Bristol-based StudioNX (Niko and the Sword of Light) and Canada’s Toon City Vancouver are partnering on a new 2D-animated series for tweens. 

Tapping into the popularity of video games, Virtual Realiteens (26 x 22 minutes) is about a squad of teenage misfits who must save their school from 8-bit monsters. Along the way, the gang develops video game superpowers that help them in their mission.

Aimed at eight- to 12-year-olds, this project is in development and the producers are looking to connect with distributors and broadcasters. Adam Jeffcoat and Jim Bryson, who head up StudioNX, created Virtual Realiteens with animation director Matt Lyon.

Notably, this is Toon City Vancouver’s first project. Trevor Bentley, one of the founders of Atomic Cartoons, set up the service studio as an offshoot of Philippines-based Toon City in July. Bentley has worked in the animation industry for 24 years as a creator and producer, and some of his credits include Molly of Denali (EP), Atomic Betty (producer) and Pirate Express (EP/creative producer).

He’ll be pitching Realiteens at Kidscreen Summit in February, and says the show’s campy and comedic sci-fi premise—as well as its “nostalgic nod to the 1980s for an extra touch of charm”—should help it connect with today’s tween viewers.