News

Crunchyroll is developing “Dark Star Squadron,” a space-opera anime series, in partnership with Zoe Saldana’s Cinestar Pictures production shingle.

Crunchyroll also announced that it now has more than 5 million paying subscribers and more than 120 million registered users worldwide. AT&T’s $1.2 billion deal to sell Crunchyroll to Sony Pictures — which owns Crunchyroll competitor Funimation — is pending regulatory clearance.

“Dark Star Squadron,” which will stream exclusively on the Crunchyroll service, follows the journey of four failing cadets who return from a joyride with a stolen starship to find their academy in ruins and everyone vanished. Now on their own, the ill-equipped heroes set off for the far side of the galaxy to find their missing comrades — and prove their worth.

Todd Ludy (“Voltron: Legendary Defender”) is on board to write with sisters Zoe Saldana, Cisely Saldana and Mariel Saldana of Cinestar serving as executive producers. Sonia A. Gambaro and Maytal Gilboa...

Anime purveyor Crunchyroll has surpassed 5 million streaming subscribers and has also teamed with Zoe Saldana on Dark Star Squadron, a project it describes as an “epic animated space opera.”

Crunchyroll, founded in 2006, is owned by WarnerMedia. The AT&T division entered into an agreement last December to sell Crunchyroll to Sony for almost $1.2 billion, but regulators have not yet signed off on the transaction.

Dark Star Squadron is backed by Saldana’s Cinestar Pictures. Todd Ludy, whose credits include Voltron: Legendary Defender, is onboard to write it. Saldana and her sisters, Cisely and Mariel Saldana of Cinestar are exec producers. Sonia A. Gambaro and Maytal Gilboa from Pollinate Entertainment are also producers on the film.

“The tremendous growth of our streaming service is indicative of the growing love for anime and its deserved spotlight in popular culture,” said Joanne Waage, Crunchyroll’s Gm. “Zoe and her team are bringing their own...

WarnerMedia has acquired the rights to new animated show “Master Moley,” starring Warwick Davis and Gemma Arterton, for its children’s platform Boomerang in more than 100 countries across Europe, Middle East and Africa. “Master Moley” is based on original stories written by British entrepreneur James Reatchlous, who spoke to Variety about how it came to life.

The deal, struck by Jetpack Distribution, will see the animation’s 30-minute special, “Master Moley By Royal Invitation,” head to the channel in November. The acquisition of the new 52-part series, comprising 11-minute episodes, “The Misadventures of Master Moley,” will continue the adventures of Master Moley and friends on Boomerang next year.

The animation follows adventurous mole Master Moley, who lives deep in a burrow under Queen Elizabeth II’s Windsor Castle in the bustling city of MoleTown, where he is the keeper of a magical book, which has the power to bring peace between humans and moles.