HBO announces animated adult television series “Animals”
MIAMI, FL. – January 27, 2016 – HBO transports viewers to New York City, home to some of the most downtrodden creatures, in the new animated original series for adults, Animals., premiering on Saturday, February 5th at 00:30hrs* on HBO. The 10-episode series personifies the creatures inhabiting the city, including lovelorn rats, gender-questioning pigeons and aging bedbugs in the midst of a midlife crisis. Animals. will also be available on HBO GO and HBO On Demand.
The creators, Phil Matarese and Mike Luciano, voice many of the characters on the show, which also features guest voiceover artists such as: Jay and Mark Duplass (HBO’s Togetherness), Katie Aselton (HBO’s Togetherness), Jessica Chastain (The Martian), Rob Corddry (HBO’s Ballers), Ellie Kemper (Bridesmaids), Nick Kroll, Lauren Lapkus, Melanie Lynskey (HBO’s Togetherness), Marc Maron, Kumail Nanjiani (HBO’s Silicon Valley), Horatio Sanz, Adam Scott (HBO’s Tell Me You Love Me), Molly Shannon (HBO’s Enlightened de HBO), Wanda Sykes (HBO’s I’ma Be Me), Cobie Smulders, Eric Andre, A$AP Ferg, A$AP Rocky, Kurt Vile, Matt Walsh (HBO’s Veep), Zach Woods (HBO’s Silicon Valley) and Steve Zissis (HBO’s Togetherness).
Phil Matarese and Mike Luciano met while working together at a New York City production company, where they would do voices for the pigeons outside of their office. Matarese, an illustrator in his free time, proposed animating a scene based off their pigeon-riffing to screen at Mike’s monthly comedy show, and it was there where the series of animated shorts, dubbed Animals., was born.
In 2013, Matarese and Luciano gained the attention of Jay and Mark Duplass after winning Best Comedy at the New York Television Festival. The brothers convinced them to quit their jobs and move across the country to begin production on the series. The inaugural two episodes premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival – the first independent TV series to do so – leading to acclaim from The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times.
Animals. is part of the continuing relationship between HBO and Jay & Mark Duplass, whose acclaimed show “Togetherness,” returns for its second season on Sunday, February 21st.
Created, directed and written by Phil Matarese and Mike Luciano, Animals. is executive produced by Jay and Mark Duplass. The series is produced by Jen Roskind, James Fino, Joe Russo II and Kenny Micka. Animals. was animated by Starburns Industries, known for Rick & Morty and Charlie Kaufman’s new stop-motion film, Anomalisa.
*AST – Atlantic Standard Time. For more information on local transmission times please contact your cable provider or visit: http://www.hbomax.tv/
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HBO Latin America is the premium, subscription based, television network leader in the region, recognized for the quality and diversity of its exclusive programming, including: series, films, documentaries, specials and original productions. The content is transmitted in HD in more than 40 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean through its channels HBO, HBO2, HBO Signature, HBO Plus, HBO Family, HBO Caribbean, MAX, MAX Prime, MAX Up, MAX Caribbean and Cinemax. Its programming is also offered across multiple platforms, such as HBO GO, Cinemax GO and HBO On Demand.