Amaze + Television and Nelvana Enterprises announced the debut of a brand new, hybrid live-action/animated comedy series, The Stanley Dynamic, to the global entertainment industry at MIPCOM 2014. Now in production, The Stanley Dynamic is a 26 x 30-minute, multi-cam sitcom that brings family viewers together to laugh along with the Stanleys, a typical family with a big twist-one of their twin sons is animated. To their surprise, the Stanleys gave birth to a cartoon baby boy named Luke, who literally bounced around the hospital delivery room when he popped out. The series will debut on YTV in Canada in 2015.
Amaze Film + Television has teamed up with the award-winning animation studio 9 Story to produce the live-action/animated series. Nelvana Enterprises is distributing the series globally.
“We want The Stanley Dynamic to show kids that it’s okay to be different. While Luke’s animation makes him unique, he faces the same challenges as all his teenage friends,” said Michael Souther, Executive Producer of The Stanley Dynamic and Co-Founder of Amaze Film + Television. “We’re excited for audiences to start connecting with the Stanleys and know Nelvana is in the best position to maximize distribution worldwide.”
“Nelvana Enterprises is thrilled to be debuting this hilarious family comedy to the global market,” said Andrew Kerr, Co-Head, Nelvana. “Having an animated character interacting in a live-action world is a unique aspect of the show that gives it universal appeal and never ending comedic twists.”
The Stanley Dynamic centres around a typical family, the Stanleys, who juggle home life, school and work in a way that stretches their relationship with each other and the world in all types of unexpected ways. At the core of the family are twins Larry, played by newcomer Charles Vandervaart, and his cartoon twin brother Luke, voiced by Taylor Abrahamse (Beyblade: Metal Fusion), as they navigate their first year of high school and try to fit in. Luke prefers to stay under the radar, but his ability to stretch his body like a wad of gum keeps him in the spotlight, while Larry’s love of attention constantly backfires and results in him getting him into trouble.
Luckily, the twins have the support of their cartoonist dad, Lane, played by Michael Barbuto (Banner 4th of July, Nip/Tuck), who chronicles the family’s adventures in his online comic strip, “The Stanley Dynamic”; their overworked mom, Lisa, played by Kate Hewlett (Remedy, Degrassi: The Next Generation); and their bug-obsessed, genius sister, Lori, played by Madison Ferguson (Berkshire County). Despite the fact that Luke is a cartoon, in the eyes of the Stanleys and the world around them, Luke is accepted as a regular kid, living in a three-dimensional world.
Coinciding with the launch of the series on YTV, Relish Interactive is developing a digital adventure game, which allows kids to play the role of cartoon Luke and choose how the story unfolds. The game will be available on YTV.com and as an app through iTunes and Google Play. Coupled with the game, an extensive social engagement campaign, created by Innovate By Day, will promote the series in conjunction with YTV.com as well as The Stanley Dynamic and YTV YouTube channels. Additionally, comic strips, a key element of the series that appear in every episode, will be featured on social media and hidden throughout the game every week. The series was created by Ken Cuperus, Jocelyn Hamilton and Jamie Piekarz. Ken Cuperus (Total Drama Action, Mr. Young) is executive producer/showrunner with Michael Souther (Call Me Fitz, Saint Ralph) and Teza Lawrence (Call Me Fitz, Saint Ralph) also serving as executive producers. Alice Prodanou (My Babysitter’s a Vampire, The Fresh Beat Band) is co-executive producer and Victoria Hirst (Mr. Young, Away From Her) is the Producer.