Cartoon creator confirms USA deal for Aliens in my Backpack

Aliens in my Backpack is the latest offering from James Driscoll, who is known for his award-winning 1980s cartoon series The Shoe People.

Aliens in my Backpack is the latest offering from cartoon creator Jim Driscoll

He told the News this week that American multinational media conglomerate Hearst Media Communications Inc, based in New York, has formed a partnership between Hearst Media Production Group and Toonz Media Group India to produce the Aliens in my Backpack venture as a new CGI animated cartoon series.

The project is the latest from the studios of Jim, as he’s known, and Rob Lee, co-creator of Fireman Sam, who also designed The Shoe People, and it centres on a group of aliens who crash land on earth.

A scene from the new Aliens in my Backpack series by the creators of The Shoe People

The series follows the adventures of the creatures from outer space who find themselves in the backpack of Riley Martinez, a boy living in the quiet town of Eastdale, who loves hanging out with his BFF Loren, playing Nintendo and enjoying his mum’s freshly-baked cookies – until his life is changed by the visitation of the other-worldly beings.

Jim, who lived in Stourbridge for many years before moving to Chaddesley Corbett in Worcestershire, said the last two years had been very challenging due to Covid-19, which left his animation studios in India, Los Angeles and Ireland closed for many months.

He said the pandemic had set back production of the series considerably but added: “We are very excited by the prospect of working with such media partners as Hearst and Toonz whose global recognition and reputation is so well-known.”

Aliens in my Backpack is expected to be released in 2023

Angelica Rosas McDaniel, general manager of entertainment for Hearst Media Production Group, added: "We can’t wait to introduce millions of kids to Aliens in my Backpack."

The project is in pre-production and scheduled for release in 2023.