New Company Sycamore Studios Will Focus On Kids And Family Animation

Timothy Reckart, the Oscar-nominated director of the short Head Over Heels and director of the Sony animated feature The Star, has launched sycamore Studios with former Participant executive Christian McGuigan, who also served as vice president of global content strategy for Omnicom’s Porter Novelli.

The company’s first project is bringing the children’s classic Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting to life as an animated feature film.

Here are the newly-announced details about the company and its first project:

• Sycamore is focused on kids and family animation with a focus on creating films that are “rooted in beauty, truth, and goodness that elevate the vision of their audience.” The company’s slate includes both existing IP and original stories.
• Studio co-founder McGuigan has criticized Hollywood’s inclusion of “controversial issues” in its films and said in a recent interview, “Even folks on the Left are saying, ‘This is not age-appropriate. So what we saw with Sycamore was the opportunity to say, ‘What if there was a brand that was trusted by audiences, that had a values-based trust with audiences, but also made really high-quality content?’” He discussed the company’s goals in this interview with Kevin Roberts, president of conservative think-tank Heritage Foundation and explains why “Jesus Christ is the best storyteller of all”:
• Reckart will serve as chief creative officer overseeing the studio’s creative direction, guiding the development of projects, and ensuring the quality and integrity of the studio’s storytelling, while McGuigan will serve as CEO handling company strategy, business operations, and driving the studio’s growth.

• Doctor Dolittle is being adapted by the writing team of Cal Brunker and Bob Barlen (Paw Patrol: The Movie and Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie). Brunker and Barlen’s other credits include Bigfoot Family (2021), Son of Bigfoot (2017), The Nut Job 2 (2017), and Escape From Planet Earth (2013).
• McGuigan said in a statement:
  

  We see an immense opportunity in the growing demand for entertainment that families can trust. By crafting timeless stories beloved for both their content and their quality, we believe we can create the next great family entertainment brand. Collaborating with Bob and Cal, proven storytellers with a track record that speaks for itself, underscores commitment to creating films that will entertain and inspire. Doctor Dolittle is a perfect starting point—a character cherished for over 100 years, now ready to captivate a whole new generation.

• Reckart added:
  

  As dads, Christian and I see every day how deeply kids engage with entertainment. The characters they meet and stories they experience live on outside the film and become part of day-to-day life at home, even helping to shape a kid’s own identity. We want our kids to grow up with the highest quality entertainment we can offer, which is why Sycamore is committed to beautiful, rich animation that supports relevant and meaningful stories.