent of Short Format Pipelines, like TZGZ. This model has worked

well for programmers in the past. Comedy is so dependent on voice and POV that

the only way to nd successful shows is to start small, with a high volume of short

pilots, and then get behind the projects that show signs of traction. Using short

format pipelines, I was able to nd IP like Happy Tree Friends, Dick Figures and

Gary and His Demons — all of which scaled into successful TV series and movies.

12 Deadline - Syfy Ramps Up Animation Push With First Original Series & Pilot Orders

For New TZGZ Block, Jan. 17, 2020

This time-tested model has also worked for Fred Seibert during his stint at Hanna

Barbera, where he produced 28 short lms that eventually became hits, including

Genndy Tartakovsky's Dexter's Laboratory, David Feiss' Cow and Chicken and I Am

Weasel, Van Partible's Johnny Bravo, John R. Dilworth's Courage the Cowardly Dog,

and Craig McCraken's The Powerpuff Girls.

I look forward to seeing what shows break out of the TZGZ pipeline.

Current Adult Animated TZGZ Block Series

Show Description

Creator(s)

(and prior/other work)

Studio(s)

Devil May Care

Dark Comedy

Douglas Goldstein (Robot Chicken)

PSYOP, Titmouse

Hell Den

Sketch Comedy

Sean Cowhig ,Neil Garguilo, Brian

James O'Connell, David F. Park,

Justin Ware

Dr. God Productions, Rafael

Raffaele Entertainment, Shout!

Studios, TZGZ Productions

Magical Girl

Friendship Squad

Magical Girl Comedy Kelsey Stephanides Cartuna, TZGZ Productions

Wild Life

Sitcom Adam Davies

Nice Try., Octopie Network,

Valparaiso Pictures, TZGZ

Productions

Upcoming Adult Animated TZGZ Block Series

Show Description

Creators

(and prior/other work)

Studio(s)

The Black Hole

Sci-Fi Comedy

Dino Stamatopoulos

and Michael Waldron

The Chronicles

of Frank

Comedy Chris Osbrink NA

Plutonians

Sci-Fi Comedy NA NA

The Pole

Comedy

Matthew Bass and

Theodore Bressman

Yeti Farm Creative

Psycho Psalms

Dark Comedy –

Stop Motion

David Braun and Nicholas

D'Agostino

Open The Portal, Tractor Pants

The Summoner

Comedy

Charlie Hankins

(New Yorker Cartoonist)

Stoopid Buddy Stoodios

Figure 22: Good Times - HBO Max

13. Blasts From the Past:

Reboots and Spinoffs

Viacom isn’t the only network turning to reboots: CBS Television’s Star Trek:

Lower Decks is currently the one on-air spinoff, but there are at least 18 other

announced reboots or spinoffs in development or production. Many of these are

spinoffs from some of the most valuable franchises in the entertainment industry

including Game of Thrones, Godzilla, Blade Runner, and King Kong. Others are

spinoffs from classic animated and live action series, including Viacom’s reboots

like Beavis and Butt-Head and Ren & Stimpy. There are multiple upcoming animated

spinoff series based on live-action series, like X:Files and the sitcom Good Times.

“The beneﬁt of the animated spinoff is

that streaming services can broaden their

big-name content without treading

on the toes of the live-action originals”

It will be interesting to see how far these animated spinoffs veer from their source

material. It’s difcult to see, for example, a straight handling of the Good Times

sitcom as an animated series. Unless it’s meant to be ironic, the voice of that show

will seem antiquated for today’s audiences. They are going to have to do something

very different from the original to make it work.

Comedy Central’s reboot mania, on the other hand, appears to be motivated by the

ratings success that Adult Swim and Netix have had with adult animation, and

possibly as a pivot in reaction to the decline in popularity of live-action comedy.

(Or they gave up on the challenge of nding new hit comedies.)

Figure 23:

Masters of the Universe:

Revelation - Netﬂix

Craig Elvy, writing for Screen Rant, makes an excellent observation about the

animated spinoff phenomenon: It’s a lower risk way of extending IP than big budget

features or series. According to Elvy, “The benet of the animated spinoff is that

streaming services can broaden their big-name content without treading on the

toes of the live-action originals — and usually at a lower cost. The more projects

exist simultaneously under a single franchise umbrella, the more the overall brand

risks being diluted. This phenomenon can be seen with The Walking Dead and

its three current live-action shows. But the medium of animation offers natural

separation. Jurassic World fans can enjoy Camp Cretaceous as both a show in its own

right and an extension of the wider dinosaur universe, but those who nd no merit

in the spinoff can easily stick to live-action. A poorly-received animated spinoff

is far less likely to damage the brand than a live-action one.”

13 Screen Rant, Why So Many Franchises Are Getting Animated Spinoff Shows, Jan 28, 2021

Current Adult Animated Reboots and Spinoffs

Show Description

Creators

(and prior/other work)

Buyer Studio(s)

Star Trek:

Lower Decks

Sci-Fi Comedy

Spinoff

Mike McMahan

(Solar Opposites)

CBS All Access

CBS Eye, Animation Productions,

Secret Hideout, Important

Science, Roddenberry

Entertainment, Titmouse, Inc.

Upcoming Adult Animated Reboots and Spinoffs

Show Description Creators Buyer Studios(s)

Batman: The

Animated

Series

Reboot of the classic

animated series

(rumor)

TBD HBO Max TBD

Beavis and

Butt-Head

Comedy Reboot

Mike Judge (Silicon Valley,

King of the Hill)

Viacom TBD

Birdgirl

Harvey Birdman

Spinoff

Paget Brewster Adult Swim Awesome Inc.

Blade

Runner:

Black Lotus

Action Anime based

on the movie

Shinji Aramaki and Kenji

Kamiyama

Adult Swim Sola Digital Arts

The

Boondocks

Reboot

Aaron McGruder (original

creator)

HBO Max Sony Pictures Animation

Clone High

Comedy Reboot

Phil Lord, Christopher Miller

(Cloudy with a Chance of

Meatballs, The Lego Movie)

and Bill Lawrence (Scrubs)

HBO Max TBD

Good Times

Sitcom Spinoff

Carl Jones (The Boondocks,

Black Dynamite) Tracy Morgan

(The Last O.G,)

Netix

Act III, Unanimous Media

(Steph Curry), Fuzzy Door

(Seth MacFarlane)

Human

Resources

(spinoff from Big

Mouth)

Nick Kroll, Andrew Goldberg,

Mark Levin, Jennifer Flackett,

and Kelly Galuska

Netix Brutus Pink

Game of

Thrones

(rumor)

Spinoff from Game

of Thrones Series

TBD HBO Max TBD

Godzilla:

Singular

Point

Action Anime based

on movie

Atsushi Takahashi Netix Bones and Orange

Upcoming Adult Animated Reboots and Spinoffs [cont’d]

Show Description Creators Buyer Studios(s)

Gremlins:

Secrets of the

Mogwai

Fantasy Spinoff from

Gremlins feature

Tze Chun HBO Max

Amblin Television Warner

Bros. Animation

Jodie Comedy (Daria Spinoff)

Grace Edwards (Insecure,

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt)

Viacom TBD

Kong: Skull

Island

Action Anime, Spinoff

from King Kong movie

Brian Dufeld (Underwater,

Spontaneous, Love and

Monsters) is writing and

exec producing.

Netix Powerhouse Animation

Masters of

the Universe

He Man Spinoff

Kevin Smith (Clerks) Netix

Powerhouse Animation

Studios

Ren & Stimpy

Comedy Reboot John Krisfalusi Viacom

Spümcø (seasons 1 and 2)

Games Animation

(seasons 3–5) Nickelodeon

Animation Studio

Tuca and

Bertie

Reboot

Lisa Hanawalt, (Bojack

Horseman)

Adult Swim

(formerly

Netix)

The Tornante Company,

Brave Dummy, Boxer vs.

Raptor, ShadowMachine

Velma Scooby-Doo spinoff

Charlie Grandy, Howard Klein,

and Sam Register

HBO Max Warner Bros. Animation

X-Files:

Albuquerque

Comedy Spinoff from

X-Files TV Series

Chris Carter (X:Files),

Rocky Russo, Jeremy Sosenko,

(Paradise PD)

Fox Bento Box

Figure 24: Avatar: The Last Airbender - Netﬂix

14. Is It Still Anime If

It’s Not Produced in Japan?

Avatar: the Last Air Bender, a 12-year old Nickelodeon series, blew up on Netix

and exceeded everyone’s expectations with the longest-consecutive run on the

streamer’s top 10 TV series chart — ever since the service began promoting their

daily top 10s. At the same time, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, the

show’s original creators abandoned a highly anticipated live-action spinoff due

to creative differences with Netix. Netix announced that despite the creators’

departure, they were proceeding with the live-action spinoff. It is not clear if this

will impact the possibility of new animated episodes for the franchise.

“Epic, serialized, anime-style story-telling

like Avatar that appeal to all ages might

be one of the formulas for success for

future adult animated series.”

According to Collider’s Rafael Motamayor: “Avatar sat at the perfect intersection

between serious, adult storytelling and goofy yet fun children’s entertainment,

and it knew when to lean one way over the other.”

Epic, serialized story-telling

like Avatar: The Last Air-Bender that appeals to all ages might be one of the keys

to success for future adult animated series. Avatar: The Last Airbender could still

become a key franchise for Netix. It’s a big enough world and there’s clearly an

appetite for the property. Avatar: The Last Airbender is a Burbank-produced series

that is clearly inspired by Japanese anime.

14 Collider, How A 15-Year-Old Cartoon Remained the Most Successful Netix

Show of the Summer, July 17, 2020

Figure 25:

Seis Manos

- Netﬂix

Anime-inspired, Western-produced hybrids like Avatar could become a category

unto itself and potentially challenge traditional Japanese-produced anime. Many

of the newly announced video game adaptations and spinoffs have been announced

as anime productions.

