Bristol production studio sells hit comedy animation to leading USA networks

Bristol independent production company Wildseed Studios has agreed a deal that will see its hit comedy animation about the trials and tribulations of UK secondary school life air on two of the USA's biggest networks.

Narrated by Kaiser Chiefs frontman and The Voice UK judge Ricky Wilson and starring Dylan Llewellyn (Derry Girls), Dodo will be available to view on HBO Max and Cartoon Network in 2022. 

The 20-episode series, originally commissioned by Sky Kids and produced by BAFTA-winning, Bristol-based Wildseed Studios, is a funny, relatable and heart-warming portrayal of everyday school life in the UK as experienced by 11 year-old Joe Connolly, voiced by Dylan Llewellyn.

The series is based on multi-award-winning film and YouTube hit Not The End of the World, by British creator and series director Jack Bennett, which he made while in his final year at the University of the West of England, where he was discovered by Wildseed.

Much of the inspiration for the series comes from Jack's own time at Gordano School, Portishead, with one of the characters even named after one of his favourite teachers.
The licensing deal with WarnerMedia Kids & Family, brokered by kids' and family entertainment distributor CAKE, will see Dodo hero Joe's very British adventures reach new audiences in the U.S. as he navigates the dramas and pitfalls of his first year at secondary school. With new situations and embarrassments around every corner, small events mean big drama for Joe, as he tries to fit in, make new friends, girlfriends and even loses his school trousers. But Joe has best friends Frisbo, Pete and Lily at his side, helping him realise that each challenge is really not the end of the world as he triumphs over adversity and survives another school day.

Wildseed Managing Director Miles Bullough said: "We are thrilled to be able to share our much-loved new comedy animation series Dodo with new audiences in the U.S. Very British in both its humour and its hero, we are confident Jack's characters and stories will resonate and amuse viewers in the US as it has done here in the UK."

Dodo is produced by Helen Stern (Gumball) with the support of Ben Ward (Horrible Histories) on scripting and with executive guidance provided by Wildseed's Head of Kids and Animation Sarah Mattingley.

The series was commissioned by Lucy Murphy, Director of Kids Content at Sky UK & Ireland, and Exec Produced for Sky by Estelle Hughes, Commissioning Editor, Sky Kids.

Multi award-winning Wildseed Studios specialises in ideas that will appeal to audiences below 30 and in finding and nurturing new talent. Its Submissions Portal, inviting creators to submit a project in live action or animation, is open to receive submissions throughout October. The team will review all ideas and successful will receive up to £10K each to develop their idea with the support of the team at Wildseed Studios. For more information, visit www.wildseedstudios.com/submissions