Oscar-Winning ‘Brave’ Director Mark Andrews to Showrun Postapocalyptic Samurai Dinosaur Series ‘Kyoryu’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Mark Andrews, director of Pixar’s Academy Award winning animated feature “Brave” and a writer on Genndy Tartakovsky’s “Primal” and “Samurai Jack,” is attached as the showrunner of animated series “Kyōryū,” about samurai dinosaurs living in a postapocalyptic Japan.
In development at Wellington, New Zealand-based Floating Rock, an animation and VFX studio, “Kyōryū” is set in Japan in a future where dinosaurs have outlasted humanity. Genetically engineered, they are far more intelligent than their pre-historic ancestors. That said, atavistic instincts can flare, making for tribal wars.
More from Variety
Women in Animation Unveils 2024 International Diversity Initiative Teams
Loco Films Scoops Global Rights to Psychedelic Annecy Competition Player 'Rock Bottom' (EXCLUSIVE)
Unveiled last September, the “Kyōryū” proof-of-concept trailer went viral, with 1 million views in its first 10 days of release, now 2.1 million views to date on YouTube, and an estimated reach of over a million.
The trailer also attracted Andrews. “‘Dinosaurs in postapocalyptic Japan?’ I want to see that show without even knowing what the story’s about! We’re going to give the audience way more than they bargained for,” Andrews said.
“Why Floating Rock? We totally synced up right from the start… this is a fantastic group. They’re a startup, but they’ve got a ton of experience, energy and great ideas. They’re rebels, and I love that. So yes, let’s take the hill… they established the field and I immediately wanted to do battle. Let’s do this!”
Floating Rock co-founders Lukas Niklaus, Garrick Rawlingson and Stephanie Parker will attend France’s Annecy Animation Festival to connect with potential producing partners and financiers. In September, Andrews will join them in Los Angeles to formally pitch the series to buyers.
A clip, shared in exclusivity with Variety, shows Niklaus, also Floating Rock CEO, and ‘Kyōryū’ creator Benjamin Mulot, an animator at Floating Rock, considering candidates: Steven Spielberg, James Cameron, Dennis Villeneuve… “More ‘Brave,’” says Mulot. “How about Mark Andrews?” somebody shouts, who happens to be Mark Andrews, who happens to be on a video call with them.”But would you do it,” Niklaus asks. “Abso — — lutely,” Andrews replies, his Oscar speech and plaudits appearing on the screen.
The latter include a 1999 Annie Award for outstanding individual achievement for storyboarding on the modern classic “The Iron Giant,” a 2004 Emmy Award for outstanding animated program for “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” and a Bafta for best animated feature, to add to the Oscar for “Brave.”
Niklaus and Mulot were looking for someone to attach to the project with a strong sense of story, action and character development, Floating Rock said Friday.
“Andrew’s involvement in ‘Brave,’ ‘Primal’ and ‘Samauri Jack’ made him the perfect match.,” they added.
“’Kyōryū” is now in deep development. “Story sessions with Mark have been incredible… I come out of every session thinking, ‘holy ****, this is amazing!’ We’re making so much progress,” Niklaus enthuses.
Best of Variety
Sign up for Variety’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
