Steve Dildarian and Nick Weidenfeld will executive produce new show about a boy who’s life is filled with adults who never lead by example.
HBO Max has just greenlight the adult animated series 10-Year-Old-Tom from acclaimed creator, producer and writer Steve Dildarian (The Life and Times of Tim), who will write and executive produce the series, and TV animation veteran Nick Weidenfeld (The Boondocks, Rick and Morty), who will executive produce.
According to Susanna Makkos, executive vice president original comedy and animation at HBO Max, “Steve is a singular comedic voice and also a brilliant visual artist. Combined with Nick’s animation acumen, they make for a winning team. We are thrilled to bring that unique combination to HBO Max as they explore the complications and hilarity of being a child in modern America.”
In the show, our hero Tom grapples with being corrupted by the grownups around him each day just by leaving his house. Bad influences seem to lurk around every corner... litigious parents, drug dealing bus drivers and band teachers who want to sleep with his mom. If he sets up a lemonade stand, he gets sued for gross negligence. If he plays baseball, he is encouraged to "dabble with roids." And if he visits the school nurse, he is introduced to the world of insurance fraud. The grown-ups in Tom’s life all mean well, but somehow just can’t manage to lead by example.
HBO Max CCO Kevin Reilly and Makkos have previously worked with both Dildarian and Weidenfeld. Reilly and Makkos had a development deal with Dildarian during their tenure at Fox; during that time, Weidenfeld ran the animation studio Reilly started, ADHD.
"I'm so excited to be making this show, and couldn't ask for better partners than HBO Max, Nick Weidenfeld and Tomorrow Studios,” Dildarian said. “I can't wait to tell these stories through the eyes of Tom, an innocent kid trying to navigate a world that seems to get crazier by the day.”
Weidenfeld added, "Not only is Steve insanely funny, he is one of the rare talents that can write, draw and do voices. He’s the triple threat that is the foundation of all great animated shows.”
The series will also be executive produced by Marty Adelstein (Hanna, Cowboy Bebop) and Becky Clements (Snowpiercer, Physical) of Tomorrow Studios (a partnership between Adelstein and ITV Studios). ITV Studios will handle international distribution.
Source: HBO Max
Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.
