Toonz Media Group and India’s ELE Animations are betting that a gang of skeletal pranksters will have the “legs” to travel internationally in a new 2D-animated series co-pro they currently have in pre-production.

Drac and Skeletons (78 x seven minutes) kicks off when three silly young skeletons move into Count Dracula Junior’s castle and refuse to leave, instigating a hijinx-fuelled feud that drives its episodic storylines for four- to seven-year-olds.

Former Cartoon Network APAC producer and director Silas Hickey (Lamput) and animator Paul Nicholson (The Amazing World of Gumball) are creative consultants on the project. ELE will do the animation, with Toonz handling pre- and post-production. The partners plan to create English-language and Hindi-language versions of the series, and Toonz is on tap to manage worldwide distribution and L&M rights.

Universal themes around blended families and finding one’s home should help Drac and Skeletons appeal to international buyers and viewers. It also boasts a blend of comedy and positivity that Toonz has been having success with lately. Its CG-animated feature film Kayara, a co-pro with Tunche Films that’s due out in 2024, has pre-sold to 15 international distributors; and comedy series Sunnyside Billy was picked up by Spain’s Clan TVE for a Q1 2023 launch.