There are, however, limitations to how quickly the Japanese anime production

companies can respond to the surge in demand for anime. According to Roland

Kelts, writing for Nikkei Asia, “Japan’s anime industry has been plagued for years

by adverse conditions: long hours in cramped studios, razor-thin prot margins,

and domestic labor shortages.” Kelts goes on to explain: “Japan’s anime industry

has been reluctant to embrace global standards in digital, computer-generated

3D imagery, adhering instead to a 2D model of visual art, much of it hand-drawn

by employees crammed into tiny open-air cubicles, surviving on instant noodles

and sometimes sleeping under their desks. The environment is as antiquated as

company policy: working from home does not compute.”

“There is a very real ceiling to Japan’s ability to

quickly ramp up to meet the demand for anime.”

The reliance on hand-drawn paper animation is, of course, a large part of the appeal

of Japanese anime. But these limitations, coupled with Japanese COVID employment

15 Nikkei Asia, Japan's anime studios fall victim to coronavirus disruptions, May 20, 2020

restrictions and the increased competition between locally nanced anime and

international buyers like Netix and Crunchyroll, would indicate to me that there

is a very real ceiling to Japan’s ability to quickly ramp up to meet the demand for

anime series.

This is where I believe Western-produced anime inspired productions will start

to play a role. Companies like Texas-based Powerhouse Animation (Castlevania,

Seis Manos, Blood of Zeus) are realizing the benets of producing these types of

series using more efcient modern Western production pipelines.

There needs to be a word to describe western

produced anime. I am going to take a shot at coining

‘gaibume,’ which is a portmanteau of the Japanese

words for ‘outside’ and ‘anime.’

The global anime market is valued at over US $24 billion with roughly half coming

from domestic Japanese sales and the other half from international. Today’s English

language adult animation market is a fraction of Japan’s. By my estimates, today’s

adult English language animation market is in the single digit billions. It’s largely

a domestic market but it is growing rapidly.

The 2019 Association of Japanese Animation Annual Report explains that “the global

adult animation market has historically been Japan’s monopoly, but if this trend

[towards Western produced anime] shifts into high gear, Japan’s dominance may

be threatened.”

Japan’s animation industry is right to be concerned, although there will always be

a rabid fandom for authentic Japanese anime. The major opportunity for Western

animation producers is for adult animation to expand into more genre and dramatic

story-telling. Dramatic series account for the majority of the original content spend

on the streaming platforms. If Western-produced anime can start to tap into the

streamer budgets for drama, it will expand the adult animation market dramatically

over the next 10 years.

16 Japanese Animation Industry Report 2019

Figure 27:

Godzilla Singular Point

- Netﬂix

Figure 26:

Blade Runner: Black Lotus

- Adult Swim Crunchyroll

Figure 28:

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

- Netﬂix

Figure 29:

Splinter Cell

- Netﬂix

Here’s a handful of notable upcoming anime or anime-inspired productions:

Blade Runner: Black Lotus is a

co-production between Crunchyroll

and Adult Swim, in partnership with

Alcon Television Group. Based on the

classic sci- movie, the series is being

produced in Japan.

Godzilla Singular Point is an upcoming

Japanese anime TV series based on the

Godzilla franchise. Directed by Atsushi

Takahashi, the series is scheduled to air

in April 2021.

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is one of several

video game adaptations that will be

produced as an anime series. Anime

appears to be the style of choice for

video game spinoffs.

Splinter Cell – Netix and Ubisoft teamed

up to produce an anime series adaptation

of the video game. Derek Kolstad,

(John Wick) to write and produce.

2 season, 16 episode order.

Current Adult Animated Anime-Inspired or

Anime Based on Western IP

Show Description Creators Buyer Studio(s)

Blood of Zeus

(formerly Gods

and Heroes)

Action Anime

Charley Parlapanides

Vlas Parlapanides

Netix Powerhouse Animation Studios

Castlevania

Drama, Dark fantasy

Action, Adventure

Horror, Anime

Warren Ellis,

(Transmetropolitan,

Global Frequency)

Netix

Frederator Studios, Powerhouse

Animation Studios, Shankar Animation,

Project 51 Productions, Mua Film

Dragons

Dogma

Adventure, Dark

Fantasy, Anime

Shinya Sugai Netix Sublimation

Seis Manos

Martial arts

Supernatural Action,

Anime

Brad Graeber, Álvaro

Rodríguez

Netix

Powerhouse Animation Studios, Viz

Productions

Upcoming Adult Animated Anime-Inspired or

Anime Based on Western IP

Show Description

Creator(s)

(Other Work)

Buyer Studio(s)

Blade Runner:

Black Lotus

Action Anime based on movie

franchise

Shinji Aramaki and Kenji

Kamiyama

Adult Swim,

Crunchyroll

Sola Digital

Arts

Diablo

Fantasy Horror – Anime

Andrew Cosby (Hellboy, Eureka)

Netix Blizzard

Cyberpunk:

Edgerunners

Action – Anime based on

Cyberpunk 2077 video game

Hiroyuki Imaishi (Kill la Kill,

Promare, and Gurren Lagann)

Netix Studio Trigger

Dantai

Original, Afro-futuristic

science ction series

Idris Elba

Crunchyroll,

Adult Swim

TBD

DOTA: Dragons

Blood

Fantasy – Based on video

game, anime

NA Netix Studio Mir

Game of

Thrones (rumor)

Fantasy – Anime spinoff from

TV series

TBD HBO Max TBD

Godzilla:

Singular Point

Action – spinoff from movie Atsushi Takahashi Netix

Bones and

Orange

Kong: Skull

Island

Action Anime, Spinoff from

King Kong movie

Brian Dufeld (Underwater,

Spontaneous, Love and Monsters)

is writing and exec producing.

Netix

Powerhouse

Animation

Overwatch

Fantasy – Anime based on

Overwatch video game

NA Netix Blizzard

Splinter Cell

Spy Thriller – Anime spinoff

from video game

Derek Kolstad (John Wick) Netix Ubisoft

Tomb Raider Action Anime TBD Netix

Powerhouse

Animation

Figure 30: Invincible - Netﬂix

15. Drawing from Comics

and Graphic Novels

Comics and graphic novels naturally extend themselves to animated series.

Harley Quinn, the DC comic-book based series, is a breakout hit. Advancing to its

third season and well-received by both critics and fans, the dark comedy is moving

from DC Universe (now focused exclusively on digital comics) to its new home

on HBO Max. This category accounts for about 10% of the upcoming adult animated

TV series.

Some of the more notable upcoming series include Invincible, an hour-long,

2D superhero series from Robert Kirkman, creator of The Walking Dead, produced

by Atomic Cartoons. “The superhero space in lm and television is extremely

crowded, so I thought that one way to make [Invincible] stand out and be more

unique would be to have it in animated form,” said Kirkman.

“The superhero space in ﬁlm and television is extremely

crowded, so I thought that one way to make ‘Invincible’

stand out and be more unique would be to have it in

animated form,” said Kirkman.

Hulu is producing two other comic based series, including the comedy M.O.D.O.K.,

a Marvel, stop-motion series from Stoopid Buddy Stoodios, and Hit Monkey, another

Marvel property. Live action TV series adaptations of comic books have surged in

the wake of live action features on the SVODs. There are a number of upcoming

comic-based projects and it is an important source of IP for adult animation but not

at the scale of live-action adaptations. It appears that Hulu is the most committed

to comic-based adult animated series, although I believe this to be a large enough

category to work on many channels and streamers.

17 Los Angeles Times - Why TV’s next Golden Age might come thanks

to adult animation, Nov 23, 2020

Current Comic-Book Inspired Adult Animated Series

Show Description Creator(s) Buyer Studio(s)

Harley Quinn

DC Comics Black comedy

Surreal, Comedy,

Superhero, Crime

Justin Halpern Patrick

Schumacker Dean

Lorey

HBO Max

Warner Bros. Animation DC

Entertainment Yes, Norman

Productions Ehsugadee

Productions

Young Justice

Action Adventure Science

ction Superhero Teen

drama

Brandon Vietti Greg

Weisman

HBO Max

DC Entertainment Warner

Bros. Animation

Figure 31:

M.O.D.O.K. – Hulu

Figure 32:

Hit Monkey - Hulu

Upcoming Comic-Book Inspired Adult Animated Series

Show Description

Creator(s) (Other

Work)

Buyer Studio(s)

Aquaman: King of

Atlantis

DC Comics

James Wan (Saw, Insidious)

HBO Max

Atomic Monster and

Warner Bros Animation

Batman: The

Animated Series

(rumored)

D.C. Comics NA HBO Max NA

Condorito

Comedy – Based on

Comic

NA NA Anima, Lunes

Cover

(in development)

D.C Comics

Brian Michael Bendis and

David Mack

HBO Max Rooster Teeth Studios

Depardieu Only

Knows

Comedy – based on

graphic novel

Based on story by Gerard

Depardieu

NA Toon Factory

Invincible

Drama Superhero

from Image Comics

Robert Kirkman (The

Walking Dead)

Amazon

Prime Video

Skybound

Hit Monkey

Marvel Comics

Josh Gordon and Will

Speck

Hulu Marvel Studios

Hungry Ghost

Dark Horse, horror

anthology

Based on story by Anthony

Bourdain (chef, author, TV

personality)

Sony

optioned

Sony Pictures Animation

M.O.D.O.K

Marvel Comedy,

Science ction,

Superhero

Jordan Blum and Patton

Oswalt (comedian, King of

Queens)

Hulu

Marvel Studios,

Stoopid Buddy Stoodios

What If?

Marvel Comics,

Anthology, Superhero

A.C. Bradley Disney + Marvel Studios

Figure 33: Castlevania – (Konami) Netﬂix

16. Why Video Games

are the New IP Gold Rush

There are a staggering 10 new video game inspired adult animated series in the

works. That’s up from two on-air video game based series in 2020: Castlevania

and Alien Isolation – The Digital Series. Netix has ordered at least nine of the

upcoming video game based series. New adult animated series based on video

games now account for at least 10% of all the upcoming adult animated series. Many

of these video game series will be adapted as anime or anime inspired projects.

