Jared Mass’s Chalkdust Animation prepares adaptation of CS Lewis short stories

ANNECY: Chalkdust Animation, the Atlanta-based 3D animation studio set up by Paramount and Reel FX alum Jared Mass in 2022, is developing an adaptation of short story series Boxen: The Childhood Chronicles of CS Lewis.

Jared Mass

The project is being independently financed by Noble Road Media, an Atlanta-based outfit recently launched by writer, director and producer Michael Carney (Same Kind of Different as Me, A Quiet Town).

Mass and Carney are executive producing alongside Vincent Sieber-Smith, who is the producer and co-director of The CS Lewis Company, the company managing the literary rights of the late British author of The Chronicles of Narnia.

Boxen is a series of short stories based on a world of walking and talking animals imagined by Lewis and his brother when they were boys.

Most recently, Mass was the head of Reel FX originals, where he worked on Super Giant Robot Brothers (Netflix), and before that was VP of Paramount Animation, where he oversaw a slate of animated features including Sherlock Gnomes and Rumble.

Outside of Boxen, Chalkdust and Noble Road said they also plan to collaborate on future projects. “Chalkdust is pushing the envelope technically but will always uphold a creative-first approach,” said Mass.

“We want to work with top creative partners who are entrepreneurial and understand that we are all seeking to make the best original quality content in a smart and fiscally responsible way – without sacrificing quality or artists.”