Even more popular Roblox-born IPs will soon be expanding into animated films and series, courtesy of Baobab Studios.

The LA-based banner has scooped up exclusive rights to the games Natural Disaster Survival (Stickmasterluke, pictured), Barry’s Prison Run (PlatinumFalls) and Deepwoken (Monad Studios East). The trio has generated around 10 billion visits combined.

Roblox properties have been closing a growing number of film and TV deals lately, with studios like Story Kitchen snapping up hot games over the past year. But Baobab is uniquely suited to adapt IPs from Gen Alpha’s favorite game-creation platform; the company specializes in both gaming and animation, and its co-founders hail from Pixar, DreamWorks Animation and leading video game publisher Zynga. Baobab created its Momoguro franchise for Roblox and is adapting the IP for TV with 9 Story.

With an overwhelming 40-million-plus games on Roblox, Baobab came up with a clear strategy to identify the ones with the most franchise potential. “[We] sought titles that combine reach with retention, deep engagement and clear world-building that can carry powerfully into film and television,” said CEO/co-founder Maureen Fan.

Prolonged engagement was an especially important factor with the chaotic action title Natural Disaster Survival—a 16-year-old game that has sustained an all-ages player base and built up multi-generational nostalgia along the way. Baobab’s adaptation will be aimed at a four-quadrant audience to tap into this wide fandom. 

The company has a similar broad-appeal target in mind for Barry’s Prison Run, an obstacle course-style game where players must escape a prison and a lazy guard named Barry. The game’s inherent slapstick comedy and its 42 billion minutes of engagement made it stand out to Baobab—not to mention that its popularity also landed it a LEGO partnership last year for a special game mode.

Deepwoken

Meanwhile, Deepwoken is a Gen Z-skewing dark fantasy game packed with lore and set in an ocean world brimming with magic and monsters. It’s easy to see the setting’s screen potential, and the game has built up an impressive 50 billion minutes of engagement. Baobab plans to target the 10-plus crowd (older kids and teens) as well as adults with its take on the IP.

It’s not yet clear which of the properties will be adapted into series, or which will become films. Leaning into its dual advantage in both gaming and animation, Baobab says it’ll be working closely with the games’ creators to make sure the adaptations are true to the original experience.

Images courtesy of Baobab Studios.