The quantity of upcoming TV series based on video games

and audience’s willingness to embrace adult animation

make this genre a potentially explosive new category.

According to Brandon Katz, writing for Observer: “When the Marvel Cinematic

Universe lms took the entertainment world by storm and became the highest-

grossing lm series in box ofce history, the franchise success propelled a

cataclysmic shift in pop culture: it transformed geek culture into cool culture.”

Yohan Varella, CEO of accounting marketing agency Epic Firms, stated: “This

prowess alone obliterated the interest gap between teenage boys and middle-aged

moms (and everyone else in between) and is now dragging another IP sleeping giant

into the battle for lm and TV watchers’ dollars—the video game industry—which

generated more revenue than the lm and music industries combined.”

There’s a generation of video game players who have grown accustomed to in-game

cinematics. As a result, there’s built-up pressure from these massive gaming

communities to see their favorite characters come to life in longer, linear formats.

However, adapting games into movies has been historically fraught with peril, with

most movies negatively received by critics and fans alike.

18 Observer – Video Games Will Soon Be Hollywood’s Next Great IP War, Dec 23, 2020

More recently however, Netix’s The

Witcher, a live-action dramatic series

based on the video game (and Andrzej

Sapkowski’s novels), became the most

in-demand TV show in the world. This

bodes well for the new class of video

game inspired animated series. The

quantity of upcoming TV series based on

video games and audience’s willingness to

embrace adult animation make this genre

a potentially explosive new category.

The list of upcoming games includes some

major franchises with massive global

footprints including League of Legends,

World of Warcraft, DOTA, Cyberpunk

2077, Diablo, Overwatch and Resident Evil.

Figure 34:

The Witcher - Netﬂix

Figure 35: Resident Evil:

The Inﬁnite Darkness –

(Resident Evil, Capcom)

Netﬂix

Figure 36: Diablo –

(Diablo, Blizzard)

Netﬂix

Figure 37: Overwatch –

(Overwatch, Blizzard)

Netﬂix

Figure 38: Arcane

(League of Legends)

– Riot Games

One of the video game inspired projects

I am looking forward to is The Cuphead

Show!. Based on the video game Cuphead,

the characters are designed with a

rubber hose art style similar to the

work of Fleischer Studios in the 1930s.

The Cuphead Show! is an upcoming

American-Canadian animated series for

Netix, produced by StudioMDHR and

King Features Syndicate, and animation

from Lighthouse Studios in Ireland.

Dave Wasson (director on Mickey Mouse

Shorts) is the executive producer on

the project with co-executive producer

Cosmo Segurson (director on Rocko’s

Modern Life: Static Cling).

Figure 39:

DOTA Dragons Blood

(DOTA) - Netﬂix

Figure 41:

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

(Cyberpunk 2077)

- Netﬂix

Figure 40:

Shadowlands Afterlives

(Blizzard, World of

Warcraft) - Blizzard

Figure 42:

The Cuphead Show!

- Netﬂix

Current Adult Animated Series Based on Video Games

Show Description Creator(s) Buyer Studio(s)

Castlevania

Sci-Fi Comedy

Mike McMahan

(Solar Opposites)

CBS All Access

CBS Eye, Animation Productions,

Secret Hideout, Important Science,

Roddenberry Entertainment,

Titmouse, Inc.

Alien Isolation –

The Digital Series

Sci-Fi Horror Jeff Juhasz IGN

Reverse Engineering Studios (RES),

TitraFilm Dvgroup, 20th Century

Fox, IGN

Upcoming Adult Animated Series Based on Video Games

Show Description Creator(s) Buyer Studio(s)

Arcane

League of Legends Spinoff,

Fantasy Sci-Fi

NA TBD

Riot Games, Fortiche

Productions

ARK: The Animated

Series

Action Adventure spinoff

from the video game

Jay Oliva

(Batman: The Dark Knight

Returns, Justice League:

The Flashpoint Paradox)

TBD Studio Wildcard

Captain Laserhawk:

A Blood Dragon Vibe

Spinoff from video game Adi Shankar TBD TBD

The Cuphead Show!

Comedy

Chad and

Jared Moldenhauer

Netix

StudioMDHR

and King Features

Syndicate

Cyberpunk:

Edgerunners

Action – Anime based on

Cyberpunk 2077 video game

Hiroyuki Imaishi

(Kill la Kill, Promare,

and Gurren Lagann)

Netix Studio Trigger

DOTA:

Dragons Blood

Fantasy – Based on video

game, anime

NA Netix Studio Mir

Diablo

Fantasy Horror – Anime

Andrew Cosby

(Hellboy, Eureka)

Blizzard

Overwatch

Fantasy – Anime based on

Overwatch video game

NA Netix Blizzard

Resident Evil:

Innite Darkness

Based on the Horror Video

Game from Capcom

Hiroyuki Kobayashi Netix

TMS Entertainment

and animated by

Quebico

Shadowlands:

Afterlives

World of War Craft Game NA Ginx

Blizzard

Entertainment

Splinter Cell

Spy Thriller – Anime spinoff

from video game

Derek Kolstad (John Wick) Netix Ubisoft

Figure 44:

Undone -

Amazon Prime

17. The Rise of Dramatic

“Non-Comedy Genre Shows”

Dramatic “non-comedy genre shows” like Netix’s Castlevania, Adult Swim’s

Primal and Amazon Prime’s Undone have all gained enough traction to warrant

new season orders. To understand the importance of this development, you have

to look at the breakdown of spending on the streaming services. The vast majority

of spending is on scripted dramatic series. If adult animation can carve into a

fraction of this budget, it will open the door to a signicant amount of production

dollars for studios that make this transition.

Trioscope’s The Liberator, a hybrid-live war drama mini-series, stayed on Netix’s

top 10 most-watched list for three weeks in late 2020. The Liberator tells the story

of a ragtag unit of soldiers on a march to liberate prisoners from the notorious

Dachau concentration camp. It’s another series that signals that adult audiences are

increasingly accepting of animation as a serious, dramatic, story-telling medium.

Figure 43: Primal - Adult Swim

Figure 46:

Game of Thrones

- HBO Max

Figure 47:

Idris Elba, Dantai -

Crunchyroll,

Adult Swim

Figure 45:

The Liberator

- Netﬂix

According to reporting from Nellie Andreeva and Denise Petski for Deadline,

“An animated version of Game of Thrones may be headed to HBO Max. The streamer

is kicking the tires on a potential animated drama series in the world of Game of

Thrones. The project is believed to be in very early, exploratory stages, and there

is no concept or creative team on board.”

“Almost all of the upcoming video game, comic-book

and western anime series are in the ‘non-comedy genre’

category. This new era will be the single largest shift

in the history of adult animation.”

Sony-owned Crunchyroll announced in

early 2021 that the streamer is partnering

with Idris and Sabrina Elba to produce

Dantai, an original anime series. The

series is described as an “Afro-futuristic

science ction series … set in a city where

the rise of biotechnology has created an

ever-widening gap between the haves

and have-nots. Two rising stars from

either side of this divide are pitted against

each other in a story that will ultimately

explore equality and kinship within a

corrupt society.”

Almost all of the upcoming video game,

comic-book and western anime series

are in the ‘non-comedy genre’ category.

This new era will be the single largest

shift in the history of adult animation

since The Simpsons showed adult

audiences that cartoons were more

than just kids content.

19 Deadline ‘Game Of Thrones’ Animated Drama Series Eyed At HBO Max,

Part Of Suite Of ‘GoT’ Projects Explored By WarnerMedia, Jan 27, 2021

Current Adult Animated Non-Comedy Genre Series

Show Description Creator(s) Buyer Studio(s)

Castlevania

Sci-Fi Comedy

Mike McMahan

(Solar Opposites)

CBS All Access

CBS Eye, Animation

Productions, Secret

Hideout, Important Science,

Roddenberry Entertainment,

Titmouse, Inc.

The Liberator

War Drama –

mini-series

Jeb Stuart

(writer Die Hard, Fugitive)

Netix

A&E Studios, Unique Features

Trioscope Studios

Primal

Fantasy, Horror,

Action

Genndy Tartakovsky

(Dexter's Lab, Samurai Jack,

Star Wars: Clone Wars

Adult Swim

Cartoon Network Studios,

Williams Street, Studio La

Cachette

Seis Manos

Martial arts

Supernatural

Action, Anime

Brad Graeber Álvaro

Rodríguez

Netix

Powerhouse Animation

Studios, Viz Productions

Undone

Drama

Raphael Bob-Waksberg

and Kate Purdy

Amazon Prime

The Tornante Company,

Boxer vs. Raptor, Submarine,

Amsterdam Hive House

Project

Blood of Zeus

Fantasy,

Adventure

Charley and Vlas

Parlapanides

Netix

Powerhouse Animation, Asia

Minor Pictures

Upcoming Adult Animated Non-Comedy Genre Series

Show Description Creator(s) Buyer Studio(s)

Alien Isolation –

The Digital Series

Sci-Fi Horror, Video

game spinoff

Jeff Juhasz IGN

Reverse Engineering

Studios (RES), TitraFilm

Dvgroup, 20th Century

Fox, IGN

Arcane

League of Legends

Spinoff, Fantasy Sci-Fi

NA TBD

Riot Games, Fortiche

Productions

ARK: The

Animated Series

Action Adventure

spinoff from the video

game

Jay Oliva (Batman: The Dark

Knight Returns, Justice

League: The Flashpoint

Paradox

TBD Studio Wildcard

Batman: The

Animated Series

(rumor)

DC Comic Superhero NA HBO Max NA

Captain

Laserhawk: A

Blood Dragon Vibe

Spinoff from video

game

Adi Shankar TBD TBD

Cover

(in development)

espionage thriller

based on D.C. Comic

Brian Michael Bendis and

David Mack

HBO Max Rooster Teeth Studios

Upcoming Adult Animated Non-Comedy Genre Series [cont’d]

Show Description Creator(s) Buyer Studio(s)

Cyberpunk:

Edgerunners

Action – Anime based

on Cyberpunk 2077

video game

Hiroyuki Imaishi (Kill la Kill,

Promare, and Gurren Lagann)

Netix Studio Trigger

Dantai

Original Afro-futuristic

science ction series

Idris Elba

Crunchyroll,

Adult Swim

TBD

Diablo

Fantasy Horror –

Anime

Andrew Cosby (Hellboy,

Eureka)

Blizzard

Game of Thrones

(rumor)

Spinoff from TV series TBD HBO Max TBD

Godzilla: Singular

Point

Anime spinoff from

Godzilla movie

Atsushi Takahashi Netix Bones and Oranges

The Havana Job

Original Drama

Greg Nichols, Michael

LeSieur

NA Trioscope Studios

Heaven’s Forest

Fantasy Epic Warren Ellis Netix Powerhouse Animation

Hit Monkey

Action, based on DC

Comic

Josh Gordon and Will Speck Hulu Marvel Animation

Hungry Ghosts

Horror, Based on Dark

Horse Comic

Anthony Bourdain Sony

Sony Pictures

(optioned)

Invincible

Drama Superhero

Based on Comic

Robert Kirkman

Amazon

Prime Video

Skybound,

Image Comics

Kong: Skull Island

Action Anime, Spinoff

from King Kong movie

Brian Dufeld (Underwater,

Spontaneous, Love and

Monsters) is writing and

exec producing.

