Animation has steadily become an important factor in the effort to convince audiences to purchase subscriptions to streaming services. Now,Apple TV Plusis taking another big step into animation withRick and Mortyco-creator Dan Harmon and author Nathan Pyle bringing the comic stripStrange Planetto the streamer as an animated series.
AppleTV Plus was a later addition to the streaming wars and offers its service for a significantly smaller monthly charge, so the quantity of content on the platform pales in comparison to services like Netflix. But animation has been a significant part of the streamer’s strategy, as AppleTV Plus offers hot ticket items likeThe Snoopy ShowandCentral Park(which has been greenlit for a third season). The streamer also made an inspired choice in purchasing the exclusive streaming rights toWolfwalkers, the highly-acclaimed fourth feature film by Irish studio Cartoon Saloon.
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Now,Strange Planetwill be the latest addition to AppleTV Plus' sparse but notable resume of animated titles. The comic strip by Pyle follows blue aliens on a planet similar to Earth, where they have interactions and processes that match our human lifestyle (albeit with their own comically butchered terminology—to them, a “hug” is a “mutual limb exposure”). Pyle’s popular comics are regularly posted online and have been compiled into two books so far.
Apple Studios will produce the series with ShadowMachine, the studio production house behindBojack Horsemen, working on the series as well. Harmon and Pyle are the executive producers, withOver the Garden Wallwriter Amalia Levari to serve as the series showrunner. Apple has given the project a straight-to-series order, meaning that episodes are likely to start being released in late 2022 or 2023 at the earliest.
Strange Planetis an acerbic and heartfelt series with the potential to become a 2020s equivalent to beloved strips likePeanutsandCalvin and Hobbes.Communitycreator Harmon is the perfect choice to adapt the comic strip, and once the series is ready for release,fans ofRick and Mortyand animated shows, in general, will undoubtedly find something to appreciate from Pyle’s lovable aliens.
