US broadcaster BYUtv has ordered its first original animated series, a comedy-adventure called Saving Me from Montreal’s Sphere Animation (formerly Oasis Animation).

The 20 x 22-minute 2D-animated show will be released in two 10-episode seasons, with the first season premiering October 1 on the BYUtv app and BYUtv.org, and series starting on the linear channel two days later.

Production on Saving Me got underway in January last year and will continue throughout the fall. It’s set in the distant future and centers around a grumpy old billionaire who has ruined his life, his relationships and the world around him. He goes back in time and teams up with his 11-year-old self to learn how to become a better person and prevent his miserable future from playing out. 

Sphere’s credits include six seasons of educational kids series Arthur, action-adventure Kulipari (10 x 22 minutes) for Netflix,and TVOKids’ musical comedy Riley Rocket (30 x 11 minutes). 

Following BYUtv’s rebrand in 2018, its FVOD has amassed more than 2,000 hours of live-action programming for families, including puppet-led comedy 9 Years to Neptune, kids competition show Wayne Brady’s Comedy IQ and drama series Holly Hobbie.