Netix

Powerhouse

Animation

Magic: The

Gathering

Fantasy Based on the

card game

Masters of the

Universe

He Man Spinoff

Kevin Smith (Clerks) Netix

Powerhouse

Animation Studios

Overwatch

Fantasy – Anime based

on Overwatch video

game

NA Netix Blizzard

Pantheon

Sci-Fi

Craig Silverstein (Turn:

Washington's Spies, Nikita)

AMC AMC Studios, Titmouse

Resident Evil:

Innite Darkness

Based on the

Horror Video Game

from Capcom

Hiroyuki Kobayashi,

(Capcom game producer)

Netix

TMS Entertainment and

animated by Quebico

Shadowlands:

Afterlives

Baed on World of

Warcraft Game

NA Ginx Blizzard Entertainment

Splinter Cell

Spy Thriller –

Anime spinoff from

video game

Derek Kolstad (John Wick) Netix Ubisoft

Upcoming Adult Animated Non-Comedy Genre Series [cont’d]

Show Description Creator(s) Buyer Studio(s)

Tomb Raider

Action – anime based

on video game

Tasha Huo, (The Witcher:

Blood Orange)

Legendary

Tomb Raider

Woman in

the Book

Original Drama, Latinx

Daniel Persitz and is written

by Eva Gonzalez Szigriszt

and Pamela Garcia Rooney.

Jeanette Moreno King will

serve as director and will

work with Jeanette Jeanenne.

Facebook

Watch

Starburn Industries

Young Love

Drama based on the

Oscar winning short

Matthew A. Cherry (Hair

Love) and Carl Jones

(Boondocks)

Sony

Pictures

Animation

Young Love

18. Production Technology

The release of the Epic Games Unreal 5 Engine attracted a lot

of attention in 2020. It looks like an increasingly important

tool for creating linear content. It’s pretty easy to envision

fully-animated or hybrid-animated series being produced using

the Unreal Engine. One problem remains though – capturing

the nuance of human performances using 3D characters on

a TV budget. This remains a big enough challenge, one has to

assume, that there’s a lot of energy being invested in guring

out how to overcome this problem.

Gaming worlds and characters built in Unreal Engine port relatively easily into linear

media. I would not be surprised if some of the upcoming video game to TV series

adaptations are not built at least in part using the Unreal Engine. We are not talking

about the expensive Mandalorian LED wall type productions that attracted a lot of

attention but entire series being built using the Unreal Engine. Zafari for example,

is a 2017 kid’s show and was the rst animated television series rendered entirely

with the Unreal Engine.

Trioscope, on the other hand, has decided

that there’s no replacement for the subtlety of

human performances so they’re focusing on

how to seamlessly integrate stylized live action

performances into rendered environments.

Figure 48:

Little Baby Bum

— Moonbug

19. Social and

Mobile Streaming

Quibi quietly greenlit multiple adult animated series and promised to be an active

new buyer, only to shutter after six months, stranding several projects.

Quibi’s closure shut the door on almost all direct-to-consumer digital/mobile

possibilities for adult animation, leaving only Facebook Watch and YouTube as

active but limited digital buyers. My research is showing only one animated series

heading for Facebook Watch. It’s a Latinx, horror drama series called Woman in

the Book starring Diane Guerrero (Orange is the New Black), developed by Crypt TV

and animated by Starburns Industries.

There are a handful of children’s publishers that have developed really large

followings on YouTube, including Moonbug Entertainment (Little Baby Bum),

the third most-subscribed channel on YouTube. These are typically relatively

simple animations with nursery rhyme soundtracks. Some of the best performing

videos can generate billions of views.

Figure 49:

Hazbin Hotel

— A24

At the same time, YouTube has been removing ads from adult animated series if

they’re deemed too sexual or violent, which really limits adult-skewing animation

and reduces the commercial viability of adult animation on the platform.

There have been exceptions, where shows originate on YouTube and get picked

up as long form TV series. A recent project that has made this transition is Hazbin

Hotel, created, directed, written and produced by the social media sensation

Vivienne ‘VivziePop’ Medrano. The pilot was made entirely by freelance animators

and is largely nanced by Medrano's Patreon followers. A24, the lm distribution

company responsible for movies like Uncut Gems, is developing a series based on

the pilot.

The recent success of Hazbin Hotel is a rare exception. At least a couple of series

that I was personally involved with during my tenure at Mondo Media have made

the jump from the internet to TV, including Happy Tree Friends (G4TV) and

more recently Deep Space 69 (Syfy). There are a number of other adult animated

properties that made the jump, including Ugly Americans and Annoying Orange.

There are very limited opportunities to make money with scripted content on

social video in general, and certainly not much room for expensive animation. This

has been one of my personal great disappointments. Call me a masochist, but I still

believe there’s a pathway for adult animation on digital. It seems like such a natural

t for a direct-to-consumer play. VRV made a stab at adult animation but it quickly

ran out of steam when they spread their investment out too thinly amongst too

many non-animation channels. This is 20/20 hindsight, but I maintain that VRV

would have been better to have focused their investment on Western-produced

animation to become a direct-to-consumer, complimentary animation offering

to Crunchyroll and a digital-facing competitor to Adult Swim.

Figure 50: Critical Role:

The Legend of Vox Machina

— Amazon Prime Video

20. Notable Upcoming Shows

Here are some of the noteworthy, upcoming, and hard-to-easily-categorize shows.

Critical Role: The Legend of Vox Machina is scheduled to release in summer/fall

of 2021. The series — based on livestreamed Dungeons & Dragon games hosted

by Matthew Mercer, along with fellow voice actors Ashley Johnson, Marisha Ray,

Taliesin Jaffe, Travis Willingham, Sam Riegel, Laura Bailey and Liam O’Brien — raised

a staggering $14M on Kickstarter. Titmouse is producing and the series will air on

Amazon Prime. Part of the appeal of the series on Twitch was the improv nature

of the tabletop games, but The Legend of Vox Machina will be scripted by Jennifer

Muro (Onyx Equinox).

Agent King, a Netix series scheduled to release in 2021, should be interesting.

Here’s the logline: “Elvis trades in his jumpsuit for a jetpack when he joins a secret

government spy program to help battle the dark forces that threaten the country.”

Fashion designer John Varvatos is custom-designing Elvis’s wardrobe. I will be

looking for Elvis in distressed leather Chuck Taylors.

Figure 51:

Agent King

— Netﬂix

Comedy duo Sarah Silverman and Seth Rogen are teaming up to voice Santa Inc.,

a Christmas-themed animated comedy series for HBO Max. Lionsgate and Rogen’s

Point Grey Pictures are producing. The eight-episode half-hour series will be

written by Alexandra Rusheld, an EP on Hulu’s Shrill and co-EP on Parks and

Recreation. Will this series be the perennial adult equivalent to Elf? I can think of

many movies and TV specials but can’t think of another Christmas-themed series.

AMC ordered Pantheon, a one hour prime time sci- drama, based on Ken Liu’s

short stories, and loaded it up with an impressive voice cast, including Taylor

Schilling (Orange Is the New Black), Rosemarie DeWitt (Little Fires Everywhere),

Aaron Eckhart (Midway) and Paul Dano (Escape at Dannemora). Titmouse is

producing. The rst episode was scheduled to premiere in late 2020, so it is already

a little late. This is a pure dramatic science ction series (no comedy) so it’s in a

position to be a ground-breaking landmark series if it is successful.

Figure 52:

Santa Inc —

HBO Max

Figure 53:

Ken Liu’s novels

21. Opportunities in an

Untapped Global Market

Foreign governments are beginning to demand that the American streamers start

investing in locally-produced content, which will help create a diversity of voices on

their platforms. Canada, for example, is demanding that the streamers invest $635M

in Canadian produced content by 2023.

One could assume other countries will

implement similar regulations. If taken as a model for the rest of the world, it could

add up to many billions of dollars being spent by the streamers on local content in

the countries where they want to operate.

Because the streamers will be obligated to spend more on original content in the

markets where they want to distribute, foreign animation studios might want to

adopt the children’s nancing model and use the streamer’s licensing fees coupled

with tax credits (common in a lot of countries that produce animation) to nance

international productions.

20 Hollywood Reporter - Canada to Force Netix, Amazon Prime to Pay for Local

Content, Nov. 3, 2020

“Because the streamers will be obligated to spend

more on original content, foreign animation studios

might want to adopt the kid’s animation ﬁnancing

model and use the SVOD licensing fees coupled

with tax credits to ﬁnance international productions.”

