Dieselpunk animated series ‘MechWest’ signs global deal with Toonz

Toonz Media Group has signed a global distribution deal for “MechWest,” an independently produced CG-animated action-adventure series created by Dave Gallagher and produced by AnimSchool Studios.

The company is presenting the series to international buyers at the Annecy Animation Festival.

Set in the dieselpunk frontier world of Meridian, ‘MechWest’ follows Pearl West, a teenage girl who befriends a mysterious coal-powered robot named Six and embarks on a journey that turns the fate of their world upside down, along with her cowboy brother Pico and fast-talking friend Casey. Gallagher developed the series with writers Noah Gallagher and Clifford James Taylor; The creative team also includes Layout Director Galen Chu (“Ice Age: Collision Course,” “Ferdinand”) and Story Head Moroni Taylor (“The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” “The Iron Giant,” “Despicable Me”). The series is aimed at children aged 7 to 12 and families.

One of the more unusual aspects of the production is its staff model: The series was created largely by recent AnimSchool graduates, the accredited 3D animation school founded by Gallagher, whose own feature films include supervisory roles in the “Ice Age” franchise, “Rio,” “Robots” and “Horton Hears a Who.” The show has been viewed more than 11 million times and has taken home gold and silver awards at the Telly Awards and gold and audience choice recognition at the Collision Awards.

“We are very excited to partner with Toonz Media Group on this next chapter of ‘MechWest,’” said Gallagher. “Our team has created the series independently, episode by episode, and it is very rewarding to see the show resonate with audiences. Toonz brings so much expertise in international distribution and a genuine enthusiasm for the series. They share our vision of the show’s broad appeal, and this partnership gives us the opportunity to introduce the show to new audiences and expand its global reach.”

Under the agreement, Toonz will distribute the show globally to both linear and non-linear channels. The company, which has more than 25 years of experience in animation, live-action production and international distribution, also operates the MyToonz FAST channel and a YouTube network that reaches audiences through VOD and telecom partnerships.

Viswanath Rao, CEO of Toonz Media Group, said: “Exceptional storytelling has always been at the heart of successful global entertainment, and ‘MechWest’ is a powerful example of that. What Dave Gallagher and the team at AnimSchool Studios have achieved is remarkable, creating a visually stunning, emotionally compelling series that has already built a passionate audience on its own merits. We are excited to partner with the team and help bring the series to audiences worldwide.”

Gulshan David, VP of Features at Toonz Media Group, added: “‘MechWest’ immediately stood out, the quality of the animation, the world Dave and the AnimSchool team have built and an audience that has already found it. What they have achieved is rare for an independently produced series, and we believe it has exactly what major global platforms and broadcasters are looking for. We are excited to bring ‘MechWest’ to the world stage, starting in Annecy.”