Surf’s Up: Beloved Animated Surfing Penguin Movie Set for TV Series Adaptation

The beloved 2007 animated mockumentary "Surf’s Up," which followed the surfing aspirations of a teenage penguin named Cody Maverick, is making a splash on the small screen. Atomic Cartoons, a division of Thunderbird Entertainment Group, is developing "Surf’s Up: The Series," bringing the iconic characters and world of Pen Gu Island back for a new generation.

Key Takeaways

• Atomic Cartoons is developing "Surf’s Up: The Series."
• The series will be an 11-minute animated comedy targeting kids aged 6-9.
• It will feature returning characters like Cody Maverick, Big Z, and Chicken Joe.
• The plot centers on a new character, Flip, an over-confident teen penguin.

A New Wave of Surfing Adventures

The original "Surf’s Up" film, nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, captured the spirit of surfing culture through a mockumentary lens, featuring voice talents like Shia LaBeouf and Jeff Bridges, and even cameos from surfing legends Kelly Slater and Rob Machado. The new series aims to capture that same charm.

The Series’ Premise

"Surf’s Up: The Series" will introduce Flip, a teen penguin with big dreams of becoming a surf legend. When his initial attempts go spectacularly wrong, leading to epic wipeouts, Flip and his group of young surfer friends decide to forge their own path by building a unique surf community on Pen Gu Island. The series promises to bring back fan-favorite characters from the original movie, including Cody Maverick, the legendary Big Z, and the quirky Chicken Joe, ensuring a connection for existing fans while introducing the world to new viewers.

Creative Team and Target Audience

The adaptation is being penned by Lienne Sawatsky, Dan Williams, and John Hazlett, a trio known for their work on "The Guava Juice Show." They will also serve as showrunners for the series. Jennifer Twiner McCarron, CEO and Chair of Thunderbird Entertainment, will executive produce alongside Joel Bradley and Aaron Behl from Atomic Cartoons, with Rick Mischel representing Sony Pictures Animation. The series is being developed as an 11-minute animated comedy specifically for children aged 6 to 9.

Global Reach and Future Plans

Atomic Cartoons, with a proven track record of adapting popular intellectual properties like "The Last Kids on Earth" and "My Little Pony," is poised to bring "Surf’s Up: The Series" to a global audience. Plans are in motion to market the series internationally to secure distribution partners and develop consumer products, extending the "Surf’s Up" brand beyond the screen.

Sources

• ‘Surf’s Up’ Is Back: Animated Film Returns as TV Series, SURFER Magazine.
• TV Series Adaptation Of Sony Movie In Works At Atomic Cartoons, Deadline.
• Atomic Cartoons Hangs Ten with Sony’s ‘Surf’s Up’ Animated Series Adaptation, Animation Magazine.
• ‘Surf’s Up’ TV Series in the Works, The Inertia.
• Atomic Cartoons to Adapt Sony’s Surf’s Up into Animated TV Series, Stock Titan.