The problem is that many of the streamers will demand that they control all

international markets. This might negate the opportunity for independent studios

to structure deals where they retain ownership and nance their productions

through pre-sales to select territories and preserve upside in unsold territories.

With the exception of Japanese anime and a handful of Canadian productions,

my research shows very few international studios actively producing for the adult

animation buyers (especially when compared to children’s animation). Because adult

animation has been so dominated by culturally-specic US comedy (Fox sitcoms,

Adult Swim, etc.), there’s been few doors open for foreign produced series.

The surge in demand for adult animation from domestic studios (many clustered in

Los Angeles) has them all maxing out on their capacity. As demand for non-comedy

genre series grows, and streamers are forced to start spending on local content

in the markets where they want to operate, foreign studios can step in to ll the

demand. Especially dramatic or genre series that are not US-specic comedy.

Alternatively, domestic animation studios might want to partner with live-action

studios with high level talent networks (writing, voice, etc.) to jointly produce more

ambitious dramatic projects that should increasingly gain acceptance in the market,

if my assumptions about the growth in non-comedy genre animation play out over

the next ve years.

French studios are particularly well-positioned to take advantage of the increasing

popularity of the style and the growth of dramatic animation as a category. Their

creators grew up on a steady diet of anime and you can see it in their work.

Figure 54:

Dick Figures - Mondo

22. Critical Role: a Case Study

in Crowdfunding Animation

The clout and scale of the recent streamer launches and their massive content

investments has overshadowed an area of entertainment nancing that is quietly

growing. I want to draw attention to crowdfunding, because I believe this is a

legitimate and somewhat overlooked method for nancing new productions.

Any creator or property with a fandom would be well-advised not to overlook

crowdfunding, and it is about to get more sophisticated than a simple

Kickstarter raise.

“I want to draw attention to crowdfunding,

because I believe this is a legitimate and

somewhat overlooked method for ﬁnancing

new productions.”

Full disclosure, I am working with Chonky, a new

platform that will support entertainment raises up

to $5M USD. Launching in Q2 2021, Chonky takes

advantage of new FINRA/SEC rules that permits

creators to raise project nancing — much like

Kickstarter, but instead of fans pledging money for

rewards, they purchase shares and participate in the

prot generated by the project once it goes to market.

Way back in 2013 at the dawn of crowdfunding, I was

proud to play a small role in a Kickstarter campaign for

Dick Figures: The Movie, a 2D animated feature. Driven

by the charismatic duo of Ed Skudder and Zack Keller

and their 150 million views on YouTube, the pair pitched

their hearts out on Kickstarter and raised a record-

breaking $313K at the time. We made the movie and it

was protable within the rst 3 month of its release.

Figure 55:

Hazbin Hotel

— A24

More recently Hazbin Hotel, a musical comedy web series — created, directed,

written and produced by Vivienne ‘VivziePop’ Medrano — raised enough money

on Patreon to pay friends and freelancers to produce a short that generated

65 million views on YouTube. It was enough that A24 picked up the project as

a television series.

Critical Role is an American web video series, in which a group of professional voice

actors play Dungeons & Dragons in front of a livestreamed audience. The series

has aired on various social video platforms since 2015. On March 4, 2019 Critical

Role launched a Kickstarter campaign for a TV series that generated a staggering

$11.3M for an animated series based on the property. The campaign started as

a raise for a single half hour for $750K. Within 24 hours, they had raised $4.3M.

By the time they were done, they had raised enough to fund 10 episodes. It was

one of the most quickly-funded campaigns in Kickstarter history, and was the

most funded Kickstarter for TV and lm projects.

“If you've got the patience and have the wherewithal

to grow a low cost franchise ‘seed format’ (web comic,

vlog, audio podcast, serialized ﬁction, etc.) there is

a point where you can turn to crowdfunding for a long

form linear show.”

There are several key ingredients that led to Critical Role’s successful Kickstarter Raise:

1. Critical Role built a large audience for a dense, ever-evolving story. It is

compelling content with a passionate audience: The series has amassed over

150 million views on YouTube. No longer considered a fringe pursuit, Dungeons

& Dragons is the new cool, with Critical Role’s own campaign setting, Explorer's

Guide to Wildemount, at the top of the Publishers Weekly’s chart of best-selling

hardcover nonction books.

2. The global board games market is anticipated to reach values of more than

$12B by 2023, growing at a CAGR of over 9% during 2017-2023.

This seems like

a natural counter response for young adults (with 24/7 screens in their faces)

looking for face-to-face contact with their friends.

3. Animation is hugely popular with 18-34s. The streamers are all doubling down

on adult animation — especially Netix, Hulu and HBO Max. Adult Swim

consistently attracts the largest cable audience of young adults.

According to reporting from Todd Spangler for Variety, the team initially pitched

the idea to the major streamers and a few TV networks

. They thought it would be

a slam dunk, with the scale of the audience they had built. There was some interest

from the traditional buyers but mostly it was met with confusion. When they tried

to describe the weekly show, the buyers just didn’t get it.

21 Reportlinker, Board Games Market - Global Outlook and Forecast 2018-2023,

Dec. 11, 2018

22 Variety — Critical Role Team, After Record-Breaking Fan Crowdfunding Response,

Vows to Make ‘The Best Goddamn Cartoon Anyone Has Ever Seen,’ Mar. 8, 2019

Figure 56:

Critical Role:

The Legend of Vox Machina

- Amazon Prime Video

Critical Role has shifted their windowing strategy as the social video landscape has

evolved. Today it's a blend of Twitch, VOD and YouTube. The format is a weekly

show that runs for three to ve (and in some cases six) hours, and is streamed live

on Critical Role's Twitch channel on Thursdays. The VOD is made available for

subscribers of Critical Role's Twitch channel immediately after airing, before being

uploaded to Critical Role's YouTube channel the following Monday, where it can be

watched for free.

The Legend of Vox Machina will be written by Jennifer Muro, and animated by

Titmouse, Inc. (Bigmouth, The Midnight Gospel). The project is slated for release

in summer/fall of 2021. It's interesting that Amazon Prime Video announced that

they had acquired the streaming rights to The Legend of Vox Machina, and had

commissioned 14 additional episodes. It seems to have come full circle. Amazon now

understands that the social media footprint of Critical Role is large and meaningful.

I am not sure why the Critical Role team felt it was safer to go with the streamer

than to go back to Kickstarter. Maybe it was too fraught with uncertainty?

Does the ‘starter’ in Kickstarter imply that you can only raise money once before

you grow up, or is it a well you can keep going back to for subsequent seasons or

sequels? If Amazon eventually decides to cancel the series, maybe the cast behind

Critical Role will take the animated series back to the social video platforms and

start the process all over again. I'm looking forward to seeing how the new animated

series turns out. Half of the fun of the live shows was their spontaneity, so hopefully

some of that spirit will be preserved in the animated series.

23. The Great Adult Animation Boom

In summary, there are a total of 104 upcoming, adult animated series as of February

2021. That’s more than a 100% increase from one year ago. The streamers now

account for 50% of all the upcoming adult animated series. Netix is the most

active adult animation buyer accounting for roughly one quarter of all the upcoming

series. HBO Max announced several new series in early 2021 and appear to be as

bullish about adult animation as Netix. Animated comedies, reboots, spinoffs, video

games, comics and anime will all play a major role in what I am calling “The Great

Adult Animation Boom” that is about to play out over the next decade. And Fox, the

lone broadcaster in the adult animation game, has dramatically upped their orders

for new scripts, pilots and series for their Animation Domination block with at least

14 announced new projects (currently 5 on-air series).

“Animated comedies, genre, reboots, spinoffs, video

games, comics and anime will all play a role in what I am

calling “The Great Adult Animation Boom”

ANIMATED COMEDY

Animated comedy has replaced sitcoms as young adult's preferred vehicle for

comedy. Comedy Central is re-branding themselves as a home for adult animation

and re-booting several Viacom classic animated series including Beavis and

Butt-Head, Ren & Stimpy and Jodie a Daria spinoff. Fox has signicantly upped

up the volume of new series they’re putting into development. It looks like Fox is

stepping out of their family sitcom template judging from the orders they’re placing

for new series. Adult Swim still has more on-air adult animated comedy than any

other channel or streamer but new series announcements appear to be slowing.

VIDEO GAMES

There are 11 new upcoming series based on video games – that’s up from two a year

ago. The list includes some of the most recognizable video game franchises like

Diablo, Splintercell, Overwatch, Tomb Raider and Cyberpunk. Netix is particularly

focused on adult animated video game adaptations. Many of these will be made with

anime-inspired art styles.

REBOOTS & SPINOFFS

There are 15 upcoming animated reboots and spinoffs. Many of these are spinoffs

from some of the most valuable franchises in the entertainment industry including

Game of Thrones, Godzilla, Blade Runner, and King Kong. Others are spinoffs from

classic animated and live action series like Viacom’s reboots or sitcoms or TV shows

like Good Times.

COMIC-BOOK BASED SERIES

Series based on comic books are the underlying IP for several upcoming series

and include Invincible, a rumored reboot of Batman: The Animated Series and

an Aquaman: King of Atlantis mini-series. HBO Max will be the home for the

DC Universe series like Harley Quinn, and Disney-owned Hulu will be the home

for the upcoming Marvel adult animated series like M.O.D.O.K. and Hit Monkey.

This could be another important adult animation category judging by the reception

that Harley Quinn has received.

ANIME

Western animation studios like Powerhouse Animation (Austin, Texas) are producing

what I am calling “gaibume” - that is anime produced in the US or jointly with

US and Japanese partners. Powerhouse produces Castlevania, Seis Manos and

the upcoming anime series Kong: Skull Island and Tomb Raider.

More American/

Japanese partnerships like Blade Runner: Black Lotus blur the line between

animation and anime. The recent Crunchyroll (Sony) announcement of the Idris Elba

sci- fantasy series Dantai is in keeping with this new trend. Many of the upcoming

video game series will be produced as anime. It’s clear that by the third edition of

the Adult Animation White Paper, we will have to cover animation and anime as

simply one category.

