Baboon, Custom Nuts, AZCorp launch Pakistan office to reimagine local stories
Baboon Animation, Custom Nuts and AZCorp Entertainment have joined forces
US prodco Baboon Animation and Tokyo-based animation studio Custom Nuts have launched a South Asian office in Pakistan with the Middle East’s AZCorp Entertainment.
Work is underway on a slate of animated projects inspired by epic tales and iconic characters from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and South Asia.
These regional stories will be reimagined through a contemporary lens, with the first wave of content set to be launched in early 2025 at industry markets.
Custom Nuts has opened the office in Karachi with AZCorp Entertainment to “leverage local talent and ensure cultural authenticity while developing compelling content for regional and international markets.”
The Karachi office will collaborate with regional talent and has been set up to tap into the growing global demand for culturally diverse stories.
The collaboration will mark a “significant milestone” in amplifying authentic voices across South Asia and the MENA region, according to the companies.
It comes after Baboon Animation and Custom Nuts partnered last year to jointly develop a slate of cartoons together.
Baboon Animation, founded by DreamWorks alumnus Mike de Seve, has worked on shows such as Angry Birds Toons, Gigantosaurus and Pocoyo.
Custom Nuts specialises in hybrid anime productions. Its co-founder Silas Hickey was formerly senior development director for Cartoon Network in the Asia Pacific region.
“Custom Nuts and Baboon have always been inspired by the rich, diverse cultures of South Asia and the MENA region, where anime enjoys a dedicated following,” said Hickey.
“Together with AzCorp, we’re taking the region’s unique, beloved stories and reimagining them to also reach a global audience.”
Emily Kaye, Baboon’s head of development, said: “Kids everywhere should be able to see themselves in the cartoons they watch. This is a top priority for Baboon.”
Imran Azhar, AzCorp’s CEO, said: “This partnership aligns perfectly with our mission to champion authentic regional storytelling. By merging our local expertise with Custom Nuts’ mastery of hybrid anime and Baboon’s world-class writing, we are set to create something truly ground-breaking for South Asian and MENA audiences.”
