Iron Circus Animation — the new arm of award-winning publisher Iron Circus Comics — is returning to BackerKit for a crowdfunding campaign for Lackadaisy, the Eisner-nominated, Prohibition-Era webcomic by Tracey Butler.
This round aims to fund new editions of the acclaimed Lackadaisy graphic novels, the property’s first ever plushes and an all-new, 10-minute Lackadaisy animated short, directed again by Fable Siegel, that will continue the story begun in the 27-minute animated pilot, which has been viewed almost 10 million times and become an online sensation since it debuted on YouTube in late March.
“Our three years of experience running a studio has taught us a lot about the animation process and given us a great idea of what we want to do going forward to create more animated episodes of Lackadaisy,” said Siegel. “So, we’re keeping things very simple with the campaign: any stretch goals for this project will be in the service of creating more animation.”
The campaign is now live on BackerKit.
Set in St. Louis, Missouri in the midst of Prohibition, Lackadaisy features an eclectic cast and a charming, but crime-filled, speakeasy tucked away in a cave beneath the Little Daisy Cafe. Patrons who flash the club symbol from a deck of cards are granted all the moonshine and music they desire.
The story features action and adventure, comedy and crime and a colorful cast of jazz cats — including the Lackadaisy’s freshly-widowed proprietor Mitzi May, jazz fiddler and rumrunner Rocky Rickaby, bespectacled hatchetman Mordecai Heller and jazz-baby flapper Ivy Pepper.
Butler, a former game artist, conceptualized and began work on Lackadaisy as a webcomic in 2006 after researching the history of her St. Louis surroundings, and being inspired by her love of jazz music and 1920s aesthetics. Butler co-wrote the script for the animated pilot with director Siegel and oversaw a lot of the ensuing creative direction on the project.
“The reception to the Lackadaisy pilot has been truly overwhelming,” said Butler. “A crew of over 150 artists introduced Lackadaisy‘s world of gangsters, flappers, jazz musicians to millions of viewers around the world. That kind of success has encouraged us to continue to tell the story of these off-kilter cats in the only way we know how: with complete creative independence.”
Iron Circus’ Spike Trotman noted, “The internet is rife with stories of animated series and films debuted with great fanfare and promise, but are shelved, fumbled, canceled, locked in a vault, pulled from streaming or left to die on the vine, sometimes for no reason other than to balance the books of a corporate merger, or earn a tax break. We don’t want that for Lackadaisy. We want to retain ownership, direction and oversight. We want to make more of what millions of viewers have already come to love about our animation.
“And beyond that? We feel we’ve come to the fore at a potentially critical moment for the future of independent animation. We have a chance to help establish the new normal. We don’t just want to do this, we want to prove it can be done. And to do that, we’re going to need your help.”
Some of the backer benefits from the new Lackadaisy campaign include:
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New 11.25″ x 10.25″ hardcover editions of Lackadaisy
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The Lackadaisy Essentials, an art-and-lore volume highlighting the scenes and characters of the Lackadaisy universe
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Limited edition plushies of Lackadaisy’s chaotic protagonist Rocky Rickaby and fan-favorite criminal kitty, Mordecai Heller
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A new animated short featuring Michael Kovach (@kovox) as Rocky Rickaby, Belsheber Rusape (@BelRusapeVO) as Calvin “Freckle” McMurray, Lisa Reimold (@lisareimold) as Ivy Pepper, Ashe Wagner (@TheQueenViking) as Mitzi May and SungWon Cho (@ProZD) as Mordecai Heller
“If you want more animated Lackadaisy, supporting this BackerKit is the most direct way to make sure that happens!” Butler added. “Independent funding like this is the best way to ensure we have the freedom to create this series on our own terms, and see it through to its true conclusion.”
