Mexico’s fastest-growing animation studio, Demente Animation Studio, and Masked Republic, the multiplatform company “dedicated to the expansion of lucha libre beyond the borders of Mexico,” have signed a production pact which will see the two companies partner to develop new TV and media projects based on the latter’s original IP and industry leading luchadores.
“Without a doubt, directing an animation studio like Demente has been the best experience of my life, and our next step is to create and co-create our own intellectual properties that translate across media platforms because we know that this will add much more value to our company and a much greater reach,” said Carlos Gaxiola, studio CEO. “That is why we have decided to team with Masked Republic to create and develop an animated series and content that shows a great new take on lucha libre which is a big part of Mexico’s identity and takes us back to a glorious past of the golden age of Mexican cinema.”
Guadalajara-based Demente, currently putting the final touches on its first feature-length 2D animated film, has in recent years provided 2D and 3D animation services to major international entertainment companies such as WildBrain, Mattel, Warner Bros., Bardel, Bento Box and Titmouse, among others.
“We are honored and excited to be working with Demente to develop our first original series inspired by the world of lucha libre,” Masked Republic Founder & CEO Ruben Zamora stated. “Our dedication to sharing the wonders of real-life Mexican superheroes, our luchadores, with the rest of the world requires having the right partners with whom a deep understanding of the sport’s cultural significance so that our stories can be unlike any which have been told before, yet remain authentic at the same time. We know that with Carlos and his team, we have found exactly that partner.”
Masked Republic President & COO Kevin Kleinrock added, “Demente’s work as a studio for hire over the last few years has been genuinely impressive. They have worked on numerous hit series and have scaled quickly to become a force in the Mexican animation industry. Working together on our first co-production has created a best-of-both-worlds scenario for Demente and Masked Republic and we can’t wait to dive further into development of our series which is already unlike anything that has come before it. Viewers will not have to be fans of lucha libre to enjoy the story world which will play out on screen. Of course, fans of the real-life sport will get something extra as the universe reveals itself.”
Privately held Masked Republic is the first integrated live event, merchandising and media organization uniquely anchored by lucha libre, representing dozens of the industry’s biggest stars, worldwide merchandising (through Legends of Lucha Libre), event production and management, content production and distribution. The company is headquartered in San Diego, Calif., with offices in San Francisco, Las Vegas, Mexico City and London.
