OddBot Preps Book-Based Animated Series

LOS ANGELES: OddBot Studio has optioned The Mighty Machines of Mackie McKeens from Art of Daryl Slaton, best known as Tails of Whimsy, and is developing the property as an animated series.

The Mighty Machines of Mackie McKeens follows Mackie, his sister Mika and their band of mini-bots, who all champion teamwork in a playful learning laboratory. They build Seussian contraptions designed to solve problems with inventions like a mobile dinosaur scrubber, a Hop-to-Copter and a 30-foot walking fire hydrant. Project pages were developed to introduce STEM audiences, teachers and kids to curricula for early learners.

Chris Hamilton, the president of OddBot, said, “It seems like kids almost need permission to ‘fiddle around’ in today’s overly programmed world. Mackie and Mika encourage kids to explore, play and learn simultaneously with limitless imagination.”

Artist and writer Daryl Slaton of Tails of Whimsy, added, “We like OddBot’s approach to developing new content and share their operating culture. We are both agile companies that prefer a creative, cooperative animation process.”

Oddbot specializes in character-branded commercials, episodic series, shorts, interactive books, mobile apps and more. The animation studio has produced shows for Disney and Warner Bros., among other companies.