Tomorrow Studios & Nick Weidenfeld Launch Animation Studio

Tomorrow Studios, a partnership between Marty Adelstein and ITV Studios, has finalized a joint venture with Emmy Award winner Nick Weidenfeld for the animation studio Work Friends.

Work Friends will be the first prime-time TV animation label in ITV Studios’ U.S. scripted television studio operation. ITV Studios will distribute content resulting from the joint venture internationally. The news of the JV follows HBO Max’s series order of 10-Year-Old Tom, written and executive produced by Steve Dildarian (The Life and Times of Tim) and executive produced by Weidenfeld and Adelstein (Hanna, Cowboy Bebop) and Becky Clements (Snowpiercer, Physical).

Adelstein said: “Launching an animation company is a natural progression following our success in global sales of Japanese anime. I see TV animation as a unique opportunity to grow Tomorrow Studios’ business exponentially worldwide, especially under Nick’s leadership, one of the most respected executives and producers of primetime animation on television, with an eye for series that resonate globally. We’re excited to launch with the series order of 10-Year-Old Tom and a great development slate to take to market immediately.”

Weidenfeld said: “This is a particularly exciting time to be making cartoons. And I couldn’t think of better partners to be doing it with—between the creative support of Marty, Becky and everyone at Tomorrow Studios; the robust studio business operation with Philippe Maigret and his team at ITV Studios America; and the international support from the ITV Studios team. And I am ecstatic to get to launch Work Friends with a series order for 10-Year-Old Tom with Steve producing and writing the series.”

Philippe Maigret added: “We are thrilled to come on board Marty’s partnership with Nick to build a new primetime TV animation company. Marty and Becky’s established success at Tomorrow Studios, together with Nick’s proven track record and wealth of experience across all facets of animation, give the new venture a great deal of creative and commercial potential. The launch of Work Friends marks another step forward in driving the growth of Tomorrow Studios and expanding ITV Studios’ U.S. scripted television studio operations and creative footprint.”