Brown Bag Films Launches Bad Pencil Animation to Enter Adult Animation Market

Brown Bag Films launched Bad Pencil Animation on Monday at the Annecy Animation Festival to produce adult animated series and films. According to the company, the new label will focus on service work to help clients and creators bring projects targeting older audiences to screen.

Why is Brown Bag Films entering the adult animation market?

The move allows the studio to explore storytelling that is “darker, more offbeat or more tonally diverse,” according to Sanatan Suryavanshi, executive creative director for Brown Bag Films. Suryavanshi stated the company already possesses the 2D and CG pipelines and talent necessary to support this work at scale.

The studio previously built its reputation on preschool content, including Doc McStuffins and Daniel Tiger‘s Neighborhood. Bad Pencil Animation is intended to create space for different storytelling styles while maintaining the craft and quality associated with the main studio.

Did You Know? Brown Bag Films operates a global production network with studios located in Toronto, Dublin, and Bali.

How is the leadership of Bad Pencil Animation organized?

Sanatan Suryavanshi will lead creative for the label and report to co-founder and group creative director Darragh O’Connell. Nicole Gibbs, vp studio strategy, will lead sales for the new entity.

Caitlin Friedman will oversee the strategic direction of Bad Pencil. Friedman serves as executive vp global production for Brown Bag and executive vp current for the company’s parent, Scholastic.

Expert Insight: Samantha Carter suggests that transitioning from preschool staples to adult animation allows a studio to leverage existing technical infrastructure to capture a growing market segment without needing to build new pipelines from scratch.

What operational resources support the new label?

Bad Pencil Animation will utilize the existing artistic and technical talent across Brown Bag’s global studios. This includes capabilities in both 2D and CG animation across various styles and genres.

Irish Examiner Commercial – "Sketch" – Brown Bag Films

Brown Bag Films is part of Scholastic. Its Toronto-based studio operates specifically as a business unit of 9 Story Media Group.

What happens next for the studio?

The label may attract new partners and platforms seeking high-quality service work for adult audiences. A possible next step could involve the announcement of specific projects that utilize the studio’s 2D and CG capabilities.

The company is likely to leverage its existing global footprint in Bali, Dublin, and Toronto to scale production for these older-targeted projects as the animation market grows.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary focus of Bad Pencil Animation?
The label focuses on adult animated series and films, providing service work for creators and clients.

Who oversees the strategic direction of the new label?
Caitlin Friedman, who is the executive vp global production for Brown Bag and executive vp current for Scholastic, oversees the strategy.

Which preschool shows is Brown Bag Films known for?
The studio is best known for Daniel Tiger‘s Neighborhood and Doc McStuffins.

Do you think studios known for children’s content can successfully transition into adult-oriented storytelling?