Australia’s A Stark Production and Canada’s WildBrain, together with Singapore’s Infinite Studios, are teaming up to co-produce a fourth season of the global hit animated series, The Deep. Commissioning broadcaster ABC in Australia has greenlit 13 new half-hour episodes alongside Mediacorp, the Australian Children’s Television Foundation and with the support of Screen NSW bringing the total number to 65 half hours.
“The Deep is an iconic ABC ME series, and we are delighted to announce the next installment of the Nekton family’s epic underwater adventures,” said Libbie Doherty, Head of Children’s for the ABC. “Our loyal fans have been patiently waiting for the next adventure full of non-stop thrills, amazing marine life and, of course, the inimitable spirit and humor that The Deep is famous for – no doubt the Nektons will continue to exceed all expectations! Our deepest thanks to all our local and global financing partners who are joining us again for more adventure.”
International broadcaster partners CBBC (U.K.), WildBrain’s Family Channel (Canada), Super RTL (Germany) and SVT (Sweden) have also committed to the new season, building on the incredible success of the show to date.
In season four of The Deep, after searching for generations, the Nekton family have finally found the fabled city of Lemuria, unlocking secrets and tantalising mysteries. But the greatest discovery they’ve made is also the most shocking: proof that Ant and Fontaine’s grandparents made it to Lemuria! The Nektons had given up on ever seeing their loved ones again – but now they have hope. Now their most important search begins. While encountering more legends and myths, pirates and leviathans, the Nektons will explore The Deep … in search of their family.
A Stark Production will handle scripting, storyboarding and design, and original music score, with WildBrain managing editorial, directors, voice recording and postproduction on the new episodes. Infinite Studios will oversee layout, animation, FX, lighting and composition.
“We’re excited to ‘set sail’ once again with the Nekton family in another action-packed season of The Deep, which is steeped in the mysteries of the ocean, the uncovering of myths and legends, the discovery of incredible sea creatures and, of course, where the Nektons will again cross paths with old friends and foes,” said Avrill Stark, CEO of A Stark Production. “We’re thrilled by the demand we’ve received for a fourth season from both established fans and networks around the globe.”
Katie Wilson, VP Channels and Curation, at WildBrain Television, added, “The Deep continues to go from strength to strength on Family Channel, constantly captivating its loyal fan base as well as drawing in new viewers, thanks to its graphic-novel pedigree and compelling storylines. We’re very happy that more thrilling underwater adventures are on the way and excited by what’s in store for the Nekton family in season four.”
Previous seasons of the internationally successful show have been sold to over 130 markets. The Australian Children’s Television Foundation handles distribution rights for Australia and New Zealand, with Infinite Studios managing rights for Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos and China. WildBrain oversees sales for the rest of the world.
“The characters and ecological messages in The Deep resonate strongly with Infinite and MediaCorp, and we are excited to partner with A Stark Production and WildBrain in a new season of this beloved franchise, incorporating in season four elements from our region that showcase its marine biodiversity and legends linked to our rich maritime history,” said Mike Wiluan, CEO of Infinite Studios.
Sapna Angural, Head of English Audience, Mediacorp, commented, “We are thrilled to be partnering with some of the most prominent names from across the globe on this exciting journey to bring the fresh new season of The Deep. This collaboration underscores the value we continue to place on content collaborations, and we are confident in the capabilities of Singapore’s creative team in delivering local stories that will resonate with the local and regional audience.”
Developed for a truly global audience of 8- to 12-year olds, The Deep is based on the Aurealis Award- winning graphic novel series, which was created by multi-award-winning, best-selling comic book author and playwright Tom Taylor (Superman, Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Injustice: Gods Among Us, Wolverine, Iron Man, Batman: The Detective, Star Wars: Age of Resistance) and co-creator, artist James Brouwer (Justice League Beyond), and published by Wolfgang Bylsma and Skye Ogden’s Gestalt Comics.
