New animated series from Sony Music Entertainment, Sony Pictures Television – Kids, and Leo Messi Management follows a 12-year-old Messi overcoming obstacles while traveling through a video game on a quest to go home.
Sony Music Entertainment, Sony Pictures Television – Kids, and Leo Messi Management announced today that they are teaming up to produce and globally distribute the new animated series Messi and the Giants, inspired by Argentinian football superstar Leo Messi. Introduced at this year’s MIPCOM, the series depicts a 12-year-old Messi confronting various obstacles while traveling through a video game on a quest to go home. The show targets children and young adolescent audiences and will feature original music from Sony Music Entertainment artists and composers.
Messi, the recent football world champion of the Argentine National Team, has become a global icon and inspiration to millions worldwide. He is the only athlete to win seven Ballon d’Or awards and six Golden Boots. After joining the MLS team Inter Miami in July, his debut match became the most-watched soccer game in U.S. television history. He is also widely recognized for his sportsmanship and passion for the sport – qualities highlighted throughout the series.
Messi gave fans a first look, revealing a teaser clip across his social media platforms – check it out:
“We’re thrilled to present Messi and the Giants at MIPCOM, the global market for entertainment content,” said Fernando Cabral, EVP, Business Development, Latin-Iberia, Sony Music Entertainment. “With our partners at Sony Pictures Television – Kids, we can’t wait to share the vision and creative direction behind this inspirational series with full support from Leo and his incredible team.”
Joe D’Ambrosia, EVP & General Manager, Sony Pictures Television – Kids, added, “Football is the only sport around the world that can inspire excitement and connection in the same way that storytelling does. What makes this series special is that it focuses on the same principles of good sportsmanship…it’s about perseverance, resilience, teamwork, and believing in yourself. We’ve enjoyed working with Leo and the entire team at Sony Music on this creative collaboration, and we’re looking forward to sharing more about this thoughtful and inspiring series to our broadcast and platform partners later this month.”
Story editor and writer Guy Toubes (Odd Squad) has joined the project as lead scriptwriter with Canary Islands-based Atlantis Animation (Tara Duncan, Miraculous Ladybug), serving as the lead creative studio driving graphic development and art treatment. Sony Music Entertainment developed the series in partnership with Leo Messi, and it will be available in English, Spanish, and other languages.
Source: Sony Pictures Entertainment
Debbie Diamond Sarto is news editor at Animation World Network.
