Warner Bros. Pictures Animation announced the 3DCG adaptation of the hugely popular Animal Planet docu-series, taking the Whiskers family on all-new animated adventures.
Warner Bros. Pictures Animation announced the animated feature adaptation of its popular Animal Planet series Meerkat Manor. Seth Green and Tracy Falco of The Green Room will produce, with series creators Caroline Hawkins and Clare Birks of ITV Studio’s Oxford Scientific Films (OSF) serving as executive producers.
Warner Bros. Discovery’s Animal Planet Series Meerkat Manor debuted in 2005, becoming the network’s highest-rated show over its four seasons. The studio reports that its Emmy-nominated series reached 204 million households in more than 160 countries on the Animal Planet platform alone.
The documentary drama follows the Whiskers, a family of meerkats, as they struggle to survive in South Africa's Kalahari Desert. Viewers enjoyed the daily chaos of the Whiskers family, which gained a large international fan base. In the spirit of Happy Feet, Warner Bros. Pictures Animation brings the Whiskers family on a new adventure using 3DCG photoreal animation.
“As we continue to grow our animated feature film slate, we are excited to bring the beloved Meerkat Manor from WBD’s Animal Planet to the big screen,” said Warner Bros. Picture Animation president Bill Damaschke. “Along with our partners Tracy, Seth, OSF, and ITV Studios, we look forward to creating a photoreal animated family adventure for the next generation and seeing our meerkat friends make their feature film debut in a way they’ve never been seen before.”
“It’s 20 years since we experimented with a wildlife soap opera in a London basement, and now here we are,” said Hawkins. “What greater evidence could there be of the enduring appeal of meerkats? I am sure they would be thrilled at attaining stardom in Hollywood! Warner Bros is the natural home for this movie, and I am delighted to be partnering with Tracy, Seth, and Bill, whose visionary expertise is second to none.
Green and Falco commented, “Meerkats have been secondary characters in animated feature films, and it’s time they get the star treatment they’ve deserved. We believe that the heartwarming and entertaining story of Meerkat Manor, replete with all the drama, emotion, and humor of the human experience, will resonate with audiences of all ages. We couldn’t be more excited to bring these lovable characters to life in a new and exciting way, with the perfect partners in Bill Damaschke, Pam Abdy, Mike De Luca, and Warner Bros. Pictures Animation.”
They continued, “We are honored to embark on this new adventure with the series’ brilliant creators, Caroline Hawkins and Clare Birks, to share the magic of Meerkat Manor with the world, both for diehard fans of the global phenomenon series and an entirely new generation of meerkat lovers.”
UTA, Untitled Entertainment, and Lon Sorenson and David Weber of Sloane/Offer/Weber/Dern represent Green. Attorney Stuart Rosenthal reps OSF and ITV Studios.
Source: Warner Bros. Discovery
Debbie Diamond Sarto is news editor at Animation World Network.
