Entrepreneur Josh Jones has acquired the animated movie and tv rights to Groo the Wanderer, legendary cartoonist Sergio Aragonés’ beloved comics character, with the intent of manufacturing the character’s first-ever animated leisure through Jones’ Did I Err Productions firm.
Groo the Wanderer, now in its landmark fortieth 12 months of publication, is the longest currently-running impartial and “creator-owned” comic-book property — outlasting lots of the firms that printed it. The brainchild of Aragonés, who creates the tales together with wordsmith Mark Evanier, the Eisner Award-winning comedian has been printed by Darkish Horse Comics since 1998.
Jones and his Did I Err associate Scott Nocas will function govt producers on the movie and/or collection, with Aragonés and Evanier. Did I Err is targeted on partnering with artistic expertise who perceive Aragonés’ imaginative and prescient and characters. Initiatives are being packaged for streaming providers and world distribution, with Did I Err in a position to co-finance as wanted.
“After drawing and dwelling with Groo for thus a few years, so many comics, so many pages, you possibly can think about I have drawn Groo in each place conceivable,” Aragonés explains. “Mark and I puzzled so many occasions how he — Groo, not Mark — would look animated. We studied what now we have seen on the display by totally different animators and laughed lots. Now, I know that we’re getting in the proper path and I can guarantee the followers that they’ll love Groo the manner Mark and I do.”
Groo the Wanderer follows the exploits of a barbarian warrior who’s invincible in battle,
however negotiates his days with an I.Q. three factors decrease than a boulder. Together with his trusty canine sidekick Rufferto, he wanders an historical land of thriller, magic and mayhem, wanting just for a heat place to sleep, a couple of cash or a style of cheese dip.
“I’ve beloved Groo the Wanderer since I was eight years outdated, and to have the honor of bringing the character to on-screen life is, fairly actually, a lifelong dream come true,” Jones says. “Sergio’s type, the characters, the world, and particularly the humor have at all times appealed to me. I simply need to assist deliver what I’ve beloved for thus lengthy to the subsequent technology!”
Mark Evanier (Picture: Gabrielle Muttone) | Josh Jones | Scott Nocas (Picture: Trish Allison Pictures)
Jones’ huge portfolio of companies go far past his position as the head of Did I Err Productions: The visionary entrepreneur additionally owns and operates Kill Capital, a hybrid VC agency and household workplace; Gondola Ventures, a transportation infrastructure agency; FlyCoin, a crypto rewards program; and Ravn Alaska and its sister airline Northern Pacific Airways. Jones turned a Bitcoin proponent in 2010 and has constructed an excellent fame all through the cryptocurrency business as a prolific investor and technical skilled. He additionally co-founded DreamHost, a well-liked hosting supplier, whereas an undergraduate at Harvey Mudd Faculty. He’s a founding father of HMC INQ, an funding community providing mentorship and startup help to HMC college students and alumni. He presently serves on the board of Signify.Us and The Aquarium of the Pacific.
Aragonés is the most honored cartoonist on the planet, having received each main award in the subject, together with the Nationwide Cartoonists Society’s Reuben Award and the Will Eisner Corridor of Fame Award. His irresistible cartoons have appeared in MAD since 1963, together with as the topic of “All-Sergio” particular editions of the journal. His inventive creations have been seen in DC Comics, Marvel Comics and nearly each main writer of funnybooks, and his work has been translated into greater than 100 languages. Paperback collections of his work and graphic novels have bought into the tens of millions.
Evanier is famend for his writing in a number of mediums. The Los Angeles native has written comedian books for the characters of The Walt Disney Studios, Warner Bros. Studios and Hanna-Barbera, and the three-time Emmy Award nominee’s sturdy resume of tv writing for each live-action and animated collection consists of Welcome Again Kotter, That’s Unimaginable, Pryor’s Place, the Scooby-Doo franchise, Superman: The Animated Sequence, Thundarr the Barbarian, Dungeons & Dragons, Garfield & Mates and The Garfield Present. An assistant to comics legend Jack Kirby, Evanier honored his one-time employer in 2008 by writing a e-book entitled Kirby: King of Comics. Evanier has earned a number of Eisner Awards and was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award for Animation Writing by the Writers Guild of America.
Rising up an enormous comic-book collector and Groo fan, Nocas has an extended profession investing in and launching media, client and schooling companies. He has launched and produced content material for next-generation platforms and communities with Xbox, Sony, Vuguru, Marvel creator Stan Lee, the Smithsonian Establishment, the U.S. Military and plenty of others. Nocas presently serves as Managing Director of Jones’ Kill Capital, and as a enterprise associate with NextGen Ventures — as well as to his producer position with Did I Err Productions.
In preparation for the anticipated manufacturing(s), the franchise’s web site – Groo.com – has been refreshed, and followers can sustain with the newest Groo information and join with fellow members of the Groo neighborhood on Twitter (twitter.com/OfficialGroo), Instagram (www.instagram.com/officialgroo), Fb (www.fb.com/Officialgroothewanderer) and YouTube (www.youtube.com/c/GrooTheWanderer).