Genius Brands, Blue Origin and SMAC Productions today announced plans to develop and produce Blue Origin Space Rangers, an epic animated space adventure series for kids and families, designed to inspire the next generation for the benefit of Earth.
The series will star a diverse group of global youth and include appearances by Michael Strahan and Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos. Mainframe Studios, an affiliate of Genius Brands, will produce the animation. Today’s announcement comes one year after Strahan’s trip aboard Blue Origin NS-19 on December 11, 2021.
Blue Origin Space Rangers will feature junior astronauts and adult leaders, who live, create and experiment together as they explore the infinite possibilities of life in space. With the mission to spark curiosity and encourage creativity among kids and families, the series will take audiences on a journey to explore the universe, science, new worlds and, perhaps. new beings. Students will develop their skills in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics to tackle the challenges and opportunities of space for the benefit of Earth.
Constance Schwartz-Morini, Co-Founder & CEO of SMAC Productions and Andy Heyward, CEO of Genius Brands International, will serve as executive producers of the series. Michael Hirsh, who produced the original Star Wars animation series Ewoks and Droids, will produce alongside Michael Hefferon for Mainframe Studios.
“Blue Origin Space Rangers will be groundbreaking for Genius Brands in its creative scope, and for me personally, it is a dream come true given my lifelong passion for astronomy,” said Heyward. “Partnering with Blue Origin and SMAC Productions will create multiple touchpoints for kids and families to explore, learn and deliver a one-of-a-kind space experience. We look forward to not just world-class storytelling but inviting the voice talent of guest stars from the world of music, sports, influencers, and celebrity, young and old.”
Schwartz-Morini noted, “One year ago, I watched my friend and business partner Michael Strahan become an astronaut. This extraordinary experience was the motivation for us to create Blue Origin Space Rangers, a series that would inspire future astronauts,. For our first project in the animated space, we couldn’t imagine two better partners than Blue Origin and Genius Brands to develop and bring this series to a distributor.”
“We’re excited to collaborate with Genius Brands and SMAC Productions to deliver an adventure-driven, STEAM-based animated series that will inspire people to consider the potential of using our solar system — for the benefit of Earth,” added Michael Edmonds, SVP, Strategy, Marketing, and Sales, Blue Origin, and President, Club for the Future.
