Marvel Is Opening A ‘Mini’ Animation Studio

Marvel Studios is stepping up its commitment to animation. The Disney-owned company is to open a “mini studio” to produce more animated shows like its upcoming What If…? (image at top).

Victoria Alonso, Marvel’s executive vp of film production, revealed the news in an interview with Variety. “We’re going to have our animation branch and mini studio, and there will be more to come from that as well,” she said. “We’re super excited about animation, which is my first love.”

What If…?, an anthology series that presents alternative histories for various Marvel characters, will debut on Disney+ on August 11. It is the first animated series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise. Québec City’s Squeeze and Sydney, Australia’s Flying Bark Productions provided the animation.

Marvel has produced animated series, tv and home-video films, and shorts under its Marvel Animation banner. The unit’s fate has been in doubt since a restructuring in late 2019 led to the departure of Cort Lane, svp of Marvel Animation & Family Entertainment.

Speaking about Marvel’s spin-off streaming shows in general, Alonso said, “When the chance of being a part of this streaming world came about, we were beyond excited because all of a sudden we could actually give the fans far more than 1/4 of a page or three cool moves.”