Youtube Originals (formerly known as both Youtube Premium and Youtube Red) is launching a new animated series called SHERWOOD on March 6, 2019. Based on the mythology of Robin Hood, the series follows 14 year-old Robin and her friends’ battles with the wealthy Upper City in their efforts to overcome inequality and fight for justice. SHERWOOD will be available on YouTube Originals starting March 6, 2019.

The all-star voice cast features Anya Chalotra (The Witcher, The ABC Murders, Much Ado About Nothing), Tyler Posey (Teen Wolf, Truth Or Dare), Aneurin Barnard (The Goldfinch, Radioactive, Dunkirk), Jamie Chung (The Gifted, Big Hero, Gotham), Neneh Conteh, Rachel House (Whalerider, Thor, Moana), Ade M’Cormack (Lost, Heroes, NCIS),  and Darrill Rosen (The Misogynists, Richard’s Wedding, First Person Singular) with guest star Joseph Fiennes (The Handmaid’s Tale, Elizabeth, Shakespeare In Love).

That lineup is enough to make us forget that other horrible Robin Hood film starring Taron Egerton and Jamie Foxx ever happened.  Details from the official press release below:

The ten episode series is produced by Baby Octopus, Toybox (New Zealand) and Giant (Ireland). SHERWOOD is written by Justin Trefgarne, Craig Martin, and Shea Fontana. Diana Manson and Megan Laughton serve as executive producers. Jan Stebbins and Nanette Miles also serve as producers. Bruce Carter serves as director and Jonathan Clarke serves as the animation producer.  

“In this modern telling of Robin Hood, Robin is a girl and she uses technology and code to battle the sheriff of Sherwood. Together with Google’s Computer Science in Media team, we convened an advisory council comprised of thought leaders from organizations across Google. Together we imagined a world of the future and what it meant for design, travel, technology and society,” said Nadine Zylstra, Head of Learning, YouTube Originals. “Sherwood is new series set to inspire young women and girls on their role in technology of the future.” SHERWOOD will be available on YouTube Originals on March 6, 2019

“We are thrilled to partner with YouTube to bring our first original concept to life. We hope that Robin and our ensemble cast from far flung parts of the world inspire kids to know that they can and will make a difference and impact the future through problem solving, creativity and teamwork,” said Diana Manson, Owner, Baby Octopus.

YouTube Premium is a subscription service that offers access to YouTube Original series and movies, a streaming music platform, and an uninterrupted, ad-free experience across all of YouTube. YouTube Premium is currently available in the  U.S., Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru. Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the U.K. and Ukraine.

About Baby Octopus

For over a decade Diana Manson and Megan Laughton have collaborated to deliver hit animated tv series for preschoolers based on successful children’s picture books. Manson & Laughton founded Baby Octopus in 2015 to develop and deliver differentiated media content for teens and young children as well as preschool.

Sherwood is their first original concept – inspired by the Robin Hood legend, developed and produced in partnership with YouTube Originals for tweens. The series follows the adventures of Robin a 14-year-old heroine and her crew in the 23rd Century after the polar icecaps have melted and London is underwater. Next up is Chu with Manson & Laughton adapting Neil Gaiman’s picture book series. Previous productions include Max & Ruby, now in its 16th year on Nick Jr.; Olivia, Gaspard and Lisa, Peter Rabbit, Mr. Men and Little Miss and others.

About Toybox

Toybox is a boutique production studio based in Auckland, New Zealand. We work with a roster of national and international clients and provide services for all stages of production including design, concept art, motion-graphics, pre-visualisation, 3D & 2D visual effects, animation and live action. Our designers, animators, and FX artists use the latest digital tools to blend visual arts and technology to create innovative and compelling stories. We believe in the power of story to define and shape experiences. It is through storytelling that we connect with others to understand more about our world and ourselves.

We love to entertain, challenge and inspire audiences of all ages. Whether it is simple line art, sophisticated photo-real digital rendering or live action, each project, big or small, is treated with the same care and attention to detail. We have a slate of animated and live-action projects developed with creative partners around the world. Animation is the universal storytelling medium. It crosses age, gender and cultural boundaries and can open minds to ideas that inspire, teach and influence us. New Zealanders are easy-going and highly collaborative by nature. Our unique world-view, shaped by history and landscape, manifests itself not just in the look of our work but also in how we work.

At Toybox we obsess over how a character talks, walks and expresses the emotions that will breathe life into the story. We treat every project as a privilege and always challenge ourselves to produce work that resonates and connects with as many people as possible.                

About Giant

Giant is one of Europe’s leading animation production and development studios based in the thriving city of Dublin, Ireland. Established in 2011, the studio has earned a reputation for high quality work across our award winning short films, commercials, and exciting TV shows for kids. The creative ambition of the studio has allowed us to grow an exciting artistic culture around our projects, which has attracted some of the best talent in the world to our growing team. We are an international team of artists, storytellers and technical wizards that are creating high end content for the world stage.