SCI-FI COMEDY CROSS-OVERS

Sci- comedy cross-overs are very much in vogue in 2021. The line-up of sci-

comedy crossovers includes current series like Rick and Morty, The Midnight

Gospel, and Solar Opposites and upcoming series like X-Files: Albuquerque.

My theory is that the sci- comedy cross-overs are a gateway to more ambitious,

dramatic storytelling.

NON-COMEDY GENRE

And nally, non-comedy genre (sci-, horror, drama, etc.) is where much of the

growth in new audiences for adult animation will occur over the next decade.

Not that animated comedy is going anywhere. There is a whole new crop of

upcoming video game based series – many of these will be produced as anime or

with anime-inspired art styles. This type of content will export well internationally

because western audiences are ready for more ambitious animated story-telling and

they will appeal to a wider audience than US-based comedic animation which has

its own built-in limitations. I am reasonably condent that much of the non-comedy

genre content will work but remain concerned that talent will be stretched thin and

it’s somewhat of an unproven category. If this push into more ambitious animated

storytelling works, it will redene adult animation.

STREAMERS

Netix and HBO Max have the most aggressive adult animation strategies. Almost

all of the other streamers have ordered adult animated series with the possible

exceptions of Disney+ and Apple TV+ that remains focused on family programming.

Disney is using Disney-owned Hulu as their home for more adult fare. You can

nd original series like Solar Opposites and Crossing Swords on Hulu. Amazon’s

current adult animated series include the critically acclaimed Undone and the highly

anticipated comic book adaptation Invincible.

CABLE

All the cable channels that carry original scripted programming targeting young

adults have adopted their own adult animation strategies. This includes cablers like

Syfy’s TZGZ block, AMC - Archer and the upcoming sci- drama series Pantheon,

TBS - Final Space and American Dad!, and Showtime – Our Cartoon President.

Cable’s ratings are in decline but Adult Swim remains an important brand with its

agship series Rick and Morty.

STUDIOS AND TALENT

As a result of this unprecedented activity, the buyers are stepping up. According

to The Ringer, CBS TV Studio’s Katie Krentz “Every time I take a pitch out to sell,

there’s a new buyer. Oh, we’re pitching we’re pitching to Peacock. Oh, now we’re

pitching HBO Max. And that’s been so wild. It used to just be taking it to three

or four buyers. Now you have as many as 12 to 14 places you can be taking

[a show] to.”

The unprecedented demand for adult animated series is going to put

pressure on animation studios. Is there enough talent to produce all of this new

content? Will the product suffer as a result of the talent being spread too thinly

across all of the projects that have been announced over the past year. Will some

producers turn to international studios for help to address the need? Animation has

benetted from the availability of all the out of work writers and actors. Hopefully

the world will return to normal sooner than later. Something that several of these

upcoming adult animated projects will break out over the next two years and the

talent that was attracted to adult animation during the COVID era will continue

happily working with the new medium.

23 The Ringer - TV’s Future Will Be More Animated, Sep 16, 2020

24. In Summary

There have been three major shifts on the pathway to consumer acceptance of adult

animation since the early nineties.

Broadcast Phase

1990’s

Up until Bart Simpson rst rode his skateboard into our living rooms, animation

was pretty much exclusively a kid’s medium. Since that day, Fox has been playing

by the rules that The Simpsons animated family sitcom established. This resulted in

two of the largest TV franchises in the history of TV. It does appear however that

Fox is starting to adapt to 18-34s’ increasing interests in animated fare that’s strays

from the sitcom format. Fox is widening the dial out on the kinds of shows they are

developing going forward. And, Fox is expanding their Animation Domination block

because adult audiences have embraced animation as their preferred format for

consuming comedy.

Cable Phase

2000’s

Shortly after The Simpsons rst aired, MTV kicked off the second era with shows like

Beavis and Butthead and the ground-breaking Liquid TV anthology series, but for

some reason, their animation efforts zzled out. Ten years later, Cartoon Network

needed something to prop up their late night ratings so they picked up the baton

that MTV dropped and emerged as the go to channel for quirky, irreverent adult

animation. To this day, Adult Swim still attracts the largest audiences of 18-34s of

all the cable channels. Rick and Morty is the full realization of the cable phase but

the series’ popularity happened to coincide with young adult’s abandonment of

broadcast and cable in favor of the streaming services.

Streamer Phase

2020’s

One year after Netix’s rst original series House of Cards debuted and 10 years

after Adult Swim launched, Netix premiered a new, dark, animated comedy

about a washed up horse. BoJack Horseman showed the Netix programmers

that the best way to “hack” into a young adult audience was adult animation. The

streamers no longer needed to cram shows into 22-minute sitcoms with commercial

interruptions. They’re less expensive than most scripted live action series and they

have more staying power. Streamers can afford to make shows for more niche

audiences than the broadcasters or cablers. This shift has opened the doors to

more ambitious story-telling – genre series, dramas, etc. that will have international

appeal, which will be attractive to the streamers who all have global ambitions.

The cultural inuence of video games is seeping into adult animation. Netix,

in particular, has doubled down on this category. And, anime – either Japanese-

produced or anime-inspired animation seems to be a strong stylistic inuence for

many of the upcoming video game based animated series.

25. The Adult Animation Database

Note – for Complete Up To The Minute Data Visit: The Adult Animation Database.

Current Original Animated Series – By Buyer (First Window)

Upcoming Animated Series – By Buyer (First Window)

0 5 10 15 20 25

FXX

IMDB

IGN

Fuse

Apple TV+

TBS

Ginx TV

Rooster Teeth

Showtime

AMC

CBS All Access

Comedy Central

YouTube Premium

Facebook Watch

Fox

Syfy

Hulu

Amazon Prime

Adult Swim

HBO Max

Netﬂx

0 5 10 15 20 25

TBD

Ginx TV

Disney+

Showtime

AMC

CBS All Access

Comedy Central

YouTube Premium

Facebook Watch

Fox

Syfy

Hulu

Amazon

Adult Swim

HBO Max

Netﬂx

Upcoming Original Adult Animated Series – By Genre

Upcoming Original Adult Animated Series – By Source IP

Upcoming Original Adult Animated Series – By Buyer

Window)

For the complete up-to-the-minute list visit: The Adult Animation Database.

Fantasy • 10%

Superhero • 6%

Horror • 4% Musical • 1%

Action/Adventure • 6%

Sci-Fi • 7%

Drama • 8%

Comedy/Sitcom • 62%

Online Series or Short • 4%

Board Game • 3%

Book/Comic Book • 3%

Movie • 6%

TV Series • 13%

Comic Book • 10%

Video Game • 11%

Original • 54%

TBD • 9%

Digital & Mobile • 6%

Broadcast • 12%

Cable • 21%

Streamer • 56%

Current Adult Animated Series – Ranked by Popularity*

*Blended scores based on data from IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes.

Show Genre Buyer Studio(s)

Blended

Rank

Primal

Fantasy, Horror,

Action

Adult

Swim

Cartoon Network Studios, Williams Street, Studio

La Cachette

9.5

Rick and Morty

Comedy, Sci-Fi

Adult

Swim

Williams Street, Harmonious Claptrap, Starburns

Industries (seasons 1–2), Justin Roiland's Solo

Vanity Card Productions!, Rick and Morty, LLC.

(season 2–3), Green Portal Productions (season 4)

9.3

BoJack Horseman

(last season)

Tragicomedy

Sitcom

Nefix Tornante, Boxer vs. Raptor, ShadowMachine 9.1

Undone

Comedy, Drama

Amazon

Prime

Tornante, Boxer vs. Raptor, Submarine

Amsterdam, Hive House Project

9.1

Young Justice

Superhero HBO Max DC Entertainment, Warner Bros. Animation 9.1

The Venture Bros.

(last season)

Comedy, Satire

Adult

Swim

Astro Base GO!, NoodleSoup Productions (2003–

04), World Leaders Entertainment (2006–10),

Titmouse, Inc. (2011–2018), Williams Street

9.1

Harley Quinn

Superhero HBO Max

Warner Bros. Animation, DC Entertainment

Yes, Norman Productions, Ehsugadee

Productions

8.9

Trailer Park Boys

Comedy Sitcom Netix

Trailer Park Productions (2001–2008), Topsail

Entertainment (2001–2008), Showcase Television

(2001–2008), Sunnyvale Productions (2014–

present), Swearnet Pictures (2014–present)

8.7

The Midnight

Gospel

Surreal

Comedy

Netix Oatmeal Maiden, Titmouse, Inc. 8.8

Archer

Sitcom Parody FX Floyd County Productions, FX Productions 8.7

Bob's Burgers

Sitcom FOX

Bento Box Entertainment, Wilo Productions,

Buck & Millie Productions (Seasons 2-10)

20th Television

8.7

Castlevania

Horror Action

Adventure

Netix

Frederator Studios, Powerhouse Animation

Studios, Shankar Animation, Project 51

Productions, Mua Film

8.7

F is For Family

Sitcom Netix

Wild West Television, Loner Productions, Big

Jump Productions, King of France Productions,

Oasis Animation, Gaumont Animation

8.7

Blood Of Zeus

Fantasy Netix Powerhouse Animation Studios, Dongwoo, A&E 8.6

Close Enough

Surreal Sitcom HBO Max Cartoon Network Studios 8.6

Big Mouth

Coming of Age

Sitcom

Netix

Danger Goldberg Productions, Good at Bizness,

Inc., Fathouse Industries, Titmouse, Inc.

8.5

Current Adult Animated Series – Ranked by Popularity* [cont’d]

*Blended scores based on data from IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes.

