An Ottawa-based animation studio has introduced the world to a new kind of superhero team to captivate audiences young and old.
Mercury Filmworks premiered Atomic Puppet to Canadian audiences on Sept. 11, although the show had already premiered in France and the United States. Travis Williams, director of development, said Mark Drop and Jerry Leibowitz originally conceived the show, but Mercury Filmworks redeveloped it.
Director Andy Coyle said when Atomic Puppet was first brought to the studio in 2011, it was a different show.
“We looked at it and said, ‘Well, we could probably take this and turn it into something that’s really cool.’ We could take the kernel of the idea and reimagine it in a way we feel would be a really great show for kids,” Coyle said.
According to Williams, Atomic Puppet follows the adventures of a superhero who is turned into a puppet and is forced to team up with his biggest fan to continue fighting crime.
“We thought, ‘What would happen if Superman turned into a puppet?’ But it had to be more than that, it had to be a guy who had a bit bigger of an ego, a legendary hero who fell from grace,” Williams said.
Teletoon is airing the chronicles of the seemingly dysfunctional pairing of Atomic Puppet and “superfan” Joey Felt.
Mercury Filmworks president and executive producer Clint Eland said there is more to Atomic Puppet than meets the eye.
“On the surface, the show appears to be a comedic superhero-driven show,” he said, “but . . . when you watch it, it’s very clearly a show about two best friends.”
“Joey and [Atomic Puppet] really need each other,” echoed Williams. “They both need each other for different reasons and that’s the best way they form together as a team.”
Williams added the creators wanted the character Atomic Puppet to have a massive ego because when it is undermined by his transformation, the studio wanted to show his vulnerable side.
Williams said Atomic Puppet is a mix of different genres. This diversity, Coyle added, is what will keep the show fresh and audiences entertained.
“Atomic Puppet can be a horror show, it can be a wacky comedy, it can be gross, but it can also be sweet, sincere and heartfelt,” Coyle said.
Coyle added one of the goals of the show was to be a “tight, character-driven project.” He said the character development shown through the team’s adventures is something that would appeal to older age groups as well.
“I feel like, with an older audience, that’s what they’re looking for, a world of characters to connect with, and then you can tell any story you want,” Coyle said.
Williams said he hopes that people will “fall in love” with Atomic Puppet’s characters. He added the team behind the show put in a lot of effort to make the characters “live and breathe.”
Ultimately, Atomic Puppet was designed with children in mind, and Williams said he hopes the show will resonate with audiences so they can continue telling Joey’s and Atomic Puppet’s stories.
Coyle said he wants Atomic Puppet to be the kind of show that leaves a “lasting impression” on the audience as they grow up and “maybe inspire some kids to come up with their own adventures and their own stories.”
