August Media, Man City team up for toon

MIPCOM: Singapore-based August Media, the Philippines’ Synergy88 and Spanish producer Minoria Absoluta have teamed up with Manchester City Football Club to develop and produce an animated series.

Sky Blue Academy is inspired by Man City’s chain of football academies

Sky Blue Academy (26×22’) is aimed at eight- to 11-year-olds and follows the aspiring talent at a children’s football academy, and is inspired by Manchester City’s own global chain of academies.

Jyotirmoy Saha, CEO and founder of August Media, says the series aims to be more that a children’s sports show, and will focus on the characters in the series.

“We don’t want to make a show which is about football games. There are real football games and they are so much more exciting than animation, so this is really about the group of kids who are in an academy,” said Saha.

Sky Blue Academy will aim to reflect Manchester City’s core brand values, such as discipline, teamwork and inclusivity, according to the companies, which announced the show at Mipcom.

“Manchester City would play a role in making sure the experience we are providing within the show is absolutely authentic,” Saha added.

Sky Blue Academy, a 2D-3D hybrid animation, is in early development with a view to launch by 2021.

August Rights, the distribution arm of August Media, will shop the series internationally.