Mar 8, 2019

TV ROUNDUP: "Sherwood", "Gremlins", "Corn and Pegs

This is a regular roundup of animated series that have been announced for development, production and distribution.

Set in the dystopian future of 2270, "Sherwood" is a new animated series for Youtube Premium that puts a twist on the Robin Hood legend, following 14-year-old Robin and his friends as they battle the wealthy Upper City for justice and equality. Sherwood became available on Youtube Premium on Wednesday.

Produced by Baby Octopus and Toybox in New Zealand and Giant in Ireland, the 10-episode series is written by Justin Trefgarn, Craig Martin, and Shea Fontana. Diana Munson and Megan Lawton serve as executive producers. Jan Stebbins and Nanette Miles also serve as producers. Bruce Carter is the director and Jonathan Clark is the animation producer.

Nadine Zylstra, head of learning at Youtube Originals, had this to say about the show's production: [In this modern version of Robin Hood, Robin is a girl who uses technology and code to fight the Sheriff of Sherwood. Together with Google's Computer Science in Media team, we have convened an advisory board of thought leaders from organizations across Google. Together, we imagined a future world and what it would mean for design, travel, technology, and society. Sherwood is a new series designed to inspire the role of young women and girls in the technology of the future."

WarnerMedia is reportedly developing an animated series based on the 1980s "Gremlins" film franchise for the company's upcoming unnamed streaming service.

According to Variety, which first reported the news, the story will be set in the past and follow the adventures of a younger version of Mr. Wing, the Chinese grandfather originally played by Key Luke in the film, along with Mogwai Gizmo.

The series is co-produced by Warner Bros. Television and Amblin Television. (The WB and Amblin also produced the original "Gremlins" films.) The industry reported the news based on sources, as Warner Bros. has yet to make an official announcement.

Filmmaker Tse Chun will write and executive produce the film. His directing credits include the live-action films Children of Invention and Cold Comes the Night, and he has also served as story editor and screenwriter for FOX's Gotham and ABC's Once Upon a Time.

Produced by Toronto's Nelvana Studios, Corn and Peg is a new 40 x 11-minute pre-school animated series that debuted Monday on Nickelodeon.

Corn & Peg is about the friendship between Corn the unicorn and Peg the pegasus. The main characters draw inspiration from their superhero idol, Captain Thunderhoof, to help others and make a difference in the horse community of Galloping Grove.

The preschool series follows a "social-emotional curriculum" that focuses on values such as empathy and kindness, with supplemental academic curriculum emphasizing colors, math, directions, and health and wellness. Nickelodeon plans to expand internationally later this year.