With campaign support from Iron Circus’ Spike Trotman, the pair are bringing on backers for their animated horror comedy pilot about Sesamoid, a fictional band of misfit musicians, ready for untold fame and fortune… until monsters and mayhem get in the way.
Writer Dave Capdevielle and animator Ashley Nichols have just shared with AWN the Kickstarter Pre-Launch for Far-Fetched, their all-new animated pilot about Sesamoid, a fictional band of misfit musicians who are primed to skyrocket to untold fame and fortune.
As the tale is told, all Sesamoid needs to break through is to manifest their big break — and one pitch perfect music video. There’s just one problem: Before they can even get started, monsters and mayhem break loose to destroy the band.
Iron Circus’ Spike Trotman is consulting on the Kickstarter campaign that is “jam-packed with special rewards, including a book full of comics and developmental art, early access to the screening and Q&A, music by the cartoon fictional band Sesamoid, exclusive signed prints, custom sketches, and much more.”
“Ashley and I became friends during the production of Hazbin Hotel and knew we had a lot of shared creative interests,” said Capdevielle. “She had ideas for some of the characters for what would become Far-Fetched since 6th grade, and always wanted to do something with them. So, one day, she approached me about writing an animated short starring the two main characters, Rue and her dog Kira, that became the show’s proof of concept.”
Here's a clip from the work in progress:
The show tells the story of Rue, a walking quarter-life crisis and proud new owner of a mistakenly unleashed DeviantArt sparkle-creature named Kira. Her life in shambles, childhood friend and hubris incarnate Quinn drags her into his band Sesamoid, with fellow members Piper, Warren and Griff. As new friends, the gang embark on a rocky road to relevance in an ancient ice cream truck, but soon learn their hometown of Veilport is far more than meets the eye, becoming unwilling participants in a battle between science and the supernatural.
“We've already successfully produced a 2-minute proof of concept short animation and plan on funding the full pilot episode on our own, so that we may create a show that isn't limited by the expectations of some business suit named Frank,” said Nichols. “If we don't screw this up and people actually like it, then we plan on funding an entire series, in order to fully bring to life the story we want to tell. Sure, this is a little uncertain and risky, but it's a lot better than working with Frank. Screw you, Frank!”
“After Iron Circus’ crowdfunding campaign to make a cartoon of Tracy Butler’s webtoon Lackadaisy became a blockbuster success, we were inundated with offers to collaborate on campaigns,” said Trotman. “And I turned all those projects down, because I need to be passionate about the campaigns I work on, even if I am just working as a consultant. And I love the world that Dave and Ashley have created! Besides, they’re both veterans of Lackadaisy, so they’re practically family.”
Capdevielle currently works as a writer on Lackadaisy and previously worked on the Hazbin Hotel pilot. Nichols worked as an animator and clean-up artist for Animaniacs, Lackadaisy and the Hazbin Hotel pilot.
"I have firsthand knowledge of (and gratitude for) all of the considerable skills and creativity both Ashley and Dave have contributed to Lackadaisy, so there's no question in my mind that they can pull off completing this spectacular inaugural episode for Far-Fetched,” said Lackadaisy creator Tracy Butler. “It's just a matter of allotting them the budget to do it. To that end, I wholly recommend hopping aboard for the ice cream truck ride. This project — born out of passion for the artform and love for the characters, and packed with all the skelly boys, werewolves, and cryptids the heart desires — is going to be something special.”
The cast of voice actors includes Nola Klop as Rue Cervello; Jasmine Luevanos as Kira; J. Michael Tatum as Quinn Huckley; Dani Chambers as Piper Stubbs; Jacob Takanashi as Griff; Jonah Scott as Warren Webber; Michael Zekis as Drain Creed; and Lauren Landa as Dr. Blair Presken. The campaign features a slew of rewards for backers, including a book featuring original comics, developmental art, character art, design philosophies and more; a computer and phone background package; access to an early online screening of the completed pilot alongside creators, cast & crew, plus a Q&A; a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the short including bloopers and outtakes; a Sesamoid MP3 package featuring every single song from the show’s in-universe band, including instrumental versions; a sticker pack; a digital sheet music pack; exclusive signed prints; custom sketches; comic cameos; and more.
“These guys have Frankensteined together Scooby Doo, Danny Phantom, Josie and the Pussycats, and post-Y2K internet culture into this colorful, chaotic aesthete I can’t get enough of,” said Lackadaisy director Fable Siegel. “It’s like Warheads for the soul. I’ve been championing this project since its early inception, encouraging the blood, sweat, and other hazardous fluids Ashley and Dave pumped into their supernatural brain spawn. This baby is nearly done cooking. They just need that extra oomph from the public to hop the final hurdle.”
Visit the Far-Fetched Kickstarter here. For ongoing updates, you can follow the project on Patreon, X, Tumblr, Instagram, TikTok, Bluesky and their website.
Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.
