Québec’s Squeeze To Make Episodes For Marvel Animated Series ‘What If…?’

Marvel Studios has picked Québec City’s Squeeze to animate episodes for its upcoming series What If…?

Here are details:

• What If…? is the first animated series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Like the comics series of the same name, it presents alternative histories for various MCU characters: each episode revisits an important moment in MCU lore and explores a different outcome.
• The series will be released on Disney+. It was officially announced in April 2019, along with early details about the streaming platform. There will be ten episodes in the first series, five of which will be animated by Squeeze (studios for the other five have not been announced). A second ten-episode series has also been confirmed.
• Squeeze specializes in 3d character animation for film, series, commercials, and games. Founded in 2011 by Denis Doré and Patrick Beaulieu, it now has studios in Québec City and Montreal. Its past clients include Ubisoft, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Microsoft, Mattel, and Disney (which owns Marvel Studios).
• The studio also produces original works. These include Cracké, which has aired in more than 210 countries and territories since launching in 2016, and the short film Monkey Beat.
• Speaking to Variety, which first reported the story, Doré said, “Marvel was looking for a world-class animation studio to come up with a fresh and unique style that would be in keeping with their brand essence. We really clicked, right from our initial talks in Los Angeles last year, and they loved our proposal. I’m thrilled that our artists’ creativity and talent resonated so strongly in Hollywood.”
• What If…? is created by A.C. Bradley, who is also the head writer. Bryan Andrews, a storyboard artist on several MCU features, is directing the first season. Footage shown at Disney’s D23 Expo last August suggested that the show will have a cel-shaded aesthetic. Most of the MCU cast will reportedly be involved.