Nov 13, 2014

Tony Millionaire's "Sock Monkey" has been animated

Indie comic artist Tony Millionaire (Maakies) and animation artist Matt Danner (Dan Vs., Xiaolin Showdown) are developing Millionaire's Sock Monkey graphic stories as an animated feature. The story for the proposed film will be published this month as a storybook called Sock Monkey Into The Deep Woods.

Danner, who directed Millionaire's 2008 Adult Swim series The Drinky Crow Show, created this live-action/CGI proof-of-concept:

Danner, who has penned the script and would direct the film, described the idea to Deadline as more Harry Potter and Coraline than Toy Story in tone. “It's for families, but it has real danger and gravity,” he said.

In the film, Uncle Gabby the sock monkey, the stuffed Mr. Crow, and the porcelain doll Inches go on a rescue mission to save their human owner, Ann-Louise, who they fear has been kidnapped by a monster. Along the way, they encounter fanciful creatures including the Trumbernick (the pixie shaman of the forest), a giant sea monster, the Guardsmen of Bear Town, and a flock of flying harpies.

Millionaire and Danner are currently shopping the project around Hollywood.