Canada’s Mercury Filmworks and French-Danish studio Sun Creature are teaming up to co-produce Macanudo: The Series (pictured), a 26 x 11-minute animated adaptation of a same-name comic strip created by Argentinian cartoonist Ricardo Liniers Siri (a.k.a. Liniers) that first debuted in 2002. 

Mercury and Sun Creature are looking to lock down a lead broadcaster/streamer, with a 2027 or 2028 launch in mind. And King Features Syndicate—which has been distributing the comic since 2018—is attached to sell the series and manage ancillary rights in all other territories. In order to build some early buzz, the company will be presenting the project at the MIFA Pitches Program in Annecy next month.

Featuring the same brand of whimsical humor as comic strips like Calvin and Hobbes and Peanuts, this IP is primed for co-viewing appeal on screen, according to King Features president C.J. Kettler. “The cultural zeitgeist right now calls for optimism, and Macanudo is about finding the magic in everyday life,” she tells Kidscreen, also highlighting the wide global reach of the comic that’s published in 60 languages, a circulation of more than 12.5 million across print/digital and more than 50 books in print.

“The series will be produced in 2D animation, taking inspiration from Liniers’ whimsical watercolor style,” C.J. Kettler notes.

Aimed at the six to 11 demo, this 2D-animated concept focuses on besties Henrietta and Martincito, who have figured out how to channel the power of “Macanudo” to experience the magical side of everyday life in Nuevo Aires. They set out on a mission to share this ability with others—accompanied by a talking cat, an imaginary monster and plenty of quirky, philosophical banter.

Macanudo: The Series aligns well with King Features’ strategy of building out its stable of comic-based franchises, which include Zits, Hagar, Popeye, The Phantom and Flash Gordon. “We’re always looking for ways to bring iconic IPs to the four-quadrant audience of kids and their parents, who recognize many of our brands,” Kettler explains. On that front, she says that King Features is currently “working with an important partner” to develop Popeye as an anime series.

But Kettler reiterates that the company is also keeping its door open to exploring more third-party entertainment partnerships—a move that previously paved the way for its small-screen hit The Cuphead Show!, an Emmy-winning series for Netflix that stemmed from working with Studio MDHR to adapt its Cuphead video game. Andrea Fernandez, who served as an art director on The Cuphead Show!, has been tapped to showrun and direct Macanudo. Kettler says Fernandez’s close connection to the LatAm roots of the property, as well as her expertise for humor that transcends cultural boundaries, make her a great choice to spearhead it through production.