Our reports of football (er, soccer on this side of the pond) mania on North American shores may not be a figment of KidScreen’s imagination. At least that’s the hope of Canuck toon house FatKat Animation. The New Brunswick-based prodco is looking to bring soccer-inspired Flash-animated series Supa Strikas to the small screen.

The action/adventure/sports 13 x 22-minute HD series is based on a series of successful soccer comics of the same name that claim a worldwide readership of more than 10 million people a month. Like the comic, the animated series should appeal to the core boys six to 11 demo and features the title team’s adventures as it battles through the tough and unrelenting Super League schedule.

In one ep, the team gathers at a secret training compound where the team’s coach says in order to win, the team will have to find a way to score on a giant, wall-like goalkeeper from Mexico. With that, star players Shakes and El Matador embark on a quest through Aztec temples in order to find the secret of success – and maybe score a few goals in the meantime.

South Africa-based comic publisher and IP owner Strika Entertainment is also involved, along with Big Hug Productions. Spanish firm 3 Amigos is handling pre-production and Canadian studio Dacapo is on-board for audio design.

Coming in at approximately US$250,000 per ep, the producers have lined up broadcast presales to Latin American and African outlets, including SABC, Nation TV and Caracol. And thanks to the Becks and Posh effect (did you see the love fest that was Victoria Beckham: Coming to America last night?), FatKat thinks it will find a home on North American TV in the near future. The bi-lingual production (Spanish and English), is expected to be delivered by August 2008.