Report: 'Angry Birds' animated TV series coming

After toys, novelties, a cookbook and theme parks, an animated TV show may be next for the immensely popular Angry Birds.

 

The show is being produced in-house at the Finland studio of Angry Birds maker Rovio, showbiz site The Hollywood Reporter said.

 

Hollywood Reporter quoted Rovio’s head of animation Nick Dorra as telling the Mip TV audience in Cannes as saying the 52-episode animated series will be between two to three minutes long each.

 

“We’re going to roll out a weekly animation series later this year of shortform content,” a separate story on UK's The Guardian quoted Rovio’s head of animation Nick Dorra as saying at the MIPTV conference in Cannes.

 

Dorra also reiterated plans for a theatrical film, The Hollywood Reporter added.

 

“We want to be on all screens,” he said.

 

At the event, delegates were shown a 90-second preview of the animated and no-dialogue series about the birds being catapulted into space.

 

Dorra wore a bright red Angry Bird emblazoned hoodie as he described to delegates Rovio’s plans for the first TV series, the Hollywood Reporter account said.

 

On the other hand, Dorra said the planned Angry Birds theatrical film announced last summer that has former Marvel Studios Chairman David Maisel as advisor.

 

But there is no release date for now.

 

“It’s a good idea but you can also break things if you are not careful, so we have to be careful,” Hollywood Reporter quoted Dorra as saying.

 

Apps and TV

 

The Guardian quoted Dorra as suggesting broadcasters can learn from Rovio’s strategy of launching its Angry Birds games globally on the same date: as shown by the recent launch of Angry Birds Space.

 

“There is a time coming, whether people like it or not, where you have something released at the same time, all over the world. It’s hard to fight it,” he said.

 

He also noted that in the United States, people watch 150 to 160 hours of television every month, but the top apps are already bringing 20 hours per month.

 

"That’s huge, and it’s just the beginning,” he said.

 

Rollout on all devices

 

The Guardian quoted Dorra as saying the 52 short animated episodes "will be rolled out on all possible devices."

 

“We’re looking at building a video app for that, and we’re also looking at partnerships and so on... We want to be on all screens,” he added.

 

Possible partnerships include a deal with Samsung announced in January 2012 that involves an app for the company’s Smart TV Internet-connected televisions.

 

Rovio acquired Finnish animation studio Kombo in June 2011 to help expand Angry Birds from its origins on the gaming platform.

 

It also recruited former Marvel Studios chairman David Maisel as an adviser, sparking talk of a full Angry Birds film.

 

“(The film is in) development, but it won’t be out in 2013 or 2014... You’ll have to bide your time and first watch all of our shorts!” Dorra told the MIPTV audience.

 

New games

 

The Guardian said Rovio is also working on new games, some of which won’t involve Angry Birds at all.

 

“We are going to release completely new IP this year. Nothing to do with Angry Birds. But we are also working on bringing new projects in the Angry Birds universe that have nothing to do with the gameplay we have seen before,” he said. — RSJ, GMA News