MONTREAL, March 28, 2024 — Montreal-based animation house Laughing Dragon Studios and skateboarding legend, Tony Hawk, swoop in to announce the development of the upcoming animated series, SKATEBIRDS. The series, inspired by the nickname of the talented Birdman, celebrates skateboarding’s playful community while emphasising its adventurous nature.
With a narrative style reminiscent of classics like “Rocket Power”, “Hey Arnold”, and “Bob’s Burgers”, SKATEBIRDS is primarily targeted towards children ages 6-11. Additionally, the series is sure to appeal to fans of the Pro Skater and the industry he helped build.
SKATEBIRDS revolves around “a group of young skateboard enthusiasts, who just happen to be birds, who flock together to support their hometown and show the world that when they put their feathers together, they can do anything they set their minds to!”
With their sick skills and righteous attitudes, these avian protagonists learn resilience, creativity, and empowerment. Audiences watching along will take away lessons about teamwork, friendship and community. SKATEBIRDS also encourages kids to get outside and stay active while developing valuable social skills!
Leading the SKATEBIRDS flock is Sally, a 10-year-old chicken who fights for what she believes in — her beak is sharp, but not as sharp as her wit! Alongside her are Becca, the warm and peacekeeping ostrich; Grace, the artsy emu; and Kiki, the quirky penguin.
Their adventures aren’t all kickflips and 360’s though, as the SKATEBIRDS also have to contend with the mischievous antics of their rivals, The Wolf Pack, led by the cunning fox pup, Flare.
SKATEBIRDS is being developed as an 11-minute, episodic series, with expansion into other short-form mediums such as TikTok and YouTube.
Tony Hawk shares his excitement: “I’m excited to partner up with Laughing Dragon Studios for this unique series. Skateboarding unites communities, gets kids active, and builds a sense of self-confidence while providing opportunities that can be limitless. Keep an eye out for our show, which will be entertaining for a global audience… regardless of whether they skate or not.”
“There’s a list of people that I hoped to create an animated series with somewhere in a drawer of a home I no longer live in. At the very top of that list is Tony Hawk; a guy who managed to get this uncoordinated human atop a skateboard and tasting asphalt a few moments later,” Ryan Sohmer, CEO of Laughing Dragon Studios, adds, “I could not be more thrilled to have Tony leading the way on SKATEBIRDS and introducing this community to a whole new generation.
For further inquiries or interview requests, please contact [email protected].
About Laughing Dragon Studios:
Montreal-based Laughing Dragon Studios is a leader in entertainment, producing full-service 2D animation to all audiences. The team consists of animators, in-house editors, writers, social media experts, illustrators, and producers. The studio prides itself on being a one-stop shop, taking any idea, story, or script and developing it smoothly for the screen, regardless of the platform. Additionally, Laughing Dragon has an extensive slate of internally developed IPs and concepts, including ISAAC AND FRIENDS, which has more than tens of millions of viewers across social media platforms. Laughing Dragon Studios’s work is available on television, in theatres, and on streaming services worldwide.
For more information, visit https://laughingdragon.studio/.
About Tony Hawk, Inc.:
After more than 30 years of building a global brand ranging from apparel, toys, events, endorsements, social media, film production and one of the most successful video game franchises ever, legendary pro-skateboarder Tony Hawk remains one of the most popular athletes in the world. Hawk’s foundation, The Skatepark Project, helps finance public skateparks in underserved communities across the USA and other parts of the world. And he still skates regularly.