Baby Octopus reaches for the sky with ‘Nadya Skylung’ adventures
Skwigly
Baby Octopus, the Kidscreen Award-nominated and multi-genre children’s entertainment company founded by Diana Manson and Megan Laughton, is expanding its portfolio of female-led fantasy animation series, optioning the rights to the series of Nadya Skylung books and signing a development deal for television and merchandising with author Jeff Seymour.
Development on the 26 half hour episodes for tweens will also reunite Baby Octopus with Auckland, New Zealand-based animation company Toybox, co-producers of hit YouTube Kids show Sherwood. The companies will work with Jeff to bring the Nadya Skylung stories to life.
Nadya Skylung (Baby Octopus)
Critics have said of the books:
A brilliantly characterized debut. A stunning read that explores ideas of what bravery means through rich writing, vivid descriptions and a strong voice. Readers will be eager to explore this breathtaking and dangerous steampunk world set in the sky.
-Booklist
This is a moving fantasy novel with strong world-building, intriguing characters and touching themes about the meaning of family and sacrifice.
-School Library Journal
We were enthralled by these books and the strong character of Nadya as soon as we read them and this is just the type of distinctive, multi-layered and powerful project we love. Jeff has created an absorbing and complex world with dramatic ecological airships and tense humanistic themes that are ideal for the screen. We can’t wait to work together with Jeff and our colleagues at Toybox, whose cinematic style of animation for television will bring his incredible vision to life.
–Diana Manson, Baby Octopus
Sherwood, created by Diana Manson and Megan Laughton, debuted on YouTube Premium in March 2019. The retelling of the Robin Hood legend is set in a plausible future after catastrophic climate change, following 15 year-old Robin and her friends’ battles with the wealthy Upper City in their efforts to overcome inequality and fight for justice. The voice cast includes Anya Chalotra, Tyler Posey, Jamie Chung, Rachel House, Neneh Conteh, Ade M’Cormack, Darrill Rosen, Aneurin Barnard and guest starring Joseph Fiennes. Sherwood has been nominated for two Kidscreen Awards this year.
The deal was brokered by Danielle Burby at Nelson Literary Agency and Wayne Alexander of Alexander, Lawrence, Frumes and Labowitz, LLP representing Jeff Seymour; and Jane McGregor, representing Baby Octopus.