International kids’ content producer, distributor and licensor Nelvana announced today a first-look deal with award-winning Indigenous writer and illustrator, Kyle Charles. Marking the company’s first new first-look deal in three years, the two-year agreement sees Charles pitching original content to Nelvana for joint development, from TV series to feature films for both kids and adults.
“Kyle is a seasoned artist with a great ability to tell thoughtful stories through illustration and we are so proud to welcome him to the Nelvana team,” said Athena Georgaklis, Head of Development, Nelvana. “With an impressive series of original concepts already presented to our team, we’re eager to tap into Kyle’s expertise in creating action heroes that translate from book to screen, while adding new voices and perspectives to the work we do as creators and storytellers.”
“I am beyond excited to work with Nelvana and be a part of their long-standing legacy in Canadian animation,” said Charles. “I look forward to sharing my ideas and collaborating with the Nelvana team to create stories that will engage and inspire people around the world.”
As Nelvana marks its 50th anniversary this year, this announcement underscores the company’s focus on bolstering creator-driven content, tapping into first-rate talent to allow creators the opportunity to develop their own passion projects and IPs.
Charles is an Indigenous artist currently living in Edmonton and a member of the Whitefish Lake First Nation (located about 200 kilometres northeast of Edmonton). His previous work includes This Place: 150 Years Retold, Moonshot: Vol 3, Marvel Voices: Indigenous Voices #1 — in which he was tasked with illustrating a story of a Cheyenne heroine, Dani Moonstar (a.k.a. Mirage) — and Batman: The Detective. He has also written and illustrated short stories for publishers Heavy Metal and OnSpec Magazine.