Show Genre Buyer Studio(s)

Blended

Rank

South Park

Comedy

Central

Celluloid Studios (1997), Braniff Productions

(1997–2006), Parker-Stone Productions (2006–

07), South Park Studios (2007–), Comedy Partners

8.5

Love, Death and

Robots

Animation

Anthology

Netix

Blur Studio, Netix Studios, Variety of 3rd Party

Studios

8.4

Robot Chicken

Sketch Comedy

Adult

Swim

ShadowMachine Films (2005–2012) (seasons

1–5), Stoopid Monkey, Stoopid Buddy Stoodios

(2012 present), (season 6–present) Sony Pictures

Digital (2005–2012) (seasons 1–5) Sony Pictures

Television (2012–present) (season 6–present),

Williams Street

8.4

The Shivering

Truth

Comedy

Surreal Sketch

Adult

Swim

ShadowMachine (season one), HouseSpecial

(season two), PFFR, Williams Street

8.4

Solar Opposites

Comedy Sci- Hulu

Justin Roiland's Solo Vanity Card Productions!,

Important Science, 20th Television

8.3

American Dad

Comedy Sitcom TBS

20th Television, 20th Animation, Underdog

Productions, Fuzzy Door Productions

8.2

The Simpsons

Comedy Sitcom FOX Gracie Films, 20th Television 8.3

Gary and His

Demons

Comedy Sitcom

Horror

Syfy

Mondo Media, Solis Animation, Look Mom!

Productions, Blue Ant Media

8.1

Final Space

Space Opera

Comedy Drama

TBS

ShadowMachine (animation production), Jam

Filled Entertainment (animation services), Star

Cadet, New Form Digital, Conaco (S1–2), Studio

T (S1)

7.9

RWBY

Sci-Fi Action

Adventure

Rooster

Teeth

Rooster Teeth Productions 7.9

27 gen:LOCK

Sci-Fi Action

Adventure

HBO Max Rooster Teeth Productions 7.9

Family Guy

Sitcom FOX Fuzzy Door Productions, 20th Television 7.8

Central Park

Musical Sitcom Apple TV+

Bento Box Entertainment, Wilo Productions,

Angry Child Productions, Brillstein

Entertainment Partners, 20th Television

7.8

Sugar and Toys

Sketch Comedy

Parody

Fuse This is Just a Test, 245 Enterprises 7.6

Disenchantment

Fantasy Sitcom Netix The ULULU Company, Rough Draft Studios 7.4

The Jellies!

Sitcom

Adult

Swim

Bald Fade Productions, Augenblick Studios,

Whalerock Industries, Williams Street

7.3

Current Adult Animated Series – Ranked by Popularity* [cont’d]

*Blended scores based on data from IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes.

Show Genre Buyer Studio(s)

Blended

Rank

The Liberator

Drama Action Netix A&E Studios, Unique Features, Trioscope Studios 7.2

Yolo: Crystal

Fantasy

Comedy

Adult

Swim

Princess Pictures, Williams Street 7.2

Dragon's Dogma

Anime Dark

Fantasy

Netix Sublimation 7.1

Wild Life

Comedy Syfy

Nice Try, Octopie Network, Valparaiso Pictures,

TZGZ Productions

7.1

Ballmastrz: 9009

Sci-Fi Comedy

Adult

Swim

Titmouse, Inc., C.C.K. Rad (Season 2), Williams

Street

7.0

Duncanville

Sitcom FOX

Bento Box Entertainment, Paper Kite

Productions, Scullys Productions, 3 Arts

Entertainment, Universal Television, Fox

Entertainment, 20th Television

6.8

Tigtone

Fantasy

Comedy

Adult

Swim

Titmouse, Inc., Babyhemyth Productions,

Williams Street

6.8

Tooning Out the

News

Political Satire

CBS All

Access

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert 6.8

Fundamentally

Cynical

Dark Comedy

Amazon

Prime

BlackEye Productions, POW animations, Pow

Animation Studio

6.8

12 Oz Mouse

(series return)

Surreal

Comedy

Adult

Swim

Williams Street, Radical Axis (series), Awesome,

Inc. (special)

6.6

Squidbillies

Black Comedy

Adult

Swim

Williams Street 6.5

Magical Girl

Friendship Squad:

Origins

Comedy Syfy Cartuna 6.5

Tender Touches

Soap Opera

Parody

Adult

Swim

Six Point Harness (season 2), Awesome, Inc.

(season 3), Williams Street

6.4

Alien: Isolation –

The Digital Series

Sci-Fi Horror IGN

Reverse Engineering Studios (RES), TitraFilm,

DVgroup, 20th Century Fox, IGN

6.3

Momma Named

Me Sheriff (Mr.

Pickles)

Sitcom

Adult

Swim

HotHouse Productions, Day by Day Productions,

Williams Street

6.2

Hell Den

Comedy Syfy

Dr. God Productions, Rafael Raffaele

Entertainment

Shout! Studios, TZGZ Productions

5.4

Current Adult Animated Series – Ranked by Popularity* [cont’d]

*Blended scores based on data from IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes.

Show Genre Buyer Studio(s)

Blended

Rank

Our Cartoon

President

Political Satire Showtime

Spartina Productions, Licht Media Solutions, CBS

Television Studios, Showtime Networks

6.1

Bless the Harts

Sitcom FOX

Titmouse, Inc., Jessebean, Inc., Lord Miller

Productions, Fox Entertainment

20th Television

6.1

The Great North

Sitcom FOX

Bento Box Entertainment, Double Molyneux

Sister Sheux, Wilo Productions, Fox

Entertainment, 20th Television

6.1

You're Not a

Monster

Comedy Horror IMDb

Grammnet Productions, Bold Soul Studios,

Ranker

6.0

Star Trek: Lower

Decks

Sci-Fi Comedy

CBS All

Access

CBS Eye Animation Productions, Secret Hideout,

Important Science, Roddenberry Entertainment,

Titmouse, Inc.

5.8

Paradise PD

Sitcom Netix

Damn! Show Productions, Bento Box

Entertainment, Odenkirk Provissiero

Entertainment

5.5

JJ Villards

Fairytales

Horror Comedy

Adult

Swim

Villard Film, Cartoon Network Studios, Williams

Street

5.4

Lazor Wulf

Comedy

Adult

Swim

Titmouse, Inc. (Pilot), Bento Box Entertainment

(season 1), 6 Point Harness (season 2), Williams

Street

4.9

Crossing Swords

Sitcom Hulu

Buddy System Studios, Tom Is Awesome, Stoopid

Buddy Stoodios, Sony Pictures Television

4.4

The Freak Brothers

Sitcom TBD Starburns Industries, WTG Enterprises 0.0

Cake

Anthology

Sketch

FXX SLAQR, FXP 0.0

60 Alpha Betas Comedy YouTube

(too early to

be measured)

Upcoming Series – (Alphabetical Order)

For the complete up-to-the-minute list visit The Adult Animation Database.

Show Genre Source Buyer Studio

10-Year-Old-Tom

Comedy Original HBO Max Tomorrow Studios, ITV Studios

2051

Comedy –

Workplace

Original Amazon 3 Arts Entertainment

Agent King

Comedy Original Netix Sony Pictures Animation

Alien vs. Predator

Horror -

Action

Movie -

Spinoff

Netix NA

Alpha Betas

Comedy Original NA Starburns Industries

Amberville

Comedy -

Dark

Original Amazon Prime Annapurna

Arcane (League of

Legends)

Fantasy Video Game NA Riot Games, Fortiche Productions

ARK: The Animated

Series

Action

Adventure

Video Game NA NA

Aquaman: King of

Atlantis

Superhero Comic Book HBO Max Warner Bros. Animation

Batman: The Animated

Series

Superhero Comic Book HBO Max Warner Bros. Animation

Beavis and Butt-Head

(Reboot)

Comedy

TV Series –

Reboot

Comedy

Central

3 Arts

Birdgirl

Comedy

TV Series –

Spinoff

Adult Swim ME Productions, Awesome Inc.

The Black Hole

Comedy Original Syfy Starburns Industries

Blade Runner: Black

Lotus

Sci-Fi Movie

Adult Swim,

Crunchyroll

Sola Digital Arts

Blue Eye Samurai

Action

Adventure

Original Netix TBA

The Boondocks

Comedy -

Sitcom

TV Series –

Reboot

HBO Max Sony Pictures Animation

Captain Fall

Comedy Original Netix TBA

Chinos

Comedy –

Sitcom

Original HBO Max Color Correct

The Chronicles of Frank

Comedy Original Syfy Shadow Machine

Clone High (reboot)

Comedy -

Sitcom

TV Series –

Reboot

Comedy

Central

Viacom

Upcoming Series – (Alphabetical Order) [cont’d]

For the complete up-to-the-minute list visit The Adult Animation Database.

Show Genre Source Buyer Studio

Clue

Drama -

Mystery

Board Game –

Spinoff

Fox Entertainment One, Bento Box

Cocky

Comedy –

Sitcom

Original Fox Fox Entertainment, Bento Box

Condorito

Comedy –

Sitcom

Comic Book TBD Anima, Lunes

Cover

Superhero Comic Book HBO Max Rooster Teeth Studios

Crag Banyon P.I.

Crime Drama Book FOX TBD

Critical Role:

The Legend of

Vox Machine

Fantasy –

Comedy

Board Game Amazon Prime Titmouse

The Cuphead Show!

Comedy Video Game Netix TBD

Cyberpunk:

Edgerunners

Sci-Fi Video Game Netix Trigger

Dantai

Sci-Fi Fantasy

Anime Original Crunchyroll

Green Door Pictures, Pink Towel

Pictures

Depardieu Only Knows

Comedy –

Drama

Comic Book TBD Toon Factory

Devil May Care

Comedy Original Syfy Syfy

Diablo

Fantasy -

Horror

Video Game Netix TBD

Dota: Dragons Blood

Fantasy Video Game Netix Studio Mir

Dr. Havocs Diary

Comedy Online Series Syfy

Dumb People Town

Comedy Original

YouTube

Premium

Artists First

Entergalactic

Musical Original Netix Khalabo Ink Society

Fairfax

Comedy Original Amazon Prime Titmouse

Farzar

Sci-Fi -

Comedy

Original Netix

Odenkirk Provissiero

Entertainment, Bento Box

Entertainment, Fox Entertainment

Fired on Mars

Sci-Fi -

Comedy

Original HBO Max TBA

Game of Thrones (name

TBD)

Fantasy

TV Series -

Spinoff

HBO Max TBA

Upcoming Series – (Alphabetical Order) [cont’d]

For the complete up-to-the-minute list visit The Adult Animation Database.

