Canadian animated web series, My Pride: The Series, surpassed two million views last week on its pilot episode released directly to YouTube earlier this year. Created by Toronto-based screenwriter and animator, Madeleine Patton, the LGBTQ+ dramatic fantasy has found a strong foothold amongst the online competition, demonstrating the success of for-women, by-women serial animation.
My Pride follows the journey of a queer, disabled lioness struggling to heal her broken world. Based on a story written in Patton’s youth and further developed in her adult years, the series was made possible with support from both the Independent Production Fund (IPF) and Interactive Digital Media Fund. Grateful for the external funding, Patton is thrilled to have the continuing opportunity to dive into complex yet authentic narratives that resonate with an underserved digital audience.
“It’s so important to tell diverse stories across all sorts of media,” says Patton. “Our show deals with ableism, queerness, feminism, womanhood and also, of course, lions. We’re so excited to have this opportunity to tell this kind of story in a medium and genre where those ideas have yet to be explored significantly.”
Though created in Toronto, My Pride is in global demand, having been translated into over 15 languages. Patton’s YouTube channel, launched in 2008, has grown to a record channel high in views as a result of the series, with all My Pride content surpassing 13.7 million YouTube views combined. This has pushed the channel’s viewership to over 33 million and launched subscribership from 75,000 to over 243,000.
“We are so grateful for the huge swell of support from our fans, old and new, for what we’re making,” Patton comments. “With each new release our audience continues to grow, and it’s amazing to see our content resonate so well, especially with women.”
My Pride: The Series is a Canadian production, with a talented crew based entirely in Ontario, Canada. The series is written, directed, and produced by Patton, with experienced web series creator Davin Lengel on as executive producer. It stars the voice of Canadian influencer Mo Mo O’Brien and features sound design and mixing by Emmy-nominated duo Noah Siegel and Blag Ahilov. Original score and end credit song Once in a Dream are created by Toronto-based band In the City, who recently undertook a songwriting residency with the Slaight Family Music Lab at Norman Jewison’s Canadian Film Centre. Their music has also been featured on notable Canadian series such as Heartland, Kim’s Convenience, and Workin’ Moms.
The highly anticipated final installment of the 10-part series is scheduled to release early in 2021 on the tribbleofdoom YouTube channel.