Show Genre Source Buyer Studio

Godzilla: Singular Point

Action Movie Netix Bones and Orange

Good Times

Comedy –

Sitcom

TV Series Netix Fuzzy Door

The Greater Good

Comedy –

Workplace

Original FOX FOX

Gremlins: Secrets of the

Mogwai

Fantasy -

Comedy

Movie -

Spinoff

HBO Max Warner Bros

The Harper House

Comedy Original CBS All Access CBS Television Studios

The Havana Job

Drama Book NA Tricscope Studios

Hazbin Hotel

Comedy Online Series TBD A24, Vivziepop

Heaven’s Forest

Fantasy - Epic Original Netix Powerhouse Animation

Hello Paul

Comedy Original HBO Max TBA

Hit-Monkey

Action Comic Book Hulu Marvel Animation

The Hospital

Comedy -

Sci-Fi

Original Amazon Animal Pictures

The House

Comedy -

Dark

Original Netix Nexus Studios

Housebroken

Comedy –

Sitcom

Original FOX 20th Century FOX, Kapital

Human Discoveries

Comedy Original

Facebook

Watch

ShadowMachine

Human Resources

Comedy

TV Series -

Spin Off

Netix Brutus Pink

Hungry Ghosts

Horror Comic Book

Development

Sony Pictures Animation

Inside Job

Comedy Original Netix Netix Animation

Invincible

Superhero Comic Book Amazon Prime Skybound

Jodie

(Daria Spinoff)

Comedy -

Sitcom

TV Series -

Spin Off

Comedy

Central

Viacom Studios

Keeping Up with The

Joneses

Comedy –

Sitcom

Original HBO Max WB Animation

Kong: Skull Island

Action -

Spinoff

Movie Netix Tractor Pants, Powerhouse

Lil Kev

Comedy –

Sitcom

Original FOX 20th Century FOX, Lionsgate

Upcoming Series – (Alphabetical Order) [cont’d]

For the complete up-to-the-minute list visit The Adult Animation Database.

Show Genre Source Buyer Studio

Magic: The Gathering

Fantasy Card Game Netix AGBO

Magical Girl Friendship

Squad

Comedy Original Syfy NA

Masters of the Universe:

Revelation

Fantasy - Epic

TV Series -

Spin Off

Netix

Jetlag Productions, Mattel,

Powerhouse Animation

Mega City Smiths

Comedy –

Drama

Original AMC Stoopid Buddy Stoodios

M.O.D.O.K.

Superhero Comic Book Hulu Marvel Animation

Mulligan

Comedy Original Netlix

3 Arts Entertainment, Bento Box

Entertainment and Universal

Television

Multifarious Maris

Comedy Original Showtime ShadowMachine

The Multivorce

Comedy -

Sci Fi

Original CBS All Access CBS All Access

Name TBA

Drama Original FOX Bento Box, 20th Century FOX

Name TBA

Comedy Original FOX Bento Box, 20th Century FOX

Oaklandia

Comedy Original Amazon NA

Obi

Comedy Online Series HBO Max Studio 71

Ocean Village

Comedy -

Sitcom

Original FOX

FOX Entertainment, Bento Box

and Look Mom! Productions

Overwatch

Fantasy Video Game Netix NA

Pantheon

Sci-Fi Book AMC TBA

The Pole

Comedy Original Syfy Yeti

Plutoniams

Comedy -

Sci-

Original Syfy Brave Media, Yeti Farm

Predator

Sci-Fi - Action

Movie -

Spinoff

TBD TBD

The Prince

Political Satire Original HBO Max

20th Century FOX Television,

Bento Box Entertainment

Price Wawa

Comedy Original Fox Sony Pictures TV

Psycho Psalms

Comedy -

Dark

Original Syfy Open the Portal, Tractor Pants

Q-Force

Comedy Original Netx Fremulon, Universal TV, 3 Arts

Upcoming Series – (Alphabetical Order) [cont’d]

For the complete up-to-the-minute list visit The Adult Animation Database.

Show Genre Source Buyer Studio

The Ren & Stimpy Show

SItcom

TV Series –

Spinoff

Comedy

Central

Viacom

Resident Evil: Inntie

Darkness

Drama VIdeo Game Netix TMS Entertainment

Ricky & Cricket

Comedy Original Amazon 3 Arts

Santa Inc.

Comedy Original HBO Max Point Grey Pictures

Shadowlands: Afterlives

(World of Warcraft

spinoff)

Fantasy Video Game Ginx TV Blizzard

Shell Beach

Comedy Original Fox FOX Entertainment, Bento Box

Splinter Cell

Drama –

Suspense

Video Game Netix Netix Animation

The Summoner

Comedy Original Syfy Stoopid Buddy Stoodios

Superbago

Superhero –

Comedy

Original

Development

Stoopid Buddy Stoodios

Teenage Euthanasia

Comedy Original Adult Swim Augenblick

Tomb Raider Anime

Series

Action Video Game Netix Anime Production TBA

Jermaine Fowler Project

- Name TBD

Comedy Original FOX FOX

Tuca and Bertie

Sitcom

TV Series –

Reboot

Adult Swim

The Tornante Company, Brave

Dummy, Boxer vs. Raptor,

ShadowMachine

Uncanny Valley

Comedy

Comedy -

Sci-Fi

HBO Max TBA

Velma

Comedy

TV Series –

Spinoff

HBO Max Warner Bros Animation

100

What If…?

Superhero Comic Book Disney+ Marvel Animation

101

Wild Life

Comedy Original Syfy TZGZ Project

102

Woman in The Book

Drama Original

Facebook

Watch

Starburn Industries

103

The X-les:

Albuquerque

Comedy -

Sci-

TV Series –

Spinoff

FOX 20th Century FOX

104

Young Love

Drama Online Series HBO Max

Sony Pictures Animation, Lion

Forge Animation

26. Index of Images

Figure 1: Harley Quinn – DC Comics 1

Figure 2: John Evershed, CEO High Concentrate 4

Figure 3: Gary and His Demons – Syfy 5

Figure 4: The Midnight Gospel - Netix 6

Figure 5: Archer - FX 8

Figure 5: The Simpsons - Fox 10

Figure 6: Rick and Morty - Adult Swim 11

Figure 7: Animation Domination Block - Fox 12

Figure 8: Bob’s Burgers 15

Figure 9: BoJack Horseman - Netix 17

Figure 10: Big Mouth - Netix 18

Figure 11: Love, Death and Robots - Netix 19

Figure 12: F is for Family - Netix 20

Figure 13: Disenchantment - Netix 20

Figure 14: Beavis and Butt-Head - Viacom 25

Figure 15: Ren & Stimpy - Viacom 26

Figure 16: Rick and Morty - Adult Swim 27

Figure 17: Close Enough - HBO Max 28

Figure 18: Futurama - Fox 32

Figure 19: Solar Opposites - Hulu 33

Figure 20: Final Space - TBS 33

Figure 21: Magical Girl Friendship Squad - Syfy 36

Figure 22: Good Times - HBO Max 38

Figure 23: Masters of the Universe: Revelation - Netix 39

Figure 24: Avatar: The Last Airbender - Netix 42

Figure 25: Seis Manos - Netix 43

Figure 26: Blade Runner: Black Lotus - Adult Swim Crunchyroll 45

Figure 27: Godzilla Singular Point - Netix 45

Figure 28: Cyberpunk: Edgerunners - Netix 45

Figure 29: Splinter Cell - Netix 45

Figure 30: Invincible - Netix 47

26. Index of Images

Figure 31: M.O.D.O.K. – Hulu 48

Figure 32: Hit Monkey - Hulu 48

Figure 33: Castlevania – (Konami) Netix 50

Figure 34: The Witcher - Netix 51

Figure 35: Resident Evil: The Innite Darkness

– (Resident Evil, Capcom) Netix 51

Figure 36: Diablo – (Diablo, Blizzard) Netix 51

Figure 37: Overwatch – (Overwatch, Blizzard) Netix 51

Figure 38: Arcane (League of Legends) – Riot Games 51

Figure 39: DOTA Dragons Blood (DOTA) - Netix 52

Figure 40: Shadowlands Afterlives (Blizzard, World of Warcraft) - Blizzard 52

Figure 41: Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (Cyberpunk 2077) - Netix 52

Figure 42: The Cuphead Show! - Netix 52

Figure 43: Primal - Adult Swim 54

Figure 44: Undone - Amazon Prime 54

Figure 45: The Liberator - Netix 55

Figure 46: Game of Thrones - HBO Max 55

Figure 47: Idris Elba, Dantai - Crunchyroll, Adult Swim 55

Figure 48: Little Baby Bum — Moonbug 60

Figure 49: Hazbin Hotel — A24 61

Figure 50: Critical Role: The Legend of Vox Machina

— Amazon Prime Video 62

Figure 51: Agent King — Netix 62

Figure 52: Santa Inc — HBO Max 63

Figure 53: Ken Liu’s novels 63

Figure 54: Dick Figures - Mondo 66

Figure 55: Hazbin Hotel — A24 67

Figure 56: Critical Role: The Legend of Vox Machina

- Amazon Prime Video 68

Phew. If you made it this far you must be pretty dedicated. You may want to follow

me on Linkedin to read my most recent posts on adult animation.

And bookmark this link for the Adult Animation Database. The database is

maintained daily and has all the latest data on current and upcoming adult

animated series. If you haven’t already, it’s a good idea to connect with me

on LinkedIn so I show up in your feed.

Please contact me at jevershed@highconcentrate.com if you are in need of

consulting or have IP that you want help with packaging and taking to market. High

Concentrate is also looking for nished adult animated TV series or movies. We are

especially interested in animated foreign language movies or TV series and English

language books, graphic novels or comics that are intended for adult audiences.